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AND MAY I ALSO SAY HERE THAT I KNOW VERY WELL
THE STRENGTH OF FEELING, HERE AND ELSEWHERE,
THAT THE UK SHOULD TAKE IN MORE BOAT PEOPLE AND
THEREBY EASE HONG KONG'S BURDEN AND ENCOURAGE
GREATER RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE. WE HAVE OF
COURSE ALREADY DONE A LOT.
BUT AFTER THE
RECENT INFLUX WE ARE LOOKING AGAIN AT ALL THE
OPTIONS OPEN TO US TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
MORE RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK IS OBVIOUSLY AMONG
THESE OPTIONS. I CAN'T SAY MORE THAN THAT AT
THIS STAGE.
ON THE BASIC LAW, YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THE OUTCOME
OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE.
THIS WAS VERY
USEFUL IN ENABLING CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRESENT
DRAFT TO BE PUT ON THE RECORD.
IN REPLYING TO
THE DEBATE I UNDERTOOK TO ENSURE THAT THESE
WERE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT: I'VE NOW DONE THIS, AS I'VE DESCRIBED.
ON IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY MATTERS, THE
FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS RAISED YOUR CONCERNS WITH
THE HOME SECRETARY AS HE SAID HE WOULD.
THE
HOME OFFICE ARE LOOKING AT HOW PROCEDURES FOR
HANDLING HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS AT
UK PORTS OF ENTRY COULD BE IMPROVED.
SO THE
POINTS YOU MADE ARE BEING ACTIVELY FOLLOWED UP.
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