1984 file
040/24
2
GRS 330
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FY HONG KONG 0607432 FEB 05
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 294 OF 6 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY PEKING,
UKMIS GENEVA.
RECEIV
TOP COPY
LUCK 040 124.
MY
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, WASHIFETON 995
BRUSSELS (FOR JONES)
YOUR TELNO. 915 OF 1984 AND GALSWORTHY'S TELELETTER OF 5 OCTOBER 1984 TO GENEVA : HONG KONG'S FUTURE POSITION IN CATT AND CCC.
WE NOW HAVE TO CONSIDER SEEKING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S ADVICE ON WHETHER TO APPROACH MINISTERS FOR APPROVAL FOR A DECLARATION IN HONG KONG'S FAVOUR UNDER ARTICLE XXVI(5)(C), SO THAT THIS COULD BE TAKEN UP WITH THE CHINESE AT AN EARLY STAGE OF THE WORK OF THE JOINT
IT LIAISON GROUP. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH A DECLARATION BEING MADE, WOULD SEEM SENSIBLE FOR A PARALLEL DECLARATION TO BE MADE UNDER THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL.
2. AT THIS STAGE OF OUR CONSIDERATION, WE WOULD APPRECIATE A MORE PRECISE INDICATION OF OUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS. ACCORDINGLY, GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD LET US KNOW THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNTS THAT WE WOULD BE EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE IN 1985 TO THE GATT AND TO THE CCC, IF HONG KONG WERE ALREADY DEEMED TO PE A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY TO THESE ARRANGEMENTS.
A DECLARATION OF HONG KONG'S AUTONOMY 3. IT WOULD BE APPARENT THAT IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS MUST MEAN A DIMINUTION OF HMG'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS REGARD. HOWEVER, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CAN BE EXPECTED TO ASK, HAVING REGARD TO HMG'S CONTINUED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO 30 JUNE 1997, THE DEGREE OF SUPPORT HONG KONG CAN EXPECT FROM HMG IN THESE MATTERS, IN PARTICULAR THE EXTENT TO WHICH BRITISH MISSIONS WILL BE WILLING TO LOOK AFTER HONG KONG'S INTERESTS. IN THIS CONNECTION, WE DO NOT OURSELVES ENVISAGE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE IN THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPRESENTING HONG KONG'S COMMERCIAL RELATIONS INTERESTS IN THIRD COUNTRIES AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TO LOOK TO BRITISH POSTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT. WE TRUST THIS WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS.
1.984 fele
See (19
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PSAR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR KARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR DR C CHRISTOPHER, CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST
HKGU LONDON,
CONFIDENTIAL