XN000022-1988-01-02 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1988

REPRESENTATIVES

AT THE MEETING, THE PLB

ALSO EXPLAINED THE REASONS FOR THEIR OBJECTION TO THE INTRODUCTION OF MIDIBUS SERVICES BY FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES.

IN THEIR DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVES FROM FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES DESCRIBED THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE USE OF MIDIBUSES AND THE SITUATIONS WHERE THE COMPANIES WOULD CONSIDER USING MIDIBUSES RATHER THAN DOUBLE DECKERS.

THEY ALSO GAVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE OPTIMUM SEATING CAPACITY MIDIBUSES AND ON WHY SUCH SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES AND NOT BY OTHER OPERATORS.

FOR

THE

FOR

THEY ALSO EXPLAINED THEIR POSITION ON THE SEATING CAPACITY PLB'S AND THE LIKELY EFFECTS OF ITS INCREASE ON FRANCHISED BUS SERVICES.

THE TAC WILL CAREFULLY CONSIDER ALL THE VIEWS OBTAINED AT TODAY'S MEETING BEFORE COMING TO ANY CONCLUSIONS ON THE ISSUES INVOLVED.

MONETARY STATISTICS FOR NOVEMBER RELEASED

HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS FELL SLIGHTLY IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, ACCORDING ΤΟ STATISTICS PUBLISHED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH,

FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS, ON THE OTHER

INCREASE.

HAND, REGISTERED AN

REFLECTING THE FALL IN HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS, HONG KONG DOLLAR M1 AND M3 DECLINED IN NOVEMBER COMPARED WITH OCTOBER.

MONTH.

HONG KONG DOLLAR M2 WAS LITTLE CHANGED FROM THE PRECEDING

TOTAL LOANS

AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY DEPOSITS-TAKING INSTITUTIONS INCREASED FASTER IN NOVEMBER THAN IN OCTOBER.

MUCH OF THIS GROWTH WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO LOANS FOR USE OUTSIDE HONG KONG.

LOANS TO FINANCE HONG KONG'S VISIBLE TRADE SHOWED A SMALL INCREASE IN NOVEMBER WHILE OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG RECORDED A SLIGHT DECLINE.

/DEPOSITS