XN000022-1989-11-17 — Page 10

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1989

HE SAID THERE WAS ALSO A CONSENSUS THAT TRADE IN TEXTILES AND CLOTHING SHOULD RETURN TO THE RULES OF THE GATT.

MR CHAN SAID ALL

INTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS.

MINISTERS

PARTICIPATED

FULLY IN THE VERY

HE HIMSELF SPOKE FORCEFULLY ON ALL ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG, IN PARTICULAR TEXTILES. ANTI-DUMPING, RULES OF ORIGIN, SAFEGUARDS AND SERVICES.

HE ADDED THAT THE MEETING WAS A USEFUL CHECKPOINT FOR MINISTERS TO REVIEW PROGRESS AND TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER BEFORE THE URUGUAY ROUND'S FINAL MINISTERIAL MEETING IN BRUSSELS TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

MR CHAN SAID HE HAD ALSO TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY то HAVE INFORMAL PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST WITH A NUMBER OF MINISTERS AT THE CONFERENCE INCLUDING MRS CARLA HILLS, THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE.

REVIEW OF ORGANISATION OF REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT

THE REGISTRAR GENERAL. MR NOEL GLEESON, ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPOINTED A FIRM OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS. COOPERS AND LYBRAND ASSOCIATES LTD, TO UNDERTAKE A REVIEW OF THE ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE OF HIS DEPARTMENT.

MR GLEESON SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1949. HIS DEPARTMENT HAD DEVELOPED INTO A CONGLOMERATE OF SUB-DEPARTMENTS WHICH HAD LITTLE OR NO INTERFACE WITH EACH OTHER.

APART FROM THE TRADE MARKS AND PATENTS REGISTRY AND THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY, BOTH OF WHICH WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY. THE DEPARTMENT NOW INCLUDED OTHER FUNCTIONS WHICH THE CONSULTANTS WOULD EXAMINE.

THESE WERE THE COMPANIES REGISTRY, THE MONEY LENDERS REGISTRY, THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER'S OFFICE, THE OFFICES OF THE OFFICIAL TRUSTEE AND THE OFFICIAL SOLICITOR, AND THE LAND OFFICE.

THE LAND OFFICE INCLUDED LAND REGISTRATION AND CERTAIN OTHER STATUTORY LAND FUNCTIONS AS WELL AS A CONVEYANCING AND LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICE FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IN ALL OF THEIR PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS.

/MR GLEESON

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