XN000022-1984-04-26 — Page 6

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1984

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GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LEFT FOR PEKING THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON TO TAKE PART IN THE 13TH ROUND OF THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

HE WAS SEEN OFF AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THẾ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO, AND THE VICE-CHIEF EDITOR OF THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (HONG KONG BRANCH), MR TAN GAN.

ACCOMPANYING THE GOVERNOR WERE THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR ROBIN MCLAREN, AND THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF INTERPRETER, MR Y.P. CHENG.

HK CALLS FOR FREE TRADE AT ADB MEETING

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THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR D.W.A. BLYE, TODAY URGED DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO HONOUR THEIR OFTEN REPEATED+ COMMITMENTS TO FREE TRADE TO ENABLE DEVELOPING MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK TO CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THE CURRENT RECOVERY IN THE WORLD ECONOMY.

MAKING THE PLEA AT THE 17TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BANK'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS IN AMSTERDAM, HE POINTED OUT THAT DESPITE THE RECOVERY, THERE WERE ALSO DANGEROUS SIGNS OF A RESURGENCE OF TRADE PROTECTIONIST MEASURES.

+THIS IS DESPITE A GENERAL RECOGNITION, BY COUNTRIES IMPOSING OR CONSIDERING IMPOSING SUCH MEASURES, THAT FREE TRADE IS NECESSARY FOR SECURING BOTH THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE FOR, AND A SUSTAINED RECOVERY IN, THE WORLD ECONOMY AND DESPITE DECLARATIONS AT HIGH LEVEL GATHERINGS THAT HAVE REAFFIRMED COMMITMENTS TO HALT AND REVERSE PROTECTION | SM, HE SAID.

THE TRADE POLICIES OF SOME DEVELOPED COUNTRIES DID NOT MATCH THESE COMMITMENTS, MR BLYE SAID. RESTRICTIONS WERE MANY AND THERE WAS A WORRYING TENDENCY FOR RESTRICTIONS ONCE CONFINED TO THOSE SECTORS OF TRADE TRADITIONALLY +PROTECTED+ TO SPREAD TO OTHER SECTORS.

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