DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
URGENT NEED FOR TAI A CHAU DETENTION CENTRE .................... 1
GOVERNOR PRAISES WORK OF AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES ............ 2
ARTS FESTIVAL WILL BROADEN VISION AND EXPAND LINKS ............. 3
AG SPEAKS ON RULE OF LAW ....................................... 4
HONG KONG CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE .............................. 6
THIRD QUARTER SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS RELEASED .. 7
HK REMAINS NO.l CONTAINER PORT ................................ 10
EASTERN DISTRICT TRIO ON VISIT TO SINGAPORE ................... 11
CERAMICS EXHIBITION OPENS AT CITY HALL TOMORROW ............... 12
FIGHT CRIME SINGING CONTEST FINAL ON SUNDAY ................... 12
DREDGING PROPOSED IN HARBOUR .................................. 13
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR MUSICIANS AND DANCERS .............. 14
1989 STAMP PACK ON SALE ON MONDAY ............................. 15
ID CARD REMINDER FOR MEN BORN BETWEEN 1932-35 ................. 16
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
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URGENT NEED FOR TAI A CHAU DETENTION CENTRE * » * » *
THERE IS A VERY URGENT NEED TO BUILD A VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE DETENTION CENTRE AT TAI A CHAU, AS HONG KONG FACES THE PROBLEM OF GREATLY OVER-CROWDED CAMPS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS, SIR DAVID SAID THERE WERE CAMPS AT VERY UNSATISFACTORY SITES SUCH AS SHEK KONG.
"ONE OF THE PRIME PURPOSES OF BUILDING A CAMP ON THE ISLAND IS SO THAT WE CAN THIN OUT THE EXISTING POPULATION OF EXISTING CAMPS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE DOWN THE CAMP AT SHEK KONG. IT’S IN A MOST UNSATISFACTORY SITE," HE SAID.
"WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM ALREADY ON OUR HANDS. WE NEED TO THIN OUT THE EXISTING CAMPS. WE WILL HAVE AN EVEN MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM IF WE HAVE A CONTINUED INFLUX OF PEOPLE THIS YEAR, AND WE MUST BE IN THE POSITION TO DEAL WITH IT," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
"THE COMMUNITY SHOULD EXPECT THAT AND THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE THE RIGHT SORT OF PLANS IN ADVANCE," HE ADDED.
ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD PLANS TO TRY TO PERSUADE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING FOR THE CAMP, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS A QUESTION OF TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE THE REASONS FOR CARRYING OUT A PARTICULAR POLICY.
"THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPLANATIONS GIVEN TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL GO ON EXPLAINING THE REASONS FOR HAVING THAT PARTICULAR CAMP," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT MANDATORY REPATRIATION WAS A POLICY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN TRYING TO ADOPT SINCE THE EARLY PART OF LAST YEAR, AND AFTER AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF EFFORT IT WAS IMPLEMENTED.
"IT IS STILL OUR INTENTION TO GO ON WITH IT BECAUSE IT IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO RESETTLE GENUINE REFUGEES. SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE FOUND NOT TO BE GENUINE REFUGEES AND SEND THEM HOME.
"SO THEY ARE BOTH A KEY PART OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. WE’Ll. GO ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MANDATORY REPATRIATION, AND THAT IS PRECISELY THE POLICY WHICH WAS STRONGLY APPROVED BY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL," SIR DAVID SAID.
ASKED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS ON POLITICAL REFORM, THE GOVERNOR SAID DISCUSSIONS WERE CONTINUING BETWEEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, AND THAT HE COULD NOT GIVE ANY FURTHER REPORT THAN THAT AT THE MOMENT.
SIR DAVID ALSO SAID THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS, AT THE MOMENT, FOR ANY SPECIAL DELEGATION FROM THE BRITISH SIDE TO GO TO PEKING.
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GOVERNOR PRAISES WORK OF AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES
*****
THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN WHO SPEND THEIR FREE TIME SERVING WITH THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES (AMS) SET AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE COMMITMENT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG NOW GIVE TO VOLUNTARY WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY OF THE AMS HEADQUARTERS IN HO MAN TIN, SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS A TIME WHEN THE GOVERNMENT WAS KEEN TO PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SINCE ITS FOUNDATION IN 1950, THE AMS HAD BEEN A STANDARD BEARER IN SPREADING A WIDER MESSAGE ABOUT THE VALUE OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE, HE SAID.
WITH THE AMS MARKING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY, SIR DAVID SAID THE ORGANISATION PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORT OF THE MEDICAL, HEALTH AND AMBULANCE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
"THE WORK OF AMS VOLUNTEERS IN MAJOR PUBLIC EVENTS, AT NATURAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES, IS GREATLY VALUED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
"YOU HAVE HAD AN ADDITIONAL AND ONEROUS TASK OVER THE PAST YEAR IN MANNING MEDICAL POSTS IN THE CAMPS FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE," HE ADDED.
SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS VERY CONSCIOUS THAT THE AMS, LIKE OTHER VOLUNTEER ORGANISATIONS, HAD TO MEET ALL THE DEMANDS UPON ITS RESOURCES FROM A POOL OF VOLUNTEERS WHO ALSO HAD OTHER, FULL-TIME JOBS TO DO.
SIR DAVID PAID TRIBUTE TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE STERLING SERVICE THEY PUT IN DAY AFTER DAY IN A RANGE OF OFTEN UNPUBLICISED BUT ALWAYS ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
HE ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO CO-OPERATED WITH THE AMS BY AGREEING TO RELEASE THEIR STAFF FOR THESE IMPORTANT DUTIES.
SIR DAVID SAID THE FOUNDATION STONE WAS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S OWN COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING AND MODERNISING THE FACILITIES THE AMS NEEDED TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES.
THE EIGHT-STOREY BUILDING WHICH WOULD BE BUILT ON THE SITE WOULD PROVIDE THE SERVICES WITH AN EXCELLENT RANGE OF TRAINING, OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES.
"THIS IS EXACTLY THE PURPOSE-BUILT HEADQUARTERS THAT THE AMS HAVE ALWAYS WANTED.
/"IT IS .......
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"IT IS WHAT THEY NEED IF THEY ARE TO MEET THE EVER INCREASING DEMANDS UPON THEIR TIME AND TALENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,” SIR DAVID SAID.
EARLIER, IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, THE AMS COMMISSIONER, DR S.H. LEE, SAID THE NEED FOR A CENTRALISED ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL BASE WAS FELT AS EARLY AS IN THE 1970s.
"AT THAT TIME, THE LATE MAJOR GEOFFREY DOGGETT, FORMER MEDICAL DEFENCE STAFF OFFICER, MANAGED TO SECURE THE PRESENT SITE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MEDICAL CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
"BEING UNIQUE AS A SPECIAL DISCIPLINE IN CIVIL DEFENCE, AMS HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS FROM A DISASTER-ORIENTED CONTINGENT TO A PUBLIC ORGANISATION THAT OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION, EMERGENCY BACKUP FOR REGULAR MEDICAL/AMBULANCE SERVICES, TRAINING OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN FIRST AID AND CASUALTY HANDLING," HE SAID.
SUCH DEVELOPMENTS, DR LEE SAID, HAD RENDERED THE AMS TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONAL DEPARTMENT IN 1983.
HE ADDED THAT THE $50 MILLION HEADQUARTERS WOULD NOT ONLY PROVIDE A MEETING POINT FOR AMS OFFICERS AND MEMBERS BUT WOULD ALSO BOOST THE MORALE OF THE FORCE.
THE EIGHT-STOREY BUILDING WILL HOUSE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SIMULATED NURSING WARDS, LECTURE THEATRES, OPERATIONAL CONTROL ROOM AND COVERED FOOTDRILL AND PARADE GROUND.
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ARTS FESTIVAL WILL BROADEN
♦ ♦ » *
VISION AND EXPAND LINKS t ♦ *
WILL BROADEN OUR VISION AND EXPAND
OUR
SIR
THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL
LINKS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF THE ARTS, THE DAVID WILSON, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING.
GOVERNOR,
FESTIVAL AT
ENTERED THE
THE
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CONCERT OF THE 1990 ARTS HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE, SIR DAVID SAID NOW, AS WE 1990’S, THE FESTIVAL WAS INTRODUCING NEW FEATURES INTO ITS PROGRAMMES.
"FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FESTIVAL WILL INCLUDE A PARTICULAR THEME.
"THIS YEAR WE HAVE AS A THEME THE ’RUSSIAN ROMANTICS’ TO CELEBRATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF TCHAIKOVSKY’S BIRTH.
/"IN THIS .......
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"IN THIS WAY EVERY YEAR THE ARTS FESTIVAL WILL BROADEN OUR VISION AND EXPAND OUR LINKS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF THE ARTS," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AGO HE WAS AT THE VENUE TO HAND OVER THE CULTURAL CENTRE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL, AND THIS HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY A MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS.
"NOW WE HAVE THE OPENING OF THE 1990 HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL.
"ALL OF THIS IS CLEAR AND VISIBLE PROOF OF A VERY HEALTHY ENTHUSIASM IN THE PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE ARTS FESTIVAL ALREADY HAD A WELL ESTABLISHED RECORD FOR BRINGING TO HONG KONG OUTSTANDING ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND FOR ENCOURAGING OUR OWN ARTISTS TO DEVELOP AND DISPLAY THEIR TALENTS.
HE ALSO DESCRIBED THIS ARTS FESTIVAL AS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF WHAT COULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH CREATIVE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
"ANY FESTIVAL NEEDS THIS BROAD BASE OF SUPPORT IF IT IS TO BE TRULY SUCCESSFUL.
"THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB ALL PLAY THEIR PART WITH THEIR MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FESTIVAL. SO DO PROGRAMME SPONSORS, CORPORATE CLUB MEMBERS, ADVERTISERS AND CONTRIBUTORS TO THE STUDENT TICKET SCHEME.
"THE COMMUNITY OWES A VOTE OF THANKS TO ALL THOSE PATRONS AND DONORS WHOSE GENEROSITY HAS HELPED MAKE THIS FESTIVAL POSSIBLE," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID PAID TRIBUTE TO MR MARTIN BARROW, IN HIS FIRST YEAR AS CHAIRMAN OF THE ARTS FESTIVAL, AND ALL HIS HARDWORKING TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAD DONE TO PREPARE FOR THIS FESTIVAL. AND HE EXTENDED A WARM WELCOME TO ALL THE ARTISTS TAKING PART IN THE FESTIVAL.
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AG SPEAKS ON RULE OF LAW * t * *
THE PROPER UPHOLDING OF THE RULE OF LAW RESTS LARGELY ON A PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID THIS TODAY (THURSDAY) AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF A NEW RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG TELEVISION SERIES, "HONG KONG LAW".
/MR MATHEWS .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
5
MR MATHEWS SAID THE ULTIMATE VALUE OF THE RULE OF LAW LAY IN THE ABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY TO COMPREHEND IT AND IN THE WILLINGNESS OF THE COMMUNITY TO CONSENT TO IT AND TO ABIDE BY IT.
HE SAID THE RULE OF LAW WAS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN ANY MODERN AND CIVILISED COMMUNITY.
"IT IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, TO ITS GOVERNMENT AND TO INDIVIDUAL HUMAN AFFAIRS," MR MATHEWS SAID.
HE SAID THAT LAW WAS TOO OFTEN SEEN BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS MYSTERIOUS AND LAWYERS HAD BEEN IN PART RESPONSIBLE FOR ENCOURAGING THAT MYSTIQUE IN THE PAST.
"LAW MUST NOT BE SEEN TO BE REMOTE OR MYSTERIOUS BECAUSE IF THE COMMUNITY CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE LAW, WHAT IT IS OR HOW IT OPERATES, THEN SURELY PEOPLE CANNOT TRULY RESPECT IT TO ABIDE BY IT," THE ATTORNEY GENERAL POINTED OUT.
HE SAID THAT LAW WAS NO MORE AND NO LESS THAN A SET OF RULES REGULATING THE BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIVITIES OF THE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY.
"THOSE RULES MUST BE KNOWN AND RESPECTED IF THEY ARE TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE COMMUNITY, AND OF COURSE THOSE WHO FAIL TO ABIDE BY THEM MUST BE SANCTIONED AND SEEN TO BE SANCTIONED IF THE RULE OF LAW IS TO OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY," MR MATHEWS SAID.
"CLEARLY THERE EXISTS A DUTY UPON ANY FAIR-MINDED GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE LAW IS NOT ONLY ACCEDED TO BUT ALSO HAS THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PEOPLE," HE SAID.
"IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THE LAW WITH A VIEW NOT ONLY TO OBEYING IT BUT ALSO SO THAT THEY KNOW THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AND SO THAT THEY CAN ORDER THEIR AFFAIRS AND CONDUCT THEMSELVES ACCORDINGLY," THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ADDED.
HE SAID THE EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG HAD, SINCE THE 70S, HELPED VERY CONSIDERABLY TO BRING TO VIEWERS AT HOME MATTERS OF LAW THAT COULD AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES.
HE WAS SURE THE NEW SERIES - "HONG KONG LAW" WOULD HELP THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW.
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HONG KONG CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE * * * * *
HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC REGION, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, SAID IN PARIS TODAY (THURSDAY).
ADDRESSING AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL, MR LAN SAID THE TERRITORY, WITH ITS INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNICATIONS, FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL EXPERTISE, LOCATION AS WELL AS CONNECTIONS, HAD PLAYED AN ACTIVE PART IN THE REGION’S DEVELOPMENT.
APART FROM CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REGION, HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN "THE MOST CONVENIENT GATEWAY” TO THE CHINESE MARKET, HE SAID.
"IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW HONG KONG’S FINANCIAL, INFRASTRUCTURAL AND LEGAL SERVICES CAN BE SURPASSED BY THOSE OFFERED BY OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION IN HELPING TO MEET CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT NEEDS," HE NOTED.
MR LAN POINTED OUT THAT IN SO FAR AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS CONCERNED, HONG KONG HAD ALWAYS MAINTAINED A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAINLAND, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GUANGDONG PROVINCE.
"HONG KONG IS NOW CHINA’S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER. HONG KONG INVESTMENTS ACCOUNT FOR AROUND 70 PER CENT OF UTILISED FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN CHINA.
"IT HAS REPORTED THAT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL HONG KONG INVESTMENTS IN A VARIETY OF PROJECTS IN GUANGDONG, SHANGHAI AND MANY OTHER CHINESE CITIES," MR LAN ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG, MR LAN STRESSED THAT THE TERRITORY CONTINUED TO SHOW ITS "RESILIENCE, ADAPTABILITY AND RESOURCEFULNESS".
"THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS WHICH TOOK PLACE ON VARIOUS FRONTS IN THE TERRITORY HAVE ILLUSTRATED THAT PRUDENT BUSINESSMEN, BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS, ARE CONFIDENT THAT HONG KONG’S DYNAMIC ECONOMY WILL BE CARRIED THROUGH INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
"WHILE FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AND CAPITAL CONTINUE TO GROW, THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS ALSO MAKING 'SUBSTANTIAL INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENTS’ IN THE TERRITORY,” MR LAN SAID.
THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING, THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL AND THE CONTAINER TERMINAL 7 WERE "LARGE INVESTMENT PROJECTS BY ANY STANDARD" AND ILLUSTRATED THE LONG-TERM CONFIDENCE OF LOCAL AND FOREIGN INVESTORS IN THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY AS THESE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS WERE SOLELY FINANCED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITH THEIR OWN FUNDS, HE SAID.
/MR LAN ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
MR LAN SAID FOR ITS PART, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD DEMONSTRATED ITS CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE BY MAINTAINING ITS AMBITIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES.
THE GOVERNMENT SPENT $7.8 BILLION ON CAPITAL WORKS IN 1988-89, AND WOULD SPEND ABOUT $10 BILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR. ANNUAL EXPENDITURE ON CAPITAL WORKS WOULD EXCEED THIS AMOUNT NEXT YEAR AND FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
MR LAN ALSO INDICATED THAT BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS FROM OVERSEAS WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY BY DECIDING TO BUILD A NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND PORT FACILITIES AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $124 BILLION.
"THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST SHOWN FROM OVERSEAS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE WONDERFUL PROJECTS," MR LAN SAID.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING, AND SOCIAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND A WELL REGULATED BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT SO AS TO RETAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND OF OUR OWN PEOPLE, AND TO ENSURE CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.
"WITH THE RESILIENCE, RESOURCEFULNESS AND DETERMINATION OF HONG KONG PEOPLE, 1 AM SURE THAT HONG KONG WILL BE ABLE TO RISE TO ANY CHALLENGES," MR LAN CONCLUDED.
TOMORROW (FRIDAY), MR LAN WILL ADDRESS BUSINESSMEN WITH HONG KONG CONNECTIONS AND LEADERS OF CHINESE ORGANISATIONS IN AMSTERDAM TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG.
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THIRD QUARTER SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS RELEASED *******
IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989, 4,605 SHIPS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 28.3 MILLION NET REGISTERED TONS (NRT) ARRIVED IN HONG KONG, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 329 (OR 8 PER CENT) IN NUMBER AND OF 3.0 MILLION NRT (OR 12 PER CENT) IN CAPACITY OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
THIS IS SHOWN IN THE "HONG KONG SHIPPING STATISTICS REPORT JULY SEPTEMBER 1989" PUBLISHED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CARGO DISCHARGED IN HONG KONG FROM INCOMING SHIPS (ESTIMATED FROM A SAMPLE OF MANIFEST CONSIGNMENTS) INCREASED BY 4 PER CENT.
/WHEN ANALYSED .......
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WHEN ANALYSED BY SHIP TYPE, MAJOR INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE NUMBER OF OIL TANKERS (+219), CONTAINER VESSELS (+131) AND DRY BULK CARRIERS (+79), WHILE MAJOR DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE NUMBER OF SEMI-CONTAINER VESSELS (-28) AND ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF VESSELS (-26) .
WHEN ANALYSED BY FLAG OF VESSELS, MAJOR INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE NUMBER OF SHIPS REGISTERED IN CHINA (+236), PANAMA (+74), SINGAPORE (+19) AND WEST GERMANY (+19), WHILE MAJOR DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THOSE REGISTERED IN JAPAN (-39), GREECE (-23) AND TAIWAN (-22).
THE NUMBER OF INCOMING SHIPS WITH A CAPACITY OF LESS THAN 10,000 DEADWEIGHT TONS INCREASED BY 199 WHILE THE NUMBER OF THOSE WITH A LARGER CAPACITY INCREASED BY 130.
IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989, THERE WERE 4,598 OUTGOING SHIPS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 28.1 MILLION NRT, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 321 (OR 8 PER CENT) IN NUMBER AND OF 2.7 MILLION NRT (OR 11 PER CENT) IN CAPACITY OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CARGO LOADED ONTO OUTGOING SHIPS (ESTIMATED FROM A SAMPLE OF MANIFEST CONSIGNMENTS) ROSE BY 12 PER CENT. ABOUT 69 PER CENT OF THE DEPARTING SHIPS STAYED IN HONG KONG FOR LESS THAN TWO DAYS.
OF THE CARGO DISCHARGED FROM INCOMING SHIPS, 86 PER CENT IN TERMS OF TONNAGE WAS IMPORTS AND 14 PER CENT WAS TRANSHIPMENT CARGO. OF THE CARGO LOADED ONTO OUTGOING SHIPS, 63 PER CENT WAS EXPORTS (INCLUDING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS) AND 37 PER CENT WAS TRANSHIPMENT CARGO.
THE MAJOR COUNTRIES OF LOADING FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS IN TONNAGE TERMS WERE SINGAPORE (16 PER CENT), JAPAN (16 PER CENT), SOUTH AFRICA (14 PER CENT), CHINA (12 PER CENT), AUSTRALIA (8 PER CENT), TAIWAN (7 PER CENT) AND THE USA (5 PER CENT), WHILE THE MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DISCHARGE FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS WERE THE USA (21 PER CENT), CHINA (20 PER CENT), TAIWAN (11 PER CENT), SINGAPORE (5 PER CENT), JAPAN (5 PER CENT) AND SOUTH KOREA (4 PER CENT).
TRANSHIPMENT CARGO WAS MAINLY LOADED IN CHINA (32 PER CENT) AND THE USA (19 PER CENT), AND WAS MAINLY DISCHARGED IN CHINA (19 PER CENT) AND THE USA (14 PER CENT).
COMPARING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988, MAJOR INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE NOTED FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA (+71 PER CENT), JAPAN (+48 PER CENT) AND CHINA (+13 PER CENT), WHILE MAJOR DECREASES IN TONNAGE WERE NOTED FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS FROM SOUTH KOREA (-21 PER CENT) AND TAIWAN (-11 PER CENT). AS A WHOLE, THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF SEABORNE IMPORTS ROSE BY 6 PER CENT.
/AMONG THE .......
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AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES, MAJOR INCREASES IN CARGO TONNAGE WERE RECORDED FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS OF INORGANIC CHEMICALS (+36 PER CENT), COAL, COKE AND BRIQUETTES (+23 PER CENT), CEMENT AND CEMENT CLINKER (+20 PER CENT) AND VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (+15 PER CENT). MAJOR DECREASES WERE RECORDED FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS OF LOGS AND TIMBER (-36 PER CENT) AND CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS, NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED (-27 PER CENT).
COMPARING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988, THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF SEABORNE EXPORTS (DOMESTIC EXPORTS PLUS RE-EXPORTS) INCREASED BY 18 PER CENT. MAJOR INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE RECORDED FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS TO CHINA (+73 PER CENT), THE USA (+27 PER CENT) AND SINGAPORE (+14 PER CENT), WHILE MAJOR DECREASES WERE RECORDED FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS TO INDONESIA (-18 PER CENT) AND SOUTH KOREA (-8 PER CENT).
AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES, MAJOR INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE NOTED FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS OF PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (+101 PER CENT), FOOTWEAR (+46 PER CENT), CLAY AND KAOLIN (+35 PER CENT), COTTON GARMENTS (+29 PER CENT) AND INORGANIC CHEMICALS (+29 PER CENT). A MAJOR DECREASE WAS RECORDED FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS OF METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP (-15 PER CENT).
OF THE CARGO DISCHARGED FROM INCOMING SHIPS, INCLUDING SEABORNE IMPORTS AND INWARD TRANSHIPMENT, 31 PER CENT IN TERMS OF TONNAGE WAS CONTAINERISED CARGO. OF THOSE LOADED ONTO OUTGOING SHIPS, INCLUDING SEABORNE EXPORTS AND OUTWARD TRANSHIPMENT, 76 PER CENT WAS CONTAINERISED CARGO.
IN TERMS OF TONNAGE, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR 26 PER CENT OF SEABORNE IMPORTS. IN PARTICULAR, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR A LARGE PROPORTION OF SEABORNE IMPORTS FROM ITALY (98 PER CENT), THE USA (82 PER CENT), THE NETHERLANDS (82 PER CENT) AND WEST GERMANY (74 PER CENT).
THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CONTAINERISED SEABORNE IMPORTS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 DROPPED BY 2 PER CENT OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR, IN TONNAGE TERMS, 96 PER CENT OF SEABORNE IMPORTS OF ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS, 91 PER CENT OF OTHER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC APPLIANCES AND PARTS, 89 PER CENT OF PAPER, PAPERBOARD AND ARTICLES OF PAPER PULP, OF PAPER OR OF PAPERBOARD AND 84 PER CENT OF MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURES OF METAL AND NON-METALLIC MINERALS, NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED.
FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR 69 PER CENT IN TERMS OF TONNAGE. IN PARTICULAR, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR ALL OR A VERY LARGE PROPORTION OF SEABORNE EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA, WEST GERMANY, THE USA AND JAPAN.
/THE TOTAL ......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CONTAINERISED SEABORNE EXPORTS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 ROSE BY 13 PER CENT OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
A VERY LARGE PROPORTION OF SEABORNE EXPORTS OF SOME PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES WERE CONTAINERISED. THESE INCLUDED COTTON GARMENTS; TOYS; GARMENTS OF MIXED MATERIALS OR OTHER MATERIALS, NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED; FOOTWEAR; COTTON TEXTILES; OTHER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC APPLIANCES AND PARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED.
SHIPPING STATISTICS ARE COMPILED PRIMARILY FROM GENERAL DECLARATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE MARINE DEPARTMENT BY SHIPMASTERS OR AUTHORISED SHIPPING AGENTS AND COVER ALL OCEAN-GOING VESSELS ENTERING AND LEAVING HONG KONG, EXCLUDING YACHTS AND PLEASURE CRAFT. PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS ARE COMPILED FROM OCEAN CARGO MANIFESTS SUPPLIED BY SHIPPING COMPANIES OR AGENTS TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
BECAUSE OF RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, A SAMPLE OF ALL CONSIGNMENTS LISTED IN THE MANIFESTS IS USED FOR COMPILING PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS. THE SAMPLING METHOD IS DESCRIBED IN THE EXPLANATORY NOTES OF THE REPORT.
MORE DETAILS ON SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 ARE CONTAINED IN THE "HONG KONG SHIPPING STATISTICS REPORT JULY TO SEPTEMBER 1989", WHICH IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AT $23 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ON STATISTICS PROVIDED IN THE REPORT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE SHIPPING STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 8234887.
- - 0 - -
HK REMAINS NO. 1 CONTAINER PORT
*****
THE PORT OF HONG KONG REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE CONTAINER PORT IN
THE WORLD.
(TWENTY-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNITS) IN 1989, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE,
A TOTAL OF 4.46 MILLION TEU’S (TWENTY-WERE HANDLED IN THE PORT OF HONG KONG IN 1989, MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
THIS KEEPS HONG KONG IN THE LEAD THROUGHPUT AMONG THE WORLD’S MAJOR PORTS FOR YEAR, MR SZE ADDED.
POSITION IN TERMS OF THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE
/LAST YEAR'S
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
LAST YEAR’S TOTAL THROUGHPUT REGISTERED
PER CENT OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WHICH
AN INCREASE OF 10.67
WAS 4.03 MILLION TEU’S.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
ANY QUERIES MAY BE ADDRESSED MARINE (PLANNING AND LOCAL SERVICES), BEFORE 9.30 PM TODAY.
TO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MR TIM FRAWLEY, ON TEL. 5493147
------0-----------
EASTERN DISTRICT TRIO ON VISIT TO SINGAPORE ♦ t ♦ t t
THREE OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM EASTERN DISTRICT, ACCOMPANIED BY FOUR MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON YOUTH FESTIVAL, BEGAN AN EIGHT-DAY STUDY VISIT IN SINGAPORE TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE TRIO, POLICEMAN MR CHOW FUK-KEUNG, FORM SEVEN STUDENT MISS HUANG HAI-YEN AND FORM SIX STUDENT MISS NG YUEN-YEE, WON THE STUDY TRIP FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND VOLUNTARY WORK.
THE PARTY WILL CALL ON THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING THE SINGAPORE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND THE SALVATION ARMY.
THEY WILL ALSO VISIT THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND MEET A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
THE AWARD SCHEME WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT YOUTH RECREATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE WITH THE AIM OF ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
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/12 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
- 12 -
CERAMICS EXHIBITION OPENS AT CITY HALL TOMORROW
*****
AN EXHIBITION OF CERAMICS WILL BE HELD AT THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION GALLERY, HIGH BLOCK, FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) UNTIL MONDAY (FEBRUARY 5).
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN DAILY BETWEEN 9 AM AND 8 PM.
IT HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION (DACA) AND THE DISTRICT BOARD, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE URBAN COUNCIL.
THE DACA’S DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, MR YUEN BUN-KEUNG, SAID A TOTAL OF 350 EXHIBITS, SUBMITTED BY 101 EXPERTS IN CERAMICS, WILL BE ON DISPLAY FOR PUBLIC APPRECIATION.
’’CERAMICS ENTHUSIASTS CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY OF VIEWING THE EXHIBITS, SOME OF WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO BE OF VERY HIGH QUALITY,” MR YUEN ADDED.
A SIMILAR EXHIBITION WAS HELD AT SHA TIN LAST NOVEMBER.
AN OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 3) MORNING. AMONG THE OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL BE MR YUEN, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS MONICA CHEN, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR CHAN CHOI-HT, AND DACA’S HONORARY PRESIDENT, MR SAMMY POONE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CERAMIC EXHIBITION WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 11 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 3) AT THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION GALLERY, HIGH BLOCK, EIGHTH FLOOR, CENTRAL.
-----0-------
FIGHT CRIME SINGING CONTEST FINAL ON SUNDAY
*****
FIFTEEN PEOPLE WILL COMPETE IN THE FINAL OF A FIGHT CRIME SINGING CONTEST IN THE KO SHAN THEATRE IN HUNG HOM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 4) EVENING.
THE CONTEST, WHICH STARTS AT 7.30 PM, HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE YAU TS1M DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM DISTRICT BOARD.
/A PERFORMANCE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
- 13 -
A PERFORMANCE BY POPULAR SINGERS WILL FOLLOW.
OFFICIATING AT THE CONTEST’S OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WONG HON-HO, CHAIRMAN OF DISTRICT BOARD, MR YIP WAH, AND POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER (YAU MA TEI), MR LAU YUK-KUEN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FINAL OF THE SINGING CONTEST TO BE HELD BY THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AT THE KO SHAN THEATRE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 4), STARTING AT 7.30 PM.
--------0-----------
DREDGING PROPOSED IN HARBOUR ♦ t * * t
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO DREDGE WITHIN AN AREA OF 1,355 HECTARES OF SEABED FOR MARINE SAND AT SOUTH TATHONG CHANNEL OFF SAI KUNG.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE FILL FOR RECLAMATION FOR DEVELOPMENT IN TSEUNG KWAN O.
THE WORK WILL BEGIN EARLY THIS YEAR AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN THREE YEARS.
THE GOVERNMENT ALSO INTENDS TO CARRY OUT DREDGING WITHIN AN AREA OF 296.75 HECTARES OF SEABED AT KELLETT BANK OFF KENNEDY TOWN.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE ANCHORAGE SPACE FOR THE SITING OF MOORING BUOYS.
THE WORKS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED LATE NEXT YEAR.
THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO LAYING A 250MM DIAMETER SEWER WITHIN AN AREA OF 480 SQUARE METRES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED BETWEEN BEAULIEU PENINSULA AND PEARL ISLAND, TUEN MUN.
THIS IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCHARGING TREATED EFFLUENT. THE WORK BEGAN LAST MONTH AND WILL BE COMPLETED LATER THIS MONTH.
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT AND SEABED INVOLVED WILL BE [N.JlJRTOUSL^ SOUTH TATHONG CHANNEL
IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE
AFFECTED BY THE WORKS IN
DELIVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS COMPENSATION ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 24 NEXT YEAR.
AND TUEN MUN MAY
WRITTEN CLAIM FOR
A
/ANY CLAIMS .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
14
ANY CLAIMS CONCERNING KELLETT BANK SHOULD BE SENT TO THE DIRECTOR ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24 THIS YEAR.
THE NOTICE OF SUCH OBJECTION SHOULD DESCRIBE THE INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT OF THE OBJECT )R AND THE MANNER IN WHICH HE ALLEGES HE WILL BE AFFECTED.
NOTICES TOGETHER WITH THEIR RELATED PLANS CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITES.
THE PLANS CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, AND AT THE RELEVANT DISTRICT OFFICES.
------0--------
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR MUSICIANS AND DANCERS
* * * * *
LOCAL YOUNG MUSICIANS AND DANCERS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND FOR THE YEAR 1990-91.
THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS IS TO ENABLE EXCEPTIONALLY IALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN POST DIPLOMA STUDIES Al' INSTITUTIONS OVERSEAS.
I HE SCOPE OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS IS NOT CONFINED TO INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC STUDIES OR BALLET. STUDENTS UNDERTAKING RELATED STUDIES IN MUSIC OR DANCE, PRACTICAL OR ACADEMIC, SUCH AS MUSICOLOGY CHOREOGRAPHY, AND DANCE NOTATION ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.
SELECTION OF SUITABLE CANDIDATES FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY MEANS OF AN AUDITION TO BE HELI) IN APRIL OR MAY. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE AUDITION IN PERSON THIS ALSO APPLIES TO APPLICANTS CURRENTLY STUDYING ABROAD.
OVERSEAS APPLICANTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE AUDITION MAY ASL FOR EXEMPI ION FROM ’I HI: AUDITION. THEY7 ARIl REQUIRED TO SUBMIT CERTIFIED UNEDITED VIDEO CASSETTE TAPES OR CASSETTE TAPE OF THEIR PERFORMANCE, TOGETHER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEIR SCHOOL HEADS TO THE MUSIC FUND FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE SCHOLARSHIP WILL COVER TUITION FEES, A TECHNICAL ALLOWANCE AND A RETURN PASSAGE TO THE INTENDED COUNTRY OF STUDY. A SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE MAY BE GRANTED ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL NEED.
APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO CHOOSE ONE-YEAR COURSES SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NORMALLY FOR ONE YEAR ONLY.
AS THE
/CANDIDATES APPLYING .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
- 15 -
CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR MUSIC OR MUSIC RELATED STUDIES SHOULD PREFERABLY BE UNDER THE AGE OF 23 ON SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, AND HAVE STUDIED MUSIC UP TO THE STANDARD OF THE DIPLOMA GRANTED BY THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS OR ITS EQUIVALENT.
AS FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DANCE OR DANCE RELATED STUDIES, CANDIDATES SHOULD PREFERABLY BE AGED BETWEEN 16 AND 23 ON SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR AND HAVE STUDIED DANCE UP TO THE STANDARD OF THE DIPLOMA GRANTED BY THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS OR ITS EQUIVALENT.
IN ADDITION, ALL APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST THREE YEARS’ RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND SECRETARIAT, MUSIC OFFICE, 25TH FLOOR, WANCHA1 TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND SECRETARIAT NOT LATER THAN MARCH 2.
FURTHER DETAILS MAY BE OBTAINED ON TEL. 8235343.
--------0-----------
1989 STAMP PACK ON SALE ON MONDAY » * * t *
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC WONG, ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE ANNUAL STAMP PACK FOR 1989 WILL BE GO ON SALE ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 5).
THE PACK CONTAINS A SET OF ALL THE SPECIAL STAMPS ISSUED IN 1989. THESE WERE:
LUNAR NEW YEAR OF THE SNAKE (SOUVENIR SHEET)
CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL
MODERN PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES OF HONG KONG
HONG KONG PEOPLE
HONG KONG BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
ROYAL VISIT 1989
THE PACK, AT $65, IS IDEAL FOR A GIFT AND FOR PERSONAL COLLECTION, AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT PHILATELIC COUNTERS OF THE FOLLOWING POST OFFICES:
AIRPORT POST OFFICE, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE POST OFFICE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, GRANVILLE ROAD POST OFFICE, PEAK POST OFFICE, SHA TIN CENTRAL POST OFFICE, AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE.
/16........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
- 16 -
ID CARD REMINDER FOR MEN BORN BETWEEN 1932-35
******
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) REMINDED MEN BORN IN 1932, 1933, 1934, OR 1935 TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS BEFORE FEBRUARY 24.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID: "TO AVOID THE LAST-MINUTE RUSH, MEN OF THIS AGE GROUP WHO HAVE NOT YET APPLIED FOR A NEW ID CARD SHOULD COME FORWARD WITHOUT DELAY.
"FAILURE TO APPLY FOR A NEW ID CARD WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD IS AN OFFENCE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $3,000," HE ADDED.
APPLICANTS CAN GO TO ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES TO RENEW THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
THESE OFFICES ARE OPEN FROM 8 AM TO 9.30 PM DAILY, EXCEPT SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
"THE ISSUE OFFICES ARE VERY CROWDED IN THE EVENINGS. TO AVOID HAVING TO QUEUE UP FOR A LONG TIME AT THE ISSUE OFFICES OR TO COME BACK ON ANOTHER DAY, APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO GO TO THESE OFFICES IN THE MORNINGS OR THE AFTERNOONS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THEY MAY MAKE USE OF THE PHONE-IN SERVICE TO ARRANGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT BY CAI.LING THE OFFICE OF THEIR CHOICE.
THE ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE ISSUE OFFICES ARE:
HONG KONG : BASEMENT, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI.
TEL. NO. 5747070
EAST KOWLOON : AMOY PLAZA, SECOND FLOOR, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD.
TEL. NO. 7553679
WEST KOWLOON : CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SECOND FLOOR, 393 CANTON ROAD, YAU MA TEI.
TEL. NO. 7232424
TSUEN WAN : EAST ASIA COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 29-37 TSUEN FU STREET.
TEL. NO. 1981259
SHA TIN : SHOP 8A, SECOND FLOOR, CHANWAY SHOPPING
CENTRE, 11-17, SHA TIN CENTRE STREET.
TEL. NO. 6059108
/YUEN LONG .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
- 17 -
YUEN LONG : HOP YICK CENTRE, SECOND FLOOR, 31 HOP YICK ROAD. TEL. NO. 4771543
TUEN MUN : CHI LOK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, CHI LOK FA YUEN. TEL. NO. 4580862
SHEUNG SHUT : TSUEN WO TAI LAU, GROUND FLOOR, 82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEK WU HUI. TEL. NO. 6727191
INFORMATION ABOUT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED CAN BE OBTAINED BY DIALLING THE 24-HOUR RECORDED MESSAGE SERVICE, ON 8909393.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW TAKES EFFECT ON DECEMBER 1.......................... 1
LEGISLATION PACKAGE TO ENSURE GAS SAFETY ....................................... 4
CONSULTANCY STUDY ON SUPERCOMPUTING COMMISSIONED ............................... 5
AMENDMENTS TO TUEN MUN OZP GAZETTED............................................. 6
PRIVATE LOTS TO BE RESUMED FOR DEVELOPMENT...................................... 8
TENDERS INVITED FOR PTU DEPOT SITE FORMATION WORK .............................. 9
TENDERS FOR PIER EXTENSION WORKS CALLED ........................................ 9
TAI PO ELDERLY TREATED TO 'YAN YAT' PARTY ..................................... 10
RHKR RECRUITS JUNIOR LEADERS .................................................. 10
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
NEW CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW TAKES EFFECT ON DECEMBER 1 f
A MAJOR PIECE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION, THE CONTROL OF EXEMPTION CLAUSES ORDINANCE, WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON DECEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.
THE COMMENCEMENT NOTICE OF THE ORDINANCE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR PETER CHEUNG, SAID THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR AND THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION WAS TO IMPLEMENT THE ORDINANCE 12 MONTHS AFTER ITS ENACTMENT IN ORDER TO GIVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TIME TO REVIEW THEIR USE OF CONTRACTS AND TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY AMENDMENTS.
’’THE GOVERNMENT HAS WRITTEN TO BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS TO EXPLAIN THE CHANGES AND THE CONSUMER COUNCIL INTENDS TO RUN A SERIES OF SEMINARS FOR BUSINESSMEN TO FURTHER EXPLAIN THE DETAILS OF THE ORDINANCE AND ITS IMPACT ON TRADING PRACTICES,” HE SAID.
’’THE ORDINANCE IS CONCERNED WITH THOSE EXEMPTION CLAUSES IN CONTRACTS AND NOTICES SEEKING TO EXCLUDE LIABILITY FOR NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF CONTRACT. SOME OF THESE CLAUSES AMOUNT TO DENIAL OF A PERSON’S LEGITIMATE RIGHTS AND EXPECTATIONS IN A SITUATION WHERE ONE PARTY, BECAUSE OF ITS STRONGER BARGAINING POSITION, IS ABLE TO DICTATE TERMS TO A WEAKER. OR LESS SOPHISTICATED PARTY.”
MR CHEUNG EXPLAINED THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LEGISLATION WAS BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION WHICH OBSERVED THAT THE USE OF EXEMPTION CLAUSES OFTEN LED TO ABUSE, PARTICULARLY WHERE THE PARTIES TO A CONTRACT DID NOT HAVE EQUAL BARGAINING STRENGTH.
’’THE COMMISSION BELIEVED THAT THE BENEFITS OF SOME MEASURE OF CONTROL OUTWEIGHED ANY ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGES WHICH MIGHT BE CAUSED BY THIS LIMITED INTERFERENCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF CONTRACT,” HE SAID.
SUMMARISING THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE ORDINANCE, MR CHEUNG SAID IT PROVIDED THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF EXEMPTION CLAUSES WERE AUTOMATICALLY INEFFECTIVE AND CERTAIN OTHER TYPES WERE SUBJECT TO A REASONABLENESS TEST.
THE FOUR TYPES OF CLAUSES THAT ARE AUTOMATICALLY INEFFECTIVE ARE THOSE THAT CANNOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. BE JUSTIFIED. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS:
* FIRSTLY, AN EXEMPTION CLAUSE RELATING TO DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY RESULTING FROM NEGLIGENCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NOTICES DISPLAYED IN SOME CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS PURPORTING TO EXCLUDE LIABILITY FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF TH-B PLAYGROUND OPERATOR.
/THERE CAN .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
THERE CAN BE NO JUSTIFICATION IN THAT, OR ANY OTHER SITUATION FOR DENYING A PERSON A REMEDY FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY ANOTHER PERSON’S NEGLIGENCE. THE ORDINANCE, THEREFORE, PUTS AN END TO THE UNFAIRNESS CAUSED BY SUCH CLAUSES.
* SECONDLY, AN EXEMPTION CLAUSE IN A GUARANTEE OF CONSUMER GOODS.
AT PRESENT, MANY SO-CALLED “GUARANTEES” IN FACT TAKE AWAY GREATER RIGHTS THAN THEY GIVE AND ARE THEREFORE TRAPS FOR CONSUMERS. THE ORDINANCE PREVENTS GUARANTEES OPERATING IN THIS WAY.
* THIRDLY, A CLAUSE IN A CONTRACT FOR THE SALE OF GOODS EXCLUDING THE SELLER’S LIABILITY FOR SELLING GOODS WHICH DID .NOT BELONG TO HIM.
IT IS CONSIDERED UNFAIR FOR ANY BUYER TO HAVE TO BEAR THE LOSS CAUSED BY A WRONGFUL ACT OF THE SELLER AND, IN THIS RESPECT, THE ORDINANCE REPLACES A PROVISION THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE SALE OF GOODS ORDINANCE.
» FOURTHLY, A CLAUSE LN A CONSUMER CONTRACT FOR THE SALE OR SUPPLY OF GOODS EXCLUDING THE SUPPLIER’S LIABILITY IF THE GOODS ARE DEFECTIVE OR DO NOT CORRESPOND WITH THE CONTRACT DESCRIPTION.
HERE THE ORDINANCE PROTECTS ONLY PARTIES WHO ARE CONSUMERS, SINCE VERY OFTEN THEY ARE THE WEAKER OR THE LESS SOPHISTICATED PARTY IN A TRANSACTION. ALSO, WHERE A PERSON OR FIRM OBTAINS GOODS IN THE COURSE OF BUSINESS, THERE MAY BE SITUATIONS IN WHICH IT IS REASONABLE FOR HIM TO TAKE THE RISK OF THE GOODS BEING DEFECTIVE.
THE SALE OF GOODS ORDINANCE ALREADY CONTAINS A PROVISION TO THIS EFFECT IN RELATION TO SALES AND THE CONTROL OF EXEMPTION CLAUSES ORDINANCE EXTENDS THE PROTECTION TO SUPPLY CONTRACTS, FOR EXAMPLE, CONTRACTS OF HIRE AND HIRE-PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, AN EXEMPTION CLAUSE IS EFFECTIVE ONLY IN SO FAR AS IT SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENT OF REASONABLENESS IF IT PURPORTS TO EXCLUDE OR RESTRICT LIABILITY:
* FIRSTLY, FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE, OTHER THAN DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY, RESULTING FROM NEGLIGENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A FIRM OF DRY CLEANERS NEGLIGENTLY LOSES A SUIT LEFT WITH IT BY A CUSTOMER, A CLAUSE PURPORTING TO LIMIT THE LIABILITY OF THE FIRM IN RESPECT OF THAT LOSS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE REASONABLENESS TEST;
/* SECONDLY, TO .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
- 3 -
* SECONDLY, TO A PERSON DEALING AS CONSUMER, OR OF A PARTY USING HIS OWN WRITTEN STANDARD TERMS OF BUSINESS, IN RESPECT OF BREACH OF CONTRACT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF (I) A WOMAN BOOKS A CAR FOR HER WEDDING DAY AND THE CAR FAILS TO ARRIVE OR (II) A SUPPLIER OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT (WHO USES STANDARD TERMS OF BUSINESS) FAILS TO DELIVER EQUIPMENT CONTRACTED FOR, AN EXEMPTION CLAUSE PURPORTING TO LIMIT THE LIABILITY FOR A BREACH OF CONTRACT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE REASONABLENESS TEST;
» THIRDLY, TO A PERSON DEALING OTHERWISE THAN AS CONSUMER, IN RESPECT OF THE IMPLIED UNDERTAKINGS AS TO THE QUALITY OF GOODS SOLD, OR AS TO THE TITLE TO, OR QUALITY OF GOODS OTHERWISE SUPPLIED. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON HIRES FOR HIS BUSINESS A PHOTOCOPYING MACHINE AND, ON ARRIVAL, THE MACHINE DOES NOT WORK, A CLAUSE PURPORTING TO EXCLUDE LIABILITY FOR ANY DEFECTS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE REASONABLENESS TEST.
THE REQUIREMENT OF REASONABLENESS ALSO APPLIES:
♦ FIRSTLY, WHERE ONE PARTY DEALS AS A CONSUMER, OR ON THE OTHER PARTY’S WRITTEN STANDARD TERMS OF BUSINESS, AND THE OTHER PARTY CLAIMS TO BE ENTITLED NOT TO PERFORM ANY
OBLIGATION UNDER THE CONTRACT OR TO PERFORM THE CONTRACT IN
A WAY THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT WHICH WAS
REASONABLY EXPECTED OF HIM. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON BOOKS WITH A TRAVEL AGENT A CRUISE ON A NAMED SHIP, GOING ON A FIXED ROUTE, A CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO
THE REASONABLENESS TEST IF IT PURPORTED TO ALLOW THE TRAVEL AGENT TO CANCEL THE BOOKING OR TO SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER SHIP OR ROUTE; AND
» SECONDLY, WHERE A CONTRACT TERM PURPORTS TO REQUIRE A PERSON DEALING AS A CONSUMER TO INDEMNIFY ANOTHER PERSON IN RESPECT OF THAT OTHER PERSON’S LIABILITY FOR NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF CONTRACT. FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE A RESTAURANT OFFERS A VALET PARKING SERVICE, A CLAUSE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE
REASONABLENESS TEST IF IT REQUIRED THE CUSTOMER TO INDEMNIFY THE RESTAURANT AGAINST LOSS CAUSED TO THIRD PARTIES BY THE NEGLIGENT DRIVING OF ITS EMPLOYEE.
’’THE ORDINANCE ENABLES THE COURT TO DETERMINE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF SUCH A CLAUSE IN A FLEXIBLE MANNER," MR CHEUNG SAID.
"IN APPLYING THE TEST OF REASONABLENESS, THE COURTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE REGARD TO A WIDE RANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH THE TERM OR NOTICE WAS EXPRESSED.
"IN CASES RELATING TO THE SALE OR SUPPLY OF GOODS, THE COURTS ARE DIRECTED TO HAVE REGARD TO THE FACTORS LISTED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE ORDINANCE."
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/4 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2,
1990
- 4 -
LEGISLATION PACKAGE TO ENSURE GAS SAFETY * » » * *
HONG KONG WILL HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF LEGISLATION TO ENSURE GAS SAFETY TERRITORY-WIDE WITH THE GAZETTAL OF THE GAS SAFETY BILL TODAY (FRIDAY).
DETAILING THE GAS SAFETY BILL AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, MR MIAO CHI, SAID THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, WHICH HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RECENTLY, WOULD RECEIVE ITS FIRST READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 14.
HE SAID IN ADDITION TO THE BILL, SIX SETS OF GAS SAFETY REGULATIONS HAD ALSO BEEN PREPARED FOR IMPLEMENTATION AFTER THE BILL'S ENACTMENT.
MR MIAO POINTED OUT THAT THIS COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF GAS SAFETY LEGISLATION WOULD ENSURE, SO FAR AS WAS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE, THE SAFETY OF GAS CONSUMERS, PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE GAS INDUSTRY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AGAINST RISKS TO THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY ARISING OUT OF THE IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE, STORAGE, TRANSPORT, SUPPLY AND USE OF FUEL-GASES.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE LEGISLATION WOULD GIVE LEGISLATIVE BACKING TO THE NUMEROUS GAS SAFETY MEASURES INTRODUCED SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GAS ADVISER'S OFFICE (SINCE RENAMED THE GAS STANDARDS OFFICE) IN 1982.
"IT HAS BEEN DRAWN UP IN FULL CONSULTATION WITH THE GAS INDUSTRY AND WITH THE BENEFIT OF THE EXPERIENCE GAINED BY THE GAS STANDARDS OFFICE AND THE GAS INDUSTRY IN IMPROVING GAS SAFETY STANDARDS SINCE 1982.
"AS A RESULT, THE LEGISLATION IS PROPERLY ADAPTED TO SUIT LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND IS GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE GAS INDUSTRY, WHICH AS A WHOLE IS NOW GEARED UP TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE, WIDE-RANGING LEGISLATION," HE NOTED.
MR MIAO SAID THE GENERAL APPROACH OF THE LEGISLATION WAS TO STATE IN GENERAL TERMS THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET, ALTHOUGH WHERE APPROPRIATE, SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS WERE LAID DOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SAFE INSTALLATION OF GAS WATER HEATERS.
"HOW THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ARE TO BE MET WILL BE SET OUT IN CODES OF PRACTICE DRAWN UP EITHER BY THE RELEVANT PARTS OF THE GAS INDUSTRY FOR GOVERNMENT APPROVAL OR BY THE GAS STANDARDS OFFICE ITSELF," HE ADDED.
MR MIAO SAID SOME OF THE MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE GAS SAFETY BILL INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GAS AUTHORITY, A GAS SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND AN APPEALS BOARD TO HEAR APPEALS AGAINST CERTAIN DECISIONS OR ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE AUTHORITY.
■ IX A-V
/THERE WERE ............
I 4 /
* ' i
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
- 5 -
THERE WERE ALSO PROVISIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS AND FOR THE GAS AUTHORITY TO ISSUE AND APPROVE CODES OF PRACTICE, HE SAID.
THE SIX SETS OF REGULATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT THE AIMS OF THE BILL ARE:
». GAS SAFETY (GAS QUALITY) REGULATIONS, WHICH SPECIFY SAFETY LIMITS ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE FUEL GASES BEING MANUFACTURED IN OR IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG, SO THAT AT ALL TIMES, THE GASES MAY BE SUPPLIED TO PREMISES AND USED IN GAS APPLIANCES WITHOUT DETRIMENT TO SAFETY;
» GAS SAFETY (GAS SUPPLY) REGULATIONS, WHICH WILL IMPOSE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ON THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES, VEHICLES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT USED IN RELATION TO THE SUPPLY OF GAS TO CONSUMERS;
* GAS SAFETY (REGULATION OF GAS SUPPLY COMPANIES) REGULATIONS, WHICH WILL INTRODUCE A REGISTRATION SCHEME FOR GAS SUPPLY COMPANIES TO ENSURE THAT ONLY COMPETENT ORGANISATIONS IMPORT, MANUFACTURE OR SUPPLY FUEL GASES;
» GAS SAFETY (REGISTRATION OF GAS INSTALLERS AND GAS CONTRACTORS I REGULATIONS, WHICH WILL INTRODUCE REGISTRATION SCHEMES FOR GAS INSTALLERS AND GAS CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE COMPETENCE, AND PROVIDE THAT ONLY REGISTERED GAS INSTALLERS AND GAS CONTRACTORS MAY CARRY OUT GAS INSTALLATION WORK;
» GAS SAFETY (INSTALLATION AND USE) REGULATIONS, WHICH WILL IMPROVE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ON THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF GAS FITTINGS, INCLUDING GAS APPLIANCES; AND
» GAS SAFETY (MISCELLANEOUSI REGULATIONS, WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTAIN PROVISIONS TO ENSURE THAT ONLY SAFE GAS TUBING IS SUPPLIED.
--------0----------
CONSULTANCY STUDY ON SUPFRCOMPUTING COMMISSIONED « * t t ♦
THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, WHICH ADVISES THE GOVERNMENT ON SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES, HAS COMMISSIONED A $2.5 MILLION CONSULTANCY STUDY ON SUPERCOMPUTING IN HONG KONG AND A REVIEW OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ("IT") ENVIRONMENT AND MANPOWER.
THE CONTRACT FOR THE CONSULTANCY STUDY WAS SIGNED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY DR COLIN GREENFIELD, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, AND DR .1 . .1 . WEAVER OF BIS MACKINTOSH LTD.
/BIS MACKINTOSH .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
6
BIS MACKINTOSH WILL UNDERTAKE THE STUDY IN A CONSORTIUM WITH HARWELL LABORATORY UK AND RESEARCH ASIA LTD.
THE BIS CONSORTIUM WAS SELECTED FOR THE MINI-SUPERCOMPUTER STUDY FROM ABOUT 20 WORLDWIDE BIDDERS. SUBSEQUENT TO THE SELECTION, THE STUDY SCOPE WAS EXTENDED TO COVER A REVIEW OF THE "IT” ENVIRONMENT AND "IT" MANPOWER IN HONG KONG.
SPEAKING AFTER THE CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY, DR GREENFIELD SAID THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE SUPERCOMPUTING CONSULTANCY STUDY WAS TO EXAMINE WHETHER THERE WAS A NEED FOR A SUPERCOMPUTER FACILITY IN HONG KONG AND, IF SO, TO IDENTIFY PROBABLE APPLICATION AREAS AND TO ADVISE ON THE TECHNICAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF USING MINI-SUPERCOMPUTERS TO MEET THE APPLICATION NEEDS.
'THE STUDY WILL ALSO ASSESS THE IMPLICATIONS AND POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT MEETING THE DEMAND FOR SUPERCOMPUTING SERVICES IN HONG KONG AND WILL GIVE AN ASSESSMENT OF INDUSTRY TRENDS IN SUPERCOMPUTING WITH PREDICTIONS FOR THREE YEARS AHEAD,” HE SAID.
AS REGARDS THE REVIEW OF "IT” ENVIRONMENT AND MANPOWER, DR GREENFIELD SAID THE MAIN OBJECTIVES WERE TO EXAMINE THE APPLICATION OF "IT" AND "IT" INFRASTRUCTURE IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AND OBSTACLES TO FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE APPLICATION OF ”IT”, THE AVAILABILITY AND SUPPLY OF "IT” MANPOWER.
"THE REVIEW WILL ALSO RECOMMEND AS NECESSARY POSSIBLE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES THAT MIGHT ASSIST THE SHORT AND LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF *IT’ IN HONG KONG.
"THE DATA COLLECTED WILL ALSO BE COMPARED WITH THE SITUATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES PARTICULARLY IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION,” HE SAID.
THE STUDY WILL COMMENCE IN EARLY FEBRUARY AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY EARLY JUNE THIS YEAR.
---------0-----------
AMENDMENTS TO THEN MUN OZP GAZETTED
* * * ♦
AMENDMENTS TO THE APPROVED TUEN MUN OUTLINE ZONING PLAN HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE AMENDMENTS ARE MADE TO REFLECT LAND USE CHANGES AND TO INCORPORATE NEW DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS IN TUEN MUN.
/A SITE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
A SITE WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 0.8 HECTARE TO THE SOUTH OF YEUNG SIU HANG VILLAGE IS REZONED FROM "VILLAGE TYPE DEVELOPMENT" TO "OPEN SPACE" TO PROVIDE AN EXTENSION AREA FOR THE YEUNG SIU HANG GARDEN WHICH HAS JUST BEEN OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS SITE WAS PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED FOR THE EXPANSION OF THIS INDIGENOUS VILLAGE. TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF THE ABOVE VILLAGE LAND, AN EXISTING FLAT PLATFORM TO THE WEST OF THE VILLAGE IS NOW REZONED FROM "OPEN SPACE" AND "GREEN BELT" TO "VILLAGE TYPE DEVELOPMENT".
ANOTHER AMENDMENT IS A ZONING REVISION TO INCORPORATE A PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ABOVE A LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) TERMINUS AT SAM SHING WHICH FORMS PART OF THE PHASE II LRT SYSTEM IN TURN MUN.
A GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE WOULD BE INCLUDED ON THE GROUND LEVEL OF THE LRT TERMINUS WHILE THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS ARE PROPOSED ABOVE.
IN RELATION TO THIS LRT TERMINUS DEVELOPMENT, MINOR REVISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE TO THE ALIGNMENTS OF ROAD D3 AND THE PROPOSED LRT ROUTE IN THE AREA.
IN ADDITION, A PROPOSED OPEN SPACE TO THE IMMEDIATE SOUTHWEST OF THE LRT TERMINUS AND A "GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION/COMMUNITY" ZONE TO THE EAST OF THE TERMINUS HAVE BEEN INSERTED ON THE OUTLINE ZONING PLAN TO REFLECT THE LATEST LAND USE PROPOSALS FOR THE AREA.
THE PROPOSED OPEN SPACE WOULD ALSO SERVE AS A BUFFER BETWEEN THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ABOVE THE LRT TERMINUS AND INDUSTRIAL AND CARGO HANDLING AREAS TO THE SOUTHWEST.
A LARGE AREA NEAR SO KWUN WAT IS REZONED FROM "RESIDENTIAL (GROUP B)" TO "VILLAGE TYPE DEVELOPMENT". THIS ACCORDS WITH THE APPROVED LOCAL LAYOUT PLAN TO PROVIDE FOR A VILLAGE RESITE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NIM WAN VILLAGERS AFFECTED BY THE WEST NEW TERRITORIES LANDFILL PROJECT IN NORTHWESTERN TUEN MUN.
AN AREA OF ABOUT 2.1 HECTARES OF THE JUNCTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD (TAJ LAM) AND TSI NG TAJ ROAD IS REZONED FROM "GOVERNMENT/ I NST I TUT I ON/( (IMMUNITY" TO " RES I DENT I Al, (GROUP B)". THIS AREA WAS PREVIOUSLY RESERVED FOR A GOVERNMENT USE WHICH IS NOW NOT REQUIRED.
THE PROPOSED LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL USE IS COMPATIBLE WITH Till- EXISTING AND PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND TO ACCORD WITH THE APPROVED LOCAL LAYOUT PLAN FOR THE AREA.
Till' AMENDMENT PLAN CAN BE INSPECTED AT :
* THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, FOURTH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG;
/* TUEN MUN ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
8
t TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1 TUEN HI ROAD, TUEN MUN; AND
* THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING ENTRANCE, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
ANY PERSON AFFECTED BY THE AMENDMENTS MAY SUBMIT THEIR OBJECTION IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD BEFORE APRIL 2 THIS YEAR.
COPIES OF THE AMENDMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG AND THE KOWLOON MAP AND PLAN SALES SECTION AT 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD AT $10 PER UNCOLOURED COPY AND $60 PER COLOURED COPY.
------0--------
PRIVATE LOTS TO BE RESUMED FOR DEVELOPMENT ♦ t ♦ t *
TWENTY-ONE PRIVATE LAND LOTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE RESUMED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT.
IN YUEN LONG, PORTIONS OF TWO PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LOTS WITH A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 163.5 SQUARE METRES WILL BE RESUMED FOR THE LAYING OF A 1,200-MILL1METRE DIAMETER TWIN-CULVERT ACROSS THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 100-METRE OPEN CHANNEL AT WAI TSAI. THIS WILL BE 1.2 METRES WIDE.
IN SHA TIN, 19 PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LOTS WITH A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 3,267.9 SQUARE METRES WILL BE RESUMED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ACCESS SHAFT AT FA SAM HANG, AS PART OF THE TOLO HARBOUR EFFLUENT EXPORT SCHEME.
RESUMPTION NOTICES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE LOTS WILL REVERT TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE EXPIRY OF THREE MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE POSTING OF NOTICES ON THE LOTS.
--------0------------
/9 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
- 9 -
TENDERS INVITED FOR PTU DEPOT SITE FORMATION WORK **#»»»* /
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR SITE FORMATION FOR A NEW DEPOT IN FANLING FOR THE POLICE TACTICAL UNIT.
THE DEPOT WILL COMPRISE AN OPEN AREA FOR AN ASSAULT COURSE AND SHOOTING RANGE, TWO MAIN BUILDINGS TO HOUSE TRAINING FACILITIES AND THREE SINGLE STOREY BUILDINGS FOR A SERVICE AREA.
THE SITE FORMATION WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY THIS YEAR AND TAKE FIVE MONTHS TO COMPLETE. THE DEPOT IS SCHEDULED TO BE IN SERVICE BY SEPTEMBER 1991.
TENDER FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT AT 34TH FLOOR, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON FEBRUARY 23.
-------------------0------- TENDERS FOR PIER EXTENSION WORKS CALLED * ♦ * * t
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR FINGER PIER EXTENSION WORKS UNDER PHASE I OF THE HUNG HOM BAY RECLAMATION.
A TENDER NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE RAILWAY DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT, MR DEREK TAYLOR, SAID THE PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE AN EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING FINGER PIER AT THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION’S KOWLOON GOODS YARD.
THE CONTRACT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 337-METRE GRAVITY TYPE SEAWALL AND MOORING FACILITIES, FORMATION OF A FREIGHT HANDLING AREA MEASURING ABOUT 7,110 SQUARE METRES, EXTENSION OF TWO EXISTING CULVERTS, CONSTRUCTION OF STORMWATER DRAINS, AND INSTALLATION OF LIGHTING, AND ASSOCIATED WORKS.
MR TAYLOR SAID THE WORK WOULD BEGIN IN APRIL AND BE COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER NEXT YEAR.
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BY THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT WHICH WILL ALSO SUPERVISE CONSTRUCTION.
- - 0 - -
/10 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1990
- 10 -
TAI PO ELDERLY TREATED TO 'YAN YAT’ PARTY * » » * »
ABOUT 1,600 ELDERLY PEOPLE IN TAI PO WERE TREATED TO A "YAN YAT" (EVERYONE’S BIRTHDAY) PARTY AT TWO RESTAURANTS IN THE DISTRICT THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE PARTIES WERE ARRANGED BY THE TAI PO CHINESE NEW YEAR PROGRAMME ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
THE PARTICIPANTS WERE ALL AGED 73 OR ABOVE, AND COMPRISED ABOUT 500 MEN AND 1,100 WOMEN. ALL OF THEM RECEIVED LAISEE PACKETS FROM A LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADER, MR TANG YEUK-FAN.
THE FIVE ELDEST PERSONS ATTENDING WERE PRESENTED GOLD MEDALS BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR THOMAS YIU, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD, MR HO YUNG-SANG.
VOLUNTEER WORKERS WERE PRESENT TO ASSIST THE SENIOR CITIZENS AT THE FUNCTION.
------0--------
RHKR RECRUITS JUNIOR LEADERS * * » » »
THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) IS RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS FOR ITS JUNIOR LEADERS CORPS. THE NUMBER OF NEW RECRUITS THIS YEAR IS TARGETTED AT 140.
APPLICANTS MUST BE MALE, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 16, PHYSICALLY FIT AND OF GOOD CONDUCT.
THEY MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND WRITE CHINESE AND ENGLISH, WILLING TO OBEY DISCIPLINE AND UNDERGO TRAINING, AND MUST HAVE THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS.
A FOUR-YEAR PROGRESSIVE TRAINING COURSE AIMING AT DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND SELF-RELIANCE AND PROMOTING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE PROVIDED TO SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS.
THE TRAINING WILL INCLUDE FOOTDRILLS, CAMPCRAFT, MAP READING, EXPEDITION, ORIENTEERING, FIRST A'D, RADIO COMMUNICATION, SHOOTING, SWIMMING, FENCING, BAND, CANOEING AND LIFE-SAVING.
SOME OF THESE WILL BE LINKED WITH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD SCHEME.
MEMBERS OF THE JUNIOR LEADERS CORPS ARE PROVIDED WITH UNIFORM AND RATIONS.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, 1 SPORTS ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY, HONG KONG OR BY TELEPHONING 5761371. THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION IS FEBRUARY 10.
- 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
RENT ALLOWANCE REVISED ........................................ 1
HISTORIC STUDY HALL TO BE RESTORED ............................ 1
FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION IN CHAI WAN ......................... 3
YUEN LONG TO STAGE FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL ....................... 3
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN ABERDEEN .................... 4
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS TN TAT KOK TSUI ................ 5
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE ON TOLO HIGHWAY ........................ 5
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 3. 1990
1
RENT ALLOWANCE REVISED
*****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT RENT ALLOWANCES UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAVE BEEN INCREASED WITH EFFECT FROM FEBRUARY 1 (THURSDAY).
THE REVISED MAXIMUM RENT ALLOWANCE IS NOW $488 FOR A SINGLE PERSON. $1,140 FOR A FAMILY WITH THREE MEMBERS. AND $1,425 FOR FIVE-MEMBER FAMILY.
’THE REVISION IS BASED ON THE LEVELS OF RENT CHARGED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT." A SWD SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
’HOUSEHOLDS WITH TWO MEMBERS. FOUR MEMBERS AND SIX OR MORE MEMBERS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE REVISION EXERCISE," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ABOUT 4,560 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE REVISION OF RENT ALLOWANCE RATES.
THE REVISION IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT $0.7 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR AND $4.3 MILLION FOR 1990-91. THE OLD AND REVISED MAXIMUM RENT ALLOWANCES PAYABLE UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME ARE AS FOLLOWS:
NO. OF ELIGIBLE MEMBERS
IN THE HOUSEHOLD OLD RATE REVISED
$ $
1 405 488
2 908 908*
3 908 1.140
4 1.238 1,238*
5 1 ,238 1 ,425
6 AND ABOVE 1,64 3 1.643*
(* SAME AS EXISTING RATES)
----------------0-------- HISTORIC STUDY HALL TO BE RESTORED * * * * *
BUILT MORE HALL IN YUEN LONG THIS STUD\ IN HONG KONG SINCE YEARS. THAN 140 YEARS AGO. THE DECAYING KUN TING STUDY IS TO HAVE A FACELIFT BY THE AUTUMN OF THIS YEAR. HALL IS CONSIDERED THE BEST OF ITS KIND REMAINING : THE DEMOLITION OF SEVERAL OTHERS OVER THE PAST FEW /ONLY A
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1990
- 2 -
ONLY A FEW SIMILAR HALLS STILL EXIST IN SOUTH CHINA.
THE STUDY HALL WAS BUILT BY THE TANG CLAN OF PING SHAN DURING THE REIGN OF THE DAOGUANG EMPEROR OF THE QING DYNASTY (1821-1850) TO COMMEMORATE THEIR FIRST GENERATION ANCESTOR, TANG KUN-TING, WHO WAS AT THAT TIME A WEALTHY AND PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE CLAN.
THE CLAN IS ONE OF THE LONGEST ESTABLISHED FAMILIES IN THE TERRITORY.
LIKE OTHER STUDY HALLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. THE HALL WAS DESIGNED FOR THE YOUTH OF THE CLAN TO STUDY FOR A DEGREE IN THE IMPERIAL CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION OF THE QING GOVERNMENT.
BUT, UNLIKE OTHERS, THE HALL WAS ALSO THE VENUE FOR HOLDING BANQUETS AND THE TABLETS OF ANCESTORS WERE ALSO PLACED THERE.
THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED IN THE TRADITIONAL TWO-HALL STYLE, WITH ADJOINING WINGS. IT IS STUDDED WITH SUPERB TIMBER CARVINGS, PANELS AND MURALS.
THERE IS ALSO AN INTERESTING COLLECTION OF GRADUATION BANNERS KEPT IN THE MAIN HALL.
I
CONNECTED TO THE STUDY HALL IS A LARGE KITCHEN WHICH WAS USED FOR THE PREPARATION OF BANQUETS FOR GUESTS AND IMPORTANT OFFICIALS.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ANTIQUITIES AND THE RESTORATION WORK IS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY .SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT A COST OF S2 MILLION. WHICH :BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
MONUMENTS OFFICE, THE ARCHITECTURAL HAS BEEN DONATED
THE RESTORATION WORK BEGAN MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
LAST MONTH AND WILL TAKE NINE
FULL REPAIRS WILL BE DONE TO THE BADLY DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE, WITH SPECIAL EFFORTS BEING MADE TO RESTORE THE DAMAGED TIMBER CARVINGS, DOOR PANELLING, AND ALTARS.
GREAT CARE IS NEEDED IN PERSERVING THE DECORATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE MURALS DEPICTING BATTLE SCENES AND FEATS OF HEROISM, AS TANG KUN-TING TOOK A KEEN INTEREST IN THE TEACHING OF MARTIAL ARTS.
THE STUDY HALL WILL NOT BE DEMOLISHED OR BE CONVERTED FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS.
ON COMPLETION OF THE RESTORATION WORK, THE HALL MAY BE OPENED FOR DISPLAY, PERHAPS AS A MUSEUM OF MARTIAL ARTS TO WHICH THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS.
/3 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1990 1
RENT ALLOWANCE REVISED
*****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT RENT ALLOWANCES UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAVE BEEN INCREASED WITH EFFECT FROM FEBRUARY 1 (THURSDAY).
THE REVISED MAXIMUM RENT ALLOWANCE IS NOW $488 FOR A SINGLE PERSON, SI.140 FOR A FAMILY WITH THREE MEMBERS, AND SI,425 FOR FIVE-MEMBER FAMTI.Y.
'THE REVISION IS RASED ON THE LEVELS OF RENT CHARGED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT," A SWD SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
"HOUSEHOLDS WITH TWO MEMBERS, FOUR MEMBERS AND SIX OR MORE MEMBERS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE REVISION EXERCISE." HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ABOUT 4,560 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE REVISION OF RENT ALLOWANCE RATES.
THE REVISION IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT $0.7 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR AND $4.3 MILLION
FOR 1990-91. THE OLD AND REVISED UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME MAXIMUM RENT ARE AS FOLLOWS: ALLOWANCES PAYABLE
NO. OF ELIGIBLE MEMBERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD OLD RATE REVISED
$ $
1 405 488
2 908 908*
3 908 1.140
4 1.238 I ,238*
3 1 . 238 1 .425
6 AND ABOVE 1 .64 3 1.643*
(* SAME AS EXISTING RATES)
-----0------
HISTORIC STUDY HAL). TO BE RESTORED
*****
BUILT MORE THAN 140 YEARS AGO. THE DECAYING KUN TING STUDY HALL IN YUEN LONG IS TO HAVE A FACELIFT BY THE AUTUMN OF THIS YEAR.
THIS STUDY HALL IS CONSIDERED THE BEST OF ITS KIND REMAINING IN HONG KONG SINCE THE DEMOLITION OF SEVERAL OTHERS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
/ONLY A .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1990
2
ONLY A FEW SIMILAR HALLS STILL EXIST IN SOUTH CHINA.
THE STUDY HALL WAS BUILT BY THE TANG CLAN OF PING SHAN DURING THE REIGN OF THE DAOGUANG EMPEROR OF THE QING DYNASTY (1821-1850) TO COMMEMORATE THEIR FIRST GENERATION ANCESTOR, TANG KUN-TING, WHO WAS AT THAT TIME A WEALTHY AND PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE CLAN.
THE CLAN IS ONE OF THE LONGEST ESTABLISHED FAMILIES IN THE TERRITORY.
LIKE OTHER STUDY HALLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HALL WAS DESIGNED FOR THE YOUTH OF THE CLAN TO STUDY FOR A DEGREE IN THE IMPERIAL CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION OF THE QING GOVERNMENT.
BUT, UNLIKE OTHERS, THE HALL WAS ALSO THE VENUE FOR HOLDING BANQUETS AND THE TABLETS OF ANCESTORS WERE ALSO PLACED THERE.
THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED IN THE TRADITIONAL TWO-HALL STYLE, WITH ADJOINING WINGS. IT IS STUDDED WITH SUPERB TIMBER CARVINGS, PANELS AND MURALS.
THERE IS ALSO AN INTERESTING COLLECTION OF GRADUATION BANNERS KEPT IN THE MAIN HALL.
I
CONNECTED TO THE STUDY HALL IS A LARGE KITCHEN WHICH WAS USED FOR THE PREPARATION OF BANQUETS FOR GUESTS AND IMPORTANT OFFICIALS.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE, THE RESTORATION WORK IS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE ARCHITECTURAL > .SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT A COST OF S2 MILLION, WHICH HAS BEEN DONATED J BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
THE RESTORATION WORK BEGAN LAST MONTH AND WILL TAKE NINE J MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
FULL REPAIRS WILL BE DONE TO THE BADLY DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE, WITH SPECIAL EFFORTS BEING MADE TO RESTORE THE DAMAGED TIMBER CARVINGS, DOOR PANELLING, AND ALTARS.
GREAT CARE IS NEEDED IN PERSERVING THE DECORATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE MURALS DEPICTING BATTLE SCENES AND FEATS OF HEROISM, AS TANG KUN-TING TOOK A KEEN INTEREST IN THE TEACHING OF MARTIAL ARTS.
THE STUDY HALL WILL NOT BE DEMOLISHED OR BE CONVERTED FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS.
ON COMPLETION OF THE RESTORATION WORK, THE HALL MAY BE OPENED FOR DISPLAY, PERHAPS AS A MUSEUM OF MARTIAL ARTS TO WHICH THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS.
--------0-----------
/3.........
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 3, 1990
- 3 -
FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION IN CHAI WAN
*****
RESIDENTS IN CHAI WAN WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION FROM AN EXHIBITION TO BE HELD TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT WAN TSUI ESTATE. IT WILL BE OPEN FROM 11 AM TO 3.30 PM.
THE EXHIBITION, ORGANISED BY THE FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY WORKING GROUP, IS THE SIXTH IN A SERIES OF NINE FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WORKING GROUP SAID THE EXHIBITIONS AIM TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND THE POTENTIAL HAZARD OF ELECTRIC FAULT WHICH REMAINS A MAJOR CAUSE OF DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL FIRES.
"ELECTRIC FAULTS CAN BE AVOIDED IF REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF POWER POINTS AND APPLIANCES ARE CARRIED OUT BY PROFESSIONALS," HE SAID.
DISPLAY PANELS PROVIDED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE SET UP TO CONVEY THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO TAKE PART TN THE EXHIBITION TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC ON HOW TO PREVENT HILL FIRE.
"OFFICERS FROM THE TWO DEPARTMENTS WILL BE ON HAND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC." THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO RECEIVE A BOOKLET ON FIRE PREVENTION AT HOME AND SOUVENIRS SPONSORED BY KWONG ON BANK LTD.
--------0-----------
YUEN LONG TO STAGE FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL
*****
A LUNAR NEW YEAR. FUN FAIR AND FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD AT THE YUEN LONG MINI SOCCER PITCH IN TAI YUK ROAD TOMORROW (SUNDAY), BEGINNING AT 2 PM.
ORGANISED B\ THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT FIGHT THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, THE EVENT IS YOUNGSTERS WITH ENTERTAINMENT DURING THE FESTIVE SAME TIME DRIVING HOME THE FIGHT (RIME MESSAGE.
CRIME COMMITTEE WITH
AIMED AT PROVIDING
SEASON AND AT THE
THERE WILL BE STALL GAMES SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO BRING ACROSS A PARTICULAR FIGHT CRIME MESSAGE, AND AN EXHIBITION ON HOME SECURITY DEVICES.
/OFFICIATING AT .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1990
4
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROBIN IP; THE DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, MR LIM SHEK-YEUNG; DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR TAI KUEN ; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR LAI KWOK-YIU.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YUEN LONG LUNAR NEW YEAR FUN FAIR AND FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT THE YUEN LONG MINI SOCCER PITCH IN' TAI YUK ROAD. THE EVENT WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
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TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN ABERDEEN »»»»*♦
' THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 5). THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF TSUNG MAN STREET IN ABERDEEN FROM A POINT ABOUT SEVEN METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TUNG SING ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 55 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED A 24-HOUR DAILY URBAN CLEARWAY FOR SIX WEEKS.
. ALL MOTOR VEHICLES. EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT. WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM STOPPING FOR PASSENGERS AND GOODS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONE.
AT THE SAME TIME. THE EXISTING 7 AM TO 7 PM RESTRICTION ON THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OE I'SUNG MAN STREET FROM A POINT ABOUT SEVEN METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TUNG SING ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE TEMPORARILY CANCELLED.
ALSO, THE SECTION OE’ OLI) MAIN STREET. ABERDEEN FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH YUE FAI ROAD TO ITS NORTHERN JUNCTION WITH ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD WILL BE DESIGNATED A TEMPORARY BAN ZONE FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND VEHICLES EXCEEDING THREE TONNES FOR FOUR WEEKS TO FACILITATE ROAD RESURFACING WORKS.
EXCEPT THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMM ISSI ONER FOR TRANSPORT. ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND VEHICLES WEIGHING MORE THAN THREE TONNES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THIS BAN ZONE.
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/5 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1990
5
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI KOK TSUI
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TAI KOK TSUI FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 5) FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS BECAUSE OF ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WORKS.
VEHICLES OVER SIX METRES LONG WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER EASTBOUND FUK LEE STREET BETWEEN MAN ON STREET AND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD. LONG VEHICLES ON EASTBOUND FUK LEE STREET HEADING FOR NORTHBOUND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD ARE ADVISED TO USE MAN ON STREET AND WAI ON STREET.
BEDFORD ROAD BETWEEN MAPLE STREET AND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TRAFFIC TO ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
AT THE SAME TIME. THE FOLLOWING TURNING MOVEMENTS WILL BE BANNED:
» THE LEFT-TURN FROM SOUTHBOUND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD ONTO
EASTBOUND BEDFORD ROAD:
» THE RIGHT-TURN FROM SOUTHBOUND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD ONTO
WESTBOUND FUK LEE STREET: AND
* THE RIGHT-TURN FROM EASTBOUND FUK LEE STREET ONTO SOUTHBOUND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD.
VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON SOUTHBOUND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD HEADING FOR EASTBOUND BEDFORD ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA FUK TSUN STREET AND WALNUT STREET WHILE THOSE HEADING FOR WESTBOUND FUK LEE STREET WILL BE DIVERTED VIA IVY STREET, TAI CHING STREET. TAI TSUN STREET AND NORTHBOUND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD.
MOREOVER, VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON EASTBOUND FUK LEE STREET HEADING FOR SOUTHBOUND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD ARE ADVISED TO USE MAN ON STREET AND WAI ON STREET.
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TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE ON TOLO HIGHWAY
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORKS, A SECTION OF ABOUT 1.3 KILOMETRES OF THE SLOW LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY NORTHBOUND NEAR TAI PO TAI WO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 5).
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HEAVIER FINES ON LABOUR LAW OFFENDERS ............................................ 1
TWO MODEL SPECIFICATIONS RELATING TO GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING PUBLISHED .. 2
•GREEN PLANT' PROJECT IN WONG TAI SIN............................................. 3
NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR FIGHT CRIME AWARD SCHEME ................................. 4
RENOWNED CHAMBER ENSEMBLE TO GIVE MASTERCLASS .................................... 5
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 4. 1990
1 -
HEAVIER FINES ON LABOUR LAW OFFENDERS ******
THE LEVEL OF FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS FOR BREACHES OF LABOUR LEGISLATION CONTINUED TO GO UP LAST YEAR.
ACCORDING TO LABOUR DEPARTMENT STATISTICS. THE AVERAGE FINE IMPOSED ON OFFENDERS WAS S3.776 LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 19.8 PER CENT OVER 1988.
"DURING THE YEAR. WE SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT 4.036 CASES TO THE COURTS, RESULTING IN TOTAL FINES OF SI5.23 MILLION, COMPARED WITH 4,019 PROSECUTIONS AND S12.66 MILLION IN FINES IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR," SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER (PROSECUTIONS). MR TSANG KIN-WOO, SAID.
"THE HEAVIER FINES FOR LABOUR OFFENCES SHOULD MAKE EMPLOYERS TAKE WORKERS’ SAFETY AND WELFARE MORE SERIOUSLY." HE ADDED.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO STEP UP OUR ENFORCEMENT ACTION TO BRING OFFENDERS TO JUSTICE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND RIGHTS OF WORKERS," HE STRESSED.
A BREAKDOWN OF LAST YEAR’S CONVICTIONS SHOWED THAT MORE THAN 59 PER CENT OF THE CASES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY OFFENCES.
OF THEM. 1.414 CONCERNED BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS AND 974 RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS, WITH FINES TOTALLING S5.33 MILLION AND 47.37 MILLION RESPECTIVELY.
THERE WERE ALSO 1.512 CONVICTIONS OF VIOLATION OF WELFARE PROVISIONS UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS, EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS. AND LABOUR RELATIONS. EMPLOYMENT, AND EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCES, RESULTING IN FINES AMOUNTING TO S2.26 MILLION.
THE REMAINING 136 CASES WERE BREACHES OF THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS ORDINANCE. PART IVB OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AND CONTRACTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG’ORDINANCE. FINES TOTALLING 4278,650 WERE IMPOSED.
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/2 .
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1990
2
TWO MODEL SPECIFICATIONS RELATING TO GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING PUBLISHED * » * » »
THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS PUBLISHED TWO MODEL SPECIFICATIONS RELATING TO GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING TN HONG KONG.
THE "MODEL SPECIFICATION FOR PRESTRESSED GROUND ANCHORS (GEOSPEC 1)", WHICH IS THE FIRST IN THE GEOSPEC SERIES, PRESENTS A SATISFACTORY SPECIFICATION FOR THE PROVISION OF PRESTRESSED GROUND ANCHORS IN HONG KONG.
IT IS A SECOND EDITION AND SUPERSEDES AN EARLIER GCO PUBLICATION PUBLISHED IN 1984.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PUBLICATION OF GEOSPEC 1, A PRIOR APPROVAL SYSTEM FOR PERMANENT PRESTRESSED GROUND ANCHORS (PASA) IS BEING IMPLEMENTED.
AS FROM DECEMBER 31 LAST YEAR, ALL PERMANENT GROUND ANCHORS REQUIRE THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES BEFORE THEY CAN BE USED IN GOVERNMENT PROJECTS. THE PASA WILL ALSO FACILITATE THE APPROVAL AND USE OF GROUND ANCHORS FOR PRIVATE BUILDING AND ENGINEERING WORKS.
THE "MODEL SPECIFICATION FOR REINFORCED FILL STRUCTURES (GEOSPEC 21" HAS BEEN PREPARED TO MEET THE NEED FOR A SATISFACTORY SPECIFICATION FOR THE PROVISION OF REINFORCED FILL STRUCTURES IN HONG KONG.
IT IS A FIRST EDITION AND REPLACES THE GUIDANCE GIVEN ON REINFORCED EARTH IN THE GCO "GUIDE TO RETAINING WALL DESIGN (GEOGUTDE 1 ) " .
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PUBLICATION OF GEOSPEC 2, AN ENDORSEMENT CERTIFICATE SYSTEM FOR PROPRIETARY PRODUCTS COMES INTO EFFECT.
ALL PROPRIETARY PRODUCTS FOR USE IN PERMANENT REINFORCED FILL STRUCTURES WILL REQUIRE ENDORSEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES BEFORE THEY CAN BE USED IN GOVERNMENT PROJECTS.
THE ENDORSEMENT CERTIFICATE SYSTEM WILL ALSO FACILITATE THE APPROVAL AND USE OF PERMANENT REINFORCED FILL STRUCTURES IN PRIVATE WORKS.
BOTH GEOSPECS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED AFTER WIDE CONSULTATION THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS OF THE INDUSTRY.
THE TECHNICAL STANDARDS IN THE MODEL SPECIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED WITH DUE REGARD TO EXISTING LOCAL PRACTICE AND AFTER CONSIDERATION OF SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL CODES.
/NOTES ARE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1990
NOTES ARE ALSO GIVEN IN THE APPENDICES TO FACILITATE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
THE HEAD OF THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE, DR ANDREW MALONE, SAID THAT MODEL SPECIFICATIONS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING USED FOR SPECIFYING SPECIALIST SYSTEMS AND MATERIALS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN FIELDS WHICH ARE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING.
SOME FLEXIBILITY IS THEREFORE REQUIRED IN THEIR SPECIFICATION TO ENABLE THE SPECIFIER TO CHOOSE SUITABLE CLAUSES TO COVER INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS.
“THE PASA AND THE ENDORSEMENT CERTIFICATE SYSTEM ARE ESSENTIALLY QUALITY ASSURANCE SCHEMES FOR PROPRIETARY PRODUCTS. IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES THE ROLE OF ENSURING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SATISFACTORY STANDARDS.
"THESE SCHEMES WILL FACILITATE THE DESIGNER’S SELECTION OF SUITABLE PRODUCTS. AND SHOULD ALLOW MUCH TIME TO BE SAVED BY ALL PARTIES CONCERNED WITH THE PROVISION OF PRESTRESSED GROUND ANCHORS AND REINFORCED FILL STRUCTURES IN HONG KONG.
"PROJECT ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS ARE URGED TO MAKE EARLY USE OF THE MODEL SPECIFICATIONS.’' DR MALONE SAID.
GEOSPEC 1 AND GEOSPEC 2 ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE. GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AT A PRICE OF $25 EACH.
- - 0 - -
’GREEN PLANT’ PROJECT IN WONG TAI SIN *****
A "GREEN PLANT" PROJECT TO PROVIDE WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN BEAUTIFYING THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT IS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE TEAM. MR FUNG YEE-KO. WHO INITIATED THE IDEA. SAID THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD.
"IT IS HOPED THAT THE PROJECT WILL AROUSE PARTICIPANTS’ CONCERN ABOUT BEAUT I F I (’ AT I ON OF THE He LIVING ENVIRONMENT AND ENHANCE THEIR INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE IN GROWING PLANTS.' HE SAID.
ABOUT 1.000 STUDENTS FROM THE DISTRICT’S 28 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAVE JOINED THE PROJECT WHICH IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN STAGES. THE FIRST STAGE IS BEING HELD IN SCHOOLS ONLY.
/"IF THE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1990
”IF THE FIRST STAGE PROVES SUCCESSFUL, THE PROJECT WILL BE EXTENDED TO OTHER LOCAL ORGANISATIONS,” MR FUNG SAID.
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD HAS ALLOCATED $20,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF PLANTS, SOIL, FERTILISER, TOOLS AND OTHER MATERIALS.
"THESE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS FREE OF CHARGE. ALSO, SEMINARS ON PLANTING TECHNIQUES WILL BE ORGANISED WITH ASSISTANCE FROM HORTICULTURAL EXPERTS OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,” MR FUNG ADDED.
- - 0 - -
NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR FIGHT CRIME AWARD SCHEME
*****
TSUEN WAN RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO SEND IN THEIR NOMINATIONS FOR THE TSUEN WAN CITIZEN FIGHT CRIME AWARD SCHEME.
THE SCHEME IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC), THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE POLICE, AND IS SPONSORED BY THE TSUEN WAN ROTARY CLUB.
"THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME IS TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO ASSIST THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY IN PREVENTING AND FIGHTING CRIME," THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DFCC, MR SIN SIU-WAH, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
"NOMINATION FORMS, IN THE FORMAT OF PRE-PAID ENVELOPES, ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE TSUEN WAN POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE,” HE SAID.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOMINATION IS FEBRUARY 15. A PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS WILL BE SET UP TO SELECT THE WINNERS.
RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MONTH. WINNERS AND THEIR NOMINATORS WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND A PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 4925327 OR 4984582.
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SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 4. 1990
- 5 -
RENOWNED CHAMBER ENSEMBLE TO GIVE MASTERCLASS
*****
THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL SOCIETY WILL JOINTLY PRESENT A MASTERCLASS BY THE RENOWNED CHAMBER ENSEMBLE. "I MUSICI". ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 10) AT THE MONG KOK MUSIC CENTRE.
THE CLASS WILL START AT 10 AM AND LAST TILL 1 PM.
DISCOVERED BY TOSCANINI IN 1952, THE INCOMPARABLE "I MUSICI" HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF THE MOST ADMIRED OF CHAMBER ENSEMBLES.
ITS PRODIGIOUS RECORDING HISTORY SPANS ALMOST FOUR DECADES WITH MORE THAN 150 TITLES. INCLUDING FOUR DIFFERENT RECORDINGS OF VIVALDI’S THE FOUR SEASONS. EACH OF THESE HAS BEEN AWARDED A GOLD DISC.
AT THE MASTERCLASS. MEMBERS OF "I MUSICI" WILL LECTURE ON VARIOUS TECHNIQUES IN PLAYING THE VIOLIN, VIOLA. CELLO AND DOUBLE BASS .
TICKETS AT S20 EACH ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL URBTIX OUTLETS. FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 8235321.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CHEK LAP KOK TO SET TREND FOR 21ST CENTURY ..................... 1
GOVT INVITES EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IN LANTAU FTXED CROSSING PROJECT ...................................................... 2
PETITIONS FOR WINDING-UP OF INSURANCE COMPANIES ................ 4
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER PUBLISHED ..................... 5
CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT STATISTICS FOR THIRD QUARTER RELEASED ... 11
FIRST WOMAN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION RETIRES ........... 13
TRAFFIC TRIAL SCHEME ON AGENDA ................................ 13
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS NT EXEMPTED HOUSE POLICY .............. 14
WATER STORAGE FIGURE .......................................... 15
WATER CUTS IN SHAM SHUT PO AND NORTH POINT .................... 15
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
1
CHEK LAP KOK TO SET TREND FOR 21ST CENTURY
******
IT IS THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION THAT CHEK LAP KOK AIRPORT WILL SET THE TREND FOR OTHER NEW AIRPORTS TO FOLLOW IN THE 21ST CENTURY, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
"THIS PROJECT TOGETHER WITH OUR PLANS FOR PORT EXPANSION AND THE ASSORTED DEVELOPMENT OF OUR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE OFFER EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL FIRMS TO PARTICIPATE, WHETHER IN THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION, FINANCING OR PROVISION OF SERVICES.
"ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE FINAL DECISIONS ON FUNDING, WE KNOW ALREADY THAT MANY OF THE PROJECTS MAKE SOUND COMMERCIAL SENSE AND ARE LIKELY TO PROVE ATTRACTIVE TO THE PRIVATE INVESTORS," SHE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MRS CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THE MANY EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IT HAD RECEIVED FROM FAR AND NEAR.
"THERE APPEARS TO BE SCOPE FOR 40 PER CENT TO 60 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL COSTS OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE TO BE BORNE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
"WE WELCOME THE WIDEST POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW DEVELOPING AN APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTATION WHICH WOULD ENABLE IT TO TAP THE BEST EXPERTISE AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE.
"WE ARE ESTABLISHING AN AIRPORT AUTHORITY WHICH WILL BE A STATUTORY CORPORATION.
"THIS WILL, AT LEAST INITIALLY, BE 100 PER CENT GOVERNMENT OWNED AND, IN ADDITION TO AN INJECTION OF GOVERNMENT EQUITY, WILL BE FINANCED BY LOANS RAISED IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET.
"WE BELIEVE THIS STRUCTURE WILL PROVIDE THE BEST VEHICLE FOR ACHIEVING OUR TARGET OF OPENING THE FIRST OF THE PROPOSED TWO RUNWAYS AT CHEK LAP KOK AT THE START OF 1997," SHE SAID.
AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, SHE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE CONSIDERING PROPOSALS FROM EIGHT AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN AND JAPANESE CONSULTANTS OF INTERNATIONAL STANDING WHO HAVE BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR THE MASTER PLAN CONSULTANCY FOR THE NEW AIRPORT.
/"THE CONSULTANCY .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
2
"THE CONSULTANCY WILL START IN JUNE AND COVER NOT ONLY THE DESIGN OF THE LAYOUT OF THE AIRPORT BUT ALSO RELATED CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
"THE MAGNITUDE AND COMPLEXITY OF THIS PROJECT, COUPLED WITH THE VERY TIGHT TIME-FRAME WE HAVE SET OURSELVES, POINT TO THE NEED FOR CAREFUL MANAGEMENT AND CO-ORDINATION OF THE PROJECT.
"WE INTEND TO ENLIST THE SERVICES OF A REPUTABLE INTERNATIONAL FIRM TO ASSIST US IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT TASK. WE HOPE SHORTLY TO INVITE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FROM APPROPRIATE CONSULTANTS," SHE SAID.
SHE SAID AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM HAD ALSO BEEN SELECTED TO HELP IN THE RECRUITMENT OF A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THIS PROJECT.
"WE ANTICIPATE THAT TENDERS FOR THE MAJOR SITE FORMATION CONTRACTS, COVERING THE SEAWALL CONSTRUCTION, RECLAMATION AND LEVELLING OF CHEK LAP KOK WILL BE CALLED AROUND MID-1991," SHE SAID.
DWELLING ON THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND AGAINST WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE EMBARKING ON THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, MRS CHAN SAID HONG KONG’S PLANS FOR FUTURE GROWTH WERE NECESSARILY ON A GRAND SCALE AS IT WAS ALREADY A TERRITORY OF SOME SIGNIFICANCE IN TERMS OF THE WORLD’S ECONOMY.
"ACCORDING TO GATT STATISTICS, WE ARE THE 11TH LARGEST TRADING ENTITY IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE THE WORLD'S BUSIEST CONTAINER PORT.
"IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER THROUGHPUT, OUR AIRPORT IS THE SIXTH BUSIEST IN THE WORLD AND THE BUSIEST IN ASIA. IN TERMS OF THE VOLUME OF INTERNATIONAL AIR CARGO HANDLED WE RANK FOURTH IN THE WORLD.
"IF WE ARE TO EXPAND FURTHER ON THIS BASELINE WHICH IS ALREADY PITCHED VERY HIGH, OUR PLANS MUST BE BOLD AND IMAGINATIVE BUT ALSO FULLY RESEARCHED AND SKILFULLY IMPLEMENTED," SHE STRESSED.
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GOVT INVITES EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IN LANTAU FIXED CROSSING PROJECT
*******
THE GOVERNMENT IS INVITING COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS AROUND THE WORLD TO REGISTER INTEREST IN THE FRANCHISE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING.
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR CANICE MAK, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THIS INVITATION WAS A FIRST STEP IN THE PRIVATISATION OF THIS PROJECT.
/ADVERTISEMENTS IN .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
3
ADVERTISEMENTS IN MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ARE NOW BEING PLACED TO ATTRACT AS WIDE AN INTEREST AS POSSIBLE.
"THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INVITE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS IN LATE 1990 FOR A FRANCHISE TO FINANCE, CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE THE CROSSING," MR MAK SAID.
HE SAID THE CROSSING WOULD FORM PART OF THE MAIN LAND TRANSPORT LINK TO THE NEW AIRPORT TO BE BUILT AT CHEK LAP KOK.
THE CROSSING WOULD BE A COMBINED ROAD AND RAIL CROSSING, COMPRISING A DUAL-THREE LANE HIGHWAY AND A TWIN TRACK RAILWAY. IT EXTENDS FROM THE END OF THE PROPOSED NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY AT TSING CHAU TSAI ON NORTH LANTAU VIA MA WAN TO NORTHWEST TSING YI WHERE IT WILL CONNECT WITH ROUTE 3.
MR MAK SAID IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT THE CROSSING WOULD INCORPORATE TWO SUSPENSION BRIDGES ACROSS KAP SUI MUN AND MA WAN CHANNEL AND APPROACH ROADS ON LANTAU AND TSING YI.
THE MAIN SPANS OF THESE TWO BRIDGES WOULD BE OVER 1,410 METRES AND 450 METRES RESPECTIVELY.
TOGETHER WITH CONNECTING HIGHWAYS, THE WHOLE PROJECT WOULD BE ABOUT SEVEN KILOMETRES IN LENGTH.
HE ADDED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE OF USING TUNNEL ACROSS KAP SHUI MUN AND MA WAN CHANNEL WAS ALSO BEING INVESTIGATED.
HE SAID ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT PLAN, THE CROSSING WOULD BE IN OPERATION BY MID-1996 BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE NEW AIRPORT IN EARLY 1997.
ORGANISATIONS WISHING TO REGISTER AN INTEREST IN THE PROJECT MAY DO SO BY COMPLETING A REGISTRATION FORM ATTACHED TO THE INVITATION PACKAGE WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HIGHWAYS, HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, 10TH FLOOR, EMPIRE CENTRE, 68 MODY ROAD, KOWLOON, HONG KONG ON OR AFTER FEBRUARY 12.
THE INVITATION PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE DETAILS ON THE PROJECT AND THE BIDDING ARRANGEMENTS.
THE COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED NOT LATER THAN MARCH 16 THIS YEAR.
t *
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/4 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
4
PETITIONS FOR WINDING-UP OF INSURANCE COMPANIES
******
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR NOEL GLEESON, IN HIS CAPACITY AS INSURANCE AUTHORITY, TODAY (MONDAY) PRESENTED PETITIONS TO THE HIGH COURT FOR THE WINDING-UP OF GRAND UNION LIFE ASSURANCE LIMITED ("GU LIFE") AND HANG LUNG INSURANCE LIMITED ("HANG LUNG").
THE DATE OF THE HEARING OF BOTH PETITIONS HAS BEEN FIXED TO MARCH 5, 1990.
THE COURT HAS IN THE MEANTIME APPOINTED THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER TO BE THE PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR OF BOTH COMPANIES.
GRAND UNION LIFE ASSURANCE LIMITED WAS INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE IN OCTOBER 1974 AND IS AUTHORISED UNDER THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE TO CARRY ON LONG TERM BUSINESS.
THIS COMPANY, WITH ABOUT 8,000 LIFE POLICIES, WAS A RELATIVELY SMALL ONE WHICH OUGHT TO HAVE POLICY RESERVES IN THE REGION OF $24 MILLION.
MR GLEESON SAID THE ACTION AGAINST "GU LIFE" WAS CONSIDERED DESIRABLE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY’S POLICY HOLDERS AND POTENTIAL POLICY HOLDERS.
THE GROUNDS FOR THE WINDING-UP OF "GU LIFE" WERE MAINLY THAT THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE COMPANY’S REINSURANCE ARRANGEMENTS, THAT THE COMPANY HAD FAILED TO MEET THE SOLVENCY REQUIREMENTS OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE AND THAT IT HAD NOT KEPT PROPER BOOKS OF ACCOUNT.
IN VIEW OF THIS MR GLEESON CONSIDERED IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT THE AFFAIRS OF "GU LIFE" BE PLACED IN THE HANDS OF NEW MANAGEMENT, WHICH, FOR THE TIME BEING, WOULD BE THE PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR.
HANG LUNG, INCORPORATED IN SEPTEMBER 1971, CEASED TO WRITE NEW INSURANCE BUSINESS AND CEASED TO BE AUTHORISED TO DO SO AS FROM JULY 1981 .
IT WAS STILL OBLIGED, HOWEVER, TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER SOME 1,500 OUTSTANDING LIFE INSURANCE CONTRACTS. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THIS COMPANY WAS NOT CONNECTED WITH ANY OTHER COMPANY HAVING THE NAME HANG LUNG.
MR GLEESON SAID THE ACTION AGAINST HANG LUNG WAS ALSO CONSIDERED DESIRABLE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE POLICY HOLDERS, PARTICULARLY SINCE "GU LIFE" WAS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN MANAGING THE RUN-OFF OF HANG LUNG’S INSURANCE BUSINESS.
/IN ANOTHER .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
IN ANOTHER STATEMENT, MR GLEESON SAID THAT IN HIS CAPACITY AS OFFICIAL RECEIVER HE WOULD NOW TAKE POSSESSION OF, COLLECT, AND PROTECT ASSETS OF "GU LIFE” AND HANG LUNG IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS.
HE WOULD CARRY ON THE LONG TERM BUSINESS OF "GU LIFE" WITH A VIEW, IF POSSIBLE, TO ITS BEING TRANSFERRED AS A GOING CONCERN TO ANOTHER INSURER.
HE WOULD ALSO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSFERRING THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RUN-OFF OF THE LONG TERM BUSINESS OF HANG LUNG TO ANOTHER INSURER.
HE HOPED THAT A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT COULD BE MADE IN DUE COURSE. IN THE MEANTIME ALL LIFE POLICIES OF BOTH "GU LIFE" AND HANG LUNG WOULD REMAIN IN FORCE.
POLICY HOLDERS OF BOTH COMPANIES ARE ADVISED TO CONTINUE THEIR PAYMENTS OF THE PREMIUMS TO THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER AS THEY FELL DUE IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR POLICIES IN FORCE, AND THOSE WISHING TO RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT (OFFICIAL RECEIVER) ON TEL. 8672461.
- - 0 - -
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER PUBLISHED ♦ » * ♦ ♦
BOTH HONG KONG DOLLAR AND FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS REGISTERED INCREASES IN DECEMBER, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS PUBLISHED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH.
REFLECTING THE RISE IN HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS, THE BROADER DEFINITIONS OF HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY INCREASED DURING THE MONTH. ALL MAJOR TYPES OF LOANS RECORDED INCREASES IN DECEMBER.
TABLE 1 SETS OUT SUMMARY FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1989 AND COMPARISONS WITH EARLIER MONTHS. TABLE 2 PRESENTS FIGURES FROM THE QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG.
DEPOSITS
HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS INCREASED BY 1.4 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. FOLLOWING A MARGINAL DECLINE OF 0.1 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND AN INCREASE OF 2.2 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER.
OF THESE DEPOSITS, DEMAND DEPOSITS DECLINED BY 5.0 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE DISTORTION OF A HIGH COMPARISON BASE, AS SUBSCRIPTION MONIES FOR A NEW SHARE ISSUE WERE TIED UP IN THE BANKING SECTOR IN LATE NOVEMBER.
/SAVINGS DEPOSITS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
6
SAVINGS DEPOSITS ROSE BY 6.3 PER CENT DURING DECEMBER WHILE TIME DEPOSITS WERE LITTLE CHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
FOR THE YEAR 1989 AS A WHOLE, TOTAL HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 11.8 PER CENT, AND WHEN SWAP DEPOSITS ARE INCLUDED, BY 15.5 PER CENT, LARGELY IN LINE WITH THE GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY IN MONEY TERMS IN 1989.
FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS ROSE BY 2.5 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, AFTER INCREASES OF 3.3 PER CENT AND 3.4 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.
AMONG THESE DEPOSITS, U.S. DOLLAR DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 4.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER WHILE NON-U.S. DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 0.8 PER CENT. OVER THE YEAR, TOTAL FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 24.3 PER CENT.
FOREIGN CURRENCY SWAP DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 2.7 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, AFTER A ZERO GROWTH IN OCTOBER AND A DECLINE OF 0.8 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER.
ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE THESE DEPOSITS, HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS ROSE BY 1.6 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AND BY 15.5 PER CENT COMPARED WITH A YEAR EARLIER. ON THE OTHER HAND, FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS, ADJUSTED TO EXCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS, INCREASED BY 2.5 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AND BY 22.4 PER CENT OVER THE YEAR.
DEPOSITS OF ALL CURRENCIES WITH BANKS ROSE BY 2.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER WHILE THOSE WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES RECORDED A MARGINAL GROWTH OF 0.1 PER CENT. FOR 1989 AS A WHOLE, THE FORMER ROSE BY 20.4 PER CENT WHILE THE LATTER GREW BY 5.2 PER CENT.
MONEY SUPPLY
HK$M1 DECLINED MARGINALLY BY 0.6 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, WHILE HK$M2 AND HKSM3 INCREASED BY 2.1 PER CENT AND 1.8 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. THEIR RESPECTIVE GROWTH RATES IN NOVEMBER WERE 3.9 PER CENT , 2.4 PER CENT AND 2.0 PER CENT. FOR 1989 AS A WHOLE, HK$M1, HK$M2 AND HK$M3 ROSE BY 7.5 PER CENT, 13.8 PER CENT AND 11.6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF SWAP DEPOSITS, HK$M2 INCREASED BY 2.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AND BY 17.1 PER CENT COMPARED WITH A YEAR EARLIER. HK$M3 INCREASED BY 1.9 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AND BY 15.0 PER CENT OVER THE YEAR.
TOTAL Ml, M2 AND M3 ROSE BY 0.3 PER CENT. 2.4 PER CENT AND 2.2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN DECEMBER. THEIR CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES IN NOVEMBER WERE 3.2 PER CENT, 2.9 PER CENT AND 2.8 PER CENT. OVER THE YEAR, TOTAL Ml, M2 AND M3 GREW BY 6.8 PER CENT, 19.9 PER CENT AND 18.7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
/LOANS AND ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
7
LOANS AND ADVANCES
TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS INCREASED BY 6.0 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, FOLLOWING A DECLINE OF 4.6 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND AN INCREASE OF 2.2 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS, THOSE DENOMINATED IN HONG KONG DOLLARS GREW BY 1.4 PER CENT WHILE THOSE DENOMINATED IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES INCREASED BY 9.6 PER CENT.
LOANS TO FINANCE VISIBLE TRADE OF HONG KONG GREW BY 0.5 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, FOLLOWING DECLINES OF 0.8 PER CENT AND 1.1 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 11.5 PER CENT.
OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG GREW BY 1.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER COMPARED WITH INCREASES OF 0.6 PER CENT AND 2.3 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 28.1 PER CENT.
CONSISTENT WITH THE SEASONAL PATTERN OF A STRONG INCREASE TOWARDS QUARTER END, LOANS FOR USE OUTSIDE HONG KONG INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY BY 8.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, AFTER A DECLINE OF 9.4 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND AN INCREASE OF 2.5 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 32.5 PER CENT.
LOANS TO FINANCE MERCHANDISING TRADE NOT TOUCHING HONG KONG RECORDED NO CHANGE IN DECEMBER, AFTER INCREASES OF 0.4 PER CENT AND 3.6 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS DECLINED BY 15.5 PER CENT.
QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989, LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR FELL BY 2.8 PER CENT AFTER AN INCREASE OF 0.7 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 18.6 PER CENT.
LOANS TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE DECREASED MARGINALLY BY 0.1 PER CENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, FOLLOWING A DECLINE OF 4.8 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 4.9 PER CENT.
LOANS TO FINANCIAL CONCERNS (OTHER THAN BANKS AND DTCS) ROSE BY 13.7 PER CENT THIS QUARTER, AFTER AN INCREASE OF 10.8 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 60.6 PER CENT.
/LOANS TO .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
8
LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY (OTHER THAN FLATS IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME) GREW BY 10.6 PER CENT THIS QUARTER, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 5 PER CENT IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 28.6 PER CENT.
LOANS TO THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT SECTOR DECLINED SLIGHTLY BY 0.5 PER CENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989, AFTER A GROWTH OF 5.7 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS INCREASED BY 63.6 PER CENT.
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS AND LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 165 AND 36 RESPECTIVELY. THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECREASED BY FOUR TO 202.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
TABLES 1 AND 2 WILL BE SENT BY FACSIMILE AND BOXED.
/TABLE 1 .......
TABLE 1 : MONETARY STATISTICS DECEMBER 1989
Dec 19R9
Earlier months (°6 change to December 1989)
(HK$mn)
Money Supply Nov 19R9 Sep 1989 Dec 1988
Ml - HK$ 85,183 85,661 ( -0.6 85,383 ( -0.2 *) 79,257 ( 7.5 %)
Foreign currency 9,675 8,894 ( 8 . R M 8,989 ( 7.6 *) 9,577 ( 1.0 %)
Total 94,858 94,554 ( 0.3 M 94,372 ( 0.5 *) 88,834 ( 6.8 %)
M2 - HK$ 403,987 395,529 ( 2.1 387,027 ( 4.4 %) 355,065 ( 13.8 %)
Foreign currency 584,849 570,510 ( 2.5 *) 536,745 ( 9.0 *) 469,583 ( 24.5 %)
Total 988,836 966,039 ( 2.4 °6) 923,772 ( 7.0 °6) 824,648 ( 19.9 %)
M3 - HK$- 434,376 426,742 ( 1 .8 %) 419,243 ( 3.6 3) 389,052 ( 11.6 %)
Foreign currency 625,811 610,671 ( *) 572,316 ( 9.3 504,291 ( 24.1 %)
Tota 1 1,060,207 1 ,037,4 1 3 ( 2.2 991,588 ( 6.9 893,342 ( 18.7 %)
Notes and coins in circulation 39,670 36,512 ( 8.6 %) 36,668 ( 8.2 %) 34,087 ( 16.4 %)
1 of which held by public । 34,192 31,974 ( 6.9 *) 32,271 ( 6.0 %) 29,877 ( 14.4 %)
। Total Deposits t
i Total Demand deposits 60,666 62,580 ( •3.1 %) 62,101 ( -2.3 %) 58,958 ( 2.9 %)
Total Savings deposits. 193,186 1R3,154 ( 5.4 175,364 ( 10.2 M 175,529 ( 10.1 M
Total Time deposits with banks 683,802 671,205 ( 1 .9 *) 637,212 ( 7.3 M 544,502 ( 25.6 %)
• Total Time deposits with dies 70,004 69,9G1 ( 0.1 3.) 65,770 ( 6.4 M 66,531 ( 5.2 *) 1
I IIK$ deposits 387,640 382,171 ( 1 . 1 M 374,178 ( 1.5 **) 346,744 ( 11.8 °*)
। US$ deposits 325,0RR 312,162 ( 4. 1 3) 300,585 ( 8.2 266,561 ( 22.0 M
Other foreign currency deposits 294,929 292,5G7 ( 0.8 3) 265,4R3 ( 11.1 %) 232,216 ( 27.0 3)
All deposits 1,007,65R 987,103 ( 2. 1 3) 940,446 ( 7.1 3) 845,520 ( 19.2 %)
Foreign currency swap deposits 63,122 61,488 ( 2.7 3) 61,982 ( 1 .8 %) 43,689 ( 44.5 %)
Total Loans and advances
/TABLE 2
To finance U.K.'s visible trade To finance merchandising trade 63,562 10,427 63,215 10,425 ( ( 0.5 "a ) 64,423 10,023 ( ( -1 .3 4.0 %) %) 57,022 12,344 ( 11.5 %) (-15.5 *)
0.0 M
not touching H.K.
ot her loans for use in U.K. 584,594 577,orr ( 1 . 1 3) 5G1,481 ( 4.1 3) 456,4R7 ( 28.1 %)
ot her loans for use outside U.K. 505,396 467,63J ( R. 1 503,R96 ( 0.3 3.) 381,524 ( 32.5 %)
Ot her loans where the place of 107,920 R0,205 ( 3 1 . G *) 90,043 ( 19.9 3) 54,800 ( 96.9 3)
use is not known
Loans in |IK$ 525,239 518,205 ( 1 . 1 *) 507,120 ( 3.6 %) 404,572 ( 29.8 3)
Loans in foreign currencies 746,659 681,257 ( 9 . G M 722,744 ( 3.3 M 557,606 ( 33.9 *)
Total loans and advances 1,271,899 1,199, IG2 ( 6.0 1,229,R65 ( 3.4 %) 962,177 ( 32.2 %)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
TABLE 2 : QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS FOR’USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR - DECEMBER 1989 ft +
(HKSmn)
Dec 1989
Earlier quarters (% change to December
1989)
Sep 1989 Jun 1989 Dec 1988
Manufacturing 46,267 47,618 ( -2.8 X) 47,291 ( -2.2 X) 39,011 ( 18.6 X)
Transport and transport 37,174 33,435 ( 11.2%) 27,043 ( 37.5 X) 23,380 ( 59.0 X)
equipment
Building, construction, 96,299 96,772 ( -0.5 91,518 ( 5.2 X) 58,864 ( 63.6 X)
property development
and Investment
1 Wholesale and retail trade 62,663 62,729 ( -0.1 X) 65,874 ( -4.9 X) 59,744 ( 4.9 X)
1 Financial concerns * 85,158 74,919 ( 13.7 %) 67.625 ( 25.9 X) 53,040 ( 60.6 X)
1 Individuals: 1
1 . » to purchase flats in the Home 10,605 9,880 ( 7.3 X) 9,209 ( 15.2 X) 8,656 ( 22.5 X)
o Ownership Scheme- and • Private o
1 Sector Participation Scheme
1 to purchase other residential 99,493 89,957 ( 10.6 X) 85,635 ( 16.2 X) 77,359 ( 28.6 X) 1
1 property
1 other purposes 55,105 52,756 ( 4.5%) 53,420 ( 3.2 X) 48,050 ( 14.7 X)
Others 91,830 93,414 ( -1.7 X) 87,608 ( 4.8 X) 88,383 ( 3.9 X)
Total 584,594 561,481 ( 4.1 X) 535,224 ( 9.2 X) 456,487 ( 28.1 X)
ft Starting from December 1988, more detailed statistics on loans to the transport sector, to building, construction, property development and investment and to financial concerns are available. They will be published in the Monthly Digest of Statistics from the January 1989 issue onwards.
♦ In December 1988, the return for reporting loans for use by sector was revised. As a result of this, some authorized institutions hove n*»w mure properly classified their loans according to intended usage rather than the business of the loan recipients. This reclassification is an Important reason accounting for the significant increase in loans to certain sectors, for example, the building, construction and property development sector and financial concerns.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
* This excludes funds advanced to banks nnd d*»posIt-taking companies
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT STATISTICS FOR THIRD QUARTER RELEASED *******
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS (INCLUDING WORK CARRIED OUT AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, AT ERECTED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, AND AT OTHER MINOR WORK LOCATIONS) IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 AMOUNTED TO $12,667 MILLION.
THIS WAS 6.2 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1989, AND 32.1 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASE OF 32.1 PER CENT IN THE TOTAL VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 OVER THE SAME QUARTER IN 1988 WAS PARTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS. HOWEVER, AFTER DISCOUNTING THE COST INCREASES, THE REAL GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED SHOULD STILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
THE INDEX OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WAS 192.2, WITH THE QUARTERLY AVERAGE OF 1982 BEING TAKEN AS 100. THE CORRESPONDING INDEXES FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1989 AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988 WERE 180.9 AND 145.5 RESPECTIVELY.
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WAS $9,766 MILLION. THIS WAS 6.2 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND 33.7 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
APART FROM WORK PERFORMED AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT ERECTED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES AND OTHER MINOR WORK LOCATIONS WAS $2,901 MILLION. WHICH WAS 6.6 PER CENT AND 27.2 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988 RESPECTIVELY.
OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, $3,672 MILLION WAS RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR (INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT, MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION). THIS REPRESENTED INCREASES OF 22.4 PER CENT OVER THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND 47.9 PER CENT OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
THE REMAINING $6,094 MILLION WAS RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR. IT WAS 1.7 PER CENT LOWER THAN IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER BUT 26.4 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
/WHEN ANALYSED ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
- 12 -
WHEN ANALYSED BY END-USE OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN RESPECT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS (INCLUDING COMBINED RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS) AND TRANSPORT PROJECTS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WAS $4,108 MILLION AND $1,659 MILLION RESPECTIVELY.
THESE REPRESENTED INCREASES OF 3.0 PER CENT AND 14.4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER THE PRECEDING QUARTER, AND OF 20.4 PER CENT AND 91.6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN RESPECT OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WAS $1,319 MILLION, REPRESENTING A DECREASE OF 7.0 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER BUT AN INCREASE OF 18.9 PER CENT OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
OWING TO THE WIDESPREAD SUB-CONTRACTING PRACTICE IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, A CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENT CAN BE A MAIN CONTRACTOR FOR ONE CONTRACT AND A SUB-CONTRACTOR FOR ANOTHER CONTRACT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS REFERS TO THE OUTPUT OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE PROJECTS IN WHICH THEY TAKE THE ROLE OF A MAIN CONTRACTOR, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT OF PROJECTS IN WHICH THEY PLAY THE ROLE OF SUB-CONTRACTORS.
HOWEVER, SUB-CONTRACTORS’ CONTRIBUTION TO PROJECTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY THE MAIN CONTRACTORS FOR WHOM THEY WORKED.
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT IS GIVEN IN THE "REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT, 3RD QUARTER 1989".
THIS IS ON SALE AT $2.50 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AND AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, WANCHAI TOWER I, 19TH FLOOR, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED.
ENQUIRIES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 8234860.
--------0-----------
/13 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
- 13 -
FIRST WOMAN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION RETIRES * * » » »
A FAREWELL PARTY WAS HELD TODAY (MONDAY) FOR THE FIRST WOMAN TO BECOME AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MRS RUBY LAU, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, PRAISED MRS LAU FOR HER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTION TO A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS SUCH AS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND TEACHER TRAINING.
"THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, MRS LAU HAS DISPLAYED A HIGH STANDARD OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND DEDICATION," HE SAID.
MRS LAU JOINED THE DEPARTMENT AS AN ASSISTANT EDUCATION OFFICER IN 1959. SHE BECAME A SCHOOL INSPECTOR IN 1965 AND WAS PROMOTED TO PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR IN 1974 TASKED WITH CURRICULUM PLANNING FOR PRIMARY EDUCATION.
SHE WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR IN 1984 AND ROSE TO THE PRESENT RANK OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION IN 1987.
THE DIRECTOR, ON BEHALF OF COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, PRESENTED HER WITH A MASSAGE LOUNGER AS A RETIREMENT GIFT.
-----0-----
TRAFFIC TRIAL SCHEME ON AGENDA
*****
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS AT A MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY) RESULTS OF A TRIAL SCHEME IN PROHIBITING GOODS VEHICLES FROM USING THE LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WESTBOUND SLIP ROAD NEAR THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.
THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN JULY LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE A 10-MINUTE EXTENSION OF THE OPERATION OF THE "TIDAL FLOW" IN THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.
IN ADDITION, THE FEASIBILITY OF THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE ONE-WAY TOLL SCHEME AT THE TUNNEL WILL BE DISCUSSED.
/OTHER ITEMS ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE COMMITTEE’S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 1990-91, A REPORT ON THE VISIT TO THE WONG TAI SIN-DISTRICT BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IN DECEMBER, AND TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT MATTERS DISCUSSED AT AREA COMMITTEES MEETINGS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR. SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
- - 0 - -
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS NT EXEMPTED HOUSE POLICY
******
A CO-OPTED MEMBER OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING COMMITTEE WILL PRESENT A PAPER SEEKING REMODELLING OF THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ON "EXEMPTED" HOUSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AT A COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 7).
THE MEMBER CONSIDERS THE ABSENCE OF ANY PLANNING CONTROL ON THESE HOUSES HAS RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS BAD LIGHTING AND VENTILATION, DANGEROUS PROJECTIONS AND INDISTINCT LOT BOUNDARIES.
IN OTHER MATTERS, A BOARD MEMBER WILL ENQUIRE ABOUT POLLUTION CAUSED BY CAR REPAIR AND METAL COMPRESSING UNDERTAKINGS ON AGRICULTURAL LAND.
OTHER MEMBERS WILL ASK IF SHA TIN WILL BE COVERED BY THE PROPOSED SCHEME TO SELL PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS TO SITTING TENANTS AND WHETHER THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE CONSULTED BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CREATED BY A CHINESE RESTAURANT IN CITY ONE PLAZA AND BY A PIECE OF VACANT CROWN LAND BETWEEN SHA TIN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION AND GREENVIEW GARDEN IN CHUI TIN STREET WILL BE DISCUSSED.
/IN ADDITION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
- 15 -
IN ADDITION, THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL CONSULT THE MEETING ON THE PROPOSED PRIORITIES OF MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVMENT PROJECTS IN 1990-91, WHICH WILL COST SOME $740,000.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 7) AT THE DISTRICT BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
------0-------
WATER STORAGE FIGURE » t ♦ ♦
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 39.4 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 230.707 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 218.479 MILLION
CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 37.3 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
------0--------
WATER CUTS IN SHAM SHUI PO AND NORTH POINT * * * ♦ ♦
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN SHAM SHUI PO WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 7) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT CERTAIN PREMISES LOCATED AT NAM CHEONG STREET, LAI CHI KOK ROAD, PEI HO STREET AND TUNG CHAU STREET, YEE KUK STREET AND HAI TAN STREET.
