TNAG-1022-FCO40-1272-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1981 — Page 77

CONFIDENTIAL

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND RECOGNITION

1. The UK recognises all members of the UN apart from Byelorussian SSR and the Ukrainian SSR. HMG recognise the Holy See and maintain a diplomatic representative there. We recognise the Republic of Korea ('South Korea') as a State but not the so-called 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea; see separate section on Korea, page 57).

In some cases our recognition is qualified, eg as regards claims to sovereignty over part of a state's territory. Andorra is not 'independent' in view of its links with France and Spain (via the Bishop of Urgel). do not recognise Taiwan.

We

2. There is no objection to British officials talking to the representatives of states not recognised by HMG at an official table in any international forum, but the delegation should avoid bilateral negotiations and social contact other than those made necessary by common courtesy.

of states)

of

3. The above (which deals with the recognition must be carefullv. distinguished from the recognition Governments and the question of diplomatic relations. Ministers announced in Parliament earlier this year that HMG will no longer accord recognition to governments. Instead, and in common with the practice of many of our Western partners, our attitude on whether a new regime should be treated

as the government of a given state will be left to be inferred from the nature of our dealings with it and in particular, whether we are dealing with it on a normal government-to- government basis. Questions of governmental 'recognition' are most likely to arise in connection with credentials (see separate brief). However, it follows from the above that the dealings by British officials with representatives of regimes which have come to power unconstitutionally should be in accordance with HMG's official dealings with the regime in question (and any special instructions which are in force in particular cases should be followed see separate sections on Afghanistan and Cambodia).

(48)

CONFIDENTIAL