XN000022-1997-01-17 — Page 7

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Miss Ying urged rear seat private car passengers to wear their seat belts while travelling if their car is fitted with them.

"With the growing increase in wearing rear seat belts in private cars, the community can expect a further reduction in both the number and severity of injuries in traffic accidents involving private cars," she said.

End

Payroll and wage statistics for third quarter of 1996

According to statistics released today (Friday) by the Census and Statistics Department, average labour earnings covering all major sectors surveyed, as measured by payroll per person engaged, recorded an increase of 8.6% in nominal terms in the third quarter of 1996 over a year earlier. After discounting changes in consumer prices, the increase was 3.1% in real terms.

Most of the major sectors surveyed recorded increases in average labour earnings, both in nominal terms and in real terms. Analysed by sector, the wholesale, retail and import/export trades, restaurants and hotels sector recorded the fastest increase in average payroll per person engaged, by 10.8% in nominal terms or 5.2% in real terms in the third quarter of 1996 over a year earlier.

This was followed by the community, social and personal services sector, by 8.4% in nominal terms or 2.9% in real terms; the financing, insurance, real estate and business services sector, by 8.1% in nominal terms or 2.6% in real terms; and transport, storage and communications sector, by 6.5% in nominal terms or 1.1% in real terms.

Average labour earnings in the manufacturing sector also rose, by 4.4% in nominal terms, but with a slight decrease in real terms.

The overall wage index covering selected major sectors showed a relatively less rapid increase than average labour earnings. This index rose by 6.4% in nominal terms in September 1996 over a year earlier. After discounting changes in consumer prices, the index showed a 1.2% increase in real terms.