XN000022-1987-02-04 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987

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→WHILE CONDITIONS IN THE NEW TOWNS ARE GENERALLY GOOD, AND IMPROVING STILL FURTHER, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE ELSEWHERE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS BETWEEN AND AROUND THE NEW TOWNS WHICH QUITE OFTEN LACK THE MOST BASIC AMENITIES AND SERVICES, HE SAID.

DR HAYES POINTED OUT THAT THE FUNDING OF THE URBAN FRINGE+ PROGRAMME WOULD ENABLE THE LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS VOTE TO BE CONCENTRATED MORE ON THE OUTLYING AND RURAL AREAS AND ON CARRYING OUT ADDITIONAL WORKS THERE, BESIDES MAINTENANCE.

+MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE BUT WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THIS MODEST START AND, YEAR BY YEAR, THROUGH THESE AND OTHER WORKS PROGRAMMES, TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR THOSE LIVING OUTSIDE OF THE NEW TOWN BOUNDARIES,+ HE ADDED.

DR HAYES SAID EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF CNTA'S POWERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ORDINANCE WHICH CONCERN THE REGISTRATION OF CUSTOMARY SUCCESSION TO NEW TERRITORIES LAND, TRUSTEES HIP, AND THE APPOINTMENT AND CANCELLATION OF MANAGERS TO NEW TERRITORIES' LAND-OWNING +TSO+ AND +TONG+ (ANCESTRAL HALLS).

+THESE MATTERS ARE SUBJECT TO CURRENT ENQUIRY, AND AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY IS LOOKING INTO THE SITUATION WITH A VIEW TO MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, HE SAID.

RETAIL SALES SURVEY RESULTS FOR NOVEMBER RELEASED *****

THE VALUE OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES IN NOVEMBER 1986, PROVISIONALLY ESTIMATED AT $6 424 MILLION, WAS 10 PER CENT HIGHER, THAN IN NOVEMBER 1985 WHILE THEIR VOLUME WAS 4 PER CENT HIGHER, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985, RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS INCREASED BY 26 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 19 PER CENT IN VOLUME. CONSUMER DURABLES WENT UP BY 14 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 4 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. WHILE THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES FOR FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO WERE 9 PER CENT AND 6 PER CENT. THE RETAIL SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS+ INCREASED BY 7 PER CENT IN VALUE WHILE THOSE OF FUELS DECREASED BY 15 PER CENT; HOWEVER, BOTH RECORDED ALMOST NO CHANGE IN SALES VOLUME.

/ANALYSED BY