TNAG-0741-FCO40-945-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 89

CONFIDENTIAL

TRANSMIT INFORMATION ON HONG KONG UNDER ARTICLE 73(E) OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER. MY GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO ASKED ME TO STATE THAT THE ACTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NO WAY AFFECTS THE LEGAL STATUS OF HONG KONG. THE VIEWS OF MY GOVERNMENT ABOUT THIS STATUS ARE WELL KNOWN. THEY ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT ANY DIFFERING VIEWS WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED OR MAY HEREAFTER BE EXPRESSED BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CIRCULATE THIS LETTER AS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOCUMENT. UNQUOTE

IN VIEW OF THIS POSITION MY GOVERNMENT CANNOT ACCEPT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STATUS OF HONG KONG CONTAINED IN THE

SUGGESTION MADE BY THE CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE THAT HONG KONG SHOULD CN FUTURE MAPS BE SHOWN AS XIANGGANG (HONG KONG). HOWEVER, MY GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO AGREE TO THE DESIGNATION HONG KONG (XIANGGANG) BEING USED. UNQUOTE

3. YOU SHOULD IF POSSIBLE CONFINE YOUR RESPONSE TO THE CIRCULATION OF SUCH A WRITTEN DOCUMENT. IF THE CHINESE DO MAKE THIS AN ISSUE OF SIGNIFICANCE THIS AFTER NOON OR IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER DOUBTS

YOU SHOULD REFER TO US FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE. WE WOULD IN ANY CASE

BE GRATEFUL FOR AN URGENT REPORT ON DEVELOPMENTS.

OWEN

FILES

HK & GD (5)

FCD

UND

ES & SO

MR HIBBERT

MR MURRAY

MR SUTHERLAND

MR STRATTON

MR CORTAZZI MR POSNETT

--2- CONFIDENTIAL