CONFIDENTIAL
49501
1
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 9501
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D. (FE)
DEP.HO/FUSD
PS/MR RENTON
MR MCLRE
MR GILLMORE
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MISS J. HEALD, HM COE.
~3-
Confidential