XN000022-1996-08-19 — Page 3

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A person, who imports and/or exports waste subject to control without a permit after September 1, will be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment upon first conviction.

Permit application forms are now available either from EPD Headquarters, 28th floor, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, or the office of its Waste and Water Management Group, ninth floor, World Trade Square, Tower 1, 123 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong.

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Unemployment and underemployment statistics

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the period April to June 1996 was 3.1%, and the underemployment rate was 1.8%, according to the latest labour force statistics released today (Monday) by the Census and Statistics Department.

For the period May to July 1996, the provisional seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell further to 2.9%, while the provisional underemployment rate was also lower, at 1.6%.

Commenting on the latest figures, a government spokesman said labour market conditions continued to improve in recent months. In particular, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell below 3% for the first time in the past 14 months.

For the latest period May to July 1996, decreases in the unemployment rate were mainly observed in the wholesale, retail and import/export trades and transport sectors. As to the underemployment rate, decreases occurred mainly in the construction and transport sectors.

The unemployment and underemployment rates in the other major sectors remained generally stable.

In the three months ending June 1996, total employment continued to show an appreciable growth, by 3.1% over a year earlier. The growth in total labour supply was also 3.1%.

With the growth rate of total labour supply coming down to a level close to the growth rate of total employment, and with the latter growth continuing to be robust. this helped to lower the overall unemployment rate.