XN000022-1993-02-25 — Page 12

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1993

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REGISTRATION SCHEME FOR TEXTILE PRODUCTS TO BE INTRODUCED

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REGISTRATION

THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE LATER IN THE YEAR A SCHEME WHICH AIMS TO TIGHTEN THE CONTROLS ON TEXTILES PRODUCTS PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG ON A THROUGH BILL OF SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T H CHAU, SAID TONIGHT (THURSDAY).

AND GARMENT LADING, THE

MR CHAU WAS SPEAKING TO THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG GARMENT MANUFACTURERS.

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HE SAID TO COUNTER THE RISING TIDE OF ALLEGATIONS BY IMPORTING COUNTRIES OF ILLEGAL TRANSHIPMENT, OPPORTUNITY WOULD ALSO BE TAKEN RATIONALISE THE EXISTING LICENSING SYSTEM BY REPLACING PRIOR LICENSING OF TEXTILES IMPORTS AND EXPORTS WITH POST-SHIPMENT NOTIFICATIONS EXCEPT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO RESTRAINED MARKETS.

ON HONG KONG/U.S. TRADE, MR CHAU SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL ISSUES THAT REQUIRED SPECIAL ATTENTION.

**THE U.S. CONCERN ABOUT ILLEGAL TRANSHIPMENT IS ON THE RISE. PREVENT QUOTA CUTBACKS, WE MUST ALL ENDEAVOUR TO MAINTAIN THE CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY OF OUR TEXTILES CONTROL SYSTEM.

TO

MR CHAU SAID THIS YEAR'S BATTLE FOR MFN RENEWAL WAS GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE, AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF A NEW POLITICAL LANDSCAPE INTRODUCED BY THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.

"THE ROAD AHEAD IS STILL WROUGHT WITH DIFFICULTIES AND WE MUST CONTINUE OUR HARD WORK AND CLOSE CO-OPERATION ON ALL FRONTS, HE SAID.

"

MOVING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC, MR CHAU SAID WHILE CHANGES IN EASTERN EUROPE AND THE REMOVAL OF REGIONAL RESTRAINTS AND SUBLIMITS IN THE EC PROMISED NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND HORIZONS, BETTER MARKET ACCESS FOR HONG KONG COULD ONLY BE SECURED IF WE WERE AT LEAST ONE STEP AHEAD OF OUR COMPETITORS.

ACCORDING TO CONSULTANTS COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT THE GARMENT INDUSTRY MUST CONTINUE TO UPGRADE ITS MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY AND PROVIDE MORE DESIGNING, MERCHANDISING, SOURCING AND QUALITY CONTROL SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, MR CHAU SAID.

"GOVERNMENT IS SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRY'S SEARCH FOR APPROPRIATE NEW TECHNOLOGY THROUGH VARIOUS AGENCIES, NOTABLY THE CLOTHING TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION CENTRE AND THE INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL," HE SAID.

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