879
Oral Answers
10 FEBRUARY 1969
Mr. Dodds-Parker: As a step towards this, in view of the friendly co-operation of Malta in the past, would it be possible for Her Majesty's Government to ex- tend an invitation to them to join the European Free Trade Area?
Mr. Mulley: I do not see that ques- tions about the Free Trade Area arise from a Question about N.A.T.O.
WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION (LUXEMBOURG MEETING)
32. Mr. Dodds-Parker asked the Sec- retary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs what further proposals to create institutionalised relations between the countries of the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom were agreed at the recent Western European Union meeting at Luxembourg.
Mr. Mulley Six delegations agreed that before taking any decisions on certain foreign policy questions they will consult with their Western European Union partners to further the adoption of posi- tions agreed and harmonised to the fullest possible extent. The French delegation said that it would make its. views known later..
We regard this outcome as opening the way to a co-ordinated European position on foreign policy questions. Her Majesty's Government intend to do all we can to ensure progress in this direction.
Mr. Dodds-Parker: Might not the pro- posal that N.A.T.O. ambassadors be used as a standing group serve this purpose?
Mr. Mulley: I do not think that the would ambassadors within N.A.T.O. necessarily be appropriate, because N.A.T.O. is not a strictly European organisation. The machinery proposed is that of the Council of Western European Union, which is most appropriate for this purpose. As hon. Members will have noted, my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has asked for early consultations in this area on the whole question of the Middle East.
Mr. Philip Noel-Baker: In view of the great importance of this new departure, will my right hon. Friend publish a White Paper explaining exactly what was agreed and the trend of the discussion that took place?
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Oral Answers
880
Mr. Mulley: It would be a little early to publish a White Paper, but I will certainly pass on my right hon. Friend's suggestion to my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. I very much hope that we can make pro- .gress, but it is as yet too early to say until the new machinery has been firmly established.
HONG KONG (PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE)
34. Mr. Frank Allaun asked the Sec- retary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs what changes have now been made in the Hong Kong Public Order Ordinange regarding the extent to which the burden of proof is placed on the authorities.
Mr. Foley: I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary gave to him on 19th December, 1968.--[Vol. 775, c. 451.]
Mr. Allaun: Did not the reply say that certain changes were under con- sideration? Was this a pious hope or is there to be any amendment to ensure that the burden of truth lies with the auth- orities?
Mr. Foley: I assure my hon. Friend that there is no pious hope. It is a reality. The question of time has been considered in examining the Ordinance and bringing it up to date in terms of the representations which have been made to us so that we may ensure that the matter is got right and is amended adequately.
Mr. Rankin : Can my hon. Friend say how many people in Hong Kong are still in gaol without any charge having been preferred against them?
Mr. Foley: Not without notice.
Mr. A. Royle: Will the Minister resist pressure for the Hong Kong Government to alter or amend the Emergency Regula- tions until the Governor is satisfied that the situation is good enough to enable him to make such alterations?
Mr. Foley: We are talking about two distinct matters. There are some ele- ments of the Emergency Regulations included in the Ordinance.
Under ex- amination is the Ordinance itself.
HK.
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RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES 16.81 1 2 FEB 1969
HKKC 14/15
DATE TO FEB 69.
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