XN000022-1976-04-01 — Page 4

EEC OFFICIALS MEET PRESS

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THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1976

THE TEN EEC OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN VISITING HONG KONG FOR THE PAST WEEK AT THE INVITATION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE GIS TOMORROW AFTERNOON (FRIDAY). THE OFFICIALS ARE ALL EXPERTS ON THE EEC'S GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES (GSP). UNDER THIS SCHEME GOODS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES MAY ENTER COMMON MARKET COUNTRIES DUTY FREE.

ALTHOUGH HONG KONG IS A BENEFICIARY OF THE SCHEME, TWO OF ITS EXPORTS - TEXTILES AND LEATHER FOOTWEAR ARE EXCLUDED FROM IT.

THE VISIT IS TO PROVIDE THE OFFICIALS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY OF TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT HONG KONG AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ITS PROBLEM.

THE LEADER OF THE VISITING GROUP OF EXPERTS IS MR. TRAN VAN THINH, AN EEC COMMISSION OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF THE COMMISSION'S GENERALISED TARIFF PREFERENCES DEPARTMENT.

THE OTHER EXPERTS ARE MEMBER STATE OFFICIALS REPRESENTING FRANCE, ITALY, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, BELGIUM, LUXEMBURG, BRITAIN, THE IRISH REPUBLIC AND DENMARK.

THE GROUP ARRIVED LAST SUNDAY AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD TALKS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION AND SEVERAL OTHER CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE LEADING TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS.

THEY ALSO TOURED KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES AND INSPECTED A NUMBER OF FACTORIES AND VISITED SQUATTER AREAS AND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

THE GROUP LEAVES ON SUNDAY.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHICH WILL BE HELD AT 3.30 P.M. TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE GIS THEATRE ON THE 5/F., OF BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

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