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WEDNESDAY, AUG. 21, 1974.
GOOD START TO SECOND ANTI-MEASLES CAMPAIGN
*******.
A TOTAL OF 1,709 CHILDREN WAS IMMUNISED AGAINST
MEASLES DURING THE 10 DAYS ENDING ON AUGUST 10 IN CONNECTION WITH THE SECOND ANTI-MEASLES CAMPAIGN FOR THIS YEAR.
OF THESE, 380 WERE INOCULATED ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 799 IN KOWLOON, AND 530 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE SECOND ANTI-MEASLES CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON AUGUST 1 AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO REMIND THE PUBLIC OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING PRECAUTIONARY ACTION AGAINST THE DISEASE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THE SECOND CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO IMMUNISE MORE CHILDREN BEFORE THE COMING WINTER-SPRING, AND SO PREVENT ANY SIGNIFICANT RISE IN THE INCIDENCE OF THE DISEASE DURING THIS PERIOD.
FREE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL THE DEPARTMENT'S GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES, IN HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES,
THE SPOKESMAN URGED PARENTS OF SUSCEPTIBLE CHILDREN BETWEEN SIX MONTHS AND FIVE YEARS TO HAVE THEM IMMUNISED IMMEDIATELY.
FIVE-POINT INCREASE IN JULY G.C.P.I.
******
THE GENERAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR LAST MONTH WAS 193 WHICH IS FIVE POINTS OR 2.7 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID THE INCREASE WAS DUE MAINLY TO A RISE OF 10 POINTS IN THE
INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE OF A SEASONAL REDUCTION IN SUPPLIES COUPLED WITH STRONG LOCAL DEMAND AS A RESULT OF THE HOT WEATHER, A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE. OF 70 PER CENT WAS RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRSH VEGETABLES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF RICE, FRESH WATER FISH AND MARINE FISH DECLINED.
INCREASES OF ONE POINT EACH WERE ALSO RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS AND THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS.
DECREASES OF ONE POINT EACH WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT AND THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINK AND TOBACCO.
MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR OTHER SECTIONS OF COMMODITY AND SERVICES WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
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