FILE
27
HKB
026 125
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RECORD OF MEETING BETWEEN MR MAUDE AND THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN
LONDON, 6 SEPTEMBER 1989
1.
Mr Yaxley explained that the role of the London Office had changed in recent years. Its prime purpose used to be to look after
Hong Kong students studying in the United Kingdom and although there
were still 12,000 such students, this aspect of its work had decreased in importance. Its community work with Hong Kong Chinese people here had also decreased. Recently it had much increased its
lobbying role, both of Members of Parliament and of the press.
Another area being expanded was the commercial relations aspect,
which would especially need to be developed post 1997.
2. Mr Yaxley said that Hong Kong was getting over the trauma of
the events in China in early June. However the Vietnamese Boat
People (VBP) issue was still pulling Hong Kong apart. He thought
that if no action was taken on involuntary repatriation by the end
of October then the Legislative Council would probably refuse to
vote funds or would pass a motion terminating the first asylum
policy. Mr Maude thought that such developments would be disastrous for Hong Kong's international image, particularly at a time when Hong Kong was asking for commitments to resettle Hong Kong citizens
in the Armageddon scenario. HMG was determined to tackle the VBP pro.. out we could not risk a non-voluntary repatriation exercise
which ent wrong.
This would be the worst case scenario. Mr Yaxley
agreed.
3.
Turning to the economy, Mr Maude noted that business confidence in Hong Kong still seemed to be good. Mr Yaxley agreed
and commented that cross border crossings had stayed at the pre-June high levels. The gross national product estimate for 1989 had been
reduced from 6% to 5% (Mr Maude pointed out that in maturing
economies, such as Hong Kong's, growth rates would inevitably slow).
Mr Yaxley was more concerned about the effects of early June on
China's ability to import and export goods. He considered that
these effects would only show up in later data.
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