2
of 1960). In 1963, when the Committee of 24 took over the
function of the Committee of Information from Non-Self-Governing
Territories, it approved a preliminary list of territories
including Hong Kong, to which the Declaration applied. (Bulgaria,
Cambodia and the USSR reserved the positions of their Governments
on the inclusion of Hong Kong because they regarded this territory
as an integral part of the People's Republic of China forcibly
occupied by the United Kingdom).
6.
In late 1971, the Government of the People's Republic of
China took over the China seat in the United Nations, replacing
the representatives of the regime in Taiwan. On 8 March 1972,
the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China,
in a letter to the Chairman of the Committee of 24, asked for the
removal of Hong Kong from the list of territories to which the
Declaration applied, stating that Hong Kong was part of Chinese
territory occupied by the United Kingdom and that the settlement
offthe question of. Hong Kong fell entirely within China's
sovereign right.
7.
This letter was referred to the Working Group of the
Committee of 24. The Working Group's recommendation, that the
General Assembly should adopt the decision removing Hong Kong
from the list of non-self-governing countries, was approved by
the Committee of 24 and included in its report to the General
Assembly. The resolution, approving the report, was adopted in
Plenary on 2 November 1972. However, it also contained much
offensive language on, inter alia, South Africa and military
bases. This is an annual ritual and the United Kingdom as usual
voted against the resolution, which was adopted by 99 - 5 23,
and did not participate in the discussion or speak in explanation
of vote.
18.
-