CONFIDENTIAL
51260
1
CHINESE COLLEAGUE WILL HAND OVER THE TEXT OF THE CHINESE
DRAFT DECLARATION WHEN HE CALLS ON YOU LATER TODAY (HAND OVER UK
DRAFT).
ས་་
WE SEEK YOUR ADVICE ON THE BEST MEANS OF CONFIRMING HONG
KONG'S SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP. DO YOU FOR EXAMPLE BELIEVE THAT THE
DECLARATIONS AS DRAFTED ARE SUITABLE? THEY HAVE BEEN DRAFTED ON
THE BASIS OF THE DECLARATIONS OUR GOVERNMENTS MADE TO THE GATT IN
CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG. BUT WE WOULD WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS
YOU MAY HAVE ON THEM. WE WOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER
YOU CONSIDER THAT A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE OF MEMBERS WILL BE
REQUIRED BEFORE HONG KONG CAN ACQUIRE SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP? IF
SO, ANY ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER ON HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS WOULD BE VERY
MUCH APPRECIATED. FINALLY, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL ALSO FOR YOUR
VIEWS ON TIMING. IDEALLY, WE SHOULD PREFER TO PUT HONG KONG'S
APPLICATION BEFORE THE COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING TO BE HELD IN
OTTAWA FROM 22-26 JUNE 1987. IS THIS A FEASIBLE TARGET?
ENDS
HOWE
OCMIAN 1260
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/ELDE)
HD/FED
RESEARCH D. (FE)
DEP.HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
MR MCLAREN
MR GILLMORE
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS Ms J. HEALD, HMCE,
KINGS BEAM HOUSE
3
CONFIDENTIAL