}
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RECEIVED IN RECISTRY
MDLIAN 6106
155
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 293
OF 24040OZ FEBRUARY 93
THE SIXTH REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF EDUCATION AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMIC PLANNING IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC.
1.
THE SIXTH REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF EDUCATION AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMIC PLANNING IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC WILL BE HELD IN KUALA LUMPUR FROM 21 TO 24 JUNE 1993. WE HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE UNITED NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL. SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO), INVITING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO BE REPRESENTED BY AN OBSERVER (A COPY OF THIS AND ACCOMPANYING PAPERS WILL BE FAXED TO MR ROD BUNTEN OF HKD).
2. THE UNESCO IS ORGANISING THE CONFERENCE IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP) OF THE UNITED NATIONS. THE TOPIC OF THE CONFERENCE IS ENHANCING THE ROLE OF EDUCATION AS A DYNAMIC FORCE FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. THE PAST FIVE CONFERENCES WERE HELD IN TOKYO (1962), BANGKOK (1965), SINGAPORE (1971), COLOMBO (1979), AND BANGKOK (9185). WE HAVE NO RECORD OF PARTICIPATION BY HONG KONG IN ANY OF THE PAST CONFERENCES.
3.
WE ARE AWARE THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM IS NOT A MEMBER STATE OF UNESCO BUT THAT THE PRC IS. AS WE SEE IT, PROVIDED THAT HONG KONG IS A MERE OBSERVER AND DOES NOT PARTICIPATE DIRECTLY IN THE CONFERENCE (I.E. IT DOES NOT VOTE AND IS NOT REPRESENTED BY A 'MINISTER', IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY OBJECTION WILL BE MADE BY THE PRC GOVERNMENT ON LEGAL, SOVEREIGNTY GROUNDS.
4.
SINCE THE TOPIC OF THE CONFERENCE IS OF INTEREST TO US, WE MAY WISH TO SEND A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL TO ATTEND AS AN OBSERVER. HOWEVER, BEFORE REPLYING TO UNESCO, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW YOUR VIEWS ON HONG KONG SENDING AN 'OBSERVER'. GRATEFUL ALSO FOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION WHICH YOU MAY HAVE ON THE CONFERENCE.
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