XN000022-1993-05-27 — Page 6

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1993

ACCORDINGLY, AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL INVESTIGATION TEAM HEADED BY A DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER AND COMPRISING 16 MEMBERS AND CO-OPTED MEMBERS FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY WAS FORMED ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1992.

THE TEAM HAD TAKEN THREE MONTHS TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION AND A REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR UPON COMPLETION OF THE INVESTIGATION.

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"THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY HAS NOT YET DECIDED ON WHETHER TO REBUILD THE DAMAGED SYSTEM IN THE EXPLOSION, SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN

HOWEVER, IT HAS GIVEN AN UNDERTAKING TO INTRODUCE POSITIVE MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT IF AND WHEN IT DOES REBUILD."

ON RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION BY THE COMPANY

TO REBUILD THE PLANT. DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WOULD ENSURE THAT ALL THE NECESSARY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ARE FULLY COMPLIED WITH TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN FUTURE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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SUCCESSFUL MULTILATERAL TALKS WORTH US$120B IN TRADE EXPANSION

THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR TONY MILLER, TODAY (THURSDAY) EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE THAT HONG KONG ATTACHED TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TALKS UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

"THE MULTILATERAL TRADE SYSTEM UNDER THE GATT HAS SERVED THE WORLD WELL. A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS LATEST ROUND, THE URUGUAY ROUND, WOULD BE WORTH AT LEAST US$120 BILLION ANNUALLY IN EXPANSION OF GLOBAL TRADE, HE SAID.

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THE

THE

SPEAKING AT A DINNER MEETING WITH THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF CHINESE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, MR MILLER STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM FOR THE SMALLER AND MEDIUM-SIZED RCONOMIES,

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"IN THE GATT, ALL CONTRACTING PARTIES, BIG OR SMALL, EQUAL VOICE. MARKET ACCESS GRANTED ONE PARTY BY AUTOMATICALLY APPLIES TO ALL.

HAVE

ANOTHER

AN

"DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN PARTIES BIG OR SMALL CAN BE GIVEN A AND THE FAIRNESS OF THEIR

HEARING. DISPUTES CAN BE SETTLED SETTLEMENT MONITORED BY ALL PARTIES.

"THIS IS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR SMALLER PLAYERS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE LACK THE POLITICAL CLOUT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST UNFAIR TRADING PRACTICES BY LARGER PLAYERS," HE SAID.

/MR MILLER