SECRET
9309 1
VIEWS OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ABOUT THIS STATUS WERE WELL
KNOWN: HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WERE UNABLE TO ACCEPT ANY
DIFFERING VIEW WHICH HAD BEEN EXPRESSED OR MIGHT HEREAFTER BE
EXPRESSED BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS.'
-
4. THE LETTER FROM WHICH I QUOTE ABOVE IS OF COURSE THE MISSING
TEXT TO WHICH YOU REFER IN PARA 3 OF YOUR TELELETTER. (YOU WILL
NOTE THAT IT IS NOT IN FACT AN EXPLICIT RESPONSE TO THE EARLIER
LETTER BY THE CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE OF 24). I SET OUT BELOW THE FULL TEXT FOR YOUR REFERENCE:
'LETTER DATED 14 DECEMBER 1972 FROM THE PERMANENT
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND
NORTHERN IRELEAND TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL.
I HAVE THE HONOUR TO REFER TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION 2908 (XXVII) OF 2 NOVEMBER 1972 AND IN PARTICULAR
TO PARAGRAPH 3, WHICH APPROVED THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL
COMMITTEE ON THE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTING OF INDPENDENCE TO COLONIAL
COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES COVERING ITS WORK DURING 1972. MY
GOVERNMENT HAVE ASKED ME TO INFORM YOUR EXCELLENCY THAT, IN
VIEW OF PARAGRAPH 73 OF CHAPTER 1 OF THE REPORT OF THE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE (A/8723 (PART I), THEY HAVE 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. MY GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO ASKED ME TO
STATE THAT THE ACTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NO WAY
AFFECTS THE LEGAL STATUS OF HONG KONG. THE VIEWS OF MY
GOVERNMENT ABOUT THIS STATUS ARE WELL KNOWN. THEY ARE UNABLE
TO ACCEPT ANY DIFFERING VIEWS WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED OR
MAY HEREAFTER BE EXPRESSED BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CIRCULATE THIS LETTER
AS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOCUMENT.
SIGNED C T CROWE'
SIGNED CO HUM
2
SECRET