XN000022-1985-08-02 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1985

LOANS TO THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR FELL FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE QUARTER, BY 2.4 PER CENT, FOLLOWING A FALL OF 2.9 PER CENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR AND 0.7 PER CENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, PROBABLY DUE TO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASH FLOW POSITION OF THE DEVELOPERS.

REFLECTING A REVIVED PROPERTY MARKET, LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OTHER THAN FLATS IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME ROSE BY A SIGNIFICANT 6.5 PER CENT, AFTER AN INCREASE OF 3.2 PER CENT DURING THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.

LIQUIDITY RATIO

THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S. 18 OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE) FOR ALL BANKS ROSE TO 50.6 PER CENT IN JUNE FROM 49.3 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S. 24A OF THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCE) FOR ALL DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FELL TO 42.3 PER CENT FROM 45.1 PER CENT A MONTH EARLIER.

NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS

THE

THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS ROSE BY 1 TO 141. NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 33, WHILE THE NUMBER OF REPORTING REGISTERED DEPOSIT- TAKING COMPANIES FELL BY 1 TO 306.

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AMENDMENTS TO DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN ****

THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED TWO AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT CHEUNG SHA WAN OUTLINE ZONING PLAN.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS TO REVISE THE USE OF A SITE LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD AND CHEUNG SHUN STREET FROM +OTHER SPECIFIED USES+ ANNOTATED +FUNERAL PARLOUR+ TO GOVERNMENT/ INSTITUTION/COMMUNITY+,

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD EXPLAINED THAT THE AMENDMENT WAS IN RESPONSE TO OBJECTIONS FROM RESIDENTS IN THE AREA AGAINST A FUNERAL PARLOUR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED ON THE SITE.

THE SECOND