XN000022-1984-07-27 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1984

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MOST EMPLOYEES USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

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TWO-THIRDS OF EMPLOYED PERSONS AGED 15 AND OVER IN HONG KONG COMMUTED TO AND FROM WORK BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT, THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT REPORTED.

THIS CAME TO ABOUT 1 572 000 PEOPLE OUT OF THE ESTIMATED 2 380 000 EMPLOYEES. THE FIGURES EXCLUDED STUDENT WORKERS AND OUTWORKERS.

SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR SHOWED THAT ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF THEM PAID LESS THAN $2.50 FOR A RETURN TRIP, AND 10 PER CENT PAID $8.50 OR MORE.

THE EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT INCREASED GENERALLY WITH RISING INCOMES, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID,

MORE THAN 80 PER CENT OF THOSE EARNING LESS THAN $2 000 A MONTH SPENT UP TO $5.40 FOR A RETURN TRIP, WHEREAS 32 PER CENT OF THOSE WITH A MONTHLY INCOME OF $7 500 OR MORE SPENT FROM $7.50 TO OVER $12.50.

THE SURVEYS SHOWED THAT ABOUT 97 PER CENT OF THE EMPLOYEES HAD NO SUBSIDY FOR COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK, AND AMONG THEM, 37 PER CENT EARNED LESS THAN $2 000 A MONTH.

ABOUT 75 PER CENT OF THE UNSUBSIDISED EMPLOYEES, COMPARED WITH 40 PER CENT OF THE SUBSIDISED ONES, PAID UP TO $5.40 FOR A RETURN TRIP.

+PUBLIC TRANSPORT+ IN THE SURVEYS REFERS TO THE MTR, BUSES, MINI-BUSES, FERRIES, WALLA-WALLAS, TRAMS, THE PEAK TRAM, TAXIS AND +KAITOS+.

DETAILS OF THE SURVEYS ARE CONTAINED IN +SPECIAL TOPICS REPORT 11+, WHICH IS NOW ON SALE AT $16.50 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.

THE REPORT, JUST RELEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT, ALSO CONTAINS SURVEY FINDINGS COVERING SEVEN OTHER TOPICS: DOCTOR CONSULTATIONS, SMOKING PATTERNS, CAR AVAILABILITY AND OVERNIGHT PARKING, SPORTS AND COUNTRYSIDE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, LABOUR MOBILITY, LIVING AREA AND OCCUPATION DENSITY OF PRIVATE HOUSEHOLDS, AND HOUSEHOLD DURABLES.

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