743
Water
[ 6 JUNE 1989 ]
its hands in the way suggested in these amendments
ns wrong both in principle and as a matter of practice. That is why I urge your Lordships to resist these amendments.
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, I wish to say straight away that I acknowledge the force of the points made by the noble Lord, Lord Renton. In seeking to accommodate the very reasonable concerns expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell, and others to secure that sensible arrangements were possible in the opening years of the life of the National Rivers Authority we have gone too far. We have sought in the text of these amendments to do something that we did not intend to do in our minds, which was to prohibit all subcontracting, whether to the pics or to anybody else. To that extent, the amendments are not only defective but are gravely defective. I shall not ask the House to divide on them.
I apologise for having taken up some of the time of the House with defective amendments. I say partly because the response of the Minister is of great interest to us. I listened carefully to what he said in his argument against any restriction of subcontracting to the plcs. He will understand that, whatever the amendment states, I do not agree with that.
I listened in particular to what the Minister said. about the safeguards which will be incorporated in the schemes of transfer under Schedule 2. That seems to me to offer some hope that we might reach an acceptable compromise between now and a later stage of the Bill which would protect the distinction between poacher and gamekeeper. That is, after all, at the heart of the establishment of the National Rivers Authority. It is a gamekeeper authority called into being because the water and sewerage undertakings are to be privatised and are to be removed from other controls. To that extent, I believe we are all in agreement that there must be this separation of powers and responsibilities.
However, I do not think I go along with the noble Lord, Lord Trafford, in what he called his theoretical argument. I shall have to think about that and read his speech with some care between now and a later stage. However, it is clear that what we want to do, which is to maintain the independence of the National Rivers Authority from the plcs that it is supposed to be controlling, is not achieved by these amendments. As I said, we may have to look at other ways of achieving what we want between now and Third Reading. However, in the meantime, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
The Earl of Arran: My Lords, I beg to move that further consideration on Report now be adjourned. Moved, accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
HKB 020/14
Bill
Events in China: Implications for Hong Kong
4.15 p.m.
নীফ
49
744
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur): My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement being made in another place by my right honourable and learned friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on events in China and their implications for Hong Kong. The Statement is as follows:
"With permission, Mr Speaker, I should like to make a statement about events in China in recent weeks.
"During the last few days units of the Chinese Army have been engaged in the violent suppression of peaceful and popular demonstrations in the streets of Peking. The indiscriminate and unprovoked use of military force has caused the death or injury of thousands of students and other innocent civilians. I am sure that all Members of the House will share the worldwide sense of horror and join in the international condemnation of the slaughter of innocent people.
"I summoned the Chinese chargé d'affaires yesterday. I told him that the British Government and people were united in condemning the merciless treatment of peaceful demonstrators, and deeply deplored the use of force to suppress the democratic aspirations of the Chinese people. I told him that the British Government looked to the Chinese authorities to fulfil their obligations to Hong Kong in the joint declaration.
"I reminded him of the responsibilities of the Chinese Government to ensure the safety of British citizens and Hong Kong residents. I expressed concern at the maltreatment of British journalists, particularly Michael Fathers of the Independent and Johnathan Mirksy of the Observer. We have since seen disturbing reports of the ill-treatment of Kate Adie of the BBC.
"Our ambassador in Peking and his staff have been working round the clock to ensure the safety of British citizens and Hong Kong residents in Peking and as far as possible in other parts of China. The embassy has advised against travel to any part of China. They have also advised those who are concerned about their safety and have no pressing need to remain in China to leave immediately.
"Since the Cultural Revolution there has been a substantial improvement in relations between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China as the Chinese Government have sought to broaden their contacts with the international community and to introduce economic and other reforms. Friends of China in this House and around the world must share the hope that sane and balanced government will be swiftly and securely
in Peking. In present circumstances, however, there can be no question of continuing normal business with the Chinese authorities.
restored