1992 — Page 11

主席報告 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Earnings per share for the year were 82 cents (1991: 74 cents). The accumulated shortfall of return permitted by the Government brought forward from the previous years amounts to $41.5 million. The shortfall is recoverable from the Development Fund

in subsequent years, subject to agreement by the

Government.

Dividend

At the forthcoming Ordinary Yearly Meeting, the Directors will recommend the payment of a final dividend of 47 cents per share for the year ended 31st December, 1992 (1991:43 cents per share). Together with the interim dividend of 17 cents per share paid on 15th October, 1992 (1991: 15 cents per share), dividends for the year will amount to 64 cents per share, totalling $258.3 million (1991: $234.1 million).

Application For Fare Increase

An application for a fare increase averaging 13.8 percent was submitted to the Government in September 1992. However, a fare increase averaging 11.2 percent, which took effect from 5th April, 1993, was granted by the Government. Some of the fares for air-conditioned services have remained unchanged in order to narrow the differential with normal services.

As a gesture of goodwill, the Company has decided to offer a 50 percent reduction infares to senior citizens aged 65 or over to travel on all of the

Company's buses, except airport buses, from 5th April, 1993 onwards.

本年度每股盈利為八角二仙(一九九一年為七角 四仙)。往年未達致政府許可盈利之欠數累計合 共港幣四千一百五十萬元。倘獲政府同意,該 欠數可於來年由發展基金中撥回。

股息

在即將舉行之股東週年常會上,董事會將建議 派發截至一九九二年十二月三十一日止年度末 期股息每股四角七仙(一九九一年為每股四角三 仙),連同一九九二年十月十五日所派發之中期 股息每股一角七仙(一九九一年為每股一角五 仙)計算在內,本年度全年股息爲每股六角四 仙,合共派息為港幣二億五千八百三十萬元(一 九九一年為港幣二億三千四百一十萬元)。

申請增加車費

本公司於一九九二年九月向政府提交有關增加 車費平均百分之十三點八之申請,惟政府僅批 准本公司由一九九三年四月五日起增加車費, 平均加幅為百分之十一點二,部份冷氣巴士之 車費則保持不變,以縮窄其與普通巴士收費之 距離。

為表心意,本公司已決定由一九九三年四月五 日起,凡六十五歲或以上之高齡乘客乘搭本公 司之巴士,機場巴士除外,均可獲半價優惠。

9