DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL.: 842 8777
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR APRIL PUBLISHED .............................................. 1
EXCHANGE FUND BILLS PROGRAMME TO CONTINUE ...................................
IMMIGRATION POLICY ON ENTRY FOR WORK APPLIED FLEXIBLY .......................
Q RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 TO BE GAZETTED .................................
ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATION ON HK PHOTO ALBUMS TERMINATED ............................ 10
CONSULTANCY STUDY ON OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY AND MODELLING .....................
WORKING PARTY PROPOSES INTRODUCTION OF CHILD SUPPLEMENT .....................
GOVT MAINTENANCE GRANTS FOR 1990-91 MATRICULATION COURSES ...................
COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS EMPHASISED .........................
14 WORK OF AUXILIARY POLICE PRAISED ............................................
ACCESS ROAD TO WESTERN WHOLESALE MARKET PROPOSED ............................
REFUSE COLLECTION POINT FOR KWAI CHUNG.......................................
16 LAND IN SHEUNG SHUI TO BE RESUMED ...........................................
FARE REVISION ON NT GMB ROUTES 75 AND 76 ....................................
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 1
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR APRIL PUBLISHED *******
HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS GREW MORE RAPIDLY IN APRIL THAN IN MARCH, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH.
IN LINE WITH THE RISE IN HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS, HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY ON ALL DEFINITIONS RECORDED INCREASES DURING APRIL. TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES ALSO INCREASED DURING THE MONTH.
DEPOSITS
HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS, ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS, GREW BY 1.2 PER CENT IN APRIL, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 0.6 PER CENT IN BOTH FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
OF THESE DEPOSITS, HONG KONG DOLLAR DEMAND AND TIME DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 1.9 PER CENT AND 2.4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY DURING APRIL WHILE SAVINGS DEPOSITS DECLINED BY 1.5 PER CENT.
ON A YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON, TOTAL HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 10.8 PER CENT IN APRIL. THIS WAS LOWER THAN THE CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATE OF 15.5 PER CENT IN 1989 AND REFLECTED SOME FURTHER SLOWDOWN IN THE GROWTH OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES DURING THE EARLY PART OF THIS YEAR.
FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS ROSE BY 0.8 PER CENT IN APRIL, AFTER INCREASES OF 2.7 PER CENT AND 0.9 PER CENT IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH RESPECTIVELY.
AMONG THESE DEPOSITS, U.S. DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 1.9 PER CENT WHILE NON-U.S. DOLLAR DEPOSITS FELL BY 0.2 PER CENT. OVER THE YEAR, TOTAL FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 21.6 1 ER CENT.
DEPOSITS OF ALL CURRENCIES WITH LICENSED BANKS AND RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS BOTH ROSE BY 0.9 PER CENT IN APRIL. COMPARED WITH A YEAR EARLIER, THEY GREW BY 17.9 PER CENT AND 29.9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
DEPOSITS WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED BY 1.8 PER CENT IN APRIL BUT FELL BY 18.1 PER CENT OVER THE YEAR.
MONEY SUPPLY
HK$M1, HK$M2 AND HK$M3 ROSE BY 0.4 PER CENT, 1.0 PER CENT AND 1.0 PER CENT IN APRIL. THEIR CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES IN MARCH WERE -2.4 PER CENT, 0.3 PER CENT AND 0.3 PER CENT.
FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING APRIL, THESE MONETARY AGGREGATES ROSE BY 6.3 PER CENT, 12.7 PER CENT AND 10.5 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
/TOTAL Ml .......
2
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
TOTAL Ml, M2 AND M3 INCREASED BY 2.1 PER CENT, 0.8 PER CENT AND 0.9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY DURING APRIL. THEIR CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES IN MARCH WERE -4.0 PER CENT, 0.3 PER CENT AND 0.6 PER CENT.
OVER THE YEAR, TOTAL Ml, M2 AND M3 GREW BY 8.5 PER CENT, 17.2 PER CENT AND 16.0 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
LOANS AND ADVANCES
TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS INCREASED BY 0.5 PER CENT IN APRIL, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 7.0 PER CENT IN FEBRUARY AND A DECLINE OF 0.5 PER CENT IN MARCH.
OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS, THOSE DENOMINATED IN HONG KONG DOLLARS GREW BY 1.3 PER CENT DURING APRIL WHILE THOSE DENOMINATED IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES EDGED DOWN BY 0.1 PER CENT.
LOANS TO FINANCE VISIBLE TRADE OF HONG KONG ROSE BY 1.1 PER CENT IN APRIL, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 1.7 PER CENT IN FEBRUARY AND A DECLINE OF 0.6 PER CENT IN MARCH. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 6.0 PER CENT.
OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG GREW BY 1.8 PER CENT IN APRIL COMPARED WITH INCREASES OF 1.3 PER CENT AND 1.9 PER CENT IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 20.2 PER CENT.
LOANS FOR USE OUTSIDE HONG KONG DECREASED BY 0.7 PER CENT IN APRIL, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 17.3 PER CENT IN FEBRUARY AND A DECLINE OF 1.3 PER CENT IN MARCH. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 40.9 PER CENT.
LOANS TO FINANCE MERCHANDISING TRADE NOT TOUCHING HONG KONG ROSE BY 9.9 PER CENT IN APRIL, AFTER A DECLINE OF 0.1 PER CENT IN FEBRUARY AND AN INCREASE OF 11.7 PER CENT IN MARCH. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS DECLINED BY 16.2 PER CENT.
IN TERMS OF RELATIVE SHARE, HOWEVER, THESE LOANS ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF TOTAL LOANS.
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS DECREASED BY ONE TO 164 WHILE THAT OF RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 37. THE NUMBER OF DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED BY ONE TO 197.
NO!ES :
(1) BEFORE FEBRUARY 1, 1990, "RESTRICTED dlCENCE BANKS" AND "DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES” WERE KNOWN AS "LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES" AND "REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES" RESPECTIVELY..
(2) IN THE ............
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
3 -
(2) IN THE TEXT ABOVE, TOTAL HK$ DEPOSITS, HK$ TIME DEPOSITS, HK$M2 AND HK$M3 HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS. ON THE OTHER HAND, TOTAL FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS AND USS DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO EXCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS.
"SWAP DEPOSITS” ARE DEPOSITS INVOLVING CUSTOMERS BUYING FOREIGN CURRENCIES (MOSTLY U.S. DOLLARS) IN THE SPOT MARKET AND PLACING THEM AS DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT TO SELL SUCH FOREIGN CURRENCIES (PRINCIPAL PLUS INTEREST) FORWARD IN LINE WITH THE MATURITY OF SUCH DEPOSITS. FOR MOST ANALYTICAL PURPOSES, THEY SHOULD BE REGARDED AS HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A TABLE SETTING OUT SUMMARY FIGURES FOR APRIL 1990 AND COMPARISONS WITH EARLIER MONTHS WILL BE SENT BY FACSIMILE AND BOXED.
/MONETARY STATISTICS .......
MONETARY STATISTICS - APRIL 1990
(HKSron.)
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
Apr 1990
Earlier months (X change to April 1990)
Money Supply Mar 1990 Jan 1990 Apr 1989
Ml - HKS 83,189 82,848 ( 0.4 X) 92,014 ( -9.6 X) 78.285 ( 6.3 X)
Foreign currency 11,382 9.739 ( 16.9 %) 11,554 ( -1.5 X) 8,890 ( 28.0 X)
Total 94,571 92.587 ( 2.1 X) 103,568 ( -8.7 X) 87,175 ( 8.5 X)
M2 - HKS* 477,996 473,225 ( 1.0 X) 475.354 ( 0.6 X) 424.125 ( 12.7 X)
Foreign currency* 565,514 561,833 ( 0.7 X) 545,818 ( 3.6 X) 466,288 ( 21.3 X)
Total 1,043,510 1.035.058 ( 0.8 X) 1,021.172 ( 2.2 X) 890,413 ( 17.2 %)
M3 - HKS* 509,437 504.209 ( 1.0 X) 505,900 ( 0.7 X) 460,977 ( 10.5 X)
Foreign currency* 609,774 605,534 ( 0.7 X) 584.484 ( 4.3 X) 503,768 ( 21.0 X )
Total 1,119,211 1,109,743 ( 0.9 X) 1,090,384 ( 2.6 X) 964.745 ( 16.0 X)
Notes and coins in circulation 39,747 39,968 ( -0.6 X) 48,563 (-18.2 X) 35,300 ( 12.6 X)
of which held by public 34,308 34,861 ( -1.6 X) 41,811 (-17.9 X) 30,976 ( 10.8 X)
Total Deposits
Total Demand deposits 60,263 57,727 ( 4.4 X) 61,757 ( -2.4 X) 56,199 ( " *■ X) 1
Total Savings deposits 187,512 190,273 ( -1.5 X) 194.619 ( -3.7 X) 162.000 ( 15.7 XI 1
। Total Time deposits with licensed banks 745.264 735.871 ( 1.3 X) 706,270 ( 5.5 X) 624,195 ( 19.4 X) 1
Total Time deposits with restricted licence banks 40,970 40.589 ( 0.9 X) 35.242 ( 16.3 X) 31.545 ( 29 9 X)
Total Time deposits with deposit-taking companies 33.265 32,669 ( 1.8 X) 32.626 ( 2.0 X) 40,597 (• -18.1 X j 1
HKS deposits* 462,813 457,202 ( 1.2 X) 451.930 ( 2.4 X) 417.605 ( 10.8 X) o
USS deposits* 266,945 261,840 ( 1.9 X) 262.812 ( 1.6 X) 235,380 ( 13.4 X) 1
Other foreign currency deposits 337,515 338,085 ( -0.2 X) 315.771 ( 6.9 X) 261.551 ( 29.0 X)
1 All deposits 1,067,274 1,057,128 ( 1.0 X) 1,030,512 ( 3.6 X) 914,535 ( 16.7 X) 1
Foreign currency swap deposits 66,290 63,529 ( 4.3 X) 63,033 ( 5.2 X) 52,858 ( 25.4 X) 1 1
Total Loans and advances
To finance E.K.’s visible trade 64,405 63,704 ( 1.1 X) 63,024 ( 2.2 X) 60,734 ( 6.0 X)
To finance merchandising trade 9,979 9,080 ( 9.9 X) 8,134 ( 22.7 X) 11.912 (■ -16.2 X)
not touching H.K.
Other loans for use in H.K. 629.498 618,547 ( 1.8 X) 599,267 ( 5.0 X) 523,654 ( 20.2 X)
Other loans for use outside H.K. 558.243 561,917 ( -0.7 X) 485,628 ( 15.0 X) 396,070 ( 46.9 X)
Other loans where the place of 88.182 90,589 ( -2.7 X) 105,411 (-16.3 X) 74,815 ( 17.9 X)
use is not known
Loans in HKS 563.490 556,436 ( 1.3 X) 538,757 ( 4.6 X) 474,346 ( 18.8 X)
Loans in foreign currencies 786.816 787,401 ( -0.1 X) 722,708 ( 8.9 X) 592,839 ( 32.7 X)
Total loans and advances 1,350,306 1,343,837 ( 0.5 X) 1,261,465 ( 7.0 X) 1,067,184 ( 26.5 X)
* Adjusted for foreign currency swap deposits
in
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.
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 5 -
EXCHANGE FUND BILLS PROGRAMME TO CONTINUE ******
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, HAS GIVEN HIS APPROVAL FOR CONTINUATION OF THE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS PROGRAMME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE INITIAL 13 WEEKLY ISSUES OF 91-DAY EXCHANGE FUND BILLS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
"THE 14TH ISSUE WILL THEREFORE COINCIDE WITH THE MATURITY OF THE FIRST ISSUE," HE SAID.
BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF A REVIEW OF THE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS PROGRAMME CONDUCTED BY THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH AND ADVICE FROM THE MARKET COMMITTEE COMPRISING ALL 14 MARKET MAKERS, A RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE TO PROGRAMME WAS MADE TO SIR PIERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS PLEASED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS NEW MARKET, WHICH HAS RECEIVED VERY ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FROM THE RECOGNISED DEALERS AND IN PARTICULAR THE MARKET MAKERS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE OBJECTIVE OF CREATING A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR CONDUCTING MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS TO ENSURE EXCHANGE RATE STABILITY HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED.
"ALL THE FIRST 12 TENDERS WERE SUBSTANTIALLY OVER-SUBSCRIBED AND THE 13TH TENDER TO BE HELD ON JUNE 5 IS EXPECTED TO BE EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"ACCORDING TO BOTH THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH AND THE MARKET MAKERS, SECONDARY MARKET TRADING IN THE BILLS HAS BEEN ACTIVE.
"THE RECENT AGREEMENT BY MARKET MAKERS TO QUOTE TWO WAY YIELDS FOR THE BILLS, AND NEW AND MORE FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHORTING BILLS BY MARKET MAKERS HAVE ADDED LIQUIDITY TO THE MARKET."
THERE WAS ALSO AN INCREASING INTEREST IN THE BILLS FROM CORPORATIONS IN VIEW OF THE BILLS’ TAX FREE STATUS.
THE YIELD OF THE BILLS IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE AFTER TAX YIELD FROM PLACING MONEY ON DEPOSIT WITH BANKS.
THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH IS ISSUING A REVISED INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TO TAKE FORWARD THE PROGRAMME FOR ISSUING 91-DAY BILLS WEEKLY. THE INFORMATION MEMORANDUM WILL ALSO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE OF BILLS OF LONGER MATURITIES UP TO 12 MONTHS FROM TIME TO TIME.
/PERSONS WISHING .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 6 -
PERSONS WISHING TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE REVISED INFORMATION MEMORANDUM MAY DO SO FROM THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH AT 24TH FLOOR, ADMIRALTY CENTRE, TOWER 2, 18 HARCOURT ROAD, OR FROM ANY OF THE 14 MARKET MARKERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR JOSEPH YAM, AND PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR K.Y. CHOI, WILL MEET MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES THIS AFTERNOON TO REVIEW THE OPERATION OF THE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS PROGRAMME BEYOND THE FIRST 13TH WEEK.
THE SESSION WILL BE HELD IN THE GIS CONFERENCE ROOM, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL, BEGINNING AT 4 PM.
COPIES OF THE REVISED INFORMATION MEMORANDUM WILL BE BOXED AT GIS LATER TODAY.
------0--------
IMMIGRATION POLICY ON ENTRY FOR WORK APPLIED FLEXIBLY ******
THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR LAURENCE LEUNG MING-YIN, TODAY (FRIDAY) EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S IMMIGRATION POLICY ON ENTRY FOR EMPLOYMENT IS APPLIED FLEXIBLY AND THAT THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE IS KEPT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF HONG KONG PUBLISHERS, MR LEUNG SAID AS LONG AS AN EMPLOYER WAS ABLE TO SATISFY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT THAT HIS COMPANY WAS JUSTIFIABLY IN NEED OF AN EXPATRIATE STAFF MEMBER AND THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE WAS PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED AND WOULD BE PAID THE GOING MARKET WAGES, AN EMPLOYMENT VISA WOULD NORMALLY BE ISSUED WITHIN SIX WEEKS.
"THIS INCLUDES TWO WEEKS FOR DESPATCH OF MAIL TO AND FROM THE BRITISH VISA POST WHERE THE APPLICATION IS MADE," HE SAID.
MR LEUNG SAID THAT WHILE THE POLICY HAD BEEN LIBERALLY APPLIED, THERE WERE STILL INDICATIONS THAT EMPLOYERS WERE NOT MAKING FULL USE OF IT TO MEET THEIR LEGITIMATE DEMANDS BECAUSE SOME WERE WORRIED THAT THE PROCEDURES MIGHT BE TOO COMPLICATED AND THE PROCESSING TIME TOO LONG.
"IF THERE IS A NEED FOR THE APPLICATION TO BE PROCESSED MORE SPEEDILY, AN APPLICANT MAY REQUEST THE VISA POST CONCERNED TO FORWARD HIS APPLICATION TO HONG KONG BY TELEX ON PAYMENT OF A FEE.
"IT WILL BE HELPFUL IF HE CAN PROVIDE THE TELEPHONE NUMBER AND THE CONTACT ADDRESS OF HIS SPONSOR AS WELL AS THE DATE ON WHICH HE INTENDS TO TRAVEL TO HONG KONG.
/"THIS WILL .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 7 -
"THIS WILL ENABLE MY STAFF TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO CONTACT THE LOCAL SPONSOR BY PHONE AND TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING OF THE APPLICATION. PROVIDED THAT THE SPONSOR IS ABLE TO SUPPLY THE NECESSARY INFORMATION QUICKLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ISSUE A VISA WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME," HE SAID.
MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT IN VERY EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, ARRANGEMENTS COULD ALSO BE MADE FOR A VISA TO BE ISSUED ON APPLICATION IF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WAS PROVIDED WITH THE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION IN ADVANCE FOR EARLY PROCESSING.
HE APPEALED TO EMPLOYERS WHO HAD A GENUINE NEED TO RECRUIT FROM OVERSEAS TO APPROACH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IF THEY HAD ANY DOUBT ON WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.
INFORMATION PAMPHLETS ON THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE DEPARTMENT’S INFORMATION OFFICE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER II AND FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED BY TELEPHONING THE OFFICE AT 824 6111.
"STREAMLINING OF PROCEDURES IS AN ON-GOING EXERCISE IN THE DEPARTMENT. DESPITE VERY CONSIDERABLE RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, EVER-INCREASING WORKLOAD AND NEW COMMITMENTS, WE WILL TRY OUR VERY BEST TO MAINTAIN AND IMRPOVE OUR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
"IN THIS CONNECTION, I WOULD INVITE ANY EMPLOYER WHO ENCOUNTERS DIFFICULTY IN HIS DEALINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO WRITE TO ME PERSONALLY," MR LEUNG SAID.
MR LEUNG SAID THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT POLICY ON ENTRY FOR EMPLOYMENT WERE TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG AND, AT THE SAME TIME, TO PROTECT THE LOCAL WORKFORCE FROM UNFAIR COMPETITION.
THE DIRECTOR SAID IN APPLYING THIS POLICY, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TOOK ACCOUNT OF WHETHER THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SUCH SKILLS IN HONG KONG; WHETHER THE APPLICANT’S SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE WAS RELEVANT TO THE POSITION OFFERED AND WHETHER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT WERE COMPARABLE TO THOSE OFFERED TO LOCAL EMPLOYEES TAKING THE SAME OR SIMILAR KINDS OF JOBS.
IN ADDITION, CONSIDERATION WOULD ALSO BE GIVEN AS TO WHETHER THE EMPLOYING COMPANY HAD TAKEN ANY POSITIVE STEPS TO RECRUIT LOCALLY, AND WHETHER THE ACTIVITIES OF THE APPLICANT AND THE EMPLOYER WERE BENEFICIAL TO HONG KONG AS A WHOLE, HE ADDED.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS WELL AWARE OF THE DEMANDS ARISING FROM A TIGHT LABOUR MARKET AND AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL SKILLS, AND HAD DEVELOPED A RANGE OF STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.
IN STRESSING THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAD ALWAYS APPLIED ITS POLICY ON ENTRY FOR EMPLOYMENT FLEXIBLY, HE SAID THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, OVERSEAS ORGANISATIONS ESTABLISHING BUSINESS IN HONG KONG WERE NORMALLY ALLOWED TO BRING IN A NUCLEUS OF STAFF IN THE SENIOR POSITIONS.
/"APPLICATIONS FOR .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 8 -
"APPLICATIONS FOR THE ENTRY OF QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS AND PERSONS TO FILL POSITIONS FOR WHICH RECRUITMENT OF EXPATRIATES IS COMMONPLACE ARE NORMALLY APPROVED," HE SAID.
STATING THAT STATISTICS SHOWED THERM WAS FLEXIBILITY, MR LEUNG SAID IN 1985, THE DEPARTMENT HAD APPROVED 15,873 APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT VISAS. THE NUMBER ROSE TO 17,424 IN 1986, 21,099 IN 1987, 25.564 IN 1988, AND 31,601 IN 1989.
"IN THE PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL CATEGORIES, THE NUMBERS APPROVED ROSE FROM 3,823 IN 1985 TO 6,426 IN 1989," HE NOTED.
MR LEUNG ALSO POINTED OUT THAT, AT THE LOWER END OF THE SCALE, AS A MEANS TO ALLEVIATE THE SHORTAGE OF LABOUR, THE GOVERNMENT HAD, SINCE MAY LAST YEAR, IMPLEMENTED A SPECIAL SCHEME TO IMPORT 3,000 SKILLED WORKERS AT TECHNICIAN, CRAFTSMAN AND SUPERVISOR LEVELS.
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT’S RECORD SHOWED THAT 617 EMPLOYERS APPLIED UNDER THE SCHEME BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE OF JUNE 30, 1989, INVOLVING A TOTAL OF 8,479 WORKERS.
AFTER PRELIMINARY VETTING APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE WAS GIVEN TO THE ENTRY OF 2,718 WORKERS, HE SAID.
OF THESE, 1,877 HAD SUBMITTED FORMAL VISA APPLICATIONS WITH THE TAKE-UP RATE BEING ABOUT 69.1 PER CENT. WORKERS FROM CHINA TOTALLED 1,655, REPRESENTING ABOUT 88.2 PER CENT OF THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, MR LEUNG SAID.
"SO FAR, 1,809 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED, 31 REFUSED AND 40 WITHDRAWN AND 1,703 WORKERS HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED. THOSE REFUSED ARE MAINLY WORKERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS OR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED OF THE JOB," HE SAID.
MR LEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF CERTAIN ESSENTIAL CATEGORIES OF MANPOWER IN ORDER TO COMPLEMENT CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS EXPANSION.
HE NOTED THAT THIS WEEK THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD ENDORSED PROPOSALS TO WIDEN THE EXISTING SCHEME TO INCLUDE EXPERIENCED OPERATIVES IN ADDITION TO SKILLED WORKERS.
"IN IMPLEMENTATION, FACTORS SUCH AS THE LIMITED EXTENT TO WHICH CERTAIN INDUSTRIES COULD AUTOMATE AND THE LONG-TERM NEED FOR TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED LABOUR ARISING FROM MASSIVE, INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN THE PIPELINE WOULD CERTAINLY BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION," HE SAID.
/9.........
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
9
RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 TO BE GAZETTED
»♦»»»»
THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO REMOVE CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE RATING ORDINANCE WHICH HAVE BECOME OBSOLETE AND TO CLARIFY OTHERS WHICH ARE CAUSING ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE NEXT FRIDAY (JUNE 8). THE BILL IS DUE TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 4.
UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION IS REQUIRED TO SERVE NOTICE OF THE NEW RATEABLE VALUE ON EACH RATEPAYER NOT LATER THAN MARCH 1 OF THE YEAR IN WHICH A GENERAL REVALUATION IS COMPLETED.
"EXPERIENCE FROM PAST GENERAL REVALUATIONS SHOWED THAT SUCH NOTICES WERE OFTEN MISTAKEN BY RATEPAYERS AS RATES DEMANDS.
"THIS SITUATION CREATED ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT IN EXPLAINING TO INDIVIDUAL RATEPAYERS THE PURPOSES OF THESE NOTICES.
"IT IS PROPOSED, THEREFORE, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT TO ISSUE SUCH NOTICES.
"THE REVISED RATEABLE VALUE WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLEARLY SHOWN ON THE RATES DEMANDS ISSUED AT THE END OF MARCH OR EARLY APRIL.
"RATEPAYERS WILL NOT BE DISADVANTAGED BY THE CHANGE AS THE BILL PROPOSES ALSO THAT THE PERIOD FOR OBJECTING TO THE NEW RATEABLE VALUE BE EXTENDED TO TWO MONTHS (APRIL AND MAY) AS OPPOSED TO THE EXISTING PERIOD OF ONE MONTH (MARCH ONLY)," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO PERMIT THE COMMISSIONER TO OBTAIN FROM THE OWNER OR OCCUPIER OF A TENEMENT RENT RECEIPTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS CONTAINING INFORMATION FOR ASSESSING RATEABLE VALUES FOR PHOTOCOPYING PURPOSES. IT ALSO REQUIRES HIM TO RETURN THE DOCUMENTS TO THEM WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD.
IN ADDITION, THE BILL PROPOSES A NUMBER OF MINOR TECHNICAL CHANGES. THESE WOULD:
* ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VALUATION LISTS HE HAS TO PREPARE TO TWO LISTS ONLY, ONE SHOWING THE RATEABLE VALUES OF ALL TENEMENTS IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AREA AND THE OTHER IN RESPECT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA;
« EXTEND THE PERIOD AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION OF NEW VALUATION LISTS FROM MARCH TO APRIL AND MAY;
* CLARIFY THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT IN PROCEEDINGS FOR RECOVERY OF RATES IN DEFAULT, THE COURT WILL NOT ENTERTAIN ANY PLEA ON MATTERS WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE LANDS TRIBUNAL; AND
* CLARIFY THAT DOCUMENTS MAY BE SERVED ON THE COMMISSIONER EITHER BY POST OR PERSONAL DELIVERY.
- - 0 - -
/10
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
10
ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATION ON HK PHOTO ALBUMS TERMINATED
*****
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES HAS ANNOUNCED THE TERMINATION OF AN ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATION ON IMPORTS OF PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS FROM HONG KONG.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE COMMISSION HAD ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION TO END THE INVESTIGATION AFTER ACCEPTING A PRICE UNDERTAKING BY A HONG KONG COMPANY, WHICH WAS THE ONLY ONE NAMED IN THE COMPLAINT.
HE SAID THE UNDERTAKING COVERED BOOK-BOUND TRADITIONAL AND BOOK-BOUND SELF-ADHESIVE ALBUMS, WHILE OTHERS MENTIONED IN THE PROCEEDING, SUCH AS SPIRAL-BOUND SELF-ADHESIVE AND THE SLIP-IN TYPES, WERE EXCLUDED FROM IT.
AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR ALAN LAI, SAID THAT AS SOON AS THE PROCEEDING AGAINST HONG KONG WAS INITIATED IN DECEMBER 1988, THE DEPARTMENT HAD MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMISSION CRITICISING THE INITIATION OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST HONG KONG IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT HONG KONG’S MARKET SHARE WAS SMALL AND DECLINING.
THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO REQUESTED THE COMMISSION TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF PHOTO ALBUMS IN DETERMINING INJURY TO RELATED INDUSTRY.
"WE ARE HAPPY THAT THE HONG KONG MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONCLUDE A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COMMISSION," MR LAI SAID.
"TERMINATION OF THE INVESTIGATION MEANS THAT ALL OTHER HONG KONG PHOTO ALBUM MANUFACTURERS, WHO ARE MAINLY ENGAGED IN MAKING SPIRAL-BOUND SELF-ADHESIVE AND SLIP-IN TYPES, ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY EEC ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES."
HE SAID THERE WERE STILL THREE EEC ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDINGS, INVOLVING AUDIO TAPES, SMALL SCREEN COLOUR TELEVISION RECEIVERS AND DENIM CLOTH, AWAITING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF INVESTIGATION RESULTS.
"WE SHALL CONTINUE TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS ON THESE VERY CLOSELY," MR LAI SAID.
--------0-----------
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 11 -CONSULTANCY STUDY ON OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY AND MODELLING ******
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TODAY (FRIDAY) SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH A CONSULTANT TO UNDERTAKE OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEYS AND MATHEMATICAL MODELLING, FOR THE OCEANIC OUTFALL OF HONG KONG’S STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME.
AN EPD SPOKESMAN SAID AT THE END OF LAST YEAR IT WAS PROPOSED THAT A LONG SEA OUTFALL SHOULD BE BUILT TO DISPOSE OF TREATED SEWAGE INTO DEEP OCEANIC WATERS WHERE STRONG CURRENTS COULD DISPERSE THE EFFLUENT SAFELY.
THE $15 BILLION STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME WILL MOVE RAI IDLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND THIS CONSULTANCY STUDY AIMS TO USE STATE-OF-ART TECHNOLOGY TO SELECT THE MOST APPROPRIATE OUTFALL LOCATION AND TO MODEL THE WATER DISPERSION EFFECTS.
THE CONSULTANCY STUDY WILL DO THIS BY USING TWO TECHNIQUES.
THE FIRST IS TO DO A SERIES OF FIELD SURVEYS, MAINLY IN CHINESE WATERS, USING THE MOST UP-TO-DATE ELECTRONIC AND GEOPHYSICAL METHODS AVAILABLE TO COLLECT DATA ON CURRENTS AND EXISTING WATER QUALITY.
THE SECOND IS TO USE SOPHISTICATED COMPUTER MODELS CALLED WAHMO (WATER QUALITY AND HYDRAULIC MODELS), ONE OF THE LARGEST ENGINEERING MATHEMATICAL MODELS EVER USED, TO SIMULATE ALL THE WATER OF HONG KONG, THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY, MIRS BAY AND SOUTH OF HONG KONG FROM MACAU TO DANGAN (LEMA) ISLANDS.
POLLUTION DOES NOT RECOGNISE ANY BOUNDARIES AND WATERS IN THESE AREAS ARE ALREADY AFFECTED BY FLOWS FROM THE PEARL RIVER. BOTH THE GUANGDONG AND THE MACAU AUTHORITIES HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE RESULTS AND ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT.
THE CONSULTANCY STUDY, AT A COST OF $53 MILLION, WILL TAKE 27 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
SIGNING THE AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSULTANCY STUDY WERE THE EPD’S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MR MIKE STOKOE, AND MR ROBERT ARM STEAD OF BINNIE CONSULTANTS, DR JIM RODGER OF HYDRAULICS RESEARCH AND MR DEREK JOHNSON OF WATER RESEARCH CENTRE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE EPD’S PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER, (WATER POLICY), MR PAUL HOLMES, ON TEL. 835 1234.
- - 0-----------
/12 .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 12 -
WORKING PARTY PROPOSES INTRODUCTION OF CHILD SUPPLEMENT ******
THE WORKING PARTY ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES PROPOSES TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME BY INTRODUCING A CHILD SUPPLEMENT FOR FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN WHO ARE ALSO IN RECEIPT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS.
AT THE WORKING PARTY’S MEETING TODAY (FRIDAY), MEMBERS FELT THAT THE EXISTING SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM WAS SERVING ITS PURPOSE OF HELPING THE RECOGNISED VULNERABLE GROUPS TO MEET THEIR BASIC AND SPECIAL NEEDS. HOWEVER, SOME AREAS COULD BE FURTHER IMPROVED.
THEY OBSERVED THAT THERE HAD BEEN REAL INCREASES IN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME OVER THE PAST YEARS IN THE FORM OF OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT, LONG TERM SUPPLEMENT, MEAL ALLOWANCE AND SO ON. FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS SCHEME WOULD HAVE TO BE SPECIALLY TARGETTED.
THEY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THE INTRODUCTION OF A CHILD SUPPLEMENT UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME. THE SUPPLEMENT WOULD BE PAYABLE TO ALL CHILDREN UP TO 15 YEARS OLD, AND THOSE AGED 15 TO 18 IN FULL TIME EDUCATION BUT NOT RECEIVING EDUCATION GRANTS.
--------0-----------
GOVT MAINTENANCE GRANTS FOR 1990-91 MATRICULATION COURSES
*******
APPLICATION FORMS FOR GOVERNMENT MAINTENANCE GRANTS FOR 1990-91 MATRICULATION COURSES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, IN CAUSEWAY BAY FROM TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE GRANTS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO NEEDY STUDENTS WHO HAVE OBTAINED GOOD RESULTS IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION (HKCEE) AND WHO WISH TO STAY ON AT SCHOOL FOR FULL-TIME MATRICULATION COURSES.
APPLICANTS MUST HAVE OBTAINED HKCEE RESULTS OF A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH LEVEL IN THE YEAR OF AWARD TO INDICATE THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL EITHER IN THE HIGHER LEVEL OR ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATIONS.
APPLICANTS MUST BE SUPPORTED BY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HEADS OF SCHOOLS.
THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE GRANT IS DETERMINED IN THE LIGHT OF FINANCIAL NEED AND FUNDS AVAILABLE.
"GRANTS AWARDED IN 1989-90 HAVE BEEN IN THE REGION OF $230 PER MONTH," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
/GRANTS ARE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
GRANTS ARE AWARDED ON A YEARLY BASIS AND SHALL BE TENABLE AT ANY SECONDARY SCHOOL APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.
"RENEWAL IS NOT AUTOMATIC. IF RECIPIENTS WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A GRANT IN SECONDARY 7, THEY MUST APPLY AGAIN THE FOLLOWING YEAR," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPLICANTS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE FULL-TIME ADVANCED LEVEL/HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATION STUDIES FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR FOR WHICH THE GRANT HAS BEEN AWARDED.
"IF STUDENTS AWARDED A GRANT LEAVE BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF OUE YEAR, THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO REFUND TO GOVERNMENT THE AMOUNT THEY HAD RECEIVED," HE SAID.
STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVING A GRANT DURING THE 1989-90 SCHOOL YEAR BUT HAVE MADE SATISFACTORY PROGRESS IN SECONDARY 6 AND ARE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMPLETE THE ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION COURSE IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
APPLICATION DEADLINES ARE:
(I) SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1990 FOR STUDENTS IN SECONDARY 7 IN 1990-91; AND
(II) THE 14TH DAY AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE HKCEE RESULTS FOR STUDENTS IN SECONDARY 6 IN 1990-91.
- - 0 - -
COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS EMPHASISED »»»»»»
POTENTIAL "ENTREPRENEURS" WERE AWARDED PRIZES IN THE 1990 COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS PROJECT COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CHINESE GOLD AND SILVER EXCHANGE SOCIETY TO AROUSE STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG.
THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF’ INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS), MR TSUI SEE-MING, SAID AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS OFFERING COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS WAS INCREASED WHEN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS WERE ENCOURAGED TO OFFER PRACTICAL OR TECHNICAL SUBJECTS.
COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS IN THE SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM WAS EMPHASISED IN THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 3 AND THE REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON SIXTH FORM EDUCATION, HE SAID.
MR TSUI ALSO THANKED THE CHINESE GOLD AND SILVER EXCHANGE SOCIETY FOR SPONSORING THE COMPETITION WHICH HAS ENTERED ITS EIGHTH YEAR.
/ABOUT 200
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 14 -
ABOUT 200 ENTRIES WERE SUBMITTED FOR THIS THE THEME OF WHICH WAS "EXPLORATION OF BUSINESS KONG” .
YEAR’S COMPETITION, ACTIVITIES IN HONG
THERE WERE SEVEN GROUPS OF ENTRIES:
* FINANCIAL MARKETS IN HONG KONG;
» ADVERTISING IN HONG KONG;
* RETAIL BUSINESS IN HONG KONG;
* ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE;
* OFFICE AUTOMATION;
* HONG KONG’S FOREIGN TRADE; AND
* STUDENTS’ OWN CHOICE.
PRIZES WERE AWARDED TO WINNERS OF EACH TITLE GROUP.
THE OVERALL FIRST AND SECOND PRIZES FOR THE SECONDARY 4 AND 5 GROUP WENT TO CHURCH OF CHRIST IN CHINA ROTARY PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL AND THE THIRD PRIZE WENT TO CARITAS ST FRANCIS PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL.
FOR THE SECONDARY 6 AND 7 GROUP, THE FIRST PRIZE WAS WON BY SIR ELLIS KADOORIE SECONDARY SCHOOL, SECOND PRIZE BY TWGHS YAU TZE TIN MEMORIAL COLLEGE AND THE THIRD PRIZE BY THE HONG KONG CHINESE WOMEN’S CLUB COLLEGE.
AN EXHIBITION OF THE WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE HELD AT THE HONG KONG TEACHERS' CENTRE BETWEEN JULY 6 AND 10.
--------0-----------
WORK OF AUXILIARY POLICE PRAISED * * * *
THE COMMUNITY CAN BE REST ASSURED THAT THE FORCES OF LAW AND ORDER ARE IN PLACE TO MAINTAIN THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE OF THE SELFLESS SENSE OF DUTY AND PRIDE IN WORK OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF HONGKONG BANK, tIR PAUL SELWAY-SWIFT, WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT A PASSING OUT PARADE OF THE CENTRAL AUXILIARY POLICE AT THE AUXILIARY POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN kOW OON BAY THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING IN HIS CAPACITY AS A MEMBER OF THE HONGKONG BANK JUNIOR POLICE CALL TRUST FUND, MR SELWAY-SWIFT TOLD THE AUXILIARY OFFICERS THAT WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, THE REGULAR POLICE WOULD FACE EVEN GREATER DIFFICULTIES THAN THEY ALREADY DID.
NOTING THAT AN AUXILIARY POLICE PLATOON SHOULD BE A TEAM OF PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER WITH COMMON OBJECTIVES, INDIVIDUAL COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK, HE POINTED OUT THAT THESE WERE THE ATTRIBUTES WHICH HAD MADE HONG KONG’S BUSINESSES AS SUCCESSFUL TODAY AS THEY WERE AND HONG KONG THE MAJOR FORCE IT WAS IN THE WORLD ECONOMY.
/"AS EMPLOYERS .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990
- 15 -
"AS EMPLOYERS WE CAN SEE THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS OUR STAFF CAN GET FROM THE CAMARADERIE AND TEAMWORK OF BELONGING TO A VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION," HE ADDED.
IN CONCLUSION, MR SELWAY-SWIFT SAID HE THEREFORE WOULD NOT HESITATE TO ENCOURAGE HIS STAFF TO JOIN VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE AUXILIARY POLICE AND WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE EVERY EMPLOYER IN HONG KONG TO DO THE SAME.
ON PARADE TODAY ARE 125 AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR WEEK-LONG TRAINING PROGRAMME.
------0--------
ACCESS ROAD TO WESTERN WHOLESALE MARKET PROPOSED
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT AN ACCESS ROAD TO THE PROPOSED WESTERN WHOLESALE MARKET ON THE RECLAIMED LAND IN WESTERN.
THE WORKS INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 150-METRE SINGLE FOUR-LANE CARRIAGEWAY WITH ASSOCIATED FOOTWAYS ON BOTH SIDES AT WESTERN RECLAMATION, FROM THE WATER STREET EXTENSION TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE WESTERN WHOLESALE MARKET, AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE WORKS.
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PLAN AND SCHEME MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
- CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG;
- HONG KONG WEST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI;
- CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG, NOT LATER THAN JULY 24 THIS YEAR.
---------0-------------
/16........
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 199U
- 16 -
REFUSE COLLECTION POINT FOR KWAI CHUNG
* » » ♦ »
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AT AREA 26D, KWAI CHUNG.
OCCUPYING A 106-SQUARE-METRE FLOOR AREA, THE SINGLE-STOREY REFUSE COLLECTION POINT WILL HAVE A CARBON FILTRATION SYSTEM TO PREVENT THE EMISSION OF FOUL SMELL.
OTHER FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE AN OFFICE, A STORE ROOM, A PUMP ROOM, A STAFF TOILET AND A PAVED AREA FOR REFUSE BINS AND HANDCARTS.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN JULY THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JUNE 22.
------0--------
LAND IN SHEUNG SHUI TO BE RESUMED *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO RESUME LAND IN FU TEI AU, SHEUNG SHUI, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PYLON TO CARRY 400 KILOVOLT OVERHEAD LINES FOR TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICITY FROM CHINA TO HONG KONG.
THE LAND TO BE RESUMED COMPRISES 11 PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LOTS WITH A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 5,061.4 SQUARE METRES.
THE LOTS WILL REVERT TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE EXPIRY OF ONE MONTH FROM THE DATE OF POSTING OF THE NOTICE ON THE LOTS.
DETAILS OF THE RESUMPTION WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
-----0-------
FARE REVISION ON NT GMB ROUTES 75 AND 76
******
DEPARTMENT
ANNOUNCES THAT THE
FARES
STREET
OF NEW
TO HA
TSUEN)
WILL BE REVISED ON SUNDAY (JUNE 3).
THE FULL FARE $4 FOR ROUTE 75 AND WILL INCREASE BY 50
PER SINGLE JOURNEY WILL BE REVISED FROM $3i. FROM $3 TO $3.50 FOR ROUTE 76. ALL SECTION CENTS.
50 TO FARES
NOTICES WILL AND INSIDE VEHICLES
BE PUT UP BY THE GMB OPERATOR AT TERMINAL TO INFORM PASSENGERS OF THE FARE REVISION.
POINTS
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
RESULTS OF RETAIL SALES SURVEY FOR MARCH RELEASED .................................... 1
HK EXPATS FORM UK CLUB................................................................ 4
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES STUDIES ........................... 5
POLICE EXERCISE DISCRETION IN APPLICATION OF POWERS .................................. 6
TOP PRIORITY TO CURBING UNDERAGED PROSITUTION IN MONG KOK............................. 7
VOTER REGISTRATION SLOGAN COMPETITION IN KWAI TSING .................................. 7
INTER-HONG SPORTS PROGRAMME TO START TOMORROW ........................................ 8
REMINDER ON PROPER LABELLING FOR PREPACKAGED FOOD .................................... 9
CHEUNG CHAU LOT FOR SALE BY TENDER .................................................. 10
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS DURING PROCESSION ON HK ISLAND ...................... 10
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF A SECTION OF LEI YUE MUN ROAD.................................. 10
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN YAU MA TEI ................................................. 11
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES IN SHA TIN ................................................. 11
TEMPORARY PARTIAL LANE CLOSURE OF TUEN MUN ROAD.................................... 12
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
- 1 -
RESULTS OF RETAIL SALES SURVEY FOR MARCH RELEASED **»««»»
THE VALUE OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES IN MARCH 1990, ESTIMATED AT >9,284 MILLION, INCREASED BY 8 PER CENT WHEN COMPARE^ WITH MARCH 1989 WHILST THEIR VOLUME INCREASED BY 1 PER CENT, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAY LAST YEAR THAT A YEAR-ON-YEAR INCREASE IN VOLUME TERMS WAS RECORDED FOR THE MONTH.
COMPARING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990 WITH THE SAME QUARTER IN 1989, TOTAL RETAIL SALES INCREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT DECREASED BY 4 PER CENT IN VOLUME. SALES OF FUELS ROSE BY 19 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 4 PER CENT IN VOLUME. FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO WENT UP BY 12 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 4 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 7 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES FELL BY 7 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 10 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
OTHER CONSUMER GOODS REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED IN SALES VALUE BUT DECREASED BY 5 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, SALES IN SUPERMARKETS INCREASED BY 20 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 10 PER CENT IN VOLUME. DEPARTMENT STORES SALES WENT UP BY 9 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
ON THE OTHER HAND, CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DECREASED BY 4 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 6 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME, WHILE SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DROPPED BY 11 PER CENT AND 16 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN VALUE AND IN VOLUME.
COMPARING MARCH 1990 WITH MARCH 1989, SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO WENT UP BY 19 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 10 PER CENT IN VOLUME WHILE THOSE FOR FUELS ROSE BY 18 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES INCREASED BY 8 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME. HOWEVER, CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS DROPPED BY 3 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 9 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS INCREASED BY 5 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED IN VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED BY 37 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 30 PER CENT IN VOLUME. SUPERMARKET SALES ROSE BY 31 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 20 PER CENT IN VOLUME. SALES IN DEPARTMENT STORES INCREASED BY 5 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
/CONSUMER DURABLES .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DROPPED BY 6 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 8 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
WHEN COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 1990, AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON MAY BE AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, TOTAL RETAIL SALES FOR MARCH 1990 INCREASED BY 6 PER CFN 1' IN VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
FUELS ROSE BY 25 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 19 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. FOODSTU^IS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 14 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, CONSUMER DURABLES DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN BOTH SALES VALUE AND VOLUME. CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS FELL BY 4 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 6 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, SUPERMARKET SALES INCREASED BY 29 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 27 PER CENT IN VOLUME. SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED BY 5 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 4 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
HOWEVER, MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DECREASED BY 8 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 9 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME, WHILE THE CORRESPONDING DECREASES FOR DEPARTMENT STORES WERE 8 PER CENT AND 10 PER CENT.
THE ACCOMPANYING TABLE 1 PRESENTS THE REVISED TOTAL RETAIL SALES FIGURE FOR FEBRUARY 1990 AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURE FOR MARCH 1990.
TABLE 2 SHOWS THE VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH 1990 (A) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES, (B) BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND (C) BY SELECTED TRADES (WHICH FORM PART OF THE RELEVANT MAJOR TRADE GROUPS), WITH AVERAGE RETAIL SALES FROM OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 TAKEN AS 100.
COMPARISONS OF MARCH 1990 RESULTS WITH THOSE FOR FEBRUARY 1990 AND WITH THOSE FOR MARCH 1989, AND COMPARISONS OF RETAIL SALES IN THE PERIOD JANUARY TO MARCH 1990 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, ARE ALSO GIVEN.
THE REPORT CONTAINING THE ANALYSIS OF THE MARCH 1990 SURVEY RESULTS IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $1 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. 556 5240).
/TABLE 1 .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
- 3 -
TABLE 1 : TOTAL RETAIL SALES
Total Retail Sales lor March 1990 (Provisional Figure) * HK$ 9,284ai11ion
for February 1990 (Revised Fiqure) = HKt 8,732aillion
TABLE 2 *. VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES FOR FEBRUARY 1990 AND MARCH 1990
(Monthly average of Oct. 84 - Sept. 85 = 100)
Index of ! March 1990 March 1990 ! Jan.-Mar. 1990
Itea Retail February March I coapared with coapared with coapared with
Sales 1990 1990 J February 1990 March 1989 Jan.-Mar. 1989
(Revised (Provisional Points X Points I Points X
figures) figures)
(A) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES
Value 156 166 ♦ 10 46 413 48 ♦2 ♦!
Voluae 117 124 ♦6 +5 ♦2 41 -6 -4
(B) BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS
Foodstuffs, alcoholic Value 136 158 ♦21 +16 ♦25 419 ♦16 4)2
drinks and tobacco Voluae 103 118 ♦ 15 H4 410 41(1 ♦5 44
Fuels Value 95 119 ♦23 425 418 418 418 419
Voluae 88 105 417 419 42 42 44 44
Clothing, footwear Value 186 179 -7 -4 -5 -3 -3 -1
and allied products Voluae 134 126 -B -6 -13 -9 -11 -7
Consuaer durables Value 161 159 -2 -1 412 48 -13 -7
Voluae 118 117 -1 -1 ♦3 43 -13 -10
Other consuaer goods Value 167 177 411 46 ♦9 45 1 1
Voluae 125 132 47 45 -1 1 -8 -5
(C) BY SELECTED TRADES
(see note 1 below)
Superaarkets Value 161 208 447 429 ♦50 4J1 434 420
Voluae 119 150 432 427 425 420 414 410
Motor vehicles Value 312 286 -26 -8 ♦77 437 -37 -11
and parts Voluae 200 182 -18 -9 442 430 -35 -16
Consuaer durables Value 115 120 ♦6 45 -8 -6 -5 -4
other than aotor Voluae 93 97 ♦4 44 -9 -8 -b -6
vehicles and parts
Departaent stores Value 218 201 -17 -8 ♦ 10 45 ♦20 49
Voluae 159 143 -16 -10 -3 -2 44 42
NOTES : 1. In order to analyse the sales of certain trades WITHIN iajor trade groups, the value and voluae indexes in respect of the following selected trades are compiled :
(a) 'Superaarkets' - a trade in the "Foodstuffs, alcoholic drinks and tobacco" group.
<b) "Motor vehicles and parts' - a trade in the "Consuier durables' group.
(c) 'Consuaer durables other than aotor vehicles and parts' - a trade in the "Consuaer durables' group.
(d) 'Departaent stores’ - a trade in the 'Other consuaer goods* group.
2. Figures denoting changes are derived froa the unrounded index figures.
3. "I" denotes a figure within ±0.5.
O------------
/4 ........
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
4
HK EXPATS FORM UK CLUB * * * *
AN ORGANISATION DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SOCIAL FORUM FOR HONG KONG’S PROFESSIONALS AND EXECUTIVES LIVING IN THE UK WAS FORMALLY LAUNCHED IN LONDON TODAY (SATURDAY).
CALLED THE HONG KONG EXECUTIVES CLUB, IT AIMS TO FOSTER A CONTINUOUS LINK BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG -- KEEPING MEMBERS INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS AND MAJOR EVENTS IN THE TERRITORY AS WELL AS GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERN OVER CURRENT AFFAIRS IN THE UK AND HONG KONG.
MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG ATTENDED THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY. THEY INCLUDED THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN THE UK, MR JOHN YAXLEY, AND MRS YAXLEY, THE LORD MAYOR OF WESTMINSTER, MR DAVID AVERY, LADY YOUDE AND OTHER DIGNITARIES.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, THE CLUB’S CHAIRMAN MR RONALD WONG, A SOLICITOR, PAID TRIBUTE TO BOTH LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE PROFESSIONALS AND EXECUTIVES WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGERIAL KNOW-HOW IN MAKING HONG KONG WHAT IT IS TODAY.
"PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH LOCALLY-TRAINED TALENTS HAVE BENEFITTED HONG KONG’S PAST DEVELOPMENT. I DO NOT SEE WHY SUCH HARMONY CANNOT CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE," HE SAID.
ON RECRUITMENTS OF HK PROFESSIONALS TO WORK IN THE TERRITORY, MR WONG SUGGESTED SETTING UP AN INDEPENDENTLY-FUNDED CAREER/OPPORTUNITIES CENTRE IN THE UK SO THAT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO MIGHT WISH TO PLAN THEIR CAREER IN HONG KONG COULD HAVE EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
THIS MIGHT HELP THEM PLAN A MEANINGFUL CAREER IN HONG KONG AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR SKILLS TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE TERRITORY, HE SAID.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OCCASION, MR JOHN YAXLEY SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HKEC REPRESENTED A MILESTONE IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY IN THE UK.
ALTHOUGH MANY HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OWN PROFESSIONS AND WERE WELL RESPECTED AS INDIVIDUALS AMONG THEIR FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES, UP UNTIL NOW THEY HAD NOT BEEN SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED AS A GROUP WITHIN THE BRITISH SOCIETY, HE SAID.
"IT IS THEREFORE TIMELY THAT A CLUB FOR HONG KONG EXECUTIVES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED.
"THIS IS A TIME WHEN HONG KONG NEEDS GOODWILL AND GOOD FRIENDS. AND WE NEED TO GENERATE THAT GOODWILL AND FRIENDSHIP BY HELPING THE BRITISH COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HONG KONG IS ALL ABOUT.
"BY IDENTIFYING YOURSELVES AS A GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS THAT IS DISTINCTIVELY HONG KONG, COMING TOGETHER BECAUSE OF YOUR MUTUAL CONCERN FOR HONG KONG, YOU HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS THAT GOAL," HE SAID.
------0-------
/5.......
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
- 5
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES STUDIES * * * * *
STUDENTS WISHING TO OBTAIN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND THE MARINE FISH SCHOLARSHIP FUND MAY MAKE THEIR APPLICATIONS FROM MONDAY (JUNE 4).
A TOTAL OF $839,500 WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND INTEREST-FREE LOANS FROM THE TWO FUNDS WHICH ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE SECRETARY OF THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND MARINE FISH SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ADVISORY COMMITTEES, MR JAMES LI.
"THE FUNDS WERE SET UP IN 1978 TO HELP PEOPLE WISHING TO SERVE THE LOCAL AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES INDUSTRIES OR RELATED TRADES ON COMPLETION OF THEIR STUDIES, AND ALSO THOSE EMPLOYED IN THE INDUSTRIES WISHING TO PURSUE FURTHER TRAINING.
"ANOTHER AIM OF THE FUNDS IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN OF FARMING AND FISHING FAMILIES TO COMPLETE THEIR TERTIARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLING," MR LI SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON MONDAY AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS ON THE 12TH FLOOR OF CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 393 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON, AND FROM VARIOUS DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES LIAISON OFFICES.
APPLICATIONS FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDIES IN THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR WILL CLOSE ON JULY 13 WHILE APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL CLOSE ON AUGUST 15.
THE AWARDS WILL BE TENABLE AT ANY UNIVERSITY IN HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, CITY POLYTECHNIC, BAPTIST COLLEGE, ANY ACCEPTABLE OVERSEAS INSTITUTION AND AT ANY SECONDARY SCHOOL IN HONG KONG.
APPLICANTS IN TERTIARY EDUCATION SHOULD BE HONG KONG RESIDENTS UNDER 30 YEARS OF AGE WHILE SECONDARY SCHOOL APPLICANTS SHOULD BE STUDENTS IN FORMS FOUR TO SEVEN, MR LI SAID.
APPROVED COURSES FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION INCLUDE THOSE IN AGRICULTURE, VETERINARY SCIENCE, MARINE SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY OR ANY APPLIED SCIENCE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE LOCAL AGRICULTURE OR FISHERIES INDUSTRIES AND RELATED TRADES.
TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE FUNDS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES CAN BE MADE ON 733 2244, DURING OFFICE HOURS.
--------0-----------
/6 ........
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
- 6 -
POLICE EXERCISE DISCRETION IN APPLICATION OF POWERS **««*»
POLICE OFFICERS ARE INVESTED WITH WIDE POWERS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THESE POWERS THEY HAVE EQUALLY WIDE DISCRETION.
ADDRESSING A PASSING OUT PARADE AT THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL IN WONG CHUK HANG TODAY (SATURDAY), POLICE REGIONAL COMMANDER, MARINE, MR JOHN MACDONALD, STRESSED THAT IT WAS THEREFORE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT IN EXERCISING THEIR POWERS OFFICERS SHOULD REMEMBER THEIR OATH OF OFFICE AND ACT IMPARTIALLY, WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR.
"YOU MUST NOT FORGET THAT A POLICEMAN CANNOT BE PROVOKED, THAT YOU ARE IN EFFECT CLOTHED IN ’SPIRITUAL ASBESTOS’ SUPPRESSING PERSONAL FEELINGS, IGNORING THE AFFRONTS AND INDIGNITIES SO OFTEN EXPERIENCED," MR MACDONALD SAID.
HE TOLD THE GRADUATING OFFICERS THAT UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY MUST CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH TACT, FORBEARANCE AND ABOVE ALL, COURTESY AT ALL TIMES.
"EVEN A PERSON CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF COMMITTING AN OFFENCE RETAINS HIS RIGHTS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A COURT OF LAW DETERMINES THE OUTCOME OF INFORMATION LAID AGAINST HIM.
"IN THESE WORRYING AND STRESSFUL TIMES WITH IRRATIONAL ACTS OCCURRING ALL TOO FREQUENTLY, IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT YOUR CONDUCT IS EXEMPLARY," HE ADDED.
DESCRIBING WHAT HE HAD PUT ACROSS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A "GRIM AND IMPOSSIBLE BURDEN" FOR YOUNG OFFICERS TO BEAR, MR MACDONALD SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HELP, HOWEVER, MAINLY FROM THEIR COLLEAGUES, FOR THEY WERE ABOUT TO BECOME FULLY FLEDGED MEMBERS OF AN ORGANISATION WITH EXCELLENT ESPRIT DE CORPS, AND ALSO FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY AND MEMBERS OF THE MANY ORGANISATIONS WITH WHOM THEY WORKED SO CLOSELY.
THE MARINE POLICE CHIEF, WHO WILL RETIRE LATER THIS YEAR FOLLOWING A 31-YEAR SUCCESSFUL POLICE CAREER, ' SAID HE WOULD DEFINITELY JOIN THE FORCE AGAIN IF HE HAD THE CHOICE.
ON PARADE TODAY ARE 34 PROBATIONARY INSPECTORS AND 151 CONSTABLE RECRUITS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR BASIC TRAINING.
--------0-----------
/7........
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
7 -
TOP PRIORITY TO CURBING UNDERAGED PROSTTUTION IN MONG KOK
*******
MONG KOK POLICE HAVE GIVEN TOP PRIORITY TO CURBING UNDERAGED PROSTITUTION IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST VICE ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT.
DISTRICT OPERATIONS OFFICER, MR KWAN KAI-LUEN, SAID DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, POLICE CONDUCTED A TOTAL OF 22,226 RAIDS AGAINST SUSPECTED VICE ESTABLISHMENTS IN MONG KOK, PARTICULARLY TARGETTING AT THOSE EMPLOYING FOREIGN AND UNDERAGED GIRLS.
DURING THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING MARCH 1990, 217 UNDERAGED GIRLS WERE LOCATED IN VARIOUS VICE RELATED PREMISES IN THE DISTRICT, OF WHOM 38 WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 16.
ACCORDING TO MR KWAN, SOME OF THESE GIRLS WERE FOUND WORKING IN ’’PRIVATE BROTHELS” WHICH WERE HIGHLY MOBILE AND WOULD ONLY ACCEPT KNOWN CUSTOMERS.
’’SINCE THE MAJORITY OF THE UNDERAGED PROSTITUTES ARE VOLUNTARY, THEY INVARIABLY REFUSE TO CO-OPERATE WITH POLICE,” MR KWAN SAID. "IT CAUSES DIFFICULTIES LN THE PROSECUTION AND CONVICTION OF THOSE ARRESTED FOR OFFENCES CONNECTED WITH UNDERAGED GIRLS.”
NEVERTHELESS, POLICE MAINTAIN CONSTANT ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST SUCH VICE ACTIVITIES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF WOMAN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE.
THREE VICE SQUADS AND ONE DISTRICT ANTI-TRIAD SQUAD HAVE BEEN FORMED TO TACKLE SUCH ACTIVITIES.
’’LAST YEAR WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED 64 MEN AND THREE WOMEN WITH VARIOUS OFFENCES INVOLVING UNDERAGED GIRLS,” MR KWAN SAID.
FOR THOSE UNDERAGE!) GIRLS FOUND PRESENT IN THE VICE RELATED PREMISES, POLICE WILL BRING THEM BACK TO THE POLICE STATION TO SEE IF ANY VICE OFFENCES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED, OR A CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER IS NECESSARY.
IN 1989, A TOTAL OF 79 CARE AND PROTECTION ORDERS WERE APPLIED OF WHICH 73 HAVE BEEN GRANTED.
-----0------
VOTER REGISTRATION SLOGAN COMPETITION IN KWAI TSING
******
THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE IS INVITING RESIDENTS TO JOIN A SLOGAN COMPETITION TO PROMOTE THE VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN TO BE HELD IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT A SLOGAN CREATED BY A KWAI TSING RESIDENT WOULD HIGHLIGHT DISTRICT IDENTITY AND ENCOURAGE OTHER RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGISTRATION DRIVE.
/THE WINNING .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
- 8 -
THE WINNING SLOGAN WOULD BE USED IN ALL DISTRICT PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS, SUCH AS EXHIBITIONS, MOBILE REGISTRATION COUNTERS, BANNERS, NEWSPAPER SUPPLEMENT AND OTHER PRINTED MATERIALS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
PARTICIPANTS SHOULD SUBMIT THE SLOGAN AND THEIR PERSONAL PARTICULARS, INCLUDING NAME, AGE, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER AND OCCUPATION, TO THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE AT 10TH FLOOR, KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KWAI CHUNG, BY JUNE 15.
ENTRIES MAY ALSO BE SUBMITTED TO THE EIGHT SUB-OFFICES AT SHEK LEI, SHEK YAM, LAI KING, TAI WO HAU, KWAI FONG, KWAI SHING, CHEUNG CHING ESTATE AND CHEUNG FAT ESTATE.
THE WINNING ENTRANT WILL BE AWARDED A SOUVENIR.
THE VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN IS A TERRITORY-WIDE EXERCISE TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO REGISTER AS VOTERS SO THAT THEY CAN VOTE IN NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, URBAN COUNCIL, REGIONAL COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS.
--------0 - -
INTER-HONG SPORTS PROGRAMME TO START TOMORROW
******
MORE THAN 600 OFFICE WORKERS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART TN THE DISTRICT’S ANNUAL INTER-HONG SPORTS PROGRAMME BEGINNING TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
NOW IN ITS EIGHTH YEAR, THE PROGRAMME IS AIMED AT GIVING WHITECOLLAR WORKERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS AND THROUGH THESE GAMES, TO GET TO KNOW BETTER THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
PARTICIPANTS COMING FROM 11 FIRMS IN THE DISTRICT WILL COMPETE IN BASKETBALL, BADMINTON, TABLE TENNIS, SQUASH AND MINI-SOCCER OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKENDS.
THE FIRST EVENT WILL BE A TELEMATCH TO BE HEbD AFTER THE PROGRAMME’S OPENING CEREMONY TOMORROW MORNING.
AMONG THE OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR LEUNG SIK-WAH, AND THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS MONICA CHEN.
/ADMISSION TO .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
9
ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAMME’S COMPETITIONS TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 853 2566.
AND GAMES IS FREE.
note to editors:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE CEREMONY OF THE EIGHTH CENTRAL PROGRAMME WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 WAN CIVIC CENTRE INDOOR GAMES HALL
INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING
AND WESTERN INTER-HONG SPORTS AM TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT THE SHEUNG
---------0-----------
REMINDER ON PROPER LABELLING FOR PREPACKAGED FOOD
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY (SATURDAY) REMINDED FOOD MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS THAT FOOD ITEMS IN PREPACKAGED FORM, WHETHER COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY PACKED, MUST BE PROPERLY LABELLED AS REQUIRED UNDER THE THIRD SCHEDULE OF THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS.
OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $25,000 IN FINE AND SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT.
THE REMINDER FOLLOWED A RECENT CASE AT THE CENTRAL MAGISTRACY IN WHICH A SUPERMARKET IN EASTERN DISTRICT WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $8,000 FOR SELLING FOUR PREPACKAGED FOOD ITEMS WITHOUT PROPER MARKING OR LABELLING.
THE FOOD ITEMS ARE POMEGRANATE AND HORSE RADISH, FERMENTED SOYABEANS, CUPID MAYONNAISE AND RETORT PACKAGED COOKED RICE.
THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NAME OR DESIGNATION OF THE FOOD, THE LIST OF INGREDIENTS, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MANUFACTURER OR PACKER, THE INDICATION OF MINIMUM DURABILITY AND STATEMENTS OF SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE IN EITHER ENGLISH OR CHINESE OR IN BOTH LANGUAGES.
---------0-----------
/10 .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
10
CHEUNG CHAU LOT FOR SALE BY TENDER * * * *
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SALE OF A LAND LOT ON CHEUNG CHAU.
czx,, LOCATED IN CHUNG HING SAN STREET, THE LOT MEASURES ABOUT 65 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR NON-INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES ONLY.
ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING COVENANT, THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 130 SQUARE METRES ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 1992.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JUNE 29.
FORM OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG AND DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES AT EAST KOWLOON, WEST KOWLOON, SHA TIN, TAI PO NORTH YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, KWAI TSING, TUEN MUN, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS. ’
-----0------
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS DURING PROCESSION ON HK ISLAND
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ADVISES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT TEMPORARY ROUTE DIVERSIONS MAY BE IMPLEMENTED TOMORROW (SUNDAY) FROM ABOUT 3 PM WHEN A PROCESSION TAKES PLACE FROM CHATER GARDEN IN CENTRAL TO WAN CHAI AND EASTERN DISTRICT.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT SUCH AS BUSES, TRAMS AND GREEN MINIBUSES WILL MAINTAIN THEIR SERVICES AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO PAY ATTENTION TO RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS ON ANY ROUTE DIVERSIONS OR SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS AS NECESSITATED BY TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES.
-----0-------
>' TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF A SECTION OF LEI YUE MUN ROAD
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT DUE TO A WATERMAIN BURST, A SECTION OF EASTBOUND LEI YUE MUN ROAD BETWEEN TSUI PING ROAD AND JUNK BAY ROAD IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC, EXCEPT BUSES.
MOTORISTS HEADING FOR LEI YUE MUN AND THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING ARE ADVISED TO USE HOI YUEN ROAD ROUNDABOUT, SOUTHBOUND HOI YUEN ROAD, EASTBOUND WAI YIP STREET, KWUN TONG BYPASS AND LEI YUE MUN ROAD EASTBOUND.
MEANWHILE, MOTORISTS AND BUS PASSENGERS GOING TOWARDS SAU MAU PING ARE ADVISED THAT TSUI PING ROAD HAS BEEN ALTERED TO ONE-WAY UPHILL OPERATION ONLY.
------0--------
/Il .....
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
11
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN YAU MA TEI ♦ * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (JUNE 4), THE SECTION OF YUNNAN LANE BETWEEN WATERLOO ROAD AND SHEK LUNG STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM NORTHBOUND TO SOUTHBOUND TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC CONDITION IN YAU MA TEI.
CONCURRENTLY, THE SECTION OF SHEK LUNG STREET BETWEEN SHANGHAI STREET AND YUNNAN LANE WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM EASTBOUND TO WESTBOUND.
MOTORISTS ON WATERLOO ROAD HEADING FOR SHEK LUNG STREET ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA YUNNAN LANE SOUTHBOUND. APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE THEM.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY PUBLIC LIGHT BUS URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHEK LUNG STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH SHANGHAI STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 15 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE CANCELLED.
--------U-----------
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES IN SHA TIN
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK, THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN SHA TIN WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED DURING THE PERIOD SPECIFIED BELOW:
* ON MONDAY (JUNE 4), FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM, THE OUTERMOST LANE OF TAI PO ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN FO TAN NULLAH AND SHA TIN RACECOURSE.
* FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (JUNE 4) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY, THE OUTERMOST LANE OF SHA TIN ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL AND FO TAN NULLAH.
* ON THURSDAY (JUNE 7), FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM, THE INNERMOST LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY NORTHBOUND BETWEEN MA LIU SHUI INTERCHANGE AND PAK SHEK KOK.
♦ FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (JUNE 7) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY, A SECTION OF ABOUT ONE KILOMETRE OF THE SLOW LANE OF SHA TIN ROAD SOUTHBOUND NEAR SHING MUN RIVER.
♦ ON FRIDAY (JUNE 8), FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM, A SECTION OF ABOUT 1.5 KILOMETRES OF THE INNERMOST LANE OF TAI PO ROAD NORTHBOUNDNEAR SHA TIN RACECOURSE.
* ON SATURDAY (JUNE 9), FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM, THE INNERMOST LANE OF TAI PO ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN FO TAN NULLAH AND SHA TIN RACECOURSE.
/* FROM 11 PM ........
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1990
- 12 -
♦ FROM 11 PM ON JUNE 11 TO 6 . AM THE NEXT DAY, THE FAST
LANE OF LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN LION ROCK
TUNNEL TOLL GATE AND HUNG MUI KUK.
* FROM 11 PM ON JUNE 14 TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY, THE FAST LANE
OF LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN SAN TIN
WAI ESTATE AND HUNG MUI KUK.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE. APPROPRIATE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
TEMPORARY PARTIAL LANE CLOSURE OF TUEN MUN ROAD
* * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TWO TRAFFIC LANES OF THE KOWLOON-BOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TUEN MUN ROAD NEAR SHAM TSENG INTERCHANGE WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED IN TURN FROM 9.30 PM ON MONDAY (JUNE 4) TO 6 AM ON JUNE 11, TO FACILITATE RESURFACING WORKS.
CLOSURE OF TWO TRAFFIC LANES WILL ONLY BE IMPLEMENTED FROM 9.30 PM TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY. IN THE DAYTIME, ONLY ONE TRAFFIC LANE WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
--------0----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HONG KONG WELCOMES FORMER RESIDENTS .................................................. 1
FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME POPULAR ..................................................... 2
DB SUBSIDIES FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN EASTERN ................................... 3
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS CONCESSIONARY FARES FOR ELDERLY .............................. 3
LAYING OF NEW SUBMARINE PIPELINE IN TOLO HARBOUR ................................... 4
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 1990
HONG KONG WELCOMES FORMER RESIDENTS
******
HONG KONG "OPENS ITS ARMS" TO FORMER RESIDENTS RETURNING TO CONTRIBUTE TO ITS GROWTH AND PROSPERITY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, RECENTLY TOLD A GROUP OF VISITORS FROM CANADA.
"AS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, HONG KONG ALWAYS WELCOMES INVESTMENTS FROM OVERSEAS COUNTRIES, INCLUDING CANADA," HE SAID.
THE VISITORS - FORMER RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG - COME FROM THE TORONTO CHINESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND ARE LEADING A TEAM FROM TORONTO TO TAKE PART FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE FORTHCOMING INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT RACES.
MR LAN URGED THEM TO BRING BACK TO CANADA THIS MESSAGE: "THE WORLD IS GETTING SMALLER AND WE LOOK TO OUR FRIENDS FROM OVERSEAS, SUCH AS CANADA, TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS AND TO FURTHER EXTEND THE FRIENDSHIP WITH US, TO OUR MUTUAL GAIN".
"HONG KONG IS AS DYNAMIC AS EVER, AND HAS BECOME A REGIONAL HUB IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION FOR COMMERCE, FINANCE, TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS.
"THAT IS WHY THE COMMERCIAL LINKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CANADA ARE STRONG AND GROWING," HE NOTED.
IN RECENT YEARS, THE LINKS HAD BEEN FURTHER STRENGTHENED BY GROWING CANADIAN COMMERCIAL PRESENCE IN HONG KONG, MR LAN SAID.
CITING EXAMPLES, HE NOTED THAT THE CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG IS THE BIGGEST ONE OUTSIDE CANADA, AND SOME 70 CANADIAN COMPANIES HAVE BRANCHES OR SUBSIDIARIES, AND ANOTHER 400 ARE REPRESENTED, IN HONG KONG.
"FURTHERMORE, SIX CANADIAN PROVINCES - ONTARIO, ALBERTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN AND QUEBEC - HAVE SET UP COMMERCIAL OFFICES IN HONG KONG.
"AS A RESULT, TRADE AND SOCIAL LINKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CANADA ARE ALWAYS GROWING," HE ADDED.
TURNING TO FORMER HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO HAD EMIGRATED TO CANADA, MR LAN SAID THEY WERE BECOMING THE MOST EFFECTIVE LINK FOR PROMOTING FRIENDSHIP, UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO PLACES.
"HONG KONG ALSO WELCOMES OVERSEAS PARTICIPATION IN ITS PLANS TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE FORMER LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EMIGRATED ABROAD.
"A FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG HAS BEEN FIRMLY LAID DOWN, AND THE TASK IS TO MAKI SURE IT WORKS.
"WE WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE RETURNING TO TAKE PART IN OUR PLANS WHICH ENSURE THAT HONG KONG REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CITIES IN EAST ASIA," MR LAN SAID.
------0--------
/2 ......
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 1990
2 -
FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME POPULAR *****
THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME HAS BECOME MORE POPULAR WITH 1,213 PEOPLE GIVEN FREE CONSULTATION IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES WERE RELATED TO MATRIMONIAL, MONETARY, COMMERCIAL AND RENTAL MATTERS.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, ABOUT 11,700 PEOPLE APPROACHED THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THE SCHEME.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CNTA SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE NUMBER OF FREE CONSULTATION CASES REPRESENTED A 37 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE 885 CASES IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR.
THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME, BEING JOINTLY OPERATED BY THE CNTA AND THE LAW SOCIETY WITH GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION SINCE NOVEMBER 1978, BENEFITS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO CONSULT SOLICITORS OR BARRISTERS.
"ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THE SCHEME MAY APPROACH ANY OF THE CNTA’S 69 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES LOCATED CONVENIENTLY THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
"APPLICANTS WILL FIRST BE INTERVIEWED BY CNTA STAFF TO ASCERTAIN THEIR NEEDS. ARRANGEMENTS WILL THEN BE MADE FOR THEM TO SEE THE DUTY LAWYERS ATTENDING THE EIGHT EVENING BUREAUS AT DISTRICT OFFICES IN WAN CHAI, EASTERN, YAU TSIM, MONG KOK, WONG TAI SIN, KWUN TONG, TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
AN APPOINTMENT CAN USUALLY BE ARRANGED WITHIN 10 DAYS AT AN EVENING BUREAU OF THE APPLICANT’S CHOICE, HE ADDED.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHEME CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE SECTION AT CNTA HEADQUARTERS, 29TH FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR ENQUIRIES IS 835 1501.
------0---------
/3 ........
' * SUNDAY, 'JUNE 3, 1990
- 3 -
DB SUBSIDIES FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN EASTERN
♦ ♦ t * * ♦
THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD HAS SET ASIDE $356;0O0 FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND RESIDE TS’ BODIES TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT THIS YEAR.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID THE ACTIVITIES SHOULD AIM AT ENHANCING THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE LIVING OR WORKING IN THE AREA AND AT CULTIVATING A SENSE OF DISTRICT IDENTITY.
SUBSIDIES WILL BE GRANTED FOR PROJECTS RANGING FROM SURVEYS, EXHIBITIONS, SEMINARS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES TO RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE ELDERLY AND TRAINING COURSES FOR VOLUNTEERS.
A WORKING GROUP FORMED UNDER THE BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON JUNE 29, AUGUST 1, SEPTEMBER 21, NOVEMBER 5 AND DECEMBER 14 TO VET APPLICATIONS.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED ORGANISATIONS TO FILE APPLICATIONS TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO EACH MEETING, TO FACILITATE PROCESSING WORK.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES AND FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, ITS THREE SUB-OFFICES AND THE HENG FA CHUEN PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE. TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE > ON 562 4453.
-----0--------
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS CONCESSIONARY FARES FOR ELDERLY ♦ * ♦ * * * »
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING AND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO SEEK CONCESSIONARY FARES FOR THE DISTRICT’S ELDERLY PEOPLE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (MONDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE COMMUNITY BUILDING ISSUES RAISED AT A SEMINAR HELI) EARLIER.
A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS WILL BE CONSIDERED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING AND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (MONDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT, 7-11 NAM NING STREET, ABERDEEN CENTRE. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LATTER HALF OF THE MEETING, WHEN FUND APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED, WILL BE HELD IN CAMERA.
------0--------
/4 ........
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 1990
4 -
LAYING OF NEW SUBMARINE PIPELINE IN TOLO HARBOUR ******
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO LAY A SUBMARINE PIPELINE TO EXPORT FINAL EFFLUENT FROM THE TAI PO SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS TO VICTORIA HARBOUR VIA SHA TIN.
THE LAYING WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 13.26 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AT TOLO HARBOUR.
THE WORK WILL INCLUDE DREDGING IN THE SEABED TO FORM THE TRENCH, LAYING THE PIPE AND SUBSEQUENT BACKFILLING.
ALSO, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO LAY UTILITY SERVICES WITHIN AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 1,034.60 HECTARES AFFECTING 680 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED BETWEEN TAI A CHAU AND SHEK PIK, LANTAU ISLAND, FOR THE PROPOSED TAI A CHAU DETENTION CENTRE.
THESE SERVICES PROVIDE FOR ELECTRICITY AND WATER SUPPLIES TOGETHER WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SUBMARINE SEWAGE OUTFALL.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREAS AFFECTED HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE.
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 JULY 31 THIS YEAR.
THE NOTICE OF SUCH OBJECTION SHALL DESCRIBE THE INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT OF THE OBJECTOR AND THE MANNER IN WHICH HE ALLEGES HE WILL BE AFFECTED.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GOVERNMENT IS TO DREDGE WITHIN AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 139 HECTARES OF SEABED AT NORTH TATHONG CHANNEL AND AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 312 HECTARES OF SEABED AT MID TATHONG CHANNEL TO PROVIDE MATERIALS FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTION AND FUTURE RECLAMATIONS.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREAS AFFECTED HAVE ALSO BEEN DESCRIBED IN ‘ NOTICES OF AUTHORISATION PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE.
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED INVOLVED WILL BE INJURIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE ABOVE UNDERTAKING MAY DELIVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS A WRITTEN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION ON OR BEFORE MAY 31, 1991.
HE SHOULD STATE IN HIS SUBMISSION THE SUM OF MONEY WHICH HE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT IN FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF HIS CLAIM AND SHOULD SUBMIT SUCH PARTICULARS WHICH HE POSSESSES TO SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIM.
------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
HK TEAM ATTENDS INT'L LABOUR CONFERENCE .............................................. 1
11 QUESTIONS, 3 BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA ................................................ 1
ENVIRONMENT HK 1990 ON SALE TOMORROW ................................................. 2
FIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED ..................................................... 3
PUBLICITY BUS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MESSAGE ............................ 3
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SETTING UP WORKING GROUP ..................................... 4
COURTESY CALL ON SWD ................................................................. 4
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED ............................................................. 5
WATER STORAGE FIGURE ........................................................
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS AT LEI YUE MUN ROAD ..................................... 5
TEMPORARY PARTIAL LANE CLOSURES IN TAI ............................................... 6
TEMPORARY NIGHT CLOSURE OF FLYOVER IN KOWLOON CITY ................................... 6
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1990
HK TEAM ATTENDS INT’L LABOUR CONFERENCE
****♦»
A HONG KONG TRIPARTITE TEAM WILL ATTEND THE 7 7TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE IN GENEVA FROM JUNE 6 TO 27.
LED BY AN ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR ALFRED CHAN, THE TEAM COMPRISES LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS MR A.E. GAZELEY AND MR CHEUNG WOOD-LUN WHO REPRESENT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES RESPECTIVELY.
THEY WILL ACT AS ADVISERS TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS1 AND EMPLOYEES’ DELEGATES TO THE CONFERENCE RESPECTIVELY ON MATTERS RELATING TO HONG KONG.
THIS YEAR, THE CONFERENCE WILL DISCUSS A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF NIGHT WORK, SAFETY IN THE USE OF CHEMICAL AT WORK AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENT.
---------0-----------
11 QUESTIONS, 3 BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA ♦ ♦ ♦ t *
MEMBERS
QUESTIONS WEDNESDAY
AND
OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CONSIDER THREE BILLS AT
(JUNE 6).
WILL ASK A THE COUNCIL’S
TOTAL OF 11
MEETING ON
OF THE THREE BILLS, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) 1990 WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
DEBATE
BILL
ON IT
WILL BE ADJOURNED.
AND
SECOND
THE GAMBLING i READING AND
THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 t a m i? m hm mt \ RTI I 1989 ARI1 EACH DUE IO BE GIVEN A THEN TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND BE GIVEN A THIRD READING.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE
FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL
CHANGES TO THE APPROVED ESTIMATES OF THIRD QUARTER OF 1989-90.
[•’ EXPENDITURE APPROVED
SPEAK ON
DURING THE
READS:
’’THIS ALLEGED
THE HON MARTIN LEE WILL MOVE A MOTION WHICH COUNCIL NO FES WITH CONCERN TH. INCIDENT INVOLVING cMiirri tup Ak THRFF MERCEDES BENZ MOTOR < ARS ON 3 MAY UJU, ihb TEMPORARY DETENTION OF TWO HONG KONG POLICEMEN AND THE FOUR-WEEK-LONG DETENTION OF FIVE HONG KONG SEAMEN TN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHIN IN RELATION TO THAT ALLEGED SMUGGLING.
THE
MAY
mfmbfrs OF the public are WELCOME to observe the proceedings OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTINGS FROM THE PUBLIC GALLERIES AND THEY MAY MAKE RESERVATIONS RY TELEPHONING R44 0899.
- 0
/2 ........
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1990
2
ENVIRONMENT HK 1990 ON SALE TOMORROW *****
ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 1990 - AN ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE 147-PAGE REPORT IS PACKED WITH DIAGRAMS AND PICTURES AND GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THE MANY AND VARIED ACTIVITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT DURING 1989 IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
THE CHINESE VERSION OF THE REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE READY IN EARLY JULY.
AN EPD SPOKESMAN SAID THE YEAR 1989 WAS A MILESTONE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THE "WHITE PAPER ON POLLUTION IN HONG KONG - A TIME TO ACT", THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES IN THE TERRITORY’S HISTORY.
THE WHITE PAPER SPELLS OUT THE GOVERNMENT’S TARGETS AND OBJECTIVES IN ALL THE MAIN AREAS OF POLLUTION FOR THE NEXT DECADE. PROGRESS ON SOME OF THE INITIATIVES IS REPORTED IN ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 1990.
TO CATER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SIMPLY A GENERAL CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, A CHAPTER HAS BEEN INCLUDED WHICH DESCRIBES IN NON-TECHNICAL TERMS THE WORK CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
FOR READERS WHO ARE MORE INTERESTED IN SPECIFIC TOPICS, THERE ARE SEPARATE CHAPTERS COVERING WATER AND WASTES, AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT, NOISE, ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT.
A NEW CHAPTER ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS HAS ALSO BEEN INTRODUCED TO REFLECT THE INCREASING CONCERN ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.
ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 1990 IS AVAILABLE AT THF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AT $20 A COPY.
--------0-----------
/3 ........
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1990
- 3 -
FIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED ♦ * * *
ACTING ON INFORMATION, IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS ARRESTED FIVE MALE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA TODAY (MONDAY).
THE FIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AGED BETWEEN 20 TO 28, WERE APPREHENDED AT A RESTAURANT AT CHAI WAN. THEY WERE NATIVES OF CHIU CHOW AND CLAIMED TO HAVE COME TO HONG KONG ILLEGALLY LAST MONTH.
THE PERSON-IN-CHARGE OF THE RESTAURANT IS ASSISTING WITH THE INVESTIGATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
HE ALSO GAVE A REMINDER THAT ALL EMPLOYERS SHOULD CHECK THE IDENTITY OF THEIR RECRUITS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR NATIONALITY, AND POINTED OUT THAT THEY WOULD BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION IF THEY DID NOT OBSERVE THIS LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT.
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED DOUBTFUL PROOF OF IDENTITY MAY CALL THE INVESTIGATION HOTLINE ON 824 1551 DURING OFFICE HOURS.
------0--------
PUBLICITY BUS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MESSAGE
A PUBLICITY BUS WILL TOUR KOWLOON CITY ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO DISSEMINATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MESSAGE.
THE BUS, WITH A "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STARTS WITH ME" BANNER MOUNTED ON IT, WILL TOUR THE INDUSTRIAL, RESIDENTIAL AND SCHOOL AREAS IN THE DISTRICT FROM 11 AM TO 2 PM AND FROM 3 PM TO 6 PM.
MEMO PADS AND PUBLICITY STICKERS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ALONG THE WAY.
THE TOUR IS ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD AND DISTRICT OFFICE IN SUPPORT OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY.
MEANWHILE, 16 WOODEN SIGNBOARDS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SLOGANS AND THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY MESSAGE WILL BE PUT UP IN THE DISTRICT TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS.
--------0-----------
/4.........
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1990
4
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SETTING UP WORKING GROUP
*****
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE SETTING UP OF A WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER, PLAN, ORGANISE AND IMPLEMENT TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
MEMBERS WILL STUDY A PROPOSAL TO RECONSTRUCT A SECTION OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST BETWEEN KING TAI STREET AND KOWLOON CITY INTERCHANGE WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING THE MAINTENANCE COST.
THEY WILL ALSO CONSIDER A REQUEST BY GREEN MINIBUS OPERATORS TO EXTEND ROUTE 38M TO TSUI CHUK GARDEN IN CHUK YUEN TO MEET RESIDENTS’ DEMAND.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE THE PROGRESS REPORT ON MINOR WORKS PROJECTS AND THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INJURIES REPORT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET, KOWLOON.
------0--------
COURTESY CALL ON SWD * * *
THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF YAN 01 TONG TODAY (MONDAY) PAID A COURTESY CALL ON THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR M.D. CARTLAND, TO DISCUSS MAJOR WELFARE SERVICES THIS YEAR.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MR CHARLES TIN, SAID THE ORGANISATION WAS AT PRESENT RUNNING AS MANY AS OVER 15 SOCIAL SERVICE, MEDICAL AND EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS.
"IT IS OUR ULTIMATE HOPE TO EXTEND SERVICES FROM THE BASE AT TUEN MUN TO THE URBAN AREA AS WELL,” HE ADDED.
MR CARTLAND COMMENDED YAN 01 TONG FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO WELFARE SERVICES AND ASSURED THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.
---------0-----------
/5.........
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1990
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED * * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCES THAT THE REGISTRATION OF ELDERS FINANCE PACIFIC LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED AS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY (MONDAY) AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE.
- - 0 - -
WATER STORAGE FIGURE * * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 41.8 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 245.088 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 306.178 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 52.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - 0 - -
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS AT LEI YUE MUN ROAD
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED PROGRESSIVELY FROM 6 PM TODAY AT LEI YUE MUN ROAD IN KWUN TONG TO FACILITATE URGENT ROAD REPAIR WORKS FOLLOWING A WATER MAINS BURST THAT OCCURRED LAST WEEK.
ONLY ONE LANE ON THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF LEI YUE MUN ROAD EAST OF TSUI PING ROAD WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC.
TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED:
* EASTBOUND TRAFFIC THROUGH THE KWUN TONG UNDERPASS WILL BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL ON EASTBOUND LEI YUE MUN ROAD;
* EASTBOUND TRAFFIC ON KWUN TONG ROAD EAST OF HOI YUEN ROAD ROUNDABOUT EXCEPT BUSES WILL BE DIVERTED VIA TSUI PING ROAD NORTHBOUND;
* TSUI PING ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY NORTHBOUND;
* TRAFFIC ON NGAU TAU KOK ROAD TRAVELLING TOWARDS LEI YUE MUN AND THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING WILL BE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA LAI YIP STREET, WAI YIP STREET AND KWUN TONG BYPASS.
/* IT IS
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1990
- 6
* IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT OTHER TRAFFIC HEADING FOR LEI YUE MUN AND EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING SHOULD USE EITHER WAI YIP STREET AND KWUN TONG BYPASS OR SAU MAU PING ROAD AND JUNK BAY ROAD.
KMB BUSES TRAVELLING ON EASTBOUND LEI YUE MUN ROAD WILL MAINTAIN THEIR EXISTING ROUTEING WHEREAS BUSES TRAVELLING ON TSUI PING ROAD SOUTHBOUND, NAMELY, 11B, 11C, 13B, 70X AND 89C, WILL BE
DIVERTED VIA HIP WO STREET.
GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE NO. 23B WILL BE DIVERTED VIA HOI YUEN ROAD, WAI YIP STREET AND CHA KWO LING ROAD ON JOURNEYS TO CHA KWO LING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO USE THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY FOR JOURNEYS TO EASTERN KOWLOON.
--------0-----------
TEMPORARY PARTIAL LANE CLOSURES IN TAI PO
♦ » ♦ ♦ »
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORKS, THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF TAI PO TAI WO ROAD WILL BE PARTIALLY CLOSED DURING THE PERIODS SPECIFIED BELOW:
* TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AND WEDNESDAY (JUNE 6), THE OUTERMOST LANE OF TAI PO TAI WO ROAD SECTION LEADING TO TOLO HIGHWAY;
♦ ON JUNE 11 AND 12, THE OUTERMOST LANE OF TAI PO TAI WO ROAD SECTION LEADING FROM TOLO HIGHWAY;
* ON JUNE 19 AND 20, THE SLOW LANE OF TAI PO TAI WO ROAD
SECTION LEADING FROM TOLO HIGHWAY;
» ON JUNE 21 AND 22, THE SLOW LANE OF TAI PO TAI WO ROAD
SECTION LEADING TO TOLO HIGHWAY.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
--------0-----------
TEMPORARY NIGHT CLOSURE OE FLYOVER IN KOWLOON CITY
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT F^[JN^^01
TO 4
ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 6),
PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
THE FLYOVER LINKING
IN KOWLOON CITY WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED
AM WITH
TO
THE ARRANGEMENT FLYOVER.
IS TO FACILITATE THE MAINTENANCE OF THE
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NOT SURPRISING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD WANT TO COMMEMORATE PEKING EVENTS: GOVERNOR .......................................................................... 1
GOVT ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION .......................... 1
FREE-MARKET AND OPEN ECONOMY HELPS BUSINESSES PREPARE FOR UNCERTAINTIES ... 2
NEW RULES TO CURB SMUGGLING OF TV SETS, VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS .................... 4
WINDING-UP OF HK BRANCH OF INSURANCE COMPANY ........................................ 5
TRANSFER OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES GOING AHEAD SMOOTHLY ............................ 6
NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR AFD ANNOUNCED................................................ 7
19,404 CHILDREN ALLOCATED PRIMARY 1 PLACES .......................................... 7
1990 FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED ................................................. 8
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR OVERSEAS UK ELECTORS AVAILABLE .............................. 10
ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL DISPLAY OF BILLS AND POSTERS ................................ 10
REMINDER ON FLAG DAY APPLICATION DEADLINE ........................................... H
HOSPITAL DIRECTORS CALL ON DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE .............................. 11
AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS ..................................................... 12
ONE EXTRA LANE OPENED AT LEI YUE MUN ROAD .......................................... 13
WATER CUT IN SHEUNG SHUI
13
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
- 1 -
NOT SURPRISING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD WANT TO COMMEMORATE PEKING EVENTS: GOVERNOR
IT WAS NOT AT ALL SURPRISING THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SHOULD WANT TO COMMEMORATE THE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN PEKING LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID: "WHAT I WAS STRUCK BY WAS, APART FROM THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT, THE FACT THAT IT WAS A VERY ORDERLY, LAW-ABIDING DEMONSTRATION.
’’AND THAT IS IN THE BEST TRADITION OF HONG KONG. THAT IS WHAT HONG KONG IS ALL ABOUT: THAT IF PEOPLE HAVE VIEWS, THEY CAN EXPRESS THEM, PROVIDING THAT THEY STICK WITHIN THE LAW,” HE SAID.
’’ONE OTHER POINT IS, OF COURSE, PEOPLE WANT TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENTS OF LAST YEAR. IT’S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE, AS A COMMUNITY SHOULD BE DEVOTING OUR EFFORTS TO BUILDING UP AND STRENGTHENING OUR OWN COMMUNITY. THAT IS SOMETHING OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG,” THE GOVERNOR SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID HE HOPED THAT PEOPLE IN CHINA WOULD UNDERSTAND THE WAY IN WHICH WE IN HONG KONG OPERATED, ADDING: "THAT IS, THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS, PROVIDING THAT THEY STAY WITHIN THE LAW, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT LEADERS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN CHINA WOULD UNDERSTAND THE WAY WE DO THINGS IN HONG KONG."
ASKED IF HE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT HONG KONG STUDENT, YAO YONGZHAN, WOULD SOON BE RELEASED BY THE SHANGHAI AUTHORITIES, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD SEEN THAT REPORTED IN THE PRESS.
"WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE BRITISH CONSUL-GENERAL IN SHANGHAI. WE HAVEN’T HAD ANY CONFIRMATION OF THAT FACT," HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
GOVT ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENT,
THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE INDUSTRY INDIVIDUALS ALIKE TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
AND THE
ENVIRONMENT
SAID MANY BUSINESS,
DAVID
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1990 WORLD DAY AT THE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS, SIR DAV!D DEMANDS WERE PLACED ON OUR ENVIRONMENT BY THE PRESSURES OF INDUSTRY, POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
/"THAT IS .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
2 -
"THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD BE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO A FULL PROGRAMME OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS. WE NEED PARTICULARLY TO DEAL WITH AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION, AND WITH WASTE, AND TO FIND BETTER WAYS OF HANDLING SEWAGE DISPOSAL," HE SAID.
"WE ALSO NEED TO THINK AHEAD BY MAKING SURE THAT, WHEN WE ARE PLANNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS ARE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT AT AN EARLY STAGE. PREVENTION IS, AFTER ALL, BETTER THAN fURE," HE ADDED.
SIR DAVID SAID ALL OF US WERE INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT AND INDIVIDUALS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF A CLEAN AND HEALTHY HONG KONG.
"THIS IS NOT SOMETHING FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO DO: IT IS SOMETHING FOR EACH ONE OF US TO DO OURSELVES. THAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT GOES OUT FROM TODAY’S EVENT: 'ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STARTS WITH ME’," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT ALL OVER THE WORLD TODAY, EVENTS WOULD BE TAKING PLACE TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE NEED TO CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
"THIS SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT OUR ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME TO PEOPLE ALL ROUND THE WORLD. MAYBE THE WORLD, AND WE OURSELVES, HAVE BEEN LATE IN WAKING UP TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THESE PROBLEMS — BUT FAR FAR BETTER LATE THAN NEVER," HE SAID.
AT THE CEREMONY, SIR DAVID BURIED A TIME CAPSULE WHICH CONTAINED DETAILS OF MANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT REMAINED TO BE TACKLED IN HONG KONG.
"IT WILL BE UNCOVERED IN 1995. LET IT BE OUR JOINT RESOLVE THAT, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS LISTED IN THE CAPSULE WILL, IN THEIR TURN, HAVE BEEN BURIED IN THE HISTORY BOOKS," SIR DAVID SAID.
--------0-----------
FREE-MARKET AND OPEN ECONOMY HELPS BUSINESSES PREPARE FOR UNCERTAINTIES
* * * »
HONG KONG’S FREE-MARKET AND OPEN ECONOMY HAS HELPED BUSINESSES PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR UNCERTAINTIES AHEAD AND TO MAKE THE BEST 01 THEM, OMELCO MEMBER, DR DANIEL TSE, SAID TODAY (1UESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE 46TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP) IN
ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR TSE SAID ECONOMIES IN THE TO RESTRUCTURE THEMSELVES FROM GOVERNMENTS.
ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION SHOULD
WITH AS LITTLE INTERFERENCE
BANGKOK, DR
BE ALLOWED
AS POSSIBLE
BUT HE ADDED THAT HAD NO ROLE TO PLAY .
BY’ THIS HE DID NOT MEAN THAT GOVERNMENTS
/"INDEED, TO ........
TUESD Y, JUNE 5, 1990
3
"INDEED, TO PERMIT THE ECONOMIES TO RESTRUCTURE SUCCESSFULLY, GOVERNMENTS NEED TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING BARRIERS TO TRADE, AI.LOWING THE FREE FLOW OF CAPITAL, KEEPING TAXATION LOW, REDUCING RED TAPE TO A MINIMUM AND CONCENTRATING ON PROVIDING THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE," HE SAID.
"IF THIS IS DONE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A HEALTHY MULTILATERAL TRADING FRAMEWORK THE HONG KONG EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE DEVELOPING ECONOMIES OF THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION WILL RESTRUCTURE TH ISELVES AND WILL BE GIVEN A BETTER CHANCE TO FLOURISH, THAN UNDER ANY OTHER REGIME SO FAR DESIGNED BY MAN."
DR TSE SAID HONG KONG HAD HAD TO UNDERGO GREAT STRUCTURAL CH iGES OVER THE LAST 45 YEARS 'fROM ENTREPOT, TO MANUFACTURING, TO SERVICE AND TRADING CENTRE.
"MANY BUSINESSES FAILED IN THE PROCESS; MANY PEOPLE HAD TO FIND NEW JOBS.
"BUT THE BUSINESSES WHICH SURVIVED HAVE LEARNT HOW TO ADAPT QUICKLY, HOW TO TURN A THREAT INTO AN OPPORTUNITY, HOW TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT," HE SAID.
THE THRUSTING, AGGRESSIVE, COMPETITIVE HONG KONG OF THE 1960’S COULD SUCCEED BECAUSE THE POST-SECOND WORLD WAR MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM ESTABLISHED UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) PROVIDED THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT.
TARIFF BARRIERS WERE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IN SUCCESSIVE GATT ROUNDS OF NEGOTIATIONS AND A FRAMEWORK FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT WAS ESTABLISHED WHICH HELPED AVOID THE TRADE WARS THAT COULD BE SO DAMAGING TO THE SMALL PLAYERS LIKE HONG KONG, HE SAID.
"WE CAME TO VALUE THESE MULTILATERAL DISCIPLINES AND TO SEE THAT ONLY BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH ONE’S TRADING PARTNERS AND BY WORKING TO A COMMONLY AGREED SET OF INTERNATIONAL TRADING RULES COULD HONG KONG’S LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH BE ASSURED."
DR TSE SAID HONG KONG HAD PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE GATT ON A DE FACTO BASIS FOR MANY YEARS.
IN APRIL, 1986, HONG KONG FINALLY BECAME A SEPARATE MEMBER OF THE GATT AND HAS SINCE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE CURRENT URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.
"WE HAVE LEARNT THAT PLACING LONG-TERM MULTILATERAL GOALS ABOVE SHORT-TERM SECTORAL INTERESTS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.
"BUT WE REMAIN ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR MUTUAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM SHOULD PROSPER.
"THE MARKETS OF THE WORLD MUST BE OPENED EVER-WIDER TO THE PRODUCTS OF THIS INCREASINGLY PRODUCTIVE REGION," HE SAID.
DR TSE IS LEADING A HONG KONG DELEGATION TO THE 46TH ESCAP PLENARY SESSION WHICH WILL END ON JUNE 13. OTHER MEMBERS INCLUDE THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR T.H. CHAU, AS THE DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVE; THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS, MR FRED HO, AND AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR PATRICK NIP, BOTH AS ALTERNATES.
------0-------
/4 .....
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
4
NEW RULES TO CURB SMUGGLING OF TV SETS, VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS
*»»**»*
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DRAWN UP NEW REGULATIONS TO SUPPRESS THE ILLEGAL EXPORT OF TELEVISION SETS AND VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS TO CHINA BY SPEEDBOAT.
THE EXPORT (TELEVISION SETS AND VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS) REGULATIONS 1990, WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON FRIDAY (JUNE 8), PRESCRIBE THAT TELEVISION SETS AND VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM EXPORT TO ANY COUNTRY BY ANY VESSEL OF LESS THAN 250 TONS NET REGISTER EXCEPT WITH A LICENCE ISSUED UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT ORDINANCE.
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR K.S. TONG, SAID THE NEW REGULATIONS WOULD NOT AFFECT LEGITIMATE TRADE.
’’THE REGULATIONS ARE INTENDED TO CURB SMUGGLING OF TELEVISION SETS AND VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS TO CHINA BY HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOATS,” HE SAID.
ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO EXPORT TELEVISION SETS OR VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS BY A VESSEL UNDER 250 TONS NET REGISTER SHOULD APPLY FOR A LICENCE FROM THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
HONG KONG PERMIT OFFICE
2/F, HARBOUR BUILDING 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL HONG KONG
KOWLOON PERMIT OFFICE
10/F, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES
393 CANTON ROAD
KOWLOON
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE PURCHASED FROM THE FOLLOWING OFFICES:
TRADE DEPARTMENT
ROOM 822A, 8/F OCEAN CENTRE CANTON ROAD KOWLOON
/GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
5
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE
G/F, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING CONNAUGHT PLACE
HONG KONG
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR K.S WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER MEDIA ENQUIRIES ON THE SUBJECT CUSTOMS OFFICERS’ MESS, 9/F, RUMSEY STREET MULTI-STOREY BUILDING, CENTRAL, AT 4 PM TODAY (TUESDAY).
TONG, AT THE CARPARK
--------0-----------
WINDING-UP OF HK BRANCH OF INSURANCE COMPANY ♦ * * * ♦
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR NOEL GLEESON, IN HIS CAPACITY AS INSURANCE AUTHORITY, TODAY (TUESDAY) PRESENTED A PETITION TO THE HIGH COURT FOR THE WINDING-UP OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF NATIONAL EMPLOYERS’ MUTUAL GENERAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION LIMITED.
HE SAID PETITIONS FOR THE WINDING-UP OF THE COMPANY HAD BEEN PRESENTED AND PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATORS HAD BEEN APPOINTED EARLIER IN LONDON. THIS HAD PRECIPITATED HIS PETITION FOR THE WINDING-UP OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH.
THE COMPANY, WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1914, HAD ESTABLISHED A BRANCH TN HONG KONG IN 1965 AND HAD OTHER BRANCHES IN AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE AND BRUNEI.
THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR, AND JULY 30, 1990 HAS BEEN FIXED BY THE COURT AS THE DATE FOR THE HEARING OF THE PETITION.
THE COMPANY WAS ENGAGED MAINLY IN MOTOR VEHICLE AND EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE BUSINESS IN HONG KONG, WITH ABOUT 12,000 POLICY HOLDERS.
MR GLEESON SAID HIS APPOINTMENT AS PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR IN HONG KONG WOULD ’’RING-FENCE” THE HONG KONG ASSETS OF THE BRANCH TO MEET THE HONG KONG LIABILITIES, AND THAT THE PETITION WAS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE HONG KONG POLICY HOLDERS.
AS INSURANCE AUTHORITY HE HAD ALREADY TAKEN INTO HIS CUSTODY THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE HONG KONG ASSETS OF THE COMPANY, WHICH WERE CONSIDERABLE, AND HE BELIEVED THAT THESE ASSETS, COUPLED WITH THE GUARANTEE FUND OPERATED BY THE MOTOR INSURERS’ BUREAU, WOULD PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF SECURITY TO THE HONG KONG POLICY HOLDERS AND PERSONS WITH INSURANCE CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY.
/IN ANOTHER .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
- 6
IN ANOTHER STATEMENT, MR GLEESON, IN HIS CAPACITY AS OFFICIAL RECEIVER, INDICATED THAT PRIOR TO THE PETITIONS BEING PRESENTED IN LONDON THE COMPANY HAD ALREADY ENTERED INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR ITS HONG KONG BUSINESS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER INSURER.
AS PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH, HE WOULD NOW TAKE POSSESSION OF, COLLECT AND PROTECT THE ASSETS OF THE BRANCH WITH A VIEW, IF POSSIBLE, TO FINALISING THE TRANSFER.
SUCH A TRANSFER, IF IT TOOK PLACE, WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF POLICY HOLDERS WHO COULD THEN CONTINUE WITH THE NEW INSURER WITHOUT ANY LOSS AND WITHOUT HAVING TO CLAIM ANYTHING IN THE WINDING-UP OF THE BRANCH.
POLICY HOLDERS AND OTHER CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY WHO HAVE ANY QUERIES REGARDING THEIR POLICY OR POSITION IN THIS WINDING-UP SHOULD OCNTACT THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT (OFFICIAL RECEIVER) AT TELEPHONE NUMBERS 867 2426 (ENGLISH) OR 867 2478 (CHINESE) DURING OFFICE HOURS.
----0------
TRANSFER OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES GOING AHEAD SMOOTHLY
#****♦♦
THE TRANSFER OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES FROM GRAND UNION LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY AND HANG LUNG LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY TO DAH SING LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING AHEAD SMOOTHLY, THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR NOEL GLEESON, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
HE WAS REFERRING TO THE TAKE-OVER OF THE LIFE INSURANCE BUSINESSES OF GRAND UNION LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY AND HANG LUNG LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY BY DAH SING LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.
DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE ONE-MONTH TIME LIMIT ALMOST 50 PER CENT OF THE POLICY HOLDERS HAD ALREADY SWITCHED TO DAH SING LIFE.
HE HOPED THAT, IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS, THE REMAINDER OF THE POLICY HOLDERS WOULD SWITCH TO DAH SING DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OR SO.
THE LIQUIDATION OF GRAND UNION AND HANG LUNG LIFE WAS GOING AHEAD BUT IT WAS LIKELY THAT THIS WOULD BE A LENGTHY PROCESS, MR GLEESON SAID.
THE INSURANCE POLICIES OF THOSE WHO REMAINED WITH THESE TWO COMPANIES WOULD HAVE TO BE CANCELLED, AND PRESENT INDICATIONS WERE THAT POLICY HOLDERS WHO REMAINED WITH GRAND UNION AND HANG LUNG LIFE WOULD HAVE LITTLE, IF ANYTHING, TO GET AT THE END, HE SAID.
MR GLEESON SAID HE HAD WRITTEN TO ALL THE POLICY HOLDERS EXPLAINING THE POSITION TO THEM. IT WAS ENTIRELY A MATTER FOR THEM NOW TO DECIDE WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.
------0--------
/7........
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
7
NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR AFD ANNOUNCED
* ♦ * * *
MR HAROLD KWOK WAI-HONG WILL OFFICIALLY REPLACE MR TONY BENNETT AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
MR KWOK’S PREVIOUS POSTING WAS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.
HE WILL ASSIST THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES TO OVERSEE THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION AND THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION.
MR TONY BENNETT WILL PROCEED ON VACATION LEAVE BEFORE TAKING UP A NEW POST IN JULY.
-----0------
19,404 CHILDREN ALLOCATED PRIMARY 1 PLACES
*****
SEVENTY-ONE PER CENT (19,404) OUT OF 27,333 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED PRIMARY 1 PLACES IN SCHOOLS OF THEIR PARENTS’ FIRST THREE CHOICES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) IN ANNOUNCING THAT RESULTS OF THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PRIMARY 1 PLACES WILL BE RELEASED ON SATURDAY (JUNE 9).
HE SAID PARENTS SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR OWN DISTRIBUTION-COLLECTION CENTRE ON SATURDAY (JUNE 9) OR SUNDAY (JUNE 10) BETWEEN 9 AM AND 4 PM TO COLLECT AN ’’ALLOCATION SLIP’’ WHICH WILL SHOW THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE SCHOOL TO WHICH THEIR CHILD HAS BEEN ALLOCATED, TOGETHER WITH THE DATES FOR REGISTRATION AND SOME GUIDANCE NOTES.
THEY SHOULD THEN COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORMALITIES ON JUNE 13 OR 14.
REGISTRATION HOURS FOR AM SCHOOLS ARE BETWEEN 9 AM AND 12 NOON; AND FOR PM SCHOOLS, BETWEEN 2 PM AND 5 PM. FOR WHOLE-DAY SCHOOLS, THE REGISTRATION HOURS ARE FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON AND FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM.
"IN THE EVENT THE PARENTS WHO ARI* FOR SOME PERSONAL REASONS CANNOT REGISTER THEIR CHILD WITH THE SCHOOL TO WHICH HE OR SHE IS ALLOCATED, THEY MUST CONTAC1 THE SCHOOL DIRECT OR THE PRIMARY 1 ADMISSION UNIT OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEFOREHAND FOR ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"IF PARENTS FAILED TO REGISTER THEIR CHILD, THEY WOULD BE DEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN UP THE ALLOCATION.
/"UPON REGISTRATION
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
- 8 -
"UPON REGISTRATION, THE ALLOCATION SLIP SHOULD BE SURRENDERED TO THE SCHOOL AND PARENTS MUST NOTE THAT ALL PLACES ALLOCATED ARE FINAL AND NO RE-ALLOCATION IS POSSIBLE,” HE ADDED.
IN CASE THE PARENTS HAVE SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES SUCH AS HAVING MOVED TO ANOTHER DISTRICT RESULTING IN THE SCHOOL BEING TOO FAR AWAY FROM THEIR NEW HOME, THEY ARE ADVISED TO PERSONALLY CALL AT THE PRIMARY 1 ADMISSION UNIT AT 269 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, SECOND FLOOR, WAN CHAI, TO SEEK ASSISTANCE.
THEY SHOULD BRING ALONG SUPPORTING DOCUMENTARY PROOF SUCH AS RENTAL RECEIPTS, RATES DEMAND NOTES, WATER BILLS, OR ELECTRICITY BILLS BEARING THE NAME OF THE PARENT OR THE GUARDIAN OF THE CHILD.
"IF THEIR REQUEST IS JUSTIFIED, THE PRIMARY 1 ADMISSION UNIT WOULD TRY THEIR BEST TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE FOR THEIR CHILD AT A SCHOOL NEARER TO THEIR NEW HOME," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"SHOULD PARENTS FIND IT NECESSARY TO CHANGE SCHOOL AFTER REGISTRATION, THEY ARE ADVISED TO OBTAIN ASSURANCE OF ACCEPTANCE FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL BEFORE THEY RETRIEVE THE ALLOCATION SLIP FROM THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL BECAUSE RETRIEVAL OF THE SLIP MEANS CANCELLATION OF THE PLACE."
PARENTS OF ALL CHILDREN WHO HAVE SECURED A DISCRETIONARY PLACE AND HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED WITH A SCHOOL EARLIER LAST YEAR NEED NOT REPEAT REGISTRATION FORMALITIES.
PARENTS WISHING TO MAKE FURTHER ENQUIRIES MAY CONTACT THE PRIMARY E ADMISSION UNIT ON TEL. 572 438.3 DURING OFFICE HOURS STARTING THIS SATURDAY (JUNE 9).
------u--------
1990 FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED * » » * «
PEOPLE IN THE FOOD TRADE ARE TODAY (TUESDAY) SPECIAL ATTENTION TO FOOD HYGIENE IN THE SUMMER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES ARI- PREVALENT.
URGED TO PAY
MONTHS WHEN
THE APPEAL CAME FROM URBAN COUNCILLOR DR RONALD LEI. NG OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1990 FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS BY GUESTS FROM THE FOOD TRADE.
AT THE ATTENDED
DR LEUNG POINTED PLACE, SAFE FOOD", FOOD RELATED.
OUT THAT JUST AS THE CAMPAIGN’S THEME HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE ARE
"CLEAN CLOSELY
"AN UNHYGIENIC AND MIGHT SPREAD FOOD HE SAID.
ENVIRONMENT WOULD LEAD TO FOOD CONTAMINATION POISONING AND OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES,"
/BY ADOPTING .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
- 9 -
BY ADOPTING SOME SIMPLE MEASURES, SUCH AS FREQUENT AND REGULAR CLEANING OF PREMISES, KITCHENS AND STOVES, AND PROPER HANDLING OF RUBBISH AND FOOD REMNANTS, THE SANITARY CONDITION OF FOOD PREMISES COULD BE IMPROVED AND THE RISK OF FOOD POISONING REDUCED.
DR LEUNG HOPED THAT THROUGH GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC COULD BE SAFEGUARDED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, REGIONAL COUNCILLOR DR PANG HOK-TUEN SAID A TOTAL OF 763 PEOPLE HAD FALLEN ILL IN 188 CASES OF FOOD IOISONI.NG AT FOOD PREMISES AND AT HOMES LAST YEAR.
HE STRESSED THAT FOOD POISONING COULD BE PREVENTED IF SOME SIMPLE BUT BASIC PRINCIPLES IN FOOD HYGIENE WERE OBSERVED IN THE COURSE OF FOOD HANDLING.
THE TWO SIMPLE BUT OFTEN NEGLECTED FOOD HYGIENE RULES ARE: TO COOK FOOD, ESPECIALLY SHELLFISH, THOROUGHLY BEFORE . CONSUMPTION; AND NOT TO STORE FOOD AT ROOM TEMPERATURE FOR TOO LONG.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, THE THREE-MONTH FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN AIMS TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS ON GOOD FOOD AND PERSONAL HYGIENE PRACTICE SO AS TO MINIMISE THE CHANCES OF FOOD-BORNE DISEASES.
DURING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD, A TOTAL OF 25 FOOD HYGIENE SEMINARS WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOOD TRADE, INCLUDING LICENSEES AND STAFF OF LICENSED FOOD PREMISES, COOKED FOOD STALLS AND CANTEENS AT CONVENIENTLY-LOCATED VENUES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THE SEMINARS, WHICH WILL BE EDUCATIONAL IN NATURE, WILL EACH COMPRISE A TALK, A SLIDE SHOW AND A FILM ON FOOD HYGIENE, FOLLOWED BY AN OPEN DISCUSSION.
PRINTED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO SUPPLEMENT THE TALK.
AT THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD, EACH PARTICIPANT WILL BE AWARDED A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE.
FOUR OTHER FOOD HYGIENE SEMINARS WILL ALSO BE ORGANISED WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, WHO WILL IN TURN CONVEY THE MESSAGES TO THEIR STUDENTS.
A FOOD HYGIENE EDUCATION KIT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
TO DRIVE HOME THE FOOD HYGIENE MESSAGE, A 24-HOUR HEALTH EDUCATION HOTLINE (723 0013) WILL BE SET UP TO ANSWER ENQUIRIES ON FOOD HYGIENE MATTERS AND A BROADCASTING VAN WILL BE DEPLOYED TO STEP UP PUBLICITY AT VARIOUS STRATEGIC LOCALITIES.
ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY’S CEREMONY WAS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HEALTH (HYGIENE), DR MOHAMMED BIN ALI.
--------0----------
/io ........
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
- 10 -
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR OVERSEAS UK ELECTORS AVAILABLE ******
FORMS AND EXPLANATORY LEAFLETS FOR REGISTRATION AS AN OVERSEAS ELECTOR IN THE UK PARLIAMENTARY AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE HONG KONG IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).
"BRITISH CITIZENS LIVING IN HONG KONG MAY CONTACT THE INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AT SECOND FLOOR, 7 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI BY WRITING OR IN PERSON TO OBTAIN THE FORMS AND EXPLANATORY LEAFLETS," HE SAID.
UNDER THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT OF 1989, IMPORTANT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE IN WHO CAN VOTE IN THE UK PARLIAMENTARY AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE LIVING ABROAD HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM FIVE TO 20 YEARS.
THIS MEANS THAT IF A BRITISH CITIZEN LEFT THE UK AS LONG AGO AS OCTOBER 1970, HE CAN STILL VOTE. HE IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO DECLARE AN INTENTION TO RETURN TO THE UK AND THE VOTE WILL BE CAST IN THE CONSTITUENCY IN WHICH HE OR HIS FAMILY WERE REGISTERED BEFORE LEAVING THE UK.
PEOPLE WHO LEFT THE UK BEFORE THEY WERE OLD ENOUGH TO BE INCLUDED ON THE ELECTORAL REGISTER MAY REGISTER AS OVERSEAS ELECTORS.
"IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, POTENTIAL ELECTORS WILL HAVE TO FILL IN AN APPLICATION FORM AND RETURN IT DIRECT TO THEIR ELECTORAL REGISTRATION OFFICE BY OCTOBER 10 THIS YEAR (SEPTEMBER 15 IF THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY RESIDENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND)," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ALSO APPEALED TO BRITISH CITIZENS FOR ASSISTANCE IN INFORMING ANYONE THEY KNOW LIVING ABROAD ABOUT THIS.
-----0-----
ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL DISPLAY OF BILLS AND POSTERS
*****
A TOTAL OF 30 SUMMONSES WERE ISSUED LAST WEEKEND DURING A TERRITORY-WIDE BLITZ ON THE ILLEGAL DISPLAY OF BILLS AND POSTERS.
"BILLS AND POSTERS ARE OFTEN DISPLAYED ILLEGALLY AT PRIVATE OR PUBLIC PLACES OVER WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS \ND AFTER OFFICE HOURS, AFFECTING THE OVERALL TIDINESS M.D CLEANLINESS OF THE CITY," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE JOINT URBAN COUNCIL/REGIONAL COUNCIL KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN STEERING COMMITTEE SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
TO COMBAT THE SITUATION, BLITZ OPERATIONS ARE MOUNTED BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
/"WE HOPE .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
- 11 -
"WE HOPE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY ADVERTISING COMPANIES, WILL EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE IN HANDLING THEIR OUTDOOR PUBLICITY POSTERS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"PERSONS WHO DISPLAY BILLS AND POSTERS IN PRIVATE PLACES WITHOUT OWNERS’ CONSENT OR AT PUBLIC PLACES WITHOUT AUTHORISATION ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000," HE POINTED OUT.
-----0------
REMINDER ON FLAG DAY APPLICATION DEADLINE
*****
A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED ORGANISATIONS WISHING TO HOLD FUND-RAISING FLAG DAYS IN 1991 TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE SATURDAY (JUNE 9).
"THE COMPLETED APPLICATION, TOGETHER WITH A COPY OF THE ORGANISATION’S LATEST ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF AUDITED ACCOUNTS, MUST REACH THE DEPARTMENT ON OR BEFORE THAT DAY," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE APPLICANTS MUST BE BONA FIDE NON-PROFIT-MAKING ORGANISATIONS REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 88 OF THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE.
ALL APPLICATIONS 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 WAS PROPOSED, THE APPLICANT ORGANISATION’S FINANCIAL NEEDS, AND THE ORGANISATION’S ABILITY TO EXECUTE SUCH FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES.
"EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH A FLAG DAY SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10 PER CENT OF THE GROSS RECEIPTS, AND SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS MUST OBSERVE THE CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING FLAG DAYS LAID DOWN BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE," HE ADDED.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 576 5922.
------0--------
HOSPITAL DIRECTORS CALL ON DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE *****
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL (TUESDAY) COMMENDED THE POK OI SOCIAL SERVICES.
WELFARE, MR M.D.
HOSPITAL FOR ITS
CARTLAND, TODAY
CONTRIBUTION TO
VISIT TO
THE SOCIAL WELFARE
DEPARTMENT,
DURING A COURTESY
CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS _
YING-YIP, SAID THE HOSPITAL WOULD ACTIVELY DEVELOP ITS SERVICES THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN IN VIEW OF THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORIES AND THE GROWTH IN POPULATION.
OF THE HOSPITAL,
MR
THE
TANG FOR NEW
/"IN ADDITION .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
- 12 -
"IN ADDITION, WE WILL STEP UP OUR MEDICAL SERVICES TO COPE WITH THE NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY,” HE ADDED.
MR CARTLAND SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD GIVE ITS FULL CO-OPERATION TO HELP THE HOSPITAL ACHIEVE ITS TARGETS.
---------------0------- AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS ******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ANOTHER AUCTION OF SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS ON SATURDAY (JUNE 9) AT 10 AM AT THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL.
A TOTAL OF 40 SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR BIDDING. THEY ARE:
EE2888 EH323 EF388 EF6618
EF802 AU2829 EF1233 AW2112
DB319 EF3893 EF198 EE8038
EH4 EF238 AW222 EH747
EE9238 EE8088 EE6366 EF8990
EF189 2877 EF32 EF8555
1952 BB192 EE8898 CC350
EF618 EF3228 DH900 EE8358
EF3033 EE8003 EE9283 EE3872
AB338 CR88 EF832 EE9333
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MUST PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BIDDING.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED BIDDERS THAT THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER WOULD BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO A VEHICLE REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE AUCTION.
THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION MUST BE PRODUCED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AUCTION IF THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARK IS TO BE REGISTERED UNDER THE NAME OF A BODY CORPORATE.
PROCEEDS OF THE AUCTION WILL AS USUAL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND.
THE COMING AUCTION WILL BE THE 151ST ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973.
---------0-----------
/13 .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1990
- 13 -
ONE EXTRA LANE OPENED AT LEI YUE MUN ROAD *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES
THAT AN EXTRA LANE ON THE HAS BEEN OPENED TO TRAFFIC
EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF LEI YUE MUN ROAD
SINCE 3 PM THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON FOLLOWING URGENT ROAD REPAIR WORKS
IN THE AREA.
AS A RESULT, TWO OF THE FOUR LANES ON THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY ARE NOW OPEN TO TRAFFIC FOLLOWING THE WATER MAINS BURST THAT OCCURRED LAST WEEK.
REPAIR WORKS ON THE OTHER TWO LANES ARE BEING CARRIED OUT.
TWO-WAY TRAFFIC IS ALSO RESUMING ON TSUI PING ROAD AND KMB BUSES OPERATING THERE HAVE RESUMED THEIR ORIGINAL ROUTEING.
--------0-----------
WATER CUT IN SHEUNG SHUI ♦ * * ♦ ♦
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN SHEUNG SHUI WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 10 PH ON THURSDAY (JUNE 7) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
TO
ROAD INCLUDING SHEUNG SHUI tkea ithsn i wurtno, nwww n*v TSUEN, SHA
LING? LO WU RAILWAY STATION, LIU POK TSUEN, SAN UK LING, MUK WU TSUEN,
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT CERTAIN VILLAGES ALONG INCLUDING SHEUNG SHUI TREATMENT WORKS, HUNG KIU SAN
MAN
KAM
MUK WU NGA YIU AND CHUEN YIU.
- - 0----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
CONTENTS
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
IMPORTANT TO CONTROL SMUGGLING BETWEEN HK AND CHINA ....................
MOTION INTENDED TO SEEK THE TRUTH ......................................
GOVT SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE, POSITIVE ACTION ............................
FOCUS MORE ON RE-BUILDING CONFIDENCE ...................................
INCIDENT A BLOW TO CONFIDENCE IN RULE OF LAW............................
CALL FOR JOINT FORCE TO TACKLE SMUGGLING ...............................
PURPOSE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES AMENDMENT BILL EXPLAINED ................
CASE FOR PHASING IN LIABILITIES ACCEPTED ...............................
BILL WILL GIVE BETTER PROTECTION TO EMPLOYEES ..........................
REMOVAL OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANUAL AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS WELCOMED .... AD HOC GROUP COMMENDED...................................................
TIGHTENED GAMBLING BILL WELCOMED ........................................
CHANGES IN APPROVED ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE ............................
STANDARD WEAPONS CARRIED BY POLICE OFFICERS CONSIDERED ADEQUATE .........
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, ACTIVITIES IDENTIFIED FOR PRUNING, REFORM .........
17,355 APPLICATIONS FOR CNCC IN FIRST QUARTER ...........................
UPGC TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MEETING INCREASED DEMAND FOR ACADEMIC
STAFF ................................................................
DECREASE IN TRIAD CRIMES ................................................
POLLUTION NEGLIGIBLE IN WATERS NEAR DETENTION CENTRE.....................
SETTLEMENT A PRIVATE COMMERCIAL MATTER ..................................
DECOMMISSIONING OF CHA KWO LING OIL DEPOT CLOSELY MONITORED .............
DECISION SOON ON RELOCATION OF OIL DEPOT AT NGA YING CHAU ...............
WAYS TO HELP ALLEVIATE STRESS, AND REDUCE FAMILY TRAGEDIES ................
CONTROL SCHEME BEING DEVELOPED ON FOLDING TABLE PROBLEM ...............■
TWO BILLS PASSED...........................................................
GOVERNOR DEPLORES VIOLENCE ................................................
STATEMENT ON DEATH OF POLICE CONSTABLE ....................................
NO AMNESTY FOR Il'S FROM CHINA ............................................
PAGE NO
1
3
5
6
7 ■
7
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
23
25
26
27
27
27
/EXCO APPROVES .......
EXCO APPROVES CAPITAL ASSISTANCE LOANS SCHEME FOR SCHOOLS ......................... 28
MORE POSITIVE MARKETING APPROACH URGED ............................................ 30
LADY WILSON VISITS TSEUNG KWAN 0 CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE ........................ 31
NORTH DB MEMBERS VISIT SPECIAL SCHOOLS ............................................ 32
AWARDS FOR MODEL STUDENTS IN EASTERN DISTRICT ..................................... 33
DB TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF KARAOKES .................................................. 33
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS AIRPORT TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMME .................... 34
THREE GOVT LOTS TO LET BY TENDER .................................................. 34
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN EASTERN DISTRICT ................................ 35
URBAN CLEARWAY IN POK FU LAM ...................................................... 37
URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHA TIN ......................................................... 37
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 1 -
IMPORTANT TO CONTROL SMUGGLING BETWEEN HK AND CHINA ******
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN STRACHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY)' IT WAS IMPORTANT NOW TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND PARTICULARLY TO THE CONTROL OF SMUGGLING BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA, WHICH WAS AT THE ROOT OF THE MARINE INCIDENT ON MAY 3.
HE SAID THAT WE ALL REGRETTED THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, WHEN SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION MOVED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE ON ALLEGED SMUGGLING OF CARS TO CHINA.
"THE INCIDENT ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 4 OFF SHUM CHUNG, WHEN THREE POLICE CONSTABLES WERE INJURED, AND ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED, WHEN A SMUGGLING BOAT RAMMED A POLICE CRAFT, ONLY SERVES TO UNDERLINE THE DETERMINATION OF THIS ADMINISTRATION TO STRIKE AT THE SMUGGLERS," MR STRACHAN SAID.
MR STRACHAN SAID HE HAD MADE A FULL STATEMENT TO COUNCIL ON THE FACTS OF THE CASE THREE WEEKS AGO AND THE ONLY POINT WHICH HE WOULD ADD, IN RESPONSE TO MR LEE’S QUESTION, WAS THAT HONG KONG POLICE VESSELS DID NOT ENTER INTO CHINESE WATERS.
REFERRING TO PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN DURING THE INCIDENT, HE SAID THIS ISSUE WAS ON ITS WAY TO SETTLEMENT AND HE SAW NO ADVANTAGE WHICH WOULD BE GAINED BY MAKING THEM PUBLIC.
CLARIFYING POINTS t?AISED IN THE DEBATE, MR STRACHAN SAID THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE BORDER LIAISON MEETING ON MAY 30 WAS TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE FIVE HONG KONG CREWMEN, WHICH HAPPILY WAS ACHIEVED.
"THE TWO SIDES ALSO AGREED 10 INCREASE CROSS-BORDER LIAISON AND CO-OPERATION TO CONTROL SMUGGLING AND TRY TO ENSURE THAT SUCH AN INCIDENT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
"I MUST EMPHASISE, AND I DO SO MOST STRONGLY, THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF ANY SECRET DEAL TO OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF THE CREWMEN, MR STRACHAN SAID.
AS TO THE THREE STOLEN CARS CONFISCATED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, MR STRACHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE, THROUGH THE NORMAL CHANNELS, TO SEEK THEIR RETURN TO HONG KONG.
"THEY REPRESENT IMPORTANT EVIDENCE AGAINST THOSE ALREADY ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INCIDENT," HE SAID.
NOTING THAT THERE HAD BEEN SUGGESTIONS THAT CREWMEN HAD BEEN IN SOME WAY PREVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT FROM SPEAKING TO THE PRESS, MR STRACHAN NOT TRUE”.
THE HONG KONG
POLICE OR THE
SAID: "THIS IS
"ALL PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAVE THE RIGHT OF FREE EXPRESSION, AND IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO THEM WHETHER OR NOT THEY EXERCISE THAT RIGHT.
/"THROUGHOUT THEIR
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 2 -
"THROUGHOUT THEIR DETENTION, WE CONSTANTLY SOUGHT THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. THIS IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE WAS EVENTUALLY OBTAINED," HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT CONSULAR ACCESS WAS NOT NORMALLY GRANTED TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS REGARDED BY CHINA AS CHINESE NATIONALS.
’’ACCESS BY FAMILY MEMBERS IS SOMETIMES ALLOWED. IN THIS CASE IT WAS NOT.
"DURING THEIR DETENTION, FOUR OF THE SEAMEN APPARENTLY SIGNED CONFESSIONS, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY, BEFORE THEIR RELEASE, THEY WITHDREW THEM," HE SAID.
MR STRACHAN CONFIRMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO THE CREWMEN.
"SINCE THEY HAD BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE POLICE, THIS IS ONLY FAIR AND PROPER.
"DETAILS OF THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE ARE NOW BEING WORKED OUT, AND IT WILL BE PAID AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE FOUR WEEK RENTAL OF THE TUG AND LIGHTER WILL BE PAID BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT," HE ADDED.
WITH REGARD TO THE QUESTIONS ON HONG KONG TERRITORIAL WATERS AFTER 1997, MR STRACHAN SAID THESE WENT FAR BEYOND THE MOTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT FOUR ROUNDS OF DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG HAD BEEN HELD.
"THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER IN THE HONG KONG SAR WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SAR GOVERNMENT," HE SAID.
MR STRACHAN SAID IN ADDITION TO THE AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO STEP UP CROSS-BORDER LIAISON AND CO-OPERATION IN ANTI-SMUGGLING, THE GOVERNMENT ON MAY 25 ANNOUNCED NEW CONTROLS ON THE USE OF HIGH-POWERED, MULTI-ENGINED PLEASURE CRAFT, AND ON THE EXPORTATION OF CIGARETTES TO CHINA.
"FURTHER, WITH EFFECT FROM THIS COMING FRIDAY, ALL VESSELS UNDER 250 TONNES CARRYING TELEVISIONS AND VIDEO RECORDERS FROM HONG KONG TO ANY COUNTRY, WILL REQUIRE AN EXPORT LICENCE. STIFF PENALTIES AND POWERS OF CONFISCATION WILL BE INVOKED WHERE NECESSARY,’’ HE SAID.
AS TO WHAT PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN RECENT WEEKS TO STRIKE AT THE SMUGGLERS, MR STRACHAN SAID SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS ' WEEK, SEVEN SPEEDBOATS AND ONE OPEN SAMPAN HAD HAD THEIR LICENCES SUSPENDED BY THE MARINE POLICE UNDER POWERS DEI.EGATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE FOR BREACHES OF REGULATIONS OR LICENSING CONDITIONS.
"FURTHER, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE HAS PREPARED A TARGET LIST OF SOME 60 VESSELS, SUSPECTED BY THE MARINE POLICE OF BEING INVOLVED IN SMUGGLING.
/'•THE DIRECTOR.......
' EDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 3 -
"THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE INTENDS TO IMPOSE NEW LICENSING CONDITIONS ON THESE VESSELS, PARTICULARLY AS REGARDS THE FITTING OF OUTBOARD ENGINES," HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, MR STRACHAN SAID CLEAR PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN CONTROLLING THE EXPORT OF CIGARETTES TO CHINA.
"IN THE SEVEN DAY PERIOD BEFORE MAY 25, 307 PERMITS INVOLVING 46,000 CASES OF CIGARETTES WERE ISSUED TO VESSELS BELOW 250 TONNES. SINCE MAY 25, WHEN WE BROUGHT IN OUR NEW MEASURES AND UP UNTIL YESTERDAY, NONE HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO VESSELS BELOW 250 TONNES.
"THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD TO CONTROL SMUGGLING," HE SAID.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES OF CIGARETTES RELEASED FROM BOND FOR EXPORT TO CHINA BY SHIP (REGARDLESS OF TONNAGE) IN THE SEVEN DAY PERIOD BEFORE MAY 25 WAS OVER 150,000 CASES. DURING THE NEXT SEVEN DAY PERIOD AFTER THE NEW MEASURES WERE BROUGHT IN, THIS DROPPED BY 52.5 PER CENT.
"THIS IS A REDUCTION, AN INCREDIBLE REDUCTION OF 807 MILLION CIGARETTES," HE SAID.
MR STRACHAN SAID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MARINE POLICE, THE ROYAL NAVY, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE AND THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, THE ADMINISTRATION INTENDED TO TACKLE SMUGGLING VIGOROUSLY.
"WE ARE NOT AT ALL COMPLACENT THAT THESE MEASURES SO FAR INTRODUCED WILL NECESSARILY RESOLVE THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. WE WILL CAREFULLY AND CLOSELY MONITOR THE RESULTS OF THESE MEASURES.
"IF ADDITIONAL MEASURES PROVE NECESSARY, THEY WILL BE INTRODUCED. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER IN OUR WATERS," MR STRACHAN SAID.
--------0-----------
MOTION INTENDED TO SEEK THE TRUTH tit*
THE HON MARTIN LEE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE INTENTION Oh' HIS MOTION TO DEBATE AN ALLEGED SMUGGLING INCIDENT ON MAY 3 WAS TO SEEK THE TRUTH, AND NOT TO CAUSE CONFRONTATION, OR TO EMBARRASS THE HONG KONG OR CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.
HE SAID THAT TRUTH AND THE RULE OF LAW WERE TWO VALUES THAT SHOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE SACRIFICED FOR POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
/THE MOTION .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
THE MOTION READ: ’’THIS <OUN('IL NOTES WITH CONCERN THE INCIDENT INVOLVING THE ALLEGED SMUGGLING OF THREE MERCEDES BENZ MOTOR CARS ON MAY 3, 1990, THE TEMPORARY DETENTION OF TWO HONG KONG POLICEMEN AND THE FOUR-WEEK-LONG DETENTION OF FIVE HONG KONG SEAMEN IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN RELATION TO THAT XLLEGED SMUGGLING".
TN MOVING THE MOTION, MR LEE SAID TRUTH AND THE RULE OF LAW WERE THE TWO MOST (RIIICAI INGREDIENTS OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
HE SAID: "II THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE TO THINK THAT THEIR PRESENT OR FUTURE GOVERNMENT IS NOT HONEST OR THAT THE RULE OF LAW WILL NOT BE UPHELD, THEN HOW CAN ONE EXPECT THEM TO HAVE FAITH IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG?
"IN THE PRESENT SITUATION, HOWEVER, BOTH THE RULE OF LAW AND TRUTH HAVE SO FAR BEEN SACRIFICED FOR POLITICAL REASONS, SO AS TO GIVE ’FACE’ TO ONE OR Till- OTHER OF THE GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED.
"YET, I ASK, WHAT GOOD IS ’FACE’ TO A GOVERNMENT WHICH CANNOT EVEN FACE THE TRUTH?"
MR LEE ALSO CRITICISED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR NOT MAKING PUBLIC THE PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH POLICE TOOK SHOWING UNIFORMED CHINESE PERSONNEL IN HONG KONG WATERS DURING THE INCIDENT.
HE ASKED Win THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED PASSIVELY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES’ WAY OF HANDLING ’HIE CASE.
"IF THE RULE OF LAW IS SO FLAGRANTLY VIOLATED SEVEN YEARS BEFORE 1997 AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DOES NOT EVEN OBJECT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER 1997?” HE ASKED.
MR LEE CRITICISED THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR INFRINGING THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF HONG KONG AS THERE WERE DOZFNS OF OCCASIONS IN WHICH CHINESE MILITARY PERSONNEL HAD ENTERED HONG KONG WATERS.
"IT I.S SIGNIFICANT THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAS NEVER CONTENDED THAT THE ARMED AND UNIFORMED PERSONNEL WERE EITHER IMPOSTERS IN UNIFORM OR SOLDIERS PERFORMING UNAUTHORISED ACTIVITIES.
"THE ONLY POSSIBLE CONCLUSION, THEN, IS THAT THE CHINESE UNIFORMED PERSONNEL WERE ACTING UNDER ORDERS FROM SUPERIOR OFFICERS TO SMUGGLE THE CARS INTO CHINA. SUCH A SCENARIO IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
"IF THE CURRENT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS SUCH LITTLE POWER TO PREVENT SUCH INCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING OR BRING THE PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE, OR GIVE CONSULAR PROTECTION TO THE FIVE CREWMEN WHO WERE WRONGFULLY DETAINED IN CHINA, WHAT CAN ONE EXPECT OF THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT?” HE SAID.
MR LEE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO ANSWER FULLY A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON THE INCIDENT.
/THESE INCLUDED .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 5 -
THESE INCLUDED A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAD HAPPENDED AFTER 5.50 AM, THE RELEASE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS, THE RESULTS OF THE BORDER LIAISON MEETING ON MAY 30, WHETHER THE FIVE SEAMEN HAD BEEN GIVEN CONSULAR ACCESS, THE RETURN OF THE THREE CARS AND THE FINANCIAL LOSSES ON THE RENTAL OF THE TUG AND LIGHTER.
OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERNED WHETHER THE SEAMEN WERE UNDER ANY PRESSURE OR ADVICE TO CANCEL THEIR PRESS CONFERENCE UPON THEIR RETURN, AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG'S TERRITORIAL WATERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN THE SAR AND CHINA IN THE POST-1997 PERIOD.
------0--------
GOVT SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE, POSITIVE ACTION
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE AND POSITIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION CONCERNING THE RECENT DETENTION OF TWO HONG KONG POLICEMEN AND FIVE HONG KONG SEAMEN IN CHINA IN RELATION TO THE ALLEGED SMUGGLING OF CARS ON MAY 3, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION MOVED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE, MR HUI SAID HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE INCIDENT WOULD FURTHER LOWER THE CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AS TO BOTH THE HONG KONG AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENTS’ ABILITY TO RUN HONG KONG PROPERLY UNTIL 1997.
HE SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW CHINESE SOLDIERS AND OFFICIALS COULD BE ALLOWED TO COME AND GO FREELY IN HONG KONG WATERS AND TERRITORIES WITHOUT BEING INTERCEPTED AND CHARGED ACCORDINGLY.
MR HUI SAID THE INCIDENT HAD ALSO REVEALED THAT SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA HAD BEEN VERY FREQUENT AND EXTENSIVE, BUT THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS RELUCTANT OR UNDECIDED TO DEAL WITH THEM SQUARELY UNTIL THE ERUPTION OF THE CURRENT INCIDENT.
"THE ANTI-SMUGGLING MEASURES INTRODUCED RECENTLY BY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE PROVED TO BE LESS THAN EFFECTIVE AS EVIDENCED BY THE MARINE POLICE CASUALTIES WHEN INTERCEPTING A SUSPECTED SPEEDBOAT THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY," HE SAID.
--------0-----------
/6.........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
6
FOCUS MORE ON RE-BUILDING CONFIDENCE *****
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS TAKE AN OATH TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND THEREFORE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATE ON GOVERNMENT ACTION IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUCCESSFUL GOVERNANCE, THE HON PAUL CHENG SAID IN THE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON A MOTION MOVED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE, MR CHENG EXPLAINED WHY HE HAD CIRCULATED NOTICE OF HIS INTENTION TO MOVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, WHICH EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE ALLEGED SMUGGLING INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON MAY 3.
MR CHENG SAID HIS INTENTION WAS TO RE-FOCUS ATTENTION ON WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE - ATTENTION TO HOW WELL THE GOVERNMENT HAD SERVED IN ITS SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS IN UPHOLDING THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG AND EFFECTING FRUITFUL COMMUNICATION WITH THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
HE SAID MR LEE’S MOTION CARRIED A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION WITHOUT DUE REGARD FOR BALANCE FROM THE POSITIVE ACTIONS TAKEN.
"I FEEL WE MUST ALL FOCUS MORE ON RE-BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG RATHER THAN ON SEEKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PUT UNDUE PRESSURE ON THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND/OR THE ADMINISTRATION DURING THESE SENSITIVE TIMES," HE SAID.
HE ADDED: "THE MOTION - \S PROPOSED - CALLS INTO QUESTION OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
"IT IS THIS BROADER ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME TODAY. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ACTIONS WHICH FOCUS ON RE-BUILDING CONFIDENCE. WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING VALUABLE TIME ON EFFORTS THAT MAY RUN THE RISK OF UNDERMINING THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY."
MR CHENG SAID THAT HE SHARED CONCERN OVER THE INCIDENT ITSELF AND OVER THE COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES IN ITS AFTERMATH.
"BUT THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO TRANSLATE INTO SUPPORTING A MOTION WHICH WILL ONCE AGAIN FUEL THE WORRIES OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE," HE NOTED.
HE SAID AS LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, MEMBERS WERE DUTY BOUND TO EXERCISE SOUND JUDGEMENT, WISE COUNSEL, AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP.
"WITH THIS DUTY IN FRONT OF US, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT MERELY REGISTER CONCERN, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO LET THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG KNOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS OUR SUPPORT IN THE WAY THE MATTER IS BEING RESOLVED.
