3
Νι
Trade have for a number of years been pressing for the
abolition of unnecessary consular formalities and fees.
Article VIII of the GATT also provides, inter alie) that
consular fees and charges, where they exist, should be
limited in amount to the approximate cost of the services
rendered. The imposition of a sliding scale of fees is
difficult to reconcile with these provisions. Furthermore,
the charming of fees for endorsement of certificates of
origin for imports into Italy from Hong Kong, which are not
required on similar imports from other contracting parties
to the GATT, acts as a discriminatory impost on Hong Kong
exports, and an impost which is made more onerous when the
changes are levied on A sliding scale.
7.
In the light of the shore and, as the Hong Kong
Government believe that their arrangements to certify the
origin of Hong Kone products provide fully adequate safe-
cards against the possibility of imports from other countries
entering Italy as of Hong Kong origin, the Hong Kong Govern-
ment would ask the Ministry of Foreign Trade to dispense with
the requirement for consular endorsements on certificates of
origin issued in Hong Kong. They would also wish, in this
connection, to refer to the discussion of this matter at the
meeting of the GATT Committee on Trade in Industrial Products
in Geneva on 19th 26th March, 1969, wher a similar request
to the above was made by the United Kingdom representative and
the Italian representative replied that he would report the
discussion to his authorities.
8.
Her Majesty's Embassy avail themselves of this
opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Trade the
ASSUPgnce of their highest consideration.