MEDIA RELEASE

18 March 2002

CTU concerns over Hong Kong trade deal confirmed

The CTU has welcomed the fact that the Government is standing firm on some rules of origin issues in discussions with Hong Kong over a trade deal.

“But”, said Paul Goulter, CTU Secretary today, “we had concerns at the outset of these talks that it would be difficult to agree satisfactory rules of origin given the significant extent to which Hong Kong goods are actually made in China”.

The CTU has raised a number of issues in relation to the rules of origin and has had several meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on these matters so that we could put our point of view.

In addition, the CTU has been seeking recognition in a side agreement with Hong Kong that would include enforcement of labour standards, such as no child labour or forced labour and respect for basic union rights. Paul Goulter said that there has been no progress on this agreement, largely because of the intrinsic connection with China.

For further information contact Paul Goulter, Tel: (04) 802-3815 (w), 027 452 7081, (04) 801-7421 (h)

or Lyndy McIntyre, Tel: (04) 802-3817 (w), 027 243 7031, (04) 905-5185 (h)