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4.
Sir Colin Crowe, then Ambassador to the UN, stated HMG's views in a letter to the UN Secretary-General of 19 December 1972. He said that the decision to delete 'in no way affects the legal status of Hong Kong' and that differing views expressed by other Governments were unacceptable to the UK.
5. As you may know, representatives of HMG have for some years been concerned to avoid making public assertions of British sovereignty over Hong Kong. This is partly in deference to Chinese sensibilities on the matter but also because our sovereignty over the New Territories depends on the Convention of 1897. Similarly, we try to avoid use of the term 'Colony' in public statements, substitution where possible the word 'territory'.
(The term 'Crown Colony' has no clear meaning
and is not in current use).
6. I suggest that in any definitive statement on Hong Kong only the first paragraph quoted in paragraph 2 above need be used, substituting 'Dependent Territories' and 'Territory' for Crown Colony' and 'Colony'.
Jun
Dich cip
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
cc
Mr Paul FED
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