"THE COMMUNITY ALREADY KNOWS THE GRAVITY OF THE MATTER THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA REPORTS. WHAT THEY MAY NOT FULLY APPRECIATE IS OUR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO THE MATTER,” MR CHENG SAID.
- - 0---------
/7........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 7 -
INCIDENT A BLOW TO CONFIDENCE IN RULE OF LAW * * * * *
THE HON RONALD CHOW SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE RECENT INCIDENT RELATED TO THE ALLEGED SMUGGLING OF CARS TO CHINA HAD DAMAGED HONG KONG PEOPLE’S CONFIDENCE IN THE SUPREMACY OF THE RULE OF LAW BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION MOVED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE, MR CHOW SAID THE INCIDENT WAS A SERIOUS VIOLATION OF THE LAW BUT IT APPEARED THAT NO ONE WOULD BE PROSECUTED BY THE CHINESE OR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS, NOR WOULD THE STOLEN CARS BE RETURNED.
HE SAID HE FOUND THE INCIDENT DISTURBING BECAUSE IT COULD BE SEEN AS PART OF AN ESCALATING PATTERN ON BEHALF OF BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO NOT FULLY UPHOLD AND ADHERE TO THE SUPREMACY OF THE RULE OF LAW AND TO INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS.
HE ALSO SAID BOTH THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS HAD CHOSEN TO IGNORE AND BRUSH OVER THE BASIC LAW’S SEVERAL CLEAR BREACHES OF THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
HE SAID THE DECISION TO PLACATE CHINA AND PROSECUTE FIVE PRO-DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES - IN A "KOWTOW" TO PRESSURE FROM CHINA -REPRESENTED A DANGEROUS DISREGARD FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S SELF-ACKNOWLEDGED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AND COMMITMENTS TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONTAINED IN THE OCTOBER 1989 THIRD PERIODIC REPORT.
MR CHOW URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE VIGILANT IN UPHOLDING THE ABSOLUTE SUPREMACY OF THE RULE OF LAW.
"THERE ARE NO POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT CAN JUSTIFY DISREGARDING THE LAW AND INTERNATIONA!. COMMITMENTS.
"IF WE PLACE ’FACE’ AND ’GOOD RELATIONS’ ABOVE THE RULE OF LAW, THEN HONG KONG WILL FACE A GRAVE FUTURE INDEED," HE SAID.
------0--------
CALL FOR JOINT FORCE TO TACKLE SMUGGLING
A JOINT SECURITY TASK FORCE COMPRISING HONG KONG AND CHINESE SECURITY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE FORMED TO CRACK DOWN ON CROSS-BORDER SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES, DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SUPPORTING THE HON MARTIN LEE’S MOTION ON ALLEGED SMUGGLING OF CARS TO CHINA, DR LEONG SAID SUCH INCIDENTS HAD ACCENTUATED THE LACK OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES.
/HE SAID ......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 8 -
HE SAID WHILE THE ORDEAL OF THE FIVE HONG KONG SEAMEN DETAINED IN SHEKOU HAD ENDED WITH THEIR RELEASE, THE CASE ON MAY 3 WAS FAR FROM BEING RESOLVED.
HE WAS CONCERNED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE ISSUE HAD AFFECTED THE CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.
DR LEONG ASKED WHO THE GUILTY PARTIES WERE, AND WHETHER THERE HAD BEEN ANY CRAVEN CONCESSION MADE ON THE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION SO AS TO SECURE THE SEAMEN’S FREEDOM.
HE WAS ALSO CONCERNED WHAT MEASURES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE TO PREVENT SIMILAR UNSETTLING PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
ACCORDING TO DR LEONG, THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM WAS HOW THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD HALT UNAUTHORISED INCURSIONS INTO HONG KONG WATERS BY CHINESE SECURITY VESSELS IN CONNECTION WITH SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES AND TO RETAIN CREDIBILITY OF HONG KONG’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY UP TO AND BEYOND 1997.
HE CALLED ON THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED TO JOIN HANDS AND LAUNCH A FULL-SCALE ENQUIRY ON THE HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL INCIDENT.
------0--------
PURPOSE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES AMENDMENT BILL EXPLAINED
THE PURPOSE OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 IS TO AMEND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO REMOVE DOUBTS ABOUT THE ENFORCEABILITY OF UNAUTHORISED INSURANCE CONTRACTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF CONTROLLERS OF AUTHORISED INSURERS.
THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID NENDICK, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.
ON ENFORCEABILITY OF UNAUTHORISED CONTRACTS, MR NENDICK EXPLAINED THAT THE ORDINANCE RESTRICTED THE CARRYING ON OF ANY CLASS OF INSURANCE BUSINESS IN OR FROM HONG KONG TO INSURERS AUTHORISED FOR THAT PURPOSE BY THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY.
"HOWEVER, AS THE LAW STANDS, IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER INSURANCE CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO B^i UNAUTHORISED INSURERS ARE VALID AND ENFORCEABLE.
"WE BELIEVE THIS DOUBT SHOULD BE REMOVED," HE SAID.
HE SAID THE OBJECT WAS TO PROTECT THE ORDINARY POLICY HOLDER FROM BEING ADVERSELY AFFECTED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY ANY BREACH OF THE ORDINANCE BY AN INSURER.
/"WE PROPOSE .......
9
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
"WE PROPOSE THEREFORE THAT A DIRECT INSURANCE CONTRACT ISSUED BY AN UNAUTHORISED INSURER SHOULD BE ENFORCEABLE AT THE OPTION OF THE POLICY HOLDER.
"THUS THE POLICY HOLDER MAY CHOOSE EITHER TO ENFORCE OR TO VOID THE CONTRACT AND, IN THE LATTER CASE, TO RECOVER ANY CONSIDERATION PAID UNDER THE CONTRACT," HE SAID.
AS TO A REINSURANCE CONTRACT ENTERED INTO BY AN UNAUTHORISED INSURER, MR NENDICK SAID THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED THAT IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ENFORCEABLE.
"IF A REINSURANCE CONTRACT WERE NOT TO BE ENFORCEABLE BECAUSE OF A CONTRAVENTION BV EITHER CONTRACTING PARTY, INSURER OR REINSURER, THIS COULD MATERIALLY AFFECT THE ABILITY OF THE INSURER TO MEET CLAIMS OF DIRECT POLICY HOLDERS," HE ADDED.
ON PRIOR APPROVAL OF >A CONTROLLER, MR NENDICK EXPLAINED THAT THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED AN AUTHORISED INSURER TO NOTIFY THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY, IN ARREARS, OF ANY APPOINTMENT AS OR CHANGE IN THE CONTROLLER OF THE COMPANY.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE, A CONTROLLER WAS DEFINED AS A MANAGING DIRECTOR OR CHIEI EXECUTIVE OF AN INSURER OR ITS PARENT COMPANY, A PERSON WHOSE INSTRUCTIONS THE DIRECTORS OF THE INSURER OR ITS PARENT COMPANY WERE ACCUSTOMED TO FOLLOW, OR A "CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER" - A PERSON WHO, ALONE OR WITH AN ASSOCIATE OR NOMINEE, CONTROLLED 15 PER CENT OR MORE OF THE VOTING POWER OF THE INSURER OR ITS PARENT COMPANY.
MR NENDICK SAID THAT UPON NOTIFICATION, THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY MIGHT OBJECT TO ANY PARTICULAR CONTROLLER IF IT APPEARED TO HIM THAT THAT CONTROLLER WAS NOT A FIT AND PROPER PERSON TO HOLD SUCH A POSITION.
"WE CONSIDER THIS ARRANGEMENT TO BE UNSATISFACTORY.
"WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR Till INSURANCE AUTHORITY TO BE INFORMED BEFORE Till EVENT, RATHER THAN AFTER IT.
"IN THE INTERESTS OF POLICY HOLDERS, A PERSON WHO IS NOT FIT AND PROPER SHOULD NOT RE IN CONTROL OF AN INSURER FOR EVEN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME," HE ADDED.
MR NENDICK SAID THE GOVERNMENT THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT PRIOR APPROVAL BE OBTAINED FROM THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY BEFORE ANY APPOINTMENT AS OR CHANGE IN CONTROLLER OF AN AUTHORISED INSURER TOOK PLACE.
/"TO PREVENT .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
10
"TO PREVENT AN UNFIT CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER FROM CONTINUING TO EXERCISE ANY INFLUENCE OVER AN INSURER, WE ALSO PROPOSE THAT THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO IMPOSE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE SHARES HELD BY ANY PERSON WHO HAS BECOME A CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY AND, WHERE NECESSARY, TO APPLY TO THE HIGH COURT FOR THE SALE OF SUCH SHARES.
"A RESTRICTION ORDER IMPOSED BY THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY WILL EFFECTIVELY PROHIBIT THE TRANSFER OF THE SHARES, THE EXERCISE OF VOTING RIGHTS, THE ISSUE OF BONUS SHARES AND THE PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS," MR NENDICK SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
-----0------
CASE FOR PHASING IN LIABILITIES ACCEPTED
*****
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNC IL TODAY WAS A CASE FOR PHASING IN CERTAIN (AMENDMENT) BILL I9H9.
"IN REACHING THIS DECISION I THAT WE HAVE SET WHEN IN 1 OKI hl TOWARDS LONG SERVICE PAYMENTS.” MR DEBATE ON THE BILL.
AND MANPOWER, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, (WEDNESDAY) HE WAS PERSUADED THERE LIABILITIES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT
HAVE HAD REGARD TO THE PRECEDENT PHASED IN EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY YEUNG SAID IN WINDING UP THE
MR YEUNG NOTED THAT WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE BILL LAST JANUARY, HE HAD SAID THAT ONE OE ITS MAIN PURPOSES’ HAD BEEN TO REMOVE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN MANUAL AND NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES, SO THAI' ALL EMPLOYEES WOULD BE PROTECTED.
HE \GREED WITH THE HON PAUL (HENG THAT THE REMOVAL OF THIS DISTINCTION WOULD IMMEDIATELY CREATE SUBSTANTIAL LONG SERVICE PAYMENT AND SEVERANCE PAYMENT LIABILITIES FOR EMPLOYERS TOWARDS THEIR MORE HIGHLY PAID NON-MANI \| EMPLOYEES.
"TO SOFTEN TIIF IMPACT, THE BILL PROVIDES THAT WAGES IN EXCESS OF THE NEW CEILING OF’ $15,000 PER MONTH SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE CALCULATION OF AN EMPLOYEE’S ENTITLEMENTS," MR YEUNG SA ID.
HE SAID THAT THE AD HOC GROUP, OF WHICH MR. CHENG WAS CONVENER, HAD MANAGED TO ARGUE FORCEFULLY AND CONVINCINGLY THAT, EVEN WITH THIS QUALIFICATION TO TIIF WAGE CEILING OF $15,000, AN EMPLOYER’S LIABILITY TOWARDS HIS NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES WHO WERE PAID ABOVE THIS WAGE CEILING COULD BECOME UNACCEPTABLY HIGH.
"UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION THEIR IMMEDIATE MAXIMUM EXPOSURE COULD BE AS HIGH \S $180,000 PER EMPLOYEE," HE \DDED.
/WHEN THIS .......
WI NESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 11 -
WHEN THIS BURDEN WAS CONSIDERED AGAINST THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF UNINCORPORATED PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHfPS, MR YEUNG SAID, THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE CURRENT PARTNERS TO INJECT VERY SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS INTO THEIR BUSINESSES TO COVER LIABILITIES THAT HAD IN MANY CASES BEEN INCURRED BY THEIR PREDECESSORS.
HE REALISED THAT THE CONCESSION ARISING FROM PHASING IN LIABILITIES WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF DEFERRING THE FULL BENEFIT OF THE LONG SERVICE PAYMENT AND SEVERANCE PAYMENT PROVISIONS FOR NON-MANUAL WORKERS PAID ABOVE $15,000 A MONTH, AND HE COULD THEREFORE UNDERSTAND THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG.
MR YEUNG SAID HE HAD CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE POSSIBILITY OF RESTRICTING THE SCOPE OF THIS CONCESSION TO THE ACCOUNTING AND LEGAL PROFESSIONS, BUT HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, WHICH DID NOT ALLOW INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRIES AND PROFESSIONS TO CONTRACT OUT OF ITS AMBIT.
MR YEUNG SAID THAT PERFECTION, NOT UNLIKE BEAUTY, WAS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.
”IN THIS SENSE, EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION CAN NEVER BE PERFECT, BECAUSE IT IS INVARIABLY THE OUTCOME OF CONSULTATION AND COMPROMISE.
"IN COMMENDING THIS BILL AND THE COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE, MAY I REMIND HONOURABLE MEMBERS THAT THE PERFECT IS VERY OFTEN THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD," HE SAID.
--------0 - -
BILL WILL GIVE BETTER PROTECTION TO EMPLOYEES
*****
(AMENDMENT) NON-MANUAL
EMPLOYMENT
BILL 1989 WAS TO REMOVE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN MANUAL AND EMPLOYEES ENABLING ALL EMPLOYEES TOCOMEUNDER^THE^PROrECTION^^OF
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENT OF THE
STANDARDS SET IN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE
LEVELS, THE HON PAUL CHENG SAID IN
THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
THE WAGE TODAY
(WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR CHENG SAID THE MEASURE ALSO SOUGHT TO STRENGTHEN THE PROVISIONS IN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE TO IMPROVE THE PROTECTION FOR EMPLOYEES GENERALLY.
ANOTHER MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE WAS THE REVISION OF THE DEFINITION ON "CONTINUOUS CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT' SO THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAD WORKED A TOTAL OF 18 HOURS A WEEK WITHIN A PERIOD OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE WEEKS WOULD BE PROTECTED.
THE BILL ALSO REDEFINED "LAY-OFF" SO THAT EMPLOYEES DEEMED TO BE LAID OFF AFTER BEING EMPLOYED FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME WOULD BE ENTITLED TO SEVERANCE PAYMENTS.
/FINALLY, THE ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 12 -
FINALLY, THE BILL PROVIDED A QUALIFYING PERIOD OF 12 WEEKS OF CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT BEFORE A PREGNANT EMPLOYEE WAS PROTECTED FROM BEING DISMISSED.
IN CONSIDERING THAT THE AMENDMENTS MIGHT INCUR HUGE FINANCIAL LIABILITIES TO EMPLOYERS, THE AD HOC GROUP AGREED THAT A PHASED IMPLEMENTATION FOR SEVERANCE AND LONG SERVICE PAYMENTS SHOULD BE ADOPTED FOR EMPLOYEES EARNING MORE THAN $15,000 A MONTH.
MR CHENG SAID THE PHASING BEGAN BY CALCULATING ENTITLEMENT ON THE BASIS OF THREE YEARS’ PAST SERVICE FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.
THEREAFTER, TWO MORE YEARS OF PAST SERVICE WERE ADDED ON A YEARLY BASIS UNTIL THE MAXIMUM ENTITLEMENT OF 18 YEARS’ PAST SERVICE WAS REACHED IN THE EIGHTH YEAR FROM 1990, HE ADDED.
HE STRESSED THAT THE ARRANGEMENT WOULD NOT AFFECT MANUAL EMPLOYEES WHOSE ENTITLEMENT WOULD BE CALCULATED AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
AS CONVENER OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL, MR CHENG SAID: ’’WHILST IT DOES HAVE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS, I AM PERSONALLY SATISFIED THAT IT WILL BE WELL-RECEIVED BY EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE THE WELFARE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AT HEART.
’’AFTER ALL, MANPOWER IS A MAJOR ASSET FOR ANY ENTERPRISE. IN HONG KONG, AS WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR OUR PROSPERITY AND STABILITY FOR THE YEARS AHEAD, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE WELFARE OUR WORKFORCE TRULY DESERVES.”
THE AD HOC GROUP HAD MET 12 TIMES AND RECEIVED 10 REPRESENTATIONS FROM VARIOUS CONCERNED GROUPS.
- - 0 - -
REMOVAL OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANUAL
AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS WELCOMED *
♦ *
THE HON RONALD
ARCULLI
TOLD
THE
LEGISLATIVE
BEEN
COUNCIL '
REACHED ON
/WEDNESDAY) HE WAS HAPPY THAT A COMPROMISE HAD
REMOVAL OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANUAL AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS PARTLY ALLEVIATED THE TREMENDOUS, AND INDEED, FINANCIAL BURDEN ACCOUNTANTS AND SOLICITORS AND OTHERS WOULD ESTABLISHED POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT.
FACE AND YET
TODAY f THE WHICH
THAT MET
1989,
(AMENDMENT) BILL
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE EMPLOYMENT ... .
MR ARCUI I I SAID THE REMOVAL OF THE DIFFERENCE WAS ACHIEVED BY THE RFMOVAl^ OF ?Se wJgE CEILING APPLICABLE TO NON-MANUAL WORKERS AT PRESENT AND THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH RIGHTS WOULD ACCURE TO EMPLOYEES.
/HOLDING THAT .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990 t
- 13 -
HOLDING THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WAS TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO WERE LEAST CAPABLE OF PROTECTING THEMSELVES, MR ARCULLI SAID IT SEEMED TO BE STRAINING A POINT TO SUGGEST, FOR INSTANCE, THAT A QUALIFIED LAWYER OR BUSINESS PEOPLE IN TOP MANAGEMENT POSITIONS REQUIRED THIS SORT OF PROTECTION.
HE NOTED THAT ACCOUNTANTS AND SOLICITORS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PRACTISE THEIR PROFESSIONS IN THE FORM OF A LIMITED COMPANY WHICH MEANT THAT THEY WERE LIABLE PERSONALLY FOR ANY DEBT OF THEIR FIRM.
”IN ESSENCE THIS MEANS THAT THESE, AND PERHAPS OTHERS, PROFESSIONALS ARE EXPOSED TO THE RISK OF INSOLVENCY SHOULD THEY OR THE FIRM IN WHICH THEY ARE PARTNERS BE UNABLE TO MEET LONG TERM SERVICE PAYMENTS OR SEVERANCE PAY SHOULD THE OCCASION ARISE,” HE SAID.
’’SECONDLY,” MR ARCULLI SAID, ’’THE PARTNERS WITHIN THESE FIRMS ALWAYS CHANGE AND THERE IS LITTLE FAIRNESS IF WE ASK THE PARTNERS TO ASSUME TODAY THE BURDEN OF LONG TERM SERVICE PAYMENTS OR SEVERANCE PAY TO EMPLOYEES IN RESPECT OF THE PERIOD STARTING FROM THE DATE OF EMPLOYMENT OF EACH EMPLOYEE.”
’’THIRDLY, PROFESSIONAL FIRMS TEND TO REMUNERATE THEIR STAFF ON THE BASIS OF ANNUAL PERFORMANCE WHICH IS RELATED TO ANNUAL PROFITABILITY,” HE ADDED.
MR ARCULLI SAID BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF PARTNERSHIPS, ONE COULD HARDLY ASK A RETIRED PARTNER TO DISGORGE ANY PROFITS HE ENJOYED BY MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TODAY FROM PAST PROFITS SIMPLY BECAUSE A LAW ENACTED TODAY REQUIRED SUCH PARTNERSHIPS TO BEAR A NEW FINANCIAL BURDEN.
------0--------
AD HOC GROUP COMMENDED ♦ ♦ » * ♦
STRACHAN,
GRATEFUL TO
GROUP FOR (AMENDMENT)
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE WAS HON NGAI SHIU-KIT AND MEMBERS OF MR NGAI’S AD HOC CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THEY HAD GIVEN TO THE GAMBLING
1989.
WINDING UP THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR SAID HE AGREED TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WHICH MR NGAI MOVING IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
SAID THE THE BILL
STRACHAN
WOULD BE
THE TITLE OF THE BILL WAS ALSO CHANGED TO GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
---------0 - -
/14 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
14 TIGHTENED GAMBLING BILL WELCOMED *****
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WELCOMED THE BILL WHICH WOULD IMPOSE MORE STRINGENT ENFORCEMENT MEASURES AND TOUGHER PENALTIES AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING.
SPEAKING IN THE COUNCIL IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE HON NGAI SHIU-KIT SAID THE PROPOSED TIGHTENING OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE AND THE INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM FINES FOR OPERATORS OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING ENTERPRISES WOULD DEAL A SEVERE BLOW TO THESE OPERATORS AND DETER PEOPLE FROM PATRONISING ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS.
THE BILL ALSO CARRIED AN INCREASE IN MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR VARIOUS GAMBLING OFFENCES APART FROM INCREASING THE MAXIMUM FINES FOR OPERATORS OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING ENTERPRISES FROM $500,000 TO $5 MILLION, HE NOTED.
MR NGAI SAID THE AD HOC GROUP HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN IN TWO AREAS, WHICH HAD BEEN ACCORDINGLY DEALT WITH BY THE ADMINISTRATION AFTER DELIBERATIONS.
THE FIRST WAS THE SEEMINGLY CONTRADICTORY APPROACH ADOPTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TOWARDS ILLEGAL GAMBLING ACTIVITIES, I.E. WHILE TAKING TOUGHER MEASURES TO ERADICATE ILLEGAL GAMBLING WITHIN HONG KONG, OFFSHORE BUT HONG KONG BASED GAMBLING ON FLOATING CASINOS WAS TOLERATED.
MR NGAI SAID THE AD HOC GROUP WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD DECIDED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF FLOATING CASINOS AND THAT LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WERE BEING DRAFTED FOR SUBMISSION TO LEGCO.
SECONDLY, THE GROUP HAD RESERVATION ON THE PROPOSED OUTRIGHT ABOLITION OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CONSENT BEFORE INSTITUTING PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO ASSISTING IN BOOKMAKING AS IT WOULD REMOVE THE SAFEGUARD FOR INNOCENT PERSONS.
MR NGAI SAID THE GROUP PROPOSED THAT THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CONSENT BE RETAINED AND THAT A NEW PROVISION SHOULD BE INTRODUCED TO EMPOWER THE COURTS TO AMEND CHARGES UNDER SECTION 7(1)(A) OR (B) TO ONE UNDER SECTION 7(1)(C).
THE PROPOSAL WAS AGREED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND AMENDMENTS WOULD BE MOVED TN THE COMMITTEE STAGE, HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
/15........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
15
CHANGES IN APPROVED ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE
A SUMMARY OF ALL CHANGES MADE TO THE APPROVED ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1989-90 WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID NENDICK.
MR NENDICK SAID SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $875.5 MILLION HAD BEEN APPROVED.
"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," HE SAID.
"THIS INCLUDED $474 MILLION FOR ADVANCE PAYMENT OF WATER CHARGES."
MR NENDICK NOTED THAT APPROVED NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENTS HAD INCREASED BY $638.9 MILLION DURING THE PERIOD, AND NEW NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENTS OF $2,197.1 MILLION HAD ALSO BEEN APPROVED.
IN THE SAME PERIOD, A NET DECREASE OF 1,679 POSTS HAD BEEN APPROVED.
MR NENDICK SAID ITEMS IN THE SUMMARY HAD BEEN APPROVED EITHER BY FINANCE COMMITTEE OR UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY.
"THE LATTER HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(8)(A) OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE," HE ADDED.
------0--------
STANDARD WEAPONS CARRIED BY POLICE OFFICERS CONSIDERED ADEQUATE * * * * * » ♦
A RECENTLY COMPLETED POLICE REVIEW HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE STANDARD WEAPONS CARRIED BY OFFICERS ON PATROL ARE ADEQUATE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN STRACHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG, MR STRACHAN SAID THAT GIVEN THE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHICH MIGHT ARISE FROM AN EXCHANGE OF FIRE INVOLVING MORE POWERFUL WEAPONS, IT WAS NOT PROPOSED TO UPGRADE THE STANDARD WEAPONS PACKAGE.
HOWEVER, HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE ADEQUACY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT PACKAGE WAS KEPT REGULARLY UNDER REVIEW.
/MR STRACHAN .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 16 -
MR STRACHAN SAID THAT POLICE OFFICERS ON BEAT PATROL NORMALLY CARRIED THE FOLLOWING: A 0.38 CALIBRE SMITH AND WESSON MODEL 10 REVOLVER; A TRUNCHEON; A PAIR OF HANDCUFFS; A WHISTLE AND A LANYARD; AND A BEAT RADIO.
A REMINGTON SHOTGUN, A 1 1/2-INCH TEAR SMOKE PISTOL AND TEAR SMOKE GRENADES WERE CARRIED ON MOBILE PATROL AND EMERGENCY UNIT VEHICLES.
”IF REQUIRED, RIFLES AND OTHER WEAPONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ISSUE FROM POLICE STATION ARMOURIES,” HE ADDED.
--------0----------
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, ACTIVITIES IDENTIFIED FOR PRUNING, REFORM
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K. Y. YEUNG, DETAILED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR PRUNING, PHASING OUT AND REFORM.
MR YEUNG PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING LIST IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RITA FAN:
(A) A PHASED CONTRACTION OF ADULT EDUCATION SERVICES;
(B) EFFECTING A GREATER DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY TO SCHOOLS OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN STAFF AND FINANCIAL MATTERS;
(C) LOWERING THE FREQUENCY OF SUBJECT INSPECTIONS IN RESPECT OF THE BETTER ESTABLISHED SCHOOLS;
(D) REDUCING ANNUAL RE-MAKES OF EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION (ETV) PROGRAMMES AND DISCONTINUING ETV INSPECTION WORK;
(E) RE-DEPLOYING STAFF WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AND MERGING CERTAIN UNITS;
(F) MAKING THE DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES THE
AUTHORISED PERSON FOR MAJOR AND EMERGENCY REPAIRS IN RESPECT OF ALL NON-ESTATE AIDED SCHOOLS; AND
(G) CHANGING THE MODE OF REFRESHER TRAINING COURSES FOR SERVING SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM A BLOCK RELEASE TO DAY RELEASE BASIS.
MR YEUNG SAID THESE MEASURES WERE EXPECTED TO GENERATE ANNUALLY RECURRENT SAVINGS, MUCH OF WHICH WERE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE FORM OF PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS, OF ABOUT $7.7 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION, RISING TO $18.1 MILLION ON REACHING MATURITY IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
/AS TO.........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
17 -
AS TO WHETHER OTHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES WOULD RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THESE SAVINGS, MR YEUNG SAID THE EXTENT TO WHICH POLICY SECRETARIES MIGHT DEPLOY SAVINGS WITHIN THEIR PROGRAMME AREAS WAS STILL UNDER EXAMINATION AGAINST THE WIDER BACKGROUND OF THE STRINGENT BUDGETARY STRATEGY TO BE ADOPTED FOR 1991-92.
"A DECISION WILL BE MADE ON THIS ISSUE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.
"I AM HOPEFUL, HOWEVER, THAT THE DECISION WILL BE A FAVOURABLE ONE AS FAR AS MY PROGRAMME AREA IS CONCERNED,” MR YEUNG SAID.
FOR THIS REASON, MR YEUNG SAID, HE WAS PLANNING TO RE-DEPLOY THESE SAVINGS TOWARDS TWO URGENT ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH NO PROVISION HAD BEEN MADE IN THE 1990-91 ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE.
’’THESE ARE, FIRST, THE PREPARATION Ob' THE SYLLABUSES FOR ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTARY LEVEL SUBJECTS, WHICH ARE DUE TO BE INTRODUCED INTO ALL SIXTH FORMS IN 1992 AND, SECONDLY, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WORK INVOLVED IN FORMULATING ATTAINMENT STANDARDS AND ASSOCIATED TESTS FOR CORE SUBJECTS IN SCHOOLS,” HE SAID.
------0--------
17,355 APPLICATIONS FOR CNCC IN FIRST QUARTER ♦ t t ♦
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN STRACHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT 17,355 APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF NO CRIMINAL CONVICTION (CNCC) HAD BEEN RECEIVED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, COMPARED WITH 18,327 IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION IRON THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR STRACHAN POINTED OUT THAT BECAUSE OF RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, A CEILING OF 300 APPLICATIONS TO BE PROCESSED PER DAY HAD BEEN IMPOSED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.
APPLICANTS WERE NOW REQUIRED TO BOOK AN PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR WHICH THERE WAS TIME OF 17 DAYS.
SUBSEQUENT PROC ESSING WOULD NORMALLY BE WORKING DAYS.
\PPOINTMENT FOR THE
CURRENTLY A WAITING
COMPLETED WITHIN 21
”AS THE PRESENT AVERAGE PROCESSING TIME IS CONSIDERED REASONABLE IT IS NOT INTENDED, GIVEN OTHER POLICING COMMITMENTS, TO DEPLOY ADDITIONAL STAFF TO THE CNCC OFFICE AT THIS TIME,” HE SAID.
------0-----------
/18........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
18
UPGC TO MAKE RF< OMMENUATIONS ON MEETING INCREASED DEMAND FOR ACADEMIC STAFF
* * t t *
THE UNIVERSITY AND WORKING WITH THE TERT I ARV-INCREASED DEMAND FOR U'ADEMI EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, Till COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO SEE HOW AN o STAFF C\N BE MET, THE SECRETARY EOR HON F.Y. YEUNG,, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE
IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON EDWARD HO, MR YEUNG SAID HE COULD ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE VERY CAREFULLY EXAMINED W|li<N THEY REACHED HIM LATER THIS MONTH.
’’WHILE THE RECRUIT SUITABLE GOVERNMENT’S 1'1 V. PLACES BY 1994-95 SAID.
TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ARE, BY AND LARGE, ABLE TO
ACADEMIC STAFF, THE CHALLENGE POSED BY THE TO DOUBLE THE PROVISION OF FIRST-YEAR FIRST-DEGREE IS A REAL ONE AND SHOULD NOT RE UNDER-ESTIMATED,” HE
MR YEUNG SAID HF UNDERSTOOD THE MEASURES THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD CONSIDERED INCLUDED A REVIEW OF SALARY RELATIVITIES BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, AN EXAMINATION OF POSSIBILITIES FOR HAVING A MORE FLEXIBLE PACKAGE OF FRINGE BENEFITS, RAISING OF EXISTING LEVELS OF PRODUCTIVITY, INCREASED FUNDING FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH, AND INCREASING THE LOCAL SUPPLY OF ACADEMIC STAFF THROUGH ENHANCED POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMMES.
’’SEPARATELY MY BRANCH
IS ALSO CONSIDERING THE NEED
AUGMENTING OUR EXISTING COMPLEMENT IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE RECRUITMENT THE GROWTH IN DEMAND EOR. TH IS TYPE
OF- INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PLACES, OF OVERSEAS ACADEMICS WILL ADD OF EDUCATION,” HE SAID.
FOR AS TO
MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT ON VI’ LEAST TWO OCCASIONS RECENT PAST, HE HAD INFORMED MEMBERS THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO OFF OF INTEREST IN ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT FROM EITHER LOCAL OR SOURCES, AND THAT OUR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WOULD BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY FOR STAFF.
IN THE
FALLING
OVERSEAS
COMPETE
”1 HAVE ENQUIRED AGAIN OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE AND CAN CONFIRM THAT ON THE WHOLE THIS REMAINS THE CASE.
’’THERE ARE, HOWEVER, CERTAIN SECTORAL SHORTFALLS. A COMMON FEATURE AMONGST ALL THE INSTITUTIONS IS THAT GOOD PEOPLE ARE HARD TO GET IN CERTAIN DISCIPLINES, SUCH AS FINANCE, ACCOUNTING AND COMPUTING.
”1 AM INFORMED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS REFLECTS WORLD-WIDE SHORTAGES,” HE ADDED.
0 - -
/19 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
19
DECREASE IN TRIAD CRIMES * * * * *
THE NUMBER OF CRIMES INVOLVING TRIADS HAD DECREASED FROM 4 391 CASES IN 1985 TO 2,587 CASES IN 1989, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN STRACHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THIS REPRESENTED A REDUCTION OF 41 PER CENT OVER THE PERIOD, HE SAID IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ROSANNA TAM.
MR STRACHAN ALSO LISTED MEASURES WHICH HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE OR LEGISLATIVE MEANS TO COMBAT TRIADS.
THESE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAD BEEN CONTAINED IN THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT "OPTIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE LAW AND IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW TO COUNTER THE TRIAD PROBLEM".
THE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, WHICH WERE STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC, INCLUDED:
- OMITTING ADDRESSES FROM WITNESS STATEMENTS TO BE SERVED ON THE DEFENCE;
ALLOCATING, WHERE POSSIBLE, POLICE MANPOWER TO RESPOND TO WITNESSES WHO MIGHT BE INTIMIDATED;
ISSUING A NOTICE OF THE POWER OF THE COURT TO REMOVE UNDESIRABLE PERSONS FROM THE PUBLIC GALLERY AND TO PROTECT WITNESSES;
- INTRODUCTION OF ONE-WAY VIEWERS FOR IDENTIFICATION PARADES IN SUITABLE CASES; AND
- USE OF THE TASK FORCE APPROACH TO INVESTIGATE TRIAD-BACKED ORGANISED CRIME.
MR STRACHAN SAID OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC, WHICH HAD BEEN, OR WERE BEING, IMPLEMENTED THROUGH LEGISLATION INCLUDED:
- INCREASING THE FINES UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE FOR OFFENCES RELATED TO TRIAD SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP;
- INTRODUCTION OF THE TRIAD RENUNCIATION SCHEME;
- IMPOSITION OF HARSHER PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL GAMBLING (THIS ITEM WAS ON TODAY’S AGENDA FOR COMPLETION OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES);
BETTER CONTROL OF NUISANCES ASSOCIATED WITH PROSTITUTION THIS WAS BEING EXAMINED BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP; AND
- IMPOSITION OF HARSHER PENALTIES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS.
/MR STRACHAN .......
- 20 -
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
MR STRACHAN SAID DIVERGENT VIEWS WERE EXPRESSED ON OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS. THOSE WHICH WERE BEING FURTHER STUDIED INCLUDED:
- INTRODUCTION OF A POST RELEASE SUPERVISION SCHEME FOR EXOFFENDERS;
- INTRODUCTION OF ORGANISED CRIME LEGISLATION - THIS HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE IN PRINCIPLE. A WHITE BILL WAS BEING PREPARED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION; AND
- INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION GOVERNING PROSECUTION WITNESS AGREEMENTS.
MR STRACHAN SAID THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH DID NOT RECEIVE WIDE PUBLIC COMMENT OR APPROVAL INCLUDED:
- COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AT IDENTIFICATION PARADES. THIS PROPOSAL HAD NOW BEEN RULED OUT; AND
- AMENDMENTS TO THE CRIMES ORDINANCE TO PROTECT WITNESS EVIDENCE.
MR STRACHAN SAID APART FROM THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE FOLLOWING MEASURES HAD ALSO BEEN IMPLEMENTED TO COMBAT TRIADS:
- INTRODUCTION OF A TEACHING PACKAGE ON THE DANGERS OF TRIAD INVOLVEMENT TO ALL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS;
- CONTINUOUS PUBLICITY EFFORTS; AND
- INTRODUCTION OF THE RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION SCHEME AND THE COMMISSIONING OF A STUDY ON POST-RELEASE SERVICES FOR EX-PRISONERS.
MR STRACHAN ADDED THAT SO FAR THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES IN IMPLEMENTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT.
------0--------
POLLUTION NEGLIGIBLE IN WATERS NEAR DETENTION CENTRE ♦ tit***
REGULAR TESTING BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAS INDICATED THAT NEGLIGIBLE POLLUTION OF THE SURROUNDING WATERS OF THE HIGH ISLAND DETENTION CENTRE HAS OCCURRED.
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
/IN REPLY .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
*
- 21 -
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RONALD CHOW ON THE DISCHARGE OF IMPROPERLY TREATED WASTE FROM THE DETENTION CENTRE, MR OXLEY SAID THE DISCHARGE FROM THE CENTRE CONSISTED PRINCIPALLY OF GREY WATER -- STORM WATER, WASTE WATER AND SO ON — WHICH WAS, HOWEVER, FROM TIME TO TIME CONTAMINATED BY SMALL AMOUNTS OF HUMAN WASTE.
"THIS CONTAMINATION IS THE RESULT OF THE BAD HYGIENE HABITS OF A FEW DETAINEES BUT I MUST STRESS THAT IT IS NOT OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE,” MR OXLEY SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE DETAINEES THEMSELVES WERE THEREFORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLLUTION CAUSED, AND NOT A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.
HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS A VIGOROUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME UNDERWAY WITHIN THE DETENTION CENTRE WHICH HAD ALREADY RESULTED IN A MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN BEHAVIOUR.
--------0-----------
SETTLEMENT A PRIVATE COMMERCIAL MATTER
THE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE OVERSEAS TRUST BANK LIMITED (OTB) AND MESSRS COOPERS AND LYBRAND IS A PRIVATE COMMERCIAL MATTER AND IT IS FOR THE BANK DIRECTORS TO DECIDE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE DEAL AND ITS TERMS SHOULD BE DISCLOSED, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID NENDICK, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM. THE HON PETER H. Y. WONG, MR NENDICK SAID: ”IT MAY BE NOTED THAT THE BANK HAS ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ON THE SETTLEMENT, AND THIS MAY BE TAKEN TO REFLECT ALL THAT THE BANK WISHES TO SAY ON THE MATTER.”
HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT WAS CURRENTLY THE SOLE SHAREHOLDER OF OTB AND HE, AS SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, WAS EX-OFFICIO CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT A PARTY TO THE SETTLEMENT.
•
MANAGEMENT OF THE BANK RESTED WITH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHOSE DUTY IT WAS TO ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE BANK.
MR NENDICK SAID THAT ON THE BROADER QUESTION OF DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS AND SETTLEMENTS BY THE GOVERNMENT, HE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO GIVE MR WONG A PRECISE ANSWER WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT PARTICULAR TRANSACTIONS OR SETTLEMENTS HE HAD IN MIND.
"TRANSACTIONS OR SETTLEMENTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTITIES ARE NUMEROUS.
"AS IN THE CASE OF THOSE ONLY INVOLVING PARTIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SOME MAY WELL BE COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE WHILST OTHERS WILL BE OF LITTLE GENERAL INTEREST," HE SAID.
/MR NENDICK .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 22 -
MR NENDICK ADDED DISCLOSURE MIGHT PREJUDICE
THAT THERE WOULD ALSO BE CASES
ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS OR PROCEEDINGS
WHERE
IN MY VIEW, THERE CAN THEREFORE BE NO HARD AND FAST RULES.
EACH CASE MUST BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF ITS CIRCUMSTANCFS particular THE PUBLIC INTEREST is best served in ™a? rMiXl iUULnK bAoE , HE SAID.
--------o----------
DECOMMISSIONING OF CHA KWO LING OIL DEPOT CLOSELY MONITORED
*******
THE GOVERNMENT IS CLOSELY MONITORING THE DECOMMISSIONING OF THE OIL DEPOT AT CHA KWO LING TO ENSURE THAT IT TIES IN WITH THE ONLY LARGE-SCALE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR OXLEY SAID PERMISSION FOR OCCUPATION WOULD NOT BE GRANTED UNTIL DECOMMISSIONING OF THE LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) FACILITIES HAD BEEN COMPLETED.
ACCORDING TO THE TIMETABLE FOR THE RELOCATION, THE DECOMMISSIONING OF THE LPG SPHERES WHICH CONSTITUTED THE MAJOR POTENTIAL HAZARD AT THE DEPOT WOULD TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR WHILE THE DEPOT WOULD BE TOTALLY DECOMMISSIONED BY THE END OF MARCH 1992.
SITE CLEARANCE WOULD FOLLOW DECOMMISSIONING AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS.
MR OXLEY SAID LIMITED OCCUPANCY OF SELECTED BLOCKS WOULD BE ' PERMITTED DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD BETWEEN THE DECOMMISSIONING OF THE LPG FACILITIES AND TOTAL CLEARANCE OF THE DEPOT SITE.
"THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED THAT THE FIRE PROTECTION MEASURES IN THE .DEPOT ARE PROVIDED TO INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED SAFETY STANDARDS AND THAT THE REMAINING OIL STORAGE TANKS DO NOT POSE AN UNACCEPTABLE RISK TO NEARBY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS," HE SAID.
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO INSPECT THE SITE REGULARLY TO ENSURE THAT THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS WERE MAINTAINED, HE ADDED.
/23 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 199('
- 23 -
DECISION SOON ON RELOCATION OF OIL DEPOT AT NGA YING CHAU ******
A FIRM DECISION ON THE RELOCATION OF THE OIL DEPOT OF CHINA RESOURCES COMPANY (CRC) AT NGA YING CHAU COULD BE MADE EARLY NEXT YEAR, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RONALD CHOW, MR OXLEY S/ID DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMPANY ON THE RELOCATION WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO VARIOUS FACTORS INCLUDING UNCERTAINTIES OVER THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PROPOSED RELOCATION SITE AS A RESULT OF PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY STUDIES AND OF THE PLANNING FOR THE ROUTE 3 CONNECTION.
"THE AVAILABILITY OF THE RELOCATION SITE HAS STILL NOT BEEN CONCLUSIVELY RESOLVED PENDING COMPLETION OF THE CONTAINER TERMINAL 9 STUDY," MR OXLEY SAID.
"HOWEVER, THE INDICATIONS ARE PROMISING AND A FIRM DECISION CAN POSSIBLY BE MADE EARLY NEXT YEAR."
MR OXLEY POINTED OUT THAT THE OIL DEPOT WAS NOT REGARDED AS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS INSTALLATION SINCE IT DID NOT STORE OR HANDLE LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS.
"IN THE 1989 TSING YI RISK ASSESSMENT STUDY, THE CONSULTANT NEVERTHELESS RECOMMENDED THE EVENTUAL REMOVAL OF THE OIL DEPOT SINCE IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH NEARBY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT," HE SAID.
"HOWEVER, SINCE THE DESIRABILITY OF REMOVING THE OIL DEPOT IS BASED ON PLANNING, AND NOT ON RISK GROUNDS, THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT GROUNDS FOR GOVERNMENT TO FORCE CRC TO RELOCATE."
MR OXLEY ADDED THAT THE DEPOT SITE AT NGA YING CHAU WAS REZONED IN THE DRAFT TSING YI OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FROM "INDUSTRIAL" TO "COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AREA".
HE BELIEVED THIS SHOULD PROVIDE AN ENHANCED INCENTIVE FOR CRC TO RELOCATE ITS DEPOT AND REDEVELOP THE SITE.
-----0------
WAYS TO HELP ALLEVIATE STRESS, AND REDUCE FAMILY TRAGEDIES
*****
EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS BY THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED, AND BY A CARING COMMUNITY, COUPLED WITH TIMELY INTERVENTION BY PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS, CAN HELP ALLEVIATE STRESS AND REDUCE FAMILY TRAGEDIES.
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN STRACHAN, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ROSANNA TAM.
/HOWEVER, MR .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 24 -
HOWEVER, MR STRACHAN SAID, BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR UNDER PRESSURE THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE AN ELEMENT OF THE UNFORESEEN.
"WITH THE LOOSENING OF TRADITIONAL FAMILY TIES, FAMILY MEMBERS WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND SUPPORT AND HELP WITHIN THE EXTENDED FAMILY.
"SOMETIMES, TRADITIONAL CHINESE. VALUES, SUCH AS KEEPING FAMILY PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FAMILY, TEND TO INHIBIT PEOPLE IN TROUBLE FROM SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP AT AN EARLY STAGE," HE SAID.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO CHANGE THESE ENTRENCHED ATTITUDES, AND TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE VARIOUS WELFARE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM," HE SAID.
ON THE CAUSES OF DOMESTIC HOMICIDES, MR STRACHAN SAID SUCH TRAGEDIES WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO A WIDE RANGE OF FACTORS.
"DIRECT CAUSES INCLUDE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM PERSONALITY AND COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES; MARITAL DISCORD; FINANCIAL WORRIES; AND MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHICH RESULT IN INTOLERABLE STRESS, AND EVENTUAL TRAGEDY; OR INDEED A COMBINATION OF ANY OF THESE FACTORS WHICH TOGETHER RESULT IN A FAMILY MEMBER BEING UNABLE TO FACE THE STRESSES AND PROBLEMS OF EVERY DAY LIVING.
"THE POLICE ROUTINELY REPORT ANY SUCH CASES OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT," HE SAID.
MR STRACHAN SAID THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC HOMICIDES HAD REMAINED FAIRLY CONSTANT.
THERE WERE SIX SUCH CASES IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR; SEVEN IN THE SECOND QUARTER-; 11 IN THE THIRD QUARTER; SIX' IN THE FOURTH QUARTER; AND SEVEN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
MR STRACHAN SAID THAT WITH THE CHANGING OF ENTRENCHED ATTITUDES AND ENHANCING OF PUBLIC AWARENESS IN MIND, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN CARRYING OUT A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES.
THESE INCLUDED:
- INTRODUCING THE PUBLIC TO SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES BY MEANS OF PAMPHLETS, POSTERS, TALKS AND EXBINITIONS, AND MAKING PEOPLE AWARE THAT IT IS NO DISGRACE TO SEEK HELP;
- ORGANISING SUPPORTIVE GROUP WORK SERVICES, FAMILY LIFE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION, THROUGH WHICH LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE HELPED TO REALISE THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THE NEED TO PROMOTE MUTUAL AID AND NEIGHBOURLINESS, SO THAT TIMELY ASSISTANCE CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES AT RISK; AND
- IN TERMS OF THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES, GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING WELFARE SERVICES, IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICES, AND FORMING COMMUNITY NETWORKS AMONG SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS AND THE PUBLIC.
/IN ADDITION .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 25 -
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THE TERRITORY-WIDE NETWORK OF FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES ADOPTED A POSITIVE ROLE BY INITIATING OUTREACHING CONTACTS TO FAMILIES REPORTED TO BE IN NEED OF HELP.
SPECIAL CASES MIGHT ALSO BE HELPED BY THE DISTRICT SOCIAL CASE TEAMS COMPRISING, AS APPROPRIATE, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED.
------0-------
CONTROL SCHEME BEING DEVELOPED ON FOLDING TABLE PROBLEM
******
THE GOVERNMENT IS DEVELOPING A CONTROL SCHEME TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF CHILDREN BEING TRAPPED BY FOLDING TABLES, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID NENDICK, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE SCHEME WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR UNDER A TOYS AND CHILDREN’S PRODUCT SAFETY BILL WHICH HE HOPED TO INTRODUCE INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, MR NENDICK SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG.
"UNDER THE PROPOSED CONTROL SCHEME, FOLDING TABLES INTENDED FOR CHILDREN’S USE WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET SPECIFIC SAFETY STANDARDS BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO BE IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG OR PUT ON LOCAL SALE," HE SAID.
MR NENDICK SAID THAT ANY FOLDING TABLE NOT FOUND TO BE TOTALLY SAFE WOULD BE REMOVED FROM SALE BY MEANS OF A PROHIBITION ORDER WHICH THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO ISSUE.
HE ADDED THAT FOR ALL OTHER FOLDING TABLES, A SIMILAR CONTROL SCHEME WAS ENVISAGED, AND THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR UNDER A GENERAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY BILL WHICH IT WAS HOPED WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL NEXT YEAR.
- - 0----------
/26 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
26
TWO BILLS PASSED * * *
THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 AND THE GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE YEAR FOR THE GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) BILL WAS CHANGED TO 1990, FROM 1989, IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WAS INTRODUCED 1OR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. DEBATE ON IT WAS ADJOURNED.
IN ADDITION, A MOTION MOVED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE, ON ALLEGED SMUGGLING OF CARS TO CHINA, WAS PASSED AFTER DEBATE.
TEN MEMBERS SPOKE IN THE MOTION DEBATE, AND THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT. i
•
THE MOTION READ: "THIS COUNCIL NOTES WITH CONCERN THE INCIDENT INVOLVING THE ALLEGED SMUGGLING OF THREE MERCEDES BENZ MOTOR CARS ON MAY 3, 1990, THE TEMPORARY DETENTION OF TWO HONG KONG POLICEMEN AND THE FOUR-WEEK-LONG DETENTION OF FIVE HONG KONG SEAMEN IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN RELATION TO THAT ALLEGED SMUGGLING".
THF NEXT MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL BE ON JUNE 27.
♦
- - 0 - -
/27........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
27
GOVERNOR DEPLORES VIOLENCE
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT ANY SORT OF DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR ANY SORT OF VIOLENCE IS TO BE DEPLORED.
SIR DAVID WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING WHEN HE WAS ASKED TO COMMENT ON AN INCIDENT IN WHICH A WINDOW PANE IN AN UNOCCUPIED ROOM OF AN NONA BUILDING IN HAPPY VALLEY WAS HIT BY A BULLET.
"IT WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND WILL BE DEALT WITH,” HE SAID.
------0--------
STATEMENT ON DEATH OF POLICE CONSTABLE
THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, ON THE DEATH OF POLICE CONSTABLE CHAN KUN-PUN:
"I AM DEEPLY GRIEVED BY THE DEATH OF POLICE CONSTABLE CHAN KUN-PUN AS A DIRECT RESULT OF INJURIES SUSTAINED WHILST ON ANTI-SMUGGLING DUTY.
’’THIS TRAGIC INC’I DENT HIGHLIGHTS THE DANGERS FACED BY THE MARINE POLICE IN COMBATTING RUTHLESS AND VICIOUS SMUGGLERS. I EXTEND MY SYMPATHIES TO CONSTAIM.E (HAN’S FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES.
'THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO STAMP OUT ALL FORMS OF SMUGGLING. THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF CONSTABLE CHAN WILL ONLY STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE.”
------0--------
NO AMNESTY FOR Il’S FROM CHINA * * * * *
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR IAN STRACHAN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REFUTED REPORTED RUMOURS THAT THERE WOULD BE AN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING IN HONG KONG FROM CHINA.
"THIS IS UTTERLY NOT TRUE. Till RE IS, AND WILL BE, NO CHANGE WHATSOEVER To OUR EXISTING POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS,” HE SAID.
"ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ARRESTED WHEN THEY TRY TO COME INTO HONG KONG, AND SENT RACK TO CHINA.
"SIMILARLY, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE FOUND IN HONG KONG WILL ALSO BE ARRESTED AND REPATRIATED.
/"THIS REMAINS .......
WEDNESDY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 28 -
’’THIS REMAINS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S POLICY.”
MR STRACHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE RECENT REVIEW OF POLICY TO ALLOW FURTHER LEGAL IMPORTATION OF LABOUR DID NOT MEAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RELAX ITS ONGOING POLICY TO ARREST AND REPATRIATE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
’’THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY,” HE SAID.
”A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE POLICE AND THE SECURITY FORCES BOTH AT THE LAND AND SEA BORDER.”
IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, OVER 10,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE CAUGHT AND REPATRIATED TO CHINA.
------0--------
EXCO APPROVES CAPITAL ASSISTANCE LOANS SCHEME FOR SCHOOLS ******
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PACKAGE OF CAPITAL ASSISTANCE LOANS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL NON-PROFITMAKING DIRECT SUBSIDY SCHEME (DSS) SCHOOLS, SUBJECT TO ACCEPTANCE OF THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE INTEREST-FREE LOANS WERE AN ENHANCEMENT TO THE DIRECT SUBSIDY SCHEME, AND A SEPARATE CIRCULAR WOULD BE ISSUED LATER THIS MONTH TO INFORM SCHOOLS OF THE DETA U.S.
’’THE DSS, RECOMMENDED BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IN ITS REPORT NO. 3 AS A MEANS TO ENCOURAGE A STRONG, INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SCHOOLS SECTOR, WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SEPTEMBER 1991,” HE SAID.
’’SCHOOLS ADMITTED TO THE DSS WILL BE PAID A SUBSIDY BASED ON THE UNIT COST OF A PLACE IN AN AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOL. THE ACTUAL LEVEL OF THE SUBSIDY WILL DEPEND ON THE FEES CHARGED BY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.
’’THE MAIN AIM OF THE DSS IS OF SCHOOLS FOR PARENTS AND DIFFERENTIATION WITHIN THE SCHOOLS AND IMPROVEMENT.
TO INCREASE THE RANGE OF CHOICES
ALSO TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT
SECTOR TO ALLOW FOR INNOVATION
’’THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG INVITING THEM TO THIS YEAR SHOULD THEY WISH TO JOIN DSS IN 1991.”
A CIRCULAR TO ALL
APPLY BY OCTOBER 1
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE NEED FOR A CAPITAL LOAN SCHEME AROSE FROM TWO MAIN FACTORS.
ASSISTANCE
/"FIRST, THE ........
WEDNESDY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 29 -
’’FIRST, THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS REVIEW COMMITTEE (PSRC) SET UP TO ADVISE ON ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE DSS, ADVISED THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE DSS ATTRACTIVE TO AIDED SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ESTABLISHED ONES IN OLD BUILDINGS WHO MAY WISH TO JOIN, SOME FORM OF CAPITAL ASSISTANCE ASSURANCE WOULD BE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE PRESENT GRANTS UNDER THE CODES OF AID,” HE SAID.
’’THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED THIS ADVICE SINCE IT IS IMPORTANT TO ATTRACT FROM THE OUTSET A NUMBER OF AIDED SCHOOLS WITH ESTABLISHED REPUTATIONS INTO THE DSS.
’’SECONDLY, PROJECTIONS OF DEMAND FOR PLACES IN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ARISING FROM INVESTMENT BY OVERSEAS BUSINESS CONCERNS, RETURNING EMIGRANTS AND TERTIARY EXPANSION, SHOW AN APPRECIABLE SHORTFALL IN THE PROVISION OF PLACES IN THE 1990’S.
’’THIS INDICATES A NEED FOR ONE NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL, OR CONSIDERABLE EXPANSION OF EXISTING SCHOOLS.”
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S PRESENT POLICY TOWARDS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS WAS LIMITED TO THE PROVISION OF A PRIVATE TREATY GRANT OF LAND AT NIL PREMIUM.
’’SPONSORS OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS HAVE FOUND DIFFICULTY RAISING ADEQUATE FUNDS FOR EXPANSION TO MEET THE EXTRA DEMAND FOR PLACES, PARTLY BECAUSE THE TERMS OF THESE LAND GRANTS PREVENT SCHOOLS MORTGAGING OUT THE PREMISES AS COLLATERAL TO SECURE LOANS ON THE OPEN MARKET, AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF RAPIDLY RISING CONSTRUCTION COSTS,’’ HE SAID.
"AS IT IS IN HONG KONG’S INTEREST TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SUCH SCHOOL PLACES, CAPITAL ASSISTANCE LOANS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ONCE THEY HAVE JOINED THE DSS.
’’THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE LOANS SHOULD ACT AS AN INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS TO JOIN.”
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE LOANS WOULD BE AT NIL INTEREST AND REPAYABLE OVER 10 YEARS. ANY INCREASE IN SCHOOL FEES TO FINANCE SUCH LOANS WOULD NOT RESULT IN A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN GOVERNMNET SUBSIDY.
’’THE LOANS CAN BE USED FOR REDEVELOPING OLD AND UNSERVICEABLE SCHOOL BUILDINGS, MAJOR STRUCTURAL REPAIRS, AND IN THE CASE OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS JOINING THE DSS. FOR EXPANSION OF FACILITIES TO MEET ADDITIONAL DEMAND,” HE SAID.
’’THE AMOUNT OF THE LOANS WILL BE LIMITED FOR EACH SCHOOL TO A MAXIMUM CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF 155 PER CENT OF THE COST OF A STANDARD AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOL WHICH AT PRESENT IS ABOUT $34 MILLION, ON THE BASIS THAT THIS IS THE CEILING FOR ASSISTANCE TO ENGLISH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION SCHOOLS.
’’THE LOANS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO DSS SCHOOL IRRESPECTIVE OF THE LEVEL OF SUBSIDY THEY RECEIVE.”
--------0-----------
/30 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
30
MORE POSITIVE MARKETING APPROACH URGED It***
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED LOCAL TRADERS AND MANUFACTURERS TO ADOPT A MORF POSITIVE AND AGGRESSIVE APPROACH IN MARKETING THEIR PRODUCTS.
SPEAKING AT A I,(INCH MEETING OF THE INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MR CHAN SAID THIS COULD BE DONE BY ESTABLISHING OVERSEAS SALES AND MARKETING OFFICES; STEPPING UP EFFORTS IN MARKET AND PRODUCT RESEARCH; ADVERTISING PRODUCTS IN TRADE MAGAZINES; PARTICIPATING IN INTERNATIONAL FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS; AND MAKING DIRECT CONTACT WITH CUSTOMERS.
TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, HE SAID, HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURERS MUST BE ABLE TO PRODUCE QUALITY GOODS OF HIGHER PRECISION AND ACCURACY AND WITH BETTER RELIABILITY AND LOWER DEFECT RATES.
"TO MOVE UP MARKET, MANUFACTURERS WILL HAVE TO MAKE GREATER USE OF NOT ONLY HARD TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS ADVANCED MACHINERY, PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND TESTING AND MEASURING EQUIPMENT, BUT ALSO SOFT TECHNOLOGIES LIKE QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THAT, TOGETHER WITH THE MOVE TOWARDS HIGHER TECHNOLOGY, IT WAS TIME FOR HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING THEIR OWN BRAND NAMES AND REDUCING CONVENTIONAL RELIANCE ON ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURE (OEM) BUSINESS.
"AN IDENTIFIABLE BRAND NAME ASSOCIATED WITH HONG KONG’S REPUTABLE TRADING IMAGE WOULD BE A STRONG IMPETUS TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR TRADE PERFORMANCE," HE SAID.
MR CHAN ALSO CALLED ON THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO REDOUBLE ITS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EXPORT PERFORMANCE.
"AFTER ALL, WELCOME AS THE GROWTH OF OUR RE-EXPORTS MAY BE, OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS COUNT FAR MORE IN TERMS OF VALUE ADDED IN HONG KONG AND OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE WEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
"WE MUST THEREFORE CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OPENING UP NEW MARKETS AS WELL AS TO INCREASING OUR SALES TO EXISTING ONES.
"AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST CONTINUE TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCTS IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN OUR EDGE IN WORLD MARKETS AGAINST EVER-INCREASING COMPETITION," HE SAID.
IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, MR CHAN SAID, HONG KONG PLAYED A FULL PART IN THE ONGOING URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH NOT ONLY EMBRACED TRADITIONAL AREAS OF TRADE IN GOODS, BUT ALSO BROKE NEW GROUND BY ADDRESSING ISSUES SUCH AS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TRADE IN SERVICES.
/"WE ATTACH .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 31 -
, "WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO MAINTAINING THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND STRENGTHENING THE DISCIPLINES OF THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDE HONG KONG, A SMALL TERRITORY WITH VERY LITTLE NEGOTIATING LEVERAGE, WITH THE ONLY PROTECTION IT HAS AGAINST TRADE PROTECTIONISM IN ITS EXPORT MARKETS.
"TO THIS END, THE GOVERNMENT WILL DEVOTE ITS UTMOST EFFORTS TOWARDS ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF THE URUGUAY ROUND NEGOTIATIONS WHICH WILL BE CONCLUDED BY DECEMBER THIS YEAR," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN FORMULATING THE BEST POSSIBLE STRATEGY FOR PROMOTING HONG KONG’S TRADE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
"THE WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL, FROM HANDLING TRADE ENQUIRIES AND CONDUCTING MARKET RESEARCH TO ORGANISING TRADE FAIRS AND SEMINARS, WILL CONTINUE TO RENDER EXTENSIVE AND VALUABLE SUPPORT TO OUR TRADERS AND MANUFACTURERS.
"THESE, TOGETHER WITH THE TRADE PROMOTION EFFORTS INITIATED BY DIFFERENT TRADE ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS YOUR CHAMBER, WILL DEFINITELY BE CONDUCIVE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF HONG KONG’S TRADE PERFORMANCE," HE SAID.
-----0------
LADY WILSON VISITS TSEUNG KWAN 0 CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE
*******
CHTIDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE PRIMARY MEANS OF THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS IN REACHING AND PROVIDING SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
LADY WILSON WAS TOLD THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE TSUI LAM CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE AND ROOMS IN TSEUNG KWAN O - ONE OF THE 35 CHILDREN RUN BY THE FEDERATION IN THF TERRITORY.
WHEN SHE VISITED
THE STUDY/READING
AND YOUTH CENTRES
THE FACILITIES AND
SERVICES PROVIDED IN
THESE CENTRES ARE
AIMED AT PROMOTING THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
, EDUCATIONAL, INTELLECTUAL AND
PHYSICAL
THE
THE
IN
O
AND
THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE TSUI LAM USNiKd STUDY/READING ROOMS, MISS KAREN LAM, TOLD LAD\ WILSON THAT CENTRE WAS OPENED IN MID 1988 TO SERVE MAINLY THE YOUNG POPULATION TOUT I.AM AND KING LAM ESTATES AND HONG SING GARDEN IN TSEUNG KWAN
OF
THE
TSUI
LAM
CENTRE
TSUI LAM AND KING LAM ESTATES
NEW TOWN.
STUDY AND READING ROOMS, ROOM, SITTING AREA, A AS HANDICRAFT MAKING,
THE FACILITIES INCLUDE A TOY LIBRARY, A GYMNASIUM, A DARK ROOM, A DOMESTIC SCIENCE HALL AND ROOMS FOR INTEREST CLASSES SUCH
PAINTING AND COOKING.
/THE CENTRE ......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
THE CENTRE HAS A MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN 1,500 AND ABOUT 500 FAMILY UNITS ARE REGISTERED AS FAMILY MEMBERS.
LADY WILSON WAS SHOWN AROUND THE CENTRE WHERE SHE SAW CHILDREN ENJOYING A STORY TELLING SESSION, PAINTING, SINGING AND DANCING; AND YOUNG PEOPLE ENJOYING KARAOKE SINGING, PLAYING CHESS AND PRACTISING GYMNASTICS.
SHE ALSO TOOK PART IN A HANDICRAFT INTEREST CLASS WITH THE CHILDREN AND LEARNT HOW TO MAKE FIGURINES WITH JAPANESE CLAY.
LADY WILSON WAS ACCOMPANIED ON THE VISIT BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ADOLF HSU, SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FREDERICK TONG, AND THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS, MR LAO MOU-CHI AND MR DAVID LUNG.
- - 0 - -
NORTH DB MEMBERS VISIT SPECIAL SCHOOLS
*****
NORTH DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING VISITED TWO SPECIAL SCHOOLS TO SEE THEIR OPERATION AND FACILITIES.
FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE PROVISION OF SPECIAL PLACES FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.
THROUGH CONCERTED EFFORTS, TWO SPECIAL SCHOOLS - THE BUDDHIST PO KWONG SCHOOL NEAR TIN.SAM TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA IN FANLING, AND THE SALVATION ARMY SHEK WU SCHOOL IN TIN PING ESTATE IN SHEUNG SHUI STARTED OPERATION IN MARCH 1988 AND FEBRUARY 1990 RESPECTIVELY.
LED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG, AND ACCOMPANIED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI, THE PARTY FIRST WENT TO THE BUDDHIST PO KWONG SCHOOL TODAY.
THE SCHOOL, OPERATED BY THE HEUNG HOI CHING KWOK LIN ASSOCIATION, HAS AN INTAKE OF 70 MILDLY AND MODERATELY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.
NEXT THEY VISITED THE SALVATION ARMY SHEK WU SCHOOL WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE 60 MILDLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.
ON COMPLETION OF A THREE-PHASE CONVERSION PROGRAMME IN 1992-93, THE INTAKE OF THE SCHOOL WILL BE BOOSTED TO 200.
- - 0 - -
/33
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 33 -
AWARDS FOR MODEL STUDENTS IN EASTERN DISTRICT
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ARE INVITED TO NOMINATE STUDENTS WHO EXCEL IN BOTH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT MODEL STUDENTS AWARDS.
THE AWARD SCHEME IS ORGANISED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE AWARDS ARE DIVIDED INTO FIVE CATEGORIES: SENIOR SECONDARY SECTION FOR FORMS FIVE TO SEVEN STUDENTS; JUNIOR SECONDARY SECTION FOR FORMS TWO TO FOUR STUDENTS; PRIMARY FOUR TO SIX SECTION; PRIMARY TWO TO THREE SECTION; AND THE KINDERGARTEN SECTION.
SELECTION CRITERIA ARE BASED ON THE STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE 1988-89 FINAL EXAMINATION AND THE FIRST TERM EXAMINATION IN THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR. CREDITS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOL.
FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS, THEIR PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY SERVICE WILL ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
COMPLETED NOMINATION FORMS SHOULD REACH THE EASTERN DISTRICT SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE AT THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, 880-886 KING’S ROAD, BEFORE JUNE 15.
THE COMMITTEE WILL NOTIFY SCHOOLS OF THE RESULTS BEFORE JULY 1. WINNERS WILL BE AWARDED CERTIFICATES.
------0 - - - -
DB TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF KARAOKES * * * ♦ *
THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL STUDY PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF KARAOKE LOUNGES IN THE DISTRICT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
DISCUSSION WILL FOCUS ON THE NOISE NUISANCE PRODUCED BY THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT STEM FROM THEIR .OPERATION AND THE EXISTING LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OVER THEM.
THE MEETING WILL ALSO DISCUSS NOISE POLLUTION CAUSED BY VENTILATION SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN NEW SHOPPING ARCADES, AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF WATER QUALITY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, 13TH FLOOR, YUEN LONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 2 KIU LOK SQUARE, YUEN LONG. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
--------0----------
/34 .......................................
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
34
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS AIRPORT TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMME
THE TRAFFIC AND BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE OF THE CENTRAL KOWLOON
TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT KAI TAK AIRPORT TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMME TRAFFIC STUDY AT A MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT WILL BRIEF MEMBERS ON THE DOCUMENT.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO STUDY THE PUBLIC LIGHT BUS POLICY AND THEIR OPERATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
TONG WILL OFFICE
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KWUN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE DISTRICT
CONFERENCE ROOM, TUNG YAN STREET.
------0--------
THREE GOVT LOTS TO LET BY TENDER ♦ ♦****
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT TERM TENANCY OF THREE GOVERNMENT LAND LOTS.
THE FIRST LOT, WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 4,050 SQUARE METRES, IS LOCATED AT CHOI SHEK LANE IN KOWLOON. IT IS FOR THE USE OF OPEN STORAGE, EXCLUDING CONTAINERS.
THE TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE SECOND LOT IS LOCATED AT AREA 35, TSUEN WAN. WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 25,890 SQUARE METRES, IT IS FOR THE USE OF OPEN STORAGE OF NON-OFFENSIVE AND NON-DANGEROUS GOODS, EXCLUDING STORAGE OF CONTAINERS AND MOTOR VEHICLES.
THE TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE MONTHLY AFTERWARDS.
THE THIRD LOT IS A 10,000-SQUARE-METRES SITE AT AREA 35, TSUEN WAN. IT IS FOR FEE PAYING PUBLIC CARPARK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, INCLUDING GOODS VEHICLES BUT EXCLUDING CONTAINER TRACTORS AND TRAILORS, CURRENTLY LICENSED UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE.
/THE TENANCY .......
WEDNESDY, JUNE 6, 1990
THE TENANCY IS FOR TWO YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JUNE 22.
FORMS OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLANS INSPECTED AT THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 1OTH FLOOR, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD; THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES KOWLOON, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
- - 0 - -
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN EASTERN DISTRICT
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 8), TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO FACILITATE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF KING’S ROAD.
THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS WILL BE DESIGNATED 24-HOUR DAILY URBAN CLEARWAYS FOR NINE MONTHS:
- NGAN MOK STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH KING’S ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
- KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH HING FAT STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 55 METRES EAST OF NGAN MOK STREET;
- KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES WEST OF LAU LI STREET TO A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES WEST OF WING HING STREET;
- KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES WEST OF JUPITER STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES EAST OF SHELL STREET;
- KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH NORTH POINT ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 80 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
- KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT 55 METRES WEST OF SHU KUK STREET TO A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES EAST OF KAM HONG STREET;
- KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH MAN HONG STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 155 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
/- KING’S ROAD
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 36 -
- KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES WEST OF HEALTHY STREET EAST TO A POINT ABOUT 45 METRES EAST OF JAVA ROAD; AND
KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT 60 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH PAN HOI STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 175 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS WILL BE DESIGNATED 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY URBAN CLEARWAYS ALSO FOR NINE MONTHS:
- KING’S ROAD WESTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT 65 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH LAU SIN STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 180 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
- KING’S ROAD WESTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT 70 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH SHU KUK STREET TO A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
KING’S ROAD WESTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES EAST
OF ITS JUNCTION WITH HEALTHY STREET EAST TO A POINT ABOUT
65 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
- KING’S ROAD WESTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES EAST
OF ITS JUNCTION WITH MODEL LANE TO A POINT ABOUT 55 METRES
WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
- KING’S ROAD WESTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH MANSION STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 90 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
- KING’S ROAD WESTBOUND FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH QUARRY BAY STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 120 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
KING’S ROAD WESTBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH YAU MAN STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 15 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION; AND
- KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH WESTLANDS ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
TN ADDITION, THE EXISTING TRAM LANE ON KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND BETWEEN TSING FUNG STREET AND WING HING STREET, WILL BE CANCELLED FOR ABOUT NINE MONTHS.
--------0-----------
/37 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990
- 37 -
URBAN CLEARWAY IN POK FU LAM * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 8), THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF POK FU LAM ROAD FROM A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO CHI FU ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 80 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING RESTRICTION ON THE SECTION OF POK FU LAM ROAD WILL BE CANCELLED.
------0--------
URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHA TIN * * » *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT (JUNE 8), THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF TAM KON FROM A POINT 45 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION ---------------------------- SQUTH QF THE
FROM 10 AM PO STREET
WITH
SAME
SHA
ON FRIDAY IN SHA TIN TIN CENTRE
STREET TO A POINT 70 METRES
DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
JUNCTION WILL BE
AREA, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT THOSE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL BE
PASSENGERS AND GOODS.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE PROHIBITED FROM STOPPING FOR
- - 0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNMENT FURTHER ECONOMISES ON ITS RESOURCES ....................................... 1
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS ON FOREX DEALING INVITED ......................................... 3
PORT DEVELOPMENT BOARD APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED ........................................ 4
795 SUBMISSIONS ON DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS RECEIVED ..................................... 5
NEGOTIATIONS ON TRANSFERRING INSURANCE FIRM'S BUSINESS AT ADVANCED STAGE ... 5
HK RED CROSS A PIONEER IN PROVIDING SPECIAL EDUCATION ................................ 6
EXCO DECISION ON MONUMENTS WELCOMED .................................................. 7
SCS PAYS VISIT TO TREASURY ........................................................... 8
ACTION TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS: SHA ............................. 8
DEMONSTRATION FARM REPORT TO BE READY SOON .......................................... 10
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS NEW GMB ROUTE ............................................... 11
FLOWER TRADERS GIVEN LICENCE REMINDER ON WILD ORCHIDS ............................... 11
TWO CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPT SURVEYS COMMENCED .................................... 12
PUBLIC URGED TO REPORT LITTERING FROM VEHICLES ...................................... 14
MAIL SERVICES DURING FORTHCOMING HOLIDAYS ........................................... 15
CONTRACT SIGNED FOR TSEUNG KWAN 0 ENGINEERING WORKS ................................. 15
LOAN FUNDS FOR STUDENTS ............................................................. 16
SEMINAR ON MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION .................................................. 17
TEMPORARY NIGHT CLOSURE OF VEHICULAR UNDERPASS IN SHAM SHUI PO....................... 17
URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHA TIN ........................................................... 18
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
1
GOVERNMENT FURTHER ECONOMISES ON ITS RESOURCES
THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PLAN TO CUT THE EXPENDITURE OF ALL DEPARTMENTS BY 15 PER CENT BUT IT DOES TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THE NEED TO CONTROL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE TIGHTLY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BECOME INCREASINGLY EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE WAS ALSO TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.
"AND TO THIS END, WE ARE AIMING FOR MANY DEPARTMENTS TO ACHIEVE NIL GROWTH IN ESTABLISHMENT - THAT IS TO SAY, NIL GROWTH IN THE .^BER OF POSTS WHICH THE DEPARTMENTS ARE ALLOWED TO TRY TO RECRUIT TO - OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS OR SO," HE SAID.
THIS WOULD BE THE GENERAL PATTERN, ALTHOUGH SOME DEPARTMENTS MIGHT NEED A LITTLE MORE, SOME A LITTLE LESS, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE DETAILS WERE STILL BEING WORKED OUT.
"ALL THIS IS I BELIEVE IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE PUBLIC - WE SHALL BE TAKING EVEN MORE CARE THAT OUR EXPENDITURE GOES WHERE IT WILL DO MOST GOOD - MARGINAL ACTIVITIES WILL HAVE TO BE SLIMMED OR STOPPED," MR MACLEOD SAID AT A HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION LUNCH THIS AFTERNOON.
"BUT WE ARE CONSCIOUS THAT IT NEEDS A DELICATE TOUCH; NEW HOSPITALS WILL REQUIRE STAFFING, FOR EXAMPLE; WE NEED TO TAKE CARE NOT TO OVER-REACT, OR TO DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE, AND TO LEAVE SOME ELEMENT OF CHOICE WITH DEPARTMENTS AS TO HOW BEST TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIES; CLEARLY RESOURCE AND STAFF MANAGEMENT SKILLS ARE GOING TO BE OF INCREASING IMPORTANCE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
"THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE TO US ALL," HE SAID.
MR MACLEOD POINTED OUT THAT TO HELP FIND ECONOMIES, THE GOVERNMENT HAD AN ON-GOING PROGRAMME OF STUDIES BY THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES SIDE OF THE FINANCE BRANCH.
THIS WAS SUPPLEMENTED BY DISCUSSIONS BY THE SO-CALLED STAR CHAMBER, COMPRISING THE CHIEF SECRETARY, FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND MR MACLEOD HIMSELF, TOGETHER WITH POLICY SECRETARIES TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE POLICIES OR PRACTICES COULD BE CHANGED, PRIVATISATION INTRODUCED AND SAVINGS EFFECTED.
"WE ARE ALSO LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT WAYS OF RAISING REVENUE THROUGH A MORE COMMERCIAL APPROACH," HE SAID, REMINDING HIS AUDIENCE THAT A LOWER GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GROWTH (GDP) WOULD ALSO MEAN LOWER REVENUE.
"THE NEW GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AGENCY, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL SOON BE PUTTING A GOVERNMENT OFFICE CARPARK OUT TO TENDER FOR PUBLIC USE OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS; IT HAS IDENTIFIED SCOPE FOR SIGNIFICANT ADVERTISING REVENUE BY USING SPACE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS; AND FOR RETAIL PREMISES IN THE LOWER FLOORS OF SUCH BUILDINGS," HE SAID.
/TURNING TO .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
2
TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, MR MACLEOD SAID THE CURRENT SITUATION COULD NOT REASONABLY BE DESCRIBED AS SUCH.
HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT IT WAS CLEARLY NECESSARY TO LOWER THE RATE OF GROWTH SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS, PARTICULARLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.
FIGURES IM THE LAST BUDGET SHOWED THAT PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE IN 1990-91 WOULD BE UP OVER NINE PER CENT IN REAL TERMS, ROUGHLY THE SAME PERCENTAGE WHETHER FOR RECURRENT OR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
"LOOKING BACK OVER THE BO’S, WE HAVE KEPT PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE SLIGHTLY BELOW GDP GROWTH, PERHAPS HELPED SOMETIMES BY HIGHER THAN EXPECTED GDP GROWTH, ESPECIALLY IN 1986 AND 1987.
"LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST SERIOUS WARNING SIGNAL, WHEN PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE INCREASED BY SOME 13 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS.
"AND INDEED A WARNING WAS SOUNDED IN THE 1989-90 BUDGET SPEECH THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE INCREASINGLY VIGOROUS IN OUR ATTACK ON BASELINE EXPENDITURE," HE SAID.
MR MACLEOD EXPLAINED THAT IN THE PERIOD TO 1993-94, ALTHOUGH PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE WOULD BE LOWER, AT 6.6 PER CENT EACH YEAR, IT TOO WOULD STILL EXCEED THE GUIDELINE OF 5.5 PER CENT, THE TREND GDP GROWTH RATE.
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT EXPECT TO KEEP WITHIN THE GUIDELINE EVERY YEAR, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID SO OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS, HE SAID.
"AND THE NINE PER CENT PLUS GROWTH FIGURE WAS RIGHTLY TAKEN BY US AND OTHERS AS A WARNING SIGNAL THAT SOME CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS NEEDED," HE SAID.
MR MACLEOD REITERATED THAT TO DATE THE AIRPORT PROJECT WAS NOT A MAJOR REASON FOR THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE.
"IT HAS OF COURSE RESULTED TN SOME RECURRENT AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, BUT THE MAJOR PROVISION WILL BE NEEDED IN 1991-92 AND LATER.
"WE HAVE SAID THAT WE ARE LESS CONCERNED IF THERE ARE
TEMPORARY LUMPS OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE WHICH TAKE US OVER OUR GUIDELINES - CAPITAL IS ONLY ONE THIRD THE SIZE OF RECURRENT
EXPENDITURE, AND LESS PERMANENT - BUT NATURALLY WE WISH TO KEEP SUCH LUMPS TO THE MINIMUM, SO AGAIN THE CONTROL IN CAPITAL RESOURCE
ALLOCATION FOR 1991-92 WILL BE PARTICULARLY TIGHT," HE SAID.
- - 0----------
/3.........
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
3
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS ON * * *
FOREX DEALING INVITED « * »
THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS HAS SET UP AN INTERNAL WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS ANY NEED TO .IMPOSE CONTROLS ON LEVERAGED DEALINGS IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE BY COMPANIES WHICH FALL OUTSIDE EXISTING FIELDS OF SUPERVISION AND REGULATION, AND, IF APPROPRIATE, TO RECOMMEND COURSES OF ACTION.
THE GROUP IS TO BE CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR JOSEPH YAM.
"THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH HAS IN FACT BEEN LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE SUBJECT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND HAS SOUGHT LEGAL ADVICE," THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
"BUT BEFORE ACTUAL PROPOSALS ARE DRAWN UP, THE WORKING GROUP WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS ON THE SUBJECT FROM THOSE WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT," HE SAID.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE THE END OF JULY THIS YEAR AND SHOULD BE SENT TO THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS AT THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH, 24TH FLOOR, ADMIRALTY CENTRE, TOWER 2, 18 HARCOURT ROAD. INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.
MR NENDICK EMPHASISED THAT ANY PROPOSALS WILL HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED NOT TO AFFECT LEGITIMATE TRANSACTIONS CONDUCTED BY PROFESSIONALS AND BY THOSE INVESTORS CAPABLE OF PROPERLY ASSESSING THE RISKS INVOLVED.
HE ADVISED THAT NON-PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS SHOULD ALWAYS TAKE GREAT CARE IN CONSIDERING WHETHER IT IS PRUDENT TO GIVE VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED DISCRETION TO UNREGULATED COMPANIES TO "INVEST" ON THEIR BEHALF IN LEVERAGED FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS.
"PLUSH OFFICES ARE NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD INDICATION OF RELIABILITY. IT WILL BE USEFUL TO CONSIDER WHO PAYS FOR THE EXPENSIVE DECOR AT THE END OF THE DAY," HE ADDED.
HE FURTHER ADVISED THAT INVESTORS SHOULD ALWAYS CONSIDER WHETHER THE SERVICES THEY REQUIRED COULD BE PROVIDED INSTEAD BY A BANK OR DEPOSIT TAKING COMPANY.
"SUCH INSTITUTIONS ARE AUTHORISED UNDER THE BANKING ORDINANCE AND ARE SUPERVISED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING," HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
/4 ........
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 4 -
PORT DEVELOPMENT BOARD APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF HONG KONG’S NEW PORT DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
THE CHAIRMAN WILL BE MR JOHN GRAY, WHO IS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE HONGKONG BANK, AND THE MEMBERS ARE:
FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR:
THE HON EDWARD HO SING-TIN, JP
MR STEVEN BAKER
DR FRANK CHAO
MR RAYMOND KWOK
MR SIMON MURRAY
MR ANTHONY NIGHTINGALE
MR PETER THOMPSON, JP
MR TONG CHEE-GUANG
MR TUNG CHEE-HWA
MR BENJAMIN WONG
MR DAVID WONG SHOU-YEH, JP
FROM THE GOVERNMENT:
THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES
THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS
THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE.
THE INTENTION TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR.
THE BOARD’S PRINCIPAL FUNCTION WILL BE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON ALL MATTERS CONCERNING THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORT OF HONG KONG.
/A GOVERNMENT .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 5 -
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID WHILST THE EXISTING SYSTEM HAD SERVED HONG KONG WELL, THE SCALE OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WHICH WAS NEEDED TO ENSURE THE PORT CONTINUED TO MEET THE DEMANDS UPON IT WAS SO LARGE AS TO REQUIRE A NEW APPROACH.
THE PORT DEVELOPMENT BOARD WILL BE THE FORUM FOR THE INJECTION OF KEY PRIVATE SECTOR ADVICE INTO THE GOVERNMENT PLANNING SYSTEM SO THAT THE PORT CONTINUES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS USERS AND ACHIEVES THE BEST ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE FOR HONG KONG.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID HE EXPECTED THE FIRST FORMAL SESSION OF THE BOARD TO BE HELD IN EARLY AUGUST.
------0--------
795 SUBMISSIONS ON DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS RECEIVED
THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL Of 795 SUBMISSIONS OH THE DRAFT HONG KONG «LL OF BIGHTS ORD NANOS 1990 WHEN THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION PERIOD ENDED YESTERDAY (JUNE 6).
FROM THE TODAY
"OF THESE SUBMISSIONS, 32 WERE FROM ORGANISATIONS AND 33 INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS. THE REMAINING 730 WERE IN FORM OF PRE-PRINTED LETTERS," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID (THURSDAY).
1990, LEGAL HOC YEE
DURING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD WHICH BEGAN ON MARCH 16, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS BRANCH AND DEPARTMENT ALSO ATTENDED MEETINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD SroOp ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, 14 DISTRICT BOARDS, AND THE HEUNG KUK, AND TOOK NOTE OF THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS.
"THE ADMINISTRATION IS STUDYING THE COMMENTS TAKE THEM INTO ACCOUNT IN FINALISING THE DRAFT BILL SPOKESMAN SAID.
RECEIVED AND WILL " THE GOVERNMENT
NEGOTIATIONS ON TRANSFERRING INSURANCE FIRM’S BUSINESS AT ADVANCED STAGE »«***»
CAPACITY AS EMPLOYERS’ (THURSDAY) EMPLOYERS’
REACHED AN
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR NOEL GLEESON, IN HIS OFFICIAL RECEIVER AND PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR OF NATIONAL MUTUAL GENERAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION LIMITED, TODAY INDICATED THAT NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE TRANSFER OF NATIONAL MUTUAL’S BUSINESS IN HONG KONG TO A THIRD PARTY HAD
ADVANCED STAGE.
AGREEMENT WITH THE THIRD PARTY HAD BEEN REACHED IN PRINCIPLE AND IT WAS HOPED TO COMPLETE THE ORDERLY TRANSFER OF THE BUSINESS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
/AS IT ........
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 6 -
AS IT WAS NOT HIS INTENTION TO CANCEL ANY OF THE POLICIES THEY WOULD ALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT IN THE MEANTIME.
AS INSURANCE AUTHORITY HE HAD APPROVED THE TRANSFER IN PRINCIPLE AND BELIEVED THIS WOULD BE THE BEST WAY OF PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF POLICY HOLDERS AND CLAIMANTS.
----0------
HK RED CROSS A PIONEER IN PROVIDING SPECIAL EDUCATION
*******
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TODAY (THURSDAY) HAILED THE HONG KONG RED CROSS AS "A PIONEER" IN PROVIDING SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AS WELL AS FOR CONVALESCING CHILDREN IN HOSPITALS.
SPEAKING AT THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HONG KONG RED CROSS AND OPEN DAYS OF RED CROSS SCHOOLS, SHE SAID SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1950, THE RED CROSS HAD CARED FOR AND SERVED THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BY ITS INVOLVEMENT IN PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND MITIGATING DISEASE AND PAIN.
"SINCE 1954, WITH THE HELP OF PRINCIPALS AND STAFF, THE RED CROSS SCHOOLS FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED HAVE HELPED YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAXIMISE THEIR POTENTIAL AND TO OVERCOME THEIR DIFFICULTIES IN ADAPTING THEMSELVES IN LIVING AND LEARNING," SHE SAID.
"THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE DEVELOPED INTO WELL-ADJUSTED AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
"THE HOSPITAL SCHOOLS PROVIDE TEACHING TO HOSPITALISED YOUNG PATIENTS SO THAT THEIR SCHOOLING IS NOT INTERRUPTED AND FACILITATE THEIR RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITALS."
MRS WONG ALSO POINTED OUT THAT EDUCATING PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WAS NOT AN EASY TASK AS IT CALLED FOR IMMENSE PATIENCE, LOVE AND CO-ORDINATION AMONG VARIOUS PROFESSIONALS.
"YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF EVERY CHILD BEFORE A COMPREHENSIVE AND BALANCED EDUCATION CAN BE OFFERED. IN THIS RESPECT YOUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY," SHE TOLD RED CROSS OFFICIALS.
"I AM SURE THAT WITH THE CONTINUOUS AND CO-ORDINATED EFFORTS BETWEEN THE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT, THERE WILL BE A BETTER TOMORROW FOR OUR CHILDREN."
------0 - -
/7.........
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
7
EXCO DECISION ON MONUMENTS WELCOMED
* * * *
MEMBERS OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD (AAB) TODAY (THURSDAY) WELCOMED THE RECENT DECISIONS BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO DECLARE FOUR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AS MONUMENTS.
THE BUILDINGS ARE THE OLD KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CLOCK TOWER IN TSIM SHA TSUI, THE OLD PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE AT CAINE LANE, THE WAN CHAI POST OFFICE IN QUEEN’S ROAD EAST AND THE WESTERN MARKET AT THE JUNCTION OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.
THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CLOCK TOWER WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1915 AS PART OF THE FORMER RAILWAY STATION.
THE OLD PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1905 TO HOUSE HONG KONG’S FIRST BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
THE WAN CHAI POST OFFICE HAS BEEN USED AS A POST OFFICE SINCE 1915, AND WAS GAZETTED AS A MONUMENT UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE LAST MONTH.' IT WILL SHORTLY BECOME AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CENTRE.
THE WESTERN MARKET WILL BE RENOVATED BY THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND USED TO ACCOMMODATE A TRADITIONAL MARKET AND VENUE FOR CRAFT ACTIVITIES.
AT THEIR MEETING TODAY, THE AAB MEMBERS ALSO WELCOMED THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB’S DONATION OF $2.35 MILLION FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE TANG CHUNG LING ANCESTRAL HALL AT TSZ TONG TSUEN, FANLING.
THE ANCESTRAL HALL, ONE OF THE OLDEST ANCESTRAL HALLS IN THE TERRITORY, IS A LARGE BUILDING WITH THREE HALLS AND TWO COURTYARDS.
IT HAS BEEN USED BY THE TANGS OF LUNG YEUK TAU FOR ANCESTRAL WORSHIP AND AS A COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR FESTIVALS AND CEREMONIES FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS, AND IS PARTICULARLY NOTEWORTHY FOR THE EXCELLENT CARVING OF ITS WOODEN BEAMS, BRACKETS AND EAVES BOARDS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE WELCOME TO VISIT THE HALL ON COMPLETION OF THE RESTORATION WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT SOON BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE AAB ALSO RECOMMENDED THE DECLARATION OF THE HISTORICAL KANG YUNG SHU UK IN SHA TAU KOK AS A MONUMENT.
THE BUILDING IS A SIMPLE HAKKA STUDY HALL WHICH WAS USED BY THE LI CLAN OF WO HANG VILLAGE AS A SCHOOL FOR MORE THAN 120 YEARS.
---------0-----------
/8 .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 8 -
SCS PAYS VISIT TO TREASURY t * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, TODAY (THURSDAY) WAS GIVEN AN INSIGHT INTO THE OPERATIONS OF THE TREASURY DURING A VISIT TO ITS VARIOUS DIVISIONS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES, MR C.F.M. O’KELLY, MR WIGGHAM VISITED THE DEPARTMENT’S PROVIDENT FUNDS BRANCH AND COMPUTER DIVISION OF THE ACCOUNTING SERVICES BRANCH.
MR WIGGHAM ALSO HAD INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS AND EXCHANGED VIEWS WITH STAFF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TREASURY.
TODAY’S VISIT WAS THE 12TH IN A SERIES OF FAMILIARISATION VISITS TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE URBAN SERVICES, THE SOCIAL WELFARE, THE EDUCATION AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENTS.
--------0----------
ACTION TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS: SHA
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR (THURSDAY) EVENING THAT MEASURES HAVE TO BE CONDITIONS OF BEDSPACE APARTMENTS.
PETER TSAO, SAID THIS
TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE
SPEAKING AT THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF THE ZONTA CLUB KOWLOON, HE EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THE ’’VERY POOR” LIVING CONDITIONS THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE APARTMENTS.
OF
OF
4,200 ’’CAGED IN MONG KOK, CHAI. MANY OF WERE RECEIVING
HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ROUGHLY LIVING IN ABOUT 150 BEDSPACE APARTMENTS, MOSTLY SHUI PO, CENTRAL AND WESTERN, YAU TSIM AND WAN WERE OLD PEOPLE, AND ABOUT 35 PER CENT OF I HEM
MEN” SHAM THEM SOME
FORM OF WELFARE SERVICES.
MR TSAO SAID HE HAD VISITED SOME BEDSPACE AFFECTED BY A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS, SUCH DEFICIENT SANITATION, ILLEGAL WIRING AND UNLAWFUL
THEM
ON TO THE OUTSIDE OF BUILDINGS.
APARTMENTS, AND
AS OBSOLETE
FOUND AND
STRUCTURES BOLTED
”MY BIGGEST WORRY IS OVER-CROWDING. LIGHTING AND VENTILATION ARE POOR OWING TO THE CONGESTED PLACING OF TRIPLE-BUNK BEDS. TOILETS AND KITCHEN FACILITIES ARE GROSSLY INADEQUATE.
"I HAVE SEEN ELDERLY LODGERS WHO HAVE TO TAKE THEIR DINNER, IN BED AT 4 PM IN ORDER TO BE AT THE HEAD OF QUEUE BEFORE THE OTHER RESIDENTS RETURN AFTER WORK IN THE EVENING,” HE NOTED.
/MEASURES WERE .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
9
MEASURES WERE REQUIRED TO REGULATE THE CONDITIONS IN I EDSPACE APARTMENTS, AND LICENSING WAS AN OPTION, MR TSAO CONTINUED, ADDING THAT HE HAD ASKED THE DISTRICT OFFICES TO CARRY OUT A SURVEY ON ALL THE BEDSPACE APARTMENTS IN THE TERRITORY.
"WHEN WE HAVE ADEQUATE INFORMATION ON THE OPERATION OF SUCH APARTMENTS AND ON THE LODGERS, WE SHALL BE BETTER ABLE TO MEASURE PRECISELY THE SIZE AND EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS, AND CONSIDER PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO THEM,” HE SAID.
NOTING THAT MANY PEOPLE LIVED IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS BECAUSE OF THE LOW RENTAL AND BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE NEAR THEIR PLACE OF WORK, MR TSAO SAID HE WAS TRYING TO INTEREST SOME ORGANISATIONS IN SPONSORING HOSTEL PROJECTS IN CERTAIN URBAN LOCATIONS TO CATER FOR THE LODGERS WHO WOULD NEED TO BE DISPLACED FROM CONGESTED APARTMENTS.
"I HAVE RECEIVED SOME ENCOURAGING RESPONSE, AND I HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING YOUR CLUB, CAN JOIN IN TO SUPPORT THESE ENDEAVOURS.
"THE JOB WON’T BE EASY, NEITHER CAN I GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL GET RESULTS. OTHERS HAVE TRIED AND FAILED. BUT WHAT I DO PROMISE IS THAT I SHALL PERSONALLY DEVOTE TIME, ENERGY AND ATTENTION TO THIS SITUATION, ONE OF WHICH A RICH COMMUNITY SUCH AS HONG KONG SHOULD FEEL ASHAMED," HE ADDED.
MR TSAO SAID THAT THE DETERIORATION, BOTH IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND MANAGEMENT, OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM ABOUT WHICH HE WAS VERY CONCERNED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE 1985, THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) HAD FORMED BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAMS IN 10 DISTRICTS TO GIVE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO FLAT OWNERS IN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR BUILDINGS.
SO FAR, THE CONDITIONS OF ABOUT 450 BUILDINGS HAD BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED. THE CNTA WAS RESTRUCTURING AND RE-DEPLOYING SOME TEAMS SO THAT THEIR SERVICES COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MORE DISTRICTS.
SPEAKING ON OTHER GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE BUILDING MANAGEMENT, MR TSAO SAID HE SHARED THE VIEWS FROM MANY QUARTERS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, PROPERTY MANAGERS AND FLAT OWNERS, THAT A TRIBUNAL WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE QUICK, INFORMAL AND INEXPENSIVE PROCEDURES TO ENFORCE STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS AND TO RESOLVE DISPUTES AMONG OWNERS AND BETWEEN OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.
"PROVIDED FINANCIAL AND STAFF RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, OUR HOPE IS TO SET UP A BUILDING MANAGEMENT TRIBUNAL BY LAW AND APPOINT SUITABLE PERSONS AS MEMBERS. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND THE PROCEDURES FOR OPERATION ARE BEING EXAMINED IN DETAIL," HE SAID.
/SPEAKING ON .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
SPEAKING ON THE WORK GF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PRIVATE BUILDING MANAGEMENT, MR TSAO S.' . D IT HAD GIVEN VALUABLE ADVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT ON MATTERS CONCERNING DEEDS OF MUTUAL COVENANT, THE WORK OF THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAMS, UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS, TRAINING OF BUILDING MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, BUILDING MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, LICENSING OF GUESTHOUSES, AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY.
FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE EXAMINING THE ISSUES REGARDING THE MANAGEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, GENERAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, AND PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY.
PUBLICITY ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT WAS "MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SUCCESS OF ALL THE MEASURES WILL DEPEND VERY MUCH ON THE MOTIVATION OF THE FLAT OWNERS THEMSELVES," MR TSAO SAID. »
- - 0 - -
DEMONSTRATION FARM REPORT TO BE READY SOON
*****
A CONSULTANCY REPORT ON THE PRIVATE FARM DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS IS BEING DRAFTED AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED SOON.
THE PROJECTS ARE AIMED AT DEMONSTRATING TO LIVESTOCK FARMERS, WHO WISH TO CONTINUE THEIR BUSINESS TN CONTROL AREAS, THE VARIOUS TREATMENT METHODS WHICH CAN HELP THEM COMPLY WITH ANTI-POLLUTION REQUIREMENTS.
AT A MEETING OF THE STEERING GROUP ON DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE FARMS THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TOLD THE MEMBERS THAT THE DRAFTING WORK WAS NOW AT ITS FINAL STAGE AND THE REPORT WOULD BE AVAILABLE SOON.
ON PROGRESS OF THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS, THE REPRESENTATIVES SAID THAT OUT OF THE NINE PARTICIPATING LIVESTOCK FARMS, SIX HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR RESPECTIVE SIX-MONTH DEMONSTRATION PERIOD.
"A FARM USING THE PTG-ON-LITTER SYSTEM STARTED ITS DEMONSTRATION PERIOD TN FEBRUARY, AND THE REMAINING TWO FARMS, ONE ON THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND THE OTHER ON THE WET MUCK-OUT SYSTEM, ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR DEMONSTRATION IN JULY," A SPOKESMAN SAID.
MEMBERS ALSO DISCUSSED THE OPERATION OF THE PIG-ON-LITTER FARM ON DEMONSTRATION AND THE PROBLEMS IT HAD ENCOUNTERED.
AFTER THE MEETING, MEMBERS VISITED THE FARM TO INSPECT ITS OPERATIONS.
- 0 -
/Il
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
11
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS NEW GMB ROUTE ♦ » » ♦ ♦
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE A NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE BETWEEN HARBOUR BUILDING IN CENTRAL AND LYTTibTON ROAD AT THE MID-LEVELS AT A MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO CONSIDER SEVERAL MEMBERS’ REQUEST TO RELOCATE A SECTION OF THE TRAM TRACK FROM WHITTY STREET TO HILL ROAD FOLLOWING RESIDENTS’ COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXCESSIVE NOISE GENERATED BY THE TRAMS.
MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO COMMENT ON A PROPOSAL ASKING THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO INTRODUCE A SUPPLEMENTARY GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE BETWEEN THE MID-LEVELS AND THE WATERFRONT IN WESTERN.
A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE UPGRADING AND DUALLING OF CONNAUGHT ROAD WILL BE TABLED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU Are INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, 14TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, HONG KONG.
------0--------
FLOWER TRADERS GIVEN LICENCE REMINDER ON WILD ORCHIDS
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ADVISED FLOWER TRADERS AND ORCHID LOVERS TO REFRAIN FROM TRADING OR BUYING WILD ORCHIDS OBTAINED FROM DOUBTFUL SOURCES OR WITHOUT DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF THEIR ORIGIN AND VALID POSSESSION LICENCES ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE ADVICE FOLLOWED A REVIEW OF A COURT CASE AT THE SHA TIN MAGISTRACY ON SATURDAY (JUNE 2) IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT WAS FINED $7,500 FOR POSSESSING 3,264 WILD CHINESE SLIPPER ORCHIDS WITHOUT A LICENCE ISSUED UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE. THIS INCREASED THE ORIGINAL FINE.
ALL THE WILD ORCHIDS, VALUED AT ABOUT $25,000 IN THE LOCAL MARKET AND ABLE TO FETCH AS MUCH AS $250,000 IF SOLD OVERSEAS, WERE CONFISCATED.
/A SPOKESMAN .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 12 -
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID: "ALL WILD ORCHIDS ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND IT IS AN OFFENCE TO IMPORT, EXPORT OR POSSESS WILD ORCHIDS EXCEPT UNDER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
"OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $25,000 FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE AND $50,000 PLUS SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR A REPEAT OFFENCE. IN ADDITION, THE ORCHIDS IN QUESTION WILL BE SUBJECT TO MANDATORY FORFEITURE UNDER THE ORDINANCE."
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT TOOK A SERIOUS VIEW OF THE CASE IN QUESTION.
THE DEFENDANT ORIGINALLY HAD BEEN FINED ONLY $1,000
"BUT AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION OF ALL FACTORS, INCLUDING THE ADVICE OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS DECIDED TO APPLY FOR A REVIEW OF THE SENTENCE,” HE SAID.
-----0------
TWO CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPT SURVEYS COMMENC'ED
******
THE SURVEY OF TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES AND THE SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES FOR 1989 HAVE JUST COMMENCED, THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE SURVEYS ARE CONDUCTED ANNUALLY AND REPRESENT PART OF A CONTINUOUS PROGRAMME IN THE DEPARTMENT TO COLLECT STATISTICS ON THE STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC SECTORS IN HONG KONG.
THE AIMS OF THE SURVEYS ARE TO OBTAIN UP-TO-DATE DATA FOR EVALUATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE SECTORS CONCERNED TO HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, AND FOR ASCERTAINING THEIR COST STRUCTURE, OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTPUT LEVELS.
RESULTS OF THE SURVEYS ARE USEFUL TO BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN FORMULATING POLICIES AND MAKING DECISIONS.
ABOUT 2,400 ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE ENUMERATED IN THE PRESENT ROUND OF THE SURVEY OF TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES.
THE SURVEY COVERS LAND, SEA AND AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES, SUCH AS PUBLIC BUSES, TRAMWAYS, TAXIS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, TRUCKS, FERRIES, SHIPPING COMPANIES AND AIRLINES. IT ALSO COVERS SUCH TRANSPORT-RELATED SERVICES AS THOSE PROVIDED BY CARPARKS, TRAVEL AGENTS AND CARGO FORWARDING AGENTS.
/ABOUT 1,400 .......
THURSDAY, JUNE / 1990
- 13 -
ABOUT 1,400 ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE ENUMERATED IN THE PRESENT ROUND OF THE SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES. THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE COVERED IN THE SURVEY:
X STORAGE AND WAREHOUSING FACILITIES FOR HIRE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC;
* POSTAL, TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, RADIO AND CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, MESSAGE DELIVERY AND MESSAGE EXCHANGE SERVICES;
* ALL FINANCE (EXCEPT BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES) AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES; LOAN, MORTGAGE AND DISCOUNT COMPANIES; DEALERS/BROKERS AND EXCHANGES IN STOCKS AND SHARES, COMMODITY FUTURES, GOLD BULLION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE; PAWNSHOPS; MONEY CHANGERS; AND OTHER FINANCIAL UNDERTAKINGS;
* INSURERS, RE-INSURERS, AGENTS AND BROKERS OF ALL KINDS OF INSURANCE AND INSURANCE-RFUATED SERVICES;
* ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING, ADVERTISING, DATA PROCESSING, EMPLOYMENT AGENCY, EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY RENTAL, LEGAL, NEWS AGENCY, SECRETARIAL AND OTHER BUSINESS SERVICES.
INFORMATION SOUGHT IN THE SURVEYS INCLUDES: TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, FLOOR AREA, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES (I.E. WAGES, SALARIES AND OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS), OPERATING EXPENSES, BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
THE SURVEYS ARE BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS (ANNUAL SURVEY OF TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES) ORDER 1984 AND THE CENSUS AND S' ATISTICS (ANNUAL SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES) ORDER 1984, WHICH WERE MADE UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 316) AND ISSUED AS LEGAL NOTICE NOS. 11 AND 12 RESPECTIVELY IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ON JANUARY 13, 1984.
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES HAVE BEEN MAILED TO THE ESTABLISHMENTS SAMPLED FOR THE SURVEYS. THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRES TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT BY JULY 31, 1990.
IF REQUIRED, OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND ASSIST THEM IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRES. THESE OFFICERS WILL CARRY A GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARD AND A CERTIFICATE FOR CONDUCTING THE SURVEYS WHILST ON DUTY, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS 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 SURVEYS, SO AS TO FULFIL THEIR LEGAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
/HK STRESSED .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 14 -
HE STRESSED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE. ONLY AGGREGATE INFORMATION, WHICH DOES NOT REVEAL DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS, WILL BE RELEASED.
THE COMMISSIONER ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE AUDITED ACCOUNTS ARE NOT ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUPPLY OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE DATA REQUIRED IN THE SURVEYS.
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS FIGURES BASED ON PRELIMINARY ACCOUNTS OR ESTIMATES WHICH ARE CORRECT TO THE BEST OF THE RESPONDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION OF THE RETURNS, IF AUDITED ACCOUNTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE.
ANY ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE SURVEYS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE TRANSPORT AND SERVICES STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 556 9581.
------0--------
PUBLIC URGED TO REPORT LITTERING FROM VEHICLES ******
THE PUBLIC CAN NOW USE A 24-HOUR HOTLINE SERVICE — 868 0000
OR 414 5555 — TO REPORT LITTERING FROM VEHICLES.
THIS SERVICE IS PROVIDED JOINTLY BY THE URBAN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AS PART OF THEIR CONTINUED EFFORT ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST LITTER OFFENDERS.
COUNCIL AND
TO STEP UP
UNDER THE PUBLIC CLEANSING AND PREVENTION OF NUISANCES COUNCIL/REGIONAL COUNCIL) BY-LAWS, IT IS AN OFFENCE TO DEPOSIT OR IaSTE FROM VEHICLES ONTO THE STREETS OR PUBLIC PLACES.
(URBAN LITTER
THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR LITTERING FROM VEHICLES IS A $10,000 FINE AND SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT.
AUTHORISED PUBLIC OFFICERS CAN ISSUE SUMMONSES TO LITTER OFFENDERS IF THEY ARE APPREHENDED ON THE SPOT.
WITNESSES OFFENCE
IF THE VEHICLES CANNOT BE STOPPED, ANY PERSON WHO mur? apt nP 1 ITTFRJNG MAY TAKE DOWN PARTICULARS OF THE IN(’I UDTNG DATF AND TIME, LOCATION, VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER, AND VEHICLE^PARTICULARS InD REPORT THE OFFENCE TO THE TWO MUNICIPAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS BY TELEPHONING THE ABOVE HOTLINE NUMBERS.
ALTERNATIVELY, THE WITNESS MAY REPORT DIRECT TO THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE TWO MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS.
/THE CHAIRMAN .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 15 -
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT URBAN COUNCIL/REGIONAL COUNCIL KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN STEERING COMMITTEE, MR TONG KAM-BIU, CALLED ON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COME FORWARD AND REPORT LITTERiNG FROM VEHICLES BY MAKING USE OF THE HOTLINE SERVICE.
"RESIDENTS SHOULD CO-OPERATE WITH THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY TN KEEPING HONG KONG CLEAN BY DISCIPLINING THEMSELVES AND AT THE SAME TIME REPORTING LITTERING CASES.”
HE SAID LITTERING IN PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES, ESPECIALLY HIGH-SPEED ROADS, CONSTITUTED GRAVE DANGER TO ROAD USERS.
"LITTERING FROM VEHICLES POSES A GREAT THREAT TO ROAD SAFETY AND ENDANGERS THE LIVES OF MOTORISTS.
"IT IS, THEREFORE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY CITIZEN TO REPORT SUCH CASES. THIS MAY HELP TO PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF ACCIDENTS," HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
MAIL SERVICES DURING FORTHCOMING HOLIDAYS ******
ALL POST OFFICES, EXCEPT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE AND THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE, WILL BE CLOSED DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD FROM JUNE 16 TO 18 WHEN THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE GENERAL POST OFFICE AND THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE WILL OPEN FOR COUNTER BUSINESS FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON JUNE 16.
LETTERS WILL BE DELIVERED ON JUNE 16 ONLY.
--------0-----------
CONTRACT SIGNED FOR TSEUNG KWAN O
*****
ENGINEERING WORKS
THE LARGEST ENGINEERING WORKS TO O ARE TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF
BE UNDERTAKEN IN A CONTRACT TODAY
TSEUNG KWAN (THURSDAY).
THE $356-MILLION DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CORPORATION.
CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY THE AND CHINA STATE CONSTRUCTION
TERRITORY
ENGINEERING
EAST NEW
CONTRACT
MANAGER OF ITS SOUTH
PROJECT
OFFU^F MR BERNARd“m'.T. LAM, SAID THAT UNDER THE 35'hECTARES OF LAND WOULD BE FORMED TOGETHER WITH INFRASTRUCTURAL ITEMS SUCH’ AS ROADS, STORM-WATER DRAINS AND SEWERS.
THE TERRITORIES
/PROVISION WOULD .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 16 -
PROVISION WOULD BE MADE FOR A SHORT SECTION OF CONCRETE BOX TO BE FORMED WHERE A POSSIBLE MTR ALIGNMENT PASSES BENEATH A MAJOR ROAD, TO AVOID ANY FUTURE CONSTRUCTION, TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.
"THE CONTRACT CONFIRMS THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO THE CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT OF TSEUNG KWAN O AS A NEW TOWN," MR LAM SAID.
THE WORKS, WHICH WERE DESIGNED BY MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA LTD, WILL TAKE ALMOST THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE.
-----0-------
LOAN FUNDS FOR STUDENTS
»*»«♦»
TERTIARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOW BEING INVITED TO APPLY FOR THE HONG KONG ROTARY CLUB STUDENTS’ LOAN FUND AND THE SING TAO FOUNDATION STUDENTS’ LOAN FUND.
THE FUNDS PROVIDE INTEREST-FREE LOANS FOR STUDENTS OF TERTIARY AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS, POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE 1990-91 ACADEMIC YEAR CAN NOW BE OBTAINED EITHER AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION OR AT THE STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICES OF THE FIVE UNIVERSITIES AND TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT LOANS RANGE FROM $2,520 PER YEAR FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT TO $7,500 FOR A POST-SECONDARY STUDENT.
"PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS WHO ARE NEARING COMPLETION OF THEIR STUDIES," HE SAID.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED BY A JOINT COMMITTEE FOR BOTH LOAN FUNDS WHICH GRANTED 348 LOANS AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN $1 1 MILLION IN THE PRESENT SCHOOL YEAR.
"SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS FROM EITHER LOAN FUND ARE REQUIRED TO REPAY BY INSTALMENTS AFTER COMPLETING THEIR STUDIES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE LOANS ARE MADE ON A YEARLY BASIS. PRESENT RECIPIENTS WISHING TO APPLY FOR FURTHER LOANS FOR THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR HAVE TO COMPLETE A PRESCRIBED FORM.
--------0-----------
/17........
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
SEMINAR ON MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
*****
MORE THAN 130 SCHOOL PiLl NCI PALS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND YOUTH WORKERS PROM KWUN TONG DISTRICT WILL ATTEND A SEMINAR ON MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AT A TSIM SHA TSUI HOTEL ON SATURDAY (JUNE 9) .
THE SEMINAR IS ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON PROMOTION OF MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION FORMED BY OFFICERS FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
"THE GATHERING, THE FIRST PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR, IS AIMED AT PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE ON MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED EARLY THIS YEAR, HAS BEEN TASKED TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE SEMINAR WILL BE THE EAST KOWLOON REGIONAL OFFICER OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MR LOK MAN-PAN. EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, INCLUDING A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, A PSYCHIATRIST AND A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER, WILL THEN GIVE TALKS ON THE SUBJECT AND EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH THE PARTICIPANTS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR ON MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION TO BE HELD AT FOUR SEASONS ROOM, NEW WORLD HOTEL, TSIM SHA TSUI, STARTING AT 9.15 AM ON SATURDAY (JUNE 9).
- - 0 - -
TEMPORARY NIGHT CLOSURE OF VEHICULAR UNDERPASS IN SHAM SHUI PO
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 1 AM TO 5 AM ON SATURDAY (JUNE 9), THE LUNG CHEUNG ROAD/NAM CHEONG STREET VEHICULAR UNDERPASS LEADING FROM LUNG CHEUNG ROAD EASTBOUND TO NAM CHEONG STREET SOUTHBOUND, IN SHAM SHUI PO, WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE CLEANING WORKS IN THE UNDERPASS.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD EASTBOUND HEADING FOR NAM CHEONG STREET SOUTHBOUND ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA LUNG PING ROAD, FLYOVER AND NAM CHEONG STREET SOUTHBOUND.
_ _ 0 - -
/18
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990
- 18 -
URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHA TIN * ♦ » * ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (FRIDAY), THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF TAM KON PO STREET FROM A POINT 45 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH SHA TIN CENTRE STREET TO A POINT 70 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
RESULTS OF 1988 SURVEY OF BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS .. 1 SCHOOL CURRICULUM AIMED AT MEETING HK'S NEEDS .............................. 3 HK COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION ESTABLISHED .......................... 4 TIGHTER GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL ON BUILDING WORKS PROPOSED .................... 6 TRUST FUND TO BE SET UP FOR HONG KONG SOLDIERS ............................. 8 COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE OFFICE COMES INTO OPERATION ...................... 9 NEW LEVY ON WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE PREMIA ......................... 11 IMPETUS FROM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN EASTERN DISTRICT ...................... 11 STUDENTS URGED TO HEED SAFETY IN SUMMER JOBS ............................... 13 YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO USE READING AND STUDY ROOMS .......................... 14 NEW POST OFFICE OPENS IN TUEN MUN .......................................... I5 OVERSTAYERS DETAINED IN ANTI-II OPERATION .................................. I5 REMINDER ON PAYMENT OF CROWN RENTS ......................................... i6 KEEP HK CLEAN CHILDREN'S PAINTING COMPETITION ON SUNDAY .................... 17 REMOVAL OF PERIODIC MEDICAL RE-EXAMINATION FOR DISABLED DRIVERS ............ 18
REVISION OF PARKING METER CHARGES ON HK ISLAND .......................................................... 19 TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE IN SHA TIN .......................................... I9 TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TSING YI BRIDGE ....................................... I9
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
1
RESULTS OF 1988 SURVEY OF RI 1LDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) RELEASED THE RESULTS OF THE 1988 SURVEY OF BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS WHICH WAS CONDUCTED FROM APRIL 1989 TO EARLY 1990.
THE SURVEY RESULTS INDICATED THAT 10,672 CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENTS HAD OPERATED IN 1988.
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORE PERFORMED BY THESE ESTABLISHMENTS DURING 1988 AMOUNTED TO $69,267 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 24 PER CENT 'WER THE CORRESPONDING VALUE IN 1987.
ALL VALUE FIGURES IN THIS PRESS RELEASE ARE EXPRESSED IN CURRENT PRICE TERMS. THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES DERIVED FROM THESE FIGURES HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUSTED FOR COST INCREASES.
CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN IN INTERPRETING THE SURVEY RESULTS BECAUSE IN 1988, UNIT CONSTRUCTION COST HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER 1987.
IN 1988, THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENTS WAS $67,715 MILLION.
THIS INCLUDED $17,090 MILLION ON COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES AND PAYMENTS TO LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS; $19,384 MILLION ON CONSUMPTION OF MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES; $27,474 MILLION ON SUB-CONTRACT WORK RENDERED BY FEE SUB-CONTRACTORS; AND $3,767 MILLION ON MISCELLANEOUS OPERATING EXPENSES.
AT $19,926 MILLION, THE TOTAL VALUE ADDED OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH IS A MEASURE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY’S CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, WAS 21 PER CENT MORE THAN THAT IN 1987.
SOME 40 PER CENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENTS WERE ENGAGED IN RENOVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ERECTED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. HOWEVER, THEY ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY 11 PER CENT OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GENERAL TRADE CONTRACTORS OPERATING AT CONSTRUCTION SITES REPRESENTED ABOUT 8 PER CENT OF THE NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS, BUT ACCOUNTED FOR $13,699 MILLION OR 63 PER CENT OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED.
THE REST OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CONSISTED MOSTLY OF SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS, SUCH AS CONTRACTORS SPECIALISING IN ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FITTINGS, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 26 PER CENT OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED.
THE SURVEY DID NOT COVER LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS WHO MAINLY SUPPLIED LABOUR TO WORK ON A JOB-TO-JOB BASIS. HOWEVER, THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY THESE SUB-CONTRACTORS WAS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THAT OF CONTRACTORS COMMISSIONING THEIR SERVICES.
/APART FROM .......
i RIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 2 -
APART FROM CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENTS, THE SURVEY ALSO ENUMERATED ESTABLISHMENTS ENGAGED IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, LEASING, BROKERAGE AND MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT; AND ARCHITECTURAL, SURVEYING AND PROJECT ENGINEERING.
ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY RESULTS, 4,814 ESTABLISHMENTS ENGAGED . IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, LEASING, BROKERAGE AND MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES HAD OPERATED DURING 1988.
THEIR GROSS OUTPUT IN 1988 WAS $36,725 MILLION WHICH INCLUDED $16,198 MILLION FROM SERVICE AND RENTAL INCOME, $20,068 MILLION FROM GROSS MARGIN OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (EXCLUDING LAND PRICE APPRECIATION) AND $459 MILLION FROM OTHER INCOME.
THEIR TOTAL EXPENDITURE WAS $10,110 MILLION. AT $32,196 MILLION, THE TOTAL VALUE ADDED OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS WAS 43 PER CENT MORE THAN THAT IN 1987.
THESE FIGURES DID NOT INCLUDE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT DEVELOPED REAL ESTATE PROJECTS FOR THEIR OWN OCCUPATION OR THOSE THAT OWNED LAND WITHOUT DEVELOPING IT DURING THE REFERENCE YEAR. ALSO EXCLUDED WERE REAL ESTATE LEASING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY SELF-EMPLOYED PERSONS OR HOUSEHOLDS.
REGARDING ESTABLISHMENTS ENGAGED IN ARCHITECTURAL, SURVEYING AND PROJECT ENGINEERING SERVICES, THE SURVEY RESULTS INDICATED THAT 658 SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS HAD OPERATED IN 1988.
THEIR TOTAL BUSINESS RECEIPTS WERE $3,417 MILLION, AND TOTAL EXPENDITURE WAS $2,867 MILLION OF WHICH $1,650 MILLION WAS ON COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES.
THE TOTAL VALUE ADDED OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS WAS $2,182 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OI' 17 PER CENT OVER 1987.
THE SURVEY ALSO COLLECTED DATA ABOUT CONSTRUCTION SITES AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY RESULTS, A TOTAL OF 2,049 SITE CONTRACTS WERE IN OPERATION IN 1988 WITH THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED AMOUNTING TO $33,152 MILLION, WHICH WAS 26 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE CORRESPONDING VALUE IN 1987.
THIS INCLUDED $10,743 MILLION ON PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION SITES AND $22,409 MILLION ON PRIVATE ONES.
THE SHARE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED AT CONSTRUCTION SITES WAS 32 PER CENT IN 1988, WHICH WAS THE SAME AS IN 1987.
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN RESPECT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, AT $15,905 MILLION IN 1988, WAS 33 PER CENT ABOVE THAT IN 1987.
/THE INCREASE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 3 -
THE INCREASE OCCURRED MOSTLY IN PRIVATE HOUSING PROJECTS WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 63 PER CENT OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN RESPECT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN 1988, COMPARED WITH 65 PER CENT IN 1987.
FOR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, THE VALUE ACCRUED TO PRIVATE PROJECTS DURING 1988 WAS $39,314 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 36 PER CENT OVER THE CORRESPONDING VALUE IN 1987.
THE TOTAL PROJECT OUTLAY WAS $21,030 MILLION WHICH INCLUDED, FOR INSTANCE, PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.
SUMMARY STATISTICS FOR THE 1988 SURVEY OF BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE APRIL 1990 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
MORE DETAILED RESULTS WILL BE GIVEN IN A FULL SURVEY REPORT TO BE PUBLISHED IN JULY 1990.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING THESE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. 823 4977).
---------0-----------
SCHOOL CURRICULUM AIMED AT MEETING HK’S NEEDS *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING ITS BEST TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH A QUALITY CURRICULUM CAPABLE OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR K.Y. YEUNG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
ADDRESSING THE JOINT SPEECH DAY FOR 18 SCHOOLS SPONSORED BY THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN CHINA, MR YEUNG SAID THE EDUCATION COMMISSION WAS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM.
”IT IS CONSIDERING POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE COMMON-CORE CURRICULUM TN OUR NINE YEARS OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WAY WE DEVELOP OUR CURRICULUM, HE SAID.
THE COMMON-CORE CURRICULUM WAS INTRODUCED IN 1975 AT THE JUNIOR SECONDARY LEVEL. IT HAD THE BENEFIT 0F SAFEGUARDING EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PUPILS, AND PROVIDING CURRICULUM CONTINUITY BETWEEN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND ENSURING CONSISTENCY OF PRACTICE AMONG SCHOOLS.
MR YEUNG SAID THE REVIEW OF THE CORE CURRICULUM WOULD, OF COURSE, INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THF. STATUS AND ROLE OF THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, WHICH WAS AN ADVISORY BODY CHAIRED BY A NON-OFFICIAL TO ADVISE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION ON ALL MATTERS RELATING TO CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM FROM KINDERGARTEN TO THE SIXTH FORM.
/HE NOTED .......
I RIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
4
HE NOTED THAT THE PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS SET BY THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY HAD TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT DICTATED THE FORM AND CONTENT OF SCHOOLS’ CURRICULUM.
"IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS INFLUENCE BE KEPT IN CHECK, TO PREVENT THE DANGERS OF AN EXAMINATION DOMINATED CURRICULUM," HE SAID.
ANOTHER PROBLEM THE COMMISSION WAS LOOKING AT WAS THE ABSENCE OF A CLEAR DELINEATION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR CURRICULUM MATTERS BETWEEN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT - (IN PRACTICE, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION) - AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (IN PRACTICE, ITS ADVISORY BODIES, THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION).
"IN MY VIEW ONE WAY TO CLARIFY THIS RELATIONSHIP IS TO HAVE TWO CLEARLY DEFINED LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR CURRICULUM MATTERS -THE POLICY MAKING LEVEL AND THE IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL," HE SAID.
"THE POLICY MAKING LEVEL, REPRESENTED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LAYING DOWN THE BASIC AIMS FOR EDUCATION AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.
"IT SHOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM FOR SETTING ATTAINMENT TARGETS FOR ACHIEVEMENT AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF EDUCATION, ENSURING THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS, AND ENSURING THAT APPROPRIATE CURRICULA ARE DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED."
THE IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL - REPRESENTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION - SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERTAKING THOSE ACTIVITIES REQUIRED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CURRICULUM POLICY.
HE SAID THE EDUCATION COMMISSION WAS ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO MAKE SPECIAL PROVISION FOR ACADEMICALLY GIFTED CHILDREN, AND, AT THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, SPECIAL PROGRAMMES FOR THE ACADEMICALLY DISINCLINED.
"I AM CONFIDENT IT WILL COME OUT WITH MEANINGFUL AND FAR REACHING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SHAPE AND QUALITY OF EDUCATION TN SCHOOLS IN THE 1990S," HE SAID.
-----0-------
HK COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION ESTABLISHED
******
THE HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION (HKCAA) CAME INTO OPERATION ON JUNE 8, 1990.
"ONE OF THE HKCAA’S MAIN PURPOSES IS TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG DEGREES ARE COMPARABLE WITH THE BEST WORLD-WIDE," THE COUNCIL’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MR ALLAN SENSICLE, SAID.
/AGAINST THE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 5 -
AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF HONG KONG’S MASSIVE EXPANSION OF DEGREE EDUCATION, THE HKCAA WAS ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNMENT, AND HAS THE DAUNTING TASK OF VALIDATING DEGREE COURSES IN THE NON-UNIVERSITY TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
ITS ESTABLISHMENT IS A RESULT OF NEARLY TWO YEARS’ WORK BY A PROVISIONAL COUNCIL SET UP BY GOVERNMENT TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THIS INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY.
THE HKCAA MAY EVALUATE INDIVIDUAL COURSES AT INSTITUTIONS, OR REVIEW THE ACADEMIC STRUCTURE OR STANDARD OF THE INSTITUTION AS A WHOLE. INITIALLY, THERE WILL BE SOME INSTITUTIONAL REVIEWS BUT THE MAIN EMPHASIS WILL BE ON THE VALIDATION OF DEGREE COURSES.
LATER, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INSTITUTIONS, THE HKCAA WILL MOVE TOWARDS ACCREDITING THEM SO THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR VALIDATING THEIR OWN COURSES SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVIEW.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS
THE HKCAA WILL ALSO WORK TOWARDS BECOMING AN AUTHORITY ON THE COMPARABILITY OF DEGREE QUALIFICATIONS BOTH WITHIN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS.
THIS IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH ESTABLISHING INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS OF CREDIT TRANSFERS AND AGREEMENTS FOR THE RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS TO THE BENEFIT OF HONG KONG STUDENTS, THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS, THEIR GRADUATES, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.
AS A STEP TOWARDS THIS GOAL, IN 1991, THE HKCAA WILL HOLD THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
THE HKCAA WILL UNDERTAKE ITS VALIDATIONS AND REVIEWS AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (UPGC) AND OF OTHER TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR’S CONSENT.
DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL
GOVERNMENT HAS APPOINTED A COUNCIL, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF DR DAVID BETHEL, OF 22 DISTINGUISHED ACADEMICS AND PROFESSIONALS, A THIRD OF WHOM ARE OVERSEAS MEMBERS.
THE FULL TIME STAFF OF THE HKCAA COMPRISES THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PLUS FOUR OTHER PROFESSIONALS WITH CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE OF ACCREDITATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
/FIVE HUNDRED .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
6
FIVE HUNDRED SPECIALISTS
THE COUNCIL IS SUPPORTED BY A REGISTER OF OVER 500 SUBJECT SPECIALISTS DRAWN FROM AUSTRALIA, EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA AND HONG KONG WHO WILL FORM THE BACKBONE OF THE VALIDATION AND REVIEW TEAMS.
THE HKCAA, ITS STAFF AND SPECIALISTS WILL WORK WITH EDUCATORS TO ENSURE HONG KONG’S INSTITUTIONS AND DEGREES ARE MAINTAINED AT INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS.
------0--------
TIGHTER GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL ON BUILDING WORKS PROPOSED
******
A BILL PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) PROPOSES TO EMPOWER THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO TIGHTEN GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OVER BUILDING WORKS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES WHERE UNDERGROUND CAVITIES ARE PRESENT.
THE CONTROL MEASURES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE.
IN EXPLAINING THE BILL, GOVERNMENT GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER, MR JOHN SHELTON, SAID THAT SERIOUS FOUNDATION DIFFICULTIES HAD BEEN ENCOUNTERED IN AN AREA OF THE NORTH-WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES (AROUND YUEN LONG) WHICH WAS UNDERLAIN BY KARSTIC MARBLE BEDROCK.
"IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA PROCEEDS SAFELY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ADEQUATE CONTROL MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," HE SAID.
MR SHELTON POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL, WHICH SEEKS TO AMEND THE EXISTING BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS, WAS INTRODUCED AS A RESULT OF STUDIES COMMISSIONED BY THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE.
HE SAID, "MARBLE WITH CAVITIES, TERMED ’KARST’ BY GEOLOGISTS, OCCURS IN ISOLATED PATCHES BENEATH AN APPROXIMATELY TRIANGULAR AREA OF LAND EXTENDING FROM TAI TONG SOUTH OF YUEN LONG, HA TSUEN SOUTH OF TIN SHUI WAI TO FAIRVIEW PARK."
MR SHELTON SAID THE MARBLE STRATA CONTAINED SIGNIFICANT CAVITIES AND SOLUTION FEATURES IN SOME LOCATIONS AND THE GEOLOGY OF THE AREA WAS HIGHLY COMPLEX.
HE SAID THAT SAFE DEVELOPMENT OF A SITE IN SUCH A GEOLOGICALLY COMPLEX AREA REQUIRED A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE GEOLOGICAL FEATURES UNDERLYING THE SITE AND HOW THEY AFFECTED THE ENGINEERING BEHAVIOUR OF THE FOUNDATIONS.
THIS COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY CARRYING OUT PROPERLY DESIGNED, HIGH QUALITY AND RELIABLE GROUND INVESTIGATIONS, AND CAREFUL INTERPRETATION OF THE GROUND INVESTIGATION RESULTS.
/IN THE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 7 -
IN THE AMENDMENT LEGISLATION, THE AREA CONCERNED WOULD BE INTRODUCED AS AN ADDITIONAL SCHEDULED AREA IN THE FIFTH SCHEDULE OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE WITH AMENDMENTS CONTAINING THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS:
(A) GROUND INVESTIGATION PLANS REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF WORKS;
(B) A GEOTECHNICAL APPRAISAL OF THE GROUND CONDITIONS IS REQUIRED TO ACCOMPANY THE FOUNDATION DESIGN SUBMISSION;
AND
(C) THE CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED DURING PILE INSTALLATION AND FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION REQUIRE TO BE DOCUMENTED AND REVIEWED AND THIS REVIEW REQUIRES THE APPROVAL OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.
ITEM (A) OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL PROVIDE A BASIS OF ENFORCEMENT OF THE TECHNICAL STANDARDS OF GROUND INVESTIGATIONS AND THE DEGREE OF QUALIFIED SUPERVISION NEEDED.
ITEM (B) WILL ENSURE THAT IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL FEATURES ARE CONSIDERED IN FOUNDATION DESIGNS.
IN KARST AREAS, THERE.IS ALWAYS A RISK DESPITE CONSERVATIVE DESIGN THAT FOUNDATION PROBLEMS MIGHT ARISE. IN ORDER TO MINIMISE THIS RISK, ITEM (C) OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION EMPOWERS THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THE AUTHORISED PERSON AND THE REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TO SUBMIT, PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF SUPERSTRUCTURE WORKS, A FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION REVIEW CARRIED OUT BY AN EXPERIENCED ENGINEER, BASED ON DETAILED CONSTRUCTION RECORDS.
’’THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE HAS ENGAGED A SPECIALIST FOUNDATION CONSULTANT TO ADVISE ON DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE FOR DEEP FOUNDATIONS IN THESE DIFFICULT GROUND CONDITIONS,” MR SHELTON SAID.
A NUMBER OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS WERE CONVEYED TO PRACTISING ENGINEERS THROUGH THE ISSUE OF A PRACTICE NOTE FOR AUTHORISED PERSONS AND REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS IN FEBRUARY 1989.
MR SHELTON ALSO SAID THAT TO IDENTIFY THE AREAS UNDERLAIN BY MARBLE BEDROCK, THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE HAD EMPLOYED A SPECIALIST KARST GEOLOGIST FROM THE BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TO CARRY OUT AN INTENSIVE GEOLOGICAL MAPPING PROJECT COVERING AN AREA OF 6,000 HECTARES IN NORTH-WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES.
--------0-----------
/8 ........
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
8
TRUST FUND TO BE SET UP FOR HONG KONG SOLDIERS * t * * * *
A TRUST FUND IS TO BE SET UP WITH THE AIM OF HELPING MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG MILITARY SERVICE CORPS WHEN THE CORPS IS DISBANDED BY 1997.
THE CREATION OF THE TRUST WAS ANNOUNCED BY MAJOR GENERAL PETER DUFFELL, COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, AT A DINNER FOR LEADING HONG KONG CITIZENS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AT HMS TAMAR THIS EVENING (JUNE 8). THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WAS GUEST OF HONOUR.
GENERAL DUFFELL SAID THAT THE CHINESE SERVICE ELEMENT OF THE GARRISON HAD "UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND BY 1997 THOSE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH LOYAL SERVICE TO THE GARRISON WILL BE DISCHARGED.
"WITH THIS IN MIND, I HAVE DIRECTED THE CREATION OF A CHARITABLE TRUST, WITH THE AIM THAT THIS WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO RELIEVE DISTRESS AND HARDSHIP AMONGST FORMER MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG MILITARY SERVICE CORPS AND THE ROYAL NAVY. IT IS MY INTENTION VERY SHORTLY TO LAUNCH AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS FOR THIS TRUST AND I WOULD WELCOME AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT TN THIS MATTER."
WELCOMING SIR DAVID, WHO IS ALSO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BRITISH FORCES, AND OTHER GUESTS, GENERAL DUFFELL SAID: "WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO COME TONIGHT BECAUSE AS A GARRISON WE FEEL VERY MUCH PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY. WE SHARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS REMARKABLE TERRITORY, NOT LEAST BECAUSE 4,000 LOCAL PEOPLE, IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM, WORK WITH US.
"THE GARRISON IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO HONG KONG AND I PLACE GREAT EMPHASIS ON THE QUALITY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL ASPECTS OF HONG KONG SOCIETY. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN ALL OUR WORK AND I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE ASSISTANCE WHICH THE GARRISON RECEIVES BOTH FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT."
EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, GENERAL DUFFELL SAID: " THE GARRISON IS STATIONED IN THE TERRITORY PRIMARILY TO ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT IN MAINTAINING SECURITY AND STABILITY, THE INTEGRITY OF OUR LAND AND SEA BORDERS AND TO SUSTAIN CONFIDENCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM’S STATED COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG.
"YOU WILL KNOW THAT IN THIS RESPECT A BATTALION MANS THE SENSITIVE LAND BORDER 24 HOURS A DAY, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, TO CONTROL ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA. I CANNOT RECOMMEND DUTY IN THE MANGROVE OF THE MAI PO MARSHES CHASING AN ELUSIVE QUARRY AS AN ATTRACTIVE PASTIME IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER. BUT WITHOUT THIS WORK, CARRIED OUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, THE DAILY DRIBBLE OF ILLEGAL ARRIVALS WOULD QUICKLY BECOME A FLOOD.
"THE ROYAL NAVY, TOO, PLAYS ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE IN DEMONSTRATING SOVEREIGNTY AT SEA AND SUPPORTS THE MARINE AUTHORITIES IN THE FULL RANGE OF THEIR TASKS WHICH I MIGHT SAY HAVE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF DIFFICULTY AND DANGER.
/"THE RAF'S .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 9 -
"THE RAF’S HELICOPTERS GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO BRITISH FORCES, GENERALLY AND ALSO ASSIST THE CIVIL AGENCIES. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO HELP WITH THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
"OUR POLICY IS VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD - TO ASSIST THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND UNIFORMED SERVICES WITH LOGISTIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
"WE HAVE ALSO GIVEN UP FACILITIES, NOT LEAST A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE AIRFIELD AT SEK KONG TO BE A VBP CAMP WITHIN 100 YARDS FROM OUR FAMILY QUARTERS. I THINK THAT AT THIS TIME THESE AREAS OF ASSISTANCE REPRESENT THE MOST APPROPRIATE ROLE FOR US TO PLAY FOR BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL REASONS.
"IN A WIDER SENSE WE ARE ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT THE POLICE IN MAINTAINING SECURITY. WE ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN COPING WITH EMERGENCIES AND NATURAL DISASTERS, BOTH ON LAND AND AT SEA.
"I LIKE TO FEEL TOO THAT WE TREAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY SERIOUSLY, AS EVIDENCED BY WORK UNDERTAKEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE ANNUAL TRAILWALKER IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. THIS LAST YEAR THE GARRISON RAISED HK$2.5 MILLION FOR HONG KONG ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
"AS TO THE FUTURE AND OUR WITHDRAWAL PLAN I WOULD SIMPLY SAY THIS: THAT IT IS HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO KEEP AN ADEQUATE AND ROBUST GARRISON HERE FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY, WHILE THE POLICE AND OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES ARE WORKING UP VERY SUCCESSFULLY TO TAKE OVER SOME OF OUR ROLES AS WE MOVE INTO THE 90’S. WE SHALL DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP THEM IN THIS TASK AND I DO NOT DOUBT THEY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL."
GENERAL DUFFELL ALSO REFERRED TO THE MOVE OF THE NAVAL BASIN TO STONECUTTERS ISLAND AS PART OF THE WAN CHAI RECLAMATION PROJECT AND TO THE FACT THAT THE GARRISON AND ITS SUPPORT IS CONSTANTLY SUBJECT TO SCRUTINY TO ENSURE ITS COST-EFFECTIVENESS "IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG TAXPAYER".
HE SAID THAT THE GARRISON WAS ALSO BUYING AN INCREASING PROPORTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN HONG KONG TO THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
------0-----------
COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE OFFICE COMES INTO OPERATION
THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE SET UP UNDER THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH COMES INTO OPERATION TODAY (FRIDAY) TO REPLACE THE INSURANCE DIVISION OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT.
EXPLAINING THE DECISION, A GOVERNMENT -SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT IS ESSENTIALLY A LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHEREAS THE FUNCTIONS OF THE INSURANCE DIVISION WERE OF PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISION IN NATURE.
/THE INSURANCE .......
• ''llDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 10 -
THE INSURANCE COMMISSION NOW FUNCTIONS AS A SEPARATE REGULATORY COMMISSION SIMILAR AND PARALLEL TO THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING.
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE INSURANCE DIVISION INTO THE INSURANCE COMMISSION PROVIDES A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE PRESENT STAFFING ARRANGEMENT.
"THE NEW COMMISSION IS STAFFED BY A NEW PROFESSIONAL GRADE OF INSURANCE OFFICERS WHO ARE TO REPLACE THE ASSISTANT REGISTRARS IN THE INSURANCE DIVISION," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE CREATION OF THE NEW GRADE IS TO REFLECT MORE FULLY THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND SPECIALISATION OF THE NEW COMMISSION AND TO ENABLE IT TO RECRUIT EXPERTISE AND RETAIN STAFF OF AN APPROPRIATE CALIBRE IN TERMS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THE EFFECTIVE REGULATION OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
"MOST OF THE POSTS OF THE NEW INSURANCE OFFICER GRADE ARE FILLED BY THE ASSISTANT REGISTRARS IN THE INSURANCE DIVISION, WHO HAVE ACQUIRED THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THE NEW POSTS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE FORMER HEAD OF THE INSURANCE DIVISION IN THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT, MR DEREK SULLIVAN, HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE.
"HE HAS REPLACED THE REGISTRAR GENERAL AS THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY AND ASSUMED ALL THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS PREVIOUSLY EXERCISED BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL UNDER THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"MR SULLIVAN IS ASSISTED BY TWO ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS OF INSURANCE FOR THE REGULATION OF INSURANCE COMPANIES," HE SAID.
"IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT AN ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF EXTRA STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE ADDED IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO ENABLE THE COMMISSION TO TAKE ON THE TASK OF THE REGULATION OF PRIVATE RETIREMENT SCHEMES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR STEPHEN IP, AND THE NEWLY-APPOINTED COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE, MR DEREK SULLIVAN, WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE INSURANCE COMMISSION ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 13).
THE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE GIS CONFERENCE ROOM, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL, BEGINNING AT 2.30 PM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE.
--------0-----------
/Il ........
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 11 -
NEW LEVY ON WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE PREMIA
******
A COMBINED TWO PER CENT LEVY WILL BE COLLECTED FROM EACH INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYABLE BY EMPLOYERS TO COVER THEIR LIABILITY TO COMPENSATE WORKERS IN CASE OF WORK ACCIDENTS.
THE NEW LEVY WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1 (SUNDAY) UNDER THE Ert’-jOYEES’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE LEVY (RATE OF LEVY) ORDER 1990 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE LEVY INCLUDES THE EXISTING ONE PER CENT LEVY PAYABLE BY EMPLOYERS TO FUND THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL.
THE ADDITIONAL ONE PER CENT WILL BE USED TO FUND THE PROPOSED EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH MAKES PAYMENTS TO WORKERS IN DEFAULT CASES ARISING GENERALLY OUT OF THE EMPOYER’S FAILURE TO INSURE OR FROM THE INSURER'S INSOLVENCY.
PAYMENTS TO BE MADE UNDER THE SCHEME WILL INCLUDE BOTH STATUTORY COMPENSATION UNDER THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND COMMON LAW DAMAGES AWARDED BY THE COURT.
STARTING FROM JULY 1, INSURERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COLLECT THE NEW LEVY AND PASS IT ON TO THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE LEVIES MANAGEMENT BOARD WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE END OF EACH QUARTER.
