CONFIDENTIAL
(A) NAMING OUR OFFICE IN GENEVA THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE
MISSION:
(B) INFORMING THE CHINESE OF THE DECISION AND THE REASONS FOP IT:
(C) LEAVING IT TO THEM TO ARGUE WHY THE FORMULATION IN PARA. 4 OF SECTION VI OF ANNEX TO THE JOINT DECLARATION IS INAPPROPRIATE HAVING REGARD TO THE CURRENT FUNCTIONS OF OUR GENEVA OFFICE, AND PARTICULARLY AS THAT TITLE STRENGTHENS HONG KONG'S MIDDLE POSITION IN THE CURRENT ARGUMENT ABOUT SERVICES BETWEEN THE LDC HARDLINERS AND THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN THE PREPCOM TO THE NEXT MTN ROUND.
6. ALTHOUGH WE ARE PLEASED AT THE RECEPTION GIVEN TO OUR DEBUT IN
PREPCOM (AS REPORTED IN UKMIS 238) WE DO NOT DISCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY OF BATISTA USING THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO MAKE TROUBLE : AND IN THE LONGER TERM DOUBTS ABOUT HONG KONG'S SEPARATE GATT STATUS MAY BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED IN A NUMBER OF STATES AS 1997 APPROACHES (OF THE V.S FIRST REACTION). WE MUST GIVE NO GROUNDS FOR CHALLENGE, WHICH ENHANCES THE NEED FOR NOT GIVING ANY HMPRESSION THAT OUR
OFFICE IN GENEVA WILL FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE CHINESE'' THAT IS WHAT THE DOUBTERS IN GATT ARE AFRAID OF.
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 MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
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CONFIDENTIAL