XN000022-1979-06-01 — Page 4

FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1979

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EXPORT OF RESTRAINED TEXTILES

TO THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

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THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT HAS FORMALLY REQUESTED THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY TO INCREASE THE QUOTAS FOR 1979 FOR A NUMBER OF ITEMS INCLUDING WOVEN TROUSERS, WOVEN AND KNITTED BLOUSES, WOVEN SHIRTS, KNITTED UNDERPANTS AND WOVEN WORK GARMENTS.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) SAID THE REQUEST WAS MADE UNDER A PROVISION IN THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE EEC WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH INCREASES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT HONG KONG'S QUOTAS FOR SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS HAD BEEN CUT DURING THE 1977 NEGOTIATIONS.

+ IF THE REQUEST IS SUCCESSFUL, IT WOULD BE A SMALL MEASURE OF REDRESS OF WHAT WAS LOST TWO YEARS AGO,+ HE SAID.

+THE COMMISSION FOR THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY IS CONSIDERING THE HONG KONG REQUEST, AND A RESPONSE IS EXPECTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

WARM TRIBUTE TO RETIRING CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. J.N. HENDERSON, THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING PAID A GLOWING TRIBUTE TO MR. TSUI TIM-FOOK, CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS' SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

SPEAKING AT A FAREWELL DINNER, MR. HENDERSON SAID MR. TSUI, WHO IS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN TO HIS COLLEAGUES AS +TIM,+ HAS SERVED THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR MORE THAN 28 YEARS.

+MOST OF THAT TIME HAS BEEN IN THE FIELD OF LABOUR RELATIONS. IT IS THERE - AND IN THE EXACTING WORK OF CONCILIATION THAT TIM'S NAME IS INDELIBLY ASSOCIATED, HE SAID.

+THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE THAT HE HAS RENDERED IN LABOUR RELATIONS WORK IS WELL KNOWN TO ALL OF YOU, AND THERE ARE FEW TRADE DISPUTES OF CONSEQUENCE IN THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO IN WHICH HE HAS NOT PLAYED A PART.+

MR. HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT MR. TSUI DURING A +FINE CAREER+ HAS HAD NO LESS THAN SIX FORMAL COMMENDATIONS FROM SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS, INCLUDING HIMSELF.

HE WAS ALSO COMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR IN AUGUST 1967 FOR HIS COURAGE AND DETERMINATION SHOWN IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTY DURING THAT PERIOD WHEN HONG KONG WAS UNDER GREAT TENSION,

/+HIS OUTSTANDING,