THE BOARD, TO BE SET UP SHORTLY, WILL CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYEES, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
-----0------
IMPETUS FROM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN EASTERN DISTRICT
******
A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF Lill- FOR RESIDENTS THERE, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT A JOINT SEMINAR FOR THE 13 AREA COMMITTEES IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT, MR LAN POINTED OUT THAT THE PROJECTS WOULD BE RFI ATFD TO TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLIC HOUSING, LAND USE AND RECLAMATION - ALL OF WHICH WERE OF DIRECT CONCERN TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARFA COMMITTEES IN THE DISTRICT.
FOR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS, A SERIES OF MAJOR PROJECTS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN CAUSEWAY BAY AND NORTH POINT. NOTABLE EXAMPLES WERE THE CURRENT RECONSTRUCTION OF KING’S ROAD, THE SCHEDULED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CAUSEWAY BAY FLYOVER, AND A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A FLYOVER AT LAU SIN STREET.
/ON LONGER-TERM .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 12 -
ON LONGER-TERM LAND USE DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISTRICT, THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO READJUST THE LAND USE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CAUSEWAY BAY TYPHOON SHELTER AND THE NEIGHBOURING AREA TO TIE IN WITH THE CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI RECLAMATION PROJECT.
IN QUARRY BAY AND SHAU KEI WAN, MR LAN CONTINUED, THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO RECONSTRUCT THE SHAU KEI WAN ROAD.
HE SAID HE WAS GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE PLAN PROCEEDED SMOOTH!V, CONSTRUCTION WORKS COULD BE EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN TWO TO THREE YEARS’ TIME.
OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS WOULD BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ON THE LAND PROVIDED BY THE CLEARANCE OF SQUATTER AREAS IN THE SHAU KEI WAN FOOTHILLS, AS WELL AS THE ALDRICH BAY RECLAMATION PROJECT TO PROVIDE LAND FOR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOUSING, AND FOR OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
IN CHAI WAN, THE SIU SAI WAN RECLAMATION PROJECT WAS UNDERWAY, AS WAS THE PAMELA YOUDE HOSPITAL PROJECT. ON COMPLETION OF THE RECLAMATION PROJECT, CHAI WAN WOULD HAVE MORE LAND FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
MR LAN SAID THAT ALL THOSE PROJECTS, APART FROM BRINGING AN IMPETUS TO THE DISTRICT AND IMPROVING COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND LIVING ENVIRONMENT, WOULD PROVIDE NEW CHALLENGES FOR AREA COMMITTEES.
"FOR EXAMPLE, IT HAS BEEN PROJECTED THAT THE POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT WILL HAVE INCREASED FROM 570,000 TO 600,000 BY 1995. HELPING THE NEW RESIDENTS TO ADAPT TO THE ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTING A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE DISTRICT AND MOTIVATING THEM TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY-BUILDING WOULD DEPEND ON YOUR DETAILED PLANNING AND ENTHlIS 1 AST IC PART ICI PATION.
"IN THIS CONNECTION, AREA COMMITTEES, WITH THEIR LONG HISTORY XND GOOD TRACK RECORD, CAN MAKE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS HELPING TO BUILD A BETTER AND HAPPIER COMMUNITY,” HE TOLD THE AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
FARMER, MR LAN PRAISED THE MEMBERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO D1 STR ICT ADM INISTRATI ON.
HE NOTED THAT THE MEMBERS, APART FROM ASSISTING THE GOVERNMENT IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, FREQUENTLY CARRIED OUT ON-THE-SPOT STI I IES AND SURVEYS IN ORDER TO PUT FORWARD TO THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS "EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICAL" VIEWS ON THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS.
Till' ISSUES TACKLED BY THE MEMBERS INCLUDED THE PROBLEMS OF TRAFFIC AND HAWKERS TN CAUSEWAY BAY AND NORTH POINT, THE EMISSION OF AIR POLLUTANTS BY FACTORIES IN QUARRY BAY AND THE CLEARANCE OF FOOTHILL SQUATTER AREAS IN SHAU KEI WAN.
/"IN THE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 13
"IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR WHICH SEES BELT-TIGHTENING ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE ALLOCATION FOR THE 13 AREA COMMITTEES TN THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $130,000 TO $180,000. THIS REPRESENTS A 30 PER CENT RISE, INDICATING THE GOVERNMENT’S HIGH APPRECIATION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE AREA COMMITTEES,” MR LAN NOTED.
THE SEMINAR DISTRICT OFFICES IN SERIES HELD LAST
IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES TO BE HELD THIS THE URBAN AREA, FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF YEAR FOR THE 1,800 MEMBERS FROM THE
YEAR BY A SIMILAR 90 AREA
COMMITTEES IN THE TERRITORY.
------0--------
STUDENTS URGED TO HEED SAFETY IN SUMMER JOBS » ♦ » » ♦
STUDENTS PLANNING TO TAKE UP SUMMER JOBS ARE URGED INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND TO BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL WORK HAZARDS.
TO
HEED
THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR YIP YUK-LUN, GAVE THIS ADVICE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF A PUBLICITY PROGRAMME ON SUMMER JOB SAFETY FOR STUDENTS.
ALSO TAKING PART IN THE CONFERENCE WAS A SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER OF THE CAREERS EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MR LEUNG HO-WING.
"AS STUDENTS GENERALLY LACK INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AND WORKING EXPERIENCE, THEY SHOULD CHOOSE EASY AND SIMPLE JOBS," MR YIP SAID.
HE ADVISED STUDENTS TO AVOID DOING CERTAIN TYPES OF DANGEROUS JOBS SUCH AS:
* THOSE REQUIRING THE OPERATION OF HEAVY MACHINERY, POWER-DRIVEN MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND VIGOROUS MANUAL WORK;
» THOSE INVOLVING THE HANDLING OF CHEMICALS, TOXIC SUBSTANCES OR FIRE-RELATED PROCESSES;
» THOSE AT CONSTRUCTION SITES; AND
* THOSE INVOLVING WORKING AT A HEIGHT.
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS COMPILED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, 29 STUDENTS WERE INJURED IN SUMMER JOBS LAST YEAR, COMPARED WITH 35 IN 1988 AND 41 IN 1987.
MOST OF THE ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THE USE OF MACHINERY (18 CASES IN 1989, 21 IN 1988 AND 25 IN 1987), WHILE OTHERS INVOLVED MAINLY STEPPING ON OR STRIKING AGAINST OBJECTS, HANDLING OF HOT OR CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES AND USE OF HAND TOOLS.
/MR YIP .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
14
MR YIP URGED STUDENTS TO CONSULT THEIR PARENTS, CAREERS TEACHERS OR THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION FOR ADVICE IF THEY HAD DOUBTS IN CHOOSING SUMMER JOBS.
"TO INSTIL IN STUDENTS THE CONCEPT OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, FACTORY INSPECTORS STARTED VISITING SECONDARY SCHOOLS LAST MONTH TO GIVE TALKS AND SHOW FILMS ON RELATED TOPICS," MR YIP SAID.
"MORE THAN 40 SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES THROUGHOUT THS TERRITORY WILL BE VISITED BETWEEN NOW AND MID-JULY," HE ADDED.
’’IN ADDITION, A RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE BROADCAST REGULARLY TN THE COMING MONTHS TO REMIND STUDENTS OF THE SAFETY MESSAGE," MR YIP SAID.
"A POSTER AND LEAFLETS ON WORK SAFETY AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE FOR SUMMER JOB STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO SCHOOLS TO REINFORCE PUBLICITY.
”A STUDENT BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITION WILL ALSO BE ORGANISED IN SEPTEMBER TO SUSTAIN INTEREST IN THE PUBLICITY PROGRAMME," MR YIP ADDED.
------0--------
YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO USE READING AND STUDY ROOMS
READING AND STUDY TO ATTEND OTHER QUIET ENVIRONMENT
YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE FULL USE OF THE ROOM SIRVIOE WHICH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES IN ADDITION TO GIVING THEM A
FOR STI DY.
THIS WAS SAID RY THE REGIONAL OFFICER (EAST OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MR CARLOS LEUNG, ( EREMONY OF THE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL READING AND AFTERNOON (FRIDAY).
NEW TERRITORIES)
AT THE OPENING
STUDY ROOM THIS
THE SWD OPERATES READING AND STUDY ROOMS IN ALL 1 UNITS. IT \LSO SUBVENTS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH OPERATE 122 READING AND STUDY ROOMS IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH COMMUNITY CENTRES," HE SAID.
1 GROUP WORK A TOTAL OF CENTRES AND
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE USING READING SOCIAL WORKERS ALSO ORGANISED INTEREST GROUPS, CLASSES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, HE POINTED OUT.
AND STUDY ROOMS, SEMINARS, TUTORIAL
MR LEUNG SAID USERS OF READING AND STUDY ROOMS LEAR* ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES POSTERS AND NEWSLETTERS ON THE NOTICE BOARDS.
COULD ALSO
THROUGH THE
--------0-----------
/15 .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 15 -
NEW POST OFFICE OPENS IN TUEN MUN * * * * »
A NEW POST OFFICE IN TUEN MUN OPENED FOR BUSINESS AT NOON TODAY (FRIDAY).
LOCATED AT NO. 106, GROUND FLOOR, LEUNG KING SHOPPING CENTRE, LEUNG KING ESTATE, THIS POST OFFICE PROVIDES THE NORMAL RANGE OF COUNTER SERVICES.
BUSINESS HOURS ARE FROM 9.30 AM TO 1 PM AND FROM 2.15 PM TO 5 PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY, AND FROM 9.30 AM TO 1 PM ON SATURDAY.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 465 1360.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY THIS MORNING, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, SAID IT WAS THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTINUING POLICY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE POSTAL FACILITIES AND SERVICES WITHIN EASY REACH OF RESIDENTS IN ALL POPULATED AND COMMUNITY AREAS.
’’THE OPENING OF THE LEUNG KING POST OFFICE IS A CASE IN POINT.
’’WITH THIS IN MIND WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE OPENING OF MORE NEW POST OFFICES IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS," HE SAID.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS WERE THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAU WONG-FAT, AND DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JOHN WAN.
WITH THE OPENING OF THIS NEW OFFICE, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POST OFFICES IN HONG KONG IS NOW 115.
------0--------
OVERSTAYERS DETAINED IN ANTI-II OPERATION ♦ » ♦ » ♦
IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS LAUNCHED A LARGE-SCALE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OPERATION IN NORTH POINT AREA LAST NIGHT.
THEY CONDUCTED IDENTITY CHECKS ON MORE THAN 140 PERSONS AT 40 PLACES. TWO TWO-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS, A MAN AGED 32 AND A WOMAN AGED 58 FROM FUKIEN, WERE FOUND TO HAVE OVERSTAYED IN HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT REITERATED THAT THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
"OVERSTAYERS WILL REMAIN ON OUR RECORDS UNTIL THEIR CASES ARE CLEARED AND ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IF INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR WHEREABOUTS COMES TO OUR ATTENTION.
’’THOSE WHO BREACH THEIR CONDITION OF STAY HERE ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND, UPON CONVICTION, TO A FINE OF $5,000 AND TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT," THE SPOKESMAN WARNED.
------0--------
/16......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 16 -
REMINDER ON PAYMENT OF CROWN RENTS *****
DEMAND NOTES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR CROWN RENTS FOR THE HALF YEAR ENDING JUNE 24, 1990 IN RESPECT OF CROWN RENTS EXCEEDING $100 PER ANNUM, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TREASURY SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
PAYMENT OF THESE DEMAND NOTES MAY BE MADE BY POST ADDRESSED TO THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES, P.O. BOX 8000, GPO, HONG KONG, OR, IN PERSON, AT
* THE TREASURY CENTRAL COLLECTION AND PAYMENT OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING),
11 ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG;
* THE NORTH POINT SUB-TREASURY, ODEON BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR, 28 SHU KUK STREET, HONG KONG;
* THE YAU MA TEI SUB-TREASURY, FOURTH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD (MARKET STREET ENTRANCE), KOWLOON;
* THE KOWLOON CITY SUB-TREASURY,
MAN SANG COMMERCIAL BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR, 348-352 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD (CORNER OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND JUNCTION ROAD), KOWLOON; OR
* THE DISTRICT OFFICES AT SAI KUNG, SHA TIN, TAI PO, NORTH, YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN, TSUEN WAN OR KWAI TSING.
CROWN RENT PAYERS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR DEMAND NOTES MAY BRING A CROWN RENT DEMAND NOTE OF ANY PREVIOUS PERIOD AND MAKE PAYMENT AT THE TREASURY CENTRAL COLLECTION OFFICE OR ANY OF THE THREE SUB-TREASURY OFFICES.
IF THE PAYERS CANNOT PRODUCE A CROWN RENT DEMAND NOTE FOR ANY PREVIOUS PERIOD, THEY SHOULD INQUIRE AT THE CROWN RENT UNIT OF THE TREASURY AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), NINTH FLOOR, 11 ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG.
NON-RECEIPT OF THE DEMAND NOTE DOES NOT ALTER THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE ABOVE CROWN RENTS MUST BE PAID BY JUNE 24 THIS YEAR.
CROWN RENT PAYERS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED A VALID DIRECT DEBIT AUTHORISATION SHOULD NOTE THAT IF THE WORDING "PAYMENT BY AUTOPAY AS AUTHORISED" IS SHOWN ON THE DEMAND NOTES, PAYMENT OF CROWN RENT WILL BE MADE BY DIRECT DEBIT TO THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS ON JUNE 24.
THEY SHOULD THEN ENSURE THAT THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS CONTAIN THE NECESSARY FUNDS ON THAT DATE.
IF THE ABOVE WORDING IS NOT SHOWN ON THE DEMAND NOTES, CROWN RENT PAYERS SHOULD MAKE PAYMENTS ACCORDING TO THE PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS AS STIPULATED IN THE DEMAND NOTES.
/TO AVOID .......
I-. (DAY, JU'IE 8, 1990
- 17 -
TO AVOID THE POSSIBLE INCONVENIENCE OF QUEUEING, CROWN RENT PAYERS ARE URGED TO PAY BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER SENT BY POST OR BY EARLY PERSONAL ATTENDANCE AT ANY OF THE OFFICES LISTED ON THE BACK OF THE DEMAND NOTE.
CROWN RENT PAYERS SHOULD NOTE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
» TO AVOID LEGAL ACTION FOR RE-ENTRY OF A PROPERTY THE OWNER FOR THE TIME BEING OF THAT PROPERTY IS OBLIGED TO PAY CROWN RENT INCLUDING ANY ARREARS AS DEMANDED.
* THE CROWN RENT PAYABLE UNDER A LEASE OF A PROPERTY WHICH HAS BEEN RENEWED UNDER THE CROWN LEASES ORDINANCE (CAP. 40) AND REDEVELOPED, WILL BE THREE PER CENT OF THE RATEABLE VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY AS ASSESSED FOLLOWING THE REDEVELOPMENT.
PENDING COMPLETION OF THE ASSESSMENT AND OTHER RELATED PROCEDURES, CROWN RENT DEMANDS WILL BE BASED UPON THE PRE-REDEVELOPMENT RATEABLE VALUE.
IN DUE COURSE, CROWN RENT FOR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RENT BASED UPON PRE AND POST REDEVELOPMENT RATEABLE VALUES WILL BE DEMANDED AND THE OWNER FOR THE TIME BEING IS OBLIGED TO PAY THE RENT AS DEMANDED. IF HE DOES NOT, LEGAL ACTION FOR RE-ENTRY OF THE PROPERTY MAY BE INSTITUTED.
PURCHASERS OF PROPERTY ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO INSTRUCT THEIR SOLICITORS TO ENSURE THAT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE CROWN RENT IS PAID UP TO DATE.
IF A PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO THE CROWN LEASES ORDINANCE AND HAS BEEN RE-DEVELOPED BUT THE RENTAL PAID UP TO THE DATE OF THE PURCHASE IS NOT BASED UPON AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RATEABLE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY SINCE ITS REDEVELOPMENT, APPROPRIATE STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THE PURCHASER OR HIS SOLICITORS TO PROTECT THE PURCHASER.
ENQUIRIES ON OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS IN RESPECT OF CROWN RENT MAY BE ADDRESSED TO THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES. THE FEE IS $45 FOR EACH ENQUIRY PER PROPERTY.
-----0-------
KEEP HK CLEAN CHILDREN’S PAINTING COMPETITION ON SUNDAY
******
A CHILDREN’S PAINTING COMPETITION WILL BE HELD AT THE NO. 1 FOOTBALL PITCH OF VICTORIA PARK FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SUNDAY (JUNE 10) IN SUPPORT OF THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY.
IT IS ORGANISED BY THE JOINT URBAN COUNCIL/REGIONAL COUNCIL KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN STEERING COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN FOUR AND 13.
/PARTICIPANTS CAN .......
’’RIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
18
PARTICIPANTS CAN JOIN THE COMPETITION ON SUNDAY FROM 9 AM TO 10 AM AT THE COMPETITION VENUE.
THEY SHOULD BRING ALONG BRUSHES, PAINTS OR OTHER MATERIAL THEY CHOOSE TO USE, WHILE PAPER WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE ORGANISER. THE PICTURE MUST BE COMPLETED ON THE SPOT BEFORE NOON.
THE WINNERS WILL BE AWARDED ATTRACTIVE PRIZES WHICH INCLUDE BOOK COUPONS, PLAGUES AND SOURVENIRS.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE, MR TONG KAM-BIU, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 4 PM ON THE SAME DAY.
THERE WILL BE A 45-MINUTE PERFORMANCE BY THE FRINGE CLUB TO ENTERTAIN THE CHILDREN STARTING AT 3 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CHILDREN’S PAINTING COMPETITION TO BE HELD AT THE NO. 1 FOOTBALL PITCH OF VICTORIA PARK ON SUNDAY (JUNE 10). THE COMPETITION WILL BE HELD FROM 9 AM TO NOON, WHILE THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 4 PM.
- - 0-------
REMOVAL OF PERIODIC MEDICAL RE-EXAMINATION FOR DISABLED DRIVERS
*****
THE REQUIREMENT FOR DISABLED DRIVERS TO ATTEND MEDICAL EXAMINATION ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS FOR CONFIRMING THEIR DISABILITIES WILL BE DISPENSED WITH UNDER AN AMENDMENT OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.
EXISTING LEGISLATION REQUIRES DISABLED DRIVERS TO OBTAIN MEDICAL CERTIFICATION EVERY THREE YEARS TO CONFIRM THAT THEIR PHYSICAL DISABILITY IS OF A PERMANENT NATURE BEFORE APPLYING FOR EXEMPTION FROM VARIOUS FEES UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE.
THESE INCLUDE PAYMENT OF DRIVING LICENCE FEES, ANNUAL VEHICLE LICENCE FEES OF PRIVATE CARS WITH AN ENGINE CYLINDER CAPACITY NOT EXCEEDING 1,500 CUBIC CENTIMETRES AND FEES FOR DRIVING TESTS, AND EXEMPTION UNDER THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) ORDINANCE FROM PAYMENT OF FIRST REGISTRATION TAX ON A PRIVATE CAR REGISTERED AND DRIVEN BY THEM PROVIDED THAT THE COST, INSURANCE AND FREIGHT VALUE OF THE CAR DOES NOT EXCEED $60,000.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID A REVIEW INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO MEDICAL JUSTIFICATION FOR SUCH PERIODIC RE-EXAMINATION. IT WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED TO DISPENSE WITH THIS REQUIREMENT BY AN AMENDMENT TO THE RELEVANT ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.
- - 0---------
/19 .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1990
- 19 -
REVISION OF PARKING METER CHARGES ON HK ISLAND *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM SUNDAY (JUNE 10), THE FEES FOR USING METERED PARKING SPACES IN CENTRAL, WESTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS WILL BE INCREASED FROM $1 TO $2 FOR 30 MINUTES OF PARKING TIME.
THIS CHARGE REVISION PROGRAMME WILL BE INTRODUCED TO COVER THE PARKING SPACES AT BONHAM STRAND (EAST), .CADOGAN STREET, CHIU KWONG STREET, EASTERN STREET, FIRST STREET, HAU WO STREET, HIGH STREET, HOLLAND STREET, KO SHING STREET, LOK KU ROAD, NEW STREET, SAI CHEUNG. STREET, SHELLEY STREET, SMITHFIELD, THIRD STREET, WESTERN STREET, WHITTY STREET, HUNG SHING STREET, PING LAN STREET, SAN SHI STREET, SHEK PAI WAN ROAD AND YUE KWONG ROAD.
-----0------
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE IN SHA TIN
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT A SECTION OF ABOUT 400 METRES OF ONE TRAFFIC LANE OF SHA TIN ROAD SOUTHBOUND NEAR SHING MUN RIVER WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED BETWEEN 8 PM AND 6 AM THE NEXT DAY FROM SUNDAY (JUNE 10) TO JUNE 18.
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK.
------0-------
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TSING YI BRIDGE * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TSING Yl BRIDGE WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON SUNDAY (JUNE 10) FROM 12.01 AM TO 2 AM AND FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM TO FACILITATE STRUCTURAL MONITORING WORK.
DURING THE CLOSURE, THE BRIDGE WILL BE RE-OPENED TO GENERAL TRAFFIC AT 10-MINUTE INTERVALS AND IMMEDIATELY FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE DISPLAYED AND POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE ON SITE TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
- - 0---------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS DECLINE BY ONE PER CENT ........................................... 1
DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION DESIRABLE: SHA ............................................. 2
STUDENTS URGED TO SPREAD CONSERVATION MESSAGE .......................................... 4
CHILD SPONSORSHIP SCHEME PRAISED ....................................................... 5
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROMOTION IN KWUN TONG ......................................... 5
SURVEY OF PRIVATE BUILDINGS STRUCTURE COMPLETED ........................................ 6
EMPLOYMENT PERIOD OF WOMEN MUST BE SPECIFIED ........................................... 7
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ............................ 8
DREDGING OF TUEN MUN RIVER ............................................................. 8
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION .................................................. 9
TAXI URBAN CLEARWAY IN TSIM SHA TSUI .................................................. 10
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI ................................................. 10
SATURDAY IUNE 9 1990
TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS DECLINE BY ONE PER CENT
*****
DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT (TCU) OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 2,108 COMPLAINTS, A DROP OF ONE PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TCU SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE COMPLAINTS WERE RELATED MAINLY TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES, TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ROAD MAINTENANCE AND ENFORCEMENT.
AS REGARDS THE ADEQUACY OF FRANCHISED BUS SERVICE, HE SAID, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 148 COMPLAINTS COVERING HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES. COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, THERE WAS A RISE OF 21 CASES OR 17 PER CENT.
ON THE STANDARD OF FRANCHISED BUS SERVICE, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 353 COMPLAINTS, AN INCREASE OF FIVE PER CENT COMPARED WITH 337 IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.
THESE COMPLAINTS WERE INDIVIDUALLY TAKEN UP WITH THE BUS COMPANIES CONCERNED.
THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST TAXI SERVICE DECLINED BY EIGHT PER CENT FROM 363 CASES TO 333 CASES.
THE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS RELATED TO RAIL TRANSPORT SERVICES AND FERRY SERVICES DROPPED FROM THE PREVIOUS QUARTER’S 68 CASES TO 66 CASES AND FROM 25 CASES TO 21 CASES, RESPECTIVELY.
THE MAIN AREAS OF COMPLAINT INCLUDED INADEQUATE FREQUENCY, REGULARITY OF SERVICE, AND PASSENGER SERVICES AND FACILITIES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT COMPLAINTS ABOUT ROAD CONGESTION DROPPED BY SIX PER CENT TO 199 CASES — 74 ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 52 IN KOWLOON, 71 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND TWO IN TUNNELS OR OTHER AREAS.
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ROAD CONGESTION INCLUDED TRAFFIC ENGINEERING MATTERS, VEHICLE OBSTRUCTION AND ROAD WORKS.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES DROPPED FROM 205 CASES TO 183, A DECLINE OF 11 PER CENT.
THE MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN INCLUDED PHASING OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND TRAFFIC LANE ARRANGEMENT, AND ADDITION OF TRAFFIC SIGNS AND AIDS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE MAINTENANCE OF ROADS DECREASED BY 12 PER CENT FROM 186 CASES TO 163 CASES.
THE MAJOR AREAS OF COMPLAINT WERE DEFECTIVE ROAD SURFACES, FAULTY TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND DAMAGED TRAFFIC SIGNS OR AIDS.
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CASES STOOD AT 329 -- A DECLINE OF 29
CASES OR EIGHT PER CENT ON THE NUMBER RECORDED IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.
THESE WERE RELATED MAINLY TO REQUESTS FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL PARKING AND MOTORISTS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
------0--------
/2 .....
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
2
DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION DESIRABLE: SHA
*****
IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR LEGISLATION ON COMPUTER DATA PROTECTION TO BE INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT A JOINT LUNCH MEETING OF LIONS CLUBS OF DISTRICT 303, MR TSAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD COME TO THIS CONCLUSION AFTER STUDYING SIMILAR LEGISLATION AND EXPERIENCE OF SOME SELECTED COUNTRIES.
MR TSAO POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASING USE OF COMPUTERS TO STORE, RETRIEVE AND PROCESS INFORMATION HAD, FROM TIME TO TIME, GIVEN RISE TO CALLS FOR SOME PROTECTION ON THE DATA KEPT IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATING TO INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUALS.
HE DEFINED DATA PROTECTION AS ’’THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS, FREEDOM AND ESSENTIAL INTERESTS OF PERSONS VIS-A-VIS THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THEM, PARTICULARLY WHEN COMPUTERS AID IN THE PROCEDURE”.
SOME COUNTRIES, HE ADDED, HAD INTRODUCED REGULATORY MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS AND PRIVACY OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
IN SOME CASES, THE MEASURES INCLUDED RESTRICTIONS ON "TRANSBORDER DATA FLOWS" WITH LEGISLATION WHICH MIGHT PROHIBIT ORGANISATIONS FROM TRANSFERRING COMPUTER-BASED PERSONAL DATA TO OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAD NOT ENACTED DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONCLUDED THAT DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR TWO MAJOR REASONS, NAMELY TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS, FREEDOM AND ESSENTIAL INTERESTS OF INDIVIDUALS AS DATA SUBJECTS; AND TO REMOVE ANY RISK OF HONG KONG BEING DENIED "TRANSBORDER DATA FLOWS" SO AS NOT TO JEOPARDISE HONG KONG’S POSITION AS AN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE, HE NOTED.
MR TSAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT SET UP A WORKING GROUP IN JULY 1988 TO EXAMINE THE DATA PROTECTION LAWS AND EXPERIENCE OF SOME SELECTED COUNTRIES, AND ON THE BASIS OF THE STUDY, FURTHER TO EXAMINE THE DIRECTION TO BE TAKEN IN DRAFTING HONG KONG’S LEGISLATION.
"SO FAR THE WORKING GROUP HAS COMPLETED ITS STUDIES OF NATIONAL LEGISLATION OF OTHER COUNTRIES AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF DELIBERATING THE BASIC FEATURES WHICH HONG KONG’S LEGISLATION WOULD ENSHRINE,” HE SAID.
NOTING THAT DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION NORMALLY INVOLVED A LENGTHY AND COMPLEX PROCESS OF DELIBERATION, MR TSAO SAID DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAD ADOPTED DIFFERENT APPROACHES.
/"AS FAR .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
- 3 -
"AS FAR AS HONG KONG IS CONCERNED, WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONSCIOUS OF THE REQUIREMENT TO BALANCE, ON THE ONE HAND, THE NEED OF DATA USERS TO ENJOY A FREE FLOW OF THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF THEIR BUSINESS AND, ON THE OTHER, THE RIGHTS OF THOSE PEOPLE ABOUT WHOM SUCH DATA ARE COLLECTED TO ENJOY A PROPER DEGREE OF PROTECTION AND PRIVACY.
"OUR AIM IS TO DEVISE LEGISLATION WITH MINIMUM COMPLEXITY AND WITH NO GREATER BURDEN ON OUR RESOURCES THAN IS NECESSARY AND WHICH WILL NONETHELESS BALANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE DATA USER, THE DATA SUBJECT AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE," HE SAID.
MR TSAO SAID THAT AT PRESENT THE GOVERNMENT’S GENERAL VIEW WAS THAT DATA PROTECTION FOR HONG KONG SHOULD COVER COMPUTERISED RECORDS AND APPLY MAINLY TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
ITS APPLICATION TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE FOCUSSED ON, AND LIMITED TO, REGULATING DATA USERS WHO HELD DATA IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR DATA SUBJECTS TO BE PROTECTED AND WHO HAD THE CAPACITY TO COPE WITH THE REGULATORY PROVISIONS.
"WE MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER THE NEED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATUTORY DATA PROTECTION AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG AND TO DEVISE PROVISIONS TO REGULATE CERTAIN TRANSBORDER FLOWS OF DATA," HE NOTED.
EARLIER, MR TSAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ISSUED A SET OF DATA PROTECTION PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES BOTH TO THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS.
ONE PRINCIPLE STIPULATED THAT PERSONAL DATA SHOULD NOT BE DISCLOSED FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN THOSE WHICH HAD BEEN SPECIFIED, EXCEPT WITH THE CONSENT OF THE DATA SUBJECT OR BY THE AUTHORITY OF LAW.
ANOTHER PRINCIPLE STATED THAT AT REASONABLE INTERVALS AND WITHOUT UNDUE DELAY OR EXPENSE, A PERSON SHOULD BE ABLE TO OBTAIN CONFIRMATION OF WHETHER OR NOT HIS DATA WERE HELD, TO HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH DATA AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO HAVE SUCH DATA CORRECTED OR ERASED.
’’THE PROPER OBSERVANCE OF SUCH PRINCIPLES WILL HELP AVOID THE MISUSE OF PERSONAL DATA OR ERRONEOUS ENTRIES,’’ MR TSAO SAID.
- - 0-----------
/4 ........
SATURDAY, JUN 9, 1990
STUDENTS URGED TO SPREAD CONSERVATION MESSAGE
*****
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS OE THE PUBLIC IS AS IMPORTANT AS THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT IN COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
HE WAS OFFICIATING AT THE SOUVENIR PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB (CYC) 1990 COUNTRY PARKS ADOPTION SCHEME AT THE HOK TAU MANAGEMENT CENTRE OF THE PAT SIN LENG COUNTRY PARK.
HE COMMENDED THE PARTICIPANTS FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION AND URGED THEM TO HELP SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION TO THEIR SCHOOL MATES, FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT THE COUNTRY PARKS ADOPTION SCHEME HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION AMONG STUDENTS AND TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTARY WORK IN COUNTRY PARKS.
UNDER THE SCHEME, THE FIVE CYC REGIONS EACH ADOPTS A COUNTRY PARK AND ORGANISES STUDENTS FROM THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS INTO SERVICE GROUPS OF 20 TO 40 STUDENTS TO CARRY OUT VOLUNTARY SERVICES SUCH AS LITTER COLLECTION, GRASS CUTTING, TREE TENDING, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND TREE PLANTING.
IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS ALSO PATROL THE POPULAR RECREATIONAL SITES ON ■ HOLIDAYS TO URGE THE PUBLIC TO KEEP THE COUNTRY PARKS CLEAN AND PREVENT HILL FIRES.
DR LEE NOTED THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME WAS ALSO DUE TO THE SUPPORT OF THE FOUNDER OF THE LAW’S FOUNDATION TRUST, MR LAW TING-PONG, THE 19 REGIONAL COMMITTEES OF THE CYC AND THE PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, NOTED THAT SOME 2,800 PARTICIPANTS FROM 10 SCHOOLS HAD JOINED THE SCHEME THIS YEAR.
HE HOPED THAT THE SCHEME COULD BE EXTENDED NEXT YEAR TO INCLUDE ALL THE PARTICIPATING SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF THE CYC SO THAT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN THIS MEANINGFUL SCHEME.
/5 ........
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
- 5 -
CHILD SPONSORSHIP SCHEME PRAISED *****
A CHILD SPONSORSHIP SCHEME BEING RUN BY A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION HELPED TO GIVE THE SPONSORED CHILDREN A SENSE OF LOVE AND AFFECTION THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVERY CHILD, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR M.D. CARTLAND, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE PO LEUNG KUK SPONSORS’ DAY AT QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, MR CARTLAND NOTED THAT THE SCHEME ALSO GAVE THE CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP AND WIDEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHILE SAYING THAT CHILD CARE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN HAD ALWAYS COMMANDED A HIGH PRIORITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, HE ADDED THAT THE SCHEME NOT ONLY BROUGHT HAPPINESS TO THE CHILDREN IN CARE, BUT ALSO HELPED TO PREPARE THE CHILDREN FOR THEIR EVENTUAL REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY.
IN CONCLUSION, MR CARTLAND EXPRESSED HIS DEEP APPRECIATION TO. THE SPONSORS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY, AS WELL AS THEIR CONCERN FOR THE CHILDREN.
-----0-----
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROMOTION IN KWUN TONG
******
A SERIES OF PROGRAMMES AIMED AT PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG SECONDARY STUDENTS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL IN KWUN TONG WILL BE ORGANISED LATER THIS YEAR.
THIS WAS SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE EAST KOWLOON REGIONAL OFFICER OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MR LOK MAN-PAN, AT THE OPENING OF A SEMINAR ON MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION HELD AT A TSIM SHA TSUI HOTEL.
THE SEMINAR WAS ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON PROMOTION OF MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED EARLY THIS YEAR.
ITS MEMBERS ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM VOUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, AS WELL AS OFFICERS FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
MR LOK SAID: "WE CHOSE STUDENTS AS OUR TARGET GROUP BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FACE PRESSURES FROM SCHOOL AND OPEN EXAMINATIONS AS WELL AS A CHANGING SOCIETY.
/"WE HOPE .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
- 6 -
"WE HOPE THAT THROUGH THESE PROGRAMMES THEY COULD OBTAIN ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND CORRECT PERCEPTION OF LIFE IN MEETING . THE FUTURE CHALLENGE AND BECOMING A CITIZEN WITH RESPONSIBILITY AND CIVIC-MINDEDNESS."
AT THE SEMINAR, A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, A PSYCHIATRIST AND A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER GAVE TALKS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS TO MORE THAN 130 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND YOUTH WORKERS.
------0--------
SURVEY OF PRIVATE BUILDINGS STRUCTURE COMPLETED ******
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED AN INSPECTION SURVEY OF ALL PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN THE URBAN AREAS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE BUILT-UP AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE SURVEY HAS IDENTIFIED 210 BUILDINGS AS BEING IN A DANGEROUS STRUCTURAL CONDITION REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION.
OF THESE, A TOTAL OF SEVEN HAVE ALREADY BEEN CLOSED UNDER COURT ORDERS AND DEMOLITION ORDERS SERVED AGAINST THEM.
ANOTHER 16,700 BUILDINGS WERE FOUND TO BE IN A SUSPECT STRUCTURAL CONDITION, NECESSITATING A MORE IN-DEPTH SURVEY TO ASCERTAIN THE EXTENT OF DETERIORATION.
UNDER THE SURVEY, WHICH TOOK MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE, A TOTAL OF 55,500 BUILDINGS WERE INSPECTED.
THE REMAINING 38,600 BUILDINGS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE IN A REASONABLE CONDITION AND UNLIKELY TO REQUIRE ANY MAJOR REPAIRS WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDING AUTHORITY SAID THE COMPLETION OF THIS PRELIMINARY EXTERNAL INSPECTION REPRESENTED ONLY THE FIRST PHASE OF THE EXERCISE.
IT WAS NECESSARY IN A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD TO FOLLOW UP AND INVESTIGATE ALL THOSE BUILDINGS FOUND TO BE IN A SUSPECT CONDITION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
DETAILS OF THE INSPECTION SURVEY WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, MR TONY SAMSON, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (JUNE 1 1 ) AT ROOM 1119, 1 1 TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, CENTRAL.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
- - 0 - -
/7........
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
7
EMPLOYMENT PERIOD OF WOMEN MUST BE SPECIFIED
******
EMPLOYERS ARE TODAY (SATURDAY) REMINDED THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FIX AND SET OUT IN A NOTICE THE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT AND REST INTERVALS OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS THEY EMPLOY.
IN A RECENT COURT CASE, YAMADA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING (HK) CO. LTD IN WONG CHUK HANG WAS FINED $5,000 BY A CENTRAL MAGISTRATE FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT.
SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER (PROSECUTION), MR TSANG KIN-WOO, SAID THE COMPANY WAS FOUND DURING A VISIT BY LABOUR INSPECTORS TO HAVE FAILED TO PUT UP A NOTICE SETTING OUT THE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT AND BREAKS FOR ITS 49 WOMEN EMPLOYEES.
MR TSANG EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS, AN EMPLOYER MUST FIX THE PERMISSIBLE HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT, THE INTERVALS FOR MEALS OR REST AND THE ARRANGEMENT OF REST DAYS FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS EMPLOYED IN AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING.
’’THIS INFORMATION SHOULD ALSO BE SET OUT IN A PRESCRIBED FORM AND DISPLAYED CONSPICUOUSLY IN THE WORKPLACE,” HE ADDED.
ANY EMPLOYER FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT WILL COMMIT AN OFFENCE AND BE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000.
MR TSANG ALSO REMINDED EMPLOYERS OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE POLICIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPENSATING THEIR EMPLOYEES IN CASE OF INJURY AT WORK.
HE WAS REFERRING.TO ANOTHER COURT CASE IN WHICH THE PROPRIETOR OF KIU YUEN HAIR SALOON IN TUEN MUN, CHAN HAU-WAH, WAS FINED $2,500 BY A TUEN MUN MAGISTRATE FOR FAILING TO TAKE OUT AN INSURANCE POLICY FOR HER TWO EMPLOYEES.
UNDER THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, ALL EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE POLICIES TO COVER THEIR FULL LIABILITIES TO COMPENSATE THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR INJURY OR DEATH AT WORK.
"THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT AN INJURED EMPLOYEE WILL OBTAIN COMPENSATION TO WHICH HE IS ENTITLED UNDER THE LAW,” MR TSANG EXPLAINED.
”AN EMPLOYER WHO BREACHES THIS PROVISION IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $20,000 AND ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT," HE WARNED.
--------0-----------
/8 ........
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
- 8 -
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS *******
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE WILL ON MONDAY (JUNE 11) CONSIDER ALLOCATING $190,000 FOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT FOUR LOCATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE PROJECTS INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS TO A PLAYGROUND IN TAI TAM TUK VILLAGE, BUILDING A RAIN SHELTER NEAR TIN WAN ESTATE AND RESURFACING A FOOTPATH IN HOK TSUI VILLAGE AND ANOTHER LINKING WONG MA KOK ROAD AND SUN PAT KAN.
THE FOUR PROJECTS WILL BE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE COMMITTEE’S MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMPREHENSIVE SQUATTER IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE FINANCIAL REPORTS ON VARIOUS PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (JUNE 11) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT, 7-11 NAM NING STREET, ABERDEEN CENTRE.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
--------0 - -
DREDGING OF TUEN * * * *
MUN RIVER *
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED BY THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE DREDGING OF TUEN MUN RIVER CHANNEL BETWEEN PUI TO ROAD AND WONG CHU ROAD.
SEDIMENT TO AN AVERAGE DEPTH OF 1.5 METRES WILL BE DREDGED FROM THE TUEN MUN RIVER CHANNEL TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY AND THE CHANNEL FLOW.
THE CONTRACT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN AUGUST THIS YEAR AND WILL TAKE NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE PORT WORKS DIVISION OF THF CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE, CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FOR THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
TENDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD BEFORE NOON ON JUNE 22.
- - 0 - -
/9
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
- 9 -
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION ******
FORTY SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE PUT UP FOR AUCTION THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING FOR A TOTAL OF $663,000 WHICH WILL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES.
THE AUCTION, HELD AT THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL, SAW THE REGISTRATION NUMBER CR88 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $190,000.
ANOTHER NUMBER AB338 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $58,000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $1,000 EACH FOR EF8990, EF8555, EE8358 AND EE3872.
FOLLOWING ARE THE RESULTS OF TODAY’S AUCTION:
$ $ $ $
EE2888 20,000 EH323 14,000 EF388 25,000 EF6618 7,000
EF802 5,000 AU2829 13,000 EF1233 5,000 25,000 AW2112 7,000
DB319 4,000 EF3893 3,000 EF198 EE8038 5,000
EH4 12,000 EF238 23,000 AW222 45,000 EH747 5,000
EE9238 4,000 EE8088 9,000 EE6366 5,000 EF8990 1,000
EF189 6,000 2877 20,000 EF32 27,000 EF8555 1,000
1952 12,000 BB192 23,000 EE8898 15,000 CC350 6,000
EF618 6,000 EF3228 13,000 DH900 10,000 EE8358 1,000
EF3033 5,000 EE8003 6,000 EE9283 12,000 EE3872 1,000
AB338 58,000 CR88 190,000 EF832 7,000 EE9333 7,000
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WERE REQUIRED TO PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE BIDDING.
THE NUMBERS AUCTIONED WILL BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE DATE OF AUCTION.
TODAY’S SALE, THE 151ST ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR CHARITY REALISED SO FAR TO $102,336,305.
--------0 - -
/10 .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1990
- 10 -
TAXI URBAN CLEARWAY IN TSIM SHA TSUI *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (JUNE 11), THE SECTION OF CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH NORTHBOUND BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH OBSERVATORY ROAD AND A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION, IN TSIM SHA TSUI, WILL BE DESIGNATED A TAXI URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
ALL TAXIS, EXCEPT THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONE.
CONCURRENTLY, THE EXISTING 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY TAXI URBAN CLEARWAY DESIGNATED ON THE SECTION OF CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH NORTHBOUND FROM A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES TO THE NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH OBSERVATORY ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 35 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION, WILL BE CANCELLED.
- - 0---------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI *****
AM ON MONDAY KIMBERLEY ROAD RE-ROUTED FROM
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 (JUNE 11), THE SECTION OF OBSERVATORY ROAD BETWEEN AND CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH IN TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE ONE-WAY WESTBOUND TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
AT
KIMBERLEY ROAD.
MOTORISTS ON KIMBERLEY ROAD HEADING FOR CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH CAN TRAVEL VIA OBSERVATORY ROAD EASTBOUND.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE RIGHT-TURN MOVEMENT OF ALL VEHICLES FROM AUSTIN ROAD WESTBOUND INTO KWUN CHUNG STREET WILL BE BANNED.
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA AUSTIN ROAD EASTBOUND INTO KWUN CHUNG STREET.
- - 0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN MARCH .......................
NEWSLETTER GIVES DETAILS ON TOY TESTING ISSUE ...............................
6 ENROLMENT OPEN FOR LABOUR RELATIONS COURSES ......................
....... 7
1 239 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN MAY ......................................
' 7
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHERN ........................
8 FACILITIES IN PRIVATE ESTATES ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA ........................
..... 9
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ALLOCATION OF FUNDS ..........................
..... 9
TENDERS INVITED FOR BUILDING SITTING OUT AREA .........................
....... 10
VOLUNTEERS RECRUITMENT DRIVE CONTINUES ...........................
11 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN ...................................
11 TEMPORARY LONG VEHICLE BAN ZONES IN TUEN MUN ..............................
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
1
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN MARCH
*******
THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS DECREASED BY 5 PER CENT, WHILE THAT OF RE-EXPORTS GREW BY 6 PER CENT IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1990 AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
TAKING THEM TOGETHER, THERE WAS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 2 PER CENT IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS. IMPORTS SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE IN VOLUME TERMS.
THE GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE IS DERIVED FROM THE GROWTH IN TRADE VALUES, HAVING DISCOUNTED THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
AS REGARDS PRICE CHANGES OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 2 PER CENT AND 4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, WHILE THOSE OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 2 PER CENT. AS A RESULT, THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (EXPRESSED AS A RATIO OF TOTAL EXPORT PRICE INDEX TO IMPORT PRICE INDEX) INCREASED BY 1 PER CENT.
PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES WHICH DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OR QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED, EXCEPT FOR SOME SELECTED COMMODITIES FOR WHICH SPECIFICATION PRICE INDEXES ARE AVAILABLE.
COMPARING THE MONTH OF MARCH 1990 WITH MARCH 1989, THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT, WHILE THAT OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 12 PER CENT. AS SUCH, THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT. THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 4 PER CENT.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 2 PER CENT AND 4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. IMPORT PRICES INCREASED BY 2 PER CENT.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY PRINCIPAL COMMODITY GROUP FOR MARCH 1990 AS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS DECREASED IN MARCH 1990 AS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989, INCLUDING DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES ( 34 PER CENT); METAL ORES AND SCRAP (-22 PER CENT); RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (-20 PER CENT); FOOTWEAR (-16 PER CENT); TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AM) SIMILAR ARTICLES (-16 PER CENT); METAL MANUFACTURES (-14 PER CENT); TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (-7 PER CENT); AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS (-3 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, INCREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED IN ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+14 PER (ENT); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (+10 PER CENT); CLOTHING (+6 PER CENT); AND TEXTILE FABRICS (+3 PER CENT).
/THE PRICES .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 199)
- 2 -
THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED IN MARCH 1990 COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989. THESE INCLUDED TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES (+5 PER CENT); METAL MANUFACTURES (+5 PER CENT); TEXTILE FABRICS (+4 PER CENT); TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+4 PER CENT); DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (+3 PER CENT); ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+2 PER CENT); FOOTWEAR (+2 PER CENT); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (+1 PER CENT); AND CLOTHING (+1 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICES WERE RECORDED IN METAL ORES AND SCRAP (-7 PER CENT); WATCHES AND CLOCKS (-2 PER CENT); AND RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (-1 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY FOR MARCH 1990 AS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 2.
IMPORTS OF FOODSTUFFS DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS IN MARCH 1990 COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989. DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF RICE; SUGAR; AND VEGETABLES. INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS; WHEAT AND FLOUR; AND MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE AND EGGS.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF CONSUMER GOODS INCREASED BY 11 PER CENT. COMMODITY ITEMS WITH CONSIDERABLE INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME INCLUDED FOOTWEAR; RADIOS, TELEVISION SETS, GRAMOPHONES, RECORDS, TAPE RECORDERS AND AMPLIFIERS; AND CLOTHING.
DECREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED FOR CAMERAS, FLASHLIGHT APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY; PASSENGER MOTOR CARS; AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES DECREASED BY 5 PER CENT IN MARCH 1990 COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989. THE MAJOR DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF WOOL AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR; MAN-MADE FIBRES; AND COTTON YARN AND THREAD.
INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE NOTED FOR FABRICS OF MAN-MADE FIBRES; THERMIONIC CATHODE VALVES AND TUBES, DIODES, TRANSISTORS AND ELECTRICAL MICROCIRCUITS; AND DYEING, TANNING AND COLOURING MATERIALS.
IMPORTS OF FUELS DECREASED BY 29 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS IN MARCH 1990 AS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989.
AS REGARDS CAPITAL GOODS, TH! IMPORT VOLUME INCREASED BY 20 PER CENT IN MARCH 1990 OVER MARCH 1989. INCREASES IN THE IMPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED FOR TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, OFFICE MACHINES AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY. ON THE OTHER HAND, IMPORT VOLUME OF TEXTILE MACHINERY; AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY (OTHER THAN TEXTILE MACHINERY AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY) SHOWED SOME, DECREASES.
/COMPARING MARCH ......
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
3
COMPARING MARCH 1990 WITH MARCH 1989, THE IMPORT PRICES OF MOST END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED : FUELS (+8 PER CENT); CONSUMER GOODS (+5 PER CENT); FOODSTUFFS (+3 PER CENT); AND CAPITAL GOODS (+1 PER CENT). THE IMPORT PRICES OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY FOR MARCH 1990 AS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 3.
THE VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS OF FUELS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY BY 145 PER CENT, WHILE THOSE OF CONSUMER GOODS AND CAPITAL GOODS INCREASED BY 30 PER CENT AND 9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN MARCH 1990 AS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989. HOWEVER, THE RE-EXPORT VOLUME OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES DECREASED BY 5 PER CENT AND THAT OF FOODSTUFFS BY 14 PER CENT.
PRICES OF RE-EXPORTS OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED IN MARCH 1990 COMPARED WITH MARCH 1989: FUELS (+12 PER CENT); CONSUMER GOODS (+4 PER CENT); RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES (+4 PER CENT); CAPITAL GOODS (+3 PER CENT) AND FOODSTUFFS (+1 PER CENT).
FURTHER DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE MARCH 1990 ISSUE OF THE "HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS" WHICH WILL BE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AROUND JUNE 14 AT $3 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS REPORT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, HONG KONG (TEL. NO.: 842 8802) AND ENQUIRIES ON TRADE INDEXES TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO.: 823 4918).
TABLE 1: CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY PRINCIPAL COMMODITY GROUP
COMPARING WITH MAR 1990 MAR 1989 COMPARING JAN-MAR WITH JAN-MAR 1990 1989
COMMODITY GROUP VALUE % UNIT VALUE % VOLUME % VALUE % UNIT VALUE VOLUME % %
CLOTHING 7 1 6 -1 2 -3
TEXTILE FABRICS 7 4 3 9 4 5
TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD -4 4 -7 -7 4 -11
TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES 1 1 1 10 -4 4 -7
/RADIOS OF .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
4
RADIOS OF ALL ♦ -29
KINDS -21 -1 -20 -29
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 17 2 14 12 1 10
FOOTWEAR -15 2 -16 -22 1 -23
METAL MANUFACTURES -10 5 -14 -18 6 -22
METAL ORES AND SCRAP -27 -7 -22 -29 -5 -25
WATCHES AND CLOCKS -4 -2 -3 -1 -2 1
TRAVEL GOODS, HA.VDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES -12 5 -16 -17 4 -20
DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES -32 3 -34 -34 2 -35
ALL COMMODITIES -1 2 -2 -3 2 -5
* LESS THAN 0.5%
TABLE 2: CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY
END-USE CATEGORY VALUE % COMPARING MAR 1990 WITH MAR 1989 COMPARING JAN-MAR 1990 WITH JAN-MAR 1989
UNIT VALUE % VOLUME % VALUE % UNIT VALUE VOLUME
% %
FOODSTUFFS 1 3 -2 * 3 -3
CONSUMER GOODS 16 5 11 13 5 8
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES -6 ♦ -5 -7 * -7
FUELS -23 8 -29 -5 12 -15
CAPITAL GOODS 21 1 20 3 1 1
ALL COMMODITIES 6 2 4 2 2 ♦
* LESS THAN 0.5%
/TABLE 3 .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
- 5 -
TABLE 3: CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY
END-USE CATEGORY VALUE % COMPARING MAR 1990 WITH MAR 1989 COMPARING JAN-MAR 1990 WITH JAN-MAR 1989
UNIT VALUE % VOLUME % VALUE % UNIT VALUE VOLUME
% %
FOODSTUFFS -13 1 -14 -11 2 -12
CONSUMER GOODS 36 4 30 28 5 22
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES -2 4 -5 -5 4 -9
FUELS 175 12 145 89 17 62
CAPITAL GOODS 12 3 9 3 4 -1
ALL COMMODITIES 16 4 12 11 4 6
NEWSLETTER GIVES DETAILS ON TOY TESTING ISSUE
*****
THE DELAY IN REACHING AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (EC) ON THE RECOGNITION OF APPROVED LOCAL TESTING BODIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL MANUFACTURERS.
IS TOY
THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THAT THE END OF 1990 EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME FOR HONG KONG TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS EC TO GET LOCAL TESTING LABORATORIES LN THE HONG ACCREDITATION SCHEME (HOKLAS) RECOGNISED AS "APPROVED THEIR OWN NEW EC-TYPE EXAMINATIONS ON TOYS.
IS WITH
THE
THE
KONG LABORATORY
BODIES
TO DO
PROGRESS OF
NEWSLETTER
PUBLICATION
RELEASED
OF SIX
THIS TODAY PAGES
ISSUE IS GIVEN (SUNDAY). THIS
IN THE
QUALITY
NEWLY-LAUNCHED
THE
INDUSTRY
IS PUBLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND AIMS
QUALITY ; TO KEEP
MANUFACTURERS ABREAST OF THE LATEST IN QUALITY-RELATED EVENTS.
QUEST”
COLOUR
SERVICES
LOCAL
"QUALITY QUEST" REPORTS THAT THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES EUROPEAN POLICY ON CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT WERE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL ONLY IN JANUARY 1990.
FOR
EC
/DETAILED MANDATES .......
DAY, JUNE 10, 1990
- 6
DETAILED MANDATES FOK NEGOTIATION WITH NON-EC COUNTRIES, BASED UPON THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, WERE STILL BEING PREPARED.
HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE EC IMPORTERS WITH COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON MANUFACTURING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE METHODS TO ENABLE CONFORMITY WITH HARMONISED STANDARDS TO BE CHECKED.
THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT CALLED ON MANUFACTURERS NOT CURRENTLY PRACTISING QUALITY ASSURANCE TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER MAKING ACTUAL IMPROVEMENTS IN QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS TO MINIMISE PRODUCT LIABILITY RISKS.
ALSO REPORTED IN "QUALITY QUEST" IS THE STORY OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT, BY MUTUAL AGREEMENTS, HAS CUT RED TAPE ON THOSE "IRRITATING, TIME-CONSUMING AND SOMETIMES COSTLY DOUBLE CHECKS" ON EXPORTERS’ ESSENTIAL TEST CERTIFICATES WITH TWO MORE OF HONG KONG’S IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNERS, THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA WITH WHOM IT HAS RECENTLY SIGNED MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.
LOCAL MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE INTERESTED TO LEARN DETAILS OF THE ABOVE CAN CALL 737 2217 FOR A FREE COPY OF "QUALITY QUEST", WHICH IS TO BE PUBLISHED TWICE EVERY YEAR.
THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY COMMISSIONED A 16-MINUTE DRAMA ON VIDEO CASSETTE FOR USE IN ITS QUALTIY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. COPIES, WITH EITHER CANTONESE OR ENGLISH VOICE-OVER, CAN BE BORROWED ALSO BY TELEPHONING 737 2217.
-----U------
ENROLMENT OPEN FOR LABOUR RELATIONS COURSES
*****
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) INVITED APPLICATIONS FOR ENROLMENT IN A SERIES OF LABOUR RELATIONS CERTIFICATE COURSES TO BE HELD IN JULY AND AUGUST.
DESIGNED MAINLY FOR EMPLOYERS, MANAGEMENT STAFF, TRADE UNION OFFICIALS AND INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES, THE COURSES AIM TO PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF LABOUR LEGISLATION AND WAYS TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND TOOLS.
EACH COURSE COMPRISES SIX HALF-DAY SESSIONS ON VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION, AND CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG ORDINANCES AND THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) AND EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS.
THEY ALSO COVER SUCH TOPICS AS LABOUR RELATIONS IN HONG KONG, EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION, GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES, DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND PREVENTION AND PREPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS.
THE COURSES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CANTONESE AND THE FEE FOR EACH COURSE IS $350 PER PERSON.
/IN VIEW .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
IN VIEW OF THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO SIMILAR COURSES OFFERED EARLIER, PEOPLE INTERESTED ATTENDING ARE ADVISED TO APPLY IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT ON 12TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
ENROLMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS, ALTHOUGH PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS SPONSORED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS OR TRADE UNIONS.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ON THE COURSES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 852 3511.
- - 0 - -
1,239 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN MAY * * * * *
A TOTAL OF 1,668 CASUALTIES WAS REPORTED IN 1,239 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WHICH OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY LAST MONTH.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT 305 OF THESE ACCIDENTS OCCURRED ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 606 IN KOWLOON AND 328 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR MAY SHOWED THAT 20 PERSONS WERE KILLED, 337 PEOPLE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND 1,311 SLIGHTLY INJURED IN THESE ACCIDENTS.
THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES REPRESENTED A DECREASE OF 6.6 PER CENT AND 4.8 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
- - 0 - -
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHERN *******
ORGANISATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARE INVITED TO APPLY TO THE DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING AND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FOR FUNDS FOR ORGANISING COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT DISTRICT-BASED ACTIVITIES AIMED AT ENHANCING COMMUNITY SPIRIT, SOCIAL COHESION, SENSE OF BELONGING AND WELL-BEING OF LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING.
ACTIVITIES THAT CAN PROMOTE LOCAL PEOPLE’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE ACTIVITIES CAN BE CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL, SPORTS AND FEST IV ACTIVITIES, EXHIBITIONS, SEMINARS AND SURVEYS, AS WELL AS SOC A SERVICES PROJECTS FOR THE ELDERLY, DISABLED OR THOSE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON FRIDAY (JUNE 15) AND WILL BE PROCESSED BY THE COMMITTEE AT ITS MEETING ON JULY 9. APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY POST OF THE RESULT OF THEIR APPLICATIONS.
/THE DEADLINES
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
8
THE DEADLINES FOR THE REMAINING APPLICATION PERIODS IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR ARE AUGUST 13, OCTOBER 15 AND DECEMBER 10 RESPECTIVELY.
INTERESTED PARTIES MAY REFER TO THE GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICATION FOR SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
COPIES OF THE GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMITTEE, MISS WINNIE CHONG, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT, 7-11 NAM NING STREET, ABERDEEN CENTRE.
TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 554 0271.
------o--------
FACILITIES IN PRIVATE ESTATES ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA » t » * ♦
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE PROVISION OF RECREATION AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN LARGE^PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATES AT ITS MEETING ON TUESDAY (JUNE 12).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE RECENT CONVERSION OF SOME RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF BELAIR GARDENS INTO COMMERCIAL PREMISES.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS WILL
INCLUDE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A PRIVATE HOSPITAL NEAR PROGRAMMES OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND OFFICE, AND PROPOSED MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL
JULIMOUNT
THE SHA
PROGRESS OF
GARDEN, THE
TIN DISTRICT
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THE WORK LANDS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED
TO COVER THE MEETING
OF TO
SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING COMMITTEE HELD ON TUESDAY (JUNE 12) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SIXTH FLOOR,
THE
BE KCR
HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION, NEW TERRITORIES.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
- - 0------------
/9 ........
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
9
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ALLOCATION OF FUNDS ******
MEMBERS OF THE CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORTS COMMITTEE OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD WILL CONSIDER ON TUESDAY (JUNE 12) THE ALLOCATION OF MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANISATIONS FOR CARRYING OUT CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE LOCAL ORGANISATIONS INCLUDE THE SAI KUNG CULTURE AND RECREATIONAL ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION, SAI KUNG DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION OF THE SAI KUNG CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE COMMITTEE’S FINANCIAL POSITION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD’S CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORTS COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY (JUNE 12) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 34 CHAN MAN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 10 AM.
------0--------
TENDERS INVITED FOR BUILDING SITTING OUT AREA ******
the architectural services department is inviting tenders for
CONSTRUCTION OF A SITTING OUT AREA IN WAI YIP STREET, KWUN TONU.
OCCUPYING 800 SQUARE METRES THE SITTING OUT AREA WILL HAVE A SINGLE-STOREY METER/STORE ROOM, ARBOURS AND PLANTERS.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR AND WILL TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JUNE 22.
--------0----------
/10 .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
- 10 -
VOLUNTEERS RECRUITMENT DRIVE CONTINUES » » « » »
THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED ON ENTHUSIASTIC YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO FACE THE CHALLENGE AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN THE VOLUNTEERS BEFORE ITS RECRUITMENT EXERCISE CLOSES ON JUNE 30.
THIS YEAR, THE REGIMENT IS LOOKING FOR ABOUT 130 MALE RECRUITS AND 25 FEMALE RECRUITS.
THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED SHOULD BE 18 YEARS OLD OR ABOVE, HAVE COMPLETED SECONDARY EDUCATION AND HAVE A REASONABLE KNOWLEDGE OF SPOKEN ENGLISH. THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE REGULAR EMPLOYMENT AND SHOULD HAVE OBTAINED THEIR EMPLOYERS’ CONSENT FOR JOINING THE FORCE.
"SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE TRAINING IN BASIC MILITARY SKILLS, INCLUDING DRILL, HANDLING RIFLES, SUB-MACHINE GUNS, AND USE OF VEHICLES AND ASSAULT BOATS," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE VOLUNTEERS SAID.
"TRAINING IN OPERATING RADIO EQUIPMENT, AND IN MAP READING AND FIRST AID IS ALSO GIVEN.
"THIS NO DOUBT HELPS IN BUILDING UP ONE’S PHYSIQUE AS WELL AS CULTIVATING A MORE MATURE AND CAPABLE PERSONALITY.
"VOLUNTEERS WILL ALSO GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN SUPERVISORY SKILLS, JUDGEMENT AND DECISION-MAKING."
TRAINING FOR NEW RECRUITS WILL BE CARRIED OUT ON FOUR EVENINGS AND ONE WEEKEND PER MONTH FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE MONTHS. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO ATTEND TWO NINE-DAY TRAINING CAMPS BEFORE PASSING OUT.
THE MAJORITY OF TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE SCENIC COUNTRY PARKS OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ON COMPLETION OF BASIC TRAINING, VOLUNTEERS WILL TRAIN TWO EVENINGS AND ONE WEEKEND A MONTH. THERE ARE TWO CAMP PERIODS, ONE OF WHICH IS SPENT ON MANNING THE HONG KONG-CHINA BORDER.
APPLICATION FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS AT SPORTS ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY.
FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE VOLUNTEERS’ HEADQUARTERS ON TEL. 576 1371.
--------0-----------
/Il ........
t
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1990
- 11 -
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT BETWEEN 1 AM AND 6 AM ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY (JUNE 12 AND 13), THE SECTION OF SHA TIN WAI ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN NGAU PEI SHA STREET AND NGAN SHING STREET WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD T5 IN SHA TIN.
DURING THE HOURS OF CLOSURE, MOTORISTS ON SHA TIN WAI ROAD WESTBOUND AND NGAU PEI SHA STREET NORTHBOUND HEADING FOR SHA TIN WAI ROAD WESTBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED VIA NGAU PEI SHA STREET NORTHBOUND, CHAP WAI RON STREET WESTBOUND AND NGAN SHING STREET SOUTHBOUND TO REJOIN SHA TIN WAI ROAD WESTBOUND.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE. APPROPRIATE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
--------0-----------
TEMPORARY LONG VEHICLE BAN ZONES IN TUEN MUN
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF STRUCTURAL FALSEWORK, ALL VEHICLES EXCEEDING 10 METRES IN LENGTH WILL BE BANNED FROM ENTERING THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD FROM 1.30 AM TO 5.30 AM ON SPECIFIED DATES:
* THE SECTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN TUEN HING ROAD AND PUI TO ROAD FROM TUESDAY (JUNE 12) TO THURSDAY (JUNE 14); AND
* THE SECTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN PUI TO ROAD AND TUEN SHING STREET FROM FRIDAY (JUNE 15) TO SUNDAY (JUNE 17).
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR TO HK FUTURES EXCHANGE ............. 1
INTEREST IN AIRPORT LEGAL WORK INVITED ................................. 1
NEARLY 17,000 PRIVATE BUILDINGS IN NEED OF ATTENTION ................... 2
RELATIVELY DRY IN MAY .................................................. 3
DONATION SETS UP SELF-FINANCING HOME FOR THE ELDERLY ................... 6
FERRY PASSENGERS URGED TO CO-OPERATE IN SURVEY ......................... 7
WATER STORAGE FIGURE ................................................... 8
TEMPORARY PARTIAL LANE CLOSURES ON TOLO HIGHWAY ........................ 8
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1990
- 1 -
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR TO HK FUTURES EXCHANGE ******
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR TAKASHI MORI AS AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR TO THE BOARD OF THE HONG KONG FUTURES EXCHANGE (HKFE) WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE 21, 1990, THE DATE ON WHICH THE EXCHANGE HOLDS ITS FIFTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM).
THE SUCCESSFUL RECONSTITUTION OF THE HKFE IN MAY 1989 PROVIDES THAT ITS BOARD SHOULD BE BROADLY-BASED AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARKETS, THEIR USERS AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST, IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SECURITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE.
"THE APPOINTMENT OF MR MORI WILL ENHANCE THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THE BOARD OF THE EXCHANGE, AND HELP PROMOTE AND DEVELOP THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE JAPANESE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY AND THE EXCHANGE," HE SAID.
MR MORI IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SANWA INTERNATIONAL FINANCE LTD. BEFORE COMING TO HONG KONG IN 1987, HE WAS WITH SANWA IN TOKYO AND LONDON.
UNDER ARTICLE 73(B)‘OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE EXCHANGE, THE GOVERNOR HAS TO APPOINT THE FIRST FOUR INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD AS VACANCIES ARISE. THE FIRST THREE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS WERE APPOINTED IN JUNE 1989.
THE COMING AGM REPRESENTS THE LAST PHASE OF MEMBERSHIP REFORM OF THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
"CREDIT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE EXCHANGE MEMBERS, WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE REFORMS, WITH WHICH THE EXCHANGE IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO DEVELOP THE FUTURES MARKET IN HONG KONG," SIR PIERS SAID.
--------0-----------
INTEREST IN AIRPORT LEGAL WORK INVITED
*****
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS ARE INVITING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FROM FIRMS OF SOLICITORS TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN RELATION TO THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
THE AIRPORT PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE A CONSIDERABLE VOLUME OF LEGAL WORK. AT PRESENT ALL SUCH WORK IS BEING HANDLED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS.
HOWEVER, RESOURCES WITHIN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COPE WITH THE INCREASED WORKLOAD AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES. THE GOVERNMENT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERING ENGAGING SOLICITORS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE TO HANDLE SOME OF THAT WORK.
/ANY DECISION .......
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1990
2 -
ANY DECISION WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF THE LEGAL WORK INVOLVED WILL CONTINUE TO BE DEALT WITH WITHIN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS.
THE CROWN SOLICITOR HAS WRITTEN TO SOME 30 LARGE AND MEDIUM SIZED FIRMS OF SOLICITORS INVITING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST. THE FIRMS ARE ASKED TO RESPOND IN WRITING BY JUNE 29 THIS YEAR.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE MAIN AREAS OF LAW IN WHICH SERVICES WILL BE REQUIRED WILL BE CONSTRUCTION, PROJECT FINANCE AND CONTRACT.
-----0-----
NEARLY 17,000 PRIVATE BUILDINGS IN NEED OF ATTENTION
******
FINDINGS OF AN EXTERNAL SURVEY ON STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS OF PRIVATE SECTOR BUILDINGS CONDUCTED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE INDICATE THAT ABOUT 16,700 BUILDINGS ARE IN A SUSPECT STRUCTURAL CONDITION, REQUIRING A MORE IN-DEPTH SURVEY TO ASCERTAIN THE EXTENT OF DETERIORATION.
ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE SURVEY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (MONDAY), THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE, MR ANTHONY SAMSON, SAID OWNERS OF THESE PREMISES WOULD BE ORDERED TO CARRY OUT NECESSARY REPAIRS.
THE SURVEY HAD TAKEN EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND COVERED THE EXTERNAL INSPECTION OF 55,500 BUILDINGS IN THE URBAN AREAS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE BUILT-UP AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ABOUT 38,590 BUILDINGS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE IN A REASONABLE CONDITION AND WERE UNLIKELY TO REQUIRE ANY MAJOR REPAIRS WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, MR SAMSON SAID.
"ANOTHER 210 BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS IN A DANGEROUS STRUCTURAL CONDITION REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION.
"OF THESE, A TOTAL OF SEVEN TO DATE HAVE BEEN CLOSED UNDER COURT ORDERS AND tfAVE ALSO BEEN SERVED WITH DEMOLITION ORDERS,"' HE SAID.
APART FROM TWO PRE-WAR BUILDINGS, THE REMAINING FIVE WERE CONSTRUCTED IN THE MID TO LATE 1950’S.
ACCORDING TO MR SAMSON, NEARLY 200 RESIDENTS HAD BEEN REMOVED FOLLOWING THE DEMOLITION OF THESE SEVEN BUILDINGS.
A FURTHER 10 BUILDINGS WHICH WERE ALSO CONSTRUCTED IN THE MID TO LATE 1950’S WERE IDENTIFIED AS BEING IN A SIMILAR DILAPIDATED CONDITION, WARRANTING CLOSURE AND DEMOLITION VERY SOON. THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE REMOVAL OF ABOUT 350 RESIDENTS FOR THEIR SAFETY, MR SAMSON SAID.
/"THE COMPLETION .......
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1990
- 3
"THE COMPLETION OF THIS PRELIMINARY EXTERNAL INSPECTION REPRESENTS ONLY THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS SPECIAL PRIVATE BUILDING INSPECTION EXERCISE AND IT IS NOW NECESSARY IN A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD TO FOLLOW UP AND INVESTIGATE ALL THOSE BUILDINGS FOUND TO BE IN A SUSPECT CONDITION.
"EFFORTS ARE FIRSTLY BEING CONCENTRATED IN DEALING WITH THE REMAINING 193 BUILDINGS WHICH ARE CLASSIFIED AS IMMINENTLY DANGEROUS," HE STRESSED.
MR SAMSON DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE BUILDINGS IN THE GROUP BEING SUBJECT TO CLOSURE AND DEMOLITION ORDERS.
"THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO WARRANT FURTHER DETAILED SURVEY WILL THEN BE INVESTIGATED, WITH A VIEW TO SERVING REPAIR ORDERS UPON THE OWNERS," HE SAID.
HE SAID IT HAD LONG BEEN KNOWN THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM REGARDING THE DETERIORATION OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY THOSE ERECTED IN THE EARLY POST-WAR ERA.
"THE REASONS FOR THE RAPID DETERIORATION OF THESE CONCRETE BUILDINGS, IN SUCH A SHORT TIME SPAN OF LESS THAN 40 YEARS, MAY BE DUE TO INFERIOR QUALITY MATERIALS, IMPURITIES IN WATER CONTENT AND POOR WORKMANSHIP IN THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION," HE POINTED OUT.
"THE CONDITIONS MAY ALSO BE AGGRAVATED BY OVERLOADING, WEATHERING IN A POLLUTED ATMOSPHERE AND AN ALMOST COMPLETE NEGLECT OF MAINTENANCE AFTER CONSTRUCTION," MR SAMSON ADDED.
RELATIVELY DRY IN MAY
******
A WET APRIL WAS FOLLOWED BY A RELATIVELY DRY MAY THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT RELEASED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (MONDAY).
THE MONTHLY RAINFALL OF 102.4 MILLIMETRES WAS JUST OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE MAY NORMAL OF 298.1 MILLIMETRES. AS A RESULT OF THE LATEST SHORTFALL OF NEARLY 200 MILLIMETRES, THE SURPLUS ACCUMULATED OVER THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.
RAINFALL SINCE JANUARY 1 NOW STOOD AT 633.1 MILLIMETRES, ONLY 13 PER CENT ABOVE THE NORMAL OF 561.1 MILLIMETRES FOR THE SAME PERIOD.
TROPICAL CYCLONE SIGNALS WERE HOISTED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR FOR TYPHOON MARIAN, BUT MARIAN FAILED TO BRING ANY SIGNIFICANT RAIN TO THE TERRITORY.
/THE SUNNY .......
MONDAY, JUNK 11, 1990
THE SUNNY WEATHER TOWARDS THE END OF APRIL CONTINUED INTO EARLY MAY. HOWEVER, VISIBILITY WAS POOR AT TIMES, PARTICULARLY IN THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS. FOG WAS REPORTED OFFSHORE ON MAY 1 TO 3 AND SOME MIST PATCHES ALSO DRIFTED INSIDE THE HARBOUR.
THE WEATHER BECAME CLOUDY WITH SOME INTERMITTENT LIGHT RAIN ON MAY 4 FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A WEAK TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.
THE ADVECTION OF SLIGHTLY COOLER AIR FROM THE NORTH RESULTED IN A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 19.9 DEGREES ON THE MORNING OF MAY 5, THE LOWEST FOR THE MONTH.
AFTER THE MODERATION OF THE COOL NORTHERLY AIRSTREAM, BRIGHT AND CALM CONDITIONS PREVAILED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THE WEATHER TURNED CLOUDY ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 8 AS A MOIST EASTERLY AIRSTREAM SET IN. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED THE NEXT MORNING AND CONDITIONS BECAME EVEN MORE UNSETTLED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
FROM AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE NEAR BEIBU WAN, RAIN CLOUDS DEVELOPED AND SWEPT EASTWARDS TO AFFECT THE TERRITORY FROM TIME TO TIME. THE RAIN WAS HEAVIEST ON MAY 11 AND ANOTHER OUTBREAK ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 12 WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME THUNDERSTORMS.
THE RAIN EASED OFF THE NEXT DAY. LONG SUNNY PERIODS OCCURRED ON MAY 14. BUT THE FRESHENING OF EASTERLIES THAT NIGHT BROUGHT THE CLOUDS BACK ALONG WITH SOME MORNING AND EVENING DRIZZLE ON MAY 15 TO 16.
RAIN BECAME HEAVIER LATER ON MAY 17 AS A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE MOVED ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN CHINA. THE NORTHERLIES BEHIND THE TROUGH AGAIN BROUGHT RELATIVELY COOL WEATHER TO THE COASTAL AREAS.
MEANWHILE, MARIAN HAD DEVELOPED INTO A TROPICAL STORM IN THE VICINITY OF NANSHA AND INTENSIFIED FURTHER TO A TYPHOON WHILE MOVING NORTH TOWARDS XISHA.
A TROPICAL CYCLONE SIGNAL WAS HOISTED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR ON MAY 17. CONDITIONS WERE MAINLY CLOUDY AND WINDS WERE OCCASIONALLY STRONG OFFSHORE AS MARIAN TURNED NORTHEASTWARDS AND HEADED TOWARDS DONGSHA THE FOLLOWING DAY.
WHILE MARIAN WAS MOVING AWAY IN THE DIRECTION OF TAIWAN, DRIER AIR FROM THE CONTINENT AFFECTED THE SOUTH CHINA COASTAL AREAS. THE WEATHER TURNED SUNNY ON MAY 19 AND REMAINED GENERALLY FINE FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS APART FROM THE INCREASE IN CLOUDINESS TOWARDS THE END OF THE PERIOD.
AFTER THE PASSAGE OF A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE EARLY ON MAY 24, THE WEATHER TURNED CLOUDY AND RELATIVELY COOL. LIGHT RAIN BECAME NEARLY CONTINUOUS FROM THE EVENING OF MAY 25 TO THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 27 WHEN FRESH EASTERLY WINDS WERE BLOWING.
/A LULL .......
MONDAY, JUNE 1 , 1990
- 5 -
A LULL IN THE EASTERLIES RESULTED IN A BRIGHTER DAY ON MAY 28.
DAY AND THE CLOUDS ALSO 30, THE EASTERLIES SUBSIDED
THE WINDS FRESHENED AGAIN THE NEXT RETURN D. AFTER SOME MORNING RAIN ON MAY AND THE WEATHER TURNED BRIGHTER.
SUNNY CONDITION ON MAY 31 CAUSED THE TEMP MATURE TO CLIMB TO A MAXIMUM OF 30.7 DEGREES, THE HIGHEST FOR THE MON HI AND THE HOTTEST SO FAR THIS YEAR.
DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, TWO TROPICAL CYCLONES CHINA SEA. TWO
THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH DIVERTED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER IN THE WERE ISSUED FOR MAY 3, 4, 9, 12 AND 13.
OCCURRED OVER
AIRCRAFT WERE
MONTH. THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS A YELLOW FIRE DANGER WARNING
WAS IN EFFECT ON MAY 5.
SIGNALS HOISTED DURING THE MONTH WERE AS FOLLOWS:
WEATHER
SYSTEM SIGNAL
DATE & TIME DATE & TIME
OF HOISTING OF LOWERING
TYPHOON 1
MARIAN 3
MAY 17 3.45 PM MAY 18 5 AM
MAY 18 5 AM MAY 18 6.15 PM
THE MONTH’S FIGURES AND DEPARTURES
FROM NORMAL WERE:
TOTAL BRIGHT SUNSHINE
146.5 HOURS ; 16.1 HOURS BELOW NORMAL
MEAN DAILY GLOBAL SOLAR RADIATION
TOTAL RAINFALL
MEAN AMOUNT OF CLOUD
MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY
15.00 MJ/SQ. METRE
102.4 MM
73 PER CENT
82 PER CENT
; 1.48 MJ/SQ. METRE BELOW NORMAL
; 195.7 MM BELOW NORMAL
; NORMAL
; 1 PER CENT
LOWER THAN NORMAL
MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM AIR TEMPERATURE
MEAN AIR
TEMPERATURE
MEAN DAILY MINIMUM AIR TEMPERATURE
MEAN DEW POINT
TOTAL EVAPORATION
27.2 DEGREES CELSIUS
24.6 DEGREES CELSIUS
22.7 DEGREES CELSIUS
21.2 DEGREES CELSIUS
96.4 MM
; 1.7 DEGREES CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL
; 1.3 DEGREES CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL
; 1.2 DEGREES CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL
; 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
; 47.0 MM BELOW NORMAL
0----------
/6 ........
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1990
- 6 -
DONATION SETS UP SELF-FINANCING HOME FOR THE ELDERLY ******
A NEW SELF-FINANCING HOME FOR THE ELDERLY WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN TIME TO RECEIVE RESIDENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, FOLLOWING A GENEROUS PRIVATE DONATION OF $10 MILLION RECEIVED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY).
THE DONATION WAS MADE BY AN ACADEMIC AND RETIRED RESEARCHER DR HUI WAI-HAAN. IN ACCORDANCE WITH DR HUI’S WISHES, A CHARITABLE TRUST UNDER HER NAME HAS BEEN SET UP UNDER THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, TO BE NAMED AFTER HER LATE MOTHER MRS HUI MOK TAK-YU.
SPEAKING AT A CHEQUE PRESENTATION CEREMONY THIS MORNING AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR M.D. CARTLAND, SAID THERE WAS AN ACUTE SHORTFALL OF CARE AND ATTENTION PLACES IN HONG KONG.
’’THIS GENEROUS DONATION HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH AN ADDITIONAL SELF-FINANCING HOME AT SHORT NOTICE.
’’THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPLEMENT OUR EXISTING PLANS AND WILL COME ON STREAM MORE QUICKLY BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE USE OF EXISTING ACCOMMODATION TO BE PURCHASED AND ADAPTED, RATHER THAN PURPOSE-BUILT ACCOMMODATION WHICH CAN TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO COMPLETE.
"IT WILL THUS HELP TO BRING SOME EARLY RELIEF TO THE DEMAND FOR PLACEMENTS FOR THE ELDERLY,” HE SAID.
MR CARTLAND SAID IF EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTHLY, THIS SELF-FINANCING HOME FOR ELDERLY PERSONS WOULD PROVIDE ABOUT 100 ADDITIONAL CARE AND ATTENTION PLACES BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.
’’RESIDENTS OF THE HOME WILL MAINLY COME FROM THE CENTRAL WAITING LIST MAINTAINED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT," HE SAID.
MR CARTLAND STRESSED THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTOOK TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, IN PARTICULAR RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, MORE FACILITIES COULD BE PROVIDED AT A FASTER PACE WITH THE HELP OF PRIVATE DONATIONS.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO DR HUI FOR THE GENEROSITY AND REMARKED THAT SHE HAD SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SWD STAFF WERE NOW ALREADY LOOKING FOR SUITABLE PREMISES IN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE SETTING UP OF THIS HOME FOR THE ELDERLY, WHICH WOULD BE RUN BY A NON-PROFIT-MAKING AGENCY,” HE SAID.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG IN THE EARLY 30’S, MAJORING IN CHEMISTRY, DR HUI HELD A SERIES OF KEY TEACHING POSTS IN HKU UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN THE EARLY 70’S.
/SINCE THEN .......
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1990
SINCE THEN SHE HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN RESEARCH WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY AS AN HONORARY RESEARCH ASSOCIATE.
EARLIER, DR HUI ALSO MADE A GENEROUS DONATION TO HKU IN MEMORY OF HER LATE FATHER MR HUI PUN-HING.
ACCOMPANYING DR HUI AT THE CHEQUE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, MR HUI YIN-FAT, WHO ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO DR HUI FOR HER GENEROUS ACT.
- - 0 - -
FERRY PASSENGERS URGED TO CO-OPERATE IN SURVEY
******
A SURVEY ON THE TRAVELLING CHARACTERISTICS OF FERRY PASSENGERS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO THURSDAY (JUNE 14) AT VARIOUS FERRY PIERS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
DURING THE SURVEY, TRANSPORT INSPECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL INTERVIEW FERRY USERS ON INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THEIR TRAVELLING PATTERN.
THE INFORMATION TO BE COLLECTED WILL INCLUDE THE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION OF PASSENGERS, .TRIP PURPOSES, ACCESS AND EGRESS TRANSPORT MODES AND THE REASONS FOR CHOICE OF FERRY SERVICES.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE USED AS A BASIS FOR STUDIES IN DEVELOPING FUTURE FERRY SERVICES.
ALL DATA COLLECTED WILL BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WILL BE USED FOR REFERENCE ONLY, HE ADDED.
HE URGED FERRY PASSENGERS TO CO-OPERATE WITH INSPECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO WILL CARRY WITH THEM GOVERNMENT IDENTIFICATION.
THE INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 1 PM DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD AT ALL FERRY PIERS EXCEPT THE CENTRAL FERRY PIER WHERE INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM 7 AM TO 9 PM.
- - 0 - -
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1990
- 8 -
WATER STORAGE FIGURE *****
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 43.6 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 255.368 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 312.743 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 53.3 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
------0--------
TEMPORARY PARTIAL LANE CLOSURES ON TOLO HIGHWAY ******
THE TRANSPORT ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK PO WILL BE PARTIALLY
DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE
THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF TOLO HIGHWAY IN TAI CLOSED DURING THE PERIODS SPECIFIED BELOW:
* ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 13), A SECTION OF ABOUT 1.2 THE SLOW LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY NORTHBOUND NEAR INTERCHANGE;
KILOMETRES OF
ISLAND HOUSE
ON THURSDAY (JUNE 14), A SECTION OF THE OUTERMOST LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY HOUSE INTERCHANGE;
ABOUT 1.8 KILOMETRES OF NORTHBOUND NEAR ISLAND
ON JUNE 23, A SECTION OF LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE;
ABOUT 1.8 KILOMETRES OF THE SOUTHBOUND NEAR LAM KAM
SLOW ROAD
ON JUNE 25, A SECTION OF ABOUT 0.6 LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY SOUTHBOUND
KILOMETRE OF THE NEAR LAM KAM
SLOW
ROAD
INTERCHANGE;
* ON JUNE 26, A SECTION OF ABOUT 0.5 LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY SOUTHBOUND INTERCHANGE; AND
KILOMETRE OF THE NEAR LAM KAM
SLOW ROAD
* ON JUNE 27, A SECTION OF LANE OF TOLO HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE.
ABOUT 1.2 KILOMETRES OF THE SOUTHBOUND NEAR LAM KAM
SLOW ROAD
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BF
DRIVE WITH CARE AND PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
PATIENCE.
- - 0---------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL.: 842 8777
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
DECADE OF CHALLENGE FOR FEDERATION OF HK INDUSTRIES: GOVERNOR ............ 1
LIMITED IMPORT OF LABOUR WON'T HARM WORKFORCE: GOVERNOR .................. 3
HK'S EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS FOR APRIL RELEASED ........................ 4
FINAL METROPLAN REPORT TO BE PRODUCED BY YEAR'S END ..................... 11
PHOTO CONTEST TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH MESSAGE ................. 12
FIRST FLOATING HOLIDAY REMINDER ......................................... 13
EASTERN DB TO DISCUSS UC FIVE-YEAR PROJECTS ............................. 14
DB TO DISCUSS UC WORKS PROGRAMME . ...................................... 14
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
1
DECADE OF CHALLENGE FOR FEDERATION OF HE
*******
INDUSTRIES: GOVERNOR
THE 1990s WILL BE A DECADE OF FURTHER ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FOR THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES AND THE FEDERATION WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER, SIR DAVID SAID THE FEDERATION, WITH A SOLID 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BEHIND IT, WAS WELL PLACED TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT THE 30 YEARS SINCE THE FEDERATION WAS SET UP HAD SEEN BREATH-TAKING DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.
"FROM PRODUCING RELATIVELY SIMPLE, LOW-VALUE GOODS, WE HAVE MOVED ON TO THE MANUFACTURE OF A WIDE RANGE OF SOPHISTICATED CONSUMER PRODUCTS.
"TO PRODUCE THESE HIGH VALUE-ADDED GOODS COMPETITIVELY, MANY OF OUR LABOUR INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES - WHERE THE PRODUCTS DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE HONG KONG ORIGIN - HAVE MOVED ACROSS THE BORDER TO GUANGDONG, WHERE THERE IS CHEAPER LAND AND CHEAPER LABOUR," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
HE NOTED THAT A NEW ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP HAD IN THE PROCESS BEEN FORGED WITH GUANGDONG. BOTH GUANGDONG AND HONG KONG HAD BENEFITTED FROM IT.
"BUT WE CANNOT SIMPLY RELY ON LABOUR ACROSS THE BORDER. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT LABOUR WITHIN HONG KONG. OTHERWISE WE WILL PUT ARTIFICIAL CONSTRAINTS ON OUR OWN GROWTH,” HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS COULD BE DONE, AND WOULD BE DONE, WITHOUT DAMAGING THE INTERESTS OF OUR OWN HARD WORKING LABOUR FORCE.
"NOT TO TAKE ACTION NOW, IN A MODEST WAY, WOULD ITSELF DAMAGE THE INTERESTS OF EVERYBODY IN HONG KONG.
"WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT HONG KONG CAN CONTINUE TO PROSPER AND EXPAND," HE SAID.
NOTING THAT IN 1988, FOR THE FIRST TIME, OVER HALF OF THE LABOUR FORCE WAS EMPLOYED IN SBRVICE INDUSTRIES, SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT THE FEDERATION HAD RESPONDED TO THESE DEVELOPMENTS WITH PRAGMATISM AND FORESIGHT.
SIR DAVID SAID THE FEDERATION HAD MANAGED TO REMAIN IN THE FOREFRONT OF CHANGE, POINTING OUT THAT IN 1970 IT HAD ALLOWED ITS MEMBERSHIP TO EXPAND BEYOND TRADITIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANIES TO INCLUDE UTILITY COMPANIES AND PACKAGING COMPANIES.
/SIR DAVID .......
Tl 'SDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
- 2 -
SIR DAVID SAID HE KNEW THE FEDERATION WAS NOW THINKING OF BROADENING ITS MEMBERSHIP EVEN FURTHER, TO REFLECT THE GROWING INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN "TRADITIONAL" MANUFACTURING AND THE SUPPORTING SERVICE-INDUSTRIES UPON WHICH HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURERS MUST INCREASINGLY RELY.
"THIS MUST BE RIGHT. WHILE HONG KONG REMAINS A MAJOR INDUSTRIAL BASE, IT IS ALSO FAST BECOMING THE SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE SOUTH CIHNA REGION AND BEYOND," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID THE FARSIGHTEDNESS OF THE FEDERATION HAD BEEN WELL DEMONSTRATED IN ANOTHER AREA - THE HONG KONG Q-MARK SCHEME, WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 12 YEARS.
"THE 1990s ARE GOING TO SEE A GROWING DEMAND FOR HIGHER QUALITY.
"WE ARE FACED WITH EVER INCREASING COMPETITION FROM LOWER-COST ECONOMIES IN THE REGION, AND GROWING DEMAND IN OUR MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS FOR EVER-HIGHER STANDARDS.
"OUR MANUFACTURERS WILL RETAIN THEIR COMPETITIVENESS ONLY BY MOVING DECISIVELY INTO HIGHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS," SIR DAVID SAID.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW RUNNING A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME TO HELP ACHIEVE THIS AND THE PROGRAMME’S SUCCESS WOULD REQUIRE THE FULL SUPPORT OF ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE FEDERATION.
SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED THAT THE FEDERATION RECOGNISED SO EARLY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE, AND HAD SINCE IMPRESSED THIS UPON ITS MEMBERS THROUGH ITS OWN Q-MARK SCHEME.
"THE PROCESS OF CERTIFYING THAT OUR PRODUCTS MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS WILL ALSO BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN THE 1990s.
"THE Q-MARK SCHEME HAS HELPED TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFICATION MARKING AMONG OUR MANUFACTURERS," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID WE WERE NOW PREPARED FOR PRODUCT CERTIFICATION ON A LARGER SCALE AND THE KEY AIM OF THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED QUALITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WAS TO HAVE THE "HONG KONG SEAL OF QUALITY", AWARDED BY THE HONG KONG QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY, WIDELY AND INSTANTLY RECOGNISED, BOTH HERE AND OVERSEAS, z
SIR DAVID PAID TRIBUTE TO THE FEDERATION FOR GIVING THE GOVERNMENT USEFUL ADVICE ON A WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES AFFECTING HONG KONG INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT ITS FIRST 30 YEARS.
”YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ON THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE HELPED THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE NEEDS OF OUR INDUSTRIES IN OUR OWN PLANNING AND, WHERE POSSIBLE, TO RESPOND TO THOSE NEEDS,” HE SAID.
/SIR DAVID .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
3
SIR DAVID WELCOMED THE VISIT TO HONG KONG BY THE MAYOR OF SHANGHAI, MR ZHU RONGJI, WHO ATTENDED THE DINNER.
HE SAID THERE HAD LONG BEEN CLOSE TIES BETWEEN SHANGHAI AND HONG KONG AND HE HOPED AND BELIEVED THAT THE MAYOR’S VISIT WOULD STRENGTHEN THESE ECONOMIC LINKS.
’’ALL OF US HERE WISH SHANGHAI EVERY SUCCESS IN ITS OWN EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
”1 AM SURE THERE WILL BE MANY IN HONG KONG WHO WILL BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THOSE PLANS,” SIR DAVID SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A COPY OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH WILL BE SENT BY FACSIMILE AND A COPY CAN ALSO BE COLLECTED FROM THE GIS DUTY OFFICER.
--------0-----------
LIMITED IMPORT OF LABOUR WON’T HARM WORKFORCE: GOVERNOR
V
A LIMITED AMOUNT OF LABOUR CAN BE IMPORTED UNDER CAREFULLY CONTROLLED CONDITIONS WITHOUT CAUSING ANY HARM TO HONG KONG’S WORKFORCE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TONIGHT (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE WAS KEPT UP AND MAINTAINED.
"AT THE MOMENT WE ARE SHORT OF LABOUR IN A WHOLE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPHERES, IF WE DON’T HAVE ADEQUATE LABOUR WE RESTRAIN THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY AND EVERYBQDY SUFFERS," HE SAID.
"WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT IS VERY HARD-WORKING AND DESERVES TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROSPERITY OF THE COMMUNITY," HE ADDED.
"WHEN WE IMPORT LABOUR WE WILL MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT BROUGHT IN AT A CHEAP LEVEL, THAT THE WAGES WILL BE THE EQUIVALENT OF WAGES HERE AND THAT WON’T DO ANYTHING TO FORCE DOWN LOCAL WAGES," SIR DAVID SAID.
---------0----------
/4 ........
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
4
HK’S EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS FOR APRIL RELEASED *******
1’OTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN APRIL 1990, AT $97,907 MILLION, GREW BY 5 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS AS COMPARED WITH APRIL 1989, ACCORDING TO THE DETAILED FIGURES ON THE VALUE OF TRADE IN APRIL 1990 RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS DECREASED BY 6 PER CENT TO $16,407 MILLION, WHILE THAT OF REEXPORTS ROSE BY 10 PER CENT TO $30,861 MILLION. THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 4 PER CENT TO $47,267 MILLION. THE VALUE OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT TO $50,640 MILLION.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN JANUARY TO APRIL 1990, AT $360,197 MILLION, INCREASED BY 4 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC ' EXPORTS DECREASED BY 4 PER CENT TO $62,867 MILLION, WHILE THAT OF REEXPORTS INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT TO $.14,009 MILLION.
THUS, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 5 PER CENT TO $176,876 MILLION. THE VALUE OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 3 PER CENT TO $183,321 MILLION.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
COMPARING APRIL 1990 WITH APRIL 1989, DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO MOST OF THE MAJOR MARKETS DECREASED IN VALUE TERMS.
SIGNIFICANT DECREASE WAS RECORDED FOR THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA AND CANADA, BY 30 PER CENT, 26 PER CENT AND 21 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN, THE USA, CHINA AND THE NETHERLANDS ALSO DECREASED IN VALUE TERMS BY 8 PER CENT, 6 PER CENT, 4 PER CENT AND 3 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, A SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH OF 55 PER CENT WAS RECORDED FOR THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO TAIWAN. THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO SINGAPORE ALSO INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT.
COMPARING JANUARY TO APRIL 1990 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS T< THE UNITED KINGDOM, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN DECREASED BY 24 PER CENT, 16 PER CENT, 16 PER CENT, AND 11 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE USA, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS AND CHINA ALSO DECREASED LN VALUE TERMS, BY 5 PER CENT, 4 PER CENT, 3 PER CENT AND 1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, A SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH WAS RECORDED FOR THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO TAIWAN AND SINGAPORE, BY 58 PER CENT AND 15 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
/TABLE 2 .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
- 5 -
TABLE 2 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
COMPARING JANUARY TO APRIL 1990 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, AN INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS REGISTERED FOR TOBACCO AND TOBACCO MANUFACTURES (BY $407 MILLION OR 73 PER CENT); TEXTILES (BY $176 MILLION OR 4 PER CENT); ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS, AND CELLULOSE ESTERS AND ETHERS (BY $122 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT); AND OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $114 MILLION OR 3 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, A DECREASE IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS RECORDED FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINERY APPARATUS • AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $699 MILLION OR 12 PER CENT), AND CLOTHING (BY $291 MILLION OR 2 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM 10 MAJOR SUPPLIERS ARE SUMMARISED IN TABLE 3.
COMPARING APRIL 1990 WITH APRIL 1989, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM SWITZERLAND, SINGAPORE AND CHINA INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY BY 28 PER CENT, 19 PER CENT AND 17 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. THOSE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, ITALY, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY AND TAIWAN ALSO INCREASED, BY 5 PER CENT, 5 PER CENT, 4 PER CENT AND 2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN VALUE TERMS.
HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, THE USA AND JAPAN DECREASED BY 4 PER CENT, 2 PER CENT AND 1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARING JANUARY TO APRIL 1990 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, JAPAN, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TAIWAN DECREASED BY 10 PER CENT, 10 PER CENT, 7 PER CENT, 3 PER CENT AND 1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, IMPORTS FROM CHINA, THE USA, SWITZERLAND, ITALY AND SINGAPORE INCREASED IN VALUE TERMS BY 14 PER CENT, 12 PER CENT, 7 PER CENT AND 1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
TABLE 4 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
COMPARING JANUARY TO APRIL 1990 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WAS RECORDED FOR CLOTHING (BY $2,401 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT); MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY .$£,033 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT); TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1,314 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT); AND TEXTILES (BY $658 MILLION OR 3 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, A DECREASE IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WAS REGISTERED FOR IRON AND STEEL (BY $1,204 MILLION OR 27 PER CENT) AND NON-FERROUS METALS (BY $813 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT).
/THE CHANGES .......
"IJESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
- 6 -
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO HONG KONG’S 10 MAJOR MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 5.
THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, FRANCE, TAIWAN, THE USA AND SINGAPORE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN APRIL 1990 OVER APRIL 1989, BY 54 PER CENT, 28 PER CENT, 25 PER CENT, 25 PER CENT AND 22 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. THOSE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA ALSO INCREASED IN VALUE TERMS BY 15 PER CENT AND 10 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, CHINA AND JAPAN DECREASED BY 11 PER CENT, 8 PER CENT AND 7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARING JANUARY TO APRIL 1990 OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF 1989, RE-EXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, FRANCE, CANADA AND THE USA INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN VALUE TERMS, BY 49 PER CENT, 32 PER CENT, 27 PER CENT AND 27 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. INCREASES WERE ALSO RECORDED FOR THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, SINGAPORE, TAIWAN AND JAPAN, BY 19 PER CENT, 19 PER CENT, 18 PER CENT AND 4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, THOSE TO CHINA AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA DECREASED IN VALUE TERMS BY 10 PER CENT AND 5 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
TABLE 6 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
COMPARING JANUARY TO APRIL 1990 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS WAS REGISTERED FOR MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $3,571 MILLION OR 37 PER CENT); CLOTHING (BY $2,624 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT); TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1,751 MILLION OR 23 PER CENT); AND TEXTILES (BY $687 MILLION OR 5 PER CENT). HOWEVER, A DECREASE IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS WAS RECORDED FOR TEXTILE FIBRES AND THEIR WASTES (BY $940 MILLION OR 48 PER CENT), AND MACHINERY SPECIALISED FOR PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES (BY $762 MILLION OR 24 PER CENT).
ALL TRADE STATISTICS DESCRIBED HERE ARE MEASURED AT CURRENT PRICES AND NO ACCOUNT HAS BEEN TAKEN OF THE CHANGES IN PRICES BETWEEN THE PERIODS OF COMPARISON. A SEPARATE ANALYSIS OF THE PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN APRIL 1990 WILL BE RELEASED IN EARLY JULY 1990.
DETAILED STATISTICS ON TRADE VALUE BY COMMODITY AND BY COUNTRY ARE PUBLISHED IN TRADE STATISTICS REPORTS. THE APRIL 1990 ISSUE OF THE "HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE" WITH DETAILED ANALYSES ON IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS IN APRIL 1990 WILL BE AVAILABLE ON SALE AROUND JUNE 15 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $27 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS REPORT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG (TEL. NO. 842 8802) AND ENQUIRIES ON TRADE STATISTICS TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. 823 4915) .
/TABLE 1 .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
7 -
TABLE 1: DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKET APR 1990 (HKD MNr) APR 90 OVER APR R9 (%) JAN-APR 1990 (HKD MN.) JAN-APR 90 OVER JAN-APR 89 (%)
USA 4,917 -6 18,496 -5
CHINA 3,651 -4 12,939 -1
F.R. OF GERMANY 1,102 ♦ 4,575 -4
JAPAN 868 -8 3,456 -11
UK 828 -30 3,388 -24
SINGAPORE 505 6 2,007 15
TAIWAN 554 55 1,831 58
CANADA 335 -21 1,572 -16
NETHERLANDS 353 -3 1,445 -3
AUSTRALIA 252 -26 1,113 -16
♦ DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5%
TABLE 2: DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
APR APR 90 JAN-APR JAN-APR 90
COMMODITY DIVISION 1990 OVER 1990 OVER
APR 89 JAN-APR 89
(HKD MN.) (%) (HKD MN.) (%)
ARTICLES OF APPAREL
AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 4,470 -4 18,421 -2
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY JEWELLERY, GOLDSMITHS’ AND SILVERSMITHS’ WARES) 2,092 * -8 7,889 -5
/PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
- 8 -
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, * *' •9 5,558 .N N -5
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 1 ,372 -13
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 1,402 -4 5,165 e 4
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 1,372 -12 4’ 5,050 -12
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 1,374 -3 4,677 -6 ,N
»N
TABLE 3: IMPORTS FROM 10 MAJOR SUPPLIERS
MAJOR MARKET APR 1990 (HKD MN.) APR 90 OVER APR 89 (%) JAN-APR 1990 (HKD MN.) JAN-APR OVER JAN-APR (%)
CHINA 17,897 17 63,905 14
JAPAN 7,951 -1 29,186 -7
USA 4,013 -2 16,706 12
TAIWAN 4,636 2 16,170 -1
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 2,481 -4 8,161 -10
SINGAPORE 1,919 19 • 7,034 1
UK 1,200 5 4,306 -3
F.R. OF GERMANY 1,267 4 4,103 -10
ITALY 994 5 3,488 N 7 R
SWITZERLAND 1,055 28 3,373 »N 9
/TABLE 4 .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
TABLE 4: IMPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
APR APR 90 JAN-APR JAN-APR 90
COMMODITY DIVISION 1990 OVER 1990 OVER
APR 89 JAN-APR 89
(HKD MN.) (%) (HKD MN.) (%)
TEXTILE YARN,
FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 6,937 5 22,970 3
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 5,215 4 18,331 -1
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 3,950 22 14,273 20
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 3,751 14 13,538 11
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) 3,431 17 12,155 20
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 2,516 * -3 9,317 -5
/TABLE 5 .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
- 10 -
TABLE 5: RE-EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKET APR 1990 (HKD MN.) APR 90 OVER APR 89 (%) JAN-APR 1990 (HKD MN.) JAN-APR 90 OVER JAN-APR 89 (%)
CHINA 8,490 -8 30,968 -10
USA 6,265 25 23,034 27
JAPAN 1,690 -7 6,999 4
TAIWAN 1,780 25 6,321 18
F.R. OF GERMANY 1,400 54 5,392 49
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 1,164 -11 4,235 -5
SINGAPORE 1,087 22 3,960 19
UK 782 15 2,822 19
CANADA 457 10 1,825 27
FRANCE 504 28 1,758 32
TABLE 6: RE-EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY DIVISION APR 1990 (HKD MN.) APR 90 OVER APR 89 (%) JAN-APR 1990 (HKD MN.) JAN-APR 90 OVER JAN-APR 89 •(%)
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 3,709 * 13,235 5
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) 3,771 29 13,172 37
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 3,218 30 12,614 26 .
/ELECTRICAL MACHINERY .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 3,082 1 11,273 3
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND
EQUIPMENT 2,740 27 9,418 23
TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR
CONTAINERS 1,255 36 4,449 32
* DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5%
- - 0 - -
FINAL METROPLAN REPORT TO BE PRODUCED BY YEAR’S END
* * * * * ♦
THE FINAL METROPLAN REPORT, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE A HYBRID OF THE EARLIER INITIAL OPTIONS, IS TO BE PRODUCED TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THIS WAS STATED BY GOVERNMENT PLANNERS TO THE LAND AND BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY MR CHENG HON-KWAN, AT A SPECIAL MEETING YESTERDAY (MONDAY).
THE MEETING WAS HELD TO DISCUSS MAJOR POINTS ARISING FROM THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE ON THE METROPLAN WHICH ENDED LAST MONTH.
THE ADMINISTRATION CONSlSERED THAT THERE ARE ELEMENTS IN ALL THREE INITIAL OPTIONS THAT MERIT BEING TAKEN FORWARD TO THE NEXT STAGE OF PLAN FORMULATION.
DURING THE MEETING, GOVERNMENT PLANNERS BRIEFED COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON VARIOUS POINTS WHICH INCLUDED:
* THE LIKELY AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT METROPLAN PROPOSALS;
t THE EXTENT TO WHICH NEW TOWN PLANNING STANDARDS SHOULD BE APPLIED TO METRO;
/* THE EXTENT
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
- 12 -
♦ THE EXTENT TO WHICH COMMERCIAL OFFICE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE DECENTRALISED;
* THE ROLE TO BE PLAYED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR;
* THE SCALE AND TYPE OF PROPOSED URBAN DENSITY CONTROLS;
* THE PHASING OF PROPOSED WORKS AND PROJECTS; AND
* THE AGENCIES THROUGH WHICH METROPLAN CONCEPTS ARE TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
COMMENTS RECEIVED DURING THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION PERIOD AND SUGGESTIONS RAISED IN THE SPECIAL MEETING ARE BEING ACTIVELY CONSIDERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
THE FINAL REPORT WILL CONTAIN THE SELECTED STRATEGY AND WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.
------0--------
PHOTO CONTEST TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH MESSAGE ******
ENTHUSIASTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A PHOTO CONTEST TO HELP DISSEMINATE THE MESSAGE OF ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH.
ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE COMPETITION TODAY (TUESDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANISER, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SAID THE CONTEST AIMS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ON HEALTH THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION.
COINCIDING*WITH THE THEME OF THIS YEAR’S WORLD HEALTH DAY, "OUR PLANET, OUR HEALTH", THE CONTEST ALSO APPEALS TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO PARTAKE IN THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH.
THE ENTRIES SHOULD SHOW ORIGINALITY AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO ILLUSTRATE THE THEME OF THE CONTEST, "OUR PLANET, OUR HEALTH AND THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY". '
EACH ENTRY SHOULD MEASURE 20.3 CM BY 25.4 CM AND SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A SUBTITLE OF NOT MORE THAN 15 WORDS.
PUBLISHED OR TO BE PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS OR SLIDES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A TROPHY, A CAMERA AND $2,000 IN CASH. THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNERS-UP WILL EACH RECEIVE A CASH PRIZE OF $1,500 AND $1,000 RESPECTIVELY.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING ENTRIES IS AUGUST 24.
/PRINTED INFORMATIVE .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
13
PRINTED INFORMATIVE MATERIALS ON THE CONTEST ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
* CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT, SOUTHORN CENTRE, SEVENTH FLOOR, HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI;
* YUNG FUNG SHEE HEALTH EDUCATION CENTRE, CHA KWO LING ROAD, KWUN TONG;
* SHA TIN HEALTH EDUCATION CENTRE, LEK YUEN HEALTH CENTRE, SHA TIN;
* HOOVER COLOUR PHOTO SERVICE LIMITED, STANLEY STREET, CENTRAL AND
01 MAN COMMERCIAL COMPLEX, 01 MAN ESTATE; AND
* SHRIRO (HK) LIMITED NIKON CAMERA SHOWROOM, HUTCHISON HOUSE, CENTRAL.
FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED BY TELEPHONING 835 1820, 727 8227 OR 697 3211 EXT. 213.
THE CONTEST IS SPONSORED BY DOWIN INVESTMENT LIMITED (ORIENTAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER SOLE AGENT) AND SHRIRO (HK) LIMITED (NIKON CAMERA SOLE AGENT).
- - 0 - -
FIRST FLOATING HOLIDAY REMINDER ******
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THE FIRST FLOATING HOLIDAY FOR THIS YEAR FALLS ON JUNE 18, THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IF EMPLOYERS HAVE NOT ALREADY FIXED THE DATES FOR THE FLOATING HOLIDAYS FOR THIS YEAR AND THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT REQUESTED THE HOLIDAYS BE ADDED TO THEIR PAID ANNUAL LEAVE, EMPLOYEES SHALL BE GRANTED THE FIRST FLOATING HOLIDAY ON THE ABOVE DATE AND THE SECOND FLOATING HOLIDAY ON AUGUST 27, THE LAST MONDAY IN AUGUST.
UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, ALL EMPLOYEES ARE ENTITLED TO BE PAID FOR THAT HOLIDAY IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE HOLIDAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO AN EMPLOYEE’S EARNING ON A NORMAL WORKING DAY AND SHOULD INCLUDE BASIC WAGES AS WELL AS ALLOWANCES THAT CAN BE EXPRESSED IN MONEY TERMS SUCH AS MEALS AND COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCES.
WHERE THE EARNINGS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY, THE HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE THE AVERAGE DAILY EARNING DURING EVERY COMPLETE WAGE PERIOD, WHICH COULD BE BETWEEN 28 DAYS AND 31 DAYS PRECEDING THE HOLIDAY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS MAY BE MADE TO ANY BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
- - 0 - -
/14
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1990
- 14 -
EASTERN DB TO DISCUSS UC FIVE-YEAR PROJECTS ******
EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE URBAN COUNCIL*S CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS IN THE COMING FIVE YEARS AT A MEETING ON THURSDAY (JUNE 14).
THE LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS UNDER PLANNING INCLUDE THE QUARRY BAY PARK, AN OPEN SPACE RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AN INDOOR GAMES HALL ON THE SAI WAN HO RECLAMATION, THE ELECTRIC ROAD COMPLEX AND THE REPROVISIONING OF CHAI WAN TEMPORARY MARKET.
THE BOARD WILL ALSO DISCUSS A WORK REPORT BY THE DISTRICT BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAM.
ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM IS THE RESUMPTION OF TWO PRIVATE STREETS — CHURCH LANE AND FINNIE STREET.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY (JUNE 14) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FIRST FLOOR, 880-886 KING’S ROAD, STARTING AT 2.30 PM.
-----0------
DB TO DISCUSS UC WORKS PROGRAMME
*****
THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE URBAN COUNCIL’S FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME FOR THE DISTRICT AT ITS MEETING ON THURSDAY (JUNE 14).
REPORTS OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND OTHER COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD WILL BE TABLED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY (JUNE 14) AT THE SHEK KIP MEI COMMUNITY HALL, BLOCK 42, SHEK KIP MEI ESTATE, NAM CHEONG STREET. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
--------0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
STEADY SUPPLY OF LAND INTO 21ST CENTURY ASSURED ....................................... 1
NO EVIDENCE OF INCREASED CAPITAL OUTFLOW .............................................. 2
COMMUNITY CHEST A FORCE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ..................................... 2
EXCO APPROVES NEW FARES FOR NT AND LANTAU TAXIS ....................................... 4
REDEVELOPMENT OF SAU MAU PING ESTATE ON AGENDA ............................
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME ........................................ 6
TWO NT LOTS TO LET BY TENDER ..............................................
EXHIBITION TO PROMOTE AIDS AWARENESS ......................................
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHEUNG WAN AND WESTERN ........................................ 8
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN SHAU KEI WAN ....................................................... 8
WEDNESDAY, JUNi
1990
STEADY SUPPLY OF LAND INTO 21ST CENTURY ASSURED
THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING A STEADY RATHER THAN AN OVER SUPPLY OF LAND SO THAT HONG KONG MAY CONTINUE TO GROW INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, MR BOB POPE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ADDRESSING THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON GOLDEN MILE ON PLANS FOR FUTURE LAND DEVELOPMENT, MR POPE SAID THE MAJOR SOURCE OF NEW LAND WOULD BE THE VARIOUS RECLAMATION PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER STUDY.
THE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE RECLAMATIONS IN CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI, KOWLOON WEST AND HUNG HOM AND THE TSEUNG KWAN O NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT.
ABOUT 24 HECTARES OF LAND WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI RECLAMATION FOR COMMERCIAL USE FOR WHICH A TOTAL GROSS FLOOR AREA OF 2.1 MILLION SQUARE METRES WAS ENVISAGED.
• A CONSULTANCY STUDY HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD COMMENCE IN 1991-92, WITH LAND READY FOR SALE IN 1993-94.
"THE GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF PRIVATISING CERTAIN PACKAGES AND THE LIKELY EFFECT THE SUPPLY OF THIS LAND IN THE MID-1990’S WILL HAVE ON PROPERTY VALUES AT THAT TIME," MR POPE SAID.
TURNING TO THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION, MR POPE SAID IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE LARGELY COMPLETED WITHIN FOUR YEARS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ROAD/RAIL CONNECTION VIA ROUTE 3 TO THE NEW AIRPORT.
UNDER THE PROJECT, 22 HECTARES OF LAND IS EARMARKED FOR RESIDENTIAL USE, 28 HECTARES FOR COMMERCIAL USE AND 20 HECTARES FOR INDUSTRIAL USE.
HE EXPECTED THAT LAND FOR HIGH DENSITY PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN TSEUNG KWAN O, TOTALLING 13.36 HECTARES, WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS.
ANOTHER 20 HECTARES OF INDUSTRIAL LAND IN THE AREA WILL BE AVAILABLE TN 1992-94.
MR POPE ADDED THAT 3.4 AND 5.77 HECTARES OF LAND FROM THE HUNG HOM RECLAMATION WOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USES RESPECTIVELY.
MR POPE STRESSED THAT SUFFICIENT LAND WAS AVAILABLE TO MEET HONG KONG’S NEEDS INTO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
"WHEN THE LAND WILL ACTUALLY BE SOLD WILL DEPEND VERY MUCH ON WHEN MONEY IS MADE AVAILABLE BY GOVERNMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES AND THE MARKET AT THE TIME," HE SAID.
OUTLINE ZONING PLANS FOR THESE RECLAMATION PROJECTS, WHICH ARE IN THE PRELIMINARY PLANNING STAGES, WOULD BE PREPARED FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY, HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
/2 ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNl' 1’ , 1990
2
NO EVIDENCE OF INCREASED CAPITAL OUTFLOW
*****
THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) QUASHED REPORTS OF A MASSIVE INCREASE IN CAPITAL OUTFLOW FROM HONG KONG BECAUSE OF SHAKEN BUSINESS CONFIDENCE DUE TO THE EVENTS IN CHINA LAST JUNE.
APPEARING ON FINANCIAL NEWS NETWORK (FNN) TELEVISION IN NEW YORK, MR NENDICK SAID THE ECONOMY IN HONG KONG HAD CONTINUED TO GROW AT A RATE OF TWO AND A HALF PER CENT LAST YEAR AND THREE PER CENT THIS YEAR.
ASKED ABOUT THE DROP IN THE HANG SENG INDEX AFTER JUNE 4 LAST YEAR, HE SAID THE EFFECT HAD BEEN MUCH LESS WITH THE INDEX FALLING BY ONLY 30 PER CENT AS AGAINST 50 PER CENT IN 1987.
"IN FACT, THE INDEX TODAY WAS NOW NEARLY AT WHAT IT WAS BEFORE JUNE 4 LAST YEAR," HE ADDED.
ON INCREASING JAPANESE INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG WHICH WAS NOW. ABOUT US$8 BILLION, MR NENDICK SAID JAPANESE INVESTORS WERE TAKING A LONGER TERM VIEW THAN OTHERS WHO WERE OVER-REACTING TO SHORT-TERM SHOCKS.
HE SAID HONG KONG’S ECONOMY HAD BEEN THROUGH MANY SHOCKS BEFORE BUT HAD ALWAYS RECOVERED.
MR NENDICK IS IN NEW YORK ON HIS WAY TO ATTEND A SEMINAR IN BOSTON ORGANISED BY THE WORLD BANK LATER THIS WEEK.
---------0-----------
COMMUNITY CHEST A FORCE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ******
THE WORK OF THE COMMUNITY CHEST IN THE NINETIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, NOT ONLY TO THE 113 AGENCIES WHICH ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHEST, BUT AS A FORCE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, LADY WILSON SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY CHEST OF HONG KONG, LADY WILSON SAID THROUGH THE CHEST'S WALKS FOR MILLIONS, MONTHLY PAYROLL DONATIONS, ROUNDING UP OF TELEPHONE IDD BILLS, DONATIONS THROUGH CREDIT CARDS, AND IN MANY OTHER WAYS, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WERE CONTRIBUTING TO THE WELFARE OF THOSE IN NEED.
"THIS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE SIGN OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPING IN A HUMANE WAY," SHE SAID.
LADY WILSON POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE YEAR STARTED IN AN ANXIOUS ATMOSPHERE, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND ITS CHAIRMAN, MR JAMES KUNG, HAD SUCCEEDED MAGNIFICENTLY.
/SHE SAID .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1990
3 -
SHE SAID SHE FOUND IT QUITE AMAZING THAT, SINCE HER INVOLVEMENT IN 1987, THE CHEST HAD MANAGED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE ITS INCOME, THROUGH HARD WORK ON THE PART OF THE MEMBERS, AND THROUGH THE ENORMOUS GENEROSITY OF THE DONORS.
’’EVEN AS LATE AS MARCH THIS YEAR, IT SEEMED THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REACH THE TARGET OF $80 MILLION. IN THE EVENT, THE TARGET WAS EXCEEDED BY 10 PER CENT, SO THAT TOTAL DONATIONS AMOUNTED TO $88 MILLION,” SHE SAID.
'’THIS MARKED THE FIFTH YEAR OF GROWTH IN DONATIONS, AT A COMPOUND RATE OF 24 PER CENT PER ANNUM,” SHE ADDED.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT AS THE SUMS GOT BIGGER, IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO CONTINUE TO SEEK INCREASES OF THIS ORDER, EVEN THOUGH THE NEEDS OF THE AGENCIES WERE GROWING AT ABOUT THAT RATE.
LADY WILSON PRAISED THE WORK OF THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY MRS ANITA CHAN, AND ITS SUPPORTING COMMITTEES, FOR DISPLAYING REMARKABLE INGENUITY IN CREATING NEW WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE COULD SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.
’’THEIR WORK HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL SUPPLEMENTED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS BROUGHT THE NEEDS FOR SOCIAL WORK TO THE ATTENTION OF MANY,” SHE SAID.
"IT IS CLEAR THAT MOST PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD WISH TO MAKE SOME CONTRIBUTION, HOWEVER LARGE OR SMALL. FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNCERTAIN WHERE MONEY IS MOST NEEDED, AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AGENCIES, A DONATION THROUGH THE CHEST IS A MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAY OF GIVING,” SHE ADDED.
LADY WILSON PAID TRIBUTE TO THOUSAND OF VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORTED THE WORK OF THE CHEST THROUGH GIVING THEIR TIME AND THEIR WORK.
”[ AM SURE MEMBER AGENCIES ARE AS GRATEFUL TO THEM AS ALL OF US IN THE CHEST ARE,” SHE SAID.
LADY WILSON SAID AS DONATIONS WERE NOW MORE GENEROUS THAN IN RECENT YEARS, THE ADMISSIONS, BUDGETS AND ALLOCATIONS COMMITTEE WAS THEREFORE ABLE TO MEET 85 PER CENT OF FUNDS REQUESTED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR BY ALL AGENCIES NOW MEMBERS OF THE CHEST.
’’THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE IS VITAL,” SHE SAID, ADDING THAT WITHOUT A CAREFUL ALLOCATION OF DONATIONS RECEIVED, THE CREDIBILITY OF THE CHEST WOULD BE UNDERMINED.
SHE THANKED MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE MANY HOURS THAT THEY SPENT ON DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE REQUESTS RECEIVED.
”1 AM GLAD TO SAY THAT THE CHEST IS NOW ABLE TO ASSIST IN A GOOD DEAL OF THE WORK THAT IS BEYOND THE. PRESENT REACH OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SUBVENTION SYSTEM," LADY WILSON SAID.
/LADY WILSON .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1990
4
LADY WILSON SAID COMMUNITY SUPPORT HAD BUILT THE AN INSTITUTION THAT NOW REQUIRED EVEN GREATER COMMUNITY IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO SUFFERED UNFAIRLY ACCIDENTS OF LIFE.
CHEST INTO
INVOLVEMENT
FROM THE
GROW ANDWCOS?SLRtqpVE T° G° FURTHER THAN LAST YEAR> BECAUSE NEEDS
"WE WILL AGAIN NEED THE PERSONAL SUPPORT OF ALL OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR PATRONS, WHO HAVE HELPED SO MUCH WITH THEIR PERSONAL APPEALS, SHE SAID.
--------0
EXCO APPROVES NEW FARES FOR NT AND LANTAU TAXIS *****
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAD APPROVED AN INCREASE IN FARES FOR NEW TERRITORIES AND LANTAU TAXIS TO MEET RISING OPERATING COSTS.
THE NEW FARES WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM SUNDAY, JUNE 24.
UPON REVISION, THE NT AND LANTAU TAXI FARES WILL BE $7 FOR THE FIRST TWO KILOMETRES AND 80 CENTS FOR EVERY 0.25 KILOMETRE THEREAFTER.
THE APPROVED NEW FARE SCALES REPRESENT AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF ABOUT 22.3 PER CENT FOR NT TAXIS AND 17.2 PER CENT FOR LANTAU TAXIS.
WAITING TIME CHARGES FOR EVERY ONE MINUTE WILL ALSO BE RAISED FROM 70 CENTS TO 80 CENTS.
IN ADDITION, RADIO-CALL BOOKING SURCHARGE FOR TAXIS IN THE NT WILL BE REVISED FROM $1 TO $2, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE RELATIVELY LONG DISTANCE NT TAXIS HAVE TO COVER BEFORE REACHING THEIR CLIENTS.
THE FARES FOR NT TAXIS AND LANTAU TAXIS WERE LAST REVISED IN JANUARY AND JULY LAST YEAR RESPECTIVELY.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS FROM THE TAXI TRADE HAD BEEN CAREFULLY SCRUTINISED TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST WAS PROTECTED AS WELL.
IN APPROVING THE NEW FARE RATES, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE POLICY OF ESTABLISHING A SUBSTANTIAL FARE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN TAXIS AND OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT MODES, THE EFFECT OF INCREASED OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE AND FUEL COSTS, AND THE NEED TO MAINTAIN AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF TAXI SERVICE IN THE NT AND LANTAU, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
PENDING THE CONVERSION OF TAXIMETERS, TAXIS MAY CHARGE THE REVISED FARES STARTING FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE BY DISPLAYING A CONVERSION TABLE SHOWING THE REVISED FARE SCALES.
/STARTING FROM .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1990
STARTING FROM NEXT THURSDAY (JUNE 21), OPERATORS AND DRIVERS CAN OBTAIN THE FARE CONVERSION TABLES FROM THE FOLLOWING TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT OFFICES:
* PUBLIC VEHICLE SECTION AT MURRAY ROAD MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, CENTRAL;
* LICENSING OFFICES AT DUNDAS STREET IN MONG KOK, KWUN TONG AND SHA TIN;
AND ANY CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION’S DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
- - 0 - -
REDEVELOPMENT OF SAU MAU PING ESTATE ON AGENDA » * * * *
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD’S HOUSING COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS. THE REDEVELOPMENT OF SAU MAU PING ESTATE AT A MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENT TO BRIEF MEMBERS.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO STUDY THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN OLD TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AND THE REHOUSING POLICY AND CLEARANCE OF SQUATTER AREAS IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD’S HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, TUNG YAU STREET.
- - 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1990
- 6 -
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME
MEMBERS OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE DISTRICT’S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME AT A MEETING ON FRIDAY (JUNE 15).
INVOLVING MORE THAN $500,000, THE PROGRAMME WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THIS SUMMER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT TO TAKE PART IN VARIOUS SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO STUDY THE YEARLY ACTIVITY PLAN TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION IN WONG TAI SIN.
THEY WILL CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND AREA COMMITTEES FOR CARRYING OUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE URBAN COUNCIL’S RECREATION AND SPORTS PROGRAMME FOR THE DISTRICT AND THE ICAC LIAISON WORK PLAN FOR 1990-91.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY (JUNE 15) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET, KOWLOON. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
--------0----------
TWO NT LOTS TO LET BY TENDER * » * * »
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF TWO LAND LOTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE FIRST LOT IS LOCATED AT TSING KING ROAD IN AREA 3, TSING YI ISLAND. COVERING AN AREA OF ABOUT 23,300 SQUARE METRES, IT IS FOR A PUBLIC PARKING AREA FOR THE PARKING OF MOTOR VEHICLES CURRENTLY LICENSED UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE.
THE TENANCY IS FOR 18 MONTHS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE SECOND LOT IS LOCATED AT WAN YIP STREET EAST, TUNG TAU INDUSTRIAL AREA, YUEN LONG. IT COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 785 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR OPEN STORAGE, EXCLUDING STORAGE OF CONTAINERS AND MOTOR VEHICLES.
/THE TENANCY .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1990
- 7 -
THE TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JUNE 29.
FORMS OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND THE TENDER PLANS INSPECTED AT THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN; THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YUEN LONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 2 KIU LOK SQUARE, YUEN LONG; THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES KOWLOON, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
-----0-------
EXHIBITION TO PROMOTE AIDS AWARENESS
******
AN INTERESTING AND EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITION TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AIDS WILL BE HELD IN THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAY (JUNE 15 TO 17).
OPEN FREE OF CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM DAILY, THE EXHIBITION WILL COVER VARIOUS ASPECTS OF AIDS.
THEY INCLUDE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AIDS, DIFFERENT STAGES IN HIV INFECTION, THE TRANSMISSION OF THE AIDS VIRUS, THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AIDS AND YOUTH COUNSELLING SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
INFORMATION LEAFLETS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE EXHIBITION. VISITORS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN HANDSOME PRIZES BY ANSWERING A QUIZ DESIGNED TO TEST THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON AIDS.
THE EXHIBITION IS THE SECOND LAST IN A SERIES OF 13 MOBILE DISPLAYS ORGANISED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON AIDS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.
IT AIMS AT ENHANCING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF AIDS, AND FOSTERING A POSITIVE, SYMPATHETIC AND SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDE IN THE COMMUNITY TOWARDS AIDS PATIENTS AND CARRIERS.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE MOVED TO LONG PING COMMUNITY HALL IN YUEN LONG ON JUNE 28.
--------0
/8........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE A 1990
- 8 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHEUNG WAN AND WESTERN ******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 15), THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF STAUNTON STREET, IN SHEUNG WAN, FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH ABERDEEN STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 50 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY 24 HOURS DAILY FOR 12 WEEKS TO FACILITATE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WORKS.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED AREA, ALL VEHICLES, EXCEPT THOSE WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM STOPPING FOR PASSENGERS AND GOODS.
IN ADDITION, VEHICLES ON ABERDEEN STREET WILL BE TEMPORARILY BANNED FROM TURNING LEFT INTO STAUNTON STREET.
AT THE SAME TIME, IN CONNECTION WITH THE DUALLING OF CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST IN WESTERN DISTRICT, VEHICLES ON EASTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST WILL BE ABLE TO TURN RIGHT INTO KA ON STREET.
THE EXISTING RIGHT TURNING FROM WESTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD WEST INTO WATER STREET WILL BE BANNED, AND THE RIGHT-TURN LANE WILL BECOME A "TRAM ONLY" LANE. .
VEHICLES ON WESTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD WEST HEADING FOR WATER STREET WILL BE DIVERTED VIA EASTERN STREET AND QUEEN'S ROAD WEST, OR THEY CAN CONTINUE ALONG WESTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD WEST, TURN RIGHT AT THE HILL ROAD JUNCTION INTO EASTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST, AND THEN TRAVEL TO WATER STREET VIA KA ON STREET AND EASTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD WEST.
------0--------
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN SHAU KEI WAN *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 15), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS 21 HOURS DAILY:
* THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF FACTORY STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH WANG WA STREET TO A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF FACTORY STREET FROM ITS
JUNCTION WITH WANG WA STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 15 METRES
WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION;
* THE WESTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF WANG WA STREET FROM ITS
JUNCTION WITH FACTORY STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES
NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION; AND
* THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF WANG WA STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH FACTORY STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 25 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PASSAGE OF NATIONALITY BILL WELCOMED ................................................. 1
FEB-APR UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS RELEASED ......................... 2
PMG OUTLINES MEASURES TO COPE WITH GROWTH IN MAIL TRAFFIC ................
PROVISIONAL LEGCO ELECTORAL ROLL TO BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW ................
GOVT TO PRINT LAWS IN LOOSE-LEAF FORM ....................................
GOVERNOR VISITS CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT .........................
AUSTRALIAN MINISTER VISITS CSD ...........................................
LADY WILSON TOURS KOWLOON SCHOOLS ........................................
EMPLOYERS URGED TO HIRE DISABLED..........................................
ANTI-II OPERATION IN TO KWA WAN, HUNG HOM ................................
MOBILE EXHIBITION ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT IN TUEN MUN ...............
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS .............................
HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS OF MARINE DEPT OFFICES .............................
HOLIDAY CLINIC SERVICE ...................................................
GRADING OF BEACH WATER QUALITY ...........................................
ACTION ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN TUNG CHOI STREET ..........................
ID CARD REMINDER FOR MEN BORN IN 1918-22 .................................
WATER CUT IN KWAI CHUNG ..................................................
TEMPORARY PARTIAL LANE CLOSURE OF TUEN MUN ROAD ..........................
URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHAM SHUI PO ...........................................
URBAN CLEARWAY IN HUNG HOM ...............................................
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
1
PASSAGE OF NATIONALITY BILL* WELCOMED
i ♦ I t
’ ’ ? < •- : : . ’ i;
A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (THURSDAY) WELCOMED THE PASSAGE OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG’ KONO) BILL THROUGH ITS REPORT STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE tfotfsE OF 'COMMONS.
COMMENTING ON THE TWO AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL, HE SAID THE ONE WHICH STIPULATED THAT THE GOVERNOR SHALL SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DISCHARGE OF HIS FUNCTIONS UNDER THE ACT WOULD PROVIDE FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE WHOLE SCHEME.
’’THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THIS AMENDMENT,” HE SAID.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR REGISTRATION AS BRITISH CITIZENS IN A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME AND WAS MAINLY PROCEDURAL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
’’THIS AMENDMENT AIMS AT CLARIFYING A PREVIOUS SUB-CLAUSE IN THE BILL AND RESULTS IN NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE,” HE SAID.
’’THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THE BILL TO BE REFERRED TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS, WHERE IT WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ITS FIRST AND SECOND READINGS, COMMITTEE STAGE, REPORT STAGE, AND THIRD READING.
"WE ARE STILL AIMING TO OBTAIN ROYAL ASSENT TO THE BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT RISES FOR THE SUMMER RECESS," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE MAIN LEGISLATION, THE TERMS OF THE SELECTION SCHEME FOR THE GRANT OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WOULD BE SET OUT IN AN ORDER IN COUNCIL. THE ORDER IN COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY A RESOLUTION OF EACH HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT.
"WE HOPE THIS CAN BE DONE IN OCTOBER, AND THAT WE CAN START INVITING APPLICATIONS UNDER THE SCHEME SHORTLY AFTERWARDS," HE SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD TSANG, WILL MEET THE MEDIA THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS THE LATEST POSITION OF THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE. THE SESSION WILL BE HELD IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL. IT WILL BEGIN AT 3 PM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.
-----0------
/2.........
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
2
FEB-APR UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS RELEASED ♦ ♦*****
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASED WHILE THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINED STABLE DURING THE PERIOD FEBRUARY - APRIL 1990, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE SEASONAl.LV ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR FEBRUARY - APRIL 1990 WAS 1.8 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH 1.3 PER CENT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1990 AND 1.5 PER CENT FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.
THE INCREASES OF 0.5 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE PRECEDING THREE-MONTH PERIOD AND 0.3 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER ARE BOTH STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN FEBRUARY - APRIL 1990 WAS ESTIMATED AT 48,700, COMPARED WITH 36,800 IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1990 AND 40,500 IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1989.
ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SIGNS THAT THE LABOUR MARKET MIGHT HAVE EASED OFF MARGINALLY, THERE WAS STILL NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT A TREND HAS EMERGED.
THE PROVISIONAL ESTIMATE OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR MARCH -MAY 1990, WHICH PROVIDES AN EARLY INDICATION OF THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION, WAS 1.6 PER CENT. THIS COMPARES WITH 1.5 PER CENT FOR BOTH THE THREE MONTHS ENDING FEBRUARY 1990 AND THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1989.
THE INCREASES OF 0.I OF A PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE RESPECTIVE PERIODS ARE LIKELY TO BE STATISTICALLY NOT SIGNIFICANT.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE FOR. FEBRUARY - APRIL 1990 WAS 0.7 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH 0.9 PER CENT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1990 AND 0.8 PER CENT FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.
THE DECREASES OF 0.2 OF THREE-MONTH PERIOD AND 0.1 CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR SIGNIFICANT.
A PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE PRECEDING
OF A PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE EARLIER ARE BOTH STATISTICALLY NOT
THE ESTIMATED NUMBER. OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS IN FEBRUARY -APRIL 1990 WAS 20,300, COMPARED WITH 24,800 IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1990 AND 22,200 IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING APRIL 1989.
CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO), PERSONS WHO WORKED LESS THAN 3*5 HOURS A WEEK DUE TO ECONOMIC REASONS (SUCH AS SLACK WORK, MATERIAL SHORTAGE, MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN AND INABILITY TO FIND FULL-TIME WORK) WERE REGARDED AS UNDEREMPLOYED ONLY IF THEY WERE EITHER SEEKING OR AVAILABLE FOR MORE WORK.
/COMMENTING ON .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 3 -
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS (FOR EXAMPLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL) VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAT HAD BEEN SEASONALLY ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VARIATIONS IN THE NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS SHOULD,BE USED IN MAKING COMPARISONS OVER TIME.
THE COMMISSIONER ADDED THAT, BASED ON A SYSTEM OF PROVISIONAL COUNTS, THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATES COVERING THE LATEST THREE-MONTH PERIOD COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SURVEY. THESE PROVIDE AN EARLY INDICATION OF THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION.
THE PROVISIONAL SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR MARCH - MAY 1990 WAS 1.6 PER CENT AND THE PROVISIONAL UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 4.0 PER CENT.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED FROM A CONTINUOUS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE SURVEY FOR FEBRUARY - APRIL 1990 COVERED A QUARTERLY SAMPLE OF SOME 11,500 HOUSEHOLDS OR 41,000 PERSONS, SELECTED SCIENTIFICALLY TO REPRESENT THE LAND-BASED CIVILIAN NON-INSTITUTIONAL POPULATION IN HONG KONG.
PERSONAL AND LABOUR FORCE DATA WERE OBTAINED IN THE SURVEY BY INTERVIEWING EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER AGED 15 AND ABOVE IN THE HOUSEHOLDS SAMPLED. IN THE SURVEY, THE DEFINITIONS USED IN MEASURING UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FOLLOW CLOSELY THOSE RECOMMENDED BY THE ILO.
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS IS GIVEN IN THE REPORT ON THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY WHICH IS PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR. THE NEXT REPORT COVERING THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 1990 WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AROUND JUNE 30 AT $11.50 PER COPY.
---------------------------0-------- PMG OUTLINES MEASURES TO COPE WITH GROWTH IN MAIL TRAFFIC *******
THE POST OFFICE, FOLLOWING THE GOVERNMENT’S SPIRIT OF CONSTRAINT ON RESOURCES, HAS INTRODUCED A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO COPE WITH THE INCREASE IN MAIL TRAFFIC WHILE MAINTAINING EFFICIENT POSTAL SERVICES, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
ADDRESSING THE 1990 ASIAN DIRECT MARKETING SYMPOSIUM, MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT MAIL TRAFFIC IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN INCREASING AT THE CONSISTENTLY HIGH RATE OF OVER 10 PER CENT PER YEAR COMPOUND IN RECENT YEARS, AND THIS WAS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.
/"THIS RAPID .......
idURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
4
’’THIS RAPID GROWTH HAS COME FROM THE DIRECT MAIL SECTOR AND THE INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL , JD FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES. LAST YEAR WE HANDLED OVER 830 MILLION MAIL ITEMS, OR 2.3 MILLION ITEMS A DAY,” HE SAID.
MR WONG SAID THAT WHILE HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE REVENUE, HE WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE MANPOWER SITUATION.
’’INCREASED TRAFFIC REQUIRES EXTRA STAFF TO PROCESS AND DELIVER THE MAIL. BUT THE HONG KONG POST OFFICE IS A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, AND WE FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT'S SPIRIT OF CONSTRAINT ON RESOURCES," HE SAID.
MR WONG EXPLAINED HOW THE POST OFFICE HANDLED THE TRAFFIC INCREASE AND MAINTAINED EFFICIENT POSTAL SERVICES. HE POINTED OUT THAT, FIRSTLY, THE POST OFFICE RECOGNISED THE NEED FOR INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPROVED EFFICIENCY, AND IT THEREFORE EXERCISED STRICT SUPERVISION AND MONITORED STAFF PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY.
"SECONDLY, WE HAVE RECENTLY STREAMLINED OUR DELIVERY POLICY SO THAT THE MAINLY RESIDENTIAL AREAS RECEIVE ONE MAIL DELIVERY EACH DAY WHILE THE COMMERCIAL AREAS RECEIVE TWO MAIL DELIVERIES EACH DAY.
"THIRDLY, WE EMPLOY TEMPORARY STAFF FOR SIMPLE MAIL PROCESSING AND RE-DEPLOY PERMANENT STAFF TO THE PRIORITY TASK OF DELIVERING LETTER MAIL.
"FOURTHLY, WE RELY ON MECHANISATION AND AUTOMATION AS FAR AS POSSIBLE," HE SAID, ADDING THAT EARLY NEXT MONTH THE POST OFFICE WOULD COMMISSION A NEW MECHANISED LETTER SORTING SYSTEM COSTING $120 MILLION.
MR WONG SAID THE SORTING SYSTEM WOULD BE THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO USE MODERN OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION AND VIDEO CODING TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT POST CODES.
"EACH MACHINE CAN PROCESS 30,000 ITEMS PER HOUR, AND IS IDEALLY SUITABLE FOR PROCESSING BULK POSTINGS BY DIRECT MARKETERS," HE SAID.
MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT IN ORDER TO REAP THE FULL BENEFITS OF THIS NEW SORTING EQUIPMENT, FULL CO-OPERATION FROM THE DIRECT MARKETERS IN ADDRESSING AND MAKING UP MAIL PROPERLY WAS NEEDED.
HE REFERRED TO SOME COMMON FAILURES OF BULK POSTERS WHICH RESULTED IN ONLY 67 PER CENT OF TYPEWRITTEN MAIL ITEMS BEING ABLE TO BE READ DURING THE TRIAL PERIOD.
HE SAID HE HAD DISTRIBUTED A BOOKLET GIVING GUIDANCE ON THIS SUBJECT.
MR WONG ALSO APPEALED TO THE MARKETERS TO USE THE "POSTPAK" ITEMS WHICH WERE GOOD QUALITY ENVELOPES AND CARTONS, IN DIFFERENT SIZES, FOR SENDING ITEMS BY POST. THEY WERE IDEAL FOR DESPATCHING PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, HE SAID.
/TURNING TO .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 5 -
TURNING TO A QUESTION RAISED ON THE FEASIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A LOWER POSTAGE RATE FOR BULK MAILERS IN HONG KONG WITH A SLOWER DELIVERY SERVICE SIMILAR TO THE THIRD CLASS MAIL SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES, MR WONG EXPLAINED THAT A PRE-CONDITION FOR THIS PROPOSITION WAS UNOCCUPIED TIME IN THE SORTING OFFICE SO THAT STAFF COULD HANDLE THIRD CLASS ITEMS WHEN THEY WERE FREE.
HE SAID THE SITUATION IN THE HONG KONG POST OFFICE WAS DIFFERENT AS THE MANPOWER SITUATION WAS TIGHT AND THE STAFF WERE ALREADY FULLY OCCUPIED, AND HE WAS THEREFORE NOT IN A POSITION TO OFFER A CHEAPER SERVICE TO BULK MAILERS.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG ALREADY HAD BULK SURFACE MAIL, AND A DISCOUNTED RATE WAS OFFERED FOR NEWSPAPERS, PERIODICALS AND BOOKS.
WE FOLLOW THE SPIRIT AND CONDITIONS OF THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION ON THIS MATTER, AND NO DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE FOR OTHER COMMERCIAL PRINTED PAPERS,” HE SAID.
