XN000022-1975-04-16 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1975

DISCUSSION ON HONG KONG'S STATUS IN AMERICAN G.S.P.

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THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. DAVID JORDAN, LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON TOMORROW (THURSDAY) FOR DISCUSSIONS ON HONG KONG'S STATUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE AMERICAN GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES (G.S.P.).

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INCLUSION IN THE SCHEME WILL MEAN DUTY-FREE ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BY EARLY SEPTEMBER.

LAST MONTH, PRESIDENT FORD ISSUED TWO LISTS - ONE CONTAINING THE NAMES OF COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES TO WHICH HE HAS GRANTED BENEFICIARY STATUS UNDER THE GSP AND THE OTHER THE NAMES OF THOSE ON WHICH A FINAL DECISION IS STILL TO BE MADE.

HONG KONG IS ON THE SECOND LIST, WHILST ITS STRONGEST TRADE COMPETITORS IN THE REGION SOUTH KOREA, TAIWAN AND SINGAPORE -- ARE ON THE FIRST, A SITUATION WHICH COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR HONG KONG.

HONG KONG HAS ARGUED, AND CONTINUES TO ARGUE, THAT IT HAS ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING GRANTED BENEFICIARY STATUS.

+THE LATEST OFFICIAL INFORMATION FROM WASHINGTON IS THAT WE ARE BEING GIVEN ACTIVE CONSIDERATION,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE NEWS WAS ENCOURAGING, BUT ADDED THAT THE OUTCOME WAS STILL UNCERTAIN. +THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE SOME DOUBTS THAT NEED DISPELLING, THAT IS WHY MR. JORDAN IS GOING TO WASHINGTON,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

MR. JORDAN WILL BE PLEASED TO MEET MEMBERS OF THE PRESS FOR A BRIEF INTERVIEW BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE ON FLIGHT PA 848 TOMORROW.

PRESS REPRESENTATIVES ARE KINDLY ASKED TO BE IN THE VIP PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM AT KAITAK NOT LATER THAN 2 P.M.

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