XN000022-1993-05-26 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1993

"THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OPERATES A

COMPREHENSIVE TEXTILES

EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM, WHICH REQUIRES LICENSING OF ALL TEXTILES EXPORTS TO OUR RESTRAINED MARKETS.

"IN

ADDITION

TEXTILE EXPORTS TO THE U.S. AND EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, OUR MAJOR MARKETS, HAVE TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN, MR CHAU SAID.

"I

THE LAW PROVIDES FOR PENALTIES OF FINES AND/OR IMPRISONMENT FOR OFFENDERS CONVICTED OF ABUSES TO THE CONTROL SYSTEM.

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ALSO REQUIRES THE OFFENDERS TO SURRENDER THE MISUSED QUOTA.

IN

ADDITION TO STEPPING UP ENFORCEMENT WORK, MR CHAU SAID THE REWARD SCHEME ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON TEXTILES FRAUD HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER THE ILLEGAL TRANSSHIPMENT OF TEXTILES.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS TEXTILE ORIGIN FRAUD TOTALLED 2,075 INVOLVING GOODS VALUED AT MILLION, WHILE 2,753 COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS WERE PROSECUTED.

INTO

$709

BILLS ON AUTOMATIC TUNNEL TOLL COLLECTION INTRODUCED

AT

FIVE BILLS PROVIDING FOR AUTOMATIC TOLL COLLECTION GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ROAD TUNNELS WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILLS, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR JOHN TELFORD, SAID THE USE OF AUTOMATIC TOLL COLLECTION WOULD INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE TUNNEL OPERATING COSTS.

UNDER THE AUTOTOLL ARRANGEMENT, A MOTORIST WHO HAS SUBSCRIBED TO THE SYSTEM CAN DRIVE THROUGH AN AUTOTOLL LANE WITHOUT STOPPING FOR PAYMENT WHILE HIS ACCOUNT IS AUTOMATICALLY DEBITED WITH THE APPROPRIATE TOLL.

THE ROAD TUNNELS (GOVERNMENT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 PROVIDES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF AUTOTOLL SYSTEM AT GOVERNMENT TUNNELS.

THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL (PASSAGE TAX) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1993 ENABLES PASSAGE TAX TO BE COLLECTED BY AUTOTOLL.

PROPOSES ΤΟ

THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 RAISE FROM $1,000 TO $2,000 THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENING CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL BY-LAWS, BRINGING IT INTO LINE WITH CORRESPONDING PENALTIES IN THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING ORDINANCE AND THE CAIRN TUNNEL ORDINANCE.

TATE'S

/THE EASTERN