XN000022-1996-05-20 — Page 5

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In the survey, the definitions used in measuring unemployment and underemployment follow closely those recommended by the International Labour Organisation.

'Seasonally adjusted' refers to adjustment for seasonal variations in the proportion of first-time job-seekers in the labour force.

Detailed analysis of labour force characteristics is given in the report on the General Household Survey which is published four times a year.

The next report covering the quarter ending March 1996 will be on sale at the Government Publications Centre at ground floor, Low Block, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong, by the end of June.

End

Public cargo working areas management reform fair

Only regular operators using the facilities at the Public Cargo Working Areas (PCWAS) for a reasonable period of time are eligible to bid for berthing spaces under Marine Department's proposed plans to reform management for these areas, Assistant Director of Marine, Mr Raymond Tang, said today (Monday).

Commenting on remarks made by some PCWA operators at a petition to the Governor yesterday, Mr Tang reassured them as well as all other operators that none of them would be driven out of business under the reform management package.

Contrary to the claims made by the protesters that the berthing spaces will be leased out by open tender, Mr Tang reassured the protesters that the berths would be leased out only by restricted tender. That is only to the existing regular operators.

He said the operators petition yesterday might be motivated by uninformed views or misunderstanding of the new proposals.

He reiterated that the objective of the proposed reform was to improve productivity of PCWAs and it was not designed as a means to generate more money for the Government. On the contrary open tender means the operators set the price and that it is open and fair.