§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Governor of Hong Kong prior to the raid by police and security forces on the Whitehead Vietnamese detention centre in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. BaldryThe transfer of Vietnamese migrants between detention centres is a matter for the Hong Kong Government. We had no discussions with the Governor of Hong Kong prior to the operation in the Whitehead detention centre on 7 April.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recommendations are to be introduced by the Governor of Hong Kong in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London as to the procedures that would be followed in any future disturbance at detention centres housing Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Hong Kong Government accept the recommendations contained in the report of the honourable Andrew Li, CBE, QC, JP and Professor Todd, CBE, JP and intend to implement them fully.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place(a) in London or (b) in Hong Kong as to the role played by Mr. Alistair Asprey, following the report on the handling of the incidents that took place at the Whitehead detention centre for Vietnamese people in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryThe role played by Mr. Alistair Asprey in the operation which took place in the Whitehead detention centre in Hong Kong on 7 April is set out in the report of the independent inquiry into that operation. The part that he played has not been discussed by the British or Hong Kong Government following publication of the report.