Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Thursday, February 26, 1998
CONTENTS
========
1. Government injects resources to upgrade education
2. Government welcomes visa-free arrangement
3. HK's latest foreign currency assets figures released
4. Promotion of fixed rate mortgages
5. Residential mortgage survey results for January 1998
6. Budget's revenue proposals legislation to be introduced
7. Government attaches importance to Area Committees
8. LRC proposes stricter liability for product defects
9. Toronto ETO hosts Chinese New Year reception in Calgary
10. Booklet on recommended guidelines for Chinese medicines trade
11. Azalea open days at Government House
12. Provisional retail sales statistics for December and 1997
13. Places available at government primary schools
14. Seminar on fire prevention in Sha Tin
15. BoE members visit Buddhist Wong Cho Sum School
1. Government injects resources to upgrade education
*************************************************
The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today
(Thursday) stressed that education is the key of Hong
Kong's future and that the Government will further upgrade
education and train up local teachers through injection of
large resources.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Tai Po campus
of the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIE), Mr Tung
said that the total expenditure on education for the year
1998/99 would be increased to $53.2 billion, which was
18.4 per cent of the total public expenditure, and
constituted the greatest share of our public spending.
"The real growth in expenditure, excluding the
allocation of $5 billion for the setting up of the Quality
Education Development Fund, amounts to 12.7 per cent. On
the basis of basic education, the real growth is as high
as 16.4 per cent," he said.
The new campus of the HKIE was built at the cost of
over $2.5 billion and its teaching facilities are of
international standards. Mr Tung said that the opening of
the Institute's new campus added a new page to teacher
education in Hong Kong.
He said: "As pillars of our education system,
teachers are commissioned with the important task of
providing education to our children. After our reunion
with China, Hong Kong is now marching towards the 21st
Century. We have great expectations of the younger
generation, especially our young teachers.
"We hope that they are able to achieve the following
goals:
* To be a person with all-rounded development in
ethics, intellect, physique, social skills and aesthetics;
* To be a person who has deep love of our mother
country and is committed to the development of the
mainland as well as Hong Kong;
* To be biliterate and trilingual;
* To be a person with immense and extensive
knowledge, independent thinking, creativity and
enthusiasm; and
* To be a teacher who is caring and eager to serve
our community and a person with lofty ideal and high moral
standards, who is ready to shoulder the onus in the
education of our younger generation."
Mr Tung said that to ensure the quality of teachers
in Hong Kong's schools, the Policy Address had set out the
goal of raising the professional status of teachers.
"All new teachers will be required to be trained
graduates. The date for graduate posts making up 35 per
cent of all primary teaching posts will be advanced from
2007 to 2001. It is also hoped that the schedule for the
fulfilment of the requirement that all new teachers should
be trained graduates could be announced as soon as
possible," he said.
"The HKIE will therefore have a new mission to
accomplish and a more important role to play in tertiary
education. In the coming academic year, the Institute
will organise undergraduate and part-time taught
postgraduate programmes to promote the continuing and
professional development of teachers. These programmes
will certainly help to achieve our goal of raising the
professional status of our teachers so as to meet the
changing expectations of the community and to upgrade the
overall quality of our education," he added.
Mr Tung noted that the Institute was taking active
action in setting up a "Centre of Language Teaching".
He said: "We aim at providing all pre-service and in-
service teachers with quality language training through an
advanced and well-organised language-teaching training
centre.
"The Institute is also drawing up plans for running a
new school to put teaching theories into practice.
Students in Tai Po will definitely benefit from the
service rendered by this new school."
Mr Tung said that it was encouraging to note that the
Institute had made remarkable progress since its inception
in 1994, through the merger of former Colleges of
Education and the Institute of Language in Education.
"The Institute's Research and Development Centre set
up in 1996 promotes academic researches. Besides, the
Institute also takes active part in joint projects with
local, mainland and overseas institutes of tertiary
education to encourage academic exchanges.
"Through such cooperation and contact, local,
mainland and overseas institutes of tertiary education are
encouraged to share with each other their valuable
experience in education."
"Undoubtedly, the HKIE has already laid a firm
foundation for our future. I strongly believe that the
Institute is able to fulfil its tasks and earn the acclaim
as a centre of excellence for teacher education and
continuing and professional education in Hong Kong as well
as the Asia-Pacific Region," he added.