ON THE SAME DAY (FEBRUARY 7), ALSO TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS, FLUSHING WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN NORTH POINT WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES BOUNDED BY KING’S ROAD, MERLIN STREET, WATSON ROAD, SEAFRONT AND HING FAT STREET, INCLUDING NOS. 25-145 (ODD NUMBERS), NOS. 52-68 (EVEN NUMBERS) AND NOS. 250-276 OF KING’S ROAD, AND NOS. 1-9 COMFORT TERRACE.
------0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EXCO ACCEPTS REVISED DIRECTORATE, LEGAL DIRECTORATE PAY SCALES .......... 1
GREEN LIGHT FOR HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BILL.................................. 3
GOVERNOR CALLS FOR URGENT REPORT ON ATTACK .............................. 4
LAUNCHING OF HIBOR FUTURES CONTRACT AN IMPORTANT STEP .............
MEASURES TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY ........................
REPORTS ON MARINE AND RIVER WATER QUALITY RELEASED ................
UPGRADING OF HK-PEKING METEOROLOGICAL TELECOMMUNICATION CIRCUIT ........ 10
HK'S TRADE WITH CHINA OF OUTWARD PROCESSING NATURE ..................... 12
ELEVEN QUESTIONS, FIVE BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA ........................... 13
MANUFACTURER FINED FOR GIVING FALSE INFORMATION ........................ 13
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS COMING ON STREAM IN SHA TIN ....................... 14
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FACILITY .................. 15
CORRECTIVE TRAINING EMBRACES WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES .................. 16
NEW GUIDEBOOK ON LABOUR DEPARTMENT SERVICES .......................
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
EXCO ACCEPTS REVISED DIRECTORATE, LEGAL DIRECTORATE PAY SCALES ♦ » » * »
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ACCEPTED THE REVISED DIRECTORATE AND LEGAL DIRECTORATE PAY SCALES RECOMMENDED IN THE 10TH REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE REPORT, PUBLISHED IN JUNE LAST YEAR, RECOMMENDED REVISED PAY SCALES AND VARIOUS STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO CATCH UP WITH INCREASES IN THE REMUNERATION OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR SINCE THE NINTH REVIEW IN 1985.
’’THEY ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO RECOGNISE THE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX RESPONSIBILITIES CARRIED AT DIRECTORATE LEVEL AS A RESULT OF THE UNPRECEDENTED SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHANGES IN HONG KONG SINCE 1985,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID THE REVISED PAY SCALES PROVIDED FOR INCREASES RANGING FROM FOUR PER CENT TO 11 PER CENT FOR ABOUT 1,000 DIRECTORATE OFFICERS.
"THE MAJORITY OF DIRECTORATE OFFICERS WILL RECEIVE AN INCREASE OF BETWEEN FOUR PER CENT AND SEVEN PER CENT."
THE REVISED PAY SCALES AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES ARE:
(A) TWO 3 PER CENT INCREMENTS TO BE AWARDED AFTER TWO AND FIVE YEARS’ SERVICE RESPECTIVELY IN RANKS ON THE BOTTOM THREE POINTS OF THE SCALES;
(B) ONE 3 PER CENT INCREMENT TO BE AWARDED AFTER TWO YEARS’ SERVICE IN RANKS ON THE FOURTH POINT OF THE SCALES;
(C) THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW POINT SO AS TO RANK HEADS OF GROUP III DEPARTMENTS ABOVE ALL DEPUTY HEADS;
(D) THE INTRODUCTION OF A SECOND NEW POINT SO AS TO RANK HEADS OF SECRETARIAT BRANCHES ABOVE HEADS OF GROUP I DEPARTMENTS; AND
(F) A WIDER GAP IN SALARY BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE MASTER PAY SCALE AND THE BOTTOM OF THE DIRECTORATE PAY SCALES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE TWO NEW POINTS ON THE DIRECTORATE SCALE WERE INTENDED TO ALLOW CLEAR DISTINCTIONS IN PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY BETWEEN BRANCH SECRETARIES, HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, AND DEPUTY HEADS TO BE REFLECTED IN SALARIES.
"THE PROPOSALS FOR INCREMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE SOME RECOGNITION TO EXPERIENCED DIRECTORATE OFFICERS WHO HAVE REMAINED IN ONE RANK FOR SOME YEARS," HE SAID.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
- 2 -
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE REVISED DIRECTORATE PAY SCALES ALSO APPLIED TO THE HEADS OF THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES.
AS FOR THE REST OF THE DIRECTORATE RANKS IN THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ALSO ACCEPTED REVISED PAY SCALES RECOMMENDED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DISCIPLINED SERVICES SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
"THE REVISED PAY SCALES BROADLY FOLLOW THOSE FOR THE REST OF THE DIRECTORATE, AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RESULTS OF A JOB EVALUATION CARRIED OUT BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"IN ADDITION, THE COMMITTEE HAS CONSIDERED SUCH FACTORS AS THE DIMINISHING SIGNIFICANCE OF SPECIAL FEATURES OF DISCIPLINED SERVICE WORK SUCH AS EXPOSURE TO DANGER, WITH EACH STEP UPWARD IN THE HIERARCHY; AND THE NEED TO MAINTAIN PAY RELATIVITY BETWEEN EQUIVALENT DIRECTORATE RANKS IN THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES.
"THE REVISED PAY SCALE FOR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IS THREE PER CENT MORE THAN THAT FOR DEPUTY HEADS OF GROUP I DEPARTMENTS.
"THE REVISED SCALES FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR/COMMISSIONER IN OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES AND FOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/COMMISSIONER ARE THE SAME AS THOSE FOR THEIR CIVILIAN COUNTERPARTS.
"THE REVISED SCALE FOR THE LOWEST DIRECTORATE RANKS IS THREE PER CENT MORE THAN THAT FOR EQUIVALENT CIVILIAN RANKS.
"AS WITH THE REST OF THE DIRECTORATE, THE REVISED PAY SCALES PROVIDE FOR INCREMENTS," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ALSO ACCEPTED THE REVISED JUDICIAL OFFICERS SALARY SCALE RECOMMENDED IN THE FIRST REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUDICIAL SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
"THIS INCORPORATES SIMILAR STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO THOSE IN THE DIRECTORATE PAY SCALES." HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THE REVISED SALARY SCALES AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES WOULD BE OCTOBER 1, 1989, THE SAME IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR ANY NEW PAY SCALES WHICH MIGHT BE RECOMMENDED BY THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AS A RESULT OF ITS CURRENT REVIEW OF THE NON-DIRECTORATE SALARY STRUCTURE.
"THE COST OF THE REVISED PAY SCALES WILL BE ABOUT $57 MILLION FOR THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1. 1989.
"THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE REVISED PAY SCALES IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF FUNDS BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL," HE ADDED.
/3.........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
3
GREEN LIGHT FOR HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BILL *****
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TODAY (TUESDAY) GAVE HIS APPROVAL FOR THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BILL TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, PAVING THE WAY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AS AN AUTONOMOUS STATUTORY BODY.
THE BILL WILL PROVIDE THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE AUTHORITY’S OPERATIONS, POWERS AND ITS FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT,
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY AFTER THE TABLING IN THE COUNCIL OF THE REPORT BY THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ON VARIOUS MATTERS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.
"PROPOSALS TN THE REPORT WILL PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR DETAILED PLANNING WORK TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY DURING ITS INITIAL YEARS," HE SAID.
THE REPORT, WHICH WAS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, WAS NOTED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TODAY. IT INCLUDES DETAILED PROPOSALS FOR:
- THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM THROUGH WHICH IT WOULD FUNCTION;
- THE NEW HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM;
- BRINGING GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WITHIN AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICE;
- THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING FINANCING AND THE SETTING OF FEES AND CHARGES; AND
- NEW STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT WHEN TABLING THE REPORT, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE CLEAR ITS VIEWS ON THE PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND GIVE ITS REASONS IF IT SHOULD DECIDE TO MODIFY ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
"WE WILL ALSO ANNOUNCE THE PROPOSED BRIDGING-OVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS WHO OPT TO TRANSFER TO THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
"ALL THIS MAY TAKE A FEW MORE WEEKS TO PREPARE, BUT IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT’S FIRM INTENTION TO HAVE THE BILL ENACTED DURING THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION," HE SAID.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
THE SPOKESMAN GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT FOLLOWING THE TABLING OF THE REPORT AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE, THERE WOULD BE EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE STAFF ON THOSE PROPOSALS WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECT THEM, SUCH AS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND THE BRIDGING-OVER ARRANGEMENTS.
HE REITERATED THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO SET UP THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AS A STATUTORY BODY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, SUBJECT TO THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THE AUTHORITY WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY AFTER ESTABLISHMENT.
"IT WILL NEED TO APPOINT SUITABLE PERSONS AS ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICERS; THE NEW TERMS OF SERVICE WILL NEED TO BE AGREED SO THAT THEY CAN BE OFFERED TO GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITAL STAFF FROM THE OUTSET; A SUITABLE PAYROLL SYSTEM BASED ON THE NEW TERMS WILL HAVE TO BE DEVISED; AGREEMENTS WITH EACH OF THE SUBVENTED HOSPITAL BOARDS WILL HAVE TO BE CONCLUDED; AND THE MEMORANDUM OF ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WILL HAVE TO BE PREPARED.
"IT IS EXPECTED THAT THESE MATTERS MAY TAKE A FEW MORE MONTHS TO COMPLETE, BUT IT IS STILL THE INTENTION TO TRANSFER ALL PUBLIC HOSPITALS TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
"MEANWHILE, THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO COMPLETE EXPEDITIOUSLY THE REMAINING STAGES OF THE PREPARATORY WORK.
"WE BELIEVE THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WILL BRING CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVICES AND WE ARE ANXIOUS TO HAVE IT IN CHARGE OF THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," HE SAID.
------0--------
GOVERNOR CALLS FOR URGENT REPORT ON ATTACK
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, HAS CALLED FOR AN URGENT REPORT FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ON THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE ATTACK ON THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ALLEN LEE.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER HE ATTENDED AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING, SIR DAVID SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE DETAILS OF THE SITUATION.
/"I’M CONCERNED ......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
5
"I’M CONCERNED THAT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS AN ATTACK ON MR ALLEN LEE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE INFORMATION THE POLICE HAVE GOT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT AS SOON AS I POSSIBLY CAN GET IT,” HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT AT THIS STAGE THE POLICE DID NOT KNOW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE AND WOULD BE FOLLOWING UP ON IT AS QUICKLY AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD.
”WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THIS SORT OF VIOLENCE DOESN’T HAPPEN IN OUR SOCIETY. IT IS QUITE INTOLERABLE THAT THIS SORT OF VIOLENCE SHOULD AFFECT ANYBODY, AND THAT OF COURSE INCLUDES MR ALLEN LEE,” SIR DAVID SAID.
ASKED IF IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THERE WAS A POLITICAL MOTIVE INVOLVED, THE GOVERNOR SAID: ’’THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE AT THE MOMENT TO SUGGEST THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING POLITICAL BEHIND IT. THERE IS A WHOLE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES WHICH THE POLICE MUST PURSUE, BUT AT THIS STAGE THERE IS NO REASON WHATSOEVER TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING POLITICAL BEHIND IT.”
------0--------
LAUNCHING OF HI BOR FUTURES CONTRACT AN IMPORTANT STEP *****
THE LAUNCHING OF THE HIBOR (HONG KONG INTER-BANK OFFERED RATE) FUTURES CONTRACT REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FINANCIAL FUTURES MARKET IN HONG KONG, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT A DINNER HOSTED BY THE HONG KONG FUTURES TO MARK ITS LAUNCHING, STR PIERS NOTED THAT FINANCIAL FUTURES TO THE HIBOR CONTRACT HAD ENJOYED TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN
EXCHANGE
SIMILAR
OVERSEAS
MARKETS.
’’THESE FINANCIAL FUTURES CONTRACTS ARE OF CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE IN RELATION TO THE PROVISION OF A FULL RANGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.
’’THE SUCCESS OF THIS TYPE OF MARKET TO THE BENEFITS THESE INSTRUMENTS ARE ABLE PARTICIPANTS, IN PARTICULAR THE ABILITY TO
HAS BEEN DIRECTLY RELATED
TO OFFER TO THE MARKET TRANSFER RISK EFFECTIVELY
AND EFFICIENTLY.
”1 HAVE NO DOUBT THAT OVER TIME AND WITH CONTINUED GOOD MANAGEMENT, THE NEW CONTRACT WILL BRING THE SAME BENEFITS TO THE HONG KONG FINANCIAL COMMUNITY,” HE SAID.
/ADDRESSING CONCERN .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
ADDRESSING CONCERN EXPRESSED BY SOME THAT HONG KONG WAS MOVING TOWARDS AN OVER-REGULATED ENVIRONMENT, SIR PIERS REITERATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-REGULATION OF HONG KONG’S FINANCIAL MARKETS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SECURITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE.
"WE HAVE SOUGHT TO BUILD IN A FINE BALANCE BETWEEN CONTROLS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN MARKET INTEGRITY AND FREEDOMS TO ENCOURAGE MARKET DEVELOPMENT.
"WE NEED TO GUARD AGAINST OVER-REGULATION, BUT EQUALLY, WE MUST NOT BE SEDUCED INTO UNDER-REGULATION, WHICH AT THE END OF THE DAY POSES FAR GREATER DANGERS," SIR PIERS SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT THERE WAS NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER OF ALLOWING OUR MARKETS TO BE STIFLED BY "OVER-REGULATION".
HE NOTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE SECURITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT, THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT, BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE RIGHT FOR HONG KONG.
"THE REGULATORY SYSTEM WE HAVE TODAY REFLECTS THE INTENT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS," HE SAID, POINTING OUT THAT HONG KONG’S UNIQUE CONDITIONS HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE FORMULATION OF THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR OUR MARKETS.
"PROVIDED WE WORK TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION, AND PROVIDED THERE IS PROPER AND ADEQUATE CONSULTATION, THERE IS NO DANGER WHATSOEVER OF HONG KONG MARKETS TILTING TOO FAR IN THE DIRECTION OF EXCESS CONTROL AND OVER-REGULATION," HE SAID.
AS FOR SELF-REGULATION, SIR PIERS SAID TO MAKE IT WORK THE EXCHANGES MUST ON THEIR INITIATIVES ENFORCE MARKET RULES AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY MUST DO SO VIGOROUSLY.
"WHERE NECESSARY, THEY SHOULD TAKE EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST MEMBERS WHO HAVE VIOLATED RULES, WHICH OFTEN HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE CONSENT OF THOSE MEMBERS," SIR PIERS SAID.
"I ACCEPT THAT THE ENFORCEMENT RULES AND REGULATION DOES NOT MAKE THOSE CHARGED WITH THAT DUTY PARTICULARLY POPULAR, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT IS A MODEST PRICE TO PAY IF WE ARE TO DEVELOP CONFIDENCE IN OUR MARKETS,” HE SAID.
"WITH THE CONCERTED EFFORT OF ALL CONCERNED, I BELIEVE WE CAN BUILD A FAIR, EFFICIENT AND ORDERLY MARKET PLACE THAT WILL PROVE ATTRACTIVE TO BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS ALIKE," HE ADDED.
/7........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
MEASURES TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY
*****
THE BRAIN DRAIN IS UNDOUBTEDLY A WORRY BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING MEASURES BOTH TO MEET THE GAP LEFT BY THOSE LEAVING AND TO MAKE HONG KONG AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN.
THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE BUSINESS INFORMATION DAY 1990 ORGANISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
SHE WAS ASKED BY THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE TO FOCUS ON THE SUBJECT OF BRAIN DRAIN.
"IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN A SENSE OF PROPORTION ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOT ALLOW FEAR TO TRANSLATE INTO FLIGHT," SHE SAID.
"WHATEVER THE CURRENT UNCERTAINTIES, HONG KONG REMAINS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES.
"WITH OUR STRATEGIC LOCATION IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION AND AS THE GATEWAY TO CHINA, AND GIVEN OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE ENTIRE REGION, WE ARE WELL POSITIONED TO CONTINUE OUR SUCCESS STORY, EVEN IF THE POLITICAL SCENE IS TO CHANGE AFTER 1997," SHE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF RESTRICTING THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO MEANS OF CONTROLLING THE IMMIGRATION POLICIES OF OTHER COUNTRIES, MRS CHAN SAID IT MUST THEREFORE PUT EMPHASIS ON ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY.
TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO MAINTAIN THOSE ASPECTS OF HONG KONG LIFE WHICH WERE MOST ATTRACTIVE; CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO KEEP HONG KONG A VIBRANT CITY SUCH AS THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS,; ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH; AND FURTHER IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THOSE AREAS WHERE IT HAD DONE PERHAPS LESS WELL IN THE PAST, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENVIRONMENT, SHE SAID.
"FOR THE LONG TERM, THE BEST WAY TO MAKE GOOD ANY SHORTFALLS IS TO TRAIN UP OUR OWN YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY HAVE THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS REQUIRED TO ENABLE HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO PROSPER," SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR, IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS DELIVERED LAST OCTOBER, HAD SPELLT OUT PLANS TO BOOST THE OUTPUT OF THE VARIOUS EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING OR EVEN ENHANCING STANDARDS.
/"SPECIFICALLY, WE .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
- 8 -
"SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE PLANNING TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FIRST YEAR, FIRST DEGREE PLACES REQUIRED FOR THE YEAR 1994-5 FROM 13 PER CENT TO NO LESS THAN 18 PER CENT OF THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP," SHE SAID, DESCRIBING IT AS AN AMBITIOUS YET REALISTIC TARGET.
MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT QUITE APART FROM THE QUESTION OF EMIGRATION, THE EXPANSION WAS NECESSARY TO ENABLE MANY MORE YOUTHS OF HONG KONG TO RECEIVE SOME FORM OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOCALLY AND TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR MANPOWER WITH HIGHER QUALIFICATIONS AS A RESULT OF HONG KONG’S CONTINUING SHIFT TOWARDS A MORE SOPHISTICATED AND SERVICE-ORIENTED ECONOMY.
"IN THE MEDIUM TERM WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE RETURN FLOW OF FORMER HONG KONG RESIDENTS STARTING IN THE EARLY 1990’S, AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO FACILITATE THAT RETURN.
"ALREADY THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF FORMER HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COME BACK HERE TO LIVE AND WORK AFTER STUDYING OR LIVING ABROAD.
"BUT THE SURGE IN EMIGRATION DID NOT REALLY GET UNDERWAY UNTIL 1988. AND THE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DESTINATION COUNTRIES MEAN THAT THOSE PEOPLE WILL NOT FOR THE MOST PART BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN UNTIL 1991 OR EVEN LATER.
"WE MUST ENSURE THAT POTENTIAL RETURNEES HAVE READY ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON THE UP-TO-DATE SITUATION IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES," SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED HOWEVER THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST STRIKE A CAREFUL BALANCE. "IF WE WERE TO OFFER A SPECIAL BONUS FOR COMING BACK, WE WOULD IN EFFECT BE GRANTING A SPECIAL BONUS FOR LEAVING."
"THIS WOULD ONLY COMPOUND OUR PROBLEMS AND IN ADDITION IT WOULD BE TERRIBLY UNFAIR TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BUT CHOSE IINSTEAD TO STAY.
"THEREFORE, WE HAVE TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON REMOVING DISINCENTIVES RATHER THAN CREATING A SPECIAL REWARD," SHE SAID.
IN THE SHORT TERM, SHE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONTINUE TO BE FLEXIBLE IN ALLOWING IMMIGRATION OF HIGHLY SKILLED PERSONNEL TO FILL THE GAPS.
"EVERY APPLICATION BY EMPLOYERS TO BRING IN PROFESSIONALS AND MANAGERS IS BEING AND WILL BE EFFICIENTLY AND SYMPATHETICALLY CONSIDERED ON ITS MERITS.
"THERE IS NO RESTRICTION ON NUMBERS OR SOURCES BUT PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES MUST BE SUITABLY QUALIFIED AND THEIR EMPLOYERS MUST PAY THE GOING WAGES IN HONG KONG.
"THERE IS ALSO A SPECIAL SCHEME TO IMPORT ABOUT 3,000 SKILLED WORKERS AT THE TECHNICIAN, CRAFTSMAN AND SUPERVISORY LEVELS TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE IN THOSE AREAS," SHE SAID.
------0-----------
/9 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
9
REPORTS ON MARINE AND RIVER WATER QUALITY RELEASED ******
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE DETAILS OF TWO REPORTS -- "MARINE WATER QUALITY IN HONG KONG 1989" AND "RIVER WATER QUALITY IN HONG KONG".
THE REPORTS REVIEWED THE STATE OF WATER QUALITY IN THE INLAND AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT OF HONG KONG AND SUMMARISED THE BENEFITS OF VARIOUS CONTROL MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN 1988.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER, MR PAUL HOLMES, SAID THE TWO REPORTS SHOWED THAT THERE WERE SOME SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT IN WATER QUALITY BUT MUCH WORK STILL HAD TO BE DONE.
ACCORDING TO THE RIVER WATER QUALITY REPORT, THE WATER QUALITY OF SOME RIVERS AND STREAMS IN A FEW AREAS WAS BETTER THAN THAT IN RECENT YEARS. THE LAM TSUEN RIVER IN TAI PO, ONCE CONSIDERED ONE OF HONG KONG’S WORST, WAS NOW RATED "GOOD".
MR HOLMES SAID NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT WITH PROPER SEWERAGE, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE AND THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME HAD LED TO THIS IMPROVEMENT.
HOWEVER, TWO-THIRDS OF THE RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE STILL BADLY CONTAMINATED BY ANIMAL WASTE AND DOMESTIC SEWAGE.
MR HOLMES EMPHASISED THAT A LOT MORE EFFORT WOULD BE NEEDED TO GET THE PROBLEMS UNDER CONTROL.
"WE MUST GET ON WITH OUR NEW SEWAGE DISPOSAL STRATEGY VERY QUICKLY AND THIS INCLUDES IMPLEMENTING POLLUTION CONTROL LAWS AS WELL AS BUILDING NEW SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS," HE SAID.
AS FOR THE MARINE WATER QUALITY IN HONG KONG REPORT, MR HOLMES SAID THE RESULTS WERE DERIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S EXTENSIVE WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMMES.
THE PROGRAMMES SHOWED THAT SEA WATER QUALITY IN HONG KONG REMAINED GENERALLY UNSATISFACTORY. THE WORST AREAS WERE STILL THE WELL KNOWN POLLUTION BLACK SPOTS SUCH AS INNER TOLO HARBOUR, PARTS OF VICTORIA HARBOUR AND DEEP BAY.
DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION HAD CAUSED SEVERE LOSS OF OXYGEN FROM THE WATER, WITH THE DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVEL WELL BELOW THE TARGET LEVEL AT MANY POINTS.
NEAR NORTHWEST KOWLOON, WHERE THE SEWAGE FROM 820,000 PEOPLE WAS DISCHARGED INTO VICTORIA HARBOUR, THE DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVEL FELL TO AS LOW AS 16 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH THE TARGET LEVEL OF 50 PER CENT.
/BACTERIAL POLLUTION .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
10 -
BACTERIAL POLLUTION OF THE SAME AREA WAS ALSO VERY HIGH, WITH SOME SAMPLES AS HIGH AS 250 TIMES THE SAFETY LEVEL.
SEA WATER FROM VICTORIA HARBOUR WAS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR COOLING AND FLUSHING, AND THESE USES WERE COMPROMISED DUE TO SEVERE POLLUTION.
THE MONITORING PROGRAMMES ALSO SHOWED INCREASING POLLUTION BY CHEMICALS FOUND IN INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS.
MR HOLMES EXPLAINED THAT THESE CHEMICALS SHOWED UP WERE SEDIMENTS TAKEN FROM THE SEABED, BUT THEY INDICATED SEVERE POLLUTION OF THE WATER.
"MANY OF THESE CHEMICALS ARE TOXIC. THEY CAN ACCUMULATE IN MARINE LIFE AND EVENTUALLY BE PASSED ONTO US," HE SAID.
THE TWO REPORTS, WITH GRAPHIC PRESENTATION, ARE SUITABLE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEMS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THEY WOULD SERVE AS USEFUL REFERENCES FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
THE RIVER WATER QUALITY REPORT, AT $31 A COPY, AND THE MARINE WATER QUALITY REPORT, AT $46 A COPY, ARE NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
------0-------
UPGRADING OF HK-PEKING METEOROLOGICAL TELECOMMUNICATION CIRCUIT ****»*»
A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE UPGRADING OF THE HONG KONG-PEKING METEOROLOGICAL TELECOMMUNICATION CIRCUIT WAS SIGNED IN HONG KONG TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR PATRICK SHAM, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE BEIJING METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE, MR LI ZECHUN.
THE PRODUCTION OF WEATHER FORECASTS REQUIRES THE ANALYSIS OF WEATHER INFORMATION FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA AMONG METEOROLOGICAL CENTRES, A GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN SET UP UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANISATION. THE HONG KONG-PEKING CIRCUIT IS ONE OF THE REGIONAL CIRCUIPS WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
/THE METEOROLOGICAL........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
- 11 -
THE METEOROLOGICAL TELECOMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN HONG KONG AND PEKING WAS FIRST SET UP IN DECEMBER 1975 AND HAS A SPEED OF 75 BITS PER SECOND ONLY.
OVER THE YEARS, THE VOLUME OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA EXCHANGED OVER THE CIRCUIT HAS INCREASED MANIFOLD AND BOTH SIDES RECOGNISE THAT THE LOW SPEED CIRCUIT IS NO LONGER ABLE TO COPE WITH OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, ACTIONS WILL FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY TO ESTABLISH A CIRCUIT WITH A HIGHER SPEED OF 9,600 BITS PER SECOND BETWEEN BEIJING METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE AND THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, HONG KONG, VIA CANTON.
IN ADDITION TO THE BENEFIT OF FASTER EXCHANGE OF CONVENTIONAL DATA, THE UPGRADED CIRCUIT WILL ALLOW THE EXCHANGE OF NEW CLASSES OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA.
FIRSTLY, INFORMATION ON RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION COLLECTED BY METEOROLOGICAL RADARS IN CANTON AND HONG KONG WILL BE EXCHANGED. THIS WILL EXTEND THE RANGE OF SURVEILLANCE FOR BOTH METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES IN CANTON AND HONG KONG.
FOR HONG KONG, THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR THE ADVANCE DETECTION OF SEVERE SPRING-TIME THUNDERSTORMS WHICH TYPICALLY COME FROM THE NORTHWEST.
AS FOR CANTON, MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING HEAVY RAIN AND TYPHOONS COMING IN FROM THE SOUTH CHINA SEA COULD BE OBTAINED THROUGH THIS CIRCUIT. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A BACK-UP FACILITY IN CASE THE RADAR ON ONE SIDE FAILS.
SECONDLY, FACSIMILE WEATHER CHARTS WILL BE EXCHANGED OVER THE CIRCUIT. CURRENTLY, WEATHER CHARTS SUPPLIED TO LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS LEAVING HONG KONG FOR DESTINATIONS SUCH AS LONDON OR FRANKFURT ARE OBTAINED BY THE RECEPTION OF RADIO BROADCASTS WHICH IS NOT A FULLY RELIABLE MEANS.
THE UPGRADING OF THE HONG KONG-PEKING CIRCUIT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY WEATHER CHARTS FOR THESE LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS, THUS CONTRIBUTING TO EFFICIENCY IN FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND PASSENGER SAFETY AND COMFORT.
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/12........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
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HK’S TRADE WITH CHINA OF OUTWARD PROCESSING NATURE
******
IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989, SOME 58 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S IMPORTS FROM CHINA WERE RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING.
ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME 56 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL EXPORTS TO CHINA WERE FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING; THE FIGURE WAS 77 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, AND 46 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA.
TO PROVIDE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF OUTWARD PROCESSING IN CHINA BY HONG KONG FIRMS, THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONDUCTING A SAMPLE SURVEY AS FROM THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988 TO DISTINGUISH HONG KONG’S EXPORTS TO CHINA -BOTH DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS - INTO THOSE WHICH ARE FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING AND THOSE WHICH ARE NOT.
THE SCOPE OF THE SURVEY HAS ALSO BEEN EXTENDED AS FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1989 SO AS TO SEGREGATE HONG KONG’S IMPORTS FROM CHINA INTO THOSE WHICH ARE RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING AND THOSE WHICH ARE NOT. THE RESULTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 ARE NOW AVAILABLE.
IN VALUE TERMS, SOME $30,773 MILLION OF THE $53,241 MILLION OF IMPORTS FROM CHINA IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WERE RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING.
ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME $20,447 MILLION OF THE $36,759 MILLION OF TOTAL EXPORTS TO CHINA IN THE THIRD QUARTER WERE FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING; THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES WERE $8,573 MILLION OUT OF $11,101 MILLION FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, AND $11,874 MILLION OUT OF $25,658 MILLION FOR RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY, EXPORTS TO CHINA FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING REFER TO THE EXPORTING OF RAW MATERIALS OR SEMI-MANUFACTURES FROM HONG KONG TO CHINA FOR PROCESSING, WITH THE RESULTING PROCESSED GOODS BEING SUBSEQUENTLY RE-IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG; WHILE IMPORTS FROM CHINA RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING REFER TO THE IMPORTING OF GOODS FROM CHINA OF WHICH ALL OR PART OF THEIR RAW MATERIALS OR SEMI-MANUFACTURES ARE UNDER CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT EXPORTED FROM OR THROUGH HONG KONG TO CHINA FOR PROCESSING.
A SAMPLE OF TRADE DECLARATIONS IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG’S TRADE WITH CHINA (IMPORTS, DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS) ARE SELECTED FOR ENUMERATION TO OBTAIN THE REQUIRED INFORMATION FROM ESTABLISHMENTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED SYSTEM OF RECORDING TRADE FLOWS, ALL MOVEMENTS OF GOODS ACROSS THE BORDER, FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE, ARE RECORDED AS EXTERNAL TRADE. THUS THE MOVEMENTS OF GOODS ASSOCIATED WITH OUTWARD PROCESSING ARE CORRECTLY INCLUDED IN THE REGULAR TRADE STATISTICS.
/"THE FINDINGS .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
- 13 -
’’THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY, HOWEVER, FACILITATE A MORE INFORMED ANALYSIS OF THE NATURE OF HONG KONG-CHINA TRADE. IN THIS RESPECT, THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE A USEFUL SUPPLEMENT TO THE REGULAR TRADE STATISTICS.”
SURVEY RESULTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WILL BE INCLUDED IN PART I OF THE DECEMBER 1989 ISSUE OF THE ’’HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE”, WHICH WILL BE ON SALE IN MID-FEBRUARY 1990 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $17.5 PER COPY.
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ELEVEN QUESTIONS, FIVE BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA * ♦ * * »
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL ASK A TOTAL OF 11 QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER FIVE BILLS IN THE COUNCIL’S MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, AND THE PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
SECOND READING DEBATES ON THE HONG KONG EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1989 WILL RESUME. WHEN THESE ARE COMPLETED THE BILLS ARE DUE TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGES AND BE GIVEN THIRD READINGS.
THREE MEMBERS WILL SPEAK ON ANNUAL REPORTS TO BE TABLED IN THE MEETING. THEY ARE THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG (HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC), THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN (CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG) AND THE HON MIRIAM LAU (HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS).
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MANUFACTURER FINED FOR GIVING FALSE INFORMATION * » » * ♦
AN ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS MANUFACTURER WAS FINED $62,000 TODAY (TUESDAY) AT THE WESTERN MAGISTRACY AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO THE CHARGES OF GIVING FALSE INFORMATION IN APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN.
THE COURT HEARD THAT IN APRIL 1989, THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECEIVED FROM TWO EXPORTERS TWO APPLICATIONS FOR THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN (FORM A) COVERING 3,000 PIECES OF MUSICAL MODULE VOICE FOR TOYS FOR EXPORT TO GREECE, AND 2,000 PIECES OF MUSICAL MODULE VOICE FOR EXPORT TO JAPAN RESPECTIVELY.
/IN BOTH .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
- 14 -
IN BOTH APPLICATIONS, A DIRECTOR ON BEHALF OF THE DEFENDANT COMPANY, BESTONE ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS LTD, DECLARED THE COMPANY TO BE MANUFACTURER OF THE GOODS UNDER APPLICATION AND THAT THE WORK OF BONDING, SOLDERING, ASSEMBLING AND CASING OF THE GOODS WERE DONE IN ITS FACTORY PREMISES.
HOWEVER, THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TURNED DOWN BOTH APPLICATIONS AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THE INFORMATION FURNISHED COULD BE FALSE.
THE CASE WAS REFERRED TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE DEFENDANT COMPANY HAD SUBCONTRACTED THE WORK OF BONDING, SOLDERING, ASSEMBLING AND CASING OF THE GOODS TO A FACTORY IN CHINA.
WHEN THE FINISHED GOODS WERE DELIVERED FROM CHINA, THE DEFENDANT COMPANY ONLY HAD TO CARRY OUT THE MINOR PROCESSES OF TESTING AND PACKING IN ITS OWN FACTORY PREMISES.
THESE GOODS WERE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN (FORM A) BECAUSE THE ORIGIN CONFERRING PROCESSES OF PRODUCTION WERE NOT DONE IN HONG KONG.
INVESTIGATIONS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE DEFENDANT COMPANY HAD ON SEVEN PREVIOUS OCCASIONS IN MARCH AND APRIL 1989 MADE FALSE DECLARATIONS WITH THE TRADE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE GOODS INVOLVED WAS ABOUT $1.2 MILLION.
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DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS COMING ON STREAM IN SHA TIN
******
LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE COMING ON STREAM IN SHA TIN, HELPING TO TURN THE NEW TOWN INTO AN EVEN MORE PROSPEROUS AND STRIVING PLACE IN THE 1990’S, THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR VICTOR YUNG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE SPRING RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, MR YUNG NOTED THAT A NUMBER OF MAJOR ROADWORKS WOULD SOON BE COMPLETED.
"IN MARCH. ROUTE 5 WILL BE COMPLETED, PROVIDING A FAST LINK BETWEEN SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN," HE SAID.
/"THIS, TOGETHER .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
- 15 -
"THIS, TOGETHER WITH THE RECENTLY WIDENED TAI PO ROAD, WILL HELP IMPROVE TRAFFIC WITH OTHER DISTRICTS."
THE DISTRICT OFFICER ANTICIPATED FURTHER IMPROVEMENT WHEN THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL WAS COMPLETED NEXT YEAR.
"AS REGARDS MEDICAL SERVICES, THE SHA TIN INFIRMARY WITH MORE THAN 700 BEDS WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR," HE SAID.
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MA ON SHAN AREA, MR YUNG SAID VARIOUS PROJECTS WERE TAKING PLACE AND THE 60,000-ODD POPULATION THERE HAD READILY INTEGRATED THEMSELVES INTO THE FLEDGLING COMMUNITY.
ATTENDING TODAY’S SPRING RECEPTION INCLUDED ABOUT 300 GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, RURAL COMMITTEE, AREA COMMITTEES AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES.
ALSO PRESENT WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MEDIA, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COMPANIES AS WELL AS LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
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DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FACILITY
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO SET UP A SIGNALLED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING OUTSIDE 18 BELCHER’S STREET, KENNEDY TOWN, AT ITS MEETING ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 8).
MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT MORE ROAD SAFETY MEASURES IN WESTERN STREET. WHERE TRAFFIC HAS BECOME HEAVIER FOLLOWING THE OPENING OF THE RUMSEY STREET FLYOVER.
MEANWHILE, A MEMBER IS EXPECTED TO ASK WHETHER THE FORESEEABLE TRAFFIC CAPACITY AT THE MID-LEVELS WOULD AFFECT THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION ON REVISING THE PLOT RATIOS FOR FUTURE REDEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 8) IN ROOM 1416, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
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/16 .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
- 16 -
CORRECTIVE TRAINING EMBRACES WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES
*****
CORRECTIVE TRAINING IN HONG KONG AIMS AT TURNING OFFENDERS INTO RESPONSIBLE, CONTRIBUTIVE AND LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MR ANDREW WONG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT SHEK PIK PRISON, MR WONG SAID CORRECTIVE TRAINING EMBRACED A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, AND ORGANISING EDUCATIONAL COURSES LEADING TO EXTERNAL ACCREDITATION WAS BUT ONE FACET OF THE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMME.
"THE GRANTING OF CERTIFICATES TO CANDIDATES SIGNIFIES THE RECOGNITION OF THESE AUTHORITIES OF *THE STANDARDS THE RECIPIENTS ATTAINED IN THEIR STUDIES," HE SAID.
MR WONG SAID ALL OF THE INMATE CANDIDATES HAD PERFORMED VERY WELL AND THEIR DETERMINATION TO STRIVE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC FIELD WAS MOST LAUDABLE.
"THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS WILL NO DOUBT BE VERY HELPFUL IN SECURING A BETTER JOB AND LEADING A BETTER LIFE WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY."
MR WONG TOLD THE INMATES THAT THERE WERE MANY OBSTACLES ALONG THE ROAD TO REFORMATION, AND THAT TO OVERCOME THEM WOULD REQUIRE NOT ONLY DETERMINATION AND RESOLUTION, BUT ALSO THE VITAL SUPPORT OF MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY.
AT TODAY’S CEREMONY, 64 PRISONERS WERE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES FOR PASSING PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS OFFERED BY THE EXTRAMURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY, LONDON CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AND PITMAN EXAMINATION INSTITUTE.
THERE WERE THREE DISTINCTIONS AND TWO CREDITS AMONG A TOTAL OF 71 CERTIFICATES PRESENTED.
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NEW GUIDEBOOK ON LABOUR DEPARTMENT SERVICES
*****
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO ITS WIDE-RANGING SERVICES AVAILABLE TO BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.
ENTITLED "THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFERS YOU ITS SERVICES", THE NEWLY-REVISED PUBLICATION OUTLINES THE WORK AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY VARIOUS DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
/THESE SERVICES .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
17
THESE SERVICES INCLUDE CONCILIATION IN LABOUR DISPUTES AND PROMOTION OF STAFF-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS; EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING THE DISABLED AND JOB-SEEKERS WITH TERTIARY EDUCATION; CAREER GUIDANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE; AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND AND ATTESTATION OF CONTRACTS OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WORKING IN HONG KONG AND LOCAL MANUAL WORKERS WORKING OVERSEAS.
THE BOOKLET ALSO COVERS OTHER SERVICES RELATING TO EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION; INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING AND PROMOTION; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRY; PRESSURE EQUIPMENT CONTROL AND MINING AND EXPLOSIVES SAFETY.
TO MAKE IT EASY FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE THE SERVICES, THE HANDBOOK LISTS OUT THE LOCATIONS AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF ALL BRANCH OFFICES WHERE FURTHER INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE CAN BE OBTAINED.
IT ALSO CONTAINS A LIST OF PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED BY THE DEPARTMENT ON VARIOUS LABOUR SUBJECTS AS WELL AS LEGISLATION ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE BOOKLET, PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, IS NOW AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT ALL BRANCH OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
MAKING EXCHANGE FUND BILLS MORE EASILY MARKETABLE ......................... 1
BILL TO PROVIDE EXEMPTION FROM STAMP DUTY ................................. 2
BILL TO AMEND DEFINITION OF 'PUBLIC MONEYS' ............................... 3
COUNTRIES EXPECTED TO ACCEPT VALIDITY OF PASSPORT ......................... 4
PERIODIC REVIEWS OF BOARD, COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ........................... 4
ACTION TAKEN TO PREVENT LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE ............................. 5
COMPARISONS OF PROVIDENT, PENSION SCHEMES DIFFICULT ....................... 6
NEW HOSPITAL PLANNED FOR FANLING/SHEUNG SHUI .............................. 7
SATISFACTORY RESULTS SO FAR UNDER PRISONER RELEASE SCHEMES ................ 8
GOOD PROGRESS IN LABELLING DISPENSED MEDICINES ............................ 9
PAYMENT OF HONORARIUM CONSISTENT WITH POLICY ............................. 10
DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS ON VBP DUTIES .............................. 11
VIGOROUS CONTROL OVER TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ........................... 12
REMINDERS AGAINST USE OF ILLEGAL SOFTWARE ................................ 13
CALL TO EASE OVERCROWDING AT POLYTECHNIC CAMPUS .......................... 13
CITY POLYTECHNIC CONTINUES TO GROW ....................................... 14
REWARDING YEAR FOR ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS ........................... 15
TWO BILLS PASSED.......................................................... 16
GUANGDONG DELEGATION IN HK FOR ANNUAL BORDER REVIEW ........................ 17
TAC DISCUSSES BUS FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS ............................... 17
DSW VISITS SWD OFFICES IN KOWLOON CITY ..................................... 20
CONTEST TO PROMOTE BETTER USE OF SCHOOL LIBRARY ............................ 21
REMINDER CONCERNING OFFENCE UNDER TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE ............. 21
SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY ON DB AGENDA ......................................... 22
DB WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS CLEARANCE ...................................... 23
DB COMMITTEE TO REVIEW TRAFFIC TRIAL SCHEME ................................ 24
DB TO BE BRIEFED ON WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION ............................... 24
GOVT SITE TO LET BY TENDER ................................................. 25
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR OPENING OF TAI WO TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE ........... 25
SPEED LIMIT ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD ............................................ 26
URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHAM SHUI PO.............................................. 26
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
1 MAKING EXCHANGE FUND BILLS MORE EASILY MARKETABLE » * * * ♦
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 IS TO EXEMPT FROM TAX ANY INTEREST OR PROFIT ARISING FROM DEBT INSTRUMENTS ISSUED UNDER THE EXCHANGE FUND ORDINANCE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE EXCHANGE FUND, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, SIR PIERS SAID HE HAD ANNOUNCED IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH IN MARCH LAST YEAR HIS INTENTION TO DEVELOP A PROGRAMME FOR THE ISSUE OF SHORT-TERM EXCHANGE FUND BILLS.
HE HAD EXPLAINED THAT THIS WOULD PROVIDE A FLEXIBLE, LOW RISK AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF CONDUCTING MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS.
"THESE OPERATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT IN ORDER TO INFLUENCE CONDITIONS IN THE INTERBANK MARKET IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ASSIST IN THE MAINTENANCE OF EXCHANGE RATE STABILITY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM.
"THE BUYING AND SELLING OF GOVERNMENT PAPER IS A METHOD OF CONDUCTING MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS. IT IS WIDELY USED IN OTHER MAJOR FINANCIAL CENTRES," HE SAID.
SIR PIERS SAID THE BILLS WHICH HE INTENDED TO BEGIN ISSUING SOON WOULD BE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE EXCHANGE FUND.
THE PROCEEDS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO FINANCE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE OF FISCAL DEFICITS.
THEY WOULD BE INVESTED ALONG WITH OTHER ASSETS OF THE EXCHANGE FUND AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE ONLY FOR THOSE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE RESOURCES OF THAT FUND MIGHT PROPERLY BE USED.
"THE BILLS WILL CONSTITUTE DIRECT, UNSECURED, UNCONDITIONAL AND GENERAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE EXCHANGE FUND.
"NORMALLY, THEY WILL HAVE A MATURITY OF 91 DAYS, THAT IS, 13 WEEKS, AND WILL BE ALLOTTED BY COMPETITIVE TENDER, WHICH WILL BE HELD WEEKLY.
"BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM RECOGNISED DEALERS ONLY.
"THE MINIMUM DENOMINATION OF THE BILLS WILL BE HK$500,000 AND THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING AMOUNT IS LIKELY TO BUILD UP TO APPROXIMATELY HKS3-4 BILLION BY THE END OF THE FIRST 13-WEEKS CYCLE," HE SAID.
SIR PIERS SAID THAT IN DEVISING THIS PROGRAMME, HE HAD VALUABLE ADVICE FROM THE EXCHANGE FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS, THE HONG KONG DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ASSOCIATION AND THE HONG KONG CAPITAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION.
/CONSULTATIONS HAD .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
2
CONSULTATIONS HAD ALSO TAKEN PLACE WITH PROSPECTIVE MARKET PARTICIPANTS AND WITH EXPERTS FROM THE BANK OF ENGLAND, AMONG OTHERS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE EXISTING SECTION 26A OF THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE EXEMPTED FROM TAX LIABILITY ANY INTEREST OR PROFIT ARISING FROM GOVERNMENT BONDS ISSUED UNDER THE LOANS (GOVERNMENT BONDS) ORDINANCE.
SINCE THE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS WOULD BE ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT UNDER THE EXCHANGE FUND ORDINANCE, THEY WOULD FALL OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF THE EXISTING EXEMPTION PROVIDED FOR GOVERNMENT BONDS.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IN CLAUSE 2(C) OF THE BILL SERVED TO EXEMPT FROM TAX ANY INTEREST OR PROFIT ARISING FROM EXCHANGE FUND BILLS.
"THE EXEMPTION OF THESE BILLS FROM PROFITS TAX AND STAMP DUTY SERVES TO LOWER THE YIELD AT WHICH THE BILLS ARE SOLD, MAKE THE BILLS MORE EASILY MARKETABLE AND ENCOURAGE SECONDARY MARKET TRADING.
"THIS WOULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MARKET," SIR PIERS ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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BILL TO PROVIDE EXEMPTION FROM STAMP DUTY
*****
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 IS TO EXEMPT EXCHANGE FUND DEBT INSTRUMENTS FROM THE IMPOSITION OF STAMP DUTY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, SIR PIERS SAID THE REASONS FOR THIS PROPOSAL WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE WHICH HE HAD OUTLINED IN HIS EARLIER SPEECH MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990.
"HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN BRIEFLY THE NEED FOR THE SPECIFIC TECHNICAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED IN THIS BILL," HE SAID.
"UNDER THE PRESENT STAMP DUTY ORDINANCE, STAMP DUTY IS CHARGEABLE ON TRANSACTIONS WHICH AMOUNT TO THE SALE OR PURCHASE OF ’STOCK’.
"THE DUTY IS ON THE CONTRACT NOTE. ’STOCK’ AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE ORDINANCE EXCLUDES ’ANY BILL OF EXCHANGE OR PROMISSORY NOTE OR ANY CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 2 OF THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE’.
/"BECAUSE OF .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 3
’’BECAUSE OF THE PAPERLESS FORM THE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS WILL TAKE, THERE IS SOME DOUBT AS TO WHETHER THEY WOULD FALL WITHIN THAT EXCLUSION.
’’THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SERVES TO REMOVE THAT DOUBT AND TO EXEMPT EXCHANGE FUND DEBT INSTRUMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE FROM STAMP DUTY.”
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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BILL TO AMEND DEFINITION OF ’PUBLIC MONEYS’ * * * * *
THE PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, SIR PIERS EXPLAINED THAT THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE, WHICH PROVIDED FOR THE CONTROL ON MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC FINANCES OF HONG KONG, INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF "PUBLIC MONEYS" ANY MONEYS WHICH WERE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BOOKS OR RECORDS OF ACCOUNT OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL AND THE REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT.
THESE TWO OFFICIALS FREQUENTLY HELD MONEY THAT, STRICTLY SPEAKING, WAS NOT PUBLIC MONEY, BUT WAS HELD ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS CREDITORS IN COMPANY LIQUIDATIONS.
BOTH THE REGISTRAR GENERAL AND THE REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT WERE ACCOUNTABLE UNDER OTHER LEGISLATION IN RESPECT OF MONEYS HELD BY THEM IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED, THERE COULD BE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE VARIOUS RELEVANT STATUTORY PROVISIONS, SIR PIERS SAID.
"IT IS THEREFORE DESIRABLE TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF ’PUBLIC MONEYS’ IN THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE BY REMOVING FROM IT SECTIONS 2(B)(II) AND (III) WHICH CONCERN MONEYS HELD BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL AND THE REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT.
"NEVERTHELESS, FOR CONTROL PURPOSES, A NEW SECTION 40A NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO EMPOWER THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES TO DIRECT THE PUBLIC OFFICERS CONCERNED TO PREPARE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS OF SUCH NON-GOVERNMENT MONEYS.
"THE ACCOUNTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AUDITED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT UNDER THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE AUDIT ORDINANCE," HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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/4 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
4 COUNTRIES EXPECTED TO ACCEPT VALIDITY OF PASSPORT ******
SO FAR NO COUNTRY HAS INDICATED THAT IT DOES NOT ACCEPT THE VALIDITY OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH, MR BARNES SAID THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT WAS A BRITISH PASSPORT ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
"AS SUCH WE EXPECT OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO ACCEPT IT AS A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT," HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID THE ABSENCE OF A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT BY COUNTRIES OF ACCEPTANCE WAS NOT IN ITSELF SIGNIFICANT.
"NO COUNTRY HAS INDICATED TO EITHER THE HONG KONG OR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT IT WOULD NOT RECOGNISE THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT," HE SAID.
MR TAI HAD ASKED WHETHER ALL THE COUNTRIES WHICH ACCEPTED THE VALIDITY OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZEN PASSPORT HAD ALSO ACCEPTED THE VALIDITY OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT SINCE IT WAS FIRST ISSUED IN 1987.
- - 0---------
PERIODIC REVIEWS OF BOARD. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
******
THE MEMBERSHIP OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES IS REVIEWED PERIODICALLY TO ENSURE THAT EACH BOARD OR COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE MANNER, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"IN THIS RESPECT. THE COMPOSITION OF THE TRADE ADVISORY BOARD WILL BE REVIEWED IN THE USUAL WAY WHEN THE CURRENT TERM OF ITS MEMBERS EXPIRES IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR," SIR PIERS SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON JAMES MCGREGOR.
MR MCGREGOR HAD ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER INVITING NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVES FROM MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS TO SIT ON THE TRADE ADVISORY BOARD AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
SIR PIERS SAID THAT AS REGARDS THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD, HE HAD INFORMED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL LAST NOVEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT’S AIM TO MAKE MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF THIS BOARD.
/"THE MEMBERSHIP .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 5 -
’’THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD HAS RECENTLY BEEN REORGANISED, AND SO FAR WE HAVE HAD ONE MEETING OF THE RECONSTITUTED BOARD,” HE POINTED OUT.
SIR PIERS SAID THAT AS A GENERAL RULE, NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS ON GOVERNMENT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES WERE APPOINTED ON AN AD PERSONAM BASIS.
’’WHERE APPROPRIATE, REPRESENTATIVES NOMINATED BY RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS ARE ALSO APPOINTED.
"THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENT IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION RECEIVES THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE ADVICE,” HE SAID.
SIR PIERS ADDED THAT HE RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS, AND WHEN MAJOR POLICY INITIATIVES WERE BEING TAKEN THEIR VIEWS WERE SOUGHT AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
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ACTION TAKEN TO PREVENT LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE ******
RECOMMENDATIONS MADF BY A COMMITTEE ON THE PREVENTION OF LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, AND CIRCULATED TO SUBVENTED AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
A TECHNICAL CIRCULAR WAS BEING PREPARED TO EXTEND THESE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ALL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND SUBVENTED INSTITUTIONS, MRS WONG SAID WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PAUL CHENG.
SHE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TERRITORY-WIDE WERE BEING CONSIDERED RY THE COMMITTEE.
”IT WILL ASSESS THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM, AND DECIDE ON THE NEED FOR LEGISLATION AND CODES OF PRACTICE TO ENSURE THE PROPER DESIGN, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WATER COOLING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG SAID THAT WHILE FRESH WATER COOLING TOWERS WERE THE IDENTIFIED SOURCE IN MOST OVERSEAS OUTBREAKS OF THE DISEASE, THEY WERE NOT COMMONLY EMPLOYED IN HONG KONG BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ON GROUNDS OF CONSERVATION.
"FOR THIS REASON, A MAJOR OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE IN HONG KONG IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE VERY LIKELY," SHE SAID.
/MRS WONG ........
WI 1NESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
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MRS WONG SAID THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN FORMED IN 1985 WITH MEMBERSHIP DRAWN FROM WITHIN GOVERNMENT AND THE UNIVERSITIES IN ORDER TO RECOMMEND HOW TO PREVENT AN OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS
"IT CONCLUDED IN 1987 THAT THE DISEASE COULD BE PREVENTED BY THE PROPER DESIGN OF COOLLING TOWERS AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS, COUPLED WITH THE PROPER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THESE SYSTEMS," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG OUTLINED WHAT HAD BEEN DONE TO APPLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND SAID THE COMMITTEE HAD RECONVENED LAST YEAR TO CONSIDER HOW TO IMPLEMENT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TERRITORY-WIDE.
SHE EXPLAINED THAT LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE WAS CAUSED BY THE BACTERIUM LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA, AND PRODUCED PNEUMONIA-TYPE SYMPTOMS.
"IT IS A WATER-BASED ORGANISM, SURVIVING BEST IN WARM, WET CONDITIONS WITH ABUNDANT SIMPLE ORGANIC LIFE AND INORGANIC SUBSTANCES FOR NUTRITION.
"IT INFECTS PEOPLE THROUGH INHALATION, TYPICALLY BY BREATHING IN AEROSOLS, OR FINE WATER SPRAY, DISSEMINATED FROM WATER COOLLING TOWERS," MRS WONG SAID.
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COMPARISONS OF PROVIDENT, PENSION SCHEMES DIFFICULT * * * * *
IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE COMPARISONS BETWEEN PROVIDENT AND PENSION SCHEMES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PENSION SCHEME IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD. SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"MOST PROVIDENT FUNDS OPERATED BY PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES PROVIDE A HIGHLY FLEXIBLE SYSTEM ALLOWING EMPLOYEES TO WITHDRAW THEIR BENEFIT AND MOVE TO OTHER FIRMS SEVERAL TIMES DURING THEIR CAREER.
"IN CONTRAST, THE GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME GENERALLY MAKES BENEFITS AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE END OF THE OFFICER’S CAREER," SIR DAVID SAID IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER H.Y. WONG.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY EXPLAINED THAT IN 1986 THE UK GOVERNMENT ACTUARY’S DEPARTMENT WAS COMMISSIONED TO ASSESS HONG KONG’S FUTURE CIVIL SERVICE PENSION LIABILITY IN THE COURSE OF EXAMINATION OF THE PROPOSED NEW PENSION SCHEME.
"THE ASSESSMENT HAS RECENTLY BEEN UPDATED BY THE TREASURY WHICH SHOWS THAT THE AVERAGE PENSION ONCOST FOR STAFF ON THE DIRECTORATE AND MASTER PAY SCALES ON THE NEW PENSION SCHEME IS ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF SALARY.
/•'PENSION ONCOST..........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
"PENSION ONCOST IS THE NOTIONAL AMOUNT WHICH NEEDS TO BE SET ASIDE TO MEET FUTURE PENSION LIABILITIES IN RESPECT OF A PARTICULAR OFFICER," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID A DIVERSITY OF SUPERANNUATION SCHEMES AND PROVIDENT FUNDS WERE CURRENTLY IN OPERATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
"OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE AUTHORISED SCHEMES, ABOUT HALF OF THEM ARE REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE FUNDING.
"AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE SCHEMES OPERATED BY MAJOR CORPORATIONS AND PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES ARE MOSTLY NON-CONTRIBUTORY.
"THE AVERAGE EMPLOYERS’ CONTRIBUTIONS RANGE FROM FIVE PER CENT TO 15 PER CENT OF SALARY AND THE EMPLOYERS ARE NORMALLY OBLIGED TO MAKE UP FOR ANY DEFICIENCY OF THE PENSION FUNDS," HE SAID.
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NEW HOSPITAL PLANNED FOR FANLING/SHEUNG SHUI *****
TO CATER FOR FURTHER POPULATION GROWTH IN NORTH DISTRICT, PLANS ARE IN HAND TO BUILD A 1,260-BED HOSPITAL IN AREA 34 IN FANLING/ SHEUNG SHUI, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MRS WONG SAID THIS WOULD BE A FULLY FLEDGED GENERAL ACUTE HOSPITAL WITH A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES SUPPORTED BY A SPECIALIST OUT-PATIENT CLINIC, AND THE TARGET COMPLETION DATE WAS 1999.
SHE SAID THAT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE EXPANDING POPULATION OF THE NORTH DISTRICT, THE FACILITIES AT FANLING HOSPITAL HAD BEEN UPGRADED IN RECENT YEARS TO PROVIDE HOSPITAL SERVICES COMPARABLE TO A DISTRICT HOSPITAL.
"FANLING HOSPITAL HAS 98 BEDS SUPPORTED BY A 24-HOUR ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICE. OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDE AN OPERATING THEATRE, X-RAY, PATHOLOGY, DISPENSARY AND PHYSIOTHERAPY.
"GENERAL OUT-PATIENT AND FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED AT THE HOSPITAL," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG ALSO SAID THAT PLANNING FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES HAD FOLLOWED THE PRINCIPLE OF REGIONALISATION.
"THERE ARE FIVE NEW HOSPITAL PROJECTS PLANNED FOR TH! EAST NEW TERRITORIES REGION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, TWO OF WHICH SHOULD BE COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR.
"TOGETHER THESE PROJECTS SHOULD PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 3,900 ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL BEDS, INCREASING THE PRESENT LEVEL OF PROVISION BY MORE THAN THREE-FOLD,” SHE SAID.
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/8 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7,
1990
8
SATISFACTORY RESULTS SO FAR UNDER PRISONER RELEASE SCHEMES
*****
SATISFACTORY RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR UNDER THE PRISONER "RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION SCHEME" AND THE "PRE-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT SCHEME”, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"ALTHOUGH THE TWO SCHEMES ARE IN THEIR EARLY STAGES, IT CAN BE CONCLUDED THAT THEIR REHABILITATION OBJECTIVES UNDER THE PRISONERS (RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION) ORDINANCE ARE BEING ACHIEVED," MR BARNES SAID IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON DANIEL TSE.
FROM THE START OF THE RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION SCHEME IN 1988 UP TO THE END OF LAST MONTH, THERE HAD BEEN 43 SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS, HE SAID.
OF THESE, 10 WERE UNDER THE RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION SCHEME, UNDER SECTION 7(1) OF THE ORDINANCE, AND 33 WERE UNDER THE PRE-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT SCHEME, UNDER SECTION 7(2).
MR BARNES SAID TWO IMPORTANT MEASURES OF THE SUCCESS OF A PENAL SYSTEM WERE THE EXTENTS TO WHICH IT REDUCED RECIDIVISM AND ENABLED A FORMER PRISONER TO REINTEGRATE HIMSELF IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE TWO SCHEMES UNDER THE PRISONERS (RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION) ORDINANCE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY WERE MOST LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES WITHOUT REVERTING TO CRIME.
"THE SCHEMES PROVIDE ONE OF THE BEST MEANS OF HELPING THE PRISONERS TO ADJUST FROM A HIGHLY DISCIPLINED PRISON ENVIRONMENT TO THE FREEDOM OF LIVING NORMALLY IN THE COMMUNITY.
"THE AIM IS THAT THEY SHOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO LEAD A LAW-ABIDING LIFE," HE SAID.
OF THE 10 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS UNDER THE RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION SCHEME, ONE HAD COMPLETED ONE YEAR OF SUPERVISION AND EIGHT HAD BEEN UNDER SUPERVISION FOR PERIODS OF EIGHT TO 10 MONTHS.
THE REMAINING ONE HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED AND ALL 10 WERE LIVING WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
"NINE HAVE TAKEN UP EMPLOYMENT AND THE ONE WHO HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED IS NOW ON A SIX-MONTH TRAINING COURSE.
"NO SIGNS OF TRANSGRESSION OR RETROGRESSION HAVE YET BEEN DETECTED AND THEIR OVERALL RESPONSE TOWARDS GUIDANCE, SUPERVISION AND COUNSELLING HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE," HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID OF THE 33 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS UNDER THE PRE-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT SCHEME, 32 HAD BEEN RELEASED AND ONE WOULD BE RELEASED SHORTLY.
/ALL 32 .......
WEI NESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 9 -
ALL 32 HAD TAKEN UP EMPLOYMENT, AND 28 HAD COMPLETED SUPERVISION AFTER THEIR STAY IN THE HALF-WAY HOUSE AND WERE NOW LIVING WITH IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS.
"HERE AGAIN THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIGNS OF TRANSGRESSION OR RETROGRESSION AND THEIR RESPONSES TOWARDS SUPERVISION AND COUNSELLING HAVE GENERALLY BEEN FAVOURABLE, RECEPTIVE AND POSITIVE," HE ADDED.
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GOOD PROGRESS IN LABELLING DISPENSED MEDICINES
VERY ENCOURAGING PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN PROMOTING THE GOOD PRACTICE OF LABELLING DISPENSED MEDICINES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING A QUESTION FROM THE HON RONALD CHOW, MRS WONG SAID THAT LABELLING OF DISPENSED MEDICINES WAS NOW BEING CARRIED OUT IN 11 GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS AND SIX PRIVATE HOSPITALS.
"PLANS ARE IN HAND TO EXTEND THIS PRACTICE TO OTHER GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WHEN RESOURCES PERMIT.
"ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO ACCURATE INFORMATION ON THE EXTENT OF LABELLING PRACTISED IN PRIVATE CLINICS, THIS PRACTICE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG SAID SHE TOOK THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD’S PROFESSIONAL ADVICE THAT EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL CO-OPERATION REMAINED THE MOST PRACTICAL APPROACH TO PROMOTE THE PRACTICE OF LABELLING DISPENSED MEDICINES.
"HOWEVER, THE NEED AND APPROPRIATENESS OF INTRODUCING MANDATORY LABELLING REQUIREMENTS WILL BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG SAID THE BENEFITS OF LABELLING DISPENSED MEDICINES WERE WELL RECOGNISED.
SHE EXPLAINED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER ALL DISPENSED MEDICINES SHOULD BE MADE SUBJECT TO MANDATORY LABELLING REQUIREMENTS WAS FIRST CONSIDERED BY THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD IN 1987.
"THE BOARD RESOLVED THAT HAVING REGARD TO THE CONSIDERABLE RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY LABELLING BY HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY TO ACCOMMODATE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR NOT LABELLING THE DRUGS DISPENSED, PROPER LABELLING SHOULD FOR THE TIME BEING BE PROMOTED AS A VOLUNTARY PRACTICE.
/"THE BOARD........
JEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 10 -
STEPS AND THE
"THE BOARD ADVISED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE POSITIVE TO INTRODUCE LABELLING OF MEDICINES DISPENSED AT ITS HOSPITALS CLINICS AND TO EDUCATE PROFESSIONALS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON
BENEFITS OF LABELLING," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG ADDED THAT PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS SHOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE THEIR MEMBERS TO PRACTISE LABELLING.
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PAYMENT OF HONORARIUM CONSISTENT WITH POLICY
******
THE PAYMENT OF AN HONORARIUM TO AN OFFICER IN THE FORMER LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH WAS APPROVED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LONG ESTABLISHED POLICY TO REWARD CIVIL SERVANTS FOR PERFORMING WORK AT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY THAN THAT NORMALLY EXPECTED OF THEIR SUBSTANTIVE RANKS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE HON POON CHl-FAJ. SIR DAVID SAID HE DID NOT ACCEPT THE CONTENTION CONTAINED IN THE QUESTION THAT THE PAYMENT OF THE HONORARIUM REFERRED TO CAUSED CONCERN AND DISCONTENT.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THE CASE CONCERNED A D2 OFFICER IN THE FORMER LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH WHO, THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 1, 1988 TO AUGUST 31, 1989, UNDERTOOK DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES APPROPRIATE TO A 1)3 OFFICER.
“NORMALLY. HIS POST WOULD HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO D3 AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED AN ACTING ALLOWANCE.
“THIS WAS NOT DONE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE UPGRADING WOULD HAVE NECESSITATED A MAJOR REDELINEATION OF DUTIES AND RESTRUCTURING OF THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH AT A TIME WHEN THE ORGANISATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BRANCH AND ITS GROUP OF DEPARTMENTS WERE ABOUT TO BE REVIEWED," SIR DAVID EXPLAINED.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MAIN CRITERION FOR PAYMENT OF ACTING ALLOWANCE, NAMELY THE EXISTENCE OF A VACANT SENIOR POST, WAS NOT MET.
"IN FAIRNESS i ‘ ' III- )I ’ I'M?, HOWEVER, FINANCE COMMITTEE’S APPROVAL WAS SOUGHT lol? PAYMENT H X I’ECIAI. HONORARIUM ($122,300) EQUIVALENT TO THE \MoUNT OF ACTING \LIOWANCE WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYABLE' HAD A D3 POS I BEEN C REATED. ’ '’ll Al I’ROVAL WAS GIVEN ON DECEMBER 8, 1989," HE SAID.
/SIR DAVID .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
11 -
SIR DAVID SAID THAT OFFICERS ENGAGED IN ONEROUS DUTIES BEYOND THEIR PRESCRIBED RESPONSIBILITIES WERE ELIGIBLE FOR RECOGNITION IN THE FORM OF ACTING ALLOWANCE, EXTRANEOUS DUTIES ALLOWANCE OR HONORARIA UNDER CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS AND MANY OFFICERS RECEIVED SUCH ALLOWANCES EACH YEAR.
’’ANNUAL PROVISIONS FOR THE PAYMENT OF THESE ALLOWANCES AND HONORARIA BY INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS ARE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ESTIMATES..
"PAYMENT IN INDIVIDUAL CASES ARE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY SUBJECT TO THE RELEVANT CONDITIONS BEING MET. ONLY THOSE CASES WHICH CANNOT BE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY ARE REFERRED TO FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION," HE ADDED.
DURING THE THREE YEARS FROM 1987 TO 1989, SIR DAVID SAID THE CASE REFERRED TO BY MR POON WAS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS NATURE WHICH COULD NOT BE DEALT WITH ADMINISTRATIVELY AND FOR WHICH, THEREFORE, FINANCE COMMITTEE’S APPROVAL WAS OBTAINED.
"AS I HAVE EXPLAINED, WERE IT NOT FOR THE PLANNED REORGANISATION OF THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH, THE OFFICER CONCERNED WOULD HAVE BEEN REWARDED BY MORE CONVENTIONAL MEANS," HE SAID.
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DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS ON VBP DUTIES
*****
DEDICATED RECORDS KEPT SINCE JUNE 1989 INDICATE A DAILY AVERAGE DEPLOYMENT OF 567 POLICE OFFICERS, AND 76 MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE TO MANAGE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE CAMPS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ANOTHER 35 POLICE OFFICERS WERE ASSIGNED TO VBP ESCORT DUTIES, MR BARNES SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI.
"THIS LEVEL OF DEPLOYMENT ACCOUNTS RESPECTIVELY FOR 2.23 PER CENT AND 1.41 PER CENT OF RHKPF (ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE) AND RHKAPF (AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE) STRENGTH," HE SAID.
MR POON WAS ASKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS DEPLOYED ON BEAT DUTIES ANNUALLY IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE FREQUENCY OF SUCH BEAT PATROLS, AND THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS DEPLOYED ON VBP DUTIES DURING THE SAME PERIOD.
MR BARNES EXPLAINED THAT INFORMATION AS TO THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS DEPLOYED ANNUALLY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS ON BEAT DUTIES WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE.
/"TO PROVIDE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 12 -
"TO PROVIDE SUCH DATA WOULD ENTAIL A DETAILED AND LABOUR INTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIVIDUAL DUTY RECORDS IN RESPECT OF NEARLY 1,000 BEATS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
"HOWEVER, AN APPROXIMATE CURRENT FIGURE OF THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS DEPLOYED FOR NORMAL BEAT DUTIES IN A PERIOD OF 24 HOURS IS 2,600," HE SAID.
MR BARNES ADDED THAT THE FREQUENCY OF BEAT PATROLS WAS DETERMINED ON A DIVISIONAL BASIS HAVING REGARD TO COMMUNITY POLICING NEEDS AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
"THERE IS, THEREFORE, NO OVERALL STANDARD FREQUENCY, WHICH IS DETERMINED BY LOCATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
"HOWEVER, A RECENT SURVEY INDICATES THAT, ON AVERAGE, EVERY BEAT IS COVERED MORE THAN ONCE DURING EVERY 24-HOUR PERIOD," HE NOTED.
MR BARNES REITERATED THAT THE OVERALL CRIME LEVEL HAD REMAINED STABLE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
"AS I NOTED IN THIS COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 18, 1989, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS ON VBP DETENTION DUTIES," HE SAID.
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VIGOROUS CONTROL OVER TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
*****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT WITH THE DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, VIGOROUS CONTROL WOULD HAVE TO BE EXERCISED OVER TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.
"WE NEED ALSO TO ADJUST SUITABLY THE PRIORITIES OF OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND TO RESTRAIN THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO SOME," SIR PIERS SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH.
"IN DOING SO WE SHALL ENDEAVOUR TO ENSURE THAT THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ARE WELL LOOKED AFTER AND THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT ADVERSELY AFFECTED."
SIR PIERS POINTED OUT THAT DURING THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, ON THE GOVERNOR’S ANNUAL ADDRESS, HE HAD ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY HAD BEEN MADE AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF ITS FULL IMPLICATION ON OUR FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES.
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/13 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 13 -
REMINDERS AGAINST USE OF ILLEGAL SOFTWARE *****
HEADS OF BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT ARE REMINDED REGULARLY THAT THE POSSESSION OR USE OF ILLEGAL SOFTWARE INFRINGES COPYRIGHT LAWS AND IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER H.Y. WONG.
“THE LAST SUCH CIRCULAR WAS ISSUED IN APRIL 1989.
"IN ADDITION, CLEAR GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS ON COPYRIGHT ISSUES ARE CONTAINED IN A USER GUIDE WHICH IS ISSUED TO THE MICROCOMPUTER USERS IN THE GOVERNMENT,” SIR PIERS SAID.
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CALL TO EASE OVERCROWDING AT POLYTECHNIC CAMPUS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WAS URGED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO WORK CLOSELY AND SYMPATHETICALLY WITH THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC COUNCIL TO HELP OVERCOME OVERCROWDING ON THE POLYTECHNIC’S HUNG HOM CAMPUS.
THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE POLYTECHNIC COUNCIL, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG. WHEN TABLING THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC’S ANNUAL REPORT 1988-89 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MR CHEONG SAID ONE OPTION UNDER CONSIDERATION WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUB-CAMPUS ADJACENT TO THE HUNG HOM CAMPUS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SHORTAGE OF ACCOMMODATION ON THE CAMPUS WAS ONE OF THE CONSTRAINTS AND THE SITUATION WOULD GET WORSE WHEN THE POLYTECHNIC BEGAN TO INCREASE ITS FIRST DEGREE INTAKE IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT’S OVERALL EXPANSION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
EVEN WITH THE ADDITION OF 33,000 SQUARE METRES OF FLOOR AREA IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WOULD STILL BE SHORT OF SPACE TO MEET GROWING DEMAND, HE ADDED.
ON THE PROBLEM OF THE BRAIN DRAIN, MR CHEONG NOTED THAT THE TURNOVER RATE OF ACADEMIC AND SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF DURING 1988-89 INDICATED AN UPWARD TREND WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
’’INDEED, OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN STAFF OF A HIGH CALIBRE WILL BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE IN FULFILLING OUR PLANS FOR THE COMING PERIOD. THIS IS A MATTER WHICH NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT VIGOROUSLY AND IMAGINATIVELY,” HE SAID.
/IN A........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
14
IN A BID TO FURTHER ENHANCE LINKS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY, A NEW BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE WOULD BE OPENED SOON, WHILE A FURTHER TWO NEW SPECIALIST CENTRES -- THE CENTRE FOR TRANSLATION STUDIES AND THE CENTRE FOR PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS ENGLISH — WERE PROPOSED AND PLANNED DURING THE PAST YEAR, MR CHEONG SAID.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE FORMER SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE POLYTECHNIC COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, FOR HIS WORK FOR THE POLYTECHNIC AND FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ROLE IN HONG KONG’S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SIR SZE-YUEN WAS CONFERRED THE POLYTECHNIC’S FIRST HONORARY DEGREE -- DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING HONORIS CAUSA -- LAST YEAR, HE NOTED.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDED THE FIRST CONFERMENTS OF PROFESSORSHIPS ON SIX SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS AND THE FIRST AWARD OF THE RESEARCH DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLYTECHNIC’S POST-GRADUATE AND RESEARCH ACTIVITY WAS THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE’S DECISION IN APRIL LAST YEAR TO AUTHORISE THE INSTITUTE TO REGISTER CANDIDATES FOR THE RESEARCH DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, HE SAID.
ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF POLYTECHNIC GRADUATES, MR CHEONG SAID OF THE 2,875 FULL-TIME GRADUATES, ALMOST 88 PER CENT WERE IN REGULAR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT SIX MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF $5,209, WHICH WAS 19.1 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE 1987 FIGURE.
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CITY POLYTECHNIC CONTINUES TO GROW
*****
THE CITY POLYTECHNIC CONTINUED TO GROW DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN JULY 1988 AND JUNE 1989 WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF 17 NEW COURSES IN OCTOBER 1988 AND THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME STUDENTS INCREASED BY 32 AND 36 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN WHEN HE PRESENTED THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG’S ANNUAL REPORT 1988-89 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE POLYTECHNIC ADMITTED ITS FIRST 12 MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY RESEARCH STUDENTS AND ALSO GAINED APPROVAL FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF TWO TAUGHT MASTER’S COURSES FROM OCTOBER 1989, HE SAID.
’’THE CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE 1A OF THE PERMANENT CAMPUS IN KOWLOON TONG WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 1988. THIS BROUGHT A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN TEACHING FACILITIES WHEN FIVE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS AND THREE ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTRES MOVED INTO THE NEW CAMPUS IN OCTOBER 1988," HE ADDED.
/THE POLYTECHNIC .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 15 -
THE POLYTECHNIC ALSO CREATED A NEW POST OF ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCED PROFESSORSHIPS AND READERSHIPS TO UNDERPIN THE INTRODUCTION OF ADVANCED STUDIES AND ITS RAPIDLY EXPANDING RESEARCH PROGRAMME.
"THE LATTER WAS GIVEN FURTHER IMPETUS BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY," MR CHENG SAID.
AT THE THIRD ACADEMIC AWARDS CEREMONY IN DECEMBER 1988, THE POLYTECHNIC CONFERRED ITS FIRST HONORARY DEGREE, A DOCTORATE OF SCIENCE, ON SIR RUN RUN SHAW AND AWARDED ITS FIRST BACHELOR’S DEGREES TO 135 STUDENTS.
----------------------0-------- REWARDING YEAR FOR ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS * * * * «
THE YEAR 1988-89 WAS BUSY AND REWARDING FOR THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS WHICH HELD OVER 200 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES OF DANCE, DRAMA AND MUSIC, A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE ACADEMY, THE HON MIRIAM LAU, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TABLING THE ACADEMY’S 1988-89 ANNUAL REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS LAU SAID THE LARGE NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES DEMONSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE ACADEMY ATTACHED TO STUDENT TRAINING THROUGH PRACTICAL PERFORMANCE.
SHE SAID THAT IT WAS GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT EFFORTS HAD BEEN MADE BY THE ACADEMY TO MAKE ITS MAGNIFICENT PERFORMING VENUES AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS GENERALLY, AND TO INCREASE AWARENESS IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE ACADEMY’S ACTIVITIES.
DURING THE YEAR, AN ACCREDITATION PANEL MADE UP OF A TEAM OF EXPERTS FROM INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG’S ACADEMIC LIFE HAD CONDUCTED AN INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF THE ACADEMY, SHE NOTED.
"THE REPORT BY THIS PANEL WAS MOST ENCOURAGING AND INDICATED THAT IN MOST AREAS OF ACTIVITY, THE ACADEMY WAS WELL UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.
"THE PANEL RECOMMENDED, INTER ALIA, THAT THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION OF THE ACADEMY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND EXPANDED AND THAT THE ACADEMY SHOULD BECOME A DEGREE GRANTING INSTITUTION," SHE SAID.
/MRS LAU ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 16 -
MRS LAU SAID SHE FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT THE ABILITY OF THE ACADEMY TO CONFER DEGREES NOT ONLY RECOGNISED THE HIGH STANDARD OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OFFERED BY THE ACADEMY BUT ALSO WENT A LONG WAY TOWARDS IMPROVING FUTURE RECRUITMENT OF HIGH CALIBRE STUDENTS BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS.
SHE WAS DELIGHTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD IN PRINCIPLE APPROVED OF THE ACADEMY’S DEGREE GRANTING STATUS, AND THE ACADEMY WAS PROCEEDING WITH THE NECESSARY ACCREDITATION AND VALIDATION PROCEDURES.
------0--------
TWO BILLS PASSED ♦ * *
THE HONG KONG EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1989 WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THREE BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
THEY WERE THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, THE STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990.
DEBATES ON ALL THREE BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.
---------0-----------
/17........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 17 -
GUANGDONG DELEGATION IN HK FOR ANNUAL BORDER REVIEW
******
A DELEGATION OF THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT LED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICE, MR HUANG QUN , AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE FRONTIER ADMINISTRATION BUREAU, MR CHEN WENLI, ARE VISITING HONG KONG FROM TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 9) FOR THE 10TH ANNUAL BORDER REVIEW.
THE DELEGATION IS HERE AT THE INVITATION OF THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR WILLIAM EHRMAN.
THESE MEETINGS ARE HELD ALTERNATELY IN HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG.
THE BORDER LIAISON SYSTEM PROVIDES FOR EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION AND CONTROL AT THE BORDER. BOTH SIDES CONSIDER IT VERY EFFECTIVE AND VALUABLE.
AT THE TALKS HELD TODAY, THE TWO SIDES REVIEWED LIAISON ARRANGEMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF WAYS OF FURTHER STRENGTHENING THESE ARRANGEMENTS. THE TALKS WERE USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE.
------0-------
TAC DISCUSSES BUS FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS
******
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) TODAY CONTINUED ITS DISCUSSION ON FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS FROM THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY (CMB) AND THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY (KMB).
MEMBERS NOTED THAT BOTH APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN JOINTLY ASSESSED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE FINANCIAL MONITORING UNIT OF THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH.
THE TAC WAS INFORMED THAT THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS WERE BASED ON THE FIVE YEAR ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES (RDP) PREVIOUSLY PUT TO AND NOTED BY TAC, FOLLOWING DISTRICT BOARD CONSULTATION.
WHEN EXAMINING THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATION FROM CMB, THE TAC HAD TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE CHANGES IN CMB’S OPERATING REVENUE AND COSTS IN RELATION TO THE COMPANY’S PERFORMANCE.
MEMBERS WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECENTLY DIRECTED CMB TO FUNDAMENTALLY OVERHAUL ITS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BY COMMISSIONING A CONSULTANCY STUDY.
A DEADLINE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE MANAGEMENT REVIEW.
THE TAC NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN STEPS TO ENCOURAGE THE PROVISION OF MORE RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ON HONG KONG ISLAND. THIS IS TO PROVIDE A WIDER CHOICE TO RESIDENTS RELIANT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
/ACCORDING TO .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
18
ACCORDING TO CMB ’ S FINANCIAL FORECAST, IF FARES REMAIN UNCHANGED, OPERATING REVENUE WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO COVER OPERATING COSTS IN ALL THREE YEARS ENDING 1991-92, LET ALONE THE PERMITTED RETURN PROVIDED UNDER THE PROFIT CONTROL SCHEME.
FOR 1989-90, A SHORTFALL OF ABOUT $18 MILLION IS FORECAST, DUE MAINLY TO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PENSION LIABILITY WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY MET EVEN AFTER THE EXISTING BALANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT FUND, OF $54 MILLION, IS COMPLETELY DRAWN DOWN.
CMB NEEDS THE FARE INCREASES TO TOP UP THE SHORTFALL IN PENSION LIABILITY IN 1989-90, AND TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ITS SERVICES IN 1990-91.
A LOW RATE OF RIDERSHIP INCREASE IS FORECAST BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED SCOPE FOR GROWTH IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT TRIPS ON HONG KONG ISLAND; ROAD CONGESTION WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO REDUCING BUS PRODUCTIVITY; SHIFT OF PASSENGERS TO AIR-CONDITIONED MODES IN THE SUMMER; AND LOSS OF PASSENGERS TO MORE RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, CMB’S TOTAL OPERATING COSTS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE AS EXTRA PROVISIONS ARE REQUIRED TO COVER THE STAFF’S NEW PENSION SCHEME.
HOWEVER, THE TAC EMPHASISED THAT THE EXTRA PROVISIONS REQUIRED FOR THE STAFF PENSION SCHEME WOULD BE PLACED IN A SEPARATE FUND AND NOT IN THE COMPANY’S GENERAL REVENUE.
SIMILARLY THE INTEREST ACCRUED BY THIS FUND WOULD BE PLOUGHED BACK TO THE FUND TO HELP MEET FUTURE PENSION COMMITMENTS.
THE TAC HAD LOOKED INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF MAINTAINING CMB SERVICES AT THE 1989-90 LEVEL FOR COST SAVING PURPOSES, BUT CONSIDERED IT NOT ADVISABLE AS MANY OF THE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT ITEMS BEING PLANNED WERE NEEDED TO CATER FOR ONGOING HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
IN 1987 TO 1988 THE TAC FORMED A SUB-GROUP TO STUDY THE KMB FIVE YEARLY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE TERMS OF THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL, THERE WERE STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS, INTER ALIA, TO:
» MAXIMISE ON THE UTILISATION OF THE ASSETS AND RESOURCES OF KMB;
* STRENGTHEN TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S MONITORING ROLE ON GROWTH OF ASSETS OF KMB IN TERMS OF DEPOT PROVISION AND VEHICLE DEPLOYMENT.
THE SUB-GROUP FELT THAT THE SCALE OF DEVELOPMENT OF KMB WAS SUCH THAT COST EFFECTIVENESS IN ITS OPERATION WAS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
/ON DECEMBER .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 19 -
ON DECEMBER 7 LAST YEAR, THE TAC IN CONSIDERING THE KMB 1990-94 FIVE YEAR RDP TOOK THE VIEW THAT THE SUB-GROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE STILL VALID AND SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
TAC APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT SINCE THE MEETING, KMB HAD CO-OPERATED WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IN EFFECTING PROGRESSIVELY THE ABOVE MEASURES.
IN CONSIDERING KMB’S FARE INCREASE APPLICATION, THE TAC NOTED AND WELCOMED THE COMPANY’S RESPONSE TO MEMBERS’ RECENT CALL FOR A TRIMMING OF BUS DEPOTS AND LOSS MAKING ROUTES IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE COMPANY AND CONTROL THE EXPANSION OF ITS ASSET BASE.
THE TAC FURTHER NOTED THAT IN 1989, KMB’S PATRONAGE HAD DROPPED BY MORE THAN 10 PER CENT DURING THE FIRST 10 MONTHS COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS SUCH AS LOST TRIPS DUE TO DRIVER SHORTAGE; ROAD CONGESTION, CAUSING ADDITIONAL LOST TRIPS AND PASSENGER DIVERSION TO RAIL MODE; AND WITHDRAWAL OF ROUTES FROM THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SERVICE AREA.
WHEN THE TAC CONSIDERED KMB’S FARE REVISION IN JANUARY LAST YEAR, MEMBERS NOTED A SHORTFALL IN PERMITTED RETURN WAS PREDICTED FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 1989, AND THAT A FURTHER INCREASE WOULD BE NECESSARY IN EARLY 1990.
OPERATING COSTS OF KMB IN 1990 ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE BY 20 PER CENT OVER 1989 DUE TO ANTICIPATED RISE IN WAGES, COST OF PARTS AND FUEL, AS WELL AS SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.
MEMBERS NOTED THAT AT EXISTING FARES, KMB EXPECTED ' AN OPERATING DEFICIT OF $10.3 MILLION IN 1990 AND $253.4 MILLION IN 1991 AFTER TAXATION, NOT COUNTING THE PERMITTED RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TAC ON BUS FARE INCREASES WILL BE PUT TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL IN DUE COURSE.
MEMBERS ALSO NOTED THAT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAD COMPLETED ANOTHER REVIEW TO EXAMINE WHETHER CMB’S FARE STRUCTURE COULD BE FURTHER RATIONALISED.
THIS IS THE THIRD RESTRUCTURING EXERCISE CARRIED OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT IN AS MANY YEARS.
ITS LATEST FINDINGS RE-AFFIRM THE NEED TO FURTHER SIMPLIFY CMB’S FARE STRUCTURE AND TO ADJUST THE FARES OF SOUTHERN BUS ROUTES, THUS MAKING THEM MORE EQUITABLE WITH THOSE OF NORTH-SHORE ROUTES.
WHILE THE FARE SCALE PROPOSED BY CMB IS IN GENERAL CONFORMITY WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE REVIEW’S RECOMMENDATIONS, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO PROPOSED A FARE STRUCTURE THAT IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN NARROWING DOWN THE FARE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND NORTH-SHORE ROUTES.
/UNDER THE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
20
UNDER THE ALTERNATIVE FARE SCALE, FARES ON ’’ABERDEEN-INTERNAL” ROUTES AND SOUTHERN ROUTES USING THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL WOULD BE FROZEN.
THIS MEANS FARES FOR ABOUT 58 PER CENT OF PASSENGERS ON SOUTHERN ROUTES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
MEANWHILE, THE TAC WAS INFORMED OF CMB ’ S 1990-94 FORWARD PLANNING PROGRAMME (FPP) WHICH COVERED PROPOSALS ON ROUTE, BUS I LEE I AND DEPOT DEVELOPMENT.
MEMBERS LEARNED THAT CMB HAD PROPOSED SIX NEW ROUTES AND 30 FREQUENCY IMPROVEMENT ITEMS TO MEET ANTICIPATED DEMAND FROM NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AT CHAI WAN, SHAU KEI WAN EAST AND KELLET BAY.
CONVERSION TO HIGHER CAPACITY BUSES ON FIVE ROUTES ARE ALSO PROPOSED TO HELP BETTER MEET PASSENGER DEMAND AT WAH FU, THE MID-LEVELS AND WESTERN DISTRICT.
FREQUENCY REDUCTION IS PROPOSED FOR ROUTES 20 AND 95 TO TIE IN WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF TWO PROPOSED NEW ROUTES, ONE EACH FOR THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS.
MEMBERS WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT CMB PROPOSED TO BUY 230 NEW BUSES AND SCRAP 200 OLD BUSES BETWEEN 1990 AND 1994.
ON THE BUS DEPOT PROGRAMME, CMB HAS NO CONCRETE PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL DEPOTS AS ITS FLEET SIZE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN STABLE WITHIN THE FPP PERIOD.
------0-------
DSW VISITS SWD OFFICES IN KOWLOON CITY ♦ * » ♦ *
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) VISITED THE DEPARTMENT’S SERVICE UNITS IN KOWLOON CITY TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE OPERATION OF THE UNITS.
THIS IS PART OF A TIGHTLY SCHEDULED FAMILIARISATION PROGRAMME FOR THE NEW DIRECTOR WHO TOOK UP OFFICE ON JANUARY 30.
MR CARTLAND WAS BRIEFED BY THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORK OFFICER (KOWLOON CITY), MR CHEUNG HON-LEUNG, ON SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE DISTRICT.
HE WAS ALSO BRIEFED BY STAFF MEMBERS ON THE OPERATION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE UNITS. THE OFFICES PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING FAMILY, REHABILITATION AND PROBATION SERVICES, SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY, AS WELL AS SOCIAL SECURITY.
IMPRESSED BY THE EFFICIENCY AND DEDICATION OF THE STAFF, MR CARTLAND WAS CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR WORK IN THE 90'S AND BEYOND.
- - 0----------
/21 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 21 -
CONTEST TO PROMOTE BETTER USE OF SCHOOL LIBRARY * t ♦ * t ♦
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS ORGANISING A COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS TO PROMOTE BETTER USE OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY AS A SOURCE FOR INFORMATION AND LEISURE READING.
ORGANISED BY THE LIBRARY SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND SPONSORED BY THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, THE COMPETITION WILL TAKE THE FORM OF A LIBRARY BOARD DISPLAY.
A CIRCULAR WITH AN ENTRY FORM IS BEING SENT TO ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) INVITING THEM TO TAKE PART.
ENTRY FORMS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BEFORE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AND THE DISPLAY BOARDS BY MARCH 21 TO THE LIBRARY SECTION ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF LEE GARDENS AT HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY.
EITHER ENGLISH OR CHINESE MAY BE USED IN THE DISPLAY WHICH SHOULD NOT EXCEED 1.83 METRES IN WIDTH AND 1.22 METRES IN HEIGHT.
THE CONTENTS SHOULD MATCH THE THEME OF THE COMPETITION TO MAKE BETTER USE OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY FOR INFORMATION AND LIBRARY-ASSISTED LEARNING, AND LEISURE READING.
THIRTY ENTRIES WILL BE SELECTED FOR JUDGING AND THE TOP THREE WINNERS WILL EACH BE AWARDED A TROPHY AND A BOOK COUPON RANGING FROM $1,000 TO $2,000.
THERE WILL ALSO BE 10 MERIT PRIZES FOR HIGHLY COMMENDED DISPLAYS.
------0--------
REMINDER CONCERNING OFFENCE UNDER TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE ***♦♦»*
THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REMINDED RETAILERS AND SHOP OPERATORS NOT TO POSSESS FOR SALE ANY GOODS TO WHICH FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ARE APPLIED.
’’THIS IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY OF WHICH IS A FINE OF $500,000 AND FIVE YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT,” THE SENIOR PRINCIPAL TRADE CONTROLS OFFICER, MR LEUNG YAU-YAM, SAID.
THE ADVICE WAS MADE FOLLOWING A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH A PARTNER OF A GINSENG AND MEDICINE SHOP WAS FINED $65,000 AT THE NORTH KOWLOON MAGISTRACY FOR HAVING IN POSSESSION FOR SALE BIRDS’ NEST TO WHICH A FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTION WAS APPLIED.
/THE COURT ......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 22 -
THE COURT HEARD THAT OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT RAIDED TAI LAI GINSENG AND MEDICINE SUPERMARKET AT LEI HO STREET, SHAM SHUI PO ON JUNE 20 LAST YEAR, AND SEIZED 1,276 PIECES OF GOODS BEARING A SUSPECTED FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTION, NAMELY SWIFTLETS’ NEST BALLS.
INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE DEFENDANT BOUGHT THE SEIZED GOODS FROM A DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESMAN AND DISPLAYED THEM FOR SALE IN HIS SHOP.
THE DEFENDANT. LI KA-SHEUNG OF THE SHOP, ADMITTED THAT HE BOUGHT THE SEIZED GOODS AT A CHEAPER PRICE OF ABOUT $480 PER CATTY, WHEREAS THE PRICE FOR A CATTY OF SWIFTLETS’ NEST BALL FROM RELIABLE SOURCES WAS ABOUT $1,000.
THE MARKET VALUE OF THE GOODS SEIZED WAS ABOUT $35,000. A PROFIT OF ABOUT $26,000 WAS ANTICIPATED IF THEY WERE SOLD.
MR LEUNG SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST COURT CASE INVOLVING THE SEIZURE OF SPURIOUS BIRDS’ NEST.
HE ADDED THAT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE ITS EFFORT IN ENFORCING THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF TRADERS AND CONSUMERS.
-----0-----
SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY ON DB AGENDA
*****
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE DRAFTING OF A WHITE PAPER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES AT ITS MEETING ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 9).
MEMBERS WILL MOVE A MOTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNMENT TO PUBLISH A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY CONSULTATION PAPER WHICH ALSO COVERS REHABILITATION SERVICES, PROVIDENT FUNDS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, A MEMBER WILL ASK WHY THE REGIONAL COUNCIL’S LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD HAD GRANTED LICENCES TO THREE KARAOKE LOUNGES IN BELAIR GARDENS - A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SHING MUN EAST - AGAINST THE WISHES OF RESIDENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.
QUESTIONS WILL BE RAISED REGARDING THE POLICY ON FEES CHARGED IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT’S MAJOR HAWKER OPERATIONS UNIT.
THE MEETING WILL DISCUSS WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DEPLOY STAFF AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ENTRANCE TO TAKE PROSECUTION ACTION AGAINST VEHICLES THAT EMIT EXCESSIVE SMOKE.
/THE MEETING .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
23 -
THE MEETING W LL ALSO CONSIDER IF IT IS DESIRABLE TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF ”<• INGS UNDER THE BOARD’S MEET-THE-PUBLIC SCHEME FROM TWICE TO ONCE A WEEK.
OTHER ITEMS < THE AGENDA INCLUDE PROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE CONCERN GROUP ON WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE, THE SIX DISTRICT BOARD COMMITTEES AND THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 9) AT THE DISTRICT BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
YOU ARE ALSO INVITED TO ATTEND A LUNCH TO BE HOSTED BY THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE AFTER THE MEETING.
------0-------
DB WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS CLEARANCE ♦ ♦ ♦ * ♦
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL WILL DISCUSS AT A MEETING ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 9) A PLAN ON CLEARANCE OF SQUATTER HUTS TO MAKE WAY FOR A ROAD PROJECT.
THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE EXTENSION OF FUNG TAK ROAD TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN DIAMOND HILL AREA AFTER THE OPENING OF TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL.
ABOUT 500 FAMILIES COMPRISING SOME 1.700 PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER.
IN ADDITION, MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL AND APPROACH ROADS. AND A REPORT ON THE COMPLETION OF AN EARLIER CLEARANCE IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUNNEL.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 9) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
/24 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
24
DB COMMITTEE 1'0 REVIEW TRAFFIC TRIAL SCHEME * I ♦ * *
THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD WILL L VIEW AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) A TRIAL SCHEME TO PROHIBIT GOODS VEHICLES FROM USING A WESTBOUND SLIP ROAD IN LUNG CHEUNG ROAD FOR ACCESS TO THE NORTHBOUND LANES IN WATERLOO ROAD.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS A PROPOSAL BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO RE-ROUTE A SECTION OF GULLANE ROAD BETWEEN ARGYLE STREET AND DUNBAR ROAD TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.15 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM. 141 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD, TO KWA WAN.
- - 0 - -
DB TO BE BRIEFED ON WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION
*****
AN INFORMATION PAPER GIVING THE BACKGROUND OF THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION AND PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING OF THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
A SENIOR ENGINEER OF THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT’S URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, MR JOHN COORAY. WILL INTRODUCE THE PAPER AND ANSWER MEMBERS’ QUERIES.
THE MEETING WILL ALSO DISCUSS, BASED ON A PAPER TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE 1990’S AND BEYOND.
REPORTS BY THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE FOUR COMMITTEES OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL ALSO BE TABLED FOR MEMBERS INFORMATION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE SHEK KIP MEI COMMUNITY HALL, BLOCK 42, SHEK KIP MEI ESTATE, NAM CHEONG STREET. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
- - 0 - -
/25
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 25 -
GOVT SITE TO LET BY TENDER * * * *
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT TERM TENANCY OF A PIECE OF GOVERNMENT LAND AT WESTERN RECLAMATION ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
THE SITE IS FOR A DEPOT FOR THE STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF NATURAL SAND, AGGREGATE AND CEMENT ONLY. CONCRETE BATCHING AND ROCK-CRUSHING ARE NOT PERMITTED.
THE SITE MEASURES ABOUT 1,500 SQUARE METRES. THE TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON FEBRUARY 23.
TENDER FORMS, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, HONG KONG WEST, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 19TH FLOOR, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI; THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES KOWLOON, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
------0--------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR OPENING OF TAI WO TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE *******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 9), SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TAI PO FOLLOWING THE OPENING OF TAI WO TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE.
THE SECTION OF ROAD L6 BETWEEN KWONG FUK ROAD AND TAI PO TAI WO ROAD AND ITS ADJACENT SERVICE ROADS LEADING TO TAI WO ESTATE Will BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC.
ROAD L6 BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH KWONG FUK ROAD AND A POINT ABOUT 190 METRES TO THE WEST WILL BE MADE A PEAK HOUR (7 AM - 10 AM
AND 4 PM - 7 PM) DAILY URBAN CLEARWAY.
IN ADDITION. ROAD L6 BETWEEN A POINT ABOUT 190 METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH KWONG FUK ROAD AND TAI PO TAI WO ROAD WILL BECOME A 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY URBAN CLEARWAY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED RUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED AREAS.
ALSO, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS ALONG THE FOLLOWING ROAD SECTIONS ROUND-THE-CLOCK:
* KWONG FUK ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH TING KOK ROAD AND A POINT ABOUT 165 METRES TO THE NORTH; AND
/* TING KOK .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990
- 26 -
* TING KOK ROAD BETWEEN TAI PO TAI WO ROAD AND KWONG FUK ROAD.
AT THE SAME TIME, ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE BANNED FROM ENTERING ROAD L6 BETWEEN KWONG FUK ROAD AND TAI PO TAI WO ROAD.
THE TAI WO BUS TERMINUS WILL ALSO BE OPENED TO BUS TRAFFIC.
THE FOLLOWING BUS ROUTES WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO OPERATE VIA ROAD L6 FROM THE DATES SPECIFIED BELOW:
* KMB ROUTE 71K WILL BE TERMINATED AT THE TAI WO BUS TERMINUS FROM FEBRUARY 10;
* KMB ROUTE 74A WILL BE EXTENDED FROM TAI PO CENTRAL TO TAI WO
FROM FEBRUARY 10 AND THE FARE PER SINGLE JOURNEY WILL BE
REVISED TO $3.60: AND
* KMB ROUTES 64K, 65K, 70, 71X, 73 AND 73A WILL BE RE-ROUTED
VIA ROAD L6 AND TING KOK ROAD INSTEAD OF TAI PO TAI WO ROAD
NORTH OF TING KOK ROAD FROM FEBRUARY 17.
-------------0-------- SPEED LIMIT ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 9). THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE SECTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD BETWEEN 11.6 MILESTONE, TING KAU AND 12.3 MILESTONE, SHAM TSENG WILL BE LOWERED FROM 70 TO 50 KILOMETRES PER HOUR TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY.
---------0----------
URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHAM SHUT PO *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 9), THE WESTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF TAI NAN WEST STREET BETWEEN CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD AND CHEUNG YEE STREET IN SHAM SHUI PO WILL BE DESIGNATED A 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY URBAN CLEARWAY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL.: 5-8428777
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
BUS OPERATORS ADVISED TO MAKE CHANGES..........■............................... 1
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER SPEAKS ON 1991 POPULATION CENSUS ....................... 4
HONG KONG OFFERS BIG-OPPORTUNITIES ............................................ 6
HK HAS IMPORTANT ROLE IN WORLD ECONOMY ........................................ 8
RVD PROPERTY REVIEW 1990 - PRELIMINARY FIGURES ................................ 9
PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL TO ACCEPT PRIVATE PATIENTS ..................... 15
CONSULTANCY STUDY ON BIOTECHNOLOGY ........................................... 16
HKIA PRESIDENT'S PRIZE AWARDED TO HISTORICAL BUILDING ........................ 17
NEW ELECTRONIC POSTAGE LABEL WITH HORSE DESIGN ............................... 18
FESTIVAL TREAT FOR WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS .................................... 19
SEMINAR ON INDUSTRIAL BUILDING MANAGEMENT .................................... 20
CARNIVAL TO CELEBRATE SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL ................................ 20
SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR TO GIVE CONCERT ................................ 21
YUEN LONG TO HOLD EYE-CARING CAMPAIGN FOR ELDERLY ............................ 22
NEW YEAR CARNIVAL TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY ....................................... 22
ART EXHIBITION TO OPEN IN NORTH DISTRICT...................................... 23
MASTERCLASS BY EMPIRE BRASS QUINTET .......................................... 24
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN TSING YI .................................................. 24
BUS LANE TEMPORARILY LIFTED ................................................ 25
FLUSHING WATER CUT IN HO MAN TIN AND KING'S PARK ............................. 25
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 1 -
BUS OPERATORS ADVISED TO MAKE CHANGES *****
THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TODAY (THURSDAY) URGED FRANCHISED BUS OPERATORS TO SHARPEN THEMSELVES FOR GREATER COMPETITION IN THE PASSENGER TRANSPORT FIELD.
TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITH RAIL AND OTHER UP-MARKET TRANSPORT MODES AND TO MAKE BUS OPERATIONS MORE COST-EFFICIENT, SOME FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE WAY IN WHICH BUS SERVICES WERE BEING OPERATED AND PLANNED MIGHT BE NECESSARY, MR LEUNG SAID.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF TAI PING SHAN ON "PUBLIC BUS TRANSPORT IN THE 90’S", MR LEUNG SAID THESE CHANGES RELATED TO THE SIZE OF BUS FLEET, USE OF APPROPRIATE VEHICLES FOR DIFFERENT ROUTES, FUTURE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT, EFFICIENCY OF LONG-DISTANCE ROUTES, AND MANAGEMENT.
MR LEUNG ALSO UNDERLINED THE NEED FOR AND IMPORTANCE OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SECTOR.
HE HOPED THAT THE 'FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES, IN PARTICULAR, COULD SEE THEIR WAY TO LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF THEIR CUSTOMERS IN A MORE FRANK AND OPEN MANNER.
ON FLEET SIZE, MR LEUNG SAID IT WAS AN IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF FARE LEVELS AS THE SCALE OF SUPPORT FACILITIES REQUIRED, INCLUDING PARKING SPACE AND DEPOTS, ALL HINGED ON THE SIZE OF THE FLEET.
AT PRESENT, A SIZEABLE PROPORTION OF THE FRANCHISED BUS FLEET WAS DEPLOYED ON SERVICES NEEDED ONLY DURING THE PEAK HOURS. THESE BUSES WERE LEFT IDLE DURING THE OFF-PEAK PERIOD.
"TO CUSHION THE EFFECT ON FARES, WHICH WOULD IN TURN ENHANCE THEIR COMPETITIVE POWER, THE FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES MUST SEEK TO KEEP THE LEVEL OF UNDER-UTILISED RESOURCES WITHIN REASONABLE BOUNDS," HE SAID.
ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, MR LEUNG SAID, ACTIVE STEPS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE DEVOTED TO PROMOTING STAGGERED WORKING HOURS AS A MEANS TO HELP SPREAD OUT THE PEAK-HOUR DEMAND.
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO SEEK TO ENCOURAGE COMMERCIAL LAND USE DEVELOPMENTS OVER A WIDER GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD WITHIN THE URBAN AREA AND AROUND SELECTED TRANSPORT INTERCHANGES.
"THE AIM IS TO DISPERSE THE CONCENTRATION OF FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL JOBS, THEREBY REDUCING THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC GOING IN A SINGLE DIRECTION DURING THE PEAK HOURS," HE SAID.
ON THE PART OF THE FRANCHISED OPERATORS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONSCIOUSLY SCALE DOWN THE PROPORTION OF PEAK-ONLY SERVICES IN THE LONG RUN.
/MR LEUNG .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
MR LEUNG ADDED THAT THE NON-FRANCHISED BUS OPERATORS COULI PLAY A VERY USEFUL COMPLEMENTARY ROLE IN HELPING TO MEET THE PEA1 PASSENGER LOAD.
"TO STIMULATE COMPETITION, AND TO TAP MORE FULLY THE BUS RESOURCES OF NON-FRANCHISED OPERATORS WHO ARE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING GOOD QUALITY SERVICES, THE INTRODUCTION OF ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES DURING THE PEAK HOURS WOULD BE ENCOURAGED,” HE SAID.
ON THE CHOICE OF VEHICLES FOR DIFFERENT ROUTES, MR LEUNG SAID THE FRANCHISED COMPANIES SHOULD ADOPT A MORE MARKET-ORIENTED APPROACH IN DETERMINING THE CHOICE.
THEY COULD, FOR INSTANCE, DO MORE AT THE UPPER END OF THE MARKET, WHERE DEMAND WAS CLEARLY GROWING.
"BY ATTRACTING PASSENGERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE TURN TO PRIVATE CARS, UP-MARKET BUS SERVICES WOULD HELP EASE ROAD CONGESTION AND ALLOW THE BUS COMPANIES TO TAP A REVENUE SOURCE HITHERTO NOT UTILISED.
"THE WIDER USE OF AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES, AS CURRENTLY PLANNED BY THE FRANCHISED OPERATORS, IS THEREFORE A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
"IN THIS SUMMER, WE EXPECT TO SEE THE DEPLOYMENT OF MORE THAN 30 AIR-CONDITIONED DOUBLE-DECKERS BY KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY (KMB) AND CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY (CMB).
"THIS SHOULD HELP CONTAIN THE EXTENT OF PASSENGER DIVERSION TO THE RAILWAYS DURING THE HOI’ SUMMER MONTHS, THEREBY EASING THE PRESSURE ON THE BUSIEST SECTIONS OF THE RAIL CORRIDOR," HE SAID.
MR LEUNG ADDED THAT THERE MIGHT BE CASES WHERE CONVERSION TO A GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE WAS PREFERABLE TO REQUIRING A FRANCHISED BUS OPERATOR TO INVEST IN NEW VEHICLES FOR A LOSS-MAKING ROUTE AFFECTED BY DECLINING DEMAND.
ON FUTURE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT, MR LEUNG SAID THAT IN EXAMINING SUCH PROPOSALS, INCREASING EMPHASIS MUST BE PLACED ON THE NEED TO ATTACK THE BASELINE, TO CRITICALLY RE-EXAMINE THE NEED FOR EXISTING SERVICES, INSTEAD OF FOCUSSING SOLELY ON AREAS REQUIRING SERVICE EXPANSION.
TO ENSURE THAT CHANGES MADE BY THE FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES IN THIS RESPECT WERE SYNCHRONISED WITH THE OPERATION OF OTHER MODES SERVING THE SAME AREA, THE GOVERNMENT HAD COMMISSIONED, LAST NOVEMBER, A PILOT CONSULTANCY STUDY ENTITLED "AREA PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK EFFICIENCY STUDIES".
THROUGH THE USE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, THE GOVERNMENT COULD REVIEW THE EFFICIENCY OF A GROUP OF BUS ROUTES AND THEIR INTEGRATION WITH OTHER TRANSPORT MODES IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND SYSTEMATIC MANNER.
/A RATIONALISED .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 3 -
A RATIONALISED NETWORK WOULD ENABLE THE FRANCHISED OPERATORS TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF RESOURCES.
IN RELATION TO THE EFFICIENCY OF LONG-DISTANCE ROUTES FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THEIR PENETRATION INTO THE URBAN AREA, MR LEUNG SAID CURRENTLY SUCH ROUTES ACCOUNTED FOR 43.5 PER CENT OF KMB’S SERVICES IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF BUSES REQUIRED.
"THE PROJECTED REDUCTION OF POPULATION AND JOBS IN URBAN KOWLOON AND TSUEN WAN WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRIPS STARTING AND ENDING WITHIN THESE AREAS.
"IT MEANS'THAT AN INCREASING PROPORTION OF THE TRAVEL ON THE STREETS OF KOWLOON WOULD BE LONG DISTANCE TRIPS TO OR FROM THE NEW TOWNS, RATHER THAN SHORT DISTANCE LOCAL TRIPS.
"THE TIME WILL SOON COME FOR A RESTRUCTURING OF THE BUS NETWORK OPERATING WITHIN URBAN KOWLOON.
"BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF BUSES DEPLOYED ON THESE ROUTES, MORE ROOM COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL DIRECT BUS SERVICES BETWEEN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND YAU TSIM OR CENTRAL," HE SAID.
SUCH A RESTRUCTURING EXERCISE WOULD TIE IN WITH TRANSPORT PLANNING NOW BEING FORMULATED AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL FOR THE NEW RECLAMATIONS ON WESTERN KOWLOON.
THESE RECLAMATIONS, TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE URBAN RENEWAL PROPOSALS IN THE PIPELINE, PRESENTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDRESSING THE CURRENT SHORTAGE OF KERBSIDE AND TERMINUS SPACE IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF' KOWLOON PENINSULA.
MR LEUNG SAID THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THERE MIGHT BE MORE EXTENSIVE PENETRATION OF THE YAU TSIM OR CENTRAL DISTRICT BY DIRECT BUS ROUTES FROM THE NEW TOWNS AS WELL AS THE INTRODUCTION OF FURTHER TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES GIVING SUITABLE PRIORITY TO BUSES DEPLOYED ON THESE LONG-HAUL ROUTES.
ON MANAGEMENT OF BUS SERVICES, MR LEUNG STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD VIEW A FRANCHISED COMPANY’S MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY AS ONE OF T-HE KEY FACTORS IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE FRANCHISE SHOULD BE ROLLED FORWARD.
"WE HAVE RECENTLY SENT TO CMB A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THAT EFFECT," HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT CUSTOMER RELATIONS WAS A SUBJECT LIABLE TO HAVE AN INCREASING BEARING ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BUS COMPANIES AS SEEN FROM THE USERS’ POINT OF VIEW.
/HE SAID .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
HE SAID THE DEMANDS OF OUR TIME WERE QUITE CLEAR, AND THIS APPLIED TO ALL OTHER TRANSPORT OPERATORS: THE FRANCHISED COMPANIES, BEING UTILITIES PROVIDING A PUBLIC SERVICE, HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CUSTOMERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COPIES OF MR LEUNG’S SPEECH WILL BE BOXED.
---------0-----------
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER SPEAKS ON 1991 POPULATION CENSUS "»*»****
SOME 16,000 .TEMPORARY ENUMERATION STAFF, MOSTLY SENIOR FORM STUDENTS, WILL BE 'RECRUITED TO CARRY OUT THE 1991 FULL-SCALE POPULATION CENSUS, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS, MR JOSEPH LEE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH, MR LEE SAID GREAT PAINS ARE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT PERSONAL DETAILS COLLECTED DURING THE CENSUS ARE NOT DISCLOSED.
"EVERYTHING ON THE CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRE EXCEPT THE NAMES AND ADDRESS IS CODED AND INPUT TO COMPUTER, FROM WHICH THE NECESSARY TABULATIONS ARE PRODUCED.
"ONCE THE DATA HAVE BEEN TABULATED, THE ORIGINAL QUESTIONNAIRE CONTAINING THE NAMES AND ADDRESS IS DESTROYED, AND NEITHER YOUR INQUISITIVE NEIGHBOUR, THE POLICE, THE TAX COLLECTOR, NOR EVEN THE MIGHTY COURTS OF JUSTICE CAN DISCOVER OR DETECT WHAT WAS RECORDED ABOUT ANY NAMED INDIVIDUAL," HE SAID.
MR LEE SAID THE FIRST STAGE OF THE 1991 CENSUS INCLUDED DRAWING UP A CENSUS PLAN AND FORMULATING RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CENSUS IN ORDER TO MEET THE DATA NEEDS OF GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
"FOR HEAD COUNTING, EACH AND EVERY PERSON IN THE TERRITORY WILL BE ASKED BASIC QUESTIONS ON AGE, SEX, AND RELATIONSHIP TO HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD. IN ADDITION, A ONE-IN-SEVEN SAMPLE OF THEM WILL BE ASKED MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS ON MARITAL STATUS, EDUCATION, INTERNAL MOVEMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME," HE SAID.
/THE SECOND .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 5 -
THE SECOND STAGE WOULD INVOLVE VARIOUS PREPARATORY WORK SUCH AS COMPILING A LISTING OF ALL LIVING QUARTERS IN HONG KONG, CONDUCTING FIELD TESTS ON THE CENSUS PROCEDURES, DEVELOPING THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION, AND RECRUITING AND TRAINING THE ENUMERATION STAFF.
MR LEE SAID THE THIRD STAGE COMPRISED THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF ENUMERATION AND TO SAVE COSTS AND REDUCE THE ENUMERATOR REQUIREMENT, THE HOUSEHOLDER METHOD FOR SIMPLE ENUMERATION WOULD BE INTRODUCED.
"SIX OUT OF SEVEN OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH WILL ANSWER ONLY THE BASIC QUESTIONS IN THE CENSUS, WILL RECEIVE A QUESTIONNAIRE IN ADVANCE. WE ASK THESE HOUSEHOLDS TO FILL IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR EACH OF THEIR MEMBERS. THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES WILL BE COLLECTED BY THE CENSUS OFFICERS," HE SAID.
"THE HOUSEHOLDER METHOD WILL NOT APPLY TO HOUSEHOLDS SELECTED FOR THE DETAILED ENUMERATION. THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE A QUESTIONNAIRE IN ADVANCE. INSTEAD, THEY WltL BE INTERVIEWED BY THE CENSUS OFFICERS, WHO WILL COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THEM,” HE ADDED.
MR LEE SAID THESE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WOULD HELP HIS DEPARTMENT CARRY OUT THE CENSUS MORE EFFICIENTLY.
"TO ACHIEVE THAT, WE SHALL RELY ON THE HOUSEHOLDS SELECTED FOR THE SIMPLE ENUMERATION TO COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE THEMSELVES PROPERLY. GIVEN THE RISING EDUCATIONAL STANDARD OF THE POPULATION AND THE SIMPLE CONTENT OF THE SELF-ENUMERATION QUESTIONNAIRE, THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT THE APPROACH WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL," HE SAID.
THE FOURTH STAGE DEALS WITH THE COMPILATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE DATA COLLECTED WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM.
MR LEE NOTED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE CENSUS WAS TO OBTAIN UP-TO-DATE AND RELIABLE INFORMATION ON THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG, THE DATA OF WHICH WERE VITAL FOR FORWARD PLANNING IN AREAS SUCH AS HOUSING, TRANSPORT, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
HE POINTED OUT THAT A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS USED THE CENSUS DATA TO FORECAST THE FUTURE POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, WHICH FORMED .THE BASIS FOR THE PLANNING OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES.
"WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF NEW TOWNS AND URBAN REDEVELOPMENT, THERE IS A CONTINUOUS NEED FOR POPULATION DATA ON SMALL AREAS FOR LOCAL PLANNING. THE CENSUS IS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF THESE DATA," HE SAID.
"AS HONG KONG DEVELOPS INTO AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF TRADE AND FINANCE, THERE IS A GROWING NEED FOR DATA TO REFLECT ITS SOCIAL and Economic developments, in particular, population data are required BY THE BUSINESS SECTOR FOR APPRAISAL OF MARKET CONDITIONS AND PLANNING OF INVESTMENT," HE ADDED.
/"THE CENSUS .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 6 -
"THE CENSUS ALSO PROVIDES THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR THE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH ON THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATE OF THE POPULATION. SUCH ISSUES AS SOCIAL MOBILITY, LINGUISTIC PROFILE, FAMILY LIFE CYCLE ARE MATTERS OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST WHICH CAN BE STUDIED THROUGH AN ANALYSIS OF THE CENSUS DATA," HE SAID.
MR LEE POINTED OUT THAT UP-TO-DATE AND ACCURATE STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERISTIC OF THE POPULATION MUST BE OBTAINED IN ORDER TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PLANS.
"WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT SUCH PLANS IF WE WANT TO HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING AND ADEQUATE TRANSPORT FOR OURSELVES, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND MANY OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AND MEDICAL CARE FOR THOSE IN SPECIAL NEED,” HE SAID.
"THE CENSUS IS A PRACTICAL AND DOWN-TO-EARTH OPERATION TO ENABLE US TO OBTAIN ALL THIS INFORMATION," MR LEE SAID.
--------0-----------
HONG KONG OFFERS BIG OPPORTUNITIES *****
HONG KONG’S INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS, WHICH RUN TO WELL BEYOND The year 2000, offer European businessmen massive investment OPPORTUNITIES, THE HONG KONG DEPUTY COMMISSIONER IN BRITAIN, MR K.C. KWONG, HAS TOLD BUSINESSMEN THERE.
SPEAKING IN HELSINKI TO THE FINLAND/HONG KONG TRADE ASSOCIATION AND IN OSLO TO THE NORWAY/HONG KONG TRADE ASSOCIATION, EARLIER THIS WEEK, MR KWONG SPELT OUT BASIC DETAILS OF THESE HUGE PROJECTS.
THEY INCLUDED THE BUILDING OF A NEW AIRPORT AND PORT FACILITIES WHICH WOULD SERVE NOT JUST HONG KONG’S OWN NEEDS BUT THE NEEDS OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.
MR KWONG SAID THAT HONG KONG, THE BUSIEST CONTAINER PORT IN THE WORLD, WAS PLANNING FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS WHICH WOULD INCREASE ITS CONTAINER OUTPUT FIVE TIMES BY 2006.
ON AIR TRANSPORT, HE SAID KAI TAK NOW HANDLED 13.4 MILLION PASSENGERS AND 694,000 TONS OF CARGO EVERY YEAR, AND WAS ONE OF THE BUSIEST AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD.
"TO CATER FOR THE RAPIDLY INCREASING TRAFFIC, WE ARE PLANNING TO BUILD A NEW TWO-RUNWAY AIRPORT WHICH IS CAPABLE OF OPERATING 24 HOURS A DAY," HE SAID.
/WHEN COMPLETED ......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
WHEN COMPLETED, THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE 80 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR, THREE TIMES THE CAPACITY OF KAI TAK, HE SAID, ADDING THAI THE FIRST OF THE TWO RUNWAYS WOULD BE OPENED BY EARLY 1997.
THE TOTAL COSTS FOR THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WOULD BE AROUND $127 BILLION.
ON THE PROBLEM OF THE BRAIN DRAIN, MR KWONG SAID THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION LAY IN THE EXPANSION OF THE TERRITORY’S HIGHER AND SPECIALIST EDUCATION.
HE POINTED OUT THAT BY 1995 TERTIARY PLACES IN HONG KONG WOULD BE INCREASED FROM 14 PER CENT OF THE RELEVANT AGE-GROUP TO NEARLY 25 PER CENT.
A TRAINING FUND WAS ALSO BEING ESTABLISHED TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS TO GIVE MANAGERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
THE SHORT-TERM SOLUTION, HE SAID, HOWEVER, RELIED ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE ANNOUNCED RECENTLY BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT UNDER WHICH FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS WITH THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK WOULD BE ISSUED TO KEY PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY IN HONG KONG.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, MR KWONG SAID ASSURANCES FOR THE TERRITORY’S WAY OF LIFE WERE CLEARLY SET OUT IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION SIGNED IN 1984.
HE SAID THE DOCUMENT WAS THE BEST GUARANTEE FOR HONG KONG, DESPITE EVENTS IN CHINA LAST YEAR.
ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, MR KWONG SAID HONG KONG NOW ENJOYED A SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP OF GATT, THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND WOULD CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AS WELL AS THE WORLD BANK.
IN CONCLUSION, HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG WAS KNOWN FOR ITS ABILITY TO ADAPT, NOT ONLY TO SURVIVE, BUT TO EXPLOIT THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED TO IT IN THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND AT THE SAME TIME, OFFER TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHREWD AND FAR-SIGHTED BUSINESSMEN.
--------0-----------
/8 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
8
HK HAS IMPORTANT ROLE IN WORLD ECONOMY *****
HONG KONG IS A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, WITH A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF OUR BUSINESS AND TRADING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD, THE DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN SAN FRANCISCO, MR PETER JOHNSON, SAID IN TEXAS ON WEDNESDAY (U.S. TIME).
ADDRESSING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN METROPOLITAN BREAKFAST CLUB DURING A FOUR-DAY VISIT TO TEXAS, MR JOHNSON SAID HONG KONG WAS A RELATIVELY WEALTHY MARKET, WITH SUBSTANTIAL PURCHASING POWER, AND INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED TASTES.
HE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE HONG KONG HAD ALMOST NO NATURAL RESOURCES, IT HAD TO IMPORT VIRTUALLY ALL ITS NEEDS, FROM INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, THROUGH SUPPLIES OF ALL KINDS FOR AN EVER ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND FOOD.
"HONG KONG IS A MARKET WHICH IS OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE ON EQUAL TERMS TO SUPPLIERS FROM ALE OVER THE WORLD.
"THERE IS THE MINIMUM OF GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE, TAX RATES ARE LOW, THERE ARE NO FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTROLS AND NO BARRIERS TO TRADE.
