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OF HONG KONG'S CONTRACTING PARTY STATUS, SECURED BY THE ARTICLE
XXVP(5)(C) ROUTE, CEASING SOLELY BY VIRTUE OF THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY # 1997. ONLY IF THE HONG KONG SAR'S AUTONOMY (IN THE
CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WAS TERMENATED COULD
THERE BE ANY QUESTION OF A SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF ITS CONTRACTING PARTY STATUS.
6. THESE LEGAL EXPERTS ARE OF THE WIEW THAT THE PARALLEL STATEMENT BY CHINA WAS NOT ESSENTRAL, BUT WAS DESIRABLE TO SETTLE ANY DOUBTS FROM OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES. THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATUS OF
CHINA IN GATT WAS ALSO IMMATERIAL TO THE POSITION.
7. THEREFORE URGE THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT THIS POSITION AND NOT PURSUE ANY COURSE OF ACTION WHICH MIGHT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY UNDERMINE THE HONG KONG SAR'S GATT STATUS AFTER 1997.
ENDS.
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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