5.
Rapid increases in import volume were noted of lime, cement and fabricated building materials except glass, clay construction materials and refractory construction materials; and wood, lumber and cork. However, significant decreases were noted of raw cotton; and silk fabrics.
Imports of fuels increased by 50% in volume in December 1996 compared with December 1995.
As regards capital goods, the volume of imports increased by 13% in December 1996 over December 1995.
Notable increases were recorded in the import volume of textile machinery; and industrial machinery, other than electrical machinery and textile machinery. The import volume of construction machinery; and transport equipment however decreased.
Comparing December 1996 with December 1995, import prices of fuels and consumer goods increased by 23% and 1.3% respectively.
semi-manufactures;
On the other hand, import prices of raw materials and capital goods; and foodstuffs decreased by 5.3%, 3.2% and 1.0% respectively.
Details of the above statistics are published in the December 1996 issue of the "Hong Kong Trade Index Numbers".
The report will be available on sale around 11 March 1997 at HK$14 per copy at either (i) the Government Publications Centre on the Ground Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway; or (ii) the Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department on the 19th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.
Enquiries regarding regular subscription to this report may be directed to the Publications (Sales) Office of the Information Services Department at 28/F., Siu On Centre, 188 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (Tel. No.: 2598 8194) and enquiries on trade indices to the Census and Statistics Department (Tel. No.: 2582 4918).