XN000022-1981-12-09 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1981

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JAPAN AGREES TO DISCUSS GSP

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THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES HAVE ACCEPTED A FORMAL REQUEST BY HONG KONG FOR DISCUSSIONS ON THE REMAINING FIVE CATEGORIES OF HONG KONG EXPORTS EXCLUDED FROM THE JAPANESE GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES, AND TALKS WILL BE HELD IN TOKYO NEXT WEEK.

THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR BILL DORWARD, ANNOUNCED THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION RAISED BY THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE REMAINING FIVE ITEMS REPRESENTED NINE PER CENT ABOUT $200 MILLION IN VALUE OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN LAST YEAR.

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+OUR SHARE OF THE JAPANESE IMPORT MARKET FOR THESE PRODUCTS DROPPED FROM 28 TO 14 PER CENT FROM 1972 TO 1980, DEMONSTRATING OUR CONTENTION THAT DISCRIMINATORY EXCLUSION TENDS TO DIVERT TRADE AWAY. THIS ARGUMENT WILL BE FORCEFULLY RESTATED IN TOK YO NEXT WEEK, SAID MR DORWARD.

THE TALKS WITH THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES, MR DORWARD ADDED, FORM PART OF A CONTINUING EFFORT IN WHICH HONG KONG HAS HAD THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR AND HIS STAFF AND WHICH HAS BEEN SUSTAINED SINCE THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES INTRODUCED THE IR GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME IN 1972.

+THE ORIGINAL HONG KONG EXCLUSION LIST, WHICH COVERED 96 ITEMS, HAS BEEN GRADUALLY REDUCED AS A RESULT,+ SAID MR DORWARD.

HEAVIER CASELOADS

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THE RECOMMENDED CASELOAD FOR FAMILY SERVICES CASEWORKERS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS 90 PER WORKER, AND ALL WORKERS ARE AT PRESENT CARRYING CASELOADS IN EXCESS OF THIS NUMBER RANGING FROM 100 TO 165 CASES PER WORKER, THE HON S.E. ALLEYNE, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JOYCE BENNETT, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN THE CASE OF PROBATION OFFICERS, THE RECOMMENDED CASELOAD IS 50 SUPERVISION CASES OR 25 SOCIAL ENQUIRY CASES. HERE AGAIN, ALL WORKERS ARE CARRYING HEAVIER CASELOADS, RANGING FROM 60 TO 80 CASES PER WORKER, HE SAID.

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