POMAAD
TEXT OF STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY THE ACTING GOVERNOR TO EXCO ON
TUESDAY 6 JUNE 1989
The Foreign Secretary has asked me to let you know that the Governor
has passed on to him your urgent appeal for assistance from the UK to ehlp cope with the Boat People crisis and has drawn it to the
attention of the Prime Minister.
Both He and the Prime Minister are acutely conscious of the very grave situation which Hong Kong is facing. They are well aware that
have asked me this is imposing an intolerable burden on Hong Kong. They would like to reassure you that the British Government are doing everything they possibly can to relieve the pressure on the territory.
As you will know from the press, the Prime Minister and the Foreign
Secretary have personally urged President Bush and Secretary Baker
to support our efforts to stop the outflow and to secure the early return of all non-refugees. They have also impressed upon them the need for the early establishment of a regional holding centre for refugees. The British Government are doing everything possible to
get agreement to such a centre.
In response to the Executive Council's appeal the British Government are providing Hong Kong with immediate assistance in the form of 100
tents to accommodate 2,000 boat people. The British Government are also considering how they could help to provide more permanent
accommodation.
Chinese
The Foreign Secretary has drawn the attention of the Foreign Minister to the seriousness of the situation facing Hong Kong and
has urged China to take effective measures to cut off the flow of
boat people arriving in the Territory.
The British Government are also maintaining pressure on the
Vietnamese authorities to stop the outflow and will continue to take
every opportunity to get this message across to the Vietnamese at
the highest level.
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