THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1986
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HONG KONG NOW A GATT CONTRACTING PARTY
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ON 24 APRIL 1986 ALL CONTRACTING PARTIES OF THE GATT WERE NOTIFIED BY THE GATT SECRETARIAT THAT, FOLLOWING A DECLARATION EY THE UNITED KINGDOM, HONG KONG IS NOW DEEMED TO BE A GATT CONTRACTING PARTY UNDER ARTICLE XXVI(5) (C) OF THE GATT.
IN THE UK DECLARATION, HMG FORMALLY INFORMED THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE GATT THAT HONG KONG POSSESSES FULL AUTONOMY IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND OF THE OTHER MATTERS PROVIDED FOR IN THE GATT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PRC MADE A PARALLEL DECLARATION ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE HONG KONG SAR AFTER 1 JULY 1997. HONG KONG WILL HENCEFORTH ASSUME THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF A CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT IN ITS OWN RIGHT.
THE DECLARATION OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MAKES CLEAR THAT AS FROM 1 JULY 1997 THE HONG KONG SAR WILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A CUSTOMS TERRITORY TO BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY AS PRESCRIBED IN GATT ARTICLE XXVI(5) (C), AND THEREFORE MAY, USING THE NAME HONG KONG, CHINA', CONTINUE TO BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT.
WITH THESE DECLARATIONS THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE TAKEN THE NECESSARY CONCRETE STEPS ENVISAGED IN PARAGRAPH 4(A) OF ANNEX II TO THE JOINT DECLARATION TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF THE HONG KONG SAR'S PARTICIPATION IN THE GATT AND THE MFA.
+THIS IS A MOST PRACTICAL WAY OF ENSURING HONG KONG'S AND THE FUTURE SAR'S CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, + SAID MR ERIC HO, SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY.
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+AS HONG KONG HAS FOR SOME YEARS BEEN PLAYING AN AUTONOMOUS ROLE IN THE GATT AND THE MFA FROM WITHIN THE BRITISH DELEGATION THERE WILL BE LITTLE VARIATION OF SUBSTANCE IN FUTURE ROLE ON BEING DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT. ONE CHANGE IS THAT HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES WILL NOW SPEAK AS A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY, RATHER THAN AS THE UNITED KINGDOM SPEAKING FOR HONG KONG. WITH THIS NEW STATUS, WE SHALL, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO PLAY OUR FULL PART IN SUPPORT OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSES OF THE GATT AND IN DEFENCE OF HONG KONG'S RIGHTS THEREUNDER. THE ONLY OTHER DIFFERENCE WILL BE THAT WE SHALL HAVE TO PAY OUR SHARE OF THE GATT BUDGET, ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT SWISS FRANCS 900 000 PER ANNUM, WHICH UP TILL NOW HAS BEEN PART OF THE UK'S CONTRIBUTION AND BORNE OUT OF UK FUNDS, + MR HO ADDED.
'THE DECLARATIONS