XN000022-1984-08-30 — Page 3

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1934

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TEXTILE PROBLEMS TO BE DISUCSSED

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THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, WILL CHAIR A MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) BETWEEN SENIOR OFFICERS OF HIS DEPARTMENT AND REPRESENTATIVES OF FIVE CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN ISSUING ORGANISATIONS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE PROPOSED U.S. RULES OF ORIGIN ON TEXTILES EXPORTS TO AMERICA, AND TO DISCUSS ANY OTHER STEPS TO BE TAKEN,

ALSO PRESENT WILL BE THE HONG KONG EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE HONG KONG JAPANESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY,

THE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE TRADE DEPARTMENT'S CONFERENCE ROOM IN OCEAN CENTRE.

+THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WILL BE VERY USEFUL SINCE MR MACLEOD WILL HAVE THE LATEST THINKING OF THESE ORGANISATIONS TO BRING WITH HIM TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TEXTILES COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) IN GENEVA ON SEPTEMBER 4 TO BE ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF MORE THAN 20 COUNTRIES,+ A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

MR MACLEOD WILL LEAVE HONG KONG BY AIR TOMORROW NIGHT FOR GENEVA.

THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, MR MACLEOD MET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG KNITWEAR ASSOCIATIONS,

INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN, MR KENNETH FANG, AND THE VICE-CHAIRMAN, MR FRANK LIN.

HE BROUGHT THEM UP TO DATE ON DEVELOPMENTS, AND THEY EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE INDUSTRY.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTERWARDS, MR MACLEOD COMMENTED THAT HE WAS STILL HOPEFUL THAT PRESSURES EXERTED BOTH DOMESTICALLY AN INTERNATIONALLY WOULD BRING ABOUT A RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE.

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