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Transcript of Secretary of State's press conference

Following is the transcript of a press conference given by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Rt Hon Malcolm Rifkind, today (Tuesday):

Question: ....British Government has no responsibility on solving the Vietnamese boat people problem. Is it .... change of the British Government.... discuss it with your Chinese counterpart?

Mr Rifkind: I never said that the British Government has no responsibility. That may be what you read in the press; that doesn't necessarily mean it's what I said. I indicated that we have a very considerable responsibility right up to the 30th June next year because we are responsible for the foreign relations relevant to Hong Kong. We have been carrying out these responsibilities in, I believe, an effective manner. We have seen a very substantial reduction in the number of Vietnamese people in Hong Kong, from over 60,000 to around 21,000-22,000 at the present time. The Vietnamese Government have given certain assurances that repatriation will continue. Of course we wish to use every means to realise that objective and we will continue to act in accordance with our obligations and responsibilities as long as we are the sovereign power. That is our position and that will continue to be our position.

Question: Joan Ngai from TVB News. Yesterday you have mentioned that you are waiting for more information from China concerning about the SAR passport. What more information and assurance you would like to have from China in consideration for granting the visa-free to the SAR passport holders? And secondly, recently there's one Hong Kong man, Mr Lo Tak-shing gained a Chinese passport by his own way. Do you think that it will smash the British Government's confidence and that has had any effect on this in consideration for granting the visa-free?

Mr Rifkind: I indicated yesterday that the British Government had been waiting for some more information and details on the SAR passport so that we can then address the question of visa-free access. I also indicated that a lot of that information is now

available and therefore I would expect that my ministerial colleagues and I will wish to address the question of SAR visa-free access for Hong Kong residents in the near future. I realise this is a matter which people are wishing to hear our position on. I think it's now going to be possible for us to address that issue and I would expect over the next two or three month period we will be able to deal with that matter come to a conclusion.

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