(16413) Dd.244353 100m 6/72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
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HONG KONG'S GATT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENLARGED EEC FOLLOWING THE UK'S ACCESSION.
Background
1
At present the UK in respect of Hong Kong has no
GATT relationship with the UK itself. But Hong Kong
does have GATT relationship (through the United
Kingdom) with the six members of the EEC and the three
other applicant countries. The EEC is not a member
as a single entity.
2
Difficulties might arise for Hong Kong in GATT
following the UK's accession to the European
Community and subsequent alignment of policy among
the ten members. The problem appears to fall into
two parts. First, how will the UK accession affect
Hong Kong's legal position under the GATT vis à vis
the other nine EEC members? (It is accepted that a
different situation would arise if the member states
of the EEC were to give up individual membership of
the GATT and the enlarged Community itself became a
contracting party.) Secondly, how will Hong Kong in practice invoke its GATT relationship with the nine
through the UK?
Legal Fosition
3
FCO Legal Advisers have commented that Hong Kong
is/...
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.