turn bring benefits to Hong Kong.
Generalised Preferences (GPS)
8. The then Japanese Foreign Minister,
Mr. Aichi undertook to the Secretary
JMr.
of State last year that Hong Kong
would definitely be included in the
proposed Stage II of the Japanese GPS
(to be introduced next April). The
Hong Kong Government has been engaged in
talks with the Japanese about the terms
on which Hong Kong might be admitted, i.e.
the special restrictions which Japan would
feel necessary to apply. Hong Kong's concern is to secure equal treatment with South Korea and Taiwan. The Japanese have not so far produced any list of GPS items to which they would not feel able to give benefits in respect of
imports from Hong Kong.
9. The Secretary of State will be pressing Japanese Ministers to bring their bilateral discussions with Hong Kong to an early
conclusion. This should be on a fair basis in
о
IN THIS MARGIN
relation to the treatment a ccorded to Hong
Kong's competitors so that Mr Aichi's promise
can be fulfilled. We continue to press
Hong Kong's case for inclusion in other
donor's schemes from which she has been
or might be excluded (e.g. United States, Denmark).
CONFIDENTIAL