DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
BANKING LICENCE REVOKED .............................................. 1
AGREEMENTS FOR TWO CONSULTANCY STUDIES SIGNED ........................ 1
GOVERNMENT LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER ................................... 2
TENDERS INVITED FOR REPULSE BAY TO ABERDEEN PUMPING SCHEME ........... 2
LAND RESUMPTION FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND VILLAGE RESITE ................. 3
PROPOSED DREDGING AT SOKO ISLANDS .................................... 4
NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR TAI PO......................................... 4
ROAD WORKS FOR YUEN LONG PING SHAN DEVELOPMENT ....................... 5
MORE ROADS TO BE BUILT IN SHA TAU KOK ................................ 6
ASSURANCE LETTER SCHEME FOR SPOUSES OF BRITISH CITIZENS .............. 6
NINE SCHOOLS TO JOIN DIRECT SUBSIDY SCHEME ........................... 7
RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES ON DISTRICT BASIS PLANNED .................. 9
HK PLACES GREAT IMPORTANCE ON ARTS EDUCATION ......................... 9
ARTS CARNIVAL IN CENTRAL ON SUNDAY ................................... 10
TV SPECIAL TO PROMOTE FIGHT CRIME MESSAGES ........................... 11
NEW EDITION OF 'NAMES OF BUILDINGS' ISSUED ........................... 11
NEW POST OFFICE FOR CHEUNG CHAU ...................................... 12
SAI WAN HO SUB-TREASURY TO OPEN ON MONDAY ............................ 13
AMENDED TIMES FOR FIRING PRACTICE .................................... 13
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, >991
1 BANKING LICENCE REVOKED ♦ » » t *
THE BANKING LICENCE OF THE STATE BANK OF VICTORIA HAS BEEN REVOKED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
"THE TWO BANKS MERGED IN AUSTRALIA ON JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR WITH THE STATE BANK OF VICTORIA TRANSFERRING ALL ITS ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TO THE COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE STATE BANK OF VICTORIA WAS GRANTED A BANKING LICENCE IN 1989 AND THE COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA IN 1986.
AFTER THE REVOCATION, THERE ARE 166 LICENSED BANKS IN HONG KONG, OF WHICH 136 ARE INCORPORATED OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
,---------------------------0---------------------------------------
AGREEMENTS FOR TWO CONSULTANCY STUDIES SIGNED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH A CONSULTANCY FIRM TO CARRY OUT TWO STUDIES ON SPECIAL CONTROL AREAS AND UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL FACILITIES.
PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT TOWN PLANNER (DISTRICT) OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, DR PETER PUN, SIGNED THE AGREEMENTS TODAY (FRIDAY) WITH THE DIRECTOR OF LLEWELYN-DAVIES WEEKS, HONG KONG, MR CHOONG YIN LEE, FOR THE TWO STUDIES - ’A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF SPECIAL CONTROL AREAS’ AND 'UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL FACILITIES EXTENDING BEYOND PRIVATE LAND’.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SAID THE STUDY ON SPECIAL CONTROL AREAS, WHICH COSTS ABOUT $1 MILLION, WOULD REVIEW COMPREHENSIVELY THE EXISTING SPECIAL CONTROL AREAS IN KOWLOON, NEW KOWLOON, AND HONG KONG ISLAND, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE CHANGING PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT PLANNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.
PRESENT DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS OF THESE SPECIAL CONTROL AREAS WILL ALSO BE REVIEWED.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED IN THE SPECIAL CONTROL AREAS WERE MAINLY RELATED TO BUILDING HEIGHT, PLOT RATIO AND CARPARKING REQUIREMENTS.
THE OTHER STUDY, ON UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL FACILITIES, WILL COST ABOUT 1500,000.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
2
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE STUDY WOULD ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF LARGE-SCALE UNDERGROUND COMMERCIAL AND CARPARKING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MAIN URBAN AREAS UNDERNEATH PUBLIC LAND SUCH AS ROADS AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, AND FORMULATE A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE AND CONTROL SUCH UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENTS.
BOTH STUDIES WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
- - 0 - -
GOVERNMENT LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER ♦ * ♦ * ♦
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SALE OF A PIECE OF GOVERNMENT LAND AT CASTLE PEAK ROAD, KWAI CHUNG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE SITE, MEASURING ABOUT 2,090 SQUARE METRES, IS INTENDED FOR A PETROL FILLING STATION.
IT IS STIPULATED THAT THE PETROL FILLING STATION SHOULD COMMENCE OPERATION WITHIN 24 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE AGREEMENT.
THE DEADLINE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS 12 NOON ON MARCH 1.
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 THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES KOWLOON, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
TENDER DOCUMENTS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF SHA TIN, TAT PO, NORTH, YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, KWAI TSING, TURN MUN, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS.
- - 0 - -
TENDERS INVITED FOR REPULSE BAY TO ABERDEEN PUMPING SCHEME ♦ ♦ * » ♦
THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE REPULSE BAY TO ABERDEEN PUMPING SCHEME AND ASSOCIATED WORKS.
THE WORKS WILL INCLUDE:
♦ LAND RECLAMATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SEWAGE PRIMARY
PUMPING STATION AT REPULSE BAY;
* CONSTRUCTION OF TWO SECONDARY SEWAGE PUMPING STATIONS AT DEEP WATER BAY;
/* LAYING OF
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
3
* LAYING OF A FOUL SBWER ALONG REPULSE BAY ROAD;
* LAYING OF THE PUMPING MAINS OF THE SECONDARY PUMPING STATIONS; AND
* LAYING OF A PUMPING MAIN FROM REPULSE BAY TO WONG CHUK HANG.
THE CONTRACT WILL ALSO COVER THE LAYING OF A FRESH WATER MAIN ALONGSIDE THE PROPOSED PUMPING MAIN AT DEEP WATER BAY GOLF CLUB.
THE CONTRACT PERIOD IS 24 MONTHS AND WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY.
THE WORKS FORM PART OF SHEK O AND REPULSE BAY AREAS SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE EXISTING SEWERAGE SYSTEM AND PROVIDE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES FOR SHOUSON HILL, DEEP WATER BAY, MIDDLE BAY, SOUTH BAY, CHUNG HOM KOK, MA HANG, SHEK O AND ROCKY BAY, SO AS TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY AT THE HONG KONG ISLAND SOUTH BATHING BEACHES.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 8.
LAND RESUMPTION FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND VILLAGE RESITE *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO RESUME CERTAIN UNDIVIDED SHARES OF LAND LOCATED BETWEEN NOS. 187 AND 193 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI, FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WAN CHAI OUTLINE ZONING PLAN.
THE UNDIVIDED SHARES INCLUDE FOUR GROUND FLOOR UNITS AND 11 UPPER FLOOR DOMESTIC UNITS WHICH FALL WITHIN AN AREA ZONED FOR "OTHER SPECIFIED USES" ANNOTATED "COMPREHENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT AREA" IN THE CURRENT ZONING PLAN.
UNDER THE APPROVED MASTER LAY-OUT PLAN, THE PROPERTIES ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE WAY FOR A JOI NT-VENTURE REDEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROJECT, A PARTY WALL BETWEEN NOS. 191 AND 193 OF QUEEN’S ROAD EAST HAS ALSO TO BE RESUMED.
MEANWHILE, ON LANTAU ISLAND, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO NOTIFIED THE RESUMPTION OF 19 PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LOTS IN TUNG CHUNG TO PROVIDE LAND FOR THE FORMATION OF VILLAGE RESITE AREA AT WONG LUNG HANG.
THE LOTS COVER A TOTAL AREA OF 3,091.6 SQUARE METRES.
DETAILS OF THE RESUMPTION WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
- - 0-----------
/4 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
4 PROPOSED DREDGING AT SOKO ISLANDS *****
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DREDGE WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 1,318 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AT SOKO ISLANDS TO PROVIDE MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND FUTURE RECLAMATIONS.
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 MARCH 31.
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.
THE NOTICE TOGETHER WITH ITS RELATED PLAN CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS NEAR THE SITE.
THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, CENTRAL (WHERE COPIES CAN BE PURCHASED ON ORDER).
IT CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE, 20TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL; THE DISTRICT OFFICE’S MUI WO SUB-OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, MUI WO GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 2 NGAN KWONG WAN ROAD, MUI WO, LANTAU ISLAND; AND ITS CHEUNG CHAU SUB-OFFICE, 22 SAN HING STREET, GROUND FLOOR, CHEUNG CHAU; AND AT THE OFFICES OF THE CHEUNG CHAU AND SOUTH LANTAU RURAL COMMITTEES.
--------------0-------- NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR TAI PO *****
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A "FLEX 1-DESIGN" PRIMARY SCHOOL ON A 6,760 SQUARE METRE SITE AT AREA 9, TAI PO.
THE SCHOOL WILL COMPRISE A MAIN TEACHING BLOCK TO ACCOMMODATE 30 CLASSROOMS AND SPECIAL ROOMS, A COVERED PLAYGROUND, AN ASSEMBLY HALL, A BASKETBALL COURT AND ANCILLARY BUILDINGS INCLUDING STAFF QUARTERS.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 1.
/5 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY I, 1991
- 5 -
ROAD WORKS FOR YUEN LONG PING SHAN DEVELOPMENT ♦ »**»»
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CARRY OUT ROAD WORKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE YUFU LONG PING SHAN AREA AND PROVIDE SITES FOR VILLAGE SMALL HOUSE DEVELOPMENT THERE.
THE PROPOSED WORKS INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROADS, FOOTPATHS, FOUL AND STORM WATER DRAINS, AMENITY AREAS AND OPEN SPACE CARPARKS AND THE FORMATION OF LAND FOR OPEN SPACES, TWO COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND VILLAGE SMALL HOUSE SITES.
THE PROPOSED WORKS ARE PART OF THE ADOPTED YUEN LONG PING SHAN SOUTH LAYOUT PLAN WHICH INCLUDES THE TONG FONG TSUEN VILLAGE EXTENSION AREA PILOT SCHEME.
WORKS WILL START IN JULY THIS YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 1992.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY). A NOTICE WILL ALSO BE POSTED NEAR THE SITE OF THE PROPOSED WORKS.
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, CENTRAL;
* YUEN LONG DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YUEN LONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, NINTH TO 11TH FLOORS, 2 KIU LOK SQUARE, YUEN LONG; AND
» YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE, YUEN LONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, 269 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, YUEN LONG.
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, CENTRAL NOT LATER THAN MARCH 26 THIS YEAR.
/6 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
- 6 -
MORE ROADS TO BE BUILT IN SHA TAU KOK ♦ ♦ ♦ » *
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANS TO CARRY OUT ROAD WORKS IN SHA TAU KOK AREAS 19 AND 20 (TSOI YUEN KOK AREA) TO IMPROVE VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO THE AREAS.
THE PROPOSED WORKS INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT 250 METRES OF LOCAL ROAD L5 TO REPLACE A SECTION OF THE EXISTING LIN MA HANG ROAD, FOOTPATHS, EMERGENCY VEHICULAR ACCESSES AND AN EXTENSION TO AN EXISTING CARPARK TOGETHER WITH THE INSTALLATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASSOCIATED STREET FURNITURE, SLOPES AND DRAINAGE WORKS.
PERMANENT ALTERNATIVE ACCESSES WILL BE PROVIDED TO CATER FOR THE EXISTING ACCESSES THAT HAVE TO BE CLOSED.
DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESSES WILL BE MAINTAINED SO THAT ANY INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC WILL BE MINIMISED.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT 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;
♦ NORTH DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE, FANLING GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 3 PIK FUNG ROAD, FANLING, NEW TERRITORIES.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN MARCH 26.
---------0----------
ASSURANCE LETTER SCHEME FOR SPOUSES OF BRITISH CITIZENS
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) REITERATED THAT THE W1DOWS/W1DOWERS OF BRITISH CITIZENS ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE CURRENT ASSURANCE SCHEME FOR APPLICATION TO SETTLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IF THEY HAVE REMAINED RESIDENT IN HONG KONG AND HAVE NOT REMARRIED AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION.
"WE SHALL FLEXIBLY CONSIDER THEIR APPLICATIONS AND GIVE SAME PRIORITY IN FUTURE IF THEY WISH TO LEAVE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT IMMIGRATION RULES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/"WIDOWS/WIDOWERS WHOSE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
7
"WIDOWS/WIDOWERS WHOSE BRITISH CITIZEN SPOUSES WERE RESIDENT IN HONG KONG AT THE TIME OF HIS/HER DEATH BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASSURANCE SCHEME ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE UNDER THE SCHEME PROVIDED THAT THE WIDOWS/WIDOWERS HAVE NOT REMARRIED AND ARE STILL RESIDING IN HONG KONG AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION," HE ADDED.
THE HOME OFFICE HAS EARLIER AUTHORISED THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE A LETTER OF ASSURANCE TO NON-BRITISH-CITIZEN WIVES OR HUSBANDS OF BRITISH CITIZENS IN HONG KONG TO FACILITATE ANY FUTURE APPLICATION FOR SETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AT SUCH TIME WHEN THEY ARE READY TO LEAVE HONG KONG.
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTED THE SCHEME ON NOVEMBER 26, 1990.
SUCH PERSONS MAY APPROACH THE OVERSEAS VISA SECTION, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, NINTH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER II, 7 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI WITH THE RELEVANT IDENTITY/NATIONALITY DOCUMENTS OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR RR IT1SH-CITIZEN SPOUSES AS WELL AS DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE MARRIED TO EACH OTHER.
A LETTER OF ASSURANCE WILL LATER BE ISSUED TO THE NON-BRITISH-CITIZEN SPOUSES.
SQ FAR, A TOTAL OF 286 LETTERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THESE NON-BRITISH SPOUSES.
"THE LETTER OF ASSURANCE IS NOT AN ENTRY CLEARANCE, BUT IT SERVES TO GIVE PRIORITY TO ANY FUTURE APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IF THEY WISH TO SETTLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH THEIR BRITISH-CITI ZEN SPOUSES.
"THE LETTER IS NOT INTENDED FOR PRESENTATION TO THE UK IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AT THE PORT OF ENTRY IN LIEU OF AN ENTRY CLEARANCE," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY CALL TEL. 829 3275 FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES.
---------0-----------
NINE SCHOOLS TO JOIN DIRECT SUBSIDY SCHEME
*****
NINE SCHOOLS WILL JOIN THE DIRECT SUBSIDY SCHEME (DSS) IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE NINE SCHOOLS ARE:
* CHINESE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
* FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
/♦ FUKIEN MIDDLE ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
8
* FUKIEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
* GERMAN SWISS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
* HEUNG TO MIDDLE SCHOOL
* HON WAH MIDDLE SCHOOL
* HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
* MONGKOK WORKERS’ CHILDREN SCHOOL
* PUI KIU MIDDLE SCHOOL
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SCHOOLS WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS REVIEW COMMITTEE AND ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY BE SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF NECESSARY FUNDS FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE RECURRENT COST OF ADMITTING THE NINE SCHOOLS INTO THE SCHEME IS ESTIMATED AT $28 MILLION IN THE 1991-92 FINANCIAL YEAR AND THE ANNUAL RECURRENT COST THEREAFTER IS ESTIMATED AT $52 MILLION.
THE SCHEME, RECOMMENDED BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IN ITS REPORT NO. 3, AIMS TO ENCOURAGE THE CREATION OF A STRONG INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SCHOOL SECTOR AND INCREASE THE RANGE OF CHOICES OF SCHOOLS FOR PARENTS.
DSS SCHOOLS WILL BE PAID A SUBSIDY BASED ON THE AVERAGE UNIT COST OF AN AIDED SECONDARY PLACE. THE ACTUAL LEVEL OF SUBSIDY WILL DEPEND ON THE FEES CHARGED BY SCHOOLS.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL SOON BE ISSUING CIRCULARS TO ALL SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN INFORM THEIR PUPILS OF THE NAMES, ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE DSS SCHOOLS AND THE PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION.
"PARENTS ARE ADVISED TO APPLY DIRECT TO THESE SCHOOLS FOR ADMISSION AS STUDENTS WILL NOT BE CENTRALLY ALLOCATED TO THESE SCHOOLS BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
- 0 - -
/9 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
9
RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES ON DISTRICT BASIS PLANNED
THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES FOR ELDERLY ON A DISTRICT BASIS, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE CARITAS LUNG TIN HOSTEL CUM SOCIAL CLUB FOR ELDERLY TODAY (FRIDAY) AT TAI O, LANTAU ISLAND, THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR ALFRED CHUI, SAID THE MOVE ENABLED THE ELDERLY WHO REQUIRE RESIDENTIAL CARE TO MAINTAIN CLOSE CONTACTS WITH THEIR RELATIVES AND THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
TO ACHIEVE THIS AIM, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIAISE CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT SO THAT RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICE, LIKE COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, WOULD RE PLANNED ON DISTRICT BASIS, MR CHUT EXPLAINED.
ON THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR ELDERLY LIVING IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT, MR CHUI SAID PLANNING STANDARD WOULD BE MORE FLEXIBLE, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION OF ITS GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND SPARSE POPULATION.
"IN ADDITION TO THIS HOSTEL CUM SOCIAL CENTRE, PLANS ARE ALREADY IN HAND TO BUILD A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR ELDERLY AT MUI WO, LANTAU ISLAND AND A CARE AND ATTENTION HOME IN CHEUNG CHAU," HE ADDED.
------0--------
HK PLACES GREAT IMPORTANCE ON ARTS EDUCATION » ♦ ♦ » »
THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ARTS EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MRS SHELLEY LAU, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE WORLD BOYS AND GIRLS ART EXHIBITION, MRS LAU SAID THE COUNCIL FOR PERFORMING ARTS HAD GRANTED MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION IN 1990/91 FOR LOCAL ARTS GROUPS TO PROMOTE PERFORMING ARTS IN SCHOOLS.
"OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO AROUSE STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN ARTS BY BRINGING PERFORMANCES IN DANCE AND DRAMA TO THEIR OWN SCHOOLS.
"STUDENTS ARE ALSO INVITED TO GIVE THEIR IMPRESSIONS ON SUCH PERFORMANCES THROUGH EITHER WRITING OR DRAWINGS. JUDGING FROM THE SUBMISSIONS, THE SCHEME HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL."
SHE SAID THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS ALSO PLAYED A VERY ACTIVE ROLE IN ORGANISING AND SPONSORING ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
"TODAY’S ART EXHIBITION WILL BRING HONG KONG’S ART EDUCATION TO A NEW HEIGHT AS SELECTED ARTWORK FROM CHILDREN OF 108 COUNTRIES ARE ON DISPLAY," MRS LAU SAID.
/THE WORLDWIDE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
10
THE WORLDWIDE ROVING EXHIBITION IS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG BUDDHIST NICHIREN SHOSHU WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION TO PROMOTE PEACB AND CULTURE. 4
SOME 410 WORKS SELECTED FROM 52,000 PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS BY CHILDREN AGED UNDER 15 FROM 108 COUNTRIES ARE ON DISPLAY.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FEBRUARY 11, FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM DAILY, AT THE LOW BLOCK EXHIBITION HALL OF THE CITY HALL. ADMISSION IS FREE.
--------0-----------
ARTS CARNIVAL IN CENTRAL ON SUNDAY *****
A LARGE-SCALE ARTS SPECTACLE WILL BE HELD AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 3).
THE "ORIENTAL AND WESTERN ARTS CARNIVAL" WILL FEATURE PUPPET SHOWS, PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCES, FOLK DANCES AND POP SINGING BY WINNERS OF THE DISTRICT’S SINGING CONTEST.
STALLS ON DIFFERENT COUNTRIES’ FOLK ARTS, INCLUDING CALLIGRAPHY, PALM READING, KNOTTING AND PAPER-CLAY MAKING, WILL ALSO BE SET UP.
THE CARNIVAL WILL START AT 2 PM AND ADMISSION IS FREE.
IT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE DISTRICT’S ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION, THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND THE COUNCIL OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT SCHOOL HEADS, WITH THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE DISTRICT BOARD.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE ASSISTANT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS MONICA CHEN, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT’S ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION, MR WONG CHUNG-YING.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 852 3485.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ORIENTAL AND WESTERN ARTS CARNIVAL WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 3) AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT.
- - - - 0------------
/Il ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
TV SPECIAL TO PROMOTE FIGHT CRIME MESSAGES *****
THE FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN SPECIAL PUBLICITY DRIVE REACHED ITS CLIMAX THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING IN A LIVE TELEVISION PROGRAMME - ENJOY YOURSELF TONIGHT (EYT) FIGHT CRIME SPECIAL.
JOINTLY PRODUCED BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (FCC) AND THE TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED, THE EYT SPECIAL WAS AIMED AT BRINGING THE THREE CAMPAIGN THEMES - PREVENT CRIME, REPORT CRIME AND PROVE CRIME - DIRECTLY TO THE HOMES OF MILLIONS OF TV AUDIENCE.
"A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED AT BOTH CENTRAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS IN SUPPORT OF THE SPECIAL PUBLICITY DRIVE SINCE IT WAS LAUNCHED ON JANUARY 18,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FCC PUBLICITY SUBCOMMITTEE SAID.
"THESE INCLUDED FCC MEMBERS GOING ON A FIGHT CRIME BUS TOUR, DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLICITY PACKAGES BY JUNIOR POLICE CALL MEMBERS AND CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES HELD IN THE 19 DISTRICTS," HE SAID.
AT TONIGHT’S EYT SHOW, THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF FCC, ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, STARTED THE PROGRAMME BY REVIEWING A GUARD OF HONOUR FORMED BY MEMBERS OF THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL.
SIX FCC MEMBERS, NAMELY, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS MR PETER TSAO, MRS ROSANNA TAM, MR MARTIN LEE, MRS MIRIAM LAU, MR LEUNG SAU-CHI AND MR JUSTEIN WONG TOOK PART IN A QUIZ SEGMENT OF THE PROGRAMME SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE CAMPAIGN THEMES.
THE POLICE FIGHT CRIME AMBASSADOR, THE ROBOTCOP, WAS ALSO PRESENT AT TONIGHT’S PROGRAMME TO GIVE ADVICE ON CRIME PREVENTION.
OTHER LIVE PERFORMANCES STAGED BY POLICE GROUPS INCLUDED A POLICE DOG SHOW AND A DEMONSTRATION OF SELF-DEFENCE TECHNIQUES BY 20 WOMAN POLICE OFFICERS.
A ONE-MINUTE MUSIC VIDEO OF THE NEW FIGHT CRIME THEME SONG ALSO MADE ITS DEBUT SCREENING IN THE PROGRAMME.
- - 0 - -
NEW EDITION OF ’NAMES OF BUILDINGS
*****
ISSUED
A NEW EDITION OF THE "NAMES OF BUILDINGS" TO REPLACE THE ONE ISSUED IN 1987 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
THE BOOK, AT $75 EACH, CONTAINS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF BUILDING NAMES WITH ADDRESSES IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH. WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE CHINESE NAMES OF THE BUILDINGS HAVE ALSO BEEN INCLUDED.
/THE BOOK
[This page is blank in the original document]
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991
13
SAI WAN HO SUB-TREASURY TO OPEN ON MONDAY ♦ ♦ ♦ » *
THE NEW SUB-TREASURY AT THE GROUND FLOOR, EASTERN LAW COURTS BUILDING, 29 TAI ON STREET, SAI WAN HO WILL BE OPENED ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 4).
THE OFFICE IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEAR THE SAI WAN HO MTR STATION AND THE BUS TERMINUS AT SAI WAN HO FERRY PIER.
PAYMENT OF GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS MAY BE MADE AT THE ABOVE OFFICE DURING THE OFFICE HOURS FROM 9 AM TO 4 PM ON MONDAY TO FRIDAY AND 9 AM TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAY.
--------0----------
AMENDED TIMES FOR FIRING PRACTICE
*****
THE AMENDED TIMES FOR FIRING PRACTICE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON FEBRUARY 26 AND 27 (TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY) WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PRACTICE WILL LAST FROM 8.30 AM TO 11.59 PM ON BOTH DAYS.
THE PUBLIC IS WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE FLYING.
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
THIRD QUARTER 1990 CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT STATISTICS RELEASED ...................... 1
GOVT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY ..................... 3
COMPULSORY SAFETY PARTITION FOR LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES ............................ 5
YEAR-END CLEAN-UP IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS .......................................... 5
LONG DISTANCE RUN ON LANTAU ISLAND............................................... 6
VARIETY SHOW CONCLUDES DISTRICT KEEP HK CLEAN CAMPAIGN .......................... 7
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1991
1
THIRD QUARTER 1990 CONSTRUCTION « » »
OUTPUT STATISTICS RELEASED » *
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS (WHICH MAY BE GENERAL CONTRACTORS OR SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS) IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 AMOUNTED TO $15,830 MILLION, WHICH WAS 6.1 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1990 AND 25.0 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT RELEASED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
MAIN CONTRACTORS MAY BE GENERAL CONTRACTORS OR SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS. WHEREAS GENERAL CONTRACTORS ARE ENGAGED IN NEW CONSTRUCTION WORK AND RENOVATION AND MAINTENANCE, SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS ARE ENGAGED IN SPECIALISED JOB AREAS SUCH AS CONCRETING, SCAFFOLDING, CARPENTRY, PLUMBING AND GAS WORK.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASE OF 25.0 PER CENT IN THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989 WAS PARTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
NEVERTHELESS, AFTER DISCOUNTING THE COST INCREASES, THE REAL GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED SHOULD STILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
THE INDEX OF GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 WAS 240.2, WITH THE QUARTERLY AVERAGE OF 1982 BEING TAKEN AS 100.
THE CORRESPONDING INDEXES FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1990 AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WERE 226.5 AND 192.2 RESPECTIVELY.
OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990, $14,508 MILLION WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WORK PERFORMED BY GENERAL CONTRACTORS. THIS WAS 5.3 PER CENT AND 25.6 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS WAS $1,321 MILLION, WHICH WAS 15.3 PER CENT AND 18.5 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
OF THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY GENERAL CONTRACTORS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990, $7,570 MILLION WAS RELATED TO NEW CONSTRUCTION WORK AT PRIVATE SECTOR CONSTRUCTION SITES, BEING 9.1 PER CENT AND 24.2 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
SOME $3,909 MILLION WAS RELATED TO NEW CONSTRUCTION WORK AT PUBLIC SECTOR (INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT, MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION) CONSTRUCTION SITES, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 0.1 PER CENT AND 6.5 PER CENT OVER THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
/THE REMAINING .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1991
2
THE REMAINING $3,029 MILLION WAS RELATED TO NEW CONSTRUCTION WORK AT MU OR WORK LOCATIONS, AND RENOVATION AND MAINTENANCE AT ERECTED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. THIS WAS 3.2 PER CENT AND 69.6 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
WHEN ANALYSED BY END-USE OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN RESPECT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS (INCLUDING COMBINED RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS) IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 WAS $4,907 MILLION.
THIS REPRESENTED INCREASES OF 1.6 PER CENT AND 19.4 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN RESPECT OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 WAS $2,118 MILLION, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 10.9 PER CENT AND 60.6 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 RESPECTIVELY.
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN RESPECT OF TRANSPORT PROJECTS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 WAS $1,570 MILLION, WHICH WAS 5.9 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER BUT 5.4 PER CENT LOWER THAN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989.
OWING TO THE WIDESPREAD SUB-CONTRACTING PRACTICE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, A CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENT CAN BE A MAIN CONTRACTOR FOR ONE CONTRACT AND A SUB-CONTRACTOR FOR ANOTHER CONTRACT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS (WHICH MAY BE GENERAL CONTRACTORS OR SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS) REFERS TO THE OUTPUT OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE PROJECTS IN WHICH THEY TAKE THE ROLE OF A MAIN CONTRACTOR, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT OF PROJECTS IN WHICH THEY PLAY THE ROLE OF SUB-CONTRACTORS.
HOWEVER, SUB-CONTRACTORS' CONTRIBUTION TO PROJECTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY THE MAIN CONTRACTORS FOR WHOM THEY WORKED.
MORE DETAILED STATISTICS ON CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT ARE GIVEN IN THE "REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT, THIRD QUARTER 1990".
THE REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT $2.50 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, WANCHAl TOWER I, 19TH FLOOR, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED.
ENQUIRIES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 839 3265.
------0--------
/3 .....
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1991
3
GOVT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY t * » » *
THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TO THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR T.H. BARMA, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT THE HONG KONG ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL BALL, MR BARMA SAID IN RECENT YEARS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION SERVICES.
THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, A GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED ORGANISATION, HAD ALSO SET UP MANY FACILITIES TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF ELECTRONIC SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRY.
THESE INCLUDED ESTABLISHMENT OF A MICROPROCESSOR APPLICATION LABORATORY, SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY AND RADIO FREQUENCY AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS LABORATORY, MR BARMA SAID.
HE SAID A SCHEME FOR TRAINING ENGINEERS IN THE DESIGN OF APPLICATION-SPECIFIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (ASIC) HAD BEEN INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE APPLICATION OF THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.
"MORE RECENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ENABLE HONG KONG TO POSITION ITSELF IN TECHNOLOGY UPGRADING TO ENHANCE OUR COMPETITIVENESS GLOBALLY," HE SAID.
"TO THIS END, WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING DEVELOPMENT OF THE HONG KONG INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE TO FACILITATE GROWTH OF TECHNOLOGY-BASED COMPANIES," HE SAID.
THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE WOULD COMPRISE THE FOLLOWING:
» AN INCUBATOR FOR INNOVATIVE NEW TECHNOLOGIES;
» ACCOMMODATION FOR SMALL TECHNOLOGY-BASED BUSINESSES;
* PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES; AND
» TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FACILITIES.
PROVISION OF THE INCUBATOR AND SMALL BUSINESS ACCOMMODATION WOULD DEPEND ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 1993, MR BARMA SAID.
IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT ABOUT 60 TECHNOLOGY-BASED COMPANIES WOULD BE HOUSED WITHIN THE FUTURE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE AT ONE TIME.
"SERVICES IN PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MANUFACTURERS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CENTRE," HE SAID.
"OUR PLAN IS TO INTRODUCE THESE TWO SERVICES LATER THIS YEAR."
/MR BARMA .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1991
4
MR BARMA SAID A STATUTORY CORPORATION WOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO RUN THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE.
AS THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME, A PROVISIONAL LIMITED COMPANY HAD BEEN FORMED TO UNDERTAKE CERTAIN PREPARATORY WORK, INCLUDING RECRUITMENT OF A CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED TO GRANT A SITE OF ABOUT 5,600 SQUARE METRES IN KOWLOON TONG AT NORMINAL PREMIUM TO THE STATUTORY CORPORATION.
AT THE SAME TIME, A GRANT OF $250 MILLION HAD BEEN RELEASED TO THE PROVISIONAL COMPANY FOR MEETING CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND OTHER EXPENSES.
THIS WOULD BE TOPPED UP BY A LOW-INTEREST LOAN OF $188 MILLION WHICH THE STATUTORY CORPORATION COULD DRAW UPON AS AND WHEN REQUIRED.
’’THIS SHOWS THE GOVERNMENT’S STRONG COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY-INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG,” MR BARMA SAID.
’’BUT IT IS OF COURSE ESSENTIAL THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALSO PLAYS ITS PART.
”1 AM THEREFORE HOPEFUL THAT THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACILITY BEING PLANNED,” HE SAID.
MR BARMA SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THERE HAD BEEN A STEADY GROWTH IN OVERSEAS INVESTMENT IN THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.
AT THE END OF 1989 THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY ALONE ACCOUNTED FOR 29 PER CENT OF TOTAL OVERSEAS INVESTMENT.
SUCH INVESTMENTS PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENRICHING HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL BASE WITH NEW OR IMPROVED DESIGNS, PRODUCTS AND PRODUCTION PROCESSES.
"THEY ALSO BEAR TESTIMONY TO OUR POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY-INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES IN VIEW OF LOCAL TALENT AVAILABLE AND EXCELLENT INFRASTRUCTURE,” HE SAID.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SILICON HARBOUR CENTRE BY MOTOROLA WAS A NOTABLE EXAMPLE.
”1 HOPE THAT LOCAL MANUFACTURERS WOULD NOT JUST BENEFIT FROM THE NEW AND USEFUL TECHNOLOGIES BROUGHT INTO HONG KONG BY MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES, BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST TO FURTHER CAPITALISE ON THE ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITIES HERE,” MR BARMA SAID.
- - 0----------
/5 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2,
1991
COMPULSORY SAFETY PARTITION FOR LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES
*****
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (SATURDAY) REMINDED OWNERS OF ALL VAN-TYPE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE REGISTERED BEFORE JULY 1, 1990 THAT A PERMANENT PARTITION MUST BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE GOODS COMPARTMENT AND THE SEATING ACCOMMODATION BY JULY 1 THIS YEAR.
HE SAID THE LEGISLATION MAKING IT COMPULSORY FOR LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES WITH A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT NOT EXCEEDING 1.9 TONNES TO INSTALL THE SAFETY PARTITION CAME INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1 LAST YEAR.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THERE WAS A ONE-YEAR GRACE PERIOD TO ENSURE THAT OWNERS HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CONVERSION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PARTITION IS ACTING AS A PROTECTIVE BARRIER AGAINST GOODS IN THE GOODS COMPARTMENT SHIFTING INTO THE SEATING ACCOMMODATION.
THEREFORE, THE HEIGHT, WIDTH, STRENGTH, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARTITION MUST BE CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING OR BEARING THE WEIGHT OF ANY LOAD WHICH THE PARTITION IS LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER OR THE VAN IS LIKELY TO CARRY.
HE ADDED THAT THERE MUST NOT BE ANY SIDE WINDOWS IN THE GOODS COMPARTMENT OF ANY VAN.
"IF OWNERS USE OR PERMIT TO USE A VEHICLE WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE RULES AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE, THEY COMMIT AN OFFENCE AND ARE LIABLE TO A FINE OF *10,000 AND SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT," HE SAID.
HE SAID NEWLY MANUFACTURED VAN-TYPE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES WERE INSTALLED WITH SUCH SAFETY PARTITIONS.
HOWEVER, MOST OPERATORS HAVE REMOVED THE PARTITION TO ALLOW FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN USING THE VEHICLE FOR PASSENGER AND GOODS CARRIAGE.
- - 0 - -
YEAR-END CLEAN-UP IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS
*****
THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT PRIVATE BUILDING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE CARRIED OUT A YEAR-END CLEAN-UP AT "TARGETTED" BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT TODAY (SATURDAY).
DURING THE EXERCISE, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND RESIDENTS JOINED HANDS TO REMOVE OBSTRUCTING ARTICLES AND RUBBISH FROM FIRE ESCAPES IN ORDER TO REDUCE FIRE HAZARDS.
/A SPOKESMAN
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1991
6 -
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE SAID THE EXERCISE WAS ORGANISED ANNUALLY TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS’ PARTICIPATION IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND IN KEEPING THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT CLEAN.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO URGED FLAT OWNERS AND TENANTS TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN CARRYING OUT VARIOUS FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES.
---------0-----------
LONG DISTANCE RUN ON LANTAU ISLAND * * » * »
MORE THAN 200 RUNNERS WILL TAKE PART IN THE LANTAU LONG DISTANCE RUN TOMORROW (SUNDAY) MORNING.
THE EVENT WILL ROUND OFF A SERIES OF LONG DISTANCE RUNS HELD ON THE FOUR MAIN ISLANDS OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT FOR 1990/91.
RUNNERS IN THE NINE-KILOMETRE RACE WILL START FROM CHUNG HAU IN MUI WO, VIA THE SCENIC SOUTH LANTAU ROAD, AND FINISH AT THE POLICE DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS IN CHEUNG SHA.
THE RACE WILL START AT 10.30 AM AND A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE POLICE DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS AT 11.30 AM.
OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR LAM WAI-KEUNG, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KIM SALKELD, AND THE POLICE ISLANDS DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR WILLIAM WORRALL.
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT LONG DISTANCE RUN IS AN ANNUAL EVENT JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE, REGIONAL COUNCIL, ISLANDS SPORTS ASSOCIATION, AND ISLANDS POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SECTION, AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ISLANDS ROTARY CLUB.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE LANTAU LONG DISTANCE RUN AND ITS PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
--------0 - -
/7........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1991
7
VARIETY SHOW CONCLUDES DISTRICT KEEP HK CLEAN CAMPAIGN
*****
A VARIETY SHOW WAS HELD AT TAI PO CENTRAL SQUARE (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON TO CONCLUDE THE TAI PO DISTRICT KEEP HONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN.
THIS KONG
THE EVENT WAS ORGANISED BY THE WORKING GROUP ON DISTRICT KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN AND SPONSORED BY THE COUNCIL.
TAI PO REGIONAL
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED SINGING PERFORMANCES AND A MAGIC SHOW. THERE WERE ALSO STALL GAMES AND EXHIBITIONS OF THE WINNING ENTRIES IN A BOOKMARK DESIGN AND A PHOTOGHRAPHIC COMPETITION.
THE "DRAGON OF CLEANLINESS" WAS ALSO PRESENT, ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PICTURES.
OFFICIATING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY WERE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR THOMAS YIU; DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO YUNG-SANG; AND REGIONAL COUNCILLORS MR TANG PUI-TAT AND MR LAI KAM-CHEUNG.
THEY ALSO PRESENTED PRIZES TO WINNERS OF AND THE CLEAN BUILDING COMPETITIONS.
THE BOOKMARK DESIGN
STARTED IN
WIDE FUND IN A RURAL
THE TAI PO DISTRICT KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN JULY LAST YEAR. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED VISITS TO THE WORLD CONSERVATION STUDIES CENTRE, AND A CLEAN-UP OPERATION
VILLAGE.
- - 0----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ADEQUATE RESERVES AND PRUDENT MANAGEMENT VITAL TO SUCCESS ................ 1
PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF RETAIL SALES SURVEY FOR NOVEMBER 1990 RELEASED ... 4
KEEN RESPONSE TO AO RECRUITMENT FROM OVERSEAS ............................ 7
COURSES TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS ........................... 8
TREE AND PLANT CUTTING IS ILLEGAL ........................................ 9
NEW IDENTITY CARDS FOR WOMEN BORN IN 1929-34 ............................. 10
BIG CROWD AT FIGHT CRIME CONCERT ......................................... 11
MONG KOK TO LAUNCH YEAR-END CLEAN-UP OPERATION ........................... 12
EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS ON CENTRAL AND WESTERN BUILDINGS ............... 13
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
1
ADEQUATE RESERVES AND PRUDENT MANAGEMENT VITAL TO SUCCESS *****
HONG KONG’S FINANCIAL STRATEGY IS ROBUST ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE ANY IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE GULF CRISIS AND TO MEET THE TERRITORY'S NEEDS OVER THE MEDIUM TO LONG TERM, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
IN A LUNCHEON SPEECH TO THE ASIAN PACIFIC BANKERS CLUB, SIR PIERS SAID THAT HONG KONG'S FINANCIAL PLANNING SYSTEMS WOULD ENABLE THE COMMUNITY TO WEATHER THE PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY WITH GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES INTACT.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S MAJOR GUIDING PRINCIPLE IN PLANNING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE MUST BE TO ENSURE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THAT EXPENDITURE WAS CONTAINED BY ECONOMIC GROWTH RATHER THAN ALLOWED TO RUN AHEAD OF SUCH GROWTH.
AVERAGED BETWEEN 16 PER CENT AND 18 PER CENT OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, OUR PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE WAS BIG ENOUGH FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S PERFORMANCE IN MANAGING IT TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HONG KONG’S OVERALL PROSPERITY.
"IN PLANNING OUR EXPENDITURE IN RELATION TO THE GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY, WE SHOULD ALSO RECOGNISE THAT WE MUST NOT ABSORB MORE . THAN OUR FAIR SHARE OF THE LABOUR FORCE IF OUR ECONOMY IS TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
"ACCORDINGLY, IN RECENT YEARS WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN A TIGHTER CONTROL OVER THE GROWTH RATE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
"ANOTHER BUDGETARY GUIDELINE WE HAVE SET OURSELVES IS THE NEED TO MAINTAIN RESERVES AT ADEQUATE LEVELS," HE SAID, ADDING THAT "ADEQUATE" WAS SOMETHING HE DISCUSSED IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH LAST YEAR.
"WHAT WE SEEK TO ACHIEVE IS A REASONABLE SURPLUS TAKING A NUMBER OF YEARS TOGETHER. THIS IN TURN REQUIRES A CONSISTENT REVENUE POLICY."
HE POINTED OUT THAT COMPARED WITH EXPENDITURE FORECASTS, THE FORECASTING AND CONTROL OF REVENUE WAS "FAR MORE HAZARDOUS".
"ONCE EXPENDITURE CEILINGS HAVE BEEN AGREED AND EXPRESSED IN BUDGET ALLOCATIONS, THESE ALLOCATIONS AND THUS THE CEILING CAN BE STRICTLY CONTROLLED. BUT REVENUE CANNOT BE CONTROLLED IN THE SAME WAY,” HE SAID.
NEVERTHELESS THE GOVERNMENT HAD ESTABLISHED SOME BROAD BUDGETARY GUIDELINES PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THOSE AREAS OF REVENUE WHERE IT HAD SOME MEASURE OF CONTROL.
"FOR EXAMPLE, WE SEEK TO MAINTAIN THE REAL YIELD FROM FEES AND CHARGES, AND WE REGULARLY REVIEW THE VARIOUS TAX THRESHOLDS SO AS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INFLATION.
/"REVENUE FROM .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
2
’’REVENUE FROM FEES AND CHARGES NOW DOES KEEP PACE WITH INFLATION AND CAN THUS BE ESTIMATED WITH SOME CONFIDENCE.
• "WE ALSO ENDEAVOUR TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS- NO MAJOR SHIFT IN THE TAX BURDEN EXCEPT AS A DELIBERATE ACT OF POLICY,” HE SAID.
THE BULK OF TOTAL REVENUE WAS, HOWEVER, INTERNAL REVENUE (OR TAXES), AND THE YIELD WAS GREATLY INFLUENCED BY THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY, HE SAID.
"IT IS NOT EASY TO FORECAST REVENUE YIELDS FROM TAXATION BECAUSE THE PERFORMANCE OF A SMALL AND OPEN ECONOMY SUCH AS THAT OF HONG KONG TENDS TO BE VOLATILE.
"BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO REFINE OUR FORECASTING SYSTEMS AND WE ARE CERTAINLY GETTING BETTER,” HE SAID.
IN RELATION TO BUDGETARY STRATEGY, SIR PIERS SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL WAS THE MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST -- A COMPUTERISED MODELLING SYSTEM LOOKING AHEAD FOR FIVE YEARS.
"IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT WE DO THROUGH THE MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST IS TO KEEP A RECORD OF WHAT WE ARE ALREADY COMMITTED TO BY WAY OF ESTABLISHED LEVELS OF SERVICE; THE GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR THOSE SERVICES; AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF EARLIER DECISIONS.
’’THE BUDGET STRATEGY DETERMINES THE TOTAL ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND KNOWN COMMITMENTS IS AVAILABLE FOR NEW ACTIVITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN EXISTING ACTIVITIES," HE SAID.
SIR PIERS POINTED OUT THAT AS THE ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE IN THE FORECAST PERIOD IS RELATED TO AND LIMITED BY ASSUMED ECONOMIC GROWTH, IT IS INDEPENDENT OF REVENUE AVAILABILITY.
"IT FOLLOWS THAT IF REVENUE LEVELS PROJECTED ACCORDING TO CURRENT FISCAL POLICY CAN FUND THAT LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE AND PRODUCE BIGGER THAN NEEDED BUDGET SURPLUSES, THE LOGICAL RESPONSE IS NOT TO INCREASE EXPENDITURE BUT EITHER TO TOP UP OUR RESERVES TO MEET ANTICIPATED FUTURE COMMITMENT, OR TO REDUCE TAXATION.
"IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE FORTUNATELY BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE BOTH," SIR PIERS ADDED.
EARLIER, SIR PIERS OUTLINED THE CHANGES IN BUDGETARY PLANNING OVER THE YEARS AND POINTED OUT THAT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE 1970’3, THERE WAS A DELIBERATE POLICY TO ALLOW THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO INCREASE OVER TIME TN RESPONSE TO THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY.
"INDEED, THE GUIDELINE RATE OF GROWTH OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE WAS SET ABOVE THE TREND GROWTH RATE OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AS A COUNTERWEIGHT TO THE EFFECT OF THE RECESSION IN THE MID-1970’S.
/"AS A .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
3
"AS A RESULT, THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR INCREASED BY RATHER MoRI THAN 40 PER CENT OVER THE DECADE. WHILE THE INCREASE WAS WITHIN HIE CAPACITY OF HONG KONG’S ENLARGED AND MORE SOPHISTICATED ECONOMY, IT DID LEAD TO VERY HIGH RATES OF GROWTH IN THE LATE 1970’S, WHICH SPILLED OVER INTO THE EARLY 1980’8," HE SAID.
SIR PIERS SAID THE PERSISTENLY HIGH RATES OF GROWTH BECAME A MATTER OF CONCERN AND MATTERS CAME TO A HEAD WHEN, IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1982-8.3, REVENUE DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY AS A RESULT OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.
"IT BECAME APPARENT, WITH HINDSIGHT, THAT WE HAD BECOME OVER-RELIANT ON BUOYANT REVENUES, IN PARTICULAR INCOME FROM LAND SALES.
"TWO THINGS BECAME CLEAR: FIRST, THAT FIRM RESTRAINTS HAD TO BE PLACED ON THE GROWTH OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, AND SECOND, THAT OUR PLANNING AND FORECASTING TECHNIQUES HAD TO BE IMPROVED."
SIR PIERS SAID IN THE FIRST AREA, THE GOVERNMENT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
"GROWTH RATES OF CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE, WHICH HAD BEEN AS HIGH AS ALMOST 18 PER CENT IN 1980-81, FELL TO 3.6 PER CENT IN 198.3-84 AND 0.1 PER CENT IN 1984-85.
"AS REGARDS PLANNING AND FORECASTING, IT WAS CLEAR THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW THE BUDGETARY GUIDELINES THAT HAD IN GENERAL SERVED US WELL IN THE PAST", HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MOST OBVIOUS NEED WAS FOR A SYSTEM OF FORWARD PLANNING OR ROLLING FORECASTS TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SPENDING REQUIREMENTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT LEVELS OF EXPENDITURE COULD BE MAINTAINED WITHOUT MAKING AN UNACCEPTABLE CLAIM ON THE RESOURCES OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMY.
SIR PIERS SAID IN A TIGHTER BUDGETARY POSITION, IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO DO MORE, IT MUST INTRODUCE NEW DISCIPLINES TO ENSURE THAI- WHAT WAS BEING SPENT WAS APPROPRIATE AND PROPERLY DIRECTED.
"WE MUST ALSO BE READY TO CHANGE OUR SPENDING PRIORITIES WHERE THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT RESOURCES COULD BE.PUT TO BETTER USE THAN AT PRESENT.
"THIS MUST BE THE NEXT STAGE OF IMPROVEMENT TO OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM, AND WE ARE GRADUALLY INTRODUCING THIS WIDER APPROACH INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCES BY WAY OF A PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM PROGRAMME," HE NOTED.
ON THE FINANCING OF LARGE PROJECTS, SIR PIERS EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF FINANCIAL STRENGTH.
"WF HAVE \N EXCITING PROGRAMME OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE LYING BEFORE US. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL BE SEEKING INVESTMENT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND WE MAY WELL BE TAPPING THE FINANCIAL MARKETS.
"MONEY IN THE BANK TOGETHER WITH SOUND FISCAL POLICIES BASED ON PRUDENCE IS, I BELIEVE, A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS," HE ADDED.
------0--------
/4 .....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF RETAIL SALES SURVEY FOR NOVEMBER 1990 RELEASED
*****
THE VALUE OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES IN NOVEMBER 1990, ESTIMATED AT $9,792 MILLION, INCREASED BY 11 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989 WHILE THEIR VOLUME INCREASED BY 3 PER CENT, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF RETAIL SALES REFER TO CHANGES IN THE VALUES OF RETAIL SALES AFTER DISCOUNTING ESTIMATED CHANGES IN PRICES.
THE INDICATORS OF PRICE CHANGES USED FOR THE PURPOSE ARE THE RESPECTIVE COMPONENTS OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX WHICH CORRESPOND TO THE BROAD CATEGORY OF GOODS IN QUESTION.
COMPARING WITH NOVEMBER 1989, RETAIL SALES OF FUELS INCREASED BY 29 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT DECREASED BY 6 PER CENT IN VOLUME, WHILE THAT OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO ROSE BY 9 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES WENT UP BY 18 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 12 PER CENT IN VOLUME. CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS ROSE BY 7 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE BUT DROPPED BY 2 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS INCREASED BY 8 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS ROSE BY 21 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 16 PER CENT IN VOLUME. SALES IN DEPARTMENT STORES INCREASED BY 17 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 8 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS WENT UP BY 13 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN VOLUME, WHILE SUPERMARKETS ROSE BY 10 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE BUT REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED IN SALES VOLUME.
COMPARING THE PERIOD JANUARY TO NOVEMBER 1990 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, TOTAL RETAIL SALES INCREASED BY 7 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED IN VOLUME.
FUELS WENT UP BY 22 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 1 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO ROSE BY 12 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 6 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, CONSUMER DURABLES INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME, WHILE SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS WENT UP BY 5 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT DROPPED BY 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS ROSE BY 2 PER CENT IN VALUE BUT DROPPED BY 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
/ANALYSED BY .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
5
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, RETAIL SALES OF SUPERMARKETS INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 6 PER CENT IN VOLUME. CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS WENT UP BY 13 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 9 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
DEPARTMENT STORES SALES ROSE BY 13 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN VOLUME. MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE BUT DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME.
COMPARING WITH OCTOBER 1990, AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON MAY BE AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, TOTAL RETAIL SALES FOR NOVEMBER 1990 REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED IN VALUE BUT DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO DECREASED BY 5 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 4 PER CENT IN VOLUME, WHILE THAT OF FUELS DROPPED BY 13 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 15 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS ROSE BY 5 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 1 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES INCREASED BY 3 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS WENT UP BY 3 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 1 PER CENT TN VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, SALES IN DEPARTMENT STORES ROSE BY 9 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN VOLUME. RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS WENT UP BY 4 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME.
CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED BY 3 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME, WHILE SUPERMARKET SALES DROPPED BY 6 PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME.
TABLE 1 PRESENTS THE REVISED TOTAL RETAIL SALES FIGURE FOR OCTOBER 1990 AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURE FOR NOVEMBER 1990.
TABLE 2 SHOWS THE VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES IN OCTOBER 1990 AND NOVEMBER 1990 (A) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES, (B) BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND (Cl BY SELECTED TRADES (WHICH FORM PART OF THE RELEVANT MAJOR TRADE GROUPS), WITH AVERAGE RETAIL SALES FROM OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 TAKEN AS 100.
COMPARISONS OF NOVEMBER 1990 RESULTS WITH THOSE FOR OCTOBER 1990 AND WITH THOSE FOR NOVEMBER 1989, AND COMPARISONS OF RETAIL SALES IN THE PERIOD JANUARY TO NOVEMBER 1990 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, ARE ALSO GIVEN.
THE REPORT CONTAINING THE ANALYSIS OF NOVEMBER 1990 SURVEY RESULTS IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $1 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. : 802 1258).
/TABLE 1 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
6
TABLE 1 : TOTAL RETAIL SALES
Total Retail Sales for November 1990 (Provisional Figure) = HK$9,792 Billion for October 1990 (Revised Figure) = HKS9,750 Billion
TABLE 2 : VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OP RETAIL SALES FOR OCTOBER 1990 AND NOVEMBER 1990
(Monthly average of Oct. 84 - Sept. 85 = 1001
1 1 1 Index of 1 1 ! November 1990 1 November 1990 1 Jan.-Nov. 1990 1
1 Item ! Retail 1 October 1 November 1 compared with 1 compared with 1 compared with 1
1 ! Sales ! 1990 ! 1990 I October 1990 1 November 1989 1 Jan.-Nov. 1989 1
। । 1 1 (Al FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES । । । । 1 1 i : (Revised 1 (Provisional 1 Points \ ! figuresl 1 figures! 1 1 । । । । । । । । । Points * 1 1 1 । Points i 1
। । i । । ! Value 174 1 175 1 H 1 ! ♦ 17 ♦11 I ♦11 ♦7 1
। । । । ! (Bl BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS I Volume ; 1 1 । । । ! । । 124 I 123 1 -1 -11 । । । । । । । । i । । । 1 ! ! H ♦3 1 1 । ♦1 1 1
। 1 Foodstuffs, alcoholic । । 1 Value 177 ! 168 1 -9 -51 *14 *9 1 ♦ 18 ♦12 1
1 drinks and tobacco ! Volume ! 130 1 124 1 -5 -4 ! *3 . *2 1 । ♦6 ♦6 1
1 Fuels ! Value 173 ; 151 1 -22 -13 : ♦34 ♦ 29 1 *25 ♦22 1
। । ! Volume 1 126 1 107 | -18 -15 1 । । । -7 -6 1 । ♦2 ♦1 1
1 Clothing, footwear : i 1 Value ■ । । 184 : 193 ; H0 *5 1 ♦ 12 । ♦7 1 ♦9 ♦5 1
J and allied products 1 Volume ; i । 121 ! 122 1 *1 *11 1 ! ! -2 -2 1 । -3 -3 1
। 1 Consumer durables i । 1 Value 168 1 174 ! *5 HI *26 ♦ 18 1 ♦15 ♦10 1
। । 1 Volume 1 । । 120 1 123 1 H *21 । । । ♦13 ♦ 12 1 • ♦6 ♦5 1
। 1 Other consumer goods । । 1 Value 1 173 1 178 1 *5 HI ♦13 । *8 1 ♦4 ♦2 1
1 1 1 (Cl BY SELECTED TRADES 1 1 (see note 1 below) 1 Volume 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 124 . 1 126 1 *2 *1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i *2 ♦2 1 । । 1 1 1 -5 • -3 1
I Supermarkets 1 Value 1 ! Volume I 200 1 188 1 -12 -6 1 138 1 129 1 -9 -61 1 1 1 ♦17 1 *10 1 1 1 । *29 ♦9 ♦ 16 1 ♦6 1
i Motor vehicles । 1 1 Value 1 287 | 298 1 *12 *4 1 ♦35 ♦13 1 ♦ 18 ♦6 1
1 and parts 1 Volume I । । 174 1 179 1 *5 *31 1 1 1 *8 *5 1 । -2 -1 1
। Consumer durables । I 1 Value I 132 1 135 1 *3 *31 ♦ 24 ♦ 21 1 ♦14 ♦13 1
1 other than motor 1 vehicles and parts, 1 Volume ! 1 1 । । 104 1 105 1 *2 *21 1 1 1 । । । *14 ♦ 16 1 । । । ♦8 ♦9 1
1 Department stores 1 । । 1 Value 1 1 Volume ! 237 1 258 1 *21 *9 1 159 1 166 1 *8 *51 ♦ 38 ♦ 13 ♦ 17 1 ♦8 1 ♦27 ♦7 ♦13 1 ♦5 1
NOTES : 1. In order to analyse the sales of certain trades WITHIN major trade groups, the value and volume indexes in respect of the following selected trades are compiled :
(al 'Supermarkets' - a trade in the 'Foodstuffs, alcoholic drinks and tobacco' group.
(bl 'Motor vehicles and parts' - a trade in the 'Consumer durables' group.
(cl ’Consumer durables other than motor vehicles and parts’ - a trade in the ’Consumer durables’ group.
(dl ’Department stores' - a trade in the 'Other consumer goods' group.
2. Figures denoting changes are derived from the unrounded index figures.
3. 'I' denotes a figure within *0.5.
- - O----------
/7........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
KEEN RESPONSE TO AO RECRUITMENT FROM OVERSEAS ♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦
THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OVERSEAS APPLICATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER POSTS IN THE GOVERNMENT.
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT HE WAS EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, DURING WHICH THE GOVERNMENT EXPANDED ITS RECRUITMENT DRIVE TO MORE COUNTRIES.
"ALTHOUGH THE RECRUITMENT OF EXPATRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS CEASED IN 1985, WE CONTINUED TO RECRUIT HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO WERE LIVING IN THE UK," MR WIGGHAM EXPLAINED.
"OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT WAS EXTENDED TO CANADA AND THE USA IN 1988 AND TO AUSTRALIA TN 1990," HE ADDED.
THE ANNUAL TARGET NUMBER FOR RECRUITMENT IS ARRIVED AT HAVING REGARD TO THE VACANCY SITUATION AND A PROJECTION OF MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER POSTS INVOLVED, WHICH ARE FILLED LOCALLY AS WELL AS FROM OVERSEAS, IS NORMALLY BETWEEN 25 AND 35 EACH YEAR.
THE NUMBER OF OVERSEAS APPLICATIONS ROSE FROM 291 IN 1988/89 TO 387 IN 1989/90 AND TO 631 IN 1990/91, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 33 PER CENT AND 63 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
FOLLOWING EXAMINATIONS AND INTERVIEWS, APPOINTMENTS WERE OFFERED TO SEVEN OVERSEAS CANDIDATES IN 1988/89 AND 11 IN 1989/90, IN ADDITION TO 22 AND 24 CANDIDATES WHO APPLIED LOCALLY.
THE RECRUITMENT EXERCISE FOR 1990/91 IS UNDERWAY AND MR WIGGHAM SAID HE EXPECTED ANOTHER HIGH RATE OF ACCEPTANCE.
OF THE 631 OVERSEAS APPLICATIONS IN THE CURRENT YEAR, 240 WERE FROM THE USA, 159 FROM THE UK, 151 FROM CANADA AND 81 FROM AUSTRALIA.
MR WIGGHAM SAID THE BIGGEST INCREASES WERE SEEN IN APPLICATIONS FROM NORTH AMERICA. THE NUMBER FROM THE USA GREW FROM 79 IN 1988/89 TO 110 IN 1989/90 AND 240 IN 1990/91, RISING BY 39 PER CENT AND 118 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE NUMBER FROM CANADA ROSE FROM 58 TO 112 AND 151, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 93 PER CENT AND 35 PER CENT.
A BREAKDOWN OF THE BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICANTS SHOWS A STEADY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FRESH GRADUATES FROM THESE TWO COUNTRIES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, FROM 14 TO 48 IN THE CASE OF THE USA AND FROM 11 TO 41 IN THE CASE OF CANADA.
/•'THE OVERALL
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
8
’’THE OVERALL RESULTS OF OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING AND WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM MEETING OUR TARGETS,” MR WIGGHAM SAID.
HE SAID THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS FROM THE USA AND CANADA WAS DUE LARGELY TO THE GOVERNMENT’S VIGOROUS PROGRAMME OF PUBLICITY IN THESE TWO COUNTRIES.
THIS INCLUDED ADVERTISEMENTS IN MAJOR NEWSPAPERS, THE ISSUE OF LETTERS WITH APPLICATION FORMS TO ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AND STUDENT ORGANISATIONS BEFORE THE PUBLICATION OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CAREER BOOKLETS TO THESE BODIES.
IN ADDITION, AN ANNUAL PUBLICITY EXERCISE IS UNDERTAKEN BY OFFICERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER RECRUITMENT BOARD IN EACH OF THESE TWO COUNTRIES, INVOLVING PRESS INTERVIEWS AND BRIEFINGS, APPEARANCES ON RADIO AND TELEVISION AND MEETINGS WITH STUDENT GROUPS AND STUDENT AFFAIRS PERSONNEL OF ACADEMIC INSTITUT1ONS.
MR WIGGHAM SAID INFORMATION ON RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITIES WAS ALSO SPREAD BY WORD OF MOUTH.
”WE GATHER THAT SOME APPOINTEES ENCOURAGED THEIR FRIENDS TO APPLY IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS AND THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE MUTUAL FRIENDS AMONGST THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES APPOINTED IN DIFFERENT BATCHES IN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS,” HE NOTED.
TO WIDEN THE CATCHMENT AREA FOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, THE GOVERNMNET HAS ALSO INCREASED THE NUMBER OF EXAMINATION CENTRES IN THE USA AND CANADA FROM THREE TO FIVE.
’’THE KEEN RESPONSE FROM HONG KONG RESIDENTS WISHING TO RETURN FROM OVERSEAS IS A GOOD SIGN, FOR BOTH THE CIVIL SERVICE AND HONG KONG, AND WE WILL CONTINUE IN OUR EFFORTS AND TO EXPLORE FURTHER WAYS AND MEANS TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM,” MR WIGGHAM SAID.
---------0-----------
COURSES TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL RUN 12 IDENTICAL COURSES ON LABOUR RELATIONS BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS STAFF-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS.
THE COURSES, EACH COMPRISING EIGHT TWO-AND-A-QUARTER-HOUR SESSIONS, ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EMPLOYERS, MANAGEMENT STAFF, TRADE UNION OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES WITH A COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF LABOUR LEGISLATION AND WAYS TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND TOOLS.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO STUDY AT LENGTH VARIOUS PROVISIONS, UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT, CONTRACTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG, AND EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCES.
/OTHER SUBJECTS .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
OTHER SUBJECTS TO BE DEALT WITH INCLUDE LABOUR RELATIONS IN HONG KONG, EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS, GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES, DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND PREVENTION AS WELL AS PREPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS.
THE COURSES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CANTONESE, LEADING TO THE AWARD OF A CERTIFICATE ON COMPLETION.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS, WITH PRIORITY GIVEN TO APPLICANTS SPONSORED BY EMPLOYERS OR TRADE UNIONS. THE FEE FOR EACH COURSE IS $350.
DETAILS OF THE COURSES AND ENROLMENT LEAFLETS ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON THE 16TH FLOOR OF THE OVERSEAS TRUST BANK BUILDING, 160 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI, AND FROM ALL LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE BRANCH OFFICES.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 834 9311.
- - 0 - -
TREE AND PLANT CUTTING IS ILLEGAL t » » » »
THE PUBLIC WERE TODAY (SUNDAY) WARNED NOT TO CUT ANY TREES OR PLANTS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR DECORATIVE USE DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PERIOD.
THE COUNTRY PARKS PROTECTION OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR LAI CHING-WAI, EXPLAINED THAT CUTTING TREES OR PLANTS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE FORESTS AND COUNTRYSIDE ORDINANCE.
"CONTRAVENTION OF THE ORDINANCE MAY LEAD TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2,000 AND ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT.
"ALTHOUGH THE PUBLIC IS BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING THE COUNTRYSIDE ENVIRONMENT, TWO PEOPLE WERE PROSECUTED LAST YEAR FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF PROTECTED PLANTS," HR SAID.
MR LAI SAID WILD FLOWERS AND TREES ARE BEST APPRECIATED IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT AND SHOULD NOT BE PICKED OR CUT.
HE APPEALED FOR PUBLIC CO-OPERATION TO REPORT ANY SUCH ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES TO THE NEAREST COUNTRY PARK MANAGEMENT CENTRE.
- - 0 - -
/10
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
10
NEW IDENTITY CARDS FOR WOMEN BORN IN 1929-34
*****
WOMEN BORN IN 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 AND 1934 ARE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS FROM TOMORROW (MONDAY) TO MARCH 28.
WOMEN OF THE ABOVE AGE GROUP SHOULD CALL AT ANY ONE OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT’S EIGHT NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICES DURING THIS PERIOD.
THE OFFICE HOURS OF THE ISSUE OFFICES ARE FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, AND FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM ON SATURDAY.
ALL OFFICES ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAY 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 : 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 NORMALLY .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
11
"APPLICANTS NORMALLY NEED TO BRING ALONG THEIR EXISTING IDENTITY (ARDS IF THEIR CARDS WERE FIRST REGISTERED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS AGO AND BEAR THE «»» SYMBOL," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
"HOWEVER, IF THE APPLICANT’S IDENTITY CARD WAS FIRST REGISTERED LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS AGO OR DOES NOT HAVE THE *«» SYMBOL, SHE IS REQUIRED TO FURNISH MORE PERSONAL PROOFS.
"IN ADDITION TO PRODUCING HER EXISTING IDENTITY CARD, SHE MUST PRODUCE HER TRAVEL DOCUMENT AND EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING (IF ANY) -H NG KONG BIRTH CERTIFICATE, HONG KONG NATURALISATION CERTIFICATE OR HONG KONG REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE.
"IN SOME CASES, APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THEIR CLAIM TO HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY WILL BE ADVISED INDIVIDUALLY."
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
-----0-----------
BIG CROWD AT FIGHT CRIME CONCERT ♦ t * * »
THE TAI PO DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL AND CONCERT TOOK PLACE AT FU SHIN ESTATE SQUARE THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON, ATTRACTING MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE.
THE EVENT WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC), THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG TO SPREAD THE FIGHT CRIME AND ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGE.
FIVE POP SINGERS PERFORMED AT THE CONCERT WHICH WAS BROADCAST LIVE BY RTHK.
THE CARNIVAL INCLUDED A PUPPET SHOW, A MAGIC SHOW AND STALL GAMES. THERE WERE ALSO THE ROBOTCOP AND A FIGHT CRIME AND HOME SECURITY EXHIBITION.
THE EVENT CONCLUDED A SERIES OF PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE DFCC ON THE SUBJECTS OF JUVENILE CRIME, PARENTAL CARE, HOME SECURITY AND ANT I-NARCOTICS.
TODAY'S OFFICIATING GUESTS INCLUDED FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE MEMBER, MR JUSTEIN WONG; ACAN CHAIRMAN, DR GERALD CHOA; ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MISS WINDY KWOK; TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR THOMAS YIU; DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO YUNG-SANG; AND POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR LEUNG FUNG-SHUN.
------0--------
/12 .....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991
12 -
MONG KOK TO LAUNCH YEAR-END CLEAN-UP OPERATION *****
A YEAR-END CLEAN-UP OPERATION TO DRAW RESIDENTS’ ATTENTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE WILL RE LAUNCHED IN MONG KOK TOMORROW (MONDAY).
THE OPERATION, TO BE CARRIED OUT UNTIL FEBRUARY 14, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE 1990/91 MONG KOK DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITH SPONSORSHIP OF THE DISTRICT BOARD.
IT AIMS TO HELP LOCAL RESIDENTS DISPOSE OF REFUSE BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
TEMPORARY ON-STREET REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS WILL BE SET UP AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
A LAUNCHING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE MONG KOK ROAD PLAYGROUND AT THE JUNCTION OF SHANGHAI STREET AND MONG KOK ROAD AT : 10 AM TOMORROW.
A PRIZE PRESENTATION FOR THE "STREET CLEANLINESS COMPETITION", "BUILDING CLEANING COMPETITION" AND "BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITION" WILL ALSO BE HELD DURING THE CEREMONY.
OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI; URBAN COUNCILLORS MR CHAN KWOK-MING AND HO FEI-CH1, 1990/91 MONG KOK DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE ('HAIRMAN, MR YIM KWOK-ON; URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT KOWLOON NORTH SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT, MR TANO PING-TAO, AND MONG KOK DISTRICT HYGIENE SUPERINTENDENT, MR LEUNG LAI-MING; AND ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR VINCENT FUNG.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT YEAR-END CLEAN-UP OPERATION TO BE HELD AT 10 AM TOMORROW (MONDAY) AT HIE MONG KOK ROAD PLAYGROUND AT THE JUNCTION OF SHANGHAI STREET AND MONG KOK ROAD.
/13 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991-
- 13 -
EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS ON CENTRAL AND WESTERN BUILDINGS *****
WINNING ENTRIES IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION FEATURING BUILDINGS WITH UNIQUE DESIGNS IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE SHEUNG WAN CIVIC CENTRE’S EXHIBITION HALL FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 5 TO 9).
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM DAILY EXCEPT ON SATURDAY WHEN IT WILL BE OPEN FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM. ADMISSION IS FREE.
AMONG THE 100 ENTRIES, MAN MO TEMPLE, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUILDING, THE HONGKONG BANK HEADQUARTERS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG CAMPUS WERE THE PHOTOGRAPHERS’ FAVOURITE SUBJECTS.
THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE MID-LEVELS WEST AREA COMMITTEE, THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO BE STAGED AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY FONG SHUE CHUEN AMENITIES CENTRE BETWEEN MARCH 5 AND 9, FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM DAILY.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 852 3486 OR 852 3499.
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
AIRPORT ADVANCE WORKS CONTRACT SIGNED .................................. 1
CIVIL SERVANTS URGED TO USE EXISTING CHANNELS TO EXPRESS VIEWS ......... 1
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER 1990 .................................. 2
NO NEW CASES OF FOOD-POISONING.......................................... 8
LEGCO MEMBERS TO DEBATE ON LAW AND ORDER MOTION ........................ 9
OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS AWARDS SCHEME INVITES APPLICATIONS .......... 9
MUSIC OFFICE ANNUAL GALA ON MARCH 3 .................................... 10
STUDENT GARDENERS TO RECEIVE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOUR .................... 11
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
AIRPORT ADVANCE WORKS CONTRACT SIGNED » t » * »
THE CONTRACT TO PREPARE AN ADVANCE WORKS SITE FOR THE NEW AIRPORT WAS SIGNED THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON BETWEEN A LOCALLY BASED JOINT VENTURE COMPRISING KUMAGAI GUMI (HK) LTD, HOLLANDSCHE AANNEMING MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V. AND MAEDA CORPORATION AND THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY.
THE CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE A FLAT AREA OF LAND OF ABOUT 29 HECTARES WITH FACILITIES AND SERVICES AT THE NORTHERN TIP OF CHEK LAP KOK.
WHEN FINISHED, A WORKS AREA WILL BE ESTABLISHED FOR FUTURE AIRPORT CONTRACTORS WHO WILL THEN BE ABLE TO START WORK STRAIGHT AWAY WITHOUT HAVING TO BUILD THEIR OWN FACILITIES FROM SCRATCH ON THE ISLAND.
THE CONTRACT PERIOD IS 360 DAYS AND THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BY ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, GREINER-MAUNSELL ENGAGED BY THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY.
--------0-----------
CIVIL SERVANTS URGED TO USE EXISTING CHANNELS TO EXPRESS VIEWS « ♦ » t »
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, TODAY (MONDAY) CALLED ON CIVIL SERVANTS TO REFRAIN FROM TAKING DISRUPTIVE ACTION AND INSTEAD MAKE USE OF EXISTING CHANNELS TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON THE STANDING COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE NON-DIRECTORATE SALARY STRUCTURE REVIEW.
"IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE FOR STAFF TO MEET DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO DISCUSS ANY DIFFERENCES," HE SAID.
MR WIGGHAM POINTED OUT THAT CIVIL SERVANTS HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT SERVICE. THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE NOT TO BREACH THIS RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH ACTIONS WHICH MIGHT CREATE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC OR WASTE PUBLIC FUNDS.
EMPHASISING THAT THE STANDING COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THE RESULT OF VERY THOROUGH RESEARCH AND EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH STAFF AND MANAGEMENT OVER A PERIOD OF SOME 20 MONTHS, MR WIGGHAM REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE FURTHER REVIEWS OF THE SALARY STRUCTURES OF INDIVIDUAL GRADES IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
"ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF CIVIL SERVANTS STAND TO BENEFIT FROM THE RECENT REVIEW, SOME MAY FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH. BUT A BALANCE HAS TO BE STRUCK BETWEEN THE INTERESTS OF STAFF, MANAGEMENT AND THE PUBLIC," HE SAID.
/"IT IS .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
2 -
"IT IS HARDLY CONDUCIVE TO THE STABILITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IF ITS PAY STRUCTURE IS SUBJECT TO ENDLESS CHANGE," HE ADDED.
MR WIGGHAM CONFIRMED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD NEXT FOCUS ITS ATTENTION ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
THE STANDING COMMISSION’S REPORT INCLUDED OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS REGARD AND POINTED OUT THAT "IN SHARING THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC FOR IMPROVING OUTPUT AND EFFICIENCY".
"IT IS IMMENSELY IMPORTANT FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF HONG KONG THAT WE MAINTAIN AN EFFICIENT AND DEDICATED CIVIL SERVICE WHICH IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC RESPECT," MR WIGGHAM SAID.
------0--------’
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER 1990 » » t * «
HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS INCREASED DURING DECEMBER, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS PUBLISHED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH.
FOR 1990 AS A WHOLE, HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS ROSE BY 15.4 PER CENT, SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE GROWTH RATE OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN MONEY TERMS.
CONSISTENT WITH THE INCREASE IN DEPOSITS DURING DECEMBER, HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY, EXCEPT THE NARROWEST DEFINITION, ROSE DURING THE MONTH.
TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES ALSO REGISTERED AN INCREASE IN DECEMBER.
DEPOSITS
HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS, ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS, INCREASED BY 1.4 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, FOLLOWING DECLINES OF O.fi PER CENT AND 0.3 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.
OF THESE DEPOSITS, DEMAND DEPOSITS DECLINED BY 3.5 PER CENT WHILE SAVINGS AND TIME DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 3.1 PER CENT AND 1.4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN DECEMBER.
DURING 1990, TOTAL HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 15.4 PER CENT.
/FOREIGN CURRENCY .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
3 -
Fo .. IGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS WITH AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS ROSE BY 1.5 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, AFTER INCREASES OF 3.8 PER CENT AND 1.7 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.
AMONG THESE DEPOSITS, US DOLLAR AND NON-US DOLLAR DEPOSITS ROSE BY 1.9 PER CENT AND 1.2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN DECEMBER.
OVER THE YEAR, TOTAL FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS INCREASED BY 27.7 PER CENT.
DURING DECEMBER, DEPOSITS OF ALL CURRENCIES WITH LICENSED BANKS AND RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS ROSE BY 1.6 PER CENT AND 0.6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY WHILE THOSE WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FELL BY 1.9 PER CENT.
COMPARED WITH A YEAR EARLIER, DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS AND RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS INCREASED BY 23.2 PER CENT AND 17.1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY WHILE DEPOSITS WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FELL BY 0.7 PER CENT.
MONEY SUPPLY
HK$M1 FELL BY 0.6 PER CENT WHILE HK$M2 AND IIK$M3 ROSE BY 1.7 PER CENT AND 1.6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN DECEMBER.
THEIR CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES IN NOVEMBER WERE 3.0 PER CENT, 0.1 PER CENT AND 0.0 PER CENT. FOR 1990 AS A WHOLE, THESE MONETARY AGGREGATES ROSE BY 7.8 PER CENT, 15.5 PER CENT AND 14.8 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
TOTAL Ml, M2 AND M3 ROSE BY 1.3 PER CENT, 1.6 PER CENT AND 1.5 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN DECEMBER. THEIR CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES IN NOVEMBER WERE 2.2 PER CENT, 0.8 PER CENT AND 0.9 PER CENT.
OVER THE YEAR, TOTAL Ml, M2 AND M3 GREW BY 13.3 PER CENT, 22.4 PER CENT AND 21.5 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
LOANS AND ADVANCES
TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS INCREASED BY 1.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 4.2 PER CENT AND 2.0 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.
OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS, THOSE DENOMINATED TN HONG KONG DOLLARS GREW BY 1.1 PER CENT DURING DECEMBER, WHILE THOSE DENOMINATED IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES ROSE BY 1.3 PER CENT. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 15.6 PER CENT AND 58.3 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
LOANS TO FINANCE VISIBLE TRADE OF HONG KONG DECREASED BY 0.3 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, FOLLOWING A DECLINE OF 0.5 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND AN INCREASE OF 2.1 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER.
/OVER THE ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
4
O’. I R THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW RY 11.8 PER CENT.
OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG GREW BY 0.5 DECEMBER FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 2.1 PER CENT AND 2.0 ' (’TOBER AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.
PER CENT IN
PER CENT IN
OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 17.9 PER CENT.
LOANS FOR USE OUTSIDE HONG KONG ROSE BY 2.1 PER DECEMBER, AFTER INCREASES OF 5.0 PER CENT AND 1.4 PER CENT IN ND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.
CENT IN
OCTOBER
OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 74.7 PER CENT. A CONSIDERABLE PROPORTION OF THIS INCREASE WAS CONTRIBUTED BY EURO-YEN LOANS.
LOANS TO FINANCE MERCHANDISING TRADE NOT TOUCHING HONG KONG DECLINED BY 2.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, AFTER AN INCREASE OF 7.2 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND A DECLINE OF 2.5 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS DECREASED BY 7.6 PER CENT.
QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990, TOTAL LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG (EXCLUDING THOSE FOR TRADE FINANCING) INCREASED RY 4.6 PER CENT.
OF THESE, LOANS TO THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT SECTOR INCREASED BY 2.9 PER CENT, FOLLOWING INCREASES OF 1.0 PER CENT AND 2.9 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS TWO QUARTERS. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS INCREASED BY 12.3 PER CENT.
LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY (OTHER THAN FLATS IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME) GREW BY 10.3 PER CENT, AFTER INCREASES OF 5.9 PER CENT AND 5.3 PER CENT IN THE PRECEDING TWO QUARTERS. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW RY 32.8 PER CENT.
LOANS TO FINANCE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE INCREASED BY 5.7 PER CENT, AFTER INCREASES OF 6.6 PER CENT AND 1.4 PER CENT RECORDED IN THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTERS RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 19.1 PER CENT.
LOANS TO FINANCIAL CONCERNS (OTHER THAN AUTHORISED INST1 TUT IONS) ROSE BY 5.8 PER CENT, FOLLOWING INCREASES Of* 3.7 PER CENT AND 5.5 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS TWO QUARTERS. OVER THE YEAR, THOSE LOANS GREW BY 23.0 PER CENT.
LOANS FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING ROSE BY 0.1 PER CENT, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 2.8 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND A DECLINE OF 0.3 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 6.6 PER CENT.
/NUMBER OF .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
5
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBERS OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 166 AND 190 RESPECTIVELY WHILE THAT OF RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS ROSE BY TWO TO 44.
NOTES :
* BEFORE FEBRUARY 1, 1990, ’RESTRICTED LICENCE BANKS’ AND ’DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES’ WERE KNOWN AS ’LICENSED DEPOSITTAKING COMPANIES’ AND ’REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES’ RESPECTIVELY.
♦ IN THE TEXT -ABOVE, TOTAL HK$ DEPOSITS, HK$ TIME DEPOSITS, HK$M2 AND HK$M3 HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS. TOTAL FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS AND USS DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO EXCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS.
’SWAP DEPOSITS’ ARE DEPOSITS INVOLVING CUSTOMERS BUYING FOREIGN CURRENCIES (MOSTLY US 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.
/TABLE 1 .......
(HKtmn)
TABLE 1 : MONETARY STATISTICS - DECEMBER 1990
Dec 1990 Earlier months (X change to December 1990),
Money Supply Nov 1990 Sep 1990 Dec 1989
Ml - HK$ 91.826 92.411 ( -0.6 X) 87,520 ( 4.9 X) 85,183 ( 7-8 X)
Foreign currency 15.683 13.756 ( 14.0 X) 14.922 ( 5.1 %) 9.675 ( 62.1 X)
Total 107.509 106.167 ( 1.3 X) 102,442 ( 4.9 %) 94.858 ( 13 3 X)
M2 - HKS* 539.667 530.550 ( 1.7 X) 533.720 ( 1.1 X) 467.109 ( 15.5 X)
Foreign currency* 670.383 660.141 ( 1.6 X) 622.579 ( 7.7 X) 521.727 ( 28.5 X)
Total 1.210.050 1.190.692 ( 1.6 X) 1 . 156.299 ( 4.6 X) 988.836 ( 22.4 X)
M3 - HET* 571.215 562.414 ( 1.6 X) 565.657 ( 1.0 X) 497.498 ( 14.8 x )
716.813 706.245 ( 1.5 %) 669.962 ( 7.0 X) 562.709 ( 27 4- xi
rc-reign currency*
Total 1.288.028 1.268.660 ( 1.5 X) 1.235.619 ( 4.2 X) 1,060.207 ( 21.5 X 1
Notes and coins in circulation 43.261 41.566 ( 4 . 1 %) 40,394 ( 7.1 X) 39.670 ( 9.1 t 1
of which held by public 37.693 36.338 ( 3.7 %> 35.341 ( 6.7 X) 34.192 ( 10.2 X)
Total Deposits
Total Demand deposits 69.815 69.329 ( 0.0 X) 67.101 ( 4.0 %) 60.666 ( 15 1 z.»
Total Savings deposits 231.672 226.240 ( 2.4 X) 227.356 ( 1.9 X) 193.186 ( 19.9 » .
Total Time deposits with licensed banks 853.632 840.892 ( 1.5 X) 808.955 ( 5.5 X) 683.802 ( 248 x )
Total Time deposits with restricted licence banks 43.784 43.505 ( 0.6 X) 44.069 ( -0.6 X) 37.399 ( 17. 1 *)
Total Time deposits with deposit-taking companies 32.368 33.011 ( -1.9 X) 33.716 ( -4.0 X) 32.605 ( -0-7 X )
HKS deposits* 520.115 512.981 ( 1. 4 X) 517.620 ( 0.5 X) 450.762 ( 15.4
OSS deposits* 294.913 289.291 ( 1.9 X) 293.659 ( 0.4 X) 261.966 ( 12.6 X)
Other foreign currency deposits 416.243 411.203 ( 1.2 X) 369.918 ( 12.5 X) 294.929 ( 41 . 1 X)
All deposits 1.231.271 1.213.476 ( 1.5 X) 1.131,196 ( 4.2 X) 1,007.658 ( 22.2 X)
Foreign currency swap deposits 67.733 67.633 ( 0.1 X) 71.348 ( -5.1 X) 63.122 ( 7.3 X)
'Total Loans and advances
To finance H.K.’s visible trade 71.087 71.336 ( -0.3 X) 70.202 ( 1.3 X) 63.562 ( 11.8 X)
To finance merchandising trade 9.637 9.858 ( -2.2 X) 9.430 ( 2.2 X) 10,427 ( -7.6 X)
not touching H.K. •
Other loans for use in H.K. 689.363 636.089 ( 0.5 X) 659.287 ( 4.6 X) 584.594 ( 17.9 X)
Other loans for use outside H.K. 882.678 364.710 ( 2.1 X) 812.589 ( 8.6 X) 505.396 ( 74. 7 X)
Other loans where the place of 135.839 134.874 ( 0.7 %} 109.899 ( 23.6 X) 107.920 ( 25.9 X)
use is not known Loans in HK$ 607.018 600.278 ( 1.1 X) 582.576 ( 4.2 X)’ 525.239 ( 15.6 X)
Loans in foreign currencies 1.181.591 1. 166.588 ( 1.3 %) 1.078.831 ( 9.5 X) 746.659 ( 58.3 X '
Total loans and advances 1 . 788.609 1.766.866 ( 1.2 X) 1.661.407 ( 7.7 X) 1 .’271.399 ( 40.6 t.)
* Adjusted for foreign currency swap deposits
Note : 'Restricted licence banks’ and 'deposit-tahinr companies' were known as * licensed deposit-taking companies’ and 'registered deposit-taking companies' respectively before 1 February 1990.
TABLE 2 QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR - DECEMBER 1990 a
(HKSmn)
I i
I
I o
i i
i
i
Dec 1990 (X Earlier quarters
change to December 1990)
Sep 1990 Jun 1990 Dec 1989
Manufacturing , 49.315 49.287 ( 0.1 X) 49.429 ( -0.2 X) 46.267 ( 6.6 X)
Transport and transport equipment 41.232 38.971 ( 5.3 X) 37.658 ( 9.5 X) 37,174 ( 10.9 X'
Building, construction, property development and investment 108.112 105.088 ( 2.9 X) 102.145 ( 5.8 X) 96.299 ( 12.3 X)
Wholesale and retail trade 74.641 70.029 ( 5.7 %} 69.663 1 7.1 X) 62.663 ( 19. 1 X)
Financial concerns • Individuals: 104.730 98.988 ( 5.8 X) 93.849 ( 11.6 X) 85.158 ( 23.0 X)
to purchase flats in the Home Ownership Scheme and Private Sector Participation Scheme 13.664 13.899 ( -1.7 %} 13.883 ( -1.6 X) 10.605 ( 28.8 X)
to purchase other residential property 132.166 119.858 ( 10.3 X) 113.773 ( 16.2 X) 99.493 ( 32.8 X)
other purposes 60.896 60.599 ( 0.5 X) 58.843 ( 3.5 X) 55.105 ( 10.5 X)
Others 104.612 101.968 ( 2.6 X) 105.222 ( -0.6 X) 91.830 ( 13.9 X)
Total 689.368 659.287 ( 4.6 X) 644.466 ( 7.0 X) 584.594 ( 17.9 X)
* Starting from December 1988. mere detaile to building, construction. property devel are available. They are published in the January 1989 issue onwards. d statistics on loans to the opment and investment and to Monthly Digest of Statistics transport* sector, financial concerns from the
T in ueuemoer result of this, loans according . tne return some author!; to intended । for reporting loans 1 zed institutions have usage rather than the for use by now more business sector proper! of the was revised, y classified th loan recipients As a eir
* This excludes funds advanced to author! z- d ins titutions
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
8
NO NEW CASES OF FOOD-POISONING ♦ ♦ ♦ * ♦
NO NEW CASES OF FOOD-POJ SONI NG CAUSED BY THE INTAKE OF PESTICIDE-CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES HAVE BEEN REPORTED SO FAR TODAY (MONDAY).
DESPITE THIS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAID MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES BY WASHING AND BLANCHING VEGETABLES BEFORE COOKING.
"MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO STEP UP THEIR EFFORTS IN SCREENING AND SAMPLING VEGETABLES ESPECIALLY THOSE IMPORTED FROM SHENZHEN," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
OVER THE WEEKEND, 17 MORE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN ILL IN FOOD-POISONING CASES CAUSED BY PESTICIDE-CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES, BRINGING TO 61 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VICTIMS SINCE THE OUTBREAK LAST WEEK.
OF THESE, SIX ARE STILL IN HOSPITAL. THEY ARE ALL IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION.
TO AVOID FOOD POISONING BY EATING PESTICIDE-CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES, THE SPOKESMAN URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES:
» DO NOT BUY VEGETABLES WITH AN OBVIOUS STRANGE SMELL;
* TEAR OFF AND DISCARD THE LEAVES AT THE PERIPHERY;
* WASH WELL BEFORE COOKING;
* SOAK VEGETABLES IN CLEAN WATER FOR SOME TIME TO ALLOW PESTICIDE TO LEACH OUT;
* BBANCII IN BOILING WATER AND POUR AWAY THE WATER USED FOR BLANCHING AS IT MAY CONTAIN DISSOLVED PESTICIDE; AND
» COOK THOROUGHLY BEFORE CONSUMPTION.
--------0-----------
Z9.........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
9
LEGCO MEMBERS TO DERATE ON LAW AND ORDER MOTION
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ASK A TOTAL OF FOUR QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER TWO BILLS AT THE COUNCIL’S MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 6).
OF THE TWO BILLS, THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS WHILE THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 WILL GO THROUGH THE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOM1C SERVICES WILL MOVE A MOTION UNDER THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE.
ALSO, THE HON ANDREW WONG WILL MOVE THREE MOTIONS UNDER THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE.
MEANWHILE, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT WILL MOVE A MOTION THAT READS: ’’THAT THIS COUNCIL RECOGNISES THE SERIOUS CONCERN OF OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE INCREASE TN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, IN PARTICULAR, ORGANISED CRIME, ROBBERY WITH FIREARMS, SMUGGLING AND CAR THEFTS, AND URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS IN HONG KONG TO COMBAT CRIME AND TO SEEK CHINA’S FULL CO-OPERATION IN DEALING WITH ’ CROSS BORDER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES".
DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP WILL SPEAK ON THE REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRAVEL AGENTS’ RESERVE FUND FOR THE PERIOD 1.4.89-31.3.90 WHILE THE HON PETER POON WILL SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 16.
MEMBERS OF HIE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO OBSERVE THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTING FROM THE PUBLIC GALLERIES AND THEY MAY MAKE RESERVATIONS BY TELEPHONING 844 0899.
------0--------
OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS AWARDS SCHEME INVITES APPLICATIONS * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
APPLICATIONS FOR OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS (ORS) AWARDS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE 1991/92 SCHOOL YEAR.
ABOUT 850 NEW ORS AWARDS WILL BE OFFERED ON A COMPETITIVE BASTS IN 1991 TO OVERSEAS POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF OUTSTANDING MERIT AND RESEARCH POTENTIAL.
EACH AWARD WILL COVER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TUITION FEE FOR A HOME (UK) POSTGRADUATE STUDENT AND THE FEE CHARGEABLE TO AN OVERSEAS POSTGRADUATE STUDENT.
THE SCHEME IS ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMITTEE OF VICE-CHANCELLORS AND PRINCIPALS OF THE UNIVERSITIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
/APPLICANTS SHOULD .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
- 10 -
APPLICANTS SHOULD BE:
(A) GRADUATES OF A RECOGNISED UNIVERSITY OR STUDENTS
EXPECTING TO GRADUATE BY SEPTEMBER 30, 1991;
(B) ACCEPTED OR CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED BY ONE OF THE
PARTICIPATING ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR ADMISSION IN THE 1991/92 ACADEMIC YEAR AS REGISTERED RESEARCH STUDENTS TO A FULL-TIME COURSE FOR A HIGHER DEGREE OR WHO ARE ALREADY UNDERTAKING SUCH A COURSE AND DO NOT HAVE AN ORS AWARD; AND
(C) LIABLE TO PAY TUITION FEES AT THE RATE FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS.
