HC Deb 07 February 1955 vol 536 cc1550-1
27. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that facilities will not be made available at Hong Kong for the repair or refuelling of any warship engaged in operations against the territory or forces controlled by the Central People's Government of China.

Mr. Turton

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Shoreditch and Finsbury (Mr. Collins) on 4th February.

Mr. Driberg

Does that negative reply mean that, despite the vulnerable position of Hong Kong in relation to the mainland of China, the hon. Gentleman is prepared to concede to American interventionist warships facilities which were refused by his right hon. Friends even to civilian refugees on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War?

Mr. Turton

I wish to make it quite clear that Hong Kong offers normal repair and fuelling facilities to all ships in a friendly way. Any ship in distress will receive help from Hong Kong.

Mr. Bevan

Is this not an exceedingly dangerous and provocative action against the Peking Government? Is it not a fact that we are in Hong Kong at the present time under treaty arrangements and that, in point of fact, if the Peking Government did not want us to remain, it would be highly doubtful whether we could defend our position there? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] It would be not only highly doubtful but impossible to defend it. Therefore, ought we not to avoid any provocative action of this sort?

Mr. Turton

Apart from the provocative nature of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary, I think it not an unreasonable line to take that we shall help ships of all nations when they are in distress.