Daily Information Bulletin

Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777

Tuesday, July 8, 1997

CONTENTS
========
1. Bill provides for Certificate of Entitlement Scheme
2. Measures to meet education needs of eligible children to
be admitted under the Certificate of Entitlement Scheme
3. HKSAR Passports Bill gazetted
4. Chinese Nationality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
gazetted
5. Bill to suspend operation of seven Members' Bills
6. Gazettal of United Nations Sanctions Bill
7. Government's position on reduction of rates explained
8. Emergency slope stabilisation progressing at Shatin
monastery
9. SAR Govt welcomes announcement on SAR passport
10. Work Plan for Small and Medium Enterprises Committee
11. Couriers of forged travel documents jailed 20 months
12. Exhibition and seminars on Target Oriented Curriculum
13. Volume & price statistics of external trade in April 1997
14. Hong Kong Life Tables 1991-2016
15. Shun Hing Reading Award Scheme
16. Hong Kong Monetary Authority tender results

1. Bill provides for Certificate of Entitlement Scheme
***************************************************

The Executive Council has endorsed the introduction of
the Immigration (Amendment)(No.5) Bill 1997 to the
Provisional Legislative Council, an SAR Government spokesman
said today (Tuesday).

The Bill provides that those children who claim the
right of abode (ROA) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law must
produce proof of their right by way of a Certificate of
Entitlement affixed to their travel documents or other
acceptable proof of identity.

"The Director of Immigration will be empowered to
refuse the entry of those children who are unable to produce
such proof," the spokesman said.

The Scheme seeks to provide an effective channel for
the orderly arrival of children claiming the ROA under
Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law.

Under the Scheme, the eligible children will not be
allowed to enter Hong Kong unless eligibility for ROA has
been properly verified. In the case of children residing in
China, this means they have to produce proof of their ROA by
way of a Certificate of Entitlement issued by the Director
of Immigration and affixed to their one-way permits.

The spokesman said that the Director of Immigration had
held discussions with the Mainland authorities and had
secured their agreement to co-operate in the operation of
the Certificate of Entitlement Scheme.

"The Public Security Bureau (PSB) has agreed to accept
application for Certificate of Entitlements from children
residing in the Mainland and continue to refer applications
to the HKSAR Immigration Department after having confirmed
the child's identity, his relationship with his parents and
claim to Chinese nationality.

"The HKSAR Immigration Department will communicate the
verification results together with the prepared Certificate
of Entitlements back to the respective PSBs on a regular
basis.

"The Director of Immigration will authorise the PSBs to
keep custody and affix the Certificate of Entitlements onto
the OWPs when the latter are ready for issue according to
their turn," the spokesman said.

The assessment procedures for the issue of Certificate
of Entitlement under BL 24(2)(3) will be based on the
following criteria:

(a) one of the parents is a permanent resident of
HKSAR under BL 24(2)(1) or BL 24(2)(2);

(b) one of the parents was a permanent resident of
Hong Kong or HKSAR at the time of the child's birth;

(d) the child is a legitimate or legitimated child
born to those residents listed in BL 24(2)(1) or BL 24(2)(2)
if the parent through whom the right is derived is a father.

Immigration officers will conduct assessment on whether
a person has a claim to ROA under BL 24(2)(3) based on
information supplied by PSBs and by conducting record checks
on the resident parents' claim to the right of abode in Hong
Kong at the time of the person's birth.

"Where there are doubts or discrepancies, Mainland
authorities will be requested to send copies of the
supporting documents, and they will be consulted on its
authenticity," the spokesman said.

The Scheme is a product of the deliberation by the Task
Force on Immigration Matters chaired by the Chief Secretary
for Administration since early May.

"It allows an orderly admission of Mainland children
through the One-Way Permit system.

"It is clearly irresponsible not to take effective
measures to discourage the smuggling into Hong Kong of
children claiming ROA under BL 24(2)(3) by snakeheads who
have no regard for their safety," the spokesman said.

He added that it was important that the necessary
legislative amendments should be enacted as soon as
possible.

"The Director of Immigration needs to have the legal
authority to remove persons whose eligibility to the ROA has
not been verified before they came to Hong Kong. Delays
will be exploited by snakeheads to spread rumours of amnesty
resulting in an influx of minors from the Mainland.

"It is also necessary to make the amendments to have
retrospective effect in order to ensure that those who
entered illegally, clandestinely or who remained in Hong
Kong illegally before the enactment of the Bill may be
removed in the same way as new arrivals," the spokesman
said.

The Bill will be introduced into the Provisional
Legislative Council tomorrow (Wednesday). Because of the
importance and urgency of the matter, it is the
Administration's intention to have the Bill go through all
three readings in one sitting.

