XN000022-1996-06-14 — Page 4

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In addition, under the new arrangements Dragonair will get the right to operate new scheduled services to five cities in China. They also obtain an increase in capacity for the Hong Kong/Dalian route.

The spokesman said the full details of the package could not be disclosed because of commercial sensitivities. However, he confirmed that the overall package was a good one, allowing Hong Kong airlines to provide new and better services to the public.

The talks on the new arrangements took place in London between June 10 and 13. Hong Kong was represented on the UK side by the Economic Services Branch.

End

HK raises objections to new US import requirements

The Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, has today (Friday) written to the United States Government to raise objections to its unilateral decision to impose additional import document requirements on a number of textiles and clothing products from Hong Kong.

In her letter, Miss Yue requests the US to defer the implementation of the measures and to start early consultations with Hong Kong.

"On June 13 (US time), the US Customs announced its decision to impose such import measures with effect from June 17 (US time), on five types of products from Hong Kong. These are skirts (Cat 342/442/642), suits (Cat 443/643), nightwear (Cat 351), underwear (Cat 352/652), and dresses (Cat 336/636)," a Trade Department spokesman said.

Under the new US requirements, importers of these products from Hong Kong are required to submit, for each consignment, declarations completed and signed by all manufacturers and subcontractors involved in the production of the consignment. They need also to certify that the declarations are accurate, and to pay higher entry bonds.

The consignment will then be conditionally released for entry into the US, but is subject to recall by the US Customs within 210 days, if Customs determines that the country of origin of the goods in question has not been accurately represented to it.