With permission, Mr Speaker, I shall make a statement on my visit to Hong Kong from 13 to 16 January.
It was my first visist as Foreign Secretary. I went to demonstrate this country's continuing commitment to Hong Kong; to meet a representative cross section of the community and to discuss the issues of prime concern to Hong Kong in the period before 1997.
These are the pace and extent of democratisation in Hong Kong and the operation of the nationality package which I announced to the House on 20 December. I also discussed
the problem of the Vietnamese boat people and visited a refugee holding centre and a camp at which boat people are screened for refugee status.
I was impressed by the dynamism of Hong Kong and the resilience of its people. Hong Kong has become the world's eleventh largest economy because of the unique combination of British administration and justice and the talent and energy of its people. Since my Rt Hon Friend the Lord President visited Hong Kong in July last year,
the immediate sense of fear has lifted but the events of
last June dealt a substantial blow to Hong Kong's self confidence and the exodus of the talent which is needed
to keep Hong Kong prosperous has continued. It is vital that those people should stay. Everyone to whom I spoke
(in the Executive and Legislative Councils, one of the District Boards, the business community and other groups) had hoped that the package I announced on 20 December would have made provision for more people. But they also welcomed what we had done as a measure which would give key people the confidence to remain in Hong Kong. They were grateful for what we have announced. They recognise that it was not an easy step to take. They also believe
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