XN000022-1975-10-06 — Page 4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1975

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O.E.C.D. BOOK EXHIBITION

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A BOOK EXHIBITION FEATURING PUBLICATIONS OF THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (0.E.C.D.) OPENED AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE HONG KONG STARFERRY CONCOURSE TODAY.

AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS,

MR. DENIS BRAY, DESCRIBED THE COLLECTION AS +A VERITABLE STOREHOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE+ COMPILED FROM THE WIDE EXPERIENCE OF THE WORLD'S MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND SAID THAT HONG KONG COULD NOT AFFORD TO IGNORE SUCH A FUND OF KNOWLEDGE.

THE O.E.C.D. PUBLICATIONS EMBRACE SUCH FIELDS AS ECONOMY AND FINANCE, DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, ENERGY, INDUSTRY, TRANSPORT AND TOURISM, ENVIRONMENT, MANPOWER AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.

THE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND AT THE SAME PRICE CHARGED IN FRANCE WHERE THEY ARE PUBLISHED.

IN HONG KONG, THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES WHICH IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS.

MEANWHILE, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE O.E.C.D., MR. EMILE VAN LENNEP, SENT A CABLE TO THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES TODAY EXTENDING CONGRATULATIONS AND EXPRESSING HIS APPRECIATION TO ALL THOSE WHO MADE THE EXHIBITION POSSIBLE.

MR. BRAY SAID THE AIM OF THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE WAS TO OFFER CONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC IN OBTAINING GOVERNMENT

* PUBLICATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN PRODUCED IN THE CHEAPEST WAY TO MAKE

THEM AVAILABLE TO THE WIDEST POSSIBLE READERSHIP.

HE NOTED THAT SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR THERE HAD BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN SALES THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, +DUE IN NO SMALL PART TO THE WIDER ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL SALES COUNTERS.+

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DURING THE 1974/75 FINANCIAL YEAR, HE SAID, SALES AMOUNTED TO $3.4 MILLION A 57 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR -- AND UP TO AUGUST THIS YEAR SALES APPEARED TO BE 25 PER CENT UP OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF MR. BRAY'S SPEECH:

+ SHOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS MODEST BUT PERTINENT DISPLAY OF PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED BY THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT. KNOWING AT LEAST SOMETHING OF THE O.E.C.D., YOU WILL NOT HAVE COME HERE EXPECTING TO FIND PRETTY PICTURE BOOKS FOR THE COFFEE TABLE. RATHER YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE SOLID, IN DEPTH REPORTS, SURVEYS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSES PROVIDING INVALUABLE WORKS OF REFERENCE ON A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS,

/+WHAT I BELIEVE