THE ONLY CRITERIA FOR THE AWARDS ARE OUTSTANDING MERIT AND RESEARCH POTENTIAL; OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS MEANS, NATIONALITY, PROPOSED FIELD AND INSTITUTION OF STUDY WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. THE AWARDS MAY BE HELD IN ANY FIELD OF STUDY.
SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY PROGRESS OF THE AWARD-HOLDER, THE AWARD MAY BE RENEWED FOR A SECOND OR THIRD YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE NORMAL OR REMAINING LENGTH OF THE RESEARCH COURSE BEING UNDERTAKEN.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE MADE ON THE OFFICIAL FORM (ORS/1) WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE REGISTRAR OR SECRETARY OF ANY OF THE UK ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHEME.
AN APPLICANT SHOULD SUBMIT HIS APPLICATION FOR THE ORS AWARD THROUGH ONLY ONE INSTITUTION.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATION BY THE REGISTRAR OR SECRETARY AT THE INSTITUTION IS APRIL 30, 1991.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ORS SCHEME MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY AT 16 ICE HOUSE STREET, FIFTH FLOOR, CENTRAL, HONG KONG (TEL. NO. 801 5776).
------0--------
MUSIC OFFICE ANNUAL GALA ON MARCH 3 ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦
MORE THAN 500 YOUNG MUSICIANS WILL PERFORM AT THE MUSIC
OFFICE’S ANNUAL GALA TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, MARCH 3 AT THE HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE CONCERT HALL. THE CONCERT BEGINS AT 3 PM.
THE ANNUAL GALA IS THE FIRST MUSICAL ACTIVITY ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE IN THE YEAR OF THE RAM DURING WHICH THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ITS TRAINEES UNDER THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME IN THE PAST YEAR CAN BE REVIEWED.
7a MUSIC .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
A MUSIC OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE EVENT WOULD PROVIDE THE TRAINEES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM IN PUBLIC AND BEFORE THEIR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND FRIENDS.
"PARENTS, WHEN WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN PERFORM ON STAGE AND PARTICULARLY BEFORE A LARGE AUDIENCE, WOULD FEEL PROUD OF THE YOUNGSTERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS.
"THE TRAINEES’ OUTSTANDING TECHNIQUE WILL ALSO GUARANTEE AN ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON FOR THE AUDIENCE," HE SAID.
SOME OF THE TRAINEES PARTICIPATING IN THE CONCERT WERE WINNERS IN THE SCHOOLS MUSIC FESTIVAL OR HAD REPRESENTED HONG KONG IN GOODWILL VISITS TO SINGAPORE, AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.
PERFORMING IN THE CONCERT WILL BE THE HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA, HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND, HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND THE MUSIC OFFICE YOUTH CHOIR.
THEY WILL PRESENT PIECES INCLUDING TCHAIKOVSKY’S "OVERTURE 1812", HANDEL’S "CONCERTO GROSSO IN G MAJOR", AND THE CHINESE TRADITIONAL "THE AMBUSH" AND "THE CAVALRY".
THE CLIMAX OF THE CONCERT WILL BE A JOINT PERFORMANCE BY THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, MUSIC OFFICE YOUTH CHOIR AND CHILDREN’S CHOIR AS WELL AS THE CHORAL ENSEMBLES FROM DIOCESAN BOYS’ SCHOOL, WAH YAN COLLEGE, TIN KWONG ROAD GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL AND SHAU KEI WAN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL. THEY WILL PRESENT VERDI’S "TRIUMPHAL MARCH FROM AIDA".
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND LADY WILSON WILL OFFICIATE AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY. OUTSTANDING TRAINEES, ORCHESTRAL, CHOIR AND BAND MEMBERS WILL BE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF MERIT OR AWARDS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENT.
TICKETS FOR THE ANNUAL GALA, AT $30 AND $40 EACH, ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL URBTIX OUTLETS. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 823 5314.
------0--------
STUDENT GARDENERS TO RECEIVE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOUR ***«»*
WINNING STUDENTS FROM 98 PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE PRIZES FOR THEIR LABOUR WORK IN A VEGETABLE POT-GROWING COMPETITION AT a CEREMONY TOMORROW (FEBRUARY 5) AFTERNOON.
THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS (CURRICULUM) OF THE DEPARTMENT, MR SIMON HO, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
EDUCATION
/STUDENTS OF .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1991
- 12 -
STUDENTS OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS WERE GIVEN SEEDS OF FIVE SPECIES SUITABLE FOR POT GROWING LAST SEPTEMBER TO NURTURE FROM SEEDLING TO FULL-GROWN STAGE WITH THE HELP OF TEACHERS AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT STAFF.
THROUGH PARTICIPATION AND OBSERVATION, STUDENTS LEARNT MORE ABOUT THE GROWTH OF PLANTS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN BEAUTIFYING THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE COMPETITION WAS ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WITH THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE CHOI HING LEE SEEDS COMPANY LIMITED.
ALL ENTRIES WILL BE DISPLAYED FOR PUBLIC VIEWING AT THE HONG KONG TEACHERS' CENTRE BETWEEN 3 PM TO 5 PM TOMORROW AND BETWEEN 9 AM TO 5 PM ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT THE HONG KONG TEACHERS’ CENTRE AT 4 PAK FUK ROAD, NORTH POINT AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
--------0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
APPOINTMENT OF NEW COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ANNOUNCED........................ 1
BUSINESSMAN JAILED FOR TAX EVASION .........................................
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED ...................................................
EXHIBITION PUBLICISES DB ELECTIONS .........................................
SPECIAL POSTAL SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS ............ 4
"LAISEES" FOR NEEDY FAMILIES ............................................... 4
NEW KOWLOON MAP SALES OFFICE OPENS .........................................
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1991
1
APPOINTMENT OF NEW COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ANNOUNCED » « * ♦ »
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT MR DARWIN CHEN, CURRENTLY DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, WILL SUCCEED MR TONY HAMMOND AS COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR NEXT MONTH.
MR HAMMOND WILL UK RETIRING AFTER 26 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON MR CHEN AND MR HAMMOND ARE AS FOLLOWS:
MR DARWIN CHEN, ISO, JP
AGED 58, MR CHEN JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS ASSISTANT MANAGER, CITY HALL IN THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN 1961.
HE ROSE TO THE RANK OF SENIOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES IN 1979 AND SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL SERVICES FROM 1980 TO 1985, WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE B.
HE WAS PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE Bl IN DECEMBER 1989.
SINCE HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE, MR CHEN HAS SERVED AS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR FROM FEBRUARY 1985 TO AUGUST 1987, COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING FROM AUGUST 1987 TO JANUARY 1989 AND DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE FORMER GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH FROM JANUARY 1989 TO MARCH 1990.
HE TOOK UP HIS PRESENT APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS IN APRIL 1990.
MR J.C.A. HAMMOND, ISO, JP
AGED 57, MR J.C.A. HAMMOND JOINED THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IN 1964 AND ROSE TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE A IN 1985.
HE HAS SERVED IN A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES. MORE RECENTLY, HE WAS DIRECTOR, COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH FROM AUGUST 1982 TO MARCH 1985 AND DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES FROM APRIL 1985 TO JUNE 1986, WHEN HE TOOK UP HIS PRESENT APPOINTMENT AS COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.
MR HAMMOND WILL RETIRE IN MARCH 1991, AFTER 26 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
- - 0--------- -
/2 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1991
2 BUSINESSMAN JAILED FOR TAX EVASION » » t * »
A 51-YEAR-OLD BUSINESSMAN WAS SENTENCED TO 12 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT AND FINED A TOTAL OF S3,347,584 IN THE WANCHAI DISTRICT COURT TODAY AFTER HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF SIX COUNTS OF TAX EVASION-RELATED CHARGES ON MONDAY (YESTERDAY).
THE FIRE WAS EQUIVALENT TO 200 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL TAX EVADED.
THE DEFENDANT, KWOK HING-FOR KINGSFORD, THE SOLE PROPRIETOR OF FEDERAL CHEMICAL CO, WAS CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF SUBMITTING INACCURATE TAX RETURNS CONTRARY TO SECTION 82(1)(D) OF THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE AND THREE COUNTS OF CREATING FALSE PURCHASES IN THE COMPANY’S BOOKS AND CONSEQUENTLY, TO OVERSTATE PURCHASES IN THE TAX RETURNS, CONTRARY TO SECTION 82(1)(G) OF THE ORDINANCE.
DELIVERING HIS JUDGEMENT, DEPUTY JUDGE DAVIES SAID THE EVIDENCE WAS OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE CONVICTION. THE DEFENDANT HAD DELIBERATELY FALSIFIED THE PROFITS TAX RETURNS IN ORDER TO SAVE THE PAYMENT OF LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PUBLIC PURSE.
HE SENTENCED THE DEFENDANT TO 12 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR EACH CHARGE, TO BE EXECUTED CONCURRENTLY.
THE OFFENCES INVOLVED THE SUBMISSIONS BY THE DEFENDANT TO THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT (IRD) OF PROFITS TAX RETURNS FOR THE TAX ASSESSMENT YEARS 1985/86 TO 1987/88 IN WHICH ASSESSABLE PROFITS HAD BEEN UNDERSTATED, AND AS A RESULT, PROFITS TAX EVADED.
SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL, MR MICHAEL BLANCHFLOWER, WHO REPRESENTED THE CROWN, TOLD THE COURT THAT THE DEFENDANT UNDERSTATED SALES OF $7.3 MILLION AND OVERSTATED PURCHASES $2.5 MILLION IN THE TAX RETURNS AND CONSEQUENTLY UNDERSTATED PROFITS OF $9,795,100 WHICH WAS 94 PERCENT OF THE FULL PROFITS AND EVADED TAX OF $1,673,792.
THIS IS THE LARGEST CASE IN RECENT YEARS IN TERMS OF THE QUANTUM OF UNDERSTATED PROFITS AND EVADED TAX.
THE COURT WAS TOLD THAT IN SEPTEMBER 1988, THE IRD INVESTIGATED AND SEARCHED THE DEFENDANT’S BUSINESS PREMISES AT CHAI WAN KOK STREET, TSUEN WAN.
DURING THE COURSE OF INVESTIGATION, THE DEFENDANT CLOSED THE BUSINESS AND LEFT FOR CANADA WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT. HE LATER INFORMED THE IRD THAT HE HAD NO INTENTION OF RETURNING TO HONG KONG. THE IRD THEN INITIATED EXTRADITION ACTIONS AGAINST HIM.
THE DEFENDANT WAS ARRESTED ON APRIL 28 LAST YEAR AFTER HE HAD SLIPPED INTO HONG KONG. HE WAS CHARGED AND APPEARED IN THE CENTRAL MAGISTRACY ON APRIL 30, LAST YEAR.
THE CASE WAS LATER TRANSFERRED TO WAN CHAI DISTRICT COURT AND WAS HEARD BEFORE DEPUTY JUDGE DAVIES FROM JANUARY 10 TO JANUARY 25. THE DEFENDANT PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL THE CHARGES.
/AFTER THE .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1991
3 -
AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE CROWN’S CASE, THE DEFENCE COUNSEL SUBMITTED (HERE WAS NO CASE TO ANSWER. BUT THE JUDGE RULED OTHERWISE. THE DEFENDANT ELECTED TO REMAIN SILENT.
THE 1RD REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT TAX EVASION IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE. UPON CONVICTION, THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE IS THREE YEARS. IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $20,000 ON EACH CHARGE, IN ADDITION TO A FURTHER FINE EQUIVALENT TO THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF TAX UNDERCHARGED.
--------0-----------
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED » * * » »
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE REGISTRATION OF BERMUDA FINANCE (FAR EAST) LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY (TUESDAY) AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE.
--------0 - -
EXHIBITION PUBLICISES DB ELECTIONS »»«»»»
THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE IS HOLDING A MOBILE EXHIBITION AT FOUR SHOPPING CENTRES THIS MONTH TO GIVE RESIDENTS AN INSIGHT INTO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE SAID THE EXHIBITION, WHICH STARTED TODAY (TUESDAY), WAS PART OF THE PUBLICITY PROGRAMME TO REMIND REGISTERED ELECTORS TO CAST THEIR VOTES ON MARCH 3.
THROUGH GRAPHICS AND CHARTS, THE EXHIBITION EXPLAINS THE ROLE AND COMPOSITION OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AS WELL AS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 18 CONSTITUENCIES IN THE DISTRICT.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE VOTING PROCEDURE, THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE POLLING STATIONS AND PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF THE 45 CANDIDATES ARE ALSO PROVIDED.
FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES AND VENUES OF THE MOBILE EXHIBITION:
DATE VENUE
FEBRUARY 5 TO 10 HENG FA CHUEN WEST WING SHOPPING ARCADE CHAI WAN
FEBRUARY 11 TO 20 MAXI MALL, CITY GARDEN, NORTH POINT
FEBRUARY 21 TO 24 WEST BRIDGE, CITYPLAZA, TA1KOO SHING
FEBRUARY 25 TO 28 NEW JADE SHOPPING CENTRE, CHAI WAN.
-----0 - -
/4
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1991
4
SPECIAL POSTAL SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS
*****
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, TODAY (TUESDAY) ANT CEO THE SPECIAL POSTAL SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
THERE WILL BE ONE DELIVERY EACH ON FEBRUARY 14 (LUNAR NEW YEZ 'S EVE) AND FEBRUARY 17 (THE THIRD DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR).
LETTERS WILL NOT BE DELIVERED ON FEBRUARY 15 AND 16.
ALL POST OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 14 TO 17, EXCEPT FOR THE GENERAL POST OFFICE AND THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE BOTH OF WHICH WILL OPEN FOR SERVICE FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON FEBRUARY 14.
_ _ 0 - -
LAISEES" FOR NEEDY FAMILIES * * * *
MORE THAN 400 SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, LIVING ON HONG KONG ISLAND, TODAY (TUESDAY) RECEIVED NEW YEAR "LAISEES" (RED PACKETS) OF $150 EACH FROM THE TANG SHIU-KIN AND HO TIM CHARITABLE FUND.
A FURTHER 3,000 FAMILIES IN THIS CATEGORY, LIVING ON 1HE OTHER SIDE OF THE HARBOUR, WILL RECEIVE THEIR LAISEES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
ABOUT 660 ELDERLY, COMPRISING AGED PATIENTS OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS AND RESIDENTS OF HO’S CLANSMAN ASSOCIATION HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY, WILL ALSO RECEIVE THEIR "LAISEES" OF $100 BACH BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
OFFICIATING AT TODAY'S DISTRIBUTION CEREMONY AT PO LEUNG KUK WERE A FOUNDER OF THE FUND, DR HO TIM; ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE. MR ALFRED CHUI; POPSINGER, MR PATRICK 1AM, AND THE FUND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THE FUND, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDES IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES TO COPE WITH HARDSHIP BROUGHT ABOUT BY UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES.
GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN EDUCATION, PURCHASE OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL TREATMENT OR OTHER NEEDS.
PAYMENTS ARE ALSO MADE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS ARISING FROM PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY OF CHRONIC ILLNESS. IN PARTICULAR, THE FUND HELPS VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS WITH URGENT NEEDS.
APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE FUND CAN BE MADE TO THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS, PO LEUNG KUK OR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
- - 0 -
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1991
5
NEW KOWLOON MAP SALES OFFICE OPENS
*****
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT’S NEW MAP SALES OUTLET, THE MAP PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF NATHAN ROAD AND GASCOIGNE ROAD IN KOWLOON, WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY OMELCO MEMBER MR CHENG HON-KWAN THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS, MR A.G. EASON, HOSTED THE OCCASION.
IN HIS OPENING SPEECH, MR CHENG STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF MAPS AND PLANS IN TOWN PLANNING, ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.
HE ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE HIGH STANDARD OF SURVEY AND MAPPING WORK BY THE BUIDLINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT’S SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE WHICH PUBLISHES A WIDE RANGE OF EXCELLENT MAPS FOR USE BY PROFESSIONALS IN THE DEVELOPMENT FIELD, AND BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO SHOULD FIND THE STREET GUIDES AND LEISURE MAP SERIES USEFUL AND INFORMATIVE.
APART FROM THE CONVENTIONAL PAPER MAPS, THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO KEEPING PACE WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF A LAND INFORMATION SYSTEM WHICH WOULD ENABLE COMPUTER PROCESSING AND UPDATING OF GEOGRAPHICAL AND LAND RELATED DATA.
THE NEW MAP SALES OFFICE IS LOCATED IN A CONVENIENT AND PLEASANT SETTING, BEING IN THE HEART OF YAU MA TEI, ADJOINING A URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT LANDSCAPED GARDEN AND A SHOPPING MALL.
THE OPENING HOURS ARE FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM (NO LUNCHBREAK), MONDAY TO FRIDAY, AND FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SATURDAY.
MAP SALES SERVICES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT MURRAY BUILDING (14TH FLOOR) AND THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE (GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING) IN CENTRAL, AND AT VARIOUS DISTRICT SURVEY OFFICIS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991 CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
S FOR S ON LAW AND ORDER SITUATION .................................. 1
BILL SEEKS TO SET OUT FIDUCIARY DUTIES OF COMPANY DIRECTORS INTRODUCED ............................................................ 6
RESOLUTION TO ADD CHARGES FOR NEW TELEPHONE SERVICES PASSED ......... 7
GOVT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO PROMOTE HK'S INT'L TIES ........... 8
FEES AND CHARGES HELP SPREAD TAX LOAD ............................... 9
SUFFICIENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEET NEEDS FOR LEGAL AID .......... 10
GOVT RECOGNISES RIGHT OF DETAINEE TO LEGAL ADVICE ................... 11
26 MEMBERS SPOKE ON THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES MOTION .................. 11
ACTING CS COMMENTS ON GULF FUND CONTRIBUTION ........................... 12
SHARE OF U.S. IN HK'S DOMESTIC EXPORTS FALLING ......................... 12
EXCHANGE FUND TO ISSUE 364-DAY BILLS ................................... 13
SWAP TRANSACTIONS ...................................................... 14
COST RECOVERY TARGETS FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION REVISED ................... 15
TUNG WAH PRAISED FOR ITS EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOURS ........................ 16
FC MEETING ON FRIDAY ................................................... 17
WORKS BRANCH STATEMENT ................................................. 17
FMO STAFF URGED TO RESUME WORK ......................................... 18
RESIDENTS URGED TO JOIN CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME ......................... 19
TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN OPENS NEW MARINE OFFICE ............... 20
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
S FOR S ON LAW AND ORDER SITUATION * » » ♦ »
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN THE LAW AND ORDER DEBATE:
INTRODUCTION
SIR, MANY MEMBERS HAVE THIS AFTERNOON EXPRESSED CLEARLY AND FORCEFULLY THEIR CONCERN, AND THAT OF THE COMMUNITY, AT THE RECENT INCREASE IN CRIME IN HONG KONG. THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES AND SHARES THAT CONCERN.
OVERALL CRIME PER 100,000 POPULATION INCREASED BY OVER 7* IN 1990 VIOLENT CRIME BY ALMOST 8%. IT WILL BE OF LITTLE COMFORT FOR ME TO POINT OUT THAT THE RATE OF OVERALL CRIME IS NOW AT THE SAME LEVEL AS IT WAS IN 1980, AND RATHER LESS THAN IN SEVERAL YEARS IN THE EARLY 1980S; AND THAT THE RATE OF VIOLENT CRIME IS MORE THAN 7% LOWER THAN 10 YEARS AGO.
THE FACT IS THAT CRIME, WHICH HAD FALLEN STEADILY IN THE MID-1980S, IS NOW ONCE AGAIN ON THE INCREASE. VIOLENT CRIME IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN ON AN UPWARD TREND SINCE 1986. WE MUST REVERSE THAT TREND.
OVERALL STATISTICS ALSO DO NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY. THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIME WHICH POSE A PARTICULAR THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TO LAW AND ORDER IN OUR SOCIETY. ROBBERIES INCREASED ALMOST 25% IN 1990, AND THERE WERE TWICE AS MANY ROBBERIES INVOLVING THE USE OF GENUINE FIREARMS AS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR; THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES OF BLACKMAIL, A LARGE PROPORTION OF WHICH WERE TRIAD RELATED, ROSE BY OVER 20%; THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF OVER 40% IN VEHICLE THEFTS; AND WIDESPREAD SMUGGLING INTO CHINA BY WELL ORGANISED CRIMINAL GANGS OF CIGARETTES, STOLEN VEHICLES, AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC GOODS.
I SHOULD LIKE TO CONCENTRATE THIS EVENING ON WHAT IS BEING DONE TO COMBAT CRIMES INVOLVING THE USE OF FIREARMS, CAR THEFT, SMUGGLING AND ORGANISED CRIME; AND OF WHAT ADDITIONAL MEASURES WE PROPOSE TO ASSIST THE POLICE AND THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THESE PARTICULAR CRIMES. I WILL ALSO RESPOND TO POINTS RAISED ON THE ADEQUACY OF POLICE MANNING AND EQUIPMENT.
FIREARMS
PERHAPS THE MOST WORRYING TREND IN THE PAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN THE RISE IN THE NUMBER OF CRIMES, PARTICULARLY ROBBERIES, INVOLVING THE USE OF GENUINE FIREARMS. MANY OF THESE WEAPONS ARE OF CHINESE ORIGIN.
/THE POLICE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
2
THE POLICE ARE TACKLING THIS PROBLEM VIGOROUSLY IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE POLICE ARE TARGETTING THEIR INTELLIGENCE AND OPERATIONS AGAINST THE CRIMINAL GANGS INVOLVED IN THE IMPORT AND USE OF FIREARMS IN HONG KONG. THESE OPERATIONS, MANY INEVITABLY OF A LONG TERM NATURE, ARE BEARING RESULTS. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE POLICE HAVE SEIZED ALMOST 200 GENUINE AND CONVERTED GUNS. SECONDLY, BOTH THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT ARE STEPPING UP CONTROLS AND SEARCHES AT BORDER CROSSING POINTS. THIRDLY, WE ARE TO INTRODUCE NEW MEASURES TO CURB SMUGGLING BY SPEEDBOAT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA WHICH WE BELIEVE IS ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH FIREARMS ARE BEING IMPORTED. I WILL SAY MORE ABOUT THIS LATER. FINALLY, WE ARE SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA IN MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL FIREARMS. THERE IS REGULAR CROSS-BORDER LIAISON ON THIS AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST ON AN OPERATIONAL LEVEL; AND WE HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM, AND MEANS OF COMBATTING IT, AT A POLITICAL LEVEL BOTH IN GUANGDONG AND IN PEKING. THERE IS NOW A REGULAR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. BOTH ARE ANXIOUS TO DEVELOP CO-OPERATION FURTHER TO COUNTER WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM TO BOTH SIDES.
CAR THEFTS
I SHOULD NOW LIKE-TO TURN TO THE PROBLEM OF VEHICLE THEFT. THE GREAT MAJORITY OF STOLEN CARS ARE RECOVERED. BUT LAST YEAR SAW BOTH A LARGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES STOLEN, AND, EQUALLY SIGNIFICANT, A REDUCTION FROM ABOUT 85% TO 70% IN THE NUMBER SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERED. SOME OF THE VEHICLES NOT RECOVERED ARB CANNIBALISED FOR SPARE PARTS, AND SOME ARE RESOLD LOCALLY. BUT MOST ARE SMUGGLED OUT OF HONG KONG, THE MAIN, THOUGH NOT THE ONLY, DESTINATION BEING CHINA.
HERE AGAIN, THE PROBLEM IS BEING TACKLED ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS. THE POLICE HAVE STEPPED UP INVESTIGATIONS TO OBTAIN INTELLIGENCE ABOUT CRIMINAL GROUPS ENGAGED IN CAR THEFT. BASED ON THIS INTELLIGENCE, THEY HAVE MOUNTED LARGE-SCALE OPERATIONS, BOTH ON LAND AND AT SEA, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN ARRESTS, THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN VEHICLES, AND THE BREAKING UP OF SOME OF THE CAR-THEFT SYNDICATES.
WB HAVE ALSO STEPPED UP PUBLICITY ON ANTI-CAR THEFT PRECAUTIONS BY WAY OF POSTERS, VIDEO AND APIS. THE POLICE HAVE APPROACHED THE MANAGEMENT OF CAR PARKS TO ADVISE ON SECURITY MEASURES, AND INCREASED CHECKS AT BLACK SPOTS AND AT ROAD BLOCKS.
THESE MEASURES ARE HAVING SOME SUCCESS. THERE WAS A LARGE DROP IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES REPORTED STOLEN IN DECEMBER 1990 (SOME 45% LESS THAN IN NOVEMBER), AND THE FIGURE FOR JANUARY THIS YEAR WAS ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE NUMBERS FOR EACH OF THE 6 MONTHS FROM JUNE TO NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. CLEARLY, HOWEVER, ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF TACKLING THIS PROBLEM IS CO-OPERATION WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION TO CLOSE OFF THE MARKET FOR STOLEN VEHICLES. TO THIS END, THE POLICE ARE CIRCULATING TO THE CHINESE AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION PARTICULARS OF STOLEN VEHICLES IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING ENGINE AND CHASSIS NUMBERS. WE ARE ALSO PRESSING FOR THE TIGHTENING UP OF PROCEDURES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF IMPORTED SECOND-HAND VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY RIGHT-HAND DRIVE VEHICLES, AND FOR THE RETURN OF STOLEN VEHICLES.
/SMUGGLING .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
SMUGGLING
CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH THE PROBLEMS OF FIREARMS AND VEHICLE THEFTS, SIR, WHICH I HAVE MENTIONED IS THE PROBLEM OF SMUGGLING BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA, PARTICULARLY SMUGGLING BY SPEEDBOAT. BETWEEN JULY AND DECEMBER 1990, THERE WERE 273 CASES IN WHICH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SEIZED LARGE NUMBERS OF TELEVISION SETS, VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS, AIR CONDITIONERS AND REFRIGERATORS BOUND FOR CHINA. I HAVE ALREADY REFERRED TO THE PROBLEM OF THE SMUGGLING OF VEHICLES. AND THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE FIREARMS USED IN CRIMES IN HONG KONG MAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN BY SPEEDBOAT.
SMUGGLING BY HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOAT PRESENTS A MAJOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM. THE SPEEDBOATS ARE DIFFICULT TO INTERCEPT SAFELY BECAUSE OF THE VERY HIGH SPEEDS AT WHICH THEY OPERATE AND THE AGGRESSIVE TENDENCY OF THEIR OWNERS AND CREW TO TAKE RISKS TO DEFEND THE CONSIDERABLE GAINS THAT CAN BE MADE. THE RECKLESS AND DANGEROUS MANNER IN WHICH THESE VEHICLES ARE OPERATED HAS THREATENED THE LIVES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; ONE POLICE OFFICER WAS KILLED IN 1990 AND THREE INJURED LAST MONTH IN INCIDENTS DIRECTLY RELATED TO SPEEDBOATS.
IN THE FIRST HALF OF LAST YEAR, THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS THE SMUGGLING OF CIGARETTES. IN MAY 1990, WE TOOK MEASURES TO STOP THIS SMUGGLING BY RESTRICTING THE ISSUE OF EXPORT PERMITS FOR CIGARETTES. THIS PROVED SUCCESSFUL, AND THE SMUGGLING OF CIGARETTES BY SPEEDBOAT HAS VIRTUALLY CEASED. WE ALSO TOOK MEASURES TO RESTRICT THE EXPORT OF TELEVISION SETS AND VCRS ON SMALL BOATS WITHOUT A LICENCE, AND TO PREVENT THE LICENSING OF HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOATS DESIGNED FOR SMUGGLING, BY RESTRICTIONS ON ENGINE SIZE AND FUEL CAPACITY. THESE MEASURES I HAVE TO SAY, HAVE HAD LIMITED EFFECT. OF THE 273 CASES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OF 1990 WHICH I HAVE MENTIONED, ONLY 193 RESULTED IN A SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION; THE REMAINDER FAILED LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF PROVING INTENT TO EXPORT. AND WHILE THE BASING IN HONG KONG OF HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOATS USED FOR SMUGGLING HAS BEEN GREATLY REDUCED, MANY HAVE BEEN REMOVED TO BASES IN CHINA FROM WHERE THEY CONTINUE TO CONDUCT SMUGGLING RUNS TO AND FROM HONG KONG.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM LIES NOT IN HIGHSPEED (’HASES AT SEA, NOR IN GREATER USE OF FIREARMS BY THE POLICE AGAINST SMUGGLERS. SUCH MEASURES ARE UNLIKELY TO BE EFFECTIVE, AND WOULD SIMPLY INCREASE THE DANGER TO THE MARINE POLICE. RATHER, WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE TACKLED THROUGH CO-ORDINATED INTELLIGENCE BASED OPERATIONS ON LAND; NEW LEGISLATION TO ASSIST SUCH OPERATIONS; AND INCREASED AND MORE EFFECTIVE CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. WE SHALL, THEREFORE, BE BRINGING FORWARD IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION WHICH:
(A) WILL PROHIBIT THE CARRIAGE OF RESTRICTED ARTICLES SUCH AS TELEVISION SETS, VIDEOS AND MOTOR VEHICLES ON SMALL VESSELS UNDER 250 TONS WITHOUT A CARRIAGE LICENCE ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE;
(B) WILL CREATE NEW OFFENCES OF ASSISTING IN THE EXPORT OF UNMANIFESTED CARGO, OR IN THE CARRIAGE OF PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED ARTICLES, AND
/(C) WILL ..........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
4
(C) WILL PROHIBIT THE CONSTRUCTION, MODIFICATION, OR REPAIR OF SPEEDBOATS DESIGNED FOR SMUGGLING PURPOSES.
AT THE SAME TIME, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE CO-ORDINATION OF ENFORCEMENT MEASURES BY THE VARIOUS AGENCIES, WE WILL BE ESTABLISHING A DEDICATED TASK FORCE UNDER THE CONTROL OF A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER. THIS TASK FORCE, COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE POLICE, MILITARY, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS AS NECESSARY WILL CO-ORDINATE OPERATIONS AGAINST SMUGGLING TO AND FROM CHINA. IT WILL RECOMMEND FURTHER LEGISLATIVE OR OTHER MEASURES NECESSARY TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM. IT WILL ALSO LIAISE AT AN OPERATIONAL LEVEL WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. THERE IS ALREADY CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION ON WHICH THE TASK FORCE CAN BUILD. THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TAKE REGULAR ACTION AGAINST SMUGGLING BY SPEEDBOAT, AND WE HAVE PASSED TO THEM DETAILS OF BASES AND ROUTES WHICH WE BELIEVE ARE BEING USED BY SPEEDBOATS TO ASSIST THEM IN ENFORCEMENT.
ORGANISED CRIME
I SHOULD NOW LIKE TO TURN TO MEASURES TO COUNTER TRIAD AND ORGANISED CRIME. WE HAVE IN RECENT YEARS, ON THE ADVICE OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, INTRODUCED A NUMBER OF NEW LEGISLATIVE MEASURES TO ATTACK ORGANISED CRIME, AND TO DEPRIVE CRIMINAL SYNDICATES OF THE PROCEEDS OF CRIME. THE DRUG TRAFFICKING (RECOVERY OF PROCEEDS) ORDINANCE PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL IN JULY 1989 PROVIDES FOR GREATER INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING, AND MEANS TO COUNTER THE LAUNDERING OF DRUG MONEY AND FOR THE CONFISCATION OF THE PROCEEDS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1990 AND THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1990 PROVIDED RESPECTIVELY FOR THE MORE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND VICE, AREAS TN WHICH THERE IS WIDESPREAD ORGANISED CRIME INVOLVEMENT.
WE ALSO RECOGNISE THE NEED FOR NEW LEGISLATION TO ATTACK ORGANISED CRIME GENERALLY, INCLUDING PROVISION FOR THE CONFISCATION OF THE PROCEEDS OF ORGANISED CRIME. A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONDUCTED INTO THE SCOPE AND OPERATION OF SUCH LEGISLATION OVERSEAS, AND WE ARE NOW IN THE POSITION WHERE WE CAN START DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION FOR HONG KONG. IT IS A VERY COMPLEX PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHICH WE ARE GIVING TOP PRIORITY TO THE TASK, AND HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PUBLISH OUR PROPOSALS FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN THE FORM OF A WHITE BILL IN THE SUMMER OF THIS YEAR. THE MAIN OUTLINE OF SUCH A BILL IS LIKELY TO BE:
(A) THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW OFFENCE FOR A PERSON TO TAKE PART IN OR ASSIST A CRIMINAL ORGANISATION INVOLVED IN A PATTERN OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 25 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT IS LIKELY TO BE PROPOSED FOR THIS OFFENCE;
(B) A CRIMINAL ORGANISATION WILL BE DEFINED AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO JOIN FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGING IN A PATTERN OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT. A TRIAD SOCIETY WOULD OBVIOUSLY FIT THIS DESCRIPTION AS WOULD CRIMINAL SYNDICATES WHICH ARE NOT TRIAD BASED OR WHICH ARE ONLY PARTLY TRIAD BASED;
/(C) A PATTERN ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
5
(C) A PATTERN OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSION OF THREE OR MORE SPECIFIED OFFENCES WITHIN 10 YEARS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE PROSECUTION. A SYNDICATE ENGAGED IN BOOKMAKING, LOANSHARKING TO CUSTOMERS AND ASSAULTS AS PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE DEBTS OF UNSUCCESSFUL PUNTERS WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS;
(D) THERE WILL BE PROVISION FOR THE FORFEITURE OF ASSETS SIMILAR TO THE PROVISIONS IN THE DRUG TRAFFICKING (RECOVERY OF PROCEEDS) ORDINANCE; AND
(E) IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE TO ’’LAUNDER” ANY PROPERTY OF ANY DESCRIPTION INTENTIONALLY ON BEHALF OF A CRIMINAL ORGANISATION.
POLICE FORCE
MANY MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION OF THE WORK OF THE POLICE. I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS. AS I AM SURE WILL BE THE POLICE. SOME MEMBERS HAVE, HOWEVER, ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THE ADEQUACY OF POLICE MANNING AND EQUIPMENT. AS REGARDS POLICE MANPOWER I WOULD SAY FIRST OF ALL THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT RECENT PROBLEMS OF RECRUITMENT STEM FROM POOR MORALE IN THE POLICE FORCE. THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT MORALE IN THE POLICE FORCE REMAINS HIGH; THE POLICE CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES WITH DEDICATION, DETERMINATION AND COURAGE WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE TRUE MEASURE OF MORALE. NOR HAS WASTAGE INCREASED. IT WAS ABOUT THE SAME IN 1990 AS IN 1989, LOWER THAN IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A WHOLE, SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN IN MOST OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN 1990 WAS A PROBLEM OF RECRUITMENT AT THE JUNIOR POLICE OFFICER LEVEL, CAUSED PRIMARILY BY A VERY TIGHT LABOUR MARKET. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE NUMBER OF JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS FELL BY ABOUT 650 IN THE COURSE OF 1990; THIS, I BELIEVE, IS EVIDENCE THAT JPO PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE HAD LOST THEIR COMPETITIVE EDGE. WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THE PAY AWARD FOR JPOS ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR HAS RECOGNISED THE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POLICE ON THE STREETS.
DESPITE THESE PROBLEMS OF RECRUITMENT, HONG KONG HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST POLICEMEN TO POPULATION RATIOS TN THE WORLD. THE POLICE HAVE MAINTAINED AN ADEQUATE PRESENCE ON THE STREETS THROUGH REDEPLOYMENT-, CIVILIANISATION, AN ON-GOING PROGRAMME OF AUTOMATION AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND INCREASED USE OF AUXILIARY POLICEMEN. I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASSURE MEMBERS THAT, BY ANY STANDARDS, THE RHKPF IS A WELL-EQUIPPED POLICE FORCE. TO GIVE A FEW EXAMPLES, WE ARE NOW NEARING COMPLETION OF A MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE MARINE POLICE INVOLVING THE PURCHASE OF 16 NEW BOATS AT A TOTAL COST OF $350 M; NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO IMPROVE COMMAND, CONTROL AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND TO ASSIST CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE AND SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS; AND TO MEET THE THREAT OF THE INCREASING USE OF POWERFUL GUNS BY CRIMINALS, NEW IMPROVED BULLET-PROOF VESTS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED, AND ARMS AND AMMUNITION REQUIREMENTS ARE NOW BEING REVIEWED.
/CONCLUSION .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
- 6 -
CONCLUSION
I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SPEECH THAT WE MUST REVERSE THE PRESENT TREND OF AN INCREASING CRIME RATE. WE INTEND TO DO SO BY MEANS OF STEPPED UP POLICE OPERATIONS; BY THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW LEGISLATION; AND BY INCREASED CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA WHICH IS ALSO CONCERNED TO TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO COUNTER CROSS-BORDER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. THERE ARE ALREADY SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS. BOTH OVERALL CRIME AND VIOLENT CRIME FELL IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1990; DECEMBER 1990 IN PARTICULAR SAW A MARKED DECREASE IN CRIME.
IF THIS INITIAL SUCCESS IS TO BE SUSTAINED, PUBLIC CO-OPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IS CRUCIAL. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MAIN AIMS OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE. AND I SHOULD HERE LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME OVER MANY YEARS TO THE IMPORTANT WORK OF THE CENTRAL AND DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES. I BELIEVE THAT THEY EFFORTS HAVE BORNE FRUIT. REGULAR SURVEYS SHOW THAT THE PUBLIC IS TWICE AS LIKELY TO REPORT CRIME AS 10 YEARS AGO. THIS IS AN ENCOURAGING TREND, AND ONE ON WHICH I SHALL STRIVE TO BUILD AND IMPROVE.
WE HAVE IN THIS DEBATE CONCENTRATED LARGELY ON THE SHORTCOMINGS AND THE FAILURES. WE SHOULD REMEMBER ALSO THE SUCCESSES. WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION IN MANY FORMS OF CRIME IN RECENT YEARS. CRIME BY JUVENILES AND YOUNG PERSONS DROPPED BY OVER 5% IN 1990. AND AT LEAST PART OF THE INCREASE IN CRIME LAST YEAR WAS DUE TO A MUCH HIGHER NUMBER OF ARRESTS FOR PREVENTIVE CRIME, THAT IS FOR OFFENCES SUCH AS POSSESSION OF WEAPONS WHERE POLICE ACTION EFFECTIVELY PREVENTED THE CARRYING THROUGH OF CRIMINAL ACTS.
ONE OF THE HONG KONG’S GREAT ASSETS, AN IMPORTANT FACTOR UNDERLYING ITS ECONOMIC SUCCESS, IS THAT IT REMAINS A SAFE CITY, BY ANY COMPARISON WITH CITIES OF COMPARABLE SIZE, NOT ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA OR EUROPE, BUT ALSO WITHIN THE REGION, INCLUDING TOKYO AND SINGAPORE. WE ARE DETERMINED THAT IT SHOULD REMAIN SO.
SIR, I SUPPORT THE MOTION.
--------0-----------
BILL SEEKS TO SET OUT FIDUCIARY DUTIES OF COMPANY DIRECTORS INTRODUCED
* t * « »
THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 IS TO INCORPORATE IN THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE A STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL FIDUCIARY DUTIES OF COMPANY DIRECTORS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, SIR PIERS SAID AT PRESENT THERE WAS NO PROVISION IN THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE SETTING OUT THE FIDUCIARY DUTIES OF COMPANY DIRECTORS.
/HE SAID.........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
HE SAID, ESSENTIALLY, THE PRINCIPLES UNDERLINING THE RELATIONSHIP OF DIRECTORS TOWARDS THEIR COMPANIES COULD ONLY BE EXTRACTED FROM CASE LAW.
"THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THAT REFERENCE TO THE GENERAL FIDUCIARY DUTIES OF COMPANY DIRECTORS SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR TO ALL DIRECTORS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO THEIR POSITIONS AND PERHAPS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BASIC PRINCIPLES.
"WE PROPOSE THEREFORE TO INCLUDE A STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL FIDUCIARY DUTIES OF DIRECTORS IN THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE," SIR PIERS SAID.
HE SAID THIS WAS CONSISTENT WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMPANY LAW REFORM.
"WE ACCEPT, HOWEVER, THAT THE LAW ON THIS SUBJECT IS DETAILED AND COMPLICATED, AND THAT ANY SUCH STATEMENT CANNOT BE EXHAUSTIVE IN IDENTIFYING COLLECTIVELY ALL THE DUTIES.
"THEREFORE, IT IS MADE CLEAR IN THE BILL THAT THE PROPOSED STATEMENT SHALL HAVE EFFECT WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO ANY RULE OF LAW WITH RESPECT TO A FIDUCIARY DUTY OF A DIRECTOR OR TO ANY OTHER DUTIES UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE," SIR PIERS SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
------0-------
RESOLUTION TO ADD CHARGES FOR NEW TELEPHONE SERVICES PASSED ******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT IT APPROVED TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE TO THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE BY ADDING TO IT CHARGES THAT THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY LIMITED PROPOSES TO LEVY ON THREE NEW SERVICES.
THE SERVICES WERE AUDIOLINE; INTEGRATED DIGITAL ACCESS; AND THIRD COUNTRY CALLING.
MOVING A MOTION TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID AUDIOLINE WAS A FORM OF LEASED CIRCUIT FOR THE HIGH-QUALITY TRANSMISSION OF AUDIO SIGNALS, FOR EXAMPLE FOR RELAYING MUSICAL EVENTS.
THE RENTAL CHARGES FOR AUDIOLINE PROPOSED BY THE COMPANY WERE $700 PER MONTH FOR A ONE-WAY (OR MONO) AUDIOLINE CIRCUIT TO A TELEPHONE EXCHANGE AND $980 PER MONTH FOR A BOTH-WAY (OR STEREO) AUDIOLINE.
THE CONNECTION CHARGES PROPOSED FOR AUDIOLINE WERE $2,700 PER LINE FOR ONE-WAY LINES AND $3,600 PER LINE FOR BOTH-WAY LINES.
MEANWHILE, INTEGRATED DIGITAL ACCESS WOULD PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL CONNECTION FOR MODERN CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS DIGITAL PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGES, THE SECRETARY SAID.
/"THE MAIN .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
8
"THE MAIN CHARGES PROPOSED BY THE COMPANY FOR THIS SERVICE ARE A CONNECTION CHARGE OF $3,000 PER SYSTEM AND A RENTAL CHARGE OF $46,200 PER SYSTEM PER ANNUM," MRS CHAN SAID.
THE LAST NEW SERVICE PROPOSED BY THE COMPANY WAS THIRD COUNTRY CALLING.
"PRESENTLY, HOLDERS OF HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY 'CALLING CARDS' MAY ONLY USE THEM TO MAKE CALLS TO AND FROM HONG KONG.
"WITH THIRD COUNTRY CALLING, HOLDERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THEIR CALLING CARDS WHILST ABROAD TO MAKE CALLS TO PLACES OTHER THAN HONG KONG.
"FOR THIS FACILITY, THE COMPANY PROPOSES A SURCHARGE OF $11 PER CALL MADE, TO COVER THE COST OF ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING THE NECESSARY CARD VERIFICATION AND BILLING SYSTEMS," MRS CHAN EXPLAINED.
THE MAIN ADVANTAGE OF USING A CALLING CARD WAS THAT INTERNATIONAL CALLS MADE ABROAD WERE BILLED TO THE HOLDER’S ACCOUNT IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY NOTED.
SHE ADDED THAT THE PROPOSED CHARGES HAD BEEN THOROUGHLY EXAMINED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WERE CONSIDERED TO BE A REASONABLE REFLECTION OF THE COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES.
----0-----
GOVT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO PROMOTE HK’S INT’L TIES
*****
THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS IN PROMOTING HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAUL CHENG MING-FUN, SIR PIERS SAID HONG KONG BELIEVED IN AND PRACTISED FREE TRADE.
"FIRST, WE PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS TO FOSTER CO-OPERATION AND TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
"FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE," HE SAID.
ALSO, HONG KONG WAS A MEMBER OF THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL AND THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, SIR PIERS ADDED.
"SECONDLY, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICES IN PLACES WHICH HAVE STRONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG.
/"THIS FACILITATES .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
9
’’THIS FACILITATES THE CONDUCT OF EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND PROMOTES INWARD INVESTMENT INTO HONG KONG,” SIR PIERS SAID.
AT PRESENT, HE SAID, HONG KONG HAD OFFICES IN LONDON, GENEVA, BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO AND TOKYO. THE GOVERNMENT WAS PLANNING TO OPEN AN OFFICE IN TORONTO IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
’’THESE OFFICES ALSO HELP TO PROMOTE HONG KONG’S IMAGE ABROAD,” SIR PIERS NOTED.
IN ADDITION, SIR PIERS POINTED OUT, THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WAS REPRESENTED IN 32 OVERSEAS LOCATIONS TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP HONG KONG’S OVERSEAS TRADE, AND TO PUBLICISE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANTAGES OF HONG KONG AS A TRADING PARTNER.
THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION HAD 16 OVERSEAS OFFICES, WHICH HELPED TO PROMOTE HONG KONG AS AN ATTRACTIVE TOURIST DESTINATION, HE ADDED.
’’THESE TWO INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODIES, WHICH ARB FUNDED SUBSTANTIALLY BY GOVERNMENT, HAVE BEEN PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN PROMOTING HONG KONG’S IMAGE OVERSEAS THROUGH THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES.
”ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC RELATIONS FRONT, GOVERNMENT HAS INITIATED A SPONSORED SPEAKER PROGRAMME UNDER WHICH SENIOR OFFICIALS AND LEADING HONG KONG PERSONALITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE TIMB DURING THEIR OVERSEAS TRIPS TO TALK TO INFLUENTIAL GROUPS ABOUT HONG KONG AND THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED HERE,” SIR PIERS SAID.
SIR PIERS SAID THE RESOURCES DEVOTfiD TO THE PROMOTION OF HONG KONG’S STATUS OVERSEAS HAD BEEN SUFFICIENT.
”IT IS ALWAYS EASY TO SPEND MORE BUT WE MUST HAVE REGARD TO THE ALLOCATION OF PRIORITIES,” HE SAID.
------------------0------- FEES AND CHARGES HELP SPREAD TAX LOAD ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE GENERAL POLICY ON FEES AND CHARGES FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES IS TO RECOVER FROM USERS THE FULL COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE UNLESS THERE IS A POSITIVE DECISION TO SUBSIDISE OR TAX-LOAD THE CHARGES INVOLVED.
THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG.
MRS CHAN SAID CERTAIN SERVICES, SUCH AS THE POST OFFICE, WERE OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT ALONG COMMERCIAL LINES.
/IN SUCH .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
10
IN SUCH CASES, SHE SAID, FEES AND CHARGES WERE SET AT LEVELS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE A REASONABLE RETURN TO THE PUBLIC OVER AND ABOVE RECOVERY OF FULL OPERATING COSTS.
MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT AS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID IN HIS SPEECH AT THE CONCLUSION OF LAST YEAR’S BUDGET DEBATE, IN A LOW DIRECT TAX REGIME LIKE HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PREPARED TO USE FEES AND CHARGES FOR FISCAL PURPOSES WHERE THIS WAS APPROPRIATE.
"SUCH A POLICY HELPS TO SPREAD THE TAX LOAD AND REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON REVENUE FROM DIRECT TAXATION.
"AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO KEEP FEES AND CHARGES WITHIN THE REACH OF THE LESS WELL-OFF AND THIS IMPORTANT CAVEAT IS ALWAYS KEPT IN MIND WHEN WE REVIEW THE LEVEL OF SUCH FEES AND CHARGES," MRS CHAN SAID.
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICES RAN ON SIMILAR COMMERCIAL LINES WERE THE AIRPORT, MARINE FERRY TERMINALS, GOVERNMENT TUNNELS AND WATER WORKS, SHE SAID. •
--------0-----------
SUFFICIENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEET NEEDS FOR LEGAL AID
*****
SUFFICIENT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THOSE WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR LEGAL AID, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR BARNES SAID THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS BEING ADVERSELY AFFECTED BECAUSE OF APPLICATIONS FOR LEGAL AID BY NONRESIDENTS .
HE SAID ANYONE INVOLVED IN PROCEEDINGS IN THE DISTRICT OR HIGH COURT WAS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR LEGAL AID, REGARDLESS OF RESIDENCE OR NATIONALITY.
"THIS IS THE NORMAL PRACTICE ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD AND IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO HONG KONG.
"ALL APPLICANTS ARE SUBJECT TO A MEANS TEST.' IN CIVIL CASES THERE MUST ALSO BE REASONABLE GROUNDS FOR LITIGATING, AND IN CRIMINAL CASES IT MUST BE IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE FOR LEGAL AID TO BE PROVIDED," HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID THE MAJORITY OF COUNTRIES WITH SOPHISTICATED SYSTEMS OF LEGAL AID PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN RESIDENTS INVOLVED IN COURT PROCEEDINGS IN SUCH COUNTRIES.
"IN ANY EVENT, HONG KONG IS UNDER AN OBLIGATION UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS TO SEB THAT ALL PERSONS WITHIN HONG KONG WHO ARE CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL OFFENCE ARE PROVIDED WITH LEGAL AID WHERE THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE SO REQUIRE," HE
-------0----------
/Il ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1981
- 11 -
GOVT RECOGNISES RIGHT OF DETAINEE TO LEGAL ADVICE *****
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT OF ANY DETAINEE TO HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL ADVICE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ELSIE TU, MR ASPREY SAID ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE IN ALL DETENTION CENTRES FOR LAWYERS TO HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL NAMED CLIENTS IN PRIVATE.
"IN NO CASE HAS SUCH ACCESS BEEN REFUSED," HE STRESSED.
MR ASPREY SAID LEGAL AID WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO ASSIST VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS OR OTHERS IN THEIR EXAMINATION BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, NOR WAS IT AVAILABLE FOR PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE REFUGEE STATUS REVIEW BOARD, THE IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL OR FOR SUBMISSIONS TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.
"LEGAL AID, IS, HOWEVER, AVAILABLE TO ASSIST ANY APPLICANT TO SEEK JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE DECISION OF AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER, A BOARD OR A TRIBUNAL; PROVIDED HE OR SHE SATISFIES THE USUAL FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND SHOWS REASONABLE GROUNDS FOR TAKING THE PROCEEDINGS," HE SAID.
------0--------
26 MEMBERS SPOKE ON THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES MOTION *****
THE MOTION ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, MOVED BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), AFTER A FIVE-HOUR DEBATE.
TWENTY-SEVEN MEMBERS SPOKE ON THE MOTION AND THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT.
TWO MOTIONS, ONE UNDER THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE AND MOVED BY THE HON ANDREW WONG, AND THE OTHER UNDER THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE AND MOVED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, WERE PASSED.
MEANWHILE, ONE BILL - RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 - WAS ALSO PASSED IN THE MEETING WHILE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 WAS INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. DEBATE ON IT WAS ADJOURNED.
BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, AS MEMBER PRESIDING OVER TODAY’S MEETING, APOLOGISED ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TO THE COUNCIL FOR NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE CHAIR TODAY "OWING TO SOME OVER-ENTHUSIASTIC RUNNING DOWN AT HILLSIDE."
"I’M SURE THAT MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WOULD WISH ME TO CONVEY TO THE PRESIDENT THEIR BEST WISHES FOR HIS VERY SPEEDY RECOVERY,"HE ADDED.
------0--------
/12 .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
- 12 -
ACTING CS COMMENTS ON GULF FUND CONTRIBUTION * * » * t
COMMENTING ON THE ISSUE OF WHETHER HONG KONG SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE GULF FUND, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR GRAHAM BARNES, SAID HONG KONG IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE AND IT WOULD BE JUDGED BY ITS TRADING PARTNERS ON THE BASIS OF WHAT IT DOES AT THIS STAGE TO HELP.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON, MR BARNES SAID : "THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE AND IN THE END HONG KONG IS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY IT.
"THE GOVENMENT ACTUALLY DIDN’T FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE RIGHT JUST SIMPLY FOR HONG KONG TO STAND ASIDE AND DO NOTHING TO HELP."
MR BARNES SAID THE FIRST SUGGESTION OF IT CAME WHEN HONG KONG’S TRADING PARTNERS, IN PARTICULAR ALL AROUND ASIA, PUT IN VERY SUBSTANTIAL HELP INTO IT.
"IT WILL BE VERY CLEAR TO EVERYBODY THAT HONG KONG WILL BE JUDGED BY THEM, AND BY THOSE WHO ARE TAKING A MORE ACTIVE PART IN THE WAR, ON THE BASIS OF WHAT WE DO AT THIS STAGE.
"SO AS WE ARE VERY MUCH PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE, I DON’T THINK WE COULD AVOID HAVING TO CONSIDER THIS MATTER, ESPECIALLY AS WE IN OUR TURN MAY NEED HELP FROM OTHERS."
MR BARNES SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WAS PUTTING A PAPER TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK PROPOSING A CONTRIBUTION.
"BUT OF COURSE, IT WILL BE UP TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO DECIDE. WHETHER TO VOTE THE MONEY OR NOT," HR ADDED.
------0-------
SHARE OF U.S. IN HK’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS FALLING » ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
IN RESPONSE TO MtfDIA ENQUIRIES ON THE FINDINGS OF AN ECONOMIC REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE HONGKONG BANK LAST WEEK, A TRADE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HONG KONG’S DEPENDENCE ON THE UNITED STATES AS A MARKET FOR ITS DOMESTIC EXPORTS HAD BEEN FALLING IN RECENT YEARS.
THE REPORT SHOWED THAT, AFTER MAKING ADJUSTMENTS FOR HONG KONG’S TRADE FLOWS ASSOCIATED WITH OUTWARD PROCESSING IN CHINA, THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE U.S. AS A FINAL DEMAND DESTINATION FOR HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN FACT ROSE FROM 33.6 PER CENT IN 1979 TO 37.6 PER CENT IN 1989.
"THE REPORT DRAWS ITS CONCLUSION ON THE BASIS OF A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TRADE FIGURES FOR 1979 AND 1989. ANOTHER PICTURE EMERGES IF ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF CHANGES IN THE INTERVENING PERIOD,” THE OFFICIAL SAID.
/“BEFORE APPLYING .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
- 13 -
"BEFORE APPLYING ANY ADJUSTMENT, THE SHARE OF THE U.S. IN HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC EXPORTS OVER THE 10-YEAR SPAN IN QUESTION REACHED A HIGH OF 44.5 PER CENT IN 1984.
"SINCE THEN, THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY AND MARKED DECLINE TO 32.2 PER CENT IN 1989. THE FIGURE FOR 1990 WAS 29.4 PER CENT.
"THESE FIGURES SHOW THAT ALTHOUGH THE U.S. IS STILL THE LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS ITS RELATIVE IMPORTANCE HAS BECOME LESS PRONOUNCED IN MORE RECENT YEARS," HE SAID.
HE EXPLAINED THAT AFTER ADJUSTMENT FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING TRADE THE SHARE OF THE U.S. IN HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS SINCE 1988 - WHEN THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN TO COLLECT STATISTICS ON HONG KONG’S OUTWARD PROCESSING TRADE WITH CHINA - HAD LIKEWISE BEEN FALLING.
THE FIGURE WAS 38.3 PER CENT FOR 1988, 37.6 PER CENT FOR 1989 AND 35 PER CENT FOR 1990.
------0--------
EXCHANGE FUND TO ISSUE 364-DAY BILLS t » t * *
WITH THE ADVICE OF THE EXCHANGE FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS APPROVED THE ISSUE OF 364-DAY EXCHANGE FUND BILLS IN ADDITION TO THE 91-DAY AND 182-DAY BILLS WHICH WERE LAUNCHED IN MARCH AND OCTOBER LAST YEAR.
THE PROPOSAL HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE EXCHANGE FUND BILLE MARKET COMMITTEE AND THE HONG KONG CAPITAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION.
"THE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS PROGRAMME HAS BEEN OPERATING WELL AND I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAY IT HAS DEVELOPED," THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED OUR OBJECTIVE OF CREATING AN ADDITIONAL MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENT TO ASSIST IN MAINTAINING EXCHANGE RATE STABILITY," HE SAID.
ALL THE SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES FOR TENDER, ISSUE, REDEMPTION, TRADING AND TRANSFER OF 91-DAY AND 182-DAY BILLS WILL BE USED FOR THE 364-DAY BILLS AS WELL.
INITIALLY, UP TO >200 MILLION OF 364-DAY BILLS WILL BE ISSUED ONCE EVERY FOUR WEEKS AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE EXCHANGE FUND WILL HOLD $60 MILLION IN ITS RESERVE FOR EACH ISSUE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF MARKET MAKERS.
THE FREQUENCY AND SIZE OF ISSUES WILL BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW AND ADJUSTED IF NECESSARY IN THE LIGHT OF ACTUAL MARKET RESPONSES.
THE FIRST TENDER FOR 364-DAY BILLS IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 26 FOR ISSUE ON FEBRUARY 27.
/TENDERS ARE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
TENDERS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED BY 10.30 AM TO THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH IN THE USUAL WAY.
THE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS PROGRAMME WAS FIRST LAUNCHED IN MARCH 1990 WITH THE ISSUE OF 91-DAY BILLS.
IT WAS EXTENDED IN OCTOBER 1990 TO INCLUDE THE ISSUE OF 182-DAY BILLS.
AFTER COMPLETION OF THE FIRST CYCLE OF THE 364-DAY BILLS IN 52 WEEKS, THE ENTIRE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS PROGRAMME WILL HAVE BUILT UP TO A TOTAL OUTSTANDING OF $13 BILLION (INCLUDING AMOUNTS HELD IN RESERVE BY THE EXCHANGE FUND) COMPRISING $6.24 BILLION IN 91-DAY BILLS AND $3.38 BILLION EACH IN 182-DAY AND 364-DAY BILLS.
SWAP TRANSACTIONS ♦ ♦ ♦ » ♦
THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE THAT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION AS PART OF THEIR RESPECTIVE FINANCING MANAGEMENT, HAVE ENTERED INTO A NUMBER OF SWAP TRANSACTIONS.
A RECENT DECISION OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS HAS CAST DOUBT ON THE ABILITY OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION TO ENTER INTO SWAP TRANSACTIONS UNDER THEIR RESPECTIVE STATUTORY CONSTITUTIONS.
THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT TO CLARIFY THE STATUS OF SWAP TRANSACTIONS IT HAS ENTERED INTO.
THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, HAS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) STATED THAT IN ORDER TO PROTECT ANY TRANSACTIONS WHICH MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE HOUSE OF LORDS DECISION, IT IS THE PRESENT INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ANY UNCERTAINTY AS A RESULT OF THAT DECISION.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE LEGISLATION WILL HAVE FULL RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT. THE GOVERNMENT IS PRESENTLY EXAMINING THE SCOPE OF SUCH LEGISLATION.
/15 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
- 15 -
COST RECOVERY TARGETS FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION REVISED » » ♦ ♦ ♦
THE GOVERNOR, ON THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE COST RECOVERY TARGETS FOR FEES FOR DEGREE COURSES WOULD BE REVISED BY PHASES TO 18 PER CENT BY THE END OF THE 1995/96 TO 1997/98 TRIENNIUM.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID THE INDICATIVE FEE LEVEL PER PLACE FOR DEGREE COURSES FOR 1993/94 WILL BE SET AT $17,000 (12.1 PER CENT OF ESTIMATED RECURRENT COSTS) AND FOR 1994/96 AT $24,000 (15.6 PER CENT).
FEES FQR SUB-DEGREE COURSES AT THE NON-UNIVERSITY DEGREE AWARDING INSTITUTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE PEGGED AT THEIR EXISTING LEVEL OF 75 PER CENT OF DEGREE COURSE FEES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
"THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY AT THESE INSTITUTIONS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE REVISION AS FEB LEVELS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FOR 1991/92 AND 1992/93 REMAIN UNCHANGED," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE REVISION WOULD NOT IMPOSE HARDSHIP ON STUDENTS IN FINANCIAL NEED AS THE LOCAL STUDENT FINANCE SCHEME WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INCREASED TUITION FEES.
"IN FACT, AS FEES INCREASE, MORE STUDENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM GRANT OR LOAN AVAILABLE.
"THE PRINCIPLE THAT NO ONE WILL BE BARRED FROM ACCESS TO TERTIARY EDUCATION BECAUSE OF LACK OF MEANS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED," HE ADDED.
EXPLAINING THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE REVISION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS PROMPTED BY THE NEED TO STRIKE A REASONABLE BALANCE BETWEEN STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY IN SHARING THE COSTS OF TERTIARY EDUCATION.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE COST RECOVERY TARGET FOR 1990/91 WAS 9.4 PER CENT FOR DEGREE COURSES, WHICH CLEARLY FELL BEHIND PREVAILING TRENDS ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. THE COST RECOVERY TARGET FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS WOULD ONLY BE INCREASED TO ROUGHLY 10 PER CENT AND 11 PER CENT.
"COST RECOVERY RATES FOR DEGREE COURSES RANGE FROM 15 PER CENT TO 30 PER CENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 15 PER CENT TO 19 PER CENT IN SINGAPORE, AND 20 PER CENT IN AUSTRALIA.
"TO INCREASE THE PROPORTION OF COST TO BE MET BY THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY IS A PRACTICAL MOVE, PARTICULARLY WHEN HONG KONG IS EMBARKING ON A MASSIVE PROGRAMME OF UPGRADING AND EXPANSION ON THE TERTIARY EDUCATION FRONT," HE SAID.
"BY THE TIME THE NEW. RATES BECOME EFFECTIVE, THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SECTOR WILL ALREADY HAVE BEEN ENJOYING SOME OF THE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE UPGRADING PROGRAMME STARTING IN 1991-92," HE NOTED.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
- 16 -
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS ESTIMATED BY 1994/95 THAT FOUR OUT OF EVERY FIVE MATRICULANTS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO DEGREE COURSES; SOME 170 NEW COURSES AND RESEARCH PROGRAMME WOULD BE OFFERED TO UNDERGRADUATES AND POST-GRADUATES, AND RESEARCH FUNDING SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED.
"BY THEN PHASE II OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WILL BE COMPLETED AND THE LINGNAN COLLEGE UPGRADED TO DEGREE-AWARDING STATUS.
"AS THE GRADUATES THEMSELVES ARE THE MAIN AND PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES, IT IS ONLY RIGHT FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO DO SO TO CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE MORE TOWARDS THIS PROGRAMME WHICH, EVEN WITH THE NEW COST RECOVERY TARGETS, REMAINS HEAVILY SUBSIDISED,” HE SAID.
IN ACTUAL MONEY TERMS, THE REVISION IN 1993/94 REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $450 PER MONTH FOR AN UNDERGRADUATE AND ABOUT $300 PER MONTH FOR A SUB-DEGREE COURSE STUDENT NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS AND LOANS UNDER THE LOCAL STUDENT FINANCE SCHEME.
IT HAD ALSO BEEN DECIDED THAT ACTUAL FEES FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION WOULD BE ANNOUNCED ONE YEAR AHEAD, TOGETHER WITH INDICATIVE FEE LEVELS FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE YEARS.
--------0-----------
TUNG WAH PRAISED FOR ITS EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOURS ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ *
LADY WILSON TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PAID TRIBUTE TO THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE OF EDUCATING THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE GROUP’S TSUI TSIN TONG SCHOOL, LADY WILSON SAID THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS CURRENTLY SPONSORING TWO SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND HAD PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NEW PREMISES.
’’THIS COMMITMENT DESERVES OUR GRATITUDE," SHE SAID, ADDING THAT PARTICULAR THANKS WERE DUE TO MR TSUI TSIN-TONG WHOSE DONATION MADE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE.
"THE NEW SCHOOL STANDS AS A TESTIMONY TO HIS GENEROSITY AND TO THE COMMITMENT OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED," SHE SAID.
LADY WILSON ALSO SAID THE NEW SCHOOL REPRESENTED A TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT AND WOULD PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT TEACHING ENVIRONMENT.
"AS A TEACHER MYSELF, I KNOW THAT TEACHING MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN POSES PARTICULAR CHALLENGES TO BOTH TEACHERS AND REHABILITATION STAFF. THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH CHILD MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT," SHE SAID.
/SHE POINTED .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
- 17 -
HAD TO
SHE POINTED BE DESIGNED
OUT THAT SPECIAL PROGRAMMES AND TEACHING MATERIALS TO CATER FOR DIFFERENT APTITUDES AND POTENTIAL.
"THIS IS NO EASY TASK. IT REQUIRES CREATIVITY AND PATIENCE. BUT IT IS EXTREMELY WORTHWHILE.
OURS,
"IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT, IN A CIVILISED SOCIETY LIKE OURS EVERY CHILD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, THROUGH EDUCATION, T( DEVELOP HIS OR HER POTENTIAL TO THE FULLEST POSSIBLE EXTENT.
"CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS DESERVE NO LESS,” LADY
WILSON SAID.
--------0-----------
FC MEETING ON FRIDAY *****
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A MEETING ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 8) 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--------
WORKS BRANCH STATEMENT * * *
THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE WORKS BRANCH:
THE WORKS BRANCH RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF THE AMALGAMATED UNION OF GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL INSPECTORS, CLERKS OF WORKS AND WORKS SUPERVISORS ABOUT ITS WORK-TO-RULE ACTION WHICH HAD COMMENCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
AS POINTED OUT EARLIER, WORKING GROUPS ARE TO BE SET UP IN THE FOUR CENTRAL AUTHORITIES WITHIN THE WORKS BRANCH GROUP OF DEPARTMENTS, NAMELY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERIVCES DEPARTMENT, HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT AND WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, TO EXAMINE SUCH AREAS AS WORKING CONDITIONS, PROMOTION PROSPECTS, JOB ENRICHMENT AND STAFFING LEVELS IN RESPECT OF THE TECHNICAL INSPECTORATE AND RELATED GRADES IN THE WORKS DEPARTMENTS.
/A SPOKESMAN .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
- 18 -
A SI .’KESHAN FOR THE WORKS BRANCH STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF RESTRAINT (• THE PART OF THE STAFF IN THEIR INDUSTRIAL ACTION SO AS TO MINIMISE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC.
HE HOPED THAT THE CONTINUED DIALOGUE - BETWEEN THE STAFF AND DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT WOULD PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND LEAD TO AN EARLY CONCLUSION OF THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION.
------0--------
FMO STAFF URGED TO RESUME WORK * * » * *
FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION (FMO) STAFF WHO STAGED A SIT-IN AT THE SHAU KEI WAN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING HAVE BEEN URGED TO RESUME WORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER NOT TO DISRUPT MARKET OPERATION.
THE APPEAL CAME FROM THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FMO AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD).
EIGHTEEN HOURLY-PAID- WORKERS OF THE FMO STAGED A SIT-IN AT THE SHAU KEI WAN FISH MARKET THIS MORNING IN PROTEST AGAINST AN IMPENDING CUT IN THEIR WORKING HOURS.
THE SENIOR MANAGER OF THE FMO, MR HUI WING-LAP, SAID THAT THESE WORKERS USED TO WORK FIVE HOURS A DAY BUT BECAUSE OF A DECLINE IN THE VOLUME OF FISH HANDLED BY THE SHAU KEI WAN MARKET, THE STAFF'S WORKING HOURS WOULD HAVE TO BE REDUCED TO FOUR HOURS DAILY AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE FMO ALTOGETHER RUNS SEVEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS AND ABOUT 160 OR 30 PER CENT OF ITS STAFF ARE HOURLY PAID.
TOGETHER WITH FMO9S PERSONNEL MANAGER, MR VICTOR TANG, AND AFD'S FISHERIES OFFICER (MARKETING), MR C.C. FOK, MR HUI MET THE PROTESTING STAFF THIS MORNING AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE LENGTH OF THEIR WORKING HOURS MUST BE BASED ON THE VOLUME OF FISH TRADED AT INDIVIDUAL MARKETS.
"I FERVENTLY HOPE THAT THE WORKERS WOULD RESUME WORK OR ELSE WE MAY BE FORCED TO EMPLOY OTHER PEOPLE TO REPLACE THEM IN THEIR JOBS," MR HUI SAID.
ON THE WORKERS' SUGGESTION THAT THEY SHOULD BE DISMISSED WITH. SEVERANCE PAY IF THEIR DEMAND FOR LONGER WORKING HOURS COULD NOT BE MET, HE SAID THE FMO HAD NO INTENTION OF DISMISSING THEM.
"THIS IS THE LAST THING WE WISH TO SEE HAPPENING AND THE WHOLE MATTER WILL BE DEALT WITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE," HE STRESSED.
HE ADDED THAT THE MANAGEMENT WAS ALWAYS READY TO CONTINUE ITS DIALOGUE WITH WORKERS.
_ _ _ _ 0------
/19 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
19
RESIDENTS URGED TO JOIN CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME
RESIDENTS WHO INTEND TO HELP SPREAD THE COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION MESSAGE BY PARTICIPATING IN THE CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME ’90 ARE URGED TO SPRING INTO ACTION BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.
PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE CLEAN ANU GREEN ’90 PHOTO COMPETITION WHILE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST STAGE OF THE CLEAN AND GREEN ACTIVITIES ARE URGED TO PROCEED TO THE SECOND STAGE WHICH IS A PAINTING AND POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION.
THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES OF BOTH COMPETITIONS IS FEBRUARY 28.
THE CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME IS AN ANNUAL EVENT ORGANISED BY THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) TO PROMULGATE THE MESSAGE OF THE NEED TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY PARKS CLEAN AND GREEN.
THE FIRST STAGE OF THE CLEAN AND GREEN ACTIVITIES CONCLUDED LAST MONTH, DRAWING A TOTAL OF 11,608 PARTICIPANTS WHO TOOK PART IN LITTER COLLECTION AND TREE TENDING WORK IN COUNTRY PARKS IN WEEKDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.*
AMONG THEM, 5,849 WERE FROM SCHOOLS AND YOUTH GROUPS.
THE CLEAN AND GREEN ’90 PHOTO COMPETITION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED WITH TIMBERLAND AND SPONSORED BY KODAK (FAR BAST) LTD AND CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LTD.
THE THEME OF THE COMPETITION IS "A CLEAN AND GREEN COUNTRY PARK” .
ENTRY FORMS WITH RULES FOR THE COMPETITION ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE AFD, KODAK SERVICES CENTRES AND TIMBERLAND SHOPS.
PARTICIPANTS SHOULD SUBMIT THE COMPLETED FORMS TOGETHER WITH THE PHOTOGRAPH AND ITS NEGATIVE TO THE AFD OR ANY COUNTRY PARK VISITOR CENTRE NOT LATER THAN FEBRUARY 28.
ADJUDICATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY A PANEL OF JUDGES COMPRISING RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CO-ORGANISERS.
TEN ATTRACTIVE PRIZES, INCLUDING TWO RETURN AIR TICKETS TO BANGKOK, WILL BE AWARDED TO THE WINNERS.
IN ADDITION, WINNERS OF THE PHOTO COMPETITION AS WELL AS 250 PARTICIPANTS OF THE PAINTING AND POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN A ’’CLEAN AND GREEN’’ FUN DAY TO BE HELD IN LATE MARCH.
--------0----------
/20 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1991
- 20 -
TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN OPENS NEW MARINE OFFICE ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE NEW TUEN MUN MARINE OFFICE WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF INCREASED MARINE ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISTRICT.
TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAU WONG-FAT, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE MARINE OFFICE TN SAM SHING STREET, TUEN MUN.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS INCLUDED THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, AND THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER LEUNG.
MR LAU SAID: ’’WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE HONG KONG AND THE EVER-INCREASING HONG KONG-CHINA TRADE, THE GOVERNMENT BUILD A NUMBER OF PORT FACILITIES IN THE NORTHWESTERN WATERS KONG AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMY PLANS TO OF HONG STRATEGY
( PADS) .
"THESE INCLUDE A SPECIAL INDUSTRIAL AREA AND A RIVER TRADE TERMINAL IN TUEN MUN AREA 38 TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL SHIPPING."
LOCATED NEXT TO THE TUEN MUN TYPHOON SHELTER IN SAM SHING STREET, THE NEW MARINE OFFICE HAS A TOTAL OF 25 STAFF AND IS HEADED BY A MARINE OFFICER.
THE NEW MARINE OFFICE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL IN THE USE
AND
WILL PROVIDE SERVICES INCLUDING OF TYPHOON SHELTERS AND PUBLIC CARGO LICENSING OF SMALL VESSELS, PORT
FORMALITIESAND EXAMINATIONS FOR RESTRICTED LOCAL MASTER CERTIFICATES.
THE NEW MARINE OFFICE REPLACES A TEMPORARY MARINE OFFICE AT SAM SHING ESTATE.
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO
NEW PORT AND AIRPORT FACILITIES VITAL TO HK: GOVERNOR ............................ 1
PORT OF HK TO MEET CHALLENGES WELL INTO NEXT CENTURY ............................. 2
IMPORTANT FOR HK TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT GESTURE ..................................... 4
INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR THIRD QUARTER 1990 ............................ 5
1991 PROPERTY REVIEW PRELIMINARY FIGURES RELEASED ................................ 7
PUBLIC REMINDED NOT TO BRING IN ENDANGERED SPECIES ............................... 9
UK/THAILAND PRISONER TRANSFER AGREEMENT .......................................... 9
DAIRY FARM FINED FOR BREAKING LABELLING REGULATIONS ............................. 10
GOOD CAREER PROSPECT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS ......................................... 11
113 INMATES PASS PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS ............................................ 12
GUIDE TO TRANSPORT SERVICES IN EASTERN .......................................... 13
81 VBP RETURN TO VIETNAM ........................................................ 13
EMPLOYERS REMINDED OF LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS ................................... 14
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
1
NEW PORT AND AIRPORT FACILITIES VITAL TO HK: GOVERNOR
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR SOME TIME NOW ON HOW THE SCHEMES ON THE NEW AIRPORT AND PORT EXPANSION CAN BEST BE PHASED SO THAT THEY ARE AS EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) IN A SPEECH TO THE OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPERS CONFERENCE.
THE SPEECH WAS DELIVERED ON HIS BEHALF BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS.
SIR DAVID SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO WORKING OUT CAREFULLY WHAT SORT OF PHASING BEST MET IIONG KONG’S NEEDS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES, THE GOVERNMENT WAS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING ON WITH THESE PROJECTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
"HONG KONG NEEDS THESE NEW FACILITIES TO DEVELOP ITS ROLE AS A LEADING TRADING, TRANSPORT AND SERVICES CENTRE FOR THE REGION; AND TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR TRADERS AND INTERNATIONAL SHIPPERS LIKE YOURSELVES," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE UNDERSTANDABLY PROUD OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS BUT THEY WERE NOT COMPLACENT.
"WE HAVE OUR OWN EXPERIENCE; BUT WE HAVE MUCH TO LEARN.
"THAI IS WHY WE VALUE SO MUCH THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS THAT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES LIKE THIS PROVIDE," HE SAID.
ONE LESSON HONG KONG HAD LEARNED WHICH COULD BE PASSED ON TO OTHERS WAS THAT A KEY TO HONG KONG’S SUCCESS HAI) BEEN ITS OPENNESS TO TRADE - SOMETHING WHICH SHIPPERS AND TRADERS COULD PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE, SIR DAVID SAID.
"OUR OWN EXPERIENCE IS THAT TWO-WAY TRADE, UNIMPEDED BY TARIFFS OR OTHER FORMS OF PROTECTION, IS A TREMENDOUS SPUR TO ECONOMIC GROWTH.
"SO WE WATCH WITH SOME ANXIETY TO SEE WHETHER THE WORLD CAN RESOLVE THE CURRENT DIFFICULTIES IN THE GATT TALKS DESPITE UNDERSTANDABLE PREOCCUPATION WITH THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HONG KONG HAD ALSO LEARNT THE IMPORTANCE OF FACILITATING TRADE - NOT THROUGH GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY, BUT BY PROVIDING A WELL-RUN PORT, THE MINIMUM DOCUMENTATION CONSISTENT WITH MEETING OUR INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS, AND A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.
"THIS POLICY HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL ONE. THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S TRADE HAS GROWN FIVE FOLD IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.
"AND ACCORDING TO THE LATEST AVAILABLE STATISTICS, THE TOTAL VALUE OF HONG KONG'S TRADE PLACES IT IN I1TH PLACE AMONG THE WORLD'S TRADING ENTITIES," HE SAID.
/SIR DAVID ......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
2
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT SUCCESS HAD BROUGHT ITS OWN PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES.
’’OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS GOODS HANDLED RY HONG KONG’S AIR CARGO TERMINAL HAVE GROWN BY NEARLY 100 PER CENT. IT IS NOW THE WORLD’S FOURTH BUSIEST INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL.
’’GOODS PASSING THROUGH THE CONTAINER PORT HAVE ALSO GROWN BY ABOUT 100 PER CENT OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. IT IS NOW AMONG THE WORLD’S TWO BUSIEST,” HE SAID.
TO ALLOW FOR THE FUTURE EXPANSION OF TRADE, SIR DAVID SAID HONG KONG HAD HAD TO START PLANNING IN EARNEST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW AIRPORT AND FOR A MAJOR EXPANSION OF ITS PORT.
’’THESE PLANS ARE AMBITIOUS. THEY HAVE TO BE GIVEN THE CONSTRAINTS OF GEOGRAPHY IN THIS TINY TERRITORY. BUT THEY ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL IF HONG KONG IS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON GROWING AND PROSPERING,” HE SAID.
------0--------
PORT OF HK TO MEET CHALLENGES WELL INTO NEXT CENTURY » ♦ ♦ t ♦
HONG KONG IS A WORLD-CLASS PORT PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE WITH FIRST-CLASS FACILITIES AND IS DETERMINED TO MEET NOT ONLY THE CHALLENGES OF THE 1990’S BUT INDEED WELL INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE WAS ADDRESSING THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPERS’ CONFERENCE ON THE SUBJECT "PORT OF HONG KONG: MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE 1990’S”.
MR SZE SAID ALTHOUGH THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT HAD BEEN CONSIDERED TOGETHER AND PRESENTED AS A PACKAGE; UNLIKE THE AIRPORT PORT DEVELOPMENTS WERE INCREMENTAL.
’’NEW FACILITIES, AS IS THE PRACTICE TO DATE, ARE ONLY DEVELOPED TO MEET NEW DEMAND AND BROUGHT ON STREAM WHEN THE DEMAND IS ACTUALLY THERE,” HE SAID.
MR SZE OUTLINED THE KEY ELEMENTS OF PORT PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WHICH WILL TO THE YEAR 2011:
DEVELOPMENT IN THE TAKE HONG KONG UP
NEW CONTAINER TERMINALS
* NO. S AT STONECUTTERS ISLAND WILL HAVE A CAPACITY OF 1.5 MILLION TEU’S (20-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNITS). LAND DISPOSAL TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE NEXT MONTH AND FIRST BERTH AVAILABLE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993;
/* NO. 9 ..........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
3 -
♦ NO. 9 AT TSING YI ISLAND OPPOSITE THE PRESENT TERMINALS AT KWAI CHUNG WILL HAVE A CAPACITY OF 1.5 MILLION TEU ’ S AND FIRST BERTH AVAILABLE IN JULY 1995;
» NO. 10 AND BEYOND WILL BE BUILT AT TSING CHAU TSAI PENINSULA ON NORTHEAST LANTAU ISLAND AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING IN 1996.
MULTI-PURPOSE TERMINALS (MPT’S)
THE ACTUAL NEED FOR MPT'S AND THEIR SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED. HOWEVER GIVEN THE NON-AVAILABILITY OF LAND IN SUITABLE LOCATIONS IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE FIRST MPT WILL BE COMMISSIONED BEFORE 1996.
RIVER TRADE TERMINAL (RTT)
THIS IS PLANNED FOR TUEN MUN. THE IDEA IS THAT RIVER TRADE VESSELS FROM THE PEARL RIVER DELTA WILL USE THE RTT AND THUS SAVE THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE MA WAN CHANNEL TO CARGO HANDLING AREAS AROUND THE MAIN HARBOUR. THIS WOULD RELIEVE CONGESTION IN THE MA WAN CHANNEL AND THE HARBOUR.
DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN HARBOUR
THE CONTAINER TERMINALS PROPOSED FOR THE TSING CHAU TSAI PENINSULA WILL REQUIRE SHELTER FROM THE SWELL.
THIS CAN BE PROVIDED BY CONSTRUCTING A FIVE KILOMETRE BREAKWATER BETWEEN LAMMA ISLAND AND CHEUNG CHAU. THIS BREAKWATER WILL ALSO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT AREA FOR ANCHORAGES LOST TO RECLAMATION IN THE MAIN HARBOUR.
THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD ALSO COMPLETE THE SHIFT OF THE CENTRE OF ACTIVITY OF THE PORT TO THE WEST WHERE THERE IS MORE SPACE. A NEW DREDGED CHANNEL WILL ALSO BE ESTABLISHED TO THE WEST OF LAMMA ISLAND TO SERVE THE NEW PORT FACILITIES ON THE TSING CHAU TSAI PENINSULA.
MR SZE SAID MANY OF THE NEW PORT FACILITIES WERE VERY MUCH IN THE FUTURE.
“INDEED THE TIME FRAME FOR A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS IS 1996 TO 2001 OR 2001 TO 2006.
“WHILST THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL HAVE TO DECIDE FOR ITSELF WHETHER AND, IF SO, HOW TO PROCEED WITH MANY OF THESE PROJECTS, PLANNING FOR THEM MUST HOWEVER BE PUT IN HAND NOW,” HE SAID.
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WITH ITS RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING THAT HONG KONG MAINTAINED ITS POSITION AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PORTS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE PLANNING OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, HE ADDED.
------O-------
/4 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
4
IMPORTANT FOR UK TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT GESTURE t ♦ ♦ * ♦
HONG KONG IS A PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS FOR HONG KONG TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT GESTURE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE RESOLUTION OF THE GULF CONFLICT.
SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA AFTER DELIVERING THE OPENING SPEECH AT THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPERS CONFERENCE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR, SIR PIERS SAID FIGHTING THE GULF CONFLICT WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY EXPENSIVE AND $230 MILLION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE WAS NOT A VERY LARGE SUM OF MONEY.
"I THINK IT IS A RIGHT SUM OF MONEY FOR HONG KONG TO CONTRIBUTE. WE CANNOT GIVE MUCH MORE BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET. EQUALLY WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG TO GIVE MUCH LESS,” HE SAID.
"IF YOU LOWER THE FIGURE TOO MUCH IT COULD BECOME OBVIOUSLY OF LESS SIGNIFICANCE AND THERE IS A DANGER THAT IT MIGHT BECOME ALMOST DERISORY," HE ADDED.
ASKED HOW THE $230 MILLION WAS ARRIVED AT, SIR PIERS SAID IT WAS A FIGURE THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY VARIOUS PEOPLE WE HAVE SPOKEN TO BOTH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IN HONG KONG.
ASKED WHETHER HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE PASSED AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, SIR PIERS SAID HE EXPECTED IT TO BE DEBATED QUITE THOROUGHLY TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON BECAUSE THERE WERE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWS.
"WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS BUT GENERALLY WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL GO THROUGH."
"THE OPPONENTS TEND TO BE VERY VOCAL BUT I THINK WHEN IT IS PROPERLY DEBATED TOMORROW AFTERNOON PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT IT IS RIGHT FOR HONG KONG TO MAKE THIS CONTRIBUTION.
"WE ARE PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. IF YOU GO IN TO SEE THIS EXHIBITION (THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPERS CONFERENCE), YOU WILL SEE HOW IMPORTANT A PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WE ARE," HE SAID.
ASKED IF HE EXPECTED A VERY HEATED DEBATE, SIR PIERS SAID: "WE ALWAYS GET HEATED DEBATES IN THE COUNCIL. IT’S A GOOD THING TOO."
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT’S HIGH-HANDEDNESS IN RELATION TO THIS ISSUE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS PART OF THE NORMAL GOVERNMENT PROCESS TO CONSULT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON A HOST OF DIFFERENT MATTERS.
"WHEN WE GET A VIEW FROM THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WE THEN TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION. THE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THIS OCCASION IS TO TAKE A PAPER TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. THERE IS NOTHING HIGH-HANDED ABOUT IT," HE SAID.
ON THE QUESTION OF LOBBYING SUPPORT, HE SAID: "WE HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO SEE HOW THEY FEEL. BUT I THINK LOBBYING IS PERHAPS TOO STRONG A WORD."
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
5
INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR THIRD QUARTER 1990 ♦ ♦ * * ♦
THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990, AT 132, WAS 2 POINTS OR 1.5 PER CENT LOWER THAN THAT FOR THE SAME PERIOD OF 1989, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS COMPARED WITH THE YEAR-ON-YEAR DECLINE OF 3.7 PER CENT AND 1.6 PER CENT LN THE FIRST QUARTER AND THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1990 RESPECTIVELY. THE AVERAGE GROWTH RATE FOR 1989 OVER 1988 WAS 0.8 PER CENT.
COMPARED WITH THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1990, AND BEARING IN MIND THE POSSIBLE INFLUENCE OF SEASONAL FACTORS, THE INDEX SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 11 POINTS OR 9.1 PER CENT.
AMONG THE EIGHT BROAD INDUSTRY GROUPS, THREE RECORDED INCREASES IN PRODUCTION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 OVER THE SAME QUARTER OF 1989. THEY WERE : FOOD, BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO (4-9.3 PER CENT); PAPER PRODUCTS AND PRINTING (+3.6 PER CENT); AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT AND OPTICAL GOODS (+2.7 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REMAINING BROAD INDUSTRY GROUPS SHOWED DECREASES IN PRODUCTION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 COMPARED WITH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1989, WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE DECREASES RECORDED IN THE FOLLOWING GROUPS : BASIC METALS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND NON-ELECTRICAL MACHINERY (-10.3 PERCENT); AND CHEMICALS, RUBBER, PLASTIC AND NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS (-8.7 PER CENT).
COMPARING THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 WITH THAT IN THE PRECEDING QUARTER, BUT BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON IS MUCH AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, MOST BROAD INDUSTRY GROUPS SHOWED INCREASES IN PRODUCTION.
THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN PRODUCTION WERE RECORDED IN THE FOLLOWING BROAD INDUSTRY GROUPS : FOOD, BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO (+15.9 PER CENT); WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT KNITWEAR AND FOOTWEAR (+14.3 PER CENT); TEXTILES (INCLUDING KNITTING) (+13.9 PER CENT); AND PAPER PRODUCTS AND PRINTING (+9.9 PER CENT).
RELEASING THESE FIGURES,, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION WAS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO REFLECT THE CHANGES OVER TIME OF LOCAL MANUFACTURING OUTPUT IN REAL TERMS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE VOLUME OF LOCAL PRODUCTION WAS MEASURED AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION COULD BE FOUND IN THE ’’REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, THIRD QUARTER 1990”, WHICH IS ON SALE AT $3 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, 2 CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER I, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI. REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MIGHT ALSO BE ARRANGED.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MIGHT BE DIRECTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 839 3238.
/INDEXES OF .......
FHIIRSDAV FEBRUARY
1991
6
Indexes of industrial production by broad industry group and selected industry group
( I9R6 = 100)
Broad industry group/ Selected industry group
Indexes Percentage
for _____change over
3rd Otr. 3rd Otr. 2nd Otr.
1990 1989 1990
Food, beverages and tobacco 153 ♦9.3 + 15.9
Wearing apparel. except knitwear and footwear 120 -0.8 + 14.3
lex tiles (including knitting) 131 -3.0 + 13.9
Parser products and printing 200 +3.6 +9.9
Chemicals, rubber, plastic and • non-metal 1ic mineral products 95 -8.7 +6.7
- Plastic products (Pl ) (-17.3) (+5.2)
Basic metals, fabricated metal prnducts and ncn-electrical machinery 130 -10.3 0.0
- Fabricated metal products. except machinery and equipment ( 110) (-15.4) (-0.9)
Electrical and electronic products, professional equipment and optical goods 153 +2.7 +5.5
Const tmer electrical and electronic products (137) (+3.0) (+3.8)
Electrical electronic parts, accessories and machine* y • (167) ( 1.2) (+1.8)
M i sc el 1 aneoi is mar iu f ac tur i r iq industries 114 -0.9 +4.6
Al 1 MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES 132 1 .5 +9.1
Note : Before 1990, production indexes for 21 industry groups and "All manufacturing industries” were published. As from 1990, only the indexes for 8 broad industry groups and ’’All manufacturing industries” are publislied while those for the 21 industry groups, except 4 which carry larger weights and are major componpots of flip respective broad industry groups, are not published. For easy reading, figures for tire 4 selected industry grtups pre diown in brackets.
-------0---------
n....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
7
1991 PROPERTY REVIEW PRELIMINARY FIGURES RELEASED « « » « *
THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THE PROPERTY REVIEW 1991 SHOW THAT SUPPLY IN 1990, IN ALL SECTORS EXCEPT COMMERCIAL, WAS SOME 20 TO 30 PER CENT DOWN ON 1989 LEVELS.
A SPOKSMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT COMPARED WITH 1989, OVERALL TAKE-UP LEVELS IN 1990 IMPROVED IN ALL SECTORS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FLATTED FACTORIES WHERE TAKE UP DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY.
VACANCY LEVELS AT THE YEAR END, IN OVERALL TERMS, REMAINED FAIRLY CONSTANT, AND GENERALLY AT RELATIVELY LOW LEVELS, WITH THE MOST NOTABLE CHANGES OCCURRING IN THE DOMESTIC CATEGORY, WHERE OVERALL VACANCY WAS DOWN TO 3.5 PER CENT OF STOCK, AND THE OFFICE CATEGORY WHERE VACANCY INCREASED FROM 5.3 PER CENT TO 6.1 PER CENT OF STOCK.
PRIVATE DOMESTIC - SMALL UNITS (LESS THAN 100 SQUARE METRES)
AROUND 27,400 UNITS WERE COMPLETED IN 1990, SOME 6,400 FEWER THAN IN 1989. TAKE-UP, AT JUST UNDER 30,000 UNITS, WAS 40 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN 1989, RESULTING IN A DROP IN VACANCY, AT THE YEAR END, TO JUST 3.2 PER CENT OF STOCK.
SUPPLY IN 1991 IS FORECAST TO RISE BY ABOUT 11 PER CENT ON 1990 LEVELS TO 30,400 UNITS AND, IN 1992, IS EXPECTED TO RISE A FURTHER 14 PER CENT TO AROUND 34,700 UNITS.
PRIVATE DOMESTIC - LARGE UNITS (100 SQUARE METRES AND OVER)
SUPPLY OF LARGE DOMESTIC UNITS IN 1990 DROPPED FROM THE 2,700 BUILT IN 1989 TO 2,000. COUPLED WITH A TAKE-UP OF ONLY 1,050 UNITS, VACANCY IN THIS SUB-SECTOR INCREASED IN ABSOLUTE TERMS TO 3,600 UNITS OR 6.2 PER CENT OF STOCK.
SUPPLY IN 1991 AND 1992 IS FORECAST TO REMAIN FAIRLY CONSTANT, AT SIMILAR LEVELS TO 1990.
OFFICES
IN 1990, OVERALL SUPPLY AT 200,000 SQUARE METRES WAS SOMEWHAT LESS THAN FORECAST IN LAST YEAR’S REVIEW AND 25 PER CENT LESS THAN IN 1989. TAKE-UP, HOWEVER, WAS UP BY ABOUT 30 PER CENT, BUT, AFFECTED TO SOME EXTENT BY THE COMPLETION OF 65,000 SQUARE METRES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN WAN CHAI TOWER II, WAS NOT ENOUGH TO ABSORB THE YEAR'S SUPPLY.
VACANCY AT THE YEAR END, AS A RESULT, ROSE BY ABOUT 18 PER CENT TO 308,000 SQUARE METRES OR 6.1 PER CENT OF STOCK, THE HIGHEST VACANCY RATE SINCE 1986.
/SECTOR I
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
8
SECTOR I FARED BEST WITH TAKE-UP AMOUNTING TO 56,000 SQUARE METRES, OUTPACING THE 50,000 SQUARE METRES SUPPLY. VACANCY WAS CONSEQUENTLY DOWN, TO 53,000 SQUARE METRES OR FIVE .PER CENT OF STOCK.
IN SECTOR II, SUPPLY WAS, AT 14,000 SQUARE METRES, WELL DOWN ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR. HOWEVER, WITH A NET OF 12,000 SQUARE METRES RELINQUISHED, VACANCY IN THIS SECTOR ROSE FROM 55,000 SQUARE METRES AT THE END OF 1989 TO 78,000 SQUARE METRES AT THE END OF 1990, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE FROM 3.4 PER CENT TO 4.8 PER CENT OF STOCK.
SECTOR III SAW SUPPLY OF 136,000 SQUARE METRES, UP BY MORE THAN 20 PER CENT ON 1989 LEVELS. TAKE-UP WAS ALSO WELL UP FROM A NEGATIVE FIGURE TN 1989, TO A POSITIVE 91,000 SQUARE METRES IN 1990. HOWEVER IT STILL FELL FAR SHORT OF SUPPLY RESULTING IN A 20 PER CENT INCREASE IN VACANT SPACE, TO 7.4 PER CENT OF STOCK.
LOOKING AHEAD, THE TERRITORY-WIDE SUPPLY OF 558,000 SQUARE METRES FORECAST FOR 1991 WILL BE VERY SIGNIFICANTLY UP ON THAT FOR 1990. TN 1992 IT IS LIKELY TO BE EVEN LARGER AT 735,000 SQUARE METRES. SECTOR III WILL ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 65 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL SUPPLY FORECAST FOR 1991 AND 1992. EARLY INDICATIONS ARE THAT SUBSTANTIAL SUPPLY IS ALSO EXPECTED IN 1993, (APPROXIMATELY 500,000 SQUARE METRES), 80 PER CENT OF WHICH WILL AGAIN BE IN SECTOR III.
COMMERCIAL
THE SUPPLY IN 1990 OF 239,000 SQUARE METRES OF COMMERCIAL SPACE WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED AND SOME 20 PER CENT UP ON 1989 LEVELS. TAKE-UP WAS SIGNIFICANTLY UP, AT 194,000 SQUARE METRES, RESULTING IN A SLIGHT DROP IN VACANCY AT THE END OF 1990 TO 382,000 SQUARE METRES OR 5.2 PER CENT OF STOCK.
SUPPLY IN 1991 IS EXPECTED TO BE DOWN SLIGHTLY ON 1990 BUT IN 1992, A SUBSTANTIAL 426,000 SQUARE METRES IS EXPECTED TO COME ON STREAM, WELL DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
FLATTED FACTORIES
THE 586,000 SQUARE METRES SUPPLY OF FLATTED FACTORY SPACE IN 1990 WAS WELL DOWN ON THE 864,000 SQUARE METRES SUPPLY IN 1989. HOWEVER TAKE-UP WAS ALSO WELL DOWN, THE LOWEST SINCE 1985, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN VACANCY AT THE YEAR END, TO 886,000 SQUARE METRES OR 5.3 PER CENT OF STOCK.
SUPPLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT CURRENT LEVELS.
GENERAL
A SUMMARY OF SUPPLY, TAKE-UP AND VACANCY IN THE MAIN SECTORS WILL BE SENT RY FACSIMILE AND FOXED.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE FIGURES QUOTED ARE PRELIMINARY ONLY. FULL AND FINAL FIGURES WILL BE SHOWN IN THE PROPERTY REVIEW 1991 WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH.
--------0 - -
/9 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
9
PUBLIC REMINDED NOT TO BRING IN ENDANGERED SPECIES »»»«»*
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VISITING CHINA AND OVERSEAS COUNTRIES DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PERIOD ARE REMINDED NOT TO BRING IN ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES ON THEIR RETURN TO HONG KONG.
THE SENIOR CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR M.K. CHEUNG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY): "BOTH THE CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES AND THE DEPARTMENT HAVE STEPPED UP CONTROL MEASURES AT ALL ENTRY POINTS TO CHECK ON TRAVELLERS AND GOODS VEHICLES DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD.*
"ANYONE WHO TRIES TO ILLEGALLY BRING IN ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES INCLUDING LIVE AND STUFFED SPECIMENS AS WELL AS PARTS AND DERIVATIVES WILL BE PROSECUTED."
MR CHEUNG SAID THERE HAD BEEN 384 SEIZURES IN 1990 IN CONNECTION WITH ' THE ILLEGAL IMPORT AND POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THE ENDANGERED ANIMALS INVOLVED WERE MAINLY PARROTS, STUFFED SEA TURTLES, CROCODILE STUFFED SPECIMENS, MONITOR LIZARD, PANGOLIN, BIRDS OF PREY, SLOW LORIS, GIANT SALAMANDER, WILD ORCHIDS, YELLOW TURTOISE AND IVORY.
IT IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE TO IMPORT, EXPORT OR POSSESS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT THE PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
"FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS MAY RESULT IN A MAXIMUM FINE OF $25,000 ON THE FIRST OFFENCE AND $50,000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR A REPEATED OFFENCE," MR CHEUNG SAID.
- - 0 - -
UK/THAILAND PRISONER TRANSFER AGREEMENT » » * * *
THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND HAVE RATIFIED AN AGREEMENT, WHICH ALSO APPLIES TO HONG KONG, ON THE TRANSFER OF SENTENCED PERSONS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE AGREEMENT, WHICH TOOK EFFECT YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY), HONG KONG PRISONERS SERVING SENTENCES IN THAILAND MAY APPLY TO SERVE THE REMAINDER OF THEIR SENTENCES IN HONG KONG AND THAI PRISONERS IN HONG KONG MAY APPLY TO SERVE THE REMAINDER OF THEIR SENTENCES IN THAILAND.
ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THE AGREEMENT MAY APPLY WILL BE INFORMED OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE AGREEMENT.
/VARIOUS CONDITIONS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
10
VARIOUS CONDITIONS FOR TRANSFER HAVE TO BE MET. THEY INCLUDE THE OFFENCE FOR WHICH A SENTENCE HAS BEEN IMPOSED CONSTITUTING A CRIMINAL OFFENCE ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THE RECEIVING STATE, THE PRISONER BEING A NATIONAL OF THE RECEIVING STATE, THE JUDGEMENT BEING FINAL, AND THE CONSENT OF BOTH GOVERNMENTS AND THE PRISONER.
ANY PARTY MAY REFUSE CONSENT WITHOUT GIVING A REASON.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE AGREEMENT WAS HUMANITARIAN. •
"A PRISONER IN HIS OWN COUNTRY CAN BE MORE EASILY VISITED BY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS AND DOES NOT HAVE TO COPE WITH A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, UNFAMILIAR DIET AND LOCAL CUSTOMS. HE CAN ALSO BE BETTER PREPARED FOR EVENTUAL RETURN TO LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY,” HE EXPLAINED.
- - 0 - -
DAIRY FARM FINED FOR BREAKING LABELLING REGULATIONS
********
THE DAIRY FARM COMPANY LIMITED HAS BEEN FINED $10,000 LAST MONTH FOR FAILING TO MARK OR LABEL PREPACKAGED FOOD ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF THE THIRD SCHEDULE TO THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS, CHAPTER 132.
IT WAS THE COMPANY’S SECOND CONVICTION IN JUST OVER A YEAR. IN NOVEMBER 1989, IT WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $16,000 FOR THREE SIMILAR OFFENCES.
PREPACKAGED FOOD ITEMS IN THE LATEST CASE INCLUDED MACKEREL FILLET PROVENCE STYLE, ANCHOVY PASTES, TARRAGON MUSTARD AND FRESH CHEESE SWEETENED WITH FRUIT.
THEY WERE SOLD AT THE COMPANY’S RETAIL SHOP, OLIVER’S DELICATESSAN/SNACK BAR, IN TS1M SHA TSUI IN MAY LAST YEAR WITH LABELLING ONLY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POINTED OUT THAT AS STIPULATED BY THE THIRD SCHEDULE TO THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS AND UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED, ALL FOOD ITEMS IN PREPACKAGED FORM MUST BE PROPERLY LABELLED IN EITHER ENGLISH OR CHINESE LANGUAGE OR IN BOTH DESIGNATION OF THE FOOD, A LIST OF INGREDIENTS, AN INDICATION OF MINIMUM DURABILITY, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MANUFACTURER OR PACKER OF THE FOOD AND THE STATEMENT OF SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED FOOD MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS THAT FOOD ITEMS IN PREPACKAGED FORM, WHETHER COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY PACKED, MUST BE PROPERLY MARKED OR LABELLED TN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW.
CONTRAVENTION OF THE REGULATIONS MAY RESULT IN A MAXIMUM FINE OF $25,000 AND SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT, HE ADDED.
/Il
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
- 11 -
GOOD CAREER PROSPECT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS
*****
THE DEMAND OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS WILL NATURALLY INCREASE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FAMILY SERVICES AND ELDERLY FIELDS.
SPEAKING TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY IN POK HONG ESTATE, SHA TIN HUS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ROSE GOODSTADT, SAID ABOUT 700 TRAINED DEGREE STAFF AND ABOUT 550 iRAINED DIPLOMA HOLDERS WOULD BE NEEDED IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
"WE BELIEVE THE SUPPLY OF DEGREE HOLDERS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WILL BE ADEQUATE TO MEET THE DEMAND.
"THIS IS PARTLY DUE TO A BLISTER PROGRAMME INTRODUCED IN 1989 WHICH HAS INCREASED SUPPLY BY AROUND 1,000 STUDENTS," SHE SAID, ADDING THAT THE SHORTAGE OF DIPLOMA HOLDERS, HOWEVER, WOULD CONTINUE.
MRS GOODSTADT SAID MANY SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND YOUTH DEPENDED ON FRONT-LINE STAFF IN THE SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANT (SWA) LEVEL. IF THE PROJECTS OUTLINED IN THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DIPLOMA HOLDERS REQUIRED BY 1995/96 WOULD BE AROUND 2,000.
ON THE CAREER PROSPECT OF SWA’S, MRS GOODSTADT POINTED OUT THAT SWA’S COULD BE PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SENIOR SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS (SSWA’S) AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF SERVICE.
"MANY SWA’S ARE ALSO TAKING PART-TIME COURSES LEADING TO A DEGREE. THESE COURSES ARE PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, THE CITY POLYTECHNIC AND THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SWA’S ATTENDING SUCH COURSES ARE ABOUT 450.
"ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSES THEY CAN APPLY FOR JOBS SUCH AS ASSISTANT SOCIAL WORK OFFICERS (ASWO). THIS CONTINUOUS CONVERSION OF SWA’S INTO ASWO'S CONTRIBUTES PARTLY TO THE SHORTAGE OF SWA’S," SHE CONTINUED.
MRS GOODSTADT EXPLAINED THAT RECENTLY THE STANDING COMMISSION, IN ITS NO. 25 REPORT, ALSO RECOMMENDED THE CREATION OF CHIEF SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANT POSTS.
"BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE NOW EXAMINING WHICH POSTS REQUIRE THIS NEW RANK OF STAFF," SHE SAID. 'SO DIPLOMA HOLDERS HAVE GOOD CAREER PROSPECTS."
MRS GOODSTADT SAID THE CASELOAD SITUATION IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES HAD BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED.
"OUR AVERAGE CASELOAD IS 72 (RANGING FROM 56 TO 99). LAST YEAR’S AVERAGE WAS 93 (RANGING FROM 62 TO 117)," SHE SAID.
/TURNING TO.......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
12 -
TURNING TO THE ISSUE OF WASTAGE AND MEASURES' TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM, MRS GOODSTADT SAID: ’’THE QUESTION OF MIGRATION IS MORE DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME BUT WE HOPE THAT THE TREND WOULD SLOW DOWN.
"IN FACT, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MIGRATED HAVE RETURNED TO HONG KONG TO WORK IN BOTH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND IN THE DEPARTMENT.”
SHE SAID SOCIAL WORKERS WERE THE FIRST TO BENEFIT FROM THE RECENT REVIEW OF CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
’BOTH DEGREE GRADUATES AND DIPLOMA HOLDERS HAVE HAD THEIR ENTRANCE SALARY RAISED AND WOULD ENJOY ’’OMITTED POINTS” AFTER THE SECOND YEAR AND THE FOURTH YEAR OF SERVICE.
’’THEY ARE NOW PAID MORE THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER CAREERS. NATURALLY, IMPROVEMENTS ALSO APPLY EQUALLY TO THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR THAT RECEIVES GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION,” SHE SAID.
”WE BELIEVE THIS WILL MAKE THE PROFESSION MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE AND WILL CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS REDUCING THE WASTAGE RATES,” THE ACTING DIRECTOR CONCLUDED.
---------0-----------
113 INMATES PASS PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS » * * ♦ ♦
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR ERIC MCCOSH, TODAY (THURSDAY) COMMENDED 113 INMATES FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN ACADEMIC STUDIES WHICH LED TO EXTERNAL ACCREDITATION.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT A CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD AT SHEK PIK PRISON.
A TOTAL OF 134 CERTIFICATES WERE PRESENTED TO THE INMATES WHO HAD EITHER PASSED PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS OR COMPLETED EXTRA-MURAL STUDIES.
MR MCCOSH SAID THE AWARD OF THESE CERTIFICATES SIGNIFIED RECOGNITION BY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY THAT A CANDIDATE HAD REACHED THEIR REQUIRED STANDARDS.
"IT IS RECOGNITION TOO OF HARD WORK AND APPLICATION BY THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES, AND ALL OF YOU (THE INMATES) ARE TO BE CONGRATULATED ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS,” HE ADDED.
MR MCCOSH STRESSED THAT A MAJOR AIM OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WAS TO CORRECT AND REHABILITATE OFFENDERS WITH A VIEW TO TRANSFORMING THEM INTO RESPONSIBLE AND LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.
’’THIS IS DONE IN A VARIETY OF WAYS AND INCLUDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER EDUCATION LEADING TO EXTERNAL ACCREDITATION,” HE NOTED.
/HE ALSO .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1991
- 13 -
HE ALSO PRAISED THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY STAFF, ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOL ED IN EDUCATION.
"WITHOUT THEIR
ENDEAVOURS AND SUCCESS
DEDICATION AND SUPPORT, THESE ACADEMIC WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE,” HE ADDED.
---------0-----------
GUIDE TO TRANSPORT SERVICES IN EASTERN ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ *
THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD HAS PUBLISHED 70,000 COPIES OF A PAMPHLET ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO RESIDENTS.
THE PAMPHLET WOULD SERVE AS A QUICK REFERENCE TO DIFFERENT MODES OF TRANSPORT AVAILABLE IN THE AREA, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD'S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
’’RESIDENTS WHO RECENTLY MOVED INTO THE DISTRICT WOULD FIND IT PARTICULARLY USEFUL,” HE SAID.
THE PAMPHLET GIVES A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF BUS ROUTES, GREEN MINIBUS ROU'I’ES , TRAM SERVICE, FERRY AND KAITO SERVICE, AS WELL AS A TIMETABLE OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY ISLAND LINE.
THERE IS ALSO A MAP ILLUSTRATING THE MAIN ROADS, BUS TERMINI, TRAM AND MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY LINES, GREEN MINIBUS TERMINI AND FERRY PIERS.
IT ALSO CONTAINS A LIST OF ENQUIRY AND COMPLAINT HOTLINES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES.
RESIDENTS CAN OBTAIN COPIES OF THE PAMPHLET FROM THE EASI ERN DISTRICT OFFICE'S PUBLIC1 ENQUIRY COUNTERS AT SAI WAN HO, HENG FA CHUEN AND CAUSEWAY BAY.
---------0-----------
81 VBP RETURN TO VIETNAM ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
A GROUP OF 81 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE TODAY (THURSDAY) RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNDER THE UNHCR'S VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME.
COMPRISING 28 MEN, 26 WOMEN, 18 BOYS AND NINE GIRLS, THEY WERE THE 50TH BATCH TO GO BACK UNDER THE PROGRAMME.
THIS GROUP BROUGHT TO 6,813 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETURNED VOLUNTARILY.
. -------o--------
/14 .....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 199 1
EMPLOYERS reminded of lunar new year holidays
t * * » »
EMPLOYERS ARE TODAY (THURSDAY) REMINDED THAT LUNAR NEW YEAR’S EVE, NEW YEAR’S DAY AND THE SECOND DAY OF THE NEW YEAR, WHICH FALL ON FEBRUARY 14, 15 AND 16 RESPECTIVELY ARE STATUTORY HOLIDAYS FOR WORKERS.
AS THE THIRD DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FALLS ON A SUNDAY, THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT LUNAR NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOULD I AD BE MADE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.
ALL EMPLOYEES, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR WAGE LEVELS, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAYS AND MUST BE PAID FOR THE DAYS OFF IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THE SAME EMPLOYERS FOR THREE MONTHS OR LONGER IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE STATUTORY HOLIDAYS.
DAILY HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO AN EMPLOYEE’S EARNINGS ON A FULL WORKING DAY AND SHOULD INCLUDE BASIC WAGES AS WELL Ai- ALLOWANCES THAT CAN BE EXPRESSED IN MONEY TERMS SUCH AS MEALS AND co: I OF LIVING ALLOWANCES.
WHERE THE EARNINGS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY, HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE THE AVERAGE DAILY EARNINGS DURING EVERY COMPLETE WAGE PERIOD, WHICH COULD BE BETWEEN 2H DAYS AND 31 DAYS, PRECEDING THE HOLIDAYS.
IF AN EMPLOYEE IS REQUIRED TO WORK ON A STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE DAY OFF WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER HIE HOLIDAY.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS MAY BE MADE AT ANY BRANCH OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HEFTY PENALTIES FOR SMUGGLERS ................................................. 1
NO EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME ....................... 2
CONSTRUCTION OF NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY PHASE 1 PROPOSED ...................... 6
SCHEDULE TO HKAB ORDINANCE AMENDED ............................................. 7
RECLAMATION OF LAND FOR TSEUNG KWAN O DEVELOPMENTS ............................. 7
MEASURES TO REDUCE POLLUTION TO TOLO HARBOUR ................................... 8
RATING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1991 ........................................... 8
NEW SCHEDULE FOR STRATEGIC COMMODITIES GAZETTED ................................ 9
JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE TO BE RENAMED AS HK SPORTS INSTITUTE .................... 10
ELIGIBLE ELECTORS URGED TO VOTE ............................................... 10
STUDENTS URGED TO HELP BUILD A BETTER HONG KONG................................ 11
INSTALLATION OF IMPACT ABSORBING SURFACES TO PLAYGROUNDS ...................... 12
GARBAGE BAGS FOR YEAR-END CLEAN-UP ............................................ 12
YAU TSIM TO HOLD ELECTION FORUM ON SUNDAY ..................................... 13
JOINT SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW IN MONG KOK ......................................... 13
SPRING CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN ON SUNDAY ........................................ 14
UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS IN NATHAN ROAD TO BE CLOSED ....................... 14
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
1
HEFTY PENALTIES FOR SMUGGLERS *****
PEOPLE INVOLVED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES WILL BE SUBJECT TO HEFTY PENALTIES UNDER NEW LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE PENALTIES ARE PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) AND WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 27.
THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO ENHANCE THE GOVERNMENT’S ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST SMUGGLING. THE BILL ENABLES THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS REGARDING THE CARRIAGE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES IN HONG KONG WATERS TO CONTROL SMUGGLING.
CONTRAVENTION OF THE VARIOUS OFFENCES COVERED BY THE BILL AND SUBSEQUENT REGULATIONS WOULD EACH CARRY A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $500,000.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE IN MAY 1990 TO PREVENT THE USE OF HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOATS FOR SMUGGLING, THE LICENCES OF 97 PLEASURE VESSELS AND 11 MISCELLANEOUS CRAFT WERE CANCELLED IN THE PERIOD UP TO THE END OF JANUARY.
A FURTHER 121 LICENCES OF PLEASURE VESSELS WERE SUSPENDED AND FURTHER CONDITIONS OF LICENSING WERE IMPOSED IN 81 CASES.
ADDITIONAL CONTROLS WERE INTRODUCED ON JANUARY 28 INVOLVING THE PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF SPEEDBOATS ON FIRST LICENSING, ON RELICENSING OR AT OTHER TIMES IF REQUESTED BY THE POLICE OR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LEGISLATIVE MEASURES PUBLISHED TODAY WOULD FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE GOVERNMENT’S WAR ON SMUGGLERS ACROSS THE BOARD.
THE BILL MAKES IT AN OFFENCE FOR A PERSON TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, REPAIR OR BE ON BOARD A VESSEL OF LESS THAN 250 TONS CONSTRUCTED OR USED FOR SMUGGLING PURPOSES.
”1T WILL BE PRESUMED THAT A VESSEL IS DESIGNED FOR SMUGGLING IF IT HAS FEATURES SUCH AS SECRET HIDING PLACES, THE FACILITY TO MOUNT MORE THAN TWO OUTBOARD ENGINES WITH COMBINED POWER IN EXCESS OF 600 HORSEPOWER, HAS FUEL TANKS SUITABLE FOR HOLDING MORE THAN 180 GALLONS (817 LITRES) OF FUEL FOR USE IN OUTBOARD MOTORS OR HAS METAL PLATING SUITABLE FOR RAMMING OR ACTING AS ARMOURED PROTECTION,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IT WILL ALSO BECOME AN OFFENCE FOR A PERSON TO MAKE USE OF THE ALTERED FITTINGS, FABRIC OR STRUCTURE OF ANY VESSEL FOR SMUGGLING PURPOSES.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
- 2 -
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW LEGISLATION WAS ALSO AIMED AT DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO ASSISTED SMUGGLERS ON LAND.
THE BILL CREATES NEW OFFENCES OF KNOWINGLY ASSISTING IN THE EXPORT OF UNMANIFESTED CARGO AND KNOWINGLY ASSISTING IN THE EXPORT OR CARRIAGE OF RESTRICTED ARTICLES OR PROHIBITED ARTICLES.
"IN CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE LOADING OF A SPEEDBOAT AT A REMOTE LOCATION AT NIGHT, IT WOULD BE PRESUMED THAT THOSE INVOLVED WERE INTENDING TO EVADE OR ASSIST IN THE EVASION OF A RESTRICTION OR PROHIBITION ON THE CARRIAGE OF SPECIFIED GOODS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
’’THE PRESUMPTION CAN BE REBUTTED BY PRODUCING EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY BUT IT WOULD BE FOR THE COURTS TO DECIDE ON THE FACTS," HE ADDED.
FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL FURTHER REGULATIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO COVER THE CARRIAGE OF SPECIFIED ARTICLES, SUCH AS ELECTRICAL GOODS AND MOTOR VEHICLES, AND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY CAN OR CANNOT BE TRANSPORTED IN HONG KONG WATERS.
--------0-----------
NO EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME ♦ * * ♦ *
THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD TSANG TODAY (FRIDAY) REITERATED THAT THE DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY 28 FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME WILL NOT BE EXTENDED.
"THE LAW MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WE CANNOT CONSIDER ANY APPLICATION RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE," SAID MR TSANG, WHEN ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTHEAST.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO AMEND THE LAW AT THIS STAGE TO ACCOMMODATE LATE SUBMISSIONS WHILE HOLDING UP THE PROCESSING OF ALL OTHER APPLICATIONS.
"BECAUSE THE SCHEME IS ESTABLISHED ON A COMPETITIVE POINTS SYSTEM, WE CANNOT COMPLETE THE RANKING OF APPLICANTS UNTIL ALL APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
"THUS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SCHEME, THEY ARE WELL ADVISED TO ENSURE THAT THEIR APPLICATIONS REACH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT BY THE END OF THIS MONTH," HE SAID.
POINTED
IN THE
ORDER
UNRAVELLING CERTAIN MYTHS ABOUT THE SCHEME, MR TSANG OUT THAT SOME HAD THE MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL APPLICANTS ENTREPRENEURS CLASS WOULD HAVE TO BE INVITED BY THE GOVERNOR IN
TO BE ELIGIBLE.
/"THIS IS .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
- 3 -
"THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE," HE SAID.
"WHILE MY COLLEAGUES AND I MAY BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY FOR THE GOVERNOR SOME OF THE KEY ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT CONTACTS, WE ARE BOUND TO MISS OUT SOME VERY DESERVING CASES.
"THE WAY IN WHICH THESE PEOPLE CAN MAKE KNOWN TO US IS BY WAY OF APPLYING BEFORE THE DEADLINE ON FEBRUARY 28," HE SAID.
MR TSANG EXPLAINED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE ENTREPRENEURS CLASS OF THE SCHEME WAS TO RETAIN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS IN HONG KONG, SO THAT THEY COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE TERRITORY’S CONTINUED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY ACROSS 1997.
"THIS CLASS IS AN EXCLUSIVE CATEGORY OF THE SCHEME AND APPLICANTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO A POINTS SYSTEM. THE GOVERNOR MAY USE HIS DISCRETION TO SELECT 500 ENTREPRENEURS AND RECOMMEND THEM FOR GRANT OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP," HE ADDED.
FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT INCLUDE :
(A) THE EXTENT OF THE CANDIDATES’ INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG;
(B) THE ANNUAL TURNOVER OF ANY BUSINESS IN HONG KONG WHICH THEY CONTROL;
(C) THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN ANY SUCH BUSINESS;
(D) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CANDIDATES’ EMIGRATION WOULD UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG, ETC.
MR TSANG STRESSED THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO WAIT FOR AN INVITATION FROM THE GOVERNOR IF ONE WAS INTERESTED TO APPLY IN THE ENTREPRENEURS CLASS AND EACH OF THESE CASES WOULD BE CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY AGAINST THE CRITERIA.
MR TSANG NOTED THAT THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONFUSION OVER THE OPERATION OF THE POINTS SYSTEM AND SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THEY STOOD NO CHANCE UNDER THE SCHEME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT OBTAIN A HIGH SCORE.
"FOR EXAMPLE, SOME IN THEIR LATE 40S HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THERE IS NO POINT IN THEIR APPLYING BECAUSE THEY LOSE TOO MANY POINTS COMPARED WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN THE PRIME AGE BAND OF 30 TO 41. THIS IS NOT CORRECT," HE SAID.
"THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME MAY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF AN OCCUPATION AND ADVISE THE GOVERNOR TO USE HIS DISCRETION TO ALLOCATE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES POINTS TO OLDER APPLICANTS IN CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS TO MODERATE THE AGE SCORES.
"WHETHER AN APPLICANT WILL SUCCEED DOES NOT DEPEND SOLELY ON THE NUMBER OF POINTS HE SCORES," MR TSANG SAID.
/HE EXPLAINED .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
4
HE EXPLAINED THAT ALL APPLICANTS IN THE GENERAL OCCUPATIONAL CLASS AND DISCIPLINED SERVICES CLASS WOULD BE PUT IN SEPARATE QUEUES ACCORDING TO OCCUPATION AND THEY WOULD BE COMPETING FOR PLACES IN A QUOTA WITH OTHER APPLICANTS IN THE SAME QUEUE.
THERE WAS SIMPLY NO FIXED PASS MARK AS SUCH, SAID MR TSANG, ADDING THAT THE SO CALLED ’PASS-MARK’ FOR A QUEUE WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THREE FACTORS :
(A) THE NUMBER OF PLACES AVAILABLE IN THE QUEUE;
(B) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICANTS IN THAT QUEUE; AND
(C) THE . APPLICANT’S RANKING RELATIVE TO OTHER COMPETITORS IN THE SAME QUEUE.
IN OTHER WORDS, SAID MR TSANG, EACH QUEUE FORMED A DISTINCT STREAM AND THE SCORES OF APPLICANTS IN ONE QUEUE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE CHANCES OF THOSE IN ANOTHER.
HE ILLUSTRATED THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE :
'SO FAR, WE HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT 5,000 APPLICATIONS. IF ALL OF THEM ARE COMPETING FOR THE 180 PLACES IN THE OCCUPATIONAL GROUP FOR LEGAL PROFESSIONALS, I WILL EXPECT THE APPLICANTS TO HAVE A HIGH SCORE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THEY ARE ALL IN THE OCCUPATIONAL GROUP FOR MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, THEY WILL ALL SUCCEED MORE OR LESS AUTOMATICALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE ABOUT 15,000 PLACES RESERVED FOR MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.’
ON THE QUESTION OF NOMENCLATURE OF THE SCHEME, MR TSANG NOTED THAT MANY PEOPLE REFERRED TO THE SCHEME AS A RIGHT OF ABODE SCHEME.
"IN FACT, THIS SCHEME GOES FAR BEYOND THE RIGHT OF ENTRY OR SETTLEMENT IN THE UK. A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL BE GRANTED FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP. RIGHT OF ABODE IS ONLY PART OF THE BENEFITS THAT FLOW FROM FULL CITIZENSHIP.
"ON REGISTRATION, A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL BE GIVEN A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE CERTIFYING HIS NATIONALITY STATUS. THIS CERTIFICATE IMMEDIATELY ENABLES HIM TO OBTAIN A BRITISH PASSPORT IF HE WANTS ONE.
"HE CAN TRAVEL FREELY INTO AND WITHIN THE UK AND NOT SUBJECT TO ANY LIMITATION OF STAY OR IMMIGRATION CONDITIONS. MORE IMPORTANT, SUCH CITIZENSHIP CAN BE PASSED ON TO HIS SPOUSE AND CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 18. THEY IN TURN BECOME FULL BRITISH CITIZENS," MR TSANG EXPLAINED.
HE REITERATED THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE SCHEME WAS TO ANCHOR PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BY GIVING THEM AN INSURANCE POLICY WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE HONG KONG FOR A SINGLE DAY.
/"UNLIKE IMMIGRATION .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
- 5 -
"UNLIKE IMMIGRATION SCHEMES OFFERED BY OTHER MOST OVERSEAS COUNTRIES, PRINCIPAL OR SECONDARY BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SETTLE IN THE UK IN ORDER TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP.
"WITH THIS ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE OF CITIZENSHIP, A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT OR HIS SPOUSE OR THEIR CHILDREN MAY EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO SETTLE IN THE UK AT ANY TIME WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ANY OTHER PROCEDURES.
"WE HOPE, OF COURSE, THAT THE BENEFICIARY WILL SIMPLY CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG FINDING IT UNNECESSARY AT ALL TO EXERCISE SUCH RIGHT.
"HIS BRITISH CITIZENSHIP AND NATIONALITY STATUS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED IN EITHER CASE. NOR IS HE REQUIRED TO SEND HIS FAMILY ABROAD," HE ADDED.
MR TSANG SAID THE MOURNFUL STORIES OF SO CALLED PROLONGED "IMPRISONMENT" IN THE DESTINATION COUNTRIES, "ASTRONAUTS" LEAVING THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN ABROAD IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT FOR CITIZENSHIP WOULD NOT OCCUR.
"THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT MAY CONTINUE HIS LIFESTYLE AND CAREER IN HONG KONG AND SHARE THE HAPPINESS WITH HIS FAMILY HERE.
"THIS IS THE INTENTION AND ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHEME OVER ALL OTHERS," HE SAID.
ON CRITICISMS THAT THE SCHEME WAS TOO COMPLICATED AND THE LENGTH OF THE APPLICATION FORM HAD SCARED MANY PEOPLE OFF, MR TSANG SAID THE CRITICS MIGHT HAVE OVER-STATED THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SCHEME’S PROCEDURES.
"THEY SHOULD BEAR IN MIND THAT THE SCHEME IS A NATIONALITY SCHEME, THE AIM OF WHICH IS TO SELECT CITIZENS FOR A COUNTRY.
"THEY SHOULD NOT EXPECT AN APPLICANT SPENDING LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES IN COMPLETING THE FORM AND OTHER FORMALITIES," HE SAID.
FOR THOSE FAMILIAR WITH THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR SETTLEMENT IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY WOULD READILY NOTICE THAT THE FORM USED IN THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH OTHERS IN TERMS OF CLARITY AND SIMPLICITY, MR TSANG SAID.
HE REMINDED APPLICANTS THAT IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS ON FORM COMPLETION OR OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE SCHEME, THEY COULD ALWAYS CALL THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HOTLINE AT 802 3300.
_ _ 0----------
/6 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
6 -
CONSTRUCTION OF NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY PHASE 1 PROPOSED
*****
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S (FRIDAY) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY WAS DESIGNED TO SERVE THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON LANTAU ISLAND.
TO BE BUILT ON EXISTING OR RECLAIMED LAND, THE EXPRESSWAY WOULD ACCOMMODATE A DUAL THREE-LANE CARRIAGEWAY, A RESERVE FOR TWO RAILWAY TRACKS AND A UTILITY RESERVE OVER A TOTAL WIDTH OF ABOUT 65 METRES.
IT WOULD RUN ALONG THE COASTLINE BETWEEN THE WESTERN END OF LANTAU FIXED CROSSING AT TSING CHAU TSAI AND THE NEW AIRPORT WITH INTERCHANGE FACILITIES LEADING OFF TO VARIOUS CENTRES OF RESIDENTIAL, INDUSTRIAL OR PORT DEVELOPMENTS.
PHASE 1 OF THE EXPRESSWAY WAS ABOUT 9.5 KILOMETRES LINKING TSING CHAU TSAI IN THE EAST WITH KEI TAU KOK IN THE WEST.
PLANS SHOWING PHASE 1 OF THE EXPRESSWAY CAN BE SEEN AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
» CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, 11 ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG;
* ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE AND ISLANDS DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG;
♦ TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE AND TSUEN WAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 9, 1991 .
- - 0----------
/7........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
SCHEDULE TO HKAB ORDINANCE AMENDED * * * * *
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO THE SCHEDULE TO THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE COMPOSITION OF THE CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS (HKAB) BY EXPANDING ONE OF ITS CONSTITUENT REGIONS TO INCLUDE DENMARK.
"WITH THE GRANTING OF A BANKING LICENCE IN 1990 TO DEN DANSKE BANK, THE FIRST DANISH INCORPORATED BANK LICENSED IN HONG KONG, IT IS NECESSARY TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE BY EXPANDING ONE OF THE CONSTITUENT REGIONS TO GIVE DENMARK A VOICE ON THE CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL,” A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS MADE AT THE REQUEST OF HKAB, WAS GAZETTED TODAY.’
------0-------
RECLAMATION OF LAND FOR TSEUNG KWAN O DEVELOPMENTS ******
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO DESIGNATE AN AREA OF ABOUT 20 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEA-BED IN TSEUNG KWAN O WHICH WILL BE RECLAIMED TO PROVIDE LAND FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE NEW TOWN.
THE RECLAMATION WORK WILL BEGIN IN MAY AND BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HE HAS AN INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEA-BED INVOLVED MAY SUBMIT A WRITTEN OBJECTION TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS BEFORE APRIL 7.
THE NOTICE (IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE) TOGETHER WITH ITS RELATED PLAN CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE.
THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG (WHERE COPIES CAN BE PURCHASED ON ORDER) AND AT THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 34 CHAN MAN STREET, SAI KUNG, NEW TERRITORIES.
------0 - -
/8.........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
8
MEASURES TO REDUCE POLLUTION TO TOLO HARBOUR
THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT (DSD) IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE ADVANCE WORKS FOR THE TOLO HARBOUR CATCHMENT SEWAGE MASTER PLAN AS FIRST AID MEASURES TO REDUCE POLLUTION TO TOLO HARBOUR.
THE CONTRACT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION INTERCEPTORS AND THE CONNECTING SEWERS FOR FLOWS INTO THE EXISTING PUBLIC SEWERAGE SYSTEM SHA TIN AND TAI PO.
THESE LOCATIONS ARE IN TAI WAI, YAU 01 NGAU PEI SHA, SIU LEK YUEN, TAI PO TAU AND WAN
OF DRY WEATHER FLOW DIVERSION OF POLLUTED AT SEVEN LOCATIONS IN
TSUEN, SAN TIN WAI, TAU KWOK LANE.
WORKS ON THESE MEASURES, WHICH ARE ANTICIPATED TO START THIS MAY AND BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT NINE MONTHS, WOULD PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THE WATER QUALITY OF TOLO HARBOUR.
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY OVE ARUP AND PARTNERS FOR THE DSD’S CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
FORMS OF TENDER AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM OVE ARUP AND PARTNERS, 57TH FLOOR, HOPEWELL CENTRE, 183 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 15.
RATING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1991 »♦»***
THE RATING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1991 IS TO INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 5.
BE INTRODUCED
THE EXECUTIVE
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO ENSURE THAT VALUATION PRACTICE IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN ITEMS OF PLANT CAN TO BE FOLLOWED.
EXISTING
CONTINUE
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND
THE EXISTING PRACTICE, RATING PLANT SUCH AS CABLES AND DUCTS,
COMMENTING ON THE BILL, VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID UNDER ASSESSMENTS REFLECT THE VALUE OF PIPELINES OR RAILWAY LINES.
HOWEVER, DOUBTS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED REGARDING THIS PRACTICE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE BILU IS INTENDED TO REMOVE THESE DOUBTS.
THE BILL ALSO ENABLES TWO OR MORE PROPERTIES TOGETHER AS A SINGLE RATEABLE UNIT, PROVIDED THAT THE USED TOGETHER AND AFFECT THE VALUE OF ONE ANOTHER.
TO BE VALUED PROPERTIES ARE
/THIS WILL .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
9 -
THIS ELECTRICITY EACH SYSTEM
WILL ENSURE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND SUPPLY SYSTEMS CAN EACH BE VALUED AS A WHOLE, ALTHOUGH COMPRISES MANY' PROPERTIES.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE PROPOSED ESSENTIALLY A REVENUE PROTECTION MEASURE. THEY HAVE FOR PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND THE DIRECT EFFECT ON THF SHOULD BE NEGLIGIBLE.
AMENDMENTS ARE
NO IMPLICATIONS
GENERAL PUBLIC
-----------------------0------- NEW SCHEDULE FOR STRATEGIC COMMODITIES GAZETTED * * ♦ ♦ *
THE EXISTING SCHEDULE UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (STRATEGIC COMMODITIES) REGULATIONS WILL BE REPLACED FROM TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 12), THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE NEW SCHEDULE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
UNDER THE REGULATIONS, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF ARTICLES SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE REQUIRE LICENCES FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE.
A PRINCIPAL TRADE OFFICER OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT, MR FRED LEUNG, SAID THE NEW SCHEDULE REFLECTS ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY SINCE FEBRUARY 1990, WHEN THE SCHEDULE WAS LAST REVISED, AS WELL AS LIBERALISATION OF CONTROLS, AGREED BY MEMBERS OF THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR MULTILATERAL EXPORT CONTROLS (COCOM) IN JUNE 1990.
THE DEPARTMENT IS INFORMING THE TRADE OF THE NEW SCHEDULE BY MEANS OF A CIRCULAR LETTER.
COPIES OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (STRATEGIC COMMODITIES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT OF SCHEDULE) ORDER 1991 ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE WITH THE TRADE LICENSING (NON-TEXTILES) BRANCH, TRADE DEPARTMENT, FIFTH FLOOR, TRADE DEPARTMENT TOWER, 700 NATHAN ROAD, MONG KOK (TEL. NO. 398 5576 OR 398 5577).
-----_ o-----------
/10........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
- 10 -
JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE TO BE RENAMED AS HK SPORTS INSTITUTE * * * * ♦
AN AMENDMENT BILL SEEKING TO RENAME THE ’JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE (JSC)’ AT SHA TIN AS THE ’HONG KONG SPORTS INSTITUTE’ WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, 1991 WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH SAID THE NEW NAME WOULD MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT THE CENTRE’S ROLE IN PROVIDING A RANGE OF COMPREHENSIVE SPORTS SERVICES TO ASSIST HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETES, COACHES AND TECHNICAL OFFICIALS IN THEIR PURSUIT FOR EXCELLENCE.
’’THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISED IN APRIL 1989 THAT THE HONG KONG SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO IMPLEMENT A RESTRUCTURED SPORTS AND RECREATION POLICY AND DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION AND RESOURCES TO COMPETITIVE SPORT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIRST-CLASS INTERNATIONAL SPORTSMEN IN HONG KONG,” HE SAID.
”IN SUPPORT OF SUCH OBJECTIVES, THE BOARD RECOMMENDED THAT THE CENTRE SHOULD BE DEVELOPED INTO A HONG KONG SPORTS INSTITUTE WHICH WOULD DIRECT A SYSTEMATIC, UNIFIED, COACHING SYSTEM GUIDING TALENTED ATHLETES THROUGH THE PYRAMID OF LOCAL SPORT UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS,” HE ADDED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 ALSO SOUGHT TO SPECIFY MORE CLEARLY THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BOARD AND TO UPDATE ITS FUNCTIONS AND POWERS IN RESPECT OF ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT, SPORTS SCIENCE, SPORTS MEDICINE AND RESEARCH, RESOURCE INFORMATION, INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES AND CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES.
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 27, 1991.
------0--------
ELIGIBLE ELECTORS URGED TO VOTE * * ♦ ♦ t
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, TODAY (FRIDAY) URGED ELIGIBLE ELECTORS TO EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC RIGHTS BY CASTING VOTES IN THE COMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
MR LAN MADE THE APPEAL WHEN ADDRESSING THE SPEECH DAY AND 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ST JOAN OF ARC SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
HE SAID THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY A GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE RIGHT CALIBRE IF MORE ELECTORS TURNED OUT TO VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS.
/THE REGIONAL .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
- 11 -
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY STRESSED THAT THE DB’S HAD BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF HONG KONG’S THREE-TIER CONSULTATION MACHINERY. UPON WHICH ITS EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS DEPENDED.
ON THE RECENT VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE, MR LAN SAID IT WAS A SUCCESS AS MANY MORE PEOPLE HAD REGISTERED AS ELECTORS.
HE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL ON THE GRADUATES TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS MAKING THE TERRITORY MORE STABLE AND PROSPEROUS.
- - 0----------
STUDENTS URGED TO HELP BUILD A BETTER HONG KONG
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO IMPLEMENT THE MASSIVE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SO THAT HONG KONG’S POSITION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WOULD BE STRENGTHENED, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ADOLF HSU, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE SPEECH DAY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK SOUTHERN DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL, MR HSU URGED THE STUDENTS TO GIVE THEIR FULL SUPPORT TO BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR HONG KONG.
HE ALSO TOLD THE GRADUATES TO EQUIP THEMSELVES IN THE FACE OF A CHANGING SOCIETY.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY PRAISED THE HEUNG YEE KUK FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WELFARE OF NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS THROUGH THE YEARS, CITING AS EXAMPLE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL.
MR HSU WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE SCHOOL PLACED MUCH EMPHASIS ON MORAL EDUCATION AND THAT THE STUDENTS WERE PREPARED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME.
HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF A BALANCED PROGRAMME TO EDUCATE THE YOUTHS WHICH ATTACHED EQUAL IMPORTANCE TO ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND PARTICIPATION IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
AMONG THE 600 STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED THE SEVENTH ANNUAL SPEECH DAY OF THE SCHOOL TODAY, 121 WERE FORMS FIVE AND SEVEN GRADUATES.
--------0-----------
/12 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
12 INSTALLATION OF IMPACT ABSORBING SURFACES TO PLAYGROUNDS ******
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF IMPACT ABSORBING SURFACES TO ABOUT 24 PLAYGROUNDS IN HONG KONG AND KOWLOON.
WORK IS SCHEDULED TO START IN APRIL THIS YEAR AND TAKES ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
TENDER FORMS AND PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PROPERTY SERVICES BRANCH, ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FIFTH FLOOR, APB CENTRE, 9 SUNG PING STREET, TO KWA WAN.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 8.
- - 0 - -
GARBAGE BAGS FOR YEAR-END CLEAN-UP
*****
THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD HAS PRODUCED 23,000 ENVIRONMENTAL-FRIENDLY BAGS TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO DISPOSE OF REFUSE IN A PROPER WAY DURING THEIR YEAR-END CLEAN-UP ACTIVITIES.
MEASURING 76 CENTIMETRES BY 94 CENTIMETRES, THE BAGS ARE MADE OF BIO-DEGRADABLE MATERIALS AND IMPRINTED WITH A SLOGAN, "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STARTS WITH ME", AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT BOARD LOGO.
"WE HOPE TO DRAW RESIDENTS’ ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND KEEPING HONG KONG CLEAN," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE SAID, TODAY (FRIDAY).
"AS LARGE QUANTITIES OF RUBBISH WILL BE DISPOSED OF IN PREPARATION FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, WE HOPE RESIDENTS WOULD FIND THE BAGS USEFUL," HE SAID.
THE GARBAGE BAGS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS AT SAI WAN HO, HENG FA CHUEN AND CAUSEWAY BAY.
- - 0 - -
/13
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
- 13 -
YAU TSIM TO HOLD ELECTION FORUM ON SUNDAY ♦ ♦ * » ♦
LOCAL RESIDENTS IN YAU TSIM DISTRICT ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND A DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS FORUM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 10).
ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE FORUM WILL START AT 2 PM AT THE HALL OF THE HENRY G. LEONG COMMUNITY CENTRE, 60 PUBLIC SQUARE STREET.
THREE CANDIDATES, MR LI KING-WAH, MR NG KIN-SUN AND MR MAK YIU-WAH, VYING FOR THE TWO SEATS FOR THE JORDAN CONSTITUENCY WILL PRESENT THEIR PLATFORMS .AND REPLY QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE JORDAN CONSTITUENCY CANDIDATES’ FORUM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 10) AT THE HALL OF HENRY G. LEONG COMMUNITY CENTRE, 60 PUBLIC SQUARE STREET. IT WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
--------0-----------
JOINT SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW IN MONG KOK ♦ ♦ ♦ » ♦
A VARIETY SHOW TO FOSTER BETTER TIES AMONG SCHOOLS IN MONG KOK WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY), FROM 10 AM TO NOON IN THE CHAN HING SOCIAL SERVICES CENTRE, 45 FUK TSUEN STREET, TAI KOK TSUI.
MORE THAN 100 STUDENTS WILL PERFORM. THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES CHINESE FOLK DANCES, CHORUS SINGING, AND VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES.
THE EVENT IS ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
OFFICIATING AT THE OCCASION WILL BE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI; THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS LORNA MA; CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON THE PROMOTION OF ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITES, MR CHIU WING-YEE; AND THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (MONG KOK), MR GREGORY CHAN.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MONG KOK JOINT SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 10 AM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT CHAN HING SOCIAL SERVICES CENTRE, 45 FUK TSUEN STREET, TAI KOK TSUI.
------0--------
/14 .....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
14
SPRING CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN ON SUNDAY
*****
A SPRING CARNIVAL SPECIALLY ORGANISED FOR CHILDREN IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT WILL BE HELD AT THE CAINE ROAD GARDEN, MID-LEVELS ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 10), FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM.
CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN FOUR AND 15 ARE WELCOME TO TAKE PART IN THE CARNIVAL WHICH INCLUDES A DRAWING CONTEST AND TELEMATCHES. ADMISSION IS FREE.
THE CARNIVAL HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGAINSED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE MID-LEVELS WEST AREA COMMITTEE AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 852 3485.
- - 0 - -
UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS IN NATHAN ROAD TO BE CLOSED
*****
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE AN UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE AT FLAT D ON FOURTH FLOOR, AMBER HOUSE, 777-781 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON, SO THAT IT CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS AND THE PUBLIC.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 20 WAS POSTED ON THE BUILDING TODAY (FRIDAY).
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
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1991
TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST OFFENDING MARICULTURISTS ......... ADDITIONAL OFFICE ACCOMMODATION FOR UNHCR ............... TOO NT GOVT LOTS FOR SALE BY AUCTION .................... STUDENTS SHOULD ENCOURAGE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO VOTE WAN CHAI ELECTORS URGED TO VOTE.......................... EXHIBITION ROUNDS OFF CLEANING CAMPAIGN ON ISLANDS .... 1,293 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REPORTED IN JANUARY .............
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1991
- 1 -TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST OFFENDING MARICULTURISTS ♦ » * * *
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) TODAY (SATURDAY) URGED MARICULTURISTS NOT TO DWELL ON FISH RAFTS AND TO RECTIFY THEIR OVERSIZED STRUCTURES ON THE RAFTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AFD'S SENIOR AQUACULTURE FISHERIES OFFICER, DR PATSY WONG, SAID AFD WOULD BE TOUGH WITH PERSISTANT OFFENDERS.
SINCE NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, 25 MARICULTURISTS WERE BROUGHT TO COURT FOR MAINTAINING DOMESTIC DWELLING AND OVERSIZED STRUCTURES ON FISH RAFTS.
THEY WERE FINED FROM $200 TO $1,000.
’’DWELLING ON RAFTS IN FISH CULTURE ZONES IS MOST UNDESIRABLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY REASONS WHILE OVERSIZED STRUCTURES COULD ALSO AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE FISH CULTURE ZONE,” DR WONG STRESSED.
"TO PREVENT THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM OF STRUCTURES TO DRAG ON, CONVICTED MARICULTURISTS WILL BE GIVEN TWO MONTHS TO RECTIFY THEIR IRREGULARITIES.
"SHOULD THEY FAIL TO DO SO WITHIN STRINGENT ACTION, INCLUDING THE REVOCATION OF WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM.”
DR WONG FURTHER REMINDED THAT A LICENCE THEIR MARICULTURE OPERATIONS WOULD BE RENDERED
THE SPECIFIED TIME, MARICULTURE LICENCES,
REVOCATION MEANS THAT
ILLEGAL.
"FURTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL THEN BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM UNDER SECTION 6 OR 7 OF THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE, WHICH PROHIBITS UNLICENSED PERSONNEL TO ENGAGE IN FISH CULTURE IN HONG KONG WATERS.
’’OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $20,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR, AND IN THE CASE OF A CONTINUING OFFENCE, TO A FURTHER DAILY PENALTY OF $500."
SHE ADDED THAT AS A FINAL RESORT, ACTION MIGHT BE TAKEN TO SEIZE AND DISPOSE OF THE RAFTS AND FISH CONSTITUTING EVIDENCE OF OFFENCES.
DR WONG EXPLAINED THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE TO PUT UP STRUCTURES ON A RAFT WHICH DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE FISH CULTURE ZONE LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
"SOME FORM OF STRUCTURES OF SPECIFIED AREA WERE PERMITTED ON RAFTS FOR MANAGEMENT AND KEEP-WATCH PURPOSES.
"HOWEVER, SOME OPERATORS EXPANDED THEIR STRUCTURES TO MEET THEIR OPERATIONAL NEEDS WHILE OTHERS MISUSED THEIR STRUCTURES FOR DWELLING PURPOSE," SHE CONTINUED.
/"TO MEET .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1991
- 2 -
"TO MEET ACTUAL NEEDS, THE DEPARTMENT REVISED IN JULY 1990 THE PERMITTED MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS OF STRUCTURES FOR FISH FARMS OF VARIOUS SIZES, RANGING FROM NINE SQUARE METRES FOR FARMS UNDER 200 SQUARE METRES TO 20 SQUARE METRES FOR FARMS OF 800 TO 1,000 SQUARE METRES.
"ALL THE 1,750 MARICULTURISTS AND NINE MARICULTURE ASSOCIATIONS HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE NEW RULES ON RAFT STRUCTURES IN EARLY AUGUST LAST YEAR."
ACCORDING TO SURVEY RECORDS, 410 FARMS WERE IDENTIFIED TO HAVE STRUCTURES USED FOR DWELLING PURPOSE AND 137 FARMS HAD STRUCTURES ON RAFTS IN EXCESS OF THE AREA PERMITTED.
DR WONG SAID MARICULTURISTS WITH OVERSIZED STRUCTURE ON THEIR RAFTS WERE ASKED TO RECTIFY THEIR STRUCTURES BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, 1990.
MEANWHILE, DWELLERS IN 252 FARMS WHO HAVE ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION ON LAND WERE ADVISED TO CEASE DWELLING ON FISH RAFTS.
THE REMAINING DWELLERS ON RAFTS WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE NO OTHER ACCOMMODATION HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT (HD) FOR ACTION. THE HD OFFERED REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR 131 OF THEM, BUT BY THE END OF JANUARY, ONLY 76 HAD ACCEPTED THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFER.
DR WONG STRESSED THAT THE AUTHORITIES WOULD INITIATB PROSECUTION AGAINST THOSE STILL LIVE ON THE FISH RAFTS BY MARCH 19 THIS YEAR, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ACCEPT REHOUSING OFFER.
AFD’S ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST OFFENDING MARICULTURISTS STARTED IN LATE SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.
BY EARLY FEBRUARY, 309 OUT OF THE 410 FARMS WITH DWELLING STRUCTURES WERE FOUND TO HAVE CEASED DWELLING ON RAFTS.
MOREOVER, 37 CASES HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR PROSECUTION AND 13 OF THEM WERE PROSECUTED AND FINED.
AS FOR THE 137 FARMS WITH OVERSIZED STRUCTURES, 48 HAD BEEN RECTIFIED TO THE PERMITTED MEASUREMENTS, 28 HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR PROSECUTION AND 12 WERE PROSECUTED AND FINED.
---------0 - -
/3 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1991
- 3 -
ADDITIONAL OFFICE ACCOMMODATION FOR UNHCR *****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE AVAILABLE AN ADDITIONAL 200 SQUARE METRES OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION FOR USE BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE ADDITIONAL SPACE WAS NEEDED FOR THE UNHCR TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO 44 MORE STAFF TO ENHANCE THE UNHCR’S ROLE IN LEGAL COUNSELLING AND IN PROCESSING THE CASES OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXISTING UNHCR OFFICE WAS IN YAU MA TEI. THE PROVISION OF THE ADDITIONAL 200 SQUARE METRES, IN CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY MEASURE. THE GOVERNMENT HOPED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION ON A VACANT SPACE NEXT TO THE EXISTING UNHCR OFFICE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.
"THIS WILL ENABLE THE UNHCR TO OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN IMPLEMENTING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
THE ADDITIONAL 200 SQUARE METRES OF ACCOMMODATION WAS HANDED OVER TO THE UNHCR ON JANUARY 31.
------0-------
TWO NT GOVT LOTS FOR SALE BY AUCTION
*****
TWO LOTS OF GOVERNMENT LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE BY AUCTION BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 11).
THE AUCTION WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM IN THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
THE FIRST LOT IS LOCATED AT AREA 25, ON LOK TSUEN, FANLING.
WITH AN AREA OF 2,559 SQUARE METRES, THE SITE IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES, EXCLUDING OFFENSIVE TRADE AND GODOWN FOR DANGEROUS GOODS.
THE OTHER LOT IS LOCATED AT TUI MIN HOI, SAI KUNG.
WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 2,850 SQUARE METRES, IT IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE AUCTION.
------0--------
/4 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1991
4
STUDENTS SHOULD ENCOURAGE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO VOTE *****
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, TODAY (SATURDAY) URGED STUDENTS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC RIGHTS BY CASTING THEIR VOTES IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS.
SPEAKING AT A TERRITORY-WIDE YOUTH DEBATE COMPETITION, MR LAN oaw THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 3 WHILE ELECTIONS FOR THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL TAKE PLACE LATER.
HE POINTED OUT THAT STUDENTS WILL HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR PLATFORMS.
HE ENCOURAGED THEM TO PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE CANDIDATES’ PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATING SKILLS.
’’YOU CAN LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM THEM,” MR LAN SAID.
”1 ALSO HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC RIGHTS BY CASTING THEIR VOTES ON POLLING DAY SO THAT THE ELECTIONS THIS YEAR WILL BE MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN PREVIOUS ONES,” HE ADDED.
EARLIER, MR LAN POINTED OUT THAT THE DEBATE COMPETITION WAS ORGANISED TO ENHANCE SECONDARY STUDENTS’ LANGUAGE SKILLS AND A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT AFFAIRS.
"THE COMPETITION WILL ALSO INCREASE THE STUDENTS’ CIVIC AWARENESS,” HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT GOOD DEBATING SKILL WILL GREATLY BENEFIT STUDENTS IN THEIR FUTURE CAREERS.
’’THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY," HE STRESSED.
------O--------
WAN CHAI ELECTORS URGED TO VOTE ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN, TODAY (SATURDAY) CALLED ON ALL REGISTERED ELECTORS IN THE DISTRICT TO VOTE IN THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON MARCH 3.
SPEAKING AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF THE DISTRICT’S "GREENING FOR THE CHEST CAMPAIGN”, MR MANN NOTED THAT THE VOTING RATE IN THE DISTRICT HAD ALL ALONG BEEN COMPARATIVELY LOW.
HE URGED LOCAL ELECTORS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT AND GO TO THE POLLING BOOTHS ON THE ELECTION DAY.
/THE CHAIRMAN .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1991
5
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR DOMINIC CHAN, SAID THE CAMPAIGN WOULD SERVE A DUAL PURPOSE.
"ON THE ONE HAND, IT CAN PROMOTE GREENERY AND PUBLIC HYGIENE IN THE DISTRICT AND ON THE OTHER HAND, IT CAN RAISE FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY CHEST AND HELP THE NEEDY IN OUR SOCIETY,” HE SAID.
SPONSORSHIP FORMS FOR THE CAMPAIGN ARE AVAILABLE FROM NOW UNTIL MARCH 15 AT THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE IN SOUTHORN CENTRE.
MR CHAN SAID ALL SPONSORS WHO HAVE DONATED $100 OR MORE WILL EACH BE AWARDED AN APPRECIATION CERTIFICATE WHILE THE MOST GENEROUS SPONSOR WILL RECEIVE A GRAND PRIZE AS WELL.
---------0-----------
EXHIBITION ROUNDS OFF CLEANING CAMPAIGN ON ISLANDS ♦ ♦ t ♦ *
AN EXHIBITION ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WAS HELD TODAY (SATURDAY) AT THE PAR TAI PLAYGROUND ON CHEUNG CHAU AS A FINALE TO THE '’CLEANING FORTNIGHT* EXERCISE OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT.
THE EXERCISE, A MAJOR PROGRAMME OF THE DISTRICT’S CURRENT KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN, INCLUDED CLEANING ACTIVITIES IN THE EIGHT RURAL AREAS OF THE DISTRICT, A FISHING BOAT CLEANING COMPETITION ON CHEUNG CHAU AND A CLEAN-UP EXERCISE ALONG TAI 0 CREEK ON LANTAU.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE EXERCISE WERE AWARDED SOUVENIRS AND WINNERS OF THE FISHING BOAT CLEANING COMPETITION WERE PRESENTED WITH PRIZES AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY TODAY.
OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WERE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR LAM WAI-KEUNG, AND ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KIM SALKELD.
A TEAM OF ’CLEAN HONG KONG’ CAPTAINS FORMED BY YOUNG VOLUNTEERS WERE ALSO STATIONED AT THE REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS AND LITTERING BLACK SPOTS ON CHEUNG CHAU TODAY TO ADVISE RESIDENTS THE PROPER WAYS TO DISPOSE RUBBISH.
THE ’CLEANING FORTNIGHT’ EXERCISE, ORGANISED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE, REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND EIGHT RURAL COMMITTEES, HAS BEEN LAUNCHED TO COINCIDE WITH THE CHINESE CUSTOM OF CLEANING UP HOMES TO WELCOME IN THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.
------0------------
/6.........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9,
1991
6
1,293 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REPORTED IN JANUARY *****
A TOTAL OF 1,702 CASUALTIES WAS REPORTED IN 1,293 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WHICH OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY LAST MONTH.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT 315 OF THESE ACCIDENTS OCCURRED ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 675 IN KOWLOON AND 300 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR JANUARY SHOWED THAT 16 PEOPLE WERE KILLED, 396 PEOPLE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND 1,290 SLIGHTLY INJURED IN THESE ACCIDENTS.
THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF ONE PER CENT AND 8.9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1990;
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN NOVEMBER 1990 ............. 1
WARMER, CLOUDIER AND MORE HUMID IN JANUARY ................................ 5
/•
HIKERS INVITED TO ENTER VICTORIA PEAK WALKATHON ........................... 8
LABEL IMPRESSION TO CHANGE TO RAM DESIGN .................................. 8
TRAVELLERS REMINDED NOT TO BRING BACK PROHIBITED ITEMS .................... 9
REST DAY FOR WOMEN WORKERS MUST BE OBSERVED................................ 10
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MEMOIR FOR SAI KUNG AND CLEAR WATER BAY PUBLISHED........ 11
MORE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS FAMILY RELATIONS ....................... 12
CLEAN FORESHORE DRIVE IN ABERDEEN TOMORROW ................................ 13
DB FUNDS OPEN FOR APPLICATION ............................................. 14
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991 - 1 -
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN NOVEMBER 1990
*****
THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT, WHILE THAT OF RE-EXPORTS GREW BY 16 PER CENT IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1990 AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989, ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
TAKING THEM TOGETHER, THERE WAS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 9 PER CENT IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS. IMPORTS INCREASED BY 11 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
THE GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE IS DERIVED FROM THE GROWTH IN TRADE VALUES, HAVING DISCOUNTED THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
AS REGARDS PRICE CHANGES OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 1 PER CENT AND 3 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) SHOWED A LITTLE INCREASE.
PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES WHICH DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OR QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED, EXCEPT FOR SOME SELECTED COMMODITIES FOR WHICH SPECIFICATION PRICE INDEXES ARE AVAILABLE.
COMPARING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1990 WITH NOVEMBER 1989, THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 11 PER CENT, WHILE THAT OF REEXPORTS INCREASED BY 39 PER CENT.
TAKING THEM TOGETHER, THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 28 PER CENT. THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 33 PER CENT.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 1 PER CENT AND 2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. IMPORT PRICES INCREASED BY 4 PER CENT.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY PRINCIPAL COMMODITY GROUP FOR NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989, INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+36 PER CENT); WATCHES AND CLOCKS (+26 PER CENT); TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES (+19 PER CENT); METAL ORES AND SCRAP (+9 PER CENT); TEXTILE FABRICS (+6 PER CENT); DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (+3 PER CENT); AND CLOTHING (+2 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED IN FOOTWEAR (-17 PER CENT); TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (-4 PER CENT); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (-2 PER CENT); AND RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (-2 PER CENT).
/THE PRICES .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
- 2 -
THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989. THESE INCLUDED FOOTWEAR (+6 PER CENT); RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (+6 PER CENT); METAL MANUFACTURES (+6 PER CENT); DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (+4 PER CENT); WATCHES AND CLOCKS (+3 PER CENT); TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+2 PER CENT); TEXTILE FABRICS (+1 PER CENT); AND CLOTHING (+1 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICES WERE RECORDED IN ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (-4 PER CENT); METAL ORES AND SCRAP (-3 PER CENT); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (-2 PER CENT); AND TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES (-1 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY FOR NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 2.
IMPORTS .OF FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY 9 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS IN NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989. INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF ANIMALS OF THE BOVINE SPECIES; MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS; AND SWINE. DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF SUGAR; SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL AND LARD; AND WHEAT AND FLOUR.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF CONSUMER GOODS INCREASED BY 38 PER CENT. COMMODITY ITEMS WITH CONSIDERABLE INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME INCLUDED TOBACCO MANUFACTURES; FOOTWEAR; AND RADIOS, TELEVISION SETS, GRAMOPHONES, RECORDS, TAPE RECORDERS AND AMPLIFIERS.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES INCREASED BY 35 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989. INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE NOTED FOR IRON AND STEEL; SPECIAL TEXTILE FABRICS FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSE; AND COTTON YARN AND THREAD. DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF RAW COTTON; CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS; AND WOOL AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR.
IMPORTS OF FUELS INCREASED BY 36 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS IN NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989.
AS REGARDS CAPITAL GOODS, THE IMPORT VOLUME INCREASED BY 30 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER 1990 OVER NOVEMBER 1989. SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE IMPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED IN CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY; SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL, OPTICAL, MEASURING AND CONTROLLING INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS; AND OFFICE MACHINES.
COMPARING NOVEMBER 1990 WITH NOVEMBER 1989, THE IMPORT PRICES OF MOST END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED: FUELS (+43 PER CENT); CAPITAL GOODS (+6 PER CENT); CONSUMER GOODS (+4 PER CENT); AND FOODSTUFFS (+3 PER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, 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 NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 3.
/COMPARING NOVEMBER .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
COMPARING NOVEMBER 1990 WITH NOVEMBER 1989, THE VOLUME OF REEXPORTS OF CAPITAL GOODS; CONSUMER GOODS; RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES; AND FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY 49 PER CENT, 46 PER CENT, 31 PER CENT AND 9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS OF FUELS DECREASED BY 54 PER CENT.
PRICES OF RE-EXPORTS OF MOST END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1990 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1989: FUELS (+22 PER CENT); CONSUMER GOODS (+3 PER CENT); FOODSTUFFS (+3 PER CENT); AND RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES (+2 PER CENT). RE-EXPORT PRICES OF CAPITAL GOODS DECREASED BY 1 PER CENT.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE NOVEMBER 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 FEBRUARY 13, 1991 AT $3 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 INDEXES TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO.: 823 4918).
TABLE 1: CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY PRINCIPAL COMMODITY GROUP
COMPARING WITH NOV NOV 1990 1989 COMPARING JAN-NOV WITH JAN-NOV 1990 1989
COMMODITY GROUP VALUE % UNIT VALUE % VOLUME % VALUE % UNIT VALUE VOLUME % %
CLOTHING 4 1 2 * 2 -1
TEXTILE FABRICS 7 1 6 3 3 1
TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD -2 2 -4 -7 3 -10
TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES -4 -2 -2 -11 1 -12
RADIOS OF ALL KINDS 4 6 -2 -29 2 -30
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 30 -4 36 19 * 19
FOOTWEAR -12 6 -17 -21 3 -23
/METAL MANUFACTURES ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
4
METAL MANUFACTURES 4 6 -1 -12 6 -17
METAL ORES AND SCRAP 6 -3 9 -9 -4 -5
WATCHES AND CLOCKS 30 3 26 11 11
TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES 18 -1 19 -15 2 -17
DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES 7 4 3 -22 1 -23
ALL COMMODITIES 13 1 11 1 1 -1
» LESS THAN 0.5%
CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY
TABLE 2:
COMPARING WITH NOV 1990 NOV 1989 COMPARING JAN-NOV 1990 WITH JAN-NOV 1989
END-USE CATEGORY UNIT VALUE VALUE % % VOLUME % UNIT VALUE VALUE VOLUME % % %
FOODSTUFFS 13 3 9 8 3 5
CONSUMER GOODS 44 4 38 22 4 17
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES 35 * 35 7 -1 8
FUELS 94 43 36 14 19 -4
CAPITAL GOODS 38 6 30 10 3 7
ALL COMMODITIES 38 4 33 13 2 11
» LESS THAN 0.5%
/TABLE 3 .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
- 5 -
TABLE 3: CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS
BY END-USE CATEGORY
COMPARING NOV 1990 COMPARING JAN-NOV 1990
WITH NOV 1989 WITH JAN-NOV 1989
END-USE CATEGORY VALUE % UNIT VALUE % VOLUME % VALUE % UNIT VALUE % VOLUME %
FOODSTUFFS 11 3 9 * 1 -1
CONSUMER GOODS 51 3 46 32 4 27
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES 33 2 31 6 3 3
FUELS -44 22 -54 -3 9 -11
CAPITAL GOODS 48 -1 49 14 2 12
ALL COMMODITIES 42 2 39 19 3 16
* LESS THAN 0.5%
- - 0 - -
WARMER, CLOUDIER AND MORE HUMID IN JANUARY
*****
JANUARY 1991 WAS ON THE WHOLE WARMER, CLOUDIER, AND MORE HUMID THAN NORMAL, ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT RELEASED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE MONTHLY MEAN MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 15.4 DEGREES WAS THE SEVENTH HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR JANUARY.
CLOUDY AND HUMID CONDITIONS WERE PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH. THE TOTAL RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH AMOUNTED TO 28.7 MILLIMETRES, 23 PER CENT ABOVE THE JANUARY NORMAL OF 23.4 MILLIMETRES.
THE NEW YEAR WAS USHERED IN UNDER A THICK BLANKET OF MIST AND FOG. VISIBILITY INSIDE THE HARBOUR DROPPED TO LESS THAN 1,000 METRES IN THE MORNING.
THE FOG LIFTED TEMPORARILY DURING THE DAY AS SUNNY WEATHER RAISED THE TEMPERATURE TO 23.9 DEGREES, THE HIGHEST FOR THE MONTH. THE MIST AND FOG RETURNED SOON AFTER SUNSET, AND VISIBILITY NEAR CHEUNG CHAU WAS DOWN TO 200 METRES AT ONE STAGE.
/DUE TO ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
6
DUE TO THE FOGGY WEATHER, THREE INTER-ISLAND FERRY SERVICES HAD TO BE SUSPENDED AND JETFOIL SERVICES TO MACAU WERE ALSO DELAYED.
A MINOR REPLENISHMENT OF THE NORTHEAST MONSOON BROUGHT A SLIGHT DROP IN TEMPERATURES ON JANUARY 2. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A FRESHENING OF THE EASTERLIES THE NEXT DAY.
THE WEATHER STAYED MAINLY FINE ON JANUARY 3 AND 4 APART FROM SOME MIST PATCHES OFFSHORE.
MEANWHILE, COLD AIR ACCUMULATING FOR DAYS OVER THE INLAND REGION OF GUANGDONG FINALLY BROKE THROUGH ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 4.
THE WEATHER TURNED OVERCAST WITH LIGHT RAIN AND THE TEMPERATURE AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY PLUNGED FROM A MIDNIGHT MAXIMUM OF ABOUT 19 DEGREES TO BELOW 12 DEGREES BY LATE AFTERNOON ON JANUARY 5.
FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS, FURTHER REPLENISHMENT OF THE WINTER MONSOON MAINTAINED THE COOL AND DAMP CONDITIONS UNDER A CLOUDY SKY, CULMINATING IN THE MONTH’S LOWEST TEMPERATURE OF 11.7 DEGREES EARLY ON JANUARY 15.
APART FROM AN INTERLUDE ON JANUARY 9 AND 10, LIGHT RAIN AND DRIZZLE OCCURRED FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE RUSH OF COLD AIR FROM THE NORTH BECAME RELATIVELY SUBDUED FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS.
FOLLOWING A FRESHENING OF THE EASTERLIES THE PREVIOUS EVENING, THE WEATHER ON JANUARY 18 WAS SLIGHTLY CLOUDIER. OFFSHORE AREAS WERE AFFECTED BY MIST PATCHES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
COASTAL MIST OCCURRED AGAIN ON JANUARY 21 AND WAS ALSO REPORTED FOR THE NEXT FIVE CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
THE FRESHENING OF EASTERLIES ON JANUARY 22 AND 25 LED TO A FALL IN DAYTIME TEMPERATURES AND GENERALLY CLOUDIER WEATHER, WITH DRIZZLE IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JANUARY 23 AND 24.
A REPLENISHMENT OF THE WINTER MONSOON ARRIVED FROM THE NORTH ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 26, BRINGING AT ITS ONSET SOME LIGHT RAIN AND APPRECIABLY COOLER CONDITIONS ON JANUARY 27.
FOLLOWING THE BREAKING OF CLOUDS EARLY ON JANUARY 28, DAYTIME CONDITIONS BECAME SUNNY AND MILD.
ALONG WITH THE CLOUDS, MORNING DRIZZLE AND OFFSHORE MIST RETURNED FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE MONTH.
* MEANWHILE, THE ARRIVAL OF ANOTHER NORTHERLY REPLENISHMENT LED TO THE TEMPERATURE EMBARKING ON A DOWNWARD TREND ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 31.
THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA WERE DEVOID OF TROPICAL CYCLONES IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
/NO AIRCRAFT........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
NO AIRCRAFT WAS DIVERTED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER DURING THE MONTH. THE YELLOW FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS IN EFFECT ON JANUARY 6, 13, 20, AND 27.
SIGNALS HOISTED DURING THE MONTH WERE AS FOLLOWS:
WEATHER SYSTEM SIGNAL DATE & TIME OF HOISTING DATE & TIME OF LOWERING
— — — ——
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON JANUARY 5 10 AM JANUARY 5 2.30 PM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON JANUARY 10 1.30 AM JANUARY 10 5.40 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON JANUARY 13 1.30 AM JANUARY 14 9 AM
THE MONTH’S FIGURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL WERE:
TOTAL BRIGHT SUNSHINE 109.9 HOURS ; 42.5 HOURS BELOW NORMAL
MEAN DAILY GLOBAL SOLAR RADIATION
TOTAL RAINFALL
MEAN AMOUNT OF CLOUD
MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY
MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM AIR TEMPERATURE
MEAN AIR TEMPERATURE
MEAN DAILY MINIMUM AIR TEMPERATURE
MEAN DEW POINT
TOTAL EVAPORATION
8.85 MJ/SQ. METRE ;
28.7 MM ;
73 PER CENT ;
81 PER CENT ;
18.8 DEGREES CELSIUS ;
16.9 DEGREES CELSIUS ;
15.4 DEGREES CELSIUS ;
13.5 DEGREES CELSIUS ;
59.3 MM ;
2.78 MJ/SQ. METRE BELOW NORMAL
5.3 MM ABOVE NORMAL
15 PER CENT MORE THAN NORMAL
10 PER CENT HIGHER THAN NORMAL
0.2 DEGREE CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
1.1 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
1.8 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
3.3 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
38.2 MM BELOW NORMAL
------0-----------
/8 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
- 8 -
. .KERS INVITED TO ENTER VICTORIA PEAK WALKATHON ******
CENTRAL AND WESTERN RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO ENTER THE NEW YEAR VICTORIA PEAK WALKATHON TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 24.
THE WALK WILL START AT 9.15 AM FROM THE CHIU SHBUNG SCHOOL AT 79B POK FU LAM ROAD. THE ROUTE CONTINUES THROUGH THE SCENIC HILL ABOVE BELCHER’S AND HATTON ROAD, AND ENDS AT HIGH WEST PICNIC AREA.
A SPOKESMAN FO? THE ORGANISERS SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE FUNCTION WAS INTENDED TO ENHANCE RESIDENTS’ INTEREST IN HIKING AND THEIR AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.
"THE TRAIL IS SUITABLE FOR ALL FAMILY MEMBERS AND WILL TAKE ABOUT AN HOUR TO COMPLETE," HE SAID.
"DRINKS WILL BE SUPPLIED. PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE SOUVENIRS AND A LUCKY DRAW WILL BE HELD AT THE FINISHING POINT," HE ADDED.
FREE ENTRY FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING IN CENTRAL, ITS SUB-OFFICES AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING) AND IN KENNEDY TOWN, AND FROM THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT RECREATION, AMENITIES AND SPORTS OFFICE IN ROOM 1001 OF THE URBAN COUNCIL SHEUNG WAN COMPLEX.
THE WALKATHON IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, URBAN COUNCIL, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT YOUTH OFFICE AND A NUMBER OF DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TEL. 852 3002 OR 855 9372.
--------0-----------
LABEL IMPRESSION TO CHANGE TO RAM DESIGN
*****
THE LABEL IMPRESSION OF THE ELECTRONIC POSTAGE LABEL ISSUING MACHINE WILL BE CHANGED FROM THE HORSE DESIGN TO THE RAM DESIGN ON FEBRUARY 21, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, ANNOUNCED TODAY (SUNDAY).
ON THE SAME DAY NEW LABEL PAPER BEARING A GRASS PATTERN IN THE BACKGROUND WILL BE INTRODUCED.
BOTH THE LABEL IMPRESSION AND THE LABEL PAPER PATTERN ARE DESIGNED BY MR MICHAEL TUCKER.
/FOR THE .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
9
FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF CUSTOMERS INTERESTED IN COLLECTING SUCH LABELS, PRE-PACKAGED SETS CONTAINING FOUR DENOMINATIONS (THAT IS 10 CENT, 60 CENT, $1.40 AND $1.80) AND BEARING MACHINE CODES "01" (GENERAL POST OFFICE) AND "02" (TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE) WILL BE ON SALE AT ALL BRANCH POST OFFICES ON FEBRUARY 21.
OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVERS WILL NOT BE ISSUED. HOWEVER, A HAND-BACK SERVICE FOR PRIVATELY MADE FIRST DAY COVERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ALL BRANCH POST OFFICES ON THAT DAY.
THE POST OFFICE WILL CHANGE THE DESIGNS OF THE LABEL AND THE LABEL IMPRESSION EVERY YEAR TO INCORPORATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR ANIMAL. THE LAST ISSUE OF THE PRESENT ELECTRONIC POSTAGE LABEL SERIES WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1998.
- - 0 - -
TRAVELLERS REMINDED NOT TO BRING BACK PROHIBITED ITEMS » » » » *
THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT HAS REMINDED PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL OVERSEAS DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR NOT TO BRING BACK PROHIBITED ITEMS WITHOUT VALID IMPORT LICENCES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE IMPORTATION OF PROHIBITED ITEMS INTO THE TERRITORY WAS GOVERNED BY LAW AND LICENCES WERE REQUIRED IN ADVANCE BY THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED.
PROHIBITED ITEMS INCLUDE NARCOTICS, CERTAIN MEDICINAL DRUGS, ARMS AND AMMUNITION, FIREWORKS, STRATEGIC COMMODITIES, TEXTILES, SOME ANIMALS AND PLANTS, AND MEAT AND POULTRY.
"TRAVELLERS ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION IF THEY BRING INTO HONG KONG ANY OF THESE PROHIBITED ITEMS WITHOUT A LICENCE.
"A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE DOES NOT EXEMPT A PERSON FROM BEING PROSECUTED IF HE IS FOUND TO BE CARRYING A PROHIBITED ARTICLE WHICH MIGHT ONLY BE INTENDED TO BE A SOUVENIR FOR HIMSELF," HE SAID.
OTHER THAN THE ITEMS REQUIRING IMPORT LICENCES, THE SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO TRAVELLERS NOT TO BRING IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS THAT THEY BOUGHT IN OTHER COUNTRIES. THESE GOODS INCLUDE WATCHES, GARMENTS AND LEATHERWARE ITEMS.
HE ALSO REMINDED TRAVELLERS TO DECLARE TO CUSTOMS OFFICERS ANY LIQUORS, TOBACCO, CIGARETTES, CIGARS, COSMETICS AND MERCHANDISE IMPORTED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
"LOCAL RESIDENTS, WHO HOLD HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS, ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO BRING IN FREE OF DUTY ONE LITRE OF STILL WINE, 100 CIGARETTES OR 25 CIGARS OR 125 GRAMS OF SMOKERS’ TOBACCO, 60 MILLILITRES OF PERFUME AND 250 MILLILITRES OF TOILET WATER.
/"PASSENGERS UNDER .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
10
"PA< NGERS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE DO NOT LIQUOR AND TOBACCO,” HE SAID.
NOTICES STATING THE CONCESSION RIGHTS OF REQUIRED TO BE DECLARED, AND ARTICLES REQUIRING DISPLAYED AT THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE HALLS OF POINTS.
QUALIFY FOR DUTY FREE
TRAVELLERS, ARTICLES IMPORT LICENCES ARE ALL CUSTOMS CONTROL
COPIES OF A LEAFLET, ’’ADVICE TO TRAVELLERS - PROHIBITED ITEMS”, INFORMING INCOMING PASSENGERS WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT BRING INTO HONG KONG, ARE AVAILABLE AT THESE CONTROL POINTS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO CONTACT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT AT 852 3185 FOR INFORMATION.
THE AMOUNT AND TYPES OF MAJOR ITEMS SEIZED FROM INCOMING PASSENGERS AT VARIOUS CUSTOMS CONTROL POINTS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY LAST YEAR (INCLUDING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PERIOD) ARE AS FOLLOWS:
TYPE
QUANTITY
CIGARETTES
FLICK KNIFE
FIREWORKS
ANIMAL
(INCLUDING PARTS)
GRASSHOPPERS
MEALWORM
PLANTS
IVORY
COUNTERFEIT WATCHES
VARIOUS TYPES OF PSYCHOTROPIC
DRUGS AND ANTIBIOTICS
4,780 PIECES
10 PIECES
47 KILOGRAMS
153 PIECES AND
13 KILOGRAMS
2,650 PIECES
1 BOX
1,574 PIECES
73 KILOGRAMS
52 PIECES
MORE THAN 1,800 TABLETS AND 500 MILLILITRES
------0 -------
REST DAY FOR WOMEN WORKERS MUST BE OBSERVED ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED PROPRIETORS OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO STRICTLY OBSERVE REST DAY ARRANGEMENT FOR WOMEN WORKERS.
UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS, THE PERMISSIBLE HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT, THE INTERVALS FOR MEALS OR REST AND THE REST DAYS ARRANGEMENT FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING MUST BE FIXED BY THE EMPLOYER AND SET OUT IN A PRESCRIBED NOTICE.
DURING AN INSPECTION TO SUNCITI MANUFACTURERS LTD, LABOUR INSPECTORS FOUND 58 WOMEN WORKING ON THEIR SATURDAY REST DAY, CONTRARY TO THE ARRANGEMENT SET OUT IN THE POSTED NOTICE.
/THE COMPANY .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
- 11 -
THE COMPANY WAS LATER PROSECUTED AND WAS GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000 BY A KWUN TONG MAGISTRATE.
"WORK ON REST DAYS BY WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRY IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN," SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER (PROSECUTIONS) MR TSANG KIN-WOO STRESSED.
"THE REST DAY SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED UNLESS THE EMPLOYER HAS NOTIFIED THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT 48 HOURS BEFORE CHANGES COMB INTO OPERATION," MR TSANG SAID.
"SUCH CHANGES SHOULD NOT BE MADE MORE THAN ONCE A MONTH, EXCEPT WITH THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT," HE ADDED.
--------0-----------
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MEMOIR FOR SAI KUNG AND CLEAR WATER BAY PUBLISHED » » * » *
A MEMOIR DESCRIBING THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE (GCO) OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
ENTITLED "THE GEOLOGY OF SAI KUNG AND CLEAR WATER BAY", THE MEMOIR HAS DELINEATED ROCK FORMATIONS OF THE AREA WHICH ARE STILL VISIBLE TODAY.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER, DR A.W. MALONE SAID IN THE ROCKS OF THE AREA, EVIDENCE OF THE MASSIVE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD, SOME 135 MILLION YEARS AGO, COULD BE SEEN.
"THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THESE ERUPTIONS MAY HAVE BEEN 40 TIMES GREATER THAN THE 1980 ERUPTIONS OF MOUNT ST HELENS VOLCANO IN THE UNITED STATES, AN EVENT WHICH RELEASED A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF ENERGY AS A 10,000 MEGATONNE EXPLOSION," DR MALONE SAID.
THE ERUPTIONS PRODUCED LAVA FLOWS AND HUGE GLOWING ASH CLOUDS AND WERE FOLLOWED BY MASSIVE LANDSLIDES.
BETWEEN 130 AND 160 MILLION YEARS AGO, TWO PLATES OR SEGMENTS OF THE EARTH’S CRUST COLLIDED ALONG THE LINE OF TODAY’S SOUTH CHINA COAST, THE PACIFIC PLATE SLIDING DOWN BENEATH THE EURASIAN PLATE, HE EXPLAINED.
IT WAS THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE FRICTION BETWEEN THESE SLIDING PLATES THAT MELTED THE ROCKS AND CREATED THE VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.
DR MALONE NOTED THAT BY 120 MILLION YEARS AGO, THE PLATES HAD CEASED TO MOVE AGAINST EACH OTHER AND VOLCANIC ACTIVITY STOPPED.
/TODAY, THE ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
- 12 -
TODAY, THE NEAREST ACTIVE PLATE BOUNDARIES OCCUR 600 KILOMETRES EAST OF HONG KONG WHERE THE PLATE COLLISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC ACTIVITY IN TAIWAN AND THE PHILIPPINES.
THE MEMOIR, THE FOURTH IN A SERIES, PORTRAYED THE GEOLOGY ON THREE NEW 1:20,000 SCALE GEOLOGICAL MAPS FOR SAI KUNG, CLEAR WATER BAY AND WAGLAN ISLAND.
THE GEOLOGICAL MAPPING WAS UNDERTAKEN BY GEOLOGISTS FROM THE HONG KONG GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WHICH IS PART OF THE GCO.
NINE GEOLOGICAL MAPS AT 1:20,000 SCALE AND FOUR MEMOIRS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1982.
MAPS AND MEMOIRS COVERING LANTAU AND ADJACENT ISLANDS AND THE NORTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES ARE BEING COMPILED AND WILL BE PUBLISHED THIS YEAR.
DETAILED GEOLOGICAL MAPS AT A SCALE OF 1:5,000 ARE BEING PRODUCED FOR SELECTED DEVELOPMENT AREAS IN HONG KONG AND SURVEYING AT THIS SCALE HAS ALREADY COMMENCED ON NORTH LANTAU.
ALL GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAPS AND MEMOIRS CAN BE PURCHASED FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, THE MAP PUBLICATIONS CENTRES OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG, OR GROUND FLOOR, 382 NATHAN ROAD, YAU MA TEI, KOWLOON.
MORE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS FAMILY RELATIONS ♦ » » « *
THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS STEPPED UP ITS EFFORT TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS FAMILY RELATIONS.
THE SWD TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN CHAU, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE OFFICE HAD STARTED A PROGRAMME TO REMIND YOUNGSTERS OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE THEY PLAY IN MAINTAINING THE HARMONIOUS RELATIONS OF THE FAMILY.
"YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FAMILY," MR CHAU SAID, "AND WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT MORE AWARE OF THEIR ROLE."
HE NOTED THAT SOME YOUNGSTERS TENDED TO KEEP ALOOF OR SIMPLY STAY AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THERE WERE DISPUTES BETWEEN THEIR PARENTS OR PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.
"WE ARE TRYING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION BY STARTING THIS NEW PROGRAMME.
/"OFFICERS SPECIALISED .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991
- 13 -
’’OFFICERS SPECIALISED IN FAMILY SERVICES AND YOUTH WORK ARE CONDUCTING A SERIES OF TALKS TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TUEN MUN.
’’THEY WILL EXPLAIN TO THEM THE VARIOUS CAUSES OF FAMILY PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS THE WAYS TO AND THE YOUNGSTERS1 ROLES IN MAINTAINING HARMONIOUS FAMILY RELATIONS,’’ HE SAID.
