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SECOL THETFORD NORFOLK
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
14973 1
OCMIAN 4973
CONFIDENTIAL
RR WASHI
FM FCOLN TO WASHI
111745Z FEB
GRS 425
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE WASHINGTON
TELNO 257
OF 111745Z FEBRUARY 86
HKM
04012
RECEIVED IN SEGISTRY
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA
13 FEB 1986
REGISTRY
PA
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PLUMBLY'S TELELETTER TO GALSWORTHY AND HONG KONG TELNO 419:
KONG AND GATT
1.
HONG
WE AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF HO COULD ASSIST THE EMBASSY IN BRIEFING USTR OFFICE ON OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE. IN DOING SO, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO STRESS THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF OUR APPROACH.
2.
IN BRIEFING THE AMERICANS YOU SHOULD CORRECT THE FOLLOWING MISCONCEPTIONS DEMONSTRATED BY MS KLEIN'S COMMENTS:
(A)
THERE ARE PRECEDENTS FOR SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY STATUS FOR TERRITORIES WHICH ARE NOT FULLY INDEPENDENT. THE MOST OBVIOUS IS SOUTHERN RHODESIA WHICH ENJOYED SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY STATUS AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS NOT PROCEEDING TO INDEPENDENCE, BUT ENJOYED DELEGATED AUTHORITY IN COMMERCIAL MATTERS. INDEED ARTICLE XXVI(5) (C) WAS DRAFTED EXPLICITY WITH THIS SORT OF CASE, AND THE EXAMPLES OF CEYLON AND SOUTHERN RHODESIA, IN
MIND.
(B)
THE POSITION OF HONG KONG/UK AND HONG KONG/CHINA IS NOT
THE JOINT COMPARABLE WITH A FEDERAL STATE.
DECLARATION CLEARLY LAYS DOWN THAT HONG KONG WILL BE A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY, AND MAY ON ITS OWN MAINTAIN
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