XN000022-1982-01-12 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1982

SURVEY SHOWS IMPROVED LIVING STANDARDS

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THE OCTOBER 1981 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS CONTAINS A SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE ON +RESULTS OF THE 1979-80 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY IN HONG KONG+. IN ADDITION TO A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDUCT OF THE SURVEY, THE ARTICLE ALSO PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF THE MAIN RESULTS.

RESULTS FROM THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE THE PREVIOUS SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED IN 1973-74. THERE WAS A SHIFT IN EXPENDITURE FROM ESSENTIALS LIKE FOODSTUFFS TO CONSUMER GOODS IN GENERAL. THIS INDICATES TO SOME EXTENT THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIVING STANDARD OF THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD IN HONG KONG.

EXPENDITURE PATTERNS VARIED FOR DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS DEPENDING MAINLY ON THREE FACTORS, VIZ SIZE OF THE HOUSEHOLD BUDGET. NUMBER OF PERSONS IN THE HOUSEHOLD AND THE TYPE OF HOUSING OCCUPIED.

AFFLUENT HOUSEHOLDS WITH A LARGE BUDGET TEND TO SPEND A SMALLER PROPORTION OF THEIR TOTAL BUDGET ON FOOD THAN LESS WELL-OFF HOUSEHOLDS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY TEND TO SPEND MORE ON CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES.

BY CONTRAST, THE RELATIVE SHARE OF FOODSTUFFS IN THE TOTAL BUDGET INCREASES WITH THE SIZE OF THE HOUSEHOLD, IN GENERAL, HOUSEHOLDS OCCUPYING HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATES SPEND RELATIVELY MORE OF THE IR BUDGET ON FOOD AND LESS ON RENT AS COMPARED TO THOSE LIVING IN PRIVATE HOUSING.

THE OCTOBER 1981 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS IS ON SALE AT HK$14 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, HONG KONG.

TSUEN WAN RESIDENTS WELCOME FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME

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MORE TSUEN WAN RESIDENTS ARE MAKING USE OF THE LOCAL FREE LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE.

IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 76 CASES WERE DEALT WITH COMPARED WITH 65 DURING THE PREVIOUS TWO MONTHS, AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 17 PER CENT.

THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF CASES HANDLED CONTINUE TO BE MATRIMONIAL MATTERS, LAND AND LANDLORD AND TENANT DISPUTES, EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, CRIMINAL CASES AND COMMERCIAL DISPUTES.

THE CENTRE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICE IN HOI PA STREET, IS MANNED BY TWO DUTY LAWYERS EVERY TUESDAY FROM 6.30 PM TO 9.30 PM.

/IT IS ONE