[Explanation] The United States Customs and Border Protection announced on August 11 new regulations on the origin marking of Hong Kong goods, requiring all goods manufactured in Hong Kong and exported to the United States to change the origin of origin from "Made in Hong Kong" to "Made in China".
On September 16, the Hong Kong SAR government formally made representations to the US government, demanding that the US immediately withdraw the relevant regulations.
[Commentary] The Director of the Bureau of Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Qiu Tenghua, said at a press conference held on the 16th that he met with Hou Weiye, Acting Consul General of the United States in Hong Kong and Macau that morning, and asked the Consul General of the United States in Hong Kong to forward the report to the United States Trade Representative. The letter expresses the SAR government’s strong opposition to the new US regulations and the US's position to withdraw immediately.
[Explanation] On the same day, the Economic and Trade Offices of the DC Government in Washington and Geneva have also forwarded copies of the letters to the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the United States Customs and Border Protection in Washington, as well as the permanent United States to the World Trade Organization in Geneva. Representative office, and will arrange discussions with the US authorities.
[Concurrent] Yau Tenghua, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
We strongly oppose this new regulation of origin marking in the United States, and we demand that the United States immediately withdraw this regulation.
Depending on the response of the United States, we will defend Hong Kong's interests in accordance with the WTO mechanism, including the dispute settlement mechanism.
[Explanation] Qiu Tenghua emphasized that under "One Country, Two Systems", the Basic Law gives the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region a unique status.
According to the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a separate customs territory. It can participate in the WTO and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization as a separate member in the name of "Hong Kong, China", and establish mutually beneficial economic and trade relations with the economies of the world. .
[Concurrent] Yau Tenghua, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
Therefore, (Hong Kong) enjoys the same rights as the other 163 WTO members. Therefore (to make representations to the US government) is the right granted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the Basic Law and can be done.
(Hong Kong) will also propose (negotiations) to defend its (rights) in accordance with its own economic and trade interests.
Reporter Li Waner and Chen Haonan from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: [Wang Kai]