XN000022-1990-12-21 — Page 3

2

ON

"THE CONTINUED STALEMATE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS ON AGRICULTURE THUS RESULTED IN RATHER SLUGGISH PROGRES9 IN THE NEGOTIATIONS TEXTILES AND CLOTHING.

OF

"NEVERTHELESS, THE SMALL GROUP WAS ABLE TO CLEAN

UP PARTS THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WHICH HAD EARLIER BEEN DRAWN UP IN GENEVA; AND IT WAS AGREED THAT THE WORK DONE IN BRUSSELS WOULD BE PRESERVED ON AN INFORMAL BASIS FOR FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS," HE SAID.

MR CHAN SAID HE BELIEVED AN AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED IN THE END, AND THAT A MORE LIBERAL TRADING ENVIRONMENT SHOULD EMERGE FOR THE FUTURE WORLD TRADE IN TEXTILES AND CLOTHING THROUGH

OF INTEGRATION THE MFA INTO THE GATT.

"IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL PARTIES TO THE EVENTUAL AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN STRONG POLITICAL COURAGE, TO GIVE DUE RECOGNITION TO THE FREE PLAY OF MARKET FORCES AND TO STAND FIRM AGAINST PRESSURES THAT WILL BE BOUND ΤΟ ARISE FROM TIME ΤΟ TIME TO RELAPSE INTO PROTECTIONIST PRACTICES," HE SAID.

TAKING THE URUGUAY ROUND AS A WHOLE, MR CHAN SAID, THE CONTRACTING PARTIES OF THE GATT STILL HAD A DAUNTING TASK AHEAD OF THEM, AND IT WOULD TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF POLITICAL WILL AND COURAGE BREAK THE LOG-JAM.

TO

"RELATIVELY BETTER PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE SPECIFIC ARRA OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING, BUT WE ARE BY NO MEANS HOME AND DRY.

"I AM HOWEVER ENCOURAGED BY THE COMMITMENT OF ALL TO RETURN THE TEXTILES AND CLOTHING SECTOR TO THE GATT.

PARTICIPANTS

"I BELIEVE THAT A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT IS ENTIRELY AND I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE CONCLUDED SOON,' HE SAID.

H

POSSIBLE,

PLANS AFOOT TO DESIGN, MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEME

* * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY BEGIN TO EVALUATE MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEMES IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND DESIGN A SCHEME THAT WILL BEST SUIT HONG KONG'S NEEDS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

FF

"THE WAY TO PROVIDE CHOICE OF HOSPITAL SERVICES ΤΟ THE INDIVIDUAL, TO SPREAD COSTS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND TO MAKE PRIVATE HOSPITALS MORE AFFORDABLE LIES IN SOME FORM OF MEDICAL INSURANCE, MRS WONG TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTHEAST.

SHE NOTED THAT MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ALREADY FINANCED MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN THIS WAY. INTRODUCING SOME SCHEME IN HONG KONG WOULD HAVE MANY ADVANTAGES.

THEIR SIMILAR

/"WE WILL