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6. THE JOINT DECLARATION OF THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG, SIGENED IN PEKING ON 19 DECEMBER 1984, PROVIDES THAT THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA, WHICH WILL COME INTO EXISTENCE ON 1 JULY 1997, WILL PETAIN THE STATUS OF A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY: MAY ON ITS OWN CONCLUDE RELEVANT AGREEMENTS WITH STATES, REGIONS AND RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS: AND MAY PARTICIPATE IN RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
SUCH AS THE GATT.
7. TO GIVE EFFECT TO THESE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE NOW AGREED THAT THEY WILL MAKE PARALLEL DECLARATIONS TO THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE GATT. THE PURPOSE OF OUR PRESENT APPROACH IS TO GIVE ADVANCE INFORMATION OF OUR INTENTIONS AND TO SEEK UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE PROPOSE. THE PRC EMBASSY WILL BE MAKING A SIMILAR DEMARCHE.
8. THE BRITISH DELCARATION WILL REFER TO THE DECLARATION MADE BY THE UK ON 28 JUNE 1948 CONCERNING THE APPLICATION OF THE GATT TO HONG KONG: DECLARE THAT HONG KONG, BEING A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY IN RESPECT OF WHICH THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS ACCEPTED THAT AGREEMENT, POSSESSES FULL AUTONOMY IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND OF THE OTHER MATTERS PROVIDED FOR IN THE AGREEMENT: AND DECLARE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE XXVI (5) (C) OF THE GATT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WISHES OF HONG KONG, HONG KONG WILL WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE AGREEMENT.
9. THE CHINESE DECLARATION WILL RECALL THE PROVISIONS IN THE JOINT DECLARATION ACCORDING TO WHICH THE HONG KONG SAR OF CHINA WILL DECIDE ITS ECONOMIC AND TRADE POLICIES ON ITS OWN. IT WILL GO ON TO DECLARE THAT AS FROM 1 JULY 1997 THE HK SAR WILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A CUSTOMS TERRITORY TO BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY AS PRESCRIBED IN GATT ARTICLE XXV (5) (C), AND THEREFORE MAY, USING THE NAME OF HONG KONG CHINA'', CONTINUE TO BE DEEMED TO BE A
CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT.
10. THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS PROCEDURE IS FULLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE GATT. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY INFORMAL ADVICE FROM THE GATT
SECRETARIAT.
11. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HOPE THAT THESE DECLARATIONS WILL MEET WITH THE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF ALL CONTRACTING PARTIES. THERE WAS WIDESPREAD INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE PROVISION FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE, INCLUDING THE ABILITY OF THE HK SAR TO DECIDE ITS OWN ECONOMIC AND TRADE POLICIES.
WE HOPE THAT THERE WILL PE A SIMILAR DEGREE OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR THE JOINT ACTION BY THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO GIVE THESE PROVISIONS PRACTICAL EFFECT.
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