ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRANSITION
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ensure the maintenance of Hong Kong's participation in the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the Multifibre Arrangement and other international arrangements; and
(b) action to be taken by the two governments to ensure the continued application
of international rights and obligations affecting Hong Kong.
Almost all of this work has been completed. In 1986, the JLG agreed that Hong Kong should be deemed to be a separate contracting party to the GATT (now known as World Trade Organisation WTO) and also that Hong Kong should become a separate Member of the Customs Co-operation Council (now known as the World Customs Organisation WCO).
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The JLG has also agreed that Hong Kong should continue to participate in other international organisations after July 1, 1997. They are the: Asian Development Bank (agreement reached in 1985); Universal Postal Union (1986); World Meteorological Organisation (1986); International Maritime Organisation (1986); International Telecommunication Union (1986); Asian-Pacific Postal Union (1986); the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and its subsidiary bodies in the Asia-Pacific Region (1987); United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asian and the Pacific, and its subordinate bodies including the Asia and Pacific Development Centre, Intergovernmental Typhoon Committee and Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (1987); International Labour Organisation (1987); United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (1987); World Health Organisation (1988); Interpol (1988); Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (1988); International Atomic Energy Agency (1988); United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (1988); International Hydrographic Organisation (1988); Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (1988); International Monetary Fund (1989); International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1989); International Finance Corporation (1989); International Development Association (1989); International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (1990); International Maritime Satellite Organisation (now known as International Mobile Satellite Organisation) (1990); World Intellectual Property Organisation (1994); International Textiles and Clothing Bureau (1996); and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (1996).
Significant progress has also been made concerning international rights and obligations. The JLG established an International Rights and Obligations Sub-Group in 1986. Agreement has been reached on the continued application of some 200 international conventions to Hong Kong after June 30, 1997. Agreement in principle has also been reached on the framework of the mechanism to notify the international community of the continued application of these conventions to Hong Kong after June 30, 1997.
The JLG has also agreed to a network of bilateral agreements between Hong Kong and various conutries. These will continue in force after June 30, 1997.
(a) Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements with: The Netherlands (agreed to in the JLG, March 1992, signed November 1992), Sweden (June 1993, May 1994), Denmark (September 1993, February 1994), Switzerland (September 1993, September 1994), Australia (June 1993, September 1993), New Zealand (April 1995, July 1995), Germany (December 1993, January 1996), Italy (June 1994, November 1995), France (September 1994, November