RESTRICTED
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.
4. If there are any other doubts or problems the delegation
should formally reserve their position and seek immediate guidance from the FCO, repeating
repeating by telegram to Peking and Hong
Kong.
Situations requiring a UK response
5. In the aftermath of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on
Hong Kong it is less likely that the Chinese will put on record their own view of Hong Kong's present status. If they do so the delegation should refer at once to the FCO.
6.
The full wording of the standard statement of rebuttal is as
follows:
"With reference to the statement made by the Chinese
Representative, the United Kingdom Representative wishes
to inform the meeting that his Government's views on this
question are well known, and that, under the Joint
Declaration of
of the Government of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of
the People's Republic of China on the question of Hong Kong, which was registered with the United Nations on 12
June 1985, the two Governments agree that the Government
of the United Kingdom will be responsible for the
administration of Hong Kong up to 30 June 1997, and will
restore Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China with
effect from 1 July 1997".