GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 997
OF 172348Z APRIL 86
CONFIDENTIAL
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG, PEKING
TOP COPY
HKK & 10211
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 1 8 APR 1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
192
FCO TELN 708 : HONG KONG AND THE GATT
1. WE HAD SPOKEN AS PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED TO USTR (ASSISTANT
USTR NEWKIRK) AND STATE (WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR FOR CHINA) BEFORE
RECEIVING TUR. WE SPOKE AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON ON THE LINES OF
TUR TO NEWKIRK AND WILLIAMS, AND TO DEPUTY USTR WOODS. 2. ALL ACCEPT THE OVERWHELMING POLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE US
SUPPORTING SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY STATUS FOR HONG KONG. IT
IS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE STILL CONCERNS AT THE BACK OF MINDS IN
USTR ABOUT SAYING SOMETHING WHICH WOULD COMMIT THEM NOW EXPLIC-
ITLY TO ACCEPTANCE OF CONTINUING SEPARATE CP STATUS AFTER 1997.
BUT THEY SAY THAT AT NO POINT HAD THEY PLANNED TO PUT IN A FORMAL
US RESERVATION OF GATT.RIGHTS VIS-A-VIS HONG KONG.
3. USTR HAVE READ TO US PARTS OF THE LINE TO TAKE WHICH WILL
NOW BE SENT TO THE US MISSION IN GENEVA. IT IS STRONGLY
SUPPORTIVE. IT CONTAINS POINTS FOR USE IF ASKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 1997. THESE MERELY POINT TO THE TERMS OF THE UK/ →
CHINA AGREEMENT GUARANTEEING FULL COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC
AUTONOMY. IF PRESSED AS TO WHAT HAPPENS IF THESE ARE NOT
HONOURED, THE INSTRUCTIONS SAY THAT IT IS TOO EARLY TO
SPECULATE.
4. STATE ENTIRELY TAKE THE POINTS IN YOUR TUR. THEY ASSURE US
THAT IN ADDITION TO POINTS ABOVE THE INSTRUCTIONS MAKE PLAIN
THAT ON NO ACCOUNT SHOULD THE US DELEGATION MAKE ANY REFERENCE
TO DOUBTS ABOUT THE SITUATION POST-1997: AND THAT, IN THE
UNLIKELY EVENT THAT OTHER PARTIES EXPRESS RESERVATIONS, THE US
SHOULD STAY SILENT AND REFER FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
WRIGHT
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
211
REC
Action Taken
148814
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
DEP HD/PUSD
HD/PUSD
RD (MR WALKER) HD |ECD (E).
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARD ING
SIR J FREELAND MR WILSON
MR CROWLEY
PUSD
COPIES TO:- MR ROBERTS MR FIFOOT
MR WOOD
MR PEIRCE
MR MALLABY
NEWS DEPT
LEGAL ADVISERS LEGAL ADVISERS
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
CABINET OFFICE
MR DRC CHRISTOPHER CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
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