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my hon. Friend's Question, the Inland Revenue would be prepared to consider such a claim on its merits. As my hon. Friend will know, the Environment Sub- Committee of the Expenditure Commit- tee, in its report on the National Land Fund, made a recommendation on this point; the Government are still consider- ing this.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
AFFAIRS
Hong Kong (Vietnamese Refugees) Mr. Lee asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance he has issued to the Gov- ernment of Hong Kong regarding the reception of Vietnamese refugees; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Luard: My right hon. Friend is in constant contact with the governor over the problem of refugees from Vietnam. The Government fully support the Hong Kong Government's generous and humane attitude towards refugees and displaced persons from Vietnam. Since 1975 the Hong Kong Government have assisted some 4,800 former residents of Vietnam to rejoin their families in Hong Kong. A further 5,700 who made their own way to Hong Kong have been allowed to settle, although they had no claim on the territory, because there was no possibility of returning them to their 'home country at the time when their pres- ence came to light. In addition, the Hong Kong Government are prepared to give temporary shelter to ali survivors of ship- wrecks picked up at sea by vessels whose first scheduled port of call is Hong Kong, as well as all those who make their way to Hong Kong in their own boats, until they can be resettled by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in other countries. Over 5,100 refugees in this category were allowed to land in Hong Kong in 1978 alone, and a further 1,110 have arrived since the beginning of 1979. Although some have been resettled elsewhere, the great majority are still in Hong Kong.
Tanzania
Mr. Willey asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the British Government have given to the Tanzanian authorities
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following the attack on Tanzania hyEGIS. 51
Uganda.
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REGISTRY M 19 JAN1979
Dr. Owen: The British Government ER have made available to the, Government PA of Tanzania programme aid amounting to £1 million, to be used subject to the normal conditions attached to such aid for civilian rehabilitation purposes in the Kagera region. This is additional to he £2.5 million of programme aid made available recently for other purposes. The British Government have also pa.d the air freight costs of a girder bridge, and have supplied a small amount of mine detecting equipment, to help the rehabili- tation of the region. A supplementary estimate for the amount involved, which is of the order of £81,000, will be laid before Parliament in the normal way.
Council of Foreign Ministers
Mr. Willey asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Council
of Foreign Ministers of the European Community that met on 18th and 19th December 1978.
Mr. Judd: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Depart- ment of Industry and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 18th and 19th December.
The Council agreed that the negotia- tions on Spanish entry into the Com- February with substantive negotiations to munity should be formally opened in
Recess. start, at the latest, after the Summer
The Council considered the state of the negotiations on Greece's entry into the Community and agreed on a revised offer of terms to be put to Greece.
On iron and steel questions the Council agreed that the Community's internal anti- crisis measures and the arrangements for regulating imports from third countries should be renewed for one year. The Council also adopted a resolution estab- lishing certain general principles for granting aid to the steel industry, on the basis of which the Commission will put proposals to the Council for decision by 1st April.
Commissioner Haferkamp reported to the Council on progress in the multilateral trade negotiations. The Commission was
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