TNAG-0298-FCO40-334-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 76

CONFIDENTIAL'

D) STATISTICS ON HONG KONG'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS, PER CAPITA INCOME AND GNP.

(E) MITI HAVE ALSO QUERIED HONG KONG'S DUTIES ON ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO, SINCE THEY HAVE MATERIAL OF THEIR OWN WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THE DUTIES ARE DIFFERENT FOR IMPORTED AND DOMESTIC PRODUCTS. THEY HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS BECAUSE A TARIFF IS LEVIED ON IMPORTS AND A COMMODITY TAX ON DOMESTIC PRODUCTS,

3. WAKEFIELD IS TO CALL ON HARADA ON MONDAY 29 MARCH WHEN THE QUESTION OF DOCUMENTATION MAY BE RAISED. WE INTEND TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED THE JAPANESE WITH ORAL ARGUMENTS ON HONG KONG'S STATUS AND THAT THE WHOLE QUESTION OF DOCUMENTATION COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED BY AN EARLIER RESPONSE TO THE SUGGESTION

IT WOULD BE USEFUL, THAT HONG KONG OFFICIALS SHOULD VISIT TOKYO. HOWEVER, IF WE COULD ALSO GIVE SOME INDICATION THAT DOCUMENTARY HATERIAL WILL BE PROVIDED.

FCO PASS ROUTINE TO HONG KONG

PILCHER.

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

TPD

2

CONFIDENTIAL

vi

COPIES TO:

MR KEMMIS CRED DTI

MR D SELLARS

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

54 PALL MALL

書