XN000022-1977-12-29 — Page 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1977

HK-SWEDEN TO RESUME TEXTILE TALKS IN JANUARY

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THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR. JOHN CHAN, SAID TODAY THAT HONG KONG WILL LIMIT ITS EXPORTS TO SWEDEN OF A WIDE RANGE OF TEXTILE AND CLOTHING PRODUCTS DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1978.

MR. CHAN RECALLED THAT TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN TWO HONG KONG TEAMS AND DELEGATIONS FROM NORWAY AND SWEDEN WERE SUSPENDED EARLIER THIS MONTH BECAUSE HONG KONG COULD NOT ACCEPT THE LARGE REDUCTIONS DEMANDED BY THE TWO SCANDINAVIAN DELEGATIONS ON CURRENT RESTRAINT AND TRADE LEVELS.

HOWEVER, MR. CHAN SAID, HONG KONG HAD PROPOSED TO BOTH NORWAY AND SWEDEN TEMPORARY RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THREE MONTHS IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION TO THE TRADE AND TO GIVE THE TWO NORDIC COUNTRIES A PERIOD FOR FURTHER REFLECTION.

+WE HAVE TODAY RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS WITH HONG KONG IN JANUARY AND THAT, IN THE MEANTIME, THEY HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS PROPOSED BY HONG KONG,+ MR. CHAN SAID.

DETAILS OF THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER TODAY OR TOMORROW IN A NOTICE TO EXPORTERS.

MR. CHAN SAID THAT NO RESPONSE HAD YET BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT TO HONG KONG'S PROPOSALS FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINT ARRANGMENTS FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. +1 HOPE TO HEAR FROM THEM VERY SOON, MR. CHAN ADDED.

GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE RETURNING TOMORROW

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTER SIX WEEKS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

SIR MURRAY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LADY MACLEHOSE.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE ARE DUE TO RETURN BY BA888 TOMORROW (FRIDAY), E.T.A. 1755 HOURS. THERE WILL BE NO PRESS INTERVIEW ON THE GOVERNOR'S ARRIVAL BUT A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY WILL BE PROVIDED. TELEVISION AND PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THIS FACILITY ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THE ARRIVAL TIME. G.I.S. OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.

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