TNAG-0194-FCO40-230-Emergency-legislation-and-Public-Order-ordinance-discussions-1969 — Page 33

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Oral Answers

8 DECEMBER 1969

representations from the ambassador of the United Arab Republic on the subject.

Her Majesty's Government recognise that the Sinai Peninsula and its terri- torial waters are under the sovereignty of the United Arab Republic, even though at present military forces of Israel are in occupation and control of the peninsula.

Sir Dingle Foot: I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that long-term projects of this sort initiated in occupied territory have the most serious implications, tending to show that the Israeli Government have no intention of complying with the United Nations resolution and leaving the occupied territory? Will he make clear that the British Government do not aprove of any form of participation by a British firm in projects such as these?

Mr. Luard: I agree with my right hon. and learned Friend that such a develop- ment does have serious implications. "I have already told him that we are look- ing into the matter for this reason. As regards the legal rights and wrongs, my right hon. and learned Friend probably knows that this matter either is already or may shortly be the subject of legal proceedings. For that reason, I imagine that he will not expect me to comment at this time on the legal rights and wrongs.

Hong Kong

(Rights of Public Assembly)

46. Mr. Rankin asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Government of Hong Kong in order to increase the rights of public assembly.

Mr. Luard: We have been consulted by the Governor in the preparation of a draft Bill to amend the Public Order Ordinance. One of the purposes of the Bill is to ameliorate some provisions of the Ordinance relating to the rights of public assembly.

Mr. Rankin: Is my hon. Friend aware that that is quite good news? Can he say whether the discussions will reach a stage when we can say that three people are no longer a crowd and four have ceased to be a mass demonstration? Can we look forward to a situation of that

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kind, with reasonable opportunity for people to gather together in this British dependency to enjoy a little British liberty?

Mr. Luard: I have already told my hon. Friend that the provisions of the new Ordinance will in many ways improve the existing situation. It is designed to give better protection for the public against any misuse of powers or possible conviction of persons innocently involved in a situation which constitutes an offence under the Ordinance.

South Africa (Mr. Philip Golding)

50. Mr. Peter M. Jackson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Com- monwealth Affairs whether he will instruct the new British Ambassador to South Africa to make further representations to the Union Government on behalf of Mr. Philip Golding.

Mr. Luard: Representations have been made on behalf of Mr. Golding by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. to Dr. Muller on two occasions. The South African authorities have now said that Mr. Golding will be released after giving evidence at the trial which is taking place in Pretoria.

Mr. Jackson: While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask, never- theless, whether he has had his attention drawn to the statement by Chief Justice Bekker on 1st December, that Mr. Golding would be released if his evidence were satisfactory? In other words, this young man is placed in an impossible position. If he gives evidence for the Crown he will be released. He is therefore intimi- dated. My second question to my hon. Friend is to ask him whether, in view of the comments recently made by Sir John Nicholls, our retiring Ambassador, he is entirely satisfied on the nature of the representations which have come from the Embassy?

Mr. Luard: My attention has not been drawn to the first point which my hon. Friend referred to, and I will certainly look into it. As to his second point, we have had no evidence that there is any dissatisfaction with the representations which have been made on behalf of Mr. Golding.

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