XN000022-1993-03-17 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1993

THE ABOVE FIGURES INCLUDE PRIMARILY CIVIL SERVICE PENSION BENEFITS, PAYMENTS UNDER THE DEPENDENT PENSION BENEFIT SCHEMES AND CONTRACT GRATUITIES.

IN

THE FIGURES HAVE INCREASED FOR TWO MAIN REASONS:

*

ANNUAL PENSION INCREASES HAVE BEEN AWARDED IN RECENT YEARS IN LINE WITH INFLATION, WHICH HAS BEEN RELATIVELY HIGH; AND

THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RETIRING DUE то HISTORICAL TRENDS IN RECRUITMENT (SEE THE EXPLANATION GIVEN UNDER THE HEADING OF "RETIREMENT" ABOVE).

"TO OUR PROJECTIONS OF PENSIONS EXPENDITURE, THOUGH INCREASING CASH TERMS ANNUALLY, WILL REMAIN AT ABOUT 4-5 PER CENT OF

ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENDITURE IN THE COMING YEARS UP TO 2003/4," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

(D) NEW PENSION SCHEME

ABOUT 47,600 SERVING OFFICERS REMAIN ELIGIBLE TO OPT NEW PENSION SCHEME BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 1995.

FOR

THE

MORE TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS ON THE WAY

THE PUBLIC CAN EXPECT FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IN 1993/94, AS THE MAJOR TRANSPORT OPERATORS RAISE THE QUALITY OF SERVICES AND BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN HIS PRESENTATION OF THE DRAFT EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES IN THE TRANSPORT PROGRAMME AREA FOR 1993/94 TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

(CMB) TO THAT THERE

MOTOR BUS то ENSURE TERMS AND

MR LEUNG SAID THE TRANSFER OF 26 ROUTES FROM CHINA CITYBUS IN SEPTEMBER WOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED WAS NO DETERIORATION IN SERVICES AND THAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE TWO NEW FRANCHISES FOR CITYBUS AND CMB WERE FULLY

MET.

++

WE WILL ALSO SEE MORE BUS ROUTES INTRODUCED IN THE YEAR WITH 24 BY

KOWLOON MOTOR BUS (KMB) AND SEVEN BY CMB. JIN ADDITION,

10 OR MORE NEW RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES ARE LIKELY TO START, HE SAID.

"FERRY SERVICES WILL ALSO BE ENHANCED WITH TWO NEW HIGH SPEED FERRIES DEPLOYED ON THE TUEN MUN CENTRAL ROUTE THIS SEPTEMBER. A NEW ROUTE FROM SO KWUN WAT TO KOWLOON WILL BE INTRODUCED BY JUNE."

-

/HE SAID