TNAG-0239-FCO40-275-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalised-tariffs-preferences--1970 — Page 141

CYPHER/ CAT A

ROUTINE TOKYO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 696

CONFIDENTIAL

TO/ FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

15. SEPTEMBER 1970

236

CONFIDENTIAL. [NEUTRAN]

ADDRESSED TO F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 696 OF 15 SEPTEMBER REPEATED

FOR INFORMATION TO WASHINGTON, UKDEL BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA, HONG

KONG AND UKDEL OECD.

TEXTILES

THE JAPANESE ARE CONTINUING TO PLAY MATTERS LONG, HARADA, DIRECTOR-

GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE BUREAU IN MITI, TOLD

COMMERCIAL COUNSELLOR ON 12 SEPTEMBER THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

WERE NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY ACTION AT THIS STAGE, AND THE

JAPANESE TEXTILE INDUSTRY DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF MAKING FURTHER

CONCESSIONS. IN ANY CASE THERE SEEMED A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT

THE MILLS BILL MIGHT NOT BE PASSED THIS YEAR: QUOTE PERHAPS BY 1971

HEADS MIGHT BE COOLER AND THE POLITICAL ELEMENT MUTED UNQUOTE.

HE CONFIRMED THAT UPON THE INSISTENCE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

THE ACCELERATED SCHEDULE OF LIBERALISATION HAS BEEN AGREED BY

THE CABINET (ONLY 40 ITEMS REMAINING ON QUOTA BY AUTUMN 1971).

2. ON THE GENEVA TALKS, HARADA SAID THAT JAPAN WOULD BE PREPARED

TO TAKE PART IN A FURTHER ROUND OF TALKS AT ANY TIME THAT WAS

CONVENIENT TO THE OTHER COUNTRIES CONCERNED. HE THOUGHT THAT

CONFIDENTIAL