(USGS) The following is from the United States Geological Survey,  National Earthquake   Information   Center:    Preliminary   hypocenter   for earthquake of 1999 Nov 17, NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.:  latitude 6.0 degrees  south, longitude 148.8 degrees east, origin time 03 27 40.4 utc, depth normal, magnitude  6.8  ms.   No  reports  of  damage  or casualties have been received at this time.