XN000022-1972-09-11 — Page 12

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Monday, September 11, 1972

HIGHER RICE QUOTA FOR LAST QUARTER

The rice import quota for the fourth quarter of 1972 has been

provisionally fixed at 94,600 metric tons,7% per cent above the basic

quota of 88,000 metric tons.

Commenting on the quota, a spokesman for the Commerce and

Industry Department said today that rice consumption normally increased

in the last quarter with the advent of cooler weather. The size of the

quota had been determined with this in mind,

"The department will keep developments in the rice trade under

close review, and may issue a supplementary quota during the quarter

should circumstances so warrant," the spokesman said.

In the first eight months of this year Hong Kong imported 242,463

tons of rice. Of this Thailand supplied 65 per cent, China 28 per cent,

and Australia 5 per cent. The remainder came mainly from Burma, the

United States and North Vietnam.

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