§ Mr. Costainasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many vehicles there are on the roads of Hong Kong at present; and how many there will be by the time the mass transit system is completed.
§ Mr. EnnalsThere are currently 190,000 vehicles on the roads in Hong Kong. If it is decided to proceed, the initial system of the mass transit railway is planned to be completed by 1980 when the number of vehicles is expected to have reached 270,000.
§ Mr. Costainasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people would be employed in the construction of the mass transit system in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. EnnalsIt is estimated that about 2,500 people would be employed in the early stages of building the modified initial system of the Mass Transit Railway. The number would rise to some 4,500 between 1976 and 1978, when the bulk of the work would be undertaken.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many work stoppages owing to strikes took place in Hong Kong in 1974.
§ Mr. EnnalsNineteen.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 231W Affairs what has been the rate of inflation in Hong Kong over the last 12 months.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe most representative indicator of the rate of inflation in Hong Kong, the General Index of Consumer Prices, rose by 1.8 per cent. between the second quarter of 1974 and the second quarter of 1975.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many working days were lost in Hong Kong owing to strikes during 1974; and how this compared with the previous five years.
§ Mr. Ennals7,347. The figures for the previous five years are:
1969 … … … 40,216 1970 … … … 47,212 1971 … … … 25,600 1972 … … … 41,834 1973 … … … 44,164
§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what way Hong Kong's Mutual Aid Committee Scheme has contributed in the fight against crime.
§ Mr. EnnalsI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 17th February. Only 19 out of 1,636 committees are inactive. The close liaison formed with the police has led to greater understanding of police work and willingness to report crime; and more widespread precautionary measures against robbery.