TNAG-1891-FCO40-2684-Visits-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe-and-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretaries-1989 — Page 5

HONG KONG: STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, 5 JULY 1989

With permission, Mr Speaker, I shall make a

statement about Hong Kong, which I visited from 2 to 4

July.

The purpose of my visit was:

-to emphasise that Britain's commitment to Hong Kong and its people is resolute and unchanged;

-to explain the steps we have in mind to reinforce Hong

Kong's freedom and distinct way of life; and

-to outline what we can realistically do to meet the

concerns of people in Hong Kong about their safety after

1997.

I held extensive discussions in Hong Kong: with members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, with students, professional people, entrepreneurs, government officials and with the leaders of demonstrations. Those

peaceful demonstrations were themselves a symbol of the freedoms in Hong kong we are determined to preserve.

I also visited two of the camps housing Vietnamese

boat people and saw the screening of new arrivals now

being conducted under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

There can be no doubt that confidence in Hong Kong

has been badly shaken by the appalling events in Peking.

In the immediate aftermath of those events there has been

understandable pressure on this country to grant a right of abode to all British passport holders in Hong Kong.