ARRACA
VISIT OF LORD GLENARTHUR TO HONG KONG: 7-11 JANUARY 1989
BRIEF NO 3: MEETING WITH OMELCO
(A) Opening Statement
This is my
1. It is good to be back in Hong Kong once again.
fourth visit here in little more than 18 months. No other territory or country that falls within my area of responsibility has claimed anything like so much of my time and attention. It is a mark of the importance which the British Government, and I personally, attach to
Hong Kong.
2. After four visits to the territory I think I can say I am
beginning to get to know the place. But such is the pace of change
in a place as dynamic and vibrant as Hong Kong, that there are always new things to see, new impressions to take in.
3. On this occasion, there are also new people to meet. For this is my first visit to Hong Kong since the Legco elections in September. It is always good to see familiar faces and old friends when I return to Hong Kong. But today I am particularly pleased to
have this opportunity to meet the newcomers to OMELCO too.
4. I look forward to hearing your views on a variety of current issues. The problem of the Vietnamese boat people continues to be a matter of particular concern, to the British Government as it is to the Hong Kong Government and the people of the territory. You will have seen the Prime Minister's recent reply to Dame Lydia Dunn's letter on this subject, confirming our readiness in principle to double our intake of boat people by taking an additional 1,000 over
2-3 years.
We have launched an intensive diplomatic campaign to
urge the international community to respond to our call. If, as I hope, they respond generously as they have done in the past, we shall be ready to go ahead with our plans. The recent announcements of increased commitments from of Canada and New Zealand are most
encouraging.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.