GRS 508
CONFIDENT | AL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 993
OF 010826Z JUNE 87
Confidential
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, BRUSSELS
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MIPT: HONG KONG AND THE CCC
1.
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PARAS 3 AND 4 OF THE DRAFT CHINESE
SPEAKING NOTE AS HANDED BY PIGOTT TO LIN ZHIYING ON 1 JUNE:
BEGINS
PARA 3
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE
QUESTION OF HONG KONG AND ANNEX 1 TO THE DECLARATION SIGNED IN BEIJING ON DECEMBER 19, 1984 BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE
PEOPLES'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL ESTABLISH THE HONG KONG SPEICAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION UPON RESUMING THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY
OVER HONG KONG ON JULY 1, 1997. THE HONG KONG SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHALL RETAIN THE STATUS OF A FREE PORT AND A
SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY, HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE
ON ITS OWN ECONOMIC AND TRADE
POLICIES AND USING THE NAME OF THONG KONG, CHINA'' MAY ON ITS OWN
MAINTAIN AND DEVELOP RELATIONS IN THE ECONOMIC, TRADE AND OTHER FIELDS, CONLCUDE AND IMPLEMENT RELEVANT AGREEMENTS WITH STATES,
REGIONS AND RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTICIPATE IN
RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CONFERENCES NOT LIMITED TO STATES. THUS, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A SEPARATE MEMBER OF THE CCC AS A
SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY IN THE LIGHT OF ARTICLE 11 (A) (11) OF
THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING THE CCC. PRIOR TO THE RESUMPTION OF THE
EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG RESTS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM. AFTER RESUMING THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY
OVER HONG KONG IN 1997, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL HAVE
THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THE COMMON DESIRE OF BOTH
THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS IS THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM
SHOULD APPLY FOR THE STATUS OF A SEPARATE MEMBERSHIPS FOR HONG KONG
IN THE LIGHT OF THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION
ESTABLISHING THE CCC AND THAT AS FROM JULY 1, 1997, THE HONG KONG
SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHOULD RETAIN SUCH STATUS. TO THIS
END, THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES HAVE, THROUGHT CONSULTATION,
DECIDED THAT THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL MAKE
SEPARATE DECLARATIONS TO THE CCC.
Confidential
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