TNAG-1268-FCO40-1617-China-s-economic-relationship-with-Hong-Kong-Shenzhen-econom-1983 — Page 142

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Written Answers

13 APRIL 1983

five years for which figures are available; and what is the net revenue to the United Kingdom Government that arises as a result of Hong Kong's status as a dependent territory.

Mr. Hurd: The following table shows the balance of visible trade between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong for the period 1978-82:

Exports to Hong

Kong (FOB) Imports from Hong Kong (CIF)

Balance

£ million 1978 - 1979 1980 -1981 1982

361.7 439.4 559.2

527-8 689.2 849.8

614.0 732.5

896.6 872.5

-166-1 -249.8 -290.6 -282.6 -140·0

No authoritative figures for invisibles are available, but it is clear that in this sector the United Kingdom has a surplus. The United Kingdom does not impose taxes on Hong Kong, and thus receives no direct revenue from there. There are some relatively small budgetary transactions with the territory--for example, concerning defence. These have in the past led to a net cost to the United Kingdom, but Hong Kong has assumed a greater proportion of costs in recent years.

Kampuchea

Mr. Adley asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the latest Vietnamese action in Kampuchea in the light of the fact that Her Majesty's Government officially recognise the coalition Government of Prince Sihanouk; if he will raise the matter at the United Nations at the earliest opportunity; if he will propose the raising of a United Nations force to defend the integrity and independence of Kampuchea against Vietnamese in- vaders; and if he will hold urgent discussions with ASEAN and his European Economic Community counterparts.

Mr. Rifkind: I remain most concerned at the recent attacks by Vietnamese forces on the Thai-Cambodian border which have caused hundreds of civilian casualties, displaced thousands of refugees and involved a number of incursions into Thai territory. The meeting in Bangkok last month of Community and ASEAN Foreign Ministers deplored these attacks. I believe it is right to leave the initiative for any further steps at the United Nations or elsewhere to the states most directly concerned.

An increasing majority of United Nations members already endorses the principles of a political settlement set out by the international conference on Kampuchea Cambodia-held under United Nations auspices in 1981, including as a first step the withdrawal of all foreign forces. We regard the coalition of resistance forces led by Prince Sihanouk as a significant step towards such a political settlement.

Turkey

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will raise the question at the United Nations of the repression of human rights in Turkey.

Mr. Hurd: The Government have repeatedly made clear at the United Nations that we deplore human rights violations wherever they occur. We have no plans to raise

Written Answers

the specific question of human rights in Turkey at the United Nations. But we continue to make the Turkish authorities aware of our concern over alleged human rights violations.

Arab League States (Ministerial Visits)

Mr. Latham asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will tabulate, giving dates and places, the visits made by himself or by other Ministers in his Department to any member countries of the League of Arab States since he assumed his present office; and whether he will also tabulate official visits made to the United Kingdom by Foreign Ministers of Arab countries where he or his departmental colleagues have officially received the Minister in question.

Mr. Hurd: The information is as follows:

Official Visits to Arab League States by FCO Ministers from April 1982 to April 1983

Syria

14-15 June 1982 12-16 September 1982 16-17 September 1982 9-11 October 1982 9-11 November 1982

Mr. Pym Mr. Hurd

Mr. Hurd

Saudi Arabia UAE Jordan

Mr. Pym

Mr. Pym

Jordan

16-19 November 1982

Mr. Hurd

Oman

24 March 1983 25-27 March 1983 27-28 March 1983

Mr. Pym

Bahrain

Mr. Hurd

Kuwait

Mr. Hurd

Iraq

29-30 March 1983 8-10 April 1983

Mr. Hurd

Lebanon

Mr. Pym

Saudia Arabia

Mr. Pym

UAE

Mr. Pym

Jordan

10-12 April 1983 13 April 1983

Official Visits by Foreign Ministers of Arab Countries from April 1982 to April 1983

28-30 June 1982

Shaikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak of Bahrain 11 June 1982

Prince Saud bin Faisal of Saudi Arabia

12-15 October 1982

Mr. Mirghani Mubarak of Sudan

18 October 1982

Mr. Yusuf Alawi of Oman

7-10 December 1982

Mr. Elie Salem of Lebanon

6 February 1983

Mr. Kamal Hassan Ali of Egypt

17-18 March 1983

Arab League Delegation including Foreign Ministers of Syria (Mr. Abdul Khaddam), Saudi Arabia (Prince Saud bin Faisal), Morocco (M. Mohammed Boucetta) and Jordan (Mr. Marwan Qasem).

Arab League Plan

Mr. Latham asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will invite or be prepared to receive a group of Ministers and officials from the state of Israel seeking to explain their attitude to the Arab League plan devised at Fez and to the future constitutional status of the areas now under Israeli occupation, but occupied by Jordan and Egypt between 1948 and 1967, following the recent deputation from King Hussein and others for a similar purpose.

Mr. Hurd: We maintain a constant dialogue with Israel on these and other subjects. Israeli Ministers have made clear their rejection of the proposals for a middle east peace settlement put forward by the Arab summit at Fez, and of President Reagan's peace initiative.

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