"IN OVERALL TERMS THE U.S. REMAINS OUR LARGEST MARKET, TAKING OVER 30 PER CENT OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, WORTH ABOUT US$8.6 BILLION IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1989. IN THE SAME PERIOD THE U.S. WAS THE SECOND LARGEST MARKET FOR RE-EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG, MOSTLY OF GOODS PRODUCED IN CHINA," HE SAID.
MR JOHNSON NOTED THAT ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, HONG KONG WAS BY FAR THE BEST MARKET IN THE WORLD FOR U.S. EXPORTS. U.S. EXPORTS TO HONG KONG IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF LAST YEAR WERE US$5.5 BILLION, PUTTING IT IN FOURTH PLACE AS A SUPPLIER, BEHIND CHINA, JAPAN AND TAIWAN.
"IN 1988 TRADE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE FIVE TEXAS CUSTOMS DISTRICTS TOTALLED US$432 MILLION, $166 MILLION IN EXPORTS FROM TEXAS TO HONG KONG AND $266 MILLION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION," MR JOHNSON SAID.
Hfi TOLD HIS AUDIENCE THERE WERE SUBSTANTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITEMS SUCH AS TEXAS BEEF AND OTHER MEAT PRODUCTS, NOTING THAT EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN HONG KONG SPENT OVER US$100 ON U.S AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS.
MR JOHNSON ALSO STRESSED THAT THE SIZE OF THE U.S. PRESENCE UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE U.S.-HK RELATIONSHIP.
/"THERE ARE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 9 -
’’THERE ARE AT PRESENT OVER 18,000 U.S. CITIZENS LIVING IN HONG KONG AND ABOUT 1,000 U.S. COMPANIES ARE OPERATING THERE. THEY ARE IN ALL FIELDS -- BANKING, THE LAW, TRADING, MANUFACTURING, ACCOUNTANCY, INSURANCE, SHIPPING, POWER GENERATION, PROPERTY — AND U.S. INTERESTS ARE INCREASING.”
TURNING TO THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY, MR JOHNSON EXPLAINED THAT BUSINESS CONFIDENCE REMAINED REMARKABLY HIGH, DESPITE TRAUMATIC EVENTS IN CHINA LAST SUMMER.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS CONFIDENCE WAS LEADING BUSINESSMAN MR LI KA-SHING’S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF A US$5 BILLION-PLUS INVESTMENT IN A NEW CONTAINER TERMINAL, POWER GENERATION AND A NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS, MR JOHNSON SAID.
"LAST OCTOBER, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW AIRPORT TO REPLACE THE PRESENT KAI TAK, AND A FIVE-FOLD EXPANSION OF OUR CONTAINER PORT FACILITIES.
"THE TOTAL COST OF THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT WILL BE OVER US$16 BILLION. SO THERE IS PLENTY OF SCOPE, AND PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPANIES IN A VAST RANGE OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES," HE SAID.
"HONG KONG OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES IN ALMOST EVERY FIELD OF ACTIVITY: RETAILING, IMPORT AND EXPORT, MANUFACTURING, PARTICULARLY DESIGN AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES, THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, THE PROFESSIONS, INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HUGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND BEYOND," HE ADDED.
------0--------
RVD PROPERTY REVIEW *
1990 - PRELIMINARY FIGURES ♦ ♦ * ♦
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT’S 1990 PROPERTY REVIEW INDICATE THAT AT THE END OF 1989 PROPERTY VACANCIES WERE HIGHER THAN IN 1988, BOTH IN ABSOLUTE TERMS AND AS A PERCENTAGE OF EXISTING STOCK, FOR ALL THE MAIN PROPERTY CLASSES.
THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS WERE RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPACE DOUBLE
PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT WAS THE AMOUNT OF VACANT OFFICE (261,000 SQUARE METRES) AT THE YEAR END WHICH WAS MORE THAN THAT AT THE END OF 1988, BUT ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE VACANT SPACE
WAS
COMPLETED IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1989.
/PRIVATE DOMESTIC
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
10
PRIVATE DOMESTIC (ALL CLASSES)
36,500 DOMESTIC UNITS WERE COMPLETED IN 1989 WHICH WAS A MODEST INCREASE OVER 1988, BUT THE FORECAST SUPPLY FOR 1990 IS 25 PER CENT LESS AT AROUND 27,400 UNITS. HOWEVER, IT IS EXPECTED THAT, IN 1991, SUPPLY WILL RETURN TO A LEVEL SIMILAR TO THAT OF 1989.
THE 1989 TAKE-UP DROPPED QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY BY SCME 30 PER CENT TO 23,700 UNITS. BUT IT SHOULD BE.NOTED THAT OVER 40 PER CENT OF THE SUPPLY ONLY BECAME AVAILABLE DURING THE LAST QUARTER. VACANCIES AT THE YEAR END WERE CONSEQUENTLY 50 PER CENT HIGHER THAN TN 1988, REPRESENTING ABOUT 4.2 PER CENT OF STOCK.
PRIVATE DOMESTIC (LARGE UNITS - 100 SQUARE METRES AND OVER)
IN CONTRAST TO THE MODEST INCREASE IN OVERALL SUPPLY OF DOMESTIC UNITS, SUPPLY OF LARGE UNITS DWINDLED FROM 3,150 UNITS IN 1988 TO 2,700 UNITS IN 1989 WHICH, COUPLED WITH A 59 PER CENT INCREASE IN TAKE-UP, LED TO A REDUCTION IN VACANCY LEVELS AT YEAR END TO 5.4 PER CENT OF STOCK. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER VACANT EXCEEDED THE TAKE-UP FOR EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS.
A TOTAL OF 2,850 UNITS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1990, SLIGHTLY MORE THAN IN 1989 BUT SUPPLY IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE TO ABOUT 1,600 IN 1991.
OFFICES
THE SUPPLY OF OFFICE SPACE IN 1989 INCREASED BY NEARLY 9 PER CENT TO 269,000 SQUARE METRES BUT THIS WAS DUE TO THE VERY LARGE INCREASE IN SUPPLY IN LESS ATTRACTIVE LOCATIONS (SECTOR III), 58 PER CENT OF WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN THE LAST QUARTER.
OVERALL TAKE-UP IN 1989 FELL BY ABOUT 71 PER CENT RESULTING IN A 110 PER CENT INCREASE IN VACANCY TO 261,000 SQUARE METRES OR 5.3 PER CENT OF STOCK. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE INCREASE IN VACANCY WAS THAT 37 PER CENT OF THE 1989 SUPPLY WAS COMPLETED IN THE LAST QUARTER.
IN SECTOR I, SUPPLY CAME FROM ONLY TWO BUILDINGS IN CENTRAL WHICH WERE COMPLETED IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1989 AND TAKE-UP DROPPED COMPARED TO 1988 RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN VACANCY TO 5.8 PER CENT OF STOCK. IN SECTOR II TAKE-UP WAS SIMILAR TO 1988 AND VACANCIES REDUCED. IN SECTOR III THE TOTAL SPACE OCCUPIED FELL SLIGHTLY DURING THE YEAR AND VACANCIES INCREASED TO 6.5 PER CENT OF STOCK BUT 44 PER CENT OF THE VACANT UNITS WERE IN BUILDINGS COMPLETED IN THE LAST QUARTER.
/IN 1990 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 11 -
IN 1990 SUPPLY IN SECTOR III IS EXPECTED TO BE EVEN GREATER AT 177,000 SQUARE METRES WHILE THAT IN SECTOR II WILL REDUCE TO 48,000 SQUARE METRES. SUPPLY IN SECTOR I, FORECAST AT 70,000 SQUARE METRES, WILL REMAIN MUCH THE SAME AS FOR 1989. THE NET RESULT IN OVERALL TERMS WILL BE AN INCREASE OF 9.7 PER CENT TO 295,000 SQUARE METRES. A FURTHER INCREASE IN SUPPLY TO AROUND 388,000 SQUARE METRES IS EXPECTED IN 1991.
COMMERCIAL
SUPPLY OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN 1989 AT 197,000 SQUARE METRES WAS ABOUT 17 PER CENT LESS THAN THAT IN 1988 BUT IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 210,000 SQUARE METRES IN 1990. TAKE-UP IN 1989 ALSO FELL, RESULTING IN VACANCIES AT THE END OF 1989 BEING MARGINALLY HIGHER THAN IN 1988, AT 395,000 SQUARE METRES REPRESENTING 5.6 PER CENT OF STOCK. SUPPLY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE FURTHER IN 1991 TO 338,000 SQUARE METRES.
FLATTED FACTORIES
SUPPLY IN 1989 WAS 864,000 SQUARE METRES BEING 22 PER CENT LESS THAN THE HIGH LEVELS RECORDED FOR 1988. TAKE-UP WAS UP ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR BUT STILL FELL SHORT OF SUPPLY, SO VACANCIES AT THE END OF 1989 WERE ABOUT 18 PER CENT HIGHER, AT 833,000 SQUARE METRES REPRESENTING 5.1 PER CENT OF STOCK.
SUPPLY IN 1990 IS AGAIN EXPECTED TO REDUCE TO 652,000 SQUARE METRES WHICH WILL BE MARGINALLY LESS THAN THE TAKE-UP IN 1989. SUPPLY IN 1991 IS EXPECTED TO BE SIMILAR TO THAT OF 1990.
GENERAL
A SUMMARY OF SUPPLY, TAKE-UP AND VACANCY IN THE MAIN SECTORS IS GIVEN BELOW.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE FIGURES QUOTED ARE PRELIMINARY ONLY. FULL AND FINAL FIGURES WILL BE SHOWN IN THE 1990 PROPERTY REVIEW, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THIS RELEASE MAY BE DIRECTED TO EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:
MR K.S. WONG TEL. 8957603
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
/MRS M.A. PIRD ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
12
MRS M.A. BIRD TECHNICAL SECRETARY
TEL. 8957614
SIX TABLES FROM THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ARE GIVEN FOLLOW:
PRIVATE DOMESTIC (ALL CLASSES)
SUPPLY (NO. OF UNITS) PER CENT*
TAKE-UP VACANCY
1987 34,400 35,100 22,300 3.4
1988 34,500 33,900 20,200 2.9
1989 36,500 '• 23,700 30,300 4.2
1990 [27,4001
1991 [34,200]
’PRIVATE DOMESTIC’ EXCLUDES FLATS BUILT UNDER THE HOME
OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME.
* VACANCY AT THE END OF THE YEAR AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL
STOCK.
PRIVATE DOMESTIC (LARGE UNITS - 100 SQUARE METRES AND OVER)
SUPPLY (NO. OF UNITS) VACANCY PER CENT
TAKE-UP
1987 ’ 2,000 2,650 2,300 4.5
1988 3,150 1,700 3,450 6.3
1989 2,700 2,700 3,100 5.4
1990 [2,8501
1991 [1,6001
/OFFICES (ALL .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 13 -
OFFICES (ALL SECTORS)
SUPPLY (’000 SQUARE METRES)
TAKE-UP VACANCY PER CENT
1987 247 269 241 5.5
1988 247 354 124 2.7
1989 269 102 261 5.3
1990 12951
1991 13881
OFFICES (SECTORAL ANALYSIS) •
(’000 SQUARE METRES)
SUPPLY TAKE-UP VACANCY PER CENT
SECTOR I
CENTRAL, GRADE A OFFICES
1987 70 38 73 8.4
1988 88 156 5 0.5
1989 72 12 59 5.8
1990 1 701
1991 1 271
SECTOR- II
SHEUNG WAN, WAN CHAI, CAUSEWAY BAY & TSIM SHA TSUI, GRADE A OFFICES
AND CENTRAL, GRADE B OFFICES
1987 102 74 65 4.6
1988 128 107 79 5.2
1989 86 102 55 3.4
1990 1 481
1991 1 91 ]
/SECTOR III .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 14 -
SECTOR III
REMAINDER
1987 75 157 103 4.8
1988 31 91 40 1.8
1989 111 -12 147 6.5
1990 F177 1
1991 [2701
COMMERCIAL
(’000 SQUARE METRES)
—
SUPPLY TAKE-UP VACANCY PER CENT
— — — —
1987 284 358 368 5.4
1988 238 174 381 5.5
1989 197 126 395 5.6
1990 12101
1991 [3381
FLATTED FACTORIES
(’000 SQUARE METRES)
—
SUPPLY TAKE-UP VACANCY PER CENT
— — — —
1987 541 804 247 1.7
1988 1 , 105 588 704 4.5
1989 864 672 833 5.1
1990 [6521
1991 [6621
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/15........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
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PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL * * *
TO ACCEPT PRIVATE PATIENTS * *
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS DIRECTED THAT THE FACILITIES OF THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL MAY BE USED FOR SPECIALIST CONSULTATION AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS ON A PRIVATE FEE-PAYING BASIS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
"THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL ENABLE DENTISTS TO REFER PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX DENTAL PROBLEMS TO THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AS PRIVATE PATIENTS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
AS LAID DOWN IN THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL ORDINANCE, THE OBJECTIVE OF THE HOSPITAL IS TO PROVIDE FACILITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE TRAINING OF DENTISTS AND OTHER ANCILLARY DENTAL PERSONNEL. HITHERTO PATIENTS COULD ONLY BE TREATED IN SUPPORT OF PROGRAMMES FOR THE TEACHING OF DENTAL STUDENTS.
"THIS NEW SCHEME TO ACCEPT REFERRED PATIENTS FOR CONSULTATION AND TREATMENT NOT NECESSARILY IN SUPPORT OF THE TEACHING PROGRAMME WILL HELP MAKE BETTER USE OF THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AT THE HOSPITAL,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"IT WILL BRING THE HOSPITAL INTO LINE WITH THE WELL-ESTABLISHED PRACTICE AT THE TWO MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITALS -QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AND PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL - WHERE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL STAFF CAN TREAT PATIENTS ON A FEE-PAYING BASIS," HE ADDED.
UNDER THE ARRANGEMENT, PRIVATE PATIENTS CAN ONLY BE ACCEPTED IF THEY ARE REFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN OUTSIDE DENTAL PRACTITIONER. THE TREATMENT WILL BE PROVIDED BY SENIOR DENTAL ACADEMIC STAFF OF THE HOSPITAL WHO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE.
"REVENUE FROM THE SCHEME WILL BE USED IN THE MAIN TO HELP FUND DENTAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING; THE REMAINDER WILL RESULT IN A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF THE HOSPITAL," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE HOSPITAL WILL FIX THE CHARGES FOR TREATMENT. THESE CHARGES WILL BE RELATED TO THE CHARGES FOR SIMILAR PROCEDURES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THE HOSPITAL WILL CIRCULATE FULL DETAILS OF THE SCHEME TO ALL REGISTERED DENTISTS ONCE THESE HAVE BEEN FINALISED.
"WE BELIEVE PRIVATE DENTAL PRACTITIONERS WILL WELCOME THE CHANCE TO REFER PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX DENTAL PROBLEMS TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIALIST CONSULTATION AND TREATMENT," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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/16 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
]6
CONSULTANCY STUDY ON BIOTECHNOLOGY * * * *
THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, WHICH ADVISES THE GOVERNMENT ON SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES, HAS COMMISSIONED A CONSULTANT TO CARRY OUT A STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN HONG KONG.
THE $1.7 MILLION CONSULTANCY STUDY IS TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY BIOTECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL (BTI), WHICH IS A PROGRAMME AT THE UNITED STATES’ UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND WHICH HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN CONDUCTING TECHNICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENTS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY WORLDWIDE.
THE TERM "BIOTECHNOLOGY” DESCRIBES THOSE TECHNIQUES THAT USE LIVING ORGANISMS, OR SUBSTANCES FROM THOSE ORGANISMS, TO MAKE OR MODIFY A PRODUCT.
APPLICATIONS MAY BE IN HUMAN HEALTH CARE, LIVESTOCK ENHANCEMENT, CROP IMPROVEMENT, FEED AND FOOD PRODUCTION, INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL PRODUCTION AND WASTE TREATMENT.
THE CONTRACT FOR THE CONSULTANCY STUDY WAS SIGNED YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR T.H. BARMA.
PROFESSOR ARTHUR LI, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY’S SUB-COMMITTEE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY, SAID THE CONCEPT OF A BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG WAS NEW.
"A MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY COULD BE ATTRACTIVE FOR HONG KONG BECAUSE OF ITS ABILITY TO GENERATE A LINE OF PRODUCTS HAVING HIGH ADDED VALUE,” HE EXPLAINED.
"IT WOULD TIE IN WITH THE TREND IN HONG KONG AWAY FROM LABOUR-INTENSIVE TO KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY-INTENSIVE AREAS.”
PROF LI SAID THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY WAS TO EXAMINE THE POTENTIAL AND SCOPE FOR EXPLOITING BIOTECHNOLOGY IN HONG KONG AS WELL AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE, RESOURCES ND TECHNICAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO UNDERPIN ITS DEVELOPMENT.
’’THE STUDY WILL ALSO LOOK AT POSSIBLE AREAS OF COMMERCIAL COLLABORATION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UNITED STATES,” HE SAID.
"INFORMATION FOR THE STUDY WILL BE GATHERED FROM HONG KONG, USA, CHINA AND THE NEARBY ECONOMIES. EMPHASIS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE MARKETING ASPECT OF THE PRODUCTS THAT CAN OFFER THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION IN HONG KONG,” HE ADDED.
THE STUDY WILL START SHORTLY AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN FIVE MONTHS’ TIME. THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL WILL ASSIST BTI IN THE HONG KONG PART OF THE STUDY.
THE STUDY IS FINANCED BY A DONATION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB. THE JOCKEY CLUB HAS ALSO DONATED $300 MILLION TO THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF TWO BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTES OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
- - 0----------
/17........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
17 -
HKIA PRESIDENT’S PRIZE AWARDED TO HISTORICAL BUILDING ******
THE RESTORATION OF A HISTORICAL BUILDING -- TAI FU TAI -- IN SAN TIN, YUEN LONG, WAS AWARDED THE 1989 PRESIDENT’S PRIZE BY THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (HKIA) FOR ITS EXCELLENCE OF DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE.
THE PRESIDENT’S PRIZE IS ONE OF THE THREE HKIA ANNUAL AWARDS AIMED TO GIVE RECOGNITION TO OUTSTANDING BUILDINGS WITH SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO ARCHITECTURE.
IT IS ALSO HOPED THAT THE AWARDS WOULD FOSTER APPRECIATION FOR BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE ACHIEVED ARCHITECTURAL EXCELLENCE THAT DESERVE WIDER PUBLIC NOTICE.
TAI FU TAI WAS PROBABLY BUILT IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF TONGZHI OF THE QING DYNASTY (1865).
RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL SPLENDOUR, THE BUILDING IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR FACETS OF HONG KONG’S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE.
TAI FU TAI WAS DECLARED A HISTORICAL BUILDING UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE IN JULY 1987 BECAUSE OF ITS ARCHITECTURAL MERITS AND HISTORICAL VALUE.
RESTORATION WORK WAS UNDERTAKEN BY ARCHITECTS TRAINED IN THIS KIND OF WORK AND EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE TO RETAIN THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL, COLOUR, PAINTING AND DETAIL.
THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI, WILL OFFICIATE AT A CEREMONY AT TAI FU TAI ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 10) TO PRESENT THE HKIA CERTIFICATES OF AWARD TO BOTH THE OWNER OF THE ELEGANT HOUSE AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, WHICH HAS GENEROUSLY DONATED $2.5 MILLION TOWARDS THE RESTORATION WORK.
* THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 11 AM.
MEMBERS OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH, AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB WILL ATTEND THE CEREMONY.
/THERE WILL .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 18 -
THERE WILL BE A TOUR TO A NEARBY DECLARED MONUMENT, KUN TING STUDY HALL, PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY TO SEE THE RESTORATION WORK WHICH IS BEING CARRIED OUT THERE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE ‘ INVITED TO COVER THE HKIA PRESIDENT’S PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY AND JOIN THE TOUR TO THE KUN TING STUDY HALL ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 10) MORNING.
A COACH TAKING PRESS MEMBERS WILL LEAVE MIDDLE ROAD, AT ITS JUNCTION WITH HANKOW ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, AT 9 AM. AN INFORMATION OFFICER OF RCB WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
---------0-----------
NEW ELECTRONIC POSTAGE LABEL WITH HORSE DESIGN ******
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE LABEL IMPRESSION OF THE ELECTRONIC POSTAGE LABEL ISSUING MACHINE WILL BE CHANGED FROM THE SNAKE DESIGN TO THE HORSE DESIGN ON FEBRUARY 21.
ON THE SAME DAY, NEW LABEL PAPER WILL BE INTRODUCED BEARING A MOUNTAIN PATTERN IN THE BACKGROUND.
BOTH THE LABEL IMPRESSION AND THE BACKGROUND PATTERN OF THE LABEL PAPER WERE DESIGNED BY MR MICHAEL TUCKER.
FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF CUSTOMERS INTERESTED IN COLLECTING THE LABELS, PRE-PACKAGED SETS OF FOUR VALUES — 10 CENT, 60 CENT, $1.40 AND $1.80 -- BEARING MACHINE CODES "01” (GPO) AND "02” (TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE) WILL BE PUT ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICES ON FEBRUARY 21.
OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVERS WILL NOT BE ISSUED ON THAT DAY. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE A HAND-BACK SERVICE FOR PRIVATELY-MADE FIRST DAY COVERS AT ALL THE POST OFFICES.
THE POST OFFICE WILL CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THE LABELS AND LABEL IMPRESSION EVERY YEAR TO INCORPORATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR ANIMAL. THE LAST ISSUE OF THE PRESENT ELECTRONIC POSTAGE LABEL SERIES WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1998.
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/19 .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8,
1990
19
FESTIVAL TREAT FOR WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS *****
SEVERAL OF ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 10 AND 11) TO CELEBRATE THE CHINESE SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL.
THESE INCLUDE A CARNIVAL AND VARIETY SHOWS. THEY ARE BEING ORGANISED BY THE TSZ WAN SHAN (SOUTH) AREA COMMITTEE, THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT ARTS COUNCIL AND THE WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS’ AFFAIRS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
ADMISSION TO THE FUNCTIONS IS FREE.
ON SATURDAY, A SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD AT A FOOTBALL PITCH ADJACENT TO ON KEI HOUSE, TSZ ON ESTATE IN TSZ WAN SHAN.
IT WILL START AT 2 PM WITH A CHILDREN’S COLOUR-SHADING COMPETITION AND AN EXHIBITION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TSZ WAN SHAN (SOUTH) AREA COMMITTEE, THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS ASSOCIATION.
THE CARNIVAL’S HIGHLIGHT WILL BE A VARIETY SHOW, TO BEGIN AT 7.30 PM, FEATURING SINGING, INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, LANTERN RIDDLES, PALM-READING AND CHINESE TRADITIONAL CRAFT.
ANOTHER VARIETY SHOW WILL BE HELD ON THE SAME DAY AT THE OPEN AIR THEATRE IN MORSE PARK. IT WILL BEGIN AT 8 PM.
THERE WILL BE PERFORMANCES BY SINGERS MAN PUI-LING, CHEUNG LAP-KEI AND SO WING-HONG, AS WELL AS LANTERN RIDDLES.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS FOR THE VARIETY SHOW AT MORSE PARK ARE AVAILABLE AT THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES, AND AT THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT ARTS COUNCIL IN LUNG HING HOUSE, LOWER WONG TAI SIN ESTATE. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 3222261 EXT. 361.
ON SUNDAY, A LANTERN FESTIVAL EVENING SHOW WILL BE HELD AT A COMPOUND IN UPPER WONG TAI SIN ESTATE.
THE SHOW, WHICH BEGINS AT 8 PM, WILL FEATURE CANTONESE OPERA SONGS. AND LANTERN RIDDLES.
/20 .........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
SEMINAR ON INDUSTRIAL BUILDING MANAGEMENT * * * * *
MEMBERS OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDING OWNERS’ CORPORATIONS, FACTORY OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN KWUN TONG ARE BEING INVITED TO ATTEND A SEMINAR ON INDUSTRIAL BUILDING MANAGEMENT ON FEBRUARY 19 (MONDAY). THE SEMINAR IS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT INDUSTRIAL AREA COMMITTEE AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE AS PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE MANAGEMENT CONCEPT IN THE LOCAL INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE KWUN TONG INDUSTRIAL BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATING TEAM, LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT WILL GIVE TALKS ON INDUSTRIAL BUILDING MANAGEMENT, THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND DRAINAGE PROBLEMS IN INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.
LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO LOCAL OWNERS’ CORPORATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, AND FACTORY OWNERS TO INVITE THEM TO TAKE PART IN THE '-EVENT.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE AT TUNG YAN STREET.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 3453104.
- - 0 - -
CARNIVAL TO CELEBRATE SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL
*****
A CARNIVAL TO CELEBRATE THE SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD AT SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND IN WAN CHAI TOMORROW (FRIDAY) EVENING.
THE EVENT HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT ARTS, CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE URBAN COUNCIL TO CULTIVATE A SENSE OF DISTRICT IDENTITY AMONG RESIDENTS AND PROVIDE FREE ENTERTAINMENT TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE WILL BE DEMONSTRATIONS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE FOLK CRAFT, LANTERN RIDDLES, CANTONESE OPERATIC AND POP SONGS AND A PALM READING STALL.
PARTICIPANTS CAN TAKE PART IN A LUCKY DRAW WHICH PROVIDES ATTRACTIVE PRIZES, INCLUDING THREE LARGE LANTERNS.
/OFFICIATING AT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 21 -
OFFICIATING AT THE CARNIVAL’S OPENING AT 7.30 PM WILL BE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN; DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR DOMINIC CHAN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL CARNIVAL, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 7.30 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND, WAN CHAI.
----------------------0------- SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR TO GIVE CONCERT * * * * *
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR WILL GIVE ITS ANNUAL CONCERT AT THE URBAN COUNCIL'S SHEUNG WAN COMPLEX THEATRE ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 10).
THE 40-STRONG CHOIR WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983 AND HAS SINCE GIVEN NUMEROUS PERFORMANCES AT VARIOUS DISTRICT FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT FESTIVALS.
AT THE CONCERT, WHICH BEGINS AT 8 PM, THE CHOIR WILL PRESENT A VARIETY OF CHINESE AND WESTERN CLASSICAL AND POPULAR SONGS IN CHORUS, GROUP AND SOLO SINGING.
THE CONCERT IS BEING JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS FOR THE CONCERT ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 5550187 AND 5520595.
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/22 .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
22
YUEN LONG TO HOLD EYE-CARING CAMPAIGN FOR ELDERLY
******
FREE EYE EXAMINATION AND SPECTACLE SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO OLD PEOPLE IN YUEN LONG DISTRICT IN AN EYE-CARING CAMPAIGN TO BE HELD FROM FEBRUARY 14 TO MARCH 24.
ABOUT 3,000 PEOPLE AGED 60 OR ABOVE ARE EXPECTED TO BENEFIT FROM THE CAMPAIGN WHICH IS THE 11TH ORGANISED BY THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD, DISTRICT OFFICE, TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS AND THE HONG KONG OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (THURSDAY), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE ON THE EYE-CARING CAMPAIGN, MR YEUNG YUK-CHIU, SAID HE HOPED THE CAMPAIGN WOULD AROUSE THE CONCERN OF THE COMMUNITY TOWARDS SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND HELP PROMOTE RESPECT TOWARDS SENIOR RESIDENTS.
OF THE $350,000 BUDGET FOR THE CAMPAIGN, TUNG WAH CONTRIBUTED $330,000 WHILE THE BALANCE WAS MET BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE EYE-CARING CAMPAIGN WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, AT 3 PM AT THE YUEN LONG PLAZA, 249 CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ADOLF HSU, AND CHAIRMAN OF TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS, MR LAI KWOK-WING.
-----0-----
NEW YEAR CARNIVAL TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY
*****
A NEW YEAR CARNIVAL WILL BE ORGANISED EOR YAU TSIM RESIDENTS AT KOWLOON PARK ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AFTERNOON.
THE CARNIVAL, WHICH STARTS AT 1.30 PM, WILL INCLUDE A PARADE OF CARTOON CHARACTERS, AN INFLATABLE TRAMPOLINE, FORTUNE TELLING, STALL GAMES AND A VARIETY SHOW. BALLOONS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN.
THE EVENT IS ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI AND TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURE AND ARTS ASSOCIATION WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
/THE REGIONAL .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 23 -
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, WILL OFFICIATE AT ITS OPENING.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT NEW YEAR CARNIVAL TO BE HELD AT THE PIZZA OF KOWLOON PARK ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11). IT WILL START AT 1.30 PM.
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ART EXHIBITION TO OPEN ♦ ♦ * *
IN NORTH DISTRICT ♦
MORE THAN 300 PIECES OF
CHINESE AND WESTERN EXHIBITED AT THE NORTH
CALLIGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE -----
TOWN HALL FROM SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 10) UNTIL MONDAY (FEBRUARY 12).
PAINTINGS, DISTRICT
SPONSORED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT
BOARD
THE THREE-DAY
EXHIBITION IS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION (NDAAA) AND THE REGIONAL
NORTH DISTRICT ARTS
COUNCIL TO
PROMOTE
APPRECIATION OF ART.
ON DISPLAY WILL BE WORKS BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND MEMBERS OF THE NDAAA’S PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY CLASSES.
OUTSTANDING WORKS BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT WILL ALSO BE EXHIBITED.
A DEMONSTRATION OF CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY WILL BE HELD ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE EXHIBITION.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM ON SATURDAY, AND FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. ADMISSION IS FREE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE NORTH ON SATURDAY SUM AVENUE,
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF DISTRICT PAINTING, CALLIGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION (FEBRUARY 10) AT THE NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL, LUNG SHEUNG SHUI. THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 11 AM.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
24 MASTERCLASS BY EMPIRE BRASS QUINTET * * * * *
THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL SOCIETY WILL JOINTLY PRESENT A MASTERCLASS BY THE EMPIRE BRASS QUINTET ON FEBRUARY 17 (SATURDAY).
THE CLASS WILL BE HELD ON THE NINTH FLOOR OF THE ARTS CENTRE FROM 1 PM TO 5.30 PM.
THE EMPIRE BRASS QUINTET IS REGARDED AS THE FINEST QUINTET IN NORTH AMERICA AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POPULAR ATTRACTION FOR MUSIC LOVERS.
ITS PERFORMANCES FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE WHITE HOUSE WERE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED. IT IS ALSO THE FIRST BRASS ENSEMBLE TO WIN THE PRESTIGIOUS NAUMBURG CHAMBER MUSIC AWARD IN WEST GERMANY.
AT THE MASTERCLASS ON FEBRUARY 17, MEMBERS OF THE QUINTET WILL LECTURE ON THE VARIOUS TECHNIQUES IN PLAYING THE TROMBONE, TRUMPET AND FRENCH HORN. *
TICKETS AT $20 EACH ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL URBTIX OUTLETS. FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 8235321.
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URBAN CLEARWAYS IN TSING YI
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 10), SEVERAL ROAD SECTIONS IN TSING YI WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS.
THE TAM KON SHAN INTERCHANGE BETWEEN TSING KING ROAD AND FUNG SHUE WO ROAD WILL BE MADE AN URBAN CLEARWAY ROUND-THE-CLOCK.
IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING ROAD SECTIONS WILL BECOME 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY URBAN CLEARWAYS:
* TAM KON SHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH TAM KON SHAN INTERCHANGE AND A POINT ABOUT 300 METRES TO THE NORTH;
* TAM KON SHAN ROAD SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH TAM KON SHAN INTERCHANGE AND A POINT ABOUT 200 METRES TO THE NORTH; AND
/* TSING KING .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990
- 25 -
* TSING KING ROAD BETWEEN TAM KON SHAN INTERCHANGE AND A POINT ABOUT 320 METRES NORTH OF TSING LUK STREET.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED AREAS.
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BUS LANE TEMPORARILY LIFTED * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE SEWER CONSTRUCTION WORKS, THE BUS LANE ON TO KWA WAN ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN CHI KIANG STREET AND SHEUNG HEUNG ROAD WILL CONTINUE TO BE LIFTED FOR ANOTHER TWO MONTHS FROM SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 10).
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FLUSHING WATER CUT IN HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK ♦ * * ♦ ♦
FLUSHING WATER SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES IN HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 2 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 10) TO MIDNIGHT THE NEXT DAY (FEBRUARY 11) BECAUSE OF WATER WORKS.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS LOCATED AT HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK DISTRICT, INCLUDING KING GEORGE V SCHOOL, HO MAN TIN ESTATE, 01 MAN ESTATE, CHUN MAN COURT AND VALLEY ROAD ESTATE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL.: 5-8428777
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
FC APPROVES PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF IMMIGRATION SERVICE GRADES ................ 1
FUNDS APPROVED FOR PART-TIME NURSE SCHEME ....................................... 2
CIVIL SERVICE CONTINUES TO BE DEDICATED AND EFFICIENT ........................... 3
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN PREPARING SOCIAL WELFARE WHITE PAPER ...................... 4
APPOINTMENTS TO THE HIGH COURT .................................................. 6
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN NOVEMBER RELEASED ............... 7
NOV RESULTS OF RETAIL SALES SURVEY RELEASED .................................... 11
RECLAMATION FOR REPLACEMENT AIRPORT PROPOSED ................................... 15
RESULTS OF SURVEY OF TUNNEL AIR QUALITY ........................................ 15
NEW SCHEDULE OF TRADE STRATEGIC COMMODITIES .................................... 17
FOUR CANDIDATES FOR RC BY-ELECTION ............................................. 17
APPRENTICE TRAINING ESSENTIAL FOR LOCAL INDUSTRIES ............................. 18
OVERSEAS STUDY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS ....................................... 19
MAJOR DISTRICT ANTI-DRUG FUNCTIONS ON SUNDAY ................................... 20
KOWLOON CITY TO HOLD FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL ............................... 21
ANTI-TRIAD EXHIBITION ON SUNDAY ................................................ 22
CARNIVAL TO CONCLUDE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN ............................. 22
VOLUNTEER WORK - A REWARDING EXPERIENCE ........................................ 23
TENDERS INVITED FOR OPEN SPACE PROJECT ......................................... 25
NEW ID CARDS FOR MEN BORN IN 1928-31 ........................................... 26
KADOORIE AVENUE RESUMES TWO-WAY TRAFFIC ........................................ 27
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR HAPPY VALLEY RACE MEETINGS .................... 28
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN CENTRAL ................................................. 28
9
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
FC APPROVES PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF
******
IMMIGRATION SERVICE GRADES
THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE GRADES HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE RESTRUCTURING INVOLVES THE CREATION OF A NEW CHIEF IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT RANK IN THE RANK AND FILE GRADE TO UNDERTAKE MOST OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES CURRENTLY CARRIED OUT BY ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.
"THESE RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE PERFORMANCE OF IMMIGRATION ARRIVAL CLEARANCE DUTIES AT THE AIRPORT AND PROCESS OF APPLICATIONS FOR TRAVEL DOCUMENT, VISAS AND EXTENSION OF STAY," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"ON COMPLETION OF THE RESTRUCTURING EXERCISE, THE EXISTING ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICER RANK WILL BE ABOLISHED WHEN INCUMBENTS IN THIS RANK ARE REGRADED, PROMOTED, TRANSFERRED OR LEAVE THE SERVICE."
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ENTRY RANK FOR THE OFFICER GRADE WOULD BE AT THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER RANK AFTER THE ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICER RANK WAS ABOLISHED.
"TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR SERVICES AND THE GROWING COMPLEXITY OF IMMIGRATION WORK, AND TO OPTIMISE THE USE OF ALL STAFF, THE DEPARTMENT HAS PROPOSED TO DEVOLVE THE LESS COMPLEX DUTIES FROM THE LOWER END OF THE OFFICER GRADE TO THE HIGHER END OF THE RANK AND FILE," HE SAID.
"THIS WILL ALLOW THE OFFICERS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE RELATIVELY MORE IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX TASKS."
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CHANGE WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOW A POOL OF SENIOR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS WITH A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL OF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE TO UNDERTAKE A LOT OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES CURRENTLY CARRIED OUT BY ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.
A BILL TO INCORPORATE THIS NEW RANK IN THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE ORDINANCE AND IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 22, 1989.
THE FIRST BATCH OF CHIEF IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS WILL BE IN POST AT THE AIRPORT ON FEBRUARY 12 THIS YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT THE REORGANISATION WOULD HELP TO REDUCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROBLEMS AS THE CREATION OF THE NEW CHIEF IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT RANK WOULD ENHANCE THE JOB CONTENT AND CAREER PROSPECTS OF THE RANK AND FILE.
"THE ABOLITION OF THE ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICER RANK WILL ALSO ATTRACT MORE BETTER QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO JOIN THE OFFICER GRADE OF THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE," HE ADDED.
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/2.........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
2
FUNDS APPROVED FOR PART-TIME NURSE SCHEME * * * * *
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (FRIDAY) APPROVED THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF PART-TIME REGISTERED NURSES IN THE GENERAL STREAM IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS AS AN INTERIM MEASURE TO RELIEVE THE MANPOWER SHORTAGE IN THE NURSING GRADE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE PART-TIME NURSE SCHEME WOULD COME INTO EFFECT NEXT MONTH (MARCH) AND THE ANNUAL EXPENDITURE WAS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $29 MILLION.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT EMPLOYMENT WOULD BE ON A SESSIONAL BASIS WITHOUT REQUIRING THE PART-TIMERS TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT REGARDING A FIXED SCHEDULE OF WORK.
"EACH SESSION WILL BE FOUR HOURS.
"PAYMENT WILL BE AT THE RATE OF $52 PER HOUR FOR NORMAL WORKING HOURS FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM ON SATURDAYS, AND $60 AN HOUR OUTSIDE NORMAL HOURS INCLUDING SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NUMBER 8 IS HOISTED," HE SAID.
THE PART-TIME NURSE SCHEME HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS IN THE PAST. UNDER THE PREVIOUS SCHEME, PART-TIME NURSES WERE CONTRACTED TO WORK ON A REGULAR MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS LESS THAN FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT.
"COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS SCHEME, THE NEW SCHEME ALLOWS MORE FLEXIBILITY. IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE FLEXIBILITY SO ACCORDED WILL ATTRACT MORE PART-TIMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHEME," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
A RECRUITMENT ADVERTISEMENT WILL APPEAR IN NEWSPAPERS NEXT WEEK AND INTERESTED CANDIDATES WITH THE NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS ARE ADVISED TO APPLY BY FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES STATED IN THE ADVERTISEMENT.
TO IMPROVE THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF NURSING STAFF, A NUMBER OF MEASURES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED. THESE INCLUDE THE PAYMENT OF A RESIDENTIAL ALLOWANCE TO STUDENT/PUPIL NURSES AND A TEMPORARY ALLOWANCE TO NURSING STAFF FROM THE RANKS OF STUDENT/PUPIL NURSES TO NURSING OFFICER I.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 3
CIVIL SERVICE CONTINUES TO BE DEDICATED AND EFFICIENT *******
DESPITE THE ADDITIONAL PRESSURES PLACED UPON THE CIVIL SERVICE BY STAFF SHORTAGES AND THE DEMANDS OF DEALING WITH AN INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, IT HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC WITH DEDICATION AND EFFICIENCY, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR KEITH SHIPLEY, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR SHIPLEY WAS ADDRESSING A COCKTAIL RECEPTION FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF STAFF ASSOCIATIONS AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB CLUBHOUSE IN HAPPY VALLEY.
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE (DESIGNATE), MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, ALSO ATTENDED THE RECEPTION.
HIGHLIGHTING MAJOR PROGRESS ON CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS DURING THE YEAR, MR SHIPLEY SAID THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WAS WELL INTO THE SECOND PHASE OF ITS OVERALL REVIEW OF THE SALARY STRUCTURE OF THE CIVILIAN NON-DIRECTORATE STAFF.
IT WAS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT ITS NEXT REPORT ON A NUMBER OF GRADES IN APRIL AND WOULD THEN IMMEDIATELY BEGIN A REVIEW OF THE REMAINING GRADES, HE SAID.
MR SHIPLEY NOTED THAT ALL THE COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SALARY CHANGES ARISING FROM THE REVIEW WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FROM OCTOBER 1, 1989.
"THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DISCIPLINED SERVICES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WHICH WAS FORMED DURING THE YEAR IS NOW EXAMINING A NUMBER OF ISSUES RELATED TO THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES," HE SAID.
MR SHIPLEY ALSO SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD COMPLETED AN EXAMINATION OF STAFF COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED NEW PACKAGE OF CIVIL SERVICE HOUSING BENEFITS.
"WE SHALL SHORTLY BE SEEKING THE ADVICE OF THE VARIOUS BODIES DEALING WITH PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ON THE PACKAGE," HE ADDED.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO FINALISING RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CIVIL SERVICE CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY FOR SUBMISSION TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
"THESE TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE STANDING COMMISSION IN ITS REPORT ON 'CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE' TOGETHER WITH STAFF COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT," HE SAID.
/FOR THE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
FOR THE YEAR AHEAD, MR SHIPLEY PREDICTED CONTINUED HEAVY DEMANDS ON THE CIVIL SERVICE, BUT SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT IT HAD THE RESILIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO TAKE FORWARD THE AMBITIOUS PUBLIC PROGRAMMES PLEDGED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
TODAY’S RECEPTION WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 400 REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE UNIONS, AND SENIOR STAFF OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH.
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PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN PREPARING SOCIAL
WELFARE WHITE PAPER
THE GOVERNMENT IS ADOPTING A TWO-STAGE APPROACH TO INVOLVE THE PUBLIC IN FORMULATING A WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES FOR THE 1990’S AND BEYOND.
SPEAKING AT THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TODAY (FRIDAY), THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR MARTIN WHITE, DESCRIBED THIS APPROACH AS A DEPARTURE FROM PAST, AND IT AIMED TO EQUIP THE WORKING PARTY WITH THE VEIWS OF THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF FORMULATING THE WHITE PAPER.
"THIS APPROACH INVOLVES THE PREPARATORY STAGE AND THE DRAFTING STAGE.
"THE FIRST STAGE WAS LAUNCHED IN EARLY DECEMBER 1989, PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE WORKING PARTY. PUBLICITY PAMPHLETS, PRESS RELEASES, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THROUGH MASS MEDIA WERE USED TO INVITE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO GIVE VIEWS ON THE ADEQUACIES OR OTHERWISE OF CURRENT WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES," MR WHITE SAID.
COPIES OF A BACKGROUND INFORMATION PAPER ON EXISTING SERVICES HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE AT CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFICES, AS REFERENCE MATERIAL TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO FACILITATE THEIR GIVING OF VIEWS.
GENERAL POST OFFICE BOX NO. 7333 HAD BEEN RENTED UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY FOR RECEIPT OF PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS, HE SAID.
MR WHITE STRESSED THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AFTER THAT DATE COULD WRITE TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OR TO SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE FIRST STAGE AIMED AT INVOLVING THE PUBLIC IN THE PROCESS OF THE FORMULATION OF THE WHITE PAPER AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE STAGE.
/THE VIEWS .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 5 -
THE VIEWS COLLECTED WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE SUB-COMMITTEE AND WORKING PARTY MEMBERS FROM THE OUTSET OF THEIR WORK FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AND REFERENCE.
MR WHITE ALSO TOLD DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS THAT DURING THE DRAFTING STAGE OF THE WHITE PAPER, THE WORKING PARTY WOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE COMPLETION OF ITS DELIBERATIONS ON EACH OF THE PROGRAMME AREAS.
’’THE WORKING PARTY’S CONCLUSIONS ON EACH SPECIFIC PROGRAMME AREA WILL BE MADE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA, SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN RESPOND AND THE WORKING PARTY CAN THEREAFTER TAKE THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC INTO ACCOUNT IN FINALISING ITS PROPOSALS.
“RADIO PHONE-IN PROGRAMME AND PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE ARRANGED, TO ENCOURAGE THE EXPRESSION OF VIEWS BY THE PUBLIC ON THE WORKING PARTY’S PROPOSALS.
“THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE WILL BE A CONTINUOUS PROCESS, TO CONTINUE WELL INTO THE DRAFTING STAGE IN ABOUT MID-1990.
"NEVERTHELESS, THE EXERCISE WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED AND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MODES OF CONSULTATION WILL BE KEPT IN VIEW," HE SAID.
MR WHITE EMPHASISED THAT IT WAS ALSO RELEVANT THAT WELFARE POLICY AS CURRENTLY ADOPTED HAD ITS GENESIS IN THREE PREVIOUS WHITE PAPERS, WHICH PROVIDED A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES INTO THE 1990’S AND BEYOND.
IN ANSWERING QUESTION RAISED BY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MR WHITE SAID: “THERE MAY PERHAPS HAVE BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSE OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT WHICH WAS PUBLISHED.
“THIS WAS DESIGNED TO ALERT THE PUBLIC TO THE REVIEW AND THE PROPOSED WHITE PAPER, TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A SYNOPSIS OF THE SERVICES CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED. AND TO SEEK VIEWS ON THE ADEQUACY OR OTHERWISE OF THESE.
"THE DOCUMENT DID NOT INDICATE POSSIBLE CHANGES OR NEW IDEAS BECAUSE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PRECONCEIVED VIEWS ON THIS MATTER AND IT IS FOR THE WORKING PARTY TO PROPOSE ANY SUCH IMPROVMENTS, MODIFICATIONS, ETC, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT. OF COURSE. THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC."
THE WORKING PARTY, WHICH HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THE DRAFTING OF THE WHITE PAPER, AIMS TO COMPLETE ITS TASK BY AUGUST/SEPTEMBER.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
6
APPOINTMENTS TO THE HIGH COURT
*****
THE JUDICIARY TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENTS OF TWO HIGH COURT JUDGES - JUDGE MOHAMMED SAIED AND MR NEIL KAPLAN, QC -WITH EFFECT FROM AUGUST 25, 1989 AND MARCH 26, 1990 RESPECTIVELY.
MR SAIED WAS BORN IN NAIROBI, KENYA, IN 1930. HE RECEIVED PRIMARY AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AT GOVERNMENT INDIAN SCHOOL FROM 1936 TO 1948. HE RECEIVED HIS LEGAL EDUCATION IN LONDON AND WAS CALLED TO THE BAR OF THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF LINCOLN’S INN IN NOVEMBER 1954.
IN 1955, MR SAIED BECAME A MEMBER OF THE KENYA LAW SOCIETY. HE PRACTISED LAW IN KENYA FROM 1955 TO 1961 WHEN HE JOINED THE UGANDA JUDICIARY AS A RESIDENT MAGISTRATE. HE IN TURN BECAME CHIEF MAGISTRATE, PUISNE JUDGE, CHIEF JUSTICE, HIGH COURT, AND CHIEF JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEAL BETWEEN 1965 AND 1979.
MR SAIED JOINED THE HONG KONG JUDICIARY AS A MAGISTRATE IN 1980 AND WAS PROMOTED TO DISTRICT JUDGE IN 1983. HE ACTED AS A DEPUTY JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT AT VARIOUS TIMES BETWEEN 1985 AND 1989. MR SAIED IS MARRIED.
MR KAPLAN WAS BORN IN LONDON IN 1942. HE RECEIVED HIS LEGAL EDUCATION AT KING’S COLLEGE, LONDON, WHERE HE RECEIVED A LL.B IN 1964. HE WAS CALLED TO THE ENGLISH BAR IN 1965 AND TO THE HONG KONG BAR IN 1981. HE RECEIVED HIS PUPILLAGE IN THE CHAMBERS OF MR' LEWIS HAWSER, QC, NOW JUDGE HAWSER, AS THE PUPIL OF MR GREVILLE JANNER, QC, MP.
HE PRACTISED IN LONDON FOR 16 YEARS, WHERE HE BUILT UP A SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICE AND A FINE REPUTATION. HIS PRACTICE CONTAINED BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MATTERS, WITH SOME SPECIALISATION IN BUILDING AND COMMERCIAL CASES.
HE WAS APPOINTED A DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN THE CHAMBERS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, HONG KONG IN DECEMBER 1980. IN 1982, HE BECAME DEPUTY CROWN SOLICITOR AND WENT INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE IN HONG KONG IN JANUARY 1984.
MR KAPLAN IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG RONG BRANCH OF THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS AND A MEMBER OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE. HE IS ALSO A VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF JUSTICE.
MR KAPLAN IS MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
7
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN NOVEMBER RELEASED
* * * * *
THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS GREW BY 1 PER CENT AND 21 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1989 AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1988, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
TAKING THEM TOGETHER, THERE WAS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 12 PER CENT IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS. IMPORTS ALSO INCREASED BY 11 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
THE GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE IS DERIVED FROM THE GROWTH IN TRADE VALUES, HAVING DISCOUNTED THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
AS REGARDS PRICE CHANGES OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 3 PER CENT AND 6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, WHILE THOSE OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 4 PER CENT.
AS A RESULT, THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (EXPRESSED AS A RATIO OF TOTAL EXPORT PRICE INDEX TO IMPORT PRICE INDEX) ROSE BY 1 PER CENT.
PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES WHICH DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OR QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED, EXCEPT FOR SOME SELECTED COMMODITIES FOR WHICH SPECIFICATION PRICE INDEXES ARE AVAILABLE.
COMPARING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1989 WITH NOVEMBER 1988, THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS DECREASED BY 5 PER CENT, WHILE THAT OF REEXPORTS INCREASED BY 2 PER CENT. TAKING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER, TOTAL EXPORTS DROPPED BY 1 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS. IMPORT VOLUME DECREASED BY 7 PER CENT.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 2 PER CENT AND 6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. PRICES OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 3 PER CENT.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY COMMODITY GROUP FOR NOVEMBER 1989 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
AS CAN BE SEEN FROM TABLE 1, THE DOMESTIC EXPORT VOLUME OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS DECREASED IN NOVEMBER 1989 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988, INCLUDING RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (-35 PER CENT); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (-33 PERCENT); TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES (-31 PER CENT); DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (-29 PER CENT); FOOTWEAR (-21 PER CENT); METAL MANUFACTURES (-16 PER CENT); WATCHES AND CLOCKS (-14 PER CENT); AND TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (-12 PER CENT).
NEVERTHELESS, INCREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED IN ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+26 PER CENT) AND CLOTHING (+3 PER CENT).
/PRICES OF .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
8
PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1989 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988. THESE INCLUDED METAL MANUFACTURES (+7 PER CENT); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (+6 PER CENT); TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+6 PER CENT); TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES (+5 PER CENT); TEXTILE FABRICS (+4 PER CENT); CLOTHING (+4 PER CENT); DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (+1 PER CENT); AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+1 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICES WERE RECORDED IN RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (-3 PER CENT); WATCHES AND CLOCKS (-3 PER CENT); FOOTWEAR (-2 PER CENT) AND METAL ORES AND SCRAP (-1 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY FOR NOVEMBER 1989 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 2.
AS PRESENTED IN TABLE 2, IMPORTS OF FOODSTUFFS DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS IN NOVEMBER 1989 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988.
DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF TEA AND COFFEE; FISH AND FISH PREPARATIONS AND SWINE. INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF SUGAR; SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL AND LARD; AND WHEAT AND FLOUR.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF CONSUMER GOODS DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT.
DECREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE NOTED FOR PASSENGER MOTOR CARS AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. THE COMMODITY ITEMS WITH INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME INCLUDED FOOTWEAR; CAMERAS, FLASHLIGHT APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY; AND CLOTHING.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES DECREASED BY 11 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER 1989 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988.
DECREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE NOTED FOR WOOL AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR; IRON AND STEEL; AND YARN OF WOOL AND MIXTURES. SOME OTHER COMMODITY ITEMS RECORDED INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME, NOTABLY RAW COTTON; WOOD, LUMBER AND CORK; AND FABRICS OF MAN-MADE FIBRES.
IMPORTS OF FUELS DECREASED BY 12 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS TN NOVEMBER 1989 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988.
IN THE CAPITAL GOODS CATEGORY, IMPORT VOLUME DECREASED BY 12 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER 1989 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988. THERE WERE DECREASES IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY; AND INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY, OTHER THAN TEXTILE MACHINERY AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY.
HOWEVER, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF OFFICE MACHINES AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY.
/COMPARING THE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
9
COMPARING THE IMPORT PRICES IN NOVEMBER 1989 WITH THOSE IN NOVEMBER 1988, ALL END-USE CATEGORIES SHOWED SOME INCREASES: FUELS (+29 PER CENT); CONSUMER GOODS (+5 PER CENT); FOODSTUFFS (+3 PER CENT); CAPITAL GOODS (+2 PERCENT) AND RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES (+1 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY FOR NOVEMBER 1989 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 3.
AS DEPICTED IN TABLE 3, THE RE-EXPORT VOLUME OF FUELS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY BY 194 PER CENT, AND THAT OF CONSUMER GOODS BY 21 PER CENT. HOWEVER, THE RE-EXPORT VOLUMES OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES, CAPITAL GOODS AND FOODSTUFFS DECREASED, BY 15 PER CENT, 8 PER CENT AND 1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
PRICES OF RE-EXPORTS OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1989 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988: FUELS (+25 PER CENT); CONSUMER GOODS (+7 PER CENT); CAPITAL GOODS (+5 PER CENT); RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES (+5 PER CENT) AND FOODSTUFFS (+4 PER CENT).
FURTHER DETAILS ARE CONTAINED IN THE NOVEMBER 1989 ISSUE OF THE "HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS" WHICH WILL BE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AROUND FEBRUARY 12 AT $2.50 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS REPORT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, HONG KONG (TEL. NO. : 8428802) AND ENQUIRIES ON TRADE INDEXES TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. : 8234918).
TABLE 1: CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY PRINCIPAL COMMODITY GROUP
COMPARING NOV 1989 COMPARING JAN-NOV 1989
WITH NOV 1988 WITH JAN-NOV 1988
COMMODITY GROUP VALUE % UNIT VALUE % VOLUME % VALUE % UNIT VALUE % VOLUME %
CLOTHING 7 4 3 8 3 5
TEXTILE FABRICS 3 4 -1 10 1 9
TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD -7 6 -12 11 3 8
/TEXTILE MADE-UPS .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 10 —
TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES -29 6 -33 -11 7 -16
RADIOS OF ALL KINDS -37 -3 -35 -41 * -41
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 27 1 26 19 -3 24
FOOTWEAR -22 -2 -21 -20 * -19
METAL MANUFACTURES -10 7 -16 -2 11 -11
METAL ORES AND SCRAP -2 -1 -1 16 1 15
WATCHES AND CLOCKS -16 -3 -14 * -1 *
TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES -28 5 -31 -14 5 -18
DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES -28 1 -29 -22 5 -25
ALL COMMODITIES -3 2 -5 4 3 1
* LESS THAN 0.5%
TABLE 2: CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY END- USE CATEGORY
COMPARING WITH NOV NOV 1989 1988 COMPARING JAN-NOV WITH JAN-NOV 1989 1988
END-USE CATEGORY VALUE % UNIT VALUE % VOLUME % VALUE % UNIT VALUE VOLUME % %
FOODSTUFFS 2 3 -1 7 3 4
CONSUMER GOODS 4 5 -1 24 5 18
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES -10 1 -11 8 2 6
FUELS 13 29 -12 41 11 27
/CAPITAL GOODS .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 11 -
CAPITAL GOODS -10 2 -12 13 3 9
ALL COMMODITIES -4 3 -7 15 4 11
TABLE 3 : CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY
COMPARING NOV 1989 WITH NOV 1988 COMPARING JAN-NOV WITH JAN-NOV 1989 1988
END-USE CATEGORY VALUE % UNIT VALUE VOLUME % % VALUE % UNIT VALUE VOLUME % %
FOODSTUFFS 3 4 -1 3 6 -2
CONSUMER GOODS 29 7 21 44 6 37
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES -11 5 -15 12 7 5
FUELS 268 25 194 158 8 138
CAPITAL GOODS -3 5 -8 27 6 20
ALL COMMODITIES 8 6 2 28 6 21
------0--------
NOV RESULTS OF RETAIL SALES SURVEY RELEASED ♦ * t ♦ ♦
THE VALUE OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES SHOWED PRACTICALLY NO CHANGE IN NOVEMBER 1989 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988, WHILE THEIR VOLUME DECREASED BY 6 PER CENT.
BY
THE PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (FRIDAY) DEPARTMENT SUGGEST THAT BOTH LOCAL
CONSUMPTIO^EXPENDITURE1 AN^TOURIST SPENDING REMAINED WEAK IN NOVEMBER
1989.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1988, RETAIL SALES OF FUELS ROSE BY 16 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME. FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO INCREASED BY 9 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 2 PER
CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
/ON THE ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
12
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 9 PER CENT IN VOLUME. CONSUMER DURABLES DROPPED BY 10 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 13 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
OTHER CONSUMER GOODS DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 7 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, SUPERMARKETS INCREASED BY 17 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 6 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. DEPARTMENT STORES ROSE BY 8 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED IN SALES VOLUME. MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS RECORDED DECREASES OF 7 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 13 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DROPPED BY 12 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 13 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
COMPARING THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1989 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1988, TOTAL RETAIL SALES INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN VOLUME. SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO ROSE BY 14 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 4 PER CENT IN VOLUME. FUELS WENT UP BY 9 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS ROSE BY 7 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT DROPPED BY 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME. CONSUMER DURABLES FELL BY 2 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 8 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
OTHER CONSUMER GOODS REGISTERED AN INCREASE OF 5 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND A NEGLIGIBLE CHANGE IN SALES VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 8 PER CENT IN VOLUME. SUPERMARKETS INCREASED BY 14 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 3 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. DEPARTMENT STORES ROSE BY 10 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 1 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
HOWEVER, CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DECREASED BY 12 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 15 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
WHEN COMPARED WITH OCTOBER 1989, AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON MAY BE AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, TOTAL RETAIL SALES FOR NOVEMBER 1989 DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO DECREASED BY 3 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. FUELS DECLINED BY 7 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 8 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
/ON THE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 13 -
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. CONSUMER DURABLES ROSE BY 2 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 1 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS DROPPED BY 3 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT IN BOTH SALES VALUE AND VOLUME. DEPARTMENT STORES ROSE BY 6 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DECLINED BY 4 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. SALES OF SUPERMARKETS DECREASED BY 10 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 11 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
TABLE 1 PRESENTS THE REVISED TOTAL RETAIL SALES FIGURE FOR OCTOBER 1989 AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURE FOR NOVEMBER 1989.
TABLE 2 SHOWS THE VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 1989 (A) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES, (B) BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND (C) BY SELECTED TRADES (WHICH FORM PART OF THE RELEVANT MAJOR TRADE GROUPS), WITH AVERAGE RETAIL SALES FROM OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 TAKEN AS 100.
COMPARISONS OF NOVEMBER 1989 RESULTS WITH THOSE FOR OCTOBER 1989 AND WITH THOSE FOR NOVEMBER 1988, AND COMPARISONS OF RETAIL SALES IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1989 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1988, ARE ALSO GIVEN.
THE REPORT CONTAINING THE ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEMBER 1989 SURVEY RESULTS IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $1 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. :5565240).
/TABLE 1 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 14 -
TABLE 1 : TOTAL RETAIL SALES
Total Retail Sales Tor November 1989 (Provisional Figure) = HKI B,841mi)lion for October 1989 (Revised Figure) 2 HKi 8,971aillion
TABLE 2 : VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES FOR OCTOBER 1989 AND NOVEMBER 1989
(Monthly average of Oct. 84 - Sept. 85 2 100)
' Index of I }.• 1 November 1989 J November 1989 ' Jan.-Nov. 1989 1
Item ' Retail ' October 1 ‘ November 1 compared with I compared with compared with 1
I Sales ' 1989 1 1989 1 October 1989 I November 1988 1 Jan.-Nov. 1988 1
। । (Revised (Provisional Points I 1 Points I '» Points I ’•
। । figures) ' figures) 1 '• '
(A) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES J J 1. 1 1 1 1
I Value 1 160 1 158 1-2 -11 1 11 9 6 1
' Volume 1 । । 123 .1 120 1 -3 -3 1 -7 -6 1 -1 -1
(B> BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS i । । । । ।
Foodstuffs, alcoholic S Value 159 1 154 1-5 -3 1 13 9 1 18 14 i
drinks and tobacco Volume J 123 1 121 1-2 -2 1 2 2 1 4 4 1
Fuels । < : Value : 126 I 117 1-9 -7 1 16 16 1 9 91
! Volume : 125 1 114 1-11 -8 1 4 31 3 21
Clothing, footwear ‘ Value 171 1 182 1 11 61-2 -1 1 12 71
and allied products 1 Volume ' 123 1 125 1 2 2 1 -13 -9 1-3 -3 1 11 1 1 '•
Consueer durables ! Value 1 145 1 147 1 2 21 -16 -10 1 -4 -2 1
1 Volume ' 108 1 110 1’2 11 -17 -13 1 -10 -8 1 •'ll 1
Other consumer goods ■ ■ 1 Value ' 170 1 165 1 -5 -3 1 -3 -2 1 8 5 1
! Volume 1 130 J 124 1 -6 -51 -9 -71 -1 II • 1 1 1
(C) BY SELECTED TRADES 1 1 । । 1111 1 1 111 1
(see note 1 below) : i 1 1 1 1 ।
Supermarkets 1 Value 1 191 '1 171 1 -20 -101 24 171 22 14 1
1 Volume 1 145 1 129 1 -14 -11 1 9 41 4 3 ! I 1 J I ’
Motor vehicles 1 Value ! 275 1 263 1 -12 -4 1 -20 -7 1 36 15 1
and parts ' Volume 1 181 1 171 1 -10 -5 1 -26 -13 1 13 81 ' J J ' |
Consumer durables 1 Value • 105 1 112 1 7 61 -15 -12 1 -16 -12 1
other than motor 1 Volume 1 86 1 91 1 5 61 -14 -13 1 -17 -15 1
vehicles and parts 1 1 l'*l • • • • |
Department stores । । : Value : 208 1 220 1 12 6 1 17 8 1 19 10 1
! Volume ! 150 1 154 1 3 2 1 1 112 1 1
NOTES : 1. In order to analyse the sales of certain trades WITHIN major trade groups, the value and volume indeies in respect of the following selected trades are compiled !
(a) ’Supermarkets" - a trade in the "Foodstuffs, alcoholic drinks’ and tobacco" group.
(b) "Motor vehicles and parts" - a trade in the "Consumer durables" group.
(c) "Consuaer durables other than notor vehicles and parts’ - a trade in the "Consumer durables' group.
(d) "Department stores' - a trade in the 'Other consumer goods' group.
2. Figures denoting changes are derived from the unrounded index figures.
3. ’I" jienotes a figure within 10.5.
/15........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9,
1990
15
RECLAMATION FOR REPLACEMENT AIRPORT PROPOSED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO FORM A RECLAMATION WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 2,452.92 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AROUND CHEK LAP KOK, LANTAU ISLAND.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE LAND FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW AIRPORT AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTS.
IN TSEUNG KWAN O, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DESIGNATE AN AREA OF ABOUT 97.4 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED FOR RECLAMATION.
THIS WILL PROVIDE LAND FOR INDUSTRIAL USES, ROADS, OPEN SPACE AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES.
IN ORDER TO MAXIMISE UTILISATION OF BERTHING FACILITIES AT CHINA FERRY TERMINAL, TSIM SHA TSUI, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO MODIFY THE SOUTH CAMBER BREAKWATER.
ABOUT 70 METRES OF A NEW BREAKWATER AND 95 METRES OF EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING ONE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED, WHILE ABOUT 107 METRES OF AN EXISTING BREAKWATER WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 2.2 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AT TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE DEMOLISHED.
THE EXTENTS OF THE AREAS AFFECTED WERE DESCRIBED IN NOTICES PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HE HAS AN INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORES AND SEABEDS INVOLVED MAY SUBMIT A WRITTEN OBJECTION TO THE DIRECTIR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS ON OR BEFORE APRIL 8 THIS YEAR.
THE NOTICE OF SUCH OBJECTION SHALL DESCRIBE THE INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT OF THE OBJECTOR AND THE MANNER IN WHICH HE ALLEGES HE WILL BE AFFECTED.
------0------
RESULTS OF SURVEY OF TUNNEL AIR QUALITY
*****
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED RESULTS OF AN AIR QUALITY SURVEY ON THE LION ROCK, CROSS HARBOUR, AIRPORT AND ABERDEEN TUNNELS.
THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY EPD LAST YEAR, WAS CARRIED OUT IN VIEW OF PUBLIC CONCERN ON AIR QUALITY INSIDE THESE TUNNELS.
CONGESTION IS COMMON IN THE TUNNELS, ESPECIALLY THE LION ROCK AND CROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS, WHERE DAILY TRAFFIC VOLUMES EXCEED THE DESIGN CAPACITY.
/APART FROM .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 16 -
APART FROM CARBON MONOXIDE, AIR CONTAMINANTS SUCH AS OXIDES OF NITROGEN AND SMOKE CAN BE FOUND IN THE TUNNELS. MOST OF THESE EMISSIONS ARE FROM DIESEL VEHICLES.
AN EPD SPOKESMAN SAID THE SCOPE OF THE SURVEY INCLUDED REVIEWING TUNNEL AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AND CURRENT AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PRACTICES, MONITORING OF THE AIR POLLUTION INSIDE TUNNELS, AUDITING OF THE TUNNEL ANALYSERS, AND REPORTING DEFICIENCIES OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEMS.
CARBON MONOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN WERE MEASURED BY THE EPD’S CONTINUOUS ANALYSERS FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS IN EACH TUNNEL. AIRBORNE PARTICULATE (DUST) SAMPLES WERE ALSO COLLECTED AND THEY WERE SUBSEQUENTLY ANALYSED IN THE LABORATORY FOR AUTOMOBILE RELATED EMISSIONS.
THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS WERE WITHIN THE CURRENT TUNNEL OPERATION LIMITS. FOR OXIDES OF NITROGEN, NO RECOGNISED WORLD-WIDE STANDARDS EXIST; BUT THE MEASURED LEVELS WERE BETTER THAN THE JAPANESE STANDARD. THIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.
VENTILATION FANS WERE GENERALLY OPERATED ON AN "AS NEEDED" BASIS, ALTHOUGH THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL EMPLOYED A CONTINUOUS BASE LOAD OPERATION.
AUDITING SHOWED THAT THE TUNNEL ANALYSERS WERE GENERALLY OVER CALIBRATED (READING HIGH) AND THUS ERRING ON THE SAFE SIDE.
AS THE TUNNELS WERE BUILT AT DIFFERENT TIMES, SOME OF THE MONITORING EQUIPMENT WAS OBSOLETE AND THERE WAS A LACK OF STANDBY UNITS. ALSO, THERE WERE DIFFERENT PRESET ALARM SETTINGS FOR FAN OPERATION.
ON THE BASIS OF HIGH TUNNEL TEMPERATURE, ODOUR NUISANCE AND THE COMPARATIVELY HIGH PARTICULATE CONCENTRATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT BELIEVED THAT THIS JUSTIFIED COMPLAINTS BY TUNNELS USERS, ESPECIALLY IN SUMMER.
THE EPD HAD ALREADY MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON IMPROVING TUNNEL AIR QUALITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED STRENGTHENING OF POLLUTION CRITERIA AS WELL AS ENHANCEMENT OF THE AIR POLLUTION MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS.
MORE FREQUENT OPERATION OF FANS BASED ON TRAFFIC CONDITION, POLLUTION CONCENTRATION AND OTHER FACTORS HAD ALSO BEEN PROPOSED.
DISCUSSION ON THE CONCRETE MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE AIR QUALITY WAS IN PROGRESS BETWEEN THE EPD, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE TUNNEL OPERATORS.
--------0-----------
/17........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
17 -
NEW SCHEDULE OF TRADE STRATEGIC COMMODITIES * * * *
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT A NEW SCHEDULE OF STRATEGIC COMMODITIES UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (STRATEGIC COMMODITIES) REGULATIONS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SCHEDULE WITH EFFECT FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 12).
THE NEW SCHEDULE, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY, IS PART OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (STRATEGIC COMMODITIES) REGULATIONS. UNDER THESE REGULATIONS, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF ARTICLES SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE REQUIRE LICENCES FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE.
A PRINCIPAL TRADE OFFICER OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT, MR ALAN CHU, SAID THE NEW SCHEDULE UPDATED THE EXISTING SCHEDULE TO REFLECT ADVANCE IN TECHNOLOGY SINCE JULY 1988 WHEN THE SCHEDULE WAS LAST REVISED.
THE DEPARTMENT IS INFORMING THE TRADE, BY A CIRCULAR LETTER, OF DETAILS OF THE NEW SCHEDULE.
COPIES OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (STRATEGIC COMMODITIES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT OF SCHEDULE) ORDER 1990, WHICH CONTAINS THE NEW SCHEDULE, ARE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE WITH THE TRADE LICENSING (NON-TEXTILES) SECTION, TRADE DEPARTMENT, OCEAN CENTRE, 13TH FLOOR, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON (TEL. 7372437, 7351151 OR 7372521).
-----0------
FOUR CANDIDATES FOR RC BY-ELECTION
*****
FOUR CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE COMING REGIONAL COUNCIL BY-ELECTION FOR THE ISLANDS CONSTITUENCY.
THEY ARE MR FUNG CHI-KANG. A BANK MANAGER; MR FUNG PAK-TAI AND MR DAVID KAM SHUI-YUNG, BOTH MERCHANTS; AND MR LIU KWONG-SANG, A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT.
THESE CANDIDATES WILL CONTEST A SINGLE SEAT COVERING THE ENTIRE ISLANDS DISTRICT. WITH A TOTAL OF 21,764 ELECTORS.
THE ELECTORS WILL BE ISSUED POLL CARDS BY NEXT MONDAY. THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING ALONG THEIR POLL CARD TO THE DESIGNATED POLLING STATION ON POLLING DAY (FEBRUARY 22) TO FACILITATE VERIFICATION.
/FOR THOSE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 18 -
FOR THOSE ELECTORS WHO HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED THEIR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS OR WHO FAIL TO RECEIVE THEIR POLL CARD BY FEBRUARY 15, THEY ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE BY TELEPHONE (5270369 OR 5270380) OR IN WRITING, QUOTING THEIR NAME, IDENTITY CARD NUMBER AND THEIR NEW RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
SUCH ELECTORS ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE BY-ELECTION.
ELECTORS WILL ALSO BE SENT AN INTRODUCTORY LEAFLET ON THE FOUR CANDIDATES NEXT WEEK.
---------0-----------
APPRENTICE TRAINING ESSENTIAL FOR LOCAL INDUSTRIES
******
A CONTINUATION IN THE GROWTH OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IS ESSENTIAL FOR A SUCCESSFUL ECONOMY IN HONG KONG WHICH HAS NOW DEVELOPED INTO A HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIAL CITY OF INTERNATIONAL REPUTE.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR CHAN YAN-KEE, SAID THIS TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE GOVERNMENT APPRENTICES GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
MR CHAN SAID THAT SINCE 1969 THE APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHEME HAD PRODUCED MORE THAN 1,800 CRAFTSMEN WHO, BY VIRTUE OF THEIR TRAINING AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, WERE ALL MAKING A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE DIVERSIFIED ENGINEERING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG.
UNDER THE SCHEME, TRAINED CRAFTSMEN AND TECHNICIANS WERE PRODUCED FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCAL INDUSTRY WOULD HAVE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF TRAINED MANPOWER TO SUSTAIN ITS DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.
THE SELECTED CANDIDATES WERE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO A FOUR-YEAR COURSE OF TRAINING WHICH BLENDED AN APPROPRIATE MEASURE OF ACADEMIC LEARNING WITH PRACTICAL TRAINING.
GRADUATING TODAY WERE 57 CRAFT APPRENTICES, OF WHOM 50 WERE FROM THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FIVE FROM THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND TWO FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE PRESENT ANNUAL RECRUITMENT FIGURE FOR CRAFT APPRENTICES IS 70, BY TWO INTAKES AT A SIX-MONTHLY INTERVAL, AND 285 CRAFT APPRENTICES ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING TRAINING UNDER THE SCHEME.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, MR MIAO CHI, STAFF INVOLVED IN THE TRAINING SCHEME, AND PARENTS OF THE GRADUATES.
--------0-----------
/19 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 19 -
OVERSEAS STUDY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS *****
SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BEING OFFERED TO LOCAL STUDENTS FOR A TWO-YEAR MATRICULATION COURSE AT FOUR CO-EDUCATIONAL RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES IN BRITAIN, CANADA, THE UNITED STATES AND ITALY THIS SEPTEMBER.
THE INSTITUTES ARE THE ATLANTIC COLLEGE IN THE UK, PEARSON COLLEGE IN CANADA, AMERICAN WEST COLLEGE IN THE USA AND ADRIATIC COLLEGE IN ITALY.
AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE COURSE IS RECOGNISED FOR UNIVERSITY ENTRY PURPOSES IN HONG KONG AND IN MOST OTHER COUNTRIES.
APPLICANTS MUST BE HONG KONG CITIZENS WITH AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS’ RESIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY; AGED OVER 16 AND UNDER 18; AND POSSESS A HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION WITH AT LEAST FIVE SUBJECTS AT GRADE C OR ABOVE, INCLUDING ENGLISH (OR GCE EQUIVALENT).
APPLICATIONS HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED THROUGH SCHOOL HEADS. SHORT-LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND AN INTERVIEW BY A SELECTION COMMITTEE.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHOLARSHIPS, DONATED BY SOME LOCAL LEADING ORGANISATIONS, WOULD NORMALLY COVER PART OF THE TUITION AND BOARDING FEES FOR THE TWO YEARS.
SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, HE ADDED.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION ON THE FIFTH FLOOR, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY. COMPLETED FORMS AND RELEVANT TESTIMONIALS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE SECTION THROUGH THE SCHOOL HEADS BEFORE FEBRUARY 16.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY TELEPHONING 8392571.
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/20 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 20 -
MAJOR DISTRICT ANTI-DRUG FUNCTIONS ON SUNDAY *****
TWO MAJOR PUBLICITY FUNCTIONS WILL BE HELD IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AFTERNOON IN SUPPORT OF THE ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN.
AT 1.15 PM, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), DR GERALD CHOA, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN FISHER, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF AN ANTI-NARCOTICS CONCERT AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC), MR WU CHOR-NAM; HEAD OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG RADIO 2, MR CHEUNG MAN-SUN; THE CENTRAL DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, MR CHRIS GLOVER; AND THE CONCERT’S WORKING GROUP CHAIRMAN, MR NGAI WAI-MING.
TO BE HOSTED BY DISC JOCKEYS CHRIS WONG AND VIVIAN CHOW, THE CONCERT WILL FEATURE PERFORMANCES BY SINGERS ROMAN TAM, MARIA CORDERO, YOLINDA YAN, SHIRLEY KWAN, WONG PO-YAN AND THE GROUP, GRASSHOPPERS. IT WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON RTHK RADIO 2 BETWEEN 2 PM AND 4 PM.
ANOTHER ANTI-DRUG EVENT, THE "WESTERN VITALITY SHOW", WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM AT THE FORBES STREET PLAYGROUND IN KENNEDY TOWN.
DR CHOA, MR FISHER, MR WU AND THE WESTERN DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, MR ROBERT TOAL, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS MR CHAN TAK-CHOR, MISS YIP SAU-WAH AND MR CHOW YIN-SUM WILL OFFICIATE AT A CEREMONY AT 3.30 PM.
THE SHOW WILL INCLUDE TELEMATCHES, STALL GAMES, AN INFLATED ELEPHANT FOR CHILDREN, ANTI-DRUG DISPLAYS AND A VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL GROUPS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE PRIZE PRESENTATION FOR THE DISTRICT’S ANTI-DRUG BOOKMARK COMPETITION HELD LATE LAST YEAR.
THE TWO ANTI-NARCOTICS ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ACAN, THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DFCC AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
OTHER CO-ORGANISERS INCLUDE RTHK, THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOL HEADS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG YWCA.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TWO CENTRAL AND WESTERN ANTI-NARCOTICS FUNCTIONS TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AFTERNOON AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT AND THE FORBES STREET PLAYGROUND IN KENNEDY TOWN RESPECTIVELY.
- - 0 - -
/21 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 21 -
KOWLOON CITY TO HOLD FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL *****
A CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD IN KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11) TO SPREAD FIGHT CRIME MESSAGES.
THE EVENT IS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, KOWLOON CITY JUNIOR POLICE CALL AND THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE. IT IS SPONSORED BY LOK SIN TONG BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MRS MIRIAM LAU, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DUNCAN PESCOD; KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SIK-KONG; CHAIRMAN OF LOK SIN TONG BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, MR YU KAM-KEE; AND THE POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR DAVID DEPTFORD.
THE CARNIVAL, TO BE HELD AT THE ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND, WILL TREAT MORE THAN 3,000 LOCAL RESIDENTS TO A FULL PROGRAMME THAT WILL INCLUDE DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE "ROBOT COP" AND POLICE DOGS, GAMES STALLS, AND PERFORMANCES BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT JUNIOR POLICE CALL BAND.
POPULAR SINGERS TAKING PART WILL INCLUDE WONG HOI-KAN, SO WINGHONG AND WONG YIK.
DURING THE EVENT, SEVEN BUILDING WATCHMEN WILL BE PRESENTED THE "WATCHMEN OF THE YEAR AWARD" FOR HELPING THE POLICE TO FIGHT CRIME.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11), BEGINNING AT 2 PM.
KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT’S INFORMATION OFFICER WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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/22 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 22 -
ANTI-TRIAD EXHIBITION ON SUNDAY * * * * *
AN EXHIBITION ON THE EVILS OF TRIADS WILL BE HELD IN THE EXHIBITION HALL OF LOK FU SHOPPING CENTRE IN WONG TAI SIN FROM 1.30 PM TO 5 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11).
THE EVENT IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC) WITH SPONSORSHIPS FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE. ADMISSION IS FREE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DFCC SAID THE EXHIBITION AIMED AT REMINDING YOUNGSTERS TO RESIST THE EVILS OF TRIADS AND TO LEAD A MEANINGFUL LIFE.
THE DISPLAY BOARDS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BY STUDENTS FROM SIX OF THE DISTRICT’S SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND THE CONTENTS ALSO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON TRIAD SOCIETIES, THE TRIAD RENUNCIATION SCHEME, AND ON THE REASONS FOR YOUNGSTERS BEING TEMPTED TO JOIN TRIAD SOCIETIES.
AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 2.30 PM. OFFICIATING WILL BE A FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE MEMBER, MR WONG CHUN; WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, DR MICHAEL LEE; DFCC CHAIRMAN, MR CHAN CHUN-FAT; AND CONVENER OF THE DFCC’S ACTIVITY WORKING GROUP, MADAM LEE TSUAN-E.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WONG TAI SIN ANTI-TRIAD EXHIBITION TO BE HELD FROM 1.30 PM TO 5 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AT THE EXHIBITION HALL OF LOK FU SHOPPING CENTRE. THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 2.30 PM.
------0--------
CARNIVAL TO CONCLUDE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN ******
a parntVAI WILL BE HELD IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY tn TO CoSuM THS DISTRICT'S 1S89-S0 FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN.
THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE AP LEI CHAU COMMUNITY HALL amb ttq adjacent OPEN SPACE IN AP LEI CHAU ESTATE, BEGINNING AT 2 PM. ™ERE WltE BE MORE THAN A DOZEN GAMES STALLS ON THE TOPICS OF ANTI-TRIAD, ANTI-CORRUPTION, ANTI-NARCOTICS AND HOME SAFETY.
/THE THREE-HOUR........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 23 -
THE THREE-HOUR FUNCTION WILL ALSO INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHOIR, WESTERN JUNIOR POLICE CALL, THE MAGIC CLUB OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND WINNERS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT SINGING CONTEST.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS WILL BE PERFORMANCES BY A POPULAR SINGER AND A GAME WITH HANDSOME PRIZES, TO BE HOSTED BY A WELL-KNOWN RADIO DISC JOCKEY.
THE CARNIVAL WILL START WITH A BRIEF CEREMONY TO MARK THE CONCLUSION OF THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN. DURING THE CEREMONY, PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED TO WINNERS OF AN INTER-SCHOOL ANTI-CRIME QUIZ HELD LAST WEEK.
OFFICIATING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BE THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS MAUREEN CHAN; DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HUI YUNG-CHUNG; POLICE WESTERN DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR R.C. TOAL; POLICE ABERDEEN DIVISION COMMANDER, MR TSE CHAN-FAI; THE DISTRICT’S FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR KAN MAN-LEE; AND THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR CHAN YAU-YUE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL AND CLOSING CEREMONY FOR THE 1989-90 SOUTHERN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN, BEGINNING AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AT THE AP LEI CHAU COMMUNITY HALL.
TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED. A VAN WILL LEAVE THE ENTRANCE TO THE SOUTHORN CENTRE AT HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT 1.15 PM. INFORMATION OFFICER, MR ALEX LI, WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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VOLUNTEER WORK - A REWARDING EXPERIENCE
*****
TO VOLUNTEERS AH KIM AND KWOK TSAI, THE BRINGS ENCOURAGEMENT AND JOY — THEY HAVE BEEN YOUTH VOLUNTEERS.
YEAR OF THE HORSE SELECTED OUTSTANDING
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY HONG KONG, HONG KONG AGAINST NARCOTICS AND
THE OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEER AWARD WAS THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, RADIO TELEVISION COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, THE ACTION COMMITTEE THE AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES.
/MISS LEUNG .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 24 -
MISS LEUNG KIM, A FORM 7 STUDENT, IS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER IN SWD’S NORTH DISTRICT YOUTH OFFICE. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, SHE HAS BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN ORGANISING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY AND YOUTH.
MISS LEUNG RECALLED THAT SHE WAS VERY DEPRESSED WHEN SHE WAS IN FORM 4 BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY SCHOOL WORK. INTRODUCED BY HER FRIENDS, AH KIM, AS HER FELLOW VOLUNTEERS CALLED HER, BECAME A MEMBER OF THE SWD’S GROUP WORK UNIT IN NORTH DISTRICT.
SHE ADMITTED THAT IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS RESISTANCE FROM HER PARENTS. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR ATTITUDE AND NOW GIVE HER FULL SUPPORT.
"I FOUND VOLUNTEER WORK VERY REWARDING," MISS LEUNG SAID.
"IT NOT ONLY BROADENS MY KNOWLEDGE BUT ALSO ENABLES ME TO IMPROVE ON MY STUDIES.
"MORE IMPORTANT, I CAN DEVOTE MY SPARE TIME IN CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING OTHERS," SHE SAID CHEERFULLY.
IN FACT, MISS LEUNG IS ALSO THE BENEFICIARY. AFTER BECOMING A VOLUNTEER, SHE HAS BECOME MORE MATURE AND TO THE SURPRISE OF HER PARENTS, SHE HAS MADE MARKED IMPROVEMENTS IN HER SCHOOL WORK.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE BESPECTACLED, SMALL-BUILD MR LAI KIN-KWOK, OR KWOK TSAI, HAS A DIFFERENT STORY TO TELL.
MR LAI BECAME A VOLUNTEER RIGHT AFTER HE FINISHED SECONDARY SCHOOL. HE FIRST STARTED BY HELPING HIS FRIEND ON A COMMUNITY PROJECT IN 1988. SINCE THEN HE SPENT HIS MAJOR EFFORT IN SERVING MENTALLY-RETARDED CHILDREN AND EX-MENTAL PATIENTS.
WORKING AS A JUNIOR DESIGNER IN A PRIVATE FIRM, MR LAI MADE USE OF MOST OF HIS SPARE TIME, AND IN SOME CASES, DUG OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET, TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DESIGN ARTWORKS TO PROMOTE THE PROJECTS.
HE ALSO ORGANISED TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS, WITH THE ASSISTANCE FROM SWD STAFF IN THE WAN CHAI YOUTH OFFICE.
MR LAI HAS RETURNED TO SCHOOL TO FURTHER HIS STUDIES.
COMMENTING ON THE AWARD, BOTH MISS LEUNG AND MR LAI SAID THE HONOUR SHOULD GO TO MEMBERS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE GROUP.
"WITHOUT THEIR PARTICIPATION, TEAM SPIRIT AND THE GUIDANCE FROM SWD’S PROFESSIONAL STAFF, OUR PROJECTS COULD NOT BE CARRIED OUT SMOOTHLY," THEY SAID.
/THE TWO .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 25 -
THE TWO APPEALED TO YOUNGSTERS TO JOIN THE LINE OF VOLUNTEERS.
"WE NEED NEW BLOOD AS EXISTING VOLUNTEERS WILL GROW UP AND CARRY ON VOLUNTEER WORK AT ANOTHER LEVEL. IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR OURSELVES, IT IS ALSO OUR DUTY TO CARE FOR OTHER PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE NEEDY," MR LAI SAID.
HE CITED HIS EXPERIENCE IN HELPING THE EX-MENTALLY ILL THROUGH WHICH HE REALISED THAT SUPPORT AND ACCEPTANCE WERE ESSENTIAL IN THEIR REHABILITATION PROCESS.
MISS LEUNG ADDED THAT HER EXPERIENCE PROVED THAT VOLUNTEER WORK WOULD NOT AFFECT STUDY OR FAMILY LIFE.
"WHILE AS YOUTHS, WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEALS, WE ALL HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICES," SHE REMARKED.
THE REWARDING EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM VOLUNTEER WORK HAS PROMPTED AH KIM AND KWOK TSAI TO TAKE UP SOCIAL WORK AS THEIR CAREER. THEY WILL PURSUE SOCIAL WORK IN UNIVERSITY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD AN AWARD PRESENTATION CEREMONY TOMORROW (SATURDAY) TO EXTEND ITS APPRECIATION OF THE EFFORTS MADE BY 26 OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE.
MISS LEUNG KIM AND MR LAI KIN-KWOK ARE AMONG THE GROUP AND WILL ATTEND THE CEREMONY.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 11 AM IN GLOUCESTER ROOM, EXCELSIOR HOTEL, CAUSEWAY BAY.
-------------------0-------- TENDERS INVITED FOR OPEN SPACE PROJECT t * ♦ » ♦
RESIDENTS IN KWUN TONG WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPEN SPACE FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN ABOUT 10 MONTHS.
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) INVITED TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES INCLUDING A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND AND A LANDSCAPED REST GARDEN.
/THE SITE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
26
THE SITE FOR THE 2,069-SQUARE-METRE OPEN SPACE IS AT KWUN TONG ROAD, NEXT TO PING SHEK ESTATE.
WORK IS SCHEDULED TO START IN MAY AND WILL TAKE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
TENDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD BEFORE NOON ON MARCH 2.
------0-------
NEW ID CARDS FOR MEN BORN IN 1928-31
*****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT MEN BORN IN 1928, 1929, 1930, OR 1931 WOULD BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS FROM FEBRUARY 26 TO APRIL 7.
"MEN OF THE ABOVE AGE GROUP CAN CALL AT ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES DURING THIS PERIOD," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
THESE OFFICES ARE OPEN FROM 8 AM TO 9.30 PM DAILY, EXCEPT SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
"THE ISSUE OFFICES ARE VERY CROWDED IN THE EVENINGS. TO AVOID HAVING TO QUEUE UP FOR A LONG TIME AT THE ISSUE OFFICES OR TO COME BACK ON ANOTHER DAY, APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO GO TO THESE OFFICES IN THE MORNINGS OR THE AFTERNOONS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPLICANTS MAY ALSO MAKE USE OF THE PHONE-IN SERVICE TO ARRANGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING THE OFFICE OF THEIR CHOICE.
THE ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE ISSUE OFFICES ARE:
HONG KONG : BASEMENT, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI.
TEL. NO. 5747070
EAST KOWLOON : AMOY PLAZA, SECOND FLOOR, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD.
TEL. NO. 7553679
WEST KOWLOON : CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SECOND FLOOR, 393 CANTON ROAD, YAU MA TEI.
TEL. NO. 7232424
TSUEN WAN : EAST ASIA COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 29-37 TSUEN FU STREET.
TEL. NO. 4981259
/SHA TIN ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
- 27 -
SHA TIN : SHOP 8A, SECOND FLOOR, CHANWAY SHOPPING CENTRE, 11-17 SHA TIN CENTRE STREET. TEL. NO. 6059108
YUEN LONG : HOP YICK CENTRE, SECOND FLOOR, 31 HOP YICK ROAD. TEL. NO. 4771543
TUEN MUN : CHI LOK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, CHI LOK FA YUEN. TEL. NO. 4580862
SHEUNG SHUI : TSUEN WO TAI LAU, GROUND FLOOR, 82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEK WU HUI. TEL. NO. 6727191
INFORMATION ABOUT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED CAN BE OBTAINED BY DIALLING THE 24-HOUR RECORDED MESSAGE SERVICE, ON 8240303.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED MEN BORN IN 1932, 1933, 1934 OR 1935 WHO HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR THEIR NEW IDENTITY CARDS TO COME FORWARD WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY AS THERE ARE ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS LEFT BEFORE THE CURRENT PHASE CLOSES ON FEBRUARY 24.
HE POINTED OUT THAT FAILURE TO APPLY FOR A NEW IDENTITY CARD WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD IS AN OFFENCE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $3,000.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
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KADOORIE AVENUE RESUMES TWO-WAY TRAFFIC ♦ * * * »
KADOORIE AVENUE IN HO MAN TIN WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC FROM 10 AM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11), THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
IN CONNECTION WITH THE RE-ROUTEING, LEFT TURN MOVEMENTS FROM PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST INTO KADOORIE AVENUE AND FROM KADOORIE AVENUE INTO ARGYLE STREET WILL BE INTRODUCED.
ALL EXISTING TURNING MOVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TURN FROM ARGYLE STREET INTO KADOORIE AVENUE, WILL BE MAINTAINED.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS HAD BEEN PUT UP NEAR THE JUNCTIONS OF KADOORIE AVENUE.WITH PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST AND ARGYLE STREET TO ADVISE MOTORISTS OF THE RE-ROUTEING.
/A SPOKESMAN .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1990
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID KADOORIE AVENUE WAS RE-ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TO OPERATE TWO-LANE ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND IN JUNE 1986 UNDER A TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME TO FACILITATE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD FLYOVER.
AS THE FLYOVER HAD TO BE CLOSED TO ALL NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION, TRAFFIC HEADING FOR PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST FROM SOUTH KOWLOON HAD TO BE DIVERTED VIA PUI CHING ROAD, SOARES AVENUE, ARGYLE STREET AND KADOORIE AVENUE.
AS WORK ON THE FLYOVER AND ALL THE ASSOCIATED WORKS AT THE GROUND LEVEL HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED, KADOORIE AVENUE COULD BE REOPENED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC TO SERVE AS AN ACCESS TO KADOORIE HILL, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
- - 0 - -
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR HAPPY VALLEY RACE MEETINGS
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, THE SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR RACE MEETINGS IN HAPPY VALLEY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ONE AND A HALF HOURS, INSTEAD OF TWO HOURS, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE FIRST RACE.
APART FROM THE ABOVE CHANGE, THE SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH RACE MEETINGS IN HAPPY VALLEY AS PREVIOUSLY PUBLICISED WILL REMAIN IN FORCE.
- - 0 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN CENTRAL
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT IN CENTRAL WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM 4 AM INSTEAD OF FROM 7 AM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 11) TO FACILITATE THE HOLDING OF AN ANTI-NARCOTICS CONCERT.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
CONTENTS
HK ECONOMY PREPARES FOR NEXT UPSWING ...................................... POLICE SHOULD TREAT ’CLIENTS' WITH CARE, UNDERSTANDING, FOREBEARANCE .... COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB MEMBERS PRAISED ...................................... TAI FU TAI RESTORATION RECOGNISED BY HKIA ................................. TAI PO LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME FINALE .................................... CIVIC EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE OPENS IN SSP .............................. SOUTHERN DB TO REPORT ON YEAR'S WORK ...................................... 115 GROUPS TO TAKE PART IN DANCE CONTEST................................... OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS COMMENDED .................................... FAMILY FUN DAY FOR EAST KOWLOON PA RECIPIENTS ............................. LABOUR DEPT COURSES TO PROMOTE STAFF RELATIONS ............................ TAXI OPERATORS URGED TO CO-OPERATE IN SURVEY .............................. TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI ...........................• TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI ........................................... NO-ENTRY BAN TO BE LIFTED ...................................................
PARTIAL CLOSURE OF TAI PO ROAD............................................ WATER CUT IN ABERDEEN .....................................................
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
HK ECONOMY PREPARES FOR NEXT UPSWING
* t * » *
HONG KONG IS BUILDING WITH DETERMINATION AND SPEED FOR THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD, THE HONG KONG MINISTER IN WASHINGTON, MR PETER LO, SAID ON FRIDAY (U.S. TIME).
ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND ACADEMICS AT THE CITY CLUB OF PORTLAND DURING A TWO-DAY VISIT TO THE STATE OF OREGON, MR LO CONCEDED THAT HONG KONG HAD TAKEN SOME HARD KNOCKS DURING THE PAST YEAR BUT POINTED OUT THAT THESE WERE NOT THE FIRST IN HONG KONG’S HISTORY, NOR WOULD THEY BE THE LAST.
"DESPITE THE TRAUMA OF JUNE, WE HAVE AGAIN BOUNCED BACK. WE HAVE OVERCOME WORSE IN THE PAST AND EMERGED STRONGER FOR IT. WE ARE BUSY STRENTHENING OUR SOCIAL, LEGAL AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.
"WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA THAT IS GENUINELY BENEFICIAL TO BOTH SIDES," MR LO SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG’S IMPORTANT ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CHINA, INCLUDING TRADE ACROSS THE BORDER WITH GUANGDONG PROVINCE, HAD CONTINUED ALMOST UNAFFECTED.
"THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS REPEATED ITS INTENTION TO CONTINUE WITH ITS OPEN ECONOMIC POLICIES. FOR HONG KONG, WHICH GENERATES ROUGHLY ONE THIRD OF CHINA’S FOREIGN EXCHANGE, THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT." MR LO SAID.
HE TOLD HIS AUDIENCE THAT THE REBIRTH IN RECENT YEARS OF HONG KONG’S HISTORIC MIDDLEMAN ROLE IN TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD HAD PUT A STRAIN ON HONG KONG’S ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY IN THE YEARS 1986-88 WHEN THE ECONOMY INCREASED IN SIZE BY A THIRD IN REAL TERMS.
"THE SERVICE SECTOR HAS EXPANDED TO SERVE THE HUGE GROWTH IN THE RE-EXPORT TRADE AT A TIME WHEN OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR IS FLOURISHING AND THE FINANCIAL SECTOR IS GROWING FAST.
"THE RESULT HAS BEEN A RAPID RISE IN WAGES, INFLATION TOUCHING DOUBLE DIGITS AND UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 1.4 PER CENT," MR LO SAID.
"IN THIS RESPECT, HONG KONG’S CURRENT, MORE MODERATE RATES OF GROWTH - THREE PER CENT IN 1989 AND THREE PER CENT FORECAST FOR 1990 -GIVE THE ECONOMY PAUSE FOR BREATH.
"AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THE EXPECTED CYCLICAL DOWNSWING LAST YEAR WAS EXACERBATED BY RETRENCHMENT IN CHINA, THE UNDERLYING ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS REMAIN VERY STRONG.
"THE CURRENT SLOWDOWN IN ACTIVITY WILL BRING RELIEF TO CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS AND INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, THEREBY PREPARING THE HONG KONG ECONOMY FOR THE UPSWING OF THE NEXT BUSINESS CYCLE," MR LO FORECAST.
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/2 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
2
POLICE SHOULD TREAT ’CLIENTS’ WITH CARE, * * * * ♦
UNDERSTANDING, FOREBEARANCE
POLICE SPEND A LARGE PROPORTION OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORT DEALING WITH PEOPLE, BE THEY CRIMINALS, SUSPECTS, VICTIMS OR JUST GENERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
IT IS IMPORTANT, THEREFORE, THAT THEY ARE HANDLED AS "CLIENTS" - WITH CARE, UNDERSTANDING AND FOREBEARANCE.
THIS WAS THE MESSAGE THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR LI KWAN-HA, HAD FOR INSPECTORS AND CONSTABLES WHO WERE PASSING OUT AT THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL IN WONG CHUK HANG TODAY (SATURDAY).
MR LI POINTED OUT TO THE GRADUATES THAT PEOPLE DID NOT APPROACH THE POLICE WHEN THE GOING WAS SMOOTH, BUT ONLY WHEN THEY HAD A PROBLEM, A GRIEVANCE OR WERE FACING ADVERSITY.
EVEN A CRIMINAL WAS IMPORTANT TO AND LOVED BY SOMEONE, HE SAID.
LIKEWISE, IF WE WANTED OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES TO BE TREATED FAIRLY, WE SHOULD TREAT EACH AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY SIMILARLY.
"IF WE SUCCEED IN THIS APPROACH, NOT ONLY WILL WE BE GOOD POLICE OFFICERS, BUT WE WILL ALSO BE MUCH HAPPIER HUMAN BEINGS," MR LI SAID.
THE COMMISSIONER REMINDED THE OFFICERS THAT HAVING GRADUATED THEY WOULD CARRY OUT THE FULL DUTIES AS POLICE OFFICERS AND THAT THE COUMMUNITY WOULD LOOK UPON THEM FOR HELP.
THEY WOULD BE PRESENTED WITH PROBLEMS FOR SOLUTION AND INITIALLY THEY MIGHT FEEL THAT THE NATURE AND VOLUME OF WORK WAS UNMANAGEABLE AND THEY WOULD OFTEN FEEL FRUSTRATED.
"IF YOU BEAR IN MIND AT ALL TIMES THAT THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF POLICE OFFICER IS TO SERVE, YOU WILL SUCCEED," HE ADDED.
MR LI ALSO SAID THAT IN ORDER TO PROGRESS FURTHER IN THEIR CAREERS THE LEARNING PROCESS MUST BE KEPT ALIVE AND EXPANDED. THERE WAS ALSO A NEED TO GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN ADDITION TO KNOWLEDGE.
"DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURE; DO NOT BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES PROVIDED THAT YOU DO NOT MAKE THE SAME ONE TWICE," HE CONCLUDED.
ON PARADE TODAY WERE 29 INSPECTORS AND 244 POLICE CONSTABLES WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR BASIC TRAINING.
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/3 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
- 3 -
COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB MEMBERS PRAISED * * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB (CYC) WERE TODAY (SATURDAY) PRAISED BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, DR WANG GUNGWU, FOR THEIR HIGH SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE COUNTRY PARKS ADOPTION SCHEME.
DR WANG WAS ADDRESSING OVER 200 CYC MEMBERS AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF THE 1990 CYC COUNTRY PARKS ADOPTION SCHEME AT PAK TAM AU IN THE SAI KUNG EAST COUNTRY PARK.
"THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHEME AND ITS ACTIVITIES, YOU HAVE LEARNT MORE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND ARE MORE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION. YOU HAVE SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW," DR WANG TOLD THE CYC MEMBERS.
THE SCHEME, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (ED), WAS INTRODUCED LAST YEAR.
ITS AIM IS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION AMONG STUDENTS AND TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTARY WORK IN COUNTRY PARKS.
UNDER THE SCHEME, THE FIVE CYC REGIONS WILL EACH ADOPT A COUNTRY PARK AND ORGANISE STUDENTS FROM THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS INTO SERVICE GROUPS OF 20 TO 40 MEMBERS TO GET PHYSICALLY INVOLVED IN THE CARE OF THE ADOPTED PARK.
THE CYC REGIONS OF HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON EAST, KOWLOON WEST, NEW TERRITORIES EAST AND NEW TERRITORIES WEST WILL BE ADOPTING COUNTRY PARKS IN ABERDEEN, SAI KUNG WEST, SHING MUN, PAT SIN LENG AND TAI TAM RESPECTIVELY.
STUDENTS WILL TAKE PART IN VOLUNTARY SERVICES SUCH AS LITTER COLLECTION, GRASS CUTTING, TREE TENDING, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND TREE PLANTING.
THEY WILL ALSO PATROL THE POPULAR RECREATION SITES ON HOLIDAYS, URGING THE PUBLIC TO KEEP THE COUNTRY PARKS CLEAN AND TO PREVENT HILL FIRE.
TEN SENIOR STUDENTS FROM EACH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL WILL BE APPOINTED AS JUNIOR PARK WARDENS AFTER UNDERGOING BASIC TRAINING ON PRACTICAL COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION AND WILL LEAD FELLOW STUDENTS IN VOLUNTARY COUNTRY PARK WORK.
DR WANG SAID THE CYC MEMBERS’ EFFORTS IN LOOKING AFTER FIVE COUNTRY PARKS THROUGH THE SCHEME LAST YEAR HAD MADE THEM BETTER AREAS FOR VISITORS TO USE AND ENJOY.
/WHILE URGING .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
WHILE URGING CYC MEMBERS TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, DR WANG BELIEVED OTHER PARK USERS WOULD BE ENCOURAGED BY THE GOOD EXAMPLE SET BY THE YOUNGSTERS AND PLAY THEIR PART IN KEEPING OUR COUNTRY PARKS CLEANER AND GREENER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
"COUNTRY PARKS PROVIDE NOT ONLY A MAJOR SOURCE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO AN EXCELLENT VENUE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO STUDY AND UNDERSTAND NATURE.
"ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF COUNTRY PARKS, THE SITUATION COULD BE IMPROVED FURTHER IF THE USERS WOULD CO-OPERATE AND JOIN IN CONSERVING THE ENVIRONMENT," DR WANG STRESSED.
EARLIER, IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, EXPLAINED THAT THE DECISION TO KEEP THE CYC COUNTRY PARKS ADOPTION SCHEME AS AN ANNUAL EVENT WAS MADE BECAUSE THE TRIAL LAST YEAR HAD BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
"DURING THE YEAR, OVER 1,000 PARTICIPANTS FROM 11 SCHOOLS IN FIVE CYC REGIONS HAD DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE FIVE ADOPTED COUNTRY PARKS.
"AMONG OTHERS, 900 TREES WERE PLANTED, 900 TREES WERE TENDED, OVER 1.2 TONNES OF LITTER WERE COLLECTED AND GRASS CUTTING ALONG SEVEN KILOMETRES OF FOOTPATH WAS CARRIED OUT," HE NOTED.
THIS YEAR, 10 SCHOOLS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHEME.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY TODAY WERE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD, MR CARLOS CHEUNG.
"THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT REQUIRES AND DESERVES ACTIVE PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT BY EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY," MR LI STRESSED.
NOTING THAT THE AFD AND THE ED HAD WORKED IN CLOSE CO-OPERATION FOR MANY YEARS IN PROJECTS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE AND ENRICH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN SCHOOLS, MR LI BELIEVED THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SCHEME A SUCCESS, ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY STUDENTS THEMSELVES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
MR LI THANKED THE 19 CYC DISTRICT COMMITTEES AS WELL AS SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS INVOLVED FOR SUPPORTING THE CYC COUNTRY PARKS ADOPTION SCHEME WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM.
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/5........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
5
TAI FU TAI RESTORATION RECOGNISED BY HKIA *****
THE TAI FU TAI RESTORATION PROJECT, WHICH WON THE 1989 PRESIDENT’S PRIZE OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (HKIA) ANNUAL AWARDS, HAS ATTRACTED ABOUT 40,000 VISITORS SINCE ITS OPENING IN NOVEMBER 1988, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD, MR EDWARD HO, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE HKIA AWARD AT TA* FU TAI, MR HO SAID THE HISTORICAL BUILDING WAS AN ATTRACTION NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT WAS A LIVING PART OF THE HISTORY OF YUEN LONG, IN PARTICULAR OF THE SAN TIN AREA.
THE RESTORATION OF TAI FU TAI WAS AWARDED THE HKIA’S 1989 PRESIDENT’S PRIZE FOR ITS EXCELLENCE OF DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE. THE AWARD IS ALSO AIMED AT GIVING RECOGNITION TO OUTSTANDING BUILDINGS WITH SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO ARCHITECTURE.
MR HO THANKED THE PUBLIC-SPIRITED MANAGERS OF THE MAN WAH CHEUNG TONG, WHO TOOK CARE OF THEIR ANCESTRAL PROPERTIES, FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN THE RESTORATION PROJECT.
"IT IS ONLY WITH THEIR SUPPORT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ADMIRE THIS PIECE OF UNIQUELY ELEGANT TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE,” HE ADDED.
MR HO POINTED OUT THAT PROTECTING AND PRESERVING ANCIENT MONUMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON PRIVATE LAND. WAS NO EASY TASK.
’’BESIDES HAVING TO OBTAIN THE CONSENT OF OWNERS, THE COSTS OF RESTORATION ARE ALSO CONSIDERABLE.
’’ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE, IT IS ALWAYS NECESSARY TO RESORT TO PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FOR FINANCIAL SUBSIDY,” HE SAID.
MR HO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE UNTIRING SUPPORT FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB WHICH, IN THIS CASE, HAS DONATED $2.5 MILLION TO RENDER THE TAI FU TAI RESTORATION PROJECT POSSIBLE.
AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI, PRESENTED THE PRESIDENT’S PRIZE TO REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE, MAN WAH CHEUNG TONG, AND THE JOCKEY CLUB.
ALSO ATTENDING TODAY’S CEREMONY WERE MEMBERS OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH, AND THE JOCKEY CLUB.
PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY, MEMBERS OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD TOURED KUN TING STUDY HALL, ANOTHER DECLARED MONUMENT IN YUEN LONG WHERE RESTORATION WORK IS BEING CARRIED OUT WITH A DONATION OF $2 MILLION FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB.
/6 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
- 6 -
TAI PO LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME FINALE
* » * * *
THE TAI PO DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME CONCLUDED WITH A VARIETY SHOW AT THE TAI PO CENTRAL TOWN SQUARE THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.
OFFICIATING AT A CLOSING CEREMONY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ADOLF HSU, THANKED MEMBERS OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CELEBRATIONS.
’’THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION NOT ONLY ENRICHED THE FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE IN THE DISTRICT BUT ALSO ENHANCED THE SOLIDARITY AMONG LOCAL RESIDENTS,” HE SAID.
"LOCAL RESIDENTS CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SUCH PROGRAMMES,” HE NOTED.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, WINNERS OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR SCROLL WRITING AND CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITIONS WERE PRESENTED PRIZES BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD, MR HO YUNG-SANG, AND THE ACTING DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS MARY CHOW.
THE VARIETY SHOW INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY POP SINGERS, A PUPPET SHOW AND A LION DANCE.
A LANTERN PUZZLE AND DECORATIVE LANTERNS WERE ALSO PUT UP AT THE SQUARE TO CELEBRATE TODAY’S CHINESE VALENTINE’S DAY - THE 15TH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH IN THE CHINESE CALENDAR.
ABOUT 21 RECREATIONAL, SPORTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES WERE HELD DURING THE 20-DAY LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME WHICH STARTED ON JANUARY 22.
THE PROGRAMME WAS ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR ORGANISING COMMITTEE, AND SPONSORED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.
- - 0----------
CIVIC EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE OPENS IN SSP
THE CIVIC EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE LOCATED AT THE SHAM SHUT PO DISTRICT OFFICE AT 37-39 TONKIN STREET WAS OPENED TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT AN OPENING CEREMONY, A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MR CHAN WING-TAI, SAID THE COMMITTEE ENCOURAGED THE SETTING UP OF SUCH CENTRES IN DISTRICTS TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS.
HE ADDED THAT THE CENTRE IN SHAM SHUI PO WOULD CERTAINLY HELP TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT.
/THE CENTRE........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
7
THE CENTRE HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD, AND WILL BE RUN BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
IT IS COMPLETE WITH VARIOUS REFERENCE MATERIALS, INCLUDING AUDIO AND VISUAL .AIDS ON CIVIC EDUCATION, A VARIETY OF INFORMATION PAMPHLETS, AND ANNUAL REPORTS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. IT ALSO KEEPS SOME OFFICIAL INFORMATION OR PAPERS FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
THE MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE CENTRE’S OPENING HOURS FROM 9.30 AM TO 12.30 PM AND FROM 2.30 PM TO 5 PM DAILY FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 7295334.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALAN FUNG, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MR WU MAN-YUNG.
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SOUTHERN DB TO REPORT ON YEAR’S WORK
*****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL GIVE A REPORT ON ITS SECOND YEAR IN OFFICE AT A SEMINAR FOR THE SEVEN AREA COMMITTEES IN THE DISTRICT ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 12).
A BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THE SEMINAR HAD BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO STRENGTHEN THE BOARD’S TIES AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE AREA COMMITTEES.
IT WILL BEGIN AT 7.30 PM AT THE JUMBO FLOATING RESTAURANT IN ABERDEEN TYPHOON SHELTER, AND ALL AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN THE DISTRICT ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
AT THE SEMINAR, THE CHAIRMEN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS FIVE COMMITTEES WILL REPORT ON THEIR WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR AS WELL AS THEIR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
THEY ARE MR HUI YUNG-CHUNG OF THE DISTRICT BOARD; MR KO TAM-KAN OF THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE; MR KO KAM-CHEUNG OF THE WORKS PROJECTS COMMITTEE; MR MAN HON-MING OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE; MR TSE K1T-TO OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE; AND MR WONG KING-CHEUNG OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THE TALKS WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY A 10-MINUTE SLIDE SHOW ON THE WORK OF THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
- 8 -
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "ABOUT 100 AREA COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES ARE EXPECTED AT THE SEMINAR. THEY WILL DIVIDE THEMSELVES INTO DIFFERENT GROUPS TO HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH BOARD MEMBERS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DISTRICT AFFAIRS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD."
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS MAUREEN CHAN, AND OFFICIALS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL ALSO ATTEND THE SEMINAR AND JOIN IN THE GROUP DISCUSSIONS.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE BOARD WILL STUDY CAREFULLY ALL THE ISSUES TO BE RAISED AT THE SEMINAR AND TAKE APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS WHERE NECESSARY.
THE SEMINAR FOLLOWS A SERIES OF SEVEN DISTRICT AFFAIRS SEMINARS HELD IN PREVIOUS MONTHS BY AREA COMMITTEES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS CORPORATIONS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS.
"THE BOARD’S SEMINAR ON MONDAY WILL THUS ALSO SERVE AS A FORUM TO CONSOLIDATE THE VIEWS, NEEDS, CONCERN AND ASPIRATIONS AS EXPRESSED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS AT THESE SEVEN DISTRICT AFFAIRS SEMINARS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE "SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD-MEETS-AREA COMMITTEES" SEMINAR TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 12) AT THE JUMBO FLOATING RESTAURANT IN ABERDEEN TYPHOON SHELTER. THE SEMINAR WILL BEGIN AT 7.30 PM.
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115 GROUPS TO TAKE PART IN DANCE CONTEST
******
A TOTAL OF 115 DANCING GROUPS WILL TAKE PART IN THE 19TH OPEN DANCE CONTEST TO BE HELD FROM FEBRUARY 19 TO 22 IN THE NGAU CHI WAN CIVIC CENTRE.
THE ANNUAL EVENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE, THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT CULTURE AND RECREATION PROMOTION ASSOCIATION AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, AND SPONSORED BY THE KWUN TONG ROTARY CLUB.
THE CONTEST IS DIVIDED INTO CHILDREN, YOUTH AND OPEN SECTIONS. THE CONTESTANTS WILL HAVE TO PERFORM VARIOUS TYPES OF DANCES, INCLUDING WESTERN AND ORIENTAL, CLASSICAL AND MODERN.
THE WINNERS WILL BE INVITED TO PERFORM WHEN A PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY IS HELD IN THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL ON APRIL 1.
/THE OPENING........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
9
THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CONTEST WILL BEGIN AT 7.45 PM ON FEBRUARY 19, AND WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CHINESE DANCE COMPETITIONS IN THE OPEN SECTION.
OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR CHRIS WAN; LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR POON CHI-FAI; CHAIRMAN OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD, MR LAM HANG-FAI; AND URBAN COUNCILLOR, MR PANG KAM-FAI.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES. TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 3416315.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE 19TH OPEN DANCE CONTEST OPENING CEREMONY WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 7.45 PM ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, AT THE NGAU CHI WAN CIVIC CENTRE, 11 CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD.
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OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS COMMENDED
******
TWENTY-SIX OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS WERE COMMENDED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY SERVICE AT AN AWARD PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE AT VARIOUS SERVICE UNITS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SUCH AS GROUP WORK UNITS AND YOUTH OFFICES. THE YEARS OF SERVICE RANGE FROM ONE TO SIX YEARS.
THE SERVICES THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN ARE WIDE RANGING, INCLUDING PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, MENTAL PATIENTS, ELDERLY, CHILDREN AND STREET SLEEPERS.
ALL OF THEM WERE NOMINATED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO COMPETE FOR THE "OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS AWARD - YOUTH 90’" ORGANISED JOINTLY BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST WARCOTICS.
TWO OF THE NOMINEES, MISS LEUNG KIM AND MR LAI KIN-KWOK, WERE GIVEN THE AWARD.
SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY TODAY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE YOUTH AND REHABILITATION), MR KWOK KA-CHI, SAID VOLUNTEER WORK NOT ONLY HELPED ENRICH A PERSON’S EXPERIENCES AND WIDEN PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO OFFERED REAL HELP TO THE NEEDY.
/MR KWOK .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
- 10 -
MR KWOK CALLED ON PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN VOLUNTEER WORK, ADDING THAT ANY PERSONS WHO WERE WILLING TO HELP OTHERS COULD BECOME VOLUNTEERS REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE, SEX, ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS, OCCUPATION AND SKILLS.
"I HOPE THE MASS MEDIA WILL ALSO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN APPRECIATING THE EFFORTS MADE BY YOUTH VOLUNTEERS, THUS ENCOURAGING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO COMMUNITY SERVICE," HE ADDED.
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FAMILY FUN DAY FOR EAST KOWLOON PA RECIPIENTS ******
ABOUT 300 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS SHARED THE JOY OF A FAMILY FUN DAY HELD BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT THIS (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON AT THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE.
ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS COME FROM SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES LIVING IN THE EAST KOWLOON REGION.
FOLLOWING A LUNCH BUFFET, PARTICIPANTS WERE TREATED TO SINGING AND DANCING PERFORMANCES BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHOIR, TRAINEES OF LUNG ON DAY ACTIVITY CENTRE, AND THE TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION MARCHING BAND.
THERE WERE ALSO GAMES, A FILM SHOW AND AN EXHIBITION ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION.
THE DEPARTMENT’S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (FAMILY WELFARE), MR ALFRED CHUI, AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (SOCIAL SECURITY), MR CARLOS LEUNG, ATTENDED THE FUNCTION AND DISTRIBUTED TOYS DONATED BY SWD STAFF AT VARIOUS SERVICE UNITS IN THE EAST KOWLOON REGION.
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LABOUR DEPT COURSES TO PROMOTE STAFF RELATIONS
******
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL RUN A SERIES OF CERTIFICATE COURSES THIS YEAR AS PART OF ITS ONGOING PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS STAFF-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS.
THE SERIES INCLUDES 12 COURSES ON LABOUR RELATIONS AND FIVE ON STAFF RELATIONS MANAGEMENT, ALL TO BE HELD BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST.
THE LABOUR RELATIONS COURSES, EACH COMPRISING SIX HALF-DAY SESSIONS, ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EMPLOYERS, MANAGERS, TRADE UNION OFFICIALS AND INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES WITH A COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF LABOUR LEGISLATION AND WAYS TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND TOOLS.
/THE COURSES .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
THE COURSES COVER VARIOUS LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS, INCLUDING THE EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION AND CONTRACTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG ORDINANCES, THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS.
OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE LABOUR RELATIONS IN HONG KONG, EMPLOYEREMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION, GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES, DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND PREVENTION, AND PREPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS.
EACH STAFF RELATIONS MANAGEMENT COURSE WILL LAST THREE DAYS, AIMED MAINLY AT COMPANY SUPERVISORS, MANAGERS, PERSONNEL OFFICERS, OFFICIALS OF TRADE UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS EMPLOYERS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES.
THE COURSES ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE PARTICIPANTS’ MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN RELATIONS KNOWLEDGE AS RELATED TO THE ROLE OF A LINE SUPERVISOR.
EMPHASIS WILL BE LAID ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, MOTIVATION AND MORALE, DISCIPLINE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, GRIEVANCE AND COMPLAINT HANDLING AND RELATED CASE STUDIES.
ALL COURSES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CANTONESE, LEADING TO AN AWARD OF A CERTIFICATE ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BA^IS, WITH PRIORITY GIVEN TO APPLICANTS FOR THE LABOUR RELATIONS COURSES WHO ARE SPONSORED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS OR TRADE UNIONS.
FEES FOR THE LABOUR RELATIONS COURSES AND STAFF RELATIONS MANAGEMENT COURSES ARE $350 AND $450 RESPECTIVELY.
DETAILS OF THE COURSES AND ENROLMENT LEAFLETS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON THE 12TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, AND FROM ALL LABOUR RELATIONS BRANCH OFFICES.
TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 8523511.
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TAXI OPERATORS URGED TO CO-OPERATE IN SURVEY
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS URGED URBAN TAXI OPERATORS AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS TO CO-OPERATE IN A SURVEY ON THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS AND FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE URBAN TAXI TRADE.
"IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TAX! OPERATORS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY AS IT WILL HELP THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ASSESS CORRECTLY THE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF THE TRADE," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND ONLY BE USED FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SURVEY IS AN ANNUAL EXERCISE AND CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS: QUESTIONNAIRE AND METER READING. URBAN TAXIS HAVE BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED FOR THE EXERCISE.
OWNERS OF THE SELECTED TAXIS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE A SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE ON THEIR OPERATIONS WHICH INCLUDE ITEMS SUCH AS OPERATING FORMAT, INCOME AND FUEL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS. THEY ARE REQUESTED TO RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE TO THE DEPARTMENT BY FEBRUARY 23.
TAXI OPERATORS ARE ALSO ASKED TO PRESENT THEIR TAXIS TWICE FOR METER READING FROM FEBRUARY 12 TO FEBRUARY 16 AND FROM FEBRUARY 19 TO FEBRUARY 23, BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 12.30 PM OR BETWEEN 2 PM AND 4.30 PM, AT ANY OF THE 10 METER READING CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREAS.
- - 0 - -
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 12), TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TSIM SHA TSUI BECAUSE OF EXCAVATION WORKS IN MIDDLE ROAD.
THE TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS WILL LAST FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
MIDDLE ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH SALISBURY ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 40 METRES TO THE NORTH WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
MIDDLE ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH NATHAN ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 60 METRES TO THE EAST WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
AT THE SAME TIME, VEHICLES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT FROM SOUTHBOUND NATHAN ROAD ONTO MIDDLE ROAD.
MOTORISTS ON SOUTHBOUND NATHAN ROAD HEADING FOR THE MIDDLE ROAD MULTI-STOREY CARPARK WILL BE DIVERTED VIA EASTBOUND SALISBURY ROAD AND NORTHBOUND MIDDLE ROAD.
VEHICLES LEAVING THE CARPARK ARE ADVISED TO USE WESTBOUND MIDDLE ROAD AND SOUTHBOUND NATHAN ROAD.
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/13
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990
- 13 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI * * » *
MONDAY TO 28, EAST IN REPAIR
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON (FEBRUARY 12) TO WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 14) AND FROM FEBRUARY 24 THE EXISTING LEFT-TURNING FROM SHIP STREET INTO QUEEN’S ROAD WAN CHAI WILL BE BANNED FOR ALL VEHICLES TO FACILITATE ROAD
WORKS.
VEHICLES ON WESTBOUND JOHNSTON ROAD HEADING FOR EASTBOUND QUEEN’S ROAD EAST WILL BE DIVERTED VIA LI CHIT STREET.
