TNAG-0436-FCO40-501-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1973 — Page 27

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CONFIDENTIAL

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RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 51

2 & MAY 1974

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UK FOLICY TOWARDS THE COMMITTEE OF 24

SUMMARY

1. The following are the main recommendations in the attached submission on HMG's relationship with the Special Committee on Decolonisation (Committee of 24). They are all closely based on

proposals put forward by Mr Ivor Richard.

(i) We should move from the present practice of non-cooperation

to a position of greater participation in and cooperation

with the Committee of 24. Such a stance would help to

demonstrate the greater importance attached by the new

Government to the United Nations. But the Committee of 24

is still likely to prove unhelpful in general over our Dependent Territories (Paragraphs 4

-9).

(ii) Full membership of the Committee is not advisable.

Given the Committee's main pre-occupation with

Southern Africa, we would spend much of our time in conflict with the majority of the members over Namibia

and the Portuguese territories. Our presence would encourage the Committee to attack us on these subjects more than the Americans and other Western Europeans who

would not be there to share the blame and support us.

Moreover, the Chairman of the Committee and friendly

members have advised against full membership.

(Faragraphs 10-11).

(iii) The recommended course of action is therefore:

(a) to supply information on our Dependent Territories

to the Committee;

/ (b)

CONFIDENTIAL