GRS 200

388

Confidential

CONFIDENT:MAL

FM UKMIS GENEVA

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 298

OF 04063OZ JUNE 1986

#NFO ROUTINE PEKING, HONG KONG, LISBON

380

YOUR TELNO 1030: JLG V: HONG KONG AND GATT

HKK 122/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 10 JUN 1986

THY

Авто

1. WHILE WE APPRECIATE HONG KONG'S CONCERN TO AVOID A FRESH DEBATE ON ARTICLE XXV:(5)(C) NN GATT AT THIS STAGE, #T SEEMS TO US THAT HIT IS DIFFICULT TO SUGGEST TO THE CHINESE (OR ANY ONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER) THAT THE PROCEDURE WOULD BE #NAPPLICABLE TO MACAU. DESPITE THE DISPARITY IN THE POSITION OF THE TWO TERRITORIES, THEIR LEGAL POSITIONS ARE AT LEAST ANALAGOUS. WIN THE GATT TEXTILES COMMITTEE AT LEAST, A PORTUGUESE DELEGATION, INCLUDING REPRESENTATION FROM MACAU, HAS ON OCCASION SPOKEN ON BEHALF OF MACUA** ASSUMING, THEREFORE,

A SEPARATE CUSTOMS THAT MACAU #S, AND AS A CHINESE SAR MAY REMAIN J TERRITORY, WIT IS IMPORTANT THAT NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE TO THROW DOUBT ON THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE XXVI (5)(C) PROCEDURE IN SUCH CASES.

!

2. SO, WHILE WE THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD #DEA FOR WILSON TO PANSE THIS WITH KE, WE THINK THE LINE TO TAKE IS THAT WHATEVER THE CHINESE MAY HAVE #IN MIND FOR MACAU, IT WOULD BE RISKY TO #NITIATE ANY NEW ACTION MIN GATT FOR SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME (IE SOME YEARS) UNTIL HONG KONG'S STATUS HAS BECOME A FARMLY ESTABLISHED FACT AND AN ACCEPTED PART OF GATT CASE LAW. THE ADDITIONAL POINTS IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF HONG KONG TEL NO 1662 COULD BE USED IN SUPPORT.

3. CARTLAND HAS BEEN CONSULTED AND AGREES.

SANKEY

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVENTO

HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

HD/FED

RESEARCH D (FE)

DEP/HD PUSD

PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON

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