End

2. Measures to meet education needs of eligible children to
be admitted under the Certificate of Entitlement Scheme
****************************************************************************************************************

Following the Government's announcement on the
Certificate of Entitlement Scheme for eligible children, the
Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong,
said that in view of a larger inflow of eligible children,
the Government will put in place measures to meet their
education needs, while maintaining the overall quality of
education.

If a total of 66,000 eligible children are to arrive
Hong Kong within a reasonably short period, the local
education system will have to cater for many more eligible
children than originally envisaged.

"We have made preparations to introduce a package of
measures to cope with the situation.

"We will absorb as many of the eligible children in
existing vacancies as possible, and will operate additional
classes, employ additional teachers, operate additional
induction/English programmes and short-term preparatory
courses.

"In addition, the Education Department will set up a
central co-ordinating unit to oversee the provision of
support services and will strengthen its placement service.
It will also extend its teacher recruitment information
service.

"The Government will liaise with teacher education
institutions with a view to providing more in-service
teacher training places for untrained teachers.

"The arrival of eligible children will entail a
permanent increase in school places and the School Building
Programme will be expanded accordingly," Mr Wong said.

Mr Wong pointed out that he would seek an additional
recurrent expenditure of about $1,220 million in a full year
and capital expenditure of about $1,075 million over five
years to provide school places, support services and
financial assistance for the 66,000 eligible children.

"The larger inflow will inevitably have a temporary
impact on the education system. But we are confident that
with the additional measures, the overall quality of
education will not be compromised.

"More specifically, improvement initiatives such as the
reduction of class size and elimination of floating classes
in secondary schools, will proceed as planned. We will
continue to explore ways to accelerate the implementation of
whole-day primary schooling," Mr Wong added.

End

3. HKSAR Passports Bill gazetted
*****************************

The HKSAR Passports Bill is gazetted today (Tuesday),
an SAR Government spokesman said.

The spokesman explained that local legislation is
needed to provide for practical matters relating to the
issue of HKSAR passports, although the authority to issue
HKSAR passports has already been given by the Central
People's Government.

"In the Joint Liaison Group Agreed Minute on the
preparation and issue of the HKSAR Passport, it was stated
that the HKSAR Immigration Department would be the sole
issuing authority of the HKSAR Passport.

"The Bill provides for detailed matters such as the
validity of HKSAR passports, cancellation of HKSAR passports
under certain circumstances and prescribes the fees to be
charged," the spokesman added.

The fees prescribed in the Bill have been announced by
the Immigration Department about a month ago, when the
Immigration Department began distributing application forms.

The Government proposes the Bill to take retrospective
effect from July 1 if enacted.

"The authority for the Immigration Department to issue
HKSAR passports takes effect from July 1, and the
Immigration Department has been issuing HKSAR passports to
those who are in urgent need of a travel document since July
3.

"It is appropriate that the commencement date of the
Bill should tie in with the date from which the Immigration
Department is authorised to issue HKSAR passports," the
spokesman said.

"The Bill does not contain any offence provisions," he
added.

End

4. Chinese Nationality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
gazetted
************************************************************

The Chinese Nationality (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Bill, which provides for the various matters relating to the
application of the Chinese Nationality Law (CNL) in the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region, is gazetted today
(Tuesday).

The Bill will be introduced into the Provisional
Legislative Council tomorrow (Wednesday), an SAR Government
spokesman said.

The spokesman said that the CNL had begun to apply to
the HKSAR since July 1 this year.

"The Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress (NPCSC) has authorised the HKSAR Immigration
Department to handle all Chinese nationality-related
applications in the HKSAR in the 'Explanation of some
questions by the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress concerning the implementation of the Nationality
Law of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region' adopted by the NPCSC on May
15, 1996.

"Local law is needed to provide for various details in
the handling of Chinese nationality-related applications,
such as fees and offences," the spokesman explained.

He said the Government proposed that the Bill should
have retrospective effect from July 1.

"This is because the CNL has begun to apply to the
HKSAR from July 1 and the authorisation for the HKSAR
Immigration Department to process Chinese nationality-
related applications also takes effect from that date.

"The retrospective effect will, however, not be
applicable to the offence provision," the spokesman added.

End

5. Bill to suspend operation of seven Members' Bills
*************************************************

The Administration will introduce the Legislative
Provisions (Suspension of Operation) Bill 1997 into the
Provisional Legislative Council tomorrow (Wednesday) for
three readings to suspend the operation of the legislative
changes effected by seven Members' Bills passed by the
previous Legislative Council at its last sitting of the
1996/97 session.

