XN000022-1985-12-27 — Page 7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 195.

BILL PROPOSES ADDITIONAL MEMBERS FOR TDC

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A BILL WHICH PROVIDES FOR TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONG KONG, TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

UNDER THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, THE CHAIRMAN AND A NOMINEE OF THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONG KONG, ARE TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE OTHER THREE MAJOR TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS (HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES AND CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION) ARE CURRENTLY REPRESENTED ON THE COUNCIL.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DUE TO THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, SOME CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR THE SECTIONS DEALING WITH MEETING PROCEDURES OF THE COUNCIL.

+ IT ALSO SEEKS TO DELEGATE GREATER POWER OF APPOINTMENT OF STAFF TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HE ADDED.

THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST READING ON JANUARY 8, 1986,

U.S. REPORT ON IMPORTS UNDER ATTACK

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THE INFORMAL GROUP OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, EXPORTERS OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING, OF WHICH HONG KONG IS REPRESENTED HAS HIT OUT AT A REPORT BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT THAT THE PROVISIONS AND THE APPLICATION OF THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA) HAVE FAILED TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE TEXTILES IMPORTS INTO THE U.S.

IN A LETTER TO THE U.S. SENATE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP AMBASSADOR FELIPE JARAMILLO OF COLOMBIA, SAID THE FINDINGS OF THE REPORT ON THE FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OF TEXTILES AND APPAREL IMPORT QUOTAS BY THE U.S. COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS SUFFERED FROM FACTUAL INCONSISTENCIES AS WELL AS FROM MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE PROVISIONS OF THE MFA AND THE EFFECT OF IMPORTS ON THE U.S. TEXTILES AND APPAREL INDUSTRIES.

+ IT FAILS TO REFLECT THE REALITIES OF THE TRADE SITUATION, AMBASSADOR JARAMILLO SAID.

+

REPRESENTING 28 TRADING PARTNERS OF THE U.S., THE INFORMAL GROUP OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE INCREASE OF IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED STATES FOR THE YEARS 1983 AND 1984 SHOULD BE VIEWED IN PERSPECTIVE.

/IT POINTED