TNAG-0845-FCO40-1055-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 129

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CONFIDENTIAL

HKK.026/7

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VISIT BY MR PETER BLAKER MP TO HONG KONG 123-25 SEPTEMBER 1979

EF NO. HK1:

STEERING BRIEF

40.

11 SEP 177

INDEX

REGISTRY ction Take

OBJECTIVES

1.

No Piza 4.

Tod

(a) To enable Mr Blaker to gain a first-hand impression of the

progress that has been achieved in Hong Kong in recent years

and of the problems that are currently pre-occupying the

Hong Kong Government, particularly refugees and immigration;

(b) To demonstrate to the local community the British

Government's determination to fulfil their responsibilities

towards the territory.

BACKGROUND TO THE VISIT

2. Mr Blaker's appointment as the FCO Minister with responsibility

for Hong Kong was warmly welcomed in Hong Kong because of his

previous connections with the territory. It will be particularly

appreciated that he is visiting the territory so early in the new

administration, and so soon after the Secretary of State's visit in

June. There are no outstanding problems in Anglo-Hong Kong relations

calling for attention, though the visit takes place at a time when

the territory continues to be pre-occupied with the problems of

immigration from China and refugees from Vietnam, in tackling which

Hong Kong looks to Britain for support and assistance.

THE PROGRAMME

3. The programme (Brief No. HK2) aims to give the Minister the

chance to see for himself something of what has been achieved in

Hong Kong in recent years, and also to gain an impression of what

the refugee and immigration problems mean for the territory.

To

this end, in addition to the initial helicopter tour of the territory,

the Minister will be briefed on one of the Government's most out-

standing achievements, the public housing programme, and taken to

CONFIDENTIAL

/visit