XN000022-1988-08-26 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1988

THESE INCLUDE AN EXTENSION OF THE OPERATING HOURS OF THE SOUTHBOUND BUS LANE BEYOND 9 AM AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A BUS GATE SCHEME ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD FOR NORTHBOUND JOURNEYS.

THE DRAFT FINAL REPORT OF THE LION ROCK TUNNEL TRAFFIC STUDY WAS FIRST CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL IN APRIL THIS YEAR AND IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND RELEVANT DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD BE CONSULTED.

CONSULTATIONS WERE CARRIED OUT BETWEEN MAY AND JULY MEASURES RECOMMENDED WERE GENERALLY ACCEPTED.

AND THE

INDUSTRY DIRECTOR OPENS WORLD APPAREL EXPO 88

HELP BRING

EXHIBITIONS SUCH AS THE WORLD APPAREL EXPO 88 TOGETHER MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS IN THE APPAREL TRADE FROM COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR ANDREW LEUNG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

THIS HELPS TO KEEP RONG KONG'S MANUFACTURERS IN TOUCH WITH RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS ELSEWHERE, MR LEUNG SAID WHEN SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND WORLD APPAREL EXPO 88.

MR LEUNG SAID THE EXHIBITION PROVIDED VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL GARMENTS MANUFACTURERS TO EXAMINE THE LATEST FABRICS AND ACCESSORIES AND FOR OVERSEAS VISITORS TO SEE THE RIGH QUALITY TEXTILES AND GARMENTS WHICH HONG KONG HAD TO OFFER.

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HE POINTED OUT THAT THE TEXTILES AND GARMENTS INDUSTRY REMAINED A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ECONOMY, ACCOUNTING FOR 41.7 PER CENT BY VALUE (OR $81 BILLION) OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS LAST YEAR, WITH IMPORTS VALUED AT $83 BILLION.

"THE INDUSTRY IS, HOWEVER, FACING STIFF COMPETITION FROM PRODUCERS, AND HAS TO COPE WITH PROTECTIONISM AND RISING ESPECIALLY FOR LABOUR," HE SAID.

OTHER COSTS,

"TO ASSIST LOCAL MANUFACTURERS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPROVE QUALITY, GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL ( (HKPC) WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ESTABLISH A NEW TEXTILES AND APPAREL DIVISION FOR DEVELOPING BOTH EXISTING AND NEW SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP INDUSTRIALISTS MEET THOSE CHALLENGES.

"THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY HAS ALSO JOINED WITH THE HKPC AND THE GOVERNMENT TO SEE HOW GREATER USE OF AUTOMATION BE ENCOURAGED."

CAN

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