XN000022-1974-06-26 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1974

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TRADE CONTROLS ON RICE AND TEXTILES DEFENDED

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THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, HR JINNY MCGREGOR, SAID TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) THAT IT WOULD BE AN ACT OF +FOLLY AND IRRESPONSIBILITY+ FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DISMANTLE THE RICE CONTROL SCHEME.

+THE CONSEQUENCES OF A GOVERNMENT WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PRESENT CONTROL OVER THE RICE TRADE COULD BE VERY SERIOUS INDEED, HE SAID.

+IT IS MY VIEW THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST DEMANDS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONTROL ON THE RICE TRADE SHALL CONTINUE AT LEAST FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.+

MR MCGREGOR WAS SPEAKING TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF KWUN TONG IN ANSWER TO CRITICISMS MADE RECENTLY BY MR WONG TOK-ŠAU ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH CONTROLS ARE OPERATED IN RESPECT OF RICE AND TEXTILES.

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+THE ADMINISTRATION OF TRADE CONTROLS IS FLEXIBLE AND SUBJECT TO CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION NOT ONLY AS A MEANS OF CHANGING AND IMPROVING THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT MORE SIGNIFICANTLY TO DETERMINE WHEN WE CAN REDUCE ITS SCOPE OR GET RID OF CONTROLS ALTOGETHER,+ MR MCGREGOR SAID.

+I THINK THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORD IN THE GENERAL AREA OF TRADE CONTROLS IS.À VERY GOOD ONE AND THAT IT WILL BEAR THE MOST CRITICAL EXAMINATION. A GREAT MANY CONTROLS WHICH WERE NECESSARY AFTER 1945 WERE QUICKLY DISPENSED WITH AS SOON AS THE NEED FOR THEM DISAPPEARED.+

MR MCGREGOR SALD THAT RICE CONTROL HAD REMAINED AND THE REASONS WERE NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND.

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+VE DEPEND ENTIRELY ON IMPORTS OF RICE AND I AM SURE YOU VILL AGREE THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST ACCEPT A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING THAT, AS FAR AS IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD, HONG KONG'S RICE SUPPLY IS SECURE FROM ONE MONTH TO THE NEXT AND INDEED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

+RICE CROPS ARE FICKLE AND RICE PRODUCTION CAN FLUCTUATE GREATLY FROM ONE HARVEST TO THE NEXT. BUT CONSUMPTION ACROSS ASIA IS NOT DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE. IT IS HUGE AND IT IS GROWING AS THE ASIAN POPULATION EXPANDS.

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+WE HAVE SEEN THE EFFECTS OF FAMINE ARISING FROM DROUGHT AND POOR RICE CROPS. VE HAVE HEARD THE ANGUISHED CRIES FOR HELP FROM THOSE COUNTRIES SO TRAGICALLY AFFLICTED WITH FAMINE AND ITS DREADFUL CONSEQUENCES.+

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/: MCGREGOR