HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 15 February 1989
香港立法局 —————————一九八九年二月十五日
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SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Sir, I take it that Mrs. CHOW is referring to the sharing of the financial burden with Her Majesty's Government rather than the sharing of the financial burden with UNHCR. If it is the former, this is not a matter which has been formally raised with Her Majesty's Government.
MR. CHEONG: Sir, in relation to paragraph 3(f) of the Secretary's reply to the question, in establishing arrangements with the Vietnamese authorities, can Government inform this Council whether Hong Kong can conduct negotiations with the Vietnamese authorities without any lead from the sovereign state?
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Yes, Sir, it is open to the Hong Kong Government to propose bilateral contacts with the Vietnamese authorities. But in doing so we would of course inform Her Majesty's Government and, bearing in mind the interest that Her Majesty's Government has in these talks and their participation in the two previous talks, it would be entirely proper for Her Majesty's Government to wish to be represented also at these talks, and of course we would not refuse that.
MR. MARTIN LEE: Sir, since the Hong Kong Government is willing to share defence costs with Her Majesty's Government, why is it that Her Majesty's Government is not willing to share some of our financial burden over the Vietnamese refugee problem?
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Sir, I do not think that I am here this afternoon to answer for Her Majesty's Government. I think I will only say that the concern of Mr. LEE will be passed on to Her Majesty's Government.
MR. MARTIN LEE: May I take it that the Hong Kong Government will indeed ask Her Majesty's Government to share some of our financial burden?
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: No, Sir. You cannot take it, Mr. LEE, that this is what the Hong Kong Government will do. The Hong Kong Government will keep in mind what you have said and if the time is appropriate it will consider this question, but I do not give any undertaking as to when that will be.
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