The object is to allow a proper and thorough scrutiny
of the implications of the various legislative changes to
determine whether the provisions are in the public interest.

These Members' Bills came into effect when they were
gazetted on June 30 and the seven Ordinances in question
are:

- Protection of the Harbour Ordinance;

- Employment (Amendment) (No. 4) Ordinance 1997;

- Occupational Deafness (Compensation) (Amendment)
Ordinance 1997;

- Employment (Amendment) (No. 5) Ordinance 1997;

- Employees' Rights to Representation, Consultation
and Collective Bargaining Ordinance 1997;

- Trade Unions (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 1997; and

- Hong Kong Bill of Rights (Amendment) Ordinance 1997.

A Government spokesman explained today that it was
necessary to suspend the operation of the legislative
changes effected by these Ordinances as early as possible as
"they represent a major departure from Government policies
and may have adverse long-term effects on the community".

"We need to review these Ordinances carefully and
assess their practical consequences. We will consult
parties concerned where necessary before deciding on the
next step forward. The review exercise will be completed by
September," he said.

He also noted that most of these Ordinances had not
been scrutinised by a Bills Committee, five of which relate
to labour matters.

"The Administration will assess carefully the impact of
these five Ordinances on our labour relations system and the
economy," he said.

As part of the review process, the Labour Advisory
Board (LAB), the well-established tripartite consultative
mechanism on labour issues, will be consulted.

Earlier, the LAB had considered these five Ordinances
and advised against their hasty passage through LegCo in
their present form as the Board needed more time to study
their provisions.

This was particularly the case for the one on
Employees' Rights to Representation, Consultation and
Collective Bargaining, given its far-reaching implications.

"The LAB will now have the opportunity to continue its
deliberations on these important issues," the spokesman
said.

"Similarly, we will not bring the Housing (Amendment)
Ordinance 1997 and the Interception of Communications
Ordinance into operation. We will fully analyse their
impact in the same way as the seven Ordinances above.

"We believe that our proposals represent a pragmatic
approach which allows for a proper scrutiny of the
implications of the various legislative changes to determine
whether the provisions are truly in the public interest," he
added.

End

6. Gazettal of United Nations Sanctions Bill
*****************************************

The Government today (Tuesday) gazetted the United
Nations Sanctions Bill, which seeks to empower the Chief
Executive, on receiving the directive from the Central
People's Government (CPG), to make regulations to implement
sanctions decided by the United Nations Security Council.

The Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue,
explained that the application of UN sanctions to the HK
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was a matter relating
to foreign affairs and therefore a matter for the CPG.

The Chief Executive had recently received directives
from the CPG to implement the sanctions decided by the UN
Security Council against a number of places. Domestic
legislation was required to give effect to these directives.

Miss Yue said: "Implementation of UN sanctions is also
in the SAR's interest in order to uphold its reputation as
a responsible trading partner and not as a conduit for
circumventing UN sanctions."

"Previously economic sanctions imposed by the UN were
enforced in Hong Kong by UK Orders in Council. Such orders
have ceased to have effect after 30 June 1997," she said.

United Nations sanctions vary from case to case but
typically include one or more of the followings:

* restrictions on imports from and exports to a named
destinations;

* restrictions on financial transactions involving the
government of a named country or area; and

* restrictions on aviation links with a named country
or area.

To minimise the gap between the lapse of the previous
measures and the introduction of the replacement ones to
implement UN sanctions, the Government will introduce the
Bill to the Provisional Legislative Council tomorrow
(Wednesday).

"This fast-track procedure is required in order to
minimise any attempt to use Hong Kong to circumvent the UN
sanctions in questions," Miss Yue explained.

"Given that the Bill would provide the legislative tool
to effect a directive within the prerogative of the CPG, we
believe members of the Provisional Legislative Council will
understand and will cooperate in ensuring the speedy passage
of the Bill," she added.

End

7. Government's position on reduction of rates explained
*****************************************************

In response to a petition made by the Democratic
Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong to the Executive
Council today (Tuesday) for a reduction of rates by two
percentage points, the Deputy Secretary for the Treasury, Mr
Martin Glass, explained that the overall rates percentage
charge had been reduced in the 1997-98 Budget from 5.5% to
5.0%, which was an all-time low.

"We have also capped rates increase to 20% in 1997-98
and in 1998-99. About 28% of ratepayers in fact pay the
same or lower rates in 1997-98 after the general
revaluation. For the rest, the increase is no more than
20%, below the inflation for the same period," Mr Glass
said.