"IT IS HOPED THAT THE PROGRAMME WILL PROVE USEFUL IN PREVENTING FAMILY DISPUTES AND EVEN TRAGEDIES," HE ADDED.
--------0----------
CLEAN FORESHORE DRIVE IN ABERDEEN TOMORROW » » » » *
A CLEAN • FORESHORE DRIVE WILL BE HELD ALONG THE ABERDEEN WATERFRONT TOMORROW (MONDAY) TO PROMOTE THE AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO KEEP THE TYPHOON SHELTER CLEAN.
THE DRIVE IS ORGANISED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN.
STAFF FROM THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE, MARINE DEPARTMENT, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WILL JOIN FORCES TO CLEAN UP REFUSE ALONG THE WATERFRONT.
"APART FROM POSING HYGIENIC PROBLEMS, THE FLOATING REFUSE ALSO AFFECT THE TYPHOON SHELTER AS A TOURIST DESTINATION," A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS MAUREEN CHAN AND THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR TSE KIT-TO, WILL OFFICIATE AT A CEREMONY TO KICK OFF THE DRIVE.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CLEAN FORESHORE DRIVE ALONG THE ABERDEEN WATERFRONT TOMORROW (MONDAY). THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE PROMENADE, BEGINNING AT 10.30 AM.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE ALSO WELCOME TO JOIN A TYPHOON SHELTER CRUISE TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES A SPECIAL REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD.
THOSE INTERESTED ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE BY 10.15 AM AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE, SHOP 25, GROUND FLOOR, MEI FUNG COURT, 7-11 NAM NING STREET, ABERDEEN.
INFORMATION OFFICER, MR ALEX LI, WILL BE ON HAND TO HELP.
------0-------
/14 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10,
1991
14
DB FUNDS OPEN FOR APPLICATION ♦ * * * ♦
THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE OF THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD IS INVITING LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO APPLY FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR CARRYING OUT ACTIVITIES BETWEEN LATE APRIL AND NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.
THE ACTIVITIES, BE THEY CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL, SPORTS OR EDUCATIONAL, SHOULD AIM TO PROMOTE RESIDENTS’ COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND SENSE OF BELONGING.
MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS’ CORPORATIONS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OTHER DISTRICT BODIES ARE WELCOME TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDS.
APPLICATION FORMS AND OTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AT 37 TONKIN STREET AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
COMPLETED FORMS FOR ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD BETWEEN LATE APRIL AND JUNE SHOULD BE RETURNED TO ANY OF THE ABOVE OFFICES BY MARCH 2 WHILE THOSE TO BE HELD BETWEEN JULY AND NOVEMBER SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY APRIL 18.
THE VETTING SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON APRIL 22 AND JUNE 7 TO CONSIDER THE APPLICATIONS.
------0------------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HK'S EXTERNAL TRADE PERFORMANCE IN DECEMBER AND IN 1990 ........................ 1
GOVERNOR TO UNDERTAKE OPERATION TOMORROW ....................................... 8
LIST OF UK-CONNECTED UNDERTAKINGS PUBLISHED .................................... 8
CIVIL SERVICE STANDING COMMISSION REPORT NO. 27 PUBLISHED ..................... 23
GOVERNMENT LOTS SOLD FOR $51.3 MILLION ........................................ 24
NEW COMMANDING OFFICER FOR RHKAAF ............................................. 24
POLL CARDS TO DB ELECTIONS ISSUED.............................................. 25
EASTERN RESIDENTS URGED TO GO TO THE POLLS .................................... 26
ABERDEEN FISHERMEN URGED TO KEEP HARBOUR CLEAN ................................ 26
FESTIVE LIGHTS TO HERALD YEAR OF THE RAM ...................................... 27
IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING CONDITIONS IN WAN CHAI .................................. 28
UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS TO BE CLOSED ...................................... 29
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
HK’S EXTERNAL TRADE PERFORMANCE IN DECEMBER AND IN 1990 *****
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN DECEMBER 1990, AT $116,335 MILLION, GREW BY 20 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS AS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989, ACCORDING TO THE DETAILED FIGURES ON THE VALUE OF TRADE IN DECEMBER AND THE WHOLE YEAR OF 1990 RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 1 PER CENT TO $20,212 MILLION, WHILE THAT OF REEXPORTS ROSE BY 24 PER CENT TO $36,761 MILLION.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT TO $56,973 MILLION. THE VALUE OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 25 PER CENT TO $59,362 MILLION.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN THE YEAR 1990, AT $1,282,405 MILLION, INCREASED BY 13 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH THE YEAR 1989.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF COMPARISON, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 1 PER CENT TO $225,875 MILLION, WHILE THAT OF REEXPORTS INCREASED BY 20 PER CENT TO $413,999 MILLION.
THUS, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 12 PER CENT TO $639,874 MILLION. THE VALUE OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 14 PER CENT TO $642,530 MILLION.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
COMPARING DECEMBER 1990 WITH DECEMBER 1989, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO SINGAPORE AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY RECORDED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES OF 44 PER CENT AND 24 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO CHINA, FRANCE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ALSO INCREASED, BY 13 PER CENT, 7 PER CENT AND 3 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN, THE USA, CANADA, THE NETHERLANDS AND TAIWAN DECREASED BY 12 PER CENT, 11 PER CENT, 8 PER CENT, 3 PER CENT AND 2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARING THE YEAR 1990 WITH THE YEAR 1989, SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO SINGAPORE AND TAIWAN, BY 34 PER CENT AND 28 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, CHINA AND THE NETHERLANDS INCREASED BY 14 PER CENT, 10 PER CENT AND 4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO CANADA, THE USA, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN DECREASED IN VALUE TERMS, BY 15 PER CENT, 8 PER CENT, 8 PER CENT AND 7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
TABLE 2 SHOWS THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
/COMPARING THE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
2
COMPARING THE YEAR 1990 WITH THE YEAR 1989, INCREASES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE REGISTERED FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $1,895 MILLION OR 10 PER CENT); TOBACCO AND TOBACCO MANUFACTURES (BY $1,004 MILLION OR 50 PER CENT); ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS, AND CELLULOSE ESTERS AND ETHERS (BY $981 MILLION OR 27 PER CENT); AND OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $786 MILLION OR 5 PER CENT).
DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF CLOTHING WENT UP BY $291 MILLION ALTHOUGH IN PERCENTAGE TERMS IT REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT. THOSE OF TEXTILES INCREASED BY $92 MILLION OR 1 PER CENT.
HOWEVER, DECREASES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE RECORDED IN MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $1,853 MILLION OR 7 PER CENT), AND MANUFACTURES OF METAL (BY $794 MILLION OR 15 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM 10 MAJOR SUPPLIERS ARE SUMMARISED IN TABLE 3.
COMPARING DECEMBER 1990 WITH DECEMBER 1989, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM ALL THE MAJOR SUPPLIERS INCREASED.
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM SINGAPORE, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN, BY 49 PER CENT, 37 PER CENT, 34 PER CENT AND 33 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THOSE FROM ITALY, TAIWAN, CHINA, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE USA AND SWITZERLAND INCREASED BY 27 PER CENT, 26 PER CENT, 24 PER CENT, 17 PER CENT, 16 PER CENT AND 9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARING THE YEAR 1990 WITH THE YEAR 1989, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM ALL MAJOR SUPPLIERS.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM CHINA, SWITZERLAND, SINGAPORE, TAIWAN, THE USA, JAPAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA INCREASED BY 20 PER CENT, 18 PER CENT, 17 PER CENT, 13 PER CENT, 12 PER CENT, 11 PER CENT AND 11 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THOSE FROM ITALY, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT, 9 PER CENT AND 7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
TABLE 4 SHOWS THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
COMPARING THE YEAR 1990 WITH THE YEAR 1989, CONSIDERABLE INCREASES IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WERE RECORDED IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $9,839 MILLION OR 25 PER CENT); CLOTHING (BY $9,383 MILLION OR 21 PER CENT); MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $9,007 MILLION OR 24 PER CENT); AND TEXTILES (BY $7,128 MILLION OR 10 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WERE REGISTERED FOR TEXTILE FIBRES AND THEIR WASTES (BY $1,788 MILLION OR 25 PER CENT), AND NON-FERROUS METALS (BY $689 MILLION OR 8 PER CENT).
/THE CHANGES .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
3 -
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO HONG KONG’S 10 MAJOR MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 5.
COMPARING DECEMBER 1990 WITH DECEMBER 1989, THE VALUE OF REEXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, FRANCE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM RECORDED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES OF 113 PER CENT, 41 PER CENT AND 40 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. THOSE TO JAPAN, TAIWAN, CHINA, THE USA AND CANADA INCREASED BY 22 PER CENT, 18 PER CENT, 18 PER CENT, 16 PER CENT AND 11 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO SINGAPORE AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA DECREASED BY 10 PER CENT AND 4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARING THE YEAR 1990 WITH THE YEAR 1989, THE VALUE OF REEXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, FRANCE, THE UNITED KINGDOM, TAIWAN, THE USA AND CANADA INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, BY 73 PER CENT, 41 PER CENT, 36 PER CENT, 29 PER CENT, 22 PER CENT AND 21 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THOSE TO SINGAPORE, JAPAN AND CHINA INCREASED BY 14 PER CENT, 9 PER CENT AND 7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, WHILE THOSE TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT.
TABLE 6 SHOWS THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS.
COMPARING THE YEAR 1990 WITH THE YEAR 1989, CONSIDERABLE INCREASES IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS WERE REGISTERED FOR MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $13,826 MILLION OR 33 PER CENT); CLOTHING (BY $10,540 MILLION OR 28 PER CENT); TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $8,813 MILLION OR 32 PER CENT); AND FOOTWEAR (BY $5,969 MILLION OR 76 PER CENT). THOSE OF TEXTILES INCREASED BY $4,614 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT.
HOWEVER, 'DECREASES IN THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS WERE RECORDED IN TEXTILE FIBRES AND THEIR WASTES (BY $1,962 MILLION OR 40 PER CENT), AND MACHINERY SPECIALISED FOR PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES (BY $708 MILLION OR 9 PER CENT).
ALL THE 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 DECEMBER 1990 WILL BE RELEASED IN EARLY MARCH 1991.
DETAILED STATISTICS ON TRADE VALUE BY COMMODITY AND BY COUNTRY ARE PUBLISHED IN TRADE STATISTICS REPORTS. THE DECEMBER 1990 ISSUE OF THE "HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE" WITH DETAILED ANALYSES ON IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS IN DECEMBER 1990 AS WELL AS THE WHOLE YEAR OF 1990 WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AROUND FEBRUARY 20, AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $27 PER COPY.
/ENQUIRIES REGARDING .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
4
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: DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS
DEC DEC 90 JAN-DEC JAN-DEC 90
MAJOR MARKET 1990 OVER 1990 OVER
DEC 89 JAN-DEC 89
(HKD MN.) ( % ) (HKD MN.) ( % )
U.S.A. 5,501 - 11 66,370 - 8
CHINA 4,017 + 13 47,470 + 10
F.R. OF GERMANY 2,181 + 24 17,991 4- 14
U.K. 1,450 + 3 13,496 - 8
JAPAN 933 - 12 12,079 - 7
SINGAPORE 688 + 44 7,796 + 34
TAIWAN 453 - 2 5,720 + 28
CANADA 510 - 8 5,366 - 15
NETHERLANDS 530 - 3 4,964 4- 4
FRANCE 407 4- 7 3,626
* DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5% •
TABLE 2: DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
DEC DEC 90 JAN-DEC JAN-DEC 90
COMMODITY DIVISION 1990 OVER DEC 89 1990 OVER JAN-DEC 89
(HKD MN.) ( % ) (HKD MN.) ( % )
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING
ACCESSORIES 7,465
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY JEWELLERY, GOLDSMITHS* AND
SILVERSMITHS’ WARES) 1,941
♦ 72,165
* 26,014
/PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
5
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS > 2,048 + 20 21,497 + 10
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 1,450 + 2 17,293 - 3
TEXTILE YARN,FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 1,372 — 8 16,906 + 1
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 1,346 + 5 16,644 + 3
♦ DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5%
TABLE 3: IMPORTS FROM 10 MAJOR SUPPLIERS
MAJOR SUPPLIER DEC 1990 ’ (HKD MN.) DEC 90 OVER DEC 89 ( % ) JAN-DEC .1990 (HKD MN.) JAN-DEC OVER JAN-DEC ( * 90 89 > )
CHINA 22,271 + 24 236,134 + 20
JAPAN 9,903 + 33 103,362 + 11
TAIWAN 5,405 + 26 58,084 + 13
U.S.A. 4,159 + 16 51,788 + 12
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 2,679 + 37 28,155 + 11
SINGAPORE 2,713 + 49 26,122 + 17
F.R. OF GERMANY 1 ,257 + 17 14,828 + 7
U.K. 1,352 + 34 14,118 + 9
SWITZERLAND 1,057 + 9 11,480 + 18
ITALY 868 + 27 10,842 + 10
/TABLE 4 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
6
TABLE 4: IMPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY DIVISION (1 DEC 1990 1KD MN. ) DEC 90 OVER DEC 89 ( % ) JAN-DEC 1990 (HKD MN.) JAN-DEC 90 OVER JAN-DEC 89 ( % )
TEXTILE YARN,FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 7,513 + 20 79,582 + 10
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 5,361 + 17 63,795 + 12
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 4,942 + 23 53,844 + 21
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 4,517 4- 41 49,406 + 25
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES,TOYS,GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) 4,239 + 34 46,529 + 24
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 3,400 + 17 34,781 + 17
TABLE 5: RE-EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKET DEC 1990 (HKD MN.) DEC 90 OVER DEC 89 ( % ) JAN-DEC 1990 (HKD MN.) JAN-DEC 90 OVER
JAN-DEC ( * 89 ► )
CHINA 10,091 + 18 110,908 + 7
U.S.A. 6,999 + 16 87,752 + 22
JAPAN 2,125 + 22 24,376 + 9
F.R. OF GERMANY 2,948 + 113 23,406 + 73
TAIWAN 1,756 + 18 21,248 + 29
/REPUBLIC OF .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 977 - 4 13,011 — 2
SINGAPORE 948 - 10 12,572 + 14
U.K. 1,033 + 40 12,107 + 36
CANADA 531 + 11 6,527 ♦ 21
FRANCE 603 + 41 6,415 + 41
TABLE 6: RE-EXPORTS OF THE MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
DEC DEC 90 JAN-DEC JAN-DEC 90
COMMODITY 1990 OVER 1990 OVER JAN-DEC 89
DIVISION (HKD MN.) ( % ) (HKD MN.) ( X )
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES.TOYS,GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) 4,885 + 45 56,185 ♦ 33
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 4,374 + 36 47,822 + 28
TEXT1LE YARN,FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 4,310 + 21 47,143 + 11
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF 2,945 ♦ 37,228 + 11
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 3,252 + 31 36,366 + 32
TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS 1,328 + 8 15,202 + 29
* DENOTES LESS THAN 0.5%
_ — ■■ 0 - - — —
/8 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
«
GOVERNOR TO UNDERTAKE OPERATION TOMORROW »**»**
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL BE GOING INTO HOSPITAL TOMORROW (TUESDAY) FOR AN OPERATION ON HIS CHEEK BONE, WHICH WAS FRACTURED IN A FALL ON FEBRUARY 3. THE INJURY IS NOT SERIOUS, BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN TOLD THAT AN OPERATION IS ADVISABLE.
THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO BE OUT OF HOSPITAL AND BACK AT WORK ON WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER, HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UNDERTAKE ANY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
------0 -
LIST OF UK-CONNECTED UNDERTAKINGS PUBLISHED ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (MONDAY) PUBLISHED A LIST OF UNDERTAKINGS WHICH WILL BE TREATED AS HAVING CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR THE PURPOSE OF SCORING POINTS UNDER THE ’’CONNECTIONS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM” HEAD OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME.
THE LIST HAS BEEN DRAWN UP ON THE BASIS OF ADVICE GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION ACTING WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE UK GOVERNMENT.
’’THE LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE, AND OTHER NAMES MAY BE ADDED TO IT WHEN NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE,” A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING FOR UNDERTAKINGS INCLUDED IN THE LIST BUT WHO HAD SENT IN THEIR APPLICATIONS WITHOUT CLAIMING ADDITIONAL POINTS UNDER THE ’’CONNECTIONS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM” HEAD.
’’THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL AWARD ADDITIONAL POINTS TO THESE APPLICANTS, USING THE INFORMATION FURNISHED IN THEIR APPLICATIONS FORMS UNDER "OCCUPATIONAL OR SERVICE HISTORY”. THERE IS THUS NO NEED FOR THEM TO ALTER OR RE-SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS,” HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT FOR APPLICATIONS NOT YET SUBMITTED, PERSONS WORKING FOR UNDERTAKINGS IN THE LIST SHOULD INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION IN SECTION 17 OF THE APPLICATION FORM FOR SCORING POINTS UNDER CONNECTIONS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM.
’’ANY APPLICANT WHO WISHES TO KNOW WHETHER A PARTICULAR FIRM OR COMPANY HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR THIS PURPOSE MAY ENQUIRE THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HOTLINE 802 3300,” THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME, CURRENT SERVICE WITH SUCH UNDERTAKINGS WILL SCORE POINTS AT A RATE OF ONE POINT FOR EVERY SIX MONTHS, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 35 POINTS.
PAST SERVICE OF THREE YEARS OR MORE WILL BE AWARDED FIVE POINTS.
/ALPHABETICAL LIST
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
9
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS
A Bilborough & Co Ltd A.S. Watson & Company Ltd A. S. Watson (Asia) Ltd A. S. Watson Beverages Ltd A. S. Watson Manufacturing Chemists Ltd A. S. Watson Water Ltd AFE Computer Services Limited AGB Research Pacific Ltd ANZ Grindlays Bank Plc APV Baker Ltd APV Far East Ltd Abacus Distribution Systems (Hong Kong) Ltd Aberdeen Textiles Ltd Acer Consultants (FE) Ltd Airplus Co Ltd Albion Insurance Co Ltd Albion Land Ltd Albright & Wilson Asia Ltd Alfred Dunhill (HK) Ltd Allen & Overy Allianz Cornhill Insurance FE Ltd Allied Colloids Allied Dunbar Assurance Plc Allott & Lomax (HK) Ltd Alpha Metals Ltd Alsop Wilkinson Ltd Amersham International Plc Ains trad I nt* 1 HK Anglo Japanese Construction Ltd Antony Gibbs -3c Sons, Ltd Aquascutum Hong Kong Aquascutum Overseas Ltd Armtison Ltd Arnhold & Company Ltd Arthur Bartfeld HK Ltd Asco General Supplies Asia Data Ltd Asian Diamond Products Asian Eagle Insurance Co Ltd Associated Dairies International Ltd Associated Engineers Ltd Astec Circuit Boards Ltd Astec Components Ltd Astley & Pearce (HK) Atlantic Computer Systems Ltd Atlantic Drilling HK Ltd Austral China Contractors Ltd Automated Business Computer Co Ltd Avon Insurance Plc Azimuth Trading Ltd
BAT HK Ltd
BCI Hong Kong BICC (HK) Ltd BICC Cables Ltd BOC Group, The BP Hong Kong Trading Ltd B? Minerals International Ltd BRC Weldmesh (FE) Ltd BTR Dunlop China Ltd
/BUPA SIME ....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
10
BUPA Sime Shield Ltd
Balfour Beatty Ltd
Balfour Beatty Power Ltd
Balfours International Asia Consulting Engineers Ltd
Bank of British Columbia Financial Services Corporation Bank of Scotland
Barclays Bank Plc
Barclavs de Zoete Wedd Asia Ltd
Barclays de Zoete Wedd Investment Management Ltd
Barclays de Zoete Wedd Securities Asia Ltd
Baring Brothers Ltd
Baring Securities HK Ltd
Barings Futures HK Ltd
Barlow Lyde 5c Gilbert
Barnett & Foster Ltd
Beacon Heights (Management) Ltd
Beaufort? Shipping Agency Ltd
Beazer Asia Building Materials Ltd
Beazer Asia Ltd
Beazer Asia Properties Ltd
Beazer Homes & Properties Ltd
Beazer Pacific (Hong Kong) Ltd
Beecham Products (HK) Ltd
Ben Line Container Holdings
Bentley Reid & Company (Pacific)Ltd
Berger Paint (HK) Ltd
Binnie Consultants Ltd
Birmingham & West Midlands Liaison Office in Hong Kong
Bishopsgate Insurance Ltd
Bleistein & Co (HK) Ltd
Bo Wai Kuk Ltd
Bonas Machine Co Ltd
Boots Retailing Buying Ltd
Bovis Far East
Bowater FE Ltd
Brian Lack (HK) Ltd
British & Foreign Marine Insurance Co Ltd, The
British Airways Plc
British Bank of the Middle east, The
British Chamber of Commerce in HK
British Electricity International Ltd
British Marine Mutual Insurance Associated Ltd
British National Insurance Co Ltd
British Printing & Comm' 1 Corp
British Ropes (HK) Ltd
British Steel Asia Ltd
British Telecom FE Ltd
British Traders Insurance Co Ltd
British United Provident Association Ltd, The
Bruce Herwood Interiors
Bullen & Partners
Burroughs Wellcome & Co (HK)
Business Int' 1 Asia Pacific
C M & M Futures (Singapore) Pte Ltd
C M & M Group, Inc
CEC Finance Ltd
CES Consultants in Environmental Sciences (Asia) Ltd
/CABLE & WIRELESS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 11 -
Cable & wireless Hong Kong Ltd Cadbury Beverages Asia Ltd Cahners Exhibition Group Cairney widnell & Trollope Caldbecks (Hong Kong) Ltd Camberley Enterprises Ltd Cambridge Instruments HK Ltd Camelia Foods Ltd Campari (Far East) Ltd Cape Building Products I nt' 1 (FE) Ltd Capetronic Group Ltd Capetronic Manufacturing Ltd Capital Hse I nt' 1 Investment Management Carlingfcrd Insurance Co Ltd Carlingford Insurance Representatives Ltd Carlingford Ltd Carlingford Medical Insurance Ltd Carlingford Swire Assurance Ltd Carroll McEntee & McGinley'Incorporated Carroll McEntee & McGinley Securities, Inc Cassettes Plastics Ltd Castrol HK Ltd Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd Cazenove & Co Overseas Ltd Centuryan Services Ltd Chamberlain Phipps HK Charles Haswell & Partners FE Chesterton Petty Ltd Chi Wo Management Ltd Chin Tung Ltd China Light & Power China Navigation Co Ltd, The Christie Manson & Woods Ltd Christie's Swire (Hong Kong) Ltd Chubb Electronics HK Ltd Chubb HK Ltd Cigarette Components (HK) Ltd Citrus Growers International Ltd Clerical Medical & General Life Assurance Society Clifford Chance Close Brothers Ltd Clyde & Co Coates Brothers HK Ltd Coats Patons HK Ltd Coleridge Cole & Robertson (HK) Ltd Colour TV Rentals Ltd
Comm' 1 Union Financial Mgt I nt' 1 Asia Ltd Commercial Investments Co Ltd Commercial Union Assurance Co Plc Communication Services Ltd Communication Services Ltd (CSL) Components (Eastern) Ltd Computasia Ltd Concord Leasing (Asia) Pte Ltd Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Conran Design Pacific Costain International Ltd Constant Communication (HK) Ltd
/CONTAINER SERVICES .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 12 -
Container Services Ltd Cookson HK Ltd Cornhill Insurance Plc Corporate Communications Ltd Courtaulds FE Ltd Cowley Distributors FE Ltd Crittal Windows Crosf^eld Textile Chemicals Ltd Crown Agents Services Ltd Crown Maunsell Ltd Crown Motors Ltd
D G Jones & Partners HK DMFF (International) Ltd Dairy Farm Ice Ltd Dantas Ltd Datacleft HK Ltd Davy McKee Deacons
Del Monte Fresh Fruit Int' 1 Inc Deloitte Ross Tohmatsu Delta Electrical & Engineering Ltd Denholm Ship Management (HK) Ltd Dennis Specialist Vehicles Denton Hall Burgin Warrens Dixons Stores Group FE Ltd Dodwell Exports North America Ltd Dodwell Hong Kong Buying Office Ltd Dodwell Int' 1 Buying Office Ltd Dodwell Shipping Ltd Dodwell Travel Ltd Dominion Insurance Co Ltd, The Dominion Investment FE Ltd Don Ashton Designers Asia Ltd Dorchester Limited Dorman Long Overseas Ltd Dowty Communication & Networking (HK) Ltd Dunlop Slazenger HK Ltd Dyno-Rod (Pearsall) Ltd
EMI (HK) Ltd ERL Asia Eagle Star Insurance Co Ltd Eagle Star Life Assurance Co Ltd Earth Products Ltd Earth Technologies Group Economist Newspaper Asia Pacific Ltd Electronic Rentals HK Ltd Electrosonic Ltd Eltis Precision Printing Ltd Engineered Systems Ltd Equator Bank Ltd Equator Holdings Ltd Equator Trade Services Ltd Eupo-Air Travel Service (Hong Kong) Ltd Eurotherm FE Ltd Eurotherm International (FE) Ltd Ewbank Preece Eng HK Ltd Excelsior Hotel (HK) Ltd, The Expandite Interswiss Ltd Express Lift Co Ltd
/FAITHFUL GOULD ....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 13 -
Faithful Gould
Far East Holographies Ltd
Fein & Co (HK) Ltd
Fidelity Motors Ltd
Financial Times, The
Fine Art Developments FE Ltd
Fort Hall Ltd
Fortress Ltd
Foseco Industries Asia Ltd
Fountain Food Products Ltd
Franki Keir Ltd
Freight Express I nt' L Ltd French Connection HK Ltd Freshfields
GEC (HK) Ltd
GEC Plessey Telecommunications
GKN International (SE Asia)
GPT (FE) Ltd •
GT Management Pacific Ltd
Gammon Building Construction Ltd
Gammon Construction Ltd
Gartmore (HK) Ltd
General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Corp Plc
General Electric Co of HK
George Cohen (FE) Pte Ltd
George wimpey International Ltd
Geotechnical Instruments (HK) Ltd
German Hotel Experts Ltd
Gestetner International Ltd
Gibbs Insurance Consultants Ltd
Gibson Public Relations
Gieves Hawkes Ltd
Glaxo China Ltd
Glaxo HK Ltd
Globedale Co Ltd (to be renamed Securicor HK Cash Services Good Job Ltd Grattan (FE) Ltd
Grenville Eastern Holdings Ltd
Grenville transportation Holdings Ltd
Gresham Life Assurance Society Ltd
Gresham Unit Assurance Ltd
Guardian Assurance Plc
Guardian Royal Exchange Asia Ltd
Guinness HK Ltd
Guinness Overseas Ltd
Ltd)
H A Brechin & Co
H S Property Management Co (1989) Ltd
HHL Holdings Ltd
HHL Mafiagement
HHL Reinsurance Services HK
HK Exhibition Services Ltd
HK Hilton Hotel
HK Oxygen & Acetylene Co Ltd
HK Refrigerating Co Ltd
HKS Engineers Ltd
HKS Parking Ltd
HKS Storage Ltd
HSI Services Ltd
/HALCROW ASIA
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
14
Halcrow Asia Partnership Ltd
Halcrow consulting Engineers & Architects Halcrow Fox & Associates Hambros Pacific Ltd
Hamptons
Handley-Walker (HK) Ltd Hang Seng (Nominee) Ltd Hang Seng Bank Ltd Hang Seng Finance Ltd Hang Seng Insurance Co Ltd Harbour City Management Ltd Harbour City Security Services Ltd Harbour,Heights (Management) Ltd Harriman Leasing Ltd Harriman Realty Co Ltd Harris & Sutherland (FE) Harry Stanger (FE) Ltd Harvard I nt' 1 Ltd Hawker Siddeley Engineering Hawker Siddeley Power Group Heath Ludig Langeveldt Henry Boot FE Ltd Herbert Smith Hill & Knowlton Asia Ltd Hill Samuel Hill Samuel Investment Services Asia Ltd Hoare Govett Asia Ltd Hoare Govett HK Ltd Koi Kong Container Services Co Ltd Holiday Inns Int' 1 Asia Pacific Ltd Holman Fenwick & Willan
Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (Nominees) Ltd Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels Ltd
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd
Hong Kong Air Terminal Services Ltd
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co Ltd
Hong Kong Bank China Services Ltd
Hong Kong Bank Trustee Ltd
Hong Kong Bank of Australia Ltd
Hong Kong Bank of Canada
Hong Kong Convenience Stores Ltd
Hong Kong Electric Holdings Ltd
Hong Kong International Trade Finance (Holdings) Ltd
Hong Kong Land (Leasing) Ltd
Hong Kong Land Co Ltd, The
Hong Kong Land Property Co Ltd, The
Hong Kong Security Guarding Services Ltd
Hong Kong Security Ltd
Hong Kong Teletom
Hong Kqng Telecom CSL Ltd
Hong Kong Telecom I nt' 1 Ltd
Hong Kong Telephone Co Ltd
Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Company Ltd
Hongkong International Terminals Ltd Hongkong Salvage & Towage Co Ltd, The Hongkong Tramways Ltd
/HONGKONG UNITED .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 15 -
Honcjkong United Dockyards Ltd Hopewell Costain Ltd Howden Fedco Ltd Husband & Co (Asia) Hutchison China Trade Holdings Ltd Hutchison Information Services Ltd Hutchison International Ltd Hutchison Mobile Data Ltd Hutchison Paging Ltd Hutchison Satellite Systems Ltd Hutchison Telecommunications Ltd Hutchison Telephone Company Ltd Hutchison Transportation Ltd Hutchison Whampoa Ltd
ICI China ICI Swire Paints Ltd ICS-Texicon Ltd (formerly Instrumental Colour Systems Ltd) IMI (Cornelius) Pacific IMI International Ltd Ince & Co InchRoy Credit Corporation Ltd Inchcape Hong Kong Ltd
Inchcape Inspection & Testing Services (Pacific) Ltd Inchcape Insurance (HK) Ltd Inchcape Insurance Agencies (HK) Ltd Inchcape Insurance Brokers (HK) Ltd Inchcape Pacific Industrial Steel Ltd iNet Hong Kong Ltd Initial Environmental Services Instrumentation Technologies Ltd Integrated Business Systems Ltd International City Holdings Ltd International Computers HK Ltd Intico Asia Testing Services Ltd
J D H Company Ltd
J D Kingsfield (FE) Ltd
JIB (HK) Ltd
James Capel & Co Ltd
James Capel (Far East) Ltd
James Capel (Hong Kong) Asset Management Ltd
James Capel Far East Futures Ltd
James Capel Far East Holdings Ltd
James J ames Capel Far East Nominees Ltd Capel Hong Kong Ltd
James R Knowles (HK) Ltd
Jardine CMG Life Ltd
Jardin^ Engineering (Macau) Ltd
Jardine Engineering Corporation Ltd, The
Jardine Fleming & Co Ltd
Jardine Fleming Broking Ltd
Jardine Fleming Holdings Ltd
Jardine Fleming Investment Management Ltd
Jardine Fleming Securities Ltd
Jardine Fleming Unit Trust Ltd Jardine Insurance Brokers Ltd
/JARDINE MATHESON .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
16
Jardine Matheson & Co (Macau) Ltd
Jardine Matheson & Co Ltd
Jardine Metrolink Ltd
Jardine Pacific Holdings Ltd
Jardine Riche Monde Ltd
Jardine Securicor Ltd
Jardine Thompson Graham Int*1 Ltd
Jienxin (China) Ltd
John Swire & Sons (HK) Ltd Johnson Matthey (HK) Ltd Jones Lang Wootton Ltd
KMPG Peat Marwick
Kellett Investments Ltd
Kennedy & Donkin International
Kennedy Henderson Ltd
Kier Hong Kong Ltd
Kin Ching Besser Group
Kin Lock Enterprises Ltd
Kin Sun Lands Ltd
Kleinwort Benson HK Ltd
Kowloon Shipyard Co Ltd
Kowloon Wharf Terminal & Warehouse Ltd Kuehne & Nagel (HK) Ltd
LE? International Ltd
LET Pacific Ltd
Labtest Hong Kong Ltd
Labtest International Ltd
Laidlaw & Thomson Asia Ltd
Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers Ltd
Langholm Cemtech Ltd
Langholm Far East Ltd
Langholm Inforline Ltd
Langholm Leather Ltd
Lantor HK Ltd
Lazard Asia Asset Management Ltd
Legal & General Assurance Society Ltd
Lei King Wa (Management) Ltd
Les Enfants Ltd
Lever Brothers China
Levett & Bailey /Chartered Surveyors)
Leyland Bus HK Ltd
Lilley Construction Hong Kong Ltd
Lilley Construction Ltd
Limited Editions Ltd
Linkforce Engineering Ltd
Linklater & Paynes
Lloyds Bank Plc
Lloyds Register of Shipping
Lloyds of London Press (FE)
Llwewlyn-Davies Weeks
Logica Technology Services Ltd
London & Lancashire Insurance Co Ltd, The
London Overseas Insurance Co Plc, The
London Steamship Owner' s Mutual Insurance Association Ltd, The Longman Group FE Ltd Lovell White Durrant
/M & S.........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 17 -
M & S Shipping FE Ltd M W Marshall HK Ltd MDA HK Ltd MIM Asia Ltd MP Tours Ltd MSL Pacific MTM FE Ltd MVA Asia Ltd MacKai's Quality Butcher Ltd Macmillan Publishers (China) Ltd Malvern Insurance Co Ltd Mandarin Oriental HK Ltd Mandarin Oriental Management (HK) Ltd Mandarin Publishers Ltd Mannings Retail Ltd Manufacturers Life Insurance Co (UK) ltd, The Marathon Sports Ltd Marconi International Marine Co Ltd Marine Midland . Bank, N A Marine Midland International Bank Market Behavior (HK) Ltd Marks & Clerk
Marks & Spencer Asia Ltd
Marks & Spencer FE
Marks St Spencer HK Branch
Masfield Engineering Ltd Masons & Marriott Matheson PFC Ltd Maunsell Consultants Asia Maunsell Geotechnical Services Ltd Maxwell Communication HK McGregor Sea & Air Services Ltd McKenna & Co Mercantile & General Reinsurance Co Plc, The Metro-Cammell Ltd Midland Bank Plc Midland Montagu Asia Ltd Mirrlees Blackstone (Stockport) Ltd Mitchell Cott & Co (FE) Ltd
Mitchell, McFarlane, Brentnall & Partners Int'l Ltd Mocatta Hong Kong Ltd Modern Terminals Ltd Molly Brooke Ltd Monsoonland Investment Ltd Morgan Grenfell HK Ltd Mott Macdonald HK Ltd Mouchel Asia Ltd Mountain Cream (International) Ltd
N M Rothschild & Son (HK) Ltd National* Westminster Bank Plc Navigators & General Insurance Co Ltd Newey & Eyre HK Ltd Newey (HK) Ltd Nordic Transport Equipment Ltd Norgren Martonair HK Ltd Norgren Martonair Pacific Ltd Norman Broadbent (HK) Ltd Norman Broadbent ERI Ltd
/NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 18 -
Northern Development Company FE Liaison Office Norton Rose
Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Int'l) Ltd
Odgers & Co (FE) Ltd
Office Buildings Management Ltd Ogilvy & Mather Oliver's Fine Foods Ltd Omni Hotels Asia-Pacific Optical Shop Ltd/ The Orchard (C.I) Ltd Oriental Environmental Services Ltd Oriental World Trading Co Ltd Ove Arup & Partners Overseas Freight Consolidators Ltd Oxford University Press
P & O Containers Ltd
P & O Travel Ltd
P & T Wallace Evans Ltd PA Consulting Group Pak Kee Company Ltd Pannell Kerr & Foster Paofoong Insurance Co (Hong Kong) Ltd Park • N Shop Ltd Park Vale (Management) Ltd Pearl Assurance Plc Pearsall Ltd Percy Thomas Partnership Perpetual Publicity Ltd Peter Fraenkel & Partners Asia Ltd Philipp & Lion Far East Ltd Phoenix Assurance Plc Photo Me Development HK Ltd Pickfords Ltd Pilkington Asia Plasti Pack Containers Ltd
Polly Peck I nt'1 (Hong Kong) Ltd Portals Water Treatment (HK) Ltd Posford Duvivier Ltd Price 3c Pierce (HK) Ltd Price Waterhouse
Pritchard Englefield 3c Wang Primpoint Investment Ltd Private Patients Plan Ltd Provincial Insurance Plc Prudential Assurance Co Ltd Pypun Hpward Humphreys Ltd
Quest International HK Ltd
R w Gregory 3< Partners (FE) RMJM Hong Kong Ltd Racal Electronic Plc Racal-Redec Asia Ltd Radofin Electronics FE Ltd Rainbow Glass Fibre Products Ltd
/RANK XEROX .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 19 -
Rank Xerox HK Ltd Reckitt & Colman Trading Reebok Hong Kong Ltd Reed Exhibition Companies Reed Travel Group Reliance Services Co Ltd Remex Holdings Ltd Reuters Asia Richard Ellis Ltd Richards Butler & Co Rieter-Scragg Ltd Robertson Golding Ltd Rolls Royce FE Ltd Rothmans (FE) ltd Royal Bank of Scotland Plc Royal Doulton Asia Royal International Insurance Holdings Ltd
S G Warburg Securities S H Lock HK Ltd SGB HK Ltd STC Telecommunications Ltd Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd Salvage Association, The Samuel Montagu & Co Ltd Schindler Lifts (Hong Kong) Ltd Schroders Asia Schroders Asia Futures Ltd Schroders Securities HK Ltd Scimitar Asset Management Asia Ltd Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Partners Scottish Development Agency Search & Assessment Services (HK) Ltd Seatrade Publications FE Ltd Securair Ltd Securall Security Services Ltd Sedgewick James Chartered Ltd Shankland Cox Shell Asiatic Enterprises Ltd Shell China Ltd Shell Developments (HK) Ltd Shell HK Ltd Shelsham Trading Co Ltd Sim-Tech Management Ltd Simmons & Simmons Simon Hartley HK Ltd Sims Trading Company Ltd Sinclair Roche Slaughter & May Smith Nelson FE Ltd Smith & Nephew FE Ltd Smith New Court FE Sotherbys HK Ltd South China Aero Technology Ltd Sovereign Marine & General Assurance Co Ltd Spicer & Openheim — (now merged with Deloitte Ross Tohmatsu) Standard Chartered Asia Ltd Standard Chartered Bank
/STANDARD CHARTERED .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
20
Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong Trustees Ltd Standard Chartered Finance Ltd Sun Alliance & London Assurance Co Ltd Sun Alliance & London Insurance Plc Sun Alliance Insurance Group Sunzest (Far East) Ltd Survey Research HK Ltd Swire & Maclaine Ltd Swire Air Caterers Ltd Swire BFI Waste Services Ltd Swire Bottlers Ltd Swire Cassettes Ltd Swire Chernsyn Ltd Swire Duro Ltd Swire Engineering (1988) Ltd Swire Engineering (Holdings) Ltd Swire Engineering Services Ltd Swire Haden Ltd Swire Insurance Brokers Ltd Swire Insurance Holdings Ltd Swire Insurance Ltd Swire International Removals Ltd Swire Life Consultants Ltd Swire Loxley Ltd Swire Magnetics HK Ltd Swire Magnetics Holdings Ltd Swire Magnetics Ltd Swire Marketing Ltd Swire Pacific Ltd Swire Pacific Offshore Holdings Ltd Swire Pacific Offshore Ltd Swire Pacific Offshore Services Ltd Swire Pacific Ship Management Ltd Swire Pickfords Ltd Swire Properties Ltd Swire Shipping (Agencies) Ltd Swire Symonds Ltd Swire Systems Ltd Swire Technologies Ltd Swire Timber Products Ltd Swire Travel Ltd Swire Warehousing (HK) Ltd Swiss Reinsurance Co (UK) Ltd TKM (Far East) Ltd Tai-Koo Sugar Ltd • Taikoo Royal Insurance Co Ltd Taikoo Shing (Management) Ltd Taikoo Sportswear Ltd Taylor Woodrow International Ltd Taywood Engineering Ltd TaywoodjMaunsell Ltd Tech-Xecutive Society (HK) Ltd Tesco Stores HK Ltd The "Star" Ferry Co Ltd Thomas Cook Group Thomas De La Rue (HK) Thomas Howell Kiewit HK Ltd Thorn EMI (HK) Ltd Thorn EMI Security
/TILDEN TECHNICAL .....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 21 -
Tilden Technical Services Ltd
Tiphook Container Rental HK Ltd
Titan International Ltd
Tobacco Exporters Int' 1 UK Ltd
Tokyo Forex & Tullett Int' 1 Ltd
Tony Gee Chappelle Ltd
Tootal Label Ltd
Tootal Thread
Toplis & Harding UK Ltd
Total Energy Resources (Hong Kong) Ltd
Total Energy Services (Hong Kong) Ltd
Total Hutchison Energy Ltd
Towry Law Overseas Ltd
Triangle Pacific UK
Trouw (HK) Ltd
Turner Kenneth Brown
Turner Spurrier/Rowland Ltd
Tyndall Bank Int' 1 Ltd
Tyndall Bank International Asia Ltd
Tyndall Trust ‘int' 1 (Asia) Ltd
Tyndall-FK Corporate Service Ltd
UCM HK Ltd
UMEDCO (FE) Ltd
Ultraseal HK Ltd
Union Insurance Society of Canton Ltd
Union Insurance Society of HK Ltd
Unipath Ltd
United Biscuits Asia Pacific
United Distillers SE Asia Ltd
United Merchants Finance Ltd
Unza Cathay Ltd
Urbis Travers Morgan Ltd
Verity Textiles Ltd
Victory Reinsurance Management (Asia)
Vigors Hong Kong
w H Smith Electrical Engineers HK Ltd
W S Atkins
WOL Communications Ltd
Wallem & Co
Wardley Capital Ltd
Wardley Corporate finance Ltd
Wardley Data Services Ltd
Wardley Direct Investment Management Ltd
Wardley Finance Ltd
Wardley Group Ltd
Wardley Holdings Ltd
Wardley International Bank Ltd
Wardleyi International Management Ltd
Wardley Investment Services (Hong Kong) Ltd
Wardley Leasing Ltd
Wardley Ltd
Wardley Nominees Ltd
Wardley Securities Ltd
Wardley Shipping Services Ltd
Wardley-Thomson (Securities) Ltd
Wardley-Thomson Asia Ltd
/WARDLEY-THOMSON .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
22
Wardley-Thomson Futures HK Ltd Wardley-Thomson Ltd Wardley-Thomson Nominees Ltd Wardley-Thomson Trading Ltd Waterford Wedgwood Asia Pacific Waterford Wedgwood HK Watertours of Hong Kong Ltd Watson Building Management Ltd Watson Hawkesley Asia Watson' s The Chemist Ltd Watsons Pharmaceutical Ltd Wayfoong Credit Ltd Wayfoong Finance Ltd Wayfoong Property Agency Ltd Wayfoohg Property Ltd Wayfoong Shipping Services Ltd Weatherwise Roofing & Walling China Ltd Wei Kai Co Ltd Weir Pumps Ltd Wellcome Company Ltd Welsh Development Agency
West of England Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Assn (London) Ltd Whampoa Property Management Ltd Wharf Holdings Ltd Wheelock Marden & Co Ltd Wheelock Marden Secretaries Ltd Wiggins Teape (Hong Kong) Ltd Wilkinson Foods Ltd Willis Faber FE Ltd Wogen HK Ltd Wogen Technology Ltd woodhouse Drake & Carey (HK) Ltd World International Development Ltd World International Holdings Ltd World Wide Shipping Agency Ltd
Yorkshire & Humberside Development Association
Yorkshire Insurance Co Ltd, The
Zung Fu Co Ltd
---------0-----------
/23 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 23 -
CIVIL SERVICE STANDING COMMISSION REPORT NO. 27 PUBLISHED *****
THE STANDING COMMISSION ON- CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE HAS PUBLISHED ITS PROGRESS REPORT FOR 1990 (REPORT NO. 27 ) .
LAST YEAR WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR FOR THE COMMISSION. THE FOCUS OF ITS WORK CONTINUED TO BE THE OVERALL REVIEW OF THE SALARY STRUCTURE OF THE NON-DIRECTORATE GRADES, WHICH BEGAN IN 1989.
IN MARCH 1990, THE COMMISSION COMPLETED THE SECOND PHASE OF THE REVIEW AND SUBMITTED THE SECOND REPORT ON THE REVIEW (REPORT NO. 25) TO THE GOVERNOR.
THE FINAL STAGE OF THE REVIEW WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER WITH THE SUBMISSION OF THE THIRD AND FINAL REPORT (REPORT NO. 26) TO THE GOVERNOR ON DECEMBER 14.
THE WHOLE REVIEW EXERCISE, COVERING A TOTAL OF 342 GRADES WITHIN THE COMMISSION’S PURVIEW, HAS TAKEN A TOTAL OF 20 MONTHS, SOME FOUR MONTHS AHEAD OF THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE.
THE 1990 CIVIL SERVICE PAY ADJUSTMENT IN APRIL ATTRACTED MUCH PUBLIC CONCERN, IN PARTICULAR THE PROBLEM OF TIME-LAG WITH THE SURVEY DATA.
THE COMMISSION, TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF THE PAY TREND SURVEY COMMITTEE, REVIEWED THE PAY TREND SURVEY METHODOLOGY IN NOVEMBER AND SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR INCLUDING A CHANGE OF THE SURVEY PERIOD TO ADDRESS THE TIME-LAG PROBLEM.
THE REPORT ALSO RECORDS THE COMMISSION’S ADVICE ON CIVIL SERVICE HOUSING BENEFITS AND A SPECIAL ALLOWANCE FOR THE GENERAL DUTIES TEAM STAFF IN THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE PAY SURVEY AND RESEARCH UNIT, WHICH IS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF THE COMMISSION, CONDUCTED A SERIES OF PAY COMPARISON SURVEYS FOR THE 1989 SALARY STRUCTURE REVIEW.
IN ADDITION, THE UNIT CARRIED OUT THE 1989/90 PAY TREND SURVEY BETWEEN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1990. AN ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF THE UNIT IS GIVEN IN THE PROGRESS REPORT.
THE PROGRESS REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
--------0 - -
/24 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11,
1991
24
GOVERNMENT LOTS SOLD FOR $51.3 MILLION ♦ » » ♦ ♦
TWO LOTS OF GOVERNMENT LAND WERE SOLD FOR A TOTAL OF $51.3 MILLION BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT AT A PUBLIC AUCTION HELD THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
THE LOTS ARE LOCATED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE FIRST LOT IS LOCATED AT AREA 25, ON LOK TSUEN, FANLING, WHICH WAS BOUGHT BY THE MITA INVESTMENT CO (HK) LTD FOR $37.3 MILLION. BIDDING OPENED AT $22 MILLION.
THE SITE WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 2,559 SQUARE METRES IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES, EXCLUDING OFFENSIVE TRADE AND GODOWN FOR DANGEROUS GOODS.
ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING COVENANT, A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 7,677 SQUARE METRES HAS TO BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1995.
THE OTHER LOT IS LOCATED AT TUI MIN HOI, SAI KUNG.
IT WAS SOLD AT THE OFFSET PRICE OF $14 MILLION TO THE FOUR SEAS MERCANTILE LTD.
MEASURING ABOUT 2,850 SQUARE METRES, IT IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES.
THE BUILDING COVENANT STIPULATES THAT A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 6,840 SQUARE METRES HAS TO BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1994.
THE AUCTION WAS CONDUCTED BY GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT, MR JOHN CORRIGALL, WHO SAID HE WAS SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS.
- - 0 - -
NEW COMMANDING OFFICER FOR RHKAAF *****
WING COMMANDER PETER DICKY YIP HAS BECOME THE FIRST CHINESE COMMANDING OFFICER FOR THE ROAYL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE FOLLOWING HIS APPOINTMENT ON JANUARY 1.
MR YIP IS TASKED TO OVERSEE THE SMOOTH COMPLETION OF THE UNIT’S MAJOR EXPANSION PROJECT THAT IS IN PROGRESS.
MR YIP HAS SERVED WITH THE UNIT AS A SENIOR VOLUNTEER HELICOPTER PILOT FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
/HE JOINED
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 25 -
HE JOINED THE UNIT IN JANUARY 1967 AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE FLYING SQUADRON AS CADET PILOT IN SEPTEMBER THE SAME YEAR.
HE HAS HELD VARIOUS SENIOR POSITIONS, INCLUDING FLIGHT COMMANDER HELICOPTER FLIGHT AND OFFICER COMMANDING FLYING SQUADRON.
HE WAS AWARDED THE QUEEN’S COMMENDATION FOR VALUABLE SERVICE IN THE AIR IN 1983.
--------0-----------
POLL CARDS TO DB ELECTIONS ISSUED ******
ELECTORS WHO ARE ENTITLED TO TAKE PART IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS ON MARCH 3 WILL BE RECEIVING A POLL CARD THIS WEEK.
"A TOTAL OF 1,320,744 POLL CARDS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT IN BATCHES LAST WEEK," THE REGISTRATION OFFICER, MR LAI KWAN-TAT SAID.
"EACH POLL CARD TELLS WHERE AND WHEN AN ELECTION TAKES PLACE, AND IS DISPATCHED TO ONLY THOSE ELECTORS IN CONTESTED CONSTITUENCIES."
ELECTORS IN CONTESTED CONSTITUENCIES WILL ALSO BE RECEIVING WITHIN THE COMING WEEK A NOTE ON THE VOTING PROCEDURE TOGETHER WITH AN INTRODUCTORY LEAFLET ON THE CANDIDATES IN THE RESPECTIVE CONSTITUENCIES.
ELECTORS IN UNCONTESTED CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE ISSUED WITH AN INTRODUCTORY LEAFLET ON CANDIDATES ONLY. THEY DO NOT NEED TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION.
ELECTORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING ALONG THEIR POLL CARDS TO THE POLLING STATION, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT MANDATORY TO DO SO, BUT IT CERTAINLY WILL FACILITATE PROCESSING AND AVOID DELAY.
FOR THOSE ELECTORS WHO HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED THEIR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, THEY ARE INVITED TO NOTIFY THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE BY TELEPHONE OR IN WRITING, GIVING THEIR IDENTITY CARD NUMBERS AND THEIR NEW RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
SUCH ELECTORS WILL BE ENTITLED TO VOTE IN THE CONSTITUENCY OF THEIR PREVIOUS RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AND WILL HAVE THEIR POLL CARD SENT TO THEIR NEW RESIDENCE.
ELECTORS MAY ALSO APPROACH THE POST OFFICE OF THEIR PREVIOUS RESIDENCE TO REDIRECT ANY MAIL TO THEIR NEW ADDRESS.
SUCH SERVICE IS PROVIDED FREE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS AND MAY CONTINUE FOR A LONGER PERIOD UPON PAYMENT OF A FEE.
IN CASE OF ENQUIRIES, ELECTORS ARE WELCOME TO TELEPHONE THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE ON TEL. 827 1122.
------0-------
/26 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
26
EASTERN RESIDENTS URGED TO GO TO THE POLLS ♦ * * * »
THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEVE BARCLAY, TODAY (MONDAY) CALLED ON REGISTERED ELECTORS TO FULLY EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC RIGHTS BY CASTING THEIR VOTES IN THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS NEXT MONTH.
"IT TAKES ONLY A MATTER OF MINUTES TO VOTE, BUT THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL REPRESENT YOU FOR THE NEXT THREE AND A HALF YEARS,” HE STRESSED.
MR BARCLAY MADE THE APPEAL WHILE LEADING A 10-MEMBER TEAM TO DISTRIBUTE "FAI CHUNS" AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS TO SHOPPERS AND HAWKERS AT CHUN YEUNG STREET MARKET IN NORTH POINT.
"THE MORE VOTES CAST, THE MORE REPRESENTATIVES THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE IN REFLECTING RESIDENTS’ VIEWS TO THE GOVERNMENT," HE SAID.
TO HELP RESIDENTS MAKE A BETTER CHOICE, THE DISTRICT OFFICE WILL ORGANISE 12 ELECTION FORUMS ON FEBRUARY 23 AND 24 FOR THE CANDIDATES TO PRESENT THEIR PLATFORMS.
A MOBILE EXHIBITION IS ALSO UNDERWAY AT VARIOUS SHOPPING CENTRE INTRODUCING THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE VOTING PROCEDURE.
HE SAID ABOUT 30 DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF WOULD GO TO THE MAIN STREETS AND BUSY SHOPPING AREAS ON THE EVE OF POLLING DAY TO GIVE OUT ELECTION PUBLICITY SOUVENIRS.
ON THE VOTING DAY ON MARCH 3, A BROADCASTING VAN WILL CRUISE AROUND THE DISTRICT TO URGE RESIDENTS TO GO TO THE POLLING BOOTHS.
---------0-----------
ABERDEEN FISHERMEN URGED TO KEEP HARBOUR CLEAN ♦ »♦»*♦
THE FLOATING POPULATION IN THE ABERDEEN TYPHOON SHELTER WAS URGED TODAY (MONDAY) TO CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS IN KEEPING THE HARBOUR CLEAN.
SPEAKING AT THE CLEAN FORESHORE DRIVE ALONG THE ABERDEEN WATERFRONT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, MR TSE KIT-TO, WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT REFUSE IN THE TYPHOON SHELTER HAD DROPPED BY ALMOST 15 PER CENT.
HE BELIEVED THAT THE COMMITTEE’S SIMILAR OPERATIONS IN PREVIOUS YEARS HAD DRIVEN HOME THE "KEEP HARBOUR CLEAN" MESSAGE TO THE FLOATING POPULATION WITH CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS.
/HE CALLED .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 27 -
HE CALLED ON THE FISHERMEN TO KEEP UP THEIR WORK SO THAT ABERDEEN TYPHOON SHELTER REMAINS A TOURIST ATTRACTION.
MR TSE ALSO PRAISED THE MARINE DEPARTMENT’S INTENSIVE SCAVENGING EFFORTS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE TYPHOON SHELTER CLEAN-UP.
MEANWHILE, THE COMMITTEE IS PROVIDING A SPECIAL REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICE FOR THE HUNDREDS OF FISHING VESSELS WHICH HAVE ALREADY RETURNED TO THE SHELTER FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
MR TSE SAID THE COLLECTION SERVICE AIMS TO ENCOURAGE FISHERMEN TO DISPOSE OF THEIR REFUSE PROPERLY.
-------------------0------- FESTIVE LIGHTS TO HERALD YEAR OF THE RAM *****
EASTERN DISTRICT WILL USHER IN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH THE LIGHTING UP OF A GIANT SIGNBOARD IN VICTORIA PARK TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE SIGNBOARD HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD AT A COST OF ABOUT $82,000.
A SWITCHING-ON CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 6 PM AT THE VICTORIA PARK FOOTBALL PITCH NO. 6.
OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEVE BARCLAY; THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR SHUM CHOI-SANG; AND THE POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MRS WONG LEUNG KAM-SHAN.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EASTERN DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR LIGHTING SWITCHING-ON CEREMONY TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AT 6 PM AT THE VICTORIA PARK FOOTBALL PITCH NO. 6 (NEAR THE HING FAT STREET ENTRANCE).
--------0-----------
/28 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 28 -
IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING CONDITIONS IN WAN CHAI
*****
FIVE WAN CHAI BUILDINGS WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS AND DEFECTIVE DRAINS WILL HAVE A NEW LOOK FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF A LARGE SCALE CLEARANCE OPERATION BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE AREA.
THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE RESIDENTS WILL BE IMPROVED WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED IN MARCH NEXT YEAR.
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE TODAY (MONDAY) EMBARKED ON THE SECOND PHASE OF A COMPREHENSIVE CLEARANCE OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS IN FOUR BUILDINGS AT 11-12 CANAL ROAD WEST, 13 CANAL ROAD WEST, 2-16A BOWRINGTON ROAD AND 418-430 HENNESSY ROAD.
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY ISSUED 180 ORDERS TO THE OWNERS OF THE FOUR BUILDINGS REQUIRING THEM TO REMOVE THE UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS AND REPAIR THE DETERIORATED PARTS OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE DEFECTIVE DRAINS.
THE OWNERS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT OTHER WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDINGS COMPLY WITH THE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AS LAID DOWN IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPERATION IS DIVIDED INTO TWO PHASES, PHASE I BEING ON 10 CANAL ROAD WEST AND THE REAR LANE SYSTEM TO THE FIVE AFFECTED BUILDINGS.
A TOTAL OF 88 REMOVAL ORDERS WERE ISSUED LAST NOVEMBER AND UP TO NOW, OVER 60 PER CENT OF THE ORDERS HAVE BEEN VOLUNTARILY COMPLIED WITH BY THE OWNERS.
REPAIR WORKS TO THE UNDERGROUND DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THE REAR LANES AND YARDS WILL BE CARRIED OUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES IN THE LANES AND YARDS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEMOLITION AND REPAIR ORDERS ISSUED IN THIS OPERATION, IT IS THE OPINION OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY THAT THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES AT THE SIDE LANE OF 10 CANAL ROAD WEST, THE REAR LANE OF 13 CANAL ROAD WEST, AND THE FLAT ROOF ADJOINING FLAT A3, THIRD FLOOR, 10 CANAL ROAD WEST SHOULD BE CLOSED IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS AND TO THE PUBLIC.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT, AT 9.30 AM ON MAY 9 THIS YEAR, HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE PREMISES TODAY.
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT DEMOLITION WORKS WILL BEGIN ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDERS ARE GRANTED.
/29.........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1991
- 29 -
UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS TO BE CLOSED
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE THE UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS AT THE FLAT ROOFS ADJACENT TO FLATS A AND B ON THE FIRST FLOORS, SIU MAN COURT, 7-9 FORT STREET, NORTH POINT, SO THAT THEY CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS AND THE PUBLIC.
NOTICE OF-INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 11 WAS POSTED ON THE PREMISES TODAY (MONDAY).
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-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR'S OPERATION SUCCESSFUL ................................................. 1
THIRD ROUND OF AIRPORT TALKS TO START SOON ...................................... 1
SPECIAL CHECK-IN FACILITY FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR PERIOD ........................... 1
AIRPORT BUILDING REFURBISHMENT WORK PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE ..................... 2
SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAY ....................... 3
SIGNBOARD TO SEND NEW YEAR GREETINGS ............................................ 5
CLINIC SERVICES ON LUNAR NEW YEAR'S EVE ......................................... 5
EPD REFUTES ADVERTISEMENT CLAIMS ................................................ 6
TWO BUILDINGS IN JUNCTION ROAD DECLARED DANGEROUS ............................... 7
ENTRIES INVITED FOR NORTH DISTRICT COUNTRY RACE ................................. 8
SWD GROUP WORK UNIT FOR TOEN MUN RESIDENTS ...................................... 8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
- 1 -
GOVERNOR’S OPERATION SUCCESSFUL
******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WAS DISCHARGED FROM QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL SHORTLY AFTER 8 PM TODAY (TUESDAY).
HE WAS OPERATED ON THIS MORNING. HIS CHEEKBONE WAS BROKEN IN THREE PLACES. THE OPERATION WAS 100 PER CENT SUCCESSFUL AND THE CHEEKBONE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY RE-POSITIONED.
------u--------
THIRD ROUND OF AIRPORT TALKS TO START SOON
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE THIRD ROUND OF EXPERT TALKS ON THE NEW AIRPORT AND RELATED PROJECTS WILL BE HELD IN PEKING FROM FEBRUARY 21 TO 23.
THE HONG KONG TEAM WILL BE LED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, WHILE THE CHINESE TEAM WILL BE LED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE STATE COUNCIL, MR LUO JIAHUAN.
------0--------
SPECIAL CHECK-IN FACILITY FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR PERIOD ♦ ♦ ♦ » ♦
THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT (CAD) WILL, AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, PROVIDE SPECIAL CHECK-IN FACILITIES FOR PASSENGERS TRAVELLING ON FLIGHTS BOUND FOR XIAMEN, HAIKOU AND GUILIN DURING THE FORTHCOMING CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD.
A SPOKESMAN FOR CAD SAID THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 10 CHECK-IN COUNTERS AT A SPECIAL CHECK-IN AREA LOCATED AT THE DEPARTURE HALL OF THE AIRPORT PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING JUST ADJACENT TO THE .
HONGKONG BANK.
THESE SPECIAL COUNTERS WILL BE IN OPERATION FOR EIGHT DAYS FROM TODAY (TUESDAY) UNTIL FEBRUARY 19, CATERING FOR ABOUT 130 FLIGHTS AND 14,500 PASSENGERS BOUND FOR THE. THREE REGIONAL DESTINATIONS IN CHINA WHICH ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF THE PASSENGERS TRAVELLING ON EXTRA FLIGHTS TO CHINA FOR THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
2 -
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL 930 DEPARTING FLIGHTS, AIRLINES WOULD BE OPERATING ABOUT 345 EXTRA FLIGHTS TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS ABROAD BETWEEN FEBRUARY 12 AND 19, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 20 PER CENT OVER THE NUMBER FOR LAST YEAR.
THE NUMBER OF DEPARTING PASSENGERS IS EXPECTED TO REACH A PEAK BETWEEN FEBRUARY 13 AND 15 WHEN ABOUT 47,000 PASSENGERS ARE EXPECTED TO DEPART ON MORE THAN 180 FLIGHTS EACH DAY.
TO ASSIST DEPARTING PASSENGERS TO LOCATE THEIR AIRLINE CHECK-IN COUNTERS, SPECIAL DIRECTIONAL SIGNS WILL BE DISPLAYED AT PROMINENT LOCATIONS AT THE DEPARTURE HALL.
AS THE AIRPORT AREA IS EXPECTED TO BE VERY CROWDED DURING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD, TRAVELLERS ARE ADVISED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WHEREVER POSSIBLE AND TO AVOID BRINGING THEIR PRIVATE CARS TO THE AIRPORT.
TAXI TRADE ASSOCIATIONS HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO SEND MORE TAXIS TO THE AIRPORT TO COPE WITH THE INCREASED PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADVISED DEPARTING PASSENGERS THAT IN ORDER TO AVOID MISSING FLIGHTS, THEY SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT EARLY, PREFERABLY TWO HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT DEPARTURE, CHECK IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO IMMIGRATION AFTER CHECK-IN.
FAREWELLERS AND GREETERS ARE ADVISED NOT TO COME TO THE AIRPORT DURING THIS PERIOD.
--------0-----------
AIRPORT BUILDING REFURBISHMENT WORK • *****
REFURBISHMENT WORK TO THE OLD TERMINAL BUILDING AT THE HONG KONG PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE.
PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE
SECTION OF THE PASSENGER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS
PHASES I AND II OF THE PROGRAMME HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND ALL FACILITIES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK INTO OPERATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY rrilFSDAY) THAT NO REFURBISHMENT WORK WOULD BE CARRIED OUT DURING THE .
Js™bar peak period ip order that the operation op the
TERMINAL BUILDING IS NOT AFFECTED.
’’PHASE III WORK WILL START ON MARCH 1,” HE SAID.
“THE PROGRAMME WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT ALL TERMINAL WILL BE REINSTATED TO CATER FOR THE 1992 CHINESE NEW PERIOD," HE ADDED.
FACILITIES
YEAR PEAK
/HE POINTED .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
- 3 -
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE REFURBISHMENT PROGRAMME, COSTING S289 MILLION, WOULD ENABLE KAI TAK TO MEET FORECAST AIR PASSENGER DEMAND OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
IT WILL ALSO UPGRADE THE STANDARD OF EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES TO THAT PROVIDED IN THE EXTENSION TO THE PASSENGER TERMINAL WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 1988.
"THE PHASED APPROACH HAS BEEN ADOPTED WITH THE WORK BEING UNDERTAKEN IN FIVE SEPARATE STAGES EACH LASTING APPROXIMATELY FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
AS WELL AS INTERNAL RENOVATION OF BUILDING FINISHES, INCLUDING CEILINGS AND FLOORS, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING LIGHTING, THE PROJECT WILL ALSO REFURBISH AND UPGRADE THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS. ESSENTIAL TO THE OPERATION OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING.
THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL BE IMPROVED TO PROVIDE A MORE BALANCED COVERAGE AND VARIOUS BUILDING SERVICES, SUCH AS THE FIRE PROTECTION, DRAINAGE, PLUMBING AND POWER SUPPLIES, WILL BE UPGRADED.
THE DEPARTURE AND INTERLINE BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEM WILL BE IMPROVED TO FURTHER ENHANCE BAGGAGE DESPATCH RELIABILITY WHILE AN ELECTRONIC DISPLAY SYSTEM WILL BE INTRODUCED AT CHECK-IN TO IMPROVE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION TO PASSENGERS.
PASSENGER ACCESS BETWEEN ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES AND THE MULTI-STOREY CARPARK WILL BE IMPROVED BY THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL LIFTS AND ESCALATORS.
THE WHOLE REFURBISHMENT PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED AROUND THE MIDDLE OF 1992.
-----0-----
SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAY
*******
SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN VICTORIA HARBOUR WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TO FACILITATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 16).
. ACTING SENIOR MARINE OFFICER (SEARCH AND RESCUE) OF THE MARINE' DEPARTMENT, MR TREVOR BERRY, TODAY (TUESDAY) SAID: "FROM 2 PM TO 9 PM ON SATURDAY, THE STRETCH OF WATER ONE NAUTICAL MILE OFF THE WAN CHAI WATERFRONT FROM WAN CHAI TO KELLETT ISLAND WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL MARINE TRAFFIC EXCEPT MARINE POLICE, FIRE SERVICES AND MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES AND VESSELS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY."
/MR BERRY .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
MR BERRY SAID THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC PIERS AND LANDING STEPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR WOULD ALSO BE CLOSED TO NORMAL MARINE TRAFFIC ON SATURDAY EVENING TO EFFECT CROWD CONTROL:
* HONG KONG ISLAND
- QUEEN’S PIER FROM 7.30 PM TO 8.30 PM
- BLAKE PIER FROM 7.30 PM TO 8.30 PM
- LUNG KING STREET STEPS FROM 6 PM TO 8.30 PM
- WAN CHAI WEST FERRY STEPS FROM 6 PM TO 8.30 PM
» KOWLOON
- KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER WESTERN BERTHS FROM 7 PM TO 8.30 PM
- KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER SOUTHERN BERTHS FROM 6 PM TO 8.30 PM
- ALL MARINE ACCESS POINTS OF EAST TSIM SHA TSUI PROMENADE FROM 6.30 PM TO 8.30 PM
MR BERRY URGED ALL OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF SMALL CRAFT WISHING TO VIEW THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY FROM THE HARBOUR TO PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO MARINE SAFETY AND NOT TO OVERLOAD THEIR CRAFT.
MR BERRY SAID: "THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY IS FOR ALL TO ENJOY DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON AND OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE AND BE CONSIDERATE TO OTHER BOAT USERS.
"THEY SHOULD FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF MARINE POLICE OFFICERS SPECIALLY TASKED TO PATROL THE HARBOUR."
IN ADDITION, A TEMPORARY UNLIT MOORING BUOY WILL BE LAID 0.6 NAUTICAL MILE NORTHWEST OF THE WAN CHAI FERRY PIER ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 14) TO FACILITATE THE MOORING OF THE BARGE FROM WHICH THE FIREWORKS WILL BE DISCHARGED AND VESSELS NAVIGATING IN THE AREA SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
DETAILS OF THE SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ARE PUBLISHED IN MARINE DEPARTMENT NOTICES NO. 8 AND NO. 16 OF 1991 WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE PORT FORMALITIES OFFICE, THIRD FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
- - 0----------
/5 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
5
SIGNBOARD TO SEND NEW YEAR GREETINGS
******
A GIANT SIGNBOARD LIT UP THE VICTORIA PARK FLOWER FAIR TONIGHT (TUESDAY), SENDING LUNAR NEW YEAR WISHES TO RESIDENTS.
MEASURING 15 METRES BY 11 METRES, THE SIGNBOARD WAS PUT UP BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD AT A COST OF ABOUT $82,000.
THE DESIGN OF THE LIGHTS PORTRAYS THREE VIBRANT RAMS STROLLING ON A GREEN PASTURE WITH NEW YEAR GREETINGS FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
THE LIGHTS WILL BE TURNED ON DAILY FROM 6 PM TO 11 PM UNTIL MARCH 3. DURING THE THREE NIGHTS PRECEDING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR’S DAY, THE LIGHTS WILL BE ON UNTIL 6 AM.
THE SWITCHING-ON CEREMONY WAS OFFICIATED BY EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEVE BARCLAY; THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR SHUM . CHOI-SANG; URBAN COUNCILLOR MS CHRISTINA TING; AND THE POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MRS WONG LEUNG KAM-SHAN.
-----0-----
CLINIC SERVICES ON LUNAR NEW YEAR’S EVE
******
EIGHT GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WILL REMAIN OPEN BETWEEN 9 AM AND 1 PM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 14), THE LUNAR NEW YEAR’S EVE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE EIGHT CLINICS ARE: THE VIOLET PEEL HEALTH CENTRE AND SHAU KEI WAN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC ON HONG KONG ISLAND; THE KWUN TONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE, ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE AND YAU MA TEI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC IN KOWLOON; AND THE LADY TRENCH POLYCLINIC, SHEK WU HUI JOCKEY CLINIC AND YUEN LONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ALL OTHER OUT-PATIENT AND EVENING CLINICS WILL BE CLOSED.
------0-----------
/6........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
- 6 -
EPD REFUTES ADVERTISEMENT CLAIMS ******
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TODAY (TUESDAY) EXPRESSED EXTREME CONCERN ABOUT ADVERTISEMENTS WHICH APPEARED ON TELEVISION AND IN NEWSPAPERS PUBLICISING PRODUCTS RELATING TO THE USE OF UNLEADED PETROL (ULP).
THE PRODUCTS ARE CLAIMED TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE DRAMATICALLY EXHAUST EMISSIONS AND ENABLE ALL VEHICLES TO OPERATE ON ULP.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EPD SAID TO THE BEST OF HIS KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS NO HARD SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THE CLAIMS OF THESE PRODUCTS.
"ALL THESE CLAIMS IN THE ADVERTISEMENTS SEEM TO BE PREYING ON UNFOUNDED FEARS THAT SOME VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE ABOUT THE SWITCH TO ULP," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"AS A MATTER OF FACT," HE CONTINUED, "ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CAR MANUFACTURERS THEMSELVES, ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF ALL CURRENT PETROL VEHICLES CAN USE ULP WITHOUT ANY ADJUSTMENT WHATSOEVER, AND UNLEADED PETROL WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON CAR PERFORMANCE OR FUEL ECONOMY.
"A FURTHER 24 PER CENT OF ALL PETROL VEHICLES REQUIRES ONLY ATTENTION AS DESCRIBED IN ’THE MOTORISTS GUIDE TO UNLEADED PETROL’ PUBLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
"THIS LEAVES ONLY SIX PER CENT OF ALL VEHICLES UNABLE TO USE ULP AT ALL. FORTUNATELY, THESE VEHICLES WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AS AT PRESENT AND USE LEADED PETROL, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED CAR OWNERS TO CHECK THE REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR OWN VEHICLE IN ’THE MOTORISTS GUIDE TO UNLEADED PETROL’, WHICH HAS BEEN SENT BY MAIL TO ALL PETROL VEHICLE OWNERS.
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT OWNERS STILL ARE NOT CLEAR WHAT TO DO, THEY CAN CALL THE ULP HOTLINE 183 8383.
------0-----------
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
7
TWO BUILDINGS IN JUNCTION ROAD DECLARED DANGEROUS
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY HAS DECLARED THE BUILDINGS AT NOS. 3 AND 8C LAI CHI YUEN, JUNCTION ROAD, LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR, SAID NO. 3 LAI CHI YUEN WAS A PRE-WAR DOMESTIC BUILDING WHICH COMPRISED A TWO-STOREY MAIN BLOCK CONSTRUCTED OF LOADBEARING MASONRY WALLS WITH TIMBER FLOOR AND TILTED PITCHED ROOF.
IT ALSO COMPRISES A SINGLE-STOREY STRUCTURE WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE ROOF AND MASONRY WALLS AT THE REAR, AND A SINGLE-STOREY STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTED OF TIMBER AND METAL SHEETING AT THE FRONT.
NUMBER 8C LAI CHI YUEN COMPRISES A SINGLE-STOREY DOMESTIC STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTED OF TIMBER AND METAL SHEETING, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE SIDE WALL OF NO. 3.
INSPECTION REVEALED THAT NO. 3 WAS SHOWING MARKED SIGNS OF DETERIORATION.
THE MASONRY FLANK WALL OF THE MAIN BLOCK APPEARS TO BE CRACKED RIGHT THROUGH AT THE JUNCTION WITH THE MAIN FRONT WALL FOR ITS FULL HEIGHT, AND THE FRONT WALL HAS ALSO FRACTURED NEAR WINDOW OPENINGS.
MEANWHILE, THE ROOF IS SHOWING EXCESSIVE DEFLECTION AND SEVERAL TIMBER ROOF JOISTS HAVE BECOME ROTTEN OR SPLIT AND ARE SAGGING.
EXTENSIVE SPALLED CONCRETE AND CRACKED BEAMS ARE FOUND IN THE CONCRETE ROOF OF THE SINGLE-STOREY STRUCTURE AT THE REAR.
THE SINGLE-STOREY STRUCTURE AT THE FRONT IS IN A DILAPIDATED CONDITION AND IS LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS UPON DEMOLITION OF THE MAIN BLOCK AT NO. 3 WHILE NO. 8C, THE ROOF BOARDING AND TIMBER SUPPORTS ARE GENERALLY IN A DECAYING STATE AND THE ROOF IS SAGGING AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS.
THESE BUILDINGS ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE BEYOND ECONOMIC REPAIR AND SHOULD BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED AS BEING LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON APRIL 8, HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE BUILDINGS.
------0-----------
/8........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991
ENTRIES INVITED FOR NORTH DISTRICT COUNTRY RACE ******
AMATEUR SPORTSMEN AGED BELOW 60 ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A CROSS COUNTRY RACE TO BE HELD IN NORTH DISTRICT ON MARCH 10.
ORGANISED BY THE SHEUNG SHUI DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, THE RACE IS HELD ANNUALLY TO PROMOTE SPORTS AND BODY-BUILDING.
IT WILL BE DIVIDED INTO WOMEN’S AND MEN’S SECTIONS, COVERING A DISTANCE OF EIGHT KILOMETRES AND 10 KILOMETRES RESPECTIVELY.
THE EVENT IS OPEN TO COMPETITORS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY. ENTRIES SHOULD BE MADE BY MARCH 4.
TROPHIES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE FIRST 20 RUNNERS IN EACH SECTION. THOSE WHO CAN COMPLETE THE FULL COURSE WILL RECEIVE A COMMEMORATE MEDAL.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE NORTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE AT LUNG SUM ROAD; THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE’S PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES IN PIK FUNG ROAD OF FANLING, IN SAN FUNG AVENUE AND IN TIN PING ESTATE OF SHEUNG SHUI, OR THE SHEUNG SHUI DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION IN FU HING STREET OF SHEUNG SHUI.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE ABOVE OFFICES. FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION ON TEL. 670 2063.
- - 0 - -
SWD GROUP WORK UNIT FOR TUEN MUN RESIDENTS
*****
THE GROUP WORK UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE IS NOW SERVING RESIDENTS AT TUEN MUN NORTH WEST DISTRICT.
LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF LEUNG KING ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE, THE UNIT PROVIDES GROUP WORK SERVICES IN THE FORM OF SUPPORTIVE, SOCIAL AND INTEREST GROUP ACTIVITIES, TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF RESIDENTS OF THE NEW ESTATES.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE UNIT IS 465 6573.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
RESULTS OF QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY FOR FOURTH QUARTER 1990 RELEASED .. 1
PROPOSED DREDGING AT SOUTH OF MA WAN ........................................... 3
S120M CONTRACT FOR RECLAMATION AT MA ON SHAN SIGNED ............................ 4
GOVT RECEIVED MTRC INVESTIGATION REPORT ON DETRAINMENT.......................... 5
BANKING LICENCE GRANTED TO UNIBANK A/S ......................................... 5
FIVE GOVERNMENT LOTS FOR SALE BY AUCTION ....................................... 6
FISHERMEN URGED TO LAND THEIR CATCHES AT FMO MARKETS ........................... 7
BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME HOTLINE MANNED DURING HOLIDAYS .... 8
OPENING HOURS OF MARINE DEPT OFFICES DURING HOLIDAYS ........................... 9
DB ELECTION PUBLICITY IN NORTH DISTRICT ........................................ 9
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
1
RESULTS OF QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY FOR FOURTH QUARTER 1990 RELEASED *******
FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS A WHOLE EXPERIENCED A STABLE BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990 WHEN COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
LOOKING AHEAD, FIRMS IN THIS SECTOR GENERALLY EXPECT A LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991 WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990.
THESE COMPARISONS ARE, HOWEVER, LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS. AS FAR AS MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY IS CONCERNED, THE FIRST QUARTER OF A YEAR IS USUALLY A SEASONAL LOW WHILE THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH QUARTERS ARE NORMALLY MORE ACTIVE PERIODS.
IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, FIRMS IN THE WEARING APPAREL AND THE WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990 WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER, WHILE FIRMS IN THE PLASTICS, TEXTILES, AND FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED A DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, BUSINESS IN OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
AS REGARDS THE SHORT-TERM BUSINESS PROSPECTS, FIRMS IN MOST MANUFACTUR1NG INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE TEXTILES, WATCHES AND CLOCKS, AND WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRIES, EXPECT A LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991.
HOWEVER, FIRMS IN THE PLASTICS AND THE FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO INDUSTRIES EXPECT THEIR BUSINESS TO REMAIN STABLE.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, THE FIRMS SURVEYED GENERALLY EXPERIENCED A STABLE BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990 BUT EXPECT A LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991.
FIRMS IN THE DISTRIBUTIVE AND CATERING TRADES SECTOR, PARTICULARLY HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990.
THIS WAS PARTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO SEASONAL EFFECTS. REGARDING THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991, FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND 1MPORT/EXPORT TRADES EXPECT A MILD IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS, RESTAURANTS EXPECT A STABLE BUSINESS, WHILE HOTELS ANTICIPATE A DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS.
IN THE OTHER SERVICES SECTOR, WHILE BANKS EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER pF 1990, FIRMS IN THE TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES REPORTED A STABLE BUSINESS.
/REGARDING THE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
- 2 -
REGARDING THE SHORT-TERM BUSINESS PROSPECTS, MOST FIRMS IN THIS SECTOR, PARTICULARLY BANKS, EXPECT A LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991.
ABOUT 1,000 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND TRADES, FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY. THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCES AND EXPECTATIONS AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS PROBLEMS THEY FACED.
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990, FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEMS OF INSUFFICIENT BUSINESS ORDERS OR CONTRACTS; PRICE COMPETITION; SHORTAGE OF LABOUR, PARTICULARLY SKILLED LABOUR; HIGH WAGE RATES; AND HIGH MATERIAL PRICES.
• THE PROBLEM OF HIGH MATERIAL PRICES WAS PARTICULARLY WIDESPREAD FOR FIRMS IN THE PLASTICS AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, WHILE THE PROBLEM OF INSUFFICIENT BUSINESS ORDERS OR CONTRACTS WAS PARTICULARLY SERIOUS FOR FIRMS IN THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY.
THESE PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991 .
IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, FIRMS HAD THE PROBLEMS OF PRICE COMPETITION FROM LOCAL FIRMS IN HONG KONG; SHORTAGE OF LABOUR, PARTICULARLY SKILLED LABOUR; HIGH WAGE RATES; AND INSUFFICIENT BUSINESS OR CONTRACTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990.
THESE PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED TO SUSTAIN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991.
IN THE DISTRIBUTIVE AND CATERING TRADES SECTOR AND OTHER SERVICES SECTOR, A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF FIRMS CITED PRICE COMPETITION; SHORTAGE OF STAFF GENERALLY; AND HIGH STAFF ('OSTS AS THEIR MAJOR BUSINESS PROBLEMS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990.
IN ADD IT I ON TO THESE PROBLEMS, HOTELS ALSO ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM OF INSUFFICIENT BUSINESS WHILE BANKS HAD THE PROBLEM OF SHORTAGE OF EXPERIENCED STAFF.
THESE SITUATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991.
ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY, OBTAINED WITH A MINIMUM TIME LAG, ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE A SOURCE OF REFERENCE FOR MAKING A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION OF HONG KONG FROM A SHORT-TERM PERSPECTIVE.
IN THE SURVEY, PARTICIPATING FIRMS WERE ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER, IN THEIR OPINION, THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION AND LEVEL OF CAPACITY I'TI LISATION HAD ’’IMPROVED", "REMAINED THE SAME" OR "DETERIORATED" IN THE .FOURTH QUARTER OF 1990 AS COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER.
/THEY WERE ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
- 3 -
THEY WERE ALSO ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER THE SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO "IMPROVE", "REMAIN THE SAME" OR "DETERIORATE" IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1991.
THE OPINIONS OF RESPONDENTS WERE THEN ANALYSED AND THE SUMMARY FINDINGS PUBLISHED IN THE "REPORT ON QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY, FOURTH QUARTER 1990”.
MOREOVER, THE SURVEY REPORT CONTAINS A SECTION ON THE BUSINESS PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED AND EXPECTED BY FIRMS IN DIFFERENT ECONOMIC SECTORS, AND A BREAKDOWN OF THE VIEWS OF FIRMS BY EMPLOYMENT SIZE GROUP.
THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT, IN A SURVEY OF THIS NATURE, THE RESULTS SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH CAUTION AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH PRECISELY THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESPONDENTS’ RECOLLECTION OF THE PAST AND PERCEPTION OF THE FUTURE ACCORDS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRENDS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY PURCHASE COPIES OF THE SURVEY REPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL OR FROM THE PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT $5.50 PER COPY.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 839 3223.
------0-------
PROPOSED DREDGING AT SOUTH OF MA WAN
*****
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CARRY OUT DREDGING AT THE SOUTH OF MA WAN TO OBTAIN MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTION AND FUTURE RECLAMATION PROJECTS IN HONG KONG.
THE DREDGING WILL BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 93.542 HECTARES OF SEABED SOUTH OF MA WAN.
THE AREA WILL ALSO BE BACKFILLED TO A LEVEL NOT HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL SEABED, USING SURPLUS DREDGED MATERIAL FROM THIS SAME AREA OR DREDGED OR EXCAVATED MATERIAL FROM ELSEWHERE.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED WAS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
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 APRIL 12.
/THE NOTICE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
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.
THE NOTICE TOGETHER WITH ITS RELATED PLAN CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS NEAR THE SITE.
THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG (WHERE COPIES CAN BE PURCHASED ON ORDER); AT THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, FIRST FLOOR, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN; AT THE KWAI CHUNG AND TSING YI PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES CENTRE, KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 166-174 HING FONG ROAD, KWAI CHUNG; AND AT THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KWAI TSING, 10TH FLOOR, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
--------0 - -
$120M CONTRACT FOR RECLAMATION AT MA ON SHAN SIGNED ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
A $120 MILLION CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (TDD) FOR THE RECLAMATION OF ABOUT 23 HECTARES OF LAND AT MA ON SHAN, SHA TIN.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE PROJECT MANAGER OF NORTH EAST NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF TDD, MR BERNARD LAM, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONTRACTOR.
IT IS THE LAST MAJOR RECLAMATION CONTRACT TO BE LET BY TDD AS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MA ON SHAN IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE PROJECT INVOLVES CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS COMPRISING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 1.1 KILOMETRE SEAWALL, RECLAMATION WORK AND ASSOCIATED STORMWATER DRAINAGE IN THE AREA NORTH OF TAI SHUI HANG NULLAH IN MA ON SHAN.
THE LAND TO BE RECLAIMED WILL BE USED FOR RESIDENTIAL, INDUSTRIAL, GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY PURPOSES, AND DISTRICT OPEN SPACES AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF A STRATEGIC PUBLIC DUMPING SITE, CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING 1.5 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF DUMPING MATERIALS IN THE AREA.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 27 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
---------0-----------
/5.........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991.
5
GOVT RECEIVED MTRC INVESTIGATION REPORT ON DETRAINMENT »»»»»»
THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECEIVED A FULL REPORT FROM THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION ON ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE DETRAINMENT INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 6 LAST YEAR, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
COMMENTING ON THE MTRC’S REPORT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT AS MONITORING AUTHORITY FOR THE SAFETY OF TRAIN PASSENGERS, WAS SATISFIED WITH THE INVESTIGATION’S FINDINGS AND IMPROVEMENT MEASURES PROPOSED BY THE CORPORATION.
^THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO RECEIVED A SEPARATE REPORT FROM THE LOCAL RAILWAY INSPECTORATE WHICH HAS ENDORSED THESE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ENSURE THAT THE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WOULD CONTINUE 1*0 MONITOR ALL ASPECTS )F RAILWAY SAFETY THROUGH THE LOCAL RAILWAY INSPECTORATE.
------0--------
BANKING LICENCE GRANTED TO UNIBANK A/S » » » » t
THE UNIBANK A/S HAS BEEN GRANTED A BANKING LICENCE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN HONG KONG. THE BANKING LICENCE OF MIDLAND BANK PLC HAS BEEN REVOKED.
"UNIBANK IS THE SECOND LARGEST BANK IN DENMARK, AND RANKS 71ST IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF CAPITAL," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"IT HAS A REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN HONG KONG, AND IS THE SECOND DANISH BANK LICENSED HERE," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE CONTINUING INTEREST OF FOREIGN BANKS IN ENTERING THE LOCAL MARKET REFLECTED HONG KONG’S ROLE AS A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE.
"GIVEN THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG’S BILATERAL TRADE WITH DENMARK, IT IS DESIRABLE THAT THE COUNTRY HAS APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG’S BANKING SECTOR,” HE ADDED.
FOLLOWING ITS GLOBAL REORGANISATION, THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE MIDLAND BANK PLC CEASED OPERATING IN DECEMBER 1990.
THE BANK, WHICH WAS GRANTED A BANKING LICENCE IN 1979, HAS MAINTAINED A REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN HONG 'KONG TO ENSURE A CONTINUITY OF ITS PRESENCE.
/THERE ARE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
- 6 -
THERE ARE NOW 166 LICENSED BANKS OF WHICH 136 ARE OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
INCORPORATED
THE LICENCE OF UNIBANK A/S GRANTED IN 1991.
IS THE FIRST BANKING LICENCE
--------0-----------
FIVE GOVERNMENT LOTS FOR SALE BY AUCTION *****
FIVE LOTS OF GOVERNMENT LAND WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE IN A PUBLIC AUCTION BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT ON MARCH 12 AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE, BEGINNING AT 2.30 PM.
THE FIRST LOT, AT AP LEI CHAU WEST AND WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 4,500 SQUARE METRES, IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES, EXCLUDING OFFENSIVE TRADE.
ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING COVENANT, A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 25,650 SQUARE METRES SHOULD BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1995.
THE SECOND LOT IS LOCATED AT THE REAR OF NOS. 181-205 SHAU KEI WAN ROAD, SHAU KEI WAN, HONG KONG ISLAND.
THE SITE, MEASURING ABOUT 726.3 SQUARE METRES, IS FOR NON-INDUSTRIAL, EXCLUDING HOTEL AND GODOWN PURPOSES.
THE DEVELOPER HAS TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 4,445 SQUARE METRES ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1994.
THE THIRD LOT, LOCATED AT AREA 4B, SHEUNG SHUI IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 1,759 SQUARE METRES, IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES, EXCLUDING OFFENSIVE TRADE.
THE BUILDING COVENANT STIPULATES THAT A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 5,277 SQUARE METRES SHOULD BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1994.
THE FOURTH LOT IS LOCATED AT AREA 6, MA WO, TAI PO, NEW TERRITORIES AND HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 8,675 SQUARE METRES. IT IS FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
THE DEVELOPER HAS TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 12,500 SQUARE METRES ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1995.
THE REMAINING LOT IS LOCATED AT AREA 14B, YUEN SHUN CIRCUIT, SHA TIN, NEW TERRITORIES.
IT HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 4,100 SQUARE METRES AND IS INTENDED FOR NON-INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES, EXCLUDING GODOWN, RESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL.
/ACCORDING TO .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
7 -
ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING COVENANT, THE DEVELOPER HAS TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 16,878 SQUARE METRES ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1995.
FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND SALE PLANS INSPECTED AT, THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES KOWLOON, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 1OTH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
CONDITIONS OF SALE WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES OF SHA TIN, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, KWAI TSING, TAI PO, NORTH, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS.
---------0-----------
FISHERMEN URGED TO LAND THEIR CATCHES AT FMO MARKETS ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPEALED TO THE FISHERMEN FOR THEIR CONTINUOUS CO-OPERATION IN MARKETING THEIR CATCHES THROUGH THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION (FMO) MARKETS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MARINE FISH (MARKETING) ORDINANCE.
SPEAKING AT THE FMO’S ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY AT THE ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET, DR LEE SAID TO ENSURE THAT THE TRADING OF FISH WAS CONDUCTED IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER AND AT FAIR PRICES, THE FMO HAD OVER THE PAST YEARS TAKEN THE NECESSARY MEASURES TO MAINTAIN GOOD MARKET ORDER IN THE VARIOUS WHOLESALE MARKETS.
