TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1978
NORWAY INTRODUCES RESTRICTION ON HK TEXTILE EXPORTS
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THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED IN A NOTICE TO EXPORTERS TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT NORWAY HAD DECIDED TO INTRODUCE +TEMPORARY IMPORT RESTRICTION+, WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1, 1978, ON IMPORTS OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING FROM HỌNG KONG.
FULL DETAILS OF THE NORWEGIAN ACTION ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE BUT WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN A FURTHER NOTICE TO EXPORTERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS DECIDED TO ACCEPT EXPORT LICENCE APPLICATIONS COVERING EXPORTS OF ALL TEXTILE PRODUCTS TO NORWAY AND TO ISSUE LICENCES FREELY.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS, HOWEVER, CAUTIONED THAT SUCH LICENCES DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE GOODS WOULD BE ADMITTED FOR IMPORTATION INTO NORWAY. IT HAS ADVISED EXPORTERS THAT THEY SHOULD, IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS, ENSURE THAT THE IR NORWEGIAN IMPORTERS HAVE THE NECESSARY IMPORT PERMITS IN RESPECT OF ANY TEXTILE PRODUCTS WHICH THEY SHIP TO NORWAY.
COMMENTING ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR. JOHN CHAN, SAID THAT THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION WAS REGRETTABLE BUT NOT ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED.
MR. CHAN RECALLED THAT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN NORWAY AND HONG KONG TOOK PLACE LAST MONTH BUT WERE SUSPENDED BECAUSE HONG KONG COULD NOT ACCEPT THE HEFTY CUTBACKS IN QUOTAS DEMANDED BY THE NORWEGIAN SIDE.
+WE DID PROPOSE TO NORWAY THAT, IN ORDER TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION TO THE TRADE AND TO ALLOW THE NORWEGIAN AUTHORITIES TIME FOR FURTHER REFLECTION, HONG KONG WOULD IMPLEMENT TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS TO RESTRAIN ITS EXPORTS OF CERTAIN TEXTILE PRODUCTS DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1978. CLEARLY THE NORWEGIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE DECIDED NOT TO ACCEPT OUR PROPOSAL+, MR. CHAN SAID.
+WE NOW AWAIT FULL DETAILS OF THE NORWEGIAN ACTION. UNTIL SUCH DETAILS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED I CANNOT OFFER ANY FURTHER COMMENTS+, MR. CHAN ADDED.
HONG KONG'S EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING TO NORWAY AMOUNTED TO HK$222 MILLION IN 1976. THIS REPRESENTED 1.3 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING TO THE WORLD.
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