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FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2051
OF 230907Z NOVEMBER 89
Du
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
030243
MDHIAN 5781
HONG KONG FOR GOVERNOR/POLAD.
MY TELNO 2032.
1
INTERNATIONALISATION OF HONG KONG.
PEOPLE'S DAILY ON 23 NOVEMBER CARRIED A REPORT ON AN
ARTICLE PRINTED IN WEN WEI PO ON 21 NOVEMBER ENTITLED
''A PRELIMINARY VIEW OF THE DRAWBACKS OF INTERNATIONALISING THE HONG KONG ISSUE''. THE ARTICLE BY A LI LIN, SOUGHT TO
GIVE AN INTERNATIONAL LAW BACKGROUND TO THE COMPLAINTS IN THE
PEOPLE'S DAILY ARTICLE OF 20 NOVEMBER (MY T U R).
2.
LI ARGUED THAT THE POSITION OF HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL
CENTRE AND THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE HONG KONG ISSUE WERE
DISTINCT ISSUES. THE FORMER WAS ACCEPTED BY CHINA AND ITS CONTINUATION WOULD BE GUARANTEED AFTER 1997. HOWEVER, THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE HONG KONG ISSUE WAS IN BREACH OF
THE JD AND THE NORMS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. IN SUPPORT OF THIS,
LI ARGUED THAT:
(A) THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE HONG KONG ISSUE WAS IN BREACH
OF ARTICLE 26 OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF TREATIES.
(B) THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE HONG KONG ISSUE UNDERMINED
CHINA'S RESUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG. WHILE THE BRITISH HAD AGREED TO HAND CHINA BACK SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997, THEY SOUGHT TO RETAIN POLITICAL CONTROL OVER THE TERRITORY
AFTER THAT DATE.
(C) THERE WAS NO BASIS FOR THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE HONG
KONG ISSUE IN THE JD. ACCORDING TO THE JD, BEFORE 1997 HONG KONG WAS A MATTER BETWEEN THE UK AND CHINA, AND AFTER 1997 AN INTERNAL AFFAIR FOR CHINA. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE UN CHARTER, OTHER COUNTRIES SHOULD NOT INTERVENE.
(D) THE
INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE HONG KONG ISSUE WOULD UNDERMINE
THE PRINCIPLE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE RUNNING THEIR OWN AFFAIRS.
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