TNAG-0436-FCO40-501-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1973 — Page 33

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virtue in rejoining the Committee and then having to fight a continuing defensive battle without the supporting presence

of our Americans and European allies". Furthermore, the

Chairman of the Committee has advised against our full re-entry

as have some of the friendly members.

11.

It is therefore unlikely that we would get much credit

from full membership, while we stand to suffer considerable dis-

advantage. The more limited form of co-operation recommended

by Mr Richard and considered below would seem a more

rewarding course of action.

Specific Recommendations

Provision of Information (Paragraph 6(a) of letter)

12. Mr Richard recommends that we should provide the Committee

with information on developments in our dependent territories

both on our own initiative and in response to requests from

the Committee. This seems a sensible step.

13. There is, however, a point of presentation with important

implications of substance. Mr Richard states "We should

explicitly and publicly recognise the Committee's role and ask

to be associated with it". The Committee's mandate is to

examine the application of General Assembly Resolution 1514 of 1960 and to make suggestions and recommendations on its

implementation. General Assembly Resolution 15144, on which the

UK abstained, is not altogether in harmony with our policies,

in particular as regards its emphasis on independence for all

and on the non-divisibility of the territory of states. Further-

more, the Committee has subsequently claimed functions which

would interfere with the responsibilities of the Administering

/Power, such as

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