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"This could seriously affect Hong Kong's exports of such products to the US," the spokesman said, noting that the values of Hong Kong exports to the US of these two types of products in 1994 amounted to HK$235 million.
In respect of these types of products, the spokesman said, the new US rules of origin were fundamentally different from existing rules and represented a drastic departure from established practices.
To reiterate Hong Kong's objections to the new US origin rules both in principle and in practice, Hong Kong will hold formal consultations with the US next week.
"If we cannot reach a mutually agreeable solution to the problem through bilateral consultations, Hong Kong will have to consider referring the matter to the World Trade Organisation for a recommendation." the spokesman added.
The Deputy Director-General of Trade, Mr Thomas Yiu, will lead the Hong Kong delegation to the consultations with the US.
Separately, at the consultations, Hong Kong will also raise the issue of the unilateral move by the US earlier to impose import control on Hong Kong's textiles and clothing products.
The Hong Kong delegation will depart for the US tomorrow (Saturday).
End
Fire chief visits China
The Director of Fire Services, Mr Peter Cheung, will lead a group of six fire officers to visit their Chinese counterparts tomorrow (Saturday).
During their trip, they will exchange views and experiences on matters of mutual interest with officials of the Fire Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing.
The group will also visit the Beijing Fire Brigade, the Qingdao Fire Brigade and the Shanghai Fire Brigade.
They will return to Hong Kong on December 18 from Shanghai.
End
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