XN000022-1986-09-17 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1986

+CLEARLY, THE TIME HAS COME TO REVERSE THE PROTECTION IST TIDE, AND TO REVITAL ISE THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM, AND TO ACHIEVE EXPANSION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE. A GLOBAL INITIATIVE WITH THESE OBJECTIVES OUGHT TO ATTRACT THE SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE TRADING COMMUNITY.+

MR HO SAID THAT THE CONCEPT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION AND THE MOST-FAVOURED-NATION PRINCIPLE ARE THE VERY BASIS OF A FAIR AND EQUITABLE TRADING SYSTEM AND CANNOT THEMSELVES BE FOR RENEGOTIATION. THE STARTING POINT MUST BE THE PRESERVATION AND STRENGTHENING OF THE GROUND RULES OF GATT UPON WHICH RESTS THE ENTIRE MULTILATERAL FRAMEWORK APPLICABLE TO MORE THAN BO PER CENT OF WORLD TRADE IN GOODS.

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INITIAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN LAUNCHING THE ROUND MUST BE TO IMPLEMENT AN EFFECTIVE STANDSTILL AND ROLLBACK OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES, PARTICULARLY THOSE INCONSISTENT WITH OR NOT BASED ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT OR RELATED INSTRUMENTS.

THERE IS ALSO A NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT ON SAFE- GUARDS AND ATTENTION MUST BE PAID TO THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MECHANISM.

HONG KONG COULD SEE THE DESIRABILITY OF EXTENDING TO SERVICES THE GATT DISCIPLINES AND PRINCIPLES, MR HO SAID, ALTHOUGH SOLVING THE PROBLEMS IN THE TRADITIONAL GATT AREAS REMAINED ITS PRIORITY. THE TERRITORY HAD DEVELOPED TRADE IN EXCESS OF U.S.$ 10 BILLION IN 1985 THROUGH ITS TRADITIONAL APPROACH OF FOLLOWING OPEN MARKET PRINCIPLES.

HE ADDED: +IT SHOULD, OF COURSE, BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE IS NO SCOPE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR LINKAGE WITH PROGRESS ON OTHER ITEMS OR TRADE-OFFS OUTSIDE THE FIELD OF SERVICES.+

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MARINE ADVISER POST CREATED

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS TODAY ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION TO CREATE A POST OF MARINE ADVISER IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON.

THE NEED FOR THIS POST HAS ARISEN BECAUSE, FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, HONG KONG IS REQUIRED TO SET UP ITS OWN SYSTEM OF SHIPPING LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING ITS OWN SHIPPING REGISTER, INDEPENDENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IN PREPARATION FOR 1997.

/AT THE