XN000022-1989-06-21 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1989

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALWAYS

READY TO PROVIDE ADVICE ON GENERAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE EEC ANTI-DUMPING REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES, SIR PIERS POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT

IN A POSITION ΤΟ ANSWER DETAILED COMPANY-SPECIFIC QUESTION POSED BY THE EEC.

"THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES OWN ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROCEEDINGS.

"THE COMPANIES CONCERNED MUST ALSO PLAY THEIR PART IN ORDER TO SECURE THE BEST PROTECTION, HE SAID.

ON

IN

TURNING TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT DEFINITIVE ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ON VIDEO CASSETTE TAPES ORIGINATING HONG KONG. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY NOTED THAT THE VERY HIGH PROVISIONAL DUTIES RANGING FROM 8.1 PER CENT ΤΟ 59. 3 FER CENT

ANNOUNCED LAST DECEMBER HAD BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED TO 0 TO 21.9 PER CENT.

PI

PER CENT

DEFINITIVE

JUDGING FROM THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL'S DECISION ON DUTIES. THE REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY THE COMPANIES CONCERNED AND BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE CLEARLY PROMPTED THE EUROPEAN AUTHORITIES TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE CASE AGAINST HONG KONG AND TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS TOWARDS HONG KONG, HE SAID.

"

J

GOVT NOT UNRESPONSIVE TO CIVIL SERVANTS' CONCERNS

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT INSENSITIVE OR UNRESPONSIVE TO CIVIL SERVANTS' CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, THE CHIEF

IN SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MICHAEL

SAID THAT ESSENTIALLY THERE WERE COULD BE AND WERE ADDRESSED.

TWO

WAYS IN WHICH SUCH

CHENG. SIR DAVID

CONCERNS '

CIRCUMSTANCES

SECONDLY AND

"FIRST, PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE SHOULD BE REVIEWED

AND PERIODICALLY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGING

IMPORTANT IS

FOR THERE TO ВЕ

COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS STAFF, HE SAID.

IT

11

RECENT

WHAT

ASKED WHAT MR CHENG HAD

HAD CAUSED A

INCREASE IN INDUSTRIAL ACTION TAKEN BY CIVIL SERVANTS OF VARIOUS GRADES, AND PLANS WERE IN HAND TO AVOID AND REDUCE SUCH ACTION.

SIR DAVID SAID HE WOULD SET THE PROBLEM IN CONTEXT.

"ALTHOUGH THERE HAS

BEEN AN

APPARENT INCREASE

RECENTLY IN OF A TOTAL

ANY

INDUSTRIAL ACTION TAKEN BY CIVIL SERVANTS. ONLY FOUR OUT OF SOME 400 GRADES WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SORT OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION THIS YEAR.

/"IN THE

+