End
2. Government welcomes visa-free arrangement
*****************************************
The Government of St Kitts and Nevis has decided to
grant visa-free access for a period up to three months for
holders of HKSAR passports, Hong Kong Certificates of
Identity and BN(O)passports, a government spokesman said
today (Thursday).
The decision was conveyed by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of St Kitts and Nevis to the Immigration
Department of the HKSAR Government.
"We welcome the decision of the Government of St
Kitts and Nevis, which signifies its confidence in the
HKSAR Government and the HKSAR passport," the spokesman
said.
At present, nationals of St Kitts and Nevis do not
require visas for visiting Hong Kong for a period not
exceeding three months.
"The HKSAR Government continues to welcome the
nationals of St Kitts and Nevis to visit Hong Kong," the
spokesman added.
End
3. HK's latest foreign currency assets figures released
****************************************************
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today
(Thursday) announced that the official foreign currency
assets of Hong Kong, including those held in the Land
Fund, were US$98.1 billion at the end of January 1998, an
increase of US$5.3 billion over that at the end of
December 1997 (US$92.8 billion). In terms of foreign
currency reserves ranking, Hong Kong remains the third
largest in the world, after Japan and Mainland China
(Table 1).
The increase in the foreign currency assets was
primarily due to seasonal factors: in January, issuance of
new banknotes surged to meet demand during the Lunar New
Year. Under the currency board arrangement, note-issuing
banks are required to credit the Exchange Fund with US
dollar to back any currency issue.
The increase in the assets in the Exchange Fund was
also due to the additional placements by the Government
Treasury in January as a result of tax collected during
the month.
As at the end of January, the foreign currency assets
held in the Exchange Fund were US$80.3 billion (end-
December: US$75.3 billion) and in the Land Fund were
US$17.8 billion (end-December: US$17.8 billion). The
total foreign currency assets of US$98.1 billion represent
about 8 times the currency in circulation or about 45% of
Hong Kong dollar M3; one of the highest in the world.
- - - - -
Table 1
Foreign Currency Reserves Ranking
US$ billion As at end of
(1) Japan 221.5 January 1998
(2) China 139.9 December 1997
(3) Hong Kong 98.1* January 1998
(4) Taiwan 83.5 December 1997
(5) Germany 82.1 December 1997
(6) Singapore 71.7 December 1997
(7) US 71.3 December 1997
(8) Spain 69.1 December 1997
(9) Italy 58.9 December 1997
(10) Brazil 50.7 November 1997
Source: HKMA, IMF, Reuters
*Detailed breakdown at Tables 2 and 3.
Table 2
Exchange Fund
Foreign Currency Assets
(US$ billion)
Excluding Net Including
forward forward forward
transactions transactions transactions
End-January 1997 65.9 5.2 71.1
End-February 1997 63.8 4.3 68.1
End-March 1997 63.4 4.3 67.7
End-April 1997 63.6 4.0 67.6
End-May 1997 66.6 1.8 68.4
End-June 1997 67.6 2.1 69.7
End-July 1997 66.1 2.5 68.6
End-August 1997 69.5 0.1 69.6
End-September 1997 71.4 0.3 71.7
End-October 1997 74.0 0.4 74.4
End-November 1997 79.1 0.4 79.5
End-December 1997 75.3 0.3 75.6
End-January 1998 80.3 - 80.3
* The figures above exclude the principal and interest
amounts of loan to Bank of Thailand. The first drawdown
was taken place in Oct 97.
Table 3
Land Fund
Foreign Currency Assets
(US$ billion)
Excluding Net Including
forward forward forward
transactions transactions transactions
End-July 1997 15.6 0.1 15.7
End-August 1997 15.8 0.1 15.9
End-September 1997 16.7 0.4 17.1
End-October 1997 17.4 (0.1) 17.3
End-November 1997 17.4 0 17.4
End-December 1997 17.5 0.1 17.6
End-January 1998 17.8 - 17.8
Note: The Land Fund was established on 1 July 1997.
Figures prior to that date are therefore not available.
