TNAG-2710-FCO40-3916-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 137

Background

1.

Hong Kong's relationship with the Commonwealth after 1997 is a delicate matter and therefore not a subject we wish to raise. We would not want to cut off the possibility of some informal links being maintained. However, the formal position is that in 1997 Hong Kong sovereignty reverts to China, at which point Hong Kong will be ineligible for Commonwealth membership. Any suggestion that membership of any sort could continue after 1997 would be likely to provoke an angry reaction from China. This could make it more difficult for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region subsequently to agree to links of an individual or informal nature.

2.

Mr Peter Wong from Hong Kong will be one of the CPA

delegates. He represents business interests on the Legislative

Council. He is aware of the sensitivities surrounding Hong Kong's links with the Commonwealth post-1997 and is therefore most unlikely to raise the issue. Any questions on Hong Kong's links with the Commonwealth are more likely to come from other

Commonwealth states, eg Australia or Canada.

3.

The third round of talks on the electoral arrangements for 1994/5 in Hong Kong are due to take place in Peking on 21-23

May.

cpa.brf.PR SLM