TNAG-1402-FCO40-1874-Future-of-Hong-Kong-continued-participation-in-the-General-A-1985 — Page 173

CONFIDENTIAL

I AM INSTRUCTED BY

•

TO REFER

TO THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL, TO THE JOINT DECLARATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG, SIGNED IN PEKING ON 19 DECEMBER 1984, AND TO THE COMMUNICATIONS WHICH THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS HAS TO-DAY ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION HONG KONG WILL, ON 1 JULY 1997, BECOME A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY AND TO POSSESS THE SAME DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AS AT PRESENT IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONSIDERS THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL NOT ALTER THE STATUS OF THE TERRITORY IN THE COUNCIL.

YOUDE

LIMITED.

COPIES TO:

HKD.

FED.

HKGO LONDON.

EZDCE)

M12

FIFOOT

PS

PSIPUS

MR WILSON

MR

PRYOR

WILMSHURST

ITPI, DTI

4-

CONFIDENTIAL

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