Mrs Meriel Packman
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28 December 1990
I profoundly disagree with your view that we owe these people nothing. We have never walked away from a Colony without doing our best to ensure a safe future for it and 1 certainly would not wish us to begin with Hong Kong. lt remains to be seen whether the present Chinese Government, largely consisting of very old men, will remain proof against the surging forces that have overturned the repressive regimes of Eastern Europe, and most notably that of Romania. There are seven years still to go.
I have been as strong as anyone in support of this Government's policy of very firm restraints upon immigration and I am absolutely satisfied that not only do the Government's proposals represent what is required us in honour towards the people of Hong Kong, but that it does not represent any significant risk of endangering our very proper policy for immigration generally.
Mrs Meriel Packman Court Lodge
Groombridge
Kent TN3 9PS
F
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