(346)
Allac 122/1
RECEIVEL
29 MAY 196
CONFIDENTIAL
COPY
(364)
See 3
BES
GRS 200
CONFIDENT #AL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1570
OF 22054OZ MAY 86
*INFO HIMMED HATE PEKING, UKMPS GENEVA
UKMKS GENEVA PLEASE PASS A COPY TO CARTLAND.
UKMNS GENEVA TELNO 271 HONG KONG AND GATT.
STEPHEN CHEONG HAS GIVEN NOTICE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTION FOR ANSWER AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETHING ON 28 MAY:
''QUESTION : N THE LIGHT OF THE UNQUESTIONABLY WELCOME NEWS THAT HONG KONG AS NOW DEEMED TO BE A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT, WOULD THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL :
(A) THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH A DEVELOPMENT: AND
(B) WHAT PLANS ARE THERE TO STRENGTHEN OUR GENEVA OFFICE AND THE
MULTILATERAL DIVISION OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SO AS TO COPE WITH THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN WORK LOAD IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE?''
2. OUR PROPOSED REPLY AT MTFT IS BASED ON OUR TELNOS 1121 AND 1146.
3. IF ADVERSE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD ARISE FROM TODAY'S GATT COUNCIL MEETING DIFFICULT SUPPLEMENTARIES COULD ARISE. IN THAT EVENT WE
WOULD FOLLOW THE LINE IN YOUR TELNO 170 TO CANBERRA.
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
CONFIDENTIAL
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