XN000022-1988-05-31 — Page 33

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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1988

ANTHONY FLORES: BEFORE A FINAL SOLUTION IS FOUND AND IF THE UNHCR DENIES ANY ASSISTANCE TO HONG KONG, WILL THE UK AUTHORITIES ASSIST THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FINANCIALLY IN RUNNING THESE CAMPS?

SIR GEOFFREY: WE SHALL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE RANGE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS. THE POINT IS THE UNITED KINGDOM DOES ALREADY MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE UNHCR SOME 16 MILLION POUNDS (STERLING) A YEAR FOR USE IN HONG KONG AS IN OTHER PLACES, AND I THINK THAT'S THE POINT FROM WHICH ONE STARTS.

CHRIS POMERY (THE TIMES); SIR, WOULD YOU FEEL ABLE TO ENDORSE THE DRAFT AS IT STANDS TO PARLIAMENT? AND IF NOT, IF YOU HAVE ANY RESERVATIONS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

SIR GEOFFREY: I ALREADY MADE PLAIN IN MY SPEECH YESTERDAY, THAT THE BASIC LAW FIRST DRAFT IS THE FIRST DRAFT. IT IS FAR FROM COMPLETE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AREAS THAT PEOPLE WISH TO SEE STUDIED FURTHER, AND I'M NOT NOW GOING TO BE DRAWN INTO MAKING MY OWN CATALOGUE OF THEM.

CHRIS POMERY: DO YOU HAVE TO ENDORSE IT TO PARLIAMENT AS SUCH?

SIR GEOFFREY: NO. IN NO WAY, NOBODY IS INVITING ME ΤΟ. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE SAID IN THE SAME WAY WE HAVE SAID THAT THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW IS FAR FROM COMPLETE. SO NOBODY I THINK IS INVITING ME TO DO WHAT YOU'RE INVITING ME TO DO, AND I DON'T EVEN YOU ARE.

THINK

THE

THE

HAVE SAID BASIC LAW WOULD YOU UK GOVERNMENT CHINESE

SIMON FUNG: SIR GEOFFREY, RECENTLY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF THE BASIC LAW, THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BASIC LAW THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECEIVE OPINION OR DISCUSSIONS ON FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS AND ALSO DISTRICT BOARDS. NOW MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE THAT THE

ΤΟ COUNCILS WOULD RELAY VIEWS OF ALL THESE BOARDS SIDE THROUGH THE DIPLOMATIC CHANNEL?

PASS

AND

SIR GEOFFREY: CERTAINLY, THE UK GOVERNMENT WOULD BE READY TO ΤΟ THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES RECORDS OF

AND DISCUSSIONS OF THAT CONCLUSIONS

KIND. 1 DON'T THINK ONE SHOULD BE UNDULY THAT, AS A MATTER OF PREOCCUPIED WITH THE MECHANICS OF

FACT. THE LAW, IS BEING REALITY IS THAT THE BASIC LAW, THE DRAFT OF THE BASIC

BY DISCUSSED

INDIVIDUALS, BY

BY NEWSPAPERS,

BY COMMENTATORS,

AND DISCUSSED,

WILL REPRESENTATIVE BODLES IN HONG KONG, IT HAS BEEN

AND BE DISCUSSED BY PARLIAMENT IN THE UK.

I

THAT DON'T DOUBT

THE AND EARS OF OUTCOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL REACH THE EYES

THOSE

THE BASIC LAW. WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE FUTURE OF

CERTAINLY, WE SHALL PLAY OUR PART IN SEEING THAT THEY DO. I DON'T THINK EITHER SIDE SHOULD BE PREOCCUPIED BY PROCEDURE.

INTENSELY,

THE REALITY IS THE BASIC LAW IS THE TOPIC NOW BEING CONSIDERED

AND

RIGHTLY, BY MANY PEOPLE. AND THE BASIC LAW COMMITTEE WILL HARKEN TO THAT. CONSULTATIVE

JUST AS THE

SO DONE

UP REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE HAVE

TO NOW.

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