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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1982
HONG KONG ASKS FOR GATT PANEL OVER FRENCH RESTRICTIONS
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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS ASKING THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) TO CONVENE A PANEL TO CONSIDER ITS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE UNILATERAL RESTRICTIONS BY FRANCE AGAINST THE IMPORT OF HONG KONG-MADE QUARTZ WATCHES AND OTHER PRODUCTS.
THIS FOLLOWS THE DEADLOCK AFTER THREE ROUNDS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE EEC COMMISSION, ACTING ON BEHALF OF FRANCE, AND THE TALKS WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE DESIGNATE, MR LAWRENCE MILLS HAD IN PARIS LAST THURSDAY.
+WE HAVE TAKEN THIS ACTION BECAUSE THE RESTRICTIONS ARE DISCRIMINATORY, AND ARE IN CONTRAVENTION OF FRANCE'S GATT OBLIGATIONS, SAID THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR JUSTIN YUE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
+ALTHOUGH THE FRENCH OFFICIALS LAST WEEK CONSIDERED MAKING SOME FURTHER PROPOSALS, IT HAS BEEN QUITE A LONG WHILE SINCE OUR INITIAL PROTEST. WE CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THE BI-LATERAL PROCEDURES ARE NOW EXHAUSTED WITHOUT PRODUCING A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION. WE ARE THEREFORE TAKING STEPS TO RAISE THE MATTER OFFICIALLY WITH THE GATT, SAID MR YUE.
JOBS FOUND FOR REDUNDANT TEACHERS
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ALL 271 REDUNDANT TEACHERS IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHO REGISTERED WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S PLACEMENT SERVICE IN MAY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN VARIOUS SCHOOLS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
*THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE MANY SCHOOL AUTHORITIES FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN BRINGING THIS ABOUT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE PLACEMENT SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1975 TO ASSIST REDUNDANT TEACHERS IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SEEKING ALTERNATIVE JOBS AS A RESULT OF THE DROP IN THE POPULATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE AND A SHIFT OF POPULATION FROM THE URBAN AREAS TO THE NEW TOWNS.
SINCE THEN. THE SERVICE HAS HELPED A TOTAL OF 2 736 REDUNDANT TEACHERS TO SECURE ALTERNATIVE TEACHING POSTS. LAST YEAR THE NUMBER OF REDUNDANT TEACHERS WAS 329.