XN000022-1986-07-12 — Page 3

SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1936

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ISSUE OF EXPORT LICENCES BEING RESUMED

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THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, THE DEPARTMENT WILL RESUME THE ISSUE OF LICENCES UNDER THE US$250 ARRANGEMENT FOR SHIPMENTS OF COMMERCIAL SAMPLES OF SILK BLEND AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRE TEXTILE PRODUCTS.

SUCH SAMPLES MUST, HOWEVER, BE MARKED OR LABELLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. THE DEPARTMENT WILL DETAIL THESE REQUIREMENTS IN A SEPARATE NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE TRADE WHO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE INVITED TO CONTACT THE U.S.A. SECTION OF THE TEXTILE CONTROLS BRANCH OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR CLARIFICATION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, APPLICATIONS FOR EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS TO SHIP NON-APPAREL PRODUCTS OF SILK BLEND AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRE WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM THE TRADE. SUCH APPLICATIONS WILL BE ISSUED UNDER THE USUAL CONDITIONS OF THE EXPORT AUTHORISATION SYSTEM,

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ALSO REMINDED EXPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD EARLIER IN THE WEEK ISSUED NOTICES TO EXPORTERS ANNOUNCING OPERATION OF THE 1986 SPECIAL FREE QUOTA SCHEME FOR EXPORT AUTHORISATION CATEGORIES AND

INVITING SHIPMENT RETURNS FROM EXPORTERS FOR ALLOCATION OF QUOTA ENTITLEMENTS FOR SILK BLEND AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRE PRODUCTS.

EXPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS ON THE MAILING LIST BUT WHO HAVE STILL NOT RECEIVED THESE NOTICES ARE REQUESTED TO CALL AT THE DEPARTMENT TO GET COPIES.

MARCH EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES, PAYROLL STATISTICS OUT *******

THERE WERE 841 500 PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN MARCH 1986, REPRESENTING A DECREASE OF 3.0 PER CENT IN COMPARISON WITH MARCH 1985, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

HOWEVER, EMPLOYMENT IN THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, AT 595 300 IN MARCH 1986, WAS 3.8 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN MARCH 1985.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR, AT 185 700, WAS ALSO UP BY 8.2 PER CENT.

BUT EMPLOYMENT ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES DROPPED BY 2.5 PER CENT COMPARED WITH MARCH 1985, DUE MAINLY TO THE COMPLETION OF THE MAJOR PART OF THE MTR ISLAND LINE.

/A DEPARTMENT