6/1
Dar Burns,
GENERALISED PREFERENCES
British Embassy
TOKYO
Cep eo pleased to concerne Fco
M. Britten
M. Perceval up
cepts MB4/3
25 February 1971
Predictable, and not
wholly discouraging,
ist 43
1. Peter Lunde, Aconomic Counsellor at the American Embassy, came to lunch today and amongst other topics the question of generalised preferences came up.
2.
It was very clear from what he had to say that the American Embassy here are well informed about the present position on Japanese intentions to include Hong Kong in their generalised preferences offer. They are aware that there is general agreement among the Ministries to include Hong Kong but unfortunately they also know that the list of Hong Kong export items which are likely to be excluded from the offer will probably be a long one. We explained that this was by no means sure and we also said that the Japanese had agreed in principle to discuss certain aspects of Hong Kong's exports with officials from Hong Kong before the Japanese took their final decision on which items to exclude. Lande seemed to be somewhat impressed by this latter point.
3. In reply to a direct question Lande suggested that in view of the BEC and Japanese decisions it was very probable that the US would also include Hong Kong in their offer. He did not expect an early decision on this, however, and he implied that the US offer on Hong Kong when it eventually emerged would probably be very restrictive.
4. There was also a brief discussion about the timing of the implementation of various countries' offers. The Japanese draft legislation as it stands at present provides for implementation of the offer on any date between 1 April and 1 October 1971 and the Minister for International Trade & Industry, Miyazawa, suggested in reply to a question in the Diet earlier this week that Japanese implementation
might be delayed beyond the present target date of 1 July. Japanese action on this will clearly depend on what other major donor countries do.
ا لہو
You erv
John Whichand
J S Whitehead
KF X Burns Esq Trade Policy Dept FCO
Copies: O H Kemmis Esq
CRED DTI
**@VAD IN RESTRY No.51
.1971
HB Walker Esq Washington
CONFIDENT IAL
KR Haines Esq CRED DTI
W Dorward Esq
R
Commerce & Industry Dept 0 Cuer
Hong Kong
な
a Ved
(EPSOUR) W?
213