ALTERNATIVELY, VEHICLES MAY USE SHIP STREET, WESTBOUND QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, LUN FAT STREET, JOHNSTON ROAD AND LI CHIT STREET TO JOIN QUEEN’S ROAD EAST.
------0--------
NO-ENTRY BAN TO BE LIFTED ♦ * » »
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 9 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 12), OTHER VEHICLES TN ADDITION TO GREEN MINIBUSES WILL ALSO BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE GREEN MINIBUS TERMINUS AT THE MONG KOK KCR STATION.
THIS MEASURE WILL LAST UNTIL 5 PM ON FEBRUARY 23 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING A TAXI SURVEY THERE.
------0--------
PARTIAL CLOSURE OF TAI PO ROAD ♦ * * ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORKS, ABOUT 1.2 KILOMETRES OF THE OUTERMOST LANE OF TAI PO ROAD (TAI WO) SOUTHBOUND NEAR HONG LOK YUEN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 12).
- - 0 - -
WATER CUT IN ABERDEEN *****
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN ABERDEEN WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 12) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES LOCATED AT YUE KWONG ROAD. YUE HONG STREET, SHEK PAI WAN ESTATE, YUE KWONG CHUEN, YUE FAI COURT AND TAI SHUI HANG VILLAGE.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EXTERNAL TRADE PERFORMANCE IN DEC AND IN 1989 .................................... 1
CLOUDY AND HUMID IN JANUARY ...................................................... 8
UK CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT STUDY ON POST-BASIC NURSE TRAINING ..................... 10
MOVEMENT OF NT POLICE FORMATIONS INTO NEW ACCOMMODATION BEGINS .................. 11
1,280 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN JANUARY .............................................. 13
THOUSANDS PARTICIPATE IN ANTI-DRUG ACTIVITIES ................................... 14
TRIBUTE TO SOUTHERN DFCC ........................................................ 15
REVIEW OF DB VETTING GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA .................................... 16
SLIDE PRODUCTION PUBLICISES MONG KOK ............................................ 16
BADGE DESIGN COMPETITION ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT ........................... 17
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME FUNDS ........................... 18
MUSIC OFFICE ANNUAL GALA NEXT MONTH ............................................. 18
NEW UC COMPLEX FOR NORTH POINT .................................................. 19
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
1 EXTERNAL TRADE PERFORMANCE IN DEC AND IN 1989 *****
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN DECEMBER 1989, AT $96,947 MILLION, DECREASED BY 3 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1988, ACCORDING TO THE DETAILED FIGURES ON THE VALUE OF TRADE IN DECEMBER RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS DECREASED BY 6 PER CENT TO $19,915 MILLION IN DECEMBER 1989. HOWEVER, RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 5 PER CENT TO $29,586 MILLION, THUS BRINGING TOTAL EXPORTS IN DECEMBER 1989 TO $49,502 MILLION, WHICH SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE OVER DECEMBER 1988.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, IMPORTS DECREASED BY 5 PER CENT TO $47,445 MILLION.
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN THE YEAR 1989, AT $1,133,291 MILLION, INCREASED BY 14 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE YEAR 1988.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 3 PER CENT TO $224,104 MILLION, WHILE RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 26 PER CENT TO $346,405 MILLION.
THUS, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT TO $570,509 MILLION. IMPORTS INCREASED BY 13 PER CENT TO $562,781 MILLION.
COMPARING DECEMBER 1989 WITH DECEMBER 1988, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO MOST MAJOR MARKETS DECREASED, PARTICULARLY THOSE TO THE USA (-14 PER CENT), AUSTRALIA (-13 PER CENT), THE UNITED KINGDOM (-12 PER CENT), CANADA (11 PER CENT) AND JANPAN (-6 PER CENT). THOSE TO CHINA DROPPED BY 2 PER CENT.
HOWEVER, INCREASES WERE RECORDED FOR VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO TAIWAN AND THE NETHERLANDS, BY 53 PER CENT AND 7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, IMPORTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, JAPAN, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ITALY DECREASED BY 26 PER CENT, 24 PER CENT, 17 PER CENT, 14 PER CENT, AND 11 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN VALUE TERMS.
HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM SWITZERLAND, CHINA AND SINGAPORE INCREASED BY 19 PER CENT, 9 PER CENT AND 7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
RE-EXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, CANADA, THE USA, SINGAPORE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN VALUE TERMS IN DECEMBER 1989 OVER DECEMBER 1988, BY 38 PER CENT, 36 PER CENT, 23 PER CENT, 22 PER CENT AND 17 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA AND AUSTRALIA DECREASED BY 17 PER CENT AND 7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
/COMPARING THE .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 2 -
COMPARING THE YEAR 1989 WITH THE YEAR 1988, THE MARKETS WITH SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCLUDED TAIWAN (+29 PER CENT), JAPAN (+14 PER CENT), CHINA (+14 PER CENT) AND SINGAPORE (+11 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, THOSE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE NETHERLANDS, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY AND THE USA DECREASED BY 6 PER CENT, 3 PER CENT, 3 PER CENT AND 1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
IMPORTS IN THE YEAR 1989 FROM MOST MAJOR SUPPLIERS INCREASED IN VALUE TERMS COMPARED WITH THOSE IN THE YEAR 1988. SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN IMPORTS FROM CHINA (+26 PER CENT), ITALY (+23 PER CENT), SINGAPORE (+20 PER CENT), TAIWAN (+16 PER CENT) AND THE USA (+12 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, IMPORTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA DECREASED BY 3 PER CENT, WHILE THOSE FROM JAPAN AND THE UNITED KINGDOM SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, RE-EXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE USA, CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN AND SINGAPORE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN VALUE TERMS, BY 52 PER CENT, 46 PER CENT, 45 PER CENT, 39 PER CENT, 29 PER CENT, 28 PER CENT AND 27 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
INCREASES WERE ALSO RECORDED FOR VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO TAIWAN, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND CHINA, BY 17 PER CENT, 13 PER CENT AND 9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
ALL TRADE STATISTICS PRESENTED HERE ARE MEASURED AT CURRENT PRICES AND NO ACCOUNT HAS BEEN TAKEN OF THE CHANGES IN PRICES BETWEEN THE PERIODS OF COMPARISON. A SEPARATE ANALYSIS OF THE PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN DECEMBER 1989 WILL BE RELEASED IN EARLY MARCH.
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO HONG KONG’S 10 MAJOR MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
COMPARING THE YEAR 1989 WITH THE YEAR 1988, INCREASES IN VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE REGISTERED FOR CLOTHING (BY $4,566 MILLION OR 7 PER CENT); OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $1,567 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT); TEXTILES (BY $1,263 MILLION OR 8 PER CENT) AND ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS, AND CELLULOSE ESTERS AND ETHERS (BY $969 MILLION OR 37 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE RECORDED FOR MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $2,043 MILLION OR 7 PER CENT) AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1,223 MILLION OR 7 PER CENT).
TABLE 2 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG’S 10 MAJOR SUPPLIERS ARE SUMMARISED IN TABLE 3.
/COMPARING THE .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 3 -
COMPARING THE YEAR 1989 WITH THE YEAR 1988, INCREASES IN VALUE OF IMPORTS WERE RECORDED IN ALL MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS. THE MORE NOTABLE ONES WERE CLOTHING (BY $12,440 MILLION OR 39 PER CENT); TEXTILES (BY $9,485 MILLION OR 15 PER CENT); MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $8,784 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT) AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $6,695 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE RECORDED FOR ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS, AND CELLULOSE ESTERS AND ETHERS (BY $2,174 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT) AND ROAD VEHICLES (BY $1,714 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT).
TABLE 4 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS TO HONG KONG’S 10 MAJOR MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 5.
COMPARING THE YEAR 1989 WITH THE YEAR 1988, NOTABLE INCREASES IN VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS WERE REGISTERED FOR MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $14,035 MILLION OR 50 PER CENT); CLOTHING (BY $12,584 MILLION OR 51 PER CENT); TEXTILES (BY $8,154 MILLION OR 24 PER CENT) AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $7,694 MILLION OR 39 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE RECORDED FOR ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS, AND CELLULOSE ESTERS AND ETHERS (BY $1,209 MILLION OR 13 PER CENT) AND ROAD VEHICLES (BY $722 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT).
TABLE 6 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
DETAILED STATISTICS ON TRADE VALUE BY COMMODITY AND BY COUNTRY ARE PUBLISHED IN TRADE STATISTICS REPORTS. THE DECEMBER 1989 ISSUE OF THE "HONG KONG TRADE STATISTICS SUMMARY" WILL BE ON SALE AROUND FEBRUARY 15 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $9.50 PER COPY.
A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, "HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE", WITH DETAILED ANALYSIS ON IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS IN DECEMBER 1989 WILL BE AVAILABLE AROUND FEBRUARY 20 AT $17.50 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THESE REPORTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG (TEL. NO.: 8428802) AND ENQUIRIES ON TRADE STATISTICS TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO.: 8234915).
/TABLE 1 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
TABLE 1: DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKET DEC 1989 (HKD MN.) DEC 89 OVER DEC 88 (%) JAN-DEC 1989 (HKD MN.) JAN-DEC 89 OVER JAN-DEC 88 (%)
U.S.A. 6,215 - 14 72,162 - 1
CHINA 3,549 - 2 43,272 + 14
F.R. OF GERMANY 1,756 ♦ 15,689 - 3
U.K. 1,405 - 12 14,638 - 6
JAPAN 1,058 - 6 13,028 + 14
CANADA 553 - 11 6,299 + 5
SINGAPORE 478 - 1 5,804 + 11
NETHERLANDS 547 + 7 4,756 — 3
TAIWAN 465 + 53 4.460 + 29
AUSTRALIA 354 - 13 4,198 + 1
* DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT
TABLE 2: DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY DIVISION DEC 1989 (HKD MN.) DEC 89 JAN-DEC 89 OVER JAN-DEC 88 (%)
OVER DEC 88 (%) JAN-DEC 1989 (HKD MN.)
ARTICLES OF APPAREL
AND CLOTHING
ACCESSORIES 7,451 - 3 71,874 + 7
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED
ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY
CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES
AND SPORTING GOODS) 1,949 - 17 27,867 - 7
/PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 5 -
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 1,703 - 7 19,602 + 1
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY. APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 1,417 - 5 17,888 + 2
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 1,497 + 1 16,814 + 8
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 1,287 - 15 16,096 7
TABLE 3: IMPORTS FROM 10 MAJOR SUPPLIERS
MAJOR SUPPLIER DEC 1989 (HKD MN.) DEC 89 OVER DEC 88 (%) JAN-DEC 1989 (HKD MN.) JAN-DEC 89 OVER JAN-DEC 88 (%)
CHINA 17,966 + 9 196,676 + 26
JAPAN 7,448 - 24 93,202 *
TAIWAN 4,302 - 4 51,587 + 16
U.S.A. 3,595 - 4 46,234 + 12
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 1,960 - 26 25,465 - 3
SINGAPORE 1,815 + 7 22,244 + 20
F.R. OF GERMANY 1,066 — 17 13,591 + 4
U.K. 1,012 — 14 12,965 *
ITALY 681 - 11 9,901 + 23
SWITZERLAND 970 + 19 9,696 + 6
* DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT
/TABLE 4 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 6 -
TABLE 4: IMPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
JAN-DEC
89
DEC DEC 89 OVER JAN-DEC OVER JAN-DEC
COMMODITY 1989 DEC 88 1989 88
DIVISION (HKD MN.) (%) (HKD MN.) (%)
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND
RELATED PRODUCTS 6,267 72,454 + 15
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 4,575 - 11 56,862 + 8
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 4,026 + 20 44,461 + 39
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 3,194 - 12 39,567 + 20
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) 3,163 + 20 37,522 + 31
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 2,896 - 3 29,757 + 8
* DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT
TABLE 5: RE-EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS
DEC DEC 89 OVER JAN-DEC JAN-DEC 89 OVER JAN-DEC
MAJOR MARKET 1989 (HKD MN.) DEC 88 (%) 1989 (HKD MN.) 88 (%)
CHINA 8,554 - 17 103,492 + 9
U.S.A. 6,043 + 23 72,033 + 46
/JAPAN 1,737
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 7 —
JAPAN 1,737 + 4 22,268 + 28
TAIWAN 1,483 * 16,478 + 17
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 1,014 + 2 13,279 + 13
F.R. OF GERMANY 1,354 + 38 13, 121 + 52
SINGAPORE 1,048 + 22 11,029 + 27
U.K. 739 + 17 8,918 + 39
AUSTRALIA 461 - 7 5,760 + 29
CANADA 478 + 36 5,413 + 45
* DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT
TABLE 6: RE-EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY DIVISION DEC 1989 (HKD MN.) DEC 89 OVER DEC 88 (%) JAN-DEC 1989 (HKD MN.) JAN-DEC 89 OVER JAN-DEC 88 (%)
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 3,561 + 6 42,529 + 24
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) 3,376 + 36 42,359 50
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 3,211 + 27 37,281 + 51
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 2,94 5 + 2 33,550 + 17
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 2,475 + 8 27,552 + 39
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 1,316 + 14 13,485 + 27
0 - - - - /8
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 8 -
CLOUDY AND HUMID IN JANUARY *****
JANUARY 1990 WAS GENERALLY CLOUDY AND HUMID, ACCORDING TO THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY’S MONTHLY REPORT RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE MONTHLY MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS 82 PER CENT WHICH WAS THE EIGHTH HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR JANUARY.
THERE WERE ONLY SEVEN DAYS IN THE MONTH WITH NO RAIN RECORDED AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY. THE TOTAL RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH AMOUNTED TO 47.5 MILLIMETRES WHICH WAS 77 PER CENT ABOVE THE NORMAL JANUARY FIGURE OF 26.9 MILLIMETRES.
THE NEW YEAR BEGAN WITH SOME LIGHT RAIN ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 1. MORE RAIN FELL ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 2 AS THE NORTHERLY WINDS FRESHENED.
THE RAIN STOPPED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS BUT CONDITIONS REMAINED CLOUDY AND COOL AS FRESH EASTERLIES REPLACED THE NORTHERLIES. SOME DRIZZLE RETURNED FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS ON JANUARY 5 AND 6 BUT THERE WERE ALSO PERIODS OF SUNSHINE DURING THE DAY.
THE CLOUDS BROKE ON JANUARY 7, AND GENERALLY FINE WEATHER PERSISTED TILL JANUARY 12. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS OCCASIONAL FRESHENING OF THE EASTERLIES, RELATIVELY WARM CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 22.1 DEGREES ON JANUARY 10 MADE IT THE WARMEST DAY OF THE MONTH.
AT TIMES, FRESHENING EASTERLIES MIXED WITH MOIST AIR FROM THE SOUTH GAVE RISE TO PATCHES OF MIST OFFSHORE.
VISIBILITY WAS WORST ON THE AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 10 WITH FOG REPORTED AT WAGLAN ISLAND, AND MIST WAS MOST WIDESPREAD ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 12.
THE CLOUDS ASSOCIATED WITH AN APPROACHING TROUGH BROUGHT AN END TO THE FINE SPELL ON JANUARY 13.
FROM THEN, THE WEATHER WAS DOMINATED BY THE WINTER MONSOON. CONDITIONS WERE GENERALLY CLOUDY WITH LIGHT RAIN OCCURRING MAINLY AT NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING.
A COLD FRONT CROSSED THE SOUTH CHINA COAST DURING THE DAY ON JANUARY 15 AND BROUGHT STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS. THIS COLD SURGE WAS FOLLOWED BY A REPLENISHMENT ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 19.
ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE ARRIVAL OF COLD AIR WAS ACCOMPANIED BY RAIN. TEMPERATURES WERE BROUGHT TO A LOWER LEVEL WITH EACH COLD SNAP.
A MORE INTENSE REPLENISHMENT ARRIVED EARLY ON JANUARY 22. FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF THE NORTHERLIES DURING THE NIGHT CAUSED THE TEMPERATURE TO PLUNGE BELOW 10 DEGREES FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WINTER ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 23.
/THE NORTHERLIES .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
9 -
THE NORTHERLIES WERE REPLACED BY FRESH EASTERLIES ON JANUARY 24. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, THERE WERE PERIODS OF SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER SOME RAIN IN THE MORNING.
TEMPERATURES ROSE GRADUALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN THE ABSENCE OF FURTHER COLD SURGES FROM THE NORTH.
ON JANUARY 27, LUNAR NEW YEAR’S DAY, A BRIEF LULL IN THE EASTERLIES RESULTED IN BRILLIANTLY FINE WEATHER AND THIS TURNED OUT TO BE THE ONLY RAIN-FREE DAY IN A LONG SPELL OF DULL AND DREARY WEATHER.
CLOUDS RETURNED EARLY ON JANUARY 28 AND RAIN FROM THE OFFSHORE WATERS DRIFTED IN TO AFFECT THE COASTAL AREAS AT NIGHT. THE RAIN GOT HEAVIER ON JANUARY 30 AFTER THE WINDS FRESHENED FROM THE EAST THE PREVIOUS EVENING.
MEANWHILE, AN INTENSE SURGE OF THE WINTER MONSOON WAS ADVANCING SOUTHWARDS OVER GUANGDONG. THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT CROSSED THE COAST ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 30.
BESIDES SOME LIGHT RAIN, IT BROUGHT EVEN COLDER WEATHER TO THE COASTAL AREAS. TEMPERATURES AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY DROPPED BY MORE THAN EIGHT DEGREES WITHIN 24 HOURS.
BY THE EVENING OF JANUARY 31, THE TEMPERATURE FELL TO EIGHT DEGREES, THE LOWEST FOR THE MONTH AND THE COLDEST SO FAR THIS WINTER.
OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, THERE WAS ONLY ONE TROPICAL CYCLONE, KORYN.
DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY, NO AIRCRAFT WAS DIVERTED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER. THE ONLY FIRE DANGER WARNING ISSUED WAS A YELLOW WARNING ON JANUARY 16. SIGNALS HOISTED DURING THE MONTH WERE AS FOLLOWS:
WEATHER DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME
SYSTEM SIGNAL OF HOISTING OF LOWERING
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON JANUARY 15 5.30 PM JANUARY 16 7.15 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON JANUARY 22 11 PM JANUARY 23 10 AM
WINTER STRONG JANUARY 31 6.20 PM FEBRUARY 1 8.45 AM
MONSOON MONSOON
/THE MONTH'S .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 10 -
THE MONTH’S FIGURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL WERE:
TOTAL BRIGHT SUNSHINE
MEAN DAILY GLOBAL SOLAR RADIATION
TOTAL RAINFALL
MEAN AMOUNT OF CLOUD
87.2 HOURS
8.08 MJ/SQ. METRE
47.5 MM
79 PER CENT
66.3 HOURS BELOW NORMAL
3.85 MJ/SQ. METRE BELOW NORMAL
20.6 MM ABOVE NORMAL
20 PER CENT MORE THAN NORMAL
MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY
82 PER CENT : 11 PER CENT HIGHER
THAN NORMAL
MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM AIR TEMPERATURE 17.8 DEGREES
MEAN AIR TEMPERATURE 15.9 DEGREES
MEAN DAILY MINIMUM AIR TEMPERATURE 14.1 DEGREES
MEAN DEW POINT 12.7 DEGREES
CELSIUS : 0.9 DEGREE CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL
CELSIUS : 0.3 DEGREE CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
CELSIUS : 0.9 DEGREE CELSIUS
ABOVE NORMAL
CELSIUS : 2.9 DEGREES CELSIUS
ABOVE NORMAL
TOTAL EVAPORATION
53.3 MM : 49.4 MM BELOW NORMAL
- - 0----------
UK CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT STUDY ON POST-BASIC NURSE TRAINING
********
THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS INVITED A NURSING ADVISER FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM. PROFESSOR CHRISTINE CHAPMAN. TO COME TO HONG KONG TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE POST-BASIC TRAINING NEEDS OF THE NURSING STAFF IN THE DEPARTMENT.
/X SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT PROF CHAPMAN. WHO ARRIVED IN HONG KONG AT THE END OF JANUARY, WILL REVIEW THE EXISTING DEPARTMENTAL PLANS FOR POST-BASIC TRAINING FOR NURSING STAFF.
THE EXISTING PLANS WERE DRAWN UP BASING ON RECENT STUDIES ON THE MANAGEMENT TRAINING NEEDS OF AND POST-BASIC CLINICAL TRAINING FOR THE NURSING GRADES, AS WELL AS ON RECENT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT AND THE STAFF SIDE IN THE NURSING AND ALLIED GRADES REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE WORKING GROUP ON TRAINING.
’’FOCUS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE SETTING OF STANDARDS AND CONTROL MEASURES OF THESE PROGRAMMES," THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.
/IN ADDITION .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
IN ADDITION, PROF CHAPMAN WILL IDENTIFY TRAINING NEEDS, INCLUDING POST-BASIC TERTIARY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS; AND ASSESS AND ADVISE ON THE POST-BASIC TRAINING NEEDS OF NURSING STAFF IN THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NURSING SERVICE, AND THE NEED TO MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.
’’SHE WILL ALSO ADVISE ON AND ASSIST IN THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRAINING PROPOSALS.” THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
DURING HER STAY IN HONG KONG. PROF CHAPMAN WILL VISIT HOSPITALS AND NURSING, SCHOOLS AND MEET WITH THE OFFICERS CONCERNED. SHE WILL SUBMIT A REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT LATER IN THE YEAR.
PROF CHAPMAN IS THE VISITING PROFESSOR IN NURSING EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON. SHE HAS RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE POSTS OF PROFESSOR OF NURSING EDUCATION AND DEAN OF NURSING STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WALES COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
PROF CHAPMAN, WHO HAS A MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON STUDYING SOCIOLOGY AND NURSING. HAS WIDE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF NURSES.
PROF CHAPMAN IS A FELLOW OF THE UK ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING. HER OTHER PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENTS INDLUDE:
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR NURSING, MIDWIFERY AND HEALTH VISITING (1980-1985); CHAIRMAN OF THE EXPERT COMMITTEE ON POST-BASIC NURSING EDUCATION, COUNCIL OF EUROPE (1981-1983); CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, UK ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING (1976-1989); AND CHAIRMAN OF THE WELSH NATIONAL BOARD FOR NURSING, MIDWIFERY AND HEALTH VISITING (SINCE 1985).
-------------------------------0------- MOVEMENT OF NT POLICE FORMATIONS INTO NEW ACCOMMODATION BEGINS *****
THE BIG MOVEMENT OF NEW TERRITORIES POLICE FORMATIONS INTO NEW AND PURPOSE BUILT ACCOMMODATION HAS BEGUN WITH THE TRANSFER OF UNITS FROM OUTDATED AND OPERATIONALLY UNSUITABLE HEADQUARTERS IN SHA TIN TO A NEW 11-STOREY NEW TERRITORIES HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IN TAI PO.
HEADQUARTERS UNITS, CRIME DETACHMENTS AND POLICE TACTICAL UNIT ARE ALREADY MOVING INTO THE SPACIOUS NEW BUILDING, WHICH OCCUPIES A COMMANDING SITE NEAR THE CENTRE OF TAI PO NEW TOWN. TRAFFIC UNITS ARE DUE TO FOLLOW.
THE NEW HEADQUARTERS WILL BECOME HEADQUARTERS OF NEW TERRITORIES NORTH REGION WHEN THE REGION IS SPLIT INTO NORTH AND SOUTH REGIONS IN 1993.
/ALSO INCLUDED .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 12 -
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE NEW HEADQUARTERS WILL BE AN INDOOR RANGE AND MINI RANGES, A NEW FACILITY FOR THE TRAINING OF FORCE CATERING PERSONNEL, A PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORY AND THE NEW TERRITORIES COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE.
ALTHOUGH THE OLD NEW TERRITORIES HEADQUARTERS AT SHA TIN WILL BE RETAINED, THE MOVE WILL ALLOW TEMPORARY FACILITIES IN THE REGION TO BE RELINQUISHED.
"WE ARE MOVING INTO A BIG NEW BUILDING WHICH WILL BE OPERATIONALLY MORE EFFICIENT AND AT THE SAME TIME ACHIEVING CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIES IN THE USE OF ACCOMMODATION," THE NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL COMMANDER, MR RICHARD SMALLSHAW, SAID. "IT IS AN EXERCISE IN GOOD HOUSE-KEEPING."
THE OLD HEADQUARTERS AT TUNG LO WAN HILL ROAD, SHA TIN, WILL BE USED AS A JUNIOR POLICE CALL CLUB HOUSE, AS A HEADQUARTERS FOR A POLICE SCOUT GROUP FOR SHA TIN WAYWARD CHILDREN AND AS A CONTINUATION TRAINING CENTRE PENDING ITS TEMPORARY USE AS NEW TERRITORIES SOUTH REGION HEADQUARTERS.
THE SOUTH REGION WILL EVENTUALLY BE BASED AT TSUEN WAN.
TWO UNITS, THE REGIONAL CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE AND THE REGIONAL SPECIAL DUTIES SQUAD, WILL BE BASED AT THE OLD TAI PO POLICE STATION.
ALTHOUGH NEW TERRITORIES TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS WILL BE CENTRED AT THE NEW HEADQUARTERS. TRAFFIC SECTIONS WILL BE RETAINED AT ALL DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS.
"ONLY TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS ELEMENTS ARE TO MOVE HERE," MR SMALLSHAW EXPLAINED, "BECAUSE OF THE LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL LAYOUT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES."
THE OLD NEW TERRITORIES TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS AT TSUEN WAN WILL BE RETAINED TO HOUSE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT AND CONTROL UNITS FROM KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN.
THE TRANSFER OF UNITS TO A MORE CENTRALISED SYSTEM WILL ENABLE THE FORCE TO GIVE UP TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT KOWLOON AND CANTON RAILWAY HOUSE, AND AT THE OLD COTTAGE HUT AND CLERKS’ QUARTERS AT TAI PO.
ACCOMMODATION IS ALSO EARMARKED FOR AN EMERGENCY UNIT AT THE NEW HEADQUARTERS WHEN THE NEW TERRITORIES IS SPLIT INTO SOUTH AND NORTH REGIONS.
MR SMALLSHAW ENTHUSED ABOUT THE NEW FACILITIES AT THE HEADQUARTERS FOR SHOOTING COURSES AND TRAINING AND FOR CATERING.
"THERE IS A VERY BIG CANTEEN WHICH WILL ALSO BE USED AS A CATERING TRAINING UNIT FOR COOKS FORCE-WIDE.
/"THE INDOOR .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 13 -
"THE INDOOR FIRING RANGE WILL OFFER GREAT ADVANTAGES. IT IS COMPUTER-CONTROLLED AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT FAR MORE PEOPLE THROUGH IT THAN WE CAN AT PRESENT AT THE OPEN AIR RANGE NEAR THE BORDER.
"IT HAS COME AT A GOOD TIME FOR THE INCREASED NEEDS OF TRAINING AND COURSES."
THE INDOOR RANGE IS DUE TO OPEN IN APRIL WITH EIGHT MINI RANGES FOLLOWING SOON AFTER.
THE HEADQUARTERS ALSO INCLUDES FITNESS ROOM, BRIEFING ROOM, AN ASSEMBLY HALL, CIVILIAN STAFF CLUB, OFFICERS AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS MESSES AND BARRACK ACCOMMODATION.
MR SMALLSHAW ADDED: "THE FORCE WILL BENEFIT GREATLY BY HAVING HEADQUARTERS UNITS TOGETHER AND IT WILL ALLOW BETTER LIAISON BETWEEN THEM. IT IS WELL LOCATED IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATIONS BY BOTH ROAD AND RAIL IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
"IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE WILL BE BASED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PURPOSE BUILT ACCOMMODATION. RATHER THAN IN UNSUITABLE TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION IN TERMS OF BOTH SIZE AND LOCALITY.
"IT MEANS THAT OTHER ACCOMMODATION CAN BE USED BY OTHER UNITS IN SHA TIN AND TAI PO, ALLOWING THEM MORE SPACE TO WORK.
"THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT RAISING OF MORALE AMONG STAFF WHO ARE NOW WORKING IN GOOD SURROUNDINGS AFTER MANY YEARS IN SUB-STANDARD ACCOMMODATION.
"WE DO NOT FEEL NOSTALGIC ABOUT THE OLD BUILDING. IT HAD A NICE GARDEN, BUT AS A HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IT WAS HOPELESS AND WE ARE NOT SORRY TO LOSE IT."
-----0-------
1,280 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN JANUARY
*****
A TOTAL OF 1,562 CASUALTIES WAS REPORTED IN 1,280 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WHICH OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY LAST MONTH (JANUARY).
A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT 286 OF THESE ACCIDENTS OCCURRED ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 700 IN KOWLOON AND 294 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR JANUARY SHOWED THAT 31 PERSONS WERE KILLED. 353 PEOPLE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND 1,178 SLIGHTLY INJURED IN THESE ACCIDENTS.
THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES REPRESENTED A DECREASE OF 12.4 PER CENT AND 18.1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
--------0-----------
/14 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
14 THOUSANDS PARTICIPATE IN ANTI-DRUG ACTIVITIES * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
YOUTH HAS BECOME THE MAIN TARGET OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ANTI-NARCOTICS PUBLICITY FOLLOWING A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF YOUNG ABUSERS LAST YEAR OVER 1988.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), DR GERALD CHOA, SAID THIS TODAY (SUNDAY) AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE "CENTRAL AND WESTERN ANTI-NARCOTICS DAY" HELD AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT.
DR CHOA SAID ANTI-DRUG MESSAGES WOULD BE PUT ACROSS TO TARGET GROUPS THROUGH SHORT PUBLICITY FILMS, POSTERS, AND SCHOOL TALKS AS WELL AS TERRITORY-WIDE AND DISTRICT ACTIVITIES.
"WE HOPE THAT BY ORGANISING DISTRICT EVENTS, LIKE THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN ACTIVITY, YOUNGSTERS WILL BE DISSUADED FROM TAKING ANY KIND OF DRUGS," HE SAID.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN FISHER, SAID THERE WAS ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FOR ANTI-DRUG EVENTS IN HIS DISTRICT, WITH OVER 400 ENTRIES RECEIVED FOR THE NOVEMBER ANTI-DRUG BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITION.
THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS TOOK PART IN TWO SETS OF ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT’S "ANTI-NARCOTICS DAY".
AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT, RESIDENTS WERE TREATED TO A POP CONCERT FEATURING SINGERS ROMAN TAM, MARIA CORDERO, YOLINDA YAN, SHIRLEY KWAN AND THE GROUP, GRASSHOPPERS.
HOSTED BY DISC JOCKEYS CHRIS WONG AND VIVIAN CHOW, THE CONCERT WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG’S RADIO 2 BETWEEN 2 PM AND 4 PM.
A LARGE CROWD, MOSTLY CHILDREN, PARTICIPATED IN THE "WESTERN ANTI-DRUG VITALITY SHOW" AT THE FORBES STREET PLAYGROUND IN KENNEDY TOWN. WINNERS OF THE NOVEMBER BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITION WERE AWARDED PRIZES AT THE VENUE.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE FUNCTIONS WERE THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC) CHAIRMAN, MR WU CHOR-NAM; HEAD OF RTHK’S RADIO 2, MR CHEUNG MAN-SUN; DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS MR CHAN TAK-CHOR AND MISS YIP SAU-WAH; AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS MR NGAI WAI-MING AND MR CHOW YIN-SUM.
TODAY’S TWO PUBLICITY EVENTS WERE JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ACAN, THE DFCC AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE. OTHER CO-ORGANISERS INCLUDED RTHK, THE COUNCIL OF DISTRICT SCHOOL HEADS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG YOUNG WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
- - 0 - -
/15 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
TRIBUTE TO SOUTHERN DFCC ♦ * * ♦
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENCOURAGING CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND RESIDENTS, AND IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IN THE DISTRICT. THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS MAUREEN CHAN, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT A ’’FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL” ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE, MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT THE 1989-90 SOUTHERN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN TO GET ACROSS THE ANTI-TRIAD, ANTI-JUVENILE CRIMES AND HOME SAFETY THEMES LAID DOWN BY THE CENTRAL FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.
ACTIVITIES IN THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDED SCHOOL VISITS TO SPREAD THE ANTI-TRIAD MESSAGES, AN INTER-SCHOOL ANTI-CRIME QUIZ, A SEMINAR ON JUVENILE PROBLEMS FOR STUDENTS’ PARENTS, AN ANTI-BEACH-CRIME PUBLICITY DRIVE AND A HOME SAFETY SEMINAR.
MRS CHAN NOTED THAT RESPONSE TO THESE ACTIVITIES WAS VERY ENCOURAGING, AND THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD SUCCEEDED IN DRIVING HOME THE ANTI-CRIME MESSAGES.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, MR KAN MAN-LEE, ATTRIBUTED THE SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT’S FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN TO THE SUPPORT OF THE POLICE, THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
THE FUN-FILLED CARNIVAL, WHICH MARKED THE CONCLUSION OF THE CAMPAIGN, WAS HELD AT THE AP LEI CHAU ESTATE, FEATURING ABOUT 20 GAME STALLS ON VARIOUS ANTI-CRIME MESSAGES.
IT ATTRACTED HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS WHO WERE TREATED TO PERFORMANCES BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHOIR, WESTERN JUNIOR POLICE CALL, THE MAGIC CLUB OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, WINNERS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT SINGING CONTEST AS WELL AS A POPULAR SINGER AND A DISC JOCKEY.
OTHER GUESTS OFFFICIATING AT THE CARNIVAL AND THE CLOSING CEREMONY FOR THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDED DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HUI YUNG-CHUNG; POLICE WESTERN DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR R.C. TOAL; POLICE ABERDEEN DIVISION COMMANDER. MR TSE CHAN-FAI; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR CHAN YAU-YUE.
/16 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
REVIEW OF DB VETTING GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA
*****
THE SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL REVIEW AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (MONDAY) THE GUIDELINES AND THE VETTING CRITERIA FOR LOCAL ORGANISATIONS’ APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR CARRYING OUT COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO VET AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTING A SOCIAL SERVICE FUNCTION FOR FAMILIES WITH HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, AND CONSIDER NOMINATING CANDIDATES FROM THE DISTRICT FOR THE YOUNG DISTRICT LEADERS AWARD 1990.
A MEMBER IS EXPECTED TO PROPOSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SET UP A MEDICAL CLINIC IN WAH FU OR WAH KWAI ESTATE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (MONDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT, 7-11 NAM NING STREET, ABERDEEN CENTRE. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
PLEASE NOTE THAT PART OF THE MEETING, INCLUDING THE PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR DB FUNDS, WILL BE HELD IN CAMERA.
- - 0 - -
SLIDE PRODUCTION PUBLICISES MONG KOK *****
A 10-MINUTE AUDIO-VISUAL SLIDE PRODUCTION ON MONG KOK AND THE WORK OF ITS DISTRICT BOARD IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR LOAN TO ORGANISATIONS.
PART OF THE PUBLICITY PROGRAMME OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT FESTIVAL 1989-90, THE PRODUCTION INTRODUCES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DISTRICT, AND THE OPERATIONS, STRUCTURE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD.
IT CAN BE SHOWN WITH A TWO-PROJECTOR DISSOLVE UNIT OR AN ORDINARY PROJECTOR, AND IT HAS ALSO BEEN DUBBED IN VIDEO FOR TELEVISION VIEWING.
ORGANISATIONS INTERESTED IN OBTAINING IT FOR VIEWING CAN CONTACT THE SECRETARIAT OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD ON TEL. 3815291.
- - 0
/17
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 17 -
BADGE DESIGN COMPETITION ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT * * * * *
ENTRIES ARE BEING INVITED FOR A BADGE DESIGN COMPETITION TO PROMOTE A "GREEN PLANT PROJECT" IN WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT.
THE COMPETITION HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY A WORKING GROUP FORMED UNDER THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.
"THE DESIGN OF THE BADGE SHOULD CARRY THE THEMES OF CARING FOR PLANTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND BUILDING A ’GREEN’ COMMUNITY," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WORKING GROUP SAID.
"THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE USE OF COLOUR AND MATERIALS FOR THE DESIGN," HE ADDED.
THE COMPETITION IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS -- PRIMARY STUDENTS, SECONDARY STUDENTS AND OPEN. ENTRIES IN THE STUDENT SECTIONS ARE LIMITED TO STUDENTS FROM THE DISTRICT’S SCHOOLS.
THREE WINNERS WILL BE NAMED AND OUTSTANDING AWARDS MADE IN EACH SECTION.
THE FIRST THREE WINNERS IN THE STUDENT SECTIONS WILL BE AWARDED A TROPHY AND BOOK COUPONS WHILE THOSE WHO SUBMIT OUTSTANDING ENTRIES WILL RECEIVE BOOK COUPONS.
IN ADDITION TO TROPHIES AND COUPONS, WINNERS IN THE OPEN SECTION WILL BE GIVEN DRAWING EQUIPMENT.
ENTRANTS MUST WRITE THEIR NAMES, SECTION ENTERED FOR, NAMES OF SCHOOLS, CLASS. ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER ON THE BACK OF THEIR DESIGNS.
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES EACH PERSON MAY MAKE.
ENTRIES MUST REACH THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE, FOURTH FLOOR. SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING. KING FUK STREET, BEFORE MARCH 5.
PAMPHLETS ON THE COMPETITION ARE AVAILABLE AT THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE ON 3222261, EXT. 321.
- - 0---------
/18 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 18 -
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME FUNDS * » * * »
ORGANISATIONS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARE BEING INVITED TO APPLY FOR FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT’S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR ORGANISING ACTIVITIES THIS SUMMER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED SIX TO 25.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE ACTIVITIES SHOULD ENABLE YOUNGSTERS TO DEVELOP THEIR POTENTIAL AND GAIN MORE SOCIAL EXPERIENCE, CULTIVATE WHOLESOME HOBBIES AND ENHANCE THEIR SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.
PRIORITY WOULD BE GIVEN TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECTS.
APPLICATION FORMS AND GUIDELINES ON FUNDING ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, 11TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE BEFORE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO MISS PATSY TANG ON TEL. 8523462.
----------------0-------- MUSIC OFFICE ANNUAL GALA NEXT MONTH *****
MORE THAN 500 YOUNG MUSICIANS WILL PERFORM AT THE MUSIC OFFICE'S ANNUAL GALA TO BE HELD AT THE HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE CONCERT HALL ON MARCH 11. THE CONCERT WILL BEGIN AT 3 PM.
THE ANNUAL GALA IS THE FIRST MAJOR MUSICAL ACTIVITY ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE IN THE YEAR OF THE HORSE DURING WHICH THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ITS TRAINEES UNDER THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME IN THE PAST YEAR CAN BE REVIEWED.
A MUSIC OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID THE EVENT WOULD PROVIDE THE TRAINEES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM IN PUBLIC BEFORE THEIR PARENTS, TEACHERS \ND FRIENDS.
"PARENTS, WHEN WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN PERFORM ON STAGE AND PARTICULARLY BEFORE A LARGE AUDIENCE. WOULD FEEL PROUD OF THE YOUNGSTERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS, HE SAID.
SOME OF THE TRAINEES PARTICIPATING IN THE CONCERT WERE WINNERS IN THE SCHOOLS MUSIC FESTIVAL OR HONG KONG’S REPRESENTATIVES TO INTERNATIONAL MUSIC CAMPS IN THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA IN THE PAST YEARS.
/THEIR OUTSTANDING ......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1990
- 19 -
THEIR OUTSTANDING PLAYING TECHNIQUE WILL SURELY GIVE THE AUDIENCE AN AFTERNOON OF GOOD MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
PERFORMING IN THE CONCERT WILL BE THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY BAND, HONG KONG YOUTH STRINGS, HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA, HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND THE MUSIC OFFICE YOUTH CHOIR.
THEY WILL PRESENT PIECES SUCH AS POPS MARCH "WONDERFUL DAY", AMERICAN FOLK SONG "HOME ON THE RANGE”, WEBER’S "DER FREISHUTZ OVERTURE”, AND THE CHINESE TRADITIONAL "HAPPY SPRING EVENING”.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS, MR HELMUT SOHMEN, WILL OFFICIATE AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY. OUTSTANDING TRAINEES, ORCHESTRAL, CHOIR AND BAND MEMBERS WILL BE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF MERIT OR AWARDS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENT.
TICKETS FOR THE ANNUAL GALA, AT $20 AND $30 EACH, ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL URBTIX OUTLETS. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 8235314 .
--------0-----------
NEW UC COMPLEX FOR NORTH POINT
t * * t
CONSTRUCTION WORK OF A FIVE-STOREY URBAN COUNCIL COMPLEX IN NORTH POINT WILL START THIS WEEK.
THE $90 MILLION-WORTH JAVA ROAD COMPLEX PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1992.
THE COMPLEX WILL HOUSE MARKET STALLS, COOKED FOOD STALLS, AN INDOOR GAMES HALL, SQUASH COURTS AND A DANCE ROOM.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL.: 5-8428777
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NATIONALITY PACKAGE WILL REDUCE BRAIN DRAIN ...................................... 1
AG SPEAKS ON LANGUAGE AND LAW .................................................... 2
MORE INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING URGED .............................................. 5
THIRD QUARTER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX RELEASED ............................... 7
REPORTS ON MANDARIN RESOURCES SUBMITTED ......................................... 10
MAJOR PROJECTS TO BEGIN IN SAI KUNG ............................................ 11
SPRING RECEPTION FOR TAI 0 ELDERLY ............................................. 12
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS BUS FARE INCREASE ...................................... 13
DB COMMITTEE TO REVIEW FUNDING PROCEDURES ....................................... 13
LAYING OF SUBMARINE CABLES AUTHORISED ........................................... 14
NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES TO STRENGTHEN SERVICES ................................. 14
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGMENTS IN KOWLOON BAY .................................... 16
RE-ROUTEING OF TSO KUNG STREET, TSUEN WAN ....................................... 16
WATER STORAGE FIGURE ............................................................ i7
WATER CUT IN KOWLOON TONG ....................................................... I7
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
NATIONALITY PACKAGE WILL REDUCE BRAIN DRAIN
THE OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOST SERIOUS DEPLETION THROUGH EMIGRATION AND ARE COSTLY TO REPLACE INCLUDE INFORMATION SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS, ACCOUNTANTS AND AUDITORS, ENGINEERS, LEGAL PROFESSIONALS AND MEDICAL DOCTORS.
THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD TSANG, SAID THIS AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT TODAY (MONDAY) WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM NATIONALITY PACKAGE.
POINTING OUT THAT NO LIMITED SCHEME COULD EVER HOPE TO PLEASE EVERYBODY, HE SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD TRY TO KEEP IN HONG KONG THOSE IT COULD LEAST AFFORD TO LOSE.
"IN SO FAR AS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO INFLUENCE THE SHAPE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM SCHEME, OUR OBJECTIVE WILL BE TO TARGET THE FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS AT THOSE AREAS OF THE WORKFORCE WHICH IN RELATIVE TERMS HAVE BEEN MOST HARD HIT BY EMIGRATION, WHERE JOB SKILLS ONCE LOST ARE MOST COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING TO REPLACE, AND WHERE POTENTIAL LOSSES ARE GREAT AND WOULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES," MR TSANG SAID.
HE SAID THIS WAS OF COURSE NO EASY TASK AND THERE WERE BOUND TO BE DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAD STRUCK THE RIGHT BALANCE.
"TAKING THOSE PEOPLE IN THE ’PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL’ CATEGORY AS AN EXAMPLE, WE ARE LOSING ABOUT 10,000 OF THEM EVERY YEAR THROUGH EMIGRATION.
"SOME OF THEM ARE NEAR RETIREMENT AGE. SOME OTHERS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR CAREERS IN HONG KONG. THEIR EMIGRATION INCURS RELATIVELY LESS COST TO THE COMMUNITY.
"HOWEVER, A PROPORTION OF THEM ARE YOUNG, BETTER EDUCATED AND WOULD REMAIN ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE THROUGH 1997. THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT ASSET TO HONG KONG," MR TSANG SAID.
"IF WE APPLY THE BULK OF THE 50,000 PLACES AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM NATIONALITY PACKAGE SELECTIVELY TO THE LATTER GROUP, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REDUCE BRAIN DRAIN IN OUR PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGERIAL CLASS FOR THE SHORT AND MEDIUM TERM," HE ADDED.
EXPANDING ON THE CONCEPT RELATIVE OF LOSSES, MR TSANG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD DEVELOPED THE ABILITY TO IDENTIFY THE OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS OF PERSONS EMIGRATING.
"THAT IS TO SAY, WE KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY PEOPLE LEAVING ARE FROM WHICH OCCUPATION CATEGORY. BUT ABSOLUTE NUMBERS ARE ONLY PART OF THE STORY," HE SAID.
/IF AN ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
- 2 -
IF AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY LOST, SAY, 500 PEOPLE IN A PERIOD OF ONE OR TWO YEARS, THAT MIGHT SOUND MUCH MORE SERIOUS THAN THE PROBLEM OF ANOTHER EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY WHICH LOST ONLY 50 PEOPLE IN THE SAME PERIOD, HE SAID.
"BUT IF THE TOTAL STOCK OF SUCH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IS 20,000 AND 200 RESPECTIVELY, THEN CLEARLY THE RELATIVE SIGNIFICANCE IS QUITE DIFFERENT," HE EXPLAINED.
EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, MR TSANG NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONFIDENT THAT IT NOW HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE ACTUAL NUMBERS OF PEOPLE EMIGRATING.
BASED ON THREE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF INFORMATION, THE GOVERNMENT WAS ABLE TO CONSTRUCT A USEFUL STATISTICAL MODEL WHICH ALLOWED A REASONABLE ASSESSMENT TO BE MADE OF THE OVERALL POSITION.
HE SAID FROM 1980-86, EMIGRATION FROM HONG KONG AVERAGED 20,000 PERSONS PER YEAR.
IN 1987, IT ROSE TO 30,000, IN 1988 TO 45,800 AND IN 1989 IT STAYED OVER 40,000 AT 42,000.
"THIS YEAR WE EXPECT A FURTHER INCREASE TO ABOUT 55,000," HE SAID.
MR TSANG SAID THE INFORMATION WAS AS DETAILED AND COMPREHENSIVE AS THE GOVERNMENT COULD EVER REASONABLY HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN A FREE SOCIETY WITHOUT TRESPASSING ON THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
"THERE ARE SMALL GREY AREAS WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO REFINE OUR KNOWLEDGE, BUT THERE ARE NO GREAT BLACK HOLES OF IGNORANCE," HE SAID.
-------------0-------- AG SPEAKS ON LANGUAGE AND LAW * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
LANGUAGE AND THE LAW WERE INEXTRICABLY RELATED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LANGUAGE AND LAW ORGANISED BY THE CITY POLYTECHNIC, MR MATHEWS SAID IT WAS THROUGH LANGUAGE THAT THE LAW WAS PROCLAIMED, WHETHER IT BE BY LEGISLATION OR DECISIONS OF THE COURTS.
"CONVERSELY, THE LAW HAS BEEN EMPLOYED TO PRESERVE AND FOSTER LANGUAGE RIGHTS, THAT IS, THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE TO USE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND HAVE IT USED IN RELATION TO THEM," HE SAID.
MR MATHEWS SAID THERE WAS ANOTHER DIMENSION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND THE LAW THAT WAS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT IN MULTILINGUAL SETTINGS.
/’’IT IS...........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
- 3 -
"IT IS THAT THE LAW SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO, AND THUS IN A LANGUAGE OR LANGUAGES CAPABLE OF BEING UNDERSTOOD BY, THE COMMUNITY IT IS DESIGNED TO SERVE," HE EXPLAINED.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THE BILINGUAL CHARACTER OF HONG KONG MADE IT AN APPROPRIATE PLACE IN WHICH TO HOLD A CONFERENCE ON THE THEME OF "LANGUAGE AND LAW IN MULTILINGUAL SETTINGS".
HE SAID THAT UNDER HONG KONG LAW. BOTH THE CHINESE LANGUAGE AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WERE DECLARED TO BE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES FOR THE PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MR MATHEWS POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH CHINESE WAS THE LANGUAGE OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION, FOR HISTORICAL REASONS THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG WAS BASED UPON THE COMMON LAW AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE COMMON LAW WAS ENGLISH.
OUTLINING THE BILINGUAL LEGISLATION PROGRAMME UNDER WAY IN HONG KONG, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID: "UNTIL APRIL 7, 1989, ALL LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG WAS IN ENGLISH."
AS FROM THAT DAY ALL NEW PRINCIPAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION WERE TO BE ENACTED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, HE SAID.
AS FOR EXISTING LEGISLATION. MR MATHEWS SAID THE PROCESS OF PREPARING THE CHINESE TEXT OF ORDINANCES HAD BEGUN.
THERE WERE 532 ORDINANCES AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES INVOLVED WAS ABOUT 20,000.
"PRIORITIES ARE BEING SET BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPRISING PRACTISING LAWYERS. LINGUISTS, A LEGAL ACADEMIC AND A LEGAL OFFICER FROM MY CHAMBERS AND CHAIRED BY A DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC AND LEGISLATOR," THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE CHINESE TEXT OF EACH EXISTING ORDINANCE WAS TO BE DECLARED AUTHENTIC BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
"BOTH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEXT AND THE CHINESE LANGUAGE TEXT OF A BILINGUAL ORDINANCE ARE DECLARED TO BE EQUALLY AUTHENTIC.
"THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF ONE LANGUAGE BEING PREFERRED TO THE OTHER. THE PROVISIONS OF A BILINGUAL ORDINANCE ARE PRESUMED TO HAVE THE SAME MEANING IN EACH AUTHENTIC TEXT.
"WHERE A COMPARISON OF THE AUTHENTIC TEXTS OF AN ORDINANCE DISCLOSES A DIFFERENCE OF MEANING WHICH THE RULES OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION ORDINARILY APPLICABLE DO NOT RESOLVE, THE MEANING THAT BEST RECONCILES THE TEXTS, HAVING REGARD TO THE OBJECT AND PURPOSES OF THE ORDINANCE, SHALL BE ADOPTED," MR MATHEWS EXPLAINED.
/HE SAID .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
4
HE SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF BILINGUAL DRAFTING EXPERTISE WAS THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE BILINGUAL LEGISLATION PROGRAMME.
A BILINGUAL LAW TEAM WAS SET UP IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS IN 1986.
"PRESENTLY THIS TEAM CONSISTS OF NINE DRAFTSMEN AND 18 LAW TRANSLATORS. TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE OF HAVING ALL STATUTE LAW AVAILABLE IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH BEFORE 1997, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO EXPAND THIS TEAM," MR MATHEWS SAID.
TURNING TO DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN PREPARING CHINESE LANGUAGE TEXTS OF LEGISLATION ORIGINALLY DRAFTED IN ENGLISH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WAS LACK OF APPROPRIATE TERMS IN CHINESE TO DESCRIBE CONCEPTS THAT WERE OFTEN PECULIAR TO THE COMMON LAW.
HE CITED THE TERMS "POSSESSION", "RECKLESS" AND "OFFENCE" TO ILLUSTRATE THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED.
MR MATHEWS SAID IT WAS NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE SIMPLY TO ADOPT - CHINESE TERMS USED IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE LAWS WERE ENACTED IN CHINESE.
"WHERE THERE IS A DIFFERENT CHINESE TERM ALREADY IN USE IN HONG KONG IT WILL OFTEN BE PREFERRED, THOUGH IT MAY BE A PECULIARLY LOCAL TERM AND CONSIDERED BY SOME TO BE COLLOQUIAL.
"AFTER ALL, THE LAW MUST SERVE THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND BE UNDERSTOOD BY THEM," HE SAID.
MR MATHEWS ALSO MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER ELEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BILINGUAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG WAS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE USE OF CHINESE IN THE COURTS.
"A WORKING PARTY UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS REGARD.
"MORE RECENTLY. ANOTHER WORKING PARTY HAS BEEN FORMED TO CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, MEASURES FOR THE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF COURT DOCUMENTS, THAT ARE PRESENTLY FRAMED IN ENGLISH, BY PERSONS ON WHOM THEY ARE SERVED WHO ARE NOT LITERATE IN ENGLISH," HE SAID.
/5........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
- 5 -
MORE INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING URGED
*****
TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY MUST BE MORE INNOVATIVE, PRODUCE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND ADD GREATER VALUE TO ITS PRODUCTS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
"HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS ARE NOW FACING INCREASING COMPETITION IN OUR OVERSEAS MARKETS WHICH ARE BECOMING MORE SOPHISTICATED. THOSE WHO BUY OUR PRODUCTS EXPECT EVER HIGHER STANDARDS OF QUALITY," HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS CONCERNING THE SECOND GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY, MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO ASSISTING THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TO ACHIEVE HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPROVEMENTS IN QUALITY OF PRODUCTS AND IN CREATIVITY IN DESIGN.
"THIS IS DONE BY PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SERVICES TO INDUSTRY THROUGH THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS," HE ADDED.
MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1989 TO AWARD MANUFACTURERS WHO HAD ACHIEVED EXCELLENCE IN THE KEY ELEMENTS OF INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS.
"THE AWARD COVERS FOUR MAIN AREAS: CONSUMER PRODUCT DESIGN: MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN: PRODUCTIVITY; AND QUALITY," HE SAID.
THE CONSUMER PRODUCT DESIGN AND MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN AWARD CATEGORIES ARE PRODUCT-BASED, AND RECOGNISE RESPECTIVELY THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD DESIGN IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND IN MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING.
THE PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY AWARD CATEGORIES ARE COMPANY-BASED, AND RECOGNISE ENDEAVOURS BY HONG KONG COMPANIES TO ACHIEVE IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND BETTER QUALITY IN THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
MR CHAN SAID ANNUAL COMPETITIONS WOULD BE HELD IN EACH CATEGORY, RUN BY DIFFERENT ORGANISATIONS.
THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES IS THE LEADING ORGANISER FOR THE CONSUMER PRODUCT DESIGN CATEGORY; THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION FOR THE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN CATEGORY; THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL FOR THE PRODUCTIVITY CATEGORY; AND THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR THE QUALITY CATEGORY.
MR CHAN SAID THERE WOULD BE ONE GOVERNOR’S AWARD IN EACH AWARD CATEGORY WHICH WOULD ENTITLE ITS HOLDER TO DISPLAY AN OFFICIAL LOGO FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
HE URGED LOCAL MANUFACTURERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITIONS.
/"THE AWARD .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 199< ,
- 6 -
"THE AWARD WILL BE THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRY AND WINNING IT WILL BE SEEN AS AN OUTSTANDING HONOUR, ACHIEVED AGAINST FIERCE COMPETITION, WITH A LASTING VALUE," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THE FIRST GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY WAS MADE IN JUNE LAST YEAR IN THE CONSUMER PRODUCT DESIGN AND MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN CATEGORIES.
HE SAID THE SECOND GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY WOULD BE HELD ON OCTOBER 30 THIS YEAR AND THAT AWARDS WOULD BE MADE IN ALL FOUR CATEGORIES.
AS WITH THE FIRST GOVERNOR’S AWARD, THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, AND THE AWARDS WILL BE PERSONALLY PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR T.H. BARMA, SAID THE GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY IN THE QUALITY AREA WAS ADMINISTERED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND AIMED AT PROMOTING A WIDER APPRECIATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY AMONG HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS.
UNDER THE AWARD SCHEME, THERE -ARE SIX PRODUCT CATEGORIES, NAMELY CLOTHING, ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, TEXTILES, WATCHES AND CLOCKS, TOYS AND DOLLS, AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS.
ALL COMPANIES MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG WHICH QUALIFY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF HONG KONG ORIGIN ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER FOR THE COMPETITION AND IN ANY ONE CATEGORY.
"THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT MAY RECATEGORISE AN ENTRY TO A DIFFERENT PRODUCT CATEGORY IF IT THINKS IT HAS BEEN WRONGLY ASSIGNED," MR BARMA SAID.
HE SAID ENTRIES FOR THE QUALITY AWARD WOULD BE EVALUATED ON TWO MAIN CRITERIA.
"THE FIRST CRITERION IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH A COMPANY’S QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM APPLIED TO DESIGN, MATERIALS SOURCING, PRODUCTION AND TESTING ELIMINATES DELAYS AND REJECTIONS DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AFTERWARDS.
"THE SECOND CRITERION IS Till QUALITY OF THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTS, IN TERMS OF FITNESS FOR PURPOSE, CONSISTENCY OF PERFORMANCE, APPEARANCE, VALUE FOR MONEY AND SAFENESS," HE SAID.
ENTRIES WILL BE EVALUATED IN JUNE AND JULY BY A PANEL OF JUDGES TO BE APPOINTED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
"THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT MAY NEED ACCESS TO A MANUFACTURER’S PREMISES AT THIS STAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT ALL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL," HE SAID.
/MR BARMA .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 19n
MR BARMA SAID THERE WOULD BE ONE WINNING ENTRY TN EACH OF THE SIX CATEGORIES AND THESE SIX WINNING ENTRIES WOULD EACH RECEIVE AN INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT QUALITY AWARD.
"THE PANEL OF JUDGES WILL ALSO SELECT FROM AMONG THE SIX WINNING ENTRIES ONE OVERALL WINNING ENTRY. THIS WILL RECEIVE THE GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY: QUALITY," HE SAID.
MR BARMA CALLED ON MANUFACTURERS INTERESTED IN THE QUALITY AWARD COMPETITION TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FORM AND RETURN IT 1 THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT BY APRIL 28.
BROCHURES AND APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICFS AND CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED ON REQUEST BY TELEPHONING THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ON 7360003. ENQUIRIES ON THE COMPETITION MAY ALSO BE DIRECTED TO THIS TELEPHONE NUMBER.
-----0------
THIRD QUARTER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX RELEASED
*****
THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989, AT 134, STOOD AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THAT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS COMPARES WITH THE YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATES OF 3.8 PER CENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND 1.7 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1989. THE AVERAGE GROWTH RATE FOR 1988 OVER 1987 WAS 6.0 PER CENT.
COMPARED WITH THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1989, AND BEARING IN MIND THE POSSIBLE INFLUENCE OF SEASONAL FACTORS, THE INDEX SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 11 POINTS OR 8.9 PER CENT.
INDUSTRIES SHOWING THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN PRODUCTION IN THE THIRD QUARTER 01 1989 OVER THE SAME QUARTER OF 1988 WERE: NEWSPAPER PRINTING, JOB PRINTING AND OTHER PRINTING (+18.1 PER CENT): TOBACCO (+17.3 PER CENT); TEXTILES (INCLUDING KNITTING) (+8.9 PERCENT); CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS (+5.7 PER CENT); AND MACHINERY, EXCEPT ELECTRICAL (+5.2 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME INDUSTRIES REPORTED DECREASES IN PRODUCTION COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988.
AMONG THEM WERE: RUBBER PRODUCTS (-24.3 PER CENT): LEATHER PRODUCTS AND FOOTWEAR (EXCEPT RUBBER, PLASTIC AND WOODEN FOOTWEAR) (-21.3 PER CENT); PLASTIC PRODUCTS (-16.9 PER CENT); FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, EXCEPT MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (-16.1 PER CENT): AND WOOD AND CORK PRODUCTS, AND FURNITURE AND FIXTURES (EXCEPT PRIMARILY OF METAL) (-15.0 PER CENT).
/COMPARING THE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
8
COMPARING THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WITH THAT IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER BUT BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON IS AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED REPORTED INCREASES IN PRODUCTION.
THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE FOLLOWING INDUSTRIES: BEVERAGE (+28.3 PER CENT); TOBACCO (+23.4 PER CENT); NEWSPAPER PRINTING, JOB PRINTING AND OTHER PRINTING (+20.4 PER CENT); AND TEXTILES (INCLUDING KNITTING) (+15.4 PER CENT).
IN RELEASING THESE FIGURES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO REFLECT THE CHANGES OVER TIME OF LOCAL MANUFACTURING OUTPUT IN REAL TERMS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE VOLUME OF LOCAL PRODUCTION IS MEASURED AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE "REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, THIRD QUARTER", WHICH IS ON SALE AT $3 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER I, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI. REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 8234832.
FOLLOWING IS A TABLE SHOWING CHANGES IN THE INDEXES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN GREATER DETAIL:
INDEXES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION BY INDUSTRY GROUP
(1986=100)
INDUSTRY GROUP INDEXES FOR 3RD QTR. 1989 PERCENTAGE CHANGE OVER
3RD QTR. 1988 2ND QTR. 1989
FOOD 125 + 2.5 + 12.6
BEVERAGE 145 + 2.8 + 28.3
TOBACCO 190 + 17.3 + 23.4
/WEARING APPAREL .......
MONDAY, FEBRARUY 12, 1990
9 —
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT KNITWEAR AND FOOTWEAR 121 + 3.4 + 12.0
TEXTILES (INCLUDING KNITTING) 135 + 8.9 + 15.4
PAPER AND PAPER PRODUCTS 215 + 2.4 + 9.7
NEWSPAPER PRINTING, JOB PRINTING AND OTHER PRINTING 183 + 18.1 + 20.4
CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS 130 + 5.7 + 4.0
RUBBER PRODUCTS 103 -24.3 + 6.2
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 98 -16.9 + 8.9
NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS 122 - 2.4 + 8.9
BASIC METALS 136 - 7.5 - 4.9
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, EXCEPT MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 130 -16.1 + 4.0
MACHINERY, EXCEPT ELECTRICAL 183 + 5.2 - 4.7
CONSUMER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS 133 - 6.3 0.0
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PARTS, ACCESSORIES AND MACHINERY 169 - 1.2 + 5.6
PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT, PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 141 + 4.4 + 10.2
LEATHER PRODUCTS AND FOOTWEAR (EXCEPT RUBBER, PLASTIC AND WOODEN FOOTWEAR) 118 -21.3 - 5.6
WOOD AND CORK PRODUCTS, AND FURNITURE AND FIXTURES (EXCEPT PRIMARILY OF METAL) 85 -15.0 0.0
TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 107 - 5.3 - 5.3
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED 128 - 3.0 + 4 . 1
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES 134 O 1 O 1 + 8.9
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/10........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
10 REPORTS ON MANDARIN RESOURCES SUBMITTED * * ♦ t *
THE INSPECTORS APPOINTED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF MANDARIN RESOURCES CORPORATION LTD HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTS TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THE INSPECTORS, MESSRS ROBERT KOTEWALL, QC, AND DAVID JORDAN, A PARTNER IN KWAN WONG TAN & FONG, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, WERE APPOINTED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN JUNE 1989 PURSUANT TO SECTION 143(3)(C) OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.
"THEY WERE SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO EXAMINE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FORFEITURE OF 84,060,000 AND 48,000,000 SHARES OF THE COMPANY ON JUNE 21, 1988 AND SEPTEMBER 23, 1988 RESPECTIVELY.
"THE INSPECTORS WERE OF THE VIEW THAT ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY, THE FORFEITURES WERE CARRIED OUT IN GOOD FAITH AND FOR ITS INTENDED BENEFIT, EVEN THOUGH WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT AND MATERIAL NOT AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY AT THE MATERIAL TIMES, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY JUSTIFIED," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN THIS RESPECT, THE INSPECTORS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD ENDEAVOUR TO ASCERTAIN, LOCATE AND COMPENSATE THOSE GENUINE SHAREHOLDERS WHOSE SHARES HAVE BEEN FORFEITED.
"THE GOVERNMENT SHARES THE CONCERN OF THE INSPECTORS AS IT BELIEVES THAT ANY MATTER WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE INTERESTS OF BONA FIDE PURCHASERS OF SHARES COULD HAVE WIDE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE IMAGE OF HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE," HE POINTED OUT.
A COPY OF THE INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTS HAS BEEN SENT TO THE COMPANY FOR ANY ACTION IT CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE.
THE INSPECTORS HAVE ALSO MADE OTHER FINDINGS AND COMMENTS TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN THEIR REPORTS. AS THESE ARE MAINLY RELATED TO MATTERS IN WHICH CIVIL LITIGATION IS PENDING OR WHICH MAY BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, IT IS CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO BE PUBLISHED.
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/Il ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
MAJOR PROJECTS TO BEGIN IN SAI KUNG * * * * *
THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FREDERICK TONG, TODAY (MONDAY) REPORTED ON TMK MAJOR FACILITIES COMPLETED IN THE DISTRICT LAST YEAR AND OUTLINED THE IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT WOULD START DURING THE YEAR OF THE HORSE.
SPEAKING AT THE SPRING RECEPTION HELD BY THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE, MR TONG SAID A NUMBER OF HOUSING ESTATES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN TSEUNG KWAN O WERE COMPLETED AND COMMISSIONED, AND MANY VILLAGE FACILITIES IN SAI KUNG WERE IMPROVED LAST YEAR.
’’TSEUNG KWAN O WILL BE SERVED BY MORE FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDE THE TSEUNG KWAN O TUNNEL AND ITS ASSOCIATED ROADS, ADDITIONAL BUS ROUTES, AN INDOOR GAMES HALL AT TSUI LAM ESTATE AND A CLINIC IN YAU YUE WAN IN THE COMING YEAR.
’’KING LAM ESTATE, YAN MING COURT AND FU NING GARDENS IN TSEUNG KWAN O ARE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED AND ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE NEW TOWN HIS YEAR.
"IN THIS RESPECT, THE DISTRICT OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THESE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND WILL STRENGTHEN CONTACTS BETWEEN THE NEW RESIDENTS AND VARIOUS CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WITH A VIEW TO SOLVING RESIDENTS' PROBLEMS AT AN EARLY STAGE."
AS FOR THE DEVELOPMENTS IN SAI KUNG, MR TONG SAID THE FIRST PART OF THE HIRAM’S HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT WORK WOULD COMMENCE LATER THIS MONTH AND WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1992.
OUTLINING OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS IN THE AREA, MR TONG SAID RECLAMATION WORK AT CHUNG MEI TUK WOULD BEGIN THIS YEAR AND THE LAND MADE AVAILABLE WOULD BE USED FOR BUILDING RURAL HOUSING BLOCKS.
RECLAMATION WOULD ALSO TAKE PLACE IN SAI KUNG TOWN AND PART OF THE RECLAIMED LAND HAD BEEN EARMARKED FOR CAR PARKING TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTAGE OF THE FACILITY.
"TO IMPROVE THE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAIN TASK OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE," THE DISTRICT OFFICER STRESSED.
"MORE THAN 60 VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS COSTING A TOTAL OF $2.2 MILLION WERE COMPLETED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE IN THE 1989-90 FINANCIAL YEAR.
"THESE INCLUDED PROVIDING STREET LIGHTING AND SUPPLYING TAP WATER TO MANY VILLAGES," HE SAID.
ON COMMUNITY BUILDING, MR TONG SAP THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAD HIGH REGARD FOR THE ROLE PLAYED BY AREA COMMITTEES AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES.
/WITH THE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
- 12 -
WITH THE FORMATION OF THE PAR SHA WAN AND TSEUNG KWAN O AREA COMMITTEES LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF AREA COMMITTEES, IN THE DISTRICT HAD DOUBLED TO FOUR. FOUR MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES WERE ALSO SET UP DURING THE PERIOD. AT PRESENT, THERE WERE 53 MAC’S IN SAI KUNG, MR TONG ADDED.
THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR LEO KWAN, WAS THE GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE SPRING RECEPTION, WHICH WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, VILLAGES AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
-----0--------
SPRING RECEPTION FOR TAI O ELDERLY
*****
MORE THAN 400 SENIOR RESIDENTS OF TAI O ON LANTAU ISLAND WILL ATTEND A SPRING RECEPTION TO BE HELD AT THE PO LIN MONASTERY TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TAI O RURAL COMMITTEE AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, THE SPRING RECEPTION IS BEING HELD TO HONOUR ELDERS IN TAI 0.
SIMILAR ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN HELD IN OTHER RURAL AREAS OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT.
A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR LAM WAI-KEUNG, AND THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KIM SALKELD, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE SPRING RECEPTION, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT NOON.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TAI O SPRING RECEPTION FOR THE ELDERLY TO BE HELD AT THE PO LIN MONASTERY ON LANTAU TOMORROW (TUESDAY), BEGINNING AT NOON.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES CAN ASSEMBLE AT HONG KONG FERRY PIER TO OUTLYING ISLANDS, CENTRAL AT 9.15 AM AND TAKE THE 9.30 AM FERRY TO MUI WO. INFORMATION OFFICER, MR RAYMOND TAM, WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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/13 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS BUS FARE INCREASE ******
THE SHA TIN DISTRIC1 BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE PROPOSED FARE INCREASES BY THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER WILL ENQUIRE ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS ON ROUTE 5. NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD, TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL AND KWUN TONG BYPASS.
HE WILL ALSO ASK THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO CONTROL NOISE POLLUTION CAUSED BY BUSES.
ANOTHER MEMBER WILL ASK WHETHER THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD CONSIDER RE-ROUTING BUS ROUTES OPERATING BETWEEN THE NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES AND KOWLOON VIA SHA TIN WEST AS BUSES ON THESE ROUTES ARE SELDOM FULL EVEN DURING PEAK HOURS.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE PROPOSED ESTIMATES FOR 1990-91 AND A REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE’S WORKING GROUP.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR. KCR HOUSE. SHA TIN STATION. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
------0-------
DB COMMITTEE TO REVIEW FUNDING PROCEDURES ♦ * * t *
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW FUNDING PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA FOR VETTING APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS AT A MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND AREA COMMITTEES FOR CARRYING OUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE THE DRAFT ESTIMATE OF EXPENDITURE OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 1990-9 1 AND A SUBSIDY FOR THE DISTRICT NEWSPAPER.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
/14 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
14
LAYING OF SUBMARINE CABLES AUTHORISED *****
AUTHORISATION HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GRANT A WAYLEAVE TO CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY LIMITED TO LAY THREE SUBMARINE CABLES.
THE 132 KILOVOLT SUBMARINE CABLES WILL BE LAID WITHIN AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 366 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED BETWEEN TUEN MUN AND SHAM SHUI KOK.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED AND SECURED SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY TO LANTAU ISLAND TO MEET THE RAPIDLY INCREASING DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY.
THE WORK WILL COMMENCE IN NOVEMBER AND WILL BE COMPLETED AROUND FEBRUARY 1991.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE.
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED INVOLVED WILL BE INJURIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE ABOVE UNDERTAKING MAY DELIVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS A WRITTEN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 8 NEXT YEAR.
HE SHOULD STATE IN HIS SUBMISSION THE SUM OF MONEY WHICH HE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT IN FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF HIS CLAIM AND SHOULD SUBMIT SUCH PARTICULARS WHICH HE POSSESSES TO SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIM.
- - 0 - -
NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES TO STRENGTHEN SERVICES * * * * ♦
APPLICATIONS WILL BE INVITED FOR OPERATING 15 NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THE NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES ARE IN SHAM SHUI PO, MONG KOK, HO MAN TIN, TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN, YUEN LONG AND NORTH DISTRICT. DETAILS OF THESE ROUTES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 16).
APPLICATION MUST BE MADE ON THE APPROPRIATE APPLICATION FORM ENTITLED "APPLICATION FOR PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE IN RESPECT OF THE PACKAGES OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUS (SCHEDULED) ROUTES GAZETTED ON FEBRUARY 16" OBTAINABLE FREE OF CHARGE ON REQUEST FROM THE FOLLOWING OFFICES FROM FRIDAY:
/* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
- 15 -
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 28TH FLOOR, HIGH BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 66 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG;
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT KOWLOON AND NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL OFFICES, 25 TH FLOOR, PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 56 DUNDAS STREET, KOWLOON;
* HONG KONG LICENSING OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, 2 MURRAY ROAD, HONG KONG;
* KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICE, NINTH FLOOR, PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 56 DUNDAS STREET, KOWLOON;
* KWUN TONG LICENSING OFFICE, FIFTH FLOOR, KOWLOON EAST GOVERNMENT OFFICE, 12 LEI YUE MUN ROAD, KOWLOON;
* SHA TIN LICENSING OFFICE, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION, SHA TIN; AND
* ALL DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY REGISTERED POST TO REACH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT 28TH FLOOR, HIGH BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES ON OR BEFORE MARCH 6 THIS YEAR. APPLICATIONS BY ANY OTHER MEANS OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
"APPLICATIONS WILL THEN BE PROCESSED AND THE NEW ROUTES ARE EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED IN TWO TO THREE MONTHS’ TIME,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
A SELECTION BOARD COMPRISING AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OFFICIALS FROM THE TRANSPORT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL SELECT THE APPLICANTS ON THE BASIS OF THE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA LAID DOWN BY THE BOARD.
THESE CRITERIA INCLUDE EXPERIENCE OF THE APPLICANT IN TRANSPORT SERVICE, HIS FINANCIAL RESOURCES, HIS MANAGEMENT RIGHT OVER THE VEHICLES, THE MAINTENANCE RECORD OF THE VEHICLES AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF HIS VEHICLES TO BE DEPLOYED INCLUDING THE AVAILABILITY OF AIR-CONDITIONING.
"IF THE APPLICANT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OR MORE PERSONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPERATING THE GREEN MINIBUS SERVICES, IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT A COMPANY BE FORMED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE AND THE APPLICATION BE MADE IN THE NAME OF THE COMPANY," HE ADDED.
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/16.......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
- 16 -
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON BAY ♦ * » » ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN KOWLOON BAY BETWEEN 8 PM AND 7 AM THE NEXT DAY DAILY FROM FEBRUARY 14 (WEDNESDAY) TO FEBRUARY 27 BECAUSE OF ROAD WORKS.
WANG CHIU ROAD BETWEEN CHEUNG YIP STREET AND SHEUNG YEE ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
DURING THE CLOSURE, THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED:
» VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON HOI BUN ROAD WESTBOUND HEADING FOR WANG CHIU ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA CHEUNG YIP STREET AND SHEUNG YEE ROAD;
♦ VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON SHEUNG YEE ROAD EASTBOUND HEADING FOR HOI BUN ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA FLYOVER, NGAU TAU KOK ROAD, ELEGANCE ROAD AND LAI YIP STREET;
* VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON SHEUNG YEE ROAD WESTBOUND HEADING FOR HOI BUN ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA SHEUNG YUET ROAD, WANG KWONG ROAD, KAI CHEUNG ROAD, FLYOVER, NGAU TAU KOK ROAD, ELEGANCE ROAD AND LAI YIP STREET.
ALSO, GREEN MINIBUSES ON ROUTE 26 WILL BE DIVERTED VIA HOI BUN ROAD, CHEUNG YIP STREET, SHEUNG YEE ROAD, SHEUNG YUET ROAD, WANG KWUN ROAD, LAM LOK STREET, SHEUNG YUET ROAD AND SHEUNG YEE ROAD.
--------0-----------
RE-ROUTEING OF TSO KUNG STREET, TSUEN WAN ♦ ♦ * ♦ ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 14), TSO KUNG STREET BETWEEN HOI PA STREET AND SHA TSUI ROAD IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TRAFFIC TO ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
MOTORISTS ON HOI PA STREET HEADING FOR TSO KUNG STREET ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA HEUNG CHE STREET AND SHA TSUI ROAD.
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/17........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1990
WATER STORAGE FIGURE
*****
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 39.1 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 228.913 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 219.764 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 37.5 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - 0 - -
WATER CUT IN KOWLOON TONG ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN KOWLOON TONG WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 14) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT PREMISES AT RENFREW ROAD, HEREFORD ROAD, NORFOLK ROAD, SUFFOLK ROAD, KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, CORNWALL STREET AND NOS. 2-10 KAM SHING ROAD, INCLUDING JUNCTION ROAD, KENT ROAD, SOMERSET ROAD, DEVON ROAD, DORSET CRESCENT, WATERLOO ROAD, NOS. 2-14 YORK ROAD AND NOS. 2-18 EDE ROAD.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED ....................................... 1
ANOTHER U.S. STATE TO OPEN HK OFFICE ............................................. 3
LABOUR RELATIONS SITUATION REMAINS HEALTHY ....................................... 4
TEN QUESTIONS, FOUR BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA ........................................ 5
GOVERNOR TO VISIT KWUN TONG....................................................... 6
ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN WESTERN TO BE CLOSED ........................................ 7
WATER COT IN SHEUNG SHOT ......................................................... 7
URBAN CLEARWAY IN WAN CHAI ....................................................... 8
SPEED LIMIT IN KOWLOON BAY TO BE RAISED .......................................... 8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
- 1 -QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED *****
FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, ON AVERAGE, EXPERIENCED A SLIGHTLY LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989 COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY).
A DECLINE IN BUSINESS IS EXPECTED FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990 COMPARED WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989.
THESE COMPARISONS ARE, HOWEVER, LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS. THE FIRST QUARTER OF EACH YEAR IS USUALLY A SEASONAL LOW PERIOD WHILE THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS ARE NORMALLY MORE ACTIVE PERIODS AS FAR AS MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY IS CONCERNED.
WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, FIRMS IN THE PRINTING, WEARING APPAREL AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989 WHILE FIRMS IN THE TEXTILES, PLASTICS, ELECTRICAL MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES, FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED A DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS.
THE BUSINESS SITUATION IN RESPECT OF FIRMS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY REMAINED LARGELY STABLE.
IN REGARD TO BUSINESS PROSPECTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990, FIRMS IN THE TEXTILES, WEARING APPAREL, PLASTICS AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRIES EXPECT A DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT ALSO FIRMS IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, ELECTRICAL MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES. FIRMS IN THE FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO AND PRINTING INDUSTRIES, HOWEVER, EXPECT BUSINESS TO REMAIN STABLE.
FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR ACHIEVED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989 AND THEY ANTICIPATE A MILD INCREASE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS WAS EXPERIENCED BY FIRMS IN THE DISTRIBUTIVE AND CATERING TRADES SECTOR IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989, PARTICULARLY FOR HOTELS. THIS WAS PARTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO SEASONAL FACTORS.
REGARDING THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990, WHILE RESTAURANTS LOOK FORWARD TO ACHIEVING FURTHER INCREASE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER, A DECLINE IN BUSINESS IS EXPECTED BY HOTELS AND FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES.
IN THE OTHER SERVICES SECTOR, WHILE BANKS EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, THEY EXPECT A DECLINE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990.
/AS REGARDS .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
2 -
AS REGARDS TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES, A DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS WAS REPORTED FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, AND THIS SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990.
ABOUT 1,000 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES, FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY. THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCES AND EXPECTATIONS, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS PROBLEMS THEY FACED.
ALTHOUGH SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR AND SHORTAGE OF LABOUR GENERALLY CONTINUED TO AFFECT FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989, THESE PROBLEMS HAD BECOME LESS SEVERE COMPARED WITH THE SITUATION IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTERS.
FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR CONTINUED TO BE AFFECTED BY SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR, HIGH WAGE RATES, SHORTAGE OF LABOUR GENERALLY AND PRICE COMPETITION FROM LOCAL FIRMS IN HONG KONG IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989. THE SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN SIMILAR IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF FIRMS IN THE DISTRIBUTIVE AND CATERING TRADES SECTOR AND OTHER SERVICES SECTOR CITED SHORTAGE OF STAFF GENERALLY, HIGH STAFF TURNOVER AND HIGH STAFF COSTS AS THE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989 AND THEY EXPECT THIS SITUATION TO CONTINUE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990.
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. HOTELS WERE ALSO AFFECTED BY INSUFFICIENT BUSINESS AND PRICE COMPETITION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.
FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES REPORTED PRICE COMPETITION AS THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989, THEY EXPECT THE SAME PROBLEM TO PERSIST IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990.
MEANWHILE. MORE FIRMS TN THE TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES EXPECT INSUFFICIENT BUSINESS TO BE THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990, AS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.
IN THE CASE OF BANKS, PRICE COMPETITION EMERGED AS A PROMINENT PROBLEM IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989 AND THE PROBLEM IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, THE SURVEY RESULTS. OBTAINED WITH A MINIMUM TIME LAG, ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE A SOURCE OF REFERENCE FOR MAKING A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION OF HONG KONG.
/IN THE ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
- 3 -
IN THE SURVEY, PARTICIPATING FIRMS WERE ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER, IN THEIR OPINION, THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION AND LEVEL OF CAPACITY UTILISATION HAD "IMPROVED”, "REMAINED THE SAME" OR "DETERIORATED" IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989 AS COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER. THEY WERE ALSO ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER THE SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO "IMPROVE", "REMAIN THE SAME" OR "DETERIORATE" IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990.
THE OPINIONS OF RESPONDENTS WERE TABULATED AND ANALYSED. MOREOVER, THE SURVEY REPORT CONTAINS A SECTION ON THE BUSINESS PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED AND EXPECTED BY FIRMS IN DIFFERENT ECONOMIC SECTORS, AND A BREAKDOWN OF THE VIEWS OF FIRMS BY SIZE GROUPS.
THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT, IN A SURVEY OF THIS NATURE, THE RESULTS SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH CAUTION AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH PRECISELY THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESPONDENTS’ RECOLLECTION OF THE PAST AND PERCEPTION OF THE FUTURE ACCORDS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRENDS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN COPIES OF THE SURVEY REPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AND FROM THE PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WAN CHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT $5 PER COPY.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE NATIONAL INCOME BRANCH OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 8234779.
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ANOTHER U.S. STATE TO OPEN HK OFFICE ♦ * ♦ * *
THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN NEW YORK, MR KERRY MCGLYNN, YESTERDAY (MONDAY) WELCOMED THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY OHIO THAT THE STATE WAS TO OPEN AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG TO STRENGTHEN TRADE RELATIONS WITH EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.
THE OHIO STATE OFFICE IS TO OPEN IN APRIL. MR MCGLYNN SAID OHIO WOULD THEN JOIN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK AS THE THIRD U.S. STATE TO OPEN AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG WITHIN 12 MONTHS.
"THIS IS FURTHER CONCRETE RECOGNITION OF HONG KONG’S ROLE AS THE GATEWAY TO CHINA AND TO THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION," HE SAID.
MR MCGLYNN AND OTHER OFFICIALS FROM HIS OFFICE HAD BEEN TO COLUMBUS, OHIO ON TWO OCCASIONS TO DISCUSS THE OPENING OF SUCH AN OFFICE AND WAYS AND MEANS OF EXPANDING TRADE AND OTHER CONTACTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND OHIO STATE.
/"I AM.........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
"I Ah REALLY DELIGHTED THAT OHOI HAS GONE AHEAD WITH PLANS TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG.
"I WELCOME THE DECISION, JUST AS I AM SURE THE HONG KONG BUSINESS COMMUNITY DO, BECAUSE IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY MEAN GREATER BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH HONG KONG AND OHIO," HE SAID.
"IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HONG KONG TO DEVELOP ITS TIES WITH A VERY IMPORTANT AND PROSPEROUS MID-WEST AMERICAN STATE," MR MCGLYNN ADDED.
THE OHIO OFFICE IN HONG KONG WILL BE HEADED BY MR CHEN CHUNG-MIN, AN OHIO CITIZEN WHO IS AN EXPERT IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN AFFAIRS AND WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS CONSULTANT FOR A NUMBER OF OHIO TRADE MISSIONS TO ASIA.
MR CHEN IS ALSO FAMILIAR WITH HONG KONG HAVING BEEN THERE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
- - 0---------
LABOUR RELATIONS SITUATION REMAINS HEALTHY
*****
THE LABOUR RELATIONS SITUATION IN HONG KONG HAS IN GENERAL REMAINED HEALTHY, DESPITE A FEW LABOUR DISPUTES LAST YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR HAMMOND MAINTAINED THAT THE SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION, COMPROMISE AND MUTUAL TRUST BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WAS STILL PREVALENT IN MOST WORK SITUATIONS.
HE TOLD ABOUT 600 EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES REPRESENTATIVES AT A SPRING RECEPTION THAT THE NUMBER OF WORK STOPPAGES AND WORKING DAYS LOST DUE TO STRIKES WERE VERY LOW BY WORLD STANDARDS.
THF RECEPTION WAS HOSTED JOINTLY BY THE LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
MR HAMMOND WAS ALSO CONFIDENT THAT THE HARMONIOUS ATMOSPHERE ON THE LABOUR SCENE WOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE CURRENT YEAR AND BEYOND.
NOTING THE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS MADE LAST YEAR IN THE FIELD OF LABOUR LEGISLATION, HE SAID THE LAWS ONLY PROVIDED FOR THE MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.
"IN HANDLING MATTERS INVOLVING HUMAN RELATIONS, IT WOULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO BECOME TOO LEGALISTIC," HE ADDED.
/•'ENLIGHTENED MANAGEMENT.........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
- 5 -
"ENLIGHTENED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AN UNDERSTANDING ATTITUDE, AND FAIR AND EFFECTIVE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION ARE ALWAYS MORE CONDUCIVE TO GOOD LABOUR RELATIONS THAN STICKING METICULOUSLY TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW," HE EXPLAINED.
TO IMPROVE LABOUR RELATIONS, MR HAMMOND FELT THAT PROMOTIONAL WORK WAS AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT AS LABOUR LEGISLATION.
"OUR ACTIVITIES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIRECTED TOWARDS ENHANCING THE CONCEPT OF ’TRIPARTITE CO-OPERATION’, NAMELY CO-OPERATION THROUGH THE CONCERTED EFFORTS OF EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE GOVERNMENT,” HE SAID.
"WE HOPE TO ENCOURAGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE TRIPARTITE COMMITTEES IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES WHICH WILL BE ABLE TO TACKLE THEIR OWN PARTICULAR PROBLEMS.
"WE SHALL ALSO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE SETTING UP OF MORE PROVIDENT FUNDS AND RETIREMENT SCHEMES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND ADVISE AND ASSIST INDIVIDUAL TRADES AND INDUSTRIES IN THE BETTER UTILISATION OF THEIR MANPOWER RESOURCES," MR HAMMOND SAID.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE SPRING RECEPTION WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD, MR CHAN SU1-KAU.
MR CHAN AGREED THAT TRIPARTITE PARTICIPATION BY EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN PROMOTING HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS.
HE NOTED THAT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES HAD BEEN POSITIVE AND COOPERATIVE IN PROMOTING THEIR COMMON INTERESTS.
"EMPLOYEES ARE BENT ON WORKING HARD IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE WEALTH OF SOCIETY, WHILE EMPLOYERS ARE ALSO WILLING TO LET THEIR EMPLOYEES SHARE THE FRUITS OF PROSPERITY," MR CHAN SAID.
------0--------
TEN QUESTIONS, FOUR BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA *****
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL ASK A TOTAL OF 10 QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER FOUR BILLS IN THE COUNCIL’S MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION BILL 1990 AND THE GAS SAFETY BILL 1990 WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
/SECOND READING .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
- 6 -
SECOND READING DEBATES ON THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1989 AND THE HONG KONG SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD BILL 1989 WILL RESUME. WHEN THESE ARE COMPLETED EACH BILL IS DUE TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND BE GIVEN A THIRD READING.
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, WILL TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
------0-------
GOVERNOR TO VISIT KWUN TONG * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WILL VISIT KWUN TONG ON ♦ THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 15) AFTERNOON TO SEE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
SIR DAVID WILL HAVE A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE AIRPORT AND KOWLOON BAY FROM THE ROOFTOP OF A BUILDING IN RICHLAND GARDENS.
HE WILL ALSO VISIT A FAMILY IN SHUN ON ESTATE WHERE HE WILL HAVE A PANORAMIC VIEW OF, AND BE BRIEFED ON, THE JORDAN VALLEY LANDFILL.
H
AFTER VISITING AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING AND TOURING THE TOWN CENTRE, SIR DAVID WILL MEET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND LOCAL PERSONALITIES AT A TEA RECEPTION.
******
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO KWUN TONG ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 15) AFTERNOON.
TRANSPORT FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MIDDLE ROAD (NEAR THE YMCA) IN TSIM SHA TSUI, AND WILL LEAVE FOR THE ’RICHLAND GARDENS AT 2 PM.
THOSE USING THEIR OWN TRANSPORT ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE BLOCK 7 IN RICHLAND GARDENS, BEFORE 2.45 PM.
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/7.........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
7
ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN WESTERN TO BE CLOSED
******
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS TO SEEK THE CLOSURE OF THE GROUND FLOOR AND THE UNAUTHORISED COCKLOFT AT SHOP ONE, 55-59 HILL ROAD, WESTERN DISTRICT.
THE CLOSURE IS TO ENABLE THE DEMOLITION OF THE UNAUTHORISED COCKLOFT AND THE REINSTATEMENT OF A TOILET TO BE CARRIED OUT WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS OR TO THE PUBLIC.
THE CLOSURE IS PART OF AN EXERCISE TO ENFORCE AN ORDER ISSUED UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE ON NOVEMBER 19, 1987, REQUIRING THE DEMOLITION OF THE UNAUTHORISED COCKLOFT AND THE REINSTATEMENT OF A TOILET.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON MAY 1 THIS YEAR WAS POSTED ON A CONSPICUOUS PART OF THE BUILDING TODAY (TUESDAY).
IT IS INTENDED THAT DEMOLITION AND REINSTATEMENT WORKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDER IS OBTAINED.
- - 0----------
WATER CUT IN SHEUNG SHUI
* * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN VILLAGES IN SHEUNG SHUI WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 15) TO FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT CERTAIN VILLAGES BESIDE FAN KAM ROAD INCLUDING LIN TONG MEI CHOI YUEN TSUEN, YEE ON SAN TSUEN, CHIU KENG TSUEN, LAI TAU TSUI, YING PUN TSUEN, PANG UK TSUEN CHAN UK PO AND TAM SHUI HANG VILLAGE.
/8.........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1990
URBAN CLEARWAY IN WAN CHAI * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 15), THE WESTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF SHIP STREET IN WAN CHAI FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH QUEEN’S ROAD EAST TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES TO THE NORTH WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY 24 HOURS DAILY FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT ONE WEEK TO FACILITATE WATERMAIN LAYING WORKS.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
- - 0 - -
SPEED LIMIT IN KOWLOON BAY TO BE RAISED *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 15), THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE FOLLOWING ROAD SECTIONS IN KOWLOON BAY WILL BE RAISED FROM 50 TO 70 KILOMETRES PER HOUR TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW:
* THE FLYOVER LINKING KWUN TONG ROAD AND WAI YIP STREET; AND
* THE SECTION OF WAI YIP STREET BETWEEN A POINT ABOUT 100 METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH HUNG YIP STREET AND THE FLYOVER.
- 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
CONTROL OF CAR REPAIRING OPERATIONS THROUGH LEASE CONDITIONS.... 1
INTENSIFIED PUBLICITY, EDUCATION AGAINST PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS .... 1
SHA ON PROPERTY OWNERSHIP BY PUBLIC HOUSING TENAbTTS ........... 3
STEPS TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE EXPANSION OF INTER'L SCHOOLS COMMUNITY ... 4
39 MONUMENTS PROTECTED UNDER ORDINANCE ......................... 5
EX-POW, WAR WIDOW GRANT RATES REVIEWED ANNUALLY ................ 6
FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM PROVIDES FOR CHOICE AND PROTECTION .. 6
ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES PROVED SUCCESSFUL ............ 7
REVIEWS OF CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, CIVIL SERVICE DEATH AND INJURY BENEFITS ...................................... 8
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE-MEDIUM SECONDARY EDUCATION ...................................................... 10
COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1989 PASSED ................. 12
COMPANIES BILL A COMMENDABLE EFFORT ............................ 13
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD BILL PASSED ........................... 14
OPPORTUNE TIME TO ESTABLISH ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION BODY ........ 14
FRAMEWORK FOR COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY LEGISLATION ON GASES ........ 16
TWO BILLS PASSED................................................ 18
MEMBERSHIP OF YOUTH COMMISSION ANNOUNCED ......................... 19
NEW MEMBER APPOINTED TO EXCHANGE FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE ......... 20
MEDICAL SERVICES IN NORTH DISTRICT ON AGENDA ..................... 21
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS .................. 21
PREPARATION WORK FOR WAN CHAI GREENERY PROJECT COMPLETED.......... 22
CAREERS DAYS TO HELP STUDENTS PLAN FOR FUTURE .................... 22
GOVT LAND TO LET BY TENDER ....................................... 23
APPLICATION BY POST CAN SAVE TIME ................................ 24
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI ................................. 25
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN CENTRAL ................................... 25
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
1
CONTROL OF CAR REPAIRING OPERATIONS THROUGH LEASE CONDITIONS
*******
IN NEW TOWNS, CONDITIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE LEASE TO PREVENT RESIDENTIAL PREMISES FROM BEING USED FOR CAR REPAIRING OPERATIONS OR INDEED ANY OTHER NON-RESIDENTIAL USE, AND THESE LEASE CONDITIONS ARE ENFORCED.
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, SAID THIS IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PEGGY LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"IN THE OLDER URBAN AREAS WHERE A LEASE MODIFICATION OR CONDITIONS OF EXCHANGE CAN BE IMPOSED ON REDEVELOPMENT, THE SAME CONTROLS ARE ALSO APPLIED.
"HOWEVER, IT HAS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT FOR EXISTING OPERATIONS IN THE OLDER URBAN AREAS THERE IS LITTLE THAT CAN BE DONE OTHER THAN TO MINIMISE THE ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCES THEY CAUSE," MR OXLEY SAID.
HE SAID THE CONTROL GOVERNMENT HAD AT PRESENT OVER THE USE OF BUILDINGS WAS PRIMARILY THROUGH THE ENFORCEMENT OF LEASE CONDITIONS.
"IN THE OLDER URBAN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT USUALLY POSSIBLE TO TAKE LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST CAR REPAIRING OPERATIONS BECAUSE THESE ARE OFTEN CARRIED OUT IN PREMISES WHERE THE USER CONDITIONS IN THE LEASES ARE EITHER SILENT OR UNRESTRICTED," MR OXLEY SAID.
"CAR REPAIRING OPERATIONS ARE REGARDED AS UNWELCOME IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCES THESE TEND TO CREATE.
"HOWEVER, THIS IS A PERENNIAL PROBLEM, WHICH I CANNOT CLAIM THAT GOVERNMENT HAS SOLVED OR INDEED CAN ENTIRELY SOLVE," HE SAID.
- - 0 - -
INTENSIFIED PUBLICITY, EDUCATION AGAINST PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
*****
IN VIEW OF THE INCREASING TREND OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED THE ADVICE OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS AND HAS INTENSIFIED PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE THRUST OF THESE EFFORTS WAS TWO-FOLD, MR BARNES SAID IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON DAVID CHEUNG.
/MR BARNES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
2 -
MR BARNES SAID THE NUMBER OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSERS AGED UNDER 21 REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE DID NOT REVEAL THE FULL PICTURE, BUT IT INDICATED A DEFINITE UPWARD TREND IN PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
THE NUMBER OF SUCH ABUSERS REPORTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS WERE 58 IN 1985, 131 IN 1986, 160 IN 1987, 256 IN 1988, AND 286 UP TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.
"THE DRUGS MOST COMMONLY ABUSED ARE CANNABIS, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 155 OR 54 PER CENT OF NEW CASES IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1989, AND MANDRAX, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 48, OR 17 PER CENT OF THESE CASES," MR BARNES SAID.
THERE WERE MANY REASONS WHY YOUNG PEOPLE ABUSED DRUGS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SAID.
"THE COMMON CAUSES ARE THOUGHT TO BE CURIOSITY, PEER PRESSURE, A MISPLACED DESIRE FOR FUN AND EXCITEMENT AND THE MISCONCEPTION THAT PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS ARE HARMLESS.
"MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO TEND TO IMITATE FOREIGN FASHIONS AND FOR SOME, REGRETTABLY, THIS INCLUDES TAKING DRUGS," HE EXPLAINED.
ON THE TWO-FOLD THRUST OF THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS, MR BARNES SAID: "FIRSTLY, PUBLICITY IS DIRECTED AT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND PARENTS IN PARTICULAR TO ENLIST THEIR SUPPORT IN ACTIVELY DISCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM STARTING ON DRUGS.
"AND SECONDLY, WE AIM TO PROMOTE AND EXPAND DRUG EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, WHICH STARTS AT PRIMARY 6 IN THE GENERAL CONTEXT OF BASIC HEALTH EDUCATION."
HE SAID THE DANGERS OF DRUGS WERE COVERED IN GREATER DETAIL IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL STUDIES, ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MORAL EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
MR BARNES SAID TO REMIND THOSE WHO HAD LEFT SCHOOLS OF THE DANGERS OF DRUGS, THE NARCOTICS DIVISION GAVE DRUG EDUCATION TALKS TO YOUNGSTERS IN YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ HOMES AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THE ACAN YOUTH VOLUNTEER GROUP WHICH SOLICITED YOUTH VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGNS AND THE YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME WHICH PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO YOUNG PEOPLE FROM YOUTH CENTRES, FACTORIES AND SCHOOLS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROJECTS.
MR BARNES SAID IN DECEMBER 1988, A YOUTH ADVISORY GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM A CROSS-SECTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAD BEEN FORMED TO ADVISE ACAN ON THE CURRENT THINKING OF YOUNGSTERS ON DRUG ABUSE ISSUES SO THAT REALISTIC PUBLICITY STRATEGIES COULD BE FORMULATED TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM IMPACT ON THE YOUNG.
/ON THE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 3 -
ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, POLICE AND CUSTOMS ACTION IN 1989 RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE OF OVER 400 KILOGRAMS OF CANNABIS.
THERE WAS A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN THE SEIZURE OF MANDRAX TABLETS WITH ABOUT 5,000 TABLETS SEIZED IN 1989 COMPARED TO 6,400 SEIZED IN 1988.
THIS WAS MAINLY DUE TO THE CONTROLS WHICH HAD BEEN IMPOSED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ON THE MANUFACTURE, SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THIS DRUG SINCE LATE 1986, MR BARNES ADDED.
- - 0---------
SHA ON PROPERTY OWNERSHIP BY PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS
FOLLOWING A PUBLIC DEBATE ON HOUSING SUBSIDY POLICY IN 1986, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT OWNERSHIP OF PRIVATE DOMESTIC ACCOMMODATION BY PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS SHOULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT AS A CONSIDERATION FOR THE TENANTS’ ELIGIBILITY TO REMAIN IN SUBSIDISED HOUSING.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG.
MR TSAO SAID THAT HOWEVER, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DECIDED THAT THE RELATIVELY PROSPEROUS TENANTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, RATHER THAN REQUIRED, TO VACATE THEIR PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS IN FAVOUR OF THOSE IN GREATER NEED.
HE SAID SINCE THE 1986 REVIEW ON HOUSING SUBSIDY, THIS POLICY HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY GIVING PRIORITY STATUS TO SITTING TENANTS IF THEY CHOSE TO PURCHASE AN HOME OWNERSHIP FLAT, AND MORE RECENTLY, TO TAKE OUT AN INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO PURCHASE A PRIVATE SECTOR FLAT, AND BY REQUIRING WELL-OFF TENANTS TO PAY HIGHER RENTS.
THE PRESENT HOUSING SUBSIDY POLICY HAD PROVED SUCCESSFUL, AND THE AUTHORITY INTENDED TO CONTINUE WITH IT "ALTHOUGH ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE REQUIRED TN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCE IN FUTURE", HE ADDED.
EARLIER, MR TSAO SAID THERE WAS NO READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS WHO WERE OWNERS OF PRIVATE DOMESTIC UNITS.
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/4 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
STEPS TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE EXPANSION OF INTER’L SCHOOLS COMMUNITY *****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ENCOURAGE THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS COMMUNITY TO EXPAND FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR’S POLICY ADDRESS LAST OCTOBER, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PAUL CHENG MING-FUN, MR YEUNG SAID INSOFAR AS THE ENGLISH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION WAS CONCERNED, ADDITIONAL PRIMARY PLACES WERE BEING PROVIDED BY EARLY 1991 IN NORTH KOWLOON AND SAI KUNG TO MEET THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN DEMAND ARISING FROM KNOWN PLANS TO EMPLOY LARGE NUMBERS OF EXPATRIATE STAFF IN THE AREA.
"TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON DEMAND FOR SECONDARY PLACES ON HONG KONG ISLAND, TWO EXISTING SCHOOLS HAVE INCREASED THEIR CAPACITY TEMPORARILY, AND A NEW ONE WILL BE BUILT, WITH A PLANNED OPENING DATE OF SEPTEMBER 1993," MR YEUNG SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT, ENROLMENT AT ALL ESF SCHOOLS WAS AT 85 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
"THE 1,300 ADDITIONAL PLACES ENVISAGED IN THE ESF’S DEVELOPMENT PLANS WILL INCREASE THE EXISTING CAPACITY BY 14 PER CENT AND THIS SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET LIKELY FUTURE DEMAND," HE SAID.
PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS WHICH MET SPECIFIED CRITERIA WERE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS OF LAND AT A NOMINAL PREMIUM, MR YEUNG EXPLAINED.
"SEVEN SITES HAVE BEEN GRANTED SO FAR, AND THREE APPLICATIONS ARE BEING PROCESSED : TWO FOR EXTENSIONS TO EXISTING SCHOOLS AND ONE FOR A NEW SCHOOL.
"ABOUT 2,000 ADDITIONAL PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED, AN INCREASE OF 49 PER CENT OVER EXISTING CAPACITY," HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE NEW DIRECT SUBSIDY SCHEME, PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS WOULD FOR THE FIRST TIME, BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A RECURRENT SUBSIDY.
"IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE LEVEL OF RECURRENT SUBSIDY WOULD BE AT LEAST 25 PER CENT OF THE COST OF AN AIDED SCHOOL PLACE.
"FURTHER DETAILS OF THE SCHEME WILL BE SENT TO ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR," HE SAID.
MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT TO ENSURE THAT INTERESTED PARENTS, INCLUDING RETURNED EMIGRANTS, HAD ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HAD ENCOURAGED SUCH SCHOOLS TO CO-OPERATE IN THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION.
/"AS A .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
5 -
"AS A FIRST STEP ALL THE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS NOW PROVIDE EACH OTHER WITH STOCKS OF RELEVANT MATERIALS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ENQUIRING PARENTS.
"THIS MEASURE WILL BE REVIEWED TOWARDS THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR WHEN FURTHER MEASURES WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED," MR YEUNG SAID.
------0-------
39 MONUMENTS PROTECTED UNDER ORDINANCE *****
THERE ARE 39 MONUMENTS PROTECTED UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE, INCLUDING ROCK CARVINGS, FORTIFICATIONS, TEMPLES, ANCESTRAL HALLS AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR TSAO SAID THERE WAS A CONTINUAL PROCESS OF REVIEWING HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AND AT PRESENT 10 POTENTIAL MONUMENTS WERE BEING CONSIDERED FOR PROTECTION UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
"IN ADDITION, OVER 400 HISTORIC BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN CATALOGUED BY THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE AND NOTIFIED TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SO THAT EARLY WARNING CAN BE GIVEN IF THE BUILDINGS MAY BE AFFECTED BY DEVELOPMENT," HE SAID.
ON THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSERVATION OF DECLARED OR DEEMED-TO-BE MONUMENTS, MR TSAO SAID THESE VARIED ACCORDING TO WHETHER THE MONUMENT WAS IN GOVERNMENT USE.
HE SAID THE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF MONUMENTS AND HISTORICAL BUILDINGS USED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, SUCH AS THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND THE LAW UK FOLK MUSEUM, WERE FUNDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
"IN 1989-90, THE DEPARTMENT HAS BUDGETTED $5.91 MILLION FOR THE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF MONUMENTS, AND $4.21 MILLION FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
"FOR MONUMENTS WHICH ARE NOT IN GOVERNMENT USE, THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE HAS PROVISION FOR JUST OVER $1 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, SUBJECT TO A LIMIT ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS OF $300,000," MR TSAO SAID.
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/6 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
6 -
EX-POW, WAR WIDOW GRANT RATES REVIEWED ANNUALLY * ♦ ♦ ♦ *
TO ENSURE THAT THE REAL PURCHASING POWER OF GRANTS MADE TO EX-PRISONERS OF WAR AND WAR WIDOWS IS MAINTAINED, THE RATES ARE REVIEWED ANNUALLY AND ARE ADJUSTED IN LINE WITH INFLATION, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER H.Y. WONG, MRS WONG SAID THERE WERE 314 EX-PRISONERS OF WAR AND 193 WAR WIDOWS CURRENTLY RECEIVING GRANTS OR OTHER FORMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND.
"THE GRANTS CURRENTLY BEING PAID AMOUNT TO $2,460 PER MONTH FOR A SINGLE ADULT AND $4,140 PER MONTH FOR A MARRIED COUPLE," SHE SAID.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE OTHER ALLOWANCES AND BENEFITS PAYABLE TO MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS.
"ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS A CASE FOR PENSIONS AS OF RIGHT TO BE PAID TO EX-PRISONERS OF WAR, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNISED THE SPECIAL DEBT TO THOSE WHO SERVED HONG KONG LOYALLY DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING PRISONERS OF WAR.
"THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT EX-PRISONERS OF WAR AND THEIR WIDOWS WHO WERE IN NEED SHOULD BE ADEQUATELY PROVIDED FOR," MRS WONG SAID.
--------0-----------
FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM PROVIDES FOR CHOICE AND PROTECTION
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, SAID 682 FILMS, REPRESENTATING 48 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FILMS PASSED, HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH CERTIFICATES UNDER CATEGORY III SINCE THE EXISTING FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CAME INTO FORCE IN NOVEMBER 1988.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON DANIEL TSE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR TSAO SAID THAT HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN APPARENT DOWNWARD TRENDIN MORE RECENT FIGURES.
"FILM DISTRIBUTORS HAVE RESUBMITTED FILMS WHICH WERE BANNED OR SEVERELY CUT UNDER THE PREVIOUSLY, MORE RESTRICTIVE SYSTEM.
"WE EXPECT THE PROPORTION OF CATEGORY III FILMS TO DROP GRADUALLY AS THIS BACKLOG IS CLEARED," HE SAID.
/MR TSAO .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
MR TSAO ADDED THAT THE NUMBER OF CINEMAS SHOWING CATEGORY III FILMS VARIED BETWEEN NINE PER CENT AND 33 PER CENT AND THE SITUATION WAS AFFECTED BY THE SUPPLY AND THE COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF THE FILMS.
’’THE CURRENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN FORCE FOR JUST OVER A YEAR. I DOUBT IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME TO ASSESS WHETHER AND WHAT SOCIAL IMPACT CATEGORY III FILMS HAVE HAD ON OUR COMMUNITY.
"WE ARE, HOWEVER, SATISFIED THAT THE TWIN OBJECTS OF THE FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, THAT IS A WIDER CHOICE FOR THE ADULTS AND THE PROTECTION OF MINORS, ARE BEING ACHIEVED," HE SAID.
-----0------
ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES PROVED SUCCESSFUL
*****
THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES HAVE PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN CURBING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT INTEND TO REVIEW ITS EXISTING POLICIES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ELSIE TU, MR BARNES SAID ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS REGARDED BY MOST COUNTRIES AS A SERIOUS OFFENCE AND THAT IN THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG IT HAD BEEN NECESSARY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS PARTICULARLY TO STRENGTHEN ANTIILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES.
"THESE INCLUDE THE PROSECUTION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA WHO HAVE COMMITTED OFFENCES UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE BY LANDING OR REMAINING IN HONG KONG WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE APPROPRIATE IMMIGRATION AUTHORITY - FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO EVADE CAPTURE ON ENTRY AND WHO ARE LATER FOUND AT PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WHETHER FROM CHINA OR ANYWHERE ELSE, HAD THE SAME RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS ANY OTHER PERSON BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURTS.
"THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA IMPRISONED IN HONG KONG AT ANY ONE TIME VARIES ACCORDING TO THE LEVEL OF PROSECUTIONS AND THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS RELEASED FOR REPATRIATION TO CHINA.
"IN THE 12 MONTHS UP TO THE END OF 1989, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA ACCOUNTED FOR SOME 25 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL PRISON POPULATION," HE SAID.
THE SECRETARY ADDED THAT EVEN THOUGH PRESSURES ON PRISON ACCOMMODATION REMAINED SERIOUS, THERE HAD RECENTLY BEEN SOME REDUCTION AND THE OCCUPANCY RATE HAD DROPPED FROM A HIGH OF 130.5 PER CENT LAST OCTOBER TO 123.8 PER CENT AT THE END OF LAST MONTH.
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/8 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 8 -
REVIEWS OF CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, CIVIL SERVICE DEATH AND INJURY BENEFITS t » * * t * *
A SPECIAL REVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME HAS BEEN COMPLETED RECENTLY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING CONSIDERED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI, SIR DAVID ALSO SAID A FULL-SCALE REVIEW WAS BEING MADE OF DUTY-RELATED DEATH AND INJURY BENEFITS APPLICABLE TO CIVIL SERVANTS AND DEPENDANTS.
MR POON’S QUESTION WAS IN TWO PARTS: CONCERNING ASSISTANCE PROVIDED WHEN A CIVIL SERVANT DIED OR WAS INJURED WHILE ON DUTY; AND ASSISTANCE PROVIDED WHEN A CITIZEN DIED OR WAS INJURED IN HELPING TO FIGHT CRIME.
ON THE LATTER, SIR DAVID EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN MAY 1973, THE RATES OF COMPENSATION WERE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, USUALLY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, TO KEEP PACE WITH INFLATION AND THE INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE WAGES OF MANUFACTURING WORKERS.
SIR DAVID SAID THE SCHEME PROVIDED EX-GRATIA CRIMINAL INJURY COMPENSATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURY COMPENSATION BOTH TO THOSE WHO WERE INJURED, DISABLED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF A CRIME OF VIOLENCE AND TO THOSE WHO WERE ACCIDENTALLY INJURED, DISABLED OR KILLED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER USING A WEAPON IN THE EXECUTION OF HIS DUTY.
THE SCHEME, ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD, WAS NON-MEANS TESTED. PAYMENTS UNDER THE SCHEME WERE MADE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.
SIR DAVID SAID CASH COMPENSATION WAS PAID IN THE CASE OF DEATH OR INJURY OF VICTIMS AS A RESULT OF:
(A) EFFECTING AN ARREST OR ATTEMPTED ARREST OF AN OFFENDER OR SUSPECTED OFFENDER; OR
(B) PREVENTING OR ATTEMPTING TO PREVENT THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME; OR
(C) GIVING HELP TO ANY POLICE OFFICER OR OTHER PERSON WHO WAS ENGAGED IN EITHER OF THE TWO ACTIVITIES IN (A) AND (B) ABOVE.
"THE RATES OF PAYMENT IN THESE CASES ARE BASED ON THOSE PAYABLE TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS UNDER THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.
/' 'IT-.E AMOUNT........................
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
9
"THE AMOUNT PAYABLE DEPENDS ON INDIVIDUAL CASE CIRCUMSTANCES (SUCH AS WHETHER THERE ARE OTHER WAGE EARNERS IN THE FAMILY AND THE NUMBER OF DEPENDANTS) AND THE GRAVITY OF INJURIES SUSTAINED, RANGING FROM A MINIMUN OF $270 FOR INJURY RESULTING IN ONLY ONE DAY’S SICK LEAVE, TO A MAXIMUM OF $87,170 FOR DEATH," SIR DAVID EXPLAINED.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT BOTH THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURY COMPENSATION BOARDS HAD THE DISCRETIONARY POWER TO INCREASE THE "NORMAL" RATE OF COMPENSATION BY UP TO 100 PER CENT IF THE INCIDENT WAS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARDS AS A "COURAGEOUS ACT" IN ASSISTING IN THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CRIME.
HE SAID ONE RECOMMENDATION OF THE RECENT REVIEW WAS TO EXTEND THE SCOPE OF THE BOARDS’ DISCRETION TO INCLUDE VICTIMS WHO, SUBSEQUENT TO THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO A CLAIM, HAD MADE EXEMPLARY EFFORTS, IN THE FACE OF PERSONAL EMBARRASSMENT, INCONVENIENCE OR DANGER TO ASSIST THE POLICE IN THE ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF AN OFFENDER OR SUSPECTED OFFENDER.
"THIS EXTENSION OF THE DISCRETION WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE RATIONALE FOR EXISTING DISCRETION," HE SAID.
ON THE PART OF THE QUESTION CONCERNING ASSISTANCE PROVIDED WHEN A CIVIL SERVANT DIED OR WAS INJURED ON DUTY, SIR DAVID SAID THAT IF A CIVIL SERVANT DIED WHILE ON DUTY THE OFFICER’S DEPENDANTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR -
(A) A DEATH GRATUITY;
(B) EX-GRATIA PAYMENT FOR UNTAKEN LEAVE;
(C) ENTITLEMENT UNDER EITHER THE WIDOWS’ AND CHILDREN’S PENSION SCHEME OR WIDOWS’ AND ORPHANS’ PENSION SCHEME IF HE HAD BEEN A CONTRIBUTOR;
(D) A DEPENDANT’S PENSION IF THE DECEASED OFFICER WAS SURVIVED BY SPOUSE, CHILDREN OR PARENTS OR LUMP SUM COMPENSATION PAYABLE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION ORDINANCE; AND
(E) FUNERAL EXPENSES OF $23,300.
AS FOR AN OFFICER WHO HAD BEEN INJURED ON DUTY, SIR DAVID SAID HE WOULD BE GIVEN PAID SICK LEAVE AND FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT.
"IF PERMANENTLY INJURED AND IF HIS CAPACITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO HIS OWN SUPPORT BECOMES IMPAIRED AT OR AFTER RETIREMENT BECAUSE OF THE INJURY, AN ADDITIONAL PENSION IS PAYABLE ON RETIREMENT.
"THE INJURED OFFICER CAN OPT FOR LUMP SUM COMPENSATION UNDER THE EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION ORDINANCE IN LIEU OF THE ADDITIONAL PENSION," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF DUTY-RELATED DEATH AND INJURED BENEFITS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS HAD BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1949.
/THE LEVEL .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 10
THE LEVEL OF BENEFITS HAD, HOWEVER, BEEN SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVIEWS AND ADJUSTMENTS, HE SAID.
"A FULL SCALE REVIEW OF DEPENDANT PENSIONS AND RELATED BENEFITS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS IS IN PROGRESS AT PRESENT.
’’THE AIM IS TO UPDATE THE PROVISIONS AND TO REMOVE ANOMALIES IN THE LIGHT OF PRESENT DAY CIRCUMSTANCES.
”IT IS PREMATURE TO SAY AT THIS STAGE WHAT IMPROVEMENTS SPECIFICALLY WILL BE BROUGHT ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THE REVIEW,” HE SAID.
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE-MEDIUM SECONDARY EDUCATION *****
A WORKING GROUP WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDED THAT EACH STUDENT GROUP BE EDUCATED THROUGH THE LANGUAGE MEDIUM MOST LIKELY TO LEAD TO HIS OR HER MAXIMUM COGNITIVE AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K. Y. YEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR YEUNG SAID THE WORKING GROUP ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT ENGLISH SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION WHERE STUDENTS COULD BENEFIT FROM IT, AND THAT FUNDS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED TO STRENGTHEN THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOLS IN WHICH CHINESE WAS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION.
MOREOVER, IT RECOMMENDED THAT ENGLISH AND CHINESE SHOULD BE EQUALLY EFFECTIVELY USED AS MEDIA UP TO AND INCLUDING ADVANCED-LEVEL COURSES, AND THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO ADOPT CLEAR-CUT POLICIES OF LANGUAGE USE - THAT IS, WHETHER A PARTICULAR CLASS WAS TO USE ENGLISH OR CHINESE FOR ALL SUBJECTS.
MR YEUNG SAID THE WORKING GROUP CARRIED OUT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES IN 1989, AND SEVERAL OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WERE RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE-MEDIUM SECONDARY EDUCATION.
’’THE WORKING GROUP’S REPORT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND ALL VIEWS EXPRESSED WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THE GOVERNMENT IN DETERMINING THE POSSIBLE FUTURE DIRECTION OF LANGUAGE POLICY.
’’THIS WILL INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER AND TO WHAT EXTENT THE POLICY RELATING TO THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS SHOULD BE FURTHER DEVELOPED,” MR YEUNG POINTED OUT.
/MR YEUNG .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 11 -
MR YEUNG SAID VARIOUS LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES WHICH DISCRIMINATED IN FAVOUR OF THE USE OF CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION, AND WHICH AT THE SAME TIME STRENGTHENED THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE, HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED SINCE SEPTEMBER 1986. THESE INCLUDED:
(A) THE SETTING UP OF A CHINESE TEXTBOOKS COMMITTEE IN MAY 1986 TO ENCOURAGE PUBLISHERS TO PRODUCE GOOD QUALITY TEXTBOOKS IN CHINESE: THIS HAD RESULTED IN THE PRODUCTION OF 59 ADDITIONAL SETS OF SUCH BOOKS FOR USE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS, WITH A FURTHER 16 SETS NOW BEING DEVELOPED FOR PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS;
(B) THE PUBLICATION OF HANDBOOKS WITH TECHNICAL TERMS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE FOR 19 SUBJECTS BY THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TOWARDS THE END OF 1986;
(C) THE MODIFICATION OF ALL TEACHER TRAINING COURSES SINCE SEPTEMBER 1986, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A WIDpR USE OF CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION AND THE ORGANISATION OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES FOR TEACHERS TO ASSIST THEM TO COPE WITH THE CHANGE IN THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION; AND
(D) THE PROVISION SINCE SEPTEMBER 1988 OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THOSE PUBLIC-SECTOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHICH HAD OPTED TO INCREASE THE USE OF CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION, IN THE FORM OF:
(1) ADDITIONAL TEACHERS OF ENGLISH;
(2) FUNDS FOR PARTITIONING OF CLASSROOMS TO CREATE SMALLER ROOMS FOR SPLIT-CLASS LANGUAGE TEACHING;
(3) A SECONDARY WIREFREE INDUCTION LOOP SYSTEM FOR LANGUAGE TEACHING; AND
(4) A ONE-OFF LIBRARY GRANT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL READING MATERIALS AS WELL AS OTHER TEACHING/LEARNING AIDS.
MR YEUNG SAID THESE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WERE PROVIDED ON A SCALE RELATED TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS OPTED TO USE CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION.
HE SAID RESEARCH ON THE CHANGE OF MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SINCE SEPTEMBER 1988.
THE RESEARCH WAS A THREE-YEAR PROJECT, DESIGNED TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF THE CHANGE OF THE TEACHING MEDIUM ON THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS OF STUDENTS AND ON OTHER VARIABLES, SUCH AS OPERATIONAL ASPECTS IN CLASSROOM SITUATIONS AND STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS LEARNING.
/THE SAMPLE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 12 -
THE SAMPLE FOR THIS STUDY COMPRISED 11 SCHOOLS WHICH HAD OPTED TO CHANGE THE TEACHING MEDIUM FROM ENGLISH TO CHINESE, MATCHED AGAINST A FURTHER 11 CONTROL SCHOOLS.
SAMPLING CRITERIA INCLUDED THE SSPA PERFORMANCE OF THE SECONDARY 1 ENTRANTS AND THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS OF THE SCHOOLS, TO ENSURE COMPARABILITY OF ACADEMIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF STUDENTS.
MR YEUNG SAID THE FIRST YEAR OF THE STUDY INDICATED THAT THE SECONDARY 1 PUPILS TN THE 11 SAMPLE SCHOOLS AS A WHOLE HAD SHOWN IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND MORE POSITIVE LEARNING ATTITUDES THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE CONTROL SCHOOLS.
’’THE EFFECTS OF THE CHANGE OF THE TEACHING MEDIUM, WITH THE CONCOMITANT USE OF INSTRUCTIONAL AND REFERENCE MATERIALS WRITTEN IN THE PUPILS’ FAMILIAR LANGUAGE, MIGHT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS.
’’HOWEVER, AS THE STUDY HAS ONLY BEEN IN PROGRESS FOR ONE YEAR, IT IS TOO EARLY AT THIS STAGE TO DRAW FIRM CONCLUSIONS,” MR YEUNG POINTED OUT.
HE ADDED THAT IN OCTOBER 1984, 57 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR USED CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION.
FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION IN SEPTEMBER 1988 OF THE POLICY TO ENCOURAGE THE GREATER USE OF CHINESE, A FURTHER 69 PUBLIC-SECTOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAD INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF CHINESE USED IN TEACHING IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUCH SCHOOLS WAS THEREFORE AT PRESENT 126.
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COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1989 PASSED
*****
THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1989, IN WHICH PENALTIES PROPOSED ARE IN MANY CASES CONSIDERABLE, WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID THE INCREASED PENALTIES WERE INTENDED TO PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE DETERRENT AND TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INFLATION SINCE THE LAST REVISION IN 1984.
HE SAID THIS WHEN HE WAS MOVING THE RESUMED SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL.
THANKING THE HON PETER H.Y. WONG FOR HIS COMMENTS ON THE BILL, SIR PIERS ADDED THAT THE PENALTIES WERE MAXIMUM PENALTIES.
/"IT IS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
13
”IT IS FOR THE COURT TO DECIDE UPON THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF PENALTY IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES,” HE SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COMPANY DIRECTORS TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES FULLY WITH THEIR DUTIES UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, AND TO BE AWARE OF THE PENALTIES INVOLVED FOR FAILING TO FULFIL THOSE DUTIES.
REFERRING TO MR WONG’S REMARK ON THE PROVISION UNDER SECTION 89(4) WHICH REQUIRED A COMPANY TO KEEP A REGISTER OF CHARGES, SIR PIERS SAID THE PROVISION WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION RELATING TO A COMPANY’S CHARGES AND THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE REGISTER HAD TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT ALL TIMES.
"THIS INFORMATION IS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO CREDITORS AND SHAREHOLDERS," HE SAID.
AS TO THE QUESTION OF PUBLICITY, SIR PIERS SAID A PRESS RELEASE WOULD BE ISSUED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE NEW PENALTIES.
"IN ADDITION, THERE ARE BOOKLETS AVAILABLE AT THE COMPANIES REGISTRY ON SELECTED PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE COMPANIES REGISTRY," HE ADDED.
------0-------
COMPANIES BILL A COMMENDABLE EFFORT
*****
THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1989 IS A COMMENDABLE EFFORT TO RATIONALISE THE FINES AND PUNISHMENTS FOR THE TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, THE HON PETER H.Y. WONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
BUT HE URGED THE AUTHORITIES TO APPLY THESE FINES WITH CARE TO ENSURE FAIRNESS.
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE BILL, MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS REGRETTABLE THAT THE TRACK RECORD OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS APPLYING INCREASED PENALTIES HAD BEEN PERCEIVED BY THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION AS ONE OF UNCARING BUREAUCRACY, SUCH AS THE PENALTIES FOR LATE FILING OF ANNUAL RETURNS AND LATE FILING OF TAX RETURNS.
HE NOTED THAT SECTION 89(4) PROVIDED FOR A PUNISHMENT OF $25,000 AND A DAILY FINE OF $500 IF A COMPANY FAILED TO KEEP A REGISTER OF CHARGES OR FAILED TO NOTIFY THE REGISTRAR WHERE THE REGISTER OF CHARGES WAS KEPT.
"WHILST THIS MAY BE FITTING TO A COMPANY WHICH HAS PURPOSELY TRIED TO HIDE A CHARGE FROM ITS CREDITORS, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR DIRECTORS TO BE IGNORANT ABOUT THE NEED TO UPKEEP A REGISTER OF CHARGES UNTIL THE OMISSION IS POINTED OUT TO THEM AT THE TIME OF THE AUDIT.
"IT WOULD BE VERY UNFAIR TO LEVY THE FULL FINES IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES," HE SAID.
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/14 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 19:
- 14 -
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD BILL PASSED
tHE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD BILL 1989, WHICH SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A STATUTORY CORPORATION TO BE KNOWN AS THE HONG KONG SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD, WAS PASSED INTO LAW TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORT IN HONG KONG HAD REACHED A STAGE WHERE A STATUTORY BODY WITH EXECUTIVE POWERS WOULD NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED TO CO-ORDINATE THE VARIOUS EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES.
"THE ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION OF THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY AT THE DISTRICT AND REGIONAL LEVEL, HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE RECOGNISED," MR TSAO SAID IN REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG DURING THE DEBATE.
HE ASSURED MR CHEUNG THAT THE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD WOULD SEEK TO INTERFACE WITH AND SUPPORT THE TWO COUNCILS’ WORK, WITHOUT DUPLICATION OR INFRINGEMENT. HE ALSO THANKED MR CHEUNG FOR HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BILL.
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OPPORTUNE TIME TO ESTABLISH ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION BODY ♦ * ♦ ♦ *
THE CREATION OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION (HKCAA) HAS COME AT AN OPPORTUNE TIME AS THE GOVERNMENT EMBARKS ON ITS PLAN TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY THE PROVISION OF DEGREE LEVEL PLACES, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K. Y. YEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID AS A LOCALLY BASED BODY, THE COUNCIL WOULD BE BETTER PLACED THAN OVERSEAS ORGANISATIONS TO ADVISE, ASSESS AND ACCREDIT DEGREE COURSES.
MR YEUNG WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION BILL 1990.
HE POINTED OUT THAT AS A PROFESSIONAL BODY THAT HAD ALREADY ESTABLISHED EXTENSIVE OVERSEAS CONTACTS UNDER THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL, THE HKCAA WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERNATIONAL STANDING OF HONG KONG’S DEGREES.
"THIS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE IN ENSURING THAT THE EXPANSION OF OUR TERTIARY EDUCATION IS NOT BEING ACHIEVED AT THE EXPENSE OF QUALITY.
/"THE HKCAA .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, ‘90
15
’’THE HKCAA WILL THUS BE AN INDISPENSABLE COMPONENT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE,” HE SAID.
MR YEUNG SAID THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE HKCAA WOULD BE TO ASSESS THE ACADEMIC STANDING OF DEGREE COURSES AT HONG KONG’S NON-UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS, WITH THE AIM OF ENSURING THAT THE DEGREES THEY AWARDED WOULD BE OF A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH STANDARD TO ENJOY RECOGNITION WORLDWIDE.
THE HKCAA WOULD REPLACE BRITAIN’S COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS, ON WHOSE SERVICES HONG KONG HAD RELIED OVER THE PAST DECADE.
”OUR INTENTION IS THAT THE TWO POLYTECHNICS, THE BAPTIST COLLEGE, THE OPENING LEARNING INSTITUTE AND THE ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS WILL MAKE USE OF THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO BE PROVIDED BY THE HKCAA.
"OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE SUPPORTED WITH PUBLIC FUNDS, WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES OF THE COUNCIL SUBJECT TO THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNOR," MR YEUNG SAID.
THE COUNCIL WOULD INITIALLY UNDERTAKE COURSE-BY-COURSE VALIDATION OF NEW DEGREE COURSES AND RE-VALIDATION OF EXISTING ONES AT THE NON-UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS.
THE COUNCIL WOULD ALSO UNDERTAKE SOME TO DETERMINE WHETHER AND TO WHAT EXTENT WERE CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING DEGREE PROGRAMMES.
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEWS
CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS
"I EXPECT THE COUNCIL WILL GRADUALLY WIDEN THE SCOPE OF ITS WORK BY HELPING THE MORE MATURE INSTITUTIONS TO VALIDATE AND REVALIDATE THEIR OWN DEGREES," MR YEUNG SAID.
HE SAID HE ENVISAGED THAT THE HKCAA WOULD PLAY A KEY ROLE IN FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREDIT UNIT SYSTEMS AT THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
"THIS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE EDUCATION COMMISSION THIRD REPORT AND WOULD PROVIDE BOTH THE INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR STUDENTS WITH A DEGREE OF CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY.
"I ALSO SEE THE HKCAA DEVELOPING LINKS WITH ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION AGENCIES ELSEWHERE FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE.
"CLEARLY, THE LINKING OF SYSTEMS OF CREDIT TRANSFER IS AN IMPORTANT MEANS OF FURTHERING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF LOCAL ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS," MR YEUNG ADDED.
THE HKCAA WOULD HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 22 MEMBERS, INCLUDING DISTINGUISHED LOCAL AND OVERSEAS ACADEMICS, AS WELL AS LEADING REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG’S PROFESSIONS, INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE.
/IT WOULD .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 16 -
IT WOULD BE SERVICED BY AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO WAS ALREADY IN POST, AND SUPPORTED BY A SECRETARIAT.
MR YEUNG EXPLAINED THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO CREATE SUCH A BODY WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN OCTOBER 1987, AND THE TASK OF ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT FELL TO THE PROVISIONAL HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION.
HE SAID THE BILL HAD BEEN DRAWN UP ON THE ADVICE OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL.
"I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE ON RECORD THE GOVERNMENT’S APPRECIATION OF THE PREPARATORY WORK IT HAS DONE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
"THE BILL GIVES THE HKCAA THE NECESSARY POWERS TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDES THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR AN INDEPENDENT, PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTION," MR YEUNG CONCLUDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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FRAMEWORK FOR COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY LEGISLATION ON GASES
*****
THE GAS SAFETY BILL 1990 SEEKS TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY LEGISLATION WITH RESPECT TO FUEL GASES, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MRS CHAN SAID IT COVERED BOTH LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) AND TOWN GAS, AS WELL AS OTHER GASES, SUCH AS NATURAL GAS AND BIOGAS, THAT MIGHT BE USED AS FUEL SOURCES TN FUTURE.
SHE SAID PROVISION WAS MADE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF FUEL GAS IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE, STORAGE, TRANSPORT, SUPPLY AND USE TO BE CONTROLLED TN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY.
"THIS LEGISLATION HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE FINDINGS OF A CONSULTANCY STUDY ON GAS SAFETY IN THE EARLY 1980’S WHICH WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING A SPATE OF FUEL GAS-RELATED FATALITIES .
"AS A RESULT OF THAT CONSULTANCY STUDY, THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED A GAS ADVISOR’S OFFICE (SINCE RENAMED THE GAS STANDARDS OFFICE), WHICH HAS INSTIGATED WIDE-RANGING SAFETY MEASURES WITH THE VOLUNTARY CO-OPERATION OF THE GAS INDUSTRY.
/"IN LARGE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
17
"IN LARGE MEASURE THE PROVISIONS OF THE GAS SAFETY LEGISLATION WILL GIVE LEGISLATIVE BACKING TO THE MEASURES ALREADY ADOPTED BY THE LOCAL GAS INDUSTRY AND ENSURE THEIR CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION," MRS CHAN SAID.
THE LEGISLATION HAD BEEN WIDELY CIRCULATED IN DRAFT FORM TO INTERESTED BODIES OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT SUCH AS THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS AND THE CONSUMER COUNCIL.
IT HAD ALSO BEEN THE SUBJECT OF LINE BY LINE CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL GAS INDUSTRY.
"THIS CONSULTATION AND THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE GAINED SINCE 1982 IN IMPROVING GAS SAFETY HAS RESULTED IN LEGISLATION WHICH IS TAILOR-MADE TO LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
"FURTHERMORE, AS A RESULT OF MEASURES INSTIGATED AND OVERSEEN BY THE GAS STANDARDS OFFICE SUCH AS THE DRAWING UP OF CODES OF PRACTICE AND THE TRAINING OF LPG INSTALLERS, THE FUEL GAS INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE IS NOW GEARED UP TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS WIDE RANGING LEGISLATION, WHICH REPRESENTS A MAJOR ADVANCE FOR GAS SAFETY IN HONG KONG," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN EXPLAINED THAT THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE BILL INCLUDED THE APPOINTMENT OF A PUBLIC OFFICER AS THE GAS AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEGISLATION.
A GAS SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS ALSO PROVIDED FOR TO ADVISE THE GAS AUTHORITY ON MATTERS RELATING TO FUEL GAS SAFETY.
THE BILL PROVIDED FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO BE CHAIRED BY THE GAS AUTHORITY AND TO COMPRISE MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT PUBLIC OFFICERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
"THE DETAILED TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND REGISTRATION SCHEMES NECESSARY TO ENSURE FUEL GAS SAFETY WILL BE CONTAINED IN REGULATIONS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.
"POWERS TO MAKE THE REQUIRED REGULATIONS ARE SET OUT IN THE BILL," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN SAID SIX SETS OF REGULATIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN PREPARED AND APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WITH A VIEW TO IMPLEMENTATION AFTER ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.
THESE REGULATIONS PROVIDED FOR THE FOLLOWING:
- SAFETY SPECIFICATIONS ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FUEL GASES;
- SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ON THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES, VEHICLES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT USED IN RELATION TO THE SUPPLY OF FUEL GASES;
- REGISTRATION SCHEMES FOR GAS SUPPLY COMPANIES, GAS CONTRACTORS AND GAS INSTALLERS;
/- SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 199Q
18 -
- SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ON THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF GAS FITTINGS, INCLUDING DOMESTIC GAS APPLIANCES;
- AND APPROVAL BY THE GAS AUTHORITY OF SAFE FLEXIBLE GAS
TUBING.
MRS CHAN SAID THE BILL ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE GAS AUTHORITY TO
DRAW UP AND APPROVE CODES OF PRACTICE CONTAINING THE DETAILED
TECHNICAL PRACTICES TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE GAS INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO MEET THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF THE LEGISLATION.
THE GAS AUTHORITY WAS EMPOWERED BY THE BILL TO APPOINT INSPECTORS TO CARRY OUT DUTIES ARISING FROM THE LEGISLATION.
PROVISION WAS MADE FOR THESE INSPECTORS TO HAVE SUITABLE POWERS OF ENTRY, SEARCH AND SEIZURE.
IN ADDITION, THERE WERE PROVISIONS TO ENABLE THE GAS AUTHORITY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION RELATED TO THE EXERCISE OF HIS FUNCTIONS.
"LASTLY, THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF APPEAL BOARDS TO HEAR APPEALS AGAINST SPECIFIED DECISIONS OR ACTIONS OF THE GAS AUTHORITY.
"EACH APPEAL BOARD IS TO COMPRISE EIGHT MEMBERS, ONE OF WHICH IS A PUBLIC OFFICER, WHILE THE OTHER SEVEN MEMBERS ARE TO BE DRAWN FROM SPECIFIED CATEGORIES OF PERSON APPOINTED TO AN APPEAL BOARD PANEL.
"PROVISION IS MADE FOR THE PANEL TO INCLUDE: REPRESENTATIVES OF CONSUMERS; CORPORATE MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS; AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE GAS INDUSTRY," MRS CHAN SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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TWO BILLS PASSED » * * *
THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1989 AND THE HONG KONG SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD BILL 1989 WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TWO BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. THEY WERE THE HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION BILL 1990 AND THE GAS SAFETY BILL 1990.
DEBATES ON THE TWO BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.
AT THE START OF THE MEETING, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, TOOK THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
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/19.........
Wednesday, February 14, 1990
- 19 -membership of youth commission announced * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH TO BE SET UP TOMORROW (FEBRUARY 15) TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON YOUTH MATTERS.
THE COMMISSION WILL BE CHAIRED BY EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MRS ROSANNA TAM. OTHER NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE: MR DAVID CHEUNG CHI-KONG, MRS MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, DR NELSON CHOW WING-SUN, MR MAK HOI-WAH, MRS JOYCE TAI POON CHING-SHEUNG, MR CHEUNG YIN-TUNG, MR LO CHI-KIN, MR CHAN MO-POW, MR HOWARD YOUNG HOW-WAH AND MR CHAN KA-KUI.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE AND THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, WILL SERVE AS EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ON THE COMMISSION.
THE APPOINTMENTS, MADE BY THE GOVERNOR, ARE FOR ONE YEAR STARTING ON FEBRUARY 15.
OUTLINING THE NATURE OF THE COMMISSION’S WORK, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE COMMISSION WILL BE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO YOUTH.
’’THE COMMISSION WILL ALSO AIM TO PROMOTE CO-OPERATION AND CO-ORDINATION IN THE DELIVERY OF YOUTH SERVICES AND SERVE AS A CONTACT POINT FOR YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES WITH OVERSEAS ORGANISATIONS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN ADDITION, THE COMMISSION WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH ON YOUTH, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ADVISORY BODIES, BASED ON THE FINDINGS.
”IN DOING SO, THE COMMISSION WILL ALSO DEVELOP A REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION ON YOUTH, AND PROVIDE USEFUL REFERENCE MATERIAL TO ALL PARTIES CONCERNED WITH YOUTH,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO YOUTH;
(B) TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND INFORMATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ADVISORY BODIES ON YOUTH MATTERS WITH A VIEW TO ENSURING THAT THE INTERESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE DESIGN OF RELEVANT SERVICES PROGRAMMES;
(C) TO ENCOURAGE BETTER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN YOUTH SERVICE PROVISION;
(D) TO GATHER INFORMATION AND INITIATE RESEARCH ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO YOUTH;
/(E) TO ACT .........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 20 -
(E) TO ACT AS A FOCAL LIAISON POINT WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, AND TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO ACQUIRE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE;
(F) TO ENHANCE THE CIVIC AWARENESS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS; AND
(G) TO PROMOTE LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE COMMISSION WILL BE SERVICED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
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NEW MEMBER APPOINTED TO EXCHANGE FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE * * * * * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF PROFESSOR CHARLES A.E. GOODHART TO THE EXHANGE FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
PROF GOODHART IS PROFESSOR OF BANKING AND FINANCE AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.
PROF GOODHART WAS FORMERLY CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISERTOTHE GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND. IN 1983, HE AND AN OFFICIAL FROM THE UK TREASURY WERE INVITED TO HONG KONG TO ADVISE THE FORMER FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM.
WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF PROF GOODHART, THE EXCHANGE FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL COMPRISE:
CHAIRMAN, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY; AND MEMBERS, THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM PURVES, CBE, DSO, JP, MR RONALD CARSTAIRS, THE HONOURABLE PETER POON WING-CHEUNG, OBE, JP, THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, JP, AND PROFESSOR CHARLES A.E. GOODHART.
/21........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
21
MEDICAL SERVIC TN NORTH DISTRICT ON AGENDA
******
THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT MEDICAL SERVICES IN '’HE DISTRICT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
AN INFORMATION PAPER RESPONDING TO MEMBERS’ ENQUIRIES AND SUGGESTIONS CONCERNS G IMPROVEMENTS TO FANLING HOSPITAL, AMBULANCE SERVICE AND STAFF MORALE WILL BE TABLED.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTED MEMBERS TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD FOR 1990-91.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE BOARD’S "MEET-THE-PUBLIC" SCHEME, APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS, AND A REPORT FROM THE NORTH DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE, JOCKEY CLUB ROAD, FANLING.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER TSAO, WILL ATTEND THE MEETING.
------0--------
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS
*****
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT HOARD'S CULTURE AND SPORTS COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS TOTALLING ALMOST $2 MILLION AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE SUBSIDIES WILL BE USED FOR ORGANISING FESTIVALS AND RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SPORT EVENTS IN 1990-91.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO STUDY PROGRESS REPORTS BY THE SHA TIN ARTS AND SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S CULTURE AND SPORTS COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
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/22 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1390
PREPARATION WORK FOR WAN CHAI GREENERY PROJECT COMPLETED
******
PREPARATION WORK FOR THE WAN CHAI GREENERY PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED, AND A BRIEF CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON SATURDY (FEBRUARY 17) MORNING TO MARK THIS OCCASION.
UNDER THIS DISTRICT BOARD SPONSORED PROJECT, 193 PLANTERS AND 66 POTS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CENTRAL DIVIDER OR SUSPENDED FROM LAMPPOSTS ALONG LOCKHART ROAD TO BEAUTIFY THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE PROJECT IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG AND PREPARATION WORK HAS TAKEN ABOUT ONE YEAR TO COMPLETE. A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE TAKEN PART, INCLUDING THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE, THE URBAN SERVICES, HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS, AND THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY.
OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN; DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM; CHIEF HIGHWAYS ENGINEER, MR A.G.S. EVANS; AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (LEISURE OPERATIONS) OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR JONATHAN NG.
ALSO PRESENT WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION, MR FUNG SHUI-WING.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY TO MARK THE COMPLETION OF PREPARATION WORK FOR THE WAN CHAI GREENERY PROJECT TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17). THE CFREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 11 AM AT THE O’BRIEN ROAD FOOTBRIDGE.
- 0 - -
CAREERS DAYS TO HELP STUDENTS PLAN FOR FUTURE
*****
SECONDARY STUDENTS WILL HAVE YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN A SERIES OF SIX CAREERS DAYS STARTING ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 16).
THE ANNUAL EVENT IS BEING ORGANISED FOR THE FOURTH YEAR RUNNING BY THE CAREERS ADVISORY SFRVICJ OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC).
IT AIMS TO PROVIDE CAREERS INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AND TRADES AS WELL AS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE COUNCIL TO ENABLE FORM 3 TO FORM 5 STUDENTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WORLD OF WORK.
/EACH CAREERS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 23 -
EACH CAREERS DAY WILL FEATURE A SERIES OF SPECIALIST TALKS ON EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, VISITS TO VTC TRAINING INSTITUTES AND TRAINING CENTRES, AND A MINI-EXHIBITION ON DIFFERENT CAREERS.
MORE THAN 20,000 STUDENTS FROM ABOUT 130 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TERRITORY ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE EVENTS.
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR HAROLD KWOK, AND THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, MR NGAI SHIU-KIT, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THE CAREERS DAYS AT THE VTC KWAI CHUNG TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX ON FRIDAY.
THE SCHEDULE OF THE CAREERS DAYS IS AS FOLLOWS:
VENUE DATE
KWAI CHUNG TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX FEBRUARY 16
CHAI WAN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FEBRUARY 23
TUEN MUN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FEBRUARY 26
SHA TIN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FEBRUARY 28
KOWLOON BAY TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX MARCH 2
LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE MARCH 5
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CAREERS DAYS WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 16) AT THE VTC KWAI CHUNG TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX, 13-19 SAN KWAI STREET, HA KWAI CHUNG.
------0--------
GOVT LAND TO LET BY TENDER *****
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE TENANCY OF A 5,150-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT TAT CHEE AVENUE, KOWLOON FOR A FEE-PAYING PUBLIC CARPARK.
THE CARPARK WILL BE USED FOR THE PARKING OF PRIVATE CARS, TAXIS AND LIGHT VANS CURRENTLY LICENSED UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE.
THE LEASE IS FOR TWO YEARS AND IS RENEWABLE MONTHLY AFTERWARDS.
FORM OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON WEST, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON AND THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
TENDERS WILL CLOSE AT NOON ON MARCH 2 THIS YEAR.
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/24 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990
- 24 -
APPLICATION BY POST CAN SAVE TIME ♦ * * ♦ ♦
DRIVERS AND VEHICLES OWNERS CAN AVOID HAVING TO QUEUE UP AT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S LICENSING OFFICES IF THEY APPLY TO RENEW THEIR LICENCES BY POST.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS POSTAL APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWAL OF DRIVING LICENCES, LEARNER’S DRIVING LICENCES AND VEHICLE LICENCES; THE ISSUE OF INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS AND THE TRANSFER OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP.
POSTAL APPLICATIONS, ACCOMPANIED BY RELEVANT FORMS, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND APPROPRIATE FEES IN CHEQUES, SHOULD BE SENT BY REGISTERED MAIL TO P.O. BOX 69511, KWUN TONG POST OFFICE.
APPLICATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LEARNER’S DRIVING LICENCE OR DRIVING TEST SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY POST TO P.O. BOX 73323, KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE.
THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED ON THE DAY THEY ARE RECEIVED. NORMALLY LICENCES WILL BE SENT TO THE APPLICANTS BY REGISTERED MAIL WITHIN SEVEN WORKING DAYS.
THE LICENSING OFFICES ARE USUALLY MORE CROWDED DURING THE BEGINNING AND END OF EACH MONTH.
ON EXTREMELY BUSY DAYS, THE FOUR LICENSING OFFICES WILL ADOPT A QUOTA SYSTEM TO COPE WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS.
UNDER THE SYSTEM, APPLICANTS ARE GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT DISC FOR A SPECIFIED TIME TO HAND IN THEIR APPLICATIONS. THE APPOINTMENT DISCS WILL BE HANDED OUT ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THE QUOTA SYSTEM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WHENEVER IT IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY FOR THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE LICENSING OFFICES.
"IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE QUOTA SYSTEM HAD BEEN ADOPTED ON AN AD HOC BASIS TO ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO MAKE BETTER USE OF THE LESS BUSY PERIODS OF THE MONTH,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED THOSE WHO WISH TO RENEW THEIR LICENCES THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEIR LICENCES EXPIRE. THEY CAN APPLY ANY TIME DURING THE FOUR-MONTH PERIOD PRIOR TO THE EXPIRY.
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/25 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 19 0
- 25 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 16), THE BAN ON THE SOUTHERN APPROACH ROAD OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL INTERCHANGE, FROM THE JUNCTION OF THE ROAD LEADING TO NORTH POINT AND THE ROAD LEADING TO CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO A POINT APPROXIMATELY 20 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION, WILL BE CANCELLED.
HOWEVER, THE BUS LANE DESIGNATED ALONG THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ROAD SECTION WILL BE MAINTAINED.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE FOLLOWING BUS ONLY LANES ON THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL APPROACH ROADS WILL BE OPENED TO NON-FRANCHISED BUSES:
* THE SECTION ON CANAL ROAD FLYOVER NEAR THE JUNCTION OF THE ROADS LEADING TO CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL AND NORTH POINT; AND
* THE SECTION OF HUNG HING ROAD NEAR ITS SOUTHERN JUNCTION WITH WAN SHING STREET.
- - 0----------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN CENTRAL * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (THURSDAY), VEHICLES EXCEEDING SEVEN METRES IN LENGTH ON WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT ONTO POTTINGER STREET FOR FOUR WEEKS TO FACILITATE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WORKS.
VEHICLES EXCEEDING SEVEN METRES IN LENGTHTRAVELLING ON WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL HEADING FOR QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL WILL BE DIVERTED VIA QUEEN VICTORIA STREET TO JOIN QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL.
- - 0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
IMPROVEMENT TO POLITICAL STRUCTURE SOUGHT: GOVERNOR ....................... 1
GOVERNOR SEES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT MEASURES .......................... 2
OCT-DEC UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS RELEASED .............. 3
HONG KONG RANKS 6TH IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE SURVEY ............................ 5
STATUTORY CORPORATION TO MANAGE AND CONTROL PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY CENTRE 7
NEWLY FORMED COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL CARE....................... 8
DISABLED AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TRANSPORTER SYSTEM FOR KAI TAK.................. 9
SHA ON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE ............................................. 10
HANDICRAFT AND DRAWINGS BY KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ON DISPLAY .............. 11
JOINT SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW IN NORTH DISTRICT............................... 12
BOE MEMBERS VISIT GERMAN SWISS INT’L SCHOOL .............................. 12
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN ADMIRALTY AND CENTRAL ............................ 13
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WAN CHAI .............................................. 14
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CHI FU ........................................... 14
NO-STOP FOR TAXIS IN CHOI YUEN ROAD, SHEUNG SHUI ......................... 15
WATER CUTS IN TUEN MUN, HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK ....................... 15
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
1
IMPROVEMENT TO POLITICAL STRUCTURE SOUGHT: GOVERNOR
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT WHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA IS TO TRY TO ACHIEVE AN IMPROVEMENT TO HONG KONG’S POLITICAL STRUCTURE.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING KWUN TONG DISTRICT, SIR DAVID SAID: "NOW IT MAY NOT GET AS FAR AS WE WOULD IDEALLY LIKE AT THIS STAGE, IN WHICH CASE, I HOPE THERE WILL BE EFFORTS TO REACH FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS LATER ON."
"IF THERE IS AN OUTCOME FROM THE DRAFTING PROCESS WHICH IS NOT AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOR 1997, THEN I BELIEVE WE WOULD WISH TO GO ON DISCUSSING WHETHER THERE COULD BE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS ON THE BASIS OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED OF THE SYSTEM AS IT DEVELOPS IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG WOULD BE MAKING A BIG CHANGE IN 1991 IN THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE EXPERIENCE OF A NEW ELEMENT IN HONG KONG’S POLITICAL SYSTEM. IN OTHER WORDS, DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS.
"THAT WILL PROVIDE EXPERIENCE OF HOW WELL IT WORKS. ON THE BASIS OF THAT, THEN I THINK THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR CONTINUING TO DISCUSS WHETHER THERE WOULD BE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS," HE ADDED.
THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBED AS "ABSOLUTE NONSENSE" SUGGESTIONS THAT THE REPORTED AGREEMENT BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ON HONG KONG’S POLITICAL SYSTEM WAS A "SELL-OUT" OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
SIR DAVID SAID THE OBJECTIVE OF THE DISCUSSIONS WAS TO SEEK IMPROVEMENTS TO WHAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED BY THE BASIC LAW DRAFTERS IN GUANGZHOU.
"FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD TODAY ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DRAFTING IN PEKING, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR DISAGREED WITH A SUGGESTION THAT THERE WOULD BE A POLITICAL STAGNATION BETWEEN 1991 AND 1997. "WE IN 1991 WILL BRING IN A GREAT CHANGE TO THE SYSTEM AND WE WILL BRING IN A MUCH FASTER RATE OF DEVELOPMENT THAN WE WERE ORIGINALLY PLANNING IN 1988. I MEAN THAT IS FOR CERTAIN," HE SAID.
"WE OUGHT TO BE DEVELOPING OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SYSTEM WHICH WILL THEN BE ABLE TO GO ON AFTER 1997, AND IT’S AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT WE SHOULD BRING IN AT AN EARLY STAGE A GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE, IF THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO COME IN, IN 1997," SIR DAVID SAID.
/2 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
2
GOVERNOR SEES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT MEASURES
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND LADY WILSON TODAY (THURSDAY) LOOKED AT MEASURES TO TACKLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN KWUN TONG.
DURING A VISIT TO THE DISTRICT THIS AFTERNOON, SIR DAVID AND LADY WILSON HAD A PANORAMIC VIEW OF JORDAN VALLEY LANDFILL FROM A FLAT IN SHUN ON ESTATE.
THIS AREA WAS AT ONE TIME A MAJOR SOURCE OF COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS IN THE SHUN LEE AREA WHO WERE WORRIED ABOUT OBNOXIOUS SMELLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LANDFILL.
SIR DAVID WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AS A RESULT OF THE JOINT EFFORT OF SEVERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT THE LANDFILL WOULD CEASE OPERATION IN MAY WHEN THE KOWLOON BAY REFUSE TRANSFER STATION IS COMPLETED.
ON THE PROBLEM OF SITING LANDFILLS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS PLANNING TO BUILD THREE LARGE LANDFILLS IN THE RURAL NEW TERRITORIES WELL AWAY FROM CENTRES OF POPULATION.
"THE NUISANCE CAUSED BY LANDFILLS IN THE URBAN AREA WILL SOON BE A PROBLEM OF THE PAST," HE SAID.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR CHRIS WAN, SIR DAVID AND LADY WILSON HAD A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE AIRPORT AND KOWLOON BAY FROM THE ROOFTOP OF A BUILDING IN RICHLAND GARDENS.
THEY WERE TOLD THAT MEASURES RECOMMENDED BY CONSULTANTS TO REDUCE THE PROBLEM OF NOISE FROM THE RUNNING OF AIRCRAFT ENGINES ON THE GROUND ARE NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED. REMEDIAL WORKS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 1992.
ON THE POLLUTION PROBLEM IN THE KOWLOON BAY TYPHOON SHELTER, SIR DAVID SAID THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE TACKLED SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT DEALING WITH THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM FOR THE WHOLE OF EAST KOWLOON.
"WORK ON PHASE I OF A MASSIVE $968 MILLION SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN STARTED LAST YEAR.
"THE WHOLE PROJECT SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED BY 1992. THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE SITUATION IN THE WHOLE OF EAST KOWLOON," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID AND LADY WILSON LATER TOURED THE KWUN TONG INDUSTRIAL AREA. THEY WERE SHOWN HOW THE OWNERS OF MAI HING INDUSTRIAL BUILDING HAVE UPGRADED THE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS OF THEIR BUILDING AND IMPROVED SANITATION, MAINTENANCE AND FIRE SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS.
/"PROTECTING OUR .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1999
- 3 -
"PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT IS NOT A MATTER FOR THE GOVERNMENT ALONE. EVERY CITIZEN OF HONG KONG HAS A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY.
"WE COULD START BY PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE BUILDINGS WE OURSELVES LIVE IN, AND TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN THEIR MANAGEMENT," SIR DAVID SAID.
THE GOVERNOR AND LADY WILSON WERE ALSO BRIEFED ON TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT PROBLEMS IN THE KWUN TONG TOWN CENTRE DURING A WALK IN THE AREA.
THEY WERE TOLD THAT THESE PROBLEMS WOULD BE ALLEVIATED BY REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING AND THE JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC.
THE DEVELOPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A GROUND LEVEL TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE, AND PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGES CONNECTING WITH THE KWUN TONG MTR STATION. VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC WILL THEN BE SEGREGATED.
AT THE END OF THE VISIT, THE GOVERNOR MET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND LOCAL PERSONALITIES AT A TEA RECEPTION IN THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE.
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OCT-DEC UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS RELEASED
******
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINED AT A LOW LEVEL WHILE THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASED MARGINALLY DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER -DECEMBER 1989.
THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT INDICATE THAT THE LABOUR MARKET WAS STILL TIGHT.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR OCTOBER DECEMBER 1989 WAS 1.3 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH 1.4 PER CENT FOR THE THREE-MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 1989. IT WAS THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.
THE DECREASE OF 0.1 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE PRECEDING THREE MONTH PERIOD IS STATISTICALLY NOT SIGNIFICANT.
THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1989 WAS ESTIMATED AT 35,800, COMPARED WITH 37,500 FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 1989 AND 36,200 FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 1988.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE FOR OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1989 WAS 0.8 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH 0.6 PER CENT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 1989 AND 0.7 PER CENT FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF 1988.
/THE INCREASES .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 19: I
THE INCREASES OF 0.2 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE PRECEDING THREE-MONTH PERIOD AND 0.1 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER ARE BOTH STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS FOR OCTOBER -DECEMBER 1989 WAS 22,800, COMPARED WITH 17,400 FOR THE THREE MONTH3 ENDING SEPTEMBER 1989 AND 18,400 FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 1988.
CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO), PERSONS WHO WORKED LESS THAN 35 HOURS A WEEK DUE TO ECONOMIC REASONS (SUCH AS SLACK WORK, MATERIAL SHORTAGE, MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN AND INABILITY TO FIND FULL-TIME WORK) WERE REGARDED AS UNDEREMPLOYED ONLY IF THEY WERE EITHER SEEKING OR AVAILABLE FOR MORE WORK.
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS (FOR EXAMPLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL) VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAT HAD BEEN SEASONALLY ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VARIATIONS IN THE NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS SHOULD BE USED IN MAKING COMPARISONS OVER TIME.
THE COMMISSIONER ADDED THAT, BASED ON A SYSTEM OF PROVISIONAL COUNTS, THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATES COVERING THE LATEST THREE-MONTH PERIOD COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SURVEY. THESE PROVIDE AN EARLY INDICATION OF THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION.
THE PROVISIONAL SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR NOVEMBER 1989 - JANUARY 1990 WAS 1.3 PER CENT AND THE PROVISIONAL UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 0.9 PER CENT.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED FROM A CONTINUOUS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS SURVEY COVERED A QUARTERLY SAMPLE OF SOME 14,000 HOUSEHOLDS OR 51,000 PERSONS, SELECTED SCIENTIFICALLY TO REPRESENT THE LAND-BASED CIVILIAN NON-INSTITUTIONAL POPULATION IN HONG KONG. PERSONAL AND LABOUR FORCE DATA WERE OBTAINED IN THE SURVEY BY INTERVIEWING EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER AGED 15 AND ABOVE IN THE HOUSEHOLDS SAMPLED.
IN THE SURVEY, THE DEFINITIONS USED IN MEASURING UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FOLLOW CLOSELY THOSE RECOMMENDED BY THE ILO.
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS IS GIVEN IN THE REPORT ON THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY WHICH IS PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
THE NEXT REPORT COVERING THE QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 1989 WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AROUND MARCH 20 AT $10 PER COPY.
/5 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15,
1990
5
HONG KONG RANKS 6TH IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE SURVEY ******
ACCORDING TO A REPORT ON GLOBAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET ACTIVITY PUBLISHED BY THE BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENTS (BIS), HONG KONG RANKED SIXTH AMONG THE 21 CENTRES PARTICIPATING IN A GLOBAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET SURVEY CONDUCTED IN APRIL 1989, FOLLOWING THE UK, THE USA, JAPAN, SWITZERLAND AND SINGAPORE.
"OF AN ESTIMATED GLOBAL DAILY TURNOVER OF US$640 BILLION, AROUND EIGHT PER CENT INVOLVED THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET OF HONG KONG," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
"THE PATTERN OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG, IN TERMS OF CURRENCY COMPOSITION, COUNTERPARTY ANALYSIS AND TYPE OF TRANSACTION, IS BROADLY CONSISTENT WITH THAT OF GLOBAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS," HE ADDED.
"THE MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE HONG KONG SURVEY HAVE BEEN SET OUT IN A SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE IN THE SEPTEMBER 1989 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS," THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.
THE REPORT PRODUCED BY BIS CONTAINS SUMMARY RESULTS OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET SURVEYS IN 21 COUNTRIES OR CITIES. IT ALSO INCLUDES AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE SCALE AND STRUCTURE OF GLOBAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE BUSINESS.
A LIMITED NUMBER OF COPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH. ANYONE PROFESSIONALLY INTERESTED IN THIS REPORT MAY WRITE TO MONETARY STATISTICS UNIT, MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH, 24TH FLOOR, ADMIRALTY CENTRE, TOWER 2, 18 HARCOURT ROAD, HONG KONG TO REQUEST A COPY.
THE FOLLOWING IS A TABLE SHOWING AVERAGE DAILY FOREIGN EXCHANGE TURNOVER IN APRIL 1989:
COUNTRY
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
JAPAN
SWITZERLAND
SINGAPORE
HONG KONG
AVERAGE DAILY FOREIGN EXCHANGE TURNOVER* IN APRIL 1989
(US$BN)
187
129
115
57
55
49
/AUSTRALIA .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
6
AUSTRALIA r 30
FRANCE 26
CANADA 15
NETHERLANDS 13
DENMARK 13
SWEDEN 13
BELGIUM 10
ITALY 10
IRELAND 5.2
SPAIN 4.4
NORWAY 4.4
FINLAND 3.4
BAHRAIN 3.0
PORTUGAL 0.9
GREECE 0.4
TOTAL 744
ADJUSTMENT FOR CROSS-BORDER DOUBLE COUNTING ** -204
TOTAL REPORTED NET TURNOVER 540
ESTIMATED GAPS IN REPORTING 100
ESTIMATED GLOBAL TURNOVER 640
♦ THE FIGURES FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED FOR DOUBLE COUNTING ARISING FROM LOCAL INTERBANK BUSINESS.
** THE ADJUSTMENT IS MADE ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF CROSS-BORDER INTERBANK TRANSACTIONS WERE WITH OTHER REPORTING ENTITIES.
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/7........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
- 7 -
STATUTORY CORPORATION TO MANAGE AND CONTROL PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY CENTRE ******
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE SETTING UP OF A STATUTORY CORPORATION TO MANAGE AND CONTROL THE PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY CENTRE.
IT HAS ALSO AGREED TO GRANT A SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF TAT CHEE AVENUE AND FA PO STREET IN YAU YAT TSUEN, MEASURING ABOUT 5,600 SQUARE METRES, TO THE CORPORATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY), THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MRS CLARIE LO, SAID THE PURPOSE OF SETTING UP THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE WAS TO PROVIDE SUITABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR INDUSTRIALISTS IN THE RESEARCH ON AND PRODUCTION OF HIGH-TECH PRODUCTS.
’’THE CENTRE WILL ALSO PROVIDE INDUSTRIALISTS WITH HIGH STANDARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THROUGH THE PROPOSED DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE AND THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FACILITIES,” SHE SAID.
MRS LO SAID THE CORPORATION, TO BE KNOWN AS ’’THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE CORPORATION”, WOULD HAVE A BOARD CONSISTING OF A CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
"THE BOARD SHALL BE THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CORPORATION WITH AUTHORITY, SUBJECT TO ANY DIRECTIONS THE GOVERNOR MAY GIVE AS WHEN NECESSARY.
’’THERE WILL ALSO BE A CHIEF EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBLE TO THE BOARD FOR MANAGING THE CENTRE,” SHE SAID.
MRS LO SAID SITE FORMATION WORKS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE WOULD START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE PENDING THE ACTUAL GRANTING OF THE SITE.
"IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 1993,” SHE SAID.
HOWEVER, MRS LO ADDED, DUE TO THE EXISTING DEMAND FOR THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE AND THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FACILITIES, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO SET UP THESE FACILITIES TEMPORARILY IN THE PREMISES OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL'S NEW BUILDING AT YAU YAT TSUEN WHICH WOULD BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO INTENDED TO SET UP A LIMITED COMPANY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MANAGE THESE FACILITIES AND TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF HAVING THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE OPERATIONAL IN 1993.
"THE FIRST TASK OF THE COMPANY WILL BE TO OVERSEE THE RECRUITMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THEREAFTER TO ADVISE ON OTHER ASPECTS OF PLANNING PENDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATUTORY CORPORATION,” MRS LO SAID.
/SHE ADDED .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
- 8 -
SHE ADDED THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR THE SETTING UP OF THE CORPORATION WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE CORPORATION TO TAKE OVER ALL THE ASSETS, LIABILITIES, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE LIMITED COMPANY AND FOR THE COMPANY TO BE DISSOLVED ON THE DATE THE CORPORATION CAME INTO EXISTENCE.
"ALL COMMITMENTS ENTERED INTO BY THE LIMITED COMPANY WILL THEN BE ASSUMED BY THE STATUTORY CORPORATION," SHE SAID.
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NEWLY FORMED COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL CARE ******
A COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGH WHICH ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN WORK TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, FORMED RECENTLY UPON APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR, HELD ITS INAUGURAL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 12.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ISSUES, AT THE SAME TIME ENCOURAGING AND MOBILISING PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD A BETTER ENVIRONMENT.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMITTEE ARE TO:
* KEEP ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES CONSTANTLY BEFORE THE PUBLIC, THUS FOSTERING MORE ENLIGHTENED ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT;
* KEEP UNDER REVIEW THE IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLICITY EFFORTS AND PROGRAMMES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION;
* PROVIDE A CHANNEL FOR ANY PRIVATE DONATIONS AND RESOURCES, OTHER THAN THOSE SECURED DIRECTLY BY NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, AND/OR TO ADVISE THOSE CONCERNED ON THE BEST USE OF THOSE RESOURCES FOR PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS;
* ENCOURAGE AND, WHERE NECESSARY, PROVIDE CO-ORDINATION OF VARIOUS PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY NON-GOVERNMENT BODIES AND BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS; AND
* PLAN AND OVERSEE ACTIVITIES FOR WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED).
A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS PEGGY LAM, HAS BEEN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE.
/OTHER MEMBERS .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
9
OTHER MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE ARE DR PETER HILLS, MR LAU KONG-WAH, MR VINCENT WONG PO-SUM, MR PHILLIP CRAWLEY, DR PANG HOK-TUEN, MR WILLIAM COURT AULD, MS LINDA SIDDALL, MR NIGEL WATT, ;i!i WATER POON, MR HUNG WING-TAT, MRS CHUNG CHIU WAI-KAN, AND MR Y.C. YUNG.
OFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS; DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; DIRECTOR EDUCATION; DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES; DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE COMPRISES FOUR WORKING GROUPS: THE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION CAMPAIGN, PUBLICITY, AND RESOURCES WORKING GROUPS.
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DISABLED AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TRANSPORTER SYSTEM FOR KAI TAK *******
A UNIQUE TRANSPORTER . SYSTEM SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO EXPEDITIOUSLY REMOVE DISABLED AIRCRAFT AT KAI TAK AIRPORT WILL BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION NEXT MONTH.
THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) TOOK DELIVERY OF THE $10 MILLION DISABLED AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TRANSPORTER SYSTEM (DARTS) FROM WEST GERMANY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE DARTS WAS THE FIRST SELF-PROPELLED AIRCRAFT RECOVERY SYSTEM PRODUCED. THE CONCEPT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND THE LOCAL AVIATION INDUSTRY IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE IN AIRCRAFT RECOVERY AT KAI TAK.
THE DARTS IS A HIGHLY MANOEUVRABLE MODULAR SYSTEM CONSISTING OF THREE LOW PROFILE HEAVY DUTY TRANSPORTERS WITH AN OVERALL LIFTING CAPACITY OF 300 TONNES. EACH TRAILER CAN BE USED INDEPENDENTLY, OR COMBINED IN VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS WITH THE OTHER TWO TRAILERS.
"THIS IS NECESSARY TO CATER FOR DIFFERENT AIRCRAFT SIZES RANGING FROM BOEING 747 TO SMALL GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT, AND TO COPE WITH DIFFERENT ACCIDENT SITUATIONS VARYING FROM RELATIVELY MINOR TO MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE," HE SAID.
WITH AN OVERALL PAYLOAD OF 300 TONNES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, THE DARTS WOULD LIFT A BOEING 747, THE HEAVIEST COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, WITHOUT THE TIME CONSTRAINT OF WEIGHT REDUCTION OTHER THAN DEFUELLING AND CARGO REMOVAL FOR SAFETY AND CENTRE OF GRAVITY CONTROL PURPOSES.
THE DARTS IS CONTROLLED BY A SINGLE OPERATOR THROUGH A COMPUTERISED SYSTEM AND, FITTED WITH A TOTAL OF 96 WHEELS, THE DISABLED AIRCRAFT CAN BE MOVED EXPEDITIOUSLY EVEN OVER SOFT GROUND.
/THE NEW .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
- 10 -
THE NEW EQUIPMENT WILL BE ASSEMBLED AND TESTED BEFORE IT COMES INTO OPERATION NEXT MONTH.
"THIS WILL GREATLY ENHANCE OUR CAPABILITY IN REMOVING DISABLED AIRCRAFT FROM THE RUNWAY AND ENABLE THE AIRPORT TO BE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE DARTS WILL BE ARRANGED FOR THE MEDIA IN MID-MARCH.
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SHA ON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE * * * *
THE CLEARANCE OF THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY IS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY, AND ABOUT HALF OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY MOVED OUT OF THE AREA, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PO LEUNG KUK LUNCHEON MEETING, MR TSAO SAID THE SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICE, WHICH WAS SET UP FOR THE CLEARANCE OF THE WALLED CITY, HAD SO FAR TAKEN OVER 3,900 PREMISES, WHICH REPRESENTED ABOUT HALF OF THE 8,000 PREMISES THERE.
THE 3,900 PREMISES INCLUDED 230 INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL UNDERTAKINGS AND CLINICS, HE ADDED.
MR TSAO ESTIMATED THAT DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE IN RELATION TO THE CLEARANCE, THE SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICE, THE KAIFONG ASSOCIATION AND LOCAL RESIDENTS HAD HELD ABOUT 1,000 MEETINGS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE CLEARANCE.
HE NOTED THAT THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE HAD USED ALMOST A YEAR TO FORMULATE A FAIR COMPENSATION PACKAGE WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAD APPROVED AN AMOUNT OF ABOUT $2,300 MILLION AS PAYMENT TO OWNERS AND TENANTS AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE.
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/Il ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15,
’990
- 11 -
HANDICRAFT AND DRAWINGS BY KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ON DISPLAY *****
AN EXHIBITION ON HANDICRAFT AND DRAWINGS BY STUDENTS FROM 15 KINDERGARTENS IN WONG TAI SIN WILL BE STAGED IN THE EXHIBITION HALL OF NGAU CHI WAN CIVIC CENTRE FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE TWO-DAY EXHIBITION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE THEMES DEPICTED BY THE WORKS INCLUDE SEASONS, ANIMALS, FOOD, TRAFFIC, CLOTHING AND FAMILY.
THE EXHIBITION, ADMISSION TO WHICH IS FREE, WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM TOMORROW AND FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17).
AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 10.30 AM TOMORROW. OFFICIATING WILL BE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (KINDERGARTEN), MRS NG CHEUK MAN-LING; URBAN COUNCILLOR, MISS CECILIA YEUNG; SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER FOR WONG TAI SIN, MR IP PO-KUEN; WONG TAI SIN ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (WEST), MR WILLIAM KWAN; CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE, MR FUNG KWONG-CHUNG; AND CONVENER OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE EXHIBITION, MISS CHAN SUK-HA.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EXHIBITION ON HANDICRAFT AND DRAWINGS BY KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS IN WONG TAI SIN TO BE HELD TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AND ON SATURDAY IN THE EXHIBITION HALL OF NGAU CHI WAN CIVIC CENTRE.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM TOMORROW AND FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM ON SATURDAY.
AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE EXHIBITION HALL TOMORROW AT 10.30 AM.
- - 0----------
/12 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
- 12 -
JOINT SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW IN NORTH DISTRICT * * * *
STUDENTS FROM 10 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH DISTRICT WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ARTISTIC TALENT DURING A JOINT SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17) AFTERNOON.
THE VARIETY SHOW IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE NORTH DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL HEADMASTERS’ CONFERENCE WITH SPONSORSHIP BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL IN SHEUNG SHUI. THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE FOLK DANCE AND SONGS, DRAMA, ELECTRONIC PIANO PLAYING, AND PERFORMANCES BY CHOIRS AND PHILHARMONIC AND CHINESE ORCHESTRAS.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI; DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG; AND SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (TAI PO AND NORTH), MR LIU TSO-TIM.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NORTH DISTRICT JOINT SECONDARY SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17) AT THE NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL, LUNG SUM AVENUE, SHEUNG SHUI.
THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL START AT 2 PM.
BOE MEMBERS VISIT GERMAN SWISS INT’L SCHOOL * * * *
THE ADDRESS OF THE GERMAN SWISS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WHEN IT FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1969 WAS 1 BARKER ROAD.
SEVENTEEN YEARS AND FOUR MORE ADDRESSES LATER, INCLUDING THE UNION CHURCH IN KENNEDY ROAD, THE SCHOOL FINALLY ACQUIRED A PERMANENT ADDRESS AT 11 GUILDFORD ROAD AT THE PEAK, BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS WERE TOLD THIS TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN THEY VISITED THE SCHOOL.
FROM A MODEST BEGINNING OF A RECEPTIONAL AND SOME PRIMARY CLASSES, THE SCHOOL TODAY HAS 821 KINDERGARTEN, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS IN 36 CLASSES.
/THE VISITORS.........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
13 -
THE VISITORS, ACCOMPANIED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (SCHOOLS), MR LUCAS CHAN, COMPRISED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MR TIMOTHY HA, AND BOARD MEMBERS DR SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI, MISS BOW SUI-MAY, MR TAM MAN-KWAN, MRS MINNIE LAI, MISS SO YAN-LAP, AND MRS NANCY YUNG.
THE GERMAN SWISS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PROVIDES THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF GERMAN, SWISS AND BRITISH EDUCATION, AND TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN HONG KONG.
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TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN ADMIRALTY AND CENTRAL
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17), THE MTR ADMIRALTY STATION (WEST) BUS TERMINUS WILL BE DESIGNATED A BAN ZONE.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THIS BUS TERMINUS 24 HOURS DAILY.
IN ADDITION, THE LAYBY ADJACENT TO THE BUS TERMINUS WILL ALSO BE DESIGNATED A BAN ZONE.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THIS BAN ZONE 24 HOURS DAILY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING RIGHT-TURNING FROM EASTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL INTO QUEEN VICTORIA STREET WILL BE BANNED.
VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON EASTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL HEADING FOR QUEEN VICTORIA STREET WILL BE DIVERTED VIA PEDDER STREET, WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL TO JOIN QUEEN VICTORIA STREET.
/14 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
- 14 -
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WAN CHAI * ♦ ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN WAN CHAI WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY:
* THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF JOHNSTON ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH O’BRIEN ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 80 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION; AND
* O’BRIEN ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH JOHNSTON ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING RESTRICTION FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY ON THE SAME SECTIONS OF ROADS WILL BE CANCELLED.
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TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CHI FU ♦ * ♦ ♦ »
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17), THE CHI FU FA YUEN BUS TERMINUS IN POK FU LAM WILL BE DESIGNATED A BAN ZONE.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THIS BUS TERMINUS 24 HOURS DAILY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE BAY BETWEEN CHI FU ROAD AND CHI FU .FA YUEN BUS TERMINUS WILL ALSO BE DESIGNATED A BAN ZONE.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THIS BAN ZONE 24 HOURS DAILY.
/15 .......
- 15 -
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1990
NO-STOP FOR TAXIS IN CHOI YUEN ROAD, SHEUNG SHUI * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17), ALL TAXIS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN PASSENGERS ALONG EASTBOUND CHOI YUEN ROAD (ROAD LIO) IN SHEUNG SHUI BETWEEN CHOI YUEN ROAD ROUNDABOUT AND A POINT ABOUT 185 METRES WEST OF THE ROUNDABOUT.
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WATER CUTS IN TUEN MUN, HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK
*****
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN TUEN MUN WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 9 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 17) TO 5 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT CERTAIN PREMISES LOCATED ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD, INCLUDING FU TEI, SHUN FUNG WAI, LAM TEI SAN TSUEN, FUK HANG TSUEN, FUK HANG ROAD, TUEN TSZ WAI, TSING CHUEN WAI, LAM TEI MAIN STREET, TIN HO RESTAURANT, FOON HEI RESTAURANT, KAR HEI RESTAURANT, CHIK YUEN, YEE LO, TO YUEN WAI, KEI TAK HOME FOR THE AGED AND KAI YAN INSTITUTION OF OLD AGE.
IT WILL ALSO AFFECT PREMISES ON HING PING ROAD, TUEN MUN REFUGEE CENTRE, NAI WAI, BOWRING CAMP, LAM TEI PUMPING STATION AND QUARTERS, FU TEI CHUNG TSUEN, FU HANG ROAD, SAN TAO YUEN, KING LO LOK YUEN, KONG ON HOME FOR THE ELDERLY, ST FRANCIS OLD AGE HOME, MAN CHUI YUEN HOME FOR THE OLD AGED AND GREENFIELD LODGE.
ON THE SAME DAY (FEBRUARY 17), FLUSHING WATER SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES IN HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 2 PM TO MIDNIGHT TO FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES LOCATED AT HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK, INCLUDING KING GEORGE V COLLEGE, HO MAN TIN ESTATE, 01 MAN ESTATE, CHUN MAN COURT AND VALLEY ROAD ESTATE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVT STATEMENT ON BASIC LAW POLITICAL MODEL ........................ 1
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE COMPANIES ........... 2
BILL TO CHANGE TIME LIMITS FOR STARTING NEGLIGENCE ACTIONS ......... 3
INCREASED PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES UNDER COMPANIES ORDINANCE ......... 5
REVISED FEES FOR REGISTRATION OF FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS 6
HO MAN TIN OUTLINE ZONING PLAN APPROVED............................. 7
NEW DRAFT OZP FOR STONECUTTERS ISLAND GAZETTED ..................... 8
NEW DB MEMBER APPOINTED............................................. 10
CONTRIBUTIONS OF LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE.... 10
DB EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER POOR DRAINAGE SITUATION .................. 11
EXHIBITION ON STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO....................... 12
HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION IN FANLING OPENS TOMORROW .................. 12
ANTI-TRIAD YOUTH CARNIVAL IN SHA TIN ON SUNDAY ..................... 13
RETAILERS FINED FOR SELLING IMPROPERLY LABELLED FOOD ............... 14
TSUEN WAN AMBULANCE DEPOT OFFICIALLY OPENED......................... 15
REPROVISIONING OF KLN BAY PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA ................ 15
TENDERS INVITED FOR FOUNTAIN INSTALLATION .......................... 16
NEW ROADS FOR TAI WO HAU ESTATE REDEVELOPMENT....................... 16
ROADWORKS PROPOSED FOR TIN SHUI WAI DEVELOPMENT..................... 17
TENDERS INVITED FOR REPROVISIONING OF VILLAGE FACILITIES ........... 18
INTERCHANGE TO BE BUILT IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT........................ 19
NEED FOR MORE CAREERS TRAINING STRESSED............................. 19
FUN FOR 1,800 CHILDREN IN DEPARTMENTAL FAMILY DAY .................. 21
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR TSING YI BRIDGE RE-OPENING ................ 21
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL..................................... 22
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
1
GOVT STATEMENT ON BASIC LAW POLITICAL MODEL *****
THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON THE POLITICAL MODEL PROPOSED BY THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE:
EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN HELD BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS WITH THE TWIN OBJECTIVES OF SECURING A FASTER DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY AND CONTINUITY THROUGH 1997. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE ENSURED THAT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN CLEARLY REPRESENTED TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
AMENDMENTS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE REPRESENT AN IMPROVEMENT ON EARLIER DRAFTS. IT IS NOW PROPOSED THAT THERE WILL BE 20 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1997 AND CONTINUING STEADY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TO 2003. A DECISION WILL BE TAKEN BY THE SAR LEGISLATURE BEFORE 2007 ON WHETHER IT WILL BE FULLY DIRECTLY ELECTED IN THAT YEAR.
WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO SEE MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE BASIC LAW FOR 1997. WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, ONCE THEY HAVE SEEN THE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE INTRODUCED IN 1991 WORKING IN PRACTICE, THAT THIS WOULD BE DESIRABLE.
THE ARRANGEMENTS NOW BEING PUT IN PLACE WILL ALLOW FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL ESTABLISH A GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE IN 1995. PROCEDURES INVOLVED WILL BE CLEAR, SIMPLE AND SET DOWN IN LAW. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SEES THE ’’THROUGH TRAIN” PRINCIPLE AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN MAINTAINING CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. SO TOO ARE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WILL ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE ELECTED TO THE 1995 LEGISLATURE TO RETAIN THEIR SEATS RIGHT THROUGH TO 1999.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT NOW INTEND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE 1991 LEGISLATURE TO 18 AND AT LEAST 20 IN 1995. THE 1991 FIGURE REPRESENTS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE FROM THE 10 PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED IN 1988. IT IS BROADLY IN LINE WITH THE WISH OF HONG KONG PEOPLE FOR A FASTER PACE OF POLITICAL REFORM. THE GOVERNMENT WILL ANNOUNCE FULL DETAILS OF PLANS FOR 1991 IN DUE COURSE. THESE WILL INCLUDE CHANGES TO BE PROPOSED IN THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED, FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS, AS WELL AS CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES.
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/2 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 2 -
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE COMPANIES * * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, TODAY (FRIDAY) CALLED ON EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE COMPANIES TO SUPPORT THE TERRITORY’S MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
ADDRESSING PARTICIPANTS AT THE BERNE UNION GENERAL MEETING, WHICH WAS HOSTED BY THE HONG KONG EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, MR CHAN SAID HONG KONG HAD BEEN SUPPORTED THROUGH PROVISION OF EXPORT FINANCE OR EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE FOR SUCH MAJOR PROJECTS AS THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM AND THE POWER STATION ON TSING YI.
"ALL THESE VENTURES HAVE PROVED TO BE SUCCESSFUL," HE SAID.
"WE OBVIOUSLY LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUAL SUPPORT IN THE FORTHCOMING YEARS, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THE MANY INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS WE ARE UNDERTAKING."
HE TOLD THE AUDIENCE OF EXPORT CREDIT INSURERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD MASSIVE PLANS INVOLVING A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF OVER US$16 BILLION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW AIRPORT, PORT AND OTHER LARGE-SCALE INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES.
MR CHAN SAID THESE PROJECTS WOULD IMPROVE HONG KONG’S TRADING AND INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT.
TO STRENGTHEN THE COMPETITIVE EDGE OF THE TERRITORY’S MANUFACTURED EXPORTS, PLANS WERE ALSO BEING FORMULATED TO ESTABLISH A TECHNOLOGY CENTRE TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND SMALL-SCALE HIGH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES.
MR CHAN SAID THESE EFFECTIVE TOOLS, TOGETHER WITH THE USUAL DYNAMISM AND ENTERPRISING SPIRIT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE, WOULD ENABLE THE TERRITORY TO FACE WITH CONFIDENCE SUCH PROBLEMS AS INCREASING COMPETITION FROM NEIGHBOURING AREAS AND RISING PROTECTIONIST PRESSURE FROM ITS TRADING PARTNERS.
ON THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT), MR CHAN SAID HONG KONG ENJOYED FULL AUTONOMY IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT TOOK A SERIOUS INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN MAJOR REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND TRADE ORGANISATIONS.
HONG KONG HAD BECOME A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT IN APRIL 1986 AND, ONE YEAR LATER, IT BECAME A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL.
"WE BELIEVE THAT, GIVEN OUR TRADING POSITION, WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AND A CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE TOWARDS ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION NOT JUST IN THE REGION BUT ALSO IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT," MR CHAN SAID.
/HE ATTACHED .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
3 -
HE ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG’S TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND THE ASIA-PACIFIC AREA, SAYING THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE TERRITORY’S ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE 1990’S.
MR CHAN SAID CHINA HAD REPLACED THE UNITED STATES AS HONG KONG’S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER SINCE JANUARY 1985, ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL TRADE.
DESPITE THE TEMPORARY SETBACK CAUSED BY THE EVENTS OF LAST JUNE, THE OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS THAT HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS HAD ESTABLISHED IN THE PEARL RIVER DELTA HAD NOT BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY AFFECTED AND THE TERRITORY’S TOTAL TRADE WITH CHINA HAD STILL SUSTAINED A GROWTH RATE OF 26 PER CENT IN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 1989 OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1988, MR CHAN SAID.
AS FOR THE TERRITORY’S TRADE WITH THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, HE SAID THIS HAD GROWN BY ABOUT 30 PER CENT ANNUALLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
"TRADE IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF HONG KONG. IN 1989, OUR TOTAL TRADE EXCEEDED US$128 BILLION," HE SAID.
"WE ARE NOW THE WORLD’S 11TH LARGEST TRADING ECONOMY.
"HONG KONG IS ALSO RE-EMERGING AS AN IMPORTANT ENTREPOT, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO OUR TRADE WITH THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING ASIA-PACIFIC REGION."
MR CHAN SAID HE BELIEVED THIS ENCOURAGING TREND, TOGETHER WITH HONG KONG’S STRONG COMMITMENT TO FREE TRADE AND TO THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM EMBODIED IN THE GATT, AUGURED WELL FOR FURTHER GROWTH OF THE TERRITORY’S TRADE IN THE 1990’S.
--------0-----------
BILL TO CHANGE TIME LIMITS FOR STARTING NEGLIGENCE ACTIONS *******
AMENDMENTS TO THE LIMITATION ORDINANCE ARE PROPOSED TO CHANGE THE TIME PERIODS WITHIN WHICH CERTAIN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS MUST BE COMMENCED IN RELATION TO CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES.
PROVISIONS ARE ALSO MADE TO BRING THE LAW UP TO DATE IN THIS AREA WHERE THERE HAS BEEN FRAUD OR DELIBERATE CONCEALMENT OF FACTS BY A PARTY TO AN ACTION.
PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), THE LIMITATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO:
* EXTEND TIME LIMITS IN WHICH TO BRING AN ACTION AGAINST A DEFENDANT FOR NEGLIGENCE IN RESPECT OF DAMAGE WHICH MAY NOT COME TO LIGHT INSIDE THE NORMAL TIME LIMITS FOR STARTING A COURT ACTION;
/* REDUCE FROM ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, J190
4
* REDUCE FROM 20 YEARS TO 12 YEARS, THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH IT IS POSSIBLE TO BRING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS TO RECOVER LAND AND OTHER INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY; AND
* MODERNISE STATUTORY PROVISIONS WHICH DISAPPLY TIME LIMITS FOR STARTING AN ACTION WHERE THERE HAS BEEN FRAUD, DELIBERATE CONCEALMENT OR MISTAKE.
THE EXTENDED TIME LIMITS RELATE TO COMMENCING NEGLIGENCE
ACTIONS INVOLVING LATENT DAMAGE. THEY ARE MODELLED ON SIMILAR
PROVISIONS IN THE ENGLISH LATENT DAMAGE ACT 1986.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT A PLAINTIFF SHOULD HAVE THREE YEARS FROM
THE DATE OF DISCOVERY OF DAMAGE TO START AN ACTION AGAINST A
DEFENDANT EVEN IF THE NEGLIGENT ACT CAUSING THE DAMAGE OCCURRED OUTSIDE THE NORMAL SIX YEARS’ TIME LIMIT FOR COMMENCING AN ACTION.
HOWEVER, NO ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT LATER THAN 15 YEARS AFTER THE ACT OR OMISSION WHICH IS ALLEGED TO HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE.
THE EXTENDED LIMITATION PERIOD WILL BENEFIT NOT MERELY THE PERSON WHO HAS THE ORIGINAL CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST A DEFENDANT, BUT ALSO ANY PERSON WHO ACQUIRES AN INTEREST IN PROPERTY AFFECTED BY LATENT DAMAGE.
THIS MEANS THAT THE PURCHASER OF A BUILDING WITH NEGLIGENTLY LAID FOUNDATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO SUE THE BUILDER FOR LATENT DAMAGE UP TO 15 YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE DEFECTIVE WORK EVEN THOUGH THE PURCHASER WAS NOT THE FIRST OWNER.
THE REDUCTION FROM 20 YEARS TO 12 YEARS OF THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH IT IS POSSIBLE TO BRING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS TO RECOVER LAND AND OTHER INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY IS A CHANGE CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE CONVEYANCING AND PROPERTY (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1988, WHICH REDUCED FROM 25 YEARS TO 15 YEARS THE MINIMUM PERIOD FOR WHICH A VENDOR OF LAND IS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS TO PROVE TITLE.
THE CHANGE IS NEEDED SO AS TO PROTECT A PURCHASER FROM CLAIMS WHICH PRE-DATE THE PERIOD OF GOOD TITLE WHICH A VENDOR MUST SHOW.
THE PROVISIONS WHICH DEAL WITH THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE LIMITATION PERIOD IN CASES OF FRAUD, CONCEALMENT AND MISTAKE ARE DERIVED FROM THE ENGLISH LIMITATION ACT 1980. THIS ACT REPRODUCES, IN STATUTORY FORM, THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPORTANT CASE LAW IN THIS ARFA.
CURRENTLY, THE LIMITATION ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR POSTPONEMENT OF LIMITATION PERIODS IN CASES INVOLVING FRAUD OR MISTAKE. IN OTHER WORDS, TIME DOES NOT BEGIN TO RUN AGAINST A PLAINTIFF IN SUCH CASES UNTIL THE PLAINTIFF HAS DISCOVERED THE FRAUD OR MISTAKE.
THE ENGLISH PROVISION HAS SINCE BEEN AMENDED TO INCLUDE CASES OF DELIBERATE CONCEALMENT OF FACTS IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF JUDICIAL DECISIONS. A SIMILAR AMENDMENT TO THE LOCAL PROVISION IS THEREFORE NECESSARY.
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 28.
------0-----------
/5.........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 5 -
INCREASED PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES UNDER COMPANIES ORDINANCE
*****
THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT)(NO.2) ORDINANCE 1990 CAME INTO OPERATION TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE AMENDMENT INCREASED PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, SUCH AS FAILURE TO KEEP PROPER BOOKS OF ACCOUNT OR FILE CERTAIN RELEVANT INFORMATION IN THE COMPANIES REGISTRY, BRINGING THEM BROADLY INTO LINE WITH THOSE UNDER THE UK COMPANIES ACT 1985, AND CONSOLIDATED OFFENCES AND PENALTIES IN A NEW EASY-TO-READ SCHEDULE.
A ONE-TIME FINE WAS ALSO INTRODUCED IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING DAILY FINE FOR CONTINUING OFFENCES.
THIS RECOGNISED THE TWO ASPECTS OF A CONTINUING OFFENCE, NAMELY, ITS INITIAL COMMISSION AND ITS CONTINUATION. BOTH FINES COULD BE IMPOSED ON FIRST CONVICTION.
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR NOEL GLEESON, SAID THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE WAS ALL ABOUT EFFICIENT COMPANY ADMINISTRATION AND THE DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC IN RETURN FOR WHICH THE SHAREHOLDERS ENJOYED THE VERY CONSIDERABLE PRIVILEGE OF LIMITED LIABILITY IN THE CONDUCT OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS.
SOME COMPANY DIRECTORS, HOWEVER, SOUGHT TO ENJOY THE PRIVILEGE OF LIMITED LIABILITY WITHOUT ACCEPTING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE ORDINANCE. THIS HAD LED TO 211 CONVICTIONS FOR OFFENCES DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
MR GLEESON SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT ALL COMPANY DIRECTORS, BOTH IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND IN THEIR OWN, SHOULD FULLY UNDERSTAND AND DISCHARGE ALL OF THEIR DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
BOOKLETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COMPANIES REGISTRY, 14TH FLOOR, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, ON SELECTED PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE COMPANIES REGISTRY.
FULL DETAILS OF THE NEW PENALTIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE COMPANIES REGISTRY ON REQUEST.
---------0-----------
/6 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
6 -
REVISED FEES FOR REGISTRATION OF FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS *****
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED REVISED FEES CHARGED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE REGISTRATION OF FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS.
THE FEE REVISION, EFFECTIVE FROM TODAY, IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE FIRE SERVICE (INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATION 1990 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT AS A RESULT OF INCREASES IN STAFF COSTS AND OTHER RELATED COSTS SUCH AS ACCOMMODATION AND EQUIPMENT COST, PREVIOUS CHARGES WERE NO LONGER SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED.
HE SAID THE FEE REVISION TOOK ACCOUNT OF THE INCREASE IN COSTS THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE FEES WERE FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1986.
DETAILS OF THE REVISION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
EXISTING FEES NEW FEES
♦ REGISTRATION (INCLUDING PRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE AND INITIAL WORKSHOP INSPECTION) OF CLASS 1, CLASS 2 OR CLASSES 1 AND 2 CONTRACTORS $430 $640
♦ WRITTEN EXAMINATION FOR CLASS 3 CONTRACTORS $230 $370
♦ INTERVIEW OF CLASS 3 CONTRACTORS $290 * $390
♦ WORKSHOP INSPECTION OF CLASS 3 CONTRACTORS $170 $310
» WORKSHOP RE-INSPECTION OF CLASS 1, CLASS 2, CLASSES 1 AND 2 OR CLASS 3 CONTRACTORS $170 $310
* NEW WORKSHOP INSPECTION OF CLASS 1, CLASS 2, CLASSES 1 AND 2 OR CLASS 3 CONTRACTORS $170 $310
♦ NEW WORKSHOP RE-INSPECTION OF CLASS 1, CLASS 2, CLASSES 1 AND 2 OR CLASS 3 CONTRACTORS $170 $310
/* CHANGE OF ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
* CHANGE OF REGISTERED NAME $110
OF REGISTERED ADDRESS FOR
CLASS 1, CLASS 2, CLASSES 1 AND 2 OR CLASS 3
CONTRACTORS
* CHANGE OF QUALIFIED PERSON $130
FOR CLASS 1, CLASS 2, CLASSES 1 AND 2 CONTRACTORS
$160
$210
--------0--------
HO MAN TIN OUTLINE ZONING PLAN APPROVED ******
THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED THE APPROVED OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR HO MAN TIN AREA.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD SAID THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PLAN IS TO ESTABLISH A STATUTORY LAND USE FRAMEWORK WHEREBY THE VARIOUS USES OF LAND IN THE PLANNING AREA CAN BE DEVELOPED OR REDEVELOPED IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.
THE PLAN WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 24 LAST YEAR.
IT COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 208 HECTARES IN CENTRAL KOWLOON WHICH IS BOUNDED BY BOUNDARY STREET TO THE NORTH, THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AND PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD TO THE WEST, CHATHAM ROAD NORTH TO THE SOUTH, AND LOMOND ROAD, TIN KWONG ROAD, THE EASTERN SLOPES OF HO MAN TIN HILL AND SHUN YUNG STREET TO THE EAST.
THE PLANNING AREA HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY DEVELOPED AND FORMS PART OF THE EXISTING URBAN AREAS OF KOWLOON.
THE PREDOMINANT LAND USE IS RESIDENTIAL, CONSISTING OF BOTH PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
IN THE PLAN, 3.7 PER CENT (7.6 HECTARES) OF THE AREA IS ZONED FOR GREEN BELT WHICH COMPRISES MAINLY STEEP SLOPES UNSUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT; 36.9 PER CENT (76.9 HECTARES) IS ZONED FOR RESIDENTIAL USES, INCLUDING PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES; 40.4 PER CENT (84.1 HECTARES) IS ZONED FOR GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION/COMMUNITY AND OPEN SPACE USES; 0.2 PER CENT (0.4 HECTARE) IS ZONED FOR OTHER SPECIFIED USES, INCLUDING PETROL FILLING STATIONS AND A KEROSENE STORE.
THE REST OF THE AREA (39.3 HECTARES) IS ZONED FOR ROADS.
THE PLAN CAN BE INSPECTED AT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING ENTRANCE, HONG KONG; OR AT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, FOURTH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
/COPIES OF .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
8
COPIES OF THE APPROVED PLAN ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MAP AND PLAN SALES SECTION, SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG, AND AT THE KOWLOON MAP AND PLAN SALES SECTION, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE PRICE IS $10 FOR AN UNCOLOURED COPY AND $50 FOR A COLOURED COPY.
-----0------
NEW DRAFT OZP FOR STONECUTTERS ISLAND GAZETTED
*****
THE NEW DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR STONECUTTERS ISLAND, WHICH INCLUDES THE SITE FOR CONTAINER TERMINAL 8, WAS GAZETTED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE NEW PLAN COVERS A TOTAL AREA OF 228 HECTARES, AND INCLUDES THE EXISTING STONECUTTERS ISLAND AND APPROXIMATELY 115 HECTARES OF NEW RECLAMATION TO THE NORTH AND WEST.
THIS NEW RECLAMATION WILL PROVIDE THE SITE FOR CONTAINER TERMINAL 8, THE NEXT STAGE OF HONG KONG’S PORT DEVELOPMENT.
FOLLOWING THIS DEVELOPMENT, STONECUTTERS ISLAND WILL BE LINKED TO MAINLAND KOWLOON BY RECLAMATION.
"THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN IS TO ESTABLISH A BROAD LAND USE ZONING AND MAJOR ROAD NETWORK TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA.
"THE INTENTION IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FURTHER CONTAINER TERMINAL FACILITIES IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MINIMISE THE IMPACTS UPON EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA," A TOWN PLANNING BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID.
AS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONTAINER TERMINAL ARE QUITE SPECIFIC, ALL OF THE PROPOSED NEW RECLAMATION IS ZONED "OTHER USES", WITH EITHER AN ANNOTATION FOR "CONTAINER TERMINAL" OR "CONTAINER RELATED USES".
USES WITHIN THE "CONTAINER TERMINAL" ZONE ARE LIMITED TO THE USUAL RANGE OF TERMINAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CONTAINER HANDLING, STORAGE AND REPAIR; CONTAINER TRACTOR/TRAILER PARKING AND REPAIR; CONTAINER FREIGHT STATIONS; CARGO HANDLING AREA; CAR AND LORRY PARKING.
THE "CONTAINER RELATED USES" ZONE MAKES SPECIAL PROVISION FOR USES IN SUPPORT OF THE OPERATION OF THE CONTAINER PORT.
/PERMITTED USES .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
9 -
PERMITTED USES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE ’’CONTAINER TERMINAL” ZONE, AND INCLUDE CONTAINER STORAGE AND REPAIR, CONTAINER TRACTOR/TRAILER PARKING AND REPAIR, CONTAINER FREIGHT STATIONS, CARGO HANDLING AREA, CAR AND LORRY PARKING.
’’THE PLAN HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO MAXIMISE THE SEPARATION OF THE CONTAINER TERMINAL FROM RESIDENTIAL USES AT MEI FOO SUN TSUEN.
”IN ADDITION TO THE LOCATION OF THE TERMINAL, THE ADJOINING LAI CHI KOK OUTLINE ZONING PLAN PROVIDES FOR AN EXTENSIVE OPEN SPACE BUFFER AREA IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF MEI FOO SUN TSUEN.
”AS PART OF THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONTAINER PORT, FURTHER PROPOSALS WILL BE MADE TO IMPLEMENT THE DETAILS IN THIS PLAN,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE PLAN ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE CONTINUATION OF USE OF STONECUTTERS ISLAND FOR MILITARY PURPOSES AND FOR A MAJOR SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITY ON AN EXISTING AREA OF RECLAMATION TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE ISLAND.
AN AREA OF FURTHER RECLAMATION IS SHOWN BETWEEN THE LAND AND THE PROPOSED WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION.
THE EXACT EXTENT OF THIS RECLAMATION AND THE ISLAND USES PROPOSED FOR IT ARE AT PRESENT NOT DECIDED. ONCE USES AND THE EXTENT OF THIS RECLAMATION ARE KNOWN, AMENDMENTS AS NECESSARY WILL BE PROPOSED TO THE PLAN.
THE CURRENT PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTAINER TERMINAL 8 AND ASSOCIATED BACK-UP FACILITIES IS FOR THE SITE TO 1 E TENDERED IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, WITH AN AWARD OF RIGHTS TO HIE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER IN EARLY 1991.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WILL COMMENCE N MID-1991 WITH THE FIRST BERTH OF THE NEW TERMINAL BEING COMPLEI ED N MID-1993. COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED BY MID-1995.
THIS NEW DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION FOR A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS AT:-
- THE DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRA! AND WESTERN), CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, L ; ST WING ENTRANCE, 11 ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG;
- THE DISTRICT OFFK > ; HAM S;H PO) FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS, 37-39 TONKIN STREET, KOWLOON
- THE DISTRICT OFFICE (KWAI TSING) 10TH FLOOR, KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 166-174 HING FONG ROAD, KWAI CHUNG, NEW TERRITORIES;
- PLANNING DEPARTMENT, TOWN PLANNING BOARD SECTION, FOURTH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND
/- TSUEN WAN .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 10 -
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT PLANNING OFFICE, THIRD FLOOR, FOU WAH CENTRE, 210 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES.
COPIES OF THE PLAN ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND AT THE KOWLOON MAP SALES SECTION, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE PRICE IS $10 FOR AN UNCOLOURED COPY AND $120 FOR A COLOURED COPY.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE DRAFT PLAN SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY, TOWN PLANNING BOARD, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, FOURTH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG, BY APRIL 16.
- - 0----------
NEW DB MEMBER APPOINTED * * * *
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR YIM KWOK-ON AS A MEMBER OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (FRIDAY). THE APPOINTMENT WILL RUN UNTIL MARCH 31, 1991.
A NOTICE OF THE APPOINTMENT WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GAZETTE.
MR YIM, AGED 37 AND A SOCIAL WORKER BY PROFESSION, FILLS THE SEAT VACATED BY THE RESIGNATION OF MR CHAN LAI-SANG.
MR YIM IS A MEMBER OF MONG KOK DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, THE AREA COMMITTEE OF MONG KOK SOUTH, AND A CO-OPTED MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE.
HE IS ALSO THE HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.
- - 0---------
CONTRIBUTIONS OF LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ******
THE LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, MR LEO KWAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE COMMITTEE’S SPRING GATHERING, MR KWAN SAID MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND ITS SUB-COMMITTEES HAD GIVEN VALUABLE OPINIONS AND REFLECTED LIVESTOCK FARMERS’ VIEWS WHICH ENABLED THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO CARRY OUT THEIR WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRACTICAL SITUATION.
/NOTING THAT .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 11 -
NOTING THAT THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR ONLY ABOUT 26 MONTHS, MR KWAN SAID THE COMMITTEE, TOGETHER WITH ITS SUB-COMMITTEES, HAD ALREADY HELD 43 MEETINGS AND CONDUCTED 16 VISITS TO THE PRIVATE FARMS PARTICIPATING IN THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON LIVESTOCK WASTE TREATMENT METHODS.
HE SAID THE CONSULTANT’S REPORT ON THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WAS EXPECTED TO BE READY FOR CONSULTATION IN A FEW MONTHS AND CALLED ON THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN REFLECTING LIVESTOCK FARMERS’ VIEWS.
IT WAS THROUGH SINCERE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LIVESTOCK FARM OPERATORS THAT THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME COULD ACHIEVE ITS LONG-TERM TARGET OF PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT TO PROVIDE CLEAN AND DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS FOR RESIDENTS, MR KWAN CONCLUDED.
------0 - -
DB EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER POOR DRAINAGE SITUATION *****
THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF WONG TAT SIN, MR BRIAN LAU, THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING VISITED THE TAI HOM VILLAGE TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE POOR DRAINAGE THERE.
MR LAU WAS ACCOMPANIED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HOUSING, URBAN SERVICES AND TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS THE TAI HOM VILLAGE KAIFONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION. *
MR LAU SAID THE VISIT WAS PART OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE’S REGULAR FACT-FINDING PROGRAMME.
’’THE PURPOSE OF TODAY’S VISIT WAS TO LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE SITUATION IN THE VILLAGE TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE IT.
"WITH THE APPROACH OF THE RAINY SEASON, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NULLAHS AND DRAINS ARE KEPT CLEAR TO AVOID FLOODING RESULTING FROM CHOKAGE," HE SAID.
MR LAU SAID THE DISTRICT OFFICE WOULD MAKE JOINT EFFORTS WITH THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE SITUATION*
"IN THIS RESPECT, THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE SERVES AS A LINK BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT," HE SAID.
------0----------
/12 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 12 -
EXHIBITION ON STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO
*****
AN EXHIBITION ON THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO WILL BE HELD AT TAI PO TOWN LOT 18 SQUARE, TAI PO CENTRE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 18).
THE EXHIBITION WILL PRESENT FINDINGS OF A PROJECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO IN THE 1990’S CONDUCTED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD.
THE PROJECT TOOK 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT IN THE 1990’S.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD, MR HO YUNG-SANG, AND THE ACTING DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS MARY CHOW, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE EXHIBITION’S OPENING.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EXHIBITION ON THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO TO BE HELD AT THE TAI PO TOWN LOT 18 SQUARE, TAI PO CENTRE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 18). IT WILL OPEN AT 11 AM.
THE CONVENOR OF THE TAI PO DISTICT BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO IN THE 1990’S, MR YAU CHUNG-WAN, WILL BE PRESENT TO EXPLAIN DETAILS OF THE PROJECT.
------------------------0-------- HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION IN FANLING OPENS TOMORROW *****
A TWO-DAY HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION FEATURING MORE THAN 300 FLORAL PLANTS AND BLOOMS WILL BEGIN TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE CHEUNG WAH COMMUNITY HALL IN FANLING.
THE EXHIBITION HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION WITH SPONSORSHIP BY THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD.
EXHIBITS ARE DIVIDED INTO SIX CATEGORIES COMPRISING BONSAI, ORCHIDS, AFRICAN VIOLETS, POT FLOWERS, MINIATURE POT PLANTS AND FLORAL ARRANGEMENT.
THE DISPLAY COMPRISES WORKS BY STUDENTS AND TUTORS FROM A HORTICULTURE TRAINING CLASS ORGANISED BY THE ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION.
/OFFICIATING AT .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 13 -
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM TOMORROW, AND FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 18). ADMISSION IS FREE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE CHEUNG WAH COMMUNITY HALL, CHEUNG WAH ESTATE, FANLING. THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 10 AM.
--------0----------
ANTI-TRIAD YOUTH CARNIVAL IN SHA TIN ON SUNDAY
******
AN ANTI-TRIAD CARNIVAL TARGETTED AT YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE HELD AT THE AMPHITHEATRE IN CENTRAL PARK, SHA TIN, ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 18) AS A FINALE TO THE DISTRICT’S ANNUAL FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN.
FOURTEEN STUDENT FIGHT CRIME AMBASSADORS, WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AND TRAINED BY THE POLICE AND THE SHA TIN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, WILL STAGE A PLAY TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AMONG YOUTH.
THEY WILL ALSO APPEAL TO THE YOUNGSTERS TO CO-OPERATE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TRIAD INFLUENCES.
THERE WILL BE A TAEKWONDO PERFORMANCE AND CHINESE DANCES BY JUNIOR POLICE CALL MEMBERS AND BY STUDENTS FRdM THE PUI YING COLLEGE.
AN EXHIBITION INVOLVING POLICE CARS FROM VARIOUS UNITS AND INFORMATION ON CRIME PREVENTION WILL BE MOUNTED.
OFFICIATING AT THE CARNIVAL WILL BE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR VICTOR YUNG; DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, MR PETER HALLIDAY; AND CENTRAL FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE MEMBER, MR JUSTEIN WONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ANTI-TRIAD CARNIVAL TO BE HELD AT THE AMPHITHEATRE AREA, CENTRAL PARK, SHA TIN, ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 18). THE PROGRAMME WILL BEGIN AT 2.15 PM.
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/14 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
14
RETAILERS FINED FOR SELLING IMPROPERLY LABELLED FOOD
******
THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED FOOD MANUFACTURERS, WHOLESALERS AND RETAILERS NOT TO SELL PREPACKAGED FOOD WHICH DID NOT BEAR THE PROPER LABELLING REQUIRED BY THE THIRD SCHEDULE OF THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS.
THE PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENING THE REGULATIONS IS A MAXIMUM FINE OF $25,000 AND SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT.
THE REMINDER FOLLOWS THREE COURT CASES, HEARD RECENTLY IN THE CENTRAL MAGISTRACY, IN WHICH THREE RETAILERS WERE FINED FROM $1,000 TO $2,000.
IN THE FIRST CASE, A GINSENG MEDICINE COMPANY IN WAN CHAI WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $1,000 FOR SELLING PREPACKAGED RED DATES WITH THE PLASTIC BAG NOT MARKED OR LABELLED WITH THE NAME OR DESIGNATION OF THE FOOD, AN INDICATION OF MINIMUM DURABILITY, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MANUFACTURER OR PACKER OF THE FOOD, AND THE NUMERICAL COUNT OF THE CONTENTS OR THE NET WEIGHT OF THE FOOD.
IN THE SECOND CASE, A PROVISION SHOP IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $1,000 FOR SELLING PREPACKAGED FROZEN PLAICE FILLET WITH THE CONTAINER NOT MARKED OR LABELLED WITH THE NAME OR DESIGNATION OF THE FOOD, LIST OF INGREDIENTS, AN INDICATION OF MINIMUM DURABILITY, STATEMENT OF SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MANUFACTURER OR PACKER OF THE FOOD, AND THE NUMERICAL COUNT OF THE CONTENTS OR THE NET WEIGHT OF THE FOOD.
IN THE THIRD CASE, A SUPERMARKET IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $2,000 FOR SELLING PREPACKAGED MAYONNAISE WITH ITS BOTTLE ONLY MARKED IN JAPANESE, CONTRAVENING PARAGRAPH 8 OF THE THIRD SCHEDULE OF THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS WHICH REQUIRES THE MARKING OR LABELLING OF PREPACKAGED FOOD TO BE IN EITHER THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE OR THE CHINESE LANGUAGE OR IN BOTH.
THESE THREE RETAILERS WERE PROSECUTED UNDER REGULATION 5(1) OF THE ABOVE REGULATIONS MADE UNDER SECTION 55 OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE.
THEY WERE ALSO ORDERED TO PAY THE SAMPLE COSTS.
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/15 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
TSUEN WAN AMBULANCE DEPOT OFFICIALLY OPENED
» * * ♦ ♦
THE SIXTH AMBULANCE DEPOT IN NEW TERRITORIES WEST — THE TSUEN WAN AMBULANCE DEPOT — WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD, MR CHAU HOW-CHEN, TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, MR CHAU SAID THE OPENING OF THE DEPOT INDICATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS KEEPING PACE WITH THE fiVER-INCREASING DEMANDS FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES IN TSUEN WAN DISTRICT.
HE NOTED THAT IN THE PAST, AMBULANCE SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT HAD TO BE PROVIDED BY THE LEI MUK SHUE AND TSING YI AMBULANCE DEPOTS.
"I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL EXPAND ITS EFFICIENT FLEET OF AMBULANCE AID MOTORCYCLES, STEP UP TRAINING FOR AMBULANCEMEN AND INTRODUCE SOPHISTICATED AMBULANCE-AID EQUIPMENT,” HE SAID.
MR CHAU SAID HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD SPARED NO EFFORT IN PROVIDING AMBULANCE SERVICES AND THAT THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC COULD BE FURTHER ENSURED.
THE NEW DEPOT, LOCATED IN WAI TSUEN ROAD BEHIND LUK YEUNG SUN CHUEN, CURRENTLY HAS SIX AMBULANCES, ONE AMBULANCE AID MOTORCYCLE AND 62 AMBULANCE PERSONNEL.
SINCE ITS COMMISSION IN MAY LAST YEAR, THE DEPOT HAS RESPONDED TO NEARLY 12,000 CALLS INVOLVING MORE THAN 14,000 PATIENTS.
- - 0 - -
REPROVISIONING OF KLN BAY PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA ♦ t ♦ ♦ ♦
AUTHORISATION HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RECLAIM A STRIP OF LAND FROM THE SEAWALL ADJACENT TO HOI BUN ROAD FOR THE REPROVISIONING OF KOWLOON BAY PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA.
THE EXISTING PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA HAS TO BE RELOCATED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE KAI TAK AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
WORK WILL COMMENCE NEXT MONTH AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT MID 1991.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED WAS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
/ANY PERSON
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED INVOLVED WILL BE INJURIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE ABOVE UNDERTAKING MAY DELIVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS A WRITTEN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 15 NEXT YEAR.
HE SHOULD STATE IN HIS SUBMISSION THE SUM OF MONEY WHICH HE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT IN FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF HIS CLAIM AND SHOULD SUBMIT SUCH PARTICULARS WHICH HE POSSESSES TO SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIM.
- - 0 - -
TENDERS INVITED FOR FOUNTAIN INSTALLATION
*****
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF FOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT AT A LOCAL OPEN SPACE IN WAI MAN ROAD, SITE ONE, SAI KUNG.
THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE THE SUPPLY, INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF THE WHOLE FOUNTAIN AND FILTRATION EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION FOR THE OPEN SPACE.
WORK IS SCHEDULED TO START IN APRIL AND WILL TAKE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
OTHER FACILITIES AT THE 7,500-SQUARE-METRE SITE INCLUDE PAVILIONS, AN OPEN-AIR MINI-THEATRE, OUTDOOR FITNESS TRAINING EQUIPMENT, AND SITTING-OUT AND CHILDREN’S PLAY AREAS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 9.
- - 0 - -
NEW ROADS FOR TAI WO HAU ESTATE REDEVELOPMENT * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT A ROUNDABOUT AND A NEW
ROAD FOR THE FUTURE REDEVELOPED TAI WO HAU ESTATE IN KWAI CHUNG.
WHEN COMPLETED IN 1993 THE PROPOSED TAI WO HAU ESTATE REDEVELOPMENT PHASE 4 WILL PROVIDE 2,043 FLATS FOR A POPULATION OF ABOUT 9,000.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS REDEVELOPMENT, A SECTION OF SHEK TAU STREET ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF TAI WO HAU ESTATE BLOCK 20 WILL BE PERMANENTLY CLOSED.
/TO FACILITATE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
17 -
TO FACILITATE VEH1 ULAR MOVEMENT ALONG THE EXISTING SHEK TAU STREET AFTER THE ROAD CL' '-URE, A NEW ROUNDABOUT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE.SOUTHWESTERN SIDE OF THE EXISTING TAI WO HAU ESTATE BLOCK 20.
THE PORTION OF SHEK TAU STREET AFFECTED BY THE ROUNDABOUT CONSTRUCTION WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
FURTHERMORE, TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE FUTURE REDEVELOPED ESTATE, A NEW ROAD WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ALONG ANOTHER SECTION OF THE EXISTING SHEK TAU STREET ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF TAI WO HAU ESTATE BLOCK 20.
THE AFFECTED PORTION OF SHEK TAU STREET WILL ALSO BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THIS NEW ROAD, BUT ACCESS TO THE EXISTING CARPARKS IN TAI WO HAU ESTATE WILL BE MAINTAINED.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PLAN AND SCHEME OF THE PROPOSED WORKS MAY BE SEEN AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG; .
♦ KWAI TSING DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 10TH AND 11TH FLOORS, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN; AND
♦ KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE, KWAI CHUNG WEST SUB-OFFICE, FIRST FLOOR, TAI WO HAU ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE, TAI WO HAU ROAD, KWAI CHUNG.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 17 THIS YEAR.
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ROADWORKS PROPOSED FOR TIN SHUT WAI DEVELOPMENT
» t t % t
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT NEW ROADS, A LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT RESERVE, FOOTPATHS AND CYCLE TRACKS AS PART OF THE TIN SHUI WAI DEVELOPMENT.
THE CONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE TIN SHUI WAI LANDHOLDING.
/DETAILS OF .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 18 -
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) AND A NOTICE CAN BE SEEN ON THE NOTICE BOARDS NEAR THE SITE OF THE PROPOSED WORKS.
THE PLANS AND SCHEME OF THE PROPOSED WORKS MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG;
* YUEN LONG DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YUEN LONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, NINTH TO 11TH FLOORS, 2 KIU LOK SQUARE, YUEN LONG, NEW TERRITORIES; AND
* YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE, YUEN LONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, 269 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, YUEN LONG, NEW TERRITORIES.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 17.
---------0-----------
TENDERS INVITED FOR REPROVISIONING OF VILLAGE FACILITIES ♦ ♦ * * ♦
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR REPROVISIONING OF THE SAN WAI VILLAGE OFFICE, YOUTH CENTRE AND RAINSHELTERS AS PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD PROJECT.
THE
TWO
A TENDER NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD, STRETCHING FROM FAN KAM ROAD, IS A 12 KILOMETRES LONG DUAL-TWO LANE PROVISION FOR FUTURE EXPANSION TO DUAL-THREE LANE.
AU TAU TO HIGHWAY WITH
IT IS BEING BUILT IN FOUR PHASES. PHASE 1 (PAK SHEK AU KAM ROAD) AND PHASE 2 (MAI PO TO PAK SHEK AU) WERE OPENED TO IN APRIL 1987 AND DECEMBER 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
TO FAN TRAFFIC
PHASE 3 (FAIRVIEW PARK TO MAI PO) AND PHASE 4 (AU TAU TO FAIRVIEW PARK) ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND ARE EXPECTED TO BF COMPLETED BY END 1990 AND MID 1991 RESPECTIVELY.
IN THE LAND RESUMPTION FOR THE TO DEMOLISH A YOUTH CENTRE, A VILLAGE THE ROADWORKS. THEREFORE, TENDERS ARE THESE FACILITIES.
PHASE 3 WORKS, IT IS NECESSARY OFFICE AND TWO RAINSHELTERS FOR BEING CALLED FOR REPROVTSIONING
/WORKS COVERED ......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 19 -
WORKS COVERED BY THIS CONTRACT INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-STOREYED VILLAGE OFFICE AND A TWO-STOREYED YOUTH CENTRE, EACH WITH A PLAN AREA OF 65 SQUARE METRES, AND TWO RAINSHELTERS.
WORK WILL START IN MAY THIS YEAR AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN SIX MONTHS.
BINNIE CONSULTANTS LIMITED HAS DESIGNED THE WORKS AND WILL SUPERVISE THEIR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT.
--------0-----------
INTERCHANGE TO BE BUILT IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT » » * * *
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GRADE-SEPARATED INTERCHANGE AT THE JUNCTION OF ABERDEEN PRAYA ROAD AND TIN WAN PRAYA ROAD IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
A TENDER NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
WORKS ALSO INCLUDE A NEW FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM NEAR TIN WAN STREET, RECONSTRUCTION OF AN OPEN AIR CARPARK ADJACENT TO THE ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET AND A PUBLIC CARPARK NEAR YUE KO STREET, AND ASSOCIATED ROAD WIDENING AND DRAINAGE WORKS.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN APRIL AND TAKE ABOUT 22 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT.
------0--------
NEED FOR MORE CAREERS TRAINING STRESSED * » * *
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO PLAN EARLY FOR THEIR FUTURE AND TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE WORLD OF WORK, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR HAROLD KWOK, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR KWOK MADE THE APPEAL TO SECONDARY STUDENTS AT THE OPENING OF THIS YEAR’S CAREERS DAYS ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC).
HE SAID THE ANNUAL EVENT WAS AIMED AT PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.
/"THE PROGRAMME.........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
- 20 -
"THE PROGRAMME, WHICH INCLUDES VISITS TO VTC TRAINING CENTRES AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, SPECIALIST TALKS AND A CAREERS EXHIBITION, IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF STUDENTS," HE ADDED.
MR KWOK ALSO CALLED ON STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER CAREERS ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS THE WORK ORIENTATION PROGRAMME PRESENTLY ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT, AND TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITIES IN ITS FOUR CAREERS INFORMATION CENTRES.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE VTC DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, MR NGAI SHIU-KIT, REMINDED STUDENTS THAT THEY SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR OWN ABILITY AND INTEREST WHEN FINDING EMPLOYMENT.
"IT IS ADVISABLE FOR THEM FIRST TO ACQUIRE RECOGNISED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS FROM THE COUNCIL’S TRAINING CENTRES OR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WHICH OFFER PROFESSIONAL COURSES SUITABLE FOR ALL FORM 3 TO FORM 5 STUDENTS,” HE SAID.
"WITH THESE QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS, DEFINITE ADVANTAGE OVER OTHERS IN THEIR FUTURE MR NGAI SAID. THE SCHEDULE OF THIS YEAR’S SIX CAREERS VENUE KWAI CHUNG TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX CHAI WAN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TUEN MUN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE SHA TIN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE KOWLOON BAY TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE THEY WILL THEN HAVE A CAREERS DEVELOPMENT," DAYS ARE AS FOLLOWS: DATE FEBRUARY 16 FEBRUARY 23 FEBRUARY 26 FEBRUARY 28 MARCH 2 MARCH 5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16,
1990
- 21 -
FUN FOR 1,800 CHILDREN IN DEPARTMENTAL FAMILY DAY ******
THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL FAMILY DAY FOR MORE THAN 1,800 CHILDREN OF ITS STAFF ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 18) AFTERNOON IN THE COMPOUND OF THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS IN OIL STREET, NORTH POINT.
THE FUNCTION WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED AT 1 PM WITH THE DOTTING OF A LION’S EYES BY THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, MR ROY KILVERT, FOLLOWED BY A LION DANCE PERFORMED BY MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES.
OTHER EVENTS WILL INCLUDE VARIOUS SIDE-SHOWS, GAME STALLS, FIRE ENGINE AND FIREARM DISPLAYS, KARAOKE FACILITIES FOR SINGING ENTHUSIASTS, CHINESE WORD PUZZLE COMPETITION AND SINGING PERFORMANCES.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A POLICE DOG DEMONSTRATION, MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOWS AND A BEER DRINKING CONTEST.
MUSIC WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES BAND AND THE TAI TAM GIRLS’ PIPERS AND MARCHING TEAM.
A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY AND LUCKY DRAW WILL BE HELD AT THE END OF THE DAY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ANNUAL FAMILY DAY TO BE HELD FROM NOON TO 4.45 PM IN THE COMPOUND OF THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS IN 12 OIL STREET, NORTH POINT.
THERE WILL BE AN OPENING CEREMONY AT 1 PM WHEN THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, MR ROY KILVERT, WILL OFFICIATE AT AN EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY.
-----0-------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR TSING YI BRIDGE RE-OPENING
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 5.30 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19), SPECIAL TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED UPON THE COMPLETION OF IMPROVEMENT WORKS AT TSING YI BRIDGE.
KWAI TSING ROAD BETWEEN KWAI TAI ROAD AND TSING YI HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD ROUNDABOUT, INCLUDING ALL OF TSING YI BRIDGE, WILL BE RE-OPENED TO TRAFFIC.
TEXACO ROAD ROUNDABOUT, BETWEEN THE EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAYS OF TSING TSUEN BRIDGE, WILL ALSO BE RE-OPENED.
/HOWEVER, TSING ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1990
22
HOWEVER, TSING YI HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD ROUNDABOUT, BETWEEN SOUTHBOUND TSING YI HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD AND SOUTHBOUND TSING YI ROAD, WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
VEHICLES ON TSUEN WAN ROAD WESTBOUND HEADING FOR TSUEN WAN WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THE SLIP ROAD CONNECTING TSUEN WAN ROAD WESTBOUND AND TEXACO ROUNDABOUT.
VEHICLES ON TEXACO ROAD ROUNDABOUT GOING TO THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THE SLIP ROAD CONNECTING TEXACO ROAD ROUNDABOUT AND TSUEN WAN ROAD WESTBOUND.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
BUSES ON KMB ROUTES 42, 43, 43A, 43C, 43D AND 43M AND GREEN MINIBUSES ON GMB ROUTES 88, 88B, 88C AND 88M WILL RESUME THEIR NORMAL ROUTEINGS VIA TSING YI BRIDGE.
IN ADDITION, FOOTPATHS ON TSING YI BRIDGE WILL BE RE-OPENED TO PEDESTRIANS.
- - 0 - -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 18), THE FOLLOWING ROAD SECTIONS IN CENTRAL WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY FOR THREE WEEKS TO FACILITATE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WORKS.
THEY ARE:
* THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF QUEEN VICTORIA STREET FROM A POINT ABOUT 33 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL TO A POINT ABOUT 86 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION; AND
♦ THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF GILMAN STREET BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
AT THE SAME TIME, A SECTION OF THE EASTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL BETWEEN QUEEN VICTORIA STREET AND POTTINGER STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS BAN ZONE.
ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, EXCEPT THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE BAN ZONE 24 HOURS DAILY.
IN ADDITION, THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 5 AM INSTEAD OF 7 AM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 18) TO FACILITATE THE HOLDING OF THE RICKSHAW DERBY.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17. 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
SIR ROBERT HO TUNG CHARITABLE FUND 1989 ALLOCATION ............................... 1
NEW DEVELOPMENT OFFICE UNDER TDD REORGANISATION .................................. 2
ROLE OF HEADMASTERS’ CONFERENCE PRAISED .......................................... 3
GREENERY BRIGHTENS UP LOCKHART ROAD .............................................. 3
FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION IN AP LEI CHAU ........................................ 4
PARTIAL SERVICE AT SHEUNG SHUI NEW ID CARD ISSUE OFFICE ON MONDAY ................ 5
TAI A CHAU CENTRE ON DB AGENDA ................................................... 6
YAU TSIM DB COMMITTEE TO VET FUND APPLICATIONS ................................... 6
EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE RELOCATED .............................................. 7
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WESTERN ....................................................... 8
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN HO MAN TIN ............................................. 8
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TOLO HIGHWAY IN TAI PO....................................... 8
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN YAU MA TEI ..................................... 9
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1990
SIR ROBERT HO Tl’NG CHARITABLE
* * * * *
FUND 1989 ALLOCATION *
GRANTS TOTALLING $11.5 MILLION FROM THE SIR ROBERT HO TUNG CHARITABLE FUND HAVE JUST BEEN MADE TO 53 CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (SATURDAY), THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MISS ELLE SHUM, SAID THE SIR ROBERT HO TUNG CHARITABLE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED BY BEQUEST OF $500,000 BY THE LATE SIR ROBERT HO TUNG ON HIS DEATH IN 1956.
"THE FUND IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CHARITABLE TRUSTS IN HONG KONG AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE HONGKONG BANK TRUSTEE LTD," SHE SAID.
MISS SHUM, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALLOCATION COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVISING THE GOVERNOR ON THE ALLOCATIONS FROM THE FUND, SAID MAJOR GRANTS IN THIS YEAR’S ALLOCATION INCLUDED $1,610,346 TO THE ST JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION AND BRIGADE.
OF THIS, SHE SAID, $1,291,050 IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW AMBULANCE DEPOT AND BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AT SHEUNG SHUI, AND $319,296 FOR THE PURCHASE OF TRAINING EQUIPMENT FOR ITS COUNCIL AND CADET SECTIONS.
ANOTHER GRANT OF $1,550,000 WAS MADE TO THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A BLOOD ELECTROLYTE ANALYZER FOR THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL, AN ULTRASON IC MACHINE FOR ECHOCARDIO-GRAPHIC DOPPLER FLOW FOR THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL AND FOR THE INSTALLATION OF AN AUTOMATIC SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR THE CENTENARY HOME FOR THE AGED.
OTHER GRANTS FROM THE FUND ARE AS FOLLOWS:
* $824,000 TO THE CARITAS, HONG KONG, OF WHICH $811,000 IS
FOR THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE TO PURCHASE VARIOUS ITEMS OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND TO REPLACE DELIVERY BEDS, AND $13,000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CHAIRS IN THE CARITAS OI FAI CAMP.
* $681,000 TO OUR LADY OF MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL FOR THE
INSTALLATION OF AN IMAGE SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL FLUOROSCOPY AND RADIOGRAPH.
* $600,000 TO THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL FOR THE
INSTALLATION OF AN ANAESTHETIC GAS SCAVENGING SYSTEM.
* $532,275 TO PO LEUNG KUK FOR THE RENOVATION OF ITS FUNG PAK
LIN NURSERY AND ITS NURSING BUILDING.
* $500,000 AND $468,000 RESPECTIVELY TO THE HONG KONG BAPTIST HOSPITAL AND THE ALICE HO MIU LING NETHERSOLE HOSPITAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF VARIOUS ITEMS OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.
* $530,000 TO THE POK OI HOSPITAL FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF AIR
CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN ITS OPERATION THEATRE.
/* $410,850 TO ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1990
- 2 -
» $410,850 TO THE NAM LONG HOSPITAL FOR THE RENOVATION OF ITS
WARD BLOCK.
* $466,273 TO THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART
DISEASES ASSOCIATION. OF THIS, $156,849 WAS FOR THE RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM TO PURCHASE ONE SET OF STIMULATORY CURRENT THERAPY UNIT, 10 FOLDING WHEELCHAIRS AND 36 PIECES OF PATIENT TRANSFER UNIT; AND $309,424 WAS FOR THE LAUNDRY DEPARTMENT AND TO PURCHASE A DRYER AND AN ELECTRIC TRACTOR.
* $400,000 TO THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG
FOR SETTING UP A NEW YOUTH SERVICE CLINIC IN KOWLOON.
-----o------
NEW DEVELOPMENT OFFICE UNDER TDD REORGANISATION *****
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY TAKING CARE OF HONG KONG’S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT WORKS, HAS BEEN REVAMPED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PROJECTED PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE.
UNDER THE REORGANISATION, WHICH TOOK EFFECT FROM MONDAY, A NEW DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, SOUTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, HAS BEEN SET UP. IT IS HEADED BY PROJECT MANAGER, MR T.D. ARMOUR.
THE WORK OF THE OFFICE IS TO TAKE CHARGE OF DEVELOPMENT WORKS IN NORTH LANTAU AND RURAL TOWNSHIPS IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE AIRPORT SUPPORT COMMUNITY AT TUNG CHUNG AND CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHEUNG CHAU, PENG CHAU, MUI WO AND TAI O.
OTHER ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES INCLUDED THE AMALGAMATION OF SHA TIN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND NEW TERRITORIES/NORTH EAST DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO FORM A NEW NORTH EAST NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
IT WILL TAKE CARE OF DEVELOPMENT WORKS IN SHA TIN (INCLUDING MA ON SHAN), TAI PO AND THE NORTH DISTRICT (INCLUDING FANLING, SHEUNG SHUT AND SHA TAU KOK).
AT THE SAME TIME, THE NEW TERRITORIES/SOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICE HAS BEEN RETITLED SOUTH EAST NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WHILE TIN SHUT WAI/YUEN LONG DEVELOPMENT OFFICE HAS BEEN RENAMED THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
THE TWO OFFICES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT WORKS IN TSEUNG KWAN O/SAI KUNG AND TIN SHUI WAI/YUEN LONG RESPECTIVELY.
THE NAMES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OTHER THREE REGIONAL OFFICES: URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, TSUEN WAN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND TUEN MUN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, REMAIN UNCHANGED.
/3 ........
I
SAT1 RDA\ » I 1 r<KV \K\ 1 ' . 1990
3
ROLE OF HEADMASTERS’ CONFERENCE PRAISED *****
THE NORTH DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL HEADMASTERS’ CONFERENCE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ENCOURAGING STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PROMOTING CIVIC AWARENESS, THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A JOINT SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW CO-ORGANISED BY THE CONFERENCE AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
MR HUI SAID THE HEADMASTERS’ CONFERENCE ALSO GAVE VALUABLE ADVICE ON THE BUILDING OF SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE CONFERENCE WAS FORMED IN 1984 AND COMPRISED REPRESENTATIVES FROM 11 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH DISTRICT.
ITS MAIN AIMS ARE TO STRENGTHEN LINKS AMONG HEADMASTERS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, AND TO DISCUSS EDUCATION ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE DISTRICT.
MR HUI NOTED THAT UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR POON HUEN-WAI, THE CONFERENCE HAD ORGANISED A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS.
THESE ACTIVITIES, FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, INCLUDED VISITS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SCHOOL CIVIC EDUCATION PROJECTS AND TALKS ON TOPICAL ISSUES.
TODAY’S PROGRAMME AT THE NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL INCLUDED FOLK DANCE AND SONGS, DRAMA, ELECTRONIC PIANO PLAYING, AND PERFORMANCES BY CHOIRS, AND PHILHARMONIC AND CHINESE ORCHESTRAS.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG, AND THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (TAI PO AND NORTH), MR LIU TSO-TIM.
----------------0-------- GREENERY BRIGHTENS UP LOCKHART ROAD *****
A YEAR-LONG PROJECT TO BEAUTIFY AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OF WAN CHAI HAS GIVEN A NEW AND MORE ATTRACTIVE LOOK TO LOCKHART ROAD.
THE WAN CHAI GREENERY PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVES THE PROVISION OF 193 PLANTERS AND 66 POTS ON THE CENTRAL DIVIDER AND LAMPPOSTS ALONG LOCKHART ROAD, IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG.
ALTOGETHER, 21 SPECIES OF GREENERY, RANGING FROM THE EVERGREEN MALVAVISCUS ARBOREUS TO THE BRIGHTLY COLOURED SALVIA SPLENDENS, HAVE BEEN PLANTED, ADDING ELEGANCE AND A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE TO THE THOROUGHFARE WHICH HAS BEEN, UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, BUSY BUT FEATURELESS.
/SPEAKING AT .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1990
SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT TODAY (SATURDAY), WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN, SAID THE PROJECT WAS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN THE BEAUTIFICATION OF WAN CHAI.
’’ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPEN SPACE PROJECTS PLANNED FOR WAN CHAI, THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE GREENERY USING 'EXISTING RESOURCES," HE SAID.
THE PROJECT IS CO-ORDINATED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE URBAN SERVICES, HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THROUGH A SERIES OF MEETINGS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THESE DEPARTMENTS WORKED OUT WAYS TO SOLVE THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED, SUCH AS PREVENTING THE PLANTERS AND POTS FROM FALLING DURING TYPHOONS, GUARDING THEM AGAINST THEFT, AND POSITIONING THEM IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WILL NOT AFFECT THE TRAFFIC.
THE PROJECT, WHICH COSTS ABOUT $260,000, IS SPONSORED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD.
MEANWHILE, MR MANN SAID LANDSCAPE CONSULTANTS HAD IDENTIFIED ABOUT 1,200 TREE PLANTING SITES IN WAN CHAI.
THE FINDINGS WERE CONTAINED IN A FEASIBILITY REPORT ON A MAJOR TREE-PLANTING SCHEME, COMMISSIONED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, HE SAID.
IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD BE APPROACHED TO HELP FUND THE PROJECT, WHICH WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, MR MANN ADDED.
TODAY’S CEREMONY WAS ATTENDED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM; CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, MR SAN STEPHEN WONG; CHIEF HIGHWAYS ENGINEER, MR A.G.S. EVANS; AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (LEISURE OPERATIONS) OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR JONATHAN NG.
-----0------
FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION IN AP LEI CHAU
*****
FIRE PREVENTION MESSAGES WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO RESIDENTS IN AP LEI CHAU THROUGH AN EXHIBITION TO BE HELD AT LEI TUNG ESTATE TOMORROW (SUNDAY) FROM 11 AM TO 3.30 PM.
THE EXHIBITION, ORGANISED BY THE FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY WORKING GROUP, IS THE SEVENTH IN A SERIES OF NINE FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITIONS.
/"THE EXHIBITIONS .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1990
- 5 -
"THE EXHIBITIONS AIM TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND THE POTENTIAL HAZARD OF ELECTRIC FAULT WHICH REMAINS A MAJOR CAUSE OF DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL FIRES," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WORKING GROUP SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
"ELECTRIC FAULTS CAN BE AVOIDED IF REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF POWER POINTS AND APPLIANCES ARE CARRIED OUT BY PROFESSIONALS," HE SAID.
ON DISPLAY WILL BE PANELS CONTAINING GRAPHICS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ON GENERAL FIRE PREVENTION AND COUNTRYSIDE FIRE PREVENTION.
"OFFICERS FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL BE ON HAND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS,” THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION WILL RECEIVE A BOOKLET ON THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC FIRES AND SOUVENIRS SPONSORED BY KWONG ON BANK LTD.
------0--------
PARTIAL SERVICE AT SHEUNG SHUI NEW ID CARD ISSUE OFFICE ON MONDAY ******
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT DUE TO SUSPENSION OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, THE SHEUNG SHUI NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE WILL NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS FROM 9.30 AM TO 12.30 PM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
THE SHEUNG SHUI NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE IS SITUATED AT TSUEN WO TAI LAU, GROUND FLOOR, 82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEK WU HUI NEW TERRITORIES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID NEVERTHELESS RESIDENTS MAY COLLECT THE IDENTITY CARDS THAT THEY APPLIED FOR AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS AT THIS OFFICE DURING THAT PERIOD.
"SERVICE WILL RESUME NORMAL AFTER 12.30 PM ON THAT DAY " HF ADDED. ’
/6.........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1990
6
TAI A CHAU CENTRE ON DB AGENDA *****
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO BUILD A VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE CENTRE ON TAI A CHAU AT A MEETING ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS THE COST OF BUILDING THE CENTRE AND COMPENSATION FOR THE MARICULTURISTS WHO WILL BE AFFECTED.
A QUESTION ON THE REVIEW OF ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT WILL BE RAISED.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO COMMENT ON THE PAPER, "SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1990'S AND BEYOND".
IN ADDITION, THEY WILL BE BRIEFED BY THE PROJECT MANAGER OF THE SOUTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MR THOMAS ARMOUR, ON THE ISLANDS DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, 1989 EDITION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19) AT THE DISTRICT BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM, 14TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
- - 0 - -
YAU TSIM DB COMMITTEE TO VET FUND APPLICATIONS
*******
THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE OF THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD WILL VET SEVERAL APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS FOR ORGANISING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS AT ITS MEETING ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR 10 OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, A CIVIC EDUCATION PROMOTION DAY, AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CAMP AND A "FUN NITE" FOR YOUTH.
/AT THE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1990
AT THE MEETING, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE WILL INTRODUCE THE WORK OF PS 33, A COUNSELLING CENTRE FOR DRUG ABUSERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD'S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, 490 NATHAN ROAD.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
- - 0 - -
EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE RELOCATED *****
THE TUEN MUN BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (LES) WILL MOVE TO NEW PREMISES IN THE SAME DISTRICT ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
THE OFFICE’S NEW ADDRESS IS UNITS NOS. 113-116, LEVEL 1, COMMERCIAL CENTRE, SHAN KING ESTATE. ITS TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE 4639967 AND 4639969.
THE OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE SERVICES TO EMPLOYERS IN RECRUITING STAFF AND TO PEOPLE IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT.
JOB-SEEKERS IN THE TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG DISTRICTS ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS DURING OFFICE HOURS TO REGISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.
AFTER THEY HAVE SELECTED SUITABLE VACANCIES, LES STAFF WILL ARRANGE INTERVIEWS FOR THEM WITH PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS.
AN EMPLOYER MAY SIMPLY RING UP THE OFFICE TO PLACE A VACANCY NOTICE WHICH WILL BE DISPLAYED AT THE NEW OFFICE AND 14 OTHER LES OFFICES WHICH ARE ALL LINKED BY A FACSIMILE SYSTEM.
--------0-----------
/8 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1990
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WESTERN *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN DES VOEUX ROAD WEST WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS 24 HOURS DAILY FOR TWO WEEKS TO FACILITATE TRAM TRACK RENEWAL:
* THE WESTBOUND KERBSIDE LANE OF DES VOEUX ROAD WEST FROM
HOUSE NO. 124 TO HOUSE NO. 140;
* THE EASTBOUND KERBSIDE LANE OF DES VOEUX ROAD WEST FROM
HOUSE NO. 103 TO HOUSE NO. 139.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
- - 0 - -
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN HO MAN TIN
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FAT KWONG STREET IN HO MAN TIN BETWEEN SHEUNG SHING STREET AND SHEUNG FOO STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 1 AM TO 5.45 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19) FOR FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
- - 0 - -
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TOLO HIGHWAY IN TAI PO
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORKS, ABOUT 1.2 KILOMETRES OF THE SLOW LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY SOUTHBOUND NEAR TAI PO TAI WO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
- - 0 - -
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1990
- 9
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN YAU MA TEI
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WATERLOO ROAD/SHANGHAI STREET JUNCTION, TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN YAU MA TEI FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 19) FOR ABOUT 11 MONTHS.
ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT EASTBOUND FRANCHISED BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER HAMILTON STREET BETWEEN SHANGHAI STREET AND RECLAMATION STREET FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM DAILY.
PUBLIC SQUARE STREET BETWEEN RECLAMATION STREET AND SHANGHAI STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.
THE NORTHERN TRAFFIC LANE WILL BE RE-ROUTED WESTBOUND AND WILL BE DESIGNATED A BUS LANE FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM DAILY. THE SOUTHERN TRAFFIC LANE WILL BE OPENED FOR EASTBOUND TRAFFIC.
PEDESTRIANS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE DUE CARE WHEN THEY CROSS THIS SECTION OF PUBLIC SQUARE STREET.
LEFT-TURNING MOVEMENT FROM PUBLIC SQUARE STREET EASTBOUND AND RIGHT-TURNING FROM PUBLIC SQUARE STREET WESTBOUND ONTO SHANGHAI STREET NORTHBOUND WILL BE BANNED.
ALSO, THE BUS LANE IN SHANGHAI STREET NORTHBOUND BETWEEN PUBLIC SQUARE STREET AND HAMILTON STREET WILL BE LIFTED AND THIS SECTION OF SHANGHAI STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND.
THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF RECLAMATION STREET BETWEEN TUNG KUN STREET AND HAMILTON STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE FOLLOWING BUS AND GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES WILL BE DIVERTED:
* KMB ROUTES 1, 1A, 3C, 3E, 9, 13 AND CROSS-HARBOUR BUS ROUTE 104 WILL BE DIVERTED VIA NATHAN ROAD, ARGYLE STREET AND SHANGHAI. STREET;
* KMB ROUTE 81 WILL BE DIVERTED VIA NATHAN ROAD AND LAI CHI KOK ROAD;
* CROSS-HARBOUR BUS ROUTES 102, 102R AND 105 WILL BE DIVERTED VIA NATHAN ROAD, PUBLIC SQUARE STREET, RECLAMATION STREET, HAMILTON STREET AND SHANGHAI STREET;
* KMB ROUTE 68X WILL BE DIVERTED VIA JORDAN ROAD, NATHAN ROAD AND LAI CHI KOK ROAD;
* KMB ROUTES 2E, 4A, 12, 30, 36B AND 68 WILL BE DIVERTED VIA PUBLIC SQUARE STREET, RECLAMATION STREET, HAMILTON STREET AND SHANGHAI STREET; AND
* GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE 31M WILL BE DIVERTED VIA PUBLIC SQUARE STREET, RECLAMATION STREET, HAMILTON STREET AND SHANGHAI STREET.
