HC Deb 31 October 1984 vol 65 cc1025-7W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to Hong Kong taxpayers of the visits to the colony by hon. Members during the summer recess; and if he will give a breakdown in the Official Report of these costs.

Mr. Luce

Hong Kong Government expenditure on visits by hon. Members during the whole of the financial year 1984–85 is estimated at Hong Kong Dollars 1,555,000 (£165,000). Of this, about 85 per cent. is expected to be spent on visits occurring during the period 1 July 1984–15 November 1984. The approximate breakdown of costs will be 55 per cent. for air travel, 22 per cent. for hotel accommodation, 14 per cent. for meals and subsistence and 9 per cent. for other miscellaneous expenses.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of hon. Members who visited Hong Kong and to whom official facilities were extended by Her Majesty's Government or the Hong Kong Government during the summer recess.

Mr. Luce

The Hong Kong Government invited 35 hon. Members to visit Hong Kong during the period 1 July to 15 November 1984. In addition six hon. Members were assisted with hotel expenses, while transiting Hong Kong, to enable them to undertake a Government programme and a further six hon. Members were offered programmes. Four Ministers also paid official visits to Hong Kong during this period.

The hon. Members fully sponsored by the Hong Kong Government were:

  • Mr. Paddy Ashdown.
  • Mr. Stuart Bell.
  • Sir Nicholas Bonsor.
  • Miss Betty Boothroyd.
  • Dr. Jeremy Bray.
  • Mr. Dennis Canavan.
  • Mr. Eric Deakins.
  • Mr. Kenneth Eastham.
  • Mr. Andrew Faulds.
  • Mr. George Foulkes.
  • Mr. Bryan Gould.
  • Mr. Robert Harvey.
  • Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory.
  • Mr. David Howell.
  • Mr. Sean Hughes.
  • Mr. Russell Johnston.
  • Mr. Charles Kennedy.
  • Sir Anthony Kershaw.
  • Mr. Ian Lang.
  • Mr. Ivan Lawrence.
  • Mr. Mark Lennox-Boyd.
  • Mr. James Lester.
  • Mr. Peter Lloyd.
  • Mr. Michael Marshall.
  • Mr. Ian Mikardo.
  • Mr. Hal Miller.
  • Sir Hector Monro.
  • Mr. Richard Needham.
  • Miss Jo Richardson.
  • Mr. Mark Robinson.
  • Mr. Andrew Rowe.
  • Mr. Barry Sheerman.
  • Mr. Peter Temple-Morris.
  • Mr. Peter Thomas.
  • Mr. Bowen Wells.

The hon. Members assisted by the Hong Kong Government with hotel costs were:

  • Mr. Jack Ashley.
  • Mr. Henry Bellingham.
  • Mr. Gordon Bagier.
  • Mr. Alfred Morris.
  • Mr. Stefan Terlezki.
  • Mr. Neville Trotter.

The hon. Members offered programmes were:

  • Mr. Peter Tapsell.
  • Sir Paul Bryan.
  • Sir John Osborn.
  • Mr. John Corrie.
  • Mr. David Lambie.
  • Dr. Maurice Miller.

The Ministers who paid official visits to Hong Kong were:

  • Sir Geoffrey Howe.
  • Mr. Anthony Newton.
  • Mr. Peter Morrison.
  • Mr. John Butcher.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the reasons the Hong Kong Government invited hon. Members to visit the colony during the summer recess; and what criteria were used in their selection.

Mr. Luce

The Hong Kong Government issued invitations to hon. Members to enable them to gain a clearer understanding of Hong Kong and its problems and interests. In particular it was considered important that hon. Members should have an opportunity to discuss the future of Hong Kong with Hong Kong people before debating the draft agreement in Parliament.

Broadly speaking, hon. Members were selected by the Hong Kong Government on evidence of an interest in foreign affairs generally or an interest in Hong Kong in particular (eg through membership of the Foreign Affairs Committee or party committees).