THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1984
+HOWEVER IN THE CASE OF NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS, WHICH HAVE LOWER PROFITABILITY, DUE TO THEIR LOWER FARE SCALE, A LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS AND GREAT DIFFICULTY IN PICKING UP RETURN PASSENGERS, THE ISSUE OF LICENCES WILL BE FROZEN AT THE EXISTING NUMBER OF 2 638.+
THE ISSUE OF NEW URBAN TAXI LICENCES AT ONE-SIXTH OF
THE PREVIOUS RATE OF 1 200 A YEAR WILL CONTINUE UP TO JULY 1986. THE SITUATION, TOGETHER WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF THE TAXI TRADE AND ITS OPERATIONS, WILL BE FURTHER REVIEWED DURING THIS PERIOD.
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES FACED BY TAXI OPERATORS IN MAINTAINING PROFITABILITY.
+THE SMALL INCREASE IN ANNUAL LICENCE FEE AND THE VERY LIMITED ISSUE OF URBAN TAXI LICENCES HAVE BEEN DECIDED ON AFTER A FURTHER CAREFUL AND EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON TAXIS.
+THE INCREASE WILL HAVE MINIMAL EFFECT ON OPERATING COST, AND IS A REASONABLE AND FAIR REFLECTION OF THE ROLE OF TAXIS IN THE HIERARCHY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT MODES, HE SAID.
MAY ORDERS-ON-HAND AT HIGH LEVEL
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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED STATISTICS FROM THE MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR MAY 1984.
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN TERMS OF MONTHS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR REMAINED AT A HIGH LEVEL IN MAY 1984, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
MOST INDUSTRIES REPORTED EITHER NO CHANGE OR A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF ORDERS, COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, EXCEPT THE TEXTILES AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES WHICH REPORTED A DECLINE.
INCREASES IN EMPLOYMENT WERE RECORDED IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES PARTICULARLY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, MAINLY DUE TO THE RECRUITMENT OF SUMMER WORKERS AT THE END OF MAY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, A SLIGHT DECREASE WAS RECORDED IN THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY, WHILE THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRY REPORTED NO CHANGE.
́EMPLOYMENT IN
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