TNAG-1524-FCO40-2088-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 59

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Written Answers

17 FEBRUARY 1986

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Mr. Merchant asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Commonwealth Development Corporation has been authorised to extend its area of operations.

Mr. Raison: I have decided to give approval to CDC undertaking activities in Pakistan. This is subject to consultation between CDC and my Department on the scale and content of CDC's intended investment programme in that country.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Vietnamese Refugees

Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese refugees in closed camps in Hong Kong claim to have spouses in open camps; what discussions he has had about the possibility of them being able to join one another; what action is proposed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton: Sixty Vietnamese refugees in open camps have claimed to have spouses in closed camps. Of these, 47 have joined their spouses in closed camps, five cases are pending and five have withdrawn their request to join their spouses. In the other three cases the couples left Hong Kong together for resettlement before reunion could take place.

Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to which other countries have decided to accept more Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong, indicating (i) the name of the country and (ii) the number of new Vietnamese refugees accepted.

Mr. Renton: Following our decision to accept about 500 additional refugees from Hong Kong, we have approached over 20 countries in an effort to increase resettlement from the Hong Kong camps. We have been advised that, in addition to their previously-announced quotas, Australia will accept 200 more refugees, and Canada 50; and also that New Zealand will take 10 refugees from Hong Kong. Most other countries are still considering their responses and we remain in close touch with them.

Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current number of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong (i) in closed camps and (ii) in open camps.

Mr. Renton: On 14 February 4,809 refugees were in closed camps and 4,380 in open camps.

Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Hong Kong Government about Vietnamese refugees in closed camps; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton: We and the Hong Kong Government remain in close touch on the Vietnamese refugees problem in Hong Kong. The need for the closed camp policy is kept under constant review. Neither we nor the Hong Kong Government wish to retain the closed camps for refugees any longer than is necessary.

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Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made the Government of Indonesia about Vietnamese refugees in that country; and if he will make a statement.

to

Mr. Renton: None, but we keep in close touch with Indonesia and other members of the Association of South East Asian Nations on the problems of Indo-China generally. We are deeply concerned about the question of Vietnamese refugees in south-east Asia and attach particular priority to resettling those in camps in Hong Kong.

Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about statements made by the Chinese Government about the status of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong after 1997; and how many such refugees are expected still to be in camps at that date.

Mr. Renton: I have no information about any such statement by the Government of the People's Republic of China. China has provided permanent asylum for some 265,000 refugees from Vietnam. This is an admirable record. It is our strong hope that no refugees will remain in Hong Kong in 1997.

Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency arrangements have been made with the Hong Kong Government in respect of Vietnamese still in refugee camps at the time of transfer of sovereignty in 1997; and if he will make a

statement.

Mr. Renton: None. It is our firm intention that the Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong Kong should be resolved well before 1997. In any event, the joint declaration on the future of Hong Kong provides for the continuation after 30 June 1997 of Hong Kong's present social and legal systems and so any refugees then in Hong Kong should retain their current status.

Human Rights (Poland)

Mr. Alex Carlile asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made since 1 January 1985 to the Polish authorities concerning the imprisonment of political dissenters and other abuses of human nights in Poland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton: During his visit to Warsaw in April 1985. my right hon. and learned Friend stressed our concern that progress towards internal reconciliation in Poland should be maintained, and spoke very frankly to his hosts of our deep anxiety about moves in a contrary direction, giving examples. On 16 May my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), the then Minister of State, repeated out concerns to the Polish ambassador. On 19 June my right hon. and learned Friend asked the Polish ambassador to call and said that the prison sentences imposed on Mr. Lis, Mr. Michnik and Mr. Frasyniuk had caused dismay in Britain. He also mentioned other indications of increasing repression. He spoke similarly to the Polish Foreign Minister when they met at Helsinki on 30 July. On 14 November my night hon. and learned Friend the Member for Pentlands repeated our concerns to the Polish Deputy Foreign Minister when the latter visited London.

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