WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1986
CHINA NOW HK'S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER
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CHINA NOW RANKS AS HONG KONG'S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER, EVEN BIGGER THAN THE UNITED STATES, AND HAS RISEN TO BECOME THE SECOND LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC EXPORTS, THE HON LYDIA DUNN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SHE WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, WHICH SEEKS TO PRVIDE FOR THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO BE REPRESENTED ON THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
MISS DUNN SUPPORTED THE BILL AND SAID SINCE 1979, HONG KONG'S BILATERAL TRADE WITH CHINA HAD GROWN FROM $17 BILLION TO $95 BILLION IN 1984 AND $98 BILLION IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF LAST YEAR.
AS A MARKET FOR OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, CHINA HAD RISEN FROM 37TH PLACE IN 1978 TO SECOND PLACE IN 1984, SHE ADDED.
IN ASSISTING THE HONG KONG TRADING COMMUNITY TO REALISE THE POTENTIAL THAT THIS IMPORTANT MARKET OFFERED, MISS DUNN SAID, THE TDC MUST HAVE ACCESS TO AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE THAT WAS AVAILABLE ON THE PRACTICALITIES OF DOING BUSINESS WITH CHINA.
+THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS THIS INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE, AND THE MAIN PROVISION IN THIS BILL THAT IT SHOULD BE REPRESENTED ON THE COUNCIL IS VERY TIMELY INDEED, SHE SAID.
+THE WELL-ESTABLISHED CONTACTS AND BUSINESS RELATIONS WHICH THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER HAVE WITH CHINA AND THEIR INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF TRADING CHANNELS IN THAT MARKET WILL BE INVALUABLE IN THE TDC'S WORK, SHE ADDED.
WORK AGAINST TRADE PROTECTIONISM CONTINUES
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THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER TRADE ORGANISATIONS TO SAFEGUARD AND PROMOTE HONG KONG'S INTERESTS AGAINST TRADE PROTECTIONISM.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SHE TABLED THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TDC FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1984-85 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MISS DUNN SAID ALTHOUGH THE JENKINS BILL WAS VETOED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN, PROTECTIONIST SENTIMENT REMAINED STRONG IN THE UNITED STATES, HONG KONG'S LARGEST MARKET.
/SHE ADDED