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10. DURING MY VISIT HERE I HAVE ALSO HAD IT PUT TO ME
THAT THE UK SHOULD TAKE IN MORE OF THE GENUINE REFUGEES
NOW IN HONG KONG, THEREBY EASING HONG KONG'S BURDEN AND
ENCOURAGING GREATER RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE. WE HAVE OF
COURSE ALREADY TAKEN IN A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF REFUGEES
FROM HONG KONG DESPITE ALL THE IMMIGRATION PRESSURES
WE FACE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD). BUT AFTER THE
RECENT INFLUX INTO HONG KONG WE ARE LOOKING AGAIN AT ALL
ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM.
MORE RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK IS
OBVIOUSLY AMONG THESE OPTIONS.
11. I HAVE REFERRED TO THE BASIC LAW.
AS I MADE CLEAR
IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE, WE ARE TAKING CAREFUL NOTE
OF CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG. WE HAVE DRAWN THE
ATTENTION OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO THEM.
WE HAVE
GIVEN THE RECORD OF THE DEBATE TO THE CHINESE
AUTHORITIES. AND AS I HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU, THEY ARE
CLEARLY PAYING PARTICULARLY CLOSE ATTENTION TO VIEWS
EXPRESSED HERE.
./5