TNAG-0298-FCO40-334-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 148

Gpued

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

LAST

FM WASHINGTON 092315Z "r

CONFIDENTIAL

NEUTRAL

T

(64)

71

TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 486 OF 9 FEBRUARY INFO HONG KONG CODEL BRUSSELS

UKMIS GENEVA TOKYO.

CODEL BRUSSELS TELEGRAM NUMBER 71 TO YOU: HONG KONG AND PREFERENCES.

THOUGH THE AMERICANS ARE AWARE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAVE FORMALLY

OFFERED TO INCLUDE HONG KONG AND THAT JAPAN IS TENDING TOWARDS

INCLUSION THEY ARE THEMSELVES MOVING VERY SLOWLY. STATE DEPARTMENT

STILL CLAIM TO BE PREPARING A SUBMISSION AIMED AT CHANGING THE

PREVIOUS NEGATIVE DECISION BUT THEY WERE SAYING THIS MONTHS AGO.

2. WE ARE CONTINUING TO PRESS THEM BUT DOUBT IF THEY WILL

REALLY TAKE THE PLUNGE BEFORE THE JAPANESE HAVE EXPLICITY

COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO INCLUDING HONG KONG.

3. THEY ALSO CLAIM TO BE PREPARING DRAFT LEGISLATION BUT ARE

OBVIOUSLY PURSUING THIS WITH INDECISION AND JUSTIFIABLE

APPREHENSION.

FCO PLEASE PASS TO ALL.

CROMER

/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

EID

QNVED IN

15 FEB 1971

Ma. 31

NKK 6/1

CONFIDENTIAL