XN000022-1980-03-13 — Page 3

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1980

MACHINERY CAPACITY AND FACTORY FLOOR SPACE WERE BOTH EXPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED TO EXPAND BY FIVE PER CENT DURING 1980, IN ANTICIPATION OF A LIKELY INCREASE IN PRODUCTION. PRODUCTION CAPACITY WAS EXPECTED TO BE 90 PER CENT UTILISED THIS YEAR, THAT IS ABOUT TWO PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE UTILISATION ACHIEVED IN 1979.

BESIDES THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE SURVEY ALSO ENUMERATED 52 LARGEST CONTRACTORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THEY EXPECTED LABOUR WAGES ON AVERAGE WOULD BE 12 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE LEVEL OF 1979 AND BUILDING MATERIAL PRICES, 16 PER CENT HIGHER. MANY OF THEM EXPECTED MORE BUSINESS IN 1980, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SIX PER CENT INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT AND EIGHT PER CENT INCREASE IN MACHINERY CAPACITY FOR THE INDUSTRY,

FURTHER ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL: 5-274203). THE SURVEY REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE SOON AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, AT $2 EACH.

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T. S. LO APPOINTED MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

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ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR T. S. LO TO SERVE AS AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).

MR LO, WHO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SINCE JULY, 1974, WILL FILL THE VACANCY LEFT BY THE RETIREMENT OF SIR Y K KAN ON MARCH 31.

MR LO, A PARTNER IN MESSRS LO AND LO SOLICITORS, HAS A LENGTHY RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

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