CONFIDENTIAL
057235
MDHIAN 1287
DEMOCRATS AND THE HONG KONG ALLIANCE
9.
EVENTS IN CHINA HAVE BEEN A MAJOR BOOST FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CAUSE AND HAVE SERVED TO UNIFY THE VARIOUS GROUPS INTO THE HONG KONG
ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY.
THE INITIAL SUCCESS OF THIS GROUP HAS BEEN
DUE IN NO SMALL PART TO THE POLITICAL VACUUM CREATED BY THE CESSATION OF MAINLAND PROPOAGANDA AND UNITED FRONT WORK DESCRIBED
ABOVE.
10. FOR THE TIME BEING THE ALLIANCE HAS MANAGED TO CAPITALISE ON
EVENTS AND SHIFT OPINION SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS THEIR POINT OF
VIEW ON MORE RAPID PROGRESS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY.
EMIGRATION
THE
11. PREDICTABLY INTEREST IN EMIGRATION HAS INCREASEED SHARPLY.
CANADIANS TOLD US PRIVATELY (PLEASE PROTECT) IN THE WEEK 12/18 JUNE
THAT THEY WERE ISSUING APPLICATION FORMS AT THE RATE OF 9,000 PER DAY AS AGAINST 450-500 PER DAY NORMALLY. OTHER CONSULATES ALSO
REPORT LARGE INCREASES: THIS HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY MARKED IN THE
TRADITIONALLY LESS POPULAR DESTINATION COUNTRIES. APPLICATIONS FOR
BDTC PASSPORTS ARE RUNNING AT MORE THAN DOUBLE NORMAL RATES.
12.
THE LIMITING FACTOR OF COURSE REMAINS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT
DESTINATION COUNTRIES ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT.
FEELINGS TOWARDS BRITAIN
13.
THE COINCIDENCE OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES IN WHICH HMG IS
PERCEIVED TO HAVE BEEN LESS THAN HELPFUL HAS RESULTED IN A
GENERALLY NEGATIVE VIEW OF BRITAIN. THE FOREMOST ISSUE IS
CITIZENSHIP AND RIGHT OF ABODE: BUT THIS COMES ON TOP OF THE
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHICH HAS BEEN A CHRONIC IRRITANT. EXAGGERATED, AND SOMETIMES INACCURATE, REPORTS OF THE DIFFICULTY HONG KONG RESIDENTS WERE HAVING IN GETTING HELP FROM THE BRITISH
EMBASSY IN PEKING IN EARLY JUNE RECEIVED WIDE PUBLICITY AND DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THIS IMPRESSION, FOUND LISTENERS PRE-DISPOSED TO BELIEVE THEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEMONSTRATIONS OR OTHER OVERT SIGNS OF ANTI-BRITISH FEELING.
POSITIVE FACTORS
15.
JI PENFEI'S RECENT TV SPEECH ABOUT THE CONSISTENCY OF CHINESE
POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG HAS
UNREMARKED IN OUR FEEDBACK REPORTS.
GONE
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CONFIDENTIAL