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MONDAY, MAY 13, 1991
UNDERSTANDING RESPONSE FROM AUSTRALIAN MINISTERS ON VM PROBLEM
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THE GOVERNOR. SIR DAVID WILSON, INDICATED TODAY (MONDAY) THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WAS WILLING TO ASSIST HONG KONG IN HELPING TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.
HE WAS SPEAKING AFTER A SERIES OF MEETINGS IN CANBERRA TODAY WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT MINISTERS, INCLUDING THE FOREIGN MINISTER, MR GARETH EVANS, AND THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER, MR GERRY HAND, WITH WHOM HE RAISED THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.
SIR DAVID SAID HE RECEIVED AN UNDERSTANDING RESPONSE FROM BOTH
MINISTERS.
HELP
"I THINK THEY ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO US IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THIS SORT OF PROBLEM," HE SAID.
EARLIER IN THE DAY, THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE WAS A GREAT FUTURE FOR AUSTRALIA HAVING AN ECONOMIC INVOLVEMENT IN HONG KONG.
INTERVIEWED ON NATIONAL RADIO, SIR DAVID SAID HE BELIEVED HONG KONG HAD A MAJOR CONTINUING ROLE TO PLAY FOR AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS, AND WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, IN TRADING THROUGH THE TERRITORY INTO CHINA.
"THE MORE THERE IS FOREIGN ECONOMIC INVOLVEMENT IN HONG KONG, THE BETTER IT IS FOR THE CHANCES OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE WORKING OUT WELL IN PRACTICE,'
tr HE SAID.
ASKED ABOUT THE AIRPORT, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE COULD NOT PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS WHICH WERE DUE TO RESUME ON SATURDAY. HOWEVER, HE SAID: "IT'S SOMETHING WE WANT ON OUR SIDE ΤΟ PUSH AHEAD WITH AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
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ALTHOUGH IT WAS A WORRY TO PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS SOMETHING WHICH UNDERMINED CONFIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY, SIR DAVID ADDED.
SIR DAVID ALSO HAD WIDE RANGING DISCUSSIONS LASTING FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR WITH THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE.
THE SUBJECTS COVERED HONG KONG'S ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE, RELATIONS WITH CHINA, THE EXTENT OF AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT IN HONG KONG, AND THE PRESENT SITUATION IN THE TERRITORY.
SIR DAVID DESCRIRED THE TALKS AS VERY USEFUL.
HE ALSO HAD MEETINGS WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS, MR KIM BEAZLEY, THE MINISTER FOR TRADE AND OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT, DR NRAL BLEWETT, AND THE LEADER OF THE FEDERAL OPPOSITION, DR JOHN HEWSON.
/SIR DAVID