TNAG-1237-FCO40-1550-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 43

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CONFIDENTIAL

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GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

义

香港下亞畢道

本署檔號 OUR REF.: (2) in T/C 88/83

* YOUR Ref.:

25 April 1983

HKK040|1.

RECEIVE IN HUOLTAY

Ms K J Marles

HKGD

FCO

2.

Dear Kay,

Use of the Hong Kong Flag

Thank you for your letter of 25 March.

(Mail

279)

In a series of correspondence resting with an FCO Saving Despatch of 19 August 1970 (ref: TX4/393/1) agreement was reached about extending the use of the Hong Kong flag from its original purpose laid down in Colonial Regulations. This agreement enabled the flag to be used for:

(a)

identifying Hong Kong participants at international competitions, festivals

etc.,

decorative purposes;

(b)

(c)

flying on Government buildings in

3.

conjunction with the Union Flag (but not alone).

This policy and practice prevails and is enforced. Since the Hong Kong flag embodies the Hong Kong Armorial Bearings which may not be displayed without the Chief Secretary's permission (they are protected by law), the use of the flag is similarly protected.

4.

For "decorative purposes"we allow it to be flown on hotels and other prominent buildings, but only together with the latter in the senior position. We also allow its display (again for decorative purposes) by bona fide commercial organis- ations who like to display in their overseas offices the flags of countries where they have branches.

We do not allow tourists and souvenir collectors to buy real flags, but have small paper reproductions which we issue

5.

CONFIDENTIAL

/with a