JSRE..
CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:
BRIEF NO 1: STEERING BRIEF
HKK.006/5.
25 JUN:979
157
30 JUNE
по
2257
OBJECTIVE
1.
(a) To reassure the local community that the Governments
are fully aware of their responsibilities towards the territory
and intend to fulfil them.
(b) To get a first hand impression of the refugee and immi-
gration situations.
BACKGROUND TO THE VISIT
2.
This will be the first visit by a Foreign and Commonwealth
Secretary to Hong Kong since Sir Alec Douglas-Home went there
in November 1972. It will take place at a time when there is
great concern about the combined impact of the influx from China
and the rapidly rising number of Vietnamese refugees. The fact
that the Secretary of State has chosen to visit Hong Kong so
soon after taking office will therefore be particularly welcome.
The visit itself, and the swift reinforcement of the Hong Kong
garrison following the Governor's visit to London, are concrete
evidence of the Government's commitment to Hong Kong.
PROGRAMME
3.
The programme (Brief No 2) falls into two parts:-
(a) Discussions with the Governor and his senior officials
and with the Executive Council.
(b) Visits. The accent will be on refugees and the work
of the garrison in combatting illegal immigration but there will
also be an opportunity to look at a new town (Shatin) which is
being built from scratch to house half a million people by 1985.
/There
CONFIDENTIAL