XN000022-1977-11-12 — Page 6

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1977

UN

5

+THIS IS NOT A DEMAND FOR WHICH WE CAN FIND JUSTIFICATION ON ECONOMIC OR LEGAL GROUNDS. IT BEARS NO RELATION TO THE MFA OR TO THE DOCUMENT TO WHICH WE AND THE EEC SUBSCRIBED ENVISAGING THE POSSIBILITY OF JOINTLY AGREED REASONABLE DEPARTURES' FROM THE MFA.

+ IN VIEW OF THE INDEFINITE SUSPENSION OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS BY THE EEC, THE HONG KONG DELEGATION AND THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD IS RETURNING TO HONG KONG, WE SHALL BE PREPARED TO RETURN TO BRUSSELS WHEN THERE IS AN INDICATION FROM THE EEC THAT THEY ARE READY TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS ON A MEANINGFUL BAS IS. IT IS STILL OUR EARNEST WISH TO REACH A FAIR, EQUITABLE AND MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE AGREEMENT.+

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE REMINDED THAT HONG KONG'S TEXTILES NEGOTIATING TEAM IS ARRIVING THIS (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON ON SWISSA IR 302 (E.T.A. 1530 HRS.). YOU ARE REMINDED THAT THE TEAM, HEADED BY MR. LAWRENCE MILLS, WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE AIRPORT'S PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ABOUT HALF AN HOUR AFTER ARRIVAL. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO MEET G.1.S. OFFICERS IN THE AIRPORT'S PRESS ROOM 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

$225 MILLION CONTRACT FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

****

THE MAIN CONTRACT FOR THE NEW $225 MILLION SHA TIN SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT WILL BE SIGNED ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 14).

THE CONTRACT FORMS PART OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PLANT WHICH IS PARTLY FINANCED BY A $95 MILLION LOAN FROM THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.

THE SIGNING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 21ST FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, AT 11 A.M.

TELEVISION CREWS ARE ASKED TO ARRIVE NOT LATER THAN 10.45 A.M. SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO SET UP THE IR CAMERAS.

MR. WONG KWOK-CHOY, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE F..D.'S CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE, WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW AFTER THE SIGNING CEREMONY.

/6