Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Tuesday, February 3, 1998
CONTENTS
========
1. Concerted effort to enhance bus safety on road
2. Number of casualties involved in bus accidents in 1997
3. Wage for foreign domestic helpers remains at present level
4. Update on avian flu
5. Grants from Disaster Relief Fund
6. Land Registry statistics for January released
7. 37 building plans approved in November
8. Hong Kong Monetary Authority tender results
9. HKMC tender notice for mortgage purchase
1. Concerted effort to enhance bus safety on road
**********************************************
Officials of the Transport Department (TD), the
Police and representatives of Citybus today (Tuesday) met
to discuss possible measures to enhance the safety of bus
operations.
Speaking after the meeting, the Commissioner for
Transport, Mrs Fanny Law, said: "The Administration takes
a serious view of road safety, in particular, regarding
buses which carry the largest number of passengers each
day.
"We see a need to promote good driving habits and
attitudes as well as to enhance safety awareness among bus
drivers. They must behave responsibly toward passengers
whose safety and well-being are in their hands."
In reviewing accident statistics involving buses, the
meeting noted that only 11 cases of the 1,660 bus
accidents involving injuries in 1997 were attributable to
"driving too fast". More common causes related to driving
behaviour are "driving too close to vehicles in front" (88
cases), "stopping suddenly" (56 cases), and "starting
negligently" (47 cases).
The meeting agreed on four areas of activities to
enhance the standard of bus operation, namely, to arouse
safety awareness of drivers, to step up enforcement of
road code, to install more warning road signs and to
examine other preventive measures.
To increase the safety awareness of bus drivers, the
Transport Department and the Police will join hands with
bus operators to run a series of road safety seminars for
all bus drivers.
The seminar will focus on the common driver factors
contributing to bus accidents and accident blackspots.
Citybus has also been requested to design an advanced
driving course for bus drivers which will include
defensive driving, anticipatory skills, and skid aversion
techniques.
To inculcate better driving behaviour among bus
drivers, the Police will step up enforcement of the road
code. The offending bus drivers will be issued with fixed
penalty tickets and given demerit points for improper
driving behavior.
In addition, TD will seek funding for more red light
cameras and speed enforcement cameras to be installed at
busy road junctions, expressways, flyovers and sharp road
bends which pose safety risks.
Within the next two months, TD will carry out a
survey of all flyovers with sharp bends to review the
adequacy of existing road signs to alert drivers to
difficult road conditions and to use appropriate driving
speed.
Separately, TD has started a review of speed limits
throughout the territory since last November. The review
is expected to be completed in mid 1998.
Other road safety measures which are being considered
include medical examination for bus drivers and more
stringent restriction on blood alcohol content for bus
drivers.
TD will also review the Road Traffic Ordinance to see
if there is room to expand the scope of careless driving
and reckless driving offences to cover also "dangerous
driving" and to raise the penalty. More detailed
proposals will be discussed in the Road Safety Council and
with other parties concerned in due course.
Citybus confirmed at the meeting that they would
bring in an international consultant next week to advise
on the use of the tachograph to monitor driving speed on
the road.
In concluding the meeting, Mrs Law said: "The
accident on January 31 was tragic. However, we welcome
that Citybus have responded in a positive and responsible
manner."
End
2. Number of casualties involved in bus accidents in 1997
******************************************************
In response to press enquiries, a spokesman of the
Transport Department said today (Tuesday) that the total
number of casualties involved in bus accidents in 1997 is
2,367 and the breakdown is as follows:
Kowloon Motor China Motor Citybus
Bus Bus Bus
------------- ----------- -------
No. of casualties 1,605 359 403
End
3. Wage for foreign domestic helpers remains at present level
**********************************************************
The Government today (Tuesday) announced that the
minimum wage for the employment of foreign domestic
helpers (FDHs) in Hong Kong will remain at the present
level of $3,860 a month during 1998.
