TNAG-1492-FCO40-2050-Future-of-Hong-Kong-General-Agreement-on-Tariffs-and-Trade-(-1986 — Page 24

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Dr Wilson

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CONFIDENTIAL

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FROM: C O HUM, HKD

DATE: 6 May 1986

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HONG KONG AND GATT: STATUS OF HONG KONG'S GENEVA OFFICE

1.

I

We discussed this on the evening of 2 May. I now

submit a draft telegram on the lines which you proposed. also attach all the back telegrams in case you wish to look

at them again.

2.

To my mind the issue is very finely balanced, and I still have some sympathy with what Hong Kong are proposing. They may well respond that it is not particularly logical

to call their office "Office of the Hong Kong Permanent

Representative to the GATT" yet to conduct bilateral economic and trade functions from it. (What heading would

they put on their notepaper?) The question of privileges

and immunities cannot be resolved without discussion with

the Swiss authorities. For what it is worth, our own

Protocol Department tell me that their practice would be to grant to an "economic and trade mission" the privileges and

immunities due to a Consulate. That was the arrangement

agreed in respect of the London offices of the Canadian

provinces and the Australian states. This suggests that Swiss may perhaps be able to accommodate an economic and trade mission without too much fuss from this point of

view.

the

ARR 100/1

RECFAL.

6 May 1986

1 2 MAY 1986

Taken

Сбит

A co Hum

Hong Kong Department

CONFIDENTIAL