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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1974.
RATING AMENDMENT BILL 1975
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A BILL DESIGNED TO AMEND CERTAIN CLAUSES IN THE RATING ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1975, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID SINCE THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED ON APRIL 1, 1973 EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT SOME MINOR AMENDMENTS WERE DESIRABLE.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE BILL SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT RATEABLE - VALUES IN NEW RATING AREAS WERE BROADLY IN LINE WITH EXISTING VALUATIONS OF TENEMENTS IN OTHER AREAS.
· AT THE SAME TIME, THE AMENDMENT WILL AFFORD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN FIXING URBAN AREA RATES.
DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED.
RICE IMPORT QUOTA FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 1975 ANNOUNCED
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THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE RICE IMPORT QUOTA FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1975 HAD BEEN FIXED AT 78,390 METRIC TONS.
COMMENTING ON THIS, MR. PAUL WONG, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, SAID THAT RICE STOCKS AT PRESENT AMOUNTED TO ABOUT 80,000 METRIC TONS. THE QUOTA LEVEL TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THESE RELATIVELY LARGE STOCKS AND THE IMPROVED SUPPLY POSITION.
HE SAID THAT REPORTS ON REGIONAL RICE CROPS AND THE U.S. CROPS WERE VERY FAVOURABLE. IT WAS THEREFORE POSSIBLE TO AIM AT SLIGHTLY REDUCING HONG KONG'S STOCKS FROM THE VERY HIGH LEVEL THAT HAD CLEARLY BEEN NECESSARY EARLIER IN THE YEAR. HE RECALLED THAT THE CONSUMER COUNCIL'S REPORT ON THE RICE CONTROL SCHEME HAD RECOMMENDED THAT THE STOCKS LEVEL SHOULD BE REDUCED.
SINCE JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR, HONG KONG HAS IMPORTED A TOTAL OF 278,583 METRIC TONS OF RICE. OF THIS AMOUNT, CHINA HAS SUPPLIED 144,261 METRIC TONS AND THAILAND 105,594 METRIC TONS. THE BALANCE HAS BEEN IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA AND PAKISTAN.
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