CONFIDENTIAL
5. THE WORK LOAD OF THE GENEVA OFFICE AND THE MULTILATERAL DIVERS!ION OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT HAS INDEED INCREASED NOT ONLY AS A RESULT OF HONG KONG'S CONTRACTING PARTY STATUS 'N THE GATT BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER MULTILATERAL TRADE (RSSUES, INCLUDING THE FUTURE OF THE MULTIFIBRE ARRANGEMENT AND THE PREPARATORY PROCESS FOR THE NEW ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE GATT. A REVIEW OF THE STAFFING OF THE GENEVA OFFICE HAS RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED IN ORDER TO PROPERLY RECOGNISE ITS INCREASED LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY AND WORKLOAD. PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN THE GENEVA OFFICE WILL BE PUT TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE MULTILATERAL DIVISION OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT NS ADEQUATELY STAFFED AND THERE ARE NO PLANS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THIS DIVISION, THOUGH THE POSITION WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED.
ENDS:
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D (FE)
DEP/HD PUSD PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
- 2 -
CONFIDENTIAL