TNAG-1610-FCO40-22132-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 148

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3683

OF 30100OZ SEPTEMBER 87

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

FINAL PART OF TWO

CONFIDENTIAL

ΜΙΡΤ : GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO LEGCO

oilo

131461

MDHIAN 5289

TOP Q DIST ?

OPY

SECTIONS OF REVISED DRAFT REFERRED TO IN MIPT ARE AS FOLLOWS

•

THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM BEAR A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FACT OF THIS CONTINUING EXODUS OF DESPAIR WHICH AFFECTS NOT JUST US BUT ALSO ALL THE COUNTRIES OF SOUTH EAST ASIA IT IS CLEAR THAT WHAT WE NEED IS A LONG TERM SOLUTION WHICH DEALS WITH THE PROBLEM AT ITS

SOURCE. THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY A CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT BY A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES. IT CERTAINLY CANNOT BE SOLVED BY HONG KONG ALONE. IT ALSO REQUIRES THE COOPERATION OF THE AUTHORITIES IN VIETNAM ITSELF. SO FAR THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM HAVE SAID NO MORE THAN THAT

THEY ARE PREPARED TO CONSIDER REPATRIATION ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A VERY RESTRICTIVE DEFINITION. I CAN ASSURE HONOURABLE MEMBERS THAT WE AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN WITH US FOR FAR TOO LONG. BUT IT WILL REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND

PATIENT DIPLOMACY TO ACHIEVE RESULTS.

THE STRUCTURE AND MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT

150. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT, IN PURSUING ITS MANY AND VARIED TASKS, THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSTANT CONCERN IS TO ACT IN THE OVERALL BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG. THIS MEANS, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, MAINTAINING A FRAMEWORK OF SOUND ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS STABLE AND

RELIEABLE AND YET REMAINS RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF COCIETY. ONLY IN THIS WAY CAN WE HOPE TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICIES

AND ACTIONS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE APPROVAL AND SUPPORT OF THE

COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

151. IT IS IN LINE WITH THIS PHILOSOPHY THAT THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE ROLES AND COMPOSITION OF ITS VARIOUS COMPONENTS

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