XN000022-1984-11-13 — Page 2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1984

HK REFERS EA CALLS TO TEXTILES BODY

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THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT IT HAD REFERRED FOUR EXPORT AUTHORISATION (EA) CALLS BY THE UNITED STATES TO THE TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY (TSB) FOR CONSIDERATION.

IN EACH OF THE CASES THE U.S. IMPOSED LIMITS ON 1984 EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG WHEN CONSULTATIONS DID NOT END IN AGREEMENT.

THE FOUR EA CALLS RELATE TO CATEGORY 652 (MAN-MADE FIBRE UNDERWEAR); CATEGORY 637 (MAN-MADE FIBRE PLAYSUITS, ETC); CATEGORY 650 (MAN-MADE FIBRE DRESSING GOWNS); AND CATEGORY 651 (MAN-MADE FIBRE NIGHTWEAR).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID, IN HONG KONG'S VIEW THE U.S. CASE FOR RESTRAINT IN ALL THESE CALLS IS WEAK AND WE ARE THEREFORE REFERRING THEM TO THE TSB FOR CONSIDERATION AND

RECOMMENDATIONS.+

IT WAS LIKELY THAT THE CASES WOULD BE HEARD IN TSB IN EARLY DECEMBER, HE SAID.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 1984 THAT HONG KONG HAS REFERRED EA CALLS TO THE TSB.

IN MAY THE TSB RECOMMENDED THAT THE U.S. WITHDRAW ITS CALL ON CATEGORY 637 (MAN-MADE FIBRE PLAYSUITS, ETC) AND THAT THE U.S. AND HONG KONG RECONSULT ON CATEGORY 652 LATER IN THE YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE U.S. COMPLIED WITH THE EARLIER TSB RECOMMENDATIONS AND WITHDREW THE CALL ON CATEGORY 637.

+BUT IT MADE A SECOND CALL ON CATEGORY 637 IN JUNE 1984, AND THAT CALL IS THE SUBJECT OF ONE OF THE PRESENT CASES.

+THE PRESENT REFERRAL ON CATEGORY 652 FOLLOWS RECONSULTATIONS WITH THE U.S. ON OCTOBER 30, WHICH AGAIN FAILED TO RESULT IN ANY ACREEMENT.+

MAJOR CONTRACT TO IMPROVE HOUSING ESTATE

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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS JUST ACCEPTED A $41.3 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT TENDER IN ITS CONTINUED EFFORTS TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING AND IMPROVE LIVING ENVIRONMENTS AT OLDER ESTATES.

+ THE TENDER IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BLOCKS IN HONG KONG'S SECOND OLDEST PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, TAI HANG TUNG ESTATE IN KOWLOON, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTHORITY TODAY.

/HE SAID