TNAG-1402-FCO40-1874-Future-of-Hong-Kong-continued-participation-in-the-General-A-1985 — Page 40

CONFIDENTIAL

29062

IS

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS THE UNITED KINGDOM IS RESPONSIBLE,

AUTONOMOUS IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. THE UNITED KINGDOM ACCORDINGLY PROPOSES THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE II(A)(II) OF THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL, HONG KONG SHOULD BE ADMITTED TO THE COUNCIL

AS A SEPARATE MEMBER.

(B) HONG KONG DECLARATION

I AM INSTRUCTED TO REFER TO ARTICLE II(A)(II) OF THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL, AND TO THE

COMMUNICATION WHICH THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS HAS TODAY ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL, AND TO CONFIRM THAT HONG KONG WISHES TO BE ADMITTED TO THE COUNCIL AS A SEPARATE

MEMBER.

(C) PRC DECLARATION

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 BEIJING ON 19 DECEMBER 1984, AND TO THE COMMUNICATIONS WHICH THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS HAS TODAY 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. ENDS

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

-

1

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

MR MALLABY

OFFICE CABINET OFFICE MR DR C CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF.

SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.

-7- CONFIDENTIAL