TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 174

CONFIDENTIAL

KONG BECAME A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY.

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AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THESE DISCUSSIONS WERE CONCLUDED

IN MARCH THIS YEAR WHEN FORMAL AGREEMENT WAS REACHED BETWEEN THE

BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES THAT HONG KONG SHOULD BE PROPOSED NOW

FOR SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CCC UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CCC

CONVENTION (ARTICLE II(A)(II)) AND SHOULD CONTINUE IN THAT STATUS

AFTER 1997. THE TWO SIDES AGREED THAT THEY WOULD APPROACH IN

PARALLEL THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CCC TO

(A)

INFORM HIM OF WHAT HAD BEEN AGREED, AND

(B)

DISCUSS WITH HIM THE BEST WAY OF CONFIRMING HONG KONG'S

SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP AND OF OBTAINING (IF REQUIRED)

TWO-THIRDS SUPPORT AMONG EXISTING MEMBERS.

IN CONNECTION WITH (B) ABOVE THE TERMS OF DRAFT UK AND

PRC DECLARATIONS TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL WERE AGREED, SUBJECT

ALSO TO DISCUSSION WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL.

IT WAS AGREED THAT THE BRITISH AND CHINESE EMBASSIES IN

BRUSSELS SHOULD MAKE PARALLEL BUT SEPARATE APPROACHES TO THE

SECRETARY GENERAL, THE BRITISH EMBASSY FIRST AND THEN THE CHINESE

EMBASSY, USING SPEAKING NOTES PROVIDED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE

GOVERNMENTS. COPIES OF THE SPEAKING NOTES COULD BE LEFT WITH THE

SECRETARY GENERAL.

ENDS

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D. (FE)

DEP.HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON HO ECOCE)

MR MCLAREN MR GILLMORE

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

Ms JHEALD ms

nmce

KINGS BEAM USE

CONFIDENTIAL