TNAG-1402-FCO40-1874-Future-of-Hong-Kong-continued-participation-in-the-General-A-1985 — Page 170

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 1178 OF 14 JUNE

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA (COPY FOR CARTLAND),

UKREP BRUSSELS AND BRUSSELS (COPY FOR JONES).

(117),

MIPT : HONG KONGS FUTURE POSITION IN THE GATT AND CCC.

PAPER FOR JOINT LIAISON GROUP

HONG KONG'S FUTURE POSITION IN :

(1)

THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRAD (GATT)

(11)

(11)

THE ARRANGEMENT REGARDING INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES

(MFA)

THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL (CCC)

SECTION VI OF ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG PROVIDES THAT THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHALL BE A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY AND THAT THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION MAY PARTICIPATE IN RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS.

2.

PARAGRAPH 4 OF ANNEX 11 TO THE JOINT DECLARATION LISTS, AMONG THE MATTERS FOR EARLY CONSIDERATION BY THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS

(A) TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION TO MAINTAIN ITS ECONOMIC RELATIONS AS A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY,

AND IN PARTICULAR TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S

PARTICIPATION IN THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT),

THE ARRANGEMENT REGARDING INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES (1.E.

THE MFA) AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS:

(B) TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED APPLICATION TO THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLICATIONS

AFFECTING HONG KONG.

3. THE BRITISH SIDES SUGGEST THAT HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN GATT, MFA AND CCC UP TILL 1997 AND BEYOND SHOULD CONVENIENTLY BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER, AND THIS PAPER OUTLINES ITS PROPOSALS FOR SAFEGUARDING HONG KONG'S CONTINUING POSITION IN THESE THREE ARRANGEMENTS.

GATT

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