WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1985
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IN TSIM SHA TSUI, A RAPID UPTAKE OF OFFICE SPACE HAD LED TU A LACK OF VACANT SPACE AND THERE WAS A STRONG DEMAND FROM MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADERS SEEKING EASY ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT AND THE INDUSTRIAL BELTS IN KOWLOON.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT THE SUPPLY OF INDUSTRIAL PREMISES IN 1984 WAS THE LOWEST SINCE 1976 AND VACANCIES HAD DROPPED FROM 10.5 OF THE TOTAL STOCK IN 1982 TO 5.2 PER CENT IN 1984.
THE STRONG DEMAND FOR GOOD QUALITY INDUSTRIAL SPACE HAD BROUGHT DEVELOPERS BACK INTO THE MARKET AS PRICES FOR FLATTED FACTORIES ROSE BY 30 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR AND LAND PRICES ROSE BY 100 PER CENT.
THE REPORT SAID THE PRICE INCREASE WAS LARGELY THE RESULT OF THE REMARKABLE RECOVERY OF THE EXPORT-LED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, LOW INTEREST RATES AND CHINA'S MODERNISATION POLICY.
POSTAL FEES UP FROM SEPTEMBER 2
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CERTAIN POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS FEES AND CHARGES WILL BE INCREASED FROM SEPTEMBER 2 THIS YEAR, THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
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THE BASIC RATE FOR LOCAL LETTERS WILL BE RAISED FROM 40 CENTS TO 50 CENTS AND FOR PRINTED PAPERS FROM 30 CENTS TO 40 CENTS, AND A 10-CENT INCREASE WILL ALSO APPLY TO BASIC LETTER AND PRINTED PAPER RATES TO CHINA, TAIWAN AND MACAU,
THE NEW MINIMUM AIRMAIL RATES WILL BE $1.30 FOR ZONE 1 (ASIAN REGION) AND $1.70 FOR ZONE 2 (OTHER REGIONS), WHILE AEROGRAMMES WHICH CAN BE POSTED TO ALL COUNTRIES WILL BE SOLD AT $1.30.
REGISTRATION AND EXPRESS FEES WILL GO UP BY $1 TO $5 AND $4
RESPECTIVELY.
A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE INCREASES, FIRST ANNOUNCED IN THE BUDGET SPEECH BY THE FINANCIAL SECRÉTARY IN FEBRUARY, WERE NECESSARY BECAUSE OF RISING COSTS IN MAINTAINING AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. A NUMBER OF EXISTING SERVICES, SUCH AS INLAND MAIL AND SURFACE MAIL, HAD BEEN OPERATING AT A LOSS FOR A LONG TIME AND NOTWITHSTANDING THESE INCREASES, WOULD CONTINUE TO BE SUBSIDISED BY OTHER PROFITABLE SERVICES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE INCREASES IN OVERSEAS POSTAL RATES ARE MAINLY
ATTRIBUTABLE TO RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION CONGRESS IN HAMBURG LAST YEAR.
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