TNAG-1322-FCO40-1728-Future-of-Hong-Kong-opinion-polls-and-surveys-1984 — Page 207

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5. MOST CIVIL SERVANTS HAVE REACTED FAVOURABLY, AND CONSIDER THAT THE AGREEMENT COVERS THE AREAS OF MAJOR CONCERN TO THEM. SOME EXPATR- IATE OFFICERS ARE HOWEVER UNHAPPY ABOUT THEIR REDUCED CAREER PROSPECTS, AND HAVE ASKED FOR DETAILS OF COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS. CONCERN STILL LINGERS ABOUT SECURITY OF PENSIONS, AND IN PARTICULAR ABOUT PENSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR OFFICERS UNWILLING TO CONTINUE SERVING AFTER 1997. INTEREST HAS BEEN CAUSED BY A REPORT IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST THAT WHITEHALL IS CONSIDERING HOW MANY

HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN THE UK ON

ACCOUNT OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THEIR JOBS.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

6. WHILE THE HONG KONG DOLLAR HAS FIRMED SLIGHTLY DURING THE PAST FORTNIGHT, THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF ANY SUBSTANTIAL DEMAND FOR IT. THE HANG SENG INDEX ALSO INITIALLY FIRMED SLIGHTLY, BUT HAS SINCE FALLEN, MAINLY BECAUSE OF DISAPPOINTING RESULTS FROM JARDINES: THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES CONSIDERS THAT ITS PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN BASICALLY HEALTHY AND INDICATES AN UNDERLYING CONFIDENCE. THERE ARE ALSO GROWING INDICATIONS OF INCREASING DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY AT THE LOWER END OF THE MARKET.

CHINESE NATIONAL DAY

7. CELEBRATIONS HAVE BEEN PROMINETLY REPORTED IN THE LOCAL PRESS. THE OFFICIAL HONG KONG DELEGATION TO PEKING, LED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, WERE WELL RECEIVED AND ADDRESSED BY THE CHINESE PRIME MINISTER, WHO REITERATED CHINA'S FIRM INTENTION TO IMPLEMENT THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT. DENG XIAOPING DID NOT MEET THE OFFICIAL DELEGATION, BUT HE SPOKE TO 230 HONG KONG RESIDENTS DRAWN FROM

VARIOUS CIRCLES OF LOCAL LIFE TO WHOM THE CHINESE HAD GIVEN INDIVI-

DUAL INVITATIONS. FOR THE MOST PART THESE PEOPLE ARE NON-COMMUNIST, AND IN MANY CASES ANTI-COMMUNIST, AND IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT THEY

SHOULD HAVE NONETHELESS DECIDED TO ACCEPT THE CHINESE INVITATION.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

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HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

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