2
Marici
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Written Answers
5 JUNE 1980
867 diminution by any contracting party of its right to exercise coastal State jurisdic tion under international law.
Hong Kong
Sir Anthony Royle asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make available to the House copies of the Green Paper on district administration in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Blaker Copies of the Green Paper will be placed in the Vote Office of the House by 13 June. It has been published as a basis for discussion of the pattern of district administration in Hong Kong. The proposals can be summarised as follows:
For the New Territories:
!
(a) To introduce an elected element to the
district advisory boards.
a
(b) Each elected member to represent
separate constituency in the area served by the district advisory board.
(c) Election to be by all adults over the age of 21 residing in the New Territories with more than three years' residence in Hong Kong
For the urban area:
(a) The district management committee
system, established experimentally in Kwun Tong, to be extended to other urban districts.
(b) District boards comprising officials and appointed unofficials to be established in the urban area with terms of reference slightly narrower than those of the dis- trict advisory boards in the New Terri- torics.
Implications for the urban council :
These proposals are primarily concerned with district administration, but if adopted it is suggested that consequent changes for the urban council might be :
(a) Substitute adult suffrage for the present
franchise.
(b) Have elections on a constituency basis- hopefully this would make the urban council more accountable about the more mundane aspects of its work. The urban area would be divided into eight districts, one of which would have one constituency and the rest two, returning 15 elected members in all. The number of appointed members would be increased to 15.
·
(c) Reserve seats on district boards for urbani
council members elected for constituencies... within the district, if they wish to partici pate in the board's work.
(d) Similarly reserve seats for appointed members on district boards of their choice.
I welcome these proposals and the opportunity which has been given for
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Written Answers
868
869
public opinion in Hong Kong to give its views on them.
INDUSTRY
Inmos Limited
Mr. Nicholas Winterton asked the Sec- retary of State for Industry whether he intends to end the provision of all financial support to Inmos Limited in the near future; and whether it is proposed to dispose of the company to private industry.
:
Mr. Michael Marshall: The National Enterprise Board is contractually com- mitted to subscribe £25 million for shares in Inmos International Ltd. The Board has drawn £20-5 million from my De- partment for this purpose so far and will draw the balance when it is re- quired the timing is a matter for the Board. My right hon. Friend will con- sider any proposals the Board may recom mend for the disposal to private ownership of its shares in this company : this is a matter for the Board in the first instance but no such proposals have yet. been put to him.
Derelict Land Clearance Areas Mr. Eastham asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a state- ment in regard to the document submitted by Manchester City Council
on 14 January relating to Manchester's appli cations to be declared a derelict land clearance area.
Mr. David Mitchell [pursuant to his reply, 5 June 1980, c. 782]: The Depart- ment of Industry is still considering, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, which of those areas due to become non-assisted areas in 1982 should be declared derelict land clearance areas. While I recognise the argument in favour of any early announcement, I cannot yet say when it will be made.
Government Policy
Mr. Latham asked the Secretary of "State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the results of his Depart- ment, after 13 months of the present Government, in achieving the policy pro gramme which he set it on assuming office.
Written
Mr. David Mit has already made in the achievemej reduce State own the National Ente nationalised indu! competition, to fo tance to industry areas most in n development of th
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Mr. Arthur Lel of State for the the longest and a how many perso how many (a) wel ated from Libya Iran.
Mr. Raison : TE show the national sarily the country are deported.
The available if from 1 May 194 that in all 964 of whom eight Iranians. It is n Member has in
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Mr. Skinner a State for the Hor now conduct a [ death of Blair F will now disband t in view of recent the death of Bk.j
Mr. Brittan : to the reply whic gave to a questic for Wolverhamp Short) on 4 Ju
Public Life Mr. George State for the
recommendati
on
66
Standar
Life 1974 to so far been
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