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Oral Answers
17 FEBRUARY 1969
Oral Answers
President Nasser about the future inthe- national régime of the waterway so as to safeguard international shipping from this happening again?
Mr. Roberts: I thank the hon. Gentle- man for his remarks. On the second part of his question, I must say that this is a mach larger question which I do not think arises from this issue, and would best be dealt with on a more ample occasion.
Hong Kong (Arrested Schoolboy)
was
20. Mr. Ronald Atkins asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Com- monwealth Affairs in what circumstances the 11-year-old schoolboy, arrested in Hong Kong; what charges were preferred against him; what was the verdict and the sentence; and whether he is still in prison, and where.
Mr. Goronwy Roberts: If my hon. Friend has in mind a boy called
he was arrested in March, 1968, charged and convicted with riding a bicycle with a pillion passenger, obstruct- ing the police and assaulting a police officer. He was given a complete dis- charge on the first two charges. On the third charge a small fine was imposed with the option of one day's imprison- ment, but the time already spent on remand was accepted in lieu of this punishment.
Mr. Atkins: Is my hon. Friend aware, nevertheless, that there are a number of arrests and imprisonments in Hong Kong in circumstances which we would not tolerate in this country? Is it not im- perative that we show our best, not our shoddiest, political goods in this shop window which is so close to the Chinese Republic, and which is watched so care- fully by the Chinese people?
Mr. Roberts: I do not think it could fairly be said that the measures taken in Hong Kong to maintain peace and security can be strongly criticised. The situations are created, not by the Govern- ment of Hong Kong but by others who have an interest in creating disturbances, and the kind of powers which the Gov- ernment of Hong Kong feel obliged to adopt and to apply are applied with the utmost care and humanity.
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Faliciand Islands-
21. Mr. Peyton asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions with the Argenthe Government concerning the future of he Falkland Islands.
Mr. M. Stewart: There have bech no further discussions since I spoke in the House on 11th and 12th December 1968.
[Vol. 775, c. 424-6, 608-13.]
Mr. Peyton: Would the House be cor- rect in understanding the right hon. Gentleman to mean that this issue has been recently interred and will not be resurrected?
Mr. Stewart: No, Sir. It may be pos- sible to continue these discussions.
Mr. Braine: Having regard to the right hon. Gentleman's reply, is the position now that as the Falkland islanders are firmly resolved to remain British there can be
no question of the transfer of sovereignty? Why does this issue remain on the agenda?
Mr. Stewart: That matter has been ex- plained several times. There can be a question of transfer of sovereignty only as part of an arrangement which will give a permanently satisfactory relation- ship between the islands and Argentina, and if the islanders themselves regarded such an arrangement as satisfactory to their interests. I think that it will be de- sirable to resume the discussions, but they are bound all the time by that condition.
Mateking (Sale of Land)
24. Mr. Judd asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the arrangements for the sale of Crown land at Mafeking, South Africa.
Mr. Foley: The sale of the former Crown land at Mafeking, on which the headquarters of the Bechuanaland Pro- tectorate used to be situated, is now a matter for the Botswana Government. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development told my hon. Frend on 21st January, there was an agreement under which the proceeds from the sale were to be applied to offset bud-. getary-and-which-
towards the
RECEIVED ARCHIVES No:31
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DATE 17 FEB 69,
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