TNAG-0436-FCO40-501-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1973 — Page 34

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Power, such as the right to lay down a date for independence.

In any public statements, therefore, we need to make clear

that we maintain our full responsibility as an Administering

Power in deciding how the principle of self-determination

should be applied in our territories. We should, however,

recognise that the Committee has a potentially useful part

to play in considering the future of our smaller dependent

territories and express our wish to co-operate with it.

14. I recommend that we should agree to Mr Richard's proposal

subject to the point of presentation in paragraph 13.

Participation in Debates on UK non-self-governing territories (paragraphs 6(b) of letter)

15. Mr Richard recommends that we should inform the Committee

of our willingness to participate in debates in the Committee

and its Sub-Committees on UK non-self-governing territories.

This would have the advantage of greater co-operation des-

cribed in paragraphs 4-9 of this submission while avoiding

the disadvantages of full membership considered in paragraph

10 above. It is the form of co-operation desired by the

Chairman of the Committee and by friendly members.

16. This again seems the right course of action subject to

the comments below. I recommend that we agree to Mr Richard's

proposal.

Rhodesia (Paragraph 8 of letter and Ukmis New York telno. 537)

17. Mr Richard's recommendation is that we should participate

in Committee (and Sub-Committee) discussions on Rhodesia on the

same basis as is proposed for our smaller dependent territories.

/18. There is

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