HONG KONG AND CHINA
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ранкил
+ please put copy on
012/1. (Descr. of
HK)
FCO CONTACT:
1. Ms Olivia Walker, Hong Kong Department
Tel: 01 233 3988.
UK AIMS:
2. To ensure that UN and other documents touching on Hong Kong's status are worded accurately so as not to give the Chinese cause for a protest; and to ensure that any dealings with the Chinese or with
a UN Secretariat in that connection are in a low key.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
3.
(A) If there is reason to believe that the UN Secretariat concerned
is unaware of the sensitivities over Hong Kong's status, the
delegation should endeavour to discuss the matter informally
with them before documents are issued. If it is not possible
for the delegation to avoid the inclusion of unsuitable
references to Hong Kong, the matter should be referred to the
FCO immediately.
(B) The delegation should check all relevant UN documents for
references to Hong Kong which are inaccurate or likely to cause
offence to the Chinese. There should be no reference (even by
implication) to Hong Kong as
to Hong Kong as a "country". The delegation
should also seek to eliminate any reference to Hong Kong as a
"colony" or if possible, as a "dependent territory".
(C) Our preferred description of Hong Kong is as a "territory".
This term should be substituted, if possible, for any
description of Hong Kong as an "area". If nonetheless "area"
cannot be avoided, the delegation should seek to ensure that
this is qualified by reference to "territory" (eg through the
use, perhaps as a footnote, of a disclaimer of the type routinely used in UN statistical publications, to the effect
that "country or area" covers countries, territories, cities or
areas). An unqualified reference to "area" can however be
accepted as a last resort.
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/ (D)