ENG-1964 — Page 71

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

Hong Kong industry to Germany for discussion with industrialists there, the request for restraint was withdrawn in favour of a system of forward reporting of export orders. The Federal Government undertook to permit entry of goods so reported. The system is similar to that used for cotton textile exports in certain categories to the United States. This arrangement was possible as the rate of increase of exports showed signs of declining.

In other products than textiles restrictions again outnumbered measures for liberalization. Increases in duty to protect new in- dustries in Malaysia and non-discriminatory import restrictions for a similar purpose in Nigeria slowed exports to those countries. Additional discriminatory import licensing by Nigeria and by Spain led to official representations to the respective governments without, however, altogether satisfactory results. Representations were again made to the South African Government regarding the long-standing issue of anti-dumping duties on Hong Kong products which are regarded as unjustified in themselves and in the method by which they are calculated.

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DOCUMENTATION OF EXPORTS

Import and export licensing formalities have always been kept to a minimum consistent with Hong Kong's international obliga- tions. Nevertheless complex procedures have had to be established to ensure that Hong Kong's responsibilities in respect of restraints on cotton textile exports are met.

With the growth in the export of Hong Kong products, cer- tification of Hong Kong origin has also become increasingly im- portant. Since Hong Kong has practically no raw materials, the origin of goods manufactured by its factories is established by the work carried out in transforming imported raw materials into entirely new products. The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce issue certificates of Hong Kong origin which are acceptable in varying degrees overseas. Many overseas authorities, however, require imports of Hong Kong products to be covered by certificates of origin issued by the Commerce and Industry Department.