“THE ORGANISATION AND THE POLICE CONTINUED TO JOIN FORCES IN ELIMINATING ILLEGAL MARKETING ACTIVITIES.
’’DURING THE PAST YEAR, 122 CASES HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED WITH ALL THE OFFENDERS FINED AND THEIR CATCHES CONFISCATED. SOME OF THE OFFENDERS WERE EVEN SENTENCED TO THREE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS," HE SAID.
DR LEE SAID OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE LOCAL FISHING FLEET HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY THE RISE IN OIL PRICES, TENSION IN LABOUR SUPPLY AND THE GRADUAL DECREASE IN FISH RESOURCES AT THE CONVENTIONAL FISHING GROUNDS.
"THE LANDINGS OF THE FISHERMEN SUFFERED A SLIGHT DROP WHEN COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
"NEVERTHELESS, BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS MADE BY THE HARDWORKING FISHERMEN, FISH LANDINGS SOLD THROUGH THE FMO MARKETS STILL AMOUNTED TO OVER 67,000 TONNES AT A TOTAL VALUE OF OVER $580 MILLION," DR LEE ADDED.
/TO FURTHER .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
8
TO FURTHER DEVELOP'THE FISHING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG AND TO HELP FISHERMEN ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY, THE FMO AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRY DURING THE PAST YEAR.
"THIS INCLUDES LOANS AMOUNTING TO $13 MILLION FROM THE FMO LOAN FUND TO MEET THE OPERATIONAL NEED OF THE FISHERMEN.
"AS REGARDS TRAINING, THE AFD CONTINUED TO ORGANISE RADIO-TELEPHONE COURSES, TRAINING CLASSES FOR COXSWAINS AND ENGINEERS, AND DEEP SEA-FISHING ENDORSEMENT COURSES FOR THE FISHERMEN TO EQUIP THEM WITH THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.
"UP TO NOW, A TOTAL OF 6,376 FISHERMEN HAVE ATTENDED THESE TRAINING COURSES," DR LEE SAID.
MEANWHILE, IN 1990, SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND LOANS AMOUNTING TO $340,000 FROM THE MARINE FISH SCHOLARSHIP FUND WERE AWARDED TO FISHERMAN CHILDREN AND STUDENTS.
THE FMO ALSO ORGANISED A STUDY TOUR TO AUSTRALIA AND SINGAPORE FOR LOCAL FISHERMEN LAST MONTH.
"ALL THE FISHERMEN PARTICIPANTS CONSIDERED THE VISIT HELPFUL IN BROADENING THEIR INSIGHT WHICH SHOULD PROVE BENEFICIAL TO THE LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRY IN ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT," DR LEE CONTINUED.
AT TODAY’S CEREMONY, PRIZES WERE AWARDED TO 23 CHAMPION FISHERMEN OF THE YEAR. TEN FISHERMEN WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES TO SAVE OTHERS AT SEA WERE COMMENDED FOR THEIR GALLANTRY WHILE 17 GRADUATES OF THE LOCAL MASTERS AND ENGINEERS TRAINING CLASS WERE AWARDED CERTIFICATES.
TWO FMO STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED 25 YEARS OF SERVICE WERE PRESENTED LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES.
--------0-----------
BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME HOTLINE MANNED DURING HOLIDAYS
*****
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THEIR SPECIAL HOTLINE FOR THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME — 802 3300 -- WILL REMAIN MANNED DURING OFFICE HOURS THROUGHOUT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD (FEB 14 - 17).
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A SHARP INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CALLING UP THE HOTLINE.
"THE NUMBER OF CALLS RECEIVED BY THE HOTLINE IN THE PAST TWO DAYS AVERAGED MORE THAN 1,000 A DAY, COMPARED WITH ABOUT 400 A DAY PREVIOUSLY," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE HOTLINE IS MANNED BY SENIOR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WHO ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED TO ANSWER ENQUIRIES ON THE SCHEME.
0 - -
/9 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
9
OPENING HOURS OF MARINE DEPT OFFICES DURING HOLIDAYS
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT ALL PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS WILL CONTINUE TO BE OPEN FROM 7 AM TO 5 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY), THE FIRST DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
THEY WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 15 AND 16), AND WILL RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AT NOON ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 17).
THE PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS ARE AT THE WESTERN DISTRICT, SHEUNG WAN, WAN CHAI, CHAI WAN, SHAM SHUI PO, YAU MA TEI, KWUN TONG, CHA KWO LING, TSUEN WAN AND RAMBLER CHANNEL.
MEANWHILE, TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AND ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 16) THE VICTORIA MARINE OFFICE AND PORT FORMALITIES OFFICE — BOTH LOCATED ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL — WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM TO FACILITATE ENTRY AND OUTWARD CLEARANCE FOR SHIPS.
THE PORT FORMALITIES OFFICE WILL ALSO HANDLE APPLICATION FOR PERMITS NORMALLY ISSUED BY THE OFFICE.
DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD, THE VESSEL TRAFFIC CENTRE AND MACAU FERRY TERMINAL WILL REMAIN OPEN CONTINUOUSLY WHILE THE CHINA FERRY TERMINAL WILL BE OPEN AS NORMAL FROM 6 AM TO 10 PM DAILY.
--------0-----------
DB ELECTION PUBLICITY IN NORTH DISTRICT ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ »
AN EXHIBITION ON NORTH DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD AT THE FANLING AND SHEUNG SHUI RAILWAY STATIONS FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE EXHIBITION, WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL THE ELECTION DAY ON MARCH 3, PROVIDES INFORMATION ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES OF THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, THE LOCATION OF THE POLLING STATIONS, AND THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
A LEAFLET CONTAINING SIMILAR INFORMATION IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT, THE SHA TAU KOK COMMUNITY HALL, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE’S PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES IN FANLING, SHEUNG SHUI AND TIN PING ESTATE.
THE EXHIBITION AND LEAFLET ARE PART OF THE ELECTION PUBLICITY PROGRAMME CONDUCTED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE.
/IN ADDITION .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991
- 10 -
IN ADDITION, ELECTION PUBLICITY BANNERS HAVE BEEN D-ISPLAYED KEY SPO-fs IN THE DISTRICT, AND A BUS WILL TOUR THE DISTRICT ELECTION DAY TO URGE REGISTERED ELECTORS TO VOTE. IN ON
A SERIES OF FORUMS WILL BE HELD BETWEEN FEBRUARY 19 AND 23 CANDIDATES TO INTRODUCE THEIR PLATFORMS. DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS. FOR
DATE TIME •CONSTITUENCY VENUE
FEBRUARY 19 (TUESDAY) ’ — — 7.30 8. 15 PM -PM LUEN WO HUI PUl LING PRIMARY SCHOOL
8.30 9.15 PM -PM CHEUNG WAH CHEUNG WAH COMMUNITY HALL
9.30 PM -10.15 PM WAH MING LIU YUN SUM PRIMARY SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 20 (WEDNESDAY ) 7.30 9.30 PM -PM CHOI YUEN BUDDHIST CHAN SHI WAN PRIMARY SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 23 (SATURDAY) 7.30 8.30 PM -PM TIN PING TIN PING SHOPPING CENTRE
9 PM 9.4 5 PM SHEK WU HUI NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVEpNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR'S LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE 1991 .......................................... 1
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1991
- 1 -
GOVERNOR’S LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE 1991 » * » » «
"THIS TIME OF THE NEW YEAR IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT FAMILY FESTIVAL. IT IS A VERY SPECIAL TIME FOR US TO BE WITH OUR RELATIVES AND WITH OUR FRIENDS. AT THE NEW YEAR, WE REMEMBER THAT TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES AND HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS HOMES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING WE WANT TO ACHIEVE FOR OUR HONG KONG COMMUNITY.
"THE NEW YEAR IS, IN PARTICULAR, A TIME WHEN WE THINK A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. AND THAT’S QUITE RIGHT, BECAUSE WE WANT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE FUTURES.
"THAT IS WHY WHAT WE DO TO IMPROVE SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT. THAT IS WHY WE ARE PUSHING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF OUR SCHOOLS AND TO GIVE PARENTS MORE FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN THE TYPE OF EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO THEIR CHILDREN.
"AND WE HAVE GOT AMBITIOUS PLANS TOO FOR EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER EDUCATION HERE IN HONG KONG. OUR COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING A RAPID INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE STUDYING FOR DEGREES. THE NEW UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WILL BE ENROLLING ITS FIRST STUDENTS LATER THIS YEAR.
"THIS NEW YEAR IS NOT JUST A TIME FOR THINKING OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION. EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IT IS A TIME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. OUR COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL REGARD FOR THE ELDERLY FOR THOSE WHO IN THEIR OWN GENERATION, AND BY THEIR EFFORTS, LAID THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE BUSTLING CITY WHICH WE LIVE IN TODAY. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY SHARE THE WISH TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR DIGNITY AND THEIR WELL-BEING. WE ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP IMPROVING THE SERVICES THAT WILL MAKE OLD AGE A TIME OF RESPECT AND COMFORT.
"AN IMPORTANT HONG KONG TRADITION HAS BEEN OUR WILLINGNESS TO THINK AHEAD AND TO INVEST IN A RANGE OF PROJECTS THAT WILL CREATE TOMORROW’S PROSPERITY AND WHICH DAY BY DAY WILL IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. THAT FORWARD-LOOKING ATTITUDE MUST CONTINUE TO GUIDE OUR THINKING IN THE 1990S. WHILE WE WORK TO BUILD UP HONG KONG’S PROSPERITY, WE MUST ALSO AT THE SAME TIME MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF A CARING COMMUNITY - AND A COMMUNITY WHICH ENJOYS A CLEAN AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
"THE REMARKABLE PROGRESS THAT HONG KONG HAS MADE IN RECENT YEARS IS SOMETHING THAT IS BROUGHT HOME TOME VERY STRONGLY WHEN I TRAVEL ABROAD. WB CAN TAKE PRIDE IN OUR ACHIEVEMENTS BECAUSE HONG KONG IS RECOGNISED INCREASINGLY AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PACIFIC REGION’S EMERGENCE AS A MAJOR CENTRE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.
"DURING THIS PAST YEAR; I HAVE TRAVELLED TO CANADA, UNITED STATES, JAPAN, CHINA AND BRITAIN, TO TALK DIRECTLY TO FOREIGN STATESMEN AND BUSINESS LEADERS. EVERYWHERE I HAVE GONE, I HAVE FOUND GREAT INTEREST IN HONG KONG AND IN ITS HOPES FOR THE FUTURE. WE ARE SEEN AS A CITY OF IMPRESSIVE RESOURCEFULNESS AND REMARKABLE DYNAMISM.
/"THIS REPUTATION .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1991
2
"THIS REPUTATION HAS BEEN CREATED BY THE ENERGY AND SKILL OF A WHOLE ARMY OF UNOFFICIAL AMBASSADORS: FROM OUR STUDENTS WHO SO OFTEN MANAGE TO WIN PRIZES IN FOREIGN SCHOOLS AND. UNIVERSITIES, TO OUR BUSINESSMEN WHO ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO MAKE THE EXTRA EFFORT FOR THEIR OVERSEAS CLIENTS.
"AMONG THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THERE IS A RENEWED AWARENESS OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH HONG KONG OFFERS AND A REAL WILLINGNESS TO HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THE LONGER TERM PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY. FOR A PLACE WHICH LIVES ON TRADE, THIS GOODWILL IS SOMETHING WHICH REALLY MATTERS. I SHOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO WORK SO HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT HONG KONG’S REPUTATION AS A CENTRE OF TRADING AND COMMERCIAL EXCELLENCE GROWS YEAR BY YEAR. THE GOODWILL WE HAVE WORKED TO' CREATE, AND THE SINCERITY WITH WHICH WE PRESENT THE HONG KONG CASE, WILL GENERATE NEW GAINS FOR US DURING THIS YEAR 1991.
"AND, HERE AT HOME, 1 WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AT THE TIME OF THE NEW YEAR TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO DEVOTE SO MUCH OF YOUR PERSONAL TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKING HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE.
"OUR WORKFORCE, WHOSE SKILLS AND FLEXIBILITY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR PROSPERITY.
"OUR ENTREPRENEURS AND PROFESSIONALS, WHOSE RESILIENCE AND EXPERTISE ARE CRUCIAL IN CREATING NEW PROSPERITY FOR ALL OF US.
"THE REMARKABLE NUMBERS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES, BOTH FULL-TIME AND VOLUNTEERS, WHOSE CARING COMMITMENT IS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US.
"THANKS TO ALL YOUR EFFORTS, WE CAN HAVE FAITH IN OUR ABILITY TO IMPROVE THIS PLACE WE CALL HOME, AND THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
"I AM GLAD TO HAVE THIS CHANCE TO WISH YOU ALL, FROM MY WIFE, FROM MY FAMILY AND FROM MYSELF, A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.
"MAY THIS YEAR OF THE RAM BRING YOU HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY. MAY HONG KONG AND ITS FAMILIES ENJOY THE SUCCESS AND. PROGRESS DURING 1991 WHICH OUR COMMUNITY SO RICHLY DESERVES."
- 0 - r-
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
BOOKKEEPING COURSE FOR SCHOOL CLERKS ........................................... 1
PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION OF PERCIVAL STREET FOOTBRIDGE .......................... 1
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1991
BOOKKEEPING COURSE FOR SCHOOL CLERKS »»»»»»
CLERICAL STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR SCHOOL ACCOUNTS IN AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A REFRESHER COURSE ON BOOKKEEPING.
THE HALF-DAY COURSE IS FOR CLERICAL OFFICERS WHO HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED THE BOOKKEEPING COURSES ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND WISH TO REFRESH THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON THE LATEST ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE COURSE WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 26 AT THE HONG KONG TEACHERS’ CENTRE IN NORTH POINT.
MEANWHILE, A SERIES OF TWO-DAY SEMINARS WILL BE HELD FOR CLERICAL STAFF IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHO MAY HAVE LITTLE OR NO KNOWLEDGE OF ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE SEMINARS ARE TO ENABLE THESE CLERICAL OFFICERS TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ACCOUNTING SYSTEM BASED ON THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT MODEL, TO ACQUAINT THEM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE OF AID FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS, THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS, AND TO IMPROVE THEIR GENERAL ACCOUNTING SKILLS.
THESE SEMINARS WILL BE HELD BETWEEN MARCH 11 AND 15 AT THE HONG KONG TEACHERS’ CENTRE IN NORTH POINT.
--------0-----------
PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION OF PERCIVAL STREET FOOTBRIDGE , ******
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO RECONSTRUCT THE EXISTING FOOTBRIDGE AT THE JUNCTION OF GLOUCESTER ROAD AND PERCIVAL STREET IN WAN CHAI.
THE PROPOSED FOOTBRIDGE WILL HAVE A COVER AND ADDITIONAL SPANS ACROSS THE GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND SERVICE ROAD AND PERCIVAL STREET TO FACILITATE PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT AT THE ROAD JUNCTION.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE.
THE PLAN AND SCHEME OF THE PROPOSED WORKS CAN BE INSPECTED AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
/* CENTRAL AND ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1991
2 -
♦ CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, CENTRAL;
* HONG KONG WEST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, SOUTHORN CENTRI, 19TH FLOOR, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI; AND
♦ WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE, PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES CENTRE, 2 O’BRIEN ROAD, WAN CHAI.
MEMBERS OF PUBLIC WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 9 THIS YEAR.
- - 0----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
CONTENT'S PAGE NO.
RE-APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSION ON YOUTH .......................................... 1
GOVT LAB TO BUY AUTHENTIC SAMPLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM ................................ 2
EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND PROVIDES $3.4M TO NEEDY IN 1989/90 ........................ 3
TRADERS PROSECUTED FOR USING INACCURATE WEIGHING OR MEASURING INSTRUMENTS . 4
48 NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER ...................................... 5
MORAL EDUCATION REFERENCE FOR TEACHERS .......................................... 6
BOOKLETS TO STRENGTHEN PARENT-SCHOOL LIAISON .................................... 6
SEMINARS TO BOOST CRANE SAFETY .................................................. 7
ELECTION FORUMS FOR SAI KUNG CANDIDATES ......................................... 7
NEW POST OFFICE TO OPEN IN KENNEDY TOWN ......................................... 8
THREE PRIVATE STREETS ON HK ISLAND TO BE RESUMED ................................ 9
SHEUNG TAK STREET IN WONG TAI SIN TO BE PERMANENTLY CLOSED...................... 10
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
RE-APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSION ON YOUTH
******
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT THE CHAIRMAN AND ALL NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH HAVE BEEN RE-APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION FOR A FURTHER TERM OF ONE YEAR.
SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT ON FEBRUARY 15 LAST YEAR, THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN CHAIRED BY EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MRS ROSANNA TAM.
OTHER NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE : MR DAVID CHEUNG CHI-KONG, MRS MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, DR NELSON CHOW WING-SUN, MR MAK HOI-WAH, MRS JOYCE TAI POON CHING-SHEUNG, MR CHEUNG YIN-TUNG, DR LO CHI-KIN, MR CHAN MO-POW, MR HOWARD YOUNG HOW-WAH AND MR CHAN KA-KUI.
THEY HAVE* ALL BEEN RE-APPOINT ) TO THE COMMISSION BY THE GOVERNOR FOR ONE YEAR WITH EFFECT FROM FEBRUARY 15.
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MISS JUNIA HO SUK-YIN AND MRS TERESA LAM YU LAI-LING AS NEW MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION FOR THE SAME ONE-YEAR PERIOD.
MISS HO IS CURRENTLY ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, ANOTHER ADVISORY BODY SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT IN 1986. MRS LAM IS CO-ORDINATOR, YOUTH SERVICE, OF CARITAS HONG KONG.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE AND THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ON THE COMMISSION.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO YOUTH;
(B) TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND INFORMATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ADVISORY BODIES ON YOUTH MATTERS WITH A VIEW . TO ENSURING THAT THE INTERESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE DESIGN OF RELEVANT SERVICES PROGRAMMES;
(C) TO ENCOURAGE BETTER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN YOUTH SERVICE PROVISION;
(D) TO GATHER INFORMATION AND INITIATE RESEARCH ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO YOUTH;
(E) TO ACT AS A FOCAL LIAISON POINT WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, AND TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO ACQUIRE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENBCE AND EXPOSURE;
/(F) TO ENHANCE ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
- 2 -
(F) TO ENHANCE THE CIVIC AWARENESS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS; AND
(G) TO PROMOTE LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AS PART OF ITS ACTIVITIES, THE COMMISSION HAS STARTED RESEARCH WORK ON THE YOUTH’S ATTITUDES AND EXPECTATIONS TOWARDS THEIR FUTURE AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA ON YOUTH. IT IS HOPED THAT THE FINDINGS OF THESE STUDIES WILL FACILITATE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE THINKING AND BEHAVIOUR OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE COMMISSION HAS ALSO INITIATED A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH YOUTH ORGANISATIONS AND ORGANISATIONS WITH AN INTEREST IN YOUTH MATTERS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND OBTAIN THEIR VIEWS ON THE COMMISSION’S WORK.
--------0-----------
GOVT LAB TO BUY AUTHENTIC SAMPLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM
*****
THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY (GL> WILL ACQUIRE A NEW SAMPLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM WHICH COULD PRODUCE ANALYTICAL RESULTS GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE IN LAW COURTS AS INCONTESTABLE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.
THE SYSTEM, WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $5,850,000, IS SCHEDULED TO BE INSTALLED IN THE 1992/93 FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE RELEVANT FUND ALLOCATION WAS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THE NEW MODEL IS WIDELY USED BY WELL ESTABLISHED LABORATORIES ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR CONDUCTING ANALYSES OF COMPLICATED AND IMPORTANT SAMPLES.
IT USES THE TECHNIQUE WHICH PROVIDES THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT METHOD OF ACQUIRING ACCURATE ANALYTICAL INFORMATION ON ORGANIC COMPOUNDS.
WHEN COMPARED WITH THE EXISTING SYSTEM, IT HAS SUPERIOR SENSITIVITY AND IS MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.
AFTER ITS FIRST INSTALLATION IN 1980, THE EXISTING SYSTEM, INSTALLED UNDER THE GL’S ANALYTICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES DIVISION, IS NOW IN POOR WORKING CONDITION DUE TO ITS AGE AND HEAVY USAGE.
A CHEMIST WORKING IN THE DIVISION, DR K.S. LEUNG, SAID APART FROM THE DIFFICULTY TO OBTAIN SPARE PARTS, THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT ALSO EXPERIENCED FREQUENT BREAKDOWNS IN RECENT YEARS WITH ITS ANALYTICAL SENSITIVITY DETERIORATED SIGNIFICANTLY.
/"IN CASE .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
3 -
"IN CASE OF BREAKDOWNS, THE DIVISION MAY NEED TO USE OTHER LESS VERSATILE TECHNIQUES TO CONDUCT TESTS. IN SUCH CASES, TESTS WOULD TAKE LONGER TIME TO ACCOMPLISH AND ACCURACY OF THE RESULTS MIGHT BE AFFECTED," DR LEUNG SAID.
REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED ON THE ADVICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT.
THE DIVISION PROVIDES ADVISORY AND TESTING SERVICES FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHICH REQUIRE LABORATORY SUPPORT IN DISCHARGING THEIR STATUTORY AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS OR DUTIES.
ITS ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDES TESTING OF CIGARETTES FOR HARMFUL CHEMICALS, RADIOCHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING OF AIR, WATER AND WASTE SAMPLES.
THE DIVISION ALSO IDENTIFIES HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS AND PESTICIDES IN FOOD, HORMONE RESIDUE' IN POULTRY AND UNDECLARED SYNTHETIC DRUGS IN CHINESE HERBAL PREPARATIONS.
ON SOME OCCASIONS, PARTICULARLY IN CASES WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY IS AFFECTED, ANALYTICAL RESULTS ARE REQUIRED URGENTLY.
--------0-----------
EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND PROVIDES $3.4M TO NEEDY IN 1989/90
******
THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WHICH PROVIDES CASH AID TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTER HAS PAID OUT A TOTAL OF >3.4 MILLION IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 1989/90.
THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, MANAGED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, COMPRISES OF AN ALLOCATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND OCCASIONAL DONATION FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WITH ADVICE FROM THE RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE, LOANS AND GRANTS WOULD BE GIVEN TO VICTIMS OF FIRE, FLOOD, TYPHOON AND OTHER DISASTERS.
A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT IN 1989/90, THE MAJORITY OF THE PAYMENTS WHICH TOTALLED $2.5 MILLION, OR 75 PER CENT OF THE YEAR’S TOTAL EXPENDITURE, WERE GRANTS MADE FOR DOMESTIC RE-ACCOMMODATION, RE-EQUIPMENT, SITE FORMATION AND REPAIR.
THE REMAINDER INCLUDED $630,000 IN PRIMARY PRODUCE GRANTS AND $210,000 IN DEATH AND INJURY GRANTS. RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS FROM THE FUND WERE MOSTLY VICTIMS OF FIRES AND LANDSLIDES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
GRANTS MADE FROM THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND FALL INTO THE FOLLOWING FIVE CATEGORIES:
* DEATH AND PERSONAL INJURY GRANTS;
/* DOMESTIC RE-ACCOMMODATION ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
4
* DOMESTIC RE-ACCOMMODATION, RE-EQUIPMENT, SITE FORMATION AND REPAIR GRANTS;
* GRANTS FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF VESSELS;
* PRIMARY PRODUCE GRANTS; AND
* SPECIAL GRANTS.
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPROVING GRANTS AND MAKING PAYMENTS VESTS IN OFFICERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE, HOUSING, MARINE, AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENTS.
THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERALL CO-ORDINATION IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT GRANTS MIGHT BE MADE TO A PERSON WHO IS A LEGAL RESIDENT OF HONG KONG AMD IS IN NEED AS A RESULT OF NATURAL DISASTER SUCH AS TEMPEST, TYPHOON, RAINSTORM, LANDSLIDE, AND FLOODING.
"IN ADDITION, VICTIMS OF FIRE, HOUSE COLLAPSE, BOAT CAPSIZE, SHIPWRECK, EXPLOSION, EVICTION FROM A DANGEROUS BUILDING ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE," HE ADDED.
--------0 - -
TRADERS PROSECUTED FOR USING INACCURATE WEIGHING OR MEASURING INSTRUMENTS * « * * »
THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED 54 TRADERS FOR USING INACCURATE WEIGHING OR MEASURING INSTRUMENTS SINCE THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE CAME INTO EFFECT TWO YEARS AGO.
TOTAL FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS AMOUNT TO OVER $130,000.
THE PRINCIPAL TRADE CONTROLS OFFICER OF THE CUSTOMS TRADING STANDARDS INVESTIGATION BUREAU, MR ANDREW WONG, SAID MOST PROSECUTIONS RESULTED FROM PUBLIC COMPLAINTS.
"SINCE THE LAW WAS ENACTED, WE HAVE RECEIVED 355 COMPLAINTS ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. A TOTAL OF 238 COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED IN 1990, COMPARED WITH 94 IN 1989. SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN 23 COMPLAINTS," HE SAID.
IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MR WONG SAID OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT SPOT CHECKS AT SHOPS OR MARKET STALLS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
"SO FAR, ABOUT 380 SUCH SPOT CHECKS HAVE BEEN MADE," HE SAID.
/AS A.........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
- 5 -
AS A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF THE GULF WAR, MR WONG SAID, OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT HAD RECENTLY STEPPED UP SPOT CHECKS AT PETROL FILLING STATIONS.
"NO DISCREPANCIES HAVE BEEN FOUND AS A RESULT," HE SAID.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, TWO FRUIT RETAILERS AND A POULTRY RETAILER WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $5,500 FOR USING INACCURATE WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SUSPECT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN SHORT WEIGHTS OR MEASURES SHOULD TELEPHONE THE DEPARTMENT ON 714 6146 DURING OFFICE HOURS OR 852 3185 OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS.
--------0-----------
48 NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER
******
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE APPROVED A TOTAL OF 48 NEW BUILDING PLANS IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.
OF THE PLANS, 17 WERE FOR HONG KONG ISLAND, EIGHT FOR KOWLOON AND 23 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE APPROVED PLANS INCLUDED 11 FOR APARTMENT, APARTMENT/COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, 12 FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THREE FOR GODOWN OR FACTORY PURPOSES.
DURING THE MONTH, THE OFFICE GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO START ON 51 PROJECTS, INVOLVING 86,687.8 SQUARE METRES OF USABLE DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA AND 191,500.7 SQUARE METRES OF USABLE NON-DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.
THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING THE MONTH WAS ABOUT $1,496 MILLION. USABLE FLOOR AREAS FOR DOMESTIC AND NON-DOMESTIC USES WERE ABOUT 157,611.8 SQUARE METRES AND ABOUT 148,159.5 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY.
ALSO DURING THE MONTH, THE OFFICE ISSUED 40 OCCUPATION PERMITS; 15 FOR HONG KONG ISLAND, SIX FOR KOWLOON AND 19 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
IN ADDITION, THE OFFICE ISSUED 43 DEMOLITION CONSENTS AFFECTING 103 BUILDINGS.
THE CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT DIVISION RECEIVED 794 COMPLAINTS ON ILLEGAL BUILDING WORKS, CARRIED OUT 1,245 INSPECTIONS AND ISSUED 87 REMOVAL ORDERS.
THE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS SECTION INSPECTED 558 BUILDINGS AND OBTAINED ONE EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDER.
- - 0 - -
/6 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
6
MORAL EDUCATION REFERENCE FOR TEACHERS » * » » ♦
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS PUBLISHED THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE MORAL EDUCATION REFERENCE MATERIALS CONTAINING A COLLECTION OF VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS, IDEAS AND STRATEGIES.
THE NINTH ISSUE FOCUSSES ON THE TEACHING OF ETHICAL/MORAL EDUCATION AT SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL AND IS AIMED AT MAKING MORAL EDUCATION MORE INTERESTING AND EFFECTIVE.
ISSUE AND
AT THE
ROAD, NORTH
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID THIS THE PREVIOUS ONES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE RELIGIOUS/ETHICAL EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE IN PAK FUK
POINT.
-----0-----
BOOKLETS TO STRENGTHEN PARENT-SCHOOL LIAISON
*******
TWO BOOKLETS ON GOOD PARENTING PRODUCED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN STUDYING IN KINDERGARTENS AND THE OTHER FOR THOSE OF CHILDREN IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
THE KINDERGARTEN BOOKLET, "HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN", IS AIMED AT STRENGTHENING LIAISON BETWEEN PARENTS AND SCHOOLS AND CONTAINS PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PARENTHOOD SUCH AS:
* THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN;
» COMMUNICATING WITH CHILDREN POSITIVELY;
* • LOVING AND CARING FOR THEM;
* HELPING THEM IMPROVE THEIR BEHAVIOUR; AND
* MAINTAINING A CLOSE LIAISON WITH SCHOOLS.
"THE KINDERGARTEN SECTION OF THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE WILL ORGANISE A HALF-DAY SEMINAR ON LIAISON BETWEEN KINDERGARTENS AND PARENTS ON MARCH 11 TO INTRODUCE THE BOOKLET AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL HEADS AND TEACHERS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF INVOLVING PARENTS IN THEIR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
SEMINAR TOPICS INCLUDE ORGANISING GAMES DAY WITH PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, ORGANISING PARENTS’ DAY OR SEMINAR AND PUBLISHING NEWSLETTERS FOR PARENTS.
/THE BOOKLET .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
7
THE BOOKLET FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS WAS FOUND TO BE POPULAR WHEN
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL IT WAS FIRST PRODUCED IN 1988.
"ADDITIONAL COPIES HAVE BEEN PARENTS OF STUDENTS NEWLY ADMITTED TO SAID.
PRINTED FOR CIRCULATION AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOLS,” THE SPOKESMAN
---------0-----------
SEMINARS TO BOOST CRANE SAFETY ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL ORGANISE TWO SPECIAL SEMINARS ON THE SAFE OPERATION OF LIFTING APPLIANCES ON FEBRUARY 25 FOR RIGGERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF LEASING COMPANIES OF SUCH EQUIPMENT.
THE SEMINARS ARE AIMED AT CURBING THE RECENT SPATE OF CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LIFTING APPLIANCES SUCH AS TOWER CRANES AND MOBILE CRANES.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL RUN A
HALF-DAY
ANOTHER ONE FOR THE LEASING COMPANIES, TO
SEMINAR FOR RIGGERS, AND HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN
THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THESE MACHINES AND OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND SHARE EXPERIENCES ON THE SUBJECT.
THE SEMINARS WILL BE HELD AT THE DEPARTMENT’S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE ON THE 13TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL. ADMISSION IS FREE.
PEOPLE WHO WISH TO ENROL OR TO OBTAIN FURTHER INFORMATION MAY CONTACT THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION ON TEL. 386 4292.
---------0-----------
ELECTION FORUMS FOR SAI KUNG CANDIDATES »»*«»♦
SEVEN ELECTION FORUMS FOR SAI KUNG CANDIDATES WILL BE HELD BY THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THE FORUMS WILL GIVE CANDIDATES A CHANCE TO ELABORATE THEIR PLATFORMS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE SEVEN SINGLE-SEATED CONSTITUENCIES IN SAI KUNG DISTRICT. A TOTAL OF 12 CANDIDATES, TWO FROM EACH CONSTITUENCY, WILL BE COMPETING FOR SIX SEATS ON MARCH 3, WHILE THE CANDIDATE IN THE SAI KUNG CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY WILL BE RETURNED UNOPPOSED.
/DETAILS OF .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
8
DETAILS OF THE FORUMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
CONSTITUENCY DATE TIME VENUE
SAI KUNG PAK SHA WAN FEBRUARY 19 8 PM SAI KUNG CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOL
SAI KUNG ISLANDS FEBRUARY 22 8 PM SAI KUNG JOCKEY CLUB TOWN 'HALL
HANG HAU FEBRUARY 23 4 PM CHEN CHEK CHEE SECONDARY SCHOOL
TSUI LAM FEBRUARY 24 3 PM TSUI LAM COMMUNITY HALL
SAI KUNG CENTRAL FEBRUARY 26 8 PM SAI KUNG JOCKEY CLUB TOWN HALL
PO LAM FEBRUARY 27 8 PM CARMEL DIVINE GRACE FOUNDATION SECONDARY SCHOOL
YAU YUE WAN FEBRUARY 28 8 PM HANG HAU CENTRAL SING HANG FONG MEMORIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL
RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ELECTION FORUMS.
--------0-----------
NEW POST OFFICE TO OPEN IN KENNEDY TOWN ******
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, ANNOUNCED TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE NEW KENNEDY TOWN POST OFFICE, LOCATED AT SHOPS A2 AND A3 ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF LUEN TAK APARTMENTS, 34 FORBES STREET, WILL OPEN AT 9.30 AM ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25.
THE EXISTING POST OFFICE AT 45 SMITHFIELD WILL CLOSE FOR BUSINESS WITH EFFECT FROM 1 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 23).
THE HOURS OF BUSINESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE NEW POST OFFICE WILL BE THE SAME AS THOSE OF THE EXISTING OFFICE.
/A SPECIAL .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
9
A SPECIAL HAND-BACK SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PHILATELISTS ON FEBRUARY 25.
LOCAL
UNREGISTERED FULL POSTAGE PREPAID FIRST DAY COVERS, PREPARED PRIVATELY AND BEARING A LOCAL ADDRESS, WILL BE ACCEPTED OVER THE COUNTER, IMPRESSED WITH THE NORMAL POST OFFICE DATESTAMP AND HANDED BACK TO THE PERSON PRESENTING THEM.
--------0----------
THREE PRIVATE STREETS ON HK ISLAND TO BE RESUMED
* * * * *
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO RESUME AND REPAIR JUPITER STREET IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT AND MCGREGOR AND SAM PAN STREETS IN WAN CHAI ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE THREE STREETS WERE PRIVATE STREETS UNDER MULTIPLE OWNERSHIPS AND HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY MANAGED OR MAINTAINED.
"AS A RESULT, THEY ARE IN POOR REPAIR AND ARE PARTLY OCCUPIED BY STALLS OBSTRUCTING PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR MOVEMENT," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE RESUMPTION WOULD ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO CLEAR THE OBSTRUCTING STALLS AND TO REPAIR THE STREETS TO A PROPER STANDARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
WORKS ON MCGREGOR STREET AND SAM PAN STREET WOULD START IN MAY NEXT YEAR WHILE THOSE ON JUPITER STREET WOULD FOLLOW THREE MONTHS LATER.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED WORKS, OBJECTS OR STRUCTURES ATTACHED TO OR PROJECTING FROM A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS IN KING’S ROAD, JUPITER STREET, MCGREGOR STREET, CROSS STREET, TAI YUEN STREET AND SAM PAN STREET WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED.
NOTICES ON THE PROPOSED RESUMPTION AND REPAIR OF THE THREE PRIVATE STREETS WERE PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE.
THE PLANS AND SCHEMES SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORKS ON THE THREE PRIVATE STREETS CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, CENTRAL.
THE PLAN AND SCHEME ON THE PROPOSED WORKS ON JUPITER STREET CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE HONG KONG EAST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 19TH FLOOR, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, 29 TAI ON STREET, EASTERN LAW COURTS BUILDING, SAI WAN HO.
/THE PLANS .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1991
- 10 -
THE PLANS AND SCHEMES ON THE PROPOSED WORKS ON MCGREGOR STREET AND SAM PAN STREET CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE HONG KONG WEST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 19TH FLOOR, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, AND THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE, PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES CENTRE, 2 O’BRIEN ROAD, WAN CHAI.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 9 THIS YEAR.
---------0-----------
SHEUNG TAK STREET IN WONG TAI SIN TO BE PERMANENTLY CLOSED ♦ ♦ ♦ » »
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CARRY OUT ROADWORKS FOR THE PERMANENT CLOSURE OF THE REMAINING PART OF SHEUNG TAK STREET TO FACILITATE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF LOWER WONG TAI SIN ESTATE PHASE II.
THE STREET WILL BE PERMANENTLY CLOSED IN AUGUST THIS YEAR.
THE AREA OCCUPIED BY THIS PART OF SHEUNG TAK STREET WILL BE TURNED INTO A LANDSCAPED OPEN SPACE AND AN EMERGENCY ACCESS UPON COMPLETION OF REDEVELOPMENT.
WHEN COMPLETED IN 1994, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF LOWER WONG TAI SIN ESTATE PHASE II WILL PROVIDE 884 RENTAL FLATS FOR ABOUT 3,250 PEOPLE.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE.
THE PLAN AND SCHEME MAY BE INSPECTED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
♦ CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, CENTRAL;
♦ KOWLOON EAST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, YAU MA TEI; AND
♦ WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, FOURTH FLOOR, KING FUK STREET, SAN PO KONG.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 9 THIS YEAR.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HK'S TRADE WITH CHINA OF OUTWARD PROCESSING NATURE FOR THIRD QUARTER 1990 1
OFFICE OF THE EXCHANGE FUND ESTABLISHED ........................................ 4
MARINE INQUIRY ORDERED INTO PLEASURE VESSEL INCIDENT ........................... 5
EDUCATION COMMISSION MEMBERS VISITING U.S....................................... 5
REPROVISIONING OF IMMIGRATION OFFICE ........................................... 6
NEW AIRPORT POST OFFICE TO OPEN SOON ....................................
ELECTION FORUMS IN WAN CHAI DISTRICT............................................ 8
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
- 1 -
HK’S TRADE WITH CHINA OF OUTWARD PROCESSING NATURE FOR THIRD QUARTER 1990 *****
SOME 62% OF HONG KONG'S IMPORTS FROM CHINA WAS RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING, IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990
ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME 60% OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL EXPORTS TO CHINA WAS FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING; THE FIGURE WAS 78% FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS,. AND 53% FOR RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA.
THE CORRESPONDING PROPORTIONS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1989 WERE 58% FOR IMPORTS, 56% FOR TOTAL EXPORTS, 77% FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND 46% FOR RE-EXPORTS.
FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1990, SOME 62% OF HONG KONG’S IMPORTS FROM CHINA WAS RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING. •
ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME 58% <>F HONG KONG’S TOTAL EXPORTS TO CHINA WAS FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING; THE FIGURE WAS 79% FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, AND 50% FOR RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA.
THE CORRESPONDING PROPORTIONS FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1989 WERE 58% FOR IMPORTS, 52% FOR TOTAL EXPORTS, 75% FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS • AND 43% FOR RE-EXPORTS.
TO PROVIDE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF OUTWARD PROCESSING IN CHINA BY HONG KONG FIRMS, THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONDUCTING A SAMPLE SURVEY AS FROM THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988 TO DISTINGUISH HONG KONG’S EXPORTS TO CHINA -BOTH DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS - INTO THOSE WHICH ARE FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING AND THOSE WHICH ARE NOT.
THE SCOPE OF THE SURVEY HAS ALSO BEEN EXTENDED AS FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1989 SO AS TO SEGREGATE HONG KONG’S IMPORTS FROM CHINA' INTO THOSE WHICH ARE RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING AND THOSE WHICH ARE NOT. THE RESULTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 ARE NOW AVAILABLE.
IN VALUE TERMS, SOME $39,198 MILLION OF IMPORTS FROM CHINA IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 WERE RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 27% OVER THE SAME QUARTER IN 1989.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS TO CHINA FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990, AT $24,331 MILLION, WAS 19% HIGHER THAN THAT IN THE SAME QUARTER A YEAR AGO.
THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING GREW BY 13% TO $9,714 MILLION AND 23% TO $14,617 MILLION RESPECTIVELY.
FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1990, SOME $102,181 MILLION OF IMPORTS FROM CHINA WERE RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 25% OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1989.
/THE VALUE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
- 2 -
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS TO CHINA FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1990, AT $64,828 MILLION, WAS 15% HIGHER THAN THAT IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO.
THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING GREW BY 11% TO $26,065 MILLION AND 17% TO $38,763 MILLION RESPECTIVELY.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY, EXPORTS TO CHINA FOR OUTWARD PROCESSING REFER TO THE EXPORTING OF RAW MATERIALS OR SEMIMANUFACTURES FROM OR THROUGH HONG KONG TO CHINA FOR PROCESSING, WITH THE RESULTING PROCESSED GOODS BEING SUBSEQUENTLY RE-IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG.
IMPORTS FROM CHI^A RELATED TO OUTWARD PROCESSING REFER TO THE IMPORTING OF GOODS FROM CHINA OF WHICH ALL OR PART OF THEIR RAW MATERIALS OR SEMI-MANUFACTURES ARE UNDER CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT EXPORTED FROM OR THROUGH HONG KONG TO CHINA FOR PROCESSING.
A SAMPLE OF TRADE DECLARATIONS IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG’S TRADE WITH CHINA (IMPORTS FROM CHINA, DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA) ARE SELECTED FOR ENUMERATION TO OBTAIN THE REQUIRED INFORMATION FROM ESTABLISHMENTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED SYSTEM OF RECORDING TRADE FLOWS, ALL MOVEMENTS OF GOODS ACROSS THE BORDER, FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE, ARE RECORDED AS EXTERNAL TRADE.
THUS THE MOVEMENTS OF GOODS ASSOCIATED WITH OUTWARD PROCESSING ARE CORRECTLY INCLUDED IN THE REGULAR TRADE STATISTICS.
’’THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY, HOWEVER, FACILITATE A MORE INFORMED ANALYSIS OF THE NATURE OF HONG KONG-CHINA TRADE. IK THIS RESPECT, THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE A USEFUL SUPPLEMENT TO THE REGULAR TRADE STATISTICS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
SURVEY RESULTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1990 WILL BE INCLUDED IN PART I OF THE DECEMBER 1990 ISSUE OF THE ’’HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE”, WHICH WILL BE ON SALE AROUND FEBRUARY 20 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $27 PER COPY.
/ESTIMATED VALUE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
3 -
ESTIMATED VALUE AND PROPORTION OF OUTWARD PROCESSING TRADE FOR IMPORTS FROM CHINA AND EXPORTS (DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS) TO CHINA 3RD QUARTER OF 1990 AND JANUARY - SEPTEMBER 1990
Trade type Estimated value Drocessina of outward trade Estimated proportion of outward processing trade
3rd qtr 1990 (HKD Mn.) % change over 3rd qtr 1989 (%) Jan-Sep 1990 (HKD Mn.) % change over Jan-Sep 1989 (%) 3rd qtr 1990 (%) 3rd qtr 1989 (%) Jan-Sep 1990 (%) Jan-Sep 1989 (%)
Imports from China 39,198. +27.4 102,181 + 24.6 62.3 57.8 61.7 57.7
Total exports to China 24,331 +19.0 64,828 +14.5 60.4 55.6 58.5 51.9
Domestic exports to China 9,714 +13.3 26,065 + 11.3 77.9 77.2 78.6 75.3
Re-exports to China 14,617 +23.1 38,763 +16.8 52.6 46.3 49.9 42.6
---------0-----------
/4 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
4
OFFICE OF THE EXCHANGE FUND ESTABLISHED
A NEW OFFICE OF THE EXCHANGE FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT A STRONGER ORGANISATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR MONETARY MANAGEMENT.
ANNOUNCING THE MOVE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID: "THE NEW OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AN AREA OF WORK WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
"I AM WELL SATISFIED WITH THE WAY IN WHICH OUR MONETARY ARRANGEMENTS HAVE DEVELOPED AND STRENGTHENED IN RECENT YEARS. BUT WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A PROPER ORGANISATIONAL FRAMEWORK TO ENABLE US TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM THE TASK EFFECTIVELY."
SIR PIERS EMPHASIZED THAT THE CHANGE DID NOT MEAN THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING ON ADDITIONAL POWERS.
"THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ON ANY OF THE RESIDUAL CENTRAL BANKING FUNCTIONS THAT ARE NOW SATISFACTORILY PERFORMED WITHIN THE BANKING SYSTEM," HE SAID.
SIR PIERS HOPED THAT THE NEW OFFICE WOULD DEVELOP A CLEAR IDENTITY AND THAT ITS FUNCTIONS WOULD BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD' BY THE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY.
LIKE THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING, IT IS AN AUTONOMOUS UNIT WITHIN THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH.
THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, WELCOMED THE SETTING UP OF THE NEW OFFICE.
"THE DIRECTOR WILL REPORT TO ME BUT WILL HAVE THE NECESSARY AUTONOMY TO TAKE DECISIONS PERSONALLY TO ENSURE MONETARY STABILITY," MR NENDICK SAID.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW OFFICE OF THE EXCHANGE FUND IS THE SENIOR DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR JOSEPH YAM.
"I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE MONETARY SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN RECENT YEARS IS SUFFICIENTLY ROBUST TO ENABLE US TO MEET THE CHALLENGES AHEAD,” MR YAM SAID, WHEN COMMENTING ON HIS APPOINTMENT.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED THE FUNDING FOR THE SETTING UP OF THE OFFICE.
THE OFFICE OF THE EXCHANGE FUND IS NOW LOCATED WITH THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH ON 24TH FLOOR, TOWER 2, ADMIRALTY CENTRE.
IT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE TO SEPARATE PREMISES LATER.
------0 - -
/5 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
5
MARINE INQUIRY ORDERED INTO PLEASURE VESSEL INCIDENT »»»»»»
THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, HAS ORDERED A LOCAL MARINE INQUIRY INTO A COLLISION INVOLVING A FERRY VESSEL “MAN LOY” AND A PLEASURE VESSEL ’’LONG BOAT” IN VICTORIA HARBOUR.
THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 8.30 PM LAST SATURDAY OFF THE MACAU FERRY TERMINAL IN SHEUNG WAN.
THE PLEASURE CRAFT WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED IN THE COLLISION AND FOUR OF ITS PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. A 34-YEAR-OLD MAN ON BOARD THE CRAFT IS REPORTED MISSING.
’ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) SAID THE INQUIRY WAS ORDERED UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE (CAP. 313) AFTER THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE HAD CONSIDERED A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT.
THE PURPOSES OF THE INQUIRY ARE:
» TO FIND OUT THE CAUSES OF THE COLLISION;
» TO RECOMMEND WHETHER THE CERTIFICATES HELD BY EITHER OF THE COXSWAINS ALLOWING THEM TO OPERATE SHOULD BE SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED;
♦ TO RECOMMEND ANY ACTION TO BE TAKEN SO THAT A SIMILAR INCIDENT COULD BE AVOIDED IN FUTURE.
A REPORT ON THE INQUIRY WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE IN A MONTH’S TIME.
THE INQUIRING OFFICER WILL REPORT ANY INDICATION OF AN OFFENCE OF A CRIMINAL NATURE TO THE MARINE POLICE FOR THEIR ACTION.
A SURVEYOR OF SHIP, CAPTAIN JOHN MCPARTLAND, HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO CONDUCT THE INQUIRY. ANY PERSON WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, OR HAS ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION, SHOULD CONTACT THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER ON TEL. 852 4363.
---------0-----------
EDUCATION COMMISSION MEMBERS VISITING U.S. ♦ ♦»»»»
THE YEAR OF THE DECISIONS TAKEN DURING LONG-TERM PHYSICAL AND
RAM IS AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR HONG KONG AS MAJOR THE PAST YEAR WHICH ARE VITAL TO HONG KONG’S HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
THIS WAS STATED
BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN NEW YORK, MR KERRY MCGLYNN, WHO WAS SPEAKING AT THE $ CHINESE NEW YEAR RECEPTION HELD ON LAST THURSDAY (FEBRUARY
/AMONG THE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
6 -
AMONG THE 350 GUESTS ATTENDING WERE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CORPORATE EXECUTIVES, CONSULAR OFFICIALS, BANKERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA.
GUESTS OF HONOUR WERE MEMBERS OF HONG KONG’S EDUCATION COMMISSION WHO WERE IN NEW YORK AS PART OF A U.S. GOVERNMENT SPONSORED TOUR.
MR MCGLYNN SAID WHILE THE NEW AIRPORT AND PORT PROJECTS HAD NATURALLY ATTRACTED A LOT OF ATTENTION, IT WAS EASY TO OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT HONG KONG HAS ESTABLISHED A LONG-TERM BLUEPRINT FOR SPECTACULAR AND ENDURING PROGRAMMES IN THE FIELDS OF PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES.
HE SAID THE VISIT TO NEW YORK BY EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, MRS RITA FAN; THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR K.Y. YEUNG; DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, DR Y.T. LI AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WAS REMINDER OF JUST HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAD BEEN ACHIEVED AND HOW MUCH MORE REMAINED TO BE DONE.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IN THE TOUR, WHICH WAS SPONSORED BY THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY’S BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, WERE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER MR SZETO WAH AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, MR TIMOTHY HA.
DURING THEIR VISIT, WHICH ALSO COVERED THE WEST COAST AND WASHINGTON, D.C., THE GROUP’S ENGAGEMENTS INCLUDED MEETING TEACHERS TO DISCUSS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING TEACHER TRAINING AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, VISITING UNIVERSITIES, DISCUSSION ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE U.S. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM INCLUDING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION AND IN NEW YORK, TALKS WITH THE CITY’S BOARD OF EDUCATION.
------0-------
REPROVISIONING OF IMMIGRATION OFFICE » ♦ » » »
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE CAUSEWAY BAY RE-ENTRY PERMIT OFFICE CURRENTLY SITUATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR, PARK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 10 SHELTER STREET WILL BE REPROVISIONED TO THE SECOND FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD. CENTRAL, EFFECTIVE FROM MARCH 4.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID UPON REMOVAL THE OFFICE WILL BE RENAMED AS HONG KONG ISLAND RE-ENTRY PERMIT OFFICE.
/THE OFFICE ......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
- 7 -
THE OFFICE HOUR OF THE NEW OFFICE WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED:
MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9 AM TO 12.45 PM
2 PM TO 4.30 PM
SATURDAY 9 AM TO 12.30 PM
SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS CLOSED
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY TELEPHONE 824 6111 FOR ENQUIRIES.
-----0-----
Mew airport post office to open soon
*****
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE NEW AIRPORT POST OFFICE, LOCATED IN THE EAST LANDSIDE DEPARTURE HALL ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING, HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WILL OPEN AT 8 AM ON FEBRUARY 25.
THE EXISTING POST OFFICE IN THE WEST LANDSIDE DEPARTURE HALL WILL CLOSE FOR BUSINESS WITH EFFECT FROM 9 PM ON FEBRUARY 23.
THE HOURS OF BUSINESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE NEW OFFICE WILL BE THE SAME AS THOSE OF THE EXISTING OFFICE.
A SPECIAL HAND-BACK SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL PHILATELISTS ON FEBRUARY 25.
UNREGISTERED FULL POSTAGE PREPAID FIRST DAY COVERS, PREPARED PRIVATELY AND BEARING A LOCAL ADDRESS, WILL BE ACCEPTED OVER THE COUNTER, IMPRESSED WITH THE NORMAL POST OFFICE DATESTAMP AND HANDED BACK TO THE PERSON PRESENTING THEM.
--------0 - -
/8........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1991
- 8 -
ELECTION FORUMS IN WAN CHAI DISTRICT ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦
DISTRICT. BOARD ELECTION FORUMS WILL BE HELD IN THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO THURSDAY FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO FAMILIARISE THE CANDIDATES OF THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.
ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE, THE FORUMS WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE ELECTORS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CANDIDATES BEFORE CASTING THEIR VOTES IN THE ELECTIONS ON MARCH 3.
CANDIDATES WILL INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND THEIR PLATFORMS IN A THREE-PART FORUM, EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON DISTRICT ISSUES, AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE FORUMS.
DETAILS OF THE FORUMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
CONSTITUENCY DATE TIME VENUE
CAUSEWAY BAY CENTRAL FEBRUARY 19 8 PM SUNG LAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, 44 JARDINE’S CRESCENT
TAI HANG & SO RON PO FEBRUARY 20 8 PM CHOW HUNG PUI COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES CENTRE, MORETON TERRACE, TAI HANG
HAPPY VALLEY FEBRUARY 21 8 PM SING WO CHILDREN & YOUTH CENTRE, 18 KWAI SING LANE, HAPPY VALLEY
NO FORUMS WILL BE HELD FOR THE WAN CHAI WEST AND THE WAN CHAI EAST CONSTITUENCIES WHERE THE CANDIDATES WERE UNCONTESTED AND AUTOMATICALLY ELECTED.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FORUMS.
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS FOR OCT-DEC 1990 RELEASED .... 1
HK'S PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON HEALTHY SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS ................. 2
ANTI-POLLUTION PROSECUTION FIGURE RELEASED ...................................... 3
FAR EAST INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED CEASES WRITING INSURANCE BUSINESS ............ 9
SPEEDPOST SERVICE EXTENDS TO SRI LANKA ......................................... 10
AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS ................................................. 11
CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT ELECTION FORUMS ................................... 12
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
- 1 -
UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS FOR OCT-DEC 1990 RELEASED
BOTH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE DECREASED DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1990, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THUS, THERE WAS APPARENTLY SOME TIGHTENING IN LABOUR MARKET CONDITIONS TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR OCTOBER DECEMBER 1990 WAS 1.4%, COMPARED WITH 1.7% FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 1990 AND 1.3% FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.
THE DECREASE OF 0.3 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE PRECEDING THREE-MONTH PERIOD IS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT WHILE THE INCREASE OF 0.1 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER IS STATISTICALLY NOT SIGNIFICANT.
THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1990 WAS ESTIMATED AT 38,100, COMPARED WITH 47,100 IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 1990 AND 35,800 IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF 1989.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE FOR OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1990 WAS 0.8%, WHILE THIS WAS THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER, IT WAS LOWER THAN THAT FOR THE PRECEDING THREE-MONTH PERIOD AT 1.0%.
THE DECREASE OF 0.2 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE PRECEDING THREE-MONTH PERIOD IS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS IN OCTOBER -DECEMBER 1990 WAS 21,700, COMPARED WITH 28,800 IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 1990 AND 22,800 IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF 1989.
CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO), PERSONS WHO WORKED LESS THAN 35 HOURS A WEEK DUE TO ECONOMIC REASONS (SUCH AS SLACK WORK, MATERIAL SHORTAGE, MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN AND INABILITY TO FIND FULL-TIME WORK) WERE REGARDED AS UNDEREMPLOYED ONLY IF THEY WERE EITHER SEEKING OR AVAILABLE FOR MORE WORK.
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS (FOR EXAMPLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL) VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAT HAI) 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 .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
- 2 -
THESE PROVIDE AN EARLY INDICATION OF THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION.
THE PROVISIONAL SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR NOVEMBER 1990 - JANUARY 1991 WAS 1.3% AND THE PROVISIONAL UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 0.6%.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED FROM A CONTINUOUS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE SURVEY FOR OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1990 COVERED A QUARTERLY SAMPLE OF SOME 11,300 HOUSEHOLDS OR 40,000 PERSONS, SELECTED SCIENTIFICALLY TO REPRESENT THE LAND-BASED CIVILIAN NON-INSTITUTIONAL POPULATION IN HONG KONG.
PERSONAL AND LABOUR FORCE DATA WERE OBTAINED IN THE SURVEY BY INTERVIEWING EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER AGED 15 AND ABOVE IN THE HOUSEHOLDS SAMPLED.
IN THE SURVEY, THE DEFINITIONS USED IN MEASURING UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FOLLOW CLOSELY THOSE RECOMMENDED BY THE ILO.
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS IS GIVEN IN THE REPORT ON THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY WHICH IS PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
THE NEXT REPORT COVERING THE QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 1990 WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AROUND MARCH 20 AT $11.50 PER COPY .
--------0 - -
HK’S PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON HEALTHY SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS ******
HONG KONG’S PROSPERITY DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF ITS SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND INDUSTRIALISTS HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR LAN MADE THIS REMARK WHEN HE WELCOMED MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG KWUN TONG INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE ASSOCIATION DURING THEIR COURTESY CALL ON THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION THIS AFTERNOON.
AT THE MEETING, MR LAN PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ASSOCIATION FOR ITS LONG HISTORY OF PARTICIPATING IN THE TERRITORY’S COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
"THESE INCLUDED RAISING FUNDS ANNUALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY CHEST AND OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS, TAKING AN. ACTIVE PART IN THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, PROMOTING BUSINESS ETHICS AMONG ITS MEMBERS AND HELPING TO SPREAD ANTI-CORRUPTION MESSAGES.
/"THE ASSOCIATION .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
3
"THE ASSOCIATION ALSO ORGANISES JOINT FUNCTIONS WITH THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
"THE ASSOCIATION HAD SUPPORTED THE 1990 VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE AND SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHER TRADE AND INDUSTRY BODIES BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS," HE SAID.
IN CONCLUSION, MR LAN REMINDED THE ASSOCIATION’S MEMBERS TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON MARCH 3.
-----0------
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 JANUARY, OF BREACHING ANTI-POLLUTION LEGISLATION CURRENTLY ENFORCED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE MADE REGULARLY ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 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 A LIST OF PROSECUTION CASES AND THE ASSOCIATED FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY THIS YEAR:
NAME (COMPANY/ PERSON) ADDRESS DATE OF OFFENCE NATURE OF OFFENCE FINES($) RECORD OF OFFENCE COURT
1.HIGH PROSPEROUS DEVELOPMENT LTD TAI LOONG ST, KWAI CHUNG 9. 11.89- 9.12.89 APCO: UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION OR ALTERATION OF FURNACES 2,500 2ND TSUEN WAN
2.ALAN TEXTILES LTD SHA TSUI RD, TSUEN WAN 23.4.90- 8.6.90 APCO: FAILURE TO TAKE MEASURES TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY AIR POLLUTANT 10,000 1ST TSUEN WAN
3.TO PONG DYEING CO LTD WANG LUNG ST, TSUEN WAN 14.5.90- 14.6.90 APCO: FAILURE TO TAKE MEASURES 3,000 1ST TSUEN WAN
TO ELIMINATE
UNNECESSARY
AIR POLLUTANT
/4.GUANGDONG .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
4
4.GUANGDONG WATER CONSERVANCY & HYDRO-POWER ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT CO LTD ASHLEY RD, TSIM SHA TSUI 7 . 6. 90 APCO: 6,000 CONTRAVENING TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF SPECIFIED PROCESS LICENCE 3RD SAN PO KONG
5.HONG KONG PING JENG LAU CO LTD QUEENSWAY, CENTRAL 15 18 .6 .7 .90-.90 APCO: UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION OR ALTERATION OF FURNACES 1,000 1ST CENTRAL
6.YAT FUNG WOOLLEN PIECES DYEING FACTORY LTD LAM TIN ST, KWAI CHUNG 19 .6 .90 APCO: USING AN UNSUITABLE FUEL IN A RELEVANT PLANT 10,000 1ST TSUEN WAN
7.GOLDEN POND LAUNDERING & DYEING FACTORY LTD MA TAU KOK RD, TO KWA WAN 3. 7. 90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 5,000 3RD SAN PO KONG
8.DOUBLE CROWN LAUNDRY LTD TSING YI INDUSTRIAL CENTRE, TSING YI 3. 7. 90 APCO: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FUEL RESTRICTION REGULATIONS 2,000 1ST • TSUEN WAN
9.SHUN CHEONG RAISING & FINISHING FACTORY LTD TSING YI INDUSTRIAL CENTRE, TSING YI 4. 7. 90 APCO: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FUEL RESTRICTION REGULATIONS 2,500 1ST TSUEN WAN
10.KAI LUEN DYEING FACTORY LTD WING KEI RD, KWAI CHUNG 6. 7. 90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 5,000 5TH TSUEN WAN
11.LAI YIP DYEING FACTORY LTD KUNG YIP ST, KWAI CHUNG 6. 7. 90 it 3,000 1ST TSUEN WAN
12.TAI YIP DYEING FACTORY LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 10 .7 .90 it 5,000 8TH KWUN TONG
13.SHUN CHEONG RAISING & FINISHING FACTORY LTD TSING YI INDUSTRIAL CENTRE, TSING YI 16 .7 .90 ■I 3,000 1ST TSUEN WAN
/I4.SUN KEUNG .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
5
14.SUN KEUNG DYEING FACTORY LTD MEI WAN ST, TSUEN WAN 16.7.90 APCO: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FUEL RESTRICTION REGULATIONS 2,000 1ST TSUEN WAN
15.CARRY STRONG DYEING FACTORY LTD HUNG TO RD, KWUN TONG 17.7.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,000 2ND KWUN TONG
16.YAU LEE CONSTRUCTION CO LTD WAN TAU TONG ESTATE, TAI PO 22.7.90 NCO: CARRY OUT CONSTRUCTION WORK NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS IN A PERMIT 2,500 1ST SHA TIN
17.DRAGAGES ET TRAVAUX PUBLICS (HK) LTD KWAI TAI RD, KWAI CHUNG 22.7.90 •i 2,000 1ST TSUEN WAN
18.NG PING-YAU (PERSON-IN CHARGE) A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN LAI WAN RD, LAI CHI KOK 22.7.90 NCO: PERMIT CONSTRUCTION WORK NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS IN A PERMIT 5,000 1ST NORTH KOWLOON
19.MANFIELD BUILDING CONTRACTORS LTD LOT 64, TAI PO 22.7.90 NCO: CARRY OUT CONSTRUCTION WORK NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS IN A PERMIT 50,000 4TH SHA TIN
20.MANFIELD BUILDING CONTRACTORS LTD AREA 8, TAI PO 22.7.90 it 50,000 4TH SHA TIN
21.MANFIELD BUILDING CONTRACTORS LTD WO LIU HANG, SHA TIN 22.7.90 ii 50,000 4TH SHA TIN
22.MANFIELD BUILDING CONTRACTORS LTD HING FONG RD, KWAI CHUNG 22.7.90 •• 50,000 4TH TSUEN WAN
/23.ULTRA-FAIR .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
6
23.ULTRAFAIR DEVELOPMENT LTD TA CHUEN PING ST, KWAI CHUNG 25.7.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2,500 1ST TSUEN WAN
24.SHUI WING STEEL WORKS LTD PING CHE, FANLING 26 • 7.90 APCO: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FUEL RESTRICTION REGULATIONS 3,500 1ST FANLING
25.SUN MEI FUNG METAL WARE PRODUCTS CO LTD NATHAN RD, MONGKOK 26 • 7.90 it 3,500 1ST FANLING
26.MAN HING MEAT CO CANTON RD, TSIM SHA TSUI 31 • 7.90 NCO: 10,000 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 1ST SOUTH KOWLOON
27.INTERNATIONAL DYEING & BLEACHING FACTORY LTD PUN SHAN ST, TSUEN WAN 1 . 8 .90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 4,000 3RD TSUEN WAN
28.NEVER STOP DYEING & WASHING FACTORY LTD CHAI WAN KOK ST, TSUEN WAN 1 . 8 .90 • • 3,500 2ND TSUEN WAN
29.HIP SHING LAUNDRY FACTORY WING KEI RD, KWAI CHUNG 1 . 8 .90 • • 4,000 3RD TSUEN WAN
30.TUNG FONG HUNG MEDICINE CO LTD NGAU TAU KOK RD, NGAU TAU KOK 1 . 8 .90 NCO: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENT A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE 2,000 IN 1ST KWUN TONG
31 . LE SAUNDA SHOES LTD NGAU TAU KOK RD, NGAU TAU KOK 1 . 8 .90 it 2,000 1ST KWUN TONG
/32.PUBLINK MANAGEMENT .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
7
32.PUBLINK JORDAN RD, 2.8.90 NCO: 4,000 1ST SOUTH
MANAGEMENT YAU MA FAILURE TO KOWLOON
LTD TEI COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN A NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICE
33.WAI ON DYEING & FINISHING LTD KWAI CHEONG RD, KWAI CHUNG 7.8.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 2,000 2ND TSUEN WAN
34.TAI YIP DYEING FACTORY LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 8. 8.90 . •» 5,000 7TH KWUN TONG
35.SATISFACTORY PRINTING & DYEING FACTORY LTD YIP SHING ST, KWAI CHUNG 8. 8.90 »» 3,000 3RD TSUEN WAN
36.MILK & HONEY LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 9. 8.90 2,500 2ND KWUN TONG
37.CLEVER HO CO LTD TSING YI INDUSTRIAL CENTRE, TSING YI 16 .8.90 3,000 2ND TSUEN WAN
38.YUE FUNG DYEING & FINISHING FACTORY CHAI WAN KOK ST, TSUEN WAN 22 .8.90 APCO: EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE EMISSION 5,000 4TH TSUEN WAN
39.HERAEUS LTD WAI YIP ST, KWUN TONG 6. 9.90 n 4,500 3RD KWUN TONG
40.CHIAPHUA INDUSTRIES LTD DAI WANG ST, TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE 28 .9.90 WPCO: DISCHARGE EFFLUENT INTO FOUL SEWER WITHOUT A LICENCE 8,000 2ND SHA TIN
41.HON YICK CONSTRUCTION LTD PRAT AVENUE, TSIM SHA TSUI 8. 10.90 DASO: LOADING OF 750 CUBIC METRES OF EXCAVATED MATERIAL ONTO A BARGE FOR DUMPING WITHOUT A LICENCE 5,000 2ND CENTRAL
/42.FANTA CONSTRUCTION .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
8
42.FANTA CONSTRUC- TION CO LTD WAI CHING ST, YAU MA TEI 9.10.90 DASO: 5,000 SHORT DUMPING OF 750 CUBIC METRES OF DREDGED MARINE MUD AT SEA NEAR GREEN ISLAND NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LICENCE CONDITIONS 2ND CENTRAL
AND NG TAI-KIT (BARGE OPERATOR) FANTA CONSTRUC- TION CO LTD • V it 2,000 1ST it
43.CHUNG YING KNITTING FACTORY LTD TING KOK RD, TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE 15.10.90 wpco: DISCHARGE EFFLUENT INTO STORM DRAIN WITHOUT A LICENCE 4,500 1ST SHA TIN
44.MIRACLE FOODS CO LTD DAI SHING ST, TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE 15.10.90 WPCO: DISCHARGE EFFLUENT INTO FOUL SEWER IN BREACH OF THE LICENCE 5,000 1ST SHA TIN
45.MEYER ALUMINIUM LTD DAI LI ST, TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE 19.10.90 WPCO: DISCHARGE EFFLUENT INTO STORM DRAIN WITHOUT A LICENCE 15,000 3RD SHA TIN
46.ICONA CO LTD WONG CHUK YEUNG ST, FO TAN 14.11.90 WPCO: DISCHARGE EFFLUENT INTO FOUL SEWER IN BREACH OF THE LICENCE 20,000 3RD SHA TIN
47.ROYCESKY INDUSTRIES LTD AU PUI WAN ST, FO TAN 14. 11.90 • ii 10,000 1ST SHA TIN
NOTE:
APCO: AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE
NCO: NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE
DASO: DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEAS TERRITORIES) ORDER 1975
WPCO: WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE
/ON THE ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
9
ON THE PROVISION OF THE NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE RELATING TO NEIGHBOURHOOD NOISE, 32 PERSONS WERE PROSECUTED BY THE POLICE FOR CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM DOMESTIC PLACES AT NIGHT WITH FINES RANGING FROM $150 TO $500.
ONE PERSON WAS PROSECUTED BY THE POLICE AND FINED $800 FOR CARRYING OUT CONSTRUCTION WORK IN A CONSTRUCTION SITE WITHOUT A PERMIT.
AN EPD SPOKESMAN SAID THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN CASE 19, 20, 21, 22 WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $200,000 FOR COMMITTING FOUR OFFENCES UNDER THE NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE, THAT IS, CARRYING OUT CONSTRUCTION WORK USING POWERED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN A CONSTRUCTION NOISE PERMIT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID ON WATER POLLUTION CONTROL, THE DEPARTMENT HAD IMPLEMENTED AN ACTION PLAN IN TOLO AND FACTORIES WHICH DISCHARGE HEAVY METAL WERE PUT UNDER CLOSE SURVEILLANCE. ROUND-THE-CLOCK MONITORING OF THE EFFLUENTS FROM THE MAJOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND ELECTROPLATING FACTORIES HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT TO DETECT ANY ILLEGAL DISCHARGE OF CHEMICALS.
THIS SERIES OF ACTION HAS RESULTED IN TWO SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION CASES ON HEAVY METAL DISCHARGES. THIS IS SHOWN IN CASE 46 AND 47.
ALSO, CASE 41 WAS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL CASE WHICH INVOLVED THE ’’LOADING” OF EXCAVATED MATERIAL ONTO A BARGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DUMPING AT SEA WITHOUT A LICENCE.
--------0-----------
FAR EAST INSURANCE COMPANY
LIMITED CEASES WRITING INSURANCE BUSINESS
PURSUANT TO SECTION 228A OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, THE DIRECTORS OF THE FAR EAST INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED HAVE MADE A STATUTORY DECLARATION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE COMPANY CANNOT BY REASON OF ITS LIABILITIES CONTINUE ITS BUSINESS AND THAT IT IS NECESSARY THAT THE COMPANY BE WOUND UP, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY, MR DAVID HAGUE AND MR LO YIN-YEUNG OF PRICE WATERHOUSE HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AS PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATORS OF THE COMPANY, HE SAID.
"THE COMPANY HAS, SINCE NOVEMBER 1990, CEASED WRITING INSURANCE BUSINESS AND COMMENCED A RUN-OFF OF ITS OUTSTANDING LIABILITIES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE COMPANY HAS BEEN REQUIRED BY THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY, THROUGH THE POWERS AVAILABLE TO HIM UNDER SECTION 35 OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, TO TERMINATE ALL POLICIES UNDERWRITTEN BY IT.
/•'THE POLICY ..........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
- 10 -
"THE POLICY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY THEIR OWN INTERESTS TO CONSIDER TAKING AUTHORISED INSURER," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ARE THEREFORE ADVISED IN UP INSURANCE WITH ANOTHER
"THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY HAS ALREADY TAKEN INTO HIS CUSTODY A MAJOR PORTION OF THE COMPANY’S AVAILABLE ASSETS.
"THE AUTHORITY BELIEVES THAT SUCH ASSETS, COUPLED WITH THE GUARANTEE FUND OPERATED BY THE MOTOR INSURER’S BUREAU, WILL PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF SECURITY TO THE COMPANY’S POLICY HOLDERS AND INSURANCE CLAIMANTS," HE SAID.
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THE COMPANY WAS NOT CONNECTED WITH ANY OTHER COMPANY HAVING THE NAME FAR EAST, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
--------0-----------
SPEEDPOST SERVICE EXTENDS TO SRI LANKA
*****
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT AS FROM FEBRUARY 25, THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED TO SRI LANKA TO COVER THE MUNICIPAL AREAS ZONE 1 TO 15 IN COLOMBO.
"I AM PLEASED WITH THIS ADDITION," MR WONG SAID, ADDING THAT IT WILL BRING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES SERVED BY OUR SPEEDPOST NETWORK TO 61.
"OUR SPEEDPOST SERVICE HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A FAST AND RELIABLE MEANS OF FORWARDING DOCUMENTS, SAMPLES AND MERCHANDISE OVERSEAS," MR WONG SAID.
SPEEDPOST ITEMS POSTED ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SHOULD BE DELIVERED ON THE SECOND DAY AFTER POSTING.
ITEMS POSTED ON TUESDAY SHOULD BE DELIVERED ON THE THIRD DAY AFTER POSTING DUE TO FLIGHT SCHEDULES.
BUSINESS PAPERS, SAMPLES AND MERCHANDISE ITEMS ARE ADMISSIBLE TO SRI LANKA. BOTH ’CONTRACT’ AND 'ON DEMAND’ SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE.
THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT LIMIT IS 20 FOLLOWS: KG. THE POSTAGE RATES ARE AS
ITEMS WEIGHING NOT OVER 250 G $90
ITEMS WEIGHING NOT OVER 500 G $105
EACH SUBSEQUENT ADDITIONAL 500 G $20
KILOPAK SPECIAL RATE $115
CUSTOMERS REQUIRING MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO SRI LANKA AND THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE GENERALLY MAY CONTACT POSTAL SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES ON TEL. 868 3868.
/Il .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
11
AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS ♦ * ♦ ♦ »
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ANOTHER AUCTION OF SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 23) Al 10 AM AT THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL.
A TOTAL OF 40 SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR
BIDDING. THEY ARE:
EM9283 AJ219 CC8628 EN2298 AK707 EM332 EC87 EM1386 EN902 3016 DH4 AR6618 EM1828 EM663 AJ722 EN1832 EM889 DC285 EM6368 EL171 EN286 EN300 EPl EMI 17 EN339 EM3338 DH8 EN302 EM1883 EE33 EN813 EM189 EN3698 DH7777 EM669 EN887 BC87 7 EMI 16 EL318 EM138
SUCCESSFUL BIDDING. BIDDERS MUST PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
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 161ST ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973.
---------0-----------
/12 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991
- 12 -
CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT ELECTION FORUMS » » t » *
DISTRICT BOARD ELECTION FORUMS WILL BE HELD IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT DURING THE WEEK BEGINNING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE SAID THE FORUMS WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ELECTORS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CANDIDATES BEFORE CASTING THEIR VOTES ON MARCH 3.
"ALL T^E FORUMS WILL START AT 8 PM," HE SAID.
11
"AS THE CONSTITUENCIES OF SAI YING PUN EAST, SAI YING PUN WEST AND KENNEDY TOWN EAST ARE UNCONTESTED, THE FOUR CANDIDATES HAVE AGREED TO HOLD A JOINT FORUM TO EXPLAIN THEIR PLATFORMS," HE ADDED.
DETAILS OF THE FORUMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
DATE CONSTITUENCY VENUE MODERATOR
FEBRUARY 20 MID-LEVELS EAST DIOCESE CENTRE, 16 CAINE ROAD DR CHAN YIU-NAM, HKU SENIOR LECTURER
FEBRUARY 21 CHUNG WAN SAI YING PUN EAST/ SAI YING PUN WEST AND KENNEDY TOWN EAST SWATOW CHURCH, 20 SHELLEY STREET WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE, WESTERN STREET MR CHAN YUK-CHEUNG, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG DR LUK YAN-LUNG, HKU SENIOR LECTURER
FEBRUARY 22 MID-LEVELS WEST SHEUNG WAN RHENISH MISSION SCHOOL, 86A BONHAM ROAD SHEUNG WAN CIVIC CENTRE DR HO PUI-HUNG, HKU PROFESSOR DR CHAN MING-KAU, HKU LECTURER
FEBRUARY 26 KENNEDY TOWN WEST AND MOUNT DAVIS YWCA CENTENARY MANSION, 9-15 VICTORIA ROAD MR CHAN YUK-CHEUNG, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FORUMS.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
IMPORTANT FOR CHINA TO BE WELL-INFORMED ABOUT HK: GOVERNOR ...................... 1
GOVERNOR TO THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB .................................... 3
TRANSCRIPT OF A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AT THE FCC..................................................................... 9
JI PENGFEI AND LU PING TO VISIT HK ............................................. 20
ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1990 RELEASED 20
MISCONCEPTIONS ON NATIONALITY PACKAGE CLARIFIED ................................ 25
EARLY RENEWAL OF MULTIPLE VISIT PERMIT FOR TAIWAN RESIDENTS URGED .............. 27
WORN-OUT BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS .......................................... 28
DIRECTOR OF MARINE SIGNS SEVENTH SURVEY AGREEMENT .............................. 29
ELECTION FORUMS FOR EASTERN DISTRICT CANDIDATES OVER WEEKEND.................... 30
WAN CHAI DISTRICT CHILDREN'S CHOIR TO GIVE CONCERT.............................. 31
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
1
IMPORTANT FOR CHINA TO BE WELL-INFORMED ABOUT HK: GOVERNOR
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT AS 1997 APPROACHES, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MUST INCREASINGLY TRY TO SEE TO IT THAT CHINA IS WELL INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE, HOW HONG KONG RUNS ITSELF, AND WHAT OUR OWN MAJOR PLANS ARE FOR THE FUTURE.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS’ CLUB, SIR DAVID SAID: ’’THAT I SEE AS NECESSARY, SO CHINA UNDERSTANDS HONG KONG BETTER; UNDERSTANDS ITS SYSTEM; UNDERSTANDS THE WAY IT OPERATES; UNDERSTANDS THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO PLAN LONG TERM FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG."
"EQUALLY, I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THIS TOO MATTERS BOTH NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE, THAT THERE SHOULD BE IN HONG KONG A GOVERNMENT WHICH IS EFFECTIVE AND ACTIVE; WHICH TAKES DECISIONS AND IS SEEN TO BE THE SOURCE OF THOSE DECISIONS.
"THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED IF HONG KONG IS GOING TO BE A PROSPEROUS, DYNAMIC, ECONOMIC COMMUNITY. ONLY IF HONG KONG IS PROSPEROUS AND DYNAMIC, WILL IT BE SUCCESSFUL NOW TO THE BENEFIT OF ITS OWN CITIZENS; ONLY THEN WILL IT BE SUCCESSFUL POST-97; ONLY THEN WILL IT BE HELPFUL TO THE WHOLE PROCESS OF ECONOMIC MODERNISATION IN CHINA," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID IN REACHING THIS BALANCE BETWEEN KEEPING CHINA WELL-INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING; HAVING HERE A GOVERNMENT WHICH WAS EFFECTIVE AND TOOK ITS OWN DECISIONS, WE WOULD HAVE TO FEEL OUR WAY FORWARD OVER THE NEXT SIX-AND-A-HALF YEARS.
"WE ARE FINDING ON THE AIRPORT PROJECT, WAYS FORWARD OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT CHINA IS KEPT CAREFULLY INFORMED. THAT I THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. WE NEED TO HAVE A BENEVOLENT VIEW FROM CHINA, SUPPORT FROM CHINA FOR THAT GENERAL PROJECT, IF IT IS GOING TO BE CARRIED OUT EFFECTIVELY AND ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENTLY, AND THAT TOO IS TO EVERYBODY’S BENEFIT," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HONG KONG’S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA WAS QUITE CLEARLY A CRUCIAL PART OF OUR LIVES HERE IN HONG KONG NOW, AND IN THE FUTURE.
"IT’S ESSENTIAL THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO MANAGE THAT RELATIONSHIP IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. IT WON’T BE EASY AND IT WON’T BE SIMPLE," HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, SIR DAVID SAID THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT YEAR IN THE TERRITORY’S HISTORY WITH ELECTIONS AT ALL THREE LEVELS; DISTRICT BOARD LEVEL, MUNICIPAL COUNCIL LEVEL AND THE FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
/•'OVER THE..........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
- 2 -
’’OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE NEED FOR A MORE PARTICIPATORY FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO EVOLVE THE SYSTEM TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THOSE VIEWS.
’’NOW IS THE TIME TO SEE THAT WORKING IN PRACTICE AND IT NEEDS A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN TALK. IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO TAKE PART IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS; IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO TAKE THE TIME, THE TROUBLE AND GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFICULTIES OF STANDING FOR ELECTION, OR SUPPORTING THOSE WHO DO STAND FOR ELECTION," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT PARTICIPATION ALSO REQUIRED PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND THEN ACTUALLY TO TURN OUT TO VOTE.
"ALL OF THAT NEEDS EFFORT; ALL OF THAT NEEDS COMMITMENT. WE’VE HAD OVER MANY YEARS IN HONG KONG OUR OWN PARTICULAR POLITICAL SYSTEM; WE’VE HAD VERY MANY PEOPLE; HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THAT POLITICAL SYSTEM IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, ADVISORY CAPACITIES; APPOINTED MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT," HE SAID.
"WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ANOTHER STAGE IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SERVE HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO DO SO IN A MORE DIRECT WAY; TAKING PART IN ELECTIONS; DOING THINGS WHICH PERHAPS BY CUSTOM AND TRADITION THEY HAVEN’T BEEN USED TO DOING; TAKING PART IN PUBLIC ARGUMENTS ON THE HUSTINGS, THAT IS SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE FROM A TRADITIONAL BACKGROUND WHO HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL UP TO NOW.
"BUT THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED NOW FOR THE SAKE OF BUILDING UP THE LEADERSHIP OF HONG KONG’S FUTURE. SO I HOPE AS A FINAL POINT TO MAKE THAT IN THIS YEAR, 1991 WHICH IS OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE IN EVOLVING OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE; AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE; WILLING, ACTIVELY TO TAKE PART IN THAT POLITICAL PROCESS," SIR DAVID SAID.
---------0-----------
/3 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
3
GOVERNOR TO THE FOREIGN
CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB
* * * * *
IT'S NICE TO BE HERE AT A CLUB OF WHICH I AM A MEMBER, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY MEMBERSHIP ADVANTAGES SO FAR CONSIST OF EVERY NOW AND THEN I GET A BILL FOR DRINKS WHICH I HAVEN'T CONSUMED. IT'S ONE OF THE MANY STATE SECRETS THERE, LONG MAY IT REMAIN SO. THIS OCCASION I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD THE MEAL BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MEAL MYSELF BY SPEAKING. IT'S A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AND SEE SO MANY FRIENDS AROUND THESE TABLES INCLUDING, AND I WON'T LOOK STRAIGHT AT HIM, MY ANAESTHETIST WHO IS HERE TO SEE WHETHER THE ANAESTHETIC THAT HE APPLIED, ROUGHLY A WEEK AGO, IS STILL FUNCTIONING OR NOT.
ON A MUCH MORE SERIOUS NOTE THOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THERE IS ONE PERSON I AM SORRY NOT TO SEE HERE TODAY. I DO NOT KNOW HIM PERSONALLY BUT HE IS A MEMBER OF THIS CLUB, MR DONAHUE. AND I THINK WE ALL FEEL THE VERY DEEPEST SYMPATHY FOR HIM AFTER THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT THE OTHER DAY, AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN OF REPORTS OF IT, TO A GREAT SENSE OF ADMIRATION FOR THE COURAGE WITH WHICH HE FACED THAT APPALLING ACCIDENT. THAT IS SOMEBODY I’M SORRY NOT TO SEE HERE TODAY.
I AM BILLED TO TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG. I COULD TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG FOR THE WHOLE AFTERNOON AND YOU'D NEVER GET BACK TO YOUR WORK. I THEREFORE PROPOSE TO RESTRICT MYSELF TO THREE BROAD AREAS AND TO DEAL WITH THIS IN BROAD TERMS.
ONE IS, IN GENERAL TERMS, THE WAY IN WHICH OUR ECONOMY HAS BEEN DEVELOPING. THE SECOND IS THE NATURE AND THE DYNAMIC OF RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA AND THE THIRD, IS CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE EVOLUTION OF OUR OWN POLITICAL SYSTEM AT THE MOMENT. I PROPOSE TO SPEAK UNSTRUCTURED, NOT OFF A WRITTEN TEXT, AND I HOPE AT THE END OF THAT, THEN TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO ASK ANY QUESTION YOU WANT TO.
/THE ECONOMY .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
4
THE ECONOMY ------------- AND I CHOOSE THIS MAINLY BECAUSE THE WORLD ECONOMY AT THE MOMENT IS IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND THE GULF CRISIS MAKES THAT POTENTIALLY WORSE. AND I THINK ITS WORTHWHILE, IN THAT SORT OF CONTEXT, LOOKING AT WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING WITH OUR OWN ECONOMY HERE AND THE WAY THAT IS RESTRUCTURING, AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE AS A RESULT OF THAT ARE, I THINK, HELPED IN TERMS OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC PROBLEMS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT. THE MAIN RESTRUCTURING, QUITE CLEARLY, OVER THE LAST DECADE, IS THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE GOING TOWARDS BEING A SERVICE-ORIENTATED ECONOMY; SERVICES NOW AMOUNT FOR SOME 70 PER CENT OF OUR GDP; AND IF YOU THINK IN TERMS OF THE WORKFORCE, ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF OUR WORKFORCE IS NOW IN SERVICE-ORIENTATED INDUSTRIES AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING LIKE 40 PER CENT IN 1979. SO THERE IS A CLEAR SHIFT IN THE WAY ECONOMY IS STRUCTURED. IT HAS CREATED IT'S OWN PROBLEMS, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS, THEY ARE MUCH REPORTED, WE HAVE A LABOUR SHORTAGE; THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN GROWING SO RAPIDLY; WE NEED SO MANY MORE PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE SECTOR THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THE TALENT WE NEED AND WE HAVE SUFFERED ALSO FROM THE BRAIN-DRAIN, SO THOSE TWO THINGS GO TOGETHER. PARTLY AS A RESULT OF THAT, BUT OTHER FACTORS TOO, WAGES HAVE BEEN RISING VERY RAPIDLY AND WE HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR THE PROBLEM OF PRICING OURSELVES OUT OF OUR OWN MARKET. AND THIRDLY, WE HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM EXCESSIVE INFLATION. WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THE WORLD IN THAT, BUT IT IS A PROBLEM WHICH WE DO NEED, IF WE CAN, TO TRY TO GET UNDER CONTROL. BUT OUR ABILITY, OUR LEVERS TO DEAL WITH THAT ARE VERY LIMITED.
BUT THERE ARE TWO AREAS WHICH ARE PLACES WHERE ONE CAN LOOK AT WITH A GREATER DEGREE OF OPTIMISM, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT TO THOSE. THERE ARE TWO ASSETS, AS IT WERE. ONE IS THE CONNECTION WITH CHINA, AND PARTICULARLY WITH SOUTHERN CHINA WHICH HAS GROWN ENORMOUSLY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. IT SOMETIMES STRIKES ME WHEN I HAVE VISITORS COMING HERE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN IN HONG KONG IN THE PAST. AND I TAKE THEM AS I SOMETIMES DO, BY HELICOPTER TRIP UP TO THE BORDER. YOU LOOK OVER THE BORDER TO SHENZHEN. IT IS PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO REMEMBER AS I DO, AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM DO, WHAT SHENZHEN LOOKED TN 1978. IT WAS JUST A RAILWAY STATION, A SMALLISH VILLAGE. NOW AS YOU LOOK ACROSS THE LOW HILLS AT THE BORDER, AND IF YOUR HELICOPTER TURNS FAST, IT'S DIFFICULT TO TELL WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING AT CHINA OR AT HONG KONG. THAT IS THE NATURE OF THIS VERY RAPID CHANGE.
/OUR OWN ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
' . “ ' 5
OUR OWN HONG KONG INVOLVEMENT IN CHINA, PARTICULARLY GUANGDONG, IS ENORMOUS. SOMETHING LIKE $7 BILLION WORTH OF HONG KONG INVESTMENT GOING INTO GUANGDONG; SOMETHING LIKE ONE-AND-A-HALF TO TWO MILLION PEOPLE WORKING FOR HONG KONG ENTERPRISE IN GUANGDONG. IT'S A COLOSSAL ASSET TO HONG KONG THAT IT HAS SUSTAINED US IN OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THAT QUESTION OF THE BRAIN-DRAIN, THE DRAIN WHICH IS NOT OFTEN NOTICED IS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE MOVING ACROSS THE BORDER INTO CHINA; WE'VE GOT SOMETHING LIKE 50,000 MANAGERIAL STAFF WORKING IN CHINA FOR HONG KONG ENTERPRISE.
ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS IS THAT GUANGDONG ITSELF, SOUTHERN CHINA AS A WHOLE, BUT GUANGDONG TN PARTICULAR IS GROWING VERY RAPIDLY AND WE ARE CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH THAT AREA OF RAPID GROWTH. I DON'T WANT TO OVER-LARD WHAT I SAY WITH STATISTICS, BUT EXPORT GROWTH LAST YEAR IN GUANGDONG WAS SOMETHING LIKE 43 PER CENT; FOR CHINA AS A WHOLE IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 15-AND-A-HALF PER CENT, AND I THINK THAT GIVES ONE A PICTURE OF THE WAY IN WHICH GUANGDONG IS CONTINUING TO FORGE AHEAD AS A MAJOR CENTRE OF THE CHINA EXPORT TRADE. FOR INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT, GUANGDONG ACCOUNTS FOR 10 PER CENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT OF THE WHOLE OF CHINA. SO WE HAVE A MAJOR ASSET IN TERMS OF OUR VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR, GUANGDONG.
BUT IT GOES WIDER THAN THAT. THE FACT THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING INCREASINGLY AS A CENTRE FOR REGIONAL TRADE; REGIONAL TRANSPORT; REGIONAL TOURISM; REGIONAL SERVICES, THAT TOO I THINK IS AN IMMENSE ASSET. WE ARE A KEY PART OF THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION AND THAT ITSELF IS ANOTHER RAPIDLY DEVELOPING PART OF THE WORLD. AGAIN, JUST TO USE SOME STATISTICS; ASIA-PACIFIC TRADE IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE 1980'S GREW BY SOMETHING LIKE 65 PER CENT; WORLD TRADE GREW BY ONLY 45 PER CENT. SO WE ARE PART OF THAT RAPIDLY GROWING AREA OF THE WORLD. AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FOREIGN COMPANIES WHO REALISE THAT AND THAT IS ONE REASON WHY THEY'VE POSITIONED THEMSELVES IN HONG KONG. THE NUMBER OF NEW COMPANIES COMING INTO HONG KONG IS SOMETHING LIKE, NET, NET 80 A YEAR.