"After careful consideration of all relevant factors,
we have concluded that the minimum allowable wage for
foreign domestic helpers should remain at the present
level of $3,860 a month during 1998," a government
spokesman said.
"The factors that we have considered include the wage
movements of local workers in comparable sectors, the
prevailing economic situation in Hong Kong, and the value
of the remuneration package of the foreign domestic
helpers in terms of their national currencies.
"It is, of course, up to individual employers to pay
in excess of the minimum wage should they wish to do so by
virtue of the long service or experience of the foreign
domestic helper.
"It remains our policy to review the minimum
allowable wage of foreign domestic helpers every year to
ensure that it remains at a reasonable level.
"Foreign domestic helpers play an important role in
our community by allowing many thousands of women to
pursue career opportunities, and their efforts are deeply
appreciated," the spokesman said.
At present, there are more than 170,000 foreign
domestic helpers working in Hong Kong. Of these, about 80
per cent come from the Philippines, 14 per cent from
Indonesia and three per cent from Thailand.
End
4. Update on avian flu
*******************
The Department of Health (DH) announced today
(Tuesday) that there were no new cases of influenza A
(H5N1) today.
Moreover, the condition of Case No. 7, involving a
24- year-old female, has improved from critical to poor.
The total number of cases stands at 18 confirmed
cases.
Following is a list of the cases and their latest
conditions:
Confirmed cases
***************
Case 1
Sex / Age: Male / 3 yr
Condition: Died
Case 2
Sex / Age: Male / 2 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 3
Sex / Age: Female / 13 yr
Condition: Died
Case 4
Sex / Age: Male / 54 yr
Condition: Died
Case 5
Sex / Age: Female / 5 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 6
Sex / Age: Male / 37 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 7
Sex / Age: Female / 24 yr
Condition: Under treatment, condition poor
Case 8
Sex / Age: Male / 2 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 9
Sex / Age: Male / 4 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 10
Sex / Age: Male / 1 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 11
Sex / Age: Female / 3 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 12
Sex / Age: Female / 60 yr
Condition: Died
Case 13
Sex / Age: Female / 25 yr
Condition: Died
Case 14
Sex / Age: Female / 14 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 15
Sex / Age: Male / 3 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 16
Sex / Age: Female / 19 yr
Condition: Under treatment, condition fair
Case 17
Sex / Age: Female / 6 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 18
Sex / Age: Female / 34 yr
Condition: Died
End
5. Grants from Disaster Relief Fund
********************************
The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee has
further approved two grants for emergency relief for
earthquake victims in Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province,
China. A grant of $2.93 million was made to Hong Kong
Committee for United Nations Children's Fund and another
of $2 million was made to the Salvation Army for relief
projects for the earthquake victims.
Together with the earlier grants of $6.24 million to
Hong Kong Red Cross, $3 million to World Vision Hong Kong,
$0.5 million to Jian Hua Foundation Ltd and $2.6 million
to Oxfam Hong Kong, the Advisory Committee has in total
approved $17.27 million from the Disaster Relief Fund for
various relief projects to assist the victims of this
earthquake. The Committee hopes that the grants can help
to provide some immediate relief to the victims.
The Committee is chaired by the Chief Secretary for
Administration. Members are Dr the Hon Raymond Ch'ien,
the Hon Yang Ti-liang, the Hon Mrs Elsie Tu, the Hon Ngan
Kam-chuen, Mr Norman Leung, Ms Sansan Ching, the Secretary
for Health and Welfare, and the Secretary for the
Treasury.
End
6. Land Registry statistics for January released
*********************************************
The Land Registry registered 7,457 sale and purchase
agreements on residential and non-residential units last
month (January).
The figure represented an increase of 2.1 per cent
over the previous month but a decrease of 62.2 per cent
from January last year.
The total consideration of these agreements was $30.5
billion, up 24.5 per cent but down 64.7 per cent
respectively when compared with the amounts in December
1997 and January last year.
The figures were contained in the monthly statistics
released today (Tuesday) by the Land Registry on deeds
relating to property transactions received for
registration in the Urban and New Territories Land
Registries in January 1998.
