XN000022-1975-02-09 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, F2BR JARY 9, 1975

EXPORT OF RESTRAINED TEXTILES TO E.E.C.

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THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. DAVID JORDAN, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT EXPORTERS COULD ASSUME THAT THE CURRENT RESTRAINTS REGARDING EXPORTS OF CERTAIN TEXTILES TO THE EEC WOULD BE CONTINUED BEYOND MARCH 31, 1975 AND THAT THE CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THOSE NOW IN FORCE.

PRECISE DETAILS OF THE RESTRAINTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND IN ANY CASE NOT LATER THAN THE END OF FEBRUARY.

MR. JORDAN SAID HIS DEPARTMENT HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED A NUMBER OF QUERIES FROM THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER THE UNCERTAIN SITUATION REGARDING EXPORTS OF RESTRAINED TEXTILES TO THE EEC.

SUCH EXPORTS, HE EXPLAINED, HAD BEEN PLACED UNDER A UNILATERAL RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENT WHICH HAD BEEN IN FORCE SINCE JANUARY 1974 WHEN THE PREVIOUS BILATERAL ARRANGEMENT EXPIRED.

THE UNILATERAL ARRANGEMENT HAD, SINCE THEN, BEEN EXTENDED TWICE AND WAS NOW DUE TO EXPIRE ON MARCH 31, 1975.

THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN HOLDING ITSELF READY FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE EEC SINCE 1973 WITH A VIEW TO REACHING A BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON TEXTILE EXPORTS TO THE COMMUNITY,

UP TO THE PRESENT, NO REQUEST FOR CONSULTATIONS FROM THE EEC HAD BEEN RECEIVED.

MR. JORDAN SAID HIS DEPARTMENT FULLY APPRECIATED THE DIFFICULTY WHICH HONG KONG TRADERS FACED AND WAS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH FLOW OF TRADE.

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