GPS 2000
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 13150OZ FCO
TELNO 774
OF 13120OZ MARCH 86
CONFIDENTIAL
INFO DESK BY 13150OZ UKMIS GENEVA
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
ник скор
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 4 MAR 1986
H
MIPT
DESK OFFICER
PA
REGISTRY Action Taker
HONG KONG AND GATT : BRIEFING OF CONTRACTING PAPTIES.
FOLLOWING IS DRAFT TEXT OF INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTS
BEGINS:
BACKGROUND
1. AT PRESENT HONG KONG PLAYS WHAT IS IN EFFECT AN AUTONOMOUS ROLE UNDER THE GATT, BUT FORMALLY SPEAKING FROM WITHIN THE BRITISH DELEGATION. HONG KONG IS NOT (NOT) A CONTRACTING PARTY IN ITS OWN RIGHT. ALTHOUGH CHINA HAS INDICATED ITS INTENTION TO REJOIN THE GATT, THESE PROCEEDINGS WILL TAKE TIME.
2. A MAJOR OBJECTIVE IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHINA ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WAS TO ENSURE THAT AFTER 1 JULY 1997, WHEN HONG KONG WILL BECOME A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PPC, PAPTICIPATION AND ITS AUTONOMY IN THE GATT AND OTHEP SIMILAP TRADING APPANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. THE JOINT DECLARATION ON HONG KONG, SIGNED ON 19 DECEMBER 1984, PROVIDES THAT THE HONG KONG SAR WILL PETAIN THE STATUS OF A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY AND, USING THE NAME OF ''HONG KONG CHINA MAY ON ITS OWN CONCLUDE RELEVANT AGPEEMENTS WITH STATES, REGIONS AND RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS. IT WILL DECIDE ITS ECONOMIC AND TRADE POLICIES ON ITS OWN, AND MAY PARTICIPATE IN RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS SUCH AS THE GATT. THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP, ESTABLISHED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, TOOK AS AN ISSUE FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION ACTION ......TO ENABLE THE HK SAR TO MAINTAIN ITS ECONOMIC RELATIONS AS A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY AND IN PARTICULAR TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION IN THE GATT, MFA AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS''.
Redacted under FOI exemption section 27 (1)
CONFIDENTIAL
THE.
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