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Oral Answers
19 FEBRUARY 1975
As for a Royal Commission, I say again that the commission in Hong Kong must be allowed to carry out its work. Sugges- tions that it will not or cannot do so will not help it in doing so.
Mr. Fletcher-Cooke: Is not speed of the utmost importance in this matter, and is not an objection to the appoint- ment of any further commission, especially any further commission from the United Kingdom, that that would delay considerably the very necessary rooting out of corruption which the Cater Commission is doing so well?
Mr. Hattersley: Although I think that the hon. and learned Gentleman's point about the necessity for speed is a good one, the main point about alternative forms of investigation must be the impli cation that the present form is not work- ing well. We have no evidence to suggest that that is the case.
Namibia (Ovamboland)
6. Mr. Farr asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the 50 per cent. turn-out in the Legislative Assembly poll in Ovamboland in South West Africa despite the total boycott recommendation by the South West Africa People's Organisation, Her Majesty's Government will cease to recognise that organisation as the sole representative of political opinion there; and if he will instruct Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations to raise the matter in the Assembly.
Miss Jean Lestor: Her Majesty's Gov. ernment have never regarded SWAPO as the sole representative of the inhabitants of Namibia, and have made this clear at the United Nations. But SWAPO will have an important part to play in any negotiations for the self-determination and independence of Namibia.
Mr. Farr: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for that answer. Will she bear in mind that the people who voted in con- tradiction to the views of SWAPO amount to more than 50 per cent. of those who turned out on polling day? Does she realise that there is a large body of opinion in South West Africa in la.our of working with and co-operating with South Africa to their mutual tuture benefit?
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Miss Lestor: I said in my original reply that we did not regard SWAPO as the sole representative of the people of Namibia, but it would be foolish to imagine that it did not represent a very large portion of opinion there. However. if other groups care to contact us, we shall be prepared to talk to them.
Mr. Edward Lyons: Bearing in mind that Ovamboland is a long way from the centres of white population, as I know only too well, having been to South Africa, does my hon. Friend agree that it is very difficult for people in Windhoek, the capital. to know what is going on in Ovamboland and that it is almost impos- sible for them to get there? Therefore, it is not possible to say how accurate these election returns in Ovamboland
were.
Miss Lestor: I do not have full details of the results of the elections and it would be difficult to hazard any con- clusion at this stage. But my hon. and learned Friend's point should be borne in mind.
New Hebrides
7. Mr. Paul Dean asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to bring for- ward legislation relating to a representa- tive assembly and local government bodies for the New Hebrides.
Miss Joan Lesfor: The need does not arise. Local legislation will be sufficient to provide for the establishment of a representative assembly, subject to any necessary amendment of the Anglo- French Protocol of 1914 concerning the New Hebrides.
Legislation providing for the establish- ment of local government bodies has already been enacted in the New Hebrides.
Mr. Dean: As I recently visited the New Hebrides, may I say how glad I am that the hon. Lady has been there herself. Will she confirm that the repre- sentative assembly will be elected this year and that the Lord President, in answer to a Question last Thursday, was incorrect when he said that it would e elected next year?
by to ensure that in intre proj... the unity between the British and French administrations is emphasised, rather than their separation?
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