XN000022-1992-03-25 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1992

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HK TO SEEK TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY REVIEW

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THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT IT HAD DECIDED TO REFER A CASE CONCERNING A NEW U.S. CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINE FOR KNIT TIGHTS TO THE TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY (TSB) FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION.

AN OFFICIAL REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED BY HONG KONG'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO GATT IN GENEVA TODAY.

A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: "THE NEW GUIDELINE INTRODUCED BY THE U.S. CAME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR AND RESULTED IN RECLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN KNIT TIGHTS AS TROUSERS.

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"UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE HONG KONG/U.S. TEXTILES AGREEMENT, TIGHTS HAVE BEEN EXPORTED TO THE U.S. UNDER EXPORT AUTHORISATION CATEGORIES, BUT TROUSERS REQUIRE QUOTA FROM SPECIFIC LIMIT CATEGORIES. BECAUSE TROUSERS QUOTA IS FULLY UTILISED, THE CHANGE HAS DISRUPTED HONG KONG'S EXPORTS OF KNIT TIGHTS TO THE U.S., HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT HONG KONG HAD HELD THREE ROUNDS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE U.S. IN A BID TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

BOTH SIDES HAD MADE GREAT EFFORTS ΤΟ FIND A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY SOLUTION. UNFORTUNATELY A SOLUTION HAD NOT 80 FAR BEEN POSSIBLE.

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"THE DEPARTMENT CONSIDERS THAT IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES ARE AT STAKE, AND THAT IT IS IN THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG TO REFER THE CASE TO THE TSB FOR REVIEW. WE CAME TO THIS DECISION AFTER CONSULTING THE LOCAL TIGHTS TRADE AND THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS CASE WILL BE CONSIDERED BY TSB AT ITS NEXT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 9 AND 10.

ABOUT HK$390 MILLION WORTH OF KNIT TIGHTS WERE EXPORTED FROM HONG KONG TO THE U.S. LAST YEAR.

SEMINAR TO PROMOTE HK-CANADA FILM AND TV CO-PRODUCTION

TELEVISION

A SEMINAR ON HONG KONG-CANADA FILM AND CO-PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE HELD IN THE ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS AT 2.15 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 27).

ACTIVITIES

THE SEMINAR IS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF PROMOTIONAL ORGANISED BY THE CERTIFYING BODY FOR HONG KONG-CANADA FILM AND TELEVISION CO-PRODUCTION THIS YEAR.

/IT WILL