LORD CAITHNESS' PRESS CONFERENCE
THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 1990
Opening Remarks
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(VISIT)
When I came here I said I would fight for Hong
Kong. My six day visit to the Territory has
reinforced this conviction.
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Deeply impressed by all that I have seen
and all that Hong Kong has achieved.
assurances.
I came here with no easy answers or glib
But in order to try to find
the answers I needed to understand what the
problems are. I hope I have gone at least some way towards achieving that.
Line to take on specific subjects
Vietnamese Boat People: First Asylum
My visit has convinced me of the strength of feeling in Hong Kong about this issue.
Understand these concerns.
Can also understand why some people here may
call for abandonment of first asylum policy.
If Hong Kong faced influx on scale of 1989,
it might be impossible for us to maintain first asylum.
But would be most reluctant to contemplate that. Do not believe it would serve Hong Kong's wider interests. Nor would it
solve the problem of the 50,000 boat people
who are already in Hong Kong.
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