§ Mr. Parryasked the Lord Privy Seal how many aliens resident in Hong Kong have the prefix CR on their file at the present time.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThis information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Lord Privy Seal, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange on 2 February, Official Report, c. 84, when he expects the Chinese Government to make a statement on the future of Hong Kong.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsI have no new information to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 2 February.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Lord Privy Seal if he is satisfied with the procedure for the circulation of confidential Government documents in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsYes.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Lord Privy Seal under what circumstances the secretariat confidential circular 106/82 concerning the employment of homosexuals in the Hong Kong Civil Service, dated 5 January 1982, was released to the Hong Kong press; whether measures have been taken to discover who was responsible for the release; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThe confidential circular was issued for the information of heads of departments only and therefore was not released to the press. Inquiries into the unauthorised disclosure of the circular are now in progress.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Lord Privy Seal when the review of laws concerning homosexuality is expected to be completed by the Hong Kong law reform commission; and to what extent that commission will be bound by the policy outlined in the secretariat confidential circular 106/82.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThe commission is expected to make its recommendations later this year. The commission is not bound by the policy in the circular but will make whatever recommendations it considers to be right.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Lord Privy Seal how many aliens resident in Hong Kong for more than three years have had their resident visas revoked in each year since 1970, classified by nationality, age and sex and the countries to which they were repatriated.
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§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThis information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Lord Privy Seal how many aliens are now resident in Hong Kong whose presence is not subject to a resident's visa.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsApproximately 1.73 million.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Lord Privy Seal how many aliens are presently in Hong Kong whose presence is subject to a resident's visa; and if he will classify the information by nationality, age and sex.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsOn 31 December 1981 there were 413,911 aliens in Hong Kong whose presence was subject to a resident's visa. Of these, approximately 360,000 were Chinese immigrants. The classification by nationality, age and sex is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Lord Privy Seal what channels of appeal or petition exist in the United Kingdom for Hong Kong residents whose expulsions have been ordered and who have exhausted the local appeals procedure.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsHong Kong residents may petition the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Her Majesty The Queen. All such communications should be transmitted through the Governor.