CONFIDENTIAL
BRIEFING FOR THE XXIXTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HONG KONG
1.
Hong Kong (with a population of 4 million) is by far the most populous UK dependent territory.
2.
China tacitly accepts Hong Kong's present status but publicly claims that Hong Kong is a part of China. They maintain the same position over Macao. In 1972 they objected to the continued inclusion of both Hong Kong and Macao in the list of those territories to which the Declaration on the Granting of Independence applies. At China's behest the Committee of 24 then recommended the removal of both territories from the list. By approving the Report of the Committee the XXVIIth Session of the General Assembly put this recommendation into effect.
3.
HMG maintained that this decision in no way affected the legal status of Hong Kong. However, it was decided that in the circumstances no practical purpose would be served by continuing to transmit to the UN economic and social data on Hong Kong, as we are obliged under Article 73(e) of the UN Charter to do on non-self-governing territories. (The UK view was set out in Sir Colin Crowe's note to the Secretary-General of 19 December 1972, a copy of which is attached).
4.
We hold to this view, but wish to avoid argument with the Chinese in the UN over the issue. The question is unlikely to arise, but it is possible that the Russians will raise it in order to embarrass the Chinese. If this happens, we should at the most want to do no more than make a brief reference to "our well-known position" on the territories: but the Delegation
should seek instructions.
CONFIDENTIAL
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