§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of lives saved and illegal immigrants intercepted by Royal Naval and Royal Marine forces in Hong Kong waters over the past two years.
§ Mr. BlakerSince January 1979 the Royal Navy and Royal Marine forces in Hong Kong have intercepted approximately 24,400 illegal immigrants. Many illegal immigrants have been picked up whilst swimming or on unseaworthy craft; it is not possible to determine how many of these might otherwise have drowned and hence how many lives have been saved.