XN000022-1986-12-03 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1986

DR IP HAD ALSO ASKED HOW MANY CASES OF LEASE MODIFICATION HAD BEEN APPROVED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, BROKEN DOWN INTO THOSE INVOLVING PAYMENT OF PREMIUM AND THOSE WITHOUT.

MR BARNES SAID THAT BETWEEN 1976-77 AND THE END OF OCTOBER THIS YEAR, 905 MODIFICATIONS HAD BEEN COMPLETED, RESULTING IN PREMIUM OF $1 060.78 MILLION BEING PAID.

HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN OF +WITH PREMIUM+ AND +WITHOUT PREMIUM+ MODIFICATIONS PRIOR TO 1985-86. HOWEVER, FROM APRIL 1, 1985 TO OCTOBER 31, 1986, 52 OUT OF 118 APPLICANTS HAD HAD TO PAY PREMIUM.

PLANT, MACHINERY RETAINED IMPORTS UP 23 PER CENT

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RETAINED IMPORTS OF PLANT AND MACHINERY FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AMOUNTED TO $4,079 MILLION IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 23 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON ERIC HO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON. CONRAD LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR HO SAID THE VALUE OF SUCH RETAINED IMPORTS WAS $3,719 MILLION LAST YEAR.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF SUCH IMPORTS, IN FACT, VARIED GREATLY IN RECENT YEARS.

+ IT WAS MINUS 26 PER CENT FOR 1982, 19 PER CENT FOR 1983, 27 PER CENT FOR 1984, AND MINUS 4 PER CENT FOR 1985, + HE SAID.

+IN RESPECT OF GROSS CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN PLANT AND MACHINERY COVERING THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS A WHOLE, IT AMOUNTED TO $12.5 BILLION IN 1982, $11.9 BILLION IN 1983, $14.6 BILLION IN 1984 AND $14.4 BILLION IN 1985, HE ADDED.

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