TNAG-0670-FCO40-819-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-land-in-New-Territories-1977 — Page 50

Written Answers

31 JANUARY. 1977 Kuk's acceptance of the principles. of rating in the New Territories;..

(b) In April 1976 the Kuk wrote to the Secretary for the New Territories on the subject of incrases in restaurant and other food licence fees. A meeting was held in May 1976 at which the need for the fee increases was explained and dis- cussed;

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(c) Discussion of the question of premia for land exchange entitlements resulted in modifications to premium rates in respect of land exchanges.

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Hong Kong Government are in- volved, whether by loans, guarantees or provision of land, in any scheme in the New Territories of Hong Kong that is amortised or due for completion after the expiry of the lease in 1997.

Mr. Luard: No.

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any agency of the Hong Kong Government has been responsible for the recruitment of Hong Kong Chinese labour for work in the Ocean and Nauru Islands or oilfields in Brunei; how many persons have been recruited under these schemes; and if this process is still in operation.

Mr. Luard: No agency of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for the recruitment of Hong Kong labour for work in the Ocean and Nauru Islands or in Brunei. Recruitment for Brunei and Ocean Island is handled by private agen- ¿cies in Hong Kong and for-Nauru by the Nauru Consulate in Hong Kong.The. Labour Department of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for administer- ing the contracts under the Hong Kong's Overseas Employment Ordinance, which protects the rights and interests of manual workers proceeding overseas for employ- ment under contracts of employment entered into in Hong Kong, and all such contracts have to be attested by the Commissioner for Labour.

New Hebrides

Mr. Christopher Price asked the Secre- tary of State for Foreign and Common-

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Written Answers

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wealth Affairs if he will now, in consulta- tion with his French conterpart, make arrangements, in pursuance of treaty obligations, for the King of Spain to refill the vacant post of President of the Joint Court of the Condominium of the New Hebrides.

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Mr. Luard: No. Satisfactory arrange- ments were concluded by Exchange of Notes dated 24th November and 5th December 1939 for the British and French judges to share the presidency of the Joint Court.

British Council

Mr. Gwyntor Evaus asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the £52.5 millions spent by the British Council this year was spent on the overseas libraries.

Mr. Luard: The Council's estimated In budget for 1976-77 is £36-6 million. addition to this it will spend some £25 million as an agent for other bodies. It is estimated that it will spend £4-7 million on overseas libraries this year including running costs, staff, and the acquisition of books and periodicals.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

Ministerial Deliberations (Publicity) Mr. Dykes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he intends to make in the Council of Ministers to suggestions for making public the legislative part of its deliberations on draft EEC Instruments.

Dr. Owen As my right hon. Friend replied to the hon. Member when he asked a similar Question in the European Parliament on 12th January, my right hon. Friend is ready to consider any sug- gestion that would improve the Council's proceedings. It may not be easy to make a distinction between the Council's legis- lative and non-legislative functions, and in any case any changes in procedure would have to be agreed to by all the members of the Council of Ministers. However, we are continuing to examine this question sympathetically and will be interested to see the response to the ideas