XN000022-1975-02-07 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1975

TRADE OFFICIALS LEAVE FOR IMPORTANT TALKS IN EUROPE

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TWO SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WILL LEAVE FOR EUROPE TOMORROW (SATURDAY) FOR TRADE TALKS WITH AUSTRIA AND EEC MEMBER STATES.

MR. LAWRENCE MILLS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, IN CHARGE OF COMMERCIAL RELATIONS, WILL FLY INITIALLY TO GENEVA WHERE HE WILL HOLD CONSULTATIONS WITH OFFICIALS OF THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT ON ITS REQUEST FOR RESTRAINTS ON THE EXPORTS OF HONG KONG SHIRTS TO THAT COUNTRY.

HE WILL. THEN SEE TRADE OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS AND IN THE OTHER EEC MEMBER STATES AS WELL AS HONG KONG'S TWO REPRESENTATIVES IN EUROPE, MR. CLAUDE BURGESS AND MR. PAT DODGE.

MR. MILLS' LATEST VISIT TO EUROPE IS HIS SECOND IN THREE WEEKS AND IS BEING MADE TO HELP HIM PUT HONG KONG'S NEGOTIATING DRIEF INTO FINAL PROSPECTIVE FOR THE FORTHCOMING TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EEC, THESE ARE LIKELY TO BE HELD IN ABOUT A MONTH'S TIME.

MR. PETER TSAO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN-CHARGE OF COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH THE COMMON MARKET AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ORGANISATIONS, WILL ATTEND IN GENEVA A MEETING OF THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE GATT. THE COMMITTEE WILL

DISCUSS WAYS OF REDUCING ON A MUTUAL BASIS - TARIFF AND NON-TARIFF BARRIERS TO WORLD TRADE.

BEFORE THIS, HOWEVER, MR. TSAO WILL ATTEND AN INFORMAL METING OF THE DEVELOPING MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC (ESCAP) IN CONNECTION WITH THE GATT MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS TO BE HELD LATER THIS YEAR.

THE PURPOSE OF THE INFORMAL TALKS IS TO ENABLE THE DEVELOPING MEMBERS OF ESCAP TO DISCUSS HOW THEY MIGHT PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE FORTHCOMING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AT THE GATT MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.