CONFIDENTIAL
P.
а
YPHER CAT A AND BY BAG
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 818
CONFIDENTIAL 1117392.
A 15/1.348
TO TOKYO
11 DECEMBER 1970
(MTV. 15/393/1)
NEUTRAL.
JAKKG / 12
(354) +255
ADDRESSED TO TOKYO TELNO 818 OF 11/12 RFI TO HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, UKDEL BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA AND SAVING TO UKDEL OECD,
YOUR TELNO. 849 AND BRITTEN'S LETTER TO WAKEFIELD OF 9 DECEMBER.
GENERALISED PREFERENCES AND HONG KONG.
IT WAS AGREED AT OUR RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND
SENIOR HONG KONG OFFICIALS THAT SUBJECT TO THE OUTCOME OF PRELIMINARY SOUNDINGS AT THE O E C D TRADE COMMITTEE MEETING, A
FORMULA SHOULD BE PUT TO THE JAPANESE SOON WITH THE OBJECT OF
FORESTALLING THE FINALISING AND/OR PUBLISHING OF A JAPANESE
DECISION TO EXCLUDE HONG KONG. REMARKS MADE BY THE JAPANESE
DELEGATE AT THE TRADE COMMITTEE CONFIRMED THAT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL
REASONS JAPAN MAY PROVE TO BE THE FIRST DONOR TO INITIATE THE
NECESSARY LEGISLATION PROCESS AND THAT LITTLE TIME MAY BE LEFT
BEFORE HER LIST OF BENEFICIARIES IS FINALISED. WHILE FURTHER
EXCLUSIONS (ON GROUNDS OF BURDEN-SHARING) COULD WELL BE POSSIBLE
AT A LATER STAGE WE CANNOT SEE THE JAPANESE MAKING ADDITIONS TO
THEIR LIST OF BENEFICIARIES ONCE IT IS PRESENTED TO THE DIET.
2. IT SEEMS THEREFORE THAT THE JAPANESE DECISION ON HONG KONG
CANNOT BE MUCH LONGER DELAYED AND UNLESS HONG KONG SEE SERIOUS
OBJECTIONS YOU SHOULD MAKE AN EARLY APPROACH TO THE JAPANESE WITH
THE PROPOSAL THAT THEY SHOULD INCLUDE HONG KONG IN THEIR PREFERENCE
SCHEME TO THE EXTENT THAT SHE IS INCLUDED IN THE SCHEMES OF THE
EEC AND THE USA.
CONFIDENTIAL
/3. YOU
Page 90Page 91