THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1992
DIFFICULT ISSUE DEALT WITH CONSIDERABLE COMPETENCE: GOVERNOR
* *
:
HONG KONG HAVE DEALT WITH THE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WITH CONSIDERABLE COMPETENCE OVER THE LAST DECADE AND MORE, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
WHITEHEAD
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING THE DETENTION CENTRE FOR VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS, MR PATTEN SAID: "I THINK THE WORLD RECOGNISES THAT NO COMMUNITY CAN BE EXPECTED TO ACCEPT ECONOMIC MIGRANTS IN LARGE NUMBERS.
"I THINK THAT IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT IT IS BEST FOR THOSE WHO ARE PLAINLY ECONOMIC MIGRANTS TO RETURN TO VIETNAM AND TO MAKE A LIFE FOR THEMSELVES THERE WITH THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE AND UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE UNHCR, HE SAID.
"PEOPLE HAVE то RECOGNISE THAT THE ECONOMY IN VIETNAM IS IMPROVING, I THINK THERE IS A GENERAL RECOGNITION OF THAT, AND THAT THEIR LIVES ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY WOULD BE FAR BETTER LIVED IN VIETNAM THAN IN A CAMP LIKE THIS, HE ADDED.
++
WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ABOUT THE AIRPORT TALKS, MR PATTEN SAID: "WE'VE ASKED FOR A MEETING OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK. I'D LIKE TO SEE IT TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, AT WHICH WE CAN RESPOND TO THOSE PROPOSALS WHICH WE'RE AT PRESENT STUDYING VERY CLOSELY.
H
"AND WE WILL WANT TO RESPOND TO THEM AS CONSTRUCTIVELY AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS IS CONCEIVABLE,
++ HE SAID.
"I'VE SAID AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEMS WHICH ARE BEING DISCUSSED IN THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE ARE ALL WHOLLY SOLVABLE, WHOLLY SOLUBLE, ON THEIR MERITS.
OF
"I THINK WE COULD SORT THEM OUT ON THEIR MERITS WITH THE SORT SPEED WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND DOUBTLESS, THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN CHINA, WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE.
"CONCRETE PROPOSALS, INTERESTING PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD BY CHINESE OFFICIALS. WE ARE STUDYING THEM; WE WILL RESPOND NEXT WEEK AND I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE EARLY AGREEMENT DURING THE MEETING OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE WHICH WE WOULD LIKE ΤΟ HOLD ON WEDNESDAY, MR PATTEN SAID.
TT
"I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE CAN BE ANY DIFFICULTY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT WILL AFTER ALL, BE US THAT IS RESPONDING TO CHINESE PROPOSALS NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND.
"WE'RE NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH. AS YOU KNOW, FOR US THE ONLY BOTTOM LINE IS TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE PROJECT AT THE BEST POSSIBLE COST. I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD EXPECT OF US AND IT'S IN THAT SENSE THAT WE'LL BE NEGOTIATING ON
BEHALF,
HE
ADDED.
/EARLIER,
ACCOMPANIED