主席報告
Chairman's Statement
溢利
本集團截至一九九四年十二月三十一日止財政年度之 除稅後之綜合純利為一億三千零十萬港元。每股盈利 經配售股份之調整後為四十七點二仙,而一九九三年 為四十一點二仙,上升百分之十四點六。
股息
董事會建議派發末期股息每股二十九仙。此末期股 息,連同已派發之中期股息每股八仙,全年合共派發 三十七仙。
配售新股
本公司於一九九四年九月,以每兩股配售一股,集資 十二億一千九百萬港元。有關資金現暫短期銀行存 款,未來將用作中環碼頭發展及改善渡輪服務,或其 他物業發展之資金。
業務回顧
渡輪業務
渡輪業務於本年度內虧損五千四百五十萬港元。除了 經營成本不斷上漲外,西九龍及中環填海工程亦對渡 輪業務產生極度不良之影響。中環至佐敦之汽車渡輪 服務,已於一九九四年六月停航。港內線渡輪乘客量 亦下跌。
去年七月,本公司實質增加渡輪票價百分之十一點四 (此乃計算老人優惠票價後之增幅),該增幅明顯比一 九九二年七月至一九九四年七月之累積通脹率百分之 十七為低。過去數年本公司票價加幅長期比通脹為 低,對本公司經營渡輪,倍添困難。
雖然面對如此多之不利因素,本公司仍繼續盡力改善 渡輪服務。其中包括第三艘雙體船已於一九九四年底 啟用,來往中環至屯門航線。此外,為方便青衣乘客 及縮短上落船時間,本公司特於青衣碼頭放置一般接 駁躉船,並已於去年十一月啟用,而新設於非繁忙時 間行走中環至青衣之水翼船服務及由中環至黃金海岸 之新航線亦深受大眾歡迎。另外,本公司又與臨時機 場管理局簽訂短期租用合約,由一九九四年十月開始 提供往赤臘角之渡輪服務。
PROFIT
The Group's consolidated net profit after taxation for the financial year ended 31 December, 1994 amounted to
HK$130.1 million. Earnings per share after adjustment for
rights issue was 47.2 cents as compared with 41.2 cents in 1993, representing an increase of 14.6% .
DIVIDEND
The Board of Directors now recommends a final dividend of -29 cents per share. This dividend, together with the interim dividend of 8 cents per share already paid, will make a total distribution of 37 cents for the full year.
RIGHTS ISSUE COMPLETED
The Company has successfully raised HK$1,219 million by way of a 1 for 2 rights issue in September 1994. The proceeds of the issue have been placed on short-term bank deposits pending application of the same principally towards financing of the Central Pier development and improvements to the ferry operations or other property projects.
BUSINESS REVIEW
Ferry Operations
The ferry services have recorded an operating loss of HK$54.5 million for the year 1994. Apart from the increasing operational cost, the West Kowloon Reclamation and the Central Reclamation have severely affected our ferry operations. The Central-Jordan Road vehicular ferry service was suspended in June 1994. Passenger patronage decreased in the inner harbour ferry services.
In July 1994, the Company increased its fares by an effective rate of 11.4% (after taking into account the introduction of senior citizen concession), which is less than the cumulative inflation rate of 17% in the corresponding two-year period preceeding July 1994. The consistently lower rates of fare increases as compared to the inflation rates in the last few years have compounded the difficulties in the ferry operations of the Company.
Against all these adverse background, however, the Company is still continuing its efforts to improve services. A third catamaran has been added to our fleet at the end of 1994 to serve the Tuen Mun-Central route. A landing pontoon was deployed in the Tsing Yi pier in November 1994 to facilitate the passengers and to improve the embarkation and
disembarkation time. The introduction of hoverferry service from Central to Tsing Yi during non-peak hours and the new service from Central to Gold Coast were well received by the public. Our service was also extended to Chek Lap Kok since October 1994 under a short-term charter contract with the Provisional Airport Authority.
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