GR 200
CONFIDENTIAL
115
040/24
HKK
RECEIVES IN REGISTEY
13 JUN 1985
FICER
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 11103OZ JUN 35
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1137 OF 11 JUNE
INDEX
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA (COPY FOR CARTLAND), UKREP
DRUSSELS, HKGO BRUSSELS (FOR JONES), WASHINGTON
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
83
112,
YOUR TELNO 753 OF 30 MAY AND UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 227: HONG KONG'S
FUTURE POSITION IN THE GATT AND CCC.
1. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISED TODAY THAT HMG SHOULD BE REQUESTED
TO MAKE DECLARATIONS THAT HONG KONG POSSESSES FULL AUTONOMY IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS:
(A) UNDER ARTICLE XXVI (5)(C) OF THE CATT: AND
(B) AND THE CCC, SPONSORING HONG KONG'S MEMBERSHIP THEREIN:
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPHS 14 AND 17
IN YOUR TEL UNDER REF.
2. AS REGARDS THE PROPOSED UK DECLARATION, WE NOTE THAT THE 31SD REFERRED TO IN UKMIS GENEVA TEL UNDER REF ARE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH DO NOT ALTER THE LEGAL POSITION ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE XXVI(5)(C), AND HONG KONG WILL NOT BE IN ANY OF THE SITUATIONS COVERED. ACCORDINGLY, WE STILL PREFER THE FORMULATION IN OUR TELNO 1094. HOWEVER, AS THE PROCEDURE ENVISAGED INVOLVES THE SIMULTANEOUS DEPOSIT OF THE UK AND HK DECLARATIONS THE MARGINALLY GREATER RISK TO OUR POSITION THROUGH USE OF THE WORDING FAVOURED BY GENEVA HAS TO BE BALANCED AGAINST OUR NOT ACTING ON THE GATT SECRETARIAT ADVICE. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE WILL NOT PRESS FOR YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF OUR PREFERENCE.
3. DRAFT PAPER FOR JLG WILL FOLLOW BY 14 JUNE.
YOUDE
WMITED.
нко. FED. ECDCE)
Ps
PSI MR LUCE.
MR WILSON.
COPIES TO:
HKGO, LONDON.
MC FIFOOT
MISS WILMSHURST
Mr
Prysk MR HEALD
застана
LEGA
ADV.
ότι
LOSTORUS & EXCISE.
CONFIDENTIAL
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