XN000022-1994-04-15 — Page 9

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1994

TAKING PART IN THE MEETING AS OBSERVERS WERE THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION, THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, THE PARIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON PORT STATE CONTROL, THE MARITIME AUTHORITIES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF VANUATU.

MARITIME

THE TOKYO MOU RECENTLY SET UP ITS SECRETARIAT IN TOKYO WITH FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL AT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION, MR YOSHIO SASAMURA, HEADING THE OFFICE.

INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR 1993 FALLS SLIGHTLY

THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION LAST YEAR DECREASED SLIGHTLY BY 0.8% OVER 1992, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

OUTPUT OF THE PAPER PRODUCTS AND PRINTING INDUSTRY GROUP CONTINUED TO SURGE BY 12.8%.

THE BROAD INDUSTRY GROUP OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, MACHINERY, PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT AND OPTICAL GOODS REGISTERED A MODERATE INCREASE OF 2.6%. BUT THE PERFORMANCE OF INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRIES WITHIN THE GROUP VARIED GREATLY.

WHILE THE PRODUCTION OF MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT, APPARATUS, PARTS AND COMPONENTS INCREASED BY 12.7%, THAT OF CONSUMER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS DROPPED BY 7.9%.

THE PRODUCTION OF THE FOOD, BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO INDUSTRY GROUP AND THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRY INCREASED BY 2.6% AND 1.8% RESPECTIVELY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE BROAD INDUSTRY GROUPS OF CHEMICALS, RUBBER, PLASTIC AND NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS (-9.9%); BASIC METALS AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (-9.4%); AND THE TEXTILES (INCLUDING KNITTING) INDUSTRY (-7.2%).

THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION RECORDED VIRTUALLY NO CHANGE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1993 WHEN COMPARED WITH BOTH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1992 AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1993.

THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION REFLECTS CHANGES OF LOCAL MANUFACTURING OUTPUT IN REAL TERMS. IN OTHER WORDS, IT MEASURES THE VOLUME OF LOCAL PRODUCTION AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE "REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, 4TH QUARTER 1993", WHICH IS ON SALE AT $4 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SECTION, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI. REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE GENERAL ECONOMIC SURVEYS SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON TEL 839 3238.

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