XN000022-1985-08-08 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1985

'BOAT BRIDES' LEAVE FOR CHINA

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THIRTEEN BOAT BRIDES. ACCOMPANIED BY FOUR OF THE IR HUSBANDS AND NINE CHILDREN, LEFT FOR ZHUHAI, CHINA, THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING.

THEY BOARDED THE JETCAT AT TAI KOK TSUI PIER SHORTLY AFTER 11 AM.

FOLLOWING THEIR VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECURITY BRANCH SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD, AS PROMISED, ASK THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO GIVE PRIORITY IN GRANTING ONE-WAY PERMITS FOR THEM TO RETURN TO HONG KONG.

MEANWHILE, THE 14TH 'BOAT BRIDE', WHO IS AT AN ADVANCED STAGE OF PREGNANCY, HAS BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG UNTIL AFTER THE BIRTH OF HER BABY.

THE FAMILIES OF FOUR BOAT BRIDES HAVE SO FAR APPLIED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE 14 FAMILIES TO GIVE ASSISTANCE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

U.S. WANTS ISSUE OF E.A.'S TO STOP

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THE TRADE DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAD MADE A CALL TO STOP THE ISSUE OF FURTHER EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS (EA'S) IN RESPECT OF WOOL SHIRTS AND BLOUSES, NOT KNIT UNDER CATEGORY 440.

YEAR.

THIS IS THE SECOND CALL MADE BY THE U.S. ON HONG KONG THIS

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE U.S.-HONG KONG BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENT, THE DEPARTMENT HAS SUSPENDED THE ISSUE OF FURTHER EA'S IN THIS CATEGORY WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT PENDING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE U.S. AUTHORITIES.

A TOTAL OF 12 661 DOZEN EA'S HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 1985 AT THE TIME OF THE CALL, AND 88 DOZEN EA APPLICATIONS ARE OUTSTANDING AS A RESULT OF THE CALL.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO APPROVE AND ISSUE EXPORT LICENCES FOR THIS CATEGORY AGAINST VALID EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS APPROVED PRIOR TO THE SUSPENSION.

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