TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 164

CONFIDENTIAL

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CHINESE COLLEAGUE WILL HAND OVER THE TEXT OF THE CHINESE

DRAFT DECLARATION WHEN HE CALLS ON YOU LATER TODAY (HAND OVER UK

DRAFT).

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WE SEEK YOUR ADVICE ON THE BEST MEANS OF CONFIRMING HONG

KONG'S SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP. DO YOU FOR EXAMPLE BELIEVE THAT THE

DECLARATIONS AS DRAFTED ARE SUITABLE? THEY HAVE BEEN DRAFTED ON

THE BASIS OF THE DECLARATIONS OUR GOVERNMENTS MADE TO THE GATT IN

CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG. BUT WE WOULD WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS

YOU MAY HAVE ON THEM. WE WOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL 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, ANY ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER ON HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS WOULD BE VERY

MUCH APPRECIATED. FINALLY, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL ALSO FOR YOUR

VIEWS ON TIMING. IDEALLY, WE SHOULD PREFER TO PUT HONG KONG'S

APPLICATION BEFORE THE COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING TO BE HELD IN

OTTAWA FROM 22-26 JUNE 1987. IS THIS A FEASIBLE TARGET?

ENDS

HOWE

OCMIAN 1260

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/ELDE)

HD/FED

RESEARCH D. (FE)

DEP.HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

MR MCLAREN

MR GILLMORE

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS Ms J. HEALD, HMCE,

KINGS BEAM HOUSE

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CONFIDENTIAL