TNAG-2112-FCO40-3011-International-Rights-and-Obligations-Sub-Group-of-the-Sino-B-1990 — Page 16

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3501

OF 260949Z NOVEMBER 90

CONFIDENTIAL

HKCO31/12

RECEIV

0 4 DEC 1990

DECK C INDEX

70)

130407

MDHIAN 1139

TOP COPY

O DIS

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, UKMIS NEW YORK

pa

2ND IPT: IRO SUB-GROUP: MULTILATERAL TREATIES: EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON CUSTOMS TREATMENT OF PALLETS USED IN INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT 1960 (ITEM 3.11)

DRAFT PAPER BEGINS

1. 'THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON CUSTOMS TREATMENT OF PALLETS USED IN INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT 1960 (THE 'CONVENTION') SETS OUT PROVISIONS WHEREBY THE PARTIES, WITH A VIEW TO FACILITATING INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT AND REDUCING COSTS, AGREE TO GRANT ADMISSION INTO A PARTY'S TERRITORY FREE OF IMPORT DUTIES AND RESTRICTIONS, OF PALLETS, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS (ARTICLE 2, PARAGRAPH 1). THE PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION OF PALLETS IS TO BE DETERMINED BY EACH PARTY'S REGULATIONS BUT FORMALITIES ARE TO BE MADE AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE (ARTICLE 2, PARAGRAPHS 2 AND 3). THE CONVENTION PROVIDES FOR THE WAIVER OF CUSTOMS DOCUMENTS OR SECURITIES IN RESPECT OF IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES TO PALLETS IMPORTED OR EXPORTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS CARTICLE 3). THE RIGHTS OF PARTIES TO LEVY INTERNAL DUTIES AND IMPORT DUTIES ON PALLETS PURCHASED BY PERSONS RESIDENT OR ESTABLISHED IN ITS TERRITORY AND TO REFUSE THE REFUND OF DUTIES PAID FOR PALLETS EXPORTED ARE RESERVED (ARTICLE 4). IT IS ALSO AGREED THAT THIS CONVENTION SHALL NOT PREVENT THE GRANTING IN RESPECT OF IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION OF PALLETS OF FACILITIES GREATER THAN THOSE PROVIDED THEREIN (ARTICLE 5).

2. THE UNITED KINGDOM RATIFIED THE CONVENTION ON 1 OCTOBER 1962 (TEXT AT ANNEX A). THE CONVENTION ENTERED INTO FORCE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM ON 30 DECEMBER 1962 IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 7. ARTICLE 10 PROVIDES THAT ANY COUNTRY MAY, AT THE TIME OF SIGNING THIS CONVENTION WITHOUT RESERVATION OF RATIFICATION OR OF DEPOSITING ITS INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION OR ACCESSION OR AT ANY TIME THERE AFTER, DECLARE BY NOTIFICATION THAT THIS CONVENTION EXTENDS TO ALL OR ANY OF THE TERRITORIES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF WHICH IS IT RESPONSIBLE. (THE DATE ON WHICH THE UNITED KINGDOM MADE SUCH A DECLARATION IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG

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