§ 7. Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts he has had with the Governments of Indonesia and Malaysia over the future status of the Malacca Straits.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleWe have informed the Governments of Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as that of Singapore, of our view that the Malacca Straits are straits which are used for international navigation between one part of the high seas and another, and between one part of the high seas and the territorial sea of a particular State. It is the view of Her Majesty's Government that ships of all States have a right of unimpeded passage through such straits.
§ Mr. ReedIs it not a matter of concern to all maritime nations that there is a growing tendency to erode the principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas? Will my hon. Friend be raising this matter during the preparatory stages of the United Nations international conference on the Law of the Sea?
§ Mr. RoyleWe have supported the preparatory work for this conference which we regard, as indeed my hon. Friend clearly does, as the right place for settling problems such as the status of the Malacca Straits.