THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1983
13
GOVERNMENT'S ROLES IN TRADE AND INDUSTRY
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THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY. THE HON E.P. HO TODAY (THURSDAY) SAID THAT THE UNDERLYING STRENGTH OF HONG KONG'S CASE AGAINST FRENCH TRADE RESTRICTIONS LAY IN OUR TOTAL AND UNRESERVED FULFILMENT OF OUR OWN OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT).
+ IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE GATT PANEL CURRENTLY EXAMINING THE CONSISTENCY WITH THE GATT OF THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON CERTAIN IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG BY FRANCE WILL SOON MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WHICH WILL LEAD TO THE ELIMINATION OF ALL DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT AGAINST US IN THAT MARKET,+ SAID MR HO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUDGET DEBATE.
HE EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD AN ONEROUS TASK IN SECURING AND MAINTAINING HONG KONG'S ACCESS RIGHTS TO THE WORLD MARKETS FOR HONG KONG'S GOODS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GATT.
+IT WOULD BE WRONG OF ME NOT TO STRESS THAT WITH THE DISAPPOINTING OUTCOME TO THE MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE GATT IN GENEVA LAST NOVEMBER, AND THE SIGNIFICANT AND INCREASING NUMBER OF MEASURES BEING TAKEN OUTSIDE ITS PROVISIONS, THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING SYSTEM IS PROBABLY IN ITS MOST CRITICAL POSITION SINCE THE 1930'S WHEN IT BEGAN TO DAWN ON ALL THINKING PEOPLE THAT BEGGARING THY NEIGHBOUR DOES NOT REALLY BRING REAL IMPROVEMENTS TO ONES OWN COMMUNITY.
+THIS IS BECAUSE PROTECTIONISM NOT ONLY DISTORTS THE FLOW OF GOODS AND SERVICES BETWEEN TRADING PARTNERS, IT ALSO INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF INCOME AND RESOURCES BETWEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF THE PROTECTIONIST ITSELF, RETARDING THE GROWTH OF DYNAMIC NEW INDUSTRIES THEREIN AND REDUCES THE SIZE OF THE ENTIRE ECONOMIC CAKE THUS RESULTING IN REDUCED SHARES FOR ALL.
FORMAZI
+ IT IS OUR HOPE AND BELIEF THAT AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RECOILS FROM THE ABYSS TOWARDS WHICH WE SEEM TO BE HEADING THERE WILL BE GENERAL RECOGNITION THAT THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE FOR EVERYONE - THE GIANTS AS WELL AS THE MIDGETS AMONG TRADING COMMUNITIES - LIES IN RESPECT FOR AND OBSERVANCE OF THE GATT,+ HE NOTED.
IN REPLY TO QUERIES BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS REGARDING GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO UPGRADE HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL BASE, MR HO OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME AND PROGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION.
!
HE STRESSED