TNAG-1751-FCO40-2471-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 83

B.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

6. Britain not doing enough?

Quite untrue. Since 1975 we have taken 13,000 Indo-Chinese refugees from Hong Kong: the third largest total from Hong Kong of

any country.

7. Closed camps

Easy to criticise closed camps policy. Much more difficult to

suggest alternative desirable solutions.

Believe that the camps are being administered as humanely as they can be given their deterrent function.

C.

8.

CONFIDENCE/EMIGRATION/ECONOMY

Confidence in Hong Kong evaporating?

Hong Kong's continued economic success speaks for itself. An outstanding performance, despite all the uncertainties.

In early

Must keep talk of declining confidence in perspective. 1987 international opinion poll rated Hong Kong people the most optimistic in the world. In 1988, in similar poll. they still rated sixth out of 36 countries and territories. In every part of the community optimistics far out-numbered pessimists.

Polls also show that overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people have full confidence in authority and effectiveness of Hong Kong Government: 61% rate its performance "excellent", "good" or "fairly good". Only 5% have negative opinion.

9. Emigration: sign of confidence on the wane?

been.

Certainly there is emigration from Hong Kong as there has always

But should not overlook the re-immigration of well qualified Hong Kong people: over 8,000 from Canada alone.

10. Hong Kong Stock Exchange in a mess

Have no doubt that Hong Kong can maintain and enhance its reputation as a major international financial centre.