TNAG-0300-FCO40-336-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 146

J G Morris Esq

CRE1 DTI

Foreign and Commonwealth winca

London S.WI

2 August 1971

219

1.

Mr Shunji Maryuama of the Japanese Embassy called on me on 30 July to deliver a note addressed to the Secretary of State transmitting a set of documents which give details of the Japanese scheme of generalised tariff preferences. scheme is to be introduced on 1 August 1971.

2.

The

In the conversation which followed he asked about our generalised preference scheme and took note that it was to be introduced on 1 January 1972. I gave him a brief outline of our scheme and our list of beneficiaries. He asked about Taiwan and I told him that it was not at present included in our proposed scheme.

3. On the subject of Hong Kong he said that, as we already knew, Mr Aichi had told the Secretary of State that although Hong Kong would "not catch the first train it would catch the second". He could not say when the second train would leave the platform.

4. Mr Maruyama asked whether China would be included in our scheme. I pointed out that under Clause 1 of the Finance Bill only those countries could be included in our scheme which claimed to be developing countries. China had not made that claim. If she did we would no doubt consider the matter. Mr Maruyama said that China had not done so perhaps for reasons of prestige.

Copies to:

Mr McCarthy (FED) Mr Clewley (HKD)

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Trade Policy Department

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