- - 0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
DAY CAMP TO PROMOTE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION .............................. 1
DEC ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL FIGURES RELEASED .............. 1
10 MORE DAYS TO SUBMIT VIEWS ON LANGUAGE REPORT........................... 7
DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO BEYOND 1997 RECOMMENDED ............................ 7
TWO NEW ’ FLEXI-DESIGN' SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR TAI PO AND SHA TIN ......... 8
ENTRIES TO COMMONWEALTH YOUTH SERVICE AWARDS SCHEME SELECTED ............. 9
NEW ARRANGEMENT IN APPLYING FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LICENCES .............. 9
NEW WONG CHUK HANG ACCESS ROAD ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA ................... 10
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SERVICES FOR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES ............. 11
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHA TIN, TUEN MUN ..................... 11
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
DAY CAMP TO PROMOTE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION * * * * *
COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES HELP TO PROMOTE THE SPIRIT OF MUTUAL HELP, THE REGIONAL SE( I'ETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION DAY CAMP AT THE LEI YUE MUN HOLIDAY VILLAGE, MR LAN SAID COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, AND HELPED STRENGTHEN THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE COMMUNITY.
"IT IS HOPED THAT THE INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE OF CITY PEOPLE COULD BE BROKEN THROUGH TAKING PART IN ACTIVITIES AND SHARING EXPERIENCES.
"THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER AND THEIR AWARENESS OF THE ESSENCE OF GREGARIOUS LIFE IS AROUSED." MR LAN SAID.
"I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT MEMBERS OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEES WORK CLOSELY TO PROMOTE THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME BY ORGANISING THIS DAY CAMP," HE ADDED.
THE CAMP WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
MORE THAN 470 RESIDENTS FROM 15 AREAS IN THE DISTRICT TOOK PART IN THE EVENT AND ENJOYED THE WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE HOLIDAY VILLAGE. THERE WERE ALSO TELEMATCHES ON THE THEME OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
ALSO ATTENDING THE DAY CAMP WERE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR CHRIS WAN, AND DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAM HANG-FAI.
- - 0 - -
DEC ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL FIGURES RELEASED
******
IN DECEMBER 1989, THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND REPORTED BY THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989 BUT DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1988, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989, THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN DECEMBER 1989 INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE ORDERS POSITION IMPROVED SLIGHTLY IN THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY, AND SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.
/ON THE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
2
ON THE OTHER HAND, SLIGHT DECREASES IN ORDERS WERE RECORDED IN THE WEARING APPAREL AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1988, THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN DECEMBER 1989 INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.
ACCORDING TO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SOME PLASTICS MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED, THIS COULD BE DUE TO AN ADVANCEMENT OF ORDER-PLACING IN DECEMBER 1989, WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE TAKE PLACE IN JANUARY 1990. THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY ALSO SHOWED AN INCREASE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, ORDERS DECREASED MODERATELY IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND SLIGHTLY IN THE WEARING APPAREL AND THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IS MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF MONTHS AND REFERS TO ORDERS OUTSTANDING AS AT THE END OF THE REFERENCE MONTH.
ON EMPLOYMENT, THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED REPORTED THAT THEIR TOTAL WORKFORCE IN DECEMBER 1989 DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT AND 9 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989 AND DECEMBER 1988 RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARING DECEMBER 1989 WITH NOVEMBER 1989, EMPLOYMENT DECREASED MODERATELY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND SLIGHTLY IN THE WEARING APPAREL, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE FOOD AND DRINKS AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE TN EMPLOYMENT.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1988, EMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER 1989 DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, WITH THE LARGEST DECREASE RECORDED IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, A SLIGHT INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT WAS RECORDED IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY.
IN DECEMBER 1989, PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SURVEYED INCREASED BY 20 PER CENT, IN MONEY TERMS, WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989. SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE RECORDED IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED MAINLY DUE TO THE ISSUE OF DOUBLE PAA AND YEAR-END BONUSES BY SOME MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN DECEMBER 1989.
ON THE OTHER HAND, ONLY \ SLIGHT INCREASE IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS WAS RECORDED IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, PROBABLY BECAUSE MOST COMPANIES SURVEYED IN THIS INDUSTRY USUALLY ISSUE DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES TO THEIR EMPLOYEES IN JANUARY INSTEAD OF DECEMBER.
/COMPARING DECEMBER .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
- 3 -
COMPARING DECEMBER 1989 WITH DECEMBER 1988, PER CAPITA EARNINGS INCREASED BY 23 PER CENT IN MONEY TERMS. MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED REPORTED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS, WITH THE LARGEST INCREASES RECORDED IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS AND THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRIES.
HOWEVER, THESE INCREASES WERE PARTLY BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TIMING OF ISSUING DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES BY SOME COMPANIES BETWEEN 1988 AND 1989.
IN 1989, THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS WERE IN EARLY FEBRUARY AND MOST COMPANIES ISSUED DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES IN JANUARY 1989. IN 1990, THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS BEGAN IN LATE JANUARY AND A NUMBER OF COMPANIES SURVEYED HAD THEIR DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES ISSUED IN DECEMBER 1989. THIS HAS TENDED TO DISTORT THE YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISONS FOR THE DECEMBER 1989 FIGURES.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES SURVEYED, EMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER 1989 SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989, BUT DECREASED SLIGHTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1988. PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN DECEMBER 1989 INCREASED SLIGHTLY OVER NOVEMBER 1989 BUT SIGNIFICANTLY OVER DECEMBER 1988.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT FIGURES FOR THIS SECTOR COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
IN THE SELECTED SERVICE SECTORS, THE OVERALL EMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER 1989 AS REPORTED BY THE COMPANIES SURVEYED REMAINED ALMOST THE SAME AS IN NOVEMBER 1989, BUT INCREASED SLIGHTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1988.
PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN DECEMBER 1989 INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY OVER NOVEMBER 1989 DUE TO THE ISSUE OF DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES BY SOME COMPANIES SURVEYED, WITH THE LARGEST INCREASE RECORDED IN BANKS.
COMPARING DECEMBER 1989 WITH DECEMBER EARNINGS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY FOR THE SERVICE THOUGH THE COMPARISON IS AGAIN SOMEWHAT AFFECTED ISSUE OF DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES IN 1988
THE PERCENTAGE <RANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND, CAPITA EARNINGS ARE SHOWN TN THE ATTACHED TABLES
1988, PER CAPITA
SECTORS AS A WHOLE, BY THE TIMING OF THE
AND 1989.
EMPLOYMENT 1 TO 3.
AND PER
THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND THE 50 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICE SECTORS, CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT SIZES IN SEPTEMBER 1986.
THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT AS THE SURVEY IS NOT BASED ON A SCIENTIFICALLY SEI ECTEI’ SAMPLE, THE MAGNITUDES OF CHANGE INDICATED BY THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE MERELY A REFLECTION OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COMPANIES SURVEYED.
/HOWEVER, GIVEN ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
HOWEVER, GIVEN THE COMPOSITION OF THE PANEL, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A USEFUL INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR MAKING A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM .
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR DECEMBER 1989 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AND AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT $2 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 8234820.
TABLE 1: ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
ORDERS -ON-HAND
AS AT THE END OF CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH
INDUSTRY DECEMBER 1989 NOV. 89 DEC. 88
— (%)
(MONTHS) (%)
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES ! 4.26 ♦ -2
— — — —
WEARING APPAREL 4.64 -2 -2
TEXTILES 2.37 ‘ +3 + 1
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 3.09 + 20 + 28
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS 4.33 -2 -7
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC
PRODUCTS 5.07 * -2
OTHERS 4.10 -3
* CHANGES WITHIN +/- 0.5 %
/TABLE 2 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
- 5 -
TABLE 2: EMPLOYMENT
PERSONS ENGAGED AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1989
INDUSTRY/SERVICES CHANGE WHEN NOV. 89 COMPARED WITH DEC. 88
(%) (%)
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES -1 -9
FOOD AND DRINKS + 2
WEARING APPAREL -1 - 1 0
TEXTILES t -3
PLASTIC PRODUCTS -5 -13
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS -1 -11
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS -1 - 16
OTHERS * + 2
CONSTRUCTION#
SERVICES
BANKS
HOTELS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
OTHERS
* CHANGES WITHIN +/- 0.5%
# PERSONS ENGAGED COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
WORKERS
/TABLE 3 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
- 6 -
TABLE 3: PER CAPITA EARNINGS
PER CAPITA EARNINGS
INDUSTRY/SERVICES AVERAGE AS IN DECEMBER 1989 CHANGE WHEN NOV. 89 COMPARED WITH DEC. 88
(HK$) (%) (%)
ALL MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES 6,209 + 20 + 23
FOOD AND DRINKS 8,914 + 50 + 27
WEARING APPAREL 5, 108 + 17 + 18
TEXTILES 5,631 + 18 + 11
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 5,600 + 11 + 19
FABRICATED METAL
PRODUCTS 5, 108 + 1 + 14
ELECTRICAL AND
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS 6,335 + 25 + 32
OTHERS 7,526 + 13 + 19
CONSTRUCTION# 7,939 + 2 + 14
SERVICES 12,953 + 49 + 24
BANKS 11 , 283 + 70 + 19
HOTELS 6,765 + 20 + 11
PUBLIC UTILITIES 12,797 + 45 + 33
OTHERS 13,239 + 38 + 18
# PER CAPITA EARNINGS COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE WORKERS
EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
NOTES TO TABLES 1-3: UNLIKE "ORDERS-ON-HAND” AND "PER CAPITA EARNINGS", WHICH ARE AVERAGE FIGURES AMONGST THE COMPANIES SURVEYED, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED BY THE COMPANIES SURVEYED IS NOT MEANINGFUL INFORMATION ON ITS OWN (BECAUSE THIS IS A PANEL SURVEY) AND IS THEREFORE NOT SHOWN.
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n....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
7
10 MORE DAYS TO SUBMIT VIEWS ON LANGUAGE REPORT
♦ » ♦ ♦ »
FEBRUARY 28 IS THE LAST DAY OF SUBMISSION OF VIEWS ON THE LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES REPORT, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE REMINDED TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE 88-PAGE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 31, 1989.
IT EXAMINES THE LANGUAGE STANDARD ISSUE UNDER FOUR MAJOR TOPICS - THE LEARNING AND USE OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH IN HONG KONG; MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION; THE QUALITY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING CHINESE AND ENGLISH AS SUBJECTS; AND THE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF LANGUAGE TEACHERS AND THE LANGUAGE COMPETENCE OF TEACHERS OF OTHER SUBJECTS.
THE WORKING GROUP WHICH COMPILED THE REPORT PROPOSES 78 RECOMMENDATIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID MORE THAN 20 SUBMISSIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED SO FAR.
"VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE FORM OF EDITORIALS AND SHORT COMMENTARIES BY COLUMNISTS, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND NEWSPAPER REPORTS ARE ALSO BEING COMPILED," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD SEND THEIR SUBMISSIONS TO THE INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF LEE GARDENS AT HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY, HE ADDED.
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DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO BEYOND 1997 RECOMMENDED
*******
THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN TAI PO SHOULD BE EXTENDED BEYOND 1997, A WORKING GROUP ON THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO IN THE 1990’S HAS RECOMMENDED.
THE WORKING GROUP, WHICH WAS FORMED UNDER THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD, HAD SPENT 18 MONTHS STUDYING THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT IN THIS DECADE.
FINDINGS OF THE PROJECT ARE DISPLAYED AT AN EXHIBITION WHICH BEGAN TODAY (SUNDAY) AT TAI PO TOWN LOT 18 SQUARE.
THE WORKING GROUP SUGGESTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO WOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE 1997, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DRAW UP A LONGER TERM' DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT AS THERE IS STILL POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
/THE DISTRICT .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
- 8
THE DISTRICT BOARD SHOULD ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND SHOULD MONITOR THE PRESENT CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME TO ENSURE THAT WORKS ON THE INFRASTRUCTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WOULD BE COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE.
THE DISTRICT BOARD SHOULD ALSO DETECT PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT, GATHER PUBLIC OPINIONS AND REFLECT THEM TO THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE WORKING GROUP NOTED.
THERE WERE ALSO RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT, SOCIAL SERVICES, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTION, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
EARLIER, A DRAWING COMPETITION, AN ESSAY COMPETITION AND AN INTER-SCHOOL MODEL DESIGN CONTEST HAD BEEN HELD TO PROMOTE THE PROJECT.
WINNERS OF THE CONTESTS WERE PRESENTED WITH PRIZES BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO YUNG-SANG/ AND THE ACTING DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS MARY CHOW, AT A CEREMONY TODAY.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD AT TAI PO TOWN LOT 18 SQUARE UNTIL TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 20). IT WILL BE MOVED TO THE TAI PO COMMUNITY CENTRE AT HEUNG SZE WUI STREET ON FEBRUARY 25 AND WILL REMAIN THERE UNTIL FEBRUARY 27.
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TWO NEW 'FLEXI-DESIGN’ SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR TAI PO AND SHA TIN
TWO NEW "FLEXI-DESIGN” SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE BEING BUILT IN TAI PO AND SHA TIN UNDER TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE FIRST CONTRACT, COSTING ABOUT $29.8 MILLION, IS FOR BUILDING A SECONDARY SCHOOL AT A 5,840-SQUARE-METRE SITE IN TAI WO ESTATE, TAI PO.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE SAME DESIGN AT A 5,990-SQUARE-METRE SITE IN AREA 75, MA ON SHAN, SHA TIN WILL COST ABOUT $30.6 MILLION.
EACH OF THE SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A GENERAL CLASSROOM BLOCK WITH 26 CLASSROOMS AND THREE REMEDIAL TEACHING ROOMS, A SPECIAL BLOCK WITH 14 SPECIAL ROOMS, AN ASSEMBLY HALL, A BASKETBALL COURT AND A COVERED PLAYGROUND.
BOTH SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST 1991.
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/9.........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
9 -
ENTRIES TO COMMONWEALTH
YOUTH SERVICE AWARDS SCHEME SELECTED ♦ * ♦ ♦ »
A SERVICE PROJECT FOR THE ELDERLY AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO REPRESENT HONG KONG IN THE COMMONWEALTH YOUTH SERVICE AWARDS SCHEME.
THESE TWO COMMUNITY PROJECTS WERE PICKED FROM SEVEN NOMINATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND DISTRICT OFFICES.
THE AWARD SCHEME WAS STARTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH YOUTH PROGRAMME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1985 AS AN ENDURING COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR. WINNERS OF THE SCHEME WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN JUNE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG CO-ORDINATING BODY, THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE AIM OF THE SCHEME WAS TO FOSTER CO-OPERATION AND THE EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCES AMONG THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
’’EACH YEAR, THE SCHEME OFFERS UP TO FIVE AWARDS WITH NOT MORE THAN TWO BEING AWARDED TO ANY COUNTRY IN THE REGION,” HE ADDED.
THE WINNING TEAMS WILL BE GIVEN A GRANT OF 1,000 POUNDS STERLING TO BE USED TO FURTHER THE TEAM’S WORK. MEDALLIONS AND CERTIFICATES WILL ALSO BE GIVEN TO EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
HONG KONG’S TWO ENTRIES ARE ENTITLED "BEAUTIFUL AND COLOURFUL SUNSET IN MID-SUMMER -- A SERVICE PROJECT FOR THE ELDERLY” AND "GREEN MOVEMENT -- ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN".
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NEW ARRANGEMENT IN APPLYING FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LICENCES
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED A NEW ARRANGEMENT FOR APPLICANTS FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LEARNER DRIVING LICENCES AND DRIVING TESTS WHICH ARE AIMED AT CURBING TOUTING ACTIVITIES AT THE SHA TIN LICENSING OFFICE WHERE SUCH APPLICATIONS ARE PROCESSED.
APPLICATION FORMS FOP TH'- F LEARNER DRIVING LICENCES AND FOR DRIVING TESTS FOR COMMERCIAI VI IP LES \RE NO LONGER AVAILABLE AT THE SHA TIN LICENSING OFFICE.
THE FORMS ARE NOW WAILABLE AT ALL POST OFFICES, ENQUIRY CENTRES OF THE CITY AND NEW I KRITOR1ES ADMINISTRATION, AND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT LICENSING OFFICES.
/THESE LICENSING .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
- 10 -
THESE LICENSING OFFICES ARE AT THE GROUND FLOOR OF 2 MURRAY ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG; AND AT THE NINTH FLOOR OF PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 56 DUNDAS STREET, MONG KOK AND THE FIFTH FLOOR OF THE KOWLOON EAST GOVERNMENT OFFICE, 12 LEI YUE MUN ROAD, KWUN TONG IN KOWLOON.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH THE NECESSARY REMITTANCE TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT AT P.O. BOX 73323, KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE, FOR PROCESSING. APPLICATIONS IN PERSON WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
A SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVING INSTRUCTORS THAT SOME INSTRUCTORS GAINED MORE BUSINESS BY SENDING SALES AGENTS TO TOUT FOR THEM IN THE WAITING HALL OF THE SHA TIN LICENSING OFFICE.
FROM LAST DECEMBER, THE DEPARTMENT HAD REQUIRED ALL APPLICATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LEARNER DRIVING LICENCES AND FOR DRIVING TESTS TO BE SUBMITTED BY POST.
HOWEVER, TOUTING ACTIVITIES HAD STILL TAKEN PLACE, BUT TO A LESSER EXTENT, AT THE SHA TIN LICENSING OFFICE AS APPLICANTS CAME TO COLLECT APPLICATION FORMS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE NEW ARRANGEMENT APPLIES TO APPLICATIONS OR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, TAXIS, PRIVATE OR PUBLIC HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES AND ARTICULATED VEHICLES.
CONCERNING PRIVATE
BUSES, MEDIUM OR
APPLICANTS WHO WISH TO MAKE ENQUIRIES MAY TELEPHONE THE SHA TIN LICENSING OFFICE ON 6061027.
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NEW WONG CHUK HANG ACCESS ROAD ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA *****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKS PROJECTS COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS I HE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ACCESS ROAD TO WONG CHUK HANG ESTATE AND ASSOCIATED WORKS AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (MONDAY).
THE PROPOSED NEW ROAD, WHICH LINKS HEUNG YIP ROAD WITH POLICE SCHOOL ROAD AND NAM LONG SHAN ROAD, WILL ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG NAM LONG SHAN ROAD, PARTICULARLY AT ITS JUNCTIONS WITH HEUNG YIP ROAD AND WONG CHUK HANG ROAD.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS REPORTS ON HIGHWAYS, ENGINEERING, BUILDING, PUBLIC HOUSING AS WELL AS URBAN COUNCIL PROJECTS BEING CARRIED OUT IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKS PROJECTS COMMITTEE TOMORROW IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT NING STREET, ABERDEEN CENTRE. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30
OF THE (MONDAY) 7-11 NAM PM.
- - 0 - -
/Il .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1990
11
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SERVICES FOR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES *******
THE SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL LOOK INTO THE SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDED FOR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (MONDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS RESIDENTS’ COMPLAINTS ABOUT SHARP INCREASES IN THEIR WATER BILLS.
MEANWHILE, A REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL PROJECT AND A PAPER ON CARE HOMES FOR MENTAL PATIENTS WILL BE TABLED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (MONDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1 TUEN HI ROAD, TUEN MUN.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
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TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHA TIN, TUEN MUN
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SILA TIN AND TUEN MUN FROM TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 20) BECAUSE OF ROAD WORKS.
SHA TIN WAI ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN NGAN SHING STREET AND SHA TIN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR TWO NIGHTS BETWEEN 11 PM AND 6 AM THE NEXT DAY ON FEBRUARY 20 AND 22.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS ON WESTBOUND SHA TIN WAI ROAD HEADING FOR KOWLOON WILL BE DIVERTED VIA NGAN SHING STREET, SIU LEK YUEN ROAD, TAI ('HUNG KIU ROAD AND SHA TIN ROAD.
AT THE SAME TIME, MOTORISTS ON SOUTHBOUND HEADING FOR SHA KOK ESTATE WILL BE DIVERTED VIA EASTBOUND, SIU LEK YUEN ROAD, TAI CHUNG KIU ROAD, EASTBOUND AND SHA KOK STREET.
NGAN SHING STREET SHA TIN WAI ROAD SHA TIN WAI ROAD
IN TUEN MUN, WESTBOUND TSING LUN ROAD BETWEEN CASTLE PEAK AND THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO SAN MING TSUEN WILL BE CLOSED FOR NIGHTS BETWEEN 1.30 AM AND 5.30 AM FROM FEBRUARY 20 TO 24.
ROAD
FIVE
VEHICLES ON (’ASTLE PEAK ROAD HEADING FOR TSING LUN ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA ROAD P2, TSUN WEN ROAD AND TSING CHUNG KOON ROAD.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVT LAB TO SET UP DNA PROFILING TECHNOLOGY SECTION ...................... 1
WIDE-RANGING PROGRAMME FOR CIVIC EDUCATION DAY ........................... 3
CIVIL SERVICE STANDING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED ................ 4
DB TO DISCUSS RECLAMATION FEASIBILITY STUDY .............................. 5
COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR VISITS TEXTILE FACTORY ........................... 5
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR TIN HAU FESTIVAL ................................ 6
WATER STORAGE FIGURE ..................................................... 6
WATER CUT IN KWAI CHUNG .................................................. 7
SALT WATER CUT IN TUEN MUN ......................•........................ 1
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1990
GOVT LAB TO SET UP DNA PROFILING TECHNOLOGY SECTION *****
A NEW SECTION WILL BE ADDED THIS YEAR TO THE FORENSIC SCIENCE DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY TO SPECIALISE IN THE HIGHLY COMPLICATED AND DELICATE TECHNOLOGY OF DNA PROFILING, THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST, MR LEE NAM-SANG, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING AT A MEET-THE-MEDIA SESSION, MR LEE SAID DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID) PROFILING WAS AN EXCITING TECHNIQUE WHICH COULD POSITIVELY IDENTIFY A PERSON FROM ANY SCRAP OF BODY FLUIDS OR SUBSTANCES.
"AT THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY WE HAVE TAKEN A CAUTIOUS APPROACH, WAITING FOR CONSENSUS AMONGST THE FORENSIC COMMUNITY FOR STANDARDISATION OF THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES INVOLVED," HE SAID.
"WE ARE PRESENTLY GEARING UP IN TERMS OF STAFF TRAINING AND FACILITIES TO INTRODUCE THE TECHNIQUE INTO CASEWORK WITHIN 1990," HE ADDED.
THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF ANALYTICAL, INVESTIGATORY AND ADVISORY SERVICES TO ENABLE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO MEET THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LAW AND ORDER, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, GOVERNMENT REVENUE AND CONSUMERS' INTERESTS.
THE FORENSIC SCIENCE DIVISION OF THE LABORATORY PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES SUCH AS THE POLICE, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, IMMIGRATION AND THE ICAC IN THE INVESTIGATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, MR LEE SAID.
"WITH THE RECENT INCREASE IN THE USE OF FIREARMS IN ARMED ROBBERIES, THE ANALYSIS OF GUNSHOT RESIDUES HAS BEEN TAKING UP OVER A THIRD OF THE AVAILABLE INSTRUMENT TIME OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED MICROSCOPE IN THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY, THE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE," HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT FUNDS TOTALLING $3 MILLION WERE RECENTLY APPROVED TO PURCHASE A NEW SCANNING MICROSCOPE WHICH WOULD HAVE THE SOPHISTICATED FACILITY OF ANALYSING GUNSHOT RESIDUE AUTOMATICALLY DURING UNATTENDED NIGHT HOURS, THUS DOUBLING THE AVAILABLE USE-TIME OF THE INSTRUMENT.
THERE WAS A 34 PER CENT INCREASE TN THE EXAMINATION OF EXHIBITS USED AS EVIDENCE FROM 5,694 IN 1988 TO 7,671 LAST YEAR. THE ANALYSIS OF DOCUMENTS IN COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY CASES INCREASED MARGINALLY FROM 5,238 TN 1988 TO 5,394 IN 1989.
MR LEE POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE RECORD NUMBER OF DRUG SEIZURES LAST YEAR, THE SECTIONS OF THE CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES HAD A BUSY TIME EXAMINING LARGE QUANTITIES OF HEROIN AND OTHER DRUGS.
/"NO REVIEW .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1990
2
"NO REVIEW OF THIS SECTION’S ACTIVITIES WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT THE MENTION OF THE SINGLE CASE SEIZURE OF 1,199 HEROIN BLOCKS IN SEPTEMBER 1989 TOTALLING 418 KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN MIXTURE, THE SECOND LARGEST SEIZURE IN THE WORLD," HE SAID.
TURNING TO SOFT DRUGS, MR LEE POINTED OUT THAT IN LINE WITH 1989 SEIZURES, MANDRAX HAD ALMOST DISAPPEARED WITH ONLY TWO METHAQUALONE-RELATED DEATHS REPORTED LAST YEAR, COMPARED WITH EIGHT IN 1988 AND 11 IN 1987.
"ONLY A SINGLE METHAQUALONE POSITIVE WAS DETECTED FROM 1,079 URINE SAMPLES TESTED FOR THIS DRUG," HE SAID.
MR LEE NOTED THAT THERE MIGHT BE INDICATIONS THAT COUGH SYRUP AND TABLETS CONTAINING THE ANT(TUSSIVE DEXTROMETHORPHAN (PART ONE POISON) WERE BEING EXPLOITED ON THE STREETS AS A SUBSTANCE OF ABUSE.
"THE FIRST FATAL CASE WAS CONFIRMED INVOLVING DEXTROMETHORPHAN AND ONE OTHER CASE CONTAINED THIS DRUG TOGETHER WITH MORPHINE. AT THE SAME TIME, 26 SEIZURES OF THE DRUG WERE REPORTED IN 1989 COMPARED WITH 13 IN 1988. THE MOST POPULAR FORM OF THE DRUG IS ROMILAR, A YELLOW DRAGEE," HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE ANALYTICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES DIVISION, MR LEE SAID THIS OPERATIONAL ARM OF THE LABORATORY CONTINUED TO BE VERY ACTIVE IN THE AREA OF WORK CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING.
"ABOUT 60,000 TESTS ON AIR SAMPLES WERE CARRIED OUT DURING 1989, AN INCREASE OF 52 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE MAJORITY OF THESE TESTS WERE CONDUCTED FOR ESTIMATION OF TOXIC AIR CONTAMINANTS SUCH AS PARTICLES OF TRACE ELEMENTS, PCB’S, ORGANIC SOLVENT VAPOURS, HALOGENENATED HYDROCARBONS, ETC," HE SAID.
"FINAL AIR TESTS WERE ALSO PERFORMED AT ASBESTOS REMOVAL WORKS CARRIED OUT UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WITH A VIEW TO ENSURING THAT THE SITES WERE SAFE FOR RE-OCCUPATION," HE ADDED.
MR LEE POINTED OUT THAT WORK ARISING FROM MARINE POLLUTION INCIDENTS CAUSED BY OIL SPILLS AND UNAUTHORISED INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES WENT UP BY 90 PER CENT OVER 1988 FIGURES, AS A RESULT OF A BIG INCREASE IN THE PROSECUTION OF SUCH OFFENCES UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.
WITH THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TESTING OF FOOD, THE LABORATORY CARRIED OUT MORE THAN 2,800 TESTS FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUES ON VEGETABLES, MR LEE SAID, POINTING OUT THAT METHAMIDOPHOS REMAINED THE PRIME CAUSE OF SEVERAL OUTBREAKS OF VEGETABLE POISONING DURING 1989.
"OF THE 108 SAMPLES OF VEGETABLES THAT WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN ORGANO-PHOSPHOROUS PESTICIDES, 60 CONTAINED METHAMIDOPHOS," HE SAID.
IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR EXAMINATION OF COMMODITIES OF COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL IMPORTANCE SUCH AS TOBACCO, SPIRITS, BEER AND COSMETICS, THE LABORATORY HAD SET UP A METROLOGY UNIT TO ASSIST IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURE ORDINANCE, MR LEE SAID.
/"THE LABORATORY ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1990
- 3 -
"THE LABORATORY CONTINUED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TESTING OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS SUBMITTED FOR REGISTRATION OR PURCHASED BY GOVERNMENT FOR USE IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS," HE SAID.
"CHINESE PROPRIETARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS OF HERBAL ORIGIN WERE ALSO FREQUENTLY CHECKED FOR PRESENCE OF WESTERN MEDICINE AND/OR EXCESSIVE TOXIC METALS. A TOTAL OF 416 SAMPLES INVOLVING 1,889 TESTS WERE PROCESSED LAST YEAR WITH 24 OF THEM FOUND TO HAVE PROBLEMS OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER," MR LEE SAID.
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WIDE-RANGING PROGRAMME FOR CIVIC EDUCATION DAY
******
CIVIC EDUCATION WILL BE GIVEN A BOOST ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, WHICH HAS BEEN DESIGNATED ’’CIVIC EDUCATION DAY” .
THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH VARIOUS DISTRICT BOARDS AND DISTRICT OFFICES, HAS ARRANGED A WIDE-RANGING PROGRAMME ON THAT DAY TO SPREAD CIVIC EDUCATION MESSAGES.
THE MAIN EVENT WILL BE A "MEET-THE-PUBLIC” TRAM PARADE TO BE FOLLOWED BY A DEBATE WHICH IS AIMED AT STIMULATING PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF CURRENT AFFAIRS.
THE PARADE WILL START EARLY IN THE MORNING FROM THE TRAM DEPOT IN KENNEDY TOWN AND WILL ARRIVE OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUILDING FOR A BRIEF CEREMONY.
ON THE TRAM WILL BE COUNCILLORS FROM THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT. THEY WILL MEET MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WILL BE ARRANGED TO BOARD THE TRAM AT TWO TRAM STOPS.
THE PARADE WILL END IN TA1KOO SHING WHERE THE COUNCILLORS WILL PROCEED TO THE CITY PLAZA FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THE CIVIC EDUCATION DAY. A DEBATE WILL BI HELD AFTER THE CEREMONY.
EIGHT PROMINENT POLITICAL COMMENTATORS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO TEAMS TO DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT "PARTICIPATION OF THE MIDDLE CLASS IS MOST IMPORTANT IN THE FUI i I'< i IT1CAI DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG".
HIGHLIGHTS IN THE DISTRICTS INCLUDE A MEET THE PUBLIC SESSION TO BE HELD ON A LIGHT RAIL TRAIN.
THERE WILL BE EXHIBITIONS AND VARIETY SHOWS IN SIX DISTRICTS, TRAINING CAMPS IN FOUR DISTRICTS AND SEMINARS IN THREE DISTRICTS.
- - 0 - -
Z4 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1990
4
CIVIL SERVICE STANDING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED
******
THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE HAS PUBLISHED ITS LATEST ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT, THE COMMISSION’S REPORT NO, 24, WHICH GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF ITS WORK IN 1989.
DURING THE YEAR, THE FOCUS OF THE COMMISSION’S WORK WAS ON THE OVERALL REVIEW OF THE SALARY STRUCTURE OF THE NON-DIRECTORATE CIVIL SERVICE OTHER THAN THE JUDICIAL SERVICE AND THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES.
THE COMMISSION COMPLETED THE FIRST PHASE OF THE OVERALL REVIEW AND SUBMITTED ITS FIRST REPORT, REPORT NO. 23, TO THE GOVERNOR IN OCTOBER 1989.
THE COMMISSION IS NOW ENGAGING IN ITS SECOND PHASE OF THE REVIEW WHICH INVOLVES A DETAILED STUDY OF INDIVIDUAL GRADES.
THE COMMISSION ALSO REVIEWED THE SALARY STRUCTURE OF SEVERAL GRADES OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE OVERALL REVIEW TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES. IT ALSO ADVISED ON THE METHODOLOGY FOR THE ANNUAL PAY TREND SURVEYS.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF THE PAY SURVEY AND RESEARCH UNIT, WHICH IS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF THE COMMISSION, IS GIVEN IN THE PROGRESS REPORT.
THE UNIT CARRIED OUT TI!E 1988-89 PAY TREND SURVEY BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND APRIL 1989. IT I,SO CONDUCTED PAY COMPARISON SURVEYS TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON PRIVATE SECTOR REMUNERATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE OVERALL REVIEW.
IN ADDITION, THE PROGRESS REPORT RECORDS CHANGES TO THE COMMISSION’S TERMS OF REFERENCE AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SALARIES CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE AND THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES TO OTHER ADVISORY BODIES.
THE PROGRESS REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
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/5 .........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19,
1990
5 -
DB TO DISCUSS RECLAMATION FEASIBILITY STUDY
******
THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI RECLAMATION FEASIBILITY STUDY AT A MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE STUDY, WHICH WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, INCLUDES PROPOSALS FOR RECLAMATION ALONG THE WATERFRONT FROM SHEUNG WAN TO CAUSEWAY BAY, AND THE PROVISION OF A MTR LINE AND A TRUNK ROAD ON THE NEW RECLAMATION.
THE WHOLE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO COST ABOUT $20 BILLION.
AT THE MEETING, SEVERAL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO RAISE A QUESTION CONCERNING FARE INCREASES BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPANIES.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE A REPORT BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, AND PROGRESS REPORTS BY DISTRICT BOARD COMMITTEES AND AREA COMMITTEES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, 21ST FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI.
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COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR VISITS TEXTILE FACTORY ♦ ♦ t t *
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, VISITED A TEXTILE FACTORY IN TSUEN WAN TODAY (MONDAY) TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT ON THE LABOUR SCENE.
ESTABLISHED IN 1953, THE CENTRAL TEXTILES (HONG KONG) LTD IS ONE OF THE LARGEST TEXTILE FACTORIES IN HONG KONG, EMPLOYING ABOUT 1,120 WORKERS.
MR HAMMOND WAS BRIEFED BY THE FACTORY’S DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, MR ALEXANDER WOO, AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, MR C.P. CHENG, ON THE PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY.
HE WAS LATER TAKEN ON A TOUR OF THE FACTORY WHICH EMPLOYS A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTOMATION IN ITS PRODUCTION PROCESSES.
/MR HAMMOND .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1990
6 -
MR HAMMOND WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE FACTORY HAS A GOOD SAFETY RECORD AND HAS TAKEN A KEEN INTEREST IN PROMOTING HEARING CONSERVATION FOR WORKERS.
THE FACTORY HAS ALSO SET UP ITS OWN SAFETY COMMITTEE AND REGULARLY ORGANISES VARIOUS IN-HOUSE SAFETY PROMOTION PROGRAMMES.
MR HAMMOND ALSO DISCUSSED WITH THE MANAGEMENT THE LABOUR RELATIONS AND STAFF WELFARE- SITUATION IN THE FACTORY.
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TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR TIN HAU FESTIVAL
*****
THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 21) TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TIN HAU FESTIVAL THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE IN SAI KUNG TOWN.
THE PERFORMANCE WILL TAKE PLACE FOR ABOUT A MONTH IN MAY.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO STUDY THE PARKING PROBLEM AT WAI MAN ROAD IN SAI KUNG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE TO BEGIN AT 2.30 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 21) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR, SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 34 CHAN MAN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN.
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WATER STORAGE FIGURE ♦ * ♦
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 38.8 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 227.506 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 218.865 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 37.3 PER CENT CAPACITY.
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/7........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1990
WATER CUT IN KWAI CHUNG ♦ * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN KWAI CHUNG WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 21) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES BOUNDED BY LAI CHI LING ROAD, LAI KONG STREET, LAI FUNG STREET, LIM CHO STREET, LAI KING HILL ROAD, LAI CHO ROAD AND JOINT STREET, INCLUDING YUEN LAI COURT, LAI KING TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA AND CHO YIU CHUEN.
- - 0 - -
SALT WATER CUT IN TUEN MUN ♦ ♦ * ♦
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES IN TUEN MUN WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 8 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 21) TO 8 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HK SHOULD GET ON WITH MAKING POLITICAL STRUCTURE WORK: GOVERNOR .......... 1
DECISION ON SECOND GENERATION CORDLESS TELEPHONES SOON ................... 2
REVIEW COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP REHAB PROGRAMME INTO THE 90'S ................ 4
INSURERS TO LAUNCH CLAIMS COMPLAINTS BUREAU .............................. 6
MORE THAN 100 COMPLAINTS ABOUT INACCURATE WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS ........... 6
REGIONAL COUNCIL BY-ELECTION ON THURSDAY ................................. 7
NINE QUESTIONS, FIVE BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA ............................... 8
YUEN LONG DB TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ............................ 8
DB COMMITTEE TO BE BRIEFED ON TRANSPORT WHITE PAPER ...................... 9
DB COMMITTEE TO STUDY WELFARE SERVICES .................................. 10
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SEMINAR FOR SAI KUNG RESIDENTS ..................... 10
BUILDING MANAGEMENT SEMINAR FOR SAI YING PUN RESIDENTS . ................ 11
DB FUNDS OPEN TO APPLICATION ............................................ 11
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED ................................................ 12
AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS .......................................... 12
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE ON TAI PO ROAD, SHA TIN .......................... 13
WATER CUT IN KWUN TONG .................................................. 13
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
1
HK SHOULD GET ON WITH MAKING POLITICAL STRUCTURE WORK: GOVERNOR
WHAT HONG KONG SHOULD NOW DO IS TO GET ON WITH MAKING THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE SECTION OF THE BASIC LAW WORK, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
NOTING THAT HUGE CHANGES WOULD BE BROUGHT IN NEXT YEAR TO HONG KONG’S POLITICAL STRUCTURE, SIR DAVID SAID WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WORKED EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
"WE CAN SHOW THAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR HONG KONG AND THEN LATER ON WE CAN DISCUSS WHETHER IN THE LIGHT Of- THAT EXPERIENCE WE THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE SOME CHANGES," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, BUT FOR AFTER THE 1991 ELECTIONS AND WHEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THAT DEGREE OF DEMOCRACY WAS GOOD FOR HONG KONG.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE CNTA SPRING RECEPTION, THE GOVERNOR SAID A LOT OF DECISIONS ABOUT THE POLITICAL PACKAGE FOR 1991 WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN.
"WE’VE MADE THE DECISION ON 18 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS. WE(VE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW MANY APPOINTED MEMBERS, HOW MANY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY MEMBERS AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH OFFICIALS.
HE SAID WHAT WE WOULD BE TRYING TO DO WAS TO START MOVING GRADUALLY FROM THE PRESENT SITUATION, THAT WAS THE PRESENT STRUCTURE OF LEGCO, TO THE NEW STRUCTURE IN 1995.
"SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DECISIONS TO MAKE AND ONE OF THEM WILL BE SIZE OF CONSTITUENCIES AND HOW WE SHOULD ORGANISE THAT. WE ARE WORKING ON IT AT THE MOMENT AND WF WILL MAKE A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT IT AS SOON AS WF CAN, AND WELL IN ADVANCE OF WHEN IT’S NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE TO START PREPARING FOR THE 1991 ELECTIONS," HE ADDED.
ON THE SIZE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID BY 1995 THERE WOULD BE 60 SEATS.
"SO WE WILL WANT TO WORK OUT HOW MANY WE SHOULD HAVE IN THE INTERIM PERIOD. WE HAVEN’T WORKED OUT ALL THE DETAILS YET," HE SAID.
IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ON WHETHER THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ELECTED, SIR DAVID SAID THAT IN 1997 THE PRESIDENT WOULD BE ELECTED AND IT WOULD BE SENSIBLE TO BRING IN AN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF LEGCO IN 1995.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO WORK OUT THE TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS WHEN LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1991 .
/"IT IS .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
- 2 -
"IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNOR BOTH TO BE THERE AND TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO ACTS FOR HIM SOME OF THE TIME. THIS IS THE SORT OF QUESTION WE’VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE MOMENT, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF BY 1995 HAVING AN ELECTED PRESIDENT.
"RUT THE GENERAL IMPRESSION ONE GETS FROM THE PUBLIC WHEN WE DID THE SURVEY IN 1987 FOR INSTANCE, IS THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE DOESN’T WANT TO MOVE THERE TOO QUICKLY. THEY WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO GO THROUGH A TRANSITIONAL PHASE FIRST," SIR DAVID SAID.
WHEN ASKED HOW HE THOUGHT THE 20 PER CENT NATIONALITY RESTRICTION WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN 1995, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS QUITE DIFFICULT TO WORK OUT PRECISELY HOW TO DO IT, AND HE DID NOT KNOW, AT THE MOMENT, HOW THAT WAS GOING TO BE WORKED OUT IN PRACTICE.
ASKED IF HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO RESIGN, SIR DAVID SAID: "THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL HAS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB TO DO. HE HAS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON A WHOLE NUMBER OF VERY COMPLEX ISSUES, AND THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY TO YOU IS THAT HE HAS MY FULL SUPPORT IN DOING IT."
HE SAID THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW SEARCHING FOR A NEW ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
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DECISION ON SECOND GENERATION CORDLESS TELEPHONES SOON
*****
A DECISION WOULD BE TAKEN WITHIN THREE MONTHS ON A SECOND GENERATION OF CORDLESS TELEPHONES WHICH COULD OPERATE WITHIN THE VICINITY OF RADIO RELAY STATIONS ALMOST ANYWHERE IN HONG KONG, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTHWEST, MR WONG SAID INCORPORATING A RADIO PAGER INTO CORDLESS TELEPHONES TO MAKE THEM MORE ATTRACTIVE WAS AN IDEA FOR THE ENTERPRISING BUSINESSMAN.
"THE TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE NOW AT AN ADVANCED STAGE, AND I WOULD EXPECT A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT TO BI- MADE AROUND MAY OR JUNE THIS YEAR, AND APPLICATIONS WILL BE INVITED," HE SAID.
LAST MONTH, THE POST OFFICE INVITED APPLICATIONS FOR NEW RADIO PAGING NETWORKS TO MEET GROWING DEMAND, AND UP TO 60 NEW CHANNELS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND OTHER RELATED BUT INNOVATIVE SERVICES, MR WONG SAID.
/HE ALSO .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
- 3 -
HE ALSO SAID THAT NEW DIGITAL TECHNIQUES WERE BEING EXAMINED IN THE FIELD OF CELLULAR MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONES, WHICH WOULD PERMIT A HIGHER DENSITY OF RADIOTELEPHONES AND FURTHER IMPROVED PERFORMANCE TO BE PROVIDED IN HONG KONG. THIS, HE SAID, WOULD PROBABLY MATERIALISE IN ABOUT TWO YEARS’ TIME.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD IN THE PAST FEW YEARS GRADUALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY DEREGULATED AND INTRODUCED COMPETITION IN THE SUPPLY OF TELFCOMMLNICATION EQUIPMENT AND IN VALUE ADDED NETWORK SERVICES AS THF TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE REACHED MATURITY.
MR WONG SAID THIS NEW APPROACH HAD BORNE FRUIT AND THE EFFECTS WERE APPARENT.
"FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY OUR SMALL BUT COSMOPOLITAN CITY HAS FOUR CELLULAR MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE SYSTEMS WITH A CAPACITY FOR ABOUT 130,000 USERS; 17 RADIO PAGING OPERATORS CATERING FOR 600,000 SUBSCRIBERS; 80,000 FACSIMILE LINES; A HUGE VARIETY OF VERY EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT AT RELATIVELY LOW PRICES; AND A SECOND, WIRED, TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SOMETIME NEXT YEAR , " HE SAID.
"AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND OF SUCCESS AND AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, IT IS OUR INTENTION TO CONTINUE WITH THE POLICY OF ALLOWING GREATER AND FAIR COMPETITION, AND WITH THE ’OPEN DOOR’ POLICY FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIELD," HE ADDED.
MR WONG SAID WITH THE ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN TECHNOLO' IN HONG KONG, THE PACE OF LIFE AND THE STYLE OF OPERATION WERE SUCH THAT TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND FACILITIES WERE A NECESSITY IN CONDUCTING DAILY BUSINESS TO RECEIVE VITAL INFORMATION AND TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO SITUATIONS.
NOTING THAT TECHNOLOGIC \L PROGRESS IN HONG KONG HAD DEVELOPED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, HE SAID HONG KONG HAI) BECOME AN IMPORTANT FOCAL POINT FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION.
"WE MUST NOI' BE COMPLACENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR TELECOMMUNK ATIQN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS," MR WONG SAID.
"LET US NOT FORGET THAI IN MANY COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES, TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPED INITIALLY UNDER A FILL MONOPOLY. HONG KONG WAS NO EXCEPTION.
THIS APPROACH IIAl) A UI.EAR ADVANTAGE AND ENSURED 'I HE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF A RELIABLE, I bl ICIENT AND RENOWNED INTERNAL TELEPHONE SERVICE AND EXTERNAL I-1-.LI-1 ll<' ' , TELEGRAPH AND TELEX SERVICES AND CIRCUITS FOR HONG KONG," HI ADU! I’.
THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN THREE MILLION TELEPHONES SERVED BY 2 MILLION DIRECT LINFS, GIVING HONG KONG ONI- OF THE HIGHEST TELEPHONE DENSITIES IN SOUTH-EASI' ASIA. THERE ARE 53 TELEPHONES OR 40 LINES PER 100 POPULATION, WHICH MEANS THERE IS NOW A TELEPHONE IN ALMOST EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN HONG KONG.
/"NO WONDER ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
"NO WONDER THAT HONG KONG RECORDED OVER 750 MILLION MINUTES PER YEAR FOR INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE CALLS," MR WONG SAID.
TURNING TO POSTAL SERVICES, MR WONG SAID HE EXPECTED A SOPHISTICATED LETTER SORTING SYSTEM CURRENTLY UNDER TRIAL WOULD BE OPERATIONAL IN MAY, THUS ENABLING THE POST OFFICE GRADUALLY TO REDEPLOY ITS STAFF TO AREAS EXPERIENCING MANPOWER SHORTAGE.
THE MECHANISED LETTER SORTING SYSTEM, COSTING $120 MILLION, IS THE FIRST IN THE WORLD USING MODERN OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION AND VIDEO CODING TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT POST CODES OR ZIP CODES, BECAUSE IT CAN ELECTRONICALLY SCAN THE LAST FOUR LINES OF A HONG KONG ADDRESS TYPED OR MACHINE PRINTED IN ROMAN TYPE.
"LETTERS WITH ADDRESSES WHICH CANNOT BE READ OR ARE HANDWRITTEN WILL BE DELIVERED TO VIDEO CODING DESKS WHERE OPERATORS WILL READ THE ADDRESS AND TYPE THE ABBREVIATED CODES ON THE ENVELOPES, BEFORE THEY GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS.
"OUR MAIL TRAFFIC HAS BEEN INCREASING AT THE SUBSTANTIAL RATE OF 10 PER CENT PER YEAR COMPOUND IN RECENT YEARS. THIS IS EXTREMELY HIGH BY WORLD STANDARDS WHERE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES’ MAIL GROW BY ABOUT FIVE PER CENT A YEAR," MR WONG SAID.
"OUR VOLUME OF MAIL IS SO HIGH THAT THE HONG KONG POST OFFICE NOW HANDLES \BOUT 770 MILLION ITEMS A YEAR: THIS REPRESENTS 2.2 MILLION ITEMS A DAY," HE ADDED.
DURING THE CHRISTMAS RUSH PERIOD IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER THE POST OFFICE HANDLED NEARLY THREE MILLION ITEMS A DAY WHICH MEANT THE MAIL TRAFFIC WENT UP BY 35 PER CENT COMPARED WITH A NORMAL MONTH, HE SAID.
"DESPITE LARGE INCREASE'S IN THE VOLUME OF MAIL HANDLED IN RECENT YEARS, IT REMAINS OUR \PI TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT POSTAL SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE Ol HONG KONG," MR WONG SAID.
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REVIEW COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP REHAB * * * * ♦
PROGRAMME INTO THE 90’S
A REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS HEI* SET UP TO DEVELOP A BALANCED AND COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME WHICH WILL BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED I MT< ’ THE 1990’S.
SPEAK I NG AT THE REHAB1 LI TATI ON DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE (RDC(') MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY), THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, MR ALAN WONG, SAID: "THE COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO FORMULATE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TARGETS, IDENTIFY DEFICIENCIES IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM, STREAMLINE SERVICE PROVISIONS AND WORK TOWARDS A SMOOTH AND WELL CO-ORDINATED SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM."
/HE EXPLAINED .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
5
HE EXPLAINED THAT A REPORT SUMMARISING THE MAIN DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OE THE REVIEW COMMITTEE WOULD THEN BE SUBMITTED TO THE RDCC FOR ENDORSEMENT IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR.
"IN ADDITION, THE DRAFT CHAPTERS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE RDCC FOR DISCUSSION AS SOON AS THEY ARE APPROVED BY THE REVIEW COMMITTEE TN THE COURSE OF THE YEAR."
THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE COMPRISES: THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION AS CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, LABOUR DEPARTMENT, AND THE FINANCE BRANCH.
THE COMMITTEE MAY CO-OPT OTHER MEMBERS FROM THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAMME AREA UNDER DISCUSSION.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE ARE TO REVIEW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE 1987 REVIEW OF THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN; TO UPDATE THE VARIOUS STATISTICAL PRO.I ECTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVICE AND MANPOWER PLANNING; AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH \ND WELFARE ON THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS:
♦ AREAS WHERE REVISION TO PLANNING TARGETS IS FOUND TO BE NECESSARY; AND
♦ EXISTING OR PROPOSED SERVICE AREAS AND POLICIES WHICH REQUIRE FURTHER STUDY AND/OR DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE MAJOR REVIEW.
IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE LAST WHITE PAPER ON
REHABILITATION WAS PUBLISHED IN 1977, RDCC MEMBERS GENERALLY FELT THAT IT WAS ABOUT TIME TO PRODUCE A NEW WHITE PAPER ON
REHABILITATION SERVICES AND POLICIES.
MEMBERS RECOMMENDED THAT A REQUEST BE PUT FORWARD TO THE GOVERNMENT TO FORMULATE A NEW WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION BEFORE 1992.
RDCC MEMBERS ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ON THE PROPOSED WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES INTO THE 1990’8 AND BEYOND.
AN AD HOC GROUP HAS BEEN FORMED TO STUDY REHABILITATION SERVICES IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD. ITS VIEWS WILL BE CONVEYED TO THE RELEVANT SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE WORKING PARTY ON THE PROPOSED SOCIAL WELFARE WHITE PAPER FOR CONSIDERATION.
/6.........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
6 INSURERS TO LAUNCH CLAIMS COMPLAINTS BUREAU * * * * *
THE INSURANCE CLAIMS COMPLAINTS STATEMENTS OF PRACTICE FOR LIFE AND ADOPTED BY THE HONG KONG FEDERATION
BUREAU, TOGETHER WITH THE GENERAL INSURANCE BUSINESS OF INSURERS, REPRESENT A
SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE SELF-REGULATION OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, SAID THIS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THE INSURANCE CLAIMS COMPLAINTS BUREAU THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
MR NENDICK SAID THE BUREAU REPRESENTED AN IMPORTANT MEASURE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION IN THE AREA OF PERSONAL INSURANCE.
"THE BUREAU WILL PROVIDE AN INDEPENDENT AVENUE OF COMPLAINT AND REMEDY FOR INDIVIDUALS INSURED IN A PRIVATE CAPACITY WHO FEEL THAT THEIR CLAIMS HAVE NOT BEEN FAIRLY SETTLED," HE SAID.
LIKENING THE ROLE OF THE BUREAU TO THAT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OMBUDSMAN, MR NENDICK SAID HE WAS SURE THAT THE BUREAU WOULD BE WIDELY WELCOMED BY EXISTING AND POTENTIAL POLICY-HOLDERS.
HE HOPED THAT ALL AUTHORISED INSURERS WOULD SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE BUREAU.
POINTING OUT THAT THE BUREAU WAS THE PRODUCT OF TWO YEARS HARD WORK BY THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF INSURERS, MR NENDICK SAID THAT THIS WAS NO EASY TASK AND THAT THE FEDERATION SHOULD BE COMMENDED ON THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.
HE NOTED THAT THE FEDERATION’S READY WILLINGNESS TO MAINTAIN CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON MATTERS SUCH AS SELF-REGULATION WAS PARTICULARLY WELCOMED.
"THE FEDERATION WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THE REGULATION OF ACTIVITIES OF INSURANCE INTERMEDIARIES," MR NENDICK ADDED.
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MORE THAN 100 COMPLAINTS ABOUT INACCURATE WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS ******
THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE' DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 100 COMPLAINTS ABOUT INACCURATE WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS SINCE THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1 LAST YEAR.
THE ACTING PRINCIPAL TRADE CONTROLS OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT’S TRADING STANDARDS INVESTIGATION BUREAU, MR ANDREW WONG, SAID OF THE 103 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED, 13 HAD RESULTED IN COURT CASES AND FINES TOTALLING $36,250 BEING IMPOSED.
/TWO RECENT .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
7
TWO RECENT CASES WHICH AROSE FROM PUBLIC COMPLAINTS INVOLVED A SEAFOOD RETAILER AND A FRUIT RETAILER, WHO WERE FINED $2,250 AND $ 1,000 RESPECTIVELY.
THE SEAFOOD RETAILER, CHAN CH IN-YAU, OF CHAN KONG KEF SFAFOOD, ADMITTED THE CHARGE AT KWUN TONG MAGISTRACY LAST THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 15) .
THE COURT HEARD THAT OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT VISITED THE DEFENDANT’S STALL AT SHUI WO STREET NEW MARKET, KWUN TONG, ON SEPTEMBER 7 LAST YEAR.
THREE CHINESE STEELYARDS USED IN THF SELLING OF SEAFOOD WERE FOUND TO BE AS HIGH AS 31.25 PER CENT, 12.5 PER CENT AND 7.8 PER CENT INACCURATE IN GOVERNMENT LABORATORY TESTS.
IN THE SECOND CASE, DEFENDANT CHENG MEI-LIN OF MET LIN FRUIT SHOP, PLEADED GUILTY AT WESTERN MAGISTRACY TODAY (TUESDAY).
OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THF DEFENDANT’S SHOP AT CANAL ROAD EAST, WAN (HAI, ON OCTOBER 20 LAST YEAR. PRELIMINARY CHECKS ON TWO SPRING BALANCES USED IN SELLING FRUIT SHOWED THAT THEY WERE INA( CURATE BY AS MUCH AS 20.75 PER 'ENT AND 20.22 PER CENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID ANY PERSON WANTING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MALPRACTICES IN RESPECT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES SHOULD CONTACT EITHER THE TRADING STANDARDS INVESTIGATION BUREAU OF THE ( USTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. 7146146) OR THE CONSUMER COUNCIL.
COMPLAINTS MAY ALSO BE MADE IO DUTY OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT ON 8523 185 ,AFTER NORMAL OFFICE HOURS.
TO HELP PUBLICISE THF COMPLAINTS HOTLINES, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT IS DISPLAYING POSTERS IN PROMINENT PLACES IN ALL RETAIL AND WHOLESALE MARKETS IN THI I'FRRITORY.
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REGIONAL COUNCIL BY-ELECTION ON THURSDAY t t ♦ ♦ t
ELECTORS IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT 'RE URGED TO TURN OUT IN FULL FORCE TO VOTE IN THE : ' ' i -'NAI COUNf IL BY-ELECTION ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THERE ARE FOUR CANDIDATES -- MR FUNG 'Hl-KANG, MR FUNG PAK-TAI, MR DAVID KAM SHUI-YUNG AND MR II KWONG-SANG.
POLLING WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 7.30 AM AND 10.30 PM. ELECTORS SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARD AND POLL CARD, IF AVAILABLE, TO THE POLL.
/AS THERE .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
- 8 -
AS THERE IS ONLY ONE VACANCY, ELECTORS SHOULD SIMPLY RECORD THEIR. VOTE BY MARKING A CROSS IN THE BOX ALONGSIDE THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE.
FOR ENQUIRIES, ELECTORS MAY CONTACT THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE ON TEL. 5270369 OR 5270380.
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NINE QUESTIONS, FIVE BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA * * * ♦ t
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL ASK A TOTAL OF NINE QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER FIVE BILLS IN THE COUNCIL’S MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WILL BI- INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
SECOND READING DEBATES ON THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, THE STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE PUBLIC' FINANCE (AMENDMENT) Bill 1990 WILL RESUME. WHEN THESE ARE COMPLETED EACH BILL IS DUE TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND BE GIVEN A THIRD READING.
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YUEN LONG DB TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME *****
THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE 1989 EDITION OF THE TIN SHUI WAI - YUEN LONG DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME PREPARED BY THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT A MEETING ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 22) .
DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS LILL \LSO BE CONSULTED ON THE STAGE 1 PHASE I WORKS OF TIE -Ivsi.D MAIN DRAINAGE CHANNELS FOR YUEN LONG AND KAM TIN.
IN ADDITION, THERE Ui.. \ BRIEFING ON THE ROLE OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG DISTRICT PLANNING OFFICE.
/A MEMBER .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
A MEMBER WILL RAISE QUESTIONS CONCERNING CLEANING OF STREETS AND SITTING-OUT AREAS IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 22) IN TH! DB CONFERENCE ROOM, 13TH FLOOR, YUEN LONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 2 KIU LOK SQUARE, YUEN LONG. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
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DB COMMITTEE TO BE BRIEFED ON TRANSPORT WHITE PAPER * * * * *
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BRIEF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ON THE WHITE PAPER ON TRANSPORT POLICY IN HONG KONG AT THE COMMITTEE’S MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
REQUESTED BY A MEMBER, THE BRIEFING WILL FOCUS ON THE WHITE PAPER AND ITS IMPLICATION ON THE TERRITORY’S FUTURE TRANSPORT POLICY.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF SETTING UP MORE BUS STOPS AT AREA 16.
THE MEETING WILL STUDY A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT REPORT ON KMB BUS SERVICES, LRT FEEDER BUS SERVICES AND TRAFFIC FLOW IN RESTRICTED ZONES FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF 1989.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, I TUEN Hl ROAD, TUEN MUN.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
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/10
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
- 10 -
DB COMMITTEE TO STUDY WELFARE SERVICES
*****
MEMBERS OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF WELFARE SERVICES AT A MEETING ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THE REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (HONG KONG), MR KWOK NAI-SIK, WILL BE PRESENT TO HEAR THEIR OPINIONS AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO REVIEW THE COMMITTEE’S SCHEME OF PAYING GOODWILL VISITS TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
VISITS UNDER THE SCHEME WERE MADE FROM NOVEMBER TO JANUARY, IO FORGE CLOSER TIES WITH LOCAL BODIES AND TO SEEK VIEWS ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIV I TIES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 22) AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FIRST FLOOR, 880-886 KING’S ROAD.
THE MEETING WILL START AT 2.30 PM.
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SEMINAR FOR SAI KUNG RESIDENTS
*****
SAI KUNG RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A SEMINAR ON INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN HONG KONG WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORK OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL.
THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 2.30 PM AND 5 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25) AT THE CLEAR WATER RAY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB.
ORGANISED BY THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION PROMOTION COMMITTEE, THE SEMINAR WILL BE A MAJOR ACTIVITY OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE CIVIC EDUCATION DAY.
THE MODERATOR WILL BE A LECTURER OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC’S DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED SOCIAL STUDIES, MR FUNG WAI-WAH.
THE SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE A PRINCIPAL LABOUR OFFICER OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR YEUNG CHI-KIN; A TRIBUNAL OFFICER OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL, MR CHAN KA-PIU; AND A SENIOR LECTURER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO ATTEND THE SEMINAR CAN CONTACT MR DAVID TSANG ON TEL. 7924455 EXT. 42 OR MISS SUSAN YEUNG ON EXT. 56 FOR DETAILS.
------0--------
/Il ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
11
BUILDING MANAGEMENT SEMINAR FOR SAI YING PUN RESIDENTS
******
A SEMINAR ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT FOR SAI YING PUN RESIDENTS WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 22) EVENING AT THE WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE IN WESTERN STREET.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SAT YING PUN AREA COMMITTEE, THE SEMINAR IS THE LAST IN A SERIES FOR DISTRICT RESIDENTS THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE HEAD OF THE DISTRICT’S BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAM, HOUSING MANAGER MR LEE CHI-SHING, WILL TALK ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPERLY MAINTAINING MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS.
A LABOUR OFFICER, MRS YEUNG YEUNG SIU-PING, WILL SPEAK ON THE LABOUR LAWS RELATING TO BUILDING MANAGEMENT.
ALSO ATTENDING THE SEMINAR WILL BE THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS MONICA CHEN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SAI YING PUN BUILDING MANAGEMENT SEMINAR WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 8 PM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 22) AT THE WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE, 36A WESTERN STREET.
- - 0 -
DB FUNDS OPEN TO APPLICATION *****
THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE OF THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD IS INVITING LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO APPLY FOR SUBSIDIES FOR ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE OR BETWEEN JULY AND NOVEMBER.
THE ACTIVITIES SHOULD AIM AT PROMOTING COMMUNITY SPIRIT AMONG RESIDENTS AND ENHANCING THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE DISTRICT.
MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS CORPORATIONS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OTHER DISTRICT BODIES ARE WELCOME TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDS TO ORGANISE CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL, SPORTS OR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES.
APPLICATION FORMS AND OTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AT 37-39 TONKIN STREET AND ITS FOUR SUB-OFFICES AT UN CHAU STREET, NAM SHAN ESTATE, UN CHAN ESTATE AND MEI FOO SUN CHURN.
/COMPLETED FORMS .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
- 12 -
COMPLETED FORMS FOR ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD TN THE FIRST PERIOD SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE ABOVE PLACES BEFORE FEBRUARY 28 WHILE THE DEADLINE FOR THE SECOND BATCH IS APRIL 12.
THE VETTING SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON APRIL 20 AND MAY 3 TO CONSIDER THE APPLICATIONS. APPLIANTS WILL BE INFORMED OF THE. RESULTS IN WRITING.
------0--------
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED * * * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OE BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE REGISTRATION OF SHUN SING FINANCE COMPANY LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED AS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY (TUESDAY) AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE.
--------0-----------
AUCTION OF SPECIAL ♦ * * *
CAR NUMBERS ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ANOTHER AUCTION OF SPECIAL
VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 24 ) i AT THE CITY
HALL RECITAL HALL. THE AUCTION WILL BEGIN AT 10 AM •
A ' TOTAL OF 40 SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR
BIDDING. ' THEY ARE:
EE 6638 EE 2 EE 288 c EE 338
EE 105 EE 983 EE 330 CC 5000
DY 9328 EE 880 EE 99 BR 6999
BZ 500 BM 325 EE 6618 EE 959
BM 7 30 3693 EE 103 EE 2220
EE 991 EE 110 BB 678 ED 645
EE 28 EE 280 EE 1300 EE 3378
EE 3299 EE 932 EE 220 EE 2331
EE 877 EC 119 EB 4 EE 1811
EE 388 EE 7 EE 320 EE 7333
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MUST PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BIDDING.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED BIDDERS THAT THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER WOULD BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO A VEHICLE REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE AUCTION.
/THE CERTIFICATE .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990
- 13 -
THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION MUST BE PRODUCED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AUCTION IF THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARK IS TO BE REGISTERED UNDER THE NAME OF A BODY CORPORATE.
PROCEEDS OF THE AUCTION WILL AS USUAL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND.
THE COMING AUCTION WILL BE THE 147TH ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973.
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TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE ON TAJ PO ROAD, SHA FIN ♦ t ♦ ♦ ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT ABOUT OF THE SLOW AND MIDDLE LANES OF TAI PO ROAD NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY IN SHA TIN WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM
300 METRES
NEAR TOLO
8 PM ON THURSDAY
(FEBRUARY 22)TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
---------0-----------
WATER CUT IN KWUN TONG * t •* * ♦
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN KWUN SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 22) TO 6 AM TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
TONG WILL BE
THE NEXT DAY
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT CERTAIN TONG MARYKNOLL COLLEGE, BLOCK NUMBERS 7-10, ESTATE, SAN ON HOUSE AND KU J ON HOUSE OF WO MING STREET.
PREMISES INCLUDING KWUN KWUN TONG (TSUI PING ROAD) LOK ESTATE AND 20-28 HIU
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
STREAMLINING CO-ORDINATION IN PREPARING ESTIMATES .............. 1
LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE IN COMPUTER USE ............................ 1
SCHEME BEING DEVISED ON NOISE IMPAIRMENT COMPENSATION .......... 2
LAW PROHIBITING TRANSACTION IN SUB-DIVIDED UNITS IMPRACTICAL ... 3
OPTIONS BEING EXPLORED ON PENSION ARRANGEMENTS ................. 4
BOARD TO PROMOTE HK AS FINANCIAL CENTRE IMPRACTICABLE .......... 5
GOVT AWARE OF ABANDONED USED CAR PROBLEM........................ 5
REVIEW OF STATUTORY BODIES ..................................... 6
DRIVING LICENCE RENEWAL EXPLAINED .............................. 7
VBP TOLD PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS IS PUNISHABLE UNDER LAW ......... 7
GOVERNOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ................ 9
THREE BILLS PASSED ............................................. 10
AIDS EXHIBITION IN SHUN TAK CENTRE ............................... 11
GOVT LOT IN SAI KUNG TO LET BY TENDER ............................ 12
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS MAC SUBSIDY .............................. 12
SAI KUNG DB TO DISCUSS FORMATION OF NEW COMMITTEE ....'........... 13
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN ...................... 13
BAN ZONE IN WESTERN .............................................. 15
NO ENTRY TO SKYMASTER DRIVE IN AIRPORT ........................... 15
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN HO MAN TIN ............................. 15
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE ON NT CIRCULAR ROAD ....................... 15
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TSUEN WAN ROAD .............................. 16
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI PO ROAD .............................. 16
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21,
1990
STREAMLINING CO-ORDINATION IN PREPARING ESTIMATES
*****
THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD.
MOVING THE SECOND READINGS OF THE BILLS, SIR DAVID EXPLAINED THAT THE ADMENDMENTS WOULD ENABLE THE ESTIMATES OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE TWO COUNCILS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR IN JANUARY RATHER THAN IN 1 ’EMBER.
HE SAID THE PREPARATION OF THE COUNCILS* ESTIMATES WOULD THEN COINCIDE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION’S ANNUAL BUDGET EXERCISE.
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE AMENDMENTS WOULD STREAMLINE OVERALL CO-ORDINATION, AND THEY HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE TWO COUNCILS.
THE BILLS AMENDED SECTION 39(1) OF THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE AND SECTION 41(1) OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE RESPECTIVELY.
DEBATES ON THE BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.
- - 0 - -
LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE IN COMPUTER USE
*****
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ITS LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE, THE GOVERNMENT IS STRENGTHENING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SO THAT IT MAY ASSIST THE REST OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN ITS COMPUTER PLANNING, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM PROFESSOR 1HE HON C.K. POON, SIR PIERS SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAS PREVIOUSLY ASSESSED DEPARTMENTS’ OR BRANCHES’ REQUESTS FOR COMPUTERS ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS.
"WE ARE NOW MOVING TOWARDS ASSESSING REQUESTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LONG-TERM PLANS OF THE DEPARTMENT OR BRANCH INVOLVED," HE SAID.
WITH THE OVERALL AIM BEING SETTING SPECIFIC STANDARDS OF GENERAL APPLICATION, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD, WHEN INVITING TENDERS, RESTRICT TENDERS TO CONFIGURATIONS COMPLYING WITH THOSE STANDARDS.
"I WOULD EMPHASISE THE LONG-TERM NATURE OF THIS APPROACH," SIR PIERS SAID.
/HE SAID
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990 >
2
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO MOVE IN THIS WAY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES IMPLICIT IN PROF POON’S QUESTION, WHICH RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENSURE THE WIDER APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN GOVERNMENT.
ON TRAINING, SIR PIERS SAID THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS REVIEWING ALL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING NEEDS AND HOW BEST TO MEET THEM.
"ON COMPLETION OF THE REVIEW, PROPOSALS WILL BE PUT TO THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TRAINING TO END-USERS, FOR IMPLEMENTATION," HE SAID.
--------0-----------
SCHEME BEING DEVISED ON NOISE IMPAIRMENT COMPENSATION * ♦ * * »
SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN DEVISING A SCHEME TO COMPENSATE EMPLOYEES WHOSE HEARING ABILITY HAS BEEN IMPAIRED BY OCCUPATIONAL NOISE, THF SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG, MR YEUNG SAID THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF THE SCHEME, INCLUDING CRITERIA OF ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPENSATION, HAD NOW BEEN FINALISED AND ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
"THE WAY IN WHICH COMPENSATION IS TJ BE FUNDED HAS YET TO BE DECIDED, HOWEVER, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY BE CONSULTING THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD ON THIS MATTER," HE SAID.
MR YEUNG SAID TRADE UNIONS WERE CONSULTED DURING THE FORMULATING PROCESS THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATION ON THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
"I CAN CONFIRM THAT THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD HAS ALSO TAKEN DUE ACCOUNT OF THE REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY VARIOUS LABOUR ORGANISATIONS ON THE PROPOSED COMPENSATION SCHEME," HE ADDED.
/3.........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
- 3 -
LAW PROHIBITING TRANSACTION IN SUB-DIVIDED UNITS IMPRACTICAL
*******
THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CONSIDER LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF SUB-DIVIDED DOMESTIC UNITS TO BE EITHER APPROPRIATE OR PRACTICABLE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR OXLEY SAID SUCH LEGISLATION WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE BASIC RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP, INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF AN OWNER TO DISPOSE OF HIS OWN PROPERTY AS HE SAW FIT.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHUNG PUI-LAM ON CONVERSION AND SALE OF SUB-DIVIDED UNITS.
"SUCH LEGISLATION WOULD BE OBJECTIONABLE IN PRINCIPLE INASMUCH AS IT WOULD INTRODUCE INTO PROPERTY CONVEYANCING AND OWNERSHIP A HIGHLY UNDESIRABLE ELEMENT OF UNCERTAINTY," MR OXLEY SAID.
HE ADDED THAT IT WOULD ALSO BE DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO POLICE THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF SUB-DIVIDED UNITS TO ESTABLISH IN EVERY CASE WHETHER THE SUB-DIVISION HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.
IN HONG KONG, HE SAID, PURCHASERS OF PROPERTY WERE GENERALLY REPRESENTED BY THEIR OWN SOLICITORS WHO HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THEIR CLIENTS.
MR OXLEY SAID THE MAJORITY OF CASES INVESTIGATED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE AS A RESULT OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED SINCE 1985 CONCERNING UNAUTHORISED SUB-DIVISION OF FLATS INTO SMALLER UNITS PROVED NOT TO INVOLVE ALTERATIONS WHICH MIGHT- AFFECT THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF THE BUILDINGS CONCERNED.
"IN THOSE CASES WHERE THE ALTERATION WORKS WERE CONSIDERED TO POSE EITHER A THREAT TO THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF THE BUILDING OR A HAZARD TO HEALTH, ENFORCEMENT ACTION WAS TAKEN UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE," HE SAID.
THE SITUATION WAS MORE COMPLICATED IN CASES WHERE THE UNIT HAD ALREADY BEEN SUB-DIVIDED AND OCCUPIED.
"OCCUPIERS OF SUCH SUB-DIVIDED UNITS WOULD BE LIKELY TO FACE HARDSHIP IF THE ILLEGAL CONVERSIONS WERE DEMOLISHED, AND THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE DOES TAKE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CONSIDERING ENFORC :MENT ACTION," HE SAID.
NEVERTHELESS, WHERE A THREAT TO SAFETY OR A HEALTH HAZARD WAS ESTABLISHED, ENFORCEMENT ACTION WAS TAKEN, MR OXLEY ADDED.
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/4 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21: 1990
4
OPTIONS BEING EXPLORED ON PENSION ARRANGEMENTS * * * ♦ *
THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPLORING OPTIONS TO SEE IF EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS CONCERNING PENSION COMMITMENTS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS COULD BE MADE MORE FLEXIBLE TO REASSURE STAFF, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON JAMES MCGREGOR, SIR DAVID SAID AS HE MENTIONED IN THE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 7, THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE THERE WAS SOME CONCERN AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS ABOUT THE SECURITY OF THEIR PENSIONS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE PENSIONS LEGISLATION PROVIDED FOR THE PAYMENT OF PENSION BENEFITS TO RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS AS OF RIGHT, AND PENSIONS WERE A STATUTORY CHARGE ON THE GENERAL REVENUE.
“THE OPTION OF FUNDING PENSIONS WHICH HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IS SIMPLY NOT FEASIBLE.
"SUCH A FUND WOULD HAVE TO BE IN THE REGION OF $120 BILLION TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT INCOME TO MEET PENSION COMMITMENTS UP TO 1997," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECEIVED A WIDE RANGE OF PROPOSALS FROM STAFF AND WAS CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE IMPLICATIONS OF EACH OF THEM.
"AT THIS STAGE, IT IS PREMATURE TO SAY WHICH PROPOSALS, IF ANY WILL BE FOUND PRACTICABLE OR ACCEPTABLE," HE SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS ALSO PROVISION UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION FOR SAFEGUARDING THE CONTINUED PAYMENT OF PENSIONS AFTER 1997.
"SECTION IV OF ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES THAT THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT SHALL PAY ALL PENSIONS AND BENEFITS DUE TO PENSIONERS ON TERMS NO LESS FAVOURABLE THAN BEFORE, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF THE PENSIONERS’ NATIONALITY OR PLACE OF RESIDENCE.
"THE SAME GUARANTEE IS EMBODIED IN ARTICLE 101 OF THE DRAFT BASIC LAW," HE SAID.
- - 0--------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
5
BOARD TO PROMOTE HK AS FINANCIAL CENTRE IMPRACTICABLE ******
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT IT WOULD NOT BE PRACTICABLE TO HAVE A SINGLE DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO REPRESENT ALL THE VARIED AND DISPARATE INTERESTS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MARTIN BARROW, SIR PIERS SAID: ’’THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS THROUGH WHICH WE CONSULT AND SEEK ADVICE ARE WORKING WELL, AND WE HAVE ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS IN BUILDING HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE WITHOUT HAVING SUCH A DEVELOPMENT BOARD.”
HE SAID IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTHY EVOLUTION OF ITS MARKETS, AND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RANGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES NEEDED.
OF THE MANY FACTORS OR ASPECTS THAT WERE RELEVANT, SIR PIERS CITED AN EDUCATED POPULATION, AN ATTRACTIVE TAX STRUCTURE, GOOD COMMUNICATIONS AND A SOUND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.
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GOVT AWARE OF ABANDONED USED CAR PROBLEM ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦
THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF USED CARS BEING ABANDONED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG ON THE DUMPING OF USED CARS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WHICH MR CHEUNG SAID RESULTED IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION BY RUSTING SCRAP AND ENGINE OIL.
”1N OUR VIEW, ABANDONED CARS ARE
POLLUTION PROBLEM AND MORE A LAND-USE CONTROL
LESS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM,” MR OXLEY SAID.
”INDEED, IN RESPECT OF GOVERNMENT LAND THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS AS PART OF HIS FUNCTION AS THE LAND AUTHORITY KEEPS A REGULAR CHECK ON VULNERABLE GOVERNMENT SITES AND THE FIGURES OF CARS REMOVED OF ABOUT 750 IN 1987/88 AND ABOUT 500 IN 1988/89 CONFIRM THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
/•'IN CASES............
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
- 6
"IN CASES WHERE USED CARS HAVE BEEN ABANDONED ON PRIVATE LAND WITHOUT THE LANDOWNER’S PERMISSION, GOVERNMENT IS NORMALLY UNABLE TO ACT BECAUSE THE MERE PRESENCE OF A VEHICLE ON PRIVATE LAND IS NOT IN ITSELF A BREACH OF LEASE CONDITIONS.
"THE RESPONSIBILITY MUST, I AM AFRAID, REST WITH THE LANDOWNER."
MR OXLEY ADDED: "AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PROBLEM, IT IS PRINCIPALLY ONE OF AESTHETICS: ABANDONED CARS ARE EYE SORES.
"HOWEVER, I AM ADVISED THAT THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE OF STREAM COURSE OR DRAINAGE POLLUTION CAUSED BY RUSTING SCRAP OR ENGINE OIL."
-----0------
REVIEW OF STATUTORY BODIES
*****
THE ADMINISTRATION IS REVIEWING STATUTORY BODIES HAVING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AS PART OF ITS PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM PROGRAMME, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG, SIR DAVID SAID INITIALLY 15 SUCH STATUTORY BODIES, INCLUDING THOSE NEW BODIES TO BE SET UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SUCH AS THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR REVIEW.
IT WAS EXPECTED THE EXERCISE WOULD BE COMPLETED IN SIX MONTHS.
THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION WAS THE FIRST TO BE
SIR DAVID SAID RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN MADE THAT STATUTORY BODIES SHOULD BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY BY POLICY SECRETARIES.
"THIS IS NO SMALL TASK, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF STATUTORY BODIES INVOLVED, BUT WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS," HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT STATUTORY BODIES VARIED WIDELY IN THEIR FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND SOME HAD A VERY LONG HISTORY AND THEIR OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES HAD BLURRED OVER TIME.
"OUR CURRENT REVIEWS WILL FOCUS ON THOSE STATUTORY BODIES WHICH PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND HAVE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO SPEND CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC FUNDS " SIR DAVID EXPLAINED.
/THE OBJECTIVE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SERIES OF REVIEWS WAS TO ENSURE THAT, WHATEVER THE NATURE OF THOSE BODIES, THEIR REMITS, AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT, WERE CLEARLY DEFINED AND FORMALISED ARRANGEMENTS EXISTED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO AGREE OBJECTIVES AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE STATUTORY BODIES, HE SAID.
THE REVIEW WOULD INCLUDE A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE BASIC JUSTIFICATION FOR THE BODY; ITS FUNCTIONS AND POLICY OBJECTIVE; ITS STRUCTURE; ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POLICY SECRETARY; AND WHAT, IF ANY, IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED TO STRENGTHEN THE ABILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO MONITOR THE GENERAL PERFORMANCE OF THESE BODIES AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENT OF OBJECTIVES.
- - 0 - -
DRIVING LICENCE RENEWAL EXPLAINED *****
DRIVING LICENCES WERE REQUIRED TO BE RENEWED EVERY ONE YEAR OR THREE YEARS SO AS TO MAINTAIN AN UP-TO-DATE RECORD OF DRIVERS’ ADDRESSES AND TO FACILITATE CORRESPONDENCE AND THE SERVING OF SUMMONS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER H.Y. WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LEUNG SAID THAT SUCH REQUIREMENTS ALSO HELPED TO ENSURE THE PAYMENT OF FINES FOR TRAFFIC OFFENCES.
IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, THE TOTAL COST INCURRED IN PROCESSING DRIVING LICENCE RENEWALS WAS ABOUT $18 MILLION.
- 0 - -
VBP TOLD PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS IS PUNISHABLE UNDER LAW
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE INMATES OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE DETENTION CENTRES THAT THE PRODUCTION AND POSSESSION OF OFFENSIVE WEAPONS IS PUNISHABLE BOTH UNDER THE GENERAL LAWS OF HONG KONG AND RULES MADE UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY; THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR BARNES SAID ABOUT 6,500 WEAPONS HAD BEEN SEIZED FROM THE DETENTION CENTRES SINCE JUNE 1988. THE WEAPONS SEIZED WERE MAINLY KNIVES, IRON BARS, DAGGERS, SWORDS AND SPEARS.
/MOST WEAPONS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
- 8
MOST WEAPONS WERE MADE FROM METALLIC AND OTHER HARD MATERIALS TAKEN PROM THE FABRIC OF THE BUILDINGS OR FROM FURNITURE.
MR BARNES EMPHASISED THAT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE ALL SUCH HARD MATERIALS FROM THE CENTRES.
"EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO MAKE SUCH MATERIALS LESS ACCESSIBLE, FOR EXAMPLE, BY PHASING OUT THE PRESENT DESIGN OF BUNKS AND REPLACING THEM WITH NEW BEDS WHICH HAVE FEWER METALLIC COMPONENTS," HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID SEARCHES FOR WEAPONS AND REGULAR PATROLS OF THE CENTRES WOULD CONTINUE, AND THOSE WHO WERE FOUND TO HAVE COMMITTED AN OFFENCE WOULD BE DISCIPLINED UNDER THE DETENTION CENTRE RULES OR CHARGED WITH OFFENCES UNDER THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE OR THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE.
IN ORDER TO REINFORCE ITS ABILITY TO DEAL WITH TROUBLEMAKERS IN THE DETENTION CENTRES, THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SEPARATE SEGREGATION CAMP.
"THIS SHOULD BRING ABOUT A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN SECURITY WITHIN THE DETENTION CENTRES," MR BARNES SAID.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT DURING 1989, 53 VIETNAMESE BOAT
PEOPLE WERE CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF OFFENSIVE WEAPONS UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE, WHILE 17 WERE CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON IN A PUBLIC PLACE UNDER SECTION 33 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE.
SENTENCES IMPOSED RANGED FROM 14 DAYS TO NINE MONTHS.
"THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY IS TO BRING CHARGES AGAINST OFFENDERS WHENEVER THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A PROSECUTION," HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID INVESTIGATIONS HAD BEEN CONDUCTED ON THE MOTIVES AND METHODS OF THOSE PEOPLE PRODUCING WEAPONS IN THE DETENTION CENTRES.
"THE MOST COMMON REASON GIVEN BY THOSE VBP INVOLVED WAS SELF-DEFENCE. BASED ON INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES WE BELIEVE THAT THE PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS IS RELATED TO FACTIONAL RIVALRIES IN THE DETENTION CENTRES," MR BARNES EXPLAINED.
REGARDING SAFEGUARDS AVAILABLE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE STAFF IN MANAGING THE CENTRES AND IN CARRYING OUT MANDATORY REPATRIATION DUTIES, MR BARNES SAID CONTINGENCY PLANS HAD BEEN PREPARED TO DEAL WITH SERIOUS DISTURBANCES IN THE DETENTION CENTRES.
"THE SAFETY OF THE CAMP STAFF IS A MAJOR ELEMENT IN THESE PLANS," HE EMPHASISED.
MR BARNES SAID THE CAMP MANAGEMENT TEAMS THEMSELVES WERE NOT EXPECTED TO DEAL WITH SERIOUS DISORDER.
/THEY WERE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
- 9
THEY WERE EXPECTED TO RETREAT TO AREAS OF SAFETY, LEAVING THE RESTORATION OF ORDER TO SPECIALLY TRAINED POLICE AND CORRECTIONAL' SERVICES DEPARTMENT UNITS.
SIMILARLY, IN IMPLEMENTING THE MANDATORY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME, STAFF WITH THE APPROPRIATE SKILLS AND TRAINING WOULD BE DEPLOYED IN SUFFICIENT NUMBERS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL CONCERNED, MR BARNES ADDED.
--------0-----------
GOVERNOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO SECRETARY FOR SECURITY t * * t *
THE GOVERNOR, HIS EXCELLENCY SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY <WEDNESDAY) PAID TRIBUTE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR GEOFFREY BARNES, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 20 YEARS’ SERVICE IN THE GOVERNMENT.
SIR DAVID SAID THAT AS SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR BARNES HAD HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH A GREAT MANY CONTROVERSIAL AND SENSITIVE ISSUES.
’’THE MOST TIME-CONSUMING AND THE MOST DIFFICULT, I’M SURE, HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHICH MUST HAVE DOMINATED HIS LIFE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS,” HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID MR BARNES’ INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOAT PEOPLE SITUATION INCLUDED THE GREAT TASK OF MAK TNG PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOOKING AFTER BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AS WELL AS TRAVELLING ABROAD.
"HE HAS CARRIED OUT ALL THOSE TASKS WITH IMMENSE VIGOUR, DETERMINATION AND EVEN TEMPO,” SIR DAVID SAID.
”1 WOULDN’T LIKE, IN SPEAKING ABOUT HIS WORK ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, TO LET PASS THE FACT THAT HE HAS ALSO BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER, AND TN TACKLING THE DRUG PROBLEM," HE ADDED.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT MR BARNES WAS ALSO A VERY POPULAR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND COMMENTED: "SO POPULAR INDEED THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS. THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT DURING THE LAST SESSION HE HAD MORE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER THAN ANY OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBER.”
MR BARNES JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN MAY 1970. HE HAS HELD SENIOR POSITIONS IN A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, THE FORMER COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND THE SECURITY BRANCH. HE WAS ALSO COMMISSIONER OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
/MR BARNES .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
MR BARNES BECAME A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TWO YEARS AGO, AS SECRETARY FOR SECURITY.
IN THANKING MR BARNES FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL AND TO HONG KONG, SIR DAVID SAID: "MR BARNES’ WISE COUNSEL, EXPERIENCE AND HARD WORK IN SERVING HONG KONG WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY ALL OF US."
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS, THE SENIOR MEMBER, THE HON ALLEN LEE, SAID MR BARNES HAD OFTEN BEEN IN THE "HOT SEAT" DURING HIS TWO YEARS IN THE COUNCIL, REPLYING TO MEMBERS’ MANY QUERIES ON MAJOR PROBLEMS CONCERNING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, AS WELL AS IMMIGRATION AND LAW AND ORDER.
MR LEE SAID MR BARNES HAD ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT JOBS IN THE COUNCIL.
MEMBERS HAD APPRECIATED THE HARD WORK DONE BY MR BARNES ALTHOUGH THE REALITIES OF THE PROBLEMS WERE SUCH THAT MEMBERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION MIGHT SEEM TO BE AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER.
"I WOULD THEREFORE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION OF HIS WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND HIS UNFLINCHING PATIENCE," HE SAID.
MR LEE CONCLUDED BY WISHING MR BARNES AND HIS WIFE, NITA, A HAPPY RETIREMENT.
- - 0 - -
THREE BILLS PASSED *****
THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, THE STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TWO BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. THEY WERE THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990.
DEBATES ON THE TWO BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF NORMAL BUSINESS, VALEDICTORY SPEECHES IN HONOUR OF THE RETIRING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, WERE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR, HIS EXCELLENCY SIR DAVID WILSON, AND THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, THE HON ALLEN LEE.
0 - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
- 11 -
AIDS EXHIBITION IN SHUN TAK CENTRE
*****
MEMBERS OF J IE UBLIC WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT AIDS WHEN THEY VISIT AN AIDS EXHIBITION IN SHUN TAK CENTRE WHICH BEGINS ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23).
THE THREE-DAY EXHIBITION, THE FIFTH IN A SERIES OF MOBILE EXHIBITIONS ORGANISED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON AIDS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, WILL BE HELD AT THE BASEMENT OF SHUN TAK CENTRE, SHEUNG WAN, FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM DAILY.
"THE EXHIBITION AIMS AT INCREASING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AIDS, AND FOSTERING A POSITIVE, SYMPATHETIC AND SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDE IN THE COMMUNITY TOWARDS AIDS PATIENTS AND CARRIERS," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"THE FOCUS IS ON YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY BE MORE LIKELY THAN OTHERS TO ENGAGE IN RISK BEHAVIOUR, YET ARE OFTEN LESS LIKELY TO BE AWARE OF THE RISKS OF INFECTION WITH AIDS,” HE ADDED.
THE EXHIBITION, BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE AIDS COUNSELLING AND HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, COVERS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF AIDS.
APART FROM SHOWING THE WORLDWIDE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, IT ALSO ILLUSTRATES HOW AIDS THREATENS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS CAN BE COUNTERED.
MEDIC al STAFF WILL BE PRESENT AT THE EXHIBITION TO GIVE ADVICE AND ANSWER PUBLIC ENQUIRIES.
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS ON AIDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO VISITORS WHO WILL ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN HANDSOME PRIZES BY ANSWERING A QUIZ DESIGNED TO TEST THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON AIDS.
THE EXHIBITION WILL RUN UNTIL SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25), AND WILL MOVE TO WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE BETWEEN MARCH 8 AND 10.
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/12 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
12 GOVT LOT IN SAI KUNG TO LET BY TENDER * * * * *
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT TERM TENANCY OF A SITE AT SAI KUNG.
THE LOT, OF ABOUT 5,330 SQUARE METRES, IS LOCATED AT HONG TSUEN ROAD, TUI MIN HOI.
IT IS FOR USE AS A PUBLIC CARPARK, THE TENANCY IS FOR FIVE YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 9.
TENDER FORMS, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, SAI KUNG; THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE KOWLOON, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET.
THE TENDER PLAN MAY ALSO BF. INSPECTED AT THE ABOVE OFFICES.
------0--------
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS MAC SUBSIDY * * *
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE ADEQUACY OF SUBSIDIES FOR MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
A MEMBER WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANY PLAN TO INCREASE SUBSIDIES TO MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS FOR ACTIVITIES IN 1990-91 AND PROPOSED ESTIMATES BY WORKING GROUPS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 4 PM.
/13 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
- 13 -
SAI KUNG DB TO DISCUSS FORMATION OF NEW COMMITTEE *****
THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO FORM A LIAISON AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AT ITS MEETING ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23) .
THE NEW COMMITTEE WILL TARGET ITS WORK TOWARDS PROMOTING THE FISHERIES, AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT; ADVISING THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED ON THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC FACILITIES REQUIRED FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS IN SAI KUNG; AND INVOLVING INDUSTRIALISTS, ENTREPRENEURS AND WORKERS IN THE DISTRICT’S COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO ELECT CHAIRMEN FOR THE BOARD’S FIVE COMMITTEES IN THE 1990-91 FINANCIAL YEAR. THEY ARE THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE; CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORTS COMMITTEE; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE; FINANCE AND GENERAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE; AND TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE.
PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARD COMMITTEES, THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL BE TABLED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BEGIN AT 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 34 CHAN MAN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN.
--------------------0-------- TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23), ALL VEHICLES EXCEEDING SEVEN METRES IN LENGTH WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE SECTION OF POTTINGER STREET BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL 24 HOURS DAILY FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO FACILITATE ROAD RE-CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN WESTERN DISTRICT WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS 24 HOURS DAILY:
* THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF EASTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST FROM A POINT ABOUT 150 METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH WATER STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 75 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH EASTERN STREET;
/* THE SECTION ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
- 14 -
« THE SECTION OF THE HILL ROAD FLYOVER SLIPROAD FROM A POINT ABOUT 105 METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH WATER STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 40 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF EASTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH THE UNNAMED ROAD LEADING TO THE WESTERN CARGO HANDLING AREA TO A POINT ABOUT 45 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE SECTION OF THE UNNAMED ROAD LEADING TO THE WESTERN CARGO HANDLING AREA FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST TO A POINT ABOUT 45 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
» THE NORTHERN LANE ON EASTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST SOUTH OF THE TRAM ISLAND FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH THE UNNAMED ROAD LEADING TO THE WESTERN CARGO HANDLING AREA TO A POINT ABOUT 32 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
» THE SECTION OF WATER STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST TO A POINT ABOUT 15 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE SECTION OF WESTERN PARK ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH
CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES NORTH OF THE
SAME JUNCTION;
* THE SECTION OF WESTERN STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH
CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES SOUTH OF ITS
JUNCTION WITH DES VOEUX ROAD WEST;
» THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF DES VOEUX ROAD WEST FROM A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH WESTERN STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 65 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE NORTHERN LANE OF THE SURFACE ROAD ON WESTBOUND
CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST FROM A POINT ABOUT 80 METRES WEST OF
ITS JUNCTION WITH CENTRE STREET TO ITS JUNCTION WITH
WESTERN STREET;
» THE NORTHERN LANE OF THE SURFACE ROAD ON WESTBOUND
CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH CENTRE STREET TO
A POINT ABOUT 230 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE SOUTHERN LANE OF WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH CENTRE STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 230 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE SECTION OF HILL ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH DES VOEUX ROAD WEST TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF WESTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD WEST FROM A POINT ABOUT 60 METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH HILL ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 35 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
- 0 -
/15 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
- 15 -
BAN ZONE IN WESTERN * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23), THE SOUTHERN LANE OF CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST (WESTBOUND) CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN ITS JUNCTIONS WITH DES VOEUX ROAD WEST AND CLEVERLY STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED A BAN ZONE.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT EASTBOUND FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THIS SECTION OF CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST 24 HOURS DAILY.
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NO ENTRY TO SKYMASTER DRIVE IN AIRPORT
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23), ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT TAXIS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER SKYMASTER DRIVE IN THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
------0-------
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN HO MAN TIN * * * I *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FAT KWONG STREET LN HO MAN TIN BETWEEN SHEUNG SHING STREET AND SHEUNG FOO STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 1 AM TO 5.45 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23) BECAUSE OF FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
---------------------0------- TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE ON NT CIRCULAR ROAD ♦ * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23), THE OUTER LANE OF SHEUNG SHUI BOUND NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD BETWEEN LOK MA CHAU INTERCHANGE AND KWU TUNG WILL BE CLOSED.
THE CLOSURE WILL LAST FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS BECAUSE OF ROAD WIDENING WORKS.
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/16 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TSUEN WAN ROAD * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT THE FAST AND CENTRE LANES OF THE TUEN MUN BOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TSUEN WAN ROAD BETWEEN KWAI CHUNG ROAD AND TEXACO INTERCHANGE WILL BE CLOSED FROM FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23) FOR FOUR NIGHTS.
THE CLOSURE WILL BE IN FORCE DAILY BETWEEN 10 PM AND 4 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE THE PAINTING OF ROAD MARKINGS.
- - 0 - -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI ,.PO ROAD *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 23), SECTIONS OF TAI PO ROAD IN SHA TIN AND SHAM SHUI PO WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS.
TAI PO ROAD SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN CHIK WAN STREET AND TAI WO PING INTERCHANGE, EXCLUDING THE LAY-BYS, WILL BE MADE A PEAK HOUR (7 AM TO 10 AM AND 4 PM TO 7 PM) DAILY URBAN CLEARWAY.
TAI PO ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN TAI WO PING INTERCHANGE AND CHIK WAN STREET, EXCLUDING THE LAY-BYS, WILL BECOME AN URBAN CLEARWAY RQUND-THE-CLOCK.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED AREAS.
ALSO FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY, THE SPEED LIMIT ON TAI PO ROAD BETWEEN A POINT ABOUT 150 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH CHIK WAN STREET AND A POINT ABOUT 430 METRES NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH CALDECOTT ROAD WILL BE RAISED FROM 50 TO 70 KILOMETRES PER HOUR TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR HOPES DISCUSSIONS IN HANOI WILL GET ARRANGEMENTS INTO PLACE .. 1
UNDERSTANDING, PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT A BIG CHALLENGE................. 2
INCREASE IN NUMBER OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALERS ....................... 3
ESTABLISHMENT OF HK COALITION OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES WELCOMED ......... 4
PUBLIC URGED TO SUBMIT VIEWS ON SOCIAL WELFARE ..............*........ 5
CONSULTANCY STUDY ON STAGING INT'L TECHNOLOGY FAIR ................... 6
MARINE INQUIRY INTO HYDROFOIL STRANDING ORDERED ...................... 7
CSD TO TAKE PART IN FLOWER SHOW ...................................... 7
SECOND FRENCH MINERAL WATER BEING EXAMINED ........................... 8
COMMUNITY HALL FOR SHA TAU KOK RESIDENTS ............................ 8
YAU TSIM DB TO DISCUSS GUESTHOUSE LICENSING........................... 9
CIVIC EDUCATION CARNIVAL IN WONG TAI SIN ............................ 10
COMMITTEE TO GAUGE VIEWS ON HOUSING FOR ELDERLY ..................... 11
YAU TSIM TO HOLD FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL................................ 12
CIVIC EDUCATION VARIETY SHOW ........................................ i3
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL...................................... 13
LANE CLOSURE AT AIRPORT.............................................. 14
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF WUHU VEHICULAR UNDERPASS ....................... I4
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WANG TAU HOM ...................... 15
LONG VEHICLE BAN IN LUEN WO HUI ..................................... I5
FLUSHING WATER CUT IN HO MAN TIN AND KING'S PARK .................... 15
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 22, 1990
- 1 -
GOVERNOR HOPES DISCUSSIONS IN HANOI WILL GET ARRANGEMENTS INTO PLACE ******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) HE HOPED THAT WE WOULD GET ARRANGEMENTS INTO PLACE FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERS, TO BE SENT BACK TO VIETNAM IN DISCUSSIONS NOW GOING ON IN HANOI THIS WEEK.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE PETER SCOTT FIELD STUDIES CENTRE AT MAI PO, SIR DAVID SAID: "BECAUSE THAT MUST BE PART OF ANY ARRANGEMENT FOR DEALING WITH THE WHOLE PROBLEM AND PUTTING INTO EFFECT THE WHOLE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION. YOU NEED RESETTLEMENT; YOU NEED VOLUNTEERS TO GO BACK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE; AND YOU NEED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED."
SIR DAVID ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS AGREEMENT WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO SEND BACK PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT ACTIVELY VOLUNTEERED TO GO BACK.
"THAT AGREEMENT IS THERE. WE’VE USED IT ONCE. WE WANT TO GO ON USING IT. WHAT WILL NOW BE DISCUSSED IN HANOI IS THE TECHNICAL DETAILS, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE THAT AGREEMENT," HE SAID.
ASKED ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE TO SEND BOAT PEOPLE BACK, SIR DAVID SAID: "WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS USE THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT EVERY COUNTRY EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD USES FOR DEPORTING PEOPLE WHO ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
"WE DO IT EVERY DAY, SENDING PEOPLE BACK TO CHINA; THE UNITED STATES DOES IT EVERY DAY, SENDING PEOPLE BACK TO HAITI, SENDING PEOPLE BACK TO MEXICO; BRITAIN DOES T EVERY DAY, SENDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENTERED BRITAIN ILLEGALLY.
"WE NEED THE SAME ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE IN HONG KONG FOR RETURNING PEOPLE TO VIETNAM," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD THING IF WE COULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF B" i' PEOP1 ; WHO HAD VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM, AND TO DO SO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
"SO IF VIETNAM NOW PUTS IN PLACE ARRANGEMENTS FOR GETTING VOLUNTEERS BACK TO VIETNAM QUICKER THEN WE WILL BE PLEASED, AND THE MORE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER, THE HAPPIER WE SHALL ALL BE," HE ADDED.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT !E DID NOT THINK PEOPLE GOING BACK AS VOLUNTEERS COULD 'HE WHOI.b PROBLEM, BUT THAT IT COULD HELP TO DEAL WITH SOME B; OF MIE PROBLEM.
"IT IS OBVIOUSLY B PT !? THAT PEOPLE SHOULD VOLUNTEER TO GO BACK THAN WE SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE SENT BACK AS NONVOLUNTEERS. BUT IT WOULD BE NAIVE TO EXPECT THAT WE COULD SOLVE THE WHOLE PROBLEM SIMPLY BY WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER," SIR DAVID SAID.
"THAT IS WHY WE ALSO WANT TO GET IN PLACE ARRANGEMENTS FOR RETURNING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED TO GO BACK," HE ADDED.
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/2 .....
2
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
UNDERSTANDING, PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT A BIG CHALLENGE
*****
PROMOTING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE NEED TO PROTECT IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AS HONG KONG MOVES TOWARDS A NEW CENTURY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE HONG KONG PETER SCOTT FIELD STUDIES CENTRE AT MAI PO, SIR DAVID SAID THE OPENING OF THE CENTRE WOULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THAT PROCESS.
"I HOPE IT BRINGS ENJOYMENT AND GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF NATURE TO EVER INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG LIVED IN ONE OF THE MOST CROWDED ENVIRONMENTS IN THE WORLD, AND IT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE WORLD’S CROSSROADS.
LAST YEAR 16.2 MILLION PASSENGERS USED KAI TAK AIRPORT, AND MANY CAME AS TOURISTS TO SEE THE FASCINATING CITY THAT HONG KONG WAS.
SIR DAVID SAID, FORTUNATELY, OUTSIDE ITS URBAN ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG HAD LARGE AREAS OF UNSPOILT COUNTRYSIDE, AND THE MARSHLAND OF MAI PO WAS AN IMPORTANT AND UNIQUE PART OF IT.
"IT IS PERHAPS ONLY A SLIGHT EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT THE MAI PO MARSHES ARE THE KAI TAK OF THE BIRD WORLD. 180 MIGRATORY SPECIES STOPPED OFF THERE ON THE WAY TO AND FROM OTHER DESTINATIONS.
"MAI PO IS THUS OF MAJOR INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE AS A STOPOVER FOR MIGRATORY BIRD TRAFFIC," SIR DAVID SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID ITS PRESERVATION WAS AMPLY JUSTIFIED BY ITS INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
BUT IN OUR CROWDED ENVIRONMENT HERE WE COULD NOT AFFORD THAT IT SHOULD BECOME SIMPLY THE PRESERVE OF A FEW PEOPLE OR A FEW SPECIALISTS.
"WE NEED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE PRESENCE IN OUR MIDST OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT NATURE RESERVE TO EDUCATE OUR POPULATION, PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE, IN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND OF WILDLIFE," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR ADDED THAT HONG KONG WAS VERY FORTUNATE IN THE ENERGETIC APPROACH TAKEN BY THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE IN MAINTAINING AND DEVELOPING MAI PO AS A RESERVE.
"I HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY IMPRESSED WITH THE VIGOUR AND ORGANISATIONAL ABILITY WHICH THEY HAVE SHOWN," SIR DAVID SAID.
/HE SAID .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
HE SAID THE OPENING OF THE PETER SCOTT CENTRE, WHICH WAS NAMED AFTER A VERY GREAT NATURALIST AND A PIONEER OF CONSERVATION, WAS YET ANOTHER IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE MAI PO NATURE RESERVE.
THE NEW CENTRE WILL PROVIDE ON-SITE ACOMMODATION FOR RESERVE STAFF FROM CHINA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA FOR THE WETLAND MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COURSES WHICH ARE BEING OFFERED AT MAI PO MARSHES.
_ _ 0 - -
INCREASE IN NUMBER OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALERS ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦
A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ON 52 OF THE MOST ACTIVE FOREIGN EXCHANGE BANKS AND DEPOSIT TAKING COMPANIES SHOWED THAT THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALERS EMPLOYED BY THESE INSTITUTIONS ROSE FROM 657 TO 662 LAST YEAR.
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING, MR ANTHONY NICOLLE, SAID THIS TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN HE SPOKE AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHINESE BANKING IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS FASHIONABLE THESE DAYS TO COLOUR ANY ASSESSMENT OF HONG KONG WITH PESSIMISM, CITING AS AN EXAMPLE THE CONSTANT HARPING ON A SUPPOSED STRONG EXODUS OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALERS.
TO GET MATTERS INTO PERSPECTIVE, A SURVEY WAS CARRIED OUT AND THE RESULT SHOWED THAT THE NUMBER OF DEALERS ROSE, ALBEIT MODESTLY.
"OF COURSE OUR FUTURE HAS A NUMBER OF UNCERTAINTIES. BUT WE MUST NOT LET THESE MASK THE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH LIE AHEAD," MR NICOLLE SAID.
"NEITHER SHOULD WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE DETERRED FROM TAKING POSITIVE STEPS TO OVERCOME OUR DIFFICULTIES, FOR EXAMPLE BY STEPPING UP OUR TRAINING EFFORT.
"THE ROLE OF THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IS CRUCIAL, AS IS THAT OF THE BANKING TRAINING COUNCIL,” HE SAID.
TURNING TO HONG KONG’S BANKING INDUSTRY, MR NICOLLE SAID IT WAS IN GOOD HEALTH AND BANKS WERE REPORTING GOOD RESULTS FOR LAST YEAR.
"THEY ARE WELL-CAPITALISED, ALREADY CONFORMING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL ADEQUACY STANDARDS, THREE YEARS AHEAD OF MANY OF THEIR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS.
/"OUR SUPERVISORY
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
4
"OUR SUPERVISORY ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY OVER-HAULED. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WILL BE NO REPETITION OF PREVIOUS DECADES WHEN ILL-QUALIFIED PEOPLE ESTABLISHED OR CONTROLLED BANKS HERE," HE SAID.
MR NICOLLE POINTED OUT THAT THE ACTIVITY AND PROFITS GENERATED FROM BANKING WERE KEY ELEMENTS IN HONG KONG’S CURRENT PROSPERITY, ADDING THAT THESE ELEMENTS HAD GROWN RAPIDLY IN RECENT YEARS AS HONG KONG DEVELOPED INTO ONE OF THE WORLD’S MAJOR BANKING CENTRES.
"OF THE 165 LICENSED BANKS, NO LESS THAN 150 WERE EITHER INCORPORATED OVERSEAS, OR WERE OWNED BY OVERSEAS INTERESTS.
"ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR OF THE BANKS WERE COUNTED AMONGST THE WORLD’S LARGEST 500 BANKS.
"AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, TWO-THIRDS OF THE BANKING SECTOR’S BALANCE SHEET WAS REPRESENTED BY CLAIMS ON OVERSEAS COUNTRIES. AND THIS TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF THE AMOUNTS LENT WITHIN HONG KONG TO FINANCE THE OVERSEAS TRADE OF OUR BUSINESSES," HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT IN THE SPHERE OF BANKING, THE GOVERNMENT’S TASK WAS TO CONTINUE WITH THE WORK WHICH HAD NOW BEEN UNDERWAY FOR THE PAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, CONSOLIDATING THE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SUPERVISORY SYSTEM.
"AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG REMAINS AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS BANKS, CHINESE AND NON-CHINESE, TO DO BUSINESS," HE SAID.
--------0-----------
ESTABLISHMENT OF HK COALITION OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES WELCOMED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS WELCOMED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG COALITION OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES (HKCSI).
"IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES FOR THE HKCSI BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PARTICIPATION AS MEMBERS," THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOSEPH W.P. WONG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
MR WONG SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE HKCSI WOULD HELP PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG’S SERVICE INDUSTRIES THROUGH CO-OPERATION BETWEEN MEMBERS.
ALSO, AS A FOCAL POINT FOR LIAISON WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THE HKCSI WOULD PROVIDE USEFUL INPUT TO THE EXISTING CONSULTATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR REGARDING THE CURRENT URUGUAY ROUND NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE IN SERVICES, HE SAID.
/OVER 100 .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
OVER 100 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WERE NEGOTIATING WITH A VIEW TO REACHING A MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT ON PROGRESSIVE LIBERALISATION OF TRADE IN SERVICES AND HONG KONG WAS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
"BEING A REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF HONG KONG’S SERVICE SECTOR INDUSTRIES, THE HKCSI WILL ALSO BE ANOTHER MEANS BY WHICH HONG KONG CAN LIAISE OR CO-ORDINATE WITH INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND SIMILAR BODIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES," MR WONG SAID.
- - 0 - -
PUBLIC URGED TO SUBMIT VIEWS ON SOCIAL WELFARE
*****
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE TODAY (THURSDAY) URGED TO SEND IN THEIR VIEWS IN WRITING ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES INTO THE 1990’S AND BEYOND.
THE SECRETARY OF THE WORKING PARTY ON THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES, MRS LOUISE WONG, SAID THE FIVE SUB-COMMITTEES HAD CONVENED THEIR FIRST MEETINGS RECENTLY AND WERE NOW WORKING ON A VERY TIGHT SCHEDULE.
"THE VIEWS COLLECTED WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE SUB-COMMITTEES AND WORKING PARTY FOR CONSIDERATION AND REFERENCE," SHE SAID.
"THE WORKING PARTY’S CONCLUSION ON EACH SPECIFIC PROGRAMME AREA WILL BE MADE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA.
"PUBLIC VIEWS ON THESE CONCLUSIONS WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE WORKING PARTY FINALISES ITS PROPOSALS," SHE ADDED.
MRS WONG ALSO REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT THE RENTAL OF A CENTRAL POST OFFICE POST BOX TO RECEIVE WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS ON THE PROPOSED WHITE PAPER WAS DUE TO EXPIRE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28.
"HOWEVER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN CONTINUE TO SEND IN THEIR WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS AFTER THAT DATE.
"THEY SHOULD ADDRESS THEIR SUBMISSIONS EITHER TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE OR TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE," SHE SAID.
THE ADDRESSES ARE: SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, MAIN WING, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG OR THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 19TH FLOOR, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.
MRS WONG NOTED THAT A TOTAL OF 50 WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS HAD BEEN RECEIVED SINCE THE RENTAL OF THE POST BOX LAST DECEMBER. THE MOST OF THE SUBMISSIONS WERE FROM INDIVIDUALS.
/COMMENTING ON
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
6
COMMENTING ON THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION PAPER, MRS WONG EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A SYNOPSIS OF THE SERVICES CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED AND TO SEEK VIEWS ON THE ADEQUACY OR OTHERWISE OF THESE.
"THE DOCUMENT DOES NOT INDICATE POSSIBLE CHANGES OR NEW IDEAS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PRECONCEIVED VIEWS ON THIS MATTER AND IT IS F(Jfe THE WORKING PARTY TO PROPOSE CHANGES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC," SHE CONCLUDED.
- - 0---------
CONSULTANCY STUDY ON STAGING * » » ♦
INT’L TECHNOLOGY FAIR *
THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, HAS COMMISSIONED CONSULTANTS TO CARRY OUT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF STAGING AN INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FAIR IN HONG KONG IN THE EARLY 1990’S.
™E C0NTRACT F0R THR STUDY WAS SIGNED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN.
, rHE $0.48 MILLION STUDY IS TO BE UNDERTAKEN RY BDG MANAGEMENT LTD AND BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL TRADE FAIRS LTD. IT IS FINANCED BY A DONATION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB. FINANCED BY A
THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, WHICH GOVERNMENT ON NEW SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES, THE IDEA OF AN INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FAIR AS A MEANS HONG KONG’S IMAGE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
ADVISES THE TS EXPLORING OF ENHANCING
™E A™ W0UbD BK T0 ACHIEVE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR CENTRE CAPABLE OF FACILITATING THE EXCHANGE COMMERCIALISABLE OR NEAR-COMMERCIALISABLE TECHNOLOGIES.
HONG
OF
FIlROPP lun WIbL ASSESS THE DEMAND IN NORTH AMERICA,
EUROPE AND ASIA FOR A HONG KONG-RASED TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE FAIR.
IF THE OUTLOOK IS FAVOURABLE, THEY WILL GO ON TO DETAILED PLAN AND IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SPONSORS.
DEVELOP A
AnniiT lS EXPECTED T0 •‘’TART NEXT MONTH AND BE COMPLETED IN
ABOU[ ZD WEEKS.
/7........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
MARINE INQUIRY INTO HYDROFOIL STRANDING ORDERED *****
TRE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, TODAY (THURSDAY) APPOINTED SENIOR SURVEYOR OF SHIPS, MR B.B. RAO, TO CONDUCT A LOCAL MARINE INQUIRY INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE STRANDING OF A HYDROFOIL, FLYING ALBATROSS, IN DEEP BAY ON FEBRUARY 19.
THE INQUIRY WAS ORDERED BY MR SZE UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE HYDROFOIL WAS RETURNING TO HONG KONG FROM MACAU WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PASSENGERS AND ONLY SUPERFICIAL DAMAGE TO THE VESSEL.
------0--------
CSD TO TAKE PART IN FLOWER SHOW * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE HONG KONG FLOWER SHOW FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.
THE SHOW, ORGANISED BY THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, WILL BE HELD FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO MARCH 4 AT VICTORIA PARK, CAUSEWAY BAY.
THE COLOURFUL FLOWERS AND PLANTS ON DISPLAY AT THE DEPARTMENT’S STALL ARE ALI GROWN BY INMATES AND STAFF WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GARDENING.
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MA HANG PRISON, MR NG WAI-MAN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE DEPARTMENT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE FLOWER SHOW WOULD HELP BOOST THE GARDENING PROGRAMME WHICH WAS ONE OF THE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES AND RE< UEATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR PRISONERS.
’’THE GARDENING PROGRAMME, DESIGNED TO HELP INMATES CULTIVATE A HEALTHY HOBBY, HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO PENAL INSTITUTIONS FOR MANY YEARS.
"IT IS PARTICULARLY WELL PROMOTED AT MA HANG PRISON, TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION \ND HEI iJN' CHAU ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE,” HE SAID.
MR NG ADDED THAT WITH tllE JOINT EFFORT OF STAFF AND INMATES, OVER 1,000 POTTED PLANTS AND LOWERS WERE NOW CULTIVATED AT MA HANG PRISON AND OTHER PENAL INSTITUTIONS. THERE WERE MANY SPECIES, AND SOME WERE GROWN IN GREENHOUSES, HE SAID.
/"PARTICIPATING IN .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
"PARTICIPATING IN THE FLOWER SHOW WILL HELP TO ENCOURAGE INMATES TO IMPROVE ON THE VARIETY OF PLANTS AND LANDSCAPING IN THE INSTITUTIONS.
"WE HOPE TO TAKE PART IN FUTURE FLOWER SHOWS AND EVEN ENTER COMPETITIONS," MR NG ADDED.
AT THE END OF THE FLOWER SHOW, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE INMATES TO HELP THE REGIONAL AND URBAN COUNCILS CLEAN UP THE VENUE AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE.
- - 0 - -
SECOND FRENCH MINERAL WATER BEING EXAMINED
*****
FOOD INSPECTORS OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH (MSB) TODAY (THURSDAY) TOOK TWO SAMPLES OF ANOTHER FRENCH MINERAL WATER FOR LABORATORY TESTS FOLLOWING REPORTS FROM PARIS THAT TRACES OF ALKANES WERE FOUND IN THE BOTTLED DRINKING WATER.
THE HYGIENE ADVISER OF THE MSB, DR MOHAMMED ALI, SAID THE RESULT OF THE ANALYSIS WOULD BE MADE PUBLIC AS SOON AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
DR ALI URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT TO BE UNDULY ALARMED BY THE RECENT FRENCH REPORTS.
COMMENTING ON THE LATEST INCIDENT, DR ALI SAID ONLY A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE CHEMICAL, A TYPE OF PETROLEUM OIL COMMONLY USED AS AN INDUSTRIAL SOLVENT, COULD BE TOXIC IF INGESTED;
DR ALI STRESSED THAT THE TINY AMOUNT REPORTEDLY FOUND IN THE FRENCH MINERAL WATER WAS NO DANGER TO CONSUMERS.
- 0 - -
COMMUNITY HALL FOR SHA TAU KOK RESIDENTS
*****
A COMMUNITY HALL MANAGED Y THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY (THURSDAY) TO SERVE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA OF SHA TAU KOK AND ITS NEIGHBOURING ISLANDS.
THE SHA TAU KOK COMMUNITY HALL, LOCATED IN A RURAL PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, IS PART OF A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROVIDED UNDER THE $319 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE BORDER TOWNSHIP OF SHA TAU KOK.
/IT COMPRISES
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
- 9
IT COMPRISES A MULTI- URPOSE HALL WITH A STAGE, A PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE AND AD* L’I STRATI ON OFFICES.
SPEAKING AT TH' OPENIN’ 01' THE COMMUNITY HALL, THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI, SAID: ’’THE HALL NOT ONLY PROVIDES A VENUE FOR COMMUNITY - NOTIONS AND INDOOR GAMES, BUT ALSO SERVES AS A BASE FOR THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE TO BRING ITS SERVICE TO THE DOORSTEPS OF THE RESIDENTS IN SHA TAU KOK AND ITS NEIGHBOURING ISLANDS.
“IT IS HOPED THAT AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND RESIDENTS WOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO REFLECT RESIDENTS’ NEEDS.”
SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE NEW PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE INCLUDE GENERAL ENQUIRIES, ADMINISTERING DECLARATIONS, GIVING ASSISTANCE IN SOLVING PERSONAL PROBLEMS, AND DISTRIBUTING GOVERNMENT INFORMATION MATERIAL.
MR HUI BELIEVED THAT THE SHA TAU KOK COMMUNITY HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WOULD HELP TO BOOST USE 01 THE HALL, WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH RECREATIONAL FACILITIES SUCH AS CHINESE BILLIARDS AND TABLE TENNIS.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, MR LAU TIN-FUK.
THE COMMUNITY HALL IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 10 AM TO 12 NOON AND FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM, FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY.
- - 0-----------
YAU TSIM DB TO DISCUSS GUESTHOUSE LICENSING
* * * * * * *
THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO LICENSE GUESTHOUSES AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE PLAN AIMS AT ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP A REGISTER OF GUESTHOUSES AND TO IMPOSE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR THEIR OPERATION.
IT WOULD COVER GUESTHOUSES PATRONISED BY BUDGET TOURISTS AND LOCAL PEOPLE, HOTELS, HOLIDAY FLATS, MOTELS AND YOUTH HOSTELS.
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON IN THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MRS SUSAN MAK, WILL OUTLINE THE PLAN.
/ALSO ON .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2'2, 1990
ALSO ON THE AGENDA ARE THE INITIAL OPTIONS OF THE METROPLAN STUDY AND SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN THE 1990'S.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD’S MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF YAU TSIM DISTRICT OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, 490 NATHAN ROAD.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
- - 0 - -
CIVIC EDUCATION CARNIVAL IN WONG TAI SIN t * » * *
A CARNIVAL IN SUPPORT OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE "CIVIC EDUCATION DAY" WILL BE HELD IN WONG TAI SIN ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25).
THE CARNIVAL WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM AT THE OPEN-AIR THEATRE IN MORSE PARK. ADMISSION IS FREE.
THE EVENT, ORGANISED BY THE WORKING GROUP ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, WILL ALSO MARK THE CONCLUSION OF THE DISTRICT’S PUBLICITY PROGRAMME ON CIVIC EDUCATION.
THERE WILL BE PERFORMANCES BY SINGERS JQSEPH TAY, WONG PO-YAN, CHOI LAP-YEE, SO WING-HONG AND LAW KAM-WING, AS WELL AS FOLK DANCES AND GAME STALLS.
THE GAME STALLS, FEATURING THE TWIN THEMES OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, WILL BE SET UP BY 11 OF THE DISTRICT’S AREA COMMITTEES.
THE THEMES ARE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, AND PARTICIPATE IN, LOCAL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND TO PROMOTE THE SPIRIT OF THE RULE OF LAW.
/A COMBINED
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
- 11 -
A COMBINED OPENING AND PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE CARNIVAL. OFFICIATING WILL BE THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, DR MICHAEL LEE; A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MADAM NORA YAU; DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BRIAN LAU; EAST KOWLOON REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MR LOK MAN-PAN; DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER FOR WONG TAI SIN, MISS MAN WAI-LING; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP, MR ALBERT LI.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WONG TAI SIN CIVIC EDUCATION CARNIVAL WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25) AT THE OPEN-AIR THEATRE IN MORSE PARK, WONG TAI SIN.
--------0 - -
COMMITTEE TO GAUGE VIEWS ON HOUSING FOR ELDERLY ♦ * * * *
THE SHAM SHU] PO DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY WELFARE COMMITTEE IS ORGANISING A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES TO HELP FAMILIARISE LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH A REPORT ON HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY AND TO COLLECT TJIFJR VIFWS.
THE REPORT, JOINTLY PRODUCED BY THE HOUSING AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS, CONTAINS PROPOSALS FOR. IMPROVEMENT TO THE ACCOMMODATION AND (ARE SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY IN RESPECT OF PUBLIC HOUSING POLICIES.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO EXPLAIN THE REPORT TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AT FOUR SEMINARS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY A COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP AND SEVEN LOCAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY.
THE FIRST WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25) FROM 3 PM TO 4.30 I'M AT THE NAM CHEONG DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE AT NAM CHEONG ESTATE.
