XN000022-1985-11-13 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1985

+ THE FACT THAT THERE ARE THESE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR INVESTIGATING THE CAUSES OF FIRE INDICATE HOW SERIOUSLY THE GOVERNMENT TAKES ARSON,+ MR THOMAS SAID.

HE ADDED THAT GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THE MOST EFFECTIVE DETERRENCE TO ARSON WAS THE SUCCESSFUL DETECTION AND PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS.

IN THE LAST THREE YEARS ENDING SEPTEMBER 1985, A TOTAL OF 978 FIRES WHICH WERE SUSPECTED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO HAVE BEEN STARTED DELIBERATELY WERE REFERRED TO THE POLICE FOR INVESTIGATION. OF THESE, THE POLICE CONSIDERED THAT 589 WERE THE RESULT OF ARSON,

HEALTHY GROWTH FOR CORPORATION IN 1984-85

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PREMIUM INCOME OF THE HONG KONG EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION DURING 1984-85 GREW BY ABOUT 29 PER CENT TO $33.8 MILLION AND TOTAL INSURED EXPORTS GREW BY ABOUT 26 PER CENT TO $5 893 MILLION, THOUGH ACCOUNTING FOR ONLY ABOUT THREE PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC EXPORTS.

THIS WAS STATED BY SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, TH. HON E.P. HO, WHEN HE TABLED THE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS OF THE HONG KONG EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION FOR 1984-85 AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR HO SAID THAT THERE WAS A HEALTHY GROWTH IN THE CORPORATION'S BUSINESS DURING THE YEAR.

+EUROPE REMAINED THE CORPORATION'S LARGEST EXPOSURE AREA. INSURED EXPORTS TO EUROPEAN MARKETS WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR

$3 179 MILLION OR OVER 50 PER CENT OF TOTAL INSURED EXPORTS, GREW BY 14 PER CENT.

+ INSURED EXPORTS TO NORTH AMERICA, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR $1 474 MILLION OR 25 PER CENT OF TOTAL INSURED EXPORTS, REGISTERED A HEALTHY GROWTH RATE OF 48 PER CENT, HE SAID.

PRODUCTS COVERED BY THE CORPORATION, MR HO SAID, REMAINED CONSISTENT WITH THE OVERALL PATTERN OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL EXPORTS. WITH TEXTILES AND CLOTHING ACCOUNTING FOR 35 PER CENT, RADIOS AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOR 16 PER CENT, AND TOYS FOR EIGHT PER CENT.