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attends of
A
a m
b.
Kong is represented separately from the United Kingdom
at meetings of the GATT. Since the United Kingdom
М
acceded to the European Communities in 1973, Hong Kong
representatives at meetings of the Council of GATT and its
various committees have not been required to consult,
much less coordinate, their positions with those of United
Kingdom representatives and there are a number of occasions
on which Hong Kong representatives adopted a position in
opposition to, or inconsistent with the EC (ie UK)
position].
5. Formal provision for a separate status in the GATT is
made in Article XXVI 5 (c) which provides:-
*
"If any of the customs territories, in respect of
which a contracting party has accepted this
Agreement, possesses or acquires full autonomy
in the conduct of its external commercial relations
and of the other matters provided for in this
Agreement, such territory shall, upon sponsorship
through a declaration by the responsible
contracting party establishing the above-mentioned
fact, be deemed to be a contracting party.".
It is the view of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers
that Hong Kong's continued participation in the GATT
/after
* Footnote: There is another possible provision in Article
XXXIII, but the United Kingdom does not wish to pursue that route in view of the provision for a vote.
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