SO THOSE ARE TWO REASONS WHY JUST IN VERY BROAD TERMS, I THINK WE CAN LOOK, NOT IN A TOTALLY RELAXED WAY AT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE WORLD ECONOMY, THAT WOULD BE NAIVE BECAUSE WE WILL BE AFFECTED BY WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORLD ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, PARTICULARLY OUR MAJOR MARKETS. BUT WE DO FIND OURSELVES CUSHIONED BY BEING VERY CLOSE TO CHINA, AND PARTICULARLY THE RAPIDLY GROWING AREA OF SOUTHERN CHINA AND BY BEING PART OF THE RAPIDLY GROWING ASIA PACIFIC REGION.
LET ME TURN TO THE SECOND BROADBRUSH AREA, AND I WISH TO DEAL WITH THIS IN BROADBRUSH TERMS AT THE MOMENT, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA IN GENERAL TERMS, THAT IS POLITICAL AS WELL AS ECONOMIC, I'VE SKETCHED IN THE ECONOMIC.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
/THAT RELATIONSHIP .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
6 - .
THAT RELATIONSHIP IS QUITE CLEARLY A CRUCIAL PART OF OUR LIVES HERE IN HONG KONG NOW, AND IN THE FUTURE. IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO MANAGE THAT RELATIONSHIP IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. IT WON’T BE EASY AND IT WON’T BE SIMPLE. WE'VE GOT NOW SIX-AND-HALF YEARS BEFORE THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997. THAT WHOLE PROCESS IS SOMETHING WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED IN TERMS OF WORLD HISTORY; THERE ARE NO INTERNATIONAL, HISTORICAL BLUEPRINTS TO GO BY, WE HAVE TO FIND OUR OWN WAY FORWARD. IF ONE LOOKS AT THE WAY IN WHICH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA HAS DEVELOPED, BROADBRUSH, POLITICAL AS WELL AS ECONOMIC, IT MIRRORS THE WAY IN WHICH OUR ECONOMIC CONTACTS WITH GUANGDONG HAVE GROWN. AGAIN, TRANSFER YOURSELF BACK, LET'S SAY 12, 13 YEARS; 1978 -1979. YOU COULD ONLY GET PHYSICALLY TO CHINA BY TAKING A TRAIN TO THE BORDER, GETTING OUT, CARRYING YOUR SUITCASE, WALKING ACROSS THE BRIDGE AT LOWU. THERE WERE NO OTHER WAYS OF GETTING TO CHINA. GOVERNMENT CONTACTS WERE MINIMAL; THERE WERE HARDLY ANY OFFICIAL CONTACTS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS OF CHINA, LET ALONE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF CHINA. ALL THAT HAS CHANGED VERY DRAMATICALLY INDEED IN THE LAST 12 OR 13 YEARS.
IN HANDLING THIS NOW WE CONSTANTLY HAVE TO THINK WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG NOW; WHAT IS IN THE BEST OF HONG KONG LONG TERM; HOW CAN WE BEST MANAGE THE RELATIONSHIP FOR HONG KONG NOW; HOW CAN WE BEST MANAGE IT SO THAT WHEN THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION IS SET UP IN 1997, IT STARTS OFF WITH A FIRM, GOOD FOUNDATION. THERE ARE BOUND TO BE, ON BOTH SIDES, UNCERTAINTIES; THERE ARE BOUND TO BE SUSPICIONS ON BOTH SIDES. WE COME TO THIS WITH A BACKGROUND OF LACK OF CONTACT OVER MANY YEARS; SOME HISTORICAL SUSPICIONS WE CONSTANTLY HAVE TO OVERCOME ON BOTH SIDES, AND I EMPHASIZE THIS, ON BOTH SIDES; SUSPICIONS, MYTHOLOGY AND SO ON.
I BELIEVE MYSELF THAT AS 1997 APPROACHES IN THIS SIX-AND-A-HALF YEAR PERIOD, WE MUST INCREASINGLY TRY TO SEE TO IT THAT CHINA IS WELL INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE; HOW HONG KONG RUNS ITSELF; WHAT ARE OUR OWN MAJOR PLANS ARE FOR THE FUTURE. THIS IS ONE OF THE THEMES THAT I USED TN MY SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST OCTOBER. THAT I SEE AS NECESSARY, SO CHINA, THE CENTRAL PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT, UNDERSTANDS HONG KONG BETTER; UNDERSTANDS ITS SYSTEM; UNDERSTANDS THE WAY IT OPERATES; UNDERSTANDS THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO PLAN LONG TERM FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. EQUALLY, I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THIS TOO MATTERS BOTH NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE', THAT THERE SHOULD BE IN HONG KONG A GOVERNMENT WHICH IS EFFECTIVE AND ACTIVE; WHICH TAKES DECISIONS AND IS SEEN TO BE THE SOURCE OF THOSE DECISIONS. THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED IF HONG KONG IS GOING TO BE A PROSPEROUS, DYNAMIC, ECONOMIC COMMUNITY. ONLY IF HONG KONG IS PROSPEROUS AND DYNAMIC, WILL IT BE SUCCESSFUL NOW TO THE BENEFIT OF ITS OWN CITIZENS; ONLY THEN WILL IT BE SUCCESSFUL POST-97; ONLY THEN WILL IT BE HELPFUL TO THE WHOLE PROCESS OF ECONOMIC MODERNIZATION TN CHINA. SO, THAT TOO IS SOMETHING WHICH IS IN EVERYBODY'S INTEREST.
/IN REACHING .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
7
IN REACHING THIS BALANCE BETWEEN KEEPING CHINA WELL-INFORMED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING; HAVING HERE A GOVERNMENT WHICH IS EFFECTIVE AND TAKES ITS OWN DECISIONS, WE WILL HAVE TO FEEL OUR WAY FORWARD OVER THE NEXT SIX-AND A HALF YEARS. WE ARE FINDING ON THE AIRPORT PROJECT, WAYS FORWARD OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT CHINA IS KEPT CAREFULLY INFORMED. THAT I THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. WE NEED TO HAVE A BENEVOLENT VIEW FROM CHINA, SUPPORT FROM CHINA FOR THAT GENERAL PROJECT, IF IT IS GOING TO BE CARRIED OUT EFFECTIVELY AND ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENTLY, AND THAT TOO IS TO EVERYBODY'S BENEFIT.
THE WHOLE PROCESS NEEDS A CONTINUOUS BUILDING UP OF CONTACTS. IT'S VERY DIFFERENT NOW FROM WHAT IT WAS 12 YEARS AGO, BUT STILL OUR ONTACTS ARE PERHAPS MORE LIMITED THAN THEY SHOULD BE. THEY ARE NOT THAT SMALL. WE HAD SOMETHING LIKE 100 DIFFERENT DELEGATIONS FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WHICH WENT TO THE MAINLAND OF CHINA LAST YEAR. WE HAD ABOUT 80 DELEGATIONS COMING THE OTHER WAY. THEY COVERED ALL SORTS OF UNDRAMATIC SUBJECTS LIKE METEOROLOGY, BORDER CONTROL, FOOD AND HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGICAL CO OPERATION. THERE ARE INNUMERABLE PRIVATE SECTOR CONTACTS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. THERE ARE INNUMERABLE PERSONAL AND FAMILY CONTACTS; THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE 40 MILLION PERSON JOURNEYS ACROSS THAT BORDER EVERY YEAR, AND THAT IS A COLOSSAL NUMBER. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR BUILDING UP THOSE CONTACTS INCREASINGLY IN THE FUTURE. WE NEED FOR INSTANCE, IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, TO HAVE OUR CIVIL SERVANTS BETTER INFORMED ABOUT HOW THE CHINESE SYSTEM WORKS AND HAVING MORE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE IN CHINA. AND WE WILL BE HAVING VISITS BY CIVIL SERVANTS TO CHINA, I HOPE ON A REGULAR BASIS, ONE TAKING PLACE NEXT MONTH. SO THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TO BE DONE ON THAT FIELD OF BUILDING UP CONTACTS WITH CHINA AND TRYING TO WORK OUT, OVER THE NEXT SIX AND-A-HALF YEARS WHAT IS THE BEST AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD.
FINALLY, ONE GENERAL POINT ABOUT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT YEAR IN HONG KONG'S HISTORY. WE HAVE ELECTIONS AT ALL THREE LEVELS; DISTRICT BOARD LEVEL, MUNICIPAL COUNCIL LEVEL AND FINALLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH OUR FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS.
/OVER THE ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
8
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE NEED FOR A MORE PARTICIPATORY FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO EVOLVE THE SYSTEM TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THOSE VIEWS. NOW IS THE TIME TO SEE THAT WORKING IN PRACTICE AND IT NEEDS A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN TALK. IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO TAKE PART IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS; IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO TAKE THE TIME, THE TROUBLE AND GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFICULTIES OF STANDING FOR ELECTION, OR SUPPORTING THOSE WHO DO STAND FOR ELECTION, AND AT A LOWER ORDER, IT REQUIRES PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND THEN ACTUALLY TO TURN OUT TO VOTE. ALL OF THAT NEEDS EFFORT; ALL OF THAT NEEDS COMMITMENT. WE'VE HAD, OVER MANY YEARS IN HONG KONG OUR OWN PARTICULAR POLITICAL SYSTEM; WE'VE HAD VERY MANY PEOPLE; HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THAT POLITICAL SYSTEM IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, ADVISORY CAPACITIES; APPOINTED MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE SERVED US VERY WELL INDEED AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ANOTHER STAGE IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SERVE HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO DO SO IN A MORE DIRECT WAY; TAKING PART IN ELECTIONS; DOING THINGS WHICH PERHAPS BY CUSTOM AND TRADITION, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN USED TO DOING; TAKING PART IN PUBLIC ARGUMENTS ON THE HUSTINGS, THAT IS SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE FROM A TRADITIONAL BACKGROUND WHO HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL UP TO NOW.
BUT THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED NOW FOR THE SAKE OF BUILDING UP THE LEADERSHIP OF HONG KONG’S FUTURE. SO I HOPE AS A FINAL POINT TO MAKE THAT IN THIS YEAR, 1991 WHICH IS OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE IN EVOLVING OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE; AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE; WILLING, ACTIVELY TO TAKE PART IN THAT POLITICAL PROCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
/TRANSCRIPT OF .......
0
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
TRANSCRIPT OF A QUESTION AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S * A * A
AND ANSWER SESSION SPEECH AT THE FCC *
THE GOVERNOR WILL NOW TAKE QUESTIONS. WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK PLEASE STAND UP, IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND WHERE YOU ARE FROM. FIRST QUESTION.
Q.: FROM KEVIN SINCLAIR ...
A.x GOVERNOR: I SUPPOSE I CLASSIFY THAT AS A SIMPLE QUESTION. YE|, THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE PROBLEMS AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED YOU WILL FIND THEY GO BACK A GOOD DEAL IN HISTORY AND THEY ARE NOW BEING DEALT WITH. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE WAY TO DEAL WITH THEM TO ASK THE PRESENT ATTORNEY GENERAL TO RESIGN. I BELIEVE THE THING TO DO IS TO GET A GRIP OF SOME OF THE PROBLEM AREAS OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND I AM, MYSELF, VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT THAT HAS BEEN DONE. I THINK A GREAT DEAL HAS NOW BEEN DONE IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO CLEAR UP SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE THERE WERE PROBLEMS. SOME OF THOSE DIFFICULTIES ARE NOW THE SUBJECT OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS BUT THE KEY THING IS ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED.
Q.: NOW, MR CHAIRMAN, DAVID BOTTOMLY, ASIAN COMMERCIAL RESEARCH. SIR, THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN US A VERY ARTICULATE, VERY CLEAR SPEECH AND CLEARLY MUCH PRAISE MUST GO TO THE SURGEONS OF HIS RECENT EXPERIENCE. HOWEVER, SIR, THE OPINION POLLS PUBLISHED OVER THE LAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS BY THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST HAVE SHOWN A STEADY DECLINE IN PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT YOUR GOVERNMENT. DO YOU FEEL THAT -TWO QUESTIONS REALLY: DOES IT WORRY YOU THAT THE PUBLIC, DESPITE THE MANY VIRTUES YOU HAVE PRESENTED TO US TODAY, DECLINES TO BELIEVE THEM AND IS SCEPTICAL AND SECONDLY, DO YOU FEEL IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION FURTHER TO CONVEY TO PEOPLE POINTS WHICH MIGHT TURN ROUND THIS RATHER SERIOUS DECLINE IN YOUR GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC STANDING?
/A.: GOVERNOR:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
10
A.: GOVERNOR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOST OF YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SEE THE QUESTION BUT LUCKILY I CAN. I DON'T KNOW WHICH PUBLIC OPINION POLLS YOU READ. LET ME PUT IT LIKE THIS: EVERY GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD - IF THERE WERE OTHER GOVERNORS IN MY POSITION I WOULD SAY EVERY GOVERNOR, BUT THERE AREN'T MANY OF US AROUND, WOULD LIKE TO SEE PUBLIC OPINION POLLS WHICH HAD MAXIMUM SUPPORT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE OPINION POLLS GIVING VIEWS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND YOU COMPARE THEM WITH VIEWS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS ROUND THE WORLD THE SURPRISING THING IN MANY WAYS IS THAT OUR OPINION POLL RATINGS ARE CONSISTENTLY AS HIGH AS THEY ARE AND MANY GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD, I THINK, WOULD BE VERY PLEASED TO SEE THOSE SORT OF FIGURES. NOW, I DON'T WANT THAT IN ANY WAY TO SOUND COMPLACENT BECAUSE I AM NOT COMPLACENT. HONG KONG HAS AN IMMENSE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. IT IS FACING VARIOUS UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT ITS OWN FUTURE, IT LIVES IN A WORLD WHICH, IN ITSELF, IS UNCERTAIN. I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THERE WERE NOT PEOPLE WHO WERE CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT. I AM, HOWEVER, PLEASED, GENUINELY PLEASED, BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS, ALWAYS HAS HAD AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THROUGHOUT SOCIETY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO MATTER ENORMOUSLY TO HONG KONG IN THE FUTURE. WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE TO FACE THOSE PROBLEMS AS REALISTICALLY AS WE CAN TO THE GREATEST EXTENT WE CAN. WE NEED TO TRY TO TACKLE THEM AS A COMMUNITY, NOT SIMPLY ONE PART OF THE COMMUNITY ATTACKING ANOTHER PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR NOT PULLING ALL OF ITS EGGS OUT OF THE BASKET, BUT TRYING TO SEE TOGETHER WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD FOR HONG KONG.
NOW, FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH AND WHY I SAY WHAT OPINION POLLS DO YOU LOOK AT, THE POINT THAT STRUCK ME IN THE LATEST SERIES THAT I WAS WATCHING, WHICH I THINK WAS THE SRH ONES, WERE THAT THE POLITICAL CONFIDENCE INDICATORS HAD RISEN AFTER L989 AND WERE REMAINING PRETTY STEADY, BUT IT WAS THE ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE INDICATORS THAT WERE DROPPING RATHER THAN THE POLITICAL CONFIDENCE ONES.
Q-: ............... ARE YOU SURPRISED BY, AND HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT ONLY 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED TO DATE AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT BY THE FEBRUARY 28TH DEADLINE THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WILL BE FAR BELOW THE ESTIMATES FOR THOSE APPLYING FOR BRITISH PASSPORTS?
A.: GOVERNOR: THIS IS ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT. YES, I THINK I AM SURPRISED BY THE NUMBERS TO DATE. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, OF COURSE, IS HOW MANY APPLICATIONS WILL COME IN BEFORE THE DEADLINE CLOSES. BUT, TO MY MIND THE KEY THING IS THAT THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE IS THERE ON OFFER; IF PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE IT UP, FAIR AND GOOD. IF FOR WHATEVER REASON PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO TAKE IT UP FAIR AND GOOD. THAT'S THEIR RIGHT. EXACTLY LET ME JUST FINISH THE POINT. EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL APPLY BY THE END OF THIS MONTH I DON'T KNOW AND THE PRECISE REASONS WHY PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PUT IN APPLICATIONS, AGAIN, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT INDEED TO GUESS BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO GUESS ON NON ACTION BY A WHOLE RANGE OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND I DON'T THINK I WOULD VENTURE EVEN TO TRY TO GUESS. SORRY, YOU HAVE A SECOND POINT?
/Q. :
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
1 1
Q.:
A.: GOVERNOR: I CANNOT HONESTLY GIVE YOU AN ANSWER TO THAT BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW AND I IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE VARIOUS. ALL I WOULD SAY IS THAT IF PEOPLE DO WANT TO APPLY AND IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO THEM WHETHER THEY WANT TO OR NOT, THEY SHOULD DO SO BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.
Q.: ROGER THOMAS, FREELANCE BROADCASTER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICIAL. MAY I ASK YOU WHY, WHEN HONG KONG IS MAKING A DETERMINED EFFORT TO UNDERLINE ITS INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, THE GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO BE MAKING A DETERMINED EFFORT TO UNDERMINE THE ENGLISH SERVICE OF RTHK, BOTH IN ITS SCOPE AND ITS PROFESSIONAL ABILITY?
A.: GOVERNOR: I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEMBERS OF RTHK YOU HAVE HERE, OR ARE YOU ALL JUST LISTENERS? I DON'T - IT IS NOT EASY FOR ME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION TN DETAIL, BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH OF THE DETAIL AT MY FINGERTIPS. ALL I WOULD SAY IS THAT I DON'T ACCEPT THAT IT IS A GOVERNMENT POLICY TO UNDERMINE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CAPABILITY OF RTHK. WHAT WE DO HAVE TO DO IS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT RTHK IS AS COST EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE AND IT HAS TO CATER FOR AN AUDIENCE WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY CANTONESE SPEAKING AND AT THE SAME TIME IT HAS TO CATER FOR A MINORITY ENGLISH SPEAKING AUDIENCE. I, TOO, AM A LISTENER TO RTHK AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE FOUND VERY VALUABLE AS A NEW SERVICE OVER THE LAST YEAR OR MORE IS THE REBROADCASTTNG OF THE WORLD SERVICE OF THE BBC. I THINK THAT IS A TREMENDOUS SERVICE AND I FOR ONE APPRECIATE IT.
Q.: BRIAN CAP .......... IF THE AIM OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS TO KEEP THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT INFORMED AS YOU STATED IN YOUR SPEECH, HOW IS IT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS.OVER THE AIRPORT PROJECT?
A.: GOVERNOR: THAT IS NOT AN EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER, IS IT? THE WISH IS NOT ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE FULFILLMENT OF THE WISH ON THAT OR ANYTHING ELSE. THERE ARE, AS I WAS SAYING, AN IMMENSE -THERE IS AN IMMENSE BACKGROUND OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS ALWAYS FROM BOTH SIDES THAT YOU HAVE TO TRY AND OVERCOME IN ORDER TO GET INFORMATION ACROSS. THE AIRPORT EXPERIENCE, I SUPPOSE, HAS SHOWN US THAT WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS SUCCEEDED IN EXPLAINING THINGS CLEARLY ENOUGH OR WE HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED TN PERSUADING PEOPLE IN CHINA OF THE REASONS FOR WHAT WE WERE DOING. ALL ONE CAN SAY NOW IS THAT WHEN YOU IDENTIFY A PROBLEM, THE BEST THING IS TO TRY TO DEAL WITH IT AND THAT IS THE REASON FOR HAVING THE EXPERT TALKS WHICH ARE STARTING TOMORROW IN PEKING, THE THIRD ROUND OF EXPERT TALKS, AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL MAKE SOME SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS.
Q.: CHRIS PETERSON ............. THE AIRPORT TALKS - MANY .... WERE DISTURBED BY THE SECOND PRESS ... THAT SPRANG UP. I WONDER IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND TO IT AND PERHAPS REFER TO THE REPORTS WHICH I DON'T KNOW WERE CONFIRMED OR NOT, BUT HONG KONG WAS BEHIND IT?
/A.: GOVERNOR:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
I 2
A.: GOVERNOR: LET ME TRY TO EXPLAIN IT AS I SEE IT. FIRST OF ALL, SHOULD ONE HAVE TALKS WHICH ARE CARRIED OUT CONFIDENTALLY BETWEEN EXPERTS AND TO THAT MY ANSWER IS "YES" IT IS QUITE RIGHT TO DO SO. IT IS SOMETHING WHICH HAPPENS ALL AROUND THE WORLD EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR, THE WHOLE TIME. WE FOUND THAT OVER PREVIOUS EXPERT TALKS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REFLECTED IN THE TALKS THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF A LOT OF WHAT SEEMED TO BE SIDE COMMENTS, MAYBE BACKGROUND BRIEFING BY BOTH SIDES, WHICH WAS NOT PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO REACH AN UNDERSTANDING. SO, WE DO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH CHINA AND THIS IS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING, THERE IS NO SECRET ABOUT IT, THAT THIS ROUND OF TALKS SHOULD BE CONFIDENTIAL AND BOTH SIDES AGREED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE SIDE-BRIEFING THE PRESS DURING THE TALKS. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS PERFECTLY REASONABLE CORRECT POSITION TO TAKE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE PROGRESS AND THESE ARE, AFTER ALL., NOTHING MORE THAN EXPERT TALKS. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER JOURNALISTS SHOULD GO TO CHINA OR NOT, THAT IS SOMETHING WHICH CAN ONLY BE FOR CHINA, THAT IS NOT FOR US AT ALL, AND IF JOURNALISTS WANT TO GO TO CHINA TOMORROW TO PHOTOGRAPH THE BEGINNING OF THE TALKS THEN, EXCELLENT. GOOD LUCK TO THEM.
Q.: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MAJOR HAS JUST TURNED DOWN A REQUEST BY THE DALAI LAMA FOR A MEETING IN BRITAIN NEXT MONTH, DO HONG KONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES FIGURE AT ALL IN THIS DECISION, AND IF SO, WHAT DAMAGE IS CHINA IN A POSITION TO DO TO THIS COLONY SHOULD HE DECIDE TO GO AHEAD AND MEET WITH THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF AN AUTONOMOUS REGION?
A.: GOVERNOR: I THINK ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE I HAVE SO MANY THINGS IN HONG KONG TO DEAL WITH, I SHALL LEAVE THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS HIMSELF ABOUT WHAT HE DECIDES TO DO.
Q.: SUZANNA HO, LIVERPOOL POST AND HONG KONG COUNCIL OF WOMEN :
WHAT PROGRESS IS THE GOVERNMENT MAKING IN ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF WOMEN IN HONG KONG, AND ON THE EXTENSION TO HONG KONG OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN?
A.: GOVERNOR: THAT - I KNOW IT SHOULDN'T SOUND AS THOUGH IT IS A
VERY TECHNICAL QUESTION, BUT FOR ME THAT IS A VERY TECHNICAL QUESTION. I WOULD MUCH RATHER, IF YOU DON’T MIND - CERTAINLY ON THE SECOND PART OF THAT WHICH I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD - SEND YOU A LETTER, AN ANSWER, ON THAT. ON THE GENERAL QUESTION, WE WOULD LIKE IN GENERAL TERMS TO HAVE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN BUT THAT HAS TO BE, INEVITABLY, A RATHER GENERAL QUESTION (ANSWER) TO YOUR VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION. MAY I SEND YOU A WRITTEN REPLY ON THAT, IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER?
Q. : ON THE SPECIFIC QUESTION ...
A.: GOVERNOR: PLEASE - YES, I WILL DO.
/Q.: EMILY LAU .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
Q.: EMILY LAU OF THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW : SIR DAVID, I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION WHICH FOLLOWS ON FROM WHAT MR PAUL BAYFIELD SAID AT THE OPENING. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEAK FOR THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON ANYTHING THAT STRADDLES 1997, TOGETHER WITH THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION TO HAND OVER THE REIGNS OF POWER TO PEOPLE ELECTED BY THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, DO YOU THINK THE HONG KONG PEOPLE CAN LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE? THE FACT THAT THE PROMISES IN THE JOINT DECLARATION THAT WE WILL HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HERE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE, ARE THOSE PROMISES STILL GOOD, OR IS THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION TELLING US THAT THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG WILL BE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS A PUPPET OF PEKING?
A.: GOVERNOR: I SEE NO REASON TO SAY THAT THE PROMISES IN THE JOINT DECLARATION ARE IN ANY WAY CHANGED ON EITHER SIDE. AS FAR AS BRITAIN IS CONCERNED, AND OF COURSE THAT IS THE ONLY ONE I CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY FOR, THERE IS NO CHANGE WHATSOEVER IN THE BRITISH COMMITMENT TO THE JOINT DECLARATION. I HAVE SEEN NOTHING TO SUGGEST THAT THERE IS ANY CHANGE ON THE CHINESE SIDE TO THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE PROMISES THAT THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. THOSE PROMISES INCLUDE THE WAY IN WHICH HONG KONG WILL OPERATE AFTER 1997 AND THAT INCLUDES POLICIES FOR HONG KONG TO HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY. SO THOSE SHOULD REMAIN - THEY ARE THERE ON THE RECORD, A FIRM COMMITMENT BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
NOW WE HAVE - TO PUT THIS IN A MORE PRACTICAL WAY - WE HAVE TO, OVER THE NEXT SIX -AND-A-HALF YEARS, FIND WAYS BY WHICH WE CAN BOTH KEEP THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT INFORMED OF MAJOR POLICY DECISIONS, THE WAY IN WHICH WE DO THINGS, SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ARE, SO THAT THEY DO NOT GET TAKEN BY SURPRISE BY MAJOR THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING HERE, BECAUSE THAT I THINK COULD WELL BE DISRUPTIVE. AND WE HAVE TO AT THE SAME TIME MAKE SURE THAT BOTH NOW, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND HONG KONG, TAKES THE DECISIONS WHICH ARE WITHIN ITS OWN FRAMEWORK OF AUTONOMY FOR TAKING DECISIONS, AND TO TRY TO SET THE RIGHT FRAMEWORK FOR THE SAR TO DO THE SAME AFTER 1997.
NOW YOU MENTIONED A CERTAIN AMOUNT ABOUT POLITICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THERE IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO THE POINT I WAS MAKING EARLIER ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM. WE NOW HAVE, THIS YEAR, A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM DOING SO, BECAUSE ONLY IF THEY DO SO, AND DO SO IN SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS, AND DO SO RIGHT ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF POLITICAL OPINIONS IN HONG KONG, CAN WE BUILD UP A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH WILL BE THE SORT OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEEDED TO FULFIL THE ROLE IT HAS UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION, OF HAVING A GOVERNMENT WHICH IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS IS WRITTEN DOWN. WE NEED PEOPLE NOW TO TAKE PART IN THE PROCESS. IT WON'T BE EASY, THERE ARE NO MAGIC FORMULAS FOR IT BUT IT NEEDS HARD EFFORT.
/Q...........SIR..........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
14
Q. ............... SIR, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE TN SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND A POSSIBLE CHALLENGE POSED BY SINGAPORE. THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT HAS A WIDE PANOPLY OF INCENTIVES IT HAS OFFERED HONG KONG COMPANIES TO SET UP SHOP. THE OTHER DAY 'GOLDPEAK' LISTED DOWN THERE - ONE OF THE REASONS THEY ARE LISTING IN SINGAPORE AND SETTING UP THEIR MAIN OPERATIONS FOR THEIR MOST PRODUCTIVE PART OF THE COMPANY IS BECAUSE OF A PACKAGE OF TAXINCENTIVES AND ALSO RESIDENCY. MAJOR UK FUND MANAGERS HAVE SET UP SHOP IN SINGAPORE RATHER THAN HONG KONG BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT THERE HAS ALLOCATED A PORTION OF THE CPF FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT. HALF-A-DOZEN FOREX DEALERS HAVE MOVED DOWN TO SINGAPORE, IN PART BECAUSE OF LOWER TAXES. MY QUESTION, SIR, IS: DO YOU SEE THIS AS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FROM SINGAPORE? AND (2): IS THE GOVERNMENT THINKING OF SOME SORT OF PACKAGE - WHETHER IT BE TAX-INCENTIVES AND SUCH - IN ORDER TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT COMPANIES TO HONG KONG?
A.: GOVERNOR: I ALWAYS THINK OF OURSELVES AND SINGAPORE, IF YOU WILL FORGIVE THE BRITISH ANALOGY, OF RATHER LIKE RIVALRY BETWEEN OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE, BECAUSE WE CONSTANTLY ARE RIVALS BUT VERY FRIENDLY RIVALS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SINGAPORE WOULD LIKE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG, AND THAT IS IN THE FINANCIAL SPHERE AND I THINK IT’S IN A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER SPHERES. SO FAR, I'M BOUND TO SAY, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL. WE WILL GO ON TRYING TO BUILD UP HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL SERVICES CENTRE FOR THIS AREA IN THAT SORT OF FRIENDLY RIVALRY.
OUR OWN SYSTEM HERE IS BASED ON, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN, SIMPLICITY OF STRUCTURE, SIMPLICITY OF TAX. IT IS LOW TAX BUT IT IS ALSO A VERY SIMPLE TAX REGIME. WE ALSO TRY TO HAVE A REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS ADEQUATE BUT NOT EXCESSIVE, AND AGAIN WE HOPE THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE CONDUCIVE TO BUILDING THIS PLACE UP AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE. I WON'T TRY TO DEAL WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S BUDGET NOW, I THINK THAT HAS TO WAIT FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT WE ESSENTIALLY ON TAX MEASURES TRY TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE RATHER THAN TO GIVE SPECIAL CONCESSIONS, AND WE BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT HAS HELPED TO MAKE HONG KONG A SUCCESSFUL PLACE.
IT IS, I THINK, AN INTERESTING POINT THAT ALTHOUGH WE FACE HERE UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT THE FUTURE AND THEREFORE PEOPLE WORRYING ABOUT THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE ATTEMPTS TO BUILD UP RIVALS TO HONG KONG ALL ROUND THE REGION, SO FAR, HAPPILY, THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL. I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MORE SINGAPOREANS WORKING HERE IN HONG KONG THAN THERE ARE HONGKONGERS WORKING IN SINGAPORE, AND I AM DELIGHTED BY THAT.
Q.: PHILIP BARHAM : SIR, YOU MAY NOT BE IN CHARGE OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THE DALAI LAMA BUT YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF ENTRY INTO HONG KONG. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT PARANOIA GRIPS YOUR GOVERNMENT THAT IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE LIKES OF A DISTINGUISHED SOVIET ACADEMICIAN, GEORGIY ARBATOV, INTO THIS TERRITORY WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN INTERNATIONAL CITY?
/A.: GOVERNOR:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
15
A.: GOVERNOR: WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING ON EASTERN EUROPE AND THE SOVIET UNION IN GENERAL IS RELAXING OUR POLICIES. WE HAVE HAD STRICT POLICIES TOWARDS EASTERN EUROPE AND THE SOVIET UNION OVER MANY YEARS, AS YOU KNOW, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RELAXING THOSE. WE ARE JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT PROCESS. WITHOUT GOING INTO GREAT DETAIL ON THE PARTICULAR CASE YOU MENTION, THAT CAME BEFORE THE NEW POLICIES OF RELAXATION HAD COME IN WITH RATHER SHORT NOTICE. BUT THE GENERAL TREND, THE GENERAL DIRECTION IN WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO GO, IS A MORE REE,AXED POLICY FOR EASTERN EUROPE AND THE SOVIET UNION, AND FOR SOME OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH WE WERE PREVIOUSLY MORE RESTRICTIVE TOWARDS.
Q.: KAISER SUNG, TAX ... BUSINESS PRESS : ON THE AIRPORT ISSUE, A CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE HAS PROPOSED TO ESTABLISH A CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE OR COMMITTEE. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH ESTABLISHMENT, WHAT SIZE WILL IT BE? BECAUSE THE CHINESE POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE IS A HUGE BODY.
A.: GOVERNOR: THE QUESTION WAS: IF IT WAS SET UP WHAT SIZE WOULD IT BE? WELL IT IS AN 'IF' QUESTION. LET ME TRY TO TACKLE THAT SLIGHTLY MORE BROADLY, IF I MAY. THERE IS, I THINK, A NEED FOR US -THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT - TO TRY TO DO MORE TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE AIRPORT PROJECT; TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AS WIDELY AND IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT, I THINK, IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO WORK ON OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. I DON'T, MYSELF, HAVE A CLOSED MIND ON THE PRECISE WAY IN WHICH WE SHOULD DO THIS. I'VE SEEN IN THE PRESS, REFERENCES TO THE IDEA OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR A CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, AND ON SOME OTHER MAJOR AREAS OF COURSE WE HAVE HAD ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF THAT SORT. BUT THAT IS WHAT IT IS AT THE MOMENT, IT IS ONE OF MANY IDEAS, AND I THINK THE MAIN POINT IS TO TRY TO DO MORE FROM OUR SIDE - THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT - TO EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF THE AIRPORT PROJECT, THE DETAILS OF IT, TO THOSE WHO ARE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN IT.
PERHAPS I COULD JUST SAY ANOTHER WORD OR TWO ABOUT THE AIRPORT. I DO SEE THIS AS BEING SOMETHING WHICH IS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, AND IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD START WORK ON IT NOW. THE EASY OPTION - IF I COULD PUT IT LIKE THAT - FOR THE PRESENT HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, TO SAY THIS IS A BIG PROJECT, IT'S A LONG TERM PROJECT, LET US LEAVE IT UNTIL AFTER 1997. I THINK THAT WOULD BE FAILING IN OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS HONG KONG AND ITS FUTURE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT OVER A SPAN OF YEARS - AND YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY PARTICULAR DATE YOU LIKE - BUT AFTER NOT TOO LONG KAI TAK GETS SATURATED. NO DOUBT IN MY MIND AT ALL, AND THIS GOES BACK TO AN EARLIER QUESTION, THAT OTHER PLACES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA WOULD DEARLY LIKE TO REPLACE HONG KONG AS A REGIONAL CENTRE. THOSE OTHER PLACES, SEVERAL OF THEM, ARE GOING AHEAD FAST WITH BUILDING UP THEIR TRANSPORT FACILITIES. UNLESS WE IN HONG KONG DO THAT NOW, START PLANNING, START ACTING NOW, WE WILL BE DOING AN IMMENSE DISSERVICE TO THE POST-1997 HONG KONG, SO THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTING SO MUCH EFFORT TO TRY TO DO THIS.
/Q. : ....... SIR DAVID .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
16
Q: ............... SIR DAVID, IN TALKING ABOUT RELATIONS WITH CHINA YOU SAID THERE WERE SUSPICIONS ON BOTH SIDES, COULD YOU TELL US WHAT YOUR OWN SUSPICIONS ARE ABOUT THE INTENTIONS OF THE BEIJING AUTHORITIES? AND IN A BID TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING ENOUGH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. CAN YOU TELL US IF THERE WILL BE ANY INFORMATION AT ALL WHICH WILL BE FIRST MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF CHINA OR THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES BEFORE IT IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG?
A.: GOVERNOR: THE SIMPLE ANSWER TO THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS, NO. I DON'T PROPOSE TO DO THAT. WHAT I WILL DO INSTEAD THOUGH IS THIS. IF YOU GO BACK IN HISTORY YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS SORT OF PROBLEM, THE SORT OF SUSPICIONS, THE SORT OF MYTHOLOGIES THAT BUILD UP ON BOTH SIDES IS NOTHING NEW AT ALL. IT CERTAINLY EXISTED IN THE 19TH CENTURY, IT EXISTED VERY STRONGLY IN THE 1920'S AND THE 1930'S, AND WHAT I DO BELIEVE IS THAT WE NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THAT AS A PROBLEM. WE LIVE HERE TN HONG KONG IN A HIGH-SPEED, HIGH-TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY; INFORMATION FLOWS AROUND THIS PLACE AT IMMENSE SPEED. SOME OF THAT INFORMATION ITSELF IS RUMOUR, GOSSIP, MYTHOLOGY, BUT WE ARE VERY USED TO WORKING OUT FOR OURSELVES WHICH IS MYTHOLOGY AND WHICH IS TRUE BECAUSE WE ARE BEING BOMBARDED WITH THIS SORT OF INFORMATION THE WHOLE TIME.
WE HAVE TO TRY TO PUT OURSELVES, EVERY NOW AND THEN, IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT HONG KONG FROM OUTSIDE - LET'S SAY FROM PEKING - AND TRY TO LOOK AT IT THROUGH THEIR EYES AND SEE HOW THEY SEE IT. TRY TO SEE WHAT SORT OF MYTHOLOGY THEY MAY HAVE, SORT OF SUSPICIONS, AND TRY TO PIN THOSE DOWN AND DEAL WITH THEM. THE SAME ACTUALLY, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, APPLIES TO OUR DEALINGS WITH MANY OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD BUT IT IS PARTICULARLY APPARENT IN DEALING WITH CHINA.
YOUR SECOND QUESTION WAS: WAS THERE INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD PASS TO CHINA BEFORE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG? INEVITABLY IN SOME DISCUSSIONS THERE ARE THINGS WHICH WE WILL BE DISCUSSING EITHER WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OR WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS BEFORE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THAT IS AN INEVITABLE PART OF GOVERNMENT DISCUSSIONS. BUT ON A MAJOR PROJECT - SOMETHING LIKE, LET'S SAY THE AIRPORT - WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, AS WE TAKE DECISIONS - AND ALL ALONG, LET ME SAY, WE'VE HAD TO HAVE IN OUR MINDS WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PHASINGS FOR THE AIRPORT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO ADOPT AS WE LOOK AT THOSE, REACH CONCLUSIONS, MAKE DECISIONS, THEN THOSE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO DISSEMINATE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE BACKGROUND REASONS FOR DOING IT, AND THEN SEEK APPROVAL AS IS NECESSARY. I MEAN THE PRECISE APPROVAL WE ALWAYS NEED IS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, BUT ALSO WIDER UNDERSTANDING FROM PEOPLE TN HONG KONG.
/Q: ....... THINGS THAT .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
17
Q: ................. THINGS THAT YOU SAID EARLIER. NUMBER 1. YOU MENTIONED THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP CONFIDENTIAL THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE AIRPORT TALKS, THAT IS THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS BEGINNING TOMORROW; AND NUMBER TWO IS YOU STRESS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLITICS; TO TAKE PART IN DIRECT ELECTIONS. HOW CAN YOU CONVINCE HONG KONG PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN LOCAL POLITICS WHEN THEY ARE BEING KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT IMPORTANT DECISIONS AND DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS?
A: GOVERNOR: I DON'T SEE THAT AS BEING A CONTRADICTION EITHER HERE OR AS IT WOULD APPLY ANYWHERE ELSE TN THE WORLD. ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD YOU WOULD GET PEOPLE ACTIVELY TAKING PART IN POLITICS, WANTING TO TAKE PART IN POLITICS. ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD YOU WOULD FIND CONFIDENTIAL DISCUSSIONS GOING ON THE WHOLE TIME BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS. THAT IS A PART OF THE NATURAL WAY, BOTH IN WHICH GOVERNMENTS WORK, AND IN WHICH POLITICAL PARTICIPATION WORKS. THE MORE PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS, THE MORE, FOR INSTANCE, YOU GET PEOPLE WHO TAKE PART IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THEN THE CLOSER THEY GET TO THE DECISION TAKING PROCESS. I DON'T SEE ANY CONTRADICTION IN THE TWO THINGS I WAS SAYING.
WE HAVE TIME FOR A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. JOHN ELLIOT HERE AND THEN PETER SILETS.
Q: JOHN ELLIOT, FINANCIAL TIMES. TO DATE THERE SEEMS TO BE A CLASH BETWEEN YOUR WILLINGNESS TO INFORM PEKING AND THEIR DESIRE TO BE CONSULTED. PRESUMABLY IN THEIR TERMINOLOGY IT MEANS THAT THEY WANT TO INFLUENCE DECISIONS. HOW WILLING ARE YOU TO ALLOW PEKING TO INFLUENCE YOUR DECISIONS AS OPPOSED MERELY TO INFORM WHICH IS THE WORD YOU USED TODAY AND BEFORE? SECONDLY, YOU HAVE JUST MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF PHASING ON THE AIRPORT, WHICH IS YOUR TERM, I THINK, FOR THE CURRENT PASSWORD OF SCALING DOWN. ARE YOU WILLING TO SCALE DOWN THE AIRPORT IN RESPONSE TO PEKING AND IF YOU DID HOW DO YOU THINK PEOPLE HAVE ANY FAITH AT ALL IN AUTONOMY AFTER 1997?
/A: GOVERNOR: .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
18
A: GOVERNOR: LET ME TAKE THE SECOND OF THOSE FIRST WHILE IT IS IN
MY MIND. PHASING IS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME AS SCALING DOWN. PHASING IS SOMETHING WHICH WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LOOKING AT, BECAUSE LET US SAY YOU HAVE AN ULTIMATE PLAN FOR AN AIRPORT; LET US SAY FOR THE SAKE OF EXAMPLE, THAT YOU HAVE AN ULTIMATE PLAN FOR A TWO RUNWAY AIRPORT OPERATING 24 HOURS A DAY CONNECTED BY A ROAD SYSTEM CONNECTED BY A RAIL SYSTEM. YOU DO NOT QUITE OBVIOUSLY GO RIGHT INTO THE WHOLE OF THAT ON DAY 1, TWO RUNWAYS. YOU HAVE TO PHASE THAT. YOU CAN ALSO PHASE OTHER PARTS OF THAT PROGRAMME WITHOUT SCALING DOWN THE FINAL SCHEME. IF ONE TRIED TO SCALE DOWN, HAVE AS IT WERE A SMALLER AIRPORT ON THE CHEAP, YOU VERY QUICKLY GET TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS NO POINT IN REPLACING KAI TAK. SO, IN TRYING TO PLAN FOR A FUTURE AIRPORT, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE IF YOU ARE PLANNING FOR SOMETHING WHICH WILL BE MUCH BIGGER LONG TERM, MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE LONG TERM, MUCH MORE ECONOMIC LONG TERM, THAN KAI TAK IS NOW. OTHERWISE, YOU ARE NOT PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT. HOW YOU PHASE THE PARTICULAR ELEMENTS OF THAT MAKES A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFERENCE TO THE CASH FLOW OF THE PROJECT ITSELF AND YOU HAVE GOT THE OPTIONS BETWEEN SPENDING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF CASH UP FRONT OR DELAYING THE EXPENDITURE BUT FINDING THAT WHEN YOU MAKE THAT EXPENDITURE AFTER HOW MANY YEARS THAT IT IS COSTING YOU A CERTAIN AMOUNT MORE. THFRF. ARE ALWAYS THESE OPTIONS.
THE OTHER QUESTION. IF WE ARE TALKING TO THE CHINESE AND EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT WE ARE DOING, I SEE PART OF THAT PROCESS AS BEING A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE GOT TO SAY. THERE IS NO POINT IN TALKING TO SOMEBODY IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY IN RESPONSE AND, AS NECESSARY, IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF VIEWS IF THEY SEEM IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT TO THE DECISIONS WE ARE TAKING. BUT IT WILL ALSO BE IMPORTANT THAT DECISIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN HERE IN HONG KONG ABOUT HONG KONG MATTERS.
Q: BUT WHAT DOES THAT DO IF CHINA IS SEEN TO HAVE INFLUENCE ON THE
CONFIDENCE OF A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AFTER 1997?
/A:
GOVERNOR:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
A: GOVERNOR: THAT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN IN SORT OF FACTUAL POINTS. LET ME PUT IT LIKE THIS. WE HAVE GOT AN AIRPORT PROJECT AT THE MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC CHINESE CRITICISM OF THE PLANS. THAT IS NOT, IN MY VIEW, HELPFUL TO GETTING THE AIRPORT BUILT EFFECTIVELY AND CHEAPLY AND TO THE BENEFIT OF HONG KONG. I WOULD FAR RATHER SEE AN UNDERSTANDING BY CHINA AND WITH CHINA OF THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE GOT. THAT I THINK WOULD HELP HONG KONG TO GET AHEAD WITH BUILDING AN AIRPORT AND TO DO IT AS ECONOMICALLY, EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. LET ME PUT THAT IN EVEN MORE SPECIFIC TERMS BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY WHAT IT GETS DOWN TO. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR INVESTMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN SOMETHING LIKE AN AIRPORT, PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTORS INEVITABLY WILL LOOK AT THE OVERALL POLITICAL CLIMATE FOR THEIR DECISION. IF THERE IS WORRY ABOUT CRITICAL COMMENT FROM CHINA ON THE AIRPORT, THEY WILL LOAD THEIR BIDS WITH A CERTAIN INSURANCE MARGIN AND THE COST OF THAT BID TO HONG KONG WILL BE THAT MUCH GREATER. I DON'T THINK THAT IS TO THE ADVANTAGE OF HONG KONG. I BELIEVE IT IS TO THE ADVANTAGE OF HONG KONG THAT WE SHOULD HAVE UNDERSTANDING WITH CHINA OF OUR PI,ANS AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION ON THE VERY BEST POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL TERMS.
Q: LISTENING TO YOUR PROBLEMS EXISTING HERE AND THOSE COMING, ONE WONDERS IF YOU, YOURSELF, OR YOUR SUPERIOR WANT YOU TO BE HERE UP TO 1997. COULD YOU COMMENT?
A: GOVERNOR: WELL, THE SIMPLE, I AM AFRAID, AND STRAIGHT FORWARD ANSWER IS THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I WILL SERVE TN HONG KONG. HOW CAN I TAKE THAT FURTHER THAN THAT? SIMPLY TO SAY THAT HONG KONG FOR ME IS THE MOST WORTHWHILE JOB THAT I COULD DO. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN HONG KONG FOR NEARLY ALL MY LIFE, SINCE I WAS A STUDENT HERE IN THE EARLY L960S, AND FOR AS LONG AS I AM ASKED TO DO THE JOB OF GOVERNOR AND FEEL THAT I CAN DO A USEFUL JOB I WILL TRY TO DO IT.
Q: DO YOU ENJOY IT?
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SIR DAVID AND LADY WILSON FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AND AS A MEMENTO A BOOK OF HONG KONG POSTCARDS WITH OUR OWN POSTCARD ON THE COVER IN AVAILABLE IN THF SHOP DOWNSTAIRS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOVERNOR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
/20 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
- 20 -
JI PENGFEI AND LU PING TO VISIT HE ♦ * * * ♦
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY! ANNOUNCED THAT AT THE INVITATION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, MR JI PENGFEI AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE OF CHINA’S STATE COUNCIL, MR LU PING, WILL VISIT HONG KONG FROM MARCH 4 TO 6.
------0--------
ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL . FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1990 RELEASED
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND REPORTED BY THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN DECEMBER 1990 SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1990, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
BUT THE VOLUME DECREASED BY 1% WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1990, THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN DECEMBER 1990 INCREASED SLIGHTLY IN THE TEXTILES AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, BUI’ DECREASED SLIGHTLY IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, ORDERS IN THE WEARING APPAREL AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989, THE ORDERS POSITION IN DECEMBER 1990 DROPPED IN MOST MANUFACTURI NG INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, PARTICULARLY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, ORDERS IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY INCREASED SLIGHTLY OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IS MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF MONTHS AND REFERS TO ORDERS OUTSTANDING AS Al I HE END OF THE REFERENCE MONTH.
ON EMPLOYMENT, THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED REPORTED THAT THEIR TOTAL WORKFORCE IN DECEMBER 1990 DECREASED BY 1% WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1990, AND BY 11% WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1990, EMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER 1990 DECREASED MODERATELY IN THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY AND TO A LESSER EXTENT IN MOST OTHFn MANUFACTURI NG INDUSTRIES SURVEYED.
/OVER THE........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
- 21 -
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRY REPORTED LITTLE CHANGE IN EMPLOYMENT.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989, EMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER 1990 DECREASED IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, WITH THE LARGEST DECREASES RECORDED IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, TEXTILES AND THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, EMPLOYMENT IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
IN DECEMBER 1990, PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SURVEYED INCREASED BY 14%, IN MONEY TERMS, WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1990, DUE MAINLY TO THE ISSUE OF DOUBLE-PAY AND ANNUAL BONUSES BY A NUMBER OF MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED.
OVER THIS PERIOD, INCREASES IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE RECORDED IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, PARTICULARLY IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS, TEXTILES AND THE ELECTRICAL .AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, MOST MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED HAD NOT YET ISSUED DOUBLE-PAY AND ANNUAL BONUSES TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AND A SLIGHT DECREASE IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS WAS RECORDED.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989, PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN DECEMBER 1990 INCREASED BY 11%, IN MONEY TERMS, IN THE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SURVEYED.
PER CAPITA EARNINGS INCREASED IN ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, WITH SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES RECORDED IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES.
IT SHOULD, HOWEVER, BE CAUTIONED THAT THE DIFFERENT RATES OF INCREASE IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS AMONG THE INDUSTRIES SURVEYED WERE PARTLY AFFECTED BY THE DIFFERENCES IN THE TIMING OF ISSUE OF DOUBLEPAY AND ANNUAL (BONUSES BETWEEN 1989 AND 1990 BY SOME MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SURVEYED.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES SURVEYED, EMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER 1990 DECREASED SLIGHTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1990 AND MODERATELY WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989.
PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN DECEMBER 1990 INCREASED MODERATELY WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1990 AND SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 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 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
22
IN THE SELECTED SERVICE SECTORS, THE OVERALL EMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER 1990 AS REPORTED BY THE COMPANIES SURVEYED SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1990, BUT INCREASED SLIGHTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989.
IN DECEMBER 1990, PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR THE SELECTED SERVICE SECTORS TAKEN TOGETHER INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY OVER NOVEMBER 1990, DUE TO THE ISSUE OF DOUBLE-PAY AND ANNUAL BONUSES BY A NUMBER OF COMPANIES SURVEYED.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1989, PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN DECEMBER 1990 INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY FOR MOST SERVICE SECTORS SURVEYED, EXCEPT PUBLIC UTILITIES WHICH REPORTED ONLY A MODERATE INCREASE IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS.
THE DIFFERENT RATES OF INCREASE IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS AMONG THE SERVICE SECTORS SURVEYED WERE PARTLY AFFECTED BY THE DIFFERENCES IN THE TIMING OF ISSUE OF DOUBLE-PAY AND ANNUAL BONUSES BETWEEN 1989 AND 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 DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR DECEMBER 1990 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE 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 $2.50 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 839 3222.
/TABLE 1 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
- 23 -
TABLE 1 : ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
ORDERS-ON-HAND
INDUSTRY AS AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1990 CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH
NOV. 90 DEC. 89
(MONTHS) (X) (X)
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES 4.21 ♦ -1
— — _
WEARING APPAREL 4.60 ♦ -1
TEXTILES 2.07 + 1 -13
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 2.31 ♦ -25
FABRICATED METAL 4.12 + 1 -5
PRODUCTS
ELECTRICAL AND 5.22 -1 + 3
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS
OTHERS 4.09 ♦ ♦
» CHANGES WITHIN + /- 0.5%
TABLE 2 : EMPLOYMENT
PERSONS ENGAGED AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1990
CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH
INDUSTRY/SERVICES NOV. 90 DEC. 89
(%) (X)
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES -1 -11
FOOD AND DRINKS -1 ♦
WEARING APPAREL -9
TEXTILES -4 -18
PLASTIC PRODUCTS -3 -21
FABRICATED METAL -2 -7
PRODUCTS
ELECTRICAL AND -1 -13
ELECTRON IC PRODUCTS
OTHERS -5
/CONSTRUCTION #........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
- 24 -
CONSTRUCTION # -2 -7
SERVICES ♦ + 3
BANKS * + 3
HOTELS * -5
PUBLIC UTILITIES ♦ ♦
OTHERS * 4-9
* CHANGES WITHIN + /- 0.5%
# PERSONS ENGAGED COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
TABLE 3 : PER CAPITA EARNINGS
PER CAPITA EARNINGS
INDUSTRY/SERVICES AVERAGE AS IN DECEMBER 1990 CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH NOV. 90 DEC. 89
(HK$) (%) (%)
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES 6,897 + 14 + 11
FOOD AND DRINKS 9,967 + 45 + 12
WEARING APPAREL 5,421 + 10 + 6
TEXTILES 6,577 + 17 + 17
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 6,038 -1 + 8
FABRICATED METAL 6,301 + 6 + 23
PRODUCTS
ELECTRICAL AND 6,678 + 13 + 5
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS
OTHERS 8,609 + 9 + 14
CONSTRUCTION # 9,077 + 6 + 14
SERVICES 14,613 + 42 + 13
BANKS 16,043 + 66 + 12
HOTELS 7,944 + 23 + 17
PUBLIC UTILITIES 13,501 + 26 + 6
OTHERS 16,013 + 44 + 21
/# PER CAPITA ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
25
# PER CAPITA EARNINGS COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
NOTE : DUE TO THE POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF IRREGULAR PAYMENTS (E.G.
BACKPAY OR SPECIAL BONUS), "PER CAPITA EARNINGS" FOR A GIVEN MONTH MAY BE SUBJECT TO RATHER VOLATILE FLUCTUATIONS FROM TIME TO TIME. THEREFORE, IT IS PARTICULARLY ADVISABLE, IN STUDYING PER CAPITA EARNINGS STATISTICS, NOT TO TAKE A GIVEN MONTH’S DATA IN ISOLATION, BUT TO MAKE REFERENCE TO DATA OVER A LONGER PERIOD.
NOTE 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 - -
MISCONCEPTIONS ON NATIONALITY PACKAGE CLARIFIED ♦ » * ♦ *
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT MORE THAN 3,100 CALLS WERE RECEIVED BY THEIR SPECIAL HOTLINE ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME IN THE PAST TWO DAYS.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE CALLS WERE REQUESTS FOR HELP IN COMPLETING APPLICATION FORMS FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE SCHEME.
"HOWEVER, A QUICK ANALYSIS OF THESE CALLS HAS ALSO REVEALED A FEW BASIC, COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE :
♦ IS THERE A DIFFERENT PASS MARK FOR DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS ?
* WILL I GET A FULL BRITISH PASSPORT IF I AM SUCCESSFUL ?
♦ WILL THE PASSPORT BE GOOD FOR ENTRY INTO EUROPEAN COMMUNITY COUNTRIES ?
» WILL MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY BE INCLUDED ?
» MUST I GO TO LIVE IN THE UK AFTER GETTING MY PASSPORT ?
* DO I HAVE TO PAY UK TAXES IF I AM SUCCESSFUL ?
» CAN I APPLY UNDER THE ENTREPRENEURS CLASS ?
/THE SPOKESMAN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
26
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE MISCONCEPTIONS MIGHT HAVE ARISEN BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SOME NINE MONTHS SINCE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE SCHEME WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED.
HE REITERATED THAT THERE WERE NO '’PASSMARKS" AS SUCH.
"AN APPLICANT’S CHANCE DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF PLACES . AVAILABLE IN THE OCCUPATIONAL GROUP IN WHICH HE IS APPLYING AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICANTS IN THAT GROUP. THE FEWER THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, THE HIGHER WILL BE THE CHANCE OF SUCCESS FOR THOSE WHO APPLY," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS UNDER THE SCHEME WOULD BE GRANTED FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP, WHICH ENTITLED THEM TO ENTER FREELY INTO AND WITHIN THE UK WITHOUT ANY LIMITATION OF STAY OR IMMIGRATION CONDITION.
"PASSPORTS ISSUED UNDER THE SCHEME WILL BE FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS, AND WILL BE VALID FOR EC COUNTRIES JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BRITISH PASSPORT," HE SAID.
"MORE IMPORTANTLY, SPOUSES AND CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WILL ALSO BE REGISTERED AS BRITISH CITIZENS AT THE SAME TIME," HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN AGAIN EXPLAINED THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE SCHEME WAS TO ANCHOR PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BY GIVING THEM AN INSURANCE POLICY WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO LIVE IN THE UK AT ALL.
"SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL HAVE ABSOLUTE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO GO TO LIVE IN THE UK OR TO STAY IN HONG KONG.
"THE SCHEME IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY.
"AND IF THEY STAY IN HONG KONG, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO OBLIGATION TO PAY UK TAXES," HE SAID.
ON APPLICATIONS UNDER THE ENTREPRENEURS CLASS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID ALTHOUGH MOST CANDIDATES WOULD BE INVITED TO APPLY, OTHERS WHO CONSIDERED THEMSELVES ELIGIBLE COULD ALSO APPLY ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE.
"WE ARE BOUND TO MISS OUT ON SOME VERY DESERVING CASES AND THESE PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THEIR CASES KNOWN TO US BY PUTTING IN THEIR APPLICATIONS BEFORE FEBRUARY 28."
"HOWEVER, THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO APPLY NEED NOT OBSERVE THIS DEADLINE AS INVITATIONS ARE BEING ISSUED IN BATCHES AND THE PERIOD FOR APPLICATION WILL BE SPECIFIED IN THE LETTERS," HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MORE THAN 2,150 APPLICATION FORMS WERE RECEIVED IN THE PAST TWO DAYS.
"THERE IS JUST SLIGHTLY MORE THAN A WEEK BEFORE THE FEBRUARY 28 DEADLINE AND PEOPLE INTENDING TO APPLY SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE," HE SAID.
------0--------
/27........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
- 27 -
EARLY RENEWAL OF MULTIPLE VISIT PERMIT FOR TAIWAN RESIDENTS URGED
♦ t
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT TAIWAN TRAVELLERS HOLDING MULTIPLE VISIT PERMITS (MTPS) ISSUED DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST 1990 MAY APPLY TO RENEW THEIR PERMITS THREE MONTHS IN ADVANCE.
THE MULTIPLE VISIT PERMIT SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED ON JUNE 1, 1990.
DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF ITS INCEPTION, A TOTAL OF 236,000 WAS ISSUED.
BY JUNE, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED TO FACE A LARGE NUMBER OF RENEWAL APPLICATIONS.
"TO HELP SPREAD THE WORKLOAD AND TO MAINTAIN A SATISFACTORY SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, THE DEPARTMENT INVITES APPLICANTS TO SUBMIT THEIR RENEWAL APPLICATIONS WELL IN ADVANCE,” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT URGED.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT AN EARLY RENEWAL OF PERMITS DOES NOT BRING TO AN EARLY END OF THEIR FIRST ONES.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT PERMITS WILL BE VALID FROM THE DATE OF EXPIRY OF THE FIRST ONE AND THEY MAY USE THEIR CURRENT PERMITS UNTIL EXPIRY, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO TYPES OF MULTIPLE VISIT PERMITS: FOR SOCIAL VISITS AND BUSINESS VISITS.
WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE 1, THE TWO TYPES OF PERMITS WILL BE MERGED INTO ONE.
APPLICANTS CURRENTLY HOLDING A PERMIT FOR SOCIAL OR BUSINESS VISIT MAY APPLY FOR RENEWAL AND WILL BE ISSUED WITH A REPLACEMENT PERMIT.
THIS NEW PERMIT WILL BE VALID FOR ONE YEAR AND GOOD FOR A STAY OF NOT MORE THAN 14 DAYS ON EACH OCCASION, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NATURE OF VISITS.
HOLDERS OF MULTIPLE PERMITS FOR SOCIAL VISIT UNDER THE EXISTING SCHEME WILL ALSO BE GRANTED A STAY OF NOT MORE THAN 14 DAYS WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE 1.
TO FACILITATE TAIWAN TRAVELLERS, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO INTRODUCE A JUMBO MULTIPLE VISIT PERMIT VALID FOR TWO YEARS WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE 1.
"THE JUMBO PERMIT, A 32-PAGE DOCUMENT, WILL BE ISSUED AT A FEE OF $460. THIS, WE BELIEVE, WILL BE WELCOMED BY FREQUENT TRAVELLERS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/THE EXISTING .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
28
THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHANNELLING PERMIT APPLICANTS THROUGH AUTHORISED AIRLINES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
REPLACEMENT PERMIT APPLICATIONS MAY ALSO BE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANTS THEMSELVES OR THROUGH THEIR LOCAL SPONSORS.
’’SINGLE JOURNEY PERMITS WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE TO THOSE SOCIAL VISITORS WHO DO NOT NEED MULTIPLE VISIT FACILITIES OR WHO REQUIRE A LONGER PERIOD OF STAY THAN 14 DAYS,” THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
------------------0------- WORN-OUT BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS ♦ ♦ ♦ * ♦
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DECLARED A BUILDING AT 24 SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST ON HONG KONG ISLAND TO BE DANGEROUS AND AN ADJACENT BUILDING AT NO. 24A ON THE SAME STREET LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
THE AUTHORITY ALSO DECLARED TWO OTHER BUILDINGS AT TAI SAN STREET IN CHEUNG CHAU TO BE DANGEROUS.
IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID NO. 24 IN SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST IS A TWO-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING USED AS A STORE.
IT IS CONSTRUCTED OF MASONRY AND BRICK WALLS WITH A TIMBER FIRST FLOOR AND A METAL PURLIN CORRUGATED SHEET ROOF.
NUMBER 24A ON THE SAME STREET IS A NARROW SINGLE-STOREY STRUCTURE DOMESTICALLY OCCUPIED. IT IS OF THE SAME CONSTRUCTION AS NO. 24. THE STRUCTURE HAS A TIMBER ROOF AND SHARES A COMMON ENCLOSING WALL WITH NO. 24.
INSPECTION OF NO. 24 HAS SHOWN THAT THE ENCLOSING WALLS ARE FRACTURED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND PART OF THE TIMBER FIRST FLOOR HAS COLLAPSED WITH THE REMAINDER IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF DECAY. THE ROOF IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF DILAPIDATION.
IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE BUILDING HAS NOW REACHED AN ADVANCED STATE OF DILAPIDATION AND SHOULD BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED AS BEING DANGEROUS.
THE BUILDING AT NO. 24A IS ALSO HAVING MARKED SIGNS OF DILAPIDATION WITH FRACTURED ENCLOSING WALLS. SUCH DEFECTS WILL NOT ENABLE IT TO WITHSTAND THE DEMOLITION OF NO. 24.
THEREFORE, THE BUILDING AT NO. 24A SHOULD BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 21, WERE POSTED TODAY ON THE BUILDINGS.
/MEANWHILE, THE ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
- 29 -
MEANWHILE, THE TWO BUILDINGS COMPRISING NO. 3 TAI SAN STREET, CHEUNG CHAU, ARE DECLARED DANGEROUS.
IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THE TWO-STOREY DOMESTIC BUILDINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF LOADBEARING MASONRY AND BRICK WALLS WITH TIMBER JOISTS/ RAFTERS.
INSPECTION OF THE STRUCTURES HAS SHOWN THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIMBER JOISTS ARE IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF DECAY. FURTHERMORE, THE EXTERNAL WALLS ARE EXHIBITING FRACTURES AND POOR BONDING OF THE BLOCKWORK.
IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE BUILDINGS SHOULD BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON APRIL 17, WERE POSTED TODAY .ON THE BUILDINGS.
--------U-----------
DIRECTOR OF MARINE SIGNS ♦ * *
SEVENTH SURVEY AGREEMENT ♦ ♦ t
THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, APPROVAL FOR A SHIP CLASSIFICATION CONDUCT STATUTORY SURVEYS ON SHIPS SHIPPING REGISTER.
MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, SOCIETY, GERMAN1SCHER JOINING THE AUTONOMOUS
HAS GIVEN LLOYD, TO HONG KONG
MR SZE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DIVISION) OF GERMAN!SCHER LLOYD, MR HARTMUT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT BUILDING, PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
DIRECTOR
HORMANN, AT HEADQUARTERS
(SHIP SAFETY A CEREMONY IN HARBOUR
TODAY’S SIGNING BRINGS TO SEVEN THE TOTAL NUMBER CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES RECOMMENDED BY THE STEERING G&OlP SETTING UP OF THE AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG SHIPPING |?1tUTORV SHIP SURVEYS ON BEHALF OF THE DIRECTOR
REGISTER TO OF MARINE.
OF SHIP
ON THE
CONDUCT
- - 0-----------
/30........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
- 30 -
ELECTION FORUMS FOR EASTERN ♦ ♦
DISTRICT CANDIDATES OVER WEEKEND * » * ♦
CANDIDATES CONTESTING IN DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES IN THE FORTHCOMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT WILL PRESENT THEIR PLATFORMS AT 12 ELECTION FORUMS ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 23) AND SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 24).
THE FORUMS ARE ORGANISED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE TO ENABLE ELECTORS TO GET ACQUAINTED TO THE CANDIDATES BEFORE GOING TO THE BOOTHS ON MARCH 3.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID MOST OF THE FORUMS WILL BE HELD OUT-DOOR AT CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO ATTRACT CROWDS.
DETAILS OF THE FORUMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
FEBRUARY 23 (SATURDAY)
CONSTITUENCY TIME VENUE
CAUSEWAY BAY NORTH 1 1 AM VICTORIA PARK BANDSTAND
QUARRY BAY SOUTH/ KORNHILL 1 1 AM PODIUM OUTSIDE KORNHILL BLOCK Q
CHAI WAN WEST 1 1 AM CHAI WAN COMMUNITY CENTRE
CAUSEWAY BAY SOUTH 3 PM LAI KIT HOUSE SQUARE, LAI TAK TSUEN
A KUNG NGAM 3 PM FACTORY STREET PLAYGROUND
CHAI WAN SOUTH FEBRUARY 24 (SUNDAY) 3 PM COVERED RECREATION PLAYGROUND AT WAN TSUI ESTATE PHASE III
CONSTITUENCY TIME VENUE
NORTH POINT NORTH 10 AM PROVIDENT GARDEN
QUARRY BAY' NORTH/ TA IKOO SHING 1 1 AM PODIUM OUTSIDE TIEN SHING MANSION, TA I KOO SHING
CHAI WAN CENTRAL/ CHAI WAN NORTH 1 1 AM YUE WAN COMMUNITY HALL
. /NORTH POINT ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991
31
NORTH POINT EAST 3 PM KING’S ROAD PLAYGROUND
SAI WAN HO/ SHAU KEI WAN 3 PM ALDRICH BAY PLAYGROUND
HENG FA CHUEN 3 PM HENG FA CHUEN STATION ROOF SQUARE
THERE WILL NOT BE ANY FORUM FOR THE SINGLE-SEAT CAUSEWAY BAY EAST AND NORTH POINT SOUTH CONSTITUENCIES AS THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN ELECTED UNOPPOSED.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ELECTION FORUMS.
----0------
WAN CHAI DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHOIR TO GIVE CONCERT
**♦♦*♦*
THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHOIR WILL STAGE ITS ANNUAL CONCERT AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 23), BEGINNING AT 3 PM.
THE 50-STRONG CHOIR WILL SING A SELECTION OF CHINESE AND WESTERN SONGS. THERE WILL ALSO BE DANCES AND CHORAL PERFORMANCES BY SPECIAL GUESTS.
THE CONCERT HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT ARTS, CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND CO-ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE’S SUB-OFFICE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, 2 O’BRIEN ROAD, WAN CHAI .
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR VISITS CATHAY PACIFIC'S TRAINING FACILITIES .................... 1
URUGUAY ROUND REMAINS HK'S TOP PRIORITY ................................. 1
HEALTH CARE IS A PUBLIC GOOD ............................................ 2
OPERATION HOURS OF BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME HOTLINE EXTENDED 3
TD TO CONDUCT SURVEY ON NT TAXI OPERATION ............................... 4
BLANKETS FOR STREET SLEEPERS ............................................ 5
ELECTION FORUMS IN KOWLOON CITY ......................................... 5
ELECTION FORUMS IN MONG KOK ............................................. 6
PARTIES FOR ELDERLY IN TAI PO............................................ 7
WEEKEND ELECTION FORUMS IN SHA TIN ...................................... 8
ELECTION FORUMS IN KWAI TSING ........................................... 9
"WAN CHAI IS OUR HOME" FUN DAY .......................................... 10
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21,
1991
GOVERNOR VISITS CATHAY PACIFIC’S TRAINING FACILITIES
THE GOVERNOR THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON VISITED CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS' TRAINING FACILITIES AT KAI TAK AIRPORT.
ACCOMPANYING THE GOVERNOR WERE THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, MR PETER SUTCH, AND THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, MR PETER LOK.
THE GOVERNOR WAS BRIEFED ON THE USE OF FLIGHT SIMULATORS TO TRAIN PILOTS AND ON THE TRAINING OF CABIN ATTENDANTS.
HE ALSO TRIED HIS HAND AT THE B747-4OO FLIGHT SIMULATOR IN THE CO-PILOT’S SEAT.
THE GOVERNOR WAS TOLD THAT MODERN SIMULATORS ARE APPROVED FOR TRAINING TESTING AND FLIGHT CREW, INCLUDING PERIODIC TESTS OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR EACH CREW STATION AND PROFICIENCY IN USING THE INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM.
CATHAY PACIFIC HAS FIVE SIMULATORS, INCLUDING ONE CURRENTLY BEING INSTALLED.
THE GOVERNOR WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON CATHAY PACIFIC’S EXPANSION PLANS FROM ITS CURRENT FLEET OF 41 AIRCRAFT TO 86 AIRCRAFT BY 2000.
------0-------
URUGUAY ROUND REMAINS HK'S TOP PRIORITY ♦ » » » »
THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR CHAU TAK-HAY, TODAY (THURSDAY) WELCOMED CONFIRMATION THAT THE URUGUAY ROUND NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) WOULD RESUME IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 26).
’’THE URUGUAY ROUND REMAINS HONG KONG'S TOP PRIORITY AMONG TRADE ISSUES,” MR CHAU SAID.
"THE RESTART OF TALKS AT THIS STAGE WILL HELP THE NEGOTIATIONS REGAIN MOMENTUM AND BUILD ON RESULTS ALREADY ACHIEVED AT THE MINISTERIAL LEVEL MEETING HELD IN BRUSSELS LAST DECEMBER.
”WE ARE RELIEVED AT THE BREAKING OF THE DEADLOCK ON AGRICULTURE. APART FROM ENABLING THE ROUND TO BE RESUMED, THIS ALSO HELPS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR NEGOTIATIONS IN OTHER AREAS WHERE HONG KONG HAS AN INTEREST,” HE SAID.
MR CHAU SAID TEXTILES POSED A SPECIAL PROBLEM.
/"THE MULTI-FIBRE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
- 2 -
"THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT WILL EXPIRE IN JULY, AND OUR MAJOR BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENTS WILL EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
"THIS MEANS THAT INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE DEVISED TO BRIDGE THE GAP UNTIL A URUGUAY ROUND PACKAGE, INCLUDING TEXTILES, CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.
"WE ARE CONSIDERING THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.
"CLEARLY, ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO EXTEND THE MFA AND BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ON EXISTING TERMS FOR AN APPROPRIATE PERIOD.
"THIS QUESTION WILL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED WITH OUR TRADING PARTNERS AT AN EARLY DATE IN GENEVA," HE SAID.
MR CHAU, HOWEVER, CAUTIONED AGAINST EXPECTATIONS OF EARLY CONCLUSION OF THE TALKS.
"PROGRESS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING THE DECISION OF THE U.S. CONGRESS ON WHETHER TO EXTEND THE ’FAST-TRACK’ ARRANGEMENT FOR EXAMINING TRADE TREATIRS NEGOTIATED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION."
MOREOVER, SOME OF THE ISSUES UNDER NEGOTIATION WERE HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND IT WOULD TAKE TIME TO RESOLVE THEM, HE SAID.
A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE MEETINGS CURRENTLY GOING ON IN GENEVA ARE BEING ATTENDED BY THE HONG KONG TEAM BASED IN GENEVA, AND TRADE OFFICIALS FROM HONG KONG WOULD PARTICIPATE WHENEVER THE NEED ARISES.
THE URUGUAY ROUND TALKS COVER 15 NEGOTIATING AREAS, INCLUDING TEXTILES, TARIFFS, ANTI-DUMPING, RULES OF ORIGIN, SERVICES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND GATT RULES. HONG KONG HAS PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ALL AREAS, EXCEPT AGRICULTURE.
--------0-----------
HEALTH CARE IS A PUBLIC GOOD ******
MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE IS A PUBLIC GOOD AND NOT A LUXURY ITEM, AND ACCESS TO IT SHOULD BE BASED ON NEED, NOT AFFORDABILITY, THB SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AFTER THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MEDICAL INSURANCE STUDY GROUP, THE CHAIRMAN, MRS WONG, SAID IT WAS THB GOVERNMENT’S FIRM COMMITMENT THAT NO ONE WOULD BE DENIED ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE THROUGH LACK OF MEANS.
/THIS NEED .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
- 3 -
THIS NEED FOR EQUITY IN TERMS OF ACCESSIBILITY TO MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WAS A BASIC CONCEPT SUPPORTED BY THE STUDY GROUP AT ITS MEETING TODAY, SHE SAID.
WITH THIS COMMITMENT IN MIND AND IN THE LIGHT OF RISING ASPIRATIONS FOR BETTER QUALITY MEDICAL SERVICES, THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE TO SEE HOW TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF RESOURCES, SHE SAID.
"WE WILL HAVE TO CATER TO THE NEEDS BROUGHT ABOUT BY A CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERN, PARTICULARLY AN AGEING POPULATION, AND ALSO RISING ASPIRATION OF A MATURE AND AN AFFLUENT SOCIETY," 8HB ADDED.
SHE ADDED THAT THE STUDY GROUP HAD NO PRECONCEPTION OF WHAT SHOULD BE THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR HONG KONG.
"WE’VE GOT VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE IN THE STUDY GROUP WHO BRING TOGETHER A BROAD SPECTRUM OF EXPERTISE AND INTERESTS IN MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE," SHE SAID.
SHE LOOKED FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE GROUP TO GENERATE IDEAS AND DEVELOP OPTIONS. IN THIS CONTEXT, SHE WOULD ALSO WELCOME VIEWS AND CONTRIBUTION FROM OTHER EXPERTS.
------0-------
OPERATION HOURS OF BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME HOTLINE EXTENDED *****
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT’S SPECIAL HOTLINE FOR THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME (802 3300) WILL BE EXTENDING ITS OPERATION HOURS IN RESPONSE TO A SHARP INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS.
"A RECORD NUMBER OF 2,285 CALLS WAS RECEIVED YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) AND ALL 10 LINES WERE JAMMED AT ONE STAGE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"IN VIEW OF THIS INCREASED DEMAND, THE HOTLINE SERVICE WILL EXTEND ITS OPERATIONAL HOURS TO BETWEEN 9 AM AND 10 PM, INCLUDING THS COMING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, FROM TODAY UNTIL FEBRUARY 27," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"ON FEBRUARY 28 -- THE LAST DAY FOR RECEIVING APPLICATION FORMS — THE HOTLINE WILL BE MANNED DURING OFFICE HOURS ONLY."
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT A RECORD NUMBER OF SOME 5,900 APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE NATIONALITY SCHEME WAS COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS DISTRIBUTION CENTRES YESTERDAY.
/"BUT FEEDBACK .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
"BUT FEEDBACK FROM SOME CENTRES SHOWED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE JUST TAKEN AWAY THE APPLICATION FORMS ALONE, WITHOUT COLLECTING RELATED DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO HELP THEM FILL IN THEIR FORMS," HE SAID.
THESE DOCUMENTS INCLUDE THE GENERAL GUIDE TO THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME, WHICH SETS OUT THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE SCHEME AND DETAILS OF THE POINTS SYSTEM, AND THE GUIDANCE NOTES FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORMS, WHICH PROVIDES DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW THE FORMS SHOULD BE COMPLETED.
"THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM ALL DISTRIBUTION CENTRES FOR THE APPLICATION FORMS.
"THESE DISTRIBUTION CENTRES TOTAL MORE THAN 200 AND INCLUDE ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, POST OFFICES, IMMIGRATION OFFICES, THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, 20 SING TAO SALES CENTRES, AND FIVE TV WEEK SERVICE CENTRES AT MAJOR MTR STATIONS", HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, POTENTIAL APPLICANTS WILL HAVE TO BUY THE REFERENCE MANUAL RELATING TO THEIR OCCUPATIONS IN ORDER TO FIND THE RELEVANT COMPUTER CODES FOR FILLING IN THEIR FORMS.
"A TOTAL OF NINE MANUALS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED FOR DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS AND APPLICANTS CAN FIND OUT WHICH MANUAL THEY NEED TO BUY BY READING THE GENERAL GUIDE TO THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME.
"THESE MANUALS ARE ON SALE AT $20 PER COPY AT MAJOR DISTRICT OFFICES, POST OFFICES, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, AND SING TAO SALES CENTRES.
"INFORMATION ON THESE SALES CENTRES AND OTHER ADVICE ON COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE HOTLINE 802 3300," HE SAID.
--------0-----------
TD TO CONDUCT SURVEY ON NT TAXI OPERATION
*****
A SURVEY ON THE OPERATION CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE SURVEY WOULD CONSIST OF A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY AND A METER READING SURVEY.
LETTERS, QUESTIONNAIRE FORMS AND SKETCHES SHOWING THE LOCATIONS OF THE METER READING HAVE BEEN SENT TO SELECTED OPERATORS, SEEKING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEY.
/FOR THE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
- 5 -
FOR THE METER READING SURVEY, SELECTED TAXI OWNERS WILL BE REQUESTED TO PRESENT THEIR VEHICLES TO ANY OF THE SIX MEIER READING CENTRES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
METER READING WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM FEBRUARY 25 TO MARCH I AND FROM MARCH 4 TO MARCH 8 DURING 9.30 AM TO 12.30 PM AND 2 PM TO
4.30 PM.
THE ON
ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID OWNERS OF SELECTED TAXIS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE A SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE THEIR OPERATIONS WHICH INCLUDE ITEMS SUCH AS OPERATING FORMAT, INCOME
AND FUEL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT ALL INFORMATION COLLECTED KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND ONLY BE USED FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS.
WILL BE
--------0-----------
BLANKETS FOR STREET SLEEPERS « » » » «
A TOTAL OF 444 BLANKETS AND SLEEPING BAGS WAS DISTRIBUTED TO STREET SLEEPERS BY 130 FIELD STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN VARIOUS PLACES LAST (WEDNESDAY) NIGHT.
THE BLANKETS AND SLEEPING BAGS WERE GIVEN TO 130 STREET SLEEPERS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 43 IN EAST KOWLOON, 196 IN WEST KOWLOON, 16 IN NEW TERRITORIES EAST AND NINE IN NEW TERRITORIES WEST.
- - 0 - -
ELECTION FORUMS IN KOWLOON CITY
******
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE HAS ARRANGED A TOTAL OF 11 ELECTION FORUMS FOR RESIDENTS TO MEET THE DISTRICT BOARD CANDIDATES IN THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.
THE CANDIDATES WILL EXPLAIN THEIR PLATFORMS AND ANSWER RESIDENTS’ QUESTIONS.
THE TIMETABLE FOR THE FORUMS IS AS FOLLOWS:
CONSTITUENCY DATE AND TIME VENUE
HUNG HOM SOUTH FEBRUARY 21 HUNG HOM GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL, 8,30 PM 68 GILLIES AVENUE SOUTH, HUNG HOM.
/KAI TAK ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
KAI TAK FEBRUARY 22 7 PM SKH HOLY CARPENTER PRIMARY SCHOOL, 14 KWEI CHOW STREET, HUNG HOM.
HO MAN TIN FEBRUARY 23 2.15 PM HOI PING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SECONDARY SCHOOL, 22 SHEK KU STREET, HO MAN TIN.
KOWLOON TONG FEBRUARY 23 3.30 PM HOLY FAMILY CANOSSIAN SCHOOL, 102 JUNCTION ROAD, KOWLOON CITY.
MA TAU WEI FEBRUARY 23 4 PM HOLY FAMILY CANOSSIAN SCHOOL, 102 JUNCTION ROAD, KOWLOON CITY.
LOK MAN FEBRUARY 25 7 PM THE SOCIETY OF NATIVES OF CHIU LIN CHEUNG CHUK SHAN MEMORIAL SCHOOL, 22 SHEUNG HEUNG ROAD, TO KWA WAN.
MA TAU KOK FEBRUARY 25 8.30 PM THE SOCIETY OF NATIVES OF CHIU LIN CHEUNG CHUK SHAN MEMORIAL SCHOOL, 22 SHEUNG HEUNG ROAD, TO KWA WAN.
CHUN KUK FEBRUARY 26 7 PM MARTHA BOSS COMMUNITY CENTRE, 89 CHUNG HAU STREET, HO MAN TIN.
01 MAN FEBRUARY 26 8.30 PM MARTHA BOSS COMMUNITY CENTRE, 89 CHUNG HAU STREET, HO MAN TIN.
WHAMPOA FEBRUARY 27 6.45 PM SKH FUNG KEI PRIMARY SCHOOL, WHAMPOA GARDEN, HUNG HOM.
HOK YUEN FEBRUARY 27 9 PM SKH FUNG KEI PRIMARY SCHOOL, WHAMPOA GARDEN, HUNG HOM.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ELECTION FORUMS.
--------0----------
ELECTION FORUMS IN MONG KOK
******
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD BOARD ELECTION FORUMS FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
A SERIES OF DISTRICT
THE FORUMS ARE TO ENABLE ELECTION CANDIDATES TO EXPLAIN THEIR PLATFORMS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS.
THE TIMETABLE FOR THE FORUMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
/CONSTITUENCY .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
CONSTITUENCY CANDIDATE DATE TIME VENUE
MONG KOK EAST MS KWAN WAN-YING MR LAU TAK-KI MR LEE TIN-KIU FEBRUARY 22 8.30 PM BOUNDARY STREET INDOOR GAMES HALL NO. 1, 200 SAI YEE STREET, MONG KOK.
MONG KOK WEST MS LEE SAI-LAN MR LI SAI KWAN MR SHAM TAK-ON MR YIP KAM-CHIU FEBRUARY 23 2.30 PM MING KEI COLLEGE, 16 OAK STREET, TAI KOK TSUI.
SYCAMORE MR CHAN MAN-YU MR HO KWOK-YUI MR WONG YUEN-WEI FEBRUARY 26 8.30 PM CHOW’S CLANSMEN ASSOCIATION SCHOOL*, 14 SYCAMORE STREET, TAI KOK TSUI.
TAI KOK TSUI MR CHAN CHUNG-KIT MR CHAN KWOK-MING MR LAI SHIU-NIN MR YIP MING-HON FEBRUARY 27 8.30 PM C.C.C. KEI TSUN PRIMARY SCHOOL, 150 TAI KOK TSUI ROAD, KOWLOON.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FORUMS.
- - 0---------
PARTIES FOR ELDERLY IN TAI PO ♦ » » * ♦
ABOUT 1,500 ELDERLY PEOPLE IN TAI PO WERE TREATED TO "YAN YAT" (EVERYONE’S BIRTHDAY) PARTIES AT TWO RESTAURANTS IN THE DISTRICT THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE PARTIES WERE ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO CHINESE NEW YEAR PROGRAMME ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE PARTICIPANTS, ABOUT 600 MEN AND 900 WOMEN, ARE ALL AGED 73 OR ABOVE. THEY ALSO RECEIVED LAISEE PACKETS FROM A LOCAL CELEBRITY, MR TANG YEUK-FAN.
/THE SIX .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
8
THE SIX ELDEST PERSONS, AGED FROM 95 TO 99, WERE PRESENTED GOLD MEDALS BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR THOMAS YIU, AND THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO YUNG-SANG.
VOLUNTEER WORKERS WERE PRESENT CITIZENS HAD A GOOD TIME.
TO ENSURE THAT THE SENIOR
---------0----------
WEEKEND ELECTION FORUMS IN SHA TIN
*****
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD A SERIES OF FORUMS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO KNOW THEIR CANDIDATES OF THE FORTHCOMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 23 AND 24).
THE FORUMS WILL GIVE THE CANDIDATES A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN THEIR PLATFORMS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
THERE ARE 16 SINGLE-SEATED AND TWO DOUBLE-SEATED CONSTITUENCIES IN SHA TIN. A TOTAL OF 40 CANDIDATES WILL VIE FOR 16 SEATS ON THE ELECTION DAY ON MARCH 3, WHILE FOUR UNCONTESTED CANDIDATES ARE AUTOMATICALLY ELECTED.
DETAILS OF THE FORUMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
DATE
23.2.91 (SATURDAY)
CONSTITUENCY CANDIDATE
TOWN CENTRE LAM KWOK-HING LEE YORK-FAI KONG WOOD-CHIU
TAI WAI WAI HON-LEUNG MAK WAI-HUNG KO CHOK-KEUNG
MEI LAM FUNG YIU-WING CHEUNG PAK-YUE LEE YUEN-KAM YU KING-YEUNG
YUEN WO CHUNG MUNG-KWAN CHEUNG CHI-YUEN LO TAK-FUNG LAM HUNG-CHIU
SUN CHUI WONG CHAK-PIU, PHILIP WAI HING-CHEUNG HUI YUK-HUNG CHOU WING-TAT, VICTOR
/FO TAN .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
9
FO TAN
HIN TIN
24.2.91 TSANG TAI UK
(SUNDAY)
WONG UK
SHING MUN
KWONG YUEN SIU LEK YUEN MA ON SHAN WU KAI SHA
PANG CHEUNG-WAI, THOMAS CHEUNG WING-FAI
CHAN FOO-CHI WONG SHU-QUN TONG PO-CHUN
MAK KWAN-YAUNG
WONG HONG-CHUNG, JOHNSTON
WONG TAK-CHUEN, JOE WONG FUK-WAH, GEORGE CHAN CHUN-KWAN
CHENG YUK-CHOY LO YIN-BING, SUSANA LAM KAI
KAM JOR-TONG CHOW WAI-TUNG
LEE KA-CHI HO SAU-MO
CHAN TO-YEUNG, ROBERT
TSUI TUNG-HON
LI PO-MING
WONG KAM-MING
TSANG YIU-TUNG, RONALD
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MPM4 RRPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FORUMS TO
HFI D be™ W aS AnJ 'PM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 23 held bbtwbbn^o^^an second FL00Ri gHA TIN T0WN HALL.
BE AND
24) IN
------0--------
ELECTION FORUMS IN KWAI TSING
OF
FORUMS TO THE
THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE WILL ORGANISE A SER£E^__M_ FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO FAMILIARISE CANDIDATES SEEKING ELECTIONS DISTRICT BOARD FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THERE, CANDIDATES WILL EXPLAIN THEIR PLATFORMS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
THE DETAILS OF THE FORUMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
/DATE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
-IO-
DATE
TIME CONSTITUENCY VENUE
FEBRUARY 22 8 PM KWAI CHUNG EAST SHEK LEI COMMUNITY CENTRE
FEBRUARY 23 8 PM SHEK LEI* SHEK LEI COMMUNITY CENTRE
FEBRUARY 23 8 PM TSING YI CENTRAL CHEUNG TSING COMMUNITY CENTRE
FEBRUARY 25 8 PM TSING YI EAST TSING Yl ESTATE COMMUNITY HALL
FEBRUARY 26 8 PM KWAI CHUNG CENTRAL KWAI FONG COMMUNITY HALL
FEBRUARY 26 8 PM TSING YI NORTH CHEUNG FAT COMMUNITY HALL
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FORUMS.
-----0-----
’’WAN CHAI IS OUR HOME" FUN DAY
******
YOUNG PEOPLE IN WAN CHAI DISTRICT ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A DISCUSSION ON "COMMITMENTS AND TEMPTATIONS FACING THE YOUTH" AT AN OPEN FORUM IN THE "WAN CHAI IS OUR HOME" FUN DAY ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 23).
MODERATING AT THE FORUM WILL BE DR PHILEMON CHOI AND SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES FROM SCHOOLS AND YOUTH CENTRES.
ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD’S CONCERN FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES WORKING GROUP, THE FUN DAY WILL BE HELD AT THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND, HENNESSY ROAD.
IN ADDITION TO THE YOUTH OPEN FORUM, THERE WILL BE GAME STALLS, PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND AN EXHIBITION ON THE DISTRICT’S MULTI-FACETED FEATURES.
OFFICIATING AT THE FUN DAY’S OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE ASSISTANT WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS CECILIA YEN; WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM; AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP, MR SAN STEPHEN WONG.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FUN DAY.
THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
- - '0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH NEW ZEALAND SIGNED .................... 1
NEW CONDITION ON RAFFLE TICKET SALES .................................. 2
SEARCHES AT VBP CENTRE AFTER PRE-DAWN INCIDENT ........................ 3
NEW CHAIRMAN OF FILM CENSORSHIP REVIEW BOARD APPOINTED ................ 4
NORMAL OLD AGE ALLOWANCE EXTENDED TO 65 AGE GROUP ..................... 4
CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF HILLSIDE ESCALATOR LINK AWARDED........... 5
IMPROVEMENTS TO ROAD JUNCTION IN YUEN LONG............................. 6
PROPOSED FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS LIN TAK ROAD IN LAM TIN .................... 7
ROAD ACCESSES TO PROPOSED THIRD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ..................... 8
ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO NGONG PING IN MAY ........................... 8
EXTENSION OF GAZETTED MARINE SPOIL GROUND SOUTH OF CHEUNG CHAU......... 9
TRANSFER OF MINES DIVISION TO CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT ... 10
MANY PEOPLE UNCLEAR ABOUT THREE-TIER ELECTIONS: SURVEY ................ 12
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION FAIR IN WAN CHAI .............................. 14
NEW YEAR CARNIVAL IN SAI YING PUN ..................................... 14
CLOSING OF KOWLOON CITY CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ...................... 15
1,500 RESIDENTS ATTEND DISTRICT CONCERT................................ 16
CLOSURE OF MATERNITY CENTRES .......................................... 16
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED............................................... 17
REGISTRATION OF FINANCE LTD AS DTC REVOKED............................. 17
ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN SHAM SHUI PO TO BE CLOSED......................... 17
FIRING PRACTICE IN MARCH .............................................. 18
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
NEW AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH NEW ZEALAND SIGNED ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
AN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT WAS SIGNED IN HONG KONG TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNDER THE AUTHORISATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NEW ZEALAND MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, MR ROB STOREY, SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT.
