IMMEDIATE CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTL.L
(200)
(MTU 15/595/1)
FM F C O 301715Z
CONFIDENTIAL.
TO IMMEDIATE TOKYO TELEGRAM NO. 353 OF 30 JUNE, INFO HONG KONG, WASHINGTON UKDEL EEC UKMIS GENEVA.
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PQ BY MR. P. BLAKER FOR ORAL ANSWER ON 12 JULY. ''TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHETHER HE WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN FOR ACCEPTANCE BY JAPAN OF HONG KONG AS A BENEFICIARY COUNTRY WITHIN THE GENEPAL- ISED PREFERENCE SCHEME.
2. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THAT SECRETARY CF STATE'S ANSWER SHOULD QUOTE JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF 11 JUNE 1,E.
"'MR. AICHI STATED THAT IT WAS THE INTENTION OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE HONG KONG IN THE SCHEME SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND SOME DELAY IN APPLICATION,
3. WE HAVE HOWEVER JUST SEEN JIJI PRESS RELEASE OF 24 JUNE PURPORTING TO REPORT DETAILS OF QUOTE INFORMAL UNQUOTE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT DECISION ON BENEFICIARIES, TO BE QUOTE FORMALISED UNQUOTE AT CABINET MEETING ON 2 JULY. THIS READS IN PART AS FOR HONG KONG AND OTHER DEPENDENCIES, A FORMAL DECISION WILL BE MADE NEXT APRIL AFTER FURTHER STUDY.'' THIS FORM OF WORDS, IF USED IN ANY OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD INEVITABLY APPEAR AS A RETREAT FROM POSITION SUBSCRIBED TO BY AICHI IN LONDON. GRATEFUL YOUR COMMENTS.
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