MR WONG ADDED THAT THE POST OFFICE ALSO OFFERED A BULK AIRMAIL SERVICE AT A CHEAPER RATE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF CONVEYANCE HE COULD NOT OFFER AN EVEN CHEAPER RATE FOR NEWSPAPERS, PERIODICALS AND BOOKS.
NOTING THAT DIRECT MARKETERS WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT CUSTOMERS OF THE POST OFFICE, MR WONG SAID THAT HE REALISED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ROLE IN MEETING THEIR NEEDS.
”WE WILL TRY TO RESPOND IN AS POSITIVE AND FLEXIBLE A MANNER AS POSSIBLE. IT IS OUR OBJECTIVE TO GROW AND EXPAND WITH THE DIRECT MARKETING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG,” HE ADDED.
------0----------
PROVISIONAL LEGCO ELECTORAL ROLL TO BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW
******
THE PROVISIONAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTORAL ROLL TO BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW (FRIDAY) CARRIES 59,004 NAMES, SHOWING A MINOR INCREASE OF 317 ENTRIES FROM THE 1989 REGISTER.
THERE ARE 525 NEW ENTRIES, OFFSET BY A REDUCTION OF 208 VOTERS DUE TO DEATH AND CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS.
THERE IS LITTLE CHANGE IN THE POTENTIAL ELECTORATE AND THE REGISTRATION RATE SHOWS A MINOR IMPROVEMENT FROM 55.9 PER CENT TO 56.5 PER CENT.
/THE PROVISIONAL .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
6
THE PROVISIONAL ELECTORAL ROLL IS OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UP TO JULY 2 AT THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE AT HARBOUR CENTRE, WAN CHAI AND AT THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION’S DISTRICT OFFICES IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN, YAU TSIM, KWUN TONG, SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN.
ELIGIBLE PERSONS MAY ALSO SEND IN APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION ON SPECIFIED FORMS DURING THE SAME PERIOD ENDING JULY 2 FOR INCLUSION IN THE FINAL REGISTER TO BE PUBLISHED IN EARLY AUGUST.
------0-----------
GOVT TO PRINT LAWS IN LOOSE-LEAF FORM * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BEGIN PUBLISHING BILINGUAL LAWS IN LOOSE-LEAF FORM BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR TO REPLACE THE PRESENT EDITION OF LAWS OF HONG KONG.
IN THE MEANTIME THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS IN THE PROGRAMME TO STORE THE ENTIRE CHINESE AND ENGLISH TEXTS OF THE LAWS INTO A COMPUTER DATABASE IN ORDER TO SPEED UP RESEARCH WORK IN THE FUTURE.
A NEW FORMAT FOR PUBLISHING THE LAWS OF HONG KONG BECOMES NECESSARY FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME TO ENACT LAWS IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH FROM APRIL 1989. THE LOOSE LEAVES WILL ACCOMMODATE BOTH TEXTS ON THE SAME PAGE, PROVIDING EASY REFERENCE FOR USERS.
LAWS IN THE NEW FORMAT CAN ALSO BE UPDATED MORE QUICKLY AS REPLACEMENT PAGES CAN BE INSERTED CONVENIENTLY.
AT PRESENT THE LAWS OF HONG KONG ARE PUBLISHED BOTH IN THE GAZETTE AND IN A CONSOLIDATED EDITION. EACH YEAR AROUND JULY BOOKLETS OF NEW AND CONSOLIDATED LEGISLATION TOGETHER WITH A VOLUME OF UNCONSOLIDATED MINOR AMENDMENTS ARE PUBLISHED, BRINGING THE LAWS UP TO DATE AS ON DECEMBER 31 OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
TO HELP USERS RECORD CHANGES SINCE DECEMBER 31, THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHES REGULARLY AMENDMENT SLIPS, CALLED NOTER-UP ISSUES, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO BE CUT UP AND PASTED INTO THE BOOKLETS.
THE CUT AND PASTE NOTER-UP SYSTEM IS LABOUR-INTENSIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE LAWS OF HONG KONG FULLY UP TO DA 1E.
THE FIRST VOLUMES OF THE LOOSE-LEAF EDITION ARE EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE END OF 1991. THE WHOLE EDITION WOULD BE PUBLISHED OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
/DURING THIS .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 7 -9
DURING THIS THREE-YEAR PHASE IN PERIOD, THE NOTER-UP SERVICE WOULD BE MAINTAINED FOR THOSE LAWS NOT YET BEEN PUBLISHED IN LOOSE-LEAF FORM.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG IN THE NEW LOOSE-LEAF FORMAT WILL COST ABOUT $31 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS.
THIS COMPARES WITH THE COST OF ABOUT $26 MILLION WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY IN ANY CASE TO REPRINT THE LAWS OF HONG KONG IN BILINGUAL FORM IF THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS MAINTAINED. THE BULK OF THE COST IS IN THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT PRINTER’S LABOUR COSTS WHICH WILL BE ABSORBED.
ONCE THE ENTIRE SET OF LAWS HAS BEEN REPRINTED, FUTURE PRODUCTION COSTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FAR LOWER WITH THE NEW FORMAT. MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR THE LOOSE-LEAF EDITION WILL ALSO BE MUCH LOWER.
A BILL ENABLING THE PUBLICATION OF THE LOOSE-LEAF LAWS WILL BE GAZETTED TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AND IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JUNE 27 THIS YEAR.
ON THE PROGRAMME TO STORE LAWS IN A COMPUTER DATABASE, THE LAW DRAFTING DIVISION OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS SO FAR COMPLETED INPUTTING MORE THAN 300 OF THE 500-PLUS MAIN ORDINANCES.
THE BALANCE OF THE ORDINANCES WILL BE ON THE COMPUTER BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. A START HAS ALSO BEEN MADE TO INPUT CHINESE TEXTS OF THE LAWS.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT IT WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO MORE YEARS TO COMPLETE INPUTTING ALL THE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION INTO THE COMPUTER.
THE SYSTEM ENABLES COUNSEL TO EXTRACT REFERENCES FROM THE LAWS THROUGH THE COMPUTER’S QUICK SEARCH FACILITIES INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DO IT MANUALLY AS AT PRESENT.
--------0-----------
GOVERNOR VISITS CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT * * * * *
CORRECTIONAL
SERVICES
IS BORNE
EDUCATION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
DEPARTMENT’S EFFORTS TO REHABILITATE YOUNG OFFENDERS: OUT BY THE FACT THAT INMATES PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS HAVE ATTAINED REMARKABLE RESULTS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WAS
TOLD TODAY
(THURSDAY).
DAVID WAS BRIEFED ON THE
DEPARTMENT’S EDUCATIONAL AND
SIR _________
VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED
VISITS TO THE PIK UK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND PIK UK PRISON.
TO PRISONERS DURING
/THE COMMISSIONER ........
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 8 -
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR CHAN WA-SHEK, WHO ACCOMPANIED THE GOVERNOR ON HIS VISIT, TOLD SIR DAVID THAT MORE THAN 1,400 INMATES HAD TAKEN PART IN PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS SINCE 1979.
THEY HAD A PASS RATE OF 85 PER CENT. OVER 500 INMATES ACHIEVED DISTINCTIONS AND ABOUT 200 OBTAINED CREDITS.
AT THE PIK UK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, THE GOVERNOR LEARNED THAT YOUNG PRISONERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND HALF-DAY SCHOOL AND HALF-DAY VOCATIONAL TRAINING AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S REHABILITATION PROGRAMME.
THE INMATES ARE PLACED IN EDUCATION CLASSES RELATIVE TO THEIR PREVIOUS ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT. VOCATIONAL CLASSES PROVIDED FOR THEM ARE GEARED TO BOTH TRAINING AND ACTUAL WORKING SKILLS IN CARPENTRY, TAILORING, LAUNDRY, RADIO AND TELEVISION REPAIRS, ELECTRONICS AND BOOK-BINDING.
DURING HIS TOUR OF PIK UK PRISON, SIR DAVID WATCHED THE OPERATION OF THE INSTITUTION’S LAUNDRY, WHICH IS THE LARGEST IN EAST ASIA AND HAS A MAXIMUM OUTPUT OF 16,000 KILOGRAMS PER DAY.
ALL PRISONERS IN THE MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON ARE ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF HIGH PRODUCTIVE TRADES AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES SUCH AS ROAD BUILDING, GRASS CUTTING, AND CLEANING BEACHES AND PICNIC AREAS.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO NOTED THAT EVENING ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES, WHICH ARE ATTENDED ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, ARE CONDUCTED BY STAFF OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
------0--------
AUSTRALIAN MINISTER VISITS CSD ♦ * * ♦ »
THE MINISTER FOR CORRECTIVE SERVICES, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, MR MICHAEL YABSLEY, TODAY (THURSDAY) STARTED A TWO-DAY VISIT TO THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MORNING AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS. ON PRISON MANAGEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL
HE FIRST CALLED ON
MR CHAN WA-SHEK, THIS THEY EXCHANGED VIEWS
PROGRAMMES FOR INMATES.
MR YABSLEY THEN WENT TO HEI LING CHAU DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE AND LAI SUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TREATMENT AND YOUNG OFFENDER PROGRAMMES.
HE WILL VISIT PIK UK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, PIK UK TAI LAM CENTRE FOR WOMEN, TAI LAM CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION LAM PSYCHIATRIC CENTRE TOMORROW.
PRISON, AND SIU
--------0-----------
/9.........
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 9 -
LADY WILSON TOURS KOWLOON SCHOOLS * * * * *
LADY WILSON SPENT THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING VISITING ST DENTS AND TEACHERS AT TWO SCHOOLS IN KOWLOON.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (SCHOOLS), MRS ALICE CHENG, LADY WILSON FIRST WENT TO SKH KEI HIN PRIMARY SCHOOL IN NGAU TAU KOK WHICH HAS SUCCESSFULLY ADOPTED AN ACTIVITY APPROACH SINCE 1972.
DURING A TOUR OF THE CLASSROOMS, LADY WILSON TALKED TO THE CHILDREN. SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE STUDENTS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN ADDITION TO THEIR STUDIES.
LADY WILSON LATER VISITED THE GOOD HOPE SCHOOL AT CLEARWATER BAY ROAD WHERE SHE SAW STUDENTS BEING TAUGHT VARIOUS SUBJECTS AND WATCHED THE SCHOOL CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA GROUP PRACTISING.
THE SCHOOL HAS 1,232 STUDENTS IN 36 CLASSES, AND HAS 60 CLUBS COMPRISING ACADEMIC, INTEREST AND SPORTS GROUPS.
-----0------
EMPLOYERS URGED TO HIRE DISABLED
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR M.D. CARTLAND, TODAY (THURSDAY) CALLED ON EMPLOYERS TO HIRE DISABLED PEOPLE.
THE APPEAL WAS MADE WHEN HE VISITED A NINE-MEMBER MOBILE CLEANSING TEAM CURRENTLY EMPLOYED TO WORK AT A KWUN TONG INDUSTRIAL BUILDING.
THE TEAM IS A MODEL OF THE SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SCHEME BEING EXPERIMENTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT UNIT, WHICH WAS SET UP LAST NOVEMBER.
"THE SCHEME IS AIMED AT WIDENING THE SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE," MR CARTLAND SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE TEAM HAD SO FAR RECEIVED FIVE REGULAR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AFTER ATTENDING A SIX-MONTH TRAINING COURSE ON CLEANSING SERVICE AT THE KWUN TONG SKILLS CENTRE FOR THE DISABLED.
"THE MEMBERS STARTED TAKING UP WORK LAST MONTH, DURING WHICH THEY HAD EARNED A TOTAL OF $10,400,” HE SAID.
IN VIEW OF FAVOURABLE RESPONSE FROM THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS, ANOTHER CLEANSING TEAM WAS BEING PLANNED, MR CARTLAND SAID.
DURING THE VISIT, MR CARTLAND ALSO PRESENTED SOUVENIRS TO FIVE EMPLOYERS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR SUPPORT TO THE MOBILE CLEANSING TEAM.
------0--------
/10 .....
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 10 -
ANTI-II OPERATION IN TO KWA WAN, HUNG HOM *****
IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS CONDUCTED A LARGE-SCALE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OPERATION IN TO KWA WAN AND HUNG HOM AREAS YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).
IDENTITY CHECKS WERE MADE ON MORE THAN 180 PERSONS AT 42 PLACES.
DURING THE OPERATION, NINE OVERSTAYERS AND ONE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM CHINA WERE APPREHENDED.
THE NINE OVERSTAYERS - TWO MEN AGED 20 AND 29, AND SEVEN WOMEN AGFD BETWEEN 18 TO 61 - ARE NATIVES OF FUKIEN. THEY ARE TWO-WAY PFRMIT HOLDERS AND HAVE OVERSTAYED FOR TWO TO NINE MONTHS IN HONG KONG.
THE FEMALE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, AGED 28, IS A NATIVE OF HAI FUNG AND CLAIMED TO HAVE SNEAKED INTO HONG KONG IN AUGUST 87. HER HUSBAND, A HONG KONG RESIDENT, IS ASSISTING WITH INVESTIGATIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT REITERATED THAT THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
HE STRESSED THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BREACHED THEIR CONDITION OF STAY HERE ARE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $5,000 AND TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.
PERSONS WHO AID AND ABET THESE PEOPLE TO COMMIT THE OFFENCE ARE ALSO LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND PENALTY.
------0--------
MOBILE EXHIBITION ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT IN TUEN MUN ' *******
THE FIRST MOBILE EXHIBITION ON MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS IN TUEN MUN WILL BE OPENED TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT THE TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE BUILDING IN SAN CHING ROAD.
ORGANISED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE EXHIBITION WILL COVER PROJECTS CO-ORDINATED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE’S WORKS SECTION TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT^ LIVING ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNAL FACILITIES IN THE PAST YEAR.
"THERE WILL BE 15 PANELS DISPLAYING COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ON THE SITES WHERE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE," A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE EXHIBITION IS AIMED AT PROMOTING A SENSE OF CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND AT THE SAME TIME ENHANCING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE," HE SAID.
/THE MOBILE .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 11 -
THE MOBILE EXHIBITION WILL BE STAGED AT SIX LOCATIONS. THE VENUES AND DATES ARE:
TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE JUNE 15 - 25
TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES JUNE 26 - JULY 13
TAI HING COMMUNITY HALL JULY 16 - 20
ON TING/YAU 01 COMMUNITY CENTRE JULY 23 - 27
SHAN KING COMMUNITY HALL JULY 30 - AUGUST 3
BUTTERFLY BAY COMMUNITY CENTRE AUGUST 6 - 10
IT WILL BE OPENED TOMORROW BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAU WONG-FAT, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JOHN WAN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TUEN MUN MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS EXHIBITION TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 10 AM IN THE RURAL COMMITTEE’S HALL, GROUND FLOOR, RURAL COMMITTEE BUILDING, SAN CHING ROAD, TUEN MUN.
------0--------
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS
THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD WILL STUD^ VARIOUS TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE PROJECTS INCLUDE UPGRADING A SECTION OF PO LO CHE ROAD BETWEEN HIRAM’S HIGHWAY AND PO LO CHE INTO A TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY, COMPLETE WITH FOOTPATHS, PARKING SPACES AND LAY-BYS.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXPLORE WAYS TO ENSURE ROAD SAFETY AT A SHARP BENI) NEAR THE BRUNA CELESTE HOME FOR THE AGED IN CLEARWATER BAY ROAD.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE THE INTRODUCTION Of* FIVE GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF 18 RUS STOP SHELTERS IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING 'IO BEGIN Al 10 AM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 34 CHAN MAN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN.
------0--------
/12........
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 12 -
HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS OF MARINE DEPT OFFICES
******
SEVERAL OFFICES OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN DURING THE GENERAL HOLIDAYS FROM SATURDAY (JUNE 16) TO MONDAY (JUNE 18) .
THEY ARE:
♦ THE MACAU FERRY TERMINAL (CENTRAL) WHICH WILL REMAIN OPEN CONTINUOUSLY;
♦ THE CHINA FERRY TERMINAL (TSIM SHA TSUI) WHICH WILL BE OPEN AS NORMAL FROM 6 AM TO 10 PM DAILY;
♦ THE PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS AT WAN CHAI, YAU MA TEI, KWUN TONG, TSUEN WAN, WESTERN DISTRICT, RAMBLER CHANNEL, CHAI WAN, SHAM SHUI PO, SHEUNG WAN, CHA KWO LING AND THE PUBLIC WATERFRONTS AT YAU MA TE] , KOWLOON BAY AND TUEN MUN, WHICH WILL BE OPEN FOR NORMAL OPERATION FROM 7 AM TO 9 PM;
* THE VESSEL TRAFFIC CENTRE WHICH WILL REMAIN OPEN
CONTINUOUSLY;
* THE VICTORIA MARINE OFFICE AT ROOM 314, THIRD FLOOR,
HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL WHICH WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM ON SUNDAY (JUNE 17) FOR ENTRY AND OUTWARD CLEARANCE ONLY; AND
* THE PORT FORMALITIES AND DANGEROUS GOODS OFFICE AT ROOM 318, THIRD FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING WHICH WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM ON SUNDAY (JUNE 17).
-----0------
HOLIDAY CLINIC SERVICE
*****
EIGHT GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WILL RFMAIN OPEN ON SATURDAY (JUNE 16), WHICH IS THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY, AND MONDAY (JUNE 18), THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE EIGHT CLINICS ARE THE VIOLET PEEL HEALTH CENTRE AND THE SHAU KEI WAN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC ON HONG KONG ISLAND; THE KWUN TONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE, THE ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE, THE YAU MA TEI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC AND THE LADY TRENCH POLYCLINIC IN KOWLOON; AND THE SHEK WU HUI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC AND THE YUEN LONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ALL OTHER OUT-PATIENT AND EVENING CLINICS WILL BE CLOSED.
--------0-----------
/13 .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 13 -
GRADING OF BEACH WATER QUALITY ******
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED GRADES ON THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF ALL BATHING BEACHES IN HONG KONG.
THE PURPOSE OF THE GRADING SYSTEM IS TO INFORM SWIMMERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE STATE OF BACTERIAL POLLUTION AT VARIOUS BEACHES.
THE GRADING WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT BIWEEKLY INTERVALS DURING THE BATHING SEASON, TO COINCIDE WITH THE FREQUENCY AT WHICH BEACH WATERS ARE USUALLY SAMPLED.
THE GRADING IS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT E. COLI DATA OBTAINED BY THE EPD 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 WHICH HAS SOME DEGREE OF POLLUTION. THE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON A VERY 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 BACTERIAL QUALITY OF BATHING WATERS 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.
THE SYSTEM FOR GRADING BEACH WATER QUALITY IS AS FOLLOWS:
GRADE "I" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS GOOD. THE E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 24 PER 100 MILLILITRES 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 MILLILITRES 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 ACCEPTABLE. THE E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITRES 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 POOR. THE E. COLI COUNT IS MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITRES AT EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS MORE THAN 15 CASES OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.
/THE DECISION .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 14 -
THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE A BEACH TO SWIMMERS IS BASED ON A JUDGEMENT OF WHAT DEGREE OF POLLUTION IS ACCEPTABLE.
NORMALLY, THE CLOSURE OF A BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE URBAN OR REGIONAL COUNCIL IF A ”4” GRADING 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 ”3” GRADE OR BETTER WERE CONSISTENTLY OBTAINED.
AT PRESENT, TWO BATHING BEACHES, NAMELY CASTLE PEAK AND OLD CAFETERIA, HAVE BEEN DECLARED UNSUITABLE FOR SWIMMING PURPOSES, BASED ON THE WATER QUALITY DURING PAST SEASONS.
THEY ARE POLLUTED BY FAECAL WASTES AND FAIL TO ACHIEVE CONSISTENTLY THE HONG KONG STANDARDS. THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED NOT TO SWIM IN THE WATER AT THESE TWO BEACHES.
IN ADDITION, ROCKY BAY BEACH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SWIMMING PURPOSES BY THE URBAN COUNCIL. THESE THREE BEACHES ARE IDENTIFIED BY AN ”X” IN THE FOLLOWING LIST.
THE GRADES ON THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF VARIOUS BEACHES IN HONG KONG AS AT TODAY ARE LISTED BELOW:
BEACH LAST GRADING PRESENT GRADING :
HONG KONG SOUTH (AS AT 31.5.90) (AS AT 14.6.90)
BIG WAVE BAY 3 3
CHUNG HOM KOK 2 2
DEEP WATER BAY 1 1
HAIRPIN 3 3
MIDDLE BAY 1 1
REPULSE BAY 1 1
SHEK 0 3 3
SOUTH BAY 1 1
ST STEPHEN’S 2 1
TURTLE COVE 2 2
STANLEY MAIN 2 2
ROCKY BAY X X
TO TEI WAN* 1 1
/TUEN MUN .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
15
TUEN MUN DISTRICT
OLD CAFETERIA X
NEW CAFETERIA 2
CASTLE PEAK X
KADOORIE 2
BUTTERFLY 2
ISLANDS DISTRICT
CHEUNG SHA UPPER 1
C EUNG SHA LOWER 2
DISCOVERY BAY* 2
HUNG SHING YEH 1
KWUN YAM WAN 1
TONG FUK 1
LO SO SHING 1
PUI 0 2
SILVERMINE BAY 4
TUNG WAN, CHEUNG CHAU 1
TUNG O* 2
SAI KUNG DISTRICT
CAMPERS 2
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) 3
X
2
X
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
3
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
/TSUEN WAN .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
16
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT
ANGLERS’ 2 2
APPROACH 2 2
CASAM 2 2
GEMINI 2 2
HOI MEI WAN 2 2
LIDO 2 2
TING KAU 3 3
TUNG WAN, MA WAN 1 1
NOTE: "X" THE BEACH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SWIMMING PURPOSES
♦ NON-GAZETTED BEACHES.
THE FOLLOWING BEACHES HAVE CHANGED GRADING ON THIS OCCASION:
ST STEPHEN’S, FROM "2” TO ”1”.
THE CHANGE IS WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE OF FLUCTUATION OF THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF THE BEACH.
SILVERMINE BAY, FROM ”4” TO ”3".
SILVERMINE BAY BEACH IS UPGRADED ON THIS OCCASION, AS THE WATER QUALITY HAS IMPROVED FOLLOWING ABATEMENT OF THE SEWAGE POLLUTION WHICH WAS A MAJOR FACTOR GIVING RISE TO THE ORIGINAL ’’POOR” GRADING.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT MR PAUL HOLMES, THE PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER (WATER POLICY) OF THE EPD, ON TEL. 835 1234.
----------------------0--------- ACTION ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN TUNG CHOI STREET ******
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE AN ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN TUNG CHOI STREET, KOWLOON, SO THAT IT CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS OR TO THE PUBLIC.
THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IS LOCATED ON THE ROOF OVER THE NINTH FLOOR OF TUNG KOK BUILDING, 37 TUNG CHOI STREET.
/NOTICE OF........
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 17 -
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON AUGUST 16 THIS YEAR WAS POS1ED ON CONSPICUOUS PART OF THE STRUCTURE TODAY (THURSDAY).
UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, A CLOSURE ORDER .IS REQUIRED BEFORE DEMOLITION CAN BE CARRIED OUT.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMOLITION WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDER IS OBTAINED.
-----0-----
ID CARD REMINDER FOR MEN BORN IN 1918-22
*****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) REMINDED MEN BORN IN 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921 AND 1922 TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS BEFORE JUNE 30.
"TO AVOID THE LAST-MINUTE RUSH, MEN OF THIS AGE GROUP WHO HAVE NOT YET APPLIED FOR A NEW IDENTITY CARD SHOULD COME FORWARD WITHOUT DELAY,” A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
"FAILURE TO APPLY FOR A NEW IDENTITY CARD WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD IS AN OFFENCE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $3,000," HE ADDED.
APPLICANTS CAN GO TO ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES TO REPLACE THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
THE OFFICE HOURS OF THE HONG KONG AND WEST KOWLOON NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES ARE FROM 8 AM TO 9.30 PM, MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS. OTHER ISSUE OFFICES ARE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM FROM MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS AND FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM ON SATURDAYS.
ALL OFFICES CLOSE ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
APPLICANTS MAY ALSO MAKE USE OF THE PHONE-IN SERVICE TO ARRANGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING THE OFFICES OF THEIR CHOICE.
THE ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE ISSUE OFFICES ARE:
HONG KONG : BASEMENT, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI TEL. NO. 574 -7070
EAST KOWLOON : AMOY PLAZA, SECOND FLOOR, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD, NGAU TAU KOK
TEL. NO. 755 3669
WEST KOWLOON : CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SECOND FLOOR, 393 CANTON ROAD, YAU MA TEI TEL. NO. 723 2424
/TSUEN WAN .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
- 18 -
TSUEN WAN : EAST ASIA COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 29-37 TSUEN FU STREET TEL. NO. 498 0117
SHA TIN : SHOP 8A, SECOND FLOOR, CHANWAY SHOPPING CENTRE, 11-17, SHA TIN CENTRE STREET TEL. NO. 605 9108
YUEN LONG : HOP YICK CENTRE, SECOND FLOOR, 31 HOP YICK ROAD TEL. NO. 477 1543
TUEN MUN : CHI LOK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, CHI LOK FA YUEN TEL. NO. 458 0646
SHEUNG SHUI : TSUEN WO TAI LAU, GROUND FLOOR, 82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEK WU HUI TEL. NO. 672 7191
THEY MAY MAKE USE OF THE 24-HOUR RECORDED MESSAGE SERVICE BY DIALLING 824 0303 TO ENQUIRE ABOUT DETAILS OF THE DOCUMENTS TO BRING ALONG.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
------0--------
WATER CUT IN KWAI CHUNG ♦ * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN KWAI CHUNG WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 10 PM ON SATURDAY (JUNE 16) TO 8 AM THE NEXT DAV TO FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES AT YIP SHING STREET.
DURING THE PERIOD OF WATER SUSPENSION, WEAK WATER PRESSURE WILL OCCUR IN CERTAIN PREMISES BOUNDED BY WO YI HOP ROAD, LEI MUK ROAD, CHUN PIN STREET AND TA CHUEN PING STREET, INCLUDING SHEK KIN STREET AND LAM TIN STREET.
---------0-----------
/19........
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
TEMPORARY PARTIAL LANE CLOSURE OF TUEN MUN ROAD
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE REPAIR WORKS OF TAI LAM BRIDGE, THE THREE TRAFFIC LANES OF BOTH CARRIAGEWAYS OF TUEN MUN ROAD NEAR SIU LAM INTERCHANGE WILL BE PARTIALLY CLOSED IN TURN DURING THE FOLLOWING PERIODS:
♦ FROM SUNDAY (JUNE 17) TO JULY 21, TRAFFIC LANES OF THE KOWLOON-BOUND CARRIAGEWAY.
* FROM SUNDAY (JUNE 17) TO SEPTEMBER 20, TRAFFIC LANES OF THE TUEN MUN-BOUND CARRIAGEWAY.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
- - 0 - -
URBAN CLEARWAY IN SHAM SHUI PO * * ♦ ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (JUNE 16), THE SECTION OF TAT CHEE AVENUE, IN SHAM SHUI PO, FROM A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TSEUK KIU STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 80 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION, WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
- - 0 - -
URBAN CLEARWAY IN HUNG HOM *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (JUNE 16), THE UNNAMED ACCESS ROAD LEADING FROM TAI WAN ROAD NEAR BLOCK 2 OF HUNG HOM ESTATE WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY 24 HOURS DAILY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
FRIDAY, JUNE
CONTENTS
IMPORTANT TO FIND OVERALL SOLUTION TO VBP PROBLEM: GOVERNOR ................
GOVERNOR TO VISIT LONDON ...................................................
NO INTENTION TO OVER-REGULATE MARKETS: SMA .................................
GOVT'S AIM TO MAKE HK AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO STAY ..........................
PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY APPOINTMENTS .................................
PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY MEETS FOR FIRST TIME .........................
RECOMMENDATIONS ON DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY, CHILD CARE SERVICES ..............
TENDERS INVITED FOR FIRST PADS-RELATED PROJECT .............................
YUEN LONG AND KAM TIN SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN STUDY ...........................
IMPROVEMENT TO ACCESS ROAD TO NGONG PING ON LANTAU .........................
CONSTRUCTION OF VEHICULAR FERRY PIER AT YAU KOM TAU, TSUEN WAN .............
FUNG TAK ROAD TO BE EXTENDED ...............................................
LAND RESUMPTION FOR PLAYGROUND DEVELOPMENT .................................
OVER 100 PROJECTS HELP IMPROVE TUEN MUN ENVIRONMENT ........................
HK'S FIRST NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE IN SAI KUNG .............................
YOUNG VIOLA PROTEGE TO ATTEND U.S. MUSIC CAMP ..............................
HEAVY VEHICLE BAN ZONE IN MONG KOK .........................................
15, 1990
PAGE NO.
1
2
2
4
6
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
13
14
15
15
17
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
1
IMPORTANT TO FIND OV XI.L SOI,UI >N TO VBP PROBLEM: GOVERNOR
IT REMAINS EXTREMELY I' ’ORTANT THAT WE SHOULD FIND AN OVERALL SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN EASIER TO HANDLE THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE NUMBERS COMING IN HAVE BEEN MUCH LESS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER PRESIDING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ST JOHN’S AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION AND BRIGADE, SIR DAVID SAID THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, MR FRANCIS MAUDE, WAS CURRENTLY IN WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE QUESTION OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
"I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PUT ACROSS, AT A HIGH LEVEL, TO PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING AN OVERALL SOLUTION BECAUSE UP TO NOW ONE OF THE BLOCKS ON AN OVERALL SOLUTION HAS BEEN THE UNITED STATES. THE OTHER BLOCK HAS BEEN VIETNAM,” HE SAID.
"IT’S NO GOOD SIMPLY' DEALING WITH RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES WHO ARE REFUGEES. YOU’VE GOT TO FIND SOME WAY OF DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REFUGEES.
"NOW THAT DOES MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT THEY GO HOME TO VIETNAM, WHICH IS WHERE THEY HAVE COME FROM," HE SAID.
"THE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN PUT TO THE UNITED STATES BEFORE, THAT THEY SHOULD ESTABLISH A HOLDING CENTRE ON ONE OF THEIR PIECES OF TERRITORY IN THE PACIFIC. SO I IMAGINE HE’S BEEN PURSUING THAT," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
ASKED IF HONG KONG WOULD ABOLISH THE FIRST PORT OF ASYLUM POLICY, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WHAT WE’VE SAID FOR A LONG TIME, IT WAS A POINT WHICH I MADE IN GENEVA LAST YEAR AT THE MAJOR CONFERENCE ON THE WHOLE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, WAS THAT UNLESS THERE IS A SATISFACTORY OVERALL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AT SOME STAGE IT WILL BECOME IMPOSSIBLE FOR HONG KONG TO GO ON PLAYING IT’S RIGHTFUL ROLE IN PROVIDING FIRST ASYLUM."
"IT IS A POINT THAT WE’VE PUT ACROSS FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE VISIT OF THE MAYOR OF SHANGHAI, SIR DAVID Sa ID HE VERY MUCH WELCOMED THE VISIT HERE BY MAYOR ZHU RONGJI, AND ADDED: "THE IDEA OF COMING TO HONG KONG AND EXPLAINING PERSONALLY WHAT HIS DEVELOPMENT PLANS ARE, WAS, I THINK, A VERY GOOD IDEA AND IT WILL HELP TO BUILD UP THE ECONOMIC RELATIONS WHICH WE HAVE WITH SHANGHAI AND WHICH WE’VE HAD FOR A VERY LONG TIME."
"I ALSO VERY MUCH ENJOYED AND BENEFITTED FROM MEETING THE MAYOR MYSELF," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
--------0----------
/2 ........
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
- 2 -
GOVERNOR TO VISIT LONDON
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WILL VISIT TO JULY 1. THE MAIN PURPOSE WILL BE TO BRIEF THE MR DOUGLAS HURD, ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN HONG SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
LONDON FROM JUNE 27 FOREIGN SECRETARY, KONG, A GOVERNMENT
THE GOVERNOR WILL ALSO MEET THE MINISTER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR FRANCIS MAUDE, AND HOLD WITH OFFICIALS IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.
STATE WITH
DISCUSSIONS
THE GOVERNOR AND LADY WILSON JULY 1 WHERE SIR DAVID WILL ATTEND FINANCIAL ENTERPRISE AND MEET MEMBERS EDINBURGH.
WILL TRAVEL TO EDINBURGH ON A SEMINAR GIVEN BY SCOTTISH OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY IN
THE GOVERNOR WILL THEN GO ON TO ABERDEEN WHERE HE WILL RECEIVE AN HONORARY DEGREE AS A DOCTOR OF LAW FROM ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY.
THE GOVERNOR WILL LEAVE HONG KONG ON JUNE JULY 7.
26 AND RETURN ON
--------0----------
NO INTENTION TO OVER-REGULATE MARKETS: SMA
* * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION TO LET THE FINANCIAL MARKETS IN HONG KONG BE STIFLED BY "OVER-REGULATION", BUT THERE IS NEED TO INTRODUCE NEW LEGISLATION TO BRING HONG KONG IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY STANDARDS, THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, SAID.
WHILE HONG KONG WAS MOVING WHERE IT COULD TOWARDS MORE SELF-REGULATION AS MARKETS MATURED, THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO BALANCE THE INTERESTS OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL, BIG AND SMALL MARKET PLAYERS AND KEEP THE REGULATORY COSTS REASONABLE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK SIMPLE, HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE WORLD BANK IN MASSACHUSETTS, USA, YESTERDAY (THURSDAY), MR NENDICK POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS WIDESPREAD PERCEPTION IN HONG KONG THAT THE MARKETS WERE IN DANGER OF BEING OVER-REGULATED.
HE NOTED THAT THE REASONS WHICH LED TO SUCH PERCEPTION WERE MANIFOLD; AMONG THEM WERE A LOW LEVEL OF MARKET TURNOVER BY LOCAL INVESTORS SINCE THE CRASH IN OCTOBER 1987 AND UNCERTAINTIES GENERATED BY THE EVENTS IN CHINA IN JUNE 1989.
/OTHER REASONS .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
- 3 -
OTHER REASONS INCLUDED MISPLACED FEARS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS INTENT ON MODELLING MARKET SUPERVISION TOO CLOSELY ON THAT APPLIED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM; EROSION OF THE ROLE AND PROFITABILITY OF THE SMALLER BROKERS; AND THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF INTRODUCING MANY REFORMS WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, IN ALLAYING CONCERN ABOUT OVER-REGULATION, HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION (SFC) AND THE EXCHANGES TO BUILD BRIDGES AND DEVELOP MUTUAL TRUST.
MR NENDICK TOLD PARTICIPANTS IN THE SEMINAR ON THE FINANCIAL SECTOR LIBERALISATION AND REGULATION THAT THE SECURITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE (SRC), WHICH DELIVERED ITS REPORT IN JUNE 1988, FOUND THAT THE CONCEPT OF SELF-REGULATION AND MARKET SELF-DISCIPLINE HAD FAILED TO DEVELOP IN HONG KONG.
THE SUPERVISORY BODIES THEN CHARGED WITH OVERSEEING THE MARKETS HAD LOST EFFECTIVE CONTROL, HE SAID.
FURTHERMORE, THE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM HAD PROVED INADEQUATE TO COPE WITH THE VERY HIGH LEVELS OF TURNOVER EXPERIENCED, HE SAID.
THE SRC RECOMMENDED A SERIES OF CHANGES WHICH INCLUDED CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM OF THE STOCK AND FUTURES EXCHANGES TO ENSURE BROAD CROSS-SECTION OF REPRESENTATION ON THE GOVERNING BODIES; THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO ADMINISTER THE EXCHANGES; EXTENSION OF T+l SECURITIES SETTLEMENT PERIOD TO T+3 AND EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF A CENTRAL CLEARING SYSTEM.
THE COMMITTEE ADVOCATED ALSO STRENGTHENING OF RISK MANAGEMENT ON THE FUTURES EXCHANGE AND REPLACING THE REGULATORY BODIES WITH A SINGLE INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE TO BE HEADED AND STAFFED BY FULL-TIME REGULATORS, MR NENDICK SAID.
THE SRC REPORT WAS WELL-RECEIVED BY LOCAL AND OVERSEAS FINANCIAL SECTORS AND THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE GENERAL THURST OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMITTED ITSELF TO THEIR EARLY IMPLEMENTATION, HE NOTED.
MR NENDICK ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS DETERMINED TO REFORM THE REGULATORY SYSTEM FOR THE SECURITIES INDUSTRY TO BRING HONG KONG IN LINE WITH THE REGULATORY STANDARDS OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRES.
THE ULTIMATE AIM OF THESE REFORMS WAS TO DEVELOP HONG KONG INTO A PRE-EMINENT CAPITAL MARKET IN THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION, MR NENDICK STRESSED.
HE NOTED THAT MAJOR REFORMS WERE ALL IMPLEMENTED WITHIN 20 MONTHS OF THE CRASH IN OCTOBER 1987.
REVIEWING THE SECURITIES MARKETS TODAY, MR NENDICK SAID THAT THE STOCK EXCHANGE, ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE, HAD SUCCESSFULLY RECONSTITUTED ITSELF BY JULY 1988 AND A COUNCIL WITH A BROADLY-BASED MEMBERSHIP AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARKET AND AN INDEPENDENT ('HAIRMAN WAS ELECTED IN OCTOBER 1988.
/THE DAY-TO-DAY .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
4
THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE WAS UNDERTAKEN BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF ABOUT 300 IN FIVE DIVISIONS AND IMPROVEMENT TO THE LISTING RULES WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 1989, MR NENDICK SAID, ADDING THAT INTERIM IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM.
FOLLOWING LENGTHY PUBLIC DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS IN AND OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN APRIL 1989, ESTABLISHING THE SFC FROM MAY 1 THAT YEAR, HE SAID.
EARLY TN JUNE 1989, A MORE BROADLY-BASED AND REPRESENTATIVE BOARD TOOK OFFICE AT THE FUTURES EXCHANGE, FOLLOWING A WHOLESALE REVISION OF ITS CONSTITUTION, MR NENDICK SAID.
LOOKING INTO THE DAYS AHEAD, MR NENDICK SAID: ’’THE AIM IS FOR THE SFC AND THE EXCHANGES TO WORK TOGETHER IN DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS WHICH WILL ENHANCE ATTRACTION OF HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE.
"WE ARE RECOVERING FROM THE SHOCK OF LAST YEAR'S EVENTS IN CHINA WHICH PROVED THE VALUE OF THE REFORMS WE HAD INTRODUCED - AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE SHALL CONTINUE TO PROSPER.”
--------0------------
GOVT’S AIM TO MAKE HK AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO STAY ******
THE GOVERNMENT’S AIM FOR THE LONG TERM IS TO MAKE HONG KONG A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO STAY, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID YESTERDAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE SWEDEN-HONG KONG SOCIETY IN STOCKHOLM, MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S STRATEGY WAS TO MAINTAIN THOSE ASPECTS OF HONG KONG LIFE THAT WERE MOST ATTRACTIVE, SUCH AS A DYNAMIC ECONOMY, FULL EMPLOYMENT AND LOW TAX RATES, AND TO IMPROVE FURTHER THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG IN TERMS OF, FOR EXAMPLE, A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT, BETTER HOUSING AND HIGHER STANDARDS OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
ON MAINTAINING A STRONG ECONOMY, MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED LAST OCTOBER A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF HONG KONG'S PORT, AIRPORT AND ASSOCIATED FACILITIES TO COPE WITH ITS RAPIDLY GROWING ROLE AS AN ENTREPOT AND REGIONAL HUB.
"THIS HAS ATTRACTED WIDESPREAD INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION AND INTEREST. WE ARE PUSHING AHEAD WITH DETAILED PLANNING OF THE VARIOUS PROJECTS IN THE PACKAGE," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO TAKING STEPS TO SUPPORT THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
/ONE OF .......
FRIDAY, JUNE , 1990
- 5 -
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THIS SUPPORT WAS THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE INDUSTRIAL LAND, PARTICULARLY LAND FOR HIGHER-TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES WHICH COULD NOT OPERATE EFFICIENTLY IN CONVENTIONAL MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BUILDINGS.
"WE HAVE SET UP TWO INDUSTRIAL ESTATES FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND STARTED TO DEVELOP A THIRD," HE SAID.
HE SAID AN IMPORTANT AREA WAS THE SUPPLY OF HIGHLY-SKILLED AND WEL'L-TRAINED MANPOWER FOR INDUSTRY.
THE GOVERNMENT HAD PLANS TO EXPAND HIGHER EDUCATION, INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN OCTOBER 1991, AND STRENGTHENED VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO IMPROVE THE EXPERTISE OF TECHNICIANS.
THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT OF MORE KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY-INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES, HE SAID.
"WE HAVE DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A TECHNOLOGY CENTRE TO PROVIDE FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR NEW AND SMALL-SCALE HIGH-TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES UNTIL THEY CAN STAND ON THEIR OWN FEET.
"MEANWHILE, A SERIES OF SERVICES SUCH AS PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PRODUCT DESIGN WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS TO SHARPEN THE COMPETITIVE EDGE OF OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID ALL THESE ACTIONS DEMONSTRATED THE GOVERNMENT’S STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE.
"I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL ENABLE HONG KONG TO CONTINUE AS ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC INDUSTRIAL AND TRADING ECONOMIES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION WELL INTO THE 21ST CENTURY," HE SAID.
"AS WE ENGAGE IN BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOREIGN AND LOCAL COMPANIES ALIKE. WE WELCOME COMPANIES FROM SWEDEN TO JOIN US IN OUR GREAT UNDERTAKING," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN SWEDEN AND HONG KONG WERE LONG ESTABLISHED, BUT THEY HAD DEVELOPED WITH PARTICULAR VIGOUR IN RECENT YEARS.
TOTAL TWO-WAY TRADE AMOUNTED TO $5,587 MILLION IN 1989, 15 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE 1988 FIGURE AND NEARLY DOUBLE THAT FOR 1986.
WITHIN EUROPE, SWEDEN WAS NOW THE SIXTH LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND THE EIGHTH LARGEST SUPPLIER OF HONG KONG’S IMPORTS.
FIVE YEARS AGO THERE WERE ABOUT 40 SWEDISH COMPANIES OPERATING IN HONG KONG; TODAY THE NUMBER STOOD AT 126 AND WAS STILL GROWING, MR CHAN SAID.
--------0 - -
/6................-.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
6
PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY APPOINTMENTS
******
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED, AS MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, MR HO SAI-CHU, MR JACK TANG, MR DAVID GLEDHILL, MR JOHN BOND, MR ANTONY LEUNG, MR VINCENT LO, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS AND THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
"THE MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY WILL BRING TOGETHER A WIDE AND VALUABLE RANGE OF BUSINESS, CONSTRUCTION, FINANCIAL AND AVIATION EXPERIENCE," HE SAID.
MR HO SAI-CHU IS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND A DIRECTOR AND MANAGER OF THE FOOK LEE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
MR JACK TANG IS CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH SEA TEXTILE MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED.
MR DAVID GLEDHILL IS THE CHAIRMAN OF SWIRE PACIFIC IN HONG KONG.
MR JOHN BOND IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BANKING OF THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION.
MR ANTONY LEUNG IS A SENIOR EXECUTIVE OF CITIBANK, NA.
MR VINCENT LO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SHUI ON GROUP.
"CHAIRED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY WILL NOW ASSUME OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAKING FORWARD THE PLANNING OF THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WHEN APPOINTED WILL ALSO BE A MEMBER OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY," HE ADDED.
-----0-----
PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY MEETS FOR FIRST TIME
******
THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY (PAA) HELD ITS FIRST MEETING THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON AT WHICH MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED ON THE PROGRESS OF THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT PROJECT.
WITH THE FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PAA, RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAKING FORWARD THE PLANNING OF THE NEW AIRPORT HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY TRANSFERRED FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO THE AUTHORITY.
/"IN THE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1990
"IN THE LIGHT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, AN EARLY MEETING OF THE AUTHORITY WAS REQUIRED TO AGREE ON TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED CONTINUE TO TAKE FORWARD THE PLANNING EFFORT ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHORITY UNTIL THE LATTER HAS ITS OWN STAFF TO ASSUME THESE RESPONSIBILITIES," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID PERHAPS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE DEALT WITH WAS THE MASTER PLAN CONSULTANCY FOR THE NEW AIRPORT.
"ON THIS IT WAS AGREED THAT THIS SHOULD NOW BE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE PAA (RATHER THAN THE GOVERNMENT) AND THE CHOSEN CONSULTANCY FIRM.
"IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT, PENDING THE APPOINTMENT OF A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION SHOULD CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER, ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHORITY, THIS CONTRACT," HE SAID.
"WE HOPE TO HAVE A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN PLACE BY OCTOBER AT THE LATEST," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
MEMBERS ALSO AGREED ON A NUMBER OF PROCEDURAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUTHORITY AND PROVIDING IT WITH ITS OWN ACCOMMODATION.
------0-------
RECOMMENDATIONS ON DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY, CHILD CARE SERVICES »»»♦»»»
THE WORKING PARTY ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES MADE A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILD CARE SERVICES AT ITS MEETING TODAY (FRIDAY).
MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY HAD A THOROUGH DISCUSSION ON ISSUES RELATED TO FAMILY AND CHILD CARE SERVICES AND MADE THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS:
FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES:
IN ORDER TO PREVENT DISINTEGRATION, FAMILY AID SERVICE SHOULD BE DEVELOPED SO THAT CHILDREN MIGHT NOT HAVE TO BE PUT IN CARE OUTSIDE THE FAMILY.
HOME HELP SERVICE:
IN CALCULATING FUTURE DEMAND ON THE SERVICE, NOT ONLY THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY BUT ALSO THOSE OF THE DISABLED LIVING AT HOME AND CHILDREN OF SINGLE PARENTS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
SERVICE PROVISION SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. IN THIS CONNECTION, A DIFFERENT OPERATIONAL STRATEGY MIGHT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR MEETING NEEDS OF PEOPLE ON THE OUTLYING ISLANDS.
/CHILD WELFARE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE l‘\ 1990
- 8 -
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES:
MEMBERS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT A MORE FLEXIBLE POLICY FOR THE PROVISION OF DAY CRECHE SERVICE MIGHT NOW BE NECESSARY. EFFORTS SHOUI.D BE MADE TO SET UP DAY CRECHES IN NEW TOWNS FOR SOCIAL NEED CASES. THESE ARE AT PRESENT NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE DECISION TO FREEZE DAY CRECHE PLACES SINCE 1979.
WORK-BASED CHILD CARE CENTRES SHOULD BE FURTHER EXPLORED AND IMPLEMENTED. IN THE PROVISION OF CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR THE WORKFORCE, THE INVOLVEMENT OF EMPLOYERS AND INDUSTRIALISTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED.
THEIR INVOLVEMENT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD, INDICATING RECOGNITION OF SOCIAL NEEDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS TO SOCIETY IN GENERAL AND TO THE WORKFORCE IN PARTICULAR.
A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMEx4T LIAISON OFFICE SHOULD BE GIVEN A TRIAL IN THE SURPREME COURT PREMISES WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF SERVING THE FAMILY COURT.
THIS WOULD ASSIST THE JUDICIARY IN CHANNELLING ENQUIRIES ON FAMILY MATTERS, MAKE ENQUIRIES CONCERNING WELFARE SERVICES AND HANDLING PROCEDURES, AND PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION.
CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO MAKING REFERRALS FOR FAMILY COUNSELLING TO FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
ON LEGAL PROVISIONS IN RESPECT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, MEMBERS RECOMMENDED THAT THE EXISTING PUBLICITY MEASURES SHOULD BE CONTINUED AND THAT THE GROUP WORK APPROACH BE EMPLOYED TO HELP BOTH THE ABUSED AND THE ABUSERS.
SINCE THE TENDENCY OF LEAVING CHILDREN UNATTENDED WAS APPARENTLY ON THE INCREASE, THE WORKING PARTY CONSIDERED THAT PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION AGAINST LEAVING CHILDREN UNATTENDED WERE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN LEGISLATION.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE DESIRABILITY OF MERGING THE ADOPTION UNIT WITH THE FOSTER CARE UNIT. THE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE EXAMINED IN THE FUTURE.
RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE:
THE REVISED PRINCIPLES FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE FAMILY AND RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES ARE:
- THE FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE AND DESIRABLE FOR THE CHILD TO REMAIN WITH HIS OR HER OWN FAMILY;
- A FAMILY SETTING MEETS THE NEEDS OF A CHILD IN CARE BETTER THAN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING AND PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN;
/- WHERE A ........
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
- 9 -
- WHERE A PARTICULAR FAMILY CANNOT MEET THE NEEDS OF A CHILD BECAUSE OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, A CHILD MAY BE PLACED IN RESIDENTIAL CARE, BUT THERE SHOULD BE CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS IN THE SUPERVISION AND CARE OF THE CHILD;
- IN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING, SMALLER RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE PREFERABLE TO LARGER ONES;
- WHILE THE CHILD IS IN RESIDENTIAL CARE, THE PERIOD OF CARE SHOULD BE ONE OF CONSTRUCTIVE EXPERIENCE TO THE CHILD; AND
- A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF PLANNING AND REGULAR ASSESSMENT FOR THE FAMILY AND THE CHILD IS ESSENTIAL FROM PRE-PLACEMENT TO AFTERCARE.
-----0------
TENDERS INVITED FOR FIRST PADS-RELATED PROJECT
*****
A MAJOR STEP IN THE GOVERNMENT’S PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (PADS) TAKES PLACE TODAY (FRIDAY) WITH TENDERS BEING INVITED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE YAU MA TEI REPLACEMENT TYPHOON SHELTER.
THE PROJECT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER THAT THE EXISTING TYPHOON SHELTER CAN BE REPLACED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION, WHICH FORMS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PADS.
AS ANNOUNCED EARLIER, THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION INVOLVES THE FORMATION OF OVER 300 HECTARES OF LAND FROM THE WEST-END WATERFRONT OF MEI FOO SUN CHUEN TO THE NORTH OF THE CHINA FERRY TERMINAL, CANTON ROAD.
APART FROM FUTURE USES FOR VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTS, THE MASSIVE LAND FORMED BY THE RECLAMATION WILL ALSO PROVIDE LAND RESERVES FOR THE RELATED TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURES PROPOSED UNDER THE PADS.
THESE INCLUDE THE WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING, WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY AND RAIL LINK TO THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK.
THE TENDER INVITATION PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) IS FOR PHASE I OF THE REPLACEMENT TYPHOON SHELTER PROJECT.
WORKS OF THE PROJECT COMPRISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT 525 METRES OF VERTICAL SEAWALLS, 25 MOORING DOLPHINS AND ABOUT 1,325 METRES OF PITCHES SLOPE BREAKWATERS.
IT ALSO INVOLVES 4.5 HECTARES OF RECLAMATION, EXCAVATION IN THE LAND BORROW AREA AT TSING YI AND SAND EXTRACTION IN THE MARINE BORROW AREA AT SOUTH TATHONG CHANNEL.
WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO START THIS AUGUST AND WILL TAKE 24 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
/THE WORKS .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
- 10 -
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
FORMS OF TENDER AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION DIVISION OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE, CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, EIGHTH FLOOR, EMPIRE CENTRE, 68 MODY ROAD, TS1M SHA TSUI EAST.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS NOON ON JULY 13.
----0------
YUEN LONG AND KAM TIN SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN STUDY
***»»*
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) HAS COMMISSIONED A CONSULTANCY STUDY TO ASSESS THE EXTENT OF THE POLLUTION PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THE IMPROPER DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE GENERATED WITHIN YUEN LONG, KAM TIN AND SURROUNDING RURAL AREAS INTO WATERCOURSES AND COASTAL WATERS.
AN EPD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT AS YUEN LONG NEW TOWN DEVELOPS, SEWERAGE SYSTEMS DO NOT ALWAYS KEEP PACE AND MANY OF THE OLD DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE NEW TOWN ARE NOT PROVIDED WITH PROPER SEWERAGE FACILITIES.
IN ADDITION, A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE RURAL AREAS OF THE CATCHMENT ARE NOT PROVIDED WITH, NOR ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO PROVIDE, SEWERAGE SYSTEMS.
THE ABSENCE OF PROPER SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE TREATMENT DISPOSAL FACILITIES HAS RESULTED IN THE DIRECT DISCHARGES OF SEWAGE AND WASTEWATER INTO THE ADJACENT WATERCOURSES.
THIS HAS CAUSED A SEVERE POLLUTION PROBLEM IN THE YUEN LONG RIVER, SHAM CHUN RIVER, NG TUNG HO AND THEIR RECEIVING WATER BODY, DEEP BAY, IN PARTICULAR INNER DEEP BAY.
THE STUDY, CALLED THE YUEN LONG AND KAM TIN SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN STUDY, WILL ASSESS THE INADEQUACIES OF THE EXISTING SEWERAGE, SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS IN THE AREA AND IDENTIFY THE EXTENT OF THE UNSEWERED DEVELOPMENTS.
SCHEMES FOR REMEDIAL WORKS WILL BE FORMULATED TO ENSURE THAT SEWAGE WILL BE PROPERLY COLLECTED, TREATED AND DISPOSED OF IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE MANNER.
A SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED AND A PRIORITISED PROGRAMME WILL BE PREPARED WHICH WILL PROVIDE SHORT AND LONG TERM MEASURES TO REDUCE THE POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN STAGES.
/EMPHASIS WILL .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
11
EMPHASIS WILL BE GIVEN TO ACHIEVING EARLY ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPROVEMENTS.
AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSULTANCY STUDY WAS SIGNED TODAY
AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSULTANCY STUDY WAS SIGNED TODAY
STOKOE, AND THE DIRECTOR OF WATSON HAWKSLEY (HONG KONG) LTD, MR M.A. OSWELL,
THE STUDY, AT A TOTAL COST OF $15 MILLION, WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN TWO PHASES AND COMPLETED IN 18 MONTHS.
-----0-----
IMPROVEMENT TO ACCESS ROAD TO NGONG PING ON LANTAU
******
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CARRY OUT IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO THE ACCESS ROAD TO NGONG PING ON LANTAU ISLAND.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE ACCESS ROAD HAS TO BE IMPROVED TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING NUMBER OF VISITORS GOING TO NGONG PING ESPECIALLY AFTER A GIANT STATUE OF BUDDHA HAS BEEN PUT UP ADJACENT TO THE PO LIN MONASTERY.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT WORKS INCLUDE REALIGNMENT OF A SECTION OF THE EXISTING ACCESS ROAD FROM THE JUNCTION OF SHAM WAT ROAD AND KEUNG SHAN ROAD TO PO LIN MONASTERY, WIDENING OF THIS SECTION INTO A 2.6-KILOMETRE LONG TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY AND CONSTRUCTION OF ASSOCIATED FOOTWAYS.
THEY ALSO INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CARPARK, BUS BAYS, A TAXI STAND AND ASSOCIATED LANDSCAPING WORKS.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORKS, A 50-METRE LONG BRIDGE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ACROSS THE VALLEY ABOUT 700' METRES SOUTHWEST OF PO LIN MONASTERY.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
A PLAN SHOWING THE EXTENT OF THE PROPOSED WORKS TOGETHER WITH A SCHEME DESCRIPTION CAN BE SEEN AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
* THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, 11 ICE HOUSE STREET, CENTRAL; AND
* THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE ISLANDS DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AT HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO OBJECT TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN AUGUST 14 THIS YEAR.
------0--------
/12 .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
- 12 -
CONSTRUCTION OF VEHICULAR FERRY PIER AT YAU ROM TAU, TSUEN WAN
********
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO PERMIT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A VEHICULAR FERRY PIER WITHIN AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 3,000 SQUARE METRES AT MILESTONE 10, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, YAU KOM TAU, IN TSUEN WAN.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PIER WILL INVOLVE RECLAMATION OF LAND, DREDGING OF . SEABED AND ANCILLARY WORKS WHICH WILL AFFECT APPROXIMATELY 8,100 SQUARE METRES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED.
THIS PIER WILL PROVIDE VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICES BETWEEN TSUEN WAN AND DISCOVERY BAY, LANTAU ISLAND.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED WAS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE 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 AUGUST 14 THIS YEAR.
THE NOTICE OF SUCH OBJECTION SHALL DESCRIBE THE INTEREST, . RIGHT OR EASEMENT OF THE OBJECTOR AND THE MANNER IN WHICH HE ALLEGES HE WILL BE AFFECTED.
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSTRUCT THREE 150-MILLIMETRE OUTFALL PIPES AND A TEMPORARY STAGING WITHIN AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 800 SQUARE METRES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AT TAI TAU CHAU.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE DISCHARGE POINT FOR PRELIMINARY TREATED SEWAGE EFFLUENT AND A TEMPORARY BARGE MOORING POINT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SEWERAGE PROJECT.
ALSO THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSTRUCT A TEMPORARY STAGING WITHIN AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 700 SQUARE METRES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AT DEEP WATER BAY.
THIS IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING A TEMPORARY BARGE MOORING POINT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HEADING FROM DEEP WATER BAY TO THE VERGE ADJACENT TO THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL AS PART OF A PROPOSED SEWERAGE PROJECT.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREAS AFFECTED WAS ALSO DESCRIBED IN NOTICES OF AUTHORISATION PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED INVOLVED WILL BE INJURIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE ABOVE UNDERTAKINGS MAY DELIVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS A WRITTEN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION ON OR BEFORE JUNE 14, 1991.
HE SHOULD STATE IN HIS SUBMISSION THE SUM OF MONEY WHICH HE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT IN FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF HIS CLAIM AND SHOULD SUBMIT SUCH PARTICULARS WHICH HE POSSESSES TO SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIM.
--------0 - -
/13........
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
- 13 -
FUNG TAK ROAD TO BE EXTENDED t * ♦ ♦ *
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FUNG TAK ROAD EXTENSION BETWEEN LUNG POON STREET AND HAMMER HILL ROAD IN. DIAMOND HILL AREA, KOWLOON.
A TENDER NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID CONSTRUCTION OF THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL AND APPROACHES WOULD BRING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO TRAFFIC ROUTEING IN THE DIAMOND HILL AREA.
THE COMPLETION OF THIS REMAINING SECTION OF FUNG TAK ROAD EXTENSION AND THE ROUNDABOUT AT HAMMER HILL ROAD NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION WOULD PROVIDE A DIRECT EAST-WEST LINK FOR TRAFFIC TRAVELLING BETWEEN FUNG TAK ROAD AND HAMMER HILL ROAD WITHOUT IT TAKING A LONG DETOUR EITHER VIA PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD OR LUNG CHEUNG ROAD.
HE ADDED THAT IT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT ROAD FOR BUSES TRAVELLING BETWEEN THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL AND THE FUTURE BUS TERMINUS AT LUNG POON STREET.
CONSTRUCTION WORKS ARE SCHEDULED TO START IN MID-AUGUST, AND BE COMPLETED BY MID-1991 TO TIE IN WITH THE OPENING OF THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL.
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT. --------------------------------0--------
LAND RESUMPTION FOR PLAYGROUND DEVELOPMENT ♦ t * * * *
FIVE PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LOTS IN WONG TAI SIN ARE TO BE RESUMED FOR THE PHASE III DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHA TIN PASS ROAD PLAYGROUND.
THE LAND LOTS, MEASURING ABOUT 287.9 SQUARE METRES, ARE LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF LUNG CHEUNG ROAD AND SHA TIN PASS ROAD.
THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND, REST GARDEN AND TOILETS.
A NOTICE OF THE RESUMPTION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE LAND WILL REVERT TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE EXPIRY OF THREE MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF POSTING OF NOTICE TO THE LAND.
---------0-----------
/14........
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
14
OVER 100 PROJECTS HELP IMPROVE TUEN MUN ENVIRONMENT
******
THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE SPENT MORE THAN $3.80 MILLION ON OVER 100 PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JOHN WAN, SAID THIS TODAY (FRIDAY) AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE DISTRICT’S MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS EXHIBITION.
MR WAN SAID THE EVENT WAS AIMED AT AROUSING RESIDENTS’ CONCERN FOR THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND FACILITIES OFFERED SO THAT THEY WOULD SEEK HELP FROM THE WORKS SECTION OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE SHOULD THEY ENCOUNTER ANY PROBLEMS.
"THE THEME OF THE EXHIBITION IS TO INTRODUCE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS THE WORK OF THE WORKS SECTION, INCLUDING THE CO-ORDINATION, PLANNING AND SUPERVISION OF LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS, MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THE SQUATTER AREA IMPROVEMENT SCHEME AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE FACILITIES," HE SAID.
REFERRING TO LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT, MR WAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S RURAL PLANNING AND IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY CONSULTATION PAPER PUBLISHED IN APRIL LAST YEAR HAD PROPOSED SPENDING $4 BILLION IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO BUILD PROPER COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURES.
THE AIM WAS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AREAS, WITH IMPROVEMENTS FITTING IN WITH THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG.
"AT PRESENT, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING ON VARIOUS PLANS. IT IS HOPED THAT THE PROJECTS WILL COMMENCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE," HE ADDED.
SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE IMPROVEMENT WORKS WOULD REQUIRE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND RESIDENTS, MR WAN URGED THE LATTER TO USE EVERY AVAILABLE CHANNEL TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND REFLECT LOCAL PROBLEMS TO THE GOVERNMENT.
HE ALSO URGED RESIDENTS TO REGISTER AS VOTERS IN THIS YEAR’S VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN BETWEEN AUGUST 15 AND OCTOBER 1, AND TO VOTE IN NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS.
THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS EXHIBITION HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE.
--------0 - -
/15........
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
15
HE’S FIRST NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE IN SAI KUNG ******
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS TO DEVELOP THE SAI KUNG COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE INTO HONG KONG’S FIRST NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE.
THE PROJECT IS SPONSORED BY THE LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL 303, HONG KONG AND MACAU, THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FOUNDATION.
THE FOUNDATION WILL BE USED TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE’S EXHIBITION HALLS, AN INSECT HOUSE, A CAFETERIA AND AN ELEVATED WALKWAY AS WELL AS TO UPGRADE OTHER ASSOCIATED FACILITIES.
A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (JUNE 17), BEGINNING AT 11 AM AT THE INDIAN ROOM OF THE HILTON HOTEL TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THE FOUNDATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE LIONS NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A SLIDE PRESENTATION ON SOME OF THE INTERESTING DISPLAYS, INCLUDING INSECTS, PLANTS, FLOWERS AND FISH, WHICH WILL BE SHOWN IN THE CENTRE.
HOSTING THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE; DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI; CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD, MR CARLOS ’CHEUNG; AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LIONS CLUB.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEkD A REPRESENTATIVE TO ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE LIONS NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE WHICH WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (JUNE 17) AT THE INDIAN ROOM OF THE HILTON HOTEL, CENTRAL, HONG KONG. THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BEGIN AT 11 AM.
- - 0 - -
YOUNG VIOLA PROTEGE TO ATTEND U.S. MUSIC CAMP *****
THE MUSIC OFFICE WILL SEND A TALENTED 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL VIOLIST TO JOIN THE NATIONAL MUSIC CAMP AT INTERLOCHEN, MICHIGAN, IN THE UNITED STATES THIS SUMMER FOR EIGHT WEEKS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING.
SHE IS POON NGA-CHING, WHO WILL ATTEND THE 63RD MUSIC CAMP, AN ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EVENT HELD TO PROMOTE WORLD FRIENDSHIP THROUGH MUSIC.
THE CAMP WILL BE HELD FROM JUNE 24 TO AUGUST 20.
/THOSE CHOSEN
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
16
THOSE CHOSEN TO ATTEND ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED YOUNG MUSICIANS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 18. THE HIGHEST HONOUR FOR A PARTICIPANT IN THE CAMP IS TO BE SELECTED AS A MEMBER OF THE CAMP’S WORLD YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
TRAINING WILL INCLUDE MASTERCLASSES AND WORKSHOPS WITH SOME OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST MUSICIANS. IN ADDITION, THE CAMP OFFERS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SING-ALONGS AROUND CAMP FIRES, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CANOEING AND SWIMMING.
MISS POON, A FORM 3 STUDENT AT MARYKNOLL FATHERS’ SCHOOL, WAS SELECTED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE THROUGH AN OPEN AUDITION.
SHE STARTED TO PLAY THE VIOLA AT THE AGE OF SEVEN AFTER JOINING THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME AT THE MUSIC OFFICE.
DURING THE PAST YEARS, SHE HAS TAKEN PART IN MANY ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE, INCLUDING THE HONG KONG YOUTH MUSIC CAMP, MUSIC OFFICE ANNUAL TRAINEES’ GALA AND THE HONG KONG YOUTH STRING FESTIVAL.
SHE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SINCE 1986.
APART FROM GIVING VARIOUS PUBLIC PERFORMANCES IN THE TERRITORY AND OVERSEAS, MISS POON HAS ALSO WON A NUMBER OF PRIZES AT THE SCHOOLS MUSIC FESTIVAL IN RECENT YEARS.
ALTHOUGH THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME MISS POON HAS ATTENDED THE NATIONAL MUSIC CAMP, SHE HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVENT AS SOME OF HER COLLEAGUES IN THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HAVE ALREADY BEEN HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES IN IT.
"I AM VERY HAPPY TO LEARN THAT I CAN HAVE THIS CHANCE TO BROADEN MY MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE AND TO MEET SO MANY YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES," MISS POON SAID.
"MY FRIENDS IN THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WHO HAVE BEEN TO THE CAMP, AGREE THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS NOT ONLY MEMORABLE BUT ALSO AN INCENTIVE TO OTHER YOUNG MUSICIANS IN HONG KONG IN STRIVING TO ACHIEVE HIGHER MUSICAL STANDARDS," SHE ADDED.
MISS POON WILL LEAVE HONG KONG ON JUNE 22.
THE CAMP FEE WILL BE MET BY THE CAMP ORGANISERS WHILE THE ROUND-TRIP AIR PASSAGE WILL BE JOINTLY SPONSORED BY CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED AND THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND.
--------0-----------
/17........
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
- 17 -
HEAVY VEHICLE BAN ZONE IN MONG KOK ******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT MOTORISTS ON PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST HEADING FOR KADOORIE AVENUE IN MONG KOK ARE ADVISED TO NOTE THE BAN ZONE IN KADOORIE AVENUE WHICH PROHIBITS VEHICLES WITH A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT IN EXCESS OF 5.5 TONNES FROM ENTERING.
VEHICLES WITH A GROSS WEIGHT EXCEEDING 5.5 TONNES WHICH REQUIRE ACCESS TO PREMISES IN KADOORIE AVENUE, OR WITH PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE PROHIBITION.
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN - SUPPLEMENT
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990
EMBARGOED NEWS ITEM:
NOTE TO EDITORS OF The following announcement on the
NEWSPAPERS, NEWS AGENCIES Queen’s Birthday Honours List will AND BROADCASTING STATIONS: be made in London at 0001 hours GMT on Saturday, June 16.
Publication is permitted in Hong Kong newspapers tomorrow (Saturday, June 16), but no news agency or overseas radio transmission of the announcement may carry the information without the embargo qualification.
The news may be broadcast from 6 am onwards tomorrow (Saturday, June 16) over the local radio and television stations.
On NO account should any of the recipients of Honours be contacted for interviews, or for information related to their careers, or be approached in any way in connection with their awards before these have been publicly announced.
BIRTHDAY HONOURS 1990
CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)
Mr Harnam Singh GREWAL, ED, JP
Mr David Alan Chailoner NENDICK, JP
Mr John Francis YAXLEY, JP
OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)
The Honourable HO Sai-chu, MBE, JP
Mr Robert Jeffrey HUTT, JP
Mr LAM Shan-muk
Dr John LO Siew-kiong, JP
Mr Leonard Murray SNEDDON
The Honourable Rosanna TAM WONG Yick-ming, JP
ISO (Companion of the Imperial Service Order)
Mr Keith BROADBRIDGE, JP
Mr Darwin CHEN, JP
Mr Charles Robert SAUNDERS
MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)
Mr Leon CHOI Lee-hang
Mr Chun Sik-biu
Mr Michael John James HANSON
Mr HO Yu-ho, JP
Mr LEUNG Shui-fat, JP
Sister Mary O' MAHONY
Mr TAI Tung-ngok
Mr WU Man-kong
/MBE (Military Division) ...
2
MBE (Military Division)
Major Peter Augustine RULL Warrant Officer II TANG Pui-ching
BEM (British Empire Medal)
Mr CHAN Kwai-cheong
Mr CHAN Wai-chung
Mr CHEUNG Kam-to
Mrs HO LEUNG Lai-Ian
Mr HUI Shiu-hung
Mr Paul KAM Hing-pong
Mrs Nancy KHOO
Mr LAU Siu-keung
Mr LAW Yen-pin
Mr Johnson LEE Tse-on
Mr LEUNG Cheung
Mr LT Winq-wa
Mrs TING LEE You-dit
Mrs WONG CHENG Yi-pat
Miss May YU Mei yinq
QPM (The Queen’s Police Medal)
Mr CHING Kwok-hoo
Mr John Charles CLEMENCE
QFSM (The Queen’s Fire Service Medal)
Mr LI Kwok-choi
/CPM (Colonial Police Medal) ...
3
CPM (Colonial Police Medal)
Royal Hong Kong Police Force
Mr Michael Roger CAFFEREY
Mr CHAN Chi-keung
Mr CHENG Pui-keung
Mr HUI Yue-kwan
Mrs LAM LAU Lai-ha
Mr Anthony Peter LEE Tung-shin
Mr LEUNG Kim-lin
Mr LIU Cheuk-fai
Mr Keith RATCLIFFE
Mr Alexander Duncan SOMMERVILLE
Mr Tam Man-kei
Mr TSUI Wai-chun
Mr Kenneth George WALLIS
Mrs WONG CHAN Kwai-hing
Mr WONG Wai-chi
Mr WONG Yuk-kei
Fire Services Department
Mr CHEUNG Kam-tong
Mr DOONG Hwa
Mr TSANG Ma-shing
Mr YUEN Wing-kee
/Badge of Honour ...
4
Badge of Honour
Mr CHAN Cheong-lap
Mrs Stella CHAU SO Yuen-yee
Mr CHOI Wai-chiu
Mr CHUE Chee-yun
Miss Margaret HONG Fung-kit
Mr NG Sze-fuk
Mr NG Yee-lam
Mr NGA1 Wai-ming
Mr TAM Wah-ching
Mr TANG Kwok-yung
Mr WONG Tak-wai
Mr YEUNG Siu-wai
Mr Lawrence YU Kam-kee
Diplomatic and Overseas list
Knight
Mr William Frederick STONES, OBE
Royal Air Force List
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
Flight Lieutenant Ian Oliver Hall RECTON, .Royal Air Force
Military Division
CBE
Brigadier Miles HUNT-DAVIS
/OBE ...
5
OBE
Lieutenant-Colonel Ronnie WALTON
MBE
Major John WYNNE
BEM
Rifleman Dhankumar DEWAN
Sergeant Hemchandra RAI
Staff Sergeant Derek LAWRENCE
* * * * *
/CBE ...
6
CBE
Mr H.S. GREWAL, ED, JP
Mr Grewal joined the Hong Kong civil service in 1962 as an Assistant Education Officer. He has held a variety of senior Government posts during a period of rapid change and development in Hong Kong. In 1987 he was appointed Secretary for the Civil Service and assumed overall responsibility for the management and development of the civil service. Mr Grewal retires from the civil service in August and is currently on pre-retirement leave.
Mr D.A.C. NENDICK. JP
Mr Nendick was appointed Secretary for Monetary Affairs in 1985 and brought with him (from the Bank of England) considerable experience in the field of commercial banking. Since taking up his post, he has been closely involved in the framing of the Banking Ordinance, which provides a regulatory framework for the Hong Kong banking system. He has also played a major role in implementing the recommendations made by the Securities Review Committee following the stock market plunge in October 1987.
Mr J.F. YAXLEY, JP
Mr Yaxley was in the public service in the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands before coming to Hong Kong. He has held a number of senior appointments in the Hong Kong Government, including Director of Industry, Secretary for Economic Services and Deputy Financial Secretary. He took up his present appointment of Commissioner in the Hong Kong London Office in 1989. In addition to his Government duties, Mr Yaxley has been a member of the Salvation Army Board, the Diocesan Welfare Council and the Hong Kong Association for the Mentally Handicapped.
OBE
The Honourable HO Sai-chu, MBE, JP
Mr Ho has been a member of the Legislative Council since 1985 and is Convener of the Standing Panel on Manpower, and also Deputy Convener of other Legco standing panels. Mr Ho has been active in many other areas in public service, including occupational safety, education, and the economy and labour force in general. He has extensive knowledge and experience of trade and industry and, in particular, the construction industry.
/Mr R.J. HUTT, JP ...
7
Mr R.J. HUTT, JP
Mr Hutt has been in the Hong Kong civil service for over 30 years and has spent his entire career in the Audit Department. He has played a key role in expanding the scope of the department beyond the traditional audit processes and into the area of value for money audits.
Mr LAM Shan-muk
Mr Lam is the publisher and editor of the Hong Kong Economic Journal which he founded in 1973. The Economic Journal is Hong Kong's leading Chinese language financial daily newspaper and has a circulation of over 65,000.
Dr John LO Siew-kiong, JP
Dr Lo is a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s electronics industry and has been active in the industrial field generally. He is a member of the General Committee of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. He is also a member of the Industry Development Board and an officer or member of a number of other important boards and committees connected with industry and public service.
Mr L.M. SNEDDON
Mr Sneddon was appointed the first Director of the Hong Kong Civil Service’s Senior Staff Course Centre when the centre was permanently established in April 1989. He was responsible for the design and launch of the pilot senior staff course. A total of 417 senior civil servants have completed the course and many now hold key positions in Government.
The Honourable Rosanna TAM WONG Yick-ming, JP
Mrs Tam has been a member of the Legislative Council since 1985 and was appointed to the Executive Council in 1988. She has been Deputy Convener of the OMELCO Standing Panel on Welfare Services and has been active in a number of other important committees. Outside the Legislative Council, she is Chairman of the Youth Commission and the Social Welfare Advisory Committee. She has also been an officer or a member of a wide range of other committees associated principally with social welfare policies and the development and education of the youth of Hong Kong.
/Mr K. BROADBRIDGE, JP ...
8
ISO
Mr K. BROADBRIDGE, JP
Mr Broadbridge joined the Hong Kong Government in 1971 as Controller of the Pay Investigation Unit. He has worked in a variety of posts since, including service in Customs and Excise, Transport Branch and the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. In 1988 he was appointed Hong Kong’s Permanent Representative to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in Geneva and has taken part in a number of important trade negotiations.
Mr Darwin CHEN, JP
Mr Chen has been in the Hong Kong civil service for 30 years and has worked in a number of departments, including Urban Services and Labour and as Commissioner of the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. He was appointed Deputy Secretary (General Duties) in 1989 and since then he has also been a member of the British side of the Sino-British Land Commission.
Mr C.R. SAUNDERS
Mr Saunders joined the then Public Works Department as an engineer in 1963. Because of his extensive experience in the civil engineering field he was posted on secondment in 1987 to be Deputy Secretary, Lands and Works. In 1989 he was appointed the first Director of the new Drainage Services Department. He retires from Government service this month.
MBE
Mr Leon CHOI Lee-hang
Mr Choi has been associated with the Chinese YMCA since 1946 and became the General Secretary in 1974. He has also been active in the work of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service as an agency head.
Mr CHUN Sik-biu
Mr Chun joined Government service in 1956. He has served in a wide variety of departments and in 1982 he took up his present appointment of Chief Executive Officer (Finance) in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force.
/Mr M.J.J. HANSON ...
9
Mr M.J.J. HANSON
Mr Hanson joined the Hong Kong Government in 1985 on secondment from the United Kingdom Civil Service. He was appointed Refugee Co-ordinator in 1988, responsible for policy formulation on, and day-to-day administration of, the Vietnamese boat people issue. Since taking up his post, Mr Hanson has had to deal with the largest influx of boat people for 10 years.
Mr HO Yu-ho, JP
Mr Ho joined the Government in 1953 as a Clerical Officer and became a Judicial Clerk in 1962. In 1984 he was appointed to the newly created post of Principal Judicial Clerk and became Registrar of the District Court. He retired from Government service at the end of 1989.
•
Mr LEUNG Shui-fat, JP ’
Mr Leung is a businessman with over 30 years of community service to territory-wide campaigns and organisations. He has been equally active in local affairs as a member of the Yuen Long District Board, and in the fields of medicine, social welfare, scouting, guiding and recreation in general.
Sister Mary O’MAHONY (Sister Mary Gabriel)
Sister Gabriel joined the Missionary Sisters of St Columban, Ireland, at the age of 16. She qualified as a doctor in 1947 and was posted to Hong Kong in 1950, eventually becoming Medical Superintendent of the Ruttonjee Sanatorium. Sister Gabriel is an international expert in the control and management of tuberculosis and is now deeply involved in the promotion of hospice care.
4
Mr TAI Tung-ngok
A businessman, Mr Tai is also Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Board. He has been involved in public service and community work for many years. His many activities include membership of the Board of Directors of the Community Chest and the Board of Management of Chinese Permanent Cemeteries.
/Mr WU Man-kong ...
10
Mr WU Man-kong
Mr Wu is the Tactical Force Commander, Civil Aid Services. He joined the Civil Aid Services in 1953 and played a significant role in the successful development of the Services1 Cadet Corps. In 1985 he was appointed to command the Tactical Force, which consists of the Mountain Rescue, Emergency and Liaison Units.
MBE (Mil)
Major P.A. RULL
Major Rull joined the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) in 1963. He was promoted to Major in 1979 and is currently Second-in-Command of the Regiment. He is in full-time employment as a Chief Amenities Officer in the Urban Services Department.
Warrant Officer II TANG Pui-ching
WO II Tang has been a member of the Volunteers since 1967. He is the Regimental Armourer and is frequently called upon to advise and assist other Government departments. He is also team coach to the Hong Kong disabled persons’ shooting team.
BEM
Mr CHAN Kwai-cheong
Mr Chan has over 32 years’ service with the Government and is currently a Senior Clerical Officer in the Kowloon Licensing Office, Transport Department.
Mr CHAN Wai-chung
Mr Chan has been with the City and New Territories Administration for over 31 years and he is at present a Senior Liaison Officer working in the Kwai Tsing District.
Mr CHEUNG Kam-to
Mr Cheung joined the civil service in 1952 and 22 of his 38 years of service have been spent working with leisure services, including swimming pools, bathing beaches, parks and playgrounds.
/Mrs HO LEUNG Lai-lan ...
11
Mrs HO LEUNG Lai-Ian
Mrs Ho joined the former Medical and Health Department in 1960 as an inoculator. Since then she has worked in a number of Regional Health Offices and mobile units.
Mr HUI Shiu-hung
Mr Hui has been with the Urban Services Department for nearly 35 years and has been involved principally with cleansing work and the control of hawkers and markets. He has been employed on both operational and training duties.
Mr Paul KAM Hing-pong
• •
Mr Kam joined the Government service in 1961 as a student male nurse specialising in psychiatry. Most of his service has been spent with the Castle Peak Hospital where he has been active in organising social and sports activities.
Mrs Nancy KHOO
Mrs Khoo’s main duty since 1975 has been the management of the Airport VIP Room. Her duties have included the arrival and departure arrangements for the many distinguished visitors to Hong Kong, including Heads of State and Ministers.
Mr LAU Siu-keung
Mr Lau joined the Urban Services Department in 1957 and has i penalised in horticulture. He has been responsible for the floral displays for a number of important events in Hong Kong and has made a substantial contribution to several major planting projects.
Mr LAW Yen-pin
Mr Law has been a Chinese Language Officer with the ndepencSent Commission Against Corruption since 1974. He has been lesponsible for supervising and training officers of the Chinese language Office of the ICAC and is also the official interpreter of the Commission in discussions with the authorities of the People’s Republic of China.
/Mr Johnson LEE Tse-on
12
Mr Johnson LEE Tse-on
Mr Lee joined the Customs and Excise Service (then known as the Preventive Service) in 1960. He has served in a wide range of posts in the service and is now a Chief Customs Officer.
Mr LEUNG Cheung
Mr Leung worked in HM Dockyard as an apprentice and then a boilermaker from 1946 to 1958. When the Dockyard closed he joined the Correctional Services Department as a fitter and is currently a Works Supervisor II. He has provided maintenance services for Stanley Prison for over 30 years.
Mr LI Wing-wa
Mr Li joined the Government service in 1954 as a temporary clerk. He has worked in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for over 30 years and was promoted to Senior Clerical Officer in 1973.
Mrs TING LEE You-dit
Mrs Ting has nearly 35 years’ service with Government and has been employed in the Executive Council Annexe for 15 years. During the latter period she has been heavily involved in ensuring the efficient conduct of Executive Council business.
Mrs WONG CHENG Yi-pat
Mrs Wong is a Ward Attendant at the Kai Chi Children’s Centre. Since July 1968 she has been helping to look after the handicapped children in the centre.
Miss May YU Mei-ying
Miss Yu, a UK State Registered Nurse, has been a member of the Auxiliary Medical Services for over 25 years and is currently the AMS District Commander of Sai Kung. She has been closely involved in the setting up and operation of medical teams in Vietnamese boat people camps.
/QPM ...
13
QPM
Mr CHING Kwok-hoo
Mr Ching joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1963 and has served in a variety of Uniform Branch formations and training appointments, and in Special Branch. Recent appointments have included District Commander, Wan Chai, and Deputy Regional Commander, Hong Kong Island. Mr Ching was appointed Deputy Director of Traffic in 1987.
Mr J.C. CLEMENCE
Mr Clemence served in the London Metropolitan Police for 17 years before joining the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in 1973. He has held a number of posts in the Criminal Investigation Department and commanded the Commercial Crime Bureau. More recently he was Chief Staff Officer Administration and Deputy Director Traffic before taking up his present appointment of Regional Commander, Hong Kong Island.
QFSM
Mr LI Kwok-choi
Mr Li joined the Fire Services Department in 1958. He has served in many branches in the Fire Services Department and has commanded operations at many serious fires and other major incidents. His current appointment is Chief Fire Officer, Fire Protection Bureau.
CPM
Royal Hong Kong Police Force
Mr M.R. CAFFEREY
Mr Cafferey joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1964 and served in the Uniform Branch in Kowloon and the New Territories before transferring to the Special Branch.
Mr CHAN Chi-keung
Mr Chan has over 22 years’ service with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. After four years in the Uniform Branch he transferred to the Special Branch. He has been employed primarily on VIP escort duties.
/Mr CHENG Pui-keung ...
14
Mr CHENG Pui-keung
Mr Cheng joined the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force in 1963 and his current post is Senior Superintendent, Operations, Hong Kong Island (Auxiliary). His full-time occupation is as a Chief Labour Inspector in the Labour Department.
Mr HUI Yue-kwan
Mr Hui joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1967. He served initially in the Uniform Branch in Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. In 1971 he transferred to the Special Branch. He was promoted to Senior Superintendent in 1988.
Mrs LAM LAU Lai-ha
Mrs Lam had completed 36 years’ service with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force before her retirement earlier this year. Apart from a short period when she was attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, Mrs Lam spent her entire career in the Uniform Branch, in a wide variety of posts.
Mr Anthony Peter LEE Tung-shin
Mr Lee joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1969 and served for four years in the Uniform Branch. Much of his service has been with the Criminal Intelligence Bureau. He has now retired from the Force.
Mr LEUNG Kim-lin
Mr Leung has retired after 36 years of service with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. One of the Force’s longest serving officers, he spent his entire career in the Uniform Branch. He was for many years the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the Kowloon City District.
Mr LIU Cheuk-fai
Mr Liu joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1969 and was promoted to Station Sergeant in 1983. He was employed on a variety of police duties up until 1975, when he transferred to crime stream work. He was seriously wounded in an exchange of fire with robbers in 1985. From 1986 he has commanded a crime investigation team.
/Mr K. RATCLIFFE ...
15
I
Mr K. RATCLIFFE
Mr Ratcliffe transferred to the Hong Kong Police Force in 1966 following three years with the then Northern Rhodesia police. He has held a wide variety of posts during his 24 years’ service, including posts in the Marine Region, Special Branch and the Police Tactical Unit. In 1986 he was appointed Chief Staff Officer in the Licensing Office.
Mr A.D. SOMMERVILLE
From 1961 to 1973 Mr Sommerville served with the police in the United Kingdom, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. He joined the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in 1973. He has held a number of key appointments in the Uniform Branch, including Senior Staff Officer in charge of traffic, Kowloon, and, most recently. Deputy District Commander for Mong Kok.
Mr TAM Man-kei
Mr Tam has 32 years' service in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, all spent in the Uniform Branch. He has served in the Airport District since 1976 and in 1984 he became District Training Officer. He is also the Assistant Police Community Relations Officer for the Airport District.
Mr TSUI Wai-chun
Mr Tsui joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1959 and has served in a variety of Uniform Branch posts including Traffic Branch and the Police Tactical Unit. He is currently in the Shek Kip Mei Division. Mr Tsui has been active in the Junior Police Officers’ Association and was elected Chairman of the Association in 1988.
Mr K.G. WALLIS
Mr Wallis has spent most of his 28 years with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in the Uniform Branch and he has also served with the Criminal Investigation Department. His recent appointments have included command of the Tsim Sha Tsui Police Division and a senior posting in the Planning and Development Branch of Police Headquarters.
/Mrs WONG CxiAN Kwai-hing • •
16
Mrs WONG CHAN Kwai-hing
Mrs Wong was one of the first woman officers to join the Hong Kong Police Force in 1952- She served in the Uniform Branch and the Criminal Investigation Department until 1977, when she transferred to the Marine Islands District. In 1979 she became Junior Police Call Liaison Officer and held this post until her retirement from the Force at the end of last year.
Mr WONG Wai-chi
Mr Wong entered the Hong Kong Police Force in 1960 and spent his first 11 years with the Uniform Branch in a variety of postings. In 1972 he transferred to criminal investigation duties and has served principally with the Narcotics Bureau.
Mr WONG Yuk-kei
Mr Wong has been with the Royal Hong Kong Police for over 27 years and served for six years in the Uniform Branch before transferring to the Criminal Investigation Department, where he has remained. He has been active in the Junior Police Officers’ Association, having been Treasurer of the Association and Chairman of his regional branch.
Fire Services Department
Mr CHEUNG Kam-tong
Mr Cheung has been a member of the Fire Services Department since 1960 and was promoted to his present rank of Principal Fireman in 1980. He has spent his entire service on firefighting duties in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.
Mr DOONG Hwa
After nine years at sea in the merchant service, Mr Doong joined the Fireboat Section of the Hong Kong Fire Services in 1962. He has served in the Marine and Outlying Islands Division ever since and has attended most of the major ship fires in Hong Kong over the last 27 years. He was promoted to Commander, Marine Division, in 1987.
/Mr Tsang Ma-shing •••
17
Mr Tsang Ma-shing
Mr Tsang has been a member of the Fire Services since 1956. He
has served in a number of operational units, including the Airport Fire Contingent and the Fire Services Training School. He was promoted to Principal Fireman in 1975 and is due to retire from the Fire Services early next year.
Mr YUEN Wing-kee
Mr Yuen became a fireman in 1958 and has been employed on a
wide range of operational duties. He has attended numerous fires and other hazardous incidents and was promoted to the rank of Principal Fireman in 1971. He is due to retire next year.
B^DG OF HONOUR
Mr CHAN Cheong-lap
Mr Chan is the Principal of Ho Fung College in North Kwai
Chung and has been closely involved in environmental matters, social services, youth activities and the arts.
Mrs Stella CHAU SO Yuen-yee
Mrs Chau is the Principal of the Po Leung Kuk Lee Shing Pik
College. She has been a Tsuen Wan District Board member since 1985 and has been associated with a wide variety of local administrative affairs including transport, youth, culture and sport.
Mr CHOI Wai-chiu
Mr Choi is a company director. He has been Chairman of the Yan
Chai Hospital Board of Directors and active in fund raising for a number of different charities.
Mr CHUE Chee-yun
Mr Chue is an industrialist in Sha Tin. He has been a generous su ? >orter of a wide range of district activities and events.
/Miss Margaret HONG Fung-kit
18
Miss Margaret HONG Fung-kit
Miss Hong is a hospital administrator, with Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital. She is a member of the Wong Tai Sin District Board and has been involved in a broad spread of community activity, and youth work in particular.
Mr NG Sze-fuk
Mr Ng is the Managing Director of a commercial company. He is active in community affairs and has been a member of the Sai Kung District Board since 1986.
Mr NG Yee-lam
Mr Ng, a gold dealer by trade, has given long community in Mong Kok. His contribution has spanned work, scouting and a variety of local events.
service to the Area Committee
Mr NGAI Wai-ming
Mr Ngai is the Managing Director of a household furnishing company. He has been a long-serving member of the Sheung Wan Area Committee and is currently its Chairman. He has made a significant contribution to a wide range of community activities.
Mr TAM Wah-ching
Mr Tam is a merchant with a long record of community and social work. He has been particularly closely involved with scouting and other youth activities, and the promotion of Chinese arts and culture among youth.
Mr TANG Kwok-yung
Mr Tang, a businessman, has been involved in community affairs fo>’ many years. In addition to his wide-ranging local area work, he has been a Regional Council member and a member of the Heung Yee Kuk sinc e 1982.
/Mr iVONG Tak-wai ...
19
Mr WONG Tak-wai
A businessman, Mr Wong has been active in community affairs. He became a Vice-Chairman of the Pok Oi Hospital in 1986 and was elected Chairman in 1989.
Mr YEUNG Siu-wai
Mr Yeung is a businessman and has been an energetic member of the Tuen Mun community. He joined the Yan Oi Tong as a Director in 1985 and is currently the Chairman. He played a prominent role in the organisation of the 1989 Tuen Mun Festival.
Mr Lawrence YU Kam-kee
A businessman, Mr Yu is Chairman of the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society. In addition, he has been involved in a variety of other activities, including serving the Hong Kong Football Association, of which he is the President, and the Hong Kong Automobile Association.
Other Awards to Present and Former Hong Kong Residents
Diplomatic and Overseas List
Knight
Mr W.F. STONES, OBE
Mr Stones is the Managing Director of the China Light and Power Company Limited. He is also Deputy Chairman of the Guangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company and Chairman of the Hong Kong Nuclear Investment Company. He came to Hong Kong in 1975 from the United Kingdom Central Electricity Generating Board. Originally a chemist by training, he has wide experience in the electricity industry and in academia.
/Royal Air Force List •••
- 20 -
Royal Air Force List
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
Flight Lieutenant I.O.H. RECTON, Royal Air Force
Flight Lieutenant Recton was the RAF Helicopter Instructor on loan service to the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force from 1986 to 1989. He was responsible for instructional and operational flying standards within the RHKAAF and was closely involved with providing specialist advice on the replacement helicopter programme.
Military Division
CBE
Brigadier Miles HUNT-DAVIS
Former Brigadier, Brigade of Gurkhas (Novermber 1987 to May 1990), at present serving in UK.
OBE
Lieutenant Colonel Ronnie WALTON
Quartermaster, Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers).
MBE
Major John WYNNE
7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles.
21
BEM
Rifleman Dhankumar DEWAN
10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles.
Sergeant Hemchandra RAI 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles.
Staff Sergeant Derek LAWRENCE Intelligence Corps (at present serving in UK).
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HK MUST CONTINUE TO HAVE ITS OWN SYSTEM1, SAYS THE GOVERNOR ................ 1
NO QUESTION OF KEEPING WAGES DOWN: ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY .................. 2
GOVERNOR AND CJ ATTEND QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS ....................... 2
ACTING CS JOINS THOUSANDS TO CELEBRATE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY .................... 3
PEERAGE FOR DAME LYDIA DUNN ................................................ 4
NEW PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR TIN SHUI WAI ......................... 5
TENDERS INVITED FOR SHA TIN PUMPING STATION, PIPELINE ...................... 5
PUTONGHUA COURSES FOR TEACHERS ............................................. 6
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES IN SHA TIN .........................................
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1990
- 1
HK MUST CONTINUE TO HAVE ITS OWN SYSTEM, SAYS THE GOVERNOR
******
IF THE PROSPERITY AND SUCCESSES OF HONG KONG ARE TO CONTINUE, THEN WE MUST GO ON USING OUR OWN SYSTEM. THAT IS WHAT ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS IS ALL ABOUT, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON SAID.
THE GOVERNOR WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS IN SAI KUNG TODAY (SATURDAY) WHEN HE WAS ASKED TO COMMENT ON REMARKS BY CHINESE OFFICIALS ON THE RECENT ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG TO COMMEMORATE THE JUNE 4 INCIDENT.
"WE HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF RUNNING SOCIETY HERE FROM THAT WHICH IS USED IN THE MAINLAND OF CHINA, THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HONG KONG IS BEING SO PROSPEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL," HE SAID.
WHAT WE WOULD SAY TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND LEADERS WAS THAT HONG KONG HAD ITS OWN WAY OF RUNNING AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG, SIR DAVID SAID.
"IF PEOPLE CARRY OUT ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE WITHIN THE LAW, THEN THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO CARRY THOSE OUT. IF PEOPLE BREAK THE LAW, THEN THEY GET PROSECUTED FOR BREAKING THE LAW.
"THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THE ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS. WE HERE HAVE OUR OWN SYSTEM. THAT IS THE WAY WE WILL BE RUNNING HONG KONG," HE SAID.
"I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY FROM HONG KONG WHO GOES UP TO PEKING WILL DO EXACTLY THE SAME - EXPLAINING TO THEM HOW HONG KONG RUNS," HE ADDED.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON CHINA’S REACTION TO THE NATIONALITY BILL ISSUE, SIR DAVID SAID HE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD GRADUALLY COME TO REALISE THAT THE WHOLE OBJECTIVE OF THIS WAS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, CONTRIBUTING TO HONG KONG, ITS PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.
SIR DAVID SAID THE BILL WOULD VERY LIKELY BE PASSED NOW BY THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND BECOME LAW.
ON THE TASK LYING AHEAD IN ISSUING PASSPORTS TO 50,000 HOUSEHOLDS, SIR DAVID SAID THAT HE WOULD BE TAKING ADVICE FROM A GROUP WHICH WOULD WORK ON A POINTS SYSTEM, ADDING THAT HE WOULD THEN PUT HIS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HOME SECRETARY.
"IT’S GOING TO BE QUITE A DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING TASK IF THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE APPLYING," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
---------0-----------
/2 ........
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1990
2
NO QUESTION OF KEEPING WAGES DOWN: ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY *******
THE GOVERNMENT’S SCHEME FOR IMPORTATION OF LABOUR IS A VERY CAREFULLY DESIGNED SCHEME AND THERE IS NO QUESTION WHATSOEVER OF IMPORTING PEOPLE TO KEEP WAGES DOWN, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT VICTORIA PARK, SIR PIERS SAID: ’’THAT IS NOT THE IDEA AT .ALL. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE LABOUR FORCE TO HANDLE THE EXPANSION OF OUR ECONOMY.
"WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIMITED NUMBERS OF PEOPLE. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WE ACTUALLY NEED FOR THE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ECONOMY," HE SAID.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON SUGGESTIONS THAT LABOUR UNIONS WERE AGAINST THE SCHEME, SIR PIERS SAID: "WE MUST TALK TO THE UNIONS. THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER HAS DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM. I AM SURE THAT THE MATTER CAN BE RESOLVED."
THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY SAID IT WAS A GREAT PITY THAT IF THE UNIONS WERE TO BOYCOTT MEETINGS OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ADDING: "I HOPE THEY WON’T BOYCOTT MEETINGS BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE CAN’T TALK TO THEM.
"WHAT WE’RE PUTTING TOGETHER IS A GOOD SCHEME FOR THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG. IT WILL NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON WAGES," HE SAID.
ASKED WHETHER CHINA HAD PROPOSED JOINING THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT, SIR PIERS SAID NOT AS YET AND ADDED THAT A LOT OF INFORMATION HAD BEEN HANDED TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
"THE GENERAL FEELING WE GET IS THAT THEY DO SUPPORT THE PROJECT. IT’S A VERY COMPLEX PROJECT AND NATURALLY THEY NEED A LITTLE TIME TO CONSIDER IT IN DETAIL. BUT I HOPE TO TALK TO THEM AGAIN IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE," HE SAID.
- - 0---------
GOVERNOR AND CJ ATTEND QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS *******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR TI LIANG YANG, THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING JOINED THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN SAI KUNG AND KWAI TSING PARTICIPATING IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TO CELEBRATE THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.
THE GOVERNOR AND LADY WILSON ATTENDED THE PROGRAMME AT SAI KUNG TANG SHIU KIN SPORTS GROUND WHERE THEY JOINED CHILDREN TAKING PART IN POTTED SPORTS AND GAMES.
/THEY WERE........
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1990
3 -
THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THE COUNCIL’S CHAIRMAN, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI, AND THE DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES, MR HAIDER BARMA.
THE GOVERNOR TOURED THE SPORTS GROUND AND WATCHED THE ELDERLY PARTICIPANTS AND HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ENJOYING THEMSELVES IN GAMES AND MODIFIED SPORTS. HE ALSO STOPPED TO CHAT WITH SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
THE PARTY THEN PROCEEDED TO THE NEARBY SAI KUNG OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE WHERE A NUMBER OF SPORTING EVENTS WERE HELD. AFTER BEING GREETED BY A GROUP OF ROLLER-SKATERS, THE GOVERNOR MOVED ON TO WATCH A WATER SPORTS CARNIVAL FEATURING EXCITING AQUATIC GAMES.
MEANWHILE, ABOUT 2,000 RESIDENTS WERE HAVING FUN IN ANOTHER CELEBRATION PROGRAMME AT THE NORTH KWAI CHUNG TANG SHIU KIN INDOOR RECREATION CENTRE.
ON ARRIVAL AT THE CENTRE, THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND LADY YANG WERE RECEIVED BY THE COUNCIL’S VICE-CHAIRMAN, MR ALBERT CHAN, AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES (OPERATIONS), MR LAM WOON-KWONG.
SIR TI LIANG TOURED THE SPORTS GROUND TO WATCH THE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDED FITNESS EXERCISE, AEROBIC DANCE, AND SQUASH, BADMINTON AND VOLLEYBALL MATCHES,
------0-------
ACTING CS JOINS THOUSANDS TO CELEBRATE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY
******
THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, TODAY (SATURDAY) JOINED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT VICTORIA PARK IN ENJOYING A SERIES OF RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS EVENTS ORGANISED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL ON HONG KONG ISLAND TO CELEBRATE THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.
ON ARRIVAL, SIR PIERS WAS GREETED BY THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR STEPHEN LAU, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES (LEISURE SERVICES), MR PETER NG, AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SIR PIERS WAS TAKEN ON A TOUR OF VARIOUS ACTIVITY VENUES TO SEE THE FUNFUL EVENTS IN PROGRESS, INCLUDING EXCITING BALL GAMES, SUPER BOUNCE FOR CHILDREN, FUN KART FOR YOUTH AND A CYCLING FUN DAY.
THE VISITORS ALSO WATCHED "TAI CHI" FOR ADULTS, PONY RIDING FOR CHILDREN AS WELL AS GAMES FOR FAMILIES.
SIR PIERS THEN PROCEEDED TO THE MODEL BOAT POND AT THE PARK WHERE A GROUP OF CHILDREN WERE TAKING PART IN FUN FISHING AND MODEL BOATING.
MEANWHILE, THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, HONG KONG, MAJOR-GENERAL PETER DUFFELL, PARTICIPATED IN THE CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES HELD AT THE LAI CHI KOK PARK.
/ACCOMPANIED BY .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1990
ACCOMPANIED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL’S RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, MR PETER C.K. CHAN, AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES (LEISURE OPERATIONS), MR JONATHAN NG, MAJOR-GENERAL DUFFELL WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRAMME LINE-UP WHICH INCLUDES A MARCHING BAND DISPLAY, A CHEERING GROUP COMPETITION, MINI-TRAIN FOR FAMILIES, POTTED SPORTS FOR CHILDREN, AND FUN KART FOR YOUTH.
THE VISITORS ALSO WATCHED A SERIES OF RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES DESIGNED FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED, INCLUDING GATEBAIjL FOR THE ELDERLY AND A WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL COMPETITION. THEY THEN WATCHED SOME AQUATIC ACTIVITIES AT THE NEARBY LAI CHI KOK SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX.
------0--------
PEERAGE FOR DAME LYDIA DUNN
DAME LYDIA DUNN HAS BEEN HONOURED WITH A PEERAGE IN THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST ANNOUNCED IN LONDON TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S LIST READS:
"TO BE BARONESS, THE HON DAME LYDIA (SELINA) DUNN DBE, CHAIRMAN, HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL”
COMMENTING ON THE AWARD, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON SAID, "I AM DELIGHTED AT THE NEWS THAT DAME LYDIA HAS BEEN MADE A PEERESS OF THE REALM. THIS IS A SIGNAL HONOUR AND RECOGNISES THE GREAT CONTRIBUTION WHICH DAME LYDIA HAS MADE TO HONG KONG IN OVER 20 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
"HER ELEVATION TO THE PEERAGE WILL PROVIDE A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ACROSS THE HONG KONG VIEW IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON ALL MAJOR ISSUES AFFECTING THE TERRITORY.
"I OFFER DAME LYDIA MY WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS."
DAME LYDIA HAS WORKED ON A WIDE RANGE OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES. SHE HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SINCE 1983.
DAME LYDIA WAS APPOINTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1976 AND SERVED ON IT UNTIL 1988. SHE HAS SERVED ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SINCE 1982.
SHE WAS AWARDED THE OBE IN 1978, THE CBE IN 1983 AND WAS MADE A DAME OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN 1989.
---------0-----------
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1990
- 5 -
NEW PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR TIN SHUI WAI
*****
A "FLEXI-DESIGN" PRIMARY SCHOOL AND A STANDARD SECONDARY SCHOOL WILL BE BUILT IN TIN SHUI WAI, YUEN LONG, TO TIE IN WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA.
THE TWO SCHOOLS, COVERING AN AREA OF ABOUT 4,350 AND 4,890 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY, ARE LOCATED AT AREA 8.
THE PRIMARY SCHOOL WILL COMPRISE A MAIN TEACHING BLOCK TO ACCOMMODATE 30 CLASSROOMS AND FOUR SPECIAL ROOMS, A COVERED PLAYGROUND, AN ASSEMBLY HALL, A BASKETBALL COURT AND ANCILLARY BUILDINGS INCLUDING STAFF QUARTERS.
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL WILL INCLUDE A MAIN TEACHING BLOCK TO ACCOMMODATE 26 CLASSROOMS, A BLOCK OF SPECIAL ROOMS TO HOUSE FACILITIES FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS, A COVERED PLAY AREA, AN ASSEMBLY HALL, A BASKETBALL COURT AND PLANTING AREAS.
WORKS FOR BOTH SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO START IN AUGUST THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 1991 AND MAY 1992 RESPECTIVELY.
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS NOW INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECTS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JULY 6.
--------0-----------
TENDERS INVITED FOR SHA TIN PUMPING STATION, PIPELINE
«*«•»»«
FOR THE PIPELINE.
THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS CONSTRUCTION OF A PUMPING STATION IN SHA TIN AND ASSOCIATED
THE PROJECT IS PART OF THE TOLO HARBOUR EFFLUENT EXPORT SCHEME.
THE PUMPING STATION WILL BE LOCATED WITHIN TREATMENT WORKS AND WILL BE USED TO PUMP TREATED STATION THROUGH THE HILLSIDE TO KAI TAK NULLAH
THE SHA TIN SEWAGE EFFLUENT FROM THE AND THEN VICTORIA
HARBOUR.
PILED REINFORCED AND ABOUT 750 IRON PIPEWORK
A
THE WORKS WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE STRUCTURE 10 METRES DEEP WITH SUPERSTRUCTURE METRES OF TWIN 1,400 MILLIMETRE DIAMETER DUC1ILE SUPPORTED ON PILES.
WORK UNDER THE CONTRACT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AND BE DUE FOR COMPLETION BY JANUARY 1993.
TENDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD BEFORE NOON ON FRIDAY, JULY 13.
- - 0 - -
/6
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1990
- 6 -
PUTONGHUA COURSES FOR TEACHERS
*****
THE INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION WILL RUN COURSES IN SEPTEMBER FOR TEACHERS WISHING TO TEACH PUTONGHUA IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
THE TRAINING OF PROFICIENCY IN PUTONGHUA (GUOYU) COURSE, COMPRISING 33 SESSIONS FROM SEPTEMBER TO JUNE 1991, WILL BE HELD ONCE A WEEK IN THE EVENING.
TEACHERS CAN OPT TO ATTEND AT ANY OF FIVE CENTRES - HO TUNG TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND CHEUNG SHA WAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOL IN KOWLOON, HA KWAI CHUNG GOVERNMENT SCHOOL IN KWAI CHUNG AND THE SHA TIN ANNEXE OF THE SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
"THE INSTITUTE WILL TRY TO PLACE PARTICIPANTS IN THE VENUE OF THEIR CHOICE," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
APPLICANTS SHOULD BE EMPLOYED AT PRESENT AS PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND REGISTERED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE COURSE WILL COMPRISE:
* THE INTRODUCTION OF TONES, INITIALS AND FINALS;
* THE USE OF HANYU PINYIN AND MANDARIN PHONETIC LETTERS; AND
* THE TRAINING OF SPEAKING SKILLS.
PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE COURSE (INCLUDING WRITTEN AND SPOKEN TESTS) WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE PUTONGHUA METHODOLOGY COURSE.
---------0---------
/7........
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 0
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES IN SHA TIN ******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 9 AM ON MONDAY (JUNE 18) TO 8 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 22), THE TRAFFIC LANES OF THE NORTHBOUND SLIP ROAD FROM YUEN WO ROAD TO TAI PO ROAD (SHA TIN) WILL BE CLOSED ONE AT A TIME.
IN ADDITION, TRAFFIC LANES OF THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN SHA TIN WILL BE TEMPORARY CLOSED ONE AT A TIME DURING THE PERIODS SPECIFIED BELOW:
* BETWEEN 8 PM AND 6 AM THE NEXT DAY FROM MONDAY (JUNE 18) TO
JULY 4, A SECTION OF ABOUT 1.3 KILOMETRES OF SHA TIN ROAD
NORTHBOUND NEAR SHING MUN RIVER.
* FROM 8 PM ON MONDAY (JUNE 18) TO 6 PM ON JULY 4, A SECTION
OF ABOUT 700 METRES OF TAI PO ROAD (SHA TIN) NORTHBOUND
NEAR SHA TIN RACE COURSE.
THE TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES ARE TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE. APPROPRIATE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
--------0----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
APRIL ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL FIGURES RELEASED ......................... 1
BIG STRIDE IN COUNTRYSIDE EDUCATION PROMOTION ......................................... 5
SWD WARD ATTENDANT AWARDED BEM ........................................................ 7
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS MENTAL HEALTH REGULATIONS ..................................... 8
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER FUND APPLICATIONS ............................................ 9
INDOOR RECREATION CENTRE FOR NORTH DISTRICT RESIDENTS ................................. 9
SEMINARS FOR CHINESE-MEDIUM ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE TEACHERS ............................ 9
LABOUR RELATIONS COURSE FOR CATERING MANAGERS ........................................ 10
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES IN SHA TIN .................................................... H
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN HAPPY VALLEY ....................................... 11
TEMPORARY URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WESTERN DISTRICT ........................................ 12
URBAN CLEARWAY IN TSIM SHA TSUI ...................................................... 12
URBAN CLEARWAY IN KOWLOON TONG ....................................................... 12
SUNDAY, „ JUNE 17, 1990
APRIL ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL FIGURES RELEASED
******* |
I
IN APRIL 1990, THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND REPORTED BY THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH MARCH 1990, BUT DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH APRIL 1989, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT,
COMPARED WITH MARCH 1990, THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN APRIL 1990 INCREASED MODERATELY IN THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY, BUT DECREASED SLIGHTLY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRIES.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE ORDERS POSITION IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED.
COMPARING APRIL 1990 WITH APRIL 1989, THE ORDERS POSITION DROPPED IN ALMOST ALL THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, WITH THE LARGEST DECREASE RECORDED IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.. ON THE OTHER HAND, A SLIGHT INCREASE IN ORDERS WAS RECORDED IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IS MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF MONTHS AND REFERS TO ORDERS OUTSTANDING AS AT THE END OF THE REFERENCE MONTH.
ON EMPLOYMENT, THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED REPORTED THAT THEIR TOTAL WORKFORCE IN APRIL 1990 DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT AND 9 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH MARCH 1990 AND APRIL 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARED WITH MARCH 1990, EMPLOYMENT IN APRIL 1990 DECREASED MODERATELY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND TO A LESSER EXTENT IN MOST OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED. ON THE OTHER HAND, A SLIGHT INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT WAS RECORDED IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY.
COMPARING APRIL 1990 WITH APRIL 1989, DECREASES IN EMPLOYMENT WERE RECORDED IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, WITH THE LARGEST DECREASES RECORDED IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRIES. HOWEVER, A MODERATE INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT WAS RECORDED IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
IN APRIL 1990, PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SURVEYED INCREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN MONEY TERMS WHEN COMPARED WITH MARCH 1990.
A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS WAS RECORDED IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY AS SOME COMPANIES SURVEYED HAD EFFECTED SALARY REVISION IN APRIL 1990. SLIGHT INCREASES IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE RECORDED IN THE TEXTILES AND THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES.
/ON THE ........
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
2
ON THE OTHER HAND, PER CAPITA EARNINGS DECREASED MODERATELY IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND SLIGHTLY IN THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRY. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS.
COMPARING APRIL 1990 WITH APRIL 1989, PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SURVEYED INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT IN MONEY TERMS.
INCREASES IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE RECORDED , IN ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, WITH THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES BEING MOST SIGNIFICANT IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, FOOD AND DRINKS, AND.THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES.
TN THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES SURVEYED, EMPLOYMENT IN APRIL 1990 WAS ABOUT THE SAME AS IN MARCH 1990, BUT DECREASED MODERATELY WHEN COMPARED WITH APRIL 1989. PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN APRIL 1990 SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH MARCH 1990, BUT CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN MONEY TERMS OVER APRIL 1989. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT FIGURES FOR THIS INDUSTRY COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
IN THE SELECTED SERVICE SECTORS, THE OVERALL EMPLOYMENT IN APRIL 1990 AS REPORTED BY THE COMPANIES SURVEYED INCREASED SLIGHTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH MARCH 1990 AND APRIL 1989.
PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR THE SELECTED SERVICE SECTORS TAKEN TOGETHER INCREASED FURTHER IN APRIL 1990 OVER APRIL 1989. THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OVER MARCH 1990 WAS, HOWEVER, MAINLY DUE TO THE ISSUE OF SPECIAL BONUSES IN APRIL 1990 BY SOME COMPANIES SURVEYED.
THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS ARE SHOWN IN TABLES 1 TO 3.
THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND THE 50 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND SELECTED SERVICE SECTORS, CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT SIZES IN SEPTEMBER 1986.
THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT AS THE SURVEY IS NOT BASED ON A SCIENTIFICALLY SELECTED SAMPLE, THE MAGNITUDES OF CHANGE INDICATED BY THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE MERELY A REFLECTION OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COMPANIES SURVEYED.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THE COMPOSITION OF THE PANEL, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A USEFUL INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR MAKING A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR APRIL 1990 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, AND AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT $2.50 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 823 4820.
/TABLE 1 .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
3
TABLE 1 : ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
ORDERS-ON-HAND
AS AT THE END OF CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH
INDUSTRY APRIL 1990 MAR. 90 APR. 89
— —
(MONTHS) (%) (%)
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES 4.35 * -2
• — — — — — — —
WEARING APPAREL 4.66 -1 -2
TEXTILES 2.57 + 5 -1
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 3.31 -2 -3
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS 4.30 t -12
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC 5.28 * + 2
PRODUCTS
OTHERS 4.13 -1 -3
* CHANGES WITHIN + /- 0.5%
TABLE 2 : EMPLOYMENT
PERSONS ENGAGED AT THE END OF APRIL 90
INDUSTRY/SERVICES CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH
MAR. 90 APR. 89
(%) (%)
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES -1 -9
FOOD AND DRINKS + 1 + 5
WEARING APPAREL -1 -10
TEXTILES -2 -7
PLASTIC PRODUCTS -5 -5
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS -1 -14
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS -1 -16
OTHERS * ♦
CONSTRUCTION # * -4
— ——
SERVICES + 1 + 3
— — —
BANKS * 42
HOTELS * -2
PUBLIC UTILITIES * + 2
OTHERS + 2 + 8
/* CHANGES WITHIN ........
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
- 4 -
* CHANGES WITHIN +/- 0.5%
# PERSONS ENGAGED COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
TABLE 3 : PER CAPITA EARNINGS
PER CAPITA EARNINGS
INDUSTRY/SERVICES AVERAGE AS IN APRIL 1990 CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH
MAR. 90 APR. 89
(HK$) (%) (%)
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES 5,717 + 1 + 15
______ — — — — —■
FOOD AND DRINKS 6,742 + 9 + 18
WEARING APPAREL 4,398 -1 + 10
TEXTILES 5,192 + 3 + 9
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 5,066 ♦ + 8
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS 6,107 -7 + 29
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC 5,631 + 1 + 17
PRODUCTS + 15
OTHERS 7,701 + 2
CONSTRUCTION # 7,997 ♦ + 12
— _ — —— —
SERVICES 12,527 + 33 + 18
— — — — —
BANKS 9,457 + 7 + 17
HOTELS 6,399 * + 5
PUBLIC UTILITIES 8,969 -3 + 13
OTHERS 21,670 + 98@ + 20
* CHANGES WITHIN +/- 0.5%
# PER CAPITA EARNINGS COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
@ THIS SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE WAS DUE MAINLY TO SPECIAL BONUSES BEING ISSUED BY SOME OF THE COMPANIES IN APRIL 1990.
NOTES TO TABLES 1-3 :
UNLIKE "ORDERS-ON-HAND” AND "PER CAPITA EARNINGS", WHICH ARE AVERAGE FIGURES AMONGST THE COMPANIES SURVEYED, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED BY THE COMPANIES SURVEYED IS NOT MEANINGFUL INFORMATION ON ITS OWN (BECAUSE THIS IS A PANEL SURVEY) AND IS THEREFORE NOT SHOWN.
- - 0 - -
/5
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
- 5 -
BIG STRIDE IN COUNTRYSIDE EDUCATION PROMOTION ******
THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S FIRST NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE HAS MOVED A STEP CLOSER TO REALISATION WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FOUNDATION FOR THIS PURPOSE.
THE PROJECT IS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WITH THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT 303 - HONG KONG AND MACAU.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND' THE SETTING UP OF THE LIONS NATURE EDUCATION FOUNDATION TODAY (SUNDAY), THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SAID THE DEPARTMENT BELIEVED THAT IF THE PUBLIC KNEW THE COUNTRYSIDE BETTER, THEY WOULD NOT ONLY DERIVE MORE ENJOYMENT DURING THEIR VISIT BUT ALSO HAVE MORE CONCERN IN PROTECTING IT.
"AS HONG KONG BECOMES MORE AND MORE URBANISED, THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED FOR A NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE TO ENHANCE OUR COUNTRYSIDE EDUCATION PROGRAMME AND FOR PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE OUR RURAL HERITAGE,” HE SAID.
DR LEE NOTED THAT IT HAD LONG BEEN THE PLAN OF HIS DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP THE FORMER SAI KUNG FARM INTO A NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE, BUT THE PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT HAD BEEN SLOW BECAUSE OF FUNDING CONSTRAINTS.
"IT IS INDEED FORTUNATE THAT THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT 303 - HONG KONG AND MACAU, HAS GENEROUSLY AGREED TO TAKE UP THE PROJECT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.
"I AM VERY IMPRESSED BY THE LIONS’ ENTHUSIASM IN THIS PROJECT. WITH A FEW MONTHS’ PLANNING AND FUND RAISING, A LARGE SUM OF MONEY HAS BEEN SECURED AND THE PROJECT IS NOW IN FULL SWING," HE SAID.
DR LEE TOLD THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE LIONS NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE, WHEN COMPLETED, WOULD PROVIDE LIVING SPECIMENS AND STATIC DISPLAYS TO HELP VISITORS UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE LOCAL WILDLIFE, VEGETATION AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES, TO STIMULATE THEM TO EXPLORE BEYOND HONG KONG’S "CONCRETE JUNGLE" AND TO AROUSE THEIR CONCERN FOR COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE CENTRE WOULD INCLUDE A RICH FRUIT TREE COLLECTION AND DISPLAYS ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES INDUSTRIES.
DR LEE STRESSED THAT LIONS CLUBS’ INVOLVEMENT HAD ADDED PARTICULAR MEANING TO THIS PROJECT.
"IT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY’S DEMAND AND SUPPORT FOR MORE NATURE EDUCATION," HE SAID.
IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING, DR LEE SAID, THAT THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, HAD AGREED TO BE THE PATRON OF THE FOUNDATION AND MR ALLEN LEE, SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND MR PETER TSAO, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, HAD AGREED TO BE VICE PATRONS.
/MOREOVER, A ........
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
■6
MOREOVER, A NUMBER OE DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAD GIVEN THEIR SUPPORT AND HAD AGREED TO BE HONORARY ADVISERS TO THE PROJECT, HE SAID.
"WITH ALL THE WARM SUPPORT, THIS PROJECT WILL SURELY BE A SUCCESS," HE SAID.
"THIS UNIQUE NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE WILL BE OF HIGH EDUCATIONAL VALUE TO OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND ALSO TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.
"IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE CENTRE WILL ALSO PROVIDE INFORMAL EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL SECTORS OF THE HONG KONG POPULATION," HE ADDED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAS VERY PLEASED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE MEANINGFUL JOINT VENTURE.
"EDUCATION HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION.
"ON THE ONE HAND, PEOPLE MUST BE INFORMED ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PROBLEM, ITS CAUSES, EFFECT AND REMEDIES. ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY MUST BE EDUCATED TO ACT PROPERLY TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT," HE SAID.
MR LI SAID THE NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE WAS EDUCATIONALLY WORTHWHILE TN A VARIETY OF ASPECTS.
HE NOTED THAT THE NATURE SETTING OF THE CENTRE WOULD PROVIDE A PLEASANT AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING WHILE THE LIVING SPECIMENS AND OTHER DISPLAYS WOULD BE USEFUL VISUAL AIDS FOR TEACHING.
FURTHERMORE, HE SAID, THE THEMES OF THE DISPLAYS WERE RELEVANT TO THE SYLLABUSES OF SUBJECTS SUCH AS BIOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL STUDIES.
"WITH ALL THESE FACILITIES, I AM SURE THAT THE NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE WILL MAKE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AS WELL AS IN THE COMMUNITY AND, THROUGH THIS EDUCATION, WILL ENSURE THAT IN FUTURE WE WILL HAVE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN," MR LI ADDED.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COUNTRY PARKS BOARD, MR CARLOS CHEUNG, ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE GENEROSITY, CIVIC-MINDEDNESS AND HARD WORK OF THE LIONS IN SETTING UP THE FOUNDATION.
THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE WHOLE NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE PROJECT IS $10 MILLION AND, TO DATE, THE LIONS HAVE RAISED OVER $6 MILLION.
THE REMAINING BUDGET IS EXPECTED TO COME THROUGH RAFFLE, BAZAAR AND OTHER FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES TO BE ORGANISED BY THE LIONS AND FRC-F DONATIONS FROM CIVIC-MINDED PEOPLE.
THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE’S EXHIBITION HALLS, INSECT HOUSE, A CAFETERIA AND AN ELEVATED WALK, AS WELL AS TO UPGRADE OTHER ASSOCIATED FACILITIES.
- - 0 - -
/7
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
......WSVISGH1N3 M3H>./
- 8 t
*
"HER ENTHUSIASM AND PATIENCHaHflMEHSLW8H8VBHBNATA®K.NQWIJ0ffiGHDIAHHS H88jAra$h8&GUH8HAi!10 80?ttBR0®3aa V SVM H3IHM G8VMV 3H1 U3A83S3Q TT3M „3H3
azs„ aivs ‘gnvtibvo -a-w aw ‘3HV8T3m tvioos no aoi338ia shi "WE ARE ALL PROUD OF WORKING WITH HER," HE SAID.
•M38W3W 88V1S GMS V OSTV SI OHM
‘QNVas'flHE QHNTR0NV SN0BRI8,'EBBNR»'X,MMfl MINA9NIKITSA0N SSTHHE -SHITTHEd CRHWB WRH© E8GHHH.D HftQHT UHHHWMRDGVfl "HDHMCHHO. 33HH1 ‘NHBGTIHD HGOJ
GVH 3HS 1VH1 aivs ATanOHd ,.8H0 3ZS„ ‘A’lIWVd NMO 83H 01 DNINaDl THIS WOULD SURELY BOOST STAFF MORALE IN THE CENTRE, SHE SAID.
, ’ODV 3WI1 DNOT V 381N33 3H1 183T HAVH
AVW A3H1 HODOHl NBAS ‘ 3HV3 H3H BMGNfl 3W03 33NO GVH OHM N38GTIH3 SHI 80 S1I8VH GNV S3WVN 3H1-8S8-W8F&8- H'HIS NV3 ..3H3 3ZS„ ‘ H3A3M0H
•DNQSl®®MMBrffHaBn'HOHaiaOQSSO»E8'Han,NHDARIHAHa,OWLAV<noS$ MO SdOHSMHOM aaaanaHs 01 aaHiia ghaow* savh*w8hi ho anvw ’..sho azs.. ao aavo hhi H3GNn ATIddVH dll NM08D 3AVH N88GHH3 80 S3803S ‘S8V3A 3H1 83A0
"0HE GWVNtX TEA N3SMM3HI STB VC T1 N3HWTOH3S G3S0® 18 H ASHK4K0HS 9 2301801 T¥®fil WJLLHSrHUD’EdDHaWSNTWtt.LHHAia'SHH SHGGIWHBOHS1NMD SAN3M00TB»GIH0NIVflUESDAY (JUNE 19).
‘INVlHOdWI 1S0W HMHM 3A0T GNV 33N3IlVd 1VH1 GNV ‘NMO 83H 383M A3H1
81 SWEISSOSOWlUHlDISiaUSSia’HHHIVIDEWSIPU'O H0N®ABI0OlO3aSEa(I®8MB’B’BEE BY THE HONG KONG JOINT COUNCIL OF PARENTS OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
•GSnNIlNOD
3HS l.N SSSBUOHaN , HWKI C<BHM1LTTHHSW I DU. BDNBHHKMH13 ObiaSTHE SI "PROTECTION OF HEARING EXHIBITION, OPENING CEREMONY AND HEARING TESTS" TO BE HELD AT LOK FU SHOPPING CENTRE ON JUNE S33i7I3SW3Hl 8318V MOOT 01 W3H1 DNIH0V31
GNV W3H1 80 38V3 DNIMV1 A0PN3 I ’AT3A0T 38V N38GTIH3 3S3H1„
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS FOR lMfflBBBSMaGO®HlS<I0MDr SggvBOBSS AtHHWITfllES GWMriWCDISfHRJKNraVH S80P DNI3NVH3 80 V3GI 3H1 GIVS 3HS
•aivs
3HS ‘N38GTIH3 GMG8V13H - A0T-V1NH-W - 9-1 80 38V3 DNIMV1 808 3THISN0dSH8 MON WV I 383HM 381N33 3H1 NI M80M 01 38DSV3Td AW N3HH SVH II„
NOTE TO EDITORS:
•G3G33N 3HS laOddflS
GNV N«Q.VAl?»UH?EfiENmATlIWE3i:iAKBamVJ[’rmiM T®IMC01AERWVHHENVW®Sj!ffl3V*flAlIIO3SBliiH D WRUZB'vBOARDUB SmiDMS SERffJNCHfi iJGDMMI.D'VK'^EJMEIfi'HKftG ‘WMIW 8WlLIdO BEGIN AT 2.30 PM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 1,9) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFBflmilMVHfflffl 3H»KrJ3fflTR®HT>pS K(»Hjp01f)NINI0r 33NIS S8V3A ZZ NVH1 380W 808 DNIM80M N33a SVH HHS 383HM
H81N83 3H1 NI N38GTIH3 G3G8V138 ArITVlN3W 3H1 GNV S3U3V3TT03 8HH 01 „3H3 3ZS„ SV NMONM 831133 SI ‘99 G3DV ‘lVd-IA DN3H3 3N0M S8W ----------------------------------0--------
•(Avasnivs) avgbmisha gbondonnv isit smcionoh AvaHiaia
S,N33nb 3H1 NI (W38) rlVG3W 38IdW3 HSI1I88 MHX G3G8VMV N338 SVH ..3H3 3ZS„ G3A0T38 8I3H1 SV SAVG 3S3H1 31V883T33 01 N0SV38 A83A3 3AVH NasGaaav ni msinsd s.NaamiHO iho ivm ho aavis gnv siNaaisaa
***** /9 ......
wan aaaavMV .lnvcinhuv ghvm ums
z.
0661 ‘£1 3Nnr ‘AVGNOS
[luownoop |euiSijo oqq. ui sjojjo poiqdejSodAi]
[Typographical errors in the original document]
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
......WSVISUH1N3 H3H../
- 8 t
*
’’HER ENTHUSIASM AND PATIENCH3HGTEHdLWO8VBHBN ATWKNQWLOIQGBDIAH2 S
NOTMU08333 V SVM H3IHM G3VMV SHI GaA33S3a TT3M ,.3H3
azs.. aivs *gnvtihv3 -G’w hw ‘aHvaaaM tvioos 30 aoioaaia aHi ”WE ARE ALL PROUD OF WORKING WITH HER,” HE SAID.
•H38W3W 33V1S GMS V OSTV SI OHM
•‘GNVHSBHE aiNTRQJlS SWBBRIl’SHOTRSI,8Ha MIMASRIKJTSAON SST3HB ’GHITTRE3 CRtfWB WHfc© E®THW) KMHT HHHHWMRDGVG "HDHMCHHO. 333H1 ‘N33GTIH3 3003
GVH 3HS 1VH1 GIVS ATGD03d ..3H3 3ZS.. *ATIWV3 NMO 33H 01 DNINH01 THIS WOULD SURELY BOOST STAFF MORALE IN THE CENTRE, SHE SAID.
•ODV 3WI1 SNOT V 331N33 3H1 133T 3AVH
AVW A3H1 HD00H1 N3A3 * 33V3 33H 33GN0 3W00 30N0 GVH OHM N33GTIH3 3H1 30 S1I8VH GNV S3WVN 3Hl“338W8Ffe3- TTdlS NVO ,.3H3 3ZS., ‘33A3M0H
•DNaSl^WlHffHBHn'BOanigoaSSOM.ElS'IIMILNHDARTHARttOWLAVCOPa 30 S30HSM30M G3331T3HS 01 33H1I3 G3A0W* SA¥H*W»H1 30 ANVW ’..3H3 3ZS.. 30 33V3 3H1 33GN0 ATIddVH dO NM03D 3AVH N33GTIH3 30 S3303S ‘S3V3A 3H1 33A0
• WE GWVN(X TEA N3SMM3HT STHBVCf N3»GflRH3S G3SmWJ AgSKRHQBS 9 ZtfOMGl
WI/LL3£yHUD^63rDHR38ENHAr[IIMHAIII'SHd BHCranWflOSSlNJID SAN3M0HTBPGIH0NIV^UESDAY (JUNE 19).
•!NV130dWI 1S0W 333M 3A0T GNV 33N3IlVd 1VH1 GNV * NMO 33H 333M A3H1
31 SVMEigW^OWIGffilDISKIUSSia’BIIHIVIDEWlPHl) H0R,©AKDOloa'HBEG(I^gMB'F^EE BY THE HONG KONG JOINT COUNCIL OF PARENTS OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
•G30NI1N03
3HS LN S£B®UOHaN , 3WE1 CtWHMILTTHHSWI DIL BDNBHHSTMHH 0U33HHE SI ’’PROTECTION OF HEARING EXHIBITION, OPENING CEREMONY AND HEARING TESTS” TO BE HELD AT LOK FU SHOPPING CENTRE ON JUNES33iG3SW3Hl 3313V MOOT 01 W3H1 DNIH3V31
GNV W8H1 30 33V3 DNIMV1 A0PN3 I ‘AT3A0T 33V N33GTIH3 3S3H1.,
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS FOR GO 0U IS (GO MDf B0£VB00SS
AOTWiTfliEsaHfidn^^ seor snisnvho 30 vaai 3Hi givs 3hs
•GIVS
3HS .. *N33GTIH3 G3G3V133 - A^T-VINH-W -94 30 33V3 9NIMV1 303 3T8ISN0dS33 MON WV I 333HM 331N33 3H1 NI M30M 01 33DSV3Td AW N338 SVH II..
NOTE TO EDITORS:
‘G3G33N 3HS 130ddHS
GNV bMWlWMKEPfcESB^ TXHMCdWER WVHHBN WOfflODVTAlIIOOSEMH
DWTRU3BW»XR®VJS SmiDMS SERfONCEfi 3(HJMIOT<EEE afflEET®®! WtM MUHlILIdO BEGIN AT 2.30 PM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 1,9) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFIIlNESJJ^lP&TMCa ►WWTMSflTRIBH'DpS KQWWOICNINIOf 33NIS S3V3A ZZ NVH1 330W 303 DNIM30M N338 SVH 3HS 333HM
331N33 3H1 NI N33GTIH3 GMG3V13H ATTV1N3W 3H1 GNV S3GSVHTT03 33H 01 ..3H3 3ZS., SV NMONM 331138 SI *99 G3DV *lVd"IA DN3H3 ONOM S3W
------0---------
•(AVGdfllVS) AVG331S3A G33ND0NNV 1SIT S3H0N0H AVGH13I8
s<N33nb aHi ni (was) Tvaaw adidwa Hsmae hhi g3G3vmv Naaa svh ,,3H3 3ZS.. G3A0T38 3I3H1 SV SAVG 3S3H1 31V383Ta3 01 N0SV33 A38A3 3AVH
N33G3aeV NI 331N33 S.N33GTIH3 IH3 IVM 30 33V1S GNV S1N3GIS33
♦ t ♦ ♦ » /9 ......
W38 G3G3VMV 1NVGNH11V G3VM GMS
L
0661 * L\ 3Nflf *AVGNDS
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
- 9 -
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER FUND APPLICATIONS
******
THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD WILL CONSIDER A NUMBER OF FUND APPLICATIONS FOR ORGANISING OUTINGS AND CARNIVALS FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA AT ITS MEETING ON TUESDAY (JUNE 19).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXAMINE REPORTS ON COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING TO BEGIN AT 10 AM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 19) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 34 CHAN MAN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN.
INDOOR RECREATION CENTRE FOR NORTH DISTRICT RESIDENTS ******
NORTH DISTRICT RESIDENTS WILL ENJOY MORE SPORT FACILITIES WITH THE COMPLETION OF AN INDOOR RECREATION CENTRE IN ABOUT 15 MONTHS.
WORK HAS STARTED FOLLOWING THE AWARD OF A $29.7 MILLION CONTRACT BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE IN AREA 44, FANLING/SHEUNG SHUI.
MAJOR FACILITIES IN THE CENTRE WILL INCLUDE A MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES HALL, WHICH CAN PROVIDE- EITHER TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, EIGHT BADMINTON COURTS OR TWO VOLLEYBALL COURTS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE THREE SQUASH COURTS, A FITNESS TRAINING ROOM, AN ACTIVITY/DANCE ROOM, A BOOKING OFFICE, A CONTROL OFFICE AND A MEETING ROOM. ’ . . , , ■
------0--------
SEMINARS FOR CHINESE-MEDIUM ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE TEACHERS
******
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS ORGANISING A SERIES OF SEMINARS FOR TEACHERS TO ASSIST THEM IN TEACHING CHINESE-MEDIUM ADVANCED LEVEL COURSES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR TO ATTEND TWO HALF-DAY PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTS
THE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IN INVITING TEACHERS SEMINARS ON USING CHINESE IN TEACHING THE AND BUSINESS STUDIES AT THE SIXTH FORM LEVEL.
/THE SEMINARS .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
- 10 -
THE SEMINARS WILL BE HELD ON JULY 14 AND 16 AT THE COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE IN HUNG HOM, KOWLOON.
PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO TEACHERS WHO WORK IN SCHOOLS WHICH INTEND TO OFFER CHINESE-MEDIUM ADVANCED LEVEL COURSES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO ENABLE TEACHERS TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE COURSE AND EXAMINATION STUDIES.
’’PARTICIPANTS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE VARIOUS REFERENCES AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHING THE COURSE AS WELL AS SOME SUGGESTED APPROACHES AND STRATEGIES IN TEACHING AND EXAMINING SELECTED TOPICS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
---------0-----------
LABOUR RELATIONS COURSE FOR CATERING MANAGERS * * * * *
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) INVITED APPLICATIONS FOR A LABOUR RELATIONS AND SUPERVISORY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE COURSE FROM SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS IN THE CATERING TRADE.
THE COURSE IS ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT AND THE CATERING TRADE TRIPARTITE GROUP TO PROMOTE A HARMONIOUS LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIP THROUGH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LABOUR LAWS AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
EXPERIENCED MANAGERS FROM THE TRADE AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICERS WILL SPEAK ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT AND THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCES, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORY SKILLS. MOTIVATION OF STAFF MORALE, GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND TRAINING OF SUPERVISORY STAFF.
THERE WILL BE SIX HALF-DAY SESSIONS HELD ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS FROM JULY 10 TO 26 AT THE HOLIDAY INN GOLDEN MILE, TSIM SHA TSUI.
THE COURSE WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CANTONESE. THE FEE FOR EACH PARTICIPANT IS $360.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT, 12TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL. FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 852 3511.
/Il .......
------0 - -
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
- 11 -TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES IN SHA TIN ♦ ♦ ♦ * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK, THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN SHA TIN WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED DURING THE PERIODS SPECIFIED BELOW:
» FROM 11 PM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 19) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY, THE FAST LANE OF LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN HUNG MUI KUK AND LION ROCK TUNNEL TOLL GATE.
♦ FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (JUNE 21) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY, THE SLOW LANE OF LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN LION ROCK TUNNEL TOLL GATE AND HUNG MUI KUK.
» FROM 11 PM ON JUNE 25 TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY, THE SLOW LANE
OF LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN HUNG MUI KUK
AND LION ROCK TUNNEL TOLL GATE.
» FROM 11 PM ON JUNE 28 TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY, THE SLOW LANE
OF LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN HUNG MUI KUK AND
SAN TIN WAI ESTATE.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE.
APPROPRIATE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
rV e, --------------------------------o-------
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN HAPPY VALLEY
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN HAPPY VALLEY FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 19) FOR ONE WEEK TO FACILITATE CABLE LAYING WORKS AT SING WOO ROAD:
* THE RIGHT TURN FROM TSUI MAN STREET EASTBOUND TO SING WOO ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL BE BANNED.
MOTORISTS ON TSUI MAN STREET EASTBOUND HEADING FOR SING WOO ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED VIA SING WOO ROAD NORTHBOUND, VILLAGE ROAD, SHAN KWONG ROAD AND YUK SAU STREET.
♦ THE RIGHT TURN FROM SHING PING STREET WESTBOUND TO SING WOO ROAD NORTHBOUND WILL BE BANNED.
MOTORISTS ON SHING PING STREET WESTBOUND HEADING FOR SING WOO ROAD NORTHBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED VIA SING WOO ROAD SOUTHBOUND, LUN HING STREET, HIP WO LANE AND TSUN YUEN STREET.
---------0-----------
/12 .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1990
- 12 -
TEMPORARY URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WESTERN DISTRICT ♦ * * * ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 19), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN WESTERN DISTRICT WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS 24 HOURS DAILY FOR FIVE WEEKS TO FACILITATE GAS MAINLAYING WORKS:
♦ THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF QUEEN’S ROAD WEST BETWEEN HOUSE NOS. 65 AND 77.
* THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF QUEEN STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH QUEEN’S ROAD WEST TO A POINT ABOUT 25 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
----0------
URBAN CLEARWAY IN TSIM SHA TSUI
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 19), THE SECTION OF ICHANG STREET BETWEEN ASHLEY ROAD AND HANKOW ROAD, IN TSIM SHA TSUI, WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
--------0-----------
URBAN CLEARWAY IN KOWLOON TONG *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 19), TRUE LIGHT LANE IN KOWLOON TONG FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH KENT ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 80 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION, WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY 24 HOURS DAILY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
------0--------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SLOPE STABILISATION IN HONG KONG .................................................... 1
NEARLY 44,000 STUDENTS TAKE PART IN COMPUTER EXAM ................................... 2
DB TO DISCUSS CLEARANCE PROPOSAL .............................................
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE ..............................
ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA ................................... 4
PROJECT FOR ELDERLY ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA .......................................... 5
COMBINED FOOTWAY AND CYCLEWAY TO BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN ........................
TENDERS INVITED FOR SIU LAM HOSPITAL EXTENSION ...............................
CERTIFICATE COURSES FOR SAFETY PERSONNEL .....................................
URBAN CLEARWAY IN KOWLOON CITY ...............................................
7
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES IN QUARRY BAY ........................................
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1990
- 1 -
SLOPE STABILISATION IN HONG KONG
ALMOST $800 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT BY THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE ON STUDIES AND WORKS TO STABILISE NEARLY 540 SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS SINCE THE LANDSLIP PREVENTIVE MEASURES PROGRAMME WAS INITIATED IN 1976.
DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, STABILISATION WORKS WERE COMPLETED ON 55 SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS AND WORKS WERE COMMENCED ON 28 OTHERS.
‘ OF THESE 83 SLOPES AND WALLS, 32 WERE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 15 IN KOWLOON AND 36 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE EXPENDITURE DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR WAS ABOUT $75 MILLION.
N THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, WORKS WILL BE IN PROGRESS ON A TOTAL OF 61 SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS, 37 OF WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR.
