TNAG-2024-FCO40-2886-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-countries-1990 — Page 73

A

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

Ms Hancock

Please discuss

а

In stickels.

I suggest we

refer (i) to advisers

and (iii) to the Commission.

Dr Iredale

for 19/1

HONG KONG AND THE COMMONWEALTH AFTER 1997

1

FROM: C P RALEIGH X0182

DATE: 19 JANUARY 1990

Thank you for your minute of 12 January (received today).

2.

I do not think that APD has any better "feel" for these issues than you have. It seems to me that the important` questions are:

i.

ii.

is it legally consistent for Hong Kong to continue to give and receive CSFP awards after 1997. when its Commonwealth membership lapses? This is a question for Legal Advisers;

if it is legally consistent, is it practical politics? This is a question for the DW;

iii. if the answer to both these questions is yes, does the

ODA have any difficulties with the idea that the CSFP should continue to operate in Hong Kong after 1997? This I think is a question for you; and

iv. when is it sensible to try and make up our minds about

all this? Anything decided now is in danger of looking fairly daft by 1997. How real is the pressure for us to have a clear line in time for the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in November 1990? This is in a sense the prior question, and would I imagine fall to the DW to try and answer in the first instance.

свил

CP Raleigh

Aid Policy Department

HKB 020/22

RECEIVER

INDS

CONFIDENTIAL

1990