XN000022-1991-02-21 — Page 3

N

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991

WILL

"THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT MAJOR BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENTS WILL EXPIRE YEAR.

EXPIRE

IN AT THE

AND JULY,

OUR

END OF

THE

"THIS MEANS

THAT

DEVISED

TO

CAN

INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS MUST BB BRIDGE THE GAP UNTIL A URUGUAY ROUND PACKAGE, INCLUDING TEXTILES, BE IMPLEMENTED.

"WE ARE CONSIDERING THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

"CLEARLY, ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO EXTEND THE MFA AND BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ON EXISTING TERMS FOR AN APPROPRIATE PERIOD.

"THIS QUESTION WILL HAVE

TO

H

BE DISCUSSED WITH OUR TRADING

HE SAID.

PARTNERS AT AN EARLY DATE IN GENEVA,

MR CHAU, HOWEVER,

CONCLUSION OF THE TALKS.

CAUTIONED

AGAINST EXPECTATIONS OP EARLY

"PROGRESS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF ON WHETHER DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING THE DECISION OF THE U.S. CONGRESS TO EXTEND THE 'FAST-TRACK' ARRANGEMENT FOR EXAMINING TRADE TREATIES NEGOTIATED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION.

"I

MOREOVER, SOME OF THE ISSUES UNDER NEGOTIATION WERE HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND IT WOULD TAKE TIME TO RESOLVE THEM, HE SAID.

A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE MEETINGS CURRENTLY GOING ON IN GENEVA ARE BEING ATTENDED BY THE HONG KONG TEAM BASED IN GENEVA,

KONG AND TRADE OFFICIALS FROM HONG

WOULD PARTICIPATE WHENEVER THE

NEED ARISES.

THE URUGUAY ROUND TALKS COVER 15 NEGOTIATING ARBAS, INCLUDING TEXTILES, TARIFFS, ANTI-DUMPING, RULES OF ORIGIN, SERVICES PLAYED AN

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND GATT RULES. HONG KONG HAS ACTIVE ROLE IN ALL AREAS, EXCEPT AGRICULTURE.

HEALTH CARE IS A PUBLIC GOOD

* * * *

MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE IS A PUBLIC GOOD AND NOT A LUXURY ITEM, AND ACCESS TO IT SHOULD BE BASED ON NEED, NOT AFFORDABILITY, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AFTER THE

WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH

WONG, SAID TODAY

FIRST MEETING OF THE MEDICAL INSURANCE STUDY GROUP, THE CHAIRMAN, MRS WONG, SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRM COMMITMENT THAT NO ONE WOULD BE DENIED ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE THROUGH LACK OF MEANS.

/THIS NEED