BALDRIGE TO LAUNCH FAR EAST TRADE DRIVE
  U.S. Commerce Secretary Malcolm
  Baldrige leaves on Saturday on a 10-day trip to the Far East to
  help spur U.S. Trade and improve business relations with China,
  South Korea and the Philippines, U.S. Officials say.
      Baldrige will also stop in Hong Kong to meet British
  officials and local U.S. And Hong Kong businessmen.
      The U.S. Last year had major deficits with three of its
  Asian trading partners -- South Korea 7.1 billion dlrs, Hong
  Kong 6.4 billion and China 2.1 billion. The deficit with the
  Philippines was 800 mln dlrs.
      Baldrige will meet South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan and
  Trade Minister Rha Woong Bae on Monday to discuss opening South
  Korean markets to more U.S. Goods.
      Baldrige will be in Peking from April 21 to 24. He will
  meet Zheng Tuobin, minister for foreign economic relations and
  trade, attend a meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on
  Commerce and Trade and address a management and training
  organisation.
      However, U.S. Officials said a chief purpose of Baldrige's
  visit would be to discuss relaxed U.S. Rules for transferring
  modern technology to Chinese industries.
      In Hong Kong, Baldrige will hold meetings on April 27 with
  Governor David Wilson and Trade and Industry Secretary Eric Ho,
  as well as addressing the American Chamber of Commerce.
      U.S. Officials said Baldrige will meet Philippines
  President Corazon Aquino on April 28 to show continued U.S.
  Support for her government and to discuss steps it could take
  to improve the atmosphere for American investment.
      He will also will meet Finance Secretary Jaime Ongpin and
  Trade and Industry Secretary Jose Concepcion.
  

