CONFIDENTIAL
563646
MDHIAN 2959
148. WITH THE CONTINUING HELP OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, WHO HAVE BEEN VIGOROUSLY SEEKING MORE PLACES ON OUR BEHALF, WE WILL GO ON PRESSING THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. BUT RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES HAVE BECOME VERY SELECTIVE IN CHOOSING WHOM THEY WILL ACCEPT. MOST NOW INSIST THAT THOSE THEY TAKE SHOULD HAVE CLOSE FAMILY CONNECTIONS WITH VIETNAMESE ALREADY SETTLED IN THEIR COUNTRIES. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO RESETTLE MANY OF OUR REFUGEES,
OF WHOM HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR
MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.
149. IT IS CLEAR THAT WHAT WE DEALS WITH THE PROBLEM AT ITS
NEED IS A LONG TERM SOLUTION WHICH SOURCE. THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY A CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT AMONG A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES. IT CERTAINLY CANNOT BE SOLVED BY HONG KONG ALONE. IT ALSO REQUIRES THE COOPERATION OF THE AUTHORITIES IN VIETNAM ITSELF. I CAN ASSURE HONOURABLE MEMBERS THAT WE AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE CONTINUIING OUR EFFORTS IN THIS DIRECTION. BUT IT WILL REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND PATIENT DIPLOMACY TO ACHIEVE RESULTS.
(OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) MAY NEED EXPANSION IN LIGHT OF RECENT OMELCO MOVES (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS)
THE STRUCTURE AND MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT
?
150. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT, IN PURSUING ITS MANY AND VARIED TASKS THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSTANT CONCERN IS TO ACT IN THE OVERALL BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG. THIS REQUIRES US, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO MAINTAIN A FRAMEWORK OF SOUND ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS STABLE AND RELIABLE AND YET REMAINS RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF SOCIETY. ONLY IN THIS WAY CAN WE HOPE TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICIES AND ACTIONS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE APPROVAL AND SUPPORT OF THE
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
(A) REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
.
151 IT IS IN LINE WITH THIS PHILOSOPHY THAT THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE ROLES AND COMPOSITION OF ITS VARIOUS COMPONENTS HAVE CHANGED AND DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN EVOLUTIONARY, NOT REVOLUTIONARY, AND WE HAVE TAKEN CARE AT EACH STEP TO REFLECT AND CONSULT BEFORE DECIDING ON THE NEXT ONE. AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED ANOTHER ROUND OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS IN OUR SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. THIS HAS
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