SECRET UK EYES A
or if a future elected legislature in Hong Kong attempted to obstruct the implementation of the Joint Declaration.
3.
Please see also the LIC paper, especially paragraph 25 and the conclusions (paras 26-30). I generally agree with the LIC's conclusions. My comments above are intended as answers to your specific questions. I would not wish you to interpret this as indicating a broadly pessimistic assessment.
You'r
Caller
Vien
KC Walker
Far Eastern Section
Research & Analysis Dept
CC: Mr Paul, HKD
DEBAAS
SECRET UK EYES A
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2763
OF 121131Z SEPTEMBER 90
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
004307 MDHIAN 8577
LORD CAITHNESS' VISIT TO HONG KONG: THE PUBLIC MOOD
SUMMARY
1. HONG KONG HAS RECOVERED WELL FROM THE TRAUMA OF EVENTS IN
CHINA LAST SUMMER. BUT THERE IS STILL A GREAT DEAL OF NERVOUSNESS
NOT FAR BELOW THE SURFACE. THIS IS EXPRESSED MOST OBVIOUSLY IN INCREASED LEVELS OF EMIGRATION, BUT ALSO IN AREAS SUCH AS CIVIL SERVICE PAY DISPUTES. THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM HEALTH OF THE ECONOMY. FOR THE TIME BEING, THANKFULLY, VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE REGISTER LOW IN PUBLIC ATTENTION.
ATTITUDES TO CHINA
2. A RESIGNED MISTRUST HAS REPLACED THE OPEN BITTERNESS TOWARDS
THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP THAT WAS A DOMINANT FEATURE OF THE LOCAL
SCENE AFTER 4 JUNE
JUNE 1989. HONG KONG'S STRONG RESPONSE TO PEKING'S
SUPPRESSION OF THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT HAS FADED. BUT
SUSPICION OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS CONTINUED TO BE FUELLED
BY ITS CRITICISM OF HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR SUBVERSION AND THE UNHELPFUL CHINESE APPROACH TO SUCH ISSUES AS THE BASIC LAW, THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE AND THE PROPOSED NEW AIRPORT. RECENT INDICATIONS OF A REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF
CHINESE HOSTILITY AND A WILLINGNESS TO ADOPT A LESS
CONFRONTATIONAL ATTITUDE (E.G. DURING MR MAUDE'S VISIT TO PEKING)
HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED THE COMMUNITY'S MOOD. BOTH PUBLIC OPINION POLLS, AND OUR OWN SURVEYS OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES, INDICATE THAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE HAS RECOVERED
SLIGHTLY SINCE JUNE LAST YEAR, BUT NOT TO THE SAME LEVEL AS BEFORE THE EVENTS IN PEKING.
3. THE GENERAL VIEW IS THAT THE MAIN ISSUES HAVE NOW BEEN SETTLED AND THAT PEKING HAS PROVIDED CLEAR INDICATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE POST-1997 FUTURE HOLDS FOR HONG KONG. ORDINARY INDIVIDUALS NOW FEEL THAT THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO MAKE REASONED DECISIONS ABOUT
THEIR FUTURES. PRIVATE GOALS RATHER THAT COMMUNITY ISSUES HAVE BECOME THE PRINCIPLE CONCERN FOR MANY HONG KONG FAMILIES. FOR
SOME, THIS MEANS EMIGRATION: FOR MANY MORE, IT MEANS SECURING
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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