CONFIDENTIAL
29062
IS
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS THE UNITED KINGDOM IS RESPONSIBLE,
AUTONOMOUS IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. THE UNITED KINGDOM ACCORDINGLY PROPOSES THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE II(A)(II) OF THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL, HONG KONG SHOULD BE ADMITTED TO THE COUNCIL
AS A SEPARATE MEMBER.
(B) HONG KONG DECLARATION
I AM INSTRUCTED TO REFER TO ARTICLE II(A)(II) OF THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL, AND TO THE
COMMUNICATION WHICH THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS HAS TODAY ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL, AND TO CONFIRM THAT HONG KONG WISHES TO BE ADMITTED TO THE COUNCIL AS A SEPARATE
MEMBER.
(C) PRC DECLARATION
I AM INSTRUCTED BY
TO REFER TO THE CONVENTION
ESTABLISHING A CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL, TO THE JOINT DECLARATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG, SIGNED IN BEIJING ON 19 DECEMBER 1984, AND TO THE COMMUNICATIONS WHICH THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS HAS TODAY ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL
OF THE COUNCIL. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION HONG
KONG WILL, ON 1 JULY 1997, BECOME A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY AND TO POSSESS THE SAME DEGREE OF
AUTONOMY AS AT PRESENT IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL
RELATIONS. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
CONSIDERS THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL NOT ALTER THE STATUS OF
THE TERRITORY IN THE COUNCIL. ENDS
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
-
1
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR 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 MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
MR MALLABY
OFFICE CABINET OFFICE MR DR C CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF.
SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.
-7- CONFIDENTIAL