CONFIDENTIAL
036603
MDHIAN 0180
EFFECT. I UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS BUT, AS I HAVE SAID, I TRUST THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO SHOW THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND OTHER QUALITIES NECESSARY TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE CHANGES.
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ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL PUBLIC CONCERNS IS, I THINK, THE VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF THE SO-CALLED VIETNAMESE ''BOAT PEOPLE'' ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS OF THEM HAVE ARRIVED OVERLAND. I VISITED HIGH ISLAND CAMP YESTERDAY AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A DIRECT IDEA OF THE PROBLEMS THESE CAMPS POSE FOR HONG KONG. I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE PATIENCE YOU HAVE SHOWN SO FAR, AND UNDERSTAND YOUR SENSE OF FRUSTRATION AT THE SLOW PROGRESS WHICH IS BEING MADE WITH RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL NOT GIVE UP ON IT: WE INTEND TO PERSEVERE AND OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES TO A LASTING SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM A PROBLEM WHICH HAS ONLY COME TO HONG KONG BECAUSE OF HONG KONG'S SUCCESS IN LOOKING AFTER ITS OWN PEOPLE.
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BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY IN HONG KONG WILL COME TO AN END IN A LITTLE UNDER SIX YEARS. BUT IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO ASSUME THAT BRITAIN'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG WILL SIMPLY PETER OUT. IT WILL NOT. OUR SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG WILL BE RESOLUTE DURING THE REMAINING YEARS OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION WILL REMAIN UNDIMINISHED EVEN AFTER 1997. BRITAIN'S PRINCIPAL COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG UP TO 1997 WILL BE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A STRONG, STABLE AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT. THERE WILL BE NO DECLINE IN STANDARDS. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS NOT AND WILL NOT BECOME A LAME DUCK ADMINISTRATION.
THERE ARE MOMENTOUS CHANGES TAKING PLACE EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD AROUND US. OVER THE LAST 2 DAYS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THESE IN PEKING. LAST WEEK I WAS DISCUSSING THEM WITH PRESIDENT BUSH. I ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF THANKING THE PRESIDENT FOR HIS SUPPORT IN RENEWING MOST FAVOURED NATION STATUS FOR CHINA, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG. WHETHER AT HOME OR ABROAD, THERE ARE ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS DIFFICULTIES, ON THE ROAD AHEAD. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO GRASP THE OPPORTUNITIES, AND NEVER TO THINK THAT SOMETHING IS IMPOSSIBLE JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS DIFFICULT. THAT PRINCIPLE IS, I THINK, AT THE HEART OF HONG KONG'S WAY OF LIFE AND AT THE HEART OF HONG KONG'S REMARKABLE SUCCESS-STORY.
ENDS.
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