XN000022-1975-03-25 — Page 4

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1975

DISAPPOINTMENT OVER AMERICAN GSP DECISION

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OFFICIALS OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ARE DISAPPOINTED OVER THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION NOT TO INCLUDE HONG KONG IN THE FIRST LIST OF BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE U.S. GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT MADE THIS STATEMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON PRESS REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON ON THE G.S.P. ANNOUNCEMENT.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORTS, HONG KONG HAS ONLY BEEN INCLUDED IN A SECOND LIST OF COUNTRIES WHOSE CASES ARE TO BE CONSIDERED FURTHER BY PRESIDENT FORD.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS SURPRISED THAT HONG KONG'S CASE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEFERRED IN THIS WAY WHEN ITS CLOSEST ASIAN COMPETITORS TAIWAN, SOUTH KOREA AND SINGAPORE HAVE ALL BEEN GRANTED BENEFICIARY STATUS IN THE FIRST LIST.

HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, +HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCEPTED AS A BENEFICIARY IN THE G.S.P ́S OF ALL THE MAJOR DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THE AMERICAN G.S.P. WOULD NOT COME INTO EFFECT FOR ANOTHER FEW MONTHS. HE CONFIRMED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR HONG KONG’S INCLUSION IN THE SCHEME IN THE MEANTIME,

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED: DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG IN FAVOUR OF TAIWAN, SOUTH KOREA AND SINGAPORE WILL BE SEEN HERE AS UNREASONABLE AND AS UNFAIR COMPARISON OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF THESE THREE PLACES AND HONG KONG.+

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