"For example, the average increase for a small size
domestic flat in the private sector is only $29 per month,
or around 9%, while public housing tenants are largely
unaffected," he added.

"As for Government rent charged in accordance with
Annex III to the Joint Declaration and Article 121 of the
Basic Law, it is entirely different from rates and the two
should not be mixed together," Mr Glass explained.

"Rates are levied on the occupation of properties.
Government rent on the other hand is charged for the
extension of non-renewable land leases up to 2047 in place
of premium payment, and for the granting of new leases for
terms beyond June 30, 1997 and up to 2047. This is already
a concession. If property owners had to pay additional
premium on a one-off basis, their financial burden would be
a lot greater," Mr Glass said.

"About 2.5 million tenements are subject to rates
payments but only one million tenements are subject to
Government rent. In the Urban Council area in particular,
less than 1/3 of private sector properties are subject to
Government rent. It is therefore not justified and not
equitable to reduce rates on the ground that Government rent
is also being charged," Mr Glass further explained.

"Further reduction in rates would affect rates as a
stable source of revenue. A two percentage points reduction
would reduce rates revenue by over $6 billion, i.e. we would
forgo nearly all general rates," Mr Glass said.

"The rates revenue for the municipal councils and
therefore our municipal services would also be seriously
affected. In the case of the Regional Council area, the
rates split is 4.2% for Regional Council rates and 0.8% for
general rates. A two percentage points reduction would mean
forgoing all general rates and reducing Regional Council's
rates revenue by nearly 30%. This will reduce substantially
the services provided by the Regional Council and adversely
affect its plans to expand facilities for the people living
in the New Territories," he added.

End

8. Emergency slope stabilisation progressing at Shatin
monastery
*************************************************************

Closure orders have been issued by the District Court
yesterday (Monday) and today (Tuesday) for the closure of
all building structures within the Ten Thousand Buddha
Monastery in Sha Tin.

Emergency slope stabilisation works are now undertaking
by the Buildings Department's contractors.

The Assistant Director of Buildings (Specialist), Mr
Philip Lau, said that the closure orders issued yesterday
covered the main temple and pagoda, monasteries, dormitories
and ancillary buildings.

"These structures are located on land lots No. 358,
359, 323 and 324," he said.

"The closure order issued today covered various
structures within land lot No. 318 including the main access
stairs to the monastery.

"Temporary housing arrangements have been made for
occupants of the affected structures," he added.

Mr Lau said that the monastery would be re-opened once
stabilisation works had been satisfactorily completed.

End

9. SAR Govt welcomes announcement on SAR passport
**********************************************

In response to the Israeli Government's press
statement, an SAR Government spokesman today (Tuesday)
welcomes the Israeli Government's announcement that HKSAR
passport holders will be given visa-free access to visit
Israel.

"This treatment reflects a vote of confidence in the
SAR passport.

"It signifies the strong and welcome commitment of the
Israeli Government to Hong Kong's continued success," he
said.

The spokesman added that Israeli nationals are welcome
to continue to visit Hong Kong.

End

10. Work Plan for Small and Medium Enterprises Committee
****************************************************

The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Committee
considered that a pilot credit guarantee scheme (CGS) should
be established in Hong Kong in order to provide support to
small and medium enterprises on financing.

"The Industry Department is now working on a detailed
proposal of the scheme in consultation with the relevant
agencies within the Government, including its scope, the
limit of Government's liability and operational mechanism,
and will submit the proposal to the Committee for
consultation shortly," the Chairman of the SMEs Committee,
Mr Denis Lee, said at a press conference after the
Committee's seventh meeting today (Tuesday).

Explaining the Committee's proposal, Mr Lee said the
Committee had agreed that, as a first step, a pilot CGS of
limited and manageable scope should be considered. "Members
of the SMEs Committee agreed that the risk of non-payment
should be shared among the Government, the lending
institution and the borrowing firm," he said.

"Members also felt that there should be an upper limit
of the amount of loan to be guaranteed," he added.

"Apart from the CGS, the Committee registered support
for setting up a second board in Hong Kong to provide an
additional channel for fund raising for SMEs," Mr Lee said.

Financing is one of the eight areas identified by the
SMEs Committee for priority support to SMEs.

The other areas are human resources development (HRD),
technology support, market access, information access,
quality support, environmental support and physical
infrastructure.

Task groups were set up to examine HRD, financing and
information technology in greater detail.

"On human resources development, the Committee
considered that there was a mis-match of supply and demand
of manpower and the manpower supply did not meet the needs
of the SMEs," Mr Lee said.

The Committee had exchanged views with the Government's
Education and Manpower Branch on human resources development
and made a number of recommendations to the Vocational
Training Council.

