CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 191030Z FCO
TELNO 3648
OF 19093OZ NOVEMBER 91
CONFIDENTIAL
251)
001755 2571
TOP COPHIAN
Q DIST?
HKD 026/1
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Heal
MY FOURTH IPT: LORD CAITHNESS'S VISIT TO HONG KONG AND CHINA. 26 NOVEMBER 7 DECEMBER 1991: CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN.
ISSUE.
Batt
1. THE APPLICATION OF THE BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO BE INCLUDED AS A GOVERNMENT APPROVED CERTIFICATION ORGANISATION (GACO).
PRESENT POSITION.
2. THE APPLICATION IN 1989 FROM THE CHAMBER TO BE INCLUDED AS A GACO WAS TURNED DOWN. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RE-EXAMINED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PERIODICALLY TO SEE WHETHER CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED IN FAVOUR OF EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF APPROVED ORGANISATIONS TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OR ORIGIN. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REMAINS OF THE VIEW AT PRESENT HOWEVER THAT:-
(A) THERE IS NO OPERATIONAL NEED TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF GACO'S TO SATISFY DEMAND: AND
(B) EXPANSION WILL SIMPLY RESULT IN INCREASED DIFFICULTIES IN GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION, WITH THE POSSIBLE DANGER THAT OVERALL STANDARDS OF CERTIFICATION WILL DETERIORATE.
3. SHOULD HOWEVER THE SITUATION CHANGE AND EXPANSION BE DEEMED NECESSARY, THE CLAIMS OF THE BRITISH CHAMBER WILL CERTAINLY BE KEPT FULLY IN MIND.
BACKGROUND.
4.
THE HKG'S TRADE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF HONG KONG'S ORIGIN CERTIFICATION SYSTEM IN 1989. THE REVIEW INCLUDED AN EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE NUMBER OF APPROVED ORGANISATIONS TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OR ORIGIN (CO'S) SHOULD BE INCREASED. FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE REVIEW AND ON THE ADVICE OF THE TRADE ADVISORY BOARD, THE DEPARTMENT DECIDED
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