Relevant statistics for December 1997 and January
1997 were provided for comparison. Figures on sale and
purchase agreements received for the past 12 months and
the year-on-year rate of change were also released.
These statistics generally relate to land
transactions executed up to four weeks prior to their
submission for registration as there is usually a time lag
between the execution of deeds and their lodgement for
registration.
End
7. 37 building plans approved in November
**************************************
The Buildings Department approved 37 building plans
in November last year - 21 on Hong Kong Island, six in
Kowloon and 10 in the New Territories.
This compared with 36 building plans approved in
October and 33 in September.
The approved plans covered 15 for apartment and
apartment/commercial developments, six for commercial
developments, 11 for factory and industrial developments,
and five for community services developments.
Consent was given in the month for works to start on
42 building projects, which will provide 97,214 square
metres of usable domestic floor area and 87,734 square
metres of usable non-domestic floor area on completion.
The department also issued 24 Occupation Permits - 10
on Hong Kong Island, two in Kowloon and 12 in the New
Territories.
Of the buildings certified for occupation in
November, the usable floor areas for domestic and non-
domestic uses were 6,737 square metres and 84,940 square
metres respectively.
The declared cost of new buildings completed in the
month totalled about $1.178 billion.
In addition, 21 demolition consents involving 40
buildings and structures were issued.
The department's Control and Enforcement Division
received 947 complaints against unauthorised building
works in November, and issued 387 Removal Orders on
unauthorised works.
End
8. Hong Kong Monetary Authority tender results
*******************************************
Tender date : 3 February 1998
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : Q169
Issue date : 4 February 1998
Maturity date : 4 March 1998
Amount applied : HK$13,965 MN
Amount allotted : HK$5,000 MN
Average yield accepted : 6.55 PCT
Highest yield accepted : 6.70 PCT
Pro rata ratio : About 10 PCT
Average tender yield : 6.86 PCT
- - - - -
Tender date : 3 February 1998
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : Q805
Issue date : 4 February 1998
Maturity date : 6 May 1998
Amount applied : HK$8,240 MN
Amount allotted : HK$2,000 MN
Average yield accepted : 7.81 PCT
Highest yield accepted : 7.95 PCT
Pro rata ratio : About 30 PCT
Average tender yield : 8.13 PCT
- - - - -
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
****************************
Tender to be held in the week beginning - 9 Feb 98:
Tender date : 9 February 1998
Paper on offer : EF Notes
Issue number : 2002
Issue date : 10 February 1998
Maturity date : 10 February 2000
Tenor : 2 Years
Amount on offer : HK$500 + 100 MN
Coupon : 10.00%
- - - - -
Tender date : 10 February 1998
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : Q806
Issue date : 11 February 1998
Maturity date : 13 May 1998
Tenor : 91 Days
Amount on offer : HK$2,000 + 500 MN
- - - - -
Tender date : 10 February 1998
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : H857
Issue date : 11 February 1998
Maturity date : 12 August 1998
Tenor : 182 Days
Amount on offer : HK$1,000 + 300 MN
End
9. HKMC tender notice for mortgage purchase
****************************************
The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) is
pleased to announce the particulars of the tender to be
held on February 5, 1998. Details of the Offer are as
follows:
Time for Accepting Bids 10 am to 12 noon
Settlement Date To be determined
Tender Amount Hong Kong Dollars 1 billion
Minimum Offer Amount Hong Kong Dollars 50 million
Maximum Offer Amount Hong Kong Dollars 1 billion
Mortgage Product Types PADI, PAMI, PADT, PAMT
Mortgage Purchasing Criteria PR0001, PR0002
Minimum Net Required Yield 10.25%
Minimum Gross Mortgage Rate 0.50% over Offer Yield
Maximum Gross Mortgage Rate 2.00% over Offer Yield
Submission of Offer Notice(s) should be made by
facsimile to the HKMC on 2536-0036 or 2536-0004.
End
