THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1989
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THE SEMINAR WAS HELD TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF HONG KONG'S BUSINESSMEN, PARTICULARLY THOSE ENGAGED IN THE SERVICES INDUSTRIES, OF THE CURRENT GATT NEGOTIATIONS ON SERVICES AND OF THE ISSUES WHICH HAVE A BEARING ON THE EXPORT OF SERVICES FROM, AND IMPORT OF SERVICES INTO, HONG KONG.
IT ALSO HELPED TO OBTAIN DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM THE SERVICES INDUSTRIES ON OBSTACLES THEY FACED IN EXTORTING THE SERVICES OVERSEAS WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE GATT HEGOTIATIONS.
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MR CHAN SAID PRINCIPLES OF NON-DISCRIMINATION, TRANSPARENCY REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, PROFESSIVE LIBERALISATION OF RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE IN SERVICES, BOUN TECATMENT BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN SERVICES PROVIDERS AS WELL AS AMONG FOREIGN SERVICES PROVIDERS, SHOULD BE FULLY ENSHRINED IN THE PROPOSED MULTILATERAL FRAMEWORK ON TRADE IN SERVICES AND TRANSLATED INTO OPERATIONAL PROVISIONS.
"THESE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES WOULD PERMIT SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ECONOMIES SUCH AS HONG KONG, WITH LIMITED BARGAINING POWER IN TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, TU BENEFIT SUBSTANTIALLY FROM MEMBERSHIP OF THE PROPOSED FRAMEWORK, HE SAID.
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"THEY WOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES UNDER THE BASIC 'COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE' WOULD BC REALISED POSSIBLE," HE ADDED.
BENEFITS OF OPTIMUM ECONOMIC CONCEPT OF TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE TWO-DAY SEMINAR WOULD PROVIDE USEFUL INPUTS TO THE GOVERNMENT'S THINKING ON THE ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE TACKLED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS AND HELP SET THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITIES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
"IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE RAISED AND THE PROBLEMS YOU ENCOUNTER IN EXPORTING YOUR SERVICES OVERSEAS WOULD BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED IN THE PROPOSED MULTILATERAL FRAMEWORK ON TRADE IN SERVICES TO BE AGREED BY THE END OF THE URUGUAY ROUND," HE SAID.
MR CHAN STRESSED THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO EXPECT IMMEDIATE, WIDE RANGING CHANGES TO EMERGE.
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THE PROCESS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE A DRAWN OUT ONE AND IT MAY BE TIME BEFORE MAJOR CHANGES AFFECTING INDIVIDUAL. TRADERS OF SERVICES ARE PUT INTO EFFECT.
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"THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THERE IS NOW A MULTILATERAL COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN THE VARIOUS SERVICES MARKETS.
"THIS COMMITMENT CAN CREATE A NEW AND BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES. WE AS A GOVERNMENT MUST WORK TOGETHER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO GIVE MOMENTUM AND DIRECTION TO INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS IN THIS WORK WHICH WILL BENEFIT US ALL. HE SAID.
MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY FOR THE GOVERNMENT PUSH FOR THE OPENING UP OF MARKETS OVERSEAS FOR OUR EXPORTS SERVICES, THERE WAS A DEFINITE ROLE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PLAY.
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"THIS SEMINAR