XN000022-1980-12-05 — Page 4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1980

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BEFORE LUNCH IN TUEN MUN WITH PROMINENT LOCAL RESIDENTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE GOVERNOR WAS GIVEN A BRIEFING ON THE LATEST NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, AND THE PROJECT MANAGER, MR STAN BARDEN.

THE EIGHT-STOREY CENTRE IS BEING BUILT ON A 4 359 SQUARE METRE SITE, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT GRANTED BY PRIVATE TREATY.

IT WILL HAVE A TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF 14 120 SQUARE METRES.

FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE A ROLLER SKATING RINK, AN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL. A MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES HALL, GYMNASIUM, BOWLING CENTRE, GAMES AREA, BILLIARD AND TABLE TENNIS ROOMS, SQUASH COURTS, A RESTAURANT FOR 80 PERSONS AND FIVE SHOPS.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A LIBRARY, SAUNA, MULTI-PURPOSE HALL, GALLERY, MEETING AND STUDY ROOMS, A CONFERENCE ROOM, CRECHE AND PLAY AREA, ACTIVITY ROOMS, AN ART AND CRAFT ROOM AND OFFICE SPACE.

A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO ENSURE MAXIMUM USE OF THE CENTRE'S SPORTS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND ITS EFFICIENT RUNNING WILL COMPRISE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE YAN O TONG, THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS,

TIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM IS VITAL TO HONG KONG'S TRADE

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THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS MR BILL DORWARD TODAY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF OPERATING A TIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG AGAINST PROTECTIONISTS.

SPEAKING AT THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH LUNCHEON MEETING, MR DORWARD SAID THAT LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT INSPECTIONS RELATED TO OVER 13 000 TEXTILE AND GARMENT EXPORT LICENCES, RESULTING IN ABOUT 230 FULL-SCALE INVESTIGATIONS, 75 OF WHICH WENT TO COURT OR RESULTED IN THE IMPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

COMMENTING ON AN ARGUMENT THAT THE COST TO THE COMMUNITY OF POL ICING THE CONTROL SYSTEM IS HIGH COMPARED TO OFFENCES WHICH COME TO LIGHT, MR DORWARD SAID: THE SIMPLISTIC EQUATING OF STAFF OR INSPECTIONS AGAINST PROSECUTIONS AND FINES IS NOT VALID.

+THINK INSTEAD OF THE COST TO HONG KONG OF A DISCREDITED SYSTEM OF EXPORT CONTROLS OR ORIGIN CERTIFICATION. THINK OF THE LOSS TO OUR TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRY IF INABILITY TO LIVE UP TO OUR RELUCTANTLY NEGOTIATED RESTRAINT AGREEMENTS WERE TO RESULT IN A SWITCH TO IMPORT CONTROLS IN OUR MAIN MARKETS.+

THE VALUE OF TRADE IN RESTRICTED EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND GARMENTS IN 1979, MR DORWARD SAID, WAS WORTH ABOUT $15 000 MILLION. +IF YOU RECKON THAT THE VALUE OF HAVING EXPORT CONTROL WAS WORTH, SAY FOR EXAMPLE FIVE PER CENT OF THAT SUM, THEN $750 MILLION CAME TO HONG KONG WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE STAYED IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA AS AN UNCONVENANTED BONUS TO COMMUNITIES RESTRICTING OUR RIGHT TO FREE TRADE.+

/ILLUSTRATING THE