XN000022-1985-11-18 — Page 12

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1985

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U.S. GSP PROPOSALS MONITORED IN WASHINGTON

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HONG KONG'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE LOBBYING AGAINST POSSIBLE CHANGES RELATING TO THE RULES GOVERNING

ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFICIARY STATUS UNDER ITS GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES (GSP).

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE DRAFTING

+

A TRADE BILL SEEKING AMONG OTHER THINGS TO EXCLUDE SOME DEVELOPING NATIONS FROM THE U.S. GSP.

+ WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME,+ SAID DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD. +HONG KONG'S COMMISSIONER FOR COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS, BILL DORWARD, HIS STAFF AND OUR LOBBYISTS HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH KEY SENATORS AND THEIR AIDES TO EXPLAIN WHY HONG KONG CONTINUES TO NEED THE ASSISTANCE WHICH GSP OFFERS.

+NO FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL HAS YET BEEN PUBLISHED BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT ONE IDEA WAS TO SET A LOW PER CAPITA GSP FIGURE WITH BENEFICIARIES EXCLUDED AS THEY REACHED IT. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THIS IDEA IS BEING OVERTAKEN BY ANOTHER PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD SEEK SPECIFICALLY TO EXCLUDE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS. EITHER VERSION COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT HONG KONG.+

A SIMILAR MOVE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAS DEFEATED IN OCTOBER 1984 WHEN CONGRESS DECIDED TO EXTEND THE GSP SCHEME FOR A FURTHER 10 YEARS.

MR MACLEOD SAID THAT A CLOSE WATCH WOULD BE KEPT ON DEVELOPMENTS.

CHINESE VERSION OF REPORT READY

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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE CHINESE VERSION OF THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE AND THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY TO COMMENT ON IT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT COPIES OF THE CHINESE REPORT HAD BEEN SENT TO DISTRICT OFFICES AND LIBRARIES WHERE INTERESTED PARTIES COULD GO AND READ THEM IF THEY WISHED. FURTHER COPIES HAVE ALSO BEEN SENT TO DISTRICT BOARDS.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT ARE THOSE OF THE BOARD, AND ARE NOT GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.

THE ADMINISTRATION