4. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS ALSO DEBATED IT. TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS (MR. JOHN SWAINE AND MR. K.C. CHAN) WERE NOT PREPARED
TO COMMEND IT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THE REMAINING 25 WERE PREPARED TO COMMEND IT, THOUGH A NUMBER EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT PARTICULAR ASPECTS, OR ASKED FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION.
THE OFFICIAL REPLIES COVERED THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THESE POINTS.
5. AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY, SURVEY RESEARCH HONG KONG LTD, HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED TO SURVEY THE REACTIONS TO THE DRAFT AGREEMENT OF
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THE SILENT MAJORITY''. IT PLANS TO QUESTION 6,000 PEOPLE BETWEEN NOW AND 3 NOVEMBER. THERE ARE EIGHT SPONSORS, CONTRIBUTING HK DOLLARS 50,000 EACH, INCLUDING EMELCO AND THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
6. THE HONG KONG PRESS HAS REPORTED WITH SOME PROMINENCE:
(A) A MEETING IN PEKING BETWEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF JARDINE AND THE
DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE (MR JI
PENGFEI). MR. KESWICK WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT JARDINE'S
DECISION TO MOVE ITS HOLDING COMPANY TO BERMUDA HAD NOT BE INTENDED
AS A PROVOCATION TO CHINA.
(B) A DENIAL BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK (MR. MICHAEL SANDBERG) OF SPECULATION THAT THE FAST EXPANSION OF
ITS HOLDINGS OVERSEAS IS DESIGNED TO PAVE THE WAY FOR ITS WITHDRAWAL
FROM HONG KONG.
7. THE COMMISSIONER FOR BANKING HAS REPORTED THAT FOREIGN BANKERS
ARE WELL SATISFIED WITH THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, BUT THAT LOCAL BANKERS ARE LESS POSITIVE, AND ARE KEEPING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF
EMIGRATION.
PUBLIC SERVICE
8. REACTIONS CONTINUE TO BE GENERALLY FAVOURABLE ALTHOUGH THERE
IS SOME PRESSURE FOR MORE TO BE DONE TO SAFEGUARD PENSIONS AND
FOR STAFF TO BE ALLOWED TO RETIRE WITH THEIR BENEFITS BEFORE 1997. THERE IS ALSO CONCERN THAT STEPS MAY BE TAKEN TO ERODE SALARIES
AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN THE RUN UP TO 1997, EITHER TO BRING
THEM MORE INTO LINE WITH THOSE IN MAINLAND CHINA OR AS A MEANS OF REDUCING FUTURE LIABILITIES. SOME POLICE OFFICERS ARE CONCERNED
AT POSSIBLE RETRIBUTION AND CONTINUE TO SEEK A RIGHT OF ABODE IN
THE UK. STAFF ASSOCIATIONS ARE STILL CONSULTING THEIR MEMBERS
OVER DETAILED IMPLICATIONS.
ASSESSMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
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