TNAG-2796-FCO40-4036-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1993 — Page 37

020/6

FROM:

ra

19

Jill Barrett

Assistant Legal Adviser

K174 270 3381

-DATE:

1 July 1993

Ms Losty, ESED

Mr Bunten HKD

HONG KONG:

Mr Parker o/r

RATIFICATION OF THE ITU CONSTITUTION AND CONVENTION ADOPTED AT GENEVA IN 1992

1. Please see the attached minute which has come from a Mr Leach in an unidentified Government Department, and has arrived inexplicably in my in-tray in the absence of Mr Parker, who is one of the copy recipients. I do not know in what capacity Mr Parker gave previous advice, or to whom it was given (the minute refers to it but no copy is attached). This is obviously a matter of direct concern to HKD but you do not feature in the long list of copy addressees. No doubt you will wish to take action to remedy this.

2. The draft letter to the Hong Kong Post Office contains a number of errors. In the first paragraph I wonder if the reference to the signing of the Final Acts by the delegation should refer to the signing of the Constitution and Convention? Please would you check what was signed. I presume the Constitution and Convention both require a signature, but cannot tell without seeing the texts.

3. The final paragraph asks the Assistant Postmaster General whether he intends to consult the Chinese. It is surely for us to advise them whether the Chinese will need to be consulted, so I have redrafted the letter to ask for their views on whether consultation is necessary or desirable. I assume you will consult me further on this point, when you have had a chance to consider the documents. There are no doubt files on this subject in HKD.

4. Is the Hong Kong Post Office part of HKG? If not, are they the most appropriate recipients of this letter?

Will Bant

Jill Barrett