XN000022-1985-08-02 — Page 11

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1985

THE U.S. CALLED THE SAME CATEGORY AGAIN ON JUNE 8, 1984. THE QUANTITY OF EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS ISSUED AT THE TIME OF CALL WAS 107 954 DOZEN. OUTSTANDING EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS PENDING APPROVAL WAS 66 567 DOZEN.

FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS WHICH AGAIN ENDED IN DISAGREEMENT, THE U.S. IMPOSED A RESTRAINT LIMIT OF 107 954 DOZEN. HONG KONG REFERRED THE CASE TO THE TSB IN DECEMBER 1984. THE TSB RULED THAT THE U.S. SHOULD WITHDRAW THE CALL, AND THE U.S. DID SO AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

COMMENTING ON THE CALL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST CALL ON HONG KONG BY THE U.S. IN 1985. HE SAID THAT THE U.S. HAD YET TO PROVIDE DETAILED JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CALL, AND THAT ONCE SUCH JUSTIFICATION WAS PROVIDED THE DEPARTMENT WOULD STUDY IT CLOSELY BEFORE ENTERING CONSULTATIONS. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, CONSULTATIONS SHOULD TAKE PLACE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE CALL BEING MADE.

LAND COMMISSION MAKES GOOD PROGRESS ***

THE SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION HELD ITS SECOND MEETING ON JULY 31 – AUGUST 2 TO DISCUSS LEASE DOCUMENTATION.

THE TWO SIDES HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS AND WILL BE MEETING AGAIN ON AUGUST 15 TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON LEASE DOCUMENTATION.

MAY RETAIL SALES SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED

***

THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES IN MAY 1985, ESTIMATED AT $5 578 MILLION, WAS ONE PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN MAY 1984, WHILE THE VOLUME WAS ONE PER CENT LOWER, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

RETAIL SALES FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD MARCH-MAY 1985, WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1984, ROSE BY TWO PER CENT IN VALUE BUT REMAINED UNCHANGED IN VOLUME.

/COMPARING MAY