§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees concerning Iranian refugees detained in Hong Kong since last January; and what replies were given;
(2) what recent representations the Hong Kong Government have received concerning Iranian refugees detained in the colony.
§ Mr. LuceThe Hong Kong Government have recently received a request from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that the nine Iranians be released from detention while resettlement efforts continue. The Hong Kong Government replied that they would be released when suitable offers of resettlement were received. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has made representations in support of his request to the United Kingdom Mission in Geneva, which explained the position of the Hong Kong Government in similar terms.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Iranian refugees held by the Hong Kong immigration authorities in December 1983 are still in detention.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Iranian refugees who were detained by the Hong Kong immigration authorities have now been declared political refugees by the United Nations.
§ Mr. LuceThe Iranians have been classified by the local representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hong Kong as persons of concern to the High Commissioner for Refugees. This, we understand, constitutes refugee status for the purpose of protection by the High Commissioner for Refugees.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries which have accepted for settlement the Iranian refugees who were held by the Hong Kong immigration authorities.
§ Mr. LuceSo far two of the Iranians have been accepted by the United States, one by Sweden and one by Austria.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the 19-year-old Iranian refugee held in Hong Kong, details of which have been given to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside.
§ Mr. LuceThe 19-year-old Iranian of whom details were sent to me by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside was among the group of Iranians who arrived in Hong Kong on 28 December from Karachi. He is still in the custody of the Hong Kong Government, but will be released as soon as appropriate arrangements can be made352W for him to leave Hong Kong. His application for resettlement is being actively considered by a number of Governments.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Hong Kong Government and Her Majesty's Government have had with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees concerning the Iranian refugees who were detained in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceFour of the Iranians have been accepted for resettlement by other countries. We and the Hong Kong Government have already had extensive discussions on the position of the others with the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees and are continuing these contacts. We hope that solutions will soon be found for the Iranians.