XN000022-1976-11-30 — Page 8

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1976

JORDAN LEAVES FOR GATT TEXTILES MEETING IN GENEVA

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THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MR. DAVID JORDAN, LEFT HONG KONG YESTERDAY (MONDAY) TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE GATT TEXTILES COMMITTEE IN GENEVA.

THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO LAST ABOUT TEN DAYS DURING WHICH MEMBERS WILL CARRY OUT A MAJOR REVIEW OF THE MULTI FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA) AS WELL AS DISCUSS ITS FUTURE.

THE MFA WAS NEGOTIATED IN 1973 BY REPRESENTATIVES OF SOME 50 GOVERNMENTS TO TRY TO PROVIDE FOR THE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES. THIS ARRANGEMENT EXPIRES IN DECEMBER NEXT YEAR.

ON HIS WAY TO GENEVA, MR. JORDAN WILL MAKE A BRIEF STOP IN LONDON FOR ROUTINE TALKS WITH BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND OFFICIALS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE.

DURING MR. JORDAN'S ABSENCE MR. BILL DORWARD WILL ACT AS DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND AS COMMISSIONER OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE.

MR. PETER TSAO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WHO WILL ALSO BE ATTEND ING THE GATT MEETING, LEFT FOR GENEVA LAST WEEK AHEAD OF MR. JORDAN.

DECLARATION OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

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IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS WERE TODAY REMINDED OF THEIR

OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (REGISTRATION) REGULATIONS TO LODGE TRADE DECLARATIONS AND PAY AD VALOREM CHARGES WITHIN 14 DAYS OF TRANSACTING BUSINESS ON ALL IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OTHER THAN THOSE WHICH ARE EXEMPTED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SAID THAT PROSECUTIONS WOULD BE INITIATED AGAINST THOSE WHO, WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE, FAILED TO LODGE THE NECESSARY TRADE DECLARATIONS.

TRADE DECLARATIONS SUBMITTED OUTSIDE THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD OF 14 DAYS WILL BE LIABLE, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE, TO PENALTY CHARGES WHICH RISE AFTER TWO MONTHS TO A MAXIMUM OF $100 PER DECLARATION WHERE THE TOTAL VALUE OF ARTICLES SPECIFIED DOES NOT EXCEED $20,000.

WHERE THE VALUE EXCEEDS $20,000, THE PENALTY CHARGES RISE AFTER TWO MONTHS TO A MAXIMUM OF $200 PER DECLARATION.