The Second was
covered by the scheme to be larger. We too want the scheme to have the strongest possible impact on confidence. But we have had to balance this desire against our ability to accept people for settlement in Britain should that ever be necessary. I believe this political reality is well understood in Hong Kong. It is a reality which cannot be ignored. Recent controversy at have matos
thur clear.
The legislation needed to implement our decision will be difficult and controversial. I make no secret of the fact that he could have gone for an easier option, involving the guarantee of settlement without full British citizenship. We did not do that,
because we judged that anything less than citizenship would not match the needs of Hong Kong. We chose the high road. Our obligations under the Joint Declaration to maintain Hong Kong's stability and prosperity meant that nothing less than this would do,
whatever the difficulties.
the crucial
culties.
That is the fint densoms on Hay key which
we tooks beton Chinmar.
The other tough decision I have had to take as Foreign Secretary is to authorise the Hong Kong Government to proceed with the
mandatory repatriation of 51 Vietnamese Boat People. This was not a
decision which I relished, nor an operation which I find in any way attractive. But there was never any doubt in my mind that It was
right to proceed, and if necessary to face the inevitable criticism
from people in Britain and around the World.
The plain fact is that Hong Kong cannot be expected to cope indefinitely with an endless stream of immigrants from Vietnam, most
of whom have no prospect of ever finding a home in the West. It is
therefore imperative that we find effective ways of deterring this futile exodus and that we empty the camps as quickly as possible. Hong Kong has shouldered this burden for too long.
I turn now to the Basic Law. The drafting process has reached a
crucial phase. Throughout this process, Hong Kong people have expressed their opinions about the draft in a thorough and
constructive way. I congratulate them on what I believe has been a
mature response from an increasingly mature political community.
ALKAAO