XN000022-1992-06-25 — Page 5

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1992

MANUFACTURERS URGED TO NOTE ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS

**

MAJOR

HONG KONG, AS A

MANUFACTURING AND EXPORTING ECONOMY, TO BE NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS AFFECTING TRADE, AND READY TO RESPOND TO THEM.

TRADE AND

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR

INDUSTRY, MR T.H. CHAU, AT THE DINNER GATHERING OF THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION TONIGHT (THURSDAY).

MR CHAU SAID TO HELP ASSESS THE IMPLICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES ON LOCAL INDUSTRIES, APPOINTED CONSULTANTS IN MARCH THIS YEAR TO STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF SUCH MEASURES ON THE KONG'S MANUFACTURED EXPORTS.

THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE COMPETITIVENESS OF HONG

THE STUDY

OF THE

ALSO AIMS

NECESSARY SUPPORT

TO IDENTIFY ANY ΤΟ

AND

DEFICIENCIES IN THE

HOW RECOMMEND

THESE

PROVISION DEFICIENCIES MIGHT BE MADE GOOD HAVING REGARD TO THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF MINIMUM INTERVENTION, MR CHAU SAID.

"WE ARE CONCERNED THAT INDUSTRIALISTS SHOULD BE FULLY INVOLVED IN THIS EXERCISE," HE SAID.

MR CHAU SAID THE CONSULTANTS WERE ALSO BEING

INTRODUCING A CERTIFICATION THE FEASIBILITY OF ENABLE HONG KONG'S EXPORTS, PROVIDED THAT THEY MET TO BE LABELLED AS ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY.

ΤΟ ASKED

ASSESS SCHEME THAT WOULD

CERTAIN CRITERIA,

ENVIRONMENTAL

"SUCH A SCHEME MIGHT HELP ΤΟ MAINTAIN LOCAL MANUFACTURERS' COMPETITIVENESS IN WORLD MARKETS IN THE FACE OF GROWING PRESSURES, HE SAID.

ו

ENVIRONMENTAL

MR

IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING A NEW PERFORMANCE CATEGORY IN THIS YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY, CHAU SAID.

WHO

THE NEW CATEGORY WILL RECOGNISE AND REWARD THOSE HAVE

PRACTICES THAT INCORPORATED ENVIRONMENT.

MANUFACTURERS

PROTECT

OR

ENHANCE THE

TURNING TO THE LINK BETWEEN TRADE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, MR

IN THE

AND SAID THE SUBJECT HAD BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION

GATT, CONTINUE TO BE IN THE FUTURE.

CHAU WOULD

POSITION "THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S

ON THIS IS THAT GATT ALIVE TO

AND CLEARLY HAS TO BE

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES;

THAT MANY PURPOSES ARE TRADE-RESTRICTIVE MEASURES INTRODUCED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL NOT INCONSISTENT WITH GATT'S OBJECTIVES.

"BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK THAT TRADE PROTECTIONISM MAY SOMETIMES CREEP IN UNDER THE CLOAK OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.

TO "THAT IS SOMETHING WHICH WE ARE KEEN MADE OUR VIEWS ON THIS KNOWN IN GATT, HE SAID.

H

AVOID, AND WE HAVE

/NOTING THAT