TNAG-1402-FCO40-1874-Future-of-Hong-Kong-continued-participation-in-the-General-A-1985 — Page 199

GRS 180

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 0610JOZ

CONFIDENTIAL +KK 04/24

- 7 JUN 1985

97

FM UKMIS GENEVA 06083OZ JUN 1985

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 222 OF 6 JUNE

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG DESKBY 07010OZ

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON

as

(92)

YOUR TELNO 143 AND HONG KONG TELNO 1083: GATT AND HONG KONG 1. AS SEEN FROM HERE, A DECISION ON THE PRESENTATIONAL POINT RAISED IN PARAGRAPH 2 HONG KONG TELNO 1083 CAN ONLY BE TAKEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS IN THE JOINT

LIAISON GROUP.

2. WE SEE NO LEGAL/PROCEDURAL OBSTACLE TO ATTENDANCE BY A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE FROM HONG KONG. BUT THE NORMAL PRACTICE IS FOR COMMUNICATIONS OF THIS KIND TO BE DELIVERED ROUTINELY BY NORMAL OFFICE DELIVERY. FROM A GATT STANDPOINT WE WOULD SEE ADVANTAGE IN ADHERING TO THIS REGULAR LOW-KEY PROCEDUPE IN ORDER TO AVOID THE RISK OF PROVOKING ANY POSSIBLE QUERY FROM OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES (CPS) OR REACTION FROM CHINA. PRESENTATIONALLY,

THE DAY WHEN HONG KONG FIRST TAKES ITS SEPARATE SEAT IN THE COUNCIL WILL BE MORE SIGNIFICANT. THIS MIGHT BE SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE QUERIES WOULD HAVE PASSED.

3. THE HONG KONG OFFICE AGREE.

ку

WARBURTON

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)

HD/ECD (E)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PSAR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

KR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

MR MALLABY

OFFICE CABINET OFFICE KR D B C CHRISTOPHER CABINET OFF.

SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.

CONFIDENTIAL