XN000022-1974-11-12 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1974

HONG KONG FIRST IN THE WORLD TO RECEIVE TRADE DOCUMENTS VIA SATELLITE

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HISTORY WILL BE MADE IN HONG KONG THIS WEEK WHEN SIMPLIFIED TRADE DOCUMENTS WILL B TRANSMITTED IN FULL FROM THE UNITED STATES TO HONG KONG VIA SATELITE.

THE DEMONSTRATION IS A HIGHLIGHT OF A TWO-DAY TRADE FACILITATION SEMITAR WICH OPENS HERE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

DELEG..TES FROM MO..E THAN 10 COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, BRITAIN, JAPAN, THE PHILIPPINES, FRANCE, THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPÉ (ECL), THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP), THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ICC) AND THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME COMMITTEE (CMI) ARE ATTENDING THE MEETING, CALLED THE +HONG KONG FAR EAST TRADE FACILITATION SEMINAR+.

THE DILEGATES WILL DISCUSS WAYS OF FURTHER SIMPLIFYING AND STREAMLINING INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTATION.

THE SEMINAR IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG TRADE FACILITATION COMMITTEE, AN ADVISORY BODY FORMED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.

IT WILL BE FORMALLY OPENED BY THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. DAVID JO::DAN, AT 9 A.M. TOMORROW IN THE PACIFICA ROOM, 4TH FLOOR, FURAM. HOTEL.

THE TECHNIQUE OF TRANSMITTING SIMPLIFIED, OR CODED, COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTS AND DATA VIA SATELLITE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE WORLD'S MAJOR TRADING COUNTRIES: THE UNITED STATES. BRITAIN, CANADA, BELGIUM AND FRANCE TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING SPEED OF MODERN-DAY TRANSPORTATION AND TO ENSURE THAT CARGO IS NOT CONSEQUENTLY HELD UP AT CUSTOMS BONDS, WAREHOUSES AND AT NATIONAL BORDERS DUE TO DELAYS IN PREPARING, PROCESSING OR DELIVERING SHIPPING DOCUMENTS.

THERE ARE, HOWEVER, STILL SOME PROBLEMS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE THE NEW SYSTEM CAN BE ADOPTED FOR COMMERCIAL USE ON AN INTERNATIONAL BASIS.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG TRADE FACILITATION COMMITTEE, MR. IAN TOMLIN, WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE SEMINAR, SAYS HONG KONG IS A FITTING PLACE FOR THE MEETING BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE WITHIN THE FAR EAST AND BECAUSE OF THE STRIDES IT HAS ALREADY TAKEN IN SIMPLIFYING AND RATIONALISING DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES.

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