THE HONG KONG/NEW ZEALAND ASA IS THE SIXTH SUCH AGREEMENT DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION IN MIND. OTHERS HAVE BEEN SIGNED WITH THE NETHERLANDS, SWITZERLAND, CANADA, BRUNEI AND FRANCE.
THESE AGREEMENTS ARE CAPABLE OF REMAINING IN FORCE AFTER 1997 .
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL ALSO BE ABLE, AFTER 1997, TO CONCLUDE, UNDER SPECIFIC AUTHORISATIONS FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, ITS OWN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS SEPARATE FROM THOSE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
SPEAKING AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY THIS MORNING, MRS CHAN SAID THAT HONG KONG’S AVIATION RELATIONS WITH NEW ZEALAND DATED BACK OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
"WHEN AIR SERVICES BETWEEN US FIRST STARTED IN THE MID-60’S, AIR NEW ZEALAND FLEW BETWEEN HONG KONG AND AUCKLAND TWICE A WEEK, WITH TWO EN ROUTE STOPS, USING DC8 AIRCRAFT.
"TODAY, THE SAME TWO CITIES ARE SERVED ON A DIRECT ROUTEING BY BOTH CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS AND AIR NEW ZEALAND UNDER A COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT, EACH OPERATING TWO WEEKLY FREQUENCIES WITH BOEING 747 AIRCRAFT," MRS CHAN SAID, POINTING OUT THAT THE JOURNEY TIME FROM AUCKLAND TO HONG KONG HAS BEEN CUT FROM 16 HOURS TO ONLY 10.5 HOURS.
"WE HAVE SEEN A STEADY GROWTH IN AIR TRAFFIC SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE SERVICES BETWEEN CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS AND AIR NEW ZEALAND IN DECEMBER 1986.
"IN THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATION UNDER THE JOINT VENTURE, 32,000 PASSENGERS AND APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION KILOGRAMS OF CARGO WERE CARRIED.
"IN 1989-90, THE TRAFFIC LOAD INCREASED TO 70,000 PASSENGERS AND TWO MILLION KILOGRAMS OF CARGO.
"WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THIS TREND AND LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE MARKET.
/"WE ATTACH .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
- 2 -
"WE ATTACH CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO THE PROGRAMME OF ESTABLISHING HONG KONG’S OWN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS ON A SEPARATE BASIS FROM THOSE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND WE WELCOME THE SUPPORT WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND HAS SHOWN FOR BOTH HONG KONG AND FOR THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION," SHE SAID.
MR STOREY SAID NEW ZEALAND WAS PLEASED TO BE AMONG THE FIRST COUNTRIES WITH WHICH HONG KONG HAS SIGNED A SEPARATE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT AND LOOKED FORWARD TO DEALING DIRECTLY WITH HONG KONG ON AVIATION MATTERS THROUGH TO 1997 AND BEYOND.
"THE SIGNING OF THIS AGREEMENT TODAY REPRESENTS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA IN OUR AVIATION RELATIONS AS WELL AS IN OUR BROADER ECONOMIC AND TRADING LINKS," HE SAID.
MR STOREY POINTED OUT THAT THE OPERATION OF NON-STOP FLIGHTS BETWEEN AUCKLAND AND HONG KONG IS STRONGLY PREFERRED BY TRAVELLERS.
"FIGURES SHOW THAT FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 1990, TRAFFIC ON THE NON-STOP SERVICES GREW BY 22 PER CENT WHILE TRAFFIC ON OTHER SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NEW ZEALAND FELL BY 21 PER CENT.
"IT IS NEW ZEALAND’S HOPE THAT THE DIRECT AVIATION LINKS BETWEEN US WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN BOTH PASSENGER AND DEDICATED FREIGHT SERVICES.
"NEW ZEALAND APPRECIATES THE SUPPORT OF HONG KONG FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF AIR SERVICES BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND HONG KONG, AS REPRESENTED IN THE CONCLUSION OF THE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT," HE SAID.
MR STOREY NOTED THAT THE SIGNING OF TODAY’S AGREEMENT STRENGTHENS THE BASIS FOR GROWTH AND SEALS NEW ZEALAND’S COMMITMENTS TO HONG KONG AND NORTH ASIA.
THE HONG KONG/NEW ZEALAND AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT, WHICH PROVIDES FOR SCHEDULED SERVICES BY THE DESIGNATED AIRLINES OF THE TWO SIDES, ENTERS INTO FORCE UPON SIGNATURE.
--------0-----------
NEW CONDITION ON RAFFLE TICKET SALES * t * * «
A STANDARD CONDITION WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL LICENCES ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING (CTEL) TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF RAFFLE TICKETS IN PUBLIC STREETS WITHOUT THE SPECIFIC PERMISSION OF THE COMMISSIONER.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THIS FOLLOWED A RECENT DECISION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
/THE SALE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
3 -
THE SALE OF RAFFLE TICKETS CONSTITUTES A LOTTERY. UNDER THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE, CTEL MAY BY LICENCE AUTHORISE THE PROMOTION AND CONDUCT OF ANY LOTTERY BY A CLUB OR ASSOCIATION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE STREETS OF HONG KONG WERE ALREADY CONGESTED AND PRIME LOCATIONS BUSY WITH PEDESTRIANS.
"IT IS THUS NOT APPROPRIATE TO PERMIT THE SALE OF RAFFLE TICKETS BY A CLUB OR ASSOCIATION TO BE PROMOTED AND CONDUCTED IN PUBLIC STREETS," HE SAID.
"IT IS ALSO CONSIDERED NOT APPROPRIATE THAT RAFFLES SHOULD COMPETE ON THE STREET WITH FLAG DAYS WHICH RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY. SUCH FLAG DAYS ARE AN ESTABLISHED PART OF LIFE IN HONG KONG AND ARE ACCEPTED BY THE PUBLIC," HE ADDED.
IN RECENT YEARS, COMPETITION FOR HOLDING FLAG DAYS HAS BEEN KEEN TO THE EXTENT OF BEING OVER SUBSCRIBED AND THE ALLOCATION OF FLAG DAYS HAS HAD TO BE DETERMINED BY BALLOT.
THE NEW CONDITION WILL BE APPLIED TO ALL CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS. HOWEVER, RAFFLE TICKETS COULD BE SOLD IN PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS SHOPPING MALLS AS LONG AS THE CONSENT OF THE OWNER OR MANAGER HAS BEEN OBTAINED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO RELAX THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE GOVERNING THE COLLECTION OF DONATIONS IN PUBLIC PLACES.
"DETAILS ARE BEING WORKED OUT AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."
--------0-----------
SEARCHES AT VBP CENTRE AFTER PRE-DAWN INCIDENT
* * » t ♦
A TOTAL OF 109 WEAPONS WERE SEIZED IN TWO SEARCH OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY STAFF OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING A PRE-DAWN INCIDENT IN THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE TODAY (FRIDAY).
A TOTAL OF 15 ARRESTS WERE MADE IN THE OPERATIONS.
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT WHEN A GROUP OF 20 TO .30 MASKED VBP WHO WERE ARMED WITH HOME-MADE WEAPONS WERE SEEN TRYING TO FORCE OPEN THE DOOR OF A DORMITORY. SOME 100 OTHER VBP WERE STANDING NEARBY AS ONLOOKERS.
AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO STOP THEM, THE STAFF ON DUTY CALLED IN REINFORCEMENTS. HOWEVER, DESPITE REPEATED ADVICE, THE VBP STILL REFUSED To DISPERSE AND STARTED TO BURN BLANKETS AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE DORMITORY.
/AT THE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
AT THE SAME TIME, ABOUT 100 MORE VBP WERE SEEN GATHERING AT THE REAR OF THE DORMITORY. SOME WERE HOODED AND HOLDING SPEARS AND HOME-MADE WEAPONS. AFTER REPEATED WARNINGS WERE IGNORED, SEVEN CANNISTERS OF TEAR GAS WERE USED. THE CROWD DISPERSED AND THE SITUATION WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL.
NO INJURY WAS REPORTED.
AN INITIAL SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. A TOTAL OF 41 HOME-MADE WEAPONS WERE SEIZED. TEN VBP SUSPECTED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT WERE ARRESTED AND ARE HELPING WITH ENQUIRIES.
DURING THE SECOND SEARCH OPERATION CONDUCTED LATER IN THE CENTRE, A TOTAL OF 68 HOME-MADE WEA[PONS WERE SEIZED AND FIVE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED.
THE SECOND OPERATION STARTED AT 10 AM AND LASTED TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS. WEAPONS SEIZED INCLUDE METAL BARS, SHARPENED PIERS AND KNIVES.
---------0----------
NEW CHAIRMAN OF FILM CENSORSHIP REVIEW BOARD APPOINTED ♦ ♦♦»♦»
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR NORMAN LEUNG NAI-PANG TO TAKE OVER FROM PROFESSOR POON CHUNG-KWONG AS BOTH THE CHAIRMAN AND NON-OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW (FILM CENSORSHIP).
MR LEUNG’S APPOINTMENT WILL COMMENCE ON MARCH 1 AND WILL RUN UNTIL FEBRUARY 28, 1994.
MR LEUNG, A SOLICITOR, SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD FROM FEBRUARY 1977 TO SEPTEMBER 1983. HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE FORMER TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD FROM OCTOBER 1983 TO SEPTEMBER 1987.
------0--------
NORMAL OLD AGE ALLOWANCE EXTENDED TO 65 AGE GROUP ♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦
THE QUALIFYING AGE FOR NORMAL OLD AGE ALLOWANCE (NOAA) WILL BE FURTHER LOWERED TO 65 WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
THIS IS THE FINAL STAGE OF THE EXTENSION OF NOAA TO PERSONS AGED 65 TO 69.
/"IT IS ....•.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
- 5 -
"IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 38,000 PEOPLE IN THE AGE GROUP WILL BE BENEFITTED FROM THE EXTENSION AND THAT THE ANNUAL EXPENDITURE WILL BE ABOUT $158 MILLION,” THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
FIELD OFFICES STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL ACCEPT PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, STARTING FROM MARCH 1 (FRIDAY).
SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD PUBLICISE THE EXTENSION OF NOAA TO OUR SENIOR CITIZENS IN HOSTELS, HOMES AND CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.
"GROUP APPLICATIONS FROM THEM WILL BE ENCOURAGED IN A BID TO SAVE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT IN APPROACHING THE DEPARTMENT’S FIELD OFFICES," HE SAID.
AT PRESENT, NOAA FOR PEOPLE AGED 66 TO 69 IS $343 PER MONTH.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID DUE TO THE ANTICIPATED SUDDEN INCREASE OF APPLICATIONS, WHICH REQUIRED TIME TO PROCESS, THERE WOULD BE SOME DELAY IN PAYMENT.
’’HOWEVER, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT PAYMENT CAN BE MADE IN THREE TO FOUR MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE APPLICATION. PAYMENT WILL ALSO BE BACKDATED TO THE DATE OF ELIGIBILITY," HE SAID.
"TO BE ELIGIBLE, THE APPLICANT MUST HAVE LIVED IN THE TERRITORY CONTINUOUSLY FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS STARTING FROM HIS 60TH BIRTHDAY. HE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECLARATION OF RESOURCES UPON APPLYING FOR THE ALLOWANCE," HE ADDED.
A SINGLE PERSON WILL BE ENTITLED TO THE ALLOWANCE PROVIDED THAT HIS INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED $2,100 PER MONTH AND THAT HE HAS ASSETS WORTH NOT MORE THAN $100,000. FOR MARRIED COUPLES, THE LIMITS ARE $3,200 AND $150,000 RESPECTIVELY.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON THE SWD HOTLINE 343 2255.
--------0-----------
CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF HILLSIDE ESCALATOR LINK AWARDED
*****
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A $186 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HILLSIDE ESCALATOR LINK BETWEEN CENTRAL AND THE MID-LEVELS.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED TODAY (FRIDAY) BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF HIGHWAYS, MR KWEI SEE-KAN, AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF PAUL Y CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND SOGEA JOINT VENTURE (PYSOGEA), MESSERS Y.K. LUI AND RAOUL DESSAIGNE.
/MR KWEI .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
MR KWEI SAID CONSTRUCTION OF THE ESCALATOR LINK, COMPRISING COVERED FOOTBRIDGES AND 23 COVERED TRAVELATORS AND ESCALATORS, WOULD START SHORTLY AND TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.
"IT WOULD PROVIDE A MORE ATTRACTIVE, CONVENIENT AND PHYSICALLY LESS DEMANDING PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FROM THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TO CONDUIT ROAD," HE SAID.
THE ESCALATOR LINK WILL START FROM THE EXISTING ELEVATED WALKWAY IN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL. FROM THE NEW HANG SENG BANK HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, THE LINK WILL CROSS DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL BY TWO FOOTBRIDGES LEADING TO AN ENCLOSED WALKWAY IN CENTRAL MARKET.
IT THEN CROSSES QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL BY A FOOTBRIDGE, AND PROCEEDS UP COCHRANE STREET AND HOLLYWOOD ROAD BY ESCALATORS AND TRAVELATORS ON AN ELEVATED STRUCTURE.
THE LINK CONTINUES AT GROUND LEVEL ALONG SHELLEY STREET AND THEN CROSSES THE JUNCTION AT CAINE ROAD BY A FOOTBRIDGE. IT CONTINUES ON AN ELEVATED STRUCTURE UP MOSQUE JUNCTION, PEEL STREET, ACROSS ROBINSON ROAD, AND THEN AT GROUND LEVEL UP TO CONDUIT ROAD.
MR KWEI ADDED THAT THE ESCALATORS AND STAIRWAYS CONNECTING THE ELEVATED SECTION OF THE SYSTEM AND THE ADJACENT GROUND LEVEL ROADS WOULD BE-PROVIDED AT INTERMEDIATE LOCATIONS, SO THAT PEDESTRIANS COULD JOIN OR LEAVE THE ESCALATOR LINK AT CONVENIENT POINTS ALONG THE ROUTE.
THE WORKS OF THE ESCALATOR LINK HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA LTD FOR THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT.
- - 0 - -
IMPROVEMENTS TO ROAD JUNCTION IN YUEN LONG ♦ ♦ ♦ * ♦
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CARRY OUT ROAD WORKS TO IMPROVE THE JUNCTION BETWEEN HUNG TIN ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD IN YUEN LONG.
THE PROPOSED WORKS INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SECTION OF A TWO-WAY CARRIAGEWAY IN THE EAST OF HUNG TIN ROAD AND WIDENING OF A SECTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
ASSOCIATED FOOTPATHS, CYCLE TRACKS, A VILLAGE ACCESS ROAD, A VEHICULAR ACCESS TRACK, AND AMENITY PLANTING AREAS WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PLAN AND SCHEME OF THESE WORKS MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
/* CENTRAL AND
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
» CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, CENTRAL;
» YUEN LONG DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YUEN LONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND TAI KIU MARKET, NINTH TO 11TH FLOORS, 2 KIU LOK SQUARE, YUEN LONG; AND
* YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE, YUEN LONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, 269 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, YUEN LONG.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 14 THIS YEAR.
-----0------
PROPOSED FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS LIN TAK ROAD IN LAM TIN
*****
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO BUILD A FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS LIN TAK ROAD TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY BETWEEN HING TIN ESTATE AND LAM TIN ESTATE IN LINE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAM TIN EXTENSION, PHASE 4 AND THE OPENING OF THE NEARBY ROAD LT2.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOOTBRIDGE WILL START IN AUGUST THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED BY ABOUT SEPTEMBER 1992.
A NOTICE ON THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PLAN AND SCHEME OF THE PROPOSED WORKS MAY BE SEEN AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG;
* KOWLOON EAST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON; AND
» KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE, KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, TUNG YAN STREET, THIRD FLOOR, KOWLOON.
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 APRIL
14 THIS YEAR.
- - 0----------
/8 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
- 8 -
ROAD ACCESSES TO PROPOSED THIRD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ♦ ♦ ♦ * *
KONG NEW
THE HONG A SYSTEM OF
DEPARTMENT AND
INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION PLAN TO CONSTRUCT ROADS IN AREAS 85, 86 AND 87 OF TSEUNG KWAN O TO AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESSES TO THE PROPOSED THIRD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT
PROVIDE VEHICULAR
THESE ROADWORKS FORM PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TSEUNG KWAN 0. WORK IS SCHEDULED TO START IN EARLY 1993 AND BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE SAME YEAR.
DETAILS OF THE (FRIDAY).
WORKS WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY
A COPY OF THE PROPOSED WORKS CAN BE
SCHEME
SEEN AT
AND PLAN SHOWING THE EXTENT OF THE THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE,
CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, CENTRAL OFFICE AND SAI KUNG DISTRICT
AND AT OFFICE,
THE SAI
SAI KUNG
OFFICES, WEST WING, KUNG DISTRICT LANDS GOVERNMENT OFFICES,
CHAN MAN STREET, SAI KUNG.
ANY PERSON WISHING TO OBJECT TO THE PROPOSAL MUST WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 14 THIS YEAR.
------0--------
ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO NGONG PING IN MAY » ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO THE ACCESS ROAD TO NGONG PING ON LANTAU ISLAND WOULD START IN MAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS INVITING TENDER FOR THE IMPROVEMENT WORKS AND A TENDER NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
HE SAID THE WORKS TO BE COVERED BY THIS CONTRACT INCLUDED THE WIDENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXISTING 2.6-KILOMETRE ACCESS ROAD FROM THE JUNCTION OF SHAM WAT ROAD AND KEUNG SHAN ROAD TO PO LIN MONASTERY TO A STANDARD 7.3 METRE WIDE CARRIAGEWAY WITH 1.5 METRE WIDE FOOTWAY.
HE SAID: "TWO SECTIONAL COMPLETION OF THE WORKS WERE STIPULATED IN THE CONTRACT.
"SECTION I IS FOR WIDENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ABOUT 1.2 KILOMETRES OF THE EXISTING ACCESS ROAD WHICH, AT PRESENT, IS EITHER ONLY THREE METRE WIDE OR IS POORLY ALIGNED.
/"SECTION 2 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
9
"SECTION 2 IS FOR THE WIDENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE REMAINING 1.4 KILOMETRES OF THE SIX METRE WIDE ACCESS ROAD.
"SECTION 1 WILL TAKE 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND SECTION 2 WILL TAKE 23 MONTHS TO COMPLETE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE IMPROVEMENT WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT.
- - 0 - -
EXTENSION OF GAZETTED MARINE SPOIL GROUND SOUTH OF CHEUNG CHAU » » » » ♦
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO EXTEND THE EXISTING MARINE SPOIL GROUND SOUTH OF CHEUNG CHAU PRINCIPALLY IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE MARINE MUD WHICH WILL BE DREDGED FROM VARIOUS RECLAMATION PROJECTS.
THE EXISTING SPOIL GROUND HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1988 AND AT THE PRESENT RATE OF DUMPING IT WILL SOON REACH CAPACITY.
IN ORDER TO MAKE PROVISION FOR DUMPING NEEDS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND ALSO TO ALLOW GOVERNMENT FLEXIBILITY IN ITS PLANNING OF DUMPING ACTIVITIES, THE EXISTING SPOIL GROUND WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE EAST AND THE WEST.
ALTHOUGH THESE EXTENSIONS WILL CONSIDERABLY ENLARGE THE GAZETTED AREA, IT IS NOT INTENDED THAT THE WHOLE AREA WILL BE USED FOR DUMPING AT ONE TIME.
INSTEAD LESS THAN 30 PER CENT OF THE EXTENSIONS WOULD BE USED FOR DUMPING AT ANY ONE TIME.
THE EXTENSIONS TO THE EAST AND THE WEST WERE GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY) IN TWO SEPARATE NOTICES.
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HE HAS AN INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEA-BED INVOLVED MAY SUBMIT A WRITTEN OBJECTION TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS ON OR BEFORE APRIL 21, 1991.
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.
THE NOTICES (IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE) TOGETHER WITH THEIR RELATED PLANS CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE.
THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG (WHERE COPIES CAN BE PURCHASED ON ORDER); AT THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE, 20TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG; MUI WO SUB-OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, MUI WO GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 2 NGAN KWONG WAN ROAD, MUI WO, LANTAU ISLAND; CHEUNG CHAU SUB-OFFICE, 22 SAN HING STREET, GROUND FLOOR, CHEUNG CHAU AND AT THE OFFICES OF THE CHEUNG CHAU AND SOUTH LANTAU RURAL COMMITTEES.
- - 0 - -
/10
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
10
TRANSFER OF MINES DIVISION TO CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT * * * « »
THE GOVERNMENT'S MINES DIVISION, WHOSE PRIMARY JOB IS TO ENSURE THE SAFE USE OF EXPLOSIVES IN CONSTRUCTION WORK AND QUARRYING, IS TO COME UNDER THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT FROM MARCH 1.
THE MINES DIVISION WAS PREVIOUSLY PART OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, BUT INCREASINGLY CLOSE LINKS HAVE DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE AND MINES DIVISION, AS THE TWO ORGANISATIONS SHARE A COMMON TECHNICAL BASE AND BOTH ACT AS REGULATORY AGENCIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO SITE FORMATION AND QUARRYING.
THE TRANSFER WILL ALLOW BETTER CO-ORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES AND IMPROVED USE OF RESOURCES AND PROVISION OF SERVICES IN THE GOVERNMENT*
THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING WILL TAKE OVER THE POST OF COMMISSIONER OF MINES IN ADDITION TO HIS PRESENT POST AND SIMILARLY THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER WILL HOLD THE ADDITIONAL POST OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF MINES.
THE TRANSFER OF THE MINES DIVISION WILL NOT AFFECT ITS PROCEDURES IN DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC, AND THE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
THE DIVISION IS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 393 CANTON ROAD, YAU MA TEI. THE ENQUIRY TELEPHONE NUMBER DURING OFFICE HOURS FOR THE MINES AND QUARRIES SECTION IS 733 2370, AND THAT FOR THE EXPLOSIVES SECTION IS 733 2371.
ALONG WITH MANAGING THE GOVERNMENT EXPLOSIVES DEPOTS AND LOOKING AFTER THE STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES, THE MINES DIVISION, WHICH EMPLOYS 166 PEOPLE, CONTINUES TO ISSUE MINING AND PROSPECTING LICENCES.
IT ALSO CARRIES OUT REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF MINING AND PROSPECTING AREAS AND STONE QUARRIES, TO ENSURE THAT THE RELEVANT ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS ARE BEING OBSERVED.
THE FOLLOWING IS A BACKGROUND NOTE ON THE WORKS OF THE MINES DIVISION:
THE REGULATION OF MINING IN HONG KONG ORIGINATED IN ORDINANCES IN 1906 WHICH EMPOWERED THE GOVERNOR TO GRANT LICENCES FOR MINERAL PROSPECTING AND MINING.
THE MINES DIVISION (ORIGINALLY NAMED MINES DEPARTMENT) WAS FORMED IN 1953. ITS DUTIES WERE MAINLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE REHABILITATION OF THE PRE-WAR MINING AREAS AND THE STAMPING OUT OF ILLICIT MINING, WHICH WAS VERY PREVALENT AT THAT TIME.
/THE DEPARTMENT.......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
11
THE DEPARTMENT LATER BECAME INVOLVED IN SAFETY INSPECTIONS OF MINING AREAS, THE ISSUE OF MINE BLASTING CERTIFICATES, MINING LICENCES AND PROSPECTING LICENCES AND THE COLLECTION OF MINING ROYALTIES AND FEES.
WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF HONG KONG, A WIDE VARIETY OF MINERALS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE HAVE BEEN FOUND. IRON, WOLFRAMITE, GRAPHITE, KAOLIN, LEAD, QUARTZ AND FELDSPAR HAVE ALL BEEN EXPLOITED AT ONE TIME.
IRON ORE WAS MINED EXTENSIVELY AT MA ON SHAN FROM 1906 UP TO THE SEVENTIES, WHILE AT NEEDLE HILL, ABOVE SHATIN, MINING OF WOLFRAMITE, WHICH IS A TUNGSTEN ORE COMMENCED IN THE LATE FORTIES AND ALSO CONTINUED UP TO THE SEVENTIES.
AT LIN MA HANG, NEAR THE BORDER, LEAD AND SILVER WERE MINED, AND IT IS RECORDED THAT 150 OUNCES OF GOLD WERE RECOVERED.
THESE DAYS THE AMOUNT OF MINING CARRIED OUT IS VERY SMALL AND IS CONFINED TO SURFACE MINING FOR FELDSPAR AND KAOLIN, USED MAINLY IN CERAMICS. BUT AS THE MINING HAS DECLINED, THE JOB OF CONTROL OF EXPLOSIVES HAS ASSUMED GREATER IMPORTANCE.
THE MINES DIVISION HAS ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE SAFE USE OF EXPLOSIVES IN MINING, QUARRYING AND CONSTRUCTION WORK, BUT FOLLOWING THE 1967 CIVIL DISTURBANCES, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED IT WAS NECESSARY TO IMPOSE STRICTER CONTROLS OVER THE STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES.
SINCE THAT TIME, ALL EXPLOSIVES, INCLUDING FIREWORKS, HAVE BEEN STORED IN SECURE GOVERNMENT EXPLOSIVES DEPOTS AND ARE ONLY RELEASED AFTER THE NECESSARY LICENCES AND PERMITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED UPON APPLICATION TO THE DIVISION.
ORIGINALLY, ALL DELIVERIES OF EXPLOSIVES TO BLASTING SITES WERE MADE UNDER THE ESCORT OF ARMED MILITARY PERSONNEL, WHILE POLICE OFFICERS SUPERVISED THE USE OF THE EXPLOSIVES ON SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS NO PILFERING AND THAT ALL THE EXPLOSIVES WERE USED.
THESE PRECAUTIONS ARE STILL NECESSARY, BUT THESE DAYS THE DUTIES ARE CARRIED OUT BY OFFICERS OF THE MINES DIVISION. EVERY MORNING THEY COLLECT THE EXPLOSIVES WHICH HAVE BEEN ORDERED BY CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AT THE MAIN GOVERNMENT DEPOT ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND.
THE EXPLOSIVES ARE TRANSPORTED BY PURPOSE-BUILT EXPLOSIVES VESSELS UNDER CAREFUL SUPERVISION TO LANDING SITES WHERE THEY ARE TRANSFERRED TO SPECIAL EXPLOSIVES DELIVERY TRUCKS WHICH THEN MAKE THE ROUNDS OF THE VARIOUS BLASTING SITES.
ABOUT 5,000 TONNES OF EXPLOSIVES ARE NOW USED EACH YEAR, MAINLY IN SITE FORMATION AND FOUNDATION WORK ON CONSTRUCTION SITES AND FOR TUNNELLING AND QUARRYING.
SINCE MUCH OF THE USAGE IS IN OR CLOSE TO URBAN AREAS, ONE OF THE MINES DIVISION'S PRIMARY ROLES IS TO ENSURE THAT BLASTING OPERATIONS DO NOT CAUSE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC ARISING FROM FRAGMENTS OF ROCK BEING PROJECTED INTO THE AIR OR DAMAGE TO ADJACENT BUILDINGS AND SENSITIVE MACHINERY FROM VIBRATIONS.
-------0----------
/12 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
12
MANY PEOPLE UNCLEAR ABOUT THREE-TIER ELECTIONS: SURVEY
******
MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL UNCLEAR ABOUT HONG KONG’S THREE-TIER ELECTIONS, ACCORDING TO A TERRITORY-WIDE SURVEY.
FINDINGS OF THE "1990 OPINION SURVEY ON CIVIC EDUCATION" WERE ANNOUNCED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, DR DANIEL TSE, TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE STUDY, COMMISSIONED BY THE COMMITTEE, WAS CONDUCTED BY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES (HK) LTD AND INVOLVED INTERVIEWS WITH 1,000 PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 64.
DR TSE SAID THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SURVEY WERE TO COLLECT AND ANALYSE CURRENT VIEWS AND OPINIONS ON CIVIC EDUCATION AND TO MAKE RELEVANT COMPARISONS OF THESE FINDINGS WITH THOSE OF THE 1986 AND 1988 POLLS.
"EIGHTY-FIVE PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS KNOW THAT REGISTERED VOTERS CAN VOTE AT DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS. ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS KNOW THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AS A VOTER,” HE SAID.
OF THOSE WHO HAVE REGISTERED AS VOTERS, 55 PER CENT SAID THEY WOULD CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN THE FORTHCOMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS; 37 PER CENT WERE UNDECIDED WHILE ONLY THREE PER CENT SAID THEY WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE.
THE MAIN REASONS FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT INTEND TO VOTE ARE "DO NOT HAVE TIME" AND "HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE CANDIDATES".
AS FOR THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS ELECTIONS, 49 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID REGISTERED VOTERS COULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLLS WHILE 51 PER CENT EITHER FELT OTHERWISE OR SAID THEY "DO NOT KNOW".
DR TSE NOTED THAT MOST PEOPLE WERE UNCLEAR ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
"ONLY 26 PER CENT SAID REGISTERED VOTERS COULD VOTE IN THE LEGCO ELECTIONS; WHILE THE REMAINDER EITHER SAID REGISTERED VOTERS COULD NOT VOTE OR THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW,” HE SAID.
THE SURVEY, WHICH WAS CARRIED OUT BETWEEN NOVEMBER 26 AND DECEMBER 30 LAST YEAR, ALSO COVERED OTHER RELATED AREAS INCLUDING THE AWARENESS OF CIVIC EDUCATION, THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS FACING HONG KONG, ATTITUDES TO THE RULE OF LAW AND THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997.
DR TSE SAID 58 PER CENT - AN EIGHT PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1988 - OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE TERM "CIVIC EDUCATION".
"HOWEVER, OF THESE, 45 PER CENT SAID THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE OBJECTIVES OF CIVIC EDUCATION WERE.
/"MOST PEOPLE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
- 13 -
’’MOST PEOPLE BELIEVED IT WAS TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND UPHOLD CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICS, THUS ENHANCING THE CONCEPTS OF FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, THE RULE OF LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE,” DR TSE SAID.
TURNING TO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS FACING HONG KONG, ABOUT A THIRD OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION WAS UPPERMOST IN THEIR MINDS. THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER THOSE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE 1988 SURVEY WHICH WAS 11 PER CENT.
THE OTHER MAJOR CONCERN AMONG 21 PER CENT OF THOSE INTERVIEWED WAS HONG KONG’S FUTURE BEYOND 1997. THIS AGAIN SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER THE NUMBER IN THE PREVIOUS SURVEY WHICH WAS 11 PER CENT.
ONLY TWO PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS COULD NOT NOMINATE ANY PROBLEMS OF CONCERN, WHICH WAS MUCH LOWER THAN THE 1988 SURVEY’S 20 PER CENT.
TWO-THIRDS OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY CONSIDERED CERTAIN PROBLEMS AS MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE PROBLEMS CONCERNED HONG KONG OR THEIR DISTRICTS, WHILE ONE-THIRD SAID BECAUSE THESE PROBLEMS CONCERNED THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILIES.
ON ’’THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG”, 59 PER CENT FELT THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG DID NOT HAVE A SUFFICIENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIC LAW, AND 54 PER CENT OF THESE RESPONDENTS SAW NO WAY OF INCREASING RESIDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF OR INTEREST IN THE BASIC LAW.
BUT OF THOSE WHO FELT OTHERWISE, MOST SUGGESTED THE USE OF THE MASS MEDIA, IN PARTICULAR TELEVISION, TO IMPROVE RESIDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUBJECT.
ON THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE’S FREEDOMS AFTER 1997, MOST RESPONDENTS QUOTED THESE FACTORS AS BEING VERY IMPORTANT: HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS, A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM, GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA, THE BASIC LAW, THE RULE OF LAW, HONG KONG’S CONTRIBUTION TO CHINA’S ECONOMY AND INTERNATIONAL MONITORING.
THE FIRST TWO FACTORS WERE NOMINATED BY MOST (24 PER CENT) AS BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT.
AS FOR THE FACTORS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAINING HONG KONG’S PROSPERITY AFTER 1997, THE MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS CHOSE THE FOLLOWING: SOLVING OF THE BRAIN DRAIN PROBLEM, A STABLE AND HARMONIOUS SOCIETY, MAINTENANCE OF THE FREE MARKET ECONOMY, THE RULE OF LAW AND A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM.
BUT ”A STABLE AND HARMONIOUS SOCIETY” WAS NOMINATED BY MOST (29 PER CENT) AS BEING MOST IMPORTANT.
- - 0 - -
/14
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION FAIR IN WAN CHAI ♦ * ♦ » »
A DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION FAIR WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 24) IN WAN CHAI TO PROMOTE THE SCHEME AND TO ENCOURAGE ELECTORS TO VOTE IN THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON MARCH 3.
ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON CIVIC EDUCATION AND CO-ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE FAIR WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM IN THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND, HENNESSY ROAD.
DISTRICT BOARD CANDIDATES FOR THE FIVE CONSTITUENCIES IN THE DISTRICT WILL INTRODUCE THEIR PLATFORMS AT THE FAIR IN DIFFERENT SESSIONS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE PERFORMANCES BY POPULAR SINGERS AND A MARCHING BAND, ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE BY THE ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, A DRAMA BY THE WAN CHAI STUDENT COUNCIL, A DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION EXHIBITION, AN INFLATABLE LABYRINTH AND GAME STALLS.
OFFICIATING AT THE FAIR WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP, MR TENG CHUNG-TAI.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION FAIR WHICH WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 24) AT THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND, HENNESSY ROAD. THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 2 PM.
- - 0 - -
NEW YEAR CARNIVAL IN SAI YING PUN * ♦ ♦ ♦ *
A LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL FOR SAI YING PUN RESIDENTS WILL BE HELD AT THE KING GEORGE V MEMORIAL PARK, EASTERN STREET ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 24), STARTING AT 2 PM.
THERE WILL BE SINGING, MAGIC SHOWS, ACROBATIC PERFORMANCES, PALMISTRY AND GAME STALLS.
GAMES COUPONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING IN CENTRAL, ITS SUB-OFFICES AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING) AND IN KENNEDY TOWN, AS WELL AS WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 36 WESTERN STREET.
/THE FUNCTION
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
15
THE FUNCTION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SAI YING PUN AREA COMMITTEE, WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT’S ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION.
OFFICIATING AT THE CARNIVAL WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN FISHER, AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MRS IRENE LEE AND MR LIU L1T-FOR.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CARNIVAL.
--------0-----------
CLOSING OF KOWLOON CITY CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
THE FOUR-MONTH-LONG KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN WILL END WITH A VARIETY SHOW AT THE KO SHAN THEATRE TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
THE TWO-HOUR SHOW WILL FEATURE SINGING BY POPULAR SINGERS, DANCING, AND AN ORCHESTRIAL PERFORMANCE.
THE CAMPAIGN WHICH AIMS AT ENHANCING RESIDENTS’ CIVIC AWARENESS AND THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE DISTRICT WAS ORGANISED BY THE CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD.
THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGN FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO TAKE PART IN THE THREE-TIER ELECTIONS.
A TOTAL OF 10 ACTIVITIES WERE ORGANISED DURING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD.
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SIK-KONG; KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DUNCAN PESCOD; CONVENOR OF THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MR MAK HOI-WAH; AND AN URBAN COUNCILLOR, MR FONG PU1-SHEUNG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CLOSING CEREMONY AND VARIETY SHOW TOMORROW (SATURDAY). THE CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 8 PM.
------0-----------
/16 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
1,500 RESIDENTS ATTEND DISTRICT CONCERT »*«»♦♦
OVER 1,500 KOWLOON CITY RESIDENTS WERE TREATED TO A CONCERT BY THE DISTRICT’S CHILDREN’S CHORUS AT THE HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE IN TSIM SHA TSUI THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
THE ANNUAL EVENT WAS AIMED AT PROMOTING CHORUS SINGING IN THE DISTRICT.
TONIGHT’S PERFORMANCE ALSO FEATURED A MUSICAL PLAY, PIANO DUET, CHINESE ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE AND AN ORGAN RECITAL.
THE CONCERT WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHORUS, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
OFFICIATING GUESTS INCLUDED THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DUNCAN PESCOD, AN URBAN COUNCILLOR, MR FONG PUI-SHEUNG, THE MUSIC OFFICER (KOWLOON), MRS DORIS LEE, AND A KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR WU WING-KAI.
- - 0 - -
CLOSURE OF MATERNITY CENTRES « » » ♦ ♦
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT THE SHUN LEE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE IN KWUN TONG AND THE MRS WU YORK YU MATERNITY HOME IN KWAI CHUNG WILL BE CLOSED FROM MARCH 1.
FROM THAT DAY, ALL CLIENTS ATTENDING THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE SHOULD VISIT OTHER CENTRES IN THE KOWLOON EAST REGION WHILE CLIENTS RECEIVING ANTE-NATAL CARE SERVICE AT THE MATERNITY HOME WILL BE REFERRED TO SOUTH KWAI CHUNG MATERNITY HOME, 310 KWAI SHING CIRCUIT.
THE CLOSURES WILL NOT AFFECT OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE TWO PREMISES. THE SHUN LEE GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUT-PATIENT SERVICE AND THE MRS WU YORK YU MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE VARIOUS MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
- - 0 - -
/17
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED *****
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE REGISTRATION OF MAJAPAHIT FINANCE COMPANY LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY (FRIDAY) AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE.
- - 0 - -
REGISTRATION OF FINANCE LTD AS DTC REVOKED
******
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE REGISTRATION OF SIAM COMMERCIAL FINANCE LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31 (2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE.
- - 0 - -
ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IN SHAM SHUI PO TO BE CLOSED
*****
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS TO SEEK THE CLOSURE OF AN UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORK IN SHAM SHUI PO, KOWLOON, SO THAT DEMOLITION CAN BE CARRIED OUT WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS OR TO THE PUBLIC.
THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURE IS LOCATED ON THE ROOF OVER SEVENTH FLOOR, 117 APLIU STREET.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT COURT ON APRIL 11 THIS YEAR, WAS POSTED ON THE STRUCTURE TODAY (FRIDAY).
IT IS INTENDED THAT DEMOLITION WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDER IS OBTAINED.
- - 0 - -
/18
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
18
FIRING PRACTICE IN MARCH * * * *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON 23 DAYS NEXT MONTH.
THE PUBLIC IS WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.
FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES AND TIMES THAT TAKE PLACE:
FIRING PRACTICE WILL
DATE TIME
MARCH 1 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 2 (SATURDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 4 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 5 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 6 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 7 (THURSDAY) 12.01 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 8 (FRIDAY) 12.01 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 9 (SATURDAY) 12.01 AM - 7 AM
MARCH 11 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 12 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 13 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 14 (THURSDAY) 12.01 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 15 (FRIDAY) 12.01 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 16 (SATURDAY) 12.01 AM - 7 AM
MARCH 18 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 19 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 20 (WEDNESDAY) 12.01 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 21 (THURSDAY) 12.01 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 22 (FRIDAY) 12.01 AM - 7 AM
MARCH 25 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 26 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 27 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 11.59 PM
MARCH 28 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM - 5 PM
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW WEATHER RADAR FOR RO...................................................... 1
PLACES AVAILABLE AT GOVT PRIMARY SCHOOLS ..................................... 2
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION .......................................... 2
RESUMPTION OF TWO PRIVATE STREETS IN WAN CHAI ................................ 3
STABILISATION WORKS TO KCR SLOPES IN SHA TIN AND TAI PO KAU .................. 4
FIGHT CRIME DAY IN KOWLOON CITY .............................................. 5
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1991
NEW WEATHER RADAR FOR RO *****
THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY (RO) IS TO HAVE A NEW WEATHER RADAR TO TRACK TROPICAL CYCLONES AND MONITOR SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
THE NEW SYSTEM, WITH A PRICE-TAG OF $9.66 MILLION, IS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ONE WHICH IS IN PLACE SINCE 1983.
THE PURCHASE APPLICATION OF THE NEW METEOROLOGICAL SYSTEM WAS APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
TENDERING PROCEDURES ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR SO THAT SELECTED SYSTEM CAN BE DELIVERED AND INSTALLED IN 1992/93.
THE NEW RADAR WILL POSSESS ALL THE FUNCTIONS OF THE EXISTING DIGITAL RADAR SYSTEM (DRS) AND WILL SERVE AS THE PRIMARY OPERATIONAL WEATHER RADAR FOR HONG KONG.
THE EXISTING RADAR, WHICH IS MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS OLD, WILL BE USED ONLY AS AN EMERGENCY BACKUP SYSTEM.
THIS IS SO BECAUSE MANY DIGITAL CIRCUIT BOARDS AND SPARE COMPONENTS ESSENTIAL FOR THE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE DRS WERE NO LONGER PRODUCED AND WERE BECOMING UNAVAILABLE IN THE MARKET.
THE DRS, AS WELL AS THE NEW SYSTEM, COMPRISES AN ANTENNA, A TRANSCEIVER, AND A VIDEO DISPLAY OF RAW DATA, IS LOCATED AT A RADAR SITE ON TATE’S CAIRN.
TRANSMISSION OF RAW DATA FROM TATE’S CAIRN SITE TO THE RO HEADQUARTERS RELIES ON A MICROWAVE LINK WITH TELEPHONE LINES AS AN EMERGENCY BACKUP.
THE TRANSMITTED RAW DATA IS FURTHER PROCESSED BY A COMPUTER-BASED CONTROL AND PROCESSING SYSTEM AT THE RO HEADQUARTERS.
THE INFORMATION SO COLLECTED IS DISPLAYED AT THE RO HEADQUARTERS AND AT THE DEPARTMENT’S METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE AT THE AIRPORT SO THAT ANY HAZARDOUS WEATHER MAY BE DETECTED AND WARNINGS BE ISSUED TO ALL CONCERNED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE NEW SYSTEM IS ESTIMATED TO BE $400,000 PER ANNUM UPON COMPLETE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSAL.
THIS FIGURE IS BASED ON THE ESTIMATED MAINTENANCE COST OF THE NEW SYSTEM OF $540,000 PER ANNUM, OFFSET BY A SAVING OF $140,000 DERIVED FROM A REDUCED LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE OF THE DRS.
- - 0 - -
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1991
- 2 -
PLACES AVAILABLE AT GOVT PRIMARY SCHOOLS ♦ * t ♦ ♦
A NUMBER OF PLACES IN PRIMARY 2 TO 6 CLASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN AT VARIOUS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.
AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT CHILDREN AGED SIX YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS OR OVER ON SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR COULD APPLY FOR ADMISSION.
A NOTICE INDICATING THE PRIMARY 2 TO 6 VACANCIES WILL BE PUT UP AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF SCHOOLS AND APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THESE SCHOOLS FROM FEBRUARY 27 TO MARCH 6, EXCEPT ON SUNDAYS.
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED PARENTS TO RETURN THE COMPLETED FORMS TO THE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SELECTION OF APPLICANTS WILL BE MADE ON MARCH 13.
"CHILDREN WILL NORMALLY BE ADMITTED TO SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT WHERE THEY LIVE," HE SAID.
"CONSIDERATION WILL ALSO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE CHILDREN FROM THE SAME FAMILY WILL NOT BE SEPARATED."
APPLICATION FORMS ARE FREE AND NO ENTRANCE FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ADMISSION TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.
"CHILDREN IN THE SIX TO 12 AGE GROUP WHO ARE STILL NOT IN SCHOOL SHOULD APPLY FOR ADMISSION," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
-------0-------
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION * * * * *
FORTY SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE PUT UP FOR AUCTION THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING FOR A TOTAL OF $854,000 WHICH WILL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES.
THE AUCTION, HELD AT THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL, SAW THE REGISTRATION NUMBER EE33 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $200,000.
ANOTHER NUMBER EPl WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $100,000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $1,000 FOR EM9283.
/FOLLOWING ARE .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1991
3
FOLLOWING ARE THE RESULTS OF TODAY'S AUCTION:
$ $ $ $
EM9283 1,000 DH4 10,000 EN286 7,000 EN813 15,000
AJ219 8,000 AR6618 12,000 EN300 10,000 EM189 13,000
CC8628 14,000 EM1828 14,000 EPl 100,000 EN3698 4,000
EN2298 5,000 EM663 32,000 EMI 17 8,000 DH7777 41,000
AK707 11,000 AJ722 11,000 EN339 9.000 EM669 9,000
EM332 8.000 EN1832 8,000 EM3338 12.000 EN887 11,000
EC87 50.000 EM889 26.000 DH8 90,000 BC877 18,000
EM1386 10.000 DC285 4,000 EN302 4,000 EM116 5,000
EN902 4,000 EM6368 9,000 EM1883 8,000 EL318 10.000
3016 11,000 EL171 6.000 EE33 200,000 EM138 26.000
AFTER SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WERE REQUIRED TC THE BIDDING. ) PAY BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY
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 161 ST ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL OF MONEY FOR CHARITY REALISED SO FAR TO $114,872,605.
- - 0----------
RESUMPTION OF TWO PRIVATE STREETS IN WAN CHAJ
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO RESUME AND REPAIR TWO PRIVATE STREETS IN WAN CHAI -- LUN FAT STREET AND TANG LUNG STREET — WHICH HAVE GIVEN RISE TO CONSIDERABLE ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS.
THE TWO STREETS ARE UNDER PRIVATE MULTIPLE OWNERSHIPS AND ARE NOT PROPERLY MANAGED OR MAINTAINED.
THEY ARE ALSO PARTLY OCCUPIED BY STALLS OBSTRUCTING PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR FLOW.
THE RESUMPTION WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO CLEAR THE OBSTRUCTING STALLS, TO REPAIR TO A PROPER STANDARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
WORKS ON THE PROJECT ARE EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN MAY 1992.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS IS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE.
A PLAN AND SCHEME SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORKS AND LAND RESUMPTION CAN BE SEEN AT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
/* CENTRAL AND .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1991
♦ 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, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 19TH FLOOR, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG;
♦ WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE, PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 2 O’BRIEN ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
ANY PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, SECOND FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 23.
---------0-----------
STABILISATION WORKS TO KCR SLOPES IN SHA TIN AND TAI PO KAU
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR STABILISATION WORKS TO THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY (KCR) SLOPES IN SHA TIN AND TAI PO KAU.
A TENDER NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE.
THE SLOPES TO BE STABILISED INCLUDE KCR SLOPES 5.3, 5.4 AND 5.5, OPPOSITE TO THE KCR SHA TIN RAILWAY STATION, AND KCR SLOPE 9.16 AT TAI PO KAU.
THE WORKS INCLUDE THE EXCAVATION OF SOIL SLOPES, CONSTRUCTION OF STABILISING CAISSONS, INSTALLATION OF SOIL NAILS AND ROCK DOWELS, CONSTRUCTION OF SURFACE DRAINAGE, AND APPLICATION OF SHOTCRETE AND HYDROSEEDING.
THE WORKS WILL COMMENCE IN APRIL THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER 1992.
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT HAS DESIGNED THE WORKS AND WILL SUPERVISE THEIR CONSTRUCTION.
- - 0 - -
/5 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1991
5 FIGHT CRIME DAY IN KOWLOON CITY * * * * «
A CARNIVAL TO DRIVE HOME THE FIGHT CRIME MESSAGE WILL BE HELD AT THE ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND IN KOWLOON CITY TOMORROW (SUNDAY). IT WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
THE EVENT IS ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT’S FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AND JUNIOR POLICE CALL WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
ADMISSION TO THE CARNIVAL IS FREE. THERE WILL BE SINGING, DANCING, A MAGIC SHOW AND A LUCKY DRAW.
A PRIZE PRESENTATION FOR THE DISTRICT’S ’’FRIENDS OF THE POLICE AND CITIZENS’ AWARDS”, ’’ANTI-SHOPTHEFT COLOURING COMPETITION" AND "ANTI-SHOPTHEFT BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITION" WILL ALSO BE HELD.
THE OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE A FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE MEMBER, MR PETER WONG; KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SIK-KONG; DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DUNCAN PESCOD; POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR DAVID DEPTFORD; AND KOWLOON LOK SIN TONG BENEVOLENT SOCIETY VICE-CHAIRMAN, MR YEUNG CHOR-HANG.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT THE ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND. IT WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
---------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVT TO REFLECT UPON AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ..................... 1
HK PROMOTES NEW IMAGE IN UK ............................................. 1
TERRITORY-WIDE OPERATION TO CURB CRIMES ................................. 3
POST OFFICE LAUNCHES 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS ..................... 3
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR ADULT EDUCATION SUBVENTION ..................... 4
RESIDENTS URGED TO HELP FIGHT CRIME ..................................... 5
SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME ON '1991 CENSUS' ............................. 6
CALL TO VOTE ON MARCH 3 ................................................. 7
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1991
1 - •
GOVT TO REFLECT UPON AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ♦ ♦ ♦ » *
A CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE AIRPORT AND RELATED PROJECTS IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY REFLECT UPON, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE POST OFFICE FAMILIES FUN DAY, SIR PIERS SAID BEFORE MAKING A DECISION, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT THE MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMITTEE WERE LIKELY TO BE.
ASKED WHETHER THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE WOULD OVERLAP THE DUTIES OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, SIR PIERS SAID THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY DUPLICATION.
"IF THERE WERE SUCH A COMMITTEE, IT WILL BE THERE FOR AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PURPOSE," HE ADDED.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON THE PHASING OF THE AIRPORT RELATED PROJECTS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE HONG KONG TEAM WHEN THEY RETURN FROM PEKING.
"WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING IN VERY CLOSE CONTACT WITH HAMISH (MACLEOD), BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF DISCUSSING IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DURING THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK," HE SAID.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON WHAT EFFECT THE GROUND WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST WOULD HAVE ON HONG KONG’S ECONOMY, SIR PIERS SAID IT WAS FAR TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT THE EFFECT OF THAT CONFLICT WOULD BE.
"I COULD NOT MAKE ANY PREDICTION AT THIS STAGE. OBVIOUSLY IT DOES INTRODUCE A DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY INTO OUR AFFAIRS. IT MAKES THE FORECASTING EVEN MORE DIFFICULT," HE SAID.
--------0-----------
HK PROMOTES NEW IMAGE IN UK » * »• * »
HONG KONG’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN CULTURAL AND BEING INCREASINGLY RECOGNISED [N BRITAIN -- WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON.
SPORTS EVENTS
LITTLE HELP
ARE FROM
MORE THAN 400 ATHLETES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TODAY (SUNDAY)
LONDON.
/THE EVENT .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1991
- 2 -
THE EVENT PROVED SO POPULAR THAT MANY LATE ENTRIES WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THE FOUR EVENTS OF INDOOR SOCCER, BADMINTON, TABLE TENNIS AND BASKETBALL.
OPENING THE SPORTS DAY, THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, MR JOHN YAXLEY, SAID THIS WAS A SHOWCASE FOR THE INDUSTRIOUS AND ENTERPRISING COMMUNITY IN BRITAIN TO DEMONSTRATE ITS ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS.
HONG KONG’S FAMOUS NAMES IN SPORTS ARE ALSO MAKING THEIR MARK IN BRITAIN.
FRANK CHAN, THE TERRITORY’S SNOOKER CHAMPION, IS MEETING THE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE STEPHEN HENDRY IN DERBY AT TODAY’S QUARTER-FINAL OF THE PEARL ASSURANCE BRITISH OPEN AFTER BEATING THE DEFENDING CHAMPION CANADIAN BOB CHAPERON IN THE THIRD ROUND.
HONG KONG BOWLER MARK MCMAHON HAS ALSO PRODUCED A SCINTILLATING DISPLAY TO WIN OVER DEVON’S JOHN EVANS AT THE QUARTER-FINAL OF THE MIDLAND WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN PRESTON.
IN LAST OCTOBER’S LONDON FILM FESTIVAL, THE "HONG KONG FOCUS", WHICH FEATURED 10 OF THE TERRITORY’S BEST MOVIES, RECEIVED AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE AND ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF NEW DEVOTEES TO THE HONG KONG CINEMA.
AS A RESULT, THE LONDON OFFICE IS NOW SPONSORING 10 OTHER FILMS WHICH ARE BEING SHOWN AT MAJOR UK CITIES INCLUDING LONDON, EDINBURGH, MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, CARDIFF, BIRMINGHAM, PLYMOUTH, LEICESTER, NOTTINGHAM, AND NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.
ON THE MUSIC FRONT, TWO YOUNG VIOLINISTS, THREE PIANISTS AND A SOPRANO FROM HONG KONG, TOGETHER WITH THREE OTHER MUSICIANS FROM CHINA, RECENTLY GAVE A CONCERT AT LONDON’S ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL TO A PACKED AUDIENCE.
THE CONCERT, SPONSORED BY THE ANGLO-HONG KONG TRUST, WON HIGH PRAISE FROM THE AUDIENCE, WHICH INCLUDED PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL PRESS.
--------0-----------
/3 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1991
- 3 -
TERRITORY-WIDE OPERATION TO CURB CRIMES ******
POLICE CONTINUED THEIR THREE-PRONGED ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST DRUGS, ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND VICE ACTIVITIES LAST MONTH (JANUARY), RESULTING IN THE ARREST OF 1,667 PEOPLE IN 3,366 RAIDS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT DURING THE MONTH, 214 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN 452 RAIDS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 1,047 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN 2,613 RAIDS IN KOWLOON AND 394 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN 276 RAIDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
IN ADDITION, NARCOTICS BUREAU OFFICERS APPREHENDED 12 PEOPLE IN 25 ANTI-DRUG OPERATIONS.
IN THEIR SUSTAINED EFFORTS AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING LAST MONTH,POLICE ARRESTED 605 PEOPLE IN 433 RAIDS. THE DRUGS SEIZED INCLUDED 31 KILOGRAMS OF CANNABIS RESIN, 4 KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN AND 500 GRAMS OF OPIUM.
ON THE ANTI-GAMBLING FRONT, POLICE CONDUCTED 129 RAIDS AND ARRESTED 830 PEOPLE, SEIZING SOME $219,000 IN TABLE MONEY AND BETTING SLIPS WORTH ABOUT $1.5 MILLION.
POLICE ALSO CARRIED OUT 2,779 RAIDS AND ARRESTED 220 PEOPLE IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST VICE ACTIVITIES. ABOUT 1,100 OBSCENE VIDEO TAPES WERE SEIZED.
--------0-----------
POST OFFICE LAUNCHES 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
*****
ONE FOR THE STAFF OF ANNIVERSARY OF
FINANCIAL SECRETRAY,
THIS YEAR IS A SPECIAL AND MEMORABLE POST OFFICE BECAUSE IT MARKS THE 15?TH CONTINUING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, THE PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE POST OFFICE, BEEN PROVIDING
SPEAKING AT THE FAMILIES FUN DAY OF SAID THAT SINCE 1841 THE POST OFFICE HAD
THE THEIR
SIR
SIR PIERS
A RELIABLE
AND EFFICIENT SERVICE.
"THE HIGH STANDARD OF OPERATION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE HONG KONG. THIS APPRECIATED BY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
"ALL MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF THE TO BE PROUD," HE SAID.
HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BOTH EXCELLENT RECORD IS FULLY
POST OFFICE HAVE EVERY REASON
/ALSO SPEAKING .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1991
4
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE FUNCTION, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG, SAID THE POST OFFICE EXPANDED FROM ONE SMALL. OFFICE IN 1841 TO THE PRESENT SIZE OF 116 BRANCH POST OFFICES, MANNED BY ABOUT 5,000 STAFF, TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS ALL OVER THE TERRITORY.
"FOR THE PAST 150 YEARS WE HAVE FAITHFULLY BEEN SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. I CAN THEREFORE PLEDGE HERE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE YEARS TO COME," HE SAID.
MR WONG ALSO EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION OF THE LOYALTY, DEDICATION, CO-OPERATION AND PERSEVERANCE SHOWN BY STAFF THROUGH THESE YEARS.
SIR PIERS THEN PRESENTED LONG SERVICE AWARDS TO 21 STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE EACH RENDERED OVER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.
AWARDS WERE ALSO PRESENTED BY MR WONG TO FIVE WINNING OFFICES OF THE POST OFFICE COURTESY CAMPAIGN. THEY WERE THE GENERAL ROST OFFICE AND THE AIRPORT, YAU YAT TSUEN, SHEK LEI AND KWAI SHING POST OFFICES.
ABOUT 1,500 STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES TOOK PART IN THE FUN DAY WHICH WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE POST OFFICE’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY.
THE HALF-DAY EVENT INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY PIPERS AND MARCHING TEAMS, AN ACROBATIC SHOW, A TALENT SHOW, A MAGIC SHOW AND GAMES AT VARIOUS STANDS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT THE FAMILIES FUN DAY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION LATER TODAY FROM THE GIS DUTY OFFICER AT SIXTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.
-----0------
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR ADULT EDUCATION SUBVENTION
******
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE BEING INVITED TO APPLY FOR GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION TO RUN ADULT EDUCATION COURSES FOR THE 1991/92 SCHOOL YEAR.
AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE COURSES WOULD COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT THE GOVERNMENT’S ACTIVITIES IN THIS FIELD.
TRAINING, COURSES, WORKERS
AREAS ELIGIBLE FOR SUBVENTION INCLUDE PREVOCATIONAL EDUCATION ON LABOUR, CAREERS AND RETIREMENT, JOB-ORIENTED AND GENERAL EDUCATION FOR PARTICULAR GROUPS SUCH AS FACTORY
AND FISHERFOLK.
/THE SUBVENTION .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1991
5
THE SUBVENTION TEACHING AND OFFICE ACCOMMODATION.
WILL COVER MAINLY COST OF STAFFING, BASIC EQUIPMENT, UTILITIES CHARGES AND RENT FOR
APPLICATION FORMS, OBTAINABLE AT THE ADULT EDUCATION SECTION, LEE GARDENS, FIFTH SHOULD BE RETURNED BY APRIL 30.
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S FLOOR, CAUSEWAY BAY,
APPLICANTS WILL BE INFORMED
OF THE RESULT IN JULY.
-----0------
RESIDENTS URGED TO HELP FIGHT CRIME
*****
A MEMBER OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR PETER WONG, TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED ON KOWLOON .CITY RESIDENTS TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE POLICE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.
OFFICIATING AT THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME DAY CARNIVAL, MR WONG SAID: "ONLY WHEN CRIMES ARE ERADICATED CAN WE ENJOY PEACE AND PROSPERITY."
HE POINTED OUT THAT CRIME PREVENTION HAD ALL ALONG BEEN THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
"DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN SET UP THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY TO REPORT THE LOCAL CRIME SITUATION TO THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE TO FACILITATE THE ATTACK ON CRIMES," MR WONG SAID.
THE FIGHT CRIME DAY WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT’S JUNIOR POLICE CALL WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED SINGING, DANCING, A MAGIC SHOW AND A LUCKY DRAW.
WINNERS OF THE DISTRICT’S "FRIENDS OF THE POLICE AND CITIZENS’ AWARDS", "ANTI-SHOPTHEFT COLOURING COMPETITION" AND "ANTI-SHOPTHEFT BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITION" WERE PRESENTED PRIZES.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SIK-KONG; DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DUNCAN PESCOD; POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR DAVID DEPTFORD; AND KOWLOON LOK SIN TONG BENEVOLENT SOCIETY VICE-CHAIRMAN, MR YEUNG CHOR-HANG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME DAY CARNIVAL WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE QIS NEWSROOM LATER.
/6 ........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1991
- 6 -
SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME ON '1991 CENSUS’ * * P * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL LAUNCH A SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME ON THE 1991 POPULATION CENSUS TOMORROW (MONDAY).
"THE AIM OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMME IS TO EDUCATE SECONDARY ONE TO SEVEN STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A POPULATION CENSUS TOWARDS THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS OF HONG KONG," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE PROGRAMME ALSO STRESSES THAT IT IS A CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC TO CO-OPERATE IN THE CENSUS BY PROVIDING ACCURATE INFORMATION TO ENUMERATORS.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE REQUESTED TO SHOW A 20-MINUTE VIDEO TO STUDENTS ON WHY AND HOW A POPULATION CENSUS IS CONDUCTED. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CLASS DISCUSSIONS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF TEACHERS.
"IT IS EXPECTED THAT SCHOOLS WILL DEVOTE ONE LESSON FOR EACH CLASS TO MOUNT THIS PROJECT AS PART OF THE CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME," HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT SECONDARY STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ASSIST IN PUBLICISING THE CENSUS TO THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND TO RENDER ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THE CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRES.
APART FROM THE VIDEO, BOOKMARKS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ALL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS.
THE CENSUS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT THROUGH WHICH POPULATION DATA ESSENTIAL FOR FORWARD PLANNING IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS WILL BE COLLECTED.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC IN PARTICULAR THE EDUCATION SECTOR IS VITAL FOR ITS SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION.
THE 1991 POPULATION CENSUS WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM MARCH 15 TO 24.
--------0-----------
/7........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1991
7
CALL TO VOTE ON MARCH 3 ♦ ♦ * ♦
THE ASSISTANT SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS BEBNADEirE TODAY (SUNDAY) URGED RESIDENTS TO VOTE IN THE MARCH 3 DISTRICT
ELECTIONS TO SELECT THEIR BEST REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THE
SAID:
SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF KUNG NEW YEAR LONG RUN THIS MORNING, MISS LINN COMPETITIONS MUST HAVE THEIR PARTICIPANTS AND SUPPORTERS, ?Se DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC.
1991 SAI
"AS ALL SO SHOULD
"THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG’S REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WOULD VERY MUCH DEPEND ON RESIDENTS’ ACTIVE PARTICIPATION THREE-TIER ELECTIONS,” SHE STRESSED.
LINN, BOARD
SYSTEM
IN THE
TODAY’S LONG RUN, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND
HELD AT THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, WAS THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
- - 0----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
)
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR CALLS FOR CONTINUED FULL CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVT AND PEOPLE .. 1
VISIT BY LU PING MUCH WELCOMED: GOVERNOR ................................. 1
HOTLINE SERVICE FOR BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE EXTENDED ................. 2
ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BILL TO BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY ....................... 3
NEW MULTICHANNEL SOUND IN TV BROADCASTS TO BE ADOPTED .................... 3
CALL FOR ENTRIES TO 1991 GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY ................... 4
YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO VOTE ............................................... 6
LEGCO TO CONSIDER SEVEN BILLS ON WEDNESDAY ............................... 7
STWY ON FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY COMMISSIONED .............................. 8
FURTHER COMPUTERISATION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT .................... 9
DRIVERS AND VEHICLE OWNERS URGED TO RENEW LICENCES EARLY ................. 10
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
1
GOVERNOR ('ALLS FOR CONTINUED FULL CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVT AND PEOPLE ♦ ♦♦♦**
WITH THE CONTINUED FULL CO-OPERA I’I ON BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE Ol- HONG KONG, HONG KONG SHALL BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO THE COMING CHANGES IN A PEACEFUL AND STABLE ATMOSPHERE AND MAINTAIN ITS STABILITY AND PROSPER I TV, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON SAID TODAY (MONDAY I .
SPEAKING AT THE SPRING FESTIVAL RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER 'TSAO, SIR DAVID SAID: I AM CONFIDENT THAT SO LONG AS WE WORK TOGETHER WITH UNITY OF PURPOSE, WE SHALL BE ABLE ’TO RESOLVE ALL PROBLEMS, OVERCOME ALL DIFFICULTIES AND KEEP THE FRUITS OF OUR HARD WORK OVER THE YEARS."
’THE GOVERNOR SAID DUR I NG THE PAST YEAR, THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE WORLD’S POLITICAL SCENE WHICH HAD ALSO GREATLY AFFECTED HONG KONG.
"HAVING REGARD TO HONG KONG’S OWN CONSTRAINTS AND THOSE IMPOSED BY THE OBJECTIVE ENVIRONMENT, WF MUST AGAIN BE FULLY PREPARED PSYCHOLOG I (’ALLY TO FACE THE CHALLENGI NG YEAR AHEAD," SIR DAVID SAID.
HE ALSO PC) I NIED OUT THAT THIS YEAR WAS THE YEAR OF THE RAM AND ACCORDING TO THE CHINESE TRADITION, THE RAM WAS A TAME AND GENTLE CREATURE.
"MY WIFE AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH YOU ALL THE REST OF LUCK AND EVERY SUCCESS IN THE NEW YEAR," SIR DAVID SAID.
--------0-----------
VISIT BY LU PING MUCH WELCOMED: GOVERNOR t * * ♦ * ♦ *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TONIGHT (MONDAY) THAT HE VERY MUCH WELCOMED NEXT WEEK’S VISIT TO HONG KONG BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE OF CHINA’S STATE COUNCIL, MR LU PING, AND ITS FORMER DIRECTOR, MR JI PENGFEI.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING A SPRING RECEPTION OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, SIR DAVID SAID: "I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK DIRECTLY TO MR LU PING AGAIN.
"WHAT THE VISIT BY MR LU PING WILL DO IS GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY FORWARD DISCUSSIONS, IT’S NOT JUST ON THE AIRPORT, THERE ARE MANY THINGS I HOPE TO DISCUSS WITH MR LU PING.
”1 DON’T AT THIS STAGE, OBVIOUSLY KNOW HOW FAR WE’LL GET IN OUR DISCUSSIONS,” HE ADDED.
/THE GOVERNOR .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
2 -
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IN THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR OF THE RAM, HE HOPED WE WOULD SUCCEED IN GETTING AHEAD WITH A NEW AIRPORT, WHICH WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE LONG TERM PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
"I HOPE WE WILL DO IT WITH WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FROM THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND I HOPE WE WILL DO IT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING AND THE SUPPORT OF CHINA AS WELL.
"THOSE THREE THINGS I THINK SHOULD BE OUR OBJECTIVE; TO TRY TO BUILD AN AIRPORT QUICKLY FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND IN AN ECONOMIC AND AN EFFECTIVE WAY," SIR DAVID SAID.
-----0-----
HOTLINE SERVICE FOR BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE EXTENDED
******
AN IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (MONDAY) SAID FIVE EXTRA HOTLINES FOR THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME WILL BE ADDED IN VIEW OF A SHARP INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES RECEIVED LAST WEEK.
THE NEW HOTLINES (829 4025 - 29) WILL BE OPERATED WITHIN OFFICE HOURS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THIS EXTRA SERVICE WAS IN ADDITION TO THE 10 HOTLINES (802 3300) CURRENTLY IN OPERATION FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM.
MEANWHILE, AS SOME 75 PER CENT OF THE APPLICATION FORMS WERE BEING DELIVERED IN PERSON, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAS DECIDED TO EXTEND THE OPERATION HOURS (>F THE BRITISH NATIONALITY DIVISION TO 8 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AND ON WEDNESDAY WHILE THE OPERATION HOURS FOR THE LAST DAY FOR APPLICATIONS ON THURSDAY WILL BE EXTENDED UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
"THIS IS TO FACILITATE THE LIKELY LAST-MINUTE RUSH OF APPLICATIONS," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED WOULD-BE APPLICANTS THAT THEY COULD ALSO CHOOSE TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION FORMS BY REGISTERED MAIL.
HE SAID ALL FORMS RECEIVED WITH POSTAL CHOPS SHOWING FEBRUARY 28 WILL BE ACCEPTED.
ALL APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE BRITISH NATIONALITY DIVISION, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, 7 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI .
--------0-----------
/3 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
3
ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BILL TO BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BILL WILL BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY (MARCH 1) AND FORMALLY MOVED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH ON MARCH 6, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR BEGINNING ON APRIL 1, 1991 HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
"THE APPROPRIATION BILL PROVIDES FOR EXPENDITURE FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT OF $73.5 BILLION ON THE EXPENSES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR - AN INCREASE OF 12 PER CENT OVER THE EXPENDITURE APPROVED FOR 1990/91," THE SPOKESMAN SAID,
"OF THIS SUM, $16 BILLION IS FOR EDUCATION; $14 BILLION FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE; AND $12.1 BILLION FOR SECURITY INCLUDING POLICE. THESE THREE AREAS TOGETHER WILL ACCOUNT FOR 57 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL," HE SAID.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT ESTIMATES BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE WHICH WILL EXAMINE THE EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL PROVIDES, IN ADDITION, FOR THE TRANSFER OF A TOTAL OF $26.8 BILLION TO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND, THE LOAN FUND AND THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND.
THE FUNDS ARE USED TO FINANCE THE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME, LOANS TO STUDENTS IN TERTIARY EDUCATION AND PERMANENT INVESTMENT IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OTHER STATUTORY BODIES.
DRAFT ESTIMATES OF REVENUE TO THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT WILL BE ISSUED TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGET SPEECH.
------0-------
NEW MULTICHANNEL SOUND IN TV BROADCASTS TO BE ADOPTED » ♦ * * *
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY. SIR ROGER LOBO, ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT MULTICHANNEL SOUND USING THE "NICAM" STANDARD WILL BE ADOPTED IN TELEVISION BROADCASTS IN HONG KONG AS FROM JULY 1.
IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON BOTH TVB AND ATV.
SIR ROGER SAID THAT THE "NICAM" (NEAR INSTANTANEOUS COMPANDING AND MULTIPLEXING) STANDARD WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT PROVIDES EXCELLENT SOUND QUALITY AND IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING BROADCAST STANDARD USED IN HONG KONG.
/IT CAN .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
4
IT CAN BE USED TO BROADCAST EITHER HIGH FIDELITY STEREO SOUND OR MULTI-LINGUAL PROGRAMMES.
EXISTING TELEVISION SETS AND VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDS (VCR) WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE CONVENTIONAL SOUND TRACK.
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE STEREO SOUND OR MULTI-LINGUAL BROADCASTS, VIEWERS WILL NEED TO USE TV SETS OR VCR WHICH CONTAIN "NICAM" DECODERS.
THE TELEVISION COMPANIES AND THE CONSUMER COUNCIL WILL BE PUBLICISING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ON HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS FOR RECEIVING MULTICHANNEL SOUND SIGNALS.
--------0-----------
CALL FOR ENTRIES TO 1991 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, TODAY (MONDAY) CALLED ON MANUFACTURERS TO ENTER COMPETITIONS FOR THE 1991 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY - THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF INDUSTRIAL PERFORMANCE.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY WAS SET UP IN 1989 TO RECOGNISE AND ENCOURAGE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE AREAS OF CONSUMER PRODUCT DESIGN; MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN; PRODUCTIVITY; AND QUALITY.
"IT IS IN JUST THESE AREAS WHERE OUR MANUFACTURERS MUST EXCEL IF THEY ARE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN OUR MAJOR OVERSEAS MARKETS," HE SAID.
THE CONSUMER PRODUCT DESIGN AND THE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN AWARD CATEGORIES ARE PRODUCT-BASED, AND ARE AIMED AT RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD DESIGN IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND IN MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING.
THE PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY AWARD CATEGORIES ARE COMPANY-BASED, AND RECOGNISE ENDEAVOURS BY HONG KONG COMPANIES TO ACHIEVE IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND BETTER QUALITY IN THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANISING THE CONSUMER PRODUCT DESIGN CATEGORY; THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION THE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN CATEGORY; THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL THE PRODUCTIVITY CATEGORY; AND THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT THE QUALITY CATEGORY.
MR CHAN SAID ONE GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY WAS MADE IN EACH AWARD CATEGORY WHICH ENTITLED ITS HOLDER TO DISPLAY AN OFFICIAL LOGO FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
/THE GOVERNOR’S ......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
5
’’THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD IS THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRY AND WINNING IT AGAINST FIERCE COMPETITION IS AN OUTSTANDING HONOUR WITH A LASTING VALUE.”
LAST YEAR’S AWARD PRESENTATIONS ATTRACTED AN AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 750 GUESTS, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES OF MOST CONSULATES AND TRADE COMMISSIONS IN HONG KONG AND MANY LARGE LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MANUFACTURERS AND BUYERS.
”1 THEREFORE STRONGLY URGE OUR MANUFACTURERS TO ENTER THIS YEAR’S COMPETITIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY,” MR CHAN SAID.
THE CLOSING DATE IN ALL FOUR AWARD CATEGORIES IS JUNE 21 AND ENQUIRIES ON ENTRY CRITERIA SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE ORGANISATION CONCERNED OR THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WILL PRESENT THE AWARDS HIMSELF AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE ON NOVEMBER 5.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR T.H. BARMA, SAID THE QUALITY AWARD WAS AIMED AT PROMOTING A WIDER APPRECIATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY AMONG HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS.
’’ALL COMPANIES MANUFACTURI NG PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG WHICH QUALIFY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF HONG KONG ORIGIN ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION,” HE SAID.
THERE ARE SIX PRODUCT CATEGORIES UNDER THE AWARD SCHEME AND A COMPANY CAN ENTER ANY ONE CATEGORY. THE SIX CATEGORIES ARE: CLOTHING, ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, TEXTILES, WATCHES AND CLOCKS, TOYS AND DOLLS, AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS.
MR BARMA SAID ENTRIES WOULD BE EVALUATED BY AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSOR, WHO WOULD SUBMIT FINDINGS TO A PANEL OF JUDGES TO BE APPOINTED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
THERE WILL BE ONE WINNING ENTRY IN EACH OF THE SIX CATEGORIES AND THESE SIX WINNING ENTRIES WILL EACH RECEIVE AN INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT QUALITY AWARD.
THE PANEL OF JUDGES WILL ALSO SELECT FROM AMONG THE SIX WINNING ENTRIES ONE OVERALL WINNING ENTRY TO RECEIVE THE GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY: QUALITY.
MR BARMA SAID ENTRIES FOR THE QUALITY AWARD WOULD BE EVALUATED ON TWO MAIN CRITERIA.
’’THE FIRST CRITERION IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH A COMPANY’S QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM APPLIED TO DESIGN, MATERIALS SOURCING, PRODUCTION AND TESTING ELIMINATES DELAYS AND REJECTIONS DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AFTERWARDS.
/"THE SECOND........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
6
"THE SECOND CRITERION IS THE QUALITY OF THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTS, IN TERMS OF FITNESS FOR PURPOSE, CONSISTENCY OF PERFORMANCE, APPEARANCE, VALUE FOR MONEY AND SAFENESS," HE SAID.
MR BARMA SAID ENTRIES WOULD BE EVALUATED IN JULY AND AUGUST, AND THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT’S ASSESSOR MIGHT NEED ACCESS TO A MANUFACTURER’S PREMISES IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE COMPANY’S QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
"I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT ALL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL," HE SAID.
MANUFACTURERS INTERESTED IN THE QUALITY AWARD COMPETITION ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT BY JUNE 21.
BROCHURES AND APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OR BY TELEPHONING 736 0003. THIS NUMBER CAN ALSO BE CALLED IN CASE OF ENQUIRIES ON THE RULES OF THE COMPETITION.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, MR STEPHEN CHEONG; THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION, MR CHAN W1NG-KEE, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, MR JAMES TIEN, ALSO OUTLINED THE CRITERIA AND CONDITIONS FOR ENTRY IN RESPECT OF THEIR AWARD CATEGORIES.
------0--------
YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO VOTE ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH AND THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION HAVE URGED VOTERS IN THE 21-25 AGE GROUP TO SUPPORT THE THREE ELECTIONS THIS YEAR BY CASTING THEIR BALLOTS.
THE APPEAL WAS MAbE DURING A JOINT MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES LAST WEEK.
MEMBERS OF THE TWO BODIES NOTED THAT THE VOTER REGISTRATION RATE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 21 TO 25 IN THE RECENT EXERCISE WAS 26.9 PER CENT WHICH WAS WELL BELOW THE AVERAGE RATE OF 50.2 PER CENT.
THEY SHARED A COMMON CONCERN AS TO HOW YOUNG PEOPLE COULD BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE PART IN ELECTORAL ACTIVITIES. THEREFORE, THE TWO BODIES HAD DECIDED TO PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER TO JOINTLY DISCUSS THE ISSUE.
HOWEVER, AS IT WAS OBSERVED THAT SUCH PHENOMENON EXISTS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE ELSEWHERE, MEMBERS BELIEVED THAT THE PROMOTION OF THE PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SHOULD BE A LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE.
AS REGARDS WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO TAKE PART IN ELECTORAL ACTIVITIES, MEMBERS MADE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS:
/* YOUNG PEOPLE ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
« YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY ACQUIRED CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ELECTORAL AFFAIRS THROUGH CIVIC EDUCATION, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STIMULATE THEM TO PUT THIS KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE.
» CIVIC AWARENESS SHOULD BE CULTIVATED PARTICULARLY AT HOME AND IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE CHANCE TO PUT THEIR IDEAS INTO PRACTICE BEFORE GRADUALLY PROCEEDING TO ACTUAL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION.
* THE COMMUNITY SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOUNGSTERS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON MAJOR COMMUNITY ISSUES. THE MASS MEDIA CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS RESPECT.
» MORE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN DISTRICT COMMITTEES AND ORGANISATIONS TO ENHANCE THEIR INTEREST IN ELECTORAL MATTERS THROUGH PARTICIPATION AND PRACTICE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH, MRS ROSANNA TAM,AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MR CHENG KAI-NAM, ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL ON VOTERS OF OTHER AGE GROUPS TO SUPPORT THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS.
MRS TAM NOTED THAT THE COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN ITS CONTACTS WITH THE COMMITTEE AND OTHER ADVISORY BODIES ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.
------0-------
LEGCO TO CONSIDER SEVEN BILLS ON WEDNESDAY
*****
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL ASK FOUR QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER SEVEN BILLS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 27).
OF THE SEVEN BILLS, FIVE WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
THEY ARE THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1991, RATING (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1991, HEUNG YEE KUK (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991, JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 AND IMPORT AND EXPORT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991.
THE OTHER TWO BILLS WHICH ARE DUE FOR SECOND READING BEFORE GOING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING ARE THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 AND SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991.
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WILL MOVE THREE MOTIONS UNDER THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE, FOREIGN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE AND LEGITIMACY ORDINANCE RESPECTIVELY.
/MEANWHILE, THE ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
8
MEANWHILE, THE HON MARIA TAM WILL MOVE A MOTION ON BEDSPACE APARTMENT. IT READS: "THAT, RECOGNISING THE APPALLING LIVING CONDITIONS OF TENANTS OF BEDSPACE APARTMENTS AS A PRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEM, THIS COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE STEPS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE*.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG WILL SPEAK ON HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ANNUAL REPORT 1989/90.
THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN WILL SPEAK ON CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT 1989/90 AND FINANCIAL REPORT 1989/90 AND THE HON LAU WAH-SUM WILL SPEAK ON HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 1989/90. •
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-----------
STUDY ON FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY COMMISSIONED
*****
A $23.5 MILLION CONSULTANCY WAS COMMISSIONED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT (DSD) TO DEVELOP DRAINAGE BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS IN THE FLOOD-PRONE NORTH WESTERN AND NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES AS THE SECOND PHASE OF THE TERRITORIAL LAND DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY STUDY.
THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BETWEEN DSD’S ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, MR D.M. MUDD, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF A JOINT VENTURE OF TWO CONSULTANT COMPANIES.
THE 24-MONTH CONSULTANCY ARISES FROM THE FINDINGS OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE STRATEGY STUDY COMPLETED LAST YEAR. THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE CONSULTANCY WILL ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY THE FLOODING PROBLEM IN THE DRAINAGE CATCHMENTS OF RIVERS IN TIN SHUI WAI, YUEN LONG, NGAU TAM MEI, MAI PO, SAN TIN AS WELL AS THE INDUS AND GANGES. THE PRINCIPAL STUDY COMPONENTS COMPRISE:
* DRAINAGE BASIN MANAGEMNT PLANNING.
* MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF RIVER FLOOD HYDRAULICS IN THE STUDY AREA.
* HYDROLOGICAL DATA ACQUISITION (DATA ON TIDES, RAINFALL, RIVER AND WATER LEVELS).
/* ADVICE ON ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
9
* ADVICE ON FLOOD PROOFING OF BUILDINGS, FLOOD WARNING SIREN’S INSTALLATION AND WATER HYACINITH REMOVAL FROM RIVERS.
* REPORTING OF MAJOR FLOODING EVENTS IN STUDY PERIOD.
» TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OF MATHEMATICAL MODELLING EXPERTISE TO GOVERNMENT STAFF.
---------0-----------
FURTHER COMPUTERISATION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
*****
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR JOHN YEUNG, THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, DR C.C. GREENFIELD, AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF IBM, MR ROBERT M. SAVAGE, INAUGURATED THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IMMIGRATION RECORDS INFORMATION SYSTEM, ACRONYMED IRIS, AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE IMMIGRATION HEADQUARTERS TODAY (MONDAY).
THE IRIS IS AN ON-LINE REAL-TIME SYSTEM RUNNING ON A MAINFRAME COMPUTER. IT HAS A NETWORK OF OVER 150 TERMINALS EXTENDING TO MORE THAN 20 LOCATIONS FOR DECENTRALISED DATA INPUT, ENQUIRY AND REPORTING FUNCTIONS.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR YEUNG SAID THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM WAS ANOTHER MILESTONE ON THE WAY TOWARDS COMPUTERISATION. HE ALSO THANKED HIS STAFF AND ALL THOSE WHO HAD WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE THE PROJECT A SUCCESS.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES AND FEASIBILITY OF FURTHER COMPUTERISATION TO FURTHER IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS.
"AT PRESENT, A NUMBER OF AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE EMPLOYED TO PROCESS THE APPLICATIONS FOR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, VISAS AND IDENTITY CARDS.
"WE HOPE THAT THE EXTENT OF COMPUTERISATION IN SUCH AREAS COULD BE FURTHER ENHANCED SO AS TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC," MR YEUNG SAID.
MR YEUNG ADDED THAT PLANS ARE ALSO IN HAND TO EMPLOY OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY TO SPEED UP THE IMMIGRATION EXAMINATION OF PASSENGERS AT THE CONTROL POINTS.
"WE HOPE THAT BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ADVANCED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, BETTER WAYS OF DOING OUR WORK CAN BE ACHIEVED," HE SAID.
---------0-----------
/io........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991
- 10 -
DRIVERS AND VEHICLE OWNERS URGED TO RENEW LICENCES EARLY
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) REMINDED DRIVERS AND VEHICLE OWNERS WHO WISH TO RENEW THEIR LICENCES THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEIR LICENCES EXPIRE BEFORE THEY CAN DO SO.
THEY CAN APPLY AT ANY TIME DURING THE FOUR-MONTH PERIOD PRIOR TO THE EXPIRY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE LICENSING OFFICES WERE USUALLY BUSY IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH AS PEOPLE RUSHED TO RENEW THEIR LICENCES JUST BEFORE THE ANNUAL BUDGET WAS ANNOUNCED.
ON HECTIC DAYS, THE LICENSING OFFICES WILL ADOPT A QUOTA SYSTEM UNDER WHICH APPLICANTS ARE GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT DISC FOR A SPECIFIED TIME TO HAND IN THEIR APPLICATIONS. THE APPOINTMENT DISCS WILL HANDED OUT ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
TO AVOID LONG QUEUES AT THE LICENSING OFFICES, THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED DRIVERS AND VEHICLE OWNERS THAT THEY COULD SAVE TIME BY APPLYING TO RENEW THEIR DRIVING OR VEHICLE LICENCES BY POST.
HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT ACCEPTED POSTAL APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWAL OF DRIVING LICENCES; LEARNER’S DRIVING LICENCES AND VEHICLE LICENCES; THE ISSUE OF INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS; AND THE TRANSFER OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL POST OFFICES, ENQUIRY CENTRES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT LICENSING OFFICES.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE EXISTING LICENCE FEES WOULD STILL BE APPLIED TO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITH. POSTAL CHOPS BEFORE 2.30 PM ON BUDGET DAY, WHETHER OR NOT THE FEES WOULD BE INCREASED.
--------0-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
WATER CHARGES UP 10 PER CENT..................................................... 1
MEXICO'S IMPOSITION OF ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES OF DENIM IMPORTS ANNOUNCED ... 2
BETTER LABOUR BENEFITS IN PIPELINE .............................................. 3
DISTRICT OFFICES WILL UPKEEP SERVICE STANDARD ................................... 5
NO NEW AIDS CASE SO FAR IN FEBRUARY ............................................. 6
TENDERS INVITED FOR IMPROVEMENT WORKS ........................................... 8
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR MUSIC FUND GRANTS ...................................... 8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
WATER CHARGES UP 10 PER CENT «»»«««
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A GENERAL INCREASE OF 10 PER CENT IN WATER RATES AND INCREASES IN OTHER MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES AS FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF WATER CHARGES TODAY (TUESDAY).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WATER AUTHORITY SAID THE NEW RATE WHICH APPLIES TO BOTH DOMESTIC AND TRADE CONSUMERS IS AIMED AT REFLECTING MORE ACCURATELY OPERATING COSTS.
"AS A RESULT OF VARIOUS MEASURES AIMED AT IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY, THE WATER AUTHORITY WILL SEE ZERO GROWTH IN ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1991/92 DESPITE HAVING TO CONTEND WITH INCREASING DEMAND IN TERMS OF BOTH THE NUMBER OF CONSUMERS SERVED AND THE VOLUME OF WATER SUPPLIED.
"NEVERTHELESS, OPERATING COSTS HAVE STILL RISEN AS A RESULT OF INFLATION AND THE NEED TO PURCHASE INCREASED QUANTITIES OF WATER FROM CHINA TO IMPROVE THE RESERVOIR STORAGE,” HE ADDED.
UNDER THE NEW RATE, 17 PER CENT OF THE 1.5 MILLION DOMESTIC CONSUMERS WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY A FREE SUPPLY OF WATER WHILE 67 PER CENT WILL PAY AN EXTRA SUM OF LESS THAN $2 PER WEEK.
THE REMAINING 16 PER CENT WILL PAY $2 OR MORE EXTRA PER WEEK. OF THIS GROUP, ABOUT 11 PER CENT WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN $5 EXTRA PER WEEK FOR THE WATER BILLS.
A COMPARISON OF THE WATER CHARGES PAYABLE BY DOMESTIC CONSUMERS UNDER THE OLD AND NEW TARIFFS IS SHOWN BELOW:
CONSUMPTION IN UNITS CHARGES PER FOUR-MONTH PERIOD
(1 UNIT = 1 CUBIC METRE) PRESENT NEW
$ $
15 AND BELOW FREE FREE
16 - 53 0 - 110.63 3.29 - 125.02
54 - 76 113.62 - 210.94 130.13 - 242.55
77 - 120 215.59 - 466.22 249.71 - 557.59
OVER 120 486.22 PLUS 557.59 PLUS
$6.51 PER $7.16 PER
UNIT OVER UNIT OVER
/AS FOR ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
2
AS FOR NON-DOMESTIC SUPPLIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE 10 PER CENT INCREASE IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS AS WATER CHARGES REPRESENT A SMALL PART OF THE OPERATING COSTS OF MOST FIRMS.
’’FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEW WATER RATE WILL INCREASE THE PRODUCTION COSTS OF THE BLEACHING-DYEING INDUSTRY WHICH IS THE LARGEST CONSUMER OF WATER BY ABOUT 0.2 PER CENT, AND THAT OF THE ENTIRE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BY ABOUT 0.01 PER CENT,” HE SAID.
THE CHARGES FOR CONNECTION AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES WILL ALSO BE INCREASED TO REFLECT THE RISE IN MATERIAL AND LABOUR COSTS. THE LAST INCREASES IN THESE CHARGES WERE ON APRIL 1, 1989.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF THE WATERWORKS OPERATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN ANNUAL REVIEWS OF WATER CHARGES SINCE 1982.
"BY UNDERTAKING ANNUAL REVIEWS RESULTING IN MODERATE INCREASES, THE GOVERNMENT COULD AVOID THE NEED FOR MAJOR INCREASES AT ONE TIME WHICH WOULD BE FAR MORE DIFFICULT FOR BOTH HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES TO ADJUST TO,” HE ADDED.
---------0-----------
MEXICO’S IMPOSITION OF ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ »
OF DENIM IMPORTS ANNOUNCED
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAD ANNOUNCED AN IMPOSITION OF PROVISIONAL ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES OF US$0.57 PER KILOGRAM ON IMPORTS OF DENIM (CONTAINING 85 PER CENT OR MORE OF COTTON) FROM HONG KONG WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
THE ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDINGS WERE INITIATED BY THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES ON MAY 31, 1990.
THE PROVISIONAL ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ARE APPLICABLE TO IMPORTS OF DENIM FROM ALL HONG KONG COMPANIES.
HOWEVER, THE NANYANG COTTON MILL LTD, WHICH MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT THAT IT HAS NEVER EXPORTED DENIM TO MEXICO, HAS BEEN EXCLUDED.
"THE TRADE DEPARTMENT HAS POINTED OUT TO THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS WOULD BE DUMPING,” THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR MATTHEW K.C. CHEUNG, SAID.
"HONG KONG HAS AN OPEN MARKET AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW DUMPING CAN BE FINANCED,” HE SAID.
"THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES HAVE APPARENTLY NOT ATTACHED MUCH WEIGHT TO THIS FACT," MR CHEUNG SAID.
