ADCE)
WA 19
Written Answers
[14 DECEMBER 1992]
arrival in Hong Kong the Governor described this as perhaps "the most vital and challenging " of the tasks facing him and went on to say "good co-operation with China is my sincere aim and my profound wish”.
It is not the case, as some argue, that the Chinese were not consulted at all over the content of the Governor's October address to the Legislative Council. The Chinese Foreign Minister was fully briefed by Mr. Hurd two weeks beforehand, and at the same time a personal message from the Governor going over the same ground was given to officials in Peking. It was made very clear that these were possible, not firm decisions, and that we wanted to discuss them with the Chinese Government. This was not a subject it would have been politically possible for the Governor to discuss in secret with China before revealing any part of this thinking to the people of Hong Kong. Apart from any other consideration, that would have fuelled the already high level of speculation in Hong Kong and created a climate of great uncertainty and instability.
The British Government, and everyone who has Hong Kong's best interests at heart, hope that we will soon be able to resume a calm and constructive dialogue with China.
KENYA: ELECTIONS
Lord Gainsford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made about the prospects for free and fair elections in Kenya.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We warmly welcome the Kenyan Government's expressed commitment to free and fair elections, to which end we have given considerable practical assistance. We have provided all the ballot boxes, trained key electoral officials, supplied some office equipment to the Electoral Commission, and have made a significant financial contribution through the Commonwealth Secretariat to the Commonwealth observer team. We are also supporting local projects to educate the electorate and monitor election media coverage. The total cost of our assistance is now over £800,000.
While there have been improvements in recent weeks, we remain concerned about the evenness of the playing field. We continue to urge the Kenyan Government to be more open, establish a better dialogue with the opposition, allow all parties unhindered campaigning in all parts of the country, ensure freedom of the press and reasonable access by opposition parties to the broadcast media. We are making the same points about openness and transparency to the Electoral Commission. Electoral observers will base their assessment not just on the events of polling day but on the conduct of the whole electoral process.
Above all, it is essential that all concerned should avoid the use or encouragement of violence of intimidation before, during and after the elections.
11 LW39/2 Job 1-3
Written Answers
SARDAR SAROVAR DA PROJE
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Governmen.
Whether at any stage, as participants in the activities of the World Bank, they have formed an opinion on the environmental and social impact of the Sardar Sarovar dam project in India, which the Bank is substantially funding, and if so what was that opinion, how was it reached, and to whom was it expressed.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We have taken a keen interest in the implementation of the World Bank supported Sardar Sarovar project. At a meeting of the World Bank on 23rd October our Executive Director said that further payments on the project should be suspended if real progress on resettlement and rehabilitation and environmental issues had not been met by the time of the review in April 1993.
At the meeting our Executive Director expressed grave concern over mistakes made in the design and implementation of the project. He sought and obtained confirmation that India accepted a set of specific performance benchmarks to be achieved by next April and that the World Bank would provide substantial technical assistance to the State Governments to help achieve rapid progress on the key issues. As a measure of our commitment to helping resolve the problems, we have offered to provide technical co-operation funds of up to £1 million in an attempt to ensure that the benchmarks are met. Our offer, which has been accepted, was made because we wish to see the resettlement and environmental issues fully and effectively handled. World Bank loans for the project amount to $450 million out of an estimated project cost of $3 billion.
TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION い
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
4
Whether it is their intention to work towards the achievements of the objectives set out in the preamble to the Treaty of Maastricht.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The preamble of the Treaty on European Union recites the purposes of that treaty and the background against which agreement was reached. We will work towards the objectives outlined therein in accordance with the specific provisions of the corresponding articles in the main body of the treaty.
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will define in English the meaning of the words acquis communautaire as used in the Treaty of Maastricht.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The term acquis communautaire means the provisions of the Community Treaties and the acts of the Community institutions adopted under those treaties to date.
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
Page 45Page 46