The Guangzhou Gas Company raised the price for bottled gas to 68 yuan (US$ 8.22) per bottle Saturday, an increase of 4 yuan over a rise of 3 yuan Aug. 4, the Yangcheng Evening News reported.

The price hike increases the price of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) to almost 30 percent more than the corresponding period last year when LPG cost 51 yuan per bottle.

It was the fourth time increased in the price of bottled gas in just over one month since July 22. when the gas was sold at 59 yuan per bottle.

The price hike aroused complaints from residents but the gas company said they had no choice since the price of crude oil in the international market was climbing since mid of July.

Officials with Guangzhou Pricing Bureau said that the rise in crude oil price was the main cause of the rise in liquefied petroleum gas price. Guangzhou Gas Company spent 4,080 yuan to buy a ton of liquefied petroleum gas this August, 45 percent more than last year, the report said.

(Shenzhen Daily August 9, 2004)