XN000022-1996-10-09 — Page 50

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US restrictive measures' impact on local garment industries

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

The United States Government has recently imposed new measures on imported textiles products, including the unilateral imposition of additional import document requirements on five types (totalling ten categories) of clothing products manufactured in Hong Kong and the payment of higher entry bonds by US importers of these products. In this connection, will the Administration inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

in comparison with the corresponding figures in the same period last year, what impact the above measures have had on the local garment industry (particularly on the total value of exports, number of workers employed, average working hours and average wages of workers in respect of the ten categories of clothing products) in the period from June to September this year,

the latest progress of the consultations between the Administration and the United States Government, and the counter-measures which have been taken and will be taken by the Administration in this regard; and

the measures adopted by the relevant departments in enforcing the regulations concerning the country of origin of goods?

Reply:

Without any prior notification, on 17 June the US unilaterally imposed additional customs measures on the import of ten categories of Hong Kong garments. These measures include additional documentation requirements on the authenticity of production and the origin of shipment, the imposition of single entry bond, and requests relating to US Customs "production verification" teams conducting factory visits in Hong Kong.

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