TNAG-1493-FCO40-2051-Future-of-Hong-Kong-General-Agreement-on-Tariffs-and-Trade-(-1986 — Page 10

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

FOLLOWING IS DRAFT LINE TO TAKE.

BEGINE

1.

OUR JOINT EXERCISE TO SECURE HONG KONG'S POSITION AS A

CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT WENT VERY SMOOTHLY. GRATEFUL FOR

YOU CO-OPERATION.

2.

POSSIBLE CHANGE OF NAME OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

OFFICE, GENEVA. NO DECISION TAKEN. WISH TO TAKE THIE

OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLA IN OUR THINKING.

3.

ESSENTIAL POINT IS TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO ALL THAT HONG KONG

PARTICIPATION IN GATT IS GENUINELY SEPARATE, AND NO QUEETION OF

HONG KONG ETILL BEING EUBORDINATE FOR GATT PURPOSES TO UK NOW OR

CHINA AFTER 1997. SOME COUNTRIES EG INDIA, BRAZIL, HAVE ALREADY

EXPRESSED DOUBTE ABOUT POSITION NOW AND IN FUTURE.

4.

WE ARE THEREFORE CONSIDERING HOW WE CAN NOW DEMONSTRATE

MOST CLEARLY THE STATUE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN

RELATION TO THE FUNCTIONE WHICH IT PERFORMS. IN THE GATT IT IS A

SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY, ACTING INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE UK. IT

NOW HAS FORMAL AUTONOMY IN GATT MATTERS, HAVING LONG HAD DE FACTO

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CONFIDENTIAL

Redacted under FOI exemption 27(1)|