TNAG-1021-FCO40-1271-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1981 — Page 48

CONFIDENTIAL

DA

M. Willing J76.2

D C Wilson Esq

Government Secretariat HONG KONG

LICK 022

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

17 FEB 1981

12

DESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY

Action Taken

23

PA

see 20

11

MEMBERSHIP OF ICM

1.

Thank you for your letter CR 3/4821/52 IX of 20 January. I am sorry that it has taken us a little time to deal with. I now enclose a piece of paper which we have drafted in answer to the questions in your paragraph 3.

2. We do not think that Hong Kong's joining ICM would have any real implications for your relationship with UNHCR, although it might bring you into closer contact with them in Geneva through membership of the ICM Council.

3. As for your point about accession to the Convention, I believe only independent Sovereign States can accede to UN Conventions directly, so I suppose that if you wanted to do this the Government of the United Kingdom would have to do it on behalf of Hong Kong. But if you decide against,

The latter you are unlikely to be pushed by ICM or UNHCR. have never brought it up with us.

4. I enclose a minute on the subject by David Snoxell which suggests that there is a case for considering whether it

would be in Hong Kong's interests to become a party to the Convention and Protocol.

こん

Christophe

CC:

P Morrice Esq, HKGD, FCO I W Mackley Esq, UND, FCO RP Flower Esq, SEAD, FCO

CW Long

CONFIDENTIAL