XN000022-1995-04-25 — Page 11

Telephone booking surcharge

- 10 -

$5.0

$ 5.0 (no change)

Surcharge for every article of baggage,

animal or bird

$4.0

$ 4.0

(no change)

In making the recommendation, members noted that the endorsed fare rise was lower than the 33.3 per cent applied for by the Lantau Taxi Association. Lantau taxi fares were last increased by 12.5 per cent in February last year.

Members felt that the recommended fare rise was necessary to ensure the financial viability of taxi operations, taking into account the forecast increase of 15.3 per cent in operating costs and changes in ridership between the last fare increase and July this year.

An 11.1 per cent fare increase would be slightly below the inflation rate of 12.4 per cent forecast for the same period.

Members also noted that the fare increase would help maintain an acceptable level of taxi service on Lantau and a reasonable fare differential between Lantau taxis and New Lantau Bus services.

End/Tuesday, April 25, 1995

Provisional statistics of retail sales for February 1995

The value of total retail sales in February 1995, estimated at $15.3 billion, increased by 1% when compared with February 1994, according to provisional figures released today (Tuesday) by the Census and Statistics Department.

After discounting the effect of price changes over the period, total retail sales decreased by 5% in volume.

It should however be noted that retail sales in January and February are usually affected by the timing of the Chinese New Year. As the Chinese New Year was in January this year but in February last year, it is more appropriate to compare the retail sales figures for January and February taken together.