TT HONG KONG
GRS 604
SECRET
TELELETTER
FROM CO HUM, HKD, FCO
DATED 28 MARCH 1984
SECRET
HKE
RECE...
DE
INDEX
02218
-2 APN 1934
9309 - 1
Tukut
M
Ри
Kell
FOLLOWING FOR R P MARGOLIS, DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER, HONG KONG
D G BLUNT, PEKING
HONG KONG'S STATUS WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS.
1.
3
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELELETTER SG 4/01 OF 19 MARCH, ABOUT THE
QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE EDITOR OF THE SEVENTIES MAGAZINE.
2. WE WONDER WHETHER THERE IS MUCH TO BE GAINED BY REPLYING QUITES
SO OBLIQUELY WHERE MATTERS OF DOCUMENTED
HISTORICAL FACT ARE CONCERNED. THE ACTION TAKEN BY HMG IN
DECEMBER 1972 WAS PUBLICLY EXPLAINED IN TERMS WHICH EXPLICITLY
MAINTAIN OUR VIEW ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF HONG KONG.
3. WE WOULD THEREFORE SUGGEST A REPLY COVERING ALL THREE
QUESTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
'IN DECEMBER 1972 THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO CEASE
TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION ON HONG KONG TO THE UNITED
NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL UNDER ARTICLE 73E OF THE UNITED
NATIONS CHARTER. THE REASONS FOR THIS DECISION ARE AS
FOLLOWS. THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONISATION (THE
COMMITTEE OF 24) HAD RECOMMENDED, FOLLOWING A REQUEST FROM
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THAT HONG KONG BE REMOVED FROM
THE LIST OF NON SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES DEALT WITH BY THE
COMMITTEE. THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS ENDORSED BY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY ON 2 NOVEMBER 1972. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS DECISION
HMG DECIDED THAT NO USEFUL PRACTICAL PURPOSE WOULD BE SERVED
BY CONTINUING TO TRANSMIT INFORMATION ON HONG KONG UNDER
ARTICLE 73E OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER. THE PERMANENT
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WROTE TO THE SECRETARY
GENERAL ON 14 DECEMBER 1972 INFORMING HIM OF THIS DECISION.
HE ALSO PUT ON RECORD THAT IN THE VIEW OF HER MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT THIS ACTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NO WAY
AFFECTED THE LEGAL STATUS OF HONG KONG. HE SAID THAT THE
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