XN000022-1975-06-30 — Page 5

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1975

INTERIM ARRANGEMENT FOR CERTAIN GARMENT EXPORTS TO NORWAY

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THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. JIMMY MCGREGOR, TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT HONG KONG WOULD UNILATERALLY INTRODUCE RESTRAINTS ON EXPORTS OF CERTAIN GARMENTS TO NORWAY WITH EFFECT FROM TOMORROW (JULY 1) AFTER THE EXPIRY OF THE CURRENT TEXTILES AGREEMENT WITH NORWAY.

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MR. MCGREGOR MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG AND NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENTS WERE ADJOURNED FOR AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD.

TALKS BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS STARTED IN OSLO ON JUNE 23. HOWEVER BY JUNE 25 IT BECAME CLEAR THAT NO FURTHER PROGRESS TOWARDS AGREEMENT COULD BE MADE FOR THE TIME

IN ORDER THAT THE NORWEGIAN BEING, AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED

AUTHORITIES MIGHT CONSIDER THEIR POSITION.

TO AVOID SERIOUS DISRUPTION TO THE TRADE AND AFTER CONSULTING THE TEXTILE ADVISORY BOARD, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO INTRODUCE UNILATERAL RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS AS AN INTERIM MEASURE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE FINALISED BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NORWAY.

THE INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS INVOLVE THE CONTINUATION OF FOUR RESTRAINT CATEGORIES UNDER THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WHICH COVERS CERTAIN UNDERGARMENTS, SHIRTS, BLOUSES AND TROUSERS. IN ADDITION, HONG KONG WILL VOLUNTARILY RESTRAIN EXPORTS OF CERTAIN OTHER SHIRTS AND BLOUSES, WHICH NORWAY DEMONSTRATED DURING THE RECENT NEGOTIATIONS, ARE CAUSING MARKET DISRUPTION. AN EXPORT REGISTRATION SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED FOR ELEVEN OTHER CATEGORIES OF GARMENTS.

DETAILS OF THE INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 1975 TO JUNE 30, 1976 ARE ANNOUNCED IN NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, SERIES 3, NO. 18/75 DATED JUNE 30, 1975. IN A FURTHER NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, SERIES 3, NO. 19/75 DATED JUNE 30, 1975, EXPORTERS ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT RETURNS OF EXPORTS OF WOVEN BLOUSES AND JUMPERS OF CONTINUOUS SYNTHETIC FIBRES AND COTTON KNITTED SHIRTS SHIPPED IN THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 1974 TO MAY 31, 1975 TO THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ON OR BEFORE JULY 10, 1975.

COPIES OF THESE NOTICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE RECEPTIONIST COUNTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, 46 CONNAUGHT ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED BY MR. C.H. POON, INDUSTRY ASSISTANT TELEPHONE NO. 5-247315.

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