On information technology, the Committee agreed to
promote the use of information technology among SMEs. "We
have issued letters to encourage industrial and trade
organisations to consider developing tailor-made software
packages to SMES members in their sectors. The letter was
issued to over 200 organisations," Mr Lee said.

Reviewing the Committee's work since its inception in
July last year, Mr Lee said the Committee had initiated two
projects, which would come into fruition in the year
1997/98.

A Directory summarising the major services and
facilities that could support SMEs in their business
activities will be produced. The hard copy version of the
Directory will be available around September and an Internet
version will be launched around the end of 1997/early 1998.

A SMEs Conference will be held on December 10, 1997 to
gain more thorough understanding of the issues affecting
SMEs in their development and to propose measures to address
them.

"The Conference will be the first large-scale
conference targeted at SMEs in Hong Kong. The Chief
Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has
agreed to address the luncheon of the Conference and senior
Government officials will be invited to officiate at the
opening," Mr Lee said.

Turning to plans in the coming year, Mr Lee said the
Committee would continue its work in examining issues of
concern to SMEs and identifying measures to support their
further development.

"The Committee will also initiate more projects to
bring direct benefits to SMEs. Projects under consideration
include support measures and promotional strategies of
information technology among SMEs, seminars to promote the
use of information technology among SMEs, and mission to
study overseas economies' policies," he said.

Also speaking at the press conference, the Director-
General of Industry and Vice-Chairman of the SMEs Committee,
Mr Francis Ho, said the Committee had rendered the
Government invaluable advice on measures to support the
further development of SMEs in Hong Kong.

"The Industry Department will continue to support the
work of the Committee for the further development of Hong
Kong's SMEs," he added.

End

11. Couriers of forged travel documents jailed 20 months
****************************************************

Three couriers, who tried to assist two Chinese
nationals to depart Hong Kong with forged travel documents
and identity cards, each received a 20-month imprisonment
sentence, said a spokesperson of Immigration Department
today (Tuesday).

Immigration officers under surveillance at the
International Airport arrested the three defendants and
their two PRC clients on February 24, at departure hall
immediately after their transaction.

Among the three defendant, a 23-year-old unemployed man
was convicted at District Court of one count of possessing
of a forged British National (Overseas) passport and one
count of possessing a forged Hong Kong identity card. He
was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment on each of the two
charges, both ran concurrently.

The second defendant, a 29-year-old data entry clerk,
was convicted two counts of aiding and abetting the using of
forged travel documents, namely a BN(O) passport and a Hong
Kong Certificate of Identity (C/I). He was also jailed 20
months for each of the charge, both ran concurrently.

The third defendant, a 30-year-old worker, sold his C/I
to a man in China for $2,000 in January. His travel
document was later used to assist one of the two PRC
nationals to check-in for a Australia-bound flight. The
defendant was found guilty of one count of possessing a
forged C/I and one count of misleading a police officer
while reporting lost of his C/I. He was jailed 20 months'
for the first charge and another two months' imprisonment
for the second charge, both ran concurrently.

Cases revealed that a man nicknamed "Boss" approached
the two Chinese nationals in early February in Fujian,
China. Boss offered to arrange the two to go to Australia
to take up employment, at a cost of RMB 150,000.

The two arrived Hong Kong in late February under the
arrangement of Boss. They were escorted to the
International Airport by the first and the third defendants
while the second defendant assisted in the check-in
procedures for the two PRC nationals for a departing flight
for Australia.

After completing the check-in procedures at the
airlines counter, the second defendant gave the two PRC
nationals a forged BN(O) passport, a forged C/I and two
forged Hong Kong identity cards. Immediately after the
handover, the party were intercepted by immigration officers
who had been monitoring the whole process.

The two PRC nationals were each sentenced to six months
imprisonment in March for charges in connection with false
PRC passports and in possession of forged Hong Kong travel
documents.

"It is an offence in law to use forged, false or
unlawfully obtained or altered travel documents, offenders
are liable to prosecution and upon conviction, the maximum
penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14
years," the Immigration spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that possession or use another
person's identity card is a serious offence. The maximum
penalty is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 10 years.

End

12. Exhibition and seminars on Target Oriented Curriculum
*****************************************************

A three-day exhibition and a series of seminars on
Target Oriented Curriculum (TOC) will be held at the Wai
Hing Theatre of the City University of Hong Kong from Friday
(July 11) to July 13.

Entitled "Collaboration: Key to Implementing the Target
Oriented Curriculum", the function is organised by the
Education Department's Curriculum Development Institute to
encourage collaboration between parents, teachers, schools,
Education Department and academics in implementing TOC.

