3.
Governor: Unfortunately, my visit to the district might not be quite as useful as the visit of structural engineers. But if it would serve any purpose, I'll certainly go. But what I want first of all is to hear direct from James Blake, the Secretary for Works, tomorrow about the work that's being done and the work that needs to be done.
Question: Mr Hanley, what is your personal view on the Preparatory Committee to be set up and how would the British Government assist that?
Minister: It's an extremely important development. What I'm here for is to listen to the Governor and to discover what he feels of the likely possibilities in the future to prepare for whatever might happen. I'm certain that China will recognise the value both to China and to Hong Kong and the great quality of people here in Hong Kong should be used for the future. I therefore look forward to meeting those people and I hope that I would be agreeing with the Governor's the quality of those who help to run Hong Kong now and I hope in the future.
Question: Mr Hanley, how do you comment on the appointment of Mr Jiang Enzhu as the new ambassador to Britain?
Minister: I have just heard of that myself. If that appointment is confirmed, then indeed there will be a very experienced and wise negotiator who will be present in London to help the negotiations for the coming few months.
End/Friday, September 1, 1995
Governor discusses VM issue with visiting US Congressman
The Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, and the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, met the visiting US Congressman, Mr Chris Smith, this (Friday) morning and discussed various issues relating to Vietnamese migrants (VMs).
During the meeting, Mr Smith learnt that Hong Kong has since 1975 provided refuge to almost 200,000 asylum seekers from Vietnam and none of the boats arriving Hong Kong shores has ever been turned away.
The territory has spent almost US$900 million on the matter since 1979, in addition to a debt amounting to US$130 million owed to Hong Kong by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).