End
4. Promotion of fixed rate mortgages
*********************************
The Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Mortgage
Corporation Limited (HKMC) agreed at its meeting today
(Thursday) that the HKMC will proceed full steam ahead to
develop the necessary infrastructure to promote fixed rate
mortgages in Hong Kong as an additional choice for
consumers.
One of the objectives of the HKMC is to promote the
development and liquidity of the residential mortgage
market in Hong Kong. In pursuit of this objective, the
HKMC has, among other things, been studying means to
promote the fixed rate mortgage market, which will offer
additional choices of mortgage products for home buyers
and insulate them from fluctuations in interest rates.
The Corporation is now formulating specific proposals to
develop this market and will consult the other key players
whose participation will be needed to develop fixed rate
mortgage products, such as commercial banks and investors
of fixed rate paper.
"Market reception to fixed rate mortgages will
ultimately depend on market conditions, including notably
the interest rate environment, which will affect
borrowers' preference for fixed rate mortgages and the
availability of fixed rate funds. Nevertheless, it is
important that the HKMC develops the necessary market
infrastructure such that the market can take off when the
conditions are right," said Mr Peter Pang, Chief Executive
Officer of the HKMC.
"With the full support of the Board, we will proceed
to consult the banks and institutional investors,
including the Housing Authority, once we have formulated
the detailed proposals," he added.
End
5. Residential mortgage survey results for January 1998
****************************************************
The rate of decline of new mortgage lending moderated
in January 1998, while loan approvals increased.
Gross new loans made during the month continued to
drop in January, though at a slower rate than in December
1997. The amount of new loans made fell by 15.0% from
$9.8 billion to $8.3 billion (compared with a fall of
36.2% in December). The average size of new loans
increased slightly to $1.95 million in January compared to
$1.86 million in December. The amount of outstanding
mortgage loans increased by 0.69% in January, compared
with 0.44% growth in December 1997.
New loans approved during the month rose by 9.3% to
$9.2 billion. Loans approved during the month but not yet
drawn increased by 12.5% from $5.3 billion in December to
$6.0 billion in January.
The annualised rate of growth of outstanding loans in
the three months to January decreased to 9.6% from 9.9% in
December. The average change over the last 12 months also
decreased to 25.9% from 28.3% in December.
On the pricing front, mortgage rates continued to
harden in January. 62% of new loans were priced at 1% or
more above best lending rate (compared with 55% in
December 1997).
"The January figures indicate some tentative signs of
recovery in lending activity, but it is too soon to say
whether this will be sustained," said Mr David Carse,
Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA.
Gross loans for the purchase of properties in
Mainland China decreased to $262 million in January from
$282 million in December. The amount of outstanding loans
increased by 1.60% to $8.0 billion.
End
6. Budget's revenue proposals legislation to be introduced
*******************************************************
Bills which are necessary to implement the 1998-99
Budget revenue proposals will be gazetted tomorrow
(Friday).
There will together be seven bills -
The Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 1998 seeks to increase
existing salaries tax allowances and deductions, to revise
the marginal tax structure and to introduce new deductions
for home mortgage interest, elderly residential care
expenses and contributions to retirement schemes.
The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1998 seeks to
introduce a series of measures arising from the
comprehensive profits tax review, including the reduction
of the corporate profits tax rate from 16.5 per cent to 16
per cent, to make our taxation system and business
environment more competitive.
The Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 1998 seeks to reduce the
stamp duty rate on stock transactions from 0.3 per cent to
0.25 per cent for a round transaction.
The Stamp Duty (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1998 seeks to
allow stamp duty exemption for transactions in regional
derivative warrants and to make other technical amendments
to the Stamp Duty Ordinance.
The Estate Duty (Amendment) Bill 1998 seeks to increase
the exemption level of estate duty to $7.5 million, to
adjust the marginal duty thresholds accordingly and to
reduce the estate duty rates.
The Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Bill 1998 mainly
seeks to increase duties on tobacco, fuel and methyl
alcohol by 6 per cent, in line with inflation.
The Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 1998
seeks to reduce air passenger departure tax from $100 to
$50 when the new airport commences operation on July 6,
1998.
The Secretary for the Treasury will introduce the
bills into the Provisional Legislative Council on
Wednesday, March 4, 1998.
