391
Written Answers
26 JULY 1982
what representations he has received upon (a) the infant ortality rates and (b) his steps for improving the Luation.
Mr. Wiggin: Analysis of the deaths among babies of dependants in BAOR shows that the rate of deaths in the first seven and 28 days is very similar to that obtaining in the United Kingdom. The rate of deaths after the first month and up to the end of the first year is higher in BAOR than the national average in the United Kingdom but not higher than some regional and social class mortality rates.
Mr. Freud asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the per capita juvenile crime rate for areas dealt with by each of the two standing civilian courts in West Germany of offences committed by dependants of personnel serving with the British Army of the Rhine; and what has been the annual rate of increase in the figures for each of the years since 1977.
Mr. Wiggin: The crime rate of dependants (aged between 10 and 16) of Army personnel serving in British Army of the Rhine and Berlin, based on convictions in the two Standing Civilian Courts is:
Per 1,000
HK 243 113.9
1978
1980
1981 *1982
* Six months.
3.8
4.2
3.4
The separate figures for convictions in British Army of the Rhine and Berlin are not immediately available.
floruld
54 FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Malaysia
Mr. Adley asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his most recent contact with the Malaysian Government; and if he will indicate progress on the establishment of the proposed joint commission to review matters of concern to the Malaysian Government in their relations with Her Majesty's Government.
Mr. Rifkind: My right hon. Friend met the Malaysian Foreign Minister most recently in Belgrade earlier this month. They had a useful discussion ranging over a variety of matters of common interest and agreed to keep in close touch. As my right hon. Friend explained in his reply to my hon. Friend on 9 June, we have put informal proposals about a joint commission to the Malaysian Government and are still awaiting their response.
Swaziland
Mr. Proctor asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received from the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland requests for diplomatic support in the matter of the proposed transfer of the Ingvaruma region from the Republic of South Africa to Swaziland.
Mr. Onslow: No. The matter is not one in which Her Majesty's Government have any official standing.
200
Written Answers
Vietnamese Refugees
392
162
Sir Patrick Wall asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in each of the past three years how many Vietnamese refugees have arrived in Hong Kong; how many of these have been given homes in other countries; and how many remain in camps in Hong Kong.
Mr. Rifkind: Arrivals from Vietnam in 1979, 1980 and 1981 were 68,748, 6,788 and 8,470 respectively. Resettlements from these years were 64,258, 6,085 and 7,041 respectively. In addition 5,735 in 1979, 4,385 in 1980 and 3,416 in 1981 arrived from China, where it is believed they had previously settled before coming to Hong Kong illegally. The number of refugees remaining in Hong Kong on 23 July was 11,837, of whom 487 were ex-China cases.
Sir Patrick Wall asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees to deal with the large number of Vietnamese refugees now under the care of the Hong Kong Government.
Mr. Rifkind: From the outset, the staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have worked in close co-operation with the Hong Kong Government to resettle Vietnamese refugees arriving in Hong Kong. Moreover, most refugees awaiting resettle- ment are accommodated in camps run by the UNHCR.
Sir Patrick Wall asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese refugees have been in Hong Kong camps for one year, two years and three years, respectively.
Mr. Rifkind: The numbers are as follows: 6,517 for one year, 4,785 for two years and 1,793 for three years.
Sir Patrick Wall asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that the proposals to the house Vietnamese refugees in closed camps in Hong Kong are in full accord with the declarations on human rights to which the United Kingdom is a party.
Mr. Rifkind: The Hong Kong Government took account of the relevant international human rights instruments when preparing their proposed legislation in this field. Consideration is being given as to whether it may be desirable, in order to avoid any doubt, for certain amendments to be made.
Lebanon (Red Cross Supplies)
Mr. Winnick asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made by Her Majesty's Government and other Governments in ensuring that Red Cross supplies are allowed into the Lebanon.
Mr. Hurd: The supply of humanitarian aid to Lebanon has improved since the period immediately following the Israeli invasion. On 18 July, the Israeli Government in response to an approach by the European Community Presidency, said that medicines and food supplies, though subject to control, would henceforth be allowed into West Beirut without hindrance. Trucks carrying blankets, medicines and basic food supplies were allowed to enter West Beirut on 22 July.
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