XN000022-1977-07-22 — Page 4

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1977

HIGHER COST OF LIVING IN JUNE

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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES A AND B FOR JUNE 1977 ADVANCED BY 3 POINTS AND 2 POINTS RESPECTIVELY COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

BOTH INDEXES FOR JUNE WERE 118.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS 4 POINTS HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH IN BOTH INDEXES A AND B. RISES IN AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT WATER FISH, FRESH WATER FISH, LIVE POULTRY, FRESH VEGETABLES, FRESH FRUITS AND MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME MORE THAN OFFSET REDUCTIONS IN THOSE OF PORK AND EGGS.

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY 2 POINTS EACH IN INDEXES A AND B AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENT OF SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

FOLLOWING HIGHER CHARGES FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES, THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES ROSE BY 1 POINT IN INDEX A.

INCREASES OF 1 POINT EACH WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEXES FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR, AND MISCELLANEOUS GOODS IN INDEX B OWING TO HIGHER TAILORING CHARGES AND HIGHER PRICES FOR OTHER HOUSEHOLD GOODS.

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

INDEX A IS BASED ON HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400-$1,499 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74 AND INDEX B IS BASED ON HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1,500-$2,999 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74.

TENDERS CALLED FOR FIRST STAGE OF TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY INVITED TENDERS FOR THE FIRST STAGE OF THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL - A 1,500-SEAT AUDITORIUM FOR CONCERTS AND DANCE PERFORMANCES, EXHIBITION HALLS AND AN ENTRANCE FOYER WITH BAR FACILITIES.

MR. W.T. MOK, ACTING PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT OF THE P.W.D.'S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, SAID TODAY THAT THE TSUEN WAN AUDITORIUM WOULD BE SIMILAR IN DESIGN TO THE CONCERT HALL OF THE CITY HALL.

+BUT FROM EXPERIENCE GAINED IN THE USE OF THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A NUMBER OF MODIFICATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DESIGN WHICH WILL MAKE IT AN EVEN BETTER VENUE FOR CONCERTS AND DRAMATIC PERFORMANCES,+ HE SAID.

THE CULTURAL