XN000022-1985-12-29 — Page 2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 19.35

TWELVE HONG KONG PRODUCTS REMAIN ON GSP LIST

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THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY'S GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES FOR 1986 WILL NOT EXCLUDE ANY PRODUCT FROM HONG KONG, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR JOSPEH WONG, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS HAS REJECTED THE COMMISSION'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO EXCLUDE 12 HONG KONG PRODUCTS FROM THE GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES. THESE PRODUCTS WILL THEREFORE CONTINUE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR GSP BENEFITS ALTHOUGH THE QUOTA LEVEL (I.E. THE LEVEL WITHIN WHICH DUTY-FREE BENEFITS ARE GIVEN) IN 1986 WILL BE ABOUT HALF OF THE 1985 LEVEL.

THE 12 PRODUCTS INCLUDE TRAVEL GOODS OF MATERIALS OTHER THAN ARTIFICIAL PLASTIC SHEETING PROTECTIVE GLOVES OF LEATHER OR LEATHER COMPOSITION FOR ALL TRADES; RUBBER FOOTWEAR FOOTWEAR WITH OUTER SOLES OF LEATHER OR COMPOSITION LEATHER IMITATION JEWELLERY PORTABLE ELECTRIC BATTERY AND MAGNETIC LAMPS OTHER THAN MINER'S SAFETY LAMPS: COLOUR TELEVISIONS; DIODES; TRANSISTORS; QUARTZ WATCHES: DOLLS OTHER TOYS EQUIPMENT FOR PARLOUR, TABLE AND FUNFAIR GAMES,

EXPORTS OF THESE 12 PRODUCTS TO THE EEC FOR THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF 1985 AMOUNTED TO $3 792 MILLION OR 21 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPORTS TO THE EEC OF $18 152 MILLION.

TO PUT THE 1986 SCHEME IN PERSPECTIVE, MR WONG SAID THAT THE EEC HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT TO ALL BENEFICIARIES BY INCREASING THE QUOTA LEVELS OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS GENERALLY BY 9.5 PER CENT. THIS IS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE ACCESSION OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL INTO THE EEC FROM JANUARY 1, 1986.

INCREASES ON THE QUOTA LEVELS OF A NUMBER OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS VARY BETWEEN 9.5 PER CENT AND 76 PER CENT. THEY INCLUDE TRAVEL GOODS OF ARTIFICIAL PLASTIC SHEETING ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES OF LEATHER OR COMPOSITION LEATHER; FOOTWEAR WITH UPPERS OF LEATHER: UMBRELLAS AND SUNSHADES LOCKS AND PADLOCKS; SOUND RECORDERS OR REPRODUCERS CARNIVAL ARTICLES: KNIVES; TABLEWARE; GLASS INNERS FOR VACUUM FLASKS; OTHER ARTICLES OF IRON AND STEEL; SPOONS STAINLESS STEEL FORKS; AND MOUNTED PIEZO-ELECTRIC CRYSTALS.

EXPORTS OF THESE 13 PRODUCTS TO THE EEC FOR THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF 1985 WERE HK$586 MILLION, OR 3 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPORTS TO THE EEC.

THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO BE A BENEFICIARY IN RESPECT OF ALL PRODUCTS UNDER THE 1986 SCHEME REAFFIRMS A WELCOME RECOGNITION BY THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG'S STATUS AS A DEVELOPING TERRITORY ELIGIBLE FOR PREFERENTIAL BENEFITS UNDER THE GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES, SAID MR WONG.

/IN 1984,