RECEIVED
HIVES No.31 18 DEC 1968
241
Written Answers
16 DECEMBER 1968
shall continue to keep them informed in future.
Gib.
H.K.
Mr. Ronald Bell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the repre- sentations of the inhabitants of the Falk- land Islands that they do not wish to be transferred to Argentine sovereignty.
Mr. M. Stewart: I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply earlier today to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd- Carpenter) and other hon. Members.
Hong Kong (Emergency Regulations)
70. Mr. Ronald Atkins asked the Sec- retary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs what action he is taking to remove the emergency regulations in Hong Kong which permit any person to be detained for up to a year without trial.
Mr. Goronwy Roberts: My right hon.' Friend has discussed this matter with the Governor, who has under continuous review the need to retain these powers. -They will not be retained longer than is
essential in the interests of security.
H.K.
H.K.
Mr. Rankin asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult with the Govern- ment of Hong Kong, with a view to repealing Regulation 31 of the Emergency (Principal) Regulations which enables the Hong Kong Government through the Colonial Secretary to detain a person for a period of one year without trial and without giving a reason, and at the ex- the piration of one
renew year to detention.
Mr. Goronwy Roberts: I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston, North (Mr. Ronald Atkins).
Mr. Rankin asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations were held prior to the promulgation of the emer- gency regulations, including the public ordinance, following the disturbances in Hong Kong in 1967; and if he will make copies of these instruments available to Members of this House.
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Written Answers
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Mr. Goronwy Roberts: My right hon. Friend the then Commonwealth Secretary was fully consulted before the promulga- tion of Emergency Regulations-in-con- nection with last year's disturbances in Hong Kong, and before the enactment of the Public Order Ordinance. Copies of the instruments in question are already available in the Library of the House.
LatAm.
Argentine (Naval Vessel Contracts)
73. Mr. Ronald Bell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions were.attached to offers of shipping contracts for Great Britain from the Argentime Republic
Mr. M. Stewart: Some international invitations to tender for the supply of naval vessels have been issued by the These tenders Argentine Government. contain normal commercial conditions.
EEOS.
Czarist Debts
78. Sir W. Teeling asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the date when Her Majesty's Government Vinformed the Union of Soviet Socialist/Republics Gov- ernment that they intended to bring up again the question of/Czarist debts to this country; and how long Her Majesty's Government intend to/wait for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to reply to this note before sending them a reminder.
Mr. Goronwy Roberts: Her Majesty's Embassy in Moscow informed the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an aide- mémoire of 10th October that Her Majesty's Government hoped it would be possible to initiate discussion with the Soviet Government on pre-1939 Anglo- Soviet claims I believe it is reasonable that we should allow the Soviet Govern- ment some further time to reflect on this long-outstanding and complex issue before pressing for a reply to this approach
EEOS.
79. Sir W. Teeling asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce legislation to indemnify banks in this country against claims paid out to those registered as creditors against Czarist Russia, and to compel these banks to disclose what they possess.
DATE 16 Dec 1968
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