-2-
5.
HONG KONG WAS CENTRAL TO MY DISCUSSIONS WITH
CHINESE MINISTERS.
I WAS IMPRESSED BY THEIR
DETERMINATION TO IMPLEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND
THEIR READINESS TO CONSULT HONG KONG PEOPLE ON THE DRAFT
BASIC LAW AND TO AMEND IT IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR VIEWS.
6. I DISCUSSED WITH THE CHINESE MINISTERS THE PROBLEM
OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE BEING GIVEN ASSISTANCE ALONG
THE COAST OF CHINA ON THEIR WAY TO HONG KONG: THEY
UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM, UNDERTOOK TO FIND OUT THE FACTS,
AND SAID THEY WOULD DO WHAT THEY COULD TO HELP.
7. VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN A MAJOR TOPIC OF
MY DISCUSSIONS HERE TOO, AS IT WAS WHEN SIR GEOFFREY
SINCE THEN THE HONG KONG
HOWE WAS HERE A MONTH AGO.
GOVERNMENT HAVE INTRODUCED A NEW POLICY.
THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT HAD NO HESITATION IN ENDORSING THAT POLICY.
THE SITUATION SIMPLY COULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO ON AS IT
WAS.
./3.