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PARTICIPATION IN THE CCC, UP TO AND AFTER 1997, ALONG THE LINES ENVISAGED FOR THE GATT.
15. ARTICLE II(A)(II) OF THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL PROVIDES FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL BY: 'THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY WHICH IS PROPOSED BY A CONTRACTING PARTY HAVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FORMAL CONDUCT OF ITS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, WHICH IS AUTONOMOUS IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND WHOSE ADMISSION AS A SEPARATE MEMBER IS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL'. 16. THE BRITISH SIDE THUS PROPOSE THAT IN PARALLEL TO ITS DECLARATION TO THE GATT, UNDER GATT ARTICLE XXVI (5)(C), THE UNITED KINGDOM SHOULD, AT THE SAME TIME, MAKE A PARALLEL DECLARATION UNDER ARTICLE II (A)(II) OF THE CONVENTION, SPONSORING HONG KONG'S MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL. THE BRITISH SIDE FURTHER PROPOSE THAT:
(I) FOR REASONS SIMILAR TO THOSE GIVEN IN PARAGRAPHS 8 AND 9 ABOVE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GATT, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF BOTH HONG KONG AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PRC WERE TO SUBMIT THEIR OWN SEPARATE STATEMENTS TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CCC:
(II) THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PRC SHOULD TOGETHER TAKE WHATEVER STEPS THEY CONSIDER NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNCIL LOOKS FAVOURABLY UPON AND SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVES SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP FOR HONG KONG. 17. APPENDIX 2 TO THIS PAPER CONTAINS THE BRITISH SIDE'S PROPOSALS FOR THE THREE KINDS OF DECLARATION WHICH, UNDER THE ARTICLE II(A)(II) PROCEDURE, COULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL BY THE CCC.
ENDS
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
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 D B C CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF.
SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.
CONFIDENTIAL
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