TNAG-0243-FCO40-279-Conduct-of-Hong-Kong-commercial-relations-1973 — Page 50

Hong Kong, and, with the approval of Her Majesty's

Government, the Government of Hong Kong have

negotiated bilateral agreements for restraint of

trade in cotton goods with all the major importing

Moreover, the countries party to the

countries.

LTA are members of the Cotton Textiles Committee

of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

(GATT) and Hong Kong's representatives attend

meetings of this Committee as members of the

United Kingdom Delegation. They have an

opportunity to present Hong Kong's views

independently but, while allowing a Hong Kong

viewpoint to find independent expression,in

practice direct conflict in the expression of

views is avoided. These arrangements reflect the

fact that Hong Kong, being a dependent territory,

is not a separate member of the GATT, and is

represented in the GATT by the United Kingdom

Delegation.

also

Λ

5. It follows from the constitutional position

that, in terms of international law, Her Majesty's

Government cannot abrogate final responsibility

for the Hong Kong Government's external relations.

However, as stated in my predecessor's saving

despatch No. 369 of 31 July 1969, having regard

to the considerable number of trading arrangements

and agreements into which Hong Kong enters in

terms of the LTA, I do not consider it necessary

or practicable for the terms of every such

arrangement or agreement to be scrutinised in

London before it is concluded and can be

registered where appropriate under Article 102

of the United Nations Charter. Provided, therefore,

that you are satisfied that the conclusion of any

/1TA.

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