The UK as a leader for free trade

Most people in the UK want us to promote more free trade, not introduce new barriers.

If this can be done fairly, with reductions in barriers on both sides, it will help boost our prosperity.

Our trade with the rest of the world is in surplus, showing that we have an EU trade problem, not a global trade problem.

There can be some early and easy wins for trade policy as soon as the UK takes back control over this important matter.

The UK can offer tariff free access to our market to emerging market producers of tropical produce in return for better access to their markets.

Old friends and trading partners like Australia, New Zealand. Singapore and the USA will welcome Free Trade Agreements with us.

The Free Trade Agreements the EU has with third countries can novate to us as well as to the rest of the EU.

I know of no country that has a trade agreement with the EU that wants to impose new barriers against the UK once we have left.

Some say such arrangements may be possible but will not offset the loss of our current trading arrangements with the rest of the EU
I disagree.

It would be strange indeed if the EU want to impose tariffs and other barriers on trade in goods given their huge surplus in that trade today

We will carry on exporting to them one way or another.

Today the bulk of our trade is carried out under WTO rules with tariffs imposed by the EU.

This is why I do not think we have to choose between being free and being rich

We do not need to stay in some Faustian pact, trading freedom for more exports

The gloomy arguments that we will suffer from leaving are not merely misleading about the economy

They are also too narrowly concentrated on business profit and loss when we should be talking more of freedom and self government.




Hong Kong Flower Show tickets available from February 26

     Admission tickets for the Hong Kong Flower Show 2018 will be available for sale from tomorrow (February 26) until March 23 at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)’s District Leisure Services Offices and also from tomorrow until March 25 through the mobile application “Tap & Go”. Tickets will also be sold at the entrance to the Victoria Park showground throughout the show period. Octopus can also be used to pay for admission.

     This year’s flower show will be held in Victoria Park for 10 days from March 16 to 25 from 9am to 9pm daily, featuring “Joy in Bloom” as the main theme and the dahlia as the theme flower.

     Admission fees for the flower show are as follows:
Normal rate: $14
Concessionary rate: $7
– Children aged 4 to 14 and full-time students
– Senior citizens aged 60 or above
– Persons with disabilities and their accompanying carer (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one accompanying carer only)

Concessionary rate from Monday to Friday:
– Free admission for senior citizens aged 60 or above
– Free admission for persons with disabilities and their accompanying carer (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one accompanying carer only)
– A half-rate concession is offered to adults in groups of 30 or more entering the venue together

     In addition to this year’s theme flower and other flowering plants, the event will showcase a rich profusion of exquisite potted plants, beautiful floral arrangements and gorgeous landscape displays by local, Mainland and overseas organisations. There will also be commercial stalls selling flowers, horticultural products and fast food.

     A rich diversity of educational and recreational fringe activities will also be organised for the enjoyment of visitors of all ages.

     For enquiries, please call 2601 8260 or visit the flower show webpage www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2018/index.html.

     The flower show is organised by the LCSD. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the sixth consecutive year and has been the Major Sponsor of the flower show since 2014.




8th edition of ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’- a mesmerizing cultural extravaganza inaugurated by Narendra Singh Tomar at Gwalior today

Continuing its endeavour to promote India’s Heritage, Ministry of Culture is organising a week long diversified cultural carnival ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ in Madhya Pradesh that began at Maan Mandir Fort, Gwalior, today.

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Text of PM’s speech at the launch of Amma Two Wheeler Scheme at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai

Ladies and gentlemen,

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of SelviJayalalithaaji, I pay my tributes to her and extend my greetings and best wishes to all of you.Wherever she is, I am sure, she would be very happy, to see the happiness on your faces.

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Raksha Rajya Mantri Visits OFAJ

RakshaRajyaMantriDr.SubhashBhamre, visited Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ) today. He visited various production facilities especially the shell machine, shell forge, fuze shop and rocket sections. He was accompanied by Shri VidyaSagarVerma, IOFS, Member / M&C, Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata, Shri CS Vishwakarma, IOFS, Sr. DDG (M&C), Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata and Shri Ravindran Viswanathan, IOFS, General Manager, Ordnance Factory Ambajhari.

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