XN000022-1986-09-20 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1986

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HOWEVER HE SAID THAT MEDICAL SERVICES MUST INEVITABLY COMPETE WITH OTHER ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES, SUCH AS EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE AND HOUSING, FOR RESOURCES AND MONEY.

+THESE RESOURCES ARE NOT UNLIMITED. SERVICES GROWS EVEN LARGER, HE NOTED.

THE SCALE OF OUR MEDICAL

THE ORGANISATION REQUIRED TO RUN THEM ALSO GREW MORE COMPLEX AND THE RAPID PACE OF DEVELOPMENTS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

+THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED THE REVIEW OF THE DELIVERY OF HOSPITAL SERVICES. WE AWAIT WITH INTEREST THE OUTCOME OF THE CONSULTATION NOW IN PROGRESS ON THE CONSULTANT'S REPORT,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.

HE CONCLUDED BY STATING THAT THE CONFERENCE, WHOSE PROCEEDINGS WOULD BE FOLLOWED CLOSELY IN HONG KONG, WAS TIMELY IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES,

JULY ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT PAYROLL FIGURES OUT

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THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) IN THE 200 LARGEST FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECREASED SLIGHTLY IN JULY 1986 COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, ACCORDING TO RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

AMONG THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, THE WEARING APPAREL, TEXTILES AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES REPORTED SOME INCREASES IN THE ORDERS POSITION. THE VOLUME OF ORDERS ON THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES HOWEVER DECLINED.

AN INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT WAS RECORDED FOR MOST INDUSTRIES. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WAS REPORTED BY MANUFACTURERS IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY DUE TO THE INCREASED RECRUITMENT OF SUMMER WORKERS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY REPORTED LITTLE CHANGE IN EMPLOYMENT,

INCREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE ALSO REPORTED BY MOST OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED. SUCH INCREASES WERE DUE MAINLY TO THE PAYMENT OF OVERTIME ALLOWANCES AND SALARY REVISION.

/IN THE