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THE PROBLEM. IN RECENT MONTHS WE HAVE INTENSIFIED OUR CONTACTS WITH
AND MORE RECENTLY STILL THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES ON THIS ISSUE, HAVE DIRECTLY EXPLORED WITH THEM THE POSSIBILITY OF REPATRIATING REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG ON ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN NO SIGN OF VIETNAMESE WILLINGNESS
WE SHALL TO TAKE PEOPLE BACK EXCEPT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS ON ALL THESE FRONTS.
IN PARTICULAR, I HAVE INSTRUCTED OUR AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM TO MAKE A FURTHER APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WHEN HE RETURNS TO HANOI.
A THIRD ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN RAISED WITH ME FREQUENTLY IS THE QUESTION OF BN(0) PASSPORTS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE BN (0) STATUS AND PASSPORT IS DESIGNED TO LAST THROUGH AND BEYOND 1997. THE NEW PASSPORTS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED NOW TO GIVE HONG KONG PEOPLE, AS WELL AS IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES AROUND THE WORLD, PLENTY OF TIME TO GET USED TO THEM. I WANT TO STRESS THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MOUNTED A MAJOR DIPLOMATIC CAMPAIGN TO EXPLAIN TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS WHY THE NEW STATUS WAS BEING INTRODUCED AND THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE NEW PASSPORTS. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN GOOD. NO GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IT WILL NOT ACCEPT THE PASSPORT AND I HAVE NOT HEARD OF A SINGLE CASE
PRACTICAL IN WHICH A HOLDER OF THE NEW PASSPORT HAS ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES FROM IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
WHERE THESE HAVE NATURALLY THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TEETHING TROUBLES. OCCURRED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE ACTED PROMPTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO OVERCOME THEM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IF ANY NEW PROBLEMS SHOULD ARISE. I AM ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THAT THE NEW PASSPORT WILL BE AS WIDELY ACCEPTED AS IS THE BDTC PASSPORT.
IN CONCLUSION LET ME SAY THAT IN ALL I HAVE SEEN I HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPRESSED BY THE QUALITY AND DYNAMISM OF THE TERRITORY'S ADMINIS- TRATION. IT PROVIDES THE ESSENTIAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE ENTERPRISE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE CAN FLOURISH. AND FLOURISH IT DOES.
I HAVE ENJOYED MY VISIT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING SOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
"
THE FOLLOWING IS A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE:
Q.
(SALLY BLYTH, RTHK): YOU HAVE JUST REITERATED BRITAIN'S
WILL THE BRITISH COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG IN THE RUN-UP TO 1997. GOVERNMENT NOW DEMONSTRATE ITS RESPONSIBILITY BY TAKING SOME NEW INITIATIVE TO SOLVE HONG KONG'S VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM? FOR EXAMPLE, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT BRITAIN SHOULD HELP MAINTAIN THE COSTS OF RUNNING THE REFUGEE CAMPS HERE. AND WILL BRITAIN
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