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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1990
GOVERNOR SPEAKS ON RETURN OF VBP
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING THAT IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER TO GO BACK TO VIETNAM, BUT IF THEY DID NOT. SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS. MUST BE MADE FOR THEM TO DO SO.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG FASHION WEEK, SIR DAVID SAID THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WERE GIVEN EVERY CHANCE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO RETURN VOLUNTARILY.
"AND
INDEED SOME OF THE FIRST GROUP THAT WAS GOING TO BE SENT BACK DID IN FACT VOLUNTEER, SO IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO VOLUNTEER," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE REPORT BY LORD ENNALS WHO MONITORED THE 51 VBP WHO WERE SENT BACK MANDATORILY ΤΟ VIETNAM LAST MONTIL.
SIR DAVID SAID ALTHOUGH HE HAD NOT READ THE REPORT IN FULL, HE THOUGHT THE KEY POINT MADE WAS THAT THE PROPLE WHO WENT BACK TO THEIR HOMES IN VIETNAM HAD NOT IN ANY WAY BEEN MALTREATED WHEN THEY
RETURNED.
"THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF HIS MISSION AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT POINT IN THAT IT MATTERS TO US A LOT, HE SAID.
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"WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THR SENDING OF THAT GROUP BACK TO VIETNAM 15 WHENEVER YOU DO AN OPERATION LIKE THAT YOU WANT 'ro MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SUCCESSFUL.
"AND THEN THEREFORE YOU NEED TO HAVE SUFFICIENT PEOPLE TO MAKE IT IS SUCCESSFUL SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE ANY EXCESSIVE PERSUASION, AND IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION, HE ADDED.
SURE
ASKED TO COMMENT ON HONG KONG'S POLITICAL, REFORM, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION GOING ON AT THE MOMENT TO TRY TO FIND A SATISFACTORY WAY FORWARD ON THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT. WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND THAT SORT OF SATISFACTORY PATTERN.
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SIR DAVID SAID ALTHOUGH HE COULD NOT COMMENT FURTHER BECAUSE DISCUSSIONS WERE STILL GOING ON, HE SAID: "IT'S NOT A QUESTION IN ANY WAY, AT ANY TIME OF TRADING IN 11ONG RONG'S INTERESTS. IT'S TRYING TO ACHIEVE IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG, THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY FORWARD ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT.'
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE VISIT BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY WAS VERY USEFUL AND IMPORTANT.
"IE SAW A LARGE NUMBER OF PROPLE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IF THE MEMBERS OF OMELCO WISH TO CARRY FORWARD DISCUSSION, THEN OF COURSE THEY SHOULD DO SO, SIR DAVID SAID.
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IT'S RIGHT THERE SHOULD BE A CONTINUING DISCUSSION ON MATTERS WHICH ARE OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG, HE ADDED.
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