THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1992
MANUFACTURERS URGED TO NOTE ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS
**
MAJOR
HONG KONG, AS A
MANUFACTURING AND EXPORTING ECONOMY, TO BE NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS AFFECTING TRADE, AND READY TO RESPOND TO THEM.
TRADE AND
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR
INDUSTRY, MR T.H. CHAU, AT THE DINNER GATHERING OF THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION TONIGHT (THURSDAY).
MR CHAU SAID TO HELP ASSESS THE IMPLICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES ON LOCAL INDUSTRIES, APPOINTED CONSULTANTS IN MARCH THIS YEAR TO STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF SUCH MEASURES ON THE KONG'S MANUFACTURED EXPORTS.
THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE COMPETITIVENESS OF HONG
THE STUDY
OF THE
ALSO AIMS
NECESSARY SUPPORT
TO IDENTIFY ANY ΤΟ
AND
DEFICIENCIES IN THE
HOW RECOMMEND
THESE
PROVISION DEFICIENCIES MIGHT BE MADE GOOD HAVING REGARD TO THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF MINIMUM INTERVENTION, MR CHAU SAID.
"WE ARE CONCERNED THAT INDUSTRIALISTS SHOULD BE FULLY INVOLVED IN THIS EXERCISE," HE SAID.
MR CHAU SAID THE CONSULTANTS WERE ALSO BEING
INTRODUCING A CERTIFICATION THE FEASIBILITY OF ENABLE HONG KONG'S EXPORTS, PROVIDED THAT THEY MET TO BE LABELLED AS ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY.
ΤΟ ASKED
ASSESS SCHEME THAT WOULD
CERTAIN CRITERIA,
ENVIRONMENTAL
"SUCH A SCHEME MIGHT HELP ΤΟ MAINTAIN LOCAL MANUFACTURERS' COMPETITIVENESS IN WORLD MARKETS IN THE FACE OF GROWING PRESSURES, HE SAID.
ו
ENVIRONMENTAL
MR
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING A NEW PERFORMANCE CATEGORY IN THIS YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY, CHAU SAID.
WHO
THE NEW CATEGORY WILL RECOGNISE AND REWARD THOSE HAVE
PRACTICES THAT INCORPORATED ENVIRONMENT.
MANUFACTURERS
PROTECT
OR
ENHANCE THE
TURNING TO THE LINK BETWEEN TRADE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, MR
IN THE
AND SAID THE SUBJECT HAD BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION
GATT, CONTINUE TO BE IN THE FUTURE.
CHAU WOULD
POSITION "THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S
ON THIS IS THAT GATT ALIVE TO
AND CLEARLY HAS TO BE
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES;
THAT MANY PURPOSES ARE TRADE-RESTRICTIVE MEASURES INTRODUCED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL NOT INCONSISTENT WITH GATT'S OBJECTIVES.
"BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK THAT TRADE PROTECTIONISM MAY SOMETIMES CREEP IN UNDER THE CLOAK OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
TO "THAT IS SOMETHING WHICH WE ARE KEEN MADE OUR VIEWS ON THIS KNOWN IN GATT, HE SAID.
H
AVOID, AND WE HAVE
/NOTING THAT