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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1976

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URGENT CONSULTATIONS ON EXPORTS OF RUBBER

COATED GARMENTS TO U.K. ******

MR. DAVID JORDAN, DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE U.K. GOVERNMENT HAS ISSUED A NOTICE TO IMPORTERS REQUIRING IMPORTS OF RUBBER AND PLASTIC COATED GARMENTS FROM HONG KONG TO BE COVERED BY QUOTA LICENCES ISSUED BY HONG KONG.

THIS, HOWEVER, DOES NOT AFFECT SUCH GARMENTS WHICH ARE COATED WITH RUBBER OR PLASTIC ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FABRICS.

MR. JORDAN CONFIRMED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN HONG KONG AND BRITAIN REGARDING THE COVERAGE OF THE E.E.C./H.K. TEXTILE AGREEMENT INSOFAR AS THESE RUBBER AND PLASTIC GARMENTS ARE CONCERNED, HONG KONG ALLOWS THESE GARMENTS TO BE EXPORTED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FREE OF QUOTA.

COMMENTING ON THE ACTION BY THE U.K. GOVERNMENT,

MR. JORDAN SAID, THIS IS LIKELY TO DISRUPT OUR EXPORT TRADE IN THESE PRODUCTS. THEREFORE, AS SOON AS WE LEARNED OF IT, WE IMMEDIATELY ASKED THE E.E.C. COMMISSION FOR URGENT CONSULTATION.

+THE COMMISSION HAS NOW AGREED TO HOLD SUCH CONSULTATIONS

NEXT WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 22) IN BRUSSELS, HE SAID.

MR. PETER TSAO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY WILL BE LEAVING ON MONDAY (DECEMBER 20) FOR THESE CONSULTATIONS.

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ROYAL OBSERVATORY CALENDAR NOW ON SALE

******

THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY 1977 CALENDAR IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE. THE PRICE IS $7 EACH,

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THE CALENDAR CONTAINS INFORMATION ON THE TIMES OF SUNRISE, SUNSET, MOONRISE AND MOONSET AS WELL AS THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE AND LOW TIDE, DATES OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND THE TWENTY FOUR SOLAR TERMS OF THE CHINESE CALENDAR ARE ALSO INCLUDED.

ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE CALENDAR IS A SELECTION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION PRINTED ON TWELVE ILLUSTRATED PAGES. THE TOPICS INCLUDE LIGHTNING, FOG, RADAR OBSERVATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONES, WEATHER CHARTS PRODUCED BY COMPUTER AND THE MOVEMENT OF TROPICAL CYCLONES.

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