WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1986
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HONG KONG NOW SPEAKS FOR ITSELF IN GATT
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HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GATT WILL NOW SPEAK IN HONG KONG'S NAME, RATHER THAN AS THE UNITED KINGDOM SPEAKING FOR HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG, MR HO SAID THIS FOLLOWED THE DECLARATION BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE GATT ON APRIL 23 THAT HONG KONG POSSESSED FULL AUTONOMY IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND OF OTHER MATTERS PROVIDED FOR IN THE GATT.
+WITH THIS NEW STATUS, WE SHALL, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO PLAY OUR FULL PART IN SUPPORT OF THE BASIC PRÍNCIPLES AND PURPOSES OF THE GATT AND IN DEFENCE OF HONG KONG'S RIGHTS THEREUNDER, HE SAID.
+ THE OTHER DIFFERENCE WILL BE THAT WE SHALL HAVE TO PAY OUR SHARE OF THE GATT BUDGET, WHICH HAS HITHERTO BEEN PART OF THE UK'S CONTRIBUTION AND BORNE OUT OF UK FUNDS.
AS REGARDS STAFFING TO COPE WITH THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN WORKLOAD, MR HO SAID THE WORKLOAD OF THE GENEVA OFFICE AND THE MULTILATERAL DIVISION OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT HAD INDEED INCREASED AS A RESULT OF HONG KONG'S INVOLVEMENT IN A RANGE OF CURRENT MULTILATERAL TRADE ISSUES, INCLUDING THE FUTURE OF THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT AND THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE NEXT GATT ROUND.
+A REVIEW OF THE STAFFING OF THE GENEVA OFFICE HAS RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED IN ORDER TO TAKE COGNISANCE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY AND WORKLOAD, HE SAID.
+ARISING FROM THIS REVIEW PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN THE GENEVA OFFICE WILL BE PUT TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
+THE MULTILATERAL DIVISION OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT IS CONSIDERED TO BE ADEQUATELY STAFFED AT PRESENT, THOUGH THE POSITION WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED.+
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