The following subsidiary legislation will also be
gazetted tomorrow (Friday) and tabled in the Provisional
Legislative Council on March 4 -
The Specification of Arrangements (Arrangements with the
Mainland of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation on
Income) Order made by the Chief Executive in Council seeks
to put into effect the arrangement which has been made
between the Mainland and Hong Kong for avoidance of double
taxation on income.
The Companies Ordinance (Amendment of Eighth Schedule)
Order 1998 seeks to reduce the level of ad valorem capital
duty payable in respect of companies from 0.3 per cent to
0.1 per cent and to impose a cap on the duty at $30,000
per case with effect from April 1.
The Shipping and Port Control (Hong Kong - China and Macau
Ferry Terminals) (Amendment) Regulation 1998 seeks to
reduce the passenger embarkation fee at marine ferry
terminals from $25 to $18 with effect from April 1.
The Secretary for the Treasury will also move two
resolutions in the Provisional Legislative Council on
March 25 to implement the Budget concession proposals on
rates, i.e. the reduction of the overall rates percentage
charge from 5 per cent to 4.5 per cent for one year in
1998-99, and on the reduction of the rate of hotel
accommodation tax from 5 per cent to 3 per cent.
The increase in tobacco, fuel and methyl alcohol
duties took effect on February 18 and the concessions on
stamp duty on stock transactions, estate duty, rates and
hotel accommodation tax will take effect on April 1 under
Public Revenue Protection Orders (PRPOs) (which are valid
for four months) made by the Chief Executive after
consultation with the Executive Council. The PRPO in
respect of the increase in duties was gazetted on February
18 and the PRPOs for the concessions will be gazetted on
February 27.
End
7. Government attaches importance to Area Committees
*************************************************
The Government attaches great importance to the views
and experiences of members of Area Committees, who can
form a partnership with government in building up a
community through participation in district affairs and
organising district activities.
Speaking at a meeting with members of Tsuen Wan East
Area Committee today (Thursday), the Secretary for Home
Affairs, Mr David Lan, said the area committees had been
playing a very important advisory role on district
administration over the years.
"Members of the Tsuen Wan East Area Committee have
taken an active role in district matters and provided
valuable advice to the Government on matters affecting the
well-being of residents in the district such as traffic
and transport, environment, law and order and
infrastructural development," Mr Lan said.
"The committee has also organised numerous
recreational and cultural activities for residents," he
added.
Mr Lan took the opportunity to urge members of Area
Committees to be more alert to the dangers of fire hazards
and enhance their awareness of fire prevention in
buildings.
He also called on committees members who had already
registered as electors to cast their votes in the first
Legislative Council election on May 24.
Tsuen Wan East Area Committee comprises district
board members, chairmen of mutual aid committees and
owners' corporations, village representatives, principals,
social workers and leading personalities from various
sectors of the local community.
Representatives from various government departments
also attended the meeting to discuss and explain issues of
concern to members of the meeting.
End
8. LRC proposes stricter liability for product defects
***************************************************
The Law Reform Commission today (Thursday) published
a Report on proposals to reform the law governing
compensation for injury and damage caused by defective or
unsafe goods.
Ms Audrey Eu SC, JP, chairman of the sub-committee on
the topic said that, given the recent incidents concerning
unsafe products, product safety was clearly an issue of
public concern.
Ms Eu explained that under the existing law, a person
who suffered injury from an unsafe or defective product
could have a claim against the retailer under contract
law. Under the Sale of Goods Ordinance (Cap 26), for
persons dealing as consumers, there is an implied
condition that the goods are of merchantable quality,
which includes the requirement that the goods should be as
free from defects and as safe as it is reasonable to
expect.
The drawbacks of contract law, according to Ms Eu,
were first, it would lead to a chain of legal action, as
each supplier in the chain of distribution would have to
sue its supplier to seek indemnity; and second, if the
person who suffered injury was not the one who paid for
the unsafe product, technically there is no contractual
relation, and the injured person is denied a contractual
claim.
Another alternative under the existing law would be
to sue in negligence. Ms Eu said that the general public
might not find negligence law user-friendly, and a
claimant would have to prove all the technical elements of
negligence, and expert evidence was likely to be required.
