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take 10,000 more refugees in addition to the nearly 5,000 which we
have already agreed to take. That was the number we were asked to take
by the United Nations High Commissioner. What we now have to do is to
maintain the pressure on Vietnam to make sure that the flow does not
begin again in large quantities and we have, secondly, to continue with
our efforts to persuade other countries in the world that Hong Kong is
carrying proportionately a bigger burden of refugees than any other
country. These efforts we will continue in the months ahead.
Now, Mr. Chairman, I want to talk for a moment about Anglo-
Chinese relations. These relations are at present excellent and this
includes relations over Hong Kong. The Governor's visit to Peking earlier
this year showed how close and friendly these relations now are. Next
month we look forward to seeing the Chinese Premier in London. The
British Government welcomes these developments. I believe that one of
our common interests is the continued prosperity and stability of Hong
Kong. The Chinese Government sees Hong Kong as having an important role
to play in their policy of rapid modemisation. I am sure that this
opportunity will be welcomed in Hong Kong and that co-operation of this
sort will improve relations still further. Now Mr. Chairman, I have
affirmed that it is our constitutional responsibility to look after
Hong Kong's interests in this matter and in other matters of foreign
relations. However, I am well aware that Hong Kong does not need nannying.
Hong Kong is a success story. By all the laws of reason Hong Kong should
not be here. If all the facts about the Territory were fed into a computer,
its size, its physical circumstances, its lack of natural resources, the
numbers cramped into this small space, the computer will prove that it
is impossible for such a place to exist. Yet here you are one of the
most thriving dynamic places in Asia. It will be the objective of this
British Government to make sure that you have the opportunity to continue
this remarkable progress.
Thank you.
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