TNAG-1268-FCO40-1617-China-s-economic-relationship-with-Hong-Kong-Shenzhen-econom-1983 — Page 137

417

Written Answers

13 APRIL 1983

indica willingness to play a more prominent and direct

future negotiations for a solution of middle east problems; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Pym: As the statement of the Jordanian Council of Ministers on 10 April makes absolutely clear, King Hussein has been playing an active, prominent and direct role in the current efforts to make progress towards peace. He has our full support, despite the setback which has occured. The details of our discussions during the King's recent visit to London and my own visit to Amman on 12 April must of course remain confidential.

NATO (Information Service)

38. Mr. Greenway asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the resources available to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation information service; and if he will make a

statement.

Mr. Hurd: In general, yes. The NATO information programme budget was increased by over 23 per cent. in 1983. This increase will help to expand the work of the NATO information service, a development which we strongly support.

Zimbabwe (Release of Funds)

39. Mr. Brotherton asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe to discuss the release of funds held in Zimbabwe by citizens of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Onslow: Exchange controls are a matter for the Zimbabwean Government. We have frequently pointed out to them the difficulties that the controls are causing, particularly for elderly emigrants and people on low fixed incomes. The Zimbabwe Government have assured us that they will relax the controls as soon as financial circumstances permit.

Iran-Iraq (Weapons Supplies)

41. Mr. Dan Jones asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has that lethal weapons from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries have become available to Iran or Iraq.

Mr. Hurd: Iran and Iraq receive arms supplies from a number of countries. The supply of arms is a matter for individual Governments. We are neutral in the war between Iran and Iraq and have not supplied lethal equipment to either side.

Espionage (Release of Documents)

42. Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the recent death of Anthony Blunt, the sole British citizen known to be involved in the Burgess, Maclean and Philby spy scandal, he will now agree to the publication of all the papers and documents connected with these Soviet and former British citizens.

Mr. Hurd: No. The policy set out in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 21 March is not changed by the death of Mr. Blunt.-[Vol. 39, c. 347.]

211

Written Answers

Horn of Africa

418

Sir John Biggs Davison asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about British interests in the Horn of Africa.

Mr. Onslow: The Horn of Africa is of strategic importance to us and our Western collegues because of its proximity to the Gulf and to the other countries of east Africa. We also have considerable commercial interests in the area.

Our objectives in the Hom were defined in the reply T gave to my hon. Friend on 22 December.-{[Vol. 34, c. 603.]

BOND IN NGISTAY NG. 51 2 1 APR 1983

European Movement

and

ISTRY

the Act Ide

Mr. Body asked the Secretary of St Commonwealth Affairs whether he Library the account he has receive Movement of how his grant to it of £30,000 in 1981782

was spent.

JAND

place the European

Mr. Hurd: Yes. I am also placing in the Library details of all the meetings which took place in 1981-82 under the European Movement's speakers service central programme.

Hong Kong

Mr. Whitney asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate China's gross foreign exchange earnings from Hong Kong over the past five years for which records are available, and the percentage of those figures represented by visible exports.

Mr. Hurd: China's visible exports to Hong Kong over the last five years were as follows:

£ sterling million

Total

1978

1,173.1

1979

1,425.4

1980

1,896.1

1981

2,601.8

1982

3,084.4

No accurate and complete figures are available to Her Majesty's Government for China's gross foreign exchange earnings from Hong Kong. However, visible earnings are estimated to represent between 60 and 80 per cent. of China's gross foreign exchange earnings from Hong Kong.

Mr. Whitney asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what trading benefits Hong Kong gains from its status as a dependent territory of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Hurd: As a British dependent territory, Hong Kong is represented on the British delegation to the general agreement on tariffs and trade. By virtue of this, it also participats in the multi-fibre arrangement. Where the United Kingdom is a member of international commodity agreements, these can be extended to include Hong Kong.

Mr. Whitney asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong for the STE

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