HC Deb 28 October 1975 vol 898 cc448-9W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many refugees from Vietnam remain in Hong Kong; and what prospects there are of finding them permanent homes elsewhere.

Mr. Ennals

Of approximately 4,000 Vietnamese refugees who arrived in Hong Kong last May just over 300 remain in Hong Kong. It is hoped that further departures to the United States will reduce this number to about 200 by the end of this month. The prospects of finding permanent homes elsewhere for the majority of the balance remaining are fairly good.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the value of contracts so far awarded for construction of the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway has been won by British firms.

Mr. Ennals

The contracts about to be let account for approximately one-eighth of the total value involved in the construction of the Mass Transit Railway. They cover part of the civil engineering works. Only one British firm was among the nine international concerns which tendered for this work. It did not secure a contract. The letting of the bulk of the remaining contracts will be spread over the period from now until the end of February 1976.