XN000022-1991-04-25 — Page 3

2

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1991

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF THE MAKING-UP PROCESS OUTSIDE HONG KONG WOULD PROBABLY HAVE AN EFFECT ON LOCAL EMPLOYMENT.

"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, TO PREDICT ACCURATELY WHAT THAT EFFECT WILL BE PARTICULARLY IN THE SHORT TERM.

ITS

FOR

NEW

"THIS IS BECAUSE, ON THE ONE HAND, THE INDUSTRY WILL BE IN PEAK PRODUCTION PERIOD IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHEN THE DEMAND LABOUR WILL BE MORE INTENSE, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ARRANGEMENTS WILL NOT AFFECT EXPORTS TO THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND OTHER MARKETS, HE SAID.

་་

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDUSTRY WHO HAD ASSURED THAT THEY WOULD DO ALL THEY COULD TO REDUCE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE WORKFORCE, AND ΤΟ ASSIST THOSE WHO MIGHT BECOME UNDEREMPLOYED OR REDUNDANT AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGE BY REDEPLOYING THEM WITHIN THE ENTERPRISE OR WITHIN INDUSTRY.

"THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE STATUTORY CONSIDER WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE..

THE

REQUIREMENTS AND

WILL

"THE TRADE ASSOCIATIONS WILL ALSO SET UP A SERVICE CENTRE TO HELP REDEPLOY ANY AFFECTED WORKERS, TO HANDLE HARDSHIP CASES AND ΤΟ DEAL WITH COMPLAINTS," HE SAID.

HE SAID THE TARGET DATE FOR INTRODUCING THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WAS JULY 1. THIS WOULD GIVE TIME TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS ANY PROBLEMS WHICH MIGHT ARISE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD DO ALL IT COULD TO ASSIST WITH THE PLACEMENT OF ANY AFFECTED WORKERS IN SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE JOBS SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.

"THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO HELP RESOLVE ANY REDEPLOYMENT AND REDUNDANCY PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE.

"THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WILL HELP MEET ANY DEMAND FOR RETRAINING, HE SAID.

11

THE SPOKESMAN SAID HONG KONG DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF KNITWEAR ΤΟ THE U.S. IN 1990 AMOUNTED TO $15.4 BILLION, REPRESENTING 45 PER CENT IN VALUE OF TEXTILE AND CLOTHING DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE U.S.

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT'S BEST ESTIMATE IS THAT KNITWEAR OF TYPE COVERED BY THE PROPOSED SCHEME CONSTITUTES ABOUT ONE QUARTER VOLUME OF EXPORTS OF KNITWEAR TO THE U.S.

THE

BY

0

-

/3