§ Sir Nigel Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the damage in Hong Kong and the danger of flooding caused by the recent typhoon.
§ Mr. EnnalsA typhoon passed close to Hong Kong on 14th October. It caused little severe damage but some low-lying areas were flooded and some villages were evacuated. 46 people were injured, mostly by flying objects; of these, 15 were admitted to hospital. Schools and businesses closed and public transport stopped running during the typhoon.
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§ Sir Nigel Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will tabulate wages in Hong Kong, as compared with those in other Asian countries.
§ Mr. EnnalsReports produced by the International Labour Organisation and national Governments show that the average daily rates of wages, including fringe benefits, in the manufacturing sector for 1973 and 1974 in pounds sterling were as follows (£1 = HK dollar 11.83 at the average 1974 market rate):
1973 1974 Hong Kong 1.98 2.20 Taiwan 1.08 1.62 Japan 5.81 6.73 South Korea 0.75 1.02 (first 10 months of the year only) Singapore 1.47 Not available It is difficult to make meaningful comparisons between these figures since local cost of living figures are not available.