An Ipsos Mori survey of international businesses, including those from China, think a British vote in favour of leaving the European Union would be negative for their operations, according to a press release from Ipsos-Mori.

The survey, of 667 businesses from China, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden, found that 78 percent believed a UK departure would have a negative effect.

All the companies surveyed, between April 19 and May 2 this year, have UK operations.

Only 5 percent said a vote to leave the EU in the planned June 23 UK referendum would have a positive effect. Some 13 percent said the effect would be neither negative nor positive, and 4 percent said they didn't know.

The survey also asked what the effect of a decision to leave would have on likely future investment in the UK, with 61 percent saying this would most likely be negeative, and only 5 percent thought a leave vote would have a positive effect on future investment.

Those surveyed were members of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and bilateral chambers of commerce from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

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