TNAG-2860-FCO40-4114-Hong-Kong-participation-in-the-World-Conference-on-Human-Rig-1993 — Page 13

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Mr Ricketts, HKD

From: G S Hand, HRPU Date: 12 May 1993

CC: Miss Foulds

letter to Hong Kong

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WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS: HONG KONG PARTICIPATION

1.

Thank you for copying to me the papers on Christine Loh's wish to attend the WCHR. The position is that it is indeed too late for NGOs to be accredited. They can be attached to national delegations (and we are considering asking the UK NGOS whether they would care to nominate one person to join our delegation, to represent them). But I have no intention of letting our delegation become a vehicle for all and sundry to go to Vienna, and any NGO member would be expected to be loyal to the delegation; from what you have told me of Ms Loh, this would not be acceptable.

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2. I suggest that her best idea is to ask an accredited NGO to accept her group among their representatives; she can then attack HMG to her heart's content though we would simply respond that this was out of order at a thematic conference. On that subject, you might like to have Edward Llewellyn reassure her that we too will be defending the universality of human rights, with all our considerable vigour.

3.

I note that Edward seems oblivious of HMGS policy in the area of human rights. I will be sending out guidance on this

in good time for the Conference.

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GS Hand

Human Rights Policy Department

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