The Vice Principal of the TOC Assessment Unit, Mr Sou
Hon-poo, today (Tuesday) noted that so far, about 2,100
teachers from 250 schools had applied for some 3,000 seats
of the nine sessions of seminars.

Academics, school heads and teachers will deliver
speeches and share their experiences in implementing TOC.

Speakers will give keynote speeches on 'Adopting a
"Reflective" Approach to Teaching and Learning', 'Achieving
Quality Education in the Contexts of TOC and School
Management Initiative', 'Making Effective Use of Resources
to Support the Curriculum' and 'Collaborating to Achieve
Quality Education in the Implementation of TOC'.

Experience sharing sessions on various aspects on TOC
including improving classroom practices through the
integration of teaching, learning and assessment; and
school-based experiences of developing the Chinese, English
and Mathematics curricula will be held.

"Teaching and learning materials from TOC schools will
be displayed at the exhibition," Mr Sou added.

Teachers and parents are welcome to visit the
exhibition to be staged at the Wai Hing Theatre of City
University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, from
2.30 pm to 7 pm on July 11; 9 am to 6.30 pm on July 12; and
9 am to 5 pm on July 13.

As limited spaces for the seminars are still available,
interested teachers who have not enrolled are also welcome.
They can attend the seminars at the time mentioned above.

Further enquiries should be directed to the TOC
Education Resources Centre on 2845 7156.

End

13. Volume & price statistics of external trade in April 1997
*********************************************************

In April 1997, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports
increased by 8.1% over a year earlier, while that of
domestic exports decreased by 1.9%. Taken together, the
volume of total exports increased by 6.6%. Concurrently,
the volume of imports increased by 7.1%.

The Census and Statistics Department today (Tuesday)
released volume and price statistics of external trade for
April 1997.

Comparing January-April 1997 with January-April 1996,
the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports increased by 6.2%,
while the volume of domestic exports decreased by 3.3%.
Taken together, the volume of total exports increased by
4.7%. Meanwhile, imports increased by 6.6% in volume.

The growth in volume of trade is derived from the
growth in trade value with the effect of price changes
discounted.

Comparing April 1997 with April 1996, the prices of re-
exports and domestic exports decreased by 1.5% and 1.9%
respectively. Import prices also decreased, by 2.5%.

As regards price changes in January-April 1997 over
January-April 1996, the prices of re-exports and domestic
exports decreased by 1.4% and 1.9% respectively, while
import prices decreased by 2.5%.

Price changes are reflected by changes in unit value
indices which are compiled based on average unit values or,
for certain commodities, specific price data.

The terms of trade index, defined as the ratio of total
export price index to import price index, rose by 1.0% in
April 1997 over a year earlier, and by 1.1% in January-April
1997 over the same period last year.

The changes in the value, unit value and volume of re-
exports by end-use category are shown in Table 1.

Analysed by end-use category, increases in re-export
volume in April 1997 over a year earlier were recorded for
all categories viz. fuels (+30%); capital goods (+14%);
foodstuffs (+9.6%); raw materials and semi-manufactures
(+9.1%); and consumer goods (+4.0%).

Over the same period of comparison, increases were
recorded in the prices of re-exports of fuels (+5.4%) and
foodstuffs (+0.4%).

On the other hand, re-export prices of capital goods;
raw materials and semi-manufactures; and consumer goods
decreased by 3.7%, 2.5% and 0.2% respectively.

The changes in the value, unit value and volume of
domestic exports by principal commodity group are shown in
Table 2.

Comparing April 1997 with April 1996, the volume of
domestic exports of footwear increased significantly by
106%.

On the other hand, the volume of domestic exports of
radios of all kinds; textile made-ups and related articles;
and travel goods, handbags and similar articles decreased
sharply, by 80%, 69% and 49% respectively.

Over the same period of comparison, domestic export
prices of metal ores and scrap showed a significant
increase, by 9.6%. On the other hand, domestic export
prices of electronic components and footwear decreased
significantly, by 12% and 5.8% respectively.

The changes in the value, unit value and volume of
imports by end-use category are shown in Table 3.

The import volume of foodstuffs increased by 11% in
April 1997 compared with April 1996.

Significant increases in import volume were noted of
soya bean oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil and lard; and rice.
However, notable decreases were recorded in the import
volume of cereals and cereal preparations other than rice,
wheat and flour; and animals of the bovine species, live.

Over the same period of comparison, the import volume
of consumer goods increased by 4.1%.

Notable increases in import volume were noted of
passenger motor cars; and clothing. However, the import
volume of tobacco manufactures; and radios, television-sets,
gramophones, records, tape recorders and amplifiers
decreased significantly.

