XN000022-1973-09-20 — Page 11

10

Thursday, September 20, 1973

RICE IMPORT QUOTA

The rice import quota for the fourth quarter this year

10

(Oct-Dec) has been provisionally fixed at 81,000 metric tons

per cent below the basic quota of 90,000 metric tons, the Commerce

and Industry Department announced today.

"The reduced quota takes into account the improving stock

position and anticipated arrival of new crop supplies towards the

close of the quarter," said Mr. M.D. Sargent, Assistant Director of

the department.

He added that the department would continue to keep develop-

ments in the trade under close study and would issue a supplementary

quota during the quarter should circumstances warrant.

Rice stocks at present, he said, amounted to just over

70,000 metric tons. In the first eight months of this year, Hong Kong

imported a total of 198,000 metric tons of rice. Of this amount,

China supplied 40 per cent and Thailand about 38 per cent. The

remainder was imported from the U.S.A., Australia and Pakistan.

0

/11

·

:

..