XN000022-1983-10-19 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1983

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ON GROSS ADDITIONS TO FIXED ASSETS, LARGE INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN SUPPORTING SERVICES TO WATER TRANSPORT+ (214 PER CENT), SUPPORTING SERVICES TO LAND TRANSPORT+ 104 PER CENT), AND OCEAN THE COASTAL WATER TRANSPORT+ (86 PER CENT).

OTHER MAJOR TRANSPORT GROUPS SHOWED A DECLINE IN GROSS ADDITIONS TO FIXED ASSETS IN 1981.

THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS NOW PREPARING A REPORT ON THE 1981 SURVEY, WHICH WILL CONTAIN A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS BY TRANSPORT GROUP AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE SURVEY METHODOLOGY.

ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE TRANSPORT AND SERVICES STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. 3-661045).

RENT ALLOWANCES INCREASED

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RENT ALLOWANCES UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAVE BEEN INCREASED FROM SEPTEMBER 1 TO COVER RENT RISES FOR A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE REVISED MAXIMUM RENT ALLOWANCE FOR A SINGLE PERSON HAS BEEN RAISED FROM $172 TO $276, AND FOR A FAMILY OF EIGHT OR MORE ELIGIBLE MEMBERS FROM $828 TO $1 626.

THE ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE AFTER RENTS FOR 25 POST-1973 PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WERE RAISED ON SEPTEMBER 1.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT NEARLY 4 800 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE REVISION OF THE RENT ALLOWANCE RATES.

THE REVISION IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT $3.2 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR AND SOME $5.6 MILLION FOR THE WHOLE OF 1984/85.

THE EXISTING AND REVISED MAXIMUM RENT ALLOWANCES PAYABLE UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME ARE AS FOLLOWS

OLD RATE

REVISED RATE

FOR A SINGLE PERSON

$172

$276

FOR A FAMILY OF

2

•

3 ELIGIBLE MEMBERS

$387

$623

•

5 ELIGIBLE MEMBERS

$663

$953

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7 ELIGIBLE MEMBERS

$771

8 AND MORE ELIGIBLE MEMBERS

$828

$1 058

$1 626

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