The import volume of raw materials and semi-
manufactures increased by 4.8% in April 1997 compared with
April 1996.

Rapid increases in import volume were noted of base
metals other than iron and steel; and wood, lumber and cork.
However, significant decreases were noted of raw cotton; and
wool and other animal hair.

Imports of fuels decreased by 19% in volume in April
1997 compared with April 1996.

As regards capital goods, the volume of imports
increased by 19% in April 1997 over April 1996.

Notable increases were recorded in the import volume of
office machinery; and construction machinery. The import
volume of transport equipment; and industrial machinery,
other than electrical machinery and textile machinery
however decreased.

Comparing April 1997 with April 1996, import prices of
capital goods; raw materials and semi-manufactures; consumer
goods; and foodstuffs decreased by 4.9%, 3.5%, 1.4% and 0.6%
respectively.

On the other hand, import prices of fuels increased by
15%.

Details of the above statistics are published in the
April 1997 issue of the "Hong Kong Trade Index Numbers".

The report will be available on sale around July 10 at
HK$13 per copy at either (i) the Government Publications
Centre on the Ground Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government
Offices, 66 Queensway; or (ii) the Publications Unit of the
Census and Statistics Department on the 19th Floor, Wanchai
Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

Enquiries regarding regular subscription to this report
may be directed to the Publications (Sales) Office of the
Information Services Department at 28th Floor, Siu On
Centre, 188 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (Tel. No.:
2598 8194) and enquiries on trade indices to the Census and
Statistics Department (Tel. No.: 2582 4918).

Table 1: Changes in re-exports by end-use category
--------------------------------------------------

Comparing APR 1997 Comparing JAN-APR 1997
with APR 1996 with JAN-APR 1996

% changes % changes
------------------ ----------------------
Unit Unit
End-use Value Value Volume Value Value Volume
category
---------------------------------------------------------

Foodstuffs 8.4 0.4 9.6 1.7 0.9 1.2

Consumer 3.3 -0.2 4.0 3.4 -0.3 3.9
goods

Raw 6.3 -2.5 9.1 2.0 -2.7 5.2
materials
& semi-manufactures

Fuels 33.0 5.4 29.6 24.9 6.6 15.3

Capital 8.4 -3.7 13.8 9.0 -2.5 12.9
goods

ALL 5.7 -1.5 8.1 4.2 -1.4 6.2
COMMODITIES
---------------------------------------------------------

Table 2: Changes in domestic exports by principal commodity group
---------------------------------------------------------

Comparing APR 1997 Comparing JAN-APR 1997
with APR 1996 with JAN-APR 1996

% changes % changes
------------------ ----------------------
Unit Unit
Commodity Value Value Volume Value Value Volume
group
---------------------------------------------------------

Clothing -0.7 -1.3 1.0 -2.0 -0.5 -0.7

Textile -1.5 0.4 -2.9 -5.4 0.3 -6.6
fabrics

Textile yarn -17.3 -2.2 -14.9 -11.5 0.1 -11.4
and thread

Textile -69.4 0.5 -69.1 -63.3 0.9 -62.8
made-ups &
related
articles

Radios of -80.3 -4.0 -80.1 -73.5 -2.6 -72.4
all kinds

Electronic -4.2 -12.2 5.7 -7.0 -12.0 1.5
components

Footwear 132.4 -5.8 106.3 61.0 -7.2 72.7

Metal -7.4 -1.9 -6.5 -13.7 -0.9 -14.0
manufactures

Metal ores 7.2 9.6 -6.7 1.4 11.9 -12.1
and scrap

Watches and -12.0 1.1 -12.0 -15.4 1.4 -16.0
clocks

Travel goods -48.3 0.8 -48.8 -45.1 * -44.5
handbags and
similar articles

Domestic -1.0 -2.9 5.6 -8.6 -2.5 -5.2
electrical
appliances

ALL -4.2 -1.9 -1.9 -5.6 -1.9 -3.3
COMMODITIES
---------------------------------------------------------

* less than 0.05%

Table 3: Changes in imports by end-use category
-----------------------------------------------

Comparing APR 1997 Comparing JAN-APR 1997
with APR 1996 with JAN-APR 1996

% changes % changes
------------------ ----------------------
Unit Unit
End-use Value Value Volume Value Value Volume
category
-----------------------------------------------------------

Foodstuffs 10.7 -0.6 11.1 13.9 -0.6 15.1

Consumer 3.1 -1.4 4.1 1.9 -0.9 2.2
goods

Raw materials 0.9 -3.5 4.8 0.3 -4.8 5.1
and semi-
manufactures

Fuels -3.8 15.1 -19.4 2.0 23.4 -19.4

Capital 13.2 -4.9 18.8 14.3 -4.2 18.6
goods

ALL 4.5 -2.5 7.1 4.4 -2.5 6.6
COMMODITIES
---------------------------------------------------------

End

14. Hong Kong Life Tables 1991-2016
*******************************

People in Hong Kong now live longer than before.
Between 1991 and 1996, the expectation of life at birth for
males increased from 75 to 76 years; that for females, from
81 to 82 years.

