TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 155

CODE 18-77

ME3APF

Mr Gordon (EDC (E) E111)

川

1/1

29

Reference....

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG AND THE CCC: HARMONISED SYSTEM CONVENTION

1.

With reference to the attached letter I spoke to the Customs Directorate and explained the situation concerning our proposal to put Hong Kong forward for separate membership of the CCC.

of the CCC shortly, I said that we hoped to approach the SG jointly with the Chinese, to explain our proposal and to seek his advice on the best way to go about it. We would not therefore wish HMC & E to pre-empt this joint approach by confusing the issue with Hong Kong's status in the Harmonised System. I said that we had kept HMC & E closely informed on all this through Ms Heald. contact in HMC & E is Jenny Heald, Room 236, King's Bean House, Mark Lane,

they EC3, telno 382-5505) London

Customs Directorate said would contact Ms Heald and hold off on any approach to the SG the CCC for the moment until they had cleared their internal They took the point about not pre-empting our diplomatic approach to the CCC.

2.

·

(Our

of Lines.

I attach copies of FCO/Brussels telnos 116-121 which give full background to the current proposals concerning Hong Kong's

These proposals are the result of proposed membership of the CCC. Long negotiations with the Chinese. The texts of the speaking notes etc in these telegrams were put to the Chinese for any comments on 4 May. We still await their response. You will note that we hope to be able to propose Hong Kong for membership at the June CCC meeting

Ottawa, which would mean approaching the SG fairly soon.

in

3.

I realise that all this does not help you in your deliberations on the Harmonised System. But if you are under

we would have no objection pressure to move ahead quickly on this, to the draft letter to the SG going out with sub-paragraphs 2 and 3 deleted.

4-

the Chinese Government You are aware of our arrangement with that if we intend to apply any new internaitonal obligation to Hong Kong which may appropriately be extended beyond 30 June 1997, we should consult the Chinese. At least 40 days would be required for this procedure. You may therefore wish to consider leaving Hong Kong out of the UK ratification initially if this must be done soon

a later date. and extending the H S Convention to Hong Kong at Grateful for your further advice.

Wht

M T HiLL

Hong Kong Department WH 305

270 2656

20 May 1987

i

CONFIDENTIAL

だ

میک از امروز