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That said, however, we shall be in touch with our partners in the European Community, in the Commonwealth and elsewhere about the developments in China and their implications for the future of Hong Kong. Once a Hong Kong British dependent territories citizen has been granted British citizenship, he would then enjoy freedom of movement within the European Community.
Let me also add that if the worst came to the worst, and the future we plan for Hong Kong became untenable the British Government would clearly be under a very strong moral obligation to act. If at some point in the future people had to flee Hong Kong in great numbers to escape disaster, then we would do everything in our capacity to help them and I am confident that any future British Government would do everything they could to mobilise the international community to provide a response as comprehensive and as effective as the circumstances demanded.
Vietnamese Boat People
However, while Hong Kong grapples with these anxieties about the future, it faces another very real problem now. It is no exaggeration to say that Hong Kong is in imminent danger of being overwhelmed by the continuing influx of Vietnamese boat people. Recent arrivals have hit an all time record-on one occasion more than 1,200 in one day. The burden that this has imposed on Hong Kong's resources is intolerable, in particular at a time of so many other pressures. We have been keen to help Hong Kong free itself of this burden as fast as possible, and to help in material and practical ways. That is why we have committed over 12 million pounds sterling to help: 6 million pounds sterling towards the capital costs of a new refugee centre at Pillar Point., 2 million pounds sterling in support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees activities in Hong Kong., and 4.5 million pounds sterling for emergency accommodation, including tents and huts.
We have played an active and constructive role in international efforts to promote humane and durable solutions. My right honourable friend and I attended the international conference on Indo-Chinese refugees held in Geneva last week, which marks a very significant step forward. Generous commitments were made to resettle 57,000 refugees from the region over three years. As part of this effort Britain will take a further 1,000 refugees from Hong Kong in addition to the 1,000 we announced earlier this year.