WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1983
GOVERNOR CONTINUES DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON
THE GOVERNOR
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SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CONTINUED HIS ROUND OF DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN LONDON, MID-WAY THROUGH HIS WEEK-LONG VISIT.
MOST OF THE DAY WAS CONCERNED WITH TRADE MATTERS.
LATE IN THE MORNING SIR EDWARD HAD A MEETING WITH THE MINISTER FOR TRADE, MR PETER REES, WHO WAS RECENTLY IN HONG KONG. AFTER THESE DISCUSSIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE THE GOVERNOR ATTENDED A LUNCH HOSTED BY MR REES. THIS LUNCH WAS ATTENDED BY OTHER COMMERCIAL PEOPLE FROM THE CITY WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG.
ALSO DURING THE AFTERNOON SIR EDWARD MET WITH THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE, LORD COCKFIELD.
IN THE MORNING, BEFORE HIS LENGTHY TRADE TALKS, THE GOVERNOR CALLED ON THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND LATER MET MR ALAN DONALD HEAD OF THE FAR EAST DEPARTMENT IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.
DURING THE NEXT TWO DAYS BEFORE RETURNING TO HONG KONG ON FRIDAY, SIR EDWARD WILL HAVE FURTHER TALKS WITH TRADE AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
CONSUMER PRICE INCREASE SLOWS DOWN
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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR DECEMBER 1982 WERE BOTH 135, EACH BEING ONE POINT OR 0.7 PER CENT HIGHER THAN FOR THE PRECEDING MONTH, ACCORDING TO FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1981, BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) INCREASED BY 12 POINTS OR 9.8 PER CENT.
THE AVERAGE MONTHLY CPI (A) AND CPI (B) FOR 1982 WERE 130.3 AND 130 RESPECTIVELY, WHICH WERE 10.6 PER CENT AND 10.8 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY HIGHER THAN FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT UPON THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES OF 15.4 PER CENT AND 14,8 PER CENT IN 1981.
RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS INCREASED IN DECEMBER, RENTALS FOR SOME RESIDENTIAL FLATS IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND CIGARETTE PRICES ALSO WENT UP. THE OTHER HAND, PRICES OF FRESH FRUITS DECLINED,
ON
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