TNAG-1152-FCO40-1432-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-Commonwealth-1982 — Page 23

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is founded. This has been added to by the Lusaka Declaration of the Commonwealth on Racism and Racial Prejudice (1979) and the Melbourne Declaration (1981). Copies of all three, as well as of the Report of the Working Party, are attached for ease of reference.

a wide range of well as civil and

cover These considered pronouncements basic issues, both economic and social as political. In the Communique, too, Heads of Government urged

to accede to relevant governments which had not already done so

In these global and regional instruments on human rights. circumstances, I hope it would be acceptable that the collective Commonwealth Declarations and the relevant international instruments which member governments have accepted should provide the framework within which the special unit proposed by the Working Party and approved at Melbourne might begin to operate. Subject to any views to the contrary I would envisage a proposal on these lines being prepared for consideration by the Finance Committee.

The Communique also asks that the Working Party's proposal for an Advisory Committee be further considered by the next meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers, and I shall be raising this later with Law Ministers in the context of their 1983 Meeting in Sri Lanka.

I should be grateful if any views your Government may wish to convey could reach me at your earliest convenience.

Encls

Slaidheth S. Pamplel

Shridath S. Ramphal