The mortality rate of Hong Kong is now very low by
international standards. Further improvement in mortality
will depend on people's awareness to environment protection,
smoking hazards, balanced diets and physical fitness. The
life expectancy is projected to continue to increase in the
next 20 years, yet the rate of increase during this period
will be slower than that of the past. By 2016, the
expectations of life at birth for males and females are 78
years and 83 years respectively.

Details on the present and future mortality conditions
in Hong Kong, presented in the form of a life table, are
contained in the report "Hong Kong Life Tables 1991-2016"
published today (Tuesday) by the Census and Statistics
Department. Apart from the life tables, the report also
describes the method of constructing a life table.

The report, which is in bilingual form, is now on sale
at HK$16 per copy. Purchases can be made at the Government
Publications Centre, Ground Floor, Low Block, Queensway
Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong. It is also
available at the Publications Unit of the Census and
Statistics Department, 19th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour
Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

End

15. Shun Hing Reading Award Scheme
******************************

A total of 110 students from 622 schools will receive
trophies, book coupons and certificates at the Prize-giving
Ceremony of the 1997 Shun Hing Reading Award Scheme tomorrow
(Wednesday).

An exhibition of prize winners' book reports and book
cover designs will also be staged.

The aims of the reading award scheme are to help pupils
to develop good reading habits and to improve their reading
skills and language abilities. The use of library resources
will also be promoted.

The scheme is organised by the Library Section of the
Education Department and sponsored by the Shun Hing
Education and Charity Fund Limited. All students of Primary
5 to Secondary 5 can participate.

It has been well received as reflected by the
increasing number of participating schools and pupils.

End

16. Hong Kong Monetary Authority tender results
*******************************************

Tender date : 8 July 1997

Paper on offer : EF Bills

Issue number : Q085

Issue date : 9 July 1997

Maturity date : 6 August 1997

Amount applied : HK$14,480 MN

Amount allotted : HK$5,000 MN

Average yield accepted : 5.55 PCT

Highest yield accepted : 5.59 PCT

Pro rata ratio : About 42 PCT

Average tender yield : 5.60 PCT

- - - - -

Tender date : 8 July 1997

Paper on offer : EF Bills

Issue number : Q728

Issue date : 9 July 1997

Maturity date : 8 October 1997

Amount applied : HK$8,170 MN

Amount allotted : HK$2,000 MN

Average yield accepted : 5.55 PCT

Highest yield accepted : 5.56 PCT

Pro rata ratio : About 63 PCT

Average tender yield : 5.58 PCT

- - - - -

Tender date : 8 July 1997

Paper on offer : EF Bills

Issue number : Y791

Issue date : 9 July 1997

Maturity date : 8 July 1998

Amount applied : HK$2,510 MN

Amount allotted : HK$500 MN

Average yield accepted : 5.72 PCT

Highest yield accepted : 5.73 PCT

Pro rata ratio : About 69 PCT

Average tender yield : 5.76 PCT

- - - - -

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
****************************

Tender to be held in the week beginning - 14 July 97:

Tender date : 14 July 1997

Paper on offer : EF Notes

Issue number : 3007

Issue date : 15 July 1997

Maturity date : 17 July 2000

Tenor : 3 Years

Amount on offer : HK$500 + 100 MN

Coupon : 6.08%

- - - - -

Tender date : 15 July 1997

Paper on offer : EF Bills

Issue number : Q086

Issue date : 16 July 1997

Maturity date : 13 August 1997

Tenor : 28 Days

Amount on offer : HK$5,000 MN

- - - - -

Tender date : 15 July 1997

Paper on offer : EF Bills

Issue number : Q729

Issue date : 16 July 1997

Maturity date : 15 October 1997

Tenor : 91 Days

Amount on offer : HK$2,000 + 500 MN

- - - - -

Tender date : 15 July 1997

Paper on offer : EF Bills

Issue number : H769

Issue date : 16 July 1997

Maturity date : 14 January 1998

Tenor : 182 Days

Amount on offer : HK$1,000 + 300 MN

End