TNAG-1022-FCO40-1272-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1981 — Page 124

A

(iv)

In 1977 the Commonwealth Heads of Government signed the

Commonwealth Statement on Apartheid in Sport, known as the

Gleneagles Agreement. It is Government policy, in accordance

with this agreement, to take every practical step in accordance

with our laws and traditions to discourage sporting contacts

with South Africa. But our sports bodies are independent; our

traditions of individual freedom would lead us to deplore any

blacklist of individual sportsmen; and we would not regard any such blacklist as binding on us.

(v) The UK uses its economic and commercial links in order to promote

peaceful change in South Africa. This is the aim of the European

Code of Conduct for companies of the Ten operating in South

Africa. The Code lays stress on the improvement of employment

practices and in particular the development of trade union rights

for black workers.

(vi)

The UK welcomes Mr P W Botha's initiatives on South African

domestic policies. These have helped to create a climate in which there is some possibility of real change in the future.

They thus offer a chance to defuse a regional crisis which is

potentially of the utmost gravity.

(vii) Following a South African attack on African National Congress

(ANC) bases in Maputo in January 1981 the Ten members of the European Community deplored the violation of the sovereignty

and territorial integrity of South Africa's neighbours as

being likely to exacerbate tensions in Southern Africa. The

Government believes that violence no matter where or by whom

runs counter to the search for peaceful solutions to the

problems of the region and that the two pre-conditions for

lasting peace in Southern Africa are an internationally recognised

settlement in Namibia and progress towards a system of government

in South Africa acceptable to and based on the consent of South

Africans of all colours and creeds.

(95)

/2.

The delegation