TNAG-1153-FCO40-1433-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1982 — Page 11

CODE 18.77

Mr Phillips UND

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No

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4/1

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Pam 2614

Reference..

Aberta R&R. Ayok? No

вкла

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Imanta

27/96 13 days

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هه

22/10.

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INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION CONVENTION ITC)

27/12

2319

1. Please see the attached draft proposal prepared by the Home Office to amend Article 15-95 of the 1983 International Telecommunication Convention (copy attached).

2.

At present, Dependent Territories are represented at ITU conferences by a UK delegation in which they sometimes participate. HMG foot the bill. As attendance at some of the regional conferences is often of direct interest to only one or two Dependent Territories and of only very limited interest to the UK, the Home Office propose that the UK delegation pay less for attendance at such conferences. The Dependent Territories will continue to pay nothing.

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3. At a recent meeting in Paris of the Conference of European Posts and Telecommunications the French said that they were concerned that the proposal could evoke a Third World chorus on colonialism. Perhaps their concerns stem from the fact that their overseas Territories are categorised as ''Departments' and the sovereignty question for them is therefore more complicated. However, the Dutch and Danes who are in a similar position to ourselves have no difficulty with our proposal and welcome it.

1

4. The Home Office are well aware that senstitivites could be aroused over colonial issues. They intend playing the proposal very softly. They have already received some support since several countries would like to attend conferences in regions other than their own and offer their expertise - the Germans, for instance but are inhibited from doing so because they would have to contribute at a level higher than their direct interest merits.

5. I have no objection to the Home Office proposal but would welcome further comments.

Obaly

DT Healy

Energy, Science and

Space Department

22 September 1982

CC:

Mr Wallace, WIAD Mr Herdman, WIAD

Mr Culver, SED

Mr Hoare, HKGD Mr Smith, FID Mr Armour, WED

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