XN000022-1979-06-30 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1979

BUSY DAY FOR LORD CARRINGTON

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THE RT. HON. THE LORD CARRINGTON, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, HAD A BUSY DAY TODAY (SATURDAY) ON HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO HONG KONG.

THIS MORNING LORD CARRINGTON HAD MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, LORD CARRINGTON THEN WENT TO THE BORDER AT MAN KAM TO BY HELICOPTER TO SEE THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OPERATION THERE.

IN THE AFTERNOON, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WENT TO A LOOKOUT AREA IN SHA TIN WHERE HE WAS BRIEFED ON DEVELOPMENT PLANS. HE ALSO VISITED WO CHE ESTATE.

LATER, LORD CARRINGTON WENT TO THE SHAM SHUI PO REFUGEE CAMP AND THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD.

LORD CARRINGTON SPENT ABOUT 30 MINUTES AT THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD WHERE HE SPOKE TO SOME OF THE 9,133 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ACCOMMODATED THERE.

SEVERAL OF THOSE HE SPOKE TO SAID THEY HOPED TO SETTLE IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN AUSTRALIA.

LORD CARRINGTON WAS ACCOMPANIED AT THE DOCKYARD BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AND THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR. L.M. DAVIES. THEY WERE MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE CAMP MANAGER, MR. MAX PAK-LAM,

LORD CARRINGTON WATCHED IMMIGRATION OFFICERS REGISTERING RECENT ARRIVALS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE MOVED ASHORE AS SOON AS SPACE COULD BE FOUND FOR THEM. AT PRESENT ABOUT 1,500 NEW ARRIVALS REMAIN ON 12 BOATS AT THE DOCKYARD.

HE ALSO TOURED ONE OF THE FIVE CROWDED GODOWNS AND CHATTED WITH A VIETNAMESE DOCTOR ASSISTING THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE STAFF IN THE MEDICAL CENTRE AT THE DOCKYARD.

BEFORE LEAVING, LORD CARRINGTON SAID THE PROBLEM OF THE

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WAS TRULY HORRIFYING.

+HONG KONG IS DOING THE BEST IT CAN. THEIR EFFORTS

ARE TRULY ADMIRABLE, HE ADDED.

LORD CARRINGTON SAID THERE MUST BE MANY MORE OFFERS FOR RESETTLEMENT. BUT THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR VIETNAM TO STOP EXPORTING ITS PEOPLE.

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