}
CONFIDENTIAL
23234
1
DECEMBER 1984, AND TO THE COMMUNICATIONS WHICH THE UNITED KINGDOM MISSION IN GENEVA HAS TODAY ADDRESSED TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL. 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 AND
OF ALL OTHER MATTERS PROVIDED FOR IN THE AGREEMENT. THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONSIDERS THAT THES
ARRANGEMENTS WILL NOT ALTER THE STATUS OF THE TERRITORY IN THE
GATT.
ENDS
HOWE
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
LIMITED
HKD
FED
ECD(E)
PS
PS/MR LUCE
MR WILSON
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MISS WILMSHURST, LEGAL ADVISERS MR A J PRYOR DTP/DTI (VICTORIA)
MRS HEALD, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MARK LANE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
A