FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
POSSIBLE LINK WITH THE PRINCIPALITY OF
ANDORRA
1. WE HAVE LEARNT FROM THE SPANIARDS HERE THAT IN MARCH THIS YEAR
WESTERN EUROPEAN DEPARTMENT OF THE MFA APPROACHED THE SPANISH
EMBASSY TO ASK ABOUT ANDORRA, ON THE PRETEXT THAT THEY INTENDED
TO WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT IT. THEY HAVE MADE CONTACT ON A NUMBER
OF OCCASIONS SINCE THEN, SEEKING FURTHER POINTS OF DETAIL. THEIR
INTEREST APPARENTLY LAY IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE ADMINISTATIVE
SYSTEMS. WE KNOW THAT ANDORRA IS THE OONLY COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD WHOSE SOVEREIGNTY IS EXERCISED JOINTLY, THE TWO CO-PRINCES
BEING THE FRENCH PRESIDENT AND ARCHBISHOP OF ARGEL. WE
UNDERSTAND THAT LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POWER RESTS WITH A COUNCIL
COMPOSED OF THIRTY ELECTED MEMBERS AND A SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE OF
EACH OF THE CO-PRINCES. THE PRINCELY REPRESENTATIVES APPARENTLY
HAVE THE POWER OF VETO OVER COUNCIL DECISIONS. THIS APPLIES
TO BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.
2. THIS SUDDEN CHINESE INTEREST IN ANDORRA IS ODD, AND MAY BE CONNECTED TO THEIR THINKING ON HONG KONG. IF IT IS, IT
PROBABLY REPRESENTS LOW LEVEL RESEARCH IN THE MFA. THE
CHINESE POSITION IN THE TALKS WOULD CLEARLY RULE OUT
ANY QUESTION OF JOINT EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY, AND IT IS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE THAT THEY WILL COMPROMISE ON THIS. BUT IT IS
JUST POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
MIGHT HAVE RELEVANCE. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD DO
A LITTLE BACKGROUND RESEARCH INTO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS IN
AND CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION OF ANDORRA AND LET US KNOW THE RESULTS.
3. MEANWHILE WE SHALL SEE IF WE CAN GET ANYTHING FURTHER OUR
OF THE SPANIARDS HERE.
SIGNED.
.A C GALSWORTHY
PARA 3 WA FURTHER OUT