XN000022-1990-12-01 — Page 3

2

SIR DAVID SAID THE JAPANESE WERE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE CHINESE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE AIRPORT WAS, AND WAS SOMETIMES PUZZLED BY IT.

"WHAT I WAS DOING WAS EXPLAINING TO THEM THAT WE ARE CAREFULLY TALKING TO THE CHINESE ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDE, EXPLAINING TO THE CHINESE WHY IT IS CRUCIAL FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE TO HAVE A NEW AIRPORT AND

TO START BUILDING ON IT.

"AND TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS CAN BE DONE TO THE BENEFIT, THE LONG- TERM BENEFIT, OF HONG KONG AND WITH NO DISADVANTAGE FOR THE SAR WHEN IT IS SET UP IN 1997. QUITE THE CONTRARY, HE SAID.

"THERE IS A NEED TO EXPLAIN IT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME PUZZLEMENT OF THE CHINESE ATTITUDE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN EXPLAIN AND I'M SURE GRADUALLY WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO AND CONVINCE THE PEOPLE ON THE CHINESE SIDE," HE ADDED.

SIR DAVID ALSO SAID THERE WAS A REAL NEED TO KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE CHINESE LEADERS FOR THE SAKE OF HONG KONG AND FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING THE RIGHT SORT OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE.

"WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE OTHER COUNTRIES REMAINING IN CONTACT CHINA, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT CAN BE HELPFUL TO OUR OWN PARTICULAR CONCERNS IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

WITH

+

COMMENTING ON HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO LONDON, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR SOME TIME AND NOT AS A RESULT OF RECENT CHANGES IN THE CABINET IN LONDON.

"THE REASON TO GO IS TO GIVE SUPPORT TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. THEY HAVE A MAJOR DINNER FOR LEADING BUSINESSMEN IN LONDON AND THEY ALSO HAVE AN IMPORTANT SEMINAR WHICH I WILL BE SPEAKING AT, HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID HE WOULD BE MEETING THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, MR DOUGLAS HURD, AND MAKING SURE THAT SENIOR MEMBERS IN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WERE UP-TO-DATE ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN HONG KONG.

THE GOVERNOR AND LADY WILSON WERE MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD.

REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

* * *

THE FIRST GROUP OF 23

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IDENTIFIED BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) AS BEING "NOT OPPOSED ΤΟ RETURNING HOME" BOARDED A PLANE FOR VIETNAM TODAY (SATURDAY).

THE REPATRIATION OF THIS NEW CATEGORY OF BOAT PEOPLE WAS AGREED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF VIETNAM. THE UNITED KINGDOM, HONG KONG AND THE UNHCR AT A MEETING. IN HANOI IN SEPTEMBER.

/ALSO ON