GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
A
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO DESKBY 22163OZ FCO
TELNO 200
OF 221601Z APRIL 1986
INFO DESKBY 230100Z HONG KONG
MNFO DESKBY 23060OZ PEKING
INFO IMMEDIATE BRASILITA
HRKILL
RECEIVED MEKOSTRY 2 5 APR 1986
TRY
AB 25/4
FCO TELNO 107 TO BRASILIA: HONG KONG AND GATT: BRASILJAN VIEWS
1. SAW THE BRASILIAN AMBASSADOR THIS AFTERNOON, AND WENT OVER WITH HIM AGAIN IN DETAIL THE REASONS WHY IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION UNDER ARTICLE XXVI(5)(C). BATISTA SAND THAT MORE TIME SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOR CONSULTATION ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND EVEN SUGGESTED THAT DUNKEL SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOUNDINGS OF DELEGATIONS
RATHER THAN LEAVE IT TO THE BRITISH AND CHINESE MISSIONS. HIS MAIN
POINTS RELATED TO THE SITUATION AFTER 1997. HE DID NOT THING THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT HE WANTED MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT AND
SEEK INSTRUCTIONS.
2.
TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT WE HAD SPOKEN TO A BROAD SPECTRUM OF
CONTRACTING PARTIES IN GENEVA OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AND THAT
PARALLEL ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN IN CAPITALS, INCLUDING BRASILIA. ALTHOUGH VARIOUS QUESTIONS HAD NATURALLY BEEN ASKED, NO COUNTRY, INCLUDING HIS OWN, HAD RAISED ANY OBJECTHON. INDEED, 11 NOW HAD FIRM INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THE DECLARATION UNDER ARTICLE XXVH(5)(C) TOMORROW (23 APRIL). # HOPED THAT THE AMBASSADOR WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE TIMING OF THE DECLARATION WAS A COMPLEX MATTER #NVOLVING
MUCH DISCUSSION BETWEEN CAPITALS, AND IT COULD NOT BE DEFERRED.
14.
3. BATISTA REPLIED THAT, IN THAT CASE, IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE OBJECTIONS, OR AT LEAST QUERIES, WHEN THE MATTER CAME BEFORE THE GATT COUNCIL NEXT MONTH. SAID THAT I HOPED THAT
HE WOULD THING VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT ADOPTING SUCH A COUPSE, AND
INDEED SEEK INSTRUCTIONS FROM HIS CAPITAL, BEFORE TAKING A FIRM DECISION. THE FACT THAT HONG KONG WAS ABOUT TO BECOME A CONTRACTING
PARTY OF GATT WAS OF GREAT POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE FOR THE FUTURE OF
HONG
CONFIDENTIAL
24-2
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