WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1981
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"UK-PROPOSED RECESSION CLAUSE INIMICAL TO HK'S INTERESTS' ****
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THAT ANY RECESSION CLAUSE+ IN THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT, SUCH AS THAT FAVOURED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, WOULD NOT ONLY BE INIMICAL TO HONG KONG'S INTERESTS, BUT WOULD ALSO BE UNWORKABLE, SAID THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, THE HON L.W.R. MILLS, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN, MR MILLS ADDED THAT FROM WHAT WAS KNOWN ABOUT THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY COMMISSION'S POLICY, THERE WAS NO PROPOSAL FOR A RECESSION CLAUSE+.
MR MILLS POINTED OUT THAT THE UK SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE HAD HIMSELF ALSO SAID THAT THE IDEA OF THE RECESSION CLAUSE DOES NOT COMMAND ELSEWHERE THE WIDESPREAD SUPPORT WHICH IT COMMANDS IN THE UK. +
ANSWERING A QUESTION PUT BY THE HON ALLEN LEE ABOUT A PROPOSED EXHIBITION CENTRE, MR MILLS SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THAT THERE WAS A DEMAND EXISTING AND POTENTIAL FOR SUCH A FACILITY.
IT WAS PROCEEDING WITH THE STAGE | CONSULTANCY, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO DRAW UP SPECIFICATIONS FOR DEVELOPING A MULTI-STOREY COMPLEX TO INCLUDE AN EXHIBITION CENTRE ON A SPECIFIED SITE IN TS IM SHA TSUI, AND PROVIDE ESTIMATES OF CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS TO BE INCURRED, AS WELL AS REVENUE OBTAINABLE.
A NON-STATUTORY BOARD, HEADED BY MR M.G.R. SANDBERG, WAS SET UP TO OVERSEE THE STAGE I CONSULTANCY, AND SO FAR EIGHT FIRMS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN UNDERTAKING THE CONSULTANCY. A SHORT LIST OF FIVE OR SIX FIRMS WOULD BE DRAWN UP AND TENDERS INVITED.
+WE EXPECT THE APPOINTED CONSULTANTS TO START WORK IN OCTOBER AND A REPORT TO BE MADE TO THE GOVERNMENT EARLY NEXT YEAR,+ MR MILLS SAID.
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