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MR MAUDE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG, 17-19 SEPTEMBER 1989
BRIEF NO 7 : OPENING STATEMENT TO OMELCO
Opening remarks
Delighted to be back in Hong Kong. My second visit as Government
Minister. My first as Minister with special responsibility for Hong
Kong.
-
me.
Since taking over special Ministerial responsibility for Hong
Kong, territory and its concerns have been major preoccupation for Have already devoted considerable time to this. Glad already
to have had opportunity to meet some of you (Dame Lydia Dunn, Martin
Lee, Martin Barrow). Welcome this opportunity to get to know more of you better.
Know there is much you wish to say to me. Will do my best to
respond.
Line to take
(a)
Vietnamese boat people
Well appreciate burden on Hong Kong and depth of local feeling.
t
HMG s immense efforts to tackle problem.
Need for strategy which takes account of international dimension.
Our intention to proceed with mandatory repatriation as soon as
practicable. But not a simple matter. Need to balance pros and
cons. Adverse international reaction will be bad for Hong Kong.
Vital to get first repatriation exercise absolutely right if flow
of returnees is to continue. Mandatory repatriation highly
sensitive matter for Vietnamese. Need their continued cooperation.
Well aware of local pressure to abandon first asylum. But this
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OMELCO