NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
RESTRICTED
3
that matter to include the government of a non-
sovereign entity). It seems clear, therefore, that
not
the EEC could/become a contracting party without an
Such an amendment
amendment to the General Agreement.
could be framed so as to take account of the special
position of Hong Kong.
5
If the EEC became a contracting party in
addition to its Member States the United Kingdom's
rights and obligations in respect of the Hong Kong
customs territory would continue vis à vis the
other members of the EEC and in addition they would
extend to the EEC itself. As before, there would be
no rights or obligations between the United Kingdom
in respect of the Hong Kong customs territory and the
United Kingdom in respect of the metropolitan customs
territory.
6
Our conclusion is, therefore, that the accession
of the United Kingdom to the Treaty of Rome will not
affect Hong Kong's legal position in the GATT. Neither
will it affect its representation in the CTC where the
United Kingdom signed both on her own behalf and
separately for Hong Kong.
Practical Possibilities
7
Since the United Kingdom's rights in respect of
Hong Kong under the GATT will be unaffected following
British accession to the EEC the only difficulties
which should arise will be practical ones. Various
possibilities have been set out by the British
delegations to the GATT and to the EEC.
8/...