TNAG-0905-FCO40-1115-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 23

QUESTION: IS THERE A FURTHER CONSIDERATION WHICH HAS TO BE ADDED TO THAT, NAMELY THAT BECAUSE HONG KONG IS OUR CROWN COLONY, WE WILL BE EXPECTED BY THE REST OF THE WOR

WORLD TO DO

AT LEAST AS MUCH FOR HONG KONG AS ANY COUNTRY IS ASKED TO DO FOR HONG KONG?

LORD CARRINGTON: THAT MAY VERY WELL BE SO. I THINK ONE MUST REMEMBER THOUGH AT THE SAME TIME THAT WHILE ON SOME PROBLEMS WE HAVE A CERTAIN HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY THE

VIETNAMESE PROBLEM IS NOT THE PROBLEM PRIMARILY OF THE BRITISH. SO WE HAVE GOT TO WEIGH ALL THESE THINGS UP AND AS I HAVE SAID, CONSIDER THESE THINGS WITH THE COMPASSION AND HUMANITY THEY NEED, AND AT THE SAME TIME THINK OF OUR OWN SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES.

QUESTION: THE UN CONFERENCE IS BEING HELD VERY MUCH WITH BRITISH BACKING AND BR TISH INITIATIVE. IF BRITAIN GOES

TO THAT CONFERENCE AND WANTS TO ENCOURAGE OTHER COUNTRIES TO ACCEPT MORE REFUGEES, IT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD IN

OFFERING TO ACCEPT MORE HERESELF.

LORD CARRINGTON, WELL WHAT WE HAVE SAID IS WEW WILL

MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN MONEY OR TAKING REFUGEES, HAVING REGARD TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES. AND I HAVE EXPLAINED WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE.

QUESTION: ARE WE TO INFER FROM THAT THAT THE BRITISH

CONTRIBUTION WILL CONCENTRATE. ON CASH RATHER THAN ADMISSION?

LORD CARRINGTON: NO, I DIDNT SAY YHAT, BUT I HAVE SAID YOU HAVE TO REGARD BOTH. AS A MATTER OF FACT, AT THE MOMENT

CASH ISNT VERY EASY EITHER. (LAUGHTER)

QUESTION: THE GOVERNOR REFERRED THE OTHER DAY TO THE FACT THAT ACCEPTING COUNTRIES WERE SUFFERING, WHEREAS OTHERS WERE TAKING REFUGEES FROM MALAYSIA BECAUSE OF HER POLICY OF PUSHING

ANAY THE BOAT PEOPLE. WHAT IS THE POSITION OF THE UK

GOVERNMENT, AND WHAT WILL YOU BE SAY ING TO THE MALAYSIAN

GOVERNMENT IN KUALA LUMPUR?

/LOPA

CAPPING permane