It is against that background that the Commission has
decided to review the existing law taking into
consideration developments in other countries. Ms Eu said
that the emerging international trend was towards enacting
strict product liability legislation to supplement the
traditional contract and negligence law, and Hong Kong was
lagging behind many jurisdictions, including the European
Community countries, the United States, Australia and
Japan.
The main recommendations in the Report are:-
* The law governing compensation for injury and
damage caused by defective or unsafe goods should be
expanded beyond the existing spheres of contract law and
negligence law.
* The proposed new form of liability should be based
on the defect approach, which means that a product is
regarded as defective if it does not meet the standard of
safety that persons generally are entitled to expect.
* The standard of safety required should be judged
by reference to the standard of the general public,
instead of the claimant.
* The standard of safety required should be judged
at the time the product was put into circulation.
* Manufacturers, producers, own-branders and
importers should be jointly and severally liable to
claimants. As for wholesalers, distributors and
retailers, they would be liable only if they fail to
identify within reasonable time the person who supplied
the product to them.
* The proposed new form of liability should apply to
all the products covered by Part I of the Consumer
Protection Act 1987. Unprocessed natural products and
game, and component parts should also be covered.
* Any injured person, whether or not he is party to
a contract, and whether or not he is a user of the product
or a mere bystander, should be covered by the proposed new
form of liability.
* Specific defences should be made available to
protect legitimate business interests. Such defences
should include the fact that the defect is attributable to
compliance with statutory standards, that the product was
not supplied by the defendant, that the product was
supplied otherwise than in the course of business, or that
the defect did not exist at the time of supply. The
defendant would have a partial defence if the damage is
caused partly by the fault of the claimant.
* The defendant should also have a defence if the
state of scientific and technical knowledge at the time of
supply did not enable the defect to be discovered.
* Compensation under the proposed new form of
liability should not be subject to any maximum or minimum
limits, but provisions should ensure that a claimant
cannot recover twice for the same injury or damage.
* Disclaimer clauses should not be allowed to limit
or avoid any liability under the proposed legislation.
* Two time limits should apply to claims under the
new liability. A three-year limitation period should run
from the date of any injury caused by, or knowledge of,
the defect and a ten-year period (which overrides the
three-year period) should run from the date the defective
product was first supplied by the defendant.
* The application of the proposed legislation should
not be limited to products supplied in Hong Kong only,
save that importers should not be liable for products
which are imported to Hong Kong solely for the purpose of
re-export.
Anyone who wishes to obtain a copy of the Report
should write to the Secretary, The Law Reform Commission,
20th Floor, Harcourt House, 39 Gloucester Road, Wanchai,
Hong Kong. The Report is also available on the Government
home page http://www.info.gov.hk (under "topical
information: Law Reform Commission").
End
9. Toronto ETO hosts Chinese New Year reception in Calgary
*******************************************************
More than 200 people, including business and
community leaders and government officials in Calgary,
today (February 25, Canada time) attended a Chinese New
Year reception hosted by the Director of the Hong Kong
Economic and Trade Office of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) Government, Mr Donald Tong.
Those attending the reception - the first to be held
in a major Canadian city after the establishment of SAR -
included members of the Hong Kong-Canada Business
Association (Calgary); business and community leaders,
government officials and academics.
In welcoming the guests to celebrate the year of the
tiger, Mr Tong revealed that the long-term goals for the
future development of the SAR had been drawn up.
"For example, the government is now working on a
massive expansion of Hong Kong's domestic and cross-border
rail networks that will exceed the scale of our US$20
billion new airport programme projects which will be
completed this year," he said.
"These projects will generate employment for many
years to come and add greatly to Hong Kong's economic
growth in the next century."
In the past eight months after the handover, Mr Tong
added, the executive, the legislative and the judiciary -
the three branches of the government - had functioned
normally.
"We have to face the financial turmoil and the avian
flu towards the last quarter. However, I am pleased to
say that in true Hong Kong fashion we have now brought
under control the spread of the avian flu and are on top
of the financial crisis," he said.
"The financial turmoil has forced almost all Asian
economies to devalue their currencies. However, Hong Kong
has weathered the financial storm so far. I would like to
put it beyond all doubts that the Hong Kong Dollar's
linked exchange rate with the US Dollar will remain
unchanged.
