XN000022-1985-11-23 — Page 2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1985

1

U.S. RECOGNISES HONG KONG'S OPEN TRADING

******

WASHINGTON (NOVEMBER 22) - A REPORT ON TRADE BARRIERS IN OVERSEAS COUNTRIES JUST RELEASED BY THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE DELIBERATELY EXCLUDES HONG KONG, ACCORDING TO A LEADING US GOVERNMENT TRADE OFFICIAL.

THE REPORT LOOKS AT TRADE BARRIERS MAINTAINED BY 34 OF THE WORLD'S LEADING MARKET ECONOMIES, INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE ASSISTANT TRADE REPRESENTATIVE FOR INDUSTRY AND SERVICES, BRUCE WILSON, HONG KONG WAS EXCLUDED BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF TRADE BARRIERS.

+HONG KONG WAS LOOKED AT FOR THE REPORT. COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, IT HAS AN OPEN TRADE REGIME AND WE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE TO MAKE IT WORTHY OF INCLUSION,+ MR WILSON SAID.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG COULD BE INCLUDED IN

A FUTURE REPORT IF IT IS FOUND THAT THE SITUATION ON TRADE BARRIERS OR PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS NOT UP TO STANDARD.

COMMENTING ON HONG KONG'S EXCLUSION FROM THE REPORT, THE TERRITORY'S COMMISSIONER IN NEW YORK, BILL DORWARD, SAID THAT THIS OFFICIAL US RECOGNITION OF HONG KONG'S FREE TRADE POLICIES WAS VERY USEFUL IN THE PRESENT WASHINGTON DC CLIMATE.

+AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT MR WILSON WILL NOT FIND THAT HONG KONG'S INCLUSION WILL BE NECESSARY IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, EITHER BECAUSE OF TRADE RESTRICTIONS OR LACK OF ADEQUATE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. OUR STRICT ANTI-COUNTERFEITING REGULATIONS AND THE RIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF THEM ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY WELL KNOWN,+ MR DORWARD SAID.

IS IN THE REPORT, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE ISSUED RESPONSE TO A REQUIREMENT IN THE TRADE AND TARIFF ACT OF 1984. IT WILL BE UPDATED ANNUALLY.

IN A STATEMENT ACCOMPANYING THE REPORT, THE US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, CLAYTON YEUTTER, SAID THAT THE US IS SEEKING TO ELIMINATE ALL THE UNFAIR TRADE BARRIERS LISTED IN IT. +EITHER THROUGH BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS, AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT OF US LANS, OR CHALLENGES AT INTERNATIONAL TRADE ORGANISATIONS.+

1

12 ..