OF THE 24 SLOPES AND WALLS ON WHICH WORK IS TO BEGIN DURING THE YEAR, 11 ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, SIX IN KOWLOON AND SEVEN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE EXPENDITURE THIS FINANCIAL YEAR IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $78 MILLION.
IN ADDITION, EXPENDITURE ON STABILISATION AND IMPROVEMENT WORK TO THE LARGE SANITARY LANDFILL AT SAI TSO WAN IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE ORDER OF $21 MILLION THIS YEAR. •
THE LANDSLIP PREVENTIVE MEASURES PROGRAMME PROVIDES FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS AND THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF STABILISATION MEASURES FOR UNSAFE GOVERNMENT SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS.
THE INVESTIGATIONS, DESIGNS AND CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION ARE CARRIED OUT ENTIRELY IN-HOUSE BY THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE.
UNTIL RECENTLY, THE PROGRAMME WAS CONCERNED ENTIRELY WITH SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE.
HOWEVER, THE PROGRAMME NOW INCLUDES THE STABILISATION OF SOME UNSATISFACTORY SLOPES AND WALLS WHICH COULD INDIRECTLY CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE BY MAJOR DISRUPTION TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES, OR WHICH COULD CAUSE MAJOR ECONOMIC DISRUPTION.
/THIS CATEGORY .......
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1990
THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES SLOPES ALONG MAJOR ROADS, AND SLOPES ALONG OTHER ROADS WHICH PROVIDE THE SOLE ACCESS TO HOSPITALS, WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS, RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND SO ON.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING HIGH PRIORITY TO SLOPE SAFETY IN HONG KONG IN TERMS OF RESOURCES BEING EXPENDED AND POSITIVE ACTIONS BEING TAKEN.
’’GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT UNSAFE SLOPES, RETAINING WALLS AND SITE FORMATION WORKS ARE NOT CONSTRUCTED, AND THAT EXISTING UNSAFE SLOPES AND WALLS ARE MADE SAFE,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
- - 0 - -
NEARLY 44,000 STUDENTS TAKE PART IN COMPUTER EXAM ******
NEARLY 44,000 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN PART IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION COMPUTER STUDIES EXAMINATION SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1984.
THE PASS RATE IN THE FIRST YEAR WAS 58 PER CENT AND 65.12 PER CENT IN THE 1989 EXAMINATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID COMPUTER EDUCATION AT THE SECONDARY 4 AND 5 LEVELS WAS INTRODUCED IN 1982 TO GIVE STUDENTS A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPUTER AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN THE MODERN WORLD.
’’THE 327 GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS TEACHING THIS SUBJECT ARE PROVIDED WITH COMPUTERS AND PROGRAMMES AND THE DEPARTMENT ORGANISES IN-SERVICE COURSES AND SEMINARS TO HELP TEACHERS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID A COMPUTER LITERACY SUBJECT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1987 TO ENSURE JUNIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS RECEIVED SOME FORM OF COMPUTER EDUCATION DURING THEIR NINE YEARS OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
"THERE ARE NOW 70 SCHOOLS TEACHING THIS SUBJECT AND 30 MORE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR,” HE SAID.
TEACHING AIDS FOR SECONDARY 1-3 STUDENTS INCLUDED 14 PROGRAMMES IN 30 DISKS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID COMPUTER EDUCATION WAS FURTHER EXTENDED TO SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN THE 1989 SCHOOL YEAR.
’THIS PROJECT WILL BE PHASED WITH THE INTENTION TO EQUIP ALL SPECIAL SCHOOLS WITH THE NECESSARY COMPUTER HARDWARE AND PROGRAMMES AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT SO THAT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (AN LEARN ABOUT COMPUTERS,” HE SAID,
EIGHTEEN SPECIAL SCHOOLS WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT, HE ADDED.
- - 0 - -
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1990
3
DB TO DISCUSS CLEARANCE PROPOSAL
* » » * *
THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS A BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE PROPOSAL TO CLEAR UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS AND TO TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ON A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THESE BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED IN BOWRINGTON ROAD, CANAL ROAD WEST AND HENNESSY ROAD.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND THE URBAN COUNCIL CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME FOR 1990-1995.
SEVERAL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO ASK ABOUT TRIAD INVOLVEMENT IN THE SALE OF FLATS FOR UNFINISHED BUILDINGS AND THE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, 21ST FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, HONG KONG.
- - 0 - -
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE
*****
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS A NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE IN THE DISTRICT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE PROPOSED NEW CIRCULAR ROUTE, WHICH RUNS BETWEEN TAI KOK TSUI AND THE MONG KOK/PRINCE EDWARD MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATIONt WOULD BE AIMED AT ENHANCING PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVING THE TAI KOK TSUI AREA.
MEMBERS WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON A ROAD IMPROVEMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT THE JUNCTION OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST AND SAI YEE STREET.
/OTHER ITEMS
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1990
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED CURTAILMENT OF THE TAT KOK TSUI TO CENTRAL FERRY SERVICE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FIRST FLOOR, 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
- - 0 - -
ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA ♦ ♦ ♦ t ♦
THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL DJSCUSS THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES PLANNED BY THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION FOR THE DISTRICT THIS YEAR AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE ICAC REGIONAL OFFICER (HONG KONG EAST), MR CHU LOK-SANG, WILL BRIEF MEMBERS ON THE ACTIVITIES.
THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THE SORT OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES TO BE ORGANISED FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE RECREATION AND SPORTS PROGRAMME RUN BY THE URBAN COUNCIL IN 1990-91.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FIRST FLOOR, 880-886 KING’S ROAD. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
- - 0 - -
r )NDAY, JUNE 18, 1990
- 5 -
PROJECT FOR ELDERLY ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA * * « » t t
THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE OF THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD WILL CONSIDER FUNDING A PROJECT FOR THE ELDERLY AT A MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 20).
MORE THAN 100 SHOPS IN THE DISTRICT HAVE PLEDGED SUPPORT FOR THE ’’CARE FOR THE ELDERLY PROJECT” BY OFFERING CONCESSIONARY SERVICES TO ELDERLY RESIDENTS.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO STUDY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND SPORTS PROGRAMME FOR THE DISTRICT.
IN ADDITION, THEY WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE WORK OF THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 20) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, GROUND FLOOR, MIDDLE ROAD CARPARK BUILDING, TSIM SHA TSUI. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
--------0-----------
COMBINED FOOTWAY AND CYCLEWAY t ♦ * * *
TO BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN
*
CONSTRUCT A
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO COMBINED FOOTWAY AND CYCLEWAY ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF SIU IN AREA 51, TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, AS PART OF THE CONTINUING FOR THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT.
HONG COURT PROGRAMME
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL WERE PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST THE GAZETTE AND A NOTICE HAS BEEN POSTED ON NOTICE BOARDS SITE OF THE PROPOSED WORKS.
ISSUE OF
NEAR THE
AND
AREA
A COPY OF THE PLAN OF THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOWING THE
THE FOOTPATH TO BE AFFECTED CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN ™Itr™? ™f™e, central enquiry sub-office, central government OFFICES WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG, AND AT THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, 1 TUEN HI
ROAD, TUEN MUN, NEW TERRITORIES.
ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO OBJECT TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN
AUGUST 14 THIS YEAR.
--------0-----------
/6.........
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1990
6
TENDERS INVITED TOR SIU
LAM HOSP ITAI. EXTENSION * t »
♦ * ♦
EXISTING FACILITIES OF THE SIU LAM HOSPITAL AT SIU LAM, NEW TERRITORIES, WILL BE IMPROVED AFTER THE COMPLETION OF EXTENSION AND ALTERATION WORKS BY OCTOBER 1993.
THE PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW EXTENSION BLOCK AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO THE EXISTING FACILITIES, WILL MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
THE FOUR-STOREY EXTENSION BLOCK, WITH A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF ABOUT 3,150 SQUARE METRES, WILL PROVIDE 100 ADDITIONAL BEDS WITH ANCILLARY FACILITIES, RECREATION AREAS AND CARPARKS.
SITE FORMATION WORKS ARE NOW IN PROGRESS AND THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE IN SEPTEMBER.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JULY 6.
-----0-------
CERTIFICATE COURSES FOR SAFETY PERSONNEL
*****
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WILL JOINTLY ORGANISE FOUR ONE-YEAR PART-TIME CERTIFICATE COURSES ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY FOR MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY STAFF IN INDUSTRY BEGINNING IN OCTOBER.
THIS ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME IS AIMED AT PROVIDING PARTICIPANTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE MORE ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF ACCIDENT PREVENTION, SAFETY MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND OTHER SAFETY-RELATED SUBJECTS.
"THE COURSES ARE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR SAFETY PERSONNEL IN THE MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES WHO ARE SPONSORED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS," THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FACTORY INSPECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT’S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE, MR CHAN HON-TING, SAID.
MR CHAN EXPLAINED THAT TWO OF THE COURSES WERE ON GENERAL ASPECTS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND WOULD LEAD TO THE AWARD OF A CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
THEY COVERED SUCH SUBJECTS AS SAFETY LAWS, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE, SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, TECHNIQUES IN SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION, AS WELL AS INSPECTION AND REPORTING.
/GRADUATES ARE........
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1990
GRADUATES ARE RECOGNISED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS POSSESSING THE ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AS SAFETY OFFICERS AND ARE ACCEPTED BY THE HONG KONG OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ASSOCIATION AS MEETING ITS ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP.
MR CHAN SAID THE OTHER TWO COURSES WERE FOR HOLDERS OF A CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY OR EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATIONS. GRADUATES WOULD BE AWARDED A CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
’’THESE TWO COURSES ARE TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE ORGANISATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SAFETY PRACTICE IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES WITH MORE ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF SAFETY-RELATED SUBJECTS,” HE ADDED.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENROLMENT IS JULY 31.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE TO THE CENTRE FOR PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ON TELEPHONE 766 5388.
- - 0 - -
URBAN CLEARWAY IN KOWLOON CITY *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 20), THE EXISTING 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY URBAN CLEARWAY ON THE WESTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF LA SALLE ROAD, IN KOWLOON CITY, FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH BOUNDARY STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 53 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION, WILL BE EXTENDED NORTHWARD FOR ABOUT 60 METRES.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WELL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS IN THE URBAN CLEARWAY.
- - 0 - -
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES IN QUARRY BAY
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT QUARRY BAY STREET AND THE SECTION OF MOUNT PARKER ROAD SOUTH OF QUARRY BAY STREET WILL BE CLOSED FROM 1 AM FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 20).
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
SUMMARY RESULTS OF SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES ............................................................... 1
SENIOR DIRECTORATE POSTINGS ANNOUNCED ............................................... 5
NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR BANKING COMMISSION .......................................... 6
MARINE INQUIRY INTO SINKING OF SHIP ................................................. 7
HK'S FIRST BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT CARRIED OUT IN QMH ................................ 7
ANTI-POLLUTION PROSECUTION FIGURE RELEASED .......................................... 9
CONSUMERS REPORTING WEIGHING MALPRACTICES .......................................... 14
HOSTEL TO RUN TRIAL SCHEME ON SOCIAL REHABILITATION ................................ 15
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT .................................. 16
DB COMMITTEE TO STUDY REPORTS ...................................................... 16
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED ............................................................ 17
WATER STORAGE FIGURE ............................................................... 17
WATER CUT IN SHEUNG SHUI ........................................................... 17
1991 TIDE TABLES FOR HK ON SALE .................................................... 17
AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS ..................................................... 18
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN WAN CHAI ................................................. 19
OPENING OF GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER EXTENSION ........................................ 19
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN KOWLOON CITY ...................................... 20
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF FLYOVER IN WONG TAI SIN ....................................... 20
TEMPORARY NIGHT CLOSURES OF TOEN MUN ROAD .......................................... 20
TEMPORARY NIGHT ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN ............................................ 21
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
1
SUMMARY RESULTS 05 SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES *$**»*»
A TOTAL OF 189 STORAGE ESTABLISHMENTS WERE IN OPERATION DURING THE WHOLE OR PART OF 1988 (A DECREASE OF 3 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1987), WHICH ENGAGED A TOTAL OF 4,313 PERSONS (+14 PER CENT), ACCORDING TO THE SUMMARY RESULTS OF THE 1988 SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THESE ESTABLISHMENTS GENERATED $1,764 MILLION OF BUSINESS RECEIiPTS AND OTHER INCOME (+27 PER CENT), AND SPENT $323 MILLION ON COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES (+40 PER CENT) AND $1,104 MILLION ON OPERATING EXPENSES (+27 PER CENT).
THE VALUE ADDED OF THIS SECTOR INCREASED BY 23 PER CENT TO $825 MILLION IN 1988. VALUE ADDED IS A MEASURE OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF AN ECONOMIC SECTOR TO HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.
ALL VALUE FIGURES IN THIS PRESS RELEASE ARE EXPRESSED IN CURRENT PRICE TERMS. PERCENTAGE CHANGES DERIVED FROM THESE FIGURES HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUSTED FOR PRICE INCREASES.
IN THE COMMUNICATION SECTOR WHICH INCLUDES TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, COURIER, RADIO-PAGING AND OTHER TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES, THERE WERE 286 ESTABLISHMENTS IN OPERATION IN 1988, AN INCREASE OF 42 PER CENT OVER 1987.
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED ROSE BY 12 PER CENT TO 24,803. COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES AMOUNTED TO $2,347 MILLION (+19 PER CENT) AND OPERATING EXPENSES TO $4,085 MILLION (+30 PER CENT).
BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME INCREASED BY 24 PER CENT TO $12,373 MILLION, WHILE THE CONTRIBUTION OF THIS SECTOR TO THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN TERMS OF VALUE ADDED INCREASED BY 22 PER CENT TO $7,115 MILLION.
IN THE FINANCING SECTOR, 2,958 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE IN OPERATION DURING 1988, AN INCREASE OF 22 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1987. THIS SECTOR COMPRISES LOAN AND MORTGAGE COMPANIES, CREDIT INSTITUTIONS, FINANCE LEASING, PAWNSHOPS, INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANIES, SECURITIES, FUTURES AND GOLD BULLION BROKERS AND DEALERS, MONEY CHANGERS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE BROKERS AND DEALERS.
COMPARED WITH 1987, THE SECTOR’S TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED WENT UP BY 21 PER CENT TO 32,013. COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES AMOUNTED TO $4,603 MILLION (+25 PER CENT) AND OPERATING EXPENSES TO $15,436 MILLION (+36 PER CENT). BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME GREW BY 4 PER CENT TO $42,876 MILLION.
HOWEVER, THIS SECTOR’S VALUE ADDED, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE THAT OF INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANIES DUE TO THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THEIR BUSINESS OPERATION, DECREASED BY 18 PER CENT TO $4,770 MILLION.
/IT SHOULD .......
1JESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
- 2 -
IT SHOULD BE NOTED TLAT THE FINANCING SECTOR MENTIONED ABOVE EXCLUDES BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES WHICH ARE SEPARATELY COVERED UNDER THE 1988 SURVEY OF BANKS, DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES AND REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF FOREIGN BANKS, THE RESULTS OF WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE MARCH 1990 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS.
IN SUMMARY, THE NUMBER OF BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES (EXCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF FOREIGN BANKS) IN OPERATION IN 198a DECREASED BY 4 PER CENT TO 428 WHEN COMPARED WITH 1987.
WAGES AND SALARIES PAID AND OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS OFFERED IN 19'83’ AMOUNTED TO $8,526 MILLION (+22 PER CENT) AND OPERATING EXPENSES TO $5,478 MILLION (+14 PER CENT).
NET INTEREST RECEIPTS (I.E. INTEREST RECEIVED MINUS INTEREST PAID) ROSE BY 19 PER CENT TO $19,681 MILLION, WHILE RECEIPTS FROM SERVICES RENDERED INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT TO $5,710 MILLION.
IN THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR, THERE WERE 8,097 ESTABLISHMENTS IN OPERATION IN 1988, AN INCREASE OF 21 PER CENT OVER 1987. THESE INCLUDE LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, AUDITING AND DATA PROCESSING FIRMS; COMPANIES ENGAGED IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANCY, ADVERTISING, DESIGNING, SECRETARIAL AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES; TECHNICAL SERVICES AND MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL COMPANIES WHICH ENGAGED A TOTAL OF 73,686 PERSONS, AN INCREASE OF 12 PER CENT OVER 1987.
THEY SPENT $6,641 MILLION ON COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES (+26 PER CENT) AND $11,172 MILLION ON OPERATING EXPENSES (+21 PER CENT), AND GENERATED $24,137 MILLION OF BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME (+27 PER CENT). THE SECTOR CONTRIBUTED $12,665 MILLION TO THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (+34 PER CENT), MEASURED IN TERMS OF VALUE ADDED.
IN THE INSURANCE SECTOR, WHICH INCLUDES GENERAL AND LIFE INSURERS, INSURANCE AGENTS AND COMPANIES PROVIDING OTHER INSURANCE-RELATED SERVICES, THE NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT TO 1,650, WHILE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT TO 17,851. THIS SECTOR GENERATED $14,133 MILLION OF BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME (+17 PER CENT).
COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES AMOUNTED TO $2,002 MILLION AND OPERATING EXPENSES TO $1,435 MILLION, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 34 PER CENT AND 29 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER 1987.
THE 1988 SURVEY WAS ONE IN A SERIES OF ANNUAL SURVEYS CONDUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASCERTAINING THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTORS AND OF UPDATING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF HONG KONG.
DATA COLLECTED IN THE SURVEY INCLUDED TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, FLOOR AREA, NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED, NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES, OPERATING EXPENSES, BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME, AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
/DESCRIPTIONS OF .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
- 3 -
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY OF THE SURVEY, TOGETHER WITH ANALYTICAL TABLES SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL STATISTICS FOR ALL ESTABLISHMENTS CLASSIFIED BY SERVICES GROUP/SECTOR AND ANALYSED BY VARIOUS ECONOMIC VARIABLES, ARE INCLUDED IN THE STATISTICAL REPORT ENTITLED "1988 SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES".
THIS REPORT WILL BE ON SALE IN JULY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL; AND THE PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER I, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN .CHAI. ’
STATISTICS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT WILL BE USEFUL TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR DECISION MAKING, ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND MARKET RESEARCH.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE TRANSPORT AND SERVICES STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. : 556 3564).
/COMPARISON OF .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
4
Comparison of selected principal statistics for all establishments in the Storage, Communication, _____________Financing, Insurance and Business Services Sectors between 1987 and 1988_______________
Sector Number of establishments Number of Persons engaged Number of employees Compensation of employees Operating expenses Business receipts and other income Value added
• $ Mn. $ Nn. $ Nn. $ Hu.
Storage 1988 189 4 313 4 306 323.2 1,104.1 1,763.6 824.8
1987 194 3 772 3 755 231.7 871.1 1,387.9 672.0
\ change -3 +14 +15 ♦40 +27 +27 +23
Communication 1988 286 24 803 24 575 2,347.1 4,085.3 12,372.5 7,115.0
1987 201 22 171 22 043 1,969.9 3,132.9 9,955.5 5,833.8
\ change H2 +12 +11 ♦19 ♦30 +24 +22
Financing 1988 2 958 32 013 30 747 4,603.0 15,436.3 42,875.6 4,769.5
1987 2 433 26 464 25 412 3,686.9 11,376.2 41,076.6 5,830.8
\ change +22 +21 ♦21 ♦25 +36 ♦4 -18
Business services 1988 8 097 73 686 67 311 6,641.1 11,172.4 24,137.0 12,664.5
1987 6 697 65 530 59 867 5,255.2 9,262.5 19,025.7 9,470.1
\ change +21 +12 +12 ♦26 ♦21 ♦27 ♦ 34
Insurance 1988 1 650 17 851 16 791 2,001.5 1,434.6 14,133.2 -
1987 1 426 15 580 14 732 1,498.9 1,113.5 12,077.5 -
\ change +16 + 15 • ♦ 14 +34 +29 ♦17 -
Motes : (1} In the financing sector, value added was not compiled for investment and holding companies due to the special features of their business operation. Hence, total value added for the sector did not include that of investment and bolding companies.
(2) Financing sector excluded banks and deposit-taking companies.
(3) Value added was not compiled for the insurance sector.
(4) Figures denoting changes are derived from unrounded figures.
(5) Value added is a measure of the contribution of an economic sector to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product. The definition can be found in the '1988 Survey of Storage, Communication, Financing, Insurance and Business Services' Report.
------0------------
/5.........
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, I960
5 SENIOR DIRECTORATE POSTINGS ANNOUNCED » * » » *
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE FOLLOWING SENIOR DIRECTORATE POSTINGS:
MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON, COMMISSIONER FOR CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, WILL TAKE OVER FROM MR STEUART WEBB-JOHNSON AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF HONG KONG TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, BRUSSELS, WHEN THE LATTER RETIRES IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR.
MR WILLIAMSON WILL SPEND SOME TIME FAMILIARISING HIMSELF WITH MATTERS HANDLED BY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S OVERSEAS OFFICES BEFORE TAKING OVER FROM MR WEBB-JOHNSON.
MR CLIVE OXLEY, DEPUTY SECRETARY (LANDS AND PLANNING) OF THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH, WILL SUCCEED MR WILLIAMSON AS COMMISSIONER FOR CUSTOMS AND EXCISE IN OCTOBER.
AGED 49, MR WILLIAMSON JOINED THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE IN NOVEMBER 1964 AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN FEBRUARY 1971, TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE C IN MAY 1973, TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE B IN APRIL 1978, TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE Bl IN SEPTEMBER 1986, AND TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE A IN DECEMBER 1989.
MR WILLIAMSON HAS HELD A VARIETY OF SENIOR APPOINTMENTS INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY OF THE FORMER UMELCO OFFICE FROM SEPTEMBER 1977 TO JANUARY 1979. HE WAS THEN ON SECONDMENT TO THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE FROM JANUARY 1979 TO JULY 1982.
HE WAS DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR SECURITY FROM AUGUST 1982 TO AUGUST 1983, COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE FROM AUGUST 1983 TO MARCH 1985 AND DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES FROM MARCH 1985 TO JUNE 1986. HE BECAME COMMISSIONER FOR CUSTOMS AND EXCISE IN JUNE 1986.
MR OXLEY, AGED 54, JOINED THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE IN JUNE 1969 AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN AUGUST 1975, TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE C IN MARCH 1978, TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE B IN APRIL 1985, AND TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE Bl IN DECEMBER 1989. C
DURING HIS CAREER MR OXLEY HAS HELD A VARIETY OF SENIOR APPOINTMENTS, INCLUDING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE FROM MARCH 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1984, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING FROM SEPTEMBER 1984 TO MARCH 1987, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES FROM MARCH 1987 TO OCTOBER 1989, AND HIS PRESENT POST OF DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS FROM OCTOBER 1989.
--------0 - -
/6 ........
TUESDAY, JUNE 19,
1990
NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR BANKING COMMISSION
******
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY TUESDAY) SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE SUPPLY OF AN ENHANCED COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING (OCB).
THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, BOUGHT AT THE PRICE OF $26 MILLION, WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL BACKUP TO THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE OCB'S STRATEGY OF BROADENING ITS RANGE OF SUPERVISORY TECHNIQUES AND ENABLE THE OCB TO COPE WITH THE ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD GENERATED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BASLE AGREEMENT ON CAPITAL CONVERGENCE.
» . ' WHEN FULLY OPERATIONAL NEXT YEAR, THE SYSTEM WILL IMPROVE THE CAPABILITY OF THE OCB TO SUPERVISE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 400 OR SO BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES OPERATING IN HONG KONG.
"IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO SORT AND ANALYSE THE DATA OF THESE INSTITUTIONS SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS," THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING, MR TONY NICOLLE, SAID.
THE OCB IS MAKING GREATER USE OF OFF-SITE ANALYSIS OF THE INSTITUTIONS’ FINANCIAL DATA AS A SUPPLEMENT AND ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL ON-SITE EXAMINATIONS.
"WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BLEND OUR TRADITIONAL APPROACH OF ON-SITE EXAMINATIONS WITH NEW TECHNIQUES IN EXAMINATION," MR NICOLLE SAID.
"ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL DATA, WHICH THIS NEW SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE, WILL GREATLY ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL AREAS OF CONCERN, SO HELPING US FOCUS OUR EXAMINATIONS ON SUCH AREAS," HE ADDED.
ANOTHER OBJECTIVE OF ACQUIRING THE NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM IS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESSING OF ALL BANKING AND MONETARY STATISTICS.
THE NEW SYSTEM WILL ENABLE OCB TO TAKE OVER THE PROCESSING OF MONETARY STATISTICS WHICH ARE NOW BEING COLLECTED AND PROCESSED SEPARATELY IN THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH.
"IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH, WE HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO STREAMLINE AND SIMPLIFY THE STATISTICAL RETURNS WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING THE REPORTING BURDEN ON THE INSTITUTIONS," MR NICOLLE SAID.
THE COMPUTER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION INCLUDES A DIGITAL VAX 6000 MODEL 430 COMPUTER, 5.9 GIGABYTES OF STORAGE AND INTERFACE TO HARDWARE ENCRYPTION/DECRYPTION DEVICE.
ATTENDING THE SIGNING CEREMONY WITH MR NICOLLE WERE THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, MR BILLY C.L. LAM, WHO SIGNED THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT; DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, DR COLIN GREENFIELD; GENERAL MANAGER OF DIGITAL EQUIPMENT HONG KONG LIMITED, MR J. GRAHAM LONG; AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF ORACLE SYSTEMS HONG KONG LIMITED, MR RICK HESS.
------0--------
/7......
TUESDAY, JUNE 19,
1990
MARINE INQUIRY INTO SINKING OF SHIP * » » »
THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, HAS ORDERED THAT A LOCAL MARINE INQUIRY BE HELD INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE SINKING OF A TAIWANESE-REGISTERED VESSEL, THE TIEN FU, ON SUNDAY (JUNE 17).
A SURVEYOR OF SHIPS, MR DESMOND HOWELL, HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE UNDER SECTION 58 OF THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE TIEN FU SANK NEAR THE NINEPIN GROUP OF ISLANDS IN THE EARLY HOURS OF SUNDAY. THREE PEOPLE DIED AND THE MASTER OF THE VESSEL WAS REPORTED MISSING IN THE INCIDENT.
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO LIAISING WITH THE MACAU MARINE DEPARTMENT WITH A VIEW TO INQUIRING INTO CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE STRANDING OF TWO HONG KONG BARGES AND ONE DREDGER AT THE HAC SA BEACH IN THE PORTUGUESE TERRITORY ON SUNDAY.
------U--------
HK’S FIRST BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT CARRIED OUT IN QMH
THE FIRST BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (BMT) IN HONG KONG WAS CARRIED OUT IN QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL (QMH) IN THE MIDDLE OF LAST MONTH, THE HEAD OF THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL UNIT AT QMH, PROFESSOR T.K. CHAN, ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING ON THE BEGINNING OF THE BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT SERVICE AT QMH, PROFESSOR CHAN SAID THE FIRST PATIENT WHO HAS RECEIVED A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT IN HONG KONG IS A 26-YEAR-OLD FEMALE SUFFERING FROM ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA.
"THE TRANSPLANT WAS CARRIED OUT IN MID-MAY AND THE PATIENT WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY ACCEPTED HER BROTHER’S DONATION MARROW IS NOW READY FOR DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL.
"WITHOUT BMT, HER CHANCE OF CURE IS ZERO; BUT NOW HER CHANCE OF CURE HAS RISEN TO 50 PER CENT.”
PROFESSOR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENT BMT PROGRAMME AT QMH IS INTENDED FOR ADULT PATIENTS OVER 12 AND UNDER 45 YEARS OF AGE WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING INDICATIONS:
♦ ACUTE LEUKAEMIAS (BOTH MYELOID AND LYMPHOID) IN EARLY STAGES OF TREATMENT;
/* CHRONIC MYELOID ........
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
8 -
* CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKAEMIA AT CHRONIC PHASE OR EARLY STAIIB OF ACUTE TRANSFORMATION; OR
* SEVERE APLASTIC ANAEMIA,
"WE SHALL ACCEPT PATIENTS FROM ALL REGIONS IN HONG KONG THROUGH REFERRAL BY CONSULTANTS OF MEDICAL UNITS WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INITIAL INDUCTION CHEMOTHERAPY AND ARRANGING HLA COMPATIBLE SIBLINGS."
ACCORDING TO PROFESSOR CHAN, TRANSPLANT-RELATED MORTALITY IS 15 TO 30 PER CENT, MOSTLY DUE TO SEVERE INFECTION, ACUTE GRAFT-VS-HOST DISEASE (GVHD) AND OTHER ORGAN FAILURE. THE RELAPSE RATE OF DISEASE IS 20 TO 50 PER CENT.
"HENCE DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DISEASE AND STAGE OF ILLNESS, BMT OFFERS A 20 TO 65 PER CENT CHANCE OF CURE. WITHOUT TRANSPLANT, SUCH A PATIENT WOULD EITHER HAVE NO CHANCE OF CURE OR A CHANCE OF CURE BELOW 50 PER CENT.”
PROFESSOR CHAN STRESSED THAT BMT HAS TO BE CORRECTLY ADVISED AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE TOTAL TREATMENT STRATEGY FOR A PATIENT. EACH PATIENT NEEDS TO RECEIVE ADEQUATE COUNSELLING ON THE PROS AND CONS, THE TYPE AND THE TIMING OF BMT.
THE BMT UNIT AT QMH IS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (UNIVERSITY MEDICAL UNIT). IT CONSISTS OF 11 REVERSE ISOLATION ROOMS WITH POSITIVE PRESSURE FILTERED AIR-CONDITIONING. A SPECIAL LABORATORY EQUIPPED FOR PREPARATION AND STORAGE OF BONE MARROW IS IN USE.
"IN THE FIRST STAGE OF OPERATION, ONLY FOUR OF THE 11 BEDS ARE OPENED. EACH BED CAN ACCEPT EIGHT PATIENTS A YEAR," PROFESSOR CHAN SAID.
PROFESSOR CHAN ADDED THAT CLOSE CO-OPERATION AND PROFESSIONAL INPUT FROM ALL SUB-SPECIALTIES OF MEDICINE ARE IMPERATIVE. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OTHER UNITS, INCLUDING RADIOTHERAPY, TISSUE-TYPING, HAEMATOPATHOLOGY, TRANSFUSION SERVICE, MICROBIOLOGY, VIROLOGY, DIETICIANS AND PHARMACY, ARE ALSO INDISPENSABLE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE BMT PROGRAMME.
"MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IS THE EXPERT NURSING CARE REQUIRED FOR THIS PROGRAMME. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE VERY DEDICATED NURSES," PROFESSOR CHAN NOTED.
------0 - -
/9 ........
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
9
ANTI-POLLUTION PROSECUTION FIGURE RELEASED
*»*»*,*
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TODAY (TUESDAY) RELEASED A LIST OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY IN THE COURTS, DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, OF BREACHING ANTI-POLLUTION LEGISLATION CURRENTLY ENFORCED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE EPD HAS DECIDED TO MAKE SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
AN EPD SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE DEPARTMENT MEASURED ITS SUCCESS IN TERMS OF POLLUTION PROBLEMS AVOIDED /'ND IMPROVEMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT BY THE NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS.
"BUT INEVITABLY, THERE IS A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO, EVEN AFTER ADVICE AND WARNINGS, DO NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY."
THE SPOKESMAN SAID SOME CASES, EVEN SIMPLE ONES, MAY TAKE A LONG TIME TO COME BEFORE THE COURT BECAUSE IT WAS OFTEN NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE AND LABORATORY ANALYSES.
ALL OF THIS COULD BE VERY TIME CONSUMING AND AS A RESULT THERE WAS SOMETIMES A LENGTHY TIME GAP BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE OFFENCE AND THE CONVICTION DATE.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE LIST OF PROSECUTION CASES AND THE ASSOCIATED FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS DURING THE MONTH OF MAY:
RECORD
NAME (COMPANY) ADDRESS DATE OF OFFENCE’ NATURE OF OFFENCE OF FINES(|) OFFENCE
HOT PEPPER RESTAURANT LTD TAIKOO SHING QUARRY BAY 1.9.88- APCO: 2,000 1ST
3.11.88 UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION/ ALTERATION OF FURNACES, ETC.
HONG KONG HOT POT LTD HENNESSY RD, WAN CHAI 28.2.89- 21.3.89 APCO: UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION/ ALTERATION OF FURNACES, ETC. 3,000 1ST
TRUE SUCCESS INDUSTRIAL LTD NATHAN RD, MONG KOK 6.5.89- 13.8.89 APCO: UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION/ 4,000 1ST
ALTERATION OF FURNACES, ETC.
/FAUPEL CO.........
TUESDAY, JUNE 19 1990
- 10 -
FAUPEL CO. (HK) LTD SAI YEUNG CHOI ST, MONG KOK 8.8.89 OLPO: IMPORTATION OF SCHEDULED SUBSTANCES WITHOUT A LICENCE 26,000 1ST
FAUPEL CO. (HK) LTD » SAI YEUNG CHOI ST, MONG KOK 10.8.89 OLPO: IMPORTATION OF SCHEDULED SUBSTANCES WITHOUT A LICENCE 60,000 2ND
WIDE CLASS INVESTMENTS LTD FUNG KAM ST, YUEN LONG 19.8.89- 2.9.89 APCO: FAILURE TO FURNISH REQUIRED INFORMATION 1,200 1ST
MEI YAT CO. YIP KAN ST, 8.9.89 WONG CHUK HANG APCO: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF AIR POLLUTANT ABATEMENT NOTICE (GENERAL) 5,000 2ND ■«
TRANSOVER INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LTD CHATHAM RD, TSIM SHA TSUI 25.9.89- 14.10.89 a APCO: UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION/ ALTERATION OF FURNACES, ETC. 3,000 1ST
WING TAI PILONNER CO. LTD NATHAN RD, KOWLOON 26.9.89 APCO: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF AIR POLLUTANT ABATEMENT NOTICE (GENERAL) 2,000 1ST
CHINESE GRILL HOUSE LTD JORDAN RD, YAU MA TEI 19.10.89 APCO: FAILURE TO FURNISH REQUIRED INFORMATION 3,000 1ST
MAXIM’S CATERERS LTD CHATER RD, CENTRAL 20.10.89- 20.11.89 APCO: UNAUTHORISED 4,500 12TH
INSTALLATION/ ALTERATION OF FURNACES, ETC.
/GOLDYET SERVICES
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
GOLDYET SERVICES LTD NAM CHEONG ST, SHAM SHUI PO 23.10.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2,000 1ST
WING YIU IND. CO. LTD KWAI FUNG CRESCENT, KWAI CHUNG 27.10.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 2ND
WELLWELL BLEACHING & DYEING FACTORY LTD • TEXACO RD, TSUEN WAN 27.10.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,500 2ND
Y.F. KNITTING & SILK DYEING LTD PUN SHAN ST, TSUEN WAN 2.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 5,000 6TH
HING FU SIZING WORKS LTD KIN KWAN ST, TUEN MUN 3.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,000 4TH
TW GARMENT MFG. LTD KWAI CHEONG RD, KWAI CHUNG 3.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,500 1ST
CHARM SHINE INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD LAM TIN ST, KWAI CHUNG 6.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 5,000 7TH
OPEN TREASURE DYEING & WASHING LTD WAH SING ST, KWAI CHUNG 8.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 1ST
WIDA DYEING WORKS LTD CASTLE PEAK RD, TSUEN WAN 14.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,500 2ND
KAM MOON RESTAURANT PANG CHING ST, TO KWA WAN 17.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2,000 2ND
DAYON WEAVING &, DYEING FACTORY LTD CHAI WAN KOK ST, TSUEN WAN 20.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 1ST
SUNRISE FINISHING FACTORY LTD FU UK RD, TSUEN WAN 21.11.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,500 2ND
HING FU SIZING WORKS LTD KIN KWAN ST, TUEN MUN 5.12.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,000 5TH
/INTERNATIONAL DYEING
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
12
INTERNATIONAL DYEING & BLEACHING FACTORY LTD PUN SHAN ST, TSUEN WAN 8. 12.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,f»00 2ND
KIRIN CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTOR LTD MODY RD, TS1M SHA TSUI 18. 12.89 APCO: CONDUCT OF SPECIFIED PROCESS WITHOUT A LICENCE 10,000 1ST
WAI KEE MING LEE DYEING FACTORY KIN KWAN ST, TUEN MUN 19. 12.89 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2,000 1ST
SUN LUEN SIZING & DYEING FACTORY LTD FIJI YIU KOK ST, TSUEN WAN 3 . 1.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 1ST
TRANIBEST LTD FU UK RD, TSUEN WAN 4 .1.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,000 2ND
SUN LIC (LUEN HOP) DYEING CO. LTD KWAI CHEONG RD, KWAI CHUNG 4 .1.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 2ND
SUNRISE FINISHING FACTORY LTD FU UK RD, TSUEN WAN 4 .1.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,500 3RD
CHI SHUN BLEACHING & DYEING FACTORY LTD WO YI HOP RD, KWAI CHUNG 9 .1.^0 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 2ND
MING KAI DYEING FACTORY LTD TSING YI IND. CTR., TSING YI 10 .1.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,500 2ND
DAYON WEAVING & FACTORY LTD CHAI WAN KOK ST, TSUEN WAN 17 .1.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,500 2ND
KIRIN CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTOR LTD MODY RD, TS1M SHA TSUI 8 .2.90 APCO: CONDUCT OF SPECIFIED PROCESS WITHOUT LICENCE 10,000 2ND
LICK SANG KNITTING & DYEING FACTORY WANG LUNG ST, TSUEN WAN 10 .2.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,500 4 TH
/MERRIGOLD LAUNDRY .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
- 13 -
MERRIGOLD LAUNDRY AND VALET SERVICES LTD ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD, ABERDEEN 13.2.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 1ST
BRIGHT BLEACHING & DYEING FACTORY LTD HOI BUN RD, KWUN TONG 14.2.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2,500 1ST
TAI YIP DYEING FACTORY LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 19.2.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 4 TH
ULTRAFINE CIRCUITS LTD WONG CHUK YEUNG ST, FO TAN 27.2.90 WPCO: DISCHARGE OF UNTREATED TRADE EFFLUENT INTO FOUL SEWER 20,000 3RD
HANSOM PILING & CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD MERCER ST, CENTRAL 6.3.90 APCO: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT NOTICE (GENERAL) 5,000 8TH
TAI YIP DYEING FACTORY LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 8.3.90 • APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2,500 5TH
TAI KWONG DYEING FACTORY CO. LTD TSING YI IND. CTR., TSING YI 8.3.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,000 4 TH
TAI YIP DYEING FACTORY LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 9.3.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 3,000 6TH
DAYON WEAVING & DYEING FACTORY LTD CHAI WAN KOK ST, TSUEN WAN 13.3.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,500 3RD
/GUANGDONG WATER .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
GUANGDONG WATER CONSERVANCY & HYDROPOWER ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD
ASHLEY
TSIM SHA TSUI
14.3.90 APCO: CONTRAVENING TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF A SPECIFIED PROCESS LICENCE
4,000 1ST
NOTE
APCO,: AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WPCO: WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE OLPO: OZONE LAYER PROTECTION ORDINANCE
--------0-----------
CONSUMERS REPORTING WEIGHING MALPRACTICES
*****
CONSUMERS HAVE BECOME MORE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHT TO REPORT MALPRACTICES CONCERNING WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT.
THE PRINCIPAL TRADE CONTROLS OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT’S TRADING STANDARDS INVESTIGATION BUREAU, MR ANDREW WONG, SAID THIS WAS REFLECTED IN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRADERS USING INACCURATE WEIGHING AND MEASURING INSTRUMENTS, WHICH HAD GONE UP FROM SIX IN JANUARY TO 29 IN MAY THIS YEAR.
"WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 84 COMPLAINTS LN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, COMPARED TO ONLY 37 DURING THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR," HE SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD SO FAR RECEIVED 178 COMPLAINTS SINCE THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 1989.
"OF THESE COMPLAINTS, 58 WERE SUBSTANTIATED, 81 WERE NOT SUBSTANTIATED AND THE OTHERS ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
"THE DEPARTMENT HAS PROSECUTED 21 TRADERS, WHO HAVE BEEN FINED A TOTAL OF $50,050," HE SAID.
THE TWO MOST RECENT CASES INVOLVED A HAWKER AND A SCRAP DEALER, WHO WERE FINED $1,000 AND $2,000 RESPECTIVELY FOR USING INACCURATE WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS.
THE DEFENDANTS, MS KAN MUI, A MOBILE FRUIT HAWKER, AND MR SUNG KA-KEUNG, OF HUNG KEE METAL AND WASTE PAPER ON THE GROUND FLOOR, 513 SHUN NING ROAD, SHAM SHUI PO, BOTH PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGES.
/IN THESE .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 39. 1990
- 15 -
IN THESE TWO CASES, A CHINESE STEELYARD USED BY THE HAWKER AND A PLATFORM WEIGHING MACHINE USED BY THE SCRAP DEALER WERE FOUND TO BE INACCURATE ON PRELIMINARY CHECKING. THE WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS WERE SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY FOR FURTHER TESTING.
TEST RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE CHINESE STEELYARD HAD A HIGHEST ERROR OF 18.75 PER CENT IN EXCESS OF THE ACTUAL WEIGHT WHILE THE PLATFORM WEIGHING MACHINE’S HIGHEST ERROR WAS 34.2 PER CENT LESS THAN THE ACTUAL WEIGHT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID ANY PERSON WANTING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MALPRACTICES IN RESPECT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES SHOULD CONTACT EITHER THE TRADING STANDARDS INVESTIGATION BUREAU OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT (TEL. 714 6146) OR THE CONSUMER COUNCIL.
HE SAID COMPLAINTS COULD ALSO BE MADE TO DUTY OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 852 3185 AFTER NORMAL OFFICE HOURS.
---------0-----------
HOSTEL TO RUN TRIAL SCHEME ON SOCIAL REHABILITATION
THE CHEUNG HONG HOSTEL, OPERATING UNDER THE SOCIETY OF BOYS’ CENTRES, WILL RUN A PILOT SCHEME TO ACCOMMODATE YOUNG WORKING PROBATIONERS REQUIRING HOSTEL PLACEMENT, STARTING FROM MONDAY, JULY 16.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAJj WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THE SCHEME WOULD BE ON TRIAL FOR A YEAR.
THE HOSTEL, SITUATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF HONG FUNG HOUSE IN CHEUNG HONG ESTATE, TSING YI, HAS A CAPACITY OF 40.
"IT WILL PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL CARE TO BOYS, AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 17, WHO ARE DISCHARGED FROM THE CASTLE PEAK AND O PUI SHAN BOYS’ HOMES, OR UNDER PROBATION SUPERVISION, BE THEY WORKING OR RECEIVING VOCATIONAL TRAINING," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
DISCHARGEES FROM THE TWO BOYS’ HOMES WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH A PERIOD OF INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING WITH SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE, AND BE IN NEED OF HALF-WAY HOSTEL SERVICE UPON DISCHARGE.
THE PROBATIONERS WOULD HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF ONLY MINOR OFFENCES, PREFERABLY BE FIRST OFFENDERS, AND WITHOUT RECORDS OF CONVICTION RELATING TO DRUGS, TRIAD, SEXUAL, OR VIOLENT CRIME OFFENCES.
------0-------
/16........
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
- 16 -
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
MEMBERS OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER ON THURSDAY (JUNE 21) THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR ERECTING NEST LETTER BOXES FOR VILLAGERS AND MARICULTURISTS IN PO TOI O.
THEY WILL ALSO STUDY A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A FOOTPATH LINKING TUI MIN HOI WITH A NEARBY GREEN MINIBUS STOP, AND THE PROVISION OF $138,000 FOR CUTTING GRASS AT VILLAGE FOOTPATHS IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.
IN ADDITION, THEY WILL LOOK INTO THE WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM AT THE TAI CHUNG HAU RIVER.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY (JUNE 21) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 34 CHAN MAN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 10 AM.
------0--------
DB COMMITTEE TO STUDY REPORTS * * » » »
THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL STUDY TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) ITS WORK REPORT FOR 1989-90 AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S REPORT FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 1 TO APRIL 30 THIS YEAR.
THE MEETING WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE 1990 DISTRICT SELECTION OF AN OUTSTANDING KMB BUS CAPTAIN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1 TUEN HI ROAD, TUEN MUN.
/17........
TUESDAY, JUNB 19, 1990
17
17..ATH SENTENCE COMMUTED
* » » ♦ »
THE GOVERNOR, S. DAVID WILSON, AFTER CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON SIU WAI-LIN ON DECEMBER 7 BE COMMUTED TO A SENTENCE OF 30 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.
BE COMMUTED TO
TAKING INTO
DECIDED THAT
1988 SHOULD
SIU WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF LEE KA-KI.
------0--------
WATER STORAGE FIGURE
* » ♦ *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (TUESDAY) STOOD AT 45.7 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 267.641 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 317.873 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 54.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
---------0-----------
WATER CUT IN SHEUNG SHUI ♦ * » ♦
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN SHEUNG SHUI WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11.30 PM ON THURSDAY (JUNE 21) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY TO FACILITATE LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES AT SHEK WU HUI.
------0--------
1991 TIDE TABLES FOR HK ON SALE ♦ ♦ ♦ » *
THE " NOW ON SALE HEADQUARTERS
1991 TIDE TABLES FOR HONG KONG” HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND IS AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, MARINE DEPARTMENT AND ROYAL OBSERVATORY HEADQUARTERS.
THESE TABLES LIST THE PREDICTED HIGH AND LOW WATERS AT EIGHT LOCATIONS ON PAI, QUARRY BAY, TAI O, TAI PO KAU,
HEIGHTS AND TIMES OF DAILY — CHI MA WAN, KO LAU WAN, LOK TSIM BEI TSUI AND WAGLAN.
/PHASES OF .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
18
PHASES OF THE MOON ARE ALSO GIVEN.
AT $9 A COPY, THIS
INFORMATIVE REFERENCE ON TIDES
BILINGUAL PUBLICATION
IN HONG KONG.
PROVIDES
AN
ENGINEERS, SHIPPING AND WHARFING COMPANIES, CONTAINER TERMINAL OPERATORS, YACHTSMEN, FISHING AND WATER SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD FIND THESE TABLES VERY USEFUL.
--------0-----------
AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ANOTHER AUCTION OF SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS ON SATURDAY (JUNE 23) AT THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL. THE AUCTION WILL BEGIN AT 10 AM.
A TOTAL OF 70 SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR
BIDDING. THEY t ARE •
FROM 10 AM TO 10.45 AM
EG1822 EG987 EG182 EF3386 AX632
BR407 EF2305 EE8002 EG423 AJ6111
EH5039 AK415 EH196 EG1216 EG740
BB216 EE7749 EH7770 EG119 BK5658
EF1620 EG201 EJ566 EH4489 EH325
EG443 BB107 EE5D80 EH905 AD551
EF3862 EF8616 EG220 EH8821 CD2263
FROM 11 AM TO 11.45 AM
BM3832 AF2229 EH280 EG986 EH1386
EG205 EH165 EG5666 EH5136 EE6119
EG143 EE8660 EF172 EH315 EG730
AZ2599 EF629 EE6377 EG6696 EH6726
EH177 EH7080 CP219 CD107 EH902
EF316 AP325 EG817 EE8001 EG4489
AA1118 AA863 EG3286 EG623 EG820
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS 1 MUST PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
BIDDING.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED BIDDERS THAT THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER WOULD BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO A VEHICLE REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE AUCTION.
/THE CERTIFICATE .......
TUESDAY, JUNE J 9, 1990
19
TIiE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION MUST BE PRODUCED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AUCTION IF THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARK IS TO BE REGISTERED UNDER THE NAME OF A BODY CORPORATE.
PROCEEDS OF THE AUCTION WILL AS USUAL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND.
THE COMING AUCTION WILL BE THE 152ND ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973.
------0--------
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN WAN CHAI
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT THE SECTION OF TAK YAN STREET BETWEEN WAN CHAI ROAD AND 01 KWAN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS FROM THURSDAY (JUNE 21) TO FACILITATE ELECTRIC CABLE DIVERSION WORK.
DURING THE CLOSURE, VEHICLES ON WAN CHAI ROAD INTENDING TO GAIN ACCESS TO 01 KWAN ROAD THROUGH TAK YAN STREET WILL BE DIVERTED TO TRAVEL VIA WOOD ROAD AND WING CHEUNG STREET.
- - 0---------
OPENING OF GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER EXTENSION
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER EXTENSION WILL BE OPENED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM THURSDAY (JUNE 21) AT 8 PM.
THE EXTENSION CONNECTS THE EXISTING GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER FROM JORDAN ROAD TO CHATHAM ROAD NORTH.
MOTORISTS ON NORTHBOUND CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH CANNOT TURN LEFT ONTO GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER AND MOTORISTS ON SOUTHBOUND WYLIE ROAD CANNOT TURN RIGHT ONTO GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER.
THEY ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA WESTBOUND GASCOIGNE ROAD AND WESTBOUND KANSU STREET ONTO'FERRY STREET.
i
CONCURRENTLY, THE TEMPORARY ELEVATED CARRIAGEWAYS FOR EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON GASCOIGNE ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FOR DEMOLITION.
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 22), THE 24-HOUR DAILY BAN ZONE ON THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER FOR ALL VEHICLES EXCEEDING 11 METRES IN LENGTH WILL BE CANCELLED.
------0--------
/20 .....
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
20
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN KOWLOON CITY
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 12.01 AM TO 4 AM ON THURSDAY (JUNE 21), THE WESTBOUND DOWNRAMP LEADING FROM THE PRINCE EDWARD ROAD FLYOVER TO PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST (WESTBOUND) NEAR toSar K0WL0"' city’ "ill “ tehror^ly cSrdNE£o
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE WORKS.
--------0-----------
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF FLYOVER IN WONG TAI SIN
♦ »*»♦»
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 1 AM TO 4 AM ON THURSDAY (JUNE 21), THE DOWNRAMP OF THE FLYOVER LEADING FROM PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST TO CHOI HUNG ROAD NORTHBOUND (OUTSIDE ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE), IN WONG TAI SIN, WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE GULLY EMPTYING WORKS.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS ON MA TAU CHUNG ROAD HEADING FOR CHOI HUNG ROAD ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA MA TAU CHUNG ROAD, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST (GROUND LEVEL) AND CHOI HUNG ROAD.
------0--------
TEMPORARY NIGHT CLOSURES OF TUEN MUN ROAD
» ♦ ♦ » ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF STRUCTURAL FALSEWORK, THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF TUEN MUN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 1.30 AM AND 5.30 AM ON THE DATES SPECIFIED BELOW:
* FROM THURSDAY (JUNE 21) TO SATURDAY (JUNE 23), THE
NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO TUEN HING ROAD AND THE SLIP ROAD LEADING FROM PUI TO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED.
VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TUEN MUN ROAD HEADING FOR YUEN LONG WILL BE DIRECTED VIA TUEN HING ROAD, TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD AND PUI TO ROAD BEFORE REJOINING TUEN MUN ROAD.
/* FROM JUNE ........
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1990
- 21 -
* FROM JUNE 26 TO 28, THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO PUI TO ROAD AND THE SLIP ROAD LEADING FROM TUEN HING ROAD WILL BE CLOSED.
» VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TUEN KUN ROAD HEADING FOR KOWLOON WILL BE DIRECTED VIA PUI TO ROAD, TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD AND TUEN HING ROAD BEFORE REJOINING TUEN MUN ROAD.
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS.
--------0-----------
TEMPORARY NIGHT ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 11 PM - ?;™ SS ^0SBD
TO 6 AM SECTION
STREET AND TO TRAFFIC
THE OF
THE TO
DURIHO THE CLOSURE, J®"1®®®3^^“rOAd” TAl'cHUNR KIU ROAD 3»‘ ™ S SS WBSTBOURD.
---------o-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BRINGS BENEFITS TO COMMUNITY ............................. 1
HOUSEHOLD VISITS IN YAU TSIM FOR ELECTIONS .................................. 2
NORTH DB TO CONSIDER FUND APPLICATIONS ...................................... 3
FUND APPLICATIONS ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA .................................... 3
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS FESTIVE LIGHTING .................................... 4
OVERSTAYERS AND Il’S FROM CHINA ARRESTED..................................... 4
THREE GOVT LOTS TO LET BY TENDER ............................................ 5
CHANGES IN HOURS OF NEW ID CARD ISSUE OFFICES ............................... 6
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WESTERN DISTRICT..........................................
BAN ZONES IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT ..............................................
CANCELLATION OF BAN ZONE ON GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER .......................... 7
7 URBAN CLEARWAYS IN TAI PO ...................................................
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990
HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BRINGS BENEFITS TO COMMUNITY % * * * »
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID THAT CONCERNS OVER PARTICULAR ASPECTS IN ESTABLISHING THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY SHOULD NOT LEAD HONG KONG TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE BENEFITS IT WOULD BRING TO THE COMMUNITY.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG OUTLINED THE MAIN BENEFITS OF SETTING UP THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WOULD PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR BRINGING THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS TOGETHER IN AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PRESERVING THE TRADITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS.
’’THIS WILL ENABLE THE BEST USE TO BE MADE OF EACH HOSPITAL’S FACILITIES, WITH BETTER CO-ORDINATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF MANPOWER AND RESOURCES,” SHE SAID.
MRS WONG SAID THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY’S SECOND BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE THE GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND QUICKER RESPONSE TO CHANGING DEMANDS THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE POSSIBLE IF CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS WERE TO APPLY.
THE THIRD BENEFIT WAS THAT A MORE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WOULD BE INTRODUCED, PROVIDING FOR GREATER DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY FROM THE CENTRAL TO THE OPERATIONAL LEVELS.
’’THE NEW SYSTEM WILL SEEK TO DRAW UPON THE DIFFERENT SKILLS THAT VARIOUS GRADES OF STAFF CAN CONTRIBUTE AND ENGENDER A CO-OPERATIVE TEAM SPIRIT,” SHE SAID.
FINALLY, THE NEW SYSTEM WOULD PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SCRUTINY IN THE OPERATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICE.
THE NEW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND MANAGEMENT CONCEPT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WOULD BRING ABOUT INCREASED EFFICIENCY, BETTER ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND IMPROVED CONDITIONS IN HOSPITAL WARDS, SHE POINTED OUT.
HAVING STATED THE BENEFITS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO ACHIEVE, MRS WONG PROCEEDED TO DISPEL CERTAIN MISCONCEPTIONS, THE FIRST BEING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS AIMING TO RELINQUISH ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCING PUBLIC HOSPITALS.
’’NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICES HAS RISEN EVERY YEAR AND NOW STANDS AT SOME $6 BILLION.
’’SETTING UP THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY MAY COST $2 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE AND CASH OUTFLOW, AND FURTHER GROWTH IS FORECAST IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
/"IN ORDER .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990
- 2 -
"IN ORDER TO BRING TO OUR HOSPITAL PATIENTS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CARE AND TO MAKE THEIR STAY MORE COMFORTABLE, COSTS MAY HAVE TO RISE EVEN FASTER,” SHE SAID.
MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT FELT THAT IT SHOULD MODIFY THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY’S RECOMMENDATION FOR HIGHER FEES.
"IN THE GOVERNMENT’S VIEW, THE FIRST NEED IS TO HAVE A BROAD STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FEE AND WAIVER ARRANGEMENTS, TO ENSURE THAT ALL THOSE WHO WOULD FIND DIFFICULTY IN PAYING A HIGHER LEVEL OF FEES ARE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED.
"NEW.WAIVER ARRANGEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICES SHOULD BE IN PLACE BEFORE ANY REAL INCREASE IN FEES IS CONTEMPLATED," SHE SAID.
"TO ENSURE THAT ANY INCREASE IN FEES IS FULLY JUSTIFIED AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL RETAIN THE POWER TO GIVE DIRECTION TO THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ON THE LEVEL OF FEES TO BE CHARGED," MRS WONG STRESSED.
---------0----------
HOUSEHOLD VISITS IN YAU TSIM FOR ELECTIONS
*****
STAFF OF THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT OFFICE WILL START TOMORROW (THURSDAY) VISITING HOUSEHOLDS IN THE DISTRICT TO VERIFY THE PARTICULARS OF REGISTERED VOTERS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE SAID COMMUNITY ORGANISERS, CARRYING IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, WILL CONDUCT DOOR-TO-DOOR VISITS IN THE EVENINGS.
"THE VISITS, LASTING UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER, WILL SERVE THE DUAL PURPOSE OF UPDATING THE ADDRESSES OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS AS WELL AS REGISTERING NEW VOTERS," HE SAID.
THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN YAU TSIM DISTRICT AS AT MARCH 31 THIS YEAR STOOD AT 35,318.
"THE VERIFICATION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE LAST REGISTRATION EXERCISE WAS CARRIED OUT ALMOST A YEAR AGO AND THE ACCURACY OF THE ELECTORAL ROLL WILL HAVE A DIRECT BEARING ON THE VOTER TURNOUT RATE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
CITIZENS AGED 21 AND ABOVE, WHO ARE HONG KONG PERMANENT RESIDENTS OR HAVE RESIDED IN THE TERRITORY FOR SEVEN YEARS OR MORE, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION AS VOTERS.
THE DOOR-TO-DOOR VISITS WILL TIE IN WITH THE VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED IN AUGUST, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
------0-----------
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990
3
NORTH DB TO CONSIDER FUND APPLICATIONS *****
THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD WILL CONSIDER ALLOCATING $600,000 FOR FOUR MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO APPOINT AN EDITORIAL BOARD TO PUBLISH THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD TRIENNIAL REPORT 1988-91.
A REPORT ON THE NORTH DISTRICT COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES SHOW, HELD LAST MONTH, WILL BE TABLED.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE REPORTS BY THE NORTH DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE, JOCKEY CLUB ROAD, FANLING.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
-----0------
FUND APPLICATIONS ON DB COMMITTEE AGENDA
*****
THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD'S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) 51 APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS FOR ORGANISING ACTIVITIES TN THE COMING MONTHS.
THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A TALK ON VOTER REGISTRATION, A SEMINAR ON PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION, A BUILDING MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE COURSE AND OTHER CIVIC EDUCATION AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
IF APPROVED, THE TOTAL FUNDS REQUIRED WILL TOTAL AROUND $400,000.
THE URBAN COUNCIL COMMUNITY RECREATION AND SPORTS PROGRAMME FOR THE DISTRICT IN 1990-91 AND PROGRESS REPORTS BY THE COMMITTEE'S WORKING GROUPS WILL BE TABLED FOR MEMBERS' INFORMATION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE SHEK KIP MEI COMMUNITY HALL, BLOCK 42, SHEK KIP MEI ESTATE, NAM CHEONG STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
- - 0 - -
/4 ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS FESTIVE LIGHTING
* « « » »
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S CULTURE AND SPORTS COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS TOMORROW (THURSDAY) THE FESTIVE LIGHTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CHRISTMAS AND LUNAR NEW YEAR.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO STUDY PROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE SHA TIN ARTS AND SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S CULTURE AND SPORTS COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION, BEGINNING AT 9.30 AM.
- - 0 - -
OVERSTAYERS AND Il’S FROM CHINA ARRESTED
»**»*»
ACTING ON INFORMATION, IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS ARRESTED TWO OVERSTAYERS AND TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA YESTERDAY (TUESDAY).
THE ARRESTED PERSONS, ALL FEMALES, WERE APPREHENDED AT A RESIDENTIAL FLAT IN NORTH POINT.
THE TWO OVERSTAYERS, AGED 17 AND 58, ARE NATIVES OF FUKIEN HOLDING TWO-WAY PERMITS. THEY HAVE OVERSTAYED FOR ABOUT FIVE WEEKS.
THE TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AGED 18 AND 48, ARE ALSO FROM FUKIEN AND CI,AIMED TO HAVE SNEAKED INTO HONG KONG FROM CHINA THIS MONTH. UPON INVESTIGATION, ONE OF THEM WAS FOUND TO POSSESS A FORGED TWO-WAY PERMIT.
THE OWNER OF THE RESIDENTIAL FLAT IS ASSISTING WITH
INVESTIGATIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT REITERATED THAT THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
HE ADDED THAT OVERSTAYERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT. PERSONS WHO AID AND ABET PEOPLE TO COMMIT THESE OFFENCES ARE ALSO LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND PENALTY.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990
- 5 -
THREE GOVT LOTS TO LET BY TENDER
*****
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF THREE LAND LOTS, TWO IN KOWLOON AND ONE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE FIRST LOT IS LOCATED AT SHUNG SHUN STREET, SAM KA T8UEN, KOWLdON.
COVERING AN AREA OF ABOUT 4,750 SQUARE METRES, THE SITE IS FOR A FEE-PAYING PUBLIC PARKING AREA FOR PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLES, TAXIS AND GOODS VEHICLES CURRENTLY LICENSED UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE, EXCLUDING CONTAINER VEHICLES WITH TRAILERS/CHASSIS ATTACHED.
THE TENANCY IS FOR TWO YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE SECOND LOT IS LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF CHO YUEN STREET AND SZE SHAN STREET IN YAU TONG, KOWLOON.
WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 3,025 SQUARE METRES, IT IS FOR OPEN STORAGE OF NON-DANGEROUS GOODS.
THE TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE THIRD LOT, IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, .IS LOCATED NEXT TO TSUI LAI GARDEN IN AREA 6B OF SHEUNG SHUI.
IT COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 8,150 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR A FEE-PAYING PUBLIC CARPARK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND LORRIES CURRENTLY LICENSED UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE,' EXCLUDING CONTAINER VEHICLES WITH TRAILERS/CHASSIS ATTACHED.
THE TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JULY 6.
FORMS OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLANS INSPECTED AT THE NORTH DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, BLOCK 3, TEMPORARY OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, PIK FUNG ROAD, FANLING, NEW TERRITORIES; THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE KOWLOON DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
--------0 - -
/6........
WEDNEk.?aY, JUNE 20, 1990
CHANGES IN HOUKS OF NSW ID CARD ISSUE OFFICES
THE BUSINESS HOURS OP 7 .2 HONG KONG AND THE WEST KOWLOON NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES WILL BE CHANGED FROM JULY 2 TO BRING THEM IN LINE WITH THE OTHER SIX NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE NEW BUSINESS HOURS OF THE TWO OFFICES WILL BE FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM, MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS, AND FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM ON SATURDAYS, EXCEPT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
"THE CHANGES IN BUSINESS HOURS OF THESE TWO NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES ARE MADE AS A RESULT OF STAFF REDEPLOYMENT TO MEET THE INCREASING COMMITMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT," A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
"FOR THEIR OWN CONVENIENCE, APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE USE OF THE PHONE-IN SERVICE TO OBTAIN AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING THE OFFICES OF THEIR CHOICE DURING OFFICE HOURS," HE ADDED.
- - 0 - -
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN WESTERN DISTRICT * * * » t
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 22), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN WESTERN DISTRICT WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS 24 HOURS DAILY:
♦ THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF DES VOEUX ROAD WEST FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH HILL ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 70 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION; AND
* THE WESTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF HILL ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH DES VOEUX ROAD WEST TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
- - 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990
7
BAN ZONES IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT * * * * «
/ tttxtt? TRAN’SP0RT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM
’ THE ISLAND ROAD CARPARK OFF HOUSE NO. 55
ROAD CARPARK OFF HOUSE NO. 17, IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT
DESIGNATED BAN ZONES TO PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND GOODS VEHICLES.
10 AM ON FRIDAY
AND THE SOUTH
WILL
BAY BE
DT?DM¥moATooPUBL,IC L*GHT DUSES AND GOODS VEHICLES, PERMITS ISSUED B\' THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, FROM ENTERING THE BAN ZONES 24 HOURS DAILY.
EXCEPT THOSE WITH WILL BE PROHIBITED
---------0-----------
CANCELLATION OF BAN ZONE ON GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT WITH EFFECT FROM 10 ON FRIDAY (JUNE 22), THE 24-HOUR DAILY BAN ZONE DESIGNATED ON WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER EXCEEDING 11 METRES IN LENGTH, WILL BE CANCELLED.
DESIGNATED FOR ALL
AM THE
VEHICLES
------0--------
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN TAI PO * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 22), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF WAN TAU STREET IN TAI PO WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY:
♦ THE SECTION OF THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH KWONG FUK ROAD AND A POINT ABOUT 45 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION; AND
» THE SECTION OF THE WESTERN KERBSIDE LANE BETWEEN ITS JUNCTIONS WITH KWONG FUK ROAD AND KWONG FUK SQUARE.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR VISITS CHEK LAP KOK AND HARBOUR HYDRAULICS LAB .............................. 1
MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTORS IN HK ............................................... 2
USE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IN MANUFACTURING NECESSARY ................................ 3
$2.4 BILLION EARMARKED FOR HIGHWAYS WORKS ............................................ 4
TAC DISCUSSES TRAM, BUS AND TAXI MATTERS ............................................. 6
DEBATE ON SECURITIES AMENDMENT BILL TO RESUME ........................................ 8
1.8M YOUNSTERS TO JOIN SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES ....................................... 9
FARMERS ON EUROPEAN STUDY TOUR ...................................................... 10
REPLACEMENT TYPHOON SHELTER ON DB AGENDA ............................................ 11
DB COMMITTEE TO CALL FOR TIGHTER CONTROL OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS ...................... 12
HEARING EXHIBITION FOR WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS ....................................... 13
EASTERN DISTRICT ENQUIRY COUNTER ADJUSTS OPERATING HOURS ............................ I4
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
GOVERNOR VISITS CHEK LAP KOK AND HARBOUR HYDRAULICS LAB
******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE SITE OF THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK AND THE HARBOUR HYDRAULICS LABORATORY IN TUEN MUN.
HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR KENNETH KWOK, AND THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES, DR EDWARD BRAND.
AT CHEK LAP KOK THE GOVERNOR WAS BRIEFED ON THE PROGRAMME FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW AIRPORT AND PROGRESS MADE SINCE THE DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED LAST OCTOBER.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED TO DATE.
"THE ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE CHEK LAP KOK SITE AND THE OTHER DETAILED STUDIES UNDERTAKEN SINCE THEN HAVE CLEARLY PROVIDED EXCELLENT DATA FOR THE DESIGN OF THE NEW AIRPORT. THIS WILL HELP IN GETTING THE PROGRAMME CARRIED THROUGH ON TIME," HE SAID.
CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF EXPLAINED TO SIR DAVID HOW THE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME FOR THE AIRPORT HAS BEEN PLANNED TO ENSURE THAT THE FIRST RUNWAY WOULD BE OPERATIONAL IN 1997.
THE GOVERNOR WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PROGRAMME FOR THE GEOLOGICAL MAPPING OF THE NORTH LANTAU AND THE SURROUNDING SEABED HAS PROVIDED ENGINEERS WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION ON THE UNFAMILIAR GEOLOGY OF LANTAU.
THE GOVERNOR THEN INSPECTED THE HARBOUR HYDRAULICS LABORATORY IN TUEN MUN, AND WAS SHOWN THE PHYSICAL MODEL OF THE HARBOUR USED IN THE DETAILED DESIGN OF PROPOSED RECLAMATIONS AND BREAKWATERS.
HE WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON THE $30 MILLION CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PORT DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURAL PLANS.
"WE HAVE ENTERED A NEW ERA OF DEVELOPMENT FOR HONG KONG," THE GOVERNOR SAID. "WE MUST MAKE SURE HONG KONG HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE IT NEEDS TO REMAIN A MAJOR CENTRE FOR FINANCE, TRADE, MANUFACTURING AND TOURISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
"UP TO NOW WORK ON THE NEW AIRPORT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORT HAS LARGELY BEEN CARRIED ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
"THIS WILL SOON CHANGE. PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES THAT WE ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THESE PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY AND ON SCHEDULE.
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
2
MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTORS IN HK
*****
HONG KONG REMAINS COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON ITS TRADING AND OTHER BUSINESS LINKS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD AND CONTINUES TO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES IN MANY, MANY FIELDS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KCNG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, MR PETER JOHNSON, SAID YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).
ADDRESSING AN AUDIENCE OF 450 BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AT A WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL D INER IN ORANGE COUNTY, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, MR JOHNSON SAID THE JAPANESE WERE CURRENTLY INVESTING IN A NUMBER OF FIELDS IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING REAL ESTATE, MANUFACTURING, RETAIL STORES AND LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
"GIVEN A CONTINUATION OF PRESENT TRENDS, THE JAPANESE COULD OVERTAKE THE U.S. AS THE LARGEST OVERSEAS INVESTOR IN THE TERRITORY’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS," MR JOHNSON NOTED.
HE ADDED THAT U.S. INTERESTS, HOWEVER, ALSO REMAINED STRONG.
"U.S. WEST HAS A 25 PER CENT STAKE IN OUR NEW US$700 MILLION CABLE TV NETWORK, CITICORP IS TAKING A 10 PER CENT STAKE IN A US$700 MILLION DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THE BANK OF AMERICA IS MOVING ITS REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS TO JONG KONG, MOTOROLA IS DEVELOPING A HUGE NEW FACILITY; PLUS A NUMBER OF OTHER, SMALLER DEVELOPMENTS ARE UNDERWAY."
MR JOHNSON CONCEDED THAT DURING THE PAST 18 MONTHS, THE HONG KONG ECONOMY HAD SLOWED DOWN FROM THE HEADY DAYS OF 1986 TO 88.
"DOMESTIC EXPORTS HARDLY GREW IN 1989. RE-EXPORTS WERE UP TO 19 PER CENT AND IMPORTS NINE PER CENT. GDP GROWTH WAS 2.5 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS.
"WE EXPECT ABOUT THREE PER CENT THIS YEAR, WITH THE ECONOMY PICKING UP IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR."
HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS SLOWDOWN WAS EXPECTED AND CITED FOUR PRINCIPAL REASONS.
"THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE BUSINESS CYCLE WHICH, DUE TO OUR COMPLETELY OPEN ECONOMY AND DEPENDENCE ON THE OUTSIDE WORLD, TENDS TO INVOLVE A GREATER CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FAT AND THE LEAN YEARS THAN ELSEWHERE," HE SAID.
THE OTHER REASONS CITED WERE THE SLOWDOWN IN THE RATE OF GROWTH OF HONG KONG’S MAJOR OVERSEAS MARKETS; THE RETRENCHMENT IN CHINA, WHICH WAS ORDAINED IN THE FALL OF 1988, AND IN EFFECT WELL BEFORE THE TROUBLES OF LAST SUMMER; AND INTERNAL FACTORS, SUCH AS A SHORTAGE OF LABOUR.
"THE CURRENT SLOWDOWN IS NOT TO ANY SIGNIFICANT EXTENT THE RESULT OF THE ’BRAIN DRAIN’ ALTHOUGH WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF QUALIFIED PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING, OR THE ALLEGED FLIGHT OF CAPITAL, OR OF ANY GENERAL LOSS IN BUSINESS CONFIDENCE," MR JOHNSON SAID.
--------0 - - - -
/3.........
THURSDA'.', JUNE 21, 1990
- 3 -
USE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IN MANUFACTURING NECESSARY t t * * »
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CLAN, TODAY (THURSDAY) URGED MANUFACTURERS TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER TE3 USE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 0 ACHIEVE HIGHER LEVELS OF PRODUCTIVITY, BETTER QUALITY AND PRODUCT INNOVATION.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY (AMT) CONFERENCE 1990, MR CHAN SAID THIS WAS NECESSARY IN THE FACE OF FIERCE COMPETITION FROM ECONOMIES WITH AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF CHE .PER LABOUR A l) THE INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED REQUIREMENTS OF HONG KONG’S MAJOR MARKETS.
MR CHAN SAID THE DECISION TO UPGRADE A MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY INSTALLING ADVANCED EQUIPMENT WAS A DIFFICULT ONE AND THE INITIAL COSTS MIGHT SEEM DAUNTING.
"BUT IN THE LONG RUN, AN INVESTMENT OF THIS NATURE SHOULD GENERATE BETTER RETURNS," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALIVE TO THE CONSTRAINTS WHICH WERE PREVENTING THE WIDER APPLICATION OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY.
IN HELPING THE INDUSTRY TO OVERCOME THESE BARRIERS, THE GOVERNMENT TOGETHER WITH THE INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS HAD IN RECENT YEARS TAKEN MANY INITIATIVES TO ENABLE MANUFACTURERS TO UPGRADE THEIR OPERATIONS AND ACHIEVE HIGHER VALUE-ADDED CONTENT OF THEIR PRODUCTS.
"TO ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY," HE SAID, "THE HONG KONO PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL (HKPC) HAS SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED A RANGE OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO SUPPORT AUTOMATION IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF ENGINEERING PARTS.
"THESE INCLUDE SERVICES SUCH AS SURFACE MOUNTING, RADIO FREQUENCY AND DIGITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS, CLOTHING TECHNOLOGY, CAD/CAM, ADVANCED ENGINEERING DESIGN, SHEET METAL PROCESSING, PRECISION MACHINING AND PHOTO-CHEMICAL- MACHINING," HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY, THE HKPC HAD ESTABLISHED A CLOTHING TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION CENTRE IN THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE IN KOWLOON BAY TO DISSEMINATE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN GARMENT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS CONDUCIVE TO GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND MECHANISATION.
"SEPARATELY, A PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY CENTRE IS OPERATING ON THE CAMPUS OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WITH A SET-UP GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND A PRIVATE DONATION FROM AN INDUSTRIALIST.
"IT HAS BEEN SET UP TO ASSIST PLASTICS MANUFACTURERS TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND TO MOVE TOWARDS HIGHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS," HE SAID.
/REGARDING QUALITY .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
4
REGARDING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, MR CHAN SAID A SUSTAINED PROGRAMME WAS UNDERWAY WITH THREE PARTS — THE STRENGTHENING OF THE GOVERNMENT’S EXISTING QUALITY SUPPORT SERVICES; THE INTRODUCTION OF A VOLUNTARY FACTORY ASSESSMENT AND CERTIFICATION SCHEME, ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS; AND A LONG-TERM TERRITORY-WIDE CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE CHIEF EXECUTIVES, MANAGERS AND OPERATIVES IN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED QUALITY ASSURANCE CONCEPTS.
IN THE AREA OF PRODUCT AND PROCESS INNOVATION, MR CHAN SAID THE PUBLICLY FUNDED HONG KONG DESIGN AND INNOVATION COMPANY HAD HELPED TO AROUSE MANUFACTURERS’ AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE AND PROFITABILITY OF PRODUCT DESIGN.
HE SAID THE COMPANY WAS FORMING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL TO DELIVER AN INTEGRATED PRODUCT DESIGN SERVICE.
"MOREOVER, PREPARATORY WORK IS UNDERWAY TO ESTABLISH A TECHNOLOGY CENTRE AT YAU YAT CHUEN TO FACILITATE THE COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF TECHNOLOGY-BASED FIRMS.
"A PROVISIONAL BOARD HAS JUST BEEN FORMED TO OVERSEE THE. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BECOME OPERATIONAL BY 1993.
"MEANWHILE, THE CENTRE WILL START A DESIGN AND 'DEVELOPMENT SERVICE IN 1991 TO MEET MANUFACTURERS’ INCREASED DEMAND FOR DEVELOPING THEIR OWN PRODUCTS," HE SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COPIES OF MR CHAN’S SPEECH WILL BE BOXED.
------0--------
$2.4 BILLION EARMARKED FOR HIGHWAYS WORKS *****
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT’S EXPENDITURE OF $2.4 BILLION THIS YEAR IN DEVELOPING HONG KONG’S ROAD SYSTEM IS A CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT CLEARLY REFLECTING THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THE MOBILITY OF PEOPLE AND GOODS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MISS MARIA TAM, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXTENSION OF THE GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER, MISS TAM SAID IMPROVEMENT OF THE TERRITORY’S TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ONE OF THE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF THE GOVERNMENT’S TRANSPORT POLICY SET OUT IN THE 1990 WHITE PAPER.
/THE COMMITMENT.......
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
- 5 -
THE COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING A REASONABLE LEVEL OF MOBILITY OF PEOPLE AND GOODS WAS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TO MEET THE SOCIAL, COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.
MISS TAM NOTED THAT THE FLYOVER EXTENSION FORMED PART OF THE GASCOIGNE ROAD AND CHATHAM ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, ONE OF MANY HIGHWAYS PROJECTS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION THIS YEAR.
THE 430-METRE FLYOVER EXTENSION CONNECTS THE OLD FLYOVER AT JORDAN ROAD AND STRETCHES TO CHATHAM ROAD NORTH.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR OF HIGHWAYS, MR KWEI SEE-KAN, SAID THE NEW EXTENSION WOULD INITIALLY CARRY ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC IN EACH DIRECTION ABOVE THE JUNCTION OF GASCOIGNE ROAD AND WYLIE ROAD, ENABLING THROUGH TRAFFIC TO AVOID THE BUSY JUNCTION.
ON COMPLETION OF THE WHOLE PROJECT, TWO ADDITIONAL LANES WOULD BE PROVIDED ON THE FLYOVER TO CONNECT WITH NEW UP AND DOWN RAMPS ON GASCOIGNE ROAD SO THAT GASCOIGNE ROAD TRAFFIC WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO PASS OVER THE JUNCTION, FURTHER EASING CONGESTION IN THE AREA.
THE PROJECT, WHICH WAS STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 1987, WOULD BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR AT A COST OF ABOUT <110 MILLION.
MR KWEI POINTED OUT THAT IN EXTENDING THE ORIGINAL FLYOVER, A PORTION OF IT HAD TO BE DEMOLISHED.
IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING TRAFFIC LANES BOTH AT ELEVATED AND GROUND LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, THE DEPARTMENT WIDENED THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF GASCOIGNE ROAD BY COVERING AN OPEN NULLAH TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY BRIDGE.
DEMOLITION OF THE OLD FLYOVER COULD ONLY COMMENCE AFTER THE TEMPORARY BRIDGE WAS IN USE.
HE SAID THAT THE STRINGENT TRAFFIC REQUIREMENT AND THE LIMITED WORKING SPACES INCREASED THE COMPLEXITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORK AND PROLONGED THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, BUT POTENTIAL TRAFFIC CONGESTION WAS MINIMISED.
NIGHT WORK WAS OFTEN REQUIRED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD TO ENABLE REMOVAL OF THE BEAMS FROM THE OLD FLYOVER AND DELIVERY AND PLACING OF PRECAST BEAMS FOR THE NEW FLYOVER.
WHILE NIGHT WORK WAS BEING EXECUTED, EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE TO MINIMISE DISTURBANCE TO THE NEARBY RESIDENTS, HE ADDED.
IN THIS RESPECT, MISS TAM CALLED ON MOTORISTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE TOLERANT AND UNDERSTANDING AS LARGE SCALE HIGHWAYS WORKS WOULD INEVITABLY CAUSE CERTAIN DISRUPTION AND INCONVENIENCE.
SHE SAID THE CONSIDERABLE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM THE COMPLETED PROJECTS WOULD MAKE THE EFFORTS WORTHWHILE.
/MR KWEI .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
- 6 -
MR KWEI POINTED OUT THAT THE RETAINING WALL CONSTRUCTED BELOW QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL NOT ONLY PROVIDED SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE AN ADDITIONAL GROUND-LEVEL TRAFFIC LANE FOR GASCOIGNE ROAD, BUT ALSO WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT’S NEW APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE AESTHETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTION TO ENSURE HUMAN FACTORS WERE NOT OVERLOOKED IN DEVELOPING PROJECT DESIGNS.
IT IS A 12-METRE-HIGH AND 96-METRE-LONG WALL WITH DECORATIVE CONCRETE FACING PANELS.
TO CREATE SPECIAL INTEREST, A SENIOR GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER WITH. THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR STANLEY AU, WHO IS ALSO AN ACCOMPLISHED PAINTER, PRODUCED FOUR CHINESE PAINTINGS AS THE BASIS FOR LARGE SCALE PANELS INTENDED TO COMPLEMENT THE OVERALL COMPOSITION OF THE WALL FACE.
MR KWEI SAID THE WALL WAS THE PRODUCT OF CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE ENGINEERING AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DISCIPLINES BY SUCCESSFULLY APPLYING NEW METHODS AND TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A PLEASING FINISH COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDINGS.
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR BETTER WAYS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HIGHWAYS PROJECTS, HE SAID.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT TODAY’S CEREMONY WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD, MR YIP WAH.
TAC DISCUSSES TRAM, BUS AND TAXI MATTERS
* * * * *
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) TODAY (THURSDAY) EXAMINED THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS FROM THE HONG KONG TRAMWAYS AND THE NEW LANTAO BUS COMPANY (NLB).
THE TAC NOTED THAT THE TRAM FARES HAD NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE 1983 WHILE THE BUS FARES ON LANTAU WERE LAST RAISED IN JUNE 1987.
IN REVIEWING HONG KONG TRAMWAYS’ FINANCIAL POSITION, THE NOTED THAT IF TRAM FARES REMAINED UNCHANGED, FORECAST REVENUE WOUL BE INSUFFICIENT TO COVER OPERATING COSTS FROM 1989-90 ONWARDS.
/FARES ON .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
FARES ON NLB SERVICES WERE LAST REVISED IN JUNE 1987. AT THAT TIME, THE TAC WAS ADVISED THAT A FARE INCREASE SOUGHT BY NLB WOULD ONLY PERMIT THE COMPANY TO MAKE A PROFIT IN 1987-88 AND 1988-89, AND THAT A. FURTHER FARE INCREASE WOULD BE REQUIRED IN 1990-91 TO COVER RISING OPERATING COSTS.
THE PERCENTAGE OF FARE INCREASES AT PRESENT SOUGHT BY NLB IS WELL BELOW THE AGGREGATE INFLATION RATE SINCE THE LAST REVISION. THE FARE RISE IS REQUIRED TO COVER RISING OPERATING COSTS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. MEMBERS NOTED THAT THE COMPANY HAD MANAGED TO KEEP ITS OPERATING COSTS DOWN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
THE TAC’S RECOMMENDATIONS ON BOTH THE TRAM AND NLB FARES WILL BE FORWARDED TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO EXAMINED NLB’S FORWARD PLANNING PROGRAMME FOR THE FIVE YEARS BETWEEN 1989-90 AND 1993-94.
MEMBERS NOTED THAT AS AT MID-1989, NLB OPERATED SERVICES ON SEVEN ROUTES WITH A FLEET OF 54 VEHICLES.
IN ORDER TO MEET THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN PASSENGERS ATTRACTED BY THE BIG STATUE OF BUDDHA, WHICH WOULD BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1992, A SERIES OF SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN PLANNED, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT OF SIX ADDITIONAL BUSES ON ROUTE NO. 2 WHICH OPERATES BETWEEN MUI WO AND NGONG PING.
IN ADDITION, TWO NEW ROUTES -- ROUTE NO. 10 (KEUNG SHAN INTERCHANGE - SHA LO WAN) AND ROUTE NO. 9 (MUI WO FERRY PIER - MUI WO OLD TOWN) — ARE PLANNED FOR INTRODUCTION IN APRIL 1991 AND JANUARY 1992 RESPECTIVELY.
NLB ALSO PLANS TO ENHANCE THE SERVICES OF ROUTE NO. 1 (MUI WO -TAI O) BY ADDING ONE AIR-CONDITIONED VEHICLE.
THE TAC NOTED THAT NLB PROPOSES TO PURCHASE A TOTAL OF 34 BUSES IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, INCLUDING 32 SINGLE DECK BUSES, OF WHICH TWO ARE AIR-CONDITIONED, AND TWO DOUBLE-DECKERS. OF THESE, 25 ARE PLANNED TO REPLACE THOSE DUE FOR SCRAPPING, AND NINE TO MEET SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.
ON DEPOT DEVELOPMENT, A NEW DEPOT OF 4,000 SQUARE METRES, WHICH IS BEING CONSTRUCTED AT MUI WO AT A COST OF $4.4 MILLION, WILL BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST THIS YEAR.
THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD WAS CONSULTED AND CONSIDERED NLB’S ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE.
MEANWHILE, THE TAC ALSO DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER NEW URBAN TAXI LICENCES SHOULD BE ISSUED IN 1990 AND OF MAINTAINING THE EXISTING NUMBER OF 40 LANTAU TAXI LICENCES FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.
IT ASSESSED THE NEED FOR ISSUING ADDITIONAL URBAN TAXI LICENCES FOR 1990 WITH REFERENCE TO THE DEMAND FOR TAXI SERVICES, PROFITABILITY OF THE TRADE AND THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
/RESULTS OF .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
- 8 -
RESULTS OF THE ROADSIDE SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IN 1989 AND 1990 SHOWED THAT THE LEVEL OF URBAN TAXI SERVICES HAD REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE VACANT TAXI HEADWAY AS WELL AS THE AVERAGE PASSENGER WAITING TIME.
HOWEVER, IF NO MORE TAXI LICENCES WERE TO BE ISSUED IN THE COMING TWO YEARS, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE LEVEL OF TAXI SERVICE WOULD DETERIORATE PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF HIGH DEMAND.
THEREFORE, THE TAC RECOMMENDED THAT FOR 1990 THERE SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 150 LICENCES ISSUED.
IN RESPECT OF LANTAU TAXI LICENCES, SIMILAR ROADSIDE SURVEYS INDICATED THAT THE LEVEL OF LANTAU TAXI SERVICE HAD REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE AND THAT THE DEMAND WAS MAINLY AFFECTED BY RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE LANTAU POPULATION IS EXPECTED IN THE COMING TWO YEARS TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL DEMAND IN WEEKDAYS.
THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF TAXI LICENCES ON LANTAU ISLAND.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TAC WILL ALSO BE FORWARDED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO NOTED A PAPER TABLED AT THE MEETING ON THE CMB MANAGEMENT REVIEW. IT NOTED THAT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE CONSULTANTS WERE ACCEPTED BY CMB AND A STEERING GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED TO OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE SCHEDULED TIME TABLE. PROGRESS REPORTS WILL BE MADE TO THE COMMITTEE FROM TIME TO TIME.
--------0-----------
DEBATE ON SECURITIES AMENDMENT BILL TO RESUME
*****
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) AMENDMENT BILL 1990 WOULD RESUME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY (JUNE 27).
"SUBJECT TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL WHICH PROPOSES
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE REPORTING PROCEDURES, IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO BRING THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) ORDINANCE, INTO FORCE LATER THIS YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/HE SAID .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
- 9 -
HE SAID THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD GIVE DETAILS IN LEGCO NEXT WEDNESDAY.
THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) ORDINANCE IMPOSES DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO THE INTERESTS IN SHARES OF SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS AND THE INTERESTS IN SHARES AND DEBENTURES OF DIRECTORS, CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
- - 0 - -
1.8M YOUNGSTERS TO
JOIN SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES * * * * *
MORE THAN 1.8 MILLION YOUNGSTERS ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN 12,500-PLUS ACTIVITIES IN THIS YEAR’S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME (SYP) WHICH COMMENCES IN JULY.
ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE 1990 SYP AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME COMMITTEE, MR PETER S.T. LEE, NOTED THAT EVER SINCE 1969 SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES HAD ATTRACTED LARGE NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS, WHICH HAD GROWN FROM ONE MILLION IN 1986 TO 1.33 MILLION LAST YEAR.
IN LINE WITH THE SYP THEME "SHARE THE FUN, SERVE THE COMMUNITY", THE COMMITTEE HAD ENCOURAGED, THROUGH FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS, PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS TO ORGANISE SOCIAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES WHICH WOULD OFFER YOUNG PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, WHILE PROVIDING THEM WITH ENJOYABLE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
THIS YEAR THE COMMITTEE WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A SCHOLARSHIP FOR AN 18-DAY DIPLOMA COURSE IN THE OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL.
"THE SCHOLARSHIP WILL BE AWARDED TO THOSE YOUNGSTERS WHO HAVE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN PROMOTING SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES WHILE WORKING AS VOLUNTEERS," MR LEE SAID.
AS FOR THE FUNDING OF THIS YEAR’S SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES, THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE IS ESTIMATED AT $26 MILLION WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 10 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR’S.
THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB (RHKJC) HAS DONATED $11 MILLION, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, DISTRICT BOARDS AND PRIVATE INSTITUTES.
"ON BEHALF OF THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME COMMITTEE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYP ALL THESE YEARS," MR LEE ADDED.
/THE PRINCIPAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
- 10 -
THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (HEADQUARTERS) OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MRS STELLA HUNG, SAID A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES WERE PLANNED BY THE SYP DISTRICT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEES AND VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
TO MARK THE OPENING OF THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMME, A VARIETY SHOW EETIT .ED "SWINGING SUMMER" WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 30 AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM IN WAN CHAI.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER TSAO, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THE SHOW WHICH WILL BE ATTENDED BY ABOUT 2,000 YOUNGSTERS.
FEATURING POPULAR SINGERS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS, THE VARIETY SHOW WILL BE PRODUCED BY RTHK AND SCREENED ON TVB-JADE ON JULY 22.
OTHER PUBLICITY ITEMS INCLUDE A FOUR-EPISODE TELEVISION YOUTH PROGRAMME SERIES PRODUCED BY RTHK AND SUPPORTING SHORT SEGMENTS TO BE SLOTTED INTO RADIO PROGRAMMES ON BOTH RTHK AND COMMERCIAL RADIO TO UPDATE LISTENERS ON VARIOUS SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES.
ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE WERE THE INFORMATION SECRETARY OF THE RHKJC, MR DAVID YAU, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM RTHK.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THIS OFFICES.
YEAR’S SYP CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE DISTRICT
NOTE TO EDITORS:
SPEECHES OF MR PETER
YAU, AND A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN
S.T. LEE, MRS STELLA HUNG AND AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE
MR DAVID BOXED.
-----0------
FARMERS ON EUROPEAN STUDY TOUR
*****
INCLUDING
A GROUP OF 32 LOCAL AGRICULTURAL REPRESENTATIVES, VEGETABLE FARMERS, FLOWER GROWERS AND PLANT, "^SERY ^PERATORS, LEAVE HONG KONG ON SATURDAY (JUNE 23) FOR EUROPE °N A 13-DAY TOUR STUDY MODERN TECHNIQUES IN VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GROWING AS L
WILL
TO , AS
WHOLESALE MARKETING.
THEY WILL VISIT THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, FRANCE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM.
/SPEAKING AT .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
- 11
SPEAKING AT A BANNER PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) HEADQUARTERS TODAY (THURSDAY), THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SAID BY AVAILING THEMSELVES TO THE LATEST FARMING KNOWLEDGE IN THE ADVANCED COUNTRIES, HONG KONG FARMERS COULD ADOPT CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES AND MARKETING PRACTICES WHICH WERE SUITABLE FOR THE TERRITORY.
HE CITED AS AN EXAMPLE THE GROWING OF EXOTIC VEGETABLES BY USING THE MASS SEEDLING PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE WHICH WAS ADOPTED ON RECOMMENDATION BY PREVIOUS STUDY GROUPS.
THE TECHNIQUE HAD SUCCESSFULLY TURNED A NEW LEAF IN HONG KONG’S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, HE SAID.
DR LEE SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME FLOWER GROWERS AND PLANT NURSERY OPERATORS TOOK PART IN SUCH KIND OF OVERSEAS STUDY TOURS AND THEIR PARTICIPATION WOULD CERTAINLY HELP THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL FLOWER GROWING INDUSTRY.
HE HOPED THE AGRICULTURAL REPRESENTATIVES COULD BRING BACK USEFUL TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW AND SHARE IT WITH THEIR FELLOW FARMERS.
THE GROUP, ACCOMPANIED BY AFD'S AGRICULTURAL OFFICERS MR HO KOON-YU AND MR HO MAN-FAN, WILL VISIT FARMS, MARKETS, PLANT NURSERIES, HORTICULTURAL INSTITUTES AND PLACES OF AGRICULTURAL INTEREST DURING THEIR TRIP.
THE STUDY TOUR FOR VEGETABLE FARMERS, THE 13TH SINCE 1977, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE AFD, THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION AND THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.
---------0-----------
REPLACEMENT TYPHOON SHELTER ON DB AGENDA
♦ » * » ♦
THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE YAU MA TEI REPLACEMENT TYPHOON SHELTER AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENT TO BRIEF MEMBERS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS WHICH WILL START IN AUGUST.
THE PROJECT, WHICH FORMS PART OF THE PROPOSED WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION, WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF A BREAKWATER, SEAWALL, PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA AND OTHER MARINE FACILITIES.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE VENUE FOR A YU LAN FESTIVAL CELEBRATION.
/OTHER AGENDA .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
12
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE THE URBAN COUNCIL’S FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME AND A SUMMARY ON THE REPORT OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFEFFNCE ROOM, GROUND FLOOR, MIDDLE ROAD CARPARK BUILDING, TSIM SHA TSUI. I HE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
--------0-----------
DB COMMITTEE TO CALL FOR TIGHTER CONTROL OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
»»***»*
THE SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL CALL FOR TIGHTER CONTROL OVER THE USE OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROVISION OF ROUND-THE-CLOCK SERVICE AT TUEN MUN HOSPITAL’S CASUALTY WARD.
IN ADDITION, MEMBERS WILL PROPOSE THE INSTALLATION OF SAFER CLOTHES-HANGING FACILITIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND ASK ABOUT THE DEMOLITION OF THE PAK KOK TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE THE PARCEL DELIVERY SERVICE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE PROBLEMS FACED BY SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT, SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, AND NINE APPLICATIONS FOR DB FUNDS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1 TUEN HI ROAD, TUEN MUN.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
--------0-----------
/13........
I
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
- 13 -
HEARING EXHIBITION FOR WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS
*****
AN EXHIBITION ON THE "PROTECTION OF HEARING" WILL BE HELD IN WONG TAI SIN ON SATURDAY (JUNE 23).
ORGANISED BY THE ACTIVITY WORKING GROUP OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE EXHIBITION WILL BE STAGED AT LOK FU SHOPPING CENTRE BETWEEN 12.30 PM AND 5 PM.
"THE AIM OF THE EXHIBITION IS TO MAKE YOUNGSTERS AWARE OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF LOUD MUSIC FROM PORTABLE CASSETTE RADIOS ON THEIR HEARING ABILITY," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WORKING GROUP SAID.
"VISITORS CAN ALSO HAVE THEIR HEARING TESTED AT THE EXHIBITION FREE OF CHARGE."
THE EXHIBITS WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE DEAF.
AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD. THE OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD, DR MICHAEL LEE; ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM KWAN; CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, MR NG NGOK-SHING; SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER OF WONG TAI SIN, MR IP PO-KUEN; ASSISTANT DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER OF WONG TAI SIN AND SAI KUNG, MR LAWRENCE IU; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTIVITY WORKING GROUP, MR CHAN CHUN-FAT.
MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF WILL ENTERTAIN VISITORS WITH MIME AND SONGS AND AN INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE FORMED BY STUDENTS OF ST BONAVENTURE PRIMARY SCHOOL WILL GIVE A PERFORMANCE.
THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO BE STAGED AT TSZ WAN SHAN (SOUTH) COMMUNITY CENTRE ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26) AND AT CHOI WAN COMMERCIAL CENTRE ON SUNDAY, JULY 1.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PROTECTION OF HEARING EXHIBITION TO BE HELD AT 12.30 PM ON SATURDAY (JUNE 23) AT LOK FU SHOPPING CENTRE, KOWLOON.
- - 0 - -
/14........
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1990
- 14 -
riSTERN DISTRICT ENQUIRY COUNTER ADJUSTS OPERATING HOURS
*****
THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL STANDARDISE THE DAILY OPERATING HOURS OF ITS PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE COUNTER AT 880-886 KING’S ROAD, STARTING NEXT MONTH.
THE COUNTER WILL PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH ENQUIRY AND STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICES FROM 9 AM TO 5.30 PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, AND FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SATURDAY.
AT PRESENT, THE COUNTER OFFERS AN EXTENDED EVENING SERVICE AND SERVES AS A BUREAU FOR THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME FROM 5.30 PM TO 8.30 PM EVERY THURSDAY. THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL CEASE FROM NEXT MONTH.
--------0-----------
9
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PEOPLE WITH INITIATIVE, DEDICATION AND SENSE OF COMMITMENT NEEDED .............. 1
FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO VISIT TOKYO, SEOUL ...................................... 2
HONG KONG TO SET UP NEW SHIPPING REGISTER ...................................... 2
BILL SEEKS TO REPEAL CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ORDINANCE ............................. 4
BILL SEEKS TO REPEAL PROVISIONS OF HANG LUNG BANK ORDINANCE .................... 5
REVISED SCHEDULE FOR PETROLEUM WHARVES, CONTAINER TERMINALS .................... 6
SALE OF THREE LAND LOTS FETCHES $357 MILLION ................................. 6
OFFICIAL RECEIVER SELLS HK BRANCH OF 'NEM' INSURANCE CO. LTD ................... 7
FINDINGS OF STUDY ON FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY ANNOUNCED .......................... 7
PADS RELATED PROJECT TO BEGIN IN THREE MONTHS .................................. 9
$258M CONTRACT FOR GOVT BUILDING IN TSUEN WAN ................................. 10
FEASIBILITY STUDY ON ENERGY CONSERVATION IN BUILDINGS ......................... 10
RS SPEAKS ON HONG KONG-JAPAN LINKS ............................................ 11
IMPORTANT YEAR FOR IMPROVING FSD CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ........................ 12
FIVE NEW DAY ACTIVITY CENTRES TO BECOME OPERATIONAL NEXT YEAR ................. 13
CASH ASSISTANCE FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS .................................. 14
CALL TO HEED WORK SAFETY ON GONDOLAS .......................................... 15
PROPOSED CLOSURE OF A SECTION OF LUARD ROAD ................................... 16
NEW POST OFFICE OPENS AT HENG ON ESTATE ....................................... 16
FIRING PRACTICE IN JULY ....................................................... i7
NEW IDENTITY CARDS FOR MEN BORN IN 1917 OR EARLIER ............................ 18
OVERSTAYERS AND Il'S FROM CHINA ARRESTED ...................................... 19
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TSING YI BRIDGE .......................................... 20
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN TUEN MUN ............................................ 20
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 1 -
PEOPLE WITH INITIATIVE, DEDICATION AND SENSE OF COMMITMENT NEEDED
*»»»»*
HONG KONG WILL NEED MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH INITIATIVE, DEDICATION, AND A SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO BE ITS FUTURE LEADERS AS THE TERRITORY MOVES INTO THE FUTURE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE GOLD AWARD PRESENTATION OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD SCHEME HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, SIR DAVID CONGRATULATED THE 33 AWARD WINNERS THIS YEAR FOR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE VERY ARDUOUS PROGRAMME.
"THIS IS NO EASY TASK," SIR DAVID SAID, ADDING THAT IN DOING THIS' THE AWARD WINNERS HAD SHOWN THEY HAD INITIATIVE, DEDICATION, AND A SENSE OF COMMITMENT.
SIR DAVID SAID HE HOPED TO SEE THE QUALITIES THE GOLD AWARD WINNERS HAD DISPLAYED IN WINNING THE GOLD AWARDS MAKING THEM FUTURE LEADERS IN POLITICS, BUSINESS, THE ARTS AND EDUCATION.
"WHEREVER WE NEED LEADERSHIP YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT YOU HAVE GOT WHAT IT TAKES. GO ON BUILDING ON THOSE QUALITIES," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT THE AWARD : SCHEME HAD EXPANDED STEADILY NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG, BUT ALSO INTERNATIONALLY.
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT LAST YEAR, THE AWARD SCHEME GATHERED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SEVEN COUNTRIES IN HONG KONG.
"NEXT YEAR, THE AWARD COUNCIL WILL HOST THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD INTERNATIONAL AWARD FORUM WITH DELEGATES FROM 49 COUNTRIES.
"THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME HONG KONG HAS HOSTED THE FORUM. IT IS AN HONOUR FOR HONG KONG AND A GREAT CREDIT TO OUR AWARD COUNCIL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO ORGANISE THIS IMPORTANT EVENT.
"IT WILL BE A SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR OWN YOUNG PEOPLE TO BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE AWARD SCHEME RELIED HEAVILY ON THE SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION OF VOLUNTEERS.
HE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION TO 11 DESERVING VOLUNTEERS WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED MUCH TIME AND EFFORT TO THE'SCHEME’S DEVELOPMENT.
SIR DAVID ALSO THANKED THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE AWARD SCHEME, MR J.P. LEE, FOR HIS HARD WORK IN THE PAST 12 YEARS.
------0-------
/2 ........
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO VISIT TOKYO, SEOUL
******
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, WILL LEAVE HONG KONG ON SUNDAY (JUNE 24) FOR A VISIT TO TOKYO AND SEOUL.
THIS IS PART OF A PROGRAMME OF OVERSEAS VISITS BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DESIGNED TO BUILD UP UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HONG KONG AND ITS TRADING PARTNERS.
DURING HIS VISIT, SIR PIERS WILL CALL ON SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND MEET MEMBERS OF THE COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL AND CONSTRUCTION CIRCLES IN BOTH COUNTRIES TO BRIEF THEM ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT.
HIS PROGRAMME IN TOKYO INCLUDES MEETING WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY VICE-MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MR I. ISHII; PARLIAMENTARY VICE-MINISTER, MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR FUKUSHIRO NUKAGA; DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE ROAD BUREAU, MINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION, MR HIROSHI MITANI; AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE KEIDANREN, MR NUKAZAWA.
BEFORE LEAVING FOR SEOUL ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 27) EVENING, SIR PIERS WILL ADDRESS A RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS SEMINAR AT TOKAI UNIVERSITY.
IN SEOUL, HE WILL MEET MEMBERS OF THE KOREAN FEDERATION OF BANKS AND THE OVERSEAS CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION.
SIR PIERS WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG ON SATURDAY, JUNE 30.
--------0----------
HONG KONG TO SET UP NEW SHIPPING REGISTER *****
THE SETTING UP OF AN INDEPENDENT HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER WILL GREATLY ENHANCE HONG KONG’S STATUS AS A LEADING CENTRE OF SHIPPING AND MARITIME COMMERCE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR RAFAEL HUI, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, MR HUI SAID THE SETTING UP OF THE NEW HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER WOULD ALSO MARK AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS FORMED PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM REGISTER COULD NOT CONTINUE BEYOND JULY 1, 1997, MR HUI SAID.
A PROVISION IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AUTHORISED THE HONG KONO SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A SHIPPING REGISTER AND ISSUE RELATED CERTIFICATES UNDER ITS OWN LEGISLATION IN THE NAME OF "HONG KONG, CHINA", HE SAID.
/"IN ORDER .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
3
"IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROVISION AND TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF THE NEW HONG KONG REGISTER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IT IS ESTABLISHED WELL BEFORE 1997," HE ADDED.
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF PLANNING FOR THE REGISTER, THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONSIDERED IT ESSENTIAL THAT ITS PROVISIONS SHOULD REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THOSE SEEKING TO REGISTER THEIR SHIPS ON IT AND OF THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE WELFARE, CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND TRAINING OF SHIPS' CREWS, MR HUI SAID.
IN 1987, THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED A STEERING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND OTHER KEY SECTORS OF THE MARITIME COMMUNITY INCLUDING BANKERS, LAWYJERS, INSURERS, SEAFARERS UNIONS AND THE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS TO ADVISE ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF THE REGISTER, HE NOTED.
MR HUI POINTED OUT THAT IN APPROACHING ITS TASK THE STEERING GROUP WAS ASKED TO KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
(A) THAT PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR A GENUINE LINK BETWEEN THE SHIPS ON THE REGISTER AND HONG KONG;
(B) THAT HIGH STANDARDS OF MARINE SAFETY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED;
(C) THAT EQUIPMENT USED ON BOARD SHIPS SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS;
(D) THAT THE REGISTER SHOULD BE SELF FINANCING; AND
(E) THAT IT SHOULD BE RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT - WITH HONG KONG MAINTAINING A STRONG MARITIME ADMINISTRATION.
BASED ON THESE PRINCIPLES THE STEERING GROUP HAD PRODUCED DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE REGISTER, MR HUI SAID.
VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE GROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN ADOPTED AS THE BASIS FOR THE DRAFTING OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (REGISTRATION) BILL 1990 TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN JULY, HE SAID.
MR HUI SAID THAT THE NEW REGISTER WOULD BE ATTRACTIVE TO SHIPOWNERS BOTH IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGISTER OF GOOD REPUTE WHICH WOULD SPECIFY AND ENFORCE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS OF VESSEL CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT, MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY.
"IN NO SENSE WOULD THE FUTURE HONG KONG REGISTER BE A ’FLAG OF CONVENIENCE’," MR HUI SAID, ADDING THAT LEGISLATION HAD BEEN DRAFTED TO REFLECT THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN ALL RESPECTS.
/"FOR EXAMPLE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 4 -
"FOR EXAMPLE, HONG KONG IS A PARTY TO ALL THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATIONS CONVENTIONS ON VESSEL SAFETY AND SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THESE CONVENTIONS HAVE BEEN FULLY INCORPORATED," HE SAID.
TO MAKE THE REGISTER ATTRACTIVE TO SHIPOWNERS, HONG KONG’S REGISTER WOULD BE BASED ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS RATHER THAN ON THE UK STANDARDS WHICH WERE IN SOME CASES MORE RESTRICTIVE, MR HUI SAID.
"IT WILL BE MUCH EASIER FOR SHIPOWNERS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD TO MEET ITS REQUIREMENTS. THE REGISTER WILL ALSO INCORPORATE PROVISIONS FOR THE LICENSING OF FOREIGN SEAFARERS WHO ARE ASSESSED TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE QUALIFICATIONS," HE ADDED.
TURNING TO THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THE REGISTER, MR HUI SAID IT WAS THE INTENTION THAT THE FEES AND CHARGES WHICH SHIPOWNERS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY WOULD BE CALCULATED TO RECOVER COSTS EVENTUALLY RATHER THAN RAISE REVENUE.
"WE BELIEVE THE FUTURE HONG KONG REGISTER WILL BE VERY
COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER REGISTERS, THUS, OFFERING SHIPOWNERS AND SHIP MANAGERS A COMBINED FEE AND OPERATING COST PACKAGE WHICH IS ATTRACTIVE COMMERCIALLY AS WELL AS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF
OPERATING STANDARD," HE SAID.
THE BILL WHICH AIMS AT GIVING THE FUTURE HONG KONG SHIPPING . REGISTER LEGAL STATUS WILL BE GAZETTED NEXT FRIDAY (JUNE 29). IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE BILL WILL BE ENACTED IN TIME TO ENABLE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RGISTER BY THE END OF 1990.
_ _ 0---------
BILL SEEKS TO REPEAL CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ORDINANCE
******
THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ORDINANCE WHICH GIVES THE COURTS POWER TO HAND DOWN SENTENCES OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS TO BE REPEALED UNDER A BILL PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
ALSO PUBLISHED WERE REGULATIONS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO ABOLISH CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN DETENTION CENTRES, TRAINING CENTRES AND REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES IN AUGUST 1989 THAT ALL JUDICIAL CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.
"THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT (REPEAL) BILL 1990 GIVES EFFECT TO TEIS DECISION AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 11, 1990," HE SAID.
"THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS SEPARATELY CONDUCTED REVIEWS ON CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN DETENTION CENTRES AND TRAINING CENTRES.
/"THE REVIEW........
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 5 -
"THE REVIEW HAS CONCLUDED THAT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THESE INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE ABOLISHED, AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER MEASURES WHICH WOULD ACHIEVE A BETTER REHABILITATIVE EFFECT.
"THE DETENTION CENTRE (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1990 AND THE TRAINING CENTRE (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1990 GIVE EFFECT TO THIS."
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO CONDUCTED A REVIEW ON CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN REFORMATORY SCHOOLS, AND CONCLUDED THAT IT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.
"THE REFORMATORY SCHOOL (AMENDMENT) RULES 1990 SEEKS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THIS," HE SAID.
------0-------
BILL SEEKS TO REPEAL PROVISIONS OF HANG LUNG BANK ORDINANCE
»»»»»*
THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING A BILL TO REPEAL PROVISIONS OF THE HANG LUNG BANK (ACQUISITION) ORDINANCE AND SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION MADE UNDER IT WHICH HAVE BECOME UNNECESSARY OR INAPPROPRIATE FOLLOWING THE SALE OF THE HANG LUNG BANK BY GOVERNMENT.
THE HANG LUNG BANK (ACQUISITION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), IS DUE TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 11.
THE BILL PROPOSES ALSO TO REPEAL PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH ARE SPENT OR RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE BANK BY THE GOVERNMENT.
"HANG LUNG BANK IS NO LONGER A GOVERNMENT-OWNED BANK. WE NEED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO PUT IT BACK ON THE SAME FOOTING AS OTHER BANKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
HANG LUNG BANK WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE GOVERNMENT IN SEPTEMBER 1933 AND SOLD IN THE LATTER PART OF LAST YEAR.
--------0-----------
/6........
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
REVISED SCHEDULE FOR PETROLEUM WHARVES, CONTAINER TERMINALS »»**»«
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED A REVISED SCHEDULE OF PETROLEUM WHARVES WHICH MIGHT BE USED FOR THE BERTHING TO TYPE II AND TYPE III VESSELS, AS WELL AS CONTAINER TERMINALS WHICH MIGHT BE USED FOR THE BERTHING OF TYPE I AND TYPE III VESSELS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE REVISED SCHEDULE, EFFECTIVE FROM TODAY, WAS MADE UNDER THE DANGEROUS GOODS (SHIPPING) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1990 PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GAZETTE.
"IT REPLACES THE EXISTING FIRST SCHEDULE AND THIRD SCHEDULE ON PETROLEUM WHARVES AND CONTAINER TERMINALS IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
- - 0 - -
SALE OF THREE LAND LOTS FETCHES $357 MILLION
THE SALE OF THREE GOVERNMENT LAND LOTS TODAY (FRIDAY) FETCHED A TOTAL OF $357 MILLION AT THE FIRST AUCTION OF GOVERNMENT LAND BY THE ELI..DINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.
TOPPING THE LIST WAS A 8,400 SQUARE METRE LOT IN AREA 2A, TUEN MUN, FOR NON-INDUSTRIAL, EXCLUDING GODOWN, PURPOSES.
BIDDING OPENED AT $150 MILLION AND THE LOT WAS BOUGHT BY LODSIN CONSULTANTS LIMITED FOR $201 MILLION.
THE BUILDING COVENANT STIPULATES THAT THE PLOT RATIO IS 9.5/5 AND MAXIMUM SITE COVERAGE IS 66.6 PER CENT. A BUILDING OR BUILDINGS HAVE TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 48 MONTHS.
A LOT LOCATED IN AREA 29B, FANLING, WAS SOLD FOR $26 MILLION TO EARNLINK INVESTMENT LIMITED. BIDDING OPENED AT $17 MILLION.
IT MEASURES ABOUT 4,841 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 2,324 SQUARE METRES BY JUNE 30, 1993.
ALSO AUCTIONED WAS A 2,900 SQUARE METRE GODOWN SITE LOCATED IN HOI CHAK STREET, QUARRY BAY.
BIDDING OPENED AT $90 MILLION AND THE LOT WAS BOUGHT BY DELOSA INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED FOR $130 MILLION.
ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING COVENANT, A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 16,530 SQUARE METRES HAS TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 30, 1994.
THE GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT, MR ROGER NISSIM, WHO CONDUCTED THE AUCTION, SAID THE SALE PRICES OF THE LOTS WERE ALL WELL WITHIN EXPECTATIONS.
THE AUCTION WAS HELD AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
- - 0 - -
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
7
OFFICIAL RECEIVER SELLS HK BRANCH OF ’ NEM’ INSURANCE CO. LTD
******
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR NOEL GLEESON, AS OFFICIAL RECEIVER AND PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF NATIONAL EMPLOYERS MUTUAL GENERAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION LTD, A UK COMPANY, TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED HE HAD SOLD THE HONG KONG BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY AS A GOING CONCERN TO NATIONAL EMPLOYERS GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD, WHICH HAD AGREED TO ASSUME ALL LIABILITIES UNDER THE POLICIES OF INSURANCE, AND TAKE OVER ALL THE ASSETS OF THE BRANCH.
THE SALE HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE HIGH COURT.
THE NEW COMPANY IS INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG WITH A PAID UP SHARE CAPITAL OF HK$21 MILLION, AND IS A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NATIONAL EMPLOYERS GENERAL INSURANCE CO. PTE. LIMITED, A COMPANY INCORPORATED IN SINGAPORE WITH A PAID UP CAPITAL OF S|20 MILLION (APPROXIMATELY HK$83 MILLION).
THE NEW COMPANY HAD ALSO AGREED TO EMPLOY ALL THE STAFF OF THE FORMER BRANCH IN HONG KONG.
MR GLEESON SAID THAT THE SALE WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE HONG KONG POLICY HOLDERS AND OTHER CREDITORS WHO WOULD, AS A RESULT, RELAIN FULLY PROTECTED.
--------0 - -
FINDINGS OF STUDY ON FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY ANNOUNCED
******
A RECENTLY COMPLETED STUDY ON FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY HAS THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES, APART FROM NATURAL CAUSES, HAVE IN RECENT INCREASINGLY AGGRAVATED THE FLOODING PROBLEM IN THE RURAL TERRITORIES.
SHOWN YEARS NEW
THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
OF THE DRAINAGE SERVICES
TODAY (FRIDAY) AT A PRESS
OF THE PHASE I STUDY ON
DEPARTMENT, MR DONALD MUDD, SAID THIS CONFERENCE HELD TO ANNOUNCE THE FINDINGS TERRITORIAL LAND DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY.
MR MUDD SAID EXAMPLES OF THESE HUMAN ACTIVITIES INCLUDED LAND USE CHANGES IN THE FLOOD PLAINS, SUCH AS FILLING UP OF FISH PONDS AND FARM LAND FOR OPEN STORAGE, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN FLOOD ATE RUN-OFF AND DEPLETION OF FLOOD STORAGE AREA.
HE QUOTED THE FINDINGS AS SAYING THAT BETWEEN 1982 AND 1988 ABOUT 10 PER CENT OF THE FLOOD PLAINS AND FISH PONDS HAD BEEN LOST TO SUCH SPONTANEOUS DEVELOPMENTS.
THERE WAS A CONTINUING RISING TREND OF SUCH DEVELOPMENTS BEING FOUND AROUND THE URBAN FRINGES AND ALONG THE TRANSPORT CORRIDORS, HE
NOTED.
/MR MUDD .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22,
8
MR MUDD ALSO CITED BLOCKAGE OF THE NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM BY REFUSE, AGRICULTURAL WASTE, INDISCRIMINATE LAND FILLING AND LACK OF COMPR HENSIVE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE AS OTHER HUMAN FACTORS INVOLVED.
THE PHASE I STUDY ON TERRITORIAL LAND DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN NOVEMBER 1988 IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE FLOODING PROBLEM COMPREHENSIVELY.
IN THE RURAL NEW TERRITORIES, THE MAJORITY OF FLOOD-PRONE AREAS ARE LOCATED IN TWO DRAINAGE BASINS - THE KAM TIN BASIN AND THE INDUS BASIN.
THE STUDY RECOMMENDED THAT MANAGEMENT OF THE DRAINAGE BASINS SHOULD BE EFFECTED BY THE USE OF BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS WHICH WOULD COMPRISE A FRAMEWORK TO PROCEED WITH STRUCTURAL MEASURES (SUCH AS RIVER TRAINING) AND NON-STRUCTURAL MEASURES.
THE LATTER ARE MAINLY MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES SUCH AS DRAINAGE APPROVAL FOR DEVELOPMENT CONTROL, FLOOD WARNING, PUBLIC INFORMATION: AND EMERGENCY PLANNING.
TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF FLOODING IN NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST REGIONS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE STUDY RECOMMENDED THAT EXTENSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS, RIVER IMPROVEMENT AND FLOOD PROTECTION WORKS BE CARRIED OUT.
THE COST OF THESE WORKS WOULD AMOUNT TO $4,260 MILLION.
OF THIS AMOUNT, ABOUT $2,560 MILLION WOULD BE FOR:
* PREPARATION OF BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS;
* EXECUTION OF URBAN DRAINAGE REHABILITATION STUDIES;
* IMPLEMENTATION OF SELECTED'PRIORITY STRUCTURAL MEASURES IN NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES;
« EXECUTION OF NON-STRUCTURAL MEASURES SUCH AS SELECTED FLOOD PROOFING, FLOOD WARNING, PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EMERGENCY PLANNING; AND
* EXECUTION OF INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES FOR UNIFYING DRAINAGE RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE STUDY ALSO ENDORSED THE FULL RIVER TRAINING MEASURES FOR THE KAM TIN BASIN, ALREADY IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME AND ESTIMATED TO COST $1,590 MILLION, WHILE ANOTHER $110 MILLION WOULD BE FOR FLOOD PROTECTION BY VILLAGE POLDER SCHEMES IN THE INDUS BASIN.
/"IT IS .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 9 -
"IT IS GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO CARRY OUT THE NECESSARY WORKS IN STAGES SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS," MR MUDD SAID.
THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO BE GIVEN THE OVERALL JURISDICTION FOR MAIN DRAINAGE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT TO ACHIEVE A HIGH SERVICE LEVEL. AT PRESENT, THE RESPONSIBILITY IS SHARED AMONG A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
ON THE NEED FOR NEW LEGISLATION, THE STUDY SUGGESTED THAT ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE POWER UNDER A PROPOSED DRAINAGE ORDINANCE WAS NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE OF WATERCOURSES WITHIN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS.
-----0-----
PADS RELATED PROJECT TO BEGIN IN THREE MONTHS
*****
PORT WORKS CONTRACTORS ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN ANOTHER PROJECT RELATED TO THE GOVERNMENT’S PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (PADS).
THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE DREDGING OF YAU MA TEI ANCHORAGE AND KELLETT BANK.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AND TAKE ABOUT 20 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE PROJECT COMPRISES TWO MAJOR PORTIONS OF WORK. THE FIRST PORTION INVOLVES DREDGING WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 245 HECTARES OF SEABED AT YAU MA TEI ANCHORAGE TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT MARINE ACCESS FOR USERS ALONG THE COASTLINE OF CHEUNG SHA WAN.
THE SECOND PORTION INVOLVES DREDGING WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 275 HECTARES OF SEABED AT KELLETT BANK TO PROVIDE A SITE FOR NINE MOORING BUOYS.
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE PORT WORKS DIVISION OF THE CIVL ENGINEERING OFFICE, CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON JULY 13.
--------0-----------
/10 .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 10 -
$258M CONTRACT FOR GOVT BUILDING IN TSUEN WAN ******
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) SIGNED A CONTRACT VALUED AT $258 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TSUEN WAN CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES COMPLEX.
THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 26-STOREY OFFICE TOWER AND A FOUR-STOREY LIBRARY BLOCK FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON TOP OF A COMMON FOUR-STOREY PODIUM.
THE PODIUM FLOORS WILL BE OCCUPIED BY HIGHLY PATRONISED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS POST OFFICE, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND L. ; 'UR DEPARTMENT.
THE 3,320 SQUARE METRE SITE WILL PROVIDE SOME 18,000 SQUARE METRES OF NET FLOOR AREA FOR OFFICES AND 3,000 SQUARE METRES FOR THE LIBRARY.
IT IS LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF SAI LAU KOK ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD. AS IT IS CLOSE TO THE TSUEN WAN MTR STATION AND THE NAM FUNG CENTRE BUS TERMINUS, THE SITE IS CONSIDERED IDEAL FOR A GOVERNMENT COMPLEX.
THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE AN ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY TO LINK UP WITH ADJACENT BUILDINGS.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, MR JOSE LEI, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONTRACTOR.
THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION BY THE END OF 1992.
-------------------------0-------- FEASIBILITY STUDY ON ENERGY CONSERVATION IN BUILDINGS ******
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO COMMISSION A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF INTRODUCING LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS TO LIMIT ENERGY LOSS THROUGH BUILDING FABRICS.
A NOTICE TO INVITE INITIAL PROPOSALS FOR THE CONSUL '.NCY STUDY WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE STUDY, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE, IS TO BE FUNDED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AND ADMINISTERED BY THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
INTERESTED CONSULTANTS ARE REQUIRED TO DRAFT A CODE OF PRACTICE AND PRODUCE A REPORT ASSESSING THE IMPLICATION OF INTRODUCING LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS ON THE BUILDING INDUSTRY IN TERMS OF COST/TIME/DESIGN AND SO ON.
/A CODE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22,
- 11 -
A CODE OF PRACTICE AND APPROPRIATE BUILDING REGULATIONS MAY BE INTRODUCED FOLLOWING THE STUDY TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE BUILDING DESIGNS CAN BE ENERGY EFFICIENT AS WELL AS AESTHETICALLY PLEASANT.
INITIAL PROPOSALS ARE BEING INVITED FROM CONSULTANT FIRMS WHICH SHOULD RETURN THEIR PACKAGES ON OR BEFORE JULY 20 TO THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S CONTRACTS SECTION, AT ROOM 811, 98 CAROLINE HILL ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY.
• THE DEPARTMENT MAY CALL SHORT-LISTING SUITABLE FIRMS FROM
FOR A DETAILED PROPOSAL AFTER THE INITIAL PROPOSALS RECEIVED.
---------0
RS SPEAKS ON HONG KONG-JAPAN LINKS * » » ♦
THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LINKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND JAPAN WILL STRENGTHEN FURTHER AS THE TERRITORY APPROACHES A NEW ERA FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT.
THIS WAS THE MESSAGE DELIVERED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, TO A GROUP OF VISITING JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN TODAY (FRIDAY).
’’HONG KONG, BEING AN INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS, TREASURES CLOSE TIES WITH OVERSEAS COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY ITS NEIGHBOURS, LIKE JAPAN.
’’FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF THE TIES WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS HELPING HONG KONG TO FURTHER PROSPER AND TO MAINTAIN ITS POSITION AS A REGIONAL HUB,” HE SAID.
MR LAN TOLD HIS VISITORS - HEADED BY MR TAKASHI UEHARA OF THE LONG-TERM CREDIT BANK OF JAPAN - THAT THE EXISTING LINK BETWEEN THE TERRITORY AND JAPAN WAS ALREADY STRONG.
’’THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE GROWING ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND JAPAN OVER THE YEARS. AS A RESULT, THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN RAPIDLY FROM ABOUT 7,000 IN 1980 TO SOME 12,000 NOW.
’’APART FROM PROVIDING AN EXCELLENT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN, THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN GREAT INTEREST IN THE GENERAL WELL-BEING OF THE TERRITORY.
’’THEY HAVE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY BUILDING AND CHARITABLE WORK, SUCH AS TANI 5 ART IN THE WALKS-FOR-MILLION OF THE COMMUNITY CHEST AND HOLDING CHARITABLE CONCERTS, HE NOTED.
MR LAN SAID EACH JAPANESE FAMILY IN HONG KONG WAS AN SOCIAL LINK, CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLES OF THE TWO
IMPORTANT PROMOTING
PLACES.
/"ALSO HELPING
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 12 -
’’ALSO HELPING CEMENT THE LINK ARE THE OVER ONE MILLION JAPANESE TOURISTS WHO VISIT THE TERRITORY EACH YEAR.
’’THE CONTACTS ARISING FROM THEIR VISITS ARE QUITE EXTENSIVE AND ENORMOUS, HELPING OUR JAPANESE FRIENDS TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUENESS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF HONG KONG, AND THE RESILIENCE OF ITS PEOPLE,” HE ADDED.
ON THE ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP, MR LAN SAID NINE OF JAPAN’S TOP 10 BANKS HAD OFFICES IN HONG KONG, THERE WERE 15 JAPANESE DEPARTMENT STORES AND JAPANESE FIRMS HAD HELPED BUILD SEVERAL MAJOR HIGHWAYS.
"WE WELCOME JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN TAKING A LONG-TERM VIEW FOR THEIR INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG. WE’VE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT JAPANESE INVESTMENT IN THE TERRITORY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS," HE SAID.
MR LAN SAID HONG KONG ALSO WELCOMED OVERSEAS BUSINESSES TO TAKE PART IN ITS INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE NEW AIRPORT AND PORT DEVELOPMENT.
"HONG KONG IS PLEASED TO KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF JAPANESE FIRMS HAVE INDICATED INTEREST IN THE PROJECTS," HE ADDED.
-----0------
IMPORTANT YEAR FOR IMPROVING FSD CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
*****
THIS YEAR IS PROVING TO BE AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR IMPROVING CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR STAFF OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT’S CIVIL SECRETARY, MR PETER FINLAY, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR FINLAY WAS SPEAKING TO SEVEN FIRE STATION OFFICERS AND 40 FIREMEN, WHO HAD COMPLETED 26 WEEKS OF TRAINING, AT A PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL AT PAT HEUNG.
"WE HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED A REDUCTION IN (WEEKLY) HOURS OF WORK FOR FIREMEN, FROM 60 TO 54 AND ARE AT PRESENT LOOKING INTO OTHER DEPARTMENTAL ISSUES WHICH MAY BENEFIT FIREMEN AND AMBULANCEMEN," HE SAID.
MR FINLAY SAID THE GRADUATING STAFF SHOULD BE PROUD SINCE THEY HAD PROVED THEMSELVES FIT AND ABLE TO BECOME PART OF ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED DISCIPLINED SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
HE SAID HE WAS SURE THAT THE GRADUATES WOULD SUCCEED IN- THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSION WHICH WAS A DEMANDING BUT MOST SATISFYING ONE, AND WHICH WAS INVALUABLE TO HONG KONG.
/"I BELIEVE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 13 -
"I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION IN YOUR CHOICE OF CAREER. YOU HAVE JOINED A PROUD SERVICE, ONE WHICH IS JUSTIFIABLY SO, AND I TRUST THAT YOU WILL ENHANCE IT BY YOUR PERFOLJANCE AND ATTITUDE," MR FINLAY SAID.
AFTER REVIEWING THE PARADE, MR FINLAY PRESENTED BEST RECRUIT AWARDS TO STATION OFFICER KO TAK-ON AND FIREMAN LAM KWOK-LEUNG.
------0--------
FIVE NEW DAY ACTIVITY CENTRES TO BECOME OPERATIONAL NEXT YEAR «**«**»
FIVE NEW DAY ACTIVITY CENTRES (DAC’S) WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL LATE NEXT YEAR, PROVIDING 350 NEW PLACES, OF WHICH 250 WILL BE RESIDENTIAL PLACES, FOR SEVERELY MEN"ALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.
THIS WAS STATED AT A MEETING TODAY (FRIDAY) BETWEEN THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ROSE GOODSTADT, THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, MR ALAN WONG, AND MEMBERS OF THE PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
MRS GOODSTADT SAID SHE PERSONALLY RECOGNISED THE BURDEN WHICH CONFRONTED THESE FAMILIES.
"I FEEL PARTICULARLY INVOLVED BECAUSE OF MY LONG CAREER IN THIS FIELD," SHE SAID.
SHE TOLD MEMBERS OF THE PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ENSURE THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WOULD NOT PICK AND CHOOSE CASES AND WOULD INCREASE MANPOWER TO COPE WITH DIFFERENT CASES.
"THERE IS A NEED FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION FROM SOCIAL WORKERS IN THIS RESPECT."
MR WONG SAID IN ADDITION TO THE INCREASE OF PLACES, THE SWD HAD ENDORSED A SET OF MEASURES TO IMPROVE STAFFING FOR HOSTELS FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED SO THAT A HIGHER LEVEL OF PERSONAL AND NURSING CARE COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE.
"THE PROPOSED CARE AND ATTENTION SERVICE AND ITS STAFFING STANDARD WILL BE PRESENTED FOR DISCUSSION IN THE' COMING REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING ON SERVICES FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
"SHOULD THIS MODE OF SERVICE BE ACCEPTED AND ENDORSED BY THE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE AND BE ESTABLISHED AS THE POLICY, IT COULD IMMEDIATELY BE IMPLEMENTED,” HE ADDED.
/EARLIER, MRS
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 14 -
EARLIER, MRS GOODSTADT POINTED OUT THAT SERVICES FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS ONLY STARTED IN THE LATE 70’S IN HONG KONG. HOWEVER, IMPROVEMENTS BOTH IN QUALITY AND QUANTITY HAD BEEN MADE IN THE PAST DECADE.
IN ADDITION TO DIRECT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE NOW 11 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES PROVIDING RELATED SERVICES TO SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
--------o-----------
CASH ASSISTANCE FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS *****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) APPROVED PAYMENT OF $22,871 FROM THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) FUND TO 12 VICTIMS INJURED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON JUNE 4.
A TOTAL OF 29 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT WHEN FOUR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES COLLIDED AT POK FU LAM ROAD NEAR VICTORIA ROAD.
THE TAVA SECTION IS NOW PROCESSING FIVE OTHER APPLICATIONS. SIX APPLICATIONS WERE REJECTED AND ANOTHER SIX WERE WITHDRAWN.
THE TAVA SCHEME PROVIDES QUICK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDENTS WITHOUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE MEANS.OF A FAMILY OR THE ELEMENT OF FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.
BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE SCHEME WILL RETAIN THE RIGHT TO MAKE CLAIMS FOR LEGAL DAMAGES OR COMPENSATION FROM OTHER SOURCES IN THE USUAL WAY.
HOWEVER, THOSE WHO RECEIVE OTHER DAMAGES OR COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF THE ACCIDENT ARE REQUIRED TO REPAY THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE ALREADY RECEIVED FROM THE SCHEME. BUT, IN ANY CASE, THE AMOUNT TO BE REPAID WOULD NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGES OR COMPENSATION AWARDED.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT MAKING APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE SCHEME MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE DEPARTMENT’S TAVA SECTION AT 15 WATSON ROAD, VICTORIA CENTRE, FIRST FLOOR, CAUSEWAY BAY, OR BY TELEPHONING 570 2410.
- - 0----------
/15........
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 15
CALL TO HEED WORK SAFETY ON GONDOLAS
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) CALLED ON CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN USING GONDOLAS AT WORK SITES.
THE APPEAL WAS MADE FOLLOWING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT YESTERDAY IN WHICH TWO WORKERS WERE KILLED AFTER FALLING FROM A COLLAPSED GONDOLA AT A BUILDING SITE IN QUEENSWAY. THE ACCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE DEPARTMENT.
’'TRAGEDIES OF THIS KIND CAN BE AVOIDED IF ADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS
are Taken by the parties concerned," a department spokesman said.
to prevent such accidents, the spokesman asked contractors to
OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY MEASURES:
THE GONDOLA USED SHOULD BE OF SUBSTANTIAL CONSTRUCTION AND SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH PROPER RAILINGS;
IT MUST BE THOROUGHLY TESTED BY A COMPETENT EXAMINER BEFORE USE, AND INSPECTED AFTERWARDS, AT REGULAR INTERVALS;
THERE MUST BE SECURE ROOF ANCHORAGE FOR HANGING THE GONDOLA AND THE DRIVING UNIT MUST BE OF SAFE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION;
IT SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH A SAFE DEVICE TO GUARD AGAINST FAST DESCENT;
ALL CONTROLS ON THE GONDOLA, THE NUMBER OF RIDERS PERMITTED AND SAFE WORKING LOAD SHOULD BE CLEARLY SPECIFIED AND MARKED;
AND
WORKERS CONCERNED SHOULD BE WELL-BRIEFED ON THE SAFE AND PROPER OPERATION OF THE GONDOLA.
IN ADDITION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID WORKERS ON THE GONDOLA ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR PROPER SAFETY BELTS WHICH SHOULD BE ANCHORED TO A SECURE ANCHORAGE OR AN INDEPENDENT LIFE LINE.
"IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE SUCH SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT IF IS PROPERLY USED BY THE WORKERS," HE STRESSED.
SAFETY MEASURES ON THE USE OF GONDOLAS AND OTHER LIFTING APPLIANCES ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS WHO BREACH THE PROVISIONS ARE LIABLE TO MAXIMUM FINES OF $50,000 AND $30,000 RESPECTIVELY.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
16
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1989, BOTH EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS HAVE A GENERAL DUTY TO MAINTAIN SAFETY AT WORK.
PROPRIETORS, IN PARTICULAR, HAVE THE DUTY TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A SAFE WORK SYSTEM TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
"BLATANT OFFENDERS MAY BE FINED UP TO $30,000 AND IMPRISONED FOR SIX MONTHS IF CONVICTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
- - 0 - -
PROPOSED CIJOSURE OF A SECTION OF LUARD ROAD
♦ * * * * *
A SECTION OF LUARD ROAD IN WAN CHAI IS TO BE PERMANENTLY CLOSED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A REFUSE COLLECTION POINT TO REPLACE THE EXISTING TEMPORARY ONE.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PROPOSED CLOSURE IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED WHEN CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW REFUSE COLLECTION POINT STARTS.
A FOOTPATH WILL BE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN THE PERMANENT REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AND THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND SPECTATOR STAND.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORKS CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, CENTRAL; THE HONG KONG WEST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 19TH FLOOR, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI; AND THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 2 O’BRIEN ROAD.
ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO OBJECT TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN AUGUST 21 THIS YEAR.
- - 0 - -
NEW POST OFFICE OPENS AT HENG ON ESTATE *****
A NEW POST OFFICE, LOCATED AT SHOP NO. 232, LEVEL 2 OF HENG ON COMMERCIAL CENTRE IN HENG ON ESTATE, MA ON SHAN, OPENED FOR BUSINESS AT NOON TODAY (FRIDAY).
THIS POST OFFICE PROVIDES THE NORMAL RANGE OF COUNTER SERVICES.
/ITS BUSINESS
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 17 -
ITS BUSINESS HOURS ARE FROM 9.30 AM TO 1 PM AND 2 PM TO 5 PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, AND FROM 9.30 AM TO 1 PM ON SATURDAY.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 641 6374.
OFFICIATING AT THE HENG ON POST OFFICE’S OPENING CEREMONY THIS MORNING WERE THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, AND SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR VICTOR YUNG.
WITH THE OPENING OF THIS NEW OFFICE, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POST OFFICES IN HONG KONG IS NOW 116.
--------0-----------
FIRING PRACTICE IN JULY ♦ ♦ * »
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON 14 DAYS NEXT MONTH.
THE PUBLIC IS WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED HOISTED. FLAGS CTICE ARE WILL
FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES AND TIMES TAKE PLACE: DATE THAT FIRING PRA TIME
JULY 3 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 4 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 5 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 6 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 10 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 11 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 13 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 17 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 19 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 20 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 23 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
JULY 25 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 6 PM
JULY 26 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 6 PM
JULY 27 (FRIDAY) 0 8.30 AM - 6 PM
/18........
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
18
NEW IDENTITY CARDS FOR MEN BORN IN 1917 OR EARLIER
*****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT MEN BORN IN 1917 OR EARLIER WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS FROM JULY 2 TO AUGUST 11.
"MEN OF THE ABOVE AGE GROUP CAN CALL AT ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES DURING THIS PERIOD," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 2, THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN THE BUSINESS HOURS OF TWO OF THE ISSUE OFFICES.
FROM THAT DAY, THE OFFICE HOURS OF THE HONG KONG AND WEST KOWLOON NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES WILL BE FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, AND FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM ON SATURDAY. THIS WILL MAKE THE HOURS OF OPERATION THE SAME AS AT THE OTHER SIX ISSUE OFFICES.
ALL OFFICES ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
APPLICANTS MAY ALSO MAKE USE OF THE PHONE-IN SERVICE TO ARRANGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING THE OFFICE OF THEIR CHOICE.
THE ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE ISSUE OFFICES ARE:
HONG KONG : BASEMENT, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI TEL. NO. 574 7070
EAST KOWLOON : AMOY PLAZA, SECOND FLOOR, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD, NGAU TAU KOK TEL. NO. 755 3669
WEST KOWLOON : CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SECOND FLOOR, 393 CANTON ROAD, YAU MA TEI TEL. NO. 723 2424
TSUEN WAN : EAST ASIA COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 29-37 TSUEN FU STREET TEL. NO. 498 0117
SHA TIN : SHOP 8A, SECOND FLOOR, CHANWAY SHOPPING CENTRE, 11-17 SHA TIN CENTRE STREET TEL. NO. 605 9108
YUEN LONG : HOP YICK CENTRE, SECOND FLOOR, 31 HOP YICK ROAD TEL. NO. 477 1543
TUEN MUN : CHI LOK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, CHI LOK FA YUEN TEL. NO. 458 0646
SHEUNG SHUI : TSUEN WO TAI LAU, GROUND FLOOR, 82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEK WU HUI TEL. NO. 672 7191
/APPLICANTS MAY .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 2?. \ “jO
- 19 -
APPLICANTS MAY MAKE USE OF THE 24-HOUR RECORDED MESSAGE SERVICE BY DIALLING 824 0303 TO OBTAIN DETAILS OF THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED.
"AS THE APPLICANTS IN THE COMING PHASE ARE OVER 70 YEARS OLD, SOME MAY, DUE TO HEALTH REASONS, FIND IT INCONVENIENT TO GO TO THE ISSUE OFFICES AND WISH TO BE EXEMPTED FROM THE REGISTRATION FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS.
"THEY MAY APPLY IN WRITING FOR A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS REGULATIONS.
"FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO TELEPHONE THE DEPARTMENT’S INFORMATION OFFICE ON 824 6111," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
AGED APPLICANTS LIVING ON HONG KONG SIDE WHO HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN USING ESCALATORS AT THE HONG KONG NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE AT BASEMENT, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI, MAY TELEPHONE 574 7070 TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THEIR IDENTITY CARDS REPLACED AT THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE -- HONG KONG OFFICE, ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER II, 7 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI, WHERE LIFT SERVICE IS AVAILABLE.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE SUCH ARRANGEMENT, AN APPLICANT NEEDS TO GIVE HIS NAME, IDENTITY CARD NUMBER AND YEAR OF BIRTH TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT STAFF.
HE REMINDED MEN BORN IN 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921 OR 1922 WHO HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR THEIR NEW IDENTITY CARDS TO COME FORWARD WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY AS THERE IS ONLY ONE MORE WEEK LEFT BEFORE THE CURRENT PHASE CLOSES ON JUNE 30.
FAILURE TO APPLY FOR A NEW IDENTITY CARD WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD IS AN OFFENCE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $3,000.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
--------0-----------
OVERSTAYERS AND Il’S FROM CHINA ARRESTED
******
IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS HELD A LARGE-SCALE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OPERATION IN NORTH POINT AREA YESTERDAY (THURSDAY), AND CONDUCTED IDENTITY CHECKS ON 160 PERSONS AT 31 PLACES.
DURING THE OPERATION, FIVE OVERSTAYERS AND TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA WERE APPREHENDED.
THE FIVE FEMALE OVERSTAYERS, AGED FROM 20 TO 59, ARE NATIVES OF FUKIEN. THEY ARE TWO-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS AND HAVE OVERSTAYED IN HONG KONG FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS TO SEVEN MONTHS.
/THE TWO .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
- 20 -
THE TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, A WOMAN AGED 34 AND A MAN AGED 30, ARE ALSO NATIVES OF FUKIEN AND CLAIMED TO HAVE SNEAKED INTO HONG KONG IN MAY AND JUNE THIS YEAR. TWO HONG KONG RESIDENTS, WHO ARE RELATIVES OF THE TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, ARE ASSISTING WITH INVESTIGATIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT REITERATED THAT THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
HE STRESSED THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BREACHED THEIR CONDITION OF STAY HERE ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.
PERSONS WHO AID AND ABET PEOPLE TO COMMIT THESE OFFENCES ARE ALSO- LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND PENALTY.
-----0------
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TSING YI BRIDGE
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TSING YI BRIDGE WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON SUNDAY (JUNE 24) TO FACILITATE STRUCTURAL MONITORING WORK.
THE PERIOD OF CLOSURE WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS, FROM 12.01 AM TO 2 AM AND FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM.
DURING THE CLOSURES, THE BRIDGE WILL BE RE-OPENED TO GENERAL TRAFFIC AT 10-MINUTE INTERVALS AND IMMEDIATELY FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE DISPLAYED AND POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE ON SITE TO GUIDE MOTORISTS. I
------o-------
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN TUEN MUN
* * ♦ »
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD BETWEEN YAN CHING STREET AND HO PONG STREET IS CLOSED FROM TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR ABOUT A WEEK TO FACILITATE ROAD REPAIR WORKS AS NECESSITATED BY A WATERMAIN BURST.
DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD, TRAFFIC ON NORTHBOUND TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD HEADING FOR ROAD D2N, INCLUDING NEW TERRITORIES GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE 43 AND LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT FEEDER BUS ROUTE 559, WILL BE DIVERTED VIA YAN CHING STREET AND HO PONG STREET.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE NORTHBOUND BUS STOP ON TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD OUTSIDE TUEN MUN PLAYGROUND FOR ROUTE 559 WILL BE SUSPENDED.
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MEMBERSHIP OF NEW-TERM ACAF SUB-COMMITTEES ANNOUNCED ......................... 1
CONSULTANCY FOR ROUTE 3 PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK .............................. 3
CROSS HARBOUR USERS URGED TO CO-OPERATE IN SURVEY ............................ 5
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION .......................................... 5
POLICE FIGHT AGAINST COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTES, CREDIT CARDS ..................... 6
YOUNGSTERS LEARN ABOUT PROTECTION OF HEARING ABILITY AT EXHIBITION ...
CITY ONE TOUR FOR BUILDING MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE ............................. 8
Q
SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES ON ISLANDS DB AGENDA ............................
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SHEK 0 ROAD DIVERSION ........................
WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS SHELTERED HOUSING SCHEME ........................... 10
KWAI TSING DFCC AND ICAC TO ORGANISE CAMPAIGN ............................... 11
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDIES IN JAPAN ........................................... 11
12 YOUTHS TO CLEAN BEACH IN TAI .........................................
12
LABOUR DEPT OFFICES ON MOVE ..........................................
13
WAI YIN CLUB MEMBERS VISIT CSD .......................................
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT ......................... 14
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
- 1 -
MEMBERSHIP OK NEW-TERM ACAF SUB-COMMITTEES ANNOUNCED
******
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) ANNOUNCED THE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE 1990-91 TERM OF FIVE SUB-COMMITTEES AND A NEWLY SET UP WORKING GROUP ON MARGINAL LAND FOR FARMING UNDER THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (ACAF).
THE WORKING GROUP WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING GOVERNMENT LAND AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK AND CROP FARMING, AND WORKING OUT PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEASING THE LAND FOR SUCH PURPOSES.
IT WILL ALSO WORK OUT AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD FOR MULTI-STOREY LIVESTOCK FARMS IN THE ASPECTS OF ACCESS, FIRE SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DRAINAGE AND BUILDING REGULATIONS.
THE FIVE SUB-COMMITTEES ARE THE AQUACULTURE SUB-COMMITTEE, THE CAPTURE FISHERIES SUB-COMMITTEE, THE CROP FARMING SUB-COMMITTEE, THE LIVESTOCK SUB-COMMITTEE, AND THE MARKETING SUB-COMMITEE.
THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE TO ADVISE THE ACAF ON THE FORMULATION OF LONG-TERM POLICIES AND ON THE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES.
THE CHAIRMANSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE WORKING GROUP AND THE FIVE SUB-COMMITTEES, WHICH HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY ACAF, ARE:
WORKING GROUP ON MARGINAL LAND FOR FARMING
CHAIRMAN: MR LAU WONG-FAT. VICE-CHAIRMAN: MR ANDREW WONG. MEMBERS: MR CHAN KWOK-WAI, DR STAN CHEUNG TSANG-KAY, MADAM FUNG CHOI-YUK, MR LEUNG CHIK, AND MR YUNG TIN-TACK.
GOVERNMENT MEMBERS: REPRESENTATIVES FROM CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
AQUACULTURE SUB-COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN: MR ANDREW WONG. VICE-CHAIRMAN: MR SO MOON-CHEUNG. MEMBERS: MR CHENG FOR-YAU, DR LAM KIN-CHE, AND MR HO TAK-YAU.
CO-OPTED MEMBERS: MR CHAN KOON-YAU, MR CHAN SHUI-LAM, MR PO YIU-KWONG, MR JONATHAN GRAY, MR LEUNG JICK-CHIU, AND PROF BRIAN MORTON.
GOVERNMENT MEMBERS: REPRESENTATIVES FROM MARINE DEPARTMENT, CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH, ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH, AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
/CAPTURE FISHERIES .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
- 2 -
CAPTURE FISHERIES SUB-COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN: MR LEUNG TIN-PUI. VICE-CHAIRMAN: MR CHENG FOR-YAU. MEMBERS: MR HO TAK-YAU AND MR SO MOON-CHEUNG.
CO-OPTED MEMBERS: MR PO YIU-KWONG, DR PETER CHAN, AND MR PETER SZETO.
GOVERNMENT MEMBERS: REPRESENTATIVES FROM MARINE DEPARTMENT AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
CROP FARMING SUB-COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN: MR LAU WONG-FAT. VICE-CHAIRMAN: MR CHAN KWOK-WAI. MEMBERS: MR ANDREW WONG, MR YUNG TIN-TACK, DR ZEE SZE-YONG, AND DR LAM KIN-CHE.
CO-OPTED MEMBERS: MADAM FUNG CHOI-YUK, MR NG YIU-TING, MR WONG WAI-YIM, MR LIM KWONG-WAH, AND MR TANG KWOK-YUNG.
GOVERNMENT MEMBERS: REPRESENTATIVES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
LIVESTOCK SUB-COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN: DR STAN CHEUNG TSANG-KAY. VICE-CHAIRMAN: MR LEUNG CHIK. MEMBERS: MR ANDREW WONG, MR CHAN KWOK-WAI, AND DR LAM KIN-CHE.
CO-OPTED MEMBERS: MR WONG SHUI-FAN, MR CHAN HON-LAM, MR CHAN YUE-YUK, MADAM HUI SIU-WAH, AND MR KWOK MING-CHEUNG.
GOVERNMENT MEMBERS: REPRESENTATIVES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
MARKETING SUB-COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN: DR ZEE SZE-YONG. VICE-CHAIRMAN: MR YUNG TIN-TACK. MEMBER: MR IP YEUK-LAM.
CO-OPTED MEMBERS: MR CHAN CHI-KWONG, MR CHAN CHUN-HING, MR LAI KWOK-KUI, MR LEUNG WOON, MR LI CHIK-KEUNG, MR WONG SO, AND MR YUEN HON-YIU.
/GOVERNMENT MEMBER .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
- 3 -
GOVERNMENT MEMBER: REPRESENTATIVE EROM AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE ACAF IS A GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED ADVISORY BODY TO PROVIDE A FORMALISED CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL AGRI CULTURAL AND FISHERIES PRODUCTION AND THE FORMULATION OF LONG-TERM POLICIES FOR THE RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE 1990-91 TERM ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE.
--------0----------
CONSULTANCY FOR ROUTE 3 PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK
******
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A $83.7 MILLION CONSULTANCY FOR THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE TSING YI SECTOR OF ROUTE 3.
THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF HIGHWAYS, MR KWEI SEE-KAN, AND MR DAVID BUTLER, A REPRESENTATIVE OF SPHW, A CONSORTIUM FORMED BY SCOTT WILSON KIRKPATRICK AND PARTNERS, PARSONS AND BRINCKERHOFF (ASIA) LTD, WILBUR SMITH ASSOCIATES AND CHARLES HASWELL AND PARTNERS (FAR EAST) TOGETHER WITH OTHER SUB-CONSULTANTS.
WORK ON THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN HAS NOW BEGUN AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN APRIL NEXT YEAR.
MR KWEI SAID ROUTE 3 WAS A PLANNED NORTH-TO-SOUTH TRUNK ROAD LEADING FROM THE LOK MA CHAU BORDER CROSSING, THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES AND WEST KOWLOON TO HONG KONG ISLAND.
AS ROUTE 3 AND THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING WOULD BE LINKED UP AT AN INTERCHANGE TO BE BUILT ON THE NORTHWEST COAST OF TSING YI, THE TSING YI SECTOR OF ROUTE 3 WOULD PROVIDE A MAJOR ROAD ACCESS FOR THE NEW AIRPORT TRAFFIC EAST OF THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING.
MR KWEI SAID THE TSING YI SECTOR FOLLOWED TWO SEPARATE ALIGNMENTS KNOWN AS CRA1 AND CRA4 .
THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK COVERED BY THE CONTRACT SIGNED TODAY WOULD BE ON THE CRA1 ALIGNMENT, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, AN ALIGNMENT FOR CRA4 AND THE LAND RESERVE NEEDED FOR THIS ROAD WOULD ALSO BE IDENTIFIED.
THE CRA1 ALIGNMENT CONNECTS ROUTE 2 AT TING KAU IN THE NORTH AND WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY AT CHEUNG SHA WAN IN THE SOUTH VIA TSING YI .
/EXTENDING FROM .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
4
EXTENDING FROM TING KAU, CRA1 IS MAINLY AN ELEVATED DUAL THREE-LANE CARRIAGEWAY.
IT CROSSES THE NORTH RAMBLER CHANNEL ON A CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE TO THE NORTH COAST OF TSING YI.
IT CONTINUES SOUTHWARDS ON THE WESTERN PART OF TSING YI VIA THE ROUTE 3/LANTAU FIXED CROSSING INTERCHANGE.
AT SAI TSO WAN, IT TURNS EASTWARDS AND ENTERS TWIN BORED TUNNELS TO CROSS TO THE EAST COAST OF TSING YI.
IT THEN CROSSES THE RAMBLER CHANNEL TO KWAI CHUNG ON A BRIDGE.
AT KWAI CHUNG, CRA1 WILL BECOME A DUAL FOUR-LANE ELEVATED CARRIAGEWAY EXTENDING TO CHEUNG SHA WAN WHERE IT CONNECTS THE PROPOSED WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY.
IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT CONSTRUCTION OF CRA1 WOULD BE COMPLETED IN MID-1996 TO TIE IN WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK IN 1997.
CRA4, A DUAL TWO-LANE ELEVATED ROAD, WILL BRANCH OUT FROM CRA1 NEAR THE ROUTE 3/LANTAU FIXED CROSSING INTERCHANGE IN TSING YI.
IT GOES SOUTHWARDS AND DIAGONALLY CUTS ACROSS TSING YI VIA BORED TUNNELS AND EMERGES IN SOUTHEAST TSING YI.
IT CROSSES THE RAMBLER CHANNEL TO THE PROPOSED STONECUTTERS RECLAMATION IN THE FORM OF EITHER AN IMMERSED TUBE TUNNEL OR A BRIDGE.
CRA4 THEN TRAVERSES THE PROPOSED WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION TO LINK WITH THE WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY IN CHEUNG SHA WAN.
WORKS ON CRA4 WOULD BE COMPLETED IN AROUND 15 YEARS’ TIME.
MR KWEI SAID THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK WOULD DEVELOP THE ALIGNMENTS AND DESIGN OF THE CRAI FEATURES, WITH A VIEW TO PROVIDING THE LAND REQUIREMENTS AND FORMULATING THE BASIS FOR DETAILED DESIGN.
THE WORK WOULD INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT, PRELIMINARY DESIGN ON CIVIL, STRUCTURAL, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL AND INSTRUMENTATION WORKS, LANDSCAPE WORKS AS WELL AS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL MEASURES.
---------0-----------
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
- 5 -
CROSS HARBOUR USERS URGED TO CO-OPERATE IN SURVEY
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT A SURVEY ON THE TRAVELLING CHARACTERISTICS OF CROSS HARBOUR BUS PASSENGERS BETWEEN MONDAY (JUNE 25) AND THURSDAY (JUNE 28) AT BUS STOPS ALONG VARIOUS CROSS HARBOUR ROUTES THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREA.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE USED AS A BASIS FOR STUDIES IN DEVELOPING FUTURE CROSS HARBOUR TRANSPORT NETWORK SERVICES.
DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD, TRANSPORT INSPECTORS WILL INTERVIEW BUS USERS ON INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THEIR TRAVELLING PATTERN.
THE INFORMATION TO BE COLLECTED WILL INCLUDE THE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION OF PASSENGERS, TRIP PURPOSES, ACCESS AND EGRESS TRANSPORT MODES AND THE REASONS FOR CHOICE OF CROSS HARBOUR BUS SERVICES.
ALL DATA COLLECTED WILL BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WILL BE USED FOR REFERENCE ONLY, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
HE URGED BUS PASSENGERS TO CO-OPERATE WITH INSPECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO WILL CARRY WITH THEM GOVERNMENT IDENTIFICATION.
THE INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 1 PM DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD AT 40 BUS STOPS AND BUS TERMINI.
------0--------
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION » * » » ♦
SEVENTY SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE PUT AUCTION THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING FOR A TOTAL OF $284,200 WHICH TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES.
UP FOR
WILL GO
THE AUCTION, REGISTRATION NUMBER
HELD AT THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL, AA863 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $35,000.
SAW
THE
ANOTHER NUMBER AA1118 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $24,000.
/FOLLOWING ARE .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
6
FOLLOWING ARE THE RESULTS OF TODAY’S AUCTION:
$ $ $ $ $
EG1822 6,200 EG182 16,000 AX632 6,500 AE2229 12,000 EG986 5,000
BR407 1,000 EE8002 3,500 AJ6111 3,000 EH165 1,000 EH5136 1,000
EH5039 — EH196 2,500 EG740 1,000 EE8660 1 , 500 EH315 1,000
BB216 7,000 EH7770 3,000 BK5658 — EF629 2,500 EG6696 4,000
EF1620 3,000 EJ566 1,000 EH325 4,500 EH7080 1,000 CD107 8,000
EG443 1,000 EE5080 — AD551 1,500 AP325 5,000 EE8001 2,500
EF3862 1,000 EG220 10,000 CD2263 3,000 AA863 35,000 EG623 4,500
EG987 9,500 EF3386 1,500 BM3832 2,500 EH280 3,500 EH1386 2,500
EF2305 1,000 EG423 — EG205 1,000 EG5666 — EE6119 3,000
AK415 8,000 EG1216 1,500 EG143 1,500 EF172 1,000 EG730 4,000
EE7749 — EG119 9,000 AZ2599 1,000 EE6377 2,000 EH6726 1,000
EG201 2,500 EH4489 1,000 EH177 5,500 CP219 3,500 EH902 3,500
BB107 8,000 EH905 1,500 EF316 3,000 EG817 8,000 EG4489 3,500
EF&616 1,500 EH8821 1,500 AA1118 24,000 EG3286 1,000 EG820 4,000
i
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WERE REQUIRED TO PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BIDDING. THE NUMBERS EH5039,. EE7749, EE5080, EG423, BK5658 AND EG5666 WERE WITHDRAWN AND DEPOSITS TOTALLING $6,000 WERE FORFEITED TO THE TOTAL REALISED.
THE NUMBERS AUCTIONED WILL BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE DATE OF AUCTION.
TODAY’S SALE, THE 152ND ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR CHARITY REALISED SO FAR TO $102,620,505.
--------0-----------
POLICE FIGHT AGAINST COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTES,
******
CREDIT CARDS
COMPLICATED BUILT-IN SECURITY FEATURES IN LOCAL BANKNOTES HAVE HELPED TREMENDOUSLY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTES.
THESE SOPHISTICATED SECURITY FEATURES OF LOCAL CURRENCY HAD MADE COUNTERFEITING PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE TO CRIMINALS, ACCORDING TO DETECTIVE SENIOR INSPECTOR, POLICE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU (CCB) MR IVAN HO SAI-LEUNG. ’
FOLLOWING THE NEUTRALISATION IN 1986 OF A MAJOR SYNDICATE WHICH SPECIALISED IN COUNTERFEITING LOCAL BANKNOTES OF LARGE DENOMINATION, THE BUREAU HAD SINCE COME ACROSS NO SIMILAR OPERATION.
’’WHAT WE HAVE NOW ARE MOSTLY NUISANCE FORGERY OF BANKNOTES DONE BY INDIVIDUALS,” MR HO SAID.
INFLATION, MEANWHILE, ALSO BROUGHT IN A WELCOME SIDE-EFFECT FOR ANTI-COUNTERFEIT AND FORGERY INVESTIGATORS, HE NOTED.
/INFLATION, THOUGH.........
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
INFLATION, THOUGH DREADED BY ECONOMISTS, HAD LED TO A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF COUNTERFEIT COINS WHICH WERE QUITE RAMPANT* (N THE MID-1980’S, HE SAID.
"IT IS SIMPLY NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE TO COUNTERFEIT A $5 COIN TODAY WHEN IT MAY COST UP TO $4 IN LABOUR AND EQUIPMENT COSTS,” MR HO ADDED.
AT PRESENT, ABOUT 20 OR SO COUNTERFEIT COINS WERE FOUND EACH MONTH FROM VARIOUS CHANNELS, PARTICULARLY IN VENDING MACHINES, HE SAID.
HE RECALLED THAT MORE THAN 2,680 COUNTERFEIT $5 COINS WERE SEIZED WHEN A SYNDICATE WAS CRUSHED IN 1984.
WHILE CCB WOULD CONTINUE TO FOCUS ITS ATTENTION ON COUNTERFEIT CURRENCIES FOR ITS GRAVE EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY, MR HO SAID MORE ENERGY WOULD BE DIVERTED TOWARDS FORGED CREDIT CARDS.
"WITH CHANGES IN SPENDING HABITS AND THE CIRCULATION OF AN INCREASINGLY HUGE VOLUME OF CREDIT CARDS IN THE MARKET, WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON VARIOUS TYPES OF CREDIT CARD FRAUD OVER THE PAST YEARS,” MR HO SAID.
BUT MR HO POINTED OUT MANY FRAUD CASES THROUGH. THE USE OF. EITHER FORGED OR STOLEN CREDIT CARDS COULD BE AVOIDED IF PEOPLE AT SALES COUNTERS WERE MORE ALERT.
”1 HAVE COME ACROSS CASES WHEREBY THE SALESPERSON ACCEPTED WITHOUT QUESTION A CREDIT CARD EMBOSSED WITH A JAPANESE NAME FROM A CANTONESE SPEAKING MAN, OR A CANTONESE SPEAKING MAN WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF GOODS BY USING A CARD WHICH BELONGED TO A EUROPEAN.
”WE APPRECIATE THE INTENSE COMPETITION IN THE COMMERCIAL CREDIT CARD MARKET, BUT WE BELIEVE MANY CASES WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CARD COMPANIES TIGHTENED UP A BIT ON THEIR GUIDELINES ISSUED TO CLIENT SHOPS ON THE USE OF CREDIT CARDS,” MR HO SAID.
------0--------
YOUNGSTERS LEARN ABOUT PROTECTION OF HEARING ABILITY AT EXHIBITION
HUNDREDS OF YOUNGSTERS IN WONG TAI SIN TODAY (SATURDAY) LEARNED HOW TO PROTECT THEIR HEARING ABILITY AT AN EXHIBITION IN LOK FU SHOPPING CENTRE.
THEY ALSO HAD THEIR HEARING TESTED FREE OF CHARGE BY STAFF OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE DEAF.
IN ADDITION, THE VISITORS WERE GIVEN A BOOKMARK WITH THE MESSAGE: ’’PROTECT YOUR HEARING".
/ORGANISED BY .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
- 8
ORGANISED BY THE ACTIVITY WORKING GROUP OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE EXHIBITION IS AIMED AT AROUSING YOUNG PEOPLE’S AWARENESS OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF LOUD MUSIC FROM PORTABLE CASSETTE RADIOS ON THEIR HEARING.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXHIBITION TODAY WERE THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, DR MICHAEL LEE; ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM KWAN; CHAIRMAN OF THE DB’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, MR NG NGOK-SHING; SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER OF WONG TAI SIN, MR IP PO-KUEN; ASSISTANT DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER OF WONG TAI SIN AND SAI KUNG, MR LAWRENCE IU; AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTIVITY WORKING GROUP, MR CHAN CHUN-FAT.
SIMILAR EXHIBITIONS WILL BE STAGED AT THE TSZ WAN SHAN (SOUTH) COMMUNITY CENTRE ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26) AND AT THE CHOI WAN COMMERCIAL CENTRE ON JULY 1 (SUNDAY).
------0--------
CITY ONE TOUR FOR BUILDING MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
******
MORE THAN 60 MEMBERS FROM OWNERS CORPORATIONS (OC’S) AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES (MAC’S) IN YAU TSIM DISTRICT TODAY (SATURDAY) VISITED CITY ONE IN SHA TIN TO STUDY THE ESTATE’S BUILDING MANAGEMENT STYLE.
THE TOUR IS ORGANISED BY THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAM OF THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED OFFICE-BEARERS AND MANAGEMENT STAFF FROM THE DISTRICT’S OC’S AND MAC’S, AS WELL AS MEMBERS FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE FIVE AREA COMMITTEES.
THEY WERE BRIEFED BY THE ESTATE MANAGER OF CITY ONE, MR IP KAM-SHING, WHO INTRODUCED THE VARIOUS FACILITIES IN THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND SHOPPING PLAZA.
DISCUSSIONS CENTRED ON SECURITY, SANITATION, FIRE FIGHTING FACILITIES, AND MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.
--------0-----------
/9.........
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
9
SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES ON ISLANDS DB AGENDA
******
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD WILL LOOK INTO SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES AT TAI O, LANTAU, AT A MEETING ON MONDAY (JUNE 25).
A POLICE REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE PRESENT TO BRIEF MEMBERS AND EXPLAIN THE MEASURES POLICE ARE TAKING TO COMBAT SUCH ACTIVITIES.
THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR GREGORY LEUNG, WILL BRIEF THE MEMBERS ON A REPORT OF THE PROVISONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND SEEK THEIR VIEWS ON THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY’S RECOMMENDATIONS.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE CLOSURE OF THE SOUTH LANTAU HOSPITAL, THE PROVISION OF FLOOD CONTROL FACILITIES FOR LOW-LYING AREAS IN TAI O, AND MEASURES TO TACKLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A DESERTED SALT FIELD THERE.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS WILL INCLUDE A PROPOSED $130 MILLION ROADS AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN CHEUNG CHAU OLD TOWN AND THE 1990-91 WORK PLAN OF THE ICAC REGIONAL OFFICE (HONG KONG WEST/ISLANDS).
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (JUNE 25) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, 14TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 30 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
- - 0 - -
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SHEK O ROAD DIVERSION
*****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS' ON MONDAY (JUNE 25) A PROPOSAL FOR DIVERTING A SECTION OF SHEK O ROAD TO FACILITATE IMPROVEMENT WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT AT SHEK O QUARRY.
THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO ELIMINATE THE HAIRPIN BEND AT THE JUNCTION OF SHEK 0 ROAD WITH CAPE D’AGUILAR ROAD.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED NEW GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES TO SERVE THE DISTRICT.
/QUESTIONS CONCERNING
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
- 10 -
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF A FOOTPATH ALONG ISLAND ROAD, THE MONITORING OF GREEN MINIBUS SERVICES AND THE PROPOSED IMPOSITION OF STOPPING RESTRICTIONS ALONG POK FU LAM ROAD WILL BE RAISED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (JUNE 25) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT, 7-11 NAM NING STREET, ABERDEEN CENTRE.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
------0--------
WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS SHELTERED HOUSING SCHEME
MEMBERS OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON REDEVELOPMENT WILL DISCUSS THE SHELTERED HOUSING SCHEME FOR THE ELDERLY AT A MEETING ON MONDAY (JUNE 25).
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENT TO BRIEF MEMBERS.
MEMBERS WILL ASK THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED FOR INFORMATION ON THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES IN TUNG TAU AFTER REDEVELOPMENT.
THEY WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION IN LOK FU ESTATE WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER REDEVELOPMENT.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF KOWLOON CENTRAL ESTATES AND THE COMPREHENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN TSZ WAN SHAN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON REDEVELOPMENT TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (JUNE 25) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
/Il .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
11
KWAI TSING DFCC AND ICAC TO ORGANISE CAMPAIGN
♦ ♦*»♦»»
THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC) AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION WILL JOINTLY ORGANISE AN ANTI-CRIME AND ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER.
THE CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE A COLOURING COMPETITION, A SLOGAN COMPETITION, A SEMINAR, AN EXHIBITION, A QUIZ, AND A VARIETY SHOW.
THE COLOURING COMPETITION WILL CATER FOR PRIMARY STUDENTS WHILE THE SEMINAR WILL ALLOW MEMBERS OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE IN ANTI-CRIME AND ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES. OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE OPEN TO ALL KWAI TSING RESIDENTS.
TO STEP UP PUBLICITY, THE DFCC WILL ORGANISE A DEBATE ON FIGHTING CRIME AND CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS IN NOVEMBER.
ANTI-CRIME TALKS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN IN ABOUT 30 SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
AS THE FIGHT CRIME NEWSLETTER ISSUED LAST YEAR WAS WELL RECEIVED BY RESIDENTS, THE COMMITTEE WILL PRODUCE THREE MORE ISSUES THIS YEAR.
---------0-----------
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDIES IN JAPAN
*****
THF JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING TWO SCHOLARSHIPS UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES IN JAPAN IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES, NATURAL SCIENCES UNDER THE MONBUSHO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME.
FOR AND
AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL FIRST RECEIVE A ONE-YEAR LANGUAGE AT THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF THE TOKYO UNIVERSITY.
THAT
COURSE
THF AWARDS HE SAID, ARE TENABLE FOR FIVE YEARS FROM APRIL 1991 TO MARCH 1996 AND COVER TUITION, ACCOMMODATION, LIVING EXPENSES and return passage.
22
AND
APPLICANTS MUST BE AGED OVER 17 AND UNDER 22 AND COMPLETED THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS OF ONE OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES Sc KONO, OR HAVE ACHIEVED TWO RELEVANT SUBJECTS AT A-LEVEL
THREE RELEVANT SUBJECTS AT O-LEVEL IN THE GCE.
APPLICATION
FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE
FROM
DEPARTMENT’S OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY.
SCHOLARSHIPS
HAVE
IN PLUS
THE EDUCATION
SECTION AT LEE
APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE ON JULY 16.
--------o-----------
/12........
SATURDAY, JUN. '3, 1990
- 12 -
YOUTHS TO CLEAN BEACH IN TAI PO
*****
OVER A HUNDRED YOUNG PEOPLE IN TAI PO, SOME EQUIPPED WITH DIVING APPARATUS, WILL CARRY OUT A CLEAN-UP OPERATION AT THE TAN KA WAN BEACH IN SAI KUNG NORTH TOMORROW (SUNDAY) MORNING.
• THE OPERATION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE YMCA OFFICES IN SHUM WAN, TAP MUN AND SAM MUN TSAI TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CAMPAIGN. REFUSE AND OYSTER SHELLS ON THE BEACH AND SEABED WILL BE CLEARED.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO YUNG-SANG; DISTRICT OFFICER, MR THOMAS YIU; A REGIONAL COUNCILLOR, MR TANG PUI-TAT; CHAIRMAN OF SAI KUNG NORTH RURAL COMMITTEE, MR TANG KWONG-WING; AND CHAIRMAN' OF THE DB’S RECREATION, SPORTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, MR LEUNG WO-PING.
ACTIVITIES OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CAMPAIGN ALSO INCLUDE A PHOTO COMPETITION AND A SEMINAR ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CLEAN BEACH OPERATION TO BE HELD AT TAN KA WAN, SAI KUNG NORTH TOMORROW (SUNDAY) MORNING. A PRESS COACH WILL LEAVE FOR THE VENUE FROM THE COMPOUND OF TAI PO GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 1 TING KOK ROAD, AT 8.15 AM.
--------0-----------
LABOUR DEPT OFFICES ON MOVE
* * * *
THE NORTH POINT OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (LES) WILL OPERATE FROM ITS NEW PREMISES FROM MONDAY (JUNE 25) TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE FOR JOB-SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE NEW OFFICE WILL BE MORE SPACIOUS AND IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AT 92-94 JAVA ROAD, DAK SHING BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CLOSE TO THE DISTRICT’S COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CENTRES AND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 565 5926 OR 565 5944.
THE LES PROVIDES A FREE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE TO BOTH JOB-SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS RECRUITING STAFF.
/RESIDENTS OF........
SATURDAY, JUi> 23, 1990
- 13 -
RESIDENTS OF NORTH POINT AND QUARRY BAY ARE REQUIRED TO BRING ALONG ONLY THEIR IDENTITY CARDS DURING OFFICE HOURS TO REGISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.
EMPLOYERS IN THE DISTRICTS NEED ONLY TO TELEPHONE TO PLACE VACANCY ORDERS. THE INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE POSTED AT THE NORTH POINT OFFICE AND WILL BE SENT BY FACSIMILE TO OTHER LES OFFICES FOR DOSPLAY.
MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT’S WAGE SECURITY UNIT WILL ALSO MOVE TO A NEW ADDRESS AT OVERSEAS TRUST BANK BUILDING, 16TH FLOOR, 160 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI, ON MONDAY.
THE UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCESSING AND INVESTIGATING APPLICATIONS FOR EX-GRATIA PAYMENT FROM THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND BY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OWED WAGES, WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE OR SEVERANCE PAYMENTS BY AN INSOLVENT EMPLOYER.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES SHOULD MAKE APPLICATIONS INITIALLY AT AN OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE BEFORE THEY ARE REFERRED TO THE WAGE SECURITY UNIT.
ENQUIRIES ON CLAIMS FOR EX-GRATIA PAYMENT FROM THE FUND CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 834 6037.
---------0-----------
WAI YIN CLUB MEMBERS VISIT CSD
* * * *
THIRTEEN MEMBERS OF THE WAI YIN CLUB TODAY (SATURDAY) VISITED TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION (TGCI) TO LEARN ABOUT THE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.
THE TGCI IS A TRAINING CENTRE WHICH ACCOMMODATES YOUNG FEMALE OFFENDERS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 21.
THE INMATES HAVE TO UNDERGO HALF-DAY SCHOOLING AND HALF-DAY VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD).
ACCOMPANIED BY CSD OFFICERS, THE VISITORS TOURED VARIOUS FACILITIES OF THE INSTITUTION, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, CLASSROOMS, DORMITORIES, LIBRARY AND SICK BAY.
THEY ALSO WATCHED THE INMATES TAKING PART IN GIRL GUIDE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
THEY THEN WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICERS’ CLUB FOR A ROUND-UP DISCUSSION WITH CSD OFFICIALS.
WAI YIN CLUB IS AN ORGANISATION COMPRISING WINNERS AND SEMI-FINALISTS OF ANY MISS HONG KONG BEAUTY PAGEANT. ITS MEMBERS TAKE PART IN CHARITABLE WORK AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
------0-----------
/14
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1990
- 14 -
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICi
*****
THAT FROM 10
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES
(JUNE 25), TRAFFIC ON THE SECTION OF SASSOON ROAD SOUTH ROAD TO SASSOON ROAD NORTH OF VICTORIA ROAD WILL BE BANNED FOUR MONTHS, TO FACILITATE IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON VICTORIA ROAD.
AM ON MONDAY
OF VICTORIA
FOR ABOUT
VEHICLES ON SASSOON ROAD SOUTH OF VICTORIA ROAD HEADING SASSOON ROAD NORTH OF VICTORIA ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED TO TRAVEL VICTORA ROAD, BISNEY ROAD AND POK FU LAM ROAD.
FOR VIA
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
WORK STARTS ON NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE ............................................... 1
INVITATION FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS TO BECOME TEACHERS ............................. 2:
EXHIBITION TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL ANTI-DRUG DAY ............................ 3
NEW TEST KITS FOR DISABLED JOB-SEEKERS ....................................... 4
MAINTENANCE OF HK’S INTEGRITY A POLICE PRIORITY .............................. 5
STATISTICS ON POLICE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN MAY .............................. 6
CIVIC EDUCATION PIONEERS SCHEME IN SOUTHERN .................................. 7
DB COMMITTEE TO REVIEW TUNNEL TOLLS .......................................... 7
ACTIVE SUMMER FOR MONG KOK YOUTHS ............................................ 8
REMOVAL OF KENNEDY TOWN SUB-OFFICE ........................................... 9
NEW GARDEN FOR WAN CHAI ...................................................... 9
PUBLIC EARTH DUMP AT MA ON SHAN TO BE CLOSED ................................. 10
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN TSIM SHA TSUI ......................................... 10
CANCELLATION OF URBAN CLEARWAYS IN TSIM SHA TSUI ............................. 10
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN NGAU TAU KOK ................................ 10
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1990
WORK STARTS ON NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE
******
THE LIONS NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE, TO BE DEVELOPED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) IN SAI KUNG, HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT FOR HONG KONG.
IT HAD AROUSED INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN HONG KONG AND IN WHAT THE TERRITORY WAS DOING TO PRESERVE NATURE AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT GENERALLY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ADOLF HSU, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE CENTRE.
THE PROJECT, BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE AFD, INVOLVES THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SAI KUNG FARM INTO HONG KONG’S FIRST NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE. IT IS SPONSORED BY THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT 303 - HONG KONG AND MACAU.
MR HSU EXPRESSED HIS DEEP RESPECT FOR THE LIONS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIETY, AND TO PROVIDING NATURE EDUCATION FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
HE ALSO REITERATED THE GOVERNMENT’S OVERALL OBJECTIVES FOR NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
THESE INCLUDED MAKING OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SPECIFIC SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, AWARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN CREATING AND MAINTAINING A HEALTHY AND PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT AND ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT, THROUGH THE FORMAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, OF A WELL-INFORMED, ENVIRONMENTALLY’ AWARE AND RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
IT ALSO ENTAILED MAKING PROFESSIONALS CONCERNED WITH DEVELOPMENT, AND DECISION MAKERS, MORE AWARE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR DECISIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE POLICY OBJECTIVES, MR HSU SAID, THE GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE MACHINERY’ HAD BEEN GIVEN RESPONSIBILITIES TO INCLUDE IN THEIR WORK PROGRAMMES ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING TO AVOID CREATING NEW PROBLEMS IN FUTURE AND LEGISLATION TO ENSURE ADHERENCE TO POLLUTION CONTROLS.
THERE WERE ALSO FACILITIES AND SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOR THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF THE WASTES GENERATED BY THE COMMUNITY AND CONSULTATION AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME.
"AS WITH ALL OTHER PROGRAMMES, GOVERNMENT ACTION IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED COMMUNITY AND ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT, AND SUCH SUPPORT WILL BE RECOGNISED," HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD CONSENTED TO BE THE PATRON OF THE PROJECT WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE ESTEEM THE GOVERNMENT HAD FOR THE PROJECT.
/OTHER OFFICIATING ......
SUNDAY JUNE '4, 1990
- 2 -
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS OF THE CEREMONY INCLUDED THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD, MR WILLIAM WAN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD, MR CARLOS CHEUNG, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LIONS.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR OF LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT 303, MR PAUL FAN, SAID THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY SIGNIFIED THE FIRST STEP OF THE NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE PROJECT IN MOVING FROM THE DISCUSSION STAGE TO THE ACTION STAGE.
HE SAID THE LIONS SPONSORED THE PROJECT BECAUSE IT WAS REALISED THAT THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED TO EDUCATE OUR NEXT GENERATION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURE CONSERVATION.
HE HOPED THEIR EFFORTS WOULD AROUSE THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMUNITY, AND OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, TO THIS ISSUE AND URGED THAT CONCERTED EFFORTS BE MADE TOWARDS BUILDING A BETTER HONG KONG.
THE LIONS HAVE SET UP A LIONS NATURE EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PROJECT. THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE’S EXHIBITION HALLS, INSECT HOUSE, A CAFETERIA AND AN ELEVATED WALK AS WELL AS TO UPGRADE OTHER ASSOCIATED FACILITIES.
THE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN JULY NEXT YEAR.
---------0-----------
INVITATION FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS TO BECOME TEACHERS
******
SCHOOL LEAVERS WISHING TO BECOME TEACHERS ARE NOW BEING INVITED TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO THE FOUR COLLEGES OF EDUCATION.
THE COLLEGES ARE THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) SAID STUDENTS WITH CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS CAN APPLY FOR THE THREE-YEAR COURSE AND ADVANCED LEVEL STUDENTS, THE TWO-YEAR COURSE.
’’THE COURSES ARE DESIGNED TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME QUALIFIED TEACHERS TO TEACH GENERAL SUBJECTS AT PRIMARY LEVEL AND TWO ELECTIVE SUBJECTS UP TO SECONDARY 3 LEVEL,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE TEACHER’S CERTIFICATE ENTITLES THEM TO AN INITIAL MONTHLY SALARY OF $9,035 AND A MAXIMUM OF $14,640.
/"ADVANCEMENT PROSPECTS .......
•NmAY .iNt '4. l990
3 -
’’ADVANCEMENT PROSPECTS INCLUDE BEING HEADS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AS LECTURERS AT THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, INSPECTORS OR AS SENIOR EDUCATION ASSISTANTS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID THAT WHILE GRANTHAM, SIR ROBERT BLACK AND NORTHCOTE TRAIN STUDENTS IN GENERAL SUBJECTS, THE TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE PREPARES STUDENTS TO TEACH EITHER DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY OR COMMERCE SUBJECTS.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE FOUR COLLEGES AND AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS.
• APPLICATIONS, WHICH WILL CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, CAN BE SUBMITTED THROUGH SCHOOLS FOR THIS YEAR’S SCHOOL LEAVERS OR, FOR THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY LEFT SCHOOL, AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN GASCOIGNE ROAD, KOWLOON.
--------0-----------
EXHIBITION TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL ANTI-DRUG DAY
******
A LARGE-SCALE EXHIBITION TO COMMEMORATE THE SILVER JUBILEE OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN) AND TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ANTI-DRUG DAY WILL BE HELD AT THE CITY HALL LOW BLOCK EXHIBITION HALL, CENTRAL, ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY (JUNE 27 AND 28).
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WILL OFFICIATE AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE OCCASION ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26) AFTERNOON.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN FROM 10.30 AM TO 6.30 PM.
IT IS ORGANISED BY ACAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POLICE, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSERS AND A COUNSELLING CENTRE FOR PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSERS, PS 33.
A WIDE RANGE OF PANELS INTRODUCING HONG KONG’S OVERALL ANTI-DRUG WORK AND THE ROLES PLAYED BY THE PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS WILL BE DISPLAYED.
THE DISPLAYS OF THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE DEPICTION OF A NUMBER OF MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MANUFACTURING CASES DEALT WITH IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
AS MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE EXHIBITION, VIDEOS AND SLIDES WILL BE SHOWN TO GIVE AUDIENCE AN INSIGHT INTO THE GOVERNMENT’S ANTI-DRUG STRATEGIES AND THE HARMFUL EFFECTS CAUSED BY ABUSING PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES. A VIDEO WALL AND LARGE SCREEN WILL BE SET UP FOR THIS PURPOSE.
/ALSO ON .......
SUNDAY JUNE 24, 1990
Akm on dxsplay wtll be the exhibits related to seized drugs
AND OPIUM-SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA.
ADDITION TO PRINTED PUBLICITY MATERIALS, GIVE-AWAY ITEMS, SPONSORED THE ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
,IT, Y0U ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY AT WHICH THE GOVERNOR 2mF^ciate at the C1TY HALL b0W BL0CK EXHIBITION HALL, CENTRAL, AT 4 ,PM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26).
- - 0 - -
NEW TEST KITS FOR DISABLED JOB-SEEKERS
*****
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL SOON BE ABLE TO ASSESS MORE ACCURATELY THE WORKING ABILITIES OF DISABLED JOB-SEEKERS WITH THE HELP OF A STATE-OF-THE-ART VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT SYSTEM.
WITH THE RECENT ACQUISITION OF THREE ASSESSMENT KITS KNOWN AS VALPAR COMPONENT WORK SAMPLE SERIES (VCWSS), THE DEPARTMENT’S SELECTIVE PLACEMENT DIVISION CAN BETTER IDENTIFY THE JOBS THAT BEST SUIT THE ABILITY OF DISABLED JOB APPLICANTS.
THE SYSTEM WAS PURCHASED WITH A GRANT OF $940,000 FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
THE VCWSS IS A WELL-DEVELOPED VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT SYSTEM SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE DISABLED, WHICH HAS BEEN TESTED AND WIDELY USED IN THE EMPLOYMENT REHABILITATION CENTRES IN BRITAIN.
THE NEW EQUIPMENT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PLACEMENT OFFICERS TO REALISTICALLY AND ACCURATELY ASSESS INDIVIDUAL DISABLED PERSONS’ RESIDUAL WORKING ABILITIES AND PLACE THEM IN THE RIGHT JOB.
TO TRAIN PLACEMENT OFFICERS ON THE USE OF THE ASSESSMENT KIT, THE JOCKEY CLUB HAS DONATED ANOTHER $175,000 TO THE DIVISION TO FUND A TRAINING PROJECT.
AN EXPERT INSTRUCTOR FROM THE USA WILL RUN A TRAINING COURSE FOR SOME 20 PLACEMENT OFFICERS LATER THIS YEAR.
AFTERWARDS, THE SYSTEM WILL BE PUT INTO USE IN THE THREE REGIONAL OFFICES OF THE DIVISION.
IN ADDITION, THE DIVISION WILL ORGANISE AN ANNUAL EXHIBITION IN NOVEMBER TO PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISABLED, WITH A DONATION OF $40,000 FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB TOWARDS PART OF THE COSTS.
- - 0 - -
SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 1990
- 5 -
MAINTENANCE OF HK’S INTEGRITY A POLICE PRIORITY
******
AS HONG KONG STRIVES TO AFFIRM ITS POSITION AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CENTRE, THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TERRITORY’S INTEGRITY IN THE WORLD BUSINESS MARKET IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES OF THE POLICE FORCE.
HENCE, THE FORCE HAS INCREASED THE MANPOWER OF THE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU (CCB) BY THREE FOLDFROM 93 OFFICERS IN 1973 TO 289 OFFICERS IN 1989.
"IF THERE IS NO INTEGRITY, THERE WILL BE NO CONFIDENCE. IF THERE IS NO CONFIDENCE, THERE WILL BE NO HONG KONG," CCB’S CHIEF STAFF OFFICER, MR BEN MUNFORD, SAID.
"FRAUD AND, IN PARTICULAR, INTERNATIONAL FRAUD IS REGARDED AS A SERIOUS MATTER BY THE FORCE," HE SAID.
BUSINESSMEN FIND NO BOUNDARY TN THEIR PURSUIT OF PROFITS AND SO IT IS WITH FRAUD. "VERY FEW CASES WITH WHICH WE ARE DEALING DO NOT HAVE SOME SORT OF INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION," MR MUNFORD SAID.
TO CCB OFFICERS, LIAISON WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THEREFORE, IS ALMOST A MUST DURING INVESTIGATIONS.
IN ADDITION, CCB’S INTELLIGENCE DIVISION ALSO MONITORS CLOSELY THE MOVEMENT OF KNOWN INTERNATIONAL SWINDLERS. IT CONDUCTS ENQUIRIES ON BEHALF OF FOREIGN ANTI-FRAUD AUTHORITIES, MR MUNFORD SAID.
WORKING PARALLEL WITH THE INTELLIGENCE SECTION ARE THREE TEAMS OF FRAUD INVESTIGATORS - TWO ON COMMERCIAL FRAUD AND ONE ON COUNTERFEIT AND FORGERY CRIMES - WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF TREASURY ACCOUNTANTS.
LAST YEAR, MR MUNFORD SAID, CCB HANDLED 600 FRAUD CASES EACH INVOLVING AN AVERAGE OF $1.2 MILLION.
"FRAUD INVESTIGATION IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM NORMAL CRIME INVESTIGATION.
"A GOOD FRAUD CASE IS USUALLY NOT IMMEDIATELY DETECTED. WHEN THE VICTIM DOES KNOW ABOUT IT, IT MIGHT BE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. AND HE USUALLY HAS A GOOD IDEA WHO HAS CHEATED HIM," MR MUNFORD NOTED.
THE CHALLENGE TO A CCB OFFICER WAS TO PRODUCE DETAILED EVIDENCE TO LINK THE FRAUD WITH SUSPECTS WHO MIGHT HAVE COVERED THEIR TRACKS WELL AND EVEN FLED THE TERRITORY, HE SAID.
ON AVERAGE, MR MUNFORD SAID, EACH FRAUD ENQUIRY WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS AND IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE A CASE ON THE BOOK FOR SIX YEARS.
"VERY OFTEN IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO INVOLVE COMPANY RECORDS DATING BACK MANY YEARS IN JUST ONE CASE.
/"I REMEMBER .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1990
- 6 -
"I REMEMBER THERE WAS ONE CASE IN WHICH I HAD 100,000 EXHIBITS,” HE SAID.
HENCE, CCB OFFICERS HAVE TO BE SELF-MOTIVATED WITH A FAIR DEGREE OF PATIENCE.
’’LIKE AN AUTHOR OF A BOOK, THEY HAVE TO WORK TO SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINES,” MR MUNFORD NOTED.
--------0-----------
STATISTICS ON POLICE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN MAY
POLICE CONTINUED THEIR THREE-PRONGED ENFORCEMENT ACTION • AGAINST DRUGS, ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND VICE ACTIVITIES LAST MONTH, RESULTING IN THE ARREST OF 1,208 PEOPLE IN 4,044 RAIDS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT DURING THE MONTH, POLICE ARRESTED 236 PEOPLE IN 339 RAIDS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, PEOPLE IN 3,410 RAIDS IN KOWLOON AND 193 PEOPLE IN 276 RAIDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
IN ADDITION, NARCOTICS BUREAU OFFICERS ARRESTED 25 PERSONS IN 19 OPPERATIONS.
IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING IN MAY, POLICE OFFICERS CARRIED OUT 811 RAIDS AND ARRESTED 565 PEOPLE. THE DRUGS SEIZED INCLUDED 14.7 KILOGRAMS OF NO. 3 HEROIN, 6.6 KILOGRAMS OF NO. 4 HEROIN, 10 KILOGRAMS OF CANNABIS RESIN, 44 GRAMS OF CANNABIS AND 11.3 KILOGRAMS OF OPIUM, THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS THE LARGEST AMOUNT SEIZED THIS YEAR.
ON THE ANTI-GAMBLING FRONT, POLICE CONDUCTED 91 RAIDS AND ARRESTED 505 PEOPLE, SEIZING $153,000 IN TABLE MONEY AND BETTING SLIPS WORTH ABOUT $125,000.
IN THEIR SUSTAINED EFFORTS AGAINST VICE ACTIVITIES, POLICE ARRESTED 138 PEOPLE IN 3,142 RAIDS AND SEIZED 547 PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEOTAPES AND FOUR OBJECTIONABLE MAGAZINES.
------0------------
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1990
7
CIVIC EDUCATION PIONEERS SCHEME IN SOUTHERN *****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION HAS INITIATED A CIVIC EDUCATION PIONEERS SCHEME TO GROOM LOCAL YOUTH FOR AN ACTIVE PART IN SPREADING CIVIC EDUCATION MESSAGES.
ALL THOSE AGED 15 OR ABOVE, WHO LIVE, STUDY OR WORK IN THE DISTRICT, ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE SCHEME. THEY MAY TAKE PART INDIVIDUALLY OR IN GROUPS OF UP TO EIGHT PEOPLE.
TRAINING FOR THOSE CHOSEN AS CIVIC EDUCATION PIONEERS WILL INCLUDE A SEMINAR IN JULY ON THE "TRANSFORMATION OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG", AND VISITS TO THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD, URBAN COUNCIL AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
THE CIVIC EDUCATION PIONEERS WILL THEN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOUNTING AN EXHIBITION ON THEIR FINDINGS AND ASSESSMENTS OF THE THREE-TIER SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.
THEY WILL ALSO TAKE PART IN THE ORGANISATION OF A LARGE-SCALE CIVIC EDUCATION CARNIVAL TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 2 IN THE DISTRICT IN SUPPORT OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE CIVIC EDUCATION DAY.
DETAILS OF THE SCHEME AND APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE AT ABERDEEN CENTRE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES IN ABBA COMMERCIAL BUILDING, LEI TUNG ESTATE, WAH FU ESTATE AND STANLEY VILLAGE ROAD.
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE ON JUNE 30. TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 552 1006.
- - 0 - -
DB COMMITTEE TO REVIEW TUNNEL TOLLS * * * *
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW THE TOLLS OF THE LION ROCK AND SHING MUN TUNNELS AT A MEETING ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26).
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS PUBLIC BUS SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT AND THE POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF TRAIN SERVICES AT NIGHT.
/OTHER AGENDA
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, .1990
8
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE PRIVATE ESTATE COACH SERVICES PUBLIC LIGHT BUS SERVICES AND TRAFFIC CONGESTIONS IN LOK KING STREET FO TAN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
------0--------
ACTIVE SUMMER FOR MONG KOK YOUTHS *****
MORE THAN 40,000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN MONG KOK ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE DISTRICT’S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME (SYP) OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
A TOTAL OF 121 BETWEEN SIX AND 25 BY SPONSORSHIPS FROM THE
ACTIVITIES WILL BE ORGANISED FOR PEOPLE AGED THE DISTRICT’S SYP CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, WITH ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AND THE DISTRICT
BOARD.
THE ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD FROM JULY 8 TO END OF AUGUST WITH ’’SHARE THE FUN, SERVE THE COMMUNITY” AS THE THEME.
"WE HOPE YOUNGSTERS CAN ACHIEVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
"APART FROM RECREATIONAL, SPORTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, THE COMMITTEE HAS SPECIALLY DESIGNED OTHER PROJECTS TO ENHANCE YOUNG PEOPLE’S INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS," HE SAID.
THESE INCLUDE SEMINARS ON LAW, A QUIZ COMPETITION ABOUT HONG KONG AND MONG KOK, ESSAY AND DRAWING COMPETITIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, COURSES ON NEWS REPORTING AND WRITING, AND TALKS ON CIVIC RIGHTS AND DUTIES.
/AN OPENING ......
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1990
- 9 -
AN OPENING CEREMONY, TO BE FOLLOWED BY AN ART AND HANDICRAFT FAIR, STALL GAMES AND SINGING PERFORMANCES, WILL BE HELD AT THE MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND ON JULY 8.
A "KARAOKE NIGHT" WHICH FORMS PART OF THE CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BE STAGED AT THE MACPHERSON STADIUM ON AUGUST 26.
TICKETS FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY AND PROGRAMME PAMPHLETS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE AT 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND ITS TAI KOK TSUI SUB-OFFICE AT GROUND FLOOR, 31A ANCHOR STREET.
------0--------
REMOVAL OF KENNEDY TOWN SUB-OFFICE *****
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE’S KENNEDY TOWN SUB-OFFICE IN BELCHER’S STREET WILL MOVE TO THE GROUND FLOOR OF SMITHFIELD TERRACE, 71-77 SMITHFIELD, TOMORROW (MONDAY).
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE OFFICE’S PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE WILL REMAIN AT 817 1843, WHILE THE MAIN EXCHANGE NUMBER OF THE NEW OFFICE WILL CHANGE TO 855 9372.
AS WELL AS PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE, STAFF OF THE SUB-OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES, SUCH AS STATUTORY DECLARATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION LEAFLETS AND APPLICATION FORMS. THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO OPERATE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO CALL AT THE SUB-OFFICE BETWEEN 9 AM AND 5.30 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SATURDAYS.
------0--------
NEW GARDEN FOR WAN CHAI * * * *
RESIDENTS IN WAN CHAI WILL HAVE MORE OPEN SPACE FOR RELAXATION BY MAY NEXT YEAR.
A $3.8 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MORRISON HILL ROAD GARDEN HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE GARDEN, WHICH OCCUPIES AN AREA OF ABOUT 3,000 SQUARE METRES, WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES INCLUDING A CYCLING TRACK, A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND AND A REST AREA.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START NEXT MONTH.
--------0-----------
/10 .......
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1990
- 10 -
PUBLIC EARTH DUMP AT MA ON SHAN TO BE CLOSED
* * * * *
THE PUBLIC EARTH DUMP AT MA ON SHAN, SHA TIN, WILL BE CLOSED AS FROM 6 PM ON SATURDAY (JUNE 30).
MEANWHILE, THE EARTH DUMP AT HANG HAU IN TSEUNG KWAN 0 WILL CONTINUE TO BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
DUMPING PERMIT IS REQUIRED AT THE EARTH DUMP. IT CAN BE OBTAINED BY APPLYING TO THE SOUTH EAST DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS JUNK BAY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
-----0-------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN TSIM SHA TSUI
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26), ALL VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING FROM SHANGRI-LA HOTEL ONTO MODY ROAD, IN TSIM SHA TSUI, WILL BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT ONTO MODY ROAD EASTBOUND.
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE DUE CARE WHEN CROSSING THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF MODY ROAD.
---------0---------
CANCELLATION OF URBAN CLEARWAYS IN TSIM SHA TSUI
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26), THE EXISTING 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY URBAN CLEARWAYS DESIGNATED ON TWO ROAD SECTIONS IN TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE CANCELLED.
THEY ARE AT THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF MIDDLE ROAD BETWEEN NATHAN ROAD AND HANKOW ROAD, AND AT THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF HANKOW ROAD BETWEEN MIDDLE ROAD AND PEKING ROAD.
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN NGAU TAU KOK
******
TUESDAY
thp TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON
-HE movement from ting yip street onto tinc on
’"MS ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MONTHS.
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.
---------0-------------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SUMMARY RESULTS OF 1988 SURVEY OF TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES ...................... 1
10 QUESTIONS, SEVEN BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA ............................................. 4
GOVT TO CONDUCT HEALTH MANPOWER SURVEY ................................................ 4
1,611 FARMERS CEASED BUSINESS IN PHASE I CONTROL AREAS ................................ 5
VR CAMP MANAGEMENT ON DB AGENDA ....................................................... 6
DB TO STUDY FUND ALLOCATION CRITERIA .................................................. 6
DB COMMITTEE TO STUDY DESIGN OF SITTING-OUT AREA ...................................... 7
DB COMMITTEE'TO DISCUSS TREE PLANTING.................................................. 7
STRINGENT ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL PARKING IN TST, CENTRAL .............................. 8
WATER STORAGE FIGURE .......................................................
MONDAY, JUNE 25. 1990
1
SUMMARY RESULTS OF 1988
SURVEY OF TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES ******
A TOTAL OF 35,531 TRANSPORT ESTABLISHMENTS WERE IN OPERATION DURING THE WHOLE OR PART OF 1988, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 3 PER CENT OVER 1987, ACCORDING TO THE SUMMARY RESULTS OF THE 1988 SURVEY OF TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THEY ENGAGED, IN TOTAL, 152,733 PERSONS, AN INCREASE OF 7 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
IN 1988, THESE ESTABLISHMENTS GENERATED $97,215 MILLION OF BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME, AND SPENT $11,416 MILLION ON COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES AND $71,963 MILLION ON OPERATING EXPENSES.
WHEN COMPARED WITH 1987, BUSINESS RECEIPTS INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT; COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES BY 22 PER CENT, AND OPERATING EXPENSES BY 17 PER CENT.
ALL VALUE FIGURES IN THIS PRESS RELEASE ARE EXPRESSED IN CURRENT PRICE TERMS. PERCENTAGE CHANGES DERIVED FROM THESE FIGURES HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUSTED FOR PRICE INCREASES.
THE SECTOR’S VALUE ADDED GREW BY 27 PER CENT TO $28,535 MILLION IN 1988, FROM $22,423 MILLION IN 1987. VALUE ADDED IS A MEASURE OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF AN ECONOMIC SECTOR TO HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.
ANALYSED BY MAJOR TRANSPORT GROUP, THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT, IN 1988, "SERVICES INCIDENTAL TO TRANSPORT" (SUCH AS ESTABLISHMENTS ENGAGED IN AIR FREIGHT/SHIPPING FORWARDING, PACKING AND CRATING GOODS FOR TRANSPORTATION, TRAVEL AGENTS AND SHIPBROKERS) HAD THE LARGEST SHARE OF BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME, AT $43,201 MILLION OR 44 PER CENT OF THE SECTOR TOTAL.
"AIR TRANSPORT" TOOK UP 17 PER CENT; "OCEAN AND COASTAL WATER TRANSPORT" ACCOUNTED FOR ANOTHER 16 PER CENT; "LAND PASSENGER TRANSPORT" 10 PER CENT; "LAND FREIGHT TRANSPORT" 6 PER CENT; "SUPPORTING SERVICES TO WATER TRANSPORT" 4 PER CENT; "INLAND WATER TRANSPORT" 2 PER CENT; AND "SUPPORTING SERVICES TO LAND TRANSPORT" 1 PER CENT.
"LAND PASSENGER TRANSPORT” AND "AIR TRANSPORT” EACH CONTRIBUTED 22 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VALUE ADDED OF THE SECTOR.
THE SECTOR’S REMAINING CONTRIBUTION WAS MADE BY "OCEAN AND COASTAL WATER TRANSPORT" (18 PER CENT); "SERVICES INCIDENTAL TO TRANSPORT" (11 PERCENT); "LAND FREIGHT TRANSPORT" (10 PER CENT); "SUPPORTING SERVICES TO WATER TRANSPORT" (5 PER CENT); "INLAND WATER TRANSPORT" (3 PER CENT); AND "SUPPORTING SERVICES TO LAND TRANSPORT" (1 PER CENT).
/WHEN COMPARED ......
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
- 2 -
WHEN COMPARED WITH 1987, "INLAND WATER TRANSPORT" SHOWED THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME (42 PER CENT); FOLLOWED BY "LAND FREIGHT TRANSPORT" (37 PER CENT); "AIR TRANSPORT" (30 PER CENT); "SERVICES INCIDENTAL TO TRANSPORT" (22 PER CENT); "OCEAN AND COASTAL WATER TRANSPORT" (12 PER CENT); "SUPPORTING SERVICES TO LAND TRANSPORT" (6 PER CENT); "SUPPORTING SERVICES TO WATER TRANSPORT" (5 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, "LAND PASSENGER TRANSPORT" SHOWED A DECREASE OF 19 PER CENT.
IN TERMS OF VALUE ADDED, "AIR TRANSPORT" RECORDED THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER 1987 (50 PER CENT); FOLLOWED BY "INLAND WATER TRANSPORT" (33 PER CENT); "LAND FREIGHT TRANSPORT" (31 PER CENT); "OCEAN AND COASTAL WATER TRANSPORT" (28 PER CENT); "SERVICES INCIDENTAL TO TRANSPORT" (27 PER CENT); "LAND PASSENGER TRANSPORT" (11 PER CENT); "SUPPORTING SERVICES TO WATER TRANSPORT" (3 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, "SUPPORTING SERVICES TO LAND TRANSPORT" SHOWED A DECREASE OF 17 PER CENT.
THE 1988 SURVEY WAS ONE IN A SERIES OF ANNUAL SURVEYS CONDUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASCERTAINING THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRANSPORT SECTOR, AND UPDATING ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF HONG KONG.
DATA COLLECTED IN THE SURVEY INCLUDED TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, FLOOR AREA, NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED, NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES; COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES, OPERATING EXPENSES, BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME, AND ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL OF FIXED ASSETS.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY OF THE SURVEY, TOGETHER WITH TABLES SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL STATISTICS FOR ALL ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE TRANSPORT. AND RELATED SERVICES SECTOR, CLASSIFIED BY MAJOR GROUP AND ANALYSED BY VARIOUS ECONOMIC VARIABLES, ARE INCLUDED IN THE "1988 SURVEY OF TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES" REPORT.
THIS REPORT WILL BE ON SALE IN JULY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL; AND THE PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER I, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE TRANSPORT AND SERVICES STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. 889 0362).
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A TABLE COMPARING SOME SELECTED PRINCIPAL STATISTICS BY MAJOR GROUP IN THE TRANSPORT AND RELATED SERVICES SECTOR FOR 1987 AND 1988 WILL BE SENT BY FACSIMILE AND BOXED.
/COMPARISON OF .......
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
3
.ECTED THINS IP* L STATISTICS FOR ALL ESTABLISHMENTS AND RELATED SERVICES SECTOR BET'ESI 19-5? AND 1988
XAJOR GROUP IK'MBEa OF ESTABLISH-MDITS NUMBER OF PERSONS engaged NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES COMPENSA- TION OF EMPLOYEES OPERATING EXPENSES BUSINESS IFC'.S
REGwIF.j AND OTHER EXCME *L<C; . j VALUE adds:
S Mn. S Mn. $ Mn. S Mn. 3 !!n.
LAND PASSENGER 198$ 1987 ’9 66* *6 7*8 *8 G53 23 026 2.186 *.77* 9 .52* 2.735 6.170
20 7C7 28 639 2.00* *.631 11.705 ’.202 5.56*
% change -5 . -3 -2 ♦9 •3 -’9 ♦ ’28 ♦ 11
LAND FREIGHT 1988 10 9’9 31 067 20 286 1.156 3.259 5.*98 6*7 2.9*4
TRANSPORT ’$87 9 556 26 703 17 172 873 2,299 *,006 Ui»2 2.2*3
% change ♦Hl ♦ 16 ♦ 18 ♦32 ♦*3 ‘37 ♦*6 ♦3’
SUPPORTING SERVICES • ’98? 78 1 59* 1 5M 92 *86 923 ’3 *19
TO LAND TRANSPORT 1937 36 1 608 1 566 88 365 872 ’65 503
% change -9 -1 -2 ♦5 ♦33 ♦6 -92 -17
OCEAN AND COASTAL 1983 379 15 176 ’5 151 1.772 10.909 15.986 1.*61 5.058
VATER TRANSPORT 1987 3*8 ’* 913 1* 888 1.550 10,261 1*.2’9 *69 3.939
% change -2 ♦2 ♦2 ♦ 1* ♦6 ♦ 12 ♦212 ♦26
INLAND VATER 1988 661 6 5’7 5 753 *21 1,071 1.853 *55 825
TRANSPORT 1®87 6’0 5 999 fa 974 3’9 713 1.301 121 622
% change ♦8 ♦9 ♦ 16 ‘32 ♦50 •*2 ♦276 ♦33
SUPPORTING SERVICES 70 '.ATER TRANSPORT ’985 1987 1 376 6 5’7 8 792 7 068 6’3 2.382 2,27* 3.5’* 359 1,*66
. 1 130 7 730 579 3.333 32“ 1.*17
N change ♦22 -3 -9 ♦6 ♦5 ♦5 ♦11 ♦3
AIR TRANSPORT 1988 53 13 090 13 090 3.127 9.06* 16.7’6 2.126 8. *32
1987 5* 11 $07 11 507 2.353 7.839 12,815 599 5.609
* change -2 ♦ 1* ♦H ♦33 ♦ 16 •30 ♦255 ♦50
SERVICES INCIDENTAL 1988 2 *02 30 023 28 730 2.0*9 39.989 *3.20’ 923 3.2’9
1987 2 03’ 25 656 25 153 1.570 32.9-2 35.*78 *17 2.525
% change • ’8 ♦’7 • 1* ♦31 ♦21 ♦22 ♦ 121 ♦27
ALL Tz’AN'PORT GROUPS ’983 35 53’ 152 733 119 652 11.1.16 71.963 97,2’5 8.720 28.535
1987 3* 562 ’*3 236 111 6*9 9.336 61.323 83.728 3.739 22.*23
% change ♦3 ♦7 ♦7 ♦22 ♦17 ♦16 ♦133 ♦27
GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT 1988 3 1 25* ’ 25* 2’9 337 1.927 20* 1.290
SERVICES ’987 3 1 ’99 ’ 199 ’97 300 1.5*2 288 1.123
A change 0 ♦5 ♦5 ♦12 ♦’3 ♦25 -29 ♦15
Notes : (1) Figures denoting changes are derived from unrounded figures.
(2) Individual iteaa aay not add up to the corresponding total due to rounding.
O> Value added is a •assure of the contribution of an economic sector to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product. The definition ean be found in the "1983 Survey of Tranaport and Related Service-" report.
--------o-----------
/4 ........
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
4
10 QUESTIONS, SEVEN BILLS ON LEGCO AGENDA *****
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL ASK A TOTAL OF 10 QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER SEVEN BILLS AT THE COUNCIL'S MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 27).
OF THE SEVEN BILLS, THE LAWS (LOOSE-LEAF PUBLICATION) BILL 1990, THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1990 AND THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. DEBATE ON THEM WILL BE ADJOURNED.
. THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1990, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE RADIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 ARE EACH DUE TO BE GIVEN A SECOND READING AND THEN TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND BE GIVEN A THIRD READING.
THE HON SELINA CHOW WILL MOVE A MOTION WHICH READS: ’’THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE ENACTMENT OF A BILL OF RIGHTS AND URGES THE GOVERNMENT IN DRAFTING THE BLUE BILL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THIS COUNCIL.”
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO OBSERVE THE PROCEEDINGS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTINGS FROM THE PUBLIC GALLERIES AND THEY MAY MAKE RESERVATIONS BY TELEPHONING 844 0899.
-----0-----
GOVT TO CONDUCT HEALTH MANPOWER SURVEY
*****
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL JOINTLY CONDUCT A HEALTH MANPOWER SURVEY NEXT MONTH TO UPDATE INFORMATION ON THE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORKFORCE OF THE LOCAL HEALTH INDUSTRY.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (MONDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD FORM USEFUL INPUTS FOR THE FORMULATION OF POLICIES ON HEALTH MANPOWER PLANNING AND TRAINING IN HONG KONG.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE SURVEY WOULD COVER THE VARIOUS GRADES OF MEDICAL, DENTAL, NURSING AND OTHER STAFF OF PROFESSIONS SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY IN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.
’’QUESTIONNAIRES WILL BE SENT EARLY NEXT MONTH TO OVER 10,000 INSTITUTIONS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS REQUESTING THEM TO SUPPLY THE RELEVANT INFORMATION TO THE TWO DEPARTMENTS.
/•'THE INSTITUTIONS.......
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
- 5 -
’’THE INSTITUTIONS INCLUDE HOSPITALS, CLINICS, MATERNITY HOMES, PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS' OFFICES, DENTISTS' SURGERIES, AND MEDICAL, X-RAY AND DENTAL LABORATORIES.”
THE SPOKESMAN HOPED THESE INSTITUTIONS WOULD GIVE THE SURVEY FULL SUPPORT AND RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES AND FORMS TO THE STATISTICS UNITS OF THE TWO DEPARTMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
’’THEIR PARTICIPATION AND CO-OPERATION ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO MAKING THE SURVEY A SUCCESS.”
HE STRESSED THAT THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS AND PERSONS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND USED 'IN GLOBAL ANALYSIS ONLY.
A SIMILAR HEALTH MANPOWER SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED IN 1987 BY THE THEN MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
---------0-----------
1,611 FARMERS CEASED
BUSINESS IN PHASE I CONTROL AREAS ♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦
ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF THE 6,263 LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN THE PHASE I CONTROL AREAS HAVE STOPPED THEIR OPERATIONS FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME TWO YEARS AGO.
AT A MEETING OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE TODAY (MONDAY), AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) REPRESENTATIVE SAID 2,864 AFFECTED FARMERS HAD APPLIED FOR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE TO CEASE THEIR BUSINESS BUT SO FAR, ONLY 1,611 HAD ACTUALLY CLOSED DOWN.
ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PRIVATE FARM DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS, THE EPD REPRESENTATIVE SAID SIX FARMS HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR RESPECTIVE SIX-MONTH DEMONSTRATION PERIOD, ONE PIG-ON-LITTER FARM WAS NOW ON DEMONSTRATION, WHILE TWO MORE WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR DEMONSTRATION IN JULY.
THE PROJECTS ARE AIMED AT DEMONSTRATING TO LIVESTOCK FARMERS WHO WISH TO CONTINUE THEIR BUSINESS IN THE CONTROL AREAS THE VARIOUS WASTE TREATMENT METHODS SO THAT THEY CAN MEET ANT1-POLLUTION REQUIREMENTS.
THE EPD REPRESENTATIVE TOLD MEMBERS THAT A CONSULTANCY REPORT ON THE PROJECTS WAS BEING DRAFTED AND WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED SOON.
--------0-----------
/6.........
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
6
VR CAMP MANAGEMENT ON DB AGENDA *****
THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL LOOK INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF FU TEI AND SAN YICK REFUGEE CENTRES BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AT A MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXPLORE THE FUTURE USE OF ALL REFUGEE CENTRES IN THE DISTRICT AFTER THEIR CLOSURE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY’S REPORT ON FEES AND CHARGES WILL BE DISCUSSED, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE PROVISION OF SERVICES IN THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE REPORTS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1 TUEN HI ROAD, TUEN MUN.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM
- - 0 - -
DB TO STUDY FUND ALLOCATION CRITERIA *****
THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD WILL LOOK INTO THE CRITERIA FOR ALLOCATING DB FUNDS AT A MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO CONSIDER SEVEN APPLICATIONS FOR • FUNDS TOTALLING OVER $166,000.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE THE REPORT OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE WORK PLAN OF THE ICAC NEW TERRITORIES EAST REGIONAL OFFICE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, THIRD FLOOR, TAI PO COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 152 KWONG FUK ROAD, TAI PO.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM.
- - 0 - -
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
1
DB COMMITTEE TO STUDY DESIGN OF SITTING-OUT AREA
*****
THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD WILL STUDY VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT A MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THESE INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DESIGN AND LIGHTING OF A SITTING-OUT AREA AT PO FONG LANE IN TSZ WAN SHAN WITH A VIEW TO ATTRACTING MORE RESIDENTS TO USE ITS FACILITIES.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO CONSIDER THREE APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS FOR LAUNCHING THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN, INSTALLING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE THE WANG TAU HOM JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC, AND BUILDING A RAIN SHELTER ALONG A FOOTPATH NEAR TSUI CHUK GARDEN, CHUK YUEN.
OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION INCLUDE REPORTS ON THE GREEN PLANT PROJECT, STREET MANAGEMENT AND MINOR WORKS PROJECTS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE’S CONFERENCE ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
- - 0 - -
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS TREE PLANTING *****
THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS TREE PLANTING ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT IN SUPPORT OF THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 1990 AT A MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
MEMBERS WILL CONSIDER JOINTLY ORGANISING THE ACTIVITIES WITH THE ISLANDS DISTRICT COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB ON PENG CHAU, LAMMA AND LANTAU ISLANDS IN SEPTEMBER.
THEY WILL ALSO WORK ON PROGRAMMES OF THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN 1990-91 AND THE CIVIC EDUCATION DAY 1990-91.
/OTHER AGENDA
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
- 8 -
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A VISIT TO CHEK LAP KOK AND THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO THE DISTRICT’S FIRE WATCH TEAMS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ISLAND DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, 20TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.15 PM.
STRINGENT ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL * * * * *
PARKING IN TST, CENTRAL
POLICE HAVE TAKEN STRINGENT ACTION AGAINST MOTORISTS WHO ILLEGALLY PARKED OR WAITED IN EIGHT NEWLY DESIGNATED "NO PARKING" LOCATIONS IN TSIM SHA TSUI AND CENTRAL LAST MONTH.
"NO PARKING" SIGNS HAVE BEEN ERECTED IN THESE LOCATIONS ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS SINCE MAY 8.
WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF IMPLEMENATATION, SOME 870 FIXED PENALTY TICKETS WERE ISSUED TO OFFENDERS IN THE LOCATIONS.
UP TO JUNE 13, A TOTAL OF 465 TICKETS WERE ISSUED AGAINST OFFENCES OCCURRED IN THE SECTION OF CANTON ROAD BETWEEN KOWLOON PARK DRIVE AND HAIPHONG ROAD ALONE.
"POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE FIXED PENALTY TICKETS TO OFFENDERS WITHOUT GIVING PRIOR VERBAL WARNING," A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
"ACCORDING TO THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION, IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR MOTORISTS TO PARK THEIR VEHICLES OR WAIT FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS DELIVERY IN THESE LOCATIONS," HE ADDED.
THE EIGHT EXPERIMENTAL LOCATIONS ARE:
A. HONG KONG ISLAND
- CONNAUGHT PLACE OUTSIDE EXCHANGE SQUARE,
- PEDDER STREET OUTSIDE WORLDWIDE HOUSE,
/- PEDDER STREET.........
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
- PEDDER STREET OUTSIDE THE LANDMARK AND CENTRAL BUILDING,
- HARBOUR DRIVE OUTSIDE CAUSEWAY CENTRE,
- MARSH ROAD BETWEEN LOCKART ROAD AND HENNESSY ROAD (LAY-BY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CARRIAGEWAY).
B. KOWLOON
-CANTON ROAD OUTSIDE STAR HOUSE AND HONG KONG HOTEL,
- CANTON ROAD FROM KOWLOON PARK DRIVE TO HAIPONG ROAD (LAY-BY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CARRIAGEWAY),
- GRANVILLE ROAD BETWEEN GRANVILLE SQUARE AND SCIENCE MUSEUM ROAD (SOUTH SIDE).
"PROVIDED THAT THERE IS NO OTHER TRAFFIC SIGN WHICH PROHIBITS STOPPING, IT IS STILL LAWFUL FOR MOTORISTS TO STOP TO PICK UP AND SET DOWN PASSENGERS, OR TO LOAD AND UNLOAD GOODS, BUT ONLY FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO DO SO," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
_ - 0 - -
WATER STORAGE FIGURE * * * »
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 46.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 270.584 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 324.627 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 55.4 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN - SUPPLEMENT
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-8428777
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1990
TRANSCRIPT OF BBC WORLD SERVICE PHONE-IN PROGRAMME ON SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1990, RELAYED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG’S RADIO 6:
GUEST : SIR DAVID WILSON, GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
INTRODUCTION: NOW ON BBC WORLD SERVICE, THE FOURTH PROGRAMME IN OUR SERIES OF INTERNATIONAL PHONE-INS. THE GUEST IS SIR DAVID WILSON, THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, AND THE SERIES HOST IS OLIVER SCOTT.
OLIVER SCOTT: THE CAREER OF MY GUEST TODAY MIGHT HAVE BEEN TAILOR-MADE TO LEAD TO THE GOVERNORSHIP OF HONG KONG. SIR DAVID WILSON HAS HELD SEVERAL PREVIOUS DIPLOMATIC POSTS IN THE REGION, IN VIENTIANE AND PEKING AS WELL AS HONG KONG ITSELF. HE STUDIED MANDARIN AND IS A FORMER EDITOR OF 'CHINA QUARTERLY'. HE ALSO SERVED IN THE CABINET OFFICE HERE IN LONDON AS POLITICAL ADVISER ON HONG KONG. A KEY ROLE FOR SIR DAVID AS GOVERNOR IS TO GUIDE THE COLONY TOWARDS 1997 WHEN IT REVERTS TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY. IT IS A TASK COMPLICATED BY NUMEROUS FACTORS, AMONG THEM THE WORLDWIDE REVULSION AT THE MASSACRE JUST OVER A YisAR AGO IN PEKING WHEN THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES BRUTALLY CRUSHED THE PRO-DELOCRACY DEMONSTRATION LED BY STUDENTS. IN HONG KONG ITSELF SIR DAVID'S CONCERNS WILL NO DOUBT INCLUDE WHAT HAS BEEN TERMED 'THE BRAIN DRAIN', THE UNCERTAINTY INSTILLED IN A NORMALLY FLAMBOYANTLY CONFIDENT ECONOMY BECAUSE OF DOUBT ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD, THE ISSUE OF WHETHER VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE SENT HOME AGAINST THEIR WILL, AND FEARS THAT THE BASIC LAW DOES TOO LITTLE TO PROTECT CITIZENS OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997 HAS PASSED.
BUT, SIR DAVID, BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY OF THOSE AREAS, A VERY GENERAL QUESTION: WHAT DOES THE GOVERNORSHIP INVOLVE?
SIR DAVID: WELL, GOOD EVENING. I SUPPOSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT DOESN'T MUCH INVOLVE IS WHAT PEOPLE TEND TO THINK ABOUT AS GOVERNORS, THAT IS SOMEBODY GOING AROUND IN A PLUMED HAT CARRYING OUT CEREMONIAL TASKS. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS A GOVERNOR HAS TO DO BUT IT IS A VERY SMALL PART OF THE JOB. IT IS REALLY AN ALL ABSORBING JOB BEING IN CHARGE OF THE EXECUTIVE OF A VERY DYNAMIC, BUSTLING PLACE; THIS SMALL TERRITORY OF HONG KONG IS THE 11TH LARGEST TRADING TERRITORY IN THE WORLD, SO NOT ONLY IS IT LOOKING AFTER WHAT IS HAPPENING INTERNALLY IN HONG KONG, EVERY ASPECT OF THAT, BUT IT IS ALSO LOOKING AFTER THE EXTERNAL DIMENSION - THAT IS GOING AROUND TALKING IN OTHER PLACES, THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, THE CONTINENT AND SO ON ABOUT HONG KONG - SO THAT PEOPLE ARE UP TO DATE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HONG KONG, THAT IS, PUTTING ACROSS THE HONG KONG STORY OVERSEAS. SO IT HAS GOT A LARGE ELEMENT INSIDE RUNNING THE TERRITORY AND A LARGE ELEMENT EXTERNALLY AS WELL.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, WITH THAT BACKGROUND IN PLACE SIR DAVID, LET'S
MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST CALLER, ELANA GOFFES SPEAKING FROM SPAIN WITH, ON THE FACE OF IT, A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTION. MISS GOFFES, YOUR QUESTION PLEASE?
CALLER: GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR DAVID. I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU YOUR COMMENT
ON WHY BRITAIN IS GIVING BACK HONG KONG, PRESUMABLY AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE MAJORITY OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE THERE, WHILST BRITAIN HAS SAID SIE WILL NOT GIVE BACK GIBRALTAR TO SPAIN AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE GIBRALTARIANS?
SIR DAVID: GOOD AFTERNOON, MISS GOFFES. THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY. I THINK THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT HERE IN HONG KONG MOST OF THE TERRITORY IS ON A LEASE FROM CHINA, A 99-YEAR LEASE, WHICH COMES TO AN END IN 1997, SO IF NOTHING WAS DONE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION WOULD SIMPLY COME TO AN END IN MOST OF HONG KONG IN
1
1997 . AND IT WAS FOR THAT REASON THAT A VERY LONG PERIOD OF NEGOTIATIONS TOOK PLACE - TWO YEARS' OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN 1982-1984 - TO WORK OUT AN ARRANGEMENT BY WHICH THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG, THAT IS THE LEASED TERRITORY AND THE ISLAND WHICH WASN'T LEASED, WOULD RETURN TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY BUT UNDER ARRANGEMENTS WHICH GUARANTEED THAT ALL THE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF HONG KONG'S LIFESTYLE, THE ECONOMY, THE LAW, ALL THOSE THINGS, THEY WOULD GO ON FOR A FULL 50 YEARS AFTER 1997. SO THE BACKGROUND IS VERY DIFFERENT INDEED FROM GIBRALTAR AND THEREFORE THE WAY IN WHICH IT HAD TO BE TACKLED IS, OF COURSE, VERY DIFFERENT INDEED FROM GIBRALTAR.
OLIVER SCOTT: IT IS JUST WORTH PUTTING IN THERE, SIR DAVID, ISN'T
IT, THAT NOT EVERYBODY, BY A VERY LARGE MARGIN, AGREES OR IS WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THE CONCEPT THAT EVERYTHING WILL INDEED STAY UNCHANGED FOR ANOTHER 50 YEARS? PEOPLE SIMPLY DON'T ACCEPT THAT.
SIR DAVID: WELL, THERE ARE GREAT WORRIES ABOUT IT. I THINK IT IS
ALSO FAIR TO SAY TO MISS GOFFES THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ORIGINALLY WHO WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER ARRANGEMENT AND FOR A WHOLE YEAR OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHINA THE BRITISH TEAM WERE TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR BRITISH ADMINISTRATION TO GO ON AND WHEN THAT CLEARLY WAS NOT POSSIBLE, THEN THE AGREEMENT WE NOW HAVE WAS HAMMERED OUT OVER A FURTHER YEAR. NOW, ALTHOUGH IT IS A VERY, VERY DETAILED AGREEMENT - IT RUNS TO MANY, MANY PAGES OF DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALL THE KEY PARTS OF HONG KONG TO GO ON AFTER THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY - YOU ARE QUITE RIGHT, OF COURSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DOUBT: IS IT GOING TO WORK OUT PRECISELY IN PRACTICE AS IT IS ALL LAID DOWN? IT IS VERY NATURAL THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THOSE SORT OF DOUBTS.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, OUR NEXT CALLER, MICHAEL ROCHFORD, WHO IS ON THE LIVE NOW FROM ST. WINIFRED'S IN SOUTH AFRICA I BELIEVE, WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT ISSUE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. MR ROCHFORD.
CALLER: YES, I'M HERE., GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR DAVID.
SIR DAVID: GOOD AFTERNOON, MR ROCHFORD.
CALLER: GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK WHETHER BRITAIN RETAINS
THE RIGHT, IN TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WITH CHINA, TO ABROGATE THE AGREEMENT CLOSER TO THE DATE OF THE HANDOVER OF HONG KONG, SHOULD CHINA AT THAT TIME BE IN A STATE OF TURMOIL OR FOLLOWING WHAT BRITAIN REGARDS AS UNACCEPTABLE POLICIES? OR DID THE HANDOVER BECOME FAIT ACCOMPLI AT THE TIME IT WAS SIGNED?
SIR DAVID: WELL, I SUPPOSE IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, ANYBODY WHO SIGNS A TREATY HAS A RIGHT TO ABROGATE IT BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT A VERY GOOD QUESTION: WHAT HAPPENS THEN? BECAUSE, AS I WAS SAYING JUST A MOMENT AGO, THERE IS A LEASE ON THE MAJOR PART OF HONG KONG; IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE, BRITISH ADMINISTRATION SIMPLY COMES TO AN END, SO ABROGATING THE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD REALLY BE A BIT OF A NONSENSE BECAUSE INSTEAD OF VERY DETAILED PROVISIONS FOR WHAT HAPPENS - REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CHINA ITSELF, THOSE PROVISIONS ARE THERE - YOU WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, SO YOU WOULD HAVE A BLANK. YOU WOULDN'T BE IN A BETTER SITUATION, YOU WOULD BE IN A FAR, FAR WORSE SITUATION. I KNOW, OCCASIONALLY, PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHY DOESN'T BRITAIN RE-NEGOTIATE, DO SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT, BUT
2
THAT COMPLETELY FAILS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT IF 1 )U HAVEN'T GOT THIS AGREEMENT, YOU'VE GOT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. AND I DON'T THINK, REALLY, IF PEOPLE LOOKED AT THAT, THAT IS WHAT THEY WOULD WANT.
OLIVER SCOTT: MR ROCHFORD, DOES THAT COVER YOUR POINT?
CALLER: YES, I THINK SO. I WOULD ALSO ACTUALLY LIKE TO ASK WHETHER, IN OTHER WORDS, BRITAIN WOULD NOT SEEK EVEN TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE AREA OF HONG KONG WHICH WAS CEDED TO BRITAIN BY CHINA IN, I THINK IT WAS, 1841, IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES?
SIR DAVID: 1842 WAS THE FIRST ONE. WELL, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAD TO BE LOOKED AT WHEN THE AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE WAS WORKED OUT IN 1984, AND WITH THE VERY MAJOR PART OF HONG KONG BEING LEASED TERRITORY IT WAS VERY CLEAR AT THAT TIME IT MADE NO SENSE TO HAVE A SEPARATE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PART WHICH WASN'T LEASED - THAT'S HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE TIP OF THE KOWLOON PENINSULA WHERE I AM ACTUALLY SPLAKING FROM AT THE MOMENT. YOU COULDN'T RUN THOSE THINGS, THOSE PARTS OF HONG KONG, SEPARATELY FROM THE REST OF THE TERRITORY. I MEAN, JUST TO TAKE ONE EXAMPLE, OUR AIRPORT IS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES - IN THE LEASED TERRITORY; NEARLY ALL OUR WATER COMES FROM THE LEASED PART, THE NEW TERRITORIES; ALL THE NEW TOWNS AND MOST OF THE INDUSTRY IS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. SO YOU CAN'T REALLY SEPARATE ONE FROM THE OTHER. SO THE DECISION WAS MADE, IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN AGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE LEASED TERRITORY WENT BACK TO CHINA, THE ONLY SENSIBLE THING TO DO WAS TO MAKE AN AGREEMENT FOR THE WHOLE OF THE TERRITORY AND MAKE THOSE PROVISIONS THAT IN THE WHOLE OF THE TERRITORY, FOR 50 YEARS AFTER 1997, ALL THE KEY POINTS WOULD BE LAID DOWN, REGISTERED, GUARANTEED, THAT ALL THOSE THINGS WOULD GO ON -LIKE THE LAW, THE ECONOMY, THE CURRENCY, ETC.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, FROM THOSE QUESTIONS FROM MR ROCHFORD, WE MOVE ON NOW TO STUART GRANT WHO IS CALLING FROM MALAWI, APPROACHING THE SAME ESSENTIAL ISSUE, I THINK, BUT FROM A RATHER DIFFERENT ANGLE.
MR GRANT, YOUR QUESTION FOR SIR DAVID WILSON.
CALLER: YES, GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR DAVID.
SIR DAVID: GOOD AFTERNOON, MR GRANT.
CALLER: I UNDERSTAND ALL THE POINTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE, AND INDEED A VERY, VERY APT SUMMATION. MY ONLY POINT IS THAT WHY WASN'T A 'SINGAPORE-TYPE' SOLUTION CONSIDERED FOR HONG KONG? THERE YOU HAVE A SMALL 400 SQUARE KILOMETRES AND IT IS VERY DEPENDENT ON SUPPLIES FROM THE MAINLAND ACROSS THE MALAYAN STRAITS, AND THERE YOU HAVE A VERY LARGE CHINESE POPULATION WITH STRONG LINKS WITH THE MAINLAND. IN SUMMARY, ARE WE REALLY SAYING THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE? AND WON'T YOU FEEL A PANG OF REGRET THAT THE HONG KONG CITIZENS WITH THEIR LONG ASSOCIATION WITH BRITAIN IN COMMERCIAL, JUDICIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES, ARE NOT GOING TO BE REPRESENTED BY AN INDEPENDENT HONG KONG WITH A MEMBER OF THE COMMONWEALTH BUT WITH SPECIAL RELATIONS WITH MAINLAND CHINA, RATHER LIKE THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES?
SIR DAVID: THE SINGAPORE SOLUTION, YOU'RE THINKING OF AN INDEPENDENT STATE AND I THINK THAT SIMPLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AN IMPOSSIBILITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT AGREEMENT. THERE HAS TO
3
BE THE HONG KONG SIDE, OR THE BRITISH SIDE IN THIS CASE, AND THERE HAS TO BE CHINA. THE LEASE REVERTED TO CHINA IN 1997. NOW IF CHINA HAD BEEN IN A MOOD WHEREBY CHINA WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE AN INDEPENDENT STATE SET UP ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF CHINA, THEN THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN OPTION. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY CLEAR ALL ALONG - AND I DON'T THINK IT IS SIMPLY A QUESTION OF THE PRESENT COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF CHINA, THIS GOES WAY BACK BEFORE THE WAR TO THE NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT - IS THAT THERE IS NO WISH, ABSOLUTELY NO WISH AND NO INTENTION, OF SEEING ANOTHER SEPARATE CHINA BEING ESTABLISHED ON THE COAST OF THE MAINLAND OF CHINA. SO IF ANYTHING WAS NOT AN OPTION, INDEPENDENCE FOR HONG KONG WAS NOT AN OPTION - AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH EVERYBODY, I THINK, IN HONG KONG, OR VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY IN HONG KONG, HAS LONG REALISED THAT WHATEVER THE OPTIONS WERE FOR THE FUTURE, INDEPENDENCE SIMPLY WASN'T AN OPTION. YOU COULDN'T HAVE HAD A 'SINGAPORE-TYPE' SOLUTION. SO WHEN THIS THING WAS LOOKED AT, IT WAS VERY CLEAR INDEED THAT THAT WAS NOT A POSSIBILITY, THAT EITHER ONE TRIED TO HAVE A CONTINUATION OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION, LET'S SAY UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, WHICH WAS WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY TRIED, BUT THAT FAILED BECAUSE CHINA WAS NOT PREPARED TO GO ALONG WITH THAT SORT OF A SOLUTION. OR THE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN COME UP WITH, WHICH IS HONG KONG RETURNS TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY BUT THE KEY BITS OF WHAT MAKES HONG KONG TICK, WHAT MAKES HONG KONG DIFFERENT FROM THE MAINLAND OF CHINA - BECAUSE WE ARE A QUINTESSENTIALLY CAPITALIST SOCIETY HERE, AND A VERY SUCCESSFUL ONE -ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD GO ON, BE PROVIDED FOR FOR THE 50 YEARS AFTER 1997 WITH AS MUCH ASSURANCE AS COULD POSSIBLY BE BUILT INTO AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. SO THAT IS WHAT THE NEGOTIATORS WENT FOR IN THE END.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, MR GRANT, A PRETTY UNEQUIVOCAL RESPONSE THERE
FROM SIR DAVID WILSON. DOES IT COVER THE POINTS YOU RAISED?
CALLER: YES, IT DOES COVER THE POINTS I RAISED, BUT BACK TO THE
QUESTION. ISN'T THERE GOING TO BE A PANG OF REGRET THAT HONG KONG IS GOING TO SEVER RELATIONS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH?
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, SIR DAVID, I CAN SEE THAT MR GRANT IS DETERMINED ON SQUEEZING SOME EMOTION OUT OF YOU ON THAT SCORE.
SIR DAVID: WELL, MR GRANT, IF YOU WANT MY PANG OF REGRET, YOU'VE GOT MY PANG OF REGRET BECAUSE I THINK THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL ONE. IT'S SUCCESSFUL IN THE SENSE NOT OF JUST RUNNING EVERY FACET OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS, IT IS SUCCESSFUL IN THE SENSE OF HOLDING UP AN UMBRELLA UNDER WHICH THE VERY ENERGETIC PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE THEMSELVES MADE AN ENORMOUS SUCCESS OF HONG KONG. SO, YES, A PANG OF REGRET WHEN THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF HISTORY COMES TO AN END BUT ONE HAS TO LOOK FORWARDS AS WELL AS NOSTALGICALLY BACKWARDS; ONE HAS TO TRY NOW TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEW HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG THAT IS GOING TO GO INTO THE 20TH CENTURY. I THINK WE ARE NOW IN A PERIOD OF HISTORY WHEN RUNNING DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, EVEN ONE AS SUCCESSFUL AS HONG KONG, IS SOMETHING WHICH IS A BIT OF A HISTORICAL ANACHRONISM. SO NOW WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, ALLOWING ALL THESE TREMENDOUS ENERGIES, THE DYNAMISM OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, TO FLOURISH UNDER NEW AND DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL MR GRANT, THANKS FOR THE CALL. AND, SIR DAVID, A
4
VERY SHORT BREAK FOR YOU NOW. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE INTERNATIONAL PHONE-IN ON THE BBC'S WORLD SERVICE, MY GUEST IS SIR DAVID WILSON, THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT A QUESTION TO HIM AND IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM THE NUMBER TO CALL IS THE CODE FOR THE UK AND THEN 71-379-7444; I'LL REPEAT THAT: THE CODE FOR THE UK THEN 71-379-7444. AND IF YOU LIVE INSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM THE NUMBER IS 071-379-0411 - THAT IS 071-379-0411. AND WE MOVE ON NOW TO MR WHALEY CALLING FROM HARARE IN ZIMBABWE. MR WHALEY, I'LL LET YOU PUT YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY TO SIR DAVID.
CALLER: THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR DAVID.
SIR DAVID: GOOD AFTERNOON, MR WHALEY.
CALLER: WE ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN YOUR PROBLEM, SHALL I CALL IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A SON WHO IS A SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL WITH YOU IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT THERE. HOW CAN BRITAIN, WHICH HAS ABROGATED ITS AUTHORITY AND SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG - BECAUSE IT OBVIOUSLY CANNOT PHYSICALLY DEFEND IT SUCCESSFULLY - HOW CAN IT UNDERWRITE, IF I CAN PUT IT THAT WAY, A GUARANTEE BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT IT WILL HONOUR ITS UNDERTAKING TO CONTINUE HONG KONG'S CAPITALIST BASED ECONOMY AND SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT FOR AT LEAST 50 YEARS AFTER THEIR TAKEOVER IN 1997? THIS PARTICULARLY, AFTER THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S SHAMEFUL AND MURDEROUS INVOLVEMENT IN THE HOLOCAUST OF TIANANMEN SQUARE LAST YEAR, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER THE DRAMATIC CHANGES IN EASTERN EUROPE, THEIR - THAT IS THE CHINESE - FAILURE TO PROGRESS TOWARDS FREEDOM OF POLITICAL AND ALL FORMS OF EXPRESSION, AND TOWARDS A MARKET ECONOMY? IN SUM, AFTER 1997, WHAT WILL, OR CAN BRITAIN DO TO SEE THAT CHINA HONOURS ITS UNDERTAKINGS TOWARDS HONG KONG AND ITS CITIZENS WHO REMAIN ON THERE?
SIR DAVID: WELL, MR WHALEY, I SUPPOSE I COULD GIVE A SORT OF LEGALISTIC ANSWER TO THAT, SINCE YOUR SON IS A CROWN COUNSEL HERE AND I COULD SAY THAT THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY WHICH BRITAIN IS ONE PARTY TO AND CHINA IS THE OTHER PARTY TO, AND BRITAIN HAS A COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT THAT TREATY IS CARRIED OUT. BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO GO RATHER FURTHER THAN THAT, AND THAT IS TO GET AT WHAT LIES BEHIND YOUR QUESTION, AS IT WERE: WHY SHOULD PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THOSE TREATY ARRANGEMENTS? I DO THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE AND THEY CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEM, AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY. THE FIRST REASON IS THAT PEOPLE - COUNTRIES - DON'T LIGHTLY ENTER INTO TREATY ARRANGEMENTS. THERE WAS A VERY LONG PERIOD OF NEGOTIATION BEFORE THIS ONE WAS SIGNED. THE CHINESE REALLY HAD NO NEED TO SIGN A VERY DETAILED ARRANGEMENT OF THIS SORT FOR TERRITORY WHICH WAS GOING TO BE THEIR'S ANYHOW, BUT THEY DID, THEY PUT AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF EFFORT INTO IT. AND THEY ALSO HAVE - THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT - A VERY GOOD REPUTATION FOR STICKING TO THEIR INTERNATIONAL TREATIES. NOW, INTERNALLY, THEIR POLICIES HAVE CHANGED YEAR BY YEAR, AND THEY HAVE CHANGED VERY DRAMATICALLY SOMETIMES, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR INTERNATIONAL RECORD THEY HAVE GOT A VERY GOOD RECORD FOR STICKING TO THEIR TREATIES AND I THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO KEEP THAT REPUTATION. BUT YOU CAN GO BEYOND THAT; YOU CAN SAY, WELL ALRIGHT, PUT THAT ON ONE SIDE - DO THEY REALLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN DOING IT? AND THE ANSWER AGAIN, I THINK, IS: YES, THEY DO. HONG KONG IS OF TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO CHINA. THE HONG KONG ECONOMY, A SUCCESSFUL CAPITALIST ECONOMY, PRODUCES ENORMOUS ADVANTAGES FOR CHINA. THIS TINY LITTLE
5
TERRITORY IS CHINA'S MAIN TRADING PARTNER - THAT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY FACT BUT IT IS TRUE. MOST OF THE EXTERNAL INVESTMENT IN CHINA WHICH GOES TO CHINESE MODERNISATION, MOST OF THAT COMES FROM HONG KONG OR THROUGH HONG KONG. A GREAT DEAL OF CHINA'S FOREIGN EXCHANGE IS EARNED TLROUGH HONG KONG, SO THERE IS A VERY REAL INTEREST THAT THE CHINESE HAVE, AS THEY MODERNISE THEIR ECONOMY, WHICH THEY ARE DETERMINED TO DO, IN PRESERVING THOSE ADVANTAGES IN HONG KONG. SO THAT IS ANOTHER VERY PRACTICAL REASON WHY THEY SHOULD STICK TO THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH THEY SIGNED UP TO IN THAT TREATY IN 1984.
OLIVER SCOTT: SIR DAVID, NO DOUBT MANY PEOPLE WILL BE STRUCK BY WHAT YOU HAVE JUST SAID AS BEING VERY REASSURING, BUT THERE IS, AS YOU WELL KNOW, ANOTHER SCHOOL OF THOUGHT TO THE EFFECT THAT 'TWO SYSTEMS ONE COUNTRY’ SIMPLY CAN'T WORK - THAT WHAT IS ALLOWED TO WORK IN HONG KONG ICR ANOTHER 50 YEARS OUGHT TO BE ALLOWED TO WORK FOR THE REST OF THE COIN ’RY. THERE SEEMS TO BE JUST SOME KIND OF HUGE DISPARITY THERE.
SIR DAVID: YES, OF COURSE PEOPLE DO HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THAT. IT IS
AN EXTRAORDINARILY AMBITIOUS IDEA, THIS 'ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEMS'. THE MAINLAND OF CHINA, THAT HUGE AREA IN THE MAINLAND CONTINUING TO RUN A COMMUNIST OR A SOCIALIST SYSTEM, AND THIS TINY LITTLE PLACE HONG KONG ON THE COAST OF CHINA, BY TREATY RUNNING A SYSTEM WHICH IS PROBABLY MORE CAPITALIST, MORE FREE MARKET THAN ANY OTHER PART OF THE WORLD. IT IS A VERY AMBITIOUS CONCEPT WHICH DENG XIAOPING HIMSELF HAD. NOW, OF COURSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY, WELL, WILL IT WORK? OUR JOB HAS TO BE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES WORK, THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS JUST WRITTEN DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER BUT AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OF THE PRACTICAL CONDITIONS TO ENSURE THAT IT DOES WORK, ARE THERE. SO THAT IT HAS A CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL - AND THAT IS WHAT ALL OF US HERE ARE TRYING TO WORK TOWARDS. NOW, IF ONE DIDN'T HAVE THIS 'ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEMS' CONCEPT, AGAIN ONE GOES BACK TO THE QUESTION: WHAT WOULD ONE HAVE IN ITS PLACE? ONE WOULD HAVE HONG
KONG SIMPLY BEING RE-INCORPORATED INTO CHINA, BECOMING PART OF THE MAINLAND SYSTEM OF CHINA, THE COMMUNIST SYSTEM OF CHINA, AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WANTED. IT'S NOT WHAT THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP DECIDED TO GO FOR BECAUSE THEY REALISE THAT HAVING A SEPARATE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG IS WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE HONG KONG REALLY USEFUL TO CHINA AS WELL AS BEING WHAT MOST PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ACTUALLY WANT. SO WE MUST NOW TRY TO MAKE OUT OF THIS IMAGINATIVE CONCEPT A PRACTICAL REALITY AND PUT ALL OUR EFFORTS INTO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES WORK AND NOT, I WOULD SUGGEST, SIMPLY QUESTIONING IT. OF COURSE PEOPLE HAVE DOUBTS BUT WE HAVE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES WORK.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, LET'S BRING IN A CALLER NOW FRO': HONG KONG,
NANCY LANGSTON, WHO HAS GOT A NEW ANGLE ON THIS. MISS LAN ^STON.
CALLER: YES, SIR DAVID, YOUR DUAL ROLE AS GOVERNOR AND, WELL, LET'S BE ERANK, AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE, MUST HAVE PULLED YOU IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. WITH WHOM DO YOUR LOYALTIES LIE - YOUR BOSSES IN LONDON OR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG?
SIR DAVID: YOU'RE CALLING FROM JUST DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU'VE GIVEN ME A VERY EASY QUESTION BECAUSE YOU SAY I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE - NO, I AM NOT, I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF HONG KONG. AND, IF IT IS OF INTEREST TO YOU, IF YOU'RE A HONG KONG TAXPAYER, YOU CONTRIBUTE TO MY SALARY; THE FOREIGN OFFICE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM DO
6
NOT. SO MY JOB IS TO WORK FOR HONG KONG. THAT IS WHAT I AM SENT HERE TO DO, THAT IS MY INTENTION, THAT IS WHAT I PUT ALL MY EFFORTS INTO DOING. SO IT IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
OLIVER SCOTT: MISS LANGSTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER GO AT
THAT?
CALLER: YES, I WOULD ACTUALLY. WILL YOU RESIGN BEFORE 1997?
SIR DAVID: I'M SORRY?
OLIVER SCOTT: I THINK THE QUESTION WAS, SIR DAVID --
CALLER: WILL YOU RESIGN AS GOVERNOR BEFORE 1997?
SIR DAVID: WILL I RESIGN? MY APPOINTMENT IS NOT ONE WHICH IS ENTIRELY IN MY OWN HANDS - I'M APPOINTED AT WHAT IS CALLED 'THE QUEEN'S PLEASURE'. SO WHETHER I SHALL SERVE TILL 1997 OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW. I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT, THAT IS FAR TOO LONG, BUT PRECISELY HOW LONG I SERVE IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH IS IN MY OWN HANDS. BUT RESIGNING IS QUITE A DIFFERENT MATTER AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD SOME DIFFERENT IDEA IN MIND - NOT JUST HOW LONG I WAS GOING TO SERVE BUT WAS I GOING TO SUDDENLY THROW IN THE TOWEL - AND IF YOU ARE ASKING ME, AM I GOING TO THROW IN THE TOWEL, THE ANSWER IS 'NO', I'VE GOT A REAL JOB TO DO AND I INTEND TO DO IT.
OLIVER SCOTT: ONE POINT WHICH FOLLOWS ON, REALLY, FROM THAT, SIR DAVID, IS THAT MR FRANCIS MAUDE, THE FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER - AND HE DOES WORK OUT OF LONDON OF COURSE - IS GOING TO CHINA NEXT WEEK AND IN FACT I THINK HE IS STAYING IN HONG KONG OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, MANY PEOPLE OF COURSE, AND NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG, WILL BE ASKING THEMSELVES WHETHER HE SHOULD BE GOING TO PEKING AT ALL AFTER WHAT HAPPENED THERE A YEAR AGO.
SIR DAVID: YES, MR MAUDE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO PEKING IN JULY, SO HE’S NOT ACTUALLY COMING OUT HERE TONIGHT. I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING THAT HE SHOULD BE GOING. NOW, OF COURSE AFTER THE EVENTS IN JUNE LAST YEAR IN PEKING THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE REACTION ROUND THE WORLD, AND THAT INCLUDED THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THEREFORE BRITAIN, AND SO THERE WAS A MORATORIUM, AS IT WERE, ON HIGH LEVEL VISITS. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SITUATION FROM THE HONG KONG POINT OF VIEW, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH CHINA. CHINA IS OUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOUR, CHINA IS INVOLVED IN SO MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE, WE NEED CONTACTS, WE NEED TO BE IN TOUCH WITH THE LEADERSHIP. I WENT UP TO CHINA, MYSELF, IN JANUARY AND I TALKED AMONGST OTHERS, TO PRIME MINISTER LI PENG, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS TO MAINTAIN THE CONTACT THAT WE NEED FOR THE BENEFIT OF HONG KONG. AND I WOULD SEE MR MAUDE'S VISIT IN THE SAME LIGHT -HE'S PROBABLY GOT OTHER THINGS HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT, WORLD AFFAIRS AND SO ON - BUT MY INTEREST IS, OF COURSE, WHAT HE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SO FAR AS HONG KONG IS CONCERNED. AND I WOULD SAY, AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD FEEL THIS, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SORT OF HIGH-LEVEL CONTACT THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY A MINISTER LIKE MR MAUDE GOING TO CHINA AND TALKING THERE DIRECTLY TO THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP ABOUT HONG KONG ISSUES, AMONGST OTHER THINGS.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, WE HAVE ANOTHER CALLER NOW FROM HONG KONG, MR
7
PENDLETON.
CALLER: GOOD EVENING. MY QUESTION IS: WHY DOES DEMOCRACY HAVE TO BE INTRODUCED IN STAGES IN HONG KONG?
SIR DAVID: MR PENDLETON, GOOD EVENING. THAT'S A VERY NICE, SHORT QUEST LON. LET ME TRY TO ANSWER IT, AND NOT TOO BRIEFLY, BECAUSE I THINK ONE HAS TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT INTO THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG WHICH I AM SURE YOU KNOW VERY WELL BUT OTHER LISTENERS MIGHT NOT. UNTIL VERY RECENTLY WE HAVE RUN A SYSTEM WHERE AT THE TOP LEVEL IN OUR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ELECTED MEMBERS OF THAT COUNCIL; WE HAVE AT OTHER LEVELS OF THE SYSTEM BUT NOT AT OUR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WE HAVE RUN AN APPOINTED SYSTEM AND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IT SERVED HONG KONG WELL AND I THINK PEOPLE WERE WELL CONTENT WITH IT. BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED, PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES HAVE CHANGED, THERE IS A VERY REAL AND A VERY UNDERSTANDABLE DESIRE FOR MORE DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, A MORE DIRECT SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION, SO WE ARE NOW MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. AND, AS YOU KNOW, WE NOW HAVE INDIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF OUR COUNCIL AND NEXT YEAR WE MAKE A VERY MAJOR STEP FORWARD, WE HAVE NOT ONLY A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY ELECTED BUT ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL WILL BE ELECTED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER -DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. NOW, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR MEETING THE NEW NEEDS, THE NEW DESIRES IN HONG KONG. NOW, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FASTER - AND IT SOUNDED FROM YOUR QUESTION AS THOUGH YOU MAY BE ONE OF THEM. WE HAVE ANOTHER LIMIT, WHICH AGAIN I'M SURE YOU KNOW BUT OTHER LISTENERS MAY NOT, AND THAT IS THAT COME 1997 THE LAW PASSED IN CHINA, WHAT IS CALLED THE BASIC LAW, CAN LAY DOWN WHAT THE COMPOSITION OF OUR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE AND HAS RECENTLY, EARLIER THIS YEAR, LAID IT DOWN WITH A CERTAIN LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED PEOPLE. SO WE WILL HAVE A COMPLETELY ELECTED COUNCIL BUT 20 SEATS OUT OF 60 WILL BE DIRECTLY ELECTED AND THE OTHERS WILL BE INDIRECTLY ELECTED. NOW, MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD HAVE WANTED MORE DIRECT ELECTIONS BUT THAT IS, I THINK, A REAL LIMIT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T TAKE ACCOUNT OF IT WE ARE BUILDING UP A SYSTEM WHICH IS THEN DISMANTLED IN 1997, WHEREAS WHAT WE WANT TO TRY TO ACHIEVE IS A SMOOTH PROGRESS RIGHT THROUGH 1997 WITH AS FEW JOLTS TO THE SYSTEM AS WE CAN POSSIBLY ACHIEVE.
OLIVER SCOTT: MR PENDLETON, DOES THAT SATISFY YOU?
CALLER: NOT REALLY. MY VIEW IS THAT DEMOCRACY COULD BE INTRODUCED MUCH QUICKER, AS IT IS IN EASTERN EUROPE. DOES THE GOVERNOR NOT FEEL THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MAY STOP THE GRADUAL PROCESS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY COME 1997?
SIR DAVID: WELL, I THINK IT IS NOW LAID DOWN VERY CLEARLY IN THE BASIC LAW WHICH THE CHINESE THEMSELVES - THE CHINESE NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS - THAT ITSELF HAS PASSED, AND THERE IS A VERY CLEAR PROGRESS OF INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS. MY OWN PERSONAL CONCERN FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE IS THAT WE SHOULD MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE MAJOR STEP FORWARD WE ARE TAKING NEXT YEAR IN 1991, THAT IS BRINGING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME 18 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS. AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DECEIVE OURSELVES; THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH IS GOING TO BE SIMPLE. WHAT WE NEED IS PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN THOSE ELECTIONS. IT'S ONE THING TO SAY, WE SHOULD HAVE MORE DEMOCRACY; IT'S QUITE ANOTHER THING FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF EFFORT,
8
THE PERSONAL SACRIFICE, WHICH IS INVOLVED IN STANDING FOR ELECTION AND THE SACRIFICE OF TAKING THE RISK YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY LOSE THE ELECTIONS. SO WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING NOW, AS I SEE IT, IS ENCOURAGING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE - RIGHT ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF POLITICAL VIEWS IN HONG KONG - TO TAKE PART IN THOSE ELECTIONS, MAKE A REAL SUCCESS OF THEM, SHOW THAT WE CAN RUN THAT DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM. AND THEN IF WE CAN AND IT IS SUCCESSFUL, AS I BELIEVE IT WILL BE, THEN WE CAN GO BACK TO THE CHINESE AND REFER TO THEIR BASIC LAW AND SAY: LOOK, WE THINK THIS SYSTEM IS WORKING VERY WELL, IT'S BENEFITTING HONG KONG, WE THINK IT COULD BE SLIGHTLY IMPROVED BY, LET'S SAY, HAVING SLIGHTLY MORE IN THE WAY OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS BY 1997. THAT'S THE WAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT.
OLIVER SCOTT: SIR DAVID, IF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES OR NEGOTIATORS SAY, IN EFFECT, WHAT IS ALL THIS UPROAR ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES NOW, SUDDENLY, WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE OVER? AND THEN THEY WENT ON TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THEY WEREN'T, IN EFFECT, IN PLACE IN HONG KONG BEFOREHAND, THEY WOULD HAVE A POINT WOULDN'T THEY?
SIR DAVID: WELL, IT IS THE SORT OF THING WHICH THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN SAYING AND, YES, I SUPPOSE IN A SENSE THEY HAVE A POINT. IT'S AN IRONY IN A WAY, ABOUT THE NEGOTIATION ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE THAT ON ALMOST EVERYTHING INVOLVED, HONG KONG WAS TRYING TO SAY WE SHOULD PRESERVE EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE GOT NOW AND WRITE THAT DOWN FOR THE FUTURE. THE ONE GREAT DIFFERENCE WAS IN THE STRUCTURE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHEN WE WERE SAYING, WE THINK THIS SHOULD CHANGE, WE THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FROM THE SYSTEM WE'VE GOT - THEN, IN 1984 - TO SOMETHING WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT. BUT ALTHOUGH THAT IS A PARADOX IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGED MOOD IN HONG KONG, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO DO. ODDLY ENOUGH, IF YOU'RE A NONELECTED GOVERNMENT YOU HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF YOUR TIME TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING, TRYING AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN TO GO ALONG WITH THE MAINSTREAM OF PUBLIC OPINION. AND BY THAT TIME, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE MAINSTREAM OF PUBLIC OPINION WAS BEGINNING TO CHANGE; WE HAD YOUNG PEOPLE, VERY WELL EDUCATED, WANTING QUITE RIGHTLY A GREATER DIRECT SAY IN THE WAY IN WHICH THE TERRITORY WAS RUN, AND WE QUITE RIGHTLY WANTED TO GO ALONG WITH THAT MOOD. SO WE ARGUED FOR CHANGE AND THE AGREEMENT WITH CHINA LAID DOWN A VERY CONSIDERABLE CHANGE, THAT IS MOVING FROM A SYSTEM IN 1984 WHERE WE HAD NO ELECTED MEMBERS OF OUR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO LAYING DOWN IN THE AGREEMENT THAT BY 1997 ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ELECTED, ALTHOUGH NOT SAYING PRECISELY HOW THOSE ELECTIONS SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT. SO I THINK WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE SHIFT OF OPINION IN HONG KONG, AND THAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO RUN A SOCIETY. IT IS A LIVE SOCIETY, IT IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING, AND ONE WANTS TO KEEP ON TOP OF THOSE CHANGES AND TRY TO MOVE WITH THE MAINSTREAM OF SENSIBLE OPINION IN THE TERRITORY.
OLIVER SCOTT: A LITTLE AFTER HALFWAY IN THE PROGRAMME NOW, IT IS THE INTERNATIONAL PHONE-IN ON THE BBC'S WORLD SERVICE AND MY GUEST IS SIR DAVID WILSON, THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT A QUESTION TO SIR DAVID THE NUMBER TO CALL, THAT IS IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM, IS THE CODE FOR THE UK AND THEN 71-379-7444. AND IF YOU LIVE INSIDE THE UK THE NUMBER IS 0 71-379-0411. A NEW DIMENSION NOW ON THE HONG KONG QUESTION OR THE HONG KONG ISSUE, AND IT COMES FROM LORETTA PENG CALLING FROM VANCOUVER IN CANADA.
9
CALLER: HI. MY QUESTION IS, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALWAYS
TRY TO PERSUADE THE OVERSEAS CHINESE WHO HOLD THE FOREIGN PASSPORT BACK TO HONG KONG AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY WOULD TREAT THOSE PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY?
SIR DAVID: SORRY, MISS PENG, I DIDN'T CATCH THE LAST PART OF THAT QUESTION.
OLIVER SCOTT: I'M AFRAID IT IS RATHER A BAD LINE, MISS PENG. I
WONDER IF I COULD JUST TROUBLE YOU - THIS IS OLIVER SCOTT IN LONDON -I WONDER IF I COULD JUST TROUBLE YOU TO REPEAT YOUR QUESTION FOR SIR DAVID WILSON.
CALLER: OK, YES. I'VE NOTICED THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALWAYS TRY TO
PERSUADE THE OVERSEAS CHINESE WHO HOLD THE FOREIGN PASSPORT BACK TO HONG KONG AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.
SIR DAVID: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS PENG. MAY I ASK YOU, WERE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM HONG KONG?
CALLER: YES, I AM A LANDED IMMIGRANT IN CANADA.
SIR DAVID: YOU ARE. BECAUSE LAST TIME I WENT TO VANCOUVER I WAS VERY INTERESTED JUST WALKING AROUND THE AIRPORT, TO MEET A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG AND TO FIND THAT ALL OF THEM CAME UP AND GREETED ME AND SAID HOW NICE IT WAS TO SEE THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IN WESTERN CANADA, AND THE SAME ON A RECENT VISIT TO TORONTO. WE HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ORIGINALLY FROM HONG KONG WHO ARE NOW CANADIAN CITIZENS. WELL, YES, WE DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO HONG KONG AND I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT, IF I MAY, AS WELL. AND THAT IS NOT BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO STEAL PEOPLE BACK FROM CANADA, IT'S BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THOSE PEOPLE COULD CONTRIBUTE A GREAT DEAL TO HONG KONG AND ALSO, I THINK, WE BELIEVE THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT HERE AND WHO HAVE GONE TO CANADA AND WHO HAVE GOT CANADIAN PASSPORTS - AND OF COURSE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COVERS YOU - WOULD IN MANY WAYS RATHER HAVE STAYED IN HONG KONG. THEY WENT TO CANADA TO GET THEIR PASSPORTS AS A SORT OF INSURANCE POLICY, BUT MANY OF THEM WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE SETTLED IN HONG KONG. NOW IF THOSE PEOPLE WANT TO COME BACK, WE WOULD VERY MUCH WELCOME THEM BACK. THEY ARE TALENTED PEOPLE; THERE IS A TREMENDOUS LOT GOING ON HERE IN HONG KONG; THEY WOULD EASILY FIND THINGS TO DO TO CONTRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S SUCCESS. NOW, WOULD THEY BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY? NO - THE ANSWER IS, THEY WOULD NOT. WE DON'T TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY, WE TREAT EVERYBODY ON EQUAL TERMS, BUT WE WELCOME BACK THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT HONG KONG AND GOT FOREIGN PASSPORTS SOMEWHERE ELSE.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WARM ENOUGH INVITATION, SIR DAVID. MEANWHILE, SHEILA LANCASTER WHO IS CALLING FROM HITCHIN IN HERTFORDSHIRE HERE IN ENGLAND HAS, I THINK, PERCEIVED A PARADOX WHICH SHE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP WITH YOU. MISS LANCASTER.
CALLER: YES, GOOD AFTERNOON. BEARING IN MIND THAT THE HONG KONG CHINESE WISH TO SEND THE VIETNAMESE BACK TO VIETNAM - AND I CONSIDER RIGHTLY SO - WHY IS IT THAT THEY CAN'T SEE THAT THE 250,000 MINIMUM THAT THEY WISH TO SEND HERE ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE TO US?
10
SIR DAVID: WELL, MISS LANCASTER, CAN I GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT. THE FIRST THING IS THAT FOR THOSE WHO WOULD GET BRITISH PASSPORTS UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE NOW GOING THROUGH PARLIAMENT, THAT IS FOR 50,000 HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD AND UP TO 225,000 PEOPLE, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THAT IS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GIVE CONFIDENCE TO PEOPLE SO THAT THEY ACTUALLY STAY IN HONG KONG. SO WE ARE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING WHICH WILL INCREASE IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN - AT LEAST WE HOPE IT WON'T. BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IF PEOPLE HAVE THAT ASSURANCE THEY WILL WANT TO, AND THEY WILL THEN BE ABLE TO, STAY IN HONG KONG. THIS IS, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW IT, A TREMENDOUSLY EXCITING PLACE TO LIVE, AND MOST PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN HERE, BROUGHT UP HERE, WANT TO STAY HERE IF THEY POSSIBLY CAN NOW, GIVEN THE ASSURANCE OF HAVING A FOREIGN PASSPORT, I BELIEVE THAI’ MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE 50,000 HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD AND THEIR FAMILIES TOO, WILL STAY ON IN HONG KONG. SO THAT IS ONE BIT OF IT. I DON'T THINK YOU IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE FACING A GREAT INFLUX OF PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG. NOW, LET ME LEAVE ASIDE THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THAT WOULD BE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR NOT. THEN TAKE THE VIETNAMESE - THAT IS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT INDEED AND THERE IS A BIT OF BACKGROUND TO THAT WHICH PERHAPS I COULD GIVE YOU. WE EXIST ON THE COAST OF CHINA UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE OF POPULATION MOVEMENT FROM CHINA ITSELF - PEOPLE WHO HAVE CLOSE RELATIVES HERE, FAMILY HERE. EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR WE ARE SENDING BACK TO CHINA MAYBE 8) PEOPLE, RECENTLY 100 PEOPLE, SOMETIMES 150 PEOPLE A DAY, GOING BACK TO CHINA BECAUSE THEY COME HERE AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE BEEN FACING, FOR OVER 15 YEARS NOW, A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING FROM VIETNAM. LAST YEAR WE HAD 34,000. WE HAVE LOOKED AFTER, OVER 15 YEARS, 180,000 PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM; WE'VE NEVER TURNED ANYBODY AWAY. BUT I THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THE POPULATION KNOWING AND SUPPORTING THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE TO THEM HAVE TO BE SENT BACK TO CHINA IF THEY COME HERE ILLEGALLY, IT IS PRETTY GALLING WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING HERE FROM VIETNAM, WHICH HAS NO CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG - DIFFERENT CULTURE, DIFFERENT PEOPLE -COMING TO HONG KONG AND BEING LOOKED AFTER AND NOT EVEN WANTING TO STAY IN HONG KONG, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL, VIRTUALLY ALL - 99% -WANTING TO GO TO PLACES LIKE THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA, NOT WANTING TO COME TO HONG KONG. AND THAT IS WHY PEOPLE TN HONG KONG, AND INDEED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT IT IS RIGHT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT POLITICAL REFUGEES - AND I WANT TO STRESS THAT POINT -PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT POLITICAL REFUGEES, SHOULD GO BACK TO THEIR OWN HOMES IN VIETNAM, JUST LIKE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ANYWHERL ELSE IN THE WORLD ARE SENT BACK TO THEIR OWN COUNTRIES AND TO THEIR O N HOMES.
OLIVER SCOTT: SIR DAVID, CAN I JUST SLIP IN A QUESTION L >W - WE ARE BEGINNING TO RUN OUT OF TIME SO I WILL MAKE THIS FAIRLY BRIEF - BUT WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY GOT ONE SIDE OF THAT ARGUMENT FROM SHEILA LANCASTER THERE - NO IMMIGRANTS AT ALL IN BRITAIN. THE OTHER SIDE IS EQUALLY CLEAR - WE OUGHT TO TAKE EVERYBODY; THERE IS A MORAL DUTY ON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO DO SO. IT FOLLOWS FROM THOSE TWO POINTS OF VIEW THAT THIS COMPROMISE IN THE MIDDLE, 50,000 HEADS OF FAMILY AND THEIR DEPENDANTS, IS A PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE AND LUDICROUS COMPROMISE.
SIR DAVID: WELL, THAT'S ONE WAY OF PUTTING IT, BUT I THINK YOUR
CALLER, SHEILA LANCASTER, PUT, IN A WAY, VERY CLEARLY THE POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE HERE IN HONG KONG WOULD,
11
OF COURSE, HAVE LIKED TO SEE AN ARRANGEMENT - LET’S SAY A RIGHT OF ENTRY - FOR PEOPLE WHO HOLD BRITISH PASSPORTS IN HONG KONG GIVEN BACK TO THEM. THEY USED TO HAVE IT, YOU SEE, BEFORE 1962 AND CHANGES IN THE IMMIGRATION RULES. THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN THAT GIVEN BACK TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HOLD BRITISH HONG KONG PASSPORTS BUT THE POLITICAL REALITY IN BRITAIN QUITE CLEARLY IS THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING WHICH WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNMENT. AND FACED WITH THE POLITICAL REALITIES IN BRITAIN, THE GESTURE OF FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS FOR 50,000 HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD, UP TO 225,000 PEOPLE, WAS, I THINK, A VERY COURAGEOUS DECISION BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. I HOPE-THAT IT WILL GET THROUGH PARLIAMENT. OF COURSE WE IN HONG KONG WOULD HAVE LIKED MORE BUT WE REALISE THAT THE PRACTICAL AND THE POLITICAL REALITIES ARE THAT THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, AND THAT WITH 50,000 WE CAN STILL DO SOMETHING. WE CAN HELP TO ANCHOR IN HONG KONG 50,000 KEY PEOPLE - AND THAT IS NOT JUST FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT, FOR THE SAKES OF T1WE 50,000 - BUT THERE IS A TREMENDOUS TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT; IF YOU GET THE KEY PEOPLE, THEY INFLUENCE THE REST OF THE ECONOMY AND THE REST OF THE SOCIETY, SO IT BENEFITS OTHER PEOPLE, EVEN IF THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON’T THEMSELVES GET THOSE FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS.
OLIVER SCOTT: WELL, WE MOVE ON NOW TO A CALLER FROM ROTTERDAM. I APOLOGISE IN ADVANCE HERE, I’M ALMOST CERTAIN I AM GOING TO PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME WRONG, MR HANSUER, BUT I DO KNOW IT’S A QUESTION ABOUT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FOR SIR DAVID.
CALLER: YES, AND GOOD AFTERNOON.
SIR DAVID: GOOD AFTERNOON, MR HANSUER.
CALLER: I HEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT WESTERN VALUES IN THE ’WORLD
TODAY’ LAST WEEK. COULD YOU EXPLAIN, IN SHORT PLEASE, WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND BY ’WESTERN VALUES'?
SIR DAVID: I'M SORRY, I DON'T THINK IT WAS ME YOU HEARD TALKING
ABOUT WESTERN VALUES. I MEAN, I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IF YOU LIKE, BUT JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK I SAID LAST WEEK.
CALLER: I JUST REMEMBER IT WAS IN 'WORLD TODAY' - IT WAS THE
GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, I THINK - MAYBE YOU, MAYBE NOT - BUT THE WESTERN VALUES, IN HONG KONG THEY ARE LIVING ACCORDING TO WESTERN VALUES. RIGHT OR NOT?
SIR DAVID: I SEE. IT WASN'T ME, IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY
MASQUERADING AS THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, WHICH I WOULDN’T INCLUDE AS ONE OF THE WESTERN VALUES. BUT LET ME JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE VALUES HERE IN HONG KONG BECAUSE IT IS A VERY GOOD POINT. WE DO OPERATE ON CERTAIN VALUES HERE. I MEAN FIRST OF ALL LET'S TAKE ECONOMIC VALUES; WE OPERATE ON A CAPITALIST SYSTEM; WE OPERATE ON A FREE MARKET SYSTEM. WE MUST BE, I THINK, THE MOST FREE MARKET ECONOMY OPERATING IN THE WORLD, WITH NO TRADE BARRIERS, AND WE BELIEVE THAT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL; THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS. NOW THAT IS ONE SORT OF VALUE. BUT THEN THERE ARE OTHERS WHICH ARE, I BELIEVE, VERY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE HERE. THERE’S THE VALUE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH. WE HAVE A VERY FREE, A VERY OUTSPOKEN PRESS HERE IN HONG KONG AND THAT IS SOMETHING WHICH PEOPLE HERE VALUE A GREAT DEAL. ANOTHER ONE IS OUR LEGAL SYSTEM WHICH IS THE ENGLISH COMMON LAW SYSTEM, THAT IS OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE
12
TO ORDINARY PEOPLE, BUT ALSO TO BUSINESS PEOPLE, KNOWING THAT IF THERE IS A DISPUTE THERE IS A LEGAL SYSTEM IN WHICH THEY CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE, WHERE THE JUDICIARY IS SEPARATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE. THE EXECUTIVE - THAT IS, MY ADMINISTRATION - DOES NOT INFLUENCE, CANNOT INFLUENCE WHAT THE COURTS AKE DOING. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KEY WESTERN VALUES WHICH WE WERE VERY KEEN INDEED, AND I’M SURE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE VERY KEEN INDEED, TO SEE WRITTEN IN TO THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE. BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY THE BEDROCK ON WHICH HONG KONG IS FOUNDED.
OLIVER SCOTT: SIR DAVID, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE THOUGHTS. I WAS SITTING HERE WONDERING WHETHER THE PHRASE 'WESTERN VALUES' COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN CONFUSED FOR 'VIETNAMESE REFUGEES' - I'M STILL WONDERING ABOUT THAT SCORE. MEANWHILE, DR. SUSAN ZEIKLIN, AGAIN FROM HONG KONG, I THINK HAS GOT ANOTHER QUESTION ON THAT TOPIC OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. DR. ZEIKLIN.
CALLER: GOOD EVENING, SIR DAVID.
SIR DAVID: GOOD EVENING, DR. ZEIKLIN.
CALLER: I WONDER IF YOU COULD TELL ME WHY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO EXTEND FULL CO-OPERATION TO THE CHARITABLE AGENCIES WHO ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO THE VIETNAMESE BOAT . PEOPLE?
SIR DAVID: WELL, I HOPE WE HAVEN'T BEEN FAILING TO EXTEND COOPERATION BECAUSE THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HERE HAVE DONE A SPLENDID JOB OVER MANY YEARS, AS I KNOW PERSONALLY VERY WELL. THE ONLY THING THAT I FEEL YOU MAY HAVE AT THE BACK OF YOUR MIND IS THAT DURING LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THIS TREMENDOUS INFLUX OF PEOPLE, 34,000 PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR, COMING INTO HONG KONG - AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING IN BRITAIN IT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF SOMETHING LIKE 300,000 PEOPLE SAILING UP THE THAMES IN THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR - WE WERE REALLY OVERWHELMED, AND I KNOW THAT DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME SOME OF THE WORK DONE BY THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THE CAMPS HAD TO BE SUSPENDED. WE NEEDED THE ACCOMMODATION, FOR INSTANCE, WHERE PEOPLE WERE RUNNING SCHOOLS ETC., SO WE HAD TO SUSPEND SOME OF THOSE OPERATIONS IN THE CAMPS. BUT I WOULD, MYSELF, LIKE TO SEE FULL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HERE BECAUSE I THINK THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAVE A VERY USEFUL AND IMPORTANT ROLE THAT THEY CAN PLAY.
OLIVER SCOTT: SIR DAVID, CAN WE JUST GET ON TO THIS QUESTION OF THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND THE ENFORCED REPATRIATION. NOW, THERE WAS ONE GO AT THAT, AS YOU KNOW A SMALL BATCH WERE RETURNED AGAINST THEIR WILL. THERE WAS INTERNATIONAL UPROAR, SINCE WHICH TIME THE POSITION SEEMS TO HAVE GONE VERY QUIET, IF THAT IS NOT PUTTING IT TOO CYNICALLY. WHAT IN FACT IS THE POLICY AT PRESENT ON ENFORCED REPATRIATION?
SIR DAVID: WELL, OUR POLICY IS, AND HAS BEEN NOW FOR SOME TIME, THAT PEOPLE WHO ARRIVE HERE SHOULD BE SCREENED TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE GENUINE POLITICAL REFUGEES OR WHETHER THEY ARE COMING HERE FOR SOME OTHER REASON, AND THAT SCREENING IS DONE UNDER THE AUSPICES OR WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, UNHCR. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT NOW FOR SOME TIME AND THE REASON THAT
13
WE EMBARKED ON THAT WAS BECAUSE THE OLD ARRANGEMENTS BY WHICH EVERYBODY WHO CAME BY BOAT FROM VIETNAM WAS SIMPLY TREATED AS A REFUGEE WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS ASKED, AND THEY WERE ALL SETTLED ELSEWHERE, THOSE SIMPLY BROKE DOWN. AND THEY BROKE DOWN, ESSENTIALLY, IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THE AMERICANS SAYING, THE PEOPLE COMING ARE NOT REALLY REFUGEES AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO SETTLE THEM IN THE UNITED STATES. SO WE HAD VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE COMING TO HONG KONG WITH NO HOPE, NO HOPE WHATSOEVER, OF EVER GETTING RESETTLED ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, SO WE STARTED SCREENING. NOW THERE IS ONE PART OF THAT SCREENING WHICH IS QUITE EASY AND THE WORLD HAS NO DIFFICULTY ABOUT REACHING AGREEMENT ON IT, AND THAT IS THAT THOSE WHO ARE POLITICAL REFUGEES, AS DEFINED BY UNHCR, THEY SHOULD BE RESETTLED AND THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON VERY SATISFACTORILY. THERE IS THE MUCH HARDER PART, AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SIMPLY TRY TO TURN THEIR FACES AWAY FROM AND NOT FACE THE REALITY OF IT, AND THAT IS, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE VAST MAJORITY WHO ARE FOUND NOT TO BE POLITICAL REFUGEES? NOW, IN MY BOOK IT IS QUITE INHUMANE AND QUITE WRONG THAT THEY SHOULD SIMPLY LANGUISH IN CAMPS FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, PARTICULARLY SINCE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE YOUNG - ABOUT A THIRD OF THEM ARE CHILDREN OF 16 AND UNDER. IT IS RIGHT THAT THEY SHOULD GO BACK TO THEIR OWN HOMES. AND THIS IS, AFTER ALL, WHAT IS DONE EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. I MEAN, THE UNITED STATES SENDS PEOPLE BACK TO HAITI, TO CENTRAL AMERICA; BRITAIN WOULD SEND PEOPLE BACK TO SRI LANKA; ALL OVER THE WORLD PEOPLE ARE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES IF THEY ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. WE DO IT TO CHINA THE WHOLE TIME. I SEE NO REASON AT ALL WHY VIETNAM AND THE VIETNAMESE SHOULD BE AN EXCEPTION AND THAT MEANS THAT I BELIEVE VIETNAM SHOULD CARRY OUT ITS INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES BY ACCEPTING BACK ITS OWN PEOPLE, AS EVERY OTHER COUNTRY DOES, AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE FOR SENDING BACK NON-REFUGEES - I STRESS THAT, NON-REFUGEES -WITH ADEQUATE MONITORING SO THAT WE AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN KNOW THAT THEY ARE BEING REASONABLY TREATED WHEN THEY GO BACK.
OLIVER SCOTT: BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF
OPINION WHICH TAKES STOCK OF THE FACT THAT THIS ENFORCED REPATRIATION, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAS STOPPED, AND THEY ATTRIBUTE IT TO A COMBINATION OF MORAL OUTRAGE AND POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON? SAY, IN EFFECT, THAT YOU ARE TOWING THE WASHINGTON LINE ON THIS.
SIR DAVID: OH NO, IT’S NOT A QUESTION OF TOWING A WASHINGTON LINE AT ALL. I MEAN, I WOULD CERTAINLY ACCEPT THAT OPPOSITION FROM THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A FACTOR IN ALL THIS BUT THE WAY IT IS OPERATED IS THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN REFUSING TO ACCEPT PEOPLE BACK EXCEPT UNDER CONDITIONS WHICH ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. SO THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM - WE STILL HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM - BUT THEY HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT THAT AGREEMENT AND, IN A SENSE, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HIDE BEHIND THE POSITION TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS FOR ITS OWN REASONS AND WITH ITS OWN PARTICULAR POLITICAL HISTORICAL BACKGROUND WITH VIETNAM OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF SENDING PEOPLE BACK TO VIETNAM. NOW, WE WANT TO GET BACK TO A SITUATION BY WHICH WE CAN RETURN NON-REFUGEES TO VIETNAM. AND AGAIN I WOULD MAKE THE POINT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH HAPPENS EVERYWHERE ROUND THE WORLD. LET ME JUST TAKE ONE EXAMPLE ON THIS BECAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT MORAL OUTRAGE —
OLIVER SCOTT: YOU WILL HAVE TO BE FAIRLY BRIEF, I’M AFRAID, SIR
DAVID, AS WE'RE ALMOST RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
14
SIR DAVID: I'LL BE VERY QUICK. LAST YEAR A NUMBER OF BOATS TURNED UP IN JAPAN. THEY WERE THOUGHT TO COME FROM VIETNAM, THEY WERE SCREENED, IT WAS FOUND THAT A NUMBER CAME FROM CHINA NOT VIETNAM. THOSE WHO CAME FROM CHINA WERE SENT BACK TO CHINA - NOBODY SAID A WORD ABOUT IT. THOSE WHO CAME FROM VIETNAM ARE STILL STUCK IN JAPAN. NOW IT IS WRONG THAT THERE SHOULD BE THIS DOUBLE STANDARD.
OLIVER SCOTT: NOT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME LEFT IN THE PROGRAMME,
ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL TIME FOR A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, THE FIRST OF WHICH COMES FROM MICHAEL DESELLIS CALLING FROM BRUSSELS.
CALLER: YES, GOOD EVENING, SIR DAVID.
SIR DAVID: GOOD EVENING.
CALLER: HOW WILL THE HONG KONG CHINESE GET ALONG WITH THE MAINLAND
CHINESE?
SIR DAVID: THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION. WE'VE BEEN LIVING AS NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOURS FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. I SUPPOSE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, BUT TAKING IT INTO MODERN HISTORY WE'VE BEEN LIVING AS NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOURS WITH A COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG SINCE 1949, AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONTACTS EVEN THOUGH THE SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL FROM HERE INTO CHINA EVERY YEAR IS ENORMOUS, IT'S INTO THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE VERY CLOSE RELATIVES IN CHINA, TRAVEL BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, SO WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING - AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE AS CHINA ITSELF DEVELOPS AND IT FOLLOWS ITS POLICY OF BEING MORE OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD - IS ALL THESE FAMILY CONTACTS, BUSINESS CONTACTS, ARE BEING RE-ESTABLISHED AND BUILT ON AND I HOPE THAT THIS NETWORK OF RELATIONSHIPS, THE WELDING OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND PARTS OF CHINA, PARTICULARLY SOUTH CHINA, WILL HELP TO SECURE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE. I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL, THAT THIS NETWORK OF CONTACTS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO MAKING THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WORK OUT PROPERLY IN PRACTICE.
OLIVER SCOTT: SIR DAVID, IF I COULD JUST ASK YOU BRIEFLY TO TAKE OFF YOUR GOVERNOR'S HAT, THE ONE WITH ALL THOSE FEATHERS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, AND BECOME A CHINA EXPERT, WHAT SORT OF ADMINISTRATION OR, IF YOU PREFER, REGIME, DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN PLACE IN PEKING IN 1997, WHICH CLEARLY IS AN ISSUE WHICH IS WORRYING A GREAT MANY PEOPLE?
SIR DAVID: WELL, I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHETHER I'VE GOT MY HAT ON OR NOT - AND I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T GOT IT ON AT THE MOMENT - BEING GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG DOESN’T GIVE YOU MUCH TIME TO BE A CHINA WATCHER, IT'S A 24 HOUR A DAY JOB HERE BEING GOVERNOR. I WOULD THINK I WOULD SAY, JUST IN GENERAL TERMS - AND I DON'T HAVE TIME NOW TO BE A REAL SPECIALIST ON CHINESE POLITICS - IN GENERAL TERMS I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH CHINA IS GOING TO EVOLVE. THE WAY IN WHICH THE POLICY OF ECONOMIC LIBERALISATION, OF OPENING UP TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, HAS GONE ON, IS SOMETHING WHICH I BELIEVE WILL CONTINUE. THE PRESSURES FOR IT TO CONTINUE ARE ENORMOUS AND THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP OF COURSE HAS SAID THAT IT WILL CONTINUE. NOW, THE EVENTS IN PEKING LAST YEAR WERE A GREAT SHOCK TO THAT PROCESS, AND THEY WERE AN EVEN
15
GREATER SHOCK TO THE WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE ROUND THE WORLD AND PEOPLE HERE IN HONG KONG LOOKED AT CHINA, BUT THERE IS A TREMENDOUS PRESSURE FOR THAT ECONOMIC CHANGE IN CHINA. THE OTHER POINT I WOULD MAKE IS REALLY FROM A HONG KONG POINT OF VIEW, THE SORT OF CHINA THAT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL FUTURE OF HONG KONG IS CERTAINLY ONE IN WHICH THAT PROCESS OF ECONOMIC LIBERALISATION, OPENING TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE SOUTHERN COAST OF CHINA, THAT GOES ON. AND WHERE THERE IS ALSO A STABLE REGIME, BECAUSE WE NEED STABILITY IN CHINA SO THAT WE'VE GOT A GOVERNMENT IN CHINA THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH. SO THAT IS THE SORT OF CHINA WHICH I WOULD HOPE TO SEE EVOLVE AND THAT IS THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA IN THE FUTURE.
OLIVER SCOTT: ON NOW THEN TO SUSIE WELDON, AGAIN SPEAKING FROM HONG KONG, WITH A QUESTION WHICH IS IN MANY PEOPLE'S MINDS. MISS WELDON, WE WILL REGARD YOU AS THE SPOKESWOMAN.
CALLER: GOOD EVENING, SIR DAVID.
SIR DAVID: GOOD EVENING, MISS WELDON.
CALLER: PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE TERRITORY IN DROVES. MORE WORRYING,
PERHAPS, IS THAT MANY - I WOULD SAY MOST - ARE SERIOUSLY THINKING OF OR ACTIVELY PLANNING TO LEAVE THE TERRITORY IN TWO TO THREE YEARS' TIME. IS IT NOT THE CASE THAT IF THESE TRENDS CONTINUE, HONG KONG WILL BE SERIOUSLY UNDERMINED AS A VIABLE BUSINESS CENTRE IN ASIA LONG BEFORE THE CHINESE TAKEOVER IN 1997? WHAT IS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?
SIR DAVID: WELL, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS ONE
WHICH IS ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE, I KNOW, AND A LOT OF NEWSPAPER READERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE LEAVING HONG KONG, AS YOU ARE SAYING AND AS WE BOTH KNOW. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PHENOMENON OF PEOPLE COMING INTO HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY FROM CHINA, AND THEN LEAVING - ABOUT 20,000 - 27,000 A YEAR TYPICALLY. THIS YEAR IT IS HIGHER, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE 55,000 AND PROBABLY IT WILL CONTINUE AT A HIGHISH LEVEL WHEN THERE ARE PLACES TO FILL IN IMMIGRATION QUOTAS ELSEWHERE. NOW, I THINK THAT WE WOULD MUCH RATHER THAT MORE OF THOSE PEOPLE REMAINED IN HONG KONG BUT IN NO WAY WILL WE EVER TRY TO STOP PEOPLE LEAVING. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? WELL, WE CAN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME BACK WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR INSURANCE POLICY, THAT IS ONE THING, AND MANY DO COME BACK. ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT THING IS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING WE PROVIDE SO THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE TO STEP INTO THE PLACES WHICH ARE LEFT VACANT. SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY LAST AUTUMN I ANNOUNCED A MASSIVE NEW PROGRAMME FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF FIRST-DEGREE PLACES IN OUR UNIVERSITIES. THAT IS ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO. WE WILL ALSO HAVE TO ENCOURAGE AND MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE FROM ELSEWHERE TO COME AND WORK TEMPORARILY IN HONG KONG. IT IS A VERY INTERNATIONAL CITY, AS YOU KNOW, IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTRE, INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE. WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPATRIATES WORKING HERE AND THAT'S SOMETHING WHICH CAN GO ON. PROVIDING THAT OUR ECONOMY IS SUCCESSFUL, I BELIEVE WE WILL FIND PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE SLOTS, AND THAT IS SOMETHING FOR WHICH WE MUST WORK OUT POLICIES SO IT IS NOT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE SLOTS, SO THAT WE TRAIN AS MANY LOCAL PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO FILL THE PLACES LEFT BY THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ELSEWHERE TO GET A DIFFERENT FOREIGN
16
PASSPORT.
OLIVER SCOTT: SIR DAVID, MORE BROADLY PERHAPS, HOW FAR IS THERE CONCERN THAT THE SORT OF ISSUE THAT SUSIE WELDON REFERRED TO THERE, COUPLED WITH THE POLITICAL ,MPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO CONSTITUTE A MAJOR DESTABILISING FACTOR, NOT JUST FOR HONG KONG WHICH CAN BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED, BUT FOR THE WHOLE REGION?
SIR DAVID: WELL, OF COURSE WE GO BACK TO THIS QUESTION ABOUT WORRIES ON THE FUTURE AND AS I SAID RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAMME, IT IS VERY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT FACED WITH THE SORT OF CHANGES THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IN 1997, PEOPLE WORRY; THEY LACK CERTAINTY ABOUT HOW IT IS ALL GOING TO WORK OUT IN PRACTICE. BUT YOU HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THERE HAD BEEN NO ARRANGEMENTS - THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN GREATER UNCERTAINTY. I THINK IT IS ALSO FAIR, PARTICULARLY WHEN PEOPLE TALK - AND THEY TALK A GREAT DEAL ABOUT UNCERTAINTY IN HONG KONG - THAT ONE LOOKS A LITTLE AROUND THE REST OF THE REGION, AND YOU LOOK AT OTHER COUNTRIES AND SAY: WELL, HOW CERTAIN IS IT IN THE PHILIPPINES? HOW CERTAIN IS IT IN TAIWAN OR SOUTH KOREA, OR OTHER PARTS IN THE REGION? CERTAINTY IS SOMETHING WHICH IS NOT GOD-GIVEN TO US. WE LIVE HERE WITH UNCERTAINTY, WE'RE USED TO LIVING WITH UNCERTAINTY. HONG KONG HAS FLOURISHED OVER MANY, MANY YEARS AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS, PERHAPS, WHICH HAS GIVEN IT ITS TREMENDOUS DYNAMISM; AND IT IS, AND IT STILL IS, I CAN ASSURE YOU, A VERY DYNAMIC PLACE AND A TREMENDOUS PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY.
OLIVER SCOTT: ONE FINAL QUESTION. BOTH THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER, I'M AFRAID, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE VERY BRIEF BUT WE WILL GO, MR YU, TO YOU IN LONDON FIRST.
CALLER: YES, GOOD EVENING, SIR DAVID.
SIR DAVID: GOOD EVENING, MR YU.
CALLER: I'M FROM PEKING, I'M CHINESE. I WILL ASK YOU ONE QUESTION. VERY SHORTLY, IT IS: FROM YOUR TALKING I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG BUT HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN YOUR FORMER COUNTER-PARTNER, THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY'S TOP LEADER, XU JIATUN, FLED FROM CHINA. HE, TOO, LOST CONFIDENCE.
OLIVER SCOTT: YES, SIR DAVID, I THINK WE WILL JUST LET YOU GET IN THERE AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SIR DAVID: I'LL GIVE YOU A VERY QUICK ANSWER. MR XU IS NOT REALLY MY FORMER COUNTERPART, I HOPE, HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY AND AFTER HE HAD RETIRED, HE HAS INDEED AS YOU SAY, GONE TO THE UNITED STATES. HE HAS SAID HE'S GONE THERE ON A VISIT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS REAL PURPOSE IS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HE IS STAYING THERE. I DON'T THINK THAT THE MOVEMENT OF ONE MAN IS SOMETHING WHICH IS GOING TO AFFECT THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG. WHAT MY INTEREST IS, IS TRYING TO BUILD UP THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG FOR THE FUTURE; MAKE THIS VERY DYNAMIC PLACE WITH VERY ENERGETIC PEOPLE AS SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.
CALLER: HOW COULD YOU ENSURE PEKING CAN PROMISE THEIR COMMITMENT TO
KEEP A 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO ECONOMIC SYSTEM' - OR AS WELL AS TWO SYSTEMS,
17
AS YOU KNOW?
SIR DAVID: I'VE BEEN TOLD, MR YU, I’VE ONLY GOT A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I GO BACK TO MY EARLIER ANSWER - THEY HAVE A TREATY COMMITMENT TO DO IT, THEY HAVE EVERY INTEREST IN DOING IT, THEY HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION IN DOING IT, AND, WE HERE IN HONG KONG, I THINK EVERYBODY, HAS AN INTEREST IN MAKING SURE TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY THAT THOSE ARRANGEMENTS REALLY DO WORK OUT IN PRACTICE.
OLIVER SCOTT: AND THERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT BUT NOT WITHOUT THANKS TO MR YU, OUR LAST CALLER, ALSO TO ALL OUR OTHER CALLERS, AND INDEED TO SIR DAVID WILSON, MY GUEST FOR THE PAST HOUR, WHO IS, OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.
--- 000 ----
18
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR TO UPDATE PRIME MINISTER ON HONG KONG ....................................... 1
HK HAS MUCH TO BE PROUD OF IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS .................................... 2
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FIRMLY ROOTED IN HK: CS ........................................ 4
HK OFFERS AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FINANCIAL BUSINESS ................................. 6
PADS PROJECT OUTLINED IN PARIS ....................................................... 9
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR MAY RELEASED .......................................... 10
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR MAY PUBLISHED ............................................ 13
JUNE 1990 SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL STARTED ....................... 15
EXCO APPROVES NEW HOUSING PACKAGE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS ................................ 16
CONSULTANCY CONTRACT FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME AWARDED ............................. 18
$1.7 BILLION FOR REHAB SERVICES ..................................................... I9
FACTORY OWNERS URGED TO COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS ..................................... 20
DB TO DISCUSS UC WORKS PROGRAMME .................................................... 21
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS TREE PLANTING SCHEME ........................................ 22
FINAL CHANCE TO SEE AIDS EXHIBITION ................................................. 23
WITHDRAWAL OF NT GMB ROUTE 5K ....................................................... 23
TRAFFIC DIVERSION IN KWAI CHUNG ..................................................... 24
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES ON TAI PO ROAD............................................... 24
TEMPORARY NIGHT CLOSURE OF ACCESS RAMP IN SHA TIN ................................... 24
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
GOVERNOR TO UPDATE PRIME MINISTER ON HONG KONG ♦ * * » »
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WILL CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER, MRS MARGARET THATCHER, DURING HIS VISIT TO LONDON TO BRING HER UP-TO-DATE PERSONALLY ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HONG KONG.
WELCOMING THIS CHANCE TO BRIEF THE PRIME MINISTER PERSONALLY, SIR DAVID SAID WHILE IN LONDON HE ALSO WANTED TO GET HIMSELF UP-TO-DATE ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE THAT WAS GOING THROUGH ITS LAST STAGE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE TONIGHT (TUESDAY), SIR DAVID SAID THAT IT WAS A ROUTINE VISIT IN WHICH HE WOULD BE COVERING ALL THE ISSUES THAT WERE AFFECTING HONG KONG.
"ESSENTIALLY MY PURPOSE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT MINISTERS AND THE PRIME MINISTER ARE UP-TO-DATE ON EVERYTHING THAT’S GOING ON IN HONG KONG AND OUR CONCERNS," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID WOULD ALSO GO TO EDINBURGH BRIEFLY TO TALK TO THE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY AND THEN TO ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY TO RECEIVE AN HONORARY DEGREE.
ON THE VISIT TO PEKING BY MR FRANCIS MAUDE, SIR DAVID SAID: "ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT DOES IS RE-ESTABLISHING CONTACTS AT THAT SORT OF MINISTERIAL LEVEL. HE WILL BE COVERING NOT SIMPLY HONG KONG SUBJECTS, HE WILL BE COVERING OTHER GENERAL TOPICS AS WELL. BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE OF MINISTERIAL LEVEL TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH CHINESE LEADERS."
ASKED ON THE EFFECT ON HONG KONG THAT FANG LIZHI HAD LEFT CHINA FOR BRITAIN, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED HIMSELF THAT THE SITUATION HAD BEEN RESOLVED IN A POSITIVE FASHION.
"I THINK THE RESOLUTION OF THAT PROBLEM IS GENERALLY HELPFUL. HONG KONG HASN’T BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN IT. BUT IF IT IS A BETTER ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THEN I THINK THAT HAS AN INDIRECT BENEFICIARY EFFECT ON US IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR WAS SEEN OFF AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD.
--------0-----------
/2 ........
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
2
HK HAS MUCH TO RE PROUD OF IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS
* * * * *
HONG KONG HAS MUCH TO BE PROUD OF IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
"WE HAVE HALTED THE GROWTH OF HEROIN ABUSE. THE NUMBER OF NEW ADDICTS HAS DECREASED BY NEARLY 40 PER CENT SINCE 1985,” HE SAID.
SIR DAVID WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE THE SILVER JUBILEE OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN) AND THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING.
THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO HEAR THAT HONG KONG WAS SEEING A STEADY DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF ADDICTS ------ FROM 100,000 IN THE EARLY 1970'S TO 40,000 NOW.
HE SAID THAT A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT FOR THIS MUST GO TO THE PATIENT EFFORTS OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE, ADDING THAT IT HAD NOW BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS WAS FAR FROM OVER.
"40,000 ADDICTS IN THE TERRITORY IS STILL 40,000 TOO MANY," SIR DAVID SAID, ADDING THAT THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE ABUSING PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES.
"THE DANGER ALREADY THERE IN DRUG ABUSE HAS BEEN MULTIPLIED MANY TIMES OVER BY THE DANGER OF SPREADING AIDS THROUGH CONTAMINATED INJECTION NEEDLES," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS WAS NOT A BATTLE THE GOVERNMENT COULD WIN ON ITS OWN.
"YOUNG PEOPLE OFTEN START TAKING DRUGS PARTLY OUT OF CURIOSITY AND PARTLY FROM AN INABILITY TO RESIST PEER PRESSURE," SIR DAVID SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID PARENTS, TEACHERS AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY HAD TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THE GOVERNMENT, FOR ITS PART, WOULD CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE AND TO ENCOURAGE ADDICTS TO SEEK TREATMENT.
"BUT WE RELY ON ALL OF YOU, ON PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO IMPRESS ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THE VALUE OF GOOD HEALTH AND STAYING DRUG-FREE. DRUGS ARE EMPHATICALLY NOT FUN."
SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO NEEDED TO DO WHATEVER IT COULD TO HALT THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS.
"IN THIS, WE OWE MUCH TO THE POLICE, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
"THEY HAVE ACHIEVED REAL SUCCESSES IN CURBING ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS," HE SAID.
/LAST YEAR .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
3 -
LAST YEAR ALMOST 1,000 KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN AND OVER KILOGRAMS OF CANNABIS WERE SEIZED IN HONG KONG AND 21 MAJOR SYNDICATES WERE NEI"i’RALISED THROUGH JOINT OPERATIONS WITH OVERSEAS AGENCIES, HE NOTED.
"THIS IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. THOSE INVOLVED DESERVE CONGRATULATIONS," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
NOTING THAT THE UNITED NATIONS HAD DECLARED THE NEXT 10 YEARS AS THE DECADE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE, SIR DAVID SAID TUTS SHOWED THAT THE WORLD NOW RECOGNISED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM WE FACED.
"WE IN HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY OUR PART, BOTH LOCALLY AND IN THE WIDER INTERNATIONAL EFFORT."
SIR DAVID PAID TRIBUTE TO DR GERALD CHOA, CHAIRMAN OF THE ACAN, MEMBERS OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE, AND ALL WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE CURRENT SUCCESS FOR ALL THEIR EXCELLENT WORK.
THE UNITED NATIONS HAD DECLARED TODAY AS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING --- ANTI-DRUG DAY FOR SHORT.
IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, DR CHOA STRESSED THAT HIS COMMITTEE HAD TAKEN SEVERAL COURSES OF ACTION AGAINST THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE REPORTED TO BE ABUSING PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES, PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE.
"A SURVEY ON THE ABUSE OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES COVERING ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN HONG KONG WILL BE CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER," HE SAID.
"WE HAVE STEPPED UP PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION, PUBLICISING THE BENEFITS OF A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE.
"WE ARE STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND IN PARTICULAR THE ROLE OF PARENTS, IN GUIDING THEIR CHILDREN AWAY FROM DRUGS.
"WE ARE PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES AVAILABLE AND ENCOURAGING THOSE IN NEED TO COME FORWARD FOR HELP."
DR CHOA SAID ACAN HAD LONG RECOGNISED THAT THERE WAS NO QUICK
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE, AND NO SINGLE APPROACH OR
METHOD WAS EFFECTIVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH IT.
HE SAID HIS COMMITTEE WOULD CONTINUE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT
TO UNDERTAKE A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO SUPPRESS DRUG ADDICTION,
AND HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ENACTMENT OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKING (RECOVERY OF PROCEEDS) ORDINANCE LAST YEAR WAS YET ANOTHER STEP FORWARD.
TO COMMEMORATE THE SILVER JUBILEE OF ACAN AND TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ANTI-DRUG DAY, AN EXHIBITION AT THE CITY HALL LOW BLOCK EXHIBITION HALL, CENTRAL, WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AND ON THURSDAY.
/IT HAS .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
IT HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY ACAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POLICE, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSERS AND A COUNSELLING CENTRE FOR PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ABUSERS, PS33.
A WIDE RANGE OF PANELS WILL INTRODUCE HONG KONG’S OVERALL ANTIDRUG WORK AND THE ROLES PLAYED BY THE PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS.
THE DISPLAYS OF THE POLICE AND THE CUSTOMS WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE DEPICTION OF A NUMBER OF MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MANUFACTURING CASES DEALT WITH IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
AS THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE EXHIBITION, A VIDEO WALL AND A SCREEN WILL BE SET UP FOR SHOWING VIDEOS AND SLIDES TO GIVE VISITORS AN INSIGHT INTO THE GOVERNMENT’S ANTI-DRUG STRATEGIES AND THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ABUSING PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES.
ALSO ON DISPLAY WILL BE EXHIBITS RELATED TO SEIZED DRUGS AND OPIUM-SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN FROM 10.30 AM TO 6.30 PM ON BOTH DAYS.
IN ADDITION TO PRINTED PUBLICITY MATERIALS, GIVE-AWAY ITEMS, SPONSORED BY ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO VISITORS ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.
--------0-----------
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FIRMLY ROOTED IN HK: CS
******
THE FLOWER OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION HAS TAKEN FIRM ROOT IN HONG KONG, AS JUST A GLANCE AT THE TERRITORY’S LOCAL PRESS WILL TESTIFY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE THIRD ASIA-PACIFIC WORLD PUBLISHING CONGRESS AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, SIR DAVID SAID HONG KONG WAS FORTUNATE IN POSSESSING AN INTENSELY ACTIVE, SOCIALLY CONCERNED AM POLITICALLY VARIED DOMESTIC PRESS.
BY EXPRESSING DIVERSE OPINIONS, REFLECTING THE MOOD OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ANALYSING RATHER THAN MERELY REGURGITATING INFORMATION ON THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES, THE MEDIA PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
"WE, WHO ADMINISTER THE AFFAIRS OF THIS ROBUST SOCIETY, MAY NOT ALWAYS LIKE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US. BUT THAT IS PAR FOR THE COURSE IN THE JOB THAT WE DO, AND WE ACCEPT THE ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH, THE BRICKBATS WITH THE BOUQUETS," HE SAID.
/SIR DAVID .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 5 -
SIR DAVID SAID OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, HONG KONG WAS INEVITABLY GOING TO COME UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.
THERE WAS ALREADY NO SHORTAGE OF COMMENTARY, MUCH OF WHICH FOCUSSED ON THE DIFFICULTIES HONG KONG FACED IN THE TRANSITION YEARS, SUCH AS "BRAIN DRAIN", "CAPITAL FLIGHT", AND SO ON.
SIR DAVID SAID HE HOPED THAT THOSE ATTENDING THE CONGRESS WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE BEYOND THE GLOOMY PREDICTIONS TO THE UNSTOPPABLE DYNAMISM WHICH DRIVED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FORWARD.
"I AM NOT GOING TO PRETEND THAT HONG KONG HAS NO PROBLEMS," HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE TERRITORY HAD ALWAYS HAD AND WOULD ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS.
IT WAS PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT TRY TO HIDE THEIR PROBLEMS, OR DECEIVE THEMSELVES ABOUT THE NATURE OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAD AGAIN AND AGAIN OVERCOME ADVERSITY.
"HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE INTENSELY PRACTICAL AND PRAGMATIC. SHOW THEM A PROBLEM; THEY WILL FIND A SOLUTION," SIR DAVID SAID.
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT SOME 100 NEWS AGENCIES, NEWSPAPERS WHOSE COVERAGE AND READERSHIP WERE BOTH INTERNATIONAL, AS WELL AS OVERSEAS BROADCASTING CORPORATIONS HAD OFFICES IN HONG KONG.
MANY REGIONAL PUBLICATIONS WERE BASED HERE AND LOCALLY, LITERACY WAS UNIVERSAL AND THE DESIRE FOR NEWS APPARENTLY INSATIABLE, HE SAID.
"OUR POPULATION ARE SERVED BY MORE THAN 60 DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND NEARLY 600 PERIODICALS CATERING FOR A WIDE RANGE OF SPECIALIST INTERESTS FROM THE EQUINE TO THE EPICUREAN," HE ADDED.
AS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, SIR DAVID NOTED THAT HONG KONG HAD DEVELOPED, THROUGH A PROCESS OF CONTINUOUS INVESTMENT AND RENEWAL, A SOPHISTICATED AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED PRINTING INDUSTRY.
HE SAID THAT HONG KONG WITH ONLY 5.7 MILLION PEOPLE HAD ASSEMBLED NEARLY 4,000 PRINTING ESTABLISHMENTS EMPLOYING MORE THAN 36,000 PEOPLE AND SERVED THE MORE THAN 200 PUBLISHING HOUSES OPERATING HERE.
"USE OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY IN THE FORM OF COMPUTERISED EQUIPMENT, HAS FACILITATED A HIGH DEGREE OF SOPHISTICATION WHICH HAS, IN TURN, ATTRACTED SUPPLIERS OF SPECIALIST PLANT AND EQUIPMENT TO SET UP HERE," SIR DAVID SAID.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE VERSATILITY AVAILABLE TO PUBLISHERS, HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG OFFERED OVER 200 SYSTEMS FOR DATA AND WORD PROCESSING, INCLUDING AN INCREASING NUMBER THAT WERE PROCESSING IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE.
/"SMALL WONDER .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 6 -
"SMALL WONDER THAT THE INTERNATIONAL STATUS OF OUR PRINTING INDUSTRY HAS CONTINUED TO GROW STEADILY IN RECENT YEARS, AND ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION FOR QUALITY, QUICK AND RELIABLE DELIVERY AND COMPETITIVE PRICES," SIR DAVID SAID.
SIR DAVID ALSO POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD A HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE ENGLISH WAS WIDELY USED.
"THERE COULD HARDLY BE A BETTER BASIS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY TO DEVELOP.
"TO BORROW AN ANALOGY FROM AGRICULTURE, WE HAVE THE RIGHT SOIL AND THE RIGHT PLANTS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE MORE - THE RIGHT CLIMATE.
"THE FREE, UNOBSTRUCTED AND UNCENSORED FLOW OF INFORMATION ON EVERY SUBJECT UNDER THE SUN - ECONOMIC, SOCIOLOGICAL, GEO-POLITICAL -THAT MIGHT HAVE BEARING ON THE WORLD SCENE IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL IF A PUBLISHER IS TO ESTABLISH A BASE OF OPERATIONS WITH CONFIDENCE," SIR DAVID SAID.
------0--------
HK OFFERS AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FINANCIAL BUSINESS
*******
GIVEN THE ECONOMIC DYNAMISM OF HONG KONG AND OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC REGION IN GENERAL, THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FINANCIAL BUSINESS IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
SPEAKING AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, MR NENDICK SAID THAT AS ECONOMIES IN THE REGION DEVELOPED, THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASING NEED TO RAISE FUNDS, PARTICULARLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS.
HE NOTED THAT IN THE 1990S, HONG KONG WAS EMBARKING ON A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WHICH INCLUDED, MOST NOTABLY, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW AIRPORT AND TWO ADDITIONAL TERMINALS TO THE CONTAINER PORT.
"THESE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR INITIATIVES WILL NO DOUBT CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO ACTIVITY IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS," HE SAID.
TALKING ABOUT THE LONGER TERM EXPANSION POTENTIAL OF THE CAPITAL MARKETS IN THE REGION, HE ANTICIPATED A GROWING DEMAND BY INVESTORS AND BORROWERS FOR MORE SOPHISTICATED FINANCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS INTEREST AND EXCHANGE RATE SWAPS.
"MOREOVER, SOME ECONOMIES, FOR INSTANCE TAIWAN AND SOUTH KOREA, ARE GRADUALLY SHIFTING THE EMPHASIS OF MONETARY MANAGEMENT FROM DIRECT ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS TO INDIRECT MACROECONOMIC CONTROLS.
/"THE NEED .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
"THE NEED FOR A WELL-ESTABLISHED MONEY AND CAPITAL MARKET FOR CARRYING OUT MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS HAS BEEN RECOGNISED; AND EFFORTS ARE BEING DIRECTED TO REMOVING UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRATIC IMPEDIMENTS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE MARKETS," HE SAID.
TURNING TO STOCK MARKETS, MR NENDICK POINTED OUT THAT THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF THE STOCK MARKETS OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC REGION APPEARED TO BE RELATED TO SEVERAL FACTORS.
FIRST, WITH THE STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH AND HIGH SAVINGS RATIOS, THERE WERE INCREASING POOLS OF FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR INVESTMENT IN STOCK AND SHARES.
THIS WAS PARTICULARLY THE CASE IN ECONOMIES WHERE INVESTMENT POSSIBILITIES OUTSIDE THE STOCK MARKET WERE RATHER LIMITED.
"SECONDLY, THERE IS THE GLOBAL TREND TOWARDS THE; INTERNATIONALISATION OF FINANCIAL MARKETS. INVESTORS’ HORIZONS HAVE WIDENED BEYOND NATIONAL BOUNDARIES," HE SAID.
IN THE SEARCH FOR HIGH RETURNS AND DIVERSIFIED RISKS, INVESTORS WORLDWIDE HAD INCREASED THEIR EXPOSURE TO THE ASIAN PACIFIC FINANCIAL MARKETS, HE NOTED.
"THIS HAS BEEN MADE EASIER BY THE RECENT MOVES TOWARDS LIBERALISATION OF FOREIGN ACCESS TO DOMESTIC MARKETS BY SOME ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIES," HE ADDED.
HE BELIEVED THAT THESE TRENDS WOULD HAVE EVEN GREATER SIGNIFICANCE IN THE 1990S.
"APART FROM ALLOWING MORE LIBERAL FOREIGN ACCESS, A NUMBER OF STOCK MARKETS IN THE REGION ARE MAKING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THEIR EFFICIENCY BY SETTING UP CENTRALISED DEPOSITORY AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS," HE SAID.
MR NENDICK SAID SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE IN PLACE IN HONG KONG BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
ON THE REGULATORY SIDE, INCREASING ATTENTION WAS BEING FOCUSSED ON ENSURING THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE MARKET INTEGRITY TO SATISFY INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF DISCLOSURE OF ADEQUATE INFORMATION AND THE DETERRENCE OF INSIDER TRADING, HE ADDED.
MR NENDICK NOTED THAT ECONOMIES OF THE REGION HAD IN THE PAST DIFFERED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THEIR FINANCIAL POLICIES.
"IN HONG KONG, WE HAVE FOR LONG STRICTLY ADHERED TO A FREE MARKET PHILOSOPHY.
"OUR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IS MAINTAINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING MARKET INTEGRITY AND FOR PROVIDING A DEGREE OF PROTECTION TO NON-PROFESSIONAL PARTICIPANTS IN THE MARKETS.
/"IT IS ......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 8 -
”IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT BUSINESSMEN KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEMSELVES AND THAT EXCESSIVE BUREAUCRACY IS COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.
"FURTHERMORE WE HAVE SEEN NO REASON FOR PROTECTING LOCAL ENTITIES FROM EXTERNAL COMPETITION.
"THIS APPROACH HAS WORKED WELL. OVER THE LAST DECADE THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR HAS DEVELOPED INTO A MAJOR SOURCE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES," HE SAID.
WHILE MARKET DEVELOPMENTS HAD PROVIDED THE MAIN IMPETUS FOR THE UPSURGE IN FINANCIAL BUSINESS, FINANCIAL DEREGULATION HAD REINFORCED THIS TREND, MR NENDICK SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT STARTING IN THE EARLY 1980S, JAPAN HAD EMBARKED ON A MAJOR PROGRAMME TO LIBERALISE ITS FINANCIAL SECTOR AND MORE RECENTLY, SIMILAR EFFORTS HAD BEEN MADE BY SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN.
"FINANCIAL DEREGULATION HAS PRIMARILY CONSISTED OF THE RELAXATIONS IN THE CONTROL OF CAPITAL MOVEMENTS, OF INTEREST RATE DETERMINATION AND OF FOREIGN ACCESS TO DOMESTIC FINANCIAL MARKETS.
"THESE CHANGES ARE NOW HAVING PROFOUND EFFECTS ON FINANCIAL ACTIVITY IN THE REGION," HE SAID
IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTS OF IMPORTANCE IN VARIOUS FINANCIAL MARKETS OF THE REGION, MR NENDICK SAID THE EXPANSION OF BANKING SYSTEMS WAS A MAJOR ONE.
"THIS IS PARTICULARLY MARKED IN THE CASE OF JAPAN, HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE.
"IN THE LAST TWO CASES THIS HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF THE ENTRY INTO THE MARKET OF FOREIGN OWNED BANKS BUT IN THE FIRST THE GROWTH HAS MAINLY BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF THE LOCALLY OWNED BANKS.
MR NENDICK SAID EXPERIENCE IN THE REGION SUGGESTED THAT ESTABLISHED FINANCIAL CENTRES COMPLEMENTED EACH OTHER RATHER THAN COMPETED FOR THE SAME BUSINESS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE JAPAN OFFSHORE MARKET WAS ESTABLISHED IN DECEMBER 1986, THERE WERE SOME INITIAL WORRIES THAT THIS MARKET MIGHT ATTRACT FINANCIAL BUSINESS AWAY FROM OTHER ASIAN CENTRES LIKE HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE.
"BUT EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS SUGGESTS IN FACT THAT THE REVERSE HAS HAPPENED," HE SAID.
AS JAPANESE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAD TURNED MORE TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS THEY HAD EXPANDED THEIR ACTIVITY OVERSEAS AS WELL AS AT HOME AND THE OTHER MARKETS IN THE REGION HAD BENEFITTED FROM THIS TREND.
/“IT IS .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 9 -
”IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CARIBBEAN CENTRES WHOSE FINANCIAL BUSINESS DIMINISHED AFTER THE SETTING UP OF THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL BANKING FACILITIES.
"BUT A CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ASIAN AND THE CARIBBEAN CENTRES IS THAT THE FORMER ARE NOT MERELY BOOKING CENTRES. THEY ARE CENTRES OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY.
’’THIS EXPERIENCE CLEARLY REFUTES THE ALLEGATION THAT THERE IS ONLY ROOM FOR ONE MAJOR FINANCIAL CENTRE IN EACH TIME ZONE,” HE STRESSED.
REFERRING TO THE ON-GOING DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS HONG KONG OR SINGAPORE WHICH WOULD LOSE OUT TO THE OTHER IN THE LONGER TERM, MR NENDICK SAID HE REMAINED TO BE CONVINCED THAT THIS WAS A LIKELY SCENARIO.
"I BELIEVE THAT BOTH CENTRES WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER SERVICES OF VALUE TO INTERNATIONAL BANKS,” HE SAID, ADDING THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE WORLD’S TOP 100 BANKS ALREADY HAD A PRESENCE IN BOTH CENTRES.
------0--------
PADS PROJECT OUTLINED IN PARIS * * * * ♦
THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, YESTERDAY (MONDAY) OUTLINED THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (PADS) PROJECT TO THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF FRENCH FOREIGN TRADE ADVISERS IN PARIS.
HE TOLD HIS AUDIENCE THAT AFTER TOKYO’S NARITA, HONG’ KONG’S KAI TAK WAS THE BUSIEST AIRPORT IN ASIA.
THIS WAS PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE WORLDWIDE INCREASE IN AIR TRAVEL, PARTLY BECAUSE HONG KONG’S INCREASED FUNCTION AS A COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE STIMULATED MORE AIR TRAVEL, BUT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HONG KONG WAS THE GATEWAY INTO AN INCREASINGLY OPEN CHINA.
’’BETWEEN 1987 AND 1988 AIR TRAFFIC ROSE 21 PER CENT TO REACH 15.3 MILLION PASSENGERS. IT IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 47 MILLION PASSENGERS BY 2010. AIR CARGO TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED TO JUMP FROM 0.7 MILLION TONNES IN 1988 TO 2.6 MILLION TONNES IN 2010,” HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID THAT HONG KONG’S PORT HANDLED 81.3 MILLION TONNES OF CARGO IN 1988, AND 85.4 MILLION TONNES IN 1989.
THE TOTAL VOLUME OF TRAFFIC WOULD GO UP TO ABOUT 450 MILLION TONNES IN 2011.
MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD IN MARCH 1988 COMMISSIONED A JOINT DEVELOPMENT STUDY, THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES BEING TO DEVELOP A PORT AND AIRPORT WHICH COULD SHARE INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY ROADS AND SEA-CROSSINGS.
/HE SHOWED .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 10 -
HE SHOWED SLIDES TO ILLUSTRATE THE DEVELOPMENT, AND TOLD HIS AUDIENCE THAT THERE WOULD BE SIX BRIDGES AND UNDERSEA TUNNELS IN THE FIRST STAGE AND SOME 70 KILOMETRES OF ROADS AND RAILWAY.
MR BARNES ALSO OUTLINED THE ’’METROPLAN”, AND EMPHASISED THAT SPECIAL ATTENTION WOULD BE PAID TO THE POSSIBILITY OF GREATER USE OF UNDERGROUND CAVERNS WHICH WERE A NEW, BUT VERY PROMISING, DEVELOPMENT OPTION IN HONG KONG.
"WE HAVE ALSO PAID FAR GREATER ATTENTION TO CONSERVATION OF OUR URBAN LANDSCAPE," HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID NATURE AND HUMAN ENDEAVOURS HAD SECURED FOR HONG KONG A PLACE IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION THAT FEW COULD RIVAL.
"WITH THE VERY GOOD PROSPECTS FOR GROWTH IN THIS REGION AND AS ECONOMIES BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE INTERDEPENDENT AND POLITICAL AND PHYSICAL BARRIERS BETWEEN COUNTRIES CRUMBLE; THERE IS GREATER SCOPE THAN EVER FOR HONG KONG TO PLAY ITS PART ON THE WORLD STAGE," HE SAID.
"THE MANY PLANS FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DEMONSTRATE A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND A DETERMINATION TO PROVIDE A SOLID FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE HONG KONG PEOPLE CAN BUILD A BRIGHT TOMORROW," MR BARNES ADDED.
---------0-----------
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR MAY RELEASED
*******
THE PERFORMANCE OF HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE IMPROVED IN MAY 1990, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
HAVING DECLINED FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS SHOWED A MODERATE INCREASE IN MAY 1990 OVER A YEAR EARLIER. MOREOVER, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS RECORDED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS ALSO GREW SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE SAME PERIOD, REFLECTING IN PART THE INCREASE IN RETAINED IMPORTS.
THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN MAY 1990 WAS $18,826 MILLION, $1,131 MILLION OR 6.4 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN MAY 1989, WHILE THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY $6,879 MILLION OR 24.6 PER CENT TO $34,892 MILLION.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS (DOMESTIC EXPORTS PLUS RE-EXPORTS), AT $53,718 MILLION IN MAY 1990, WAS THUS $8,010 MILLION OR 17.5 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN MAY 1989.
/THE VALUE .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS GREW BY $7,872 MILLION OR 16.2 PER CENT OVER A YEAR EARLIER, TO $56,491 MILLION IN MAY 1990.
AS THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WAS LARGER THAN THAT OF TOTAL EXPORTS, A VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT OF $2,773 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 4.9 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, WAS RECORDED IN MAY 1990. THIS COMPARES WITH A DEFICIT OF $2,911 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 6.0 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, RECORDED IN MAY 1989.
PUTTING THESE FIGURES IN PERSPECTIVE, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 1990 WAS $230,594 MILLION, MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF $81,693 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS OF $148,901 MILLION.
COMPARED WITH THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 1989, TOTAL EXPORTS GREW BY $16,282 MILLION OR 7.6 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS, WITH DOMESTIC EXPORTS FALLING BY $1,409 MILLION OR 1.7 PER CENT AND RE-EXPORTS RISING BY $17,691 MILLION OR 13.5 PER CENT.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS ROSE BY $13,243 MILLION OR 5.8 PER CENT, TO $239,812 MILLION.
A VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT OF $9,218 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 3.8 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, WAS RECORDED IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 1990. THIS COMPARES WITH A DEFICIT OF $12,257 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 5.4 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, RECORDED IN THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989.
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ON A YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON, DOMESTIC EXPORTS REVIVED TO POSITIVE GROWTH IN MAY 1990.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE GROWTH RATE OF RE-EXPORTS ALSO PICKED UP SUBSTANTIALLY, WITH A LARGE PART OF THIS INCREASE BEING ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STRONG GROWTH IN RE-EXPORTS OF CHINA ORIGIN.
THIS IMPROVED EXPORT PERFORMANCE WAS ENCOURAGING, BUT MORE DATA WERE NEEDED FOR IDENTIFYING ANY CLEAR TREND. AS REGARDS RETAINED IMPORTS, THERE WAS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT REBOUND IN THE GROWTH RATE IN MAY.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE PRESENTS THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR MAY 1990.
MERCHANDISE: DOMESTIC EXPORTS RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE
$18,826 MILLION $34,892 MILLION $53,718 MILLION $56,491 MILLION
$2,773 MILLION
[IN DEFICIT]
/COMPARATIVE FIGURES .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
12
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
LATEST 3 MONTHS MAR 90 TO MAY 90 HK$ MN. MAR 89 TO MAY 89 HK$ MN. INCREASE
HK$ MN. %
domestic exports RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE 51,744 96,495 148,239 158,248 -10,009 51,798 82,571 134,369 144,963 -10,594 -54 13,924 13,870 13,285 l 585 -0.1 16.9 10.3 9.2
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR MAY 1990 HK$ MN. MAY 1989 HK$ MN. INCREASE HK$ MN. *
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE 18,826 (35.OX) 34,892 53,718 56,491 -2,773 17,695 (38.7%) 28,013 45,708 48,619 -2,911 1,131 6,879 8,010 7,872 138 6.4 24.6 17.5 16.2
LAST MONTH MAY 1990 HK$ MN. APRIL 1990 HK$ MN. INCREASE HK$ MN. *
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE 18,826 (35.0%) 34,892 53,718 56,491 -2,773 16,407 (34.7%) 30,860 47,267 50,640 -3,373 2,419 4,032 6,451 5,851 600 14.7 13.1 13.6 11.6
CALENDAR YEAR-TO-DATE JAN-MAY 1990 HK$ MN. JAN-MAY 1989 HK$ MN. INCREASE HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE 81,693 (35.4%) 148,901 230,594 239,812 -9,218 83,102 (38.8%) 131,210 214,312 226,569 -12,257 -1,409 17,691 16,282 13,243 3,039 -1.7 13.5 7.6 5.8
LAST 12 MONTHS JUN 89 TO MAY 90 HK$ MN. JUN 88 TO MAY 89 HK$ MN. INCREASE HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE 222,694 364,097 586,791 576,024 10,767 223,267 311,659 534,926 546,862 -11,936 -573 52,438 51,865 29,162 22,703 co co t*- CO o CD io 1 T-4
/13
TUESDAY, JUNE 26,
1990
13
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR MAY PUBLISHED
*»*»»»»
THE' CPI(A) (OCT. 84 - SEP. 85 = 100) FOR MAY 1990, AT 140.3, WAS 9.3 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN MAY 1989, ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR MAY 1990 PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY).
THIS WAS LOWER THAN THE CORRESPONDING RATES OF INCREASE OF 10.0 PER CENT IN MARCH AND 9.4 PER CENT IN APRIL.
THE CPI(B) FOR MAY 1990, AT 140.1, WAS ALSO 9.3 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN MAY LAST YEAR. THE CORRESPONDING RATES OF INCREASE IN MARCH AND APRIL WERE 9.6 PER CENT AND 9.3 PER CENT.
FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY TO MAY 1990, THE AVERAGE CPI(A) AND AVERAGE CPI(B) INCREASED BY 9.4 PER CENT AND 9.2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF 1989.
ON A YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON, THE FASTER RATES OF INCREASE IN THE CPI(A) IN MAY 1990 WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEXES FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION), TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES, SERVICES AND FOODSTUFFS AT 18.3 PER CENT, 14.5 PER CENT, 13.9 PER CENT AND 9.3 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES FOR THE SAME COMPONENTS IN THE CPI(B) WERE 18.1 PER CENT, 14.6 PER CENT, 13.5 PER CENT AND 9.9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THESE FOUR COMPONENTS TOGETHER ACCOUNTED FOR NEARLY FOUR-FIFTHS OF THE OVERALL INCREASE IN THE CPI(A) AND ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE INCREASE IN THE CPI(B).
COMPARING MAY 1990 WITH APRIL 1990, THE CPI(A) INCREASED BY 0.7 PER CENT AND THE CPI(B), BY 0.9 PER CENT, LARGELY BECAUSE OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES, HIGHER RENTS FOR SOME PRIVATE HOUSING UNITS AND INCREASES IN MTR, KCR AND URBAN-TAXI FARES.
THE AVERAGE CPI(A) AND AVERAGE CPI(B) FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED MAY 1990, AT 134.3 AND 133.8 RESPECTIVELY, WERE 9.8 PER CENT AND 9.6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED MAY 1989.
DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED MAY 1990, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CPI(A) AND CPI(B) BOTH INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 1.0 PER CENT PER MONTH.
THE CPI(A) AND THE CPI(B) ARE BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF 50 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE DERIVED FROM THE 1984/85 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY. THE CPI(A) REFERS TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $2,000 AND $6,499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME AND THE CPI(B) BETWEEN $6,500 AND $9,999 A MONTH.
CHANGES IN THE INDEXES FOR MAY 1990 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, AS COMPARED WITH APRIL 1990 AND MAY 1989, ARE GIVEN BELOW.
/(OCTOBER 1984 .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 14 -
(OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 AVERAGE = 100)
CPI(A) CPI(B)
INDEX % CHANGE % CHANGE INDEX % CHANGE % CHANGE
FOR OVER OVER FOR OVER OVER
SECTION MAY 90 APR. 90 MAY 89 MAY 90 APR. 90 MAY 89
— — — — — — — — _ — — — — — — — —
FOODSTUFFS 141.7 + 0.3 + 9.3 143.6 + 0.5 + 9.9
HOUSING 130.1 + 1.2 + 7.6 124.9 + 1.4 + 7.3
FUEL AND LIGHT 104.0 -0.1 + 8.6 104.2 -0.1 + 8.3
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) 157.3 + 0.3 + 18.3 158.2 + 0.4 + 18.1
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 147.1 + 1.3 + 7.0 150.4 + 1.3 + 7.0
DURABLE GOODS 125.1 + 0.9 + 2.2 124.2 + 0.8 + 2.1
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 137.1 + 0.2 + 4.1 137.5 + 0.1 + 4.6
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 153.6 + 3.0 + 14.5 152.7 + 3.3 + 14.6
SERVICES 156.5 + 0.9 + 13.9 156.6 + 1.0 + 13.5
ALL ITEMS 140.3 + 0.7 + 9.3 140.1 + 0.9 + 9.3
COMPARING MAY 1990 WITH APRIL 1990 , THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS
INCREASED BY 0.3 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 0.5 PER CENT IN CPI(B).
THIS WAS MAINLY DUE TO INCREASES IN THE CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES AND IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH FRUIT AND LIVE POULTRY, WHICH MORE THAN OFFSET THE DECREASES IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES.
THE INDEX FOR HOUSING INCREASED BY 1.2 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.4 PER CENT IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER RENTS FOR SOME PRIVATE HOUSING UNITS.
THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR INCREASED BY 1.3 PER CENT IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES OF SUMMER OUTERCLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR.
THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS INCREASED BY 0.9 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 0.8 PER CENT IN CPI(B), REFLECTING INCREASES IN THE PRICES OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, WATCHES AND OPTICAL GOODS.
/THE INDEX .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 15 -
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY 3.0 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 3.3 PER CENT IN CPI(B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER MTR, KCR AND UPBAN TAXI FARES.
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY 0.9 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.0 PER CENT IN CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND FUNERAL SERVICES AS WELL AS HIGHER SUBSCRIPTION FEES OF ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUBS.
FIGURES HEREIN REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. ALL PERCENTAGE CHANGES ARE DERIVED FROM CPI FIGURES TAKEN TO MORE THAN ONE DECIMAL PLACE.
MORE DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN THE ’’CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT” FOR MAY 1990, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT $5 PER COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL; OR FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI; OR FROM THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, CENTRAL FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS.
FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDEXES, PLEASE TELEPHONE THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 823 5089.
THE HANG SENG CPI WAS 149.6 IN MAY 1990, UP BY 1.5 PER CENT OVER APRIL 1990 AND BY 11.1 PER CENT OVER MAY 1989.
THE HANG SENG CPI IS BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF THE 10 PER CENT OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG THAT SPENT $10,000-24,999 A MONTH DURING THE 1984/85 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY.
FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THIS INDEX ARE INCLUDED IN THE HANG SENG CPI REPORT ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF HANG SENG BANK LTD.
--------0-----------
JUNE 1990 SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL STARTED
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS STARTED TO CONDUCT THE JUNE 1990 ROUND OF THE SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL IN ---------------------------------------™ EMPLOYMENT,
MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON VACANCIES AND PAYROLL IN RESPECT OF THE SECOND QUARTER OF
1990.
THIS
USEFUL IN
INFORMATION
SURVEY IS CONDUCTED QUARTERLY AND THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE PROVIDING SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC INDICATORS AS WELL AS ON THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE LABOUR MARKET IN HONG
KONG.
/THE ROUND ......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 16 -
THIS ROUND OF THE SURVEY COVERS ABOUT 100,000 ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH ARE DRAWN FROM VARIOUS SECTORS INCLUDING THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR (MINING AND QUARRYING; MANUFACTURING; ELECTRICITY AND GAS), THE DISTF BUTIVE TRADES SECTOR (WHOLESALE, RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE-, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS) AND THE SERVICES SECTOR (TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION; FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES; COMMUNITY, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL SERVICES).
INFORMATION ON NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED AND EXISTING VACANCIES ON JUNE 29 THIS YEAR WILL BE SOUGHT FROM EACH SELECTED ESTABLISHMENT.
SOME 10,000 ESTABLISHMENTS ARE RANDOMLY SELECTED FROM THIS SAMPLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PAYROLL IN EACH OF THE THREE MONTHS DURING THE REFERENCE PERIOD OF APRIL TO JUNE 1990.
QUESTIONNAIRES ARE BEING MAILED TO INDIVIDUAL SAMPLE ESTABLISHMENTS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDER 1982 GAZETTED ON MARCH 5, 1982, ESTABLISHMENTS RECEIVING QUESTIONNAIRES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THEM TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD.
SHOULD RESPONDENTS FIND DIFFICULTIES IN COMPLETING THE FORMS, THEY ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT FOR ASSISTANCE ON TEL. 823 5076.
AS FOR THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS KNOWN TO THIS DEPARTMENT DURING APRIL TO JUNE 1990, THEY WILL ALSO BE ENUMERATED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SURVEY RESULTS COMPLETE.
FIELD OFFICERS OF THIS DEPARTMENT, EACH BEARING A GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARD, WILL CALL ON THESE ESTABLISHMENTS TO SOLICIT INFORMATION ON NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED, EXISTING VACANCIES, TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, NATURE OF BUSINESS AND DATE ON WHICH BUSINESS COMMENCED.
ANY ENQUIRIES REGARDING THESE FIELD VISITS CAN BE MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 823 4770.
EXCO APPROVES
NEW HOUSING PACKAGE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS * * * * *
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS CIVIL SERVANTS WHICH, SUBJECT TO
APPROVED A NEW HOUSING PACKAGE FOR
THE
COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
APPROVAL OF FUNDS BY THE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN
FINANCE OCTOBER
THIS YEAR.
THAT THE NEW , ENCOURAGING THE EXISTING
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) PACKAGE WAS AIMED AT MAKING EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES Some OWNERSHIP AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS AND MODERNISING RANGE OF HOUSING BENEFITS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS.
/"IT WILL .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
"IT WILL HELP ACHIEVE ECONOMIES IN THE LONG-TERM BY REDUCING THE EXPENDITURE ON THE PROVISION OF NON-DEPARTMETAL QUARTERS (NDQ) AND PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCE (PTA), AS WELL AS FREEING EXISTING QUARTERS SITES FOR DISPOSAL AND/OR REDEVELOPMENT," HE SAID.
DEPENDING ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS SUCH AS THE TAKE-UP RATE OF THE NEW HOME FINANCING SCHEME, MOVEMENTS OF PROPERTY PRICES AND MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES, SAVINGS IN THE REGION OF $3 BILLION MAY WELL BE ACHIEVED OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD CALCULATED AT PRESENT VALUE. BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO PUT AN ACCURATE FIGURE ON THIS AS MANY UNKNOWNS ARE INVOLVED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT NEW HOUSING PACKAGE MAINLY COMPRISED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING HOME PURCHASE SCHEME (HPS), A NEW HOME FINANCING SCHEME (HFS) AND A NEW ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE.
"THE EXISTING HOME PURCHASE SCHEME FOR OFFICERS ON MASTER PAY SCALE (MPS) 25-33 OR EQUIVALENT AND FOR OFFICERS ON MPS 1-24 OR EQUIVALENT WITH 20 YEARS’ SERVICE, WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED, BUT WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER MODEL SCALE 1 OFFICERS WITH 20 YEARS’ SERVICE AND ALSO TO OFFICERS ON MPS 22 TO 24 OR EQUIVALENT WITHOUT SERVICE REQUIREMENT," HE SAID.
"THERE WILL BE A 40 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE HPS RATES, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE 1981 WHEN THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED.
"THE REVISION TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE MOVEMENT IN DOMESTIC PROPERTY PRICES SINCE 1981, THE PREVAILING MORTGAGE INTEREST RATE AND GOVERNMENT’S BUDGETARY POSITION.
"THE ANNUAL QUOTA FOR THE SCHEME WILL BE INCREASED BY 400 TO 1,800 PLACES TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE OFFICERS. THE ANNUAL QUOTA WILL BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW."
AS TO THE NEW HOME FINANCING SCHEME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THIS WOULD BE OFFERED TO OFFICERS ON MPS 34 AND ABOVE OR EQUIVALENT TO REPLACE THE PROVISION OF NDQ AND PTA.
"THE ALLOWANCE PAYABLE UNDER THE HFS WILL BE FOR A MAXIMUM OF 10 YEARS," HE SAID.
"EXISTING ELIGIBLE OFFICERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO JOIN THE NEW HFS OR TO RETAIN THEIR EXISTING BENEFITS OF PTA/NDQ SUBJECT TO AN OPTION PERIOD.
"THE RATES OF THE HFS ALLOWANCE RANGE FROM $13,000 FOR OFFICERS ON MPS 34-37 OR EQUIVALENT TO $36,000 FOR OFFICERS ON DIRECTORATE PAY SCALE D6-D10."
AS TO THE ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAIL) THAT IN LINE WITH THE GENERAL POLICY OF REDUCING THE PROVISION OF NDQ AND PTA, NEW OVERSEAS RECRUITS WOULD ONLY BE OFFERED AN ALLOWANCE TO RENT ACCOMMODATION.
"THE.RATES OF THE ALLOWANCE RANGE FROM $13,000 FOR OFFICERS BELOW MPS 34 OR EQUIVALENT TO $36,000 FOR OFFICERS ON D6-D10."
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 18 -
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW HOUSING PACKAGE WAS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A GOVERNMENT INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP WHICH WERE ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR IN A CONSULTATIVE PAPER.
"VIEWS OF STAFF WERE COLLECTED AFTER A TWO-MONTH CONSULTATION PERIOD AND THE PROPOSED PACKAGE WAS MODIFIED AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT VIEWS EXPRESSED BY STAFF," HE SAID.
"BETWEEN MARCH TO MAY THIS YEAR, THE ADVISORY BODIES ON CIVIL SERVICES SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WERE CONSULTED ON THE MODIFIED HOUSING PACKAGE."
SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS FOR THE NEW HOUSING PACKAGE BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, A CIRCULAR SETTING OUT DETAILS OF THE PACKAGE WOULD BE CIRCULATED FOR CIVIL SERVANTS’ INFORMATION.
-----0------
CONSULTANCY CONTRACT FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME AWARDED
*****
A $200 MILLION CONSULTANCY CONTRACT WAS AWARDED BY THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT, MR K.T. KUO, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF A JOINT VENTURE OF FOUR OVERSEAS CONSULTANT FIRMS OPERATING LOCALLY.
THE CONTRACT, WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED IN STAGES WITHIN 30 MONTHS, WILL BE FOR THE EXTENSIVE SITE INVESTIGATION AND DETAILED STUDIES TO ESTABLISH THE ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS OF THE WHOLE STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME AS WELL AS TO CARRY OUT PRELIMINARY DESIGN.
THE SCHEME WAS THE MAIN CONCLUSION OF THE SEWAGE STRATEGY STUDY ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR WHICH RECOMMENDED THAT A COMBINATION OF LAND-BASED SEWAGE TREATMENT WITH THE NATURAL PURIFYING ABILITIES OF THE OCEAN WAS THE MOST ECONOMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY EFFECTIVE LONG-TERM STRATEGY ON SEWAGE DISPOSAL IN THE TERRITORY.
WITH A TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF $6,870 MILLION, THE SCHEME WILL REQUIRE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STRATEGY NETWORK OF DEEP TUNNELS TO COLLECT ALL SEWAGE IN THE URBAN AREA AND CONVEY IT TO THREE CENTRALISED SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS PROPOSED AT STONECUTTERS ISLAND,MOUNT DAVIS AND ABERDEEN.
THE TREATED SEWAGE WILL BE DISCHARGED INTO THE HARBOUR TEMPORARILY IN THE INITIAL STAGE BUT WILL ULTIMATELY BE CONVEYED TO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA VIA A DEEP TUNNEL AND SUBMARINE OUTFALL.
/THE SCHEME .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 19 -
THE SCHEME, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO START WORK EARLY NEXT YEAR AND BE COMPLETED BY MID-1998, WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN FOUR STAGES AS FOLLOWS:
STAGE I - KOWLOON SYSTEM
A DEEP TUNNEL SYSTEM OF ABOUT 22 KILOMETRES IN LENGTH AND THREE TO FIVE METRES IN DIAMETER IS PROPOSED TO COLLECT SEWAGE IN KOWLOON, TSUEN WAN, KWAI CHUNG AND THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND. A CHEMICALLY ASSISTED PRIMARY SEWAGE TREATMENT WORK AT STONECUTTERS ISLAND WITH A TEMPORARY OUTFALL WILL BE CONSTRUCTED.
STAGE II - OCEANIC OUTFALL SYSTEM
A DEEP TUNNELLED OUTFALL OF ABOUT 35 KILOMETRES IN LENGTH AND FIVE TO SEVEN METRES IN DIAMETER WILL RUN FROM STONECUTTERS ISLAND AND TERMINATE WITH DEEP OCEANIC DIFFUSERS IN THE LEMA CHANNEL OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.
STAGE III - HONG KONG ISLAND NORTH SYSTEM
A DEEP TUNNEL SYSTEM OF ABOUT 10 KILOMETRES LONG AND THREE METRES IN DIAMETER IS PROPOSED TO COLLECT SEWAGE FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND TO A PROPOSED PRIMARY SEWAGE TREATMENT WORK AT MOUNT DAVIS.
STAGE IV - HONG KONG ISLAND SOUTH WEST SYSTEM
THIS CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF LINKS IN TUNNELS OR PIPELINES TO COLLECT SEWAGE FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND TO A PROPOSED PRIMARY SEWAGE TREATMENT WORK AT ABERDEEN.
------0------
$1.7 BILLION FOR REHAB SERVICES
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATED OVER $1.7 BILLION FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 1990-91.
SPEAKING AT THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE (RDCC) MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY), THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, MR ALAN WONG, SAID THE PROVISION REPRESENTED A 17 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATES FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THIS AMOUNT EXCLUDED THE $560 MILLION PROPOSED FOR THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR AND THE $30 MILLION PROPOSED FOR LOTTERIES FUND EXPENDITURE ON NEW REHABILITATION PROJECTS AND SERVICES.
"OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, ABOUT $213 MILLION HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR NEW OR IMPROVED REHABILITATION SERVICES AND PROJECTS," MR WONG SAID.
/HE POINTED .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 20 -
HE POINTED OUT THAT HOSPITAL SERVICES, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE HAD THE MAJOR SHARE OF THE ALLOCATION.
AT TODAY’S MEETING, RDCC MEMBERS ALSO ENDORSED A PACKAGE OF POLICY PROPOSALS RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF DOMICILIARY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICE (DOT) FOR DISABLED PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE OBJECTIVE OF DOT SERVICE IS TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL OR SENSORY HANDICAPS, MENTAL ILLNESS OR MENTAL HANDICAPS WHO FACE ADAPTATIONAL PROBLEMS IN THEIR NORMAL DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES AT HOME OR AT WORK.
RDCC MEMBERS AGREED THAT THE FOLLOWING MEDICAL REFERRAL AND FEEDBACK SYSTEMS FOR DOT SERVICE SHOULD BE ENDORSED:
* SUBVERTED ORGANISATIONS SHOULD ESTABLISH THEIR OWN MEDICAL BACK-UP SYSTEMS THROUGH PARTICIPATION OF DOCTORS EMPLOYED BY OR IN ASSOCIATION WITH THEIR OWN ORGANISATIONS IN DOT SERVICES;
* THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE PROVISION OF SPECIALIST BACK-UP IN ITS SPECIALIST CLINICS AND ACCEPT REFERRALS FROM SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS OPERATING DOT SERVICE.
SUCH BACK-UP MAY BE INITIALLY PROVIDED IN THE ORTHOPAEDIC AND GERIATRIC CLINICS OF SOUTH KWAI CHUNG AND QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL SPECIALIST CLINICS, AND EXTENSION OF THE SCHEME TO OTHER SPECIALITIES AND CLINICS MAY BE CONSIDERED IN FUTURE; AND
« THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT OF THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT FOR ALL DOT SERVICES.
THE PROPOSAL ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT DOT SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY TWO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD BE SUBVENTED SUBJECT TO THEIR AGREEMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE SPECIFIED REQUIREMENTS.
--------0-----------
FACTORY OWNERS URGED TO COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS ******
THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RAYMOND YOUNG, TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED FACTORY OWNERS IN TSUEN WAN TO COMPLY WITH TIGHTER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION REGULATIONS THAT WILL BE IN FORCE SOON.
SPEAKING AFTER A VISIT TO THE CENTRE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY FOR INDUSTRY (CETI) AT THE CITY POLYTECHNIC THIS MORNING, MR YOUNG SAID DRAINAGE REMEDIAL WORKS WERE AMONG THE MEASURES THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN BY FACTORY OWNERS.
/NOTING THAT .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 21 -
NOTING THAT TSUEN WAN WOULD BE DECLARED A WATER CONTROL ZONE NEXT YEAR, MR YOUNG REMINDED THE OWNERS TO INSTALL WATER PRE-TREATMENT FACILITIES IN GOOD TINE.
HE SAID MORE THAN 300 FACTORIES IN THE DISTRICT WERE DISCHARGING ABOUT 85,000 CUBIC METRES OF TRADE EFFLUENTS PER DAY, RESULTING IN A SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AS MOST OF THE EFFLUENTS WERE UNTREATED, AND SOME WERE EVEN CORROSIVE OR HARMFUL.
TODAY’S VISIT TO THE CETI WAS ARRANGED BY THE TSUEN WAN INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS WORKING GROUP ON POLLUTION PROBLEMS.
LED BY MR YOUNG AND THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHAU HOW-CHEN, THE PARTY WAS BRIEFED BY THE MANAGER OF THE CENTRE, MR PETER LIU, AND WAS SHOWN VARIOUS COST-EFFECTIVE AND SPACE-SAVING WAYS TO CONTROL INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION.
THE MEMBERS LATER ATTENDED SEMINARS AND WATCHED VIDEO PRESENTATIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF WATER PRETREATMENT EQUIPMENT SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE ANTI-POLLUTION NEEDS OF LOCAL FACTORY OWNERS.
THEY ALSO LOOKED AT DISPLAYS ON THE SOURCES OF COMMON INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON WORKERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, PRACTICAL METHODS TO REDUCE THE DISCHARGE OF POLLUTANTS AND METHODS OF RECYCLING AND RE-USING RAW MATERIALS.
MR YOUNG SAID SIMILAR VISITS HAD BEEN ARRANGED BY THE BUILDINGS MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAM FOR LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND THE RESPONSE WAS QUITE ENCOURAGING. MORE VISITS HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR THE NEAR FUTURE, HE ADDED.
"WE WOULD LIKE TO STIMULATE A MORE EFFECTIVE SELF-HELP PROCESS AMONG THE FACTORY OWNERS AND IT IS HOPED THAT WITH THE CONCERTED EFFORTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRIALISTS, AN OVERALL IMPROVEMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED," HE NOTED.
------0-----------
DB TO DISCUSS UC WORKS PROGRAMME
*****
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE URBAN COUNCIL’S FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME AT ITS MEETING ON THURSDAY (JUNE 28).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE DISTRICT’S SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME AND THE PROVISION OF A TYPHOON SHELTER AT TO KWA WAN.
/OTHER AGENDA .......
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE POSTAL SERVICE AND TO ESTABLISH A POLICE AD HOC GROUP AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL ON THE PREVENTION OF JUVENILE CRIME.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY (JUNE 28) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, 141 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.15 PM.
- - 0 - -
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS TREE PLANTING SCHEME
*****
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD WILL CONSIDER ALLOCATING $300,000 FOR A PILOT TREE PLANTING SCHEME IN THE DISTRICT AT A MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
UNDER THE SCHEME, ABOUT 40 TREES WILL BE PLANTED BEFORE NOVEMBER THIS YEAR. MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR PLANTING TREES.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE PROPOSALS TO BUILD RAIN SHELTERS AND HANDRAILS AT THE BOWEN ROAD FITNESS TRAIL, NOISE NUISANCE FROM VEHICLE BURGLAR ALARMS AND POLLUTION PROBLEMS CAUSED BY STREET SLEEPERS AND CHOKED DRAINAGES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM, 21ST FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, HONG KONG.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 4 PM.
- - 0 - -
/23
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
FINAL CHANCE TO SEE AIDS EXHIBITION
t » » * «
OVER 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE VISITED THE AIDS MOBILE EXHIBITION HELD IN VARIOUS COMMERCIAL ARCADES AND COMMUNITY CENTRES SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR.
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS WILL HAVE A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO FROM THURSDAY (JUNE 28) WHEN THE EXHIBITION IS STAGED AT THE LONG PING COMMUNITY HALL IN YUEN LONG.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN FREE OF CHARGE FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM DAILY UNTIL SATURDAY (JUNE 30).
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN STAGED AT 12 OTHER VENUES.
VARIOUS ASPECTS OF AIDS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN AN INTERESTING AND COMPREHENSIVE WAY.
TOPICS INCLUDE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AIDS, DIFFERENT STAGES IN HIV INFECTION, THE TRANSMISSION OF THE AIDS VIRUS, THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AIDS, AND YOUTH COUNSELLING SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
ORGANISED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON AIDS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, THE EXHIBITION AIMS AT ENHANCING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF AIDS, AND FOSTERING A POSITIVE, SYMPATHETIC AND SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDE IN THE COMMUNITY TOWARDS AIDS PATIENTS AND CARRIERS.
INFORMATION LEAFLETS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO VISITORS WHO WILL ALSO HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN ATTRACTIVE PRIZES BY ANSWERING A QUIZ DESIGNED TO TEST THEIR KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING AIDS.
_ _ 0 - -
WITHDRAWAL OF NT GMB ROUTE 5K
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY), GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE 5K, FAN LENG WAI TO LUEN WO HUI VIA FANLING KCR STATION (CIRCULAR) WILL BE CANCELLED.
PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES ALONG JOCKEY CLUB ROAD.
- - 0 - -
/24
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1990
- 24 -
TRAFFIC DIVERSION IN KWAI CHUNG ♦ * * * ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM NOON TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY), THE SLIP ROAD LINKING THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KWAI CHUNG ROAD AND CONTAINER PORT ROAD WILL BE CLOSED.
VEHICLES ON KWAI CHUNG ROAD NORTHBOUND HEADING FOR CONTAINER PORT ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED TO A NEW SLIP ROAD UNDER TSUEN WAN ROAD LINKING THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KWAI CHUNG ROAD AND KWAI TAI ROAD, BEFORE PROCEEDING THE REST OF THE JOURNEY.
------0--------
TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES ON TAI PO ROAD ♦ * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK, THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF TAI PO ROAD (FANLING) WILL BE PARTIALLY CLOSED DURING THE PERIODS SPECIFIED BELOW:
♦ FROM THURSDAY (JUNE 28) Tp SATURDAY (JUNE 30), A SECTION OF ABOUT 1.5 KILOMETRES OF THE INNERMOST LANE OF TAI PO ROAD (FANLING) NORTHBOUND SOUTH OF WO HOP SHEK INTERCHANGE.
* JULY 11 AND 12, A SECTION OF ABOUT 1.4 KILOMETRES OF THE INNERMOST LANE OF TAI PO ROAD (FANLING) SOUTHBOUND SOUTH OF WO HOP SHEK INTERCHANGE.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE. APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC AIDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUIDE THEM.
--------0------------
TEMPORARY NIGHT CLOSURE OF ACCESS RAMP IN SHA TIN
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES LINKING NORTHBOUND TAI PO ROAD (SHA TIN) AND WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC DAILY FROM 9 PM TO THURSDAY (JUNE 28) TO JULY 2.
THAT THE ACCESS RAMP PENFOLD PARK IN SHA TIN 6 AM THE NEXT DAY ON
RESURFACING WORKS
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE
NORTHBOUND TAI PO ROAD (SHA TIN) NEAR SHA TIN RACE COURSE.
TAI PO ROAD TOLO HIGHWAY
DURING THE CLOSURE, VEHICLES ON NORTHBOUND TIN) HEADING FOR PENFOLD PARK WILL BE DIVERTED VIA MA LIU SHUI INTERCHANGE TO GAIN ACCESS TO PENFOLD PARK.
ON
(SHA AND
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
AG SPEAKS ON BILL OF RIGHTS ..................................................... 1
BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BOOST CONFIDENCE ............................................ 3
INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS SHOULD BE RETAINED ......................................... 5
BILL OF RIGHTS MUST BE PART OF PACKAGE ......................................... 6.
SEXUAL EQUALITY WILL UPSET SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN NT ............................... 8
BILL OF RIGHTS WILL HAVE STABILISING EFFECT...................................... 9
BILL OF RIGHTS WILL NOT CONTRAVENE JOINT DECLARATION ........................... 10
HK'S INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER HAS TO BE BORNE IN MIND............................ 11
BILL OF RIGHTS IN LINE WITH CHINA'S COMMITMENT ................................. 11
TIME TO PUT BILL OF RIGHTS INTO PLACE .......................................... 13
BILL OF RIGHTS WILL ENHANCE CONFIDENCE ......................................... 14
CALL TO RETHINK BILL OF RIGHTS.................................................. 14
IMPORTANT FOR ICAC TO RETAIN EFFECTIVE POWERS .................................. 15
PARTS OF BASIC LAW HAVE MORE TO OFFER THAN BILL OF RIGHTS ...................... 16
ACCOUNTANTS HAIL BILL OF RIGHTS ................................................ 17
DIRECT COMMUNICATION ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES ......................... 17
TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP KEY TO HK'S SUCCESS ...................................... 19
SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 PASSED .............. 20
BILL ENSURES PROMPT RELEASE OF INFORMATION ..................................... 22
RADIATION BILL AMENDMENTS SUPPORTED ............................................ 23
RADIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL SUPPORTED ........................................... 23
LOOSE-LEAF PUBLICATION OF LAWS ECONOMICAL AND EFFICIENT ........................ 24
BILL SEEKS TO INCREASE NUMBER OF DAYS OF PAID ANNUAL LEAVE ..................... 26
BILL TO TIGHTEN GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL IN NORTHWESTERN NT ........................ 28
/REPROVISIONING OF
REPRuVIS.1 JNING Ob YAU MA TEI FRUIT MARKET INTENDED............................... 29
DRAFTING F COMPOSITE LAND SURVEY BILL IN PROGRESS ................................. 29
CONTRACTING OUT PARCEL DELIVERY SERVICE BEING CONSIDERED .......................... 30
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH'WATER TREATMENT WORKS LOW ................................... 31
WATER MAINS BURSTS MOSTLY CAUSED BY EXTERNAL FACTORS .............................. 33
SPECIAL PROVISION PROGRAMME FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN CLOSELY MONITORED ............... 34
AMENDMENT BILL TO EXTEND NO-SMOKING AREAS TO GO TO LEGCO........................... 36
WORKING GROUP SET UP TO CONSIDER CONTROLS ON LEVERAGED DEALINGS ................... 37
REVIEW OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO MAC'S COMPLETED .......................... 38
RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN RESIDENTS EXPLAINED .......................... 39
MOTJJN ON BILL OF RIGHTS PASSED ................................................... 39
BALANCE OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXATION NEEDS PONDERING ............................. 40
INDUSTRIES MORE INCLINED TO USE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY ............................ 42
U.S. FIRMS ESTABLISHING BASES IN HK TO OVERSEE EXPANSION ............................ 43
MORE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS BUT FEWER KILLED .......................................... 44
VIEWS ON DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES INVITED ............................. 45
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET ON FRIDAY ................................................. 46
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL BODIES ......................... 46
NEW ID CARD VISITING SERVICE ........................................................ 47
UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES IN TO KWA WAN TO BE CLOSED .................................. 48
AIR-CONDITIONED COACHES TO SERVE ON KMB ROUTE 2 ..................................... 48
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN QUARRY BAY ...................................................... 49
VEHICLE LENGTH LIMIT IN JARDINE'S LOOKOUT ........................................... 49
LONG VEHICLE BAN ZONE IN HO MAN TIN ................................................. 49
BAN ZONE IN NEW PO LAM BUS TERMINUS ................................................. 49
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
AG SPEAKS ON BILL OF RIGHTS *****
THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS A DOCUMENT OF ENORMOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND ARGUABLY WILL BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION EVER TO COME BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR IT DEMONSTRATES HONG KONG’S DETERMINATION TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED BASIC STANDARDS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN LEGCO THE DEBATE ON A MOTION ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, MR MATHEWS SAID IN DRAFTING THE BILL THE ADMINISTRATION HAD HAD TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND HAD HAD TO ACCOMMODATE THE BASIC LAW.
"WE HAVE ALSO HAD TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE FULLY REFLECTED IN THE DRAFT BILL.
"GIVEN THESE VARIOUS CONSIDERATIONS, IT IS GRATIFYING THEREFORE TO HAVE A DRAFT BILL WHICH IS BROADLY ACCEPTABLE TO MOST MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND TO VERY MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND WHICH, IMPORTANTLY, IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS," MR MATHEWS SAID.
HE RE-STATED THE GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON TWO MAJOR POINTS.
"FIRST, WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLE OF ENSURING THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS WILL ENDURE BEYOND 1997.
"THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY INTENTION ON OUR PART TO MAKE THE BILL OF RIGHTS SOME KIND OF RIVAL TO THE BASIC LAW AND, IN PARTICULAR, ITS CHAPTER III.
"WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THERE WILL BE NO INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE BASIC LAW AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS AFTER 1997," MR MATHEWS SAID.
THE BILL OF RIGHTS WOULD THEN GIVE EFFECT TO ARTICLE 39 OF THE BASIC LAW WHICH PROVIDED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH LAW, HE ADDED.
"SECONDLY, IT HAS BEEN OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO US TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS CONTAINED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS ARE ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARDED BY LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL MEASURES," MR MATHEWS SAID.
THIS, HE SAID, HAD LED TO THE PROPOSAL THAT THE LETTERS PATENT BE AMENDED TO INCORPORATE A CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT NO LAW WHICH RESTRICTED THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF PERSONS IN HONG KONG COULD BE ENACTED IF IT WAS INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG.
/"THIS PROPOSAL
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 2 -
’’THIS PROPOSAL ACHIEVES WHAT IS SO WIDELY DESIRED, NAMELY A GUARANTEE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG,” MR MATHEWS SAID.
OVER 800 SUBMISSIONS HAD BEEN RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST BY THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS FOR COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS SINCE IT WAS PUBLISHED IN MARCH.
MANY OF THESE WERE FROM PROFESSIONAL OR COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND INTEREST GROUPS. THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF RETURNS FROM INDIVIDUALS.
“WHAT EMERGES FROM THE SUBMISSIONS IS SOMETHING WHICH IS VERY HEART]NING AND BODES WELL FOR THE FUTURE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW TN HONG KONG.
’’NEARLY ALL OF THE SUBMISSIONS SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPLE OF A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR HONG KONG AND THE DIRECT INCORPORATION INTO OUR LEGAL SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED MINIMUM STANDARDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS,” HE SAID.
MR MATHEWS SAID THOSE SUBMISSIONS WHICH HAD DEALT WITH THE LEGAL-TECHNICAL SIDE OF THE BILL HAD BEEN VERY USEFUL IN PROVOKING FURTHER THOUGHT. THERE WERE, FOR EXAMPLE, SUBMISSIONS SUGGESTING THAT PART I OF THE DRAFT BILL MIGHT BE REVISED SO AS TO MAKE IT A MORE EFFECTIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
THE SUBMISSIONS INCLUDED IN PARTICULAR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND FROM MANY ACADEMICS.
"IN ADDITION TO THE SUBMISSIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND INTERESTED GROUPS AND ASSOCIATIONS, IT IS ALSO RIGHT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTION WHICH THE MEDIA HAS MADE TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DRAFT BILL," HE SAID.
MR MATHEWS SAID THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP AND THE MANY USEFUL AND PENETRATING COMMENTS IN SUBMISSIONS WERE NOW BEING STUDIED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WITH THE UTMOST CARE.
SUBJECT TO THE FURTHER ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID, THE HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED FORMALLY INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 25.
HE POINTED OUT THAT SOME OF THE PROPOSALS AND COMMENTS DID NOT RELATE SO MUCH TO THE CONTENT OF THE DRAFT BILL AS TO ITS ANTICIPATED EFFECT.
"AN EXAMPLE IS THE PROPOSAL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OR SOME SIMILAR BODY FOR HONG KONG. WE SHALL CONSIDER THE IDEA CAREFULLY, RECOGNISING THAT SUCH A COMMISSION CAN HAVE A ROLE IN EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS AS TO THEIR RIGHTS AND COULD ALSO BE AN INFORMAL AND INEXPENSIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION BODY.
"BUT WE MUST GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT AS TO WHETHER SUCH A COMMISSION IS REALLY NECESSARY, HAVING REGARD TO OUR EXISTING LEGAL AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM," MR MATHEWS SAID.
/HE SAID ......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
3 -
HE SAID CONCERN HAD ALSO BEEN EXPRESSED THAT IF IT PROVED NECESSARY FOR CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES TO ADJUST THEIR ENABLING LEGISLATION SO AS TO ACCOMMODATE THE LEGAL DEMANDS OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS THEN THIS SHOULD NOT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER.
”1 CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ATTACHES THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO THE OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE AND THE ICAC AND THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES,” MR MATHEWS SAID.
’’EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT ANY NECESSARY AMENDMENT TO LAWS WHICH REGULATE LAW AND ORDER IN HONG KONG WILL NOT PREJUDICE THAT EFFECTIVENESS."
HE NOTED THAT THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE PROPOSED "FREEZE PERIOD” BE REDUCED FROM TWO YEARS TO ONE YEAR WITH A SCHEDULE IDENTIFYING ORDINANCES AND PARTICULAR PROVISIONS IN THEM TO BE FROZEN AND THAT THIS PERIOD MIGHT BE EXTENDED FOR A FURTHER YEAR IF JUSTIFIED.
"THE ADMINISTRATION’S PROPOSAL WAS WIDER IN THAT WE SUGGESTED A: TWO-YEAR FREEZE ON ALL EXISTING LEGISLATION.
"THE MOVE BEHIND THE AD HOC GROUP’S PROPOSAL IS CLEARLY THAT WE SHOULD GET THE BILL OF RIGHTS WORKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND LET THE COURTS DECIDE ISSUES OF COMPATIBILITY.
"WE SYMPATHISE WITH THAT FEELING BUT I SHOULD REMIND MEMBERS THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE TWO-YEAR FREEZE AS PROPOSED IN THE DRAFT BILL IS NOT ONLY TO IDENTIFY LAWS AT RISK, BUT ALSO TO GIVE MEMBERS ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER WHAT CHANGES TO SUCH LAWS MAY BE DESIRABLE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PRUDENT COURSE.
"IT IS NOT A NOVEL CONCEPT FOR THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR IT ELSEWHERE. NEVERTHELESS MEMBERS CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE WILL GIVE THEIR PROPOSAL THE MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION," MR MATHEWS SAID.
-----------------0-------- BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BOOST CONFIDENCE *****
THE HON SELINA CHOW SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT SHE IS CONVINCED THAT A BILL OF RIGHTS, HOWEVER IMPERFECT, WILL BOOST THE CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND SHOULD BE SEEN AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF DEMOCRATIC EVOLUTION.
LEADING OFF THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, MRS CHOW APPEALED TO THE GOVERNMENT TO DO ALL IT COULD TO PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS WITHIN A FREE AND RESPONSIBLE SOCIETY IN ANTICIPATION OF THE BILL.
/HER MOTION........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
HER MOTION READS:
"THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE ENACTMENT OF A BILL OF RIGHTS AND URGES THE GOVERNMENT IN DRAFTING THE BLUE BILL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THIS COUNCIL.”
MRS CHOW, WHO WAS CONVENER OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS 1990, OUTLINED THE KEY POINTS ON THE BILL CONTAINED IN THE GROUP’S REPORT.
SHE SAID WHILE SOME MEMBERS FELT THAT THE ABSOLUTE STATUS OF Rj( it's PROTECTED UNDER THE BILL SHOULD OVERRIDE OTHER RIGHTS AND POWERS 'OUND TO BE IN CONFLICT, AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF MEMBERS SHAKED IHE CONCERN VOICED BY MANY QUARTERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WAYS SHOULl BE FOUND TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH THESE RIGHTS AND NECESSARY POWERS WITHIN THE LAW FOR THE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, .'’AIT LARDY IN MATTERS RELATED TO MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER, EFFECTIVE IMMIGRATION CONTROL AND ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES.
"GIVEN THE SUPREMACY OF THE BASIC LAW AS HONG KONG’S CONSTITUTION AT THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY," MRS CHOW SAID "THERE DOES NOT SIT M ANY OTHER OPTION OPEN TO US EXCEPT THE ONE PRESENTLY PROPOSED, I.E. A FORM OF SO-CALLED INDIRECT ENTRENCHMENT BY MIRRORING^ AR'KLE 39 OF CHAPTER 3 OF THE BASIC LAW WITH AN AMENDMENT IN THE LETTERS PATENT."
SHE NOTED THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BILL AND EXISTING LEGISLATION WAS ONE OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL AREAS TO BE EXAMINED BY THE GROUP WHICH MAINLY CONCERNED THE QUESTION OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IF POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE, IN PARTICULAR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WERE CONSIDERED TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE BILL.
SHE SAID EVENTUALLY MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT THE COMMON GROU . ) IHA! POWERS WHICH WERE CONSIDERED REASONABLE IN THE CONTEXT OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY COULD PROBABLY BE PROVIDED BY LAW AND BE ACCOMMODATED UNDER THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
ON THE FREEZE PERIOD, MRS CHOW SAID MEMBERS RECOGNISED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY, AND WERE PREPARED TO ACCEPT ONE YEAR WITH ONE RENEWAL OF A FURTHER YEAR IF NECESSARY.
"MEMBERS WOULD ALSO REQUEST THAT ADMINISTRATION i ■ ADOPT THE APPROACH OF PARTIAL FREEZE OF ONLY THOSE LAWS WHICH, IF NOT FROZEN BEFORE AMENDMENT OR REPLACEMENT, MAY CREATE LEGTSLAT E VACUUMS CAUSING INSTABILITY OR CHAOS TO THE SYSTEM."
WHILE THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COVENANT TO BE APPLICABLE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS AND GOVERNMENT WAS WELL SUPPORTED, HR', HOW SAID MEMBERS WERE PERSUADED THAT a STEP-BY-S1EP APPROACH, LI’W 'G INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS TO BE INCORPORATED AT A LATER STAGE, WAS PROBABLY A MORE SENSIBLE AND PRACTICAL METHOD TO ADOPT.
MRS CHOW POINTED OUT THAT EMERGING FROM THE DISCUSS!!” ON THE BI I THE CLEAR CALL FOR THE SETTING UP OF A HUM \N RIGHTS
COM’ IIION. THE GROUP CONCLUDED THAT THE PROPOSAL DESERVED DETAILED STU A AND HOPED THAT GOVERNMENT WOULD INVESTIGATE ITS
PR AC IICABILITY.
/THE GROUP .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
5 -
THE GROUP HELD THE VIEW THAT THE COMMISSION, IF FORMED, SHOULD ASSUME AN EDUCATIONAL ROLE AND THE ROLE OF ARBITRATOR IN RIGHTS OF ACTION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS; REVIEW LEGISLATION AND RECOMMEND CHANGES TO THOSE LAWS THAT MIGHT CONFLICT THE BILL; RECEIVE AND INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS; AND ISSUE GUIDELINES ON DEFINITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
MRS CHOW SAID MEMBERS FELT THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD MAKE ITS DECISIONS PUBLIC AND SHOULD ALSO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE.
--------0-----------
INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS SHOULD BE RETAINED
*****
THE HON RONALD ARCULLI DISAGREED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT INTER-CITIZEN OR THIRD PARTY RIGHTS SHOULD EITHER BE EXCLUDED, DEFERRED OR PERHAPS FROZEN FOR A PERIOD.
SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, MR ARCULLI QUESTIONED WHETHER HUMAN RIGHTS THAT HAD DIFFERENT STATUS WOULD BE CREATED IF INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS WERE TO BE THE SUBJECT OF SEPARATE LEGISLATION.
"WILL WE USE WORDS IN SUCH SEPARATE LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT? IF SO, WHAT WILL BE THE EFFECT? HOW DO WE PERFORM THIS SURGERY OF SEPARATING RIGHTS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AS OPPOSED TO AN INDIVIDUAL?" HE ASKED.
HE EXPLAINED THAT BY INTER-CITIZEN OR THIRD PARTY RIGHTS HE MEANT SUCH RIGHTS AS ONE PERSON MIGHT HAVE AGAINST ANOTHER AS WAS PROVIDED IN THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.
MR ARCULLI ASKED IF WE WERE TO LIMIT THE PROPOSED BILL OF RIGHTS TO A CITIZEN/GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP, HOW WAS IT PROPOSED TO DISTINGUISH THE ACT OF A CIVIL SERVANT AS AN ACT IN SUCH A CAPACITY AS OPPOSED TO SUCH CIVIL SERVANT ACTING ON HIS OWN.
IN THE FORMER CASE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH ACTION WHILST IT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE LATTER CASE, HE SAID.
MR ARCULLI FELT THAT SO FAR THOSE WHO HAD ADVOCATED THAT INTERCITIZEN RIGHTS BE EXCLUDED, DEFERRED OR FROZEN FOR A PERIOD HAD PERHAPS CONCENTRATED TOO MUCH ON AREAS CONCERNING PRIVACY AND DISCRIMINATION.
HE SAID THERE WERE OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS THAT WERE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND NOT NECESSARILY LESS COMPLICATED, AND CITED A NUMBER OF SUCH EXAMPLES.
IN CONCLUSION, MR ARCULLI REITERATED THAT INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS WERE BUT AN INSEPARABLE PART OF ANY EFFECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION AND THAT CLAUSE 7 OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS WHICH DEALT WITH THE ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE AMENDED.
------0-------
/6 ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 6 -
BILL OF RIGHTS MUST BE PART OF PACKAGE
*****
THE HON MARTIN LEE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS, AMENDMENT TO THE LETTERS PATENT, AND CHANGES IN THE CROWN PROCEEDINGS ORDINANCE ARE AN INSEPARABLE PACKAGE.
HE WAS SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
"IF THE GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO COME FORWARD WITH THE ENTIRE PACKAGE, IT WILL EFFECTIVELY GUT THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GENUINELY COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS,” HE SAID.
MR LEE SAID A CRITICAL TEST OF THE GOVERNMENT BEING WILLING TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS WAS WHETHER IT WOULD MAKE THE BILL OF RIGHTS EFFECTIVE BY AMENDING BOTH THE LETTERS PATENT AND THE CROWN PROCEEDINGS ORDINANCE.
HE EXPRESSED STRONG DISSATISFACTION THAT UP TO NOW, LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS STILL DID NOT KNOW WHEN AND HOW THE LETTERS PATENT WOULD ACTUALLY BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THE SUPREMACY AND ENTRENCHMENT ELEMENTS LACKING IN THE DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE SAID, THE BASIC LAW ALREADY CONTAINED THE TWO KEY ATTRIBUTES - ENTRENCHMENT AND SUPREMACY. WHILE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 39 ENTRENCHED THE BILL, THE SECOND PARAGRAPH PROVIDED FOR SUPREMACY.
MR LEE SAID THAT CURRENTLY THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT AFTER 1997 HONG KONG WOULD BE ABLE TO BE A SIGNATORY TO THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (ICCPR) EITHER THROUGH CHINA OR ON ITS OWN.
HE SAID, "IF THE PROMISE THAT THE COVENANT SHALL REMAIN IN FORCE AFTER 1997 IS TO BE FULFILLED, GREAT BRITAIN SHOULD ALLOW HONG KONG TO BECOME A SIGNATORY ON ITS OWN TO THE ICCPR BEFORE 1997, AND IT SHOULD SEEK EITHER TO PERSUADE CHINA TO SIGN THE COVENANT OR TO ALLOW THE HKSAR TO SIGN THE COVENANT ON ITS OWN."
ON THE POINT OF A TWO-YEAR FREEZE PERIOD, MR LEE SAID HE SAW ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR IT, BUT WAS PREPARED TO ACCEPT A SIX-MONTH FREEZE PROVIDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD SPECIFY PRECISELY WHICH SECTIONS OF STATUTES IT INTENDED TO FREEZE AND INCLUDED THAT SCHEDULE IN THE BLUE BILL; THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOWED THE COUNCIL THAT A FREEZE ON ALL THOSE SECTIONS WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY; AND THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDERTOOK NOT TO PROSECUTE ANYONE UNDER A STATUTE THAT WAS FROZEN.
ON THE QUESTION OF LEGAL REMEDIES, MR LEE SAID THE LAW OF TORTS OFTEN DID NOT PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE REMEDY FOR THOSE WHOSE RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED. HE SAID THAT IF REMEDIES WERE THE "TEETH" OF ANY LAW, THEN REMEDIAL TEETH IN THE DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS WERE LIKE THE "DENTURES OF AN 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN".
/HE SUPPORTED .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
7 -
UE SUPPORTED THE LAW SOCIETY’S SUGGESTION THAT CLAUSE 6 BE AMENDED TO FOLLOW THE WORDING OF ARTICLE 24 OF THE CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS: "ANYONE WHOSE RIGHTS OF FREEDOMS, AS GUARANTEED BY THIS CHARTER, HAVE BEEN INFRINGED OR DENIED MAY APPLY TO A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO OBTAIN SUCH REMEDY AS THE COURT CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE AND JUST IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES."
ON THE PROTECTION OF INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS, MR LEE AGREED WITH THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS SHOULD BE APPLIED TO INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS TO PUBLIC AUTHORITIES.
BUT HE ADVOCATED THAT INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS UNDER THE BILL BE FROZEN FOR ONE YEAR IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT ENOUGH TIME TO DR’FT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION AND FPOM INVASIONS OF THEIR PRIVACY.
HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MIGHT ALSO ASSUME PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEDIATING INTER-CITIZEN DISPUTES.
ON THE RESERVATIONS IN PART III OF THE BILL, MR LEE MAINTAINED THAT ANY RESERVATION BY ITS VERY NATURE REPRESENTED A DENIAL OF WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONSIDERED TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT. HE THEREFORE URGED BRITAIN AND CHINA TO AGREE TO REMOVE ALL RESERVATIONS FROM THE APPLICATION OF THE ICCPR TO HONG KONG AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ON THE TRADITIONAL RIGHTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR LEE WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MUST NOT SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF ANY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN. "IT IS ONLY THOSE TRADITIONS THAT DO NOT VIOLATE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE," HE SAID.
MR LEE THEN TURNED TO TWO ASPECTS TO WHICH HE SAID THE AD HOC GROUP DID NOT GIVE ATTENTION.
THE FIRST WAS THE PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE TO ADAPT CERTAIN PARTS OF THE ICCPR IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM EFFECTIVE IN THE CONTEXT OF A DOMESTIC LAW.
HE MAINTAINED THAT THE BILL SHOULD SPELL OUT THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A PERSON COULD BE DEPRIVED OF HIS LIBERTY, JUST AS IN THE BILLS OF RIGHTS OF MONTSERRAT AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS.
THE SECOND MATTER RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (ICESCR). HE BELIEVED THAT SOME OF THE RIGHTS IN THE ICESCR WHICH WERE ALREADY CONTAINED IN THE BASIC LAW SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
MR LEE WENT ON TO DISPEL WHAT HE CALLED SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE NATURE OF A BILL OF RIGHTS.
FIRST OF ALL, HE SAID, THE BILL WAS NOT SOME NOVEL DEVICE THAT CONFLICTED WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION OR THE BASIC LAW.
/''ON THE...........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 8 -
"ON THE CONTRARY, THE JOINT DECLARATION SPECIFICALLY DECREES THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (ICCPR), FROM WHICH THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS COPIED ALMOST WORD FOR WORD, SHALL REMAIN IN FORCE AFTER 1997," HE SAID.
IN HIS. VIEW, A BILL OF RIGHTS REPRESENTED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND CONVENIENT WAY OF FULFILLING THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 39.
HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT ONCE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FULLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS MERELY OBEYED ITS OWN IMPERATIVE LANGUAGE IN THE BASIC LAW, THEY WOULD CEASE OBJECTING TO HONG KONG BEING GIVEN A BILL OF RIGHTS.
THE SECOND MISCONCEPTION CENTRED AROUND THE FEAR THAT "A BILL OF RIGHTS MIGHT SEVERELY HINDER THE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND ORDER, AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION".
HE SAID, "THIS FEAR HAS NO FOUNDATION IN FACT, AND INDEED THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MANY COUNTRIES WITH BOTH A BILL OF RIGHTS AND STRONG ANTI-CRIME AND ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS DEMONSTRATES THAT HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IS IN NO WAY INCOMPATIBLE WITH EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT."
HE ADDED: "THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS NOT A SWORD THAT THREATENS EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT; RATHER THE BILL PROVIDES FOR A SHIELD AGAINST VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS."
THE THIRD MISCONCEPTION WAS THAT ONCE THE BILL OF RIGHTS WAS ENACTED, THEN ALL OUR RIGHTS WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY PROTECTED.
HE SAID THAT IF THE PRESENT OR FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG WAS NOT FULLY COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE BILL, OR IF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG DID NOT KNOW OR WERE NOT EAGER TO PROTECT THEIR OWN RIGHTS, THEN THE RIGHTS IN THE BILL WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY USELESS.
------0--------
SEXUAL EQUALITY WILL UPSET SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN NT ♦ »»♦♦♦
THE PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE SEXUAL EQUALITY UNDER THE BILL OF RIGHTS WILL UPSET THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN DEBATE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, MR TAI EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE CURRENTLY SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF TSO’S AND TONG’S IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ALMOST EVERY INDIGENOUS VILLAGER THERE WAS A MEMBER OF A TONG OR TSO.
HE WAS CONCERNED THAT ARTICLE ONE OF THE EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS WOULD DISTURB THE EQUILIBRIUM OF THE TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES THAT HAD BEEN OBSERVED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
/MR TAI ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 9 -
MR TAI SAID THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD REFLECT VERY CAREFULLY OVER THE APPLICATION OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR MALES AND FEMALES, AS SPECIAL PROVISIONS WERE NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST THE NOVEL RIGHTS AS BETWEEN PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHEN APPLYING AN INTERNATIONAL COVENANT IN OUR STATUE BOOK, BECAUSE NON-DISCRIMINATION DID NOT IMPLY IDENTICAL TREATMENT NOR ABSOLUTE EQUALITY IN THE CASE OF THESE TRADITIONAL RIGHTS AS PRACTISED FOR MANY YEARS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
IN HIS OPINION, THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON SEXUAL EQUALITY WAS TOO GENERAL IN CHARACTER, BUT BY APPLYING THIS COVENANT TO OUR LEGISLATION ONE MUST CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE ADVERSE IMPACT IT COULD HAVE ON THE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE SPECIAL AND UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR SOCIETY.
ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL OFFENCES, MR TAI SAID TO APPLY THESE STRICTLY WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE B M ANCE OF EFFICACY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, FAIRNESS AND FUNDAMENTAL HUNAN RIGHTS, COULD UPSET THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER IN OUR SOCIETY.
TURNING TO THE POLITICAL EFFECT ON THE AMENDMENT OF THE BILL, NR TAI SAID CHINA’S REACTION AND ITS RECOGNITION OF THIS BILL TO SURVIVE AFTER 1997 AND BEYOND WAS VITAL.
"THE JOINT DECLARATION STATES THAT MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP SHALL INCLUDE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AFFECTING HONG KONG.
"MOREOVER, IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT MATTERS ON WHICH THERE IS DISAGREEMENT IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP SHALL BE REFERRED TO THE TWO GOVERNMENTS FOR SOLUTION THROUGH CONSULTATION," HE SAID.
------0-------
BILL OF RIGHTS WILL HAVE STABILISING EFFECT « » » » »
THE BILL OF RIGHTS WILL, IF ENACTED, HAVE A STABILISING EFFECT I'J OUR COMMUNITY, DR THE HON DANIEL TSE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION ON THE BILL .F RIGHTS, DR TSI. SAID HE FULLY SUPPORTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP THAT STUDIED THE BILL.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY TO ENSURE T 1X1 ONCE PASSED THE BILL OF RIGHTS WOULD REMAIN IN FORCE BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.
DR TSE SAID THE BILL WOULD BRING FORWARD THE PROMISE OF THE BASIC LAW IN GUARANTEEING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT.
/HE FELT .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 10 -
HE FELT THAT SUCH AN EARLY START ON WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED BY THE BASIC LAW IN ARTICLE 39 WOULD STRENGTHEN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE.
"IT WOULD GIVE US THE GOOD FEELING THAT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PROMISED IN THE BASIC LAW AFTER 1997 WILL BE THE SAME AS WHAT WE CAN ENJOY NOW.
"SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT OF CONTINUITY THROUGH LEGAL MEANS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS REBUILDING THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE,” DR TSE SAID.
-----0-----
BILL OF RIGHTS WILL NOT CONTRAVENE JOINT DECLARATION
******
THE HON EDWARD HO SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF A BILL OF RIGHTS WOULD NOT CONTRAVENE THE JOINT DECLARATION.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS INTHE MOTION DEBATE, MR HO SAID THAT ARTICLE 3(5) OF THE JOINT DECLARATION CLEARLY PROVIDED THAT CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WOULD BE PROVIDED BY LAW.
HE SAID SECTION XIII OF ANNEX 1 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ELABORATED ON THESE PROVISIONS AND MENTIONED THAT "THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (ICCPR) AND THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (ICESCR) AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG SHALL REMAIN IN FORCE.”
SIMILARLY, HE SAID, THE BASIC LAW PROVIDED FOR THE SAFEGUARD OF THE "RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AND OF OTHER PERSONS IN THE REGION IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW."
THE BASIC LAW ALSO STIPULATED THAT THE ICCPR AND ICESCR AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG SHOULD REMAIN IN FORCE AND SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE LAWS OF THE HONG KONG SAR, HE ADDED.
"THOSE PROVISIONS NOT ONLY REMOVE ANY DOUBT THAT A BILL OF RIGHTS ALONG THE LINE OF THE ICCPR AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG WOULD BE IN STRICT ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW; BUT ALSO, BY SUCH WORDS AS ’IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW’ AND ’SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE LAWS’, A BILL OF RIGHTS IS POSITIVELY REQUIRED," MR HO SAID.
/Il ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 11 -
UK’S INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER HAS TO BE BORNE IN MIND
******
WE NEED TO BEAR IN MIND THE OPEN AND INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER OF HONG KONG, AND TO MONITOR TRENDS AROUND THE WORLD, IN CONSIDERING THE QUESTION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN RELATION TO THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE HON MARTIN BARROW SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION IN THE DEBATE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, MR BARROW SAID WHILE DEATH PENALTIES IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN ROUTINELY COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT SINCE 1966, THERE WERE CLEARLY MANY PEOPLE WHO STRONGLY ADVOCATED A PHILOSOPHY OF RETRIBUTION, A BASIC ’’EYE FOR AN EYE” APPROACH.
MR BARROW SAID THIS MIGHT, HOWEVER, BE AN OCCASION WHERE THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER SHOWING LEADERSHIP, RATHER THAN FOLLOWING WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE POPULAR VIEW.
HE SAID THERE WAS NO CONVINCING EVIDENCE IN ANY COUNTRY THAT THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY HAD A SPECIAL DETERRENT EFFECT.
MR BARROW SAID WHILST FUTURE GOVERNMENTS WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOOK AGAIN AT THE ISSUE, ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AT THIS TIME WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO RE-IMPOSE IT IN THE FUTURE.
------0--------
BILL OF RIGHTS IN LINE WITH CHINA’S COMMITMENT *****
THE IDEA OF A BILL OF RIGHTS IS FULLY COMMITMENT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE ---------------------------- •rr.T-im Z'l/'XI TkT
IN LINE BASIC LAW,
WITH DR
CHINA’S
THE
HON
Sg CHE-HUNG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, LEONG SAID CHINA’S COMMITMENT WAS TO ALLOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL COVENANT OF CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS ALREADY APPLIED IN HONG KONG, TO REMAIN IN FORCE AFTER 97.
DR THE THE
AS
THE NOTION OF THE BILL WAS WELL-RECOGNISED ’’THROUGH-TRAIN” CONCEPT ENHANCE THE SUCCESS OF THE ’’ONE COUNTRY,
ALSO CONSISTENT WITH
OF TRANSITION AND IT
TWO SYSTEMS" POLICY, HE
THE WOULD SAID.
’’ALLOWING SUCH A BILL IS ALSO THE CHINA CAN DO FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE AND TO CONFIDENCE," HE SAID.
BEST AND THE MAINTAIN HONG
SIMPLEST THING KONG PEOPLE’S
"THIS FOREPLAY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
BILL SHOULD IN NO WAY BE REGARDED AS SOME IDEOLOGICAL ACADEMIC DISCOURSE BUT IS THE BEST WE CAN DO TO FASHION GUARANTEES IN LAW, BEFORE AND AFTER 1997," HE ADDED.
/DR LEONG .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 12 -
DR LEONG REGARDED THE LEGAL SAFEGUARDS CONTAINED IN THE BILL AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS IN THE BASIC LAW AS "TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN".
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE VIEWED AS AN ELABORATION OF THE ARTICLES IN CHAPTER THREE OF THE BASIC LAW.
"THE BILL, WHICH FOLLOWS CLOSELY THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT OF CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, SERVES AS AN ADDITIONAL FUNCTION TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROVISIONS BEFORE AND AFTER 1997," HE SAID.
ON WHY HONG KONG NEEDED A BILL OF RIGHTS DESPITE THE FACT THAT HUMAN RIGHTS HAD ALREADY BEEN PROTECTED IN HONG KONG BY COMMON LAW AND PROVISIONS IN A NUMBER OF STATUTES, DR LEONG SAID THAT AFTER 1997, HONG KONG COULD NOT CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE COMMON LAW AS THE HONG KONG SYSTEM OF LAW WAS GOING TO BE ON ITS OWN.
BY THEN, PRECEDENTS ESTABLISHED IN BRITISH COURTS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BIND HONG KONG COURTS. AT BEST, THESE CASES COULD ONLY BE USED FOR REFERENCE AND AS A PERSUASIVE FORCE.
HE SAW THE ENACTMENT OF A BILL OF RIGHTS AS A MEANS TO FILL THIS "LEGAL VACUUM", EXCEPT THAT IT IS ALLOWED TO BE IN PLACE SOONER.
DR LEONG POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS FEAR THAT WHEN SOVEREIGNTY WAS HANDED OVER TO CHINA, SECTIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT WHICH WERE APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG MIGHT BECOME OBSOLETE BECAUSE CHINA WAS NOT A SIGNATORY TO THE COVENANT. BUT PROVISIONS IN THE FORMS OF A BILL OF RIGHTS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE BASIC LAW WOULD REMEDY THIS SITUATION.
TURNING TO THE MORE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE BILL, DR LEONG SAID HE SUPPORTED SECTION 6(2) THAT PERMITTED ALL LEVELS OF COURTS TO BE ABLE TO INTREPRET AND APPLY THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
"HAVING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES ARISING FROM THE VAGUE CONCEPTS OF AN INTERNATIONAL COVENANT DETERMINED BY TRIBUNALS, MAGISTRATES AND COURTS AT EVERY LEVEL IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION," HE SAID.
"IT WILL HELP BUILD A SYSTEM OF PRECEDENTS - THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE AND TRADITION REQUIRED," HE ADDED.
HE DESCRIBED A TWO-YEAR GRACE PERIOD BEFORE THE BILL CAME INTO EFFECT AS "TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR" AND AN "UNWANTED HURDLE”.
HE ALSO DISAGREED THAT THERE WAS A CONFLICT BJ WEEN THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER AND THE ENACTMENT OF THIS BILL.
DR LEONG MADE TWO SUGGESTIONS. FIRST, HE SAID PROVISIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO LEGAL AID IN HUMAN FIGHT CASES. SECONDLY, A GOOD HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION PROGRAMME WAS NEEDED WHICH WOULD INCLUDE HUMAN RIGHTS COURSES IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND REGULAR TERRITORY-WIDE PROGRAMME TO BOOST AWARENESS AMONG THE LOCAL POPULATION, HE SAID.
/"TO CO-ORDINATE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 13 -
”TO CO-ORDINATE EDUCATION EFFORTS AND MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG, A SPECIAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE SHOULD BE SET UP IN HONG KONG,” HE SAID.
THIS COMMITTEE, DR LEONG SAID, SHOULD ALSO DEAL WT’H PUBLIC COMP! \INTS ON HUMAN RIGHT PROBLEMS. IT SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND MADE UP OF MOSTLY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. IT SHOULD ALSO COMPILE REGULAR WORKING REPORTS TO THE GOVERNMENT.
------0--------
TIME TO PUT BILL OF RIGHTS INTO PLACE t » * * »
IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT A BILL OF RIGHTS IS PUT INTO PLACE AT A TIME WHEN THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY BEGINS TO TAKE ON SELF-GOVERNMENT UNDER ’’ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS”, THE HON PAUL CHENG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS, MR CHENG SAID THAT GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY ’F CONTRIBUTING TO A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY, MEMBERS COULD THROUGH THIS DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM BY GIVING DUE RECOGNITION TO THE CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS OF OUR CITIZENRY.
HE SAID WHILE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO UNDERTAKE AN EXHAUSTIVE OR CONCLUSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS ON EXISTING LEGISLATION, IT WAS ENCUMBENT UPON LEGISLATORS PREPARING FOR THE EFFECTIVE RUNNING OF HONG KONG AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION TO ENSURE THAT ESSENTIAL FREEDOMS WERE ENTRENCHED IN LINE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.
"A BILL OF RIGHTS WILL ALLOW FOR THIS IN THE MOST EXPEDIENT MANNER,” HE SAID.
MR CHENG ALSO SAID THAT TO FACILITATE JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE OF THE BILL, THERE SHOULD BE A SELECTIVE FREEZE FOR ONE YEAR, DEPENDENT ON SCHEDULING IMPORTANT EXISTING ORDINANCES LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
HE ECHOED A REMARK BY DR NIHAL JAYAWICKRAMA OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, WHO HE SAID HAD NOTED THAT THIS BILL WOULD HELP TO EDUCATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC.
’’CIVIC EDUCATION MUST BE ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES AS WE LOOK TO
1997 AND BEYOND: THE ENACTMENT OF THIS BILL IS A MAJOR STEP IN
ADDRESSING THIS PRIORITY.”
”IT IS MOST TIMELY IN VIEW OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN
SHIFTING OURSELVES FROM THE SECURITY OF A COLONIAL GOVERNMENT RUNNING THINGS FOR US TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RUNNING THINGS FOR OURSELVES, HE SAID.
/14.........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 14 -
BILL OF RIGHTS WILL ENHANCE CONFIDENCE
*****
THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS BILL 1990 IS STRATEGIC IN ENHANCING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THE HON DAVID CHEUNG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"THE BILL WILL, ON THE ONE HAND, ALLAY THE FEARS PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR HEARTS AND, ON THE OTHER, ELEVATE THE MORALE OF THE PEOPLE,” MR CHEUNG SAID.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, MR CHEUNG NEVERTHELESS CAUTIONED AGAINST THE POSSIBLE ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
HE SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT NO ONE WAS DENIED HUMAN RIGHTS.
"THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE SATISFIED THAT SUCH RIGHTS WERE PROTECTED AND ENJOYED BY ALL HONG KONG PEOPLE."
MR CHEUNG ALSO SAID ABUSE COULD TAKE THE FORM OF EXCESSIVE FREEDOM UNDER THE SPIRIT OF THE BILL.
HE DID NOT WISH TO SEE THE DAY WHEN PEOPLE COULD DO AS THEY WANTED, CLAIMING IMMUNITY UNDER THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
REFERRING TO THE POWERS OF THE ICAC, MR CHEUNG SAID HE DID NOT SUPPORT EXCESSIVE POWERS FOR THE ICAC. BUT HE FELT THAT A TOOTHLESS ICAC MIGHT LEAD TO A REVIVAL OF CORRUPTION WHICH HAD SO FAR BEEN KEPT IN CHECK UNDER THE COMMISSION’S OPERATION.
-----0-----
CALL TO RETHINK BILL OF RIGHTS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER ALL THE IMPLICATIONS OF A HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS BEFORE MOVING FURTHER, THE HON NELLIE FONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AGAINST THE MOTION ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, MRS FONG SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY HONG KONG NEEDED THE BILL OF RIGHTS IN A RUSH AND AT THIS SPECIFIC MOMENT.
SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE ICAC POWERS BEING TRIMMED, THE POWERS OF THE POLICE FORCE BEING REDUCED AND THE DUTIES OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT BEING AFFECTED, WITH THE CONSEQUENCE THAT THE EXISTING LEVEL OF LAW AND ORDER IN THE TERRITORY COULD NOT BE EFFECTIVELY MAINTAINED.
/IN ADDITION .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
15
IN ADDITION, MRS FONG WAS CONCERNED THAT CERTAIN ASPECTS OF HONG KONG’S TRADITIONAL CHINESE CULTURE AND CUSTOMS WOULD NEED TO BE MODIFIED BECAUSE OF THIS BILL OF RIGHTS.
NOTING THAT THE SAME RIGHTS PROPOSED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS HAD BEEN PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE 39 OF THE BASIC LAW, MRS FONG QUESTIONED WHY THEY NEEDED TO BE REPEATED IN A SEPARATE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
"I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO RUSH INTO MAJOR LEGISLATION BEFORE OUR PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTAND IT AND TN A MANNER THAT APPEARS TO BE CONFRONTATIONAL WITH CHINA, WHEN A MORE APPROPRIATE WAY MIGHT STILL BE FOUND.
"I AM TOTALLY IN FAVOUR OF HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVING OUR RIGHTS AND OF THOSE RIGHTS BEING UP TO DATE.
"I DO HOWEVER NEED TO BE CONVINCED THAT THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS APPROPRIATE, IS NECESSARY, AND CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN A WAY THAT IS IN BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IN THE LONG TERM,” SHE SAID.
-----0-----
IMPORTANT FOR ICAC TO RETAIN EFFECTIVE POWERS
**♦»»*
IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT THE POWERS GIVEN TO THE ICAC TO COMBAT CORRUPTION BE RETAINED AS FAR AS THIS CAN BE DONE, THE HON JAMES MCGREGOR SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
SUPPORTING THE INTRODUCTION OF A BILL OF RIGHTS, MR MCGREGOR SAID THAT SECTIONS 10 AND 30 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE SEEMED TO BE ESSENTIAL AS, WITHOUT THEM, THE ICAC MIGHT BE UNABLE TO PREVENT A RETURN TO THE ENDEMIC CORRUPTION OF THE 1950’S AND 1960’S.
COMMENTING THAT THERE WAS LEGISLATION WHICH DISCRIMINATED AGAINST CERTAIN SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION, MR MCGREGOR SAID IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT SUCH DISCRIMINATION SHOULD BE REMOVED.
AS FOR THE PROVISION FOR INTERPERSONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION, HE SAID HE WAS AGAINST IT BECAUSE THE MORE IMPORTANT RIGHTS INVOLVING PRIVATE SECTOR PROTECTION AGAINST OFFICIAL ABUSE SEEMED LIKELY TO KEEP HONG KONG BUSY FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER MEANS BY WHICH PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIONS COULD BE TAKEN.
"WE CAN PERHAPS CONSIDER THE INCLUSION OF INTERPERSONAL PROTECTION AT A LATER STAGE," HE ADDED.
MR MCGREGOR SAID IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT HONG KONG HAD AN EFFECTIVE MECHANISM BY WHICH COMPLAINTS COULD BE CONSIDERED QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY AND HIGH QUALITY MONITORING AND SUPERVISION COULD BE MAINTAINED.
/THIS COULD
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
16
THIS COULD BE DONE BY A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AND HE FULLY ENDORSED THE RECOMMENDATION PUT FORWARD BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
HE \LSO CONSIDERED THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS SHOULD BE ENTRENCHED AND BE GIVEN PARAMOUNTCY OVER ALL OTHER HONG KONG LAWS.
MR MCGREGOR EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE REMARKS ON TIE DEATH PENALTY MADE BY THE HON MARTIN BARROW, SAYING THAT HE WAS ALSO IN FAVOUR OF REMOVING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FROM EXISTING LEGISLATION.
IN CONCLUSION, MR MCGREGOR ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO SEEK DISCUSSIOL WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE INCLUSION OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS IN HONG KONG LEGISLATION AND T( OBTAIN AGREEMENT ON ENTRENCHMENT AND SOME FORM OF PARAMOUNTCY.
’’CHINESE AGREEMENT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO ESTABLISHING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE THAT HONG KONG’S HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WILL BE MAINTAINED LONG AFTER 1997,” HE STRESSED.
------0-------
PARTS OF BASIC LAW HAVE MORE TO OFFER THAN BILL OF RIGHTS
THERE ARE AREAS IN WHICH THE BASIC LAW HAS MORE TO OFFER THAN THE HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS, THE HON ELSIE TU SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MRS TU, WHO SAID SHE INTENDED TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON THE MOTION ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, SAID THE BILL DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL ARTICLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (ICESCR).
SHE SAID THE BASIC LAW, ON THE OTHER HAND, INCLUDED MANY RIGHTS TAKEN FROM THE COVENANT, AND ACTUALLY INCLUDED THE ICESCR IN ITS ARTICLE 39, ADDING THAT THE COVENANT ”AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG SHALL REMAIN IN FORCE AND SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE LAWS OF THE HK SAR”.
ON SUGGESTIONS THAT WE SHOULD ASK CHINA TO ALLOW THE BILL OF RIGHTS TO HAVE SUPERIOR STATUS OVER OTHER ORDINANCES, MRS TU SAID SHE THOUGHT EVEN IF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WERE TO CONSIDER SUCH A REQUEST, WE WOULD NOT ACHIEVE ANYTHING SUPERIOR TO THE BASIC LAW BY ADOPTING A HALF-HEARTED HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS.
NOTING THAT THE ISSUE AS TO HOW FAR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES COULD CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES WITHOUT INFRINGING ON SOME CIVIL RIGHTS WAS STILL UNDER DISCUSSION BY THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, MRS TU SAID THE THIN LINE BETWEEN IMPLEMENTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUTTING THE PUBLIC AT RISK FROM CRIME, CORRUPTION AND TRIAD ACTIVITY IN OUR SOCIETY WAS NOT AN EASY LINE TO DRAW. BUT, SHE ADDED, IT MUST BE DONE, OTHERWISE CORRUPT AND CRIMINAL ELEMENTS WOULD DEPRIVE US OF ALL OUR RIGHTS.
MRS TU ALSO SAID THAT THE SETTING UP OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WAS LONG OVERDUE IN HONG KONG. HOWEVER, SHE SAID, THE COMMISSION SHOULD NOT BE JUST ANOTHER EXPENSIVE ORNAMENT THAT ENLARGED THE BUREAUCRACY BUT DID LITTLE TO ALLEVIATE INJUSTICES.
------0--------
/17......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 17 -
ACCOUNTANTS HAIL BILL OF RIGHTS *****
HONG KONG ACCOUNTANTS WELCOME THE INTRODUCTION OF A BILL OF RIGHTS SETTING OUT IN ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS THAT HAVE OFTEN BEEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED, THE HON PETER H.Y. WONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING TN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION IN THE DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR WON( SAID WHILE IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT MOST OF THE RIGHTS HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECENTLY PROMULGATED BASIC LAW, THE PROBLEM REMA NED THAT THE BASIC LAW WAS PROMULGATED BY THE NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGKE3S IN PEKING AND COULD BE ALTERED OR CANCELLED WITHOUT OUR LEAVI- .
’’SINCE WE HAVE BEEN DENIED A BILL OF RIGHTS THAT IS ENSHRINED ABOVE ALL OTHER LEGISLATION, WE HAVE TO SETTLE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS AT LEAST OF OUR OWN FREE CHOICE,” HE SAID.
NOTING THAT CLAUSE (6) OF ARTICLE 2 OF THE DRAFT HONG KONG. BILL OF RIGHTS STATED "NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE INVOKED TO DELAY OR TO PREVENT THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN HONG KONG’’, MR WONG WAS WORRIED THAT THE SUCCESSOR TO THIS LEGISLATURE, WITH ITS NEW FOUND HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY, WOULD BE INCAPABLE OF EXERCISING THE DUE CARE AND WOULD PERMIT THE USE OF THIS ULTIMATE DETERRENT TO REMOVE UNWELCOME OPPONENTS.
ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME HEINOUS CRIME, SUCH AS DRUG TRAFFICKING, THAT MR WONG SAID HE WOULD CONSIDER AS JUSTIFYING THE DEATH SENTENCE, HE HOWEVER WAS CONVINCED THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED FORTHWITH.
---------0-----------
DIRECT COMMUNICATION ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMS1ANCES
*»»»♦»
THE ADMINISTRATION FULLY ACCEPTS BETWEEN AUDITORS AND THE COMMISSIONER
THAT OF 2)
DIRECT BANKING,
COMMUNICATION
BILL 1990,
UNDER THE
SHOULD BE
PROVISIONS OF THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) (NO.
CONFINED TO EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE urnuccniv1
THE HON DAVID NENDICK, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY,
WINDING UP THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE
BILL, MR
SAID THAT FOLLOWING ITS ENACTMENT, THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ISSUE A STATEMENT SETTING OUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE HE WOULD AN AUDITOR TO SEEK A TRIPARTITE OR A BIPARTITE MEETING WITH HIM.
NENDICK
WOULD EXPECT
"IN ESSENCE, DIRECT COMMUNICATION WILL ONLY BE J^CTED TO TAKE PLACE IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES, FOR INSTANCE WHERE 1 HERE ARE INDICATIONS OF SERIOUS FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY.
/"THIS MAY .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990 'T
- 18 -
"THIS MAY RESULT TN THE AUDITORS NO LONGER HAVING CONFIDENCE IN E THER THE INTEGRITY OR THE COMPETENCE OF THE DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT, AND LEAD THEM TO THE VIEW THAT DIRECT REPORTING TO THE COMMISSIONER WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF DEPOSITORS,” HE SAID.
MR NENDICK SAID THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS ALSO AGREED THAT DIRECT REPORTING SHOULD BE AN EXCEPTIONAL OCCURRENCE.
ITS CURRENT GUIDELINE ON TRIPARTITE MEETINGS ALREADY SET OUT TH! VERY LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH AN AUDITOR SHOULD FEEL COMPELLED TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE COMMISSIONER.
"WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEW GUIDELINE, FOLLOWING ON THE COMMISSIONER’S STATEMENT, WILL BE ALONG SIMILAR LINES,” HE SAID.
MR NENDICK SAID BOTH THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS AND THE HONG KONG DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ASSOCIATION HAD MADE SUBMISSIONS TO THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE PROVISION IN CLAUSE 5.
"WHILST SUPPORTING THE PRINCIPLE OF DIRECT COMMUNICATION : BETWEEN AUDITORS OF AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS AND THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING, THE TWO ASSOCIATIONS FELT THAT AUDITORS SHOULD ONLY DO SO IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES SO AS NOT TO UNDERMINE THE FRANK AND CONFIDENTIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUDITORS AND MANAGEMENT.
"THEY SUGGESTED THAT SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BE SPELT OUT IN LEGI SLAT ION.
"ALTERNATIVELY, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD, AS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, HAVE THE ’RESERVE POWER’ TO MAKE REGULATIONS SPECIFYING THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SUCH DIALOGUES, IF NO SATISFACTORY PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINE WERE TO BE ISSUED,” HE SAID.
THE ASSOCIATIONS HAD ALSO STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF' ACCOUNTANTS TO CONSULT INTERESTED PARTIES BEFORE FINALISING ITS GUIDELINE RELATING TO THE NEW SECTION 61.
IR NENDICK SAID THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS HAD UNDERTAKEN TO CONSULT THE INTERESTED PARTIES, INCLUDING THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS AND THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ASSOCIATION, ON THE NEW GUIDELINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.
"IN THE EVENT, WE SEE NO NEED TO SPECIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR DIRECT COMMUNICATION IN LEGISLATION, OR TO PROVIDE FOR THE ’RESERVE POWER’ ^S SUGGESTED. I AM GLAD THAT THIS VIEW IS SHARED BY THE AD HOC GROUP \ND THAT NO AMENDMENT IS THEREFORE REQUIRED," HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT HE WOULD BE MOVING DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE A FEU ECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL.
THESE AMENDMENTS HAD BEEN EXAMINED BY THE AD HOC GROUP WHO HAD LENT THEIR SUPPORT, HE SAID.
/EARLIER, MR ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 19 -
EARLIER, MR NENDK.K SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL TO THE HON RONALD ARCULLI AND MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP FOR THEIR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL.
MOVING THE AMENDMENTS IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE, MR NENDICK SAID THE BILL HAD TO BE RE-NUMBERED AS THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) ORDINANCE ON ENACTMENT BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL BANKING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL, OWING TO ITS EARLIER ENACTMENT, HAD BECOME THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) ORDINANCE.
------0 -------
TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP KEY TO HK’S SUCCESS
* * » t * *
A TRUSTING WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AND THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONS HAS BEEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT FOR THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG, THE HON RONALD ARCULLI SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS AND THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONS WOULD BE PREPARED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION CONCERNING THE DRAWING UP OF GUIDELINES FOR DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING AND AUDITORS AS PROVIDED IN THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1990.
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE BILL, MR ARCULLI SAID THE BILL SOUGHT TO RELIEVE AN AUDITOR OF AN AUTHORISED INSTITUTION OF HIS DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY TO THE CLIENT INSTITUTION WHERE HE COMMUNICATED IN GOOD FAITH TO THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING INFORMATION OR OPINION ON A MATTER OF WHICH HE BECAME AWARE IN HIS CAPACITY AS AUDITOR AND WHICH WAS RELEVANT TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER.
IT PROVIDED PROTECTION TO AN AUDITOR ESPECIALLY IN SITUATIONS WHERE BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS ON A CLIENT INSTITUTION BETWEEN HIM AND THE COMMISSIONER WERE CALLED FOR, HE ADDED.
AS CONVENER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL, MR ARCULLI SAID THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS WERE BEING CONSULTED ON THE BILL.
THE AD HOC GROUP, AFTER EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION CONCLUDED THAT THE NON-STATUTORY ROUTE SHOULD BE SUPPORTED AND THAT AN EXPLICIT PROVISION FOR RESERVE POWER FOR THE COMMISSIONER WAS NOT NECESSARY.
NON-STATUTORY GUIDELINES WOULD HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN ITS APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION, HE SAID.
MR ARCULLI NOTED THAT THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS (HKSA) HAD, SINCE 1988, ADOPTED A SET OF GUIDELINES SETTING OUT CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AUDITORS MIGHT INITIATE DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMISSIONER DIRECT, AND THE GUIDELINES WERE APPARENTLY WORKING SATISFACTORILY.
/ON RESERVE .......
WEJ'NESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 20 -
ON RESERVE POWER, MR ARCULLI SAID THE ADMINISTRATION AGREED THAT THE PRESENT APPROACH OF USING HKSA GUIDELINES SHOULD CONTINUE AND IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY FOR THE STATED RESERVE POWER.
THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD ALSO ASSURE THAT BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE AUDITOR AND THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD TAKE PLACE ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 PASSED
******
THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE TIME LIMIT FOR NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS WILL BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE OF THE ORDINANCE, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID NENDICK, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, MR NENDICK POINTED. OUT THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD SAID IN THE COURSE OF DEBATE DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) BILL IN JULY 1988 THAT THE PRESENT PROVISIONS WERE CONSIDERED AN APPROPRIATE STARTING POINT FOR HONG KONG.
"I CAN, HOWEVER, ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THESE PROVISIONS WILL BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE OF THE ORDINANCE IN OPERATION, AND HAVING REGARD TO THE PRACTICE OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS," MR NENDICK SAID.
THE RELEVANT PERIOD FOR NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS UNDER SECTIONS 7, 28 AND 31, WAS CURRENTLY FIVE DAYS NEXT FOLLOWING THE DAY ON WHICH THE DUTY AROSE.
THIS APPEARED TO BE RATHER LONG TO THE AD HOC GROUP, WHICH WAS SET UP TO STUDY THE BILL, GIVEN THE ADVANCEMENT OF MODERN COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND RELEVANT PROVISIONS ELSEWHERE.
ANOTHER ISSUE OF CONCERN TO THE AD HOC GROUP RELATED TO THE PROPOSED IMMUNITY FOR THE STOCK EXCHANGE.
"WE ARE PROPOSING THAT NO LIABILITY SHOULD BE INCURRED BY THE STOCK EXCHANGE OR ITS EMPLOYEES IN THEIR PERFORMANCE IN GOOD FAITH OF DUTIES UNDER THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS) ORDINANCE," HE NOTED.
THE PROPOSED IMMUNITY WAS CONSIDERED JUSTIFIED FOR TWO REASONS, MR NENDICK SAID.
"FIRST, AN EQUIVALENT IMMUNITY IS GRANTED TO THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION, THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING AND THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY IN THE BONA FIDE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
/"THE DUTY .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
21
"THE DUTY IMPOSED UPON THE STOCK EXCHANGE IS UNREMUNERATED AND SIMILAR IN NATURE TO FUNCTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THOSE REGULATORY BODIES."
"SECONDLY, THE UNDERLYING PURPOSE OF THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IS TO ENSURE THE PROMPT RELEASE OF PRICE-SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO THE MARKET. THIS OBJECTIVE WOULD BE DEFEATED IF THE STOCK EXCHANGE WERE NOT PROTECTED IN THE WAY PROPOSED.
"THE STOCK EXCHANGE WOULD BE OBLIGED TO CARRY OUT THE MOST CAREFUL CHECKS TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF BEING SUED FOR DAMAGES. THIS WOULD BE VERY TIME-CONSUMING AND LEAD TO DELAYS IN THE PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION RECEIVED," HE SAID.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PROPOSED IMMUNITY, MR NENDICK POINTED OUT THAT THE STOCK EXCHANGE WAS, HOWEVER, REQUIRED TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH.
ACCORDINGLY, IT MUST TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION RECEIVED AND TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS CORRECTLY PUBLISHED.
"THE STOCK EXCHANGE IS REQUIRED UNDER THE ORDINANCE TO PUBLISH THE INFORMATION IN SUCH MANNER AS THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION MAY APPROVE.
"THE COMMISSION IS SATISFIED THAT NECESSARY CHECKS ARE IN PLACE AND WILL BE MONITORING THE OPERATION OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS," MR NENDICK SAID.
AS FOR THE COMMENCEMENT DATE OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, MR NENDICK SAID WHEN THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL ON MAY 2, IT HAD BEEN STATED THAT THE INTENTION WAS TO BRING THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE INTO FORCE ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR.
"HAVING FURTHER CONSIDERED THE ISSUE, IT IS NOW OUR INTENTION TO DELAY BRINGING THE ORDINANCE INTO FORCE UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR WHEN APPROPRIATE MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS WILL ALSO BE APPLICABLE TO OVERSEAS INCORPORATED COMPANIES LISTED ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE," HE SAID.
SPEAKING LATER AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BILL, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY MOVED VARIOUS AMENDMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE OTHER POINTS RAISED BY THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG, THE CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP.
MR NENDICK EXPLAINED THAT AS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO IMPROVE THE NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, IN ORDER TO RECOGNISE MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND t6 EASE THE BURDEN OF REPORTING UPON PERSONS, ESPECIALLY OVERSEAS RESIDENTS, CLAUSE 14 WAS AMENDED TO ADD FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION AS AN ACCEPTED METHOD OF NOTIFICATION.
"AT THE SAME TIME, CLAUSE 15(B) IS AMENDED TO GIVE THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY IF, IN FUTURE, PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF THE OPERATION OF THE ORDINANCE REVEALS THAT SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS IN RESPECT OF THE METHODS OF NOTIFICATION ARE NEEDED."
/IN ADDITION .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 22 -
IN ADDITION, MR NENDICK SAID CLAUSES 5 AND 12 WERE AMENDED TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM AGE OF A CHILD FROM 21 YEARS TO 18 YEARS TO BRING THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE INTO LINE WITH THE RECENTLY ENACTED LAW REFORM (LEGAL EFFECTS OF AGE) ORDINANCE 1990.
’’CLAUSE 2 IS AMENDED
SECTION 2 WHICH PROVIDES THAT
TO DELETE THE DEFINITION OF ’CHILD' 'CHILD INCLUDES A STEP-CHILD’.
IN
"WE AGREE WITH THE AD HOC GROUP THAT IT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE TO HOLD A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERESTS HELD BY THE CHILD OF HIS SPOUSE’S FORMER MARRIAGES WHO MAY NOT HAVE CLOSE CONTACTS WITH HIM," MR NENDICK SAID.
THE BILL WAS PASSED. • >
------o------
BILL ENSURES PROMPT RELEASE OF INFORMATION
******
PROVISIONS OF
BILL 1990
THE SECURITIES
WILL ENSURE
THE
(AMENDMENT)
PRICE-SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR INSIDER INFORMATION TO STEPHEN CHEONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE
(DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS)
THE
PUBLIC
PROMPT RELEASE
AND WILL REDUCE
BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, THE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
OF THE ‘ HON
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
IN HIS CAPACITY AS CONVENER
OF
THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY
THE BILL,
MR CHEONG POINTED
OUT THAT^HS "gROUP~~WAS~ PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WITH THE PROPOSED IMMUNITY AFFORDED FOR THE HONG KONG STOCK EXCHANGE AND ITS EMPLOYEES.
MR CHEONG SAID CIRCUMSTANCES, A PERSON INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY
THE GROUP WAS WORRIED THAT UNDER SUCH SUFFERING DAMAGE BECAUSE OF INCORRECT
THE EXCHANGE OR ITS EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE NO
REDRESS AT ALL.
THEY WERE ASSURED, HOWEVER, THAT EQUIVALENT IMMUNITY WAS BEING ENJOYED BY THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION, THE COMMISSIONER BANKING AND THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY.
OF
BESIDES, THE PURPOSE OF THE SYSTEM, WHICH WAS TO ENSURE PROMPT RELEASE OF PRICE-SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO THE MARKET. WOULD DEFEATED IF THE EXCHANGE VERE NOT TO BE^ROTKCTED^IN
THE BE
SINCE THE EXCHANGE WOULD HAVE TO PUT
CHECKS TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF BEING SUED FOR DAMAGES
, MR ,CHEONG SAID.
COSTLY AND TIME-CONSUMING AND
"SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE „r.T„™ ..
WOULD INEVITABLY DELAY THE PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION RECEIVED.
ACCORDING TO MR CHEONG, ANOTHER ISSUE OF CONCERN RELATED TO THE TIMING OF NOTIFICATION.
/NOTING THAT .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 23 -
NOTING THAT WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF MODERN COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY, A PERIOD OF FIVE DAYS FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF NOTIFIABLE INTERESTS APPEARED TO BE RATHER LONG, MR CHEONG URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THE SITUATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE APPLICATION OF THE BILL IN THE FUTURE.
ANOTHER POINT THE AD HOC GROUP RAISED WITH THE GOVERNMENT WHICH HAD RESULTED IN FURTHER AMENDMENT WAS THE AGE OF A CHILD UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE BEING REDUCED FROM 21 YEARS TO 18 YEARS HAVING REGARD TO THE RECENT ENACTMENT OF THE AGE OF MAJORITY (RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE, MR CHEONG SAID.
---------------0-------- RADIATION BILL AMENDMENTS SUPPORTED *****
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON NIGEL SHIPMAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE AGREED EVERY REASONABLE MEASURE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MINIMISE HEALTH HAZARDS ARISING FROM ANY INAPPROPRIATE USE OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES OR IRRADIATING APPARATUS.
"IN THIS REGARD, THE RADIATION BOARD BEING THE LICENSING AND CONTROL AUTHORITY WILL CLOSELY MONITOR THE SITUATION AND THROUGH ITS INSPECTORS, WILL ENSURE THAT THE PROVISIONS IN THE RADIATION ORDINANCE ARE VIGOROUSLY ENFORCED," HE SAID IN WINDING UP THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE RADIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990.
MR SHIPMAN THANKED PROF THE HON C.K. POON AND HIS COLLEAGUES ON THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP THAT EXAMINED THE BILL FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF IT.
"THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT PROF POON WILL MOVE AT COMMITTEE STAGE ARE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BILL AND HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT," HE ADDED.
--------0----------
RADIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL SUPPORTED
******
THE RADIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WILL SEEK TO FURTHER AMEND THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO FACILITATE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE IMPORT, EXPORT, POSSESSION AND USE OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES AND IRRADIATING APPARATUSES, PROFESSOR THE HON C.K. POON SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
IT WOULD ALSO SEEK TO RATIONALISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS TO MEET CURRENT NEEDS, HE ADDED.
/SPEAKING IN .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 24 -
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, PROF POON SAID ONE OF THE MAJOR AMENDMENTS OF THE BILL WAS TO REDEFINE "IRRADIATING APPARATUS" TO CLARIFY THAT ANY APPARATUS INTENDED TO PRODUCE OR EMIT IONISING RADIATION CAME WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT WAS TO PROVIDE THE RADIATION BOARD POWER TO EXEMPT FROM CONTROL RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES OR IRRADIATING APPARATUSES WHICH, THOUGH RADIOACTIVE, WERE NOT HARMFUL TO HEALTH.
THE BILL WOULD INCREASE THE LEVEL OF FINES FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES TO MAINTAIN THEIR DETERRENT VALUES, HE SAID.
PROF POON SAID THE BILL WOULD ALSO MAKE A LICENSEE LIABLE FOR AN OFFENCE UNLESS HE PROVED LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND THAT HE HAD EXERCISED ALL DUE DILIGENCE TO PREVENT AN OFFENCE.
FURTHER AMENDMENT WAS SOUGHT TO EXTEND TO AN AIRCRAFT THE EXEMPTION FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF OBTAINING A LICENCE WHEN CARRYING RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN TRANSIT THROUGH HONG KONG, HE SAID.
THESE AMENDMENTS WERE SUPPORTED BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL TWO MORE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE WHICH WERE AGREED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, PROF POON SAID.
ONE WAS THAT RADIATION BOARD INSPECTORS SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO ENTER AND INSPECT AIRCRAFT AND VESSELS IN TRANSIT. ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT IF A LICENSEE HAD HAD KNOWLEDGE OF AN OFFENCE AND HAD FAILED TO EXERCISE DUE DILIGENCE TO PREVENT THE OFFENCE, THERE SHOULD BE PROVISION FOR HIM TO BECOME LIABLE TO BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT, HE SAID.
------0--------
LOOSE-LEAF PUBLICATION OF LAWS ECONOMICAL AND EFFICIENT *******
A LOOSE-LEAF EDITION OF HONG KONG LAWS WILL BE THE MOST ECONOMICAL AND EFFICIENT WAY TO PUBLISH BILINGUAL LAWS AND TO KEEP THEM IN UP-TO-DATE FORM.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE LAWS (LOOSE-LEAF PUBLICATION) BILL 1990 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID THE NEW EDITION WOULD BE EASIER FOR USERS TO MAINTAIN AND UPDATE.
MR MATHEWS SAID ONE CONSEQUENCE OF THE CHANGE IN FORMAT WOULD BE THAT ANYONE USING A SET OF THE LAWS WOULD NEED TO BUY' NEW BINDERS.
THIS WAS BECAUSE THE PAGES WOULD BE OF A DIFFERENT SIZE TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE TEXTS OF BILINGUAL ORDINANCES SIDE BY SIDE.
/"IT IS .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, J990
25
"IT IS HOWEVER ESTIMATED THAT THE NEW LOOSE-LEAF FORMAT WILL BRING ABOUT CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS IN PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS," HE SAID.
ON THE NEED TO BRING IN THE NEW FORMAT, MR MATHEWS EXPLAINED THAT HE ORDINANCES OF HONG KONG AND THEIR SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, WHEN iHEY WERE FIRST ENACTED, WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS OR SO THEY HAD ALSO BEEN PUBLISHED IN CONSOLIDATED FORM IN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE REVISED EDITION.
"THE REVISED EDITION IS THE AUTHORITATIVE VERSION OF ALL LAWS INCLUDED IN IT. IT NOW RUNS TO SOME 20,000 PAGES IN 32 VOLUMES AND IT IS UPDATED EVERY YEAR BY AN EDITION OF NEW BOOKLETS AND AMENDMENTS," MR MATHEWS SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,800 SETS OF THE REVISED EDITION IN EXISTENCE.
"THE REVISED EDITION HAS SERVED US WELL FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, BUT NEW AND PROPOSED CHANGES IN ENACTMENT AND PUBLICATION MEAN THAT IT CANNOT CONTINUE TO DO SO," THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID.
"NEW ORDINANCES ARE NOW ENACTED AND PUBLISHED IN BOTH THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE LANGUAGES. THERE IS ALSO A PROGRAMME UNDER WAY TO TRANSLATE EXISTING LAWS INTO CHINESE.
"BILINGUAL TEXTS OF NEW ORDINANCES ARE PRESENTED AND PUBLISHED TOGETHER. THE CHINESE TEXT OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCES WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED IN DUE COURSE," HE POINTED OUT.
TOGETHER WITH THE STEADY INCREASE OF THE AMOUNT OF LAW ENACTED EACH YEAR, IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS THERE COULD WELL BE 80 VOLUMES OF TEXT IN BILINGUAL FORM.
"THE PRESENT FORMAT OF THE REVISED EDITION DOES NOT READILY LEND ITSELF TO ACCOMMODATING THIS VAST EXPANSION," MR MATHEWS SAID.
AFTER EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A COMPLETE CHANGE IN THE FORMAT OF THE CONSOLIDATED LAWS AND THAT IT SHOULD BE OF A LOOSE-LEAF TYPE.
"WITH THIS NEW LOOSE-LEAF FORMAT, OUR PRESENT AMENDMENT SYSTEM CAN BE GREATLY IMPROVED,” MR MATHEWS ADDED.
AT PRESENT A NOTER-UP WAS PUBLISHED TO HELP IN BRINGING THE REVISED EDITION UP TO DATE DURING THE YEAR. HOWVER, BECAUSE THE PROPER USE OF THE NOTER-UP INVOLVED A "CUT AND PASTE" SYSTEM IT WAS BOTH TEDIOUS AND TIME CONSUMING FOR USERS.
MR MATHEWS SAID WITH THE HELP OF COMPUTER-ASSISTED PRINTING TECHNOLOGY, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO PUBLISH AND MAINTAIN AN EDITION OF LAWS IN LOOSE-LEAF FORM THAT WAS CONSTANTLY BROUGHT UP TO DATE BY THE INSERTION OF NEW INDIVIDUAL PAGES IN PLACE OF THE OLD.
/IT WAS .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 26 -
IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE MANPOWER REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE NEW REPLACEMENT SYSTEM WOULD BE A FRACTION OF THAT NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING CUT AND PASTE NOTER-UP SERVICE.
"IT IS PROPOSED TO PUBLISH THE FIRST VOLUMES OF THE LOOSE-LEAF EDITION IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1991, AND THE REMAINDER OVER THE ENSUING THREE YEARS.
"IN THE MEANTIME THE NOTER-UP SERVICE FOR THE REVISED EDITION WILL BE CONTINUED, BUT IT WILL BE PHASED OUT AS THE NEW LOOSE-LEAF EDITION TAKES OVER," HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE BILL, MR MATHEWS SAID: "CLAUSE 2 AUTHORISES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PUBLISH THE NEW LOOSE-LEAF EDITION. IT WILL PERMIT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO EXERCISE CERTAIN LIMITED EDITING POWERS AND TO PUBLISH ANY ORDINANCE AS A SEPARATE BOOKLET.
"CLAUSE 3 OF THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE LEGAL STATUS OF ORDINANCES PUBLISHED IN THE LOOSE-LEAF EDITION. ITS EFFECT IS THAT ORDINANCES PUBLISHED IN THE LOOSE-LEAF EDITION WILL BE DEEMED TO BE CORRECT UNLESS THE CONTRARY IS PROVED.
"THE LAST ANNUAL EDITION OF THE LAWS PUBLISHED UNDER THE REVISED EDITION OF THE LAWS ORDINANCE 1965 WILL BE THE 1989 EDITION AND WILL STATE THE LAW AS IT WAS ON DECEMBER 31, 1989.
"PROVISION FOR THIS IS TO BE FOUND IN CLAUSE 7 OF THE BILL."
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
BILL SEEKS TO INCREASE NUMBER OF DAYS
******
OF PAID ANNUAL LEAVE
THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS OF PAID ANNUAL LEAVE FROM SEVEN TO 14, OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS, WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, SAID THIS WAS IN LINE WITH THE AIM OF THE GOVERNMENT’S LABOUR POLICIES TO ACHIEVE A LEVEL OF STATUTORY PROTECTION FOR THE WORKFORCE BROADLY COMPARABLE TO THE BEST PREVAILING IN THE REGION.
"GIVEN AN 84 PER CENT GROWTH IN REAL PER CAPITA GDP BETWEEN 1978 AND 1989, AND HAVING REGARD TO THE LEVELS OF PAID ANNUAL LEAVE PREVAILING IN THE REGION, THE TIME HAS NOW COME FOR US TO IMPROVE THIS BENEFIT," HE SAID.
"ON THE BILL BECOMING LAW, AN EMPLOYEE WITH UP TO TWO YEARS’ SERVICE WOULD CONTINUE TO ENJOY ONLY SEVEN DAYS’ PAID ANNUAL LEAVE.
/"EMPLOYEES WITH
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 27 -
"EMPLOYEES WITH THREE TO FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE, HOWEVER, WOULD HAVE THEIR PAID ANNUAL LEAVE INCREASED TO EIGHT, NINE AND 10 DAYS RESPECTIVELY. EMPLOYEES WITH OVER FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WOULD HAVE THEIR PAID ANNUAL LEAVE FIXED AT 10 DAYS," HE SAID.
MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT ALL THESE ENTITLEMENTS WOULD BE INCREASED AT THE RATE OF ONE DAY FOR EACH ADDITIONAL YEAR OF SERVICE, UNTIL THE MAXIMUM OF 14 DAYS WAS REACHED.
"THUS AN EMPLOYEE WITH FIVE OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE WOULD SEE HIS ENTITLEMENT REACHING THE MAXIMUM OF 14 DAYS IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE BILL BECOMING LAW,” HE SAID.
MR YEUNG EMPHASISED THAT THE PROPOSAL TO PHASE IN THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF BENEFIT OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS WAS THE OUTCOME OF CAREFUL DELIBERATION BY THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, HE SAID THE BILL FURTHER PROPOSED THAT AN EMPLOYER MIGHT MAKE A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF ANNUAL LEAVE FOREGONE, BUT ONLY WHERE THE EMPLOYEE’S ANNUAL LEAVE ENTITLEMENT EXCEEDED 10 DAYS AND HE ELECTED TO FOREGO PART OR ALL OF THE ENTITLEMENT IN EXCESS OF 10 DAYS.
"FOR EXAMPLE, IF AN EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO 13 DAYS AND ELECTS TO FOREGO THREE DAYS, THE EMPLOYER MAY MAKE A PAYMENT TO HIM IN RESPECT OF THOSE THREE DAYS,” HE SAID.
MR YEUNG ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AS A SAFEGUARD AGAINST ABUSE, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR AN EMPLOYER TO INCLUDE IN A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT ANY PROVISION THAT WOULD COMMIT THE EMPLOYEE TO FOREGO ALL OR ANY OF HIS ANNUAL LEAVE ENTITLEMENT.
"THE PROPOSED PENALTY FOR THIS OFFENCE IS A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000," HE SAID.
MR YEUNG NOTED THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME, UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AN EMPLOYEE WAS ENTITLED TO SEVEN DAYS’ PAID ANNUAL LEAVE FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF 12 MONTHS’ CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT.
"THIS BENEFITS WAS FIRST INTRODUCED 12 YEARS AGO IN 1978, AND THERE HAS BEEN MOUNTING CRITICISM THAT IT DOES NOT ADEQUATELY REFLECT THE SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC GROWTH HONG KONG HAS ENJOYED OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO.
"THE CURRENT LEVEL OF BENEFIT ALSO COMPARES UNFAVOURABLY WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION, MANY OF WHICH GIVE THEIR WORKERS 14 DAYS’ PAID ANNUAL LEAVE,” HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
------0--------
/28 ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 28 -
BILL TO TIGHTEN GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL IN NORTHWESTERN NT *******
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON C’IVE OXLEY, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE BUILD NGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE BILL WILL EMPOWER THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO TIGHTEN GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OVER BUILDING WORKS IN TI E KARST AREA OF THE NORTHWESTERN NEW TERRITORIES.
MR OXLEY SAID SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES HAD BEEN ENCOUNTERED IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNDATIONS FOR, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF, CERTAIN SITES IN AN AREA OF THE NORTHWESTERN NEW TERRITORIES WHICH WAS UNDERLAIN BY KARSTIC MARBLE BEDROCK, WHICH WAS ESSENTIALLY MARBLE ROCK CONTAINING DISSOLUTION CAVITIES.
"TO ENSURE SAFE DEVELOPMENT OF A SITE IN SUCH A GEOLOGICALLY COMPLEX AREA, A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE GEOLOGICAL FEATURES UNDERLYING THE SITE AND HOW THESE AFFECT THE ENGINEERING BEHAVIOUR OF THE FOUNDATIONS IS ESSENTIAL.
"PROPERLY DESIGNED, HIGH QUALITY AND RELIABLE GROUND INVESTIGATION, FOLLOWED BY CAREFUL INTERPRETATION OF THE GROUND INVESTIGATION RESULTS WILL HELP ACHIEVE THESE ENDS.
"IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL FEATURES UNDERLYING THE SITE ARE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED AT THE DESIGN STAGE OF THE BUILDING FOUNDATIONS SO AS TO AVOID THE CHOICE OF AN INAPPROPRIATE FOUNDATION LAYOUT OR FOUNDATION TYPE," MR OXLEY SAID.
HE SAID CLAUSES 2 AND 10 OF THE BILL SOUGHT TO AMEND THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND BUILDING (ADMINISTRATION) REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE SUBMISSION OF GROUND INVESTIGATION PLANS FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF GROUND INVESTIGATION WORKS IN THE AREA, AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE SUBMISSION OF A FOUNDATION PLAN SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A GEOTECHNICAL REPORT CONTAINING A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE GEOLOGY OF THE SITE TOGETHER WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE ANTICIPATED GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND GEOTECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNDATION WORKS.
"FOR FOUNDATIONS IN KARST AREAS, THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK THAT DESPITE CONSERVATIVE DESIGN, PROBLEMS WILL ARISE DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOUNDATIONS," HE SAID.
"TO ENSURE MINIMUM RISK TO THE COMPLETED FOUNDATIONS, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE AUTHORISED PERSON OR THE REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TO MAINTAIN DETAILED CONSTRUCTION RECORDS AND TO REVIEW THESE AT CLOSE INTERVALS DURING FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION."
MR OXLEY ADDED THAT CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL SOUGHT TO EMPOWER THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF PERFORMANCE REVIEWS OF FOUNDATION WORKS WITHIN AREA NUMBER 2 PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF SUPERSTRUCTURAL WORKS.
DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED.
------0--------
/29 .....
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 29 -
REPROVISIONING OF YAU MA TEI FRUIT MARKET INTENDED
******
THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION, IN THE LONG TERM, IS TO REPROVISION THE YAU MA TEI FRUIT MARKET ON THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION, ALONG WITH OTHER WHOLESALE MARKETS NOW TEMPORARILY LOCATED AT CHEUNG SHA WAN, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR RAFAEL HUI, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON KINGSLEY SIT, MR HUI SAID THE NEW PERMANENT SITE FOR THE MARKET WAS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN 1993 AND SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, THE PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED TOWARDS THE END OF 1996.
"IN THE MEANTIME, THE DISTRICT OFFICE OF YAU TSIM IS CO-ORDINATING EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE CAUSED BY THE EXISTING FACILITY.
"I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT REFUSE IS COLLECTED FOUR TIMES DAILY AND THAT, TWICE A MONTH, A MAJOR CLEAN-UP EXERCISE IS CONDUCTED BY STAFF OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT," HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT REGULAR ENFORCEMENT EXERCISES WERE CARRIED OUT BY THE POLICE IN ORDER TO DETER ILLEGAL PARKING AND COMPLAINTS OF NOISE AND OTHER NUISANCE WERE FOLLOWED UP BY THE POLICE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
THE YAU MA TEI FRUIT MARKET IS A PRIVATELY OPERATED WHOLESALE MARKET WHICH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 60 YEARS. AT PRESENT, SOME 250 FRUIT TRADERS ARE OPERATING AT THAT MARKET.
-----0------
DRAFTING OF COMPOSITE LAND SURVEY BILL IN PROGRESS
*****
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, SAID A COMPOSITE LAND SURVEY BILL, WHICH SEEKS TO STREAMLINE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF LAND SURVEYING WORK AND BOUNDARIES RECORDS, WOULD BE READY FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR OXLEY NOTED THAT SINCE JUNE 1987, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN RE-EXAMINING THE PROPOSALS FOR A LAND SURVEY BILL AND A SEPARATE BOUNDARY RECTIFICATION BILL.
"WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT A SINGLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION INCORPORATING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TWO PROPOSED BILLS WOULD ENSURE FIRSTLY, THAT ALL LAND SURVEYING WORK IS CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO PRESCRIBED STANDARDS AND SECONDLY, THAT DEFECTIVE PLANS COULD BE RECTIFIED SO THAT RELIABLE RECORDS OF LAND BOUNDARIES COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC," HE SAID.
/MR OXLEY .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 30 -
MR OXLEY SAID THE DRAFT DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COMPOSITE LAND SURVEY BILL HAD NOW BEEN PREPARED AFTER THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF RELEVANT OVERSEAS LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THE INTRODUCTION OF A SYSTEM WHICH WAS MOST APPROPRIATE TO HONG KONG’S CIRCUMSTANCES.
"WE ARE CAREFULLY ASSESSING THE STAFFING AND OTHER RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS.
"I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO PASS THE DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LAW DRAFTSMAN SHORTLY, WITH A VIEW TO INTRODUCING THE BILL INTO THIS COUNCIL DURING THE NEXT SESSION," HE SAID.
-----0-----
CONTRACTING OUT PARCEL DELIVERY SERVICE BEING CONSIDERED
******
THE POST OFFICE IS EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING AN EXPERIMENTAL TRIAL ON CONTRACTING OUT THE PARCEL DELIVERY SERVICE IN KOWLOON EAST AND HONG KONG EAST, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON RAFAEL HUI, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PEGGY LAM, MR HUI SAID THE POSTMASTER GENERAL WAS CURRENTLY CONSULTING WITH HIS STAFF BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED.
HE SAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT POLICY TO RESTRAIN THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE POST OFFICE, LIKE OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, WAS SEEKING TO MAXIMISE THE UTILISATION OF STAFF RESOURCES THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEASURES.
"THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTRACTING OUT THE PARCEL DELIVERY SERVICE IS ONE MEASURE IN THIS VEIN, WHICH THE POST OFFICE IS CONSIDERING AT THE PRESENT TIME."
MR HUI SAID AS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY INFORMED THE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 25 LAST YEAR IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MARTIN BARROW ON THE GENERAL ISSUE OF THE PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC SERVICES, CONTROLLING OFFICERS WERE ENCOURAGED AS A GENERAL PRACTICE TO REVIEW PERIODICALLY THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR EXISTING METHODS OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTRACTING OUT SOME OF THE SERVICES WHERE APPROPRIATE.
WITH REGARD TO THE SECOND PART OF MRS LAM’S QUESTION OF WHETHER CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO PRIVATISING THE OTHER SERVICES OF THE POST OFFICE, MR HUI SAID APART FROM THE PARCEL DELIVERY SERVICE, THERE WERE NO PLANS AT PRESENT FOR THE POST OFFICE TO CONTRACT OUT ANY OTHER POSTAL SERVICES.
------0-------
/31........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 3Uw -
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WATER TREATMENT WORKS LOW *****
THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE WATER TREATMENT WORKS WHICH HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS INSTALLATIONS ARE EXTREMELY' LOW, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI ON IMPROVEMENT MEASURES TO AND DETAILS OF CHLORINE FACILITIES AT WATER TREATMENT WORKS, MR OXLEY SAID THE PROBABILITY OF AN INCIDENT HAPPENING AT ANY OF THESE WATER TREATMENT WORKS AFFECTING LOCAL RESIDENTS WAS ONCE IN ONE MILLION YEARS.
RISK LEVELS OF WATER TREATMENT WORKS LOCATED IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS, SUCH AS SHA TIN, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN, WERE GENERALLY HIGHER THAN FOR THOSE LOCATED ELSEWHERE.
"ONLY PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING WITHIN ONE KILOMETRE OF THE WATER TREATMENT WORKS IN QUESTION WILL BE SUBJECT TO MEASURABLE RISK," HE SAID.
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN INCIDENT, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED IN EACH DISTRICT IS AS SET OUT BELOW:
NO. OF PEOPLE LIKELY
TO BE AFFECTED IN
TREATMENT WORK THE EVENT OF AN INCIDENT
SHA TIN 4,300
TSUEN WAN 2,000
TUEN MUN 300
SHEUNG SHUI 100
YAU KAM TAU 300
TAI PO TAU 50
SILVERMINE BAY 50
TAI LAM CHUNG 500
(CHLORINATION HOUSE) "IT SHOULD BE EMPHASISED THAT THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE WATER TREATMENT WORKS ARE EXTREMELY LOW. "EVEN THESE SMALL RISKS WILL BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED UPON
COMPLETION OF THE IMPROVEMENT WORKS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONSULTANTS," MR OXLEY SAID.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO ALL WATER TREATMENT WORKS INCLUDED:
* IMPROVED STAFF TRAINING AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT AT WATER TREATMENT WORKS;
/* TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 32 -
* TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OF CHLORINE VEHICLES, WHILST ON-SITE TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF ACCIDENTS;
* IMPROVED BUILDING INTEGRITY TO CONTAIN CHLORINE IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A LEAKAGE; AND
* INSTALLATION OF CHLORINE ABSORBERS TO NEUTRALISE ANY CHLORINE THAT IS RELEASED.
MR OXLEY SAID SITE SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS WERE ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR SHA TIN, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN BECAUSE OF THE HIGH POPULATION DENSITIES IN THESE AREAS.
THE SHA TIN WATER TREATMENT WORKS WOULD DECOMMISSION ALL BULK LIQUID CHLORINE TANKS AND CONVERT TO THE USE OF ONE TONNE CHLORINE DRUMS.
SMALLER CHLORINE CONTAINERS WERE ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN WATER TREATMENT WORKS BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY HIGH POPULATION DENSITIES OF THESE AREAS, HE SAID.
’’THE IMPROVEMENT PACKAGE FOR ALL THE EIGHT WATER TREATMENT WORKS IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1993,” HE SAID.
’’PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO IMPLEMENTING MODIFICATIONS AT THE SHA TIN, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN WATER TREATMENT WORKS.
"UPON COMPLETION OF THE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES, ALL WATER TREATMENT WORKS WILL COMPLY WITH THE RISK GUIDELINES STIPULATED FOR POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS INSTALLATION.”
MR OXLEY SAID THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SHA TIN WATER TREATMENT WORKS.
THE FINDINGS OF THE HAZARD ASSESSMENT STUDIES FOR ALL THE OTHER WATER TREATMENT WORKS AND GOVERNMENT’S ACTIONS ARISING FROM EACH STUDY WOULD BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE RELEVANT DISTRICT BOARDS.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AND CONTINGENCY PLANS IN THE EVENT OF AN INCIDENT WERE BEING DRAWN UP AND THESE WOULD BE ANNOUNCED AS AND WHEN THEY WERE READY, HE SAID.
---------0 - -
/33 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
WATER MAINS BURSTS MOSTLY CAUSED BY EXTERNAL FACTORS
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT REGULARLY CARRIES OUT WASTE DETECTION TESTS ON WATER MAINS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FAILURES, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR OXLEY SAID THE DETECTION TESTS COULD ASSIST IN LOCATING LEAKAGES, SO THAT THEY MIGHT BE REPAIRED BEFORE DEVELOPING INTO SERIOUS BURSTS.
HE ADDED THAT DAMAGE OR DISTURBANCE TO WATER MAINS CAUSED BY OTHER CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES COULD BE PREVENTED OR MINIMISED BY STEPPING UP VIGILANCE ON WORKS BEING CARRIED OUT.
’’WHERE RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ESTABLISHED, THE OFFENDING CONTRACTOR IS CHARGED WITH THE COST OF REPAIRS.
’’THE MATTER IS KEPT UNDER REVIEW BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, THE UTILITY COMPANIES AND RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WITH A VIEW TO ALLEVIATING THE PROBLEM,” MR OXLEY SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT MOST MAINS BURSTS WERE CAUSED BY A VARIETY OF EXTERNAL FACTORS.
THESE INCLUDED ROAD CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION WHERE HEAVY PLANT MIGHT BE USED, TRENCH WORKS FOR OTHER UTILITIES AND DRAINAGE SERVICES, AND DEEP FOUNDATION EXCAVATIONS FOR BUILDING DEVELOPMENT AND FLYOVERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE WATER MAINS.
MR OXLEY SAID SOME OF THESE ACTIVITIES MIGHT DAMAGE THE WATER MAINS DIRECTLY OR DISTURB THEIR FOUNDATIONS.
"IT WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE TO DESIGN WATER MAINS STRONG ENOUGH TO RESIST SUCH EXTERNAL EFFECTS.
"IT IS OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH THE CAUSE AND LIABILITY AFTER A WATER MAIN BURST AS WATER GUSHING OUT UNDER PRESSURE REMOVES ALL THE EVIDENCE AND NATURALLY PRIORITY HAS TO BE GIVEN TO REPAIR WORK TO RESTORE THE WATER SUPPLY AND TRAFFIC FLOW,” HE SAID.
MR OXLEY ADDED THAT THE WATER MAINS USED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WERE TESTED AT THE MANUFACTURERS’ WORKS TO TWICE THE DESIGNED WORKING PRESSURE AND WERE TESTED AFTER THEY WERE LAID IN POSITION TO ONE AND A HALF TIMES THE DESIGNED WORKING PRESSURE.
THE WATER MAINS WOULD HAVE A LONG SERVICEABLE LIFE, PROBABLY OF SEVERAL DECADES, IF UNDISTURBED AFTER THEY HAD BEEN LAID, HE SAID.
- - 0 - -
/34
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 34 -
SPECIAL PROVISION PROGRAMME FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN CLOSELY MONITORED
********
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) IS MONITORING CLOSELY THE SPECIAL PROVISION PROGRAMME FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC FEATURES AND THE SERVICE DEMAND FOR NORMAL PROVISION IN PRESCHOOL CENTRES, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON NIGEL SHIPMAN, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR SHIPMAN EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN DIAGNOSED AS SUFFERING FROM CHILDHOOD AUTISM OR HAVING AUTISTIC FEATURES AND KNOWN TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (ED) AND SWD WAS 827.
OF THE 827 CHILDREN, 217 WERE AGED SIX YEARS AND ABOVE WITH AUTISTIC FEATURES, 372 WERE AGED SIX YEARS AND ABOVE WITH CHILDHOOD AUTISM, AND THE REMAINING 238 WERE BELOW SIX YEARS OLD.
MR SHIPMAN SAID AUTISTIC CHILDREN WERE COVERED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SCHEME.
"SHOULD AUTISM BE SUSPECTED, THEY MAY BE REFERRED FOR ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING AT SOUTH KWAI CHUNG PSYCHIATRIC CENTRE, OR HONG KONG PSYCHIATRIC CENTRE OR TUEN MUN PSYCHIATRIC CENTRE," HE SAID.
THE FIRST TWO CENTRES HAD CHILD UNITS WITH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND NURSING STAFF UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS.
THE THIRD CENTRE DID NOT HAVE A CHILD UNIT BUT CHILDREN MIGHT ATTEND SIMILAR SESSIONS AS OUT-PATIENTS AND SPEECH THERAPY AND TRAINING WAS PROVIDED.
AS FOR PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THESE CHILDREN, MR SHIPMAN POINTED OUT THAT SINCE 1989-90, A THREE-YEAR PILOT PROJECT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN OR CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC FEATURES HAD BEEN INTRODUCED IN 11 SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES (SCCC).
ONE ADDITIONAL SPECIAL CHILD CARE WORKER (SCCCW) HAD BEEN ALLOCATED TO A SCCC WITH SIX AUTISTIC CHILDREN OR CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC FEATURES, PLUS ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL INPUT FROM A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, HE ADDED.
"IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MOST CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAMME SHOULD SHOW ENOUGH IMPROVEMENT TO BE DISCHARGED AFTER SIX MONTHS, THUS ENABLING NEW CASES TO BE ADMITTED," MR SHIPMAN SAID.
AS AT THE END OF MARCH 1990, OUT OF THE 86 AUTISTIC CHILDREN OR CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC FEATURES CERTIFIED TO BE IN NEED OF SCCC SPECIAL PROVISION, 64 HAD BEEN ENROLLED IN SCCC’S, AND ONLY 22 WERE ON THE WAITING LIST.
/PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 35 -
PF -SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH AUTISM OR AUTISTIC FEATURES WHO WERE ASSESSED AS NOT BEING IN NEED OF THE SPECIAL PROVISION DESCRIBED ABOVE WERE rtbi' ITTED TO EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES (EETC), SCCC’S Ci INTEGI VI ED CHILD CARE CENTRES (ICCC) IN THE USUAL WAY, HE SAID.
AS FOR SCHOOL SERVICES, MR SHIPMAN SAID AS THE MAJORITY OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN WERE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, THEY WOULD BE PROVIDED SPECIAL SCHOOLS PLACES ACCORDING TO THEIR DIAGNOSED LEVEL OF INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING AT THE AGE OF SIX.
THESE SCHOOLS ALREADY HAD A REDUCED CLASS SIZE OF 20 FOR MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, 10 FOR MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND EIGHT FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND ALSO HAD THE SUPPORT OF ADDITIONAL SPECIALIST STAFF SUCH AS AN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST, SPEECH THERAPY PERSONNEL, AND SO ON.
"A SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN MAY APPOINT ONE ADDITIONAL RESOURCE TEACHER FOR EVERY EIGHT CHILDREN WITH CHILDHOOD AUTISM WHO ARE ASSESSED TO HAVE A NEED FOR MORE INTENSIVE REMEDIAL SUPPORT IN A RESOURCE TEACHING PROGRAMME.
"AN INITIAL GRANT IS ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE SCHOOL TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCE MATERIALS FOR THE PROGRAMME," HE SAID.
MR SHIPMAN ADDED THAT, IF NECESSARY, CHILDREN COULD BE REFERRED BACK TO PSYCHIATRIC CENTRES FOR FOLLOW-UP SERVICES.
IN ADDITION, PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT WAS ALSO GIVEN BY THE ED’S SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION TO SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN DEVELOPING PROGRAMMES FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN.
THE SECTION RAN INTENSIVE PRE-SERVICE AND SCHOOL-BASED WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND SPECIALIST STAFF OF THE SCHOOLS CONCERNED.
AS FOR OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES, MR SHIPMAN SAID CASEWORK AND COUNSELLING SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC FEATURES THROUGH THE SWD’S MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICE UNITS AND FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES.
"OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN THE SAME WAY AS THEY ARE TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY," HE SAID.
MR SHIPMAN SAID IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE SPECIAL PROGRAMME TO PLANNED SCCC’S IF THIS WAS JUSTIFIED BY DEMAND.
"WHILE THE PROVISION OF SPECIAL CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRE PLACES IS GENERALLY SATISFACTORY, THERE REMAINS A SHORTFALL IN INTEGRATED CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES," HE SAID.
"THE SWD IS PLANNING TO REDUCE THE WAITING TIME FOR THESE PLACES BY MAKING USE OF SURPLUS EETC AND SCCC PLACES FOR CHILDREN ON THE ICCC WAITING LIST.
/"TO ENSURE .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 36 -
"TO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOOL PUPILS WITH CHILDHOOD AUTISM WILL RECEIVE INTENSIVE REMEDIAL SUPPORT, ALL SCHOOLS FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WILL BE ACTIVELY ENCOURAGED TO OPERATE RESOURCE TEACHING PROGRAMMES FOR SUCH PUPILS WHERE A DEMAND EXISTS," HE ADDED.
MR SHIPMAN SAID THE EXISTING SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL PLACES FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, WHICH ALSO AFFECTED THE PLACEMENT OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN, WAS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED.
"THIS SHORTFALL SHOULD BE MET BY 1992-93 WHEN PLANNED PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED.
"UNTIL THESE PROJECTS ARE READY, INTERIM MEASURES WILL CONTINUE, E.G. USING TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR SCHOOLS AND PROVIDING PLACEMENT IN HOME BASED CLASSES," HE SAID.
--------0-----------
AMENDMENT BILL TO EXTEND NO-SMOKING AREAS TO GO TO LEGCO
******
AN AMENDMENT BILL WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — ‘ • PUBLIC PLAUJ1O , 1 HIS
NIGEL SHIPMAN, SAID
LATER THIS YEAR TO EXTEND NO-SMOKING AREAS IN ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HON LEUNG
THIS YEAR
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE MR SHIPMAN SAID IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN MARCH GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO AMEND THE SMOKING (PUBLIC BAN SMOKING THROUGHOUT ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT, INCLUDING TAXIS, CINEMAS, THEATRES, CONCERT HALLS AND VIDEO-GAME CENTRES.
WAI-TUNG,
THAT
HEALTH) ORDINANCE
AND
THE
TO IN
PROVISIONS IN THE
HE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER PRESENT
I PUBLIC HEALTH) ORDINANCE, SMOKING WAS PROHIBITED IN NOT LESS PER CENT OF ALL SEATS IN FERRIES, TRAINS, THEATRES, CONCERT HALLS
SMOKING
THAN
50 AND
CINEMAS.
IT WAS ALSO TOTALLY BANNED IN ALL LIFTS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXCEPT TAXIS AND HIRED VEHICLES, AND DECKS OF DOUBLE DECKER BUSES AND TRAMS.
SINGLE DECKER
ON THE LOWER
BOTH THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HAD ALSO TAKEN ACTION UNDER THEIR PROHIBIT SMOKING IN ALL THEIR TRAINS, HE ADDED.
AND THE
BY-LAWS TO
THE
IN
MR SHIPMAN SAID IN ADDITION TO LEGISLATIVE REGULATION, GOVERNMENT HAD ADOPTED ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO PROHIBIT’ SMOKING SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND PUBLIC AREAS IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES SUCH AS CORRIDORS, LIFT LOBBIES AND PANTRIES.
/"GOVERNMENT WILL .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 37 -
"GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN EXEMPLARY ROLE IN BANNING SMOKING IN PUBLIC AREAS IN ITS PREMISES INCLUDING CONFERENCE ROOMS.
"IN THIS REGARD, THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION HAS RECENTLY SOUGHT THE ' O-OPERATION OF STAFF IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO REFRAIN FROM SMOKING WHILST IN THE OFFICE.
"WE ENCOURAGE OTHER STATUTORY BODIES Ai D TO TAKE SIMILAR ACTION,” HE SAID.
--------0-----------
WORKING GROUP SET UP TO CONSIDER CONTROLS ON
*******
PRIVATE CORPORATIONS.
LEVERAGED DEALINGS
A WORKING GROUP HAS RECENTLY BEEN SET UP UNDER THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS ANY NEED TO IMPOSE CONTROLS ON LEVERAGED DEALINGS IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE BY FRINGE INVESTMENT COMPANIES, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID NENDICK, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH, MR NENDICK SAID WHILE IT WAS TRUE THAT THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMPLAINTS RELATING TO LEVERAGED FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALINGS BY SUCH COMPANIES HAD INCREASED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS RELATING TO LEVERAGED GOLD DEALINGS BY THESE COMPANIES HAD BEEN VERY SMALL.
HE TOLD MEMBERS THAT THE WORKING GROUP WAS CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS AND INCLUDED REPRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING AND THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION.
MR NENDICK SAID ALTHOUGH THE WORKING GROUP WAS NEWLY FORMED, THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH HAI) BEEN LOOKING AT THE SUBJECT FOR SOME TIME IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS.
"WE THINK THAT THE MAJOR PROBLEM ARISING FROM THE ACTIVITIES OF THESE FRINGE COMPANIES LIES WITH NON-PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS.
"MANY OF THEM ARE UNABLE TO ASSESS PROPERLY THE RISKS INVOLVED IN LEVERAGED CONTRACTS IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND SO INVEST MORE THAN THEY CAN EASILY AFFORD TO LOSE," HE SAID.
"MANY OF THEM ALSO GIVE THESE COMPANIES MORE DISCRETION TO DEAL ON THEIR BEHALF THAN IS PERHAPS PRUDENT. IN SOME CASES, FRAUD MAY BE INVOLVED BUT THAT IS THEN A MATTER FOR THE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU," HE ADDED.
MR NENDICK SAID THE MON1TARY AFFAIR:: BRANCH HAD ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ON JUNE 7 INVITING SUBMISSIONS IN CONFIDENCE ON THE SUBJECT FROM THOSE WHO HAD AN INTEREST IN IT. THE SUBMISSIONS WERE TO BE MADE BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
/"THE WORKING .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
38
’’THE WORKING GROUP WILL THEN EXAMINE THE SUBMISSIONS MADE AND CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS ANY NEED TO IMPOSE CONTROLS ON LEVERAGED DEALINGS IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES BY THESE COMPANIES.
”)F WE ARE TO INTRODUCE NEW MEASURES THAT GO BEYOND OUR EXISTING REGULATIONS IN RELATION TO TRADING IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, THEN WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT IMPEDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPUTABLE END OF THE MARKET,” HE SAID, ADDED THAT IN TRYING TO SWAT THE IRRIGATING FLY IN THE KITCHEN ONE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO KNOCK OVER THE STOVE.
IN THE MEANTIME, WARNINGS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ISSUED THROUGH THE MEDIA ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING GREAT CARE WHEN CONSIDERING INVESTING IN LEVERAGED FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS THROUGH UNREGULATED COMPANIES.
AS REGARDS DEALINGS IN GOLD, MR NENDICK SAID IT WAS THE LESS REPUTABLE FRINGE OPERATORS AND BUCKET SHOPS THAT GAVE RISE TO CONCERN AND PUBLICITY HAD BEEN HEIGHTENED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE RISKS OF TRADING THROUGH THE BUCKET SHOPS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DEALINGS BEING CAUGHT BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
”1 AM GLAD TO SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST SUCH OPERATORS HAS SINCE SUBSIDED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND REMIND THE PUBLIC FROM TIME TO TIME OF THE RISKS OF TRADING WITH THE FRINGE OPERATORS,” HE SAID.
MR NENDICK ADDED THAT HIGH RETURNS WERE USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH RISKS.
"IF INVESTORS WISH TO TRADE IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES OR GOLD, THEY ARE BEST ADVISED TO APPROACH A LARGE AND REPUTABLE DEALER SUCH AS A BANK OR DEPOSIT TAKING COMPANY AUTHORISED UNDER THE BANKING ORDINANCE WHICH IS SUBJECT TO THE SUPERVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING.
"THERE IS I BELIEVE ALSO A NEED FOR INVESTORS TO EXERCISE PRUDENCE AND CAUTION AND A DEGREE OF COMMON SENSE BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER THEY SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN COMPLEX AND OFTEN VOLATILE MARKETS, WHICH TEND TO BE MORE FOR THE PROFESSIONALS," HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
REVIEW OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO MAC’S COMPLETED
*******
THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR MUTUAL APRIL THIS YEAR AND ITS FINDINGS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED BRANCH FOR CONSIDERATION.
HAS COMPLETED A
AID COMMITTEES IN
TO THE FINANCE
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHAN YING-LUN.
MR TSAO ADDED THAT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO RAISE THE CEILING FOR EXPENDITURE ON PHOTOCOPYING.
--------0-----------
/39 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 39 -
RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN RESIDENTS EXPLAINED
******
A FOREIGN RESIDENT WILL NORMALLY BE GRANTED UNCONDITIONAL STAY AFTJTJ HE HAS COMPLETED SEVEN YEARS’ ORDINARY RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG, AND PROVIDED THAT HE IS NOT IN BREACH OF HIS CONDITIONS OF STAY, DOES NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE CRIMINAL RECORD, AND IS ABLE TO SUPPORT HIMSELF, AND IS NOT LIKELY TO BECOME A BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY.
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MARTIN BARROW.
’’THESE ARE NORMAL IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS,’’ HE SAID.
’’’WHERE THEY ARE NOT MET IN FULL, A FOREIGN RESIDENT MAY NEVE UNLESS BE GRANTED AN EXTENSION OF STAY FOR A FIXED PERIOD IF HE IS ?uT IN SERIOUS BREACH OF THE REQUIREMENTS, AND HE OTHERWISE MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR ENTRY FOR EMPLOYMENT AND RESIDENCE," HE ADDED.
--------0 - -
MOTION ON BILL OF RIGHTS PASSED *******
A MOTION ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
VHE MOTION, WHICH WAS MOVED BY THE HON SELINA CHOW, READ: ’ THAT' TllIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE ENACTMENT OF A BILL OF RIGHTS AND URGES THE GOVERNMENT IN DRAFTING THE BLUE BILL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THIS COUNCIL."
TWENTY-NINE MEMBERS SPOKE IN THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, FOUR BILLS WERE PASSED. THEY WERE THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1990; THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990; THE SECURITIES (DISCLOSURE 01’ INTERESTS) (AMENDE NT) BILL 1990 AND THE RADIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990.
IN ADDITION, THREE BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND PEADHN(36. THEY WERE THE LAWS (LOOSE-LEAF PUBLICATION) BILL 1990; THE EMPLp.YUENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1990 AND THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL. l?#0.
^’DEBATES ON THESE BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
40
BALANCE OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXATION NEEDS PONDERING
******
TO INSURE THE STABILITY OF ITS REVENUE SOURCES, THE GOVERNMENT MU? T* CONTINUE TO CONSCIOUSLY CONSIDER HOW BEST TO REDRESS THE IMBALANCE BETWEEN DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXATION, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE ONG KONG EXPORTERS’ ASSOCIATION, MR MACLEOD SAID THE DIFFICULT PR' TTHAT AROSE IN REDRESSING THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO WERE N'.-W THE SUBJECT OF A GENERAL REVIEW OF HONG KONG’S TAXATION PHILOSOPHY.
HE ADDED THAT THE JOINT LIAISON COMMITTEE ON TAXATION, AN INDEPENDENT GROUP WHOSE MEMBERS INCLUDED LEGAL AND FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HAD BEEN INVITED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS TO THE GOVERNMENT ON ALL ASPECTS OF HONG KONG’S TAXATION SYSTEM.
TURNING TO THE EXISTING TAXATION SYSTEM, MR MACLEOD SAID: ’’INDIRECT TAXATION IS NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS MORE STABLE THAN DIRECT TAXATION - THE LATTER BEING PRIMARILY PROFITS TAX AND SALARIES TAX -BUT CERTAINLY IT TENDS TO BE.”
’’HENCE THE PROPORTION OF REVENUE WHICH IS INDIRECT TAX IS TAKEN AS A ROUGH INDICATOR OF STABILITY OF REVENUE. THIS PRESENTLY STANDS AT ONLY ABOUT 36 PER CENT,” HE NOTED.
HE SAID IT WAS NOT SURPRISING THAT AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GROWTH, HONG KONG HAD ARRIVED AT THIS POSITION.
YIELDS FROM DIRECT TAXATION ARE ALWAYS PUSHED UP BY GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY, WHILE THERE IS ALWAYS A POLITICAL DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON INDIRECT TAXES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FLUSH WITH REVENUE, HE POINTED OUT.
”WE SHOULD BEWARE OF LETTING THIS IMBALANCE IN FAVOUR OF DIRECT TAXATION GET OUT OF HAND,” HE SAID.
IN TACKLING THIS ISSUE OF IMBALANCE, THE QUESTION WAS HOW MUCH AND WHEN, MR MACLEOD SAID, ADDING THAT THE FACTORS INVOLVED IN THIS EQUATION WERE VERY COMPLICATED AND SOMETIMES OTHER FACTORS WOULD IN THE END TIP THE BALANCE IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.
”WE HAVE TO BALANCE FOR EXAMPLE POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS, OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS AND THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A SIMPLE TAXATION SYSTEM WITH LOW RATES.”
ON THE POLITICAL SIDE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH SHOULD BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE COST OF PROVIDING PUBLIC SERVICES BY DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.
”AT ONE EXTREME, IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT EVERYONE SHOULD CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING, IF ONLY TO INCULCATE A SENSE OF VALUE OF PUBLIC SERVICES. AT THE OTHER EXTREME, IT WILL BE ARGUED THAT ONLY THOSE MOST ABLE TO PAY SHOULD PAY,” HE SAID.
/’’WITH DIRECT...........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 41 -
’’WITH DIRECT ELECTIONS APPROACHING, THE DEBATE ON THESE ISSUES MAY WELL BECOME RATHER LIVELY,” HE SAID.
MR MACLEOD SAID THE APPROPRIATE RATE AT WHICH BUSINESS PROFITS SHOULD BE TAXED WAS ANOTHER DIFFICULT QUESTION TO RESOLVE.
"A VERY SMALL ADJUSTMENT TO THE RATE OF PROFITS TAX REAPS SIGNIFICANT RETURNS. ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO KEEP THIS SECTOR HEALTHY OR REVENUE WILL ACTUALLY SUFFER IF TAX RATES GO UP TOO MUCH,” HE EXPLAINED.
"WE DO NOT WANT TO SEND PROFITABLE BUSINESS INTO THE HANDS OF OUR INCREASINGLY AMBITIOUS REGIONAL COMPETITORS,” HE STRESSED.
’’THE OTHER FACTOR WE HAVE VERY MUCH IN MIND WHEN CONSIDERING TAX MEASURES IS THE VALUE OF OUR REPUTATION FOR NOT MAKING HASTY OR RADICAL CHANGES; IDEALLY THEN CHANGES SHOULD BE GRADUAL,” HE SAID.
COMPETITION WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS WAS A REAL FACTOR AND ONE WE HAD HAD TO TAKE MORE AND MORE INTO ACCOUNT RECENTLY, HE ADDED.
”1 BELIEVE OUR EARLIER INSTINCTS HAVE TURNED OUT RIGHT: STABILITY, SIMPLICITY AND LOW RATES HAVE MADE OUR TAXATION SYSTEM ATTRACTIVE TO OVERSEAS INVESTORS AND THIS STILL REMAINS THE CASE, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOW FACING STIFF COMPETITION,” HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT DESPITE A NUMBER OF TAX HOLIDAYS AND CONCESSIONS BEING OFFERED AROUND THE REGION, HONG KONG’S FORMULA OF OVERALL SIMPLICITY AND PREDICTABILITY WAS STILL SET TO WIN.
"BUT OF COURSE, TAXATION IS ONLY ONE OF THE FACTORS IN DECIDING WHERE TO SET UP A REGIONAL CENTRE: WE MUST NOT LET OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE QUALITY AND HONESTY OF OUR PUBLIC SERVICE FALL BEHIND OR THE BALANCE COULD TIP AGAINST US,” HE NOTED.
REGARDING RECENT DISCUSSION IN THE PRESS ABOUT WHETHER HONG KONG’S TAXATION SYSTEM WAS IN FACT TOO SIMPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS BEING DONE OUT OF SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF REVENUE BY TAX AVOIDANCE SCHEMES, MR MACLEOD SAID THAT WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO REACT TOO EMOTIONALLY TO THIS SORT OF PROBLEM.
HE SAID IN ANY SYSTEM THERE WERE CERTAIN AREAS IN WHICH TAX CONCESSION OFFERED IN GOOD FAITH TO BENEFIT THE ECONOMY WERE BEING LEGALLY EXPLOITED, ADDING THAT HE WAS REFERRING TO (LEGAL) AVOIDANCE AND NOT (ILLEGAL) EVASION.
"WHERE WE FEEL THAT SUCH EXPLOITATION IS HARMING THE REVENUE TO AN UNACCEPTABLE EXTENT, WE SHALL TAKE COUNTER-MEASURES,” HE POINTED OUT.
HE WENT ON TO GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT ANY MAJOR DRAINS ON REVENUE FROM AVOIDANCE MEASURE WOULD BE ADDRESSED, AS THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.
HOWEVER, WITH PROFITS TAX REVENUE LAST YEAR AT $22 BILLION, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT GOT TO SERIOUS PROPORTIONS, HE SAID.
/TURNING TO .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
42
TURNING TO INDIRECT TAXATION, MR MACLEOD POINTED OUT THAT A PROBLEM WAS THAT HONG KONG HAD LESS OPTIONS OPEN TO IT THAN IT WOULD WISH BECAUSE OF ITS SIMPLE TAX SYSTEM.
’’TRADITIONALLY WE HAVE RELIED TO A GREAT EXTENT ON THE GENERAL PROPERTY RATE AND PROPERTY TAXES, STAMP DUTIES AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES," HE SAID.
"IT IS ARGUABLE THAT THE CONTRIBUTION TO REVENUE FROM DUTIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO GREAT HAD THERE NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT OF CONTROL OF MOTOR VEHICLES, GIVING RISE TO LARGE REVENUES FROM DUTIES ON HYDROCARBON OILS AND VEHICLE FIRST REGISTRATION TAX.
"IT IS NOW WIDELY-ACCEPTED THAT THERE IS NOW A STRONG CASE FOR BROADENING THE BASE OF INDIRECT TAXATION. IT IS WHEN WE COME TO DISCUSS HOW BEST TO DO THIS THAT DIFFICULTIES ARISE."
"WHILE THE NEED TO PROTECT THE LESS WELL OFF IS SOMETHING WE CLEARLY RECOGNISE, WITHOUT SOME BROADENING OF THE INDIRECT TAX BASE, FORESEE THERE MAY BE DIFFICULTY IN MEETING INCREASING DEMANDS ON THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR NEW SERVICES.
"WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXAMINE THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US TO INCREASE STABLE SOURCES OF REVENUE WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF WHAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT FUELLING INFLATION OR MAKING THE LESS-WELL-OFF WORSE OFF," HE SAID.
-----0------
INDUSTRIES MORE INCLINED TO USE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY
******
MANUFACTURING SOPHISTICATED PRODUCTS IN
LOCAL
USE OF
GOVERNMENT, THE NOW MORE INCLINED TO MAKE TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY, HIGH VALUE-ADDED ORDER TO SHARPEN ITS COMPETITIVE EDGE IN EXPORT MARKETS.
WITH THE
INDUSTRIES ARE
SUPPORT OF
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID THIS TODAY iSS" AT THS OPEHtHG OF A MULTI-PURPOSE INDUSTRIAL CENTRE IN SHA TIN.
INDUSTRIAL
CITING THE INFORMTECH INDUSTRIAL CENTRE AS AN EXAMPLE, MR CHAN SAID THE PROJECT HAI) BENEFITTED FROM THE GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGH THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL.
HE SAID THE COUNCIL HELPED MANUFACTURERS TO UPGRADE THE OF THEIR PRODUCTION PROCESSES BY OFFERING A RANGE OF SERVICES MANPOWER TRAINING TO TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY SERVICES.
LEVEL FROM
KONG ITS
"INFORMTECH HAS NOT ONLY MADE USE OF THE ^ONG PRODUCTIVITY council’s consultancy services to automate PRODUCTION LINE, BUT HAS ALSO, ON THAT COUNCIL’S ADVICE, ESTABLISHED A PRODUCT PLANNING DIVISION TO ANALYSE THE DEMANDS OF ITS MARKETS AND
ITS OWN PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES.
/"I UNDERSTAND .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 43 -
"I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS HELPED THE COMPANY TO ACHIEVE CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS. I AM SURE THAT MANY OTHER MANUFACTURERS WOULD FIND IT PROFITABLE TO FOLLOW INFORMTECH’S EXAMPLE AND LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT WHAT THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL HAS TO OFFER.
"INFORMTECH’S ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS NEW INDUSTRIAL CENTRE IS A WELCOME DEMONSTRATION OF ITS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AS A PLACE WHERE HIGH-TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING CAN GROW AND THRIVE," MR CHAN ADDED.
THE COMPANY HAS INVESTED IN THE NEW 11 , CO.j SQUARE FEET CENTRE SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED PRODUCTION MACHINERY TO BE FOUND IN HONG KONG’S ELECTRONIC INDUSTRY. FOR EXAMPLE, INFORMTECH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST COMPANIES IN HONG KONG TO EXPLOIT SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY.
MOREOVER, THE COMPANY HAS INVESTED HEAVILY IN AXIAL COMPONENT INSERTION MACHINES, WATER CLEANING MACHINES AND WAVE SOLDERING MACHINES. IT HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED WORKSTATIONS FOR AUTO PCB (PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD) ROUTING AND FOR CAD (COMPUTER-AIDED-DESIGN).
---------0-----------
U.S. FIRMS ESTABLISHING BASES IN HK TO OVERSEE EXPANSION » » * » »
MANY AMERICAN COMPANIES, INCLUDING 158 INVOLVED IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, HAVE ESTABLISHED BASES IN HONG KONG TO OVERSEE THE EXPANSION OF THEIR ASIAN PACIFIC MARKETS.
OF THESE COMPANIES, NEARLY A THIRD ARE REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR ANDREW LEUNG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE OPENING OF NEW AND EXPANDED FACILITIES FOR BIO-RAD PACIFIC LIMITED, WHOSE AMERICAN PARENT COMPANY, BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, IS A WORLD LEADER IN BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING.
MR LEUNG SAID MORE AND MORE ECONOMIES AROUND THE WORLD WERE BECOMING AWARE OF THE COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, WHICH WAS STILL A RELATIVELY YOUNG INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG.
"BIO-RAD IS ONE OF THE FIRST BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IN HONG KONG SPECIALISING IN LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH PRODUCTS, CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS AND ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MATERIAL RESEARCH.
"SOME OF THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ARE BEING CARRIED OUT IN CO-OPERATION WITH EXPERTISE FROM THE ACADEMIA SINICA OF CHINA, HE SAID.
MR LEUNG SAID THE DECISION OF BIO-RAD TO EXPAND HERE UNDERLINED HONG KONG’S UNIQUE REGIONAL ROLE IN THE EXPLOITATION OF THIS FAST DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY.
/HE SAID........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
44
HE S/vlD THAT UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CONSULTANTS HAD BEEN ENGAGED TO STUDY THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOTECHNOLO'Y IN HONG KONG’S CIRCUMSTANCES.
AT THE SAME TIME, WITH A DONATION OF $300 MILLION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, TWO BIOTECHNOLO Y INSTITUTES HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SC BNCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND IN THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
---------0-----------
MORE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS BUT FEWER KILLED
*****
THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS ROSE ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR ALTHOUGH FAR FEWER WORKERS WERE KILLED AS A RESULT. s
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY), 8,783 ACCIDENTS WITH 12 FATALITIES WERE REPORTED BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH THIS YEAR.
THIS REPRESENTS A 14 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE 7,693 ACCIDENTS IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR BUT A SIGNIFICANT DROP OF 55 PER CENT FROl4 THE 27 FATALITIES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT OF ALL THE ACCIDENTS, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ALONE ACCOUNTED FOR 4,109 CASES, FOLLOWED BY 3,827 IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND 847 IN THE MINING, QUARRYING, UTILITIES, TRANSPORT AND SERVICING INDUSTRIES.
"COMPARED WITH THE FIRST QUARTER LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS REGISTERED A 16 PER CENT INCREASE, MANUFACTURING ACCIDENTS WERE UP BY 13 PER CENT AND THE REST UP BY 11 PER CENT," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"HOWEVER, FATALITY RATES DROPPED IN ALL THESE INDUSTRIES, FROM 16 TO NINE CASES, FIVE TO NO CASES, AND SIX TO THREE CASES RESPECTIVELY," HE NOTED.
AS FOR THE MAJOR CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THEY WERE INVARIABLY SIMILAR TO THOSE IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THAT IS STEPPING ON OR STRIKING AGAINST OBJECTS (2,824 CASES), MANUAL LIFTING OF GOODS (1,521 CASES), MACHINERY 1,461 CASES), FALL OF PERSONS (970 CASES), HAND TOOLS (551 CASES) AND FALLING OBJECTS (497 CASES).
THE REST WERE DUE MAINLY TO TRANSPORT, HOT OR CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES, FIRE OR EXPLOSION, ELECTRICITY, AND SO ON.
1
/OF THE ........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27,
- 45 -
OF THE FATAL CASES, FIVE WORKERS WERE KILLED AS A RESULT OF FALLING FROM A HEIGHT (FOUR IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY), TWO OF MACHINERY (ONE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY), ONE OF TRANSPORT AND ONE EACH OF FALLING ONJECTS, COLLAPSE OF SOIL, GAS POISONING OR OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND STEPPING ON OR STRIKING AGAINST AN OBJECT (ALL IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY).
THE SPOKESMAN CALLED FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN MAKING A GREATER EFFORT TO CURB THE RISE IN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.
’’INDUSTRIAL PROPRIETORS AND WORKERS ALIKE HAVE A GENERAL DUTY TO MAINTAIN SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK,” HE SAID, ADDING THAT MANY LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF BOTH SIDES HAD BEEN MORE SAFETY-CONSCIOUS.
-----0--------
VIEWS ON DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES INVITED
*****
THE WORKING PARTY ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES IS ON THE POINT OF COMPLETING ITS INITIAL DELIBERATIONS ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, THE WORKING PARTY’S CHAIRMAN, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MRS WONG EXPRESSED GRATITUDE AT THE VOLUME AND QUALITY OF PUBLIC COMMENTARIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES.
OVER 250 WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS HAD BEEN RECEIVED MANY OF WHICH WERE CONSTRUCTIVE AND OF A HIGH QUALITY. THESE HAD BEEN CIRCULATED TO MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY AND ITS SUB-COMMITTEES.
IN VIEW OF THE ADVANCED STAGE OF THE PRESENT DELIBERATIONS, MRS WONG SAID ANY OTHER WRITTEN COMMENTARIES SHOULD REACH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH BY JULY 9 TO ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR THEM TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER IS FINALISED.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER UPON ITS PUBLICATION IN AUGUST WHEN ANOTHER THREE-MONTH CONSULTATIVE PERIOD WOULD COMMENCE.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG; OR THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 19TH FLOOR, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.
------0--------
/46 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 46 -
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET ON FRIDAY * * * * *
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A MEETING ON FRIDAY (JUNE 29), IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO OBSERVE THE COMMITTEE’S PROCEEDINGS FROM THE CHAMBER’S PUBLIC GALLERIES AND THEY MAY MAKE RESERVATIONS BY TELEPHONING 844 0899.
------0--------
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL BODIES ******
THF SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE PARTICIPATION BY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT’S ADVISORY BODIES AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
ON THE
DISTRICT
COMMITTEE
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL PROVIDE STATISTICS NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE APPOINTED TO THE AREA COMMITTEES, FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME COMMITTEE, ON YOUTH AND KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN COMMITTEE.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO CONSIDER NINE APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS TOTALLING $189,500 BY WORKING GROUPS AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES FOR SUBSIDISING THEIR ACTIVITIES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
TIN HELD
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE ?oXroI (THURSDAY) IN THE DB CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 4 PM.
------0-----------
/47........
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 47 -
NEW ID CARD VISITING SERVICE *****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT A VISITING SERVICE TO ASSIST IN THE APPLICATION FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF CHEUNG CHAU, LAMMA, MUI WO, TAI O AND SAI KUNG FROM JULY 23 TO AUGUST 9.
"THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ROUND OF VISITING SERVICE PROVIDED. VISITING TEAMS WILL HANDLE APPLICATIONS FROM MEN BORN IN 1917 OR BEFORE WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS," A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUCH A SERVICE IS TO FACILITATE APPLICATIONS FROM THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CURRENT PHASE OF THE NEW IDENTITY .CARD RE-ISSUE SCHEME, AND TO OFFER THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED THEIR TURN IN PREVIOUS PHASES A LAST OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY.
"MALE LATECOMERS BORN BETWEEN 1918 AND 1940 ARE THEREFORE URGED TO MAKE USE OF THIS SERVICE TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"HOWEVER, THE VISITING TEAMS WILL ONLY DEAL WITH HOLDERS OF VALID OLD TYPE IDENTITY CARDS.
"OTHER APPLICATIONS LIKE REGISTRATION OF AN IDENTITY CARD FOR THE FIRST TIME OR REPLACEMENT OF AN IDENTITY CARD DUE TO LOSS, DAMAGE OR FOR AMENDMENT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AT ONE OF THE REGULAR REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES."
ON SOME OCCASIONS, APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND A NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE IN THE URBAN AREAS FOR FURTHER FORMALITIES. FOR THESE CASES, THE APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED INDIVIDUALLY.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS DURING THE SPECIFIED PERIODS, MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS:
OPERATING PERIOD CENTRE OPENING HOURS
JULY 23 ISLAND DISTRICT OFFICE, 10 AM - 1 PM
TO 26 MUI WO SUB-OFFICE, GRAND VIEW MANSION, GROUND FLOOR, SHOP D, 11 MUI WO FERRY PIER ROAD, LANTAU ISLAND. 2 PM - 4 PM
JULY 23 CHEUNG CHAU RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE, 10 AM - 1 PM
TO AUGUST 4 2 CHURCH ROAD, CHEUNG CHAU. 2 PM - 4 PM
JULY 23 SAI KUNG JOCKEY CLUB TOWN HALL, 10 AM - 1 PM
TO AUGUST 4 PO TUNG ROAD, SAI KUNG. 2 PM - 4 PM
/JULY 30 .......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
48
JULY 30 TO AUGUST 4 TAI 0 RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE, 10.30 AM - 1 PM 29 MARKET STREET, 2 PM - 3.30 PM TAI O.
AUGUST 6 TO 9 NORTH LAMMA RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE 10 AM - 1 PM YUNG SHU WAN MAIN STREET, 2 PM - 4 PM NORTH LAMMA.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
------0--------
UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES IN TO KWA WAN TO BE CLOSED * * * * «
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES ON THE ROOF OF 40 AND 42 NGAN HON STREET, TO KWA WAN, SO THAT THEY CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS AND THE PUBLIC.
A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON SEPTEMBER 26 THIS YEAR WAS POSTED ON A: CONSPICUOUS PART OF THE STRUCTURES TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, A CLOSURE ORDER IS REQUIRED BEFORE THE DEMOLITION CAN BE CARRIED OUT.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMOLITION WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT ONCE A CLOSURE ORDER IS OBTAINED.
-----0------
AIR-CONDITIONED COACHES TO SERVE ON KMB ROUTE 2
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM FRIDAY (JUNE 29), KMB ROUTE 2 PLYING BETWEEN STAR FERRY AND SO UK WILL BE SERVICE BY BOTH NON AIR-CONDITIONED DOUBLE-DECK BUSES AND AIR-CONDITIONED SINGLEDECK COACHES.
FOR THE AIR-CONDITIONED COACH SERVICE, $4 WILL BE CHARGED PER SINGLE JOURNEY.
A SECTION FARE OF $3 WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE NATHAN ROAD/BUTE STREET JUNCTION ON JOURNEYS TO STAR FERRY AND AT THE LAI CHI KOK ROAD/NATHAN ROAD JUNCTION ON JOURNEYS TO SO UK.
THE EXISTING FARE OF $1.70 PER SINGLE JOURNEY FOR THE NON AIR-CONDITIONED BUS SERVICE REMAINS UNCHANGED.
NOTICES WILL BE PUT UP INSIDE THE VEHICLES AND AT TERMINAL POINTS TO INFORM THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC OF THESE CHANGES.
------0-------
/49 ......
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990
- 49 -
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN QUARRY BAY *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY
JUNE 29), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS IN QUARRY BAY WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY:
* HONG YUE STREET BETWEEN A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES WEST OF ITS
JUNCTION WITH HONG SHING STREET AND A POINT ABOUT 110 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION; AND
» HONG SHING STREET BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH HONG YUE STREET AND A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
--------0-----------
VEHICLE LENGTH LIMIT IN JARDINE'S LOOKOUT ♦ * » ♦ ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 29), VEHICLES EXCEEDING SEVEN METRES IN LENGTH WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING LEFT FROM MOUNT BUTLER ROAD NORTHBOUND ONTO HENDERSON ROAD IN JARDINE’S LOOKOUT.
VEHICLES EXCEEDING SUCH LENGTH HEADING FOR HENDERSON ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA TAI HANG ROAD AND PERKINS ROAD.
---------0-----------
LONG VEHICLE BAN ZONE IN HO MAN TIN ******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (JUNE 29), ALL VEHICLES EXCEEDING 10 METRES IN LENGTH WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF GULLANE ROAD BETWEEN ARGYLE STREET AND TWEED ROAD, IN HO MAN TIN, 24 HOURS DAILY.
------0--------
BAN ZONE IN NEW PO LAM BUS TERMINUS »*♦*♦♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM (JUNE !9), THE NEW PO LAM BUS TERMINUS IN TSEUNG DESIGN \TED A BAN ZONE.
10 AM
KWAN
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED P/SSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
ON FRIDAY O WILL BE
TO STOP FOR
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
APPOINTMENT OF KCRC CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE ........................ 1
NO NEW AIDS CASE IN JUNE ................................................ 1
REMINDER ON ILLEGAL FISH MARKETING ...................................... 4
ANTI-II OPERATION IN KWUN TONG........................................... 5
KWAI TSING YOUTH AMBASSADORS TO VISIT JAPAN ............................. 5
TRADE INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION BUREAU'S URBAN DIVISIONS ON MOVE ...... 6
GRADING OF BEACH WATER QUALITY .......................................... 7
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN YAU YAT TSUEN TO BE CLOSED........................ 11
THURSDAY, JUNE 28,
1990
1
APPOINTMENT OF KCRC CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE ♦ * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR KEVIN O. HYDE AS THE CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION UPON THE RETIREMENT OF THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN, MR H.M.G. FORSGATE, ON DECEMBER 24, 1990.
MR HYDE, AGED 45, WAS BORN IN NEW ZEALAND. HAVING OBTAINED HIS LLB AT THE VICTORIA UNIVERSITY IN 1970, HE JOINED THE NEW ZEALAND RAILWAY CORPORATION AND HAS SINCE WORKED IN A NUMBER OF SENIOR POSTS BEFORE TAKING UP HIS PRESENT POSITION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN 1987.
AS CEO HE HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE CORPORATION’S BUSINESS INCLUDING RAIL PASSENGER AND FREIGHT SERVICES, FERRIES, HEAVY ENGINEERING, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT.
HE MANAGES A PROFITABLE ORGANISATION WITH A TOTAL STAFF OF 8,000, WITH TOTAL REVENUE CURRENTLY AT HK$2.8 BILLION.
MR HYDE IS MARRIED WITH THREE CHILDREN.
MR HYDE IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG IN MID AUGUST FIRST TO TAKE OVER FROM MR PETER QUICK THE DUTIES OF MANAGING DIRECTOR AND BECOME CHAIRMAN (DESIGNATE) FROM SEPTEMBER 1 PRIOR TO ASSUMING THE FULL RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CORPORATION IN DECEMBER.
- - 0 - -
NO NEW AIDS CASE IN JUNE ♦ * * » »
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME) CASES IN HONG KONG REMAINS AT 37 TO DATE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
HOWEVER, ONE OF THE AIDS PATIENTS DIED THIS MONTH.
THIS BRINGS TO 23 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AIDS PATIENTS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY WHILE 14 OTHER PATIENTS ARE UNDER COUNSELLING AND TREATMENT.
RELEASING THE MONTHLY STATISTICS ON THE AIDS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT ONE MORE MAN WAS FOUND TO BE POSITIVE FOR THE HIV ANTI-BODY TEST.
/THE TOTAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
- 2 -
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HIV CARRIERS WHO HAVE NOT YET DEVELOPED AIDS WAS 145 AT THE END OF MAY. OF THESE, 52 WERE HAEMOPHILIACS, 76 ACQUIRED THE INFECTION SEXUALLY, THREE WERE DRUG ABUSERS, THREE ACQUIRED THE INFECTION THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSION AND THE INFORMATION FOR THE OTHER 11 WAS INADEQUATE FOR CLASSIFICATION.
UNDER THE AIDS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME STARTED IN 1985, A TOTAL OF 160,598 BLOOD SPECIMENS HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR THE AIDS VIRUS.
THE HONG KONG RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE HAS ALSO SCREENED ALL BLOOD DONORS FOR AIDS.
UP TO LAST MONTH, 725,507 UNITS OF BLOOD HAD BEEN TESTED AND 12 WERE FOUND POSITIVE.
/AIDS VIRUS .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
3
AIDS Virus (HIV) Antibody Testing
Virus
^ent of Health
Apr 85 - Apr 90 May 90 Total
X<N°- . No. No. # No.
tested ±ve tested *ve tested ♦ve
Referrals from Govt, hospitals and clinics 10 487 62 203 0 10 690 62
ft &kfe. K S. to 4A. Referrals from private practitioners and subverted hospitals Attendances at social x 1 940 40 12 0 1 952 40
hygiene clinics 139 901 20 2 517 1 142 418 21
Haemophiliacs 428 56 4 0 432 56
IV drug abusers 4 093 1 114 0 4 207 1
Referrals from Family Planning Association 202 0 2 0 204 0
Health care personnel 681 0 14 0 695 0
w
Total 157 732 179 2 866 1 160 598 180
& Vs->Av
* This indicates the number of specimens and not persons as tests are certain individuals.
repeated for
Aug 85 - Apr 90 May 90 Total
No. tested No. +ve No. No. tested 4-ve No. No. tested +ve
Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service 711 636 10 13 871 2 725 507 12
Department of Health June 1990 o
/4 ........
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
4
REMINDER ON ILLEGAL FISH MARKETING
******
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) IS CO-OPERATING WITH THE POLICE TO STEP UP PROSECUTION ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL FISH MARKETING ACTIVITIES IN THE TERRITORY.
THE SENIOR FISHERIES OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT, MR RAYMOND CHUNG, ISSUED A REMINDER TODAY (THURSDAY) FOLLOWING A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH THREE MEN WERE EACH FINED $5,000 AT THE CENTRAL MAGISTRACY FOR TRANSPORTING A TOTAL OF 2,605 KILOGRAMS OF MARINE FISH WITHOUT PERMIT.
TWO OF THE DEFENDANTS WERE ALSO SENTENCED TO THREE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS.
IN ADDITION, ALL THE FISH SEIZED, VALUED AT MORE THAN $27,000, WERE CONFISCATED.
THE THREE MEN WERE ARRESTED ON MAY 25 THIS YEAR DURING A JOINT OPERATION OF THE POLICE AND AFD TO COMBAT ILLEGAL FISH MARKETING ACTIVITIES IN CAUSEWAY BAY.
MR CHUNG SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT HEAVY PENALTIES IMPOSED BY THE COURT, TOGETHER WITH STRINGENT LAW ENFORCEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT, WOULD FURTHER DETER PEOPLE FROM BREACHING THE LAW.
UNDER THE MARINE FISH (MARKETING) ORDINANCE, IT IS AN OFFENCE TO TRANSPORT OVER 60 KILOGRAMS OF MARINE FISH ON LAND OR IN THE WATERS OF HONG KONG IN ANY VESSEL OTHER THAN A FISHING VESSEL WITHOUT A PERMIT. IT IS ALSO AN OFFENCE TO LAND MARINE FISH OUTSIDE THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS WITHOUT A PERMIT.
OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000 AND SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT.
DURING THE PAST 18 MONTHS, THERE WERE 178 SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO ILLEGAL FISH MARKETING, INVOLVING 195 DEFENDANTS.
THE TOTAL FINE AMOUNTED TO $174,300. A TOTAL OF 55 TONNES OF MARINE FISH, VALUED AT ABOUT $599,000, WERE ALSO CONFISCATED.
- - 0---------
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
- 5 -
ANTI-II OPERATION IN KWUN TONG *****
IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS CARRIED OUT AN ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OPERATION IN KWUN TONG YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).
THEY MADE IDENTITY CHECKS ON 130 PERSONS AT 29 LOCATIONS.
DURING THE OPERATION, SEVEN OVERSTAYERS AND ONE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM CHINA WERE APPREHENDED.
THE SEVEN OVERSTAYERS — THREE FEMALES AGED 18 TO 57 AND FOUR MALES AGED 20 TO 26 -- ARE ALL NATIVES OF FUKIEN. THEY ARE TWO-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS AND HAVE OVERSTAYED IN HONG KONG FOR ABOUT TWO TO SEVEN MONTHS.
THE FEMALE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, AGED 27, IS A NATIVE OF HAI FUNG AND CLAIMED TO HAVE SLIPPED INTO HONG KONG IN JANUARY LAST YEAR. HER HUSBAND, A HONG KONG RESIDENT, IS ASSISTING WITH THE INVESTIGATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT REITERATED THAT THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
HE ALSO WARNED THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BREACHED THEIR CONDITION OF STAY HERE ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND UPON CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $5,000 AND TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.
PERSONS WHO AID AND ABET PEOPLE TO COMMIT THESE OFFENCES ARE ALSO LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND PENALTY.
-----0------
KWAI TSING YOUTH AMBASSADORS TO VISIT JAPAN
******
FOURTEEN YOUNG PEOPLE FROM KWAI TSING DISTRICT WILL GO ON A SEVEN-DAY STUDY TOUR TO JAPAN ON TUESDAY (JULY 3).
THE YOUTH AMBASSADORS ARE WINNERS OF AN ESSAY COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE IN APRIL AND MAY THIS YEAR.
HEADED BY THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PAUL TANG, AND A LOCAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, MR WAN HING-YUEN, THE DELEGATION WILL VISIT A COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS FACTORY, AN AIRLINE COMPANY, A FLOWERS EXPOSITION, THE TOKYO BUREAU OF CITIZENS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, THE METROPOLITAN ART MUSEUM AND THE HALL OF MARTIAL ARTS.
/THE REGIONAL .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
- 6 -
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ADOLF HSU, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ESSAY COMPETITION ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR CHAN KWOK-WAI, WILL PRESENT A FLAG TO THE DELEGATION AT A CEREMONY TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
NOTE TO EDITORS:-.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FLAG PRESENTATION WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, 10TH FLOOR, KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING (NEXT TO KWAI HING MTR STATION), KWAI CHUNG.
-----0------
TRADE INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION BUREAU’S URBAN DIVISIONS ON MOVE
******
URBAN DIVISIONS OF THE TRADE INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION BUREAU (TIVB) OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL OPERATE FROM NEW PREMISES AT TRADE DEPARTMENT TOWER (FORMERLY KNOWN AS ARGYLE CENTRE TOWER II), 700 NATHAN ROAD, FROM MONDAY (JULY 2).
THESE ARE THE HONG KONG INSPECTION DIVISION, THE KOWLOON EAST INSPECTION DIVISION, THE KOWLOON WEST INSPECTION DIVISION AND THE TRADE CONTROLS VERIFICATION DIVISION, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED ON THE 14TH, 15TH AND 16TH FLOORS OF THE BUILDING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN TELEPHONE 309 1712 FOR ENQUIRIES.
THE THREE INSPECTION DIVISIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FACTORY AND CONSIGNMENT INSPECTIONS RELATING TO CERTIFICATE ORIGIN INCLUDING GSP (FORM A), TEXTILE EXPORT AND IMPORT LICENCES AND OTHER TRADE LICENCES ISSUED BY THE TRADE DEPARTMENT FOR HONG KONG AND OUTLYING ISLANDS, AND KOWLOON.
THE TRADE CONTROLS VERIFICATIONS DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFICATION OF IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATIONS TO ENSURE PROPER LODGEMENT AND PAYMENT OF AD VALOREM CHARGE AND CLOTHING TRAINING LEVY; VERIFICATION OF ACCURACY OF DATA DECLARED ON THE IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATIONS WITH EMPHASIS ON THE TRADE VALUES DECLARED; AND VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF GOODS FOR PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT AT THE IMPORTING END UNDER THE GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES.
TIVB’S NEW TERRITORIES INSPECTION DIVISION, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FACTORY AND CONSIGNMENT INSPECTIONS COVERING THE NEW TERRITORIES, WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE FROM THIRD FLOOR, PHASE II, TSUEN WAN GARDEN, 12-18 TEXACO ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
--------0-----------
/7........
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
- 7 -
GRADING OF BEACH WATER QUALITY
******
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED GRADES ON THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF ALL BATHING BEACHES IN HONG KONG.
THE PURPOSE OF THE GRADING SYSTEM IS TO “'FORM SWIMMERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE STATE OF BACTERIAL POLLUTION AT VARIOUS BEACHES. THE GRADING WILL BE ANNOUNCED BIWEEKLY DURING THE BATHING SEASON TO COINCIDE WITH THE FREQUENCY AT WHICH BEACH WATERS ARE USUALLY SAMPLED.
THE GRADING IS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT E. COLI DATA OBTAINED BY THE EPD 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 WHICH HAS SOME DEGREE OF POLLUTION. THE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON A VERY 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 BACTERIAL QUALITY OF BATHING WATERS 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.
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 MILLILITRES 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 MILLILITRES 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 ACCEPTABLE. THE E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITRES 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 POOR. THE E. COLI COUNT IS MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITRES AT EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS MORE THAN 15 CASES OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.
THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE A BEACH TO SWIMMERS IS BASED ON A JUDGEMENT OF WHAT DEGREE OF POLLUTION IS ACCEPTABLE.
/NORMALLY, THE ........
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
- 8 -
NORMAIi THE CLOSURE OF A BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE URBAN OR (.TONAL COUNCIL IF A "4" GRADING OCCURRED REPEATEDLY, SO THAT "HE AVEIAGE HEALTH RISK OVER THE BATHING SEASON EXCEEDED 15 CASES PER 1,( '0 SWIMMERS. SIMILARLY, THE REOPENING OF A CLOSED BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF A "3" GRADE OR BETTER WERE CONSISTENTLY OBTAINED.
AT PRESENT, TWO BATHING BEACHES, NAMELY CASTLE PEAK AND OLD CAFETERIA, HAVE BEEN DECLARED UNSUITABLE FOR SWIMMING PURPOSES, BASED ON THE WATER QUALITY DURING PAST SEASONS. THEY ARE POLLUTED BY FAECAL WASTES AND FAIL TO ACHIEVE CONSISTENTLY THE HONG KONG STANDARDS. THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED NOT TO SWIM IN THE WATER AT THESE TWO BEACHES.
IN ADDITION, ROCKY BAY BEACH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SWIMMING PURPOSES BY THE URBAN COUNCIL. THESE THREE BEACHES ARE IDENTIFIED BY AN "X" IN THE FOLLOWING LIST.
THE GRADES ON THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF VARIOUS BEACHES IN HONG KONG AS AT TODAY ARE LISTED BELOW:
BEACH LAST GRADING PRESENT GRADING
(AS AT 14.6.90) (AS AT 28.6.90)
HONG KONG SOUTH
BIG WAVE BAY 3 3
CHUNG HOM KOK 2 2
DEEP WATER BAY 1 1
HAIRPIN 3 3
MIDDLE BAY 1 1
REPULSE BAY 1 1
SHEK 0 3 4
SOUTH BAY 1 1
ST STEPHEN’S 1 2
TURTLE COVE 2 2
STANLEY MAIN 2 2
ROCKY BAY X X
TO TEI WAN* 1 1
/TOEN MUN .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
- 9 -
TUEN MUN DISTRICT
OLD CAFETERIA X
NEW CAFETERIA 2
CASTLE PEAK X
KADO0RIE 2
BUTTERFLY 2
A» •
ISLifbiDS DISTRICT
* t
CHEtJNG SHA UPPER 1
CHEtfNG SHA LOWER 2
DISCOVERY BAY* 2
HUNG SHING YEH 1
KWUN YAM WAN 1
TONG FUK 1
LO SO SHING 1
PUI 0 2
SILVERMINE BAY 3
TUNG WAN, CHEUNG CHAU 1
TUNG O», 2
SAI KUNG DISTRICT
CAMPERS 2
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) 3
X
2
X
2
3
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
3
3
/TSUEN WAN .......
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
- 10 -
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT
ANGLERS ’ 2 3
APPROACH 2 2
CASAM 2 2
GEMINI 2 2
HOI MEI WAN 2 2
LIDO 2 2
TING KAU 3 4
TUNG WAN, MA WAN 1 1
NOTE: ”X’’ THE BEACH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SWIMMING PURPOSES
* NON-GAZETTED BEACHES.
THE FOLLOWING BEACHES HAVE CHANGED GRADING ON THIS OCCASION:
PUI 0, FROM "2" TO "1”; ST STEPHEN’S, CLEAR WATER BAY 1ST AND CLEAR WATER BAY 2ND FROM "1" TO "2"; SILVERSTRAND, ANGLERS’ AND BUTTERFLY FROM "2" TO "3".
THE CHANGES ARE WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE OF FLUCTUATION OF THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF THESE BEACHES.
SHEK 0 AND TING KAU, FROM ”3” TO "4".
THE DOWNGRADING OF SHEK O BEACH AND TING KAU BEACH IS DUE TO THE RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH HAS CAUSED POLLUTANTS IN THE BEACH HINTERLANDS TO BE FLUSHED INTO THE BEACH WATER.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT THE PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER (WATER POLICY) OF EPD, MR PAUL R. HOLMES, ON TEL. 835 1234.
--------0-----------
/Il........
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1990
11
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN YAU YAT TSUEN TO BE CLOSED
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AT FLAT B, THIRD FLOOR, SUNSHINE COURT, 4 VERBENA ROAD, YAU YAT TSUEN, AND ON ITS APPERTAINING ROOF SO THAT THEY CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS ANO THE PUBLIC.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT COURT ON JULY 26 THIS YEAR WAS POSTED ON A CONSPICUOUS PART OF THE STRUCTURES TODAY (THURSDAY).
UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, A CLOSURE ORDER IS REQUIRED BEFORE THE DEMOLITION CAN BE CARRIED OUT.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMOLITION WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDER IS OBTAINED.
------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO^
GOVERNOR DISCUSSES VARIOUS ISSUES WITH PM .........................
SECOND READING OF NATIONALITY BILL IN HOUSE OF LORDS WELCOMED......
ADVANCE FOR PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY APPROVED ...•............
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN AIR QUALITY EXPECTED ...................
NEW REGULATIONS TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY ............................
7
AGE ORDINANCE COMES INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER ........................
g
TWO SHIPPING AMENDMENT BILLS GAZETTED .............................
Q
PROPOSALS TO PROVIDE TELEPOINT SERVICES INVITED ...................
WESTERN MARKET, OLD PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE DECLARED MONUMENTS ................ 1°
12
OZP AMENDED TO FACILITATE ESTATE REDEVELOPMENT ....................
AREA IN SHEUNG WAN TO BE REDEVELOPED...............................
BENEFITS OF GOOD BUILDING MANAGEMENT STRESSED .....................
24 TRADERS FINED FOR USING INACCURATE INSTRUMENTS .................
COPYRIGHT PROTECTION EXTENDS TO WORKS OF TAIWANESE ORIGIN .........
16
CAREERS FILMS TO BE SHOWN ON TV .................................
TENDERS INVITED FOR NW KOWLOON SEWAGE DISPOSAL PROJECT ............
18
TENDERS INVITED FOR SLUDGE DISPOSAL ...............................
AMS PARADE AND RECRUITMENT DAY IN SAI KUNG ........................
TENDERS INVITED FOR BREAKWATER MODIFICATION WORKS .................
20
REVISION OF PARKING METER CHARGES IN EASTERN DISTRICT .............
20
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE ON CHEUNG CHAU .............................
20 FRESH WATER CUT IN KWAI CHUNG ...................................
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
GOVERNOR DISCUSSE-' VARIOUS ISSUES WITH PM ♦ * t * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID IN LONDON YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) EVENING THAT HIS MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER HAD BEEN USEFUL AND THAT HE HAD BROUGHT HER UP TO DATE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A ONE-HOUR MEETING WITH MRS THATCHER, SIR DAVID SAID THE PRIME MINISTER TOOK A GREAT INTEREST IN ISSUES CONCERNING HONG KONG.
THE ISSUES DISCUSSED INCLUDED THE STATE OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMY, MAJOR PROJECTS FOR THE FUTURE, VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, THE TERRITORY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA AND THE COMING VISIT TO PEKING BY THE MINISTER WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR FRANCIS MAUDE.
SIR DAVID EXPRESSED APPRECIATION OF THE EFFORT MADE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE DESPITE POLITICAL PROBLEMS IN BRITAIN.
ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY INDICATION OF AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PASSPORTS TO BE ISSUED, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE BILL WAS GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON JUNE 29 AND THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF CHANGING IT.
HE SAID THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE WAS ONE OF THE WAYS OF TACKLING THE BRAIN DRAIN IN HONG KONG. THE OTHER WAY WAS DEVELOPING LOCAL TALENTS, INCREASING THE TERRITORY’S OWN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, BUILDING UNIVERSITIES AND SO ON.
BUT SIR DAVID SAID HE DID NOT THINK IT WOULD CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS.
AS FOR CHINA’S OBJECTION TO THE NATIONALITY BILL, SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS A QUESTION OF EXPLAINING TO THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP THE PURPOSE OF THE PACKAGE WHICH WAS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SO THAT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO ITS SUCCESS AND THERE WAS NO HIDDEN AND SINISTER MOTIVE BEHIND IT.
HE HOPED THE CHINESE WOULD REALISE THAT THE PACKAGE WOULD GENUINELY BE A BENEFIT TO HONG KONG.
ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING UNDERHAND ABOUT IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT THAT CONFLICTED WITH THE BASIC LAW.
HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTACT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA AND HE THOUGHT THE ATMOSPHERE NOW WAS BETTER THAN IT WAS SIX MONTHS AGO.
/ON THE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 2 -
ON THE VBP ISSUE, THE GOVERNOR SAID WE HAD A MANAGEABLE SITUATION BUT WE STILL HAD A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.
> ■
THE PRIME MINISTER FULLY UNDERSTOOD HONG KONG’S POLICY AND WAS FULLY SUPPORTIVE, HE SAID..
THE GOVERNOR SAID THEY HAD NOT TALKED ABOUT THE FANG LIZHI ISSUE BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTED HONG KONG. HE ALSO SAID HE AND MRS THATCHER DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE TERM OF HIS APPOINTMENT.
----U----
SECOND READING OF NATIONALITY BILL IN HOUSE OF LORDS WELCOMED *****
A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) WELCOMED THE PASSAGE OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) BILL THROUGH ITS: SECOND READING IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THE BILL TO GO THROUGH ITS COMMITTEE STAGE, REPORT STAGE AND THIRD READING.
"WE ARE STILL AIMING TO OBTAIN ROYAL ASSENT TO THE BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT RISES FOR THE SUMMER RECESS. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE AT THE END OF JULY," HE SAID.
MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE THAT THEY MUST BE HONG KONG BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS (BDTC’S), BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS) (BN(O)’S), BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS (BOC’S), BRITISH PROTECTED PERSONS (BPP’S), OR BRITISH SUBJECTS (BS’S) AND SETTLED IN HONG KONG.
"OTHER HONG KONG RESIDENTS MUST APPLY FOR NATURALISATION BEFORE THE BILL IS GIVEN ROYAL ASSENT IF THEY WISH TO BECOME ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE SCHEME," THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.
"ANY PERSON WHO HAS LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST .FIVE YEARS AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO LIMIT OF STAY CAN APPLY FOR NATURALISATION, IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE," HE SAID.
"THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY FOR NATURALISATION," HE SAID.
"IF ANY PERSON HAS ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING NATURALISATION REQUIREMENTS, HE SHOULD DIRECT HIS ENQUIRIES TO THE INFORMATION SECTION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, TELEPHONE NUMBER 829 3333 OR
824 6111," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
/3........
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 3 -
ADVANCE FOR PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY APPROVED
*»»»»*
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY (FRIDAY) APPROVED A COMMITMENT OF $20 MILLION AS AN ADVANCE TO THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO FINANCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT AND INITIAL OPERATION.
ON OCTOBER 10 LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ORDERED, I) ALIA, THAT A PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY SHOULD BE SET UP TO PJ’EPARE P( R THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT AND THAT SUBSEQUENTLY AN AIRPORT AUTHORITY SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO CARRY FORWARD THE PLANNING, FUNDING, DEVELOPMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AIRPORT.
A BILL PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 4 THIS YEAR AND THE RESULTANT ORDINANCE WAS GAZETTED ON APRIL 6.
APPOINTMENTS TO THE AUTHORITY WERE ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 15 AND THE FIRST MEETING WAS HELD ON THE SAME DAY.
DURING ITS TENURE THE MAIN TASK OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY WILL BE TO ESTABLISH A CORE MANAGEMENT GROUP, HEADED BY A CHiEF EXI IUTIVE OFFICER, THAT WILL BE CAPABLE OF OVERSEEING THE CONSULTANTS ENGAGED TO PREPARE THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN ENGINEERING DESIGN F >R THE AIRPORT, ESTABLISHING POLICIES ON FINANCIAL AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT, DETERMINING PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING PROCEDURES, AND GENERALLY PLANNING FOR THE ORGANISATION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY.
THE LEGISLATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY WILL PROVIDE FOR THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO TAKE OVER ALL THE ASSETS, LIABILITIES, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY.
THE LATTER WILL BE DEEMED TO BE DISSOLVED ON THE DATE WHEN THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY COMES INTO EXISTENCE.
AT THE SAME TIME, ALL ADVANCES MADE TO THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORIT7 AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT DIRECT EXPENDITURE WHICH IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NEW AIRPORT WILL BE CONVERTED INTO GOVERNMENT EQUITY II THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY.
--------0-----------
/4 ........
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
4 -
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN AIR QUALITY EXPECTED
PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING IN KWUN TONG, KWAI TSING, TSUEN WAN AND OTHER MIXED INDUSTRIAL/RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN HONG KONG CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN AIR QUALITY FROM JULY.
AIR POLLUTION BY SULPHUR DIOXIDE, WHICH ATTACKS THE LUNGS, IS
EXPECTED TO DROP BY ALMOST 80 PER CENT IN HONG KONG’S MAIN INDUSTRIAL
AREAS AFTER THE FUEL (RESTRICTION) REGULATIONS COME INTO EFFECT ON
SUNDAY (JULY 1).
THE USE OF HIGH SULPHUR HEAVY FUEL OIL WILL BE BANNED
THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY AS FROM SUNDAY, UNDER THESE REGULATIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) SAID THAT BY LIMITING THE SPECIFICATION OF LIQUID FUELS TO NO MORE THAN 0.5 PER CENT BY WEIGHT OF SULPHUR AND A MAXIMUM VISCOSITY OF SIX CENTISTOKES, THE REGULATIONS SHOULD REMOVE ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF THE SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND UP TO 90 PER CENT OF SMOKE AND PARTICULATES EMITTED FROM INDUSTRIES.
"RESIDENTS LIVING IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS SURROUNDED BY CHIMNEYS SHOULD BE ABLE TO BREATHE MUCH MORE EASILY VERY SOON," HE SAID.
AT PRESENT, ABOUT 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN AREAS WHERE THE HEALTH-RELATED AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR SULPHUR DIOXIDE ARE NOT BEING MET. MANY PEOPLE ARE AT THE SAME TIME AFFECTED BY HIGH LEVELS OF SMOKE AND PARTICULATES EMITTED FROM FACTORY CHIMNEYS.
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FUEL RESTRICTION REGULATIONS WILL MEAN THAT MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO FUEL-BURNING APPLIANCES ARE REQUIRED IN ABOUT 1,000 FACTORIES AS WELL AS IN VARIOUS GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND HOSPITALS.
THE EPD SENT OUT LETTERS IN MARCH TO ALL THOSE AFFECTED TO INFORM THEM OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW REGULATIONS AND TO REMIND THEM TO MAKE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS IN TIME TO MEET THE TARGET DATE OF JULY 1.
FOLLOW-UP ENQUIRIES TO BOTH END USERS AND SUPPLIERS HAVE SHOWN THAT OVER 90 PER CENT OF THE FACTORIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED HAVE ALREADY MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONVERTING THEIP BOILERS TO USE THE LIGHT DIESEL OIL BY JULY 1.
"SO F^R, ONLY A HANDFUL OF FACTORIES HAVE RUN INTO PROPLEMS IN MODIFYING THEIR APPLIANCES, AND IN MOST CASES THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN SOLVED AFTER WE WERE CALLED IN FOR ADVICE," HE SAID.
"IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT THE BULK OF INDUSTRY IS DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT," THE EPD SPOKESMAN SAID. *
/HE POINTED .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 5 -
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT EPD INSPECTORS WOULD BE OBLIGED BY THE LAW TO PROSECUTE ANYBODY FOUND USING HEAVY FUEL OIL AFTER JULY 1.
EPD OFFICERS HAVE BEEN EXAMINING THEIR AIR QUALITY DATA CLOSELY FOR SIGNS OF THE CHANGE IN POLLUTION LEVELS THAT IS EXPECTED.
THE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED, HOWEVER, BECAUSE MEASURED POLLUTION LEVELS DEPEND NOT ONLY ON POLLUTING EMISSIONS BUT ALSO ON WIND DIRECTION AND OTHER ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS, SO IT MAY BE A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE REAL EXTENT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE CONCLUDED REI IABLY FROM THE MONITORING DATA.
WITH THIS IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN AIR POLLUTION CONTROL SHORTLY TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW PRESSING FORWARD WITH PLANS TO CONTROL THE POLLUTING EMISSIONS FROM MOTOR VEHICLES.
’’THE BENEFITS FROM OUR MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL PROGRAMME WILL SHOW UP MUCH MORE SLOWLY IN TERMS OF AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS THAN THE CONTROLS ON INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS, BUT THIS PROGRAMME IS A VITAL ELEMENT OF OUR PLAN TO LET EVERYBODY BREATHE EASIER IN HONG KONG,” THE EPD SPOKESMAN SAID.
--------0-----------
NEW REGULATIONS TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY
* * * * »
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY AND FACILITATE POLICE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UNDER THE AMENDMENTS, CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS REGARDING BRAKE FAILURE WARNING DEVICES, SIDEGUARDS AND REARGUARDS WILL BE INTRODUCED, AND ALTERATIONS TO VEHICLES WHICH INCREASE THE REFLECTING EFFECT OF SAFETY GLASS OR GLAZING WILL BE PROHIBITED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESENT REGULATIONS SPECIFIED STANDARDS REGARDING THE DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF BRAKING SYSTEMS.
’’THE NEW AMENDMENTS REQUIRE VEHICLES WITH A HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM ALSO TO BE FITTED WITH A WARNING DEVICE TO INDICATE IMPENDING BRAKE FAILURE,” HE SAID.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT REQUIRES VEHICLES WITH A FULL AIR BRAKING SYSTEM TO BE FITTED WITH AN AUDIBLE DEVICE TO INDICATE LOW PRESSURE AND DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE DRIVER WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE CONCENTRATING ON THE ROAD AHEAD.
/THE NEW .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 6 -
THE NEW REQUIREMENTS WILL APPLY ONLY TO ALL NEW VEHICLES MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1990 AND REGISTERED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1990.
"THE MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE EXPECTED TO BE FITTED ALREADY WITH THE REQUIRED WARNING DEVICES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT FROM MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE THE MAJOR VEHICLE IMPORTERS WERE ADVISED OF THE PROPOSED REQUIREMENTS BEFORE 1989," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TO REINFORCE EXISTING REGULATIONS, AN AMENDMENT HAS BEEN MADE TO PROHIBIT ANY ALTERATION OR ADDITION TO ANY WINDSCREEN, WINDOW OR PARTITION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH INCREASES THE REFLECTING EFFECT OF THE SAFETY GLASS OR GLAZING.
UNTIL RECENTLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE EXISTING PROVISION HAD BEEN ADEQUATE IN PREVENTING THE GENERAL APPLICATION OF TINTED FILM WHICH, WHILE REDUCING THE SUN’S HEATING EFFECT, ALSO REDUCES THE VISIBILITY OF A CAR’S OCCUPANTS TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE.
"THERE IS A NEED TO STOP THE USE OF TINTED FILM FOR OPERATIONAL REASONS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ON SIDEGUARDS AND REARGUARDS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NEW AMENDMENTS REQUIRE THOSE GOODS VEHICLES, TRAILERS AND SEMI-TRAILERS WITH A LARGE OPEN GAP BETWEEN THE AXLES TO BE EQUIPPED WITH PROTECTIVE DEVICES KNOWN AS SIDEGUARDS SO AS TO PREVENT PEDESTRIANS OR CYCLISTS BEING RUN OVER IN AN ACCIDENT.
IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO REQUIRE CERTAIN CLASSES OF GOODS VEHICLES, TRAILERS AND SEMI-TRAILERS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ROBUST REARGUARD PROTECTION.
THE NEW REGULATIONS WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM JULY 1, 1990. VEHICLES WHICH ARE REGISTERED OR LICENSED BEFORE JULY 1, 1990 WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REGULATIONS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. THE GRACE PERIOD WILL ALLOW OWNERS OF EXISTING VEHICLES SUFFICIENT TIME TO INSTALL SIDEGUARDS AND REARGUARDS TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW REQUIREMENTS.
A BILINGUAL LEAFLET, "A GUIDE TO NEW TRAFFIC RULES ON VEHICLE SAFETY", GIVING GENERAL DETAILS ON THE NEW REQUIREMENTS HAS BEEN PUBLISHED. IT IS AVAILABLE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT LICENSING OFFICES.
---------0-----------
/7........
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 7 -
AGE ORDINANCE COMES INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER * * * * *
THE AGE OF MAJORITY (RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE 1990 WILL COME I TO OPERATION ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY 'FRIDAY).
THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 16 THIS YEAR, LOWERED THE AGE OF MAJORITY FROM 21 TO 18 FOR MOST PURPOSES.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID SECTION 2 OF THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT A PERSON REACHES THE AGE OF MAJORITY AT 18. IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT A PERSON WHO IS OVER 18 AND UNDER 21 AT THE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE ATTAINS FULL AGE ON THAT DATE.
SECTION 5 MAKES IT CLEAR THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE, WHERE A PERSON HAS BEEN BORN ON FEBRUARY 29 OF A LEAP YEAR, HIS OR HER BIRTHDAY SHALL BE MARCH 1 IN ANY YEAR OTHER THAN A LEAP YEAR.
SECTION 11 AND 12 PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS 18 OR OVER CAN NOW MAKE A VALID WILL.
SECTION 13 REDUCES FROM 21 TO 18 THE AGE AT WHICH A PERSON IS CAPABLE OF BEING APPOINTED A DIRECTOR OF A COMPANY.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO THE LAW IN RELATION TO CONTRACTS MADE BY MINORS.
ON THE LAW IN RELATION TO GUARANTEES OF MINORS’ CONTRACTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID SECTION 3 OF THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT A GUARANTEE OF AN OBLIGATION INCURRED BY A MINOR SHALL NO LONGER BE UNENFORCEABLE AGAINST THE GUARANTOR ON THE GROUND OF AGE ALONE.
AN AMENDMENT IN RELATION TO MINORS’ CONTRACTS IS MADE TO SECTION 46 OF THE DISTRICT COURT ORDINANCE, WHICH REMOVED THE DEFENCE OF MINORITY IN RESPECT OF CLAIMS IN THE DISTRICT COURT.
SECTION 18 RESTORES THE DEFENCE OF INFANCY IN ALL ACTIONS BROUGHT IN THE DISTRICT COURT IN RESPECT OF AGREEMENTS MADE AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT DATE OF THE ORDINANCE.
AS FOR THE SALE OF PROPERTY OR GOODS TO MINORS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID A DISHONEST MINOR COULD TAKE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE UNDER A CONTRACT WHICH WAS UNENFORCEABLE AGAINST HIM BECAUSE OF HIS MINORITY.
SECTION 4 THUS PROVIDES A REMEDY FOR THE OTHER PARTY OF THE CONTRACT BY EMPOWERING A COURT TO REQUIRE A MINOR TO RESTORE PROPERTY TO THE OTHER PARTY WHEN THE COURT CONSIDERS IT JUST AND EQUITABLE TO DO SO.
/WHILE THE .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 19 W
- 8 -
WHILE THE AGE AT WHICH A PERSON CAN MARRY WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT REMAINS AT 21, SECTION 17 PROVIDES THAT ANY PERSON AGED BETWEEN 1G AND 21 WHO NEEDS TO HAVE THE CONSENT OF A PARENT OR A GUARD1AN TO MARRY CAN APPLY TO A COURT FOR PERMISSION TO MARRY IF THAT CONSENT IS WITHHELD.
THERE ARE SOME TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE. ON FUNDS IN COURTS, SECTION 20 PROVIDES THAT A REFERENCE TO THE AGE OF 21 IN COURT ORDERS ALREADY IN FORCE RELATING TO MONEY RECOVERED BY OR ON BEHALF OF AN INFANT SHOULD BE READ AS A REFERENCE TO THE AGE OF 18.
WHEN CONSIDERING THE VALIDITY OF A DISPOSITION UNDER ANY INSTRUMENT MADE BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT DATE, SECTION 23 PROVIDES THAT THE AGE OF MAJORITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE 21 IN SO FAR AS PERMISSIBLE PERIODS FOR ACCUMULATION OF INCOME UNDER THE PERPETUITIES AND ACCUMULATIONS ORDINANCE ARE CONCERNED.
PROVISIONS RELATING TO AGE INCORPORATED INTO ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT DATE OF THE ORDINANCE ARE TO BE CONSTRUED AS IF THE AGE OF MAJORITY REMAINED AT 21.
--------0-----------
TWO SHIPPING AMENDMENT BILLS GAZETTED ******
TWO AMENDMENT BILLS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE OPERATION OF TWO EXISTING ORDINANCES RELATING TO SHIPPING HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THEY ARE THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 AND THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, BOTH OF WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SOON.
ONE OBJECT OF THE AMENDMENT BILLS IS TO EXTEND THE APPLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF COLLISIONS AT SEA (COLREGS) TO INCLUDE ALL HONG KONG VESSELS OPERATING WITHIN AND OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS.
THESE PROVISIONS CLOSE EXISTING LOOPHOLES FOR CERTAIN VESSELS.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT AMENDMENT WILL BE TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO PROVE WILFUL DEFAULT IN ESTABLISHING AN OFFENCE UNDER COLREGS.
THE BILL WILL PROVIDE FOR A DEFENCE ON THE GROUND OF HAVING TAKEN ALL REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS.
THIS AMENDMENT SHOULD ASSIST PROSECUTION CASES FOR CONTRAVENTION WHICH WILL ENHANCE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE REGULATIONS AND SO ENSURE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA.
/ADDITIONALLY THE
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 9 -
ADDITIONALLY THE FINE FOR SUCH AN OFFENCE WILL BE INCREASED FROM $10,000 TO $20,000.
THE BILLS WILL ALSO COVER PROVISIONS TO ALLOW THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO SPECIFY TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND FOR HIM TO GRANT EXEMPTIONS FROM CERTAIN REGULATIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID THE BILLS WOULD HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC APART FROM THOSE CONNECTED WITH COLREGS.
"THESE BILLS WILL HELP IN ENSURING THAT THE SAFETY OF SHIPPING WILL NOT BE JEOPARDISED BY THE FOOLHARDY ACTS OF CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE BOATING COMMUNITY.
"FOR INSTANCE, OPERATORS OF VESSELS ENGAGED IN FISHING IN AREAS WHICH ARE NOT PERMITTED UNDER COLREGS FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONGER ACTION AGAINST THEM," HE SAID.
---------0-----------
PROPOSALS
TO PROVIDE ♦ ♦
TELEPOINT SERVICES INVITED * * * *
IS INVITING INTERESTED TELEPOINT SERVICES LN HONG CORDLESS TELEPHONE (CT2)
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY PARTIES TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS TO PROVIDE KONG BASED ON THE SECOND GENERATION
TECHNOLOGY.
A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
"THE INTRODUCTION OF CT2 AND TELEPOINTS WILL GIVE THE PUBLIC A WIDER CHOICE OF VOICE TELEPHONE SERVICES," THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, SAID.
"HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE AMONG TELECOMMUNICATIONS USERS IN THE WORLD, AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY."
THE MOST SOPHISTICATED
HAVE INDICATED INTEREST IN
GENERATION CORDLESS TELEPHONES, WHICH CAN BE HOMES AND OFFICES, CT2 HANDSETS CAN BE USED AT 100 METRES OF A TRANSMITTING BASE STATION KNOWN
UNLIKE FIRST OPERATED ONLY WITHIN ANY LOCATION WITHIN
AS A TELEPOINT.
"THE FUTURE PROVIDERS OF A TELEPOINT SERVICE WILL BE TO BUILD A LARGE NUMBER OF SUCH TELEPOINTS ALL OVER HONG THAT THE HANDSETS WILL BECOME A FORM OF PORTABLE TELEPHONE,
REQUIRED
KONG, SO
MR WONG
SAID.
ALTHOUGH CT2 HANDSETS CANNOT NORMALLY RECEIVE CALLS WHEN ^SED OUTSIDE THE HOME OR PLACE OF WORK, THEY CAN LINK UP WITH RADIO PAGING SYSTEMS TO ALLOW USERS TO RECEIVE MESSAGE IF DESIRED.
/"WITH THIS .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 10 -
"WITH THIS IN MIND, WE WILL RESERVE SOME RADIO PAGING CHANNELS FOR EVENTUAL TELEPOINT OPERATORS," MR WONG ADDED.
PERSONS INTERESTED IN SETTING UP AND OPERATING TELEPOINT SERVICES SHOULD APPLY TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY AT TELECOMMUNICATIONS BRANCH, SINCERE BUILDING, FIFTH FLOOR, 173 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL FOR DETAILED INFORMATION.
ALL PROPOSALS SHOULD REACH THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 28 THIS YEAR.
PARTIES WHOSE PROPOSALS ARE ACCEPTABLE IN PRINCIPLE TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY WILL BE INVITED TO SUBMIT FORMAL APPLICATIONS.
------0-------
WESTERN MARKET, OLD PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE DECLARED MONUMENTS *******
TWO OLD BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, THE WESTERN MARKET AND THE OLD PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE IN CAINE LANE, WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) GAZETTED AS HISTORICAL BUILDINGS UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE.
THE WESTERN MARKET, AT THE JUNCTION OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, IS THE OLDEST SURVIVING MARKET IN THE TERRITORY.
THE WESTERN MARKET CONSISTED ORIGINALLY OF TWO BUILDINGS, THE SOUTH AND NORTH BLOCKS, WHICH WERE CONSTRUCTED IN THE SAME STYLE BUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND ON SEPARATE STREETS.
THE SOUTH BLOCK WAS BUILT IN 1858 AND DEMOLISHED IN 1980, WHILE THE EXISTING NORTH BLOCK NOW IN SHEUNG WAN WAS BUILT IN 1906.
THE WESTERN MARKET HAS WALLS OF RED BRICK ON A GRANITE BASE, A LARGE AND HANDSOME GRANITE ARCH OVER ITS MAIN ENTRANCE, AND FOUR CORNER TOWERS HIGHLIGHTED IN "BANDAGED" BRICKWORK.
THE FLOORS ARE OF CEMENT CONCRETE AND THE ROOF IS SUPPORTED BY CAST-IRON COLUMNS.
THE MARKET STANDS PROMINENTLY, AMONG HIGH-RISE SURROUNDING STRUCTURES OF MUCH LATER VINTAGE, AS A SMALL BUILDING OF FINE QUALITY AND STYLE.
ALL STALL TENANTS OF THE MARKET HAVE ALL MOVED TO THE NEW URBAN COUNCIL SHEUNG WAN COMPLEX.
/THE LAND........
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 11 -
THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS PLANNED TO RESTORE THE OLD MARKET BUILDING AND RECREATE WITHIN IT SOME TRADITIONAL. TRADES DISPLACED BY THE CORPORATION’S URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS.
WORKS TO TURN THE MARKET INTO A BAZAAR SIMILAR TO THE COVENT GARDEN IN LONDON WILL SOON BE CARRIED OUT. ON COMPLETION, THERE WILL BE SHOPS, FOODS STALLS AND EXHIBITION SPACE.
THE OLD PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE IN CAINE LANE, SHEUNG WAN, WAS BUILT IN 1905.
IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN HONG KONG WERE STILL IN THEIR INFANCY. THE PURSUIT OF THIS BRANCH OF SCIENCE WAS VERY MUCH HANDICAPPED BY THE LACK OF PROPER LABORATORIES AND THE INADEQUACY OF EQUIPMENT.
IN 1905, A BACTERIOLOGICAL INSTITUTE WAS COMPLETED IN CAINE LANE. THE INSTITUTE WAS RENAMED THE PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
IT CONSISTED OF A TWO-STOREY MAIN BLOCK WITH A BASEMENT AND TWO SUBSIDIARY BLOCKS, ONE FOR SERVANTS’ QUARTERS AND THE OTHER FOR STABLES AND ANIMAL HOUSES.
THE BALCONIES OF THE BUILDING EXTEND ALONG THE WHOLE OF THE NORTH FACADE ON THE GROUND AND UPPER FLOORS AND THERE ARE VERANDAHS ON THE EAST, SOUTH AND WEST FRONTS.
THE RED BRICK BUILDINGS ARE BUILT IN LIME MORTAR AND POINTED EXTERNALLY IN CEMENT MORTAR.
THE MAIN BLOCK OF THE INSTITUTE IS STILL STRUCTURALLY SOUND, BUT THE STABLE AND ANIMAL HOUSES WERE DEMOLISHED IN 1982.
THE BLOCK FOR SERVANTS’ QUARTERS, WHICH IS NOW IN A DILAPIDATED CONDITION, WILL BE REPAIRED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE MOVED OUT IN 1964, AND THE HISTORIC MEDICAL COMPLEX IS NOW USED AS A MEDICAL STORE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. IT IS A GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AGENCY WILL EXPLORE MORE SUITABLE FUTURE USES FOR THE OLD PATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE AFTER THE MEDICAL STORE IS REPROVISIONED ELSEWHERE.
- - 0---------
/12 .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29,
- 12 -
OZP AMENDED TO FACILITATE ESTATE REDEVELOPMENT
*****
THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED AMENDMENTS 10 THE DRAFT TSZ WAN SHAN, DIAMOND HILL AND SAN PO KONG OUTLINE ZONING FLAN .
A NJMBER OF SITES IN TSZ WAN SHAN ESTATE ARE TO BE REZONED TO "RESIDENTIAL (GROUP A)" TO FACILITATE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ESTATE IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE MANNER.
THESE SITES INCLUDE A SLOPE NORTH OF TSZ WAN SHAN ESTATE, THE CURRENT TSZ WAN SHAN BUS TERMINUS WHICH WILL BE RELOCATED, AND A "GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION/COMMUNITY" SITE WEST OF TSZ LOK ESTATE.
A SITE AT LOK WAH STREET IS REZONED FROM "OPEN SPACE" TO "GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION/COMMUNITY" AND IT WILL BE DEVELOPED INTO AN INDOOR RECREATION CENTRE.
OTHER AMENDMENTS COMPRISE REVISIONS TO THE ALIGNMENTS OF THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL AND THE ASSOCIATED ROAD NETWORK IN THE VICINITY OF DIAMOND HILL FOLLOWING MORE DETAILED PLANNING AND DESIGN.
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT PLAN CAN BE INSPECTED UNTIL AUGUST 29 THIS YEAR AT THE FOLLOWING PLACES:
- THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING ENTRANCE, HONG KONG;
- THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, FOURTH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND
- THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, KING FUK STREET, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON.
ANY PERSON AFFECTED BY THE AMENDMENT PLAN MAY SUBMIT HIS OBJECTION IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD, C/O PLANNING DEPARTMENT, FOURTH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, BY AUGUST 29.
COPIES OF THE AMENDMENT PLAN ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG AND AT THE KOWLOON MAP SALES SECTION, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON, AT $10 FOR EACH UNCOLOURED AND $60 FOR EACH COLOURED COPY.
- - 0----------
/13........
FRIDAY, JUNE 29,
1990
- 13 -
AREA IN SHEUNG WAN TO BE REDEVELOPED
*****
A SMALL AREA OF DILAPIDATED TENEMENTS AND WORKSHOPS IN SHEUNG WAN IS TO BE REDEVELOPED INTO A MODERN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING WITH LOWER FLOOR COMMERCIAL UNITS.
REDEVELOPM1NT OF THE 450 SQUARE METRE SITE WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY AS ONE OF ITS URBAN IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME PROJECTS.
WHEN THE SCHEME IS COMPLETED IN 1992, IT WILL PROVIDE 69 DOMESTIC UNITS FOR SALE, A LANDSCAPED PODIUM FOR THE USE OF FUTURE RESIDENTS AND ABOUT 350 SQUARE METRES OF COMMERCIAL FLOOR SPACE.
THE PROJECT IS SEEN AS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE IN UPGRADING AND REVITALISING A PORTION OF SHEUNG WAN.
TO ENABLE THE SCHEME TO GO AHEAD, THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ORDERED THE RESUMPTION OF ONE PRIVATE LOT AT 2 UPPER STATION STREET AND 182A-182C HOLLYWOOD ROAD.
THOSE TENANTS GENUINELY AFFECTED WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REHOUSING WILL BE REHOUSED IN EXISTING RENTAL ESTATES OF THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY OR, ALTERNATIVELY, THEY CAN ELECT TO PURCHASE AT A DISCOUNT A FLAT IN ONE OF THE HOUSING SOCIETY’S URBAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME DEVELOPMENTS.
AS REGARDS THE AFFECTED NON-DOMESTIC OCCUPANTS, THEIR ENTITLEMENT TO COMPENSATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE STATUTORY PROVISIONS UNDER THE CROWN LANDS RESUMPTION ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 124 OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG).
THE GOVERNMENT WILL OFFER STATUTORY COMPENSATION TO THE LOT OWNERS.
IN KOWLOON, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED THE RESUMPTION OF THREE PRIVATE LOTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC OPEN SPACE AT CANTON ROAD.
THE LOTS, WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 220.64 SQUARE METRES, ARE SITUATED AT NOS. 912, 914 AND 916 CANTON ROAD.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE OPEN SPACE IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN MID-1991 AND WILL TAKE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
RESUMPTION NOTICES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
THE LOTS WILL REVERT TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE EXPIRY OF THREE MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE POSTING OF NOTICES ON THE LOTS.
--------0-----------
/14........
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 14 -
BENEFITS OF GOOD BUILDING MANAGEMENT STRESSED
******
THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEVE BARCLAY, TODAY (FRIDAY) UNDERLINED THE BENEFITS ARISING FROM GOOD MANAGEMENT OF PRIVATE MULTISTOREY BUILDINGS.
WELL-MAINTAINED BUILDINGS WERE SAFER AND CONDUCIVE TO A MUCH BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS AND THE NEIGHBOURING AREAS, HE SAID.
THE BUILDINGS WOULD ALSO HAVE THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF RETAINING THEIR VALUE.
MR BARCLAY MADE THE REMARKS AFTER PRESENTING CERTIFICATES TO ABOUT 80 MEMBERS OF OWNERS CORPORATIONS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES WHO HAD COMPLETED A BUILDING MANAGEMENT TRAINING COURSE.
REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT MATTERS, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROVIDE A SUITABLE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK TO ENABLE FLAT OWNERS AND RESIDENTS TO LOOK AFTER THEIR PROPERTIES.
THERE WAS ALSO THE NEED TO HELP RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THE SOMETIMES COMPLEX LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND PROCEDURES THEY HAD TO FOLLOW.
MR BARCLAY URGED PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE GOOD USE OF WHAT THEY HAD LEARNED FROM THE COURSE AND TO SHARE IT WITH FELLOW FLAT OWNERS AND FRIENDS.
THE COURSE WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT FEDERATION OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDING ORGANISATIONS.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE RESIDENTS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BUILDING MANAGEMENT SUCH AS THE SUPERVISION OF A MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DEEDS OF MUTUAL COVENANT AND THE PROBLEM OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS.
--------0-----------
24 TRADERS FINED FOR USING INACCURATE INSTRUMENTS
A TOTAL OF 24 TRADERS HAVE BEEN WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS SINCE THE WEIGHTS INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1 LAST YEAR.
FINED FOR USING INACCURATE AND MEASURES ORDINANCE CAME
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE THE ENFORCEMENT DATE
ALL THESE TRADERS WERE PROSECUTED BY THE DEPARTMENT AFTER A SIX-MONTH GRACE PERIOD FROM
OF THE ORDINANCE.
/A SPOKESMAN .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 15 -
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE FIGURE REPRESENTED A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF TWO TRADERS BEING BROUGHT TO COURT IN THE 12 MONTHS FOLLOWING THE GRACE PERIOD.
"OF THESE TRADERS PROSECUTED, 20 WERE RETAILERS OF VARIOUS FOOD ITEMS SUCH AS SEAFOOD, FRUIT, VEGETABLE AND ROAST MEAT WHILE THE OTHER FOUR WERE SCRAP DEALERS.
"A TOTAL FINE OF $57,050 HAS BEEN IMPOSED ON THESE OFFENDERS," HE SAID.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS A FINE OF $20,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.
THE LATEST CASES INVOLVED A ROAST MEAT RETAILER AND TWO SCRAP DEALERS, WHO WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $7,000 FOR USING INACCURATE WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS.
THE DEFENDANTS, WHO ALL PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGES, WERE MR CHU KIN-WAH, A ROAST MEAT RETAILER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF BO WAH BUILDING, 5 TAI MING LANE, TAI PO HUI, NEW TERRITORIES, MR YIU CHUNG-HING OF SO KEE WASTED PAPER METAL ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF 306 UN CHAU STREET, KOWLOON; AND MR YUNG WONG-FU OF LUEN FAT WASTE PAPER HO ON THE GROUND FLOOR, 142 YEE KUK STREET, SHAM SHUI PO, KOWLOON.
IN ALL THESE CASES, THE DEFENDANTS’ WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS WERE FOUND TO BE INACCURATE ON PRELIMINARY CHECKS.
TESTS BY THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY LATER REVEALED THAT THE HIGHEST ERRORS OF TWO CHINESE STEELYARDS OWNED BY THE ROAST MEAT RETAILER WERE 10.4 PER CENT AND 12.5 PER CENT IN EXCESS OF THE ACTUAL WEIGHT RESPECTIVELY.
AS FOR THE TWO PLATFORM WEIGHING MACHINES OWNED BY THE SCRAP DEALERS, THE HIGHEST ERRORS WERE 24 PER CENT AND 31.49 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY LESS THAN ACTUAL WEIGHT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID ANY PERSON WHO WANTS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MALPRACTICES IN RESPECT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES SHOULD CONTACT EITHER THE TRADING STANDARDS INVESTIGATION BUREAU OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. 714 6146) OR THE CONSUMER COUNCIL.
HE SAID COMPLAINTS COULD ALSO BE MADE TO DUTY OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 852 3185 AFTER NORMAL OFFICE HOURS.
--------0----------
/16 .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 16 -
COPYRIGHT PROTECTION EXTENDS TO WORKS OF TAIWANESE ORIGIN ******
THE COPYRIGHT (TAIWAN) ORDER 1990 AIMED AT EXTENDING COPYRIGHT PROTECTION TO WORKS OF TAIWANESE ORIGIN IN HONG KONG WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE ORDER WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON AUGUST 1 THIS YEAR.
THE EFFECT OF THE ORDER IS BASICALLY THAT, FROM AUGUST 1 ONWARDS, LITERARY, DRAMATIC, MUSICAL OR ARTISTIC WORKS, SOUND RECORDINGS, CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS OR PUBLISHED EDITIONS FIRST PUBLISHED IN TAIWAN WILL ENJOY COPYRIGHT PROTECTION IN HONG KONG.
THE ORDER ALSO CONTAINS TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS WHICH ARE AIMED AT HELPING PERSONS WHO HAVE INCURRED FINANCIAL OR CONTRACTUAL LIABILITIES IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE ORDER.
---------0-----------
CAREERS FILMS TO BE SHOWN ON TV
*****
A SERIES OF 12 CAREERS EDUCATION FILMS PRODUCED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL BE BROADCAST ON TELEVISION STARTING ON MONDAY (JULY 2).
THE FILM SERIES WILL GO ON AIR EVERY MONDAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17 ON TVB (TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED) JADE CHANNEL FROM 5.40 PM TO 6.15 PM.
’’THE FILMS ARE PRODUCED BY THE CAREERS ADVISORY SERVICE AS PART OF ITS ACTIVITIES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE CHOOSE A CAREER BEST SUITED TO THEIR TALENTS, INTERESTS AND ABILITIES,” THE SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER (CAREERS ADVISORY SERVICE), MR LEUNG LIT-CHEONG, SAID AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AND PREVIEW TODAY (FRIDAY).
ALSO PRESENT WERE THE MANAGER (ENRICHMENT) OF TVB, MR CHEUNG CHE-KWOK, AND ABOUT 40 CAREERS TEACHERS FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
"THE FILMS PROVIDE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON A WIDE SELECTION OF TRADES AND PROFESSIONS AND ARE ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, PARENTS, CAREERS TEACHERS AND YOUTH WORKERS,” MR LEUNG SAID.
"THE FIRST OF THE 12 EPISODES WILL GIVE SOME BASIC GUIDELINES ON CHOOSING A CAREER, WHILE THE LAST ONE OFFERS HELPFUL ADVICE ON THE SKILLS IN SEEKING JOBS AND ON ATTENDING JOB INTERVIEWS," HE ADDED.
THE OTHER 10 FILMS WILL TOUCH ON CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN VARIOUS TRADES AND PROFESSIONS NAMELY, AIRLINES, HOTEL INDUSTRY, MASS COMMUNICATION, INTERIOR DESIGN, SECRETARIAL WORK, NURSING, TOURISM, SOCIAL WORK, BANKING AND ACCOUNTING.
/"TO ENHANCE ......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 17 -
"TO ENHANCE YOUNG PEOPLE'S INTEREST IN THE FILM SERIES, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND TVB WILL ORGANISE THREE QUIZZES, WITH ATTRACTIVE PRIZES," MR LEUNG SAID.
"QUESTIONS WILL BE SET ON EACH OF FOUR EPISODES FOR EACH QUIZ, AND ENTRY FORMS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE ’HONG KONG TELEVISION’ MAGAZINE BEFORE BROADCASTING OF THE FILMS," HE SAID.
MR LEUNG ALSO THANKED THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AND THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD FOR FUNDING THE PRODUCTION OF THE FILMS.
----0------
TENDERS INVITED FOR NW KOWLOON SEWAGE DISPOSAL PROJECT
*»♦»**
THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN OUTFALL AS PART OF THE NORTH WEST KOWLOON SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SCHEME, WHICH SERVES TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WITHIN AND AROUND VICTORIA HARBOUR.
WORKS ON THE CONTRACT INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF :
* A TWIN CELL BOX CULVERT ON THE SEABED ALONG THE WESTERN COASTLINE OF STONECUTTERS ISLAND FOR CARRYING EFFLUENT FLOWS TO THE WESTERN EXTREMITY OF THE ISLAND; AND
* TWIN SUBMARINE PIPELINES (EACH OF 2,200 MILLIMETRES INTERNAL DIAMETER) LAID IN A DEEP TRENCH DREDGED IN THE SEABED, TO BE CONNECTED TO THE CULVERT BY MEANS OF A CHAMBER ON THE SEABED CLOSE TO THE WESTERN END OF THE ISLAND.
THE PIPELINES WILL CARRY EFFLUENT FLOWS OUT TO THE NORTHERN FAIRWAY FOR DISCHARGE TO SEA.
THE NORTH WEST KOWLOON SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SCHEME IS BEING IMPLEMENTED AT A TOTAL PROJECT ESTIMATE OF $1.2 BILLION WITH THE TARGET COMMISSIONING DATE BEING IN SEPTEMBER 1992.
THE CULVERT AND SUBMARINE PIPELINES WILL FORM THE FINAL PART OF THE SYSTEM IN WHICH CONSTRUCTION OF SEWERAGE WORKS AND PUMPING STATIONS TO INTERCEPT SEWAGE FLOWS DRAINING FROM YAU MA TEI/TAI KOK TSUI, SHAM SHUT PO AND LAI CHI KOK IS ALREADY WELL ADVANCED.
A CONTRACT HAS ALSO BEEN RECENTLY AWARDED AND WORK HAS COMMENCED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPELINES TO TRANSFER FLOWS FROM KOWLOON TO STONECUTTERS ISLAND FOR TREATMENT BY A SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH IS TO BE CONSTRUCTED UNDER THE SAME CONTRACT.
/WHEN BROUGHT........
FRIDAY, JUNE 90
- 18 -
W’lEN BROUGHT INTO OPERATION THE SCHEME WILL INTERCEPT SEWAGE FLOWS WHICH ARE AT PRESENT DISCHARGED TO SEA AT NUMEROUS POINTS CLOSE TO THE KOWLOON COASTLINE.
THESE FLOWS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO A MORE REMOTE LOCATION WHEK~ THE PREVAILING CURRENTS AND GREATER DEPTHS OF SEA WATER WILL ENSURE THEY ARE MORE RAPIDLY DISPERSED AND ASSIMILATED INTO THE MAIN BODY OF SEA WATER.
AT THE SAME TIME, TREATMENT WILL REMOVE MOST OF THE FLOATING AND SUSPENDED SOLIDS CONTAINED IN THE SEWAGE FLOWS.
IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT OF MARINE CONDITIONS ALONG THE WEST KOWLOON COASTLINE.
----0------
TENDERS INVITED FOR SLUDGE DISPOSAL
******
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF WATER TREATMENT SLUDGE FROM PAK KONG TREATMENT WORKS AT SAI KUNG TO JUNK BAY SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS AT TSEUNG KWAN O FOR DISPOSAL.
UNDER THE CONTRACT, THE OPERATOR IS REQUIRED INITIALLY TO EMPLOY THREE ROAD TANKER VEHICLES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF SLUDGE.
THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE OF A CAPACITY OF NOT LESS THAN 7.5 CUBIC METRES AND MAY BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A 24-HOUR SERVICE ON A THREE SHIFT BASIS.
THE CONTRACT PERIOD COVERS 12 MONTHS AND IS EXPECTED TO START IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDER IS NOON ON JULY 20 THIS YEAR.
-----0-----
AMS PARADE AND RECRUITMENT DAY IN SAI KUNG
******
THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES (AMS) WILL HOLD ITS SAI KUNG DISTRICT PARADE INSPECTION AND RECRUITMENT DAY ON SUNDAY (JULY 1) MORNING AT THE SUNKEN PLAZA OF PO LAM ESTATE, TSEUNG KWAN O.
THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR K.S. TONG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE RECRUITMENT DAY’S OPENING CEREMONY AND INSPECT THE PARADE, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 11.30 AM.
/A DISPLAY .......
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
A DISPLAY OF FIRST AID EQUIPMENT AND PICTURES INTRODUCING THE ACTIVITIES OF AMS WILL BE STAGED AT THE PARADE VENUE.
RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN FIRST AID SERVICE COULD APPLY FOR ENROLMENT AT THE SCENE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE AMS PARADE INSPECTION AND RECRUITMENT DAY IN SAI KUNG WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 11.30 AM ON SUNDAY (JULY 1) AT THE SUNKEN PLAZA OF PO LAM ESTATE, TSEUNG KWAN O.
- - 0 - -
TENDERS INVITED FOR BREAKWATER MODIFICATION WORKS ♦ ♦ » * ♦
THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR MODIFICATION WORK ON THE SOUTH CAMBER BREAKWATER AT TSIM SHA TSUI IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE FULL UTILISATION OF BERTHING FACILITIES FOR LARGER VESSELS AT THE CHINA FERRY TERMINAL.
THE WORKS WILL COMPRISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF 60 METRES OF NEW BREAKWATER, 95 METRES OF EXTENSION, AND DEMOLITION OF 107 METRES OF EXISTING BREAKWATER.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN SEPTEMBER AND WILL TAKE 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS NOON ON JULY 20.
FORMS OF TENDER AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CHIEF ENGINEER, PORT WORKS DIVISION, CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE, CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, EIGHTH FLOOR, EMPIRE CENTRE, 68 MODY ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI.
- - 0 - -
/20
FJIDAY, JUNE 29, 1990
- 20 -
REVISION OF PARKING METER CHARGES IN EASTERN DISTRICT ♦ ♦»*♦♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM JULY, THE PARKING METER CHARGES IN EASTERN DISTRICT WILL BE INCREASED FROM 50 CENTS AND $1 TO $1 AND $2 RESPECTIVELY FOR 30 MINUTES OF PARKING TIME.
THIS CHARGE REVISION PROGRAMME WILL BE INTRODUCED IN TWO PHASES.
PHASE I STARTING FROM SUNDAY (JULY 1) WILL COVER JAVA ROAD, KING WAH ROAD, LAU LI STREET, LAU SIN STREET, NORTH POINT ROAD, OIL STREET, TIN CHONG STREET, TSING FUNG STREET, VICTORIA PARK CARPARK, WANG ON ROAD, WATSON ROAD, WHITFIELD ROAD AND YUET YUEN STREET.
PHASE II WILL START FROM JULY 8 AND WILL COVER CHAI WAN ROAD, CHEUNG LEE STREET, HEALTHY STREET CENTRAL, HEALTHY STREET WEST, HOLY CROSS PATH, LAI YIN LANE, LEE CHUNG STREET, MARBLE ROAD, NGOI MAN STREET, ON YIP STREET, SAI WAN HO STREET, SHING ON STREET, SHUN FU STREET, SUN SING STREET, TAI FOO STREET, TAI LOK STREET, TAI NING STREET, TAI SHEK STREET AND TSAT TSZ MUI ROAD.
-----0------
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE ON CHEUNG CHAU
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM SUNDAY (JULY 1) TO AUGUST 19, THE SECTION OF MAN SHUN LANE BETWEEN SAN HING STREET AND SAN HING BACK STREET ON CHEUNG CHAU WILL BE CLOSED TO VILLAGE VEHICLES TO FACILITATE EMERGENCY ROAD REPAIR WORKS.
DURING THIS PERIOD, VILLAGE VEHICLES HEADING FOR TUNG WAN WILL BE DIVERTED VIA KWOK MAN ROAD AND CHEUNG CHAU BEACH ROAD.
THE OPERATING HOURS OF THIS ALTERNATIVE VILLAGE VEHICLE ROUTEING WILL BE RESTRICTED TO 7 AM TO 11.30 AM FROM MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS.
---------0-----------
FRESH WATER CUT IN KWAI CHUNG * ♦ » ♦ ♦
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN SUSPENDED FROM 10 PM ON SUNDAY (JULY FACILITATE WATER WORKS.
PREMISES IN KWAI 1) TO 8 AM THE
CHUNG NEXT
WILL DAY
BE TO
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES in YIP SHING STREET
PREMISES BOUNDED BY WO YI HOP ROAD, LEI <?TRFFT AND TA CHUEN PING STREET, INCLUDING SHEK TIN STREET WILL EXPERIENCE WEAK WATER PRESSURE.
MUK ROAD, CHUN
KIN STREET AND
PIN LAM
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1990
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PUBLIC VIEWS ON SOCIAL WELFARE WILL BE SOUGHT ......................................... 1
1990 SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME BEGINS .................................................... 2
NEW LANDMARK FOR TSUEN WAN ............................................................ 3
DB TO DISCUSS RELOCATION OF OIL DEPOT ................................................. 3
SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR IN CONCERT .............................................. 4
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED .............................................................. 5
EMPLOYERS URGED TO MAKE TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS .......................................... 5
SITTING-OUT AREA FOR WAN CHAI RESIDENTS ............................................... 6
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI ....................................... 6
URBAN CLEARWAY IN KWUN TONG............................................................ 7
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHAM SHUI PO ........................................ 7
TEMPORARY NIGHT ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN ............................................... 7
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1990
PUBLIC VIEWS ON SOCIAL WELFARE WILL BE SOUGHT
♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
THE PUBLIC WILL BE WIDELY CONSULTED ON THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE UPON ITS PUBLICATION IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR ALFRED CHUI, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE 90’S, ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF GERONTOLOGY, MR CHUI SAID THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES.
’’THE GOVERNMENT IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT ELDERLY SERVICES AS THE DEMAND FOR THE SERVICES HAS BEEN INCREASING IN VIEW OF CHANGES IN THE POPULATION, POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND ECONOMY IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
SERVICES AIMED AT PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY WOULD HAVE TO BE BOOSTED.
MR CHUI SAID THE WORKING PARTY ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES, AFTER CONDUCTING AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, HAD PROPOSED THAT THE PLANNING STANDARD OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES BE IN LINE WITH THE ELDERLY POPULATION NUMBERS.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE WORKING PARTY INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR EVERY 3,000 ELDERLY PEOPLE AND A MULTI-SERVICE CENTRE AND A DAY CARE CENTRE FOR EVERY 25,000.
THE WORKING PARTY ALSO PROPOSED RAISING THE PLANNING RATIO OF PLACEMENTS AT CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES FROM THE EXISTING EIGHT PLACES TO EVERY 1,000 ELDERLY PEOPLE TO 11.
"OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WILL THEN FIND IT EASIER TO SEEK ASSISTANCE," MR CHUI SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT, APART FROM CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF LAWS TO CONTROL VARIOUS HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY, WOULD ALSO ADOPT MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ELDERLY SERVICES, HE SAID.
TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS WOULD BE ORGANISED FOR PERSONNEL WORKING IN THE ELDERLY SERVICES FIELD IN AN EFFORT TO FURTHER ENHANCE BOTH THEIR PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE.
"SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES, THERE WILL BE PROVISION OF PHYSIOTHERAPY SUPPORT FOR CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES AND DAY CARE CENTRES," HE SAID.
MR CHUI PAID TRIBUTE TO PHILANTHROPISTS FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS TOWARDS SETTING UP VARIOUS FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY.
SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE CURRENT DECADE WOULD BE GREATLY IMPROVED WITH CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, HE SAID IN CONCLUSION.
--------0-----------
/2........
«
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1990
2
1990 SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME BEGINS ******
THE ANNUAL SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME (SYP) PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH NOT ONLY ENJOYABLE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN FOR DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER TSAO, SAID THIS WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1990 SYP AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.
HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN RUNNING THE PROGRAMME FOR THE 22ND YEAR THIS YEAR.
LAST SUMMER, ABOUT 1.5 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN SOME 11,000 ACTIVITIES. THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 12,000 ACTIVITIES HAD BEEN ARRANGED FOR AN EXPECTED RECORD NUMBER OF 1.8 MILLION PARTICIPANTS, HE SAID.
"AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THIS YEAR’S PROJECT HAS RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB (RHKJC) AS WELL AS SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS, VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS," MR TSAO SAID.
"OF THE ABOUT $26 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON THE PROGRAMME, $11 MILLION WAS DONATED BY THE RHKJC," HE SAID.
WITH "SHARE THE FUN, SERVE THE COMMUNITY" AS ITS THEME, THE SYP IS AIMED AT ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 25, TO SPEND THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAYS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
THE ACTIVITIES ARRANGED INCLUDE MUSIC CAMPS, FORESTRY CAMPS, COMMUNITY PROJECTS, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, SPORTS AND MANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMES.
AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, A STEWARD OF THE RHKJC, MR CHAU CHAM-SON, PRESENTED A CHEQUE TO MR TSAO AS A TOKEN OF THE CLUB’S CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAMME.
TROPHIES WERE ALSO PRESENTED TO REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND VOUNTARY AGENCIES IN APPRECIATION OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUPPORT TO THE PROGRAMME.
THE OPENING CEREMONY WAS FOLLOWED BY A VARIETY SHOW, ENTITLED "SWINGING SUMMER", WITH PERFORMANCES BY VARIOUS POPULAR SINGERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS.
THE VARIETY SHOW, JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME COMMITTEE, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, ATTRACTED ABOUT 2,000 YOUNGSTERS. IT WILL BE SCREENED ON TVB-JADE ON JULY 22.
--------0-----------
/3.........
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1990
- 3 -
NEW LANDMARK FOR TSUEN WAN »♦****
THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHEREBY LOCAL OR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAN PROSPER, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ADOLF HSU, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
HE WAS OFFICIATING AT A TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY FOR THE KOWLOON PANDA HOTEL IN TSUEN WAN.
THE HOTEL WAS SURE TO BECOME A LANDMARK IN TSUEN WAN, MR HSU SAID.
“I WELCOME THIS ATTRACTIVE ADDITION TO TSUEN WAN. TSUEN WAN, ALTHOUGH ONE OF THE MORE POPULOUS NEW TOWNS, IS NOT PARTICULARLY NOTED FOR HOTELS, AND THIS DEVELOPMENT MARKS A TURNING POINT.
"COUPLED WITH THE RECENT OPENING OF THE SHOPPING COMPLEX AND DEPARTMENT STORES IN THIS LOCALITY, THE KOWLOON PANDA HOTEL MARKS A CHANGE TO THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND INDEED TO LOCAL LIFESTYLES AS WELL," HE SAID.
MR HSU POINTED OUT THAT THE INVOLVEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS IN THE KOWLOON PANDA HOTEL WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE COSMOPOLITAN NATURE OF HONG KONG.
"FURTHERMORE, THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE SORT OF CONFIDENCE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS IN THE POLITICAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG," HE SAID.
MR HSU ALSO SAID TSUEN WAN’S STRATEGIC POSITION WOULD BE ENHANCED BY THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENTS.
"THERE WILL BE INCREASED DEMAND FOR MODERN FACILITIES OF AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD.
"WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS HOTEL, FOREIGN TOURISTS WOULD HAVE A TASTE OF LIFE OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL URBAN AREAS OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON," HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
DB TO DISCUSS RELOCATION OF OIL DEPOT ♦ ♦♦♦»»
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE RELOCATION OF THE CHA KWO LING SHELL OIL DEPOT TO TIE IN WITH THE OCCUPANCY DATE OF THE LAGUNA CITY PRIVATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT A MEETING ON MONDAY (JULY 2).
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, BUILDING AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENT TO BRIEF MEMBERS.
/THE BOARD .......
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1990
(.•3
THE BOARD WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE SUSPENSION OF COMMUNITY CLINIC SERVICE AT THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL.
IN ADDITION, MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE URBAN COUNCIL’S FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM ON MONDAY (JULY 2) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, 6 TUNG YAN STREET.
- - 0 - -
SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR IN CONCERT * * ♦ ♦ ♦
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR WILL GIVE A SOLO CONCERT AT THE URBAN COUNCIL’S SHEUNG WAN CIVIC CENTRE ON JULY 7 (SATURDAY).
THE CONCERT IS JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ART AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION (SDACA) AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD. IT WILL BEGIN AT 8 PM.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE A VARIETY OF CHINESE AND WESTERN CLASSICAL AND POPULAR SONGS BY SOLOISTS FROM THE CHOIR.
THE 40-STRONG CHOIR WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983 AND HAS SINCE STAGED ITS OWN CONCERT ANNUALLY AND HAS GIVEN NUMEROUS PERFORMANCES AT VARIOUS LOCAL FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL.
ITS FIRST SOLO CONCERT WAS HELD LAST YEAR AND WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE AUDIENCE.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS FOR THE CONCERT ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS AT THE SDACA OFFICE AT LEI CHAK HOUSE, AP LEI CHAU ESTATE AND AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 552 0595.
- - 0 - -
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1990
- 5 -
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED * * ♦ ♦
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE REGISTRATION OF DB ASIA FINANCE (HK) LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED AS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY (SATURDAY) AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE.
---------0-------------
EMPLOYERS URGED TO MAKE TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS
******
EMPLOYERS ARE WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES
TODAY (SATURDAY) URGED TO MAKE A PRIOR AGREEMENT ON WORKING ARRANGEMENTS DURING TYPHOONS.
SUCH AN AGREEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE RULES FOR REPORTING TO WORK AND RELEASING EMPLOYEES FROM WORK, AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATING WAGES UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID IN VIEW OF THE DIFFERENT NATURE AND REQUIREMENT OF JOBS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, THE LAW DID NOT LAY DOWN ANY PARTICULAR PROVISIONS ON WHAT ONE SHOULD DO IN A TYPHOON SITUATION.
"IT WOULD, NEVERTHELESS, BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL FOR AGREEMENTS TO BE REACHED TO AVOID CONFUSION," HE STRESSED.
HE SAID EMPLOYERS SHOULD GIVE PRIOR CONSIDERATION TO THEIR WORKERS’ SAFETY, BOTH AT THE WORKPLACE AND WHILE TRAVELLING TO AND FROM HOME DURING A TYPHOON.
"NORMALLY, EMPLOYERS SHOULD NOT REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO REPORT FOR DUTY OR TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR WORK WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 8 OR A HIGHER SIGNAL IS HOISTED, OR WHEN PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS ABOUT TO STOP," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THIS, HOWEVER, DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL OR EMERGENCY DUTIES DURING A TYPHOON. IN SUCH CASES, THE EMPLOYER SHOULD CLEARLY INFORM THE EMPLOYEES CONCERNED AT THEIR COMMENCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT."
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN DRAFTING OR PREPARING TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS MAY APPROACH THE DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE FOR ADVICE.
---------0-----------
/6.........
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1990
SITTING-OUT AREA FOR WAN CHAI RESIDENTS ******
RESIDENTS IN WAN CHAI WILL HAVE ANOTHER SITTING-OUT AREA FOR REC ’EA IONAL ACTIVITIES NEXT YEAR.
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 1,400-SQUARE-METRE OPEN SPACE AT TAI WO STREET.
THE $2.22 MILLION PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS, A BADMINTON COURT, A STOREROOM AND A METER ROOM.
WORK WILL START SOON AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY FEBRUARY NEXT
YEAR.
---U------
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT COX’S ROAD BETWEEN AUSTIN ROAD AND TAK SHING STREET, IN TSIM SHA TSUI, WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (JULY 2) FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT SEVEN DAYS.
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE THE WATERMAIN LAYING WORKS.
MOTORISTS ON JORDAN ROAD HEADING FOR AUSTIN ROAD CAN TRAVEL VIA PARKES STREET SOUTHBOUND ONTO AUSTIN ROAD.
FROM MONDAY (JULY 2) TO SUNDAY (JULY 8), BUSES ON KMB ROUTE 2C WILL BE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA NATHAN ROAD INSTEAD OF COX’S ROAD, AUSTIN ROAD, CHEONG WAN ROAD, HONG TAI PATH, HONG WING PATH, HONG TAT PATH, CHEONG WAN ROAD AND CHATHAM ROA’-' SOUTH ON JOURNEYS TO STAR FERRY.
DURING THE PERIOD OF ROUTE DIVERSION, BUS STOPS FOR KMB ROUTE 2C WILL BE DESIGNATED AT HOUSE NOS. 230, 134 AND 26 NATHAN ROAD. THE EXISTING BUS STOPS ON COX’S ROAD SOUTHBOUND, CHEONG WAN ROAD AND CHATHAM ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL BE SUSPENDED.
- - 0 - -
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1990
- 7 -
URBAN CLEARWAY IN KWUN TONG * ♦ * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (JULY 2), THE SECTION OF THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF WAI YIP STREET IN KWUN TONG FROM A POINT ABOUT 40 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH KEI YIP STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 70 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
NO VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS THERE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING URBAN CLEARWAY ON THE SAME SECTION OF WAI YIP STREET WILL BE CANCELLED.
------0--------
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHAM SHUI PO ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT FROM 8.30 AM TO 5 PM ON JULY 2, 3, 12 AND 13, THE SECTION OF WING LUNG STREET BETWEEN CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD AND FUK WING STREET IN SHAM SHUI PO WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE THE EVACUATION OPERATION OF BLOCK 1, CHEUNG SHA WAN FACTORY ESTATE.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS FROM CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD EASTBOUND HEADING FOR WING LUNG STREET NORTHBOUND ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, HING WAH STREET, CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND WING LUNG STREET.
AT THE SAME TIME, GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE 11M WILL BE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, KIU KIANG STREET, UN CHAU STREET AND TONKIN STREET INSTEAD OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, WING LUNG STREET, FUK WING STREET AND TONKIN STREET ON JOURNEYS TO SO UK ESTATE.
-----0-----
TEMPORARY NIGHT ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN
******
AM WAI ROAD
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT BETWEEN 1 AM AND 6 FROM MONDAY (JULY 2) TO THURSDAY (JULY 5), THE SECTION OF SHA TIN ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN NGAN SHING STREET AND THE SOUTHBOUND SLIP OF SHA TIN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF IN SHA TIN.
DURING THE CLOSURE, VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON ^HA TIN WESTBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED VIA SIU LEK YUEN ROAD, TAI CHUNG AND SHA TIN ROAD TO REJOIN SHA TIN WAI ROAD WESTBOUND.
ROAD T5
WAI ROAD
KIU ROAD
------0-----------