TNAG-1401-FCO40-1873-Future-of-Hong-Kong-continued-participation-in-the-General-A-1985 — Page 38

(c)

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"

a statement from China to the GATT referring to both (a) and (b) above, and to the Joint Declaration and confirming that when on

1 July 1997 Hong Kong becomes a SAR of the PRC, it will

continue to exercise autonomy in its external commercial relations. This declaration should not refer to any particular

GATT Article.

Draft texts of these three types of Declaration referred to in this

paragraph are at Annex A. (Not attached).

15.

It

Legally, the Chinese Declaration would not strictly be

necessary. However, such a Declaration would help to dispel any

doubts entertained by other Contracting Parties to the GATT.

would also reduce the risk of any Chinese back-sliding in the future. The Declaration could be confirmed by China in 1997 - but

this is not essential. It could be presented to the Chinese as a

re-affirmation of Section VI of Annex 1 to the Joint Declaration.

HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CCC

16. Hong Kong currently attends meetings of the CCC as part of the

UK delegation. The UK is a member of the CC and so is China.

17.

which:

Membership of the CCC is open to any separate customs territory

(a)

(b)

is..proposed by a Contracting Party having responsibility for

the normal conduct of its diplomatic relations;

is

autonomou s in the conduct of its external commerical

relations; and

(c) is approved for admission as a separate member by the Council.

Hong Kong's position in CCC is analogous to that in GATT. However

as far as the CCC is concerned separate membership for Hong Kong

would have be approved by the Council even if HMG were to make a

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