§ 42. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals for federation or closer association of British North Borneo, Brunei, and Sarawak have been under recent consideration; for what reasons these proposals proved unacceptable; and 1082 what further efforts for closer association of these territories will be made.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThere are no precise proposals. Consideration of the possibility of closer association has been going on in Sarawak and North Borneo during the past year and the concept has certainly not been declared unacceptable. The Government of Brunei has not yet given the matter its consideration but a joint Sarawak-North Borneo fact-finding mission is now to travel in the two territories and report to their Governments.
§ Mr. SorensenMight I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the fact-finding mission is one that he himself has sent out there or whether it has been arranged locally, and who are involved in the conflict over the possible federation of these three territories? Finally, may I ask whether he has seen a report in the Press that Brunei has been obstructing these efforts?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt would come curiously from any member of the Opposition now to ask me to force territories together which they might claim do not want to be closely associated. This is essentially a matter for local consideration, and fact-finding missions are locally formed.
§ Mr. SorensenThat does not answer my question.