TNAG-0943-FCO40-1162-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 223

CONFIDENTIAL

that

e General Assembly resolution which inter alia had terminated the requirement for reports on Hong Kong as a non- self-governing territory under Article 73e of the Charter, "in no way affects the legal status of Hong Kong".

Sir Colin added that differing views expressed by other Governments were unacceptable to the UK. On 6 November 1974

in a written answer to a Parliamentary Question, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Miss Joan Lestor said that HMG had "no intention of abandoning Hong Kong". Lord Goronwy- Roberts, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth

Affairs, said in the House of Lords on 1 April 1976 that "HMG will continue to administer the territory [of Hong Kong] in

the interests of those who live there

Lord Goronwy- Roberts said on 22 November 1978: "we have an obligation

always to bear in mind the very special circumstances in which his territory is, and has been regarded as a dependency of this country"

8.

!!

A memorandum (Annex J) prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was published on 11 March 1976 as Appendix 5 to the Third Report from the Expenditure Committee

of the House of Commons for the 1975-76 Session (House of Commons Paper 270). This

memorandum can be regarded as the most recent definitive

public statement on the status of Hong Kong, and includes the following reiteration of the constitutional position of the Governor:-

"Hong Kong is a Crown Colony and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is responsible to Parliament for the Government there. The Colony's constitution is contained in Letters Patent and Royal Instructions issued to the Governor of Hong Kong.

The Governor is both the representative of, and responsible to, the Crown whose views are conveyed through the Secretary of State. The Governor is the supreme authority within the Colony ... However, the Letters Patent formally reserve to the Crown the power of dis- disallowance of any ordinance enacted in Hong Kong and

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