NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES
UNCTAD N
At a special Session last October, the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development approved the preferential arrangements worked out by the industrialised countries, which arreed to seek the necessary legislative approval with the aim of implementing them in 1971.
HONG KONG
2. We have strongly pressed the other iniustrialised countries to include Hong Kong as a beneficiary of their generalised preference schemes.
BEC OFFER
3. The EEC (as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told the House on 4 February) has agreed to include Hong Kong in its generalised preference arrangements (except for textiles and footwear).
A.
The EEC's offer on Hong Kong followed intensive effort and further improvements cannot be expected now. However, Al donor countries have made it clear that their preferential arrangements will be subject to review in the light of developments.
THE JAPANESE OFFER
5. We understand that Japan expects to be able to include Hong Kong in its offer but still has under consideration the basis on which Hong Kong would be included.
THE AMERICAN OFFER
We are hopeful that the USA will also include Hong Kong but have nothing further to report yet.
6.
OTHE PREFE ENCE GIVING COUNTRIES
7. There are likely to follow what the major donor countrie~ do.
REASON FOR GIVENTION
6. Mr Blaker has a special interest in Hong Kong, which he recently visited. He has already written to the PUSS about the effect of recent international trade developments on Hong Kong. The Secretary of State answered a P2 by him on 8 March about the progress of discussions on the grant of generalised preferences; the acceptance of Hong Kong as a beneficiary by the United States and Japan was the subject of a supplementary question then.