TNAG-1122-FCO40-1397-Dependent-Territories-and-the-Universal-Postal-Union-(UPU)-1982 — Page 11

CALL BY POST MASTER GENERAL OF HONG KONG ON MR COOPER, DOI,

FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER 1982

HONG KONG ATTENDANCE AS OBSERVOR AT APPU MEETINGS

DSR 11C

Points to Make

1. HMG is using its best endeavours to ensure that Hong Kong

be invited to attend meetings. We had not anticipated difficulties

meeting held in Seoul in October over attendance at the Executive Council owing to the precedent set

by Hong Kong attendance at a meeting in 1979. However, the Council

decided that they could take no decision on the attendance of observors

in the absence of representatives from the People's Republic of China.

Background

2.

The New Zealand Post Office drew DOI's attention to doubts

expressed among certain APPU member states over the appropriateness

of Hong Kong's attendance as observors. In an attempt to re-establish

the precedence for Hong Kong's attendance at meetings it was decided

to ask the APPU Secretariat for approval for the attendance of

Brunei alone at the October Executive Council meeting. The Secretariat

said that in the time available they would not be able to ensure

the unanimous approval of member states to Brunei attendance.

However, they linked Brunei's attendance with that of Hong Kong and

expressed the view that this needed to be discussed at the Executive

Council meeting.

3. Clearly, member states were conscious of the resistance of the

People's Republic of China to Hong Kong attendance and discussion at

recent Executive Council meeting with respect to Hong Kong's

attendance in future was inconclusive.

/4.