TNAG-0239-FCO40-275-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalised-tariffs-preferences--1970 — Page 173

CYPHER/CAT A

RESTRICTED

PRIORITY O.F.C.D. TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

PRIOPITY

0.E.C.D. TELNO, 2 TO HONG KONG

Kiola

15 SEPTEMBER, 1970

RESTRICTED

[NEUTRAL]

ADDRESSED HONG KONG TELNO. 2 DATED 15 SEPTEMBER, 1978, REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO F.C.0. AND TOKYO AND SAVING TO UKDEL EC BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON AND UKMIS GENEVA.

FROM JONES.

222

GENERALISED PREFERENCES.

ALTHOUGH QUESTION OF BENEFICIARIES WAS RAISED IN TRADE COMMITTEE IT WAS ONLY DISCUSSED IN PROCEDURAL TERMS (APART FROM POINTS IN PARA 3 BELOW). IT WAS AGREED THAT THIS WAS THE MAJOR ELEMENT REMAINING TO BE SETTLED, THAT CONSIDERATION OF IT SHOULD CONTINUE IN OECD AND THAT DONOR COUNTRIES SHOULD TRY TO AVOID IT BEING DISCUSSED SUBSTANTIVELY IN UNCTAD.

2. THE AIM NOW IS TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE AT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TRADE COMMITTEE ON 30 NOVEMBER AND TO THAT END INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE INTERIM BETWEEN THE MAJOR

DONOR COUNTRIES.

GREECE

3. THE FOUR DEVELOPING OECD COUNTRIES (SPAIN, PORTUGAL, AND TURKEY) MADE STRONG PLEAS FOR INCLUSION ON THE FAMILIAR GROUNDS THAT EXCLUSION WOULD DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEM IN FAVOUR OF COUNTRIES WITH SIMILAR OR MORE ADVANCED ECONOMIC STRUCTURES. SPAIN OFFERED TO EXTEND PREFERENCES TO THE LEAST DEVELOPED IF SHE WERE INCLUDED. HONG KONG WAS NOT MENTIONED OPENLY BUT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION IN THE CORRIDORS WHICH I AM REPORTING SEPARATELY. MY IMPRESSION IS THAT FINAL DECISIONS ON HONG KONG HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE BY EITHER THE U.S. OR THE EEC.

F.C.0. PLEASE PASS TO HONG KONG, TOKYO, AND SAVING TO UKDEL EC BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON AND UKMIS GENEVA.

SIR J. CHADWICK.

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED ]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

T.P.D.

H.K. INTERNATIONAL TRADE

H.K.D.

F.E.D.

RESTRICTED