TNAG-0436-FCO40-501-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1973 — Page 48

10.

11.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony

There is no difficulty in principle in accepting a visiting mission to this Colony provided the local Government had been consulted and agreed.

Fong Kong

At the request of China, the General Assembly in 1972 removed Hong Kong from the UN list of non self-governing territories. The UK reaffirmed its sovereignty, but stopped submission of information under Article 73E. The Committee does not discuss Hong Kong and would not contemplate a visit there.

12. Montserrat

No objection to a visiting mission provided the local Government had been consulted and agreed.

13.

New Hebrides

A

Administered jointly by the United Kingdom and France. visiting mission could not be invited or accepted without the agreement of the French which is extremely unlikely.

14. Pitcairn Islands Group

No objection to a visiting mission provided the Governor had been consulted and agreed.

15. St Helena and Dependencies (Tristan da Cunha and Ascension Island

16.

No objection to a visiting mission to St Helena or Tristan da Cunha provided the local Government had been consulted and agreed, but the difficulties of access to Tristan da Cunha would make a visit there unlikely. A visit to Ascension Island could be made only with the co-operation of the United States Air Force. However we would not want a mission to visit Ascension which has no indigenous population to be consulted, and where HMG has a Communications Station and the US have a military base.

Seychelles

Seychelles is likely to go to independence within the next year or two. Both political parties in the territory are now agreed that this should be the objective. Our attitude towards a visiting mission would depend in considerable measure on whether a rapprochement between the two parties can be achieved. If it can, then a visiting mission would probably not be out of place. If not, particularly in view of the support for the Opposition Seychelles People's United Party by the Tanzanian Chairman of the UN Committee of 24, a visiting mission might well go to the Territory with the intention of stirring up trouble on behalf of the SPUP. In any event, it would be advisable not to rush into any commitment on a visiting mission.

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