TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 140

Confidential

I BELIEVE MY BRITISH COLLEAGUE WHILE CALLING ON YOU EARLIER TODAY HAS ALREADY HANDED OVER TO YOU THE DRAFT TEXT OF THE BRITISH DECLARATION. NOW I SHOULD LIKE TO CONVEY TO YOU THE DRAFT TEXT OF THE DECLARATION OF THE CHINSES GOVERNMENT TO THE CCC AND SEEK YOUR

FORMAL ADVICE.

PARA 4

EXCELLENCY, I UNDERSTAND MY BRITISH COLLEAGUE HAS ALSO SOUGHT YOUR

ADVICE ON THE (MOST RELIABLE) (OR "BEST") MEANS OF CONFIRMING

HOKG KONG'S STATUS OF SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP TO THE CCC. WE WOULD LIKE

TO KNOW WHETHER YOU CONSIDER THAT A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE OF

MEMBERS WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE HONG KONG CAN ACQUIRE SEPARATE

MEMBERSHIP. IF SO, COULD THIS MAJORITY SUPPORT BE ACHIVED? THESE

QUESTIONS ARE ALSO THE CONCERNS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. I SHOULD

BE VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR VIEWS AND

SUGGESTIONSON THIS MATTER.

ENDS.

EVANS

PEHPAN 1129

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D. (FE)

DEP.HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

MR MCLAREN

MR GILLMORE

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

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