5
SUNDAY, MAY 2, 1993
GARMENT
"IN REALITY, THERE IS A LARGE AND HEALTHY TEXTILES AND INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG AND THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO DEFEND ITS IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL AUTONOMY THROUGH THE ENFORCEMENT OF TIGHT BUT SENSIBLE DISCIPLINES, KEPT UNDER REVIEW,
"
HE SAID.
VIGOROUS CONSTANT
HONG
WHEN ADDRESSING A SYMPOSIUM MARKING THE FOUNDATION OF THE KONG-AMERICA CENTRE RECENTLY, MR JACKSON STATED THE FOLLOWING FACTS:
HONG KONG'S PRODUCTIVITY IN TEXTILES AND GARMENT INDUSTRY IS HIGH AND GETTING HIGHER:
THERE IS A LARGE INDUSTRY HERE HMPLOYING ABOUT 240,000 WORKERS:
AN INDUSTRY LOCKED INTO HONG KONG BY THE ABSURDITIES OF THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT BUT WHICH IS SENSIBLY INVESTING IN ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING CAPACITY ELSEWHERE;
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT'S TEXTILES CONTROL SYSTEM IS SOPHISTICATED OF ANY PLACE EXPORTING TEXTILES AND UNDER QUOTA ;
THE MOST GARMENTS
MANUFACTURERS WISHING TO REGISTER WITH THE SYSTEM DECLARE THEIR MAXIMUM MANUFACTURING OUTPUT CAPACITY:
CAPACITY
HAVE TO
IS REGULARLY CHECKED AND RANDOM FACTORY INSPECTIONS ARE MADE;
TEXTILES AND GARMENTS IMPORTED FROM CHINA ARE OFTEN INSPECTED FOR FALSE LABELLING AND FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTS;
THERE IS AN INFORMER SCHEME OFFERING UP ΤΟ $20,000 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TEXTILES FRAUD;
OVER 300 SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS AGAINST QUOTA FRAUD WERE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR; AND
A NEW TEXTILES TRADERS REGISTRATION SCHEME [S BEING INTRODUCED THIS SUMMER, DESIGNED TO SIMPLIFY PROCEDURES TRADERS WHILE IMPROVING SURVEILLANCE OF TEXTILES GARMENT'S TRANSITING HONG KONG.
"MANY U.S. OFFICIALS AND TRADERS UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE COMMITMENT. THE HONG KONG TRADE DEPARTMENT AND THE CUSTOMS EXCISE DEPARTMENT ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM WELL. WE DO OUR BEST TO CONVINCE OUR REMAINING CRITICS IN THAT HONG KONG QUOTA IS USED FOR HONG KONG-MADE GOODS AND THAT WE DETERMINED IT WILL STAY THAT WAY," HE ADDED.
FOR
AND
OUR
AND
WORKS
AMERICA ARE
TALKING ABOUT AMERICAN PERCEPTIONS ABOUT HONG KONG, MR JACKSON SAID HONG KONG'S OFFICIALS OR BUSINESS GROUPS WENT ΤΟ WASHINGTON THESE DAYS MET WITH A BETTER INFORMED AUDIENCE AWARE ON WHAT HONG KONG STOOD FOR, FAMILIAR WITH SOMETHING OF ITS UNIQUE POSITION, GENERALLY WELL-DISPOSED.
AND
/SO WHEN