XN000022-1989-06-20 — Page 8

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TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1989

MR HARBINSON SAID SOME OF THE HONG KONG COMPANIES HAD DEFENDED THEMSELVES ROBUSTLY AND WERE TO BE CONGRATULATED ON ACHIEVING RESULTS.

"THERE CAN ALSO BE ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT THE INVOLVEMENT HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE CASE. HE SAID.

GOVERNMENT'S

CONCESSIONS

"OUR REPEATED SUBMISSIONS HAVE RESULTED IN MAJOR SUCH AS THOSE I HAVE JUST MENTIONED. AND OUR EFFORTS AT THE GENERAL LEVEL HAVE ASSISTED INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES TO ACHIEVE LOWER RATES.

THE DEFINITIVE ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES JUST ANNOUNCED BY THE COUNCIL RANGE FROM 0 PER CENT TO 21.9 PER CENT. THIS COMPARES WITH PROVISIONAL DUTIES ANNOUNCED LAST DECEMBER RANGING FROM 8.1 PER CENT TO 59.3 PER CENT.

HOWEVER, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT REMAINS UNHAPPY ABOUT SOME FEATURES OF THE CASE.

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"

'THE COUNCIL SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED TO TAKE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT CERTAIN KEY ELAMENTS OF SUBMISSIONS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT, MR HARBINSON SAID.

"TO GIVE TWO EXAMPLES, FIRST. THE COUNCIL SEEMS ΤΟ HAVE DISREGARDED REPRESENTATIONS WE HAVE MADE -ABOUT THE UNSATISFACTORY WAY THE QUESTION OF ALLEGED INJURY TO EUROPEAN INDUSTRY WAS DEALT WITH IN THE INVESTIGATION.

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'SECONDLY, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE. DESPITE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A QUICK REVIEW FOR NEWCOMERS. THEY WILL STILL HAVE TO PAY A VERY HIGH RESIDUAL DUTY OF 21.9 PER CENT TO START WITH. AND HOW QUICK THE REVIEW BE?"

WILL

ACCORDING TO MR HARBINSON, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT IS STILL EXAMINING THESE AND SOME OTHER ASPECTS OF THE FINDINGS. THE DEPARTMENT HOPES TO COMPLETE THIS EXAMINATION VERY QUICKLY, WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

"DEPENDING ON THE RESULTS OF THIS EXAMINATION. WE MAY OR MAY NOT DECIDE TO TAKE THE MATTER FURTHER," HE SAID. "A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF THE FINDINGS AND THE OPTIONS OPEN TO US IS NECESSARY BEFORE WE CAN DECIDE ON ANY NEW STEP.

·

CITED

HAD ONE VERY IN ANTI-DUMPING

MR HARBINSON SAID THE VIDEO CASSETTE TAPE CASE CLEAR MESSAGE FOR HONG INVESTIGATIONS.

KONG FIRMS

"

WE

THE MESSAGE IS THAT IF WE DON'T TAKE THE INVESTIGATIONS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH AND SOME OF OUR FIRMS DIDN'T TO START WITH ARE LIKELY TO END UP WITH VERY HIGH DUTIES." HE SAID.

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BUT WITH DETERMINED DEFENCE THE RESULTS SHOULD EXONERATE US COMPLETELY, OR AT WORST RESULT IN ONLY LOW LEVELS OF DUTY.'

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