THE OTHERS WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 27 AT THE SHEK KIP MEI COMMUNITY HAM., MARCH 6 AT THE PAK TIN COMMUNITY HALL, AND MARCH 13 AT Till- HEUNG SHA WAN COMMUNITY CENTRE, ALL FROM 2.30 PM TO 4 PM.
THE WORKING GROUP WILL ALSO PUBLISH 10,000 COPIES OF A LEAFLET GIVI'.'G \ SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT. ATTACHED TO TIH IFAUM r WILL BF A QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH SEEKS TO GAUGE THE VIEWS OF RES 1 DENTS.
/THE LEAFLETS .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
- 12 -
THE LEAFLETS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE SEMINARS AND CERTAIN CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE DISTRICT.
IT IS HOPED THAT ANALYSIS OF THE VIEWS COLLECTED WILL BE COMPLETED IN APRIL AND THE RESULTS WILL THEN BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED FOR CONSIDERATION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINARS.
--------0-----------
YAU TSIM TO HOLD FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL *****
A CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD AT SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25) TO DRIVE HOME START AT 2.30 PM.
THE PIAZZA OF KOWLOON THE FIGHT CRIME MESSAGES.
PARK ON IT WILL
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE STALL GAMES, AN ANTI-CRIME QUIZ AND A VARIETY SHOW.
CHILDREN AGED UNDER J 2 WILL RECEIVE A GIFT UPON FINISHING AN ANII-CRIME DRAWING. CRAYONS AND DRAWING PAPER WILL BE PROVIDED.
SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE CARNIVAL IS ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT’S FIGHT CRIME ENLIST PUBLIC SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.
ONE OF COMMITTEE
THE
TO
OFFICIATING AT THE CARNIVAL’S OPENING WILL BE THE POLICE REGIONAL COMMANDER FOR KOWLOON, MR PETER LEE LAM-CHUEN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT FIGHT CRIMF CARNIVAL TO BE HELD AT THE PIAZZA, KOWLOON PARK BEGINNING AT 2.30 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25).
- 0-----------
/13 .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
- 13 -
CIVIC EDUCATION VARIETY SHOW
*****
A VARIETY SHOW WILL BE HELD AT THE KO SHAN THEATRE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25) TO MARK THE CLOSING OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT’S FOURMONTH CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.
THE EVENT IS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, URBAN COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT’S CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
OFFICIATING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MR CHAN CHUN-FAT; KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DUNCAN PESCOD; KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SIK-KONG; PRESIDENT OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR WU SHING-SUEN; AND AN URBAN COUNCILLOR, MR PAO PING-WING.
MORE THAN 3,000 LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL BE ENTERTAINED BY MUSIC PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL GROUPS.
PERFORMERS TAKING PART WILL INCLUDE SINGER WONG PO-YAN AND THE BAND "BEYOND”.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CLOSING CEREMONY AND VARIETY SHOW OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 8 PM AT THE KO SHAN THEATRE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25).
- - 0 - -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT \NNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 24), THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, FROM ITS JUNCTION 1 TH QUEEN VICTORIA STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES WEST OF JUBILEE STREET, WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY 24 HOURS DAILY FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO FACILITATE ROAD RE-CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
/ALSO FROM .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
- 14 -
ALSO FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY, A SECTION OF THE EXISTING URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY FOR ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT ON THE WESTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF DUDDELL STREET, FROM A POINT 72 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL TO A POINT 91 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION, WILL BE CANCELLED.
AT THE SAME TIME, ALL VEHICLES EXCEEDING SEVEN METRES IN LENGTH WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING DUDDELL STREET 24 HOURS DAILY.
THE BAN ZONE IN DUDDELL STREET FOR ALL VEHICLES EXCEEDING EIGHT METRES IN LENGTH WILL BE CANCELLED.
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LANE CLOSURE AT AIRPORT
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT THE WESTBOUND KERBSIDE LANE OF ARRIVALS ROAD AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO THE DOWN RAMP LEADING FROM THE WESTERN END OF DEPARTURES ROAD TO ARRIVALS ROAD, HAS BEEN CLOSED TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ESCALATOR.
THE OFFSIDE TRAFFIC LANES WILL REMAIN OPEN.
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TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF WUHU VEHICULAR UNDERPASS
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT THE WUHU VEHICULAR UNDERPASS LEADING FROM NORTHBOUND CHATHAM ROAD NORTH TO SOUTHBOUND GILLIES AVENUE WILL BE CLOSED FROM 1 AM TO 5 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 24) BECAUSE OF CLEANSING WORKS.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS TRAVELLING FROM TSIM SHA TSUI, YAU MA TEI AND THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO HUNG HOM AREA ARE ADVISED TO USE EITHER CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH, CHEONG WAN ROAD, ON WAN ROAD, CHEONG WAN ROAD AND GILLIES VI II E : OR GASCOIGNE ROAD, CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH, CHATHAM ROAD NORTH, PAK KUNG STREET, SHUN YUNG STREET, FAT KWONG STREET AND MA TAU WAI ROAD.
/15........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1990
- 15 -
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WANG TAU HOM
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN WANG TAU HOM FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS TO FACILITATE URGENT ROAD REPAIR WORKS.
VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TURN FROM JUNCTION ROAD ONTO HENG LAM STREET. AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE DIVERTED VIA TUNG TAU TSUEN ROAD AND FUNG MO STREET.
KMB ROUTES 7 AND 11C AND GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE 14 ARE ALSO DIVERTED.
ALSO WITH INMEDIATE EFFECT VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT FROM WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD SOUTHBOUND ONTO FU MEI STREET EASTBOUND, TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW AND ROAD SAFETY.
MOTORISTS ON WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD SOUTHBOUND HEADING FOR FU MEI STREET EASTBOUND ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA FU MEI STREET WESTBOUND, FU KEUNG STREET, WANG TAU HOM CENTRAL ROAD AND WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD NORTHBOUND.
------0--------
LONG VEHICLE BAN IN LUEN WO HUI *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 24), VEHICLES EXCEEDING 12 METRES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER WO LUNG STREET IN LUEN WO HUI, NEW TERRITORIES.
------------------------0-------- FLUSHING WATER CUT IN HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK ♦ ♦ ♦ t ♦
FLUSHING WATER SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES IN HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 2 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 24) TO MIDNIGHT THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS LOCATED AT HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK DISTRICT, INCLUDING KING GEORGE V SCHOOL, HO MAN TIN ESTATE, 01 MAN ESTATE, CHUN MAN COURT AND VALLEY ROAD ESTATE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 199C
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR TSING YI PUBLISHED ............................ 1
NEW LEVY TO FUND EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION SCHEME ....................... 3
ADVERTISING PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN SOLVING POLLUTION PROBLEMS ............ 4
THREE-DAY QUALITY MANAGEMENT SEMINAR NEXT MONTH ....................... 5
TALKS LOOK FOR ANSWER TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION PROBLEMS .... 6
17 DISTRICTS TO HOLD 'CIVIC EDUCATION DAY' FUNCTIONS .................. 7
MARINE COURT TO LOOK INTO CATAMARAN ACCIDENT .......................... 8
TENDERS INVITED FOR OPERATION OF GOVT CARPARKS ........................ 8
REGIONAL COUNCIL BY-ELECTION RESULT ................................... 9
HONG KONG'S BIGGEST FLOWER SHOW OPENS AT VICTORIA PARK ................ 10
RECLAMATION WORK PROPOSED IN THREE NT DISTRICTS ....................... 12
FIVE LOTS OFFERED FOR SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION .......................... 12
MARINE INSURANCE LAW EFFECTIVE ON MAY 17 .............................. 13
NEW ACCESS FOR CONTAINER TERMINAL NO. 8 ............................... 14
TENDERS INVITED FOR PUMPING STATION PROJECT ........................... 15
PROPOSALS TO ALTER VALUATION LIST ..................................... 16
RETAILER FINED FOR IMPROPER FOOD LABELLING ............................ 16
WSD'S HK REGIONAL DEPOT CHANGING ADDRESS .............................. 17
FIRING PRACTICE IN MARCH .............................................. 17
FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL ON LANTAU ........................................ 18
OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARDS DECLARED INVALID .............................. 19
ADDITIONAL MORNING SERVICE ON CROSS HARBOUR ROUTE 104 ................. 20
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL ............................. 20
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23,
1990
1
OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR TSING YI PUBLISHED
*****
THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED THE DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR TSING YT ISLAND.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD SAID THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PLAN IS TO INDICATE THE BROAD LAND USE ZONING AND MAJOR ROAD NETWORKS ' WITHIN WHICH THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF LAND MAY BE LEGALLY CONTROLLED.
"TO KEEP ABREAST WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS AND LAND USE CHANGES ON THE ISLAND, AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN ARE NEEDED. THESE AMENDMENTS WILL PROVIDE A BASIS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OF TSING YI," HE SAID.
THE DRAFT PLAN OUTLINES NINE AMENDMENTS TO THE PRECEDING PLAN. THESE INCLUDE REZONING OF A BOATYARD AREA ON THE ISLAND AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE EXISTING OIL DEPOT SITE AT NGAU YING CHAU.
THE EXISTING BOATYARDS IN AREA 9 HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF NOISE NUISANCE TO THE RESIDENTS IN CHEUNG ON ESTATE, CHING TAI COURT AND A NEARBY SCHOOL.
TO CREATE A BUFFER BETWEEN THE BOATYARDS AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREA, PART OF THE EXISTING BOATYARD AREA IS REZONED TO "OPEN SPACE", "GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION/COMMUNITY" AND "GREEN BELT".
THE AFFECTED BOATYARDS WILL BE RELOCATED FURTHER TO THE WEST UPON COMPLETION OF THE RECLAMATION AND THE EXTENSION OF TAM KON SHAN ROAD.
TO FACILITATE THE RELOCATION OF THE OIL DEPOT AT NGAU YING CHAU AND TO ENABLE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE FOR COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL USES, THE SITE IS REZONED TO COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AREA AND OPEN SPACE.
THE RELOCATION OF THIS OIL DEPOT WILL, ACHIEVE THE PLANNING INTENTION OF SEGREGATING INDUSTRIAL USES FROM RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST SECTOR OF TSING YI.
THE "OPEN SPACE" IS INTENDED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTINUOUS 30 METRES WATERFRONT PROMENADE STRETCHING FROM CHING TAI COURT IN THE NORTH TO THE TSING YI BAY RECLAMATION AREA IN THE EAST.
AN INDUSTRIAL SITE IN AREA 23 IS REZONED TO "GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION/COMMUNITY” FOR THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF A TECHNICAL COLLEGE WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO BE A MORE COMPATIBLE LAND USE WITH THE ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
WITH THE COMPLETION OF TSING YI ROAD WEST, TWO SMALL SITES ABUTTING TSING YI ROAD WEST IN AREA 10 HAVE BEEN FORMED. ONE OF THEM IS REZONED TO "GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION/COMMUNITY" TO CATER ANY FUTURE REQUIREMENT WHICH MAY ARISE.
/THE OTHER .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 2 -
THE OTHER IS REZONED FOR THE USE OF "PETROL FILLING STATION”. THIS PETROL FILLING STATION SITE IS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING RESERVATION IN AREA 4.
IN AREA 4, A SITE FOR "VILLAGE TYPE DEVELOPMENT” AND A SITE FOR "PETROL FILLING STATION" ARE REZONED TO "OPEN SPACE" AND "GOVERNMENT/INSTITUT1ON/COMMUNITY". THE LATTER SITE WILL BE FOR THE USE OF A PRIMARY SCHOOL.
SINCE THE PROPOSED PETROL FILLING STATION SITE WILL BE RESITED TO AREA 10, HEAVY VEHICLES WILL NOT HAVE TO GO INTO THE TOWN CENTRE AREA AND MORE OPEN SPACE IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA WILL BE PROVIDED.
A FIVE-HECTARE SITE IN AREA 15 IS REZONED FROM "GOVERNMENT/INST1TUTION/COMMUNITY" TO "GREEN BELT" PURPOSE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATURAL TOPOGRAPHY AND VEGETATION IN THE AREA AND TO ACT AS A PHYSICAL BUFFER BETWEEN THE OIL DEPOTS IN THE SOUTHWEST AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHEAST.
IN AREA 26 AND AREA 10, A LARGE AREA IS REZONED FROM "MONASTERY BELT" TO "GREEN BELT" AS THE MONASTERY BELT IS NO LONGER REQUIRED.
HOWEVER, THE AREA CONSTITUTES PART OF THE RIDGE LINE WHICH IS TO BE RETAINED AS A PHYSICAL BUFFER SEPARATING THE OIL STORAGE FACILITIES IN THE WEST AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NORTH. SUBJECT TO FURTHER STUDY, THE AREA MAY BE SUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A RURAL PARK IN FUTURE.
THE NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF THE "MONASTERY BELT" ADJOINING THE "GREEN BELT" IS REZONED TO "GOVERNMENT/INST1TUTION/COMMUNITY" FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPOSED DISTRICT HOSPITAL, SERVICE RESERVOIR AND OTHER GOVERNMENT USES WHICH MAY BE REQUIRED IN FUTURE.
A CEMENT PLANT SITE IS RESERVED IN AREA 9 IN NORTH TSING YI. IT IS FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE EXISTING CEMENT PLANT AT CHEUNG WAN STREET IN AREA 3.
THE REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING PLANT WHICH ADJOINS A NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WILL ELIMINATE A SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION FROM THE GENERAL AREA OF TSING YI TOWN CENTRE.
THERE ARE OTHER MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN AND THE NOTES ATTACHED TO THE PLAN. DETAILS ARE OUTLINED IN THE SCHEDULE OF AMENDMENTS WHICH IS AVAILABLE WITH THE DRAFT PLAN.
THE PLAN CAN BE INSPECTED FOR A PERIOD OF THREE WEEKS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES :
* THE DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRAL AND WESTERN), CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING ENTRANCE, 11 ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG;
* THE DISTRICT OFFICE (KWAI TSING), 10TH FLOOR, KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 166-174 HING FOND ROAD, KWAI CHUNG, NEW TERRITORIES;
/* PLANNING DEPARTMENT..........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 3 -
♦ PLANNING DEPARTMENT, TOWN PLANNING BOARD SECTION, FOURTH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND
* TSUEN WAN DISTRICT PLANNING OFFICE, THIRD FLOOR, FOU WAH CENTRE, 210 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES.
COPIES OF THE PLAN ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE KOWLOON MAP SALES SECTION, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE PRICES ARE $10 FOR AN UNCOLOURED VERSION AND $120 FOR A COLOURED VERSION.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE DRAFT PLAN SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY, TOWN PLANNING BOARD, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, FOURTH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG BY MARCH 16 THIS YEAR.
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NEW LEVY TO FUND EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION SCHEME » * * ♦ *
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO IMPOSE A LEVY ON THE PREMIA FOR EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE POLICIES TO FUND A SCHEME TO BE SET UP TO MAKE PAYMENTS IN DEFAULT CASES IN RESPECT OF ACCIDENTS ARISING OUT OF AND IN THE COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT.
UNDER THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE LEVIES BILL 1990 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), THE PROPOSED LEVY WILL BE ONE PER CENT OF THE PREMIUM FOR AN INSURANCE POLICY WHICH AN EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO TAKE OUT UNDER THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID DEFAULT CASES GENERALLY AROSE EITHER FROM THE FAILURE OF AN EMPLOYER TO INSURE OR FROM THE INSOLVENCY OF AN INSURANCE COMPANY.
’’SUBJECT TO A QUEUING SYSTEM, PAYMENTS TO BE MADE UNDER THE PROPOSED SCHEME WILL INCLUDE BOTH STATUTORY COMPENSATION UNDER THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND COMMON LAW DAMAGES AWARDED BY A COURT IN HONG KONG," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO ESTABLISH AN EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE LEVIES MANAGEMENT BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE SCHEME AND , TO COLLECT THE LEVY, WHICH WILL BE REMITTED BY INSURERS.
IN ADDITION, THE BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING THE EXISTING ONE PER CENT LEVY FOR THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL.
THE BOARD WILL CONSIST OF A CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS REPRESENTING EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYERS, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ALL TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
/4 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
ADVERTISING PLAYS A
4
BIG ROLE IN SOLVING POLLUTION PROBLEMS *****
ADVERTISING HAS A BIG ROLE TO PLAY IN SOLVING POLLUTION PROBLEMS THROUGH MAKING THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND THE INDIVIDUALS’ RESPONSIBILITY IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY). .
THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY WOULD ALSO SERVE TO BRING TOGETHER THE USERS AND SUPPLIERS OF SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO DEAL WITH SPECIFIC POLLUTION PROBLEMS, HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ON "ADVERTISING IN THE 90’S" ORGANISED BY THE SOCIETY OF HONG KONG PUBLISHERS, DR REED SAID HE EXPECTED THAT THERE WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVERTISING IN HONG KONG DURING THE CURRENT DECADE.
EXPLAINING THE GOVERNMENT’S $20 BILLION COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME SET OUT IN THE WHITE PAPER ON POLLUTION, DR REED SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WOULD BE A PARALLEL ACTIVITY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE THERE WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD.
"SO LOOKING AT ’ADVERTISING IN THE 90’S’ IN THIS CONTEXT, THERE IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR REQUIREMENT FOR TRADE ADVERTISING AND EXHIBITIONS TO PUT THOSE WITH A NEED FOR SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT IN TOUCH WITH THE SUPPLIERS OF THESE GOODS," HE SAID.
ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE, DR REED SAID THERE WOULD BE A CONTINUING NEED TO KEEP ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ON THE COMMUNITY AGENDA.
"WE PLAN TO EXPAND OUR EFFORTS BY FOLLOWING UP THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT PUBICITY CAMPAIGN WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE ALLOCATED AROUND $1.5 MILLION IN 1990-91," HE SAID.
AN EXPANSION IN ADVERTISING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES WOULD ALSO BE EXPECTED THROUGH THE WORK OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED RECENTLY BY THE GOVERNOR.
THERE WERE ALSO PLANS TO INCREASE THE FLOW OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, BUT PARTICULARLY THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR, BY SETTING UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CENTRE WHICH WOULD BE HOUSED IN THE OLD WAN CHAI POST OFFICE, DR REED ADDED.
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, DR REED SAID HE EXPECTED ENVIRONMENTAL ADVERTISING IN THE 90’S TO GROW AS PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBITY AND GENERALLY GREEN IMAGE IN THE EYES OF THE COMMUNITY.
"I WOULD REGARD THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF ADVERTISING AS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO MAKE HONG KONG A MORE HEALTHY AND BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN THE FUTURE," HE SAID.
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/5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
5 -
THREE-DAY QUALITY MANAGEMENT SEMINAR NEXT MONTH
* » » » »
LEADING QUALITY EXPERTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES WILL ARRIVE HERE NEXT WEEK TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH LOCAL QUALITY-CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURS AT A THREE-DAY QUALITY MANAGEMENT SEMINAR BEING ORGANISED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
ACCORDING TO THE HEAD OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE UNIT OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, MR BRIAN TYLER, PRESENTERS AT THE SEMINAR WILL INCLUDE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INSTITUTE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE FROM BRITAIN, MR ERIC WILLIAMS; A LEADING BRITISH QUALITY MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT, MR RON MORTIBOYS; AND A VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE JURAN INSTITUTE IN THE UNITED STATES, MR JOHN F. EARLY.
MR TYLER SAID THE JURAN INSTITUTE SPECIALISED IN INDUSTRIAL, GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS QUALITY APPLICATIONS AND MR EARLY WAS AN EXPERT IN CONDUCTING TRAINING FOR UPPER MANAGERS IN STRATEGIC QUALITY MANAGEMENT; FOR MIDDLE MANAGERS IN QUALITY IMPROVEMENT METHODS; AND FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE DETAILS OF THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROCESS.
OTHER GUEST SPEAKERS WILL BE MR KEITH NEWTON, WHO IS A DIRECTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPORT PROMOTION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE OF QUALITY SERVICES, MR ERNIE EVANS.
MR TYLER EXPLAINED THAT THE SEMINAR, TO BE STAGED AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE FROM MARCH 5 TO 7, WAS AN IMPORTANT EVENT FOLLOWING CLOSELY ON THE LAUNCHING OF THE QUALITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN BY THE GOVERNOR ON MARCH 1. ♦'
"IT PRESENTS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPANY EXECUTIVES AND UPPER AND MIDDLE MANAGERS TO PREPARE FOR THE VARIOUS LEADERSHIP ROLES REQUIRED WITHIN ANY ORGANISATION SEEKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ITS PRODUCTS AND WHICH IS INTERESTED IN ADOPTING COMPANY-WIDE QUALITY SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES,” MR TYLER SAID.
MANUFACTURERS WHO WISH TO TAKE PART IN THE QUALITY MANAGEMENT SEMINAR CAN OBTAIN DETAILS FROM THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 7372217 OR 7372583.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 6 -
TALKS LOOK FOR ANSWER TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION PROBLEMS
* * » * »
HONG KONG’S NEGOTIATORS AT THE URUGUAY ROUND MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS ARE STRIVING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FINAL OUTCOME WILL INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE FRAMEWORK WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN ANSWER TO TODAY’S PROBLEMS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION AS IT RELATES TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, WHEN HE SPOKE AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ASIAN PATENT ATTORNEY’S ASSOCIATION TODAY (FRIDAY).
"IN PRACTICAL TERMS," HE ADDED, "WHEN AN AGREEMENT IS THERE, AND WHEN HONG KONG BECOMES A PARTY TO IT, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS FOR US."
MR CHAN SAID THAT WHILE THE RIGHTS WOULD BE MANIFESTED BY IMPROVED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION OVERSEAS AND A BETTER TRADING ENVIRONMENT WORLDWIDE, THE OBLIGATIONS WOULD NEED TO BE REFLECTED IN HONG KONG’S OWN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION REGIME, BY WAY OF ENLARGING THE CURRENT SCOPE OF PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENTS TO ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS.
"ALL THESE REQUIRE FORWARD PLANNING, NEW LEGISLATION AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES," HE SAID.
MR CHAN ADDED THAT, IN ANTICIPATION OF NEW COMMITMENTS, AND OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE MADE BY THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION ON THE SUBJECT, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO CONCENTRATE RESOURCES AND TO PROVIDE A FOCAL POINT FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S OWN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION REGIME.
"THIS WILL TAKE THE FORM OF A NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT WHICH WILL BE ESTABLISHED ON JUNE 1 THIS YEAR. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE NEW DIRECTOR WILL BE APPOINTED THIS APRIL," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THAT DESPITE THE WORK OF THE WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANISATION (WIPO) AND THE EXISTENCE OF MANY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION, BASIC RULES WERE STILL LACKING IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
"THIS SITUATION HAS GIVEN RISE TO INCREASING TENSION AND CONFLICT IN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING COMMUNITY OVER ISSUES RELATED TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION," HE SAID.
HE SAID IT WAS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS OF THE WORLD HAD DECIDED TO INITIATE TALKS UNDER THE GATT TO DEAL WITH THE TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AS PART OF THE URUGUAY ROUND NEGOTIATIONS.
/AS A ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
7
AS A CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GATT, HONG KONG WAS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS AND WAS IN SUPPORT OF EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT UNDER THE GATT TO PROVIDE DISCIPLINES WHICH WOULD ENCOURAGE INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND PREVENT DISPUTES.
’’THE ULTIMATE AGREEMENT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE IS ONE THAT WILL ENSHRINE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE GATT, SUCH AS THE MOST-FAVOURED NATION, NON-DISCRIMINATION, NATIONAL TREATMENT AND TRANSPARENCY, AND WHICH WILL NOT CONFLICT WITH THE WIPO CONVENTIONS,” HE SAID.
”TO SERVE ITS PURPOSE, THE AGREEMENT WILL NEED TO CONTAIN COMMITMENTS AS TO THE SCOPE AND STANDARDS OF PROTECTION FOR A FULL RANGE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES SUCH AS COPYRIGHT, TRADE MARKS, PATENTS, INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUITS.”
IF ALL WENT WELL, AN AGREEMENT SHOULD EMERGE THIS DECEMBER OUT OF A MINISTERIAL MEETING IN BRUSSELS, MR CHAN SAID.
---------0-----------
17 DISTRICTS TO HOLD ’CIVIC EDUCATION DAY’ FUNCTIONS *****
A TOTAL OF 17 DISTRICTS WILL STAGE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25) IN SUPPORT OF ’’CIVIC EDUCATION DAY”.
THE FUNCTIONS WILL INCLUDE A "MEETING THE PUBLIC SESSION” ON A LRT TRAIN IN TUEN MUN, CARNIVALS, EXHIBITIONS, TRAINING CAMPS, SEMINARS AND A SPEECH CONTEST.
IN SHAM SHUI PO, AN OPEN FORUM ON THE PROPOSED BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE HELD AT THE MAPLE STREET PLAYGROUND, BEGINNING 3 PM.
SPEAKING AT THE FORUM WILL BE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR MR ('HUNG PUI-LAM, URBAN COUNCILLOR MR FUNG K1N-KEE, AND A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MISS HO SHUK-YIN.
INFORMATION MATERIALS ON HUMAN RIGHTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE VENUE TO PARTICIPANTS.
PRECEDING THE FORUM WILI BE A STUDENT SPEECH CONTEST IN WHICH NINE FINALISTS WILL COMPETE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN PRIMARY, JUNIOR AND SENIOR SECONDARY SECTIONS.
A SEMINAR ON LABOUR REL IONS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CLEAR WATER BAY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, SAI KUNG, FROM 2.30 PM TO 5 PM.
A PRINCIPAL LABOUR OFFICER OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR YEUNG CHI-KIN, AN OFFICER OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL, MR CHAN KA-PIU, AND SENIOR LECTURER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, DR NG SEK-HONG, WILL BE GUEST SPEAKERS.
/AMONG THE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 8
AMONG THE CARNIVALS, ONE WILL BE HELD AT THE KING GEORGE V MEMORIAL PARK IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT AND ANOTHER AT THE WAH HONG SQUARE IN WAH FU ESTATE IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT, BOTH STARTING AT 2 PM.
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT FUNCTION WILL ALSO FEATURE A NUMBER OF ’’CIVIC EDUCATION CORNERS” AND A CHILDREN’S DRAWING COMPETITION.
A THIRD CARNIVAL WILL BEGIN AT 1.30 PM AT THE SHOPPING MALL OF TELFORD GARDEN IN KOWLOON BAY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CARNIVALS AND THE OPEN FORUM.
-----0-------
MARINE COURT TO LOOK INTO CATAMARAN ACCIDENT
******
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPROVED A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE THAT A MARINE COURT BE CONVENED TO INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING TO THE CATAMARAN APOLLO JET COLLIDING WITH CERTAIN VESSELS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY STRANDING IN THE YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.
DETAILS INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT OF A JUDGE AND ASSESSORS ARE IN HAND AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED ONCE FINALISED,’ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
FOUR PEOPLE DIED AND SEVEN OTHERS WERE INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 15.
--------0-----------
TENDERS INVITED FOR OPERATION OF GOVT CARPARKS * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FROM LOCAL AND OVERSEAS COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF 14 GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CARPARKS, AND THE PRODUCTION, MARKETING AND SALE OF GOVERNMENT TUNNEL TICKETS.
FULL INFORMATION ON THE TENDER WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) AND WILL BE REPEATED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE ON MARCH 2.
/A SPOKESMAN .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
9
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THE CONTRACT WOULD CONSIST OF TWO AGREEMENTS. THE FIRST AGREEMENT IS FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF 14 MULTI-STOREY CARPARKS TOTALLING 8,173 PARKING BAYS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THE SECOND AGREEMENT IS FOR THE PRODUCTION, MARKETING AND SALE OF TUNNEL TICKETS FOR THE LION ROCK, ABERDEEN, SHING MUN AND JUNK BAY TUNNELS AT THE GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CARPARKS AND OTHER OUTLETS TO BE PROPOSED BY THF ( >NTRACTOR AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE CONTRACT WILL BE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS BUT MAY BE RENEWED ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO BE AGREED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CONTRACTOR.
THE THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WILL COMMENCE ON A DATE TO BE SPECIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT BUT WILL NOT BE EARLIER THAN MAY 1 OR LATER THAN OCTOBER 31.
TENDERERS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CARPARKS ON A LARGE SCALE.
TENDER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT, CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 28TH FLOOR, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, HONG KONG.
------0--------
REGIONAL COUNCIL BY-ELECTION RESULT ******
MR FUNG PAK-TAI HAS BEEN ELECTED TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT CONSTITUENCY.
MR FUNG SECURED 3,638 VOTES OUT OF A TOTAL OF 5,343 VALID VOTES CAST IN YESTERDAY’S BY-ELECTION.
FOLLOWING ARE THE POLLING RESULTS:
CANDIDATES VOTES
FUNG CHI-KANG 621
FUNG PAK-TAI 3,638
DAVID KAM SHUI-YUNG 57
LIU KWONG-SANG 1,027
A TOTAL OF 5,375 ELECTORS CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE BY-ELECTION, THE FIRST SINCE THE INAUGURATION OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IN 1986. THE TURNOUT RATE AT 24.7 PER CENT FARES WELL IN THE AVERAGE ATTENDANCE RATE OF 15 PER CENT FOR A BY-ELECTION.
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/10 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 10 -
(J HONG KONG’S BIGGES'! FLOWER SHOW OPENS AT VICTORIA PARK
***»*»
VICTORIA PARK WAS FILLED WITH COLOUR AND FRAGRANCE, AND PACKED WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GASPING WITH ANXIETY AND ADMIRATION TODAY (FRIDAY) AS LADY WILSON OFFICIALLY UNVEILED THE BIGGEST AND THE MOST "INTERNATIONALISED" FLOWER SHOW EVER STAGED IN HONG KONG JOINTLY BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL.
THE FOURTH TERRITORY-WIDE EVENT OF THIS NATURE, THE 1990 HONG KONG FLOWER SHOW PRESENTED TO VISITORS MORE THAN 50,000 COLOURFUL FLOWERS AND BEAUTIFUL PLANTS OF OVER 2,000 LOCAL AND EXOTIC SPECIES.
MOST OF THE EXOTIC FLOWER SPECIES FLOWN IN FROM 16 OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND 60 REGIONS ARE SO RARE AND UNIQUE THAT THE OCCASION MARKED THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE IN HONG KONG.
SPEAKING AT THE FLOWER SHOW’S OPENING CEREMONY BEFORE A PACKED AUDIENCE, LADY WILSON SAID THAT THIS FLOWER SHOW, WITH THE THEME OF "FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF THE WORLD”, GAVE THE PUBLIC AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT COULD BE GROWN HERE, AND WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK OF GROWING FROM OVERSEAS.
"MANY PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW IT, THINK OF HONG KONG AS A CROWDED, MODERN, ADVANCED CITY. THOSE THAT ACTUALLY COME, ARE OFTEN AMAZED BY THE AMOUNT OF BEAUTY AND GREENERY WE STILL MANAGE TO CULTIVATE AROUND US," SHE SAID.
IN ORDER TO CATER FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF FLOWER LOVERS IN HONG KONG, LADY WILSON SAID, THE ORGANISERS HAD EXTENDED THIS YEAR’S FLOWER SHOW TO A PERIOD OF 10 DAYS, COVERING TWO WEEKENDS.
"DAILY OPENING HOURS HAVE BEEN LENGTHENED TO 10 O’CLOCK AT NIGHT, TO ENABLE MORE BUSY PEOPI.E TO VIEW BOTH LOCAL, AND OTHER EXOTIC FLOWERS, WHICH HAVE BEEN FLOWN IN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ESPECIALLY FOR THIS OCCASION.
"THE NUMBER OF FRINGE ACTIVITIES ORGANISED DURING THE SHOW PERIOD HAVE ALSO BEEN INCREASED, TO MAKE THIS A VERY ATTRACTIVE AND FUN OUTING FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHATEVER THEIR AGE," SHE SAID.
NOTING THAT THERE WERE MORE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND LOCAL FLOWER CLUBS AND ORGANISATIONS TAKING PART IN THE FLOWER SHOW, LADY WILSON EXPRESSED HER WISH THAT THIS WOULD PROMOTE EVEN GREATER PUBLIC INTEREST IN FLOWERS AND HORTICULTURE.
IN HER ADDRESS, LADY WILSON ALSO THANKED THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AND EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR BRINGING SO MANY PEOPLE AND FLOWERS TOGETHER, ALL OVER THE WORLD, FOR THE PLEASURE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
/JOINING LADY .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
11
JOINING LADY WILSON AT.THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR STEPHEN LAU, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL’S RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, DR SAMUEL WONG, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL’S RECREATION AND CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, MR TANG PUI-TAT.
IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, MR LAU SAID THIS YEAR’S SHOW BROUGHT TOGETHER A WIDE COLLECTION OF EXOTIC AND LOCAL FLORA WHICH INCLUDED ORCHIDS FROM TAIWAN, NEW GUINEA AND SOUTH EAST ASIA, RARE ORNAMENTAL SPECIES FROM HAINAN PROVINCE AND OTHER PROVINCES OF CHINA, AS WELL AS SPECIAL AND NEW EXHIBITS FROM LOCAL CLUBS AND COMMERCIAL FIRMS.
"ALL PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS HAVE PUT A GREAT EFFORT INTO SETTING UP THEIR STALLS FOR THE EXQUISITE DISPLAYS OF THE MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION OF FLORA FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD," HE SAID.
THE CEREMONY WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI; THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR JAMES SO; THE DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES, MR HAIDER BARMA; AND THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRANCE LEE.
AT THIS MORNING’S OPENING CEREMONY, LADY WILSON ALSO PRESENTED TROPHIES TO WINNERS OF THE "BEST DECORATED COUNTER" COMPETITION, THE FIRST COMPETITION OF THE 1990 FLOWER SHOW HELD IN RECOGNITION OF THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
ACCOMPANIED BY MR LAU AND MR CHEUNG AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OFFICIATING PARTY, LADY WILSON THEN TOURED THE SHOW GROUND AND VIEWED THE VARIOUS DISPLAYS PUT UP BY EXHIBITORS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE 10-DAY FLOWER SHOW WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN THE AFTERNOON. IT WOULD REMAIN OPEN UNTIL MARCH 4. THE DAILY OPENING HOURS ARE FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM.
BECAUSE OF THE LONGER SHOW PERIOD, THERE WILL BE A BREAK FROM 1 PM ON FEBRUARY 27 TO 1 PM ON FEBRUARY 28 DURING WHICH THE FLOWER SHOW WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED FOR REPLENISHMENT OF FRESH FLOWERS AND ADDING NEW EXHIBITS.
THE ADMISSION FEE IS $7 PER ADULT WHILE CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE, STUDENTS AND ELDERLY OVER 60 YEARS OLD ARE CHARGED $3 EACH.
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/12 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 12 -
RECLAMATION WORK PROPOSED IN THREE NT DISTRICTS
*****
AUTHORISATION HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GRANT A LEASE TO CALTEX OIL HONG KONG LIMITED WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 1, 190 SQUARE METRES OF SEABED OFF THE WEST COAST OF TSING YI ISLAND.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE LAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXTENSION TO THE TSUEN WAN PERMANENT PIER NO. 29.
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED INVOLVED WILL BE INJURIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE ABOVE UNDERTAKING MAY DELIVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS A WRITTEN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION BY FEBRUARY 22 NEXT YEAR.
ON GREEN ISLAND, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DREDGE WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 289.71 HECTARES OF SEABED WEST OF THE ISLAND.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE MATERIALS FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTION AND FUTURE RECLAMATIONS.
IN TUEN MUN, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CONSTRUCT ABOUT 56 METRES OF SEAWALL AND RECLAIM BEHIND THE SEAWALL AN AREA OF ABOUT 8,800 SQUARE METRES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED NEAR SAM SHING ESTATE IN AREA 27.
PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE RECLAMATION INCLUDE A TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE ALONGSIDE THE SAM SHING LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT TERMINUS, A LRT TRACK TO THE EASTERN EXTENSION AREA OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ABOVE THE SAM SHING LRT TERMINUS AND DISTRICT OPEN SPACE.
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HE HAS AN INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED INVOLVED MAY SUBMIT A WRITTEN OBJECTION TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS BEFORE APRIL 22 THIS YEAR.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREAS AFFECTED IS DESCRIBED IN NOTICES PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
---------0-----------
FIVE LOTS OFFERED FOR SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION * * * *
THE LAST AUCTION OF GOVERNMENT SITES IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 23, WHEN FIVE LOTS WILL BE OFFERED BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE, STARTING AT 2.30 PM.
THE LOTS INCLUDE THREE FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
/ONE IS .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 13 -
ONE IS LOCATED AT RAZOR HILL ROAD, SAI KUNG, AND HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 4,575 SQUARE METRES.
ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING COVENANT, THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 2,058 SQUARE METRES ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1994.
ANOTHER LOT FOR THE SAME PURPOSE IS LOCATED IN SHA HA, SAI KUNG.
IT COVERS AN AREA OF 1,860 SQUARE METRES, AND THE DEVELOPER HAS TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 670 SQUARE METRES ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1993.
THE OTHER PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL LOT IS SITUATED AT KAU WA KENG, KWAI CHUNG.
IT COVERS AN AREA OF 2,080 SQUARE METRES, AND THE DEVELOPER HAS TO COMPLETE NOT LESS THAN 6,240 SQUARE METRES OF GROSS FLOOR AREA ON OR BEFORE MARCH 23,1993.
A LOT AT ON LAI STREET, SHA TIN, IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN (EXCLUDING OFFENSIVE TRADE) PURPOSES. IT HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 3,380 SQUARE METRES.
THE DEVELOPER HAS TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 19,266 SQUARE METRES ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1994.
A 4,949-SQUARE-METRE LOT IN AREA 2A, TUEN MUN, IS FOR NON-INDUSTRIAL (EXCLUDING GODOWN) PURPOSES.
THE BUILDING COVENANT STIPULATES THAT THE PLOT RATIO IS 9.5/5 AND MAXIMUM SITE COVERAGE IS 66.6 PER CENT. A BUILDING OR BUILDINGS HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 31, 1994.
-----0------
MARINE INSURANCE LAW EFFECTIVE ON MAY 17
*****
LEGISLATION MAKING IT COMPULSORY FOR OWNERS OF ALL LAUNCHES AND FERRIES LICENSED UNDER THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (LAUNCHES AND FERRY VESSELS) REGULATIONS TO OBTAIN THIRD PARTY INSURANCE COVER FOR THEIR VESSELS WILL COME INTO FORCE ON MAY 17 THIS YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
UNDER THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1989 AND THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (COMPULSORY THIRD PARTY RISKS INSURANCE) REGULATIONS 1989, IT WILL BE A PRE-LICENSING CONDITION FOR THIRD PARTY INSURANCE COVER FOR DEATH OR BODILY INJURY TO BE TAKEN OUT FOR THESE PASSENGER-CARRYING VESSELS.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 14 -
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE LEGISLATION WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE INSURANCE COVER AGAINST THIRD PARTY LIABILITIES FOR PASSENGER-CARRYING VESSELS AS WAS ALREADY THE CASE FOR ALL ROAD VEHICLES.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF THIRD PARTY RISKS TO BE COVERED IN A POLICY FOR A LAUNCH OR FERRY VESSEL IS $3 MILLION.
"THIS IS CONSIDERED A REALISTIC SUM;" THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR A MAXIMUM FINE OF $100,000 AND TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR LAUNCH OR FERRY VESSEL OWNERS WHO FAIL TO TAKE OUT PROPER INSURANCE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ORDINANCE SHOULD HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON THE FARE PAYING PUBLIC USING EXISTING FRANCHISED FERRY COMPANIES AND OTHER MAIN COMMUTER SERVICES SINCE THEY WERE ALREADY VOLUNTARILY CARRYING THIRD PARTY LIABILITIES INSURANCE.
FROM MAY 17, ANY PERSON APPLYING TO THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE FOR A LICENCE FOR A LAUNCH OR FERRY VESSEL MUST AT THE SAME TIME PRODUCE DOCUMENTARY PROOF THAT THERE IS IN OPERATION A POLICY OF INSURANCE UNDER WHICH THE VESSEL IS COVERED.
A COPY OF A VALID CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE (ISSUED TOGETHER WITH A POLICY OF INSURANCE TAKEN OUT ON OR AFTER MAY 17, 1990) MUST ALSO BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ON BOARD THE VESSEL IN A PLACE WHERE IT COULD READILY BE SEEN BY PASSENGERS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID A MARINE DEPARTMENT NOTICE GIVING DETAILS OF THIS NEW REQUIREMENT APPEARED IN THE PRESS.
COPIES OF IT ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM ALL MARINE DEPARTMENT OFFICES.
TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE NOTICE CAN ALSO BE MADE TO THE VICTORIA MARINE OFFICE ON 8523082 DURING NORMAL OFFICE HOURS.
- - 0 - -
NEW ACCESS FOR CONTAINER TERMINAL NO. 8 *****
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT NEW ROADS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE FUTURE CONTAINER TERMINAL NO. 8 AND ASSOCIATED BACK-UP AREAS.
THE PROPOSED WORKS INCLUDE:
* CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXTENSION TO CONTAINER PORT ROAD;
» CONSTRUCTION OF AN ACCESS ROAD RUNNING ALONG THE NORTHERN COASTLINE OF STONECUTTERS ISLAND;
/* CONSTRUCTION OF.........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 15 -
* CONSTRUCTION OF A FOOTPATH/VERGE ALONG THE ABOVE PROPOSED ROADS;
* PROVISION OF LAY-BYS AND ROUNDABOUTS;
* CLSOURE OF A SECTION OF CONTAINER PORT ROAD; AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE WORKS AND INSTALLATION OF STREET FURNITURE.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY). THE NOTICE IS ALSO POSTED ON A NOTICE BOARD NEAR THE SITE.
THE PLAN AND SCHEME MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG;
♦ SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, 37-39 TONKIN STREET, GROUND FLOOR, KOWLOON; AND
* KWAI TSING DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 10TH FLOOR, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PRQPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG BEFORE APRIL 24 THIS YEAR.
--------0-----------
TENDERS INVITED FOR PUMPING STATION PROJECT ♦ » * * *
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO SEWAGE PUMPING STATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
THE TWO PUMPING STATIONS, TO BE LOCATED AT MILESTONE 18, CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND AT CAFETERIA (OLD) BEACH, WILL FORM AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM SERVING THE DEVELOPMENT IN SO KWUN WAT AND THE COASTAL AREAS ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD FROM SAM SHING TO SO KWUN WAT.
WORKS ON THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN MAY AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 20 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
TENDERS FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR THE PROJECT IN ROOM 1720, OCEAN CENTRE, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 23.
---------0---------
/16 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 16 -
PROPOSALS TO ALTER VALUATION LIST *****
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED THAT IF THEY WISH TO MAKE A PROPOSAL TO ALTER THE RATEABLE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY FOR THE YEAR COMMENCING APRIL 1, 1990, THEY MAY DO SO DURING MARCH. THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT PUBLISHED A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
FORMS FOR THIS PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT AT HENNESSY CENTRE, 17TH FLOOR, 500 HENNESSY ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG AND ALSO FROM DISTRICT OFFICES.
PROPOSALS MUST BE LODGED WITH THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN NEXT MONTH. THEY CANNOT BE ACCEPTED IF SERVED BEFORE MARCH 1 OR AFTER MARCH 31.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT RATEABLE VALUES FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR WILL BE THE SAME AS FOR THIS YEAR.
WHERE AN ALTERATION WAS MADE TO THE RATEABLE VALUE AS A RESULT OF A PROPOSAL LODGED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE REVISED FIGURE WILL APPLY NEXT YEAR AND SO NO FURTHER PROPOSAL NEED BE MADE.
HE EMPHASISED THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE LODGING OF A PROPOSAL OR AN APPEAL, RATES MUST STILL BE PAID BY THE DUE DATE.
--------0-----------
RETAILER FINED FOR IMPROPER FOOD LABELLING * * * *
FOOD MANUFACTURERS, WHOLESALERS AND RETAILERS WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED NOT TO SELL FOOD ITEMS IN PREPACKAGED FORM, WHETHER COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY PACKAGED, WITHOUT PROPER LABELLING AS REQUIRED BY THE THIRD SCHEDULE OF THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS.
ISSUING THE ADVICE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH SAID THE DEFINITION OF "PREPACKAGED FOOD" APPLIED TO ANY FOOD PACKAGED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE CONTENTS CANNOT BE ALTERED WITHOUT OPENING OR CHANGING THE PACKAGING AND THAT THE FOOD IS READY FOR PRESENTATION AS A SINGLE FOOD ITEM TO ULTIMATE CONSUMERS OR CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS.
THE REMINDER FOLLOWS A COURT CASE YESTERDAY IN WHICH A GINSENG AND DRIED SEAFOOD COMPANY IN TSUEN WAN WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $2,000 BY THE TSUEN WAN MAGISTRACY FOR SALE OF TWO PREPACKAGED FOOD ITEMS, CASHEW NUTS AND DRIED SQUID, WITHOUT MARKING OR LABELLING WITH THE NAME OR DESIGNATION OF THE FOOD, THE LIST OF INGREDIENTS, INDICATION OF MINIMUM DURABILITY AND THE NUMERICAL COUNT OF THE CONTENTS OR THE NET WEIGHT OF THE FOOD.
/THE COMPANY .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
17
THE COMPANY WAS PROSECUTED UNDER REGULATIONS 4A(1) AND 5(1) OF THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS, SECTION 55 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE.
IT WAS ALSO ORDERED TO PAY SAMPLE COSTS OF $78.
--------0-----------
WSD’S HK REGIONAL DEPUi CHANGING ADDRESS *****
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT’S HONG KONG AND ISLANDS REGIONAL DEPOT, AT PRESENT LOCATED IN BULLOCK LANE, WAN CHAI, WILL MOVE TO NORTH POINT ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
THE NEW DEPOT AT 611 KING’S ROAD IS ACCESSIBLE FROM EITHER THE NORTH POINT OR THE QUARRY BAY MTR STATION.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO UNDERTAKE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SERVICES TO THE CONSUMERS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE OUTLYING ISLANDS.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE DEPOT’S TECHNICAL COMPLAINTS CENTRE ARE 8802500 (FROM MIDNIGHT TO 8 AM) AND 8110788 (FROM 8 AM TO MIDNIGHT).
THE CENTRE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE 24 HOURS DAILY. IT WILL RECEIVE NOTICE/COMPLAINTS OF TECHNICAL FAULTS IN THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS SUCH AS A WATER MAIN BURST AND WEAK TAP PRESSURE AT THE CONSUMER END.
- - 0 - -
FIRING PRACTICE IN MARCH *****
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON 27 DAYS NEXT MONTH.
THE PUBLIC IS WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.
FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES AND TIMES THAT FIRING PRACTICE WILL
/DATE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
18
TIME
DATE
MARCH 1 (THURSDA ) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 2 (FRIDAY) MIDNIGHT - 5 PM
MARCH 3 (SATURDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 5 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 6 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 7 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 8 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 9 (FRIDAY) MIDNIGHT - 5 PM
MARCH 10 (SATURDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 12 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 13 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 14 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 15 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 16 (FRIDAY) MIDNIGHT - 5 PM
MARCH 17 (SATURDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 19 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 20 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 21 (WEDNESDAY) MIDNIGHT - 11.59 PM
MARCH 22 (THURSDAY) MIDNIGHT - 11.59 PM
MARCH 23 (FRIDAY) MIDNIGHT - 11.59 PM
MARCH 24 (SATURDAY) MIDNIGHT - 5 PM
MARCH 26 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 27 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 28 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 29 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 30 (FRIDAY) MIDNIGHT - 11.59 PM
MARCH 31 (SATURDAY) MIDNIGHT - 8.30 AM
--------0-----------
FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL ON LANTAU *****
RESIDENTS IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE DISTRICT'S ANNUAL FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL TO BE HELD AT BUDDHIST FAT HO MEMORIAL COLLEGE, TAI O, ON LANTAU ISLAND ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25), BEGINNING AT 11 AM.
THERE WILL BE PERFORMANCES BY THE POLICE DOG UNIT, MUSIC BY THE AUXILIARY POLICE BAND AND FIRST AID DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE.
AN EXHIBITION OF CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION AND SAMPLES OF SOFT DRUGS WILL ALSO BE HELD.
/THE EVENT .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
THE EVENT IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE TO SPREAD FIGHT CRIME MESSAGES TO ISLANDERS. ADMISSION IS FREE.
OFFICIATING AT THE CARNIVAL WILL BE A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR LAM WAI-KEUNG; THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KIM SALKELD; THE ISLANDS POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR WILLIAM WORRALL; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR YUEN CHIT-CHI.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ISLANDS DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 11 AM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25) AT BUDDHIST FAT HO MEMORIAL COLLEGE, TAI O, ON LANTAU ISLAND.
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCH, MD 1, WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER, TSIM SHA TSUI, AT 9 AM TO TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO LANTAU.
- - 0 - -
OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARDS DECLARED INVALID
*****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT ALL OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BEFORE JULY 1, 1987 TO MEN BORN
BETWEEN 1941 AND 1952, WILL CEASE TO BE VALID DOCUMENTS FROM MARCH 5.
A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
THIS IS THE SEVENTH BATCH OF IDENTITY CARDS DECLARED INVALID SINCE THIS NEW IDENTITY CARD RE-ISSUE SCHEME STARTED ON JULY 1, 1987.
"ONCE AN OLD CARD IS DECLARED INVALID, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY PURPOSE," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
"FOR EXAMPLE, MEN OF THE ABOVE AGE GROUP HOLDING AN INVALID OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR TRAVELLING ABROAD OR TO APPLY FOR A TRAVEL DOCUMENT."
THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED THEIR SPECIFIED CARD REPLACEMENT PERIODS DUE TO THEIR ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG OR ANY OTHER REASONS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY APPROACH ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES.
THESE CASES WILL BE LOOKED INTO THOROUGHLY AND DEALT WITH ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL MERITS.
/THE SIZE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
- 20 -
THE SIZE OF THE NEW TYPE IDENTITY CARDS IS THE SAME AS THE OLD ONES.
"HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE OLD CARDS AND THE NEW ONES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCES ARE:
* THE IDENTITY CARD NUMBER IS PRINTED ON THE TOP RIGHT CORNER IN THE OLD CARD, BUT IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF THE NEW CARD.
* THE HONG KONG CREST AT THE BACK IS REPLACED BY THE MULTICOLOUR BACKGROUND PRINTING.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
------0--------
ADDITIONAL MORNING SERVICE ON CROSS HARBOUR ROUTE 104
♦ * * * t
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 26), TWO SPECIAL DESPATCHES OF CROSS HARBOUR BUS ROUTE 104 WILL BE OPERATED FROM CHAK ON ESTATE IN SHAM SHUI PO TO CENTRAL DAILY FROM MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS, EXCEPT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, TO STRENGTHEN THE MORNING BUS SERVICE.
THE BUSES WILL DEPART FROM CHAK ON ESTATE BUS TERMINUS AT 7.45 AM AND 8.05 AM.
THIS SPECIAL MORNING SERVICE WILL OPERATE VIA CHAK ON ESTATE ACCESS ROAD, NAM CHEONG STREET, WOH CHAI STREET, TAI HANG TUNG ROAD, BOUNDARY STREET, KNIGHT STREET, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST, NATHAN ROAD, GASCOIGNE ROAD, CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH, FLYOVER, HONG CHONG ROAD, CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, GLOUCESTER ROAD, HARCOURT ROAD, COTTON TREE DRIVE, FLYOVER, QUEENSWAY, DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND QUEEN VICTORIA STREET.
------0--------
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL
♦ * * » *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM NOON TO 6 PM ON
SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25), THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN CENTRAL TO FACILITATE THE HOLDING OF THE "5TH HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN MILE":
» THE SECTION OF CHATER ROAD BETWEEN JACKSON ROAD AND MURRAY ROAD WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
» CLUB STREET WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
* BUSES ON CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL ROUTE 103 ON JOURNEYS TO POKFIELD ROAD WILL OMIT CLUB STREET AND CHATER ROAD.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
THE EVENT IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE TO SPREAD FIGHT CRIME MESSAGES TO ISLANDERS. ADMISSION IS FREE.
OFFICIATING AT THE CARNIVAL WILL BE A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR LAM WAI-KEUNG; THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KIM SALKELD; THE ISLANDS POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR WILLIAM WORRALL; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR YUEN CHIT-CHI.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ISLANDS DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 11 AM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25) AT BUDDHIST FAT HO MEMORIAL COLLEGE, TAI O, ON LANTAU ISLAND.
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCH, MD 1, WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER, TSIM SHA TSUI, AT 9 AM TO TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO LANTAU.
- - 0 - -
OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARDS DECLARED INVALID
*****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT ALL OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BEFORE JULY 1, 1987 TO MEN BORN
BETWEEN 1941 AND 1952, WILL CEASE TO BE VALID DOCUMENTS FROM MARCH 5.
A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
THIS IS THE SEVENTH BATCH OF IDENTITY CARDS DECLARED INVALID SINCE THIS NEW IDENTITY CARD RE-ISSUE SCHEME STARTED ON JULY 1, 1987.
"ONCE AN OLD CARD IS DECLARED INVALID, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY PURPOSE," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
"FOR EXAMPLE, MEN OF THE ABOVE AGE GROUP HOLDING AN INVALID OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR TRAVELLING ABROAD OR TO APPLY FOR A TRAVEL DOCUMENT."
THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED THEIR SPECIFIED CARD REPLACEMENT PERIODS DUE TO THEIR ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG OR ANY OTHER REASONS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY APPROACH ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES.
THESE CASES WILL BE LOOKED INTO THOROUGHLY AND DEALT WITH ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL MERITS.
/THE SIZE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1990
20
THE SIZE OF THE NEW TYPE IDENTITY CARDS IS THE SAME AS THE OLD ONES.
’’HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE OLD CARDS AND THE NEW ONES,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCES ARE:
* THE IDENTITY CARD NUMBER IS PRINTED ON THE TOP RIGHT CORNER IN THE OLD CARD, BUT IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF THE NEW CARD.
* THE HONG KONG CREST AT THE BACK IS REPLACED BY THE MULTICOLOUR BACKGROUND PRINTING.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
------0--------
ADDITIONAL MORNING SERVICE ON CROSS HARBOUR ROUTE 104
♦ * * * »
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 26), TWO SPECIAL DESPATCHES OF CROSS HARBOUR BUS ROUTE 104 WILL BE OPERATED FROM CHAK ON ESTATE IN SHAM SHUI PO TO CENTRAL DAILY FROM MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS, EXCEPT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, TO STRENGTHEN THE MORNING BUS SERVICE.
THE BUSES WILL DEPART FROM CHAK ON ESTATE BUS TERMINUS AT 7.45 AM AND 8.05 AM.
THIS SPECIAL MORNING SERVICE WILL OPERATE VIA CHAK ON ESTATE ACCESS ROAD, NAM CHEONG STREET, WOH CHAI STREET, TAI HANG TUNG ROAD, BOUNDARY STREET, KNIGHT STREET, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST, NATHAN ROAD, GASCOIGNE ROAD, CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH, FLYOVER, HONG CHONG ROAD, CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, GLOUCESTER ROAD, HARCOURT ROAD, COTTON TREE DRIVE, FLYOVER, QUEENSWAY, DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND QUEEN VICTORIA STREET.
------0--------
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM NOON TO 6 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25), THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN CENTRAL TO FACILITATE THE HOLDING OF THE "5TH HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN MILE”:
♦ THE SECTION OF CHATER ROAD BETWEEN JACKSON ROAD AND MURRAY ROAD WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
» CLUB STREET WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
» BUSES ON CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL ROUTE 103 ON JOURNEYS TO POKFIELD ROAD WILL OMIT CLUB STREET AND CHATER ROAD.
--------0------------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY PUBLISHED ................................... 1
HONG KONG WILL REMAIN A UNIQUELY SUCCESSFUL ECONOMY ............................ 3
GOVERNOR TO VISIT TSUEN WAN .................................................... 4
LAST PASSING OUT PARADE AT POLICE CADET SCHOOL.................................. 5
POLICE REGIONAL MISSING PERSONS UNITS ACHIEVE HIGH LOCATION RATE ............... 6
THOROUGHFARE IMPROVEMENTS FOR SQUATTERS IN WONG TAI SIN......................... 8
WAN CHAI RESIDENTS HONOURED..................................................... 9
'PUBLIC OPINION LRV' IN TUEN MUN............................................... 10
CROSS COUNTRY RACE IN NORTH DISTRICT.............;............................. 11
WAN CHAI TO HOLD FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL.......................................... 12
VARIETY SHOW FOR TAI PO RESIDENTS ............................................. 12
SURVEY ON DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS............................ 13
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION ........................................... 13
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN WAN CHAI ............................................... 14
PARTIAL CLOSURE OF TAI PO ROAD
15
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY PUBLISHED
*****
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) PUBLISHED THE CONSUMER. PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1990.
THE CPI(A) AND CPI(B) (OCT. 84/SEP. 85 = 100) FOR JANUARY 1990 WERE 135.2 AND 134.7 RESPECTIVELY, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 9.8 PER CENT AND 9.5 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER JANUARY 1989. THESE RATES OF INCREASE WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE RECORDED FOR DECEMBER 1989.
COMPARING JANUARY 1990 WITH DECEMBER 1989, THE CPI(A) INCREASED BY 1.2 PER CENT AND THE CPI(ID, BY 1 PER CENT, LARGELY BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES OF FRESH FOOD ITEMS AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING AROUND LUNAR NEW YEAR, AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES.
THE AVERAGE CPI(A) AND AVERAGE CPI(B) FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 1990, AT 130.4 AND 130.0 RESPECTIVELY, WERE 10.1 PER CENT AND 9.7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 1989.
DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 1990, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CPI(A) AND CPI(B) BOTH INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.8 PER CENT PER MONTH.
THE CPI(A) AND THE CPI(B) ARE BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF 50 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE DERIVED FROM THE 1984/85 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY. THE CPI(A) REFERS TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $2,000 AND $0,499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME AND THE CPI(B) BETWEEN $6,500 AND $9,999 A MONTH.
CHANGES IN THE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1990 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, AS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989 AND JANUARY 1989,. ARE GIVEN BELOW.
(OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 AVERAGE = 100)
SECTION CPI(A) CPI(B)
INDEX FOR JAN.90 % CHANGE OVER DEC.89 % CHANGE OVER JAN.«9 INDEX FOR JAN.90 % CHANGE OVER DEC.89 % CHANGE OVER JAN.89
FOODSTUFFS 137.1 + 2.4 + 11.3 138.8 + 2.4 + 11.8
HOUSING 126.0 + 0.4 + 7.1 121.0 + 0.6 + 6.4
/FUEL AND .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
- 2
FUEL AND LIGHT 99.5 + 1.4 + 5.8 99.6 + 1.4 + 5.3
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) 143.7 + 1.4 + 14.3 144.3 + 1.2 + 13.8
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 137.6 -2.8 + 5.4 138.9 -3.6 + 4.8
DURABLE GOODS 122.5 -0.3 + 1 .8 121 .3 -0.5 + 1.5
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 135.6 -0.4 + 4.2 135. 1 -0.6 + 4.5
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 140.3 + 0.5 + 13.3 139.6 + 0.6 + 12.9
SERVICES 153.4 + 1.5 + 14.3 153.7 + 1.7 + 14.4
ALL ITEMS 135.2 + 1.2 + 9.8 134.7 + 1.0 + 9.5
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY 2.4 PER CENT IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B). THIS WAS MAINLY DUE TO INCREASES IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF LIVE POULTRY, PORK, FRESH VEGETABLES, SALT-WATER FISH, SHRIMPS AND CRABS AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, AND IN THE AVERAGE CHARGE FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES.
THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT INCREASED BY 1.4 PER CENT IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS AND KEROSENE AND THE FULL EFFECT OF THE RECENTLY INCREASED CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY AND TOWNGAS.
THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND CONSUMPTION) INCREASED BY 1.4 PER CENT IN CPI(A) IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER PRICES OF BEER AND THE INCREASES IN THE PRICES OF CIGARETTES.
TOBACCO (FOR HOME
AND BY 1.2 PER CENT FULL EFFECT OF THE
THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY 2.8 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 3.6 PER CENT IN CPI(B) BECAUSE OF LOWER PRICES OF OUTERCLOTHING, r
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY 1.5 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.7 PER CENT IN CPl(B) DUE TO HIGHER CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING AND PACKAGE TOURS AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND FOR. MEDICAL TREATMENT.
FIGURES HEREIN REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. ALL PERCENTAGE CHANGES ARE DERIVED FROM CPI FIGURES TAKEN TO MORE THAN 1 DECIMAL PLACE.
/MORE DETAILS .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
- 3 -
MORE DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN THE ’’CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT” FOR JANUARY 1990, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT $5 PER COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG; OR FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19/F., WANCHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG; OR FROM THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS.
TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDEXES MAY BE MADE TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 8235089.
THE HANG SENG CPI WAS 142.7 IN JANUARY 1990, UP BY 0.4 PER CENT OVER DECEMBER 1989 AND UP BY 11.1 PER CENT OVER JANUARY 1989.
THE HANG SENG CPI IS BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF THE 10 PER CENT OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG THAT SPENT $ 10,OOO-$24,999 A MONTH DURING THE 1984/85 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY.
FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THIS INDEX ARE INCLUDED IN THE HANG SENG CPI REPORT ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF HANG SENG BANK LTD.
------0------------
HONG KONG WILL REMAIN A UNIQUELY SUCCESSFUL ECONOMY *****
SPENDING ON DOMINATE MUCH OF THE BUT THE END RESULTS POSITION TO MAINTAIN
Till MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS WILL GOVERNMENT’S FINANCIAL PLANNING OVER THIS DECADE, WILL PUT HONG KONG IN AN EXTREMELY STRONG ITS ECONOMIC STRENGTH INTO THE NEXT CENTURY.
THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY (SATURDAY) WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT HONG KONG’S ECONOMH AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE ROLF Ol THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY XT THE BAKER AX’D MACKIN/IF PACIFIC BASIN MEETING.
SAID THIS
CHALLENGES
BUSINESS
HE SAID THF PORT AND IFPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATFGX , I 111- (ORI PROJECTS OF WHICH ALONE COST $127 BILLION, WAS ONE PART1CI LAK AREA WHERE THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSMEN WAS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT.
’’THEY WILL INVOLVE MAJOR, PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT OF ALL KINDS -- BOTH IN THE FORM OF PRIVATISED PROJECTS AND FINANCE, AND OF WORK FOR FIRMS OF ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, AND EVEN LAWYERS,’ HE SAID.
/REVIEWING THE .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
4
REVIEWING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY, MR MACLEOD POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD ENJOYED HIGH GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS — AVERAGING NINE PER CENT PER ANNUM IN REAL TERMS OVER THE FOUR YEARS TO 1989.
"THIS HAS RESULTED IN A PER CAPITA GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF AROUND US$11,000 IN 1989, THIRD AFTER JAPAN AND BRUNEI IN THIS REGION. AND IN TERMS OF EUROPE, ABOVE IRELAND AND SPAIN, AND MORE THAN DOUBLE GREECE AND PORTUGAL.
"OF COURSE IT IS TRUE THAT IN COMMON WITH OTHER ECONOMIES WE ARE EXPERIENCING A SLOWING DOWN IN GROWTH.
"WE ARE ALSO SUFFERING FROM A VERY TIGHT LABOUR MARKET, AND INFLATION AT AROUND 10 PER CENT," HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT EVEN AFTER THE EVENTS OF JUNE LAST YEAR, HONG KONG REMAINED A DYNAMIC ECONOMY WITH POSITIVE IF LOWER GROWTH IN PROSPECT, AND NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO” MAKE A PROFIT.
"THIS IS NOT JUST OUR OWN PERSPECTIVE. THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR NEW INVESTMENTS IN HONG KONG IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS, INCLUDING US$350 MILLION FOR A CENTRAL DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT SITE, US$700 MILLION FOR A CABLE TV NETWORK, NEW FACTORIES FROM USA AND JAPAN, NEW OVERSEAS BANKS, AND US$1.35 BILLION RAISED FOR NEW CONTAINER TERMINALS," HE ADDED.
IN CONCLUSION, MR MACLEOD SAID HONG KONG WAS VERY AWARE OF THE NEED TO REMAIN A WELCOMING AND PROFITABLE PLACE FOR OVERSEAS BUSINESSMEN.
IT WAS THE COMBINATION OF OUR OWN ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AND A WELL EDUCATED AND HARD WORKING POPULATION WITH OVERSEAS SKILLS AND CONNECTIONS THAT MADE HONG KONG SUCH A UNIQUELY SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY, HE NOTED.
---------0-----------
GOVERNOR TO VISIT TSUEN WAN *****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WILL VISIT TSUEN WAN ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 26) TO SEE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
SIR DAVID WILL FIRST TOUR MA WAN BEFORE VISITING THE MA WAN RURAL COMMITTEE. HE WILL LEAVE THE ISLAND BY HELICOPTER.
IN TSUEN WAN, HE WILL PROCEED TO A ROOFTOP IN RIVIERA GARDENS WHERE HE WILL BE UPDATED ON THE DEVELOPMENTS OF TSUEN WAN.
/THE NEXT .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
- 5 -
THE NEXT STOP WILL BE THE REAR LANE OF WANG WO TSAI STREET, A SITE WHICH HAS HAD DRAINAGE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS.
ON HIS WAY TO THE NEWLY BUILT JOCKEY CLUB TAK WAH PARK IN THE TOWN CENTRE, THE GOVERNOR WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE IMPROVEMENT WORKS AT THE TOWN CENTRE.
AFTER VISITING THE YUEN YUEN INSTITUTE IN LO WAI, SIR DAVID WILL MEET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AT A TEA RECEPTION AT THE SHEK WAI KOK COMMUNITY HALL
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO TSUEN WAN ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 26) AFTERNOON.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES COVERING THE MA WAN PART OF THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT AND WISH TO TAKE GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT SHOULD ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE YMCA HOSTEL AT MIDDLE ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI AT 12.45 PM.
THOSE WHO USE THEIR OWN TRANSPORT SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE TSUEN WAN PUBLIC PIER (NEXT TO THE TSUEN WAN HYF FERRY PIER). A PRESS LAUNCH WIL1 LEAVE FOR MA WAN AT 1.40 PM SHARP.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT REPORTERS COVERING THIS PART OF THE VISIT WOULD MISS ONE OR TWO SUBSEQUENT STOPS BEFORE THEY CAN REJOIN THE GOVERNOR’S ENTOURAGE AS SIR DAVID WILL LEAVE THE ISLAND BY HELICOPTER.
THOSE WHO CHOOSE THE RIVIERA GARDENS AS THEIR FIRST STOP SHOULD GATHER OUTSIDE THE SOUTHORN CENTRE ENTRANCE AT HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI AT 1.45 PM WHERE TRANSPORT WILL BE AWAITING THEM.
--------0-----------
LAST PASSING OUT PARADE AT POLICE CADET SCHOOL * » ♦ ♦ r
THE POLICE CADET SCHOOL, A CRADLE FOR NOURISHING NEW BLOOD I? ro THE DISCIPLINED FORCES DURING THE PAST 17 YEARS, WAS CLOSED IOLLOWING Till GRADl ATION OF THE LAST BATCH OF CADETS TODAY (SATURDAY).
OFFICIATING AT THE LAST PASSING OUT PARADE AT THE SCHOOL IN FAx GARDENS, Till COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR LI KWAN-HA, REMINDED THE CADET GRADUATES TO REMAIN STEADFAST AND AVOID TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT.
/MR LI ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
MR LI TOLD THE GRADUATING OFFICERS: "ALL OF YOU WILL BE ENTERING THE WORK FORCE AT A TIME WHEN HONG KONG IS FACING A VERY CHALLENGING PERIOD IN ITS HISTORY.
"UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE IS BOUND TO CAUSE DOUBTS, BUT HONG KONG HAS OVERCOME WORSE IN THE PAST.
"THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE ITS GREATEST SINGLE ASSET, AND YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE YOU MUST CONTRIBUTE IF WE ARE TO ENJOY ANY SUCCESS," HE STRESSED.
NOTING THAT THE GRADUATES HAD JUST COMPLETED A DEMANDING TRAINING COURSE, MR LI POINTED OUT THAT THE BASIC QUALITIES THAT HAD BEEN INSTILLED IN THEM WERE OF VALUE IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND SHOULD HELP THEM DEVELOP INTO A MOST USEFUL MEMBER OF SOCIETY.
"YOUR TRAINING HERE HAS PREPARED YOU WELL. BUT AT TIMES YOU WILL STILL FACE PROBLEMS THAT SFEM INSOLUBLE. NEVER BE AFRAID TO SEEK HELP. AND ADVICE, OR ADMIT THAT YOU HAVE MADE A MISTAKE," THE POLICE CHIEF CONCLUDED.
ON PARADE TODAY WERE 102 CADETS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR TWO-YEAR TRAINING, BRINGING TO 4,298 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GRADUATES SINCE 1973 WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED.
AMONG THEM, 3,987 HAVE OPTED TO JOIN THE POLICE FORCE.
THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL WAS MADE IN MAY 1988 DUE TO THE RISING EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE FACT THAT THE POLICE HAVE, IN RECENT YEARS, BEEN ABLE TO RECRUIT SUFFICIENT OFFICERS OF THE RIGHT EDUCATIONAL STANDARD DIRECTLY.
THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED IN TWO PHASES WITH THE DODWELLS RIDGE CAMP CLOSING IN MARCH 1989, AND FAN GARDENS CAMP IN FEBRUARY 1990.
THE LAST INTAKE TO THE SCHOOL WAS IN MARCH 1988.
- - 0 - -
POLICE REGIONAL MISSING PERSONS UNITS ACHIEVE HIGH LOCATION RATE
* * * * *
WITH THOUSANDS OF MISSING PERSONS REPORTS BEING MADE TO THE POLICE ANNUALLY, REGIONAL MISSING PERSONS UNITS CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE A LOCATION RATF OF OVER 90 PER CENT.
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 60 PER CENT OF ALL MISSING PERSONS REPORTS WHILE DOMESTIC HELPERS RANK HIGHEST AMONG FOREIGN NATIONALS LISTED IN POLICE STATISTICS.
/FIGURES SHOW
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
FIGURES SHOW THAT 6,140 OF THE 6,356 PERSONS REPORTED MISSING LAST YEAR HAVE BEEN LOCATED. A TOTAL OF 7,074 PERSONS WERE REPORTED MISSING IN 1988 OF WHICH 6,907 WERE FOUND WHILE 6,606 REPORTS MADE IN J 987 RESULTED IN 6,470 PEOPLE BEING SUCCESSFULLY LOCATED.
THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF NORTH NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL MISSING PERSONS UNIT, WOMAN SENIOR INSPECTOR GABRIEL WONG, SAID: "FAILURE TO DO WELL AT SCHOOL OR FAMILY DISCORDS ARE THE MOST COMMON UNDERLYING FACTORS FOR CHILDREN RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME.
"ABOUT THREE-FIFTHS OF THE MISSING PERSONS IN OUR REGION RETURN HOME THEMSELVES BUT WE HAVE TO TRACK DOWN THE REST.
"THE JOB IS CHALLENGING AND REWARDING, ESPECIALLY WHEN A TARGET PERSON IS SPOTTED AFTER A LONG AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.
"BUT WE FEEL DISPIRITED WHEN A PERSON GOES MISSING REPEATEDLY."
ECHOED THE HEAD OF HONG KONG TSI,AND MISSING PERSONS UNIT, WOMAN SENIOR INSPECTOR ROCKA CHENG,: "I CAME ACROSS A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL FROM A RELATIVELY WELL OFF FAMILY WHO WENT MISSING CONTINUOUSLY.
"HER PARENTS FINALLY AGREED TO PUT HER IN A HOME, IN THE J1OPE THAT SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD GIVE HER SUITABLE GUIDANCE.
"IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT THESE YOUNGSTERS ARE SO INCONSIDERATE OF (HEIR PARENTS’ CONCERN AND SUCCUMB TO EXTERNAL TEMPTATIONS TOO READILY.
"I AGREE WITH THE SUGGESTION SOMETIMES HEARD THAT POLICE PLAY THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN SOME AREAS OF THEIR DUTY. WE PLAY THAT ROLE PARTICULARLY IN THE DEBRIEFING PROCESS WHEN A MISSING PERSON IS FOUND.
"FRANKLY SPEAKING SOME OF THE GIRLS PURSUE AN EASY WAY TO MAKE A LIVING WHEN THEY DISAPPEAR INTO THE STATISTICS OF MISSING PERSONS. IT'S EASY FOR THEM TO GO INTO PROSTITUTION.
"BUT WE TRY TO IRON OUT MISUNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN PARTIES AND ESTABLISH \ WORKABLE CHANNEL FOR THEM TO COMMUNICATE AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER."
POLICE \PPEAI TO THE PUBLIC FOR ASSISTANCE IF THE INFORMANT HAS NO OBJECTION.
"ISSUING A PRESS RELEASE TO NEWSPAPERS IS OFTEN VERY EFFECTIVE,” MISS (’HENG SAID. "MANY ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE COME FORWARD WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION OF OUR TARGETS."
FILIPINO AND THAI DOMESTJl WORKERS CONTINUE TO RANK HIGHEST AMONG FOREIGN NATIONALS REPORTED MISSING IN THE POLICE STATISTICS.
/MISS CHENG ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
8
MISS CHENG SAID: "SOME ARE HOMESICK AND EAGER TO GO BACK HOME. SOME FAIL TO BUILD UP A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS AND LEAVE.
"BUT OTHERS SIMPLY WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY EASILY AND QUICKLY AND GO INTO PROSTITUTION."
WOMAN SENIOR INSPECTOR BEATRICE LIN, WHO HEADS THE REGIONAL MISSING PERSONS UNIT, KOWLOON WEST, ADDED: "IT’S NOT JUST JUVENILES, ADULTS ALSO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE OF UNSATISFACTORY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PARTNERS.
"IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF SEARCHING FOR A MISSING PERSON. WE ALSO TRY TO ESTABLISH THE REASONS BEHIND THEIR PROBLEMS AND TRY TO GET BOTH PARTIES TO COME BACK TOGETHER.
"I AGREE THAT WE ARE DOING THE JOBS OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN ADDITION TO OUR POLICE DUTIES."
UNFORTUNATELY INFORMATION ON SOME MISSING PERSONS IS SOMETIMES TOO OLD AND THE TRAIL TOO COLD FOR A SUCCESSFUL INVESTIGATION.
SOME CASES REFER TO PEOPLE REPORTED MISSING IN THE OUTER REGIONS OF CHINA WITH LAST REPORTED CONTACTS FREQUENTLY GOING BACK BEFORE WORLD WAR TWO.
SOMETIMES A PITIFUL LETTER ARRIVES AT THE OFFICES OF HONG KONG RED CROSS IN THE HOPE THAT SOME CONTACT MIGHT STILL EXIST IN THE TRACING OF A LOVED AND LONG LOST FAMILY MEMBER.
THE LETTER OFTEN ENCLOSES A STAMP FOR RETURN POSTAGE IN THE FORLORN HOPE THAT IT WILL ONE DAY RETURN TO THE INFORMANTS.
BUT LIKE SO MANY OTHERS THE OLD STAMP REMAINS ON THE FILE, UNUSED BESIDE THE FADED PHOTOGRAPH SENT OF IDENTIFY AN EVER HOPEFUL RELATIVE.
--------0-----------
THOROUGHFARE IMPROVEMENTS FOR SQUATTERS IN WONG TAI SIN » * * » »
WORKS WILL START SOON TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE ROADS FOR RESIDENTS IN SHEUNG YUEN LENG SQUATTER AREA IN DIAMOND HILL, WONG TAI
SIN.
IMPROVEMENT PLANS WERE AGREED ON DURING A RECENT VISIT TO THE AREA BY' STAFF OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL PROJECT CONTRACTORS.
/THE VISIT .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
THE VISIT, CO-ORDINATED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, WAS PLANNED AFTER A RECENT MEETING OF A WORKING GROUP ON THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE CONDITION OF THE ROADS IN THE AREA.
AS A RESULT OF THE VISIT, THE CONTRACTORS HAVE AGREED TO ENSURE THAT A PEDESTRIAN PATH AT HAMMER HILL ROAD LEADING TO LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WILL BE INSTALLED WITH RAILINGS FOR THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS.
THE PATH WILL BE FURTHER IMPROVED ONCE THE WORKS BY PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES ARE COMPLETED.
THE CONDITION OF A SECTION OF DIAMOND ROAD AFFECTED BY WORKS BEING CARRIED OUT BY A UTILITY COMPANY WILL ALSO BE RESTORED AS SOON AS WORKS ARE COMPLETED.
MEANWHILE, THE DAMAGED SURFACE OF ANOTHER SECTION OF THE ROAD NEAR DIAMOND NEW VILLAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED BY THE CONTRACTORS.
IN ADDITION, ROAD CROSSING FACILITIES WILL BE INSTALLED AT DIAMOND ROAD NEAR STRAIGHT STREET FOR RESIDENTS.
OTHER MEASURES IN THE PIPELINE INCLUDE THE IMPROVEMENT OF DRAINAGE FACILITIES AT A SECTION OF THE ROAD BETWEEN TAI KWUN ROAD AND LUEN YEE ROAD, AND THE INSTALLATION OF SIGNBOARDS AND ROAD SIGNS WARNING VEHICLES TO SLOW DOWN AT THAT SECTION OF THE ROAD.
- - 0 - -
WAN CHAI RESIDENTS HONOURED t t t * t
EIGHTEEN WAN CHAI RESIDENTS WERE AWARDED CERTIFICATES BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD TODAY (SATURDAY) IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.
A BOARD OF ADJUDICATORS, COMPRISING A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, A SOCIAL WORKER AND A MEMBER OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD, HAD SELECTED THE RECIPIENTS BASED ON THE LENGTH AND EXTENT OF THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
/THE RECIPIENTS
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
THE RECIPIENTS CAME FROM VARIOUS WALKS OF LIFE, AND AMONG THEM WERE EDUCATIONALISTS, SHOPOWNERS, RETIRED WORKERS AND HOUSEWIVES.
.SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD AT THE BOARD’S SPRING RECEPTION, CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION, MR WARREN CHOW, PRAISED THE RECIPIENTS FOR THEIR DEVOTION TO COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND POINTED OUT THAT RESPONSE TO THE AWARD SCHEME HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING.
OFFICATING AT THE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE WERE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR CHAN YING-LUN; WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD, MRS PEGGY LAM.
- - 0 - -
’PUBLIC OPINION LRV’ IN TUEN MUN
♦ t t ♦ ♦
A ’’PUBLIC OPINION LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE" WILL BE THE LATEST DEVICE EMPLOYED TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION, IN AN EVENT TO BE HELD TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
A TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID THE EVENT HAS BEEN ORGANISED IN SUPPORT OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE "CIVIC EDUCATION DAY".
"LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO MEET THEIR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS ON THE ’PUBLIC OPINION LRV’. WE HOPE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KEEP CLOSER CONTACT WITH THE DB MEMBERS SO AS TO FORGE A BETTER TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION AND TO ENHANCE THE RESIDENTS’ CIVIC MINDEDNESS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE "PUBLIC OPINION LRV" WILL LEAVE THE NO. 4 PLATFORM OE THE FERRY PIER TERMINUS AT 10 AM TOMORROW FOR SHAN KING, TAI HING, TOWN CENTRE, ON TING, AND TERMINATE AT FERRY PIER TERMINUS.
"FREE TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FIVE STATIONS FOR RESIDENTS TO GET ON BOARD THE VEHICLE AT ANY OF THESE STATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD, MR LAU WONG-FAT, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF TUEN MUN, MR JOHN WAN, WILL JOINTLY OFFICIATE AT THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF THE "PUBLIC OPINION LRV" AT 10 AM TOMORROW (SUNDAY) ON THE NO. 4 PLATFORM OF THE LRT FERRY PIER TERMINUS.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
- - 0
/Il
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
11
CROSS COUNTRY RACE IN NORTH DISTRICT
*****
HUNDREDS OF RUNNERS AGED BETWEEN 12 AND 60, FROM ALL PARTS OF THE TERRITORY, WILL COMPETE THE AN ANNUAL CROSS COUNTRY RACE IN NORTH DISTRICT TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
SPONSORED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, THE RACE HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE SHEUNG SHUI DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE RESIDENTS’ INTEREST IN SPORTS.
THE RACE HAS BEEN HELD SINCE 1964 AS PART OF LUNAR NEW YEAR ACTIVITIES, WITH THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS RISING FROM AN INITIAL 30 TO ABOUT 450 LAST YEAR.
THERE WILL BE WOMEN’S AND MEN'S SECTIONS. THE WOMEN’S RACE WILL COVER EIGHT KILOMETRES AND THE MEN’S RACE, 10 KILOMETRES.
THE WOMEN’S RACE WILL START AT 3.15 PM IN HUNG LING VILLAGE, AT THE ENTRANCE TO PING CHE ROAD. THE MEN’S RACE WILL BEGIN 15 MINUTES LATER FROM THE SING PING PUBLIC SCHOOL IN TA KWU LING.
THEY WILL ALL FINISH AT THE SHEK WU HUI PLAYGROUND IN SHEUNG
SHUI .
THE ASSISTANT NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER (COMMUNITY AFFAIRS), MR PATRICK HO, WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO WINNERS AT THE FINISHING POINT, AROUND 4.45 PM.
OTHER GUESTS OFFICIATING AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL INCLUDE THE FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN OF HEUNG YEE KUK, MR LIU CHING-LEUNG; SHEUNG SHUI RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR BRIAN KAN; CHAIRMAN OF THE SHEK WU HUI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MR CHEUNG KUEN; AND THE POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, FRONTIER, MR MICHAEL WATSON.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE NORTH DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY RACE TOMORROW (SUNDAY). THE WOMEN’S SECTION WILL START AT 3.15 PM AND THE MEN’S SECTION AT 3.30 PM AT HUNG LING VILLAGE AND AT TA KWU LING’S SING PING PUBLIC SCHOOL RESPECTIVELY.
- 0 - -
/12
V.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
WAN CHAI TO HOLD FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL Ct***
A CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD IN SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND IN WAN CHAI TOMORROW (SUNDAY) TO DRIVE HOME THE FIGHT CRIME AND ANTI-TRIAD MESSAGES.
THE FUNCTION HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO HELP THE POLICE FIGHT CRIME.
SPONSORED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD, THE CARNIVAL WILL FEATURE A LION DANCE, MARCHING BAND, MAGIC SHOW, CYCLING ACROBATICS, AND PERFORMANCES BY WELL KNOWN SINGERS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE GAMES STALLS, A ROBOT POLICEMAN DISTRIBUTING PAMPHLETS TO PARTICIPANTS AND A FIGHT CRIME AND ANTI-TRIAD EXHIBITION.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE CARNIVAL WILL BE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN; POLICE DEPUTY DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR W.I. NICHOLSON; WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM; AND CHAIRMAN OF WAN CHAI DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR LESTER KWOK.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE WAN CHAI FIGHT CRIME AND ANTI-TRIAD CARNIVAL WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND.
- - 0 - -
VARIETY SHOW FOR TAI PO RESIDENTS ******
RESIDENTS IN TAI PO ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE EVENING IN A VARIETY SHOW TO BE HELD AT TAI PO CIVIC CENTRE TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE VARIETY SHOW, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 8 PM, IS ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE AS A FINALE TO THE THREE-MONTH CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN IN THE DISTRICT.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE A MAGIC SHOW AND PERFORMANCES BY POP SINGERS AND WINNERS OF THE CIVIC EDUCATION SINGING CONTEST.
ADMISSION IS FREE. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
- - 0 -
/13
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
13
SURVEY ON DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS *****
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONDUCT A SURVEY ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION IN PRIVATE HOUSING IN NEW TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR FUTURE PLANNING PURPOSES.
THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE SURVEY WILL BE USED IN THE FORECASTS OF POPULATION DISTRIBUTION WHICH ARE VITAL IN ALL POPULATION-RELATED PLANNING SUCH AS THE PLANNING OF SCHOOLS AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
A PRIVATE RESEARCH FIRM, SURVEY RESEARCH HONG KONG LIMITED (SRH), HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED TO CONDUCT THE SURVEY FROM FEBRUARY 28 TO END OF APRIL.
DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD, INTERVIEWERS FROM SRH WILL VISIT A TOTAL OF 13,000 HOUSEHOLDS WHICH ARE RANDOMLY SELECTED AND HOUSEHOLDS ARE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO COMPLETE A PRE-DESIGNED QUESTIONNAIRE.
THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL ONLY BE REPORTED IN AGGREGATES FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS SO THAT NO DATA OF ANY INDIVIDUAL/HOUSEHOLD CAN BE IDENTIFIED.
THE SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MAIL.
ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY CAN BE MADE TO MR LARRY WONG (TELEPHONE NO. 8803386) OR MISS WONG KA-YING (TELEPHONE NO. 8803411) OF SRH.
- 0----------
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION *****
FORTY SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE PUT UP FOR AUCTION THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING FOR A TOTAL OF $1,227,000 WHICH WILL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES.
THE AUCTION, HELD AT THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL, SAW THE REGISTRATION NUMBER EE2 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $280,000.
ANOTHER NUMBER EE28 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $138,000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $3,000 FOR EE 105 .
/FOLIOWING ARE .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
FOLLOWING ARE THE RESULTS OF TODAY’S AUCTION:
$ $ $ $
EE6638 9,000 EE2 280,000 EE288 45,000 EE338 50,000
EE 105 3,000 EE983 12,000 EE330 15,000 CC5000 25,000
DY9328 4,000 EE880 20,000 EE99 75,000 BR6999 5,000
BZ 500 ' 18,000 BM325 20,000 EE6618 30,000 EE959 8,500
BM 730 25,000 3693 39,000 EE103 10,000 EE2220 11,000
EE 991 12,000 EE110 23,000 BB678 20,000 ED645 6,500
EE 28 138,000 EE280 30,000 EE1300 5,500 EE3378 10,000
EE3299 6,000 EE932 5,000 EE220 18,000 EE2331 5,000
EE 877 10,000 EC119 11,000 EB4 28,000 EE1811 8,500
EE 388 85,000 EE7 70,000 EE320 5,000 EE7333 26,000
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WERE REQUIRED TO PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BIDDING.
THE NUMBERS AUCTIONED WILL BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE DATE OF AUCTION.
TODAY’S SALE, THE 147TH ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR CHARITY REALISED SO FAR TO $98,997,305.
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TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN WAN CHAI * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 26), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO FACILITATE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WORKS;
* CANAL ROAD WEST BETWEEN JAFFE ROAD AND LOCKHART ROAD WILL
BE CLOSED FROM 10 AM TO 2 PM. TRAFFIC ON EASTBOUND LOCKHART ROAD
HEADING FOR GLOUCESTER ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA PERCIVAL STREET;
* CANAL ROAD WEST BETWEEN JAFFE ROAD AND GLOUCESTER ROAD WILL
BE CLOSED FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM. DURING THE TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE,
CANAL ROAD WEST BETWEEN JAFFE ROAD AND LOCKHART ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND. TRAFFIC' ON EASTBOUND JAFFE ROAD HEADING FOR GLOUCESTER ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA CANAL ROAD WEST, LOCKHART ROAD AND PERCIVAL STREET.
/15 .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1990
-IM-
PARTIAL CLOSURE OF TAI PO ROAD * * t *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORKS, ABOUT ONE KILOMETRE OF THE OUTERMOST LANE OF TAI PO ROAD (TAI WO) NORTHBOUND NEAR HONG LOK YUEN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 26).
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
DELEGATION TO STUDY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN SINGAPORE ........................... 1
IMPROVEMENT TO BASIC LAW URGED ................................................. 2
RESIDENTS TAKE PART IN CIVIC EDUCATION CARNIVAL ................................ 3
TEENAGERS REMINDED OF EVILS OF TRIADS .......................................... 4
CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN CONCLUDED IN TAI PO ................................... 4
PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES POPULAR ................................................ 5
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ..................... 6
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO DRAFTING OF WHITE PAPER .. 7
DB FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES .................................... 8
MAJOR NEW FACILITIES FOR MARINE POLICE IN PROGRESS ............................. 8
POLICE ARRESTED 1,201 PEOPLE IN 4,249 RAIDS IN JANUARY ........................ 10
CLEIC OFFICE ON MOVE .......................................................... 11
NEW IDENTITY CARDS FOR MEN BORN IN 1928-31 .................................... 11
TRAFFIC ARRANGMENTS TN SHEUNG SHUI, YAU MA TEI ................................ 13
WATER CUT IN NORTH POINT ...................................................... 13
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WAN CHAT
13
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
1
DELEGATION TO STUDY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN SINGAPORE ♦ * * » »
A 14-MEMBER DELEGATION OF THE WORKING PARTY ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LEFT HONG KONG TODAY (SUNDAY) FOR A FOUR-DAY STUDY VISIT TO SINGAPORE.
LED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING PARTY, PROFESSOR ROSIE YOUNG, THE DELEGATES INCLUDED THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, AND THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR S.H. LEE.
"THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY TO EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS IN SINGAPORE,” PROF YOUNG SAID BEFORE DEPARTURE.
"I HOPE THE VISIT WILL BROADEN OUR VISION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND LEAD THE WORKING PARTY TO CONSIDER MORE OPTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN HONG KONG."
PROF YOUNG POINTED OUT THERE WERE SEVERAL AREAS UNDER THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE WORKING PARTY WHERE SHE FELT THE EXPERIENCE OF SINGAPORE COULD BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO THE WORKING PARTY.
"SINGAPORE HAS A LOWER HOSPITAL BED TO POPULATION RATIO THAN HONG KONG, YET ITS HOSPITALS ARE NOT OVERCROWDED AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO RESORT TO THE USE OF CAMP BEDS," SHE SAID.
"WE WILL BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THE SYSTEM OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN SINGAPORE CONTRIBUTES TO REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON EXPENSIVE HOSPITAL BEDS.
"OTHERS AREAS WE WILL LOOK AT INCLUDE THE WAY IN WHICH THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE IN SINGAPORE IS RUN; HOW HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES ARE ORGANISED AND THE WAY IN WHICH PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS ARE TRAINED."
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, HRS WONG, ALSO SAID THE VISIT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE LINKS BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG IN THE FIELD OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARR, BOTH AT THE PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGERIAL LEVELS.
"HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE ARE TWO PLACES WITH MUCH IN COMMON AND THERE IS MUCH WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, BUT WE MUST ALSO BE AWARE OF OUR DIFFERENCES," SHE SAID.
"ONE IMPORTANT AREA THE WORKING PARTY HAS TO CONSIDER IS THE FINANCING OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE. WE WILL LOOK CLOSELY AT THE WAY THIS IS DONE IN SINGAPORE BUT IN THE END IT IS FOR US IN HONG KONG TO DEVISE OUR OWN SYSTEM OF FINANCING TO SUIT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.'
/WHILE IN .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
2
WHILE IN SINGAPORE, THE WORKING PARTY WILL ATTEND BRIEFINGS ON THE ORGANISATION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND ON THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR BY THE SINGAPORE COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS.
THE DELEGATES WILL \LSO VISIT AN OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT AND POLYCLINIC, A SENIOR CITIZENS HEALTH CARE CENTRE, A SCHOOL HEALTH CLINIC AND THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE.
SOME OF THE GOVERNMENT MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION WILL SPEND AN EXTRA DAY IN SINGAPORE TO DISCUSS WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS THE CONTROL OF CHINESE MEDICINE AND THE SINGAPORE OPT-OUT SCHEME FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTS.
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IMPROVEMENT TO BASIC LAW URGED
*****
AN "URGENT TASK" FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IS TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE BASIC LAW, THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ALLEN LEE, SAID AT THE OPENING OF THE "CIVIC EDUCATION DAY" THIS (SUNDAY) MORNING.
MR LEE SAID THAT WITH THE BASIC LAW DRAFT FINALISED AND THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1991 FIXED, "THE OUTLOOK IS BECOMING CLEARER."
"HOWEVER, WILL THIS BE A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE?" HE ASKED.
"AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, THIS PICTURE IS MERELY AN OUTLINE. THOUGH BEING CRITICISED FOR BEING NOT THE MOST IDEAL ONE, IT HAS A BASIC FRAME.
"NOW, THE URGENT TASK FOR US IS TO ADD BRIGHT COLOUR TO IT, TO SHOW ITS MERITS AND TO REMEDY ITS IMPERFECTION. BY DOING THIS, IT MIGHT BECOME A MASTERPIECE."
MR LEE SAID THE EFFECTS OF THE BASIC LAW WOULD BECOME BETTER AND MORE HARMONIOUS IF DIFFERENCES COULD BE ACCOMMODATED.
ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MR LEE SAID THIS HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AND URGENT AS HONG KONG FACED RAPID CHANGES ON THE POLITICAL SCENE AND OTHER FRONTS.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25. 1990
3
RESIDENTS TAKE PART IN CIVIC EDUCATION CARNIVAL
*****
HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS IN WONG TAI SIN TOOK PART IN A "CIVIC EDUCATION DAY" CARNIVAL HELD AT A LOCAL SECONDARY SCHOOL THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE CARNIVAL WAS ORGANISED BY THE WORKING GROUP ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE. IT ALSO MARKED THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE DISTRICT’S PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMME ON CIVIC EDUCATION FOR THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.
THERE WAS SINGING, FOLK DANCE PERFORMANCES AND GAME STALLS IN THE CARNIVAL HELD AT THE LOK SIN TONG WONG CHUNG MING SECONDARY SCHOOL.
THE GAME STALLS, SET UP BY 11 AREA COMMITTEES, CARRIED THE TWIN-THEME OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, AND PARTICIPATE IN, LOCAL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND PROMOTING THE SPIRIT OF THE RULE OF LAW.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING AND PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE CARNIVAL, THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, DR MICHAEL LEE, SAID CIVIC EDUCATION HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN VIEW OF THE CHANGES THE TERRITORY WAS FACING.
HE SAID THE DISTRICT BOARD HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING AREA COMMITTEES AND LOCAL BODIES TO ORGANISE MORE CIVIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.
"THE DISTRICT BOARD HAS ALLOCATED MORE THAN $160,000 FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES, WHICH HAVE NOT ONLY ENHANCED RESIDENTS’ CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT ALSO THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING AND INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS," DR LEE SAID.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP, MR ALBERT LI, SAID ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE GROUP INCLUDED A CIVIC EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR AREA COMMITTEES AND THE FORMATION OF CIVIC EDUCATION TEAMS.
"SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS ON CIVIC EDUCATION WERE PUBLISHED IN THE DISTRICT NEWSPAPER WHILE SOUVENIRS BEARING EDUCATIONAL SLOGANS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS", MR LI SAID.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE CEREMONY WERE A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MADAM NORA YAU; WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BRIAN LAU; REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (EAST KOWLOON), MR LOK MAN-PAN; WONG TAI SIN POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER, MR LAW HAY-SING; AND DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER FOR WONG TAI SIN, MISS MAN WAI-LING.
- - 0----------
/4 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
4 TEENAGERS REMINDED OF EVILS OF TRIADS » * ♦ ♦ ♦
THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN, TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED ON TEENAGERS TO STAY AWAY FROM TRIAD ACTIVITIES.
SPEAKING AT A FIGHT CRIME AND ANTI-TRIAD CARNIVAL ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR MANN SAID THE FUNCTION’S VARIETY SHOW, GAMES STALLS AND THE ANTI-TRIAD EXHIBITION WERE DESIGNED TO REMIND YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE EVILS OF TRIADS.
HE ALSO PRAISED THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE FOR ORGANISING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ANNUALLY TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CRIME PREVENTION.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR LESTER KWOK, SAID A MAJOR TASK FOR THE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR WAS TO ASSIST THE POLICE IN FIGHTING CRIME, AND REDUCING THE CRIME FIGURES IN THE DISTRICT.
ACTIVITIES TO BE LAUNCHED BY THE COMMITTEE TO DRIVE HOME THE ANTI-CRIME MESSAGE THIS YEAR INCLUDE A NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME, A HOME SECURITY SEMINAR, AN ANTI-TRIAD SLOGAN DESIGN COMPETITION AND AN ANTI-CRIME CROSS-WORD PUZZLE.
TODAY’S CARNIVAL, SPONSORED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD, BEGAN WITH A LION DANCE, AND PERFORMANCES BY A MARCHING BAND AND WELL-KNOWN SINGERS FOLLOWED. THERE WAS ALSO A MAGIC SHOW.
A CENTRE OF ATTRACTION WAS A ROBOT POLICEMAN DISTRIBUTING FIGHT CRIME PUBLICITY PAMPHLETS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM, AND THE POLICE DEPUTY DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR W.I. NICHOLSON, ATTENDED THE CARNIVAL.
- - 0----------
CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN CONCLUDED IN TAI PO
*****
A VARIETY SHOW AND A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WERE HELD AT TAI PO CIVIC CENTRE TONIGHT (SUNDAY) AS A FINALE TO THE TAI PO DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED A MAGIC SHOW AND PERFORMANCES BY POP SINGERS AND WINNERS OF THE CIVIC EDUCATION SINGING CONTEST.
/WINNERS OF .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
- 5 -
WINNERS OF THE SINGING CONTEST AND THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICES AWARDS RECEIVED PRIZES FROM THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO YUNG-SANG, AND THE ACTING DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS MARY CHOW.
THE TAI PO DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN STARTED IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED A SINGING CONTEST, AN OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICES AWARD SCHEME AND A SEMINAR.
THE CAMPAIGN WAS ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
------0--------
PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES POPULAR
* ♦ * » ♦
THE 68 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE (PES) CENTRES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) HANDLED A TOTAL OF 6.78 MILLION CASES DURING 1989, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 3.8 PER CENT OVER 1988.
A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE FIGURE REFLECTED THE POPULARITY OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PES CENTRES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE MOST POPULAR SERVICES INCLUDED ADMINISTERING DECLARATIONS AND OATHS, AND ENQUIRIES CONCERNING CIVIL SERVICE JOB VACANCIES, THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS, LOCATIONS AND OFFICE HOURS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND DISTRICT LEVEL FUNCTIONS.
DURING THE PERIOD, ABOUT 10.75 MILLION FORMS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC.
IN ADDITION TO ANSWERING ENQUIRIES AND DISTRIBUTING FORMS AND GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, THE PES CENTRES ALSO ARRANGED INTERVIEWS FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS’ "MEET-THE-PUBLIC” SCHEME, AND REFERRED CASES TO THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME AND THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID UNDER THE MEET-THE-PUBLIC'’ SCHEME, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO MAKE COMPLAINTS OR SUGGESTIONS MAY APPROACH THE NEAREST PES CENTRE TO ARRANGE FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.
THEIR COMPLAINTS AND OPINIONS WILL THEN BE REFERRED TO THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT BOARD AND DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION.
/THE DECLARATION .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
- 6 -
THE DECLARATION SERVICE IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE CENTRES ADMINISTERED 853,000 DECLARATIONS AND OATHS IN 1989, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 14.9 PER CENT OVER 1988.
THE MOST POPULAR TOPICS WERE DECLARATION OF TRUE COPY OF DOCUMENTS, AND THOSE RELATED TO EDUCATION EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME, WHICH STARTED IN 1978, WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CNTA AND THE LAW SOCIETY SO THAT RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO SEEK ADVICE ON CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS BUT CANNOT AFFORD THE FEES, WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE FREE CONSULTATION WITH VOLUNTARY LAWYERS.
A TOTAL OF 3,015 CASES WERE REFERRED TO THE LAW SOCIETY IN 1989.
UNDER THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME, LANDLORDS OR TENANTS WHO HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR STATUTORY RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS CAN SEEK ADVICE FROM RENT OFFICERS OF THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT WHO ARE ON DUTY AT 15 DISTRICT OFFICES.
DURING THE PERIOD, 19,425 PEOPLE CONSULTED THE RENT OFFICERS AT THE DISTRICT OFFICES.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE 68 PES CENTRES ARE LOCATED CONVENIENTLY IN THE 19 DISTRICT OFFICES AND THEIR SUB-OFFICES.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THESE CENTRES MAY APPROACH ANY OF THE CENTRES OR THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE SECTION AT CNTA HEADQUARTERS ON 29TH FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI. THEY CAN ALSO TELEPHONE 8351501.
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DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
*****
DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT (MEI) PROJECTS STRICT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (MONDAY).
WILL BEING
THE SOUTHERN DISCUSS THE MINOR CARRIED OUT IN THE DI
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE PROGRESS OF COMPREHENSIVE SQUATTER IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.
/OTHER AGENDA ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
7
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR MEI PROJECTS.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE TOMORROW (MONDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT, 7-11 NAM NING STREET, ABERDEEN CENTRE.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
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DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO DRAFTING OF WHITE PAPER
■ * t * * t
COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO THE DRAFTING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES WHITE PAPER WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 27).
THE DISCUSSION FOLLOWS THE SUBMISSION OF A PAPER BY A GROUP OF 31 SOCIAL WORKERS OUTLINING THEIR VIEWS.
ON OTHER TOPICS, A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER WILL ASK IF THERE ARE PLANS TO RECTIFY THE NOISE NUISANCE CAUSED BY TRAINS TO RESIDENTS OF HIN KENG ESTATE.
ANOTHER MEMBER WILL ASK WHETHER ADEQUATE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR THE DISABLED IN SHA TIN.
C
THE MEETING WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE AVAILABILITY OF INTERNATIONAL AND ENGLISH-SPEAKING SCHOOLS IN THF. DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 27) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
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/8 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
8
DB FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES * * ♦ ♦
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS FOR FUNDS FOR ORGANISING COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SERVICES COMMITTEE DECIDED AT A RECENT MEETING THAT IN 1990-91 MORE EMPHASIS WOULD BE PLACED ON PROMOTING ACTIVITIES FOR THE ELDERLY AND ON CIVIC EDUCATION.
"WE HOPE LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND VOLUNTARY BODIES WOULD PLAN THEIR ACTIVITIES ALONG THESE LINES,” HE SAID, ADDING THAT PRIORITY WOULD BE GIVEN TO COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECTS WHICH COULD GENERATE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY RESIDENTS.
OTHER NOVEL AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES, WHICH WOULD ENHANCE RESIDENTS’ SENSE OF BELONGING, WOULD ALSO BE SUPPORTED, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.
HE REMINDED ORGANISATIONS APPLYING FOR FUNDS TO DRAW UP A BALANCED PLAN FOR THEIR ANNUAL ACTIVITIES TO AVOID MANPOWER AND RESOURCES CONSTRAINTS AT THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR.
APPLICATIONS, TOGETHER WITH BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR PLANNED EVENTS, SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE DB SECRETARIAT, 11TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, NOT LATER THAN MARCH 12.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO MISS ROSANNA HO ON TEL. 8523480.
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MAJOR NEW FACILITIES FOR MARINE POLICE IN PROGRESS ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
MAJOR NEW FACILITIES FOR MARINE POLICE ARE IN PROGRESS WITH THE PROVISION OF IMPROVED HEADQUARTERS FOR HARBOUR DIVISION AND COASTAL BASES IN THE EAST AND WEST NEW TERRITORIES.
THE OPERATIONS OF THE INCREAS1NGLY BUSY MARINE HARBOUR DIVISION, ALREADY ENHANCED BY THE USE OF FACILITIES AT SHAM SHUT PO FERRY PIER, WILL BE FURTHER IMPROVED SOON WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS AT SAI WAN HO.
OCCUPATION OF THE NEW WATERFRONT HEADQUARTERS WILL ENABLE HARBOUR DIVISION TO MOVE FROM INLAND ACCOMMODATION AT MARINE REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS AT TSIM SHA TSUI, 400 YARDS FROM THE SHORE.
/IN ADDITION .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
- 9
IN ADDITION A NEW MARINE POLICE BASE FOR WEST DIVISION AT TAI LAM CHUNG IS DUE TO BE HANDED OVER NEXT MONTH.
AND FACILITIES ’’BEYOND THE DREAMS” OF MARINE POLICE WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE BIGGEST AND BEST MARINE HEADQUARTERS, TO BE BUILT FOR EAST DIVISION AT TUI MIN HOI.
’’THE BASE AT TUI MIN HOI WILL INCORPORATE ALL WE’VE LEARNED FROM HINDSIGHT AT OTHER BASES AND WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE EXCELLENT FACILITIES PROVIDED AT THE SOUTH DIVISION HEADQUARTERS AT ABERDEEN,” THE CHIEF STAFF INSPECTOR, MARINE BUILDINGS, IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BRANCH, MR DAVE WEAVER, SAID.
THE USE OF THE SHAM SHUI PO FERRY PIER IN THE WEST OF KOWLOON AND THE NEW SAI WAN HO HEADQUARTERS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AT THE EAST OF HARBOUR DIVISION’S WIDESPREAD WATERS ARE SEEN AS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT TN THE CAPABILITIES OF THE DIVISION, WHICH OPERATES FROM CAPE COLLINSON IN THE EAST TO DISCOVERY BAY, ON LANTAU ISLAND AND MA WAN ISLAND IN THE WEST.
’’HARBOUR IS AN INCREASINGLY BUSY DIVISION WITH INCREASING VESSELS USING IT,” MR WEAVER SAID. ’’THE OPERATING FACILITY AT SHAM SHUI PO AND THE NEW BASE AT SAI WAN HO WILL TREMENDOUSLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE WE GIVE TO THE PUBLIC IN THE HARBOUR.
”WE ANTICIPATE THAT SAI WAN HO WILL BE FULLY OPERATIONAL IN JUNE THIS YEAR, POSSIBLY SOONER.”
TAT LAM CHUNG MARINE POLICE BASE WILL PROVIDE LOCKER CHANGING, MESS AND CANTEEN FACILITIES FOR WEST DIVISION.
THERE WILL ALSO BE OFFICES, A SLIPWAY WITH A TROLLEY FOR SLIPPING VESSELS, A NEW PIER, CRANE AND SMALL BOAT BERTHING FACILITIES.
THE NEW BASE WILL ALLOW THE OLD CASTLE PEAK POLICE STATION TO BE HANDED BACK TO THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE. %
WEST DIVISION MARINE HEADQUARTERS WILL REMAIN AT ITS PRESENT POSITION NEAR THE NEW BASE ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
MR WEAVER SAID THE NEW BASE AT TUI MIN HOI, SAI KUNG, WOULD HAVE FACILITIES ’’STILL BEYOND THE DREAMS OF MARINE POLICE”.
”IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST AND BEST EQUIPPED BASE THE MARINE POLICE WILL EVER HAVE.”
THE MULTI-STOREY BUILDING, DUE FOR COMPLETION IN AUGUST 1991, WILL INCORPORATE SOPHISTICATED SULLAGING FACILITIES OF ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE AND OFFERING GREATER SAFETY TO CREWS.
/OTHER FEATURES .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
- 10 -
OTHER FEATURES WILL INCLUDE DEDICATED OUTBOARD ENGINE OVERHAUL MAINTENANCE WORKSHOPS, THREE VESSEL MAINTENANCE BAYS WITH A CRANE CAPABLE OF HOISTING 10 TONS, MACHINE TOOL WORKSHOPS, A CHANDLERY STORE, A LARGE FUEL FARM AND AIR CONDITIONED SMALL BOAT REPAIR BAY.
FOUR NEW BERTHS WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH PADDED FENDERS REPLACING THE CONVENTIONAL CUSHIONED WOOD FENDERS.
A LAWN FRONTAGE WILL PROVIDE A PATCH OF GREEN NEAR THE SEA FRONT, WHICH WILL ALSO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY AGREEABLE, MR WEAVER SAID.
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POLICE ARRESTED 1,201 PEOPLE IN 4,249 RAIDS IN JANUARY
*****
POLICE CONTINUED THEIR THREE-PRONGED ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST DRUGS, ILLEAGAL GAMBLING AND VICE ACTIVITIES LAST MONTH, RESULTING IN THE ARREST OF 1,201 PEOPLE IN 4,249 RAIDS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT DURING THE MONTH, 234 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN 414 RAIDS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 648 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN 3,609 RAIDS IN KOWLOON AND 303 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN 202 RAIDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
IN ADDITION, NARCOTICS BUREAU OFFICERS ARRESTED 16 PEOPLE IN 24 OPERATIONS.
IN THEIR SUSTAINED EFFORTS AGAINST VICE ACTIVITIES, POLICE ARRESTED 91 PEOPLE IN 3,496 RAIDS AND SEIZED 225 PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEO TAPES. *
ON THE ANTI-GAMBLING FRONT, POLICE CONDUCTED 89 RAIDS AND ARRESTED 552 PEOPLE, SEIZING $232,000 IN TABLE MONEY AND BETTING SLIPS WORTH ABOUT $1,431,000.
PEOPLE ALSO CARRIED OUT 664 RAIDS AND ARRESTED 558 PEOPLE IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING IN JANUARY. THE DRUGS SEIZED INCLUDED 30.6 KILOGRAMMES OF NO. 3 HEROIN, 337.4 GRAMS OF OPIUM AND 1.19 KILOGRAMMES OF CANNABIS.
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/Il ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUAh, 25, 1)90
11
CLEIC OFFICE ON MOVE * * * * *
THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SECTION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL BE MOVED TO SHELTER STREET IN CAUSEWAY BAY ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28.
THE NEW ADDRESS IS THIRD FLOOR, PARK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, SHELTER STREET, CAUSEWAY BAY. THE OFFICE WILL RESUME OPERATION ON MARCH 1 (THURSDAY).
THE EXISTING TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE SECTION WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
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NEW IDENTITY CARDS FOR MEN BORN IN 1928-31
*****
MEN BORN IN 1928, 1929, 1930 OR 1931 ARE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS FROM FEBRUARY 26 TO APRIL 7.
MEN OF THE ABOVE AGE GROUP SHOULD CALL AT ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES DURING THIS PERIOD.
THE NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES ARE OPEN FROM 8 AM TO 9.30 PM DAILY, EXCEPT SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
"IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE ISSUE OFFICES WILL BE VERY CROWDED IN THE EVENINGS. TO AVOID HAVING TO QUEUE UP AT THE ISSUE OFFICES OR TO COME BACK ON ANOTHER DAY, APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO GO TO THESE OFFICES IN THE MORNINGS AND AFTERNOONS," HE ADDED.
APPLICANTS MAY ALSO MAKE USE OF THE PHONE-IN SERVICE TO ARRANGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING THE OFFICE OF THEIR CHOICE.
THE ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE ISSUE OFFICES ARE:
HONG KONG : BASEMENT, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI TEL. NO. 5747070
EAST KOWLOON : AMOY PLAZA, SECOND FLOOR, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD TEL. NO. 7553679
WEST KOWLOON : CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SECOND FLOOR, 393 CANTON ROAD, YAU MA TEI
TEL. NO. 7232424
/TSUEN WAN .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
- 12 -
TSUEN WAN : EAST ASIA COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 29-37 TSUEN FU STREET
TEL. NO. 4981259
SHA TIN : SHOP 8A, SECOND FLOOR, CHANWAY SHOPPING CENTRE,
11-17 SHA TIN CENTRE STREET, TEL. NO. 6059108
YUEN LONG : HOP YICK CENTRE, SECOND FLOOR, 31 HOP YICK ROAD TEL. NO. 4771543
TUEN MUN : CHI LOK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, CHI LOK FA YUEN TEL. NO. 4580862
SHEUNG SHUI : TSUEN WO TAI LAU, GROUND FLOOR, 82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEK WU HUI TEL. NO. 6727191
’’APPLICANTS NORMALLY NEED TO BRING ALONG THEIR EXISTING IDENTITY CARDS IF THEIR CARDS WERE FIRST REGISTERED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS AGO AND BEAR THE **» SYMBOL,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"HOWEVER, IF THE APPLICANT’S IDENTITY CARD WAS FIRST REGISTERED LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS AGO OR DOES NOT HAVE THE **» SYMBOL, HE IS REQUIRED TO FURNISH MORE PERSONAL PROOF.
"IN ADDITION TO PRODUCING HIS EXISTING IDENTITY CARD, HE MUST PRODUCE HIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT AND EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING (IF ANY) -HONG KONG BIRTH CERTIFICATE, HONG KONG NATURALISATION CERTIFICATE OR HONG KONG REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE.
"IN SOME CASES, APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THEIR CLAIM TO HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY WILL BE ADVISED INDIVIDUALLY,” HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
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/13 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1990
- 13 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHEUNG SHUI, YAU MA TEI
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 27), PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN PASSENGERS IN THE FOLLOWING ROAD SECTIONS IN SHEUNG SHUI :
* ROAD L5 FROM A POINT 25 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH SAN FUNG AVENUE TO A POINT 120 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
AND
♦ THE UNNAMED ROAD LEADING TO SHEUNG SHUI FAREWELL PARLOUR FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH ROAD L5 TO A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
ALSO FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY, SAIGON STREET TN YAU MA TEI BETWEEN RECLAMATION STREET AND BATTERY STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS BECAUSE OF ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WORKS.
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WATER CUT IN NORTH POINT ♦ * * * *
FLUSHING WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN NORTH POINT WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 1! PM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 27) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES BOUNDED BY KING’S ROAD MERLIN STREET, WATSON ROAD, SEAFRONT AND HING FAT STREET, INCLUDING 25-145 (ODD NUMBERS), 52-68 (EVEN NUMBERS), 250-276 KING’S ROAD AND 1-9 COMFORT TERRACE.
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URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WAN CHAI
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 27), THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF HENNESSY ROAD FROM HOUSE NOS. 393 TO 115 WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO M1DNIGH1 DAIL> FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS TO FACILITATE ROAD RE-SURFACING
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ANNOUNCEMENT ON 1991 ELECTIONS PACKAGE IN A FEW WEEKS ........................... 1
COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLANNED FOR TSUEN WAN ................................. 2
HK HAS QUALITIES TO ENSURE URBAN RENEWAL'S SUCCESS .............................. 3
MEASURES TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD GARMENT MANUFACTURERS' INTERESTS .................... 4
APPROPRIATION BILL TO BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY.................................... 6
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY RELEASED .................................. 7
DSW GAINS FIRST-HAND INFORMATION ON STREET SLEEPERS ............................. 9
BLANKETS FOR STREET SLEEPERS ................................................... 10
OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE SERVICE FOR UNATTENDED CHILDREN .......................... 11
DEMONSTRATION OF AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TRANSPORTER SYSTEM .......................... 11
TUEN MUN DB TO COMMENT ON DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ................................ 13
TAI PO DB TO DISCUSS CRIME SITUATION ........................................... 14
ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA .................................. 14
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS GUESTHOUSE PROPOSALS ................................... 15
ALKANES NOT DETECTED IN FRENCH MINERAL WATER ................................... 15
SAFETY SEMINAR FOR WORKERS ..................................................... 16
CHEUNG SHA WAN MATERNITY HOME TO CLOSE ......................................... 17
UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE IN QUARRY BAY TO BE CLOSED .............................. 17
WATER STORAGE FIGURE ........................................................... I7
WATER CUT IN TSIM SHA TSUI ..................................................... 18
NIGHT CLOSURE OF TSING YI ROAD WEST............................................. 18
TEMPORARY LANE CIDSURE ON TOLO HIGHWAY, TAI PO ................................. 18
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
1
ANNOUNCEMENT ON 1991 ELECTIONS PACKAGE IN A FEW WEEKS * * * * *
AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE PACKAGE FOR THE 1991 ELECTIONS WOULD BE MADE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, ALTHOUGH A PRECISE DATE COULD NOT BE GIVEN AT THE MOMENT, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING TSUEN WAN DISTRICT, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO GET THE ARRANGEMENTS ANNOUNCED SO THAT PEOPLE TAKING PART IN ELECTIONS IN 1991 WOULD HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE IN THEIR PREPARATION.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE OMELCO CONSTITUTIONAL PANEL’S SUGGESTION ON THE DIVISION OF CONSTITUENCIES, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THE QUESTIONS OF CONSTITUENCIES IN 1991."
"THERE ARE A WHOLE SERIES OF DIFFERENT POSSIBLE OPTIONS, AND WE ARE TRYING TO SELECT THE ONE WHICH IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR HONG KONG BOTH NOW AND LOOKING INTO DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
"BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ALSO THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS BOTH FOR 18 SEATS IN 1991, THEN DEVELOPING TO 20 IN 1995, DEVELOPING TO 24 IN 1999," SIR DAVID SAID.
"SO WHICHEVER MODEL WE CHOOSE MUST BE ONE WHICH CAN BE DEVELOPED WITHOUT TOO MUCH DISRUPTION.
"WE ARE DOING BOTH THAT AND LOOKING AT THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE 1991 ELECTIONS; THAT IS, HOW MANY APPOINTED MEMBERS SHOULD THERE BE. HOW MANY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY SEATS: SHOULD WE INCREASE IT. IF SO, BY HOW MANY. AND WHAT WE DO ABOUT THE QUESTION OF OFFICIALS IN LEGCO," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
ON THE QUESTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT BY 1997 THERE WOULD BE AN ELECTED PRESIDENT WHICH REALLY MEANT THAT THIS SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN BY 1995.
"SO THE ISSUE WE FACE IS WHAT SORT OF TRANSITION SHOULD THERE BE NOW, WHEN THE GOVERNOR IS PRESIDENT, TO 1995 WHEN WE WILL HAVE AN ELECTED PRESIDENT," HE SAID.
"I THINK WE NEED TO WORK OUT SOME SORT OF TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENT," HE ADDED.
WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE MANDATORY REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, SIR DAVID SAID DISCUSSIONS WERE GOING ON IN HANOI BETWEEN THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR AND THE VIETNAMESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
/"I HOPE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
2
"I HOPE THEY WILL MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS. THE AGREEMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATIONS PER MONTH IS A VERY GOOD THING, AND THE MORE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATIONS WE HAVE, THE BETTER,” HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HOPED THERE WOULD ALSO BE AGREEMENT ON HOW TO CONTINUE WITH MANDATORY REPATRIATION, ADDING: "I EMPHASISE THAT WORD CONTINUE, BECAUSE THERE WAS, AFTER ALL, AN AGREEMENT LAST YEAR WHICH ALLOWED FOR THE FIRST NON-VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION LAST DECEMBER.”
”SO WHAT WE WANT NOW IS ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONTINUING THE PROCESS,” HE ADDED.
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COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLANNED FOR TSUEN WAN
*****
RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF TSUEN WAN WILL BENEFIT FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLANS NOW UNDER WAY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) DURING A VISIT TO THE DISTRICT.
’’THE WAY THIS FIRST GENERATION NEW TOWN HAS RECENTLY GROWN IS VERY IMPRESSIVE,” SIR DAVID SAID.
"THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR EVERYONE WHO LIVES HERE,” HE ADDED.
THE GOVERNOR VISITED THE MA WAN RURAL COMMITTEE WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT A BRANCH ROAD MIGHT BE PROVIDED IN MA WAN TO LINK UP WITH THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING BETWEEN THE NEW CH EK LAP KOK AIRPORT AND THE URBAN AREA.
THE RURAL COMMITTEE HOPED THAT SUCH A LINK WOULD BOOST THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ISLAND.
THE GOVERNOR WAS GIVEN A PANORAMIC VIEW OF TSUEN WAN FROM THE ROOFTOP OF A BUILDING IN RIVIERA GARDENS. HE WAS TOLD HOW THE GARDENS, FORMERLY THE SITE OF AN OIL DEPOT, HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A SELF-CONTAINED RESIDENTIAL ESTATE WITH ADJACENT LAND RECLAIMED TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
"THE PROJECT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN CHANGE LAND USE TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF THE RESIDENTS,” SIR DAVID SAID.
IN THE REAR LANE OF WANG WO TSAI STREET, A SITE NOTORIOUS FOR ITS DRAINAGE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY UNTREATED INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS FROM FACTORIES NEARBY, THE GOVERNOR WAS TOLD HOW CONDITIONS OF THE AREA WOULD SOON BE IMPROVED.
