XN000022-1982-08-26 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1982

APPOINTMENT OF REGISTRAR GENERAL

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THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR N.M. GLEESON AS REGISTRAR GENERAL TO SUCCEED MR PIERS JACOBS, WHO WILL ASSUME THE POST OF SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES LATE NEXT MONTH.

MR GLEESON IS AGED 48. HE JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1963 AS A LEGAL ASSISTANT IN THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR LEGAL ASSISTANT IN 1965 AND ASSISTANT REGISTRAR GENERAL IN 1969. SINCE 1976, HE HAS ACTED AS REGISTRAR GENERAL ON MANY OCCASIONS.

MR GLEESON IS AT PRESENT IN CHARGE OF THE LAND OFFICE AND HAS EXTENSIVE AND DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF LAND ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG.

FRENCH RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO GATT

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THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT HONG KONG HAS HELD SEVERAL ROUNDS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE EEC COMMISSION SINCE OCTOBER 1981, IN THE SEARCH FOR A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY FRANCE ON THE IMPORT OF A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS FROM HONG KONG, MOST NOTABLY QUARTZ WATCHES.

SINCE NO SATISFACTORY SOLUTION HAS BEEN REACHED IN THE VARIOUS ROUNDS OF TALKS, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS REFERRED THE MATTER TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT), WITH A REQUEST THAT THE GATT SHOULD FORM A PANEL TO EXAMINE THE MATTER.

MR TSAO EXPLAINED THAT ARTICLE XXIII OF THE GATT PROVIDES FOR PARTIES ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS IN THEIR TRADE WITH ANOTHER PARTY TO REFER THE MATTER TO THE GATT COUNCIL FOR A RECOMMENDATION, IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO REACH A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION BILATERALLY.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE MATTER IS LIKELY TO BE TAKEN UP BY THE GATT COUNCIL LATE IN OCTOBER.

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