RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

HKC 172/

RESTRICTED

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

6 JUL 1992

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 1791

OF 030325Z JULY 92

R+R

см

2)

172220 MDLIAN 6918

TOP COPY Q DIST?

HONG KONG'S FUTURE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF ROAD CONGRESSES (PIARC).

AS THE DESIGNATION OF THE ACTION OFFICER QUOTED IN OUR EARLIER TELNO 1703 OF 240506Z JUNE 1992 NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED (IT SHOULD READ PAS(T)3 TB, NOT PAS(T)3 TIB), THE OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN TAKEN TO CONSIDER SOME ASPECTS FURTHER. AS A RESULT, THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF OUR EARLIER TELNO 1703 SHOULD BE REVISED AS FOLLOWS:

'WE CONSIDER THAT THE STATUTES OF PIARC DO NOT INVOLVE INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. IF THEY DID, WE WOULD BE OBLIGED TO CONSULT THE CHINESE SIDE. THERE IS NO (NO) EXPRESS REQUIREMENTS UNDER ARTICLE III OF THE PIARC STATUTES FOR A 'PUBLIC BODY' MEMBER TO OBTAIN THE AGREEMENT OF ITS NATIONAL STATE IN ORDER FOR IT TO PARTICIPATE. 'REGIONAL AUTHORITIES', ON THE CONTRARY,

REQUIRE SUCH AGREEMENT.

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE NOT LEGALLY OBLIGED TO CONSULT

THE CHINESE SIDE ON HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN PIARC AFTER 30 JUNE 1997 AND WE PREFER NOT TO DO SO. IF THE CHINESE LEARN OF OUR INVOLVEMENT IN DUE COURSE, AS THEY MAY WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY RAISE AT THAT STAGE. WE FEEL, HOWEVER, THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO AVOID PROVIDING THEM WITH ANOTHER IALA (UKREP TELNO 379

OF AUGUST 91)'.

WILSON

YYYY

MAIN

55

DISTRIBUTION

56

NEWS D

PLANNERS

RAD

acqure

3.30NES

276 5243

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

HKD

from Watson

3813 4349

1

PAGE RESTRICTED

A Sicherty

3813, 3899

م با 310

5228

Page 15Page 16

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