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TRANSCRIPT D: FOREIGN SEC
P.C.
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HONG KONG
10 JAN 90
FOREIGN SECRETARY (COITD):
The draft Basic Law, as I think I already mentioned, does
incorporate recognition of the two main UT covenants involved, of
which the Bill of Rights seeks to reflect one, and so this is
proceeding, it seems to me, in an orderly way in Hong Kong through
its own institutions.
As regards the boat people one of the points put most
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strongly to me in fact, the point on which the District Board
members were actually most vehement yesterday afternoon was on the
question of the boat people and or the particular point you make
about resources and financing.
Recently, the British Government has announced a new
contribution of 62.5 million Hong Kong dollars towards improving
emergency accommodation and 70 milion Hong Kong dollars as a
contribution of 50 percent towards a new camp at Tan Chow (phon) and
in addition to this, we pay substantially
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that is 18.25 million
Hong Kong dollars in helping with reintegration and transport
costs. So the British Government is making a substantial contribution to the problem of the boat people but, of course, right answer is to empty the camps as quickly as we cau and to
prevent then refilling.
the
Those are the two arms of the problem and I would hope that at the meeting in Geneva which should be held before long, the international community might agree that there should be