Examination of Witnesses (Questions 140
- 158)
MONDAY 15 DECEMBER 1997
SIR JOHN
KERR, KCMG, MR
PETER WESTMACOTT,
LVO, MR JOHN
KERBY, and MR
LEE BEAUMONT
MR JAMIE
MORTIMER
Mr Leslie
140. On Hong Kong, can you just tell me
what was the cost to the UK of the new Chep Lap Kok Airport?
(Sir John Kerr) May I invite the assistance of
my colleague on the right?
(Mr Beaumont) I cannot answer about the cost to
the UK because my responsibility is only in respect of aviation
security.
141. So was there any cost at all to the
UK Exchequer?
(Sir John Kerr) I would be very surprised if there
was any cost at all.
(Mr Beaumont) The general thrust of our work in
aviation security is to ensure the cost- effective implementation
of aviation security measures.
142. Sure, I realise that, but maybe you
could just reassure us that there was no cost to the UK at all
in the construction of this whole new airport because it is an
extremely large and expensive construction and I was interested
in that. ***
(Sir John Kerr) ***
(Mr Beaumont) ***
143. ***
(Mr Beaumont) ***
144. Could you just reassure me about the
costs of the airport?
(Sir John Kerr) No costs to HMG in this country.
(Mr Beaumont) ***
Mr Williams
145. *** If we look at that appendix 1 in
the original NAO Report and the responsibilities of Governors,
in every instance the Governor has responsibility for internal
security. Where does the responsibility for implementation lie
and have there been any requests either from the individual Territories
and, in particular, from the Governors for financial support in
the period since 1995? [7]We
are nearly three years on, after all.
(Sir John Kerr) The responsibility lies with the
Government of the Dependent Territory in question.
146. Does that include the Governor?
(Sir John Kerr) Yes.
147. ***
(Mr Beaumont) ***
148. ***
(Mr Beaumont) ***
149. *** Then the final question is to switch
to the Falklands, where it says, " in July 1996, the Falkland
Islands Government received bids for oil exploration in their
territorial waters". Now, this Committee did an analysis
of the work of the Antarctic Survey a few years ago and, lo and
behold, to our amazement it was one of the few areas where they
could find new aircraft and a new ship and there was not the usual
shortage of funds, but there was no mention of oil at that stage.
Now, we would be delighted if they found it. *** Does it belong
to the Falklands or would it technically belong to the UK? What
is its status?
(Sir John Kerr) ***
150. ***
(Sir John Kerr) Technically, it belongs to the
Falkland Islands. It is by our long practice, convention, that
is to say, that resources from the continental shelf around a
Dependent Territory belong to that Dependent Territory. ***
151. ***
(Sir John Kerr) ***
152. In which case, Sir John, do you remember
when our Report on the Antarctic Survey took place? Was it about
1995?
(Sir John Bourn) I think in fact it may have been
rather before that.
153. Because there was certainly no mention
of anything of this sort at that stage. One final thought which
occurs to me as a result of it is that because of our relationship
with the Falklands, we still maintain our claim to that wedge
down into Antarctica, do we not?
(Sir John Kerr) Yes.
154. Whom technically does that wedge relate
to-the Falklands or ourselves? I know there are said to be no
economic developments, but whom does it relate to? Is it ours
or is it the Falklands'?
(Mr Westmacott) Our claim to the British Antarctic
Territory is totally separate from our relationship to the Falkland
Islands as a Dependent Territory. There are counter- claimants,
as I am sure you know. There are other Governments, the Chilean
and Argentine, which claim the same part of Antarctica, but it
is a totally separate Dependent Territory from the Falkland Islands.
Mr Page
155. You are again lucky that Mr Williams
has asked the main question that I wanted to ask. ***
(Sir John Kerr) ***
156. ***
(Sir John Kerr) ***
157. ***
(Mr Beaumont) ***
158. ***
(Mr Beaumont) ***
Mr Page: You tie our hands slightly
because submissions to Ministers and advice to Ministers are such
that I do not necessarily think we should be that bound by it,
but I have no further questions.
Chairman: Thank you, Sir John, for
your evidence and that of your colleagues.
7 Note: Memorandum not reported (PAC 99B). Back
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