TNAG-1910-FCO40-2714-Financial-assistance-from-the-UK-Government-to-Vietnamese-re-1989 — Page 26

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NOTE FOR THE PRESS

HONG KONG

The Governor of Hong Kong met with the Prime Minister for an

hour and a half this evening. The Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor and the Home Secretary were also present.

The Governor conveyed to the Prime Minister the strong views

of Hong Kong people on right of abode in the UK. The Prime Minister did not see any realistic prospect of granting right of abode to all 3.25 million British nationals in Hong Kong.

But she and her colleagues were working urgently to see what

extra flexibility could be introduced into the existing

arrangements.

The Prime Minister is very willing to look again at the

process of developing representative government in Hong Kong

in the light of the wishes of the Hong Kong people.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Britain's firm commitment to the

people of Hong Kong to administer Hong Kong until 1997 and to work to secure the full implementation of the provisions of

the Joint Declaration.

She promised that the UK would do all it could to help with

the problem of boat people. The Government has agreed to make

a further £4.5 million available to the Hong Kong Government for emergency accommodation.

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