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6.

Amendments to

XI, Articles

XIV and XV of the

for the settlement

of

Convention concerning procedures

disputes

concerning

were adopted in 1978.

They provide that disputes

interpretation or application of the Convention shall be submitted by agreement between the parties to the

dispute to the International Court of Justice or upon the

of them to arbitration.

request

one of

[have been/have

These amendments

not been] accepted by the United Kingdom

but are not in force as they have not yet been accepted by the requisite two-thirds of the Contracting Parties.

The

entered Convention

into force on 30 August

1975. It is open for accession by any State.

Instruments

of

accession shall be

deposited

with the Governments of

•

Mexico, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom

and USA (Article XVIII). The United Kingdom ratified the Convention and applied it to Hong Kong on 17 November 1975

(reference at Annex B).

The People's Republic of China

became party to the Convention on 14 November 1985.

Benefits

8.

As

a major port for international maritime traffic

and trade, it

is important for Hong Kong to be seen as

an

active

participant

in

to efforts

protect

the

marine

CONFIDE 3:

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