HC Deb 26 January 1984 vol 52 cc680-2W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will tabulate for each of the last 10 years, the numbers of unofficial members of (a) the Executive Council and (b) the Legislative Councils of Hong Kong who were (i) Chinese, (ii) British and (iii) others; and, for each year, what were the relevant percentages of each body that the unofficial members comprised of the total membership thereof.

Mr. Luce

The statistics, which are based on race rather than nationality, are as follows:

Legislative Council, seven out of the 18 official members — that is, 39 per cent.— speak a Chinese dialect fluently.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what qualifications he has sought to have taken into account by the Governor for prospective unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in Hong Kong.

Mr. Luce

There are no prescribed qualifications which have to be taken into account by the Governor for prospective unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in Hong Kong. They are selected on the basis of their personal qualities, their knowledge of Hong Kong affairs, their record of achievement in public life and their capacity to reflect the views of significant groups in the community.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in total, and by individual department within the Hong Kong Government, the numbers of people seconded by his office to that Government at the latest convenient date.

Mr. Whitney

On 1 January 1984 five members of the Diplomatic Service were on secondment to the Hong Kong Government. They were the Governor, three officers employed in the political adviser's office and one in the trade and industry branch.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have recently taken place between the Governor of Hong Kong and trades unions there about the future constitution of the territory.

Mr. Luce

The process of consultation with the people of Hong Kong on all matters relating to the future is a continuous one. The Government of Hong Kong are in touch with a wide variety of groups including trade unions. Some unions have made their views on the future known to the Government.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the groups and organisations, other than the Governor of Hong Kong, Government officials and members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, that he or other Ministers in his Department have personally met in order to discuss future constitutional changes in the terrority; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Luce

My right hon. and learned Friend and I keep in touch with the views of the people of Hong Kong through a variety of official and unofficial channels. When I visited Hong Kong in September 1983, I was able to discuss many aspects of Hong Kong's future. As well as holding talks with the Governor, senior officials, and the unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, I met representatives of a wide range of social and professional groups.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long he intends to allow for consultation in Hong Kong on the agreement to be reached

Planned expenditure and outturn
£ million
1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83
I. ROAD CONSTRUCTION
TOTAL ENGLAND
(a) Planned Expenditure November 73 November 74 November 75 November 76 November 77 November 78 November 79 Cash (Price Base)
n/a 195 231 143 148 211 195 239 405

between Her Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government on the future of the territory following the announcement of the agreement.

Mr. Luce

The process of consultation with the people of Hong Kong on all matters relating to the territory's future is a continuous one. It is too soon to say exactly how Hong Kong opinion will be consulted on any specific arrangements proposed for its future.

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