WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1979
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GOVERNMENT SHARES LOCAL MANUFACTURERS'
CONCERN ABOUT USA MARKET
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THE GOVERNMENT SHARES THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY LOCAL MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS ABOUT THE UNITED STATES MARKET, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO TEXTILES AND APPAREL EXPORTS, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, THE HON. LAWRENCE MILLS TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AT THE ANNUAL DEBATE, MR. MILLS SAID THE CONCERN HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE KNOWN TO THE UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION AND +DESPITE THREE ROUNDS OF CONSULTATIONS ON OUR EXPORTS OF APPAREL TO THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE AS YET BEEN UNABLE TO FIND COMMON GROUND.+
+OUR EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING, AND THIS COUNCIL WILL BE AWARE THAT MR. DORWARD IS NOW IN WASHINGTON WHERE TOMORROW HE WILL SEE THE UNITED STATES SPECIAL TRADE REPRESENTATIVE. MR. REUBEN ASKEW, TO REITERATE OUR CONCERN AND SEEK A FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH TALKS WITH THE USA MIGHT BE RESUMED, HE SAID.
COMMENTING ON PROPOSALS BY THE HON. WONG PO-YAN ON EXPORT PROMOTION, MR. MILLS SAID THAT WHILST HE DOUBTED THE NEED TO INCREASE RESOURCES, HE AGREED WITH THE NEED FOR MEASURES TO ENHANCE OUR EXPORT CAPABILITY.
+THE GOVERNMENT AND TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS ARE ALREADY ACTIVE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ATTRACT NEW EXPORT CAPABILITIES TO HONG KONG THROUGH INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION, BY SEEKING NEW SKILLS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES FROM OVERSEAS. AND THROUGH SUCH BODIES AS THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION.
+BUT MORE COULD BE DONE AND THERE IS A NEED FOR GREATER CO-ORDINATION OF OUR EFFORTS. WHEN THE REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION IS COMPLETED, I WOULD EXPECT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROVIDE US WITH GUIDANCE ON HOW BEST TO PROCEED IN THIS FIELD, MR. MILLS SAID.
REPLYING TO THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN'S REMARKS ON THE NEED FOR MANUFACTURERS TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THEIR PRESENT PATTERN OF PURCHASING RAW MATERIALS, MR. MILLS SAID A SELLING MISSION FROM THE US TEXTILE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN OFFERED EVERY ASSISTANCE DURING ITS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO HONG KONG.
+SINCE JANUARY THIS YEAR THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL'S HEAD OFFICE HAS RECEIVED OR ASSISTED 51 INCOMING MISSIONS FROM OVERSEAS INTERESTED IN SELLING RAW MATERIALS TO US.
IN ADDITION, MANY HONG KONG PARTICIPANTS IN THE MORE THAN 50 PROJECTS ORGANISED BY THE TDC THIS YEAR, HAVE INTERESTS IN THE PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIALS.
+THE TDC ALSO OFFERS A TRADE ENQUIRIES SERVICE TO ASSIST IN LOCATING SOURCES OF RAW MATERIALS OVERSEAS. THIS IMPORTANT WORK OF THE TDC WILL CONTINUE, AND THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WILL DO ALL IT CAN TO ASSIST, HE SAID.
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