SECRET
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 26 29 SEPTEMBER
BRIEF NO.1:
STEERING BRIEF
OBJECTIVES
1. (a) To reassure the local community that HMG are fully aware of
their responsibilities towards the territory and intend to fulfil
them.
(b) To get a first-hand impression of the problem of immigration from
China and the measures being taken to control it, as well as the
continuing problem of refugees from Vietnam.
(c) To receive on-the-spot briefing on the Hong Kong angle to sub-
jects to be raised during the Secretary of State's visit to China.
BACKGROUND TO THE VISIT
2.
That
The Secretary of State last visited Hong Kong in June 1979 to see
for himself the problems created by the combined impact of the influx
from China and the alarming number of refugees from Vietnam.
visit, followed by the Prime Minister's agreement to accept 10,000
refugees for resettlement in the UK and the swift reinforcement of the
Hong Kong garrison to combat illegal immigration, provided concrete
evidence of the Government's commitment to Hong Kong. Nevertheless, a
number of other developments over the last 15 months (see paragraph 4
below) have given rise to fears that local interests are being over-
looked. The visit will come as a timely reassurance of HMG's continuing
commitment to Hong Kong.
PROGRAMME
3. There are separate programmes for the Secretary of State (Brief No.2)
and Lady Carrington (Brief No.3). Lord Carrington's programme falls into
two parts:
(a) Discussions: There will be opportunities to meet the Governor and
his senior officials, Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legis-
lative Councils and the Urban Council. There are personality notes
on these (Brief No.4).
SECRET
/(b)