XN000022-1985-05-10 — Page 7

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FREY, MAY 10, 1985

CONSUMER COUNCIL ORDINANCE CHANGES PROPOSED

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A BILL TO AMEND THE CONSUMER COUNCIL ORDINANCE, GAZETTED TODAY, SEEKS TO PROVIDE:

(A) FOR A VICE CHAIRMAN TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;

(B) THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL CEASE TO BE AN

EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, AND

(c) THAT THE TITLE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BE CHANGED TO

THAT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE (THE CHINESE TITLE WILL

REMAIN UNCHANGED).

THE PROVISION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A VICE CHAIRMAN IS TO ALLEVIATE THE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY AND WORKLOAD OF THE CHAIRMAN, PARTICULARLY IF THE CHAIRMAN IS PRECLUDED BY TEMPORARY INCAPACITY OR OTHER CAUSE FROM DISCHARGING HIS DUTIES.

THE OTHER TWO MINOR AMENDMENTS PROPOSED AIM TO REFLECT MORE ACCURATELY THE ROLE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST READING ON MAY 15.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE BILL MAY BE SENT TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12/F, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD.

TRADE GETS MORE U.S. GSP DETAILS

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THE TRADE DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) NOTIFIED THE TRADE OF FURTHER DETAILS OF THE 1985 UNITED STATES GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (GSP) ANNOUNCED BY THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE ON MAY 1.

THE DEPARTMENT HAD ANNOUNCED ON MAY 2 SOME PRELIMINARY DETAILS OF THE 1985 U.S. SSP.

UNDER THE 1985 U.S. GSP, OVER 3 000 PRODUCTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR GSP DUTY-FREE TREATMENT. HONG KONG HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM DUTY-FREE TREATMENT FOR 50 PRODUCTS, INCLUDING FIVE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE ITEMS. TRADE IN 1984 IN THESE FIVE ITEMS AMOUNTED TO U.S. $304 MILLION,

/ON THE

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