XN000022-1978-08-14 — Page 8

MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1978

TALKS WITH UNITED STATES ON FOOTWEAR AND

TEXTILES START TOMORROW *****

THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR. LAWRENCE MILLS, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT CONSULTATIONS WITH U.S. OFFICIALS WERE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (TUESDAY) ON EXPORTS OF CERTAIN NON-RUBBER FOOTWEAR FROM HONG KONG TO THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY MR. STEVE LANDE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES' SPECIAL TRADE REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON.

+THESE TALKS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR SOME TIME BUT IT WAS. DIFFICULT TO FIND A MUTUALLY CONVENIENT TIME AND PLACE FOR THEM. MR. MILLS SAID.

+AS A CONSEQUENCE, OUR OVERSEAS CONSULTATION COMMITMENTS ARE BEGINNING TO PILE UP, + MR. MILLS ADDED.

ANOTHER HONG KONG DELEGATION WILL LEAVE ON FRIDAY (AUGUST 18) FOR THE UNITED STATES TO RESUME CONSULTATIONS ON VARIOUS ISSUES LEFT UNRESOLVED WHEN MR. MIKE SMITH, THE U.S. CHIEF TEXTILE NEGOTIATOR AND HIS TEAM VISITED HONG KONG FROM JULY 17 - 21.

+I HOPE THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO FINALISE THESE OUTSTANDING MATTERS IN WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE DECKS FOR OTHER IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS WHICH WE HAVE SCHEDULED. THESE INCLUDE FURTHER MEETINGS WITH CANADIAN OFFICIALS ON TEXTILES AND OTHER MATTERS REQUESTED BY CANADA EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND A CONTINUATION OF THE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFICIALS FROM BRUSSELS ON CERTIFICATION OF ORIGIN AND CLASSIFICATION PRACTICES. FURTHERMORE WE HAVE NOW ASKED THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT FOR CONSULTATIONS UNDER ARTICLE XIX OF THE GATT FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT BY NORWAY OF ITS SELECTIVE RESTRAINTS AGAINST HONG KONG WITH GLOBAL RESTRICTIONS UNDER GATT ARTICLE XIX,+ MR. MILLS SAID.

MEANWHILE MR PETER TSAO, COUNSELLOR FOR HONG KONG AFFAIRS IN GENEVA WILL BE RETURNING THERE SHORTLY TO HEAD THE HONG KONG TEAM IN THE MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME IN GENEVA IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.

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