CONFIDENTIAL
HiKB 020/1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 156
OF 171225Z JANUARY 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
R+R (last yrs
011131 file
MDHIAN 9628 M
My
TOP COPY Q DIST?
B
LEGCO LINKS WITH COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY BODIES AFTER 1997
THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (CPA) SOUGHT THE VIEWS OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH ON A PROPOSAL TO CREATE A NEW ASSOCIATE CPA BRANCH STATUS, AS A RESULT OF QUERIES FROM MEMBERS ABOUT THE FUTURE POSITION OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997, WHEN SOVEREIGNTY REVERTS TO CHINA''.
2. WE EXPECT A STRONG NEGATIVE REACTION FROM THE CHINESE TO ANY PROPOSAL WHICH INVOLVES HONG KONG PARTICIPATING, AS ANY SORT OF MEMBERSHIP OF A FORMAL COMMONWEALTH ORGANISATION AFTER 1997. WE WOULD BE ADVISING THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH NOT TO COMMIT HONG KONG TO ANY SUCH STATUS AFTER 1997.
3. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE CPA WORKING PARTY, WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSING THIS SUBJECT, AMONG OTHER, AT CAYMAN ISLANDS IN APRIL, MIGHT DECIDE TO ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE THE HONG KONG BRANCH TO ENTER
INTO A COMMITMENT REGARDING THIS STATUS AFTER 1997. YOU MAY WISH TO SPEAK TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE CPA BEFORE THEY GET TOO FAR. A COPY OF THE CPA'S GREEN PAPER ON THE CPA AND THE FUTURE'' WILL BE FAXED TO YOU.
4. AS THE CPA HAS ASKED FOR THE HONG KONG BRANCH'S COMMENTS BY 31 JANUARY, YOUR COMMENTS DESKBY 24090OZ WILL BE APPRECIATED.
WILSON
YYYY
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