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5. MN THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION MATSUURA ATTEMPTED TO JUSTIFY JAPANESE LEGAL WORRIES ON THE BASIS OF THE ORIGINAL INTENTION "IN THE DRAFTING OF ARTICLE XXVH(5)(C) AND ON THE GROUNDS THAT AFTER THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997 BRITAIN COULD NOT EXTEND HER COVER TO THE SAR. HO TOLD HIM THAT THE ARTICLE WAS INTENDED BY THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE IN 1947 TO COVER THE CASES OF SOUTHERN RHODESIA, CEYLON AND BURMA WHICH WERE NOT HEADING FOR INDEPENDENCE AT THAT TIME, THAT ON BEING DEEMED TO BE A SEPARATE CP HONG KONG'S STATUS IN GATT BECAME SEPARATE FROM THAT OF THE UK, AND THAT OUR VIEWS WERE SUPPORTED BY THE GATT LEGAL ADVISER. MATSUURA SAID HE WOULD REVERT AS SOON AS HE HAD ANYTHING MORE TO TELL US. HO THANKED HIM FOR HIS HELP.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD HD/FED
RESEARCH D (FE)
DEP/HD PUSD PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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