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THESE
PARTICULAR ON THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO. ARE AMONG THE MAJOR FACTORS WHICH WE HAVE TO WEIGH UP IN CONSIDERING WHAT PROPOSALS SHOULD BE PUT FORWARD IN YOUR WHITE PAPER.
5. A CONTINUING CONCERN FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, AS FOR YOURSELVES, IS THE WORK OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. I KNOW WHAT A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION YOU HAVE MADE TO THE PREPARATION OF OUR STRATEGY.
6. I SHOULD ALSO WELCOME YOUR VIEWS ON THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW AND WHAT MORE WE CAN DO TO INFLUENCE IT. WE MUST PURSUE AN INTENSIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE COVERING BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS. THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO PEKING NEXT WEEK WILL BE AN IMPORTANT STAGE IN THAT DIALOGUE.
7. AMONG THE PRACTICAL ISSUES WHICH CONFRONT US, I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE BURDENS PLACED ON HONG KONG BY THE RENEWED INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, BOTH DIRECT FROM VIETNAM AND FROM SETTLEMENTS IN CHINA. WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP RELIEVE THIS BURDEN. WE HAVE MADE A FURTHER RESETTLEMENT COMMITMENT AND WE ARE URGING OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO FOLLOW SUIT. LONGER-TERM SOLUTIONS INCLUDING REPATRIATION ARE ALSO BEING ACTIVELY PURSUED IN CONTACTS BOTH WITH THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND WITH THE VIETNAMESE. BUT PROGRESS CAN ONLY REALISTICALLY BE MADE ON A MULTILATERAL BASIS, AND THE ATTITUDE OF THE VIETNAMESE WILL BE THE KEY.
8. ON THESE AND OTHER ISSUES I HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY THE VERY CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN LONDON AND HONG KONG. SOME ISSUES ARE NATURALLY A MATTER FOR VIGOROUS NEGOTIATION: I HAVE IN MIND THE PRESENT DISCUSSIONS ON THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT. WE DO OUR UTMOST TO GIVE PROPER WEIGHT TO HONG KONG'S INTERESTS: BUT IN TURN HOPE YOU WILL BE READY TO ACCEPT THAT THERE ARE CONSTRAINTS OPERATING ON US TOO. GIVEN GOODWILL AND UNDERSTANDING I HAVE NO
I AM CONFIDENT DOUBT THAT SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE REACHED. THAT IN FUTURE WE SHALL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE EXCELLENT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAS SERVED HONG KONG SO WELL IN THE PAST.
9. I LOOK FORWARD TO LISTENING TO MEMBERS' VIEWS ON ALL THESE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WELCOME TO THIS COUNCIL.
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