TNAG-0969-FCO40-1188-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 2

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United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations 845 Third Avenue New York NY 10022-

P J Williamson Esq

Hong Kong & General Dept

24011

НКК 24о

RELEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

19 DEC 1980

You rote TK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

“Our feference"

Date

REGISTRY Action Taken 24071

12 December 1980

FCO

LAST PAPER

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Dear Willi

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See Hile 240/10 1981

UNITED NATIONS: HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG

1.

In his letter of 23 November to you, Ian Orr asked what account might be taken of the report prepared by various non- governmental organisations and individuals on human rights in Hong Kong.

2.

If the report was sent to the Human Rights Committee officially, ie to its Chairman or Secretary, it would be granted no status since the Committee are meant to base themselves on the material provided by States Party in accordance with the International Covenant. However, if the report was also sent to individual members of the Committee, it is quite possible that the curious and ill-intentioned among them, eg the Nordics, East Europeans, would draw on the material in framing questions to the United Kingdom delegation. It might therefore be sensible to prepare defensive material for the British representatives who are, I believe, due to face a second round of questioning on the report on our Dependent Territories at the Committee's meeting in March 1981.

3.

It is also possible that the authors of the report, if they had been advised of the working of the UN, could send it to the UN Human Rights Division in Geneva under the 1503 Procedure which allows the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities to take account of non-official communications on alleged human rights violations. UKMis Geneva should therefore keep a look-out for it.

4.

Otherwise, it seems to us most unlikely that the material will be taken up in other UN fora.

Cc:

ever

your Richard Edis

R JS Edis

I C Orr Esq, HONG KONG

R N Pierce Esq, PEKING RP D Chatterjie Esq, UND FCO DR Snoxell Esq, UKMIS GENEVA

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