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TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1985
REFERRING TO THE JENKINS BILL IN THE UNITED STATES, MR HO DESCRIBED IT AS +HIGHLY PROTECTIONIST IN CHARACTER+,
HE STATED THAT THE BILL WOULD OFFEND AGAINST THE UNITED STATES' BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL OBLIGATIONS.
+UNDER THE EXCUSE OF ENFORCING THE MFA, THE BILL PROPOSES TO ROLL BACK DRAMATICALLY TEXTILE IMPORTS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
IT ALSO PROPOSES RESTRAINT ON NON-MEA IMPORTS AND SOME OTHER DISCRIMINATORY MEASURES.
THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY SECRETARY SAID THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK AND TWO LEGAL FIRMS EMPLOYED TO FURTHER THE TERRITORY'S TRADE INTERESTS HAD BEEN CARRYING OUT AN INTENSIVE LOBBYING CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE BILL.
+MOREOVER OTHER U.S. GROUPS PROMOTING FREE TRADE, INCLUDING IMPORTERS, RETAILERS AND FARMERS, HAVE SENT LETTERS AND EXPLANATORY LEAFLETS TO U.S. CONGRESSMEN, SENATORS AND OTHERS CONCERNED. MR DORWARD (HONG KONG'S COMMISSIONER IN NEW YORK) HAS JUST COMPLETED A SERIES OF CALLS IN WASHINGTON ON CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS SYMPATHETIC TO OUR CAUSE.+
MR HO SAID THAT CLEARLY THIS WAS A MATTER OF CONCERN TO MANY TRADING NATIONS NOT JUST HONG KONG.
URGENT CO-ORDINATION MEETINGS BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WERE TAKING PLACE IN GENEVA,
MR HO SAID THAT IF THE BILL LOOKED LIKE BEING IMPLEMENTED THEN HE WOULD EXPECT THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO BE CONCERNED TOO. AS ANY NEW PROTECTIONIST MEASURE WOULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GATT.
THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD IN HONG KONG WAS MONITORING EVENTS CLOSELY AND WOULD BE DISCUSSING THE SITUATION AT ITS NEXT MEETING.
+CLEARLY THIS ISSUE WILL BE ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS TO WHICH I SHALL BE DEVOTING MUCH PERSONAL ATTENTION IN THE MONTHS AHEAD,
MR HO SAID.
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