XN000022-1988-05-30 — Page 6

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MONDAY, MAY 30, 1988

"

THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DISCUSS THIS WHOLE PROBLEM DURING THE REST OF MY VISIT WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG," HE SAID.

THE

ASKED IF HE SAW ANY MERIT IN CHANGING THE BRITISH POLICY OF GIVING FIRST ASYLUM TO ALL VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, SIR GEOFFREY SAID HE WOULD NOT MAKE POLICY PRONOUNCEMENTS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

"I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE MAKING THAT SUGGESTION, WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS OBVIOUSLY I SHALL BE WANTING TO HERE IN HONG KONG.

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AS TO WHETHER BRITAIN WAS REALLY DOING ENOUGH, HE SAID DOING A VERY GREAT DEAL.

·

AND IT DISCUSS

IT WAS

BRITAIN HAD BEEN CARRYING THE RESPONSIBILITY ON BEHALF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN PRESENTING THE PROBLEM IN ALL ITS ASPECTS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

"WE SHALL GO ON DOING THAT AND AS I SAID THERE IS NO EASY, QUICK SOLUTION TO WHAT IS A TERRIBLE HUMAN PROBLEM.

ASKED IF BRITAIN COULD TAKE MORE REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT, HE SAID THAT WAS NOT A QUESTION THAT COULD BE ANSWERED QUICKLY.

"IT 13 A VERY DIFFICULT ASPECT OF AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX PROBLEM, HE SAID.

SAID

"L

BEEN

WHEN ASKED WHAT BRITAIN'S RESPONSIBILITY WAS, SIR GEOFFREY THAT THOUGH BRITAIN HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ITSELF HAD PLAYING A VERY DIRECT AND SUBSTANTIAL PART IN DISCHARGING THAT AND IN PROVIDING AND MANAGING THE FACILITIES FOR REFUGEES OF THE HE HAD VISITED TODAY.

TASK,

KIND

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