TNAG-2521-FCO40-3680-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1992 — Page 19

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5

regard

all

the

International

creaties,

obligations under such

rights

and

which affect

Hong Kong, as continuing to apply in respect of

the SAR.

It

would also be advisable to place

clearly on record that with effect from that date

the CPG, 23 the

sovereign power

having

responsibility

ibility for Hong Kong's foreign affairs,

will

assume responsibility

for

those

international rights and obligations on behalf of the SAR. It would further, to avoid any possible

misunderstanding,

be advisable for the

United

Kingdom Government

relinquish

Indicate to

Own responsibility

that it will

for those

Its

international rights and obligations with effect

from the same date.

The longer this action were

to be taken before 1 July 1997 the more difficult it would be for other states, which had remained silent up to that date, then to refute lt.

Even

If the action were taken only shortly before that

date the risk of other states responding

adversely would, if only because of inertia, much less than if option (b) were followed.

be

(d) An alternative to option (c) would be for the CPG to send its own declaration before 1 July 1997 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, with a similar objective, and to request the latter

to

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