TNAG-2860-FCO40-4114-Hong-Kong-participation-in-the-World-Conference-on-Human-Rig-1993 — Page 35

GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

布政司署

香港 港下亞

畢道

*** OUR REF: CAB B3/11

** Your Ref :

TUE 16 MAR 93 11:32

CONFIDENTIAL

PG.02

Pg.

URGENT BY FAX

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

16 March 1993

4

Mr Rod Bunten,

Hong Kong Department,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

Whitehall,

SW1A 2AH

RECEIVED

241/2

DECISTRY

16 MAR 1993

DESK CT

INDEX

REGISTRY Action Tak

عم

Dear Rod

1993.

World Conference on Human Rights

Thank you very much for your letter of 11 March

We have given the matter careful thought and have come to the view that it would be useful if HKG could attend the World Conference in Vienna in June as part of the UK delegation. Although discussions of individual countries' human rights records are not expected in the Conference, this may still arise since non-governmental organisations, particularly the Amnesty International (AI), will be present.

We already know, for example, that AI will raise the question of the extension of CEDAW to Hong Kong (their press release of 12 March 1993 which I faxed to you refers).

We have been informed that other Hong Kong NGOS will also be there. As such, we can help rebut any criticisms in relation to human rights in Hong Kong. It would also be worthwhile for HKG to attend because there would otherwise be criticisms from local human rights groups that we lack commitment to human rights or that our commitment is not genuine. HKG will, of course, meet its own costs.

In view

of

the above, we should be grateful for your advice તુર to whether HKG could attend the Conference as part of the UK delegation and, if so, whether you would have space on the delegation for two representatives from Hong Kong. We would also need to know

✓

(a) whether the UK delegation will be attending for Full duration of the Conference (14-25 June 1993) and if not, on which specific dates;

(b)

the

the status of the HKG delegation.

representatives

on the

CONCIDENTIN