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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1975
DAVID JORDAN HOPEFUL OF HONG KONG'S INCLUSION IN U.S. GSP BEFORE JAN. 1 ******
THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON. DAVID JORDAN, SAID TODAY HE BELIEVED HONG KONG'S CASE FOR INCLUSION IN THE AMERICAN GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES WAS RECEIVING FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION, AND WAS HOPEFUL HONG KONG WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE {CHEME BEFORE IT CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 1976.
MR. JORDAN WAS REPLYING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. CHUNG SZE-YUEN, WHO ASKED WHAT RESULTS HAD BEEN ACHIEVED IN HONG KONG'S EFFORTS TO GAIN ADMITTANCE INTO THE US-GSP.
MR. JORDAN RECALLED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN TRYING TO PERSUADE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE HONG KONG IN ITS GSP FOR MANY YEARS, EVER SINCE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE UNITED STATES ESTABLISHING SUCH A SCHEME FIRST CAME INTO VIEW.
+SINCE THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION FOR THE SCHEME CAME INTO EFFECT IN THE UNITED STATES AS PART OF THE 1974 TRADE ACT, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, ENERGETICALLY SUPPORTED BY THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, HAD STEPPED UP ITS EFFORTS,+ HE SAID.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE EMBASSY. SUBMITTED A COMPREHENSIVE AIDE- MEMOIRE, THE TEXT OF WHICH WAS AGREED WITH HONG KONG, IN FEBRUARY 1975.
+WHEN SUBSEQUENTLY PRESIDENT FORD ISSUED A LIST OF BENEFICIARIES WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE HONG KONG, BUT NAMED US ONLY AS A POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE TERRITORY THE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THIS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSUL-GENERAL AND SENT ME TO WASHINGTON IN APRIL TO PUT OUR CASE TO THE UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION,+ MR. JORDAN SAID.
+1 HAVE RECENTLY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE CONSULATE-GENERAL IN HONG KONG AGAIN AND THE COUNSELLOR FOR HONG KONG COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN THE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON HAS CONTINUED HIS EFFORTS THERE.
+1 CAN ONLY SAY THAT I THINK WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN DISPELLING A GOOD DEAL OF MISCONCEPTION ABOUT HONG KONG AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT APPEARS TO BE QUALIFIED FOR INCLUSION UNDER THE TRADE ACT. WE HAVE AT THE SAME TIME GIVEN AN UNDERTAKING ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE IN HONG KONG WHICH ENSURES THAT THERE WILL BE NO OBSTACLE,+ MR. JORDAN ADDED.