TNAG-1294-FCO40-1649-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 69

TT HONG KONG

GRS 604

SECRET

TELELETTER

FROM CO HUM, HKD, FCO

DATED 28 MARCH 1984

SECRET

HKE

RECE...

DE

INDEX

02218

-2 APN 1934

9309 - 1

Tukut

M

Ри

Kell

FOLLOWING FOR R P MARGOLIS, DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER, HONG KONG

D G BLUNT, PEKING

HONG KONG'S STATUS WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS.

1.

3

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELELETTER SG 4/01 OF 19 MARCH, ABOUT THE

QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE EDITOR OF THE SEVENTIES MAGAZINE.

2. WE WONDER WHETHER THERE IS MUCH TO BE GAINED BY REPLYING QUITES

SO OBLIQUELY WHERE MATTERS OF DOCUMENTED

HISTORICAL FACT ARE CONCERNED. THE ACTION TAKEN BY HMG IN

DECEMBER 1972 WAS PUBLICLY EXPLAINED IN TERMS WHICH EXPLICITLY

MAINTAIN OUR VIEW ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF HONG KONG.

3. WE WOULD THEREFORE SUGGEST A REPLY COVERING ALL THREE

QUESTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING TERMS:

'IN DECEMBER 1972 THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO CEASE

TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION ON HONG KONG TO THE UNITED

NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL UNDER ARTICLE 73E OF THE UNITED

NATIONS CHARTER. THE REASONS FOR THIS DECISION ARE AS

FOLLOWS. THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONISATION (THE

COMMITTEE OF 24) HAD RECOMMENDED, FOLLOWING A REQUEST FROM

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THAT HONG KONG BE REMOVED FROM

THE LIST OF NON SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES DEALT WITH BY THE

COMMITTEE. THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS ENDORSED BY THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY ON 2 NOVEMBER 1972. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS DECISION

HMG DECIDED THAT NO USEFUL PRACTICAL PURPOSE WOULD BE SERVED

BY CONTINUING TO TRANSMIT INFORMATION ON HONG KONG UNDER

ARTICLE 73E OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER. THE PERMANENT

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WROTE TO THE SECRETARY

GENERAL ON 14 DECEMBER 1972 INFORMING HIM OF THIS DECISION.

HE ALSO PUT ON RECORD THAT IN THE VIEW OF HER MAJESTY'S

GOVERNMENT THIS ACTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NO WAY

AFFECTED THE LEGAL STATUS OF HONG KONG. HE SAID THAT THE

1

SECRET

S