XN000022-1989-10-26 — Page 2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1989

GOVT WORKING TOWARDS SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT ON RETURNING VBP

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THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TOWARDS A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT ON A PROGRAMME OF ORDERLY RETURN TO VIETNAM OF BOAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT AS NOT BEING REFUGEES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY

(THURSDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING A FACTORY IN TSUEN WAN, THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS REMAINED THE OBJECTIVE AS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY IN YESTERDAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

"WE WANT TO GET THAT AGREEMENT AND THOSE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE, REALLY AS SOON AS WE CAN AND CERTAINLY BEFORE THE START OF THE NEXT SAILING SEASON NEXT YEAR. BUT WE HAVEN'T GOT THERE YET," HE SAID.

"WE'VE GOT TO GET AN AGREEMENT WHICH WE THINK IS AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO GET THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS IN ADDED.

SATISFACTORY PLACE, HE

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ASKED ABOUT THE FUNDING OF THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT, SIR DAVID SAID IT DID NOT DEPEND ON USING THE LAND FUND OF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.

"WE'RE MAKING THE ASSUMPTIONS ON FUNDINGS WHICH ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON USING THE SAR LAND FUND. THERE WAS AN EARLIER COMMENT FROM THE BANK OF CHINA ECONOMIC BULLETIN SUGGESTING THAT THE LAND FUND MIGHT BE USED.

"AND THAT WAS A POSITIVE WAY OF LOOKING AT THE USE OF THE LAND FUND, HE SAID.

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"WE WENT TO CONSULTANTS ON THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND OF COURSE LOOKED INTO IT EXTREMELY CAREFULLY AND, AS A RESULT, ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE FUNDING WILL BE THERE, HE ADDED.

ASKED ABOUT A LETTER SENT FROM THE POLITICAL ADVISER TO THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE WOULD NOT RELEASE DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES, BUT THAT WAS, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ONLY LETTER THAT WENT FROM THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S OFFICE TO THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY.

"BUT

LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR. THAT WAS NOT RELEASED BY THE GOVERNMENT. WE DON'T AS A PRACTICE RELEASE THE CONTENTS OF DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES. THAT'S NORMAL PRACTICE," HE ADDED.

ASKED TO COMMENT ON A CALL FOR DISBANDIDNG OF THE HONG KONG ALLIANCE IN SUPPORT OF THE PATRIOTIC DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN CHINA, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT MUST BE A MATTER ENTIRELY FOR THE ALLIANCE.

"THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T TRY TO DICTATE TO ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG WHICH ARE LEGAL, WHAT THEY SHOULD DO OR WHAT THEY SHOULDN'T- DO. IT'S ENTIRELY A MATTER FOR THE ORGANISATIONS THEMSELVES, HE SAID.

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