INDUSTRY AND TRADE
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tapes. Cases against small-screen colour televisions, tungsten ores, photo albums, audio tapes,
silicon metal and denim fabric were still under investigation.
In October 1989, the United States authorities initiated an investigation in response to a petition from US knitwear manufacturers alleging that Hong Kong man-made fibre sweaters were being dumped in the United States.
In all these cases the Hong Kong Government worked closely with the industries alleged to have been dumping to ensure that each was given a fair chance to present its case fully and accurately to the investigating authorities and to see that the principles and provisions of the GATT Anti-dumping Code were adhered to.
Hong Kong made a detailed submission to the EEC Commission in June on the EEC's 1990 Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and a further submission in September on the EEC's review of its GSP scheme (1991–2000). The EEC decided to exclude 39 Hong Kong products from GSP benefits in 1990.
Participation in International Organisations
The Pacific Economic Co-operation Conference (PECC) is a non-governmental organ- isation set up in 1980 to develop closer co-operation in regional trade and economic policy issues. Conferences are held regularly with member countries taking turns to host. Participation in PECC takes the 'tripartite' format whereby delegations consist of senior government officials, business leaders and academics, all attending in their personal -capacity. Although it is not a member of the organisation, Hong Kong attended the PECC
VII meeting held in Auckland in November 1989 as an observer.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a 24-country organisation established in 1961, initiated a dialogue with Asian economies in January 1989 by organising an informal seminar to exchange views on national policies and inter- national co-operation in sustaining the development of the global economy. Hong Kong participated in the seminar and has shown interest in taking part in further dialogue with the OECD. Hong Kong attended the OECD symposium on structural adjustment of the Asia-Pacific economies and the OECD informal consultation on export credits in October and November 1989, respectively, and has expressed interest in participating in all four proposed OECD workshops with Asian economies to be held in 1990.
Trade Department
The Trade Department is responsible for Hong Kong's commercial relations with foreign governments. It implements trade policy and agreements, and procedures for import and export licensing and origin certification. On matters of policy affecting trade, the Director-General of Trade takes advice from the Trade Advisory Board and the Textiles Advisory Board, both of which are appointed by the Governor and chaired by the Secretary for Trade and Industry.
The department consists of five divisions, three of which deal with bilateral commercial relations with Hong Kong's trading partners. Their work includes the conduct of trade negotiations and the implementation of textile agreements, as well as collection and dissemination of information on developments which may affect Hong Kong's external trade, especially those relating to trade policies and measures adopted in Hong Kong's major markets. The distribution of work among these three divisions is by geographical area. The fourth division deals with the multilateral aspects of Hong Kong's external com- mercial relations, such as its participation in the GATT and in the negotiation of the Multi- Fibre Arrangement. The fifth division is responsible for the textiles export control system,