GR 150
SECRET
FM PEKING 0708232 FEB 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
SECRET
TELCORAM NUMBER 198 OF 7TH FEB 84
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
HKK049/1
RECEIVED Its
~ 1954
svetion fait
y
Chala
53
(46
HONG KONG TELNO 280: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WORKING PAPER ON RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS: INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS
1. A DECLARATION SUCH AS THAT ENVISAGED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF TUR WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE A USEFUL ADDITIONAL ASSURANCE, BUT WILL PROBABLY BE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN. HOWEVER, I SEE NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD NOT TRY FOR IT. IN-DOING SO WE COULD ADD THAT SUCH
A DECLARATION WOULD BE VIEWED WITHIN HONG KONG AND INTERNATIONALLY AS REINFORCING THOSE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW WHICH WOULD DEAL WITH INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, THE MOST LIKELY CHINESE RESPONSE, IS THAT IT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE FUTURE SAR AUTHORITIES TO
DECIDE.
THE FOREGOING ASSUMES THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR AN ENTITY OTHER THAN A STATE TO BECOME A PARTY TO THE COVENANTS. IF THIS ASSUMPTION IS WRONG HONG KONG COULD ACCEDE TO THEM BEFORE 1997, SO THAT THE SAR INHERITED THE OBLIGATIONS THEREBY ASSUMED.
See $0, 101
EVANS
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
ED/EKD
ED/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
RES.D. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
LEGAL ADVS
MR BURROWS
MR COLES NO
10 DOWNING ST
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
SECRET
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RM K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET