XN000022-1990-10-03 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1990

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE COUNCIL'S STAFF HAD CONSISTED ENTIRELY OF EXPATRIATE PART-TIME WORKERS.

MR GARLICK STRESSED THAT THE COUNCIL WAS NOT FACING AN IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL CRISIS, BUT SIMPLY ACCEPTED THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO FINANCE THE LEVEL OF PRO-ACTIVE SERVICE REQUIRED FOR THE FUTURE.

"THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THEREFORE FELT THAT IT WAS BEST TO FACE REALITY AND TO THINK FORWARD WHILE WE WERE AHEAD OF THE GAME," MR GARLICK SAID.

HIGHLIGHTS OF A 10 YEAR PROGRAMME OF WORK INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOTLINE BDI CONCEPT, THE PRECURSOR OF TODAY'S SPEDI; THE ESTABLISHMENT IN 1989 OF THE HK ARTICLE NUMBERING ASSOCIATION; AN INVESTIGATION BY A HIGH POWERED COMMITTEE INTO LEGAL BARRIERS TO ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION; THE INTRODUCTION TO THE HK MARKET OF SPEX. THE FIRST SOFTWARE PACKAGE DEDICATED TO THE PROCESSING OF TRADE DOCUMENTS; AND MORE RECENTLY A THREE YEAR PROGRAMME TO REVIEW AND REVISE A SERIES OF COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT TRADE DOCUMENTS.

"PERHAPS OUR MAIN ACHIEVEMENT HOWEVER HAS BEEN то ESTABLISH HONG KONG AS A REGIONAL LEADER IN TRADE FACILITATION. WE HAVE ALWAYS PARTICIPATED ACTIVELY IN REGIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING SEMINARS HELD IN THE PRC. AS A RESULT, HONG KONG IS HELD IN HIGH REGARD REGIONALLY, AND I BELIEVE INTERNATIONALLY, MR GARLICK SAID.

NOTE:

PRESS ENQUIRIES TO MR HARRY GARLICK ON TEL. 823 1255.

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