GRS 230
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 222
OF 010941Z MAY 1986
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP CUPY
UNFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING, BRASILIA, NEW DELHI:
MY TELNO 217 : GATT AND HONG KONG
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 CAUSING TROUBLE, AND HE MIGHT CHALLENGE THE SECRETARIAT '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 STRICT 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-WASHERS. SAD WE
ALREADY HAD IT IN MIND TO ORCHESTRATE SUCH SUPPORT ON A CONTINGENCY
BASIS.
4. 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
MNSTRUCTIONS. THIS REINFORCES THE POINT MADE UN PARA 4 OF MY TUR
THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF NEW DELHI COULD CHECK THAT SHUKLA VENT I
BE TOLD TO ACCEPT HONG KONG AS A CP WITHOUT COMMENT.
HKK 122/1...
RECEIVE.
RY
- 6 MAY 1986
SANKEY
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
DES
INDEX
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
DEP/HD PUSD PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
305
AB 95