XN000022-1992-09-29 — Page 4

3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1992

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE BUREAU TO NEGOTIATE EXTENSION OF THE MFA

* * *

A

THE INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES AND CLOTHING BUREAU (ITCB) ISSUED STATEMENT TODAY

NEGOTIATE AN (TUESDAY) INDICATING ITS READINESS TO EXTENSION OF THE MULTIFIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA).

THE STATEMENT WAS AGREED AMONG REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ITCB AT A MEETING IN GENEVA YESTERDAY.

THE

"THIS IS A USEFUL, PRAGMATIC STATEMENT," SAID MR CHRISTOPHER JACKSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE CURRENTLY IN GENEVA FOR TALKS.

"IT REFLECTS SOLIDARITY AMONG TEXTILES EXPORTERS THE TRICKY QUESTION OF EXTENDING THE MFA. WE HAVE WITH THE EXTENSION SHOULD BE SHORT.

IN DEALING AGREED THAT

DETAILS OF

"THIS REFLECTS PARTICIPANTS' ENTHUSIASM TO SEE THE THE URUGUAY ROUND PACKAGE AGREED AND IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." HE SAID.

MR

TALKING START JACKSON ADDED THAT THE WAY WAS NOW CLEAR TO WITH THE IMPORTING COUNTRIES ON THE EXTENSION OF THE MFA; AND WITH THE

HONG EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ON THE FUTURE OF

KONG'S BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY WHICH EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE GENEVA-BASED ITCB COMPRISES 22 MAJOR TEXTILES-EXPORTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES INCLUDING HONG KONG, AND HAS BEEN PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN THE URUGUAY ROUND TALKS ON TEXTILES.

NEW BUS FRANCHISE AWARDED

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS AWARDED ΤΟ CITYBUS LIMITED (CITYBUS) THE FRANCHISE FOR 26 BUS ROUTES ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

TO PROMOTE HEALTHY COMPETITION, GOVERNMENT DECIDED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO REDUCE THE CHINA MOTOR BUS (CMB) NETWORK BY 26 ROUTES AND TO INVITE TENDERS FOR THE FRANCHISE TO OPERATE THESE ROUTES.

TWO

TENDERERS

SUBMITTED

יו

BIDS.

"IN EVALUATING THE BIDS, GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AND FARE LEVELS PROPOSED BY THE TENDERERS, THEIR MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY, FINANCIAL CAPACITY AND EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING BUS SERVICES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

THE NEW SERVICE PROVIDED BY CITYBUS WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON SEPTEMBER 1 1993.

/FOR THE