GRS 230
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 222
CONFIDENTIAL
HRK 122. RECEIVED IN
STHY
12 MAY 1986
RY
OF 010941Z MAY 1986
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING, BRASILVA, NEW DELH
MY TELNO 217 : GATT AND HONG KONG
1.
1:
WHEN CALLED ON DUNKEL (DG, GATT) HE PROFESSED TO BE COMPLETELY RELAXED. SINCE HIS RETURN TO GENEVA FROM HIS VISITS TO WASHINGTON AND HELSINKI, NO ONE HAD RAISED HONG KONG WITH HIM, EVEN INFORMALLY, ALTHOUGH BOTH AMBASSADORS BATISTA AND SHUKLA (INDIA) HAD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
2.
NEVERTHELESS, DUNKEL ACKNOWLEDGED AMBASSADOR BATISTA'S PERSONAL REPUTATION FOR CAUSHING TROUBLE, AND HE MIGHT CHALLENGE THE SECRETARHAT'S HANDLING OF HONG KONG'S CONTRACTING PARTY STATUS AT THE 22 MAY COUNCIL.
3. IF THAT HAPPENED, DUNKEL PROMISED TO BE VERY FIRM. THE SECRETRIAT HAD ACTED IN STRUCT ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE XXV*(5)C WHICH WAS VERY CLEAR. HIS POSITION WAS REINFORCED BY THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHINESE DELEGATION WHICH HELPFULLY SPELT OUT THE FULL EXTENT
OF HONG KONG'S COMMERCIAL AUTONOMY AFTER 1997. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GATT COUNCIL (AMBASSADOR PARK OF SOUTH KOREA) WOULD IN ACCORDANCE
WITH GATT PROCEDURES, WELCOME THE NEW CP ON 22 MAY. HE DID NOT
EXPECT TROUBLE, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THERE WAS TO HAVE A
CHORUS OF SUPPORT FROM A CROSS-SECTION OF WELL-WISHERS. SAND WE
ALREADY HAD UT UN MIND TO ORCHESTRATE SUCH SUPPORT ON A CONTINGENCY
BASIS.
WE AGREED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON HOW THE SITUATION DEVELOPED, AND TOUCH BASE BEFORE THE MAY COUNCIL.
5. # SUBSEQUENTLY SAW SHUKLA (INDIA) WHO SAID HE WAS AWAITING
#INSTRUCTIONS. THIS REINFORCES THE POINT MADE UN PARA 4 OF MY TUR
THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL #F NEW DELHI COULD CHECK THAT SHUKLA WILL
BE TOLD TO ACCEPT HONG KONG AS A CP WITHOUT COMMENT.
215
SANKEY
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D (FE)
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
DEP/HD PUSD
PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
313