CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
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PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
ELEGRAM NO. 623
CONFIDENTIAL
NEUTRAL
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HONG KONG
17 SEPTEMBER 1970
(MT)
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 623 OF 17 SEPTEMBER REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO UKMIS GENEVA, UKDEL OECD.
FCO TEL. NO. 734 TO HONG KONG OF 7 NOVEMBER 1969:
UNCTAD GENERALISED PREFERENCES.
THE FCO TEL. UNDER REFERENCE DESCRIBED THE SUBMISSION TO UNCTAD
OF THE PROVISIONAL OFFERS BY PROSPECTIVE DONORS IN THE GENERALISED
PREFERENCE SCHEME.
2. THE DONOR COUNTRIES HAVE NOW (WITH THE TEMPORARY EXCEPTION OF
THE USA) SUBMITTED THEIR REVISED OFFERS TO OECD AND THESE WILL
BE FORWARDED TO UNCTAD THIS WEEK. THE UNCTAD SPECIAL COMMITTEE
ON PREFERENCES WILL MEET TO CONSIDER THE OFFERS FROM 21-23
SEPTEMBER, RE-CONVENING FOR MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION FROM 1-9
OCTOBER. THE AIM IS TO COMPLETE EXAMINATION OF THE PREFERENCE
SCHEME IN TIME FOR ITS INCLUSION IN THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT DECADE
DEBATE AT THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
3. COPIES HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU BY BAG OF THE UK'S REVISED OFFER.
AS YOU WILL NO DOUBT BE AWARE, THE MAIN CHANGE IN OUR INDUSTRIAL OFFER IS THE EXCLUSION OF NON-COTTON AS WELL AS COTTON TEXTILES (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TEXTILE ITEMS LISTED IN THE ANNEX TO
LIST 1, ON WHICH PREFERENCES WILL BE GRANTED). THE ONLY OTHER
EXCLUSIONS FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL OFFER WILL BE REVENUE ITEMS,
ALMOST ENTIRELY PETROLEUM. THE ALBUMINS, IRON AND HAEMATITE PIG-
IRON EXCLUDED IN THE PROVISIONAL OFFER ARE INCLUDED IN OUR PRESENT
OFFER. WE DO NOT PROPOSE TO EXCLUDE PRIMARY PRODUCTS BUT WE SHALL EXAMINE THIS ASPECT IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT OTHER DONORS ARE PREPARED
TO DO. OUR ENTIRE OFFER OF COURSE REMAINS SUBJECT TO THE GRANT
/OF WAIVERS
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