CON DENTIAL

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL, IN ITS DECLARATION,

REFER TO THE DECLARATION MADE BY THE UNITED KINGDOM ON 28 JUNE 1943

CONCERNING THE APPLICATION OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND

TRADE TO HONG KONG, CONFIRM THAT HONG KONG, AS A SEPARATE CUSTOMS

TERRITORY, FULLY MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A CUSTOMS TERRITORY TO

BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY AS PRESCRIBED BY GATT ARTICLE

XXVI 5 (C), AND DECLARE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF

ARTICLE XXVI; 5 (C) OF THE SAID AGREEMENT AND THE WISHES OF HONG

KONG, HONG KONG WILL, WITH EFFECT FROM THE DATE OF THIS

COMMUNICATION BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE AGREEMENT.

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL, IN ITS DECLARATION, REFER TO THE

PROVISION THAT THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL

DECIDE ON ITS OWN ITS ECONOMIC AND TRADE POLICIES AND THE OTHER

AFORE-GOING PROVISIONS OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, AND

DECLARE THAT WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JULY 1997, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL

ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A CUSTOMS

TERRITORY TO BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY AS PRESCRIBED IN

GATT ARTICLE XXVI: 5 (C), AND THEREFORE MAY, USING THE NAME OF ''HONG

KONG, CHINA'', CONTINUE TO BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY TO

THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE.

THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS ARE CONVINCED THAT THIS

PROCEDURE IS IN FULL ACCORD WITH THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE

GENERAL AGREEMENT. THIS HAS BEEN INFORMALLY CONFIRMED BY THE

SECRETARIAT OF THE GATT.

BEARING IN MIND THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS EXISTING BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WISHES TO INFORM YOUR GOVERNMENT

IN ADVANCE OF THE ACTIONS SOON TO BE TAKEN BY THE CHINESE AND

BRITISH GOVERNMENTS IN THE HOPE OF HAVING YOUR GOVERNMENT'S

UNDERSTANDING.

ENDS

EVANS

FRAME EXTERNAL.

ECORE)

FED

REPEATED AS REQUESTED)

2-

CONFIDENTIAL

Share This Page