CONFIDENTIAL
37828
1
AUTONOMY. ITS OTHER MAJOR AREA OF ACTIVITY RELATES TO BILATERAL
ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH EWITZERLAND. IN
PERFORMING THIS FUNCTION TOO IT ACTE AUTONOMOUSLY.
5.
THIS WAS THE EFFECTIVE POSITION EVEN BEFORE OUR
DECLARATION TO THE GATT SECRETARIAT. WE ARE NOT CONSIDERING ANY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE OPERATION OF THE OFFICE OR ITS
PERSONNEL. HONG KONG OFFICES IN GENEVA HAVE LONG WORKED FROM A BUILDING SEPARATE FROM UKMIS AND WITH SEPARATE COMMUNICATIONE.
6.
BUT FOLLOWING THE DECLARATIONS ON HONG KONG'S GATT STATUS
IT IS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE FOR HONG KONG OFFICES TO BE LISTED AS
MEMBERS OF UKMIS FOR GATT PURPOSES. NOR IS THAT APPROPRIATE FOR
HONG KONG'S BILATERAL TRADE DEALINGS. NO QUESTION THOUGH OF THIS
CHANGE IMPLYING THAT HONG KONG IS ACTING AS A SEPARATE DIPLOMATIC
ENTITY. ON THE INFREQUENT OCCASIONS WHEN HONG KONG OFFICERS HAVE
DEALINGS IN AN AREA WHEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG'E AFFAIRS FOR EXAMPLE IN RELATIONS
WITH OTHER UN BODIEƐ IN GENEVA RESTRICTED TO STATUE THEY WILL
STILL DO SO UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND AS
MEMBERS OF UKMIS.
7.
-
THE STATUE AND ACTIVITIES OF THE HONG KONG OFFICE WILL BE
ENTIRELY COMPATIBLE WITH THE DEGREE OF AUTONOMY WHICH THE HONG
KONG SAR WILL HAVE UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND WITH THE
PROVISIONE CONCERNING ITS ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF INTERNATIONAL
TRADE.
ŏ.
AS REGARDE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO
DISCUSS WITH THE GATT SECRETARIAT AND THE EWIES AUTHORITIEE HOW
FAR IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE SORT OF OFFICE
WE HAVE IN MIND TO ENJOY PRIVILEGEƐ AND IMMUNITIES AE THE OFFICE
OF A CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT.
9.
HAVE BEEN GIVING THOUGHT TO NAMES THAT MIGHT BE USED FOR
THE OFFICE. 'HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE MISSION' OCCURRED TO
US SINCE IT FOLLOWE EXACTLY THE LANGUAGE IN SECTION VI OF ANNEX 1
TO THE JOINT DECLARATION. DO YOU SEE ANY PROBLEM, IN THE
LIGHT OF OUR EXPLANATION? OPEN SQUARE BRACKET§. IF NECESSARY.
CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS. AN ALTERNATIVE MIGHT BE OFFICE OF THE
HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVE TO THE GATT. ENDS
HOWE.
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
DEP HD/PUSD
HD/PUSD
RD (MR WALKER)
COPIES TO:- MR ROBERTS
MR FIFOOT
MR WOOD
MR PEIRCE
NEWS DEPT
LEGAL ADVISERS
LEGAL ADVISERS
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE
MR DRC CHRISTOPHER CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR И HARDING
SIR J FREELAND
MR WILSON MR CROWLEY
PUSD
CONFIL
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