XN000022-1981-09-15 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1981

THE VALUE OF AIRBORNE TRADE IN 1980, REPRESENTING 22 PER CENT OF TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE, INCREASED BY $9 486 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT OVER 1979. AIRBORNE

AIRBORNE IMPORTS FROM THE U.S. ROSE BY $1 336 MILLION OR 39 PER CENT, AND AIRBORNE EXPORTS TO THE U.S. BY $1 072 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT. ANALYSED BY COMMODITY, WATCHES AND CLOCKS SHIPPED BY AIR EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN IMPORTS (BY $1 456 MILLION OR 36 PER CENT). AS WELL AS IN EXPORTS (BY $1 769 MILLION OR 46 PER CENT).

THE REVIEW ALSO PUBLISHES UNIT VALUE AND QUANTUM INDEXES WHICH ARE OFTEN USED TO ASSESS THE MOVEMENTS IN COMMODITY PRICES AND THE REAL CHANGES IN TRADE VOLUME. DURING 1980. WHILST THE TRADE VOLUME OF MOST COMMODITIES INCREASED OVER 1979, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF PLASTIC MOULDING MATERIALS DECREASED BY THREE PER CENT, DYEING, TANNING AND COLOURING MATERIALS BY 10 PER CENT, AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS BY 13 PER CENT.

HONG KONG WAS THE LARGEST EXPORTER OF TOYS AND DOLLS, ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS AND TORCHES IN THE WORLD. HONG KONG WAS ALSO THE SECOND LARGEST EXPORTER OF CLOTHING AFTER ITALY, AND OF RAD 10-BROADCAST RECEIVERS AFTER JAPAN.

NEW $1 AEROGRAMME FORM OUT NEXT WEEK

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AEROGRAMMES BEARING A $1 STAMP MOTIF WILL BE PLACED ON SALE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT ALL POST OFFICES ON MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 21), THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY.

THE SHAPE AND FORMAT OF THE NEW AEROGRAMME FORM ARE THE SAME AS THE OLD ONE, EXCEPT THAT IT WILL NOW BEAR THE CURRENT POSTAGE FOR AEROGRAMMES AND THE WORDS BY AIR MAIL HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TOP LEFT CORNER, LEAVING JUST AEROGRAMME' ON A DARK BLUE BACKGROUND.

PHILATELISTS ARE ADVISED THAT NO HANDBACK SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. HOWEVER, SPECIAL POSTING BOXES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, KOWLOON CENTRAL AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICES FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO HAVE THOSE AEROGRAMMES POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 21 HAND-CANCELLED.

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