CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
GRPS 350
TM HONG KONG 210730Z
CONFIDENTIAL [FRAME]
1973
705
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1065 OF 21 SEPTEMBER/INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
OFFICE LONDON.
EEC/GSP.
PA
7272
WHEN WC DISCUSSED THIS LAST WEEK I MENTIONED PREFERENCES GRANTED BY HONG KONG, AND YOU ASKED FOR DETAILS.
2. MOTOR VEHICLES. WE LEVY A COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE TAX AT
15 PER CENT OF C.1.F. HONG KONG VALUE ON ALL VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT COMMONWEALTH PRODUCTS. WE ALSO REQUIRE THE TWO FRANCHISED
PUBLIC BUS COMPANIES TO BUY BRITISH BUSES.
3.. LIQUOR AND TOBACCO. COODS OF COMMONWEALTH ORIGN BENEFIT FROM A PREFERENTIAL MARGIN RANGING FROM 11 PER CENT TO 34 PER CENT FOR
LIQUOR AND 8 PER CENT TO 16 PER CENT FOR TOBACCO MANUFACTURES.
4. VALUE OF TRADE INVOLVED.
HONG KONG DOLLARS M.
1972
1973 1ST SIX MONTHS.
IMPORTS OF
TOTAL
FROM UK
TOTAL
FROM UK
MOTOR VEHICLES
403
133
279
95
239
33
141
30
LIQUOR
TOBACCO
190
46
83
17
5. BUSES. THE FIGURES FOR BUSES IMPORTED FROM BRITAIN ARE INCLUDED
ABOVE. THE MORE IMPORTANT FACT IS PERHAPS THAT SO FAR AS WE KNOW
CONFIDENTIAL
THE TWO BUS