XN000022-1993-10-02+03 — Page 3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1993

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THIS WILL HELP EDUCATORS TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS IN OUR SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME .

"AS A START, A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER SCHOOLS WILL BE ASKED TO TAKE PART IN A PILOT PROGRAMME OF FEEDBACK SURVEYS OF SCHOOL LEAVERS IN THE 1993/94 SCHOOL YEAR," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"WE PLAN TO ENCOURAGE ALL SCHOOLS TO START CONDUCTING SUCH SURVEYS IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS.

F

ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO DISTRIBUTE THE BOOKLET TO ALL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS, STUDENTS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL MANAGERS, MEMBERS OF ADVISORY BODIES IN EDUCATION, AND OTHERS WORKING IN SCHOOL EDUCATION.

PARENTS,

EMPLOYERS AND OTHER INTERESTED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OBTAIN COPIES FROM ANY DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, OR FROM ANY DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICE.

CAN

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HONG KONG AND FINLAND REACH TEXTILES AGREEMENT

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT HONG KONG AND FINLAND REACHED AN AD REFERENDUM AGREEMENT ON THE EXPORT OF CERTAIN TEXTILE PRODUCTS TO FINLAND.

THE DURATION OF THE AGREEMENT IS FOR A MAXIMUM OF TWO YEARS, FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR TO DECEMBER 31, 1995.

THE TERMS OF THE NEW AGREEMENT ARE LARGELY THE SAME AS THOSE IN THE EXISTING AGREEMENT, WHICH EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31 THIS YEAR.

THOUGH THE NUMBER OF CATEGORIES SUBJECT TO QUOTA RESTRAINT REMAINS THE SAME, THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS IN GROWTH RATES AND FLEXIBILITY PROVISIONS.

DIRECTOR-

COMMENTING ON THE AGREEMENT FROM HELSINKI, ASSISTANT GENERAL OF TRADE AND LEADER OF THE HONG KONG DELEGATION, MS MARIA KWAN, SAID: "THIS AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE IMPROVEMENTS IN MARKET ACCESS FOR HONG KONG TRADERS IN TEXTILE TRADE WITH FINLAND FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

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THE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG DELEGATION AND THE FINNISH DELEGATION ON SEPTEMBER 28-30, 1993.

THE CURRENT HONG KONG/FINLAND TEXTILES AGREEMENT COVERS FOUR QUOTA CATEGORIES AND FOUR EXPORT AUTHORISATION CATEGORIES. MORE THAN 70 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING FROM KONG TO FINLAND LAST YEAR WERE COVERED BY THE CURRENT AGREEMENT.

HONG

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