CONFIDENTIAL
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Redacted under FOI exemption sections 27 (1)(a), (c), (d)
4.
·
THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE NOW AGREED THAT
THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION TO ENSURE HONG KONG'S CONTINUED
PARTICIPATION IN THE GATT AFTER 1 JULY 1997 IS FOR THE UK
GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A DECLARATION TO THE GATT UNDER GATT ARTICLE
XXVI(5) (C) WHICH WILL THEN RESULT IN HONG KONG BEING DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT, AND FOR THE PRC GOVERNMENT TO
MAKE A PARALLEL DECLARATION ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE HONG KONG SAR
AFTER 1 JULY 1997. IT WAS AGREED THAT APPROACHES WOULD BE MADE
BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS, SEPARATELY BUT IN PARALLEL, TO AN AGREED
LIST OF KEY CONTRACTING PARTIES IN ADVANCE OF THE MAKING OF THE
DECLARATIONS. OUR UNDERSTANDING (CONFIRMED BY INFORMAL
CONSULTATIONS WITH THE GATT SECRETARIAT) IS THAT THE PROPOSED
PROCEDURE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE CONSENT OF OTHER GATT MEMBERS, OR
OFFER THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT. OUR INTENTION IN MAKING
THESE APPROACHES IS NOT, THEREFORE, TO CONSULT, OR SEEK THE
APPROVAL OF, OTHER GATT MEMBERS, BUT TO GIVE ADVANCE INFORMATION
OF OUR INTENDED ACTION AND SEEK TO PORESTALL ANY QUERIES OR
OBJECTIONS.
(NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) ACTION
5.
THE AGREED TEXTS OF THE BRITISH AND CHINESE DECLARATIONS,
TOGETHER WITH THE TEXT OF GATT ARTICLE XXVI(5)(C) AND THE
2- CONFIDENTIAL