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Hong Kong: Social
[Lord Goronwy-Roberts.]
[LORDS]
to further measures of the type which my noble friend has mentioned.
Lord ROYLE: My Lords, I wonder whether my noble friend could enlarge upon his impressions with regard to the housing situation in Hong Kong. All those of us who have been there know how appallingly bad it has always been.
Yes,
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: indeed, my Lords. The record of achievement in housing is perhaps the most outstanding feature of the work of the present Governor and of the Hong Kong Government in the past few years. Already some 2 million out of a total population of a little over 4 million have been rehoused in public housing estates, and the projected programme, which I saw for myself, is being vigorously prosecuted and will within the next decade house something like a further 2 million people. This, jointly with pro- gress in the private sector, should mean by about 1985 that nearly 4 million out of a population of about 4 million will have been rehoused by the Hong Kong Government.
Earl COWLEY: My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether any progress has been made towards the removal of EEC restrictions on textiles coming in from Hong Kong, and the inclusion of those textiles under the EEC's generalised scheme of preferences? Can the noble Lord also say whether that topic was discussed in his talks with the Hong Kong Government and, if so, with what results?
My
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: Lords, I did indeed discuss those very important matters on the spot with the Government of Hong Kong with indus- trialists concerned with these questions. I was able to give a full assurance that as in the past year in discussions on the GSP, so in the current year, 1975, we shall pursue by every possible means efforts to safeguard and, if possible, to improve the position of Hong Kong under the GSP with regard to those very vital industries.
Lord BLYTON: My Lords. I am wondering whether my noble friend visited the naval establishment in Hong Kong? We have paid a colossal price
and Economic Reforms 754
for a very small naval protection. Does my noble friend not think that it would be better to leave Hong Kong and keep Singapore?
My
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: Lords. I had talks with the Officer Com- manding. At the same time, talks were proceeding at official level about the renegotiation of the present Defence Agreement between us and the Depend- ency. That Agreement will expire in March 1976. In the meantime, I have every reason to expect that a mutually satisfactory new Agreement will be concluded.
Lord LLOYD of KILGERRAN: My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether his inquiries concerned the urgent matter of modifications to the basic procedure for the appointment of officers in the higher ranks of the police force in Hong Kong?
Lord
GORONWY-ROBERTS:
My
Lords, my right honourable friend has nominated a personal representative to the body which supervises the recruitment of officers and other ranks into the Hong Kong police.
Lord ROBBINS: My Lords, I wonder whether in the course of his visit the noble Lord had the opportunity of seeing the progress which is being made in the provision of higher education by the two splendid universities in that area.
My
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: Lords, I visited both universities and had very interesting talks with the faculties of both. They are indeed making a tremendous contribution to the higher education of the Colony. Indeed, one of them, the Chinese University, is setting up a second medical school.
As my noble friend well knows, the first one has a very high reputation not only in the Far East but further afield. Progress in higher education is very satisfactory. However, I took the opportunity to impress upon the authorities the import- ance of expanding technical education at the polytechnic or technical college level.
Lord HARVEY of PRESTBURY: My Lords, the Hong Kong Government are to be congratulated upon rehousing their people. Could not this Government pick up a few tips from them on how to go about it?
A