XN000022-1996-08-27 — Page 5

Easy access bus service extends to Hong Kong Island

The Transport Department announces that an air-conditioned single-deck low- floor bus equipped with ramp and wheelchair space will be put to service on Citybus Route 76 from tomorrow (Wednesday).

This is the second bus route providing such facilities for disabled people following the trial scheme of "easy access" bus service on KMB 88K from June 15.

The easy access bus of Citybus Route 76, running between Shek Pai Wan and Moreton Terrace in Causeway Bay, will be operated at 90-minute interval between 6 am and 6 pm at Shek Pai Wan and between 6.45 am and 6.45 pm at Moreton Terrace daily.

The bus fares are the same as those for ordinary buses.

It is extra to the normal schedule with a view to strengthening the service of Citybus Route 76.

End

Provisional statistics of retail sales for June

The value of total retail sales in June 1996, estimated at $17.5 billion, increased by 6% when compared with June 1995, according to the provisional figures released today (Tuesday) by the Census and Statistics Department.

After discounting the effect of price changes over the period, total retail sales increased by 1% in volume.

Compared with a year ago, sales in department stores increased by 12% in value and 7% in volume, after registering year-on-year decreases for two consecutive months. Sales in supermarkets also went up by 9% in value and 3% in volume, after year-on-year increases of similar magnitude in May.

Concurrently, sales of most of the other commodities also recorded increases in both value and volume terms. These included motor vehicles (3% in both value and volume); consumer durable goods other than motor vehicles (4% in value and 3% in volume); miscellaneous consumer goods (8% in value and 2% in volume); clothing and footwear (9% in value and 2% in volume); and food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (6% in value and 1% in volume).