TNAG-2743-FCO40-3958-Visits-by-Commonwealth-officials--ministers-and-public-figur-1993 — Page 138

GF 323

CONFIDENTIAL #2

機密

For decision

on

DRAFT

XCC (93)

Copy No.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMORANDUM

THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG'S LINKS WITH THE COMMONWEALTH

PROBLEM

as

part of a

We need to

Hong Kong's formal status

Commonwealth nation will cease in 1997.

consider the future of our Commonwealth links.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE SOUGHT

2.

It is recommended that our formal links with the

Commonwealth should be discontinued after 1997. However,

where desirable and practicable, they should be replaced by

alternative links on an informal basis which will serve the

same or similar purposes and which can survive the change

of sovereignty (see paragraph 6 below).

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

Background

3.

The Commonwealth

of Nations (the Commonwealth) is

a voluntary association of independent sovereign states

each responsible for its own policies, consulting and co-operating in their common interests and in the promotion

of greater international understanding. The Head of the

Commonwealth is the Queen. The association does not have

any formal charter, treaty or constitution. It exists as a

consultative body for the purpose of mutual assistance.

CONFIDENTIAL

機密