T
нив
RECEIVER B 026/3
IN D
0 8 FEB 1990
Ma Mỹ
Mom's,
pa. 2311
HKD
85
1
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
اليا
Thank
hord Brabazon
HY
Taken WAS
you. grateful
for
your support. Rokylour (PS/ und Bretum)
With permission, Mr Speaker, I shall make a statement
on my visit to Hong Kong from 13 to 16 January.
1/1
I went to show this country's continuing commitment to
Hong Kong; to meet a representative cross section of
the community and to discuss the issues of prime
importance to Hong Kong in the period before 1997:
these are the operation of the nationality package
which I proposed to the House on 20 December and the
pace and extent of democratisation in Hong Kong.
I also discussed the problem of the Vietnamese boat
people and visited a refugee camp and a camp at which
boat people are screened for refugee status.
Hong Kong has become the world's eleventh largest
trading entity because of the unique combination of
British administration and justice and the talent and
energy of its people. The immediate sense of fear
caused by the events in China last June has lifted but
these events did deal a substantial blow to Hong Kong's
self confidence and the exodus of the talent which is
needed to keep Hong Kong prosperous has continued.
We believe it is vital that these people should stay.
Everyone to whom I spoke (in the Executive and
Legislative Councils, one of the District Boards, the
business community, public servants and other groups)
/had hoped that