TNAG-1343-FCO40-1773-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 101

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accession by states after that date.

UK Policy

25.

HMG accepts that there is much in the Convention which is valuable but cannot accept the regime for the mining of poly-

metallic nodules from the deep seabed. We decided not to sign the Convention but did not stand in the way of signature by the Community whose competence is limited as regards the Convention.

This was announced in Parliament on 6 December.

China and the Convention

26.

China has been a strong supporter of the Convention on

general North/South grounds. However it is interested in deep seabed mining and might eventually seek pioneer investor status.

CONFIDENTIAL