XN000022-1992-06-24 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1992

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HK AND NORWAY SIGN TEXTILE AGREEMENT

REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG AND NORWAY GOVERNMENTS SIGNED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) A NEW 18-MONTH AGREEMENT THAT WILL GIVE CERTAIN HONG KONG TEXTILE AND CLOTHING PRODUCTS BETTER ACCESS TO THE NORWEGIAN MARKET.

THE NEW AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL COME INTO FORCE ON JULY 1 ON EXPIRY OF THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, WAS SIGNED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T. H. CHAU, AND THE NORWEGIAN CONSUL-GENERAL, MR BJARNE E. SOLHEIM.

THE AGREEMENT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF CATEGORIES SUBJECT TO EXPORT QUOTA FROM THE EXISTING FIVE TO THREE. A NEW CATEGORY WILL BE INCLUDED FOR SURVEILLANCE PURPOSE.

EXISTING QUOTA CATEGORIES OF KNITTED UNDERGARMENTS (CATEGORY 4) AND MEN'S AND BOYS' WOVEN SHIRTS (CATEGORY 5) WILL BE REMOVED.

THE REMAINING CATEGORIES SUBJECT TO EXPORT QUOTAS INCLUDE WOVEN JACKETS (CAT. 1), WOVEN TROUSERS (CAT. 2), AND BED LINEN (CAT. 7).

UNDER THE NEW AGREEMENT, HONG KONG WILL ALSO PROVIDE NORWAY WITH QUARTERLY EXPORT LICENSING STATISTICS ON THE EXPORTS OF FISHING NETS (CATEGORY 70).

"THE NEW AGREEMENT, PROVIDING FOR THE REMOVAL OF QUOTAS ON TWO CATEGORIES AND IMPROVED FLEXIBILITY, IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE EXISTING AGREEMENT," MR CHAU SAID.

CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NORWAY ON THE NEW AGREEMENT WERE HELD IN HONG KONG FROM MARCH 24 TO 26.

DETAILS OF THE NEW HONG KONG/NORWAY TEXTILE AGREEMENT AND THE RELATED QUOTA ALLOCATION AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED IN THE TRADE DEPARTMENT'S NOTICES TO EXPORTERS SERIES 3 NUMBERS 30/92 AND 55/92.

SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL STARTS

IN

THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS STARTED A SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON EMPLOYMENT,

OF THIS YEAR. VACANCIES AND PAYROLL IN RESPECT OF THE SECOND QUARTER

MAJOR

THE QUARTERLY SURVEY SERVES TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC

IN INFORMATION ON THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES

LOCAL

AND

INDICATORS LABOUR MARKET.

THE

THE JUNE 1992 ROUND OF THE SURVEY COVERS ABOUT 120,000 ESTABLISHMENTS DRAWN FROM VARIOUS SECTORS INCLUDING THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR (MINING AND QUARRYING; MANUFACTURING; ELECTRICITY AND GAS), THE DISTRIBUTIVE TRADES SECTOR (WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT SECTOR (TRANSPORT, TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS) AND THE SERVICES STORAGE

ESTATE FINANCING, INSURANCE, AND COMMUNICATION;

REAL BUSINESS SERVICES; COMMUNITY, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL SERVICES).

AND

/INFORMATION ON