XN000022-1978-09-01 — Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1978

HONG KONG RESUMES TEXTILE TALKS WITH NORWAY

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MR. BILL DORWARD, ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, TONIGHT (SEPTEMBER 1) LEFT FOR OSLO FOR TALKS WITH NORWAY ON IMPORTS OF HONG KONG TEXTILES.

NORWAY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION TO REPLACE THE SELECTIVE RESTRAINTS AGAINST HONG KONG, WHICH IT IMPOSED IN JANUARY, WITH GLOBAL RESTRICTIONS UNDER ARTICLE XIX OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT).

ON HIS DEPARTURE, MR. DORWARD SAID, THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED NORWEGIAN ACTION CREATES A NEW SITUATION AND WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR TEXTILE TRADE IN 1979. | AM HOPEFUL WE CAN REPAIR SOME OF THE DAMAGE WHICH HAS BEEN DONE THIS YEAR.+

MR. DORWARD SAID THAT THE TALKS WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 6. A WEEK BEFORE OSLO'S 'FASHION FAIR' WHEN MANY SPRING ORDERS ARE PLACED BY NORWEGIAN IMPORTERS.

MR. DORWARD WILL BE JOINED IN OSLO BY TWO SENIOR OFFICIALS OF HONG KONG'S TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT MR. PETER WISE, COUNSELLOR FOR HONG KONG AFFAIRS IN GENEVA, AND MR. JUSTIN YUE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TEXTILE CONTROLS.

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