ENG-1990 — Page 123

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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In all these cases the Hong Kong Government worked closely with the industries alleged to have dumped to ensure that each was given a fair chance to present its case fully and accurately to the investigating authorities and to see that the principles and provisions of the GATT Anti-Dumping Code were adhered to.

Hong Kong made a representation to the EEC Commission in September 1990 on the EEC's review of its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for the 1990s. Under the scheme for 1991, no new exclusion from GSP benefits was applied on Hong Kong products.

Participation in International Organisations

The Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Co-operation (HKCPEC) was inaugurated on March 19, 1990, with the objective of advising on Hong Kong's participation in, and co-ordinating the territory's input to, the Pacific Economic Co-operation Conference (PECC). In keeping with the tripartite formula of the PECC, the committee comprises government officials, business leaders and the academia. The Trade Department provides the secretariat for the committee. In April, HKCPEC lodged a formal application to join the PECC as a full member and this was approved by the PECC Standing Committee in September. Hong Kong's admission will be formalised at the eighth general meeting of the PECC to be held in Singapore in May 1991. Since its formation, HKCPEC has taken an active part in the PECC process. A delegation attended a workshop held in Honolulu in July under the PECC Task Force on Transportation, Telecommunications and Tourism. Hong Kong also participated actively in the PECC Trade Policy Forum held in Kuala Lumpur in August to review developments in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations. Two government officials took part in the Pacific Economic Outlook - Structural Issue Part Meeting of All PECC Economies in Kyoto in October. In November, a delegation attended the International Symposium Towards a New Era: Pacific Co-operation in Science and Technology held in Seoul under the PECC Science and Technology Task Force.

A HKCPEC delegation conducted a goodwill visit to the PECC committees in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea during the year to foster relations. As part of the Asian-Pacific economy and an important regional service centre, Hong Kong has a role to play and a contribution to make in regional economic co-operation. Hong Kong's trade links with the region have been expanding; in 1990 some 60 per cent of Hong Kong's total external trade was accounted for by intra-regional trade.

During the year, Hong Kong continued to play an active part in the informal dialogue initiated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) with the dynamic Asian economies (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia). Hong Kong participated in all four workshops held for this purpose between February and April in Paris, Seoul and Tokyo. The topics discussed covered trade, investment and technology; financial markets; macroeconomic linkages and inter- national adjustment, and the international trading environment.

Trade Department

The Trade Department is responsible for Hong Kong's commercial relations with foreign governments. It implements trade policy and agreements, and procedures for import