A
Mr Darwin
Second Legal Adviser
P J Mathers, ECD (E)
From:
Date:
12 November 1987
CC:
Mr Hill, HKD
attachments already copied
EXTENSION OF HARMONISED SYSTEM CONVENTION TO HONG KONG
1.
Parnation
1211
I have heard from Customs and Excise that the Hong Kong Customs Authorities have approached the Customs Cooperation Council to seek an amendment to the Harmonised System Convention, and other CCC Conventions, to enable Hong Kong to accede. (Neither we nor HKD had heard anything about this from Hong Kong.) It is proposed that the references in the Conventions to the eligibility of states to become contracting parties should be taken to include all vention Council members, so that Hong Kong, although not a state, would become eligible.
2. As you see from the attached papers, Mr MacDonald of CCC is anxious to have our views on this proposal. He wishes (a) to know about the requirement to consult/notify the Chinese HKD will comment on this; and (b) he has asked about the legality of the procedure which is proposed. I should be grateful for your views on B the draft "accession of Hong Kong" document.
PJ Mathers