XN000022-1975-12-28 — Page 5

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1975

RICE IMPORT QUOTA FOR 1ST QUARTER OF 1976

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THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE RICE IMPORT QUOTA FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1976 HAS BEEN FIXED AT 80,514 METRIC 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 5,286 METRIC TONS, TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE SATISFACTORY STOCK LEVEL AT PRESENT (62,000 METRIC TONS, NOT

INCLUDING 11,900 METRIC TONS YET TO BE IMPORTED DURING THIS QUARTER) AND THE VERY FAVOURABLE OVERSEAS SUPPLY POSITION.

WORLD PADDY PRODUCTION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY FOUR PER CENT DURING 1975/76.

SINCE JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR, HONG KONG HAS IMPORTED A TOTAL OF 323,204 METRIC TONS OF RICE. OF THIS AMOUNT, CHINA SUPPLIED 177,321 METRIC TONS AND THAILAND 112,180 METRIC TONS. THE BALANCE WAS MAINLY FROM AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED STATES.

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