XN000022-1981-03-06 — Page 9

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1981

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FOR IMPORTS, PRODUCTS OF THE TEXTILES ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, CHEMICALS, METALS, PETROLEUM AND COAL, FOOD, AND PROFESSIONAL AND OPTICAL EQUIPMENT INDUSTRIES TOGETHER TOOK UP 65 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VALUE OF IMPORTS IN 1980.

INCREASES IN VALUE TERMS OVER 1979 WERE LARGEST IN TEXTILES ($3 929 MILLION), ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (33 647 MILLION), PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS ($2 973 MILLION), METAL PRODUCTS ($2 200 MILLION), TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT ($2 058 MILLION), PROFESSIONAL AND OPTICAL EQUIPMENT ($1 843 MILLION), CHEMICAL PRODUCTS ($1 491 MILLION), AND FOOD PRODUCTS ($1 395 MILLION).

IN PERCENTAGE TERMS, THE HIGHEST INCREASES WERE PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (61%), TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (61%), FOOTWEAR (58%), AND WEARING APPAREL (54%).

A DECREASE OF 41% BY VALUE WAS OBSERVED IN THE IMPORTS OF MINING AND QUARRYING PRODUCTS.

FURTHER DETAILS OF EXTERAL TRADE STATISTICS RECLASSIFIED BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (AT 5-274203).

VALUATION LISTS FOR 1981-82

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THE 1981-82 VALUATION LISTS FOR ALL ASSESSED TENEMENTS IN THE AREAS WHERE RATES ARE CHARGED WILL BE OPEN FOR INSPECTION FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).

THE LISTS WILL BE ON DISPLAY DURING OFFICE HOURS FOR 21 DAYS AT THE OFFICE OF THE COLLECTOR OF RATES AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 9TH FLOOR, WEST WING, ICE HOUSE STREET.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID THAT DURING THE 21-DAY PERIOD, ANY PERSON WHO DISAGREES WITH THE ENTRY OF A TENEMENT OR ITS OMISSION IN A VALUATION LIST, OR THE RATEABLE VALUE ASSESSED, MAY SERVE A PROPOSAL ON THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION TO AMEND THE LIST.

FORMS FOR THIS PURPOSE ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT PERSONS DISSATISFIED WITH THE ASSESSMENTS SHOULD SEEK ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE FROM THE VALUER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AREA IN WHICH THE PREMISES ARE SITUATED, BEFORE THEY LODGE A PROPOSAL.

HE EMPHASISED THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE LODGING OF A PROPOSAL OR AN APPEAL, RATES MUST BE PAID BY THE DUE DATE, IN THE CASE OF RATE DEMANDS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1981, THIS MEANS THAT PAYMENT MUST BE MADE BY THE END OF APRIL.

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