*
493
Written Answers
21 NOVEMBER 1977
Affairs what are the duties of a personnel assessors at the Government Communica- tions Headquarters at Cheltenham; how many people are employed in this capacity; and what is their usual tour of duty.
Mr. Judd: In a Press statement released on 8th January 1952 the then Government announced the introduction of the positive vetting procedure to ensure the reliability of Government staff employed on secret work. A number of personnel security assessor posts have been established at the Government Com- munications Headquarters at Higher Executive Officer level, as part of the machinery for implementing this proce- dure. The holders of these posts have authority to grant positive vetting clear- ance but can only recommend withhold- ing or withdrawal, the decision on these being taken at progressively higher levels. of management. There is no fixed term of duty for personnel security assessors.
Hong Kong
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent demonstration in Hong Kong against the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Mr. Luard: My right hon. Friend deplores the behaviour of the very small minority of individuals involved in this violent demonstration.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there has been any reaction from the People's Republic of China following the recent amnesty in Hong Kong, with particular reference to corruption arising from protection rackets in the distribu- tion of drugs.
Mr. Luard: No.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if charges are to be made against persons involved in the recent demonstration in Hong Kong against the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Mr. Luard: A report on this incident is with the Attorney-General of Hong Kong. A decision on whether there is
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494
sufficient evidence to order prosecutions will be taken shortly.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons took part in the recent demonstration in Hong Kong against the Independent Commission Against Cor- ruption; how many people were injured; and what damage was caused.
Mr. Luard: About 40 people took part in the attack on the Independent Com- mission Against Corruption Head- quarters. In the scuffle five officials of the Independent Commission Against Corruption received superficial injuries, and minor damage was done to a window, the doors and some fittings.
Ghana
Mr. Lee asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is now being provided for famine relief in northern Ghana; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Hart: I have been asked to reply.
We have promised 5,000 tonnes of soft wheat to be delivered free to Ghana before the end of January next. The dis- tribution of this aid will be monitored by the British High Commission in Accra. We have also given 10 five-ton lorries to help with the transport of food within the area. They were shipped to Ghana in July, and we learn that they have already been intensively used.
At the beginning of September the fol- lowing food aid from other donor coun- tries was reported for emergency relief in the Northern and Upper Regions of Ghana:
EEC
Donor
Tonnage 1,875
Sorghum
Type
USA Netherlands
***
5,000
Maize
5,000
Wheat flour
3,300
Wheat
500
Butteroil
500
Dried skimmed milk
7,000
Sorghum grits
Catholic Relief
Services This food should all have been delivered by may not yet have been completely distributed.
Rhodesia
Mr. Lee asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish as a White Paper the
HKK 382/16.
No
as it
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