TNAG-2860-FCO40-4114-Hong-Kong-participation-in-the-World-Conference-on-Human-Rig-1993 — Page 48

BACKGROUND

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1. The Third meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference (Prepcom III) ended in failure on 19 September, with no agreement on the agenda for the World Conference scheduled for 14-25 June 1993 in Vienna. The background and the reasons for failure are set out in UKMIS Geneva tels 596 and 599. The determination of the Asian Group to press their own agenda, despite efforts of other regional groups to find a solution, blocked agreement on a last minute compromise package.

2. It is now up to the Third Committee of the General Assembly to salvage something from the wreckage and get the preparations back on track, if the World Conference is to have a real chance of taking place in June 1993. Success cannot be guaranteed but there are several reasons why the General Assembly is more likely to get an acceptable result. The original Resolution which set sensible objectives for the World Conference was adopted by consensus at the General Assembly in 1990 (GAR 45/155). The Twelve and other Western countries have long regarded this Resolution as the most suitable framework for agreement on the agenda (and for the Final Document of the Conference). The (Austrian) Chairman of the Third Committee shares this view and is determined to begin informal discussions on this basis as soon as possible with a view to the Third Committee adopting a Resolution on the agenda by the end of November (under item 97b human rights questions). Personality clashes and the rigidity of

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