TNAG-1022-FCO40-1272-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1981 — Page 112

CON AIN VAL

on

Global Negotiations. The proposed text, in our view, prejudiced · that principle. Informal consultations on the agenda and procedures

continued within the UN during the latter part of 1980 and in the

first months of 1981. With our Community partners, we remain committed to work for the launching of the Global Negotiations

a generally acceptable basis. But the US Administration announced

in May 1981 that it was not prepared to participate in further

preparatory discussions until after the Mexico Summit (see below).

Global Negotiations have therefore been effectively put on ice

until the 36th UN General Assembly in late Autumn 1981.

The

8. The Report of the Independent Commission on International

Development Issues (the 'Brandt Commission') was published in

February 1980. The Mexican and Austrian Governments have taken the

initiative on one of the specific recommendations of the Brandt

Commission Report; namely for a 'limited' North/South Summit of leaders from countries from both the industrialised and developing

nations. The Summit is intended to give political impetus and greater co-ordination to international development efforts. The

Summit will take plce in Cancun, Mexico on 22/23 October 1981.

participating governments will meet in August to finalise agenda, participation, timing etc. The Government have accepted an invitation to attend the Summit meeting. They have welcomed the

contribution to North/South relations which such a Summit could

make. We hope for an informal loosely structured Summit, without

heavy bureaucratic preparation, without a closing communiqué and without formal links with the Global Negotiations. The subject areas likely to be covered are trade and industrialisation, energy, food

and money and finance.

ECDC

9. The protracted stalemate in the North/South Dialogue, and

particularly the failure to get Global Negotiations off the ground, has led the developing countries to focus increasingly on improving co-operation amongst themselves (the South/South dimension). This

is not seen as an alternative to the North/South consultations, but as complementing them and as strengthening the negotiating hand of the South. In principle, HMG has welcomed ECDC, believing that increased trade with the developing world could have a positive effect on global economic recovery. Our support is subject to

two reservation. We would resist arrangements that had the effect of

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