XN000022-1990-09-20 — Page 5

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1990

THE MULTIFIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA), WHICH PROVIDED THE FRAMEWORK FOR MOST OF THE BILATERAL QUOTAS WHICH EXISTED TODAY, WAS A DISCRIMINATORY INSTRUMENT AND A DEPARTURE FROM THE NON-DISCRIMINATORY PRINCIPLE OF THE GATT.

"THE NEGOTIATING MANDATE IN TEXTILES AND CLOTHING IS TO SEEK AGREEMENT ON A MODALITY FOR RETURNING THIS SECTOR TO THE GATT AND GOVERNING IT BY GATT RULES AND DISCIPLINES," HE SAID.

MR CHAN SAID NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN NOW AND THE URUGUAY ROUND IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR WOULD BE CRITICAL WHETHER THE GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM WOULD REMAIN OPEN AND OR BREAK UP INTO REGIONAL TRADING BLOCS AND PROVIDE UNBRIDLED UNILATERAL TRADE MEASURES.

END OF THE IN DECIDING MULTILATERAL, EXCUSES FOR

TEST OF POLITICAL IN PARTICULAR

THESE FEW MONTHS, HE SAID, WOULD BE A REAL WILL OF THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES, THAT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE EEC AND JAPAN.

THESE THREE COUNTRIES, TOGETHER WITH CANADA, CONSTITUTED WHAT WAS KNOWN IN GATT CIRCLES AS THE "QUADRILATERAL (OR QUAD) GROUP".

"WE LOOK UPON CANADA, AS A MEMBER OF THAT GROUP, TO BRING ITS INFLUENCE TO BEAR UPON ITS FELLOW MEMBERS TO EXERCISE GREATER POLITICAL INITIATIVE AND SHOW GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN AREAS WHERE THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO BREAKING THE LOGJAM SUCH AS AGRICULTURE, TEXTILES AND CLOTHING, TRADE-RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ANTI-DUMPING, TO NAME BUT A FEW, HE SAID.

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"FOR OUR PART," HE SAID, "HONG KONG WILL DO ALL IT CAN TO WORK WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS TOWARDS SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE ROUND. THIS REMAINS THE TOP PRIORITY OF OUR TRADE POLICY OBJECTIVE.

"

CAREFUL THINKING ON ENERGY SAVING POLICY

CAREFUL

THINKING

MATTER,

AND

THE

SAID

THE POLICY ON ENERGY CONSERVATION NEEDS AN INTERNAL GOVERNMENT WORKING PARTY IS LOOKING INTO THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, TODAY (THURSDAY).

SAID

SPEAKING AT A PO LEUNG KUK QUARTERLY LUNCHEON, MR BARNES NO POLICY DECISION HAD YET BEEN MADE ON ENERGY CONSERVATION AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS MOVING AS QUICKLY AS IT COULD INTO A POSITION TO DO SO.

THE WORKING PARTY WAS LOOKING INTO THE MATTER WITH A VIEW TO DRAWING OUT THE BROAD OUTLINE OF A DRAFT ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY, HE ADDED.

/THE BROAD