XN000022-1984-06-19 — Page 6

TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1984

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ANOTHER 'CALL', AS TWO AREAS ARE SETTLED

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THE FINAL SESSION OF THE LAST ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND UNITED STATES TRADE OFFICIALS ENDED IN AGREEMENT IN TWO AREAS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

FOLLOWING THE SUBMISSION BY THE UNITED STATES OF FURTHER DATA IN SUPPORT OF THE EXPORT AUTHORISATION CALL ON CATEGORY 649 (MAN- MADE FIBRE BRASSIERES, ETC), IT WAS AGREED THAT 1984 EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG WOULD BE LIMITED TO 553 896 DOZEN, AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE UNITED STATES/HONG KONG BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A PACKAGE AGREEMENT HAD ALSO BEEN REACHED WHICH INCLUDED A RESOLUTION OF THE GARMENT PARTS ISSUE. UNDER THE AGREEMENT, AT THE UNITED STATES' REQUEST, HONG KONG WOULD WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT CEASE TO ISSUE EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS WHERE APPLICATIONS ARE MADE IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN PARTS OF TROUSERS, SLACKS, SHORTS, SWEATERS, SHIRTS AND BLOUSES. DETAILS OF THESE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SEPARATELY TO THE TRADE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PACKAGE AGREEMENT ALSO INCLUDED THE RESOLUTION OF CERTAIN OTHER ISSUES WHICH HAD ARISEN IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES/HONG KONG BILATERAL AGREEMENT. HE UNDERLINED THE FACT THAT THE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLE THAT SUCH ISSUES SHOULD BE SETTLED BILATERALLY RATHER THAN BY UNILATERAL MEANS.

MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD MADE A FURTHER EXPORT AUTHORISATION CALL ON HONG KONG AT 2.30 PM TODAY. THE CALL, THE THIRTEENTH IN 1984, WAS IN RESPECT OF PARTS OF CATEGORY 659, MAN-MADE FIBRE COVERALLS/JUMPSUITS AND OVERALLS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNITED STATES/HONG KONG BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENT, AND PENDING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, THE DEPARTMENT SUSPENDED ISSUE OF EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS IN THE RELEVANT PARTS OF CATEGORY 659 AT 2.30 PM

TODAY.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL HOWEVER, AS USUAL, CONTINUE TO APPROVE AND ISSUE EXPORT LICENCES FOR THIS CATEGORY AGAINST VALID EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS APPROVED PRIOR TO THE SUSPENSION, HE SAID.

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