XN000022-1985-09-06 — Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1985

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EFFORTS AGAINST JENKINS BILL STEPPED UP

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HONG KONG IS TO STEP UP ITS EFFORTS AGAINST THE JENKINS BILL BY POSTING MR BILL DORWARD. COMMISSIONER FOR COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS, FROM NEW YORK TO WASHINGTON AND BY SENDING AN ADDITIONAL DIRECTORATE LEVEL OFFICER TO THE UNITED STATES CAPITAL.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE EXTRA FIRST SECRETARY POST PREVIOUSLY AGREED WHICH WILL BE FILLED NEXT MONTH,

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR DONALD TSANG, SAID THAT THE DECISION TO EFFECT THESE POSTINGS FOLLOWED A REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATION IN WASHINGTON.

HE SAID THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WOULD TAKE EFFECT QUICKLY.

+BILL DORWARD IS, OF COURSE NO STRANGER TO WASHINGTON OR TO THIS ISSUE. IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HE HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN WASHINGTON, SO TO SOME EXTENT THE MOVE HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, DESPITE THIS MOVE, HE WILL RETAIN HIS NEW YORK RESPONSIBILITIES.

+WE WILL ALSO BE SENDING MR P.C. LEUNG TO REPORT FOR DUTY IN WASHINGTON NEXT MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 9). MR LEUNG HAS A TRADE BACKGROUND AND FOR THREE YEARS, UNTIL LAST YEAR, WORKED ON OUR U.S. DESK. SO HE IS FAMILIAR WITH U.S. ISSUES AND WILL BE ABLE TO RELEASE OUR COUNSELLOR IN WASHINGTON, MR PETER LO, TO SPEND MORE TIME ON THE JENKINS BILL.

*THE EXTRA FIRST SECRETARY POST WILL BE FILLED BY MR ARTHUR HO, CURRENTLY OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT. HE WILL DEPART FOR WASHINGTON IN OCTOBER.

MR TSANG SAID THIS WAS ONE PROPOSAL WHICH HAD BEEN DISCUSSED AND ENDORSED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD IN ITS RECENT MEETINGS. HE ADDED THAT THE STANDING COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING VARIOUS OTHER IDEAS ON HOW HONG KONG CAN FURTHER INTENSIFY ITS ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES BUT HE DECLINED TO ELABORATE AT THIS STAGE.

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