CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 544
CONFIDENTIAL
31/12
HKCOB!
RECEIVE
21 AL 1990
DESK OFFICE
GISTRY
TRY
Лор сору
INDEX
PA
tion Taken
NU 6/3
OF 1307OOZ FEBRUARY 90
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG-
NG
BOR to WH 120 Subgroup
135123 MDLIAN 8034
: mitilat treaties:
customs.
41572
MIPT: IRO SUB-GROUP: THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION RELATING TO THE SIMPLIFICATION OF CUSTOMS FORMALITIES 1923
DRAFT PAPER BEGINS
BACKGROUND
1. THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION RELATING TO THE SIMPLIFICATION OF CUSTOMS FORMALITIES 1923 (THE 'CONVENTION'') SETS OUT PROVISIONS WHEREBY THE PARTIES, WITH A VIEW TO THE FREEING OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE, UNDERTAKE TO REVISE THEIR CUSTOMS PROCEDURES SO AS TO AVOID UNNECESSARY, EXCESSIVE OR ARBITRARY CUSTOMS OR OTHER SIMILAR FORMALITIES (ARTICLE 1). IT ALSO GIVES EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF
FORMALITIES FOR EQUAL TREATMENT IN RESPECT OF CUSTOMS PROCEDURES, THE GRANT OF LICENCES AND LIKE MATTERS (ARTICLE 2). THE PARTIES FURTHERMORE AGREE TO PUBLISH AND COMMUNICATE CUSTOMS REGULATIONS (ARTICLE 4). THE BRITISH EMPIRE BECAME A PARTY TO THE AGREEMENT. ITS INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION WAS DEPOSITED ON 29 AUGUST 1924 (TEXT AT ANNEX A). THE CONVENTION CAME INTO FORCE ON 27 NOVEMBER
1924.
2. THE CONVENTION INCLUDES A PROVISION, IN ARTICLE 29, WHEREBY A STATE MAY UPON SIGNATURE, RATIFICATION OR ACCEPTANCE, EXCLUDE (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLINED) INTER ALIA ANY OR ALL OF ITS COLONIES. HONG KONG WAS NOT EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION UPON SIGNATURE ? RATIFICATION BY THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND ACCORDINGLY THE CONVENTION A PLIES TO HONG KONG. THE CONVENTION ENTERED INTO FORCE FOR HONG NG ON 27 NOVEMBER 1924, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 26.
3. THE PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION, WHICH INTERPRETS VARIOUS PROVISIONS IN THE CONVENTION, FORMS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CONVENTION (SEE THE FINAL PROVISIONS OF THE PROTOCOL). THE BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE SIGNED THE PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON 3 NOVEMBER
IT 1923. THE PROTOCOL ENTERED INTO FORCE ON 27 NOVEMBER 1924. APPLIED TO HONG KONG BECAUSE IT IS STATED IN THE FINAL PROVISIONS OF THE PROTOCOL THAT THE PROTOCOL WILL HAVE THE SAME FORCE,
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
EFFECT