TNAG-0911-FCO40-1121-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 93

1979

Written Answers

612

1r. Parry asked the Secretary of State Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs many boat people have drowned in g Kong over the past five years; and

many of them were children.

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

. Parry asked the Secretary of State Joreign and Commonwealth Affairs will make a statement on the arrest it people from the Yaumati typhoon , who are seeking resettlement in Kong, details of which have been o him by the hon. Member for ool, Scotland Exchange.

The

Luard Seventy-six people were d on 7 January and charged with ul assembly. They had ignored quests to disperse. No evidence ffered against 10 minors. der were found guilty as charged trial on 12 February. The 56 ople involved were given absolute ges; the others, including one arrested subsequently, were bound

be of good behaviour for 18

ཀ

arry asked the Secretary of State eign and Commonwealth Affairs El publish in the Official Report pation of those arrested on 7 who were protesting at living s at Yaumati typhoon shelter ages of the children arrested. aard: The occupations were as

ewives

iles

ent workers

ployed

workers

ts

rs

ers

workers ontractor

ics worker

it worker

613

Written Answers

15 FEBRUARY 1979

The ages of the 10 juveniles were:

2 aged 13 4 aged 12 1 aged 11 aged 10 1 aged 9 1 aged 8.

TRADE

Tugs (Flotta and Sullom Voe) Mr. Watt asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will name and specify the bollard pull and brake horse power of the three tugs stationed at Flotta and the four stationed at Sullom Voe;

(2) if the tugs stationed at Flotta and Sullom Voe are capable of assisting dis- abled ships in the open sea areas off the Orkney and Shetland Islands, bear- ing in mind the severe weather conditions common in the North Sea.

Mr. Clinton Davis: The information requested is as follows:

•

19

BHP

Ahead Bollard Pull

Flotta-

Kinloch Kessoch Kintore Sullom Voemon

...

5+

37 tons 37 tons 45 tons

2,500 2,500 4,000

•

Stanechakker Lyrie

25

54 tons

3,800

54 tons

3,800

46

Swaabie

54 tons

3,500

38 tons

Flying Childers

*

2,640

These sea-going tugs are capable of assist- ing disabled ships in the open sea areas off the Orkney and Shetlands islands. For larger vessels in distress there would be advantages to both towing and manoeuvring in having more than one of these tugs in attendance rather than a single very powerful tug.

Air Services Agreement (Malaysia)

Mr. McCrindle asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present posi- tion of discussions with Malaysia on a revised air services agreement; what is the position on the overflying of Malaysia by Concorde; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Clinton Davis: Following the pre- liminary discussions on a revised air ser- vices agreement held in London in May a further round of talks was held in Kuala Lumpur last week. Substantial progress was made in agreeing the modali-

11 0 7

Written Answers

614

ties for capacity determination on the routes between Malaysia and the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. The Malay- sians were given assurances about their planned airbus services to Hong Kong, commencing at the latter end of this year, and an indication that when the planned rearrangements for services between the United Kingdom and South- East Asia and Australia were introduced, there would be room for additional MAS capacity on the route to London.

Concorde has been flying super- sonically through Malaysian airspace along the Straits of Malacca since the service to Singapore resumed on 24 January. This followed an announcement by the Malaysian Government on 15 December last year that supersonic over- flight could be resumed for a trial period of six months.

fran

Mr. McCrindle asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the maximum liability incurred by the Export Credits to Guarantee Department in relation trade with Iran; what cover is available to exporters to Iran now; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend gave on 9 February to the ques tion from the hon. Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale) about the liability of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of trade with Iran. For obvious reasons, the Department has been follow- ing a cautious attitude with regard to cover for exports to Iran for some months. Now, however, the practical difficulties of conducting trade make it necessary for the Department to suspend new cover for this market. In particular, there is the problem of obtaining up-to- date information on Iranian buyers which is essential for the underwriting of new business. I regret this decision, and the Department will keep the situation under review, of course, with a view to resum- ing cover as soon as possible.

Motor Cars (Japan)

Mrs. Reneé Short asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British cars were exported to Japan in 1978; what percentage this is of the Japanese car market; how many cars were imported