HKK 382/tw
23 JUN 1978
DATE ...zilal?2
C.L. 24.7W
VOL. 952
247
Written Answers
21 JUNE 1978
Mr. Judd : On 24th March the United Nations Relief and Works Agency issued a general appeal for cash, foodstuffs and equipment to provide emergency relief for Palestinian refugees displaced in Lebanon. The United Kingdom contri- buted 100 tents and 3,000 blankets in response to this appeal. The United Kingdom is also very mindful of the further strain that events in Lebanon have placed on the agency's finances for its operations throughout the Near East, of which those in Lebanon constitute a ma proportion: we have already brought forward the remittance of the first half of our contribution for 1978
• and it is our intention to increase our total contribution in step with the increase in the agency's needs.
Hong Kong Police (Report)
Sir P. Bryan asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has considered the report on the Hong Kong police force of the team of three special advisers from the Home Office; and whether he will make a state- ment.
Mr. Luard: The team examined the organisation, control and management of the Hong Kong police. Their main con- clusions and recommendations, aimed at strengthening administration and improv- ing efficiency and morale, have been accepted by the Hong Kong Government. We welcome the outcome of this review and the speed with which it is being implemented.
Middle East Airlines (Accident
Report)
Mr. Hastings asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will investigate the reasons for the two-year delay in issuing the accident report of the Middle East
Airlines crash of a Boeing 720B in January 1976 to Mrs. M. Holyoake of 2, Maltings Way, Great Barford; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Judd : We are concerned about this tragic event but under Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation the State conducting the investi- gation, in this case Saudi Arabia, is only obliged to disseminate information follow-
Written Answers
248
ing the investigation to States specified in the Annex. In this case the United Kingdom is not among those States. There is no legal obligation to publish a report ; nevertheless, at Mrs. Holyoake's request we asked the Saudi Arabian authorities for a copy of their report of the accident investigation which we in turn passed to her on 21st March.
Passports
Mr. Loveridge asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce amending legislation to allow for the issue free of charge, of a replacement passport for the unexpired portion of validity on a joint passport in cases were a spouse has died.
Mr. Luard: No. A family passport is issued in the name of a husband or wife at the standard fee. Particulars of the spouse are included at no extra charge as a special concession to enable the family to travel together more cheaply. The holder may use the passport alone, even after the death of the spouse.
Cyprus
Mrs. Jeger asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what compensation has now been paid by the Turkish Government to United King- dom citizens in Cyprus who suffered bereavement and damage during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus; what action Her Majesty's Government is taking to assist United Kingdom citizens in diffi- culties as a result of Turkish action; and what representations Her Majesty's Gov- ernment are making to the Turkish Gov- ernment on behalf of United Kingdom citizens in Cyprus who suffered from the invasion.
Mr. Luard Settlement of British com- pensation claims is now being considered by the Turkish Cypriot Claims Commis- sion whose terms of reference were pub- lished on 11th May. The setting up of the Commission was in part attributable to regular contacts between British and Turkish Government Ministers and officials. A circular letter is being sent to all claimants known to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, containing guid- ance on how to pursue their claims.
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