During the international conference in New York, which will be held between April 24 and 26, Mrs Lau will also chair a session on human resources development.
At that session, she will present a paper on the successful human resources development case study of the Hospital Authority, Hong Kong. The case study has recently won an award from the American Society for Training and Development. She will return to Hong Kong on April 30 (Tuesday).
End
Consumer price indices for March
The Consumer Price Index (A) was 6.7% higher in March 1996 than a year ago. This was marginally higher than the 6.6% increase in February.
The Census and Statistics Department released the latest Consumer Price Indices today (Tuesday).
The rates of increase in the Consumer Price Index (B) and the Hang Seng CPI, at 7.3% and 8.2% respectively in March, were the same as those in February.
The Composite CPI, which is compiled based on the combined expenditure pattern of all households, showed an increase of 7.3% in March 1996, also the same as that in February.
A Government spokesman said that the slightly faster increase in the CPI(A) in March than in February was mainly due to higher prices of some fresh food items such as live poultry and fruits, and higher charges for meals bought away from home. Adjustments in transport fares also contributed. On the other hand, the prices for most of the other components of the CPI(A), including notably housing and miscellaneous consumer services, showed slower increases in March than in February.
Analysed by component, relatively faster year-on-year price increase than the overall average was recorded in March for housing (9.9% in the CPI(A), 11.0% in the CPI(B), 13.7% in the Hang Seng CPI and 11.5% in the Composite CPI).
Meanwhile, those components with relatively slower year-on-year price increases than the overall average were durable goods (2.2% in the CPI(A), 1.9% in the CPI(B), 4.7% in the Hang Seng CPI and 2.8% in the Composite CPI); fuel and light (4.3%, 4.3%, 4.1% and 4.3%); meals bought away from home (4.5%, 4.4%, 3.3% and 4.2%); and alcoholic drinks and tobacco (4.7%, 4.8%, 4.3% and 4.7%).