WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1984
7
TEXTILES CONTROL SYSTEM WILL BE CONSTANTLY MONITORED
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THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT IT WAS AGREED POLICY FOR THE TEXTILES CONTROL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG TO BE CONSTANTLY MONITORED AND REVIEWED AND ITS PROVISIONS MODIFIED WHERE AND WHEN NECESSARY.
MR HO WAS REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE ANNUAL DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS.
+OUR AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO DISCHARGE FULLY ITS OBLIGATIONS ARISING FROM BILATERAL AGREEMENTS AND THE MFA (MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT), COUPLED WITH MAINTENANCE OF EFFICIENCY AND FLEXIBILITY CONDUCIVE TO OPTIMUM UTILISATION OF LIMITED EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES.
+ IN THIS REGARD, PROPOSALS ARE CURRENTLY BEFORE THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION AND ADVICE, + MR HO SAID.
THE HON ALLEN LEE HAD SUGGESTED THAT AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE BE SET UP AT THE BORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LABOUR FROM NEARBY CHINESE TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
MR HO SAID THAT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OF ANY SUCH SUGGESTION, AT THIS STAGE, WOULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS, BE TO IMPLY THAT +WE DESPAIR THAT THE UNITED STATES, OUR MOST IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNER, IS NO LONGER AMENABLE TO REASON, OR TO A DISPASSIONATE EXAMINATION OF OUR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL TRADING AGREEMENTS, MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL, TO WHICH WE HAVE BOTH SUBSCRIBED.+
HE REITERATED THAT THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) WAS THE CORNERSTONE OF HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS POLICY.
+WE SHALL STAND BY OUR OBLIGATIONS AS WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR RIGHTS. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE FAITH IN THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MECHANISMS PROVIDED FOR IN THE GATT, THE MFA AND OUR BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S.A., MR HO SAID, IN REPLY TO THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG'S CALL FOR CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR HONG KONG'S KNITWEAR INDUSTRY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG WAS NOT ALONE IN THE PRESENT DISAGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES ON THE NEW COUNTRY OF ORIGIN RULES.
+AT RECENT MEETINGS OF THE TEXTILES COMMITTEE OF THE GATT IN GENEVA, ALL OF THE TRADING PARTNERS OF THE UNITED STATES BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING, WHO EXPRESSED A VIEW, DISAGREED WITH THE LATEST U.S. ACTIONS.
/+ACCORDINGLY, I