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MDHIAN 0468
THE YEAR IS LIKELY TO BE ABOUT 12 PER CENT.
9. THE COLLAPSE OF BCCI AND THE CLOSURE OF ITS HONG KONG OPERATIONS CREATED A GOOD DEAL OF PUBLIC CONTROVERSY AS DISTRESSED DEPOSITORS PRESSED THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE. THERE WAS A BRIEF RUN ON FOUR BANKS DURING AUGUST, BUT ALL WITHSTOOD THE PRESSURE WELL. ALTHOUGH THERE IS CONSIDERABLE SYMPATHY FOR THE UNFORTUNATE BCCI DEPOSITORS, OUR REFUSAL TO USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO KEEP BCCI AFLOAT HAS BEEN WIDELY ACCEPTED.
THE ENVIRONMENT
10. THE MID-AUGUST POLL RANKED THE ENVIRONMENT CALONG WITH VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS) AS SECOND ORDER CONCERNS. THIS REFLECTS THE GROWING AWARENESS OF AN INCREASINGLY PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY OF QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WILL CONTINUE TO FIND A PROMINENT PLACE ON THE POLITICAL AGENDA AND ANY SLIPPAGE IN OUR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES WILL BE A MATTER OF CONTROVERSY IN LEGCO AND THE COMMUNITY.
VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS
11. THIS ISSUE EBBS AND FLOWS IN POLITICAL TERMS BUT REMAINS A MATTER OF DEEP CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY. IT HAS BEEN OVERSHADOWED FOR MOST OF THIS YEAR BY THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE NEW AIRPORT. HOWEVER, WITH ARRIVALS ALREADY EXCEEDING 16,500 FOR THE YEAR AND NO TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS ON REPATRIATION, PUBLIC IMPATIENCE WITH OUR CPA BASED POLICY IS AGAIN INCREASING. THE SITUATION COULD FLARE UP.
HUMAN RIGHTS
12. HUMAN RIGHTS HAS GROWN AS AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC INTEREST IN RECENT MONTHS. THIS REFLECTS THE DEBATE OVER THE BILL OF RIGHTS ITSELF AND THE EMPHASIS GIVEN TO THE ISSUE BY THE LIBERAL CANDIDATES IN CAMPAIGNING FOR LEGCO SEATS. UNDERPINNING THIS IS A CONCERN OVER CHINA'S POOR RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND A DEEP SUSPICION ABOUT ITS COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997.
THE
ELECTIONS
13. THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH POLITICAL GROUPINGS HAS PROVED TO BE INCORRECT. THE ELECTORATE HAS NOT RESPONDED NEGATIVELY TO PARTY LABELLING. AN OPINION POLL PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 23 SUGGESTED THAT THE TURNOUT FOR THE SEPTEMBER LEGCO ELECTIONS MIGHT BE AS HIGH AS
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