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probably argue that the interpretation of "Government" is one epresenting a sovereign state. Hong Kong could perhaps counter that although not a sovereign state, it does have its own government with a high degree of autonomy in the conduct of its affairs.
5.
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Legally, it would perhaps be better to argue for some intermediary form of association rather than full membership. Though the Convention does not provide explicitly for such a step, a precedent exists with Yugoslavia, which has been an associate member for many years. Associate status denies voting power and eepresentation on certain committees, eg Executive Committee in Special Session (ECSS) and those dealing with Eastern European matters]
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Some
6. Whilst the legal problems would probably not prove too difficult, the political problems would certainly be less easy to overcome. The chief obstacle would be the apprehension of OECD members about Chinese reactions. members would undoubtedly argue that Peking with construe any attempt to enrol Hong Kong as an un friendly act, largely for fear of creating a precedent for Taiwan, and result in China consequently raising problems over the OECD/DAE dialogue in respect of both Hong Kong and Taiwan. The OECD's Secretary General has consistently equated Hong Kong with Taiwan as ineligible for membership. We have countered that although it is right to describe Hong Kong, with Taiwan, as an "economy" rather than a country, in other respects the two cases are quite different. Properly handled, there needs to be no sensitivity vis-a-vis China. The Secretary General has been at pains to avoid offending the Chinese over the dialogue with the DAE's and he and a number of members, probably including FRG, Australia, Japan and the United States, would be loath to jeopardize the progress so far achieved.
7. Members would also be likely to raise political objections on the ground that they saw no reason why after 1997 a part of China should be entitled to eavesdrop on the inter-governmental discussions. There could also be an objection in the general resistance to the expansion of numbers in the OECD.
8. If the Hong Kong Government were to press ahead with some form of involvement with the OECD, it would seem essential to check first with China whether they would see any major obstacles on what was being proposed.
To pursue the question openly with the Secretariat, or with members would seem ill-advised in the absence of some firm assurance from China that they would not make problems.
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