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CODE 18-77
COHA
НКВ 026/200
/Reference..
Mr Gillmore
Mr Paul o.r. Miss Marsden
Mr Footmán
Me?
Mr Edwards, Legal Advisers
Mr Osborne, News Department
SECRETARY OF STATE'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG: POINTS FOR ACTION
1.
In his statement at the beginning of his press conference in Hong Kong this morning, the Secretary of State indicated that he would be focussing on the following seven points for actiion on his return to London:
i) On nationality, there would be an early announcement of a scheme to make some provision for people in both the public and private sectors, not only on the basis of their connections with the UK but also on their value to Hong Kong, in order to give them confidence to remain in Hong Kong;
ii) At the European Council in Madrid, the Secretary of State had already alerted partners to the need for the international community to rally round Hong Kong in order to restore confidence. He had been in touch with Paris Summit partners during his visit to Hong Kong to make the same point. He would continue energetically to mobilise the international community;
iii) Action on a Bill of Rights was being pursued urgently;
iv) The wishes of Hong Kong people would be of great importance in reviewing the development of representative government.
It was already clear that plans for 1991 would need to be revised. Further consideration would be given to developments before 1997;
v) On the Basic Law, it was necesary to ensure that it conformed fully with the spirit and letter of the Joint Declaration. It had to match the wishes of Hong Kong people. Article 18 (possible imposition of martial law) was clearly one area which needed reconsideration;
vi) It was necessary for the Peking leadership to take early tangible action to restore confidence in Hong Kong. He would be pressing for this;
vii) On Vietnamese boat people, progress had already been made with the government of Vietnam over early repatriation of non-refugees. He hoped for progress soon.
2.
Questioning during the press conference was relatively
innocuous.
etho
CT Wood
Hong Kong Department
4 July 1989