"Our Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, and many
senior government officials have repeatedly said that this
linked exchange rate has served us well over the past 14
years.
"It has provided the basis which Hong Kong has come
through many international crisis: the 1987 stock market
crash, the 1992 exchange rate mechanism turmoil, the 1995
Mexican peso crisis and now the latest regional currency
crisis crunch.
"The Hong Kong community and the World Bank have all
given us full support in maintaining the linked exchange
rate.
"Of course, our US$92.8 billion foreign reserves, the
third largest in the world, and our healthy banking and
financial systems as well as our strong economic
fundamentals, have all played a vital role in enabling us
to maintain the linked exchange rate," he said.
Mr Tong admitted that the Asian financial turmoil was
a blessing in disguise because it provided an opportunity
to make adjustments to negative factors like soaring
property prices and high inflation in Hong Kong.
He concluded: "I have full confidence that Hong Kong
will continue to ride through these challenges as in the
past and we will be amongst the first, if not the first,
to rebound. We strongly believe that we have the
capability, the public support and the will to overcome
these difficulties."
End
10. Booklet on recommended guidelines for Chinese medicines trade
*************************************************************
The Preparatory Committee on Chinese Medicine (PCCM)
has published a booklet on "Recommended Practising
Guidelines for the Chinese Medicines Trade" for the
reference of traders, people in the Chinese medicine
profession and other interested parties.
Introducing the booklet at a press briefing today
(Thursday), Chairman of PCCM's Chinese Medicine Sub-
committee, Mr Tam Ling-kwan, said: "The aim of compiling
those recommended practising guidelines is to put forward
some suggestions for members of the trade to work on, to
encourage people engaged in the industry to acquire the
necessary professional knowledge and to observe the
conduct as expected by the profession, in order to raise
their practising standard by means of self-regulation.
"We hope to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese
medicines so as to protect public health and enhance
public confidence in using Chinese medicine, whereby
establishing a good foundation for the development of
Chinese medicine in Hong Kong and even internationally."
He added that when compiling these recommended
practising guidelines, the PCCM had made reference to the
existing regulatory system for medicines and taken into
consideration the present situation of Chinese medicines
trade in Hong Kong.
"It is hoped that the guidelines can help improving
the practising standard of the trade and will be
practicable for members of the trade to adopt," Mr Tam
said.
"This booklet is not legal binding. However, we hope
that members of the trade can gradually implement these
guidelines, so that they may be able to cope with the
future regulatory system for Chinese medicines."
Also present at the press briefing was the Vice-
chairman of PCCM's Chinese Medicine Sub-committee,
Mr Chang Wei-chung who introduced the contents of the
booklet.
Mr Chang said: "The booklet contains four sets of
recommended practising guidelines, i.e. for proprietary
Chinese medicines manufacturers and wholesalers, and
Chinese herbal medicines wholesalers and retailers. It
also contains a set of recommended guidelines for
processing Chinese herbal medicines.
"The import, manufacture and sale of Chinese
medicines is a complicated process involving different
Chinese medicines trades, and should be handled properly,
otherwise the quality, safety and efficacy of Chinese
medicines may be affected. Therefore, each member of the
Chinese medicines trade plays an important role.
"The PCCM considers that management staff of the
Chinese medicines trades concerned should possess the
necessary professional knowledge in Chinese medicines, and
maintain a systematic management and operation system,
good record keeping system, detailed labelling system and
hygienic conditions and facilities, etc."
Concluding the press briefing, Mr Tam Ling-kwan said,
"The PCCM welcomes members of the Chinese medicines trade
to give their views on those recommended practising
guidelines having regard to their actual operational
experience. They can send their views in writing to the
PCCM Secretariat."
Copies of the booklet on "Recommended Practising
Guidelines for the Chinese Medicines Trade" will be
available as from tomorrow from the PCCM Secretariat, 1st
Floor, Shun Feng International Centre, 182 Queen's Road
East, Wanchai, Hong Kong (Telephone no.: 25278391). The
Secretariat will also be distributing copies of the
booklet to Chinese medicine associations, Chinese
medicines merchants associations/unions and members of
Chinese medicine profession and trade.
End
11. Azalea open days at Government House
************************************
The gardens of Government House will be open for two
consecutive days this weekend for members of the public to
enjoy the azaleas in full bloom.
