LETTER FROM THE CHINESE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE
UNITED NATIONS TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF 24 DATED 8 MARCH 1972
PASO
AG
"As is known to all, the questions of Hong Kong and Macao belong to the category of questions resulting from the series of unequal treaties left over by history, treaties which the imperialists imposed on China. Hong Kong and Macao are part of Chinese territory occupied by the British .and Portuguese authorities. The settlement of the questions of Hong Kong and Macao is entirely within China's sovereign right and does not at all fall under the ordinary category of "Colonial Territories". Consequently, they should not be included in the list of Colonial Territories covored by the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. With regard to the questions of Hong Kong and Macao, the Chinese Government has consistently held that they should be settled in an appropriate way when conditions are ripe".