XN000022-1977-02-24 — Page 2

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1977

GOVERNOR RECEIVES MESSAGE FROM

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

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HE THE GOVERNOR HAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS:

+ON TAKING OFFICE AS HER MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, I SEND MY GOOD WISHES TO YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

+I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE PROTECTION OF THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE. I HOPE DURING MY PERIOD OF OFFICE THAT SHALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT YOU.+

REPLYING TO THIS MESSAGE, HE THE GOVERNOR SAID:

+I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR THIS MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND THEIR GOVERNMENT.

+ I WISH YOU A SUCCESSFUL AND HAPPY TENURE OF OFFICE.+

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JANUARY

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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) FOR JANUARY 1977 WAS 115, THREE POINTS HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY FOUR POINTS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH WATER FISH, PORK AND FRESH VEGETABLES ADVANCED.

INCREASES OF ONE POINT EACH WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEXES FOR DURABLE GOODS AND MISCELLANEOUS GOODS OWING TO HIGHER PRICES FOR WOODEN FURNITURE AND CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES,

MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR THE OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS AND SERVICES WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR JANUARY 1977 WAS 115, TWO POINTS HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY FOUR POINTS, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH WATER FISH, PORK AND FRESH VEGETABLES ADVANCED.

INCREASES OF ONE POINT EACH WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEXES FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR, DURABLE GOODS AND MISCELLANEOUS GOODS AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR SOME ITEMS OF WOMEN'S OUTERCLOTHING, WOODEN FURNITURE AND CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES.

ON ACCOUNT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR DOMESTIC HELP AND HAIRDRESSING, THE INDEX FOR SERVICES ROSE BY ONE POINT. MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR THE OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

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