XN000022-1991-11-27 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1991

REMAINS

"I BELIEVE THE BASIC SITUATION

UNCHANGED. THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE CLEAR THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULD VETO ANY BILL WHICH SEEKS TO PUT CONDITIONS ON CHINA'S MFN TRADING STATUS.

"WHEN THE SENATE VOTED IN JULY ON THE EARLIER VERSION BILL, THERE WERE 44 VOTES AGAINST THE BILL, WHICH WAS THE 34 VOTES NEEDED BY PRESIDENT BUSH TO SUSTAIN A VETO."

OF THIS MORE THAN

STI'S STATEMENT ON THE SPECIAL 301 NEGOTIATIONS

IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON A PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED YESTERDAY BY THE US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SPECIAL 301 NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE US AND CHINA, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR TH CHAU, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) :

"THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS ON MANY OCCASIONS EXPRESSED TO THE US AUTHORITIES ITS CONCERN OVER THE ADVERSE EFFECTS WHICH SPECIAL 301 ACTION AGAINST CHINESE PRODUCTS MIGHT HAVE ON HONG KONG'S ECONOMY.

"WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED BY THE US AUTHORITIES THAT OUR CONCERN HAS BEEN NOTED.

"THIS IS PRIMARILY A BILATERAL ISSUE BETWEEN THE US AND CHINA. HONG KONG HAS NO DIRECT ROLE TO PLAY IN IT, MR CHAU SAID.

"THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS NEVERTHELESS CONCERNED THAT THE US AND CHINA HAVE APPARENTLY NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND THAT THE US WILL PUBLISH TOMORROW A OF CHINESE PRODUCTS THAT MAY BE SUBJECT TO RETALIATORY TARIFFS.

LIST

"WE HOPE THAT, IN SPITE OF THIS, THE TWO SIDES WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE A BILATERAL SOLUTION, HE ADDED.

TE

ACCORDING TO THE US STATEMENT, THE LIST WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVITING COMMENTS FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WITHIN A 30 DAY PERIOD, BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE BY THE US ΤΟ IMPLEMENT ANY RETALIATORY TARIFFS.

THE US STATEMENT ALSO INDICATES THAT NEGOTIATIONS MAY CONTINUE DURING THIS 30 DAY PERIOD.

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