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THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1975
C&I TO STUDY TEXTILES RECOMMENDATIONS BY T.A.B.
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THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. JIMMY MCGREGOR, SAID TONIGHT THAT THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD HAD HAD A VERY LONG · AND DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEMS FOR THE H.K. TEXTILE TRADE AND INDUSTRY ARISING FROM THE ALLOCATION OF THE PRELIMINARY TEXTILE QUOTAS FOR SHIPMENT TO THE E.E.C. DURING THE REMAINDER OF 1975.
THE BOARD MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT ON MEASURES TO REDUCE THE EXTENT OF THESE DIFFICULTIES. THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONSIDER THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE BOARD WILL MEET AGAIN EARLY NEXT WEEK.
IN THE MEANTIME THE DEPARTMENT WILL ISSUE A DETAILED STATEMENT ON THE FORMULAE USED FOR CALCULATION AND ISSUE OF THE E.E.C. PRELIMINARY QUOTAS IN ORDER THAT QUOTA HOLDERS MAY CHECK THEIR ENTITLEMENTS AGAINST THE QUOTAS RECEIVED.
MR. MCGREGOR SAID THAT THERE HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT WITH MANY OF THE QUOTAS NOW ISSUED, AND ALTHOUGH THESE REPRESENTED ONLY A PORTION OF THE FINAL QUOTAS. IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE TRADE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE BASIS ON WHICH THESE CALCULATIONS HAD BEEN MADE.
MR. MCGREGOR SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD DONE EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO CALCULATE AND ISSUE THESE PRELIMINARY QUOTAS IN ORDER TO GET TRADE MOVING.
THE DEPARTMENT HAD HOWEVER RECOGNISED FROM THE OUTSET THAT PROBLEMS WOULD BE FELT IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES NOTABLY THOSE WHICH HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY UNRESTRICTED.
HE SAID HOWEVER THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOW CONSIDERING WAYS AND MEANS OF IMPROVING THE QUOTA SITUATION FOR THESE. DIFFICULT CATEGORIES.
FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
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