XN000022-1979-10-23 — Page 2

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1979

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING STANDING COMMISSION'S PAY REPORT

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THE GOVERNMENT IS EXAMINING THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE +FIRST REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY+ ISSUED YESTERDAY (MONDAY) BY THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WITH A VIEW TO CONSULTING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

COPIES OF THE REPORT ARE BEING ISSUED TO ALL HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND MADE AVAILABLE TO STAFF ASSOCIATIONS, THE REPORT WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED IN THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL.

A CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH CIRCULAR CONCERNING THE PROCESSING OF THE REPORT AND THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR COLLATING COMMENTS WILL BE ISSUED SEPARATELY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

COPIES OF THE REPORT ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.

US CALLS SIX MORE TEXTILE CATEGORIES

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IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS THE UNITED STATES HAS CALLED ON HONG KONG TO SUSPEND THE ISSUE OF EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS IN RESPECT OF 11 TEXTILE CATEGORIES.

DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR. PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY): +IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT THIS MORNING THE US HAS CALLED ON US TO SUSPEND THE ISSUE OF EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS FOR YET ANOTHER SIX CATEGORIES, AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO RESUME TALKS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE US-HK TEXTILE AGREEMENT.

+THESE FREQUENT REQUESTS BY THE US, WHICH TOTAL 13 SO FAR THIS YEAR, ARE DISRUPTIVE TO OUR TRADE.

+WHEN WE RESUME NEGOTIATIONS IN GENEVA NEXT MONDAY, WE INTEND TO DISCUSS THE FREQUENCY OF THESE REQUESTS, THE UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER OF THEM, AND THE CURRENT PROVISIONS IN THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT GOVERNING SUCH REQUESTS, HE SAID.

EARLIER THIS YEAR THE US HAD ASKED HONG KONG TO INCLUDE SEVEN CATEGORIES IN THE BASKET ARRANGEMENT, AND SIX OF THESE ARE AMONGST THE 11 CATEGORIES WHICH THE US HAS CALLED.

THE SIX NEW CATEGORIES WHICH THE US HAVE ASKED HONG KONG TO SUSPEND ARE CATEGORY 337 (COTTON PLAY_SUITS) = CATEGORY_444 (WOOL SUITS FOR WOMEN, GIRLS AND INFANTS) - CATEGORY 447 (WOOL TROUSERS FOR MEN AND BOYS)- CATEGORIES 633-634 (MMF COATS FOR MEN AND BOYS) = CATEGORY 635 (MMF COATS FOR WOMEN, GIRLS AND INFANTS) AND CATEGORY 648 (MMF TROUSERS FOR WOMEN, GIRLS AND INFANTS).

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