XN000022-1983-04-22 — Page 4

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1983

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AS FOR CAPITAL GOODS, MAJOR INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED FOR OFFICE MACHINES AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, WHEREAS A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE WAS REGISTERED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF TEXTILE MACHINERY AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY.

THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN BELOW:

PERCENTAGE CHANGES COMPARING JANUARY 1983 WITH JANUARY 1982

RE-EXPORT

RE-EXPORT

RE-EXPORT

VALUE

UNIT VALUE

VOLUME

FOODSTUFFS

+53

+16

+31

CONSUMER GOODS

+18

+4

+14

RAW MATERIALS AND

SEMI-MANUFACTURES

FUELS

-35

3 +12

INSIGNIFICANT

-42

CAPITAL GOODS

+18

+ 8

+10

ALL COMMODITIES

+12

+2

+9

THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORT VOLUME VARIED AMONG THE FIVE END-USE CATEGORIES, RANGING FROM A 42 PER CENT DECREASE FOR FUELS TO A 31 PER CENT INCREASE FOR FOODSTUFFS.

FURTHER DETAILS ARE CONTAINED IN THE JANUARY 1983 ISSUE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS+, AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$2 PER COPY.

BUILDING (PLANNING) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1983

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THE SAFE INSTALLATION OF GAS WATER HEATERS IN ALL NEW BUILDINGS.

AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDING PLANNING REGULATIONS, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), ENSURE THAT IN ALL NEW BUILDINGS EVERY BATHROOM WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE IN AN EXTERNAL WALL TO PERMIT THE INSTALLATION OF A ROOM SEALED GAS WATER HEATER. THIS APERTURE WILL FUNCTION AS AN EXTERNAL AIR

INLET, AS WELL AS AN OUTLET FOR BURNT GAS.

+THIS MEANS THAT THESE BATHROOMS WILL NOT NEED ANY FURTHER VENTILATION TO BE SAFE,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

THE REGULATIONS WILL APPLY TO ALL NEW BUILDINGS IN WHICH GAS WILL BE USED, OTHER THAN THOSE WITH A CENTRALISED HOT WATER SUPPLY, WHERE THE PLANS FOR BUILDING WORKS ARE APPROVED AFTER MAY 20.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID PROVISION FOR THE APERTURE IN PLANS FOR NEW BUILDINGS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE VOLUNTARILY BY THE BUILDING TRADE SINCE MARCH 1982. WHEN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ISSUED A BUILDING PRACTICE NOTE TO ALL AUTHORISED PERSONS AND REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS.

/IN ALL