XN000022-1983-06-01 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1983

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ADULT TRAM FARE TO BE 60 CENTS FROM JULY

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A 10-CENT INCREASE IN TRAM FARES FOR ADULTS FROM JULY 1. ADULT FARES WILL BE 60 CENTS BUT FARES FOR CHILDREN AND STUDENTS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED AT 20 CENTS AND 30 CENTS RESPECTIVELY.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ADJUSTMENT IN TRAM FARES IN TWO YEARS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE APPLICATION BY THE HONG KONG TRAMWAYS COMPANY FOR A FARE INCREASE WAS FIRST SUBMITTED IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR.

THE APPLICATION WAS STUDIED IN DETAIL, AND THE INCREASE NOW APPROVED IS THE LOWEST NECESSARY FOR THE COMPANY TO MEET HIGHER OPERATING COSTS.

LABOUR SUPPLY PROJECTED FOR NEXT 20 YEARS *****

A SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE ENTITLED LABOUR SUPPLY PROJECTIONS FOR HONG KONG+ IS PUBLISHED IN THE MARCH 1983 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS,

THE ARTICLE GIVES A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE METHODOLOGY AND ASSUMPTIONS EMPLOYED IN THE REVISED PROJECTION OF THE LABOUR SUPPLY FOR THE NEXT TWO DECADES, WHICH WAS COMPLETED FOLLOWING THE 1981 POPULATION CENSUS.

THE PROJECTED TREND OF LABOUR SUPPLY VARIES ACCORDING TO SEX AND AGE FROM 1981 TO 2001.

THE MALE LABOUR FORCE IN THE YOUNGER AGE GROUPS 15 TO 19 AND 20 TO 24 IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE, WHILE THAT IN THE OLDER AGE GROUPS IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN THE NEXT TWO DECADES.

THE INCREASE IS PARTICULARLY MARKED FOR THE 35 TO 44 AND 45 TO 54 AGE GROUPS.

THE FEMALE LABOUR FORCE SUPPLY IS EXPECTED TO FOLLOW SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TREND.

THE MEDIAN AGE FOR THE MALE POPULATION IN THE LABOUR FORCE IS EXPECTED TO RISE FROM 32.9 YEARS IN 1981 TO 40 YEARS IN 2001 AND THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR FEMALES ARE 28.8 AND 38.4 RESPECTIVELY. FURTHERMORE, THE TOTAL LABOUR SUPPLY IS EXPECTED TO GROW FROM 2.58 MILLION IN 1981 TO 3.19 MILLION IN 1991 AND 3.72 MILLION IN 2001.

FURTHER DETAILS ON THE PROJECTION OF LABOUR SUPPLY ARE CONTAINED IN THE REVIEW ARTICLE.

THE MONTHLY DIGEST WILL BE ON SALE SOON AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG AT $25 PER COPY.

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