XN000022-1985-02-11 — Page 2

}

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1985

TAB HEARS REPORT ON U.S. RULES TALKS

***

THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD, CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO HELD A SPECIAL MEETING THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON TO CONSIDER A REPORT FROM THE RECENT HONG KONG DELEGATION TO WASHINGTON ON THE PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES IN RESPECT OF THE U.S. ORIGIN REGULATIONS.

AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED, THE TALKS HAVE BEEN ADJOURNED TO ENABLE THE UNITED STATES TO CONSIDER FURTHER, AND TO RESPOND TO THE PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY HONG KONG. THE WEEK STARTING MARCH 11 HAS BEEN SET AS A PROVISIONAL DATE FOR RESUMING THE TALKS, ALTHOUGH THE POSSIBILITY OF SEEKING FURTHER TALKS THIS MONTH HAS NOT BEEN RULED OUT.

AFTER THE MEETING THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID : +WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING WHAT FURTHER ACTION WE MIGHT TAKÉ IN CONSULTATION WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK AND GENEVA.

+SOME INITIAL IDEAS WERE PUT TO THE BOARD TODAY, BUT I CANNOT AT THIS STAGE GIVE ANY DETAILS.+

MR MACLEOD ADDED THE U.S. ATTITUDE DURING THE CONSULTATIONS WAS UNREASONABLE AND UNHELPFUL. THIS AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE BOARD EXPRESSED THE IR FRUSTRATION AT THE U.S. ATTITUDE TO THE CONSULTATIONS.+

HE SAID # +NEVERTHELESS, WE CONTINUE TO HOPE THAT THE U.S. WILL TAKE FULL NOTE OF THE TEXTILE SURVEILLANCE BODY RECOMMENDATION AND RESPOND TO OUR PROBLEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE MFA AND OUR BILATERAL AGREEMENT.+

TUNG WAH CEREMONY

***

THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITAL $ TAI TUNG PUI MULTI-SERVICE CENTRE IN TUEN MUN ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 AT 2.30 PM.

A SPECIAL COACH PROVIDED BY THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS FOR GUESTS AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL LEAVE THE CAR PARK OF KWONG WAH HOSPITAL AT WATERLOO ROAD, KOWLOON AT 1 PM,

AFTER THE CEREMONY, SIR EDWARD AND LADY YOUDE WILL PROCEED TO YAU OI ESTATE AND GO UP TO THE ROOF OF OI HEI HOUSE FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.

FOLLOWING A BRIEFING AT THE ROOFTOP, SIR EDWARD AND LADY YOUDE -WILL VISIT A FACTORY AT LUNG MUN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING AT KIN WING

STREET.

/2