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Twenty-four Hong Kong companies have been alleged as practising circumvention. Should circumvention be established, the higher anti-dumping duties of either Taiwan or the PRC will be extended to those companies found guilty of circumvention.

The Hong Kong Government lodged its strong principled objection to the EU's anti-circumvention action and requested immediate termination of the case through a Note Verbale to the EC on November 22 last year.

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Good response to report on language proficiency

The Education Commission is pleased with the clear public support to its draft Report No 6 on language proficiency which was released last December for public consultation until the end of January 1996.

Speaking to the media after a meeting of the commission today (Monday), the chairman of the commission, Prof Rosie Young, said more than 130 written submissions had been received and over 20 briefings had been held for school councils, teachers, school heads, parents, District Board members, employers. professional organisations and media executives.

"There was wide support for the main thrust of the report, many repondents gave useful suggestions on individual recommendations. The commission plans to submit the final report to the Administration by carly March taking into account views of the community collected during the consultation exercise." she said.

The commission also agreed to combine the studies on educational standards and school funding to form the basis of its next consultation document. "As quality improvement in school education and school funding reform complement each other, and the issues are inter-related, the commission considered it appropriate to look at the two issues together to develop a comprehensive framework for quality improvements in schools," she said.

"It is intended that a draft document on Education Commission Report No 7 (ECR7) will be prepared for an extensive public consultation to be conducted before the end of this year. The consultation document and the public response will shape the final ECR7," she said.

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