XN000022-1985-04-19 — Page 13

12

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985

PREFERENCE WELCOMED

****

COMMENTING ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR JERMU LAINE, MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE FOR FINLAND, THAT TARIFF PREFERENCE WOULD BE EXTENDED TO HONG KONG FROM MAY 1, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO SAID:

WE

+WE WELCOME THIS DECISION BY THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT. HAVE BEEN MAKING REPRESENTATIONS IN THIS REGARD OVER THE YEARS, AND REGARD IT AS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR ITS DIRECT EFFECT ON TRADE BUT AS THE ATTAINMENT OF EQUAL TREATMENT BY HONG KONG. IT WELL ENABLES US TO COMPETE ON EQUAL TERMS WITH OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH ALREADY BENEFIT FROM TARIFF PREFERENCE.+

DETAILS OF THE SCHEME ARE EXPECTED SHORTLY AND WILL THEN

BE ANNOUNCED TO THE TRADE IN THE USUAL WAY BY THE TRADE DEPARTMENT.

WAGE SECURITY UNIT SET UP

***

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SET UP A NEW UNIT TO DEAL WITH APPLICATIONS FOR PAYMENT FROM THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENT FUND.

THE WAGE SECURITY UNIT HAS STARTED OPERATION AT TAI SANG COMMERCIAL BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR, HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, A SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

UNDER THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE, WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT TODAY, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OWED WAGES AND WHOSE EMPLOYER BECOMES INSOLVENT MAY APPLY FOR PAYMENT FROM THE FUND RESPECT OF ANY WAGES FOR SERVICES RENDERED ON OR AFTER APRIL 1,

ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE ON 5-276209 OR AT ANY OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

J

/13