XN000022-1985-06-11 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1985

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UK WELCOMES HK PEOPLE'S PART IN BASIC LAW DRAFTING

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THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE PARTICIPATION OF RESPONSIBLE AND REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG IN THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, THE PERMANENT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, SIR ANTONY ACLAND, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

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SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FOR SHANGHA | SIR ANTONY SAID ALTHOUGH HE HAD NOT DISCUSSED THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE IN ANY DETAIL DURING HIS VISIT. HE WELCOMED THE FACT THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THE DRAFTING PROCESS.

+WE ATTACH A LOT OF IMPORTANCE TO THAT, HE SAID.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION, SIR ANTONY SAID THAT THE SUBJECT OF FIRST MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM JULY 22 TO 25 IN LONDON, HAD BEEN RAISED WITH HIM DURING HIS VISIT.

+ I KNOW THERE IS SOME CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE HERE BEING INFORMED OF THE DELIBERATIONS, AND THAT WILL HAVE TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT. I WILL REPRESENT THE VIEWS ON THAT AND OTHER SUBJECTS THAT I HAVE HEARD DURING MY VISIT HERE TO THE AUTHORITIES IN LONDON, HE SAID.

ASKED FOR HIS VIEW ON CLOSED CAMPS FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, SIR ANTONY SAID NOBODY IN HONG KONG WHOM HE HAD TALKED TO WELCOMED THE CONCEPT OF CLOSED CAMPS.

+BUT WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE CARE AND THOUGHT WHICH HAS GONE INTO LOOKING AFTER THE REFUGEES THERE, IN PROVIDING EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND FOOD AND TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN.

+OBVIOUSLY A GREAT DEAL OF CARE IS TAKEN OVER THE REFUGEES HERE, BUT IT IS SAD THAT THEY HAVE TO BE CLOSED IN.+

ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD BE ADDING HIS VOICE TO PERSUADE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, HE SAID HE WOULD BE REPORTING THE VIEWS THAT HE HAD HEARD HERE.

+ IT IS SOMETHING WHICH IS NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED IN LONDON.

+WHEN SIR S.Y. CHUNG AND OTHERS WERE IN LONDON THE OTHER DAY, THEY MADE THEIR VIEWS VERY CLEAR TO MR RICHARD LUCE, THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE,+ HE SAID.

ASKED FOR HIS VIEW ON DISTRICT BOARDS IN ACTION, SIR ANTONY SAID IT WAS A GOOD AND DYNAMIC PROCESS OF CONSULTATION WITH ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TAKING PART.