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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1985
U.S. SEEKS TALKS ON MAN-MADE-FIBRE LUGGAGE
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THE TRADE DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS REQUESTED CONSULTATIONS ON EXPORTS OF MAN-MADE-FIBRE LUGGAGE.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SAID THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OF IMPORTS OF THESE PRODUCTS FROM HONG KONG HAD CAUSED DISRUPTION TO ITS MARKET.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID HONG KONG HAD ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF THE REQUEST FOR CONSULTATIONS AND EXPECTED THE U.S. TO SUGGEST A DATE FOR CONSULTATIONS IN DUE COURSE.
MAN-MADE-FIBRE LUGGAGE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT HONG KONG-U.S. TEXTILES AGREEMENT. THE U.S. REQUEST WAS MADE UNDER ARTICLE 3 OF THE MULTIFIBRE ARRANGEMENT, WHICH APPLIES TO TEXTILE PRODUCTS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGREEMENT.
SINCE THE RELEVANT PRODUCTS ARE NOT IN THE AGREEMENT, THE STANDARD PROCEDURE OF SUSPENDING EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS FOLLOWING A CALL DOES NOT APPLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE EXPORT LICENCES UPON APPLICATION BUT EACH APPLICATION WILL NOW NEED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY EVIDENCE OF AN ORDER RECEIVED.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN A NOTICE TO EXPORTERS
SERIES 1 (USA) NO. 49/85 OF OCTOBER 3, 1985. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST AT COUNTER 42, OCEAN CENTRE, 15TH FLOOR,
JULY RETAIL SALES SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED
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THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES IN JULY 1985, ESTIMATED AT $5 460 MILLION, WAS 4 PER CENT LOWER THAN IN JULY 1984, WHILE THEIR VOLUME WAS 5 PER CENT LOWER, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
RETAIL SALES FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD MAY-JULY 1985, WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1984, FELL BY 2 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
COMPARED WITH JUNE 1985, AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON IS AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, RETAIL SALES FOR JULY 1985 INCREASED BY 5 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 6 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
WHEN COMPARED WITH JULY 1984, RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT IN VOLUME, BOTH FUELS AND FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO RECORDED SLIGHT INCREASES, OF 1 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. ON THE OTHER HAND, RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES DROPPED BY 5 PER CENT AND +OTHER CONSUMER GOODS+ BY 10 PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
/RETAIL SALES