TNAG-1413-FCO40-1889-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 4

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Written Answers

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EC Council of Ministers (Middle East)

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17 DECEMBER 1985

Mr. Pike asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council of Ministers will next discuss the problems of the middle east.

Mr. Rifkind: The Council of Ministers has no plans to discuss the problems of the middle east in the near future.

Angola-United States Talks

Mr. Michael Brown asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on recent talks between the United States Government and the MPLA Government of Angola concerning Cuban troop withdrawal and Namibian independence.

Mr. Rifkind: A meeting between representatives of the Governments of the United States and Angola was held in Lusaka at the end of November. A further meeting is likely to take place shortly. The content of the discussions remains confidential.

Namibia (Political Parties)

Mr. Michael Brown asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met with leaders of the Democratic Turnhalle Party of Namibia, the Kavango Alliance Party, Rehoboth Baster Veriging, South West Africa Peoples' Organisation, SWANU, South West Africa Peoples' Organisation-D, The Labour Party of Namibia, and the Rehoboth Free Democratic Party; and whether he has any plans to meet the leaders of these Namibian political parties in the future.

Mr. Rifkind: My right hon. and learned Friend met the leader of the South West Africa People's Organisation on 26 June. as Her Majesty's Government are willing to have contact with all the parties to the United Nations plan for Namibia. Whilst he has not met the leaders of the other named political parties, we do keep in touch informally with all shades of political opinion in Namibia. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to meet the leaders of any Namibian political parties in the near future.

Hong Kong

Mr. Forth asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report on Hong Kong will be laid before Parliament.

Sir Geoffrey Howe: I shall be laying the annual report on Hong Kong before Parliament on 18 December. Copies of the Governor of Hong Kong's annual address to the Legislative Council, and the Financial Secretary's budget speech and half yearly economic review will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Western Sahara

Mr. Corbyn asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings his Department has had with representatives of the Polisario Front concerning diplomatic recognition of the Democratic Republic of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a

statement.

Mr. Renton: There has been occasional informal contacts between Polisario representatives and Foreign

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and Commonwealth Office officials. These do not denote any change in our neutral policy towards the Western Sahara dispute. We do not recognise the Democratic Republic of the Western Sahara.

Morocco

Mr. Corbyn asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on arms sales to Morocco from 1979 to the present time.

Mr. Renton: It is not the practice to publish details of defence sales. Most of Morocco's military equipment is of United States and French origin. United Kingdom arms sales in recent years have been modest.

Mr. Corbyn asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the British embassy in Morocco is giving to United Kingdom companies involved in exploiting phosphate deposits in Morocco.

Mr. Rifkind: Moroccan phosphate deposits are exploited exclusively by the Moroccan Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP). Our posts at Rabat and Casablanca offer assistance to British companies wishing to do business with OCP and the full range of British Overseas Trade Board services is available.

Simonstown Naval Base

Miss Maynard asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the agreement with the Republic of South Africa on the Simonstown naval base is currently in operation; and whether the accompanying agreement to supply South Africa with arms has been abrogated in accordance with the decision of the United Nations Organisation to ban arms exports to that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley: I have been asked to reply.

I assume that the hon. Lady is referring to the provision for South African purchase in the United Kingdom of certain naval vessels in the agreement on defence of the sea routes round southern Africa that was signed at the same time as the agreement relating to the transfer of the Simonstown naval base on 30 June 1955. Both agreements were terminated simultaneously by an exchange of letters which entered into force on 16 June 1975 and which were subsequently presented to Parliament in Cmnd. 6229.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Children's Homes and Hostels (Inquiry)

Mr. Cohen asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what preconditions Mr. Colin Wallace sought to impose before being interviewed by the committee of inquiry into children's homes and hostels in Northern Ireland; to what extent these were met; and what reasons Mr. Wallace gave for not taking part in the interview.

Mr. Needham: These are matters principally for the committee of inquiry I understand, however, that among other things Mr. Wallace sought permission to disclose to the committee material, including if necessary classified material, gained in the course of his employment with the Ministry of Defence. Mr. Wallace was given permission to disclose any such information relevant to the inqu28-

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