TNAG-1855-FCO40-2630-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 22

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22 February 1989

香港立法局 一九八九年二月二十二日

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周美議員問:主席先生,可否請政務司再次答覆我第二項問題,即在目前制度下,政府是否認

為上述的財政依賴可能造成日後雙方的利益交換?

SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION: Sir, as long as there is a limit to the expenditure of each individual candidate, as I mentioned, there should be no such difficulties.

Value of re-exports

8. MR. BARROW asked: Given that the value of re-exports exceeded domestic exports in 1988 for the first time since such figures began to be compiled in 1959, will Government inform this Council

(a) whether it has considered the implications of this development in

formulating its long-term trade policy; and

(b) whether consideration is being given to the Trade and Industry Branch

playing an expanded role in supporting the development of re-export trade?

FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Sir, the changing pattern of our trade is one of the factors taken into account not only in respect of trade promotion but in other fields such as industrial development and infrastructural planning. The existing level of re-export trade does not, however, have any more specific implications for our basic trade policy. We remain firmly committed to free trade and to the multilateral trading system.

With regard to supporting the development of the re-export trade by expanding the role of the Trade and Industry Branch, the primary responsibility for trade promotion rests with the Trade Development Council, although there is, of course, input from the Trade and Industry Branch. The branch will continue to support the development of trade generally, and this includes the re- export trade.

MR. BARROW: Sir, would the Financial Secretary confirm to this Council whether or not long-term projections for re-export trade have actually been prepared in order to assist in developing the infrastructure plans which he has referred to?