CONFIDENTIAL
164526 MDHOAN 7378
CONSULATE-GENERAL.
OUR AIM IS TO HAVE AN APPROPRIATELY CONSPICUOUS AND PRESTIGIOUS PRESENCE THAT WILL UNDERLINE OUR CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG. THIS IS A MATTER OF HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND WE INTEND TO FINALISE OUR PLANS WE NOTE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT HMS AS SOON AS IS PRACTICABLE.
TAMAR SHOULD BE USED AS THE SITE OF THE NEW CONSULATE-GENERAL (PARAGRAPH 4.32). THE LAND ON WHICH HMS TAMAR AND THE PRINCE OF WALES BUILDING STAND WAS ALLOCATED BY THE HKG TO THE MOD FOR USE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LONG STANDING BY BRITISH FORCES.
A
PROCEDURE AGREED BETWEEN HMG AND HKG WHEN THE MOD NO LONGER REQUIRE THE LAND AND BUILDINGS THEY WILL REVERT TO HKG. DECISION ON THEIR FUTURE USE WOULD NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF OTHER PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA INCLUDING THOSE ON THE FUTURE
WE ARE THEREFORE LOOKING AT OTHER CENTRAL/WANCHAI RECLAMATION.
SITES.
(V) VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
17. THE GOVERNMENT WELCOME THE COMMITTEE'S VIEW THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO INTRODUCE A SCREENING
WE ALSO AGREE THAT ALL THOSE SCREENED POLICY (PARAGRAPH 5.2).
THIS IS ALSO THE OUT AS NON- REFUGEES SHOULD RETURN TO VIETNAM.
IT IS CLEAR THAT VOLUNTARY VIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. RETURNS CANNOT PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. IT MUST BE RIGHT TO WORK FOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE NOT REFUGEES TO BE RETURNED TO VIETNAM IN SAFETY AND DIGNITY. WE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE VIETNAMESE FOR THE ORDERLY RETURN OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT REFUGEES. NO-ONE WOULD BE RETURNED UNLESS WE WERE FULLY SATISFIED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE PUNISHED FOR HAVING LEFT, AND THAT THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES WERE WILLING TO ALLOW ALL RETURNEES TO BE CAREFULLY MONITORED. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS (PARAGRAPH 5.6) WE HAVE MADE EQUALLY IN OUR VIEWS VERY CLEAR TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION (PARAGRAPH 5.8) WE HAVE REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE CHINESE TO COOPERATE WITH US OVER THE ISSUE AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO DO SO. CONCLUSION
·
THE COMMITTEE HAVE PROVIDED AN INCISIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CENTRAL ISSUES CONCERNING THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. THE GOVERNMENT ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WELCOME THE THRUST OF THE REPORT AS A WHOLE. IN PARTICULAR WE WELCOME THE COMMITTEE'S ENDORSEMENT OF OUR OWN VIEW THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION REMAINS THE SUREST BASE FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE.
UNQUOTE
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