TNAG-2032-FCO40-2895-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 69

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FOREIGN SECRUTARY (CORTD):

HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF CONNBRC8 15 JANUARY 1990

China and the rest of the world.

The Governor's visit last week

was important in maintaining a dialogue with Chinese leaders on

matters of great importance to Hong Kong and he conducted his talks

in Peking with characteristic dedication to the interests of Hong

Kong.

Neither the Joint Declaration nor the work of the Joint

Liaison Group can by themselves maintain confidence in Rong Kong and

that is why, after seven months of hard work largely by others but

also by myself, I announced in the House of Commona on December 20 a

package of measures designed to encourage key people in all

professions, in all walks of life here, to remain in the Territory.

A good deal of work weut into that, a good deal of consultation with

the Government of Rong Kong. We have done our best, Ladies and

Gentlemen, to devise a scheme which tackles as fairly and

effectively as possible the problem which exists -

which is serious

of the emigration of talented peuple from Hong Kong.

I know perfectly that many

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perhaps almost everyone

in this room would have preferred the numbers covered by the

package to be larger: 1 understand that and it is entirely natural.

We have to balance our wish to be as generous as possible against

our ability to accept peuple for settlement in Britain should that

ever be necessary. I believe and hope that in the last weeks since

I made that announcement in the flouse of Commons this reality and

It really the reality of this balance 16 well understood here.