XN000022-1979-08-01 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1979

COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONERS

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN EIGHT PER CENT INCREASE IN CIVIL SERVICE PENSION AS COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE FROM OCTOBER 1.

MOVING THE MOTION IN THE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID THE COST OF THE INCREASE IS ABOUT $6.75 MILLION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR AND $13.5 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR.

THE INCREASE IS APPLICABLE TO ELIGIBLE PENSIONERS FROM JULY 1, 1978 ONWARDS.

HE EXPLAINED THAT DURING THE REVIEW PERIOD FROM JULY 1, 1978, TO JUNE 30, 1979, THE MOVING ANNUAL AVERAGE OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) ROSE BY 9.7 POINTS, OR 8.04 PER CENT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASING POWER OF CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS, INCLUDING PENSIONS PAYABLE UNDER THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSION SCHEME AND THE WIDOWS AND CHILDREN'S PENSIONS SCHEME BY MAKING PERIODIC ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT COST OF LIVING CHANGES.

TELEPHONE PAGING SERVICE PLANNED FOR NEXT MONTH

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THE TELEPHONE COMPANY'S PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE ITS NEW PAGING SERVICE NEXT MONTH IS A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE USE OF THE PUBLIC TELEPHONE NETWORK AND WILL MARK A FURTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN HONG KONG.

THIS WAS SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID WONG WHEN MOVING A MOTION WHICH SEEKS TO INCLUDE FIVE NEW ITEMS IN THE SCHEDULE OF THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE.

HE SAID THE SERVICE WOULD ENABLE A SUBSCRIBER TO BE +PAGED+ BY MEANS OF A CALL PASSED OVER THE NORMAL TELEPHONE NETWORK TO A RADIO TRANSMITTER, WHICH WOULD SEND OUT A SIGNAL TO ACTIVATE THE SUBSCRIBER'S PAGER.

+A GROUP CALLING FACILITY WILL BE AVAILABLE, WHEREBY UP TO 99 PAGERS CAN BE ACTIVATED IN RAPID SEQUENCE UPON DIALLING A SIGNAL PAGING NUMBER, HE SAID.

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