XN000022-1975-03-19 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1975

NEW RICE IMPORT QUOTA ANNOUNCED SUPPLY POSITION HEALTHY ******

THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE RICE IMPORT QUOTA FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1975 HAS BEEN FIXED AT 76,212 HMETRIC TONS,

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (TRADE), MR. PAUL WONG, EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW QUOTA SMALLER THAN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER'S QUOTA BY 2,170 METRIC TONS - TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE RELATIVELY LARGE STOCK (60,000 METRIC TONS) IN HONG KONG AT PRESENT AND THE IMPROVED OVERSEAS' SUPPLY POSITION.

THE RICE CROPS POSITION IN THE REGION WAS ALSO FAVOURABLE, HE ADDED.

THE DECISION TO ISSUE A REDUCED QUOTA IS ALSO IN KEEPING WITH LAST YEAR'S RECOMMENDATION BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AND SHOULD HAVE NO EFFECT ON RETAIL PRICES OR ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THE GRAIN ON THE LOCAL MARKET.

SINCE JANUARY 1, THIS YEAR, HONG KONG HAS IMPORTED A TOTAL OF 64,252 METRIC TONS OF RICE. OF THIS AMOUNT, CHINA SUPPLIED 27,067 METRIC TONS AND THAILAND 32,599 METRIC TONS. THE BALANCE WAS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA.

TIME: 1052 HOURS/MAN/ MARCH 19, 1975.

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