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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1979
CHEATING THE QUOTA SYSTEM - A GAME NO ONE WINS
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THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR. DAVID JORDAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) COMPANIES WHICH HAVE TRIED TO EVADE TEXTILE QUOTA RESTRICTIONS WOULD HAVE THE IR QUOTAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM PERMANENTLY.
+WHEN PEOPLE REALISE THAT THE PRICE THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CRIMES THEY HAVE COMMITTED, IS GREATER THAN THE BENEFIT THAT THEY CAN OBTAIN, WE SHALL PUT AN EFFECTIVE STOP TO IT, HE TOLD MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG COTTON SPINNERS ASSOCIATION DURING A LUNCHEON MEETING.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE CURRENT PROSECUTIONS MOUNTED BY HIS DEPARTMENT AGAINST QUOTA-DODGERS WAS ONLY THE FIRST PHASE OF ACTION.
MR. JORDAN SAID HE COULD NOT STRESS TOO STRONGLY THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN AT SUCH MALPRACTICE.
+THE FACT THAT OUR TEXTILE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ABLE TO GROW OVER THE YEARS OWES, I THINK, IN PART TO OUR ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE AND IN PART TO AN EFFECTIVE QUOTA CONTROL SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM BY OUR TRADING PARTNERS.
+ANY CHEATING IN AN ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT THE QUOTA SYSTEM WILL CAST DOUBT ON HONG KONG'S ABILITY TO HONOUR ITS OBLIGATIONS, UNDERMINE OUR ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE AND OBTAIN THE BEST POSSIBLE TERMS FOR HONG KONG, AND COULD LEAD TO IMPORT CONTROLS.
+ IT IS THEREFORE OUR INTENTION TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER TO STAMP OUT SUCH MALPRACTICES, TO PENALISE THOSE COMPANIES INVOLVED AS HEAVILY AS POSSIBLE, TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR QUOTA SYSTEM, AND IN THE END PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE LAW-ABIDING EXPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS, CONCLUDED MR. JORDAN.
SPECIAL STAMPS TO MARK M.T.R. INAUGURATION
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THE POST OFFICE WILL ISSUE THREE SPECIAL STAMPS TO MARK THE INAUGURATION OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (M.T.R.) ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR.
THE STAMPS OF 20 CENTS, $1.30 AND $2 DENOMINATIONS WILL
BE ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICES FROM THAT DAY.
SPECIAL FIRST DAY COVERS FOR THE NEW STAMPS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT 20 CENTS EACH FROM WEDNESDAY (SEPTEMBER 19). EACH COVER WILL CONTAIN AN INSERT CARD WITH DESCRIPTION OF THE M.T.R. SYSTEM AND BRIEF PHILATELIC INFORMATION.
/A SPOKESMAN. . . . .