TNAG-1493-FCO40-2051-Future-of-Hong-Kong-General-Agreement-on-Tariffs-and-Trade-(-1986 — Page 135

(346)

Allac 122/1

RECEIVEL

29 MAY 196

CONFIDENTIAL

COPY

(364)

See 3

BES

GRS 200

CONFIDENT #AL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1570

OF 22054OZ MAY 86

*INFO HIMMED HATE PEKING, UKMPS GENEVA

UKMKS GENEVA PLEASE PASS A COPY TO CARTLAND.

UKMNS GENEVA TELNO 271 HONG KONG AND GATT.

STEPHEN CHEONG HAS GIVEN NOTICE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTION FOR ANSWER AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETHING ON 28 MAY:

''QUESTION : N THE LIGHT OF THE UNQUESTIONABLY WELCOME NEWS THAT HONG KONG AS NOW DEEMED TO BE A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT, WOULD THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL :

(A) THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH A DEVELOPMENT: AND

(B) WHAT PLANS ARE THERE TO STRENGTHEN OUR GENEVA OFFICE AND THE

MULTILATERAL DIVISION OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SO AS TO COPE WITH THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN WORK LOAD IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE?''

2. OUR PROPOSED REPLY AT MTFT IS BASED ON OUR TELNOS 1121 AND 1146.

3. IF ADVERSE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD ARISE FROM TODAY'S GATT COUNCIL MEETING DIFFICULT SUPPLEMENTARIES COULD ARISE. IN THAT EVENT WE

WOULD FOLLOW THE LINE IN YOUR TELNO 170 TO CANBERRA.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D (FE)

DEP/HD PUSD

PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL

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