XN000022-1974-09-06 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1974

DROP IN EMPLOYMENT IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS

REGISTERED WITH LABOUR DEPARTMENT ******

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST EMPLOYMENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, A TOTAL OF 599.333 PERSONS WERE EMPLOYED IN 21,988 REGISTERED AND RECORDED INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS IN JUNE 1974. THIS REPRESENTS A DROP OF 11,872 PERSONS OR 1.9 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER IN MARCH.

IN RELEASING THE SURVEY RESULTS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EMPLOYMENT DROPPED IN MOST INDUSTRIAL SECTORS. THE MA IN DECREASES WERE: PLASTIC PRODUCTS (-4,702), FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (-2,885), GARMENTS (-1,589) AND COTTON SPINNING AND WEAVING (-1,184). EMPLOYMENT IN ELECTRONICS DECREASED BY 1,059 DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1974. BUT ROSE BY 1,882 IN THE FOLLOWING QUARTER, RESULTING IN A NET INCREASE OF 823 SINCE DECEMBER 1973.

THE LARGEST FIVE INDUSTRIES, IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, REMAINED THE MANUFACTURE OF WEARING APPAREL CINCLUDING GARMENTS AND KNITWEAR) 162,982, TEXTILES 94,940, ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES 69.575, PLASTIC PRODUCTS 60,995 AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS 48,247.

EMPLOYMENT IN REGISTERED UNDERTAKINGS WHICH ARE NOT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, WENT UP BY 348 TO 43,990 IN JUNE.

COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DECLINE OF 1.9 PER CENT, WHICH BRINGS THE TOTAL FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR TO 4.4 PER CENT, WAS DISAPPOINTING, AS THERE WAS USUALLY AN INCREASE IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

THE DECLINE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR WAS LARGELY SEASONAL, BUT HE ATTRIBUTED THE DECLINE IN THE SECOND QUARTER TO A FALLING OFF IN ORDERS FROM OVERSEAS.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THIS DID NOT REFLECT SO MUCH A DETERIORATION IN OUR EXTERNAL COMPETITIVE POSITION AS A SLOWING DOWN IN THE VOLUME OF WORLD TRADE GENERALLY.

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MAJOR RECLAMATION PROJECT IN SHATIN PLANNED

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THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO RECLAIM ABOUT 141 ACRES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED ON THE EASTERN COAST OF TIDE COVE, NEW TERRITORIES, WITH A VIEW TO PROVIDING MORE LAND AT SHA TIN NEW TOWN FOR PRIVATE HOUSING AND LIGHT INDUSTRY.

WHEN COMPLETED, THE RECLAIMED LAND WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT RESIDENTIAL SITES TO ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 23,000 PEOPLE AS WELL AS AREAS FOR RECREATION, A CLINIC, A MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK, COOKED FOOD STALLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES. ABOUT 40 ACRES OF THE FORMED LAND WILL BE RESERVED FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE EXTENT OF THE PROPOSED RECLAMAT ION IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE IN TODAY'S GAZETTE, WHICH CALLS ON ANYONE HAVING OBJECTION, TO THE PROPOSAL OR ANY CLAIM OF PRIVATE RIGHT TO SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WOPS WITHIN TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

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