CONFIDENTIAL
50111
3.
THE UK HAS SIGNED BUT NOT RATIFIED THE 1963 VIENNA
CONVENTION. WE SEE NO PRESSING REASON TO DO SO AND IT IS
UNLIKELY THAT WE WILL IN FACT DO SO. THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS
BETWEEN THE NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY AND THE IAEA, MOST RECENTLY IN
MARCH, ON DRAWING UP A JOINT PROTOCOL AIMED AT HARMONISING THE
CONVENTIONS BUT NOTHING DEFINITE HAS EMERGED. THE VIENNA
CONVENTION IS IAEA SPONSORED AND RESOLUTIONS URGING MEMBER STATES
TO ADHERE TO THE CONVENTION HAVE BEEN MADE AT ITS ANNUAL GENERAL
CONFERENCE.
4.
THE 1957 PARIS CONVENTION ON ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECURITY
CONTROL WAS RATIFIED BY THE UK ON 9 MAY 1958. IT DOES NOT APPLY
TO HONG KONG.
5.
THE PRC IS NOT A PARTY TO ANY OF THE CONVENTIONS IN PARA
3 OF TUR. THERE WAS A RECENT RUMOUR THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING
SIGNING THE VIENNA CONVENTION BUT NOTHING FURTHER HAS BEEN HEARD.
THE PRC CAN ACCEDE TO THE PARIS CONVENTION BUT ONLY WITH THE
UNANIMOUS ASSENT OF EXISTING CONTRACTING PARTIES.
6.
COPIES OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION, A TYPICAL GENERAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTION, A COPY OF THE 1982 PROTOCOL AND THE INSTRUMENT BY WHICH IT WAS APPLIED TO HONG KONG FOLLOW BY BAG.
HOWE
OCMIAN 0111
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HO/NED.
RESEARCH D. (FE)
DEP.HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
MR MCL REN MR GILLMORE
COPIES TO:
-
1
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
Confidential
Page 390Page 391