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United Kingdom Mission
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A J Pryor Esq
ITP1
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Your reference
Our reference
25
we and wis
GATT makes he
distinction between de
fato & de
The state's
LONDON
SW1
Dear Arther
HONG KONG: GATT
HKK 045/24
Date 16 April 1985
R5
Ente opa
نادا
mialy
1. Your letter of 28 March was copied to Alan Montgomery who is currently on mid-tour leave.
2. I am sorry if we did not make clear the relationship between paras 2 and 5 (a) and (b) of our teleletter. Whilst there is no precedent for establishing de jure status for a territory in Hong Kong's position the procedure suggested in para 5 would, in the view of the GATT's Legal Adviser, have that effect. Thus Hong Kong would achieve de facto Contracting Party status following the UK declaration proposed and de jure Contracting Party status as soon as Hong Kong made its statement to the GATT Secretariat. The UK declaration and Hong Kong statement could, if desired, be made the same day so that to all intents and purposes Hong Kong's de jure status would be instantaneous.
3.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
Yours eve
Tany
B Harding
cc: Mrs J S C Priest, HKD, FCO
Mr Burrows, Legal Advisers Dept, FCO Mr D Warren, ECD(E), FCO Mr Cruickshank, OT4, DTI
CONFIDENTIAL