MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1960
HONG KONG/NORWAY TEXTILE CONSULTATIONS
START TOMORROW
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CONSULTATIONS WILL START TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AT THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WITH A NORWEGIAN DELEGATION ON ARRANGEMENTS TO REPLACE NORWAY'S EXISTING IMPORT RESTRICTIONS IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN TEXTILE PRODUCTS.
THESE CONSULTATIONS FOLLOW A DECISION BY THE GATT COUNCIL IN JUNE THAT NORWAY'S RESTRICTIONS UNDER ARTICLE XIX WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE GATT. THE COUNCIL MADE A STRONG APPEAL TO BOTH PARTIES TO INTENSIFY THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE AGREEMENT.
THE SEVEN-MEMBER NORWEGIAN DELEGATION IS HEADED BY MR ARNE LANGELAND, DIRECTOR GENERAL, MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND SHIPPING. HONG KONG'S DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR K.Y. YEUNG.
ANOTHER SURVEY ON THE LABOUR FORCE
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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT A LABOUR FORCE SURVEY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THIS MONTH. IT WILL BE ONE OF A SERIES OF SIX-MONTHLY LABOUR FORCE SURVEYS AIMED AT COLLECTING CURRENT INFORMATION ON THE ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION.
THE SEPTEMBER SURVEY WILL BE TAKEN ON A SAMPLE BASIS COVERING ABOUT 15 000 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT ALL DISTRICTS OF HONG KONG.
BEFORE THE FIELD ENUMERATION BEGINS, AN OFFICIAL LETTER IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH, WILL BE SENT TO THE SAMPLED HOUSEHOLDS EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY AND SEEKING THE IR CO-OPERATION,
ENUMERATORS, WHO WILL IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH OFFICIAL IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WILL VISIT THESE HOUSEHOLDS ON A DAY BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 15 AND 30.
QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED INCLUDE AGE, SEX, AND EDUCATION ATTAINMENT OF INDIVIDUALS TENURE AND RENT OF HOUSEHOLDS- ACTIVITY STATUS, OCCUPATION, INDUSTRY, EARNINGS, AND HOUR OF WORK OF THOSE WORKING AND FOR THOSE UNEMPLOYED, DURATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT, REASON OF NOT SEEKING JOB, AND WHETHER THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE SOUGHT ON THE EXPENDITURE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS ON FOREIGN TRAVEL AND ON PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE EXISTENCE OF SOME GOVERNMENT FACILITIES.
ALL INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE TREATED AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE REVEALED TO ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION OUTSIDE THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
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