XN000022-1993-05-04 — Page 52

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TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1993

There isn't an argument between us on the

importance of improving human rights. If anyone has a

right to be concerned about the issue, it's the people of

Hong Kong; the people of Hong Kong who will, of course,

will be seeing the change of sovereignty in 1997. But

there is a difference between us on how we can best secure

an objective which we all feel very strongly, and people

who will be living in Hong Kong after 1997 feel even more

strongly about, if I may make the point like that.

Textile trade: Well, I hope that we see a

successful completion of the GATT. I hope we see a

successful completion of the Uruguay Round. And I hope on

the foot of that success, we see a steady reduction in

trade friction, for example in the textile areas, rather

than the reverse. I don't think anybody gains from

selective trade rows and the selective raising of trade

barriers.

I thought the President made a remarkable

very good speech on this subject a few weeks ago. And in

that speech he pointed out that, I think, 20 out of the 24

developed countries had in the last few years raised trade

barriers even while, I think his figure was 60 developing

countries had been lowering trade barriers. His message

was absolutely clear. We need to move steadily towards

lower trade barriers all round. We need a successful

Uruguay Round. We need to reduce friction in areas like

textiles, but in other areas as well.

/I feel