DE 18-77
Miss Foulds (Research Dept)
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference.
R&R.
HONG KONG: PARTICIPATION IN UN ORGANISATIONS AND AGENCIES
1.
(24)
Miss Walker's (Hong Kong Department) minute of 10 December to you and others sought comments on Mr Moss's (UKMis Geneva) letter of 27 October to Mr Galsworthy, or its enclosure.
2.
It would be helpful to know whether there are likely to be system-wide consequences for the UK's position in the UN after Hong Kong's reversion to China in 1997. There are presumably few precedents of 'sovereignty reversion' (rather than achievement of independence) in the UK's decolonisation process, though West Irian, Cameroon/Nigeria or the Saarland may be relevant in other countries' experience.
3. Our budgetary contribution might be affected if the population and GNP of Hong Kong is taken into account in the calculation of our assessed share of the UN regular budget. The loss of Hong Kong's population might also be significant enough to affect the calculation of our 'desirable range' of representation in the UN Secretariat. Did the attainment of independence by our colonies, especially larger ones such as India, affect our UN budgetary contributions or 'desirable range'?
4.
་
The UN Scale of Assessments (and to some extent the 'desirable range of UN representation) affects the UN Specialised Agencies since it is used as a guide by the Agencies in drawing up their own systems for budgetary contributions and staff representation.
5. If you or copy addressees can throw any light on this, I would be grateful.
12 December 1984
cc Mr Edwards Legal Advisers
Miss Walker Hong Kong Dept Mr Moss UKMis Geneva Mr Murray UKMis New York
) with
papers
Janthay ari
DO HayEdie
United Nations Department
mentiniet in para
I above
All ITE, "
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HKK 0221
CONFIDENTIAL