XN000022-1989-01-30 — Page 5

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1989

VIEWS SOUGHT ON CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

SYSTEM

RELATING

ΤΟ

THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC ARE BEING SOUGHT ON SOME ASPECTS OF OPERATION OF THE CERTIFICATION INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNISED CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN.

THE

A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT RELEASED TODAY VIEWS AS TO HOW THE SYSTEM MIGHT DEVELOP IN FUTURE.

(MONDAY)

INVITES

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR STUART HARBINSON, EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT THE CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED BY THE TRADE DEPARTMENT AND FIVE GOVERNMENT APPROVED CERTIFICATION ORGANISATIONS ( (GACO'S).

THESE ARE THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERIE, THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES; THE INDIAN CBAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONG KONG; THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG; AND THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

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FIVE MORE BODIES HAVE INDICATED INTEREST IN BECOMING DESIGNATED THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG, THE BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HÙNG HONG THE HONG KONG EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION, THE GERMAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG LTD AND THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG GARMENT MANUFACTURERS.

THE GOVERNMENT NOW WANTS VIEWS AS TO WHAT SHOULD BE THE ROLE OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT IN CERTIFICATION MATTERS; WHETHER THE NUMBER OF GACO'S SHOULD BE INCREASED; IF THIS HAPPENS, SHOULD THERE BE A CEILING ON NUMBERS; WHAT' SHOULD BE THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVING DESIGNATION; AND WHETHER A CORPORATION MIGHT BR ESTABLISHED ΤΟ DELIVER CERTIFICATION SERVICES.

MR HARBINSON ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT CONSTITUTED THE THIRD STAGE OF A REVIEW PROCESS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CERTIFICATION SYSTEM.

A

IN THE FIRST STAGE, 'THE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR COMPLETED QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF THE STANDARD MAINTAINED BY THE EXISTING GACO'S AND CONCLUDED THAT THE QUALITY OF SERVICE WAS SATISFACTORY.

IN THE SECOND STAGE, THE DEPARTMENT OBTAINED PRELIMINARY COMMENTS ON THE CERTIFICATION SYSTEM FROM BOTH PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE GACO'S.

VIEWS ON THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BEFORE MARCH 31. THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WILL THEN, AS A FINAL STAGE IN THE REVIEW PROCESS, ASSESS THE SUBMISSIONS то DRAW UP PROPOSALS WHICH WILL BE LAID BEFORE THE TRADE ADVISORY BOARD FOR ADVICE.

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