CONFIDENTIAL
(A) THE CHINESE DECLARATION IN RELATION TO THE GATT STATUS OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997 TAKES AS ITS STARTING POINT THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IN RELATION TO THE HONG KONG SAR WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN GOOD FARTH BY ALL CONCERNED:
(B) THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS POST 1997 THUS DO NO MORE THAN MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO ARISING FROM HONG KONG'S BECOMING A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY IN ITS OWN RIGHT TO WHICH THE INDIANS APPEAR TO HAVE NO OBJECTION:
(C) THERE IS NO REASON WHATEVER TO ANTICIPATE ANY ABUSE OF HONG KONG'S SEPARATE GATT STATUS AFTER 1997. THE NORMAL GATT RULES SHOULD IN ANY CASE PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES #F THEY HAVE REASON TO SUPPOSE THAT ABUSE IN OCCURRANG:
(D) NOBODY, THEREFORE, IS ASKING ANY CONTRACTING PARTY TO SIGN AWAY ANY OF ITS NORMAL GATT RIGHTS IN RELATION TO HONG KONG FOR THE PERIOD AFTER 1997.
(E) WHETHER OR NOT CHINA BECOMES A CONTRACTING PARTY S HRRELEVANT, AS THE HONG KONG SAR IS NOT PART OF CHINAS' CUSTOMS TERRITORY.
4. WE HAVE ALREADY MADE THESE POINTS ORALLY TO THE INDIANS, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE MERIT IN PUTTING THEM ON PAPER FOR THE RECORD, TOGETHER WITH ANY OTHER (OR BETTER) ARGUMENTS YOU MAY BE ABLE TO LET US HAVE.
WADE-GERY
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
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
MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
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