XN000022-1985-03-27 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985

TURNING TO THE GROWING TREND OF PROTECTIONISM, MR WONG SAID AS HONG KONG WAS VULNERABLE TO EXTERNAL FACTORS, THE RECENT UNILATERAL ACTION BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OVER THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN RULES IN RESPECT OF KNITWEAR MUST BE VIEWED WITH THE UTMOST CONCERN.

+IN THE MEANTIME, NO EFFORTS SHOULD BE SPARED IN FINDING A SOLUTION TO AN INTRACTABLE PROBLEM, WHICH LEAVES US WITH FEW OPTIONS.

+THE APPEAL BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG KNITWEAR ASSOCIATIONS DESERVES SUPPORT AND MERITS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION,+ HE SAID.

MR WONG ALSO SAID THAT A BILL WHICH SOUGHT TO IMPOSE QUOTA RESTRICTIONS ON ALL TEXTILE ITEMS, INCLUDING THOSE NOT COVERED BY THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA), WAS NOW BEFORE THE US CONGRESS.

+AND THERE IS SUGGESTION TO REPLACE THE EXISTING QUOTA SYSTEM BY AN IMPORT LICENCE SYSTEM.

+ IF THAT HAPPENS, EFFECTIVE CONTROL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE EXPORTING COUNTRY, + MR WONG SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT PROTECTIONISM IN ANY FORM MUST BE DEPLORED.

*FOR OUR PART. WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT AND FLEXIBLE AND BE PREPARED TO ADAPT OURSELVES TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES AT SHORT NOTICE, HE SAID.

WONG LAM OPPOSES DUTY ON NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

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THE HON WONG LAM TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ON THE IMPOSITION OF DUTY ON NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUDGET DEBATE.

+WHILE STRONGLY SUPPORTING THE PRINCIPLE OF TAXING INDULGENCE, I AM AFRAID I DO NOT CONCUR THAT NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WERE THE BEST TARGETS FOR RAISING REVENUE.

+MANY NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS SUCH AS AERATED WATERS HAVE ALREADY BECOME PART OF OUR DAILY LIFE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME GROUPS.

/+I DO