TNAG-1710-FCO40-2386-Royal-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 177

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3703A

UNITED NATIONS

NATIONS UNIES

VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

P.O. BOX 500, A-1400 VIENNA, AUSTRIA

TELEPHONE: 26 310

TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: UNATIONS VIENNA TELEX: 135612

REFERENCE:DND 421/15

DND 421/5

16 July 1987

Dear Mr. Nagler,

I refer to your letter of 3 July concerning the possible future applica- tion of the draft convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to non-metropolitan territories for the foreign affairs of which the United Kingdom is responsible.

In this connection I would draw your attention to article III entitled "Territorial Application" of the draft final clauses which appear in annex VII in working document DND/DCIT/WP.1. Two variants are given of the draft article. The first variant is identical

article 42 of the Single

to

Convention and article 27 of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

I have been informed by the Office of Legal Affairs that the recent practice of the United Kingdom has been to simply make a declaration with respect to territorial application at the time of depositing an instrument of ratification or accession. The effect of such a declaration is the same whether or not there is

not there is a specific article on territorial application in a convention. For your information in this connection, I attach copies of two instruments deposited by the United Kingdom in which it specifies that the convention in question is ratified on behalf not only of the United Kingdom but also of other territories, notwithstanding the fact that there does not exist in the corresponding conventions any specific provisions concerning territories.

Since the United Kingdom Government. is probably the one most concerned with the question of territorial application to non-metropolitan territories, I believe you

wish may

to contact

office the appropriate Government ascertain what the recent preference of Her Majesty's Government has been.

to

Best personal regards.

Mr. N.A. Nagler Home Office

Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT England

Yours sincerely,

тиб

P.K. Bailey

Chief

Treaty Implementation and Commission Secretariat Section Division of Narcotic Drugs