CONFIDENTIAL
Exchange of Letters
6.
The Department's Legal Adviser has said that she considers that a letter should be sent in order to safeguard our general position vis-a-vis all our dependent territories. She points out that whatever the specific origins of the exercise the decision of the Secretariat as it emerged does not relate solely to Hong Kong. There is also the point that there is no reason why the exchange of letters should be published. We could simply send it to the Secretary General without any request that it should be circulated to members.
7.
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I therefore submit a draft letter in general terms reserving our position. Even if this letter were published there is nothing in it to which the Chinese could reasonably take exception. If you agree with this I shall send the draft under cover of a letter (draft attached) to UKMIS New York seeking confirmation that our understanding is correct that the letter need not be published. If they confirm this I recommend that we should then instruct them to send the latter. HKIOD, UND and the Department's Legal Adviser
concur.
21 December 1973
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CONFIDENTIAL
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