GRS ZZO
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 193
CONFIDENTIAL
203
HKK 102/1
RLCI
OF 211335Z APRIL 1986
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING
FCO TELNO 321: HONG KONG AND GATT
DATE OF DECLARATIONS
ADOR DOL
23 APR 1986
con Taken
1A823/14
1. DUNKEL (DG) IS CONTENT FOR US TO MAKE THE DECLARATIONS TO MATHUR
(OUR TELNO 189). WE HAVE AGREED WITH THE CHINESE TO ACT ON 23 APRIL, IF INSTRUCTED.
2. WE CONFIRM THAT, FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF THE DECLARATIONS, DG, GATT WILL SIMPLY NOTIFY CONTRACTING PARTIES (CPS) BY MEANS OF AN ''L DOCUMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD PRACTICE. HOWEVER, IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR THE GATT SECRETARIAT TO ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE ON THE OCCASION OF NEW ACCESSIONS. THIS IS EXPECTED TO ISSUE LATE ON THE DAY AFTER THE DECLARATIONS, IN ORDER TO ENSURE PRIOR CIRCULATION OF
THE L DOCUMENTS.
3.
SINCE THE PRESS RELEASE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A FORMAL ANOUNCEMENT, WE AGREE THAT THE HONG KONG PRESS RELEASE SHOULD BE AMENDED AS PROPOSED IN PARA 5 OF YOUR TUR.
4. THE CHINESE HAVE TOLD US THAT THE ARGENTINE AMBASSADOR RAISED
THREE POINTS OF CONCERN:
(44)
A POSSIBLE LINKAGE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE FALKLANDS., (11) THE FORMULA USED FOR HONG KONG MIGHT SET A BAD PRECENDENT FOR
THE FALKLANDS.,
(144)
DOUBTS ABOUT THE AUTOMATICITY OF ARTICLE XXVII (5)(C).
THE CHINESE AMASSADOR REPLIED TO THE FIRST TWO POINTS THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND NO COMPARISONS COULD BE DRAWN. HE HAD NOT BOTHERED TO REFUTE THE THIRD POINT WHICH HE HAD EXPLAINED AT LENGTH IN HIS PRESENTATION.
5. THE ARGENTINE AMBASSADOR, WHO IS A RECENT ARRIVAL, PREFACED HIS REMARKS BY SAYING THEY WERE A ''PERSONAL REACTION''. CARTLAND HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD AN AMICABLE DISCUSSION WITH DUMONT (ARGENTINE COUNSELLOR) WHO APPEARED TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED ACTION WITHOUT
DIFFICULTY.
SANKEY
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
REPEATED AS REQUESTED
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
DEP/HD PUSD PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
H)/ACD(E)
CONFIDENTIAL
225