TNAG-2227-FCO40-3199-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-count-1991 — Page 146

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Reference

Ms K Jackson

Commonwealth Coordination Department

Commonwealci Rek.

огоро

PARLIAMENTARIAN

MR LENNOX-BOYD'S MEETING WITH COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARIANS,

23 MAY

You ask in your minute of 9 May for points to make, defensive points and paragraphs for incorporation into Mr Lennox-Boyd's speech for this occasion.

11.

2. There are no points which we would wish to make on Hong Kong, either in the speech or in general discussion.

But,

in the unlikely event of Hong Kong's Commonwealth membership post-1997 being raised, we would offer the following defensive points:

-

Once

Hong Kong is a member of the Commonwealth through its status as a dependent territory of the United Kingdom. China resumes sovereignty over the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong will cease to be a member.

-

Where there are practical links which would continue to be

relevant, we shall be looking to see whether there are ways

to maintain these without the formal Commonwealth link.

3. As you are no doubt aware, the Hong Kong delegate for this year's visit withdrew at fairly short notice. There will not, therefore, be a representative from Hong Kong

present.

K. Sanders

KAM Saunders

Hong Kong Department

WH311

PJMAVT/1

270 3544

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15 May 1991