XN000022-1981-03-12 — Page 4

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1981

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FRANCE BANS INDIRECT IMPORT OF HK TOYS

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THE BRUSSELS OFFICE OF THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT HAS OBTAINED DETAILS OF THE DECISION TAKEN BY THE EEC COMMISSION TO AUTHORISE FRANCE TO STOP INDIRECT IMPORTS OF TOYS OF HONG KONG ORIGIN.

THE STOPPAGE IS LIMITED TO TOYS OF HONG KONG ORIGIN EXPORTED TO FRANCE BY OTHER MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, AND WILL BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 1981.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TICD SAID WHILST THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE EEC COMMISSION DOES NOT BAN TOYS EXPORTED DIRECTLY BY HONG KONG TO FRANCE, SUCH EXPORTS ARE STILL SUBJECT TO IMPORT RESTRICTIONS.

+THE TICD IS NOW RE-EXAMINING THE FULL RANGE OF DISCRIMINATORY IMPORT RESTRICTIONS MAINTAINED BY FRANCE AGAINST HONG KONG PRODUCTS, AND WILL CONSIDER WHAT STEPS IT MIGHT TAKE TO SECURE THEIR REMOVAL.+

TAI PO TO HAVE $12 MILLION INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE

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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) GRANTED A 2 700-SQUARE-METRE SITE TO THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION TO BUILD AN INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE.

THE ASSOCIATION WILL BUILD A THREE-STOREY BLOCK IN THE NEW TOWN CENTRE AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $12 MILLION.

A GAMES HALL, WHICH CAN BE USED FOR GYMNASTICS, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL OR BADMINTON, WILL BE BUILT ON THE TOP FLOOR.

THE MIDDLE FLOOR WILL CONTAIN AN OFFICE, A CONFERENCE ROOM, A RECREATION ROOM AND A DANCE STUDIO, WHILE À 24-LANE BOWLING ALLEY AND RESTAURANT FOR 80 PERSONS WILL BE SITED ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING WILL BE USED AS TENNIS COURTS.

SIGNING THE DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID FACILITIES FOR SPORT AND RECREATION IN TAI PO HAD NOT YET REACHED AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD.

+ I AM VERY GLAD THEREFORE TO SIGN THE LEASE FOR THIS SPORTS CENTRE TODAY WHICH WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE AS PART OF A DELIBERATE PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION AS THE TOWN DEVELOPS, HE SAID.

+WHEN IT IS FINISHED IT WILL BE RUN BY THE LOCAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND WILL BECOME A FOCUS FOR LOCAL PRIDE AND A SOURCE OF ENJOYMENT TO YOUNG AND OLD.+

SIGNING FOR TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR STEPHEN WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION'S BORAD OF DIRECTORS, SAID THE CENTRE WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO PROMOTING AND RAISING THE STANDARD OF SPORTS IN THE NEW TOWN WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE A POPULATION OF 220 000.

/PILING WORK