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Written Answers
30 APRIL 1974
and similar outlying islands of British dependencies.
Mr. Ennals: No additional area of the sea bed would come under the juris- diction of Her Majesty's Government by according offshore limits of 12 miles for such purposes to the island of Rockall. With the possible exception of some volcanic islands which rise sheer from the sea bed, the same applies to outlying islands of British dependencies. With regard to offshore limits of 200 miles, a number of uncertainties make it im- possible to give any figure or, indeed, to indicate whether such a limit would bring any net additional area of the sea bed under British jurisdiction.
Africa (Detained British Subjects) Mr. Biggs-Davison asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give details of citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies imprisoned and detained in African States; and what action has been taken on their behalf.
Miss Joan Lestor: Our records show the following numbers of United Kingdom citizens under detention in African States:
Arab Republic of Egypt
Ghana
Kenya Malawi
1
3
17
Morocco
14
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Rhodesia
2
...
South Africa
46
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Zambia
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93
181
Of these, 18 are held under valid pro- visions of local law that provide for indefinite detention without charge or trial.
Sixty of the rest have been charged, tried and convicted of specific offences, and 15 are awaiting trial. Whatever the provisions of local law, our missions con- tinue to press that United Kingdom citi- zens who are in custody should be charged and brought to trial as speedily as pos sible or else released.
Uranium Ore
Mr. Biffen asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if
Written Answers
444
he will make a statement outlining the Rossing Uranium contract negotiated with the South African Government and further indicate what representations he has received, suggesting the contract should be terminated; and what answers he has given.
Miss Joan Lestor: There is no con- tract between Her Majesty's Government and the South African Government. As the House was subsequently informed- [Vol. 803, c. 115-16.]-a contract was signed in 1968, with later amendments, between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and a susbidiary of the Rio Tinto Zinc Company for the pur. chase of uranium ore when the mine goes into production. The Government have already made it clear that policy towards Namibia is one of the matters currently under review.
Communist Countries (Ministerial Visits)
Mr. Biggs-Davison asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that Ministers within his Department visiting Communist countries make clear their opposition to Governments who do not accept basic principles of democracy and freedom, both personal and in the exchange of ideas.
Mr. Hattersley: As my right hon. Friend said in the House of Commons on 27th March:
'There has never been any hesitation on the part of the Labour Party about making clear where we stood in relation to matters of human rights, no matter what Government were involved."—[Vol. 871, c. 425.]
Hong Kong
Mr. James Johnson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stage of further constitu- tional advance he proposes for the Crown Colony of Hong Kong.
Mr. Ennals: The circumstances of Hong Kong are special and make very difficult any constitutional progress on the path customarily followed by Dependent Territories. The situation is well under- stood locally.
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