TNAG-2460-FCO40-3581-Hong-Kong-annual-report-for-1992-1992 — Page 45

Written Answers

Written Answers to

Questions

Monday 9 March 1992

9 MARCH 1992

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

NENAT

Syria

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Syrian authorities concerning the violation of human rights of Jews in Syria.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: We have made our views clear to the Syrian Government about their human rights record, including the problems of the Jewish community.

CED

Baltic Republics (Gold)

Sir Michael McNair-Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the gold or money equivalent to be transferred to the Baltic republics has now been transferred; and which other countries in the eastern European areas have gold reserves deposited in London.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: We hope to reach final agreement with each Baltic Government on the transfer of gold, or its equivalent in money, by the end of March. We hope to receive shortly formal responses from the Baltic Governments to our proposals for the transfer, which we put to them in January.

Where countries choose to hold their gold and other international reserves is a matter of banking confiden- tiality and for them alone to disclose if they wish to. I am not in a position to do so.

POL

Acser

SEC International Science and Technology Centre

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statment on the role of the international science and technology centre in Russia.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: We support the proposal to establish an international science and technology centre in the CIS to reduce the risk of proliferation of expertise in building weapons of mass destruction. The EC is considering a financial contribution to the initiative from its technical assistance budget.

ACDRU

SEC chief scfentific Adviser (Moscow Visit)

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit of Professor Bill Stewart, the chief scientific adviser, to Moscow.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: The chief scientific adviser proposes to make an early visit to Moscow for discussions with leading members of the scientific community. These will be directed to identifying ways in which the west can help to sustain the science base in the CIS.

M

UNB 29/1

ritt

swers

WED Post Cold War Conference

par Ananas,

Rene's

362

Mr. Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have provided any financial support or other assistance to the conference of former Heads of State and Government in Europe and America on "The World after the Cold War: National Roles and Responsibilities" held in Berlin on 4 March .

Mr. Garel-Jones: The conference of European and American former Heads of State and Government on the "Post Cold War World: Roles and Responsibilities of Nations" was held in Berlin on 5 March. Her Majesty's Government did not provide any financial support. Lord Callaghan was one of the participants and a member of the British embassy in Berlin attended.

SEC POL Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations ACARY

Mr. Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what negotiations on nuclear disarmament, pursuant to United Kingdom commitments under the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty article VI provisions, currently involve the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: The focus of nuclear arms control negotiations remains on the arsenals of the United States and Russia. We welcome the prospect of further reductions in their nuclear arsenals. Consistent with our nuclear non-proliferation treaty obligations, we are willing to consider involvement in strategic arms control negotiations when the time is right. But our deterrent force is a minimum only, and not comparable to those of the United States and Russia. President Yeltsin has accepted this position. We have, however, already announced substantial reductions in our sub-strategic nuclear capability, including ending our role in the deployment of the Lance missile and nuclear artillery in Europe, the withdrawal of tactical nuclear weapons from Royal Navy ships in normal circumstances, and a reduction of about 50 per cent. in the number of our free-fall nuclear bombs.

British-Argentine Group

LAD

Mr. Shersby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the British-Argentine high-level group held in Buenos Aires.

Mr. Garel-Jones: The British and Argentine delega- tions exchanged information and explored ideas on the scope for cooperation on activities deriving from their respective legislative measures relating to the continental shelf in the south-west Atlantic. There will be a second meeting of the high-level group in London in late June

1992.

HKD

Hong Kong

Mr. Anthony Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report on Hong Kong will be laid before Parliament.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd: The report is being published and laid before Parliament today. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

ZO

183 CW71/1 Job 1-1

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