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CONFIDENTIAL
The Policy of developing a separate status for Hong Kong
during the interim period
3.
It is the policy of HMG during the interim period
before 1997 to do what is possible to establish for Hong
Kong, in those areas of activity in which the Joint
Declaration recognises it will have an autonomous or
distinct position or role, a status which is separate
from that of the UK so as to provide the basis for a
continuance of such separate status when Hong Kong reverts
to China in 1997. In pursuance of this policy we are for
example intending to separate Hong Kong from the ambit of
United Kingdom Air Service Agreements and to negotiate
distinct Air Service Agreements applicable only to services
by Hong Kong airlines and airlines of other states between
Hong Kong and those states. A particular and immediate
aspect of this policy is to provide for Hong Kong a
separate status in the GATT.
The GATT
а
4. At present Hong Kong's formal position in the GATT is
a consequence of the United Kingdom's status as
Contracting Party, ie the GATT applies in general to the
dependent territories as well as the metropolitan territory
of the Contracting Parties (Article XXVI 5(a)).
In practical terms however Hong Kong already occupies a
in the organs of the GATT
separate position from that of the United Kingdom. [Hong
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CONFIDENTIAL
/Kong
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