XN000022-1976-05-26 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1976

MR. JORDAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT IN 1975 HONG KONG'S TOTAL EXPORTS OF THIS ITEM WERE WORTH ABOUT SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WHILE THE TOTAL TEXTILE AND CLOTHING EXPORTS TO BRITAIN WERE WORTH TWO BILLION DOLLARS.

HE ADDED. THE AVERAGE F.0.B. PRICE OF THESE RAINCOATS WAS $32.60 IN 1975. THE LANDED PRICE IN BRITAIN IS PROBABLY MORE THAN TWENTY PER CENT HIGHER WHEN C.I.F. CHARGES AND THE NORMAL CUSTOM DUTY ARE ADDED. IN VIEW ALSO OF THE FURTHER DEPRECIATION OF STERLING SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED IT SEEMS TO ME LIKELY THAT THE QUANTITY, IF ANY, THAT WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS REFUND WILL BE VERY SMALL.

+UNDER THE RULES OF THE GATT, AN ANTI-DUMPING DUTY MAY REMAIN IN FORCE ONLY AS LONG AS IT IS NECESSARY TO COUNTERACT THE DUMPING. THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAS THEREFORE TAKEN STEPS TO MONITOR OUR EXPORTS OF THESE RAINCOATS TO BRITAIN, AND WE SHALL GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE IN LONDON AS 50ON AS WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT DUMPING IS NO LONGER OCCURRING.+

LEFT LANE FOR SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES

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THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WILL BE ASKED TO CONSIDER, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE CHAIRMAN OF A STANDING CONFERENCE ON ROAD SAFETY, A CAMPAIGN DIRECTED TOWARDS GETTING DRIVERS OF SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES TO TRAVEL ON THE CORRECT LANE, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING THE HON. JAMES WU WHO ASKED WHETHER A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN COULD BE MOUNTED TO REQUIRE HEAVY AND SLOW- MOVING VEHICLES TO OCCUPY THE LEFT LANE OF THE ROAD.

MR. ROBSON SAID THE POLICE WOULD GIVE THE CAMPAIGN FULL SUPPORT BECAUSE TOO FEW OF SUCH DRIVERS WERE DOING THIS ALTHOUGH THEY SHOULD DO SO.

+BUT WHILE IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE PUBLICITY ABOUT USING THE CORRECT TRAFFIC LANE IN THE ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, I AM ADVISED THAT THERE IS NO CLEAR LINK BETWEEN THIS INSTANCE OF BAD DRIVING AND ROAD ACCIDENTS.

+THE STANDING CONFERENCE MAY THEREFORE FEEL THAT IT CANNOT, IN ALL CONSCIENCE, RECOMMEND DEVOTING THE FUNDS WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR AN ENTIRE CAMPAIGN TO PUBLICITY AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR PRACTICE AND MAY EVEN TAKE THE VIEW THAT, IN THE CONTEXT OF ROAD SAFETY. DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE EXCEPT WHEN OVERTAKING CAN ONLY PLAY A SMALL PART IN THE SEPTEMBER ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN,+ HE SAID.

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