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10. Following the ending of the war in Vietnam in 1975, many Vietnamese (and Chinese formerly resident in Vietnam) have looked to Hong Kong as a possible sanctuary and it is estimated that as many as 5,000 Vietnamese refugees have entered Hong Kong illegally in the past. two years. Apart from the obvious difficulties which any sizeable influx of refugees might cause, there is the danger that Hong Kong residents might object to "outsiders" being allowed to enter the Colony in preference to any of their own relatives seeking admission from China.
Political Organisation
11. The Chinese Communist Party representatives in Hong Kong regulate the activities of local Communist organisations so as not to disturb the internal stability necessary for economic prosperity. They thus help to maintain the financial and commerical advantegoS which China derives from Hong Kong. The Party controls a hard core of disciplined, ideologically-inspired activista who administer a number of overt Communist organisations. These include 200,000 Trade Unionists, 33,000 school children and several thousand employee of Communist commercial and banking enterprises. Support from a few rich middle class Chinese completes a powerful power base. The Chinese Government have in the past asked to be allowed to appoint an official representative in Hong Kong. Their request was turned down by Sir Alec Douglas-Home in June 1973. The Chinese referred to the issue during the late Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary's visit to China in May 1975. Mr Crosland told them that HMG's view had not changed.
12. The activities of Chinese Nationalist organisations in Hong Kong parallel those of the Communists, but on a much reduced scale. There are also a few small political groups composed mainly of middle class Chinese and expatriates. Most of them aim to widen popular representation within the Legislative Council without changing the basic pattern of government.
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