Authority. This is not the case. Discussions are
continuing between the Hong Kong Government and the
Chinese Government about membership of the
Consultative Committee. Agreement has been reached on
the Airport Committee constituted under the Joint Liason
Group.
Third, you urge a review of the 50 hectare limit for
annual release of new land laid down in the Joint
Declaration. In fact, in every year since the Land
Commission was established in 1985, more than 50 hectares
of new land have been agreed for release. In the current
year, over 81 hectares will be released. In the last
financial year over 120 hectares was released.
Kong Government does not have a high land price policy
and we would also agree that the restriction in the Joint
Declaration is not contributing to land costs.
The Hong
Fourth, the issue of Vietnamese Boat people. The
Prime Minister took this issue up with the Chinese
Government. They agreed that efforts to resolve the
problem should be intensified and that they would support
all steps taken by Hong Kong to that end.
As the Prime Minister made clear in Hong Kong, he fully appreciates the tremendous pressures Hong Kong is under and appreciates how Hong Kong has coped efficiently and humanely with the problem. Most of the boat people are economic migrants and they will have to return home.
We are negotiating with the Vietnamese Government for the
establishment of centres in Vietnam for such people that would be internationally managed and under the control of United Nations Agencies.
J S Wall