TNAG-1883-FCO40-2674-Visits-by-Lord-Glenarthur--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1989 — Page 51

ARRACE

CONFIDENTIAL

PRESS CONFERENCE: OPENING STATEMENT

1. Good to be in Hong Kong again. My fourth visit in 18 months. But there is always something new to see and new people to meet. Hong Kong is such a rapidly changing place that, as Minister with special responsibility for Hong Kong, it is essential that I should

keep in close and regular touch with developments in the territory.

2.

My visit on this occasion has been very full and very

worthwhile.

I have had talks with the Governor and Senior Hong Kong

Government officials: I have met EXCO and OMELCO members. I have

visited refugee camps and closed centres. I have seen the

Exhibition and Convention Centre and the site of the new University

of Science and Technology.

3. On this visit, as on previous ones,

on previous ones, the problem of the Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong has been at the top of my list of concerns. I have the greatest admiration for the way in which Hong Kong has coped with this tragic human problem. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Hong Kong authorities, and to everybody else concerned, for their magnificent effort in the

past difficult months.

4. The United Kingdom playing its full part in this. You will

all be well aware of the recent announcement of our readiness in

principle to take a further 1,000 refugees from Hong Kong, provided we can be clear that this will be part of a larger international

resettlement effort. That would amount to a doubling of our rate of

intake of refugees. We have launched an intensive diplomatic effort to persuade others to respond to our call and I am hopeful that we

will be able to confirm our decision soon.

5.

Resettlement is one important aspect of the problem. But there are others which also deserve our attention and I am pleased

to be able to take this opportunity today to announce further steps

by the British Government in support of Hong Kong:

The British Government is pledging a further £1 million to

UNHCR's operations in Hong Kong. That is of course in addition to