TNAG-0298-FCO40-334-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 35

(c). Exclusion from the Generalised Preference Scheme

can only hinder economic, and thus, political advancement for those territories which may eventually choose independence.

(d) There is no "burden-sharing" reason for the

Japanese Government to exclude them, as there is no evidence that other donors are contemplating doing so. Moreover, in the case of the sc territories there is in any case virtually no

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burden to be borne in the immediate future (because of the rudimentary stage of their economics).

(c) For the foregoing reasons, exclusion of dependent

territories as a category, would seem to run counter to the whole spirit of the UNCTAD scheme.

":

5. In support of the above arguments, HMG wish to point out that in almost every case, the territories on who se behalf beneficiary status is claimed, must be numbered among the poorest in the world. Without counting Hong Kong, there are in fact sixteen remaining British dependent territories with a combined population of under a million, whose serious economic problems are in many cases accentuated by difficulties of geography, climate and

communications.

6.

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While it may be argued that such economies are not likely to derive much immediate benefit from the Generalised Preference Scheme and therefore need not be included in it, HMG are sure that the Japanese Government will agree that the aim of this UNCTAD initiative should be at the very least to leave open to such territories. the possibility of benefit at some future time; and certainly not to permit the scheme to become an instrument of discrimination against them. As stated above, the United Kingdom dependencies etc. listed in Annex A enjoy no trading advantages in the UK market

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