The gardens will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on
Saturday and Sunday (February 28 and March 1).
A government spokesman said today (Thursday): "This
is the first open day since the establishment of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region."
"In line with the Chief Executive's decision to make
Government House more accessible to the public, we have
decided to open the gardens to the public on four
occasions every year. We shall announce the dates and
details of the other three occasions in this year in due
course," he said.
The spokesman said that more than 10 kinds of azaleas
in various colours, including purple, white, pink and
orange, were grown in the gardens at Government House.
"There are impatiens and different kinds of camellia.
The impatiens look like mini pink roses while the camellia
come in many colours.
"The most popular spot for photographs is a flight of
stairs in the back garden. Along both sides of the stairs
different flowers are grown, such as pink azaleas and
azaleas simsii," he said.
The spokesman reminded visitors not to walk on the
grass, litter or pick flowers. "We hope that visitors
will be considerate to others while enjoying the flowers,"
he said.
Visitors to the gardens are to enter Government House
by the east gate, located on Upper Albert Road facing the
US Consulate, and leave by the main gate.
The spokesman advised visitors not to travel by
private car or taxi. Depending on the length of the
queue, the Police may announce a cut-off time for lining
up outside Government House to ensure that everybody in
the queue can get into the gardens in time.
The open day will be cancelled if the No. 8 typhoon
signal is hoisted or if the red or black rainstorm warning
is on. Members of the public are advised to stay tuned to
radio announcements.
End
12. Provisional retail sales statistics for December and 1997
*********************************************************
The value of total retail sales in December 1997,
estimated at $20.3 billion, decreased by 8% when compared
with December 1996. After discounting the effect of price
changes over the period, total retail sales decreased by
10% in volume.
For 1997 as a whole, total retail sales rose by 5% in
value and 1% in volume when compared with 1996. This was
broadly comparable to the growth in 1996, which registered
an increase of 6% in value and 2% in volume.
These are some of the provisional figures on retail
sales released today (Thursday) by the Census and
Statistics Department.
Compared with a year ago, the decrease in total
retail sales in December 1997 was mainly attributable to
the decline in sales in department stores, by 26% in value
and 29% in volume.
In addition, sales of some commodities registered
decreases in both value and volume. These included
clothing and footwear (14% in value and 18% in volume);
consumer durable goods other than motor vehicles (10% in
both value and volume); motor vehicles (10% in value and
8% in volume) and food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (2%
in value and 3% in volume).
Meanwhile, sales of miscellaneous consumer goods and
sales in supermarkets recorded increases of 2% and 6% in
value respectively, but registered decreases of 3% and 1%
in volume respectively.
Sales of jewellery, watches and clocks and valuable
gifts decreased by 5% in value, but remained virtually
unchanged in volume.
On the other hand, sales of fuels continued to record
an increase of 8% in value and 3% in volume.
Compared with November 1997 (but bearing in mind that
this comparison is affected by seasonal factors), total
retail sales in December 1997 increased by 11% in value
and 12% in volume.
For the year 1997 as a whole, sales of most
commodities registered increases to various extent.
These included motor vehicles (26% in both value and
volume); jewellery, watches and clocks and valuable gifts
(4% in value and 6% in volume); consumer durable goods
other than motor vehicles (6% in value and 5% in volume);
miscellaneous consumer goods (8% in value and 3% in
volume); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (3% in value
and 2% in volume) and fuels (8% in value and 1% in
volume).
Sales in supermarkets went up by 7% in value, but
remained virtually unchanged in volume.
On the other hand, sales of clothing and footwear
remained virtually unchanged in value, but declined by 8%
in volume. Sales in department stores decreased by 3% in
value and 9% in volume.
A Government Secretariat spokesman pointed out that
the decrease in the volume of retail sales in December
1997 was partly due to a large decline in sales in
department stores along with the setback in inbound
tourism. Added to this was the slackened demand of high-
value items such as motor vehicles and other consumer
durables, affected by the rise in local interest rates and
the marked corrections in the stock and property markets
since October 1997. Meanwhile, demand for clothing and
footwear remained weak. Nevertheless, an overall increase
of 1% in the volume of total retail sales was still
registered for 1997 as a whole, helped by the robust local
consumer spending earlier in the year.
