XN000022-1978-01-01 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 1978

TRADE STATISTICS GO METRIC TODAY

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HONG KONG ADOPTS METRIC UNITS IN ITS TRADE STATISTICS 'WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY UNDER A RECLASS IF ICATION OF TRADE

FIGURES TO BRING THEM IN LINE WITH THOSE OF OUR MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS.

TO COINCIDE WITH THE CHANGE, METRIC UNITS OF QUANTITY MUST BE USED IN COMPLETING TRADE DECLARATIONS FOR ALL SHIPMENTS MADE ON AND AFTER TODAY.

THE CHANGES WHICH ALSO INVOLVE SOME COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION ARE CONTAINED IN THE NEW EDITION OF THE HONG KONG IMPORTS AND EXPORTS CLASSIFICATION LIST PUBLISHED IN MID-DECEMBER. IT IS NOW ON SALE AT $11 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE,

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID THE NEW LIST WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE ITS EFFECTIVE DATE IN ORDER TO GIVE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE TO COMPLETE TRADE DECLARATIONS, TIME TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THESE CHANGES.

THE NEW LIST REPLACES THE JANUARY 1974 EDITION WHICH IS BASED ON THE UNITED NATIONS STANDARD INTERNATIONAL TRADE CLASSIFICATION, REVISED 1.

THE NEW EDITION INVOLVES A CHANGEOVER TO THE STANDARD INTERNATIONAL TRADE CLASSIFICATION, REVISED 2, IN LINE WITH A UNITED NATIONS RECOMMENDATION THAT IT BE ADOPTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY COUNTRIES COMPILING EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: THE CHANGE WILL ENHANCE THE VALUE OF HONG KONG'S PUBLISHED TRADE STATISTICS BECAUSE FINER COMMODITY BREAKDOWNS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE REVISED COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION LIST OF THE NEW HONG KONG IMPORTS AND EXPORTS CLASS IF ICATION LIST.+

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