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24 MARCH 1969 to find how a number of my hon. Friends were conned into misleading the House by the opinion they gave it on numerous occasions-that if only America would stop the bombing peace would ensue?
Mr. Whitlock: I have nothing to say on the subject of conning, but we have no reason to think that Madame Binh's views are different from those made public by her delegation in Paris after
each session of talks, or for that matter during her last visit here, and I assume that while here she will be repeating them at the rally which she is to address
Hong Kong
6. Mr. Rankin asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware that there are 2,000 vacant primary school places and 50,000 residents in Hong Kong's Wong- tauhum Resettlement Estate; and if he will direct the Hong Kong Government to set up an inquiry into the reasons for these empty classrooms with a view to -remedying the cause.
Mr. Whitlock: There are some 2,500 vacant primary school places in this estate, all but 79 of these occurring in private schools. A detailed survey of children not attending school is in progress.
Mr. Rankin: Would my hon. Friend agree that this number of vacant school places, wherever it is, is a very serious problem? Would he agree that it arises basically from a low level of wage pay- ments in Hong Kong and also from the lack of a compulsory education system? Will he get in touch with the Governor to discuss these matters to see what solu- tion can be found?
Mr. Whitlock : An explanation of these vacancies is complicated by the fact that there is an attendance of several thou-
sand Wongtauhum children at primary schools elsewhere and by the occupation of many places in the estate schools by other children from neighbouring districts. The vacancy figures reflect the attraction of free places and low fees in Govern- ment and subsidised schools. If the survey indicates the need for more such places, remedial action will be taken at
once.
7 Mr. Bankin asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
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Affairs if he will advise the Hong Kongs Government on the measures needed fo establish a family assistance scheme aimed at encouraging parents to send their children to school.
Mr. Whitlock: As already anno inced in the Colony's Legislative Council, the Hong Kong Government are drawing up proposals for a comprehensive ofganised public assistance scheme, one/aim of which will be to ensure that/no child is deprived by financial hardship of the opportunity to go to primary school.
Mr. Rankin: Is my hon. Friend aware that all of us interested in/Hong Kong welcome this and will encourage the Government to still further good deeds? Mr. Whitlock: I thank my hon. Friend.
Suez Canal
Secretary of State for Foreign and Com- 8. Sir J. Langford-Holt asked the
monwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that the Security Council Resolution tabled by the United Kingdom delegate on the Middle East and freedom of passage of the ships of all nations in peace and in war through the Suez Canal is observed when the Canal is opened.
Mr. Goronwy Roberts: We are con- tinuing to do all/we can to bring about
a
settlement in accordance with the Security Council Resolution of 22nd November, 1967, which affirms the neces- sity for guaranteeing freedom of naviga- tion through international waterways in the Middle East area.
Sir J. Langford-Holt: Will the hon. Gentleman feaffirm that Her Majesty's Government regard the withdrawal to the armistice ines and the acceptance of these frontiers as two propositions which tion is concerned? are quite indivisible so far as this Resolu-
Mr. Roberts: We are in favour of the earliest possible implementation by agreement of the whole of the Resolution, which contains the original points made by the hon. Member and the one he has just mentioned.
Mr. Alan Lee Williams: Does my hon. Friend agree that if the Egyptians do not shortly open the canal it will become a wasting asset? Already 53 British ships
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