CODE 18-77
COVERING CONFIDENTIAL
Reference
Mr Danson, UND
HKC031/22
APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL POSTAL TREATIES TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997
Plw
1. We are currently discussing with the Chinese which multilateral treaties currently applying to Hong Kong will continue to apply after 1997. We need to obtain Chinese agreement to our proposals since the rights and obligations arising from such treaties will fall to the PRC after 1997 as the sovereign power.
2.
The next batch of treaties which Hong Kong has proposed for consultation with the Chinese is the five UPU treaties currently applying to Hong Kong. Hong Kong have prepared a short consultation paper to put to the Chinese (Hong Kong telnos 2397 and 2398, attached) in order to obtain their agreement that four of the five treaties should continue to apply and the fifth, the Giro Agreement, should lapse. I see nothing controversial in Hong Kong's proposal: as Hong Kong point out, the Chinese have already agreed in 1986 that the first four treaties should continue to apply.
3.
I should be grateful for any comments you, or Ms Barrett, may have on Hong Kong's proposal, by cop 2 August as I should like to reply to Hong Kong early next week. I should also be grateful if you could inform me as soon as possible if there are any other Whitehall Departments which should be
consulted.
Chin Sainty.
Mr Sainty
looter
This
Hong Kong Department
there
270 3287
CJ Sainty
fine to me.
I assume
that the PRC's
WH 305
30 July 1991
obligations under the four treated exactly the same as the UK's in relation to Hang keang, res
are
CC: Ms Barrett, Legal Advisers
Spoken to NTCD.
there are
no
that
reservations
other vacationo
variations applicable to
either the
ev
PRC.
or Hong Kong?
Please check and let me
Min martin min
pursue this point.
CS
if there are
any.
CYMAHK
TG
No. See Miss Martin's
minute of 6 August
COVERING CONFIDENTIAL
know
Till Banett Legal Advisers
Le 166
3787
30/7/91