XN000022-1983-11-25 — Page 6

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983

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THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT INCREASED BY SIX POINTS IN CPI(A) AND BY FIVE POINTS IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER PRICES OF KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIELD PETROLEUM GAS AS WELL AS HIGHER FUEL COST ADJUSTMENTS IN ELECTRICITY AND TOWNGAS CHARGES.

THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) INCREASED BY 20 POINTS IN CPI(A) AND BY 17 POINTS IN CPI(B) REFLECTING THE FULL IMPACT OF RISES IN CIGARETTE PRICES.

HIGHER PRICES OF OUTERCLOTHING CAUSED THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR TO INCREASE BY THREE POINTS IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B).

THE SEVEN-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES OF TELEVISION SETS, SOUND EQUIPMENT AND ELECTRICAL CONSUMER GOODS.

THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS INCREASED BY FOUR POINTS IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES OF MEDICINES, TOILET REQUISITES, COSMETICS, JEWELLERY, TOYS AND HOBBIES.

THE ONE-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES IN CPI(B) WAS MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER GASOLINE PRICES.

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY SIX POINTS IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER SCHOOL FEES, TEXTBOOK PRICES AND POSTAGE RATES AS WELL AS HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT, PACKAGE TOURS AND DINNER PARTIES.

(FIGURES PRESENTED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED)

DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR OCTOBER 1983.

BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS OF THIS REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT $3 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, TELEPHONE NO. 3-7216512.

SITES CHOSEN FOR ERP PILOT STAGE

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THE CENTRAL AND ADMIRALTY DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THE TEST AREA FOR THE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING PILOT STAGE.

THE AREA COVERED IS BOUNDED ROUGHLY BY PEDDER STREET IN THE WEST AND ARSENAL STREET IN THE EAST AND EXTENDS TO GARDEN ROAD AND COTTON TREE DRIVE AS FAR AS ST JOHN'S CATHEDRAL AND UP ICE HOUSE STREET.

"THIN THIS AREA ELECTRONIC LOOPS WILL BE BURIED IN THE ROADS AT 1ITES TO FORM A CORDON AND SCREENLINE ARRANGEMENT.

/PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT