港史文本 - HK In Texts: Daily Information Bulletin - 1990s - 1993 - APR

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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

CONTRACT SIGNED FOR HUNG HOM DRAINAGE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS .. 1

BETTER SERVICES FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS ....................... 1

FSD TO HIVE OFF NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE ................. 3

CLOSURE OF UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES SOUGHT ....................... 3

MONETARY STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY 1993 ........................... 4

PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF RETAIL SALES SURVEY FOR JANUARY .......... 7

"GREEN LEAP" FORWARD IN WAN CHAI ................................ 9

SHORT-TERM TENANCY INVITED FOR GOLF DRIVING RANGES ............. 10

DUTCH CAPTAIN PRAISED FOR SEA RESCUE EFFORTS ................... 10

MARINE OFFICES REMAIN OPEN IN CHTNG MING AND EASTER ............ 11

OUT-PATIENT CLINICS TO CLOSE ON CHTNG MING FESTIVAL ............ 12

141 VIETNAMESE RESETTLED LAST MONTH ............................ 12

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993 1

CONTRACT SIGNED FOR HUNG HOM DRAINAGE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

*****

THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) SIGNED A $33.8 MILLION CONTRACT FOR IMPROVING THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN HUNG HOM.

THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED AT A CEREMONY BY THE DEPARTMENT’S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT), MR CHUNG KWOK-LEUNG, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONTRACTOR, LEADER CIVIL ENGINEERING CORPORATION LIMITED.

THE WORKS UNDER THE CONTRACT WILL COMPRISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT 1,200 METRES OF STORMWATER DRAINS WITH SIZES RANGING FROM 1.500MM TO 2,100MM IN DIAMETER, AS WELL AS THE REINSTATEMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROADS AFFECTED BY THE WORKS.

THE DRAIN WILL START FROM THE JUNCTION OF GASCOIGNE ROAD AND JORDAN ROAD AND ROUTE ALONG JORDAN ROAD, CHI WO STREET, CHEONG LOK STREET, NING PO STREET, WOOSUNG STREET AND BACK TO JORDAN ROAD ACROSS CANTON ROAD TO THE JORDAN ROAD FERRY PIER.

MR CHUNG NOTED THAT THE WORKS WOULD BEGIN AFTER THE EASTER HOLIDAY, AND THAT THE EXISTING OVERLOADED DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN HUNG HOM AREA WOULD BE RELIEVED AND THE RISK OF FLOODING REDUCED WHEN THEY ARE COMPLETED IN JULY 1995.

"THE STORMWATER DRAIN WILL DIVERT THE STORMWATER COLLECTED IN KING’S PARK CATCHMENT AREA FROM THE EXISTING HUNG HOM DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO A NEW OUTFALL NEAR JORDAN ROAD FERRY PIER," HE SAID.

BETTER SERVICES FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS

*****

THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED ITS PERFORMANCE PLEDGE THAT WILL IMPROVE SERVICES FOR RATEPAYERS, LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

FROM NOW ON, A RATEPAYER. WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE RATEABLE VALUE OF A NEW PROPERTY WITHIN 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE WHEN THE RATES FIRST BECOME PAYABLE.

"WE EXPECT TO MEET THIS TARGET IN 85 PER CENT OF CASES," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RATEABLE VALUES OF ALL PROPERTIES WERE UPDATED EVERY THREE YEARS TO MAINTAIN A FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF THE RATES BURDEN.

THE TASK INVOLVES MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION ASSESSMENTS.

"THAT MEANS IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO ASSESS NEW PROPERTIES IN THE YEAR WHEN SUCH A REVALUATION TAKES PLACE."

THE NEXT SUCH EXERCISE IS NOW UNDER WAY AND WILL TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.

/•'IT Will.

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

"IT WILL INVOLVE MUCH OF OUR DEPARTMENT’S RESOURCES IN THE COMING TWO YEARS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID WITH THE GROWING PACE OF CONSTRUCTION, A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES HAD TO BE ASSESSED TO RATES EACH YEAR.

"THIS IS A BIG TASK AFFECTING A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE," HE SAID.

ON SERVICES FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS, THE DEPARTMENT PROMISED TO ISSUE A RENT INCREASE CERTIFICATE WITHIN FOUR MONTHS OF AN APPLICATION.

ALSO, IT PLEDGED TO ENDORSE A NOTICE OF NEW LETTING OR RENEWAL WITHIN ONE MONTH OF AN APPLICATION.

"SIMPLE ENQUIRIES WOULD BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY. BUT MORE COMPLICATED ENQUIRIES AND DISPUTES REQUIRING MEDIATION BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS WILL BE REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE CASE OFFICER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT’S RENT OFFICERS ALSO ATTEND CERTAIN DISTRICT OFFICES AT SET TIMES EACH WEEK TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND TO HELP IN RESOLVING DISPUTES.

DETAILS OF THE VISITS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S RENT CONTROL DIVISION ON TELEPHONE 805 7666.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT’S CUSTOMER SERVICES OFFICER (CSO) IF THEY WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES COVERED BY THE PERFORMANCE PLEDGE.

"IF ANYONE DOES NOT KNOW WHO TO APPROACH ON A PARTICULAR MATTER, HE IS ALSO WELCOME TO CONTACT THE CSO. HE WILL ARRANGE FOR THE APPROPRIATE OFFICER TO CONTACT HIM," HE SAID.

ALL SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS MAY ALSO BE PUT TO THE CSO ON TELEPHONE 805 7666.

"SHOULD ANYONE BE DISSATISFIED WITH THE WAY IN WHICH ANY REPRESENTATION IS HANDLED, HE MAY ALSO WRITE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION DIRECT," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE DEPARTMENT’S PERFORMANCE WILL BE MONITORED INTERNALLY. THE COMMISSIONER WILL PUBLISH HIS FINDINGS EVERY YEAR," HE ADDED.

A BOOKLET DESCRIBING THE PLEDGE IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S ENQUIRY COUNTER ON THE I7TH FLOOR, HENNESSY CENTRE, 500 HENNESSY ROAD AND ALSO FROM DISTRICT OFFICES.

/3 .........

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

PSD TO HIVE OFF NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE

*****

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT IT WOULD TRANSFER ITS NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE TO THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY UNDER A PHASED PROGRAMME STARTING FROM OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENT WOULD ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE BETTER USE OF ITS RESOURCES AND TO FOCUS ON ITS PRIMARY ROLE AS THE PROVIDER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENT, HE SAID, WAS CONSIDERED AS WASTEFUL AND INEFFICIENT SINCE A NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE DID NOT REQUIRE THE HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF, THE SPECIALISED VEHICLES AND THE SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT PROVIDED TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR RUNNING EMERGENCY SERVICES.

HE SAID AFTER DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE RELEVANT PARTIES, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAD AGREED THAT A NON-EMERGENCY SERVICE WOULD BE PROVIDED UNDER ITS MANAGEMENT PROVISIONALLY IN ONE REGION AS A START, WITH A VIEW TO EXTENDING THE SERVICE TO OTHER REGIONS LATER.

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WOULD PHASE OUT THE EXISTING. SERVICE ON HONG KONG ISLAND FROM OCTOBER 1 FOLLOWED BY KOWLOON ON JANUARY 1, NEXT YEAR AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ON APRIL I, 1995, HE SAID.

UNTIL THEN, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD HELP TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICE TO AVOID ANY UNDUE DISRUPTION TO PATIENT CARE.

- - - - 0 ----

CLOSURE OF UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES SOUGHT

*****

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE TWO UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES IN A BUILDING IN MONG KOK, KOWLOON, SO THAT THEY CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT CAUSING DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS AND THE PUBLIC.

THE STRUCTURES ARE LOCATED IN THE CORRIDORS ON THE FOURTH AND THIRD FLOORS OF KWONG WING BUILDING AT 18 SHANTUNG STREET AND 301-311 FERRY STREET.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON JUNE 3 UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE WAS POSTED ON THE PREMISES TODAY (THURSDAY).

DEMOLITION WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO START AS SOON AS THE CLOSURE ORDERS ARE ISSUED.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

MONETARY STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY 1993 ******

HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS AND THE BROADER DEFINITIONS OF HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY INCREASED IN FEBRUARY, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS PUBLISHED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY.

HONG KONG DOLLAR LOANS AND ADVANCES ALSO INCREASED DURING THE MONTH.

LEGAL TENDER NOTES AND COINS

INFLUENCED BY THE HIGH COMPARISON BASE IN JANUARY DUE TO THE CHINESE NEW YEAR, LEGAL TENDER NOTES AND COINS HELD BY THE NON-BANK PUBLIC DECREASED BY 10.5% IN FEBRUARY 1993, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 5.5% AND 17.2% IN DECEMBER 1992 AND JANUARY 1993 RESPECTIVELY. COMPARED WITH A YEAR EARLIER, THEY INCREASED BY 17.9%.

DEPOSITS

HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS, ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS, ROSE BY 1.2% IN FEBRUARY 1993 FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 1.6% AND 1.3% IN DECEMBER 1992 AND JANUARY 1993 RESPECTIVELY.

AMONG THESE DEPOSITS, TIME DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 4% WHILE DEMAND DEPOSITS AND SAVINGS DEPOSITS DECREASED BY 4.6% AND 0.9% RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, TOTAL HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 17.5%.

FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS INCREASED BY 0.1% IN FEBRUARY 1993, AFTER INCREASES OF 0.5% AND 3.8% IN DECEMBER 1992 AND JANUARY 1993 RESPECTIVELY.

OF THESE DEPOSITS, U.S. DOLLAR DEPOSITS DECLINED BY 0.6% WHILE NON-U.S. DOLLAR FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 0.9%. YEAR-ON-YEAR, TOTAL FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS GREW BY 8.8%.

IN FEBRUARY 1993, DEPOSITS IN ALL CURRENCIES WITH LICENSED BANKS INCREASED BY 0.7% WHILE DEPOSITS WITH RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DROPPED BY 2.6% AND 0.5% RESPECTIVELY.

YEAR-ON-YEAR, DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS GREW BY 13.6% WHILE DEPOSITS WITH RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECLINED BY 7.2% AND 17.2% RESPECTIVELY.

/MONEY SUPPLY

THURSDAY. APRIL 1, 1993

MONEY SUPPLY

HK$M1 DECREASED BY 7.1% WHILE HK$M2 AND HK$M3 INCREASED BY 0.3% AND 0.2% RESPECTIVELY IN FEBRUARY 1993, COMPARED WITH INCREASES OF 3.5%, 2.4% AND 2.4% IN JANUARY 1993. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE MONETARY AGGREGATES INCREASED BY 19.2%, 17.8% AND 17.3% RESPECTIVELY.

TOTAL Ml DECREASED BY 7.8% WHILE BOTH TOTAL M2 AND M3 INCREASED BY 0.2% EACH IN FEBRUARY 1993. THESE COMPARED WITH INCREASES OF 4.7%, 3.1% AND 3.1% RESPECTIVELY IN .JANUARY 1993. Y EAR-ON-Y EAR, THESE MONETARY AGGREGATES INCREASED BY 16.7%, 13.6% AND 12.5% RESPECTIVELY.

LOANS AND•ADVANCES

TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS INCREASED BY 3.6% IN FEBRUARY 1993, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 0.3% AND 0.5% IN DECEMBER 1992 AND JANUARY 1993 RESPECTIVELY.

AMONG THESE LOANS, HONG KONG DOLLAR LOANS INCREASED BY 1.2%

WHILE FOREIGN CURRENCY LOANS INCREASED BY 4.8%. COMPARED WITH A YEAR EARLIER, THESE LOANS INCREASED BY 12.8% AND 13.8% RESPECTIVELY.

LOANS

IN FEBRUARY

AND JANUARY

12.4%.

TO FINANCE VISIBLE TRADE OF HONG KONG INCREASED BY

1993,

I 993

AFTER INCREASES RESPECTIVELY.

OF 1.5% AND 2.5% IN YEAR-ON-YEAR, SUCH

DECEMBER

LOANS

GREW

0.3% 1992 BY

OTHER

LOANS

FOR USE

IN HONG

KONG INCREASED BY

1993, FOLLOWING A

DECREASE OF 0.04% IN DECEMBER 1992

. 3% AND

I N

FEBRUARY INCREASE

OF 1.5% IN 12.4%.

JANUARY I 993.

Y E A R-ON-Y EAR, TH ESF LOANS

INCREASED BY

LOANS FOR USE OUTSIDE HONG KONG INCREASED BY 5.1% IN FEBRUARY 1993, AFTER AN INCREASE OF 0.4% IN DECEMBER 1992 AND A DECREASE OF 0.3% IN JANUARY 1993. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 14.6%.

LOANS TO FINANCE TRADE NOT TOUCH I NG HONG KONG INCREASED BY 1.4% DURING FEBRUARY 1993, AFTER INCREASES OF 0.5% AND 1.2% IN DECEMBER. 1992 AND JANUARY 1993 RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS INCREASED BY 2.3%.

NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS

THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS, RESTR I ('TED LICENCE BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 161, 56 AND 146 RESPECTIVELY.

1 ...............

THURSDAY, APRIL I, 1993

IABLE. I : MONETARY STATISTICS - FEBRUARY 1993

(HKSmn)

Feb 1993 Earlier months (% change to Feb 1993)

Jan 1993 Nov 1992 Feb 1992

Money Scpply

Ml-HKS 134,093 144,303 ( -7.1 ) 134,847 ( -0.6 ) 112,491 ( 19.2 )

Foreign currency 15,970 18,495 ( -13.7 ) 17,866 ( -10.6 ) 16,074 ( -0.6 )

Total 150,063 162,798 ( -7.8 ) 152,713 ( -17 ) 128,565 ( 16.7 )

M2-HKS* 746,473 744,538 ( 0.3 ) 714,330 ( 45 ) 633,684 ( 17.8 )

Foreign currency* 823,706 821,976 ( 0.2 ) 783,957 ( 5.1 ) 748,230 ( 10.1 )

Total M70J80 1,566,514 ( 0.2 ) 1,498,286 ( 4.8 ) 1,381,913 ( 13.6 )

M3-HKS* 769,810 768,082 ( 0.2 ) 736,637 ( 4.5 ) 656,528 ( 17.3 )

Foreign currency* 857,264 855,577 ( 0.2 ) 819,174 ( 4.6 ) 789,571 ( 8.6 )

Total 1,627,075 1,623,659 ( 0.2 ) 1,555,811 ( 4.6 ) 1,446,099 ( 12.5 )

Notes and coins in circulation 62,575 70,341 ( -11.0 ) 57,051 ( 9.7 ) 53,150 ( 17.7 ) )

of which held by public 54,761 61,171 ( -10.5 ) 49,467 ( 10.7 ) 46,430 ( 17.9

Total Deposits

Total Demand deposits 95,302 101.627 ( -6.2 ) 103,246 ( -7.7 ) 82.135 ( 16.0 )

Total Savings deposits 357,353 356,436 ( 0.3 ) 351,547 ( 1.7 ) 316,471 ( 12.9 )

Total Time deposits with licensed banks 1.045,570 1,029,652 ( 1.5 ) 977,571 ( 7.0 ) 919,744 ( 13.7 )

Total Tune deposits with restricted licence banks 35,866 36,821 ( -2.6 ) 36,556 ( -1.9 ) 38,664 ( -7.2 )

Total Time deposits with deposit-taking companies 18,523 18,617 ( -0.5 ) 19,031 ( -2.7 ) 22,372 ( -17.2 )

HK$ deposits* 701,314 692,941 ( 1.2 ) 673,295 ( 4.2 ) 596,800 ( 17.5 )

USS deposits* 417,691 420,363 ( -0.6 ) 378,418 ( 10.4 ) 316,976 ( 31.8 )

Other foreign currency deposits* 433,609 429,848 ( 0.9 ) 436,238 ( -0.6 ) 465,610 ( -6.9 )

All deposits 1,552,614 1,543,152 ( 0.6 ) 1,487,952 ( 4.3 ) 1,379,386 ( 12.6 )

Foreign currency swap deposits 60,976 59,783 ( 2.0 ) 54.650 ( 11.6 ) 40.067 ( 52.2 )

Total Loans and advances

To finance H.K.’s visible trade 91,780 91,514 ( 0.3 ) 87,976 ( 4.3 ) 81.632 ( 12.4 )

To finance merchandising trade not touching H.K. 12,200 12.026 ( 14 ) 11,823 ( 3.2 ) 11.926 ( 2.3 )

Other loans for use in H.K. 935,875 923,694 ( 13 ) 910.269 ( 2.8 ) 832.311 ( 12.4 )

Other loans for use outside H.K. 1,491,999 1,415,836 ( 5.4 ) 1.415,574 ( 5.4 ) 1,301.457 ( 14.6 )

Other loans where the place of use is not known 38,717 38,102 ( L6 ) 37,498 ( 3.2 ) 38.036 ( L8 )

Loans in HK$ 833,744 823,506 ( L2 ) 806,376 ( 3.4 ) 739,186 ( 12.8 )

Loans in foreign currencies 1,736,827 1,657,665 ( 4.8 ) 1,656,765 ( 4.8 ) 1,526,177 ( 138 )

Total loans and advances 2.570.571 2,481.171 ( 3.6 ) 2.463,141 ( 4.4 ) 2.265,362 ( 135 )

♦ Adjusted for foreign currency swap deposits. Starting from April 1991, swap deposits can further be broken down into US dollar and non-US dollar foreign currency swap deposits.

Note : Restricted licence banks' and 'deposit-taking companies' were known as 'licensed deposit-taking companies’ and 'registered deposit-taking companies’ respectively before 1 February 1990.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

PROVISIONAL RESULTS OP RETAIL SALES SURVEY FOR JANUARY *****

THE VALUE OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES IN JANUARY, ESTIMATED AT $15.8 BILLION, INCREASED BY 11% WHEN COMPARED WITH THAT IN JANUARY LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES OVER THE PERIOD, TOTAL RETAIL SALES ROSE BY 5% IN VOLUME.

STRONG GROWTH WAS RECORDED FOR THE SPENDING ON CLOTHING AND OOTWEAR, AND SALES IN SUPERMARKETS AND DEPARTMENT STORES. THIS WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INCREASED CONSUMER. SPENDIING BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.

SALES OF CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR REGISTERED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN JANUARY 1993 COMPARED WITH A YEAR AGO, BY 33% IN VALUE AND 23% IN VOLUME.

SALES IN SUPERMARKETS ROSE SUBSTANTIALLY BY 28% IN VALUE AND 20% IN VOLUME; WHEREAS SALES IN DEPARTMENT STORES WENT UP BY 16% IN VALUE AND 8% IN VOLUME. THE SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES ALSO WENT UP BY 20% IN VALUE AND 18% IN VOLUME.

MODERATE INCREASES WERE RECORDED FOR SALES OF JEWELLERY AND WATCHES, BY 10% IN VALUE AND 11% IN VOLUME; AND SALES OF FUELS, BY 6% IN VALUE AND 3% IN VOLUME.

ON THE OTHER HAND, SALES OF OTHER FOODSTUFFS DROPPED BY 5% IN VOLUME, DESPITE AN INCREASE IN VALUE BY 4%. SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES REGISTERED A CONSIDERABLE DECREASE OF 16% IN VALUE AND 20% TN VOLUME, AFTER HAVING RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE PAST YEAR.

COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1992, AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON MAY BE AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, TOTAL RETAIL SALES IN JANUARY 1993 INCREASED BY 1% BOTH IN VALUE AND IN VOLUME.

THE VOLUME OF RETAIL SALES IS DERIVED FROM THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES AFTER ADJUSTING FOR PRICE CHANGES. THE RELEVANT COMPONENTS OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ARE USED AS DEFLATORS.

THE REPORT CONTAINING THE ANALYSIS OF THE JANUARY 1993 RESULTS IS NOW ON SALE AT $2 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL; AND THE PUBLICATIONS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER, WAN CHAI.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL: 802 1258).

/TABLE 1 .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

TABLE 1 : TOTAL RETAIL SALES

Total Retail Sales for January 1993 (Provisional Figure) = HK$15,758.9 million for December 1992 (Revised Figure) = HK$15,635.8 million

TABLE 2 : VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES FOR December 1992 AND January 1993

(Monthly average of Oct. 89 - Sept. 90 = 100)

Item Index of Retail Sales December 1992 January 1993 January 1993 compared with December 1992 January 1993 compared with

January f 1992

(A) FOR ALL RETAIL OUTLETS (Revised figures) (Provisional figures) Points % Points %

Value 166.5 167.8 ♦1.3 ♦0.8 +16.4 ♦10.9

(B) BY TYPE OF RETAIL OUTLET Volume 143.8 145.0 ♦1.2 ♦0.9 ♦7.4 ♦5.4

Foodstuffs, alcoholic Value 130.9 134.5 ♦3.6 ♦2.7 ♦4.7 ♦3.7

drinks and tobacco (other than supermarkets) Volume 111.6 104.7 -7.0 -6.2 -5.3 -4.8

Supermarkets Value 140.3 160.2 ♦19.9 ♦14.2 +35.1 ♦28.0

Volume 112.4 128.0 ♦15.6 ♦13.8 ♦21.0 ♦19.6

Fuels Value 155.1 139.8 -15.3 -9.9 +8.4 +6.4

Volume 117.2 105.9 -11.3 -9.7 ♦2.9 ♦2.8

Clothing, footwear and Value 212.9 246.6 ♦33.7 ♦15.8 ♦60.8 ♦32.7

allied products Volume 167.4 204.0 +36.6 +21.9 ♦37.5 ♦22.5

Consumer durable goods * Value 166.8 160.2 -6.7 -4.0 ♦2.0 ♦1.3

Volume 147.8 143.1 ■4.6 -3.1 -1.4 -0.9

- Motor vehicles Value 192.6 165.2 -27.4 -14.2 -30.8 -15.7

and parts Volume 158.7 135.8 -22.9 -14.4 -34.7 -20.4

- Consumer durable Value 148.1 156.5 +8.3 ♦5.6 ♦25.8 ♦19.7

goods other than motor vehicles and parts Volume 139.9 148.5 +8.6 ♦6.1 ♦22.8 ♦18.1

Department stores Value 170.2 188.3 ♦18.1 ♦10.6 +25.8 ♦15.9

Volume 137.9 158.4 +20.4 ♦14.8 +11.6 ♦7.9

Jewellery, watches Value 162.3 149.6 -12.7 -7.8 ♦13.3 ♦9.8

and clocks, and valuable gifts Volume 172.0 158.8 -13.2 -7.7 +15.5 ♦10.8

Other consumer goods Value 186.5 158.3 -28.2 -15.1 -7.8 -4.7

not elsewhere classified Volume 157.9 133.8 -24.1 -15.2 -15.8 -10.6

NOTE : * This covers both “Motor vehicles and parts" and "Consumer durable goods other than motor vehicles and parts".

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/9 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

’’GREEN LEAP" FORWARD IN WAN CHAI *****

THE GREENING CAMPAIGN IN WAN CHAI IS TO GAIN FURTHER IMPETUS WITH A PROPERTY DEVELOPER’S DECISION TO INCLUDE BLOOMS AND TREES IN ITS RESIDENTIAL PROJECT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE ’’GREEN LEAP" FORWARD FOR ILLUMINATION TERRACE IN TAI HANG ROAD WAS A VERY WELCOME ONE.

TO MARK THIS "FIRST", A TREE-PLANTING CEREMONY - A JOINT EFFORT BY THE DISTRICT’S "GREENING FOR THE CHEST" ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE - WILL BE STAGED AT 11.30 AM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN; WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM; POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR LEE MING-KWAI; COMMUNITY CHEST CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR YU KAM-KEE AND NEW WORLD DEVELOPMENT CO LTD MANAGING DIRECTOR, MR CHENG KA-SHUN, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.

THE GUESTS WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, AREA COMMITTEES AND FRIENDS OF THE EARTH FOR ANOTHER TREE PLANTING EVENT AT WAN CHAI SPORTS GROUND IN THE AFTERNOON TO RAISE FUND FOR CHARITY.

MORE THAN 120 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS WILL PLANT SOME 25 "PHEONIX ROEBELENII" TREES THERE.

THE PROJECT, IN ITS SECOND YEAR, IS SPONSORED BY THE SHELL BETTER ENVIRONMENT AWARDS SCHEME.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TWO PLANTING EVENTS TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THE TREE-PLANTING CEREMONY AT ILLUMINATION TERRACE, 5-7 TAI HANG ROAD (OPPOSITE NEW METHOD COLLEGE) WILL BEGIN AT 11.30 AM WHILE THAT IN WAN CHAI SPORTS GROUND WILL BE HELD AT 2.30 PM.

TRANSPORT AND LUNCHES WILL BE PROVIDED. THOSE INTRESTED ARE REQUESTED TO CALL INFORMATION OFFICER, MS CLAUDIA YEUNG ON TEL 835 1440 BEFORE 10.30 AM TOMORROW, FOR RESERVATION.

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/10 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

SHORT-TERM TENANCY INVITED FOR GOLF DRIVING RANGES

*****

THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY ON A PIECE OF LAND AT HEADLAND OF WATERFALL BAY, OFF VICTORIA ROAD IN POKFULAM AS GOLF DRIVING RANGES.

THE SITE MEASURED ABOUT 42,500 SQUARE METRES. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY USED FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE PURPOSES AND IS ULTIMATELY INTENDED FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.

HOWEVER, ITS ATTRACTIVE SURROUNDINGS WILL MAKE AN IDEAL SPOT FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

COMPRISING THREE LARGE AND PREDOMINANTLY LEVEL PLATFORM AREAS OVERLOOKING THE SEA AT WATERFALL BAY, THE SITE IS ACCESSIBLE FROM VICTORIA ROAD BY WAY OF A TRACK WHICH WILL BE IMPROVED TO ACCEPTABLE VEHICULAR ACCESS STANDARDS BY THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATOR.

THE TENANCY IS FOR FOUR YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY.

THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WILL BE REQUIRED TO OPEN THE GOLF DRIVING RANGES AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES TO THE PUBLIC ON A FEE-PAYING BASIS AT ALL TIME DURING THE HOURS OF OPERATION.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON APRIL 23.

TENDER FORM, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT, THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, HONG KONG SOUTH, 20TH FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG; THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES, KOWLOON, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 1OTH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.

-----0------

DUTCH CAPTAIN PRAISED FOR SEA RESCUE EFFORTS

******

THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR ALLAN PYRKE, TODAY (THURSDAY) PRAISED THE DUTCH CAPTAIN OF A HONG KONG REGISTERED DREDGER FOR HIS BRAVERY AND PROFESSIONAL SKILL IN THE RESCUE OF 16 CHINESE FISHERMEN IN POOR WEATHER IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

AT A CEREMONY IN THE MARINE DEPARTMENT’S MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE (MRCC), MR PYRKE PRESENTED A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE TO CAPTAIN LEO DREWES OF THE 5,679 TONNE DREDGER "KAI HONG".

"CAPTAIN DREWES HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN THE SUCCESSFUL RESCUE OF ALL 16 CREW MEMBERS FROM A CHINESE FISHING VESSEL IN APPALLING CONDITIONS. HE SETS A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE CONDUCT AND PROFESSIONAL SKILL OF A MERCHANT NAVY OFFICER," MR PYRKE SAID.

/"HE PLACED .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

"HE PLACED HIS CREW, HIS SHIP AND HIMSELF AT RISK TO UPHOLD THE TRADITION OF THE SEA. OUR MRCC HAS AN INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONDUCTING SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS OVER A WIDE AREA OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. IT RELIES ON SUCH BRAVE MEN AS CAPTAIN DREWES AND HIS CREW.

"IT IS HOPED THAT HIS EXAMPLE WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO EMULATE HIS PROFESSIONAL SKILL WHEN DUTY CALLS," HE SAID.

ABOUT 10.30 AM ON DECEMBER 25 LAST YEAR THE MRCC RECEIVED A DISTRESS MESSAGE THAT A CHINESE FISHING VESSEL WAS IN DANGER OF SINKING AFTER HER ENGINE ROOM WAS FLOODED 178 MILES SOUTH OF WAGLAN ISLAND.

THE MRCC PROMPTLY NOTIFIED SHIPS IN THE AREA TO HELP AND SENT A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT TO. THE SCENE TO SEARCH FOR THE FISHERMEN.

TWO SHIPS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY, INCLUDING "KAI HONG", RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL AND SPED TO THE SCENE TO HELP. "KAI HONG" ARRIVED THERE AT ABOUT 2 PM.

THE RESCUE OPERATION FACED GREAT DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. HOWEVER, BY 5 PM "KAI HONG" SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED ALL 16 CREW MEMBERS FROM THE WATER-LOGGED FISHING VESSEL WHICH SANK SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.

-----0--------

. MARINE OFFICES REMAIN OPEN IN CHING MING AND EASTER

*****

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT ALL PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS WILL CONTINUE TO BE OPEN FROM 7 AM TO 9 PM DAILY DURING CHING MING FESTIVAL (APRIL 5) AND THE EASTER HOLIDAYS (APRIL 9 TO 12).

THE WORKING AREAS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT ARE AT THE WESTERN DISTRICT, SHEUNG WAN, WAN CHAI, CHAI WAN, SHAM SHUI PO, YAU MA TEI, KWUN TONG, CHA KWO LING, TSUEN WAN AND RAMBLER CHANNEL.

THE SENIOR MARINE OFFICER (CENTRAL REGION) OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, MR LO KWOK-TAI, SAID: "LN ADDITION, THE TUEN MUN PUBLIC WATERFRONT WILL ALSO BE OPEN FROM 7 AM TO 9 PM DURING THE HOLIDAYS."

DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD, THE MACAU FERRY TERMINAL WILL REMAIN OPEN 24 HOURS DAILY, AND THE CHINA FERRY TERMINAL IN TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE OPEN AS NORMAL BETWEEN 6 AM AND 10 PM DAILY.

ON APRIL 4, 9 AND 11, THE VICTORIA MARINE OFFICE IN ROOM 314 ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE HARBOUR BUILDING AT 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM TO FACILITATE ENTRY AND OUTWARD CLEARANCE FOR SHIPS ONLY.

AS FOR THE PORT FORMALITIES OFFICE IN ROOM 318 AT THE HARBOUR BUILDING, IT WILL BE OPEN ON APRIL 4 AND 11 FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM TO HANDLE APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS NORMALLY ISSUED BY THE OFFICE.

/12 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

OUT-PATIENT CLINICS TO CLOSE ON CHING MING FESTIVAL

*****

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED WILL BE NO HOLIDAY AND EVENING GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC APRIL 5 (MONDAY) WHICH IS THE CHING MING FESTIVAL.

THAT THERE

SERVICE ON

-----0------

141 VIETNAMESE RESETTLED LAST MONTH

*****

HONG KONG FOR

A TOTAL OF 141 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES LEFT RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS LAST MONTH (MARCH).

OF THOSE WHO LEFT FOR OVERSEAS RESETTLEMENT, AUSTRALIA, 18 FOR CANADA, 17 FOR FINLAND, FIVE FOR THE NETHERLANDS, 37 FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND 18 FOR USA.

MEANWHILE, A TOTAL OF 30 REFUGEES LEFT FOR THE REGIONAL TRANSIT CENTRE IN THE PHILIPPINES TO AWAIT RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS.

10 DEPARTED FOR

FRANCE, SIX FOR

--------0

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1 ,820

REVERSAL OF LAF + 330

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY NIL

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,150

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 113.3 *-0.1* 1.4.93

/HONG KONG ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.96 PCT 14 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.43 3.31

1 MONTH 2.80 PCT 17 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.21 3.50

3 MONTHS 2.87 PCT 20 MONTHS 2411 4;625 101.52 3.68

6 MONTHS 3.06 PCT 23 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.58 3.90

12 MONTHS 3.33 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 14,069MN

CLOSED 1 APRIL 1993

Received by PRO

OD - 7 APR 1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

SPEECH BY GOVERNOR AT LUNCHEON BY CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN POLICY STUDIES IN BRUSSELS ............................................ i

POLITICS SHOULD SEPARATE FROM TRADE ISSUES: GOVERNOR ......... H

REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WITNESS PROTECTION ...... 12

TRANSFER OF APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY WILL ENHANCE DISTRICT BOARD'S ROLE .................................................. 12

PUBLIC VIEWS SOUGHT ON RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY ............. 13

ANTI-DUMPING ACTIONS AGAINST PRODUCTS FROM CHINA ............. 15

RECLAMATION FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT APPROVED .............. 15

LAND TO BE RESUMED FOR LANDFILL DEVELOPMENT .................. 17

NEW ABERDEEN INTERCHANGE BOOSTS TRAFFIC CAPACITY ............. 18

PUBLIC URGED TO REGISTER AS VOTERS ........................... 19

PUBLIC URGED TO PLANT FOR A GREEN CAUSE ...................... 19

MOBILE EXHIBITIONS ON HK'S SEWAGE STRATEGY ................... 20

NO MAIL DELIVERY ON CHING MING ............................... 21

PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LOTS TO BE RESUMED FOR SEWERAGE PROJECT 21

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS ..

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

Speech by Governor at luncheon by Centre for European Policy Studies

Brussels today (Friday)

******

Chairman, Ladies, and'Gentlemen,

First of all, thank, you very much indeed for that gracious introduction and for sliding over so rapidly some of the main elements in my obituaries which have been written in the last few months and somebody asked me yesterday what sort of things I'd been called and I said, "Well, I guess the worst,” I said, ”£e a 'sly lawyer* So, they said, "But, isn't that a contradiction in terms?"

However, it's extraordinarily nice to be here today. I asked you when we were coming in how long I should speak for - it reminded me of the very first speech I gave to the Rotary Club in my constituency when I was a member of Parliament, and I asked the president as we were going into to lunch, "How long would you like me to speak for?L: And, he replied, "Well, you go on as you like, but we'll leave at 2:15."

You said, chairman, that I should speak for IS or 20 minutes and then give you the opportunity to ask questions, though that is not mandatory, and we can all knock off earlier if you'd prefer.

A few weeks ago, the Financial Secretary in Hong Kong, delivered our annual budget statement. And it was a statement which would have been greeted with, to put it mildly, gome envy in most treasuries, finance ministries of the world. He announced that we were expecting once again a rate of growth of GNP between 5 and 6 %. Our growth rate over the last two decades has averaged 8%, but it's now settled down at around 5 to 6. He announced that we would be cutting our already low taxes, in his budget. But* at the same time, he would be increasing substantially investment, capital investment, in our infrastructure and increasing expenditure on our social and educational priorities and he announced at the same time that as well as cutting taxes and increasing expenditure, we'd be leaving larger reserves than we'd previously predicted to China when China resumes sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997. He also predicted, with I think a degree of modesty because we may already have achieved some of the targets that he mentioned, that over the next year or so our per capita GNP would exceed, or certainly come close to those of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Italy. He announced huge increases in private sector, as well as public sector investment, a large percentage increase in our exports and re-exports, confirming us as the tenth largest trading community in the world. And, he was also able to point to signs of social progress. Those who think that Hong Kong is just an economic success ' stcry, have got xit wrong, because we can point to substantial social progress as well: our health indicators are in many respects better than those in a number of Community member states. For example, our child mortality rates are lower than those in the United States, United Kingdom, or Australia.

/WE HAVE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

We have falling class sizes, we have plans within a couple of years for about a quarter of the relevant age group to go'on to tertiary education. We have a very large and continuing public housing program at the same time as we can point to increasing home ownership with, I hope, getting on for two-thirds of our community homeowners by the end of the decade.

It's an extraordinary Story of economic and social success, and I think that it's reasonable to ask, what accounts for that story, what accounts for that success in Hong Kong? I believe there are three reasons for that success. First of all, we have, as the chairman observed, practised the lessons of an open market economy more faithfully than moat for longer than most. We have been believers in free trade. We have no tariffs on imports into Hong Kong and look forward to the day when everyone else can say the same. We have very low taxes. We've kept prudent control over public expenditure, which has enabled us, which some regard as a paradox, to increase public expenditure precisely because we've got the economic growth which can pay for it. Even with an increasing of social welfare programs, we'll be containing public expenditure to around 18 or 19% of our GNP. So far as business is concerned, we've followed the adage of minimum interference and maximum support. So, we've followed all those lessons, which I'm delighted to learn, others themselves are also following today.

A second reason for our success is our geographical, as well as our economic position. Hong Kong stands at the gateway to China. It stands at the crossroads of Asia. So, it's at the heart of what the OECD has recently confirmed is the most rapidly growing regional economy in the world. A regional economy which is growing partly by winning larger markets in the rest of the world, but partly by what it sells within the region. About half the increase in trade is trade between communities within the Asian region itself. And, of course, we benefit hugely from the opening up of the Chinese economy, one of the most important and significant developments in our global economic history in the last few years. I think it's fair to say that not only do we benefit from that opening up, but we also contribute significantly to it as well. About 70% of the external investment which goes into China goes through Hong Kong. About 80% of the investment that goes into Guangdong goes in from Hong Kong. $o, we have an important symbiotic relationship with Guangdong and with Southern China as a whole. If you look at Hong Kong alone, it represents, as an economy about 19% of China's GNP. If you look at Hong Kong and Guangdong together, they represent about 29% of China's GNP.

There is a third reason for Hong Kong's success and it's the reason which I wanted to dwell on most today. We see Cantonese Shanganese entrepreneurial ism operating in a free society, under tha rule of law. And that produces an astonishing chemistry, which has been in my judgement and that of most others, responsible for Hong Kong's success. China, as all of you know, is committed to implementing the historic concept of one country (that is, China), two systems. Our system, the system in Hong Kong, isn't just a capitalist economic model, it's capitalism operating within a framework which is set up specifically in terms in the joint declaration, the treaty that was signed

/BETWEEN BRITAIN ......

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

between Britain and China, launched at the United Nations, guaranteeing Hong Kong's way of life for 50 years after 1997.

I think that it's apparent to most of us that not only does Hong Kong's economic prosperity sustain its way of life, but that its way of life helps it to sustain its economic prosperity and its stability. The discussion, I will use a word which is appropriate I think for the language used by the Hong Kong government, the discussion going on between Britain and China and the Hong Kong community at the moment, is about how we can best implement the joint declaration, and, to come to specifics, its about how we can secure a credible Legislative Council as part of the essential framework for Hong Kong, as I have described. I'm not, I must apologise to some of you, attempting some great step forward towards democracy. I don't deserve ’some of the headlines which are sometimes given me in the press outside Hong Kong. What we're attempting to do is to provide arrangements for clean and fair elections in 95. Believing that it's important to the rule of law in Hong Kong that there should be a broadly-baaed, and, to repeat myself, a credible Legislative Council.

Hong Kong is, to thatu extent, totally different from the other dependent territories for which Britain has on the whole been responsible. There, we have been preparing communities for independence. We've done so by providing them with Westminster or Washington-style democracy, Canadian-style democracy, with the rule of law, independent courts, and with a clean and honest bureaucracy. And we've put those ingredients on the launch pad, we've lit the touch paper, and hoped that the satellite would blast off into independent orbit. That isn't the situation, that isn't the problem or challenge that we face in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, we've been preparing a community for the resumption of Chinese sovereignty in 1997. And that has affected, among other things, the whole question of democratisation. I don't think that anybody would seek to argue that we've been in a situation in which China has been pressing us to go faster with democratisation and we as the sovereign power have been denying that rapid growth. I put the point very delicately and very diplomatically. But I am pleased that within the last decade, we have reached an agreement with China about the Increasing democratisation of Hong Kong. There's no dispute about the pace of that democratisation. There is an argument now, a discussion now, about the precise way in which the quasi-democratic Legislative Council should be elected in 1995.

We put forward, last October, proposals for those 1995 elections and they were proposals. They weren't a fait accompli, they weren't decisions made by the British government on behalf of the people of Hong Kong, they were proposals that we put forward, on the basis of wide-ranging discussions with political and community leaders in Hong Kong. And, we put them forward for discussion. When I went to Peking in October, I stressed that we would like to discuss those matters with Chinese officials, and when I left Peking, the proposal was that we should some forum with meetings between Foreign Ministers of the Joint Liaison Group, which deals with day-to-day diplomatic matters between China, Britain, and Hong Kong, that we should use some other forum for continuing the discussions. However, the Chinese

/POSITION then .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

position then changed and China then proposed that we could only have discussions about political development in Hong Kong, provided that I threw overboard the proposals that I'd already made. And, that was by and large the Chinese position through the winter. It was accompanied by a good deal of rhetoric and a good deal of the colourful language mentioned by the chairman. That was the position through the winter, as we turned our proposals into legislation. In February, the day before we were to publish that legislation, China responded to our latest suggestion that we should have talks with them about my proposals, by saying that would be a good idea. The day before, therefore, we were to publish our bill on political development, we received a response from Chinese officials, suggesting that there should be talks about talks. And, those talks about talks, which we would have liked to concluded sufficiently rapidly, to begin the real talks on the 24th of February, went on for a number of weeks.

We were prepared, we were very happy to talk to Chinese officials on the basis for which they argued when they responded to us at the beginning of February. We were prepared to have talks on the basis of the joint declaration, on the basis of convergence with the basic law, which is the mini-constitution which China has agreed for Hong Kong after 1997, and on the basis of any relevant understandings or agreements between our governments. Unfortunately, those talks about talks brokp. down on three issues.

Firstly, even though we'd been talking about talks for several weeks, we were still unable to agree a date when real talks should take place or even to agree a date when we could announce a date for talks to begin.

Secondly, unfortunately, we had not reached agreement with China on one other matter, which in my view, we should be able to agree pretty rapidly. And that was on the secrecy of talks. There was no disagreement between us that the content of the talks, while they were taking place, should be confidential, should be secret like other, or like most other diplomatic exchanges. But, what we found difficult to believe that it was possible, as Chinese officials were urging us to actually hold the talks in secret.

I didn't see how we could send officials off to the airport in Hong Kong to travel up to Peking if stopped at the airport to explain that they were off to see their mother-in-law or off for some other domestic purpose. It seemed to me impossible that we could actually keep the holding of talks a secret between Britain and China, but I don't„ honestly think that is a very serious issue.

The third matter, which was more important, was the position of Hong Kong government officials in the British Team. And that introduced a totally new precondition for talks, not something which has prevented talks <jn other matters, like the negotiation of the joint .declaration for the last decade or more. And unfortunately, that disagreement remains™’position today. I think it's, psrhaps, useful for me to remind you, before underlining our position on this issue, I think it's important for me to remind you that it was Britain, not China, that

/PROPOSED THE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

proposed the talks and it has been China, not Britain, which has argued for preconditions.

/ We are, today, prepared to talk on the basis proposed by China.

OrTSGS Tha : in, on the basis^to which I've referred. We have not doubt, whatsoever, that those talks have to be held between the sovereign powers - between the present sovereign power, Britain, and the future sovereign power, China. The distinguished Chinese Prime Minister, Mr. Li Peng, said earlier this week*, the talks must be between Britain and China. There is no argument, whatsoever, between us on that. It is wholly conceded, all round, that the talks should be between Britain and China. „We would send to the talks a representative - our ambassador . in Peking - supported by officials to discuss the 1994 District Board and the 1995 Legislative Council elections on the basis of the text proposed at the beginning of February by Chinese officials- We're prepared to accept all that.

What we're not prepared to accept is that the members of the British Team should be divided into two classes, those who are British government officials and those who are Hong Kong / government officials. I think China would regard it as

To im . 'tinent if I was foYchoose China's team at any talks with the United Kingdom. I don't know why it is that this new . precondition, new in the history of relations between Britain and

Chinabut I'm bound to say that I don't think it'a very helpful. I rope that we can get round this enag. I hope that we can get -round this difficulty. I hope we can get 'round this ^recondition which has not been raised by the United Kingdom, but has been raised by China. I hope we can get 'round those problems, I hope we can embark on real talks about political development in Kong Kong. I say that with, to borrow a phrase, "complete sincerity." if I hadn't wanted talks, 1 wouldn't have been arguing for talks for the last six months. But, while I say that with complete sincerity, I recognise, as I'm sure others do, that any talks would be extremely difficult. If its aa difficult ar it has proved to get talks started, to get talks finished on a satisfactory basis would clearly be an even greater challenge, but 1 hope it's a challenge to which Britain and China can in dua course rise, so that we can agree arrangements for the 1995 elections which enable us to discharge our obligations in China honourably (in Hong Kong) with China, honourably and competently.

I think that if we have these discussions, China will certainly want to answer three very simple questions. Eirst of all, what a , China's proposals for the 1995 Legislative Council elections? I~know the adjectives, I know the names that are being called, but t vould be useful after about three million words, juet to t vc one or two words about Positive, constructive proposals for the 1995 elections from China, I think the people of Hong Kong deserve that.

Secondly, I think that China will want to tell the Hong Kong community, and others, whether it is prepared to have ..-.rrangcmeats in 1995 for fair elections, that is arrangements -.-iiich may produasa a Legislative Council aotne of whose members China doesn't much care for. That is, after all, in tha nature of a fair electoral process.

/AND, THIRDLY .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

And, thirdly, there is another question. Would China he prapared to allow anyone who was elected in 1994 and who accepted the basic law (the mini-constitution for Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty) ♦ would China be prepared to allow anyone who was elected in 1995 to travel through the transition in 1997 to the end of tha Legislative Council in 1999? Or is it China's position that some people, even if they're fairly elected, and even if they accept the basic law, can be thrown off the Legislative Council at the time of the transfer of sovereignty in 1997? Those are all serious and important questions, and one reason why I very much hope that we have talks is so that we'll bu able to discuss the answers to those questions over the coming months. I think that would be a better way of spending a spring in Peking rather than inventing new forms of denunciatory language for the new China news agency.

They are difficult issues, the ones that I've described, but they're issues which I believe can and will and should be solved successfully. And, when I consider whether or not they'll be solved successfully, I do bear in mind that the old and wise advice that nobody ever made any money by betting against Hong Kong.

One final point that I'd like to make to this international audience. Chinese officials very often, when I or others make a speech like this, Chinese officials very often accuse us of internationalisation, of internationalising Hong Kong, as though anyone from the United Kingdom or from the Heng Kong government should take a vow of silence about Hong Kong and its development.

I don't think that's a very wise or a very strong argument, and of course, it's not an argument which China applies to itself.

I don't remember when Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, a few monthsy' ago, made some remarks which were •• wrong,/ critical about political development in Hong Kong, I don't remember Chinese*" officials denouncing him for internationalising the issue. The rest of the world, the Community, individual members of the Community, Australia, Canada, Naw Zealand, countries in the’ Asian region, the rest of the world recognises chat the successful implementation of the joint declaration of the treaty between Britain and China is a matter for Britain and China. But, one can't expect the rest of the world not to be interested in whether there is successful implementation of the joint declaration. After all, Hong Kong is a priceless asset for the world, a tribute to the energies of free men and .women, operating in ? free society and in a free market economy. The rest of the world wants to see Hong Kcng doing well today, and the rest of the world will want to see Hong Kong, after 1997, making a huge contribution to China' & 'success, as China plays a dominant, ana we must all hope, a responsible and a constructive role on the world stage. It's important, in my judgement, I say this again Uhoquivocally, it's important for the whole world that China succaeds and succeeds spectacularly in the huge task which Chinese leaders have taken on, transforming their economy. And, I think it is important for the world as well that Hong Kong, before 1997 and after 1997, as part of China, succeeds, too.

Thank you very much.

/RESPONSES DURING .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

Responaea during the discussion period

1. Chinese officials have said again and again, not juet in recent weeks, but well before that, too, that they wish to cooperate to secure the well-being and the prosperity of Hong Kong. They've said again and again, over issues like the airport, over other capital investment issues, over grants of franchises and contracts, they've said repeatedly that they want to cooperate, that they don't want to see linkage between political matters and economic and trade matters. So, I guess that if there were co be any linkage, there would be questions for those officials to answer. If there is a disagreement, which I would like to see us resolve over political matters, I can't for the life of me see how it's best pursued by attempting to undermine the well-being, the livelihood of the people in Hong Kong. After all, in 1997, everyone knows that China resumes sovereignty of Hong Kong. Let me give you a very practical example - we're doing our best to fulfil our side of the bargain in a memorandum of understanding to complete the airport, the new airport which everybody knows is necessary and everybody knows will be built before 1997. Now, if the completion of the airport is delayed, what it will mean is some impact on the future GNP of Hong Kong and som£*" diminution of the revenues which will come in future to Hong Kong. It doesn’t particularly the hit the British governor of Hong Kong today, except that the British governor of Hong Kong would like to see the airport completed as scon as possible. So, I don't think, to borrow a phrase, ’’That there is much to be said in life FOR. going around dropping boulders on one's own foot.”

There is one other matter that I must address. I have argued, and will continue to argue, passionately, against the politicisation of trade, the politicisation of international investment decisions. I would find it curious if, with me making that point and United Kingdom government Ministers making that point* Chinese officials were to take the contrary point of view. After all, there is a huge Chinese surplus in its trade balance with.the United Kingdom. As I recall, a trade surplus in China's favour of about half a billion pounds. Further than that, in two or three weeks time, I'll be in Washington, arguing the case, as strongly as I can, for the continuation of most favoured nation status for China in its dealings with the United States. I'll be arguing that Congress and the new administration, whatever their’concerns, should not politicise that trading relationship with China. It may be a little more difficult to put that argument, if while I'm putting that argument about US-China trade, some Chinese officials are putting a different argument about trade with other parts of the world. We know very well what the obligations are, of membership, of international fora which seek to regulate free and fair trade in a sensible way. We know, for example, what is required of all those who are members of GATT, and the requirements of membership of GATT certainly do not include the politicisation of trade.

2. I don't think that Sir David Akers-Jones' views have changed much down the years, * .*./>. •.* : * t -.

, and I think those who know him would concede that point. What I hope, is that when he, or others, and I saw a picture of

/HIM in ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

him in the paper this morning going off to Peking and I was delighted to see him clutching his British passport, I don't think that one should regret anybody operating as an advisor to China. I just hope that they give fair advice, I hope that they give it fearlessly, and I hope that Chinese officials listen.

I think the broader the spectrum of advice chat China listens to, the better. There are some people in Hong Kong who've regretted that there isn't a single, directly elected legislature among all those that are advising China. Well, I'm sure that China, in due course, will want to make up that gap. In the meantime. Sir David Akers-Jones and all others will I hope give China good advice and I hope that advice will be, will include to cooperate with the Hong Kong government and the United Kingdom to implement successfully the joint declaration, and I hope that advice will also be to take seriously what the joint declaration says about Hong Kongte . incomparable way of life.

3. That's a proposal which has been put to me on a number of occasions by some legielatofS and by others. The view that I've arrived at is that I don't want to do anything which will enable our Legislative Council to think that it can duck out of its responsibilities to pass the legislation to put in place election arrangements for the 1994 and 1995 elections. I'm a little suspicious pf referendums as a populist device, which I think may be an argument which is now slightly more popular in Europe than it would have been a Jew months ago. I think that there is sometimes a danger of a referendum enabling legislatures to cop out of their responsibilities. Nevertheless, were there a referendum today, and were it to give the proposals put forward by the government the same sort of margin/' support as they enjoy 'Qt-in opinion polls, I'd be delighted.

4. Yes, I think that there is a strong view in Hong Kong in favour of trying to resolve our disagreements around the table and I must say that is a view which I support, myself, otherwise, I wouldn't have been pressing for talks. I think that had we accepted China's precondition for talks, there would have been a great deal of criticism, justifiably, from some of the political parties to which you refer. The, I suppose one could say, conservative business party with a small "c" and a small "b”, which just to confuse people calls itself the Liberal party, with a large”!”, or is going to call itself the Liberal party, the leader of that party, the day before I published the bill, said unequivocally on a radio programme that he thought the question of Hong Kong Government officials as part of the British team was not something which China should have raised and that China Should back off from that particular matter. I’m not sure whether that’s the same point of view that he’s expressing, now that he’s a China adviser.

/5. as you ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

5. As you can imagine, having endured a number of years in the House of Commons, hasn't meant that I'm super-sensitive to verbal abuse. I have been slightly surprised, but I guess I should recognise that what has been said about me in the past few months is as nothing compared to what has been said about come of the present leaders in China and in the past by other officials, co rM good company, perhaps I should say. I don't honestly think that abuse'^presses anybody very much. There is an expression which football managers use about playing the man, rather than the ball, and I think people usually play the man rather than the ball when they haven't got better arguments.. I would very much like to be able to engage in a constructive discussion and dialogue with Chinese officials. The fact that

I've been called names, when that dialogue begins, which I'm sure in due course it will, the fact that I've been called names won't have any effect on the way that I conduct such a dialogue. But, as you suggested, given that the House of Commons is so often like an annual meeting of the mother's union, I’m fairly used to some of these slings and arrows. I've been called a number of things in my time and I dare say that the thesaurus of abuse hasn't yet been closed.

6. I think that when people talk about misunderstandings between us and China that perhaps the most important misunderstanding. is about the nature and causes of Hong Kong's success, as I tried to argue earlier. Hong Kong, I repeat, hasn't just been successful because it's applied capitalism. Adam Smith, who has been, if you like, sort of Hong Kong's patron saint, was a moral ohilosopher and he wasn't just writing about a capitalist structure, he was writing about a way of life of which ouch a structure was a part. When people make economic decisions for themselves, they inevitably want to make other decisions, too, and there is plenty that I could say about the relationship between economics and political structure, but just to show how many of the diplomatic; skills of judicious self-restraint I've learned, I'd better leave if at that. Except, to say this, first of all, while I don't believe that pluralist structures are a necessary precondition for economic growth, nor do I hold the view that pluralist political structures prevent economic growth, which is somatimes argued by one or two leaders in Asia. If that were the case, please explain on one side of a piece of paper, Japan and Germany. Secondly, I don't believe that there is a mechanistic relationship between economic growth and political change, but on the other hand, I'm sure that economic growth in South Korea, in Taiwan, and elsewhere, has political

consequences. It's not for me to assert what those political

consequences should be, and it's not for me to predict what they might be in Asian countries or other countries, but I think all those things are pretty clear from our own experience.

/7. THE COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

7. ’The Community is one of our most important trading partners, responsible for about 13% of our overall trade, and it'a been growing, getting on towards 20% in the last year, it grew by about 16%. So, it's a very important economic relationship, and I would hope that what we were able to achieve with the Community, we would be able to achieve sooner rather than later with the ancient countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking for myself, not as a governor of Hong Kong, but as a concerned European citizen, I very much hope that before too when we refer to the relationship between Hong Kong and therMEH»t*5 cFTTf^Europaan Community, we're referring among others to the countries

of Central and Eastern Europe which are at present outside the European Community. The sooner that through your efforts, and through our opening of our doors and windows, your part of our single market, the better. And 1 don't say that, if I may revert to a former personality, I don't say that because I am a politician who believes that there is a distinction between widening and deepening in the Community. I think widening has always meant, does mean today, and will always mean a deepening too, but that is as much as I'm going to get involved in all that today. I've noticed that there is a debate on all these matters

in the United Kingdom just at the moment. I haven't been part of it and I haven't greatly missed it, though I do have strong views to put against other people's prejudices.

Thank you very much, indeed, for asking me today. End of Transcript.

/Il

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

POLITICS SHOULD SEPARATE FROM TRADE ISSUES: GOVERNOR

*****

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID HE WOULD CERTAINLY BE ARGUING AGAINST ALLOWING POLITICS TO DETERMINE TRADE ISSUES WHEN HE WENT TO THE UNITED STATES, AS HE WAS IN EUROPE.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A MEETING WITH THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, SIR LEON BRITTAN, IN BRUSSELS YESTERDAY (THURSDAY), THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD BE SURPRISED IF CHINESE OFFICIALS TRIED TO LINK TRADE AND POLITICS.

’’AFTER ALL CHINA HAS A HUGE TRADE SURPLUS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM - IT IS NOT AS THOUGH IT WAS THE OTHER WAY ROUND,” HE NOTED.

"SECONDLY, WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, IN THE GATT, IN OTHER INTERNATIONAL TRADE FORA PEOPLE TRY VERY HARD, IT’S PART OF THE REGULATIONS, TO AVOID POLITICISING TRADE," HE ADDED.

"AND I WOULD HOPE THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS WOULD SEE THE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, NOT LEAST WHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE MFN STATUS FOR CHINA," HE SAID.

ASKED ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF HIS OVERSEAS TRIPS, MR PATTEN SAID: "OVER THE YEARS GOVERNORS HAVE TRAVELLED TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.

"HONG KONG IS THE 10TH LARGEST TRADING COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD. THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE IMPORTANT TRADING AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, AND I WANT TO SEE THOSE RELATIONS GROW AND PROSPER."

HE ADDED THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN HONG KONG AND RECOGNISED THAT IT WAS PRINCIPALLY A MATTER FOR BRITAIN AND CHINA.

ON THE QUESTION OF INTERNATIONALISING THE SINO-BRITISH DISPUTE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TRADING COMMUNITIES IN THE WORLD, AND IF PEOPLE DON’T THINK THAT THAT INVOLVES ARGUING THE CASE FOR HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD, THEN THEY DON’T HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF HONG KONG’S SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM INTERESTS."

ON THE MEETING WITH SIR LEON, THE GOVERNOR SAID THEY DISCUSSED THEIR MUTUAL INTEREST IN SEEING AN EARLY AND SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO THE URUGUAY ROUND.

"I STRESSED AGAIN HONG KONG’S COMPLETE COMMITMENT TO FREE TRADE, AS I WILL BE DOING WHEN I GO TO WASHINGTON NEXT MONTH, AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY AND PROSPECT OF ESTABLISHING AN EC OFFICE IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.

------0-------

Z12 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WITNESS PROTECTION ******

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER HAD SUBMITTED HIS REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR ON THE FINDINGS OF HIS INVESTIGATIONS INTO WITNESS PROTECTION IN THE CASE OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANT NGUYEN VAN-BAU, WHOSE MURDER TRIAL WAS ABORTED LAST OCTOBER.

"ARRANGEMENTS ARE NOW BEING MADE FOR THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE REPORT TO BE PRINTED. IT WILL BE PUBLISHED ON APRIL 8. THE FULL CHINESE VERSION OF THE REPORT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AS SOON AS THE NECESSARY TRANSLATION WORK IS COMPLETED," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

------0-------

TRANSFER OF APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY WILL ENHANCE DISTRICT BOARD’S ROLE

*****

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING APPOINTMENT TO LOCAL COMMITTEES TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS (DBs) IS INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE ROLE OF DBs AND THEIR INFLUENCE IN DISTRICT AFFAIRS, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON), MR C C WAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

AT A MEETING WITH A GROUP OF DB MEMBERS, MR WAN SAID THE PROPOSAL WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT AND DID NOT REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES.

"SINCE IT INVOLVES THE DBs, IT IS LOGICAL TO PUT THIS TO THE BOARDS FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION - JUST LIKE FUND APPROPRIATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE," HE SAID.

ASKED TO EXPLAIN THE MECHANICS OF THE PROPOSAL, MR WAN POINTED OUT THAT DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, THESE LOCAL COMMITTEES MAY INCLUDE THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME ORGANISING COMMITTEES, CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEES, INDUSTRIAL LIAISON COMMITTEES, KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEES, MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES OF COMMUNITY HALLS AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES AKIN TO PARTICULATR DISTRICTS.

"UNDER THE PROPOSAL, APPOINTMENT TO THESE LOCAL COMMITTEES WILL BE MADE ON THE ADVICE OF DBs. UNDER SECTION 20(A)(1) OF THE DISTRICT BOARD ORDINANCE, DBs ARE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT 'ON MATTERS AFFECTING THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT’ AND THIS CAN INCLUDE APPOINTMENT TO THESE LOCAL COMMITTEES," HE SAID.

MR WAN NOTED THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS MET WITH DIFFERENT RESPONSE FROM DBs. MOST HAVE ACCEPTED IT, BUT A FEW HAVE DECLINED THE OFFER. THESE DIFFERENT REACTIONS REFLECT THE INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCE OF DIFFERENT DBs.

"DBs ARE OF COURSE FREE TO DECIDE ON THIS MATTER AND I AM SURE THAT DB MEMBERS WOULD OPT FOR A FORM OF ARRANGEMENT WHICH THEY CONSIDER TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THESE LOCAL COMMITTEES AND THE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN DBs AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS," HE SAID.

/13 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

PUBLIC VIEWS SOUGHT ON RAILWAY

*****

DEVELOPMENT STUDY

THE GOVERNMENT IS INVITING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE FINDINGS OF THE RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY, WHICH PRESENTS PROPOSALS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE RAILWAY SYSTEM IN HONG KONG UP TO 2011.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (FRIDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, EMPHASISED THAT THIS WAS A LONG-TERM PLANNING STUDY AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ONLY TAKE A VIEW ON THE FINDINGS AFTER THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN CONSULTED.

THE STUDY PROPOSES THAT PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WESTERN CORRIDOR FROM LO WU VIA KAM TIN TO THE URBAN AREA, AND A MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (MTR) EXTENSION TO TSEUNG KWAN O. BOTH LINES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR COMPLETION BY 2001.

THE WESTERN CORRIDOR WOULD ACCOMMODATE THREE RAIL SERVICES:

* A FREIGHT LINE RUNNING FROM LO WU, THROUGH KAM TIN AND TSUEN WAN, TO A RAIL FREIGHT STATION IN KWAI CHUNG. THE LINE WOULD FACILITATE TRANSPORTATION OF CONTAINERS BETWEEN THE BORDER AND THE CONTAINER PORT, THUS RELIEVING THE ROAD SYSTEM;

* A NEW LONG DISTANCE PASSENGER SERVICE TO CHINA TO BE CONNECTED INITIALLY TO LO WU AND LATER POSSIBLY TO LOK MA CHAU. THIS WOULD REDUCE JOURNEY TIMES FOR TRAVEL TO CHINA AND WOULD PROVIDE EASIER ACCESS TO HUANGGANG AND FUTIAN IN SHENZHEN; AND

* A SUB-REGIONAL LINE FROM TIN SHUI WAI AND YUEN LONG TO THE URBAN AREA. THE NEW LINE WOULD PLACE YUEN LONG WITHIN 30 MINUTES TRAVELLING TIME OF CENTRAL AND TUEN MUN ABOUT 40 TO 50 MINUTES, USING THE LRT AS A FEEDER SERVICE.

THE STUDY EXAMINED AN ALTERNATIVE COASTAL ALIGNMENT FOR A PASSENGER SERVICE CONNECTING TUEN MUN AND TSUEN WAN, BUT THIS WAS FOUND TO BE A FAR LESS COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION.

BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULT TERRAIN, THE CONSIDERABLY LONGER COASTAL LINE WOULD COST MORE THAN TWICE AS MUCH AS THE RECOMMENDED ALIGNMENT TO YUEN LONG. MOREOVER, A COASTAL SERVICE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHARE THE SAME TRACK WITH CROSS BORDER FREIGHT AND PASSENGER SERVICES.

WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED MTR EXTENSION FROM LAM TIN TO TSEUNG KWAN O, THE PROGRAMME DEPENDS ON THE POPULATION BUILD-UP OF TSEUNG KWAN O.

BASED ON CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PLANS, THE TSEUNG KWAN O EXTENSION SHOULD BE JUSTIFIED IN 2001 WHEN THE POPULATION OF THE NEW TOWN IS EXPECTED TO REACH 250,000, WITH PLANS TO REACH 360,000 BY 2011.

FOR THE EASTERN PART OF THE TERRITORY, A NEW EAST KOWLOON ROUTE MIGHT BE BUILT IN THE LONGER TERM, LINKING MA ON SHAN, TAI WAI, DIAMOND HILL, AND THE PROPOSED SOUTHEAST KOWLOON RECLAMATION.

/THE ROUTE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

THE ROUTE WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE AND IS UNLIKELY TO BE REQUIRED BEFORE 2011.

ON HONG KONG ISLAND, THE STUDY CONSIDERS THAT BASED ON CURRENT LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS, A NEW RAIL SYSTEM RUNNING FROM THE AIRPORT RAILWAY STATION IN CENTRAL, THROUGH THE CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATION, TO TIN HAU COULD BE NEEDED BY 2011.

LOW PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO A PROPOSED SOUTH HK ISLAND LINE LINKING ABERDEEN WITH ADMIRALTY BECAUSE THE PLANNED ROAD NETWORK SHOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO CATER FOR FUTURE TRAVEL DEMAND.

OTHER LONG-TERM OPTIONS WITHOUT PROPOSED DATES FOR IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDE:

* AN OUTER WESTERN CORRIDOR TO CONNECT HK ISLAND, LANTAU, TUEN MUN AND TIN SHU1 WAI;

* A SECOND FREIGHT RAIL LINE TO SERVE THE FUTURE PORT DEVELOPMENT ON LANTAU; AND

* A LAM TIN - MA TAU KOK LINK ACROSS THE PROPOSED SOUTHEAST KOWLOON RECLAMATION.

MR LEUNG SAID: ’’BECAUSE THIS IS A STRATEGIC STUDY, THE PROPOSALS MUST BE SUBJECT TO MORE DETAILED FINANCIAL AND ENGINEERING STUDIES AT A LATER STAGE.

’’THE ROUGH INDICATION OF COSTS PROVIDED TN THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION DOCUMENT IS THEREFORE VERY PRELIMINARY."

MR LEUNG ALSO SAID: "THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE STUDY BECAUSE MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, IF AGREED, WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AFTER 1997. CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE SIDE WILL BE NECESSARY ON ALL THE STUDY PROPOSALS.

"WE WILL OF COURSE ALSO FULLY CONSULT THE CHINESE SIDE BEFORE ENTERING INTO ANY CONTRACT ON THE RAILWAY PROJECTS," HE ADDED.

BEFORE THE

LEUNG INVITED THE PUBLIC END OF JUNE.

TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON

THE STUDY

THE CONSULTATION PAPER IS AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, LICENSING OFFICES AND PUBLIC VEHICLE SECTION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

COPIES WILL ALSO BE SENT TO INTERESTED GROUPS AND BODIES.

WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE SENT BEFORE JUNE 30 TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

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/15 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

ANTI-DUMPING ACTIONS AGAINST PRODUCTS FROM CHINA

*****

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED INFORMATION ON DEVELOPMENTS OF THREE ANTI-DUMPING CASES AGAINST PRODUCTS FROM CHINA.

AFTER AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW, COVERING THE PERIOD DECEMBER 12, 1990 TO JANUARY 31, 1992, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) DETERMINED THAT THE CASH DEPOSIT RATE FOR SODIUM THIOSULFATE FROM CHINA WILL BE 148.42 PER CENT.

’’THESE DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS, WHEN IMPOSED, SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE NEXT ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED.

IN A SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT, THE U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION (ITC) ANNOUNCED THE INSTITUTION AND SCHEDULING OF A FINAL ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATION ON CERTAIN COMPACT DUCTILE IRON WATERWORKS FITTINGS FROM CHINA.

THE INVESTIGATION IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN INDUSTRY IN THE U.S. IS MATERIALLY INJURED, OR IS THREATENED WITH MATERIAL INJURY, OR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDUSTRY IN THE U.S. IS MATERIALLY RETARDED, BY REASON OF IMPORTS OF THESE PARTICULAR PRODUCTS FROM CHINA.

MEANWHILE, THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA INITIATED AN ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATION INTO IMPORTS OF SODIUM CARBONATE FROM CHINA.

THE PRODUCTS UNDER INVESTIGATION ARE CLASSIFIABLE UNDER THE TARIFF CLASSIFICATION HSK 2836.20.0000 OF TARIFF SCHEDULES OF KOREA.

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT CALLED ON COMPANIES THAT MAY HAVE A LEGITIMATE INTEREST IN THE RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION TO COMPLETE A QUESTIONNAIRE AND RETURN IT TO THE KOREAN AUTHORITIES FOR CONSIDERATION BY APRIL 18 THIS YEAR.

A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR READING IN THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BRANCH, OTHER REGIONS DIVISION OF TRADE DEPARTMENT, 18TH FLOOR, TRADE DEPARTMENT TOWER, 700 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.

-----0-----

/ RECLAMATION FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT APPROVED

******

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS GIVEN AUTHORISATION FOR THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO RECLAIM 3,160 SQUARE METRES OF LAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SEWAGE SCREENING PLANT AND AN ASSOCIATED ACCESS ROAD WITHIN AN AREA OF 2.05 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AT ROCKY BAY, SHEK O.

THE PROPOSED SHEK O SEWERAGE SCREENING AND TREATMENT WORKS AIM TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF WATERS IN THE SOUTH OF HONG KONG ISLAND BY PROVIDING SEWERAGE FACILITIES TO COLLECT, TREAT AND DISPOSE OF SEWAGE FROM DEEP WATER BAY, REPULSE BAY, CHUNG HOM KOK AND SHEK O AREAS.

/IT IS

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

16 -

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE WATER QUALITY THERE, IN PARTICULAR ROCKY BAY, WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED ONCE THE SEWERAGE FACILITIES ARE IN PLACE.

THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER RE-OPENING ROCKY BAY BEACH AS SOON AS THE WATER QUALITY THERE HAS BEEN IMPROVED TO THEIR SATISFACTION.

THE PROPOSED ACCESS ROAD WILL FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF RUBBISH AND FLOTSAM ACCUMULATED IN THE BAY, AND IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE AND HYGIENE OF THE AREA.

THE WORKS ON PROPOSED SEWERAGE PROJECT IN SHEK O IS EXPECTED TO START IN NOVEMBER AND TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.

IN REACHING ITS DECISION, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE RELEVANT FACTORS, IN PARTICULAR, THE LOCAL CONCERNS OVER CLEARANCE OF THE SQUATTER AREA IN THE VICINITY.

THE COUNCIL NOTED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE SEWERAGE FACILITIES HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SQUATTER STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED FROM 250 TO 18.

MOREOVER, IN ORDER TO MINIMISE ANY POSSIBLE ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE SURROUNDING, APPROPRIATE MITIGATION MEASURES, COMPRISING THE USE OF ACOUSTIC SCREENS AND SILT CURTAINS AND LANDSCAPING OF THE SEWAGE SCREENING PLANT, WILL BE SPECIFIED IN THE DESIGN AND WORKS CONTRACTS.

THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED INVOLVED WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE UNDERTAKING MAY SEND WRITTEN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM TODAY.

HE SHOULD STATE IN HIS SUBMISSION THE SUM OF MONEY WHICH HE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT AS FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF HIS CLAIM, AS WELL AS THE PARTICULARS WHICH SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIM.

THE NOTICE, IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, TOGETHER WITH ITS RELATED PLAN, IS POSTED AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD AND AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE, SHOP 25, GROUND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT, 7-11 NAM NING STREET, ABERDEEN.

THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE BOUGHT FROM THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE.

0----------

/17........

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

LAND TO BE RESUMED FOR LANDFILL DEVELOPMENT

*****

THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESUME PRIVATE LAND LOTS WITH A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 26,500 SQUARE METRES AT TIN HA WAN, TSEUNG KWAN O, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES LANDFILL, IT WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE LOTS COMPRISE 1,440 SQUARE METRES OF BUILDING LAND AND 25,063 SQUARE METRES OF AGRICULTURE LAND.

WORKS ON THE SOUTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES LANDFILL ARE EXPECTED TO START IN AUGUST TO ENABLE THE NEW FACILITY TO TAKE OVER FROM THE EXISTING LANDFILL AT TSEUNG KWAN O WHEN IT IS EXHAUSTED NEXT YEAR.

THE DESIGN, BUILDING AND OPERATION OF THE LANDFILL WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY A SINGLE CONTRACTOR TO ENSURE UNITY OF RESPONSIBILITY.

AFTER THE LANDFILL IS CLOSED, THE SAME CONTRACTOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTORATION AND AFTER-CARE OF THE SITE FOR A FURTHER 30 YEARS.

THE RESTORED SITE, INCLUDING THE SMALL AREA OF LAND BORROWED FROM THE CLEARWATER BAY COUNTRY PARK, WILL BE PROPERLY LANDSCAPED AND BE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC WHEN THE WORKS ARE COMPLETED.

THE LANDFILL IS ONE OF THE THREE STRATEGIC LANDFILLS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED TO HANDLE SOLID WASTE.

A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) IN CONNECTION WITH THE LANDFILL WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER 1990, AND MEASURES HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO SAFEGUARD THE INTEREST OF COUNTRY PARK USERS DESPITE THE TEMPORARY ’’ENCROACHMENT” INTO THE COUNTRY PARK.

THESE MEASURES WILL INCLUDE TREE PLANTING ALONG THE EASTERN PERIMETER OF THE LANDFILL AND TEMPORARY RE-ALIGNMENT OF THE HIKING TRAIL.

STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE TENDER WILL BE MET BY THE CONTRACTOR.

THE CONTRACT WILL ALSO COMPLY WITH THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES GOVERNING AIR QUALITY, NOISE, LEACHATE SEEPAGE, GAS CONTROL, ODOUR AND LITTERING.

THESE STANDARDS ARE MUCH MORE STRINGENT THAN THOSE WHICH HAVE BEEN APPLIED FOR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN PROPOSED TO DEVELOP WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS WHERE THE WASTE DELIVERED BY SMALL COLLECTION VEHICLES WOULD BE COMPACTED INTO LARGE CONTAINERS FOR TRANSPORT TO THE LANDFILL.

THIS MEASURE WILL HELP REDUCE THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING ROADS CAUSED BY THE NEW LANDFILL.

/THE LANDFILL

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

THE LANDFILL, WHEN COMMISSIONED NEXT YEAR, IS EXPECTED TO SERVE MAINLY AS A DISPOSAL CENTRE FOR PRIVATELY COLLECTED WASTE FROM THE URBAN AND SOUTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES AREAS. IT WILL HAVE A TOTAL CAPACITY OF ABOUT 39 MILLION TONNES.

TOGETHER WITH THE TWO OTHER STRATEGIC LANDFILLS BEING PLANNED, THE SOUTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES LANDFILL WILL PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE DISPOSAL FACILITY WELL INTO THE NEXT CENTURY.

------0-------

NEW ABERDEEN INTERCHANGE BOOSTS TRAFFIC CAPACITY ■ ******

THE INTERCHANGE AT THE JUNCTION OF ABERDEEN PRAYA ROAD AND TIN WAN PRAYA ROAD WOULD INCREASE THE TRAFFIC CAPACITY TO COPE WITH GROWING DEMAND FROM THE WAH KWAI PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT KELLETT BAY, THE REGIONAL HIGHWAYS ENGINEER (HONG KONG REGION) OF THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, MR WONG WAH-LUN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT A TREE-PLANTING CEREMONY TO MARK THE COMPLETION OF THE INTERCHANGE, MR WONG SAID THE WORK STARTED IN JUNE 1990 AND TOOK 34 MONTHS TO COMPLETE AT A COST OF $88 MILLION.

"IT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GRADE-SEPARATED INTERCHANGE TO REPLACE THE SIGNAL CONTROLLED JUNCTION AT ABERDEEN PRAYA ROAD AND TIN WAN PRAYA ROAD.

"ALSO, A NEW FOOTBRIDGE NETWORK WAS BUILT TO COMPLETELY SEGREGATE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC THERE. A SECTION OF ABERDEEN PRAYA ROAD WAS WIDENED FROM DUAL TWO-LANE TO DUAL THREE-LANE TRAFFIC," HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, THE WORK COVERS RECONSTRUCTION OF AN OPEN AIR CAR , PARK ADJACENT TO THE ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET, AND PROVISION OF A PUBLIC CAR PARK NEAR YUE KO STREET, BUS LAYBYS AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENT AT SHEK PAI WAN ROAD.

"A SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE PROJECT IS EXTENSIVE LANDSCAPE WORKS COSTING ABOUT $4 MILLION TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT."

THIS INVOLVES THE PLANTING OF 660 TREES AND 16,500 SHRUBS OF A GREAT VARIETY OF SPECIES OVER AN AREA OF 7,300 SQUARE METRES, THE PAVING OF 7,000 SQUARE METRES OF FOOTWAY WITH COLOURED PRECAST CONCRETE BLOCKS AND THE PROVISION OF 1,800 METRES OF RUBBLE FACED PLANTER WALLS.

"THESE CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OF AN ATTRACTIVE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS IN THE ABERDEEN AREA," HE SAID.

OTHER GUESTS OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY INCLUDED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD, MR HUI YUNG-CHUNG; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD, MR MAN HON-MING; THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS ROSANNA URE; AND THE DIRECTOR OF CHINA FUJIAN CORPORATION FOR INTERNATIONAL TECHNO-ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION, THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE PROJECT, MR ZHU LIN-MIN.

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

PUBLIC URGED TO REGISTER AS VOTERS

*****

WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT HE EXPECTED MORE WOULD REGISTER AS VOTERS THIS YEAR AS HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS.

SPEAKING AT A TREE-PLANTING CEREMONY AT THE ILLUMINATION TERRACE IN TAI HANG ROAD, HE ALSO URGED ELIGIBLE VOTERS TO REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HE DESCRIBED THE GREENING EFFORT AT THE TERRACE AS ’’UNIQUE” SINCE THE TREES WERE IMBEDDED INSIDE A PRIVATE PROPERTY, NOT ON PAVEMENT OR CENTRAL ROAD DIVIDER.

BUT THE GREENING EFFECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT IS JUST AS GOOD AS THE PLANTS WILL BE PUT UP NEAR THE ROAD.

"1 AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A ’GREAT LEAP FORWARD’ IN OUR DISTRICT IF OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPERS FOLLOW SUIT,” HE SAID.

TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TOOK PART IN A SIMILAR TREE-PLANTING PROJECT IN THE AFTERNOON AT WAN CHAI SPORTS GROUND, MR MANN SAID HE HOPED THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO JOIN OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

TODAY’S EVENTS WERE ORGANISED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WAN CHAI ’’GREENING FOR THE CHEST” ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

A TOTAL OF $103,478 WAS RAISED FOR THE COMMUNITY CHEST TODAY.

--------------------0-------- PUBLIC URGED TO PLANT FOR A GREEN CAUSE *****

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE YET TO TAKE PART IN THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME ARE URGED TO DO SO BEFORE IT CLOSES BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

FROM NOW UNTIL APRIL 25, PLANTING SITES IN SIX COUNTRY PARKS WILL BE OPEN ON SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

THESE COUNTRY PARKS ARE: TAI MO SHAN, SHING MUN, QUARRY BAY, PAT SIN LENG (HOK TAU), SAI KUNG (PAK TAM CHUNG) AND SOUTH LANTAU (NGONG PING).

ALL THESE ENVIRONMENTAL-CONSCIOUS CITIZENS NEED TO DO IS TO COME TO A COUNTRY PARK AND PUT THE PREPARED SEEDLINGS INTO THE GROUND WITH THE TOOLS PROVIDED AT THE SITES.

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) STAFF WILL BE THERE TO HELP, IF REQUIRED.

COMMENTING ON THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME, AN AFD SPOKESMAN SAID SINCE THE START OF THE SCHEME ON MARCH 14, A TOTAL OF 9,480 TREE SEEDLINGS WERE PLANTED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

/THE SAI ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

THE SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK SITE TN PAK TAM CHUNG TOPPED THE LIST WITH 4,050 TREE SEEDLINGS PLANTED.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPECTED THAT THE NUMBER OF TREES PLANTED UNDER THE SCHEME THIS YEAR WOULD EXCEED LAST YEAR’S 32,000 IF THE PRESENT PACE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS MAINTAINED.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS ENCOURAGED TO NOTE THAT MANY COMMUNITY GROUPS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ADVOCATING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, HAD TAKEN AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE SCHEME.

HE ALSO SAID THE AIM OF THE SCHEME WAS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC PROTECTION AND CARE ON VEGETATION THROUGH PHYSICAL INVOLVEMENT IN PLANTING.

’’WHY NOT SPARE SOME TIME AND COME OVER TO THE COUNTRY PARKS AND DO THE PLANTING YOURSELVES FOR A GREEN CAUSE?” HE URGED.

------0-------

MOBILE EXHIBITIONS ON

HK’S SEWAGE STRATEGY * t * *

♦

A SERIES OF MOBILE EXHIBITIONS WILL BE STAGED AT PROMINENT SHOPPING ARCADES AND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE SHOPPING CENTRES IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS T»O PROMOTE HONG KONG’S SEWAGE STRATEGY.

THE FIRST IN THE SERIES WILL BEGIN ON SATURDAY (APRIL 3) AT TUEN MUN TOWN PLAZA AND OJ MAN SHOPPING CENTRE TN HO MAN TIN.

ORGANISED ; BY THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH, THE EXHIBITION AIMED AT AROUSING PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM TN THE HARBOUR AND THE NEED FOR AN ULTIMATE SOLUTION.

’’PICTURES AND CARTOONS WILL BE DISPLAYED TO HIGHLIGHT THE SERIOUS WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM THAT ENDANGERS OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THREATENS PUBLIC HEALTH,” A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DEVELOP AN OVERALL SEWAGE STRATEGY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM.

"THIS INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NETWORK OF UNDERGROUND TUNNELS - THREE METRES IN DIAMETER AND 22 KM IN LENGTH AT A DEPTH OF 150 METRES TO COLLECT SEWAGE FROM THE URBAN AREA FOR TREATMENT," HE SAID.

THE EXHIBITION AT ATRIUM OF TUEN MUN TOWN PLAZA WILL BE HELD TOMORROW AND ON SUNDAY (APRIL 4), BEGINNING FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM.

THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO BE HELI) ON THE SECOND FLOOR, OI MAN SHOPPING CENTRE, HO MAN TIN, FROM TOMORROW TO MONDAY (APRIL 5). THE EXHIBITION OPEN.S FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM.

/THE EXHIBITION .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

THE EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD:

VENUES DATE

TIME

TAK TIN SHOPPING CENTRE, LAM TIN 9.4.93 - 12.4.93 9AM - 6 PM

SHUN TAK CENTRE 10.4.93 - 11.4.93 10AM - 7 PM

NEW TOWN PLAZA 15.4.93 - 16.4.93 10AM - 7 PM

CITYPLAZA 17.4.93 - 18.4.93 10AM - 7 PM

CHEUNG FAT SHOPPING CENTRE, TSING YI 17.4.93 - 18.4.93 9AM - 6 PM

LANDMARK 20.4.93 - 22.4.93 10AM - 7 PM

NEW WORLD CENTRE 24.4.93 - 25.4.93 10AM - 7 PM

-----0-----

NO MAIL DELIVERY ON CHING MING

*****

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR M PAGLIARI, ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MAIL DELIVERY ON CHING MING FESTIVAL, WHICH FALLS ON MONDAY (APRIL 5).

A SPECIAL MAIL DELIVERY WOULD BE PROVIDED ON APRIL 9 (GOOD FRIDAY). NO DELIVERY WOULD BE MADE ON APRIL 10, 11 AND 12.

ALL POST OFFICES EASTER HOLIDAYS.

WOULD BE CLOSED

DURING THE CHING MING AND

--------0------------

PRIVATE] AGRICULTURAL LOTS TO BE RESUMED FOR SEWERAGE PROJECT

*****

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO RESUME PORTIONS OF EIGHT PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LOTS IN TA KWU LING, NEW TERRITORIES, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEWER AND AN UNDERGROUND PUMPING STATION ALONG PING CHE ROAD, IT WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE LAND TO BE RESUMED HAS A TOTAL AREA OF 885.4 SQUARE METRES.

IT WILL BE REVERTED TO ’rill- GOVERNMENT THREE MONTHS AFTER THE GAZETTING OF THE RESUMPTION NOTICE.

WORKS FOR THE PROJECT IS PROGRAMMED TO START IN JULY.

------0-------

/22 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS ♦ * * * *

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,150

REVERSAL OF LAF NIL

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -580

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,570

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 112.9 *-0.4* 2.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.85 PCT 14 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.41 3.31

1 MONTH 2.80 PCT 17 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.20 3.50

3 MONTHS 2.86 PCT 20 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.51 3.68

6 MONTHS 13.07 PCT 23 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.59 3.89

12 MONTHS 3.33 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 13,705MN

CLOSED 2 APRIL 1993

Received by fivO

nn_ ~ R APR——

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

CENTRAL AND WANCHAT RECLAMATION TENDER EXTENDED ................. 1

FCC MEETS ON WITNESS PROTECTION REPORT .......................... 1

SAMPLE CONTRACT DESIGNED FOR CATERING TRADE ..................... 2

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS 3

SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

TROPICAL CYCLONE AND STRONG MONSOON SIGNAL STATIONS .............. 4

SALT WATER CUT IN KOWLOON EAST ................................... 4

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN 2001 ............... 5

TWO PACIFIC TRADE AND ECONOMIC EXPERTS VISIT HK ................. 6

YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA RECRUITS MEMBERS ........................ 7

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1993

CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATION TENDER EXTENDED

*****

IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA ENQUIRIES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE TWO LOWEST TENDERERS FOR THE CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATION HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND THE VALIDITY OF THEIR TENDERS FOR A FURTHER THREE MONTHS FROM APRIL 6 TO JULY 5, 1993.

THE RECLAMATION WILL PROVIDE LAND FOR A NUMBER OF PURPOSES WHICH WILL BE OF VALUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG.

IT IS PARTLY DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THE HONG KONG STATION OF THE AIRPORT RAILWAY BUT WILL ALSO PROVIDE NEW LAND FOR EXPANSION OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND FOR LONG-TERM HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT.

THE EXTENSION OF THE TENDER VALIDITY PERIOD IS TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT MORE TIME TO CONSIDER ITS OPTIONS ON THE RECLAMATION, IN LINE WITH ITS STEP BY STEP APPROACH TO DECISIONS ON THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME.

IT DOES NOT DIMINISH THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO THE AIRPORT RAILWAY OR THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME.

--------0-----------

FCC MEETS ON WITNESS PROTECTION REPORT *****

THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (FCC) HELD A SPECIAL MEETING TODAY (SATURDAY) TO EXAMINE THE REPORT PRODUCED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON WITNESS PROECTION.

THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS SET UP IN NOVEMBER 1992 TO EXAMINE EXISTING WITNESS PROTECTION AND WITNESS ASSURANCE MEASURES, TO CONSIDER THE APPLICABILITY TO HONG KONG OF OVERSEAS VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE SCHEMES AND TO EXPLORE WAYS TO REINFORCE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN WITNESS PROTECTION MEASURES.

HEADED BY THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS OF THE POLICE, MR EDDIE HUI, IT CONSISTED OF TWO NON-OFFICIAL FCC MEMBERS, MRS MIRIAM LAU AND MR PETER WONG, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE POLICE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE SECURITY BRANCH.

HAVING CONSIDERED THE FINDINGS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, THE FCC ENDORSED THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS:

♦ ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT A WITNESS WILL NOT BE INTERFERED WITH PRIOR TO HIS GIVING EVIDENCE; TO THIS END,

* A WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED LAYING DOWN THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR HIGH RISK WITNESSES;

/* GENERAL WITNESS .......

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1993

* GENERAL WITNESS UNITS BE SET UP IN THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE POLICE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE A CO-ORDINATED APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME;

* A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL METHODS SHOULD BE ADOPTED TO PROTECT A WITNESS WHEN GIVING EVIDENCE AT COURT;

* AN EFFECTIVE PUBLICITY STRATEGY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMME SHOULD BE MOUNTED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE PROPOSED WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME AND WITNESS ASSISTANCE ARRANGEMENTS; AND

* ADEQUATE RESOURCES SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EACH WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME.

THE ADMINISTRATION WILL CONSIDER THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN DETAIL.

THE REPORT WILL ALSO BE SENT TO MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER SO THAT HE CAN CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THE SECOND PART OF HIS INQUIRY.

---------------------0------- SAMPLE CONTRACT DESIGNED FOR CATERING TRADE *****

A SAMPLE CONTRACT SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EASY REFERENCE FOR OWNERS AND WORKERS IN THE CATERING TRADE IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S 11 LABOUR RELATIONS OFFICES.

THE SAMPLE CONTRACT, PRINTED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, WAS DESIGNED BY THE CATERING TRADE TRIPARTITE GROUP (CTTG) WHICH INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATIONS, EMPLOYEES’ TRADE UNIONS, MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATIONS AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

’’STUDIES BY THE TRIPARTITE GROUP REVEALED THAT MANY OF THE PAST DISPUTES IN THE CATERING TRADE WERE UNNECESSARY AND WERE CAUSED BY THE LACK OF A PROPER WRITTEN CONTRACT,” SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE CTTG, MR LEUNG MIN-CHEUNG, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

OTHER DISPUTES MIGHT HAVE BEEN ARISEN FROM OUTDATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS OR TRADITIONAL PRACTICES WHICH ARE NOT IN LINE WITH THE LAWS, MR LEUNG SAID.

FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS AND CONSULTATIONS BY THE TRIPARTITE GROUP, IT IS AGREED THAT A WRITTEN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT IS NECESSARY IN ENHANCING HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AND PRODUCTIVITY, WHICH WILL IN TURN BENEFIT THE CATERING INDUSTRY, HE ADDED.

MR LEUNG SAID APART FROM GENERAL TERMS INCLUDING THE DATE OF EMPLOYMENT, POSITION, WORKING HOURS, OVERTIME WORK AND PROBATION PERIOD, A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF WAGES WAS RECOMMENDED DUE TO THE SPECIAL NATURE OF WORK IN THE CATERING INDUSTRY.

/HE SAID .......

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 19°3

HE SAID OTHER TERMS GOVERNING TERMINATION OF CONTRACT, SUMMARY DISMISSAL, STATUTORY HOLIDAYS, PAID ANNUAL LEAVE, SICK LEAVE, MATERNITY LEAVE, END OF YEAR PAYMENT, WORK ARRANGEMENTS DURING TYPHOONS AND THE HOISTING OF RAINSTORM WARNING SIGNALS SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED.

COPIES OF THE SAMPLE CONTRACT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENT TO ALL ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE CATERING TRADE.

’’INTERESTED PERSONS, ESPECIALLY WORKERS, CAN OBTAIN FREE COPIES OF THE SAMPLE CONTRACT FROM THE LABOUR RELATIONS OFFICES WHERE FREE ADVICE WILL BE PROVIDED,” HE ADDED.

--------0------------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT

REVERSAL OF LAF

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER

$ MILLION

1,570

+ 450

2,020

NIL

-170

1 ,850

TWI 112.9 *+0.0* 3.4.93

--------0------------

/4 ........

SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 1993

TROPICAL CYCLONE AND STRONG MONSOON SIGNAL STATIONS

*****

DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF THE EXISTING YAU MA TEI PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA, DAY AND NIGHT SIGNALS WILL CEASE TO BE DISPLAYED AT THE TROPICAL CYCLONE AND STRONG MONSOON WARNING SIGNAL STATION THERE FROM APRIL 6.

HOWEVER, VISUAL SIGNALS WILL CONTINUE TO BE DISPLAYED AT THE REMAINING 10 SIGNAL STATIONS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

ABERDEEN MARINE OFFICE, CHEUNG CHAU METEOROLOGICAL STATION, LAU FAU SHAN POLICE STATION, SAI KUNG POLICE STATION, SHA TAU KOK SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, SHAU KEI WAN MARINE OFFICE, STANLEY POLICE STATION, TAI LAM SMALL BOAT UNIT HEADQUARTERS, TAI O POLICE STATION, AND TAI PO KAU MARINE POLICE OPERATIONAL BASE.

AS SIGNAL STATIONS CONVEY VERY LITTLE INFORMATION AND ARE FREQUENTLY OBSCURED BY HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS OR DURING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO OR WATCH THE TELEVISION FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON TROPICAL CYCLONES AND STRONG MONSOON.

INFORMATION ON TROPICAL CYCLONES AND SIGNAL STATUS CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED FROM THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS OR CALL 835 1473.

--------0-----------

SALT WATER CUT * *

IN KOWLOON EAST tit

SALT WATER SUPPLY TO MOST PREMISES IN KOWLOON EAST WILL GO OFF FROM 10 PM ON TUESDAY (APRIL 6) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE WORK ON WATER MAINS.

THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL THE PREMISES IN SAN PO KONG, NGAU CHI WAN, CHOI HUNG ESTATE, CHOI WAN ESTATE, PING SHEK ESTATE, SHUN LEE ESTATE, SHUN TIN ESTATE, SHUN ON ESTATE, SHUN CHI COURT, SHUN LEE TSUEN THA, NGAU TAU KOK, LOK WAH ESTATE, JORDAN VALLEY, KOWLOON BAY, KWUN TONG, LAM TIN, SAU MAU PING AND CHA KWO LING.

--------0

15 .........

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1993

MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN 2001 *****

MORE THAN 47 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION ARE EXPECTED TO LIVE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE ISLANDS DISTRICTS BY 2001, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST GOVERNMENT REPORT ON POPULATION DISTRIBUTION FORECAST.

THE REPORT, ENTITLED POPULATION FORECAST BY DISTRICT BOARD DISTRICTS, 1992-2001, WAS PRODUCED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WORKING GROUP ON POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT POLICY COMMITTEE.

PRODUCED ANNUALLY FOR GENERAL PLANNING USE WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT, THE 10-YEAR FORECAST WAS MADE ON THE BASIS OF THE VARIOUS UPDATED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES, POLICIES AND STRATEGIES OF THE GOVERNMENT.

THE PROJECTED POPULATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE ISLANDS DISTRICTS WILL INCREASE BY 16.3 PER CENT, FROM 2.48 MILLION IN 1992 TO 2.88 MILLION TN 2001.

BY THEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE DISTRICTS WILL REPRESENT 47.6 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, COMPARED WITH 43.4 PER CENT IN 1992.

AMONG THE DISTRICTS FORECAST TO HAVE A POPULATION GROWTH, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT IS EXPECTED TO LEAD IN PERCENTAGE, BY 158.8 PER CNET, OR FROM 47,000 TN 1992 TO 122,700 TN 2001.

THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IS 'ORECAST TO OCCUR TN SAI KUNG - FROM 159,800 IN 1992 TO 338,700 IN 2001, AN INCREASE OF 111.9 PER CENT.

THE MARKED POPULATION INCREASE PROJECTED FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE ISLANDS DISTRICTS IS MAINLY DUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNGER NEW TOWNS SUCH AS TIN SHUI WAI, TSEUNG KWAN O, MA ON SHAN AND TUNG CHUNG.

IN CONTRAST, THE REPORT FORECAST, THERE WILL BE DECI,INE IN POPULATION IN SOME URBAN DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY IN SHAM SHUI PO. TSUEN WAN, MONG KOK AND KWUN TONG.

COPIES OF THE REPORT ARE NOW AVAILABLE, AT $39 EACH, AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

--------0

/6 ........

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1993

TWO PACIFIC TRADE AND ECONOMIC EXPERTS VISIT HK

******

CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF THE PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION COUNCIL (PECC) SECRETARIAT AND THE ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) SECRETARIAT WILL EE VISITING HONG KONG NEXT WEEK.

MR DAVID PARSONS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PECC SECRETARIAT, WILL ARRIVE TOMORROW (TUESDAY) FOR A THREE-DAY STAY WHILE MR WILLIAM BODDE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE APEC SECRETARIAT, WILL ARRIVE THE FOLLOWING DAY.

THEY WILL BE MEETING SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON DEVELOPMENTS IN PECC AND APEC. MR BODDE HAS AGREED TO HOLD A SEMINAR TO ACQUAINT OFFICIALS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT BODIES WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN APEC ON THURSDAY (APRIL 8).

HONG KONG BECAME A FULL MEMBER OF THE PECC IN MAY 1991.

PECC IS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION COMPRISING MEMBERSHIP DRAWN FROM ACADEMIC, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS, SEEKING TO DEVELOP CLOSER CO-OPERATION ON TRADE AND ECONOMIC POLICY ISSUES WITHIN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION.

AS FOR THE APEC, HONG KONG JOINED THIS INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ECONOMIC FORUM IN NOVEMBER 1991.

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE APEC ARE TO STRENGTHEN THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM, TO ASSESS PROSPECTS FOR AND OBSTACLES TO INCREASED TRADE AND INVESTMENT FLOWS WITHIN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION AND TO IDENTIFY A RANGE OF PRACTICAL COMMON ECONOMIC INTERESTS.

APART FROM HONG KONG, CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE APEC INCLUDE THE U.S., CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, CHINA, CHINESE TAIPEI AND THE SIX COUNTRIES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA NATIONS (ASEAN).

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

MR DAVID PARSONS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PECC SECRETARIAT, WILL HOLD A MEET-THE-MEDIA SESSION ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 7) AT 2 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF TRADE DEPARTMENT, 18TH FLOOR, TRADE DEPARTMENT TOWER, 700 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.

MR WILLIAM BODDE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE APEC SECRETARIAT, WILL ALSO MEET LOCAL MEDIA ON THURSDAY (APRIL 8) AT 3 PM IN THE SAME VENUE.

/7.........

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1993

YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA RECRUITS MEMBERS « » » * «

THE HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA OF THE MUSIC OFFICE IS RECRUITING MEMBERS FOR 1993/94.

THE ORCHESTRA WAS SET UP IN 1978 WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ORCHESTRAL TRAINING TO YOUNG PEOPLE. IT HAS TAKEN PART IN CONCERTS, DISTRICT ART FESTIVALS AND OVERSEAS MUSIC EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES IN THE PAST YEARS.

THE FORTHCOMING MAJOR EVENTS IN WHICH THE ORCHESTRA WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE INCLUDE THE HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL AND MUSIC OFFICE ANNUAL GALA. SOME OF THE MEMBERS MAY HAVE THE CHANCE TO GO OVERSEAS TO PARTICIPATE IN MUSIC EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES.

AN INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAMME WILL BE DRAWN UP WHICH COVERS MASTER CLASSES AND REHEARSALS CONDUCTED BY LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MUSICIANS.

ALL REHEARSALS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY EVENINGS AT THE MONG KOK MUSIC CENTRE.

A MUSIC OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORCHESTRA WOULD BE RECRUITED EACH YEAR BY OPEN AUDITION AND CURRENT MEMBERS WERE NO EXCEPTION.

ALL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND ALL REHEARSALS AND TRAINING SESSIONS, HE ADDED.

APPLICANTS SHOULD BE UNDER 25 YEARS OLD, HAVE ATTAINED AT LEAST GRADE VI IN THE MUSIC OFFICE’S INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OR EQUIVALENT IN ONE CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND AN AUDITION ON MAY 8.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE AND ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL 417 6427.

ALL APPLICATIONS SHOULD REACH THE KWUN TONG MUSIC CENTRE ON THIRD TO FIFTH FLOORS, NGAU TAU KOK GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 21 ON WAH STREET, NGAU TAU KOK, KOWLOON BY APRIL 28.

--------0-----------

Received by PRO

_ 1 3 APR 199?

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, AT ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, CHATHAM HOUSE ... 1

BUS RESTRICTIONS IN TRANSIT SERVICE AREA TO BE LIFTED ........ 24

MORE MARK SIX PROCEEDS FOR WELFARE ........................... 25

NEW APPOINTMENTS TO DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD COUNCIL ........ 25

PROTOCOL IN TECHNICAL MODIFICATION FOR FISHING VESSELS ....... 26

DB CHAIRMEN TO VISIT FIRE SERVICES DEPT ...................... 27

60 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TO RETURN' UNDER ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME .................................................... 28

EASTER HOLIDAY CLINIC SERVICE ................................ 29

WATER STORAGE FIGURE ......................................... 29

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND TENDER RESULTS .......... 29

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS .. 30

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS CHATHAM HOUSE, TUESDAY, 6 APRIL 1993 *****

Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, let me begin with the more recent event, as you so diplomatically described it. It is pretty well a year to the day since, as all of you who read the newspapers in advance will know, the Conservative Party lost the general election. It is almost a year, too, since, following that election, I was offered and accepted the post of Governor of Hong Kong.

During the next few moments I would like, if possible, to explain to some of you - and I hope that this will not seem too self-centred - what it is in the interim which has converted someone reckoned in British politics to be, apart from one or two demotic interludes, on the consensual end of the political argument. I would like to try to explain what it is that converted this one-time wet into the Dennis Skinner of the Orient! (Laughter) That is about the one thing I have not been called thus far!

Let me begin at the beginning. Let me start with what was my initial reading of the Joint Declaration - the basis for Sino-British co-operation: the description of how it is that we are to accomplish our objective of one country, two systems, to refer to that historic concept.

I take it that the Joint Declaration means what it says. I take it that the Joint Declaration is for real and not just a brocaded frill behind which Britain can withdraw from Hong Kong

• . ■ ■ in 1997 with a modicum of honour and decency. That is how I approached the Joint Declaration, that is how I read the Joint . . •.. * «V.« - '

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

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Declaration, and that is how I still look at the Joint Declaration today.

There are three things in the Joint Declaration to which I would like to draw attention. First of all, the system which it describes is not, of course, just the capitalist allocation of resources in the economy. The Joint Declaration describes in terms Hong Kong’s way of life and, therefore, Hong Kong's freedoms.

I have to admit that I was a little surprised when, shortly after my appointment, the first controversy broke like a storm around my head. It followed the prime minister's description of the purpose of my appointment as being to help protect Hong Kong's stability, prosperity and freedoms. The Governor of Hong Kong, taking a good brief, used exactly those words himself when he described his objectives. We then, to nry surprise, found ourselves being attacked by Chinese officials for using the word 'freedoms'. The Joint Declaration is full, however, of the descriptions of Hong Kong's freedoms and Hong Kong's freedoms are part of Hong Kong's system.

The second thing which stands out from the Joint Declaration is that Hong Kong's prosperity is not something that you set apart from Hong Kong's way of life. It is of course true that Hong Kong's prosperity helps to sustain its way of life but it is equally true that Hong Kong’s way of life and open market econony run within the framework of the rule of law and that that way of life helps to sustain its prosperity. The relation between the two is something which we should not lose sight of.

Third, the Joint Declaration does not of course describe a

/DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY ....

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993 3

democratic society. When they are criticising the decisions that we have reached in the last few months, the proposals we have put forward, some people ask us why we have come to this argument about democracy so late - not, I think, that we are. But that is the point to which I will return. It is as though we were being pressed by our colleagues from the north to go faster towards democracy in the past.

You know the position that Hong Kong has been in: unlike virtually all our other dependent territories, unlike virtually all our other colonies, we have not been preparing Hong Kong for independence. We have in fact been preparing Hong Kong for the resumption of Chinese sovereignty. In those cases where we were preparing colonies for independence, we had a pretty familiar mix that we put in place: Westminster-style democracy, the rule of law, clean and honest government - we put that on the launching pad and we blasted the satellite off into independent orbit.

But that was not our task in Hong Kong. Far from us being pressed to move faster in the direction of pluralism and democracy, you will know that we were getting messages to cjo slower from our colleagues in the north. It is one reason why I think the Joint Declaration is such a very special document, because the Joint Declaration sets out very clearly a path to democracy for Hong Kong Jrom the early 1980s onwards. It sets out an agreed series of steps which will, for example, result in the Legislative Council in 1995 being entirely elected and points to subsequent Legislative*. Councils having larger and larger elements of direct election.

The argument that we have been having with China is about

/EXACTLY HOW

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

exactly how the electoral arrangements for 1995 should be organised, because on that there is no agreement and there is no prescription in the Joint Declaration or, for that matter, no precise prescription in the basic law.

When I went to Hong Kong, the position of the United Kingdom Government about the 1995 elections was clear. The position of the United Kingdom Government, advised by many now retired, wise public servants, was to increase the number of directly elected members of the Legislative Council. That was the published position of the British Government. The position of the prodemocracy parties in Hong Kong, who, you will recall, had swept-the board in the elections in 1991, was similarly to increase the number of directly elected members of the Legislative Council, preferably by having half the Legislative Council directly elected.

The position of China was different. The position of China was that there should be no increase in the number of directly elected members of the Legislative Council because that would involve, Chinese officials said, a change in the basic law*.

There was another point of view, another argument put by China. Some would doubtless argue that, when China put this point of view publicly it was in breach of the Joint Declaration. What Chinese officials said, very clearly, was that, in addition to there being no increase in the number of directly elected members of the Legislative Council, the Governor of Hong Kong should not appoint before 1997 to his Executive Council directly elected legislators, so that others who were members of the Legislative Council could continue to be but leading Liberals who

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

had been directly elected to the Legislative Council should not be members of ExCo.

Against that background I had a series of talks when I arrived in Hong Kong. We put forward as a result of those talks proposals which, in our view, while probably representing a second best to many of the groups who had come to talk to us, represented pretty well a point of balance in the community. We did not press for an increase in the number of directly elected seats but we made other proposals on functional constituencies, on the election committee, on the method of election to geographical constituencies and so on, which, in our view, commanded the broadest common ground in the community. They were proposals which equally, in our view, were wholly in line with the Joint Declaration and the basic law.

Our judgment about the point of balance in the community has been borne out by subsequent events because, even though the 'noise from the north* has reduced support for the proposals we put forward last October from about 6:1 to about 2-2J4:l> that support has remained pretty resilient over these months.

We put forward our proposals almost a fortnight after we had told Chinese officials about them. We put forward our proposals, not as a. fait accompli but, as we said at the time, as a set of propositions that we wished to discuss with China as well as with the community. They were not, as I have said, proposals for a great extension in democracy in Hong Kong, whatever some of the headlines may occasionally have said subsequently. They were proposals for accomplishing what is rry bottom line: that is, that the elections in 1995 should be held on a basis which is clean

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

and fair. We also argued that it was more likely that one would promote political stability if the proposals for elections in Hong Kong were acceptable to the community.

After I had put the proposals to the Legislative Council I went to China for a couple of days to discuss them, among other matters, although mostly to discuss them with Chinese officials. We had two days of vigorous but wholly courteous exchanges. At the end of that, just before the - what George Schultz presciently described to me as the 'post visit blast' • at the end of those discussions it was suggested that, since we had not managed to find common ground in Beijing, we should continue the discussions in the Joint Liaison Group, in discussions between the foreign ministers or in other forums.

I then left Bejing, accompanied, as I have said, by the blast, at which point the Chinese position appeared to change. From that point on, through the winter, the Chinese position was that they would only talk to us if we withdrew the proposals that’ we had put forward in October, despite the fact that, by then, those proposals had twice received the broad endorsement of the Legislative Council.

Through the winter there were between 2-3 million words of not always useful abuse from pro-Bejing newspapers and so on, exercising that freedom of speech and freedom of the press which I hope they will continue to stand for. But despite all that, community support remained pretty solid and in early February the Executive Council decided Xhat it would put in legislative form to the Legislative Council the proposals which I had originally put forward in October.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

We sent a copy of the Bill that we intended to put into the Legislative Council to Chinese officials in early February, accompanied by a message reiterating a point that we had made privately and publicly a number of occasions - reiterating that we were prepared to have talks with China at any time about the electoral arrangement for 1994 and 1995.

We were due to publish our Bill on 12 February. The day before that, on 11 February, China came back to us at, as it were, the eleventh hour, but better then than not at all, and said that they would be happy to have talks. We immediately went back to China and proposed that talks should ’ begin ’ on 24 February. Then, alas, there was first of all silence and then complicated discussions about the precise basis for talks which, alas, got nowhere.

After five weeks, we were arguing about representation. We were arguing about secrecy - not about secrecy regarding the contents of the talks but secrecy regarding the fact that talks were taking place, and we had not agreed a date for the commencement of talks nor yet a date on which we could announce a date for the commencement of talks. So it had been a rather frustrating period, I am sure, all round.

I would like to make three points absolutely clear about talks which I still hope.we can see starting sooner rather than later. That is a point which we say, day after day, publicly and privately, to Chinese officials.

First of all, there is*>no dispute as far as we are concerned that the talks are between the present sovereign power and the future sovereign power. There is no question that the talks are

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

between Britain and China. So put furniture metaphors on one side. We have no doubt at all that the talks are between Britain and China.

Second, there is no question either that the talks will take place in Beijing. I do not think, even if the talks take place in Beijing, that it is possible to hold talks about the future of Hong Kong in Beijing without somebody in the media finding out about it. But that remains an unresolved issue between Britain and China.

Third, there is no question of the basis of talks. The Chinese suggested that the talks should be on the basis of:

(i) the Joint Declaration,

(ii) convergence with the basic law,

(iii) the relevant understandings and agreements between Britain and China.

And we said, 'Absolutely fine' to that. So, on that basis, talks could start tomorrow. Indeed, on that basis, talks could start this afternoon.

Who proposed talks - Britain or China? Britain. Who has raised pre-conditions for those talks - Britain or China? Well -let me show how diplomatic I have become - not Britain. I repeat what I said earlier. I hope that talks can start. I hope that talks can start very soon. I hope that talks can start in, to borrow a phrase, a spirit of sincerity on both sides. I do not kid rnyself any more than, I am sure, Director Lu Ping would kid himself that talks would be>A pushover. Talks, were they to take place, would be extremely difficult, because we are clearly discussing issues on %diich both of us feel very strongly.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

But talks would have many advantages. Talks would, for example, give Chinese officials the opportunity which they have been very restrained about taking so far to explain what they would like to do about the 1994 and 1995 elections if they do not like our own proposals. We are still waiting to learn what their proposals would be and I think talks would give us an excellent opportunity to discuss that.

Secondly, talks would also give us the opportunity of discussing exactly how the through train might work, exactly how the transition might work, and exactly, for example, how it would affect legislators elected in 1995, elected and committed•to’ agreeing to the basic law. it would be interesting to find out whether legislators who were elected in that way would be able to travel through 1997 to the end of Legislative Council period of 1999. Those are issues, and there are many others, I am sure, which it would be valuable for us to explore in talks between Britain and China.

If there are not talks then, given our responsibilities for electoral arrangements in 1994 and 1995, we shall have to put our proposals to the Legislative Council which has the constitutional responsibility for dealing with legislation like that. I am sure that the Legislative Council will deal with those proposals conscientiously and our position remains today what it has been -that we do not wish to go further than the people of Hong Kong wish to go in making these arrangements, but nor do we wish to go less far than they wisH^to go.

Hard times or great expectations? Well, I hope that we can resolve these political problems swiftly. I am sure that we will

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1°93

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be able to put them behind us in due course. I do not believe that these problems would be any easier to solve if we were to put off the time when we came at them, but the sooner we can get them out of the way, the better. With those problems out of the way the future of Hong Kong is, I believe, extremely bright.

It is, as many of you will know, a unique mixtures a community which stands at the gateway to the economic revolution which is taking place in China now to the benefit not only of China but of the whole world. It is a community which stands at the crossroads of Asia, the fastest growing region in the world. It is a community which brings together all the attributes of A market economy and of the rule of law. I think that, provided the rule of law and the market economy continue to operate hand in hand, then Hong Kong will have an extraordinarily successful future. Those who see it playing in relation to mainland China, economically, the same sort of role that New York plays in relation to the opening up of the American econoty a century ago, are not far-fetched in their predictions.

I do think for reasons that I have argued on a number of occasions, that a credible - I do not say a democratic - but a credible Legislative Council is part of the framework of the rule of law and, if one were to take that away, just as if one were to take away freedom of, speech, Hong Kong would not only be a less agreeable and tolerant cownunity in which to live, but it would also be a less prosperous and successful community too.

When Considering how Best to exercise, how best to discharge our responsibilities to 6 million people in Hong Kong, there are at least a couple of questions that we need to address. First

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

of all, is discharging that responsibility a value-free zone? If it is not, if there are values which we have to hold on to, I would guess that at least a minimum value is that we should try to ensure that the last election held under British sovereignty are clean and fair and not rigged.

The second question we have to answer is, if from time to time, the United Kingdom has a bottom line, should it allow that bottom line to sag every time others disagree with where we have drawn it? I think, if that is one's attitude to bottom lines then it is better not to have bottom lines at all.

Discharging our responsibilities to Hong Kong, a uniquely different task to our other colonial responsibilities, faces us with a long agenda of arduous choices. In order to make those choices in the best long-term interests of the people of Hong Kong, it is important to remember from time to time the importance both of bottom line and of values. If we do that, I am sure we will be able to discharge these responsibilities decently and competently and honourably (Applause)

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

PROFESSOR MARTIN: Ladies and gentlemen, we have almost half an hour for your questions and discussion. The Governor has said that he would prefer to do this standing.

. JACK THOMPSON (BBC World Service Television News): As I am sure you are well aware, on 2 April the Chinese language newspaper in Hong Kong, Sing Pao, reported from Bejing remarks made by the CCP General Secretary, Jiang Zemin:

'If the situation between Britain and China continues, the Joint Declaration will actually be discarded by Britain and will no more be binding on the two countries. To safeguard China's sovreignty and to protect Hong Kong's compatriots' interests, we have

-the power to take decisive measures to take over Hong Kong ahead of schedule when necessary.'

My rather plain question to those rather ominous remarks is: how do you construe them?

• *

CHRIS PATTEN: I have heard a lot of things said in the last few months and some of them might have been better not said. But overall. I have noticed again and again Chinese officials saying that they would abide by the Joint Declaration, as I would expect, given that it is in effect a binding treaty between Britain and China. I have heard them say that they have no question-of attempting to Resume sovreignty before 1997. I have heard them underlining their commitment to co-operation in order to guarantee the the well-being, the livelihood and the standard

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

of living of the people of Hong Kong. I take all those commitments by a number of Chinese leaders, including the leader whom you have just quoted, at their face value.

No one argues about the reality of the resumption of Chinese sovreignty and, I assume, no one argues about the important role that Hong Kong can play as a part of one country if its system continues to thrive and prosper. I do not suggest for one moment that Hong Kong does not derive huge benefits from the successful economic revolution in China - of course it does. But it is a symbiotic relationship and Hong Kong, for its part, is helping to carry forward that revolution as well. Hong Kong today represents about 19% of China's GNP. Hong Kong and Guandong represent about 29% of China's GNP. It is in Hong Kong's interest, it is in China's interest and it is in the world’s interests. The prosperity of which Hong Kong is part and which Hong Kong has helped to create continues. I would have thought that that was a reality, if you like, to go back into history -a Marxist reality - which will continue to obtain.

ROSEMARY WRIGHT (The Times) : Mr Patten, if talks were to take place, you have said they would be difficult. You have also said that your responsibility is to discharge, in time for the elections in 1994 and 1995 - what would be the risk in your view, that these difficult talks would drag on so long that they would rather overtake the timetable for elections in 1994 and 1995?

CHRIS PATTEN: There is, of course, a danger that the later you start talks the more of a problem you have in both

/CONCLUDING THEM

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

concluding them and legislating on the basis of them, if that proves possible, in time to have satisfactory electoral arrangements there for 1994 and 1995. That is plainly a problem, and it is a problem which we would have to confront with the Chinese side in any talks and with the community in Hong Rong if talks got underway and if talks were taking a long time and if talks were getting somewhere. Because there would be no point on either side, I would guess, in just talking for the sake of talking unless one was actually making progress.

The Chinese officials who are most involved in monitoring Hong Kong affairs appreciate the urgency for having arrangements in place with a decent interval before the elections actually happen. For example, so far as the 1994 District Board elections are concerned, by about this autumn those who intend to be candidates will want to know about their constituencies, they will want to be getting to know the communities which they hope to represent and it would be difficult for them if the District Board electoral arrangements were not on the table by then. So there are practical problems. That is one reason why we wanted talks to begin on 24 February, and another 'reasbh'why I would be very happy if talks started this afternoon.

JONATHAN MIRSKY (Observer): In order to get talks or keep talks going, are there any circumstances at all in which you would give way on the nature of the talks? In other words, is it absolutely a bottom lin^ that Hong Kong be represented fully on the team? Two, is it a bottom line that the through-train contains every single member elected to the Legislative Council

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

in 1995? Three, is it a bottom line that the Legislative Council has the last word after the negotiations are finished?

CHRIS PATTEN: Let me deal with your bottom lines in reverse order. Thirdly, the constitutional position is perfectly clear. The Legislative Council has to agree on the electoral arrangements, on the legislation to the electoral arrangements within Hong Kong. It is quite interesting to see what the basic law says about the Legislative Council's role in relation to electoral arrangements as well.

The Letters Patent and the Royal instructions are absolutely clear. That has not been disputed. I very much doubt whether proposals which were acceptable to Britain and China would be unacceptable to the Legislative Council. That is a statement again of reality. I would certainly not wish proposals to emerge from talks between Britain and China which I would not commend to the Community, otherwise it would put me in an impossible position. I am sure it would put Her Majesty's Government in an impossible position. My judgment is that if we could reach an agreement with China which we were able to recommend to the Community, the Legislative Council would be likely to pass it.

Secondly, the through-train and the position of Legislative Councillors. Let me explain the position. It is of course for the sovereign power in July 1997 to make decisions about these matters, but the Community needs to be sure what it is getting for the " through-train ifc, it is making sacrifices in its aspirations in 1994 and 199S in order to secure this mode of transport. If the through-train is not only to be so designed

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as to exclude some people from travelling on it at all, but is also to have an automatic ejector seat for liberals who are not greatly liked in July 1997, then it has fewer attractions than a through-train should have. These are issues which have been insufficiently debated and deserve to be given a little more public attention.

It cannot be a bottom line in the sense that other things plainly are, when the ultimate decision will rest not only with the British Government but with the Chinese Government. The Hong Kong Government and Hong Kong Community, as well as the British Government, would like to know exactly what is intended so far as legislators, properly elected in 1995, are concerned. Some of those legislators would like to know too.

Firstly, it is our position that Britain should be represented as it always has been, as it was in negotiating the Joint Declaration, as it is in the Joint Liaison Group which is where, after all, we could be having these discussions if the original Chinese suggestion had come to fruition.

I do not understand what the problem is. I have stated unequivocally as I am sure has the Foreign Secretary that the talks are between the two sovereign powers. Some may think that it was an aspect of our sovereignty that we should be able to choose who represented Britain. But I do not want to push that matter too hard in case it makes talks about talks about talks more difficult.

I have‘ a problem in understanding what the snag is. A foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing said after the breakdown * . • '« of the talks about talks, that Song Kong Government officials did

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not have the right to talk if there were talks. A spokesman of the NCNA said Hong Kong Government officials had no right to be part of any British team. These are curious things to be saying after 11 or 12 years in which we have not always had as successful or as amiable discussions as we might have liked, but we have managed to establish a dialogue, a discourse, on a basis which would cause no difficulties with any other sovereign powers in the world.

JIM KERR (Emeritus Professor) : First of all, as a member of Chris Patten's former constituency at Bath, I might say how delighted I am to see him here!

A few years ago, I spent some time at the University of Macao. The question I would like to put is, does the Governor think that there might be some lessons to be drawn from the way the Portuguese Government has handled the question of the return of Macao to China in 1999? As a footnote, I would add that there is a huge airport being built in Macao with full Chinese co-operation.

CHRIS PATTEN: First of all, thank you very much indeed for the compliment which Rab Butler would have been proud of! I put it in the same category as the telegram he once sent to a dinner I was attending for a retiring senior Conservative neighbour. Rab telegranmed us from Trinity College saying, ■Sorry I cannot be with you this evening because of flu. There is no-one. whose farewell dinner I would rather have attended1! I know, Jim, it was well intended - at least, I think it was well intended!

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

Much as I admire my friend, the Governor of Macao, I am not sure that he would argue that we have very much to learn from the Portuguese experience of conducting its relationship with China during the transition to Chinese sovereignty over Macao. It is very different. The Portuguese during the Portuguese revolution took the view I recall that they should quit all their dependent territories. That was the background to subsequent discussions with China about them actually staying on and staying on until 1999. There is a considerable difference. There were differences in the scale and size of the two dependent territories and I suspect that some Portuguese officials would say that perhaps they have benefitted a little from being much smaller than us and managing to move along in the M-slipstream. I hope that their Joint Liaison Group is even more successful and expeditious in dealing with business than ours is.

JOHN DICKEY: Governor, in view of your differences with Beijing over whether your proposed electoral procedures are consonant with the base of law, is there not a good reason for the people of Hong Kong to be extremely worried that after 1997, any interpretation of the basic law will be totally one-sided?

Secondly, may I take it from what you have been saying this afternoon, that there is no question that if a point were reached where uncertainties over your proposed electoral procedures were causing damage to the prosperity of Hong Kong and to investment from outside, that you would in any way seek to modify your proposals?

CHRIS PATTEN: First of all, it is true that the

/INTERPRETATION OF ....

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

interpretation of the basic law is a matter for China, for, as I recall, the NFC. That is a point which China has made clear repeatedly. it can get one into a fairly Kafkaresque discussion about whether or not this or that is a breach of the basic law. I have had plenty of those discussions. Trying to establish what exactly it is about my proposals which is against the basic law is to borrow the phrase, a little like ’trying to shoot fish in a barrel*.

I believe it was senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew who said that my proposals appeared to have filled in gaps in the basic law and. that is right. I have passed copies of the basic law over the table, asking Chinese officials to point out where what I have said is in breach of the basic law. It is rather more than a rhetorical device, and it is quite effective. It then gets one into a complicated discussion about the spirit of the basic law which is not written down on the page!

I hope that one of the things which the advisers will urge on Chinese officials is the importance of securing as much confidence as possible on the part of the people of Hong Kong in the governing institutions of Hong Kong after 1997, and in the basic law as well.

Your second question raises a nice point of moral equivalents. The United Kingdom Government and the Hong Kong Government are keen to go ahead with infrastructure projects, the airport, with container terminals and so on. We are very keen to see the prosperity of Hong Kong continue to surge. Are we to be blamed when Chinese officials threaten that they will not cooperate? Are we to be blamed when it takes, in all conscience,

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

rather longer than it should do to reach agreement on financing an airport, even after the British Prime Minister has flown around the world to discuss it with his opposite Chinese number. I am not sure that those are questions for Hong Kong Government officials. They are questions which Chinese officials have to answer and they are issues which Chinese officials have to explain in the context of their repeated committments to Hong Kong's well being.

Of course, we do not wish to do anything in Hong Kong which does other than promote Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. What would undermine Hong Kong's long-term and medium-term prosperity and stability is if we did things which connived at the undermining of the rule of law, which connived at establishing a rubber stamp legislator rather than a credible legislator. All those things would have economic consequences.

Lastly, I say what I have said before. We do not want to go further or less far than people in Heng Kong wish to go. I wish that their judgments on these matters could be made in a rather calmer atmosphere in which matters in dispute were dealt with by national discourse rather than by raiding the equivalent of Roget's Thesaurus for new words of abuse.

SPEAKER: After 1997, could not Hong Kong become an Anglo-Chinese condominium? I have in mind a comparison with the Anglo-Egyptian situation- !

“CHRIS PATTEN: Were I to answer that in the

affirmative, anything you have read so far in the People's Daily would pale into insignificance!

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1°93

No. I hope the NCA are listening, but just in case they are not, I will say it again, no. The resumption of Chinese sovereignty is right for Hong Kong, it is agreed for Hong Kong. The terms of that are agreed in the Joint Declaration. I understand the aspirations of Chinese officials, looking at 1997 perhaps through the prism of the history of the 19th century which they have learned, and I hope those aspirations can be achieved in a way which is wholly in the interests of Hong Kong and is as smooth as possible.

MARK GALL: I would like to ask the Governor a question relating to the 'great expectations* as opposed to the 'hard times'. He has shared his thoughts with us on the hard times and perhaps we could ask him to expand a little on the expectations of British and other companies who would like to be involved in the economic miracle to which he referred in mainland China and perhaps are considering involvement with Hong Kongbased firms as a cultural bridge into that rapidly expanding market. What advice would he give them in the short and mediumterm?

CHRIS PATTEN: It is a subject with which I am reasonably familiar, because one of my jobs when I was Minister for Overseas Development was to negotiate the last big concessional financing arrangement between Britain and China which has provided the base for the number of British-funded projects in’China and which\has provided the base for a good deal of trade between Britain and China. I would like to see that trade grow.

/AT THE.......;.

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

At the moment the last figures showed a substantial Chinese surplus in our trading relationship - a surplus as I recall of about £500 million. Obviously it is in our economic interests to do rather better from our side of the balance sheet. I would certainly advise British firms to see Hong Kong as a gateway, as many of them are, as Japanese investors and firms have done. I would also advice British firms to follow the Minister of Trade, Richard Needham's, banner in taking a greater interest in the Chinese market and Chinese opportunities. If you compare what we have done so far there with what some other countries have done, and if you compare what we have done there with what we have achieved in trade terms in some neighbouring countries, it is not as successful a story as we all should like.

I would also remind those concerned with British trade and those concerned with Chinese trade that Britain has been the most consistent advocate of keeping politics and trade separate. We have taken that point of view in the European Community in relation to goods from outside, not least when we have been arguing against some anti-dumping measures which we thought were not justified. We have taken that view in relation to Gatt and Chinese membership of Gatt. We have taken that point of view in the arguments we have put forward, and which I will be putting forward again next month, on the extension of most-favoured nation status for China. That is an important backdrop to what I hope will be increased trade over the next years between Britain and China, increases in trade which the Vice Premier has also welcomed.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

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PROFESSOR MARTIN: I am afraid that because the Governor has given us very full and frank answers to your questions, our time is now up and although we earn ill-will from those who have been frustrated, in the long run we would earn greater ill-will from the audience and speaker if we let: our reputation collapse.

May I briefly, but nonetheless sincerely, thank you very much, sir, for what seems to me to have been a masterly balance between frankness and carefulness. We recognise that the one is desirable and the other is necessary. We are grateful to you. I am sure we have all profited from your talk on 'Hard Times -Great Expectations' . I hope you will come back before very long and be able to work our mutual friend into your title!

[Applause]

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

BUS RESTRICTIONS IN TRANSIT SERVICE AREA TO BE LIFTED *****

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION (KCRC) HAVE AGREED THAT THE EXISTING BUS RESTRICTIONS IN THE TRANSIT SERVICE AREA (TSA) IN TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG SHOULD BE LIFTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF A JOINT REVIEW UNDERTAKEN BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE CORPORATION ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF OPENING UP THE TSA FOR THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT).

FULL ACCOUNT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC ON THE MATTER.

FOR THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC, IT WILL NOW MEAN THAT ONE CAN FREELY CATCH OR DISEMBARK FROM A BUS OF THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS CO. ON ANY EXISTING ROUTE WITHIN THE TSA.

’’REMOVING BUS RESTRICTIONS IN THE TSA WILL OFFER LOCAL RESIDENTS MORE CHOICES AND COMPETITIVE FARES," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

"UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, KCRC WILL CONTINUE TO RUN THE LRT FEEDER BUS SERVICES. LRT PASSENGERS WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO ENJOY INTEGRATED FARES, INCLUDING FREE TRANSFER BETWEEN THE LRT AND ITS FEEDER BUSES."

"THE TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARDS WILL BE CONSULTED ON THE TIMING FOR LIFTING THESE RESTRICTIONS IN THE TSA AND THE RESULTANT TRAFFIC RE-ARRANGEMENTS," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

SINCE THE LRT CAME INTO OPERATION TN 1988, IT HAS EXPANDED ITS NETWORK BY ADDING 7.7 KM RAIL TRACK, INCLUDING THE RECENT COMMISSIONING OF THE TIN SHUT WAT LINK.

THE DAILY PATRONAGE OF LRT HAS INCREASED STEADILY FROM 180,000 PASSENGER TRIPS IN LATE 1988 WHEN IT FIRST STARTED OPERATION TO 320,000 IN MARCH THIS YEAR.

IT IS INTENDED THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS COME IN EFFECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND NOT LATER THAN JUNE THIS YEAR.

--------0------------

Z25 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

MORE MARK SIX PROCEEDS FOR WELFARE

*****

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE MARK SIX LOTTERY PROCEEDS GIVEN TO THE LOTTERIES FUND SO THAT MORE MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (TUESDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD ACCEPTED AN OFFER BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TO REDUCE ITS FEE FOR RUNNING THE MARK SIX LOTTERY.

AT PRESENT, THE JOCKEY CLUB RECEIVES 7.5% OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE LOTTERY. ITS SHARE WILL BE REDUCED TO 6% IN FAVOUR OF THE LOTTERIES FUND. THE FUND’S SHARE WILL BE INCREASED FROM 3.5% TO 5%.

THIS WILL PROVIDE A FURTHER BOOST TO THE FUNDING OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES ON TOP OF THE DECISION ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNOR’S POLICY ADDRESS TO INJECT $2.3 BILLTON INTO THE LOTTERIES FUND.

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED BOARD’S APPLICATION TO EXPAND SALES TICKETS HAD BEEN REJECTED.

THAT THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES OUTLETS FOR MARK SIX LOTTERY

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IN MARCH 1990 THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES BOARD APPLIED TO THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND MARK SIX SALES OUTLETS OUTSIDE OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRE (OCBCS).

AFTER CONSULTING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO RUN A PILOT SCHEME WHICH TOOK PLACE BETWEEN OCTOBER 1991 AND APRIL 1992 IN 12 CSL SHOPS. TWO OPINION SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED AND ALL DISTRICT BOARDS WERE CONSULTED.

IN VIEW OF THE COMMUNITY’S RESERVATION THAT EXPANDING MARK SIX SALES OUTLETS MAY ENCOURAGE GAMBLING, THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL DECIDES THAT THE PROPOSAL BE REJECTED, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

------0--------

NEW APPOINTMENTS TO DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD COUNCIL *****

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED TWO NEW MEMBERS TO THE AWARD COUNCIL OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD SCHEME FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM AS FROM APRIL 1.

THEY ARE MISS TANG YUEN-YU AND MRS CHAN SIU MIU-CHEE.

MR WILLIAM WAN HON-CHEUNG, MR LINCOLN SOO HUNG-LEUNG AND MR ALEX WONG PO-HANG HAVE BEEN RE-APPOINTED TO SERVE FOR ANOTHER TWO-YEAR TERM, STARTING FROM THE SAME DATE.

INTRODUCED TO HONG KONG IN 1961, THE SCHEME WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE PHILIP WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THEIR LEISURE TIME BY TAKING PART IN VARIOUS ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES.

/A FULL .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

A FULL LIST OF THE MEMBERSHIP IS AS FOLLOWS:

MR RONALD JOSEPH ARCULLI (CHAIRMAN)

MF< CHAU CHAM-SON (VICE-CHAIRMAN)

MR PAUL LEE KAI-YU

MR LINCOLN SOO HUNG-LEUNG

MR ALEX WONG PO-HANG

MR PAUL YOUNG TZE-KONG

MR WILLIAM WAN HON-CHEUNG

DR LINDA KOO

MR PAUL FAN CHOR-HO

MISS ADA WONG YING-KAY

MR CLAUDE HO

MISS TANG YUEN-YU

MRS CHAN SIU MIU-CHEE

PROTOCOL IN TECHNICAL MODIFICATION FOR FISHING VESSELS * * * * *

THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SAFETY OF FISHING VESSELS HELD RECENTLY IN SPAIN HAD ADOPTED A PROTOCOL IN MODIFYING THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FISHING VESSELS.

MARINE DEPARTMENT’S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (MULTI-LATERAL POLICY), MR S Y TSUI SAID: ’’THE PROTOCOL RELATES TO THE TORREMOLINOS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF FISHING VESSELS 1977.

’’THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE, WHICH LASTED FROM MARCH 22 TO APRIL 2, WAS TO CONSIDER A PROTOCOL IN MODIFYING THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THE 10 CHAPTERS OF THE ANNEX TO THE 1977 CONVENTION.”

DELEGATES FROM 49 COUNTRIES PLUS FIVE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE AT TORREMOLINOS IN SPAIN.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WAS REPRESENTED BY SENIOR SURVEYORS MR HO WING-SHING AND MR HUI KIT WHILE THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WAS REPRESENTED BY SENIOR FISHERIES OFFICER, DR MAK MO-SHUN.

THE CONFERENCE, AFTER TWO WEEKS’ DELIBERATION, ADOPTED THE PROTOCOL ON APRIL 2, MR TSUI SAID.

/MR TSUI .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

MR TSUI SAID THE MAJOR CHANGE WAS TO RAISE THE LOWER LENGTH LIMIT OF FISHING VESSELS FROM 24 TO 45 METRES FOR APPLICATION OF THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS IN MACHINERY AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS; FIRE PROTECTION, FIRE DETECTION, FIRE EXTINCTION AND FIRE-FIGHTING; LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES AND ARRANGEMENTS, AND ALSO RADIO-COMMUNICATIONS.

THE PROTOCOL ALSO PROVIDED A MECHANISM FOR REGIONAL STANDARDS RELATING TO THESE REQUIREMENTS TO HE DEVELOPED FOR FISHING VESSELS BETWEEN 24 AND 45 METRES IN LENGTH, HAVING REGARD TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THESE VESSELS WOULD OPERATE.

"THE IMPACT OF THE PROTOCOL ON EXISTING FISHING VESSELS IN HONG KONG IS CONSIDERED MINIMAL AS MOST OF ITS PROVISIONS APPLY TO NEW FISHING VESSELS," MR TSUI SAID.

THE PROTOCOL, WHICH HAS BEEN ADOPTED, WOULD ENTER INTO FORCE 12 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH IT HAS BEEN RATIFIED BY NOT LESS THAN 15 COUNTRIES WHOSE AGGREGATE NUMBER OF FISHING VESSELS OF 24 METRES IN LENGTH AND OVER IS NOT LESS THAN 14,000.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE SOME 4,500 FISHING VESSELS LICENSED IN HONG KONG, OF WHICH 1,400 ARE BETWEEN 24 AND 45 METRES IN LENGTH AND NONE IS OF 45 METRES OR OVER.

THE TORREMOLINOS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF FISHING VESSELS WAS ADOPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION ON APRIL 2, 1977, IN AN ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FISHING VESSELS.

DB CHAIRMEN TO VISIT FIRE SERVICES DEPT *****

NINETEEN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMEN, ACCOMPANIED BY CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, WILL VISIT THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) MORNING.

THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT IS TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE DEPARTMENT AND TO LET BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEPARTMENT’S DAILY OPERATION.

THE VISITORS WILL BE SHOWN HOW THE COMMUNICATION CENTRE WORKS. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A FIRE-FIGHTING DEMONSTRATION AND A STATIC DISPLAY IN TS1M TUNG FIRE STATION.

/ATTENTION NEWS .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE VISIT WHICH WILL START AT 11.30 AM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

THOSE WHO WISH TO COVER ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE AT THE RECEPTION ROOM ON THE GROUND ELOOR OE THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, AT 1 HONG CHONG ROAD, TS1M SHA TSUI EAST (NEAR NIKKO HOTEL).

------0-------

60 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TO RETURN UNDER ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME

* * * * *

A GROUP OF ABOUT 60 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES WILL RETURN TO VIETNAM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) ON THE 10TH FLIGHT UNDER THE ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).

A TOTAL OF 456 NON-REFUGEES HAVE SO FAR BEEN RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNDER THIS PROGRAMME.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

THE FOLLOWING ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO FACILITATE MEDIA COVERAGE:

A FIXED POSITION WILL BE SET UP ON THE AIRPORT TARMAC WHERE JOURNALISTS CAN WITNESS THE RETURNEES BOARDING THE PLANE TO VIETNAM.

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THIS FACILITY SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS ROOM IN THE ARRIVAL HALL NOT LATER THAN 8.15 AM. TELEPHOTO LENSES WILL BE NECESSARY.

EDITORS ARE REMINDED THAT THEIR REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS MUST BE ABLE TO PRODUCE PROOF THAT THEY ARE BONA FIDE JOURNALISTS BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO USE THE FACILITY.

------0-------

/29 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

EASTER HOLIDAY CLINIC SERVICE *****

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY (TUESDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC SERVICE ON GOOD FRIDAY (APRIL 9) AND EASTER MONDAY (APRIL 12).

HOWEVER, EIGHT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WILL BE OPEN BETWEEN 9 AM AND 1 PM ON APRIL 10 AND 11.

THE CLINICS ARE VIOLET PEEL HEALTH CENTRE AND SHAU KEI WAN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC ON HONG KONG ISLAND; KWUN TONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE, ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE, YAU MA TEI JOCKEY CLUB KOWLOON; AND LADY TRENCH POLYCLINIC, SHEK WU HUI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC AND YUEN LONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THERE WILL BE NO EVENING CLINIC SERVICE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

-----0--------

WATER STORAGE FIGURE

*****

STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (TUESDAY) STOOD AT 51.5 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 301.551 MILLION CUBIC METRES.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 216.205 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 36.9 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.

------0-------

HONG KONG TENDER DATE PAPER ON OFFER ISSUE NUMBER AMOUNT APPLIED AMOUNT ALLOTTED AVERAGE YIELD ACCEPTED HIGHEST YIELD ACCEPTED PRO RATA RATIO AVERAGE TENDER YIELD GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND TENDER RESULTS ***** 6 APR 93 EF BILLS Q314 HK$2,765 MN HK$1,000 MN 2.92 PCT 2.93 PCT ABOUT 4 4 PCT 2.94 PCT /HONG KONG

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

TENDERS TO BE HELD IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 12 APRIL 1993 -

TENDER DATE 13 APR 93 13 APR 93

PAPER ON OFFER EF BILLS EF BILLS

ISSUE NUMBER Q315 H362

ISSUE DATE 14 APR 93 14 APR 93

MATURITY DATE 14 JULY 93 13 OCT 93

TENOR 91 DAYS 182 DAYS

AMOUNT ON OFFER HK$1,000 + 200 MN HK$400 + 80 MN

------0-------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS * * * * *

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,850

REVERSAL OF LAF +300

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -730

CLOSING BALANCE TN THE ACCOUNT 1,420

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 113.0 *+0.1* 6.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM I SSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 3.14 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.37 3.34

1 MONTH 2.86 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.18 3.51

3 MONTHS 2.91 PCT 19 MONTHS 241 1 4.625 101.48 3.70

6 MONTHS 3.08 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.53 3.93

12 MONTHS 3.33 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 9.695MN

CLOSED 6 APRIL 1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

STATEMENT ON NAVAL BASE REMOVAL ............................. 1

NEW DIRECTOR FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES ............ 1

COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL TO BE GAZETTED TOMORROW.. ]

NEW PROVISIONS TO TIDY UP EDUCATION ORDINANCE ............... 2

SIX QUEEN'S COUNSEL APPOINTED ............................... 4

SMOOTH REPATRIATION WELCOMED ................................ 5

APPLICATIONS FOR STUDENT FINANCE SCHEME ..................... 6

DB CHAIRMEN SEE FIRE SERVICES OPERATION ..................... 8

ROLE FOR LOG INDUSTRY CONTINUING ............................ 8

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

STATEMENT ON NAVAL BASE REMOVAL

*****

IN RESPONSE TO A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE CHINESE JLG OFFICE RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OF THE HMS TAMAR NAVAL BASE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

’’THE CHINESE SIDE HAS KNOWN THIS DECISION TO RELOCATE THE ROYAL NAVY TO STONECUTTERS SINCE 1989. WE ARE THEREFORE MYSTIFIED BY THE CHINESE STATEMENT.”

-----0-------

NEW DIRECTOR FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

******

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT MR LAU KAM-HUNG HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO SUCCEED DR C C GREENFIELD AS DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1.

DR GREENFIELD HAS PROCEEDED ON LEAVE ON COMPLETION OF HIS SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

MR LAU, AGED 47, JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE AS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER II IN 1969.

IN THE SAME YEAR, HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE ASSIGNMENT OFFICER GRADE, WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RETITLED AS ANALYST/PROGRAMMER.

MR LAU WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES IN JANUARY 1990 AND HAD BEEN ACTING AS DIRECTOR SINCE JUNE 1 LAST YEAR.

--------0------------

COMPANIES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 3) BILL TO BE GAZETTED TOMORROW

******

THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING CHANGES TO REVISE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS ON DISQUALIFICATION OF COMPANY DIRECTORS TO PROVIDE MORE EXTENSIVE AND MORE EFFECTIVE SANCTIONS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE AMENDMENTS WILL BE GAZETTED TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AS COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1993.

"THE AMENDMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO FULFIL THE NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO DEAL WITH COMPANY DIRECTORS WHO ABUSE THEIR OFFICE OR FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THEIR STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE EXISTING SECTIONS 157E AND 157F OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE WHICH EMPOWER COURTS TO DISQUALIFY DIRECTORS ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS ARE BASED ON SIMILAR PROVISIONS TN THE UK COMPANIES ACT 1981 AND THE INSOLVENCY ACT 1976.

/’’THESE UK .........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

’’THESE UK PROVISIONS HAVE SINCE BEEN REPEALED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE COMPANY DIRECTORS DISQUALIFICATION ACT 1986. THE CURRENT AMENDMENTS ARE BASED ON THIS LATTER ACT,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

’’ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL CHANGES UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSALS IS THAT THE HIGH COURT WILL, UPON APPLICATION, BE REQUIRED TO DISQUALIFY A PERSON FROM BEING A DIRECTOR, LIQUIDATOR OR RECEIVER OR FROM TAKING PART IN THE PROMOTION, FORMATION OR MANAGEMENT OF A COMPANY FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR IF THAT PERSON IS OR HAS BEEN A DIRECTOR OF A COMPANY WHICH HAS BECOME INSOLVENT AND HIS CONDUCT AS A DIRECTOR OF THAT COMPANY, IN THE OPINION OF THE COURT, MAKES HIM UNFIT TO BE CONCERNED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A COMPANY,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO APPLY FOR A DISQUALIFICATION ORDER IF IT APPEARS, FROM AN INSPECTOR’S REPORT, UNDER SECTION 146 OF THE ORDINANCE, FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION, OR FROM DOCUMENTS OBTAINED UNDER SECTIONS 152A OR B, THAT IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT A PERSON SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE EXISTING GROUNDS ON WHICH APPLICATIONS FOR DISQUALIFICATION ORDERS MAY BE MADE, E.G. FOLLOWING CONVICTION OF AN INDICTABLE OFFENCE OR AS A RESULT OF PERSISTENT BREACHES IN COMPLYING WITH PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, OR FRAUDULENT TRADING UNCOVERED DURING THE COURSE OF THE COMPANY’S LIQUIDATION, ARE RETAINED.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION GIVES MORE GUIDANCE TO THE COURTS IN A NEW SCHEDULE AS TO WHAT CONDUCT MIGHT RENDER A PERSON UNFIT TO BE A DIRECTOR AND IT ALSO CLARIFIES THE POWER OF THE COURT UNDER CERTAIN PROVISIONS, TO MAKE A DISQUALIFICATION ORDER ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE.

THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO TAKEN TO TRANSFER CERTAIN POWERS WITH LITTLE OR NO POLICY CONTENT, FROM THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES.

A FURTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS THE REMOVAL OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR ACCOUNTS SUBMITTED BY LIQUIDATORS ON COMPANIES WOUND UP BY THE COURT TO BE VERIFIED BY STATUTORY DECLARATION.

NEW PROVISIONS TO TIDY UP EDUCATION ORDINANCE ******

THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WHICH SEEKS TO UP-DATE THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE BY REMOVING A NUMBER OF REDUNDANT AND OBSOLETE PROVISIONS AS WELL AS PROPOSING NEW ONES TO CATER FOR THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EDUCATION FIELD, WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

UNDER THE BILL, THE PRESENT DEFINITIONS OF THE NURSERY, KINDERGARTEN, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ARE MODIFIED SO AS TO GIVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE USUAL AGE OF ENTRY AND DURATION OF COURSES AT EACH LEVEL OF EDUCATION.

/THERE IS .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

THERE IS RISING CONCERN IN RECENT YEARS ABOUT UNREGISTERED TUTORIAL CENTRES FOUND OPERATING IN UNSUITABLE PREMISES.

TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS, THE DEFINITION OF SCHOOL WILL BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE ANY TEACHING OPERATION PROVIDING EDUCATION TO EIGHT OR MORE STUDENTS AT ANY ONE TIME TO REGISTER WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SO THAT THEIR PREMISES WILL HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGISTRATION IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND HYGIENE.

"HOWEVER, THE PRESENT FLEXIBILITY OF ALLOWING OPERATORS TO HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 19 STUDENTS ON ANY ONE DAY WITHOUT HAVING TO BE REGISTERED, WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"THUS OPERATORS CAN RUN TWO OR MORE TUTORIAL SESSIONS PER DAY, WITH NOT MORE THAN SEVEN STUDENTS PER SESSION, WITHOUT HAVING TO BE REGISTERED.

"INSPECTORS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL, UNDER A NEW PROVISION, BE EMPOWERED TO INSPECT AND REMOVE DOCUMENTS FROM SUSPECTED UNREGISTERED SCHOOL PREMISES."

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR SCHOOL OPERATORS WHO, IN ADVERTISEMENTS, FALSELY CLAIM TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

TO ENABLE STUDENTS OR THEIR PARENTS TO EASILY VERIFY A SCHOOL’S CREDENTIALS, SCHOOLS WILL IN FUTURE BE REQUIRED TO STATE THEIR REGISTRATION OR PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ON ANY ADVERTISEMENT.

THE BILL FURTHER PROPOSES TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRATION OF SCHOOL MANAGERS.

SECTION 7 OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE WHICH SETS OUT THE CONSTITUTION AND POWERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL ALSO BE AMENDED TO UPDATE ITS ROLE IN KEEPING WITH THE PRESENT FUNCTIONS OF OTHER ADVISORY BODIES WITHIN THE EDUCATION FIELD.

A NEW PROVISION IS PROPOSED TO RECOGNISE THE ROLE OF SPONSORING BODIES AND TO SPELL OUT CLEARLY THEIR RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS IN RELATION TO SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES IN THE RUNNING OF SCHOOLS.

ANOTHER NEW PROVISION WILL BE ADDED TO IMPROVE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING CHANGES TO SCHOOL NAMES.

THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 199.3 WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING ON APRIL 21.

-----0------

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

SIX QUEEN’S COUNSEL APPOINTED *****

THE CHIEF JUSTICE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE QUEEN HAS APPOINTED MR KENNETH KWOK, MS AUDREY EU, MR GEOFFREY MA, MR GARY ALDERDICE, MR GARY PLOWMAN, AND MR CLIVE GROSSMAN AS HER MAJESTY’S COUNSEL FOR HONG KONG.

THE APPOINTMENT IS TO TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND A CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN NO. 1 COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT AT 11 AM ON SATURDAY, APRIL 17, TO CALL WITHIN THE BAR THE SIX NEW QUEEN’S COUNSEL.

THE COURT, WHICH WILL INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE BENCH AT ALL LEVELS, WILL BE PRESIDED OVER BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR TI LIANG YANG.

MR KENNETH KWOK IS 43 YEARS OF AGE AND GRADUATED FROM HONG KONG UNIVERSITY. HE WAS CALLED TO THE HONG KONG BAR TN 1974 - THE FIRST LOCALLY TRAINED LAWYER TO BE SO CALLED. HIS WORK IS PREDOMINANTLY CIVIL - COMMERCIAL, LAND, DEFAMATION AND PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE.

HE WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY DISTRICT JUDGE IN AUGUST 1985. HE IS A MEMBER OF BOARD OF REVIEW (INLAND REVENUE), THE JOINT EXAMINATION BOARD AND THE BAR COUNCIL.

MS AUDREY EU IS 39 YEARS OF AGE AND HAS BEEN IN PRACTICE SINCE 1978. HER WORK IS MOSTLY COMMON LAW, CHANCERY, AND COMMERCIAL, INCLUDING ARBITRATION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE. SHE HAS SAT FOR BRIEF PERIODS AS A DEPUTY DISTRICT JUDGE.

SHE WAS EXTERNAL EXAMINER, P.C.L.L., OF UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, AND CITY POLYTECHNIC, IN 1991/1992. SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, HOUSING AUTHORITY (HOME OWNERSHIP), BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND LAND AND BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

MR GEOFFREY MA IS 36 YEARS OF AGE AND HAS BEEN IN PRACTICE SINCE 1978. SEVENTY PER CENT OF HIS WORK IS COMMERCIAL, INCLUDING ARBITRATION, BANKING, CONFLICT OF LAWS, INSURANCE, SALE OF GOODS AND SECURITIES.

HE ALSO DOES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SHIPPING WORK AND OCCASIONALLY SOME LAND OR LAND-RELATED WORK AND EMPLOYMENT.

HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF BUILDINGS APPEAL TRIBUNAL, A MEMBER OF REGISTRATION OF PERSONS TRIBUNAL, THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD AND THE BAR COUNCIL.

MR GARY ALDERDICE IS 48 YEARS OF AGE AND WAS CALLED TO THE HONG KONG BAR IN 1984. DURING HIS SERVICE WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BETWEEN 1973 TO 1984, HE WAS IN THE PROSECUTIONS DIVISION DEALING EXCLUSIVELY WITH CRIMINAL WORK.

HE ENTERED PRIVATE PRACTICE IN JULY 1984 PRINCIPALLY ENGAGED IN CRIMINAL WORK AT ALL LEVELS. ADVISORY AND OPINION WORK, SETTING GROUNDS OF APPEAL CASES IN THE MAGISTRACY, DISTRICT AND HIGH COURTS AND

AND HAS BEEN THIS INCLUDES AND CONDUCTING

THE COURT OF

APPEAL.

/MR GARY .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

MR GARY PLOWMAN IS 47 YEARS OF AGE AND WAS CALLED TO THE HONG KONG BAR IN 1984. HE SERVED IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BETWEEN 1978-1984, DURING WHICH HE WAS ENGAGED SOLELY IN THE PROSECUTIONS DIVISION. HE HELD THE SUBSTANTIVE POST OF DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL AT THE TIME OF HIS DEPARTURE.

HE THEN ENTERED PRIVATE PRACTICE AND HAS BEEN ENGAGED ALMOST ENTIRELY IN CRIMINAL TRIALS, MOSTLY IN THE HIGH COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEAL. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, MOST OF HIS PRACTICE WAS IN THE AREA OF COMPLEX COMMERCIAL FRAUD AND RELATED OFFENCES.

MR CLIVE GROSSMAN WAS BORN IN 1940 AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE BAR IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA (NOW ZIMBABWE) IN 1967, WHERE HE PRACTISED AS A BARRISTER FROM 1970 TO 1980.

HE JOINED THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG, IN 1983, SPECIALISING IN COMMERCIAL CRIME. HE NOW HEADS THE COMMERCIAL CRIME UNIT OF THE PROSECUTIONS DIVISION AS A DEPUTY CROWN PROSECUTOR. HE HAS REPRESENTED THE CROWN OF HONG KONG IN ALL COURTS, INCLUDING THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

--------0

SMOOTH REPATRIATION WELCOMED * * * * *

THE REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR, MR BRIAN BRESNIHAN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WELCOMED THE SMOOTH REPATRIATION OF 57 VIETNAMESE NONREFUGEES UNDER THE ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME (ORP).

"TODAY’S FLIGHT, WHICH IS THE 10TH FLIGHT SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE ORP AGREEMENT ON OCTOBER 29, 1991, HAS AGAIN BEEN UNEVENTFUL. WE HAVE RETURNED A TOTAL OF 513 NON-REFUGEES TO VIETNAM ON THESE ORP FLIGHTS".

TODAY’S GROUP OF 57 NON-REFUGEES COMPRISED 52 WOMEN, FOUR BOYS AND ONE GIRL FROM GREEN ISLAND RECEPTION CENTRE AND NEI KWU CHAU DETENTION CENTRE.

THE HIGH PERCENTAGE

DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE OF THE

OF WOMEN IS MERELY A REFLECTION OF ORIGINAL CAMP FROM WHICH THEY CAME.

THE

ALL HAD BEEN SCREENED

OUT AS NON-REFUGEES.

0---------

/6 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

APPLICATIONS FOR STUDENT FINANCE SCHEME *****

■■ V

THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY (SFAA) WHICH ADMINISTERS THE GOVERNMENT’S LOCAL STUDENT FINANCE SCHEME (LSFS) <TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLICATIONS IN RESPECT OF THE 1993/94 ACADEMIC YEAR.

THE SCHEME WHICH IS MEANS-TESTED, PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF A COMBINATION OF GRANTS AND LOANS TO NEEDY STUDENTS ATTENDING FULL-TIME COURSES AT THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, THE LINGNAN COLLEGE, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

THE SCHEME WILL BE EXTENDED TO STUDENTS ATTENDING FULL-TIME COURSES AT THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (CHAI WAN) AND THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (TSING YT) AS FROM THE 1993/94 ACADEMIC YEAR.

APPLICANTS MUST EITHER HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG OR HAVE RESIDED OR HAD THEIR HOME IN HONG KONG CONTINUOUSLY FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE START OF THEIR COURSES.

POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS TAKING HIGHER DEGREE OR DIPLOMA COURSES WHO WILL NOT HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR MINIMUM PRESCRIBED PERIOD OF REGISTRATION BY SEPTEMBER 30, 1993 ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. (THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF REGISTRATION FOR A MASTER DEGREE IS NORMALLY TWO YEARS AND FOR A DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE, THREE YEARS . )

CURRENT STUDENTS MAY OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WHO SATISFY THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS OF, AND HAVE APPLIED FOR ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG MAY OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS FROM THE SAID INSTITUTION, ON PRODUCTION OF THE RESULT SLIPS OF THEIR ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION.

THEY SHOULD, HOWEVER, SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS ONLY AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN OFFERED ADMISSION.

NEW STUDENTS ADMITTED BY THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, LINGNAN COLLEGE, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (CHAT WAN) AND THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (TSING YI) MAY OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS FROM THE INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION.

STUDENTS SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE SFAA VIA THEIR RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS EXCEPT FOR THOSE CURRENT STUDENTS WHOSE SIBLINGS ARE ALSO CURRENT STUDENTS AND WHO ARE APPLYING FOR THE LSFS.

FOR THIS CATEGORY OF CURRENT STUDENTS, THEIR APPLICATIONS, TOGETHER WITH THOSE OF THEIR SIBLINGS, SHOULD BE FORWARDED EITHER BY MAIL OR IN PERSON DIRECT TO THE SFAA ADDRESS OF WHICH IS PROVIDED BELOW.

/APPLICANTS WHO .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

APPLICANTS WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR STUDENT TRAVEL SUBSIDY SHOULD DO SO BY COMPLETING THE APPROPRIATE SECTION IN THE SAME APPLICATION FORM.

THE CLOSING DATES FOR APPLICATIONS ARE: -

CURRENT STUDENTS : APRIL 26, 1993

NEW STUDENTS :

CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG/ HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ! SEPTEMBER 10,1993

HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE/ HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC/ LINGNAN COLLEGE : OCTOBER 8, 1993

CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG : THE SECOND FRIDAY

AFTER THE START OF THE FIRST SCHOOL TERM (1993/94)

UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG : 21 DAYS FROM DATE

OF OFFER OF ADMISSION

HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (CHAI WAN)/

HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (TSING YI)

: 2 WEEKS AFTER THE START OF THE FIRST SCHOOL TERM (1993/94)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR APPLICANTS IS ASSESSED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR FAMILY INCOME AND ASSETS LESS PERMITTED DEDUCTIONS TO ARRIVE AT THEIR ANNUAL DISPOSABLE INCOME WHICH WILL DETERMINE THEIR GRANT/LOAN ENTITLEMENTS.

IF NECESSARY, THE APPLICANT AND/OR AN ADULT MEMBER OF HIS HOUSEHOLD WHO IS FULLY AWARE OF THE FAMILY’S CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE INVITED TO ATTEND AN INTERVIEW AT THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY TO CLARIFY INFORMATION REPORTED IN THE APPLICATION.

THE AGENCY’S SPOKESMAN SAID INCORRECT OR INACCURATE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN APPLICATIONS NOT ONLY WOULD LEAD TO REJECTION OF THE APPLICATIONS BUT MIGHT ALSO GIVE RISE TO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE APPLICANTS.

ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE SFAA AT QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOW BLOCK, GROUND FLOOR, 66, QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG (TEL : 867 2738) UNTIL APRIL 17, WHEN THE OFFICE WILL MOVE TO NINTH FLOOR, NATIONAL MUTUAL CENTRE, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG (TEL : 802 1666)

--------0

/8 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

DB CHAIRMEN SEE FIRE SERVICES OPERATION * * * * *

TEN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMEN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) VISITED THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW THE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO FIRE AND EMERGENCY CALLS.

THEY TOURED THE COMMUNICATION CENTRE WHICH OPERATES ROUND-THE-CLOCK, AND WERE BRIEFED ON THE WORK OF THE COMPUTERISED MOBILISING SYSTEM.

THEY ALSO SAW A FIRE-FIGHTING DEMONSTRATION AND A DISPLAY OF AMBULANCE EQUIPMENT IN TSIM TUNG FIRE STATION.

THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR LAM CHEK-YUEN, AND SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

-----o-------

ROLE FOR LOG INDUSTRY CONTINUING

*****

THERE IS A CONTINUING ROLE FOR THE LOG INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG, ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.

AT A MEETING THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF INDUSTRY, MR GAVIN URE, EXPLAINED THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MR ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TIMBER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, MR WAI KAM-CHIU, AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

THE SURVEY, TARGETED AT ALL LOG POND TENANTS, MAJOR IMPORTERS OF LOGS AND SAWMILL OPERATORS, WAS CARRIED OUT TO EXAMINE THE IMPORTANCE AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE LOG INDUSTRY.

A TOTAL OF 122 QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT OUT. OF THE 62 THAT WERE RETURNED, 43 WERE SUITABLE FOR ANALYSIS.

MR URE SAID THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT THE YAM 0 LOG PONDS STORED ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THE LOGS IMPORTED ANNUALLY INTO HONG KONG.

"THEY ARE A MAJOR SOURCE OF SUPPLY TO THE LOCAL SAWMILLS WHO SUPPLY MOST OF THE LOCAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SAWNWOOD.

"THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS THE MAJOR BUYER OF LOCALLY SAWN LOGS, ABSORBING SOME 84 PER CENT OF THE LOGS SAWN ANNUALLY.

"THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM REPROVISIONING OF ALL THE LOG PONDS IN YAM O IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY," MR URE SAID.

-----0------

/9 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,420

REVERSAL OF LAF +73°

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -400

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,750

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 113.0 *+0.0* 7.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 3.00 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.39 3.32

1 MONTH 2.87 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.18 3.51

3 MONTHS 2.90 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.49 3.69

6 MONTHS 3.07 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.56 3.91

12 MONTHS 3.30 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 13,827MN

CLOSED 7 APRIL 1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WITNESS PROTECTION ..... 1

AGC'S RESPONSE TO REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ........... 2

RECOMMENDATIONS ON FINANCING OF NEW SHARE ISSUES ............ 4

FEES UNDER BUILDINGS ORDINANCE TO BE REVISED ................ 6

REVENUE BILLS FOR 1993/94 BUDGET GAZETTED .................. 7

BILL GAZETTED ON LAND EASEMENT FOR SEWAGE TUNNEL WORK ...... 7

MONITORING OF TWO RAIL COMPANIES ADEQUATE .................. 8

REVIEW OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEDURES ........................... 9

ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO COLLEGES OF EDUCATION ......... 10

MARINE DEPARTMENT PRAISED FOR ITS PROFESSIONALISM ........... 12

CFPA TO RESPOND TO ARTS REVIEW REPORT ....................... 14

ENCLOSING WALLS AND WATCH TOWERS IN FANLING DECLARED MONUMENTS .................................................... 15

MOBILE EXHIBITION ON HK'S SEWAGE STRATEGY ................... 16

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS ..

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 19.93

REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WITNESS PROTECTION * * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) PUBLISHED THE REPORT OF MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER OF HIS INQUIRY INTO THE WITNESS PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS IN THE CASE OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANT NGUYEN VAN BAU, WHOSE MURDER TRIAL WAS ABORTED LAST OCTOBER.

THE REPORT GIVES A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WERE OFFERED TO THE VIETNAMESE WITNESS, MR BUI VAN-XUAN, THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WHICH LED TO HIS REFUSAL TO TESTIFY IN COURT AND THE PROSECUTION’S SUBSEQUENT DECISION TO OFFER NO EVIDENCE IN THE CASE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WERE STUDYING MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER’S REPORT AND WOULD CONSIDER WHAT LESSONS COULD BE LEARNED FOR THE FUTURE.

DEPARTMENTS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH, WOULD ALSO BE REVIEWING THE ACTIONS OF OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE CASE.

HE NOTED THAT ACTION HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO REVISE PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANT WITNESSES*.

"THE NEW PROCEDURES PROVIDE FOR BETTER CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN POLICE, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND WILL BE INVOKED IN CASES WHERE THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT A VIETNAMESE MIGRANT IS UNDER THREAT AND MIGHT NEED PROTECTION."

"FURTHERMORE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RECENTLY RECEIVED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE ON WITNESS PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS GENERALLY. A COPY OF THE FCC REPORT HAS BEEN SENT TO MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER," HE ADDED.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE RELATE TO THE VARIOUS ARRANGEMENTS WHICH SHOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT WITNESSES ARE NOT INTERFERED BEFORE THEIR GIVING EVIDENCE.

THESE ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDE THE SETTING UP OF A FORMAL WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME AND CENTRAL WITNESS PROTECTION UNITS IN THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND IN OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, MEASURES TO PROTECT WITNESSES GIVING EVIDENCE IN COURT AND A PUBLICITY STRATEGY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THESE MEASURES.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER WOULD BE SUBMITTING HIS FINAL REPORT ON WITNESS PROTECTION IN GENERAL WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

"A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF EFFORT HAS GONE INTO THE PRODUCTION OF THIS REPORT. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO JUSTICE KEMPSTER FOR COMPLETING THIS DIFFICULT TASK SO QUICKLY," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

COPIES OF THE REPORT IN ENGLISH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT DISTRICT OFFICES PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS FROM TODAY (THURSDAY). THE CHINESE VERSION OF THE REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS THE TRANSLATION WORK IS COMPLETED.

------0--------

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

AGC’S RESPONSE TO REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ******

IN RESPONSE TO THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WITNESS PROTECTION PUBLISHED TODAY (THURSDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

SINCE THE ENDING OF THE ABORTED MURDER TRIAL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS AND THE RELEVANT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE PUT INTO OPERATION NEW PRACTICES THAT WILL PREVENT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE A RECURRENCE OF DIFFICULTIES SIMILAR TO THOSE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE COURSE OF THAT PARTICULAR TRIAL.

ARRANGEMENTS ARE NOW IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT IN ALL FUTURE CASES WHERE WITNESS PROTECTION IS REQUIRED, THERE WILL BE CLOSE LIAISON, AT A HIGH LEVEL, AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE STAGE BETWEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS, THE POLICE AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE REPORT BY MR JUSTICE KEMPSTF.R WILL BE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN FURTHER CONSIDERING WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNT.

A POINT MENTIONED BY MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER IS THAT THE LAW IN HONG KONG HAS NO EQUIVALENT TO SECTION 23(1) AND (3)(B) OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1988 WHICH PERMITS THE ADMISSION IN EVIDENCE OF-THE WRITTEN STATEMENT OF A WITNESS, MADE TO A POLICE OR EQUIVALENT OFFICER, WHO FAILS TO GIVE ORAL TESTIMONY THROUGH FEAR. CAREFUL CONSIDERATION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO WHETHER SIMILAR PROVISIONS SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN HONG KONG’S CRIMINAL LAW.

THE REPORT ALSO DISCUSSES THE LAW ON THE PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS UNDER DETENTION, WHILST MAKING CLEAR THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAW IN THIS AREA IS ULTIMATELY A MATTER FOR THE COURT TO RULE ON.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS HAS PROVIDED ITS LEGAL VIEWS ON THIS MATTER TO THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THE PRACTICALITIES OF VARIOUS OPTIONS AVAILABLE ARE MATTERS OF POLICY FOR THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO CONSIDER.

THE CASE HAS REVEALED THAT THERE MAY BE A NEED, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF SOME CATEGORIES OF WITNESSES, FOR BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG TO BE PROVIDED.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED THAT LEAFLETS EXPLAINING THE IMPORTANCE AND DUTIES OF A WITNESS IN A TRIAL BE GIVEN TO ALL WITNESSES BEFORE THEY COME TO COURT SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED OF THEM IN COURT.

ANOTHER POINT MENTIONED IN THE REPORT CONCERNS THE USE OF NOLLE PROSEQUI. THE POLICY ON THE USE OF NOLLE PROSEQUI WAS FORMULATED IN 1989 FOLLOWING SERIOUS CONCERN AND CRITICISM EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ABOUT THE PREVIOUS POLICY AND ITS APPLICATION.

THE POLICY WAS ADOPTED AFTER LENGTHY CONSIDERATION AND COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

/TN DECIDING .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

IN DECIDING WHEN TO ENTER A NOLLE PROSEQUI, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO PERSONALLY DECIDES WHEN TO ENTER A NOLLE PROSEQUI, TAKES INTO ACCOUNT TWO FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW:

* AN ACCUSED PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO BE TRIED ONCE AND ONCE ONLY IN RESPECT OF THE SAME MATTER AND THE SAME OFFENCE;

* THAT ONCE CHARGED AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT THE TRIAL AGAINST AN ACCUSED PERSON LIES ENTIRELY WITHIN THE HANDS OF THE INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY.

THESE PRINCIPLES MEAN THAT NOLLES ARE ONLY VERY RARELY ENTERED - MAINLY WHERE A DEFENDANT IS FOUND PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL.

THE PRESENT POLICY ON NOLLE PROSEQUI IS SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH IS ADOPTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS RECONSIDERED HIS POLICY IN THE LIGHT OF THIS CASE AND THE REPORT OF MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER, BUT SEES NO JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY CHANGE.

REFERENCE HAS BEEN MADE IN THE REPORT TO THE BRIEFING GIVEN BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE LEGCO SECURITY PANEL ON OCTOBER 30.

THE CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS AND THE COMMENTS MADE ON THAT OCCASION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WERE BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEN AVAILABLE TO HIM.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS NOT, AT THAT TIME, IN POSSESSION OF THE FULL FACTS OF THE CASE AS ARE NOW REVEALED, AFTER MANY DAYS OF HEARINGS BY THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY AND AFTER THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF ORAL EVIDENCE.

REFERENCE IS ALSO MADE IN THE REPORT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GIVING THE LEGCO SECURITY PANEL A "PRETEXT" FOR HIS ABSENCE FROM COURT ON THE MORNING OF 26 OCTOBER.

ALTHOUGH RECOLLECTIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS TOLD ABOUT THE REQUEST TO ATTEND COURT DIFFER, THE REFERENCE TO THE TALK WHICH HE GAVE THAT MORNING WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE A PRETEXT OR EXCUSE.

IT WAS SIMPLY A DESCRIPTION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES FACING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THAT MORNING.

CLEARLY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULTY FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO RUSH TO COURT HAD HE BEEN TOLD OF THE JUDGE'S REQUEST. HE HAD NO PAPERS, KNEW FEW OF THE DETAILS OF THE CASE AND HAD HAD ONLY TWO BRIEF PHONE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CASE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS.

--------0

/4 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

RECOMMENDATIONS ON FINANCING OF NEW SHARE ISSUES * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF A GOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP ON THE MONETARY AND BANKING IMPLICATIONS OF OVER SUBSCRIPTION OF NEW SHARE ISSUES WERE RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY, MR JOSEPH YAM, WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP, SAID FIRST, THE WORKING GROUP WAS SATISFIED THAT THE MACRO MONETARY IMPLICATIONS WERE BROADLY ACCEPTABLE GIVEN THE MONETARY MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS ALREADY IN PLACE.

"IN OTHER WORDS, UNDER PRESENT MONETARY ARRANGEMENTS, CURRENCY STABILITY IS UNLIKELY TO BE THREATENED BY LARGE OVER SUBSCRIPTION OF NEW SHARE ISSUES,” HE SAID, WHEN ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG.

’’BUT THE EFFECT OF THE SHARP INCREASE AND THE SUBSEQUENT FALL OFF IN INTER BANK LIQUIDITY, IN BANK CREDIT AND THE MONEY SUPPLY, WHAT WE NOW CALL ’THE SOUFFLE EFFECT’, NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY MONITORED, AND IF NECESSARY SPECIFIC MONETARY OPERATIONS WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO ENSURE MONETARY STABILITY," HE ADDED.

SECOND, HE SAID, THE WORKING GROUP WAS NOT ENTIRELY SATISFIED THAT THE RISKS TO INDIVIDUAL AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS WERE ADEQUATELY UNDERSTOOD AND MANAGED BY THEM.

WHILE THERE WERE ARRANGEMENTS TO LIMIT THE RISKS OF BANKS TO SHARE APPLICANTS TO WITHIN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED BY THE ISSUER, INTER BANK RISKS WERE AS LARGE AS THE GROSS SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT.

"WE THEREFORE HAVE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION BY THE AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS," MR YAM SAID.

THIRD, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE WORKING GROUP WAS BROADLY SATISFIED THAT THE PAYMENTS SYSTEM WAS CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE HEAVY PAYMENTS TRAFFIC ARISING FROM THE LARGE OVER SUBSCRIPTION OF NEW SHARE ISSUES.

TURNING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION BY AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE BANKING ORDINANCE INVOLVED IN NEW SHARE ISSUES, MR YAM SAID COMMENTS WERE WELCOMED ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH COULD LATER BE FORMALISED AS GUIDELINES ISSUED UNDER SECTION 7(3) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE BY THE MONETARY AUTHORITY.

"OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS THAT ALL AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS SHOULD ESTABLISH AND DOCUMENT A LENDING POLICY FOR THE FINANCING OF NEW SHARE ISSUES," HE SAID.

"SECOND, THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THEIR LENDING ARRANGEMENTS IS SUCH THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED, SO FAR AS POSSIBLE, FROM THE WINDING UP OR BANKRUPTCY OF THE BROKER, THE CUSTOMER, THE ISSUER AND THE RECEIVING BANK," HE CONTINUED.

/’’THIS MEANS, ..........

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

"THIS MEANS, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, THAT THEIR LOAN DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE SUCH AS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE APPLICATION MONEYS ARE LENT ON ’PURPOSE’ TRUSTS AND REFUND MONEYS ARE THEREFORE HELD ON TRUST FOR THE LENDING BANK.

"AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS SHOULD TAKE THEIR OWN LEGAL ADVICE ON THIS.

"THEY SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT ALL APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED AND REFUND MONEYS RECEIVED BY THEIR OWN NOMINEE COMPANIES," HE EXPLAINED.

THE THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS THAT EACH AUTHORISED INSTITUTION’S LENDING POLICY SHOULD SET A CAP ON THE MAXIMUM EXPOSURE WHICH IT IS PREPARED TO INCUR ON LENDING TO INDIVIDUAL BROKERS AND CUSTOMERS.

"HOWEVER, FOR LOCALLY INCORPORATED AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS SUCH EXPOSURES CANNOT IN ANY CASE BE MORE THAN 25 PER CENT OF CAPITAL BASE EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE SECURED BY CASH DEPOSITS," MR YAM SAID.

"THE SAME SHOULD APPLY TO OVERSEAS INCORPORATED INSTITUTIONS IN RELATION TO PARENTAL CAPITAL.

"HOWEVER, THE 25 PER CENT LIMIT SETS THE UPPER CAP FOR EXPOSURES: AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE IN RELATION TO EACH INDIVIDUAL BROKER OR CUSTOMER," HE ADDED.

THE FOURTH RECOMMENDATION IS THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE IT THEIR STANDARD PRACTICE TO TAKE ADEQUATE MARGIN.

THE WORKING GROUP BELIEVED THAT 10 PER CENT WOULD BE A SUITABLY CONSERVATIVE FIGURE, MR YAM SAID.

FIFTH, HE SAID, LENDING BANKS SHOULD ALSO HAVE A LIMIT ON THEIR OVERALL EXPOSURE TO BROKERS AND CUSTOMERS IN RESPECT OF EACH ISSUE.

"SINCE THIS IS EFFECTIVELY A CREDIT RISK ON THE RECEIVING BANK, THE OVERALL LIMIT SHOULD BE SET IN RELATION TO EACH AUTHORISED INSTITUTION’S NORMAL CREDIT LIMIT ON RECEIVING BANK," HE ADDED.

THE SIXTH RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE EXPOSURE OF THE RECEIVING BANK TO INDIVIDUAL LENDING BANKS TO WHICH IT RECYCLES APPLICATION MONEYS SHOULD BE NO HIGHER THAN ITS NORMAL CREDIT LIMIT FOR THE AUTHORISED INSTITUTION IN QUESTION.

"THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION IS THAT ANY TEMPORARY INCREASE ABOVE NORMAL INTER BANK LIMITS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY JUSTIFIED AND CONTROLLED, AND SHOULD NOT IN ANY CASE RESULT IN THE EXPOSURE TO AN INDIVIDUAL COUNTER PARTY BEING INCREASED TO MORE THAN 25 PER CENT OF THE AUTHORISED INSTITUTION’S OR THE PARENT BANK’S CAPITAL BASE," MR YAM SAID.

/IN CONCLUSION.........

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

IN CONCLUSION, HE STRESSED THAT OVER SUBSCRIPTION OF NEW SHARE ISSUES WAS AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT THAT THE NEW HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY TOOK SERIOUSLY, IN VIEW OF ITS POSSIBLE IMPACT ON OVERALL FINANCIAL STABILITY.

"BUT WE WILL ALWAYS DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP RATHER THAN CONSTRICT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THEIR LEGITIMATE ACTIVITIES," HE ADDED.

THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A NUMBER OF NEW SHARE ISSUES RECENTLY AND SOME OF THEM MANY TIMES OVERSUBSCRIBED. THE WORKING GROUP WAS SET UP IN MID-FEBRUARY TO EXAMINE THE MONETARY AND BANKING IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH EVENTS.

MR YAM NOTED THAT THE REPORT BY THE WORKING GROUP WAS COMPLETED LAST WEEK BUT IT WOULD NOT BE PUBLISHED IN FULL AS THE INFORMATION ON THE OPERATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS WAS PROVIDED TO MONETARY AUTHORITY IN CONFIDENCE AND AS THE AUTHORITY WAS BOUND BY THE SECRECY PROVISIONS OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE.

-------0 - -

FEES UNDER BUILDINGS ORDINANCE TO BE REVISED

*****

FEES RELATED TO THE INSPECTION OF BUILDING AND DRAINAGE WORKS, AND ISSUE/RENEWAL OF OIL STORAGE INSTALLATION LICENCES WILL BE REVISED FROM MAY 1 TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF THE SERVICES.

THE NEW FEES ARE PRESCRIBED IN THE BUILDING (ADMINISTRATION) (AMENDMENT) REGULATION 1993 AND BUILDING (OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) REGULATION 1993 GAZETTED TODAY (THURSDAY). THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

* FOR REGISTRATION AS AN AUTHORISED PERSON OR STRUCTURAL ENGINEER $3,780

♦ FOR RETENTION OF THE REGISTRATION $790

* FOR RESTORATION OF THE REGISTRATION $1,890

t FOR REGISTRATION AS A CONTRACTOR $3,930

♦ FOR REGISTRATION AS A VENTILATION CONTRACTOR $6,510

* FOR AN EXAMINATION ORGANISED BY THE AUTHORISED PERSONS’ AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS’ REGISTRATION COMMITTEE $2,360

* FOR ADDITIONAL INSPECTION OF COMPLETED BUILDING WORKS OR STREET WORKS $1 ,770

* FOR RE-INSPECTION AND RE-TESTING OF COMPLETED DRAINAGE WORKS $700

/* FOR THE .........

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

* FOR THE ISSUE OF CERTIFIED COPIES, $150

PRINTS OR EXTRACTS OF ANY DOCUMENT, OTHER THAN A PLAN

♦ FOR THE ISSUE OF CERTIFIED COPIES, $250

PRINTS OR EXTRACTS OF ANY PLAN

* FOR THE ISSUE AND RENEWAL OF LICENCES $17,400 FOR STORING OIL AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN AN OIL STORAGE INSTALLATION

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: "THE FEE REVISION IS THE LAST OF A TWO-PHASE EXERCISE TO BRING THE LEVEL OF FEES FOR THESE SERVICES UP TO THE COST-RECOVERY LEVEL."

--------0

REVENUE BILLS FOR 1993/94 BUDGET GAZETTED

*****

A TOTAL OF 10 BILLS, INTENDED CHIEFLY TO IMPLEMENT THE SIGNIFICANT REVENUE CONCESSIONS ANNOUNCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH ON MARCH 3, WERE GAZETTED TODAY (THURSDAY).

"THE BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 21," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

--------0-----------

BILL GAZETTED ON LAND EASEMENT FOR SEWAGE TUNNEL WORK *****

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT THE LEGAL RIGHTS TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF UNDERGROUND SEWAGE TUNNELS BENEATH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS WAS GAZETTED TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE SEWAGE TUNNELS (STATUTORY EASEMENTS) BILL, IF APPROVED, WILL ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO CREATE EASEMENT OF LAND BELOW SURFACE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF DEEP UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TO TRANSPORT SEWAGE TO MAJOR TREATMENT WORKS ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND AND MOUNT DAVIS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH SAID THE SEWAGE TUNNELS WOULD BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SEWAGE STRATEGY AND WOULD CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO CONTROLLING THE SERIOUS WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY TN THE CENTRAL HARBOUR.

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE EASEMENT, IF REQUIRED, WOULD ONLY INVOLVE LAND DEEP BENEATH SURFACE FOR TUNNELING WORK. THE PROPOSED SEWAGE TUNNELS WOULD BE LAID USUALLY AT A DEPTH OF MORE THAN 100 METRES BELOW GROUND LEVEL.

/THE SPOKESMAN .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

THE SPOKESMAN SAID EXISTING ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE INDICATED THAT LITTLE LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTIES COULD RESULT FROM THE TUNNEL WORKS.

THE BILL REQUIRES THE GOVERNMENT TO GAZETTE A NOTICE OF THE PLAN SHOWING THE ROUTE OF THE PROPOSED SEWAGE TUNNEL, THE MINIMUM DEPTH UNDER WHICH THE TUNNEL LIES AND THE LAND THROUGH WHICH EASEMENTS IN FAVOUR OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BE CREATED. THE PLAN WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.

THE BILL ALSO GIVES OWNERS THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO AN EASEMENT.

THEY CAN ALSO MAKE CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION FOR ANY PROVEN LOSS OR DAMAGE TO LAND OR BUILDINGS OR REDUCTION IN LAND VALUE RELATED TO AN EASEMENT.

-----0------

MONITORING OF TWO RAIL COMPANIES ADEQUATE * * * * *

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO STRENGTHEN THE MONITORING OF THE TWO RAIL CORPORATIONS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID:

’’THERE ARE ADEQUATE LEGAL PROVISIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS TO MONITOR THE ACTIVITIES AND OPERATION OF THE TWO RAIL CORPORATIONS.”

THESE ENQUIRIES AROSE FROM THE FARE INCREASES ANNOUNCED BY THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).

’’UNDER THE LAW, THE TWO RAIL CORPORATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO OPERATE ON PRUDENT COMMERCIAL PRINCIPLES AND TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT REVENUE TO MEET RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AND TO FINANCE IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION WITHOUT SUBSIDY FROM TAXPAYERS.’’

’’MOREOVER, THE SERVICES OF BOTH CORPORATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO THE REGULAR SCRUTINY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND DISTRICT BOARDS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON ISSUES OF PUBLIC CONCERN.”

’’NEVERTHELESS, AS WE EXPLAINED IN A MOTION DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST FEBRUARY, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS UNDERTAKEN TO REVIEW SPECIFIC AREAS OF OPERATION WHERE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS MIGHT BE NEEDED. THE REVIEW IS NOW UNDERWAY.”

ON THE QUESTION OF KCRC’S PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS TO THE GOVERNMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID:

/"IN DECIDING........

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

"IN DECIDING ON THE $150 MILLION DIVIDEND PAYMENT BY KCRC FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1992, IT WAS RECOGNISED THAT THIS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CORPORATION’S SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME OR HAVE ANY EFFECT ON ITS FARE ADJUSTMENT IN 1993 WHICH WAS NECESSARY TO OFFSET AN INCREASE IN OPERATING COSTS.”

ON THE IMPACT OF SUCH FARE INCREASES ON INFLATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "THE PROPOSED RAIL FARE REVISIONS ARE LIKELY TO RESULT IN A SMALL INCREASE OF ONLY 0.19% IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A)."

- - 0 -

REVIEW OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEDURES ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO REVIEW PUBLIC WORKS PROCEDURES, PRACTICES AND SYSTEMS AS ONE OF THE NEW MEASURES TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, AT A MEETING OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

MISS CHUNG SAID THE REVIEW WILL BE MONITORED BY A STEERING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WITH SECRETARY FOR WORKS, SECRETARY FOR TREASURY, SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS AND SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES AND A NUMBER OF EXPERTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS MEMBERS.

THE REVIEW WILL BE CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY GOVERNMENT STAFF AND A CONSULTANCY FIRM WILL BE APPOINTED SOON.

MISS CHUNG SAID THE REVIEW WOULD BE CLOSELY TIED UP WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S OVERALL PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM PROGRAMME WHICH AIMED TO MODIFY AND CLARIFY ROLES OF POLICY BRANCHES AND THEIR DEPARTMENTS.

ISSUES TO BE EXPLORED WILL INCLUDE:

* THE UNDERLYING STRATEGY AND ORGANISATIONAL IMPEDIMENTS TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKS PROJECTS;

* WAYS TO IMPROVE THE AWARD OF GOVERNMENT PROJECTS AS SCHEDULED;

* POSSIBLE CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AT EACH STAGE OF A PROJECT FROM THE START OF DESIGN TO COMPLETION OF

CONSTRUCTION;

* TIMELY EXPENDITURE FORECASTING TECHNIQUES;

* EARLIER COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES TO IMPROVE PROJECT ESTIMATES.

/IT WAS ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

- 10 -

IT WAS ALSO STATED AT THE MEETING THAT THE REORGANISED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRESS COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS HAD MET RECENTLY TO DISCUSS PLANS TO STRENGTHEN THE MONITORING OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

AS ONE OF THE NEW MEASURES, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO INTENDS TO ENTRUST MORE PROJECTS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND TO ADOPT THE “DESIGN AND BUILD" APPROACH IN THE AWARD OF CONTRACTS.

OTHER NEW MEASURES INCLUDE:

* UPGRADING OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND MANAGEMENT REPORTS WHICH WILL STANDARDISE THE PROCEDURE AND FORMAT OF REPORTING FOR THE PURPOSE OF MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS. AS A RESULT OF THIS IMPROVEMENT, FINANCIAL REPORTS OF A PROJECT UPON COMPLETION ARE NOW AVAILABLE WITHIN ONE WEEK COMPARED WITH ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY;

* MORE CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF REASONS FOR A PROJECT WHICH FAILS TO MEET ITS EXPENDITURE TARGET SO THAT FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE IN THE MONITORING PROCESS;

* MORE MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO IMPROVE THEIR ESTIMATE FORECASTING TECHNIQUES AND TO IDENTIFY OTHER IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES; AND

♦ THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS HAS ASSUMED A NEW AND EXPANDED ROLE TO ENSURE THAT WORKS PROJECTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.

- - 0 ------------

ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO COLLEGES OF EDUCATION ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

TWO OF THE EXISTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO COURSES RUN BY THE THREE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE WILL BE MADE MORE FLEXIBLE AS FROM THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) PAST RECORDS REVEALED THAT MANY APPLICANTS WHO GAINED BETTER RESULTS THAN SOME OF THOSE ADMITTED HAD BEEN TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THE EXISTING REQUIREMENTS WERE TOO RIGID.

AT PRESENT, TO MEET THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION, APPLICANTS MUST HAVE OBTAINED IN ONE SITTING OF THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION (HKCEE) GRADE E OR ABOVE IN SIX DIFFERENT SUBJECTS, INCLUDING CHINESE LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE, WITH GRADE C OR ABOVE IN AT LEAST TWO OF THE SUBJECTS AND GRADE D OR ABOVE IN AT LEAST ONE OTHER SUBJECT.

"TO ENSURE FAIRNESS TO CANDIDATES WITH GOOD POTENTIAL, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS DECIDED TO REVISE TWO OF THE EXISTING BASIC REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE FOR A GREATER DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY," HE SAID.

/THE REVISED .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

THE REVISED REQUIREMENTS ARE:

♦ APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE ATTAINED GRADE E OR ABOVE IN SIX DIFFERENT SUBJECTS, INCLUDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND CHINESE LANGUAGE, AT HKCEE LEVEL IN NOT MORE THAN TWO SITTINGS, WITH AT LEAST FOUR SUBJECTS IN ONE SITTING; AND

♦ APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE OBTAINED NOT LESS THAN 11 POINTS FOR THE SIX SUBJECTS, CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF ONE POINT FOR GRADE E, PROGRESSING TO FIVE POINTS FOR GRADE A.

THE OTHER ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE CONCEPT OF ACCUMULATING PASSES IN TWO SITTINGS WAS IN LINE WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS ADOPTED BY SOME TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND WITH EXISTING PRACTICE IN CIVIL SERVICE RECRUITMENT EXERCISES.

"THE GRADE POINT SYSTEM IS USED FOR SECONDARY 6 ADMISSION. THE 11 POINTS FOR SIX SUBJECTS AT THE HKCEE IS HIGHER THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR ENTRY TO THE HONG KONG ADVANCED LEVEL (HKAL) EXAMINATION, WHICH IS EITHER GRADE E IN SIX SUBJECTS (I.E. SIX POINTS) OR FIVE SUBJECTS WITH A TOTAL OF EIGHT POINTS," HE SAID.

EXPLAINING THE ADVANTAGES OF THE TWO REVISED REQUIREMENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE FLEXIBILITY WOULD WIDEN THE CHOICE OF CANDIDATES, SOME OF WHOM WOULD HAVE GOOD ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND DESERVE TO BE CONSIDERED.

"SINCE MORE CANDIDATES WITH HIGHER GRADE POINTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER THE REVISED REQUIREMENTS, THE STANDARD OF SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL CORRESPONDINGLY BE HIGHER.

"BASED ON THE 1992 COLLEGES ADMISSION EXERCISE, FOR EXAMPLE, 1,077 MORE APPLICANTS WITH 11 GRADE POINTS OR ABOVE WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE THREE-YEAR COURSE."

FURTHERMORE, MORE CANDIDATES WITH A FLAIR IN SUBJECTS WITH SPECIAL DEMAND, SUCH AS ENGLISH, MUSIC AND COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS, COULD HAVE BEEN FAVOURABLY CONSIDERED.

"SIMILARLY, 587 MORE APPLICANTS FOR THE TWO-YEAR COURSE WHO HAD GOOD HKAL RESULTS BUT WHOSE HKCEE RESULTS DID NOT EXACTLY MATCH THE PREVIOUSLY RIGID CRITERIA COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED," HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE REVISED FLEXIBLE REQUIREMENTS WOULD ONLY WIDEN THE POOL OF SUITABLE CANDIDATES FOR SELECTION, AND WOULD NOT LOWER THE STANDARD OF CANDIDATES EVENTUALLY ADMITTED INTO THE COLLEGES.

"APART FROM SATISFYING THE MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, THE SELECTION PROCEDURE ALSO INCLUDES INTERVIEWS AND CERTAIN SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO ELECTIVE SUBJECTS, WHICH FURTHER DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF CANDIDATES.

/’’ONCE ADMITTED, .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

- 12 -

’’ONCE ADMITTED, THE PROGRESS OF STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGES WILL BE CAREFULLY MONITORED THROUGH CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, PROJECT WORK AND PRACTICAL TEACHING BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GRADUATE,” HE ADDED. ’’THIS WILL ENSURE THE QUALITY OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS.”

THE SPOKESMAN INDICATED THAT THE TWO REVISED FLEXIBLE REQUIREMENTS TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PANEL ON EDUCATION AT THREE SEPARATE MEETINGS, AS WELL AS THOSE EXPRESSED BY OTHERS IN THE EDUCATION FIELD AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE MEDIA.

AS ADVISED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION PANEL, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL CAREFULLY MONITOR THE ADMISSION EXERCISE THIS YEAR TO ENSURE THAT THE FLEXIBILITY AFFORDED BY THE REVISED REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT LOWER THE ACADEMIC STANDARD.

--------0-----------

MARINE DEPARTMENT PRAISED FOR ITS PROFESSIONALISM *****

THE EX-DIRECTOR OF MARINE AND CURRENT DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR TONY MILLER, TODAY (THURSDAY) PRAISED THE HIGH STANDARD OF PROFESSIONALISM OF OFFICERS OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

"THE PORT OF HONG KONG HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH SUCCESS, WITH EFFICIENCY, WITH QUALITY AND WITH SAFETY,” MR MILLER SAID.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON.

"THIS IS IN NO SMALL MEASURE DUE TO THE PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION OF OFFICERS OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT."

MR MILLER NOTED THAT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WAS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD IN THE VERY BROAD RANGE OF FUNCTIONS WHICH IT PERFORMED.

"MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT DOES. SOME MISTAKENLY THINK IT RUNS THE MARINE POLICE. OTHERS THINK THAT ALL IT DOES IS LICENSE PLEASURE CRAFT.

"IN FACT, IT HAS A KALEIDOSCOPIC VARIETY OF DUTIES.

"THESE INCLUDE MANAGING THE HUGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC THROUGH THE PORT, CO-ORDINATING MARITIME SEARCH RESCUE OPERATIONS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 10TH PARALLEL, ENFORCING INTERNATIONAL SAFETY CONVENTIONS ON ALL VESSELS USING HONG KONG WATERS, LICENSING AND PROVIDING SERVICES FOR SOME 20,000 LOCAL VESSELS, REPRESENTING HONG KONG’S INTEREST IN INTERNATIONAL FORA SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO), AND MAINTAINING THE LARGE GOVERNMENT FLEET.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS PART PORT ADMINISTRATOR, PART TRAFFIC REGULATOR, PART DOCKYARD AND PART ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR.

/’’NOWHERE IN..........

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

"NOWHERE IN THE WORLD DOES IT QUITE LIKE THIS. NOWHERE IN THE WORLD DOES IT QUITE SO SUCCESSFULLY."

MR MILLER NOTED THAT THE WAY THE PORT OF HONG KONG OPERATED REFLECTED HONG KONG’S TRADITIONAL PREFERENCE FOR RESTRICTING THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION TO ESSENTIALS.

"UNLIKE PORT AUTHORITIES ELSEWHERE, WE DO NOT OPERATE MANY FACILITIES OURSELVES."

INSTEAD 90 PER CENT OF CARGO HANDLING FACILITIES ARE PRIVATELY FINANCED, BUILT AND OPERATED.

THIS TRADITION OF MINIMUM PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENT, AND MAXIMUM PRIVATE INVESTMENT HAS ENABLED HONG KONG TO EXPAND PORT FACILITIES VERY RAPIDLY IN RESPONSE TO THE ECONOMIC REVOLUTION IN SOUTHERN CHINA, AND TO BECOME THE WORLD’S LARGEST CONTAINER PORT.

MR MILLER WENT ON TO SAY THAT RELIANCE ON PRIVATE SECTOR CARGO HANDLING HAS LEFT THE GOVERNMENT FREE TO CONCENTRATE ON STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ON THE ESSENTIAL BUREAUCRATIC INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE PORT.

AS REGARDS THE LATTER, HONG KONG LED THE WORLD IN MANY AREAS.

"WE HAVE IN HONG KONG, A STATE-OF-THE-ART ELECTRONIC VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM."

VERY FEW PORTS HAVE THIS SYSTEM.

HONG KONG IS WORKING WITH THESE FEW IN DEVELOPING THE SYSTEMS AND THE OPERATING PROCEDURES THAT GO WITH THEM.

SIMILARLY, IN THE AREA OF HIGH SPEED CRAFT OPERATION, HONG KONG HAS MORE EXPERIENCE THAN ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION AND IS PLAYING A LEADING ROLE IN THE IMO IN WRITING THE RULES FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THIS SORT OF CRAFT.

COMMENTING ON THE HUGE DEVELOPMENT WORKS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, MR MILLER SAID SOME CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DEMAND FOR MORE AND HIGHER QUALITY RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION AND LEISURE FACILITIES AND THE ESTABLISHED NEEDS OF THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY WAS NATURAL, PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG’S HIGHLY CONCENTRATED URBAN SETTING.

THEY COULD, HOWEVER, BE RESOLVED BY CAREFUL PLANNING AND MUTUAL ACCOMMODATION.

"THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PLANNING THE LOGISTICS OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, ENSURING THAT ESSENTIAL SHORE-LINE FACILITIES ARE KEPT RUNNING PRIOR TO REPROVISIONING."

"IT MAY SEEM TO SOME THAT WE ARE SIMPLY FILLING IN THE HARBOUR. IN FACT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS A PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE WEST, AS THE URBAN SHORE-LINE ENCROACHES ON THE TRADITIONAL PORT AREA," HE SAID.

/HE SAID

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

- 14 -

HE SAID THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR EXPANSION OF THE PORT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REDUCING SOME OF THE NUISANCES WHICH GO WITH PORT OPERATIONS.

"I WOULD HOWEVER CAUTION THAT NOT EVERY PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA CAN BECOME A PLEASANT PROMENADE. THE PORT IS AN INTEGRAL AND ESSENTIAL PART OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMY AND, UNLIKE MUCH INDUSTRY, IT CANNOT SIMPLY BE MOVED AWAY,” HE ADDED.

-----0------

CFPA TO RESPOND TO ARTS REVIEW REPORT ♦ * * ♦ *

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (CFPA), PROFESSOR WANG GUNGWU, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT CFPA HAD CONSIDERED THAT IT SHOULD TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN RESPONDING TO THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ON ARTS POLICY REVIEW ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

PROF WANG SAID MEMBERS, AT A CFPA MEETING YESTERDAY, CONSIDERED THAT THE ARTS POLICY REVIEW REPORT WAS AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT AND THE CFPA, BEING THE PRINCIPAL ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, SHOULD BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED.

PROF WANG SAID: ’’HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL CONSIDERED THAT ANY CONSULTATION EXERCISE SHOULD BEST BE UNDERTAKEN BY INVOLVING THE ARTS COMMUNITY THROUGH THE HONG KONG ARTS RESOURCE AND INFORMATION CENTRE (ARIC) WHICH IS A RESOURCE CENTRE (AND NOT AN ARTS GROUP SERVING SPECIFIC INTEREST), EQUIPPED WITH EXPERTISE IN GATHERING VIEWS OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY, AND WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF OPERATION IN THE PAST TWO YEARS WITH SUBVENTIONS BY THE CFPA.”

THE CFPA HAD ALSO DECIDED THAT ITS THREE SUBJECT COMMITTEES ON DANCE, MUSIC AND DRAMA SHOULD ALSO WORK OUT THE CONSULTATION ARRANGEMENTS TOGETHER WITH ARIC TO FOCUS ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ARTS DEVELOPMENT OF INTEREST TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY.

THE CFPA HAD THEREFORE AGREED TO ALLOCATE $150,000 TO ARIC TO UNDERTAKE THIS EXERCISE.

IT WOULD BE UP TO ARIC TO INVOLVE OTHER GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS, AS IT SEES FIT, WHEN CONDUCTING THE EXERCISE.

THE CFPA HAD ALSO ADVISED THE GOVERNMENT TO AWARD GENERAL SUPPORT GRANTS OF $31,078 MILLION TO FIVE LOCAL FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING ARTS ORGANISATIONS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1993/94:

* $11.03 MILLION TO HONG KONG BALLET LTD J

♦ $5,348 MILLION TO CITY CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY LTD;

♦ $5.4 MILLION TO CHUNG YING THEATRE COMPANY;

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

* $5.8 MILLION TO HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL SOCIETY LTD AND;

* $3.5 MILLION TO EXPLORATION THEATRE.

THE EXPLORATION THEATRE WAS THE FIRST ORGANISATION TO QUALIFY FOR THE COUNCIL’S SEEDING GRANT IN 1989/90 TO HELP ITS DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL STATUS.

THE COUNCIL HAD REVIEWED THE EXPLORATION THEATRE’S PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE HIGH ARTISTIC STANDARD ACHIEVED BY THE COMPANY, ITS INTEREST IN PRESENTATION OF ORIGINAL SCRIPTS BY LOCAL PLAYWRIGHTS, ITS ACHIEVEMENTS IN AUDIENCE BUILDING AND ITS WELL-ESTABLISHED MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE FOR THE RUNNING OF A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING COMPANY, THE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO UPGRADE THE STATUS OF THE THEATRE FROM THAT OF A SEEDING GRANT TO A GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT WITH EFFECT FROM 1993/94.

IN ADDITION, THE CFPA HAD APPROVED A SEEDING GRANT OF $1.5 MILLION TO HONG KONG SINFONIETTA TO HELP ITS DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL STATUS.

--------o-----------

ENCLOSING WALLS AND WATCH TOWERS * * *

IN FANLING DECLARED MONUMENTS ♦ ♦

THE ENCLOSING WALLS AND CORNER WATCH TOWERS OF KUN LUNG WAI IN LUNG YEUK TAU, FANLING, WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) GAZETTED AS A MONUMENT UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE.

THE WALLED VILLAGE OF KUN LUNG WAI, MORE POPULARLY KNOWN AS SAN WAI, IS ONE OF THE 11 TANG VILLAGES IN LUNG YEUK TAU, FANLING.

ALTHOUGH THIS VILLAGE WAS REPORTEDLY SETTLED BY MEMBERS OF THE TANG CLAN DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, THE WALLS OF KUN LUNG WAI WERE BUILT PERHAPS IN 1744 AS THE STONE LINTEL ABOVE THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE VILLAGE. IT IS ENGRAVED WITH ’KUN LUNG, DATED THIS JIAZI OF THE QIAN-LONG REIGN’.

KUN LUNG WAI WAS ORIGINALLY ENCLOSED WITH FOUR BRICK WALLS WITH A WATCH TOWER AT EACH CORNER.

FIVE ROWS OF HOUSES WERE LOCATED INSIDE THE WALLS, TOGETHER WITH A VILLAGE TEMPLE AND A GATE HOUSE AT THE AXIS.

WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE MANAGERS OF KUN LUNG WAI, THE GATE HOUSE WAS DECLARED A MONUMENT IN 1988 AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY RESTORED BY GOVERNMENT.

AFTER YEARS OF NEGOTIATION, THE MANAGERS HAVE ALSO AGREED TO THE DECLARATION OF THE ENCLOSING WALLS AND CORNER TOWERS OF THE VILLAGE AS A MONUMENT.

/SINCE, THE ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

16 -

SINCE, THE WALLS AND WATCH TOWERS ARE IN DILAPIDATED CONDITION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THEIR RESTORATION.

THE WORK WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

---------0 -

MOBILE EXHIBITION ON UK’S SEWAGE STRATEGY ♦ * * * *

A FOUR-DAY EXHIBITION ON HONG KONG’S SEWAGE STRATEGY WILL BEGIN TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT EXHIBITION HALL, TAK TIN SHOPPING CENTRE, LAM TIN.

RESIDENTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND CAN VISIT THE EXHIBITION TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE BASEMENT EXHIBITION AREA OF SHUN TAK CENTRE.

ORGANISED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH, THE EXHIBITION AIMED AT AROUSING PUBLIC CONCERN OVER WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM IN THE HARBOUR AND INFORMING THEM OF THE NEED FOR AN ULTIMATE SOLUTION.

"PICTURES AND CARTOON DRAWINGS WILL BE ON DISPLAY TO DEPICT HOW THE SERIOUS WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM ENDANGERS OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THREATENS PUBLIC HEALTH," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DEVELOP AN OVERALL SEWAGE STRATEGY THAT WOULD TACKLE THE WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM.

"THIS INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SERIES OF 150 METRES DEEP UNDERGROUND TUNNELS THREE METRES IN DIAMETER AND 22 KM IN LENGTH TO COLLECT ALL SEWAGE FROM THE URBAN AREA FOR TREATMENT."

THE EXHIBITION AT TAK TIN SHOPPING CENTRE, LAM TIN WILL OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM ON APRIL 9 TO 12. THE EXHIBITION AT SHUN TAK CENTRE OPENS FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM ON APRIL 10 AND 11.

-----o------

/17

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,750

REVERSAL OF LAF BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY EFFECT OF LAF TODAY CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 112.9 + 400 2,150 NIL -860 1,290 *-0.1* 8 .4.93

EF TERMS 1 WEEK 1 MONTH 3 MONTHS 6 MONTHS 12 MONTHS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE 3.05 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.38 2.88 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.20 2.91 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.48 3.07 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.58 3.31 PCT YIELD 3.30 3.48 3.69 3.89

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 2,975MN

CLOSED 8 APRIL 1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

MORE LABOUR LAW OFFENDERS PROSECUTED ........................... 1

10.000TH participant in tree planting scheme ................... 2

CARNIVAL TO PROMOTE WELL-BEING OF DISABLED ..................... 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

ATTORNEY GENERAL NOT ON TAIWAN VISIT ........................... 4

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY EXPERTS ATTEND SYMPOSIUM ................... 4

FRIDAY, APRIL 9,

1993

- 1 -

MORE LABOUR LAW OFFENDERS PROSECUTED *****

TO BETTER PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF WORKERS, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR STEPPED UP PROSECUTIONS AGAINST LABOUR LAW OFFENDERS.

DURING THE PERIOD, 6,644 CASES WERE SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT TO COURT RESULTING IN A TOTAL FINE OF $19.4 MILLION.

"THIS REPRESENTS A 70 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE FIGURE OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WHICH HAD RECORDED 3,889 CASES WITH FINES TOTALLING $15.5 MILLION," SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER (PROSECUTIONS), MR JOHN SUNG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

"WE ARE DETERMINED TO BRING OFFENDERS TO COURT AND WE WILL SPARE NO EFFORT IN TAKING OUT PROSECUTIONS AGAINST THOSE BREAKING THE LAW,” HE SAID.

"MANY MORE EMPLOYERS HAD TO PAY FOR THEIR MALPRACTICES AND OUR CONTINUOUS ACTION WILL MAKE THEM TAKE A MORE SERIOUS VIEW OF THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF WORKERS,” MR SUNG ADDED.

COMMENTING ON THE CONVICTION FIGURES LAST YEAR, MR SUNG NOTED THAT ABOUT 41 PER CENT OF THE CONVICTED CASES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY OFFENCES.

OF THEM, 1,635 CASES WERE BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, WITH FINES TOTALLING $6.3 MILLION.

A TOTAL OF 682 WERE AGAINST EMPLOYERS WHO FAILED TO GUARD DANGEROUS PARTS OF POWER PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINERY EFFECTIVELY WHILE 326 CASES CONCERNED FAILURE TO MAINTAIN EXIT DOORWAYS FREE FROM OBSTRUCTION.

ON THE SAFETY OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, MR SUNG SAID THERE WERE 1,127 CONVICTIONS UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS WITH A TOTAL FINE OF $8.3 MILLION.

THESE INCLUDED 381 CASES AGAINST EMPLOYERS FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE FENCES OR COVERINGS TO FLOOR EDGES, EXCAVATIONS, OPENINGS AND OTHER DANGEROUS PLACES ON SITE TO PREVENT THE FALL OF PERSONS.

ANOTHER 247 PROSECUTIONS WERE TAKEN OUT AGAINST EMPLOYERS WHO FAILED TO PROVIDE SAFETY HELMETS TO WORKERS OR TO ENSURE THAT THEY WEAR SUCH HELMETS WHILE ON SITE.

APART FROM INDUSTRIAL SAFETY OFFENCES, THERE WERE 3,588 CONVICTIONS OF VIOLATION OF WELFARE PROVISIONS UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY), EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN AND EMPLOYMENT AGENCY REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR RELATIONS AND EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCES. THE FINES IMPOSED TOTALLED $4 MILLION.

/VIOLATIONS RELATING ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1993

VIOLATIONS RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS TO WORK OVERTIME OR ON REST DAYS HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR 1,263 CASES WHILE FAILURE OF EMPLOYERS TO INSURE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES OR TO GIVE THEM STATUTORY HOLIDAY PAY ACCOUNTED FOR ANOTHER 1,479 CASES.

OF THE REMAINING CONVICTION CASES, 265 INVOLVED BREACHES OF THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS ORDINANCE WITH THE MAJORITY RELATED TO OPERATION OF BOILERS OR PRESSURE VESSELS WITHOUT THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF COMPETENT PERSONS.

ANOTHER 29 CASES WERE ON THE FAILURE OF EMPLOYERS TO KEEP OR PRODUCE FOR INSPECTION BY LABOUR INSPECTORS EMPLOYEES’ RECORDS AS REQUIRED UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE.

--------o-----------

10.000TH PARTICIPANT IN TREE PLANTING SCHEME ♦ * * ♦ *

FOR 20-YEAR-OLD LAM YAT-MAN, THIS WEEK WAS A MEMORABLE ONE BECAUSE HE HAD BECOME THE 10,000TH PARTICIPANT OF THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME.

A YEAR ONE STUDENT OF THE KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, YAT-MAN HAS LONG BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF TREE PLANTING SCHEME ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD).

"AS A MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE’S GREEN CLUB, I ALWAYS TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE SCHOOL’S EXTRA-CURRICULLAR ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON THE GREENING OF THE COUNTRYSIDE," HE SAID.

HE TOOK PART IN THE COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME AT THE SHING MUN COUNTRY PARK AND PLANTED AN ACACIA EARLIER THIS WEEK.

”1 AM VERY DELIGHTED TO BECOME THE 10,000TH PARTICIPANT OF THIS YEAR’S SCHEME," HE ADDED.

HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL ON OTHER STUDENTS AND YOUNGSTERS TO SUPPORT THIS MEANINGFUL CAUSE BY TAKING PART IN THE SCHEME, THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLS OR COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS.

THE KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS ONE OF THE MANY LOCAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS THAT HAD SHOWN SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL PROGRAMME.

COMMENTING ON THE RESULTS OF THIS YEAR’S PLANTING PROGRAMME, AFD’S SENIOR CONSERVATION OFFICER, MR MARTIN LEUNG KA-LOK SAID COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION HAD BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING.

"EVER SINCE THE START OF THIS YEAR’S SCHEME ON MARCH 14, SOME 11,600 PARTICIPANTS HAD PLANTED A TOTAL OF 15,100 TREES.

THE TREE SPECIES PLANTED INCLUDED: BIG LEAF ACACIA, ACACIA, CHESTNUT OAK, SHORT-FLOWERED MACHILUS AND BRISBANE BOX AND SO ON.

/MF LEUNG .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1993

MR LEUNG WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY THE SUPPORT OF MANY CONSERVATION GROUPS THAT HAD MADE GREAT EFFORTS IN MOBILISING THE COMMUNITY TO THE GREENING SCHEME.

HE SAID THERE WERE STILL SIX MORE PLANTING DAYS, INCLUDING THE NEXT FOUR PUBLIC EASTER HOLIDAYS BEGINNING TODAY (FRIDAY) AND APRIL 18 AND 25, FOR THE PUBLIC TO JOIN THIS MEANINGFUL SCHEME.

"ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS RESIDENTS CAN ALWAYS VISIT THE COUNTRYSIDE ON ANY OF THE SIX DAYS TO PLANT TREE SEEDLINGS AT DESIGNATED SITES WITH THEIR OWN HANDS," MR LEUNG SAID.

THE SIX COUNTRY PARKS WHERE PLANTING SITES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE PURPOSE ARE: TAI MO SHAN, SHING MUN, QUARRY BAY, SAI KUNG (PAK TAM CHUNG), PAT SIN LENG (HOK TAU) AND SOUTH LANTAU (NGONG PING).

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO JOIN THE SCHEME CAN COME TO ANY ONE OF THESE COUNTRY PARKS AND PLANT THE PREPARED SEEDLINGS WITH THE TOOLS PROVIDED AT THE SITES.

"FOR ORGANISED GROUPS, ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITH AFD'S CONSERVATION EDUCATION UNIT ON TEL 733 2121," MR LEUNG ADDED.

-----0 - - - -

CARNIVAL TO PROMOTE WELL-BEING OF DISABLED

*****

THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL JOINTLY ORGANISE A CARNIVAL AT KOWLOON PARK ON SUNDAY (APRIL 11) TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF DISABLED.

THE CARNIVAL, "FUN DAY OF TOGETHERNESS", WILL FEATURE GAME STALLS, A HANDICRAFT EXHIBITION AND PERFORMANCES BY POPULAR SINGERS.

IT IS A PRELUDE TO A SERIES OF PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF THE VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

"THE ABLE-BODIED AND THE DISABLED WILL SHARE THE FUN BY GETTING TOGETHER FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING," A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, AND THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR IAN STRACHAN WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE "FUN DAY OF TOGETHERNESS" AT THE PIAZZA OF KOWLOON PARK ON SUNDAY, STARTING 2 PM.

- 0 -

/4 ........

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1993

ATTORNEY GENERAL NOT ON TAIWAN VISIT

*****

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ON WHETHER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS LEADING A DELEGATION ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO TAIWAN, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS POINTED OUT TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT NO OFFICIAL DELEGATION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS IS VISITING TAIWAN.

"CURRENTLY IN TAIWAN IS A GROUP OF LOCAL CROWN COUNSEL WHO REPRESENT THE LOCAL CROWN COUNSEL ASSOCIATION ON A PRIVATE VISIT THERE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS IN HONG KONG," HE ADDED.

-----0------

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY EXPERTS ATTEND SYMPOSIUM *******

TWO EXPERTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL FLY TO HONG KONG LATER THIS MONTH TO GIVE TALKS AT A SYMPOSIUM ON SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL.

THE HALF-DAY SYMPOSIUM, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 19 (MONDAY) BETWEEN 9.30 AM TO 1 PM AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE IN WAN CHAI, IS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE CONCEPT OF MODERN SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN HONG KONG’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

MR DAVID EVES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, WILL SPEAK ON SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN HEAVY BUILDING AND ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

MR RAE STEWARD, SENIOR LECTURER OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, WILL GIVE A LECTURE ON THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MANAGMENT.

THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, WILL DELIVER AN OPENING ADDRESS AT THE SYMPOSIUM.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A 30-MINUTE FORUM FOR THE PARTICIPANTS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND EXCHANGE VIEWS.

ENQUIRIES ON THE SYMPOSIUM CAN BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON THE 13TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD IN CENTRAL, OR BY PHONE ON 852 3562 OR 852 3565.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

EMSD LOOKS AFTER 15,000 TRAFFIC LIGHTS .......................... 1

RETRAINING COURSES BENEFICIAL TO WORKERS ........................ 2

GOVT LAND TO LET BY TENDER ...................................... 4

SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT FOR TIN HAU FESTIVAL ......... 4

SEMINAR ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT .................................. 5

PLEA ON CHILD CARE .............................................. c

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1993

EMSD LOOKS AFTER 15,000 TRAFFIC LIGHTS *****

THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 15,000 TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND SIGNALS AT 1,020 TRAFFIC JUNCTIONS, 8,400 BOLLARD LIGHTS ON "TRAFFIC ISLANDS" AND LIGHTING IN 250 PUBLIC PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS AND 219 FOOTBRIDGES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (EMSD) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING A PROMPT AND EFFICIENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICE FOR THESE FACILITIES.

THE TASK OF MAINTAINING AND REPAIRING TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR SIGNALS FALLS ON A SPECIAL TEAM OF THE DEPARTMENT’S WORKSHOPS DIVISION.

THE TEAM WORKS ROUND-THE-CLOCK, RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY CALLS FOR REPAIR AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY.

TO ENSURE THAT TRAFFIC AIDS EQUIPMENT FUNCTION PROPERLY, MEMBERS OF THE TEAM MAKE REGULAR PATROLS TO LOOK OUT FOR FAULTY ONES.

IN VIEW OF THE GREAT NUMBER OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS, REPORTS OF MALFUNCTIONING ARE OF GREAT HELP TO THE TEAM.

TO REPORT FAULTS, THE PUBLIC MAY DIAL 765 1642 DURING OFFICE

HOURS, AND 333 3762 AFTER OFFICE HOURS.

ANY DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE LOCATION OF A FAULTY TRAFFIC LIGHT OR SIGNAL WILL HELP THE TEAM TO ATTEND WITHOUT DELAY.

"THE BEST WAY IS TO PINPOINT THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHT PAINTED ON THE POST. THIS WILL AVOID DELAY AND CONFUSION," A GENERAL WORKS MANAGER OF THE EMSD, MR ERIC UY SAID.

"FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PUBLIC, LABELS MADE OF REFLECTIVE MATERIAL SHOWING THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR REPORTING FAULTS AND FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR SERVICES ARE POSTED ON ALL TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND SIGNALS," HE ADDED.

MR UY SAID OF ALL THE FAULTS ATTENDED, THE MOST COMMON ONE REQUIRES ONLY THE REPLACEMENT OF LIGHT BULBS OR THE COVERING HOOD FOR LIGHTS.

AS FOR BOLLARD LIGHTS ON TRAFFIC ISLANDS, COMPLETE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY WERE OFTEN KNOCKED DOWN OR BADLY DAMAGED BY VEHICLES.

"REGULAR REPLACEMENT OF LIGHT BULBS IS CARRIED OUT AS PART OF THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME OF THE EMSD. THE LENSES OF LIGHTS ARE CLEANED FOUR TIMES A YEAR TO ENSURE THAT COLOUR SIGNALS ARE SEEN CLEARLY BY ROAD USERS," HE NOTED.

MR UY POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ALSO SPECIAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR THE PUBLIC TO REPORT FAULTY LIGHTS IN PUBLIC SUBWAYS AND FOOTBRIDGES.

/DURING OFFICE

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1993

DURING OFFICE HOURS, THE NUMBERS ARE 576 3125 FOR HONG KONG ISLAND AND OUTLYING ISLANDS, AND 765 1633 FOR KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES. AFTER OFFICE HOURS, ALL REPORTS SHOULD BE MADE ON TEL 333 3762.

MR UY POINTED OUT THAT LABELS WITH TELEPHONE NUMBERS HAD BEEN POSTED AT ENTRANCES TO SUBWAYS AND ON THE STAIRCASES OF FOOTBRIDGES. SERIAL NUMBERS HAD ALSO BEEN PAINTED ON THE FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS FOR IDENTIFICATION BY THE PUBLIC.

"CORRECT INFORMATION ON THE SERIAL NUMBERS OF FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS WOULD HELP MAINTENANCE STAFF TO CARRY OUT THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WITHOUT DELAY," HE ADDED.

HE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT SOME FAULTY LIGHTS IN SUBWAYS WERE THE RESULT OF VANDALISM AND SERIOUS DAMAGE WOULD REQUIRE LONGER TIME FOR REPAIR OR MAY REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT.

HE SAID TAMPERING WITH THE LIGHTS COULD LEAD TO ELECTROCUTION, APART FROM BEING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR.

THE EMSD WAS USING STRONGER MATERIALS FOR LIGHTING PROTECTIVE COVERS TO STRENGTHEN THE DURABILITY OF THE LIGHTING INSTALLATIONS AS A MEASURE AGAINST DELIBERATE TAMPERING, MR UY ADDED.

RETRAINING COURSES BENEFICIAL TO WORKERS

**♦**♦♦

WORKERS PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED IN DECLINING INDUSTRIES COULD MASTER NEW SKILLS THROUGH ATTENDING RETRAINING COURSES ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE CHANGING THEIR JOBS.

TWO SUCCESSFUL CASES WERE FEMALE RETRAINEES, MISS NG WAI-FONG AND MISS FUNG NGOR.

BOTH IN THEIR MID-THIRTIES, THEY WERE AMONG THE FIRST BATCH OF WORKERS COMPLETING COURSES UNDER THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING SCHEME WHICH STARTED IN JUNE LAST YEAR.

ON COMPLETION OF A CLEANING SERVICE COURSE OF HOTEL HOUSEKEEPING LASTING FIVE WEEKS, MISS NG AND MISS FUNG WERE ABLE TO SECURE A JOB AS ROOM ATTENDANTS IN A HOTEL IN CENTRAL THROUGH SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE.

"WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT WE COULD SWITCH TO THIS JOB," MISS NG WAI-FONG SAID.

"WE ARE NOT THAT OPTIMISTIC AT THE VERY BEGINNING BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS," MISS NG SAID.

/AND THEY ........

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1993

AND THEY HAVE NO WORKING EXPERIENCE IN OTHER FIELDS AT ALL.

"THOUGH WE HAD TO OVERCOME MANY OBSTACLES TO START ON THE PRESENT JOB, THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING SCHEME DID MANAGE TO HELP US IN MAKING OUR FIRST STEP BY PROVIDING US WITH A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF HOTEL SERVICES," MISS FUNG ADDED.

"NOW, WE FEEL MORE SECURED IN THE NEW JOB THAN IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

IN THOSE DAYS, THEY HAD TO FACE THE PROBLEM OF INADEQUATE WORK.

"THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S EFFORTS IN ASSISTING US TO FIND NEW JOBS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT, OTHERWISE, WE MAY NEVER GET THIS JOB SIMPLY BECAUSE HOTELS WOULD NORMALLY NOT TAKE IN NEW HANDS," THEY ADDED.

THEIR EMPLOYER, THE HOTEL FURAMA KEMPINSKI HONG KONG ALSO EXPRESSED GREAT SUPPORT IN THE GOVERNMENT’S RETRAINING PROJECT.

"WE FEEL THAT IT IS OUR DUTY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT BY SETTING A PRECEDENT, OTHER EMPLOYERS WILL HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE IN EMPLOYING RETRAINED WORKERS," THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER OF THE HOTEL, MISS WINNIE CHOW SAID.

"MEANWHILE, WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE RECRUITED MISS NG AND MISS FUNG WHO ARE BOTH CONSCIENTIOUS AND WILLING TO LEARN," SHE SAID, ADDING THAT THE HOTEL IS PREPARED TO ORGANISE FURTHER TRAINING TO BETTER POLISH THEIR SKILLS.

THEIR PERFORMANCE HAVE GIVEN THEM CONFIDENCE IN RECRUITING OTHER RETRAINEES UNDER THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING SCHEME, SHE SAID.

"WE ARE NOW PLANNING TO TAKE ON OTHER SUITABLE RETRAINEES TO FILL THE VACANCIES IN THE HOTEL’S OPERATIONAL DEPARTMENTS," MISS CHOW ADDED.

MEANWHILE, LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER (EMPLOYMENT SERVICES), MR RAYMOND CHAN, SAID THE DEPARTMENT'S LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (LES) IS STILL HELPING 51 RETRAINEES IN FINDING JOBS.

AT THE END OF MARCH, 397 RETRAINEES HAVE COMPLETED RETRAINING. MORE THAN 200 HAVE FOUND WORK THROUGH ABOUT 540 REFERRALS MADE EITHER BY LES OR BY TRAINING BODIES, MR CHAN SAID.

"THE REMAINING 140 HAVE NOT REQUESTED FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AND PRESUMABLY HAVE FOUND WORK," HE SAID.

MR CHAN SAID PROFILES OF THE RETRAINEES HAD SENT TO ALL POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS TO HELP THEM SELECT SUITABLE CANDIDATES TO FILL THEIR VACANCIES.

"OUR OFFICERS WILL MAINTAIN CLOSE CONTACTS WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS TO MONITOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETRAINEES," HE ADDED.

/MR CHAN

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1993

MR CHAN ALSO CALLED ON EMPLOYERS TO TAKE ON RETRAINEES SO THAT SKILLS ACQUIRED BY THEM AFTER ATTENDING RETRAINING COURSES COULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE.

HE SAID ENQUIRIES ON THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING SCHEME OR LES CAN BE MADE ON TEL 852 4890 AND 606 2145 RESPECTIVELY.

--------0-----------

GOVT LAND TO LET BY TENDER *****

THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF A PIECE OF GOVERNMENT LAND LOCATED IN KWAI CHUNG, NEW TERRITORIES.

THE LOT, LOCATED AT AREA 10B, TAI WO HAU ROAD, HAS AN AREA OF 5,750 SQUARE METRES.

IT IS INTENDED FOR LANDSCAPE GARDENING, PLANT NURSERY AND/OR COMMERCIAL GARDENING INCLUDING GROWING GARDEN PRODUCTS, STORAGE AND SALE OF POTTED PLANTS AND OTHER ANCILLARY GARDEN PRODUCTS.

THE TENANCY IS FOR THREE YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY THEREAFTER.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON APRIL 23.

FORM OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KWAI TSING, 10TH FLOOR, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN; THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES KOWLOON, 1OTH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.

------0----------

SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT FOR TIN HAU FESTIVAL

*****

SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT JOSS HOUSE BAY ON TUESDAY (APRIL 13) AND WEDNESDAY (APRIL 14) TO FACILITATE WORSHIPPERS GOING TO THE TEMPLE TO CELEBRATE THE TIN HAU FESTIVAL, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SUNDAY).

"SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARKATION WILL BE MADE AT THE PIER ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF JOSS HOUSE BAY," SENIOR MARINE OFFICER (EAST REGION), MR KHIN HLA SAID.

"OFFICERS FROM THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND MARINE POLICE WILL BE ON PATROL IN THE AREA TO HELP OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF LOCAL CRAFT TRANSPORTING WORSHIPPERS.

/"ALL OWNERS .......

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1993

"ALL OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF LOCAL CRAFT HEADING TO AND FROM JOSS HOUSE BAY SHOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO MARINE SAFETY AND NOT OVERLOAD THEIR VESSELS.

"THEY SHOULD EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE AND BE CONSIDERATE TO OTHER USERS."

WORSHIPPERS SHOULD TAKE CARE WHEN BOARDING AND ALIGHTING ALL VESSELS INCLUDING THOSE OF THE HONG KONG FERRY COMPANY WHICH WILL OPERATE SERVICES BETWEEN JOSS HOUSE BAY AND NORTH POINT ON TUESDAY (APRIL 13) AND WEDNESDAY (APRIL 14).

MR HLA ALSO ADVISED MASTERS OF ALL OTHER VESSELS NAVIGATING IN THE TATHONG CHANNEL OVER THE FESTIVAL PERIOD TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION DUE TO THE NUMEROUS LOCAL CRAFT THAT WILL BE SAILING THROUGH LEI YUE MUN TO JOSS HOUSE BAY.

--------0-----------

SEMINAR ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT

*****

A PANEL OF EXPERTS WILL SPEAK ON PROPER BUILDING MANAGEMENT AT A PUBLIC SEMINAR AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE ON MAY 15 FROM 2 PM TO 5.30 PM.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE "BUILDING MANAGEMENT SEMINAR PERSPECTIVE AND PARTICIPATION" WILL BE THE FOURTH IN A SERIES TO BE PRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

HE SAID THE SEMINAR WAS TARGETED AT MEMBERS OF OWNERS CORPORATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS COMMITTEES, BUILDING MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS, FLAT OWNERS AS WELL AS INTERESTED PEOPLE.

ADMISSION IS FREE AND ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

PANELISTS WILL INCLUDE A LEGAL PROFESSIONAL, MR MA HO-FAI; A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, MR FAN SAI-YEE; A SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, MR JOSEPH LEE; A SENIOR OFFICER FROM THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, MR LESTER LEUNG; AND A CHAIRMAN OF AN OWNERS COMMITTEE, MR PAUL LEUNG.

TOPICS SUCH AS BUILDING MANAGEMENT, TENDERING PROCEDURES, FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AS WELL AS THE ROLES OF OWNERS CORPORATIONS/COMMITTEES AND HOUSING MANAGERS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED.

THE EFFECTS OF LAW COVERING THE DEEDS OF MUTUAL COVENANTS WILL ALSO BE COVERED.

THERE WILL BE AN OPEN DISCUSSION TO BE CHAIRED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF HOUSING’S PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE COMMITTEE, MR MINGO KWAN.

/APPLICATION FORMS .......

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1993

APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, AND THE DEADLINE FOR ENROLMENT IS APRIL 23.

COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT SECTION, HONG KONG AND KOWLOON REGION HEADQUARTERS, CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, 29TH FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI.

ENQUIRIES CAN MADE ON TEL 835 1496 AND 835 1497.

------0-------

PLEA ON CHILD CARE

*****

♦

PARENTS SHOULD NOT, FOR ANY REASON, ABANDON THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY SHOULD SEEK HELP FROM SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IF THEY ENCOUNTER ANY FAMILY OR CHILD CARE PROBLEMS.

A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (SUNDAY) MADE THE PLEA AFTER A VISIT BY A 27-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TO THE DEPARTMENT’S CHUK YUEN CHILDREN’S RECEPTION CENTRE OF WHICH SHE ONCE CALLED HOME.

THE WOMAN HAS RECENTLY RETURNED FROM CANADA TO LOOK FOR HER NATURAL PARENTS.

SHE WAS ABANDONED IN A TSUEN WAN STREET WHEN SHE WAS A BABY IN NOVEMBER 1965.

SHE WAS LATER PLACED UNDER THE CARE OF THE CENTRE FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE SHE WAS ADOPTED OVERSEAS.

SHE WAS NAMED WU PIK DURING HER STAY IN THE CENTRE, HE ADDED.

THE CENTRE, BUILT IN 1964, PROVIDES TEMPORARY CARE, NORMALLY FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHT.

FOR THE HOMELESS, ABANDONED OR ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN GIVEN UP BY THEIR PARENTS, THE ADOPTION UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT MAKES ARRANGEMENT FOR THEM TO BE ADOPTED EITHER LOCALLY OR OVERSEAS.

TOURING HER ONE-TIME "HOME”, WU PIK THANKED THE CENTRE STAFF FOR THEIR DEVOTION TO DUTY.

’’THEY ARE SO KIND TO THE UNFORTUNATE CHILDREN WHO ALL LOOKED SO WELL-CARED FOR,” WU PIK SAID.

PARENTS SHOULD NOT, IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SHRUG THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES BY ABANDONING THEIR CHILDREN, SHE URGED.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO CALLED ON PARENTS TO SEEK HELP FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S 30 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, WHEN THEY HAVE FAMILY OR CHILD CARE PROBLEMS.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

OFFICIAL MAPPING PRODUCTS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT ................ 1

LONGEST SERVING WOMAN VOLUNTEER TELLS HER STORY ................. 2

SPECIAL CAMPAIGN ON SITE SAFETY ................................. 4

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO YOUNG MUSICIANS AND DANCERS ............. 5

SALT WATER CUT IN KOWLOON CITY .................................. 5

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1993

OFFICIAL MAPPING PRODUCTS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

*****

THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) REITERATED THAT ALL OFFICIAL MAPPING PRODUCTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT AND THEREFORE PERMISSION IS REQUIRED FOR REPRODUCING ANY OF THEM IN ANY PUBLICATIONS.

THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT LAND SURVEYOR, MR GORDON ANDREASSEND, WHO HEADS THE OFFICE, SAID IN ACTUAL PRACTICE, PERMISSION WAS NORMALLY GRANTED ON PAYMENT OF A MODERATE ROYALTY FEE, AND ON CONDITION THAT AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE MAP SOURCE WAS SPECIFIED.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH ROYALTY FEES WOULD BE DISCOUNTED OR EXEMPTED, HE ADDED.

THE OFFICE PRODUCES A SERIES OF MAPS, AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS, TOURISTS DIRECTORY AND LEISURE GUIDES DEPICTING THE FAST CHANGING FACETS OF HONG KONG, AND THESE ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT VARIOUS OUTLETS.

THE ANNUAL REVENUE GENERATED FROM MAP SALES AMOUNTED TO $4 MILLION, AND THE FIGURE IS STEADILY ON THE RISE.

MR ANDREASSEND SAID ALL THESE MAP PRODUCTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT.

WHILE LEGITIMATE USAGE OF OFFICIAL MAPPING MATERIAL IS MOST WELCOME, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ALL MAPS, PLANS AND RELATED PRODUCTS ARE TREATED BY COPYRIGHT LAW AS ORIGINAL LITERARY OR ARTISTIC WORKS, HE SAID.

’’THE GOVERNMENT, AS THE ORIGINAL PRODUCER OF THESE MAPPING PRODUCTS, IS THE OWNER OF THE COPYRIGHT WHICH LASTS FOR 50 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

"THEREFORE, PERMISSION SHOULD FIRST BE OBTAINED BEFORE REPRODUCING THEM, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN ANY PUBLICATION," HE SAID.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT UNAUTHORISED REPRODUCTION OF OFFICIAL MAPPING MATERIALS IN THE MEDIA, SUCH AS BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS STEPPED UP PROTECTION OF COPYRIGHT.

"DURING THE PAST FINANCIAL YEAR, MORE THAN $167,000 OF ROYALTY FEES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED, COMPARING WITH ONLY $55,000 COLLECTED DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR," MR ANDREASSEND SAID.

HE SAID IGNORANCE OF COPYRIGHT LAWS WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A JUSTIFIABLE EXCUSE FOR ANY INFRINGEMENT.

A COMPREHENSIVE MAP CATALOGUE GIVING DETAILS OF SCALE, COVERAGE AND PRICE AND A SCALE OF THE ROYALTY CHARGES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE MAP SALES OUTLETS.

USERS WHO HAVE ANY QUERIES REGARDING MAP COPYRIGHT CAN CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT’S MAP INFORMATION AND SERVICES SECTION AT 14TH FLOORt MURRAY BUILDING, OR ON 848 6273.

----- o-------

Z2 .....

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1993

LONGEST SERVING WOMAN VOLUNTEER TELLS HER STORY * » * ♦ »

MS ROSIE SIN SOU-PING CERTAINLY HAS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR CIVIL AID SERVICES (CAS) IN HER HEART.

FOR IT PLAYED CUPID BETWEEN HER AND THE MAN SHE LATER MARRIED.

FOR IT WAS WHERE SHE SCHOOLED HER KIDS TO GOOD ORDER.

FOR IT IS THE PLACE WHERE SHE BUILT HER LANDSCAPE OF FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES.

THE FAMILY HAS A COMBINED SERVICE OF 80 YEARS IN CAS. FOR THE VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY BODY, IT IS A RECORD.

BUT THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE GOES ON UNABATED:

"I WILL NEVER GIVE UP. I HAVE GROWN UP WITH CAS,” MS SIN MANIFESTED.

IT ALL STARTED HALF A CENTURY AGO, IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

BOMBS RAINED DOWN BY THE TONS.

MS SIN, THEN A LITTLE GIRL, AND HER PANICKY PARENTS WERE SCAMPERING THROUGH THE STREETS IN HAPPY VALLEY, SEEKING FOR A REFUGE.

A RESOLUTE AIR-RAID PRECAUTIONS CORPS MEMBER STOPPED THEM AND SHEPHERD THEM TO THE SAFETY OF A NEARBY AIR-RAID TUNNEL.

AND MS SIN LOOKS TO THIS CORPS MEMBER WHOM SHE SINCE HERO-WORSHIPPED AS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER, SHE BEGAN TO FALL IN LOVE WITH MARCHES, WAR MOVIES AND DISCIPLINARY SERVICES.

BUT THERE WAS YET TO HAVE ANY POLICEWOMAN AROUND IN TOWN.

AN OPPORTUNITY CAME IN 1952. A WARTIME-ORIENTED CIVIL DEFENCE UNIT - CAS - WAS SET UP, WITH MOST OF ITS MEMBERS BEING DRAWN FROM FORMER ARP MEMBERS.

MS SIN BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST TWO WOMAN VOLUNTEERS. TO DATE, SHE IS THE LONGEST-SERVING WOMAN VOLUNTEER IN THE CAS.

FORTY YEARS HAVE LAPSED. CAS HAS GROWN INTO A BROAD-BASED VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICE ORGANISATION.

STROLLED DOWN THE MEMORY LANE, MS SIN HAS MANY UNFORGETTABLE STORIES TO TELL. SOME OF THE EPISODES BROKE HER HEART.

”1 REMEMBER IN APRIL LAST YEAR, WHEN I SERVED IN KAI TAK DEPARTURE CENTRE, A VIETNAMESE WOMAN POISONED HER TWO CHILDREN AND TRIED TO END HER LIFE.

/"WE WERE ........

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1993

"WE WERE ALERTED AND THEY WERE SPED TO HOSPITAL. THEIR LIVES WERE SAVED," MS SIN SAID.

RESCUE WORK MEANS TEAMWORK. ESPRIT DE CORPS IS THE KEY, SHE SAID.

IN A MUDSLIDE IN MA SHAN TSUEN SQUATTER AREA IN SHAU KEI WAN THIRTY YEARS AGO, THE MUSCLE OF TEAMWORK WAS FLEXED TO THE FULLEST.

WHILE THE MALE RESCUERS DUG INTO THE MUD AND DEBRIS FOR SURVIVORS, MS SIN AND OTHERS WERE CHARGED WITH THE DUTY TO ALERT THE WORKERS ON THE VULNERABLE SURROUNDING CONDITIONS. FARTHER AWAY WERE TEARFUL FAMILIES IN A DESPERATE HOPE FOR MIRACLES.

"INSTEAD, DEAD BODIES WERE UNCOVERED. THIS MADE ME VERY SAD AND UNCOMFORTABLE," SHE RECALLED.

YET, THERE WERE HAPPY SCENARIOS.

"I WAS GLAD TO SEE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, SOME OF THEM I HELP TO MANAGE, LEAVE HONG KONG TO TURN OVER A NEW LEAF OVERSEAS," MS SIN SAID.

SHE ALSO MET HER HUSBAND, MR HO MOON-LAM IN CAS.

"WE TRAINED AND SERVED IN THE SAME DISTRICT TOGETHER."

THEY TIED THE LOVE KNOTS IN 1954 - THE FIRST IN-SERVICE COUPLE IN THE HISTORY OF CAS.

THEY HAD TWO SONS - KWOK-WAI AND KWOK-SHING - AND A DAUGHTER, OI-LING. ALL HAVE ONCE JOINED CAS.

"MY ELDER SON HAS EMIGRATED. MY SECOND SON CHOSE NOT TO JOIN THE ADULT UNIT AFTER FOUR YEARS IN THE CADET CORPS."

HER DAUGHTER IS STILL SERVING IN CAS.

LOOKING BACK, THE 59-YEAR-OLD VOLUNTEER SAID SHE HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF QUITTING THE SERVICE THAT HAD GROWN UP WITH HER.

LOOKING AHEAD, SHE HOPES THAT CAS WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

"I’M SURE IT WILL HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE,” SHE SAID.

MS SIN WAS RECENTLY AWARDED A 15-YEAR CIVIL DEFENCE LONG SERVICE MEDAL AND FIRST CLASP FOR ANOTHER 12 YEARS OF SERVICE.

--------0-----------

M ....

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1993

SPECIAL CAMPAIGN ON SITE SAFETY * * * * *

A SPECIAL TASK FORCE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE SITE SAFETY AMONG BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WILL BE IN ACTION FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY).

"THE OPERATIONS, SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE SAFETY IN SITES THROUGH INTENSIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, WILL BE CARRIED OUT BETWEEN APRIL AND OCTOBER THIS YEAR," DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR, MR KAN HON-SANG SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

"EXPERIENCE FROM PREVIOUS SIMILAR EXERCISES HAS PROVED THAT THE OPERATION IS VERY EFFECTIVE PARTICULARLY IN THE HOT AND RAINY SEASON," MR KAN SAID.

DURING THE OPERATIONS, NOT ONLY WILL OUR FACTORY INSPECTORS REMIND CONTRACTORS AND SUB-CONTRACTORS OF THE OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES UNDER THE LAW, THEY WILL ALSO PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO SITES WITH POOR ACCIDENT RECORD AND HIGH RISK WORK ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS WORKING AT HEIGHT AND CAISSON WORKS.

"WE WILL ALSO CHECK ON THE SAFE USE OF LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEARS AND THE USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS SAFETY BELTS AND SAFETY HELMETS," HE ADDED.

MR KAN POINTED OUT THAT AS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SAFETY OF SCAFFOLDS IS ONE OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE’S MAIN TARGETS THIS YEAR, FACTORY INSPECTORS WILL EXERCISE GREAT VIGILANCE ON OFFENCES RELATING TO UNSAFE AND SUB-STANDARD SCAFFOLDS.

"ALTHOUGH THE CAMPAIGN IS EDUCATIONAL IN NATURE, WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO TAKE OUT PROSECUTIONS AGAINST BLATANT OFFENDERS," MR KAN SAID.

APART FROM THE HIGH RISK AREAS, ATTENTION WILL ALSO BE PAID ON THE HOUSEKEEPING IN THE SITES, THE IMPROVEMENT OF WHICH WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT IN AVOIDING SITE ACCIDENTS.

MR KAN CALLS ON EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS TO PAY HEED TO THE HOUSEKEEPING OF THEIR SITES.

-----0------

Z5 .........

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1993

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO YOUNG MUSICIANS AND DANCERS * * * * *

NINE TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS AND DANCERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND FOR OVERSEAS TRAINING IN BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES THIS SUMMER.

THEY ARE MR CHAN NGAT-CHAU, MR TAM TZE-FAI, MR TSE TAK-KEI, MISS WONG CHING-YAN, MR WONG SZE-LONG, MISS CHEUNG SAU-MUI, MISS LEE NIM-CHUN, MISS WONG TSUI-LING AND MR YIP KAM-LING.

THEY WERE SELECTED FROM A GROUP OF 41 CANDIDATES AFTER AN AUDITION AND AN INTERVIEW EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE SCHOLARSHIP IS AIMED TO HELP EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVE TRAINING IN POST-DIPLOMA STUDIES AT OVERSEAS INSTITUTES.

MR CHAN NGAT-CHAU, MR TAM TZE-FAI, MR TSE TAK-KEI, MR WONG SZE-LONG AND MISS WONG CHING-YAN WILL PURSUE THEIR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COURSES IN THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN.

MISS CHEUNG SAU-MUI, MISS LEE NIM-CHUN, MISS WONG TSUI-LING AND MISS YIP KAM-LING WILL ATTEND DANCE COURSES IN BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.

THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND, SET UP IN 1980 WITH A DONATION OF $10 MILLION FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB, IS A NON-STATUTORY TRUST FUND FOR THE PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MUSIC, DANCE AND RELATED ACTIVITIES BY WAY OF GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE FUND AND ITS MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DECIDE ON THE DISBURSEMENT OF GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIP TO SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT-MAKING DANCE AND MUSIC ORGANISATIONS AS WELL AS TALENTED INDIVIDUALS.

SALT WATER CUT IN KOWLOON CITY *****

SALT WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN KOWLOON CITY WILL GO OFF FROM 9.30 AM TO 4 PM ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 14) TO FACILITATE CONNECTION WORK ON WATER MAINS.

THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL THE PREMISES AT CARPENTER ROAD, HAU WONG ROAD, NGA TSIN WAI ROAD AND JUNCTION ROAD.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL.: 842 8777

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

ELECTIONS TALKS TO START IN BEIJING .............................. 1

EVERYBODY MUST APPROACH TALKS POSITIVELY ......................... 1

OFFICIALS IN TALKS ............................................... 2

VOLUME AND PRICE MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN JANUARY .... 3

TSING YI CRANE ACCIDENT REGRETTED ................................ 7

OUTLYING ISLANDS SEWERAGE STUDY .................................. 7

AIR QUALITY REPORT FOR MARCH ..................................... 8

RADIO SERIES TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS FAMILY BONDS .................. 9

PAMPHLETS ON NEW SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME PUBLISHED ............... 10

ENTRIES INVITED TO DRAGON BOAT RACES ............................ 11

WATER STORAGE FIGURE ............................................ 11

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND TENDER RESULTS ............... 12

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS,. 13

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

ELECTIONS TALKS TO START IN BEIJING

*****

THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ISSUED AT 1100 HRS. GMT TODAY (TUESDAY) THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

"THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES HAVE AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL, STARTING FROM 22 APRIL, HOLD TALKS IN BEIJING ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994-95 ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, THE PRINCIPLE OF CONVERGENCE WITH THE BASIC LAW AND THE RELEVANT AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL BE SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO CHINA. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL BE MR JIANG ENZHU, VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS."

--------o ----------

EVERYBODY MUST APPROACH TALKS POSITIVELY

*****

THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING THAT EVERYBODY MUST NOW LOOK FORWARD IN A VERY POSITIVE SPIRIT AND WELCOME THE TALKS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS SCHEDULED TO START ON APRIL 22 IN BEIJING.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, SIR DAVID SAID: " WE’VE BEEN TRYING HARD TO HAVE THESE TALKS AND I’M DELIGHTED THAT WE MANAGE TO REACH AGREEMENT WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH SIDES ON THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE TALKS.

"WE HOPE THAT WE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE FAIR AND OPEN AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND WHICH WILL PROVIDE CONTINUITY THROUGH 1997 WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A KEY FACTOR ALSO.

"OUR PLAN FROM HERE IS THAT SIR ROBIN MCLAREN WILL RETURN WITH THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEKEND. WE PLAN TO HAVE TALKS WITH OFFICIALS ON SUNDAY AND ALSO WITH MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BEFORE THE TEAM TRAVELS TO BEIJING NEXT WEEK."

ASKED ABOUT HONG KONG’S ROLE IN THE TALKS, SIR DAVID SAtD: "THE HONG KONG OFFICIALS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE SAME WAY AS THEY PARTICIPATED IN PREVIOUS TALKS.

"IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT HONG KONG OFFICIALS WILL BE SUPPORTING SIR ROBIN MCLAREN AS MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WHICH IS GOING TO BEIJING."

SIR DAVID ADDED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND TO PARTICIPATE AS ANY MEMBER OF A TEAM IN THAT SENSE.

/TN REPLY .......

TUESDAY. APRIL 13, 1993

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHETHER THE FOUR OFFICIALS HAD THE SAME STATUS AS SIR ROBIN, SIR DAVID SAID: "THE LEADER IS ALWAYS A LEADER OF ANY TEAM AND THAT IS THE CASE IN THE JLG OR WHENEVER THERE ARE TALKS AND HE HAS SUPPORTERS.

"THE SUPPORTERS ARE THE SUPPORTERS WHO COME FROM HONG KONG AND FROM LONDON AND, IN THIS CASE, THERE’S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HONG KONG SUPPORT TEAM AND THE LONDON SUPPORT TEAM.

"AND THEY WILL BE FULLY PARTICIPATING IN THE TALKS AND THAT IS THE PATTERN WHICH HAS BEEN WELL ESTABLISHED IN THE PAST AND THERE'S NOTHING DIFFERENT HAPPENING THIS TIME."

RESPONDING TO A QUESTION AS TO HOW LONG THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COULD WAIT BEFORE TABLING THE BILL INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID: "IT REMAINS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO REACH AN EARLY AGREEMENT SO THAT ANY AGREEMENT CAN BE PUT INTO LEGISLATIVE FORM.

"IT CAN BE THEN INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DISCUSSED AND HOPEFULLY AGREED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THIS SESSION. THAT REMAINS OUR AIM AND OUR WISH."

ON CONSULTATION WITH LEGCO IN THE COURSE OF DISCUSSIONS, SIR DAVID SAID IT WOULD NOT BE PROPER OR NORMAL DURING NEGOTIATIONS OF THIS TYPE TO REVEAL THE CONTENTS OF THOSE WHILE THEY WERE IN PROGRESS.

"THIS IS AGAIN NOTHING UNUSUAL. BUT I THINK WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR IDEA OF THE VARIOUS VIEWS AND THEY WILL CERTAINLY BE IN OUR MIND AS WE ENTER INTO THESE TALKS," HE ADDED.

OFFICIALS IN TALKS

* ♦ * i *

IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM A NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS TODAY ON WHO WILL SUPPORT SIR ROBIN MCLAREN IN THE TALKS, A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID, SIR ROBIN WILL BE SUPPORTED BY MR MICHAEL SZE, SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR WILLIAM EHRMAN, POLITICAL ADVISER, MR PETER RICKETTS, HEAD OF THE HONG KONG DEPARTMENT OF THE FCO, AND MR PETER LA I, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS.

IN RESPONSE TO FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM MANY REPORTERS REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE HONG KONG OFFICIALS AT THE TALKS, WHETHER THEY WOULD BE FULL MEMBERS OR ADVISERS AND EXPERTS, A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: ’’THEY WILL TAKE PART IN THE TALKS IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS THEY HAVE DONE IN PREVIOUS NEGOTIATIONS."

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

VOLUME AND PRICE MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN JANUARY ******

THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR WAS 3.3% HIGHER THAN A YEAR EARLIER, ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS RECORDED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF 28%.

TAKING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER, THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 21%. IMPORTS INCREASED BY 16% IN VOLUME.

THE GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE IS DERIVED FROM THE GROWTH IN TRADE VALUES WITH THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES BEING DISCOUNTED.

AS REGARDS PRICE CHANGES OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS DECREASED BY 0.5% AND 1.5% RESPECTIVELY. IMPORT PRICE DECREASED BY 2.0%.

PRICE CHANGES ARE REFLECTED BY CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE INDICES, WHICH ARE COMPILED BASED ON AVERAGE UNIT VALUES OR, FOR CERTAIN COMMODITIES, BASED ON SPECIFIC PRICE DATA.

THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX, DEFINED AS THE RATIO OF TOTAL EXPORT PRICE INDEX TO IMPORT PRICE INDEX, INCREASED BY 0.8% IN JANUARY 1993 OVER JANUARY 1992.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED IN INTERPRETING THE CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE FOR A SINGLE MONTH AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH YEAR WHICH MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE TIMING OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

COMPARING THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1993 WITH THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1992, THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS DECREASED BY 1.2% WHILE THAT OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 24%. THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS GREW BY 19%.

THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF

EXPORTS BY PRINCIPAL COMMODITY GROUP ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.

DOMESTIC

COMPARING JANUARY 1993 WITH JANUARY 1992, COMMODITY GROUPS WHICH RECORDED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCLUDED TEXTILE FABRICS (+61%); ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+40%); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (+34%); RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (+32%); AND METAL ORES AND SCRAP (+32%).

ON THE OTHER HAND, CONSIDERABLE DECREASES IN THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE RECORDED FOR TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES (-53%); DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (-39%); AND FOOTWEAR (-36%).

AS REGARDS DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICES, COMMODITY GROUPS WHICH RECORDED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES INCLUDED FOOTWEAR (+6.8); AND TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (+5.8%).

ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICES WERE RECORDED FOR RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (-9.4%); METAL ORES AND SCRAP (-5.8%); AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (-5.2%).

/THE CHANGES .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 2.

THE IMPORT VOLUME OF FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY 22% IN JANUARY 1993 AS COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1992.

SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE RECORDED FOR THE IMPORT VOLUME OF SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL, VEGETABLE OIL AND LARD; MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE AND EGGS; LIVE POULTRY; AND FRUIT.

HOWEVER, CONSIDERABLE DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF WHEAT AND FLOUR; AND ANIMALS OF THE BOVINE SPECIES.

OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF CONSUMER GOODS INCREASED BY 11%.

COMMODITY ITEMS WITH CONSIDERABLE INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME INCLUDED PASSENGER MOTOR CARS; MISCELLANEOUS MADE-UP ARTICLES OF TEXTILE MATERIALS; AND FOOTWEAR.

HOWEVER, DECREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE NOTED FOR TOBACCO MANUFACTURES; AND CAMERAS, FLASHLIGHT APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

THE IMPORT VOLUME OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES INCREASED BY 20% IN JANUARY 1993 AS COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1992.

SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE NOTED FOR SPECIAL TEXTILE FABRICS FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSE; WOVEN FABRICS OF WOOL AND MIXTURES; RAW COTTON; AND WOVEN COTTON FABRICS.

HOWEVER, CONSIDERABLE DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF YARN OF WOOL AND MIXTURES; AND MAN-MADE FIBRES.

IMPORTS OF FUELS INCREASED BY 12% IN VOLUME IN JANUARY 1993 AS COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1992.

AS REGARDS CAPITAL GOODS, THE IMPORT VOLUME INCREASED BY 18% IN JANUARY 1993 OVER JANUARY 1992.

NOTABLE INCREASES WERE RECORDED FOR THE IMPORT VOLUME OF CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY; OFFICE MACHINES; AND TEXTILE MACHINERY.

COMPARING JANUARY 1993 WITH JANUARY 1992, THE IMPORT PRICES OF FUELS AND CAPITAL GOODS INCREASED BY 3.6% AND 1.1% RESPECTIVELY.

THE IMPORT PRICES OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES; CONSUMER GOODS AND FOODSTUFFS DECREASED BY 4.6%, 1.2% AND 0.8%

RESPECTIVELY.

THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 3.

COMPARING JANUARY 1993 WITH JANUARY 1992, THE VOLUME OF REEXPORTS OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED: FOODSTUFFS (+61%); CAPITAL GOODS (+30%); RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES (+29%); CONSUMER GOODS (+26%); AND FUELS (+3.3%).

/OVER THE ........

TUESDAY. APRIL 13, 1993

OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE PRICES OF RE-EXPORTS OF CAPITAL GOODS AND FUELS INCREASED BY 1.7% AND 0.3% RESPECTIVELY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE RE-EXPORT PRICES OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES; FOODSTUFFS; AND CONSUMER GOODS DECREASED BY 4.6%, 2.5% AND 0.8%.

DETAILS OF THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE JANUARY 1993 ISSUE OF THE ’’HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS".

THE REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON SALE AROUND APRIL 15 AT $8.5 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AND THE PUBLICATIONS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON THE 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE REPORT MAY BE MADE OF THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG (TEL 842 8802) AND ENQUIRIES ON TRADE INDICES TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL 582 4918).

TABLE 1 : CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY PRINCIPAL COMMODITY GROUP

COMPARING JAN 1993

WITH JAN 1992

COMMODITY GROUP VALUE % UNIT VALUE % VOLUME %

CLOTHING 5.9 2.5 3.4

TEXTILE FABRICS 61.1 0.1 60.9

TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD 2.6 -4.3 7.3

TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES 42.3 5.8 34.3

RADIOS OF ALL KINDS 19.6 -9.4 31.8

ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 32.9 -5.2 40.3

FOOTWEAR -31 .3 6.8 -35.7

METAL MANUFACTURES -6.6 -2.9 -3.8

METAL ORES AND SCRAP 24.1 -5.8 31.7

WATCHES AND CLOCKS -14.0 -1 .5 -12.7

TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES -53.7 -2.2 -52.6

DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES -41.0 -3.5 -38.9

ALL COMMODITIES 2.7 -0.5 3.3

/TABLE 2 .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

TABLE 2 : CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY

COMPARING JAN 1993

WITH JAN 1992

UNIT

END-USE CATEGORY VALUE % VALUE VOLUME

% %

FOODSTUFFS 20.7 -0.8 21.8

CONSUMER GOODS 9.5 -1.2 10.9

RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES 14.6 -4.6 20.1

FUELS 15.6 3.6 11.6

CAPITAL GOODS 18.8 1.1 17.5

ALL COMMODITIES 13.3 -2.0 15.6

TABLE 3 : CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY

COMPARING JAN 1993

WITH JAN 1992

UNIT

END-USE CATEGORY VALUE VALUE VOLUME

% % %

FOODSTUFFS 57.0 -2.5 61.0

CONSUMER GOODS 24.9 -0.8 25.9

RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES 23.3 -4.6 29.2

FUELS 3.6 0.3 3.3

CAPITAL GOODS 32.5 1.7 30.3

ALL COMMODITIES 26.0 -1.5 28.0

n.....

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

TSING YI CRANE ACCIDENT REGRETTED ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦

THE GOVERNMENT DEEPLY REGRETS THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF TWO WORKERS WHEN A CRANE COLLAPSED ON THE TSING YI SITE OF THE TSING MA BRIDGE PROJECT THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, WHO VISITED THE SITE WITH OFFICIALS OF THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECTS COORDINATION OFFICE TO RECEIVE AN INITIAL BRIEFING ON THE ACCIDENT.

"IT APPEARS THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURED WHILE THE CRANE WAS BEING TESTED PRIOR TO USE, WITH A CERTIFIED CRANE SURVEYOR IN ATTENDANCE,” MR BLAKE SAID.

’’THE WORKERS, THE CRANE OPERATOR AND AN ELECTRICIAN, WERE IN THE CABIN OF THE CRANE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED,” HE ADDED.

PERSONNEL FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WERE ON HAND TO INTERVIEW WITNESSES AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE TEST.

A DETAILED INVESTIGATION IS BEING CARRIED OUT TO ASCERTAIN THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.

0 - - - -

OUTLYING ISLANDS SEWERAGE STUDY

*****

A SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN STUDY BEGINS TODAY (TUESDAY) TO INVESTIGATE THE POLLUTION PROBLEMS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE PROVISION OF SEWERAGE FACILITIES ON THE OUTLYING ISLANDS.

THE AREAS TO BE STUDIED INCLUDE LANTAU, LAMMA, CHEUNG CHAU, PENG CHAU AND OTHER SMALL ISLANDS IN THE VICINITY WHICH ARE LARGELY UNSEWERED EXCEPT FOR THE RURAL TOWNSHIPS ON CHEUNG CHAU, MUI WO, PENG CHAU AND TAI 0.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WHICH COMMISSIONED THE STUDY SAID: "THE COASTAL WATERS AT SOME ENCLOSED BAYS SUCH AS SOK KWU WAN AND YUNG SHUE WAN OF LAMMA ISLAND AND WATERS AROUND PENG CHAU IS SHOWING SIGNS OF DETERIORATION."

"IT IS CAUSED BY DOMESTIC SEWAGE BEING DISCHARGED TO THE COASTAL WATERS VIA WATERCOURSES AND SURFACE WATER SYSTEMS," HE SAID.

HE SAID THE STUDY WOULD ASSESS THE ADEQUACY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE EXISTING SEWERAGE FACILITIES AND RECOMMEND REMEDIAL WORKS.

"THE ASSESSMENT WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED FOR IMPROVING AND EXPANDING THE EXISTING FACILITIES TO COPE WITH THE UNSEWERED AREAS AND THE DEVELOPMENTS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE RURAL TOWNSHIPS."

"A SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED AND A PRIORITISED PROGRAMME FOR PROGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NECESSARY ENGINEERING WORKS WILL BE PREPARED."

/"EMPHASIS WILL .......

TUESDAY. APRIL 13, 1993

"EMPHASIS WILL BE GIVEN TO ACHIEVING EARLY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ISLAND WATERCOURSES AND TO PROTECTING THE WATERS IN THE SOUTHERN AND NORTH WESTERN WATER CONTROL ZONES," HE ADDED.

THE STUDY, AT A COST OF $11 MILLION, WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN TWO PHASES AND BE COMPLETED IN 18 MONTHS.

-----0--------

AIR QUALITY REPORT FOR MARCH it***

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) RELEASED AIR QUALITY INFORMATION FOR MARCH.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED OF THE AIR QUALITY LEVELS IN THE TERRITORY AND TO EXPLAIN THE MEASUREMENTS.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT NORMALLY CONTAINS MONITORING RESULTS OBTAINED AT ITS MONG KOK, CENTRAL/WESTERN AND KWAI CHUNG MONITORING STATIONS.

THESE LOCATIONS ARE TYPICAL OF THREE OF THE IMPORTANT LAND USE TYPES FOUND IN THE TERRITORY:

* LOCATIONS CLOSE TO ROAD TRAFFIC IN BUILT-UP URBAN DISTRICTS,

* COMBINED COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, AND

* DISTRICTS CLOSE TO INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

THE REPORTED AIR POLLUTANTS INCLUDE SULPHUR DIOXIDE (SO2), NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2), RESPIRABLE SUSPENDED PARTICULATES (RSP) AND TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATES (TSP).

THE GASEOUS POLLUTANTS ARE MONITORED CONTINUOUSLY WHILE PARTICLE SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED FOR 24 HOURS, ONCE EVERY SIX DAYS.

MARCH WAS A COMPARATIVELY UNEVENTFUL MONTH IN TERMS OF AIR QUALITY. LEVELS OF ALL THE REPORTED POLLUTANTS WERE BELOW THE 24-HOUR HONG KONG AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVE VALUES.

HOWEVER, AT MONG KOK, THE LEVELS OF TSP WERE A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THE AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVE VALUE.

THE LEVELS OF PARTICLES IN THE AIR WERE AGAIN HIGHER AT MONG KOK THAN AT THE OTHER TWO STATIONS. TSP CONCENTRATIONS AT MONG KOK AND KWAI CHUNG WERE HIGHER THAN IN THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.

THE FOUR POLLUTANTS HAVE DIFFERENT ORIGINS. SO2 MOSTLY ORIGINATES FROM THE COMBUSTION OF SULPHUR CONTAINING FOSSIL FUELS.

NO2 IS FORMED EITHER DIRECTLY DURING COMBUSTION OR, BY THE ATMOSPHERIC OXIDATION OF NITRIC OXIDE (NO) WHICH IS ALSO PRODUCED DURING COMBUSTION.

/VEHICLE EXHAUST ........

TUESDAY. APRIL 13, 1993

VEHICLE EXHAUST IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF NO AND NO2. IT IS ALSO A MAJOR SOURCE OF AIRBORNE PARTICLES; OTHER SOURCES INCLUDE INDUSTRY, FURNACES AND BOILERS, CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, THE SEA AND SOIL DUST.

THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY MONITORS AIR QUALITY CONTINUOUSLY AT 11 STATIONS, INCLUDING THE THREE MENTIONED ABOVE. SHORT-TERM MEASUREMENT CAMPAIGNS ARE ALSO UNDERTAKEN AS AND WHERE THE NEED ARISES.

RADIO SERIES TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS FAMILY BONDS * * * * *

A 14-WEEK RADIO SERIES ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WILL BE ON AIR ON RTHK’S RADIO 5 EVERY WEEKEND, STARTING FROM NEXT SATURDAY (APRIL 24) .

THE HOUR-LONG PROGRAMME, ENTITLED "HARMONIOUS LIFE", WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE THROUGH AM 783 AT 11 AM.

"EXPERIENCED FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WORKERS WILL BE INVITED TO GIVE ADVICE ON MAINTAINING HAPPY FAMILY RELATIONS," CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, MISS CHUNG WOON-CHEUNG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

THE SERIES WILL ALSO FOCUS ON WAYS TO SUSTAIN HAPPY MARRIAGE, EFFECTIVE PARENTING, ADVICE FOR YOUTHS AND MEANS TO UPHOLD HARMONIOUS RELATIONS AMONG THREE GENERATIONS.

AUDIENCE WILL ALSO HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING ATTRACTIVE PRIZES BY PHONING IN THE PROGRAMME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, MISS CHUNG WOON-CHEUNG, AND AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF RTHK’S RADIO 5, MR YIP SAI-HUNG, WILL ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT RTHK’S STUDIO ONE, BROADCASTING HOUSE, 30 BROADCAST DRIVE, KOWLOON.

YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 3 PM ON THURSDAY (APRIL 15).

/10.........

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

PAMPHLETS ON NEW SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME PUBLISHED

* * * * *

A PAMPHLET HAS BEEN PUBLISHED TO INTRODUCE DETAILS OF A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH WILL COME INTO OPERATION IN JULY, A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

"COPIES OF THE PAMPHLET ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM ALL SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE NEW SCHEME WOULD ENSURE THAT THOSE IN NEED WOULD RECEIVE MORE ASSISTANCE, AS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS POLICY SPEECH LAST OCTOBER, HE SAID.

PAYMENTS TO RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES HAVE BEEN RAISED FOLLOWING A NINE PER CENT REVISION THIS MONTH.

"UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, THE MONTHLY PAYMENT TO ALL CLIENTS IN GENERAL WILL BE IMPROVED IN REAL TERMS BY BETWEEN FOUR PER CENT AND 37 PER CENT," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THAT WOULD BE ABOVE THE REGULAR ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION, HE STRESSED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT SUPPLEMENTS AND SPECIAL GRANTS WOULD BE INCREASED BY THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE.

AS REGARDS SPECIAL GRANTS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY THE AMOUNT ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANTS’ NEEDS, INCLUDING SCHOOL FEES, TEXT BOOKS, DENTURES AND GLASSES," HE SAID.

AT PRESENT, ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING TWO SEPARATE PAYMENTS ON DIFFERENT DAYS AT BANKS AND POST OFFICES.

HE SAID THE PRACTICE HAD CAUSED INCONVENIENCE TO THEM.

"UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, THE PRACTICE WILL BE STREAMLINED, GRANTING ONE STANDARD RATE PAYMENT TO OUR CLIENTS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE ANY QUERIES ON THE NEW SCHEME MAY APPROACH THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OR CALL THE DEPARTMENT’S HOTLINE 343 2255.

/Il ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

ENTRIES INVITED TO DRAGON BOAT RACES

*****

ENTRIES ARE NOW INVITED TO THIS YEAR’S SHA TIN DISTRICT DRAGON BOAT RACES.

ORGANISED BY THE SHA TIN SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE RACES WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 24 ON THE SHING MUN RIVER.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY), DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DAVID BROWNING, SAID THE EVENT HAD BECOME AN IMPORTANT DISTRICT ATTRACTION SINCE IT WAS FIRST HELD IN 1984.

HE SAID A RECORD 139 TEAMS TOOK PART IN THE RACES LAST YEAR, MAKING IT THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE TERRITORY.

"THE SHA TIN COMMUNITY TAKES PRIDE IN THE SUCCESS OF THESE RACES AND FULLY SUPPORTS THEM," MR BROWNING ADDED.

CHAIRMAN OF THE RACES’ ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR HO SAU-MO, SAID COMPETITIONS WOULD BE DIVIDED INTO THREE DIVISIONS: MEN’S DIVISION, MEN’S MINI-BOAT DIVISION AND WOMEN’S MINI-BOAT DIVISION.

THIS YEAR A TOTAL OF 96 TEAMS WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PART.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM SHA TIN SPORTS ASSOCIATION ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF SAU CHUEN HOUSE, LEK YUEN ESTATE. THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS APRIL 24.

ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE OF THE ASSOCIATION ON 691 5657.

WATER STORAGE FIGURE

*****

STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (TUESDAY) STOOD AT 51.3 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 300.561 MILLION CUBIC METRES.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 262.037 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 44.7 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.

/12

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

- 12 -

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND TENDER RESULTS *****

TENDER DATE 13 APR 93 13 APR 93 PAPER ON OFFER EF BILLS EF BILLS ISSUE NUMBER Q315 H362 AMOUNT APPLIED HK$3,698 MN HK42.350 MN AMOUNT ALLOTTED HKS1.000 MN HK44OO MN AVERAGE YIELD ACCEPTED 2.87 PCT 3.05 PCT HIGHEST YIELD ACCEPTED 2.87 PCT 3.06 PCT PRO RATA RATIO ABOUT 100 PCT ABOUT 59 PCT AVERAGE TENDER YIELD 2.92 PCT 3.10 PCT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

TENDERS TO BE HELD IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 19 APR 1993 - TENDER DATE 20 APR 93 20 APR 93 PAPER ON OFFER EF BILLS EF BILLS ISSUE NUMBER Q316 Y388 ISSUE DATE 21 APR 93 21 APR 93 MATURITY DATE 21 JULY 93 20 APR 94 TENOR 91 DAYS 364 DAYS AMOUNT ON OFFER HKSl.OOO + 200 MN HKS200 + 60 MN

-----0------

/13 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,290

REVERSAL OF LAF +860

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -790

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,360

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 112.4 *-0.5* 13.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF TERMS BILLS YIELD TERM ISSUE HONG KONG COUPON GOVERNMENT BONDS

PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.58 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.45 3.23

1 MONTH 2.66 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.31 3.40

3 MONTHS 2.82 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.66 3.57

6 MONTHS 3.03 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.74 3.80

12 MONTHS 3.20 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 9,553MN

CLOSED 13 APRIL 1993

--------0------------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

CAR PARK MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS AWARDED .......................... 3

CIGARETTE TAR AND NICOTINE YIELDS DROP ......................... 2

TWO CAR PARK SITES TO LET ...................................... 3

AIDS FUNDING SCHEME INVITES ENTRIES ............................ 3

STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY ON MOVE .................... 4

FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET ON FRIDAY ............................ 5

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS .. 6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1993

CAR PARK MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS AWARDED ♦ * * * *

THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD HAS AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF A PACKAGE OF SEVEN GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS TO THE WHARF (HOLDINGS) LTD.

THESE ARE THE STAR FERRY, CITY HALL, MURRAY ROAD, ABERDEEN, MIDDLE ROAD, KWAI FONG AND TSUEN WAN TRANSPORT COMPLEX CAR PARKS, WITH A TOTAL OF 4,039 PARKING SPACES.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD ALSO AWARDED A CONTRACT TO MANAGE AND OPERATE ANOTHER PACKAGE OF SEVEN OTHER GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS TO WILSON PARKING (HONG KONG) LTD.

THESE ARE THE GARDEN ROAD, RUMSEY STREET, SHAU KEI WAN, TIN HAU, YAU MA TEI, SHEUNG FUNG STREET AND THE TSUEN WAN MTR STATION CAR PARKS WHICH HAVE 4,135 PARKING SPACES.

WILSON PARKING (HONG KONG) LTD WAS ALSO AWARDED THE CONTRACT TO PRODUCE, MARKET AND SELL GOVERNMENT TUNNEL TICKETS IN ALL ITS OUTLETS.

THE NEW CONTRACTS WILL LAST FOUR YEARS STARTING FROM MAY 1, 1993.

OPEN TENDERS FOR THESE CONTRACTS WERE INVITED ON JANUARY 8 AND THE CLOSING DATE WAS FEBRUARY 19.

THIS IS THE THIRD TENDER EXERCISE SINCE THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS WERE CONTRACTED OUT IN 1984 .

ALL PREVIOUS CONTRACTS HAD BEEN AWARDED TO WILSON PARKING (HONG KONG) LTD.

IN SELECTING THE CONTRACTORS, THE GOVERNMENT TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION A HOST OF FACTORS INCLUDING THE BIDDING PRICE, THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE OF THE TENDERERS IN CAR PARK MANAGEMENT, AND THE FINANCIAL STRENGTH OF THE TENDERERS.

UNDER THE CONTRACT TERMS, THE GOVERNMENT RETAINS THE AUTHORITY IN APPROVING PARKING FEES. THE CONTRACTORS ARE PAID A MANAGEMENT FEE IN THE FORM OF A PERCENTAGE OF THE GROSS REVENUE FROM CAR PARK OPERATIONS TENDERED FOR BY THE CONTRACTORS.

UNDER THE CONTRACT, THE OPERATORS ARE ALLOWED TO PUT UP ADVERTISEMENTS ON THE EXTERNAL WALLS OF THE CAR PARK BUILDINGS, SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT’S APPROVAL.

PROCEEDS FROM ADVERTISING INCOME WILL BE SHARED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CONTRACTORS AS IF THEY WERE PARKING REVENUES.

/A SPOKESMAN .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1993

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THE DECISION TO SPLIT THE CONTRACT TO MANAGE AND OPERATE THE 14 GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS INTO TWO PACKAGES WAS TO ENCOURAGE PRICE AND SERVICE COMPETITION BETWEEN OPERATORS.

THIS DECISION ALSO TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION COMMENTS FROM THE MOTORISTS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

A TOTAL OF NINE COMPANIES REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY OF CAR PARK OPERATORS IN HONG KONG TENDERED FOR THE CONTRACTS.

-----0------

CIGARETTE TAR AND NICOTINE YIELDS DROP *****

THE AVERAGE TAR YIELD AMONG THE 105 BEST-SELLING CIGARETTES IN HONG KONG BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND DECEMBER LAST YEAR WAS 13.2 MILLIGRAM (MG) PER CIGARETTE, DOWN 1.2 MG OR NINE PER CENT FROM THE PREVIOUS ANALYSIS.

THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT’S LATEST REVIEW OF TAR AND NICOTINE YIELDS OF CIGARETTES.

THE AVERAGE NICOTINE YIELD ALSO DROPPED BY 0.4 MG PER CIGARETTE TO 0.82 MG.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THIS REVIEW WAS THE FIRST ONE COMPLETED SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW PROHIBITION AGAINST SALE OF CIGARETTES WITH A TAR CONTENT EXCEEDING 20 MG PER CIGARETTE.

"THE DECREASES IN TAR AND NICOTINE CONTENTS ARE PROPERLY ATTRIBUTED TO ACTION TAKEN BY MANUFACTURERS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR PRODUCTS COMPLY WITH THE NEW LEGAL REQUIREMENT," THE SPOKESMAN NOTED.

"THERE HAS BEEN A ONE-YEAR GRACE PERIOD UNTIL FEBRUARY 1 THIS YEAR FOR MANUFACTURERS TO ADJUST TO THE NEW REQUIREMENT.

"AFTER THAT DATE, THE MANUFACTURER MUST EITHER LOWER THE TAR CONTENT FURTHER OR WITHDRAW THE PRODUCT FROM THE MARKET," HE ADDED.

AMONG THE 105 BRANDS OF CIGARETTES SAMPLED, TWO BRANDS HAD AN AVERAGE TAR YIELD OF SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 20 MG PER CIGARETTE.

THE FULL REPORT OF THIS REVIEW WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST EDITION OF "CHOICE” MAGAZINE.

THE NEXT REVIEW IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL NEXT YEAR.

-----0------

/3 .........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1993

- 3 -

TWO CAR PARK SITES TO LET

*****

THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF TWO PIECES OF GOVERNMENT LAND.

THE FIRST LOT IS LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF FUNG TAK ROAD AND LUNG POON STREET, DIAMOND HILL, KOWLOON.

IT HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 7,100 SQUARE METRES AND IS INTENDED FOR FEE-PAYING PUBLIC CAR PARKING AREA FOR VEHICLES (EXCLUDING CONTAINER VEHICLES WITH THEIR TRAILERS/CHASSIS ATTACHED).

THE TENANCY IS FOR TWO YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.

THE SECOND LOT IS IN AREA 7, TSING CHIN STREET, TSING YI, NEW TERRITORIES.

WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 6,450 SQUARE METRES, THE LAND IS ALSO FOR A PUBLIC FEE-PAYING CAR PARK FOR VEHICLES EXCLUDING CONTAINER TRACTORS AND TRAILERS.

THE TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON APRIL 30.

FORMS OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT:

* THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KWAI TSING, 10TH FLOOR, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN;

* 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.

----------o-------------

AIDS FUNDING SCHEME INVITES ENTRIES

*****

IN A BID TO MOBILISE STUDENTS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY ON AIDS (CEPAIDS) IS INVITING ENTRIES FROM EIGHT INSTITUTIONS TO AN "ACTION ON AIDS" FUNDING SCHEME.

THE EIGHT INSTITUTIONS ARE: CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG; HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE; HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC; HONG KONG SHUE YAN COLLEGE; HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; LINGNAN COLLEGE; THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

/UNDER THE .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1993

UNDER THE SCHEME, EACH STUDENT GROUP OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE MEMBERS FROM AN INSTITUTION IS TO SUBMIT A PROJECT PLAN ON HOW AIDS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAN BE UNDERTAKEN IN THE CAMPUS.

THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHEME IS TO PROMOTE AIDS AWARENESS AMONG STUDENTS AND STAFF OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS, AND THROUGH THEIR PROJECTS, THE PUBLIC.

EXPLAINING THE SCHEME, A SPOKESMAN FOR CEPAIDS SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT ONLY ONE PROJECT PLAN WOULD BE ENDORSED IN EACH INSTITUTION FOR IMPLEMENTATION WITH A SUBSIDY OF $10,000.

"THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT MAY ALSO SEEK SPONSORSHIP FROM OTHER SOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN BUT THE AMOUNT SHOULD NOT EXCEED THE PROJECT FUND PROVIDED BY CEPAIDS.

"INCORPORATION OF ACTIVITIES TARGETING AT THE PUBLIC WILL BE ENCOURAGED," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"IT IS HOPED THAT APPROVED PROJECTS SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT AND COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR," HE ADDED.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW OBTAINABLE FROM THE OFFICES OF STUDENT AFFAIRS OF THE INSTITUTIONS. THE ENTRY DEADLINE IS JUNE 30.

THE BEST THREE PROJECTS WILL EACH BE AWARDED A CASH PRIZE OF $3,000 AND A TROPHY.

ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE OF THE STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICES OF THE INSTITUTIONS, OR MISS YEUNG OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON 710 2924.

--------0-----------

STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY ON MOVE * * * * *

THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY’S OFFICES AT QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES WILL MOVE TO THE SEVENTH AND NINTH FLOORS OF NATIONAL MUTUAL CENTRE, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI ON SATURDAY (APRIL 17) .

THE PRESENT PREMISES ON THE GROUND AND MEZZANINE FLOORS, LOW BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FROM SATURDAY.

BUSINESS WILL RESUME AT THE NEW PREMISES NEXT MONDAY (APRIL 19).

/TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1993

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO

TERTIARY STUDENT FINANCE SCHEMES

802 1666

LOAN REPAYMENT

802 1642

TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS SCHEMES

802 1639

THE AGENCY’S OFFICES CURRENTLY ON THE FIFTH TO SEVENTH FLOORS, CLUB LUSITANO BUILDING, ICE HOUSE STREET WILL MOVE TO NATIONAL MUTUAL CENTRE ON APRIL 24.

FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET ON FRIDAY

******

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A MEETING AT 2.30 PM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 16) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO OBSERVE THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE CHAMBER’S PUBLIC GALLERY. THEY MAY RESERVE SEATS BY CALLING 869 9492.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COPIES OF THE COMMITTEE’S PAPERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE MEDIA FROM 2.30 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE PRESS ROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUILDING. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PAPERS WILL BE EMBARGOED FOR USE UNTIL THE MEETING ENDS.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1993

- 6 -

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,360

REVERSAL OF LAF +7go

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY _345

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,805

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 112.3 *-0.1* 14.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF TERMS BILLS YIELD TERM ISSUE HONG KONG COUPON GOVERNMENT BONDS

PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.27 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.51 3.17

1 MONTH 2.50 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.44 3.30

3 MONTHS 2.70 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.80 3.48

6 MONTHS 2.92 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4 . 75 101.91 3.70

12 MONTHS 3.14 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 22,182MN

CLOSED 14 APRIL 1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL.: 842 8777

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

POLICE LICENSING OFFICE PLEDGES BETTER SERVICE .............. 1

EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY ...................... 2

INTERNATIONAL DRUG SYNDICATE BROKEN ......................... 11

GOVERNMENT/INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS WHOLE COMMUNITY ... 11

FULL BACKING FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ..................... 14

SIR DAVID FORD VISITS ISLANDS DISTRICT ...................... 15

VISITORS CAUGHT FOR BREAKING IMMIGRATION LAW ................ 16

VIETNAMESE SENT HOME ........................................ 17

LONG-SERVING IMMIGRATION STAFF HONOURED ..................... 17

CLOSURE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURE SOUGHT ......................... 17

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

POLICE LICENSING OFFICE PLEDGES BETTER SERVICE

*****

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE PROMISED YET ANOTHER AREA OF EFFECTIVE AND COURTEOUS SERVICE BY THE POLICE IN A LATEST ROUND OF PERFORMANCE PLEDGE BY THE FORCE WHICH COVERS THE LICENSING OFFICE.

THE LICENSING OFFICE, DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF LAW AND ORDER-RELATED LICENCES AND PERMITS, IS ONE OF THE FRONTLINE UNITS WHICH IS FREQUENTED BY THE PUBLIC CONCERNED IN THE CONTEXT OF DAILY LIFE.

THE TYPES OF LICENCES HANDLED BY THE OFFICE RANGE FROM APPLICATIONS FOR LICENCES FOR PUBLIC PROCESSION, PUBLIC MEETINGS, USE OF LOUDSPEAKER IN PUBLIC PLACES TO APPLICATIONS FOR LION/DRAGON/UNICORN DANCE PERMITS.

THE PERFORMANCE TARGETS UNDER THIS PLEDGE ARE EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF THE TIME REQUIRED TO PROCESS THESE APPLICATIONS, WHICH, AS A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID, IS, HOWEVER, VERY MUCH DEPENDENT ON THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IF INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION WAS SUPPLIED, THIS WOULD AFFECT THE TIME REQUIRED TO PROCESS THE APPLICATION.

IN RECENT YEARS, THE OFFICE SAW A CONSIDERABLE GROWTH IN ITS WORKLOAD IN PARTICULAR IN HANDLING APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC PROCESSIONS, PUBLIC MEETINGS AND THE STAGING OF LION DANCES.

LAST YEAR ALONE, THE OFFICE HANDLED 2,000 CASES OF SIMILAR NATURE.

TO TIE IN WITH THIS PERFORMANCE PLEDGE, A TOTAL OF 500,000 COPIES OF A LEAFLET IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE, THEIR ANTICIPATED SERVICE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PROPER CHANNELS TO WHICH COMPLAINTS CAN BE DIRECTED TN CASE OF THE STANDARD OF THESE SERVICES NOT MET.

’’COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME FROM THE PUBLIC AS TO THE WAY IN WHICH THESE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED AND HOW THEY CAN BE FURTHER IMPROVED,” THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

COPIES OF THE LEAFLET CAN BE OBTAINED FROM TODAY AT THE POLICE LICENSING OFFICE (ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ARSENAL STREET, WAN CHAT), ANY POLICE STATION OR DISTRICT OFFICE.

IN ANNOUNCING THE RELATED ARRANGEMENTS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, A POLICE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE PLEDGE BY THE POLICE WAS IN LINE WITH A GOVERNMENT SCHEME LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR WITH A VIEW TO UPGRADING THE ADMINISTRATION’S SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

"THE OBJECTIVE OF OUR PLEDGE IS TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES DELIVERED TO THE PUBLIC BY ENHANCING OPENNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS WELL AS BY DEVELOPING A CLIENT-BASED CULTURE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR," HE STRESSED.

/’’THROUGHOUT ITS ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

"THROUGHOUT ITS IMPLEMENTATION, THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WOULD BE MONITORED INTERNALLY, AND THE RESULT OF WHICH WOULD BE PUBLISHED ANNUALLY," HE ADDED.

IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, THE POLICE MADE A PLEDGE TO DEFINE THE RESPONSE TIME TO ALL REAL EMERGENCY 999 CALLS AND THE TIME REQUIRED TO PROCESS A CERTIFICATE OF NO CRIMINAL CONVICTION.

-----0 ------

EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY

*****

THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) RELEASED THE DETAILED STATISTICS OF EXTERNAL TRADE WITH BREAKDOWN BY COUNTRY AND COMMODITY FOR FEBRUARY.

COMPARING FEBRUARY WITH THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO MALAYSIA, CHINA, SINGAPORE AND TAIWAN RECORDED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES OF 43%, 33%, 21% AND 17% RESPECTIVELY.

OVER THE SAME PERIOD, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO OTHER MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION: THE UNITED KINGDOM (-29%), GERMANY (-25%), THE NETHERLANDS (-22%), CANADA (-22%), THE UNITED STATES (-19%) AND JAPAN (-5.0%).

FOR ALL COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION TAKEN TOGETHER, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR FEBRUARY 1993 DECREASED BY 3.9% OVER FEBRUARY 1992 TO $16,807 MILLION.

THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE 10 MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.

COMPARING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, CHINA AND TAIWAN INCREASED BY 31%, 26%, 19% AND 17% RESPECTIVELY.

HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO OTHER MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION: THE UNITED KINGDOM (-19%), GERMANY (-18%), CANADA (-15%), THE NETHERLANDS (-12%), THE UNITED STATES (-7.5%) AND JAPAN (-6.9%).

FOR ALL COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION TAKEN TOGETHER, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1993 WAS $31,366 MILLION, A SLIGHT DECREASE OF 0.9% AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992.

TABLE 2 SHOWS THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE 10 MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.

COMPARING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1993 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992, INCREASES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE REGISTERED FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $820 MILLION OR 33%); OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING MACHINES (BY $327 MILLION OR 13%); TEXTILES (BY $311 MILLION OR 16%); AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $271 MILLION OR 16%).

/OVER THE

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

OVER THE SAME PERIOD, DECREASES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE RECORDED FOR CLOTHING (BY $1,615 MILLION OR 15%); MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES CONSISTING OF MAINLY PRINTED MATTER (BY $579 MILLION OR 18%); AND PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $260 MILLION OR 9.7%).

THE VALUE OF IMPORTS IN FEBRUARY 1993 WAS $82,848 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 22% OVER THAT IN FEBRUARY 1992.

THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM THE 10 MAJOR SUPPLIERS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 3.

COMPARING FEBRUARY 1993 WITH FEBRUARY 1992, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM ALL THE MAJOR SUPPLIERS: SINGAPORE (+36%), THE UNITED STATES (+30%), GERMANY (+26%), MALAYSIA (+25%), JAPAN (+24%), ITALY (+22%), TAIWAN (+20%), THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (+17%), CHINA (+16%) AND THE UNITED KINGDOM (+12%).

COMPARING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1993 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM ALL THE MAJOR SUPPLIERS INCREASED: MALAYSIA (+30%), THE UNITED STATES (+28%), GERMANY (+27%), SINGAPORE (+26%), ITALY (+22%), TAIWAN (+20%), THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (+17%), JAPAN (+16%), CHINA (+12%) AND THE UNITED KINGDOM (+8.6%).

THE VALUE OF IMPORTS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1993 WAS $146,199 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 18% OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992.

TABLE 4 SHOWS THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS OF THE 10 MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.

COMPARING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1993 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS OF ALL MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.

MORE NOTABLE INCREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $3,850 MILLION OR 33%); ROAD VEHICLES (BY $3,239 MILLION OR 76%); FOOTWEAR (BY $1,795 MILLION OR 41%); TEXTILES ($1,665 MILLION OR 15%); AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1,214 MILLION OR 12%).

THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS IN FEBRUARY 1993, AT $61,564 MILLION, RECORDED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OF 25% OVER FEBRUARY 1992.

THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S RE-EXPORTS TO THE 10 MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 5.

COMPARING FEBRUARY 1993 WITH FEBRUARY 1992, THE VALUE OF REEXPORTS TO CHINA, SINGAPORE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, BY 56%, 34% AND 27% RESPECTIVELY.

THAT TO GERMANY, THE UNITED STATES, FRANCE, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND CANADA ALSO INCREASED, BY 13%, 10%, 6.6%, 6.2%, 3.5% AND 1.0% RESPECTIVELY.

HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO TAIWAN DECREASED BY 2.2%.

/THE VALUE .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1993 WAS 4110,729 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 25% OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992,

COMPARING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1993 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO ALL THE MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION: CHINA (+45%), SINGAPORE (+32%), THE UNITED KINGDOM (+29%), THE UNITED STATES (+18%), FRANCE (+16%), JAPAN (+15%), GERMANY (+14%), CANADA (+8.4%), THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (+6.9%) AND TAIWAN (+3.9%).

TABLE 6 SHOWS THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS OF THE 10 MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.

COMPARING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1993 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS OF ALL MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.

MORE NOTABLE INCREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR ROAD VEHICLES (BY $2,969 MILLION OR 155%); ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $2,545 MILLION OR 40%); FOOTWEAR (BY $2,136 MILLION OR 43%); TEXTILES (BY $1,791 MILLION OR 25%); TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1,777 MILLION OR 27%); AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES CONSISTING OF MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS (BY $1,465 MILLION OR 13%).

ALL THE TRADE STATISTICS 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 VOLUME AND PRICE MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE FOR FEBRUARY 1993 WILL BE RELEASED IN EARLY MAY.

DETAILED TRADE STATISTICS ANALYSED BY COMMODITY AND BY COUNTRY ARE PUBLISHED IN TRADE STATISTICS REPORTS.

THE FEBRUARY 1993 ISSUE OF THE "HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE" WITH DETAILED ANALYSES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL TRADE IN FEBRUARY 1993 WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT $68.5 A COPY AROUND APRIL 23.

THE REPORT IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AND AT THE PUBLICATIONS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON THE 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.

ENQUIRIES REGARDING REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE REPORT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG (TEL 842 8802) AND ENQUIRIES ON TRADE STATISTICS TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL 582 4915) .

/TABLE 1 .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

TABLE 1 : DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE TEN MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION

MAJOR COUNTRY OF DESTINATION FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) FEB 93 OVER FEB 92 (X CHANGE) JAN-FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) JAN-FEB 93 OVER JAN-FEB 92 (X CHANGE)

CHINA 5,261 + 33.3 8,612 + 18.9

UNITED STATES 3,791 - 19.2 7,641 - 7.5

GERMANY 945 - 25.2 1,983 - 18.1

SINGAPORE 893 ♦ 21.3 1,712 ♦ 26.1

JAPAN 861 - 5.0 1,537 - 6.9

UNITED KINGDOM 710 - 28.6 1,479 - 19.0

TAIWAN 491 + 17.2 923 + 17.2

NETHERLANDS 342 - 22.4 744 - 12.1

CANADA 375 - 22.2 740 - 14.8

MALAYSIA 250 + 42.7 426 + 31.3

/TABLE 2 .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

TABLE 2 : DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE TEN MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS

COMMODITY DIVISION FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) FEB 93 OVER FEB 92 (X CHANGE) JAN-FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) JAN-FEB 93 OVER JAN-FEB 92 (X CHANGE)

ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 4,165 - 31.4 9,401 - 14.7

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 1,826 + 35.0 3,290 + 33.2

OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING MACHINES 1,661 4- 19.6 2,901 4 12.7

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PRINTED MATTER) 1,505 - 11.2 2,612 - 18.1

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 1,445 - 7.8 2,409 - 9.7

TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 1,254 - 4.5 2,287 4 15.7

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 1,244 ♦ 45.4 1,926 4 16.4

MANUFACTURES OF METALS 402 - 4.6 682 - 8.2

PLASTICS IN PRIMARY FORMS 267 + 2.2 489 4 3.8

MACHINERY SPECIALIZED FOR PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES 277 ♦ 70.2 486 4 9.1

/TABLE 3 .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

TABLE 3 : IMPORTS FROM THE TEN MAJOR SUPPLIERS

MAJOR SUPPLIER FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) FEB 93 OVER FEB 92 (X CHANGE) JAN-FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) JAN-FEB 93 OVER JAN-FEB 92 (X CHANGE)

CHINA 27,282 4 16.2 51,825 4 12.3

JAPAN 15,333 4 23.6 25,114 4 16.1

TAIWAN 7,477 4 19.7 12,877 4 20.3

UNITED STATES 6,452 + 29.8 11,359 4 27.5

REPUBLIC OF KOREA 3,876 + 16.6 6,667 4 17.0

SINGAPORE 3,643 4 36.2 6,350 4 25.9

GERMANY 2,155 + 26.4 3,670 4 26.7

UNITED KINGDOM 1,792 ♦ 11.8 3,097 4 8.6

ITALY 1,349 4 22.5 2,244 4 22.1

MALAYSIA 1,166 4 24.9 2,080 4 30.3

/TABLE 4 .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

TABLE 4 : IMPORTS OF THE TEN MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS

COMMODITY DIVISION FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) FEB 93 OVER FEB 92 (X CHANGE) JAN-FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) JAN-FEB 93 OVER JAN-FEB 92 (X CHANGE)

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 8,656 4 26.5 15,514 4 33.0

TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 7,599 + 0.5 12,836 4 14.9

ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING

ACCESSORIES 5,777 + 3.3 11,759 4 8.2

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 6,360 ♦ 25.6 11,135 4 12.2

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) 5,576 . 4 13.2 9,926 4 7.1

ROAD VEHICLES 4,473 +101.1 7,511 4 75.8

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 3,858 ♦ 11.4 6,535 4 1.7

FOOTWEAR 3,189 4 18.0 6,124 4 41.5

OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA

PROCESSING MACHINES 2,907 4 20.3 5,176 + 17.8

GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND

EQUIPMENT, AND MACHINE PARTS 2,875 + 62.9 4,683 4 40.9

/TABLE 5 .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

TABLE 5 : RE-EXPORTS TO THE TEN MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION

MAJOR COUNTRY OF DESTINATION FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) FEB 93 OVER FEB 92 (% CHANGE) JAN-FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) JAN-FEB 93 OVER JAN-FEB 92 (X CHANGE)

CHINA 22)363 4 55.9 36,411 4 45.1

UNITED STATES 11,281 4 10.2 21,870 4 17.7

GERMANY 3,002 4 12.7 5,858 4 14.2

JAPAN * 3,037 4 6.2 5,840 ♦ 14.9

TAIWAN 1,948 - 2.2 3,444 4 3.9

UNITED KINGDOM 1,564 4 27.2 3,048 4 28.8

SINGAPORE 1,378 4 34.0 2,466 4 32.0

REPUBLIC OF KOREA 1,270 4 3.5 2,089 4 6.9

FRANCE 940 4 6.6 1,879 4 15.8

CANADA r 920 4 1.0 1,793 4 8.4

/TABLE 6

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

- 10 -

TABLE 6 : RE-EXPORTS OF THE TEN MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS

COMMODITY DIVISION FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) FEB 93 OVER FEB 92 (X CHANGE) JAN-FEB 1993 (HKD Mn ) JAN-FEB 93 OVER JAN-FEB 92 (X CHANGE)

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) 6,661 4 7.6 12,866 4 12.8

ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 5,855 - 10.1 12,520 4 6.7

TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 5,241 4 5.3 8,961 4 25.0

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 5,051 4 38.9 8,913 4 40.0

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 5,010 4 61.5 8,450 4 26.6

FOOTWEAR 3,712 4 11.6 7,160 4 42.5

ROAD VEHICLES 3,032 +227.0 4,882 4155.2

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 2,788 4 17.7 4,616 4 8.6

OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING MACHINES 2,252 + 62.2 4,122 4 44.3

TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS 1,567 4 11.1 3,549 4 3.2

-----0------

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

INTERNATIONAL DRUG SYNDICATE BROKEN

*****

A HONG KONG-BASED INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE WAS SMASHED AFTER A YEAR-LONG JOINT INVESTIGATION BY HONG KONG AND U.S. CUSTOMS.

IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE SYNDICATE HAS BEEN SMUGGLING HEROIN FROM HONG KONG TO THE U.S. BY AIR PARCELS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

TWO MEN AND TWO WOMEN WERE ARRESTED IN THE U.S. IN CONNECTION WITH 1.75 KG OF NO.4 HEROIN SEIZED TN NEW YORK.

THE NO.4 HEROIN IS ESTIMATED TO FETCH A STREET VALUE OF ABOUT US$1.75 MILLION (HK$13.65 MILLION) IN THE U.S.

IN HONG KONG, FIVE MEN AND EIGHT WOMEN HAVE BEEN DETAINED BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS FOR ENQUIRIES.

OF THEM, TWO MEN WILL APPEAR IN EASTERN MAGISTRACY TOMORROW ON EXTRADITION HEARING. THEY ARE A 32-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLAIMED TO BE A HAIR STYLIST AND A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLAIMED TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER.

THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED AFTER QUESTIONING.

----------0-------------

GOVERNMENT/INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS WHOLE COMMUNITY ******

THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T H CHAU, SAID THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG HAD ENCOURAGED INDUSTRY TO ADVANCE AND HAD PROVIDED THE INCENTIVES, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE INFORMATION TO HELP IT DO SO QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG KONG EXPORTERS’ ASSOCIATION THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, MR CHAU SAID INDUSTRY HAD RESPONDED BY DEVELOPING NEW MARKETS, IMPROVING OLD ONES, AND ABOVE ALL, BY MOVING AWAY FROM LOW VALUE BUSINESS INTO HIGH QUALITY, HIGH VALUE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION AND SERVICES THAT RESPONDED TO REGIONAL AND WORLD DEMANDS.

"I BELIEVE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT HERE IN HONG KNG HAS BEEN DYNAMIC, EFFECTIVE AND BENEFICIAL TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY,” MR CHAU STRESSED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PARTNERSHIP BASED NOT UPON GRAND IDEAS AND HOPES, BUT UPON A REALISTIC APPRECIATION OF HONG KONG’S SITUATION, ITS OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS AND A REALISTIC APPRECIATION OF THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY NEEDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.

AMPLIFYING THE ELEMENTS OF THAT PARTNERSHIP, MR CHAU SAID: "HONG KONG’S SITUATION IS THAT WE HAVE NO NATURAL RESOURCES. WE HOLD NO MONOPOLIES ON ANY PARTICULAR PRODUCTS OR TECHNOLOGIES. WE HAVE A LIMITED WORKFORCE. WE ARE A SMALL PLACE, WITH NO SIGNIFICANT LOCAL MARKET FOR OUR MANUFACTURES.”

/’’UNLESS WE .........

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

"UNLESS WE MAKE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO BUY AT PRICES THEY ARE PREPARED TO PAY, WE WILL HAVE NO MANUFACTURES," HE SAID.

MR CHAU NOTED THAT INDUSTRY COULD FLOURISH IN THIS SITUATION BY BEING MORE COMPETITIVE.

"GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT ITS ROLE IS TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH COMPETITIVENESS WILL THRIVE AND EFFORT WILL BE REWARDED. INDUSTRY MUST RECOGNISE THAT ONLY BY BASING ITS STRATEGIES ON IMPROVEMENT, INNOVATION AND WILLINGNESS TO COMPETE WILL IT SUCCEED.

"TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, IT IS NECESSARY TO BE RESPONSIVE TO MARKET SIGNALS. IT IS NECESSARY, TOO, FOR GOVERNMENT TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY," MR CHAU SAID.

RESPONSIVENESS WAS THE SECOND FEATURE OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT, MR CHAU NOTED.

"WE DO NOT JUST TELL INDUSTRY TO BE COMPETITIVE, THEN LEAVE IT TO GET ON WITH ITS BUSINESS IN ISOLATION. INDUSTRY NEEDS LAND, NEEDS TRAINED PEOPLE, NEEDS TECHNOLOGY, NEEDS INFORMATION AND, TO COMPETE EFFECTIVELY IN WORLD MARKETS, NEEDS VIGOROUS DEFENCE AGAINST SPECIAL INTERESTS AND PROTECTIONISM," HE EXPLAINED.

"GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED TO THESE NEEDS IN THE PAST AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF CONTACTS WITH INDUSTRY, CHIEF OF THESE BEING THROUGH THE INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND ITS INDUSTRY SPECIFIC COMMITTEES, THROUGH WHICH PROBLEMS AND SHORTFALLS CAN RAPIDLY BE DETECTED AND SOLUTIONS EXAMINED.

"OUR ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICES OVERSEAS KEEP CAREFUL WATCH ON POLICIES AND ACTIONS IN OTHER PLACES THAT MAY IMPINGE ON HONG KONG INDUSTRY. WHERE THREATS TO FREE COMPETITION APPEAR, WE CHALLENGE THEM ROBUSTLY," HE STRESSED.

TURNING TO THE THIRD FEATURE OF THE PARTNERSHIP, MR CHAU SAID IT WAS ACTIVE AND FORWARD LOOKING.

"GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT FEW OF HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURERS HAVE THE RESOURCES OR EXPERTISE TO INVESTIGATE OR DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PROCESSES FOR THEMSELVES.

"FOR THIS REASON, THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL WAS SET UP AS FAR BACK AS 1967 TO HELP INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES TO LOCAL INDUSTRY.

"NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES REQUIRE LAND FOR NEW TYPES OF FACTORIES, AND REQUIRE PEOPLE WITH NEW SKILLS TO MANAGE AND OPERATE THEM.

"THROUGH THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION, GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PROVIDING LAND BETTER SUITED TO INDUSTRIAL NEEDS.

/"THROUGH THE .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

"THROUGH THE EXPANDING EDUCATION PROGRAMMES OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS, THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND OTHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, WE HAVE BEEN INCREASING THE TECHNOLOGICAL LITERACY OF OUR WORK FORCE, ENCOURAGING AND FUNDING RESEARCH, AND OPENING UP IDEAS TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN MANUFACTURING,” MR CHAU SAID.

"THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAS ESTABLISHED STANDARDS INFORMATION AND CALIBRATION SERVICES THAT RANK WITH THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

"IT HAS BEEN DIRECTING MUCH EFFORT, CO-ORDINATED WITH THE PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATIONS, TRADE BODIES, AND THE HONG KONG QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY THAT IT HAS ESTABLISHED, TO PROMOTE QUALITY AWARENESS, BOTH FOR PRODUCTS AND FOR MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES, SO THAT HONG KONG MANUFACTURES WILL COMMAND EVER HIGHER VALUE IN WORLD MARKETS," MRCHAU SAID.

GOVERNMENT HAS PLANNED AHEAD, AIMING TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG HAS THE ROADS, THE UTILITIES, THE COMMUNICATIONS, THE PORT, THE RAILWAYS AND THE AIRPORT FACILITIES THAT IT NEEDS TO ALLOW BUSINESS TO BE DONE QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY, HE SAID.

ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS BY GOVERNMENT BUT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE MADE PRUDENTLY, MR CHAU NOTED, ADDING THAT EXPENDITURE HAD BEEN LINKED TO GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY AND TAXES WERE KEPT LOW AND SIMPLE SO AS NOT TO REDUCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF INDUSTRY, OR ITS INCENTIVES.

"THE INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THINGS OF LASTING VALUE TO ANY INDUSTRY OR BUSINESS. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HAZARDED ON THE FORTUNES OF ANY PARTICULAR INDUSTRY, OR USED TO PROP UP ANY BUSINESS THAT CAN NO LONGER COMPETE BY ITSELF.

"THIS PRUDENT, EVEN-HANDED APPROACH IS A VITAL PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP. GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THE SOUND FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH INDUSTRY IS WELL REWARDED WHEN THE RISKS IT TAKES ARE SUCCESSFUL, IS ENCOURAGED TO CUT ITS LOSSES QUICKLY AND TRY NEW IDEAS WHEN A RISK FAILS AND IS LEFT FREE TO CHOOSE AND ADAPT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ANY CHANGES AND OPPORTUNITIES," HE SAID.

AS A RESULT OF THIS GOVERNMENT/INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP THE REAL VALUE OF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS HAD RISEN BY OVER 50 PER CENT SINCE 1985.

THE GROWTH IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG FOR CONSUMPTION IN CHINA WAS NOW RUNNING AT OVER TWICE THE RATE OF GROWTH OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING IN CHINA, HE NOTED.

LOOKING FURTHER AFIELD, MR CHAU SAID DESPITE THE LENGTHY RECESSION IN EUROPE AND AMERICA, HONG KONG’S MARKETS THERE HAD HELD FAIRLY STEADY.

"DESPITE OUR INCREASING LABOUR COSTS AND DOMESTIC INFLATION, THE PRICES OF OUR EXPORTS HAVE BEEN KEPT AT COMPETITIVE LEVELS."

/THIS HAD ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

THIS HAD COME PARTLY THROUGH OUTWARD PROCESSING IN CHINA, AND ALSO THROUGH CONTINUING, SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN PRODUCTIVITY, WHICH, TO A LARGE EXTENT, WAS A RESULT OF HIGH LEVELS OF INVESTMENT BY INDUSTRY IN MORE EFFICIENT MACHINERY AND TECHNIQUES, HE SAID.

’’INVESTMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY LAST YEAR WERE AGAIN AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, WHICH PROMISES WELL FOR PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH IN COMING YEARS,” HE SAID.

THE SECRET OF THIS PARTNERSHIP WAS THAT IT WAS NOT ONE THAT PROVIDES A CUSHION FROM REALITY FOR INDUSTRY, NOR ONE THAT HAD BUREAUCRATS DOING INDUSTRY’S THINKING FOR IT, BUT IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP THAT PROMOTES COMPETITION: COMPETITION THAT DELIVERS CHOICE, HOLDS PRICES DOWN, ENCOURAGES INNOVATION AND SERVICE, AND DELIVERS ECONOMIC GROWTH, MR CHAU SAID.

------0-------

FULL BACKING FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ******

THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIES IN RESPONSE TO INCREASING CONSUMER DEMAND FOR HIGH QUALITY GOODS AND RISING COMPETITION FROM NEARBY REGIONS, THE ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF INDUSTRY, MR RICKY FUNG, SAID TONIGHT (THURSDAY).

HE SAID ONE OF THESE MEASURES WAS THE LAUNCHING OF THE APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCHEME IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.

MR FUNG WAS SPEAKING AT THE 32ND ANNIVERSARY-CUM-INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE CHIU CHAU PLASTIC MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION COMPANY LIMITED.

THE AIM OF THE SCHEME IS TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL MANUFACTURERS TO CARRY OUT APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TN ORDER TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIES.

’’OTHER SUPPORTING SERVICES INCLUDE THOSE PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY CENTRE AND THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE WHICH IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED BY THE MIDDLE OF 1994.

’’THESE ORGANISATIONS ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN FUTURE, AND IT IS HOPED THAT THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS, THE TECHNOLOGY LEVEL AND PRODUCT RANGE OF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIES CAN BE PUSHED INTO A NEW REALM," MR FUNG SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY OVER THE YEARS.

AT FIRST FOCUSING ON MANUFACTURING PLASTIC FLOWERS AND SIMPLE HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS IN THE 50’S AND 60’S, HONG KONG HAS NOW BECOME A MAJOR EXPORTING REGION FOR PLASTIC TOYS, HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND OTHER PRODUCTS.

/•’BECAUSE OF.........

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

’’BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION IN PRODUCT TYPES AND COMPETITION FROM NEARBY COUNTRIES, MANUFACTURERS HAVE INSTALLED ADVANCED PRODUCTION MACHINERY IN ADDITION TO RELOCATING LABOUR-INTENSIVE PROCESSES TO SOUTHERN CHINA IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLD MARKET.

’’TODAY, HONG KONG’S PLASTIC INDUSTRY HAS NOT ONLY BECOME A MAJOR EXPORT INDUSTRY, BUT HAS ALSO MAINTAINED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES SUCH AS THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY BY FACILITATING AND SUPPORTING THEIR DEVELOPMENT,” MR FUNG SAID.

------------------0------- SIR DAVID FORD VISITS ISLANDS DISTRICT ******

THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID FORD, WAS UPDATED ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ON PENG CHAU AND CHEUNG CHAU DURING HIS VISIT TO THE ISLANDS DISTRICT THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.

STR DAVID FIRST VISITED PENG CHAU, WHERE HE WAS BRIEFED ON RURAL PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS AND THE IMPACT THE PROPOSED LANTAU PORT DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE ON THE ISLAND.

THE HOUSING ESTATE WILL ACCOMMODATE 1,350 PERSONS IN 148 HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS AND 254 RENTAL FLATS.

WITH A DESIGN MATCHING THE NATURAL RURAL BACKGROUND, THE ESTATE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE ITS FIRST INTAKE OF RESIDENTS IN MID-1995.

SIR DAVID THEN TOURED THE SHOPPING AREA ADJACENT TO WING HING STREET AND WING ON STREET, BEFORE FLYING TO CHEUNG CHAU BY HELICOPTER.

ON CHEUNG CHAU, HE WENT TO TUNG WAN BEACH FOR AN UPDATE ON LOCAL WORKS PROJECTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES BUILT BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE. HE ALSO SHOWED INTEREST IN THE PAK TAI TEMPLE, WHICH WAS BUILT AROUND 1780.

SIR DAVID WAS THEN BRIEFED ON THE SAI WAN RECLAMATION PROJECT. THE PROJECT - SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1995 - AIMS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT ON SOUTH CHEUNG CHAU.

IT WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF EMERGENCY VEHICULAR ACCESS AND A SEWERAGE SYSTEM LINKING SAI WAN WITH THE CENTRAL PART OF THE ISLAND.

AT A TEA RECEPTION AT THE WAN HO KAN CENTRE FOR THE AGED, SIR DAVID MET A GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DISCUSSED LOCAL ISSUES WITH THEM.

HE ALSO VIEWED THE HOLIDAY BUNGALOWS, THE TYPHOON SHELTER AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS ALONG THE PROMENADE OF CHEUNG CHAU.

SIR DAVID WAS ACCOMPANIED ON HIS VISIT BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR ALBERT LAM CHI-CHIU; ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR CHRISTOPHER WONG KWOK-BUN; AND ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAM WAI-KEUNG.

--------o-----------

Z16 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

- 16 -

VISITORS CAUGHT FOR BREAKING IMMIGRATION LAW ♦ * t * *

IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS ARRESTED FIVE TWO-WAY PERMIT VISITORS FOR SUSPECTED BREACHES OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AND AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM CHINA DURING A SERIES OF OPERATIONS YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE VISITORS WERE THREE MEN AND TWO WOMEN AGED BETWEEN 26 AND 65.

TWO OF THEM WERE APPREHENDED IN A FACTORY. ANOTHER TWO WERE ARRESTED IN A RESTAURANT WHILE THE REMAINING ONE WAS FOUND IN A BARBER SHOP.

TWO OF THEM WERE ALSO FOUND TO HAVE OVERSTAYED IN HONG KONG FOR A PERIOD OF THREE AND EIGHT MONTHS.

THE 26-YEAR-OLD FEMALE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, A NATIVE OF HOI FUNG, WAS LOCATED WORKING IN A GARMENT FACTORY IN CHEUNG SHA WAN AREA.

SHF. CLAIMED TO HAVE SNEAKED INTO HONG KONG TWO DAYS AGO.

FIVE HONG KONG RESIDENTS ARE ASSISTING WITH INVESTIGATIONS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

HE REMINDED VISITORS THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE UP ANY EMPLOYMENT, WHETHER PAID OR UNPAID, WITHOUT THE PERMISSION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.

THOSE WHO BREACH THEIR CONDITIONS OF STAY ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND UPON CONVICTION TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.

PEOPLE WHO AID AND ABET OTHERS TO COMMIT THESE OFFENCES ARE ALSO LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND PENALTY, HE SAID.

"ALL EMPLOYERS SHOULD CHECK THE IDENTITY OF THEIR RECRUITS. THEY WILL BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION IF THEY DO NOT OBSERVE THIS LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT.

"IT IS AN OFFENCE TO EMPLOY A PERSON NOT LAWFULLY EMPLOYABLE. THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE IS A FINE OF $250,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE YEARS," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

HE ALSO REFERRED TO A RECENT RULING BY THE COURT OF APPEAL WHICH STATED THAT EMPLOYING ONE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS OR HER STATUS WARRANTED A SENTENCING STARTING POINT OF 15 MONTHS AND THAT TERM SHOULD RAISE WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE UNLAWFUL ENTRANT OR THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF EXPLOITATION.

0 -

/17 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

VIETNAMESE SENT HOME

*****

A GROUP OF 270 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TODAY (THURSDAY) RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNDER THE UNHCR’S VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME.

COMPRISING 110 MEN, 63 WOMEN, 53 BOYS AND 44 GIRLS, THEY WERE THE 148TH BATCH TO GO BACK UNDER THE PROGRAMME.

THE GROUP BROUGHT TO 1,788 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE RETURNED VOLUNTARILY THIS YEAR, AND TO 28,100 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RETURNEES SINCE THE PROGRAMME STARTED IN MARCH 1989.

- 0 -

LONG-SERVING IMMIGRATION STAFF HONOURED

*****

SEVENTY-THREE MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE WERE AWARDED LONG SERVICE INSIGNIA AT A CEREMONY HELD TODAY (THURSDAY) AT THE IMMIGRATION HEADQUARTERS.

AMONG THEM, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MR YEUNG CHUN-KONG AND SIX OTHERS WERE AWARDED THE SECOND CLASPS TO THEIR MEDALS FOR THEIR 30-YEAR DEDICATED SERVICE.

FIRST CLASPS, SIGNIFYING 25 YEARS OF SERVICE, WERE PRESENTED TO PRINCIPAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, MR ANTHONY NG WAI-LEUNG AND MR TANG MAN-KIT AND 12 OTHERS.

ANOTHER 52 OFFICERS, INCLUDING ONE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IMMIGRATION OFFICER, TWO CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, 24 SENIOR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, 21 IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, THREE ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND ONE SENIOR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT, RECEIVED THE HONG KONG DISCIPLINED SERVICES MEDALS.

AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR LAURENCE LEUNG, SAID THE AWARD OF THE HONG KONG SERVICES MEDALS WAS TO HONOUR THOSE WHO HAD RENDERED LONG AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE.

HE CONGRATULATED THE RECIPIENTS AND THANKED THEM FOR THEIR MANY YEARS OF LOYALTY AND DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE.

CLOSURE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURE SOUGHT *****

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE AN UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE IN A BUILDING IN SHAM SHUI PO SO THAT IT CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT CAUSING DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS AND THE PUBLIC.

THE SINGLE-STOREY DOMESTIC STRUCTURE IS ON THE ROOF OF 341 LAI CHI KOK ROAD.

/NOTICE OF

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON JULY 1 UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE WAS POSTED ON THE PREMISES TODAY (THURSDAY).

IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMOLITION WORKS WILL START AS SOON AS THE CLOSURE ORDER IS ISSUED.

--------0-----------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,805

REVERSAL OF LAF 4-345

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -80

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,070

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 112.4 *+0.1* 15.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF TERMS BILLS ISSUE HONG KONG COUPON GOVERNMENT BONDS

YIELD TERM PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.30 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.50 3.17

1 MONTH 2.51 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.41 3.32

3 MONTHS 2.74 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.76 3.50

6 MONTHS 2.96 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.88 3.71

12 MONTHS 3.17 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 9,657MN

CLOSED 15 APRIL 1993

--------0------------

Received by PRO „„ ? 0 APB S93

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL FIGURES FOR DECEMBER .......... 1

COUNCIL SET UP TO MANAGE AIDS TRUST FUND ........................ 5

TWO BANK LICENCES GRANTED ....................................... 6

JUDICIAL OFFICERS (TENURE OF OFFICE) BILL GAZETTED .............. 7

OPERATION TO STAMP OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ....................... 7

BREAKTHROUGH IN BUILDING SAFETY CONCEPT ......................... 8

WAN CHAI BUILDING DECLARED DANGEROUS ............................ 9

SOCIAL WORKERS READY TO HELP NEEDY ............................. 10

RECREATION CLUB FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF ................ 11

SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS PROJECT ON LANTAU ....................... 11

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS..

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL FIGURES FOR DECEMBER ******

CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT FIGURES SHOWED CONTINUED GROWTH IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR OVER A YEAR EARLIER.

MEANWHILE, EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECLINED FURTHER.

THE FALL IN MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT MAINLY REFLECTED THE CONTINUING STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN THE ECONOMY, IN CONNECTION WITH THE RELOCATION OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES TO CHINA.

VACANCIES IN MOST OF THE SERVICE SECTORS RECORDED INCREASES OF VARIOUS MAGNITUDES IN DECEMBER 1992 OVER A YEAR EARLIER.

ON THE OTHER HAND, VACANCIES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND ON CONSTRUCTION SITES FELL FURTHER.

IN THE MONTH, EARNINGS IN ALL MAJOR SECTORS CONTINUED TO SHOW FURTHER INCREASES IN MONEY TERMS OVER A YEAR EARLIER.

AFTER ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION, THERE WAS STILL AN INCREASE IN REAL TERMS FOR AVERAGE EARNINGS IN THESE SECTORS. THE REAL INCREASE WAS PARTICULARLY NOTABLE IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

THERE WERE 565,100 PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN DECEMBER 1992, REPRESENTING A DECREASE OF 10.2% FROM DECEMBER 1991.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, AT 914,800 IN DECEMBER 1992, WAS 4.9% HIGHER THAN IN DECEMBER 1991.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR, AT 314,500, WAS UP BY 6.3%.

EMPLOYMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES, AT 59,500, WAS 0.3% HIGHER THAN IN DECEMBER 1991.

THE EMPLOYMENT FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1992 IN SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS, WITH COMPARISONS WITH THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1991 AND SEPTEMBER 1992, ARE:

/PERSONS ENGAGED ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

PERSONS ENGAGED (EMPLOYMENT) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DEC 91 SEPT 92 DEC 92 DEC 92 OVER DEC 92 OVER DEC 91 SEPT 92

MANUFACTURING 629,200 571,200 565,100 -10.2 -1.1

CONSTRUCTION 59,300 (MANUAL WORKERS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES ONLY) 63,400 59,500 + 0.3 -6.2

WHOLESALE, RETAIL 871,900 AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 906,900 914,800 + 4.9 + 0.9

FINANCING, 295,900 INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES 307,500 314,500 + 6.3 + 2.3

THE STATISTICS FOR SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE DECEMBER 1992 WERE DERIVED FROM THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF VACANCIES AND PAYROLL AND THE QUARTERLY EMPLOYMENT CONSTRUCTION SITES CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT. ECONOMY IN EMPLOYMENT, SURVEY OF

THE SURVEY ON THE RETAIL TRADE EXCLUDED HAWKERS AND PERSONS WORKING AT RETAIL PITCHES BUT INCLUDED THOSE WORKING IN MARKET STALLS.

THE TWO SURVEYS MENTIONED ABOVE ALSO PROVIDE VACANCY STATISTICS FOR SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS. THE VACANCY DATA TOGETHER WITH A COMPARISON WITH THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1991 AND SEPTEMBER 1992 ARE:

/NUMBER OF .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

NUMBER OF REPORTED VACANCIES PERCENTAGE CHANGE

SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DEC 91 SEPT 92 DEC 92 DEC 92 OVER DEC 91 DEC 92 OVER SEPT 92

MANUFACTURING 22,980 19,150 17,690 -23.0 - 7.6

CONSTRUCTION (MANUAL WORKERS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES ONLY) 560 550 480 -14 . 1 -11.9

WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 30,230 32,130 33,550 + 11.0 + 4.4

FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES 8,180 9,060 8,830 + 7.9 - 2.6

VACANCIES IN MOST MAJOR SERVICE SECTORS CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN DECEMBER 1992 OVER A YEAR EARLIER.

IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR, THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES INCREASED BY 11.0% AND 7.9% RESPECTIVELY.

HOWEVER, IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND ON CONSTRUCTION SITES, VACANCIES FELL BY 23.0% AND 14.1% RESPECTIVELY.

THE DECEMBER 1992 NOMINAL INDICES OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED IN SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS AND THE CORRESPONDING REAL INDICES (AFTER ALLOWING FOR THE EFFECTS OF PRICE CHANGES) ARE:

/NOMINAL INDEX .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

NOMINAL PAYROLL PER (MARCH INDEX OF PERSON ENGAGED 1991 = 100) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DEC 91 DEC 92 DEC 92 OVER DEC 91

MANUFACTURING 116.6 145.1 + 24.4

WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 129.2 143.2 + 10.8

FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES 132.7 148.2 + 11.7

REAL INDEX OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED (MARCH 1991 =100) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DEC 91 DEC 9 2 DEC 92 OVER DEC 91

MANUFACTURING 110.4 125.6 + 13.8

WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 122.3 124.0 + 1*4

FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES 125.7 128.3 + 2.1

BETWEEN DECEMBER 1991 AND DECEMBER 1992, AVERAGE EARNINGS IN ALL MAJOR SECTORS, AS MEASURED BY PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED, RECORDED FURTHER INCREASES IN MONEY TERMS.

AN INCREASE OF 24.4% WAS REGISTERED IN THE NOMINAL INDEX FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WAS LARGELY DUE TO THE ISSUANCE OF BONUS SHORTLY BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, WHICH WAS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR BUT IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR.

FOR THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, THE INCREASE WAS 10.8%.

/FOR THE ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

FOR THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR, THE INCREASE WAS 11.7%.

AFTER ALLOWING FOR THE INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICES BETWEEN DECEMBER 1991 AND DECEMBER 1992, THE REAL INDEX OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED IN DECEMBER 1992, AS COMPARED WITH THAT IN DECEMBER 1991, INCREASED BY 13.8% FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, 1.4% FOR THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR AND 2.1% FOR THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR.

DETAILED BREAKDOWNS OF THE STATISTICS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE QUARTERLY REPORT OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL STATISTICS, DECEMBER 1992 AND THE QUARTERLY REPORT OF EMPLOYMENT AND VACANCIES AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, DECEMBER 1992.

THEY ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT $14 A COPY AND $9 A COPY RESPECTIVELY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG AND AT THE SALES COUNTER OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT THE 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.

-----0-------

COUNCIL SET UP TO MANAGE AIDS TRUST FUND

******

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED A COUNCIL TO ADVISE ON THE MANAGEMENT AND DISBURSEMENT OF A SPECIAL TRUST FUND ON AIDS.

THIS FOLLOWS THE APPROVAL BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON OF A SUM OF $350 MILLION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FUND UNDER WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY INCORPORATED WILL BE THE TRUSTEE.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE AIDS TRUST FUND IS PROFESSOR DAVID TODD, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

OTHER MEMBERS INCLUDE MS ANNA WU HUNG-YUK, A LAWYER AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR; PROFESSOR NELSON CHOW WING-SUN, PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG; DR JAMES KUNG ZIANG-MIEN, A BANKER; A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE; AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY.

THE SETTING UP OF A SPECIAL TRUST FUND FOR AIDS WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH LAST MONTH.

’’THIS MANIFESTS GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING SPEEDY ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH SAID.

THE $350 MILLION WILL BE USED:

/* TO PROVIDE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

* TO PROVIDE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO HAEMOPHILIACS AND OTHERS INFECTED WITH HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) THROUGH THE TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD AND BLOOD PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG PRIOR TO AUGUST 1985;

* TO AUGMENT EXISTING MEDICAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS; AND

* TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE COMBAT AGAINST AIDS AND TO FURTHER EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DISEASE.

"THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD ITS FIRST MEETING NEXT TUESDAY (APRIL 20) TO DRAW UP THE CRITERIA AND MODUS OPERANDI FOR DISBURSEMENT. DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE MEETING," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE FIRST COMPASSIONATE PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE BY JUNE," HE ADDED.

--------0

TWO BANK LICENCES GRANTED * * * * *

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT WARDLEY LIMITED AND JARDINE FLEMING AND COMPANY LIMITED HAD EACH BEEN GRANTED A FULL BANKING LICENCE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

"WARDLEY AND JARDINE FLEMING WERE INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG IN MAY 1972 AND JANUARY 1970 RESPECTIVELY," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"BOTH OF THE COMPANIES WERE PREVIOUSLY OPERATING AS RESTRICTED LICENSED BANKS. THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FULLY MEET THE EXISTING CRITERIA FOR THE GRANT OF A BANKING LICENCE."

HE SAID THE LICENCES FOR WARDLEY AND JARDINE FLEMING WERE THE FIRST TWO BANKING LICENCES GRANTED THIS YEAR.

THIS BRINGS THE NUMBER OF LICENSED BANKS IN HONG KONG TO 166.

"THE CONTINUED INTEREST OF AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS IN EXPANDING THEIR BUSINESS IN THE TERRITORY IS A REFLECTION OF HONG KONG’S ATTRACTION AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE," HE ADDED.

-----o------

n....

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

JUDICIAL OFFICERS (TENURE OF ♦ * * *

OFFICE) BILL GAZETTED ft

THE JUDICIAL OFFICERS (TENURE OF OFFICE) BILL, WHICH SEEKS TO REPLACE EXISTING PROCEDURES IN THE COLONIAL REGULATIONS FOR DISCIPLINE OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS OTHER THAN JUDGES, WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

JUDICIAL OFFICERS COVERED BY THE BILL INCLUDE THE REGISTRAR, DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT REGISTRARS OF THE SUPREME COURT, MAGISTRATES, PRESIDING OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL, MEMBERS OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, ADJUDICATORS OF THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL AND CORONERS.

"THESE JUDICIAL OFFICERS, ALONG WITH OTHER PUBLIC OFFICERS, ARE AT PRESENT SUBJECT TO THE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES IN THE COLONIAL REGULATIONS. A JUDICIAL OFFICER MAY BE REMOVED FOR MISCONDUCT FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION UNDER THE PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

HE SAID TO UNDERLINE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THESE JUDICIAL OFFICERS, IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT SEPARATE PROVISIONS FOR THEIR DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL SHOULD BE EMBODIED IN LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR THEIR TENURE OF OFFICE, RATHER THAN IN THE COLONIAL REGULATIONS.

THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 28.

-----0------

OPERATION TO STAMP OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ft ft ft ft ft

A TWO-DAY OPERATION AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION JOINTLY MOUNTED BY THE POLICE, THE LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY HAS RESULTED IN THE ARRESTS OF 130 PERSONS.

THE OPERATION WAS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ONGOING EFFORT TO FLUSH OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

THE 124 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED BY THE POLICE HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT. THOSE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.

THE OTHER SIX PERSONS WERE ARRESTED BY IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REITERATED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF ANY AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

"OUR LATEST OPERATION SHOULD DRIVE HOME THE POINT THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE TO THIS POLICY. ANYONE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE IS ONLY CHEATING HIMSELF," HE SAID.

/THE SPOKESMAN .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

THE SPOKESMAN SAID APART FROM CONTINUOUS CHECKS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, THERE WAS NO LET-UP IN ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION EFFORTS AT THE BORDER.

”A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE POLICE AND THE SECURITY FORCES BOTH AT THE LAND AND SEA BORDERS,” HE SAID.

DURING THE JOINT OPERATION, WHICH BEGAN AT 5 AM ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 14) AND ENDED AT 5 AM YESTERDAY, THE POLICE HAD STEPPED UP THEIR IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND CARRIED OUT CHECKS AT SUSPICIOUS LOCATIONS.

AS A RESULT, A TOTAL OF 9,982 PERSONS AND 1,292 VEHICLES WERE STOPPED FOR IDENTIFICATION CHECKS.

ON THE LABOUR FRONT, INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VISITED 2,211 ESTABLISHMENTS TO WEED OUT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY BE WORKING, AND TO CHECK THAT EMPLOYERS FULFIL THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION OF KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

A TOTAL OF 7,003 EMPLOYEES HAD THEIR PROOF OF IDENTITY CHECKED DURING THE OPERATION.

FOURTEEN ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A RECORD OF EMPLOYEES FOR INSPECTION.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY COULD BE FINED UP TO $50,000 AND JAILED FOR UP TO A YEAR IF THEY WERE FOUND TO BE EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

------0-------

BREAKTHROUGH IN BUILDING SAFETY CONCEPT

*****

THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN THE GOVERNMENT’S ENDEAVOUR IN EDUCATING PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY TO MAINTAIN THEIR BUILDINGS, THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS, MR DARWIN CHEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE SAID THE BREAKTHROUGH WAS SHOWN IN THE WAY THE PUBLIC RESPONDED TO ALL THE OPERATIONS AND CAMPAIGNS MOUNTED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OF HIS DEPARTMENT.

CITING AN EXAMPLE, MR CHEN SAID DURING THE 18-MONTH ’’OPERATION APPENDAGES’’ AGAINST ILLEGAL EXTERNAL STRUCTURES IN 30 TARGETED BUILDINGS WHICH ENDED LAST YEAR, 97.5 PER CENT OF THE 3,825 ORDERS ISSUED FOR THE REMOVAL OF 5,825 APPENDAGES WERE COMPLIED WITH.

THIS EXERCISE WAS SUCH A SUCCESS THAT IT WAS THEN EXTENDED UNDER THE NAME ’’OPERATION CATHERINE WHEEL”, HE SAID.

IN THE OPERATION, ADVISORY LETTERS INSTEAD OF STATUTORY ORDERS WERE ISSUED TO OWNERS OF BUILDINGS IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS, URGING THEM TO REMOVE THE UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS AT THEIR OWN INITIATIVE.

/’’THE OPERATION.......

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

"THE OPERATION WAS AGAIN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. OUT OF THE 6,800 ADVISORY LETTERS ISSUED, 55 PER CENT OF THEM RESULTED IN VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.

"THIS HAS SAVED US BOTH TIME AND RESOURCES IN MAKING OWNERSHIP CHECKS AND SERVING STATUTORY ORDERS," HE SAID.

MR CHEN SAID A SIMILAR OPERATION, CODE-NAMED "ROLLING STONE", WOULD BE LAUNCHED NEXT MONTH.

TURNING TO THE NEWLY AMENDED LEGISLATION THAT EMPOWERS THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE PROPERTY OWNERS TO APPOINT AN AUTHORISED PERSON TO INVESTIGATE SUSPECTED DEFECTIVE BUILDINGS, MR CHEN SAID A PILOT SCHEME USING THESE NEW POWERS WAS UNDER WAY IN SEVERAL INDUSTRIAL AREAS, NAMELY TSUEN WAN, KWAI CHUNG, YAU TONG AND KWUN TONG.

"THIS NEW LEGISLATION WAS FOUND NECESSARY BECAUSE IT MAY WELL BE TOO LATE TO TAKE ACTION IF DEFECTS ARE DISCOVERED AT A VERY LATE STAGE, AND THE DETERIORATION MAY CAUSE REAL DANGER TO BOTH OCCUPANTS AND PASSERS-BY," HE SAID.

- 0 -

WAN CHAI BUILDING DECLARED DANGEROUS ♦ * * * *

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (FRIDAY) DECLARED A SIX-STOREY BUILDING AT 139 THOMSON ROAD IN WAN CHAI TO BE DANGEROUS.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDING AUTHORITY SAID THE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMED BUILDING WAS SERVED BY A SINGLE STAIRCASE.

IT HAS A COCKLOFT FOR STORAGE PURPOSES WITH THE APPROVED ACCESS FROM THE GROUND FLOOR SHOP.

RECENT INSPECTION, MADE UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINT, HAS REVEALED THAT AN UNAUTHORISED OPENING HAD BEEN FORMED IN THE STAIRCASE ENCLOSURE WALL AT COCKLOFT LEVEL.

IT HAS RESULTED IN A SEVEN-STOREY SINGLE STAIRCASE BUILDING IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE "CODE OF PRACTICE FOR MEANS OF ESCAPE IN CASE OF FIRE".

THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE UPPER FLOORS HAS BEEN AFFECTED.

THE APPROVED STAIRCASE TO THE COCKLOFT HAS ALSO BEEN REMOVED AND THE COCKLOFT IS NOW BEING USED FOR OFFICE PURPOSES.

AS THE UNAUTHORISED OPENING IS POSING AN UNACCEPTABLE RISK TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE UPPER FLOORS, THE BUILDING HAS THEREFORE BEEN RENDERED DANGEROUS, AND SHOULD BE CLOSED UNTIL REINSTATEMENT WORKS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT.

/THE OWNER

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

THE OWNER HAS BEEN ORDERED TO COMPLETE THE REINSTATEMENT WORKS BEFORE JUNE 11 THIS YEAR, OTHERWISE AN APPLICATION FOR A CLOSURE ORDER WILL BE MADE BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.

THE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON JUNE 16 WAS POSTED ON THE PREMISES TODAY.

SOCIAL WORKERS *

READY TO HELP NEEDY * * * *

WHENEVER THERE ARE ACCIDENTS COSTING LIVES OR BRINGING HARDSHIP TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS, THE COMMUNITY CAN BE SURE THAT SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ALWAYS AROUND TO OFFER HELP AND SUPPORT, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR IAN STRACHAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

COMMENDING A GROUP OF FRONTLINE CASEWORKERS DEALING WITH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, HE SAID THEIR WORK HAD PROVED INVALUABLE TO THE CLIENTS INVOLVED.

MR STRACHAN SAID SUCH WORK OFTEN WENT UNNOTICED IN THE COMMUNITY.

"WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS RESULT FROM MAJOR DISASTERS, VIOLENT CRIMES, INDUSTRIAL OR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, THE QUICK RESPONSE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FROM CASEWORKERS WILL HELP THOSE IN NEED," HE SAID.

HE SAID SOCIAL WORKERS FROM FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES, MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK UNITS AND SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS ALIKE SHOWED THEIR PROFESSIONALISM BY INSTANTLY REACHING OUT TO THE NEEDY FAMILIES ONCE THEY LEARNT OF ANY MISHAP CASES.

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OPERATES A NETWORK OF 30 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES WHILE THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL WELFARE SECTOR OPERATES A FURTHER 23 SUCH CENTRES WHICH ARE SUBVERTED TO PROVIDE COUNSELLING AND OTHER FORMS OF SERVICE.

THERE ARE 105 MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK UNITS IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS UNDER THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY OR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY THERE ARE 32 SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS TO SERVE THE NEEDY.

MR STRACHAN NOTED THAT FRONTLINE CASEWORKERS WOULD VISIT THE FAMILIES TO FURTHER IDENTIFY THEIR NEEDS.

THE PAYMENT OF BURIAL GRANT, IF REQUIRED, WOULD BE MADE IN JUST A MATTER OF DAYS TO HELP EASE THEIR FINANCIAL BURDEN, HE ADDED.

"SOCIAL WORKERS WILL ALSO ARRANGE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR OTHER FORMS OF CASH ASSISTANCE AND COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING IF IT IS NEEDED," HE SAID.

/the social .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTERS THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH PROVIDES PROMPT FINANCIAL HELP TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS.

"THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME RUN BY THE DEPARTMENT ALSO OFFERS HELP AND COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES," MR STRACHAN SAID.

HE ADDED THAT EMERGENCY RELIEF, IN THE FORM OF CASH GRANTS, FOOD AND DAILY NECESSITIES, WAS PROVIDED TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL AND OTHER DISASTERS.

------0-------

RECREATION CLUB FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF * * * * *

THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RECREATION CLUB FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S RANK-AND-FILE STAFF AT BUTTERFLY VALLEY, LAI CHI KOK.

OCCUPYING AN AREA OF ABOUT 1,380 SQUARE METRES, THE CLUB WILL INCLUDE A SWIMMING POOL AND A FOUR-STOREY BUILDING THAT HOUSES VARIOUS LEISURE FACILITIES LIKE A TENNIS COURT, SQUASH COURTS, SAUNA ROOMS, KARAOKE ROOMS AND A LIBRARY.

WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO START IN JUNE FOR COMPLETION IN AUGUST NEXT YEAR.

FORMS OF TENDER AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, 34TH FLOOR, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 66 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG.

TENDER OFFER WILL CLOSE AT NOON ON MAY 7.

------0-------

SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS PROJECT ON LANTAU

*****

THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING APPROVED CONTRACTORS TO PARTICIPATE IN A TENDERER PREQUALIFICATION EXERCISE FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES AND WORKS ON NORTH LANTAU.

THE WORKS COMPRISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SEWAGE PUMPING STATION IN TUNG CHUNG AND A SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS TO PROVIDE PRELIMINARY TREATMENT AT SIU HO WAN ON NORTH LANTAU.

PUMPING STATIONS, SCREENING FACILITIES, ASSOCIATED PIPELINES, CHAMBERS, ROADS AND LANDSCAPING WORKS WILL BE BUILT.

THE CONTRACT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF PUMPING AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT AND ALL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES.

/A NOTICE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

A NOTICE ABOUT THE PREQUALIFICATION EXERCISE WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THOSE ON THE APPROVED CONTRACTORS FOR PUBLIC WORKS LIST ONE IN GROUP C CONFIRMED FOR ROADS AND DRAINAGE WORKS AND WATERWORKS OR ON LIST TWO CONFIRMED FOR ROADS AND DRAINAGE WORKS AND WATERWORKS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR PREQUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS FROM MOTT MACDONALD HONG KONG LTD, 12TH FLOOR, SUN HUNG KAI CENTRE, 30 HARBOUR ROAD, HONG KONG.

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE IS NOON ON JUNE 30.

THE WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO START IN MID-1994 AND TAKE TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.

-----0--------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

*****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,070

REVERSAL OF LAF + 8°

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY +650

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,800

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 112.4 *+0.0* 16.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.77 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.44 3.21

1 MONTH 2.78 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.32 3.38

3 MONTHS 2.82 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.72 3.52

6 MONTHS 3.03 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.85 3.73

12 MONTHS 3.25 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 6,864 MN

CLOSED 16 APRIL 1993

------0-------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

TALK IN CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT: GOVERNOR .......................... 1

CHANGEABLE WEATHER IN MARCH .................................... 1

LIONS THANKED FOR NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE ...................... 4

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS ..

SATURDAY, APRIL 17,

1993

TALK IN CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT: GOVERNOR *****

THE BRITISH TEAM WOULD CERTAINLY ENTER THE TALKS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT AND A POSITIVE FRAME OF MIND, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON, THE GOVERNOR SAID : ’’SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, OUR AMBASSADOR IN PEKING, WILL BE VISITING HONG KONG NEXT WEEK BEFORE THE TALKS BEGIN TO DISCUSS WITH US THE WAY WE INTEND TO HANDLE THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS AND I HOPE THAT WILL CLEAR THE GROUND FOR SUCCESS LATER ON IN THE TALKS.”

ASKED ABOUT COMMENTS BY MR DOUGLAS HURD ON THE ’’THROUGH TRAIN” CONCEPT, THE GOVERNOR SAID : "IF THERE IS TO BE A THROUGH TRAIN WHICH CHINESE OFFICIALS SAY THAT THEY ARE KEEN ON AND WHICH WE ARE KEEN ON , THEN, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD DEFINE WHAT SORT OF VEHICLE THAT IS GOING TO BE AND WHO IS GOING TO TRAVEL ON IT.

"I THINK THERE IS WIDE SCEPTICISM ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF A THROUGH TRAIN WHICH IS RESTRICTIVE ABOUT THOSE WHO CAN ACTUALLY TRAVEL IN ITS CARRIAGES."

ON THE TIMING OF LEGISLATING THE ELECTION BILL, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WE HAD TO WEIGH IN THE BALANCE A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

"FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER HOW WELL THE TALKS ARE GOING AND WHETHER THEY APPEAR TO BE PROCEEDING TOWARDS SATISFACTORY SOLUTION," HE SAID.

"SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT WE NEED ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE NOT LEAST FOR THE 1994 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTION IN TIME AND THAT WE NEED TO GIVE LEGISLATORS THE TIME TO DISCUSS MATTERS PROPERLY.

"THIRDLY, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT I DON’T BELIEVE LEGISLATORS WOULD BE VERY HAPPY ABOUT US BOTH NEGOTIATING AND LEGISLATING ON THE SAME MATTER AT THE SAME TIME."

0----------

CHANGEABLE WEATHER IN MARCH

*****

A ROYAL OBSERVATORY MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT SHOWED THAT MARCH WAS WARMER, CLOUDIER AND MORE HUMID THAN NORMAL.

THE WEATHER WAS TYPICALLY CHANGEABLE FOR SPRING, WITH SPELLS OF COOL WEATHER BROUGHT ABOUT BY LATE BURSTS OF WINTER MONSOON INTERSPERSED WITH WARM SUNNY PERIODS WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS, HUMID CONDITIONS WITH FOG AND PERIODS OF UNSETTLED WEATHER.

/THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1993

THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR ON MARCH 16.

RAINFALL AMOUNT FOR THE MONTH WAS BELOW AVERAGE. THE MONTHLY TOTAL OF 49.0 MILLIMETERS WAS 27 PER CENT BELOW THE MARCH NORMAL OF 66.9 MILLIMETERS.

THE TOTAL RAINFALL SINCE JANUARY 1 OF 83.5 MILLIMETERS WAS 40 PER CENT BELOW THE NORMAL OF 138.3 MILLIMETERS FOR THE PERIOD.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE NORTHEAST MONSOON, THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY AND RELATIVELY COOL IN THE EARLY DAYS OF MARCH.

A WEAK REPLENISHMENT OF THE NORTHEAST MONSOON ON MARCH 3 BROUGHT MIST PATCHES IN THE EVENING AND LIGHT RAIN THAT NIGHT.

THE WEATHER TURNED FINE ON MARCH 5 AND IT WAS MUCH WARMER THE NEXT DAY AS THE NORTHEAST MONSOON WEAKENED.

APART FROM SOME MISTY CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A FRESH AND MOIST EASTERLY AIRSTREAM ON MARCH 7 AND 8, THE WEATHER REMAINED MAINLY FINE AND MILD TILL MARCH 12 WHEN THE EASTERLIES BECAME FRESH AGAIN.

THE WINDY CONDITIONS PRODUCED A COOLER AND CLOUDIER DAY ON MARCH 13. STACKS OF CONTAINERS IN YUEN LONG FELL DOWN.

LIGHT RAIN BECAME FREQUENT THAT AFTERNOON AND PERSISTED INTO THE EARLY HOURS OF MARCH 14.

AS THE RAIN DIED OUT, SOME MORNING MIST PATCHES APPEARED BEFORE THE ONSET OF A SOUTHWESTERLY AIRSTREAM DURING THE DAY.

STRONG GUSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTHWESTERLIES BLEW DOWN SOME SCAFFOLDINGS IN KENNEDY TOWN THAT AFTERNOON. WITH TEMPERATURES CLIMBING SMARTLY, THE WEATHER ON MARCH 15 WAS RATHER WARM WITH PERIODS OF SUNSHINE AS WELL AS SOME LIGHT RAIN LATER THAT DAY.

THE INTRUSION OF MOIST MARITIME AIR ALSO LED TO THE FORMATION OF COASTAL FOG ON THE MORNINGS OF MARCH 15 AND 16.

ON THE FORMER OCCASION, A FISHING BOAT COLLIDED WITH A CONTAINER SHIP IN POOR VISIBILITY NEAR WAGLAN ISLAND.

THE WEATHER DETERIORATED AS A COLD FRONT CROSSED THE SOUTH CHINA COAST ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 16. THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN LASTED TILL THE MORNING OF MARCH 17.

FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS, THE WEATHER REMAINED CLOUDY WITH PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN AT NIGHT. WINDS WERE FRESH FROM THE EAST AT FIRST BUT GRADUALLY TURNED MORE NORTHERLY.

COLD AIR FROM THE INLAND AREAS OF GUANGDONG WAS PUSHED TO THE COASTAL REGION AND TEMPERATURES FELL PROGRESSIVELY TO THE MONTH’S LOWEST OF 11.3 DEGREES ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 19.

AS WINDS VEERED TO THE EAST ON MARCH 21 AND SOUTHEASTERLY ON MARCH 23, TEMPERATURES CONTINUED TO RISE.

/COASTAL MIST .......

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1993

COASTAL MIST AND FOG OCCURRED FROM TIME TO TIME PERIOD FROM MARCH 23 TO 27.

DURING THE

A BARGE WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED AFTER BEING HIT BY A CONTAINER SHIP IN FOGGY CONDITIONS OVER THE WATERS OFF AP LEI CHAU ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 25.

MEANWHILE, THE SUN BROKE THROUGH ON MARCH 24 AND THE WEATHER BECAME FINE AND WARM OVER THE NEXT FOUR DAYS ONCE THE MORNING MISTS AND FOGS LIFTED.

AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY THE MONTH’S HIGHEST TEMPERATURE, 28.1 DEGREES, WAS RECORDED ON MARCH 28.

FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF ANOTHER COLD FRONT, STRONG EASTERLY WINDS SET IN EARLY IN THE MORNING ON MARCH 29 AND BROUGHT MUCH COOLER CONDITIONS.

LIGHT RAIN OCCURRED DURING THE FRONTAL PASSAGE AND AGAIN ON THE EVENINGS OF MARCH 30 AND 31.

WHILE THE CLOUDY WEATHER PERSISTED, TEMPERATURES WERE ON THE RISE AS WINDS TURNED SOUTHEASTERLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH.

THERE WAS ONE TROPICAL CYCLONE OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA IN MARCH.

NO AIRCRAFT WAS DIVERTED IN THE MONTH AS A RESULT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER.

DETAILS OF THE ISSUANCE/HOI ST 1 NG AND CANCELLATION/LOWERING OF

VARIOUS WARNINGS/SIGNALS IN THE MONTH ARE SUMMARISED IN TABLE 1.1.

MONTHLY METEOROLOGICAL FIGURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL ARE TABULATED IN TABLE 1.2.

TABLE 1.1 WARNINGS AND SIGNALS IN MARCH WARNINGS / SIGNALS 1993 TIME

EFFECTIVE DATE AND

STRONG MONSOON SIGNALS MAR 7 2305 - MAR 8 0900

MAR 12 2245 - MAR 13 0830

MAR 16 2310 - MAR 17 0800

MAR 29 0445 - MAR 30 0730

THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS MAR 16 2135 - MAR 17 1200

GAS HEATER ALERTS MAR 1 1630 - MAR 2 0600

MAR 19 1630 - MAR 20 1630

/TABLE 1.2 .......

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1993

TABLE 1.2 FIGURES AND DEPARTURES

TOTAL BRIGHT SUNSHINE

MEAN DAILY GLOBAL SOLAR RADIATION

TOTAL RAINFALL

MEAN CLOUD AMOUNT

MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY

MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE

MEAN AIR TEMPERATURE

MEAN DAILY MINIMUM TEMPERATURE

MEAN DEW POINT

TOTAL EVAPORATION

FROM NORMAL - MARCH 1993

77.3 HOURS;

19.1 HOURS BELOW NORMAL

9.48 MJ/SQM;

1.76 MJ/SQM BELOW NORMAL

49.0 MM; 17.9 MM BELOW NORMAL

87 %; 11 % ABOVE NORMAL

82 %; 1 % ABOVE NORMAL

21.7 DEGREES;

0.4 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL

19.4 DEGREES;

0.9 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL

17.5 DEGREES;

1.0 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL

16.2 DEGREES;

1.2 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL

67.6 MM; 24.6 MM BELOW NORMAL

0---------

LIONS THANKED FOR NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE

******

FIFTY-ONE MEMBERS OF THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 303 WERE TODAY (SATURDAY) HONOURED FOR HELPING TO SET UP THE LIONS NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE IN JSIU HANG, SAI KUNG.

THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE AT A CEREMONY HELD AT A LIONS CLUB LUNCHEON MEETING.

DR LEE SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRE IN 1991 WAS THE MOST AMBITIOUS AND FRUITFUL JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE LIONS CLUBS AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

’’THE CENTRE HAS PROVIDED THE MUCH-NEEDED EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, IN PARTICULAR STUDENTS, TO APPRECIATE OUR COUNTRYSIDE RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND OTHER RURAL HERITAGE.

’’SINCE ITS OPENING IN JUNE 1991, OVER 600,000 PEOPLE HAVE VISITED THE PLACE. IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR.

/’’THE AVERAGE.......

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1993

"THE AVERAGE NUMBER OE VISITORS ON SUNDAYS HAS BEEN OVER 3,000. CONDUCTED GROUP TOURS DURING WEEKDAYS HAVE BEEN FULLY BOOKED BY SCHOOLS AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS."

DR LEE SAID HE WAS DEEPLY IMPRESSED BY THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE LIONS CLUBS HAD RAISED MULT I-M1LLION DOLLARS FOR BUILDING THE EXHIBITION HALLS.

HE ADDED THAT HE WAS EVEN MORE IMPRESSED BY THE SHORT PERIOD OF JUST OVER ONE YEAR FOR THE BUILDINGS TO BE COMPLETED.

HE THANKED THE LIONS FOR THEIR OFFER TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE FACILITIES IN THE CENTRE BY SPONSORING A CAFETERIA TO BETTER SERVE THE VISITORS.

AMONG THE AWARDEES WERE MR STEPHEN CHOW, DISTRICT GOVERNOR OF THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 303; DR TAM WING-KUN, DISTRICT GOVERNOR IN 1991 AND MR SHUM LOK-NIN WHO DESIGNED THE EXHIBITION HALLS OF THE NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE.

- 0 -

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS * * * * *

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,800

REVERSAL OF LAF -550

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,250

NET INJECTION/W1THDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -150

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,100

LAF RATE 2.00 BTD/4.00 OFFER TWI 112.4 *+0.0* 17.4.93

-----0 -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1993

contents page no.

PROJECT TO TACKLE POLLUTION OF NULLAHS .......................... 1

SIGNS GUIDE DEPARTING AIR PASSENGERS ............................ 2

LEAFLETS HELP PARENTS COMMUNICATE ............................... 3

FOUR MEMBERS JOIN CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE ..................... 3

SEMINAR ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT .................................. a

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1993

- 1

PROJECT TO TACKLE POLLUTION OF NULLAHS * * * * *

A $135 MILLION PROJECT THAT SEEKS TO TACKLE POLLUTION OF THE NULLAHS IN YUEN LONG HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED.

THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MR WONG CHI-YIN, SAID LIVESTOCKS WASTE WAS BEING DUMPED INTO THE WATERCOURSES IN THE CATCHMENT AREAS TO THE SOUTH OF YUEN LONG.

THIS HAS SERIOUSLY POLLUTED THE FOUR NULLAHS IN THE TOWN, HE SAID.

THE NULLAHS ARE SUBJECT TO TIDAL INFLUENCE FROM THE SEA AND THE POLLUTED WATER MOVES BACK AND FORTH IN THE NULLAHS.

"THIS CREATES BAD SMELL AND AN UNHYGIENIC CONDITION AFFECTING THE TOWN. THE SITUATION IS MORE SERIOUS IN DRY SEASON.”

UNDER THE PROJECT, AN INFLATABLE DAM HAS BEEN INSTALLED ACROSS THE MAIN NULLAH AT THE DOWNSTREAM END OF YUEN LONG TOWN NEAR CHUNG HAU TSUEN AT WANG CHAU TO EXCLUDE POLLUTED TIDAL WATER.

OTHER WORKS INCLUDE A 700-METRE CONCRETE LINING IN THE NULLAH AND A PUMPING STATION.

THERE IS ALSO A SERIES OF "LOW FLOW CHANNELS" OF FIVE KILOMETRES WHICH ENABLE POLLUTED LOW FLOWS TO MOVE QUICKLY FROM UPSTREAM TO THE INFLATABLE DAM.

AT THE DAM, A PUMPING STATION REMOVES THE FLOW TO DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM. THIS KEEPS THE NULLAHS IN THE POPULATED AREAS DRY.

THE PUMPING STATION HAS DELIVERING LOW FLOWS ONLY WITH A METRES PER SECOND.

BEEN DESIGNED TO BE CAPABLE OF DISCHARGE CAPACITY OF 4.2 CUBIC

DURING THE "HIGH FLOW PERIOD” WHEN HEAVY RAIN IS FALLING, THE DAM WILL DEFLATE AUTOMATICALLY FOR FLOODS TO PASS THROUGH.

THE DAM HAS A CREST LEVEL OF 3.2 M PD (PRINCIPAL DATUM) WHEN INFLATED.

IT NORMALLY REMAINS INFLATED BUT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DEFLATE WHEN THE UPSTREAM WATER LEVEL IS HIGHER THAN 2.0 M PD AND ABOVE THE DOWNSTREAM WATER LEVEL, OR WHEN THE UPSTREAM WATER LEVEL IS HIGHER THAN 2.5 M PD IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DOWNSTREAM WATER LEVEL.

THE DAM WILL AUTOMATICALLY INFLATE AGAIN WHEN THE WATER LEVEL DROPS BELOW 1.0 M PD. DEFLATION WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN EIGHT MINUTES WHILE INFLATION WITHIN 20 MINUTES.

MR WONG SAID THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT WOULD DEPEND ON PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE WORKS.

/THE "LOW ........

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1993

THE ’’LOW FLOW CHANNELS” MUST BE CLEARED REGULARLY, AND THE RUBBISH AND DEBRIS LEFT ON THE NULLAH BEDS AFTER FLOODING MUST BE REMOVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID.

TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE VEHICLES’ ACCESS TO THE NULLAH BEDS, TWO RAMPS HAVE BERN PROVIDED ON THE WESTERN BANK OF THE MAIN NULLAH, ONE NEAR THE INFLATABLE DAM AND THE OTHER NEAR THE YUEN LONG NORTHERN BYPASS.

------0‘-------

SIGNS GUIDE DEPARTING AIR PASSENGERS

* * * * *

THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT IS PUTTING ON TRIAL A SIX-MONTH SCHEME TO ERECT SIGNS TO GUIDE PASSENGERS ARRIVING AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S DEPARTURES HALL BY CAR TO LOCATE THE CHECK-IN COUNTERS.

STARTING FROM TOMORROW (MONDAY), A NEW SET OF SIGNS SHOWING THE NAMES OF AIRLINES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE CHECK-IN COUNTER REFERENCE LETTERS WILL BE UNVEILED ALONG THE MAIN APPROACH UP-RAMP TO THE DEPARTURES HALL.

WHEN PASSENGERS ON CARS OR TAXIS COMING UP THE ELEVATED ROAD FROM OLYMPIA AVENUE FOR THE DEPARTURES HALL, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE SET OF SIGNS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE BASIC CONCEPT OF THE SCHEME WAS TO GUIDE DEPARTING PASSENGERS IN DECIDING IN ADVANCE WHERE THEY SHOULD PULL UP THEIR CARS NEAREST TO THEIR CHECK-IN ISLANDS.

FOR THAT REASON, TRIANGULAR-SHAPED SIGNS WITH BIG LETTERS OF THE ISLANDS FROM A TO M (EXCEPT I) HAVE ALSO BEEN ERECTED ON THE CANOPY OF THE DEPARTURES FRONTAGE.

INITIALLY, 10 OF THE 46 SERVING AIRLINES HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR INCLUSION IN THE SCHEME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID THE 10 AIRLINES TOGETHER HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVING ABOUT 82 PER CENT OF THE PASSENGERS ORIGINATING FROM HONG KONG EVERY YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON DEPARTING PASSENGERS TO VOICE THEIR VIEWS ON THE SCHEME TO HELP THE DEPARTMENT MONITOR ITS EFFECTIVENESS.

--------0-----------

/3 ........

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1993

LEAFLETS HELP PARENTS COMMUNICATE * * * * *

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS PRODUCED ONE MILLION LEAFLETS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PARENTS TO HELP THEM COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

THE LEAFLET WAS PRODUCED IN RESPONSE TO CONCERN ON THE APPARENT BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN AS REFLECTED IN A GROWING NUMBER OF CHILDREN TN DISTRESS.

’’THIS IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF LEAFLETS FOR PARENTS OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS,’’ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

THE NEW LEAFLET — ENTITLED "HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHILD”, IS AIMED AT ENHANCING PARENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CHILDREN’S NEEDS AND HELPING THEM SPOT THE SIGNS OF CHILDREN IN TROUBLE.

IT ALSO CONTAINS ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE STUDENT GUIDANCE SERVICE, CAREERS ADVISORY SERVICE, SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AND A NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS WHICH HELP PARENTS DEAL WITH THEIR CHILDREN’S PROBLEMS.

- 0 -

FOUR MEMBERS JOIN CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE

*****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPOINTED FOUR NEW MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION.

THEY ARE MR PETER LAM YUK-WAH, MRS JUSTINA LEUNG NGA I MOU-YIN, MR TAI HAY-LAP AND MR YIP WAH.

MR PETER LAM, DIRECTOR OF A VIDEO PUBLISHING COMPANY, HAS WORKED FOR A NUMBER OF MEDIA ORGANISATIONS IN THE PAST.

HF. IS ALSO AN EXECUTIVE MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG MOTION PICTURES INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

MRS JUSTINA LEUNG, A SOCIAL WORKER BY PROFESSION, IS THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG. SHE HAS SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF MANY SOCIAL SERVICE GROUPS SINCE 1988.

MR TAI HAY-LAP IS THE PRINCIPAL OF YAN 01 TONG TIN KA PING SECONDARY SCHOOL. HE HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE SINCE 1989.

MR YIP WAH, A RETIRED SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THE PAST DECADE. HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD AND A MEMBER OF THE AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE.

/A SPOKESMAN

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1993

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE NEW APPOINTEES WILL SERVE ON THE BOARD FOR TWO YEARS STARTING FROM THIS MONTH.

AT PRESENT, THE COMMITTEE HAS FIVE SUB-COMMITTEES TO WORK ON THE 1993/94 THEMES - RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

AMONG THEM, THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUB-COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SCHEME UNDER WHICH SUBSIDIES ARE GRANTED TO DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS FOR MOUNTING CIVIC EDUCATION PROJECTS.

THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THE RULE OF LAW, AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING AND PROMOTING KEY CONCEPTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBJECTS.

THERE ARE ALSO THE RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE WHICH PLANS, EXECUTES AND ANALYSES SURVEYS AND STUDIES INITIATED BY THE MAIN COMMITTEE, AND THE PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE WHICH DEVISES PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR THE WHOLE COMMITTEE.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A THREE-DAY EXHIBITION ON HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN JULY AND A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AND PILOT TESTS ON NEW TEACHING KITS.

THE COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY DR DANIEL TSE CHI-WAl. OTHER MEMBERS ARE MR CHAN CHUN-FAT, MR CHAN KAR-LOK, MR JOHANNES CHAN MAN-MUN, MRS CHAN FOK PO-CHUN, MR CHAN WING-TAI, MR CHENG KAI-NAM, MR RAYMOND CHOW WAI-KAM, DR JOHN HO DIT-SANG, MISS JUNIA HO SUK-YIN, MR LAI CHI-TONG, DR LO CH I-KIN, MR WILLIAM TSUI HING-CHUEN AND MR JUSTE!N WONG CHUN.

-----0------

SEMINAR ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT

*****

A SEMINAR ON PROPER BUILDING MANAGEMENT WILL BE HELD AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE IN WAN CHAI ON MAY 15 FROM 2 PM TO 5.30 PM.

JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE SEMINAR IS TARGETED AT OWNERS CORPORATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS COMMITTEES, BUILDING MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS AND FLAT OWNERS.

A CNTA SPOKESMAN TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED THOSE INTERESTED TO ENROL EARLY, AS ADMISSION IS FREE AND FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES. THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 23.

/SPEAKERS WILL .......

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1993

SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE A LEGAL PROFESSIONAL, MR MA HO-FAI; A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, MR FAN SAI-YEE; A SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT; MR JOSEPH LEE; A SENIOR OFFICER FROM THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, MR LESTER LEUNG; AND A CHAIRMAN OF AN OWNERS COMMITTEE, MR PAUL LEUNG.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED INCLUDE TENDERING PROCEDURES AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO BUILDING MANAGEMENT; THE ROLES OF HOUSING MANAGERS, OWNERS CORPORATIONS AND COMMITTEES; AND DEEDS OF MUTUAL COVENANTS.

THERE WILL ALSO BE AN OPEN DISCUSSION TO BE CHAIRED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF HOUSING’S PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE COMMITTEE, MR MINGO KWAN.

ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL 835 1496 AND 835 1497.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENTS OF BUILDING UNITS IN MARCH ........ 1

UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FIGURES ....................... 3

CONTRACTORS URGED TO THINK AND ACT SAFE ........................ 4

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY .................... 4

CLOSURE OF UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE SOUGHT ....................... 6

FRESH WATER CUTS IN SAI KUNG AND TO KWA WAN .................... 6

WATER STORAGE FIGURE ........................................... 7

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993

SALE AND PURCHASE

AGREEMENTS OF BUILDING UNITS IN MARCH * * ♦ * ♦

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENTS OF BUILDING UNITS, MAINLY FLATS, REGISTERED IN THE LAND REGISTRY IN MARCH INCREASED BY 33.6 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND BY 29.7 PER CENT COMPARED WITH MARCH LAST YEAR.

THE SUDDEN INCREASE WAS DUE TO THREE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS COMING ON-STREAM DURING THE MONTH, SADDLE RIDGE GARDEN, PARK VIEW GARDEN AND SUNSHINE CITY.

IN ALL, 11,678 SUCH AGREEMENTS WERE REGISTERED DURING THE MONTH. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED WAS ABOUT $23.87 BILLION.

THESE FIGURES WERE INCLUDED IN THE MONTHLY STATISTICS ON PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS REGISTERED IN THE URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES LAND REGISTRIES RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL.

THERE WERE SIX BUILDING MORTGAGES AND 9,272 OTHER MORTGAGES REGISTERED IN THE MONTH, COMPARED TO 10 AND 11,509 RESPECTIVELY IN MARCH LAST YEAR.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT SECURED UNDER NEW BUILDING MORTGAGES IN THE MONTH WAS ABOUT $1.18 BILLION COMPARED WITH ABOUT $0.20 BILLION IN MARCH LAST YEAR.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT SECURED UNDER NEW MORTGAGES IN MONTH OTHER THAN BUILDING MORTGAGES ROSE BY 0.9 PER CENT FROM ABOUT $5.15 BILLION IN MARCH LAST YEAR TO ABOUT $5.20 BILLION IN MARCH THIS YEAR.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT ACTUALLY DRAWN DOWN ON BUILDING AND OTHER MORTGAGES AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE TOTAL AMOUNT SECURED.

REPAYMENTS UNDER MORTGAGES OF ALL KINDS, AS EVIDENCED BY DISCHARGES AND MORTGAGEE’S RECEIPTS, INCREASED BY 19.4 PER CENT FROM ABOUT $2.41 BILLION IN MARCH LAST YEAR TO ABOUT $2.88 BILLION IN MARCH THIS YEAR.

/2 .........

Month : March 1993

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT

Consolidated Monthly Statistics in respect of deeds received for registration in Che Urban and New Territories District Land Registries

i Number of Deeds received for registration Consideration ($)

, Item Nature of Deeds Urban New Territories Total Urban New Territories Total

— : i. Assignments of undivided shares ( 5,728 6.035 ) ( 2,365 2.415 ) ( 8,093 8.450 ) 13,516,851,337.44 3,385,818.090.00 16.902,669.427.44

2. Assignments of whole lot, section or sub-section 27 668 695 9.886.423,860.00 1,114,606,303.04 11,001,030,163.04

1 Sub-total (1) ♦ (2) 5,755 3.033 8.788 23,403,275,197.44 4,500.424.393.04 27.903,699.590.48

; 3. Building Mortgages/Building Legal Charges 5 1 6 1,125,500,000.00 52,000,000.00 1,177,500.000.00

4. Mortgagcs/Legal Charges (other than item 3) 5.764 3.508 9,272 3,656.547.479.01 1,544,329,406.64 5,200,876.885.65

Sub-total (3) * (4) 5,769 3,509 9.278 4.782.047,479.01 1.596,329,406.64 6,378.376,885.65

5. Agreements for Sale and Purchase of Undivided Shares ( 5,717 5,861 ) ( 5,961 5,993 ) ( 11,678 11,854 ) 15,486,648,599.17 8,379,548,339.00 23,866.196,938.17

6. Agreements for Sale and Purchase of Whole Lot, Section or Sub-section 30 301 331 13,378.923,000.00 875.040.054.32 14.253.963,054.32

Sub-total (5) * (6) 5,747 6,262 12,009 28,865.571.599.17 9,254.588,393.32 38,120,159,992.49 |

1 7* Receipts/Discharge/Rcleases 4,212 2,535 6.747 2.190.931.710.44 689.799,040.95 2.880.730,751.39

. 8-f Leascs/Tenancy Agreements 417 219 636

9. Exclusion Orders 1 0 0 0 1 ।

10. Others 2,960 3,008 5,968

Total 24,860 18,566 43.426 59.241.825.986.06 16.041.141.233.95 75.282.967,220.01

Note : Figures within brackets denote number of units involved

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993

UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FIGURES * * * * *

THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR DECEMBER 1992 -FEBRUARY 1993 WAS 2.2%, AND THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 1.7%, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE PROVISIONAL SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY - MARCH 1993 WAS 2.3%, WHILE THE PROVISIONAL UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 1.6%.

THE LATEST STATISTICS SUGGEST THAT THE LABOUR MARKET CONDITIONS REMAINED GENERALLY STABLE IN RECENT MONTHS.

DURING THE PERIOD DECEMBER 1992 - FEBRUARY 1993, THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS, ADJUSTED FOR VARIATIONS IN THE NUMBER OF FIRSTTIME JOB-SEEKERS, WAS ESTIMATED AT 62,500, WHILE THE NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS WAS ESTIMATED AT 48,400.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED FROM A CONTINUOUS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE SURVEY FOR DECEMBER 1992 - FEBRUARY 1993 COVERED A QUARTERLY SAMPLE OF SOME 12,000 HOUSEHOLDS OR 41,600 PERSONS, SELECTED SCIENTIFICALLY TO REPRESENT THE LAND-BASED CIVILIAN NON-INSTTTUTIONAL POPULATION IN HONG KONG.

RELEVANT DATA WAS OBTAINED 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 INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION.

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 MARCH WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE BY THE END OF JUNE AT $23.50 A COPY.

0---------

M ....

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993

CONTRACTORS URGED TO THINK AND ACT SAFE

******

THE GOVERNMENT IS CONTINUING TO SEEK WAYS TO ENCOURAGE CONTRACTORS TO UPGRADE THE MANAGEMENT OF SAFETY DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, AND MEANS TO STIMULATE WORKERS TO THINK AND ACT SAFE.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, AT THE OPENING OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM TODAY (MONDAY).

MR BLAKE SAID A MANUAL FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME CONTRACTS STIPULATING THE DETAILED REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE BEST PRACTICES FOR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY WOULD BE ISSUED SHORTLY.

"IN THE SAME WAY AS FOR THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME CONTRACTS, TENDERERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT OUTLINE SAFETY PLANS DURING TENDERING, FROM WHICH THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WILL DEVELOP A FULL SAFETY PLAN AS PART OF THE CONTRACTED OBLIGATIONS," HE SAID.

EACH MAIN CONTRACTOR WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR THEIR SAFETY PERSONNEL, WORKERS AND MANAGEMENT STAFF. A SITE SAFETY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE ESTABLISHED ON EACH SITE AND SAFETY AUDITS WILL BE CARRIED OUT.

MR BLAKE SAID ACTIVE CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO INCLUDE IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS PRE-SET PAYMENTS FOR SPECIFIC SAFETY ITEMS TO ENSURE CONTRACTORS PUT MAXIMUM EFFORT INTO SAFETY MATTERS SO AS TO REMOVE SITE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FROM PRICE COMPETITION.

"CONTINUING POOR PERFORMANCE OF ANY CONTRACTOR IN SITE SAFETY WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE REPORT WHICH WILL INCREASINGLY CARRY WEIGHT IN THE AWARDING OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS," HE SAID.

MR BLAKE SAID A TECHNICAL CIRCULAR WOULD ALSO BE ISSUED SOON REQUIRING ALL WORKS DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BEFORE HAND-DUG CAISSON CONSTRUCTION WAS PERMITTED IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

-----0------

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT TN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY

*******

MORE EFFORTS HAVE TO BE MADE BY ALL PARTIES CONCERNED TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN HONG KONG, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MRS KATHERINE FOK, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SYMPOSIUM ON SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT, MRS FOK SAID: "OUR ACCIDENT FIGURES HAVE REMAINED HIGH COMPARED WITH MANY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES."

/’•WHILE THE .........

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993

"WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE ACCOUNTS FOR LESS THAN 10 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE, CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST HALF OF ALL INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS," SHE SAID.

"I HOPE THROUGH OUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE DISCUSSION, WE WILL FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER IN OUR SEARCH FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT," SHE ADDED.

DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, ALSO TALKED ON THE SAFETY OF AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME AND PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME PROJECTS.

ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND SPONSORED BY THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL, THE HALF-DAY SYMPOSIUM WAS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE CONCEPTS OF MODERN SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN HONG KONG’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

IN TODAY’S SYMPOSIUM, MR RAE STEWARD, SENIOR LECTURER OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD (CITB) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, SPOKE ON THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MANAGEMENT.

MR STEWARD SAID IN HIS ROLE WITH THE CITB, HE HAS SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS HELPING UNITED KINGDOM COMPANIES TO STRIVE TOWARD EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MANAGEMENT.

HE ASKED PARTICIPANTS TO CONSIDER THE TERM MANAGEMENT IN ALL ITS ASPECTS.

"MANAGEMENT CAN BE CONSIDERED AS A SERIES OF INTERCONNECTED PROCESSES WHICH IF SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT ALLOW THE MANAGER TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES AND ACHIEVE HIS OBJECTIVES EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY," HE SAID.

THE SENIOR LECTURER SPOKE ON 12 MAJOR TOPICS ON MANAGING AND CONTROLLING A SAFE AND HEALTHY SITE. ON THE QUESTION OF LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES, MR STEWARD TOLD THE AUDIENCE THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF NOT ONLY THE EMPLOYER, BUT ALSO THE EMPLOYEE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE INDIVIDUAL MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITY, AS DEFINED IN THE COMPANY’S SAFETY POLICY.

"THE COMPANY’S SAFETY POLICY MUST RE A DOCUMENT WHICH NOT ONLY ESTABLISHES RESPONSIBILITIES BUT IS ALSO SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR AND AVAILABLE SO THAT ALL EMPLOYEES, AT EVERY LEVEL IN THE COMPANY ARE AWARE NOT ONLY OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES BUT ALSO OF THEIR AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEM," HE ADDED.

SPEAKING ON SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN HEAVY BUILDING AND ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT THE SYMPOSIUM, MR DAVID EVES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, SAID RISK WAS A SUBJECT OF UNIVERSAL SIGNIFICANCE.

"MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY CANNOT BE EFFECTIVE UNLESS RISKS HAVE BEEN UNDERSTOOD AND THE CORRECT MEASURES TAKEN TO KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL," HE SAID.

/THE SYMPOSIUM .......

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993

THE SYMPOSIUM WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 400 MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS PERSONS RESPONSIBLE EOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK.

A 30-MINUTE FORUM WAS ALSO ARRANGED FOR PARTICIPANTS TO ASK

QUESTIONS AND EXCHANGE VIEWS.

-----0------

CLOSURE OF UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE SOUGHT

*****

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY HAS DECLARED THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE ATTACHED TO THE EXTERNAL WALL OF THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS OF 18 SECOND STREET IN SAT YING PUN LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.

TN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS (MONDAY) MORNING, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDING AUTHORITY SAID THE PORTION OF THE STRUCTURE ON THE UPPER PART OF THE FIRST FLOOR WAS ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING AT 2 UI ON LANE FOR SUPPORT, WHICH WAS EARLIER DECLARED LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS AND WILL BE DEMOLISHED.

INSPECTION OF THE THREE-STOREY UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE REVEALED THAT THE BRICK LOADBEARING WALLS WERE IN POOR CONDITION.

THE PRE-WAR BUILDINGS AT 2-8 UI ON LANE WHICH WERE DECLARED DANGEROUS OR LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS ON MARCH 29 CANNOT BE SAFELY DEMOLISHED WITHOUT ENDANGERING THE STABILITY OF THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE AT 18 SECOND STREET.

THEREFORE THE STRUCTURE SHOULD BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON MAY 10 WAS POSTED ON THE PREMISES TODAY.

--------0------------

FRESH WATER CUTS IN SAI KUNG AND TO KWA WAN *****

TO FACILITATE WASTE DETECTION WORK ON WATER MAINS, FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO ALL THE PREMISES AT MAN NIN STREET, SAI KUNG HOI PONG STREET, SAI KUNG MAIN STREET AND SAI KUNG ROAD IN SAI KUNG WILL BE CUT FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 21) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.

ALSO, DUE TO CONNECTION WORK ON WATER MAINS, SOME VILLAGES IN THE DISTRICT WILL NOT HAVE FRESH WATER SUPPLY FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM ON WEDNESDAY.

THE AFFECTED VILLAGES INCLUDE PAK TAM CHUNG, TSAK YUE WU, WONG KENG TEI, TSAM CHUK WAN, TAI MONG TSAI, TAI PO TSAI, TIT CHI SHAN, SAN TIN HANG, TSO WO HANG, LONG KENG, TAI WAN, SHA HA AND WONG CHUK WAN .

/ALSO INCLUDED .......

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993

ALSO INCLUDED ARE O TAU, SHUI LONG WO, KEI LING HA LO WAI, KEI LING HA SAN WAI, SAI KENG, TAI TUNG WO LIU, TAI TUNG, NGA YIU TAU, MA KWU LAM, CHE HA, SAM PUI CHAU, NAI CHUNG, SAI O, KWUN HANG AND CHEUNG MUK TAU.

ALL THE PREMISES IN TO KWA WAN WILL ONLY HAVE WEAK FRESH WATER SUPPLY FROM 10 PM ON WEDNESDAY TO 4.30 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY TO FACILITATE WATER WORK; WHILE ALL THOSE IN KWAI CHUNG WILL NOT GET SALT WATER SUPPLY FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM ON WEDNESDAY.

--------0 -

WATER STORAGE FIGURE * * * *

STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 51 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 299.092 MILLION CUBIC METRES.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 269.166 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 45.9 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.

-----0------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,100

REVERSAL OF LAF +50

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY +220

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,370

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TW1 112.2 *-0.2* 19.4.93

/HONG KONG

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993

- 8

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.89 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.39 3.25

1 MONTH 2.85 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.29 3.40

3 MONTHS 2.85 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.68 3.55

6 MONTHS 3.03 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.80 3.75

12 MONTHS 3.27 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 19,866MN

CLOSED 19 APRIL 1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY ISSUES CONSULTATIVE PAPER ON HK'S NUMBERING PLAN ........................................... 1

CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT STATISTICS FOR 4TH QUARTER ............... 2

ORDERS-ON-HAND OF MANUFACTURERS IN FEBRUARY .................. 4

LEVELS OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO HIV-INFECTED HAEMOPHILIACS ANNOUNCED ..................................................... 6

CONTRACT FOR CHINA WATER PUMPING STATION AWARDED ............. 8

ACC MEMBERS BRIEFED ON CHEUNG CHING TUNNEL WORKS ............. 9

ANTI-POLLUTION PROSECUTION CASES RELEASED .................... 10

LEGCO MEETS TOMORROW ......................................... 19

YOUTH CHARTER AVAILABLE FROM DISTRICT OFFICES ................ 20

DISTANT LEARNING WORTH PURSUING .............................. 21

CAR MARKS FOR AUCTION ........................................ 22

FRESH WATER CUT IN YAU MA TEI ................................ 22

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND TENDER RESULTS ............ 23

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS .. 24

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY ISSUES CONSULTATIVE PAPER ON HE’S NUMBERING PLAN *****

THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY WILL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) ISSUE A CONSULTATIVE PAPER INVITING INTERESTED PARTIES TO PRESENT VIEWS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S NUMBERING PLAN FOR PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES.

POSTMASTER GENERAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, MR M PAGLIARI , SAID: ’’THE EXISTING NUMBERING PLAN WAS BASED ON SEVEN-DIGIT NUMBER LENGTH.

DUE TO THE RAPID GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE EXISTING NUMBERING PLAN IS NOW CLOSE TO CAPACITY.

"TO COPE WITH EXPECTED FUTURE DEMAND WE WILL NEED TO INTRODUCE AN EIGHT-DIGIT NUMBERING PLAN BY 1995 AT THE LATEST,” MR PAGLIARI SAID.

HE SAID THE NUMBERING PLAN HAD TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO CATER FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES WITHOUT THE NEED FOR FURTHER CHANGES FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AT LEAST 15 YEARS.

”IT SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE FOR A FAIR AND REASONABLE ALLOCATION OF NUMBERS TO ALL THE PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATORS PROVIDING TELEPHONIC AND NON-TELEPHON IC SERVICES IN HONG KONG.”

LATE LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED THE CONSULTANTS, OVUM, TO STUDY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NUMBERING PLAN. A REPORT WAS SUBMITTED LAST MONTH.

"WE HAVE CONSIDERED OVUM’S RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUR INITIAL VIEW IS THAT THEY CHART A SENSIBLE WAY FORWARD TO AN EQUITABLE EIGHTDIGIT NUMBERING SCHEME.”

THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THAT HONG KONG’S NUMBERING PLAN SHOULD BE FULLY INTEGRATED, THAT IS THAT ALL OPERATORS SHOULD DRAW FROM THE SAME POOL OF NUMBERS RATHER THAN BEING SEGREGATED BY DIFFERENT OPENING DIGITS.

’’AND THAT NUMBER PORTABILITY, THAT IS THE ABILITY TO TAKE YOUR NUMBER WITH YOU WHEN YOU MOVE HOUSE OR NETWORK, SHOULD BE MANDATED.

’’BEFORE TAKING FIRM DECISIONS ON THESE AND OTHER POINTS WE WISH TO SOUND OUT THE INDUSTRY AND THE PUBLIC ON THE FEASIBILITY AND DESIRABILITY OF OVUM’S RECOMMENDATTONS,” MR PAGLIARI SAID.

COPIES OF THE CONSULTATIVE PAPER (INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE OVUM’S REPORT) MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BRANCH, FIFTH FLOOR, WING SHAN TOWER, 173 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

/COPIES OF .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

COPIES OE THE OVUM’S REPORT ON THE NUMBERING PLAN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT $58 A COPY FROM APRIL 27 ONWARDS AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.

COMMENTS ON THE CONSULTATIVE PAPER SHOULD BE GIVEN IN WRITING ON OR BEFORE JUNE 21.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELI) ON THE SUBJECT AT 5.30PM TODAY (TUESDAY) AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM, POST OFFICE HEADQUARTERS, FOURTH FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE, 2 CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL. ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL (TELECOMMUNICATIONS), MR ASK WONG, WILL CHAIR THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

--------0 -

CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT STATISTICS FOR 4TH QUARTER

******

THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING GENERAL AND SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS, AMOUNTED TO $18.4 BILLION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.

IT WAS 8.7% HIGHER THAN A YEAR AGO, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE INCREASE WAS LARGELY DUE TO MORE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION WORK ON PUBLIC SITES AND A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN MISCELLANEOUS NON-SITE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.

COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992, THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS INCREASED BY A SIMILAR MAGNITUDE OF 8.4%.

THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED ON PRIVATE SITES TOTALLED $8.3 BILLION AND WAS 6.9% LOWER THAN A YEAR AGO.

THE DECREASE WAS PARTLY DUE TO THE DROP IN THE VALUE OF WORK DONE IN COMMERCIAL BUILDING PROJECTS.

COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992, THE VALUE INCREASED BY 5.1%.

THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED ON PUBLIC SITES WAS $5 BILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 25.6% AND 16.1% OVER THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991 AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992 RESPECTIVELY.

THE INCREASE WAS MAINLY DUE TO THE INTENSIFICATION OF WORKS ON A NUMBER OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

/THE GROSS .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

THE GROSS VALUE OF NON-SITB WORK PERFORMED BY GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS $3.6 BILLION, WHICH WAS 27.9% AND 4.9% HIGHER THAN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991 AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992 RESPECTIVELY.

THE TYPES OF WORK PERFORMED INCLUDED MINOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION WORKS AT ERECTED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.

THE GROSS VALUE OF NON-SITE WORK PERFORMED BY SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS, COMPRISING MAINLY ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FITTING WORKS, TOTALLED $1.5 BILLION.

THIS WAS 23.6% AND 12.6% HIGHER THAN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991 AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992 RESPECTIVELY.

ANALYSED BY END-USE, RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PROJECTS (INCLUDING COMBINED RES I DENT IAL/NON-RESI DENT I AL BUILDINGS) CONTINUED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE GREATEST PORTION OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED ON BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SITES.

THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED IN THESE PROJECTS WAS $5.3 BILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 3.3% AND 3.5% WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991 AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992 RESPECTIVELY.

TRANSPORT PROJECTS REPLACED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PROJECTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992 AS THE SECOND LARGEST CATEGORY OF CONSTRUCTION SITE WORK.

THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED IN SUCH PROJECTS WAS $2.2 BILLION.

THIS WAS 67.3% AND 41.6% HIGHER THAN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991 AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992 RESPECTIVELY.

THE LARGE INCREASE WAS MAINLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO A NUMBER OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PROJECTS BECAME THE THIRD LARGEST CATEGORY OF CONSTRUCTION SITE WORK.

THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED IN SUCH PROJECTS TOTALLED $1.9 BILLION, WHICH WAS 29.5% LOWER THAN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991 BUT 20.4% HIGHER THAN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992.

OWING TO THE WIDESPREAD SUB-CONTRACTING PRACTICES IN THF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, A CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENT CAN BE A MAIN CONTRACTOR FOR ONE CONTRACT AND A SUB-CONTRACTOR FOR ANOTHER CONTRACT AT THE SAME TIME.

THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING BOTH GENERAL AND SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS, COVERS ONLY THOSE PROJECTS IN WHICH THE CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENT TAKES THE ROLE OF A MAIN CONTRACTOR, BUT NOT PROJECTS IN WHICH IT TAKES ONLY THE ROLE OF A SUB-CONTRACTOR.

/HOWEVER, SUB-CONTRACTORS .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

HOWEVER, SUB-CONTRACTORS’ CONTRIBUTION TO PROJECTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY TH” MAIN CONTRACTORS FOR WHOM THEY WORKED.

MORE DETAILED STATISTICS ON CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT ARE GIVEN IN THE ’’REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT, 4TH QUARTER 1992”.

THE REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT $4 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, WANCHAI TOWER, 19TH FLOOR, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI. REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TELEPHONE 839 3265.

--------0---------

ORDERS-ON-HAND OF MANUFACTURERS IN FEBRUARY * * * * *

THE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURERS INCREASED SLIGHTLY BY 2% IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR OVER A YEAR EARLIER, ACCORDING TO A MONTHLY SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE VOLUME IS MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF MONTHS THAT MANUFACTURERS WILL REQUIRE TO COMPLETE THE ORDERS OUTSTANDING AS AT THE END OF THE REFERENCE MONTH.

MODERATE INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY (7%), THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY (6%) AND THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY (3%).

ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES OF 5% AND 1% WERE RECORDED RESPECTIVELY IN THE TEXTILES AND THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRIES.

COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING MONTH, ORDERS FOR THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED INCREASED SLIGHTLY BY 1%.

ORDERS IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY BY 12% OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH. INCREASES WERE ALSO RECORDED IN THI TEXTILES INDUSTRY AND THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES AT 6% AND 1% RESPECTIVELY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, ORDERS SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE IN THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRY, BUT A SLIGHT DECREASE OF 2% WAS RECORDED IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.

THE MONTHLY SURVEY OF ORDERS-ON-HAND COVERS A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURERS CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT SIZES IN SEPTEMBER 1986.

/A SPOKESMAN .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT AS THE SURVEY SAMPLE COVERED ONLY THE LARGE COMPANIES, THE SURVEY RESULTS MIGHT NOT BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GENERAL SITUATION OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

NEVERTHELESS, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A USEFUL INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR MAKING A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF SHORT-TERM DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR, HE SAID.

THE SURVEY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 1993 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING,

CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AND AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS

PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER,

DEPARTMENT

12 HARBOUR

ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT $5.50 A COPY.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 805 6441.

THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND ARE SHOWN IN

THE FOLLOWING TABLE:

INDUSTRY

AS AT THE CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH

END OF -------------------------

FEBRUARY 1993 JANUARY 1993 FEBURARY 1992

(MONTHS) (%) (%)

ALL MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED 4 . 53 + 1 + 2

WEARING APPAREL 4 .74 t -1

TEXTILES 2.4 3 + 6 -5

PLASTIC PRODUCTS 3.65 + 1 2 + 7

FABRICATED METAL 4 . 50 -2 + 3

PRODUCTS

ELECTRICAL AND 5.78 + 1 + 6

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

OTHERS 3.97 -1 + 2

* CHANGES WITHIN +/- 0.5%

--------0-----------

/6.........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

LEVELS OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO HIV-INFECTED HAEMOPHILIACS ANNOUNCED * * ♦ * *

THE COUNCIL FOR THE AIDS TRUST FUND HELD ITS FIRST MEETING THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.

THIS FOLLOWED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE’S APPROVAL LAST FRIDAY (APRIL 16) OF THE ALLOCATION OF $250 MILLION TO THE TRUST FUND.

AFTER TODAY’S MEETING, COUNCIL CHAIRMAN PROFESSOR DAVID TODD ANNOUNCED DETAILS OF HOW THE TRUST FUND WOULD BE ALLOCATED.

EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO HIV-INFECTED HAEMOPHILIACS

"EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE TO HIV-INFECTED HAEMOPHILIACS WHO ARE HONG KONG RESIDENTS AND HAVE BEEN INFECTED BY HIV THROUGH TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD OR BLOOD PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG PRIOR TO AUGUST 1985," PROFESSOR TODD SAID.

HE SAID HAVING REGARD TO THE GOVERNMENT’S SYMPATHY AND COMPASSION FOR THE INFECTED PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE COMMUNITY’S VIEWS ON THE AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO BE GRANTED, SIMILAR SCHEMES IN OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND THE DESIRABILITY OF SIMPLE ADMINISTRATION, LEVELS OF PAYMENT WOULD BE MADE TO ELIGIBLE CLAIMANTS AS FOLLOWS:

* MARRIED WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN $1,000,000

* MARRIED WITHOUT DEPENDENT CHILDREN $ 750,000

* SINGLE

* EACH INFECTED SPOUSE AND/OR

CHILD OF THE ABOVE

$ 600,000

$ 300,000

PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM UNDER ANY OF THE CATEGORIES LISTED ABOVE, THE FAMILY OF A VICTIM WHO HAS DIED WOULD RECEIVE $300,000.

"THESE LEVELS OF PAYMENTS ARE BROADLY SIMILAR TO THOSE UNDER THE UK SCHEME, BUT OUR SCHEME IS SIMPLER AND MORE GENEROUS", PROFESSOR TODD SAID.

"WE HAVE ALSO ADDED A CATEGORY, NOT PRESENT UNDER THE UK SCHEME, TO ALLOW PAYMENTS TO THE FAMILIES OF ELIGIBLE VICTIMS WHO HAVE ALREADY DIED, WHERE THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT.

"THE COUNCIL SECRETARY WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH KNOWN ELIGIBLE CLAIMANTS, AND THESE CASES WILL BE PROCESSED WITH ALL DUE SPEED.

"ALL INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL," HE ADDED.

PROFESSOR TODD ALSO SAID A SPECIAL SUB-COMMITTEE HAD BEEN SET

UP TO ASSIST THE COUNCIL IN SCREENING CASES AND VALIDATING CLAIMS.

/MEDICAL/SUPPORT .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

MEDICAL/SUPPORT SERVICES AND PUBLIC1TY/PUBLIC EDUCATION

PROFESSOR TODD ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING WOULD BE WELCOMED FROM BONA-FIDE ORGANISATIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL MEDICAL AND/OR SUPPORT SERVICES TO THOSE WITH AIDS/HIV, AND FOR PROJECTS TO ENHANCE PUBLICITY \ND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON AIDS.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS AND FOR PROJECT GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH.

THERE IS NO DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION.

ENQUIRIES REGARDING APPLICATIONS TO THE TRUST FUND CAN BE DIRECTED TO:

MR VICTOR NG, SECRETARY TO THE AIDS TRUST FUND, C/O HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH, SEVENTH FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, MAIN WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

(TEL : 810 2123)

THE FOLLOWING IS A MEMBERSHIP LIST OF THE EX-GRATIA PAYMENT SUB-COMMITTEE UNDER THE COUNCIL FOR AIDS TRUST FUND:

CHAIRMAN:

HON ANNA WU HUNG-YUK

MEMBERS:

PROFESSOR CHAN TA I-KWONG

DR PATRICK YUEN

SISTER MAUREEN MCGINLEY

MR LAWRENCE LAM

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, HKU READER/PAEDIATRICS, CUHK (’O-ORD I NATOR , A I DS CONCERN SOLICITOR

--------0-----------

/8 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

CONTRACT FOR CHINA WATER PUMPING STATION AWARDED * * * » ♦

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) AWARDED A $57.8 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING WORKS OF AU TAU ’B’ PUMPING STATION IN YUEN LONG.

THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF CONTRACTS FOR THE CHINA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES FOR STAGED EXPANSION OF FACILITIES TO RECEIVE AND TRANSFER ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY FROM CHINA.

ON COMPLETION OF THE EXPANSION, THE RECEPTION AND TRANSFER CAPACITY WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE EXISTING 620 MILLION CUBIC METRES TO 1,100 MILLION CUBIC METRES A YEAR.

STAGE I OF THE PROJECT, ESTIMATED TO COST $2,092 MILLION, COVERS ALL THE MAJOR WORKS REQUIRED FOR COMMISSIONING BY JANUARY 1, 1995.

MUK WU IS THE FOREMOST POINT IN THE TERRITORY’S CHINA WATER RECEPTION AND TRANSFER SYSTEM WHERE WATER RECEIVED WILL BE TRANSFERRED ALONG THREE MAJOR ROUTES TO THE WESTERN, CENTRAL AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE TERRITORY.

THE WESTERN ROUTE IS MADE UP OF LARGE DIAMETER PIPELINES AND WATER TUNNELS THAT RUN FROM MUK WU TO TAI LAM CHUNG RESERVOIR VIA AU TAU.

AU TAU ’B’ PUMPING STATION IS A KEY INSTALLATION ALONG THE WESTERN ROUTE TO AUGMENT THE TRANSFER OF ADDITIONAL CHINA WATER TO TAI LAM CHUNG RESERVOIR.

WHEN OPERATING IN PARALLEL WITH THE EXISTING AU TAU ’A’ PUMPING STATION, THE ULTIMATE COMBINED OUTPUT CAN REACH 1.2 MILLION CUBIC METRES A DAY.

THE CONTRACT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCT ION OF A PUMPING STATION, AN ELECTRICAL SUB-STATION AND OTHER ASSOCIATED WORKS.

WORKS UNDER THIS CONTRACT WILL TAKE ABOUT 17 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR WU YU-NGONG AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF Till1 TOBISHIMA CORPORATION.

THE PROJECT CONSULTANT IS

PHH/SWK WATER CONSULTANTS.

----------o-------------

/9 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

ACC' MEMBERS BRIEFED ON CHEUNG CHING TUNNEL WORKS

t * * * *

MEMBERS OK THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOOD OF THE AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (ACC) WERE TODAY (TUESDAY) BRIEFED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROUTE 3 CHEUNG CHING TUNNEL, FOLLOWED BY A TOUR OF THE TUNNEL SITE.

MEMBERS WERE FIRST BRIEFED BY MR C K WONG, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, MR VICTOR TURNER, PRINCIPAL RESIDENT ENGINEER, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONTRACTOR, DRAGAGES ET TRAVAUX PUBLICS, ON CURRENT PROGRESS WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHEUNG CHING TUNNEL ON TSING YI.

THE BRIEFING FOCUSED ON MEMBERS’ REQUEST ON THE SAFETY AND MONITORING MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN OF THE WORKS AND THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE WELLBEING OF TSING YI RESIDENTS. THESE INCLUDE:

* A TUNNEL ALIGNMENT DESIGNED TO RUN AT A REASONABLE DISTANCE FROM RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS;

* STRINGENT SAFETY CONTROLS ON THE CONTRACTOR;

* AN INDEPENDENT STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TO SURVEY BUILDINGS AND MONITOR THE SITUATION;

* STATIONS SET UP TO MONITOR VI BRATION LEVELS CAUSED BY BLASTING. THE MOST RIGOROUS HONG KONG STANDARDS WILL BE APPLIED;

* SITE STAFF TEAMS TO MONITOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND SAFETY CONTROLS;

* NOTICE TO RESIDENTS IN ADVANCE OF EACH BLASTING;

* A UTILITY SURVEY DONE IN FULL TO ENSURE THAT UTILITIES WILL NOT BE DAMAGED OR DISRUPTED;

* STRINGENT NOISE CONTROLS INCLUDING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO USE NOISE REDUCTION EQUIPMENT;

♦ STEPS UNDER WAY TO SET UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT OFFICE TO MONITOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME (ACP) AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS IN KWAI CHUNG AND ON TSING YI;

* MINIMISING TRAFFIC DISRUPTION TO RESIDENTS BY REMOVING EXCAVATED MATERIAL BY SEA; AND

* SETTING UP A WORKS COMMITTEE UNDER THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT BOARD TO ADVISE ON THE IMPACT OF ACP AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS IN THE DISTRICT.

/THE SUB-COMMITTEE ......

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

THE SUB-COMMITTEE THEN MET MEMBERS OF THE KWAI CHINO. DISTRICT BOARD, LOCAL LEADERS AND RESIDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVES TO HEAR THEIR COMMENTS ON THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKS AND TO EXCHANGE VIEWS.

AFTER THE MEETING, ACC MEMBERS VISITED THE (BEING (HING ESTATE, OVERLOOKING THE CHEUNG (’ll I NG TUNNEL SI IE TO SEE THE PROGRESS ON THE WORKS AND HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH RESIDENTS THERE.

THE ROUTE 3 CHEUNG CHING TUNNEL IS A MAJOR ELEMENT IN THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME'S HIGHWAYS NETWORK LINKING THE NEW' AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK AND TUNG CHUNG NEW TOWN TO KOWLOON AND CENTRAL DISTRICT IN HONG KONG.

THE CONTRACT, AWARDED TO DRAGAGES FT IRAK \UX PUBLICS ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET IN LATI FEBRUARY, COMPRISES ( ONSTRl CTI ON OF A 1,6-KILOMETRE DUAI THREE-LANE TWIN-BORED TINNFL, TWO TUNNEL PORTAL CONTROL BUILDINGS, AND 0.9 KILOMETRE OF ASSOCIATED ROAD WORKS.

--------0-----------

ANTI-POLLUTION PROSECUTION CASES RELEASED

*****

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) RELEASED A LIST OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY IN THE COURTS DURING MARCH OF BREACHING ANTI-POLLUTION LEGISLATION CURRENTLY ENFORCED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE MADE MONTHLY.

AS THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS COULD BE TIME CONSUMING, THERE WAS SOMETIMES A LENGTHY TIME GAP BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE OFFENCE AND THE CONVICTION DATE.

FOLLOWING IS THE LIST OF PROSECUTION CASES AND THE ASSOCIATED FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS DURING MARCH:

NAME RECORD OF OFFENCE COURT

(COMPANY/ PERSON) ADDRESS DATE OF OFFENCE NATURE OF OFFENCE F1NES($)

1.CARNAUD- METALBOX (HK) LTD CHATER RD, CENTRAL 5.6.91- 13.11.91 APCO : 2,000 UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION OR ALTERATION OF FURNACES 1ST SHA TIN

2.FUNG WONG LAUNDRY CO SAN ON ST, TUEN MUN 12.6.91 APCO : 1,000 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER ON PROB1 BITING THE USE OF FURNACES 1ST TUEN MUN

/3.ASIA MARK .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

3.AS IA MARK COTTON 12.2.92- APCO : 3,000 1ST SOUTH

ENTERPRISES LTD TREE DRIVE,17.4.92 CENTRAL UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION OR ALTERATION OF FURNACES KOWLOON

4.HONG KONG UNITED ANIMAL FAT FTY CO LTD ON NING RD,25.5.92 YUEN LONG APCO : 2,500 EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 1ST FANLING

5.FADDY LTD O’BRIEN 4.6.92- RD, 2.7.92 WAN CHAI APCO : 4,000 UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION OR ALTERATION OF FURNACES 2ND EASTERN

6.FANTA (CFC) CONSTRUCTION CO LTD (MARINE DUMPING CONTRACTOR) HOI BUN 29.6.92 RD, KWUN TONG DASO : 5,000 PERMIT DUMPING PLUS OF ABOUT 600 2,500 CUBIC METRES COURT OF DREDGED CHARGE MARINE MUD AT SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF TAI CHIK SHA AT TSEUNG KWAN O WITHOUT A LICENCE 2ND EASTERN

7.PANG CHI-WAH (TUG BOAT MASTER) ABERDEEN 29.6.92 MAIN RD, ABERDEEN DASO : 3,500 DUMPING OF PLUS ABOUT 600 2,500 CUBIC METRES COURT OF DREDGED CHARGE MARINE MUD AT SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF TAI CHIK SHA AT TSEUNG KWAN O WITHOUT A LICENCE 1ST ..

8.CHENG CHURN (BARGE SAILOR) AP LEI 29.6.92 CHAU ESTATE, AP LEI CHAU DASO : 3,500 DUMPING OF PLUS ABOUT 600 2,500 CUBIC METRES COURT OF DREDGED CHARGE MARINE MUD AT SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF TAI CHIK SHA AT TSEUNG KWAN O WITHOUT A LICENCE 1ST EASTERN

9.HONG NING DAIRY SHA TAU 15.7.92 KOK RD, FANLING WPCO : 5,000 DISCHARGED POLLUTING MATTER IN THE DEEP BAY WATER CONTROL ZONE 1ST FANLING

/10.PALIBURG .......

[Typographical errors in the original document]

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

- 13 -

17.CHAN KAM-WAH II •i NCO : 2,000 USE A PRODUCT DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF SECTION 17(1) 1ST it

18.LAI WAI-MAN II it NCO : " 2,000 1ST it

19.LUI KAI KWU TUNG VILLAGE, SHEUNG SHUT ] 17.9.92 WPCO : 10,000 DISCHARGED POLLUTING MATTER TN THE DEEP BAY WATER CONTROL ZONE 1ST FANLING

20.PONG YIU 1 KWU TUNG, SHEUNG SHUI ii WPCO : " 10,000 1ST ♦t

21.LAM KAR TONG KUNG LENG, SHEUNG SHUI 17.9.92 WPCO : ” 15,000 1ST it

22.CEMENTAID (HK) LIMITED PJNG CHE, FANLING 23.9.92 WPCO : " 5,000 1ST ti

23 .NG KA-HING SAI KUNG MAIN ST, SAI KUNG 23.9.92 WPCO : 25,000 DISCHARGED POLLUTING MATTER IN THE PORT SHELTER WATER CONTROL ZONE 3RD KWUN TONG

24.TRI-STAR FABRIC PRINTING WORKS LTD AUSTIN RD, JORDAN 23.9.92 APCO : 6,000 EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2ND TSUEN WAN

25.PRESIDENT RESTAURANT (WANCHAI) LTD MODY RD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST 23.9.92- 19.11.92 APCO : 1,500 UNAUTHORT SET) INSTALLATION OR ALTERATION OF FURNACES 1ST EASTERN

26.CHEUK KIN TRADING LTD NATHAN RD, YAU MA TEI 23.9.92 NCO : 80,000 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 4 TH SOUTH KOWLOON

/27.FUBO .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

27.FUBO SEAFOOD RESTAURANT LTD FUK TSUN ST, TAI KOK TSUI 30.9.92 NCO : FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 9,000 1ST NORTH KOWLOON

28.WING LUEN UNIVERSAL LAUNDRY LTD WING KEI RD, KWAI CHUNG 30.9.92 APCO : EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 6,500 2ND TSUEN WAN

29.YAU FOOK FOOD PRODUCTS LTD KWU TUNG, SHEUNG SHU1 1.10.92 WPCO : 10,000 DISCHARGED POLLUTING MATTER IN THE DEEP BAY WATER CONTROL ZONE 1ST FANLING

30.CHOSERISE LTD SHAUKIWAN RD, SAI WAN HO 2.10.92 APCO : FAILURE TO TAKE MEASURES TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY AIR POLLUTANT 15,000 1ST EASTERN

31.HO CHUCK RESTAURANT LTD HING FONG RD, KWAI CHUNG 2.10.92 NCO : FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 8,000 1ST TSUEN WAN

32.NG MIN YAU 01 ST, SAN PO KONG 14.10.92 NCO : 4,000 1ST SAN PO KONG

33.GOLDEN HARVEST DYEING AND WEAVING FACTORY LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 14. 10.92 APCO : EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 7,000 2ND KWUN TONG

34.LEE AH-LUNG CHUNG WUI ST, TAI KOK TSUI 15.10.92 NCO : FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 5,000 1ST NORTH KOWLOON

35.UNION DYEING WORKS LTD KWAN TEI PAK TSUEN, FANLING 15.10.92 WPCO : 10,000 DISCHARGED POLLUTING MATTER 4TH FANLING

IN THE DEEP BAY WATER CONTROL

ZONE

/36.GOLDEN .......

- 15

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

36.GOLDEN HARVEST DYEING AND WEAVING FACTORY LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 20.10.92 APCO : EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,500 3RD KWUN TONG

37.DIAMOND (HOP KEE) DYEING & BLEACHING FACTORY LTD STRAIGHT STREET, DIAMOND HILL SUN CHUEN 22.10.92 APCO : 3,000 1ST SAN PO KONG

38.WAI KEE (ZENS) CONSTRUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION CO LTD GRANVILLE RD, TSIM SHA TSUI 27.10.92 APCO : CONTRAVENING TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF SPECIFIED PROC LICENCE 2,000 A ESS 1ST TUEN MUN

39.NEW TERRITORY SLAUGHTER HOUSE LTD TUNG TAU INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, YUEN LONG 27. 10.92 WPCO : DISCHARGED POLLUTING MATTER IN THE DEEP BAY WATER CONTROL ZONE 15,000 1ST FANLING

40.GOLDEN CUP INDUSTRIES LTD NATHAN RD, TSIM SHA TSUI 28.10.92 NCO : FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 20,000 1ST SOUTH KOWLOON

41 .UNION FORD LTD NANKING ST, YAU MA TEI 28.10.92 NCO : 10,000 1ST

42.HUI HON-MAN TAI WONG ST EAST, WAN CHAI 29. 10.92 NCO : 2,000 1ST EASTERN

43.HOSTBUSY DEVELOPMENT LTD TAI TSUN ST, TAI KOK TSUI 30. 10.92 APCO : EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2,500 1ST SOUTH KOWLOON

44.KAI SHING BLEACHING & DYEING FACTORY LTD DIAMOND 2.11.92 NEW VILLAGE DIAMOND HILL APCO ! 3,500 2ND SAN PO KONG

45.OFFICE BUILDINGS MANAGEMENT LTD QUEEN’S RD CENTRAL, CENTRAL 3.11.92 NCO : FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIRE- 7,500 1ST WESTERN

MENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE

/46.PARIS ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

46.PARIS WAN’S CO CASTLE 4.11.92 PEAK RD, KWAI CHUNG APCO : EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 6,000 1ST TSUEN WAN

47.GROWTH BRIGHT LTD FA YUEN 12.11.92 ST,/NELSON STREET, MONG KOK NCO : FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 9,000 1ST NORTH KOWLOON

48.CHAN YUE-PO KING’S RD, 13. 11.92 NORTH POINT NCO : 2,000 1ST EASTERN

49.WONDERFUL HONOUR LTD CHAI. WAN 13.11.92 KOK ST, tsuen; wan APCO : EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 15,000 3RD TSUEN WAN

50.TAI FAI SIZING & DYEING FTY LTD CHAI WAN 13.11.92 KOK ST, TSUEN WAN APCO : ” 6,000 2ND

51.TINGO LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING CO KWAI TAK 13.11.92 ST, KWAI CHUNG APCO : 7,000 2ND

52.WING LEE SILK WASHING & DYEING FTY LTD KUNG YIP 16.11.92 ST, KWAI CHUNG APCO : 6,500 2ND

53.KAI L1M MARBLE ENGINEERING CO LTD YEUNG UK 17.11.92 RD, TSUEN WAN Arco : FAILURE TO TAKE MEASURES TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY AI POLLUTANT 8,000 R 3RD

54.GAINFUL DEVELOPMENT LTD CATCHICK 17.11.92- ST, 1.12.92 KENNEDY TOWN NCO : FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 10,000 DAILY FINE : S100/DAY FOR 1 5 DAYS 2ND WESTERN

55.DAH CHONG HONG LTD FORT ST, 19.11.92 NORTH POINT NCO : 15,000 1ST EASTERN

56.FONTANA RESTAURANT LTD KING’S RD, 19.11.92 NORTH POINT NCO : 2,000 1ST n

/57.LAM........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

57.LAM LOONG-BIU FORT ST, 19.11.92 NORTH POINT NCO : " 2,000 1ST n

58.REALTY WEAVING & DYEING WORKS LTD KAM SHEUNG RD, KAM TIN 19.11.92 WPCO : 10,000 DISCHARGED POLLUTING MATTER IN THE DEEP BAY WATER CONTROL ZONE 4TH FANLING

59.KWONG LEE YUEN DISTILLERY LTD KWAN TEI PAK TSUEN, FANLING 20.11.92 WPCO : ” 10,000 1ST n

60.YUE WAR RESTAURANT LTD WATERLOO RD, MONG KOK 24.11.92 APCO : 4,500 EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2ND SOUTH KOWLOON

61.HANG HEUNG CAKE SHOP CO LTD MAIN RD, YUEN LONG 25.11.92 APCO : 300 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER ON PROHIBITING THE USE OF FURNACES 1ST FANLING

62.HANG HEUNG CAKE SHOP CO LTD it 25.11.92 APCO : 18,000 EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 5TH it

63.SEA-VIEW HARBOUR TOUR CO LTD DES VOEUX RD, CENTRAL 26.11.92 APCO : ” 4,000 1ST SOUTH KOWLOON

64.WINSURE CO LTD NATHAN RD, MONG KOK 26.11.92 APCO : ” 2,500 3RD ti

65.THE INCORPORATED OWNERS OF EASTWAY TOWERS MAIN ST 27.11.92 EAST, SHAU KEI WAN NCO : 2,000 FAILURE TO TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 1ST EASTERN

66.GOLDEN MONGKOK RESTAURANT LTD NATHAN RD, MONG KOK 3.12.92 NCO : ” 8,000 4 TH NORTH KOWLOON

67.HONG KONG PAPER MILLS LTD YING PUN, SHEUNG SHUT 8.12.92 WPCO : 20,000 BEING THE OCCUPIER OF THE PREMISES FROM WHICH POLLUTING MATTER WAS DISCHARGED IN THE DEEP BAY WATER CONTROL ZONE 2ND FANLING

/68.ONELAND ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

68.ONELAND INVESTMENTS LTD WHAMPOA ESTATE, HUNG HOM 8.12.92 APCO : 2,000 EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 1ST SOUTH KOWLOON

69.TRADE BATTLE LTD MAIN ST, AP LEI CHAU 16.12.92 NCO : 7,500 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 1ST WESTERN

70.LAI YIP DYEING FTY LTD LAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 19.1.93 APCO : 3,000 EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 1ST KWUN TONG

NOTE :

APCO : AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE

NCO : NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE

WPCO : WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE

DASO : DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEAS TERRITORIES) ORDER 1975

WDO : WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE

A SPOKESMAN EOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID SECTION 17(1) OF THE NCO WAS APPLIED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO PROSECUTE A COMPANY FOR USING HAND-HELD PERCUSSIVE BREAKERS WITHOUT FITTING WITH NOISE EMISSION LABELS.

ACCORDING TO THE REGULATION, IT IS AN OFFENCE TO USE/CAUSE TO BE USED A HAND-HELD PERCUSSIVE BREAKER (HEAVIER THAN 10 KG) OR AN AIR COMPRESSOR (FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK) WITHOUT THE RESPECTIVE NOISE EMISSION LABEL ISSUED BY THE NOISE CONTROL AUTHORITY.

IN CASE (16), THE DEFENDANT WAS FINED $2,000 FOR VIOLATING THE ABOVE REGULATION.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

ENQUIRIES ON SPECIFIC CASES CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE FOLLOWING

PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICERS:

APCO : MR BENSON YEUNG TEL 594 6200

NCO : DR. ANDREW KWAN TEL 594 6500

WPCO : CASE 10,14,19,20 ,21

22,29 ,35,59,67 MR PATRICK LEI TEL 685 1133

CASE 12 MR MURRAY LUO TEL 835 1184

CASE 23 MR R C ROOTHAM TEL 755 2200

CASE 9,15,39,58 DR ELLEN CHAN TEL 417 6133

WDO : MR PATRICK LEI TEL 685 1 1 33

DASO : MR EDDIE LUI TEL 755 3553

HOWEVER, ENQUIRIES ON GENERAL ISSUES DEPARTMENT’S MEDIA RELATIONS SECTION.

SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO

THE

--------0-----------

/19.........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

LEGCO MEETS TOMORROW

********

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON SZETO WAH, WILL MOVE A MOTION URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD A REFERENDUM ON 1994/95 ELECTIONS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

THE HON JAMES TO KUN-SUN WILL RAISE ANOTHER MOTION ON THE SETTING UP OF AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO HANDLE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE. THE HON PEGGY LAM WILL PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO MR TO’S MOTION.

THE HON ELSIE TU WILL MOVE TWO OTHER MOTIONS UNDER THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE.

LEGISLATORS WILL ASK A TOTAL OF 20 QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER 16 BILLS AT THE MEETING.

THIRTEEN OF THE BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. DEBATES ON THEM ARE DUE TO BE ADJOURNED.

THESE BILLS INCLUDE: INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993; ESTATE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993; ENTERTAINMENTS TAX (REPEAL) BILL 1993; STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993; DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993; MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993; ROAD TRAFFIC (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1993; CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL (PASSAGE TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993; INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1993; INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1993; EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993; SEWAGE TUNNELS (STATUTORY EASEMENT) BILL; AND COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1993.

DEBATES ON THE OTHER BILLS WILL BE RESUMED. THEY ARE DUE TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND BE GIVEN A THIRD READING.

THEY ARE: COMPUTER CRIMES BILL 1992; CRIMES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1992; AND PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992.

IN ADDITION, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES WILL MOVE A MOTION UNDER THE MARINE FISH (MARKETING) ORDINANCE WHILE THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY WILL MOVE TWO MOTIONS UNDER THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE AND THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE RESPECTIVELY.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL PRESENT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 1992 AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 1992.

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE WILL PRESENT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 1991/1992 AND THE REPORT ON THE SAMARITAN FUND AND STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS OF THE SAMARITAN FUND 1991/1992 WITH CERTIFICATE OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO OBSERVE THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTING AND THEY MAY MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR SEATS IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY BY TELEPHONING 869 9492.

-----0------

/20 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

- 20 -

YOUTH CHARTER AVAILABLE FROM DISTRICT OFFICES

*****

COPIES OF A COMMISSION ON YOUTH’S DOCUMENT THAT SETS OUT THE PRINCIPLES AND IDEALS ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ARE NOW AVAILABLE FREE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMISSION SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT ALL ARE WELCOME TO BECOME SUBSCRIBERS TO THE CHARTER FOR YOUTH.

THE CHARTER HAS BEEN TAILORED MADE TO SERVE AS A USEFUL REFERENCE FOR POLICY-MAKERS, YOUTH SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN PROMOTING THE WELLBEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY AGREED TO TAKE THE LEAD TO BECOME A SUBSCRIBER, AND HE CALLED ON THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL PROJECT TO FOLLOW SUIT.

"SOME 2,000 LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS TO ENLIST THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE CHARTER. MANY HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED GREAT INTEREST IN BECOMING SUBSCRIBERS," HE SAID.

SUBSCRIBING ORGANISATIONS, HE EXPLAINED, WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE CONSTITUTIONS, POLICIES, PRIORITIES AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT AS BEST AS THEY CAN THE PRINCIPLES CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENT.

"PERIODIC REVIEWS IN THE FORM OF CONFERENCES WOULD BE ORGANISED FOR SUBSCRIBING PARTIES TO PRESENT REPORTS ON HOW THEY REALISED THE CHARTER.

"THE FIRST SUCH CONFERENCE IS EXPECTED TO BE HELD IN TWO YEARS’ TIME," HE SAID.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE COMMISSION INTENDS TO HOLD A SUBSCRIPTION CEREMONY THIS JULY TO FORMALLY LAUNCH AND PROMOTE THE CHARTER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AS TO PUBLICITY, A POSTER, A TELEVISION SLIDE AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST ON RADIO HAVE BEEN PRODUCED.

THE CHARTER FOR YOUTH, WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE, COMPRISES THREE SECTIONS.

THEY ARE: THE PRINCIPLES AND IDEALS ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT; THE RIGHTS OF YOUTH; AND THE LONG-TERM SOCIAL GOALS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SECRETARIAT OF THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH ON 835 1929.

--------0-----------

/21 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

DISTANT LEARNING WORTH PURSUING * * * * *

DISTANT LEARNING IS ALL WORTHWHILE FOR IT WILL ENHANCE THE STUDENTS’ CAREERS AND GIVE THEM A GOOD DEAL OF PLEASURE AND SATISFACTION, MRS PATTEN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE VARIETY SHOW WHICH MARKED THE END OF A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ON LIFE-LONG EDUCATION AND DISTANCE LEARNING, MRS PATTEN SAID THE OPEN LEARNING INSTITUTE (OLI) PROVIDED EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISTANCE LEARNING TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

SINCE THE INSTITUTE OPENED ITS DOORS IN OCTOBER 1989, THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS HAVE ENROLLED ON ITS COURSES.

"IT SHOWS HOW MUCH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG VALUE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT," SHE SAID.

THE OLI PROVIDES 41 COURSES FOR 17 DEGREE PROGRAMMES. BY OCTOBER 1995 IT PLANS TO MAKE AVAILABLE 68 COURSES FOR 29 DEGREE PROGRAMMES.

IN ADDITION, ITS NEWLY LAUNCHED CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION WILL PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF NON-DEGREE AND SHORT COURSES TO MEET PUBLIC DEMAND.

"THAT IS A REAL SUCCESS STORY," SHE SAID.

THE HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION HAS RECENTLY SCRUTINISED THE FIRST 17 DEGREE PROGRAMMES PROVIDED BY OLI.

"THIS ACCREDITATION CONFIRMS THE QUALITY OF THE INSTITUTE’S PROGRAMMES AND GIVES STUDENTS THE ASSURANCE THAT THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR WHICH THEY WORK SO HARD WILL BE RECOGNISED," MRS PATTEN SAID.

SHE SAID THE EVENING WAS A RARE OCCASION FOR. STUDENTS TO COME TOGETHER AND SHARE EXPERIENCES AND PROBLEMS AS DISTANCE LEARNING WAS AN ISOLATED ACTIVITY FOR INDIVIDUALS.

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

- 22

CAR MARKS FOR AUCTION * * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ANOTHER AUCTION OF LUCK^ VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKS ON SATURDAY (APRIL 24) AT 9.30 AM AT THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL.

A TOTAL AVAILABLE FOR BI OF 50 DDING. LUCKY VEHICLE THEY ARE: REGISTRATION MARKS WILL BE

FC2827 FD6823 FD8815 FC8839

FD788 FA238 FC6618 FB3228

*6223 ♦ XX2 *FJ61 ♦ FK1

FD889 FC322 AA286 FD277

FC3238 AT9899 FD31 18 DR1960

AJ907 FD813 FC9992 FD7811

FD117 FA336 FD1213 AL1989

*AT9R *FJ800 *8288 ♦FJ3000

FD2833 FD8633 FD1 16 BC820

FB618 FC623 FC3886 FD8293

FD9022 FD7 26 *FG3311 FC8488

FD8025 FC9993 FD915 ♦FJ1717

FD3480 FD9965

* SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARK (NOT TRANSFERABLE)

SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MUST PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BIDDING.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT REMINDED BIDDERS THAT THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARK WOULD BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO A VEHICLE REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE AUCTION.

THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION MUST BE PRODUCED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AUCTION IF THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARK IS TO BE • REGISTERED UNDER THE NAME OF BODY CORPORATE.

PROCEEDS OF THE AUCTION, AFTER DEDUCTION OF EXPENSES, WILL AS USUAL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND.

THE COMING AUCTION WILL BE THE 192ND ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973.

--------0 -

FRESH WATER CUT IN YAU MA TEI *****

FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES TN YAU MA TEI WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY TO FACILITATE WASTE DETECTION WORK ON WATER MAINS.

THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL THE PREMISES BOUNDED BY JORDAN ROAD, BATTERY STREET, SAIGON STREET AND CANTON ROAD.

---------0---------

/23 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

- 23 -

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

TENDER RESULTS *****

TENDER DATE 20 APR 93 20 APR 93

PAPER ON OFFER EF BILLS EF BILLS

ISSUE NUMBER Q316 Y388

AMOUNT APPLIED HK$3,040 MN HK$1,750 MN

AMOUNT ALLOTTED HK$1,000 MN HK$200 MN

AVERAGE YIELD ACCEPTED 2.90 PCT 3.32 PCT

HIGHEST YIELD ACCEPTED 2.91 PCT 3.34 PCT

PRO RATA RATIO ABOUT 89 PCT ABOUT 90 PCT

AVERAGE TENDER YIELD 2.93 PCT 3.38 PCT

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

TENDERS TO BE HELD IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 26 APRIL 1993 -

TENDER DATE 27 APR 93 27 APR 93

PAPER ON OFFER EF BILLS EF BILLS

ISSUE NUMBER Q317 H363

ISSUE DATE 28 APR 93 28 APR 93

MATURITY DATE 28 JUL 93 27 OCT 93

TENOR 91 DAYS 182 DAYS

AMOUNT ON OFFER HK$1,000 + 200 MN HK$400 + 80 MN

-----0------

724 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS * * * * *

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,370

REVERSAL OF LAF -220 BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150 NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -590 CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,560 LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 111.9 *-0.3* 20.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EF BILLS HONG TERMS YIELD TERM EXCHANGE FUND KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 3.13 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.34 3.30

1 MONTH 2.97 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.25 3.43

3 MONTHS 2.88 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.58 3.61

6 MONTHS 3.04 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.72 3.80

12 MONTHS 3.28 PCT TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - CLOSED 20 APRIL 1993 16,985MN

Received by PRO

°°2 3 W MO,

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

HONG KONG WANTS CHINA'S MFN STATUS RENEWED ...................

POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO ELECTION TALKS, SIR ROBIN SAYS .......................................

CONTRACT SIGNED FOR EXPANDING SHEUNG SHUI WATER WORKS ........

TWO NT SITES TO LET .............................

AIDS AWARENESS CONCERT TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY ..................

FOSTER CARE EXHIBITIONS IN HOUSING ESTATES ...................

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

HONG KONG WANTS CHINA’S MFN STATUS RENEWED * * * * »

HONG KONG WANTS CHINA’S MOST FAVOURED NATION TRADING STATUS RENEWED THIS YEAR AND MAINTAINED IN FUTURE, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR PATTEN SAID HIS DIRECT AND URGENT CONCERN WAS THE DAMAGfc THAT MIGHT BE DONE TO HONG KONG IF CHINA’S MFN STATUS WAS WITHDRAWN.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MR PATTEN SAID DESPITE THE FACT THAT HONG KONG WAS A REMARKABLY RESILIENT PLACE, THERE WAS NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT THE IMMEDIATE DAMAGE DONE TO THE TERRITORY BECAUSE OF CHINA’S LOSS OF MFN STATUS WOULD BE VERY SUBSTANTIAL.

"OUR LATEST ESTIMATES SUGGEST IT WOULD HALVE OUR GROWTH RATE AND DESTROY NEARLY 70,000 JOBS.

"SO MY MESSAGE ON THIS ISSUE IS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD. HONG KONG WANTS CHINA’S MFN STATUS RENEWED THIS YEAR, AND MAINTAINED IN FUTURE," HE SAID.

MR PATTEN MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS WAS NOT JUST PLEADING HONG KONG’S OWN SPECIAL INTERESTS.

NOTING THAT THE US/HK POLICY ACT 1992 UNDERLINED THE U.S.’S STRONG INTEREST IN THE ECONOMIC VITALITY, PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY, HE SAID IF MFN STATUS WERE WITHDRAWN, IT WOULD COST U.S. CONSUMERS U.S.$14 BILLION.

IF CHINA WERE TO RETALIATE, U.S. EXPORTS WORTH AN ESTIMATED U.S.$8 BILLION, AND OVER 150,000 U.S. JOBS WOULD BE PUT AT RISK, HE ADDED.

"AS I SAID, THIS IS A WEAPON THAT CUTS BOTH WAYS."

THE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED APPRECIATION OF OVERSEAS INTEREST IN HONG KONG.

"HONG KONG IS IN MANY WAYS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, AND IT. IS NATURAL THAT ALL THOSE WITH INTERESTS HERE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING OUR FUTURE PROSPECTS," HE SAID.

"BUT AS PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SAID, THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG’S RETURN TO CHINA ARE MATTERS FOR CHINA AND BRITAIN TO WORK OUT."

THE GOVERNOR WARNED AGAINST DRAWING HONG KONG’S CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS INTO THE MFN DEBATE.

"IF THOSE WHO WOULD HELP US HAVE IT IN MIND TO PULL OUR CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS INTO THE MFN DEBATE, I SHOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERY FRANK APPEAL TO THEM: PLEASE DON’T," HE SAID.

/"YOU CAN'T ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

"YOU CAN’T HELP US BY HURTING OUR ECONOMY.

"IT IS NO LESS PERVERSE, FOR BEING WELL-INTENTIONED, TO SET OUl' TO REMOVE CHINA’S MFN STATUS WITH THE AVOWED INTENTION OF SUPPORTING HONG KONG.

"THAT WOULD BE MASSIVELY COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE," MR PATTEN SAID.

--------0--------

POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO ELECTION TALKS, SIR ROBIN SAYS * * * * *

THE BRITISH TEAM WILL APPROACH THE TALKS ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG POSITIVELY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY, THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE DEPARTURE FOR PEKING, SIR ROBIN SAID THEY WOULD BE WORKING FOR A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.

"THAT MAY TAKE A LITTLE TIME BUT WE WILL BE LOOKING TO GET DOWN, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO THE TASK OF DISCUSSING THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTIONS DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG NEXT YEAR AND IN 1995," HE SAID.

SIR ROBIN SAID HE HAD TWO DAYS OF VERY THOROUGH DISCUSSIONS IN HONG KONG IN PREPARATION FOR THE TALKS.

"THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN US, ME AND MEMBERS OF MY TEAM, A GREAT DEAL OF HIS TIME," HE SAID.

"WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION WITH EXCO AND IT’S BEEN PARTICULARLY VALUABLE TO ME TO HEAR THE VIEWS OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXCO.

"I THINK WE ARE NOW VERY WELL PREPARED FOR THE TASK WHICH LIES AHEAD."

-----0------

CONTRACT SIGNED FOR EXPANDING SHEUNG SHUI WATER WORKS

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AWARDED A $91.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR EXPANDING SHEUNG SHUI TREATMENT WORKS TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR POTABLE WATER ARISING FROM THE CONTINUAL DEVELOPMENT OF TAI PO, FANLING AND SHEUNG SHUI NEW TOWNS.

ON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT IN EARLY 1995, THE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING TREATMENT WORKS WILL BE INCREASED FROM 100,000 CUBIC METRES TO 200,000 CUBIC METRES PER DAY, WITH PROVISION FOR FURTHER EXPANSION TO AN ULTIMATE CAPACITY OF 250,000 CUBIC METRES.

/THE CONTRACT .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

THE CONTRACT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLARIFIERS, FILTERS, WATER TANKS, ANCILLARY STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS, AND MODIFICATION OF THE EXISTING TREATMENT WORKS.

THE CONTRACTOR IS ALSO REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT FACILITIES FOR HOUSING A NEW CHLORINE SCRUBBING PLANT SCHEDULED FOR COMMISSIONING BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

DESIGNED ON STRICT ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN AN ASSESSMENT REPORT BY AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, THE PLANT CAN ABSORB LEAKED CHLORINE AND NEUTRALISE IT WITH SODIUM HYDROXIDE WITHIN THE CHLORINE STORAGE HOUSE UNTIL THE CHLORINE CONTENT DROPS TO A SAFE LEVEL.

THIS WILL MINIMISE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORAGE AND HANDLING OF CHLORINE.

THIS CONTRACT IS THE SECOND ONE AWARDED UNDER THE "SHEUNG SHUt TREATMENT WORKS - STAGE II" PROJECT.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR WU YU-NGONG, SIGNED THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF PAUL Y CONSTRUCTION CO LTD.

- - - - 0 -----

TWO NT SITES TO LET * * * * *

THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF TWO PIECES OF GOVERNMENT LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE FIRST LOT IN AREA 3 OF TSING KING ROAD ON TSING YI HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 16,300 SQUARE METRES.

IT IS FOR USE AS A PUBLIC FEE-PAYING CAR PARK FOR CONTAINER TRACTORS AND TRAILERS.

THE TENANCY IS FOR FIVE MONTHS, RENEWABLE MONTHLY AFTERWARDS.

THE SECOND LOT, IN AREA 20, FANLING, HAS AN AREA OF 6,150 SQUARE METRES.

IT IS ALSO EARMARKED FOR USE AS A FEE-PAYING CAR PARK FOR VEHICLES INCLUDING LORRIES, BUT EXCLUDING CONTAINER VEHICLES.

THE TENANCY IS FOR TWO YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MAY 7.

/FORMS OF ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

FORMS OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM:

* THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 10TH FLOOR, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN;

* THE NORTH DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, SIXTH FLOOR, 3 PIK FUNG ROAD, NORTH DISTRICT GOVERNMENT OFFICES, FANLING;

* THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD; AND

* THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES KOWLOON, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEl CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.

THE TENDER PLANS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE IN THESE OFFICES.

- - 0----------

AIDS AWARENESS CONCERT TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY

4 4 4 * i 4

A LIVE CONCERT WILL BE ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON SUNDAY (APRIL 25) AT THE KWAI FONG METRO PLAZA LEVEL 3 TO KICK OFF A MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ON AIDS PREVENTION.

THE TWO-HOUR CONCERT, BEGINNING AT 2.30 PM, IS A PRELUDE TO AN ’ENJOY YOURSELF TONIGHT’ SHOW TO BE STAGED ON APRIL 30 (FRIDAY).

FOLLOWING THE LIVE CONCERT AND THE SHOW, A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES, TARGETING AT DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS, WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO PROMOTE AIDS AWARENESS.

PEOPLE WITH A RED RIBBON WHICH IS OBTAINABLE AT AN EXHIBITION ON AIDS TO BE HELD AT LEVEL 2 OF THE SAME PLAZA FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM ON THAT DAY CAN BE ADMITTED FREE TO THE CONCERT.

THE RED RIBBONS, WHICH ARE USED AS THE SYMBOL OF AIDS AWARENESS, WILL BE GIVEN OUT AS SOUVENIRS AT THE EXHIBITION.

AIDS AWARENESS PLAYING CARDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE AUDIENCE WHO TAKE PART IN A QUIZ DURING THE CONCERT.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, YAN CHAI HOSPITAL, TELEVISION BROADCASTING LIMITED (TVB) AND WARNER MUSIC HONG KONG LIMITED HAVE GIVEN ACTIVE SUPPORT IN ORGANISING THE CONCERT.

/OFFICIATING GUESTS .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND

------- MRS SHELIjEY LAU; DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR S H LEE, DEPUTY ui^viUR OF HEALTH, DR MARGARET CHAN; MR WONG CHI-MUK AND MR STAR^CHAN IU-SENG, CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR RESPECTIVELY OF THE YAN CHAI BOARD OF DIRECTORS; MISS HONG KONG 1992 MISS EMILY REPRESENTATIVES FROM TVB AND WARNER MUSIC HONG KONG LIMITED.

WELFARE,

DIRECTOR OF HEALTH

HOSPITAL

LO AND

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER ™E OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CONCERT TO BE HELD AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY (APRIL 25) AT LEVEL 3 OF KWAI FONG METRO PLAZA.

-----0------

FOSTER CARE EXHIBITIONS IN HOUSING ESTATES * * * * *

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL STAGE A SERIES OF EXHIBITIONS AT EIGHT PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO MAY 16 IN A BID TO ATTRACT MORE CARING COUPLES TO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID MANY FAMILIES IN HOUSING ESTATES HAD SHOWN INTEREST TO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS.

AN EXPERIMENTAL EXHIBITION HELD AT LEI TUNG ESTATE IN AP LEI CHAU EARLIER THIS YEAR HAD PROVED TO BE VERY POPULAR WITH RESIDENTS, HE SAID.

EACH OF THE EXHIBITIONS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY BRIEFINGS TO BE HELD AT THE RESPECTIVE HOUSING ESTATES WITHIN A WEEK.

"INTERESTED COUPLES MAY DISCUSS FOSTER CARE SERVICE WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AT THE BRIEFINGS AND RETURN APPLICATION FORMS IF THEY ARE FOUND TO BE ELIGIBLE," HE SAID.

THE IDEAL FOSTER PARENTS ARE CARING COUPLES AGED BETWEEN 25 AND 60.

FOSTER CARE IS AIMED AT PROVIDING A TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE FAMILY FOR CHILDREN WHO CANNOT BE ADEQUATELY LOOKED AFTER BY THEIR FAMILIES, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF NEGLECT, ILLNESS OF PARENTS OR OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

"THROUGH FOSTERING, CHILDREN CAN GROW UNDER A PROPER FAMILY SETTING AND ENJOY HAPPY CHILDHOOD," THE SPOKESMAN NOTED.

/THE EXHIBITIONS .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 6 -

THE EXHIBITIONS WILL BE HELD IN HENG ON ESTATE (APRIL 22-23) AND NEW TOWN PLAZA (APRIL 24-25) IN SHA TIN; FUNG TAK ESTATE (APRIL 27-28) AND CHUK YUEN (SOUTH) ESTATE (APRIL 29-30) IN WONG TAI SIN; PO LAM ESTATE (MAY 3-4), KING LAM ESTATE (MAY 5-6) AND TSUI LAM ESTATE (MAY 7-8) IN TSEUNG KWAN O; AND WAN TSUI ESTATE (MAY 13-14) AND SIU SAI WAN ESTATE (MAY 15-16) IN CHAI WAN.

ENQUIRIES ON THE SERVICE CAN BE MADE ON TEL 852 4596 OR 852 4599.

0---------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS $ MILLION

* ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT REVERSAL OF LAF BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY EFFECT OF LAF TODAY CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,560 + 590 2,150 NIL -800 1,350

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4. HONG 00 OFFER TWI 111.9 KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE ♦+0.0* 21.4.93 FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.67 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.45 3.19

1 MONTH 2.79 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.35 3.35

3 MONTHS 2.83 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.71 3.52

6 MONTHS 2.95 PCT 12 MONTHS 3.17 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.81 3.74

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 24.798MN

CLOSED 21 APRIL 1993

Received by PRO o„ 2 3 APR MR

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

SUPPLEMENT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: MOTION DEBATE ON POLICE COMPLAINTS .............................. 1

10 BUDGET-RELATED BILLS INTRODUCED .............................. 4

AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO UPDATE EDUCATION ORDINANCE ............... 7

MORE EFFECTIVE ACTION AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE DIRECTORS ........... 8

BILL ON LAND EASEMENT FOR SEWAGE TUNNEL WORKS .................. 10

CHILD ABUSE WORKING GROUP TO RECONVENE SOON .................... 10

RECORD OF BREAKTHROUGH IN HK'S HEALTH CARE HISTORY ............. 11

RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORTS TABLED ................................. 12

MATRIMONIAL CAUSES FEES GO UP .................................. 14

FISH MARKETING RATE PRESCRIBED IN GAZETTE ...................... 14

SENIOR CITIZENS DAY PROPOSAL SUPPORTED ......................... 15

BRIDGE PROPOSAL NOT YET RECEIVED ..........................

/RESTAURANT OPERATIONS .......

RESTAURANT OPERATIONS ADVISED AGAINST DRAWING SEAWATER FOR USE IN FISH TANKS ............................................ 16

USE OF ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES BEING STUDIED .................... 17

REVIEW ON URBAN RENEWAL PROCESS TO BE COMPLETED BY MID YEAR . 17

APPROVED DECORATION CONTRACTOR SYSTEM UNDER REVIEW ............. 18

IMPORTED GRAPES FREE FROM PESTICIDE RESIDUE .................... 19

METALLIC CONCENTRATIONS IN FOOD CLOSELY MONITORED .............. 19

LOCALISATION IN CIVIL SERVICE TO ACCELERATE .................... 21

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT STRENGTHENED .................... 22

CONTRACT FOR STRATEGIC LANDFILL PROJECTS ....................... 22

ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED ........................................ 23

COSMETICS PRICE FALL EXPLAINED ................................. 24

FEW TEENAGERS ABUSE SOLVENTS ................................... 24

COMMUNITY HALLS ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED ........................ 25

NAMES OF GOVT DEPARTMENTS TO BE ADAPTED ........................ 26

COMPLAINT CHANNELS FOR CONSUMERS ............................... 26

DRAFTING OF HOME FOR AGED BILL NEAR COMPLETION ................. 30

TIME-TABLE FOR TTRA BEING REVIEWED ............................ 30

HK ATHLETES FARE WELL AT INT'L COMPETITIONS .................... 31

MOTION FOR INDEPENDENT BODY ON POLICE COMPLAINTS PASSED ........ 33

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

MOTION DEBATE ON POLICE COMPLAINTS *****

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, ON THE MOTION DEBATE ON INDEPENDENT UNIT TO INVESTIGATE POLICE COMPLAINTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TONIGHT.

MR PRESIDENT,

I HAVE LISTENED CAREFULLY TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF MR TO’S MOTION. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT BODY TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE, ALTHOUGH I ACCEPT THAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN AND SHOULD BE MADE TO THE SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATING AND MONITORING SUCH COMPLAINTS. THAT IS OUR INTENTION.

IT SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT OFFICERS OF THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICE (CAPO) WOULD NATURALLY TEND TO PROTECT THEIR COLLEAGUES UNDER INVESTIGATION. DURING EACH OF THE PAST THREE YEARS, AN AVERAGE OF 320 POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE THE TARGET OF COMPLAINTS WERE, FOLLOWING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, THE SUBJECT OF CRIMINAL OR DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS OR WARNINGS. THAT DOES NOT INDICATE BIAS OR LACK OF OBJECTIVITY IN INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE. RATHER THE REVERSE. THE MAINTENANCE OF DISCIPLINE, AND OF STANDARDS GENERALLY, IS ONE OF THE PRIME CONCERNS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, AS IT MUST BE FOR THE HEAD OF ANY DISCIPLINED SERVICE. THE NEED TO UPHOLD THE STANDARDS AND REPUTATION OF THE FORCE IS UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED BY OFFICERS AT ALL LEVELS, AND THEY ARE NOT TOLERANT OR Forgiving of those who let the force down.

IT ALSO SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT THERE IS SOME MINIMUM PROPORTION OF COMPLAINTS WHICH MUST BE GENUINE AND SHOULD, THEREFORE, BE SUBSTANTIATED. THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE BASIS FOR THIS. STATISTICS CAN BE VERY MISLEADING. THE LOW RATE OF SUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS MUST BE SEEN AGAINST THE BACKGROUND THAT SOME 60% OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY CAPO EACH YEAR CANNOT BE PURSUED, BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE THE COMPLAINANT WITHDRAWS THE COMPLAINT VOLUNTARILY. THE SUBSTANTIATION RATE OF COMPLAINTS WHICH ARE INVESTIGATED IS ABOUT 7%. ANOTHER 9% ARE RESOLVED INFORMALLY AFTER DISCUSSION AND EXPLANATION, AND WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE COMPLAINANTS.

/THERE ARE ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 199'

THERE ARE VERY GOOD REASONS WHY THE POLICE, IN THE FRONT LINE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WILL ALWAYS ATTRACT A LARGE NUMBER OF UNJUSTIFIED COMPLAINTS. SOME WHO ARE PROSECUTED LODGE COMPLAINTS TO TRY TO DISCREDIT THE ARRESTING POLICE OFFICERS AS A MEANS OF DEFENCE. SOME MAKE COMPLAINTS IN THE HOPE OF AVOIDING PROSECUTION ALTOGETHER. OTHERS MAY LODGE COMPLAINTS IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT, FOR EXAMPLE AFTER RECEIVING A SUMMONS FOR A MINOR OFFENCE, BUT ON CALMER REFLECTION DECIDE TO RETRACT THE ALLEGATION. I HAVE HEARD THE SUGGESTION THAT THE PERSON WILL NOT BOTHER TO GO THROUGH THE COMPLAINT PROCESS UNLESS HE HAS A GENUINE CAUSE FOR GRIEVANCE. THAT, AT BEST, IS ANOTHER ASSUMPTION. IF WE WERE TO ACCEPT IT AS A BASIS FOR BELIEVING THE COMPLAINANT’S WORDS, POLICE OFFICERS WOULD HAVE LITTLE PROTECTION AGAINST MALICIOUS COMPLAINTS. POLICE OFFICERS HAVE A RIGHT TO BE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS THERE IS ADEQUATE RELIABLE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. FOR SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS, THE QUESTION WHETHER THERE IS ADEQUATE RELIABLE EVIDENCE IN A PARTICULAR CASE IS JUDGED NOT BY CAPO BUT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS. ।

IN ANY CASE, THE SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE OF A POLICE COMPLAINTS AND REDRESS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED JUST ON STATISTICS. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THE BENEFIT WHICH SOCIETY AS A WHOLE DERIVES, COMPLAINT CASES ENABLE THE POLICE FORCE TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, TO REVISE ITS PROCEDURES AND TO IMPRESS UPON ALL POLICE OFFICERS THE NEED TO BE COURTEOUS AND CONSIDERATE IN DISCHARGING THEIR DUTIES.

IT IS OF COURSE IMPORTANT THAT INDEPENDENT, NON-POLICE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE INVOLVED IN THE CONSIDERATION OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE IN ORDER TO ENSURE IMPARTIALITY. THIS IS THE REASON FOR THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF PEOPLE OF HIGH STANDING AND INTEGRITY APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO MONITOR THE INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS BY THE POLICE. IT IS ASSISTED BY AN INDEPENDENT SECRETARIAT. THE COMMITTEE ANALYSES AND CONSIDERS THE RESULT OF EACH INVESTIGATION. IT CAN, AND DOES, REFER CASES BACK TO CAPO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND INVESTIGATION WHERE IT CONSIDERS THIS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN DEALT WITH FULLY AND FAIRLY. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, IF NOT SATISFIED WITH CAPO’S INVESTIGATION, THE COMMITTEE CAN DRAW A CASE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE GOVERNOR. THIS SYSTEM IMPOSES PRESSURE ON CAPO TO ENSURE THAT COMPLAINTS ARE INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY AND IMPARTIALLY.

THE ADMINISTRATION REMAINS OF THE VIEW THAT, WHILE MONITORING SHOULD BE DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT BODY, INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE POLICE. THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR THIS. COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE USUALLY ALLEGE BREACHES OF THE CRIMINAL LAW, OR OF POLICE DISCIPLINE OR PROCEDURES. SOME ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD CRIME REPORTS WHICH CLEARLY SHOULD BE A MATTER FOR THE POLICE; OTHERS REQUIRE A KNOWLEDGE OF POLICE PROCEDURES, AND IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THE EXERCISE OF PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT AS TO WHETHER THE ACTION OF THE POLICE OFFICER UNDER INVESTIGATION IS JUSTIFIED IN ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE.

/THE VIABILITY .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

THE VIABILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT UNIT COMPRISING NON-POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE THE POLICE FORCE MUST BE QUESTIONABLE. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN INVESTIGATORS OF THE RIGHT CALIBRE. IT WOULD INEVITABLY BE A SMALL ORGANISATION WITH LITTLE VARIETY IN ITS WORK AND WITH VERY POOR CAREER PROSPECTS, VERY DIFFERENT IN NATURE AND SIZE FROM THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, WHICH INVESTIGATES ALL ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT, tN ALMOST ALL JURISDICTIONS COMPARABLE TO HONG KONG, INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS IS CARRIED OUT BY THE POLICE. THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT CONVINCED THAT AN INDEPENDENT UNIT WOULD BE BETTER OR MORE EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH SUCH COMPLAINTS. WE ARE SUPPORTED IN THIS VIEW BY THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE WHICH RECOMMENDED IN ITS RECENT REVIEW OF THE POLICE COMPLAINTS SYSTEM THAT INVESTIGATION SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE DONE BY CAPO. THIS RECOMMENDATION, I EMPHASISE, WAS MADE ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE BY A GROUP OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BASED ON THEIR YEARS OF CLOSE OBSERVATION OF THE WORK OF CAPO.

THAT SAID, THE EXISTING SYSTEM IS NOT PERFECT. I ACCEPT THAT IT CAN, AND SHOULD, BE IMPROVED TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE AND TRANSPARENT. THE PROPOSALS IN MRS LAM’S AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION ARE GOOD SUGGESTIONS TO THIS END.

THERE WOULD CERTAINLY BE AN ADVANTAGE TO MAKING THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE A STATUTORY BODY. ITS FUNCTIONS AND POWERS WOULD THEREBY BE BETTER DEFINED AND MORE EASILY UNDERSTOOD. A STATUTORY MONITORING SYSTEM WOULD PUT HONG KONG ON A PAR WITH MANY OTHER SIMILAR JURISDICTIONS. WE INTEND TO MAKE A START NOW ON DRAWING UP LEGISLATION FOR THIS PURPOSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE HAS ALSO PROPOSED THAT IT SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO COMPLAINANTS AND WITNESSES. WE ACCEPT THIS IN PRINCIPLE. IF THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE IS ABLE TO INTERVIEW WITNESSES, THIS SHOULD ENABLE THE COMMITTEE TO PERFORM BETTER ITS MONITORING ROLE. IT WILL THEN BE ABLE TO CLARIFY DIRECTLY WITH WITNESSES AMBIGUITIES AND DISCREPANCIES, AND MAKE A BETTER ASSESSMENT OF THE WHOLE CASE. WE ARE EXAMINING FURTHER THIS PROPOSAL IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMITTEE, INCLUDING THE EVIDENTIAL ASPECTS OF STATEMENTS MADE VOLUNTARILY BY COMPLAINANTS AND WITNESSES TO A MEMBER OF THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE; THE RULES AND GUIDELINES TO BE FOLLOWED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN CONDUCTING SUCH INTERVIEWS; AND THE CRITERIA WHICH THE COMMITTEE WILL FOLLOW IN DECIDING WHEN TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS.

THE PROPOSAL THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE SHOULD REPORT BACK AND EXPLAIN TO THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE ANY DISCIPLINARY OR OTHER ACTION TAKEN IN RESPECT OF POLICE OFFICERS IS, I BELIEVE, ALREADY LARGELY EXISTING PRACTICE. AT PRESENT, CAPO SENDS REGULAR REPORTS TO THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE ON ACTION TAKEN IN RESPECT OF COMPLAINEES. THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS ANY INTERNAL ACTION TAKEN AGAINST OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF COMPLAINT, EVEN THOUGH NO SPECIFIC ACTION AGAINST THEM HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY CAPO OR THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE. I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT WAYS OF STRENGTHENING THIS SYSTEM ALONG THE LINES SUGGESTED BY’ MRS LAM, AND THIS WE INTEND TO DO.

/WE SHALL .......

WENDESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

WE SHALL ALSO CONSIDER THE SUGGESTION THAT SOME NON-POLtCE PERSONNEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATING TEAMS IN CAPO, WITH A VIEW TO BOOSTING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM. I WILL DISCUSS THIS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.

I ALSO AGREE THAT, AT PRESENT, PUBLICITY OF THE WORK OF CAPO AND THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE IS INADEQUATE. THIS HAS HELPED TO FOSTER MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT OUR SYSTEM FOR HANDLING POLICE COMPLAINTS. WE INTEND TO IMPROVE PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS, SO AS TO CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS WHICH MAY DISCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FROM LODGING COMPLAINTS, AND TO ASSURE COMPLAINANTS AND COMPLAINEES ALIKE OF THE IMPARTIALITY OF THE SYSTEM.

I ALSO AGREE THAT WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM MORE RELIABLE INFORMATION ON THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EXISTING SYSTEM FOR HANDLING COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE. THE SECRETARIAT OF THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE IS PLANNING TO CONDUCT A SAMPLE SURVEY OF COMPLAINANTS WHOSE CASES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN FINALISED. THIS SHOULD GIVE US SOME INDICATION OF HOW THE EXISTING SYSTEM MIGHT BE IMPROVED. THE ADMINISTRATION WILL ALSO DISCUSS WITH THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE HOW WE SHOULD SEEK TO GAUGE PUBLIC OPINION ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SYSTEM, TO SEE WHETHER FURTHER CHANGES ARE NECESSARY.

MR PRESIDENT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE SYSTEM FOR HANDLING POLICE COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE, AND BE SEEN TO BE OPEN, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT. WE SHOULD SEEK TO BUILD ON THE PRESENT SYSTEM, NOT TO OVERTHROW IT. THE PROPOSALS IN MRS LAM’S AMENDMENT TO MR TO’S MOTION WILL, I BELIEVE, ACHIEVE REAL WORTHWHILE IMPROVEMENTS; AND FORM A BASIS ON WHICH FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS CAN IF NECESSARY BE MADE. THIS APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE EXISTING SYSTEM IS PRAGMATIC AND SENSIBLE. IT WILL ENABLE US AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO REVIEW THE NEED FOR FURTHER CHANGES IN FUTURE.

MR PRESIDENT, I COMMEND MRS LAM’S AMENDMENT.

--------0 -----------

10 BUDGET-RELATED BILLS INTRODUCED

A TOTAL OF 10 BILLS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE REVENUE-RELATED PROPOSALS IN THE BUDGET WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 SEEKS TO MAKE TWO MAJOR CONCESSIONS ON SALARIES TAX.

ONE IS TO WIDEN THE SECOND AND THIRD MARGINAL TAX RATE BANDS WHILE THE OTHER IS TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY SALARIES TAX ALLOWANCES, BOTH APPLICABLE FROM THE 1993/94 YEAR OF ASSESSMENT.

THE COMBINATION OF THESE CONCESSIONS WILL RESULT IN REDUCED TAX BILLS FOR OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF SALARIES TAXPAYERS, WHILE MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION OTHER TAXPAYERS WILL FALL OUT OF THE TAX NET ALTOGETHER.

/THE EFFECT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

THE EFFECT OF THE ESTATE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WOULD BE TO CHANGE THE LEVELS AT WHICH ESTATE DUTY IS LEVIED SO AS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT WHICH THE TAX HAS ON RELATIVELY SMALL ESTATES.

THE ENTERTAINMENTS TAX (REPEAL) BILL 1993 SEEKS TO ABOLISH THE TAX ON THE ENTRANCE TO RACE MEETINGS.

THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON K Y YEUNG, CONFIRMED THAT THE JOCKEY CLUB HAD KINDLY AGREED TO DONATE TO THE COMMUNITY CHEST AN AMOUNT EQUIVALENT TO THE TAX WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY PAYABLE EVERY YEAR.

ON THE STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, MR YEUNG SAID THE EFFECT WOULD BE TO REDUCE THE RATE OF STAMP DUTY PAYABLE ON THE SALE AND PURCHASE ON TRANSFER OF STOCK FROM 0.4 PER CENT TO 0.3 PER CENT.

THIS CONCESSION IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE HONG KONG’S CONTINUED COMPETITIVENESS IN INTERNATIONAL STOCK TRADING.

"I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE INDUSTRY WILL PASS ON THE FULL BENEFIT OF THIS CONCESSION TO INVESTORS," HE SAID.

THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 HAS THREE PURPOSES.

FIRST, IT ABOLISHES THE DUTY ON COSMETICS.

SECONDLY, IT WOULD INCREASE THE DUTY RATES ON LIQUOR, TOBACCO AND FUEL.

"I SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT THESE ARE NOMINAL INCREASES DESIGNED SIMPLY TO MAINTAIN THE REAL VALUE OF THE DUTY IMPOSED IN LINE WITH INFLATION."

FOR THIS REASON, THOSE DUTY RATES WHICH ARE SET ON AN AD VALOREM BASIS HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED.

THIRDLY, A CLAUSE OF THE BILL IS PART OF A PACKAGE OF ADDITIONAL TAX CONCESSIONS TO DISABLED DRIVERS OFFERED IN THREE OTHER BILLS INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE CLAUSE HAS THE EFFECT OF EXEMPTING FROM DUTY ON FUEL FOR DISABLED DRIVERS OF MOTORCYCLES OR TRICYCLES, UP TO A LIMIT OF 100 LITRES A MONTH.

THE FIRST BILL OFFERING CONCESSIONS IS THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993.

THE EFFECT OF THE BILL WOULD BE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE THAT FIRST REGISTRATION TAX WILL NOT BE PAYABLE ON A MOTORCYCLE OR MOTOR TRICYCLE REGISTERED BY A DISABLED PERSON, REGARDLESS OF THE VEHICLE’S TAXABLE VALUE.

THE SECOND CONCESSIONARY BILL IS THE ROAD TRAFFIC

(MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1993.

/IT WOULD .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

IT WOULD EXTEND TO SUCH DRIVERS OF MOTORCYCLES AND MOTOR TRICYCLES THE EXEMPTION FROM VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCE FEES NOW APPLICABLE TO DISABLED DRIVERS OF CARS.

THE THIRD BILL IN THE PACKAGE IS THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL (PASSAGE TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993.

THE BILL WOULD PROVIDE THAT ANY DISABLED PERSON WHO CAN SATISFY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT THAT HE REQUIRES, AS A DRIVER OF A MOTORCYCLE OR MOTOR TRICYCLE, TO MAKE USE OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, WILL BE EXEMPT FROM THE PAYMENT OF THE TUNNEL TAX.

ON THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1993, MR YEUNG SAID THE PURPOSE WAS TO INTRODUCE A SYSTEM OF COMPOSITE TAX RETURNS, OR CTR’S, WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, 1994.

A CTR WILL BE A SINGLE RETURN COVERING ALL TAXES LEVIED UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE.

"ITS INTRODUCTION WILL SIMPLIFY PROCEDURES FOR TAXPAYERS WHO NOW HAVE TO FILL IN TWO OR MORE TAX RETURNS FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS ALLOWING RE-DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO HELP TO COMBAT TAX AVOIDANCE AND EVASION," HE SAID.

HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF CTR’S WOULD AFFECT NEITHER THE RATES OF TAX NOR THE AMOUNTS PAYABLE.

"ITS PURPOSE IS SIMPLY TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR ALL CONCERNED," HE SAID.

THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1993 PROVIDES THAT WHERE A RELEVANT PAYMENT IS DERIVED FROM AN ASSOCIATE, THE FULL AMOUNT (RATHER THAN THE PRESENT 10 PER CENT) WOULD BE TREATED AS ASSESSABLE PROFITS.

TO PREVENT REVENUE LOSS, THE BILL WOULD TAKE EFFECT FROM THE DAY FOLLOWING THE BUDGET SPEECH, THAT IS MARCH 4.

MR YEUNG SAID THE BILL COULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE LEGITIMATE IMPORTATION OF TECHNOLOGY INTO HONG KONG. THERE ARE TWO REASONS.

FIRST, THE AMENDMENTS ARE ONLY DIRECTED AT ARRANGEMENTS WHERE ASSOCIATED PARTIES ARE INVOLVED. SECOND, THE MEASURES SHOULD NOT RESULT IN ANY GENERAL INCREASE IN COSTS TO NON-RESIDENT TECHNOLOGY EXPORTERS OR TECHNOLOGY USERS IN HONG KONG.

"THIS IS BECAUSE HONG KONG TAX PAID BY A NON-RESIDENT WILL GENERALLY GIVE RISE TO A FOREIGN TAX CREDIT IN HIS HOME COUNTRY," HE ADDED.

DEBATES ON THE BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.

--------o -----------

n.....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO UPDATE EDUCATION ORDINANCE

*****

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO PROPOSE ADDITIONS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EDUCATION FIELD AND TO REMOVE OUT-OF-DATE PROVISIONS AND REDUNDANCIES IN THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID ONE OF THE PROPOSALS WAS TO GIVE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION NEW POWERS TO INSPECT AND REMOVE DOCUMENTS FROM SUSPECTED UNREGISTERED SCHOOLS.

REMOVAL OF THIS LACUNA WILL ENABLE THE DIRECTOR TO TACKLE MORE EFFECTIVELY THE PROBLEMS POSED BY UNREGISTERED SCHOOLS, HE NOTED.

ANOTHER PROVISION IN THE BILL EMPOWERS THE DIRECTOR TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST UNREGISTERED SCHOOLS WHICH CLAIM FALSELY TO BE REGISTERED SCHOOLS IN ADVERTISEMENTS.

"THE ABSENCE OF SUCH A PROVISION NOW HAS HAMPERED ATTEMPTS TO EXERCISE PROPER CONTROL OVER ILLEGAL SCHOOLS,” MR CHAN SAID.

AT PRESENT, AN OPERATION PROVIDING EDUCATION TO FEWER THAN 20 STUDENTS DURING ANY ONE DAY IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED AS A SCHOOL.

THERE IS INCREASING PUBLIC CONCERN THAT PRIVATE TUTORIAL CENTRES WHICH MAKE USE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY BY OPERATING IN SMALL DOMESTIC PREMISES IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY SAFEGUARD THE SAFETY AND THE INTERESTS OF STUDENTS.

MR CHAN SAID: ”WE PROPOSE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO CAN BE TAUGHT IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES AT ANY TIME DURING THE DAY TO FEWER THAN EIGHT WHILE RETAINING THE PRESENT PROVISION OF NOT REQUIRING OPERATIONS INVOLVING FEWER THAN 20 STUDENTS ON ANY ONE DAY TO BE REGISTERED.

’’THIS CHANGE WILL NOT AFFECT INTEREST GROUPS, SUCH AS THOSE RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, WHICH OFFER COURSES OF A NON-ACADEMIC NATURE.”

THE BILL FURTHER SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN SCHOOL MANAGEMENT.

IT PROPOSES TO GIVE SPONSORING BODIES APPROPRIATE POWERS IN APPOINTING AND DISMISSING SCHOOL MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS.

BY FORMALISING THE ROLE OF THE SPONSORING BODY IN THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT HIERARCHY, MR CHAN SAID, THE AMENDMENT WOULD HELP TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

REGARDING THE GENERAL TIDYING UP OF PROVISIONS, THE BILL PROPOSES TO DELETE SECTION 4 IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WHICH SETS OUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TO SUPERINTEND MATTERS RELATING TO EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.

/THIS PROVISION .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

THIS PROVISION HAS BECOME OUT-OF-DATE BECAUSE SEPARATE BODIES OR AUTHORITIES SUCH AS THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE AND THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY HAVE BEEN CREATED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SPECIFIC SECTORS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO DELETE A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WHICH SET OUT THE GROUNDS ON WHICH THE DIRECTOR MAY REFUSE TO REGISTER SCHOOLS FOR POLITICAL REASONS AS WELL AS TO REFUSE OR CANCEL THE REGISTRATION OF TEACHERS.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

--------0 -

MORE EFFECTIVE ACTION AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE DIRECTORS ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE MORE EXTENSIVE AND MORE READILY ENFORCEABLE MEASURES AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE COMPANY DIRECTORS WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1993, THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, SAID THE BILL ALSO CONTAINED SOME MINOR PROVISIONS TO STREAMLINE THE OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.

MR CARTLAND SAID THE EXISTING PROVISIONS ON DISQUALIFICATION OF COMPANY DIRECTORS SUFFERED FROM THE SAME INHERENT WEAKNESSES AS THE EARLIER UK LEGISLATION.

"FOR EXAMPLE, THEY PROVIDE THE COURT WITH THE MAXIMUM DISCRETION BUT LITTLE GUIDANCE AS TO THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD MERIT DISQUALIFICATION, AND THEY SET PRECONDITIONS FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN THAT ARE UNNECESSARILY STRINGENT," HE SAID.

THE NEW PROVISIONS IN THE BILL ARE BASED UPON UK'S COMPANY DIRECTORS DISQUALIFICATION ACT 1986 WHICH PROVIDED MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE READILY ENFORCEABLE MEASURES AGAINST COMPANY DIRECTORS WHO ABUSED THEIR OFFICE OR PAID LITTLE REGARD TO THEIR STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS.

"THEY REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT ADVANCE ON THE EXISTING PROVISIONS BY PRESCRIBING MORE SPECIFIC MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF DIRECTORS’ MISCONDUCT," MR CARTLAND SAID.

IN RELATION TO INSOLVENCIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IT WILL NO LONGER BE A PRECONDITION THAT A PERSON MUST BE INVOLVED AS A DIRECTOR IN TWO INSOLVENT COMPANIES WITHIN FIVE YEARS BEFORE A DISQUALIFICATION ORDER MAY BE MADE.

/INSTEAD, IT ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

INSTEAD, IT WILL BE MANDATORY THAT AN ORDER BE MADE BY THE COURT IF A PERSON IS OR HAS BEEN A DIRECTOR OF ONE COMPANY WHICH HAS BECOME INSOLVENT AND IF, IN THE OPINION OF THE COURT, HIS CONDUCT AS A DIRECTOR OF THAT COMPANY EITHER ALONE, OR TAKEN TOGETHER WITH HIS CONDUCT AS A DIRECTOR OF ANY OTHER COMPANIES, MAKES HIM UNFIT TO BE CONCERNED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A COMPANY.

THE BILL ALSO INTRODUCES A SEPARATE SCHEDULE OUTLINING MATTERS TO WHICH THE COURT SHOULD HAVE REGARD IN DETERMINING THE UNFITNESS OF DIRECTORS.

"THESE NEW PROVISIONS SHOULD HELP TO PREVENT UNSCRUPULOUS DIRECTORS FROM SIMPLY STARTING UP AGAIN IN A SIMILAR VEIN WITHOUT ANY CONCERN FOR CREDITORS WHO MAY SUBSEQUENTLY BE LEFT EMPTY-HANDED AS A RESULT OF THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE OR CYNICAL CONDUCT," MR CARTLAND SAID.

MOREOVER, THE BILL ENABLES THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO APPLY FOR A DISQUALIFICATION ORDER IF IT APPEARS FROM AN INSPECTOR’S REPORT OR FROM DOCUMENTS OBTAINED UNDER SECTIONS 152A OR B, THAT IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT A PERSON SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED.

MR CARTLAND SAID OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WERE MORE SHARPLY FOCUSED AND PROVIDED GREATER ASSISTANCE TO THE COURT.

"IT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, MADE CLEAR THAT WHERE A COURT MAY MAKE A DISQUALIFICATION ORDER IN THE COURSE OF PROSECUTION OF AN OFFENCE, THE COURT MAY ITSELF TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO MAKE SUCH AN ORDER WITHOUT WAITING FOR AN APPLICATION," HE SAID.

THE BILL PROPOSES THAT DISQUALIFICATION ORDERS MAY RANGE FROM ONE TO 15 YEARS DEPENDING UPON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE MISCONDUCT.

SUCH ORDERS MAY BE MADE NOT ONLY AGAINST PERSONS WHO ARE NAMED AS OFFICE BEARERS BUT ALSO AGAINST PERSONS WHO ARE ACTING AS SHADOW DIRECTORS.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES THAT A PERSON WHO BECOMES INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A COMPANY WHILE DISQUALIFIED OR WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT AND WHO FOLLOWS THE INSTRUCTIONS OF A PERSON WHOM HE KNOWS TO BE DISQUALIFIED, MAY BE HELD PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR ANY DEBTS OF THE COMPANY INCURRED DURING THE RELEVANT PERIOD.

FUTHERMORE, THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO KEEP A REGISTER OF DISQUALIFICATION ORDERS WHICH WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON PAYMENT OF A SUITABLE FEE.

MR CARTLAND SAID THE PROPOSALS HAD BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMPANY LAW REFORM AFTER CONSULTATION WITH A NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL AND TRADE BODIES.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

------0--------

/10 ......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 10 -

BILL ON LAND EASEMENT FOR SEWAGE TUNNEL WORKS

*****

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO EMPOWER THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE DEEP UNDERGROUND TUNNELS PASSING BENEATH PRIVATE LAND IS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE SEWAGE TUNNELS (STATUTORY EASEMENTS) BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID THESE TUNNELS WERE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR SEWAGE COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL TO TRANSPORT SEWAGE TO MAJOR TREATMENT WORKS BEFORE DISPOSAL THROUGH AN OCEANIC OUTFALL.

UNDER THE BILL, THE GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED TO PREPARE AND GAZETTE A PLAN TO SHOW THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF A SEWAGE TUNNEL AND THE LAND SITUATED ON THE ROUTE IN RESPECT OF WHICH EASEMENTS AND OTHER RIGHTS IN FAVOUR OF THE GOVERNMENT MAY BE CREATED.

THE BILL ALSO ENABLES LAND OWNERS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE ROUTE SHOULD THEY FIND THE CREATION OF EASEMENTS REDUCE THE VALUE OF THEIR LAND.

MR EASON SAID ON THE BASIS OF CURRENT ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, THE TUNNEL WORKS SHOULD CAUSE LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE.

NEVERTHELESS, THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR COMPENSATION IN CASES OF PROVEN LOSS OR DAMAGE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

--------0-----------

CHILD ABUSE WORKING GROUP TO RECONVENE SOON ♦ * ♦ t ♦

THE WORKING GROUP ON CHILD ABUSE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WILL RECONVENE VERY SHORTLY, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IT WILL HAVE NEW TERMS OF REFERENCE AND ITS MEMBERSHIP WILL INCLUDE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS, SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

’’THIS WILL EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE,” SHE SAID.

MRS WONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992 WHICH SEEKS TO WIDEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A CHILD MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE IN NEED OF CARE OR PROTECTION.

/FOLLOWING EIGHT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 11 -

FOLLOWING EIGHT MEETINGS, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP SET UP TO SCRUTINISE THE BILL HAVE AGREED ON A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS.

HOWEVER, MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED OVER ONE AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE AD HOC GROUP CONCERNING THE INCLUSION OF "APPROVED SOCIAL WORKER" IN THE CHILD ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE.

NOTING THAT CHILD ABUSE IS "A COMPLEX AREA OF SOCIAL WORK", THE SECRETARY SAID THE ORIGINAL INTENTION FOR INCLUDING MEDICAL PRACTITIONER AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE CHILD ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE WAS TO ENSURE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONAL ADVICE IN PROTECTING A CHILD.

"SUCH ADVICE, A SECOND OPINION, SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED TO THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION," SHE SAID, STRESSING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER OF UNDERMINING THE PROFESSIONAL STATUS OR ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

"IN FACT, THE FINAL DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO REMOVE A CHILD SUSPECTED OF BEING ABUSED WOULD ALWAYS REST WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER HANDLING THE CASE.

"THE CHILD ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE WHICH INVOLVES OTHER PROFESSIONALS WILL ASSIST THE FRONTLINE SOCIAL WORKER IN MAKING A DECISION," MRS WONG ADDED.

MRS WONG ALSO POINTED OUT THAT A SET OF OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WOULD BE ISSUED.

--------0

RECORD OF BREAKTHROUGH IN HK’S HEALTH CARE HISTORY

THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY’S FIRST ANNUAL REPORT WAS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DESCRIBED AS "THE RECORD OF A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN THE HISTORY OF HEALTH CARE DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG" BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG.

TABLING THE REPORT BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS WONG SAID THE WORK OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY (HA) IN THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1992 COULD BE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE BROAD AREAS: THE SETTING UP OF A NEW CORPORATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT 37,000 EMPLOYEES FROM 16 DIFFERENT ORGANISATIONS; THE PREPARATION FOR MANAGEMENT TRANSFER OF 36 PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND 56 SPECIALIST INSTITUTIONS; AND THE PLANNING OF CLINICAL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.

"IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A CORPORATE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPABLE OF ASSUMING EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS UNDER ITS COMMON MANAGEMENT, THE HA HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPED A NEW, UNIFIED SYSTEM CATERING FOR PERSONNEL, ACCOUNTING AND PROCUREMENT FUNCTIONS," MRS WONG SAID.

/"A GREAT .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

”A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND EFFORTS HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO ACHIEVE MANAGEMENT TRANSFER AND REFORMS,” SHE ADDED.

AS OF MARCH 31, 1992, 54 PER CENT OF THE 34,000 ELIGIBLE STAFF HAD OPTED FOR HA EMPLOYMENT TERMS, INCLUDING 93 PER CENT OF FORMER SUBVENTED HOSPITAL STAFF AND 30 PER CENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS.

MRS WONG SAID A "DETERMINED START" HAD ALSO BEEN MADE ON MANAGEMENT REFORMS THROUGH THE IDENTIFICATION OF EIGHT CANDIDATE HOSPITALS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE REFORMS AND THE SETTING UP OF HOSPITAL GOVERNING COMMITTEES TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

ADDITIONALLY, A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY HAS BEEN FORMULATED FOR THE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF SERVICE DELIVERY.

ALTHOUGH THE YEAR 1991/92 HAS BEEN A PRODUCTIVE AND DYNAMIC ONE FOR HA, THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT MUCH REMAINED TO BE DONE TO PREPARE THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM FOR THE CHALLENGES POSED BY THE AGEING POPULATION, RAPID ADVANCEMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND RISING CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS.

"THROUGH GREATER COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, THE AUTHORITY WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND SWIFTLY TO CHANGING COMMUNITY NEEDS AND DEPLOY RESOURCES WITH FLEXIBILITY TO THOSE IN NEED," SHE SAID.

--------0

RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORTS TABLED

*****

THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON K Y YEUNG, TABLED THE ANNUAL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION (MTRC) AND KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION (KCRC) FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 LAST YEAR IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY). vunviu iuuai

THE MTRC REGISTERED A NET PROFIT EVEN WITHOUT ANY CONTRIBUTION FROM PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

/nnTAL NET PR0FIT WAS $403 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $67 MILLION IN 1991.

"THIS FIRMLY PLACES THE CORPORATION ON ITS WAY TO ELIMINATE ACCUMULATED LOSSES, NOW REDUCED TO $3.06 BILLION," MR YEUNG SAID.

FOR KCRC, INCLUDING INCOME FROM PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. ITS PROFIT WAS $526 MILLION, 17 PER CENT HIGHER THAN 1991.

NET

A DIVIDEND CONSIDERING KCRC’S NEEDS.

OF $150 MILLION WAS PAID TO THE GOVERNMENT AFTER LONG-TERM CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS AND INVESTMENT

/’’THE FACT...........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

"THE FACT THAT THE CORPORATION HAS BEEN ABLE TO PAY A DIVIDEND TO THE GOVERNMENT REFLECTS THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IN THE CORPORATION’S FINANCIAL STRENGTH.

"IT IS ALSO A POSITIVE SIGNAL TO FUTURE POTENTIAL INVESTORS IN HONG KONG’S RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE," HE SAID.

LAST YEAR, THE MTRC CARRIED ABOUT 751 MILLION PASSENGERS, 3.4 PER CENT HIGHER THAN 1991; WHILE THE KCR CARRIED 198 MILLION PASSENGERS, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 5 PER CENT OVER 1991. FOR THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM (LRT), THE FIGURES WERE 106 MILLION AND 10 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.

AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THE MTRC’S LOANS AND FINANCE LIABILITIES STOOD AT $18.4 BILLION WITH A YEAR-END DEBT-TO-EQUtTY RATIO OF 2.3 TO 1, WHILE THE BORROWINGS OF KCRC WAS $894 MILLION WITH A 1 TO 5.1 RATIO.

"THE MTRC IS WIDELY RESPECTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL COMMUNITY. THE HIGH CREDIT RATINGS ENJOYED BY THE CORPORATION DEMONSTRATE CONFIDENCE IN THE FINANCIAL STRENGTH OF THE CORPORATION AND ITS FUTURE PLANS.

"WITHOUT AN EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM, THE CORPORATION EXPECTS TO BE ABLE TO RETIRE ALL DEBTS ON EXISTING LOANS BY AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY," MR YEUNG SAID.

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE MTRC HAS BUDGETED TO SPEND $5 BILLION ON MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. IT IS PLANNING TO IMPROVE THE MORNING PEAK TRAIN SERVICE ON THE TSUEN WAN LINE FROM THE EXISTING 30 TRAIN TRIPS PER HOUR TO 31 SOME TIME THIS YEAR, 32 NEXT YEAR AND 34 IN 1996.

MR YEUNG SAID ONCE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED WITH THE CHINESE SIDE REGARDING THE FINANCING OF THE AIRPORT RAILWAY, AND FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVAL WAS OBTAINED, THE MTRC WOULD BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH A PROJECT THAT AFFORDED MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND SUPPORT FOR THE NEW AIRPORT.

FOR THE KCRC, HE NOTED THAT CASH GENERATED BY THE OPERATING DIVISIONS WAS SUFFICIENT TO COVER ONGOING CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND DEBT REPAYMENT.

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO KCRC’S SERVICES WERE MADE DURING THE YEAR TO ENHANCE CUSTOMER SERVICES, HE SAID.

PUNCTUALITY WAS IMPROVED, WITH A DAILY AVERAGE OF 95 PER CENT AND 98 PER CENT OF TRAINS ARRIVING ON TIME FOR KCR AND LRT RESPECTIVELY.

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE KCRC PLANS TO INVEST A FURTHER $5.3 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.

"THIS SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE CORPORATION’S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO UPGRADING ITS SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICES," MR YEUNG SAID.

--------0

Z14.........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 14 -

MATRIMONIAL CAUSES FEES GO UP

*****

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS PASSED A RESOLUTION TO INCREASE THE FEES PAYABLE UNDER THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE BY ABOUT 60 PER CENT.

MOVING THE MOTION TO MAKE THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (FEES) (AMENDMENT) RULE 1993, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR K Y YEUNG, SAID: "THIS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION SINCE THE LAST FEE REVISION IN APRIL 1988."

HE SAID THE OPPORTUNITY HAD BEEN TAKEN TO UPDATE THE SCHEDULE BY INTRODUCING THREE CHANGES.

FIRST, THE FEE RELATING TO APPOINTMENT BEFORE A REGISTRAR IS PROPOSED FOR REPEAL, BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE A REGISTRAR.

SECONDLY, IT IS PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE A SINGLE FEE TO REPLACE THE TWO-TIER FEE ON THE TAXATION OF A BILL OF COSTS.

THIRDLY, A NEW FEE WILL BE INTRODUCED ON FILING AN ELECTION TO TAKE FIXED COSTS UNDER THE DISTRICT COURT (FIXED COSTS IN MATRIMONIAL CAUSES) RULES.

-----0------

FISH MARKETING RATE PRESCRIBED IN GAZETTE ******

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A MOTION ENABLING THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION TO PRESCRIBE ITS RATE OF COMMISSION BY NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE.

MOVING THE MOTION, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER, SAID THE ORGANISATION MIGHT, INSTEAD OF PRESCRIBING ITS RATE OF COMMISSION IN ITS BY-LAWS, PRESCRIBE THE RATE BY NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE FISH MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD.

THIS WOULD STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURE FOR PRESCRIBING THE RATE OF COMMISSION, WHILE ENSURING THAT ANY DECISION TO CHANGE THE RATE WAS TAKEN ONLY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE WHO BUY AND SELL FISH THROUGH WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS, SHE SAID.

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/15 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 15 -

SENIOR CITIZENS DAY PROPOSAL SUPPORTED

*****

IT IS THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TO ENCOURAGE THE ORGANISATION OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS TO PROMOTE GREATER RESPECT FOR ELDERLY CITIZENS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG SAID ON MANY SPECIAL OCCASIONS SUCH AS VALENTINE’S DAY, MOTHER’S DAY, FATHER’S DAY AND CHILDREN’S DAY, PROGRAMMES WERE ORGANISED TO CELEBRATE THE MEANING OF LOVE AND RESPECT.

"WE FEEL THAT TO DO THE SAME FOR ELDERLY CITIZENS IS HIGHLY APPROPRIATE," SHE SAID.

"SINCE IN PRACTICE, THE FESTIVAL FOR THE ELDERLY HAS FOR MANY YEARS BEEN FALLING ON THE THIRD SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER, THE MARKING OF A 'SENIOR CITIZENS DAY’ IS A BEFITTING EXPRESSION OF THE COMMUNITY’S RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY ELDERLY CITIZENS.

"THE ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS TO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES ON THIS MEANINGFUL OCCASION," SHE ADDED.

-----0------

BRIDGE PROPOSAL NOT YET RECEIVED

*****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PROPOSAL FROM THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE CONNECTING ZHUHAI AND TUEN MUN.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANNA WU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEUNG SAID CLEARLY SUCH A BRIDGE COULD NOT BE BUILT WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OR THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT AFTER JUNE 30, 1997.

"THIS IS UNDERSTOOD BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES," HE SAID.

Z16 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 16 -

RESTAURANT OPERATORS ADVISED AGAINST DRAWING SEAWATER FOR USE IN FISH TANKS *****

THERE IS NO LEGISLATION TO REGULATE THE USE OF SEA WATER FOR KEEPING LIVE FISH IN RESTAURANTS OR BY FISHMONGERS IN THE MARKET PLACE AT PRESENT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION ON CONTAMINATED SEAFOOD BY THE HON STEVEN POON KWOK-LIM, MRS WONG SAID LIVE FISH, LIVE ANIMALS AND LIVE BIRDS AS WELL, WERE NOT DEFINED AS FOOD IN LAW.

"ONLY AFTER KILLING AND OTHER PROCESSING DOES IT BECOME FOOD INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION," SHE SAID.

"AT THAT POINT IN TIME, COMMON FOOD CONTROLS APPLY."

MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE KEEPING OF LIVE FISH IN RESTAURANTS AND THE MARKET PLACE WAS RELEVANT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE ASPECT WHICH WAS LOOKED AFTER BY THE TWO MUNICIPAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.

SHE SAID THE DEPARTMENTS HAD TAKEN ACTIVE STEPS TO ADVISE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT OPERATORS AND SEAFOOD SELLERS NOT TO DRAW SEAWATER FROM SUSPECTED SOURCES FOR USE IN FISH TANKS.

A CODE OF PRACTICE ON SHELL FISH HYGIENE TO GUARD AGAINST CONTAMINATION OF SHELL FISH IN WET STORAGE HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD HANDLERS.

TO ENSURE FOOD SAFETY, MRS WONG SAID THE HYGIENE DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OPERATED A FOOD SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME UNDER WHICH FOOD SAMPLES, INCLUDING SEAFOOD, WERE TAKEN FROM VARIOUS WHOLESALE AND RETAIL OUTLETS AND POINTS OF IMPORT FOR LABORATORY EXAMINATION.

THE TESTS INCLUDE BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION FOR TOTAL BACTERIAL COUNT, FAECAL COLIFORM AND FOOD POISONING ORGANISMS, CHEMICAL ANALYSIS FOR HEAVY METALS, AND TOXICITY TEST FOR BIOTOXINS.

THE OPERATION OF ANY FOOD BUSINESS IS ALSO GOVERNED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE AND AN OPERATOR IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A LICENCE FROM EITHER ONE OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS BEFORE HE CONDUCTS BUSINESS.

FURTHERMORE, PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE FOOD BUSINESS ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE FOOD BUSINESS (URBAN COUNCIL) BY-LAWS AND THE FOOD BUSINESS (REGIONAL COUNCIL) BY-LAWS TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO PROTECT THE FOOD FROM RISK OF CONTAMINATION.

UNDER THE TWO BY-LAWS, COLLECTION OF SHELL FISH FOR SALE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN THE WATERS OF VICTORIA HARBOUR, ABERDEEN HARBOUR, KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN BAYS ARE PROHIBITED.

HOWEVER, MRS WONG ADVISED THAT GOOD PERSONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD HYGIENE, SUCH AS THOROUGH CLEANSING AND COOKING OF FOOD BEFORE CONSUMPTION, WAS NO LESS IMPORTANT THAN CARRYING OUT SAMPLE TESTS ON FOOD IN ENSURING FOOD SAFETY.

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/17 .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21,

1993

- 17 -

USE OF ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES BEING STUDIED *****

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WAYS AND MEANS TO BRING ABOUT THE USE OF ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES IN HONG KONG AS PART OF ITS LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CAUSED BY EXHAUST GAS FROM MOTOR VEHICLES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS PEGGY LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE SUBJECT OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND THEIR POSSIBLE USE IN HONG KONG IS BEING EXAMINED BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY.

IT IS LOOKING INTO AREAS SUCH AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THEIR AVAILABILITY ON THE MARKET, THEIR SUITABILITY FOR USE IN HONG KONG’S CLIMATE AND TOPOGRAPHY, AS WELL AS MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE THEIR WIDER USE.

’’IDEAS SUCH AS THE REDUCTION OF FIRST REGISTRATION TA^ES, AND LICENCE FEES ETC ARE BEING CONSIDERED. AND THE WORKING PARTY IS AIMING TO SUBMIT ITS REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN JUNE THIS YEAR,” MR EASON SAID.

MR EASON SAID CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF AND DESPITE RECENT WORK ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES, THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES OPTION WAS STILL AT THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE.

"AS MOST OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES DEVELOPED ARE STILL PROTOTYPES, THERE IS ONLY LIMITED SCOPE FOR CONSIDERING SUCH VEHICLES FOR PRACTICAL USE IN HONG KONG AT PRESENT,” HE ADDED.

--------0-----------

REVIEW ON URBAN RENEWAL PROCESS TO BE COMPLETED BY MID YEAR

*****

THE REVIEW GROUP TO EXAMINE THE URBAN RENEWAL PROCESS WITH PARTICULAR REGARD TO THE ROLE OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (LDC) AIMS TO COMPLETE ITS WORK BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JAMES TO, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR EASON SAID THE REVIEW HAD TAKEN LONGER TO COMPLETE THAN ORIGINALLY ENVISAGED BECAUSE THE SUBJECT WAS A COMPLEX ONE.

HE SAID ANY CHANGES IN POLICY RELATING TO CORPORATION IN PARTICULAR OR TO URBAN RENEWAL GENERAL WHICH MIGHT EMERGE FROM THE REVIEW WOULD

THE LAND DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT IN BE MADE PUBLIC.

/MR EASON .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 18

MR EASON SAID THE LESSONS TO BE DRAWN FROM THE REVIEW WOULD BE RELEVANT IN LARGE MEASURE TO THE OPERATIONS OF PRIVATE DEVELOPERS OTHER THAN THE LDC.

"ALTHOUGH THE CORPORATION’S OPERATIONS MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN SOME RESPECTS, IT FACES SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN SUCH MATTERS AS LAND ACQUISITION AND DEALING WITH OWNERS AND TENANTS AFFECTED BY REDEVELOPMENT," HE SAID.

"THE ADMINISTRATION THEREFORE BELIEVES THAT IT SHOULD COMPLETE THIS REVIEW AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS WHICH WILL HAVE A BEARING ON FUTURE^ OPERATIONS OF THE LDC AS WELL AS OTHER DEVELOPERS.

"THEREAFTER, IT CAN CONSIDER WHAT OTHER AREAS OF STUDY REMAIN TO BE COVERED BEFORE CONTINUING," HE SAID.

-----0------

APPROVED DECORATION CONTRACTOR SYSTEM UNDER REVIEW

*****

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS AND PRACTICES UNDER THE APPROVED DECORATION CONTRACTOR SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PANG CHUN-HOI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR EASON SAID THE REVIEW WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TENANTS’ COMMENTS ON THE SYSTEM AND SHOULD TAKE ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

MR EASON EXPLAINED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED IN 1982 BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE POLICE AND THE ICAC TO COMBAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY RELATING TO DECORATION WORK IN NEW HOUSING ESTATES.

ONLY APPROVED CONTRACTORS OR TENANTS THEMSELVES ARE ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT DECORATION WORK IN NEW ESTATES.

"TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONFIRMED CASES OF AN APPROVED CONTRACTOR OR HIS EMPLOYEES BEING INVOLVED IN HARASSMENT," MR EASON SAID.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WORK AND BEHAVIOUR OF APPROVED CONTRACTORS RIGOROUSLY, HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, THE POLICE ARE ALERT TO THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THEIR GROUND PATROLS AND SURVEILLANCE DURING NEW FLAT INTAKE PERIODS.

WHILE ALL COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ARE INVESTIGATED, PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS ARE ADVISED DURING INTAKE BRIEFINGS TO REPORT TO THE POLICE ANY INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT, MR EASON SAID.

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/19 .

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

IMPORTED GRAPES FREE FROM PESTICIDE RESIDUE

*****

THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CASE OF GRAPES FOUND WITH PESTICIDE RESIDUE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IF THERE HAD BEEN, SHE ADDED, THE GRAPES WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. '

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP, MRS WONG NOTED THAT 16 SAMPLES OF GRAPES, 15 OF WHICH WERE IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES, WERE TAKEN FOR EXAMINATION LAST YEAR.

"NO PESTICIDE RESIDUE WAS FOUND IN ANY OF THE SAMPLES TAKEN," SHE SAID.

MRS WONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MAINTAINED CLOSE LIAISON WITH COUNTRIES EXPORTING FOOD TO HONG KONG AND REQUIRED FROM THE EXPORTING AUTHORITY FOOD TEST REPORTS ON THE EXPORT ITEMS.

"UNDER ITS FOOD SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME, THE DEPARTMENT REGULARLY TAKES SAMPLES OF IMPORTED FOOD, INCLUDING FRUITS, FROM POINTS OF ENTRY AND RETAIL OR WHOLESALE OUTLETS FOR EXAMINATION.

"ANY FOOD ITEM CONSIDERED UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION WILL BE DENIED IMPORT," SHE SAID.

METALLIC CONCENTRATIONS IN FOOD CLOSELY MONITORED ft ft ft ft ft ft

THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY PUBLISH ON A REGULAR BASIS REPORTS ON THE RESULTS OF FOOD TESTING FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRISTINE LOH KUNG-WAI, MRS WONG SAID BACTERIOLOGICAL, METALLIC AND PESTICIDE CONTENT IN FOOD IN HONG KONG WAS MONITORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THROUGH ITS FOOD SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME.

SHE SAID THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY METALS WERE SET OUT IN THE FOOD ADULTERATION (METALLIC CONTAMINATION) REGULATIONS WITH REFERENCE TO GUIDELINES INCLUDING THE PROVISIONAL TOLERABLE WEEKLY INTAKE RECOMMENDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO) .

"THE STANDARDS SPELT OUT IN OUR LAW ARE CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE AND IN LINE WITH WHO GUIDELINES," SHE STATED.

"IT IS NOT CORRECT TO SAY THAT OUR STANDARDS ARE LESS STRINGENT THAN THOSE OF MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE OR AUSTRALIA.

/"THERE IS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

"THERE IS NO SINGLE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD AND THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED CONCENTRATIONS VARY FROM PLACE TO PLACE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT LOCAL CONSIDERATIONS."

CITING STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31 THIS YEAR, MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT CARRIED OUT 161 BACTERIOLOGICAL AND 46 METALLIC TESTS ON SAMPLES OF CRUSTACEANS AND FOUND FIVE AND ONE SAMPLES RESPECTIVELY NOT COMPLYING WITH STANDARDS.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD, OF THE 367 BACTERIOLOGICAL AND 61 METALLIC TESTS ON SAMPLES OF MOLLUSCS, 42 AND 12 RESPECTIVELY WERE FOUND NOT COMPLYING WITH THE STANDARDS.

AS REGARDS FRESH VEGETABLES, OUT OF THE 885 SAMPLES TESTED FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUE, 15 WERE FOUND NOT COMPLYING WITH STANDARDS.

MRS WONG ALSO NOTED THAT 14 PROSECUTIONS WERE TAKEN OUT IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, ALL AGAINST SUPPLIERS OF PESTICIDE-TAINTED VEGETABLES.

EIGHT OF THESE CASES SECURED CONVICTION WITH PENALTIES IMPOSED RANGING FROM $600 TO $2,000 WHILE THE REMAINING SIX ARE PENDING JUDGMENT.

TO PUBLICISE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE AND FOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES, MRS WONG SAID THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULARLY CONDUCTED HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.

ON THE PROTECTION AND REGULATION OF CULTURE OF MARINE FISH, MRS WONG SAID THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WAS EMPOWERED UNDER THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE TO PROSECUTE ANY PERSON WHO POLLUTED THE WATER IN ANY FISH CULTURE ZONE.

DISCHARGES OF EFFLUENT IN WATER CONTROL ZONES ARE ALSO STRICTLY CONTROLLED UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION ORDINANCE VIA A LICENSING SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

MRS WONG NOTED THAT AT PRESENT, OVER 90 PER CENT OF THE TERRITORY’S WATERS HAD BEEN DECLARED AS WATER CONTROL ZONES WITH TWO MORE ZONES TO BE DECLARED THIS YEAR AND THE FINAL ONE, VICTORIA HARBOUR, SCHEDULED TO BE DECLARED IN PHASES BY 1997.

FURTHERMORE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS EMBARKED ON A COMPREHENSIVE SEWERAGE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME TO ENSURE THAT ALL SIGNIFICANT EFFLUENTS CAN BE COLLECTED, TREATED AND PROPERLY DISPOSED OF.

REFERRING TO DEEP BAY WHICH IS THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT LOCAL OYSTER BREEDING BEDS, MRS WONG SAID IT WAS ALREADY A WATER CONTROL ZONE AND STATUTORY MEANS WERE IN PLACE TO CONTROL DISCHARGES OF EFFLUENTS AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE.

"HOWEVER, THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO POLLUTION IN DEEP BAY IS LIVESTOCK WASTE AND DEEP BAY IS ONE AREA IN WHICH THE ENFORCEMENT OF CONTROLS OVER LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED PENDING REVIEW," SHE SAID.

- 0

/21 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 21 -

LOCALISATION IN CIVIL SERVICE TO ACCELERATE * * * * *

THE PERCENTAGE OF OVERSEAS OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE STOOD AT 1.2 PER CENT ON JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR AS COMPARED WITH 4.5 PER CENT IN 1952.

MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, 64 PER CENT OF THE DIRECTORATE IS NOW LOCALISED AND JUST OVER HALF OF THE SECRETARIES AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW LOCAL OFFICERS.

"THESE FIGURES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE FURTHER IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS MORE AND MORE LOCAL OFFICERS MOVE UP THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE," THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DESCRIBING THE LOCALISATION POLICY AS "BROADLY SUCCESSFUL", MRS CHAN SAID IT APPLIED TO ALL CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS.

PREFERENCE IS GIVEN TO SUITABLY QUALIFIED LOCAL CANDIDATES AND OVERSEAS OFFICERS ARE ONLY APPOINTED IF QUALIFIED LOCAL CANDIDATES ARE UNAVAILABLE.

SINCE EARLY 1985 OVERSEAS OFFICERS HAVE ONLY BEEN APPOINTED ON AGREEMENT (CONTRACT) TERMS AND THE CONTRACT OF AN OVERSEAS OFFICER WILL NOT BE RENEWED IF A QUALIFIED LOCAL OFFICER IS AVAILABLE TO TAKE HIS PLACE.

HOWEVER, MRS CHAN SAID THERE WAS NO GENERAL TARGET OR TIMESCALE TO PHASE OUT DELIBERATELY ALL OVERSEAS OFFICERS.

"INDEED THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW MAKE SPECIFIC PROVISION FOR THE CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF OVERSEAS OFFICERS, WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

"THESE ARE THE FUTURE PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL POSTS WHICH MUST BE HELD BY CHINESE NATIONALS WHO ARE HONG KONG RESIDENTS WITHOUT FOREIGN RIGHT OF ABODE.

"USING OUR PRESENT TERMINOLOGY WE BELIEVE THAT THE FUTURE PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL POSTS CORRESPOND TO OUR EXISTING POSTS OF CHIEF SECRETARY, FINANCIAL SECRETARY, ATTORNEY GENERAL, SECRETARIES, COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, COMMISSIONER, ICAC, COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION AND DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.

"WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE POOL OF QUALIFIED LOCAL OFFICERS TO FILL ALL THESE POSTS IN GOOD TIME BEFORE 1997," SHE STATED.

MRS CHAN ALSO TOLD COUNCILLORS THAT THERE WAS NO GOVERNMENT IMPOSED LOCALISATION OBJECTIVE FOR MAJOR PUBLIC BODIES AND ORGANISATIONS OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE.

/SHE SAID ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 22 -

SHE SAID THESE ORGANISATIONS WERE FREE TO SELECT WHOEVER THEY CONSIDERED THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE BODIES GIVING PRIORITY TO SUITABLY QUALIFIED LOCAL CANDIDATES WHERE AVAILABLE.

"I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF THESE ORGANISATIONS NOW FOLLOW SUCH A POLICY THEMSELVES," SHE ADDED.

-----0-----

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT STRENGTHENED

******

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS STRENGTHENED THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT WHICH HANDLES CHILD ABUSE CASES BY DEPLOYING MORE EXPERIENCED SOCIAL WORKERS TO IT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM KUI-SHING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNIT HAD BEEN INCREASED FROM EIGHT TO NINE CASEWORKERS SINCE JANUARY 1991.

THE RANKING OF THE CASEWORKERS HAS ALSO BEEN UPGRADED FROM THE ASSISTANT SOCIAL WORK OFFICER RANK TO THE SOCIAL WORK OFFICER RANK, IN VIEW OF THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY OF THE CASES HANDLED AND THE NEED FOR OUTREACHING INVESTIGATION DUTIES.

"AT PRESENT, THE AVERAGE CASELOAD OF A CASEWORKER IN THE UNIT IS 39.

"THIS CASELOAD IS IN LINE WITH THE APPROVED MANNING RATIO OF ONE CHILD PROTECTIVE CASEWORKER TO 40 CHILD ABUSE CASE, AND IS CONSIDERED REASONABLE," MRS WONG SAID.

HOWEVER, SHE STRESSED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CASELOAD OF THE CASEWORKERS.

CONTRACT FOR STRATEGIC LANDFILL PROJECTS

*****

THE CHINESE SIDE ARE BEING CONSULTED ON THE CONTRACTS FOR THE STRATEGIC LANDFILL PROJECTS WHICH WOULD GO BEYOND JUNE 30, 1997.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

/MR EASON .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 23 -

MR EASON EXPLAINED THAT THESE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS WERE DEVELOPED BY CONSULTANTS COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TASK.

IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK, THE CONSULTANTS DREW ON PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIALIST EXPERTISE FROM VARIOUS FIELDS INCLUDING WASTE MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, ADAPTED PRACTICES FOLLOWED ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD TO SUIT HONG KONG.

THE PROCESS WAS SUPERVISED BY A STEERING GROUP CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS.

MR EASON SAID BIDS FOR STRATEGIC LANDFILL PROJECTS WERE EVALUATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD. .

"THE EVALUATION CRITERIA ARE DRAWN UP AND AGREED BY A TENDER SELECTION PANEL CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS AND APPROVED BY THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD BEFORE TENDERS ARE RECEIVED," HE SAID.

THE CONSULTANTS ASSESSED EACH TENDER AGAINST THESE CRITERIA AND PUT FORWARD THEIR EVALUATION FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE TENDER SELECTION PANEL, WHICH THEN MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD FOR APPROVAL, HE SAID.

-----o------

ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED *****

A BUILDING TO WHICH DISABLED PERSONS HAVE OR MAY REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO HAVE ACCESS SHOULD BE DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFIED STANDARDS TO FACILITATE THEIR ACCESS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HOWARD YOUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR EASON EXPLAINED THAT THE PROVISION OF ACCESS TO AND SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR DISABLED PERSONS IN BUILDINGS WAS GOVERNED BY THE BUILDING (PLANNING) REGULATIONS.

THE TYPES OF BUILDINGS COVERED INCLUDE HOTELS, PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT AND SCHOOLS BUT NOT PRIVATE DOMESTIC BUILDINGS.

MR EASON SAID THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION PUBLISHED IN MARCH 1992 RECOMMENDED THAT CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EXTENDING THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE REGULATION TO PRIVATE DOMESTIC BUILDINGS.

"THE ADMINISTRATION IS CONSIDERING THE WAY FORWARD ON THIS AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE GREEN PAPER IN THE LIGHT OF PUBLIC VIEWS," HE SAID.

------o--------

/24 ......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 24 -

COSMETICS PRICE FALL EXPLAINED

*****

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MISS DENISE YUE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXPLAINED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHY THE ABOLITION OF A 30 PER CENT DUTY ON COSMETICS CAN ONLY BE TRANSLATED INTO A LESSER PERCENTAGE REDUCTION IN THE RETAIL PRICES.

THIS IS BECAUSE THE DUTY ON COSMETIC PRODUCTS WAS BASED ON THE IMPORTED PRICE OF THE PRODUCTS OR, IN THE CASE OF LOCALLY MANUFACTURED COSMETICS, ON THE PRODUCTION VALUE, AND NOT ON THE RETAIL PRICES, SHE SAID.

MISS YUE SAID THE IMPORTED OR PRODUCTION VALUE OF COSMETICS WAS LESS THAN THE RETAIL PRICE BECAUSE IT DID NOT INCLUDE COSTS FOR LOCAL DISTRIBUTION, ADVERTISING AND SALES PROMOTION, NOR DID IT INCLUDE A PROFIT ELEMENT.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG YING-YEN, SHE SAID THE PROPORTION OF THE SALE PRICE OF COSMETICS PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED BY THE 30 PER CENT DUTY RANGED FROM ABOUT 3 PER CENT TO 13 PER CENT.

SHE SAID: "IT WAS ON THIS BASIS THAT WE NEGOTIATED THE PROMISED PRICE REDUCTIONS OF 10 PER CENT TO 12 PER CENT WITH THE COSMETICS TRADE.

"IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE DO NOT SEE THE NEED TO ASK THE CONSUMER COUNCIL TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER," SHE ADDED.

IN THIS YEAR’S BUDGET SPEECH, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ABOLISH THE 30 PER CENT DUTY ON COSMETICS.

HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED AN UNDERTAKING FROM THE COSMETICS TRADE ASSOCIATIONS THAT, IF THE DUTY WERE ABOLISHED, RETAIL PRICES OF COSMETIC PRODUCTS WOULD BE REDUCED IN THE COMING YEAR BY AN AVERAGE OF BETWEEN 10-12 PER CENT.

--------o-----------

FEW TEENAGERS ABUSE SOLVENTS

*****

THE NUMBER OF TEENAGERS INVOLVED IN SOLVENT ABUSE IS VERY SMALL ALTHOUGH IT IS INCREASING, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT’S CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE, THERE WERE THREE REPORTS INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 21 IN 1990, 17 IN 1991, AND 25 LAST YEAR.

/IN A.........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 25 -

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON FUNG CHI-WOOD, MR ASPREY SAID PUBLICITY AND PREVENTIVE EDUCATION WAS THE PRINCIPAL MEASURE TO REDUCE SOLVENT ABUSE.

IN ALL SUCH PROGRAMMES UNDERTAKEN BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, THE DANGER OF SOLVENT ABUSE WAS INCLUDED.

"A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES ARE BEING TAKEN TO EDUCATE YOUNGSTERS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE MATTER, ABOUT THE DANGER OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE," HE SAID.

THESE INCLUDE A NEW SERIES OF ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST ON TELEVISION AND RADIO, A POSTER AND LEAFLET.

THERE ARE TALKS FOR PARENTS OF SECONDARY STUDENTS, AND WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS FOR STUDENTS OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION.

IN SEPTEMBER, A NEW DRUG EDUCATION TALKS PROGRAMME WOULD BE INTRODUCED FOR PRIMARY SIX STUDENTS.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO PLANS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS ON THE SALE OF SOLVENTS BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED EXTENT OF SOLVENT ABUSE AND THEIR WIDESPREAD AND LEGITIMATE USES.

--------0-----------

COMMUNITY HALLS ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED * * * * *

COMMUNITY HALLS ARE PROPERLY RUN UNDER MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES AND IMPROVEMENTS TAKE PLACE AS AND WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR ALBERT LAM, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE WING-TAT, MR LAM SAID THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD A ROLLING PROGRAMME FOR MAINTAINING THE EXTERNAL FACADE OF THE COMMUNITY HALLS.

FOR COMMUNITY HALLS WITHIN HOUSING ESTATES, THE MOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS A SIMILAR MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME, HE ADDED.

RECENT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE INCLUDED INSTALLATION OF AIR-CONDITIONING IN ALL HALLS, UPGRADING FLOORING, AND ENHANCEMENT OF SECURITY INSTALLATIONS.

MR LAM POINTED OUT THAT SINCE 1987, COMMUNITY HALLS HAVE INCLUDED FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED SUCH AS SPECIAL ACCESS, TOILETS AND EMERGENCY ESCAPE ROUTES. FACILITIES HAVE ALSO BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE OLDER HALLS WHERE TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE.

THE PRESENT SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION OF COMMUNITY HALLS INCLUDES A MULTI-PURPOSE HALL WITH A STAGE AND DRESSING ROOMS FOR HOLDING CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS A CONFERENCE ROOM FOR MEETINGS.

7MR LAM ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

MR LAM ALSO SAID FROM APRIL 1, DISTRICT BOARDS (DB’S) WILL BE FULLY CONSULTED ON OPERATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT MATTERS AFFECTING THE 34 COMMUNITY HALLS.

DB’S WILL HAVE A GREATER INFLUENCE OVER THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THESE FACILITIES WHILE CNTA DISTRICT OFFICERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION OF THE HALLS.

AND IN FUTURE, DB’S WILL ALSO BE INVITED TO ADVISE THE DISTRICT OFFICERS ON HOW THESE FACILITIES SHOULD BE OPERATED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

THIS WILL INCLUDE ADVISING ON UPGRADING THE STANDARDS OF MAINTENANCE, THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW OR DIFFERENT USES FOR THESE FACILITIES, BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS AND OPERATING HOURS, HE SAID.

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NAMES OF GOVT DEPARTMENTS TO BE ADAPTED

*****

NOMENCLATURE OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, DEPARTMENTAL EMBLEMS AND LOGOS, UNIFORMS, BADGES AND INSIGNIA WHICH ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW AND THE FUTURE STATUS OF HONG KONG AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA WILL NEED TO BE ADAPTED.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR LEUNG CHIN-MAN, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON GILBERT LEUNG KAM-HO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"ADMINISTRATION IS EXAMINING THE CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY AND SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE IN DUE COURSE," MR LEUNG SAID.

--------0

COMPLAINT CHANNELS FOR CONSUMERS ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MISS DENISE YUE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SPELT OUT THE CHANNELS AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS FOR LODGING COMPLAINTS AGAINST ORGANISATIONS THAT FALL OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SHE ALSO EXPLAINED THE LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS THAT WERE IN PLACE FOR MONITORING THE RELEVANT PROCEDURES IN HANDLING COMPLAINTS.

/TELEVISION AND .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

27 -

TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCASTING LICENSEES

THE LICENSEES INCLUDE ASIA TELEVISION LTD, HONG KONG COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING CO LTD, HUTCHIVISION HONG KONG LTD, METRO BROADCAST CORP LTD AND TELEVISION BROADCASTS LTD.

ANY PERSON WISHING TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A BROADCASTING LICENSEE MAY WRITE TO THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY OR CALL THE AUTHORITY’S COMPLAINTS TELEPHONE HOTLINE.

IN ADDITION, A COMPLAINANT MAY LODGE COMPLAINTS DIRECT TO THE BROADCASTERS CONCERNED.

AS A CONDITION OF LICENCE, ALL TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTERS ARE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER COMPLAINTS AND TO MAINTAIN A COMPLETE AND UP-TO-DATE COMPLAINTS RECORD FOR SUBMISSION TO THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY REGULARLY AND ON DEMAND.

HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY

TENANTS MAY LODGE THEIR COMPLAINTS DIRECT OR THROUGH ESTABLISHED CHANNELS WITH HOUSING MANAGERS IN CHARGE OF RESPECTIVE ESTATE OFFICES OR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

THE COMPLAINANT WILL RECEIVE FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT A REPLY. IF HE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REPLY, HE MAY PUT HIS CASE TO THE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE SET UP UNDER THE HOUSING ORDINANCE.

TENANTS MAY ALSO APPEAL IN WRITING TO THE APPEAL PANEL AGAINST TENANCY DECISIONS MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND TUNNEL COMPANIES

THE COMPANIES INCLUDE CHINA MOTOR BUS CO LTD, THE CROSSHARBOUR TUNNEL CO LTD, THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATEI FERRY CO LTD, HONG KONG TRAMWAYS LTD, KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORP, KOWLOON MOTOR BUS CO (1933) LTD, MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORP, NEW HONG KONG TUNNEL CO LTD, NEW LANTAU BUS CO (1973) LTD, STAR FERRY CO LTD AND TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL CO LTD.

PUBLIC COMPLAINTS IN RESPECT OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND TUNNEL COMPANIES MAY BE MADE TO THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT AND THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SOME PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS HAVE PASSENGER HOTLINES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRES TO HANDLE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS.

MOST OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS ALSO CONDUCT SURVEYS FROM TIME TO TIME TO GAUGE CONSUMERS’ OPINION ON THEIR SERVICE STANDARD.

/THE CHINA .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 19<’3

- 28 -

THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY LTD IS REQUIRED UNDER ITS NEW FRANCHISE TO ESTABLISH PASSENGER LIAISON GROUPS TO LIAISE WITH THE PUBLIC.

THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATEI FERRY COMPANY LTD AND THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY LTD HAVE ALSO TAKEN INITIATIVES TO ESTABLISH SUCH GROUPS.

"WE SHALL CONSIDER MAKING THIS A REQUIREMENT IN THE FRANCHISES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS WHEN THESE ARE DUE FOR RENEWAL," MISS YUE SAID.

TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES

THESE COMPANIES INCLUDE HONG KONG TELECOM INTERNATIONAL LTD (HKTI) AND HONG KONG TELEPHONE LTD (HKTC).

CONSUMERS MAY LODGE COMPLAINTS WITH THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY.

HKTC IS OBLIGED TO "PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY A GOOD, EFFICIENT AND CONTINUOUS SERVICE OF PUBLIC TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION WITH MODERN APPLIANCES, INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE MODERN INVENTIONS".

UNDER THE HKTI’S LICENCE, THE LICENSEE IS OBLIGED TO "OPERATE, MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE IN A MANNER SATISFACTORY TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, THE SERVICES SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST AND SECOND SCHEDULES HERETO".

FISH AND VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATIONS

THESE ORGANISATIONS INCLUDE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION AND VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION.

ANY PERSON ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY A DECISION OF THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION MAY NOTIFY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES IN WRITING TO REQUEST SUCH DECISION TO BE REVIEWED.

THE REQUEST WILL BE REFERRED TO THE FISH MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD WHICH MAY HOLD AN INQUIRY TO HEAR THE COMPLAINT AND WILL SUBMIT ITS ADVICE TO THE GOVERNOR FOR FINAL DECISION.

AS FOR THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION, A CHANNEL OF APPEAL TO THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

POWER COMPANIES

THESE COMPANIES INCLUDE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CO LTD AND THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC CO LTD.

/THE CHINA

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY LTD OPERATES A CUSTOMER TELEPHONE SERVICE AND CUSTOMER SERVICES CENTRES WITH WHICH CUSTOMERS CAN LODGE COMPLAINTS. ITS CUSTOMER CONSULTATIVE GROUP MONITORS THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS.

SIMILARLY, THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY LTD OPERATES A CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE, AN EMERGENCY REPORTING CENTRE AND TRENCHING WORK COMPLAINTS HOTLINE TO WHICH CUSTOMERS CAN DIRECT COMPLAINTS. THE COMPANY ALSO RECEIVES COMPLAINTS FROM ITS CUSTOMER LIAISON GROUP.

A PERSON AGGRIEVED BY A DECISION/ACTION OF THE COMPANIES MAY APPEAL TO THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES.

IN ADDITION, CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO LODGE COMPLAINTS WITH THE DIRECTOR AGAINST THE COMPANIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.

HONG KONG AIR CARGO TERMINALS LTD

CUSTOMERS MAY LODGE THEIR COMPLAINTS DIRECT WITH THE COMPANY OR CHANNEL THEM THROUGH THEIR TRADE BODIES - THE CARRIER LIAISON GROUP AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF FREIGHT FORWARDING AGENTS.

IN ADDITION, THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMPANY PROVIDES THAT THE COMPANY SHALL OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL AIR INDUSTRY STANDARDS TO THE GENERAL SATISFACTION OF ITS CUSTOMERS AND THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION.

WHERE A CUSTOMER FEELS THAT THE STANDARDS REQUIRED ARE NOT MET, HE COULD COMPLAIN DIRECT TO THE DIRECTOR.

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY

AT THE INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL LEVEL, PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ARE HANDLED BY THE RELEVANT HOSPITAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT ASSISTED BY A PATIENT RELATIONS OFFICER.

AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL, APPEAL CASES AND REFERRALS FROM OTHER BODIES ARE HANDLED BY A PUBLIC COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BOARD.

SEPARATELY, THE TRENDS OF COMPLAINTS RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS OR SPECIALTIES ARE MONITORED BY THE PATIENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE UNDER THE BOARD.

THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH SCRUTINISES THE QUARTERLY REPORTS PREPARED BY THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ON THE INCIDENCE OF COMPLAINTS OR EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION, BASED ON THE STATISTICS SUPPLIED BY INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS.

/JUSTICES OF

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, im

JUSTICES OF PEACE VISITED PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS MONTHLY AND OTHER HOSPITALS THREE MONTHLY.

GENERAL

MISS YUE ADDED THAT CONSUMERS MAY ALSO LODGE THEIR COMPLAINTS WITH OTHER BODIES LIKE OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS AND DISTRICT BOARDS.

- 0 -

DRAFTING OF HOME FOR AGED BILL NEAR COMPLETION

******

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES (ELDERLY PERSONS) BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL IN THE 1993/94 SESSION.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN, MRS WONG SAID THE DRAFTING OF THE BILL WAS NEAR COMPLETION.

’’THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY DRAFTING DIFFICULTIES,” SHE SAID.

TIME-TABLE FOR TTRA BEING REVIEWED

******

SUITABLE GUIDELINES ON HOW TEXTBOOKS SHOULD BE REVISED TO TIE IN WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TARGET AND TARGET-RELATED ASSESSMENT SCHEME (TTRA) WILL BE ISSUED TO LOCAL PUBLISHERS IF THE RESULTS OF A REVIEW CURRENTLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WARRANT IT, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR CHAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS REVIEWING THE MAY 1993 TIME-TABLE FOR INTRODUCING TTRA TO PRIMARY FOUR IN THE LIGHT OF THE OUTCOME OF THE PILOT PROJECT.

"THIS REVIEW WILL COVER THE NEED FOR TEXTBOOKS AND SUPPORT MATERIALS.

/"IF IT .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 31

"IF IT TURNS OUT THAT SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO EXISTING PUBLICATIONS ARE WARRANTED, SUITABLE GUIDELINES WILL BE ISSUED AND AMPLE TIME WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THEIR PREPARATION AND PRODUCTION," HE SAID.

IN THE MEANTIME, MR CHAN SAID, PUBLISHERS WERE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS ON TTRA AT A MEETING IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO MAINTAIN A DIALOGUE WITH THEM THROUGH REGULAR MEETINGS AND PERIODIC BRIEFING SESSIONS, HE ADDED.

0 -

HK ATHLETES FARE WELL AT INT’L COMPETITIONS ******

HONG KONG’S SPORTSMEN AND SPORTSWOMEN HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED THEIR PERFORMANCE IN RECENT YEARS, WINNING MANY MEDALS AT REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AS WELL AS BREAKING HONG KONG’S OWN RECORDS.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHIM PUI-CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, SAID LOCAL ATHLETES WERE PARTICULARLY GOOD AT A SELECTED NUMBER OF SPORTS.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT THEY HAVE WON MEDALS IN THE FOLLOWING SPORTS EVENTS AT INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS BETWEEN 1988 AND 1993:

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

SWIMMING 33 92 109

TABLE-TENNIS 17 15 20

SQUASH 8 14 4

WINDSURFING 8 1 3

BADMINTON 4 4 5

ROWING 1 5 8

DURING THE SAME FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, DISABLED ATHLETES HAVE ALSO CLAIMED NINE GOLD, SEVEN SILVER AND 15 BRONZE MEDALS.

/AS REGARDS .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 32 -

AS REGARDS FUNDING FOR THE PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS IN HONG KONG, MR SO SAID IT WAS CHANNELLED MAINLY THROUGH DIRECT GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS, EXPENDITURE BY THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS ON SPORTS PROGRAMMES AND EVENTS THEY ORGANISED, AND EXPENDITURE BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON SCHOOL SPORTS PROGRAMMES AND COMPETITIONS.

DIRECT GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS WERE GIVEN, BEFORE 1990, TO THE AMATEUR SPORTS FEDERATION & OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (ASF&OC) AND THE NATIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS (NSAS) ON THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS.

AFTER 1990, SUBVENTIONS ARE PASSED TO THE HONG KONG SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD WHICH THEN PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ASF&OC AND THE NSAS.

GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS ROSE FROM $10.35 MILLION IN 1988/89 TO $33.14 MILLION IN 1992/93 WHILE EXPENDITURE BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INCREASED FROM $7.52 MILLION TO $10.75 MILLION DURING THE SAME PERIOD.

IN 1988/89, THE URBAN COUNCIL SPENT $11.49 MILLION ON SPORTS COMPARED WITH $23.34 MILLION IN 1992/93.

THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WERE $7.69 MILLION AND $13.75 MILLION.

MR SO ALSO TOLD THE COUNCILLORS THAT ASF&OC WAS RECOGNISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, THE OLYMPIC COUNCIL OF ASIA AND THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES FEDERATION.

"AS SUCH, IT IS THE ACCREDITATION BODY FOR HONG KONG’S PARTICIPATION IN THESE INTERNATIONAL GAMES," HE SAID.

IN PROMOTING SPORTS IN HONG KONG, THE ASF&OC PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE BY ORGANISING AND ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS.

IN ADDITION, IT SPONSORS LOCAL OR OVERSEAS TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR SPORTS LEADERS, ADMINISTRATORS, COACHES, TECHNICAL OFFICIALS AND ATHLETES; AND ORGANISES A VARIETY OF LOCAL COURSES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNITED STATES SPORTS ACADEMY.

TOGETHER WITH THE NSAS AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, IT ALSO ORGANISES THE ANNUAL HONG KONG FESTIVAL OF SPORTS, WHICH ATTRACTS WIDE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

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/33 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

- 33

MOTION FOR INDEPENDENT BODY ON POLICE COMPLAINTS PASSED

******

A MOTION, MOVED BY THE HON JAMES TO KUN-SUN, URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO HANDLE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY), AFTER MORE THAN TWO HOURS OF DEBATE.

A TOTAL OF 20 MEMBERS SPOKE. THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT. AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION BY THE HON MRS PEGGY LAM WAS DEFEATED.

A MOTION MOVED BY THE HON SZETO WAH URGING FOR A REFERENDUM ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT WAS DEFEATED AFTER A THREE-HOUR DEBATE WHILE THE TWO MOTIONS UNDER THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE MOVED BY THE HON MRS ELSIE TU WERE PASSED.

THREE BILLS WERE PASSED, ALL WITH AMENDMENTS.

THEY ARE: COMPUTER CRIMES BILL 1992; CRIMES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1992; AND PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992

THIRTEEN OTHER BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. TEN OF THEM WERE BUDGET-RELATED. DEBATES ON THEM WERE ADJOURNED.

THE MOTION RAISED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER, UNDER THE MARINE FISH (MARKETING) ORDINANCE WAS PASSED.

TWO MOTIONS MOVED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR K Y YEUNG, UNDER THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE RESPECTIVELY, WERE ALSO PASSED.

--------0------------

Received by PRO 2 7 APR 1993 on_________________

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

GOVERNOR IN LEGCO ............................................... 1

BILL TO REGULATE FOREIGN LAWYERS ............................... 15

STATEMENT ON RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY ......................... 16

STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC LINKS BETWEEN YOKOHAMA AND HK ........... 17

URUGUAY ROUND PARTICIPANTS URGED TO EXERCISE POLITICAL WILL 18

UPDATE ON BEACH WATER GRADES ................................... 19

YMT MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE TO MOVE ................... 22

STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY ON MOVE .................... 23

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSCRIPT OF THE GOVERNOR’S QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

I AM GRATEFUL TO HONOURABLE MEMBERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON MY VISIT TO BRUSSELS AND TO LONDON AND ALSO TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY WHICH IS THE RESULT OF A COINCIDENCE IN THE TIMING OF ONE OF MY REGULAR VISITS TO THE COUNCIL, TO SAY A FEW BRIEF WORDS ABOUT THE TALKS WHICH HAVE STARTED IN PEKING THIS MORNING.

I VISITED BRUSSELS FROM APRIL 1 TO 2 AND WHEN I WAS THERE I HAD MEETINGS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, MONSIEUR JACQUES DELORS, THE COMMISSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR EXTERNAL TRADE RELATIONS, SIR LEON BRITTAN, AND THE BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MR CLAES. THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY IS OUR THIRD LARGEST TRADING PARTNER. SOME THIRTEEN PER CENT OF OUR TOTAL TRADE IS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBER STATES SO THIS WAS A USEFUL OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN WITH OUR COMMUNITY COLLEAGUES.

I VISITED LONDON FROM APRIL 2 TO 16 WHERE I HAD AN AUDIENCE WITH HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, TWO MEETINGS AND A LUNCH WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND MEETINGS WITH THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER MINISTERS. I HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG AFFAIRS, MR ALASTAIR GOODLAD AND I BRIEFED HIM AND OTHER OFFICIALS AND MINISTERS ON ALL THE MAJOR HONG KONG ISSUES. HONG KONG OCCUPIES A PROMINENT PLACE ON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S AGENDA AND THAT GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO STAND FOURSQUARE BEHIND THE APPROACH THAT WE HAVE BEEN TAKING.

I ALSO MET MR JACK CUNNINGHAM, THE LABOUR PARTY’S PRINCIPAL SPOKESMAN ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS WHO CONFIRMED ONCE AGAIN THE LABOUR PARTY’S SUPPORT FOR THE POLICIES WE ARE PURSUING. I ALSO GAVE SPEECHES TO THE ROYAL INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND TO THE TORY REFORM GROUP AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF TELEVISION AND RADIO INTERVIEWS.

I WAS PLEASED THAT DURING MY VISIT TO LONDON IT WAS POSSIBLE TO ANNOUNCE THE TALKS THAT HAVE BEGUN TODAY BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994 AND 1995 IN HONG KONG. WE HAVE MADE CLEAR ALL ALONG THAT WE WERE READY FOR SUCH TALKS TO TAKE PLACE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS. I AM GLAD THAT THEY ARE NOW DOING SO. WE MUST ALL HOPE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO REACH AN UNDERSTANDING IN THESE DISCUSSIONS ON ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE OPEN, FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THAT IS OUR AIM. THERE WILL, I CAN ASSURE HONOURABLE MEMBERS, BE NO HIDDEN AGREEMENTS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WILL BE FOR YOU IN THIS COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON THE LEGISLATION SETTING IN PLACE THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/1995. THAT IS YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND IT WILL REMAIN SO.

AS I’VE ALREADY INDICATED TO HONOURABLE MEMBERS, THE CONTENTS OF THE TALKS WILL HAVE TO BE CONFIDENTIAL BUT WHILE I WILL NOT BE IN A POSITION TO EXPLAIN TO THIS COUNCIL, AFTER EACH ROUND OF NEGOTIATION, THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, I WILL OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE TO LISTEN CLOSELY TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS’ VIEWS IN ORDER TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THINKING IN THIS COUNCIL AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

/NO-ONE

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

NO-ONE SHOULD IMAGINE THAT THESE TALKS WILL BE EASY. THEY WILL NOT BE. FOR OUR PART, WE WILL TRY SINCERELY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THE TALKS, TO BRIDGE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOTH SIDES AND TO IDENTIFY THE COMMON GROUND, WHILE REMAINING TRUE TO THE BROAD UNDERTAKINGS WE HAVE GIVEN TO YOU AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE HAVE NOT TRAVELLED THIS FAR TO ABANDON THOSE UNDERTAKINGS NOW, BUT EQUALLY, WE WILL ENTER THESE DISCUSSIONS TODAY, DETERMINED TO DO OUR BEST TO BRING THEM TO A SUCCESSFUL AND TO AN HONOURABLE CONCLUSION.

PRESIDENT: WITH THE FIRST PART FOR THE QUESTIONS ON THE SUBJECT MATTERS COVERED BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS ADDRESS AND THE SECOND PART FOR QUESTIONS ON OTHER TOPICS. I WILL ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS BEFORE EACH QUESTION. A MEMBER MAY ASK A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELUCIDATION BUT THE SUPPLEMENTARY SHOULD BE A SHORT SINGLE QUESTION. SHOW OF HANDS PLEASE.

MRS SELINA CHOW: SIR, YOU SAID JUST NOW THAT YOU WOULD LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE VIEWS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHILE THE TALKS ARE GOING ON. HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY PROPOSE TO DO THAT, WHAT SPECIFIC STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE TO ENSURE THAT THE VIEWS THAT YOU WILL LISTEN TO ARE NOT SELECTED TO BACK UP A CERTAIN PARTICULAR CAUSE OF THINKING?

GOVERNOR: BY MEETING LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS AS FREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE AND IF THE HONOURABLE LADY AND ANY OF HER COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SEE ME, I’D BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THEM, JUST AS I HAVE SEEN OTHER HONOURABLE MEMBERS. THE HONOURABLE MEMBER, I THINK, I’M NOT SURE WHETHER I SAY CONVENOR OR LEADER OF HIS GROUP, CAME TO SEE ME WITH SOME COLLEAGUES NOT VERY LONG AGO, WE’VE HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND I AM DELIGHTED TO MEET MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHENEVER THEY WISH, WITHIN REASON.

MR MICHAEL HO (THROUGH INTERPRETER): MR PRESIDENT, I HOPE THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN TELL US THIS. HE KEEPS SAYING THAT THE CONCLUSION OF THE TALKS SHOULD BE OPEN, FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE TO HONG KONG PEOPLE. I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT STEPS WILL THE ADMINISTRATION TAKE TO ENSURE THAT THE FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO HONG KONG PEOPLE AND TODAY CAN YOU TELL US FURTHER WHAT STEPS IT WILL TAKE TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT TO USE A REFERENDUM AS A MEANS TO GAUGE PUBLIC OPINION TO SEE WHETHER IT’S ACCEPTABLE TO THEM?

GOVERNOR: THIS COUNCIL TOOK A VIEW ON THE USE OF REFERENDUMS YESTERDAY AND THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WILL I AM SURE KNOW, IN VIEW OF WHAT I’VE SAID CONSISTENTLY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THAT THE DECISION REACHED BY THE COUNCIL WAS NOT A DECISION WHICH I IN ANY WAY FOUND OBJECTIONABLE. I THINK THAT A REFERENDUM WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND IN THE CONDITIONS THAT OBTAIN IN HONG KONG. I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY VIEWS ON REFERENDUMS HAVE BEEN MUCH THE SAME IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ON OTHER ISSUES IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

/SO FAR ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

80 FAR AS THE ACCEPTABILITY OF ANY AGREEMENT 18 CONCERNED, THIS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REPRESENTS IN VARIOUS WAYS THE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG AND THIS COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER ANY AGREEMENT WHICH EMERGES FROM TALKS JUST AS THIS COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER ANY DISAGREEMENT WHICH RESULTS FROM UNSUCCESSFUL TALKS. I'M SURE THAT THIS COUNCIL IN DEBATING AN AGREEMENT OR A FAILURE TO AGREE WILL REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE REFLECTED AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHETHER ACCURATELY OR INACCURATELY I GUESS DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU LIKE THE FINDINGS IN OPINION POLLS. I NOTICED AN EXTREMELY INTERESTING OPINION POLL IN SING TAO EARLIER THIS WEEK, ONE OF THE MANY QUESTIONS IN IT WAS THIS ONE - "IF AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED DO YOU THINK THAT IT IS NECESSARY FOR LEGCO TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE RESULT OF THE TALKS" YES-70 PER CENT, NO-24 PER CENT. I IMAGINE THAT'S A FINDING WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WOULD FIND ALL OF THEM REASONABLY AGREEABLE.

MR MAN SA I-CHEUNG: (THROUGH INTERPRETER) THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND THE UDHK HAVE BEEN AGAINST SECRET NEGOTIATIONS. MR GOVERNOR, WHAT SPECIFIC MEASURES ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION AND WILL BE CONSULTED AND WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS AND THE CONSENSUS AND THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES OR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS?

GOVERNOR; 1 ANSWERED, AT SOME LENGTH, QUESTIONS ON THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THE MARCH fi AND I’M NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL OR NECESSARILY INSTRUCTIVE FOR ME TO REPEAT WHAT 1 SAID ON THAT OCCASION, I'VE RE-READ IT AND HAVE TO SAY THAT I FOUND IT AS CONVINCING TO READ AS I HAD TO EXPRESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZES, AND THAT GOES FOR, I WOULD GUESS, THOSE MEMBERS WHO ARK OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS AND THOSE MEMBERS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT SUCCESS, I THINK THAT THE WHOLE COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THAT WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GIVE THE NEGOTIATIONS A FAIR WIND; THAT WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GIVE THE NEGOTIATIONS THE BERT CHANCE OF COMING TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. I THINK ONE THING WE CAN DO IB TO ENSURE THAT NEGOTIATIONS TAKE PLACE CONFIDENTIALLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO NEGOTIATE HALF IN PUBLIC AND HALF IN PRIVATE. THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE ARE INTENT ON REACHING A SECRET DEAL. WE COULDN’T REACH A SECRET DEAL BECAUSE ANY AGREEMENT HAS TO BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY, HAS TO BE EXPLAINED AND JUSTIFIED TO THIS COUNCIL. BUT WHILE THE DISCUSSIONS ARE GOING ON, I THINK IT’S BEST TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE SENSITIVITIES OF SOME OF THOSE WHO ARE NEGOTIATING AND HOPE THAT THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.

/MR CHIM .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

MR CHIM PUI-CHUNG: (THROUGH INTERPRETER) THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT. MR GOVERNOR, AFTER YOU CAME TO HONG KONG, ACTUALLY YOU’VE BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR NINE MONTHS NOW, IN THE PAST NINE MONTHS, REGARDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE, YOU HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC. NOW THAT SINO-BRITISH TALKS ARE DUE TO START, PROBABLY WE MAY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BASIS OF THE THREE ACCORDS, OR WE MAY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BASIC PRINCIPAL LAID DOWN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW AND BY THEN, YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE WILL BE REDUCED TO NOTHING AND IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT KIND OF EXPLANATION YOU WILL BE OFFERING TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE, IN THE PAST NINE MONTHS, ESPECIALLY ON THE OCTOBER 7 WHEN YOU DELIVERED YOUR POLICY ADDRESS, AFTER THAT IT HAS CREATED A GREAT STIR AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND SO NO MATTER WHAT ATTITUDE THEY HAVE, THEY ARE ALREADY SUBJECT TO A LOT OF IMPACT FROM YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE AND SO I REALLY DO HOPE THAT YOU CAN TELL, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, REGARDING YOUR PROMISES YOU MADE TO HONG KONG PEOPLE ON THE OCTOBER 7, REGARDING SMOOTH TRANSITION TO 1997, YOU ARE STILL MOVING TOWARDS THIS GOAL?

GOVERNOR: FIRST OF ALL, WHEN I SET OUT MY PROPOSALS ON THE OCTOBER 7, I SAID THAT I VERY MUCH LOOKED FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THEM WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRC. I’M SORRY THAT IT TOOK UNTIL WE WERE ON THE EVE OF GAZETTING THOSE PROPOSALS AS A BILL APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR TALKS ABOUT TALKS TO GET UNDERWAY AND I’M ALSO SORRY THAT IT TOOK SO LONG FOR TALKS ABOUT TALKS TO PRODUCE TALKS. NEVERTHELESS, MUCH BETTER, INCOMPARABLY BETTER LATE THAN NEVER AND WE START THESE TALKS WITH MY PROPOSALS BEING, AS THE HONOURABLE MEMBER SAYS, MODERATELY WELL KNOWN, WITH THE TWO COMPENDIA OF OTHER PROPOSALS REPRESENTING VIEWS OF A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY GROUPS ALSO TOLERABLY WELL KNOWN. MY OWN PROPOSALS WERE, IN MY JUDGEMENT AND THAT OF MANY OTHERS, ENTIRELY IN LINE WITH BOTH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW BUT THEY WEREN’T SET OUT AS A FAIT ACCOMPLI. THEY WERE SET OUT AS PROPOSALS. ONE THING THAT WE WILL BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH UNFOLD, IS WHAT ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS OUR CHINESE COLLEAGUES HAVE TO PUT FORWARD BECAUSE, SO FAR, WE HAVEN’T HEARD VERY MUCH ABOUT THOSE.

I HOPE THAT ANY PROPOSALS THEY PUT FORWARD ENJOY THE PUBLIC SUPPORT, WHETHER MEASURED BY VOTES IN THIS COUNCIL, OR BY OPINION POLLS, WHICH THE OCTOBER PROPOSALS CONTINUE TO ENJOY. THE SING TAO POLL THAT I REFERRED TO EARLIER GAVE ALSO THE FOLLOWING ANSWERS.

"DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS OF MR PATTEN’S PACKAGE? TEN LEGCO SEATS TO BE ELECTED BY ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS IN THE 1995 ELECTIONS." YES - 66 PER CENT, NO - 18 PER CENT.

"THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS". YES - 76 PER CENT, NO -13 PER CENT.

THEN I AM AFRAID THERE’S A GOAL FOR THE OTHER SIDE.

"ABOLITION OF APPOINTED SEATS IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE URBAN COUNCIL". YES - 38 PER CENT, NO - 47 PER CENT.

THAT’S ONE UP TO THE HONOURABLE MEMBER.

/"ONE SEAT ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

"ONE SEAT, ONE VOTE IN THE DIRECTLY ELECTED CONSTITUENCIES". YES - 69 PERCENT, NO - 19 PER CENT.

NOW, I NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL ARGUE THAT OPINION POLL RESULTS ARE SACROSANCT. ALL I WILL SAY IS, DESPITE ALL THE CRITICISM OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THERE HAS, HOWEVER YOU MEASURE THEM, REMAINED A PRETTY REASONABLE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSALS THAT WERE PUT FORWARD IN OCTOBER, BUT THEY WERE ONLY PROPOSALS AND WE GO INTO THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CLEAR AND PRINCIPLED INTENTION OF SEEKING FOR A SOLUTION, OF SEEKING FOR AN ACCEPTABLE SET OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994 AND ’95 ELECTIONS WHICH EVERYBODY CAN SUPPORT AND WHICH EVERYBODY CAN REGARD AS FAIR.

MR PANG CHUN-HOI (THROUGH INTERPRETER): THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT. MR GOVERNOR A LITTLE WHILE AGO YOU SAID, TODAY TALKS WILL RESUME IN BEIJING AND THEY WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL. NOW THAT I AGREE YET WHEN YOU ARE APPROACHING A PRE-ACHIEVEMENT [SIC] WILL YOU BE INFORMING THIS COUNCIL OF THE CONTENT?

GOVERNOR: WHEN WE HAVE CONCLUDED THE DISCUSSIONS, I’LL HAVE TO COME TO THIS COUNCIL EITHER TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY HAVEN’T LED TO THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME THAT I’M SURE EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE OR WHY ALTERNATIVELY I INTEND TO RECOMMEND A SET OF CONCLUSIONS TO THIS COUNCIL, AND I GUESS SIMILARLY THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AT WESTMINSTER AND MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE SOVEREIGN PARLIAMENT. THIS COUNCIL WILL THEN MAKE A JUDGEMENT. I WOULD NOT WISH TO, INDEED I THINK IT’S INCONCEIVABLE THAT WE COULD AGREE AROUND THE TABLE TO AN OUTCOME WHICH WE DIDN’T BELIEVE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IN HONG KONG AND ACCEPTABLE TO THIS COUNCIL BUT I GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER. MUCH AS I MIGHT PERSONALLY WISH THAT THINGS WERE OTHERWISE, I DON’T THINK THAT IT WOULD HELP TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IF WE REPORTED EVERYDAY OR AFTER EVERY ROUND OF TALKS ON EXACTLY WHAT’S BEEN SAID OR ON EXACTLY WHAT’S BEEN NEGOTIATED. I KNOW THAT THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WASN’T MAKING PRECISELY THAT POINT; I EQUALLY THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME DIFFICULTIES IF ONE THOUGHT ONE HAD REACHED A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AND THAT FIVE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT AS IT WERE, REPORTED THINGS.

A RESULT OF THIS WHICH IS TIRESOME FOR ALL OF US IS THAT THERE WILL IN THE NEXT DAYS, WEEKS BE, IF THE NEGOTIATIONS GO ON FOR WEEKS, THERE WILL BE A FROTH OF SPECULATION. I HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL BE A GOOD DEAL MORE MATURE IN DEALING WITH THAT SPECULATION THAN SOME FINANCIAL MARKETS ARE FROM TIME TO TIME. I AM SURE IT WILL BE. IN MY EXPERIENCE THE BEST WAY FOR POLITICAL LEADERS TO KEEP SECRETS IS TO MAKE OPEN STATEMENTS ON OCCASIONS LIKE THIS OR AT PRESS CONFERENCES BUT I HOPE OVER THE NEXT WEEKS THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IS SAID, RATHER THAN WHAT IS SPECULATED.

/MS EMILY .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

MS EMILY LAU: THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT. I WANT TO ASK THE GOVERNOR IN HIS RECENT VISIT TO LONDON I UNDERSTAND, I THINK WE HAVE IN FACT BEEN TOLD BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THAT ONE OF THE ITEMS IN YOUR BRIEF IS A REQUEST, A UNANIMOUS REQUEST FROM THIS COUNCIL FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO GIVE FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO 7,000 ETHNIC MINORITIES COMING FROM ABOUT 2,000 FAMILIES. CAN THE GOVERNOR THIS AFTERNOON GIVE US SOME RESPONSE ON THE REACTION FROM LONDON, WHETHER YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL AND HONOURABLE OUTCOME?

GOVERNOR: THE REACTION WAS SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH THE HONOURABLE LADY RECEIVED WHEN SHE AND TWO OF HER COLLEAGUES RAISED THE ISSUE ON A VISIT WHICH THEY PAID TO LONDON A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT I THINK THAT THE STRENGTH OF THIS COUNCIL’S VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT IS RECOGNISED IN THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY IN LONDON JUST AS I SUSPECT THE HONOURABLE LADY STRONGLY AS SHE FEELS ABOUT THE SUBJECT RECOGNISES SOME OF THE POLITICAL VIEWS AT WESTMINSTER ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.

MS EMILY LAU: FOLLOW-UP MR PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT: SHORT, SINGLE SUPPLEMENTARY.

MS EMILY LAU: YES, VERY SHORT. SO GOVERNOR ARE YOU SAYING THE

ANSWER IS NO?

GOVERNOR: I’M SAYING THAT THE ANSWER AT THE MOMENT IS THE

SAME AS THE ANSWER WHICH THE HONOURABLE LADY GOT WHICH WAS NO.

MS EMILY LAU: BUT WE WERE TOLD BY YOUR OFFICIALS JUST A FEW DAYS AGO THAT THEY HAVEN’T HAD A RESPONSE SO THAT YOU MUST HAVE GOT ONE BETWEEN WHAT, MONDAY WHEN WE HAD OUR NATIONALITY SUB-COMMITTEE.

GOVERNOR: THE HONOURABLE LADY WHEN SHE WAS IN LONDON DIDN’T GET A POSITIVE REACTION. I’M SAYING THAT I DIDN’T GET A POSITIVE REACTION. IF THAT IS A LESS FIRM NO THAN A DOUBLE NO THEN I ACCEPT THE HONOURABLE LADY’S CORRECTION. IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT I HAVEN’T RECEIVED A NO BUT I HAVEN’T RECEIVED A YES AND IN THE ABSENCE OF A YES I WAS TAKING A RATHER NEGATIVE VIEW ABOUT THINGS BUT I’LL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNCIL’S VIEWS ARE PUT TO LONDON AND TO WESTMINSTER.

MR MOSES CHENG : THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT. I WISH TO ASK A QUESTION OF THE GOVERNOR IN THE AREA OF HOUSING. MEMBERS OF THE LIBERAL PARTY BELIEVE THAT —

PRESIDENT: I’M SORRY MR CHENG, I THINK WE ARE STILL ON THE GOVERNOR’S MAIN ADDRESS.

MR CHENG : I THOUGHT THAT EMILY HAS ASKED A QUESTIONS WHICH HAS GONE INTO THE SECOND PART —

/PRESIDENT .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

PRESIDENT : -- RESULTING FROM HIS TRIP TO LONDON.

MR CHENG : THANK.

MR VINCENT CHENG : MY QUESTION IS NOT ON THE NATIONALITY OR ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SO I’LL JUST WAIT.

DR LAM KUI-CHUN : MR PRESIDENT. THE GOVERNOR REFERRED TO HIS DESIRE, IN HIS SPEECH, TO BRING THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS TO A SUCCESSFUL AND HONOURABLE CONCLUSION. COULD HE EXPLAIN IN GREATER DETAIL WHAT HE ’ MEANS BY AN HONOURABLE CONCLUSION?

GOVERNOR : I BELIEVE THAT AN HONOURABLE CONCLUSION WOULD CONTAIN AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS. FIRST OF ALL WE WOULD HAVE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS AGREED FOR 1994/95 WHICH WERE CREDIBLE AND WHICH WERE CLEARLY DESIGNED TO PRODUCE A FAIR OUTCOME RATHER THAN A PRE-ORDAINED OUTCOME AND I THINK THE COUNCIL WILL UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ONE AND THE OTHER. SECONDLY I KNOW THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, INDEED, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT IT WAS PRETTY WELL AN UNANIMOUS VIEW OF THIS COUNCIL, LIKE MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, TAKE A STRONG POSITION ABOUT THE THROUGH TRAIN AND BELIEVE THAT LIKE REAL THROUGH TRAINS, PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE A TICKET AT ONE STATION TO GO TO A DESTINATION, ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL THE WHOLE ROUTE RATHER THAN GET TURFED OFF HALF WAY ALONG IT. I THINK THAT THEREFORE, TO HAVE SOME CLARITY ON THE THROUGH TRAIN, A POINT THAT’S BEEN MADE BY A NUMBER OF GROUPS, I NOTICED IT WAS MADE BY THE DABHK IN A STATEMENT EARLIER THIS WEEK. I THINK SOME CLARIFICATION OF THE POSITION ON THE THROUGH TRAIN WOULD ALSO BE ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS TO AN HONOURABLE AND SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. WE, I THINK, WOULD ALL WANT TO ■ AIM BOTH FOR THE FIRST OF THOSE OBJECTIVES AND I BELIEVE FOR THE < SECOND AS WELL.

» MR ERIC LI : (THROUGH INTERPRETER) THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT. MR GOVERNOR, JUST NOW, MR GOVERNOR, YOU SAID THAT CONCERNING THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS THAT THERE WOULDN’T BE ANY HIDDEN AGENDA BUT BECAUSE THE TALKS ARE CONDUCTED ON DIPLOMATIC LEVEL AND SO APART FROM RELEASING INFORMATION ON THE PLACE OF THE TALKS AND THE TIME OF THE TALKS, THE AGENDA ITSELF WOULD BE KEPT HIDDEN AND WE FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE TALKS WOULD COVER THE SEVEN PROPOSALS IN YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE CONCERNING 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND IT SEEMS THAT BOTH GOVERNMENTS NOW AGREE THAT THE TALKS WOULD BE CONDUCTED ON THE BASIS OF THE THREE ACCORDS AS WELL AS THE DIPLOMATIC AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. AND SO IF THE AGREEMENTS ARE ALSO INCLUDED AS A BASIS FOR THE TALKS THEN IT WOULD BE MUCH WIDER THAN THE SCOPE COVERED BY JUST YOUR SEVEN CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. FOR INSTANCE, THROUGH TRAIN AND CONVERGENCE, IT SEEMS THAT NOW IT IS NOW ON THE AGENDA FOR TALKS AND IN THE COURSE OF THE TALKS, HOW CAN WE KNOW THAT IF THE DOCUMENTS I MENTIONED WILL ALL BE COVERED. THE COVERAGE WOULD VENTURE OUTSIDE OF YOUR SEVEN CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS AND IF THEY VENTURE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS, THEN HOW CAN YOU GAUGE PUBLIC OPINION AND HOW DO WE KNOW WHETHER IT HAS VENTURED OUTSIDE YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS?

/GOVERNOR .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

GOVERNOR : THAT’S A PRETTY LONG AND COMPLICATED QUESTION AND SOME OF IT TOUCHES ON ISSUES THAT I’VE ALREADY ATTEMPTED TO DEAL WITH. I THINK I SAID EARLIER THAT BECAUSE NEGOTIATIONS WERE CONFIDENTIAL, DID NOT MEAN THAT BRITAIN AND CHINA WOULD BE PRODUCING A "SECRET DEAL". I DON’T THINK I USED THE WORDS HIDDEN AGENDA. THE BASIS OF THE TALKS IS AS I SET IT OUT BACK IN MARCH AND AS IS CONTAINED IN THE AGREED STATEMENT BETWEEN LONDON AND PEKING THAT WAS ISSUED TEN DAYS AGO OR SO. ON THE BASIS OF THAT STATEMENT, WE ARE DISCUSSING ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/95 WHICH OF COURSE CONTAIN SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I ADDRESSED IN MY SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUT, IN A SENSE, THE HONOURABLE MEMBER IS RIGHT, GO BEYOND THAT AS WELL BECAUSE THEY DO TOUCH ON THROUGH TRAIN, AND BY DEFINITION, BECAUSE OF THE REFERENCE TO THE BASIC LAW, CONVERGENCE AS WELL. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT’S IMPORTANT THAT I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HONOURABLE MEMBERS IS SO THAT I KNOW THEIR VIEWS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE PROPOSALS THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ENDORSED BUT ON OTHER MATTERS AS WELL. I WOULD WANT TO BE PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT HONOURABLE MEMBERS’ VIEWS SO THAT I WAS ABLE TO ADVISE THOSE NEGOTIATING ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AT ANY TALKS IN PEKING. BUT I THINK THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WHO WANTS, AS I DO, TO SEE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME TO TALKS, WOULD NOT EXPECT A DETAILED BRIEFING ON WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT EACH ROUND.

MR MOSES CHENG : THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, MEMBERS OF THE LIBERAL PARTY BELIEVE THAT THE SALE OF PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING IS A POLICY THAT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AS PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY IS THE ASPIRATION OF MOST FAMILIES AND BREEDS A SENSE OF BELONGING. GIVEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS RESPONDED NEGATIVELY TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL’S REQUEST TO RECONSIDER THE SALE OF PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING TO TENANTS, WHAT DOES GOVERNMENT INTEND TO DO TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM?

GOVERNOR : I THINK THAT WE’LL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHENEVER SHE OR HE IS APPOINTED AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ITSELF TO TRY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. IT’S TRUE THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSALS THAT WERE ON THE TABLE WERE IMAGINATIVE ENOUGH, WERE LIKELY TO MAKE THE SORT OF IMPACT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. I THINK THAT IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT IN THE POLICIES WE PURSUE WE RECOGNISE THE LARGE AND GROWING ASPIRATION WHICH THE HONOURABLE MEMBER HAS REFERRED TO FOR HOME OWNERSHIP. TO SAY THAT ISN’T TO PUT ON ONE SIDE THE GREAT IMPORTANCE IN A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS OF GOOD DECENT PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE RENTED SECTOR. TO SAY THAT ONE WANTS TO DO MORE TO ENCOURAGE THE ASPIRATION TO HOME OWNERSHIP DOESN’T MEAN THAT ONE DOESN’T RECOGNISE THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST OF MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, OF RELATIONS BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND TENANTS, OF COURSE WE RECOGNISE THOSE ISSUES BUT WE HAVE IN MY JUDGEMENT TO DO MORE TO RESPOND TO THAT HOPE THAT MANY FAMILIES HAVE TO OWN THE ROOF OVER THEIR OWN HEAD. SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CHAIRMAN OR CHAIRWOMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE NEW HOUSING AUTHORITY TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, BOTH IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OUTSIDE, POLICIES THAT WILL ENCOURAGE HOME OWNERSHIP. THE FIGURES PREDICTED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS FOR THE INCREASE IN HOME OWNERSHIP ARE REMARKABLE AND ENCOURAGING BUT I THINK THE WHOLE OF THIS COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO GO EVEN FURTHER AND FASTER IF WE CAN.

/MR PRESIDENT .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

MR PRESIDENT : ANY SUPPLEMENTARY’S, MR CHENG.

MR CHENG : THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT. BESIDES USING THE USUAL PERSUASIVE POWER, WHAT OTHER EFFECTIVE STEPS WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE APPLIED TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE, OR WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FEEL IS A GOOD POLICY CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVELY OR MORE ACTIVELY PURSUED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY?

GOVERNOR : I THINK IT WOULD BE PERHAPS UNWISE OF ME TO GET INTO A DIALOGUE BEFORE THERE IS A NEW, I’LL GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME, CHAIRPERSON. I’M GLAD THAT THE HONOURABLE LADY NODS. BEFORE THERE’S A NEW CHAIRPERSON OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BUT IT OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS BOTH THE BALANCE IN CONSTRUCTION, IT AFFECTS THE ROLE OF THE HOUSING SOCIETY, IT AFFECTS THE AMOUNT OF CHEAPER ACCOMMODATION FOR HOME OWNERSHIP, FOR FIRST TIME OWNERS WHICH IS PROVIDED. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MATTERS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT. IF AS SEEMS ALAS LIKELY WE CAN'T GET THE PROGRESS WE WOULD LIKE BY SELLING EXISTING FLATS WITHIN BLOCKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEM.

MR PRESIDENT : ANY FURTHER SUPPLEMENTARY’S? NEXT QUESTION THEN. MR NGAI SHIU-KIT.

MR NGAI SHIU-KIT : SIR, WHAT SPECIFIC MEASURES WILL BE ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT INFLATION? WILL THERE BE A STRATEGY TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR SO THAT GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE THE LEAD IN THIS MOST NEEDED COURSE OF ACTION AND WHAT DOES GOVERNMENT PROPOSE TO DO TO ENSURE THAT MEASURE ADOPTED WILL BE EFFECTIVE?

GOVERNOR : INFLATION AS THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WILL KNOW, IS VERY OFTEN A STRUCTURAL CONSEQUENCE OF HIGH LEVELS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. I’M SURE THAT OUR COLLEAGUES ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION WHERE THEY SUFFER FROM HIGHER LEVELS OF INFLATION WOULD MAKE THAT POINT IF PRESSED. BUT NO LEVEL OF INFLATION CAN BE EASILY OR HAPPILY TOLERATED AS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS MADE CLEAR ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC FEATURES OF OUR INFLATION IN HONG KONG WHICH ARE PARTLY A CONSEQUENCE OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. I THINK ONE CAUSE OF INFLATION IS THE SHORTAGE OF LAND WHICH I HOPE THAT INCREASED RECLAMATION OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WILL HELP AT LEAST TO ALLEVIATE. ANOTHER FACTOR IN OUR INFLATION IS THE PROBLEMS OF LABOUR SUPPLY WHICH RAISES AN ISSUE OF SOME CONTROVERSY, NOT ONLY IN THIS CHAMBER BUT OUTSIDE IT AS WELL. IT RAISES THE QUESTION OF THE IMPORTATION SCHEME, IT RAISES THE QUESTION OF TRAINING AND RE-TRAINING. THOSE ARE MATTERS THAT WF, HAVE TO ADDRESS. WHEN THE HONOURABLE MEMBER REFERS TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO DO IS TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH IT USES PUBLIC RESOURCES AND TO ENSURE THAT CURRENT EXPENDITURE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR DOES NOT IN ITS GROWTH YEAR ON YEAR EXCEED THE GROWTH IN THE GNP OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE. NOW THOSE MAY NOT BE NECESSARILY ISSUES ON WHICH THE EXECUTIVE AND THIS COUNCIL ARE ALWAYS IN AGREEMENT BECAUSE VERY OFTEN THIS COUNCIL, FOR UNDERSTANDABLE REASONS, WANTS US TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN THE RATE OF INCREASE IN GNP WOULD JUSTIFY. AND VERY OFTEN THIS COUNCIL WANTS US TO TAKE DECISIONS ON FEES AND CHARGES WHICH WOULD NOT LEAD TO US MAXIMISING THE EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH RESOURCES ARE USED. WE HAVE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT RESOURCES ARE USED EFFICIENTLY WHICH DOESN’T, PARADOXICAL AS IT MAY SEEM TO CUSTOMERS, ALWAYS MEAN HOLDING DOWN CHARGES OR FEES.

/MR PRESIDENT .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

MR PRESIDENT : SUPPLEMENTARY’S? MR NGAI.

MR NGAI : SIR, CAN YOU ELABORATE FURTHER, HOW WILL THE GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATE THIS RESOLVE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, FOR EXAMPLE WILL IT SET UP CLEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIMETABLE?

GOVERNOR : WE’VE SET OUT WHAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE THE INFLATION RATE OVER THIS YEAR AND WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO DO BETTER THAN THAT OR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON’T DO MUCH WORSE. THE MAIN THING THAT I BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO, TO REPEAT MYSELF, IS TO USE ITS OWN RESOURCES OR RATHER THE RESOURCES PROVIDED BY TAX PAYERS SENSIBLY AND THAT WE WILL DO BY CONTINUING TO KEEP A PROPER CONTROL OVER PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. WE’LL ALSO EXPECT THOSE UTILITIES WHERE WE HAVE A SAY TO ENSURE THAT ANY INCREASE IN PRICES FOR PRODUCTS ONLY MEETS THE INCREASE IN OPERATING COSTS OR THE IMPROVEMENT OR INCREASE IN SERVICES. WHAT WE CAN’T DO IS TO HOLD ANY INCREASE IN FEES DOWN SO LOW THAT THE TAX PAYER HAS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE THAT ISN’T A VERY SENSIBLE WAY OF TRYING TO COUNTER INFLATION.

MR EDWARD HO : YOU MENTIONED SHORTAGE OF LAND AS ONE OF THE CAUSE OF INFLATION AND I AGREE TO THAT, ESPECIALLY COST OF HOUSING. YOU MENTIONED ... BUT WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT, I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT REALLY SHORTAGE OF LAND PER SE IN THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF LAND, SAY IN TSEUNG KWAN O, IN TIN SHUI WAI AND ALL OVER NT. I THINK IT’S THE SHORTAGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION, SEWERAGE AND WATER SUPPLY AND SO ON AND MY QUESTION IS WHETHER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO COMMIT RESOURCES TO MAKE AVAILABLE THESE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT OUR RAW LAND IN THE NT CAN BE DEVELOPED.

GOVERNOR : I THINK THAT THE HONOURABLE MEMBER MAKES A FAIR POINT AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE DO HAVE IS IN MAKING SURE THAT THE LAND WHICH IS AVAILABLE CAN BE PREPARED ADEQUATELY AND IN TIME FOR DEVELOPMENT WITH, AS THE HONOURABLE MEMBER SAYS, DECENT ROADS, DECENT SEWERAGE, DECENT OTHER UTILITIES PROVIDED. THAT IS AN ISSUE WHICH I THINK WE WILL NEED TO DISCUSS WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. IT ALSO RAISES OF COURSE, THE QUESTION OF ENSURING THAT WE MEET THOSE CAPITAL INVESTMENT TARGETS THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SETS FOR THE COMMUNITY IN HIS ANNUAL BUDGET STATEMENT AND YOU WILL KNOW THE MEASURES THAT WE ARE TAKING ON THE CAPITAL SIDE TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE MEET OUR TARGETS RATHER THAN FALL SHORT OF THEM. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO BUT IN ORDER TO AFFORD THEM, WE’LL HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW AT ITS PREVIOUS RATE AND IN ORDER TO SECURE THAT OBJECTIVE, WE’LL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP A PROPER CONTROL OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

MRS MIRIAM LAU : SIR, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT EXACTLY YOU MEAN BY MAXIMIZING THE USE OF RESOURCES? YOU WERE REFERRING TO GOVERNMENT UTILITIES. DOES THAT INCLUDE MAKING A PROFIT ON THOSE UTILITIES BY THE GOVERNMENT, AS THE GOVERNMENT DOES IN THE CASE OF TUNNELS?

/GOVERNOR .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

GOVERNOR : WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SETS EOR ITSELF, AS THE HONOURABLE LADY KNOWS, IS A 15 PER CENT RETURN ON AVERAGE NET ASSETS. THAT IS A TARGET WHICH IT SETS ITSELF BECAUSE IT’S THE SORT OF TARGET WHICH IS SPECIFIED IN MOST SCHEME OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS AND IT’S THE SORT OF TARGET WHICH WOULD BE REGARDED AS REASONABLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T VERY OFTEN MEET THAT TARGET, OR RATHER THE COMPANIES CONCERNED DON’T VERY OFTEN MEET THAT TARGET BECAUSE THE PUBLIC SECTOR TENDS TO TAKE A GREATER ACCOUNT OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAN WOULD BE THE CASE IF IT WAS A PURELY PRIVATE SECTOR OPERATION. BUT IF WE WEREN’T TO SET FOR OURSELVES A TARGET, A RETURN ON ASSETS, I DON’T THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE SORT OF MANAGEMENT DISCIPLINE WHICH IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO RUN OUR UTILITIES AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AS COMPETENTLY AS POSSIBLE. I THINK WHEN THE COUNCIL TAKES A DECISION, AS IT DID ON AN ISSUE LIKE TUNNEL FEES, IT NEEDS TO THINK OF SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES, NOT ONLY FOR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, BUT ELSEWHERE TOO.

MR LAU CHIN-SHEK (THROUGH INTERPRETER) : THANK YOU. EARLIER ON THE LEGCO HAS PASSED A MOTION URGING THE ADMINISTRATION TO SET UP A CPF FOR RETIREES. MR GOVERNOR COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT CONCRETE MEASURES WILL ADMINISTRATION TAKE TO GIVE EFFECT TO THIS MOTION AND IF THE MOTION IS NOT CARRIED OUT AND THE COMPULSORY RETIREMENT SCHEME IS STILL SUBMITTED TO LEGCO ONLY TO SEE IT BEING AMENDED TO BECOME A CPF, WOULDN’T YOU THINK THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME?

GOVERNOR : I ENJOYED A MEETING I HAD WITH THE HONOURABLE MEMBER AND ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES. I THINK IT WAS A MEETING WHICH PRETTY WELL COVERED THE WATERFRONT IN TERMS OF POLITICAL OPINIONS IN THIS COUNCIL BUT THE ISSUE WHICH, OF PROVISION FOR RETIREMENT WHICH BOTH HONOURABLE MEMBERS ADDRESSED WAS ONE WHICH HAD UNITED THEM. IT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS TO COME TO CONCLUSIONS ON IN THE NEXT MONTHS OR YEARS. IT HAS VERY PROFOUND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES BUT IT ALSO HAS VERY LARGE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES AS WELL. WHETHER YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX PAYER TAKING ON LARGE CONTINGENT LIABILITIES OR WHETHER YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING EVEN FURTHER TOWARDS SCHEMES GUARANTEED OR PAID FOR BY THE TAX PAYER, I THINK THAT THE ISSUES RAISED ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT IT WOULD BE UNWISE FOR THIS COUNCIL OR FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ADDRESS THEM BEFORE WE HAD MADE EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT TO BUILD AS MUCH COMMON GROUND ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BETWEEN GROUPS REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS AND GROUPS REPRESENTING EMPLOYEES.

WE ARE AT PRESENT LOOKING AT ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED ON THE PROPOSALS THAT WERE PUT OUT FOR DISCUSSION A FEW MONTHS AGO. THAT WILL TAKE NECESSARILY SOME TIME, NOT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO LOSE THE SUBJECT IN THE SHRUBBERY BUT BECAUSE THE SUBJECTS ARE HUGELY COMPLICATED AND HAVE AS I SAID EARLIER SUBSTANTIAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES. BUT THE POINT WHICH THE HONOURABLE MEMBERS BOTH MADE TO ME IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

MR PRESIDENT : SUPPLEMENTARY’S? MR STEPHEN CHEONG.

/MR STEPHEN .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

MR STEPHEN CHEONG : SIR, IN RESPECT OF THIS COMPULSORY RETIREMENT SCHEME, I WOULD SIMPLY LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF ONE OF THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION, THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, AND I CAN SAFELY SAY FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF MY SISTER ORGANISATIONS THAT WE SUPPORT CERTAINLY NO LESS THAN A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND.

GOVERNOR : I’M GRATEFUL TO THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR CLARIFICATION. I THINK THAT THERE ARE VERY LONG LEGS IN DISCUSSION AND THAT WE’LL FIND IT RUNNING FOR SOME MONTHS AHEAD.

THAT THIS

MR PRESIDENT : SUPPLEMENTARY’S? DR YEUNG SUM.

DR YEUNG SUM (THROUGH INTERPRETER) : THANK YOU. A QUESTION FOR THE GOVERNOR. REGARDING RETIREMENT BENEFITS, I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS POINT YOU WILL LOOK AT IT FROM THE ANGLE OF THE CONTRIBUTOR. NOW IF HE STARTS AT THE TWENTIES AND THEN WHEN, BY THE TIME HE REACHES 60, IF IT IS CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, HE WILL BE ABLE TO GET A CERTAIN LUMP SUM AND INCLUDING INTEREST AND OTHER THINGS BUT IF DURING THAT PERIOD SOME PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES GO BANKRUPT THEN HE WILL HAVE NOTHING SO IT WON’T BE FAIR AND THAT’S THE REASON WHY I’M ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE ANGLE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS. AND ON THIS PARTICULAR POINT, PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES DEFINITELY WILL NOT BE UP TO THE TASK.

GOVERNOR : I DON’T THINK THERE IS ANY ARGUMENT AT ALL ABOUT THE OBLIGATION TO ENSURE PROPER REGULATION OF PRIVATE PENSIONS SO AS TO GIVE THOSE WHO WE HOPE WILL IN DUE COURSE BENEFIT FROM THEM THE MAXIMUM PROTECTION. I SPEAK AS SOMEBODY WHO IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ONCE HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE FALLOUT FROM THE MAXWELL AFFAIR AND THE IMPACT ON MY CONSTITUENTS, SO I RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROPERLY REGULATED MARKET. THE QUESTION ONE HAS TO GO ON TO ASK IS HOW EXTENSIVE BEYOND THAT THE TAX PAYERS’ CONTINGENT LIABILITY SHOULD BE AND, SECONDLY, WHETHER, IF THE TAX PAYERS’ LIABILITY GOES VERY FAR, ONE DOESN’T FETCH UP RUNNING THE DANGER OF UNDERMINING PRUDENTIAL MANAGEMENT OF PENSION FUNDS, BECAUSE YOU’D FIND MORE FUNDS CONCEIVABLY THINKING THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO TAKE TOO MUCH CARE SINCE THE TAX PAYER WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE TO PICK UP THE BILL IF THINGS WENT WRONG. THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND CONSIDER VERY CAREFULLY. I THINK THERE ARE IMPORTANT PRIVATE SECTOR SOLUTIONS TO THE QUESTION OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS WHICH CAN BE ORGANIZED SO AS TO LIMIT THE RISKS TO THE RETIREE. I THINK THAT THAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GO. I THINK THE IDEA OF THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLLING HUGE FUNDS ON BEHALF OF POTENTIAL RETIREES WOULD NOT BE IN KEEPING WITH THE USUAL ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY PURSUED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WOULD RUN THE RISK OF POLITICIZING BENEFITS AND INVESTMENT TN AN UNDESIRABLE WAY.

MR TIK CHI-YUEN (THROUGH INTERPRETER) : THANK YOU. I AM SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES UNDERSTAND THAT LEGCO MEMBERS AND A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS ARE FOR CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE EXCO DISCUSSED THIS PREVIOUSLY AND ALSO VOTED THIS DOWN AND SO UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, DO YOU THINK, MR GOVERNOR, THAT THE EXCO SHOULD ONCE AGAIN DELIBERATE ON THIS, TAKING THE VIEWS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL?

/GOVERNOR .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

GOVERNOR : AS I SAID A MOMENT OR TWO AGO, WE ARE CONSIDERING ALL THE VIEWS THAT WERE EXPRESSED ON THE DOCUMENT THAT WE ISSUED, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ENDORSED A FEW MONTHS AGO. PLAINLY, WE WILL NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS COUNCIL ON A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND. WE ARE TALKING HERE ABOUT HUGELY IMPORTANT DECISIONS WHICH WILL TIE UP A VERY LARGE PROPORTION OF HONG KONG'S INVESTMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS SO IT WOULD BE LUDICROUS FOR US IN THE EXECUTIVE, FOR ME AS GOVERNOR, OR FOR THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE VERY RAPID DECISIONS WITHOUT CONSIDERING ALL THE CONSEQUENCES. BUT OF COURSE, FOR REASONS OF BOTH POLITICAL NECESSITY, AS WELL AS PRINCIPLE, I WILL WANT TO TAKE VERY, VERY CLOSE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON BEHALF OF A WHOLE WIDE RANGE OF THE COMMUNITY, AS THE HONOURABLE MEMBER MADE CLEAR A MOMENT OR TWO AGO, ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT MATTER.

MR VINCENT CHENG : GOVERNOR, YOU SAID IN YOUR POLICY SPEECH THAT YOU WOULD DO YOUR UTMOST TO HELP THE DISADVANTAGED MEMBERS OF THIS SOCIETY. NOW RECENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT DISABLED DRIVERS HAVE TO PAY HIGHER PREMIUM AND THE REACTION FROM YOUR OFFICIALS HAS JUST BEEN A SHRUG OF SHOULDER. NOW WOULD YOU, SIR, BE KIND ENOUGH TO TAKE THIS MATTER UP YOURSELF AND ASK YOUR OFFICIALS TO STOP THIS DISGRACEFUL AND DESPICABLE PRACTICE?

GOVERNOR : I THINK THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WILL KNOW THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES IN WHICH I’VE PERSONALLY BEEN INTERESTED IS THE PROBLEMS WHICH THOSE WITH DISABILITIES SUFFER IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR. WE HAD, IN PARTICULAR, AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE MEETING WITH THE MAIN PUBLIC TRANSPORT UNDERTAKINGS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DISABLED A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHICH I THINK PUSHED THEIR POLICY ON A NUMBER OF HELPFUL DIRECTIONS. THE QUESTION WHICH THE HONOURABLE MEMBER RAISES FALLS, AGAIN IN MY VIEW, SQUARELY INTO THE CATEGORY OF THE SORT OF ISSUE WHICH, EVEN IF THOSE OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT HAVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY, GOVERNMENT ITSELF SHOULD TAKE A VIEW ON. SO IN DISCUSSION WITH MY OFFICIALS AND RECOGNIZING THAT RESPONSIBILITIES LIE WITH THOSE WHO DETERMINE PREMIA IN INSURANCE COMPANIES, I’D BE PERFECTLY HAPPY TO TAKE UP THE POINT MADE BY THE HONOURABLE MEMBER.

MR JIMMY MCGREGOR : GOVERNOR, I WONDER WHETHER YOU WOULD ALSO TAKE AN INTEREST IN EXTENDING THAT POLICY INTO THE QUESTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS CHARGES AND FEES FOR VARIOUS SYSTEMS OF TRANSPORT AND ALSO ENTERTAINMENT BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THERE’S AN INCREASING ANXIETY AND CONCERN IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE SITUATION OF OLD AGE PEOPLE, THE FACT IS THAT MANY TRANSPORT COMPANIES DO NOT, HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THE SUGGESTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT THERE SHOULD BE CONCESSIONARY FARES. THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH I BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OR THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A REAL INTEREST IN WITH A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OR SOME SUCH.

GOVERNOR : I THINK WE’VE GONE SOME WAY IN ENCOURAGEMENT BUT I’D BE, I’M BOUND TO SAY, LOATHED TO GO MUCH FURTHER FOR EXAMPLE MAKING IT TOO FIRM A CONSIDERATION WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING SCHEMES OF CONTROL OR WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING ANNUAL OR BI-ANNUAL APPLICATIONS FOR INCREASES IN FEE. THERE IS AN ASPECT HOWEVER WHICH I THINK WE DO NEED TO CONSIDER AND THAT IS THE ABILITY OF RETIREES SOMETIMES TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES CLEARLY AS SUCH WHEN THEY’RE CLAIMING A REBATED FARE OR FEE AND THAT’S AN ISSUE INVOLVING PERHAPS A CARD WHICH I THINK WE NEED TO BE IMAGINATIVE ABOUT.

/DR SAMUEL .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

DR SAMUEL WONG ! GOVERNOR, ON THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME, COULD YOU TELL US WHETHER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS STILL CONFIDENT THAT THE ACP’S AS LISTED IN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED IN SEPTEMBER 1991 COULD STILL BE LARGELY AND SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED BY THE MIDDLE OF 1997?

GOVERNOR : YES, WE DO TAKE THAT VIEW BUT OBVIOUSLY THE LONGER IT TAKES TO NEGOTIATE A SATISFACTORY TOTAL FINANCING PACKAGE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE PRC, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO SECURE AN OUTCOME WHICH THE HONOURABLE MEMBER AND I WOULD BOTH LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH. WE’RE AT PRESENT, AS THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WILL KNOW, ENGAGED IN WORK ON SIX OF THE MAIN TEN ACP PROJECTS. WE’VE, I THINK, EMBARKED ON WORK ON OVER 20 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS. THAT IS A CONSIDERABLE STEP BUT WE’VE OBVIOUSLY GOT A LOT MORE WORK TO DO AND THE SOONER WE CAN HAVE AN AGREED OVERALL FINANCIAL PACKAGE THE BETTER. I NOTICE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUITE ENCOURAGING REMARKS MADE BY PRC OFFICIALS ON THE SUBJECT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.

DR SAMUEL WONG : YOU MENTIONED ABOUT SIX PROJECTS. HOW ABOUT THE SEVENTH ONE WHICH IS THE CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATIONS STAGE ONE WHICH IS VERY CRITICAL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT GO AHEAD, OTHERWISE IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, SAY, TO HAVE A HONG KONG STATION BY 1997?

GOVERNOR : WELL, THE EXECUTIVE WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING WITH THE COUNCIL THE FINANCING OF THE ACP BEFORE CHRISTMAS GAVE THIS COUNCIL CERTAIN UNDERTAKINGS AND WE INTEND TO ABIDE BY THEM. I DON’T THINK THE COUNCIL WOULD FIND IT ACCEPTABLE IF WE DIDN’T. THE SOONER WE CAN AGREE AN OVERALL FINANCING PACKAGE, THE SOONER WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON ALL FRONTS AS THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WOULD LIKE US TO DO AND I APPRECIATE THE HONOURABLE MEMBERS CONCERN ON THIS.

MR FREDERICK FUNG (THROUGH INTERPRETER) : THANK YOU. A QUESTION FOR THE GOVERNOR. IN RELATION TO THE AIRPORT, AS LAYMEN WE FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUNDING ARRANGEMENT AND AS YOU SAID, MR GOVERNOR, THE PRC IS NOW TAKING A MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDE. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THE ADMINISTRATION POSITIVELY PROPOSING VIEWS TO THE PRC SO THAT THE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE NEGOTIATED?

GOVERNOR : THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WILL KNOW THAT WE HAVE PUT FORWARD A VARIETY OF PROPOSALS TO PRC OFFICIALS ABOUT OVERALL FUNDING OF THE AIRPORT BUT SO FAR ALAS HAVEN’T HIT THE JACKPOT, HAVEN’T PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL WHICH HAS FOUND FAVOUR WITH PRC OFFICIALS. IF IN DUE COURSE PRC OFFICIALS REGARDED THE TIME AS BEING RIPE FOR ADDRESSING THE QUESTION WITH THEM AGAIN, WE’D BE DELIGHTED TO BE AS CONSTRUCTIVE AND HELPFUL AS POSSIBLE. I REPEAT WHAT THIS COUNCIL KNOWS, THAT WE NEED A NEW AIRPORT, WE WILL HAVE A NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK, THE SOONER WE CAN HAVE IT, THE BETTER. NOT LEAST THE BETTER FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SAR.

/MR ALBERT .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

MR ALBERT CHAN (THROUGH INTERPRETER) : IN RELATION TO THE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE AIRPORT, WHEN THE MOU WAS SIGNED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WERE NOT CONSULTED. RECENTLY OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE IF TALKS ARE TO RESUME, COULD THE GOVERNOR GIVE US THE UNDERTAKING THAT IN RELATION TO THE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS YOU WILL CONSULT THE VIEWS OF THE LEGCO BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE?

GOVERNOR : THE HONOURABLE MEMBER AND I HAVE, I AM AFRAID, A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HISTORY ON THIS SUBJECT. I DON’T THINK THAT ANY AIRPORT IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC AS MUCH AS THIS ONE AND I DOUBT WHETHER THE FINANCING OF ANY AIRPORT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AS WIDELY AS THIS ONE. WE MUST HAVE CUT DOWN LARGE SECTIONS OF THE AMAZON OR THE MALAYSIAN TROPICAL FOREST IN ORDER TO PRODUCE ALL THE PAPERS FOR ALL THE REPORTS AND ALL THE SUBMISSIONS ON THE FINANCING OF THE AIRPORT. OF COURSE, THIS COUNCIL WILL BE CONSULTED, THIS COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE AS IT KNOWS FUNDING FROM THE PUBLIC PURSE FOR THE AIRPORT, WE’LL ALSO BE CONSULTING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ACC. I DON’T THINK THERE’S BEEN, TO BE HONEST, ANY LACK OF CONSULTATION. WHAT UNFORTUNATELY THERE’S BEEN IS A LACK OF FINAL AGREEMENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT FINAL AGREEMENT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

-----0-----

BILL TO REGULATE FOREIGN LAWYERS

*****

LEGISLATION WILL BE PROPOSED TO PROVIDE REGULATION OF FOREIGN LAW FIRMS AND FOREIGN LAWYERS TO INTRODUCE MEASURES TO CHECK IMPROPER TOUTING AND IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

FOR STATUTORY IN HONG KONG AND COMMISSION-TAKING

THE AND MAY

THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WHICH RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS, WILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO 5 .

CONTAINS

BE GAZETTED TOMORROW (FRIDAY)

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON

ACCORDING

TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE

, „ ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS,

LEGISLATIVE MEASURES TO REGULATE THF OPFRATrnw Akin °F F0REIGN law FIRMS AND FOREIGN LAWYERS ARE IN ACCORDANCE DrrrMrTmr°MMENDATI0NS MADE RY THE LAW SOCIETY, WHICH WERE APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL EARLY LAST YEAR.

THE

PROPOSED

THE GOVERNMENT AREA.

LAW SOCIETY’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOWED AN EARLIER INITIATIVE TO INTRODUCE A FRAMEWORK OF REGULATION IN THIS

THE

FOREIGN LAW

PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL REQUIRE FOREIGN FIRMS TO REGISTER WITH THE LAW SOCIETY.

LAWYERS AND

THAT

WITH

THEY

OF A A HONG

CAN ONLY PRACTISE THE LAW OF THEIR HOME THIRD COUNTRY AND CANNOT EMPLOY OR JOIN KONG SOLICITOR TO PRACTISE HONG KONG LAW.

JURISDICTION OR

INTO PARTNERSHIP

INTO

HOWEVER, A REGISTERED FOREIGN LAW AN ASSOCIATION WITH A LOCAL FIRM.

FIRM WILL BE ABLE

TO ENTER

/A REGISTERED .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

A REGISTERED FOREIGN LAW FIRM WILL BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL PRACTICE IF ALL OF THE PARTNERS IN HONG KONG ARE ADMITTED TO PRACTISE AS HONG KONG SOLICITORS AFTER THREE YEARS.

IN ADDITION, NON-DISCRIMINATORY AND COMPETENCY-BASED CRITERIA WILL BE INTRODUCED TO ASSESS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF FOREIGN LAWYERS WHO WISH TO BE ADMITTED AS HONG KONG SOLICITORS.

IF THE BILL IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, LEGISLATION WILL BE MADE TO IMPLEMENT THESE PROPOSALS.

SUBSIDIARY

ON THE PROBLEM OF TOUTING AND COMMISSION-TAKING, A JOINT LAW SOCIETY AND BAR ASSOCIATION WORKING PARTY RECOMMENDED IN A REPORT LAST YEAR THAT AMENDMENTS BE MADE TO THE SOLICITORS’ PRACTICE RULES TO MAKE IT EASIER TO DETECT COMMISSION-TAKING.

IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE LAW SOCIETY SHOULD APPOINT AN INSPECTOR TO CONDUCT CHECKS ON SOLICITORS AND EMPLOYEES OF SOLICITORS’ FIRMS TO SEE IF THEY WERE INVOLVED IN TOUTING OR COMMISSION-TAKING.

THE LAW SOCIETY HAS PROCEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS. AMENDMENTS TO THE SOLICITORS’ PRACTICE RULES WILL BE GAZETTED ON APRIL 30.

THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WILL EMPOWER AN INSPECTOR APPOINTED BY THE LAW SOCIETY TO EXAMINE SOLICITORS’ FILES TO ENSURE THAT THE PRACTICE RULES ARE BEING OBSERVED, AND TO CARRY OUT AUDITS OF THESE FILES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN ANY UNAUTHORISED PAYMENT OF FEES.

-----0------

STATEMENT ON RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY

*****

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ABOUT AN EDITORIAL IN A CHINESE NEWSPAPER, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (THURSDAY) SAID IT WAS INCORRECT TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED TO BUILD A RAIL LINK TO THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES (NWNT), WITH WORK STARTING IN 1995.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT HAS MADE IT CLEAR ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT TAKE A VIEW ON THE FINDINGS OF THE RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY BEFORE THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN CONSULTED."

"WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF CONSULTING THE PUBLIC. IT IS PREMATURE TO TALK ABOUT FINANCING THE PROPOSALS OR THEIR COMPLETION DATES, AT A TIME WHEN THE LONG-TERM PLAN FOR RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT HAS YET TO BE DECIDED."

"THE COSTINGS PROVIDED IN THE STUDY ARE NO MORE THAN VERY ROUGH INDICATIONS AND, IF IT WERE DECIDED LATER TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSALS, THEY WOULD FIRST BE SUBJECTED TO DETAILED FINANCIAL AND ENGINEERING STUDIES."

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO STRESSED THAT IT WAS INCORRECT TO SUGGEST THAT THE GOVERNMENT SOUGHT TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) IN FORMULATING THE NWNT RAIL LINE PROPOSAL.

/IN FACT .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

IN FACT, THE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE KCRC, HAS RECENTLY DECIDED TO LIFT ALL BUS RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE LRT’S TRANSIT SERVICE AREA NEXT MONTH, THUS EXPOSING THE LRT TO MORE COMPETITION FROM OTHER TRANSPORT MODES.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HAD BEEN INFORMED IN ADVANCE OF THE OUTCOME OF THE RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY.

THEY WILL BE CONSULTED ON THE OVERALL RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT PLAN BEFORE IT IS FINALISED.

THE CHINESE SIDE WILL ALSO BE CONSULTED ON SPECIFIC RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS BEFORE THESE ARE ACCEPTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION, SINCE THE BULK OF EXPENDITURE WOULD TAKE PLACE AFTER 1997.

------0-------

STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC LINKS BETWEEN YOKOHAMA AND HK * * * * *

TRADE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND JAPAN’S MAIN PORT CITY OF YOKOHAMA SURGED LAST YEAR BY MORE THAN 40 PER CENT TO A RECORD US$4.1 BILLION.

THE FIGURES WERE RELEASED BY THE PRINCIPAL HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE REPRESENTATIVE (TOKYO), MR DAVID LAN, AT A SPECIAL FUNCTION FOR THE YOKOHAMA INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE IN YOKOHAMA.

AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE BURGEONING TRADE, MR LAN NOTED THAT LAST YEAR 45,000 MOTOR VEHICLES WERE EXPORTED FROM YOKOHAMA PORT TO HONG KONG - AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 12 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

"THERE ARE ALSO MANY YOKOHAMA-BASED CORPORATIONS OPERATING IN HONG KONG SUCH AS THE YOKOHAMA BANK, NIFCO HK LTD, AND TOKAI SEKI CO LTD.

"AND CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES IS STRENGTHENED THROUGH A REGULAR INTERCHANGE OF INDUSTRIAL AND TRADE MISSIONS - SOMETIMES AS MANY AS FOUR A YEAR," HE ADDED.

MR LAN SAID AS A RESULT OF THIS EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND EXPANDING TRADE, TIES BETWEEN THE TWO CENTRES WERE "GETTING STRONGER EVERYDAY".

HE SAID JAPANESE INVESTORS AND BUSINESSMEN TOOK A KEEN INTEREST IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG.

"THIS IS INEVITABLE BECAUSE HONG KONG ATTRACTS OVER 20 PER CENT OF JAPAN’S TOTAL OUTWARD INVESTMENT IN ASIA," HE SAID.

"NOT ONLY IS JAPAN THE LEADING SOURCE COUNTRY OF OVERSEAS MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG, ACCOUNTING FOR 32 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VALUE, IT HAS THE SECOND LARGEST NUMBER OF REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN HONG KONG AFTER THE UNITED STATES."

/MR LAN

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

MR LAN SAID THE GENERAL CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC AND INVESTORS REMAINED STRONG. THIS WAS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT HONG KONG HAD MAINTAINED ITS POSITION AS THE WORLD’S 10TH LARGEST TRADING ENTITY, WITH TOTAL TRADE VALUED AT US$240 BILLION, MORE THAN 20 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN 1991.

HE ADDED THAT JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN AND INVESTORS HAD BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROPERTY AND STOCK MARKETS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WAS ANOTHER INDICATOR OF THE RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMY.

------0-------

URUGUAY ROUND PARTICIPANTS URGED TO EXERCISE POLITICAL WILL

*****

AS A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT), HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN ACTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE PART IN PUSHING THE URUGUAY ROUND TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T H CHAU, SAID IN BANGKOK TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE 49TH SESSION OF THE UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP), MR CHAU SAID THAT ROUND WAS FAR TOO IMPORTANT TO WORLD TRADE AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS FOR IT TO BE SCUTTLED AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF WORK BY OVER 100 TRADING PARTNERS.

HE CALLED ON ALL URUGUAY ROUND PARTICIPANTS TO EXERCISE THEIR POLITICAL WILL AND APPROACH THE RENEWED NEGOTIATIONS WITH POLITICAL COURAGE SO THAT WE MIGHT OVERCOME THE FINAL REMAINING HURDLES.

MR CHAU WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION HAD SUBMITTED A BILL TO THE U.S. CONGRESS TO SEEK 'FAST TRACK’ NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY WITH A VIEW TO CONCLUDING THE URUGUAY ROUND NEGOTIATIONS BY MID-DECEMBER THIS YEAR.

"I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THE U.S. CONGRESS WILL QUICKLY APPROVE THIS NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY AND THAT THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, THE WORLD’S TWO LARGEST TRADING ENTITIES, WILL PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP REQUIRED FOR THE ROUND TO BE CONCLUDED SPEEDILY,” HE SAID.

ON REGIONAL ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION, MR CHAU SAID THE ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF HONG KONG AND COUNTRIES IN THE ESCAP REGION COULD NOT BE DIVORCED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD.

"REGIONAL ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION, WHETHER IT IS WITHIN ESCAP OR IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION (APEC), CANNOT TAKE THE PLACE OF THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY THE GATT," MR CHAU SAID.

"WHILE PARTICIPATING ACTIVELY IN REGIONAL FORUMS, HONG KONG VERY MUCH SEES REGIONAL ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AS COMPLEMENTARY TO AN OPEN MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM.

/"THE GATT .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

"THE GATT PROVIDES A SOUND FRAMEWORK FOR TRADE LIBERALISATION AND A MULTILATERAL MECHANISM FOR THE RESOLUTION OF BILATERAL TRADE DISPUTES.

"THESE ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMIES OF THE REGION AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR EXPANSION IN TRADE AND OTHER EXTERNAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES," MR CHAU SAID.

"WHAT WE SEEK TO ACHIEVE IN REGIONAL FORUMS SUCH AS ESCAP AND APEC MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES AND PROVISIONS OF THE GATT AND MUST NOT DETRACT FROM OUR EFFORTS IN BRINGING THE URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION LATER THIS YEAR," HE ADDED.

-----o-------

UPDATE ON BEACH WATER GRADES

******

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED GRADES ON THE BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY OF ALL BATHING BEACHES IN HONG KONG.

THIS IS THE FIRST REPORT ON BEACH WATER QUALITY GRADINGS THIS YEAR WHICH SERVES TO INFORM SWIMMERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE STATE OF BACTERIOLOGICAL POLLUTION AT VARIOUS BEACHES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID STARTING FROM THIS WEEK, THE GRADING WOULD BE ANNOUNCED BIWEEKLY DURING THE BATHING SEASON TO COINCIDE WITH THE FREQUENCY AT WHICH BEACH WATER WAS USUALLY SAMPLED.

THE GRADING IS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT E.COLI DATA OBTAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN ITS ROUTINE MONITORING PROGRAMME.

AS WITH LAST YEAR, THE GRADING ALSO INCLUDES AN ESTIMATE OF THE RISK OF SUFFERING SOME MINOR SKIN OR GASTROINTESTINAL COMPLAINTS AS A RESULT OF SWIMMING AT A BEACH THAT HAS SOME DEGREE OF POLLUTION.

THE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON A LARGE BODY OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION GATHERED IN HONG KONG IN RECENT BATHING SEASONS.

THE GRADING OF SOME BEACHES MAY VARY DURING THE SUMMER. THIS REPRESENTS A NATURAL FLUCTUATION IN THE BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF BATHING WATER IN MOST CASES, AS RAIN AND TIDES BRING MORE OR LESS POLLUTION TO THE BEACHES.

HOWEVER, THE GRADES GIVE A GOOD GENERAL PICTURE OF THE WATER QUALITY AT BATHING BEACHES AT THE TIME OF REPORTING AND FORM THE BEST AVAILABLE FORECAST FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

"BEACHES WITH HIGHLY DEVELOPED HINTERLANDS ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE POLLUTED THAN THE GRADES SUGGEST DURING AND AFTER HEAVY RAIN.

"BATHERS SHOULD AVOID SUCH BEACHES FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS AFTER A STORM, LONGER IF THE WEATHER REMAINS OVERCAST OR LESS IF THERE IS STRONG SUNSHINE."

/THE SYSTEM .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

THE SYSTEM FOR GRADING BEACH WATER QUALITY IS AS FOLLOWS:

* GRADE "1" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS GOOD. THE E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 24 PER 100 MILLILITERS AT EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED RISK OF MINOR ILLNESS TO SWIMMERS IS UNDETECTABLE.

* GRADE "2" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS FAIR. THE E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 180 PER 100 MILLILITERS AT EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS NO MORE THAN 10 CASES OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

* GRADE "3" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS POOR. THE E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITERS AT EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS NO MORE THAN 15 CASES OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

» GRADE "4" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS VERY POOR. THE E. COLI COUNT IS MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITERS AT EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS MORE THAN 15 CASES OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

THE DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE A BEACH TO SWIMMERS IS BASED ON A JUDGMENT OF WHAT DEGREE OF POLLUTION IS ACCEPTABLE.

NORMALLY, THE CLOSURE OF A BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL OR REGIONAL COUNCIL IF A GRADE "4" OCCURRED REPEATEDLY, SO THAT THE AVERAGE HEALTH RISK OVER THE BATHING SEASON EXCEEDED 15 CASES PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

SIMILARLY, THE REOPENING OF A CLOSED BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF A GRADE "3" OR BETTER WAS CONSISTENTLY OBTAINED.

AT PRESENT, TWO BATHING BEACHES, NAMELY CASTLE PEAK AND OLD CAFETERIA, HAVE BEEN DECLARED UNSUITABLE FOR SWIMMING, BASED ON THE WATER QUALITY DURING PAST SEASONS.

THEY ARE POLLUTED BY FAECAL WASTE. THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED NOT TO SWIM THERE.

IN ADDITION, WATER AT ROCKY BAY BEACH HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY POOR OR VERY POOR IN QUALITY. IT IS ALSO CLOSED FOR SWIMMING. THESE THREE BEACHES ARE IDENTIFIED BY AN "X" IN THE FOLLOWING LIST.

THE GRADES ON THE BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY OF VARIOUS BEACHES IN HONG KONG TODAY ARE:

/BEACH

THURSDAY,APRIL 22, 1993

BEACH

PREVIOUS GRADING

PRESENT

GRADING

(ON

29.10.92)

(ON 22.4.93)

HONG KONG SOUTH

BIG WAVE BAY CHUNG HOM KOK DEEP WATER BAY HAIRPIN MIDDLE BAY REPULSE BAY SHEK 0 SOUTH BAY ST STEPHEN’S TURTLE COVE STANLEY MAIN ROCKY BAY TO TEI WAN*

1 1

2 1

1 X

2 1

1 1

2 X

TUEN MUN DISTRICT

OLD CAFETERIA NEW CAFETERIA CASTLE PEAK KADOORIE BUTTERFLY

X 2

X 2 X

2 2

SAI KUNG DISTRICT

CAMPERS 1

CLEAR WATER BAY 1ST BEACH 1

CLEAR WATER BAY 2ND BEACH 1

HAP MUN BAY 1

KIU TSUI 1

PAK SHA CHAU 1

SILVERSTRAND 2

TRIO (HEBE HAVEN) 1

1 1

2 1

ISLANDS DISTRICT

CHEUNG SHA UPPER 1

CHEUNG SHA LOWER 1

DISCOVERY BAY* 2

HUNG SHING YEH 1

KWUN YAM WAN 1

TONG FUK 1

LO SO SHING 1

PUI O 1

SILVERMINE BAY 1

TUNG WAN, CHEUNG CHAU 1

TUNG O* 1

1 1

/TSUEN WAN .7.....

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

TSUEN WAN DISTRICT

ANGLERS’ 3

APPROACH 2

CASAM 1

GEMINI 2

HOI MEI WAN 2

LIDO 2

TING KAU 2

TUNG WAN, MA WAN 1

NOTE : "X" THE BEACH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SWIMMING * NON-GAZETTED BEACH

IN ADDITION TO THIS REGULAR REPORTING SYSTEM, AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY OF ALL THE BATHING BEACHES IN HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO BE PREPARED BY THE DEPARTMENT AFTER EACH BATHING SEASON.

THIS WILL ADVISE THE BEACH MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES ON THE SUITABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL BEACHES FOR SWIMMING.

THE ANNUAL REPORT - ENTITLED "BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY OF BATHING BEACHES IN HONG KONG, 1992" (ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS) -FOR THE BATHING SEASON OF 1992, IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT DR M J BROOM, PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER, ON TEL 835 1234.

-----0-------

YMT MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE TO MOVE

*****

THE YAUMATI MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE AND FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC WILL MOVE TO THE SIXTH FLOOR OF YAUMATI JOCKEY CLUB POLYCLINIC, NEW WING, IN BATTERY STREET NEXT MONDAY (APRIL 26).

THE OPERATION HOURS OF THE VARIOUS SERVICES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED AFTER THE MOVE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAID.

THE NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR ENQUIRIES IS 770 0044.

/"THE CENTRE

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

"THE CENTRE AND THE CLINIC PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES, BOTH PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE, TO WOMEN OF CHILD-BEARING AGE AND CHILDREN UP TO FIVE.

"THESE SERVICES INCLUDE CHILD HEALTH CARE, IMMUNISATION, A COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SERVICE, ANTENATAL AND POSTNATAL CARE, FAMILY PLANNING AND CERVICAL CYTOLOGY SCREENING SERVICE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE HEALTH CENTRE AND CLINIC ARE AT PRESENT LOCATED ON THE FOURTH AND SIXTH FLOORS OF THE OLD YAUMATEI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC.

-----0-------

STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY ON MOVE

*****

THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY WILL MOVE ITS DIVISION AT CLUB LUSITANO BUILDING TO THE SEVENTH AND NINTH FLOORS OF NATIONAL MUTUAL CENTRE, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI ON SATURDAY (APRIL 24).

BUSINESS WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED AT CLUB LUSITANO BUILDING ON THAT DAY AND WILL RESUME AT THE NEW PREMISES ON MONDAY (APRIL 26).

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE ON 802 1626.

------0-------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT REVERSAL OF LAF BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY EFFECT OF LAF TODAY CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 111.9 *+0 1,350 + 800 2,150 NIL + 300 2,450 .0* 22.4.93

/HONG KONG .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG

TERMS YIELD TERM

1 WEEK 2.56 PCT 13 MONTHS

1 MONTH 2.69 PCT 16 MONTHS

3 MONTHS 2.79 PCT 19 MONTHS

6 MONTHS 2.95 PCT 22 MONTHS

12 MONTHS 3.14 PCT TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS -

CLOSED 22 APRIL 1993

KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

2405 5.50 102.49 3.14

2408 4.375 101.40 3.31

2411 4.625 101.75 3.50

2502 4.75 101.85 3.72

18,310MN

0 --------

Received by PRO o»_2a_Affi.B93

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

INFLATION EASES IN MARCH ........................................ 1

WATER SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION ...................................... 7

NEW SCHEMES TO BENEFIT PNEUMOCONIOTICS .......................... 8

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 .... 10

CAR REGISTRATION TAX BILL....................................... 11

UNLEADED PETROL MORE FRIENDLY TO ENVIRONMENT ................... 12

HK AND MALAYSIA SIGN AGREEMENT TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING .... 13

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TTRA TO BE SET UP ........................ 13

TEXTILES TRADER REGISTRATION SCHEME ANNOUNCED .................. 14

AMENDMENTS TO PILOTAGE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED ..................... 16

NEW COMMANDING OFFICER OF REGIMENT NAMED ....................... 16

SUBMARINE OUTFALL TO DISCHARGE SEWAGE TO SIU MO TO ............. 17

ROAD WORKS IN TSUEN WAN AND SIU SAI WAN ........................ 18

RADIO PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE CLOSE FAMILY TIES STARTS TOMORROW 19

261 RETURN TO VIETNAM .......................................... 19

TRANSFER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES TO PHILIPPINES TO RESUME .... 20

GENERAL HOLIDAYS FOR 1994 PUBLISHED ............................ 20

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS .

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1

- 1

INFLATION EASES IN MARCH

*****

FIGURES RELEASED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SHOWED THAT INFLATION HAD EASED MARKEDLY IN MARCH.

THE INCREASE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) FOR MARCH HAS FALLEN TO 7.8%, COMPARED WITH THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.

THIS WAS THE LOWEST SINCE DECEMBER 1988. THE CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR WAS 8.6%.

WELCOMING THE MARCH FIGURE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, DESCRIBED THIS SIGNIFICANT MODERATION AS ENCOURAGING.

"CONSUMER PRICE INFLATION IN TERMS OF CPI(A) STOOD AT 8.8% IN THE FIRST QUARTER THIS YEAR. THIS REPRESENTED AN APPRECIABLE DROP FROM 9.4% IN THE FOURTH QUARTER LAST YEAR," HE SAID.

"AND 9.5% STILL SEEMS A REALISTIC FORECAST FOR 1993 AS A WHOLE," HE ADDED.

HOWEVER, MR MACLEOD CAUTIONED THAT WHILE THE PRICE INCREASES FOR MANY CONSUMER ITEMS WERE MODERATE, THE INCREASES IN THE COST OF HOUSING AND IN THE PRICES OF VARIOUS CONSUMER SERVICES WERE STILL SIGNIFICANT.

THE MODERATION IN CONSUMER PRICE INFLATION IN MARCH WAS MAINLY DUE TO LOWER PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND A LESS RAPID INCREASE IN RENT FOR PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

IN ADDITION, THE RELATIVELY HIGH BASE OF COMPARISON IN LAST MARCH RESULTING FROM A CHANGE IN THE TIMING OF THE PERIODICAL RENT REVISIONS IN SOME PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ALSO CONTRIBUTED.

THE CPI(B) AND THE HANG SENG CPI WERE HIGHER BY 8.5% AND 9.2% RESPECTIVELY IN MARCH THAN IN THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR. THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN FEBRUARY 1993 WERE BOTH 9.1%.

THE SLIGHTLY FASTER INCREASE IN THE HANG SENG CPI IN MARCH THAN IN FEBRUARY WAS MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER PRICES OF OUTERCLOTHING AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR PACKAGE TOURS WHICH LARGELY OFFSET THE LOWER PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND THE LESS RAPID INCREASE IN RENT FOR PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

THE COMPOSITE CPI, WHICH WAS COMPILED BASED ON THE COMBINED EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF HOUSEHOLDS COVERED BY THE THREE CPIS, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 8.4% IN MARCH OVER THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR. THE CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN FEBRUARY 1993 WAS 8.9%.

COMPARING MARCH 1993 WITH MARCH 1992, THE PRICES OF DURABLE GOODS REGISTERED DECREASES (-0.2% IN THE CPI(A) AND -0.5% IN THE CPI(B)) .

/RELATIVELY SLOWER .....t

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

RELATIVELY SLOWER INCREASES IN PRICES WERE RECORDED FOR FOOD (EXCLUDING MEALS AT RESTAURANTS) (1.3% IN THE CPI(A) AND 1.9% IN THE CPI(B)); FUEL AND LIGHT (4.2% IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B)); TRANSPORT (5.5% IN THE CPI(A) AND 5.9% IN THE CPI(B)); MISCELLANEOUS GOODS (5.9% AND 5.4%); AND CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR (7.8% AND 8.0%).

ON THE OTHER HAND, RELATIVELY FASTER INCREASES IN PRICES WERE RECORDED FOR HOUSING (13.9% IN THE CPI(A) AND 14.8% IN THE CPI(B)); ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (10.7% AND 10.3%); SERVICES (10.6% AND 9.4%); AND MEALS AT RESTAURANTS (9.3% IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B)). BUT THESE INCREASES WERE GENERALLY SLOWER THAN IN THE PREVIOUS MONTHS.

COMPARING MARCH 1993 WITH FEBRUARY 1993, THE CPI(A) DECREASED BY 0.2% WHILE THE CPI(B) INCREASED MARGINALLY BY LESS THAN 0.05%. THIS COMPARISON WAS, HOWEVER, AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS.

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 1993, THE CPI(A) WAS, ON AVERAGE, HIGHER BY 8.8% THAN IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 1992. THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE FOR THE CPI(B) WAS 9.3%.

FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING MARCH 1993, THE CPI(A) AND CPI(B) WERE, ON AVERAGE, HIGHER BY 9.1% AND 9.5% RESPECTIVELY THAN IN THE PRECEDING 12-MONTH PERIOD.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED SERIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE INDICES. THE DESEASONALISED CPI(A) AND CPI(B) BOTH INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.7% PER MONTH DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 1993.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT

MORE DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN THE "CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT" FOR MARCH 1993, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT $12 A COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG; OR FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.

FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS, CONTACT SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG.

FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDICES, PLEASE TELEPHONE THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL 805 6403.

DETAILS REGARDING THE HANG SENG CPI ARE CONTAINED IN THE HANG SENG CPI REPORT ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF HANG SENG BANK LTD.

/Table 1 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

- 3 -

Table I Consumer Price Indices and Rates of Increase for March 1993 (Oct. 89 - Sep. 90 = 100)

Component CPI (A) CPI(B) Hana Sena CPI Composite CPI

Index for Mar 93 % chanae over Mar 92 index for Mar 93 % change over Mar 92 Index for Mar 93 % change over Mar 92 Index for Mar 93 % chang-over Mar 92

Food 129.7 +5.4 131.5 +6.3 131.5 +8.0 130.7 46.3

Meals bought away from home 138.7 +9.3 138.5 +9.3 136.3 +11.2 138.1 +9.7

Food, excluding meals bought away from home J 20.7 +1.3 121 .7 +1.9 123.3 +2.5 121.5 +1.7

Housing 144.0 +13.9 144.8 +14.8 145.1 +14.0 144.7 +14.3

Fuel and light 119.2 +4.2 118.6 +4.2 118.8 +4.3 118.9 +4.2

Alcoholic drinks and tobacco 174.0 +10.7 164.1 + 10.3 159.9 +10.2 168.5 +10.5

Clothing and footwear 119.2 +7.8 119.6 +8.0 129.1 +8.3 122.7 +8.1

Durable goods 108.2 -0.2 107.8 -0.5 113.2 +2.0 109.5 +0* 3

Miscellaneous goods 121.4 +5.9 119.6 +5.4 118.9 +5.3 120.1 +5.6

Transport. 128.5 +5.5 129.1 +5.9 130.4 +5.9 129.2 +5.8

Services 137.5 +10.6 134.2 +9.4 128.7 +8.1 133.5 +9.4

All items 132.0 +7.8 132.2 +8.5 133.1 +9.2 132.4 +8.4

The 1989/90-based consumer price indices are based on the expenditure patterns derived from the 1989/90 Household Expenditure Survey. The CPI(A) is based on the expenditure pattern of about 50% of urban households in Hong Kong, which had an average monthly expenditure of $2.500-S9.999 in 1989/90. The CPI(B) is based on the expenditure pattern of the next 30% of urban households, which had an average monthly expenditure of S10.000-S17.499 in the same period. The Hang Seng CPI is based on the expenditure pattern of the next 10% of urban households, which had an average monthlv expenditure of $17,500-837.499 in 1989/90.

Whereas the CPI (A), CPI(B) and Hang Seng CPI are based on the expenditure patterns of groups of households with different magnitudes of household expenditure, the Composite CPI is compiled based on the expenditure pattern of all these households taken together. Thus, while the CPI(A), CPT(B) and Hang Seng CPI show the impact of consumer price changes on different groups of households, the Composite CPI shows the impact of consumer price changes on the household sector generally.

/Table 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

Table 2 Consumer Price Indices for January 1991 - March 1993 (Oct. 89 - Seo. 90 = 100)

Year/month CPI(A) CPT(B) Hana Sena CPI ComDOsi te CPI

199] January 108.3 J08.4 108.6 108.4

February 110.3 110.1 110.2 110.2

March 111.9 111.1 110.7 111.3

April 113.9 113.0 112.0 113.1

May 114.0 113.6 113.4 113.7

June 114.6 114.1 113.9 114.2

July 115.4 114.8 113.9 114.8

August 116.0 115.3 114.6 115.4

September 116.8 116.1 115.8 116.3

October 117.2 116.8 117.4 117.1

November 117.7 1J7.6 118.7 117.9

December 118.1 118.3 118.5 118.3

1992 January 119.7 119.3 119.4 119.5

February 121.8 121.2 121.0 121.4

March 122.5 121 .9 121 .8 122.1

April 124.0 123.4 122.9 123.5

May 124.0 123.8 124.2 124.0

June 125.3 125.1 125.2 125.2

July 125.5 125.4 125.4 125.4

August 125.6 125.9 125.8 125.8

September 128.3 127.9 127.5 128.0

October 128.4 128.4 128.6 128.5

November 128.5 129.0 129.9 129.0

December 129.3 129.8 130.0 129.7

1993 January 131 .8 131.6 131.5 131 .7

February 132.4 132.2 132.0 132.2

March 132.0 132.2 133.1 132.4

/Chart 1 .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

Chart 1 Year-on-year Rates of Increase in CPI(A)

Chart 2 Year-on-year Rates of Increase

in CPI(B)

/Chart 3 .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

Chart 3 Year-on-year Rates of Increase in Hang Seng CPI

Chart 4 Year-on-year Rates of Increase in Composite CPI

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

WATER SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION

*****

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT (WSD) TODAY (FRIDAY) ASSURED CONSUMERS IN EASTERN HONG KONG AND KOWLOON AREAS THAT THEIR TAP WATER IS SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION DESPITE REPORTS OF EARTHLY SMELL IN THE LAST TWO DAYS.

TESTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ON A LARGE NUMBER OF WATER SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE AREAS AND THEY HAVE ALL CONFIRMED THAT THE QUALITY OF THE TAP WATER FULLY COMPLIES WITH INTERNATIONAL HEALTH STANDARDS, A WSD SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE WATER TO THESE AREAS IS SUPPLIED FROM PAK KONG TREATMENT WORKS WHICH ALSO COVERS OTHER PARTS OF THE TERRITORY INCLUDING NGAU TAU KOK, NGAU CHI WAN, YAU TONG, TSANG KWAN O AND THE EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND.

"THE RAW WATER SUPPLIED TO PAK KONG TREATMENT WORKS COMES FROM EITHER HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR OR THE CATCHMENT AREAS.

"UNDER NORMAL OPERATION, THE SOURCES OF RAW WATER SUPPLIED TO TREATMENT WORKS ARE SWITCHED FROM TIME TO TIME TO SUIT THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCE FROM VARIOUS RESERVOIRS."

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT IN THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 20, THE SUPPLY SOURCE OF RAW WATER TO PAK KONG RESERVOIR WAS SWITCHED FROM HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR TO PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR WHERE THE WATER WAS CONVEYED THROUGH AN AQUEDUCT SYSTEM COMPRISING SUBMARINE PIPELINES AND WATER TUNNELS.

"AS IN THE PAST, MEASURES WERE TAKEN BY PROGRESSIVELY MIXING THE RAW WATER SUPPLIED FROM PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR WITH HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, AND BY CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING THE QUALITY OF THE WATER ENTERING AND LEAVING THE TREATMENT WORKS.

"IN THE FOLLOWING MORNING, A SUDDEN SURGE OF AMMONIA CONTENT IN THE INCOMING WATER AT PAK KONG TREATMENT WORKS WAS DETECTED.

"ALTHOUGH THE AMMONIA CONTENT WAS FOUND TO BE STILL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS, IMMEDIATE COUNTER-ACTION WAS TAKEN TO INCREASE THE DOSAGE OF CHLORINE CORRESPONDINGLY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE TREATED WATER," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"IN FACT," HE ADDED, "THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SUCH HIGH AMMONIA CONTENT WAS ENCOUNTERED IN THE RAW WATER SINCE THE COMMISSIONING OF THE PAK KONG TREATMENT WORKS IN 1989.

"IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE EARTHLY SMELL IN THE WATER FOUND BY SOME OF THE CONSUMERS PROBABLY ORIGINATED FROM THE HIGHER THAN NORMAL RESIDUAL CHLORINE CONTENT IN THE TAP WATER.

/"THE CAUSE........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

"THE CAUSE OE THE SUDDEN SURGE IN AMMONIA CONTENT IN THE RAW WATER HAS NOT YET BEEN ASCERTAINED AT THE MOMENT BUT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ORIGINATED FROM SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LONG LENGTH OF THE TRANSFER AQUEDUCT BETWEEN PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR AND PAK KONG TREATMENT WORKS."

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION TO ENSURE THAT THE QUALITY OF THE WATER SUPPLIED TO THE CONSUMERS WAS SATISFACTORY AT ALL TIMES.

-----0------

NEW SCHEMES TO BENEFIT PNEUMOCONIOTTCS *******

AN IMPROVED COMPENSATION PACKAGE IS NOW IN HAND TO PROVIDE CONTINUED SUPPORT TO PNEUMOCONIOSIS SUFFERERS, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MRS CARRIE YAU, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, MRS YAU SAID THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, WHICH INCLUDED A PROPOSED PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION SCHEME (PCS) FOR SUCH PATIENTS DIAGNOSED AFTER 1981, HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AND WAS GAZETTED TODAY.

SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO PROVIDE FURTHER RELIEF TO THE SUFFERERS BECAUSE THEIR HEALTH SUBSEQUENTLY DETERIORATE AFTER RECEIVING COMPENSATION, EITHER IN A LUMP SUM OR BY TWO INSTALMENTS, FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE (PCO) IN 1981.

"THE NEW SCHEME WILL MAKE A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BENEFITS A PNEUMOCON TOT 1C MAY RECEIVE,” MRS YAU SAID.

"THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IS TO INTRODUCE MONTHLY COMPENSATION PAYMENTS PAYABLE UNTIL A PNEUMOCON IOTIC’S DEATH.

THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL PROVIDE A SOURCE OF CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THE PNEUMOCONIOTICS, SHE ADDED.

MRS YAU SAID IN ORDER TO FINANCE THE NEW COMPENSATION PACKAGE, THE RATE OF LEVY ON THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, AND QUARRYING INDUSTRIES WOULD BE RAISED FROM 0.02 PER CENT TO 0.3 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS EXCEEDING $1 MILLION AND OF QUARRY PRODUCTS IN 1993.

"A FURTHER INCREASE TO 0.4 OR 0.45 PER CENT MAY BE REQUIRED IN 1994 DEPENDING ON THE ACTUAL PATTERN OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE," SHE SAID.

WITH REGARD TO PNEUMOCON IOTICS DIAGNOSED BEFORE 1981, MRS YAU SAID A NEW EX-GRATIA SCHEME WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

/"THE EX-GRATIA .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

"THE EX-GRATIA SCHEME IS DISTINCT FROM THE PCS UNDER THE PCO WHICH IS FUNDED BY A LEVY ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND QUARRYING INDUSTRIES," MRS YAU SAID.

"IT IS NOT A FORM OF COMPENSATION," SHE STRESSED.

SHE SAID THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS ON AN ONE-OFF BASIS.

"THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE, THOUGH NOT ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM COMPENSATION, DESERVE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY," SHE SAID.

MRS YAU ALSO SAID IN PARALLEL WITH IMPROVING THE BENEFITS TO THE PNEUMOCONIOTICS, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO STRENGTHEN PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION IN ORDER TO RAISE EMPLOYERS’ AND WORKERS’ AWARENESS OF THE DISEASE.

AT THE SAME TIME, LEGISLATIVE MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN TO TIGHTEN UP CONTROL OVER WORKING IN DUSTY ENVIRONMENT.

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MRS ANGELA HO, ALSO GAVE DETAILS OF THE PCS AND THE EX-GRATIA SCHEME.

"UNDER THE PCS, A PNEUMOCONIOTIC WHO SUFFERS INCAPACITY WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A MONTHLY PAYMENT UNTIL HIS DEATH,” MRS HO SAID.

MRS HO SAID THE AMOUNT OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS WOULD BE INFLATION-ADJUSTED ANNUALLY AND A PNEUMOCONIOTIC MAY ASK TO BE RE-EXAMINED EVERY TWO YEARS.

"IF HE SUFFERS ADDITIONAL INCAPACITY, THE AMOUNT OF PAYMENT WOULD BE REVISED UPWARD," SHE SAID.

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT FEATURE OF THE IMPROVED SCHEME IS THAT IT WILL ALLOW A PNEUMOCONIOTIC WHO HAS ALREADY RECEIVED COMPENSATION TO CLAIM FURTHER COMPENSATION FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INCAPACITY HE MAY HAVE SUFFERED.

"HE CAN APPLY TO JOIN THE NEW SCHEME AT ANY TIME AND HIS ENTITLEMENT TO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION WILL COMMENCE ON THE DATE ON WHICH THE AMENDMENT BILL COMES INTO EFFECT PROVIDED THE APPLICATION IS MADE WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS," MRS HO SAID.

"BASED ON SOME 2,000 EXISTING CASES, MORE THAN 75 PER CENT OF THE PNEUMOCONIOTICS WERE ASSESSED TO HAVE SUFFERED FROM INCAPACITY OF 20 PER CENT OR LESS.

"ASSUMING THAT THEIR DEGREE OF INCAPACITY HAS DOUBLED SINCE THEIR LAST MEDICAL ASSESSMENT, THE AMOUNT OF MONTHLY PAYMENT PAYABLE TO THEM WOULD BF. IN THE RANGE OF $ 1,372 TO $2,744," SHE SAID.

ON THE PROPOSED EX-GRATIA SCHEME, MRS HO SAID THE AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENT WOULD BE $2,200 A MONTH PAYABLE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

"THE SUM WILL BE PAID TO THE PNEUMOCONIOTIC IN ADVANCE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH QUARTER," SHE SAID.

/"IF A ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

- 10 -

"IF A PRE-1981 PNEUMOCON IOTIC DIES AS A RESULT OF THE DISEASE, A SUM NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 WILL BE PAYABLE FOR HIS FUNERAL EXPENSES," MRS HO SAID, ADDING THAT BOTH THE AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS AND THE FUNERAL EXPENSES WILL BE INFLATION-ADJUSTED ANNUALLY.

"WE INTEND TO IMPLEMENT THE TWO SCHEMES AT THE SAME TIME TO PROVIDE IMPROVED BENEFITS TO ALL PNEUMOCONIOTTCS.

"WE HOPE THAT BOTH SCHEMES COULD COME INTO OPERATION WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993.

"WE SHALL ISSUE LETTERS TO THE PNEUMOCONIOTICS INFORMING THEM OF THEIR RIGHT TO CLAIM FURTHER BENEFITS AND INVITING THEM TO MAKE APPLICATIONS," SHE ADDED.

ENQUIRIES ON PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION CAN BE MADE TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION UNIT ON TEL 852 4034.

-----o------

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993

*****

THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 IS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE BILL PROVIDES THAT WHERE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL SETTING A FEE OR CHARGE, THE POWER TO VARY THE FEE OR CHARGE MAY IN ADDITION BE EXERCISED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

THE BILL WILL EMPOWER THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO DIRECT THAT THE COUNCIL’S APPROVAL FOR THE REVISION OF PARTICULAR FEES SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE SOUGHT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: "THERE IS A NEED TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ROUTINE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK PUT BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SO AS TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON BROADER POLICY AND STRATEGIC ISSUES. THE BILL WILL HELP TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE."

HE EMPHASISED THAT SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION WOULD CONTINUE TO BE TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS AT PRESENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL’S POWER TO MONITOR AND CHALLENGE FEE PROPOSALS WOULD THUS NOT BE IN ANY WAY AFFECT, HE SAID.

"THE BILL WILL NOT APPLY TO FEES FOR WHICH THE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE SPECIFIC APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BE OBTAINED," HE ADDED.

/II ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

- 11 -

CAR REGISTRATION TAX BILL

*****

THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1993 WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

’’THE BILL FULFILS THE PLEDGE MADE BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION CLOSING A TAX LOOPHOLE WHEREBY SOME MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS CAN ARTIFICIALLY DEPRESS THE COST, INSURANCE AND FREIGHT (CTF) VALUE OF THEIR VEHICLES, TN ORDER TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FIRST REGISTRATION TAX (FRT) PAYABLE,” A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE BILL CHANGES THE BASIS FOR THE CALCULATION OF FRT FROM THE BASIC CIF VALUE TO THE RETAIL PRICE.

"SINCE THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS NOT TO RAISE NEW REVENUE, THE TAX RATES PAYABLE HAVE BEEN REVISED DOWNWARDS SUBSTANTIALLY.

"THE AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE AVERAGE PRICE OF ORDINARY MOTOR VEHICLES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THERE WOULD BE LITTLE OR NO CHANGE TO THE FRT PAYABLE ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.

THE FRT PAYABLE AND THEREFORE THE PRICE OF CERTAIN MAKES AND MODELS OF PRIVATE CARS MAY DECREASE WHILE THAT OF OTHERS MAY INCREASE SLIGHTLY.

"WE HOPE THAT THE BILL WILL BE WELCOMED BY MOST MAJOR CAR DISTRIBUTORS AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"FOR CAR DISTRIBUTORS, THE BILL WILL CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND HELP TO REDUCE SUDDEN PRICE FLUCTUATIONS.

"FOR CONSUMERS, A MAJOR ADVANTAGE OF THE BILL IS THAT IT WILL ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO KNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME HOW MUCH FRT THEY ARE PAYING AND THE BASIS ON WHICH IT IS CALCULATED," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

"THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR THIS IN THE EXISTING LAW."

UNDER THE BILL, ALL MOTOR VEHICLE IMPORTERS AND DISTRIBUTORS MUST BE REGISTERED. THE DISTRIBUTORS MUST PUBLISH A LIST OF RETAIL PRICES AND DELIVER UPDATED LISTS TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT (C FOR T) FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF FRT.

THE FRT PAID WILL THEN BE BASED ON THE PUBLISHED RETAIL PRICE.

"C FOR T WILL ISSUE A PRACTICE NOTE TO CLARIFY FOR DISTRIBUTORS AND THE PUBLIC HOW THE BILL WILL OPERATE TN PRACTICE.

"THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WILL ACT AS C FOR T’S AGENT IN ENFORCING THE BILL’S PROVISIONS," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 5.

--------0----------

/12 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

- 12

UNLEADED PETROL MORE FRIENDLY TO ENVIRONMENT

*****

AIR QUALITY AT URBAN POLLUTION SPOTS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED IF TAXIS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES (PLB'S) AND LIGHT VANS ARE TO OPERATE ON UNLEADED PETROL, A GROUP OF GREEN PLB OPERATORS WERE TOLD TODAY (FRIDAY).

AT A REGULAR MEETING BETWEEN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND TltE GROUP, PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD), MR RAYMOND LEUNG, SAID AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS, SUCH AS BUSY URBAN CENTRES, LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OVER 50 PER CENT OF THE PARTICULATES IN THE AIR.

THE EPD PROPOSED VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL STRATEGY WHICH WAS ENDORSED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MONDAY, INCLUDES PROPOSED MEASURES TO REQUIRE NEW TAXIS, PLB1S AND LIGHT VANS TO OPERATE ON UNLEADED PETROL.

“THE IMPROVEMENT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT,” MR LEUNG SAID. ”NEW UNLEADED PETROL VEHICLES EMIT NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT OF PARTICULATES, AND LOWER LEVEL OF OTHER POLLUTANTS SUCH AS NITROGEN OXIDES.”

THIS PROPOSAL IS AT A VERY INITIAL STAGE, AND THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONSULT ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED AS WELL AS THE INDUSTRY, MR LEUNG SAID.

”WE ARE PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE KEEP A CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH THE INDUSTRY AND WE ARE ALWAYS READY TO LISTEN TO THEIR VIEWS,” HE ADDED.

MR LEUNG STRESSED THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS INTENDED TO APPLY TO NEW VEHICLES ONLY, AND THAT EXISTING VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO MAKE CHANGES.

”WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE LIKELY IMPLICATIONS ON COSTS AND WE ARE CONSIDERING SEVERAL POSSIBLE MEASURES TO ADDRESS THIS,” HE SAID.

THE PROPOSAL IS ONE OF THE FOUR INITIATIVES RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL STRATEGY.

THE OTHER THREE PROPOSALS INCLUDE REQUIRING NEW LARGE DIESEL VEHICLES TO MEET TIGHTENED EMISSION STANDARDS; INCREASING VEHICLE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS; AND EXPLORING NEW VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.

--------0

/13 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

HK AND MALAYSIA SIGN AGREEMENT TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦

THE HONG KONG AND MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENTS TODAY (FRIDAY) SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO STRENGTHEN CO-OPERATION IN THE SUPPRESSION OF DRUG TRAFFICKING.

THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF MALAYSIA, Y BHG TAN SRI ABU TALIB BIN OTHMAN, AT A BRIEF CEREMONY HELD AT THE NARCOTICS DIVISION.

’’THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE RELATING TO THE

TRACING, FREEZING, SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF THE PROCEEDS TRAFFICKING. IT IS VALID FOR THREE YEARS, EXTENDABLE THEREAFTER BY MUTUAL CONSENT,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS

OF DRUG ANNUALLY DIVISION

SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE AGREEMENT, CONFISCATION ORDERS MADE BY THE COURTS IN THE TWO JURISDICTIONS WOULD BE ENFORCEABLE IN EACH OTHER’S TERRITORY ON A RECIPROCAL BASIS.

BESIDES MALAYSIA, HONG KONG HAS CONCLUDED BILATERAL AGREEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS WITH CANADA, THE USA, AUSTRALIA, THE UK (ENGLAND AND WALES, NORTHERN IRELAND, SCOTLAND, GUERNSEY, JERSEY AND THE ISLE OF MAN) AND GIBRALTAR.

0---------

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TTRA TO BE SET UP it***

AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE SET UP TO ADVISE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION ON MEASURES TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED TN THE OVERALL REVIEW OF THE TARGETS AND TARGET-RELATED ASSESSMENT (TTRA) SCHEME.

IT WILL ALSO ADVISE ON ACTION TO IMPROVE THE TTRA FRAMEWORK AND A REALISTIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

THE COMMITTEE COMPRISES SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, TEACHER EDUCATORS AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR DOMINIC S W WONG, SAID: ”APPOINTMENTS WILL BE MADE IN THE NEAR FUTURE IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO START WORK NEXT MONTH AND TO SUBMIT A REPORT WITHIN SIX MONTHS.”

MR WONG SAID HE HAD INDICATED PUBLICLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT "AN OPEN AND FLEXIBLE ATTITUDE WOULD BE ADOPTED WITH REGARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TTRA SCHEME”.

/’’HAVING CONSIDERED ......

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

14 -

’’HAVING CONSIDERED THE FINDINGS OF THE OVERALL REVIEW AND THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY VARIOUS PEOPLE ON THIS SUBJECT, I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT TTRA IS A MAJOR AND LONG-TERM CURRICULUM REFORM REQUIRING SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES AND THE COMMITMENT AND CO-OPERATION OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.

’’THUS ALL THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND PREPARATORY WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED FIRST, AND ALL THE KEY ISSUES ADDRESSED, BEFORE THE TTRA SCHEME IS IMPLEMENTED.”

”1 HAVE DECIDED, THEREFORE, THAT IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD BE DEFERRED," HE ADDED. "THE TTRA SCHEME WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED IN PRIMARY 4 FROM MAY 1993."

MR WONG FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT "IN ORDER TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION IN TEACHING AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, IN FUTURE TTRA WILL ONLY BE INTRODUCED FROM THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR."

EXPLAINING THE FINDINGS OF THE OVERALL REVIEW, MR WONG SAID: "THERE IS WIDE SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT AND SPIRIT OF TTRA. THE NEW APPROACH IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED BY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND TEACHER EDUCATORS AS A FOREWORD-LOOKING EDUCATIONAL REFORM WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING IN HONG KONG."

"IT WILL BRING ABOUT IMPROVED CO-ORDINATION AMONG SUBJECT TEACHERS, A MORE LIVELY CLASSROOM ATMOSPHERE AND A HIGHER LEVEL OF STUDENT PARTICIPATION."

IN THE MEANTIME, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TTRA SCHEME. BASIC DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCE MATERIALS (SUCH AS LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT TASKS FOR USE BY TEACHERS) WILL BE PRODUCED, TRIED OUT AND REVISED. TEACHER TRAINING WILL BE INTENSIFIED. PUBLICITY WORK WILL BE STEPPED UP.

"MEANWHILE SCHOOLS MAY TRY OUT TTRA IN SOME CLASSES ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS," MR WONG SAID. "THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH GUIDANCE, SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE."

-----0------

TEXTILES TRADER REGISTRATION SCHEME ANNOUNCED ♦ * * * *

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WILL INTRODUCE A REGISTRATION SCHEME (TTRS) TO SUPPLEMENT CERTAIN LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS AND TO REPLACE THE CURRENT EXEMPTION SCHEME (TCES) IN RESPECT OF TEXTILES.

TEXTILES TRADER

EXISTING TEXTILES

TRANSHIPMENT CARGO

ACCORDING TO THE AMENDED SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT ORDINANCE GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY), TEXTILES TRADERS REGISTERED UNDER THE TTRS WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM TEXTILES LICENSING REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF ALL IMPORTS, RE-EXPORTS AND DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO NON-RESTRAINED MARKETS WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 1 THIS YEAR.

/"THE TTRS ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

"THE TTRS IS A REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED.

"REGISTERED TRADERS WILL ONLY BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO THE CARRIER AT THE TIME OF SHIPMENT A NOTIFICATION CONTAINING INFORMATION ON THE CONSIGNMENT IN QUESTION. THE NOTIFICATION WILL THEN BE RETURNED TO THE TRADE DEPARTMENT BY THE CARRIER, TOGETHER WITH THE MANIFEST.

"TRADERS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO COME TO THE DEPARTMENT IN PERSON TO OBTAIN THE RELEVANT LICENCES BEFORE THE IMPORTATION OR EXPORTATION OF THOSE TEXTILES COVERED BY THE SCHEME," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE TTRS WAS A MORE CONVENIENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE EXISTING LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS. IT IS NOT A REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING TEXTILES LICENSING SYSTEM AND IS NOT COMPULSORY.

"TRADERS WHO PREFER TO APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE RELEVANT LICENCES BEFORE SHIPMENT CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO," HE SAID.

THE TTRS WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT CARRIERS AND FORWARDERS WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF THE SMOOTH AND EXPEDITIOUS FLOW OF TRANSHIPMENT ARRANGEMENTS CURRENTLY ALLOWED UNDER THE TCES.

IN ORDER TO BETTER TRACK DOWN ILLEGAL TRANSHIPMENT OF TEXTILES PRODUCTS, CARRIERS AND FORWARDERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT DETAILS OF EACH CONSIGNMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT.

MEANWHILE, HE EMPHASISED THAT THE LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPECT OF DOMESTIC EXPORT OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS, WHETHER UNDER QUOTA OR NOT, TO RESTRAINED MARKETS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE EXISTING TEXTILES CONTROL REGISTRATION AND RELATED LICENSING PROCEDURES WILL CONTINUE.

APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF TEXTILES TRADERS UNDER THE TTRS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM NEXT SATURDAY (MAY 1).

UPON APPROVAL, THE REGISTRATION WILL BE VALID FOR 12 MONTHS AND SUBJECT TO ANNUAL RENEWAL. THE CURRENT ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE IS $2,000.

"TRADERS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR REGISTRATION EARLY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHEME STARTING JULY 1," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY PUBLISH CIRCULARS GIVING OUT DETAILS OF REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

THESE CIRCULARS WILL BE MAILED TO TEXTILES IMPORTERS REGISTERED WITH THE TRADE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE SUBSCRIBERS TO THE DEPARTMENT’S CIRCULARS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INTERESTED CAN GET COPIES OF THE CIRCULARS FROM THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ENQUIRY COUNTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR, TRADE DEPARTMENT TOWER, 700 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.

-----0--------

/16 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

- 16 -

AMENDMENTS TO PILOTAGE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED

*****

VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE PILOTAGE ORDINANCE THAT AIMS TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY TN THE PORT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT’S SENIOR MARINE OFFICER (PORT OPERATIONS), MR MIKE WAREHAM SAID: "IN ORDER TO INTRODUCE FLEXIBILITY WHEN INVESTIGATING MINOR PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT OF A LICENSED PILOT, A BOARD OF DISCIPLINE CONSISTING OF MEMBERS OF THE PILOTAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO BE APPOINTED BY THE PILOTAGE AUTHORITY (DIRECTOR OF MARINE) HAS BEEN PROPOSED."

THE PROPOSAL, UNDER THE PILOTAGE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE TO THE HOLDING OF PRELIMINARY INQUIRIES WHICH IS A VERY DETAILED INVESTIGATION AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR DEALING WITH MINOR CASES.

THE BOARD IS EMPOWERED TO RECEIVE EVIDENCE AND SUMMON WITNESSES TO INVESTIGATE MINOR MISCONDUCT OF A PILOT.

IT IS ALSO EMPOWERED TO RECOMMEND A RANGE OF LESSER SANCTIONS AGAINST PILOTS TO THE PILOTAGE AUTHORITY.

TO ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PILOTAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OTHER RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ON THE PILOTAGE SYSTEM, THERE ARE OTHER AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL THAT INCLUDE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PILOTAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE COMPULSORY RETIREMENT AGE OF PILOTS, AND NEW DOCKYARD APPROACH AREAS.

--------0------------

NEW COMMANDING OFFICER OF REGIMENT NAMED

******

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT LIEUTENANT COLONEL K B L SIMSON HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO SUCCEED LIEUTENANT COLONEL NICHOLAS SIMON COOMBE AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) WITH EFFECT FROM MAY 6.

LT COL K B L SIMSON, AGED 40, WAS COMMISSIONED INTO THE QUEEN’S OWN HUSSARS FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY SANDHURST IN 1973.

DURING HIS EARLY YEARS, HE SERVED IN THE BRITISH ARMY OF THE RHINE COMMANDING A TROOP OF CHIEFTAIN TANKS AND HAD TWO TOURS AS AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

HE ALSO SPENT TWO YEARS IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. HE HAD BEEN A MAJOR OF A TANK SQUADRON IN HIS REGIMENT.

/IN 1992

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1933

IN 1992 HE WAS APPOINTED TO A DIVISIONAL STAFF JOB IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL A YEAR LATER.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

THE NEWLY APPOINTED COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE VOLUNTEERS, LT COL K B L SIMSON, WILL MEET THE MEDIA NEXT FRIDAY (APRIL 30).

THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT 3 PM IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

--------0 -

SUBMARINE OUTFALL TO DISCHARGE SEWAGE TO SIU MO TO ******

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CONSTRUCT A TWO-KILOMETRE SUBMARINE SEWAGE OUTFALL FOR DISCHARGING THE EFFLUENT TREATED IN SIU HO WAN, NORTH LANTAU INTO THE DEEP WATERS TO THE SOUTH OF SIU MO TO.

DURING THE INITIAL PHASES OF NORTH LANTAU DEVELOPMENT, THE EFFLUENT WILL BE TREATED WITH COARSE SCREENING AND GRIT REMOVAL BEFORE FINE SCREENING AT THE TREATMENT WORKS. IT WILL THEN BE DISCHARGED VIA THE OUTFALL.

THIS TREATMENT IS SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES.

IN THE LONG TERM, THE TREATMENT FACILITIES MAY BE UPGRADED TO TREAT THE SEWAGE THOROUGHLY BEFORE DISCHARGE.

WORKS OF THE SUBMARINE OUTFALL ARE EXPECTED TO START WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 14.55 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED BETWEEN SIU HO WAN AND SIU MO TO IN MID-1994 FOR COMPLETION BY MID-1997.

THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

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 ON OR BEFORE JUNE 23.

THE NOTICE OF SUCH OBJECTION SHALL DESCRIBE THE INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT OF THE OBJECTOR AND THE MANNER IN WHICH HE WILL BE AFFECTED.

/THE GAZETTE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, IT

- 18 -

THE GAZETTE NOTICE, IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, AND ITS RELATED PLAN CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE.

THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH ROAD, HONG KONG (WHERE COPIES CAN BE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE, 20TH FLOOR, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN PURCHASED ON ORDER) AND AT THE HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD,

-----0------

ROAD WORKS IN TSUEN WAN AND SIU SAI WAN *****

THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO CARRY OUT ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT WORKS IN TSUEN WAN AND SIU SAI WAN TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.

IN TSUEN WAN, IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO THE ACCESS ROAD TO CHUEN LUNG VILLAGE WILL BE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE RURAL PLANNING AND IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO THE VILLAGE.

THE WORKS, INVOLVING RECONSTRUCTION, ROAD WIDENING AND PROVISION OF FOOTPATHS AND LAY-BYS, ARE PROGRAMMED TO START IN MID-1993.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO INTENDS TO BUILD FOUR ROADS AT THE SIU SAI WAN RECLAMATION AREA AS PART OF THE AREAS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

WORKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROAD WORKS INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF FOOTPATHS, ANCILLARY DRAINAGE WORKS AND THE INSTALLATION OF STREET LIGHTS AND SIGNS.

MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN APPROVAL FOR A DEVELOPER TO UPGRADE AND REALIGN A SECTION OF SO KWUN WAT ROAD IN TUEN MUN AND CONSTRUCT A NEW ROAD FOR A RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROJECT IN SO KWUN WAT.

NOTICES FOR ALL THE PROPOSED ROAD WORKS HAVE BEEN GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

PLANS SHOWING THE ROAD WORKS CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, AND AT THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE IN TSUEN WAN, HONG KONG EAST AND TUEN MUN.

THOSE WHO OBJECT TO THE WORKS SHOULD SEND IN THEIR OBJECTION IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG, ON OR BEFORE JUNE 22.

--------0

/19 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

- 19 -

RADIO PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE CLOSE FAMILY TIES STARTS TOMORROW *****

THE FIRST OF A RADIO SERIES ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WILL BE ON AIR ON RADIO 5 OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AT 11 AM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).

THE HOUR-LONG PROGRAMME, ENTITLED "HARMONIOUS LIFE", IS TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FOR 14 WEEKENDS.

"THE RADIO PROGRAMME, JOINTLY PRODUCED BY THE RTHK AND THE COMMITTEE ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, IS AIMED AT PROMOTING HARMONIOUS FAMILY RELATIONS," THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, MISS CHUNG WOON-CHEUNG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE FIRST THREE PARTS WOULD FEATURE WAYS TO SUSTAIN HAPPY MARRIAGE.

THE OTHER PARTS WILL FOCUS ON EFFECTIVE PARENTING, ADVICE FOR YOUTHS AND MEANS TO UPHOLD HARMONIOUS TIES AMONG GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

AUDIENCE WILL ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES BY CALLING IN TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. THE HOTLINE FOR THE PROGRAMME IS 336 3756.

-----0------

261 RETURN TO VIETNAM ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦

A GROUP OF 261 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TODAY (FRIDAY) RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNDER THE UNHCR’S VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME.

COMPRISING 105 MEN, 73 WOMEN, 50 BOYS AND 33 GIRLS, THEY WERE THE 149TH BATCH TO GO BACK UNDER THE PROGRAMME.

THE GROUP BRINGS TO 2,049 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE RETURNED VOLUNTARILY THIS YEAR, AND TO 28,361 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RETURNEES SINCE THE PROGRAMME STARTED IN MARCH 1989.

- 0 -----------

/20 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

- 20 -

TRANSFER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

* * * *

TO PHILIPPINES TO RESUME *

THE PHILIPPINES CONSULATE GENERAL IN HONG KONG HAS INFORMED THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION THAT THE PROBLEM ON THE TRANSFER TO THE PHILIPPINES OF NEWLY SCREENED-IN VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND TRANSFERS MAY BEGIN AGAIN IN MAY.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) WELCOMED THE RESUMPTION OF THE TRANSFERS, NOTING THAT THIS WAS SIMPLY A TECHNICAL PROBLEM OVER NUMBERS.

"WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES FOR THEIR QUICK RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE PLEASED THAT THOSE REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY STRANDED HERE WILL BE ABLE TO DEPART IN MAY."

THE TRANSFER TO THE PHILIPPINES OF NEWLY SCREENED-tN VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WAS RECENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO QUERIES REGARDING THE NUMBER OF VISAS ISSUED AND THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES TRANSFERRED.

- - 0 ------------

GENERAL HOLIDAYS FOR 1994 PUBLISHED *****

THE FOLLOWING LIST OF GENERAL HOLIDAYS FOR 1994 WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY):

EVERY SUNDAY

THE FIRST WEEKDAY IN JANUARY SATURDAY JANUARY 1

LUNAR NEW YEAR’S DAY THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10

THE SECOND DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11

THE THIRD DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12

GOOD FRIDAY FRIDAY APRIL 1

THE DAY FOLLOWING GOOD FRIDAY SATURDAY APRIL 2

EASTER MONDAY MONDAY APRIL 4

CHING MING FESTIVAL TUESDAY APRIL 5

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE QUEEN SATURDAY JUNE 11

THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE QUEEN’S MONDAY JUNE 13

BIRTHDAY TUEN NG FESTIVAL TUESDAY JUNE 14

THE SATURDAY PRECEDING THE LAST SATURDAY AUGUST 27

MONDAY IN AUGUST LIBERATION DAY, BEING THE LAST MONDAY AUGUST 29

MONDAY IN AUGUST THE DAY FOLLOWING THE CHINESE WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21

MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL THURSDAY OCTOBER 13

THE FIRST WEEKDAY AFTER MONDAY DECEMBER 26

CHRISTMAS DAY THE SECOND WEEKDAY AFTER TUESDAY DECEMBER 27

CHRISTMAS DAY

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/21 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

- 21

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS * * * * ♦

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,450

REVERSAL OF LAF -300

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -90

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,060

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER

TWT 111.9 1+0.0* 23.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YlfcLD

1 WEEK 2.76 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.47 3.14

1 MONTH 2.79 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.38 3.32

3 MONTHS 2.83 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.77 3.4 8

6 MONTHS 2.98 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.88 3.70

12 MONTHS 3.17 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 14,405 MN

CLOSED 23 APRIL 1993

Received by pRQ

U-m^993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

TALKS MAKE A BUSINESS-LIKE START ................................ 1

SPEECH BY GOVERNOR TO ROTARY INT'L HK DISTRICT 33RD DISTRICT

CONFERENCE .................................................... 2

LUCKY CAR REGISTRATION MARKS SALE ............................... 6

MORE 1993 UNCIRCULATED COIN COLLECTIONS AVAILABLE ............... 7

FIRING PRACTICE IN MAY .......................................... 8

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

TALKS MAKE A BUSINESS-LIKE START * * * * *

THE SIN0-BRIT1SH TALKS ON HONG KONG’S ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS IN 1994 AND 1995 HAD MADE A BUSINESS-LIKE START, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ADDRESSING A ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I THINK BOTH SIDES KNOW THAT THERE ARE VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT WE’VE GOT TO RESOLVE BUT THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH.

"I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE PROGRESS OVER THE NEXT DAYS AND WEEKS.”

ASKED ABOUT WHETHER THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES HAD NARROWED DOWN, MR PATTEN SAID: "I DON’T THINK YOU WOULD EXPECT ME TO TALK IN DETAIL ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE TALKS BECAUSE, I THINK, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WANTS TO GIVE THEM THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING AND I THINK THAT REQUIRES A CERTAIN RESTRAINT ON ALL SIDES AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD AS CONFIDENTIALLY AS POSSIBLE.

’’BUT I THINK BOTH SIDES MUST BE GLAD THAT THE TALKS HAVE STARTED IN SUCH A SENSIBLE AND BALANCED AND BUSINESS-LIKE WAY.”

IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE TALKS, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE TALKS HAD MADE A GOOD START BUT BOTH SIDES RECOGNISED THAT THERE WAS A LONG WAY TO GO AND SOME DIFFICULT ISSUES TO RESOLVE.

. ”1 THINK IT’S EQUALLY TRUE THAT BOTH SIDES WANT TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES AND WANT TO FIND THE WAY WHICH WE CAN COME TO DECISIONS WHICH ARE ACCEPTABLE TO BRITAIN, TO CHINA AND TO THE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG,” HE ADDED.

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/2 .........

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

SPEECH BY GOVERNOR. TO ROTARY INT’L HK DISTRICT 33RD DISTRICT CONFERENCE *****

DISTRICT GOVERNOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN,

CAN I FIRST OF ALL SAY HOW DELIGHTED I AM TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS MORNING, EVEN THOUGH IT’S QUITE A BUSY TIME I CERTAINLY WOULDN’T HAVE WANTED TO MISS THIS ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE THE SUBJECT THAT YOU’RE DISCUSSING IS SO IMPORTANT AND BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF MAN AND WOMAN’S LOT. AS YOU SAID DON, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEDGE OF WORKING WITH ROTARY INTERNATIONAL IN THE PAST PARTICULARLY IN YOUR POLIO PLUS CAMPAIGN WHICH DID SO MUCH TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH STANDARDS AROUND THE WORLD AND TO ELIMINATE AN UNNECESSARY BLIGHT ON PEOPLE’S LIVES. THAT WAS A REMINDER OF YOUR ALMOST UNIQUE ABILITY TO CHANNEL EFFORT INTO MEETING SOME OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES FACING THE WHOLE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND I DON’T THINK IT’S AT ALL SURPRISING THAT YOUR TURNING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM WHICH IS SO CRUCIAL TO ALL OUR FUTURES.

THE IDEA OF PRESERVING THE PLANET EARTH, THE THEME OF YOUR CONFERENCE ISN’T OF COURSE A NEW ONE. A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, NOT QUITE AS LONG AGO AS THE ROMAN EMPERORS, JOHN RUSKIN SAID AND I’VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THIS IS A REMINDER OF THE TRUST THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AFTER, GOD HAS LENT US THE EARTH FOR OUR LIFE, IT IS A GREAT ENTAIL, IT BELONGS AS MUCH TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW AS IT DOES TO US AND WE HAVE NO RIGHT BY ANYTHING WE MAY DO OR NEGLECT TO DO, TO INVOLVE THEM IN UNNECESSARY PENALTIES OR TO DEPRIVE THEM OF THE BENEFIT WE HAVE IT IN OUR POWER TO BEQUEATH.

BUT DESPITE THE FACT THAT ALL AROUND THE WORLD MOST OF US WOULD AGREE WITH THESE SENTIMENTS, I’M AFRAID THAT TOO OFTEN ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING TO PRESERVE OUR PRECIOUS PLANET COMES WAY BELOW ACHIEVING ECONOMIC SUCCESS ON THE LIST OF PRIORITIES. ONE HAS FREQUENTLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OTHER. GOOD INTENTIONS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN TRANSLATED INTO ACTION.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD ARGUE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS A LUXURY WHICH CAN ONLY BE AFFORDED ONCE A PEOPLE’S BASIC NEEDS FOR FOOD AND FOR SHELTER ARE MET. OF COURSE, THERE IS SOME TRUTH IN THIS ARGUMENT BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE MORE AND MORE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOT AN OPTIONAL EXTRA. AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD, WE ALL NEED TO RECOGNISE THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO EXPLOIT OUR PLANET’S RESOURCES AT OUR PRESENT RAPACIOUS RATE, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FOSTER FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH. NOR INDEED WILL THEY BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN OUR CURRENT WAY OF 1,1 FE. WE MUST ADJUST TO THE BEST EXTENT POSSIBLE OUR LIST OF PRIORITIES IN THE QUEST FOR DEVELOPMENT. WE MUST BALANCE THE NEEDS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AGAINST OUR ECONOMIC ASPIRATIONS. WE MUST BEGIN ENVIRONMENTALLY TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS AND THIS APPLIES TO HONG KONG AS TO EVERYWHERE ELSE.

/IN THE .......

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

IN THE PAST WE HAVE, AS MUCH AS ANYBODY, SACRIFICED OUR ENVIRONMENT ON THE Al,TAR OF ECONOMIC SUCCESS, BUT UNLIKE MOST EVERYWHERE ELSE TODAY, WE’RE NOT IN THE DOLDRUMS OF RECESSION. THIS YEAR AND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE EXPECT GROWTH OF 5 TO 6 PER CENT. WE’RE IN THE UNUSUAL BUSINESS OF CONSTANTLY UNDER ESTIMATING OUR RATES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AS WE WERE REMINDED THE OTHER DAY BY THE ASIA DEVELOPMENT BANK. I’VE BEEN USED TO A SCHOOL OF POLITICS IN WHICH I’M BOUND TO CONFESS THE OPPOSITE USED TO HAPPEN. WE HAVE A HEALTHY SURPLUS SO WE SHOULD NOW BE DEVOTING SOME OF OUR RICHES TO PROTECTING THE WEALTH OF OUR ENVIRONMENT OR AS PEOPLE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND WHERE MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS CAME FROM USED TO SAY, WHERE THERE’S MUCK, THERE’S MONEY! BUT I BELIEVE IT’S EQUALLY TRUE THAT WHERE THERE’S MONEY, THERE’S NO NEED FOR MUCK.

BEFORE I OUTLINE THE ACTION WE WILL TAKE TO TACKLE THE TASK OF CLEANING UP HONG KONG, I SHOULD SAY THAT WE’RE NOT STARTING ENTIRELY FROM SCRATCH, WE DO HAVE A FOUNDATION UPON WHICH TO BUILD.

IN 1989 ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY, APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED ITS FIRST WHITE PAPER ON THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS BROUGHT TOGETHER EXISTING PROGRAMMES AND SET OUT A NEW COMPREHENSIVE TEN YEAR PROGRAMME OF SOME 100 INITIATIVES TO FIGHT POLLUTION.

THESE HAVE PRODUCED SOME GOOD INITIAL RESULTS. LET ME JUST CITE A FEW EXAMPLES. SINCE 1987 WHEN WE STARTED TO MAKE A DETERMINED EFFORT TO CONTROL WATER POLLUTION, THE TREND OF DETERIORATION HAS BEEN LARGELY HALTED. POPULAR BEACHES THAT WERE ONCE CLOSED OR THREATENED WITH CLOSURE ARE NOW SAFE AGAIN FOR SWIMMING.

SINCE 1988 ANIMAL WASTE WITH A POLLUTION LEVEL EQUIVALENT, IT'S A TERRIFYING THOUGHT, TO THE SEWAGE PRODUCED BY ONE MILLION PEOPLE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR STREAMS AND WATER COURSES.

SINCE 1990 WHEN LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED TO REDUCE THE SULPHUR CONTENT IN THE FUEL, HONG KONG'S LEVEL OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE HAS DROPPED BY 45 PER CENT. JUST THINK WHAT OUR AIR MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE BEFORE.

AND LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE, WE INTEND FIRST OF ALL TO INVEST OVER 7 BILLION DOLLARS IN A COMPREHENSIVE WASTE DISPOSAL STRATEGY WHICH WILL HANDLE THE 20,000 TONNES OF SOLID WASTE WE PRODUCE EVERY DAY. IT WILL ENABLE US ALSO TO PHASE OUT THE OLD INCINERATORS SO THAT IN SOLVING ONE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM WE WON’T CONTINUE TO CREATE ANOTHER. WE’RE GOING TO TREAT PROPERLY THE 100,000 TONNES OF CHEMICAL WASTE THAT WE PRODUCE EVERY YEAR IN OUR NEW CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY WHICH I LOOK FORWARD TO OPENING OFFICIALLY IN JUNE AND WE’RE GOING TO EMBARK UPON A MASSIVE BUILDING PROGRAMME OF SEWERS AND SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES WHICH WILL REDUCE THE POLLUTION IN OUR HARBOUR BY A STUNNING 70 PER CENT.

/WHILE WE .......

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

WHILE WE CAN BE PROUD OF BOTH OUR PAST SUCCESS AND OUR FUTURE COMMITMENT TO DOING OUR PART TO PRESERVE OUR CORNER OF PLANET EARTH, WE CANNOT BE COMPLACENT. WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP FURTHER. THE EARTH SUMMIT HELD IN RIO DE JANEIRO LAST YEAR MADE THIS CLEAR. THE WORLD COMMUNITY HAS TO GO BEYOND CONTROLLING POLLUTION AND PRESERVING RESOURCES IMPORTANT THOUGH THESE ARE. WE HAVE TO BROADEN OUR FOCUS TO INCLUDE THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. IT’S NOT AN EASY ONE TO DEFINE BUT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORLD COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENT, GROS BRUNDTLANDT MADE A GOOD STAB AT IT WHEN SHE SAID THAT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS "DEVELOPMENT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS."

AND THIS OF COURSE BRINGS US BACK TO WHERE I STARTED THIS MORNING. LOOKED AFTER CAREFULLY, OUR PLANET WILL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN. TO DO THIS WE NEED TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS PART AND PARCEL OF OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DECISION MAKING.

HERE IN HONG KONG WE WILL RISE TO THIS CHALLENGE, WE WILL TURN TALK INTO ACTION, PLANS INTO REALITY. WE WILL FOR EXAMPLE FIRST OF ALL FURTHER PROMOTE THE EFFICIENT USE OF ENERGY SO AS TO REDUCE THE EFFECT OF GREENHOUSE GASES ON OUR CLIMATE. SECOND WE INTENT TO ENCOURAGE CONTRACTORS TO USE ALTERNATIVES TO HARD WOOD ON THEIR SITES SO AS TO REDUCE THE DECIMATION OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS AND THIRD WE INTEND TO PURSUE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE POLLUTER PAYS PRINCIPLE. THIS WON’T BE EASY. MOST PEOPLE FIND THE PRINCIPLE LAUDABLE UNTIL THEY’RE ACTUALLY ASKED TO PAY. WE WILL NEED TO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT IT IS IN THEIR INTERESTS TO PAY AND PLAY THEIR PART.

WHILE GOVERNMENT SHOULD AND WILL TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS, EVERYONE CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. FROM THE HOUSEWIFE WHO USES FEWER PLASTIC BAGS TO THE INDUSTRIALIST WHO INSTALLS CLEAN TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT IN HIS OR HER FACTORY. FROM THE OFFICE WORKER WHO RECYCLES PAPER TO THE DEVELOPER WHO BUILDS ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS. SOME OF THESE THINGS MIGHT SOUND TRIVIAL BUT ALL OF THEM MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN SUCCEED.

WHEN I WAS SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, I SOMETIMES USED TO THINK THAT JETTING ROUND AS WE WERE FROM ONE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO ANOTHER AND DELIVERING AS MUCH HOT AIR AS WE DID IN ONE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AFTER ANOTHER, WE WERE COLLECTIVELY LIKELY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A GOOD DEAL OF THE GLOBAL WARMING WHICH WE WERE PLEDGED TO REDUCE AND I’D BETTER TAKE DUE NOTE OF THAT THIS MORNING.

BUT I DO WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE THOUGHT. 1 WAS ONCE AGAIN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN A PRIMARY SCHOOL, IN A JUNIOR SCHOOL AND REMINDED BY THE PICTURES ON THE WALLS OF HOW TO OUR CHILDREN AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SO LUCKY TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN THE WHOLE ISSUE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMES ENTIRELY NATURALLY. THEY’VE ALL GOT THEIR ORDER OF PRIORITIES. IT’S NOT VERY SURPRISING BECAUSE IT’S THEIR WORLD THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING. THE WORLD IN WHICH THERE GOING TO BE GROWING UP, THE WORLD IN WHICH THERE GOING IN DUE COURSE TO BE HAVING CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF THEIR OWN.

/SO FOR ........

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

SO FOR THEM THE ORDER OF PRIORITIES IS VERY CLEAR INDEED AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO US AS WELL. CLEAR FOR REASONS WHICH ARE BOTH UTILITARIAN AND MORAL. UTILITARIAN FOR THIS VERY SIMPLE REASON. WE USED TO BELIEVE IT WAS PART OF THE STORY OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT THAT WHATEVER WE DID, HOWEVER WE ADVANCED, WHATEVER PROGRESS WE MADE, THINGS WOULD GET BETTER AND BETTER AND THE BALANCE OF OUR WORLD WOULD REMAIN MUCH THE SAME. WE NOW KNOW THAT THAT IS NO LONGER TRUE. THE WAY WE USE UP NATURAL RESOURCES, THE WAY WE BURN UP NATURAL RESOURCES, THE WAY WE MULTIPLY, ALL THOSE THINGS THREATEN TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, WHICH EVEN IF IT DOESN’T THREATEN THE END OF NATURE, DOES THREATEN THE BALANCE OF NATURE. SO THERE IS AN IMPERATIVE ON US TO ACT SENSIBLY IN OUR OWN INTEREST AND IN THE INTERESTS OF OUR CHILDREN. A MORAL ISSUE, CERTAINLY.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST ADMIRABLE EXAMPLES OF THE ADVANCE IN CIVILISATION IN THE LAST CENTURY AND THE CENTURY BEFORE THAT SCIENTISTS BEGAN TABULATING EVERYTHING, BEGAN COUNTING EVERYTHING, BEGAN GIVING EVERYTHING LATIN NAMES. THE ASTONISHING THING IS THOUGH THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY NAMES TO GIVE THINGS TO. THEY DON’T KNOW WHETHER THERE ARE TEN MILLION SPECIES OUT THERE TO NAME OR 100 MILLION SPECIES OUT THERE TO NAME. BUT WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS THAT WE’RE DESTROYING SPECIES MORE RAPIDLY THAN WE’RE IDENTIFYING THEM.

NOW I THINK THAT IT’S AN ASPECT OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PLANET THAT WE KNOW WHAT IT CONSISTS OF, THAT WE TABULATE WHAT IT CONSISTS OF AND THAT WE TRY TO PROTECT WHAT IT CONSISTS OF. RECOGNISING THAT IN OUR SCHEME OF THINGS EVERYTHING HAS A PLACE, EVERYTHING HAS A ROLE, EVERYTHING HAS AN INTERCONNECTION WITH THE REST OF OUR CIVILISATION, WITH THE REST OF OUR BIOSPHERE.

FEW YEARS AGO EUROPE WAS TRYING TO IDENTIFY A PATRON SAINT AND THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER IT SHOULD BE SAINT BENEDICT OR SAINT FRANCIS. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE WAS A VERY GOOD CASE FOR SAINT FRANCIS BEING A PATRON SAINT FOR ALL OF US WHETHER CHRISTIANS OR NOT, BECAUSE OF HIS RECOGNITION CENTURIES BEFORE IT BECAME A FASHIONABLE, AND IMPORTANT FASHIONABLE CAUSE, BECAUSE OF HIS RECOGNITION OF THE MORAL ASPECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN. BECAUSE IN ROTARY INTERNATIONAL YOU ALWAYS SET YOURSELF THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES I’M NOT SURPRISED THAT YOU’VE SET YOURSELF THE SAME CHALLENGE AS SAINT FRANCIS. YOU DON’T IN ORDER TO PURSUE IT AS HE DID HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR BUSINESSES, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WEAR A BROWN HABIT AND TAKE TO THE ROADS BUT YOU DO HAVE TO RECOGNISE I THINK IN WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING THAT WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND THAT ALL OF US HAVE A PART TO PLAY AND YOU WITH YOUR UNIQUE POSITION IN THE COMMUNITY CAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE THE LEADERSHIP FOR WHICH OTHERS LOOK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED FOR INVITING ME.

/6 .........

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

LUCKY CAR REGISTRATION MARKS SALE *****

FIFTY VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKS WERE PUT UP FOR AUCTION THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING FOR A TOTAL OF $1,822,000 WHICH WILL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES AFTER DEDUCTION OF EXPENSES.

THE AUCTION, HELD AT THE RECITAL HALL OF THE CITY HALL, SAW THE REGISTRATION MARK FK1 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $440,000.

ANOTHER REGISTRATION MARK 8288 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $390,000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $1,000 *EACH FOR FD3480, ED8025 AND FD9965.

FOLLOWING ARE THE RESULTS OF TODAY’S AUCTION:

$ $ $ $

FC2827 4,000 FD6823 2,000 FD8815 3,000 FC8839 2,000

FD788 19,000 FA238 44,000 FC6618 6,000 FB3228 43,000

*6223 60,000 *XX2 230,000 ♦ FJ61 20,000 ♦ FK1 440,000

FD889 41,000 FC322 20,000 AA286 70,000 FD277 8,000

FC3238 11,000 AT9899 16,000 FD3118 15,000 DR1960 9,000

AJ907 10,000 FD813 27,000 FC9992 6,000 FD7811 2,000

FD117 6,000 FA336 14,000 FD1213 3,000 AL1989 16,000

♦ AT98 60,000 *FJ800 30,000 *8288 390,000 *FJ3000 34,000

FD2833 5,000 FD8633 10,000 FD1 16 9,000 BC820 12,000

FB618 13,000 FC623 8,000 FC3886 3,000 FD8293 2,000

FD9022 3,000 FD726 3,000 *FG3311 10,000 FC8488 12,000

FD8025 1 ,000 FC9993 9,000 FD915 37,000 * F J 1 7 1 7 22,000

FD3480 1,000 FD9965 1,000

* SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARK (NOT TRANSERABLE)

SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WERE REQUIRED TO PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BIDDING.

THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKS 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 192ND ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY REALISED SO FAR TO $191,299,905.

--------0-----------

n ....

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

MORE 1993 UNCIRCULATED COIN COLLECTIONS AVAILABLE *****

AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 SETS OE THE HONG KONG 1993 BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED COINS NEWLY STRUCK BY THE BRITISH ROYAL MINT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC FROM NEXT MONDAY (APRIL 26).

THIS IS THE SECOND CONSIGNMENT OF THE COIN COLLECTION PRODUCED IN RESPONSE TO THE KEEN PUBLIC DEMAND. THERE IS NO PRODUCTION LIMIT ON THESE SETS.

"ALL OF THE LIMITED EDITION PROOF COIN SETS AND THE BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED COIN SETS PUT ON SALE IN MID FEBRUARY WERE SOLD WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

THE ISSUE OF THE COIN COLLECTIONS IS TO COMMEMORATE THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW DESIGN COINS FEATURING A BAUHINIA FLOWER, WHICH ARE GRADUALLY REPLACING THE TERRITORY’S PRESENT CIRCULATION COINS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "EACH BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED COIN COLLECTION COMPRISES SEVEN COINS RANGING FROM THE 10-CENT COIN TO THE $10 COIN, ALTHOUGH ONLY THE $2 AND $5 COINS ARE NOW IN CIRCULATION."

"ALL THE COINS ARE DATED 1993, EVEN THOUGH THE $10 AND 10-CENT COINS WILL NOT BE PUT INTO CIRCULATION THIS YEAR. THIS SHOULD ADD SUBSTANTIAL NUMISMATIC VALUE TO THE COIN COLLECTION," HE ADDED.

THE SEVEN COINS IN EACH SET ARE SUPERBLY CRAFTED AND CAREFULLY SELECTED. THEY COME PROTECTED AND SEALED WITHIN A HANDSOME PRESENTATION FOLDER.

THE UNCIRCULATED SETS, PRICED AT $128 EACH, WILL BE ON SALE FROM NEXT MONDAY AT THE FOLLOWING BANKS:

HONGKONGBANK:

MAIN OFFICE IN CENTRAL, AND BRANCHES AT MONG KOK, CAUSEWAY BAY (PATERSON STREET), KOWLOON HOTEL (21 NATHAN ROAD) AND WAYFOONG HOUSE (82-84 NATHAN ROAD).

OVERSEAS TRUST BANK:

BRANCHES AT GLOUCESTER ROAD, YUEN LONG AND KOWLOON (524 NATHAN ROAD).

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "ALL NET PROCEEDS FROM THE SALES OF THE COMMEMORATIVE COIN SETS WILL BE USED TO FINANCE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, CAREFULLY SELECTED PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY."

MEANWHILE, A SMALL QUANTITY OF THE 1988 BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED COIN COLLECTION, COMPRISING SEVEN COINS RANGING FROM THE FIVE-CENT TO THE $5 COIN, IS STILL AVAILABLE AT THE TWO BANKS.

/8 .........

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1993

FIRING PRACTICE IN MAY *****

FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN - CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON 21 DAYS NEXT MONTH (MAY).

THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.

FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES AND TIMES FOR THE FIRING PRACTICE:

DATE TIME

MAY 3 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 4 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 5 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 6 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 7 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 10 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 11 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 12 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM

MAY 13 (THURSDAY) 5.00 AM - 5 PM

MAY 14 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 17 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM

MAY 18 (TUESDAY) 0.01 AM - 11.59 PM

MAY 19 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM

MAY 20 (THURSDAY) 0.01 AM - 5 PM

MAY 21 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 24 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 25 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 26 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 27 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 28 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

MAY 31 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM

------0-------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT

REVERSAL OF LAF

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER

$ MILLION

2,060

+ 55

2,115

NIL

-960

1,155

TWI 111.8 *-0.1* 24.4.93

Received by PRO on 2 & APR i993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

NEW MEASURE TO DETER EMPLOYMENT OF IT'S AT WORK SITES .......... 1

RESPONSE TO YOUTH CHARTER ENCOURAGING .......................... 1

54 NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN FEBRUARY ..................... 3

CRIME VICTIMS GET $8 MILLION COMPENSATION ...................... 4

CONCERT TO PROMOTE AIDS AWARENFSS .............................. 4

TIME-SETTING SEMINAR ........................................... 5

28 SEMINARS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS . 6

SKILL DRIVING HELPS PROMOTE ROAD SAFETY ........................ 7

AFD ANNOUNCES GREEN CONTEST RESULTS ............................ 7

HK ANNUAL REPORT 1993 ON SALE

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

NEW MEASURE TO DETER EMPLOYMENT OF Il’S AT WORK SITES *****

THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING A NEW MEASURE TO PREVENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WORKING ON PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION SITES.

UNDER THE NEW MEASURE, A CONTRACTOR WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM BIDDING FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS FOR SIX MONTHS IF HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED MORE THAN TWICE WITHIN A 12-MONTH PERIOD OF EMPLOYING OR HAVING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AT A WORK SITE UNDER THAT CONTRACTOR’S CONTROL, BE IT A PRIVATE OR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WORKS BRANCH SAID: "THE NEW MEASURE IS IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT POLICY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION EFFECTIVELY.”

THE SUSPENSION WILL APPLY TO ANY CONTRACTOR NAMED IN THE APPROVED LISTS OF CONTRACTORS FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, AS WELL AS SUPPLIERS OF MATERIALS, AND SPECIALIST CONTRACTORS FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

”IT WILL ALSO APPLY TO CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE BEEN PRE-SELECTED OR PRE-QUALIFIED AS TENDERERS FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND TO JOINT VENTURES AND CONSORTIA.”

THE SUSPENSION WILL BE FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS AND TAKE EFFECT FROM THE DATE OF THE LAST CONVICTION.

THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS HAS INFORMED HONG KONG CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION OF THE NEW MEASURE WHICH WILL BE PUT IN PLACE THIS MONTH UPON THE ISSUE OF A WORKS BRANCH TECHNICAL CIRCULAR TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

--------0------------

RESPONSE TO YOUTH CHARTER ENCOURAGING

*****

THIRTY-NINE ORGANISATIONS HAVE INDICATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE CHARTER FOR YOUTH BY AGREEING TO BECOME SUBSCRIBERS SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DOCUMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH.

’’WEARE INDEED ENCOURAGED BY THIS POSITIVE RESPONSE," THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH, MR ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

AT A MEETING OF THE COMMISSION LAST THURSDAY, MEMBERS REVIEWED THE FEEDBACK OF THE ORGANISATIONS TO THE INVITATION TO ENLIST THEIR SUPPORT.

THE CHARTER FOR YOUTH, WHICH SETS OUT THE PRINCIPLES AND IDEALS ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, OPERATES ON A SYSTEM OF SUBSCRIPTION.

/INDIVIDUALS AND .......

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS INTERESTED IN PROMOTING THE WELLBEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO BECOME SUBSCRIBERS. COPIES OF THE CHARTER ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES.

THE COMMISSION ALSO DISCUSSED THE DETAILS OF THE FIRST SUBSCRIPTION CEREMONY SCHEDULED FOR JULY TO MARK THE FORMAL LAUNCHING OF THE CHARTER.

"SINCE THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE LEAD TO BECOME A SUBSCRIBER, MEMBERS CONSIDER INVITING THE GOVERNOR TO ATTEND THE CEREMONY.

"WE WOULD ALSO SEEK YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE CEREMONY. ONE POSSIBILITY IS TO ARRANGE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE," HE SAID.

A REVIEW OF THE ADOLESCENT SUICIDES IN 1991/92 PREPARED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES WAS ALSO TABLED AT THE MEETING.

MEMBERS NOTED THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S 11 RECOMMENDATIONS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND APPRECIATED THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S EFFORT IN IMPLEMENTING THEM.

"NEVERTHELESS, MEMBERS STRONGLY FELT THAT GOOD CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IS CRUCIAL IN TACKLING THE PROBLEM OF TEENAGE SUICIDES.

"IN THIS REGARD, THE COMMISSION WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH WOULD TAKE UP THE CO-ORDINATING ROLE AND WOULD CAREFULLY FORMULATE THE APPROACH TO TACKLE THIS SUBJECT TOGETHER WITH OTHER YOUTH MATTERS," MR LI SAID.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH WOULD BE INVITED TO BRIEF MEMBERS ON ITS CO-ORDINATION WORK IN DUE COURSE.

MEMBERS ALSO ENDORSED TWO REPORTS ON THE SEMINARS ORGANISED BY THE COMMISSION.

THE SEMINAR ON TEENAGE SUICIDE HELD IN MARCH THIS YEAR FOCUSED ON THE POSITIVE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN COUNTERING THE PROBLEM.

THE REPORT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE MEDIA CAN CONTRIBUTE A LOT IN CULTIVATING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE.

VALUABLE ADVICES FROM THE MEDIA, PARENTS AND THE YOUTHS THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN SOLICITED DURING THE SEMINAR.

"THEY HELP PROVIDE A DEEPER AND WIDER PERSPECTIVE INTO THE PROBLEM," MR LI SAID.

ANOTHER REPORT ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA WHICH LISTED EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS CAN ALSO SERVE AS A VERY USEFUL REFERENCE FOR YOUTH WORKERS AND POLICY MAKERS.

/COPIES OF .......

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

COPIES OF THE REPORT WILL BE SENT TO ALL RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY. MEDIA OPERATORS WILL BE ON THE TOP OF THE DISTRIBUTION LIST.

THE WORKING GROUP ON THE INFLUENCE OF MASS MEDIA ON YOUTH LED BY PROFESSOR NELSON CHOW WING-SUN WAS SET UP IN 1991. AN INTERIM REPORT ON THE SEMINAR WAS RELEASED IN JUNE LAST YEAR.

0 ---------

54 NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN FEBRUARY * * * * *

THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT APPROVED 54 NEW BUILDING PLANS IN FEBRUARY.

OF THESE, 13 WERE FOR HONG KONG, 16 FOR KOWLOON AND 25 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE APPROVED PLANS INCLUDED 22 FOR APARTMENT, APARTMENT/COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS, 13 FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND 10 FOR FACTORY AND INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.

DURING THE MONTH, THE OFFICE GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO START ON 32 PROJECTS, INVOLVING 38,321 SQUARE METRES OF USABLE DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA AND 57,318 SQUARE METRES OF USABLE NON-DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.

THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING THE MONTH WAS ABOUT $2,679 MILLION. USABLE FLOOR AREAS OF THESE BUILDINGS FOR DOMESTIC AND NON-DOMESTIC USES WERE ABOUT 207,986 SQUARE METRES AND ABOUT 138,772 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY.

IN THE MONTH, THE OFFICE ISSUED 29 OCCUPATION PERMITS - NINE FOR HONG KONG ISLAND, FOUR FOR KOWLOON, AND 16 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

IN ADDITION, 27 DEMOLITION CONSENTS INVOLVING 60 BUILDINGS WERE ISSUED.

THE OFFICE’S CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT DIVISION RECEIVED 579 COMPLAINTS OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS, CARRIED OUT 1,391 INSPECTIONS AND ISSUED 446 REMOVAL ORDERS IN RESPECT OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS.

THE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS SECTION OF THE OFFICE INSPECTED 612 BUILDINGS AND OBTAINED ONE EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDER.

--------0-----------

/A ........

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

CRIME VICTIMS GET $8 MILLION COMPENSATION *****

THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION (CLEIC) BOARDS PAID OUT $8.08 MILLION IN COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDENTS IN 1991/92, ACCORDING TO THE BOARDS’ LATEST ANNUAL REPORT.

THESE PAYMENTS WERE AWARDED FOR 987 CRIMINAL INJURIES CASES AND SIX LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES CASES.

THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANTS AWARDED TO $64.07 MILLION SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE CLEIC SCHEME IN 1973.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS, MR ROBERT C TANG, SAID A TOTAL OF 930 APPLICATIONS FOR COMPENSATION WERE RECEIVED IN THE YEAR, REPRESENTING 10.25 PER CENT OF THE 9,075 REPORTED CASES OF CRIMINAL INJURIES.

AMONG THE APPLICATIONS FOR CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION, 670 WERE RELATED TO ASSAULT AND WOUNDING; 198 TO ROBBERY, THEFT AND BURGLARY; 45 TO HOMICIDE, MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER; THREE TO SEXUAL OFFENCES; 10 TO INJURIES CAUSED BY FALLING OBJECTS AND FOUR TO ARSON.

OF THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR, 793 WERE REFERRED BY THE POLICE, 107 SUBMITTED BY THE VICTIMS THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE REST REFERRED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS, MR TANG SAID.

DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW, THE LARGEST SINGLE PAYMENT WAS $411,385, AWARDED TO THE DEPENDENT OF A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED DURING A ROBBERY. THE SMALLEST AWARD WAS $391.

THE SCHEME DOES NOT INVOLVE A MEANS TEST AND IS NON-CONTRIBUTORY. IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL HELP TO PEOPLE AND THE DEPENDENTS OF PEOPLE, WHO ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES OR WHO ARE KILLED OR INJURED IN HELPING TO PREVENT CRIME IN HONG KONG.

THE SCHEME ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION WHERE A PERSON IS KILLED OR INJURED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS USING WEAPONS IN THE EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTIES.

------0-------

CONCERT TO PROMOTE AIDS AWARENESS *****

MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE ATTENDED A CONCERT ON AIDS AWARENESS ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AT THE KWAI FONG METRO PLAZA TODAY (SUNDAY).

THE TWO-HOUR CONCERT KICKED OFF A MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ON AIDS PREVENTION AND AN "ENJOY YOURSELF TONIGHT" SHOW TO BE STAGED ON APRIL 30 (FRIDAY).

/A SERIES .......

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

- 5

A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES, TARGETING AT DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS, WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BEFORE THE CONCERT, THE AUDIENCE LEARNT MORE ABOUT AIDS THROUGH AN EXHIBITION HELD ON LEVEL 2 OF THE PLAZA.

THEY WERE GIVEN RED RIBBONS AS SOUVENIRS AT THE EXHIBITION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAID: "LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES, WE ALSO USE RED RIBBONS AS THE SYMBOL OF OUR CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THEY SIGNIFY CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS AND DETERMINATION TO FIGHT THE DISEASE.”

"ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES IN ORGANISING THE CONCERT IS TO HELP THE PUBLIC FOSTER A SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE INFECTED PERSONS.

"IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT WE ARE FIGHTING THE DISEASE, NOT THE PEOPLE WITH THE DISEASE,” THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

A QUIZ ON AIDS WAS CONDUCTED DURING THE CONCERT. AUDIENCE GIVING CORRECT ANSWERS WERE AWARDED PLAYING CARDS PURPOSE-MADE TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF YAN CHAI HOSPITAL, TELEVISION BROADCASTING LIMITED (TVB) AND WARNER MUSIC HONG KONG LIMITED GAVE ACTIVE SUPPORT TO THE CONCERT.

OFFICIATING GUESTS INCLUDED DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR S H LEE; DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS SHELLEY LAU; DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR MARGARET CHAN; CHAIRMAN OF YAN CHAI HOSPITAL BOARD, MR WONG CHI-MUK; DIRECTOR OF YAN CHAI HOSPITAL BOARD; MR STAR CHAN IU-SENG; ASSISTANT CONTROLLER, EXTERNAI, AFFAIRS DIVISION OF TVB, MS LILY CHAN AND MISS HONG KONG 1992, MISS EMILY LO.

-----0------

TIME-SETTING SEMINAR

*****

METROLOGY EXPERTS EROM SIX OVERSEAS COUNTRIES WILL EXCHANGE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCE ON INTERNATIONAL TIME-SETTING AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT NEXT MONTH.

THE SEMINAR, TO BE HELD EROM MAY 5 TO 7, IS HOSTED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY. DELEGATES COME FROM AUSTRALIA, CHINA, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE AND THAILAND.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE SEMINAR WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DELEGATES TO LEARN THE TECHNIQUES OF TIME AND FREQUENCY MAINTENANCE USING THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS).

THEY MAY ALSO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCE ON GPS RECEPTION, AND ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE FOR GPS COMMON VIEW INTERCOMPARISON SO THAT THE UNIT OF TIME AND FREQUENCY COULD BE UNIFIED IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.

/THE STANDARD .......

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

THE STANDARD TIME WE USE DAY TO DAY IS IN FACT THE RESULT OF THE INTERCOMPARISON OF ATOMIC CLOCKS OF MANY COUNTRIES VIA THE GPS SATELLITES,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE GUEST SPEAKER IS DR CLAUDINE THOMAS, HEAD OF THE TIME SECTION OF THE BUREAU INTERNATIONAL DES POIDS ET MESURES (BIPM), THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATING SUCH INTERCOMPARISONS.

AS PART OF THE SEMINAR PROGRAMME, THE DELEGATES WILL ALSO VISIT THE STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLDING THE PRIMARY STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT FOR HONG KONG.

THE LABORATORY’S NON-PROFIT CALIBRATION SERVICE ENABLES LOCAL INDUSTRY TO MAINTAIN PROPER TRACEABILITY FOR THEIR MEASUREMENTS, THUS ENSURING HARMONISATION OF MEASUREMENTS TERRITORY-WIDE AND INTERNATIONALLY.

28 SEMINARS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS *****

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT LAST MONTH (MARCH) CONDUCTED A WIDE RANGE OF SEMINARS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR SECONDARY, PRIMARY AND KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL HEADS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

INCLUDED WERE 12 SEMINARS, 10 COURSES AND SIX WORKSHOPS.

TOPICS DISCUSSED AT THE SEMINARS INCLUDED FOOD HYGIENE, HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE CLASS LIBRARY SCHEME, MANAGEMENT OF AUDIO-VISUAL FACILITIES, SAFETY OF ART AND CRAFT ACTIVITIES, GEOGRAPHY FIELD STUDY. ADVANCED LEVEL ECONOMICS SYLLABUS, COMPUTER AWARENESS AND CENTRALISED SCHEME FOR MUSIC TRAINING.

THERE WERE ALSO COURSES ON SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, PROJECT APPROACH IN TEACHING DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE SIXTH FORM LEVEL, PRODUCTION OF AUDIO VISUAL MATERIALS, REFRESHER AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES FOR TEACHER LIBRARIANS, IN-SERVICE COURSES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHERS IN TSUEN WAN AND KWAI TSING DISTRICT, AND CHINESE COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

WORKSHOPS HELD WERE ON ENCOURAGING READING AMONG LOWER PUPILS, HUMAN RELATIONS AND TEAM BUILDING, INTEGRATED LABORATORY SAFETY, AND THE TEACHING OF OUTDOOR LEARNING IN SOCIAL STUDIES.

PRIMARY SCIENCE PRIMARY

---------0------------

n....

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

SKILL DRIVING HELPS PROMOTE ROAD SAFETY *****

THE FINAL ROUND OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TROPHY OPEN SAFETY DRIVING COMPETITION WAS HELD AT THE VICTORIA PARK TODAY (SUNDAY).

THE COMPETITION WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS TO PROMOTE ROAD SAFETY THROUGH SKILFUL DRIVING.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR RAFAEL HUI, WHO ATTENDED THE FUNCTION, SAID ALL COMPETITORS DISPLAYED SAFE AND SKILFUL DRIVING TECHNIQUES WHICH FULLY MATCHES THE THEME OF THE COMPETITION.

THE COMPETITION WAS DIVIDED INTO THE PRIVATE CAR AND THE TAXI SECTIONS, ATTRACTING A TOTAL OF 110 PARTICIPANTS.

THE PRELIMINARY ROUND WAS HELD AT THE KWAI CHUNG SPORTS GROUND ON MARCH 21 WHEN 15 PARTICIPANTS FROM EACH SECTION WERE SELECTED TO ENTER THE FINAL ROUND HELD TODAY.

THE CONTEST TESTED THE DRIVING TECHNIQUE OF THE PARTICIPANTS WITH A CUP OF WATER FIXED ON THE BONNET OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONE WITH THE LEAST SPILLAGE OF WATER AND RETURN TO THE FINISHING POINT WITHIN THE SHORTEST TIME WOULD WIN.

PRIZES FOR WINNERS INCLUDED TROPHIES AND MEDALS, HONGKONG/TOKYO ROUND TRIP AIR TICKETS AND PETROL COUPONS.

THE CHAMPION FOR THE TAXI SECTION WAS MR CHAN TAT-YIN WHILE THE FIRST PRIZE FOR THE PRIVATE CAR SECTION WENT TO MR LAI KWOK-WAI.

DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR TODAY HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

AFD ANNOUNCES GREEN CONTEST RESULTS *****

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) TODAY (SUNDAY) ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS OF A RECENT CLEAN AND GREEN TREE MATCHING COMPETITION.

FOLLOWING THE DRAW OF WINNING ENTRIES ON FRIDAY, AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY TONG WAI-MING EMERGED AS THE OVERALL CHAMPION. NG MAN-YEE AND LEE MAN-YEE, BOTH 12-YEAR-OLD GIRLS, LANDED IN THE NUMBER TWO AND THREE SPOTS RESPECTIVELY. SEVEN OTHER CONSOLATION PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN BY THE ORGANISERS LATER.

/THE WINNERS

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

THE WINNERS WERE DRAWN FROM A TOTAL OF 858 CORRECT ENTRIES BY AN AFD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MR FRANK C P LAU AND CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD’S PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE, MR GEORGE TAN.

COMMENTING ON THE COMPETITION, MR LAU SAID COMMUNITY RESPONSE HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING WITH A TOTAL OF 1,212 ENTRIES RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AT THE CLOSE OF THE CONTEST LAST MONTH.

MR LAU SAID: "THIS SHOWS THE CLEAN AND GREEN CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR, COMPRISING A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE TREE MATCHING COMPETITION, HAS ACHIEVED ITS MAIN PURPOSE OF PUTTING ACROSS THE GREEN MESSAGE AMONG THE LOCAL POPULATION."

"MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE MANY PROGRAMMES OF THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH MARKED THE 1OTH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS," HE SAID.

MR TAN ALSO PRESENTED PRIZES TO CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNERS OF A PHOTO COMPETITION, ANOTHER MAJOR ACTIVITY OF THIS YEAR’S CLEAN AND GREEN CAMPAIGN.

THE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER OF KODAK (FAR EAST) LTD WHICH SPONSORED THE PHOTO COMPETITION, MR BENJAMIN KWAN, ALSO PRESENTED PRIZES TO RESPECTIVE WINNERS.

THE ANNUAL CLEAN AND GREEN CAMPAIGN WAS ORGANISED BY AFD’S COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING COUNTRYSIDE.

-----o------

HK ANNUAL REPORT 1993 ON SALE *****

HONG KONG FROM A TO Z - FROM ABATTOIRS TO ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, FROM ITS EARLY III STORY TO ITS EVER-EVENTFUL PRESENT - THE HONG KONG 1993 YEARBOOK WILL MAKE ITS APPEARANCE TOMORROW (MONDAY).

WITH NEARLY 500 PAGES OF TEXT, PHOTOS AND STATISTICS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT SPOTLIGHTS IN DETAIL ALL ASPECTS OF HONG KONG LIFE AND EVENTS.

AT $52, HONG KONG 1993 IS A VITAL REFERENCE SOURCE FOR ALL WHO NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HONG KONG, INCLUDING STUDENTS, WRITERS, BUSINESS PEOPLE AND THE GENERAL READERS.

THE REPORT CONTAINS A SPECIAL CHAPTER ON THE GROWING INTERDEPENDENCE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA, WRITTEN SPECIALLY BY THE DISTINGUISHED SINOLOGIST AND FORMER UNITED STATES CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG, BURTON LEVIN.

/MR LEVIN'S .......

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1993

MR LEVIN’S ARTICLE ’’THE HONG KONG-CHINA PHENOMENON” IS SUPPLEMENTED BY A COLOURFUL EASY-TO-FOLLOW ENDPAPER MAP.

THE BOOK’S 26 CHAPTERS ALSO INCLUDE TWO NEW TO THIS YEAR’S EDITION, FOCUSING ON HONG KONG’S EXCITING NEW AIRPORT AND SEA PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS PROVIDES A CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE MAJOR HAPPENINGS IN HONG KONG DURING 1992.

ITS COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE, SUPPORTED BY NUMEROUS COLOUR ILLUSTRATIONS OF WIDE-RANGING VIEWS OF LIFE AND EVENTS, MAKES THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT A CONSTANT BESTSELLER.

PUBLISHED IN SEPARATE ENGLISH AND CHINESE EDITIONS, HONG KONG 1993 IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AND AT DISTRICT OFFICES AND LEADING BOOK STORES.

--------0------------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVT REMAINS COMMITTED TO CERTAINTY AND GROWTH .................. 1

CRIME FIGURES FOR LAST THREE MONTHS RELEASED .................... 3

LAB ACCEPTS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO LABOUR LAWS .................. 6

FLAT OWNERS URGED TO KEEP THEIR SLOPES SAFE ..................... 7

COMMISSION REPORT ON SALARIES AND SERVICE CONDITIONS PUBLISHED ..................................................... 9

FRESH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUND MANAGERS .......................... 10

CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY BOARD MEETS .............................. 11

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SFC APPOINTED ....................... 12

CONTRACT FOR TAI MEI TUK PUMPING STATION SIGNED ................ 13

ENTRIES INVITED FOR AIDS FUNDING SCHEME 1993-94 ................ 14

FIRE PROTECTION OFFICE ON MOVE ................................. 15

YAU TONG SOCIAL SECURITY UNIT ON MOVE .......................... 15

FRESH WATER CUT IN TAI KOK TSUI ................................ 15

ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE MEETS TOMORROW ................... 15

WATER STORAGE FIGURE ........................................... 16

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS ..

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

GOVT REMAINS COMMITTED

TO CERTAINTY AND GROWTH

******

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY (MONDAY) SAID THAT A SIMPLE, LOW AND PREDICTABLE TAX SYSTEM REMAINED THE GOVERNMENT’S BASIC PHILOSOPHY.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE FRENCH BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, HE SAID THE LAST BUDGET HAD DEMONSTRATED UNAMBIGUOUSLY HONG KONG’S CONTINUED COMMITMENT ON THIS SCORE.

HE SAID HE HAD RESISTED CALLS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE TAX SYSTEM BECAUSE HE CONSIDERED ANY SUCH REVIEW MIGHT CREATE A SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE MINDS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND MIGHT SEND THE WRONG SIGNAL TO OVERSEAS INVESTORS, ft

HE ADDED THAT HE HAD ALSO PUT ON THE BACKBURNER THE CONTROVERSIAL IDEA OE INTRODUCING A SALES TAX AND HAD REITERATED THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO THE LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM.

"ALL THIS HELPS TO BRING MORE CERTAINTY. AND IN THE RUN-UP TO 1997, EVERYONE UNDERSTANDABLY IS LOOKING FOR CERTAINTY. AS A GOVERNMENT, WE SHOULD SEEK TO DELIVER THAT CERTAINTY WHERE POSSIBLE," HE SAID.

"LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT WE REMAIN FULLY COMMITTED TO FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS AND PROSPERITY. IN A NUTSHELL, A COMMITMENT TO FREE ENTERPRISE, FREE MARKETS AND FREE TRADE," HE SAID.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO WHAT IT COULD TO KEEP PRICES IN CHECK, MAINTAIN ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THOSE AFFECTED BY RISING PRICES, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS, AND SEEK TO HELP THE "SANDWICH CLASS".

HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS YEAR’S BUDGET CONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL, BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY, TOWARDS MAINTAINING A FAVOURABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS IN HONG KONG.

"THE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS A KEY - IT WILL CLEARLY HELP BUSINESS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT," HE SAID, CITING AS AN EXAMPLE THE MAJOR ROAD TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS.

"OTHER SECTORS ALSO STAND TO GAIN. THE STOCK MARKET BENEFITS FROM THE REDUCTION IN STAMP DUTY. THE TOURIST INDUSTRY HAS BEEN GIVEN A BOOST, NOT ONLY BY THE ABOLITION OF COSMETICS DUTY, BUT ALSO BY THE INCREASED ASSISTANCE FOR THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION, AND BY THE DECISION TO PROCEED WITH AN EXTENSION TO THE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE.

"I AM HOPEFUL ALSO THAT, AS A RESULT OF THE REVIEW OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL’S FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS, THERE WILL EMERGE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING SUPPORT FOR LOCAL INDUSTRY TO ENABLE OUR MANUFACTURERS TO MOVE INTO HIGH-TECH PRODUCTION," HE SAID.

/THE FINANCIAL

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY NOTED THAT HONG KONG’S CONTINUING ROBUST ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE HAD BEEN BASED LARGELY ON THE CONTINUED IMPRESSIVE GROWTH OF CHINA’S ECONOMY AND THE ENTERPRISE AND ENERGY OF THE BUSINESSMEN.

"WE REMAIN BULLISH ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC PROSPECTS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. OUR GDP WILL GROW BY 5.5 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS THIS YEAR.

"BUT I NOTE THAT THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK IS EVEN MORE BULLISH TN ITS FORECAST RELEASED LAST WEEK, AND PUTS OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH THIS YEAR AT 6.1 PER CENT," HE ADDED.

AS AN ECONOMY, HONG KONG REPRESENTED 19 PER CENT OF CHINA’S GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT, HE POINTED OUT.

"IF ONE LOOKS AT HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG . TOGETHER, THEY CONSTITUTE SOME 29 PER CENT OF CHINA’S GNP. THESE ARE VERY TELLING AND STAGGERING FIGURES," HE SAID.

"SO, THE CURRENT POLITICAL CONTROVERSIES SHOULD NOT BLIND US TO OUR STRONG ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS. OUR OUTLOOK IS BULLISH,” HE ADDED.

TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF THE EUROPEAN SINGLE MARKET, MR MACLEOD SAID IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ASSESS ITS FULL IMPACT UNTIL IT HAD COME INTO FORCE FOR SOME TIME.

"NEVERTHELESS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SINGLE MARKET SHOULD GIVE RISE TO AN ECONOMIC GAIN TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OF OVER 170 MILLION POUND STERLING, AN ADDITIONAL GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT OF FIVE PER CENT AND TWO MILLION MORE JOBS.

"OPPORTUNITIES WILL THEREFORE HOPEFULLY ABOUND FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT FOR HONG KONG TRADERS, ALTHOUGH THESE MAY BE HAMPERED SOMEWHAT BY THE CURRENT GLOOMY STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY," HE SAID.

AS THE REMOVAL OF THE INTERNAL BORDERS AND THE HARMONISATION OF STANDARDS WERE EXPECTED TO INCREASE COMPETITION AMONG EUROPEAN COMPANIES, HE HOPED THAT THIS WOULD NOT LEAD TO CALLS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST EXPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRY SUPPLIERS INCLUDING HONG KONG.

ON THE URUGUAY ROUND OF GATT TALKS, HE SAID HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN BRINGING THE ROUND TO FRUITION.

MR MACLEOD SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE RECENT STATEMENT OF THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER. THAT FRANCE WAS READY TO MAKE PROPOSALS TO BREAK THE CURRENT DEADLOCK.

PRESIDENT CLINTON’S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WOULD SEEK FAST TRACK NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY FROM CONGRESS TO ENABLE THE ROUND TO CONCLUDE BY MID-DECEMBER THIS YEAR WAS YET ANOTHER WELCOME DEVELOPMENT, HE NOTED.

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/3 .........

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

CRIME FIGURES FOR LAST THREE MONTHS RELEASED *****

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POLICE (CRIME), MR TSANG YAM-PUI TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID CRIME FIGURES FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1993 SHOWED AN ENCOURAGING FALL IN MOST SECTORS OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR AND THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992.

"PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING WAS THE DROP IN THE NUMBER OF ROBBERIES INVOLVING FIREARMS BY 38.9% AND WITH PISTOL-LIKE OBJECTS BY 50.7% OVER THE SAME QUARTER IN 1992. VEHICLE THEFT DROPPED BY 29.8% OVER THE PREVIOUS THEE MONTHS."

"THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CRIMES REPORTED TO POLICE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993 WAS 20,310. THIS WAS AN INCREASE OF 261 OR 1.3% OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992 BUT A MARKED DECREASE OF 1,791 CASES OR 8.1% COMPARED WITH THE FINAL QUARTER OF LAST YEAR."

"THE DETECTION RATE OF 45.9% COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH THE RATE OF 43.8% OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR AND 44.2% FOR THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992."

VIOLENT CRIME

THERE WERE 4,314 VIOLENT CRIMES REPORTED. THIS WAS A DECREASE OF 104 OR 2.4% OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992 AND A VERY DISTINCT DECREASE OF 318 OR 6.9% OVER THE LAST QUARTER OF 1992.

THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE IN THE QUARTER, I.E. THE NUMBER OF CRIMES REPORTED PER 100,000 POPULATION, WAS 73.6, WHICH REPRESENTS A DROP OF 2.9% OVER THE SAME QUARTER IN 1992 AND A DECREASE OF 7.4% WHEN COMPARED WITH THE LAST QUARTER OF 1992.

(VIOLENT CRIME INCLUDES MURDER, WOUNDING, SERIOUS ASSAULT, RAPE, INDECENT ASSAULT, CRUELTY TO CHILDREN, KIDNAPPING, BLACKMAIL, INTIMIDATION, ROBBERY AND ARSON)

SELECTED CRIMES

ROBBERY

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ROBBERIES REPORTED IN THIS QUARTER WAS 1,955 COMPARED WITH 2,199 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992, A DROP OF 11.1 %. THEY WERE MARGINALLY UP BY 0.4% OVER THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992, WHEN 1,947 WERE RECORDED.

THERE WERE 11 ROBBERIES IN THIS QUARTER WHICH INVOLVED THE USE OF GENUINE FIREARMS; THIS COMPARES WITH 18, DOWN 38.9% IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR AND DOWN I 5.4% IN THE FINAL QUATER OF 1992 WITH 13 CASES. THERE WERE 71 ROBBERIES WHERE PISTOL-LIKE OBJECTS WERE USED, MARKEDLY DOWN BY 50.7% ON THE FIRST QUATER OF 1992 WITH 144 INCIDENTS AND DOWN 11.3% ON THE FINAL QUARTER OF THE YEAR WHEN 80 WERE REPORTED.

/THE QUARTER .......

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

THE QUARTER SAW A MARKED DECREASE OF 76.5% IN ROBBERIES OF GOLDSMITHS AND JEWELLERY SHOPS, WITH ONLY 4 CASES RECORDED, AS AGAINST 17 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND 8, DOWN 50% ON THE LAST QUARTER OF 1992. BANK ROBBERIES ALSO DECREASED BY 51.7%, WITH 14 CASES COMPARED WITH 29 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND DOWN 26.3% IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992 WHEN 19 CASES WERE REPORTED. THERE WERE 2 WATCH SHOP ROBBERIES IN THIS QUARTER, 2 IN THE CORRESPONDING QUARTER OF 1992 AND NIL IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.

THE VICTIMS OF ROBBERIES SUFFERED PROPERTY LOSSES VALUED AT HKS70.9 MILLION COMPARED TO HK$118.7 MILLION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND HK$ 122.6 MILL. ION IN THE LAST QUARTER.

HOMICIDE

HOMICIDES REMAINED FAIRLY CONSTANT AT 20 COMPARED TO 17 DURING THE SAME PERIOD IN 1992 AND 21 IN THE LAST QUARTER OF THE YEAR.

WOUNDING AND SERIOUS ASSAULT

THESE WERE NOTICEABLY DOWN WITH 260 CASES AS COMPARED TO 300, DOWN 13.3%, IN THE SAME QUARTER LAST YEAR AND 298, DOWN 12.8%, TN THE LAST QUARTER.

INDECENT ASSAULT ON FEMALE AND RAPE

THERE WERE 20 RAPES COMPARED TO 23 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND 30 IN THE LAST. INDECENT ASSAULTS ON FEMALES WERE 228 AS AGAINST 212 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND 252 IN THE LAST QUARTER.

BLACKMAIL AND INTIMIDATION

BLACKMAIL CASES WERE 197 COMPARED TO 209, DOWN .5.7%, TN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND 238 IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1992, DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY BY 17.2%. THERE WERE 138 CRIMINAL INTIMIDAT I ON CASES REPORTED AS AGAINST 112, UP 17.9% IN THE SAME QUARTER OF 1992 AND 145, DOWN 9% TN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1992.

BURGLARY

3,477 BURGLARIES WERE REPORTED IN THE FIRST QUARTER AS AGAINST 3,407, UP 2.1%, IN THE SAME PERIOD OF 1992 AND DOWN 1.9% COMPARED TO THE LAST QUARTER OF 1992 WITH 3,545 CASES REPORTED.

VICTIMS OF BURGLARIES SUFFERED PROPERTY HKS119 MILLION AS AGAINST HKS81.1 MILLION IN THE AND HK$112 MILLION IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992.

LOSSES AMOUNTING TO FIRST QUARTER OF 1992

/MOTOR VEHICLE .......

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME

CRIMES INVOLVING MISSING MOTOR VEHICLES DROPPED SLIGHTLY TO 1,422, 4.9% OVER THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD, STILL AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL, AS AGAINST 1,496 IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR AND 2,025, DOWN 29.8%,IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992. AMONG LUXURY VEHICLES, MERCEDES BENZ, B.M.W. AND TOYOTA CROWNS REMAIN THE MAIN CHOICES OF CRIMINALS.

SHOP THEFT

SHOP THEFT WAS UP 4.2% ON THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR WITH 1,652 COMPARED TO 1,586 IN THE CORRESPONDING QUARTER OF 1992, BUT DOWN 7% ON THE LAST QUARTER OF 1992, WHEN 1,776 CASES WERE RECORDED.

SNATCHING

SNATCH1NGS WERE UP 25.1% ON THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993 WITH 364 AS AGAINST 291 CASES ON THE SAME QUARTER OF 1992, BUT 22.4% DOWN ON THE LAST QUARTER OF 1992 WITH 469 CASES.

PICKPOCKETING

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED PICKPOCKETING CASES TOTALLED 245 COMPARED WITH 148 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND 217 IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.

TRIAD-RELATED CRIMES WERE MARKEDLY DOWN IN THIS QUARTER BY 18.3% WITH 890 COMPARED WITH 1,090 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND DOWN 7.5% WITH 962 CASES IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992. THESE CASES RELATED TO UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES, WOUND!NGS, SERIOUS ASSAULTS, BLACKMAIL AND INTIMIDATION.

JUVENILE AND YOUNG OFFENDERS

THERE WERE 1,742 JUVENILES (UNDER 16 YEARS) ARRESTED COMPARED TO 1,605 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992 AND 1,674 IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992. 2,039 YOUNG PERSONS (16-21 YEARS) WERE ARRESTED, COMPARED WITH 1,814 TN THE CORRESPONDING QUARTER OF 1992 AND 1,926 IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1992 THUS SHOWING A SLIGHT INCREASE.

MR TSANG SAID ’’WHILST DECREASES IN VARIOUS TYPES OF CRIME ARE WELCOME, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY AND WE MUST CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE FURTHER SUCCESS, PARTICULARLY AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRIAD-RELATED OFFENCES, ORGANISED CRIMINAL ACTS, ARMED ROBBERIES AND THE THEFT OF LUXURY VEHICLES, WHICH ARE AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE."

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/6 ........

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

LAB ACCEPTS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

*******

LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD (LAB) MEMBERS NUMBER OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO LABOUR WORKERS’ SAFETY AND HEALTH AND TO IMPROVE BENEFITS.

TO LABOUR LAWS

TODAY (MONDAY) ACCEPTED A LAWS TO FURTHER PROTECT EMPLOYEES’ LONG SERVICE

IN ITS SECOND MEETING OF THE CURRENT SESSION CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MRS KATHERINE FOK, BOARD MEMBERS AGREED A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE PENALTY PROVISIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS.

UNDER THE PROPOSAL, ALL OFFENCES RELATING TO THE ORDINANCE WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS "MINOR", "SERIOUS" AND "VERY SERIOUS" DEPENDING ON THE DEGREES OF RISK AND HAZARD AS WELL AS THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES.

THE PROPOSED MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR EACH CATEGORY OF OFFENCES ARE $10,000 FOR MINOR OFFENCES, $50,000 FOR SERIOUS AND $200,000 WITH OR WITHOUT IMPRISONMENT FOR VERY SERIOUS OFFENCES.

MEMBERS WILL BE FURTHER CONSULTED ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF SOME OF THE OFFENCES.

DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS DISCUSSED A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (ASBESTOS) SPECIAL REGULATIONS WHICH STIPULATED NECESSARY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF WORKERS ENGAGED IN ASBESTOS WORK.

THE MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS IN THE EXISTING REGULATIONS INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF EFFICIENT EXHAUST VENTILATION, PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND APPROVED RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND THE DUTY TO KEEP THE WORKPLACE CLEAN.

THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE REGULATIONS ARE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE DUE TO SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.

BOARD MEMBERS WERE ADVISED THAT THANKS TO .TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT, IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE GENERATION OF ASBESTOS DUST AT SOURCE AND TO PREVENT ITS SPREAD BY MEANS OF ENGINEERING CONTROL MEASURES OTHER THAN BY EXHAUST VENTILATION.

MEMBERS AGREED TO AMEND THE EXISTING REGULATIONS AND TO INTRODUCE NEW PROVISIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTEMPORARY STRATEGIES SEEKING TO PREVENT ASBESTOS HAZARDS.

LAB MEMBERS ALSO DISCUSSED A PROPOSAL TO REMOVE THE 12 MONTHS’ WAGE CEILING ON SEVERANCE PAYMENT AND LONG SERVICE PAYMENT UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

AT PRESENT, THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE LIMITS THE SEVERANCE PAYMENT OR LONG SERVICE PAYMENT TO WHICH AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WAGES EARNED DURING THE PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE RELEVANT DATE OF DISMISSAL, OR A TOTAL OF $180,000, WHICHEVER IS THE LESS.

/THE MEMBERS .......

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

THE MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED THAT THE EXISTING 12 MONTHS’ WAGE CEILING AS THE MAXIMUM LIMIT OF SEVERANCE PAYMENT AND LONG SERVICE PAYMENT HAS BEEN CRITICISED AS BEING UNFAIR TO ANY EMPLOYEE WHO HAS MORE THAN 18 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH AN EMPLOYER.

TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF SUCH PAYMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS AGREED THAT THE CEILING OF 12 MONTHS’ WAGES SHOULD BE REMOVED WHILE THE MAXIMUM LIMIT OF $180,000 BE RETAINED.

THEY ALSO AGREED THAT THE $180,000 MAXIMUM LIMIT SHOULD BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE GENERAL WAGE MOVEMENT.

HOWEVER, BOARD MEMBERS HELD DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE PRINCIPLE AND MANNER OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO RECOGNISE THE PART OF AN EMPLOYEE’S SERVICE OVER AND ABOVE 18 YEARS ACCRUED BEFORE THE AMENDMENT COMES INTO OPERATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING THE PAYMENTS.

THE MEMBERS ALSO NOTED AN INFORMATION PAPER ON A PROPOSAL TO SIMPLIFY THE ADMINISTRATION OF PART III OF THE APPRENTICESHIP REGULATIONS UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE.

THE PROPOSAL, IF INTRODUCED, WILL ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF APPRENTICESHIP TO GIVE PERMISSION TO EMPLOYERS OF APPRENTICES TO CHANGE THEIR HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT AND OVERTIME MORE EFFICIENTLY WITHOUT THE NEED TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.

BOARD MEMBERS ALSO LEARNED THAT IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE GAINED IN HANDLING A RECENT DISPUTE, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WAS CONDUCTING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE PROVISIONS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ANTI-UNION DISCRIMINATION IN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THE RIGHT TO STRIKE.

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FLAT OWNERS URGED TO KEEP THEIR SLOPES SAFE

*****

WITH THE APPROACH OF THE WET SEASON, PRIVATE FLAT OWNERS ARE URGED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR SLOPES ARE BEING WELL MAINTAINED.

THE PLEA WAS MADE BY THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, DI? ANDREW MALONE, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (MONDAY).

"SLOPES THAT ARE NOT WELL MAINTAINED MAY BECOME UNSAFE,’’ HE SAID.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF ITS OWN SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS, WHILE PRIVATE FLAT OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS WITHIN THEIR PROPERTY," HE STRESSED.

/DR MALONE .......

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

- 8

DR MALONE POINTED OUT THAT MANY PRIVATE FLAT OWNERS ARE STILL NOT AWARE OF THEIR DUTY TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWN SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS, DESPITE A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY THE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING OFFICE (GEO) FOLLOWING THE RAINSTORMS LAST YEAR.

"CONSULTATION HAS REVEALED THAT WHILST ACCEPTING THE NEED TO KEEP THEIR BUILDINGS IN GOOD REPAIR, MANY PRIVATE OWNERS THINK THAT ’THE GOVERNMENT’ IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF ALL SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS, INCLUDING THOSE WITHIN PRIVATE PROPERTY," HE ADDED.

IN VIEW OF THIS ATTITUDE, DR MALONE CONTINUED, THE GEO WOULD MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF THE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IN ORDER TO DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE OF "KEEP YOUR SLOPES SAFE".

SINCE THE RAINSTORMS LAST YEAR, PUBLICITY LEAFLETS ON SLOPE MAINTENANCE HAVE BEEN SENT TO HUNDREDS OF OWNERS’ CORPORATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND MAJOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.

THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL FLAT OWNERS IN SELECTED BUILDING ADJACENT TO SLOPES HAVE BEEN SENT LEAFLETS IN A SYSTEMATIC PROGRAMME.

THE GEO HAS ALSO SENT FOLLOW-UP LETTERS URGING OWNERS CORPORATIONS AND MANAGEMENT FIRMS TO TAKE ACTION TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN THEIR SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS EVERY YEAR.

"THE LEAFLETS EXPLAIN THAT ANNUAL INSPECTION CAN EASILY BE CARRIED OUT BY THE OWNERS THEMSELVES OR THEIR BUILDING MANAGERS.

"ANNUAL MAINTENANCE WORK REQUIRES ONLY SIMPLE JOBS, SUCH AS CLEARING BLOCKED DRAINS AND REPAIRING DAMAGED SLOPE SURFACING MATERIALS. THESE WORKS CAN BE HANDLED AT LOW COST BY GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS," DR MALONE NOTED.

DR MALONE REMINDED FLAT OWNERS THAT COPIES OF THE LEAFLETS CONTAINING GUIDELINES ON MAINTENANCE OF SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST VIA THE GEO MAINTENANCE HOT-LINE (TEL 762 5165).

TURNING TO THE WORK OF THE GEO, DR MALONE SAID ABOUT $70 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT BY THE DEPARTMENT DURING THIS FINANCIAL YEAR TO UPGRADE 67 GOVERNMENT SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS.

THE DEPARTMENT HAD UNDERTAKEN A CONTINUOUS PROGRAMME TO UPGRADE SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS IDENTIFIED BY ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS AS BEING NOT UP TO A SUFFICIENT STANDARD OF SAFETY.

SINCE 1976, ABOUT $1 BILLION HAD BEEN SPENT ON STUDIES AND WORKS TO UPGRADE HUNDREDS OF SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS UNDER THE PROGRAMME. DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, EXPENDITURE FOR SLOPE WORKS AMOUNTED TO $73 MILLION.

IN ADDITION TO SLOPE UPGRADING WORK INITIATED AND EXECUTED BY THE GEO, A GREAT DEAL OF SLOPE WORK IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN ASSOCIATION WITH CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS.

/DR MALONE .......

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

DR MALONE STRESSED THAT LANDSLIP HAZARD TO SQUATTERS LIVING ON HILLSIDES REMAINED A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE GOVERNMENT.

"IT IS PLANNED BY MARCH 1996, ALL SQUATTERS ON GOVERNMENT LAND IN THE URBAN AREA WILL HAVE BEEN CLEARED, AND THE PROBLEM OF LANDSLIP HAZARDS TO URBAN SQUATTERS REMOVED," DR MALONE SAID.

"THE GEO IS NOW CONCENTRATING ON THE MORE VULNERABLE OF THE REMAINING SQUATTERS ON HILLSIDES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES."

WITH THE WET SEASON AROUND THE CORNER, THE GEO WOULD AGAIN OPERATE THE LANDSLIP WARNING SYSTEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.

HE ADVISED SQUATTERS TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO AND WATCH THE TELEVISION DURING RAINSTORMS, AND GO TO ONE OF THE SHELTERS PROVIDED BY DISTRICT OFFICES WHEN A LANDSLIP WARNING IS ISSUED.

BEFORE THIS WET SEASON, DR MALONE ADDED, THE DISTRICT OFFICES HAVE DISTRIBUTED TO SQUATTERS COPIES OF A LEAFLET WHICH CONTAINS SIMPLE GUIDANCE ON SLOPE SAFETY AND THE NEED FOR PRECAUTIONS DURING SEVERE RAINSTORMS.

DR MALONE POINTED OUT THAT IN TWO VERY SEVERE RAINSTORMS IN MAY AND AUGUST 1982, THERE WERE MORE THAN 300 LANDSLIPS AFFECTING SQUATTERS, AND 23 LANDSLIP FATALITIES. IN COMPARISON, THE RAINSTORM ON MAY 8 LAST YEAR CAUSED ABOUT 350 LANDSLIPS BUT WITH NO REPORTS OF SQUATTERS BEING INJURED.

"THE CLEARANCE PROGRAMME AND WORK TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF SQUATTER AREAS OVER THE LAST DECADE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF INJURIES."

"HOWEVER, WE WILL NOT BE CONTENT UNTIL ALL SQUATTERS LIVING ON VULNERABLE HILLSIDES HAVE BEEN REHOUSED," HE SAID.

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COMMISSION REPORT ON SALARIES AND SERVICE CONDITIONS PUBLISHED ******

THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE HAS PUBLISHED ITS PROGRESS REPORT FOR 1992 (REPORT NO. 29).

DURING THE YEAR, THE COMMISSION TENDERED ADVICE ON A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE USE OF LEAVE PASSAGE AND THE ABOLITION OF SEA PASSAGES FOR OVERSEAS OFFICERS.

IT ALSO EXAMINED AND SUPPORTED PLANS FOR THE CREATION OF NEW GRADES OF INSOLVENCY OFFICER, LAND CONVEYANCING OFFICER, LAND REGISTRATION OFFICER, COMPANIES REGISTRATION OFFICER AND HAWKER CONTROL OFFICER.

/IN ADDITION, .......

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

- 10 -

IN ADDITION, THE COMMISSION REVIEWED AND TENDERED ADVICE ON THE FUTURE OF THE LIAISON OFFICER GRADE AND THE PROPOSED CREATION OF A NEW RANK OF PRINCIPAL LIAISON OFFICER.

OTHER SUBJECTS EXAMINED BY THE COMMISSION INCLUDED ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE, EDUCATION ALLOWANCE AND SCHOOL PASSAGE SCHEMES, AND LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS.

IT ALSO LOOKED INTO THE USE OF JOB EVALUATION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND DETERMINED THE METHODOLOGY OF A SURVEY ON PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS SIMILAR TO THOSE UNDER MODEL SCALE 1 IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THE SURVEY IS BEING CARRIED OUT ON THE ADMINISTRATION’S REQUEST AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER.

DURING THE YEAR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION HAD INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH MAJOR STAFF ASSOCIATIONS TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THE REPORT ALSO CONTAINS A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE 1991/92 PAY TREND SURVEY, THE COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE METHODOLOGY FOR THE 1992/93 SURVEY, AND THE WORK OF THE PAY TREND SURVEY COMMITTEE DURING 1992.

THE PROGRESS REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT $36 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.

-----0------

FRESH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUND MANAGERS *****

GIVEN A RESPONSIBLE AND HEALTHY FUND MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT, RETIREMENT SCHEMES TO BE OPERATED UNDER THE OCCUPATIONAL RETIREMENT SCHEMES ORDINANCE WILL WORK TO THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF SCHEME MEMBERS AND FUND MANAGERS ALIKE, THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

IN ESSENCE, THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WILL COME INTO OPERATION LATER THIS YEAR, SEEKS TO PROVIDE A GREATER DEGREE OF CERTAINTY THAT RETIREMENT BENEFITS PROMISED BY EMPLOYERS WILL BE PAID TO EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY FALL DUE.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG KONG INVESTMENT FUNDS ASSOCIATION, MR CARTLAND SAID UNDERLYING THE ORDINANCE WERE FOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES: ASSET SEPARATION, SUFFICIENT FUNDING, INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF SCHEME ACCOUNTS AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE.

"FOR FUND MANAGERS THE ORDINANCE THUS HAS A NUMBER OF IMPLICATIONS,” HE NOTED.

/’’FIRSTLY, IN .........

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

k - n -

"FIRSTLY, IN LINE WITH OUR FLEXIBLE APPROACH TOWARDS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, THE ORDINANCE WILL ENABLE MANAGERS TO OPERATE WITH THE MINIMUM OF GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION.

"THIS WILL OBVIATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LARGE AND EXPENSIVE BUREAUCRACY, THE COST OF WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE INEVITABLY BE PASSED ON TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.

"SECONDLY, THE ORDINANCE EMPHASISES THE NEED FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING OF SCHEMES AS WELL AS SEPARATION AND SECURITY OF SCHEME ASSETS," HE SAID.

THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF PENSION FUNDS ALREADY IN THE MARKET IS ESTIMATED AT HK$80 BILLION. ALTHOUGH THE EXTENT OF UNDER-FUNDING AMONG EXISTING RETIREMENT SCHEMES IS UNKNOWN, IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN $5 AND $10 BILLION.

"THE TOPPING-UP REQUIREMENT, NOT TO MENTION THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW SCHEMES, SHOULD THEREFORE RESULT IN MORE ASSETS BEING ABSORBED INTO THE POOL OF PENSION FUNDS, PROVIDING NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, INCREASING THE DEMAND * FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE," MR CARTLAND SAID.

"IN OUR VIEW, THE GROWTH POTENTIAL OF PENSION FUND INVESTMENT IS VERY CONSIDERABLE. THIS WILL MEAN NEW CHALLENGES AND FRESH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUND MANAGERS IN THE YEARS AHEAD,” MR CARTLAND SAID.

"THE SUCCESS OF A SYSTEM OF MINIMAL GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, SUCH AS WE ARE NOW INTRODUCING, WILL DEPEND LARGELY UPON THE ABILITY OF FUND MANAGERS TO INVEST PRUDENTLY WHILST MEETING THE REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PENSION FUND CONTRIBUTORS," HE SAID.

AS THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL MONTHS TO GO BEFORE THE ORDINANCE COMES INTO OPERATION, MR CARTLAND ADVISED ANY FUND MANAGERS WHO MAY HAVE QUERIES OR WISH TO SEEK CLARIFICATION OF ANY PARTICULAR ASPECT TO CONTACT EITHER THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE OR THE FINANCIAL SERVICES BRANCH FOR THAT PURPOSE.

CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY BOARD MEETS

******

THE CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY BOARD AT ITS FIRST MEETING TODAY (MONDAY) DECIDED TO GIVE PRIORITY IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS TO THE STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LICENSING AND SAFETY OF PLANT OPERATORS AND THE EQUIPMENT THEY USE.

PRIORITY WILL ALSO BE GIVEN IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS ON HAZARDS ARISING WITH HAND-DUG CAISSONS, AND THE MOVES TOWARDS QUALITY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

THE BOARD, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, GENERALLY AGREED THAT THERE IS A NEED TO IMPROVE CONTROL AND LICENSING OF PLANT OPERATORS AS A MEASURE TO PROMOTE COMPETENCY AND SAFETY OF THEIR WORK.

/IT WAS ........

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

- 12 -

IT WAS FELT THAT ANY LICENSING REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE LINKED TO AN APPROPRIATE AND SUFFICIENT INDUSTRY-WIDE TRAINING PROGRAMME TO ALLOW EXISTING PLANT OPERATORS TO ATTAIN THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.

ON THE USE OF HAND-DUG CAISSONS, AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, MEMBERS NOTED THAT WHILE HAND-DUG CAISSONS WILL BE SELDOM USED IN PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE, THERE IS STILL WIDE USE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. MEMBERS WERE SUPPORTIVE OF ALTERNATIVES BEING USED WHEREVER PRACTICABLE.

THE BOARD ALSO AGREED THAT PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN IN ITS FUTURE MEETINGS TO CONSIDERATIONS OF QUALITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

MEMBERS NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE A START TO WORK TOWARDS THIS GOAL IN PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS. IT WOUbD BE DESIRABLE TO EXTEND THIS PROCESS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING, . DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STAGES OF THEIR WORK. THE SETTING OF QUALITY ' STANDARDS WILL LEAD TO BETTER SAFETY AND HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY.

THESE THREE TOPICS WILL BE DISCUSSED FURTHER BY THE BOARD AT ITS NEXT MEETING IN JULY.

AT TODAY’S MEETING, MR BLAKE ALSO BRIEFED MEMBERS ON MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE MONITORING OF THE PROGRESS AND EXPENDITURE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

THE CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST BETWEEN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD INCLUDE LEGCO MEMBERS MR EDWARD HO, AND MR TAM YIU-CHUNG, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND TRAINING AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS ACADEMICS AND WORKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.

--------0-----------

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SFC APPOINTED

*****

THE

GOVERNOR, HAS APPOINTED MR VINCENT CHENG HOI-CHUEN AS DIRECTOR OF THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION YEARS FROM....... ’

FINANCIAL

SECRETARY, UNDER. AUTHORITY

DELEGATED BY THE

MAY 1, 1993 TO APRIL 30,

1995.

FOR

A NON-EXECUTIVE

A PERIOD OF TWO

HE COMMISSION

WILL REPLACE MR DENIS CHANG, WHO SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN MAY 1989.

HAS BEEN WITH THE

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS REAPPOINTED MR A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALSO FROM MAY 1, 1993 TO

RODERICK CHALMERS AS APRIL 30, 1995.

UNDER SECTION 5. OF THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES ORDINANCE, THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT NOT FEWER THAN EIGHT OF THE COMMISSION, HALF OF WHOM SHALL BE NON-EXECUT I VE.

COMMISSION DIRECTORS

/AT PRESENT, ........

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

AT PRESENT, THE COMMISSION IS SERVED BY 10 DIRECTORS.

"I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR DENIS CHANG FOR HIS IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMISSION IN THE PAST FEW YEARS,” THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

"I AM SURE THAT MR VINCENT CHENG AND THE OTHER NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING AN INDEPENDENT VIEW TO THE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION OF THE COMMISSION,” MR CARTLAND SAID.

0---------

CONTRACT FOR TAI MEI TUK PUMPING STATION SIGNED

*****

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) AWARDED A $95 MILLION CONTRACT FOR UPGRADING TAI MEI TUK ’A’ PUMPING STATION AT PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR.

BOTH TAI MEI TUK ’A’ AND ’B’ PUMPING STATIONS PUMP WATER FROM THE RESERVOIR TO THE PUMPING STATIONS IN TAI PO TAU FOR FURTHER DISTRIBUTION TO THE MAIN TREATMENT CENTRES DURING THE CHINA WATER ANNUAL SHUTDOWN PERIOD IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

TAI PO TAU IS A FOCAL POINT IN THE TERRITORY’S RAW WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR RECEIVING BOTH CHINA WATER AND WATER FROM THE PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR DURING THE SHUTDOWN PERIOD.

TO MEET ANTICIPATED DEMAND FOR WATER IN HONG KONG, THE CAPACITY OF TAI MEI TUK ’A’ PUMPING STATION MUST BE INCREASED TO MATCH THAT OF THE PUMPING STATIONS IN TAI PO TAU.

THE PRESENT CONTRACT IS ONE IN A SERIES OF CONTRACTS FOR THE CHINA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES FOR STAGED EXPANSION OF FACILITIES TO RECEIVE AND TRANSFER ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY FROM CHINA AFTER 1994.

ON COMPLETION OF THE EXPANSION, THE RECEPTION AND TRANSFER CAPACITY WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE EXISTING 620 MILLION CUBIC METRES TO 1,100 MILLION CUBIC METRES A YEAR.

WORKS UNDER THIS CONTRACT INCLUDE SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXISTING STATION FOR INSTALLING SIX NEW PUMPSETS.

THE CONTRACTOR IS ALSO REQUIRED TO LAY 300 METRES OF TWO-METRE DIAMETER STEEL MAIN TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED PUMPING CAPACITY.

OTHER ASSOCIATED WORKS INCLUDE EXTENSION OF THE PUMPING CONTROL HOUSE AS WELL AS INSTALLATION OF NEW CONTROL INSTRUMENTATION EQUIPMENT.

WORKS UNDER THIS CONTRACT ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE BY MID-1995.

THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR HU MAN-SH1U AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF AOKI CORPORATION.

THE PROJECT CONSULTANT IS BINNIE CONSULTANTS LIMITED.

------0-------

Z14.....

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

- 14 -

ENTRIES INVITED FOR AIDS FUNDING SCHEME 1993-94

*****

THE YOUTH FUNDING SCHEME ON AIDS IS NOW INVITING ENTRIES FOR THIS YEAR FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, FOLLOWING TWO YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION.

THE SCHEME IS RUN BY THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY ON AIDS (CEPAIDS) TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN ORGANISING INNOVATIVE PROJECTS ON EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY ON AIDS FOR OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY.

UNDER THE SCHEME ENTITLED ’’YOUTH ACTION ON AIDS 1993-94”, YOUTH GROUPS EACH COMPRISING NOT LESS THAN FIVE MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT PROJECT PLANS DESIGNED TO AROUSE AWARENESS OF THE AIDS ISSUE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

’’THERE WILL BE TWO DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES THIS YEAR -- MAY 30 AND SEPTEMBER 30 -- FOR APPLICANTS’ CHOICE," A SPOKESMAN FOR CEPAIDS SAID.

TOTALLY, 20 PROJECT PLANS WILL BE SELECTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN 1993.

THE MAXIMUM FUNDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH PROJECT IS $5,000.

AMONG THE SELECTED PROJECTS, THE BEST THREE ONES WILL EACH BE AWARDED A CASH PRIZE OF $2,000 AND AN ’OUTSTANDING AWARD’ TROPHY, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

APPLICATION FORMS AND RELATED PROSPECTUS CAN NOW BE OBTAINED FROM INDIVIDUAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, OR THE SECRETARY OF THE WORKING GROUP ON YOUTH, CEPAIDS, ON TEL 835 1821 AND ON FAX 591 6127.

ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE MADE TO THE SECRETARY.

LAST YEAR, 12 YOUTH GROUPS WERE SELECTED UNDER THE SCHEME, AND FOUR FOR THE FIRST YEAR IN 1991/92.

THESE GROUPS HAD LAUNCHED A VARIETY OF CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE PROJECTS WHICH INCLUDED A DRAMA COMPETITION, GAME STALLS, STATIC DISPLAY, MOBILE EXHIBITION, KARAOKE NIGHT, VIDEO SHOW, NIGHT CAMP, QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY, QUIZ AND SEMINAR.

-----0------

/15 ........

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

FIRE PROTECTION OFFICE ON MOVE *****

THE FIRE PROTECTION BUREAU’S SUB-REGIONAL OFFICE FOR NEW TERRITORIES SOUTH AND WEST HAS BEEN MOVED FROM KWAI CHUNG TO TSUEN WAN.

THE NEW OFFICE, LOCATED ON THE NINTH FLOOR OF TSUEN WAN GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 38 SAI LAU KOK ROAD, CONTINUES TO SERVE RESIDENTS OF KWAI CHUNG, TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG. ITS NEW TELEPHONE IS 417 6161.

SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE: ADVICE ON FIRE PREVENTION MATTERS AND APPLICATION FOR VARIOUS LICENCES, SITE INSPECTIONS AFTER RECEIVING LICENCE APPLICATIONS AND HANDLING COMPLAINTS ON FIRE HAZARDS OF DANGEROUS GOODS.

--------0------------

YAU TONG SOCIAL SECURITY UNIT ON MOVE

*****

SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S YAU TONG SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT, RENAMED AS KWUN TONG SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT, IS OPERATING FROM ITS NEW OFFICE AT TSUI PING ESTATE STARTING FROM THIS WEEK.

THE NEW ADDRESS IS UNITS 1-7, PODIUM LEVEL, TSUI LAU HOUSE, TSUI PING ESTATE, KWUN TONG. EQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEI, 340 8552.

-----o-------

FRESH WATER CUT IN TAI KOK TSUI

*****

FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN TAI KOK TSUI WILL GO OFF FROM II PM ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 28) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY TO FACILITATE WASTE DETECTION WORK ON WATER MAINS.

THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL THE PREMISES BOUNDED BY TAI KOK TSUI ROAD, ANCHOR STREET, OAK STREET AND FUK TSUN STREET.

- - 0-------------

ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE MEETS TOMORROW

*****

THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A MEETING AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO OBSERVE THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE PUBLIC GALLERY. THEY MAY RESERVE SEATS BY CALLING 869 9492.

-----0------

/16 ........

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993

- 16 -

WATER STORAGE FIGURE * * * *

STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 51.6 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 302.501 MILLION CUBIC METRES.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 275.163 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 47.0 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.

------o-------

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 1,155

REVERSAL OF LAF +995

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET 1NJECT1ON/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY +500

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,650

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 111.5 *-0.3* 26.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.59 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.56 3.05

1 MONTH 2.65 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.53 3.20

3 MONTHS 2.72 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.85 3.42

6 MONTHS 2.84 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.98 3.64

12 MONTHS 3.00 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 14,830 MN

CLOSED 26 APRIL 1993

--------o-----------

Received by PRO

on_2_n APR-1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

NO REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURE ON ROADWORKS ........................ 1

MTR INCIDENT .................................................... 1

VIEWS ON RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY EXPRESSED .................... 2

WORKPLACE SAFETY URGED .......................................... 3

STUDY ON NORTH LANTAU REFUSE TRANSFER STATION ................... 5

AIDS COUNSELLING HOTLINE COMPUTERISED ........................... 6

SEVEN MORE HIV-INFECTED CASES CONFIRMED ......................... 7

FARMING STUDY TOUR TO ISRAEL .................................... 8

INT'L TRANSPORT STUDY GROUP VISITS HK ........................... 9

LEGCO TO MEET TOMORROW ......................................... 10

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND TENDER RESULTS .............. 11

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS .

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

NO REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURE ON ROADWORKS * * * * *

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (TUESDAY) DENIED A STATEMENT MADE BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HK AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION IN A PRESS REPORT THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT IN THE NEW AIRPORT LEADS TO A REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURE ON ROADWORKS AND A MASS DETERIORATION OF THE ROAD SYSTEM.

THE SPOKESMAN REGRETTED THAT THE STATEMENT WAS MADE ON THE BASIS OF SOME ROUGH FIGURES IN THE 1990 TRANSPORT WHITE PAPER WHICH HAVE NOW BECOME OUTDATED.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND $7 BILLION ON ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR. THIS ALMOST DOUBLES THE ROUGH ANNUAL ESTIMATE OF $3.7 BILLION IN THE WHITE PAPER.

ON TOP OF THIS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED TO BUILDING EXTRA CLIMBING LANES ON TUEN MUN ROAD AT A COST OF $1 BILLION AND PLEDGED TO CONTRIBUTE $4 BILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROUTE-3 COUNTRY PARK SECTION.

ON ROAD MAINTENANCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID EXPENDITURE FOR 1993/94 WILL AMOUNT TO $569 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 6.5 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR.

IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND ANOTHER $220 MILLION ON ROAD RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION WORK THIS YEAR.

TO MAXIMISE THE USE OF AVAILABLE ROAD SPACE, THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO COMMITTED TO INTRODUCING MODERN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE URBAN AREA.

THERE ARE PLANS TO INSTALL A $66 MILLION AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM IN TSUEN WAN BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND TO REPLACE THE EXISTING SYSTEM TN KOWLOON BY 1995 AT A COST OF $130 MILLION.

MTR INCIDENT * * * *

COMMENTING ON THE MTR INCIDENT THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: ’’THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT WAS IN TOUCH WITH THE MTRC CHAIRMAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT TO EXPRESS HIS CONCERN.”

"HE HAS ALSO ASKED THE CHIEF INSPECTING OFFICER OF RAILWAY TO UNDERTAKE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION APART FROM THE ONE BEING CONDUCTED SEPARATELY BY THE MTRC. THE SECRETARY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVING SEPARATE REPORTS FROM THE CHIEF INSPECTING OFFICER OF RAILWAY AND THE MTRC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.'*

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

- 2

VIEWS ON RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY EXPRESSED

*****

THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) TODAY CONSIDERED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT STUDY (RDS) WHICH HAVE BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

MEMBERS NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT TAKE A VIEW ON THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY BEFORE THE PUBLIC HAD BEEN CONSULTED.

THESE PROPOSALS, IF DECIDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION, WILL BE SUBJECT TO DETAILED ENGINEERING AND FINANCIAL STUDIES.

THE MEETING RESOLVED TO ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE TAC CHAIRMAN PROFESSOR C K LEUNG TO EXAMINE THE REPORT IN DETAIL BEFORE FORMULATING ITS ADVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT WITH DUE REGARD TO PUBLIC VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE.

MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP ARE MR LEUNG KONG-YUI, MR ANTHONY YUEN AND PROFESSOR TENNY LAM.

TAC MEMBERS ALSO DISCUSSED THE REPORT OF ITS WORKING GROUP ON THE SECOND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY (CTS-2) UPDATE.

THEY GENERALLY AGREED THAT FURTHER RESTRAINT ON CAR OWNERSHIP THROUGH FISCAL MEASURES WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE AND SUGGESTED THAT CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO SELECTIVELY RESTRICTING THE USAGE OF VEHICLES AS A MEASURE TO RELIEVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

HAVING STUDIED THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE CTS-2 UPDATE, THE WORKING GROUP ALSO REAFFIRMED THE THREE MAIN PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN IN THE WHITE PAPER ON TRANSPORT POLICY. THEY ARE IMPROVING THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE; EXPANDING AND IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND MANAGING ROAD USE.

MEMBERS WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, AFTER TAKING FULL ACCOUNT OF PUBLIC VIEWS AND WITH THE CONSENT OF THE KCRC , HAD DECIDED TO LIFT THE EXISTING HUS RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE TRANSIT SERVICE AREA (TSA) OF THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENT WILL COME INTO EFFECT NOT LATER THAN JUNE 1, 1993.

TO TIE IN WITH THE NEW ARRANGEMENT, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH KMB, IS EXAMINING THE PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE SECTIONAL FARES FOR KMB ON YUEN LONG-BOUND LONG HAUL BUS ROUTES AND TO REARRANGE BUS STOPS AND OTHER TRAFFIC MEASURES.

MEMBERS WERE ALSO BRIEFED ON THE MTR PEAK PRICING POLICY. THEY NOTED THAT THE MTRC WILL REVIEW IN LATE JULY THE EFFECTS OF CANCELLING THE ADULT PEAK SURCHARGES AND CH 1LD/STUDENT CONCESSIONS BETWEEN 8 AM TO 9 AM ON THE NATHAN ROAD CORRIDOR.

/THE CORPORATION .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

THE CORPORATION WILL REINSTATE

CONCESSIONS WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1 IF DEMAND ON NATHAN ROAD CORRIDOR IS EXPECTED

TOLERABLE LEVEL OF 77,500 PASSENGERS PER

THE CHILD/STUDENT

THE REVIEW SHOWS THAT TO REMAIN WITHIN THE HOUR PER DIRECTION.

HOWEVER, IF THE DEMAND IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED THE TOLERABLE LIMITS ON A LONG-TERM BASIS, THE CHILD/STUDENT CONCESSION WILL BE WITHDRAWN PERMANENTLY.

IN SUCH EVENT, AFFECTED STUDENTS MAKING CROSS-HARBOUR JOURNEYS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH $500 WORTH OF VOUCHERS GOOD FOR BUYING CHILD/STUDENT STORED-VALUE TICKETS. STUDENTS MAKING NON CROSS-HARBOUR JOURNEYS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH $300 WORTH OF VOUCHERS.

-----0------

WORKPLACE SAFETY URGED

*******

EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS ARE URGED TO CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS IN ENSURING SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE, LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR, MR CHAN TAT-KING, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

COMMENTING ON THE DROP IN THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS RECORDED IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS OTHER THAN THE CATERING INDUSTRY IN 1992 AS COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR, MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF THE ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF BOTH PARTIES WERE MORE SAFETYCONSCIOUS.

ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, 40,205 INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS WITH 64 FATALITIES WERE RECORDED IN THE MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS OTHER THAN THE CATERING INDUSTRY LAST YEAR, REPRESENTING A DROP OF 17.1 PER CENT FROM THE 48,498 ACCIDENTS WITH 71 FATALITIES IN 1991.

"THERE WERE 16,313 ACCIDENTS WITH EIGHT FATALITIES IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, REPRESENTING A 17.6 PER CENT DROP FROM THE 19,800 ACCIDENTS AND EIGHT FATALITIES IN 1991," MR CHAN SAID, IN A PRESS CONFERENCE.

A DROP OF 9.1 PER CENT WAS SHOWN IN THE ACCIDENTS IN THE MINING AND QUARRYING, UTILITIES, TRANSPORT AND SERVICING INDUSTRIES.

"ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION HAS IMPROVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AS SHOWN BY A 18.6 PER CENT DROP IN ACCIDENTS, IT REMAINS THE MOST DANGEROUS TRADE IN HONG KONG," MR CHAN SAID.

"WITH 18,815 ACCIDENTS AND 48 FATALITIES, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STILL ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT HALF OF ALL WORK ACCIDENTS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS OTHER THAN CATERING," HE ADDED.

MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE MAJOR CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENTS WERE GENERALLY SIMILAR TO THOSE IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

/THEY INCLUDED .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

THEY INCLUDED STEPPING ON OR STRIKING AGAINST OBJECTS (13,680), MANUAL LIFTING OF WEIGHTS (8,099), FALL OF PERSONS (5,513), USE OF MACHINERY (4,168), USE OF HAND TOOLS (2,327), AND FALLING OBJECTS (2,142).

THE REMAINING ACCIDENTS RELATED TO HOT OR. CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES, TRANSPORT, EXPLOSION OR FIRE, ELECTRICITY, GASSING, POISONING AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND COLLAPSE OF SOIL.

MR CHAN SAID OF THE 64 WORKERS KILLED, 48 WERE EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

"THEY INCLUDED 24 KILLED IN FALLS FROM A HEIGHT, FIVE BY MACHINERY, FOUR RESULTING FROM STEPPING ON OR BEING STRUCK BY OBJECTS, THREE BY FALLING OBJECTS, THREE ELECTROCUTED, THREE IN EXPLOSION OR FIRE, THREE BY GASSING, POISONING AND OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES, AND ONE IN TRANSPORT.

"IN THE MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIES OTHER THAN CATERING, FIVE WERE KILLED BY MACHINERY, FOUR BY STEPPING ON OR BEING STRUCK BY OBJECTS, TWO IN FALLS FROM A HEIGHT, TWO IN EXPLOSION OR FIRE, TWO ELECTROCUTED, AND ONE IN TRANSPORT," HE ADDED.

IN ADDITION, MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ALSO ANALYSED, FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR, ACCIDENTS TN THE CATERING INDUSTRY.

"UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1990 WHICH TOOK EFFECT IN DECEMBER 1991, CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS SUCH AS RESTAURANTS, CAFES AND COOKED FOOD SHOPS ARE BROUGHT UNDER THE DEFINITION OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS," MR CHAN SAID.

"A TOTAL OF 15,138 ACCIDENTS, MOSTLY MINOR ONES, WITH ONE FATALITY WERE RECORDED IN 1992, THE CAUSES OF WHICH WERE SIMILAR TO WORK ACCIDENTS IN THE MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTR1ES," HE SAID.

"MAJORITY OF THEM WERE RESULTED FROM THE USE OF HAND TOOLS (4,995), HOT OR CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES (3,195), MANUAL LIFTING OF WEIGHTS (1,878), STEPPING ON OR. STRIKING AGAINST OBJECTS (1,875), FALL OF PERSONS (1,830).

"OTHER CAUSES INCLUDED FALLING OBJECTS, EXPLOSION OR FIRE, USE OF MACHINERY, AND TRANSPORT," HE ADDED.

MR CHAN SAID THE NEW LEGISLATION WAS AIMED AT ENSURING BETTER PROTECTION OF WORKERS’ SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE CATERING TRADE.

HE REMINDED EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.

"ANY PROPRIETOR, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE CATERING TRADE, WHO BREACHES THE SAFETY PROVISIONS IN THE LEGISLATION IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR 12 MONTHS," MR CHAN SAID.

/"MEANWHILE, AN ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

’’MEANWHILE, AN EMPLOYEE WHO CONTRAVENES THE PROVISIONS MAY ALSO BE FINED UP TO $30,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS,' HE ADDED.

MR CHAN, HOWEVER, POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN IMPROVEMENT IN THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS IN INDUSTRIES, THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY.

’’NOT EVEN ONE ACCIDENT SHOULD BE TOLERATED,” HE SAID.

HE ALSO APPEALED FOR RENEWED EFFORTS TO FURTHER KEEP WORK ACCIDENT AT BAY.

STUDY ON NORTH LANTAU REFUSE TRANSFER STATION ******

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (RPD) HAS COMMISSIONED A STUDY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REFUSE TRANSFER STATION ON NORTH LANTAU.

THE AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSULTANCY STUDY WAS SIGNED BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MR MIKE STOKOE AND THE REPRESENTATIVE OF BALFOURS INTERNATIONAL (ASIA) CONSULTING ENGINEERS LTD THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.

A SPOKESMAN FOR EPI) SAID THE NORTH LANTAU REFUSE TRANSFER STATION WOULD BE LOCATED AT A SITE SEAWARD OF THE FUTURE NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY AT SHAM SHUI KOK.

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AREAS ARE LAND PLANNED TO BE USED MAINLY FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE NEW AIRPORT AND OTHER MAJOR UTILITIES SUCH AS WATER TREATMENT WORKS AND SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS.

THE STUDY IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR PHASES.

PHASE I IS A REVIEW OF THE WASTE DISPOSAL STRATEGY FOR THE NORTH LANTAU AREA; PHASE II COVERS THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE REFUSE TRANSFER STATION AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.

THE FINAL TWO PHASES ARE MAINLY ON PREPARATION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS, TENDER INVITATION AND ASSESSMENT.

STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS TO AVOID ODOUR, DUST, WATER AND NOISE NUISANCE WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN OF THE STATION AND THE ASSOCIATED FACILITIES SO AS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROVISION OF THE REFUSE TRANSFER STATION WAS IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN WHICH STATED THAT THE LONG-TERM MUNICIPAL WASTE DISPOSAL STRATEGY OF HONG KONG REQUIRED THE PROVISION OF THREE STRATEGIC LANDFILLS AND A NETWORK OF TRANSFER STATIONS FOR TRANSPORTING WASTE IN BULK TO THESE LANDFILLS.

/THE NORTH

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

THE NORTH LANTAU REFUSE TRANSFER STATION WILL ACCEPT WASTE GENERATED FROM THE PLANNED NEW TOWNS IN TUNG CHUNG AND TAI HO, AS WELL AS THE AIRPORT AT CHEE LAP KOK AND ITS RELATED COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES.

REFUSE WILL BE COMPACTED INTO ENCLOSED CONTAINERS AND TRANSFERRED IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE MANNER TO THE WEST NEW TERRITORIES LANDFILL BY BARGES OR BULK VEHICLES.

THE STUDY ON NORTH LANTAU TRANSFER STATION, AT A COST OF ABOUT $7.2 MILLION, WILL TAKE 20 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR THE TRANSFER STATION IS EXPECTED TO START IN STAGES UPON COMPLETION OF THE STUDY BY EARLY 1995.

STAGE J OF THE STATION WOULD BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING 450 TONNES OF WASTE A DAY UPON OPERATIONAL IN EARLY 1997 AND IT’S CAPACITY WOULD BE FURTHER EXPANDED TO ACHIEVE 1,000 TONNES A DAY IN SUBSEQUENT STAGES.

--------0

AIDS COUNSELLING HOTLINE COMPUTERISED *****

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S AIDS COUNSELLING HOTLINE 780 2211 HAS BEEN COMPUTERISED TO IMPROVE SERVICE.

UNDER THE COMPUTERISED NETWORK KNOWN AS THE PROACTIVE VOICE AND FAX RESPONSE (PVFR) SYSTEM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY DIAL THE SAME NUMBER FOR AUDIO INFORMATION INTERACTIVELY THROUGH THE PHONE LINES, ASK FOR IT TO BE FAXED OR FOR DIRECT CONVERSATION WITH NURSING COUNSELLORS.

’’THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING THE COMPUTERISED. SYSTEM IS TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY IN THE DELIVERY OF THIS IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ON AIDS EDUCATION,” THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR S H LEE SAID LN A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY) TO LAUNCH THE NEW SYSTEM.

THE DEPARTMENT’S AIDS HOTLINE RECEIVED A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 1,344 CALLS LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 20 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE HOTLINE RECORDED 1,644 CALLS IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.

’’THE NEW SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BETTER FLEXIBILITY TO CALLERS AS WELL AS TO MINIMISE THE NUMBER OF UNANSWERED CALLS,” DR LEE SAID.

THERE ARE SEVEN PIECES OF RECORDED MESSAGES IN BOTH CANTONESE AND ENGLISH. THEY INCLUDE TOPICS SUCH AS ’’WHAT IS AIDS”, ’’WOMEN AND AIDS” AND "WHAT IF I CONTRACTED AIDS”.

/THE VARIOUS .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

THE VARIOUS ADDRESSES OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SOCIAL HYGIENE CLINICS FOR TREATMENT OF VENEREAL DISEASES CAN BE OBTAINED BY FAX.

”A CALLER MAY CHOOSE TO LISTEN TO ANY OF THE PRE-RECORDED MESSAGES ON SPECIFIC AREAS OF HIS CONCERN BY SIMPLE PRESSING THE PRE-DEFINED BUTTONS.

"AS BEFORE, THE TELEPHONE COUNSELLING SERVICE IS SUPPORTED BY OTHER RELATED OPERATIONS, INCLUDING HIV TESTS, CLINICAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES.

"ALL THESE ARE EVIDENCE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S DETERMINATION IN PUTTING AIDS UNDER SATISFACTORY CONTROL," THE DIRECTOR ADDED.

DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, DR LEE PRESENTED SOUVENIRS TO RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG PRODUCER MISS NG MAN YEE, AND PRESENTERS MISS CHEA SHUK-MUI AND MR HUGH CH I VERTON TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN DOING THE VOICE OVER FOR THE TAPED MESSAGES.

THE DEPARTMENT’S TELEPHONE COUNSELLING SERVICE WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1985, WITH THE PRIME OBJECTIVE OF ANSWERING QUERIES FROM MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND CONCERNED PEOPLE.

ONLY ONE NURSING OFFICER WAS DESIGNATED TO THE JOB AT THAT TIME.

IN 1987, THE SERVICE WAS EXPANDED TO CATER FOR INCREASING PUBLIC DEMAND AND THE FAMILIAR NUMBER 780 2211 WAS INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE COUNSELLING TO PEOPLE IN NEED.

--------0-----------

SEVEN MORE HIV-INFECTED CASES CONFIRMED

* * * * *

FIVE MEN AND TWO WOMEN WERE FOUND TO BE POSITIVE FOR THE HIV ANTIBODY TEST LAST MONTH, BRINGING THE NUMBER OF HIV-INFECTED PERSONS IN HONG KONG TO 355.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S CONSULTANT (SPECIAL PREVENTIVE PROGRAMME), DR S S LEE SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT FOUR AIDS CASES WERE REPORTED DURING THE MONTH.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED AIDS CASKS IS 80 WITH 51 DEATHS. THE 29 OTHERS ARE EITHER UNDER COUNSELLING AND TREATMENT OR HAVE LEFT THE TERRITORY.

OF THE 355 PERSONS INFECTED, 251 GOT THE INFECTION SEXUALLY, EIGHT WERE INTRAVENOUS DRUG-USERS, AND 64 GOT THE INFECTION THROUGH CONTAMINATED BLOOD OR BLOOD PRODUCTS BEFORE 1985 WHEN HIV ANTIBODY TEST AND SAFE HEAT-TREATED CLOTTING CONCENTRATES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

FOR THE REMAINING 32, THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE WAS INADEQUATE FOR CLASSIFICATION.

/UNDER THE ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

UNDER THE HIV SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME WHICH STARTED IN 1985, A TOTAL OF 266,179 BLOOD SPECIMENS HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR THE HIV ANTIBODY.

THE HONG KONG RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE HAS ALSO SCREENED ALL BLOOD DONORS FOR AIDS.

UP TO LAST MONTH, 1,225,811 UNITS OF BLOOD HAVE BEEN TESTED AND 27 DONORS WERE FOUND POSITIVE.

--------0-----------

FARMING STUDY ♦ *

TOUR TO ISRAEL ♦ ♦ *

A 30-MEMBER DELEGATION WILL DEPART FOR ISRAEL ON FRIDAY (APRIL 30) TO STUDY ITS NEW AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES AND SHARE FARMING AND MARKETING EXPERIENCE WITH RELATED ORGANISATIONS THERE.

THE STUDY GROUP WILL VISIT THE 12TH INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION IN TEL AVIV, THE LARGEST EXPO OF ITS KIND IN MODERN HISTORY.

THE STUDY TOUR HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION AND FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES LTD.

TO SHOW SUPPORT TO THE DELEGATION, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, PRESENTED A BANNER TO ITS LEADER MR YUNG T1N-TACK AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.

DR LEE HOPED THAT THE MEMBERS WOULD MAKE FULL USE OF THE VISIT TO ENHANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNIQUES ON AGRICULTURE WITH A VIEW TO PROMOTING THE TERRITORY’S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

’’THE GROUP’S STUDY WILL EMPHASISE ON VARIOUS ASPECTS, INCLUDING DRY LAND CULTIVATION, IRRIGATION, TILLAGE AND EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS ON PLANT PROTECTION, SPRAYING AND HARVESTING.

"THOUSANDS OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS FROM NO FEWER THAN 115 COUNTRIES OR TERRITORIES WILL TAKE PART IN THE TRIENNIAL EXPO BELIEVED TO HAVE THE MOST VARIETY OF EXHIBITS," DR LEE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR NOTED THAT THE DELEGATION WILL ALSO VISIT THE UNITED NATIONS’ FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION (FAO) IN ROME, ITALY.

DURING THEIR STAY AT FAO’S HEADQUARTERS, DELEGATION MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH ITS EXPERTS ON PLANT PROTECTION, FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, HE ADDED.

/DR LEE ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

- 9

DR LEE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE ISRAEL CONSULATEGENERAL IN HONG KONG AND FAO FOR THEIR HELP IN BRINGING ABOUT THE STUDY VISIT.

THE DELEGATION INCLUDES SIX MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS. DR LEE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE TERRITORY’S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND MARKETING MANAGEMENT.

-----0------

INT’L TRANSPORT STUDY GROUP VISITS HK *****

A DELEGATION OF ABOUT 300 MEMBERS OF THE UNION INTERNATIONALE DES TRANSPORTS PUBLICS (UITP) WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) ON A FOUR-DAY STUDY TOUR.

THE UNION, FOUNDED IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM IN 1885, IS THE PREMIER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR THE STUDY OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

THE UNION IS TO HOLD ITS 50TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS IN SYDNEY IN MAY AND MEMBERS ARE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC TRANSPORT STUDY TOUR OF HONG KONG.

THE STUDY TOUR PROGRAMME HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY A CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR RICHARD MEAKIN, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG.

WHILE IN HONG KONG, THE DELEGATES WILL LEARN HOW THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG OPERATES, THE ROAD AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURES.

THE DELEGATES WILL VISIT THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY, THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, THE HONGKONG TRAMWAYS, THE PEAK TRAM, AND SOME TRANSPORT INFRASTUCTURES INCLUDING THE TSUEN WAN MTR/BUS INTERCHANGE, THE SHING MUN TUNNELS, THE SHA TIN TOWN PLAZA, THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL AND THE LAM TIN INTERCHANGE.

THE DELEGATION WILL LEAVE HONG KONG FOR SYDNEY IN THE EVENING OF MAY 1.

- 0

/10.........

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

- 10 -

LEGCO TO MEET TOMORROW

*■&■***

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL ASK A TOTAL OF 20 QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER THREE BILLS AT THE COUNCIL’S MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

OF THE THREE BILLS, TWO WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. DEBATES ON THEM ARE DUE TO BE ADJOURNED.

THEY ARE JUDICIAL OFFICERS (TENURE OF OFFICE) BILL AND INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993.

DEBATE ON OZONE LAYER PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WILL BE RESUMED, AND IS DUE TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND BE GIVEN A THIRD READING.

IN ADDITION, THREE REPORTS WILL BE TABLED AT MEETING.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY WILL PRESENT A REPORT OF THE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE 1993-94. THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY WILL PRESENT A REPORT OF CHANGES TO THE APPROVED ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE APPROVED DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992-93.

A REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT ON THE RESULTS OF VALUE FOR MONEY AUDITS MARCH 1993 WILL ALSO BE TABLED.

THE HON K K FUNG WILL MOVE A MOTION ON THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND GOVERNMENT. THE HON STEVEN POON WILL MOVE ANOTHER MOTION ON CRITERIA FOR SETTING THE FEES AND CHARGES AND PROFIT LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO OBSERVE THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL MEETING FROM THE PUBLIC GALLERY, THEY MAY MAKE RESERVATIONS BY CALLING 869 9492.

-----0------

/Il ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND TENDER RESULTS *****

TENDER DATE PAPER ON OFFER ISSUE NUMBER AMOUNT APPLIED 27 APR 93 EF BILLS Q317 HKD3,745 MN 27 APR 93 EF BILLS H363 HKD2,350 MN

AMOUNT ALLOTTED HKD1,000 MN HKD400 MN

AVERAGE YIELD ACCEPTED 2.76 PCT 2.87 PCT

HIGHEST YIELD ACCEPTED 2.77 PCT 2.87 PCT

PRO RATA RATIO ABOUT 40 PCT ABOUT 95 PCT

AVERAGE TENDER YIELD 2.81 PCT 2.92 PCT

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

TENDERS TO BE HELD IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 3 MAY 1993 -

TENDER DATE 4 MAY 93

PAPER ON OFFER EF BILLS

ISSUE NUMBER Q318

ISSUE DATE 5 MAY 93

MATURITY DATE 4 AUG 93

TENOR 91 DAYS

AMOUNT ON OFFER HKD1,000 + 200 MN

----0-------

/12 ........

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

* * * * *

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,650

REVERSAL OF LAF -500

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NI L

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY NIL

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,150

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 111.50 *+0.0* 27.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.81 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.47 3.13

1 MONTH 2.77 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.45 3.26

3 MONTHS 2.79 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.79 3.46

6 MONTHS 2.90 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.92 3.67

12 MONTHS 3.07 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 22,866 MN

CLOSED 27 APRIL 1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

FAIREST WIND FOR TALKS: GOVERNOR ............................... 1

GOVT INVESTIGATION INTO MTR INCIDENT ........................... 2

GOVERNOR VISITS YUEN LONG ...................................... 2

FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE REPORT RELEASED .......................... 3

MORE EXPLANATIONS ON MATERNITY PROTECTION ...................... 4

ACC MEMBERS TOUR WORKS SITES ................................... 5

TV SHOW ON AIDS EDUCATION ...................................... 6

PUBLIC HEARING ON AUDIT REPORT ................................. 7

SHEK KIP MEI SITE TO LET ....................................... 7

269 RETURN TO VIETNAM .......................................... 8

FRESH WATER CUT IN TAI PO ...................................... 8

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 1 FAIREST WIND FOR TALKS: GOVERNOR ♦ * ♦ * *

PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WANT TO GIVE THE TALKS ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS THE FAIREST POSSIBLE WIND WHILE RECOGNISING THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING YUEN LONG DISTRICT, MR PATTEN SAID: "I THINK THAT THEREFORE MOST PEOPLE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, BELIEVE THAT IT’S SENSIBLE FOR THE NEGOTIATORS TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER CONFIDENTIALLY SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO THEIR DIFFICULT TALKS.”

HE NOTED THAT THE NEGOTIATORS WERE CONDUCTING THE TALKS IN A PROFESSIONAL AND SINCERE WAY.

"WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS DURING THE TALKS, THE GIVE AND TAKE IN THE TALKS, WILL, I HOPE, LEAD TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME," THE GOVERNOR SAID.

"BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF DIFFICULT PROBLEMS FOR US TO TACKLE. I THINK BOTH SIDES WANT TO SEE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME AND I, FOR MY PART, EXPRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND EXPRESS ON OTHER OCCASIONS WHAT MY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE. I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN WIDELY SHARED IN HONG KONG."

ASKED ABOUT THE TIMING OF INTRODUCING THE POLITICAL PROPOSALS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR PATTEN SAID A NUMBER OF FACTORS HAD TO BE TAKEN ACCOUNT OF.

"FIRST OF ALL, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PROGRESS AND SUCCESS MADE IN THE TALKS," HE SAID.

"SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT I’M SURE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD NOT WANT US TO BE NEGOTIATING AT THE SAME TIME AS WE WERE PUTTING PROPOSALS IN FRONT OF THEM.

"THIRDLY, AND IT IS SOMETHING WHICH I’M SURE IS RECOGNISED BY CHINESE OFFICIALS AND NEGOTIATORS AS WELL AS BY US, WE DON’T HAVE AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME.

"WE DO HAVE TO PUT ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE FOR THE 1994/1995 ELECTIONS AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO HAVE LEGISLATION IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS WORK SATISFACTORILY.”

--------0------------

/2 .........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

GOVT INVESTIGATION INTO MTR INCIDENT ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS INVITING THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTING OFFICER OF RAILWAYS FROM UK TO COME TO HK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO YESTERDAY’S TRAIN INCIDENT. THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE MTRC’S OWN INVESTIGATION.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEUNG SAID: ’’PUBLIC CONCERN OVER YESTERDAY’S INCIDENT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD. BOTH THE MTRC AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPARE NO EFFORT IN FINDING OUT THE CAUSES OF THE INCIDENT.

"OUR AIMS ARE TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE AND TO ASCERTAIN WHAT FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE TO TRAIN SAFETY."

HE EXPECTED THE PRELIMINARY REPORTS OF THE SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS TO REACH HIM WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF COMMENCEMENT.

MR LEUNG SAID BOTH THE MTRC’S AND THE GOVERNMENT’S INVESTIGATIONS WOULD COVER THE FULL RANGE OF POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THE INCIDENT AND RECOMMENDED REMEDIAL ACTIONS.

MR LEUNG PROMISED THAT THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATIONS WOULD BE MADE PUBLIC.

HE REASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TWO RAIL CORPORATIONS ATTACH UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO SAFETY OF TRAIN OPERATIONS.

APART FROM A VIGOROUS SAFETY-CHECK PROGRAMME UNDERTAKEN BY THE CORPORATIONS, THE SAFETY OF THEIR OPERATIONS IS CLOSELY MONITORED BY AN INDEPENDENT RAILWAY INSPECTORATE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

---------0

GOVERNOR VISITS YUEN LONG

*****

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, VISITED YUEN LONG THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

HIS FIRST STOP WAS NAM PIN WAI WHERE HE TOURED THE

400-YEAR-OLD INDIGENOUS VILLAGE.

MR PATTEN THEN WENT TO THE YUEN LONG NULLAH DAM WHERE HE WAS BRIEFED ON IMPROVEMENT WORKS WHICH WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR AT A COST OF $135 MILLION.

/AFTER VISITING

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

AFTER VISITING THE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL LONG PING CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE, MR PATTEN MET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AT A RECEPTION IN THE TOWN HALL.

MR PATTEN WAS ACCOMPANIED DURING THE VISIT BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ALBERT LAM; YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROBIN MCLEISH; AND YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR TAI KUEN.

- - 0------------

FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE REPORT RELEASED * * * * *

THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (FCC) REPORT NO.12 WHICH GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF THE FCC, ITS SUB-COMMITTEES, AND WORKING GROUPS WAS RELEASED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DURING THE YEAR, THE FCC CONTINUED TO FUNCTION THROUGH ITS FIVE SUB-COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS -- THE WORKING GROUP ON TRIADS IN SCHOOLS, THE WORKING GROUP ON SECURITY OF GOLDSMITH AND JEWELLERY SHOPS, THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON YOUNG OFFENDERS, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE REGULATION OF THE SECURITY INDUSTRY, AND THE PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE.

ON THE WORK OF THE WORKING GROUP ON TRIADS IN SCHOOLS, RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE FOCUSING ON PROVIDING SUPPORT TO STUDENTS TO PREVENT THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN TRIAD ACTIVITIES, AND ON WAYS TO DETER THE GLAMORISATION OF TRIADS IN TELEVISION PROGRAMMES AND FILMS.

DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW, THE WORKING GROUP ON SECURITY OF GOLDSMITH AND JEWELLERY SHOPS WAS RE-ESTABLISHED IN THE LIGHT OF THE INCREASE IN ROBBERIES OF SUCH SHOPS OVER THE PAST YEARS.

THE FCC ENDORSED THE WORKING GROUP’S RECOMMENDATION OF ADOPTING A SELF-REGULATORY APPROACH, WITH GUIDELINES ON MINIMUM SECURITY STANDARDS DRAWN UP AND A "SECURITY MEASURES GROUP” SET UP BY THE TRADE TO MONITOR THE SECURITY STANDARDS IN THESE PREMISES.

AS FOR THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON YOUNG OFFENDERS, THE REPORT SAID IT CONTINUED TO EXAMINE FACTORS WHICH AFFECTED YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK OF INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME, AND TO CONSIDER PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES WHICH COULD BE TAKEN WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CURRENT EDUCATION, SOCIAL AND CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES.

THE STANDING COMMITTEE ALSO MONITORED THE WORK OF THE YOUNG OFFENDER ASSESSMENT PANEL AND COMMISSIONED RESEARCH INTO THE SOCIAL CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIMES BILL WAS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST YEAR.

/THE ADVISORY .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE REGULATION OF THE SECURITY INDUSTRY HAD PREPARED DRAFT LEGISLATION TO REGULATE THE LOCAL SECURITY INDUSTRY.

THE MAJOR TASK OF THE PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE IN THE REPORTING PERIOD CONTINUED IN PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CRIME PREVENTION AND THE REPORTING OF CRIME INFORMATION.

OTHER RELATED FIGHT CRIME MATTERS STATED IN THE REPORT INCLUDED THE EXPANSION OF THE SCOPE OF THE EXISTING REHABILITATION SCHEME; PROGRESS ON LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ORDINANCE; PLANS TO UPGRADE THE INTERGRATED LAW AND ORDER STATISTICAL COMPUTERISED SYSTEM; AND FORMATION OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THE EXISTING WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME AND OTHER WITNESS ASSURANCE AND ASSISTANCE SCHEMES.

ON THE CRIME SITUATION IN 1992, THE REPORT NOTED A WELCOME DECREASE OF 5.2 PER CENT IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIME, FROM 88,659 IN 1991 TO 84,056 IN 1992. THE OVERALL DETECTION RATE WAS 45.2 PER CENT, THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.

MORE EXPLANATIONS ON MATERNITY PROTECTION

♦ ♦ ♦ * *

A WOMAN WHO INTENDS TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE AFTER WORKING FOR AN EMPLOYER FOR 12 WEEKS IS PROTECTED FROM BEING DISMISSED UPON GIVING NOTICE TO HER EMPLOYER AND THE PROTECTION IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THE IMMEDIATE PROVISION OF A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, THE CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER (LABOUR RELATIONS), MR JAMES YEUNG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER MEETING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN WORKERS, MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT A FEMALE WORKER WHO INTENDED TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE SHOULD GIVE NOTICE TO THAT EFFECT TO HER EMPLOYER AFTER HER PREGNANCY HAD BEEN CERTIFIED.

"IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT THE NOTICE SHALL SPECIFY THE EXPECTED DATE OF CONFINEMENT AND THE DATE ON WHICH THE MATERNITY LEAVE IS TO COMMENCE," MR YEUNG SAID.

MEANWHILE, THE ORDINANCE ALSO PROVIDES THAT THE EMPLOYEE WILL HAVE TO, UPON HER EMPLOYER’S REQUEST, PRODUCE A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE CERTIFYING THAT SHE IS PREGNANT AND SPECIFYING THE EXPECTED DATE OF CONFINEMENT.

"NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT AT THE TIME THE NOTICE IS LODGED WITH THE EMPLOYER, IT HAS TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE," MR YEUNG SAID.

"NOR DOES THE LAW SET A TIME LIMIT FOR THE EMPLOYEE TO PRODUCE THE CERTIFICATE SPECIFYING THE THREE ITEMS OF INFORMATION REQUIRED.

/"IN OTHER .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

"IN OTHER WORDS, AN EMPLOYEE IS PROTECTED FROM DISMISSAL ONCE THE NOTICE IS GIVEN TO HER EMPLOYER," HE ADDED.

MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS PREPARED A STANDARD FORM OF NOTICE, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, TO FACILITATE EMPLOYEES TO COMPLY WITH THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

"COPIES OF THIS FORM ARE NOW AVAILABLE, FREE OF CHARGE, 1N THE 11 LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY," HE SAID.

MR YEUNG SAID EMPLOYEES INTENDING TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE MIGHT CONSIDER USING THE FORM AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE TO AVOID UNNECESSARY MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND DISPUTES.

WITH REGARD TO SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT AN EMPLOYEE SHOULD NOTIFY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OF HER PREGNANCY BEFORE GIVING NOTICE TO HER EMPLOYER, MR YEUNG SAID: "THIS IS NOT NECESSARY."

HE ALSO APPEALED TO REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS TO ISSUE A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE TO A PREGNANT EMPLOYEE CERTIFYING THE EXPECTED DATE OF HER CONFINEMENT.

------0-------

ACC MEMBERS TOUR WORKS SITES

*****

MEMBERS OF THE AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (ACC) SUB-COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TOURED THE CONSTRUCTION SITES OF THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING AND NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY, TWO ESSENTIAL TRANSPORT COMPONENTS OF THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME.

THEY FIRST ARRIVED AT THE TSING MA BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION SITE ON THE ISLANDS OF TSING YI AND MA WAN WHERE THEY WERE BRIEFED ON THE CURRENT PROGRESS OF BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION BY PROJECT DIRECTOR, LANTAU FIXED CROSSING MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, MR H S KWONG.

MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT MAJOR PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE WITH REGARD TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TSING MA BRIDGE. MOST OF THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT SO FAR WAS EITHER BELOW GROUND, UNDERWATER OR OVERSEAS.

ON THE TSING YI ISLAND SITE, THE WORK ON EXCAVATION FOR THE CABLE ANCHORAGE HAS ALMOST BEEN COMPLETED. THERE ARE THREE TWIN STEM PIERS BETWEEN THE ANCHORAGE ABUTMENT STRUCTURE AND THE MAIN TSING YI TOWN, FOR WHICH THE EXCAVATION AND POURING OF THE BASE CONCRETE ARE NOW SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED. \

/THERE ARE .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 6

THERE ARE ALSO TWO PIERS ON THE MA WAN SIDE BETWEEN THE TOWER AND ABUTMENT STRUCTURE AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF THIS STRUCTURE ARE ALSO COMPLETED.

THE VISIT WAS FOLLOWED BY A BOAT TOUR OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES OF THE KAP SHUI MUN BRIDGE AND NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY.

MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED ON THE PROGRESS OF WORK ON THE EXPRESSWAY BY CHIEF ENGINEER (NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY) OF THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, MR C H WAN.

MEMBERS NOTED THAT CONTRACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TAI HO AND YAM O SECTIONS OF THE NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY HAVE BEEN AWARDED, AND WORKS HAD BEEN PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY.

AS REGARDS THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING, THREE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS - THE TSING MA BRIDGE, THE KAP SHUI MUN BRIDGE AND MA WAN VIADUCT, AND THE ADVANCE EARTHWORKS FOR ROUTE 3 INTERCHANGE - HAVE ALSO BEEN AWARDED.

ALL THESE CONTRACTS WERE AWARDED WITHIN BUDGET AND ON SCHEDULE.

THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING WILL BE CONNECTED BY THE NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY TO FORM PART OF AN EXTENSIVE TRANSPORT NETWORK LINKING THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK AND TUNG CHUNG NEW TOWN TO THE URBAN AREAS OF KOWLOON AND HONG KONG.

------0-------

TV SHOW ON AIDS EDUCATION

*****

AN ’’ENJOY YOURSELF TONIGHT” SHOW ON AIDS WILL BE STAGED ON FRIDAY (APRIL 30), SIGNIFYING THE BEGINNING OF A MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AIDS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR S H LEE, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE SHOW TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DURING THE SHOW, AUDIENCE WILL BE GIVEN AIDS AWARENESS PLAYING CARDS AND RED RIBBONS WHICH SYMBOLISE CONCERN FOR AIDS VICTIMS.

PEOPLE EXPRESSING CONCERN ON AIDS MAY CALL UP 50 HOTLINES MANNED BY NURSES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND YAN CHAT HOSPITAL ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG; THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MRS IRENE YAU; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL BOARD, MR WONG CHI-MUK; AND DR LEE.

’’AIDS HAS CAUSED MUCH PUBLIC CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL SUFFERING AND ITS SOCIAL IMPLICATION.”

/HE SAID .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN THE AIDS CHALLENGE SERIOUSLY.

"A MULTI-SECTORAL APPROACH HAS BEEN ADOPTED IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING OUR AIDS PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES.

’’THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS DETERMINED TO STEP UP THE CAMPAIGN BY STRENGTHENING EXISTING PROGRAMMES AS WELL AS EXPLORING NEW WAYS OF PROMPTING AIDS AWARENESS,” DR LEE SAID.

HE THANKED TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED AND YAN CHAI HOSPITAL FOR THEIR ACTIVE SUPPORT AS CO-ORGANISERS OF THE SHOW, AND HONG KONG TELECOMMUNICATION IN SPONSORING THE 50 TELEPHONE LINES.

PUBLIC HEARING ON AUDIT REPORT

* * *

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 3 (MONDAY) FOLLOWING THE TABLING OF THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT’S REPORT NO.20 SETS OUT THE ACCOUNTS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BETWEEN OCTOBER 1992 AND FEBRUARY 1993 ON THE RESULTS OF VALUE FOR MONEY AUDITS.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE HEARING WHICH WILL BE HELD IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 9 AM.

SHEK KIP MEI SITE TO LET *****

THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF A PIECE OF GOVERNMENT LAND LOCATED BETWEEN PAK WAN STREET AND PAK TIN STREET IN SHEK KIP MEI, KOWLOON.

THE PIECE OF LAND, WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 4,700 SQUARE METRES, IS INTENDED FOR USE AS A FEE-PAYING PARKING AREA FOR GOODS VEHICLES, EXCLUDING CONTAINER VEHICLES.

THE TENANCY IS FOR THREE YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.

/CLOSING DATE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MAY 14.

FORMS OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON WEST, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON AND THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD.

TENDER PLAN CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE OFFICES.

------0--------

269 RETURN TO VIETNAM *****

A GROUP OF 269 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNDER THE UNHCR’S VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME.

COMPRISING 94 MEN, 70 WOMEN, 55 BOYS AND 50 GIRLS, THEY WERE THE 150TH BATCH TO GO BACK UNDER THE PROGRAMME.

THE GROUP BRINGS TO 2,318 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE RETURNED VOLUNTARILY THIS YEAR, AND TO 28,630 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RETURNEES SINCE THE PROGRAMME STARTED IN MARCH 1989.

-----0------

FRESH WATER CUT IN TAI PO

*****

FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN TAI 10 PM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 30) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING WASTE DETECTION WORK ON WATER MAINS.

PO WILL GO OFF FROM DAY TO FACILITATE

AK.r. n.,.r.THE SUSPENSI0N WILL AFFECT ALL THE PREMISES IN AND THE ELECTRIC SUB-STATION AT HONG LOK YUEN ROAD.

HONG LOK YUEN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 9 -

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,150

REVERSAL OF LAF NIL

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY "30

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,120

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 112.0 *+0.5* 28.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.71 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.52 3.08

1 MONTH 2.72 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.46 3.25

3 MONTHS 2.75 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.80 3.45

6 MONTHS 2.87 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.89 3.69

12 MONTHS 3.06 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 17,747 MN

CLOSED 28 APRIL 1993

-----0------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

SUPPLEMENT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL:

SPEECH BY SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR K Y YEUNG ON MOTION ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES FEES AND CHARGES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ....................................................... 1

SPEECH BY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON IN MOTION DEBATE ON HOUSING AUTHORITY’S FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS ....................................... 9

PHASED BNO PROGRAMME FAIR AND PRACTICABLE .................... 13

LOCAL OFFICERS WILL FILL PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL POSTS ........... 15

CIVIL SERVICE POSTS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ......... 16

LAND USE ON LANTAU UNDER CONTROL ............................. 16

SEA TRAFFIC BETWEEN HK AND GUANGDONG ......................... 17

MEASURES TO PREVENT PROJECT DELAYS IN PLACE .............. 17

WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS ....................................... 18

a POST OFFICE SETS FAIR RETURN RATE ............................ 19

/PUBLIC WORKS

PUBLIC WORKS PROGRESS COMMITTEE REVAMPED ....................... 20

BROADER REPRESENTATION TO HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTINUES .......... 20

LEGISLATORS TOLD OF EMPLOYEES RETRAINING PROGRESS .............. 21

DISTRICT BOARDS CONSULTED ON WELFARE FACILITIES ................ 22

VIETNAMESE ENCOURAGED TO RETURN HOME ........................... 23

PUBLIC TO BE CONSULTED ON HEALTH CARE REFORMS .................. 24

BALANCED EDUCATION FOR HK STUDENTS ........................... 24

LITTLE CHANCE FOR FOOD CATERING MONOPOLY IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ....................................................... 25

SHORTFALL OF 241 PRIMARY ONE PLACES IN YUEN LONG ............... 26

GOVT SUPPORTS DRUG REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES ................... 26

PLANS TO IMPROVE HARBOUR ROAD TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ............... 27

VISITORS FROM TAIWAN ON THE RISE ............................... 28

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 INTRODUCED .................................................... 28

SEPARATE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL PROVISIONS FOR JUDICIAL OFFICERS ...................................................... 29

CHANGES TO APPROVED EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES FOR THIRD QUARTER . 30

MOTION ON GOVT SERVICES FEES PASSED ............................ 30

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

SPEECH BY SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR K Y YEUNG ON MOTION ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES FEES AND CHARGES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL *****

MR PRESIDENT,

INTRODUCTION

FOCUS OF DEBATE

THE PRINCIPAL CONCERN IN THIS DEBATE HAS BEEN THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TOWARDS ITS PUBLIC UTILITY OPERATIONS. HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE QUERIED THE BASIS FOR THE RATES OF RETURN EARNED BY THESE UTILITIES. THEY HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF OUR MONITORING AND ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS. BUT I HAVE ALSO DETECTED TWO, MORE BASIC CRITICISMS. THE FIRST IS THAT THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND OUR ENTIRE POLICY TOWARDS FEES AND CHARGES IS A SOMEWHAT AD HOC ARRANGEMENT. THE SECOND IS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS NEVER BEEN PROPERLY AWARE OF THIS POLICY OR PARTY TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND THAT THE PUBLIC HAS SIMILARLY BEEN KEPT IN THE DARK.

OUTLINE OF SPEECH

2. I WILL BEGIN THIS EVENING BY SHOWING THAT BOTH THESE CRITICISMS ARE QUITE UNFOUNDED, THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS FOR MANY YEARS HAD A CLEAR SET OF POLICIES UNDER WHICH THE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES IS DETERMINED, AND THAT HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FULLY AWARE OF BOTH THE PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS FOR OUR STRATEGY AND THE DETAILS OF HOW IT IS IMPLEMENTED. I SHALL GO ON TO SUMMARISE ONCE MORE THE MAIN FEATURES OF OUR FEES AND CHARGES SYSTEM, BEFORE FOCUSING ON GOVERNMENT UTILITY CHARGES AND REFUTING SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT HAVE EMERGED THIS AFTERNOON IN RELATION TO THE TARGET RATES OF RETURN. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, I SHALL CONCLUDE BY SETTING OUT THE GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON THE REVIEW PROPOSED IN MR. POON’S MOTION.

/FEES AND ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

FEES AND CHARGES : CONTINUITY OF POLICY

3. MR PRESIDENT, THE SUGGESTION THAT OUR SYSTEM OF FEES AND CHARGES IS A NEW ONE, OR ONE DEVELOPED PIECE-MEAL, IS QUITE MISLEADING. IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH IN 1975, THE THEN FINANCIAL SECRETARY EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR "CLEAR-CUT IDEAS AS TO THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT FEES AND CHARGES". HE WENT ON TO DEFINE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SIX CATEGORIES WHICH STILL FORM THE STRUCTURE OF FEES AND CHARGES POLICY, AND TO WHICH I SHALL RETURN IN A MOMENT. OF PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO THIS EVENING’S DEBATE, HE DEFINED THE GOVERNMENT’S OBJECTIVE FOR ITS PUBLIC UTILITIES AS "TO DETERMINE FEES AT A LEVEL AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER COSTS AND TO EARN A FAIR RETURN ON CAPITAL INVESTED, UNLESS THE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES ARE UNACCEPTABLE". HE ALSO NOTED THAT SIMILAR STATEMENTS OF POLICY HAD BEEN MADE ON MANY PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.

4. THESE PRINCIPLES WERE RESTATED IN THE 1978 BUDGET SPEECH, WHICH REFERRED TO THE NEED FOR STANDARDISED SETS OF ACCOUNTS FOR ALL THE GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC UTILITIES, SO AS "TO DEMONSTRATE THE TRUE PROFIT AND LOSS POSITION OF EACH UNDERTAKING AND THE RETURN ON AVERAGE NET FIXED ASSETS EMPLOYED". AND SUBSEQUENT FINANCIAL SECRETARIES HAVE REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO THESE SAME PRINCIPLES IN THIS CHAMBER, NOTABLY IN THE BUDGET SPEECHES IN 1986 AND 1987. THROUGHOUT, THE UNDERLYING RATIONALE FOR OUR FEES AND CHARGES SYSTEM HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT

5. SO OUR POLICY TOWARDS FEES AND CHARGES GENERALLY, AND PUBLIC UTILITY FEES IN PARTICULAR, HAS A LONG AND RESPECTABLE PEDIGREE. BUT I MUST ALSO REFUTE THE SUGGESTION THAT HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE PLAYED ONLY A PASSIVE ROLE IN ACCEPTING AND IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY. OVER 2,450 OF THE 5,000 FEES AND CHARGES REVIEWED BY THE GOVERNMENT EACH YEAR ARE EITHER EXPLICITLY SUBJECT TO HONOURABLE MEMBERS’ APPROVAL, OR ARE SUBJECT TO MONITORING AND CHALLENGE BY HONOURABLE MEMBERS THROUGH THE MECHANISM OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION BEING LAID ON THE TABLE OF THIS COUNCIL, ACCOMPANIED BY THE ISSUE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BRIEFS. THESE INCLUDE THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S FEES AND CHARGES IN REVENUE TERMS, ALL TAX-LOADED FEES, THE MAJORITY OF UTILITY CHARGES AND PUBLICLY SENSITIVE FEES SUCH AS THOSE RELATING TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

6. NOR IS IT THE CASE THAT HONOURABLE MEMBERS’ ATTENTION IS ONLY DRAWN TO FEES AND CHARGES POLICY WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL FEE IS PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL. THIS COUNCIL’S AD HOC GROUP ON FEES AND CHARGES WAS, FOR EXAMPLE, BRIEFED IN DETAIL ON THE GOVERNMENT'S FEE REVIEW SYSTEM AS RECENTLY AS NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, AND PROVIDED WITH COPIES OF THE FINANCIAL CIRCULARS WHICH SET OUT THE GOVERNMENT’S COSTING AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES FOR EACH CATEGORY OF FEE AND CHARGE. MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL ARE ALSO PERIODICALLY REMINDED IN THIS CHAMBER ITSELF OF THE GOVERNMENT’S FEES AND CHARGES POLICY. MOST RECENTLY, I REHEARSED THE KEY FEATURES OF OUR SYSTEM FOR REVISING PUBLIC UTILITY CHARGES DURING THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE ROAD TUNNELS (GOVERNMENT) (AMENDMENT) REGULATION 1993. IT IS THUS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, MR PRESIDENT, THAT MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL ARE A REGULAR PARTY BOTH TO THE APPROVAL OF NUMEROUS SPECIFIC FEES AND TO THE PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THESE APPROVALS ARE GIVEN.

STATEMENT OF POLICY ON FEES AND CHARGES

NEVERTHELESS, MR PRESIDENT, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THIS EVENING THAT THERE IS BOTH A NEED AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND HONOURABLE MEMBERS YET AGAIN OF THE MAIN FEATURES OF OUR OVERALL FEES AND CHARGES STRATEGY.

8. GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN DIVIDED INTO THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES. FIRST, THERE ARE ORDINARY DEPARTMENTAL FEES. THESE MAKE UP THE LARGE NUMERICAL MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IN REVENUE TERMS. THEY ARE SET AT LEVELS SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER FULL COST, UNLESS THERE IS A CONSCIOUS POLICY DECISION TO SUBSIDISE THE SERVICES CONCERNED. THE FULL COST RECOVERY PRINCIPLE IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO HIDDEN SUBSIDY TO THE USERS OF THE SERVICES BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE SECOND CATEGORY IS TAX-LOADED FEES, SUCH AS BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEES OR FEES FOR DRIVING LICENCES. THESE FEES ARE SET AT LEVELS ABOVE COST RECOVERY, WITH THE DELIBERATE AIM OF RAISING REVENUE. ADJUSTMENTS TO ALL SUCH FEES MUST BE APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL, UNLESS A SPECIFIC EXCEPTION IS PROVIDED FOR IN PRIMARY LEGISLATION. THIRDLY, THERE ARE GOVERNMENT UTILITY CHARGES. THESE ARE LEVIED FOR SERVICES WHICH GENERALLY DO NOT REQUIRE SUBSIDY AND WHICH LEND THEMSELVES TO BEING OPERATED IN A COMMERCIAL WAY. THAT IS, THEY ARE COMPARABLE IN NATURE TO UTILITIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. I WILL NOW DEAL WITH THESE THREE CATEGORIES OF FEE IN TURN.

/DEPARTMENTAL FEES .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

DEPARTMENTAL FEES

9- NORMAL DEPARTMENTAL FEES FORM THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE 5,000 FEES AND CHARGES SET BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE DETAILED CRITERIA FOR ADJUSTING THESE FEES DIFFER ACCORDING TO THEIR CLASSIFICATION. AS I HAVE ALREADY POINTED OUT, THE CLASSIFICATIONS USED HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY SET OUT IN DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO THIS COUNCIL AND HAVE FORMED THE BASIS FOR LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF DECISIONS TAKEN OR MONITORED BY HONOURABLE MEMBERS OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES. IN SOME CASES, THE FEES ARE SIMPLY SET TO RECOVER FULL COSTS. COSTING EXERCISES ARE CONDUCTED BY DEPARTMENTS EVERY FOUR YEARS AND MUST BE APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES AND FINANCE BRANCH. IN BETWEEN COSTING EXERCISES, FEES ARE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY IN LINE WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE DEFLATOR TO MAINTAIN THEIR REAL VALUE. A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF FEES ARE, HOWEVER, FIXED AT ONLY A PERCENTAGE OF THE ACTUAL COST OF THE SERVICES CONCERNED. SUCH FEES, CHARGED FOR BASIC SERVICES INCLUDING SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS, ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE AFFORDABILITY BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF THE SUBSIDY VARIES DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE SERVICE CONCERNED. BUT IN EACH CASE THE LEVEL OF SUBSIDY IS AND MUST BE THE DELIBERATE RESULT OF A CONSCIOUS POLICY DECISION TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT. AND HERE I SHOULD PERHAPS ADD THAT I HAVE NOTED WITH PARTICULAR INTEREST THE REMARKS MADE BY DR C H LEONG WHO IS ADVOCATING GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND SYMPATHY FOR INCREASING MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL FEES.

10. TO COMPLETE THE PICTURE THERE ARE TWO OTHER MINOR SUBCATEGORIES OF DEPARTMENTAL FEE. NOMINAL FEES ARE CHARGED FOR SERVICES TO ENCOURAGE COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS IN CASES WHERE FULL COST RECOVERY WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE EXCEPT AT A PROHIBITIVE ENFORCEMENT COST. DETERRENT FEES ARE SET FOR SPECIFIC POLICY REASONS ABOVE FULL COST LEVELS TO DETER USAGE OF PARTICULAR SERVICES. AGAIN, THE DECISION TO CATEGORISE A FEE AS "NOMINAL" OR "DETERRENT" IS ALWAYS A DELIBERATE ONE TAKEN WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

/TAX-LOADED FEES .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

TAX-LOADED FEES

11. THE SECOND CATEGORY OF FEE COMPRISES THOSE CONTAINING AN ELEMENT OF TAXATION. THEY ARE CHARGED FOR VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCES, COMPANIES AND BUSINESS REGISTRATION AND FEES FOR BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES. IN PREVIOUS YEARS, IT WAS THE NORMAL PRACTICE FOR THESE FEES TO BE INCREASED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. IN HIS 1992 BUDGET, HOWEVER, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ANNOUNCED A NEW APPROACH FOR PHASING IN ADJUSTMENTS TO THESE FEES OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, IN THE SAME WAY AS IS ALREADY THE CASE FOR ORDINARY DEPARTMENTAL FEES. OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS APPROACH WAS REPEATED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN THIS YEAR’S BUDGET SPEECH. PROPOSALS WILL THEREFORE BE MADE TO HONOURABLE MEMBERS DURING THE COURSE OF THE 1993-94 FINANCIAL YEAR IN RELATION TO TAX-LOADED FEES. I EMPHASIZE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE WAS TO SPREAD OUT THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THESE FEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND SO TO MINIMIZE THEIR IMPACT ON INFLATION AND HENCE THE USERS OF THE SERVICES CONCERNED. NO CHANGE IN OUR POLICY TOWARDS THE LEVELS OF THE FEES THEMSELVES OR TOWARDS THE METHODS USED FOR COSTING THE SERVICES INVOLVED HAS BEEN MADE.

UTILITY CHARGES

12. THE MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS AFTERNOON’S DEBATE HAS BEEN GOVERNMENT UTILITY CHARGES. THESE ARE FEES LEVIED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY ITS PUBLIC UTILITY OPERATIONS, NAMELY POSTAL SERVICES, WATER SUPPLIES, GOVERNMENT TUNNELS, HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE MARINE FERRY TERMINALS. THESE ARE ALL UNDERTAKINGS WHICH BY THEIR VERY NATURE LEND THEMSELVES TO OPERATION ON AN COMMERCIAL BASIS AND, TO THAT EXTENT, ARE COMPARABLE TO SIMILAR OPERATIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

13. IN MY SPEECH TO THIS COUNCIL ON 24 FEBRUARY THIS YEAR DURING THE DEBATE ON GOVERNMENT ROAD TUNNELS, I DREW THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE SERVICES AND FACILITIES WHICH ARE PROVIDED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND WHICH MUST BE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY, ON THE ONE HAND, AND THOSE BUSINESS OR UTILITY TYPE SERVICES WHICH ARE PROVIDED TO CERTAIN USERS AND WHICH GENERALLY DO NOT NEED TO BE SUBSIDISED, ON THE OTHER. THE GOVERNMENT UTILITIES TO WHICH I HAVE REFERRED FALL INTO THE LATTER CATEGORY. AND, AS 1 ALSO SAID IN THE FEBRUARY DEBATE, WE HAVE FOR SOME 20 YEARS HAD IN PLACE A SYSTEM THROUGH WHICH THE MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTS OF ALL THESE UTILITY UNDERTAKINGS ARE KEPT UNDER REGULAR REVIEW. UNDER THIS SYSTEM, THE LEVEL OF CHARGES IN EACH CASE IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY AN OPERATING ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. EACH OF THESE COMMITTEES INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES OF POLICY BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS OF FINANCE BRANCH. IF THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS THAT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CHARGES CONCERNED ARE JUSTIFIED, APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

/THE RATE ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

THE RATE OF RETURN ON PUBLIC UTILITIES

14. I NOW TURN, MR PRESIDENT, TO THE MAIN CONCERNS RAISED BY HONOURABLE MEMBERS IN RELATION TO THE PRINCIPLE OF THE RATE OF RETURN ON OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES. 1 PROPOSE TO DEAL WITH THESE CONCERNS UNDER THREE HEADINGS : THE REASONS WHY A RATE OF RETURN IS NECESSARY, THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR UTILITIES, AND THE SUCCESS OF THE GOVERNMENT UTILITIES IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.

THE NEED FOR A RATE OF RETURN

15. THE GOVERNMENT FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT WHERE A UTILITY IS PROVIDED AT A COST TO THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY BECOMES THE SHAREHOLDER IN THAT UTILITY AND THEREFORE HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT A REASONABLE RETURN ON ITS CAPITAL INVESTMENT. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT A TARGET RATE OF RETURN IS SET. THE DISCIPLINE IMPOSED ON DEPARTMENTS OF ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE THESE TARGET RATES ENSURES THAT THEY DO NOT ALLOW OPERATING COSTS TO EXCEED WHAT A COMPARABLE COMMERCIAL OPERATION COULD BE EXPECTED TO RAISE, THUS ALLOWING FOR A MODEST PROFIT. IN SHORT, IT SERVES AS AN ASSURANCE TO THE COMMUNITY, AS SHAREHOLDER, THAT THE UTILITY CONCERNED WILL BE OPERATED IN A PRUDENT AND BUSINESS-LIKE MANNER. AND AS I SAID IN THE DEBATE ON TUNNEL TOLLS LAST FEBRUARY, THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC REVENUES CAN MAKE A MODEST PROFIT, THANKS TO A UTILITY BEING EFFICIENTLY RUN IS NOT MORALLY WRONG.

16. THE RATE OF RETURN EARNED BY A PUBLIC UTILITY ALSO IN PART REFLECTS THE "OPPORTUNITY COST" OF THE CAPITAL EMPLOYED, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS WHICH THE COMMUNITY MIGHT MAKE. THIS OPPORTUNITY COST SHOULD BE RECOVERED FROM THE RELEVANT CONSUMERS (FOR EXAMPLE, USERS OF GOVERNMENT TUNNELS) IF THEY ARE NOT TO BE SUBSIDISED. WHILE SUCH SUBSIDY MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED WHERE A DELIBERATE DECISION IS TAKEN IN A SPECIFIC CASE, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE GENERAL RULE.

17. I BELIEVE THAT HONOURABLE MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN. THEY MUST BE UNDER NO ILLUSION AS TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY FAILURE TO ACHIEVE AN ADEQUATE RATE OF RETURN ON OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES. REVENUE FROM FEES AND CHARGES ACCOUNTED FOR 14% OF TOTAL RECURRENT REVENUE IN 1991-92; OF THIS, ABOUT HALF IS DERIVED FROM THE FIVE GOVERNMENT UTILITY OPERATIONS. THE RETURN ON AVERAGE NET FIXED ASSETS (OR TURNOVER, IN THE CASE OF THE POST OFFICE) ALONE ACCOUNTED FOR NEARLY $2 BILLION, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE LARGELY FELL FAR SHORT OF OUR TARGET RATES. TAMPERING ON AN AD HOC BASIS WITH OUR ESTABLISHED POLICY OF AIMING TO ACHIEVE A REASONABLE RATE OF RETURN, FOR EXAMPLE BY REJECTING A MODERATE INCREASE IN TUNNEL TOLLS BEFORE ANY POLICY REVIEW CAN BE UNDERTAKEN THEREFORE HAS MAJOR FISCAL IMPLICATIONS. ANY REVENUE LOST IN THIS WAY WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE UP FROM OTHER SOURCES. PUT BLUNTLY, IT WOULD MEAN EITHER HIGHER RATES OF TAX, OR LESS SCOPE FOR FURTHER TAX CONCESSIONS, OR LESS FUNDS FOR SERVICES WHICH HAVE TO BE SUBSIDISED. I AM SURE THAT NONE OF THESE OPTIONS WOULD BE PALATABLE TO MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.

/COMPARISON WITH .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

COMPARISON WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR

18. CERTAIN HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND ME AGAIN THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UTILITIES RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THOSE IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. WE HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNISED THAT THIS IS THE CASE. IN THE CASE OF GOVERNMENT UTILITIES, IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT CRITERIA OTHER THAN THE RATE OF RETURN ARE ALSO TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEVEL OF CHARGES. THESE CRITERIA INCLUDE THE LIKELY IMPACT ON INFLATION, PROBABLE PUBLIC REACTION AND CONSIDERATIONS OF POLICY - FOR EXAMPLE, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CONTROL IN THE CASE OF ROAD TUNNELS. IT IS TRUE THAT, IN SETTING OUR TARGET RATES, WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN EARNED BY MAJOR PRIVATE UTILITIES IN HONG KONG. CERTAIN HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONED THE RELEVANCE OF THIS. I ASK THEM TO CONSIDER THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE INTEREST BY PRIVATE INVESTORS IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS INVOLVING THE REGULAR APPROVALS OF FEES BY THIS COUNCIL, IF HONOURABLE MEMBERS SHOW ANY RELUCTANCE TO ACT IN A FINANCIALLY PRUDENT MANNER IN RELATION TO THE GOVERNMENT’S OWN UTILITIES. FINALLY MR PRESIDENT SOME HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL UTILITY CHARGES OR IN PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTAL FEES. I DON’T WISH TO PRE-EMPT THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW TO WHICH I WOULD RETURN IN A MINUTE BY GOING INTO DETAIL. IN GENERAL TERMS, HOWEVER, I CAN AGREE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNISE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF INDIVIDUAL UTILITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TAKEN A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO SUBSIDISE BASIC WATER USERS BY A CONTRIBUTION FROM GENERAL RATES. THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE POST OFFICE WAS EXPLAINED TN DETAIL BY MY COLLEAGUE, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. AS FOR THE AIRPORT, IT IS TRUE THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE OF RETURN IN RECENT YEARS. BUT IT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY DUE TO THE OPERATION OF OUR DUTY FREE SHOP. AND THE ASSET BASE ON WHICH THE RETURN FOR THE AIRPORT IS CALCULATED DOES NOT AT PRESENT INCLUDE THE VALUE OF THE CAPITAL WORKS AT CHEP LAP KOK. AS FOR THE MTRC AND KCRC, BOTH OF WHICH REALLLY FALL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THIS EVENING’S DEBATE. THESE CORPORATIONS FALL OUTSIDE OUR GENERAL FEES AND CHARGES POLICY. BUT WE MUSTN’T FORGET THAT THEY WERE CREATED BY THIS COUNCIL AS COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS. BOTH CORPORATIONS IN FACT INCREASE THEIR FEES IN LINE WITH OPERATING COSTS. AND FEE INCREASES IN RECENT YEARS HAVE NOT (REPEAT NOT) EVEN KEPT PACE WITH THE GROWTH RATE OF CONSUMER INFLATION. NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE TAKEN ON BOARD HONOURABLE MEMBERS’ CONCERNS AND REMARKS. AND WHILE THE FEES CHARGED BY STATUTORY CORPORATIONS DO NOT FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR PROSPECTIVE REVIEW, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAINTAIN ITS EFFORTS TO MONITOR THEIR REASONABLENESS AND AFFORDABILITY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

/PERFORMANCE OF .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, IMS

PERFORMANCE OF OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES

19. MR POON REFERRED IN HIS MOTION TO THE NEED FOR EFFICIENT AND HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT OF REASONABLE FEES. THIS IS CERTAINLY OUR GOAL. BUT CERTAIN HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE IMPLIED THAT WE MAY NOT BE ACHIEVING IT. IT IS WORTH LOOKING AT THE REALITY HOWEVER. WE HAVE A RELIABLE, CHEAP AND CLEAN WATER SUPPLY. WE HAVE A POSTAL SERVICE WHICH IS AMONGST THE FASTEST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE IN THE WORLD. OUR FERRY TERMINALS ARE WELL-MAINTAINED, CLEAN AND EFFICIENT, AS ARE OUR ROAD TUNNELS. OUR AIRPORT IS, OF COURSE, REACHING CAPACITY AND WE ARE THEREFORE PUSHING FORWARD WITH ITS REPLACEMENT. MEANWHILE, IT CONTINUES TO HANDLE EVER-INCREASING NUMBERS OF PASSENGERS AND QUANTITIES OF FREIGHT, WITHOUT DISRUPTION OR DELAY. MR. PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THAT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES OF NO COUNTRY LN THE FAR EAST, AND FEW IN THE WORLD, CAN BETTER THIS RECORD. OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES ARE WORTH THE MONEY WE PAY FOR THEM.

CONCLUSION

20. IN CONCLUSION, MR PRESIDENT, OUR SYSTEM FOR APPROVING UTILITY CHARGES HAS A LONG AND RESPECTABLE PEDIGREE. OUR ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS GENERALLY CONFORM TO STANDARD ACCOUNTING PRACTICE AND ARE OPEN TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY. AND, AS A RESULT OF THIS SYSTEM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH UTILITY SERVICES OF A HIGH QUALITY AT A LOW COST TO USERS.

21. I ACCEPT, NEVERTHELESS, THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR A STUDY TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOME ADJUSTMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE SPECIFIC TARGET RATES FOR INDIVIDUAL UTILITIES, AND ALSO THE

BASIS ON WHICH THESE RETURNS ARE CALCULATED. ADJUSTMENTS TO THESE TARGETS ARE IN ANY CASE MADE BY THE OPERATING ACCOUNTS COMMITTEES FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THIS REVIEW WILL SERVE AS A USEFUL MECHANISM TO CONSIDER IN ONE PACKAGE AND UPDATE THE TARGETS FOR OUR DIFFERENT UTILITY OPERATIONS. SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE RESULTS OF THE REVIEW WILL BE SHARED WITH THIS COUNCIL IN DUE COURSE.

22. BUT I SHOULD EMPHASISE, MR PRESIDENT, THAT WE WILL FOCUS CAREFULLY ON THOSE AREAS WHICH I HAVE IDENTIFIED AS JUSTIFYING DETAILED REVIEW. WE WILL NATURALLY BE OPEN TO IDEAS TO IMPROVE FURTHER THE BASIS ON WHICH THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES IS ASSESSED. BUT WE WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO SEEK RADICAL CHANGE TO THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF A SYSTEM WHICH HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY SO WELL FOR SO LONG. TO UNDERLINE THIS POINT, I WOULD REPEAT THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE ABLE TO RUN A LOW TAX SYSTEM IS THAT WE CHARGE USERS OF OUR SERVICES EXCEPT WHERE GOOD WELFARE OR OTHER REASONS EXIST NOT TO DO SO. NOT TO RECOVER FULL COSTS, AND IN THE CASE OF UTILITYTYPE OPERATIONS THESE SHOULD INCLUDE AN APPROPRIATE RATE OF RETURN, IS IN EFFECT TO DECIDE TO SUBSIDISE ONE GROUP OF CONSUMERS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TAXPAYERS. WE NEED TO FACE THAT FACT SQUARELY, AND HENCE TO REQUIRE VERY GOOD JUSTIFICATION FOR DEPARTING FROM FULL COST RECOVERY IN ANY PARTICULAR CASE.

23. MR PRESIDENT, TO THE EXTENT QUALIFIED BY THESE REMARKS, THE

OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION.

--------o-----------

/9.......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

9 -

SPEECH BY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON IN MOTION DEBATE ON HOUSING AUTHORITY’S FINANICAL ARRANGEMENTS *****

MR PRESIDENT, INTRODUCTION

THE CURRENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1988 WHEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS REORGANISED. THE SPIRIT BEHIND THE REORGANISATION AND THE NEW FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WAS TO GIVE THE AUTHORITY GREATER AUTONOMY AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. THE ARRANGEMENTS WERE INTENDED TO HELP THE AUTHORITY TO BE SELF-FINANCING AND TO PROVIDE THE AUTHORITY WITH THE FLEXIBILITY IT NEEDED TO ACCORD PRIORITIES TO THE USE OF RESOURCES IN CARRYING OUT THE HOUSING PROGRAMME. A REVIEW OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THEIR OPERATION IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS IS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY.

2. AT THE OUTSET, PERHAPS I SHOULD RECAP, VERY BRIEFLY, WHAT THE 1988 ARRANGEMENTS ARE. AT PRESENT, THE GOVERNMENT’S CAPITAL STRUCTURE IN THE AUTHORITY IS THREEFOLD -

(A) PERMANENT CAPITAL

IN 1988, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS ALLOWED TO RETAIN THE REMAINING BALANCE IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP FUND OF 42.8 BILLION. OUTSTANDING LOANS AMOUNTING TO $13.5 BILLION FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND WERE ALSO CAPITALISED. IN ADDITION, A FURTHER $10 BILLION WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO HELP THE AUTHORITY MEET ITS CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS UP TO THE END OF 1993-94. INTEREST IN CASH AT 5% PER ANNUM IS PAYABLE ON THE TOTAL CAPITAL INJECTION OF $26.3 BILLION.

(B) CONTRIBUTIONS TO DOMESTIC HOUSING

THE AUTHORITY IS NOT REQUIRED TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT THE LAND VALUE FOR THE DOMESTIC ELEMENT OF PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING. IN RESPECT OF HOS DEVELOPMENTS, AS LAND VALUE THE AUTHORITY IS REQUIRED TO PAY 35% OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COSTS. THE LAND VALUE FOR BOTH, NET OF THE 35% LAND COST ELEMENT FOR HOS DEVELOPMENTS WHICH IS PAID, ARE BROUGHT TO THE AUTHORITY’S ACCOUNTS AS A CONTRIBUTION TO DOMESTIC HOUSING TO SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S CONTINUING SUPPORT. NO ACTUAL CASH PAYMENT, HOWEVER, IS INVOLVED. IN THE FIVE YEARS FROM 1987 TO 1988 ALONE, SOME 240 HECTARES OF LAND HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES. THIS COMPARES WITH JUST UNDER 100 HECTARES OF NEW LAND SET ASIDE FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES DURING THE SAME PERIOD. THE GOVERNMENT’S CONTRIBUTION SEEN IN CONTEXT REPRESENTS A MASSIVE SUBSIDY.

/(C) NON-DOMESTIC ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 10 -

LAND FOR PROFITABLE NON-DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAR PARKS AND COMMERCIAL FACILITIES IN RENTAL AND HOS DEVELOPMENTS IS MADE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. TO REFLECT THE VALUE OF THIS SUBSTANTIAL SUBSIDY, THE LAND VALUE FOR SUCH FACILITIES IS SHOWN IN THE AUTHORITY’S ACCOUNTS AS NON-DOMESTIC EQUITY. ALL THAT THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVES IN RETURN IS HALF OF THE REVENUES COLLECTED BY THE AUTHORITY FOR THE NON-DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES, AND THIS ONLY AFTER ALL THE AUTHORITY’S FULL OPERATING EXPENSES HAVE BEEN DEDUCTED.

LAND SUPPLY

3. IN ADDITION TO HAVING MADE A SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE AUTHORITY, THE GOVERNMENT IS FURTHER COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ADEQUATE LAND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING PURPOSES. THIS IS NOT MERELY A QUESTION OF EARMARKING UNFORMED SITES. THE GOVERNMENT IS FURTHER COMMITTED TO CLEARING AND FORMING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE SITES, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF FULL SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE. SUCH INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT MEAN SIMPLY THE PROVISION OF MINOR PUBLIC ROADS AND DRAINS WITHIN THE ACTUAL HOUSING SITES THEMSELVES. THERE ARE OTHER FAR LARGER AND LESS OBVIOUS COSTS INVOLVED. DUE REGARD HAS ALSO BEEN PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT TO OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS THE NEED FOR MAJOR OFF-SITE ACCESS ROADS AND THE ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES, THE LEVELS OF PROVISION OF SCHOOLS, CLINICS AND OTHER WELFARE FACILITIES, BOTH AT THE LOCAL DISTRICT AND REGIONAL LEVELS. THE LIST IS LONG AND INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE PUBLIC SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY PERHAPS TAKES FOR GRANTED. BUT THE PROVISION OF WHICH REQUIRES THE GOVERNMENT TO SET ASIDE A CONSIDERABLE PROPORTION OF ITS RESOURCES. DESPITE THE MAJOR SUBSIDIES INVOLVED, AS I HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER, LAND IS PROVIDED FREE TO THE AUTHORITY IN THE CASE OF PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING, AND AT ONLY 35 PER CENT OF THE BUILDING COST IN THE CASE OF HOS DEVELOPMENTS.

4. TURNING TO THE ACTUAL SUPPLY OF LAND, I WILL NOT BORE MEMBERS WITH A FULL REPETITION OF WHAT I SAID LESS THAN A MONTH AGO ON THE SUBJECT OF LAND SUPPLY IN MY RESPONSE TO THE BUDGET DEBATE. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD A VERY GOOD RECORD IN PROVIDING SUFFICIENT SITES TO MEET THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY PRODUCTION TARGETS AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. FROM TIME TO TIME THERE MAY BE TEMPORARY SHORTFALLS DUE TO REVISED PRODUCTION TARGETS BUT THEY ARE TO BE EXPECTED IN ANY DYNAMIC SITUATION. WE HAVE A WELL TESTED MECHANISM TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SITES TO MEET THE NEW DEMAND IN THE REQUIRED TIMEFRAME AS THE PROGRAMME IS ROLLED FORWARD. AND IN FACT, IN THE BUDGET DEBATE, I INFORMED MEMBERS THAT THE SITES TO COVER THE 50-HECTARE REQUIREMENT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHICH IS ONCE AGAIN BEEN REFERRED TO TODAY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

/ACHIEVEMENTS .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 11

ACHIEVEMENTS

5. THE GOVERNMENT’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC HOUSING UNDER THE REVISED FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND BY WAY OF THE LAND SUPPLY HAVE SEEN CONSIDERABLE RESULTS. I WILL QUOTE SOME EXAMPLES.

- 224,300 PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED (149,400 FOR RENTAL AND 74,900 FOR SALE), PROVIDING HOMES FOR NEARLY 900,000 PEOPLE SINCE 1988/89. THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SET PRODUCTION TARGET AND A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT BY ANY STANDARD.

- THE MEDIAN RENT-TO-INCOME-RATIO FOR ALL PUBLIC RENTAL TENANTS HAS BEEN KEPT TO ABOUT 7.3% BETWEEN 1987 AND 1992 WHILE THE AVERAGE FLAT SIZE HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT 10%.

- THE LIVING DENSITY FOR RENTAL HOUSING HAS IMPROVED FROM 6 SQM PER PERSON TO *7.2 SQM PER PERSON OVER THE SAME PERIOD.

- THE NUMBER OF INADEQUATELY HOUSED HAS REDUCED DRAMATICALLY FROM 426,000 HOUSEHOLDS (OR 30% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS) IN 1985 TO 219,000 (OR 13%) LAST YEAR.

- BETWEEN 1987/88 AND 1991/92, A TOTAL OF 199,500 PEOPLE OR 50,700 FAMILIES IN OLD PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WERE OFFERED BETTER HOUSING ACCOMMODATION UPON REDEVELOPMENT.

- THE HOME OWNERSHIP RATE WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR HAS INCREASED FROM 14% IN 1988 TO 20% NOW.

- HOS/PSPS FLATS ARE VERY POPULAR AND PRICES ARE AFFORDABLE. OVER 90% OF THE FLATS ARE AFFORDABLE TO THOSE WITHIN AN INCOME RANGE OF $11,000 TO $20,000.

NEED FOR REVIEW

6. ALTHOUGH THE CURRENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE GENERALLY WORKED WELL, A NUMBER OF AREAS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS REQUIRING CLARIFICATION IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE. VARIATIONS MAY ALSO BE NEEDED TO CATER FOR CHANGING SITUATIONS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

7. THE SUBJECT AT ISSUE, AS SOME MEMBERS HAVE INDICATED THIS AFTERNOON, IS EXTREMELY COMPLEX. IT INVOLVES CONSIDERABLE SUMS OF PUBLIC MONEY, BOTH IN THE FORM OF CAPITAL INJECTIONS IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS WELL AS PAYMENTS BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT. CASH AND CAPITALISED LOANS SO FAR PROVIDED TO THE AUTHORITY BY THE GOVERNMENT AMOUNT TO OVER $26 BILLION. IN ITS TURN, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MAKES A NUMBER OF PAYMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT, AMOUNTING ON AVERAGE TO ABOUT $3 BILLION PER YEAR. THERE IS THUS A NEED FOR BOTH SIDES TO PUT THEIR IDEAS TOGETHER IN REVIEWING THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS.

/8.

IN.........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 12 -

8. IN UNDERTAKING THE REVIEW, CERTAIN BASIC PREMISES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE IS THAT THE REVIEW IS NOT -AND I REPEAT ’NOT’ - A REVIEW OF HOUSING POLICY. THE REVIEW ASSUMES THAT THERE WILL BE NO FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE TO GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME AS SET OUT IN THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY. AND THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING POLICIES WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY AS NECESSARY.

9. ALSO, WE SHOULD NOTE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE HUGE CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, THE AUTHORITY’S FINANCES TODAY ARE IN A RELATIVELY HEALTHY STATE. THE AUTHORITY HAS, BY AND LARGE, ACHIEVED SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THIS IS A TREND WE HOPE TO SEE MAINTAINED. IT IS IN THE COMMUNITY’S INTEREST TO SEE AN OPTIMUM RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC RESOURCES. BY OPTIMUM RETURN, I DO NOT MEAN TO IMPLY THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS REGARDED AS A CASH COW TO BE MILKED BY THE GOVERNMENT. IN DRAWING UP THE 1988 FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS, FULL REGARD WAS GIVEN TO THE FACT THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE LOWER INCOME GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY.

10. THE PRIMARY AIM OF THE REVIEW IS TO MAKE SUCH CHANGES AS ARE NECESSARY TO THE PRESENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY UP TO AT LEAST THE YEAR 2001 , THAT IS, THE PRESENT PLANNING FOR THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY. IT IS ALSO OUR INTENTION TO TRY TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IN CARRYING OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES BEYOND 2001.

11. A SECONDARY AIM OF THE REVIEW IS TO TAKE ON BOARD CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC HOUSING HAS GRADUALLY SHIFTED. THE PRESSURE IS NOT SIMPLY FOR THE PROVISION OF BASIC HOUSING IN THE SENSE OF THE BARE MINIMUM SHELTER. THE COMMUNITY’S ASPIRATION NOW IS FOR MUCH BETTER HOUSING STANDARDS IN AN IMPROVED ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS BOTH LEGITIMATE AND NATURAL AS OUR SOCIETY MOVES TOWARDS INCREASING AFFLUENCE. THE COMMUNITY MUST NOW ASK ITSELF HOW THE DEMAND FOR BETTER HOUSING SHOULD BE BALANCED AGAINST THE COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES IN OTHER POLICY PROGRAMME AREAS, SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE REVIEW

12. THE REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS IS BEING UNDERTAKEN

WITH A VIEW TO -

(A) EXAMINING HOW SUCCESSFULLY THE OBJECTIVES OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MET;

(B) EXAMINING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE ARRANGEMENTS ON EACH OF THE AUTHORITY’S MAIN AREAS OF OPERATION;

(C) SETTING OUT MORE CLEARLY A NUMBER OF AREAS WHERE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS HAVE ARISEN AND RESOLVING OUTSTANDING ISSUES; AND

/(D) PRODUCING AN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

(D) PRODUCING AN UPDATED SET OF ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WILL ENSURE THE ONGOING FINANCIAL VIABILITY AND AUTONOMY OF THE

AUTHORITY TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY.

13. SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT THE REVIEW WILL ADDRESS INCLUDE THE

CONTINUED NEED FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF -

(A) INTEREST ON PERMANENT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS PREVIOUSLY MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE AUTHORITY;

(B) THE LAND COST ELEMENT OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS; AND

(C) HALF OF THE NET PROFITS ARISING FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S NON-DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS THE LEASING OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN THE AUTHORITY’S MANY ESTATES.

CONCLUSION

14. PROGRESS ON THE REVIEW HAS SO FAR BEEN SATISFACTORY, BUT IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WILL EMERGE FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL. TODAY, MEMBERS HAVE MADE MANY USEFUL COMMENTS ON THE SUBJECT AND THESE WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE REVIEW PROCESS, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED SHORTLY AFTER THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.

15. IN A SIMILAR VEIN, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY, WILL NEED TO BE CONSULTED ON ANY PROPOSALS FOR AMENDING THE PRESENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT DECIDE ON THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW UNILATERALLY. MR PRESIDENT, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT THE IMPLICIT CRITICISM OF THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE MOTION, OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL VOTE AGAINST IT.

THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.

--------0------------

PHASED BNO PROGRAMME FAIR AND PRACTICABLE *****

A PHASED PROGRAMME IS THE ONLY PRACTICABLE MEANS BY WHICH EVERY BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN (BDTC) CAN BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO APPLY FOR THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) (BN(O)) STATUS AND PASSPORT BEFORE JUNE 30, 1997.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MAN SAI-CHEONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

’’THERE IS NO INCONSISTENCY WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS,” HE SAID.

/"A PHASED .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

"A PHASED PROGRAMME WILL NOT DEPRIVE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS OF ANY OF THEIR RIGHTS,” HE ADDED.

MR ASPREY SAID THEY WOULD RETAIN BDTC STATUS AND ALL THE RIGHTS OF THAT STATUS UNTIL JUNE 30, 1997.

IT IS IN PRACTICE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TO REGISTER AND ISSUE NEW PASSPORTS TO ALL OR MOST BDTCS WHO ARE LIKELY TO WISH TO RETAIN BN(O) CITIZENSHIP AFTER JUNE 30, 1997, UNLESS THAT IS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PHASED PROGRAMME OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS, HE SAID.

"IT IS THE FAIREST WAY OF GUARANTEEING THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO OBTAIN A BN(O) PASSPORT WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO SO, BEFORE JUNE 30, 1997."

HE SAID A NUMBER OF OTHER OPTIONS HAD BEEN CONSIDERED BEFORE DECIDING TO ADOPT THE PHASED PROGRAMME.

THE MEASURES OF INTENSIFYING PUBLICITY AND SETTING UP SPECIAL CONVERSION CENTRES WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE.

THIS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME TWO AND A HALF MILLION PERSONS WHO EITHER HAVE PASSPORTS THAT EXPIRE ON OR VERY NEAR TO JUNE 30, 1997 OR WHO HAVE NO PASSPORTS AT ALL AT PRESENT.

MR ASPREY SAID THE MEASURE OF DIFFERENTIAL FEES ALSO WOULD HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON THE GREAT MAJORITY WHO DID NOT NEED TO OBTAIN OR RENEW THEIR PASSPORTS UNTIL CLOSE TO JUNE 30, 1997.

"WE CONSIDERED SEPARATING THE REGISTRATION FROM THE ISSUING OF PASSPORTS.

"HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THE UNITED KINGDOM MEMORANDUM HAS LINKED THE RETENTION OF BN(O) STATUS AFTER JUNE 30, 1997 TO THE HOLDING OF A BN(O) PASSPORT ON THAT DATE," HE SAID.

ALL BN(O)S, THEREFORE MUST HOLD OR BE INCLUDED IN A BN(O) PASSPORT ISSUED BEFORE THAT DATE.

MR ASPREY SAID SEPARATING REGISTRATION FROM ISSUING A PASSPORT WOULD GIVE RISE TO SEVERE PRACTICAL AND LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS.

"WE ALSO CONSIDERED ALLOWING BOTH THE BDTC AND THE BN(O) PASSPORTS TO BE HELD SIMULTANEOUSLY.

"HOWEVER, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL NOT AGREE TO THIS ON SECURITY GROUNDS," MR ASPREY SAID.

DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF PASSPORTS IN CIRCULATION WOULD GIVE RISE TO A MUCH GREATER CHANCE OF THEFT, FORGERY, TAMPERING AND OTHER ABUSES.

ANY INADVERTENT USE OF THE NOT-YET-VALID BN(O) PASSPORT WOULD ALSO CONFUSE IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND COULD AFFECT THE STATUS AND ACCEPTABILITY OF THE BN(O) PASSPORT, HE SAID.

--------0------------

/15 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 15

LOCAL OFFICERS WILL FILL PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL POSTS

*****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS REASSURED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT ALL FUTURE PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL POSTS WILL BE FILLED BY QUALIFIED LOCAL OFFICERS IN GOOD TIME BEFORE 1997.

TO DO THIS, IT IS DEVELOPING A POOL OF QUALIFIED LOCAL OFFICERS FROM WHOM FUTURE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS CAN BE SELECTED.

"THIS WILL NECESSITATE THE COMPULSORY PREMATURE RETIREMENT OR SUPERSESSION OF A NUMBER OF OVERSEAS PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE OFFICERS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS," THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY LAU WAI-HING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TO ENABLE ALL PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL POSTS TO BE FILLED BY QUALIFIED LOCAL OFFICERS BEFORE 1997, MRS CHAN NOTED THAT ANY OVERSEAS PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE OFFICER HOLDING A SUBSTANTIVE RANK AT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE A, IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY CURRENT APPOINTMENT AS AN ACTING SECRETARY AND WHETHER HE IS SUBSEQUENTLY PROMOTED TO SECRETARY LEVEL OR REMAINS IN HIS PRESENT SUBSTANTIVE RANK, IS LIKELY, AT SOME STAGE BEFORE 1997, EITHER TO BE DIRECTED TO RETIRE OR TO BE SUPERSEDED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME.

"THE MAXIMUM COMPENSATION PAYABLE IS 4.76 TIMES THE ANNUAL SALARY OF A NON-DIRECTORATE OFFICER ON MASTER PAY SCALE SALARY POINT 45," SHE SAID.

"THIS CURRENTLY STANDS AT $2.7 MILLION AND ALL ELIGIBLE OFFICERS, INCLUDING DIRECTORATE OFFICERS, CANNOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION ABOVE THIS LIMIT."

THE LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE AND THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS CONCERNED.

IT PROVIDES A MECHANISM TO PREMATURELY RETIRE OR SUPERSEDE ABOUT 100 OVERSEAS OFFICERS, MAINLY IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AND THE POLICE FORCE, WHERE NECESSARY, ON GROUNDS OF LOCALISATION OR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.

--------o-----------

/16

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28,

1993

- 16 -

CIVIL SERVICE POSTS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS

*******

THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MRS ANSON CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT ALL GRADES AND POSITIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD SINCE 1984 BEEN OPEN TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANNA WU HUNG-YUK, MRS CHAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PROVISIONS OF PART IV OF ANNEX I OF THE JOINT DECLARATION REFERRED TO THE POLICY OF FILLING A PROPORTION OF POSTS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AND THE OFFICER RANKS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE WITH BRITISH UK OFFICERS.

THE POLICY ALSO REQUIRED THAT ALL LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS BE NATURALISED AS BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZENS BEFORE CONFIRMATION.

HOWEVER, MRS CHAN POINTED OUT, THIS POLICY WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1984.

- 0 ----------

LAND USE ON LANTAU UNDER CONTROL ♦ ♦♦**»

THERE ARE AT PRESENT NO APPARENT SIGNS OF UNAUTHORISED CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND ON LANTAU ISLAND FOR COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL USE, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JIMMY MCGREGOR IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR EASON SAID THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW AIRPORT AND OTHER PROJECTS ON THE ISLAND MAY WELL GENERATE DEMAND FOR SUCH USES.

’’STATUTORY PLANS, OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND LAYOUT PLANS ARE THEREFORE BEING PREPARED TO PROVIDE PLANNING CONTROL AND GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

’’THESE SHOULD HELP PREVENT UNAUTHORISED AND INCOMPATIBLE LAND USES IN THE AREAS COVERED,” HE SAID.

AS REGARDS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF LANTAU, MR EASON SAID MOST OF THE AREAS WERE EITHER COVERED BY STATUTORY PLANS OR WERE WITHIN COUNTRY PARK BOUNDARIES.

"LAND USE CAN THEREFORE BE LARGELY CONTROLLED," HE SAID.

"THE SITUATION IS BEING MONITORED AND APPROPRIATE ACTION, SUCH AS THE PREPARATION OF DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLANS OR LEASE ENFORCEMENT, WILL BE TAKEN IF NECESSARY," HE ADDED.

- - 0 ------------

/17 ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

SEA TRAFFIC BETWEEN HK AND GUANGDONG

*****

THE EXISTING PASSENGER FERRY TERMINALS FOR SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE PEARL RIVER DELTA PORTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO COPE WITH DEMAND FOR THE TIME BEING BUT NEW PIER FACILITIES WILL BE NEEDED IN THE LONGER TERM,

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HUANG CHEN-YA IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEUNG SAID THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WOULD SHORTLY BEGIN A REVIEW TO DETERMINE WHEN AND WHERE THESE PIER FACILITIES WOULD BE REQUIRED.

IN 1992, A TOTAL OF 5.2 MILLION PEOPLE TRAVELLED TO AND FROM THE PEARL RIVER DELTA PORTS (EXCLUDING MACAU), REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 24 PER CENT OVER 1991.

A GROWTH RATE OF ABOUT 16 PER CENT A YEAR IS ESTIMATED OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

"WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY CONCRETE PLANS BY THE FERRY SERVICE OPERATORS TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF THEIR VESSELS ALTHOUGH IT IS KNOWN THAT IN GENERAL TERMS THEY ARE EXPECTING TO REPLACE SMALLER VESSELS WITH LARGER ONES IN DUE COURSE.

"FOR THE TIME BEING THE CAPACITY OF VESSELS IS CONSIDERED ADEQUATE," HE SAID.

DURING 1992, SOME 17 MILLION TONNES OF RIVER TRADE CARGO WAS HANDLED IN HONG KONG, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 1 PER CENT OVER 1991. A GROWTH RATE OF BETWEEN 6 AND 10 PER CENT A YEAR IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

"TO MEET LONGER TERM DEMAND, THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY RECOMMENDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RIVER TRADE TERMINAL IN TUEN MUN AREA 38, FOR WHICH EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE CURRENTLY BEING EXAMINED BY THE GOVERNMENT," HE SAID.

- - 0------------

MEASURES TO PREVENT PROJECT DELAYS IN PLACE

* * * * *

NEW INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE GOVERNMENT’S PERFORMANCE ON THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME FOR 1993/94 ARE IN PLACE AND A DETAILED BRIEFING ON THESE MEASURES WAS HELD FOR PUBLIC WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON RONALD ARCULLI, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

/MR BLAKE .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 18 -

MR BLAKE SAID INFORMATION ON THE TIMING OF CONSTRUCTION OF ALL PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME PROJECTS WAS AVAILABLE IN THE WORKS DEPARTMENTS IN A MANUAL FORMAT WHICH CANNOT BE COLLATED BY COMPUTERISED MEANS AT THIS STAGE.

A CONSULTANCY HAS RECENTLY BEEN APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO REDRESS THIS DEFICIENCY AMONG OTHER ISSUES, HE ADDED.

----0------

WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS

******

THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE LANDFILLING AND INCINERATION METHODS OF WASTE DISPOSAL SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

’’LANDFILL CAPACITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE REQUIRED FOR NONCOMBUSTIBLE WASTE AND RESIDUES LEFT BY INCINERATORS.

"AT THE SAME TIME, INCINERATION AS A MEANS OF WASTE REDUCTION AND DISPOSING OF SPECIAL WASTE WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONSIDERED WITH OTHER ALTERNATIVES AS MODERN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPS AND CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE,’’ MR EASON SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI, HE SAID TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, ELECTRICITY GENERATED IN THE INCINERATION PROCESS COULD BE FED INTO THE SUPPLY GRID BUT THE AMOUNT WOULD BE VERY SMALL IN COMPARISON WITH THE GENERATING CAPACITY OF THE POWER COMPANIES AND THE DEMAND.

’’THE FEASIBILITY OF USING THIS POTENTIAL SOURCE WILL BE LOOKED INTO BY THE GOVERNMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE POWER COMPANIES," HE ADDED.

THE OVERALL UNIT COST OF THE NEW STRATEGIC LANDFILLS IS ESTIMATED AT $97 PER TONNE OF REFUSE. THIS INCLUDES THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND SITE RESTORATION.

FOR INCINERATION, THE ESTIMATED OVERALL COST, INCLUDING CAPITAL DEPRECIATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, IS $345 PER TONNE.

ASSUMING THAT SURPLUS ELECTRICITY GENERATED COULD BE SOLD AT RATES SIMILAR TO THOSE WHICH APPLY, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MACAU AND SINGAPORE, THE UNIT INCINERATION COST COULD BE REDUCED TO $291 PER TONNE.

MR EASON SAID THESE ESTIMATES RELATED TO MODERN LANDFILLS AND INCINERATORS WHICH HAD ALL THE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FACILITIES.

/ON THE ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 19 -

ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE TWO METHODS, MR EASON SAID FOR LANDFILLING IT WAS THE EMISSION OF LANDFILL GAS AND LEACHATE, WHEREAS FOR INCINERATION IT WAS AERIAL EMISSIONS.

"WHICHEVER METHOD IS USED FOR WASTE DISPOSAL, CONTROL SYSTEMS TO MEET ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS ARE REQUIRED," HE SAID.

-----0------

POST OFFICE SETS FAIR RETURN RATE *»»***

THE POST OFFICE SETS A TARGET RETURN OF 16.7 PER CENT ON TURNOVER BY 1996/97 TO ENSURE A FAIR RETURN TO GENERAL REVENUE ON THE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT MADE BY THE TAX-PAYING PUBLIC IN POSTAL OPERATIONS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GORDON SIU, IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LI WAH-MING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"IN THAT SENSE IT WAS BROADLY COMPARABLE TO THE LEVELS OF RETURN SET FOR OTHER PUBLIC UTILITIES," MR SIU SAID.

HE SAID GIVEN THE LABOUR INTENSIVE NATURE OF THE POST OFFICE’S OPERATION, A TARGET RETURN BASED ON TURNOVER PROVIDED A MORE MEANINGFUL INDICATOR OF PERFORMANCE THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, AVERAGE NET FIXED ASSETS.

"THE 16.7 PER CENT TARGET IS NOW BEING RE-EXAMINED IN THE WIDER CONTEXT OF THE REVIEW OF RATES OF RETURN FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY.

"ONE FACTOR TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WILL BE THE SEPARATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LICENSING AND REGULATION FROM POSTAL OPERATIONS," MR SIU SAID.

ON THE CRITERIA USED IN SETTING POSTAGE CHARGES, HE SAID THE OVERALL PHILOSOPHY WAS THAT SUBJECT TO BROADER SOCIAL POLICY OBJECTIVES AND CONSIDERATIONS, EACH SERVICE SHOULD AS FAR AS POSSIBLE RECOVER ITS COSTS.

HOWEVER THERE IS AT PRESENT A DEGREE OF CROSS SUBSIDISATION BETWEEN WHAT MIGHT BE TERMED PREMIUM SERVICES (SUCH AS SPEEDPOST) AND THE MORE BASIC SERVICES SUCH AS INLAND AND SURFACE MAIL, HE SAID.

"THE QUESTION OF WHETHER AND, IF SO, OVER WHAT TIME-FRAME, THIS CROSS-SUBSIDY SHOULD BE PHASED OUT IS NOW BEING EXAMINED AS PART OF AN EVALUATION OF THE OPTION OF MOVING THE POST OFFICE TO TRADING FUND STATUS.

"IN PARTICULAR WE WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY MORE PRECISELY WHICH GROUPS OF POSTAL USERS ARE CURRENTLY THE BENEFICIARIES OF CROSS SUBSIDIES, AND WHETHER IN LINE WITH OUR BROADER POLICY GOALS THIS SITUATION SHOULD CONTINUE," MR SIU ADDED.

------o-------

/20 .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 20 -

PUBLIC WORKS PROGRESS COMMITTEE REVAMPED

*****

THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRESS COMMITTEE (PWPC) HAS BEEN RECENTLY REVAMPED TO INCLUDE RELEVANT POLICY SECRETARIES FOR BETTER CONTROL OF UNDERSPENDING IN CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRISTINE LOH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR BLAKE SAID IT WAS EXPECTED THAT PROGRAMME, INTERFACE OR RESOURCE PROBLEMS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME WHICH COULD NOT BE SOLVED AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL COULD BE RESOLVED AT THE PWPC.

THE WORKS BRANCH CONSTANTLY MONITORS THE OVERALL EXPENDITURE SITUATION AS WELL AS PROGRESS ON ALL SIGNIFICANT CATEGORY A PROJECTS I.E. PROJECTS IN PROGRESS AND CATEGORY B PROJECTS WHICH ARE UNDER PLANNING.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE WORKS DIRECTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND FRONT LINE MONITORING OF PROJECTS UNDER THEIR CONTROL.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING THE APPROPRIATE STAFFING LEVELS FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS, RECOMMENDING WHETHER CONSULTANTS SHOULD BE EMPLOYED.

-----0------

BROADER REPRESENTATION TO HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTINUES

*****

THE NEED TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHO CAN REFLECT A FULL RANGE OF VIEWS FROM THE COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN FUTURE, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE WING-TAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR EASON SAID MORE MEMBERS FROM REPRESENTATIVE BODIES AND POLITICAL GROUPS HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO THE AUTHORITY.

OF THE 18 NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS SERVING ON THE AUTHORITY, ABOUT 40 PER CENT ARE FROM THE ELECTED MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS.

THIS COMPARES WITH ABOUT 30 PER CENT IN 1989. SOME SERVING MEMBERS ARE THEMSELVES PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS.

UNDER THE HOUSING ORDINANCE THE GOVERNOR CAN APPOINT FOUR OFFICIAL MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, AND AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

/THEY ARE ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 21

THEY ARE APPOINTED WITH REGARD TO THE RELEVANCE OF THEIR WORK TO HOUSING AND RELATED MATTERS.

HE SAID FACTORS SUCH AS THE APPOINTEES’ BACKGROUNDS, EXPERTISE, LIKELY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AUTHORITY’S DELIBERATIONS AND THE BALANCE OF VIEWS AVAILABLE TO THE AUTHORITY WERE ALL TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN APPOINTING NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS.

"THE OBJECTIVE IS TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE BROADER INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND THE NARROWER INTERESTS OF THE OCCUPANTS OF AUTHORITY ESTATES, AS WELL AS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SPECIALISMS AND EXPERTISE OF THE MEMBERSHIP," MR EASON SAID.

ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE AUTHORITY’S COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES, THE SECRETARY SAID THE CRITERIA ADOPTED IN APPOINTING MEMBERS TO EACH OF THESE COMMITTEES WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE FOR THE FULL AUTHORITY, BUT WITH EMPHASIS ON THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEES IN DISCHARGING THEIR FUNCTIONS.

AT PRESENT, THE AUTHORITY HAS NINE STANDING COMMITTEES AND ONE AD HOC COMMITTEE, COVERING SUCH AREAS AS ESTATE MANAGEMENT, HOME OWNERSHIP, BUILDING DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE, FINANCE, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND TENANCY APPEALS.

--------0-----------

LEGISLATORS TOLD OF EMPLOYEES RETRAINING PROGRESS

******

MORE THAN 430 RETRAINEES HAD COMPLETED VARIOUS TRAINING COURSES UNDER THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING SCHEME AS AT APRIL 16 THIS YEAR.

OF THE 262 GRADUATES WHO WERE PROVIDED WITH JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND OTHER TRAINING BODIES, 110 WERE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED, MOSTLY IN JOBS DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THEIR RETRAINING; 94 EVENTUALLY SECURED BY THEMSELVES JOBS WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THEIR RETRAINING; AND 58 WERE STILL AWAITING PLACEMENT.

NO INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE OTHER 169 GRADUATES WHO DID NOT REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

THE STATISTICS WERE RELEASED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PANG CHUN-HOI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AS REGARDS THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING SCHEME TO BE LAUNCHED BY THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING BOARD NEXT MONTH, MR CHAN SAID IT WAS THE BOARD’S INTENTION TO CONFINE PARTICIPATION TO WELL-ESTABLISHED AND REPUTABLE FIRMS.

/EVERY FIRM .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 22

EVERY FIRM PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHEME WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A TRAINING PROGRAMME AND TO APPOINT A SUPERVISOR TO LOOK AFTER THE RETRAINEES.

THE FIRM MUST ALSO MEET CERTAIN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS BEFORE It IS ADMITTED INTO THE SCHEME, FOR EXAMPLE, ITS EMPLOYMENT SIZE MUST BE OVER 20 PERSONS AND THE WAGES OFFERED TO RETRAINEES MUST BE IN LtWE WITH MARKET RATES.

HE BELIEVED THAT POTENTIAL ABUSE OF THE SCHEME WOULD BE AVOIDED OR MINIMISED BY CAREFUL SELECTION OF EMPLOYERS.

MR CHAN ALSO SAID ALL 18 PLACEMENT OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S 10 DISTRICT OFFICES WOULD HELP MONITOR THE SCHEME.

EMPLOYERS FOUND TO BE ABUSING THE SCHEME WOULD BE SUSPENDED OR DISQUALIFIED FROM THE SCHEME, HE SAID.

----0-----

DISTRICT BOARDS CONSULTED ON WELFARE FACILITIES *****

THE GOVERNMENT CONSULTS RELEVANT DISTRICT BOARDS ON THE SETTING UP OF ALL WELFARE FACILITIES, INCLUDING THOSE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, ELDERLY, MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND EX-MENTALLY ILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN HER WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MRS WONG SAID IN DECIDING TO SET UP A SOCIAL WELFARE FACILITY IN A CERTAIN DISTRICT, THE GOVERNMENT HAD REGARD TO LOCAL NEEDS FOR THE SERVICE CONCERNED, THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE PREMISES, RELATED COMMUNITY FACILITIES, TRANSPORT AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, ACCESS FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

"SHOULD THERE BE ANY QUERIES ABOUT, OR OBJECTION TO, A PROJECT FROM DISTRICT RESIDENTS, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO MEET AND DISCUSS WITH THEM WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR VIEWS AND ALLAY THEIR FEARS,” MRS WONG SAID.

"FOR INSTANCE, WE MIGHT GIVE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION OF A SERVICE UNIT."

THE SECRETARY SAID IN HANDLING ANY PUBLIC OBJECTION, DISTRICT STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) WOULD FIRST ALERT THEIR HEADQUARTERS.

IF NECESSARY AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION RUNNING THE SERVICE, THEY WILL APPROACH AND DISCUSS WITH CONCERNED RESIDENT GROUPS THEIR GROUNDS OF OBJECTION.

THEY WILL FURTHER EXPLAIN TO THEM THE NATURE OF THE SERVICE AND SEEK THEIR VIEWS ON WAYS TO ALLAY THEIR FEARS.

/IN ADDITION, .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 23

IN ADDITION, SWD STAFF WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH THE RELEVANT DISTRICT BOARD OR AREA COMMITTEE/MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE WITH A VIEW TO EXPLAINING THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ON REHABILITATION AND CLARIFYING QUERIES ON THE PROJECT.

ENHANCED PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES WILL ALSO BE ORGANISED TO DISPEL CONCERNED RESIDENTS’ MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DISABLED PERSONS.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, MRS WONG POINTED OUT, STAFF OF SWD WOULD LIAISE CLOSELY WITH THE RELEVANT DISTRICT OFFICER OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO ASSESS AND MONITOR CLOSELY LOCAL VIEWS.

--------0

VIETNAMESE ENCOURAGED TO RETURN HOME

*****

THE UNHCR HAS STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO PROMOTE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN RECENT MONTHS AND FURTHER INITIATIVES ARE PLANNED FOR THE COMING MONTHS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARTIN BARROW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MEASURES BEING TAKEN INCLUDE SURVEYS TO IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE CAMP POPULATION FOR INFORMATION ON VIETNAM AND PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITIONS ON VIETNAM.

ALSO UNDERTAKEN ARE SCREENING OF VIETNAMESE TELEVISION PROGRAMMES, DISSEMINATION OF BIMONTHLY BULLETINS IN VIETNAMESE ON DEVELOPMENTS IN VIETNAM AND REGULAR REPORTS ON UNHCR’S MONITORING OF THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY RETURNED TO VIETNAM.

MR ASPREY SAID UNHCR HAD ALSO ORGANISED VISITS TO THE CAMPS BY CONSULAR OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES IN VIETNAM.

PLANS FOR THE COMING MONTHS INCLUDE ESTABLISHING INFORMATION CENTRES IN EACH DETENTION CENTRE, PRODUCTION OF ADDITIONAL VIDEOS SHOWING THE CONDITIONS FACING RETURNEES IN VIETNAM AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF ADDITIONAL VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES IN THE CAMPS.

’’FOR OUR PART, WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO FACILITATE AND SUPPLEMENT THE UNHCR’S EFFORTS IN PROMOTING VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.

’’WE HAVE RECENTLY CONVERTED A SECTION OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE INTO A VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION CENTRE WITH A CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 2,500 AT ANY ONE TIME.

/”WE ARE ........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 24 -

"WE ARE NOW CONVERTING ANOTHER SECTION OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE INTO ANOTHER VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION CENTRE WITH A SIMILAR CAPACITY," MR ASPREY SAID.

MORE THAN 28,000 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS HAVE ALREADY RETURNED HOME UNDER THIS PROGRAMME, INCLUDING AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 1,000 A MONTH SINCE THE AGREEMENT ON ORDERLY REPATRIATION WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IN OCTOBER 1991.

--------0-----------

PUBLIC TO BE CONSULTED ON HEALTH CARE REFORMS

*****

THE GOVERNMENT WILL PUBLISH A CONSULTATION PAPER ON LONG-TERM STRATEGY AND HEALTH CARE REFORM IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SHE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG HONG-YUEN ABOUT WHEN A GREEN PAPER ON FEE CHARGING FOR HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES WOULD BE PUBLISHED.

MRS WONG SAID THE DOCUMENT, DRAWING FROM THE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE OF RELEVANT HEALTH CARE REFORMS BOTH LOCALLY AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES, WAS BEING FINALISED AND TRANSLATED.

"IT IS EXPECTED TO BE READY BY MID-YEAR FOR EXTENSIVE PUBLIC CONSULTATION," SHE SAID.

-----o------

BALANCED EDUCATION FOR HK STUDENTS

*****

THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TOWARDS EXPANDING THE RANGE OF SCHOOLS BY ADDING SKILLS OPPORTUNITY SCHOOLS AND PRACTICAL SCHOOLS, FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 4.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR CHAN SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS TO CATER FOR THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIFFERENT STUDENTS.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT ENROLMENT IN A PARTICULAR TYPE OF SCHOOL AT SECONDARY ONE WAS MAINLY A RESULT OF PARENTAL CHOICE.

/HR CHAN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

MR CHAN NOTED THAT WHILE ALL SCHOOLS TEACH A COMMON CORE OF SUBJECTS, INCLUDING THE CHINESE AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, MUSIC AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT THE JUNIOR SECONDARY LEVEL, THE PROPORTION OF THE CURRICULUM CONTENT DEVOTED TO PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS RANGED FROM 20 PER CENT IN GRAMMAR SCHOOLS TO 30 PER CENT IN TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND 45 PER CENT IN PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS.

"THE CORE SUBJECTS ENSURE THAT THE EDUCATION PROVIDED IS REASONABLY BALANCED, WHILE THE RANGE OF PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS MEETS THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THEIR INTERESTS, APTITUDES AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS," HE ADDED.

--------0 -

LITTLE CHANCE FOR FOOD CATERING MONOPOLY IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES

*****

THERE IS VERY LITTLE CHANCE FOR FOOD PREMISES IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S SHOPPING CENTRES TO MONOPOLISE BUSINESS, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY REV THE HON FUNG CHI-WOOD IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR EASON SAID THESE PREMISES, LIKE OTHER TRADES, WERE LET OUT BY NEGOTIATION OR TENDER.

HE SAID THE CURRENT LETTING SITUATION WAS SATISFACTORY.

"THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS AN OPEN MIND, HOWEVER, AND WELCOMES FEEDBACK FROM OPERATORS AND PATRONS ALIKE IN REVIEWING THE ADEQUACY AND QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY FOOD PREMISES ON ITS ESTATES," HE SAID.

IN A TYPICAL ESTATE, SOME 40 PER CENT OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IS LEASED TO FOOD CATERERS OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER, INCLUDING RESTAURANTS, FAST FOOD AND TAKE-AWAY OUTLETS, CONGEE/NOODLE SHOPS AND FOOD COURTS.

THE SECRETARY SAID THERE WAS COMPETITION ALREADY IN THESE SHOPPING CENTRES, BUT IF THERE WAS A STRONG DEMAND FOR ANY PARTICULAR TYPE OF FOOD OR CATERING ESTABLISHMENT, GOOD BUSINESS SENSE DICTATED THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD CONSIDER ACCOMMODATING IT.

HE SAID THERE WERE VERY FEW NEWLY COMPLETED COMMERCIAL CENTRES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WHICH WERE PROVIDED WITH ONLY ONE CHINESE RESTAURANT AND ONE FAST FOOD SHOP UNLESS THE CATCHMENT WAS SMALL.

PRICES CHARGED BY CHINESE RESTAURANT OPERATORS IN THESE ESTATES ARE GENERALLY LOWER, NOT HIGHER, THAN COMPARABLE ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

MR EASON SAID IT WOULD BE TOO SWEEPING TO SAY THAT THE SERVICE, VARIETY AND QUALITY OF FOOD PROVIDED BY FAST FOOD SHOPS IN THESE ESTATES WERE INFERIOR.

"MOST ESTABLISHMENTS BELONG TO MAJOR CHAIN OPERATIONS WITH RESPECTABLE RECORDS," HE SAID.

------0-------

/26 ......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

26 -

SHORTFALL OF 241 PRIMARY ONE PLACES IN YUEN LONG

******

ONLY ONE OF THE FIVE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION (POA) DISTRICTS IN YUEN LONG HAS A POTENTIAL SHORTFALL OF 241 CENTRALLY ALLOCATED PLACES FOR THE 1993/94 SCHOOL YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN, MR CHAN SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD ASK SCHOOLS WITHIN THIS DISTRICT TO CONSIDER OPERATING ADDITIONAL PRIMARY ONE CLASSES.

OTHER REMEDIAL MEASURES INCLUDE ALLOCATING PLACES IN ADJACENT OR NEARBY POA DISTRICTS AND ENCOURAGING SCHOOLS TO OPERATE THEIR OWN SCHOOL BUS SERVICE IN APPROPRIATE CASES, HE ADDED.

MR CHAN EXPLAINED THAT IN LINE WITH THE TERRITORY-WIDE PRACTICE, UP TO 65 PER CENT OF PRIMARY ONE PLACES IN YUEN LONG WERE FIRST ALLOCATED BY SCHOOLS AT THEIR DISCRETION.

THE BALANCE OF AT LEAST THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

35 PER CENT IS ALLOCATED CENTRALLY

-----o------

GOVT SUPPORTS DRUG REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES ♦ * ♦ * *

THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTS NON-PROFIT-MAKING RELIGIOUS BODIES BY MAKING LAND AND ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE AT CONCESSIONARY TERMS FOR DRUG DETOXIFICATION AND REHABILITATION CENTRES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ONE WAY IS TO REIMBURSE THE RENT FOR ACCOMMODATION FOR SUCH CENTRES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG MAN-KWONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ASPREY SAID THERE WERE TWO PUBLICLY-FUNDED VOLUNTARY DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMMES FOR OPIATE DRUG ABUSERS.

THEY ARE THE OUT-PATIENT METHADONE TREATMENT PROGRAMME OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE IN-PATIENT TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES OPERATED BY THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSERS.

"THERE IS ALSO A COUNSELLING SERVICE FOR ABUSERS OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES OPERATED BY THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE, WHICH HAS BEEN RECEIVING A GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION FOR THIS PURPOSE SINCE MARCH THIS YEAR," HE ADDED.

/MR ASPREY .......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

MR ASPREY SAID THE THREE PROGRAMMES HAD AN OPEN-DOOR ADMISSION POLICY.

HE SAID: "THE PROVISION IS CURRENTLY ADEQUATE TO MEET DEMAND."

"WE HAVE NO PLANS TO EXTEND CASH SUBSIDIES TO ORGANISATIONS OEFERING TREATMENT BASED ON RELIGION."

--------0 -

PLANS TO IMPROVE HARBOUR ROAD TRAFFIC CONDITIONS *****

THERE ARE PLANS TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY OF HARBOUR ROAD AND CONVENTION AVENUE, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HOWARD YOUNG, MR LEUNG SAID WORK TO PROVIDE A NEW LAY-BY OUTSIDE THE HARBOUR CENTRE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM OF ON-STREET LOADING AND UNLOADING IN THE AREA WOULD START IN JUNE.

IT IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN AUGUST 1993.

"TO SERVE LONGER TERM TRAFFIC NEEDS, PROVISION HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN PLANS FOR THE FUTURE CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATION FOR AN UNDERGROUND CENTRAL AND WANCHAI BYPASS RUNNING PARALLEL TO GLOUCESTER ROAD, AND LINKED TO THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR," HE SAID.

ON SEA WATER POLLUTION, MR LEUNG SAID THE CENTRAL, WESTERN AND WANCHAI WEST SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN STUDY HAD RECOMMENDED A PROGRAMME OF IMPROVEMENTS TO ELIMINATE THE IMPROPER DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE AND POLLUTED WATER FROM STORM DRAINS AND TO REPLACE OR REPAIR SEWERS.

"DETAILED DESIGN OF THE RECOMMENDED WORKS WILL START SHORTLY. A SECOND STUDY FOR WANCHAI EAST AND NORTH POINT WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR," HE SAID.

MR LEUNG SAID AMENDMENTS TO WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WOULD COMPLEMENT THESE SEWERAGE MASTER PLANS BY STRENGTHENING THE REQUIREMENT FOR ALL PRIVATE LOTS AND BUILDINGS TO MAKE PROPER CONNECTIONS TO THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM.

------0---------

/28 ......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

VISITORS FROM TAIWAN ON THE RISE

*****

THE NUMBER OF TAIWAN VISITORS TO HONG KONG LAST YEAR WAS 1,640,032, AN INCREASE OF 26.3 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THEY SPENT A TOTAL OF HK$11,811 MILLION IN THE TERRITORY, AN INCREASE OF 67.9 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD.

THE STATISTICS WERE PROVIDED IN A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE NUMBER OF VISITORS IN 1991 WAS 1,298,039, A DROP OF 3.5 PER CENT FROM 1990. THEIR TOTAL EXPENDITURE WAS HK$7,033 MILLION, REPRESENTING A 3.2 PER CENT FALL OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF TAIWAN TRANSIT PASSENGERS TO CHINA ALSO INCREASED BY 35 PER CENT LAST YEAR TO 686,216 AS COMPARED TO 1991. THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS IN 1991 WAS 509,962, A RISE OF 26 PER CENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF TAIWAN VISITORS STAYING LESS THAN 24 HOURS IN THE TERRITORY GREW BY 30.9 PER CENT LAST YEAR OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO 980,034.

THE NUMBER OF THESE VISITORS WAS 748,437 IN 1991, A DROP OF 7.3 PER CENT OVER 1990.

-----0------

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT)

******

BILL 1993 INTRODUCED

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ROUTINE FEE REVISIONS PUT BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE BILL ALLOWS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON BROADER POLICY AND STRATEGIC ISSUES.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR K Y YEUNG, SAID EVERY REVISION OF FEES NOW EFFECTEDj BY SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

"THE BILL PROVIDES THAT, WHERE UNDER ANY ORDINANCE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL SETTING A FEE OR CHARGE, REGULATIONS MAY SUBSEQUENTLY BE MADE BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY VARYING THE LEVEL OF THAT FEE OR CHARGE.

/"THE BILL

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 29 -

’’THE BILL WILL NOT EFFECT CASES IN WHICH LEVELS OF FEES AND CHARGES ARE DIRECTLY APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL,” MR YEUNG SAID.

HE ALSO STATED THAT SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION MADE BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AMENDMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS AT PRESENT.

“THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL’S POWER TO MONITOR AND CHALLENGE FEE PROPOSALS WILL THUS IN NO WAY BE ERODED," HE ADDED.

AT PRESENT, THE GOVERNMENT COLLECTS OVER 5,000 FEES AND CHARGES, ABOUT HALF OF WHICH ARE STIPULATED IN SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.

"OUR POLICY IS TO REVIEW FEES ANNUALLY TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVELS ARE, WITH CERTAIN SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONS, AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER THE COSTS INCURRED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN PROVIDING THE SERVICES OF FACILITIES CONCERNED," MR YEUNG SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

--------0-----------

SEPARATE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL PROVISIONS FOR JUDICIAL OFFICERS * t t t t

A BILL THAT PROVIDES FOR THE PROCEDURES FOR THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS OTHER THAN JUDGES WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THESE OFFICERS INCLUDE THE REGISTRAR, DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT REGISTRARS OF THE SUPREME COURT, MAGISTRATES, PRESIDING OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL, MEMBERS OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, ADJUDICATORS OF THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL AND CORONERS.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE JUDICIAL OFFICERS (TENURE OF OFFICE) BILL , THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD SAID THE BILL WAS INTENDED TO UNDERLINE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THESE JUDICIAL OFFICERS FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE.

AT PRESENT, JUDICIAL OFFICERS OTHER THAN JUDGES, ALONG WITH OTHER PUBLIC OFFICERS, ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE LETTERS PATENT FOR THEIR DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.

"IT IS CONSIDERED THAT SEPARATE PROVISIONS FOR THEIR DISCIPLINE, AND REMOVAL SHOULD BE EMBODIED IN THE LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR THEIR TENURE OF OFFICE, RATHER THAN IN COLONIAL REGULATIONS AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS REGULATIONS," SIR DAVID SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

------0--------

/ 30

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

- 30 -

CHANGES TO APPROVED EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES FOR THIRD QUARTER

******

A SUMMARY OF ALL CHANGES TO THE APPROVED ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1992/93 WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

EXPLAINING THE CHANGES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR K Y YEUNG, SAID SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $4,208.9 MILLION WAS APPROVED.

THIS INCLUDED $2,300 MILLION FOR A ONE-OFF GRANT TO THE LOTTERIES FUND FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME AND $988.3 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE ON PENSIONS.

HE SAID IT WAS FULLY OFFSET, EITHER BY SAVINGS UNDER THE SAME OR OTHER HEADS OF EXPENDITURE, OR BY THE DELETION OF FUNDS UNDER THE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS SUBHEADS.

DURING THE PERIOD, NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENTS WERE INCREASED BY $4.8 MILLION, NEW NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENTS OF $3,069.9 MILLION WERE APPROVED, AND APPROVED NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENTS OF $40.1 MILLION WERE REVOTED.

A NET DECREASE OF 604 POSTS WAS APPROVED.

"THIS WAS MAINLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DELETION OF POSTS AS A RESULT OF CIVIL SERVANTS HAVING OPTED FOR SERVICE WITH THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY," HE SAID.

------0-------

MOTION ON GOVT SERVICES FEES PASSED *****

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A MOTION MOVED BY THE HON STEVEN POON ON THE CRITERIA FOR SETTING THE FEES AND CHARGES AND PROFIT LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

SIXTEEN MEMBERS SPOKE FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS IN THE DEBATE. THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR K Y YEUNG, REPLIED FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

‘ T

THE MOTION PROPOSED BY THE HON K K FUNG ON THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS DEFEATED.

A TOTAL OF 15 COUNCILLORS SPOKE IN THE TWO-HOUR DEBATE. THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, WINDED UP THE DEBATE.

THE OZONE LAYER PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WAS PASSED WITH AMENDMENT.

TWO BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS AND DEBATES ON THEM WERE ADJOURNED. THEY WERE : JUDICIAL OFFICERS (TENURE OF OFFICE) BILL AND INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993.

------0--------

Received by PRO - 4 MAY 1993 on________________

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNOR VISITS THE UNITED STATES ............................... 1

DATE SET FOR THIRD ROUND OF ELECTION TALKS ...................... 2

SES OUTLINES AGENDA FOR TELECOMS REFORMS ........................ 2

NEW COMPANIES, LAND REGISTRARS APPOINTED ........................ 4

DISPOSAL OF CONTAMINATED MUD ACCEPTABLE ......................... 5

PROVISIONAL FIGURES OF EXTERNAL TRADE FOR MARCH ................. 6

REAR-MOUNTED ADVERTISING ON TAXIS APPROVED ...................... 9

REGISTRATION OF TRADERS UNDER TTRS STARTS ...................... 10

EX-MENTALLY ILL FIT TO BE INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY .............. 11

FUNDING FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON RISE .......................... 12

SURVEY ON PARENT-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION .......................... 13

QUARTERLY SURVEY OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES ......................... 14

BOE MEMBERS VISIT TEACHING AND RESOURCE CENTRES ................ 15

MEDICAL LAB TECHNOLOGIST EXAM SET FOR SEPTEMBER ................ 15

MUSIC GRANTS FOR 1993/94 ....................................... 16

CUSTOMS CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION ON MOVE ................... 16

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

GOVERNOR VISITS THE UNITED STATES

*****

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED DETAILS OF THE GOVERNOR’S PROGRAMME FOR HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES.

THIS WILL BE MR CHRISTOPHER PATTEN’S FIRST VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES AS GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.

MR PATTEN WILL BRIEF SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ON THE LIKELY IMPACT ON HONG KONG OF NON-RENEWAL OR CONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF CHINA’S MOST FAVOURED NATION (MFN) TRADING STATUS.

HE WILL ALSO UNDERLINE THE STRONG ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL TIES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UNITED STATES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID IN WASHINGTON MR PATTEN WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB AND THE ASIA SOCIETY AS WELL AS LEADING DISCUSSIONS AT THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION.

IN NEW YORK, MR PATTEN WILL GIVE SPEECHES TO THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS AND THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS.

MR PATTEN WILL ALSO MEET THE EDITORIAL BOARDS OF THE WASHINGTON POST, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, AS WELL AS GIVING TELEVISION, RADIO AND NEWSPAPER INTERVIEWS.

MR PATTEN WILL VISIT WASHINGTON BETWEEN MAY 2 TO 5 AND NEW YORK BETWEEN MAY 6 TO 8 BEFORE RETURNING TO HONG KONG ON MAY 9.

HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY MRS PATTEN; HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY, MR BOWEN LEUNG; HIS PERSONAL ADVISER, MR MARTIN DINHAM AND THE INFORMATION CO-ORDINATOR, MR MICHAEL HANSON.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, WILL DEPART FOR THE UNITED STATES TOMORROW (FRIDAY) BY FLIGHT UA 002 (ETD 12.05 PM).

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WHO WISH TO COVER THE GOVERNOR’S DEPARTURE SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT’S PRESS ROOM BY 11.20 AM TOMORROW.

------0-------

/2 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

DATE SET FOR THIRD ROUND OF ELECTION TALKS

*****

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED IN BEIJING AT 1600 HOURS TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE BRITISH SIDE AND THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE AGREED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE, SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE, MR JIANG ENZHU, VICE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, WILL HOLD THEIR THIRD ROUND OF TALKS IN BEIJING BETWEEN 21 AND 23 MAY 1993 ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, THE PRINCIPLE OF CONVERGENCE WITH THE BASIC LAW AND THE RELEVANT AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA.

-----0------

SES OUTLINES AGENDA FOR * * * * *

TELECOMS REFORMS ♦

THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GORDON SIU, TODAY (THURSDAY) OUTLINED HIS AGENDA FOR REFORMS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY IN THE COMING FEW MONTHS.

SPEAKING FOR THE FIRST TIME AS THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR SIU SAID THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY (OFTA) SHORTLY AND TO PUT INTO OPERATION OF THE TERRITORY'S LEGISLATIVE REFORMS.

HE TOLD PARTICIPANTS AT THE INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE THAT SUBJECT TO THE REQUISITE APPROVAL FROM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE NEW BODY FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION, TO BE STYLED OFTA, WOULD BE SET UP ON JULY 1.

THE SECOND ITEM WAS TO RESOLUTE THE REMAINING POLICY ISSUES ATTACHED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF FIXED NETWORK COMPETITION, CLEARING THE WAY FOR LICENCES TO BE ISSUED BEFORE YEAR END, MR STU SAID.

A THOROUGH REVIEW OF EXISTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION LEADING TO A NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORDINANCE TO GOVERN THE POST-1995 COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT WAS THE THIRD, HE SAID.

THE LAST, BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST, WAS THE PREPARATION AND ISSUE OF A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY STATEMENT TO ESTABLISH A REFERENCE FRAMEWORK FOR THE INDUSTRY OVER THE YEARS AHEAD, HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE FACTORS ON WHICH THE DECISION TO SET UP THE OFTA WERE BASED, MR SIU SAID THERE WAS THE NEED FOR A STRONG WELL-RESOURCED REGULATORY BODY TO ENSURE EVEN-HANDED AND EQUITABLE REGULATION OF THE NEWLY COMPETITIVE MARKET PLACE.

"THE REGULATOR MUST BE AND BE SEEN TO BE FULLY INDEPENDENT OF THE OPERATORS IT REGULATES,” MR SIU SAID, ADDING THAT THE REGULATORY BODY, WHILE REMAINING AS A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE A REASONABLE DEGREE OF AUTONOMY FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT,” HE SAID.

/MOREOVER, IT ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

MOREOVER, IT MUST HAVE CREDIBILITY IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC, LEGISLATORS AND DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN OPERATORS AS A FAIR AND UNBIASED REFEREE OF THE INDUSTRY AND AS A RELIABLE DEFENDER OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST, MR SIU SAID.

REVIEWING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF HONG KONG’S NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY INITIATIVES OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS, MR SIU SAID AMENDMENTS TO THE TELEPHONE AND TELECOMMUNICATION ORDINANCES WERE INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST YEAR AND WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE.

IN ADDITION TO PAVING THE WAY FOR PRICE CAPPING AND THE ATTENDANT IDD REDUCTIONS, THE LEGISLATION ALSO PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR THE EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION OF COMPETITION TO THE HONG KONG FIXED NETWORK MARKET, HE SAID.

"ANOTHER ISSUE WE ARE PROGRESSING IS THE INTRODUCTION OF NETWORK COMPETITION," MR SIU SAID.

ON FEBRUARY 1, THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS, THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY HAD RECEIVED SEVEN PROPOSALS, REFLECTING A GOOD MIX OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS INTEREST.

THESE APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED. THEY HAVE THROWN UP A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT POLICY ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION, AMONG THEM:

* HOW CUSTOMER ACCESS SHOULD BE FACILITATED;

* THE QUESTION OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESALE OF LEASED CIRCUIT CAPACITY;

* NUMBERING ALLOCATION ISSUES;

* THE REGULATORY SAFEGUARDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE INCUMBENT OPERATOR, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MONOPOLY INTERNATIONAL OPERATOR.

"HONG KONG TODAY STANDS AS A KEY TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTRE. WE REALISE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD TO MAINTAIN THIS POSITION," HE SAID.

MR SIU SAID HONG KONG'S PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS PLAN INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENT OF SOME $60 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

"THIS IS A POWERFUL VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR POLICIES AND IN HONG KONG.

"THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT WE HAVE SET OUT FOR THE INDUSTRY LIES AT THE HEART OF HONG KONG’S FUTURE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.

"WE ARE CREATING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. IT IS NOW UP TO THE INDUSTRY TO SEIZE THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND PUT THEM TO WORK," HE SAID.

0 ---------

/A ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

NEW COMPANIES, LAND REGISTRARS APPOINTED *****

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT MR G W E JONES WILL BE APPOINTED AS THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES TO HEAD THE NEW COMPANIES REGISTRY AND MR KENNETH PANG TSAN-WING AS THE LAND REGISTRAR TO HEAD THE NEW LAND REGISTRY AS FROM MAY 1.

THE COMPANIES REGISTRY WILL TAKE OVER FROM THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCORPORATING COMPANIES, ADMINISTERING AND ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, REGISTERING DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY COMPANIES AND PROVIDING CORPORATE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

IT WILL ALSO OPERATE A REGISTRY OF MONEY LENDERS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE.

THE LAND REGISTRY WILL TAKE OVER FROM THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING UP-TO-DATE LAND REGISTERS AND PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF LAND DOCUMENTS AND PUBLIC SEARCH OF THE LAND REGISTERS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAND REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.

IN ADDITION, IT WILL OPERATE A REGISTRY OF OWNERS CORPORATIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS (OWNERS INCORPORATION) ORDINANCE.

"IT IS THE INTENTION THAT LATER IN THE YEAR BOTH THE COMPANIES REGISTRY AND THE LAND REGISTRY WILL BE OPERATED ON A TRADING FUND BASIS," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

UPON THE SETTING UP OF THE TWO NEW REGISTRIES ON SATURDAY (MAY 1), THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT WILL CEASE TO EXIST.

THE PRESENT REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR NOEL GLEESON, WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME DATE TO ADMINISTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION OF TITLE TO LAND.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON THE TWO NEW REGISTRARS:

MR GORDON WILLIAM EWING JONES

MR JONES, AGED 41, JOINED THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN 1973 AND ROSE TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE B IN JANUARY 1992.

HE HAS SERVED IN A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES.

HIS RECENT POSTINGS INCLUDE ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY (1986-89) AND PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT (1989-90).

MR JONES HAS BEEN THE HEAD (COMPANIES DIVISION) IN THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT SINCE DECEMBER 1990, AND HAS EXTENSIVE ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE.

/MR KENNETH .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

MR KENNETH PANG TSAN-WING

MR PANG, AGED 46, A CHARTERED SURVEYOR, JOINED THE VALUATION ASSISTANT GRADE IN THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT IN SEPTEMBER 1967.

HE WAS PROMOTED TO PRINCIPAL RATING AND VALUATION SURVEYOR IN 1979, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION IN 1984, AND TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION IN 1989.

HAVING SERVED IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, MR PANG HAS GAINED CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN LANDS MATTERS.

--------0------------

DISPOSAL OF CONTAMINATED MUD ACCEPTABLE *****

THE METHOD OF DISPOSING OF CONTAMINATED MUD IN PURPOSE-DREDGED PITS ON THE SEABED WAS EXPLAINED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS PANEL THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING. THE SAME SUBJECT WAS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S AGENDA IN THE AFTERNOON.

THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE EXISTING PIT IN EAST SHA CHAU HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE DECEMBER 1992 AND WILL SOON BE FULL.

A SECOND PIT WILL BE REQUIRED IN MID-JULY THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUING DISPOSAL OF CONTAMINATED MUD WHICH IS BEING REMOVED AS A RESULT OF THE SEVERAL ONGOING INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

THE FINDINGS OF INTENSIVE STUDIES MADE BY THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST SHA CHAU PIT SHOWED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MINOR LOSS OF SEDIMENT UNDER THE CURRENT OPERATING CONDITIONS.

TO MINIMISE FURTHER THE RISK OF CONTAMINATED MUD ESCAPING FROM THE EXISTING PIT, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE LICENSING AUTHORITY UNDER THE DUMPING AT SEA ACT, HAS IMPOSED THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

(1) THERE SHOULD BE FULL-TIME STAFF TO SUPERVISE THE DUMPING OPERATIONS;

(2) SILT CURTAINS SHOULD BE DEPLOYED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT THE DRIFTING OF FINE CONTAMINATED MATERIAL IS PREVENTED; AND

(3) THE PIT SHOULD BE FILLED WITH A 3-METRE CAPPING LAYER IMMEDIATELY AFTER JULY 15 OR WHENEVER THE PIT HAS BEEN FILLED TO ITS PERMITTED LEVEL, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.

/FOR THE ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

FOR THE LICENSING OF FUTURE PITS, THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS WOULD BE REQUIRED:

(1) AS HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT FOR PIT I THERE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE INTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING BEFORE THE PITS ARE USED, DURING THEIR OPERATIONAL LIFE AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CAPPED. FURTHER MONITORING AROUND CAPPED PITS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED;

(2) THE PITS SHOULD BE AS SMALL AS PRACTICABLE IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTAMINATED MATERIAL DURING A STORM;

(3) CLOSED PITS SHOULD BE PREVENTED FROM DAMAGE BY SHIPS BY DESIGNATING THE DISPOSAL SITES AS FOUL ANCHORAGES;

(4) DUMPING OF HYDRAULICALLY DREDGED CONTAMINATED MUD IN SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN PITS OF THE PRESENT BASIC DESIGN; AND

(5) PITS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO APPROACH MAXIMUM FILLING LEVELS DURING THE TYPHOON SEASON.

THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WOULD STOP THE DUMPING OPERATION IF MONITORING RESULTS SHOWED THAT A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF CONTAMINATED MATERIAL MIGHT ESCAPE FROM A PIT.

"ALL THESE MEASURES WOULD PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ANY RISK OF CONTAMINATED MUD ESCAPING FROM A PIT," HE ADDED.

------0-------

PROVISIONAL FIGURES OF EXTERNAL TRADE FOR MARCH

IN MARCH 1993, RE-EXPORTS CONTINUED TO SURGE, WHILE DOMESTIC EXPORTS REGISTERED A SMALL INCREASE.

AT THE SAME TIME, IMPORTS GREW MARKEDLY.

THESE ARE SHOWN IN THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES OF EXTERNAL TRADE RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS IN MARCH 1993 ROSE BY $12,246 MILLION OR 24% OVER A YEAR EARLIER TO $63,469 MILLION.

THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY $292 MILLION OR 1.7% TO $17,343 MILLION.

TAKING RE-EXPORTS AND DOMESTIC EXPORTS TOGETHER, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS IN MARCH 1993 GREW BY $12,538 MILLION OR 18% OVER A YEAR EARLIER TO $80,812 MILLION.

OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY $12,983 MILLION OR 18% TO $86,855 MILLION.

/AS THE

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

AS THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS WAS SMALLER THAN THAT OF TOTA1 IMPORTS, A VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT OF $6,043 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 7% OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, WAS RECORDED IN MARCH 1993. THIS WAS BROADLY SIMILAR TO THE DEFICIT OF $5,599 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 7.6% OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, RECORDED IN MARCH 1992.

IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS AMOUNTED TO $174,198 MILLION, WHICH WAS $34,586 MILLION OR 25% HIGHER THAN A YEAR EARLIER.

THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS, AT $48,709 MILLION, WAS ABOUT THE SAME AS THAT IN THE SAME QUARTER LAST YEAR.

TAKING RE-EXPORTS AND DOMESTIC EXPORTS TOGETHER, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993, AT $222,907 MILLION, WAS $34,589 MILLION OR 18% HIGHER THAN A YEAR EARLIER.

THE VALUE OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY $35,098 MILLION OR 18% TO $233,054 MILLION.

A VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT OF $10,147 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 4.4% OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, WAS RECORDED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993. THIS COMPARED WITH A TRADE DEFICIT OF $9,638 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 4.9% OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, RECORDED A YEAR EARLIER.

COMMENTING ON THE MARCH FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE STRUCTURAL SHIFT FROM DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO RE-EXPORTS CONTINUED.

AS RE-EXPORTS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER THAN DOMESTIC EXPORTS, THE FORMER’S SHARE IN THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS ROSE TO 78% IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993, COMPARED WITH THE 74% A YEAR AGO.

AT THE SAME TIME, RETAINED IMPORTS CONTINUED TO GROW STEADILY. IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993, THE VALUE OF RETAINED IMPORTS WAS 7.5% HIGHER THAN A YEAR EARLIER, REFLECTING A SUSTAINED GROWTH IN DOMESTIC DEMAND.

THE FOLLOWING TABLE PRESENTS THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN MARCH 1993.

A MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS OF HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE IN MARCH 1993, BY COMMODITY AND COUNTRY, WILL BE RELEASED IN MID-MAY.

/PROVISIONAL FIGURES .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

PROVISIONAL FIGURES OF EXTERNAL TRADE FOR MARCH 1993

MERCHANDISE: DOMESTIC EXPORTS RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE

$17,343 $63,469 $80,812 $86,855 -$6,043

MILLION MILLION MILLION MILLION MILLION

COMPARATIVE FIGURES

JAN 93 TO JAN 92 TO CHANGE

LATEST 3 MONTHS MAR 93 MAR 92

HK$ MN HK$ MN HK$ MN %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 48,709 48,707 + 3 +0.0

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (21.9%) (25.9%)

RE-EXPORTS 174 , 198 139,611 +34,586 + 24.8

TOTAL EXPORTS 222,907 188,318 +34,589 + 18.4

IMPORTS 233,054 197,956 +35,098 + 17.7

TRADE BALANCE -10,147 -9,638 -509

MARCH MARCH CHANGE

SAME MONTH LAST YEAR 1993 1992

HK$ MN HK$ MN HK$ MN %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 17,343 17,052 + 292 + 1.7

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (21.5%) (25.0%)

RE-EXPORTS 63,469 51,222 +12,246 + 23.9

TOTAL EXPORTS 80,812 68,274 +12,538 + 18.4

IMPORTS 86,855 73,873 +12,983 + 17.6

TRADE BALANCE -6,043 -5,599 -445

MARCH FEBRUARY CHANGE

LAST MONTH 1993 1993

HK$ MN HK$ MN HK$ MN %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 17,343 16,807 + 537 + 3.2

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (21.5%) (21.4%)

RE-EXPORTS 63,469 61,564 +1,904 + 3.1

TOTAL EXPORTS 80,812 78,371 +2,441 + 3.1

IMPORTS 86,855 82,848 +4,007 + 4.8

TRADE BALANCE -6,043 -4,477 -1,566

APR 92 TO APR 91 TO CHANGE

LAST 12 MONTHS MAR 93 MAR 92

HK$ MN HK$ MN HK$ MN %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 234,126 231,251 +2,875 + 1.2

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (24.4%) (28.9%)

RE-EXPORTS 725,416 570,092 +155,323 + 27.2

TOTAL EXPORTS 959,542 801,344 +158,198 + 19.7

IMPORTS 990,393 814,263 +176,130 + 21.6

TRADE BALANCE -30,851 -12,919 -17,932

--------0-----------

/9 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

REAR-MOUNTED ADVERTISING ON TAXIS APPROVED

t t t t i

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN APPROVAL FOR TAXIS TO CARRY REAR-MOUNTED ADVERTISING SIGNS ON THE BOOT OF VEHICLES FROM MAY 1.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TAXI OWNERS APPLYING FOR ADVERTISING IN OR ON TAXIS FOR THE FIRST TIME SHOULD SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE PUBLIC VEHICLES SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT.

AN ADMINISTRATION FEE OF $100 WILL BE CHARGED FOR PERMISSION TO DISPLAY ADVERTISEMENT ON EACH TAXI.

"FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED APPROVAL, THEY SHALL APPLY IN WRITING WITH COPIES OF THE CAR REGISTRATION DOCUMENT.

"A FRESH APPROVAL LETTER WHICH EXTENDS THE APPROVAL TO COVER THE BOOT PANEL ADVERTISEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AT NO EXTRA CHARGE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE REMINDED TAXI OWNERS WHO WISHED TO INSTALL REAR-MOUNTED ADVERTISING SIGNS TO OBSERVE THE GUIDELINES LAID DOWN BY THE DEPARTMENT.

THE GUIDELINES SPECIFIED THAT THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE UPPERMOST PART OF THE SIGN BOARD SHALL NOT PROJECT MORE THAN 25MM ABOVE THE LOWEST TRANSPARENT POINT OF THE REAR WINDOW MEASURED HORIZONTALLY EXCLUDING THE BLACK-TINTED SURROUND. THE WIDTH OF THE STRUCTURE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE WIDTH OF THE BOOT PANEL.

INTERESTED PARTIES CAN SUBMIT THE DESIGN OF THE ADVERTISING SIGNBOARD TO THE VEHICLE EXAMINATION DIVISION OF TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT FOR TYPE APPROVAL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

NO PARTY OR AGENT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT ON THE DESIGN OF THE BOOT PANEL ADVERTISING SIGN, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ADVERTISEMENT AND STRUCTURE SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES IN A SOUND AND SAFE CONDITION.

THE INSTALLATION AND THE ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAYED WOULD BE CHECKED AT THE ANNUAL VEHICLE EXAMINATION OR HALF YEARLY INSPECTION, HE ADDED.

"THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE CONDITIONS FOR ADVERTISEMENTS TO BE DISPLAYED UNDER THE EXISTING THREE METHODS, I.E. ON THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE VEHICLE OR ON THE EXTERIOR FRONT AND/OR REAR DOOR PANELS OF THE VEHICLE BELOW THE SIDE WINDOWS AND ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLES." HE SAID.

IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S ANTI-SMOKING POLICY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID NO ADVERTISING OF TOBACCO AND TOBACCO-RELATED PRODUCTS SHOULD BE DISPLAYED ON THE REAR-MOUNTED ADVERTISING PANEL.

0----------

/10 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL, 29, 1993

REGISTRATION OE TRADERS UNDER TTRS STARTS *****

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WILL START TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF TEXTILES TRADERS UNDER THE TEXTILES TRADER REGISTRATION SCHEME (TTRS) FROM SATURDAY (MAY 1).

TRADERS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR REGISTRATION EARLY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHEME STARTING JULY 1, 1993.

UNDER THE TTRS, IMPORTERS, EXPORTERS, MANUFACTURERS, CARRIERS AND FORWARDERS, ONCE REGISTERED WITH THE TRADE DEPARTMENT AND COMPLIED WITH THE CONDITIONS, WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENT IN RESPECT OF ALL TEXTILE IMPORTS, ALL TEXTILE RE-EXPORTS, TEXTILE EXPORTS OF HONG KONG ORIGIN TO NON-RESTRAI NED MARKETS AND ALL TEXTILES TRANSHIPMENT CARGO.

THE CURRENT REGISTRATION FEE IS J2,000 AND THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF A REGISTRATION IS 12 MONTHS.

AS A CONDITION OF EXEMPTION, REGISTERED TRADERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE TRADE DEPARTMENT OF THE PARTICULARS OF INDIVIDUAL SHIPMENT TO BE EXEMPTED FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

NOTIFICATION FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT VIA THE CARRIERS AT THE TIME OF SHIPMENT OF THE TEXTILES PRODUCTS.

A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (THURSDAY) SAID THE BEAUTY OF THE NEW REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM WAS TO ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO CAPTURE CERTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ALL IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND AT THE SAME TIME REMOVE ALL THE HASSLES FOR LICENSING.

"THOUGH IT MIGHT MEAN EXTRA WORK FOR FORWARDERS OR CARRIERS CURRENTLY USING THE TRANSHIPMENT CARGO EXEMPTION SCHEME (TCES), IT IS INEVITABLE AS THE GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THAT HONG KONG’S EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM REMAINS EFFECTIVE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

REGISTERED TRADERS ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP PROPER BOOKS AND RECORDS ON SHIPMENTS EFFECTED UNDER THE TTRS.

AS FOR MANUFACTURERS REGISTERED UNDER THE SCHEME, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP PRODUCTION RECORDS, SHE SAID.

"THE REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CONSIGNMENTS WILL GREATLY ASSIST THE TRACKING OF ILLEGAL TRANSHIPMENT OF TEXTILES PRODUCTS."

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE TTRS.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL FURTHER STEP UP ITS EFFORT IN RESPECT OF CHECKING OF MANIFEST AND VERIFICATION OF SUBMITTED NOTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES AS MANY OF OUR STAFF CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN LICENSING WILL BE REDEPLOYED TO DO SO.

/A COMPANY .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

A COMPANY/REGISTERED BUSINESS WHICH COMMITS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE TTRS IS LIABLE UPON CONVICTION TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF $500,000 AND TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.

MOREOVER, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT MAY TAKE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION AGAINST REGISTERED TEXTILE TRADERS WHO BREACH ANY OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE TTRS.

SUCH ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION MAY INVOLVE, BUT NOT CONFINED TO, THE SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION OF ANY EXEMPTION AND REGISTRATION GRANTED.

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT HAS PUBLISHED CIRCULARS GIVING OUT DETAILS OF THE TTRS. THESE CIRCULARS AND RELEVANT TTRS APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ENQUIRY COUNTER ON GROUND FLOOR, TRADE DEPARTMENT TOWER, 700 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.

0----------

EX-MENTALLY ILL FIT TO BE INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY ******

EX-MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE ARE DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS WHO ARE RECOMMENDED BY A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM COMPRISING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AS FIT TO BE INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR IAN STRACHAN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

HE MADE THE STATEMENT AFTER VISITING THE LOK KWAN HALF-WAY HOUSE AND THE LAI KWAN DAY TRAINING CENTRE, BOTH OPERATED BY THE BAPTIST OI KWAN SERVICE IN WAN CHAI, TO FAMILIARISE HIMSELF WITH THE REHABILITATION FACILITIES FOR DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS.

MR STRACHAN STRESSED THAT THE EX-MENTALLY ILL HAD THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND TO BE INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY.

"WHEN THEY ARE DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITALS, THEY HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE DETAINING THEM IN INSTITUTIONS OR TO HIDE THEM AWAY, THIS WOULD NOT HELP THEIR TOTAL REHABILITATION. IT WOULD ALSO REFLECT POORLY ON OUR SOCIETY," HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT 30 YEARS AGO PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS OR SUFFERING FROM OTHER FORMS OF DISABILITY USED TO BE HIDDEN AWAY.

"OUR COMMUNITY NOW REALISE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE AROUND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

"IN A MODERN SOCIETY LIKE HONG KONG THIS RIGHT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY," HE ADDED.

HE SAID THE COMMUNITY HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THE EX-MENTALLY ILL REHABILITATE.

DURING HIS VISIT MR STRACHAN WAS BRIEFED BY MRS LEUNG, DIRECTOR OF BAPTIST OI KWAN SOCIAL SERVICE ON HOW THE EX-MENTALLY ILL WERE TRAINED FOR EMPLOYMENT.

/HE PRAISED .......

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

HE PRAISED MRS LEUNG AND HER STAKE FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE REHABILITATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

THE LAI KWAN DAY TRAINING CENTRE PROVIDES 50 PLACES FOR TRAINEES WHILE THE LOK KWAN HALF-WAY HOUSE PROVIDES 35 PLACES FOR RESIDENTS. THE BAPTIST 01 KWAN SOCIAL SERVICE IS SUBVERTED AND OFFERS SERVICES TO DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS WHO ARE IN STABLE CONDITION.

.... 0 - - - -

FUNDING FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON RISE

******

THE GOVERNMENT HAS OVER THE YEARS PROVIDED ENHANCED FUNDING TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE LOCAL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.

THE PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE IN RECOGNITION OF THE ACADEMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH ACTIVITIES AND THE IMPORTANT SUPPORTIVE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PHASE II CAMPUS OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC TODAY (THURSDAY).

MR CHAN NOTED THAT SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RESEARCH GRANTS COUNCIL IN 1991, IT HAD APPROVED FUNDING FOR OVER 300 RESEARCH PROJECTS IN SUBJECTS RANGING FROM THE STUDY OF PAPER FOLK ART TO RESEARCH ON MODEL-BASED HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGING.

THE ANNUAL EARMARKED RESEARCH FUNDING OF' THE COUNCIL WAS INCREASED BY 22 PER CENT TO $147 MILLION IN 1992/93, AND SIMILAR INCREASES IN REAL TERMS WILL BE ACHIEVED BETWEEN NOW AND 1994/95.

THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ALSO SPEND ABOUT TWO PER CENT OF THEIR RECURRENT BLOCK GRANTS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.

"OUR INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH WILL ASSIST THE INSTITUTIONS TO IMPROVE THEIR RESEARCH BASE, STIMULATE THEIR ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT, ATTRACT AND RETAIN HIGH CALIBRE STAFF, AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TRAINING OF ACADEMIC AND OTHER SKILLED MANPOWER NEEDED FOR THE FUTURE," MR CHAN SAID.

THE SECRETARY ALSO SPOKE ON THE RAPID EXPANSION FOR THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SECTOR IN HONG KONG.

HE NOTED THAT ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE ONLY THREE DEGREEAWARDING INSTITUTIONS OFFERING SOME 3,000 FIRST-YEAR, FIRST-DEGREE PLACES.

TODAY, THERE ARE NINE DEGREE-AWARD I NG INSTITUTIONS, OF WHICH SEVEN ARE FUNDED BY THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (UPGC).

/THESE SEVEN

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

THESE SEVEN INSTITUTIONS WILL TOGETHER PROVIDE 12,500 FIRST-YEAR, FIRST-DEGREE PLACES IN THE COMING YEAR AND 14,500 SUCH PLACES BY 1994/95.

"THE NEARLY FIVEFOLD INCREASE IN THE PROVISION OF FIRST-YEAR, FIRST-DEGREE PLACES WITHIN A SINGLE DECADE WILL BE A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT BY ANY STANDARD," SAID MR CHAN.

ON POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION, THERE WERE FEWER THAN 1, 800 STUDENTS READING FOR HIGHER QUALIFICATIONS IN THE TWO UNIVERSITIES BACK IN 1984.

AS HIGHER DEGREE PROGRAMMES ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN SIX UPGC-FUNDED INSTITUTIONS, THE SIZE OF THE POST-GRADUATE STUDENT POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO REACH SOME 6,000 NEXT YEAR.

SPEAKING ON THE COMPLETION OF THE PHASE II CITY POLYTECHNIC CAMPUS, MR CHAN SAID IT WAS NO DOUBT A SOURCE OF GREAT PRIDE TO THE STAFF AND STUDENTS OF THE POLYTECHNIC WHICH COULD NOW ACCOMMODATE 10,000 FULL-TIME STUDENTS.

THE ADDITIONAL FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED INCLUDE LECTURE THEATRES, STAFF OFFICES, LABORATORIES, LIBRARY AND SPORTS COMPLEX EXTENSIONS, A STAFF CLUB, A CHINESE RESTAURANT AND NEW ACCOMMODATION FOR THE STUDENTS’ UNION.

------0-------

SURVEY ON PARENT-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION * » t * *

THE COMMITTEE ON HOME-SCHOOL CO-OPERATION IS INVITING TENDERS TO COMMISSION A TERRITORY-WIDE SURVEY ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND SCHOOLS.

THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR TIK CHI-YUEN, SAID TODAY: "THE SURVEY IS TO INVESTIGATE CURRENT MODES OF HOME-SCHOOL CO-OPERATION AND MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, ATTITUDES AND EXPECTATIONS OF DIFFERENT PARTIES IN THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN UP TO THE SECONDARY LEVEL.

"THE RESEARCH PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE DESIGNING SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, SAMPLING, FIELD WORK, ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS AND PRESENTING THE REPORT."

HE SAID THE SURVEY SHOULD HELP IMPROVE HOME-SCHOOL

CO-OPERATION AS RECOMMENDED IN THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 5.

INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE WORKING GROUP ON SURVEYS/INVEST IGATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE, ROOM 902, WEST COAST INTERNATIONAL BUILDING, 290 UN CHAU STREET, SHAM SHUI PO, KOWLOON, BEFORE FRIDAY, MAY 7, FOR TENDER DETAILS.

A BRIEFING SESSION OF TENDER DETAILS WILL BE HELD AT ROOM 1419, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, WU CHUNG HOUSE, 213 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI.

PERSONS WISHING TO ATTEND SHOULD CONTACT MRS CONNIE Y C LAM ON TEL 304 3809.

------0-------

/14 .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

- 14 -

QUARTERLY SURVEY OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES * » « » »

THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW LAUNCHING FOR THE FIRST TIME A QUARTERLY SURVEY OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES.

THE SURVEY AIMS TO COLLECT QUARTERLY BUSINESS RECEIPTS DATA FOR COMPILATION OF SHORT-TERM INDICATORS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICE INDUSTRIES.

RESULTS OF THE SURVEY ARE USEFUL TO BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ANALYSING THE ECONOMIC SITUATION, FORMULATING POLICIES AND MAKING BUSINESS DECISIONS.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS, MR FREDERICK HO WING-HUEN APPEALED TO THE MANAGEMENTS OF ALL SAMPLED ESTABLISHMENTS TO RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES PROMPTLY AND TO CO-OPERATE WITH OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT IN THE COURSE OF THE SURVEY.

MR HO STRESSED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE.

ONLY AGGREGATE INFORMATION, WHICH DOES NOT REVEAL DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS, WILL BE RELEASED.

ABOUT 1,200 ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE ENUMERATED IN THE SURVEY. THE SURVEY COVERS WHOLESALE, TMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, HOTELS, TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES, STORAGE, COMMUNICATIONS, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES.

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES HAVE BEEN MAILED EARILER IN THE MONTH TO THE ESTABLISHMENTS SAMPLED FOR THE SURVEY.

THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRES TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT BY APRIL 30 1992.

IF REQUIRED, OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS TO HELP THEM COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRES.

THESE OFFICERS WILL CARRY GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARDS AND CERTIFICATES FOR CONDUCTING THE SURVEY WHILST ON DUTY, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

ANY ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE BUSINESS SERVICES STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL 802 1368.

- 0 -

/15 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

BOE MEMBERS VISIT TEACHING AND RESOURCE CENTRES *****

SIX BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS, LED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, MR TIMOTHY HA WING-HO, VISITED THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S TEACHING AND RESOURCE CENTRES AT HOK YUEN STREET IN HUNG HOM TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE MEMBERS WERE MISS BOW SUI-MAY, MR CHAN KIN-HUNG, MS AUDREY EU YUET-MEE, MRS MINNIE LAI WEI KIT-LIN AND MR ANDREW SO KWOK-WING.

THE GROUP WAS BRIEFED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS), MR SIMON HO, BEFORE VISITING THE CENTRES CONTAINING TEACHING FACILITIES AND RESOURCES ON COMPUTER EDUCATION, ACTIVITY APPROACH, KINDERGARTEN TEACHING, THE RELIGIOUS, ETHICAL AND SEX EDUCATION, SOCIAL SUBJECTS, CIVIC EDUCATION, AND PRIMARY SOCIAL STUDIES AND HEALTH EDUCATION.

MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OPERATES A NUMBER OF TEACHING AND RESOURCE CENTRES ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON TO PROMOTE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

THESE CENTRES ARE SPECIFICALLY CATERED FOR TEACHERS OF A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

THEY ALSO SERVE AS VENUES FOR IN-SERVICE TEACHER TRAINING AND AS PLACES WHERE TEACHERS CAN MEET INSPECTORS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES.

------0-------

MEDICAL LAB TECHNOLOGIST EXAM SET FOR SEPTEMBER *****

THE MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS BOARD ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT PERSONS WHO WISH TO BE REGISTERED AS A PART II MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST BUT WHO DO NOT HOLD THE QUALIFICATIONS REGISTRABLE WITH THE BOARD MAY APPLY TO SIT FOR THE PART II REGISTRATION EXAMINATION TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.

ALL APPLICATIONS SHOULD REACH THE BOARD SECRETARIAT ON OR BEFORE JUNE 16. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED.

A PREREQUISITE FOR ADMISSION TO THE EXAMINATION IS THAT THE APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A COURSE RELATED TO MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE AND RECOGNISED BY THE BOARD.

HOWEVER, THOSE WHO FAIL IN THE PART TIT EXAMINATION FOR PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION HELD ON AUGUST 27 LAST YEAR ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO SIT FOR THE EXAMINATION.

APPLICATION FORMS AND THE "GUIDE TO APPLICANTS" CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE BOARD SECRETARIAT IN PERSON OR BY WRITTEN REQUESTS.

THE ADDRESS OF THE BOARD SECRETARIAT IS MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS BOARD, SIXTH FLOOR, SUNNING PLAZA, 10 HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.

ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL 890 0843 AND 890 0514.

--------o-----------

/16 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

MUSIC GRANTS FOR 1993/94 *****

ALL REGISTERED NON-PROFIT-MAKING ORGANISATIONS CAN NOW APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND FOR THE YEAR 1993/94 WHICH ARE PRIMARILY FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE FIELDS OF MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES.

GRANTS WERE PREVIOUSLY MADE TO SCHOOLS AND MUSIC AND DANCE ORGANISATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OR REPAIR OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, DANCE EQUIPMENT, MUSIC SCORES AND PARTS; PAYMENT OF INSTRUCTORS* FEES FOR TRAINING; AND ORGANISING MUSIC AND DANCE EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, MUSIC CAMPS AND DANCE WORKSHOPS.

APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE FOR GRANTS FOR OTHER PURPOSES THAT CONFORM TO THE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE FUND.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MUSIC FUND SAID GRANTS TOTALLING $790,000 WERE APPROVED IN 1992/93 FOR 119 SCHOOLS AND ORGANISATIONS.

APPLICATION FORMS AND INFORMATION PAMPHLETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND SECRETARIAT, 40TH FLOOR, REVENUE TOWER, 5 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI; AND ALL MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE.

FURTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED ON TEL 594 5628. THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MAY 31.

-----0-------

CUSTOMS CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION ON MOVE

******

THE CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION OF THE CUSTOMS TRADE CONTROL BRANCH WILL MOVE TO A NEW OFFICE ON 16TH FLOOR, TRADE DEPARTMENT TOWER, 700 NATHAN ROAD, MONG KOK ON SATURDAY (MAY 1).

THE NEW HOT LINE FOR WEIGHTS AND MEASURES COMPLAINTS IS 398 5157 WHILE THAT FOR ENQUIRIES ON THE TOYS AND CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS SAFETY ORDINANCE IS 398 5158.

--------0------------

/17 ........

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

17 -

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,120

REVERSAL OF LAF BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY EFFECT OF LAF TODAY CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TW1 111.9 + 30 2,150 NIL -130 2,020 ♦-0.1* 29.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.46 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.54 3.05

1 MONTH 2.66 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.48 3.23

3 MONTHS 2.74 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.80 3.45

6 MONTHS 2.86 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.88 3.69

12 MONTHS 3.07 PCT TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 15,379 MN CLOSED 29 APRIL 1993

---------0------------

Received by PRO 5 MM 1993

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777

FRIDAY, APRIl 30, 1993

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNOR TO HIGHLIGHT TRADE ISSUES TN U.S. TOUR ......... 1

WATER AND GAS WORKS FOR NEW AIRPORT AUTHORISED .......... 2

FULL CONTROL ON ALL CHEMICAL WASTE FROM MONDAY .......... 2

STRINGENT CONTROL ON CONSTRUCTION NOISE ................. 4

CONTRACT AWARD FOR ROUTE 3 KWAI CHUNG VIADUCT ........... 5

BILL TO BETTER DEFINE POWERS OF BUILDING AUTHORITY GAZETTED 6

BILL FOR CONTRACTING OUT OF PARKING METER MANAGEMENT GAZETTED ................................................ 7

CODES OF PRACTICE FOR SUBSCRIPTION TV ISSUED ............ 8

APPOINTMENTS TO SECURITIES AND FUTURES APPEALS PANEL .... 9

AIR-CONDITIONER NUISANCES INCUR FINE .................... 9

JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS (ADJOURNMENT DURING GALE WARNINGS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 GAZETTED .......................... 11

MONETARY STATISTICS FOR MARCH 1993 ...................... 12

BANKING LICENCE GRANTED TO FUKUOKA CITY BANK ............ 16

/SHIPPING AND ......

SHIPPING AND CARGO STATISTICS OF OCEAN-GOING VESSELS FOR FOURTH QUARTER ............................................... 16

MORE DEVELOPMENT WORKS FOR MA ON SHAN .......................... 19

EXPANSION OF FANLING HOSPITAL .................................. 19

IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON VILLAGE SEWERAGE .......................... 19

APPLICATIONS FOR FLAG DAYS 1994 INVITED ........................ 20

COMMENTS ON ARTS POLICY REVIEW WELCOME ......................... 21

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

GOVERNOR TO HIGHLIGHT TRADE ISSUES INU*S. TOUR

******

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, WILL BE SETTING OUT WHY THE STATUS OF THE MOST FAVOURED NATION FOR CHINA IS IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG AND WHY CONTINUING TO OPEN UP MARKETS FOR TRADE IN ASIA, THE U.S. AND EUROPE IS SO IMPERATIVE FOR HONG KONG DURING HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE DEPARTURE AT THE AIRPORT, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE HAVE A VERY STRONG ECONOMIC AND TRADING RELATIONSHIP AND IT’S OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO ALL WE CAN TO STRENGTHEN THAT RELATIONSHIP AND STRENGTHEN MUTUAL CO-OPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

HE SAID ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT A GOOD DEAL DURING HIS VISIT WAS THE IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG OF A GOOD TRADING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA AND, ABOVE ALL, TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MFN STATUS FOR CHINA IN THAT RELATIONSHIP*

BUT HE ADDED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE MAIN FOCUS OF HIS VISIT WOULD BE ECONOMICS AND TRADE, THERE WAS LIKELY TO BE SOME QUESTIONING ABOUT POLITICAL ISSUES AS WELL.

"THERE IS OBVIOUSLY TREMENDOUS INTEREST ALL ROUND THE WORLD IN THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT HISTORIC JOINT DECLARATION, SCARCELY SURPRISING BECAUSE HONG KONG IS THE 1OTH LARGEST TRADING COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD, A GREAT INTERNATIONAL CENTRE AND THE WORLD OUT THERE IS CONCERNED OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE PROSPEROUS AND STABLE AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE VALUES WHICH HAVE HELPED TO MAKE IT SUCH A SUCCESS STORY," HE SAID.

"BUT I’M NOT CONVINCED MYSELF THE BEST WAY OF PURSUING THOSE IS BY DRAGGING TRADE INTO THE ARGUMENT," HE ADDED.

I KNOW HOW STRONGLY POLITICAL AND OTHER LEADERS IN THE UNITED

STATES FEEL ABOUT ONE OR TWO ISSUES.

"BUT I’M GOING TO TRY TO ARGUE TO THEM I HOPE REASONABLY CONVINCINGLY THAT THE BEST THING FOR THIS REGION AND BEST THING FOR THE WORLD IS MORE TRADE AND FREER TRADE, NOT LESS TRADE AND MORE RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE."

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON THE TIMING OF INTRODUCING THE ELECTION BILL TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE HAVE TWO AIMS. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO DO IS TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH OF THEM.

"ONE AIM IS TO GIVE THESE TALKS A FAIR WIND AND TO COMPLETE THEM SUCCESSFULLY. THE OTHER AIM, NOT UNREASONABLY, IS TO GIVE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO DISCUSS THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994 AND 95, AND TO HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE WELL BEFORE THE ELECTIONS IN 1994 AND 95."

HE ADDED THAT THESE AIMS HAD TO BE BALANCED.

"IN BALANCING THE TWO ATMS, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT, ABOVE ALL, OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING IN PLACE FAIR ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WILL LAST AND WHICH WILL BE THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG AND THAT’S THE BACKDROP TO THESE DISCUSSIONS," HE SAID.

• /2

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

WATER AND GAS WORKS FOR NEW AIRPORT AUTHORISED ♦ ♦ * * ♦

THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN AUTHORISATION FOR THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS COMPANY TO CARRY OUT CONSTRUCTION WORKS TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR WATER AND GAS THAT WILL ARISE FROM THE FUTURE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS ON NORTH LANTAU.

THE AUTHORISATION NOTICE WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE WORKS ARE SCHEDULED TO START IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR. THEY COMPRISED CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES BETWEEN TAI LAM CHUNG AND NORTH LANTAU, AND A GAS PIGGING STATION OCCUPYING ABOUT 0.18 HECTARE OF FORESHORE AT SIU LAM, NEXT TO THE MARINE POLICE BASE.

TO FACILITATE PIPE-LAYING, TEMPORARY WORKS PLATFORMS WILL BE ERECTED ALONG THE FORESHORE AT SIU I.AM KOK AND TAI LAM KOK DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

WORKS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1996.

ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HE HAS AN INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE WORKS MAY SEND A WRITTEN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 1994.

THE NOTICE, TOGETHER WITH THE RELATED PLAN, IS AVAILABLE AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT’S SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1 TUEN HI ROAD, TUEN MUN, NEW TERRITORIES AND THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, 1ST FLOOR, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES.

COPIES OF THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE PURCHASED AT THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.

------0-------

FULL CONTROL ON ALL CHEMICAL WASTE FROM MONDAY

*****

FULL CONTROL ON THE DISPOSAL OF ALL CHEMICAL WASTE FOR THE WHOLE TERRITORY WILL START ON MAY 3.

WASTE SUCH AS ACIDS, ALKALIS, CYANIDES, HEAVY METAL SOLUTIONS, SOLVENTS AND MINERAL OILS, WHICH POSES SERIOUS THREATS TO HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT IF NOT PROPERLY MANAGED, WILL COME UNDER CONTROL.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE ASBESTOS, SOLID TANNERY AND POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (PCB) WASTE, WHICH WERE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL IN NOVEMBER 1992.

SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCHING OF FULL CONTROL ON CHEMICAL WASTE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MR JOHN BOXALL, SAID CHEMICAL WASTE THAT USED TO BE DISPOSED OF INDISCRIMINATELY, OFTEN BY POURING DOWN THE DRAIN, MUST NOW BE HANDLED IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE MANNER.

/UNDER THE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

UNDER THE NEW REGULATION MADE UNDER THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE, WHICH WILL NOW APPLY TO ALL TYPES OF CHEMICAL WASTE, WASTE PRODUCERS HAVE TO PROVIDE PROPER PACKAGING, LABELLING AND STORAGE FOR THEIR WASTE BEFORE DISPOSAL.

A WASTE PRODUCER CAN ENGAGE A LICENSED COLLECTOR TO TRANSPORT HIS WASTE TO A LICENSED DISPOSAL FACILITY. ONIA OPERATORS THAT CAN COMPLY WITH STRINGENT STANDARDS WILL BE GRANTED A WASTE COLLECTION OR DISPOSAL LICENCE BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD).

A WASTE PRODUCER IS DEEMED TO HAVE FULFILLED HIS LEGAL OBLIGATION ON CONSIGNING HIS WASTE 'I'O A LICENSED WASTE COLLECTOR.

A COMPUTERISED SYSTEM WILL BE USED TO EXERCISE COMPREHENSIVE CONTROL ON THE DISPOSAL OF CHEMICAL WASTE, TO DETER ANY ILLEGAL DISPOSAL SUCH AS ROAD SIDE DUMPING.

A THREE-COPY TRIP TICKET IS TO ACCOMPANY WASTE, WITH ONE COPY TO BE ‘RETAINED BY EACH DISPOSAL CHAIN, THAT IS THE WASTE PRODUCER, DISPOSAL FACILITY.

EACH CONSIGNMENT OF PARTY IN THE WASTE WASTE COLLECTOR AND

BY COMPARING THE COMPUTER I SEI) TRIP TICKET RECORDS, EPD CAN EASILY MONITOR WASTE MOVEMENT, READILY IDENTIFY ANY MALPRACTICE, AND TAKE FOLLOW-UP ACTION AS APPROPRIATE.

TO HELP WASTE PRODUCERS HAVE THEIR WASTE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPOINTED A CONTRACTOR, THE ENVTROPACE LTD, TO PROVIDE A CHEMICAL WASTE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT SERVICE FOR MOST OF THE CHEMICAL WASTE GENERATED IN HONG KONG.

ENVIROPACE WILL PROVIDE PROPER CONTAINERS TO THE WASTE PRODUCERS, AND COLLECT THE WASTE FROM THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THE WASTE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT CENTRE ON TSI NG YI WHERE THEY WILL UNDERGO ONE OR MORE OF THE TREATMENT PROCESSES, INCLUDING INCINERATION, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL TREATMENT, OIL/WATER SEPARATION AND STAB IL1 SAT I ON UNDER HIGH STANDARDS OF OPERATION.

CHEMICAL WASTE SUCH AS ASBESTOS, TANNERY OFFCUTS AND DRIED WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SLUDGE, WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE TREATMENT, CAN CONTINUE TO BE DISPOSED OF DIRECTLY WITH DOMESTIC WASTE IN A CONTROLLED MANNER AT THE LANDFILL AT TSEUNG KWAN O.

FOR THE MORE HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL WASTE INCLUDING DANGEROUS DRUGS, CERTAIN DANGEROUS GOODS, DI BENZOFURANS, DIOXINS, CERTAIN PESTICIDES AND POISONS, PCBS, AND SO ON, WASTE PRODUCERS ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY EPD BEFORE DISPOSAL OF THEIR WASTE.

THEY MUST THEN FOLLOW THE WRITTEN DIRECTIONS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN HANDLING AND DISPOSING OF THESE WASTE.

IF A WASTE PRODUCER CHOOSES OR NEEDS TO TREAT HIS OWN WASTE ONSITE OR TRANSPORT HIS OWN WASTE FOR DISPOSAL, HE MAY DO SO PROVIDED HE HAS OBTAINED THE APPROPRIATE DISPOSAL OR COLLECTION LICENCE FROM EPD.

/WITH RESPECT .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

WITH RESPECT TO THE REGISTRATION OF CHEMICAL WASTE PRODUCERS WHICH STARTED IN MAY 1992, MR BOXALL SAID ALL KNOWN WASTE PRODUCERS HAD APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION.

FOR NEW POTENTIAL WASTE PRODUCERS, THEY MUST BE REGISTERED WITH EPD BEFORE THEY START PRODUCING CHEMICAL WASTE.

’’WITH THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONTROL SCHEME, ALL CHEMICAL WASTE WILL BE DIRECTED TO SUITABLE FACILITIES FOR PROPER TREATMENT, THUS EFFECTIVELY REDUCING POLLUTION TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND SAFEGUARDING THE PUBLIC FROM POTENTIAL HAZARDS," MR BOXALL SAID.

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY UNDER THE VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE NEW REGULATION IS UP TO $200,000 IN FINE AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.

-----o--------

STRINGENT CONTROL ON CONSTRUCTION NOISE

*****

THE NOISE CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK REQUIRED TO TIGHTEN THE CONTROL OF NOISE FROM CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES DURING NIGHT-TIME AND HOLIDAYS IS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SEEKS TO EMPOWER THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS TO APPLY MORE STRINGENT CONTROLS TO "DESIGNATED AREAS", WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY POPULATED OR PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE AREAS.

"AT PRESENT, THERE ARE NO CONTROLS OVER CERTAIN NOISY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DROPPING OF RUBBLE AND STEEL BARS PROM A HEIGHT AT NIGHT OR ON HOLIDAYS. THIS IS CLEARLY UNACCEPTABLE AND THE AMENDMENTS, TOGETHER WITH REGULATIONS, WOULD PROVIDE FOR A BAN OF THESE ACTIVITIES," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

"FURTHERMORE, SOME CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS ALLOWED AT PRESENT, WILL ALSO BE BANNED DURING THESE SENSITIVE HOURS BECAUSE THEIR OPERATIONS ARE STILL CAPABLE OF CAUSING ANNOYANCE TO NEIGHBOURS," HE ADDED.

THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE BANNED IN THE DESIGNATED AREAS ARE THE ERECTION AND DISMANTLING OF FORMWORK OR SCAFFOLDING, THE LOADING, UNLOADING OR HANDLING OF RUBBLE, WOODEN BOARDS, STEEL BARS, WOOD OR SCAFFOLDING MATERIAL; AND HAMMERING.

SIMILARLY, THE USE OF DUMP TRUCKS, VIBRATORY POKERS, CONCRETE LORRY MIXERS, BULLDOZERS AND HAND-HELD PERCUSSIVE BREAKERS WILL BE BANNED.

UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, A PERMIT WOULD NOT BE ISSUED FOR SUCH WORK UNLESS IT WAS FOR ESSENTIAL PURPOSES OR HAD IMPORTANT SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS.

WITH A VIEW TO PROMOTING QUIET CONSTRUCT I ON PRACTICES, APPLICATIONS INVOLVING THE USE OF QUIET METHODS WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED.

/ALL THE ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

ALL THE RELEVANT CONSIDERATIONS WOULD BE CLEARLY STATED IN A "TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN DESIGNATED AREAS" TO BE ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY.

"THE GENERAL EFFECT OF THESE AMENDMENTS WOULD BE TO BAN VIRTUALLY ALL NON-ESSENTIAL NOISY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN BUILT-UP AREAS DURING NIGHT-TIME AND HOLIDAYS, THEREBY PROVIDING THE RELIEF THE COMMUNITY DESERVES," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

A SIX-MONTH TRANSITION PERIOD WOULD BE GIVEN TO ENABLE THE INDUSTRY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

"CONSIDERING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, IT WILL IN FACT BE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS FROM NOW TO PREPARE FOR THE CONTROLS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

ALL RENOVATION WORK, EXCEPT THAT WHICH IS CARRIED OUT WITHIN DOMESTIC PREMISES BY THE OCCUPANTS THEMSELVES, WILL BE COVERED BY THE NEW PROPOSALS.

THE AMENDMENT BILL ALSO SEEKS TO AMEND SEVERAL OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE WHICH ARE NOT FLEXIBLE OR CLEAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF CONTROLS. THESE INCLUDE THE APPEAL PROVISIONS, THE PROVISIONS FOR CONTROL OF NOISY PRODUCTS AND THAT FOR EXEMPTION ORDERS.

------0-------

CONTRACT AWARD FOR ROUTE .3 KWAI CHUNG VIADUCT

*****

THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD HAS ACCEPTED A $2,268 MILLION TENDER SUBMITTED BY THE SOGEA/CAMPENON BERNARD SGE/FRANKI CONTRACTOR JOINT VENTURE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE KWAI CHUNG VIADUCT SECTION OF ROUTE 3.

THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT-FUNDED CONTRACTS AWARDED ON THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME (ACP) TO 21, WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF OVER $24 BILLION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN ANNOUNCING THE CONTRACT AWARD.

"ALL 21 CONTRACTS WERE AWARDED WITHIN BUDGET AND ALL ARE ON SCHEDULE," HE SAID.

THE ROUTE 3 KWAI CHUNG VIADUCT CONTRACT IS A MAJOR ELEMENT IN THE ACP’S HIGHWAYS NETWORK LINKING TUNG CHUNG NEW TOWN AND THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK TO KOWLOON AND CENTRAL DISTRICT IN HONG KONG.

ROUTE 3 IS PLANNED AS A MAJOR NORTH-SOUTH HIGHWAY LINKING THE BORDER AND NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES WITH WEST KOWLOON VIA TSING YI.

THE FIRST PART OF ROUTE 3 TO BE CONSTRUCTED FALLS WITHIN THE ACP AND CONNECTS THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING WITH THE WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY. THE KWAI CHUNG VIADUCT BETWEEN LAI KING AND MEI FOO SUN CHUEN FORMS PART OF THIS SECTION.

THIS CONTRACT COMPRISES CONSTRUCTION OF A THREE KM DUAL FOUR-LANE EXPRESSWAY ON VIADUCT WITH FULL WIDTH HARD SHOULDER AND ASSOCIATED ROAD WORKS.

/TENDERS WERE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

TENDERS WERE RECEIVED FROM SIX PREQUALIFIED TENDERERS AND THE FRENCH/HONG KONG JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN SOGEA, CAMPENON BERNARD SGE, AND FRANKI CONTRACTORS LIMITED SUBMITTED THE LOWEST PRICED BID OF $2,268 MILLION.

CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL START EARLY NEXT MONTH AND IS TO BE COMPLETED IN THE SECOND HALF YEAR OF 1996.

------0-------

BILL TO BETTER DEFINE POWERS OF BUILDING AUTHORITY GAZETTED * * * * *

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO BETTER DEFINE THE POWERS OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY (BA) AND TO STREAMLINE EXISTING PROCEDURES WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

UNDER THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, THE POWER TO MAKE REGULATIONS ON TECHNICAL AND PROCEDURAL MATTERS UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS.

’’THIS WILL RELIEVE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FROM HAVING TO CONSIDER ROUTINE AND TECHNICAL MATTERS,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE (BOO) SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID WITH THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY OF BUILDING PROJECTS, MORE TIME WAS REQUIRED FOR INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE BREACHES OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE BEFORE MAKING PROSECUTION.

OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THERE HAD BEEN A SIXFOLD INCREASE IN THE CASELOAD HANDLED BY THE BA DUE TO STEPPED UP PROSECUTION ACTION.

THE BILL PROPOSES TO EXTEND THE TIME LIMIT FOR COMMENCING PROSECUTION FROM SIX MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE BOO TO HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO OBTAIN ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IT ALSO SEEKS TO DELETE FROM THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE PRESCRIBED FORMS AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS WHICH ARE LARGELY ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE.

IN ADDITION, THE AMENDING BILL WILL PROVIDE FOR THE DESIGNATION OF AN AREA IN MA ON SHAN AS SCHEDULED AREA NO.4 OF THE ORDINANCE DUE TO ITS SPECIAL GEOLOGICAL FEATURE SO THAT ADDITIONAL GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL COULD BE IMPOSED TO ENSURE BUILDING SAFETY IN THE VICINITY.

THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 12, 1993.

--------0-----------

/7.........

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

BILL FOR CONTRACTING OUT OF PARKING METER MANAGEMENT GAZETTED *****

THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO AMEND LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTRACTING OUT OF PARKING METER MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) SAID THE CONTRACTING OUT OF PARKING METER MANAGEMENT, WHICH WAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN JANUARY, WOULD BRING ABOUT HIGHER EFFICIENCY AND BETTER STANDARDS OF SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY INTEGRATING MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNCTIONS NOW BEING CARRIED OUT BY SEVERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

PREQUALIFICATION OF TENDERERS HAS BEEN INVITED AND TENDER FOR A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WILL BE CALLED IN JUNE. IT IS PLANNED THAT THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER COULD TAKE OVER BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND TO EXERCISE CONTROL OVER THE CONTRACTOR.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL RETAIN CONTROL OVER THE SETTING OF PARKING CHARGES AND THE TYPES OF METERS TO BE USED.

ABOUT 127 STAFF IN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE AFFECTED. THEY ARE BEING ASSISTED IN FINDING ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE OR WITH THE PARKING METER CONTRACTOR.

STATUTORY PROVISIONS FOR THE CONTRACTING OUT OF PARKING METER MANAGEMENT ARE CONTAINED IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 GAZETTED TODAY.

ALSO GAZETTED IS THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WHICH PROVIDES THAT NO PERSON SHALL PARK AT A SPACE SUSPENDED BY THE OPERATOR.

THE TWO BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 12 THIS YEAR.

IN ADDITION, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PARKING) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) REGULATION 1993 WILL BE MADE TO ENABLE THE PRIVATE OPERATOR TO AMEND, SUSPEND OR CANCEL ANY DESIGNATION OF PARKING SPACES SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.

THE REGULATION WILL ALSO GIVE THE OPERATOR THE SAME PROTECTION AS IS GIVEN TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT REGARDING ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF VEHICLES IN A PARKING PLACE.

--------0

Z8 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

CODES OF PRACTICE FOR SUBSCRIPTION TV ISSUED *****

IN ANTICIPATION OF THE GRANT OF A LICENCE FOR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION, THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY HAS ISSUED CODES OF PRACTICE ON PROGRAMME AND HOME SHOPPING STANDARDS FOR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION.

A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) SAID THE CODES WERE MODELLED ON THOSE FOR WIRELESS TELEVISION BUT WITH SUITABLE MODIFICATIONS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MULTI-CHANNEL NATURE OF SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND ITS CAPABILITY OF BEING SECURED AGAINST UNAUTHORISED USE.

ON THE PROGRAMMING SIDE, THE CODES ENSURE THAT NO MATERIAL UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN CAN BE SHOWN AT ANY TIME ON CHANNELS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN.

ON OTHER CHANNELS, PROGRAMMES UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARLY ADVERTISED AS SUCH AND AN APPROPRIATE WARNING DISPLAYED TO THAT EFFECT ON SCREEN.

SUBJECT TO PRIOR APPROVAL BEING GIVEN BY THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY, AND PROVIDED THAT THERE ARE SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS, SUCH AS LOCKABLE DEVICES, TO GUARD AGAINST ACCESS BY CHILDREN, ADULT CHANNELS MAY BE INTRODUCED.

FILMS CLASSIFIED AS CATEGORY III CAN ONLY BE SHOWN ON THE ADULT CHANNELS, AND NO OBSCENE MATERIAL MAY BE SHOWN ON ANY CHANNEL.

WITH REGARD TO HOME SHOPPING MATERIAL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY WOULD REQUIRE THE LICENSEE TO ENSURE THAT VIEWERS WERE ABLE TO PLACE A DIRECT ORDER FOR THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE PROMOTED USING A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK OR BY MAIL.

THIS DIRECT RESPONSE ELEMENT DISTINGUISHES HOME SHOPPING MATERIAL FROM ORDINARY ADVERTISING WHICH IS PROHIBITED ON SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION.

UNDER THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY’S RULES, HOME SHOPPING MATERIAL CAN ONLY BE SHOWN ON CHANNELS DEDICATED TO HOME SHOPPING PURPOSES OR PROGRAMME PROMOTION.

THERE ARE ALSO PROVISIONS IN THE HOME SHOPPING CODE GOVERNING TRUTHFULNESS AND THE SUBSTANTIATION OF CLAIMS. THIS WOULD HELP PROTECT VIEWERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

WHARF CABLE AND STAR TV WERE FULLY CONSULTED ON THE CODES. THE TELEVISION ADVISORY PANELS, COMPRISING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, HAVE ALSO OFFERED VALUABLE OPINIONS TO THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY.

SEPARATELY, IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF TELEVISION PROGRAMME STANDARDS, THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY HAS PRODUCED A NEW ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (API) FOR BROADCAST ON TELEVISION.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW THAT THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY HAD A POLICY OF FAMILY VIEWING HOURS, PROVIDING THAT BETWEEN 4 PM AND 8.30 PM EACH DAY NOTHING UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN IS ALLOWED TO BE BROADCAST ON WIRELESS TV, AND THAT STANDARDS ARE RELAXED GRADUALLY AFTER 8.30 PM.

/THE API .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

THE API WILL ALSO REMIND PARENTS THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE GUIDANCE TO THEIR CHILDREN ON PROGRAMME SELECTION AFTER THE 8.30 PM WATERSHED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE API WOULD BE BROADCAST FROM MAY ONWARDS.

-----0------

APPOINTMENTS TO SECURITIES AND FUTURES APPEALS PANEL

*****

THE GOVERNOR HAS RE-APPOINTED MR WONG CHUNG-HIN CHAIRMAN OF THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES APPEALS PANEL, AND MR LESTER KWOK CH I-HANG, MR SELWYN MAR, MR FRANK PONG, MR YAO KANG AND MR DENNIS LAM HAW-SHUN MEMBERS OF THE PANEL.

THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY (FRIDAY).

MR GUY HENDERSON HAS ALSO BEEN APPOINTED A NEW MEMBER OF THE PANEL. HE IS A LITIGATION PARTNER WITH ALLEN AND OVERY HONG KONG.

"THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO APPOINTED MR ROBERT TANG CHING TO REPLACE MR LESLIE WRIGHT AS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE PANEL," MR CARTLAND SAID.

MR TANG IS AN EX-CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION AND HAS SERVED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER BOARDS AND COMMITTEES SUCH AS THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION.

"I AM GRATEFUL TO MR WRIGHT FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE PANEL SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN MAY 1989," MR CARTLAND ADDED.

SECTION 18 OF THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PANEL TO HEAR APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS BY THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION IN RELATION TO APPLICATION FOR, OR SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF REGISTRATION AND THE EXERCISE OF INTERVENTION POWERS BY THE COMMISSION.

THE PANEL SHOULD COMPRISE A CHAIRMAN, A DEPUTY CHAIRMAN AND NOT FEWER THAN FIVE BUT NOT MORE THAN NINE INDEPENDENT MEMBERS.

ALL THE APPOINTMENTS AND RE-APPOINTMENTS ARE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS FROM MAY 1, 1993 TO APRIL 30, 1995.

-----0--------

AIR-CONDITIONER NUISANCES INCUR FINE

*****

DON’T LET THE NUISANCE OF YOUR AIR-CONDITIONER CAUSE YOU A FINE OF $10,000.

THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED BY THE HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STARTING FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).

/THE MONTH-LONG

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

THE MONTH-LONG CAMPAIGN, ENTITLED ”A WELL MAINTAINED AIR-CONDITIONER BENEFITS US ALL”, IS ORGANISED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS.

AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN, A 24-HOUR HOTLINE ”723 0013” CARRYING A PRE-RECORDED MESSAGE ON METHODS OF PREVENTING NUISANCES CAUSED BY AIR-CONDITIONERS WILL BE SET UP TO ADVISE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

’’THE ATM IS TO REMIND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO EFFECT DUE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE TO THEIR AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS WITH THE APPROACH OF THE SUMMER SEASON,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

"AFTER LISTENING TO THE TAPED MESSAGE, A CALLER MAY LEAVE HIS PHONE NUMBER AND QUESTIONS WITH THE HOTLINE. STAFF FROM THE HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT WILL CALL BACK," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT UNWANTED DRIPPINGS, HOT AIR AND EXCESSIVE NOISE WERE THE COMMON NUISANCES EMITTED FROM DEFECTIVE AIR-CONDITIONERS.

"TO TACKLE THE EMISSIONS EFFECTIVELY, THE PUBLIC SHOULD CHOOSE A SUITABLE AND LESS NOISY AIR-CONDITIONER.

"REGARDING THE INSTALLATION POSITION, AIR-CONDITIONERS SHOULD BE LOCATED AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE FROM THE NEIGHBOURING UNIT TO AVOID CAUSING NOISE NUISANCE TO NEIGHBOURS.

"WINDOW-TYPE AIR-CONDITIONERS MUST CARRY UNDERSIDE METAL TRAYS WHICH IN TURN SHOULD BE OPEN AND CONNECTED WITH RUBBER HOSES TO FACILITATE PROPER DRAINAGE OF DRIPPINGS."

"FOR LARGE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, RUST-PROOF ANTI-SPLASHING GUARDS SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE WATER TOWERS TO PREVENT WATER FROM SPLASHING OUT," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

HE STRESSED THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE AND REGULAR INSPECTION WERE IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE MACHINE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.

UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE, IT IS AN OFFENCE TO LET AN AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT DRIP OR EMIT HOT AIR IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO BE A NUISANCE.

"OFFENDERS MAY BE FINED UP TO $10,000,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THERE ARE ALSO PROVISIONS TN THE NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE ON THE CONTROL OF NOISE NUISANCE CAUSED BY AIR-CONDITIONERS," HE ADDED.

DURING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD, PUBLICITY MATERIALS LIKE ADVISORY LETTERS, POSTERS AND LEAFLETS WILL BE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED TO MANAGEMENTS OF ESTABLISHED PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATES, SHOPPING ARCADES, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, INCORPORATED OWNERS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF AIR-CONDITIONERS.

TELEVISION AND RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE BROADCAST TO AROUSE

PUBLIC CONCERN ON THE ISSUE.

/A SET .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

A SET OF EXHIBITION BOARDS EXPLAINING HOW TO PREVENT AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS FROM CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCES WILL BE PUT UP AT THE RESOURCES CENTRE OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR OF THE URBAN COUNCIL FA YUEN STREET COMPLEX IN MONG KOK.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO SEEK ADVICE OR HELP FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT OFFICES (ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE) OF THE URBAN SERVICES OR REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.

THE RESOURCES CENTRE OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT ALSO DISPLAYS A VARIETY OF HEALTH EDUCATION MATERIALS ON FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE LIKE POSTERS, LEAFLETS AND STICKERS WHICH ARE FREE FOR COLLECTION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

-----0------

JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS (ADJOURNMENT DURING GALE WARNINGS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 GAZETTED ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADJOURNMENT OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS WHEN A ’’RED” OR "BLACK” RAINSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED.

UNDER THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS (ADJOURNMENT DURING GALE WARNINGS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY), THE EXISTING STATUTORY PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE ADJOURNMENT AND SUBSEQUENT RESUMPTION OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS DURING A GALE WARNING WILL ALSO APPLY IN THE EVENT OF A "RED" OR "BLACK" RAINSTORM WARNING.

"THE JUDICIARY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE FREQUENT NEED TO TRANSFER PRISONERS OR OTHER PERSONS UNDER DETENTION TO THE COURTS FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

"ACCORDINGLY, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS SHOULD BE ADJOURNED WHERE THERE IS A "RED” OR ’’BLACK” RAINSTORM WARNING AS IN THE EVENT OF A TROPICAL CYCLONE SIGNAL NO. 8, 9, OR 10," HE EXPLAINED.

HE ADDED THAT THE JUDICIARY WOULD KEEP SUCH ARRANGEMENTS UNDER REVIEW IN THE LIGHT OF ACTUAL OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

THE COLOUR-CODED RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM OPERATED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY SINCE LAST SUMMER, IS INTENDED TO GIVE WARNINGS OF HEAVY RAINSTORM WHICH MAY AFFECT OR ARE AFFECTING HONG KONG.

/12 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

MONETARY STATISTICS FOR MARCH 1993 *****

HONG KONG DOI,LAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS AND HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY ON ALL DEEINITIONS INCREASED DURING MARCH 1993, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY.

HONG KONG DOLLAR LOANS AND ADVANCES ALSO INCREASED DURING THE MONTH.

DEPOSITS

PARTLY AFFECTED BY A SHARE FLOTATION EXERCISE, HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS, ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS, ROSE BY 5.7% IN MARCH FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 1.3% AND 1.2% IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY RESPECTIVELY.

AMONG THESE DEPOSITS, DEMAND DEPOSITS, SAVINGS DEPOSITS AND TIME DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 11.0%, 2.4% AND 6.7% RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, TOTAL HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 22.8%.

FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS DECREASED BY 0.2% IN MARCH, AFTER INCREASES OF 3.8% AND 0.1% IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY RESPECTIVELY.

OF THESE DEPOSITS, U.S. DOLLAR DEPOSITS DECLINED BY 2.3% WHILE NON-U.S. DOLLAR FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 1.8%. YEAR-ON-YEAR, TOTAL FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS GREW BY 9.7%.

DURING MARCH, DEPOSITS TN ALL CURRENCIES WITH LICENSED BANKS INCREASED BY 2.6% WHILE DEPOSITS WITH RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DROPPED BY 2.3% AND 3.3% RESPECTIVELY.

YEAR-ON-YEAR, DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS GREW BY 16.6% WHILE DEPOSITS WITH RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECLINED BY 5.8% AND 18.1% RESPECTIVELY.

MONEY SUPPLY

HKSM1, HK$M2 AND HK$M3 INCREASED BY 6.4%, 5.4% AND 5.2% RESPECTIVELY DURING MARCH. THEIR CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES IN FEBRUARY WERE -7.1%, 0.3% AND 0.2% RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE MONETARY AGGREGATES INCREASED BY 23.4%, 23.2% AND 22.4% RESPECTIVELY.

TOTAL Ml, M2 AND M3 INCREASED BY 5.0%, 2.5% AND 2.3% IN MARCH RESPECTIVELY. THEIR CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES IN FEBRUARY WERE -7.8%, 0.2% AND 0.2% RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE MONETARY AGGREGATES INCREASED BY 21.5%, 16.7% AND 15.6% RESPECTIVELY.

LOANS AND ADVANCES

TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS INCREASED BY 1.9% IN MARCH, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 0.5% AND 3.6% IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY RESPECTIVELY.

/AMONG THESE

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

AMONG THESE LOANS, HONG KONG DOLLAR LOANS INCREASED RY 3.5% WHILE FOREIGN CURRENCY LOANS INCREASED BY 1.1%. COMPARED WITH A YEAR EARLIER, THESE LOANS INCREASED BY 14.9% AND 16.7% RESPECTIVELY.

LOANS TO FINANCE VISIBLE TRADE OF HONG KONG INCREASED BY 1.5% IN MARCH, AFTER INCREASES OF' 2.5% AND 0.3% IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, SUCH LOANS GREW BY 13.0%.

OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG INCREASED BY 3.4% IN MARCH, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 1.5% AND 1.3% IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS INCREASED BY 14.6%.

LOANS FOR USE OUTSIDE HONG KONG INCREASED BY 0.9% IN MARCH, AFTER A DECREASE OF 0.3% IN JANUARY AND AN INCREASE OF 5.4% IN FEBRUARY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 17.8%. LOANS TO FINANCE TRADE NOT TOUCHING HONG KONG INCREASED BY 1.6% DURING MARCH, AFTER INCREASES OF 1.2% AND 1.4% IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS DECREASED BY 6.2%.

QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR

USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR

DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993, TOTAL LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG (EXCLUDING THOSE FOR TRADE FINANCING) INCREASED BY 6.4%.

OF THESE, LOANS FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING INCREASED BY 9.5%, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 0.4% AND 5.9% IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992 RESPECTIVELY. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 22.4%.

LOANS TO BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT SECTOR ROSE BY 3.2% DURING THE FIRST QUARTER, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 2.1% AND 5.0% DURING THE PREVIOUS TWO QUARTERS. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 15.1%.

LOANS TO WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE INCREASED BY 5.5% DURING THE FIRST QUARTER, COMPARED WITH A DECREASE OF 0.8% AND AN INCREASE OF 1.5% DURING THE PRECEDING TWO QUARTERS. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESF LOANS INCREASED BY 11.3%.

LOANS TO FINANCIAL CONCERNS (EXCLUDING AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS) INCREASED BY 9.4% THIS QUARTER, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 9.2% DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1992 AND A DECREASE OF 3.8% DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS INCREASED BY 16.0%.

LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY (OTHER. THAN FLATS IN THE HOMI*: OWNERSHIP SCHEME) INCREASED BY 1.0% THIS QUARTER, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 3.5% AND 1.1% IN THE PRECEDING TWO QUARTERS. YEAR-ON-YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 11.3%.

NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS

THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 161. THE NUMBER OF REPORTING RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS INCREASED BY TWO TO 58 WHILE THAT OF DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECREASED BY THREE TO 143 .

/TABLE 1 .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

TABLE I ; MONETARY STATISTICS - MARCH 1993

i Money Supply M«r 1993 Earlier months (% change to Mar 1993) (HKSmn)

Ejbj993 Dec 1992 Mar 1992

Ml.HKS 142.682 134,093 ( 6.4 ) 139.479 ( 2.3 ) 115,642 ( 23.4 )

Foreign currency 14.940 15,970 ( •6.4 ) 16,078 ( -7.1 ) 14,139 ( 5.7 )

Total 157.621 150,063 ( 5.0 ) 155,557 ( 1.3 ) 129.781 ( 21.5 )

M2 - HKS4 786,607 746,473 ( 5.4 ) 726,992 ( 8.2 ) 638,577 ( 23.2 )

Foreign currency* 822,440 823,706 ( -0.2 ) 791,785 ( 3.9 ) 740,630 ( 11.0 )

Total 1.609.047 1.570.180 ( 2.5 ) 1,518,777 ( 5.9 ) 1,379,207 ( 16.7 )

M3 - HKS* 809,784 769.810 ( 6.2 ) 750,276 ( 7.9 ) 661,380 ( 22.4 )

Foreign currency* 855.276 857,264 ( -0.2 ) 823,989 ( 3.8 ) 778,939 ( 9.8 )

Total 1,665.060 1.627.075 ( 2.3 ) 1.574,265 ( 5.8 ) 1,440,319 ( 15.6 )

Notes and coins in circulation 62,274 62.575 ( -0.5 ) 61,157 ( 1.3 ) 51,024 ( 22.0 )

of which held by public 54,584 54,761 ( •0.3 ) 52,172 ( 4.6 ) 44,341 ( 23.1 )

Total Deposits

Total Demand deposits 103,037 95,302 ( 3.1 ) 103,385 ( •0.3 ) 85,440 ( 20.6 )

Total Savings deposits 363,671 357.353 ( 1.8 ) 353.878 ( 2.8 ) 309.466 ( 17.5 )

Total Time deposits with licensed banks 1,070,742 1.045,570 ( 2.4 ) 992,126 ( 7.9 ) 924.103 ( 15.9 )

Total Time deposits with restricted licence banks 35,024 35,866 ( •2.3 ) 34,611 ( 1.2 ) 37,185 ( -5 8 )

Total Time deposits with deposit'taking companies 17.916 18.523 ( -3.3 ) 19,107 ( -6.2 ) 21.866 ( •18.1 )

HKS deposits* 741,205 701,314 ( 5.7 ) 684,055 ( 8.4 ) 603.765 ( 22.8 )

USS deposits* 407,982 417,691 ( •2.3 ) 387,901 ( 5.2 ) 314,182 ( 29.9 )

Other foreign currency deposits* 441,203 433,609 ( 1.8 ) 431,150 ( 2.3 ) 460,113 ( 4.1 )

All deposits 1.590.390 1,552,614 ( 2.4 ) 1,503,107 ( 5.8 ) 1.378.061 ( 15.4 )

Foreign currency swap deposits 61,211 60,976 ( 0.4 ) 58,690 ( 4.3 ) 44,275 ( 38.3 )

Total Loans and advances

To Finance H.K.’s visible trade 93,184 91.780 ( .15 ) 89.265 ( 4.4 ) 82,457 ( 13.0 )

To finance merchandising trade not touching H.K. 12,390 12,200 ( 1.6 ) 11,883 ( 4.3 ) 13,211 ( •6.2 )

Other loans for use in H.K. 967,709 935.875 ( 3.4 ) 909.907 ( 6.4 ) 844,262 ( 14.6 )

Other loans for use outside H.K. 1,505,041 1,491,999 ( 0.9 ) 1,420.648 ( 5.9 ) 1.277,847 ( 17.8 )

Other loans where the place of use is not known 40.732 38.717 ( 5.2 ) 37.855 ( 7.6 ) 37,811 ( 7.7 )

Loans in HKS 862,860 833,744 ( 3.5 ) 812,087 ( 6.3 ) 751,240 ( 14.9 )

Loans in foreign currencies 1,756,196 1,736.827 ( 1.1 ) 1,657,471 ( 6.0 ) 1,504.348 ( 16.7 )

Total loans and advances 2,619,056 2,570.571 ( 1.9 ) 2.469.558 ( 6.1 ) 2,255.588 ( 16.1 )

‘ Adjusted for foreign currency >w.p deposit.. Sterling from April 1991, .w,p depo.it. c.n further be broken down into US doll.r .nd non-US dollar foreign currency swap deposits.

Note : ’Restricted licence banks’ and ’deposit-taking companies’ were known as ’licensed deposit-taking companies’ and ’registered deposit-taking companies’ respectively before t February 1990.

/TABLE 2 .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

TABLE 2 : QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR - MARCH 1993 (HK3mn)

Sectors Mar 1993 Earlierquarters (% changed Mar 1993)

Dec 1992 Sep 1992 Mar 1992

Manufacturing 69,783 63,731 ( 9.5 ) 60,183 ( 16.0 ) 56,989 ( 22.4 )

Transport and transport equipment 59,287 58,076 ( 2.1 ) 54,894 ( 8.0 ) 51,415 ( 15.3 )

Building, construction, property development and investment 146,776 142,185 ( 3.2 ) 135,421 ( 8.4 ) 127,556 ( 15.1 )

Wholesale and retail trade 92,965 88,152 ( 5.5 ) 86,826 ( 7.1 ) 83,551 ( 11.3 )

Financial concerns * 137,010 125,191 ( 9.4 ) 130,181 ( 5.2 ) 118,108 ( 16.0 )

Individuals:

to purchase flats in the Home 24,714 21,628 ( 14.3 ) 20,400 ( 21.1 ) 20,052 ( 23.2 )

Ownership Scheme and Private Sector Participation Scheme

to purchase other residential 204,734 202,630 ( 1.0 ) 200,465 ( 2.1 ) 183,996 ( 11.3 )

property

other purposes 92,484 88,342 ( 4.7 ) 83,446 ( 10.8 ) 78,793 ( 17.4 )

Others 139,956 119,972 ( 16.7 ) 140,718 ( -0.5 ) 123,802 ( 13.0 )

Total 967,709 909,907 ( 6.4 ) 912,534 ( 6.0 ) 844,262 ( 14.6 )

♦ This excludes funds advanced to authorized institutions.

-----0------

/16 ........

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

BANKING LICENCE GRANTED TO FUKUOKA CITY BANK

*****

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE FUKUOKA CITY BANK, LTD HAD BEEN GRANTED A BANKING LICENCE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN HONG KONG.

FUKUOKA CITY BANK IS THE 58TH LARGEST BANK IN JAPAN, AND RANKS 284TH IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF CAPITAL.

PRIOR TO THE GRANTING OF THE BANKING LICENCE, THE BANK HAS BEEN OPERATING A REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN HONG KONG. THE NEW BRANCH WILL ENABLE THE BANK TO OFFER A WIDER RANGE OF BANKING SERVICES TO ITS CUSTOMERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CONTINUING INTEREST OF FOREIGN BANKS IN ENTERING THE LOCAL MARKET REFLECTED HONG KONG’S CONTINUED IMPORTANCE AS A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE. THE LICENCE FOR FUKUOKA CITY BANK IS THE THIRD BANKING LICENCE GRANTED THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE NOW 167 LICENSED BANKS IN HONG KONG, OF WHICH 135 ARE INCORPORATED OUTSIDE THE TERRITORY.

-----0-------

SHIPPING AND CARGO STATISTICS OF OCEAN-GOING VESSELS FOR FOURTH QUARTER ******

IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, 7,208 SHIPS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 35.9 MILLION NET REGISTERED TONS (NRT) ARRIVED AT HONG KONG, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 1,612 (OR 29%) IN NUMBER AND OF 4.9 MILLION NRT (OR 16%) IN CAPACITY OVER THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991.

THIS INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN THE ’’HONG KONG SHIPPING STATISTICS REPORT, OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1992” PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992, THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CARGO DISCHARGED IN HONG KONG FROM INCOMING SHIPS WAS 15.6 MILLION TONNES, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 14% OVER THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991.

ANALYSING INCOMING SHIPS BY TYPE, MAJOR INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE NUMBER OF CONTAINER VESSELS (+357), OIL TANKERS (+323), SEMICONTAINER VESSELS (+309), ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFFS (+71) AND DRY BULK CARRIERS (+57).

ANALYSING INCOMING SHIPS BY FLAG, MAJOR INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE NUMBER OF SHIPS REGISTERED IN CHINA (+655), PANAMA (+480), TAIWAN (+108) AND LIBERIA (+55).

THE NUMBER OF INCOMING SHIPS WITH A CAPACITY OF LESS THAN 10,000 DEADWEIGHT TONS INCREASED BY 1,180 WHILE THE NUMBER OF THOSE WITH A LARGER CAPACITY INCREASED BY 432.

IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992, THERE WERE 7,171 OUTGOING SHIPS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 36.1 MILLION NRT, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 1,565 (OR 28%) IN NUMBER AND OF 4.8 MILLION NRT (OR 15%) IN CAPACITY OVER THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1991.

/THE TOTAL .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CARGO LOADED ONTO OUTGOING SHIPS WAS 7.3 MILLION TONNES, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 19%.

OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF OUTGOING SHIPS BY TYPE, FLAG, AND CAPACITY WERE ABOUT THE SAME AS THOSE RECORDED FOR INCOMING SHIPS, AS ABOUT 76% OF THE DEPARTING SHIPS STAYED IN HONG KONG FOR FEWER THAN TWO DAYS.

OF THE CARGO DISCHARGED FROM INCOMING SHIPS, 86% IN TERMS OF TONNAGE WERE SEABORNE IMPORTS AND 14% WERE SEABORNE TRANSHIPMENT CARGO.

OF THE CARGO LOADED ONTO OUTGOING SHIPS, 67% WERE SEABORNE EXPORTS (INCLUDING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS) AND 33% WERE SEABORNE TRANSHIPMENT CARGO.

THE MAJOR COUNTIRES OF LOADING FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS WERE SINGAPORE (WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 17% IN TONNAGE TERMS), JAPAN (15%), TAIWAN (10%), THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (9%), AUSTRALIA (8%), CHINA (8%) AND THE USA (7%); WHILE THE MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DISCHARGE FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS WERE CHINA (WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 24% IN TONNAGE TERMS), THE USA (20%), TAIWAN (11%), JAPAN (4%), THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (4%), SINGAPORE (4%) AND THE NETHERLANDS (3%).

SEABORNE TRANSHIPMENT CARGO WAS MAINLY LOADED IN CHINA (30%), TAIWAN (16%) AND THE USA (12%), AND WAS MAINLY DISCHARGED IN CHINA (21%) AND THE USA (16%).

COMPARING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992 WITH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1991, MAJOR INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE NOTED FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS FROM INDONESIA (+84%), THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (+56%), SINGAPORE (+43%), AUSTRALIA (+33%), THE USA (+28%) AND TAIWAN (+17%); WHILE A MAJOR DECREASE IN TONNAGE WAS NOTED FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA (-55%). AS A WHOLE, THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF SEABORNE IMPORTS ROSE BY 15%.

AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES IMPORTED BY SEA, MAJOR INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE RECORDED FOR TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (+69%), PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (+49%), MACHINERY (+43%), PAPER, PAPERBOARD AND ARTICLES THEREOF (+23%) AND IRON AND STEEL (+21%); WHILE MAJOR DECREASES IN TONNAGE WERE NOTED FOR STONE, SAND AND GRAVEL (-15%) AND CEMENT AND CEMENT CLINKER (-10%).

COMPARING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992 WITH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1991, THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF SEABORNE EXPORTS (DOMESTIC EXPORTS PLUS REEXPORTS) INCREASED BY 25%.

MAJOR INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE RECORDED FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS TO CHINA (+76%), THE NETHERLANDS (+59%), THE UNITED KINGDOM (+34%) AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (+24%); WHILE A MAJOR DECREASE WAS RECORDED FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (-13%).

AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES EXPORTED BY SEA, MAJOR INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE NOTED FOR PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (+71%), MACHINERY (+35%), TOYS (+27%) AND OTHER MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (+23%) ; WHILE A MAJOR DECREASE WAS NOTED FOR METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP (-19%).

/OF THE .........

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

OF THE CARGO DISCHARGED FROM INCOMING SHIPS, INCLUDING SEABORNE IMPORTS AND SEABORNE INWARD TRANSHIPMENT, 45% IN TERMS OF TONNAGE WERE CONTAINERISED CARGO.

OF THOSE LOADED ONTO OUTGOING SHIPS, INCLUDING SEABORNE EXPORTS AND SEABORNE OUTWARD TRANSHIPMENT, 78% WERE CONTAINERISED CARGO.

THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CONTAINERISED SEABORNE IMPORTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992 ROSE BY 20% OVER THE SAME QUARTER OF 1991.

IN TERMS OF TONNAGE, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR 37% OF SEABORNE IMPORTS. IN PARTICULAR, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR A LARGE PROPORTION OF SEABORNE IMPORTS FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (93%), TAIWAN (81%), THE USA (79%) AND THE NETHERLANDS (77%).

AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES IMPORTED BY SEA, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR, IN TONNAGE TERMS, ALL SEABORNE IMPORTS OF ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS, 98% OF PAPER, PAPERBOARD AND ARTICLES THEREOF, 95% OF TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS, AND 94% OF OTHER MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY BY MATERIAL.

THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CONTAINERISED SEABORNE EXPORTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992 ROSE BY 19% OVER THE SAME QUARTER OF 1991.

FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR 70% IN TERMS OF TONNAGE. IN PARTICULAR, CONTAINERISED CARGO ACCOUNTED FOR ALL SEABORNE EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA AND THE USA; AND ALMOST ALL TO THE NETHERLANDS, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY AND SINGAPORE.

SEABORNE EXPORTS OF SOME PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES WERE ALL OR NEARLY ALL CONTAINERISED. THESE INCLUDED FOOTWEAR; TOYS; ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES; OTHER MANUFACTURED ARTICLES; AND TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS.

SHIPPING STATISTICS OF OCEAN-GOING VESSELS ARE COMPILED PRIMARILY FROM GENERAL DECLARATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE MARINE DEPARTMENT BY SHIP MASTERS OR AUTHORISED SHIPPING AGENTS AND COVER ALL OCEANGOING VESSELS ENTERING AND LEAVING HONG KONG, EXCLUDING YACHTS AND PLEASURE CRAFT.

CARGO STATISTICS OF OCEAN-GOING VESSELS ARE COMPILED FROM A SAMPLE OF CONSIGNMENTS LISTED IN THE OCEAN CARGO MANIFESTS SUPPLIED BY SHIPPING COMPANIES OR AGENTS TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT. THE SAMPLING METHOD IS DESCRIBED IN THE EXPLANATORY NOTES OF THE REPORT.

MORE DETAILS ON SHIPPING AND CARGO STATISTICS OF OCEAN-GOING VESSELS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1992 ARE CONTAINED IN THE 'HONG KONG SHIPPING STATISTICS REPORT, OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1992’.

THE REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AND THE PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 1 9TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI AT $36.50 A COPY.

ENQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE SHIPPING AND CARGO STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL 582 4887.

/19

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

MORE DEVELOPMENT WORKS FOR MA ON SHAN *****

THE NORTH EAST NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR ROAD AND DRAINAGE WORKS IN MA ON SHAN AS PART OF THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN.

THE WORKS COMPRISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 0.7 KILOMETRE DUAL THREE-LANE CARRIAGEWAY AND A 0.2 KILOMETRE THREE-LANE SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY; LOCAL ROADS, FOOTPATH AND CYCLE TRACKS; AS WELL AS A GRADE SEPARATED INTERCHANGE.

OTHER WORKS ITEMS INCLUDE A FOOTBRIDGE, FIVE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE SUBWAYS, FOUR VEHICULAR BRIDGES, RETAINING WALLS, EARTHWORKS, SEWERAGE, DRAINAGE, WATERMAINS AND TWO BOX CULVERT EXTENSIONS.

THE WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JULY AND WILL TAKE 30 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JUNE 4.

FORMS OF TENDER AND PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA LTD, 4 FUNG WO LANE, WO CHE, SHA TIN.

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EXPANSION OF FANLING HOSPITAL

******

THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR PHASE IIB EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT WORKS FOR FANLING HOSPITAL.

WORKS INVOLVE CONVERTING THE GROUND AND FIRST FLOORS OF THE HOSPITAL INTO AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND A WARD FOR FEMALE PATIENTS.

THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO START IN JUNE FOR COMPLETION IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR.

TENDER OFFERS WILL CLOSE AT NOON ON MAY 21.

FORMS OF TENDER AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, 34TH FLOOR, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 66 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG.

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IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON VILLAGE SEWERAGE

*****

dtddt DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WTI I

CONSTRUCT A SEWER

SEWERAGE IMPROVEMENT

TODAY (ra?DA?I.'CE F°R TENDERS F0R T1ie „obks

/UNDER THE .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

UNDER THE NORTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES SEWERAGE IMPROVEMENT PHASE ONE PROJECT, THE 2.7-KILOMETRE-LONG SEWER PIPELINE WILL BE BUILT FROM THE TA KWU LING RURAL CENTRE AT PING CHE TO A PUMPING STATION UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE JUNCTION OF PING CHE ROAD AND LIN MA HANG ROAD.

THE PIPELINE WILL SERVE THE SEWERAGE NETWORKS AT PING CHE, PING YEUNG AND NEARBY VILLAGES.

THE WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO START IN AUGUST AND TAKE NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MAY 21.

FORMS OF TENDER AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM MOUCHEL ASIA LIMITED, CONSULTING ENGINEERS, 24TH FLOOR, CITICORP CENTRE, 18 WHITFIELD ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY.

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APPLICATIONS FOR FLAG DAYS 1994 INVITED *****

ORGANISATIONS WISHING TO HOLD FLAG DAYS NEXT YEAR TO RAISE FUNDS TO FINANCE SERVICES WHICH THEY PROVIDE ARE INVITED TO APPLY TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD).

ABOUT 50 FLAG DAYS WILL BE ALLOCATED NEXT YEAR.

A SWD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT APPLICANTS MUST BE BONA-FIDE NON-PROFIT-MAKING ORGANISATIONS UNDER SECTION 88 OF THF INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE.

ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE SUBVENTIONS AND LOTTERIES FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE MERITS OF THE SERVICE OR SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR WHICH FUND-RAISING THROUGH A FLAG DAY IS PROPOSED, THE APPLICANTS ORGANISATION’S FINANCIAL NEEDS, AND THE ORGANISATION’S ABILITY TO EXECUTE SUCH FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES.

EXPLAINING THE ALLOCATION CRITERIA, THE SPOKESMAN SAID EACH APPLICATION WOULD BE CONSIDERED BASICALLY IN THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS:

* AN ASSESSMENT OF THE MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY OF THE APPLICANT ORGANISATION. THIS IS IMPORTANT SINCE PUBLIC COLLECTION OF MONEY ARE INVOLVED;

* THE NATURE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE ORGANISATION, AND THE DEMAND FOR SUCH FROM THE COMMUNITY;

* THE FINANCIAL NEED OF THE ORGANISATION BASED ON ITS ANNUAL BUDGET, OPERATING SURPLUS/DEFICITS, AVAILABILITY OF OTHER FUNDING RESOURCES, AND PLANNED PROJECTS; AND

* THE ORGANISATION’S ABILITY TO ORGANISE FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES AND TO MAXIMISE THE BENEFITS OF A FLAG DAY.

/THE SPOKESMAN .......

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH A FLAG DAY SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10 PER CENT OF THE GROSS RECEIPTS, AND THAT SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS NEED TO OBSERVE THE CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING FLAG DAYS AS LAID DOWN ON A PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION PERMIT ISSUED UNDER SECTION 4(17), SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE.

APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT, ROOM 920, NINTH FLOOR, WU CHUNG HOUSE, 213 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG FROM TOMORROW (MAY 1) IN PERSON OR IN WRITING.

THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM, TOGETHER WITH A COPY OF THE ORGANISATION’S LATEST ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF AUDITED ACCOUNTS, MUST REACH THE DEPARTMENT ON OR BEFORE MAY 31. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE INFORMED BY OCTOBER.

ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL 892 5293.

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COMMENTS ON ARTS POLICY REVIEW WELCOME

*****

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR PAUL LEUNG, TODAY (FRIDAY) MET THREE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOOD TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THE ARTS POLICY REVIEW REPORT RECENTLY RELEASED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

THE MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN A FRIENDLY AND CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER, AND THERE WAS A USEFUL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, MR LEUNG SAID.

ONE OF THE TOPICS RAISED IN THE MEETING WAS THE FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MUSIC OFFICE.

MR LEUNG EXPLAINED THAT THE INTENTION OF THE PROPOSAL ON THE MUSIC OFFICE CONTAINED IN THE REPORT WAS TO STREAMLINE EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.

’’THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF THE MUSIC OFFICE IS NOT MEANT TO REDUCE THE WORK CURRENTLY DONE BY THE OFFICE. MUSIC TRAINING AT A REASONABLE AND AFFORDABLE COST TO YOUNG PEOPLE IS STILL THE AIM AND WILL STILL BE MAINTAINED.

WHAT THIS TRANSFER HOPES TO ACHIEVE IS TO ENABLE TRAINING PROGRAMMES TO BE MORE EFFECTIVELY, FLEXIBLY AND RUN.

THE MUSIC CREATIVELY

’’UNTIL A FINAL DECISION IS TAKEN ON THE FUTURE OFFICE, EXISTING ACTIVITIES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE WILL ADDED.

OF THE MUSIC CONTINUE,” HE

MR LEUNG STRESSED THAT THE ARTS POLICY REVIEW REPORT WAS A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT, AND ANY COMMENTS ON IT WOULD BE WELCOME.

HE SAID ALL THE COMMENTS WOULD BE CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION FINALISED ITS POLICY PROPOSALS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

/22

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS *****

$ MILLION

OPENING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,020

REVERSAL OF LAF +130

BALANCE AFTER REVERSAL OF LAF 2,150

NET INJECTION/WITHDRAWAL TODAY NIL

EFFECT OF LAF TODAY -90

CLOSING BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT 2,060

LAF RATE 2.00 BID/4.00 OFFER TWI 111.8 *-0.1* 30.4.93

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE FUND

EF BILLS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS

TERMS YIELD TERM ISSUE COUPON PRICE YIELD

1 WEEK 2.53 PCT 13 MONTHS 2405 5.50 102.51 3.06

1 MONTH 2.69 PCT 16 MONTHS 2408 4.375 101.50 3.21

3 MONTHS 2.75 PCT 19 MONTHS 2411 4.625 101.83 3.42

6 MONTHS 2.86 PCT 22 MONTHS 2502 4.75 101.95 3.64

12 MONTHS 3.08 PCT

TOTAL TURNOVER OF BILLS AND BONDS - 5.015MN

CLOSED 30 APRIL 1993

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Daily Information Bulletin - 1990s - 1993 - APR - ENG