in the search
far
remains the only feasible
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
Q1.
short-term solution, However, Confidential
DID YOU RAISE WITH BRITISH MINISTERS INVOLUNTARY REPRATRIATION
AS ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM? HOW DID THEY REACT?
A1.
VARIOUS OPTIONS WERE DISCUSSED. WHILE REPATRIATION MIGHT
PERHAPS BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, THERE ARE PRACTICAL] DIFFICULTIES
TO BE OVERCOME. CLEARLY OUR MAIN EFFORTS MUST BE TO CONTINUE TO SECURE MORE RESETTLEMENT PLACES FOR REFUGEES IN HONG KONG BECAUSE THIS WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM. BOTH BRITAIN AND HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY A MORE DURABLE SOLUTION.
Q2.
only proctical
lomit?
wash with
IN YOUR MEETINGS IN LONDON, DID YOU GET THE BACKING YOU NEED FROM BRITAIN TO HELP HONG KONG OVERCOME THE REFUGEE PROBLEM?
A2. DON'T FORGET THAT BRITAIN HAS TAKEN SOMETHING LIKE 12
13,000 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. IT LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE LAST
YEAR TO TAKE 500 FAMILY REUNION CASES. IN RESPONSE TO THIS INITIATIVE, 14 OTHER COUNTRIES EITHER BEGAN TAKING IN REFUGEES
FROM HONG KONG OR INCREASED THEIR INTAKE.
Q3. BUT HAS BRITAIN AGREED TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG
KING IN ORDER TO GIVE THE LEAD TO OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES?
A3.
MINISTERS ARE AWARE OF THE CRITICAL ROLE WHICH BRITAIN
PLAYS IN THIS DIFFICULT AREA AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING CAREFULLY
HOW BEST THEY CAN HELP HONG KONG.
DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT
Q1. DID YOU PRESS FOR A BETTER DEAL FOR HONG KONG IN YOUR
DISCUSSIONS WITH MINISTERS IN LONDON? WHAT PROPOSALS DID YOU
MAKE TO MINISTERS? WHAT WAS THEIR REACTION?
A1.
AS I SAID, MY DISCUSSIONS WERE OF A PRELIMINARY NATURE. FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS WILL NOT START UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
JLG V
A1.
A1.
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME OF JLG V?
YES. I SEE IT AS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF THE CLOSE CO-OPERATION
BETWEEN CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE JOINT DECLARATION.
NEW GOVERNOR
Q1. WAS THE SUBJECT OF ANOTHER EXTENSION TO YOUR TERM OF OFFICE
AS GOVERNOR DISCUSSED?
A1.
AS YOU KNOW ALREADY, MY TERM OF OFFICE HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL AT LEAST THE END OF 1988. THIS IS STILL QUOTE SOME TIME
AWAY.
Confidential
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