R2
JA4AXL
CONFIDENTIAL
CALL ON MRS CHALKer by depUTY US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: 16 APRIL
Essential Facts
1.
At present Hong Kong plays what is in effect an autonomous
role under the GATT, but formally speaking from within the British
delegation. Hong Kong is not a contracting party in its own right.
China at present has indicated its intention to rejoin the GATT, but has not so far formally applied. This will be a difficult issue.
2.
A major objective in our negotiations with China on the future of Hong Kong was to ensure that after 1 July 1997, when Hong Kong will become a Special Administrative region (SAR) of the PRC, its participation and autonomy in the GATT and other similar trading
arrangements should be maintained. The Joint Declaration on Hong
Kong, signed on 19 December 1984, provides that the Hong Kong SAR
will retain the status of a separate customs territory and, using
the name of
of "Hong Kong, China" may on its Own conclude relevant
agreements with States, regions and relevant international
organisations. It will decide its economic and trade policies on its own, and may participate in relevant international organisations
and international trade agreements such as the GATT.
The
Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, established under the terms of the
Joint Declaration, took as an issue for priority consideration
"action
to enable the Hong Kong SAR to maintain its economic
relations as a separate customs territory and in particular to
ensure the maintenance of Hong Kong's participation in the GATT, MFA
and other international arrangements".
Redacted under FOI exemption sections 27 (1)(a), (c), (d)
CONFIDENTIAL