XN000022-1984-06-08 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1984

SECOND CALL+ ON CATEGORY 637

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THE UNITED STATES TODAY (FRIDAY) MADE AN EXPORT AUTHORISATION +CALL+ ON CATEGORY 637 (MAN-MADE FIBRE PLAYSUITS, SUNSUITS, ETC) THE SECOND CALL ON THIS CATEGORY THIS YEAR, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED.

THIS CATEGORY WAS FIRST CALLED IN FEBRUARY, BUT THE UNITED STATES WITHDREW THE CALL ON MAY 15, AFTER THE TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY HAD EXAMINED THE CASE AT HONG KONG'S REQUEST.

THE CALL MADE AT 12.15 PM TODAY BRINGS THE TOTAL OF CALLS BY THE UNITED STATES ON HONG KONG IN 1984 TO 12.

PENDING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, THE DEPARTMENT HAS SUSPENDED THE ISSUE OF FURTHER EXPORT AUTHORISATION FOR THIS CATEGORY AS FROM 12.15 PM TODAY.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL HOWEVER AS USUAL CONTINUE TO APPROVE AND ISSUE EXPORT LICENCES FOR THIS CATEGORY AGAINST VALID EXPORT AUTHOR ISATIONS APPROVED PRIOR TO THE SUSPENSION,

NEED FOR NEW IDEAS, MACHINERY STRESSED

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HONG KONG INDUSTRY MUST MODERNISE ITS MACHINERY, USE BETTER QUALITY MATERIALS AND DEVELOP NEW DESIGN AND PACKAGING IDEAS TO ENSURE ITS SURVIVAL AND COMPETITIVENESS, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY STRESSED TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE WAS OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE 5TH MACHINERY AND MATERIALS EXHIBITION AND THE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING EXHIBITION HELD AT THE HONG KONG EXHIBITION CENTRE IN WAN CHAI.

HE SAID THAT THE INCREASED INDUSTRIALISATION IN OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE IMPROVED SOPHISTICATION OF AUTOMATED PROCESSES IN THE INDUSTRIALISED WORLD POSED +AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE TO HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY.+

+WE CAN NO LONGER RELY ON LABOUR INTENSIVE ASSEMBLY LINES, SUPER-EFFICIENT AS THEY MAY HAVE BECOME IN HONG KONG. OUR WORKERS' SKILLS MUST NOW BE SUPPLEMENTED BY THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IF WE ARE TO PRODUCE MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN OUR COMPETITORS,+ HE SAID.

A MANUFACTURER, MR YAXLEY SAID, SHOULD NO LONGER ASK HIMSELF WHETHER HE CAN AFFORD TO UPGRADE HIS MACHINERY, INSTEAD, HE MUST ASK HIMSELF WHETHER HE CAN AFFORD NOT TO.

/LAST YEAR,