TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 130

OCMIAN 1834

CONFIDENTIAL

PP HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

011630Z MAY

GRS 290

1706

575

川

47

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51834 1

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ССС

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FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1218

OF 011630Z MAY 87

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP BRUSSELS, BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA

YOUR TELNO 1479: APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE

HARMONISED SYSTEM TO HONG KONG

1.

THANK YOU FOR THIS RESPONSE. THE FOLLOWING ARE OUR

PRELIMINARY COMMENTS.

2. (YOUR PARA 2) WE AGREE THAT IF IT IS THOUGHT APPROPRIATE FOR

THE CONVENTION TO CONTINUE TO APPLY TO THE HONG KONG SPECIAL

ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AFTER 1997, WE SHOULD CONSULT THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES.

3.

(YOUR PARAS 3 AND 4) OUR LAWYERS SHARE YOUR DOUBTS WHETHER A

DEPENDENT TERRITORY CAN SEEK PARTIAL APPLICATION OF THE HS UNDER

ARTICLE 4 OF THE CONVENTION WHILST SEEKING EXTENSION UNDER

ARTICLE 14 THROUGH A CONTRACTING PARTY APPLYING THE HS SYSTEM IN

FULL. WE ARE PURSUING THIS WITH THE CCC SECRETARIAT. CLEARLY

ALL CONCERNED WOULD WISH TO SEE HONG KONG PROPERLY AND OFFICIALLY

INVOLVED IN THE HS RATHER THAN HAVING TO APPLY IT ON A DEFACTO

BASIS.

4.

(YOUR PARA 5) ON HONG KONG'S POSSIBLE REPRESENTATION ON THE

HS COMMITTEE, THE EC WILL ONLY HAVE ONE VOTE ON THIS COMMITTEE

AND EC MEMBER STATES WILL THEREFORE ATTEND WITHOUT SEPARATE

1

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