TNAG-1021-FCO40-1271-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1981 — Page 6

CODE 18-77

PA

Mr Williamson

HKGD

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

26

J26.5

HKK

0221

cc Mr Godfrey, UND (K149)

THE REFUGEE CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL: CHINA AND HONG KONG

1.

Mr Snoxell is the expert on the RCP and the UNHCR. for what it is worth, I share your gut feeling that the extention of the Convention to Hong Kong would not be a good idea.

But

2. I accept Mr Snoxell's view that the Chinese may see propaganda advantage in accession. But there may be other considerations and we shall have to see whether the Chinese eventually decide to accede or not.

3. Like Mr Snoxell, I would be interested to know how the FCO legal advisers viewed the question when it was considered in 1978.

21 May 1981

CONFIDENTIAL

A.R.Paul

A R Paul

Far Eastern Department K255

5539