The volume of retail sales is derived from the value
of retail sales after adjusting for price changes. The
relevant components of the Consumer Price Index are used
as deflators.
Table 1 presents the revised total retail sales
figure for November 1997 and the provisional figure for
December 1997.
Table 2 shows the value and volume indices of retail
sales in December 1996, November and December 1997 for all
retail outlets and by type of retail outlets, with average
retail sales from October 1994 to September 1995 taken as
100. Comparisons of the December 1997 results with those
for November 1997 and those for December 1996, as well as
comparison of retail sales in the period from January to
December of 1997 with the same period in 1996 are also
given.
Starting from the reference month of January 1997, a
new series of value and volume indices reflecting changes
in the combined sales of supermarkets and supermarkets
operating in department stores was compiled. The new
indices were shown in Table 2 as supplementary statistics
to provide further reference for certain analytical
purposes.
The report containing the analysis of the December
1997 results is now on sale at $3 per copy at the
Government Publications Centre, ground floor, Low Block,
Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway; and the
Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department,
19th floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.
Enquiries about the survey results may be directed to
the Wholesale and Retail Trade Statistics Section of the
Census and Statistics Department on 2802 1258.
End
13. Places available at government primary schools
**********************************************
Parents are reminded to apply for Primary 2 to
Primary 6 school places for their children in government
schools for the 1998/99 academic year.
All children aged between six and 12 and who are not
in school should apply for admission, a spokesman from the
Education Department said today (Thursday).
Children aged six years eight months or above by
Western reckoning on September 1, 1998 may apply for
admission, he said.
Vacancies will be displayed at the main entrance of
these schools and enquiries should be made to individual
school.
Application forms are obtainable at the government
primary schools with vacancies from March 3 (Tuesday) to
March 12 (Thursday) excluding general holidays.
Completed forms should be returned to the schools
concerned and selection will be made on March 18
(Wednesday).
Application forms are free and no entrance fee will
be charged for admission.
The spokesman noted that children would normally be
admitted to schools serving the district they live.
Care will also be taken to ensure that children from
the same family will not be separated, he added.
End
14. Seminar on fire prevention in Sha Tin
*************************************
Members of mutual aid committees, owners'
corporations, owners committees; and residents in Sha Tin
are invited to attend a fire protection talk at Lecture
Room I, Sha Tin Town Hall, on next Wednesday (March 4).
Organised by Sha Tin District Office, the talk is
aimed at enhancing residents' knowledge of fire
prevention.
Senior Station Officer of the Fire Services
Department, Mr Teddy Lee, will give talks to participants
on common causes of fire, installation of fire prevention
facilities, proper responses and evacuation procedures in
the event of fire.
The talk will be begin at 7.30 pm. Admission is
free.
Enquiries can be made on 2633 9964.
End
15. BoE members visit Buddhist Wong Cho Sum School
**********************************************
Members of the Board of Education (BoE) today visited
Buddhist Wong Cho Sum School.
On arrival, BoE members Chu Tang Lai-kuen; Michael,
Hong Man-hoi; Tang Hing-lin and Isaac, Tse Pak-hoi; were
greeted by the School Head, Ms Au Lai-ping.
Ms Au briefed BoE members on the installation of the
Computer Room in the school and how computer literacy was
introduced to the students.
She then took BoE members on a tour round the school
and BoE members observed a Primary 2 mathematics lesson.
The teacher exploited information technology to impart
knowledge to the students and at the same time, it is
found that students showed much interest in acquiring
knowledge with the help of information technology.
The school is very concerned about students'
knowledge of computer awareness and computer education has
become a component of the formal school curriculum.
Since the 1997/98 school year, a lesson has been
devoted to computer literacy every week. Ms Au thinks
that students can be more equipped to meet the needs of
society if they have early exposure to hi-tech. Apart
from this, she also encourages teachers to make use of the
computer in teaching so as to arouse students' interest in
learning.
In the 1997/98 school year, the Curriculum
Development Institute of the Education Department invited
the school to participate in the Computer Awareness
Programme for Primary Schools.
BoE members discuss matters related to education with
front-line educators and keep themselves abreast of the
current development in the education sector through
frequent school visits.
End
