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Written Answers
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ernments to give a new impetus to our bilateral sations. The visit set the seal on the dynamic relationship with Australia which has developed in the past year or two.
56. Mr. Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being undertaken to strengthen United Kingdom-Australian relations.
Mr. Eggar: Following the recent successful visit to Britain by the Prime Minister of Australia, we will be seeking to ensure that a regular momentum of ministerial and official exchanges is maintained. Visits to Australia in the past twelve months by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Defence, for Trade and Industry, and for Education and Science have meant a thorough review of our relationship with Australia in these and other fields. We want to see the already strong co-operation in these areas maintained and, wherever possible, expanded.
Lebanon
20. Mr. Archer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had discussions with his European Economic Community counterparts or members of the United Nations Security Council on seeking the early withdrawal of Syria from Lebanon.
Mr. Waldegrave: Yes. We and our European partners have consistently sought the withdrawal from Lebanon of all non-Lebanese troops other than UNIFIL. We fully support the efforts of the Arab League to bring this about.
82. Mr. David Porter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Arab League's initiative towards the Lebanon.
Mr. Waldegrave: We and our European partners fully support the Arab League's efforts to find a solution to the crisis in Lebanon.
Single Market
21. Mr. Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the removal of barriers by 1992 with other European Economic Community Foreign Ministers; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Chalker: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has reported to the House on the European Council at Madrid on 26-27 June, which reviewed progress on reducing technical and physical barriers within the Community.
58. Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that the 1992 programme does not soak up staff resources in the European Commission in areas of shortage of expertise, including the development directorate.
Mrs. Chalker: We shall continue to press for the most effective and efficient use of Commission staff, including flexible deployment and improved career planning, to ensure that staffing levels correspond to the needs arising from the Commission's tasks.
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46. Mr. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the increase in the number of Green party representatives in the European Parliament on progress towards completion of the internal market.
Mrs. Chalker: The Green party is opposed to the single market programme. Its policies, if adopted, would sabotage the increasing prosperity which the single market will bring.
Hong Kong:
22. Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the resettlement of the citizens of Hong Kong.
Mr. Eggar: We have received many representations on this subject. During his visit to Hong Kong from 2-4 July my right hon. and learned Friend was able to discuss this with the Governor and his advisers, with members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, and with represen- tatives of a wide range of opinion within the Hong Kong community.
53. Mr. Sumberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with other Commonwealth countries concerning the future of Hong Kong.
Mr. Eggar: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the future of Hong Kong with the Australian Prime Minister during his recent visit. We have also been in touch with our Australian and Canadian counterparts who will attend this week's economic summit in Paris. We shall raise the matter there and at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in the autumn.
44. Mr. Haynes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action the Government intends to take to solve the problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.
Mr. Eggar: We are playing an active role in meetings of the Steering Committee set up by the international conference on Indo-Chinese refugees in Geneva on 13-14 June to maintain progress on the comprehensive plan of action adopted by the conference. We will seek to ensure, through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, that agreements reached at the Conference are implemented as swiftly as possible and in a balanced way. As part of our contribution, we have agreed to resettle 2,000 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong over the next three years.
32. Mr. Ashley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Hong Kong.
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Governor of Hong Kong; and what subjects were discussed.
64. Mr. Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar: My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Hong Kong from 2-4 July and made a statement to the House on 5 July.
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