TNAG-1483-FCO40-2037-Economic-situation-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 244

auctions met with good responses

All lots offered

at public auctions met

and were sold at fairly high prices. However, prices seem to somewhat in the first half of this year,

was in a consolidation

have

eased off

suggesting that the property market period.

Electricity and gas

5.21

Electricity consumption in the first half of 1986, at 7 815 million kilowatt hours, was 11% higher than in the first half of 1985. The amount of electricity consumed by domestic users and by commercial users increased by 7% and 11% respectively. Reflecting

in the a picking up in activities industrial sector, the amount of electricity consumed by industrial users increased by 13%, made up of an increase

7% in

in the first quarter

in quarter and of 17%

the second quarter. Electricity exports to China amounted to 592 million kilowatt hours, equivalent to 7% of the total electricity production in

Hong Kong.

5.22

first

half

of

Town gas consumption continued to increase rapidly, following the expansion in its supply network. Comparing the of 1986 with the first half of 1985, domestic

and commercial consumption

12%/ by

and 9%

respectively, with total consumption higher by 11%.

consumption

Activity in selected services sectors

rose

(18)

5.23

Patronage of public Mainly due to the opening of

journeys on passenger

transport

increased.

the Island Line, the number of

the Mass Transit Railway rose

/substantially

(18) Public transport is defined to include services provided by the Mass Transit Railway, Kowloon Canton Railway, Kowloon Motor Bus, China Motor Bus, New Lantao Bus, Hong Kong Tramways, Peak Tramways, Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry, Star Ferry, minor ferries, public light buses, and Ocean Park cable way.

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