XN000022-1981-10-30 — Page 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1981

TEXTILES TASK FORCE APPOINTED

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A TEXTILES TASK FORCE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.

THE CREATION OF THE TEXTILES TASK FORCE WAS FORESHADOWED BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR BILL DORWARD, IN A STATEMENT TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST APRIL.

+WITH THE IMMINENCE OF WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE THE FINAL ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THE MFA, AND THE INTER-RELATED QUESTIONS OF HONG KONG'S BILATERAL RESTRAINT AGREEMENTS MADE UNDER THE MFA, I THINK THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO PUT TOGETHER A TEAM WHICH CAN CONCENTRATE ON THESE VITAL ISSUES,+ MR DORWARD SAID.

THE TASK FORCE COMPRISES A CORE OF OFFICERS IN THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WITH LONG EXPERIENCE OF HONG KONG'S TEXTILES AFFAIRS. OTHER OFFICERS WITH SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH MATTERS AS QUOTA CONTROLS AND CERTIFICATION OF ORIGIN WILL BE ADDED TO THIS CORE AS REQUIRED.

HONG KONG'S COUNSELLOR IN GENEVA, MR BRIAN CHAU, IS A MEMBER AND WILL REMAIN HONG KONG'S PRINCIPAL NEGOTIATOR ON THE FUTURE OF THE MFA.

THE TASK FORCE IS HEADED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE MR_LAWRENCE MILLS, WHO WILL BE JOINING MR CHAU NEXT MONTH N GENEVA FOR THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TEXTILES COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THE MFA.

THE TASK FORCE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, AND IS GUIDED IN ITS WORK BY THE ADVICE OF THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD.

MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE WILL REPRESENT HONG KONG AT A WEEK-LONG MEETING OF DEVELOPING EXPORTING COUNTRIES TO BE HELD IN NEW DELHI STARTING ON NOVEMBER 2 AS PART OF THE SERIES OF MFA CO-ORDINATION ACTIVITIES SO FAR HELD IN BOGOTA, DJAKARTA AND HONG KONG.

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