14 June 1989]
THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP, MR R MCLAREN and MR A PAUL
[Mr Temple-Morris Contd] considerable scope for improvement, bearing in mind out of nearly 500 applications I think only for Crown servants have been granted the right of abode. But coming beyond Crown servants for the moment on to other categories, I am trying to get it in because I am looking at the clock. It seems from what the Prime Minister was saying about the possible need for extra powers from the House that one is travelling beyond Crown servants and is very seriously looking at the need not only for Crown servants to stay in Hong Kong, with the necessary assurances or whatever, but also key business people as well, bearing in mind the very serious state of alarm there is in the Colony at the moment. The Governor a couple of days back in evidence to us said in answer to this further category question, business people and so on, it depends upon political will; and when the political decision is taken that category could be achieved. Indeed, he was in a sense repeating evidence we ✓ had a long time back from Lord Maclerose. What can you tell us about this vital question of political will; in other words, have you and your senior colleagues been making up your mind about the matter?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) Clearly the group you have in mind, the entrepreneurial group, the younger group, with a special contribution to make, is a group of importance which must fall within the consideration we are now giving to this topic.
1001. Can you give us any sense of timescale here, bearing in mind the Prime Minister did stress the degree of urgency and many people are waiting upon you?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) I cannot give you any precise timescale at this moment, but clearly in the light of what has been said by the Prime Minister and myself all these matters are being considered as quickly as they can.
Chairman: I think we shall have to leave that very important issue there. We are all conscious, as I know you are, Foreign Secretary, of the expec- tation that something will be said, and indeed the time pressure. Now you are under punishing pressure at the moment, and we must give you time to recoup before you face the House of Com- mons this afternoon at questions. We have one more issue we do want to look at. Also, I think Mr Canavan has one more point on this issue.
Mr. Canavan
1002. I wanted to refer briefly to the point by Peter Temple-Morris about the position of Crown servants. Would you, Sir Geoffrey, care to com- ment on recent reports that some senior Hong Kong civil servants were asked by a senior British Government official to sign an agreement to honour their contracts in return for being given a secret code number which guarantees them safe passage to the United Kingdom and the right to abode in this country? Are these reports true; and, if so, do you agree with the description by one senior Hong Kong civil servant that this is tanta- mount to blackmail? Could you give us any indi-
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[Continued
cation as to how many people have received this secret code number?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) I cannot comment on that aspect of the matter, although it is the case that in certain limited cases the Home Secretary does have a discretion to grant certain rights of admission for Crown servants. But I do not think it would be useful for me to go beyond that at this stage.
Chairman: As for the Vietnamese boat people, you have just come from Geneva, Foreign Sec- retary, and Mr Lester has a question.
Mr. Lester
1003. Sir Geoffrey, I am pleased that you men- tioned the problem of placements of the refugees already in Hong Kong. I think we would possibly all agree that the people with least hope at this moment in South East Asia are those who have just been taken into captivity in China, and those in the camps in Hong Kong who have both been given refugee status and are awaiting placement who have been there over five years and those who are awaiting screening. I therefore think it is most interesting to the Committee to hear from you directly how the Geneva conference is going and how dependent the outcome is going to be on the co-operation of the Vietnamese Government and what does that imply?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) As you know, the compre- hensive action programme there addressed itself to two different groups, but one of those are those who are classified or who may classify themselves as refugees; and the object there is to try and secure a plan which can be implemented over a span of three years, to secure the resettlement of those within that timescale. That I think is going forward reasonably well. Perhaps the most hopeful piece of news yesterday was the news that the Philippines Government was prepared to make premises avail- able for the establishment of a regional holding centre for refugees. I indicated that if others were ready to contribute, we would contribute £5 mil- lion to the cost of such a centre which would be a place designed to hold people through to their resettlement country. Other countries have indi- cated their willingness to take significant additional numbers. I indicated our willingness to take an additional 1,000 in addition to the 1,000 we said we would take in March of this year. Others are making a corresponding contribution. So far as refugees are concerned, the process is along reason- ably hopeful lines. So far as the non-refugees are concerned, the economic migrants, I think vir- tually every contribution to the conference recognised that such a category existed and that they could not look forward to the prospect of resettlement because they do not qualify as refugees and that their proper place in which to seek their future is therefore in their own home country. In our judgment and in the judgment of the Governor of Hong Kong, it is a Vietnam and That the Vietnamese boat people who would qualify as deer refugees will have to be finally located. I was able to discuss that question yesterday with the Vietnamese foreign minister and to arrange for
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