XN000022-1985-11-19 — Page 6

PUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1985

THE SUM MOYEE WILL BE CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TDC, WHICH HAS A SPECIAL ROLE IN THE FUNDING OF HONG KONG'S LOBBYISTS IN THE UNITED STATES,

ILL BE A CO-OPTED MEMBER.

*THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE WILL BE TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL TRADE PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1986 AND TO REVIEW EXISTING RESOURCES, MR MACLEOD SAID.

+TO ASSIST ITS DELIBERATIONS IT WILL MEET AND CONSULT VARIOUS LOCAL INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL GROUPS,+ HE ADDED.

THE NEW GROUP HAS EVOLVED FROM A STANDING COMMITTEE OF TEXTAB, WHICH WAS SET UP IN AUGUST THIS YEAR TO LOOK AT LOBBYING EFFORTS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE JENKINS BILL.

+UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT PROTECTION IST PRESSURES IN THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, MR MACLEOD SAID.

+ALTHOUGH THE TEXTILES SECTOR WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN, THERE ARE OTHER AREAS WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO NEED WATCHING, AND ACTION, BY THE TEAM IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK, HE SAID.

A PARTICULAR CONCERN IS LIKELY TO BE THE PRESERVATION OF HONG KONG'S U.S. GSP BENEFICIARY STATUS. LEGISLATION IS BEING DRAFTED IN THE SENATE WHICH WOULD SEEK TO EXCLUDE SOME DEVELOPING TERRITORIES FROM GSP. THIS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT HONG KONG OVER A WIDE RANGE OF IMPORTS, AND LOBBYING IS PROCEEDING TO INFLUENCE THE CONTENTS OF THIS LEGISLATION.

+WHILE THE MAJORITY OF TOPICS CAN CONTINUE TO BE DEALT WITH IN CONSULTATION WITH THE TWO MAIN COMMITTEES, TEXTAB AND TAB, PROTECTIONIST PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES REQUIRE A LEVEL OF DETAIL, SUCH AS THE SELECTION AND OVERSIGHT OF LOBBYISTS, NOT NORMALLY EXPECTED OF THE MAIN COMMITTEES. MOREOVER, THEY CUT ACROSS BOTH TEXTILE AND NON-TEXTILE AREAS, + MR MACLEOD SAID.

DORWARD MEETS U.S. TRADE CHIEF ON JENKINS BILL

****

HONG KONG'S COMMISSIONER FOR COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN THE UNITED STATES, MR BILL DORWARD, YESTERDAY (MONDAY) MADE PUBLIC HIS DISCUSSIONS LAST FRIDAY WITH THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, MR CLAYTON YEUTTER.

MEETING IN THE WAKE OF THE 60-39 VOTE IN THE U.S. SENATE IN FAVOUR OF THE TEXTILE BILL, MR DORWARD AND MR YEUTTEP DISCUSSED THE BILL'S PROBABLE FUTURE COURSE.

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