TNAG-0436-FCO40-501-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1973 — Page 63

CONFIDENTIAL

membership.

The main points are as follows.

Much

On

of the Committee's time is taken up by a discussion

of territories for which we are not responsible

particularly Namibia and the Portuguese territories, but also including French and US territories.

the African issues we would not be able to go as far as the majority of the Committee would want and our presence would ensure that we were singled

out more than other Western countries for attack.

Both on African and other issues we would also be

repeatedly put in the position of defending the

As Mr Richard interests of other Western countries.

says,

"There would be no 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, rather than a more limited form of co-operation, while we stand to

suffer considerable disadvantage.

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 show provide

the Committee with information on developments

in our dependent territories both on our own

CONFIDENTIAL

/initiative

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