TNAG-1749-FCO40-2468-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 38

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THE VISIT AND TOOK IT AS AN EXPRESSION OF GENUINE CONCERN FOR HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS. SOME THOUGHT THE VISIT WAS PRESENTATIONAL AND BECAUSE OF ITS BREVITY, INEVITABLY SOMEWHAT SUPERFICIAL.

5. THE TWO MAJOR TOPICS OF COMMENT WERE THE BASIC LAW AND VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. ON THE BASIC LAW, THE SECRETARY OF STATE REFERENCE TO POSSIBLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE BASIC LAW AND THE JOINT DECLARATION WAS WELCOMED, PARTICULARLY WITH REGRAD TO THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST SAR GOVERNMENT AND THE APPOINTMENT OF ITS FIRST CHIEF EXECUTIVE. HOWEVER THERE WAS SOME DISAPPOINTMENT THAT HE DID NOT ELABORATE ON THESE ISSUES.

6. ON THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES QUESTION THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PROBLEM WAS WELCOMED. HIS HINTS OF A NEW POLICY WHICH WOULD DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN GENUINE REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WAS PARTICULARLY WELL RECEIVED. THERE WAS

DISAPPOINTMENT THAT HE DID NOT MAKE ANY COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF FURTHER (UNSPECIFIED) ACTION BY HMG TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO REAL EXPECTATION THAT A BREAKTHROUGH WOULD BE MADE

AS A RESULT OF THE VISIT.

WILSON

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.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

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MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS (PREV CRNS 077361/077450)

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MR MCLAREN

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