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FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1989
FOREIGN SECRETARY TO VISIT HK IN JULY
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THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE:
THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE.
WILL VISIT HONG KONG AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY,
THE VISIT WILL TAKE PLACE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE CONTINUING STABILITY, SECURITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY WILL WISH TO DISCUSS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ADVISERS THE IMPLICATIONS OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND THE HANDLING OF THE ENORMOUS BURDENS PLACED ON HONG KONG BY THE ARRIVAL OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
GOVERNOR SEEKS STRONG ASSURANCES FROM PRIME MINISTER
THE GOVERNOR. SIR DAVID WILSON, HAS HELD A LENGTHY MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, MRS MARGARET THATCHER, AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, TO SEEK STRONG ASSURANCES FROM THE PRIME MINISTER ON HER PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND TO MAKING THE RIGHT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TERRITORY.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN LONDON YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) AFTER THE MEETING. THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD PUT TO THE PRIME MINISTER THE VERY STRONG FEELINGS OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE QUESTION OF RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
"I SAID THAT IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GIVE A RIGHT OF ENTRY TO BRITAIN FOR THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO HAVE BRITISH PASSPORTS. THAT WOULD DO AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF GOOD IN HONG KONG," SIR DAVID SAID.
"THE PRIME MINISTER SAID. AS SHE SAID IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THAT TO DO THIS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO POTENTIALLY MIGHT COME WAS A MATTER OF GREAT POLITICAL DIFFICULTY. BUT THE MINISTERS WERE LOOKING URGENTLY AT THE QUESTION OF TRYING TO INTRODUCE FLEXIBILITY INTO THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS." HE ADDED.
ASKED ABOUT A TIMETABLE FOR INCREASING DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE DISCUSSED THAT QUESTION AND I EXPLAINED TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND TO THE FOREIGN SECRETARY WHAT THE VIEWS OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE AT THE MOMENT AND HOW THEY'VE BEEN EVOLVING.
"AND HOW