1996 — Page 21

HKF

I am pleased to present to the Shareholders my report on the

operations of the Group.

PROFIT

溢利

本集團截至一九九六年十二月三十一日止財政年度

之除稅後綜合純利為一億五千零七十萬港元,較去

年除稅後之經常性溢利增加百分之六十九,由於一

九九五年溢利有特殊項目二億六千六百五十萬港

元,所以若連同該特殊項目比較,則本年度之除稅

後綜合純利較去年減少百分之五十八。每股盈利為

四十二點三仙,而去年則為九十九點九仙。

股息

董事會建議派發末期股息每股二十九仙。此末期股

息,連同已派發之中期股息每股八仙,全年合共派

發三十七仙。

業務回顧

The Group's consolidated net profit after taxation for the year ended

31 December 1996 amounted to HK$150.7 million, representing an

increase of 69% over last year if the exceptional item of HK$266.5

million in 1995 was excluded; or a decrease of 58% if the said

exceptional item was included. Earnings per share was 42.3 cents as

compared to 99.9 cents in the previous year.

DIVIDENDS

The Board of Directors recommended a final dividend of 29 cents

per share. This dividend together with the interim dividend of 8 cents

per share already paid will make a total distribution of 37 cents for

the full year.

BUSINESS REVIEW

渡輪業務

本年度內,本集團努力增加非專營權之渡輪收入及

減低成本,並取得若干進展。專營權之渡輪收入,

雖然在一九九六年一月增加票價百分之十三點九, 以彌補該日以前十八個月的通漲,但由於年度內乘

客人數下降百分之七點八,抵消了大部份得益。非 專營權渡輪業務本年度津貼專營權渡輪業務達二千

九百二十萬港元之譜,整體渡輪業務虧蝕七千三百

二十萬港元,惟虧損數目比一九九五年之一億一千

九百六十萬港元較為縮小,減幅為百分之三十九。

澳門線渡輪去年的人數及收入則分別有百分之三十

五及三十七之增長。在業務整頓下,黃埔線因無利

可圖而於一九九六年五月被中止。

Ferry Operations

Actions have been taken successfully during the year to increase revenues from non-franchised ferry services and to cut costs. In respect of the franchised ferry services, the effect of the fare revision

of 13.9% in January 1996 over a previous 18-month period was

mostly offset by a drop of 7.8% in patronage during the year. Non-

franchised ferry services continued to subsidize the franchised ferry

services to the extent of HK$29.2 million. The overall result of the ferry operations was an operating loss of HK$73.2 million, which when compared to the loss of HK$119.6 million in 1995, represented

an improvement of 39%.

The Macau ferry service during the year has seen solid growth in both patronage and revenue to the extent of 35% and 37% respectively. Being part of a rationalisation programme, the unprofitable Whampoa route was terminated in May 1996.

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