TNAG-2667-FCO40-3864-Hong-Kong-Civil-Service-1993 — Page 38

11-MAR-1993 11:39

CAB

9

+ 852 840 1528

P.07

Exchanges in the Civil Service are welcome

Q.

Now that senior HK civil servants can visit the mainland for exchange

activities,

ivil comments of lower ranks do the same?

Gall

A.

Q.

A.

to

You might be in

should welcome. We will do our best This is something that we arrange exchange programmes with HK civil servants, and there can be First the HK Government will much more such activities in future.

has We know that the HK Government still welcome such exchanges. reservations about exchanges among the civil service. a better position, but in departments like the Police, I'm afraid they still have reservations. Perhaps this is because of the difference in if the HK Government For people like you, the nature (of work).

If you permits, the Chinese Government would welcome you heartily. need any of our assistance in arranging meetings or exchange programmes with any departments or units, we will do our best to assist.

How can the problem of VBP and VR in Hong Kong be solved?

Chinese Government.

We have

the We have made clear

policy of the repeatedly stressed that the VR problem before 1997 should be solved by the British Government. They should be repatriated or sent to other These countries. This problem should come to an end on 30 June 1997.

The SAR Government will VR should not be left to the SAR Government.

have no responsibility or obligation to accommodate these VR, because,

the

port

of asylum

is

༢

The Chinese British policy.

Britain has made Hong Kong a

firstly, Government has never had this policy.

port of first asylum. This is done by the British Government without

seeking the agreement of Hong Kong people.

If there were consultation,

I think Hong Kong would not agree. There is no such problem for Macau. Macau is not a port of first asylum. If there are VR going to Macau,

Macau

to

This

a

will not allow them

land.

question of is not humanitarianism. If you are humane to this small group of people, you are not humane to the majority of Hong Kong people. by the British Government, which the

future

no

This is a pledge

SAR Government has

obligation to continue to honour. You made a pledge without informing the Chinese Government beforehand. In principle, these problems should be sorted out. Therefore, we will have to discuss this matter with the British again at the JLG. The British will still have to solve the