TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 195

turn bring benefits to Hong Kong.

Generalised Preferences (GPS)

8. The then Japanese Foreign Minister,

(Mr. Aichi undertook to the Secretary

of State last year that Hong Kong

would definitely be included in the

proposed Stage II of the Japanese GPS

to be introduced next April),

The

Hong Kong Government has been engaged in

talks with the Japanese about the terms

on which Hong Kong might be admitted, i.e.

the special restrictions which Japan would

feel it necessary to apply. Hong Kong's

concern is to secure equal treatment

with South Korea and Taiwan at least.

The Japanese have not so far produced any

list of the items included in their general

GPS on which they would not feel able to

1

give GPS benefits to imports from Hong Kong.

9. The Secretary of State will be

pressing Japanese Ministers to bring their

bilateral discussions with Hong Kong to an

early conclusion and on a fair basis in

relation to the treatment a ccorded to Hong

Kong's competitors so that Mr Aichi's promise

can be fulfilled. We continue to press

Hong Kong's case for inclusion in other

donor's schemes from which she has been

or might be excluded (e.g. United States,

Denmark).

CONFIDENTIAL

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