TNAG-1022-FCO40-1272-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1981 — Page 69

CONFIDENTIAL

THE COMMONWEALTH

1. The UK is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The latter was defined in 1971 by Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Singapore as "a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, each responsible for its own policies, consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace".

2. British delegates at technical conferences should bear in mind the special relationship which we have with our Commonwealth partners (a list of these is attached). Advantage can be taken of this through the closer consultation which is, on the whole, a feature of the relationship. With Commonwealth countries covering such a wide international spectrum, we can often benefit from exchanges of view and information. That is not to suggest, however, that delegates should attempt to form a Commonwealth lobby to influence other countries; and they should not expect their Commonwealth colleagues to co-operate solely by virtue of Commonwealth membership normally come first.

national or regional interests will

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CONFIDENTIAL.