XN000022-1991-07-22 — Page 2

MONDAY, JULY 22, 1991

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MOU ON NEW AIRPORT A MAJOR STEP FORWARD: MINISTER

THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ON THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT IS VERY GOOD FOR HONG KONG AND A MAJOR STEP FORWARD, THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, LORD CAITHNESS, SAID (MONDAY).

TODAY

AT

THE AIRPORT, HELP THE HONG GOVERNOR HAD GIVEN

LORD KONG

IN THE

HIS ARRIVAL

THE AND

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON CAITHNESS SAID HE WAS VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE

THE OFFICIALS, GOVERNMENT, NEGOTIATIONS IN PEKING LAST MAY.

"NOW, THAT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN SIGNED. I THINK ONE THAT'S A GOOD STEP FORWARD. WE WANT TO BUILD ON THAT, BECAUSE THE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG IS STABILITY AND CONTINUITY, AND EVERYBODY HERE HAS SAID THAT GOOD HONG KONG-BRITAIN AND CHINESE BUILD ON," RELATIONSHIPS ARE ESSENTIAL. NOW THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO THE MINISTER ADDED.

LORD CAITHNESS SAID DURING HIS VISIT HE WOULD BE TALKING TO THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR OFFICIALS, AND MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, TO WAS BOAT PROPLE WHICH CURRENT CONCERNS OF HEAR CERTAINLY ONE.

ON

+

THE

VIETNAMESE

THE MINISTER SAID PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN GENEVA DURING TALKS THE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM: "WE'VE HAD GOOD SESSIONS OF TALKS AND WE WANT TO GET THOSE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OP COMPREHENSIVE PLÅN WE GET A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM UNDER THE

IS FORWARD

THROUGH THE ACTION, AND WE

BEST WAY BELIEVE THE INTERNATIONALLY MANAGED CENTRES IN VIETNAM."

LORD CAITHNESS WAS PLEASED TO PROVIDE

IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ON THE BCCHK ISSUE, SÁID THAT WAS A MATTER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. HE THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN IMMEDIATE STEPS SOME RELIEF TO DEPOSITORS.

REGIONAL HEADS LORD CAITHNESS WILL ALSO LEAD THE

OF MISSION CONFERENCE BEING ATTENDED BY 14 HEADS OF MISSION IN THE PACIFIC AREA.

THE

"WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE REGION, FROM JAPAN AND KOREA NORTH RIGHT DOWN TO NEW ZEALAND IN THE SOUTH AND WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN, WHAT ARE BRITISH INTERESTS, HOW CAN WE ENHANCE OUR ROLE THE COMMERCIAL FIELD," THE MINISTER SAID.

IN

IN

IN

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