§ 2. Mr. Clemitsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to Singapore.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Evan Luard)My right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so.
§ Mr. ClemitsonWhen my hon. Friend or my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visits Singapore, will he tell Mr. Lee Kuan Yew that over 80 hon. Members of this House have signed an Early-Day Motion protesting at the detention of people without trial in his country? Will my hon. Friend, as a champion of human rights, protest about the continued detention without trial of those who were originally detained under Operation Cold Store in 1963 and are still in prison, 15 years later?
§ Mr. LuardI hope that Mr. Lee Kuan Yew carefully studies the Order Paper of the House of Commons and is therefore aware of the considerable concern that exists in this House on the matter. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House nearly two years ago, he believes that Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is well aware of our views on this question.
§ Mr. George RodgersDoes my hon. Friend agree that the detentions took place at a time when we had responsibility in that area? Do we not retain a moral obligation to intervene at this stage?
§ Mr. LuardThe Internal Security Council of which we were at that time a member was dissolved in 1963. The detention orders then made were for only two years and they have been renewed since. We therefore cannot take any responsibility for the present detention of these people.