TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 152

REGIONS AND RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTICIPATE IN

RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CONFERENCES NOT LIMITED TO STATES. THIS, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO BE ESTABLISHED IN 1907 WILL MEET THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A SEPARATE MEMBER OF THE CCC AS A SEPARATE

CUSTOMS TERRITORY IN THE LIGHT OF ARTICLE 11(A) (11) OF THE

CONVENTIONS ESTABLISHING THE CCC. PRIOR TO THE PESUMPTION OF THE

EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION PESTS WITH

THE UNITED KINGDOM. AFTER RESUMING THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER

HONG KONG IN 1997, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL HAVE THE

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THE COMMON DESIRE OF BOTH THE

CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS IS THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL APPY

FOR THE STATUS OF A SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP FOR HONG KONG IN THE LIGHT

OF THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING THE CCC

AND AS FROM 1997, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL RETAIN SUCH STATUS. TO THIS END, THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES HAVE, THROUGH CONSULTATION, DECIDED THAT THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE TWO

COUNTRIES WILL HAND OVER SEPARATELY THEIR STATEMENTS TO THE CCC.

BELIEVE MY BRITISH COLLEAGUE WHILE CALLING ON YOU EARLIER TODAY HAS

ALREADY HANDED OVER TO YOU THE DRAFT TEXT OF THE BRITISH STATEMENT.

NOW I SHOULD LIKE TO CONVEY TO YOU THE DRAFT TEXT OF STATEMENT OF

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO THE CCC AND SEEK YOUR FORMAL ADVICE.

EXCELLENCY, I UNDERSTAND MY BRITISH COLLEAGUE HAS ALSO SOUGHT YOUR ADVICE ON THE RELIABLE MEANS OF CONFIRMING HONG 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 PEQUIPED

BEFORE HONG KONG CAN ACQUIRE SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP. IF SO, HOW COULD IT BE DONE TO OBTAIN THIS MAJORITY SUPPORT AND WHEN WILL BE THE

APPROPRIATE TIMING ? THESE QUESTIONS ARE ALSO THE CONCERNS OF THE

CHINESE GOVERNMENT. ! SHOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU IF YOU COULD

GIVE YOUR VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THIS MATTER.

EVANS

YYYY

PEHPAN 0877

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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