TNAG-1446-FCO40-1930-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 85

CONFIDENTIAL

FURTHER, ALTHOUGH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, IT HAS EMPHASIZED TO THOSE WHO ARE, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING. AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF NUCLEAR ENERGY CAN DO MUCH TO ALLAY UNDERSTANDABLE FEAPS. THE PARTNERS IN THE JOINT VENTURE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAYA DAY HAVE RELEASED THE GREATER PART OF THE JOINT FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE PROJECT AND HAVE RECENTLY INDICATED THAT THEY INTEND TO BROADEN THEIR PROGRAMME OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ON ITS FUTURE OPERATION. ADDITION, THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT PREPARED BY THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL'S OVERSEAS FACT-FINDING MISSION PROVIDES MUCH USEFUL INFORMATION ON NUCLEAR ENERGY AND IN PARTICULAR, ON THE SAFETY ASPECTS INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN OF PLANTS SIMILAR TO THAT

TO BE BUILT AT DAYA BAY.

IN

ON THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE COST OF ELECTRICITY TO HONG KONG CONSUMERS, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT A GUARANTEE SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO ENSURE THAT ELECTRICITY PURCHASED FROM DAYA BAY WOULD

NEVER BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THAT OF ELECTRICITY GENERATED FROM

CONVENTIONAL POWER STATIONS IN HONG KONG.

(D)

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

THIS YEAR HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN ARRIVALS OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM. AS A MATTER OF POLICY, HONG KONG HAS BEEN PREPARED TO BE A PLACE OF FIRST ASYLUM FOR AS LONG AS IT REMAINS THE INTER-

NATIONAL PRESUMPTION THAT THOSE STILL LEAVING VIETNAM ARE GENUINE

REFUGEES AND THAT RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ARE PREPARED TO TAKE THEM.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR

REFUGEES FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN RUNNING OUR REFUGEE PROGRAMME.

THIS YEAR, THE RATE OF RESETTLEMENT HAS IMPROVED, MAINLY DUE TO THE PESPONSE OF OTHER COUNTRIES TO A BRITISH INITIATIVE WHICH

ENABLED MORE REFUGEES TO ENTER THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER FAMILY

REUNION CRITERIA. FOR OUR PART, GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO TAKE UP TO 250 REFUGEES OF CHINESE ORIGIN FOR PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN

HONG KONG.

BUT THE OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE IS LESS BRIGHT. DURING THE

CURRENT YEAR SOME 4,200 REFUGEES WILL BE RESETTLED, BUT THIS LEVEL

IS UNLIKELY TO BE MAINTAINED IN 1987. EVERY YEAR MORE AND MORE

EFFORT IS REQURED TO RETAIN THE INTEREST OF THE RESETTLEMENT

COUNTRIES. A MORE DURABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF THE CONTINUING

EXODUS FROM VIETNAM MUST BE FOUND. WE SHALL CONTINUE, WITH THE

ASSISTANCE OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, TO PRESS THE INTERNATIONAL

COMMUNITY FOR SUCH A SOLUTION.

(E) ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A GRADUAL INCREASE IN

THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED WHILST ATTEMPTING TO ENTER

HONG KONG, FROM A DAILY AVERAGE OF 17 IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF

1983, TO 33 PER DAY IN THE SAME PERIOD THIS YEAP. THE NUMBER OF

-b-

CONTIDENTIAL

/ILLEGAL