CONFIDENTIAL
100036 MDHIAN 1913
MRS MAJOR STAYED FOR ALMOST AN HOUR. THEY WERE GIVEN A WARM RECEPTION BY THE VIETNAMESE, WITH PLENTY OF SMILING FACES AND UNION JACKS. DURING THE VISIT, THEY SAW THE MAIN CAMP FACILITIES (SCHOOL, WORKSHOP, DORMITORIES ETC) AND SPOKE TO SEVERAL VIETNAMESE AND CAMP WORKERS. LIKE ANY VISITOR TO THE CAMPS, PARTICULARLY WHEN GREETED BY MASSES OF BRIGHT-EYED CHILDREN, THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS PARTY WERE CLEARLY MOVED. BY WHAT THEY SAW AND BY THE APPALLING DILEMMA OF WASTED LIVES AND UNREALISED HOPES. IN SPEAKING BRIEFLY TO THE PRESS AFTERWARDS, THE PRIME MINISTER STRESSED BOTH THE BURDEN THAT HONG KONG HAS BORNE FOR SO LONG IN MAINTAINING FIRST ASYLUM, AND THE TRAGEDY FACED BY THE VIETNAMESE THEMSELVES.
DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG
8.
A SUBJECT WHICH RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION DURING THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT WAS THE PACE OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS WAS INEVITABLE 10 DAYS BEFORE THE TERRITORY'S FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS AND JUST AFTER VISITS TO THE SOVIET UNION AND CHINA WHERE THE ISSUE OF PROGRESS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY, OR THE LACK OF IT, LOOMED SO LARGE IN THE EYES OF THE MEDIA. THE UNITED DEMOCRATS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS DID NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARGUE THAT BRITAIN SHOULD IMMEDIATELY PRESS CHINA TO AGREE TO MORE THAN 20 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1995. THE PRIME MINISTER WAS CAREFUL TO SAY THAT HE WOULD WANT TO ASSESS THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTIONS AND TO DISCUSS THE QUESTION WITH THOSE ELECTED BEFORE REACHING A DECISION. HE URGED THOSE WHO WERE ELECTED TO BALANCE THE POWER THEY WOULD GAIN WITH RESPONSIBILITY.
9. WE CAN EXPECT PRESSURE TO CONTINUE ON THIS FRONT, FUELLED IN PART BY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SOVIET UNION. BUT WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT THE PRESENT CHINESE LEADERSHIP TO BE FORTHCOMING ON THE ISSUE.
AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE THE PRIME MINISTER
RIGHTLY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE IF THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ANY SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, A POINT OF VIEW WITH WHICH, MANY, IF NOT MOST, IN THE TERRITORY WOULD AGREE.
MEETING WITH EXCO
10. IN HIS MEETING WITH EXCO, THE PRIME MINISTER HAD AN
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