Reply:
(a)
End
- 49
(b)
.
The movement of the retail price of diesel oil for vehicles in Hong Kong is affected by the movements of oil prices in the international market, the effects of local inflation on the operating costs of the oil companies, as well as the duty rate. During the period from January 1994 to March 1996, the retail price of diesel oil for vehicles increased by 16% from $5.31 to $6.16 per litre. Over the same period, the import price of diesel, the Consumer Price Index(A) and duty rate rose by about 15%, 19% and 28% respectively. (The retail price of diesel had gone down to $6.16 per litre in March 1996 from $6.32 per litre in February 1996.)
The increase in retail price has remained in line with the increase in costs. Five companies are operating in the market and are evidently competing with one another. The Government believes that market forces can be relied upon to ensure healthy competition among the oil companies supplying diesel oil for vehicles and that competition is the best safeguard against unreasonable price increases.
Language proficiency requirement of jurors
Following is a question by the Hon Ambrose Lau Hon-chuen and a written reply by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Anson Chan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
According to the findings of a survey, local jurors have little or no knowledge of the legal terminology mentioned in a judge's summing up to the jury or the medical terminology used in inquiries held by coroners. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
of the number of cases in which a new jury had to be empanelled due to the low standard of English of the jurors, with a breakdown of such cases by type, in the past three years; and