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Hong Kong: Social [4 FEBRUARY 1975] and Economic Reform's
Lord SEGAL: My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the influx of political refugees from Communist China to Hong Kong is still continuing, and what restrictions have been placed upon their entry by the Hong Kong Government?
My
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: Lords, until 1967 there was a system of controlling immigration, especially illegal immigration. This lapsed for some years, so that by 1973 the number of immigrants, about half of them illegal, amounted to something like 74,000. This created very grave social and other difliculties in a small area which was already populated by more than 4 million people. In the past few months, therefore, there have been talks with the Chinese authorities across the border with a view to restricting immigration, especially illegal immigra tion. However, the case of every indivi- dual who is apprehended is scrutinised carefully, with a view to determining whether his or her return will cause undue hardship for nne ar uther reason, Includs ing the kind of reason which my noble friend has raised.
Lord BROCKWAY: My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that I greatly appreciate the full reply which he has made to my supplementary ques- tion about corruption. However, is the noble Lord also aware that he did not reply to the two points which I made about social security? Does he know that I have in my hand a letter from the Welfare Department of the Government of Hong Kong which says that no person between 15 and 55 years of age who is able-bodied is permitted to have an unem- ployment allowance, although unemploy ment now reaches 200,000 in that area? Is he also aware---
Several Noble Lords: Order. order!
Lord BROCKWAY: My Lords, I am not aware that I am out of order.
Several Noble Lords: Speech, speech!
Lord BROCKWAY: My Lords, I am putting two concrete questions, Is the Minister also aware that I have in my hand letters from those who have had to wait three months before they have received benefits under the present security arrangements?
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Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: Lords, I think I did refer to that part of my noble friend's first supplementary question when I said that the kind of point that he had referred to was con- stantly being examined, and is indeed being examined now by the Hong Kong Government. As to the specific instances he has given, I am perfectly ready to take them up and look into them, but I can assure him once more that the Gov- ernment of Hong Kong are constantly examining ways of improving the social service and social benefits system in the Colony.
The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Shepherd): My Lords, may I suggest that we should now move to the next Ques- tion? I think that 12 minutes is an over long period for any Question in your Lordships' House.
UNEMPLOYMENT AND NATIONAL INSURANCE Lord SHINWELL: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper. The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any estimate is available on the financial effect arising from increased unemployment on Exchequer contri- the National Insurance
butions
Fund.
Lord WELDS-PESTELL: My Lords, an increase of No00,000 in the level of unemployment would reduce the Treasury supplement to the National Insurance Fund by about £7 million a year.
Lord SHINWELLÀ My Lords, I am obliged to my noble friend for that reply. but if there is an increase in the level of unemployment will this not make exacting demands on the Exchequer contribution, or, alternatively, will it not increase the National Insurance contribution for both the employers and employees?
Lord WELLS-PESTELL: My Lords. increased unemployment affects the Fund in two ways: the Fund has to meet the cost of additional unemployment benefit at the same time as the fall in the nurg- ber of people in employment causes à drop in the contribution income. The combined effect on the Fund in the next
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