TNAG-0752-FCO40-956-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 160

CONFIDENTIAL

Mrs S Wiseman (UN Dept, K114)

POLITICAL

MEETINGS

BACKGROUND

Reference

FEC 022/1

47

PA

BRIEFING FOR USE

AT

INTERNATIONAL

1. In your minute of 15 June, you asked for contributions to a reply to Mr MacInnes in Geneva. I offer the following, which relate to paragraph 8, Mr Marlanes' letter:

CHINA/HONG

2.

KONG

Our main concern is to presefve the principle involved in our view of the status of Hong Kong. Provided this is done, we would aim to be as flexible as possible over technicalities, including romanisation of the name. But we should still wish UK delegations to seek guidance (as in paragraph 5 of the brief on China and Hong Kong), if the Chinese do more than make a simple protest for the record.

3.. The general question of Chinese phonetic spelling ("Pinyin") for place names is summarised in Mr Paterson's letter of 4 May to Mr Ehrman. You may care to copy this to UKMIS Geneva.

CHINA/TAIWAN

4. It is most unlikely that China will ever accept any debts incurred by the authorities on Taiwan in the name of China. Their previous occupation of China's seat in the UN and its dependent bodies is regarded by China as illegal and once they have ceased to be recognised as the representatives of China, the authorities on Taiwan are unlikely either to pick up the tab. If outstanding debts are not settled, we shall have to simply accept the situation.

5. I do not have enough of the background to know what should be said about China's "non-participation" in the ILO, which seems an odd case. Has China agreed to be a member? Does she effect- ively become one before participating? If not, is she obliged to pay a subscription?

6. In the manuscript addition to your minute you enquired about the status of Taiwan. We have prepared the attached brief for inclusion in your standard package.

Hkk awolf.....

RECEIVED

- A JUL 1978

DEK OFFICER INDEX

Now th

PA

RE: HY

Nation Teken

R E Allen

Far Eastern Department

K 253

233 5539

3 July 1978

-

cc:

DE 18 - 77

Mr J Thompson, HKGD K270 Wo enclosure

CONFIDENTIAL