TNAG-1402-FCO40-1874-Future-of-Hong-Kong-continued-participation-in-the-General-A-1985 — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

"If

territories,

of which

a

of any

the customs

in respect

Contracting Party has accepted this Agreement, possesses ог

acquires full autonomy in the conduct of its external commercial relations and of the other matters provided for in

this Agreement, such territory shall,

such territory shall, upon sponsorship

upon sponsorship through

declaration by the responsible Contracting Party

mentioned fact, be deemed to be a

a

establishing the

Contracting Party".

above

8. The Contracting Parties to the GATT have established standard

procedures which are used where recourse is made to GATT article

XXVI (5) (c). The sponsoring party notifies the GATT formally

formally that

the territory. in question possesses full autonomy in the conduct of

its external relations. That territory can then inform the GATT

that it wishes to be deemed a Contracting Party to the Agreement.

9.

The British side propose that in accordance with these

procedures the United Kingdom should now make a declaration to the

GATT, under Article XXVI ( 5 ) ( c ), that Hong Kong possesses full autonomy in the conduct of its external commercial relations and of the other matters provided for in the GATT. The British side also

on the propose that,

same occasion as

the United the deposition of

Kingdom declaration with the GATT Secretariat, Hong Kong would submit statement to the GATT declaring, in standard terms, its

wish to be treated

Contracting Party to the GATT.

accordance with standard practice, the GATT secretariat would

notify all Contracting Parties that Hong Kong had become

Contracting Party.

a

a as

In

then

full

10. The British side believe

side believe it would be helpful to Hong Kong, in this situation, if the Government of the People's Republic of China

(PRC) were to remind the GATT Secretariat and GATT contracting Parties that Hong Kong will become a SAR of the PRC on 1 July 1997

and that the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the question of Hong

Kong provides for the SAR to continue to be a separate customs territory enjoying the same degree of autonomy as at present in the

conduct

of its external commercial relations and

and of other matters

provided for in the GATT. The British side accordingly propose that

CONFIDENTIAL