§ 28. Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards relations with Burma.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe maintain diplomatic relations with Burma. But we deplore the failure of the Burmese military authorities to respond to the people's clearly expressed wish for democratic government, and are appalled by reports of their continuing disregard for human rights.
§ 29. Mr. HaynesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Vietnam on the question of Vietnamese asylum seekers in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydTo ease the pressure on Hong Kong, we are urgently pursuing with Vietnam, UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration the establishment of an internationally managed centre on territory provided by Vietnam for those asylum seekers who are determined not to be refugees and have not taken advantage of the existing voluntary return programme.
§ 30. Sir Peter BlakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest position regarding the problem of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe number of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong continues to increase. The population in camps now stands at over 61,000; the highest level since 1979. We are urgently pursuing with Vietnam, UNHCR and IOM the establishment of an internationally managed centre on territory provided by Vietnam for those asylum seekers who are determined not to be refugees and have not taken advantage of the existing voluntary return programme.
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British dependent territories citizens from Hong Kong have(a) applied for and (b) been granted the status of British national (overseas) in each year since 1985.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe status of British National (overseas) came into being on 1 July 1987. Statistics (provided by the Hong Kong Government) are as follows:636W
Year Applications Received Completed 11987 18,336 16,275 1988 31,916 30,222 1989 53,222 49,519 1990 80,213 78,265 21991 51,903 51,123 1(From 1 July). 2(Up to 13 July).
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for naturalisation as British dependent territories citizens on the basis of a connection with Hong Kong have been(a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused for each year since 1989 and to the nearest available date.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAccording to Hong Kong Government statistics, the number of applications for naturalisation as British dependent territories citizens on the basis of a connection with Hong Kong were:
Period Received Approved Refused 1989 3,098 1,098 73 1990 12,543 1,699 95 11991 5,995 4,330 129 1(Up to 30 June).