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Unconditional MFN vital in preserving HK's confidence: STI
The Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, returned to Hong Kong tonight (Sunday) after a week of intensive lobbying activities in Washington DC on the importance of unconditional renewal of China's most-favoured-nation (MFN) trading status to Hong Kong.
"I stressed that unconditional MFN is of vital importance to preserving confidence in Hong Kong during this critical phase of our transition," she said.
Miss Yue said she had pointed out to senior US government officials and members of the Congress the grave economic implications for Hong Kong in the event of revocation or conditional renewal of China' MFN status.
She said she was very pleased to learn that US government's policy remained firm, namely there should be unconditional renewal of China's MFN status in 1996.
However, congressional members had warned that the renewal issue would be more difficult this year because of US-China relations and US electioneering politics, she said.
Miss Yue said Hong Kong fully recognised the MFN issue was particularly complex this year and her Washington visit marked the beginning of a co-ordinated series of intensive lobbying efforts by the Hong Kong Government in the coming months.
"In May, the Governor will visit Washington. The Chief Secretary will also visit the US in June. And Hong Kong's Economic and Trade Office in Washington will continue to work together with the US business sector and other relevant parties in the US," she said.
During her week in the US capital, Miss Yue had met the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Mickey Kantor; the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Ambassador Winston Lord; other senior US government officials; as well as 12 Congress members.
She also conveyed Hong Kong's message to US business community at meetings with the US-China Business Council and the US Business Coalition.
She had attended the Hong Kong-US and US-Hong Kong Economic Co- operation Committee Plenary Session on March 15.
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