/FACTORY OWNERS .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
- 3 -
FACTORY OWNERS HAVE AGREED TO CARRY OUT REMEDIAL DRAINAGE WORKS FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THE TSUEN WAN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE, SET UP A YEAR AGO TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.
SIR DAVID THEN TOOK A WALK ALONG CHUNG ON STREET AND VISITED THE JOCKEY CLUB TAK WAH PARK IN THE TOWN CENTRE.
PHASE I OF THE PARK’S CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED IN 1989 AND PHASE II WILL START SHORTLY AFTER THE CLEARANCE OF HOI PA VILLAGE AND THE TAK WAH STREET TEMPORARY MARKET.
MUCH NEEDED OPEN SPACE WILL THUS SOON BECOME AVAILABLE AT THE HUB OF THE TOWN CENTRE.
THE GOVERNOR THEN VISITED THE YUEN YUEN INSTITUTE AT LO WAI, A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION FOUNDED SOME 40 YEARS AGO.
SIR DAVID WAS IMPRESSED BY THE INSTITUTE’S EXPANSION PROGRAMME AND THE GOVERNMENT’S LAYOUT PLAN FOR LO WAI, WHICH WOULD GREATLY IMPROVE THE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT.
BEFORE CONCLUDING HIS VISIT, THE GOVERNOR MET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AT A TEA RECEPTION HELD AT THE SHEK WAI KOK COMMUNITY HALL.
SIR DAVID WAS ACCOM: . I ED ON HIS VISIT BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ADOLF HSU; TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM SHIU; AD DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHAU HOW-CHEN.
- - 0-----------
HK HAS QUALITIES TO ENSURE URBAN RENEWAL’S SUCCESS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT HONG KONG, WITH FULL EMPLOYMENT, A GROWING ECONOMY AND RISING ASPIRATIONS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP, HAS THE BASE AND THE INCENTIVE TO MAKE URBAN RENEWAL A TOTAL SUCCESS.
THE CHIEF SECRETA } DAVID FORD, SAID THIS TODAY (MONDAY) WHEN OFFICIATING AT THF SOUND-BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION’S TH1 D STREET PROJECT, WHICH IS A JOINT VENTURE DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND NEW WORLD DEVELOPMENT.
SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BECAUSE IT RECOGNISED THE NEED TO REFURBISH AND REJUVENATE MANY OF THE OLDER URBAN AREAS IN HONG KONG WHICH HAD SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF POOR PLANNING AND ENSUING LACK OF FACILITIES.
/"BUT WE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
’’BUT WE ALSO RECOGNISED THAT ATTEMPTS TO INVEST MAJOR RESOURCES IN URBAN RENEWAL IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD HAD MET WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS AND THAT GREAT PROBLEMS HAD DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS HAD GONE ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS,” HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID THAT THE CORPORATION UNDER THE ABLE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR F.K. HU HAD A STRONG TEAM FROM THE PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS TO ENSURE SUCCESS.
"I AM VERY MUCH ENCOURAGED BY THE ENTHUSIASM AND PROFESSIONALISM WITH WHICH THEY HAVE TACKLED THE PLANNING AND OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
’’THE RESPONSE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS BEEN EXCELLENT AND I AM SURE WE HAVE PRODUCED A FORMULA IN TERMS OF PEOPLE AND ORGANISATION WHICH WILL SEE THIS DIFFICULT JOB THROUGH,” HE ADDED.
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT THE THIRD STREET PROJECT WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF EIGHT DEVELOPMENTS WHICH THE CORPORATION HAD IN THE PIPELINE.
"IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING PUBLIC FACILITIES TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE REHOUSING FOR THE CORPORATION’S OTHER RENEWAL SCHEMES IN NEARBY AREAS.
”SO THE THIRD STREET PROJECT WILL TRIGGER AN ONGOING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR YEARS TO COME," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS MOST ENCOURAGING THAT THE CORPORATION AND NEW WORLD DEVELOPMENT COULD UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT AS A JOINT VENTURE, ADDING THAT HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE OF BOTH WOULD ENSURE THIS PROJECT WORKED WELL.
- 0-----------
MEASURES TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD GARMENT MANUFACTURERS’ INTERESTS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ’b'hi'N A SERIES OF MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF LOCAL GARMENT XCTURERS AND EXPOR1ERS IN I HE WAKI- OF OVERSEAS ANTI-DUMPING AC( A; ONS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, SAI i S (MONDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF GARMENT MANUFACTURERS, MF? CHAN SAID THESE INCLUDED MONITORING IHE PROGRESS OF SUCH ACCUSATIONS; STUDYING THEIR CONTENT; SEEKING ADVI(E FROM IHE LEGAL COMMUNITY AND CONCERNED PARTIES; AND CONDUCTING CONSULTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH IMPORTING COUNTRIES THROUGH EVERY LEGAL CHANNEL.
/"WE HAVE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
5
"WE HAVE POINTED OUT TO OVERSEAS IMPORTERS THAT THE RATIONALE FOR DUMPING DOES NOT EXIST IN HONG KONG SINCE HONG KONG IS A FREE AND OPEN TRADING MARKET AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR GARMENT MANUFACTURERS ARE SMALL-SCALE OPERATORS," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID WHETHER HONG KONG COULD SUCCEED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDINGS WOULD DEPEND TO A LARGE EXTENT ON MUTUAL CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT AMONG LOCAL GARMENT MANUFACTURERS.
"A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE RECENT CO-OPERATION AND INITIATIVE SHOWN BY CLOTHING AND TEXTILES MANUFACTURERS IN COUNTERING ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDINGS ON DENIM CLOTH AND ACRYLIC SWEATERS," HE SAID.
ON THE URUGUAY ROUND NEGOTIATIONS OF THE GATT, MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD STRONGLY DEMANDED THAT PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE TEXTILES TRADE SHOULD BE RE-INCORPORATED INTO THE GATT IN ORDER TO PHASE OUT THE EXISTING MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT.
"THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO PROPOSED TO THE GATT REVISING THE ANTI-DUMPING CODE AND TO DRAW UP MULTILATERAL ORIGIN CRITERIA SO AS TO PREVENT THESE TECHNICAL PROVISIONS FROM BEING USED AS TOOLS OF TRADE PROTECTIONISM," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID HONG KONG WAS THE WORLD’S THIRD LARGEST GARMENT EXPORTER AND HONG KONG’S TRADE DEVELOPMENT DEPENDED TO A LARGE EXTENT ON MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY THE GARMENT INDUSTRY.
HE SAID THIS INDUSTRY NOW EMPLOYED OVER 286,000 WORKERS, ACCOUNTING FOR 34 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL WORKFORCE OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.
LOCAL GARMENT EXPORTS IN 1989 WERE WORTH ABOUT $7.2 BILLION, REPRESENTING OVER 32 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL EXPORTS.
MR CHAN SAID HONG KONG’S CLOTHING INDUSTRY WAS FACING MANY DIFFICULTIES SUCH AS RISING OPERATING COSTS, LABOUR SHORTAGES AND FIERCE COMPETITION FROM OVERSEAS MARKETS.
"BUT I THINK THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY WILL OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIES BY DIVERSIFYING ITS MARKETS AND PRODUCTS, INVESTING MORE ON NEW EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTION METHODS AND DEMONSTRATING THEIR USUAL INTELLIGENCE AND RESILIENCE," HE SAID.
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/6 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
6
APPROPRIATION BILL TO BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY
*****
DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR BEGINNING ON APRIL 1, 1990 HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BILL WILL BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY (MARCH 2) AND FORMALLY MOVED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH ON MARCH 7.
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO MEMBERS EARLIER THAN USUAL TO GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THE DETAILS BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE WHICH WILL EXAMINE THE EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL PROVIDES FOR EXPENDITURE FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT IN 1990-91 TOTALLING $65.3 BILLION TO BE INCURRED ON THE EXPENSES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND IN PROVIDING OTHER SERVICES.
THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 25 PER CENT OVER THE EXPENDITURE APPROVED FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
IN ADDITION, THE APPROPRIATION BILL PROVIDES FOR $22.9 BILLION TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM GENERAL REVENUE TO MEET EXPENDITURE FROM OTHER FUNDS TO FINANCE THE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME, PERMANENT INVESTMENT IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND LOANS AND ADVANCES TO OTHER BODIES AND TO STUDENTS IN TERTIARY EDUCATION.
OF THE $65.3 BILLION REQUIRED, $12.7 BILLION IS FOR EDUCATION, $11.7 BILLION FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND $5 BILLION FOR THE POLICR. THESE THREE AREAS TOGETHER WILL ACCOUNT FOR 45 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL.
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES ISSUED TO MEMBERS INCLUDE DETAILED ESTIMATES FOR EACH DEPARTMENT OR SERVICE AND’ A REPORT BY EACH CONTROLLING OFFICER GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF PERFORMANCE AND JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE BEING SOUGHT.
AFTER THE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE THE APPROPRIATION BILL WILL BE DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IS EXPECTED TO BECOME LAW IN MAY.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
- 7 -
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY RELEASED
*****
THE WEAK PERFORMANCE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS CONTINUED IN JANUARY 1990, WHILE THE GROWTH RATE OF RE-EXPORTS REMAINED MODERATE. IMPORTS CONTINUED TO DECLINE FROM A YEAR EARLIER, LARGELY REFLECTING THE DECLINE IN RETAINED IMPORTS.
THESE ARE SHOWN IN THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN JANUARY 1990 WAS $16,638 MILLION, $624 MILLION OR 3.6 PER CENT LESS THAN IN JANUARY 1989, WHILE THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY $1,707 MILLION OR 6.5 PER CENT TO $27,960 MILLION.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS (DOMESTIC EXPORTS PLUS RE-EXPORTS), AT $44,598 MILLION TN JANUARY 1990, WAS THUS $1,083 MILLION OR ONLY 2.5 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN JANUARY 1989.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS DECREASED BY 4.7 PER CENT OR $2,042 MILLION FROM A YEAR EARLIER, TO $41,092 MILLION IN JANUARY 1990.
AS THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WAS SMALLER THAN THAT OF TOTAL EXPORTS, A VISIBLE TRADE SURPLUS OF $3,506 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 8.5 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, WAS RECORDED IN JANUARY 1990.
THIS COMPARES WITH A SURPLUS OF $381 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 0.9 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, RECORDED IN JANUARY 1989.
PUTTING THESE TRADE FIGURES IN PERSPECTIVE, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1990 WAS $143,558 MILLION, MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF $55,965 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS OF $87,593 MILLION.
COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER, TOTAL EXPORTS GREW BY $2,988 MILLION OR 2.1 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS WITH DOMESTIC EXPORTS FALLING BY $2,521 MILLION OR 4.3 PER CENT AND RE-EXPORTS RISING BY $5,509 MILLION OK 6.7 PER CENT.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, IMPORTS FELL BY $6,664 MILLION OR BY 4.7 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS, TO $134,879 MILLION.
A VISIBLE TRADE SURPLUS OF $8,679 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 6.4 PER CENT OF Till' VALUE OF IMPORTS, WAS RECORDED FOR THE THREE MONTHS FROM NOVEMBER 1989 TO JANUARY 1990. THIS COMPARES WITH A DEFICIT OF $973 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 0.7 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, RECORDED IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SPOKESMAN SAID THE PERFORMANCE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS HAD BEEN SLUGGISH SINCE MAY 1989. IN EACH OF THE FIVE MONTHS TO JANUARY 1990, EXCEPT OCTOBER 1989, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS SHOWED DECLINES ON A YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON.
/THE LUNAR .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
- 8 -
THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS, WHICH OCCURRED IN LATE JANUARY THIS YEAR BUT IN EARLY FEBRUARY LAST YEAR, MIGHT HAVE ALSO REDUCED THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.
AS REGARDS RE-EXPORTS, THE SLOW-DOWN IN GROWTH WAS MAINLY DUE TO A MARKED DECLINE IN RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA, ALTHOUGH RE-EXPORTS OF CHINA ORIGIN STILL RECORDED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT, ON A YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON, THE VALUE OF RETAINED IMPORTS SHOWED MARKED DECLINES IN RECENT MONTHS. THIS SUGGESTED THAT BOTH DOMESTIC DEMAND AND DOMESTIC EXPORTS WOULD PROBABLY REMAIN WEAK IN THE SHORT TERM.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE PRESENTS THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY 1990.
MERCHANDISE:
DOMESTIC EXPORTS RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE
$16,638 MILLION
$27,960 MILLION
$44,598 MILLION
$41,092 MILLION
$ 3,506 MILLION [IN SURPLUS]
COMPARATIVE FIGURES LATEST 3 MONTHS NOV 89 TO JAN 90 HK$ MN. NOV 88 TO JAN 89 HK$ MN. INCREASE HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 55,965 58,486 -2,521 4.3
RE-EXPORTS 87,593 82,084 5,509 6.7
TOTAL EXPORTS 143,558 140,570 .* 2,988 2.1
IMPORTS 134,879 141,543 -6,664 4.7
TRADE BALANCE 8,679 -973 9,652
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR JANUARY 1990 HK$ MN. JANUARY 1989 HK$ MN. INCREASE HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 16,638 (37.3%) 17,262 (39.7%) -624 3.6
RE-EXPORTS 27,960 26,253 1,707 6.5
/TOTAL EXPORTS .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
9
TOTAL EXPORTS 44,598 43,515 1,083 2.5
IMPORTS 41,092 43,134 -2,042 -4.7
TRADE BALANCE 3,506 381 3,125
LAST MONTH JANUARY 1990 HK$ MN. DECEMBER 1989 HK$ MN. INCREASE HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 16,638 (37.3%) 19,915 (40.2%) -3,277 -16.5
RE-EXPORTS 27,960 29,587 -1,627 -5.5
TOTAL EXPORTS 44,598 49,502 -4,904 -9.9
IMPORTS 41,092 47,444 -6,352 -13.4
TRADE BALANCE 3,506 2,058 1,448
LAST 12 MONTHS FEB 89 TO JAN 90 HK$ MN. FEB 88 TO JAN 89 HK$ MN. INCREASE HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 223,480 218,449 5,031 2.3
RE-EXPORTS 348,1 12 283,295 64,817 22.9
TOTAL EXPORTS 571,592 501,744 69,848 13.9
IMPORTS 560,739 508,782 51,957 10.2
TRADE BALANCE 10,853 -7,038 17,891
DSW GAINS FIRST-HAM 1 * - 0 ’FORMATION * t ♦ t ON STREET SLEEPERS
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL (MONDAY) TOURED THE STREETS INFORMATION ON STREET SLEEPERS WELFARE, MR OF YAU MICHAEL MA TEI CARTLAND TO GAIN , TONIGHT FIRST-HAND
HE ALSO JOINED SWD STAFF IN DISTR SLEEPERS AS THE TEMPERATURE FELL BELOW 10 I BUTING DEGREES BLANKETS CELSIUS. TO STREET
/MR CARTLAND ......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
- 10 -
MR CARTLAND WAS BRIEFED BY STAFF MEMBERS ON THE EFFORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT TO HELP STREET SLEEPERS.
MADE
THE DEPARTMENT KEEPS A CENTRAL REGISTRY ON STREET SLEEPERS REGULARLY MONITORS THE SITUATION.
AND
STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE NUMBER OF STREET DOWN AS SOCIAL WORKERS PERSISTENTLY TRY TO HELP ACCOMMODATION.
SLEEPERS HAS GONE THEM TO MOVE TO
AS AT JANUARY 31, THERE WERE 1,031 STREET SLEEPERS IN KONG, COMPARED WITH 1,133 IN APRIL 1989, 1,343 IN APRIL 1988 1,319 IN APRIL 1987. ’
HONG AND
IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, OVER 800 STREET SLEEPERS WERE HELPFD BY THE DEPARTMENT TO MOVE INTO PUBLIC HOUSING, HOSTELS AND TENEMENTS.
MR CARTLAND ALSO VISITED AN URBAN HOSTEL FOR STREET SLEEPERS IN TUNG KUN STREET. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING FOR SUITABLE PREMISES FOR THE SECOND URBAN HOSTEL, ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
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BLANKETS FOR STREET SLEEPERS ♦ * * ♦
A TOTAL OF 24 BLANKETS AND SLEEPING BAGS ’ WERE DISTRIBUTED TO STREET SLEEPERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES DURING THE WEEKEND, A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
OF THESE, 18 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 12 STREET SLEEPERS TN NEW TERRITORIES EAST WHILE SIX WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THREE BENEFICIARIES IN NEW TERRITORIES WEST.
TWENTY STAFF MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE MOBILISED IN THE OPERATION.
/Il ........
0----------
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
11
OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE SERVICE FOR UNATTENDED CHILDREN
*****
INSTEAD OF LEAVING YOUNG CHILDREN UNATTENDED AT HOME, PARENTS WHO HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM HOME FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME DUE TO SUDDEN ENGAGEMENTS OR URGENT COMMITMENTS MAY MAKE USE OF AN OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE SERVICE PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT AID NURSERIES.
THE SERVICE IS AN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT INTRODUCED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER WITH A VIEW TO ELIMINATING THE RISK OF HAVING YOUNG CHILDREN LEFT UNATTENDED AT HOME.
UNDER THE $1.7 MILLION PROJECT, SHORT-TERM DAY CARE SERVICE ON HALF-DAY OR FULL-DAY BASIS WITHIN THE OPERATION HOURS OF THE NURSERIES WOULD BE OFFERED TO CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN TWO AND SIX.
”A TOTAL OF 105 PLACES IN 15 NURSERIES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT FOR A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL -WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
’’CHILDREN WHO ARE SICK OR MENTALLY RETARDED ARE NOT COVERED BY THE PROJECT,” HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT RESIDENTS USING THE SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $20 FOR THE HALF-DAY AND $40 FOR THE WHOLE-DAY SERVICE. HOWEVER, FAMILIES IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY MAY APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INTERESTED IN THE SERVICE MAY CALL THE SWD HOTLINE 3432255 OR OBTAI(’OPIES OF A LEAFLET GIVING THE DETAILS AND A LIST OF NURSERIES PROVIDING THE SERVICE.
COPIES OF THE LEAFLET ARI AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING PLACES: SWD OFFICES, COMMUNITY CENTRES AND DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS’ OFFICES, YIN NGA1 SOCIETIES, HOUSING ESTATE FFKES OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HOUSING SOCIETY, HOSPITALS \KD ‘LINICS, REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT DISTRICT OFFICES, AS WELL AS SERVICE UNITS OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
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DEMONSTRATION OF AIRC L’AI- RF OVERY TRANSPORTER SYSTEM ? • * * ♦
A DEMONSTRATION OF TH’ *0 MILLION DISABLED AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TRANSPORTER SYSTEM (DARTS) WAS HELD AT THE KAI TAK AIRPORT TODAY (MONDAY).
ARRANGED BY THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT (CAD), THE DEMONSTRATION WAS CONDUCTED ON THE AIRPORT APRON WHERE THE NEW EQUIPMENT WAS OPERATED BY AN ENGINEER FROM THE MANUFACTURER, KAMAG OF WEST GERMANY.
/A SPOKESMAN .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
- 12 -
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE NEW EQUIPMENT WAS SPECIALLY DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE CAD WITH INPUT FROM THE AIRPORT AIRCRAFT RECOVERY COMMITTEE AND THE LOCAL AVIATION INDUSTRY IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE IN AIRCRAFT RECOVERY AT KAI TAK.
"THE DARTS IS UNIQUE IN BEING THE FIRST SELF-PROPELLED AIRCRAFT RECOVERY SYSTEM PRODUCED AND IS ABLE TO REMOVE A DISABLED AIRCRAFT FROM THE RUNWAY IN THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MANNER, THUS ALLOWING NORMAL OPERATION TO RESUME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER AN ACCIDENT,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS TRANSPORTER SYSTEM WILL GREATLY ENHANCE OUR CAPABILITY IN REMOVING DISABLED AIRCRAFT FROM THE RUNWAY AND ENABLE THE AIRPORT TO RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
"THE DARTS IS A HIGHLY MANOEUVRABLE MODULAR SYSTEM CONSISTING OF THREE LOW PROFILE HEAVY DUTY TRANSPORTERS WITH AN OVERALL LIFTING CAPACITY OF 300 TONNES.
"EACH TRANSPORTER, WITH 32 WHEELS, CAN BE USED INDEPENDENTLY, OR COMBINED IN VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS WITH THE OTHER TWO TRANSPORTERS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THIS IS NECESSARY TO CATER FOR DIFFERENT AIRCRAFT SIZES RANGING FROM BOEING 747 TO SMALL GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT, AND TO COPE WITH DIFFERENT ACCIDENT SITUATIONS VARYING FROM RELATIVELY MINOR TO MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE," HE ADDED.
WITH AN OVERALL PAYLOAD OF 300 TONNES, THE DARTS WILL LIFT A BOEING 747, THE HEAVIEST COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, WITHOUT THE TIME CONSTRAINT OF WEIGHT REDUCTION OTHER THAN DEFUfiLLING AND CARGO REMOVAL FOR SAFETY AND CENTRE OF GRAVITY CONTROL PURPOSES.
EACH TRANSPORTER IS FITTED WITH A HYDRAULICALLY ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM WHICH CAN BE MOVED TO CONFORM WITH THE UNDERSIDE PROFILE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO BE LIFTED.
IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING TO A BOEING 747, ONE TRANSPORTER WOULD BE PLACED UNDER EACH WING, AND THE THIRD UNDER EITHER THE FORWARD OR REAR FUSELAGE, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT.
THE THREE TRANSPORTERS WOULD THEN BE COUPLED TOGETHER WITH A RIGID FRAME AND BE ABLE TO PE DRIVEN AT UP TO SIX KILOMETRES PER HOUR WITH A B747 AIRCRAFT ON BOARD.
TN THE CASE OF SMALLER AIRCRAFT, IT WOULD ONLY BE NECESSARY TO USE THE TWO WING TRANSPORTERS, WHICH WOULD BE RIGIDLY COUPLED SIDE-BY-SIDE OR END-TO-END. FOR LIGHT AIRCRAFT, ONLY THE FUSELAGE TRANSPORTER WOULD BE REQUIRED.
/THE DARTS .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
THE DARTS IS FITTED WITH A COMPUTERISED CONTROL AND STEERING SYSTEM AND CAN BE OPERATED BY ONE PERSON.
WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF 96 WHEELS WHEN ALL THREE TRANSPORTERS ARE COUPLED TOGETHER, THE SYSTEM IS CAPABLE OF OPERATING OVER UNEVEN GROUND, THUS SAVING TIME OVER THE NEED FOR EXTENSIVE GROUND PREPARATION.
THE DARTS IS NOW UNDERGOING COMMISSIONING TRIALS AND WILL BE PUT INTO OPERATION NEXT MONTH.
- - 0 - -
TUEN MUN DB TO COMMENT ON DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME *****
THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL COMMENT ON THE 1989 EDITION OF THE TUEN MUN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
UPDATED ANNUALLY BY THE TUEN MUN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE PUBLICATION GIVES AN OVERALL PICTURE OF THE PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TOWN.
MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE FORMATION OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE ROLE OF THE TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG DISTRICT PLANNING OFFICE.
ALSO, THE FIFTH REPORT OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE TABLED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1 TUEN HI ROAD, TUEN MUN.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER TSAO, WILL ATTEND THE MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
- - 0 - -
/14
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
- 14
TAI PO DB TO DISCUSS CRIME SITUATION * * * * *
THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE CRIME SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT AT A MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT AND A PROJECT ON THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO IN THE 1990’S.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF TAI PO COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 152 KWONG FUK ROAD, TAI PO. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
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ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA
*****
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE IN TSZ WAN SHAN AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
MEMBERS WILL LOOK INTO REPORTS OF DUST AND NOISE NUISANCES GENERATED BY A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD, AFFECTING RESIDENTS IN YUK WAH STREET AND STUDENTS OF NEARBY SCHOOLS.
THEY WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE 1990-91 BUDGET’FOR THE COMMITTEE.
PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE COMMITTEE’S BEAUTIFICATION, MINOR WORKS, STREET MANAGEMENT AND GREENERY PROJECTS WILL BE TABLED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
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/15 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
15
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS GUESTHOUSE PROPOSALS
*****
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION’S PROPOSALS TO LICENSE GUESTHOUSES AT THE COMMITTEE’S MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (BUILDING MANAGEMENT) OF CNTA, MR AUGUSTINE CHENG, WILL ATTEND THE MEETING TO EXPLAIN THE PROPOSALS.
ALSO, A LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT WILL PRESENT THE RESULTS OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON A TREE PLANTING PROJECT IN THE DISTRICT.
A MEMBER IS EXPECTED TO ASK ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF PUBLIC AREAS FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS BY FOOD SHOPS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 4 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, 21ST FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, HONG KONG.
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ALKANES NOT DETECTED IN FRENCH MINERAL WATER
******
THE HYGIENE ADVISER OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, DR MOHAMMED ALI, TODAY (MONDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT LABORATORY IES1S ON TWO SAMPLES OF A FRENCH MINERAL WATER COLLECTED IN THE LOCAL MARKET LATE LAST WEEK FOUND NO TRACE OF THE CHEMICAL ALKANES.
THE TESTS WERE CARRIED OUT FOLLOWING AN ALKANES CONTAMINATION REPORT FROM PARIS CONCERNING ONE OF SEVERAL BRANDS OF BO I PLED DRINKI NG WATER PRODUCED BY A FRENCH COMPANY, ALTHOUGH THE BOTTLED WAI ER I QUESTION WAS NOT ON SALE IN LOCAL OUTLETS.
DR ALI SAID FURTHER SAMPLING ON THE BOTTLED WATER WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY FOR THE TIME BEING BUT MSB STAFF WOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY.
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/16........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26,
1990
- 16 -
SAFETY SEMINAR FOR WORKERS
* * * * *
ABOUT 350 WORKERS AND TRADE UNION MEMBERS WILL ATTEND A SEMINAR ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 28) TO DISCUSS THE GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
THE "SEMINAR ON GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AT WORK" IS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PUBLICITY PROGRAMME TO ACQUAINT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1989 WHICH WAS PASSED INTO LAW LAST DECEMBER.
THE SEMINAR IS ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (FTU).
"THE SEMINAR, SPECIALLY CONDUCTED FOR EMPLOYEES IN INDUSTRY, AIMS TO INCREASE PARTICIPANTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF THE ORDINANCE," THE DEPARTMENT’S SUPERINTENDENT OF FACTORY INSPECTORS (TRAINING), MR CHAN HON-TING, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
"THE ORDINANCE INTRODUCES A SET OF GENERAL DUTIES ON BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE SAFE WORK PRACTICES AND ENVIRONMENTS," MR CHAN SAID.
ONE OF THE SPEAKERS AT THE SEMINAR IS FTU CHAIRMAN MR CHENG YIU-TONG. HE WILL TALK ABOUT "THE ATTITUDE OUGHT TO BE TAKEN BY WORKERS TOWARDS INDUSTRIAL SAFETY".
THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR YIP YUK-LUN, WILL EXPLAIN THE GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AS PRESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE.
A SOLICITOR, MR SUNG WING-KWONG, WILL DISCUSS "CIVIL LIABILITIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY".
THE SEMINAR WILL BE OPENED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, MR CHENG AND MR SUNG AT THE FTU ASSEMBLY HALL.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE "SEMINAR ON GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AT WORK" AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL OF THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS, 50 MA TAU CHUNG ROAD, NINTH FLOOR, TO KWA WAN AT 6.15 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
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/I7........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
- 17 -
CHEUNG SHA WAN MATERNITY HOME TO CLOSE
i * * » ♦
THE” CHEUNG SHA WAN MATERNITY HOME FROM THURSDAY, MARCH 1, THE DEPARTMENT (MONDAY).
WILL BE OFFICIALLY CLOSED OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED TODAY
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID ALL ANTENATAL CLIENTS PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO THE CHEUNG SHA WAN MATERNITY HOME WILL NOW BE DIRECTED TO LI PO CHUN MATERNITY HOME AT 22 ARRAN STREET, TAI KOK TSUI.
THE CLOSURE WILL NOT AFFECT THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CHEUNG SHA WAN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE AND GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE VARIOUS MEDICAL, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. hiiskhae and
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UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE IN QUARRY BAY TO BE CLOSED »»♦»»»
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE AN UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE IN QUARRY BAY SO THAT IT CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS AND TO THE PUBLIC.
THE STRUCTURE IS PUT UP AT THE BALCONY OF FLAT 5, 23RD FLOOR, WAI LEE BUILDING, 997 KING’S ROAD.
THE CLOSURE FORMS PART OF \N EXERCISE TO ENFORCE AN ORDER ISSUED UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE IN OCTOBER 1988 REQUIRING THE DEMOLITION OF THE SAID UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE. .
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON APRIL 26 THIS YEAR WAS POSTED ON A CONSPICUOUS PART OF THE FLAT TODAY (MONDAY).
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMOLITION WORK WILL START ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDER IS OBTAINED.
----0------
WATER STORAGE FIGURE
*****
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 39.8 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 233.492 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 215.981 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 36.8 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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/18 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1990
18
WATER CUT IN TSIM SHA TSUI *****
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 28) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY SALISBURY ROAD, CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH, MODY ROAD AND MINDEN ROW, INCLUDING HANOI ROAD, MINDEN AVENUE AND BLENHEIM AVENUE.
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NIGHT CLOSURE OF TSING YI ROAD WEST *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TSING YI ROAD WEST BETWEEN LIU TO ROAD AND FUNG SHUE WO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 30 MINUTES PAST MIDNIGHT TO 5.30 AM FROM WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 28) FOR TWO NIGHTS.
AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE DIVERTED VIA FUNG SHUE WO ROAD, TSING YI HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD, CHUNG MEI ROAD AND CHING HONG ROAD ON JOURNEYS TO AND FROM THE SOUTHERN PART OF TSING YI ISLAND.
_ _ 0-----------
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE ON TOLO HIGHWAY,
*****
TAI PO
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORKS, ABOUT 200 METRES LONG OF THE SLOW LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY NORTHBOUND NEAR TAI PO TAI WO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 9 AM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 28) TO 9 AM ON MARCH 3.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE. APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
FRAMEWORK AND TIMETABLE FOR GRADUAL, STEADY DEVELOPMENT ....................... 1
METROPLAN : FLEXIBLE AND OPEN ................................................. 2
LEGCO TO DEBATE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM ....................................... 4
GOVERNMENT HOUSE GARDENS OPEN TO PUBLIC ....................................... 5
CONTACT FOR SERVICING GOVT VESSELS SIGNED ..................................... 5
ONE MORE AIDS CASE CONFIRMED .................................................. 6
OLD AGE ALLOWANCE EXTENDED TO 66-YEAR OLD GROUP ............................... 8
CRECHE FINED FOR VIOLATING CHILD CARE CENTRES REGULATIONS ..................... 9
BLANKETS FOR STREET SLEEPERS IN URBAN AREAS ................................... 9
GOLDEN SOUVENIR FOR CENTENARIAN IN TUEN MUN .................................. 10
FEAST FOR ELDERLY IN NORTH DISTRICT........................................... 10
FIRST SEMINAR FOR ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS IN COMMUNITY WORK ....................... 11
SEMINAR ON PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG YOUTH .......................... 12
TRANSPORT SURVEY ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA ...................................... 13
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS IMPROVEMENT SCHEME .................................. 13
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER DISTRICT PAPER SUBSIDIES ............................ 14
WATER SUPPLIES REGIONAL DEPOT ON MOVE ........................................ 14
34 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN TSIM SHA TSUI CLEARED ............................... 15
ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN WESTERN TO BE CLOSED .................................... 15
TENDER FOR NEW MINIBUS ROUTES CLOSES ON MARCH 6 .............................. 16
KMB ROUTE 202 TO BE CANCELLED ................................................ 16
GOODS VEHICLE RESTRICTION IN KOWLOON BAY ..................................... 16
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
- 1 -
FRAMEWORK AND TIMETABLE FOR GRADUAL, STEADY DEVELOPMENT «««««««
THE PACE OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT WHICH HAS BEEN SET OUT IN THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW MAY FALL SHORT OF THE MORE OPTIMISTIC EXPECTATIONS IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE, BUT HONG KONG NOW HAS A FRAMEWORK AND A FIRM TIMETABLE FOR GRADUAL AND STEADY DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS A FULLY DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE, THE SECRETARY FOR GENERAL DUTIES, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG KONG AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION IN SYDNEY, MR WIGGHAM SAID THE BASIC LAW WOULD SPELL OUT, IN A CHINESE LAW, ALL THE GUARANTEES FOR THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY PROMISED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.
"IT WILL BE THE FOUNDATION FOR HONG KONG’S CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. BY FAR THE GREATER PART OF THE DRAFT REFLECTS THE PROVISION IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, MANY ARTICLES ACTUALLY WORD FOR WORD," HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS FACT HAD RECENTLY BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY WHAT BECAME THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE TO ARISE THROUGHOUT THE DRAFTING PROCESS ------- HONG KONG’S FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM.
MR WIGGHAM NOTED THAT THE BASIC.LAW ITSELF, IN ARTICLE 67, STIPULATED THAT THE ULTIMATE AIM ’’SHALL BE THE SELECTION OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THROUGH GENERAL ELECTION".
HE SAID TO ENSURE THE MAXIMUM DEGREE OF CONTINUITY, THE LEGISLATURE ELECTED IN HONG KONG UNDER THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN 1995, WOULD BE ABLE TO STRADDLE THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY AND SERVE UNTIL 1999.
"THAT IS, IT WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE FOR TWO YEARS AFTER THE REVERSION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND PROVIDE WHAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE REFERRED TO AS A THROUGH TRAIN," HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF THE BRAIN DRAIN, MR WIGGHAM SAID IT WAS TRUE THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LEAVING HONG KONG WAS RUNNING AT A HIGHER RATE NOW THAN IN THE EARLY 1980’S ----- SOMETHING OVER 50,000 A YEAR COMPARED WITH A PREVIOUS AVERAGE OF 20,000.
NOTING THAT WHILE SUCH STATISTICS HAD BEEN CAPTURING THE HEADLINES, MR WIGGHAM SAID WHAT ELSE HAD BEEN GOING ON WAS OFTEN OVERLOOKED, SUCH AS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WITH DEGREE LEVEL ATTAINMENT HAD INCREASED FROM JUST UNDER 150,000 TO MORE THAN 200,000, BETWEEN 1985 AND 1989.
"THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL CATEGORY OF THE WORKFORCE HAS GROWN IN THE SAME PERIOD FROM 260,000 TO 310,000," HE ADDED.
/" SO, DESPITE .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
- 2
"SO, DESPITE THE EMIGRATION LOSSES, HONG KONG NOW HAS MORE WELL-EDUCATED, WELL QUALIFIED PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE," HE SAID.
MR WIGGHAM POINTED OUT THAT AUSTRALIA TODAY WAS THE FIFTH LARGEST FOREIGN INVESTOR IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, AND THAT A LOT OF AUSTRALIAN FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS HAD INVESTED THEIR MONEY IN THE TERRITORY’S FUTURE.
"TRADE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND AUSTRALIA IN 1989 WAS WORTH AROUND US$2 BILLION. AUSTRALIA IS THE NINTH LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG REEXPORTS, THE 10TH LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG DOMESTIC EXPORTS, AND THE 14TH LARGEST SOURCE OF HONG KONG IMPORTS," HE SAID.
"TOTAL TRADE BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND HONG KONG HAS INCREASED 13 PER CENT PER ANNUM OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
"HONG KONG’S PER CAPITA IMPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA ARE CALCULATED AT AUD 243 COMPARED WITH 74 FOR JAPAN, 18 FOR THE EEC AND 15 FOR THE UNITED STATES," HE ADDED.
"SO AUSTRALIA IS IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG AND PERHAPS INCREASINGLY, HONG KONG IS SEEN AS IMPORTANT TO AUSTRALIA," MR WIGGHAM SAID.
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METROPLAN : FLEXIBLE AND OPEN
* * *
THE FINAL METROPLAN WILL NEED TO KEEP OPEN A RANGE OF LOCATIONAL OPTIONS FOR KEY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES TO LET MARKET FORCES IN THIS VERY OPEN ECONOMY HAVE WIDE CHOICE, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR BARNES ALSO SAID HE RECOGNISED THE NEED FOR FIRMER LAND RESERVATIONS FOR OTHER ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY USES.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, THE SECRETARY SAID BEARING IN MIND THE NEED FOR A REASONABLE DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY, METROPLAN WOULD BE USED ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE BASIS, LEAVING STATUTORY PLANS TO BE FORMULATED AT A MORE LOCAL DISTRICT PLANNING LEVEL.
HE SAID THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF THE METROPLAN.
THE FIRST COMPONENT WAS A STRATEGIC LAND-USE TRANSPORT PLAN. MR BARNES ANTICIPATED THE NEED TO BUILD TWO MAJOR IN-TOWN AIRPORT TERMINALS AT WEST KOWLOON AND CENTRAL AS CONNECTION OF THE NEW AIRPORT TRANSPORT NETWORK WITH THE METRO TRANSPORT NETWORK.
/THE SECOND .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
3 -
THE SECOND IMPORTANT COMPONENT WAS A STATEMENT OF STANDARDS AND PRINCIPLES FOR URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN.
BY ADOPTING HIGHER ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN PLANNING STANDARDS ON REPLANNING, SUCH AS MORE PARKS, MORE TREES, WIDER STREETS, MORE PEDESTRIANISATION SCHEMES AND LOWER BUILDING DENSITIES, MR BARNES SAID IMPROVEMENT COULD AND WOULD COME ABOUT IN TIME.
THE THIRD COMPONENT WAS A LANDSCAPE STRATEGY.
"THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT WE CONSERVE OUR REMAINING TREES, WOODLANDS, SPECIAL VIEWS AND VISTAS AND THAT THEY DO NOT ALL GET SACRIFICED FOR PROFIT OR MERE NEGLECT.
"WE HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A PLAN BEFORE," HE SAID.
THE FOURTH WAS A BROAD WORKS PROGRAMME FOR THE MAIN INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE FIFTH WOULD BE THE INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN.
APART FROM INVOLVING MAJOR ENGINEERING WORKS, URBAN REDEVELOPMENT WAS MUCH MORE COMPLEX INVOLVING PLANNING, SOCIAL ENGINEERING, NEGOTIATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH PRIVATE OWNERS AND COMPROMISE OF CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
"INSTITUTIONAL ORGANISATION FOR ITS REALISATION MUST BE BASED ON THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN ON ONE OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT," MR BARNES SAID.
THE LAST MAIN ELEMENT WAS THAT DETAILED PLANNING MUST BE SPLIT DOWN AND DONE IN SMALLER AREAS AND BY DIFFERENT TEAMS, HE SAID.
"SO THE METROPLAN IS DIVIDED INTO SEVEN SUB-REGIONS AND THE STRATEGIC ELEMENTS OF THE OVERALL PLAN AND THE STANDARDS ADOPTED BECOME THE BRIEF FOR MORE DETAILED PLANNING OF THE SUB-REGIONS BY THE DISTRICT PLANNING TEAMS," HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE THREE OPTIONS LISTED IN THE SECOND PUBLIC CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT "METROPLAN : INITIAL OPTIONS", MR BARNES SAID THEY DIFFERED SIGNIFICANTLY IN TERMS OF THE SCALE OF REDEVELOPMENT AND IN TERMS OF THE SCALE AND LOCATION OF AREAS PLANNED FOR MAIN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES.
"THE PRINCIPAL DIFFERENCES ARE IN RESPECT OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH GROWTH SHOULD BE CENTRALISED ON THE ONE HAND OR DISPERSED BOTH WITHIN AND OUT WITH METRO ON THE OTHER," HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID IT WAS NOT THE INTENTION SIMPLY TO CHOOSE ONE OUT OF THE THREE OPTIONS LISTED.
"RATHER, WE EXPECT TO IDENTIFY THE BEST PARTS OF EACH AND CARRY THESE IDEAS FORWARD TO THE NEXT STAGE OF PLAN FORMULATION," HE SAID.
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/4 .........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
4
LEGCO TO DEBATE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM *****
TWO MEMBERS’ MOTIONS, ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, ARE LISTED FOR DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
ONE WILL BE MOVED BY THE SENIOR MEMBER, THE HON ALLEN LEE, AND THE OTHER BY THE HON JAMES MCGREGOR.
SEVENTEEN MEMBERS ARE LISTED TO SPEAK TOMORROW, AND 16 WHEN THE DEBATE CONTINUES ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1).
MR LEE’S MOTION READS: "THAT THIS COUNCIL EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE OMELCO CONSENSUS HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED IN THE FORMULATION OF THE FUTURE POLITICAL MODEL BUT URGES THE COMMUNITY, IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG, TO BE UNITED IN ITS EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM."
MR MCGREGOR’S MOTION IS: "THAT THIS COUNCIL DEPLORES THE EXTREMEI.Y UNDEMOCRATIC POLITICAL MODEL PROPOSED FOR THE BASIC LAW AT THE RECENT MEETING OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE AND URGES THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IN THEIR FUTURE AFTER 1997 BY ACCEPTING A MORE DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL MODEL FOR THE BASIC LAW BASED UPON THE OMELCO CONSENSUS WHICH RECOMMENDS A FULLY ELECTED LEGISLATURE BY THE YEAR 2003, REFLECTING THE EXPRESSED WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG; AND URGES THE ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR NO LESS THAN 50 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SEATS TO BE DIRECTLY ELECTED BY 1995."
IN OTHER BUSINESS, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCI I, WILL ASK A TOTAL OF FOUR QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER TWO BILLS.
THE BILLS ARE THE PROTECTION OF NON-GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE LIMITATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
IN ADDITION, THE HON HO SAI-CHU WILL SPEAK ON THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL ACTIVITIES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR JULY 1988 TO MARCH 1989.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
5
GOVERNMENT HOUSE GARDENS OPEN TO PUBLIC * * * * *
THE GARDENS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SUNDAY (MARCH 4) FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM TO ENABLE RESIDENTS TO SEE THE AZALEAS IN BLOOM.
THE OPEN DAY HAS BEEN AN ANNUAL EVENT SINCE 1968.
PEOPLE WISHING TO VISIT THE GARDENS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE ARE REQUESTED TO ENTER BY THE MAIN GATE AND LEAVE BY THE SIDE GATES SO THAT ALL CAN ENJOY THE FLOWERS WITHOUT CAUSING INCONVENIENCE TO OTHERS.
THEY ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT ONLY THE GARDENS WILL BE OPEN AND THEY SHOULD NOT ENTER THE HOUSE ITSELF.
SCOUTS AND POLICEMEN WILL BE PRESENT AND VISITORS ARE ASKED TO CO-OPERATE WITH THEM TO AVOID OVERCROWDING.
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CONTRACT FOR SERVICING GOVT VESSELS SIGNED
*****
THE FIRST TERM CONTRACT FOR SERVICING GOVERNMENT VESSELS BY A PRIVATE SHIPYARD WAS SIGNED TODAY (TUESDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE $5 MILLION ONE-YEAR TERM CONTRACT FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF 18 FIBRE-GLASS HULL GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES HAS BEEN AWARDED TO CHEOY LEE SHIPYARDS LIMITED.
’’THE DEAL WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE THE AVAILABILITY OF THE 18 FIBRE-GLASS HARBOUR LAUNCHES BUT WILL ALSO HELP RELIEVE THE WORKLOAD AND CONGESTION AT THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD, .THEREBY IMPROVING THE AVAILABILITY OF THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT FLEET,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE CONTRACT COVERS HARBOUR LAUNCHES USED BY SEVERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, AND MARINE DEPARTMENTS.
"THE CONTRACT COST COVERS ALL SCHEDULED AND EMERGENCY REPAIRS INCLUDING THE SUPPLY OF MATERIALS AND SPARE PARTS,” HE ADDED.
SIGNING THE CONTRACT WERE THE GENERAL MANAGER, GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD, MR PATRICK P.F. CHUN, AND THE DIRECTOR OF CHEOY LEE SHIPYARDS, MR LO SHU-YANG.
/6 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
6
ONE MORE AIDS CASE CONFIRMED *****
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME) CASES HAS RISEN TO 33 WITH THE CONFIRMATION OF ONE MORE CASE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE VICTIM, WHO ACQUIRED THE DISEASE SEXUALLY, HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY FOUND TO BE POSITIVE FOR THE HIV ANTIBODY TEST. HE DIED IN A FALL FROM HEIGHT.
OF THE 33 AIDS CASES, 19 PATIENTS HAD PASSED AWAY WHILE THE OTHER 14 ARE RECEIVING COUNSELLING AND TREATMENT.
RELEASING THE MONTHLY STATISTICS ON THE AIDS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY, ONE MORE MAN WAS FOUND TO BE POSITIVE FOR THE HIV ANTIBODY TEST, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CARRIERS TO 172. HE ACQUIRED THE INFECTION SEXUALLY.
OF THE 172 CARRIERS, 55 WERE HAEMOPHILIACS, ONE WAS AN INTRAVENOUS DRUG ABUSER, 19 WERE PERSONS WHO ATTENDED SOCIAL HYGIENE CLINICS, 57 WERE PATIENTS FROM GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, AND 40 WERE REFERRALS FROM PRIVATE DOCTORS AND SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS.
UNDER THE AIDS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME STARTED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN 1985, A TOTAL OF 150,187 BLOOD SPECIMENS HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR THE AIDS VIRUS.
MEANWHILE, THE HONG KONG RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE HAS ALSO SCREENED ALL BLOOD DONORS FOR AIDS.
UP TO LAST MONTH, 670,149 UNITS OF BLOOD HAD BEEN TESTED AND 10 WERE FOUND POSITIVE.
/AIDS VIRUS .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
7
f o .AIDS Virus (HIV) ^4 Antibody Testing
$ 4 A ffl > Virus Unit, Department of ^Health
Referrals from Govt, hospitals and clinics Referrals from private practitioners and subvented hospitals Attendances at social hygiene clinics Haemophiliacs IV drug abusers & H r A M M 4 7 # Referrals rrom Family Planning Association 4. a. A Health care personnel Apr 85 tested* 9 683 1 862 131 345 411 3 851 201 647 - Dec 89 No. ,*‘ve 57 40 18 55 • 1 0 . 0 January No. tested* 196 26 1 910 4 42 1 8 90 No. ♦ve 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Total No. tested* 9 879 1 888 133 255 415 3 893 202 655 No. ♦ve • 57 40 19 55 1 0 0
Total 148 000 171 2 187 1 150 187 172
Jt &&&+ K & * This indicates the number certain individuals. , M *-K, of specimens and not persons as tests are repeated for
A Aug 85 - Dec 89 January 90 Total
No. tested No. ♦ve No. tested No. 4-ve No. tested No. ♦ve
Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service 658 574 10 11 575 0 670 149 10
Department of Health
February 1990 0 -
/8 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
8
OLD AGE ALLOWANCE EXTENDED TO 66-YEAR OLD GROUP ******
THE QUALIFYING AGE FOR NORMAL OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WILL BE FURTHER LOWERED TO 66 STARTING FROM APRIL THIS YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
THIS IS THE THIRD STAGE OF THE EXTENSION OF NORMAL OLD AGE ALLOWANCE TO PERSONS AGED FROM 65 TO 69. BY APRIL 1991, ALL ELDERLY AGED 65 OR ABOVE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ALLOWANCE.
SOCIAL WORKERS WILL PUBLICISE THE LOWERING OF THE AGE LIMIT TO THE ELDERLY IN HOSTELS, HOMES AND CENTRES. GROUP APPLICATIONS FROM THEM WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO SAVE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT IN APPROACHING THE DEPARTMENT’S FIELD UNIT OFFICES.
THE FIELD UNIT OFFICES WILL ALSO ACCEPT PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS STARTING FROM THURSDAY, MARCH 1. DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING THE DEPARTMENT’S HOTLINE 3432255.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IN VIEW OF THE ANTICIPATED SUDDEN INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE TIME TO PROCESS, THERE WOULD BE SOME DELAY IN PAYMENT.
"HOWEVER, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT PAYMENT CAN BE MADE IN THREE TO FOUR MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING AN APPLICATION,” HE SAID.
"ALSO, PAYMENT WILL BE BACKDATED TO THE DATE OF ELIGIBILITY," HE ADDED.
AT PRESENT, THE NORMAL OLD AGE ALLOWANCE FOR PERSONS AGED FROM 67 TO 69 IS $310 PER MONTH WHILE THE ALLOWANCE FOR THOSE AGED 70 OR ABOVE IS $355. THIS SCALE WILL BE REVIEWED IN APRIL.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 22,000 PEOPLE IN THE 66-VSARS OLD AGE GROUP WILL BENEFIT FROM THE EXTENSION AND THE ANNUAL EXPENDITURE WILL BE $82 MILLION.
"APART FROM LOWERING THE QUALIFYING AGE, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA REMAIN UNCHANGED," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"TO BE ELIGIBLE, THE APPLICANT MUST HAVE LIVED IN HONG KONG CONTINUOUSLY FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO THE QUALIFYING AGE. HE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECLARATION OF RESOURCES WHEN APPLYING FOR THE ALLOWANCE."
A SINGLE PERSON WILL BE ENTITLED TO THE ALLOWANCE PROVIDED THAT HIS INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED $1,800 PER MONTH AND THAT HE HAS ASSETS WORTH NOT MORE THAN $100,000. THE LIMITS FOR A COUPLE ARE $3,000 AND $150,000 RESPECTIVELY.
PERSONAL JEWELLERY, A FAMILY CAR, SELF-OCCUPIED PROPERTY, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS AND PAYMENTS FROM CHARITABLE FUNDS ARE DISREGARDED IN THE CALCULATION OF INCOME AND ASSETS.
------0-------
/9.........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
- 9 -
CRECHE FINED FOR VIOLATING CHILD CARE CENTRES REGULATIONS *****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED OPERATORS OF CHILD CARE CENTRES TO OBSERVE THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS TO LOOK AFTER THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN UNDER THEIR CARE.
THE ADVICE WAS GIVEN AFTER THE OPERATORS AND SUPERVISOR OF A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL CRECHE IN WAN CHAI, THE HAPPY BABIES CENTRE, WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $3,750 AT THE CENTRAL MAGISTRACY FOR VIOLATING THE REGULATIONS.
THEY WERE CHARGED FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN THE CENTRE IN A SAFE, CLEAN AND SANITARY CONDITION; TO KEEP THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STAFF REQUIRED; TO MAINTAIN A PROPER RECORD OF ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN; AND TO INFORM THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE CHANGE IN STAFF.
A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT STAFF OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ADVISORY INSPECTORATE (CCCAI) PAY REGULAR VISITS TO ALL CHILD CARE CENTRES IN HONG KONG WITH A VIEW TO WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THEM IN THE MAINTENANCE AND BETTERMENT OF PRE-SCHOOL CHILD CARE SERVICE.
“DURING VISITS MADE BY CCCAI INSPECTORS TO THE HAPPY BABIES CENTRE ON JANUARY 8, AND ON FEBRUARY 9 AND 10, IT WAS SUSPECTED THAT THE CENTRE HAD VIOLATED THE REGULATIONS.
"HENCE, LEGAL ACTION WAS TAKEN AGAINST THE CENTRE," HE SAID.
THE CENTRE HAD BEEN FINED TWICE PREVIOUSLY, IN 1981 AND 1989, FOR CONTRAVENING THE CHILD CARE CENTRES REGULATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
---------0----------
BLANKETS FOR STREET SLEEPERS IN URBAN AREAS » » » ♦ »
A TOTAL OF 303 BLANKETS AND SLEEPING BAGS WERE DISTRIBUTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO 283 STREET SLEEPERS IN THE URBAN AREA LAST (MONDAY) NIGHT.
OF THESE, 119 BLANKETS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 107 STREET SLEEPERS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 30 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 27 BENEFICIARIES IN EAST KOWLOON AND 154 (INCLUDING 14 SLEEPING BAGS) WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 149 BENEFICIARIES IN WEST KOWLOON.
A TOTAL OF 119 FIELD STAFF WERE MOBILISED IN THE OPERATION.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, ALSO JOINED THE OPERATION TO GAIN FIRST-HAND INFORMATION ON STREET SLEEPERS.
------0--------
/10 .............................
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
10 GOLDEN SOUVENIR FOR CENTENARIAN IN TUEN MUN *****
A CENTENARIAN, MR CHAN TSUNG, WAS PRESENTED A GOLD MEDAL BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT RESPECT FOR THE AGED ASSOCIATION FOR BEING THE OLDEST OF THE 1,700 PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISTRICT’S CHINESE NEW YEAR FEAST FOR THE AGED THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
THE GOLD MEDAL FOR THE OLDEST WOMAN PARTICIPANT WAS PRESENTED TO MADAM TAM LAI-CHING, AGED 93. TWENTY OTHER OLD PEOPLE EACH RECEIVED A SOUVENIR.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION, MR WONG SHUE, SAID THE ANNUAL BANQUET WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ASSOCIATION’S ACTIVITIES.
"THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, WE HOPE TO PROMOTE RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY," MR WONG SAID.
MANY OF THOSE ATTENDING CAME FROM 12 DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS AND CENTRES FOR THE AGED.
OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE FUNCTION INCLUDED THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JOHN WAN; LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR LAU WONG-FAT; AND DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MR STEPHEN CHAU.
THE BANQUET WAS ORGANISED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT RESPECT FOR THE AGED ASSOCIATION, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD.
----------------0-------- FEAST FOR ELDERLY IN NORTH DISTRICT *****
ABOUT 1,200 ELDERLY RESIDENTS OF NORTH DISTRICT, ALL AGED ABOVE 65, WILL BE TREATED TO A FEAST TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
SPONSORED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, THE FEAST HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT’S CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR ELDERLY ACTIVITIES AS A TOKEN OF RESPECT TO SENIOR RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
THERE WILL BE PERFORMANCES OF CANTONESE OPERA SONGS AND POPULAR MANDARIN RENDITIONS AS WELL AS A LUCKY DRAW. PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO RECEIVE FREE GIFTS.
/AMONG THOSE .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
11 -
AMONG THOSE OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI; DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG; FRONTIER POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR MICHAEL WATSON; AND THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MRS LESLIE HUNG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE NORTH DISTRICT FEAST FOR THE ELDERLY, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 4 PM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) IN THE CHOI WAH PALACE RESTAURANT, CHEUNG WAH ESTATE, FANLING.
--------0-----------
FIRST SEMINAR FOR ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS IN COMMUNITY WORK *****
THREE HUNDRED ELDERLY VOLUNTEER WORKERS FROM CENTRAL AND WESTERN WILL SHARE EXPERIENCES IN COMMUNITY WORK AT A SEMINAR IN SHEUNG WAN ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1).
IT WILL BE THE FIRST PUBLIC FORUM ORGANISED ON A DISTRICT LEVEL FOR ELDERLY VOLUNTEER HELPERS.
THE SEMINAR, TO BE HELD AT THE HOTEL VICTORIA, IS ALSO AIMED AT ENCOURAGING MORE SENIOR CITIZENS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
"WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO INCREASE SENIOR WORKERS’ KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNIQUES BY PROVIDING THEM WITH MORE FIELD WORK FOR DIFFERENT TARGET GROUPS," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANISERS SAID.
"THESE ENDEAVOURS WILL ALSO ENHANCE THEIR CONFIDENCE."
THE SEMINAR WILL OPEN WITH TWO GUESTS SPEAKING ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF VOLUNTARY WORK. THEY ARE A PRINCIPAL LECTURER OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC’S DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES, MRS CARRIE CHAN, AND THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE YUEN YUEN HOME FOR THE AGED, MR LEUNG WING-YEE.
THE PARTICIPANTS WILL THEN TAKE PART IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS, AND WILL BE BRIEFED ON THEIR SERVICE PROGRAMMES FOR NEXT MONTH.
AMONG THOSE OFFICIATING AT A SOUVENIR PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AS PART OF THE SEMINAR WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN FISHER, THE HONG KONG REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MR KWOK NAI-SIK, AND TWO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MR LIU LIT-FOR AND MR CHANG YAU-HUNG.
/THE SEMINAR .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
12
THE SEMINAR AND THE SERVICE PROGRAMMES IN MARCH HAVE BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL, WESTERN AND ISLANDS DISTRICT REHABILITATION AND ELDERLY SERVICES COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT BOARD, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE THIRD DISTRICT FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS’ SEMINAR WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 10 AM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1) IN THE VICTORIA BALLROOM, THIRD FLOOR, HOTEL VICTORIA, 200 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL. THE DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICER WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
--------0 - -
SEMINAR ON PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG YOUTH
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, DR DANIEL TSE, WILL SPEAK ON HOW TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN A SEMINAR ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1).
THE EVENT, ORGANISED BY THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, IS AIMED AT ENHANCING THE AWARENESS OF YOUTH IN THE DISTRICT ON CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES.
PARTICIPANTS WILL INCLUDE PRINCIPALS OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND MEMBERS OF YOUTH ORGANISATIONS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
THE SEMINAR WILL BEGIN AT 5.30 PM IN THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE IN FO TAN, SHA TIN. IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A BUFFET DINNER DURING WHICH PARTICIPANTS MAY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES ON THE MATTER.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG YOUTH ORGANISED BY THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1) AT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, FO TAN, SHA TIN. THE SEMINAR WILL BEGIN AT 5.30 PM.
0
/13 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
- 13 -
TRANSPORT SURVEY ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA
*****
THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE FINDINGS OF A SURVEY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT AT A MEETING ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1).
THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, HAS EXAMINED THE LEVEL OF SERVICES OF TWO NEW EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING BUS ROUTES, GREEN MINIBUSES, TRAMS AND 11 PROBLEMATIC BUS ROUTES IDENTIFIED IN THE 1988 SURVEY.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATION BY CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE BUS ROUTES RUNNING ALONG HONG ON STREET IN KORNHILL AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT THE JUNCTION OF HONG YUE STREET AND GREIG ROAD.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FIRST FLOOR, 880-886 KING’S ROAD.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
------0-------
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS IMPROVEMENT SCHEME
******
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE MONG KOK WEST IMPROVEMENT SCHEME RECOMMENDED IN THE NORTH WEST KOWLOON TRAFFIC STUDY AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE SCHEME AIMS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF STAGE IV PHASE I OF THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR.
MEMBERS WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE DISTRICT BOARD IN 1990-91.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FIRST FLOOR, 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
0
/14 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
- 14 -
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER DISTRICT PAPER SUBSIDIES
******
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER SUBSIDIES FOR THE DISTRICT NEWSPAPER IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR AT ITS MEETING ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1).
A MEMBER IS EXPECTED TO REPORT ON ISSUES RELATING TO THE DISTRICT’S ELDERLY SERVICE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SERVICES COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1) IN ROOM 1416, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
------0--------
WATER SUPPLIES REGIONAL DEPOT ON MOVE *****
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT’S HONG KONG AND ISLANDS REGIONAL DEPOT, AT PRESENT LOCATED IN BULLOCK LANE, WAN CHAI, WILL MOVE TO NORTH POINT TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE NEW DEPOT AT 611 KING’S ROAD IS ACCESSIBLE FROM EITHER THE NORTH POINT OR THE QUARRY BAY MTR STATION.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO UNDERTAKE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SERVICES TO THE CONSUMERS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE OUTLYING ISLANDS.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE DEPOT'S TECHNICAL COMPLAINTS CENTRE ARE 8802500 (FROM MIDNIGHT TO 8 AM) AND 8110788 (FROM 8 AM TO MIDNIGHT).
THE CENTRE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE 24 HOURS DAILY. IT WILL RECEIVE NOTICE/COMPLAINTS OF TECHNICAL FAULTS IN THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS SUCH AS WATER MAIN BURST AND WEAK WATER PRESSURE AT THE CONSUMER END.
/15........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
15
34 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN TSIM SHA TSUI CLEARED * * * * *
THIRTY-FOUR ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN TSIM SHA TSUI WERE PULLED DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY) TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE DISTRICT.
THE STRUCTURES WERE IN THE BACKLANES BOUNDED BY HAIPHONG ROAD, HANKOW ROAD, ICHANG STREET, ASHLEY ROAD AND PEKING ROAD.
FOUR OF THEM WERE USED AS SHOPS, ONE AS A DOMESTIC UNIT AND THE OTHERS AS CANOPIES OR FOR STORAGE PURPOSES.
EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TOTALLING $145,000 HAVE BEEN MADE TO ELIGIBLE SHOP OWNERS, AND A MAN AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE HAS BEEN REHOUSED IN TUEN MUN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.
THE CLEARANCE OPERATION WAS CO-ORDINATED BY THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT OFFICE, INVOLVING ALSO STAFF FROM THE HOUSING, BUILDINGS AND LANDS, URBAN SERVICES, SOCIAL WELFARE AND HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS THE POLICE.
--------0----------
ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN WESTERN TO BE CLOSED
*****
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE AN ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN WESTERN DISTRICT SO THAT IT CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS OR TO THE PUBLIC.
THE STRUCTURE IS ON THE ROOF OVER FIFTH FLOOR, REAR PORTION, 30 HILL ROAD.
THE CLOSURE IS PART OF AN EXERCISE TO ENFORCE AN ORDER ISSUED UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE ON APRIL 20 LAST YEAR REQUIRING THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURE.
A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON JUNE 26 THIS YEAR WAS POSTED ON A CONSPICUOUS PART OF THE BUILDING TODAY (TUESDAY).
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMOLITION WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDER IS OBTAINED.
/16 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1990
- 16 -
TENDER FOR NEW MINIBUS ROUTES CLOSES ON MARCH 6
*****
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OPERATING THE 15 NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES ARE REMINDED TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS ON OR BEFORE NEXT TUESDAY (MARCH 6).
’’ABOUT 200 APPLICATION FORMS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED SINCE APPLICATIONS WERE INVITED ON FEBRUARY 16,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
A SELECTION BOARD COMPRISING A NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OFFICIALS FROM THE TRANSPORT AND OTHER RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL MEET AND SELECT THE APPLICANTS ON THE BASIS OF THE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA LAID DOWN BY THE BOARD.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE CRITERIA INCLUDE EXPERIENCE OF THE APPLICANT IN TRANSPORT SERVICE, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, MANAGEMENT RIGHT OVER THE VEHICLES, THE MAINTENANCE RECORD OF THE VEHICLES AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF HIS VEHICLES TO BE DEPLOYED INCLUDING THE AVAILABILITY OF AIR-CONDITIONING.
IF THE APPLICANT IS IN OR INTENDS TO ENTER INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OR MORE PERSONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPERATING THE GREEN MINIBUS SERVICES, IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT A COMPANY BE FORMED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE AND THE APPLICATION BE MADE IN THE NAME OF THE COMPANY.
------0--------
KMB ROUTE 202 TO BE CANCELLED *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT THE SERVICE OF KMB CIRCULAR ROUTE 202 TRAVELLING BETWEEN CHINA FERRY TERMINAL AND TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE CANCELLED FROM THURSDAY (MARCH 1) DUE TO LOW PATRONAGE.
PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO AND FROM THE FERRY TERMINAL MAY CONTINUE TO USE KMB ROUTES 3C, 12, 14 AND 238X.
-----0------
GOODS VEHICLE RESTRICTION IN KOWLOON BAY
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 1), GOODS VEHICLES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE THE LOADING AREA AT THE TRANSPORT TERMINUS AT TELFORD GARDENS, KOWLOON BAY TO LOAD AND UNLOAD GOODS.
HOWEVER, OTHER VEHICLES CAN STILL STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN THE LOADING AREA.
- - 0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL.: 5-8428777
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
TIME TO START AFRESH.................................................. 1
HK DESERVES FASTER DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT ............................ 2
CALL TO MAKE 1991 ELECTION A SUCCESS ................................. 3
HK SHOULD NOT ACCEPT DEAL ON POLITICAL SYSTEM......................... 4
FOUNDATION LAID FOR BUILDING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT ................... 6
REFINING LAW ON CERTIFICATION OF ORIGIN SYSTEM ....................... 7
EXTENSION OF LEGAL TIME LIMITS PROPOSED .............................. 8
LEGISLATION ON TOY SAFETY PLANNED .................................... 10
SUPREME COURT BUILDING NOT DANGEROUS ................................. 11
AIM IS PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES AT REASONABLE COST ............ 11
PHARMACY SERVICE EXTENDED AT TWO HOSPITALS ........................... 13
LEGCO BEGINS DEBATE ON POLITICAL SYSTEM .............................. 14
GOVERNOR TO VISIT LONDON NEXT MONTH .................................... 15
HK POLYTECHNIC REACHES OUT TO BUSINESS COMMUNITY: SEM .................. 15
MANUFACTURERS WISE IN MAKING QUALITY THE SELLING POINT ................. 16
APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTORS UNDER COMPANIES ORDINANCE .................... 17
HK'S POPULATION AT 5.8 MILLION ......................................... 17
DB TO DISCUSS COMMITTEES' STRUCTURE .................................... 18
/SQUATTER AREA ........
SQUATTER AREA IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA ....................... 18
DB COMMITTEE TO REVIEW GUIDELINES ON FUND ALLOCATION ......................... 19
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS NOISE NUISANCE ....................................... 19
HEALTH EDUCATION CARNIVAL FOR ELDERLY ........................................ 20
PLACES AVAILABLE IN GOVT PRIMARY SCHOOLS ..................................... 21
VISITING SERVICE FOR ISSUE OF NEW IDENTITY CARDS ............................. 22
MA TAU WAI POST OFFICE RE-OPENS ON MONDAY .................................... 23
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN KWUN TONG TO BE CLOSED.................................. 23
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI ............................................. 24
URBAN CLEARWAY IN CENTRAL..................................................... 24
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN KOWLOON BAY ............................................... 24
NO-STOPPING AREA IN TAK MAN STREET EXTENDS ................................... 25
LOWER SPEED LIMIT ON PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST.................................. 25
FLUSHING WATER CUTS IN TSUEN WAN, HO MAN TIN AND KING'S PARK.................. 25
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 1 -
TIME TO START AFRESH
*****
NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO REVIEW THE PAST AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE - THE FUTURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA AND THE FUTURE OF OUR OWN PEOPLE.
THE CALL ON THE COMMUNITY TO START AFRESH CAME FROM THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON ALLEN LEE, WHEN LEADING OFF DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL ON HIS MOTION ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.
HIS MOTION READS: "THAT THIS COUNCIL EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE OMELCO CONSENSUS HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED IN THE FORMULATION OF THE FUTURE POLITICAL MODEL BUT URGES THE COMMUNITY, IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG, TO BE UNITED IN ITS EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM."
MR LEE ALSO ASKED THE LEADERS OF CHINA TO UNDERSTAND HONG KONG AND OUR WAY OF LIFE.
"I BELIEVE THAT ONLY THROUGH MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING WILL WE BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE SYSTEM PROMISED BY THE CHINESE LEADERS OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS’," HE SAID.
"THIS CONCEPT HAS NEVER BEEN TRIED BY MANKIND AND IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG, WE MUST DO OUR VERY BEST TO ENSURE ITS SUCCESS," HE ADDED.
MR LEE BELIEVED THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE MUST ESTABLISH A COMMON UNDERSTANDING AND BASIC TRUST WITH CHINA;
"LET US DO OUR PART TO CLOSE THE GAP," HE SAID.
ADMITTING THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, HIMSELF INCLUDED, HAD NOT THOUGHT IN THIS DIRECTION BEFORE, MR LEE ASKED: "IF, AS LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE WERE TO ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF NOT TRUSTING CHINA, HOW COULD WE EXPECT CHINA TO TRUST US? IF WE THINK WE CAN CONSTRUCT BLOCKADES IN ORDER TO PRESERVE OUR WAY OF LIFE,WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHINESE REACTION WOULD BE?"
MR LEE EXPRESSED GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE OMELCO CONSENSUS MODEL ON THE PACE OF DEMOCRACY WAS NOT ADOPTED IN THE BASIC LAW, DESPITE MEMBERS’ TIRELESS EFFORTS IN SCRUTINISING AND STUDYING THE VARIOUS OPTIONS PROPOSED.
HE ADMITTED THAT IN THE CASE OF DEMOCRACY, OMELCO HAD FAILED THE HONG KONG PEOPLE ALTHOUGH MEMBERS HAD DISCHARGED THEIR DUTIES HONOURABLY. THIS WAS BECAUSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE NOT MASTERS OF THEIR OWN DESTINY.
"WE RELIED ON THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WHILST THERE WAS DEFINITELY A LACK OF GOODWILL AND TRUST," HE SAID.
/MR LEE ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2*.
- 2 -
MR LEE STRESSED THAT HE BELIEVED IN DEMOCRACY, FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT IT OFFERED PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS; PROVIDED THE NECESSARY CHECKS AND BALANCES; AND ALLOWED THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
"IN 1991, OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY, TO DIRECTLY ELECT 18 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS,"'HE SAID.
MR LEE URGED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION AND TO COME OUT AND VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE WHOM THEY BELIEVED SHOULD BE THE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HE ALSO URGED THOSE WHO WERE QUALIFIED TO BE VOTERS TO REGISTER SO THAT THEY COULD VOTE.
"THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG MUST BE DETERMINED ON WHOM THEY WANT IN THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS TO GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE," HE ADDED.
-------------------0-------- HK DESERVES FASTER DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT ♦ * * * ♦
THE HON RITA FAN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SHE IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE FUTURE POLITICAL MODEL BUT ACCEPTS THAT THE MAIN TASK AHEAD IS TO PROVE TO THOSE WHO BLOCKED THE PROGRESS OF DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG THAT THEY WERE WRONG IN THEIR ASSESSMENT.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE HON ALLEN LEE’S MOTION IN THE DEBATE ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL MODEL, MRS FAN MAINTAINED THAT HONG KONG DESERVED AND WAS CAPABLE OF HANDLING A FASTER PACE OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT.
"TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD, IN PARTICULAR CHINA, THAT DEMOCRACY WORKS WELL HERE, THE ELECTIONS IN 1991 NEED TO HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT RATE, AND THE 1991 LEGISLATURE MUST ENJOY MORE SUPPORT AND OUT-PERFORM THE PRESENT ONE,” SHE SAID.
MRS FAN SAID SHE WAS SADLY DISAPPOINTED WITH FOUR FACTORS THAT HAD EMERGED DURING THE PROCESS OF SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM.
THE FIRST FACTOR WAS THE REFUSAL OF THE CHINESE SIDE TO CONSIDER THE OMELCO CONCENSUS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT OMELCO WAS A BRITISH ORGANISATION.
THE SECOND WAS THE APPARENT FAVOURITISM SHOWN BY THE CHINESE SIDE TO THE SUGGESTIONS OF SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE OVER THE MAINSTREAM VIEW OF THE COMMUNITY.
/THE THIRD .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 3 -
THE THIRD WAS THE .INCLUSION OF SEPARATE VOTING FOR MEMBERS BILLS AND AMENDMENTS WHICH WAS NOT ONLY CUMBERSOME BUT ALSO UNDERMINED THE SPIRIT OF CONVERGENCE.
THE FOURTH WAS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S WILLINGNESS TO COMPROMISE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR A CONVERGENCE IN NUMBERS BUT NOT IN ALL RESPECTS.
MRS FAN CONCLUDED THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE, BEING REALISTIC AND PRAGMATIC, HAD TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL WERE MORE OVERWHELMING THAN THEIR OWN EFFORTS, BUT SHE STRESSED THAT ACCEPTING THE REALITY DID NOT REDUCE THE DEEPLY FELT DISAPPOINTMENT.
--------0------------
CALL TO MAKE 1991 ELECTION A SUCCESS
*****
THE FINAL PACKAGE ON HONG KONG’S POLITICAL STRUCTURE FALLS SHORT OF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED, BUT IT IS HIGH TIME TO MAKE THE BEST EFFORTS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN THE NEXT ELECTION IN 1991 AND MAKE IT A GREAT SUCCESS.
THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE HON ALLEN LEE’S MOTION IN THE DEBATE ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM.
MR CHENG SAID THAT ACTIVE PARTICIPATION, IN THE 1991 ELECTIONS WOULD ENSURE A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR FURTHER DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT -A TREND PREVAILING NOWADAYS IN MANY MORE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
REFERRING TO A RECENT SURVEY WHICH SHOWED HONG KONG PEOPLE’S CONFIDENCE HAD DROPPED TO AN EVEN LOWER LEVEL THAN THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE JUNE 4 EVENT, MR CHENG SAID THAT HE WAS NOT AT ALL SURPRISED.
THIS WAS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF DETAIL OF THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE BUT ALSO A REFLECTION OF A STRONG FEELING THAT THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE HAD NOT BEEN WELL TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
"WE HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND STRIVE FOR A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR POLITICAL REFORM ALTHOUGH ITS FORMULATION IS NOT IN OUR HAND," HE SAID.
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/4 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
4
HK SHOULD NOT ACCEPT DEAL ON POLITICAL SYSTEM
*****
THE HON MARTIN LEE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE DISAGREED HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD NOW ACCEPT THE BAD DEAL REACHED BY BRITAIN AND CHINA OVER THE TERRITORY'S FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM AND TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
"THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG DOES NOT LIE IN GIVING UP AND PASSIVELY ACCEPTING WHAT BRITAIN AND CHINA TELL US OUR FUTURE WILL BE," HE SAID IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM.
"THE MOMENT THAT WE GIVE UP, THE MOMENT THAT WE STOP TRYING TO REALISE OUR ASPIRATIONS, THAT MOMENT WILL BE THE END OF HONG KONG."
THE DUTY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TO ATTAIN WHAT IT BELIEVED WAS BEST FOR HONG KONG, AND NOT JUST TO ADVANCE A POLITICAL MODEL FOR DISCUSSION, HE SAID.
IT WAS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE COUNCIL TO ACCEPT MEEKLY WHAT IT WAS OFFERED.
"WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE RIGHT, FOR ULTIMATELY WE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL HAVE THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE DESERVE," HE SAID.
MR LEE CRITICISED THE WORDING OF THE SENIOR MEMBER’S MOTION FOR BEING TOO MILD, AND FOR IMPLYING THAT IT WAS IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG TO "QUIETLY ACCEPT THE ANTI-DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL MODEL SET OUT IN THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW".
HE SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THE SOFT ATTITUDE, WHICH WAS IMPLICIT IN THIS MOTION, WOULD NOT FOOL THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG INTO BELIEVING THAT STABILITY HAD BEEN ACHIEVED.
BUT HE COMMENDED THE HON JAMES MCGREGOR’S MOTION TO HIS COLLEAGUES, SAYING THAT "WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE RIGHT".
MR LEE STRESSED THAT THE ESSENCE OF THE OMELCO CONSENSUS MODEL WAS THAT IT WAS THE BOTTOM LINE, THE VERY MINIMUM OF DEMOCRATIC REFORM THAT MUST BE IMPLEMENTED IF PEOPLE’S CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY WAS TO BE RESTORED.
"IT WOULD BE HIGHLY DISINGENUOUS FOR THE COUNCIL NOW TO SUGGEST THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD SIMPLY ABANDON OUR ASPIRATIONS AND MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT WE HAVE OURSELVES SAID WAS BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE. FOR US TO ACCEPT THIS MODEL IS TO ENCOURAGE OUR PEOPLE TO FLEE HONG KONG," HE SAID.
MR LEE CRITICISED BRITAIN FOR SHOWING ABSOLUTELY NO INCLINATION TO ASCERTAIN HONG KONG’S OPINION AND FOR MAKING NO EFFORT TO COVER ITS CAPITULATION TO CHINA.
/HE ALSO .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
5 -
HE ALSO SAID THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, IN REJECTING OMELCO CONSENSUS, HAD TOLD THE WHOLE WORLD, FIRST, THAT IT WOULD NOT BE BOUND BY THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND, SECOND, THAT IT ATTACHED LITTLE WEIGHT TO THE ADVICE OF OMELCO.
HE FELT THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT LEGCO SHOULD DEBATE THE BASIC LAW AS A WHOLE AND SHOULD DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SAYING THAT SEPARATING THE POLITICAL SYSTEM FROM THE REST OF THE BASIC LAW WAS A DANGEROUS ACT OF SELF-DECEPTION, MR LEE SAID THAT LITANIES OF ECONOMIC AND CIVIL FREEDOMS WERE MEANINGLESS IF NO POLITICAL STRUCTURE EXISTED TO SAFEGUARD THEM.
"IF THE BASIC LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR THE HIGHLY AUTONOMOUS AND DEMOCRATIC HONG KONG AS PROMISED TO US IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, THEN ITS PROVISIONS FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OTHER FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS WILL HAVE THE SAME VALUE AND WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS THOSE IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA," HE SAID.
MR LEE SAID THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OMELCO CONSENSUS MODEL AND THE POLITICAL MODEL IN THE BASIC LAW WAS NOT A MATTER OF QUIBBLING OVER A FEW SEATS.
"UNDER THE BASIC LAW, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DEMOCRATICALLY ELECT SO MUCH AS HALF OF THE HONG KONG LEGISLATURE UNTIL 2003 — AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL EVER BE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED THEREAFTER," HE SAID.
THE LIMITATION ON THE NUMBERS OF DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED MEMBERS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SO-CALLED ELECTION COMMITTEE, THROUGH WHICH BEIJING HOPED TO APPOINT ITS OWN REPRESENTATIVES, WERE CLEAR VIOLATIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION’S PLEDGE THAT THE HKSAR LEGISLATURE SHALL BE CONSTITUTED BY ELECTIONS, HE SAID.
CHINA AND BRITAIN’S AGREEMENT ON A CEILING ON THE NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS WITH FOREIGN RIGHT OF ABODE WAS ANOTHER CLEAR BREACH OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, WHICH SPELT OUT IN DETAIL WHICH KEY POSITIONS IN THE HKSAR MUST BE HELD ONLY BY CHINESE NATIONALS.
ACCORDING TO MR LEE, THE IMPOSITION OF A DIVISIVE SPLIT-VOTING SCHEME IN THE BASIC LAW RELATING TO PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILLS SERVED ONLY TO FURTHER UNDERMINE THE INFLUENCE OF DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEGISLATORS.
"THE SPLIT-VOTING SCHEME, ILL-CONCEIVED AS IT IS, IS REALLY UNNECESSARY GIVEN THE OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE BASIC LAW, WHICH RENDER THE LEGISLATURE QUITE POWERLESS VIS-A-VIS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE," HE SAID.
ON THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES, MR LEE SAID THE JOINT DECLARATION PROMISED THAT THEY SHOULD BE "ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE", BUT ACCORDING TO THE BASIC LAW, THE ALL-POWERFUL CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD EFFECTIVELY BE ACCOUNTABLE TO NO ONE EXCEPT THE BEIJING GOVERNMENT.
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/6 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 6 -
FOUNDATION LAID FOR BUILDING
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
♦ ♦ * ♦ »
THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS NOT SO MUCH WHETHER WE SHOULD ACCEPT THE PROPOSED POLITICAL MODEL FOR HONG KONG THAT HAS BEEN AGREED ON OUR BEHALF BY BRITAIN AND CHINA, BUT RATHER HOW WE CAN MAKE IT WORK TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR FUTURE, THE HON EDWARD HO SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE HON ALLEN LEE’S MOTION IN THE DEBATE ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM, MR HO SAID THE RECENT GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PROVISION OF 18 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE 1991 LEGISLATURE WAS A VAST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE ORIGINAL NUMBER OF 10.
HE BELIEVED THIS COULD PROVIDE A WORKING FOUNDATION FOR THE BUILDING OF A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
IT WOULD BE FUTILE AND STRATEGICALLY WRONG TO ADOPT A CONFRONTATIONAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHINA.
HONG KONG PEOPLE’S ASPIRATION FOR GREATER DEMOCRACY WOULD NOT DIMINISH, AND THE BEST WAY THEY COULD ACHIEVE THAT WAS FOR ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE UNITED IN THEIR EFFORTS IN BUILDING UP A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM FROM THE FOUNDATION THAT HAD JUST BEEN LAID.
’’THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG MUST COMMIT THEMSELVES TO MAINTAIN, KITH THE HELP OF THEIR LEADERS AND THE GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED, THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY, THEIR HOME.
’’THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT IS THE ONLY ASSURANCE THAT HONG KONG WILL ENJOY GREATER DEMOCRACY AND AUTONOMY IN THE YEARS TO COME,’’ MR HO SAID.
AS BOTH THE ”4-4-2 MODEL” AND THE OMELCO CONSENSUS COMMANDED WIDE SUPPORT IN HONG KONG, IT WAS DISAPPOINTING THAT NEITHER WAS EVEN CONSIDERED IN THE FINAL WORKING SESSIONS OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, HE SAID.
THE PRESENT MODEL FELL SHORT OF THE ASPIRATION OF HONG KONG PEOPLE ON THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT OF A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
”IN ADDITION, THERE ARE ELEMENTS PROPOSED IN THE BASIC LAW, SUCH AS THE SPLIT VOTING SYSTEM AND THE RESTRICTION OF THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE FUTURE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HOLDING FOREIGN PASSPORTS TO 20 PER CENT, WHICH CAN JEOPARDISE THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE COUNCIL, AND IN THE LATTER CASE, IS UNDESIRABLE AND EVEN UNWORKABLE,” MR HO SAID.
------0------------
n....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
REFINING LAW ON CERTIFICATION OF ORIGIN SYSTEM
. *»**«*
A ,BILL TO UPDATE AflD REFINE SELECTED PROVISIONS OF THE PROTECTION OF NON-GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO RENDER IT MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESENT ORIGIN CERTIFICATION SYSTEM, WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PROTECTION OF NON-GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1967 AND IT HAD BEEN LAST AMENDED IN 1982.
IT PROVIDED FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT-APPROVED CERTIFICATION ORGANISATIONS.
HIGHLIGHTING THE PRINCIPAL PROPOSALS OF THE BILL, HE SAID, IN RELATION TO THE POWERS OF AUTHORISED OFFICERS, THAT THE POWERS TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING SEARCH, SEIZURE AND DETENTION, WERE VESTED WITH AUTHORISED OFFICERS, THAT WAS, THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, AND THE POLICE.
"SINCE THE POWERS GIVEN TO THE POLICE HAVE NEVER BEEN USED IN PRACTICE AND THE AUTHORISED OFFICERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES SATISFACTORILY ON THEIR OWN, THE BILL SEEKS TO AMEND SECTION 10 OF THE ORDINANCE TO DELETE ALL REFERENCES TO POLICE POWERS," HE SAID.
ON PENALTIES, SIR PIERS SAID THE BILL SOUGHT TO RAISE THE PENALTIES GENERALLY FOR OFFENCES SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE FROM THE PRESENT LEVEL OF EITHER $50,000 AND ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT OR $100,000 AND ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT TO $500,000 AND TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.
"THIS SERVES TO ALIGN THE PENALTY LEVELS WITH THOSE FOR SIMILAR OFFENCES REFERRED TO UNDER SECTION 36 OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT ORDINANCES.
"THE UNIFORMITY IN THE PENALTY LEVEL WOULD IN TURN FACILITATE ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY IN PROSECUTION WORK," HE SAID.
ON NEW OFFENCES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THE BILL SOUGHT TO ADD THREE NEW OFFENCES TO THE ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE LEGISLATION AGAINST MALPRACTICE AND DAMAGE TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATION SYSTEM.
"THE FIRST OFFENCJ R’ ATES TO ORGANISATIONS DISHONESTLY REPRESENTING THEMSELVES TO BE GOVERNMENT-APPROVED CERTIFICATE ISSUING AUTHORITIES.
’’THE SECOND CONCERNS THE ISSUING OF A DOCUMENT LIKELY TO MISLEAD ANOTHER PERSON INTO BELIEVING THAT THE DOCUMENT IS A CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT-APPROVED CERTIFICATE ISSUING AUTHORITIES.
/"THE THIRD
[This page is blank in the original document]
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 9 -
"HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE IS SUED BY VIRTUE OF THIS NEW PROVISION A GREAT MANY YEARS AFTER THE NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OCCURRED, CLAUSE 13 OF THE BILL PROVIDES THAT NO ACTION SHALL BE BROUGHT AFTER THE EXPIRY OF AN OVERRIDING PERIOD OF- 15 YEARS FOLLOWING THE DATE OF THAT ACT OR OMISSION WHICH ALLEGEDLY CAUSED THE DAMAGE,” HE SAID.
MR MATHEWS NOTED THAT PROBLEMS COULD ARISE WHERE, ON THE DATE ON WHICH A PLANTIFF HAD THE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR BRINGING AN ACTION HE WAS UNDER A LEGAL DISABILITY SUCH AS INFANCY.
CLAUSE 11 PROVIDED THAT IN SUCH SITUATION, AN ACTION MIGHT BE BROUGHT WITHIN THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PLAINTIFF CEASED TO BE UNDER THE DISABILITY, PROVIDED THAT THIS DID NOT GO BEYOND THE OVERRIDING 15 YEARS PERIOD.
MR MATHEWS SAID THERE HAD BEEN DIFFICULTIES WHERE THERE WERE SUCCESSIVE OWNERS OF A PROPERTY WHICH HAD A HIDDEN DEFECT.
CLAUSE 13 THUS ALSO PROVIDED THAT A PERSON WHO ACQUIRED PROPERTY SO AFFECTED WOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN AN ACTION AGAINST THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY PROVIDED THAT NO PREVIOUS OWNER HAD BEEN AWARE • OF THAT LATENT DEFECT.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LAW OF LIMITATION IN ACTIONS INVOLVING FRAUD, CONCEALMENT AND MISTAKE WERE CONTAINED IN CLAUSE 12.
"ITS EFFECT IS TO POSTPONE THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY LIMITATION PERIOD UNDER THE LIMITATION ORDINANCE SO AS NOT TO PREJUDICE A PLAINTIFF WHO HAS SUFFERED FROM FRAUD, THE DELIBERATE CONCEALMENT OF FACTS OR FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF A MISTAKE.
"IN SUCH CASES THE LIMITATION PERIOD WILL ONLY COMMENCE WHEN THE PLAINTIFF HAS DISCOVERED, OR COULD WITH REASONABLE DILIGENCE HAVE DISCOVERED, THE FRAUD, CONCEALMENT OR MISTAKETHE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID.
MR MATHEWS POINTED OUT THAT THE CHANGES PROPOSED IN CLAUSES 5, 6, 7 AND 8 WOULD REDUCE FROM 20 YEARS TO 12 YEARS THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BRING CERTAIN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AFFECTING PROPERTY, IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS TO RECOVER LAND OR TO REDEEM MORTGAGED LAND.
"THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE CONSEQUENT UPON CHANGES EFFECTED BY THE CONVEYANCING AND PROPERTY (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1988.
"DURING THE COURSE OF THE PASSAGE OF THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THROUGH THIS COUNCIL ON JUNE 1, THIS YEAR, I ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER A PROPOSAL PUT FORWARD BY THE LATE MR PETER C. WONG, WHICH RELATED TO THE STATUTORY LIMITATION PERIODS FOR ACTIONS FOR THE RECOVERY OF LAND.
"THAT PROPOSAL IS FULLY REFLECTED IN THE BILL," HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
/10 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 10 -
LEGISLATION ON TOY SAFETY PLANNED
*****
A WORKING GROUP SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONCLUDED AFTER A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THAT INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED BY LEGISLATION FOR TOYS AND CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS OFFERED FOR SALE IN HONG KONG.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MIRIAM LAU.
"THE WORKING GROUP IS FINALISING ITS DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE A TOYS AND CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS SAFETY BILL INTO THIS COUNCIL DURING THE NEXT SESSION," SIR PIERS SAID.
WHILE NOTING THAT TOYS FOR SALE IN HONG KONG WERE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY SPECIFIC SAFETY CONTROL, SIR PIERS SAID THE ADMINISTRATION RECOGNISED THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF CONTROL, THE PUBLIC COULD BE EXPOSED TO UNSAFE TOYS AND CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS.
HE SAID THE WORKING GROUPS, COMPRISING GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, WAS THEREFORE SET UP IN APRIL 1988 TO CONSIDER THE NEED FOR MANDATORY SAFETY STANDARDS FOR TOYS AND CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS OFFERED FOR SALE IN HONG KONG.
SIR PIERS SAID MOST OF THE TOYS FOR SALE IN HONG KONG WHETHER IMPORTED OR LOCALLY MADE, WERE MANUFACTURED TO INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED SAFETY STANDARDS, SINCE VERY OFTEN, THE SAME PRODUCTS WERE INTENDED FOR SALE IN OTHER MARKETS WHERE COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY STANDARDS WAS REQUIRED.
"AS PART OF ITS REGULAR MONITORING PROGRAMME, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL CONDUCTS TESTING OF PRODUCTS CONSIDERED TO BE OF HIGH RISK AND THE RESULTS ARE WIDELY PUBLICISED'. TOYS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAMME.
"IN ADDITION, EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN MOUNTED TO PROMOTE CONSUMER AWARENESS REGARDING THE SAFETY ASPECT IN THE CHOICE OF TOYS FOR CHILDREN," HE SAID.
SIR PIERS SAID THERE WERE NO SEPARATE STATISTICS AS TO THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES THROUGH THE USE OF UNSAFE TOYS.
THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL CONCERNING TOY SAFETY WAS 39 IN 1987, 26 IN 1988 AND 33 IN 1989.
"THESE FIGURES DO NO , JOWEVER, REPRESENT ACTUAL CASES OF INJURY, SINCE THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNED THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF UNSAFE TOYS," HE SAID.
/Il .......
11
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
SUPREME COURT BUILDING NOT DANGEROUS
»*»»»♦
RESTORATION WORK FOR THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING WHERE MARBLE TILES BECAME DETACHED FROM THEIR MORTAR BACKING WILL BE COMPLETED IN SIX MONTHS’ TIME.
THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN-^PCYTJJg <0 A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN.
MR BARNES ASSURED MEMBERS THE SITUATION AT THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING WAS NOT DANGEROUS.
HE SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THE TILES BECOMING DETACHED, AND THESE WERE BEING INVESTIGATED.
"AS A RESULT WE HAVE PRISED OFF ALL THE TILES WHICH WE SUSPECT MIGHT BECOME DETACHED, AND TEMPORARY HOARDINGS HAVE BEEN ERECTED IN ALL THE LIFT LOBBIES TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY TILE WHICH MIGHT DESPITE PRISING BE SO INCLINED TO FALL ON ANYONE," HE SAID.
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AIM IS PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES AT REASONABLE COST
THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT PRIVATE SECTOR UTILITY COMPANIES CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO EXPLOIT THEIR MONOPOLY OR QUASI MONOPOLY POSITION AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RONALD CHOW, MRS CHAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD AN OVERALL INTEREST IN ENSURING THE RELIABLE PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO CONSUMERS AT A REASONABLE PRICE.
SHE SAID WHERE THE PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES COULD PROVIDE SUCH SERVICES EFFICIENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED THAT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO SO WITH THE MINIMUM OF GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE, WITH THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES REMAINING DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR CONSUMERS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER, SHE EMPHASISED THAT WHERE IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE CHARGING OF EXCESSIVE PRICES OR OTHER FORMS OF UNDESIRABLE MONOPOLY BEHAVIOUR WOULD RESULT, SOME FORM OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION WAS USUALLY NECESSARY.
/"THE WAY .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
12 -
"THE WAY IN WHICH THIS REGULATION IS EXERCISED, IN CASES IN WHICH IT IS APPLIED, DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE COMPANY, ITS POSITION IN THE MARKET, AND THE NATURE OF ITS OPERATIONS.
"THE REGULATION MAY BE BY WAY OF LEGISLATION, FRANCHISE AND/OR A SCHEME OF CONTROL AGREEM; BUT IN ALL SUCH CASES THE LEVEL OF REGULATION IS KEPT TO THE MINIMUM COMPATIBLE WITH PUBLIC INTEREST," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE ULTIMATE CONTROL LAY IN THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE CHARGES LEVIED TO BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNMENT’S APPROVAL.
IN APPROVING SUCH CHARGES, THE BASIC CONSIDERATIONS WERE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO ACHIEVE COST ECONOMIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CONSUMERS, AND THAT HAVING DONE SO, IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RECOVER THE FULL COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE TOGETHER WITH A REASONABLE PROFIT SO AS TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER INVESTMENT TO MEET CHANGES IN DEMAND AND APPROVED STANDARDS IN SERVICE.
"IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BALANCE THE INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS ON THE ONE HAND, AND SHAREHOLDERS AND INVESTORS ON THE OTHER, AND THE PRESENT APPROACH IS IN LINE WITH THIS OBJECTIVE," MRS CHAN SAID.
AS REGARDS THE GAS SUPPLY SECTOR, MRS CHAN EXPLAINED THAT FUEL GASES FOR HEATING AND COOKING PURPOSES WERE CURRENTLY SUPPLIED EITHER AS TOWNGAS AND SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS (SNG) BY THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS CO. LTD. OR AS LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) BY A NUMBER OF OIL COMPANIES.
THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 1.56 MILLION GAS CUSTOMERS IN HONG KONG, OF WHICH ABOUT 689,000 OR 45 PER CENT USED PIPED TOWNGAS OR SNG, 225,000 OR 15 PER CENT USED PIPED LPG AND 610,000 OR 40 PER CENT USED LPG IN CYLINDERS.
THE OIL COMPANIES HAD A 55 PER CENT SHARE OF THE MARKET IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS. BUT IN TERMS OF SALES OF GAS ENERGY, THE MARKET-SHARES OF LPG AND HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS CO. WERE ROUGHLY IN THE REGION OF 40:60.
MRS CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS CO. WAS THE SOLE SUPPLIER OF TOWNGAS IN HONG KONG.
HOWEVER, LPG PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE CHOICE OF FUEL GAS AND BOTH TYPES HAD RESPECTABLE MARKET SHARES, AND CONSUMERS COULD ALSO CHOOSE ELECTRICITY AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY SUPPLY.
IT WAS THEREFORE NOT CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OVER HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS CO. OR TO PUT IT UNDER A SCHEME OF CONTROL, SHE SAID.
"HOWEVER, GOVERNMENT WILL MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY. SHOULD THE COMPANY INCREASE ITS MARKET SHARE TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT BECAME A VIRTUAL MONOPOLY IN THE GAS SUPPLY SECTOR AND IT IS FOUND TO BE OPERATING AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST, THEN CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO PUTTING THE COMPANY UNDER SOME FORM OF CONTROL," MRS CHAN SAID.
- - 0 - -
/13 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
13
PHARMACY SERVICE EXTENDED AT TWO HOSPITALS
*****
IN RECOGNITION OF OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, ADDITIONAL POSTS IN THE PHARMACY SERVICE HAD BEEN APPROVED AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RONALD CHOW, MRS WONG ALSO SAID THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF THE PHARMACY SERVICE AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL HAD BEEN EXTENDED.
THE HOURS OF OPERATION HAD BEEN EXTENDED FROM 9 AM - 5 PM TO 9 AM - 10 PM ON MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS, AND FROM 9 AM - 1 PM TO 9 AM - 5 PM ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, THE HOURS OF OPERATION REMAINED FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM.
MRS WONG SAID THE ADDITIONAL POSTS IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL WERE: ONE PHARMACIST, TWO SENIOR DISPENSERS, FIVE DISPENSERS AND ONE WORKMAN II. THE ADDITIONAL POSTS IN PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WERE: ONE PHARMACIST, TWO SENIOR DISPENSERS, FOUR DISPENSERS AND ONE WORKMAN II.
"REPRESENTATIVES OF PHARMACEUTICAL STAFF WERE CONSULTED ON THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S PLANS, INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS, PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG SAID THAT ON ACCOUNT OF A GENERAL SHORTAGE OF DISPENSING STAFF IN THE DEPARTMENT, IT HAD BEEN- AGREED WITH THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS THAT THE DISPENSERS IN THESE TWO HOSPITALS SHOULD CONTINUE TO UNDERTAKE PAID OVERTIME WORK ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO COVER THE EXTENDED HOURS.
"THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS ALLOWED STAFF TO BE REDEPLOYED TO FILL VACANCIES IN OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS OF SERVICE.
"IT IS HOPED THAT OVERTIME WORK WILL BE GRADUALLY REDUCED AS IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE TO OVERALL STAFFING LEVELS," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM THE REGULAR SUPERVISION BY FIELD SUPERVISORS, AN OPERATIONAL WORKING GROUP WAS SET UP IN MAY LAST YEAR SPECIFICALLY TO MONITOR THE SCHEME WITH THE OBJECT OF MAINTAINING AN EFFICIENT SERVICE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GUARDING AGAINST UNDUE STAFF FATIGUE.
"TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE TO PATIENTS, A DUTY ROSTER FOR DISPENSERS HAS BEEN AGREED WITH STAFF IN THE HOSPITALS CONCERNED.
/"THIS ROSTER .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 14 -
’’THIS ROSTER WILL BE INSTITUTED IN THE EVENT THAT STAFF RESOURCES FOR OVERTIME CANNOT MEET SERVICE REQUIREMENTS,” SHE SAID.
MRS WONG ALSO SAID IT WAS THE INTENTION TO INTRODUCE THE EXTENDED PHARMACY SERVICE TO THE OTHER TWO REGIONAL HOSPITALS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF STAFF, AND THE STAFF CONCERNED WOULD BE CONSULTED ON THE ARRANGEMENTS IN DUE COURSE.
---------0-----------
LEGCO BEGINS DEBATE ON POLITICAL SYSTEM
* ♦ ♦ ♦ *
SIXTEEN MEMBERS SPOKE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TWO MEMBERS' MOTIONS WERE ON THE OftDER PAPER AND, AS THE CONTENT OF BOTH RELATED TO THE SAME SUBJECT, ’’FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG”, THE COUNCIL BEGAN DEBATE ON THEM TOGETHER, AND THE DEBATE WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE MOTIONS WERE IN THE NAMES OF THE SENIOR MEMBER, THE HON ALLEN LEE, AND THE HON JAMES MCGREGOR.
MR LEE LED OFF THE DEBATE BY MOVING HIS MOTION, WHICH READS: ’’THAT THIS COUNCIL EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE OMELCO CONSENSUS HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED IN THE FORMULATION OF THE FUTURE POLITICAL MODEL BUT URGES THE COMMUNITY, IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG, TO BE UNITED IN ITS EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.”
MR MCGREGOR WILL FORMALLY MOVE HIS MOTION TOMORROW.
IT READS: "THAT THIS COUNCIL DEPLORES THE EXTREMELY UNDEMOCRATIC POLITICAL MODEL PROPOSED FOR THE BASIC LAW AT THE RECENT MEETING OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE AND URGES THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IN THEIR FUTURE AFTER 1997 BY ACCEPTING A MORE DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL MODEL FOR THE BASIC LAW BASED UPON THE OMELCO CONSENSUS WHICH RECOMMENDS A FULLY ELECTED LEGISLATURE BY THE YEAR 2003, REFLECTING THE EXPRESSED WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG; AND URGES THE ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR NO LESS THAN 50 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SEATS TO BE DIRECTLY ELECTED BY 1995."
SIXTEEN MEMBERS ARE LISTED TO SPEAK WHEN THE DEBATE CONTINUES TOMORROW.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE PROTECTION OF NON-GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE LIMITATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
DEBATES ON THE TWO BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.
------0--------
/15 .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 15 -
GOVERNOR TO VISIT LONDON NEXT MONTH * * » * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WILL VISIT LONDON FROM MARCH 8-11. THE MAIN PURPOSE WILL BE TO BRIEF THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, MR DOUGLAS HURD, ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN HONG KONG, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNOR WILL MEET THE MINISTER OF STATE WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR FRANCIS MAUDE, AND HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFICIALS IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.
SIR DAVID WILL LEAVE HONG KONG ON MARCH 7 AND RETURN ON MARCH 12.
---------0-----------
HK POLYTECHNIC REACHES OUT TO BUSINESS COMMUNITY: SEM *******
THE OPENING OF THE BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE IS YET ANOTHER FINE EXAMPLE OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC IS REACHING OUT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, IN AN ENDEAVOUR TO HELP THEM RESPOND TO CHANGE.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CENTRE TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR K.Y. YEUNG, SAID THIS WOULD BE ACHIEVED IN SEVERAL WAYS.
FIRSTLY, AS A SORT OF ONE-STOP UNIT, THE CENTRE WOULD HELP CLIENT COMPANIES LOCATE AND PACKAGE THE EXPERTISE AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE POLYTECHNIC, AND DEPLOY THEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOLVING SPECIFIC CORPORATE PROBLEMS, HE SAID.
"THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE MECHANISM OF CONSULTANCIES, TRAINING COURSES, AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
"SECONDLY, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK, THE POLYTECHNIC HAS MOUNTED IN THIS CENTRE MODULAR COURSES FOR MIDDLE AND SENIOR MANAGERS ON A PART-TIME, BLOCK RELEASE BASIS THAT SHOULD LEAD TO THE AWARD OF A MASTER’S DEGREE IN THREE YEARS’ TIME.
"THESE COURSES ARF I’ESFGNED AND OVERSEEN BY A BOARD OF 18 MEMBERS, OF WHOM NO FF •’ ' IAN 15 Ab"' DRAWN FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY," HE SAID.
MR YEUNG SAID THE POLYTECHNIC HAD TAKEN STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION IT PROVIDED THROUGH THE CENTRE WAS HIGHLY RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
/HE ADDED .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 16 -
HE ADDED THAT IT WAS MOST ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE WERE FOCUSSED ON SOLUTIONS TO SERIOUS BUSINESS PROBLEMS.
"THESE INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION AND OTHER SYSTEMS BY WHICH HONG KONG HEAD OFFICE BASED MANAGERS DETERMINE THE DESIGN, PRODUCTION, QUALITY AND DELIVERY OF GOODS MANUFACTURED BY THEIR PARTNERS AND SUBSIDIARIES IN CHINA.
"THEY ALSO INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY THAT IS INCREASINGLY BEING SOUGHT BY OUR INDUSTRIES HERE IN HONG KONG, NAMELY, THE TECHNOLOGIES OF PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT, CONSISTANT QUALITY AND VALUE CREATION," HE ADDED.
-----0------
MANUFACTURERS WISE IN MAKING QUALITY THE SELLING POINT
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR T.H. BARMA, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CONGRATULATED LOCAL OPTICAL GOODS MANUFACTURERS ON THEIR STRATEGIC DECISION IN MAKING THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS THEIR MAIN SELLING POINT.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL OPTICS EXPOSITION - OPTEX ’90 - AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, MR BARMA SAID HONG KONG’S OPTICAL GOODS INDUSTRY FACED TWO MAJOR CHALLENGES TO ITS POSITION IN MAJOR MARKETS WHICH INCLUDED THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED KINGDOM, CHINA AND WEST GERMANY.
"FIRSTLY, INCREASING COMPETITION FROM OTHER ASIAN ECONOMIES.
"SECONDLY, THE DEMAND FROM CUSTOMERS FOR EVER-HIGHER STANDARDS OF QUALITY," HE SAID.
MR BARMA SAID THE INDUSTRY WAS TO BE CONGRATULATED ON THE INTELLIGENT WAY IT HAD RESPONDED TO THESE CHALLENGES.
MANUFACTURERS HAD INVESTED IN SOPHISTICATED PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO PRODUCT DESIGN IN WHAT WAS A HIGHLY FASHION-DRIVEN INDUSTRY.
AS EXPORT FIGURES DEMONSTRATED, THIS HAD BEEN A WISE MOVE, HE SAID.
MR BARMA SAID THE VALUE OF THE THE INDUSTRY’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS HAD NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, FROM $654 MILLION IN 1986 TO JUST OVER $1.1 BILLION IN 1989.
HE SAID QUALITY-ORIENTED MANUFACTURING WAS THE ROAD WHICH HE SAW OTHER LOCAL INDUSTRIES TAKING IN THE COMING YEARS.
/THE GOVERNMENT ......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARy 28, 1990
- 17 -
THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PUT IN PLACE AN INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH PROVIDED INDUSTRIES WITH THE INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT THEY NEEDED TO MEET THE HIGHEST QUALITY STANDARDS.
THE OPTICAL GOODS INDUSTRY EMPLOYED JUST OVER 3,000 WORKERS, BUT MR BARMA SAID ITS IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG LAY NOT IN ITS SIZE BUT IN ITS PRODUCTIVITY AND POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH.
THE FIRST HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL OPTICS EXPO WAS HELD IN NOVEMBER 1988 WITH THE HONG KONG OPTICAL MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND EXPO MANAGEMENT LTD PARTICIPATING.
OVER 200 COMPANIES FROM 15 COUNTRIES ARE TAKING PART IN THIS YEAR’S EXHIBITION.
THE NEWEST AND MOST FASHIONABLE PRODUCTS OF THE INDUSTRY WILL BE DISPLAYED, AND THE THREE-DAY EXHIBITION WILL BRING TOGETHER MANUFACTURERS, OPTICAL SPECIALISTS AND BUYERS OF OPTICAL GOODS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
--------0----------
APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTORS UNDER COMPANIES ORDINANCE ******
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, IN EXERCISE OF THE POWERS CONFERRED ON HIM BY SECTION 143(1)(C) OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 32), HAS APPOINTED MR JOHN ROBERT LEES, PRINCIPAL OF FERRIER HODGSON SPICER AND MARFAN, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, AS INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF PALADIN LIMITED.
-----0------
HK’S POPULATION AT 5.8 MILLION
*****
THE ESTIMATED POPULATION OF HONG KONG AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1989 WAS 5,812,300, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 76,300 PEOPLE OR 1.3 PER CENT OVER END-1988 .
THE BALANCE OF TOTAL ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES SHOWED A NET INFLOW OF 33,600 DURING 1989.
THERE WERE 71,300 BIRTHS LAST YEAR. DEATHS TOTALLED 28,700. NATURAL INCREASE, THAT IS THE SURPLUS OF BIRTHS OVER DEATHS AMOUNTED TO 42,600, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 56 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION GROWTH.
--------0-----------
/IB
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 18 -
DB TO DISCUSS COMMITTEES’ STRUCTURE *****
THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF ITS COMMITTEES FOR THE 1990-91 TERM AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW. (THURSDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROCEDURES FOR ELECTING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BOARD TO SIT ON THE REGIONAL COUNCIL’S KWAI TSING DISTRICT COMMITTEE FOR THE ONE-YEAR TERM BEGINNING APRIL 1.
MEANWHILE, A MEMBER WILL MOVE A MOTION TO REQUEST THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO PASS THE 1990 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (FUEL RESTRICTION) REGULATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WITHOUT EXEMPTION TO ANY FACTORIES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT BOARD MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, 10TH FLOOR, KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KWAI CHUNG.
-----0------
SQUATTER AREA IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA
*****
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S SQUATTER AREAS COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS IMPROVEMENT WORKS AT DIAMOND HILL SQUATTER AREA AT ITS MEETING ON FRIDAY (MARCH 2).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE COMMITTEE'S 1990-91 BUDGET AND THE ALLOCATION OF $20,000 IN DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS TO CLEAR CHOKED DRAINAGE AT TAI HOM SOUTH VILLAGE.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE REPORTS ON THE SQUATTER AREAS FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, MINOR WORKS PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE, AND ON CASES OF LANDSLIPS, MUDSLIPS AND STRUCTURAL FAILURES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S SQUATTER AREAS COMMITTEE TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY (MARCH 2) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
/19 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 19
DB COMMITTEE TO REVIEW GUIDELINES ON FUND ALLOCATION
* ♦ * » *
THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD’S RECREATION AND CULTURE COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL GUIDELINES ON THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR ORGANISING RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE COMMITTEE'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND A REPORT FROM THE NORTH DISTRICT ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE USAGE PATTERN OF MAJOR RECREATIONAL VENUES IN THE DISTRICT; THE REGIONAL COUNCIL’S ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE DISTRICT IN MARCH AND APRIL; AND A REPORT ON ATTENDANCE AT CULTURAL PRESENTATIONS IN THE NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD’S RECREATION AND CULTURE COMMITTEE TO BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE, JOCKEY CLUB ROAD, FANLING.
- - 0-----------
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS NOISE NUISANCE
* * * * * *
THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS A COMPLAINT BY SOME NAM CHEONG ESTATE RESIDENTS ABOUT NOISE NUISANCE IN THEIR VICINITY AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE RESIDENTS COMPLAINED OF NOISE COMING FROM A NEARBY CARGO WORKING AREA AND A SHIPYARD.
THE MEETING WILL ALSO CONSIDER 26 PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE DISTRICT IN 1990-91. THE PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE BY BOARD MEMBERS AND LOCAL AREA COMMITTEES AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE IF THEY ARE APPROVED.
ALSO ON THE AGENDA ARE THE POULTRY HAWKER PROBLEM AT KWEILIN STREET, SEEPAGE AND SPALLING PROBLEMS AT CHAK ON ESTATE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT CHEUNG SHUN STREET.
/WORK REPORTS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
20
WORK REPORTS BY THE COMMITTEE’S WORKING GROUPS ON THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF PAK TIN AREA WILL BE TABLED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE SHAM SHUT PO DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE SHEK KIP MEI COMMUNITY HALL, BLOCK 42, SHEK KIP MEI ESTATE, NAM CHEONG STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
------0----------
HEALTH EDUCATION CARNIVAL FOR ELDERLY
*****
A CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD IN SHAM SHUI PO ON SATURDAY (MARCH 3) TO ENABLE THE ELDERLY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HEALTH CARE.
THOSE WHO ARE AGED 60 OR ABOVE ARE WELCOME TO TAKE PART IN THE EVENT WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM AT THE BUDDHIST TAI HUNG COLLEGE.
ORGANISED BY THE WORKING GROUP ON PREFERENTIAL SCHEME FOR THE ELDERLY UNDER THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, THE CARNIVAL WILL INCLUDE A TALK AND A VIDEO SHOW ON HEALTH AND MEDICAL ISSUES, AS WELL AS AN EXHIBITION ON MOUTH HYGIENE.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE GIVEN FREE TESTS ON THEIR HEARING ABILITY, EYESIGHT AND BLOOD PRESSURE.
IN ADDITION, GAMES STALLS WILL BE SET UP BY LOCAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AT 37-39 TONKIN STREET AND AT ITS NAM CHEONG, NAM SHAN, CHEUNG SHA WAN AND MEI FOO SUB-OFFICES.
MEANWHILE, THE WORKING GROUP IS INVITING LOCAL RESIDENTS AGED 60 OR ABOVE TO TAKE PART IN ITS ONGOING PREFERENTIAL SCHEME TO ENJOY DISCOUNTS OFFERED BY 70 DOCTORS AND DENTISTS AS WELL AS SHOPS IN THE DISTRICT.
/MORE THAN ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
21
MORE THAN 1,200 OLD PEOPLE HAVE JOINED THE SCHEME.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHAM SHUI PO CARNIVAL ON HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY TO BE HELD FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 3) AT THE BUDDHIST TAI HUNG COLLEGE AT CHEUNG FAT STREET (NEAR SO UK ESTATE). A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 2 PM.
-----0------
PLACES AVAILABLE IN GOVT PRIMARY SCHOOLS
*****
A NUMBER OF PLACES IN PRIMARY 2 TO 6 CLASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN AT VARIOUS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
CHILDREN AGED SIX YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS AND ABOVE ON SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR, CAN APPLY FOR ADMISSION, A SPOKESMAN SAID.
A NOTICE INDICATING VACANCIES AT SPECIFIC LEVELS WILL BE PUT UP AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.
APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THESE SCHOOLS FROM MARCH 2 TO 9, EXCEPT SUNDAY.
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED PARENTS TO RETURN THE COMPLETED FORMS TO THE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE.
SELECTION OF APPLICANTS WILL BE MADE ON MARCH 16.
"CHILDREN WILL NORMALLY BE ADMITTED TO SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT WHERE THEY LIVE," HE SAID.
"CONSIDERATION WILL ALSO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE CHILDREN FROM THE SAME FAMILY WILL NOT BE SEPARATED."
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED PARENTS THAT APPLICATION FORMS ARE FREE AND NO ENTRANCE FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ADMISSION TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.
CHILDREN IN THE SIX TO 12 AGE GROUP WHO ARE STILL NOT IN SCHOOL SHOULD APPLY FOR ADMISSION, HE ADDED.
- - 0----------
/22 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 22 -
VISITING SERVICE FOR ISSUE OF NEW IDENTITY CARDS * * * * *
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTM, T TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT A VISITING SERVICE TO ASSIST IN 3i APPLICATION FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF CHEUNG CHAU, LAMMA, MUI WO, TAI O AND SAI KUNG FROM MARCH 12 TO 24.
"THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ROUND OF VISITING SERVICE PROVIDED. VISITING TEAMS WILL INITIALLY HANDLE APPLICATIONS FROM MEN BORN BETWEEN 1928 AND 1931, WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
"THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUCH A SERVICE IS TO FACILITATE APPLICATIONS FROM THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CURRENT PHASE OF THE NEW IDENTITY CARD RE-ISSUE SCHEME, AND TO OFFER THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED THEIR TURN IN PREVIOUS PHASES A LAST OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY," HE SAID.
"MALE LATECOMERS BORN BETWEEN 1932 AND 1940 ARE THEREFORE URGED TO MAKE USE OF THIS SERVICE TO APPLY FOR THEIR NEW IDENTITY CARDS.
"HOWEVER, THE VISITING TEAMS WILL ONLY DEAL WITH HOLDERS OF VALID OLD TYPE IDENTITY CARDS.
"OTHER APPLICATIONS SUCH AS REGISTRATION OF AN IDENTITY CARD FOR THE FIRST TIME OR REPLACEMENT OF AN IDENTITY CARD DUE TO LOSS, DAMAGE OR FOR AMENDMENT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AT ONE OF THE REGULAR REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES," HE SAID.
"ON SOME OCCASIONS, APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND A NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE IN THE URBAN AREAS FOR FURTHER FORMALITIES. IN THESE CASES, THE APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED INDIVIDUALLY," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS DURING THE SPECIFIED PERIODS, MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS:
DATE CENTRE OPENING HOURS
MARCH 12 TO 14 MUI WO COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BRANCH OFFICE, GRAND VIEW MANSION, GROUND FLOOR, SHOP D, SOUTH LANTAU ROAD, MUI WO, LANTAU ISLAND, DD4 LOT 669 10 AM - 1 PM 2 PM - 4 PM
MARCH 12 TO 17 CHEUNG CHAU RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE, 2 CHURCH ROAD, CHEUNG CHAU 10 AM - 1 PM 2 PM - 4 PM
MARCH 12 TO 24 SAI KUNG JOCKEY CLUB TOWN HALL, PO TUNG ROAD, SAI KUNG 10 AM - 1 PM 2 PM - 4 PM
/MARCH 19 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 23 -
MARCH 19 TO 21 NORTH LAMMA RURAL COMMITTEE 10 AM - 1 PM
OFFICE, YUNG SHU WAN MAIN 2 PM - 4 PM
STREET, NORTH LAMMA
MARCH 19 TO 21
TAI O RURAL COMMITTEE 10.30 AM - 1 PM
OFFICE, 29 MARKET STREET, 2 PM - 3.30 PM
TAI O
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
--------0-----------
MA TAU WAI POST OFFICE RE-OPENS ON MONDAY
* » * * *
RENOVATION WORK IN MA TAU WAI POST OFFICE AT 11 FARM ROAD, MA TAU WAI HAS COMPLETED AND THE OFFICE WILL RE-OPEN FOR BUSINESS ON MONDAY (MARCH 5), THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ALL POSTAL FACILITIES PREVIOUSLY OFFERED AT THE OFFICE WILL BE RESUMED FROM THE SAME DATE.
- - 0----------
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN t *
KWUN TONG TO BE CLOSED * * ♦
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE CERTAIN ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN KWUN TONG SO THAT THEY CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS AND TO THE PUBLIC.
THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ARE ON THE FLAT ROOF AND CANOPY ADJOINING FLAT G, FIRST FLOOR, KIN TAK HOUSE, 93-115 HIP WO STREET.
THE CLOSURE FORMS PART OF AN EXERCISE TO ENFORCE AN ORDER ISSUED UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE IN MARCH LAST YEAR REQUIRING THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE SHA TIN DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 28 THIS YEAR WAS POSTED ON A CONSPICUOUS PART OF THE STRUCTURES TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMOLITION WILL START ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDER IS OBTAINED.
- - 0 - -
/24
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
24
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM FRIDAY (MARCH 2), TWO SECTIONS OF ROADS IN WAN CHAI WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC TO FACILITATE CABLE LAYING WORKS.
STONE NULLAH LANE BETWEEN JOHNSTON ROAD AND CROSS STREET WILL BE CLOSED FROM 9 PM TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR THREE DAYS UNTIL MARCH 4.
THE JUNCTION OF KING SING STREET WITH STONE NULLAH LANE WILL BE CLOSED FOR 10 DAYS UNTIL MARCH 11.
DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD, KING SING STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO TWO-WAY CUL-DE-SAC, AND HING WAN STREET TO ONE-WAY EASTBOUND. TRAFFIC ON STONE NULLAH LANE HEADING FOR KING SING STREET OR KENNEDY STREET WILL BE DIVERTED VIA HING WAN STREET.
-----0-------
URBAN CLEARWAY IN CENTRAL
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 2), THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL FROM A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH JUBILEE STREET TO ITS JUNCTION WITH GILMAN STREET EXCLUDING THE LAY-BY, WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY 24 HOURS DAILY FOR THREE MONTHS TO FACILITATE ROAD RE-CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
-----0------
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN KOWLOON BAY
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM (MARCH 2), TWO ROAD SECTIONS IN KOWLOON BAY WILL BE CLEARWAYS.
10 AM ON FRIDAY DESIGNATED URBAN
THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF WANG KWONG ROAD WITH KAI YAN STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 110 METRES TO BECOME A PEAK HOUR (7 AM - 10 AT \ND 4 PM - 7 CLEARWAY.
FROM ITS JUNCTION
THE NORTH WILL PM) DAILY URBAN
ALSO, KAI LOK STREET '1 ITS JUNCTION WITH WANG CHIU ROAn ano KAI LAI ROAD TO A POINT ABOU' 10 :< AES TO TH^ EAST WILL BE Jadf a 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY URBAN ' b - XI,'WAY. MADE A
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRAME'S ED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN TLE RESTRICTED AREAS. ALL°WKD T0 STOP
/25 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
- 25 -
NO-STOPPING AREA IN TAK MAN STREET EXTENDS
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 2), THE EXISTING 7 AM TO 7 PM URBAN CLEARWAY ON THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF TAK MAN STREET IN HUNG HOM BETWEEN WUHU STREET AND A POINT ABOUT 50 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH DOCK STREET WILL BE EXTENDED EASTWARDS FOR ABOUT 47 METRES.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
--------0-----------
LOWER SPEED LIMIT ON PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 2), THE SPEED LIMIT ON PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST EASTBOUND BETWEEN A POINT ABOUT 90 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO CHOI HUNG ROAD AND A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO LUNG CHEUNG ROAD NORTHBOUND WILL BE LOWERED FROM 70 TO 50 KILOMETRES PER HOUR.
THIS MEASURE IS IMPLEMENTED FOR ROAD SAFETY REASONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL.
--------0 - -
FLUSHING WATER CUTS IN TSUEN WAN, HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK *******
FLUSHING WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 8 AM TO 4 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 2) TO FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES AT ON YAT STREET, TSUEN KING CIRCUIT, ON YUK ROAD, INCLUDING ALLWAY GARDENS, HONG KONG ADVENTIST HOSPITAL AND STAFF QUARTERS, YAN CHAI HOSPITAL, LIM POR YEN SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND KEI WAI PRIMARY SCHOOL.
ON SATURDAY (MARCH 3). FLUSHING WATER SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES IN HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARI.' WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 2 PM TO MIDNIGHT THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL ALL PREMISES AT HO MAN TIN AND KING’S PARK DISTRICT, INCLUDING ING GEORGE V SCHOOL, HO MAN TIN ESTATE, OI MAN ESTATE, CHUN MAN COURT AND VALLEY ROAD ESTATE.
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