TNAG-2487-FCO40-3618-Future-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1992 — Page 39

We

be taken as implying that Hong Kong is a region of China. have however acquiesced in the heading "countries and areas" in UN statistical publications so long as there is a disclaimer to the effect that "country or area" should be interpreted to cover countries, territories, cities or areas. As noted above, we can also accept "area" as a last resort. The successful conclusion of the recent negotiations on the future of Hong Kong after 1997 should reduce Chinese sensitivities over matters of status and nomenclature. However, until 1997 we would expect the Chinese to seek to maintain their formal position over Hong Kong's status in international fora if, deliberately or inadvertently, this is called into question.

Hong Kong Agreement

11. An agreement on the future of Hong Kong was signed by the British and Chinese Prime Ministers on 19 December 1984. Under the terms of the Joint Declaration of the British and Chinese Governments on the future of Hong Kong which entered into force on 27 May 1985, Hong Kong will with effect from 1 July 1997 become a Special Administrative Region of the PRC with a high degree of autonomy.

hkongchina