WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1980
10
TICD COMMENTS ON MODIFIED HK/USA TEXTILE AGREEMENT
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COMMENTING ON A REPORT FROM WASHINGTON ON THE EFFECT OF THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE HONG KONG/USA TEXTILE AGREEMENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID THE ARRANGEMENT WAS LIMITED TO 10 CATEGORIES IN THE COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRE (MMF) GROUP.
ACCORDING TO 1979 UTILIZATION, TRADE IN THESE CATEGORIES REPRESENTED 40 PER CENT BY VOLUME OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL EXPORTS TO THE USA FOR THAT YEAR.
THE REDUCTION IN FLEXIBILITY (THAT IS, CARRY-OVER, CARRY-FORWARD AND SWING) FOR THE 10 CATEGORIES REPRESENTS
EIGHT PER CENT OF THE POTENTIAL WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IN THE CATEGORIES IN 1980- OR IN TERMS OF THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT 2.67 PER CENT.
THE USA PROPOSED, AS A FINAL PACKAGE, THAT CATEGORIES 350 (DRESSING GOWN, COTTON), 351 (PYJAMAS AND OTHER NIGHT WEAR, COTTON), AND 649 (BRASSIERES, MMF) SHOULD BE DROPPED INTO THE APPAREL BASKET.
IN RESPECT OF 10 CATEGORIES, NAMELY 331 (GLOVES, COTTON) 333/4/5 (COATS, COTTON), 340 (SHIRTS, COTTON) 347/8 (TROUSERS SLACKS AND SHORTS, COTTON), 341 (BLOUSES, NOT KNIT), 338/9 (1) (TANK TOPS, KNIT), 638/9 (SHIRTS AND BLOUSES, KNIT, MMF) AND 640 (SHIRTS, MMF), SWINGS SHOULD BE REDUCED FROM THE PRESENT LEVEL TO FIVE PER CENT AND THERE SHOULD BE NO CARRY-OVER OR CARRY-FORWARD FOR THESE CATEGORIES.
CARRY-OVER AND CARRY-FORWARD FOR THE APPAREL GROUP AS A WHOLE WOULD, HOWEVER, STILL APPLY WHERE APPROPRIATE. THERE WOULD ALSO BE SOME SLIGHT TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE EXPORT AUTHORISATION SYSTEM.
LABOUR COMMISSIONER ORDERS STUDY OF CONSTRUCTION SITE ACCIDENTS ******
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, HAS ORDERED A SPECIAL STUDY OF ALL RECENT ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES.
REPLYING TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON PETER C. WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), HE SAID THE STUDY WAS IN ADDITION TO INVESTIGATIONS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE INTO RECENT SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.
MR HENDERSON SAID HE AND THE INSPECTORATE WERE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE ACCIDENTS.
+ IF AS A RESULT OF THIS MORE EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS A NEED IS SHOWN TO AMEND THE REGULATIONS I SHALL PROPOSE AMENDMENTS ACCORDINGLY AND GIVE APPROPRIATE WARNINGS OR ADVICE TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY,+ HE STRESSED.
/MR HENDERSON