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MONDAY, JUNE 26. 1989
SENIOR MEMBERS REPORT ON LONDON TRIP
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, DAME LYDIA DUNN, AND SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ALLEN LEE, AT A PRESE CONFERENCE HELD TODAY
(MONDAY):
"AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAME BACK FROM LONDON WHERE WE SOUGHT TO PUT ACROSS HONG KONG'S CASE FOR A RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONG BRITISH SUBJECTS AND A SAFE AND SECURE FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
"TO EXPLAIN OUR CASE TO THE BRITISH PUBLIC, WB GAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS TO RADIO, TV AND PRINT MEDIA, AND WE GAVE BRIEFINGS TO EDITORS, LOCAL GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS, AND FRIENDS OF HONG KONG.
"THEY RESPONDED MOST ENCOURAGINGLY. THE MEDIA GAVE THE HONG KONG CASE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE, INCLUDING SEVERAL SUPPORTIVE EDITORIALS, MANY MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH PUBLIC WROTE OR TELEPHONED US, OFFERING SUPPORT OR HELP. WE KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WROTE TO NEWSPAPERS OR TO MP'S.
"AS FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, WE ARE BOUND TO SAY THAT THE RESPONSE OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE WAS DISAPPOINTING. THEIR POSITION WAS THAT BRITAIN COULD NOT ACCEPT THE POTENTIAL OF 3.25 MILLION PEOPLE GOING TO LIVE IN BRITAIN. THEY SAID THEY HAD BEEN LOOKING AT VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES. THESE INCLUDE EXERCISING MORE FLEXIBILITY UNDER THE NATIONALITY ACT, ARRANGEMENTS TO CATER FOR WHAT THEY CALL CATACLYSMIC SITUATIONS, AND GIVING THE RIGHT OF ABODE TO ALL 3.25 MILLION BRITISH SUBJECTS. ALL THESE OPTIONS PRESENTED DIFFICULTIES, THEY SAID. WE GAINED THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY LACKED A SENSE OF URGENCY.
**THE PRIME MINISTER WAS MUCH MORE FORTHCOMING. WE WERE ENCOURAGED BY HER SINCERITY AND OBVIOUS CONCERN, ALTHOUGH SHE SAID THERE WERE IMMENSE DIFFICULTIES IN GIVING THE RIGHT OF ABODE ΤΟ ALL BRITISH SUBJECTS, SHE QUICKLY ACCEPTED THAT THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED TO HELP TO RESTORE SOME CONFIDENCE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THAT WORDS WERE NO LONGER ENOUGH, AND THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE NEEDED TO SOME ACTION.
SEE
"SHE THEREFORE PROMISED TO MAKE A STATEMENT SOON ON HOW THE POWERS UNDER THE NATIONALITY ACT AND THE IMMIGRATION RULES WOULD BB EXERCISED TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG TO QUALIFY FOR THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN BRITAIN,
"WE TOLD THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT TO SAY THAT PARLIAMENT MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM GRANTING RIGHT OF ABODE OFFERS NO SOLUTION TO THE PRESENT PROBLEMS IN HONG KONG, SMALL MODEST CONCESSIONS WILL DO LITTLE TO MOTIVATE AND ENERGISE THOSE WHO NEED TO COMMIT THEMSELVES NOW TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE.
/"WE LEFT