5. DESPITE THE PAUCITY OF STATISTICS THERE DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN ANY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS OVER EMIGRATION. UNDOUBTEDLY
THOSE WHO HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS WHICH WOULD SATISFY THE VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENCE IN THE MORE IMPORTANT COUNTRIES
(U.S., CANADA AND AUSTRALIA) ARE CONSIDERING THEIR LONG TERM
FUTURE, BUT THE NUMBERS ARE NOT GREAT AND THOSE CONCERNED ARE SIMPLY LOOKING AHEAD. THERE REMAIN MANY WHO, DESPITE THE FACT THAT
THEY MAY QUALIFY FOR EMIGRATION, ARE CONTENT TO WAIT AND SEE HOW
THINGS DEVELOP.
6. NOT MUCH SHOULD BE READ INTO FLUCTUATIONS IN THE HANG SENG
INDEX. THE INDEX IS A MEASURE OF ACTITIVITY IN THE MARKET, BUT THE CAUSATIVE INFLUENCES, DOMESTIC AND EXTERNAL, VARY FROM DAY
TO DAY (E.G. PROFIT TAKING BY LOCAL INVESTORS FOLLOWED BY THE FALL
IN THE PRICE OF GOLD, PLUS RUMOURS ABOUT A PROPERTY COMPANY CALLED. GREAT EAGLE, HAVE BROUGHT THE INDEX BACK TO ABOUT THE 1000 LEVEL.
7. THE MORALE AND SELF-ASSAURANCE OF UNOFFICIALS HAS IMPROVED
NOTICEABLY SINCE IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE TO TAKE UNOFFICIALS IN THE
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MORE INTO MY CONFIDENCE ABOUT THE FUTURE
GENERALLY.
3. THERE ARE SOME SIGNS THAT BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE IN
CONTACT WITH COMMUNIST ORGANISATIONS HERE, WITH VISITORS FROM CHINA AND ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR OWN VISITS TO CHINA ARE BEGINNING TO
COMMENT TO THE CHINESE THAT THE PROPOSALS IN THEIR PLAN WHICH HAVE
BEEN THE SUBJECT OF DISCLOSURE TO THE PRESS AND COMMENTED ON BY
SOME LEADERS IN CHINA WILL NOT WORK. HOPEFULLY SOME OF THESE COMMENTS
WILL REACH THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP. IN ANY CASE THIS IS AN
ENCOURAGING AND WELCOME DEVELOPMENT. NONETHELESS THE FEELING IS
FAIRLY WIDESPREAD THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO CONVINCE
THE CHINESE ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY AND VOLITILITY OF HONG KONG'S
ECONOMY AND SOCIETY: AND A NUMBER OF THINKING PEOPLE DO NOT SEE HOW
THE BRITISH ARE GOING TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE
EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF THE MAIN LINES OF THE CHINESE PROPOSALS.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKGD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD PS
PS/MR HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
COPIES TO
SIR I SINCLAIR
MR ROBERTS
LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
MR COLES
MR MARTIN
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
2
SEORET
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