TNAG-0911-FCO40-1121-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 92

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Written Answers

15 FEBRUARY 1979

Medical and Dental Officers Mr. Pavitt asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the number of medical officers and dental officers employed in the United Kingdom in each of the three Ser- vices and the average number of patients per doctor or dentist in 1978.

Dr. Gilbert: The numbers of Service doctors and dentists based in the United Kingdom on 31 December 1978 were as follows:

Doctors Dentists

Royal Navy

Army

259 81

235 84

Royal Air Force

318 77

These figures include officers filling posts in hospitals and research establishments and exercising administrative and advis ory functions. There are approximately 230,000 Service personnel stationed in the United Kingdom, including the crews of naval ships in home waters. In addition, some 70,000 dependants are registered with Service medical centres. Under reci- procal arrangements with the National Health Service substantial numbers of NHS patients receive treatment in Service hospitals.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH

AFFAIRS

Hong Kong (Refugees)

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs over what period representations have been made by the boat people at Yaumati to the Hong Kong Government; to what Departments; and what replies were given.

Mr. Luard : Individual representa- tions have been made for a number of years and co-ordinated ones since mid- 1977. The Marine Department, the City District Office, the Government Secre- tariat and the Governor have all been approached at various times. In response, the boat dwellers have been informed of their right to apply for public housing. Those living on boats found to be in a dangerous condition have speedily been rehoused on land. Between 1960 and 1978 some 80,000 boat dwellers were settled in public housing estates by the Hong Kong Government.

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Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many boat people have drowned in Hong Kong over the past five years; and how many of them were children.

Mr. Luard: Statistics on drownings are available only as a total figure for the whole of Hong Kong. It is not pos- sible to give separate figures for particular categories of people, but it is thought that three persons living on boats in typhoon shelters have drowned over the past two years.

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrest of boat people from the Yaumati typhoon shelter, who are seeking resettlement in Hong Kong, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.

Mr. Luard: Seventy-six people were arrested on 7 January and charged with unlawful assembly. They had ignored two. requests to disperse. No evidence The was offered against 10 minors. remainder were found guilty as charged at their trial on 12 February. The 56 boat people involved were given absolute discharges; the others, including one student arrested subsequently, were bound over to be of good behaviour for 18 months.

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the occupation of those arrested on 7 January who were protesting at living conditions at Yaumati typhoon shelter and the ages of the children arrested.

Mr. Luard: The occupations were as follows:

29 housewives 10 juveniles

8 garment workers

8 unemployed

5 metal workers 4 students

2 cleaners

2 labourers

2 social workers

1 boat contractor

doctor

1 hawker 1electronics worker 1 priest 1 transport worker

2 Copies beat to HK.

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The ages of the 10

2 aged 13

4 aged 12

1 aged 11

1 aged 10

1 aged 9

aged 8.

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