/"INSTEAD, THEY ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
3
’’INSTEAD, THEY SEEM TO HAVE RELIED HEAVILY ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE COMPLAINANT FIRMS IN MEXICO,” HE SAID.
ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE ASPECT OF THE CASE IS THAT, MR CHEUNG ADDED, ALTHOUGH ONE HONG KONG COMPANY HAS BEEN EXCLUDED ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT DID NOT EXPORT DENIM TO MEXICO IN THE PERIOD IN QUESTION, OTHER COMPANIES IN A SIMILAR SITUATION HAVE BEEN INCLUDED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE DUTIES.
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS CALCULATED THE ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ON THE BASIS THAT THE NORMAL SALES VALUE OF DENIM IN HONG KONG WAS US$3.82 PER KILOGRAM, WHEREAS THE AVERAGE WEIGHTED PRICE OF MEXICO’S IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG WAS US$3.25 PER KILOGRAM.
THE MARGIN OF DUMPING IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NORMAL VALUE AND THE EXPORT PRICE.
MR CHEUNG STRESSED THAT THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WAS STILL EXAMINING THE DETAILS OF THE CASE. THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH LOCAL MANUFACTURERS THROUGHOUT THE PROCEEDINGS, BUT HAS NOT YET HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT THEM ABOUT THE FINDINGS, WHICH HAVE ONLY JUST BECOME AVAILABLE.
"OUR INITIAL REACTION TO THE FINDINGS IS THAT IN SOME IMPORTANT RESPECTS THEY ARE NOT CONVINCING," HE SAID.
"BUT IN FAIRNESS WE SHALL TAKE TIME TO LOOK AT THE DETAILS AND ALSO CONSULT OUR MANUFACTURERS.
"AFTER THAT, WE SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO DECIDE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE," HE SAID, EMPHASISING THAT THE ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ARE PROVISIONAL IN NATURE, PENDING THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THE CASE.
MR CHEUNG ADDED THAT THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES AND MEXICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL IN HONG KONG OVER THIS ISSUE.
------0--------
BETTER LABOUR BENEFITS IN PIPELINE
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL SEEK TO IMPROVE THE LONG SERVICE PAYMENT PROVISIONS AND SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SEVERANCE PAYMENT COVERED BY THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A SPRING RECEPTION, MR HAMMOND SAID HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE WITH ITS EFFORTS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO LABOUR LEGISLATION IN THE COMING YEAR AND THESE WERE AMONG ITEMS IN THE PIPELINE.
/THE RECEPTION .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
4
THE RECEPTION WAS ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION AND THE LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
MR HAMMOND TOLD SOME 400 EMPLOYERS’ AND EMPLOYERS’ REPRESENTATIVES AT THE RECEPTION THAT CO-OPERATION AND TRUST BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WERE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS IMPROVEMENTS TO LABOUR LEGISLATION.
"IN PURSUANCE OF THIS OBJECTIVE, WE HAVE HELPED THE CATERING TRADE AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO SET UP TRIPARTITE LABOUR RELATIONS COMMITTEES, AND HOPE TO HELP MORE INDUSTRIES TO DO THE SAME IN THE FUTURE," HE ADDED.
HE NOTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT’S EFFORTS IN APPLYING THE PRINCIPLE OF TRIPARTISM IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS HAD MET WITH VERY ENCOURAGING RESPONSE FROM EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS.
"IN PROMOTING GOOD LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION QRGANISED VARIOUS KINDS OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES LAST YEAR, INCLUDING SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, TALKS, EXHIBITIONS AND TRAINING COURSES," HE SAID.
"THEY COVER A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS SUCH AS JOINT CONSULTATION, EFFECTIVE LABOUR-MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION, GOOD PERSONNEL PRACTICES AND THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.
"THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANISE SIMILAR ACTIVITIES AND TO ACT, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, AS A CATALYST IN THE PROMOTION OF BETTER LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR," HE STRESSED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE SPRING RECEPTION WERE REPRESENTATIVES OP EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ON THE LABOUR RELATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE, MR CHAN SUI-KAU AND MISS LI FUNG-YING.
MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT GOOD LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS DEPENDED VERY MUCH ON THE PARTICIPATION, COMMUNICATION AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE GOVERNMENT.
"HARMONIOUS RELATIONS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND COMPROMISE WHERE NECESSARY, ARB ESSENTIAL TO SUSTAIN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY," MR CHAN SAID.
"IN VIEW OF THE EXPECTED SLOWING DOWN OF THE ECONOMY THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A GOOD STATE OF LABOUR RELATIONS IN ORDER TO ENSURE OUR CONTINUOUS STABILITY AND PROSPERITY," HE ADDED.
MISS LI ALSO UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, COMPROMISE AND TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN BUILDING UP A HARMONIOUS WORKING ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY.
"WE HOPE THE SPIRIT AND PRINCIPLE OF TRIPARTISM COULD BE FURTHER DEVELOPED WITH THE SUPPORT OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE YEAR TO COME," SHE SAID.
--------0-----------
/5 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
5
DISTRICT OFFICES WILL UPKEEP SERVICE STANDARD
*♦»»»»
THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IS DETERMINED TO MINIMISE ANY ADVERSE IMPACT THE AUSTERITY PROGRAMME MAY HAVE ON SERVICES PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW HEADQUARTERS OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE IN SAI WAN HO, HE PLEDGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REMAIN COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THE THREE-TIER GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE IN WHICH THE DISTRICT BOARDS WERE AN INTEGRAL PART.
CITING EASTERN DISTRICT AS AN EXAMPLE, HE SAID THE DISTRICT OFFICE WAS ABLE TO REDEPLOY MANPOWER AND RESOURCES WITH THE OPENING OF ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARD OF SERVICES WAS MAINTAINED AT THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL.
MR LAN ALSO ASSURED THAT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WOULD ATTEND DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS IN FUTURE.
TURNING TO THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WHICH WILL BE HELD THIS SUNDAY, HE URGED COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO VOTE.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEVE BARCLAY, PLEDGED TO FURTHER UPGRADE THE STANDARD OF SERVICES OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER MOVING INTO THE NEW OFFICES AT THE EASTERN LAW COURTS BUILDING.
AT THE CEREMONY, MR LAN AWARDED A HEAD OF DEPARTMENTS COMMENDATION TO A LIAISON OFFICER OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, MR TERENCE LAU, WHO HAD TRIED TO RESCUE A DROWNING BOY IN THE SHING MUN RESERVOIR LAST AUGUST.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO MR LAU FOR HIS BRAVERY AND INTEGRITY WHICH HAD SET AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE.
/6 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
NO NEW AIDS CASE SO FAR IN FEBRUARY * ♦ ♦ * ♦
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME) CASES IN HONG KONG REMAINS AT 45 TO DATE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SO FAR, A TOTAL OF 31 AIDS PATIENTS HAVE PASSED AWAY WHILE 14 OTHERS ARE EITHER UNDER COUNSELLING AND TREATMENT OR HAVE LEFT HONG KONG.
RELEASING THE MONTHLY STATISTICS ON THE AIDS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID FIVE MORE MEN WERE FOUND TO BE POSITIVE FOR THE HIV ANTIBODY TEST, BRINGING TO 166 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HIV CARRIERS WHO HAVE NOT YET DEVELOPED AIDS.
OF THESE, 55 WERE HAEMOPHILIACS, 91 ACQUIRED THE INFECTION SEXUALLY, FOUR WERE DRUG ABUSERS, THREE ACQUIRED THE INFECTION THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSION, AND THE INFORMATION FOR THE OTHER 13 WAS INADEQUATE FOR CLASSIFICATION.
UNDER THE AIDS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME STARTED IN 1985, A TOTAL OF 184,569 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, 841,945 UNITS OF BLOOD HAD BEEN TESTED AND 14 WERE FOUND POSITIVE.
/AIDS VIRUS ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
7
% ifi & ri < ■*
AIDS Virus (HIV) Ant.ibodv Testier*
Vx
i
t. Department nf Health
Aor (35- Dec 90 Jan 91 Intel
®t * fe Ne _ tested*
JO tv^|r/f No. tested* No. No. No. •♦-ve tested* +ve . !O +ve
Referrals from Govt, hosoitals and clinics * 14259 74 964 3 15223 77
& & & $ a M m &W4
Referral1? from private oractitioners and subvented hospitals 2113 43 18 2131 43
to i Tf W
Attendances at social hvgiene clinics 139390 27 22^8 2 16066R 29
493 6‘>
Haemcohi1iacs . 4S3 60 8
1V driu) abusers _ . .. 4716 1 82 4998 A
Referr a I ■? from Rami 1 v Fi^t.nino A«-ociatic?i« 21 H '? 1 ‘> 21 v (>
< < A. Health care oer<?onnftl 812 O 25 O 837 0
” *<$k ' — ■'....
TOTAL , 181193 203 3376 3 18436? 210
&& %4# & '%, ®X /A £ *t %L
* This indicates the number of specimens and not persons as tests are reuse.ted for certain individuals.
«&&-+?>%#/41
Kono Kong Red Cross Blood transfusion Service
Atm 83 Dec 90
J?”»
Total
No. tested No. 4 VP No. ^e*z ted No. No. *vp tested No. 4 VG
826656 14 15289 O R41945 14
Department of Health Februarv 1991
---------0---------
/8 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991
8
TENDERS INVITED FOR IMPROVEMENT WORKS *****
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PHASE THREE IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND IN WAN CHAI.
THE WORKS INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SITTING-OUT AREAS, A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND AND A ROOF OVER THE EXISTING SPECTATOR STAND.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED IN MARCH 1992.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 15.
FORMS OF TENDER AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, 34TH FLOOR, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 66 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG.
----- o-----
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR MUSIC FUND GRANTS
*****
ALL REGISTERED NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATIONS CAN NOW APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND FOR THE YEAR 1991-92 FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE FIELDS OF MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES.
GRANTS WERE PREVIOUSLY MADE TO SCHOOLS AND MUSIC AND DANCE ORGANISATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, DANCE EQUIPMENT, MUSIC SCORES AND PARTS, PAYMENT OF INSTRUCTORS’ FEES FOR TRAINING, AS WELL AS ORGANISING OF MUSIC AND DANCE EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, MUSIC CAMPS AND DANCE WORKSHOPS.
APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE FOR GRANTS FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHICH CONFORM TO THE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE FUND.
A MUSIC FUND SPOKESMAN SAID GRANTS TOTALLING $816,000 WERE APPROVED TN 1990-91 FOR 133 SCHOOLS AND ORGANISATIONS.
APPLICATION FORMS AND INFORMATION PAMPHLETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT:
» THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND SECRETARIAT, 25TH FLOOR, WAN CHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI; AND
* MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE.
FURTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED ON TEL. 823 5327. THE CLOSING
DATE FOR APPLICATION IS APRIL 12.
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING : SHW ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS ............................................... 1
BEDSPACE LODGERS WILL NOT BE RENDERED HOMELESS .................................. 3
BILL TO PROVIDE TAX RELIEF FOR UNIT TRUSTS AND MUTUAL FUND CORPORATIONS INTRODUCED ............................................................. 6
BILL TO REMOVE DOUBTS ON VALUATION PRACTICE ON RATEABILITY OF PLANT INTRODUCED ............................................................. 7
BILL TO EXTEND TENURE OF HEUNG YEE KUK COUNCILLORS .............................. 8
BILL SEEKS TO RENAME JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE ..................................... 9
BILL TO FURTHER CURB SMUGGLING OF GOODS INTRODUCED .............................. 10
FEE REVISIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS . 13
MOTION PASSED TO INCREASE FEES SPECIFIED IN FOREIGN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE . 14
MOTION PASSED TO INCREASE FEES UNDER LEGITIMACY ORDINANCE ........ 14
PUBLIC MUST HELP POLICE IN EXECUTION OF DUTY .................................... 15
GOVERNMENT'S TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY CLARIFIED ................................ 15
NO ONE NEEDS TO BEG ON STREETS UNDER EXISTING WELFARE SYSTEM .................... 17
51 II CHILDREN DETAINED AT CENTRE PENDING REMOVAL ............................... 18
TWO BILLS PASSED IN LEGCO ....................................................... 18
EXPERT TALKS ON BOUNDARIES OF ADMINISTRATION OF HK AND GUANGDONG .................. 19
TAX EXEMPTION FOR TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL RESERVE FUND ............................ 19
ISLAND EAST TRAFFIC STUDY COMMISSIONED ............................................ 19
CONSULTANCY STUDIES ON PRIVATISATION OF LANDFILLS ................................. 20
CLEARANCE FOR TSUEN WAN DEVELOPMENT ............................................... 21
50 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS RETURN TO VIETNAM .......................................... 22
NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE READY BY SUMMER ........................................... 22
ROOFTOP STRUCTURE AT MONG KOK BUILDING TO BE CLOSED ............................... 23
GOVT LAND TO LET BY TENDER ........................................................ 23
NEW BRANCH POST OFFICE AT WAH MING ESTATE ......................................... 24
NEW YEAR CARNIVAL AT KOWLOON PARK ................................................. 24
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
SHW ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS ******
THE FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, LN THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991 .
SIR,
I SUPPORT THE CALL THAT URGENT ACTION IS REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE BLACKSPOT OF HONG KONG’S VERSION OF A MODERN-DAY ’’BIDONVILLE” IN OUR GLITTERING CITY. THE COMMONALTY OF THEME, OF VIEWS, WHICH HAVE EMERGED IN THE DEBATE HIGHLIGHTS A SOCIAL AWARENESS; A CRYING NEED FOR REFORM; AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO COPE ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT A NETWORK OF SUPPORT THROUGH OUTSIDE INTERVENTION.
THE QUESTION OF LIVING CONDITION OR THE SHELTER ISSUE, IS NOT SIMPLY ONE OF POVERTY. URBANISATION AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC POLICIES ALL HAVE AN IMPACT ON LIVING CONDITIONS. URBANISATION CAN BE AN ENGINE FOR GROWTH AND AN INCUBATOR FOR INNOVATION IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT.
WHILST PLEDGING MY OWN SUPPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THIS COUNCIL MEASURES TAKEN BY MY BRANCH FOR INSTANCE. I SHALL DEFER TO THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS TO ELABORATE ON THE BROADER ISSUE OF HOUSING, LICENCE AND CONTROL AND FINDINGS OF A RECENTLY COMPLETED TERRITORY-WIDE SURVEY ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS AND THEIR LODGERS.
AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY MY BRANCH, WHICH FIRST STUDIED THE PROBLEM, INDEED SOME MONTHS, REACHED A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT CONCLUSIONS. THE FIRST OF THESE WAS THAT:
(A) THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS AND CONTINUING NEED FOR LOW-COST PRIVATE RENTAL ACCOMMODATION IN THE URBAN AREAS, AND I MIGHT ADD AT RENTS RESIDENTS CAN AFFORD, AVOIDING SOCIAL DISLOACTION AND PREFERABLY IN LOCALITIES OF THEIR CHOICE AND AT STANDARDS MORE COMPATIBLE WITH MODERN HONG KONG; AND
(B) THERE WAS A CLEAR DUTY ON GOVERNMENT’S PART TO ERADICATE UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN SUCH APARTMENTS AND, AS APPROPRIATE, TO IMPROVE HYGIENE AND LIVING STANDARDS.
HOWEVER, ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE SUCH CHANGES IN A NUMBER OF PILOT SCHEMES REVEALED THERE WOULD BE MAJOR DIFFICULTIES IN ACHIEVING THESE OBJECTIVES UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT ARRANGEMENTS. THE MOST APPROPRIATE SOLUTION APPEARED TO BE, AND INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF A SPECIFIC LICENSING SCHEME COVERING ALL BEDSPACE APARTMENTS.
/SOCIAL WORKERS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
2
SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO VISIT ALL KNOWN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS AT SIX-MONTHLY INTERVALS. VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE ALSO DOING VALIANT WORK, ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN HELPING THE RESIDENTS OF SUCH APARTMENTS. WELFARE SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO ALL RESIDENTS IN NEED, PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE. AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 947 LODGERS IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND 392 RECEIVING SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES. LAST YEAR, 155 RESIDENTS WERE ALSO GIVEN GRANTS FROM CHARITABLE FUNDS TO HELP THEM WITH SPECIFIC FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. ANOTHER 325 WERE REFERRED FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. ALL THIS ACTION, THOUGH MEANINGFUL, IS OF COURSE NOT ENOUGH.
REHOUSING OF ELDERLY AND DISABLED RESIDENTS AND OTHERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SHOULD REMAIN A HIGH PRIORITY. DURING 1990, 119 RESIDENTS WERE REFERRED TO ELDERLY HOMES AND ANOTHER 82 WERE RECOMMENDED FOR COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING. THESE FIGURES ARE LOWER THAN WE WOULD WISH, AND POINT TO A PARTICULAR PROBLEM WHEREIN MANY RESIDENTS OF BEDSPACE APARTMENTS ARE EXTREMELY, THOUGH UNDERSTANDABLY, RELUCTANT TO MOVE FROM THE LOCALITY IN WHICH SOME OF THEM HAVE LIVED FOR OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY EVEN THOUGH BETTER ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE. MANY WILL NEVER CONSIDER A MOVE UNTIL FACED WITH THE PROSPECT OF LOSING THEIR PRESENT HOME ALTOGETHER. THIS PROSPECT, HOWEVER, BECOMES INCREASINGLY LIKELY AS THE OLDER URBAN AREAS ARE BEING REDEVELOPED.
ENSURING SAFE CONDITIONS IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS WILL INEVITABLY REQUIRE THAT MORE RESIDENTS BE DISPLACED. HOWEVER, IT IS OUR FIRM COMMITMENT THAT NO PERSON SHOULD BE MADE HOMELESS AS A RESULT OF THIS. RESIDENTS WHOSE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE RISE TO PARTICULAR HOUSING NEEDS MAY BE REHOUSED THROUGH THE EXISTING COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS. IN ADDITION, BUILDING UPON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED THROUGH THE URBAN HOSTEL PILOT SCHEME FOR STREET SLEEPERS, WE WILL ALSO ESTABLISH FURTHER URBAN HOSTELS TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY HOME FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS INCLUDING THOSE WHO MAY WISH BUT ARE UNABLE IMMEDIATELY TO FIND THEIR OWN ACCOMMODATION OR WHOSE APPLICATION FOR COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS STILL BEING PROCESSED. A NUMBER OF SITES FOR SUCH HOSTELS ARE NOW BEING IDENTIFIED WITH THE HELP OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION.
SIR, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE VALUABLE EXPRESSIONS OF HELP AND IMPRACTICAL COLLABORATION WITH INDIVIDUALS, RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, MY COLLEAGUES AND I WILL CONTINUE TO PERFORM OUR PART IN FULL WITH DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION.
--------0-----------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
3 -
BEDSPACE LODGERS WILL NOT BE RENDERED HOMELESS * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN ITS ASSURANCE THAT NO BEDSPACE APARTMENT LODGERS ALREADY REGISTERED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL BE RENDERED HOMELESS AND THAT THEY WILL BE OFFERED SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS. THE HON PETER TSAO, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
AND HE STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT GOADED INTO ACTION BY THE TRAGIC FIRE WHICH OCCURRED IN ONE OF THESE APARTMENTS IN SHAM SHUI PO LAST DECEMBER.
”WE WERE GOADED BY THE APPALLING CONDITIONS WHICH WE SAW WHEN THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND I VISITED THE PREMISES EARLIER LAST YEAR,” MR TSAO SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, WOULD ADOPT A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
’’FIRST, ELDERLY PEOPLE AGED ABOVE 60 AND/OR ARE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR OTHER FORMS OF WELFARE ASSISTANCE WILL, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, BE DEALT WITH UNDER THE EXISTING SOCIAL WELFARE REHOUSING POLICY.
"THE ARRANGEMENTS BEING CONTEMPLATED FOR THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET OUT BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE," MR TSAO SAID.
HE NOTED THAT FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, THE GOVERNMENT WAS ASSUMING THAT 25 PER CENT OF THE EXISTING LODGER POPULATION OF 1,000 LODGERS WOULD BE SO REHOUSED.
MR TSAO SAID THE SECOND CATEGORY OF LODGERS WERE THOSE WHO ARE ABLE-BODIED AND EMPLOYED. BUT WHO COULD NOT AFFORD HIGH RENTS OR FIND SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION OTHER THAN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS.
"FOR SUCH PEOPLE," HE SAID, "WE WILL PROMOTE A PROJECT THROUGH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION FOR THOSE DISPLACED FROM EXISTING BEDSPACE APARTMENTS."
HE ADDED THAT THESE HOSTELS WOULD BE SET UP IN NEIGHBOURHOODS FAMILIAR TO THE DISPLACED LODGERS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE AND THIS PROJECT WOULD TAKE CARE OF ANOTHER 1,000 LODGERS.
AS TO THE REST OF THE EXISTING LODGERS - ABOUT 2,000 - THEY WOULD REMAIN IN SITU IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS IN IMPROVED LIVING CONDITIONS AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF A LICENSING SCHEME, MR TSAO SAID.
COMING BACK TO THE ARRANGEMENTS BEING PROPOSED FOR THE SECOND CATEGORY OF LODGERS, MR TSAO SAID AT PRESENT, THOSE WHO HAD BEEN DISPLACED AND CLAIMED TO BE HOMELESS WOULD NORMALLY BE OFFERED ACCOMMODATION IN A TRANSIT CENTRE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
/"IF SUBSEQUENTLY .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
4
"IF SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND TO BE GENUINELY HOMELESS, THEY WOULD BE OFFERED TEMPORARY HOUSING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
"PROBLEMS WILL ARISE, HOWEVER, IN THOSE CASES WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE STRONG TIES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AND REFUSE TO MOVE TO OTHER DISTRICTS, PARTICULARLY TO THE NEW TERRITORIES," HE SAID.
TO ASSIST IN MEETING THE REHOUSING NEEDS OF THE 1,000 LODGERS IN THE SECOND CATEGORY, MR TSAO SAID THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS HAD GENEROUSLY AGREED TO MAKE AVAILABLE PROPERTIES FOR CONVERSION INTO HOSTELS.
"ONE SUCH BUILDING IS IN WAN CHAI AND WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED TO TURN IT INTO A HOSTEL FOR 50 SINGLE MEN.
"ANOTHER BUILDING IN MONG KOK WILL PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR 200 AND THE NECESSARY ALTERATIONS AND FITTING OUT WORKS WILL COMMENCE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR," HE SAID.
MR TSAO POINTED OUT THAT IN ORDER TO SECURE SUFFICIENT ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE REMAINING 750 LODGERS, IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT $56 MILLION WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE PROPERTIES AND FURNITURE.
"THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS ALREADY AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO DONATE $20 MILLION AS A SOCIAL PROJECT.
"AS REGARDS THE BALANCE OF FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT, I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE CHINESE TEMPLES COMMITTEE, AT ITS MEETING YESTERDAY, APPROVED A DONATION OF $40 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL CHINESE CHARITIES FUND," HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE NET ASSETS OF THE GENERAL CHINESE CHARITIES FUND WOULD NOT BE UNDULY DEPLETED, AS ANY PROPERTY PURCHASED WITH MONEY FROM THE FUND WOULD BE OWNED BY THE CHINESE TEMPLES COMMITTEE, AND LEASED OUT TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS INTERESTED IN RUNNING AND MANAGING HOSTELS.
"THE AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND THE HOUSING SOCIETY HAVE ALREADY AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO OPERATE SUCH HOSTELS AND WE ARE NOW DISCUSSING DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS WITH THEM," HE SAID.
EARLIER, MR TSAO SAID THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REGULATE THE SAFETY STANDARDS IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS WAS TO INTRODUCE A "LICENSING SCHEME".
REFERRING TO SOME MEMBERS’ CONCERN OVER THE RENTAL LEVELS OF THE BEDSPACE APARTMENTS UPON ENFORCEMENT OF LICENSING CONTROL, HE SAID THAT GUIDED BY AN EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED IN MONG KOK LAST YEAR, RENTS IN IMPROVED BEDSPACE APARTMENTS WOULD RISE BUT IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE SUCH AS TO FORCE OCCUPANTS INTO THE STREETS.
"HOWEVER, MEMBERS’ WARNINGS AND CONCERNS HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY NOTED. WE WILL PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THIS ASPECT OF THE EXERCISE," HE ADDED.
/ON THE.........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991
5 -
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE SAID, HOSTELS MANAGED BY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS WOULD CHARGE RENTS AT AFFORDABLE LEVELS AND WOULD ACCOMMODATE, FIRST OF ALL, THOSE LODGERS WHO COULD NOT PAY THE HIGHER RENTS OF COMMERCIALLY RUN BEDSFACE APARTMENTS.
"WE MAY HAVE TO INTRODUCE A MEANS TEST TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THOSE WHO CAN AND THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE FREE MARKET RENT," HE EXPLAINED.
MR TSAO ALSO STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT INTEND TO SUBJECT BEDSPACE APARTMENTS TO LICENSING CONTROLS UNTIL THERE WERE SUFFICIENT ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE FOR THE DISPLACED LODGERS.
"IN THE MEANTIME, AS AND WHEN HOSTELS ARE SET UP, ACTIONS WILL BE CAREFULLY SYNCHRONISED BY THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO ENFORCE THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE AND THE BUILDING ORDINANCE AGAINST BEDSPACE APARTMENTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.
"OUR PLANNED ACTION IS NOT EXPECTED TO PRODUCE PERFECT ANSWERS. WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING ARE PRACTICAL MEASURES WHICH WILL RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LIVING CONDITION OF THE 4,000 PEOPLE, OFTEN PERHAPS SLIGHTLY UNCHARITABLY DESCRIBED AS CAGED MEN BUT NONETHELESS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION," HE SAID.
BEFORE OUTLINING THE PACKAGE OF MEASURES, MR TSAO DISCUSSED THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE PRINCIPAL CONSIDERATIONS IN MAPPING OUT THESE MEASURES.
HE NOTED THAT THE BEDSPACE APARTMENT ISSUE WAS A COMPLEX SUBJECT AND DID NOT LEND ITSELF TO EASY OR READY MADE SOLUTIONS.
HE SAID: "THE ACTION PLAN, AS DEVISED WITHIN THE
ADMINISTRATION, TAKES ACCOUNT OF A NUMBER OF PRINCIPAL CONSIDERATIONS:
(A) THAT THE POPULATION IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS SHOULD BE FROZEN AT CURRENT LEVELS, THROUGH LEGISLATION AND A SYSTEM OF LICENSING. SUCCESSIVE SURVEYS SHOW INDEED THAT THIS IS A PRACTICAL MEASURE BECAUSE THE POPULATION IS IN FACT A DIMINISHING ONE, NOT AN EXPANDING ONE;
(B) THAT THE POPULATION IN THESE APARTMENTS MUST BE REDUCED
SO AS TO ENABLE SAFETY MEASURES TO BE INSTALLED AND TO
ENSURE THAT THE LIVING CONDITIONS ARE VASTLY IMPROVED;
(C) THAT PEOPLE DISPLACED IN THIS THINNING OUT EXERCISE DO
NOT BECOME HOMELESS. THIS WILL INVOLVE THE CREATION OF
SUFFICIENT HOSTELS TO ACCOMMODATE OCCUPANTS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR REHOUSING IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS;
(D) THAT SUCH HOSTELS SHOULD BE PROPERLY MANAGED SO THAT THEY DO NOT THEMSELVES DETERIORATE. THEREBY ALLOWING HISTORY TO REPEAT ITSELF;
/(E) THAT THE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
- 6 -
(E) THAT THE VERY POOR SHOULD BE ASSISTED AS A MATTER OF CHARITY; AND
(F) FINALLY, SUFFICIENT FUNDS MUST BE SECURED TO ENABLE ALL THESE CONSIDERATIONS TO BE PUT INTO PRACTICE.”
ON THE TERRITORY-WIDE SURVEY ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS AND THEIR LODGERS CONDUCTED BY CNTA, IT SHOWED THAT THERE WERE 180 BEDSPACE APARTMENTS IN HONG KONG. WITH A TOTAL OF 5,651 BEDSPACES.
THE ACTUAL POPULATION OF LODGERS WAS ABOUT 4,000 AND 67 PER CENT OF THEM HAD BEEN INDIVIDUALLY INTERVIEWED.
AS REGARDS THE SOCIAL PROFILES OF THE LODGERS, MR TSAO SAID THEIR AVERAGE AGE WAS 55, JUST UNDER HALF HAD FAMILY TIES BUT ALL OF THEM LIVED AS SINGLE MEN; 35 PER CENT WERE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WHILE 62 PER CENT OF THEM WERE WORKING AND EARNING AN AVERAGE INCOME OF ABOUT $2,440 A MONTH.
’’FOURTEEN PER CENT OF THE LODGERS INTERVIEWED HAVE BEEN LIVING IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS WHILE 52 PER CENT OF THEM HAVE BEEN LODGERS FOR LESS THAN SIX YEARS.
’’ALMOST HALF OF THEM SAY THAT THEY STAY IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS BECAUSE OF CHEAP RENT, WHICH AVERAGES $279 A MONTH. ANOTHER 30 PER CENT OF THEM GIVE THE REASON THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION.
’’THE SURVEY RESULTS HAVE FORMED THE BASIS ON WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION IS ASSESSING THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM AND FORMULATING APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO TACKLE IT,” MR TSAO SAID.
AS THERE WERE SOME SIMILARITIES IN THE BASIC APPROACHES BEING PROPOSED FOR THE GUESTHOUSES AND BEDSPACE APARTMENTS, HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WAS PROPOSING THAT THE LICENSING OF BEDSPACE APARTMENTS WOULD FORM ONE OF THE TASKS OF THE PROPOSED HOTEL ACCOMMODATION AUTHORITY BEING SET UP UNDER CNTA.
------0--------
BILL TO PROVIDE TAX RELIEF FOR UNIT TRUSTS AND MUTUAL FUND CORPORATIONS INTRODUCED
» * * ♦ *
THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1991 SEEKS TO PROVIDE FURTHER TAX RELIEF FOR AUTHORISED UNIT TRUSTS AND SIMILAR TAX RELIEF FOR AUTHORISED MUTUAL FUND CORPORATIONS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, SIR PIERS SAID LAW NOW STANDS, PROFITS ON THE DISPOSAL OF SECURITIES AND RECEIVED BY TRUSTEES OF AUTHORISED UNIT TRUSTS ARE EXCLUDED CHARGE TO PROFITS TAX.
”AS THE
INTEREST
FROM THE
/“REPRESENTATIONS HAVE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
7
"REPRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED CALLING FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE RELEIF TO AUTHORISED MUTUAL FUND CORPORATIONS, AND ALSO THE WIDENING OF THE DEFINITION OF ’SECURITIES’."
AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE INDUSTRY, THE ADMINISTRATION ACCEPTED BOTH PROPOSALS, AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE HAD INDICATED IN HIS 1990/91 BUDGET SPEECH THAT HE WOULD INTRODUCE SUITABLE LEGISLATION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO EFFECT THESE CHANGES.
"MUTUAL FUND CORPORATIONS AND UNIT TRUSTS, ALTHOUGH DIFFERING IN FORM, ARE IDENTICAL IN SUBSTANCE.
"THEY OPERATE AND ARE MANAGED IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME MANNER, AND BOTH ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME SCRUTINY BY THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION.
"WITH THE INCREASING USE OF MUTUAL FUND CORPORATIONS AS INVESTMENT VEHICLES, THE ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS THAT THEY SHOULD BE ACCORDED THE SAME TREATMENT AS UNIT TRUSTS," SIR PIERS SAID.
AS TO "SECURITIES", THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THE BILL PROPOSED TO EXTEND THE DEFINITION TO INCLUDE BILLS OF EXCHANGE, FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS AND FUTURES CONTRACTS.
PROFITS ARISING FROM REDEMPTION OR DISPOSAL OF THESE INSTRUMENTS WOULD NOT BE TAXABLE, HE ADDED.
SIR PIERS SAID THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION AND THE JOINT LIAISON COMMITTEE ON TAXATION HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND HAD ENDORSED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
"THE FULL YEAR COST TO THE REVENUE OF GRANTING THE PROPOSED EXEMPTION HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE $25 MILLION," HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
- - 0 - -
BILL TO REMOVE DOUBTS ON VALUATION PRACTICE ON RATEABILITY OF PLANT INTRODUCED
»»»»«»
THE RATING (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2JBILL 1991 SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION CAN CONTINUE WITH TW0 ^JST PRACTICES REGARDING THE RATEABILITY OF PLANT FOR A UTILITY COMPANY.
FIRSTLY, THE COMMISSIONER CAN INCLUDE IN RATING ASSESSMENTS THE VALUE OF PLANT SUCH AS CABLES AND DUCTS, RAILWAY AND TRAM LINES AND OIL TANKS AND SECONDLY, THE COMMISSIONER CAN VALUE A SYSTEM SUCH AS THE GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORK OF A UTILITY COMPANY AS A SINGLE RATEABLE UNIT.
/THE FINANCIAL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
8
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, MADE THESE REMARKS WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
"FOLLOWING A RECENT APPEAL BY A UTILITY COMPANY AGAINST ITS RATING ASSESSMENT, DOUBTS WERE RAISED CONCERNING THE COMMISSIONER’S EXISTING VALUATION PRACTICE WITH REGARD TO THE RATEABILITY OF PLANT SUCH AS CABLES AND DUCTS.
"ACCORDINGLY, A NEW SECTION 8A IS PROPOSED TO REMOVE THESE DOUBTS," SIR PIERS SAID.
"SECTION 8A(1) AND (2) SEEK TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN ANY LAND, BUILDING OR STRUCTURE IS OCCUPIED BY PLANT SUCH AS CABLES, DUCTS, PIPELINES OR RAILWAY LINES, BOTH THE LAND, BUILDING OR STRUCTURE AND THE PLANT SHALL BE VALUED TOGETHER FOR RATING PURPOSES," HE ADDED.
CONCERNING THE CURRENT VALUATION PRACTICE RELATING TO THE GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS OF UTILITY COMPANIES, HE SAID AT PRESENT THE COMMISSIONER VALUED THESE NETWORKS, WHICH COMPRISED MANY SEPARATE COMPONENTS, AS SINGLE RATEABLE UNITS.
"THE LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR DOING SO IS NOT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR.
"CLAUSE 3 OF THE BILL SEEKS TO AMEND SECTION 10 OF THE ORDINANCE TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER TO VALUE SEPARATE RATEABLE UNITS AS ONE PROVIDED THEY ARE USED IN CONNECTION WITH EACH OTHER AND AFFECT THE VALUE OF EACH OTHER," HE SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN THE BILL WERE TECHNICAL IN NATURE.
"HOWEVER, THEY ARE NECESSARY NOT ONLY TO CLARIFY THE INTENTION OF THE RATING ORDINANCE, BUT ALSO TO PROTECT RATES REVENUE WHICH MIGHT BE AT RISK IF THE EXISTING LAW IS NOT AMENDED," HE SAID.
SIR PIERS SAID THE EFFECT ON THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE NEGLIGIBLE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
BILL TO EXTEND TENURE *
OF HEUNG YEE KUK COUNCILLORS
« * * * *
1991 WILL AMEND THE TENURE YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY
THE HEUNG YEE KUK (AMENDMENT) BILL OF THE KUK COUNCILLORS FROM THREE TO FOUR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD THE
(WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, PURPOSE WAS TO CHANGE THE TERM OF OFFICE OF THE ORDER TO FIT INTO THE NEW ELECTORAL CYCLE OF THE FOR THE 1991-95 SESSION.
MR TSAO SAID ITS HEUNG YEE KUK IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
/"SECTION 5(2) .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
9
"SECTION 5(2) OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK ORDINANCE DEFINES THE TERM OF THE OFFICE OF HEUNG YEE KUK COUNCILLORS AS THREE YEARS COMMENCING FROM THE FIRST DAY OF JUNE.
"GIVEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1991 AND THE DESIGNATION OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE FULL COUNCIL OF THE KUK AS THE ELECTORATE OF THE RURAL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, THE HEUNG YEE KUK (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 WOULD AMEND THE TENURE OF THE KUK COUNCILLORS FROM THREE TO FOUR YEARS," HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED.
- - 0 - -
BILL SEEKS TO RENAME JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE
*****
THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 SEEKS TO RENAME "JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE" TO "HONG KONG SPORTS INSTITUTE" IN ORDER TO REFLECT MORE ACCURATELY THE ROLE OF THE INSTITUTE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS IN THE TERRITORY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR TSAO SAID IF THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION COULD BE ENACTED, IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO MAKE THE CHANGES ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR.
"THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION OF THE INSTITUTE WHICH WOULD CONTINUE TO BE RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY," HE SAID, ADDING THAT THERE WOULD ALSO NOT BE ANY FINANCIAL COMMITMENT FOR GOVERNMENT.
"THE AMENDMENT BILL PROVIDES MAINLY FOR THE CHANGE OF THE NAME ’JUBILLE SPORTS CENTRE’ TO 'HONG KONG SPORTS INSTITUTE’; RE-DEFINING MORE CLEARLY THE OBJECTIVES AND UPDATING THE FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE BOARDS; PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A VICE-CHAIRMAN; AND CHANGING ITS FINANCIAL YEAR TO APRIL 1 TO MARCH 31 TO COINCIDE WITH GOVERNMENT PRACTICE."
ON THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 UNDER THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 309), WHICH PROVIDED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE BOARD TO MANAGE AND CONTROL THE CENTRE.
"ON APRIL 25, 1989, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISED THAT THE HONG KONG SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO IMPLEMENT A RESTRUCTURED SPORTS AND RECREATION POLICY AND DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION AND RESOURCES TO COMPETITIVE SPORT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIRST-CLASS INTERNATIONAL SPORTSMEN IN HONG KONG.
"IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT, IN SUPPORT OF SUCH OBJECTIVES, THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE SHOULD BE DEVELOPED INTO A HONG KONG SPORTS INSTITUTE," MR TSAO SAID.
/MR TSAO
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
- 10 -
MR TSAO NOTED THAT OVER THE YEARS, AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE IN SPORTS TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES, THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE HAD BEEN GRADUALLY ASSUMING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CO-ORDINATION OF ATHLETE TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND THE PROVISION OF A RANGE OF SERVICES IN SPORTS SCIENCE, SPORTS MEDICINE, COACH EDUCATION, TRAINING OF TECHNICAL OFFICIALS AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND APPLIED RESEARCH RELATED TO PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT.
’’THESE TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND SERVICES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF A SOUND INFRASTRUCTURE GEARED TO UPGRADING HONG KONG’S PERFORMANCE IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS. WITH THESE DEVELOPMENTS, THE NAME ’SPORTS CENTRE’ IS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE,’’ HE SAID.
"ON THE OTHER HAND, ’SPORTS INSTITUTE’ WOULD MORE APPROPRIATELY REFLECT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE’S ROLE IN PROVIDING A RANGE OF COMPREHENSIVE SPORTS SERVICES AIMED TO ASSIST HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETES, COACHES AND TECHNICAL OFFICIALS IN THEIR PURSUIT FOR EXCELLENCE," HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED.
--------0-----------
BILL TO FURTHER CURB SMUGGLING OF GOODS INTRODUCED
A BILL - THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 - WHICH AIMED AT PROVIDING FURTHER CONTROLS ON THE SMUGGLING OF GOODS, WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE MEASURES PROPOSED IN THE BILL WERE DESIGNED TO MAKE EASIER THE PROSECUTION OF THOSE INVOLVED IN SUCH SMUGGLING - BOTH AT SEA AND ON LAND.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID THE SMUGGLING OF GOODS INTO CHINA, PARTICULARLY BY SPEEDBOAT, HAD BECOME A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
"AS I SAID IN THIS COUNCIL THREE WEEKS.AGO, THE MEASURES WHICH WE HAVE SO FAR TAKEN TO CURB SMUGGLING BY HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOAT HAVE HAD ONLY LIMITED SUCCESS."
THE SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD SUCCEEDED IN STOPPING THE SMUGGLING OF CIGARETTES, BUT THE SMUGGLING OF CARS AND ELECTRICAL GOODS REMAINED A MAJOR PROBLEM.
"RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON THE OPERATION AND LICENSING OF SPEEDBOATS HAVE LARGELY ELIMINATED THE BASING IN HONG KONG OF HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOATS USED FOR SMUGGLING, BUT MANY SUCH BOATS ARE STILL BEING CONSTRUCTED, MAINTAINED AND REPAIRED IN HONG KONG," MR ASPREY SAID.
/HE SAID .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
11
HE SAID THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FACED THREE PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES IN TAKING PROSECUTION ACTION AGAINST THOSE INVOLVED IN SMUGGLING UNDER THE LAW AS IT STOOD:
» WHILE IT WAS AN OFFENCE TO EXPORT CERTAIN COMMONLY SMUGGLED ELECTRICAL GOODS SUCH AS TELEVISION AND VIDEO RECORDERS IN VESSELS UNDER 250 TONS,IT WAS IN MANY CASES NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVE THE INTENTION TO EXPORT. THE CLAIM WAS OFTEN MADE THAT THE GOODS WERE DESTINED FOR AN OUTLYING ISLAND SUCH AS TAP MUN, ALTHOUGH THE VOLUME OF GOODS FOR WHICH THE DECLARED DESTINATION WAS THE OUTLYING ISLANDS WAS MUCH
GREATER THAN DEMAND COULD POSSIBLY JUSTIFY.
» THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED THAT ONE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF
DISRUPTING AND PREVENTING SMUGGLING WAS INTELLIGENCE-BASED OPERATIONS TO ARREST ON LAND THOSE WHO WERE ASSISTING
SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES. BUT IT WAS AT PRESENT OFTEN NOT
POSSIBLE TO CHARGE SUCH PERSONS WITH ANY OFFENCE.
» UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE TYPE OF HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOAT COMMONLY USED FOR SMUGGLING, EVEN THOUGH SUCH VESSELS WERE NOT LICENSEABLE IN HONG KONG.
"IT IS THESE SHORTCOMINGS IN THE LAW WHICH THE PRESENT BILL SEEKS TO REMEDY," HE SAID.
AS SMUGGLERS WOULD OFTEN PRODUCE MANIFESTS INDICATING THAT THE GOODS WERE DESTINED FOR ONE OF THE OUTLYING ISLANDS, MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED CONTROLS ON THE CARRIAGE OF CERTAIN SPECIFIED GOODS IN HONG KONG WATERS.
"CLAUSE 10 WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY VESSEL.
"THE REGULATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL WILL MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO CARRY ON VESSELS WITHIN THE WATERS OF HONG KONG WITHOUT LAWFUL EXCUSE TELEVISION SETS, VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDS AND PLAYERS, AIR CONDITIONERS, REFRIGERATORS, VEHICLES AND VEHICLE PARTS," HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF TRADE WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO AMEND THE LIST OF RESTRICTED GOODS.
"LAWFUL EXCUSE WILL BE DEFINED SO THAT LEGITIMATE TRADE AND THE CARRIAGE OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS, WILL BE VIRTUALLY UNAFFECTED.
"THE CARRIAGE OF THE SPECIFIED GOODS ON SMALL VESSELS UNDER 250 TONS, ON LAUNCHES OR FERRIES, EXCEPT AS PERSONAL BELONGINGS, WILL NOT BE PERMITTED UNLESS WITH A CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WHO WILL NOT ISSUE SUCH A LICENCE UNLESS HE IS SATISFIED THAT THE COURIER IS INVOLVED IN LEGITIMATE TRADE.
/"THE MAXIMUM .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
12
"THE MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF 1500,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS IS PROPOSED FOR A CONTRAVENTION OF THESE CONTROLS," THE SECRETARY SAID.
AS REGARDS TO THE PROBLEM OF TAKING ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO ASSISTED SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES ON LAND, MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED IN. CLAUSES 7 AND 11 TO CREATE NEW OFFENCES OF KNOWINGLY ASSISTING IN THE EXPORT OR CARRIAGE OF UNMANIFESTED CARGO AND OF RESTRICTED ARTICLES OR PROHIBITED ARTICLES.
"THERE WILL BE A PRESUMPTION OF KNOWLEDGE WHEN THERE ARE SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ACQUISITION, HANDLING OR DEALING WITH SUCH ARTICLES OR CARGO."
HE POINTED OUT THAT A DEFENCE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO A PERSON AGAINST WHOM SUCH A CHARGE IS MADE IF HE COULD GIVE A REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
"A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF $500,000 OR IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS IS ALSO PROPOSED FOR THESE NEW OFFENCES," HE ADDED.
AS REGARDS THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF SPEEDBOATS USED FOR SMUGGLING, THERE WAS AN EXISTING OFFENCE OF ALTERING THE FITTINGS, FABRIC OR STRUCTURE OF ANY VESSEL FOR THE PURPOSE OF SMUGGLING ANY ARTICLE INTO OR OUT OF HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY NOTED.
"WE PROPOSE, IN CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL, TO EXTEND THIS OFFENCE TO COVER THE USE OF A VESSEL WITH SUCH ALTERATIONS, AND TO INCREASE THE PENALTY TO IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS AND A FINE OF $500,000.
"CLAUSE 5 OF THE BILL WILL MAKE IT AN OFFENCE WITH THE SAME MAXIMUM PENALTY TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, REPAIR OR BE ON BOARD A VESSEL OF LESS THAN 250 TONS CONSTRUCTED OR USED FOR SMUGGLING PURPOSES," HE SAID.
MR ASPREY SAID UNDER THIS NEW SECTION A VESSEL CONSTRUCTED OR USED FOR SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES IS DEFINED AS ONE WHICH IS REASONABLY SUSPECTED TO BE SO USED, OR INTENDED TO BE SO USED, AND HAS SOME FEATURES CHARACTERISTIC OF THE HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOATS USED FOR SMUGGLING.
THESE FEATURES INCLUDED THE PRESENCE OF SECRET HIDING PLACES, THE FACILITY TO MOUNT MORE THAN TWO OUTBOARD ENGINES WITH A COMBINED POWER IN EXCESS OF 448 KILOWATTS (600 HP), FUEL TANKS SUITABLE FOR USE WITH OUTBOARD ENGINES AND WITH A CAPACITY IN EXCESS OF 817 LITRES AND METAL PLATING SUITABLE FOR RAMMING OR ACTING AS ARMORED PROTECTION.
"BOATS WITH THESE FEATURES ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE SORT OF SPEEDBOATS USED BY THE LEGITIMATE BOATING FRATERNITY.
"THE PURPOSE OF THIS NEW PROVISION IS TO PREVENT THE BOATYARDS IN HONG KONG FROM BUILDING AND MAINTAINING SPEEDBOATS DESIGNED FOR SMUGGLING," HE SAID.
/MR ASPREY .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
13
MR ASPREY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT CLAUSE 8 OF THE BILL PROVIDED THAT VESSELS SEIZED AS A RESULT OF INVOLVEMENT IN SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES UNDER THE NEW OFFENCES WERE LIABLE TO FOREFEITURE.
"I BELIEVE THE MEASURES I HAVE OUTLINED TODAY WILL GREATLY ASSIST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST SMUGGLING," HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
-----0------
FEE REVISIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS
*****
A MOTION PROPOSING INCREASES IN THE FEES SPECIFIED IN THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS AND RELATED MATTERS WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID IT WAS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC ON A COST-RECOVERY BASIS UNLESS THERE WERE VERY GOOD SOCIAL REASONS FOR DOING OTHERWISE.
HE SAID A RECENT REVIEW OF FEES AND CHARGES COLLECTED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERALL UNDER-RECOVERY OF ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF THE COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED.
"IN THREE AREAS IN PARTICULAR, THE DEPARTMENT IS WELL SHORT OF RECOVERING ITS COSTS: THESE ARE THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS, REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES, AND ISSUE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.
"IN RESPECT OF THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES, ONLY 20 PER CENT OF COSTS ARE BEING RECOVERED," HE SAID.
MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS THEREFORE TAKING ACTION TO REVISE THE FEES WHICH HE HAD MENTIONED IN ALL CASES WHERE COSTS WERE NOT BEING RECOVERED.
"THE PROPOSED INCREASES RANGE FROM 20 PER CENT TO 100 PER CENT, AND WILL INCREASE THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF COSTS RECOVERED TO 85 PER CENT.
"WE AIM PROGRESSIVELY TO INCREASE THE FEES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO RECOVER COSTS IN FULL," HE SAID.
THE FEES TO BE REVISED UNDER THE MOTION MOVED UNDER THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE INCLUDED THOSE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS, AND RELATED MATTERS SUCH AS THE ISSUE OF CERTIFIED COPIES OF ENTRIES IN REGISTERS, SEARCH OF RECORDS, CORRECTION OF ERRORS AND ALTERATION OF ENTRIES IN REGISTERS.
/"ALL THE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
14
•' ,1
"ALL THE FEES, EXCEPT THAT FOR A SHORTENED FORM OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE, WERE LAST REVISED IN 1986.
"IT IS PROPOSED THAT THEY BE INCREASED BY BETWEEN 60 TO 70 PER CENT EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF THE FEE FOR THE SHORTENED FORM OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE, LAST REVISED IN 1984, WHICH IT IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE FROM $5 TO $10," MR ASPREY SAID.
"IF APPROVED, THE NEW FEES WILL BE INTRODUCED ON MARCH 1, 1991
WHEN THEY ARE GAZETTED," HE ADDED.
------0-------
MOTION PASSED TO INCREASE FEES SPECIFIED IN FOREIGN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE ******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A MOTION TO INCREASE THE FEES SPECIFIED IN THE FOREIGN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE.
MOVING THE MOTION TO EFFECT THE CHANGE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID THE FOREIGN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE PROVIDED A MEANS WHEREBY COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS COULD GIVE NOTICE OF MARRIAGE IN HONG KONG, THOUGH THE MARRIAGE TOOK PLACE AT A BRITISH EMBASSY ABROAD.
"FEES ARE PAYABLE FOR THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE BY THE REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES, AND THE GRANT OF A GOVERNOR’S LICENCE OF FOREIGN MARRIAGE.
"IT IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE FEES FROM $5 TO $10 AND FROM $70 TO $120," HE SAID.
THE FEES WERE LAST REVISED IN 1984 AND 1986 RESPECTIVELY, MR ASPREY ADDED.
------0-------
MOTION PASSED TO INCREASE FEES UNDER LEGITIMACY ORDINANCE
******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A INCREASE THE FEES SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE ORDINANCE.
MOTION TO LEGITIMACY
THE HON
INTO LINE
AND DEATHS
MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID THE REVISION OF FEES WOULD BRING THEM Oiththe FEES for SIMILAR SERVICES UNDER THE BIRTHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.
MR ASPREY POINTED OUT THAT THE LEGITIMACY ORDINANCE PROVIDED FOR RE-REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS OF LEGITIMATED PERSONS.
/"FEES COLLECTED .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
15
"FEES COLLECTED RELATE TO RE-REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND ISSUE OF CERTIFIED COPIES OF ENTRIES OF THE BIRTH OF LEGITIMATED PERSONS.
"IT IS PROPOSED TO REVISE THE FEES FROM $35 TO $65 FOR REREGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND FROM $12 TO $20 FOR A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY OF THE BIRTH," THE SECRETARY SAID.
THESE FEES WERE LAST REVISED IN 1986, MR ASPREY ADDED.
-----0-----
PUBLIC MUST HELP POLICE IN EXECUTION OF DUTY
******
IT IS INCUMBENT ON A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO FOLLOW A POLICE OFFICER’S INSTRUCTIONS WHEN HE IS CARRYING OUT HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, THE SECRETARY SAID IT WAS PROVIDED THAT THE POLICE OFFICER WAS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH AND THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE REASONABLE.
HE SAID UNDER SECTION 63 OF THE POLICE FORCE ORDINANCE, A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MUST ASSIST A POLICE OFFICER IN THE EXECUTION OF HIS DUTY WHEN CALLED UPON TO DO SO.
"A PERSON IS LIABLE TO PROSECUTION IF HE REFUSES, WITHOUT GOOD REASON, TO ASSIST A POLICE OFFICER WHEN CALLED UPON TO DO SO.
"IN PRACTICE, PROSECUTIONS FOR THIS OFFENCE HAVE BEEN VERY RARE," HE ADDED.
MR ASPREY SAID IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS LIABLE FOR PERSONAL LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM COMPLIANCE WITH A POLICE OFFICER’S INSTRUCTIONS, COMPENSATION WOULD BE PAID.
------0-------
GOVERNMENT’S TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY CLARIFIED
******
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY IS TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH A WIDE RANGE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES CAN THRIVE, TO THE BENEFIT OF BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS CONSUMERS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
"THE PRESENT MIX OF FRANCHISED AND NON-FRANCHISED SERVICES HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME,” SAID MRS CHAN IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SELINA CHOW.
/MRS CHAN .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
- 16 -
MRS CHAN EXPLAINED THAT IN DECIDING IN THE PAST TO GRANT EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO PARTICULAR PRIVATE COMPANIES TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES, THE GOVERNMENT’S OBJECTIVE HAD BEEN TO ENSURE THAT BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, SUCH AS LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL VOICE TELEPHONY, WERE AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO WANTED THEM, AND AT REASONABLE COST.
"AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ALERT TO THE BENEFITS OF ENCOURAGING THE COMPETITIVE PROVISION OF SERVICES SUCH AS PUBLIC RADIO PAGING, MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE AND VARIOUS VALUE-ADDED SERVICES SO THAT THE CONSUMER CAN BENEFIT FROM THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS AND THE WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS NOW ON THE MARKET," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SUCCESS OF GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES COULD BE MEASURED BY THE FACT THAT THE TERRITORY NOW HAD A TELEPHONE PENETRATION RATE OF ABOUT SIX PER 10 PEOPLE, A RATE WHICH WAS COMPARABLE TO THE MAJOR DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
"207 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES ARE NOW ACCESSIBLE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL DIRECT DIALING (IDD).
"WITH ONE RADIO PAGING SUBSCRIBER PER EIGHT PERSONS, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA SUBSCRIPTION RATE FOR RADIO PAGING SERVICES IN THE WORLD.
"WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF HAND HELD PORTABLE RADIOTELEPHONES IN ANY SIZEABLE CELLULAR RADIOTELEPHONE MARKET IN THE WORLD," SHE SAID.
HOWEVER, MRS CHAN SAID THAT DESPITE THESE IMPRESSIVE INDICATORS, IT WAS VITAL THAT GOVERNMENT POLICIES SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE FORWARD LOOKING.
"RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES MAKE THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIELD EXCEPTIONALLY DYNAMIC.
"IF HONG KONG IS TO MAINTAIN ITS ROLE AS AN IMPORTANT TELECOMMUNICATIONS HUB, WE MUST ENSURE THAT CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THE AVAILABILITY OF THE WIDEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF SERVICES AND AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN SAID THAT ACCORDINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT HAD COMMISSIONED A TEAM OF OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS TO UPDATE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE LATEST INTERNATIONAL TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND TO SUGGEST TO THE GOVERNMENT HOW THESE TRENDS MIGHT BE RELEVANT TO THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
H "I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE CONSULTANTS' ADVICE WILL MAKE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE GOVERNMENT’S THINKING IN THIS AREA," SHE SAID.
------0 - - - -
/17........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
- 17 -
NO ONE NEEDS TO BEO ON STREETS UNDER EXISTING WELFARE SYSTEM
******
OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM FORMED A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY WHO COULD NOT PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF DAILY LIFE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRIETTA IP, MRS WONG SAID THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME PROVIDED CASH ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO BRING THEIR INCOME AND RESOURCES TO A LEVEL SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE COST OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS.
"OTHER ALLOWANCES ARE OFFERED TO MEET SPECIAL NEEDS," SHE ADDED.
MRS WONG SAID A SEPARATE RENT ALLOWANCE WAS PAYABLE TO MEET THE COST OF ACCOMMODATION.
SHE SAID ALL THESE PAYMENTS ARE REVISED REGULARLY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR REAL PURCHASING POWER IS NOT ERODED BY INFLATION.
"UNDER THE EXISTING WELFARE SYSTEM, NO ONE SHOULD NEED TO BEG ON THE STREETS FOR A LIVING," SHE ASSURED.
MRS WONG SAID THESE BENEFITS AND THE FULL ARRAY OF WELFARE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED BY SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS AND FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND WERE WIDELY PUBLICIZED.
SHE ADDED THAT NO PERSON, WHATEVER THE PROBLEM CONFRONTING HIM, SHOULD NEED TO FEEL THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO BEG ON THE STREETS.
SHE SAID SECTIONS 26A AND 26B OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE MADE IT UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO BEG IN ANY PUBLIC PLACE OR TO ASK FOR MONEY IN A THREATENING MANNER.
OUTREACHING SOCIAL SOCIAL WORKERS WILL ALSO APPROACH BEGGARS WHEN SPOTTED OR REPORTED BY CONCERNED CITIZENS AND WILL INTRODUCE THEM TO WELFARE SERVICES AVAILABLE, THE SECRETARY SAID.
"ON THE RARE OCCASIONS THAT CHILDREN ARE FOUND BEGGING OR ACCOMPANYING PERSONS BEGGING, SWIFT ACTION TO ENSURE AND SECURE THEIR WELL-BEING WILL BE TAKEN,” MRS WONG SAID.
--------0-----------
/18 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
- 18 -
51
II
CHILDREN DETAINED AT * * ♦ ♦
CENTRE PENDING REMOVAL ♦
ON FEBRUARY 24 THIS YEAR, 51 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AGED 14 OR UNDER WERE DETAINED AT THE VICTORIA IMMIGRATION CENTRE PENDING THE MAKING OF REMOVAL ORDERS OR THEIR APPEALS AGAINST REMOVAL ORDERS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MIRIAM LAU, MR ASPREY SAID ALL WERE IN THE CARE OF ADULT DETAINEES, IN MOST CASES THEIR MOTHERS.
"THE AVERAGE DETENTION PERIOD IS ABOUT 13 DAYS," HE ADDED.
MR ASPREY SAID ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILDREN MIGHT BE RELEASED ON RECOGNISANCE, AND THIS WAS USUALLY DONE WHERE THE FATHER OR A CLOSE RELATIVE WAS WILLING TO LOOK AFTER THE CHILD, AND WHERE THE MOTHER HAD GIVEN HER CONSENT.
"ONLY WHERE THESE CONDITIONS CANNOT BE MET, WHERE THERE ARE STRONG REASONS TO BELIEVE THE CHILD WILL BE ASSISTED TO ABSCOND, OR WHERE AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILD IS LIKELY TO BE REMOVED FROM HONG KONG WITHIN A FEW DAYS WILL A CHILD BE DETAINED," HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT 46 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILDREN WERE RELEASED ON RECOGNISANCE.
AT PRESENT
-----------0-------- TWO BILLS PASSED IN LEGCO * ♦ * ♦ »
DANGEROUS DRUGS
BILL 1991 WERE PASSED
(AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 AND SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THREE MOTIONS MOVED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY UNDER THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE, FOREIGN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE AND LEGITIMACY ORDINANCE WERE ALSO PASSED.
IN ADDITION, AN AMENDMENT MOTION MOVED BY THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG TO THE HON MARIA TAM’S MOTION ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS WAS PASSED. THE MOTION READS: "THAT, RECOGNISING THE APPALLING LIVING CONDITIONS IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS AS A PRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEM, THIS COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPEDITE THEIR PLANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND TO REASSURE THIS COUNCIL THAT NONE OF THE TENANTS WILL BE RENDERED HOMELESS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR ACTION."
FIVE BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. THEY WERE THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1991, RATING (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1991, HEUNG YEE KUK (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991, JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 AND IMPORT AND EXPORT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991.
DEBATES ON THEM WERE ADJOURNED.
/19 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27,
1991
- 19 -
EXPERT TALKS ON BOUNDARIES OF ADMINISTRATION OF HK AND GUANGDONG
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE BOUNDARIES OF ADMINISTRATION BETWEEN HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG WILL TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG ON FEBRUARY 28 AND MARCH 1 BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES.
MR S.E. BRADLEY, DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER, WILL LEAD THE HONG KONG TEAM.
THE GUANGDONG TEAM WILL BE LED BY MR ZHANG QINGPING, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF GUANGDONG FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICE.
------0--------
TAX EXEMPTION FOR TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL RESERVE FUND » » ♦ » »
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS ORDERED THAT THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL RESERVE FUND SHOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM PAYMENT OF ALL TAXES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
AS A NON-STATUTORY COMPENSATION FUND ESTABLISHED TO REPLACE THE TRAVEL AGENT’S RESERVE FUND, THE FUND’S MAIN OBJECTS ARB TO COLLECT AND MANAGE LEVIES FROM MEMBERS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF HONG KONG, AND TO MAKE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS OUT OF THOSE LEVIES TO TRAVELLERS IF A MEMBER DEFAULTS.
THE EXEMPTION WAS GRANTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL UNDER SECTION 47 OF THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
------0--------
ISLAND BAST TRAFFIC STUDY COMMISSIONED ♦ ♦ ♦ * ♦
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS COMMISSIONED A $3.87 MILLION ISLAND BAST TRAFFIC STUDY AIMED AT INVESTIGATING ALL ASPECTS OF TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT PROBLEMS FROM VICTORIA PARK TO CHAI WAN ANp PROPOSING SOLUTIONS TO THEM.
A CONTRACT FOR THE 18-MONTH STUDY WAS SIGNED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR PANG HAU-CHUNG, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONSULTANTS, WILBUR SMITH ASSOCIATES.
/THEY STUDY ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
- 20 -
THE STUDY WILL PROPOSE A SERIES OF SOLUTIONS TO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN, MOTOR VEHICLE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE DISTRICT UP TO 1996.
THE DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO CONSULT DISTRICT BOARDS ON THESE PROPOSALS BEFORE FINALISING THEM IN THE TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
- - 0---------
CONSULTANCY STUDIES ON PRIVATISATION OF LANDFILLS
******
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) HAS COMMISSIONED THREE CONSULTANCY STUDIES TO LOOK INTO DETAILS CONCERNING THE PRIVATISATION OF THREE STRATEGIC LANDFILLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THESE LANDFILLS ARE THE NORTH EAST NEW TERRITORIES (NENT) LANDFILL, THE SOUTH EAST NEW TERRITORIES (SENT) LANDFILL, AND THE WEST NEW TERRITORIES (WENT) LANDFILL.
AN EPD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THESE LANDFILLS WERE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE MUNICIPAL WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
THE WHITE PAPER ON "POLLUTION IN HONG KONG - A TIME TO ACT" PUBLISHED IN 1989 STATED THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION THAT THE THREE STRATEGIC LANDFILLS SHOULD BE DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THIS POLICY OBJECTIVE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ENDORSED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER 1990.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE THREE CONSULTANTS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DRAWING UP SUITABLE TENDER DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL LANDFILLS.
"THEY WILL THEN TENDER, ASSESS AND THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT AWARD THE PRIVATISATION CONTRACTS.
"IN PARALLEL WITH THE THREE CONSULTANCY STUDIES, A CORE CONSULTANCY TO BE COMMISSIONED SHORTLY WILL STUDY THOSE ASPECTS OF PRIVATISATION COMMON TO ALL THREE LANDFILLS," HE SAID.
"THIS CORE CONSULTANCY WILL PRODUCE A SET OF STANDARD TENDER DOCUMENTS FOR THE PRIVATISED LANDFILL CONTRACTS AND WILL PREQUALIFY SUITABLY EXPERIENCED WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANIES CAPABLE OF DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING, OPERATING AND PROVIDING AFTERCARE TO THE LANDFILLS,” HE ADDED.
THE STUDIES FOR THE NENT, SENT AND WENT LANDFILLS, AT COSTS OF $10.7 MILLION, $16.1 MILLION AND $12.5 MILLION, WILL TAKE 33 MONTHS, 22 MONTHS AND 16 MONTHS RESPECTIVELY TO COMPLETE.
/THE AGREEMENTS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
21
THE AGREEMENTS FOR THE CONSULTANCY STUDIES WERE SIGNED BETWEEN EPD’S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (WASTE AND WATER POLICY), MR MIKE STOKOE, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE THREE FIRMS.
THEY WERE A DIRECTOR OF MOUCHEL ASIA LIMITED, MR S.A. KUBRYCHT (FOR THE NENT LANDFILL); A DIRECTOR OF SCOTT WILSON KIRKPATRICK 4 COMPANY LIMITED, MR W.A. MASLOWICZ (FOR THE SENT LANDFILL); AND A DIRECTOR OF OVE ARUP AND PARTNERS HONG KONG LIMITED, MR J.G. ROBERTSON (FOR THE WENT LANDFILL).
------0--------
CLEARANCE FOR TSUEN WAN DEVELOPMENT * * * *
A TOTAL OF 277 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES IN HOI PA VILLAGE, TSUEN WAN, WERE CLEARED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO MAKE WAY FOR THE PROPOSED TSUEN WAN CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT.
THESE STRUCTURES, WHICH ARE MOSTLY DILAPIDATED, FALL WITHIN ONE OF THE PLANNING AREAS IN THE NEW TOWN.
THE AREA IS DESIGNATED FOR COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTI AL DEVELOPMENT WITH A NEW ROAD TO ITS EAST. A FOOTBRIDGE LINK IS ALSO PLANNED WITHIN THE SITE SO AS TO IMPROVE THE NORTH-SOUTH PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION.
ABOUT 300 FAMILIES MADE UP OF 1,090 PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS, WERE AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE.
HOWEVER, APART FROM ABOUT NINE TO 10 FAMILIES, THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS HAD ALREADY MOVED OUT PRIOR TO TODAY’S CLEARANCE.
ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WERE ALLOCATED EITHER PERMANENT HOUSING OR TEMPORARY HOUSING IN TSING Yl, KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN DISTRICTS.
ON THE BUSINESS SIDE, THERE WERE 28 SHOP OPERATORS INVOLVED OF WHOM 24 WERE FOUND ELIGIBLE FOR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE AND HAD ALREADY COLLECTED THEIR PAYMENTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE SAID TODAY’S CLEARANCE WAS MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE FINAL PHASE OF A RESUMPTION GAZETTED IN JULY LAST YEAR WITH THE AIM TO PROVIDE LAND FOR THE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN.
HE POINTED OUT THAT A MAJOR PORTION OF THE VILLAGE OF HOI PA HAD ALREADY BEEN REVERTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN EARLY 1980 UNDER A BLOCK RESUMPTION APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
FOLLOWING THEIR REVERSION TO GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP, MANY OF THESE LOTS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES SUCH AS THE PROVISIONS OF ROADS, A PRIMARY SCHOOL, DISTRICT PARKS, OPEN SPACES, THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL EXTENSION AND PUBLIC PARKING FACILITIES.
TODAY’S CLEARANCE WAS JOINTLY CARRIED OUT BY STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE.
------0-------
/22 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
- 22 -
50 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS RETURN TO VIETNAM
*****
A GROUP OF 50 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNDER THE UNHCR’S VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME.
COMPRISING 21 MEN, 12 WOMEN, 9 BOYS AND 8 GIRLS, THEY WERE THE 51ST BATCH TO GO BACK UNDER THE PROGRAMME.
THIS GROUP BROUGHT TO 6,863 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE RETURNED VOLUNTARILY.
-----0------
NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE READY BY SUMMER
*****
HONG KONG’S FIRST NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE -- THE LIONS NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE -- WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC LATER THIS SUMMER.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HE WAS OFFICIATING AT THE FOUNDATION LAYING CEREMONY OF THE CENTRE IN TSIU HANG, SAI KUNG.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE LIONS CLUB, MR WILLIAM BIGGS, WHO WAS ON A TWO-DAY VISIT TO HONG KONG.
DR LEE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE LIONS CLUB FOR THEIR GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP, INCLUDING THE US$200,000 CONTRIBUTION FROM THEIR INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION, IN BUILDING THIS MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR EDUCATION CENTRE.
HE ALSO COMMENDED THE LIONS’ LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG’S FUTURE AS BORNE OUT BY THIS MEANINGFUL PROJECT.
"UPON COMPLETION, THE CENTRE WILL PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS AND SPECIMENS TO HELP STUDENTS, YOUTHS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE OUR INTERESTING WILDLIFE, VEGETATION AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES.
"IT WILL ALSO STIMULATE THEM TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND AROUSE THEIR CONCERN FOR COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION," DR LEE SAID.
DR LEE ADDED THAT WHEN THE CENTRE WAS OPEN THIS SUMMER, VISITORS WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE DISPLAYS ON HONG KONG’S AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND COUNTRYSIDE RESOURCES, AND TOUR THE SPECIMEN ORCHARDS TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE INTERESTING TREE COLLECTIONS AND FIELD CROPS.
-----0 - -
/23........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
23
ROOFTOP STRUCTURE AT MONG KOK BUILDING TO BE CLOSED
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE THE ROOFTOP STRUCTURE AT 24 KAM FONG STREET, MONG KOK.
IN A STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THE STRUCTURE IS MUTUALLY DEPENDENT WITH A SIMILAR ROOFTOP STRUCTURE AT NO. 26 OF THE SAME STREET, THE BUILDING OF WHICH HAD BEEN CLOSED PRIOR TO DEMOLITION.
THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING AT NO. 26 WILL RENDER THE ROOFTOP STRUCTURE AT NO. 24 DANGEROUS DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT, THEREFORE IT SHOULD ALSO BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED AS BEING LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 27 THIS YEAR WAS POSTED ON THE AFFECTED STRUCTURE TODAY.
------0--------
GOVT LAND TO LET BY TENDER t * * ♦ »
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF A GOVERNMENT LOT IN YAU TONG, KOWLOON.
THE SITE, MEASURING ABOUT 5,800 SQUARE METRES, IS LOCATED AT SZE SHAN STREET AND CHA KWO LING ROAD. IT IS INTENDED FOR OPEN STORAGE OF NON-DANGEROUS GOODS.
THE TENANCY IS FOR SIX MONTHS AND IS RENEWABLE MONTHLY AFTERWARDS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 15.
FORM OF TENDER, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT THE KOWLOON EAST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 10TH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CARPARK BUILDING, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON AND AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, 14TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
--------0 - -
/24 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
- 24
NEW BRANCH POST OFFICE AT WAH MING ESTATE t » * * t
THE WAH MING POST OFFICE AT WAH MING ESTATE, FANLING OPENED FOR BUSINESS AT NOON TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE NEW BRANCH POST OFFICE IS LOCATED AT SHOP NO. 119, GROUND FLOOR, OF THE ESTATE’S COMMERCIAL CENTRE AND PROVIDES THE NORMAL RANGE OF COUNTER SERVICES.
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 675 0884.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY THIS MORNING WERE THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC S.W. WONG; THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR PANG HANG-YIN; AND THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI.
THE OPENING OF THIS NEW OFFICE BRINGS TO 117 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BRANCH POST OFFICES IN HONG KONG.
---------------0-------- NEW YEAR CARNIVAL AT KOWLOON PARK * » » « *
A CARNIVAL TO GREET THE YEAR OF THE RAM WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY (MARCH 2), FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM, AT THE PIAZZA OF KOWLOON PARK IN TSIM SHA TSUI.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
THE CARNIVAL IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI AND TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURE AND ARTS ASSOCIATION (YTCAA) AND THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT OFFICE WITH SPONSORSHIPS FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
IT AIMS TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION AND PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH FREE ENTERTAINMENT DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON.
THERE WILL BE LANTERN RIDDLES, FORTUNE-TELLING, MAGIC SHOWS, STALL GAMES, AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES BY SINGERS AND THE YTCAA CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND DANCE TROUPE.
THE ORGANISERS WILL ALSO PUT UP A DISPLAY TO PROMOTE THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 842 8777
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FQR JANUARY PUBLISHED ............................. 1
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY RELEASED ........................... 3
SPECIAL ARTICLE ON DISTRIBUTIVE TRADES SECTOR IN HK ...................... 6
GOVERNOR VISITS SCHOOL FOR DISABLED CHILDREN ............................. 6
U.S., JAPAN, CHINA LOOK SET TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN HK .................. 7
PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY CEO APPOINTED .............................. 9
NEW TAC CHAIRMAN APPOINTED ............................................... 9
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES AT CROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS DISCUSSED ........... 10
APPLICATION FOR BRITISH NATIONALITY CLOSES TODAY ......................... 12
ELECTION FOR KWUN TONG SHUN LEE CONSTITUENCY COUNTERMANDED ............... 13
REVISION IN FEES COLLECTED BY IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ..................... 13
NEW REGULATIONS PROVIDE FOR LICENSING OF CROSSBOWS ....................... 19
WORK OF POLICE CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU EXPLAINED ......................... 20
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HOSTS SPRING RECEPTION ............................. 22
REPROVISIONED SCHOOL MATCHES POPULATION TREND ............................ 22
SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND COMMITTEE INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS .......... 23
FIGHT CRIME VARIETY SHOW IN NORTH DISTRICT ............................... 24
UNAUTHORISED BUILDING TO BE CLOSED ....................................... 25
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES
♦ ♦ ♦
FOR JANUARY PUBLISHED ♦ *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) PUBLISHED THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1991.
THE CPI(A) AND CP1(B) (OCT. 84 - SEP. 85 = 100) FOR JANUARY 1991, AT 149.8 AND 149.2 RESPECTIVELY, WERE BOTH 10.8% HIGHER THAN IN JANUARY 1990.
THESE RATES OF INCREASE WERE LOWER THAN THOSE RECORDED IN DECEMBER 1990 (11.3% FOR CPI(A) AND 11.1% FOR CPI(B)) AND WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE RECORDED IN NOVEMBER 1990 (10.9% FOR CPI(A) AND 10.8% FOR CPI(B)). THE SLOWER RATES OF INCREASE IN JANUARY 1991 WERE PARTLY DUE TO A RELATIVELY HIGH BASE OF COMPARISON IN JANUARY 1990 WHEN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR.
THE AVERAGE CPI(A) AND AVERAGE CPI(B) FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 1991, AT 143.2 AND 142.8 RESPECTIVELY, WERE BOTH 9.8% HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 1990.
ON A YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON, FASTER RATES OF INCREASE IN CPI(A) IN JANUARY 1991 WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEXES FOR FUEL AND LIGHT (17.3%), TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES (15.5%), ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO FOR HOME CONSUMPTION (14.2%), SERVICES (13.1%) AND HOUSING (12.7%).
THE CORRESPONDING RATES OF INCREASE FOR THE SAME COMPONENTS IN THE CP1(B) WERE 16.4%, 16.3%, 14.8%, 11.6% AND 11.9% RESPECTIVELY.
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS, WHICH HAS THE LARGEST WEIGHTING IN THE INDEX, INCREASED BY 9.7% IN CPI(A) AND BY 10.1% IN CPI(B). THESE SIX COMPONENTS TOGETHER ACCOUNTED FOR 89% OF THE OVERALL INCREASE IN THE CPI(A) AND 87% OF THE INCREASE IN THE CPI(B).
COMPARING JANUARY 1991 WITH DECEMBER 1990, THE CPI(A) INCREASED BY 0.8% AND THE CPI(B), BY 0.7%, LARGELY BECAUSE OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES AND FOR TELEPHONE SERVICES, HIGHER PRICES OF FRESH FRUIT AND HIGHER RENTS FOR SOME PRIVATE HOUSING UNITS.
DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 1991, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CPI(A) AND CPI(B) BOTH INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.9% PER MONTH.
THE CPI(A) AND THE CP1(B) ARE BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF 50% AND 30%, 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 JANUARY 1991 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, AS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1990 AND JANUARY 1990, ARE GIVEN BELOW.
/(OCTOBER 1984 .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
2
(OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 AVERAGE = 100) CPT(A) CPI(B)
INDEX % CHANGE % CHANGE INDEX % CHANGE % CHANGE
FOR OVER OVER FOR OVER OVER
SECTION JAN. 91 DEC. 90 JAN. 90 JAN. 91 DEC. 90 JAN. 90
FOODSTUFFS 150.4 + 1.3 + 9.7 152.9 + 1.4 + 10.1
HOUSING 142.0 + 0.9 + 12.7 135.4 + 1.0 + 11.9
FUEL AND LIGHT 116.7 -0.1 + 17.3 115.9 + 0.2 + 16.4
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS 164.1 + 0.8 + 14.2 165.6 + 1.0 + 14.8
AND TOBACCO
(FOR HOME
CONSUMPTION)
CLOTHING AND 148.8 -3.4 + 8.2 151.6 -4.1 + 9.1
FOOTWEAR
DURABLE GOODS 129.2 + 0.5 + 5.4 127.6 + 0.2 + 5.2
MISCELLANEOUS 146.1 + 0.3 + 7.8 145.0 + 0.1 + 7.3
GOODS
TRANSPORT AND 162.1 + 0.8 + 15.5 162.4 + 1.0 + 16.3
VEHICLES
SERVICES 173.4 + 1.5 + 13. 1 171.4 + 1 . 1 + 11.6
ALL ITEMS 149.8 + 0.8 + 10.8 149.2 + 0.7 + 10.8
COMPARING JANUARY 1991
FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY 1.3% IN
WITH DECEMBER 1990, THE INDEX CPI(A) AND BY 1.4% IN CPI(B).
FOR
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 0.9% IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.0% IN CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER RENTS FOR SOME PRIVATE HOUSING UNITS.
THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT DECREASED BY 0.1% IN CPI(A) BUT INCREASED BY 0.2% IN CPI(B) AS THE EFFECT OF THE INCREASES IN CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY AND TOWNGAS WAS MORE THAN OFFSET BY THE EFFECT OF DECREASES IN THE PRICES OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (INCLUDING LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS AND KEROSENE) IN THE FORMER CASE.
THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) INCREASED BY 0.8% IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.0% IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER PRICES OF BEER AND FOREIGN-STYLE WINES.
THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY 3.4% IN CPI(A) AND BY 4.1% IN CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF LOWER PRICES OF OUTERCLOTHING AS MANY DEPARTMENT STORES AND FASHION SHOPS WERE ON SALE DURING THE MONTH.
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY 0.8% IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.0% IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER PREMIUM FOR CAR INSURANCE AND THE INTRODUCTION OF SURCHARGE FOR THE THEFT OF VEHICLES, HIGHER DRIVING INSTRUCTOR'S FEES AND THE EFFECT OF THE FUEL SURCHARGE FOR TAXI SERVICES.
/THE INDEX ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
3
V
tHE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY 1.5% IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.1% IN CPI(B3 AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR TELEPHONE SERVICES.
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 JANUARY 1991, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT $7 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, HONG KONG FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS.
FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDEXES, PLEASE TELEPHONE THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT 805 6403.
THE HANG SENG CPI WAS 159.3 IN JANUARY 1991, UP BY 0.5% OVER DECEMBER 1990 AND BY 11.6% OVER JANUARY 1990.
THE HANG SENG CPI IS BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF THE 10% 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------- PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY RELEASED *****
THE VARIOUS' TRADE AGGREGATES SHOWED A MARKED INCREASE IN JANUARY 1991 OVER A YEAR EARLIER, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, THE INCREASE WAS DUE IN PART TO A LOW BASE OF COMPARISON IN JANUARY 1990 AS THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS TOOK PLACE IN THE LATTER PART OF JANUARY LAST YEAR WHILE THIS YEAR THE HOLIDAYS WERE IN MID-FEBRUARY.
THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN JANUARY 1991, AT $19,176 MILLION, WAS $2,538 MILLION OR 15.3% HIGHER THAN IN JANUARY 1990. THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY $11,061 MILLION OR 39.6% TO $39,021 MILLION.
TAKING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS ROSE BY $13,599 MILLION OR 30.5% OVER A YEAR EARLIER, TO $58,197 MILLION IN JANUARY 1991.
/THE VALUE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS ROSE BY $19,569 MILLION OR 47.6% OVER LAST YEAR, TO $60,661 MILLION IN JANUARY 1991.
AS THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WAS LARGER THAN THAT OF TOTAL EXPORTS, A VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT OF $2,464 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 4.1% OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, WAS RECORDED IN JANUARY 1991.
THIS COMPARES WITH A SURPLUS OF $3,506 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 8.5% OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, RECORDED IN JANUARY 1990.
PUTTING THE TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY IN PERSPECTIVE, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1991 AMOUNTED TO $179,753 MILLION, MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF $61,266 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS OF $118,487 MILLION.
COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER, TOTAL EXPORTS GREW BY $36,195 MILLION OR 25.2% IN VALUE TERMS, WITH DOMESTIC EXPORTS RISING BY $5,301 MILLION OR 9.5% AND RE-EXPORTS BY $30,894 MILLION OR 35.3%.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS ROSE BY $49,236 MILLION OR 36.5%, TO $184,115 MILLION.
IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1991, THERE WAS A VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT OF $4,362 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 2.4% OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS. THIS COMPARES WITH A SURPLUS OF $8,679 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 6.4% OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, RECORDED IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.
COMMENTING ON THE JANUARY TRADE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE RESPECTIVE GROWTH RATES, WHILST APPEARING IMPRESSIVE, COULD HAVE BEEN DISTORTED TO SOME EXTENT BY THE TIMING OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS. COMPARISONS MADE OVER THE FIRST QUARTER AS A WHOLE SHOULD BE MORE ACCURATE.
IT WAS NEVERTHELESS NOTEWORTHY THAT RE-EXPORTS CONTINUED TO GROW AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN DOMESTIC EXPORTS.
AS REGARDS RETAINED IMPORTS, THE GROWTH RATE CONTINUED TO BE SUBSTANTIAL IN JANUARY, AT AROUND 59% IN VALUE TERMS (AFTER ADJUSTING FOR THE RE-EXPORT MARGIN).
THIS WAS THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH IN WHICH THE YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATE IN VALUE TERMS OF RETAINED IMPORTS EXCEEDED 25%.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE PRESENTS THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY 1991.
MERCHANDISE: DOMESTIC’ EXPORTS $19,176 MILLION
RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE $39,021 $58, 197 $60,661 $2,464 MILLION MILLJON MILLION MILLION UN DEFICIT]
/COMPARATIVE FIGURES .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
5
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
NOV 90 TO NOV 89 TO INCREASE
LATEST 3 MONTHS JAN 91 JAN 90
HK$ MN. HK$ MN. HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 61,266 55,965 5,301 9.5
RE-EXPORTS 118,487 87,593 30,894 35.3
TOTAL EXPORTS 179,753 143,558 36,195 25.2
IMPORTS 184,115 134,879 49,236 36.5
TRADE BALANCE -4,362 8,679 -13,041
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR JANUARY 1991 HK$ MN. JANUARY 1990 HK$ MN. INCREASE
HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 19,176 16,638 2,538 15.3
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (33.0%) (37.3%)
RE-EXPORTS 39,021 27,960 11,061 39.6
TOTAL EXPORTS 58,197 44,598 13,599 30.5
IMPORTS 60,661 41,092 19,569 47.6
TRADE BALANCE -2,464 3,506 -5,970
LAST MONTH JANUARY 1991 HK$ MN. DECEMBER 1990 HK$ MN. INCREASE
HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 19,176 20,212 -1,036 -5.1
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (33.0%) (35.5%)
RE-EXPORTS 39,021 36,761 2,260 6.1
TOTAL EXPORTS 58,197 56,973 1 ,224 2. 1
IMPORTS 60,661 59,358 1,303 2.2
TRADE BALANCE -2,464 -2,385 -79
LAST 12 MONTHS FEB 90 TO JAN 91 HK$ MN. FEB 89 TO JAN 90 HK$ MN. INCREASE
HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 228,414 223,480 4,934 2.2
RE-EXPORTS 425,059 348,112 76,947 22.1
TOTAL EXPORTS 653,473 571,592 81,881 14.3
IMPORTS 662,100 560,739 101,361 18.1
TRADE BALANCE -8,627 10,853 -19,480
--------0-----------
/6 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
SPECIAL ARTICLE ON DISTRIBUTIVE TRADES SECTOR TN HK ****♦»
THE NOVEMBER 1990 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS CONTAINS A SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE ENTITLED "A REVIEW OF THE DISTRIBUTIVE TRADES SECTOR IN HONG KONG FROM 1984 TO 1988”.
THE DISTRIBUTIVE TRADES SECTOR COVERS FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES OF ACTIVITIES, NAMELY, WHOLESALE TRADE, RETAIL TRADE, IMPORT/EXPORT TRADE, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS/BOARD I NG HOUSES.
THE OUTPUT OF THESE ACTIVITIES TAKEN TOGETHER ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 20 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF HONG KONG.
THE ARTICLE REVIEWS THE DISTRIBUTIVE TRADES SECTOR AS A WHOLE AND ITS VARIOUS COMPONENT ACTIVITIES IN TERMS OF GENERAL STRUCTURE, COST COMPOSITION AND PERFORMANCE FROM 1984 TO 1988, ON THE BASIS OF STATISTICS OBTAINED FROM THE ANNUAL SURVEYS OF WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS FOR THESE YEARS.
THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS IS NOW ON SALE AT $40 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AND AT THE PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER t, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
------0------------
GOVERNOR VISITS
SCHOOL FOR DISABLED CHILDREN * ♦ » * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND LADY WILSON TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE HONG KONG RED CROSS JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IN SANDY BAY.
THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1966 AND NOW OFFERS A BROAD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME TO 140 PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AT BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL.
SIR DAVID AND LADY WILSON WERE SHOWN ROUND THE SCHOOL AND WERE BRIEFED BY THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, MISS MARION FANG.
THEY SAW COMPUTERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO TEACH PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND WERE TOLD ABOUT THE MANY VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS INVOLVED IN OFFERING EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES TO THESE CHILDREN.
THEY ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET TEACHING AND SPECIALIST STAFF WORKING AT THE SCHOOL.
"THE ENTHUSIASM AND HIGH SPIRITS OF THE PUPILS AT THIS SCHOOL SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES,” SIR DAVID SAID.
/"THEY ARE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
- 7 -
’’THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY MAKING THE BEST OF A GOOD RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL,” HE ADDED.
ACCOMPANYING THE GOVERNOR AND LADY WILSON WERE THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, MR TONY REYNALDS.
------0--------
U.S., JAPAN, CHINA LOOK SET TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN HK * t ♦ * * *
THE THREE MAJOR COUNTRIES WITH INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING SECTOR - THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND CHINA - LOOK SET TO CONTINUE INVESTING, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR T.H. BARMA, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG SOUTH, MR BARMA SAID THIS WOULD BE DONE BY INCREASING EITHER THE TOTAL VALUE OF THEIR INVESTMENT, OR THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES WITH A PRESENCE IN HONG KONG, OR BOTH.
HE SAID THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN WERE AT PRESENT THE TWO LARGEST FOREIGN INVESTORS IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING SECTOR.
"IT IS NOTICEABLE THAT MOST JAPANESE INVESTORS TELL US THEY SEE CHINA AS A LUCRATIVE LONG-TERM MARKET, AND ARE IN HONG KONG NOW BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT AFTER 1997 IT WILL BE THE MOST MODERN CITY IN CHINA.
’’COMPARED WITH OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION, THEY PRAISE HONG KONG FOR OUR EXCELLENT FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR GOOD COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, OUR STRATEGIC LOCATION, OUR LOW TAX RATE AND OUR HARDWORKING YET FLEXIBLE LABOUR FORCE.
’’MANY POTENTIAL JAPANESE INVESTORS DO NOT SEE THESE ADVANTAGES DISAPPEARING AFTER 1997,” HE SAID.
MR BARMA SAID AMERICAN COMPANIES HAD TENDED TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS, ESPECIALLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE EVENTS OF JUNE 1989.
HE SAID THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHANGES, IF ANY, THAT 1997 MIGHT BRING TO HONG KONG.
“BUT THERE ARE SIGNS THAT RECENTLY THEY TOO ARE TAKING A MORE LONG-TERM VIEW, LIKE THEIR JAPANESE COUNTERPARTS, AND ARE ALSO WELL AWARE OF THE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM ADVANTAGES OF SETTING UP MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS AND REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN HONG KONG,” HE SAID.
/MR BARMA .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
8
MR BARMA SAID ACCORDING TO THE LATEST SURVEY OF OVERSEAS INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, 67 PER CENT OF INVESTORS FELT THAT HONG KONG’S OVERALL MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENT WAS FAVOURABLE.
"CLEARLY, INVESTORS ARE PREPARED TO TAKE THE ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH AND, WHILE NOT CONCEALING THEIR WORRIES, FEEL THAT HONG KONG HAS A GREAT DEAL TO OFFER," HE SAID.
MR BARMA SAID THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWED THAT OVER 36 PER CENT OF FOREIGN INVESTORS HAD PLANS TO EXPAND PRODUCTION IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING EXPANSION OF PRODUCTION CAPACITY, DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCTS AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW PRODUCTION PROCESSES.
"OVER HALF SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE FROM THEIR EXISTING PREMISES IN HONG KONG WITHOUT EITHER EXPANDING OR CUTTING BACK ON PRODUCTION. ONLY A TENTH PLAN TO PHASE OUT PART OR ALL OF THEIR PRODUCTION," HE SAID.
MR BARMA SAID ONE MAJOR TREND WAS THE RAPID GROWTH OF CHINESE MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG.
"SINCE 1985, WHEN THE AMOUNT OF CHINESE INVESTMENT FIRST BECAME LARGE ENOUGH TO BE WORTH COUNTING, IT HAS SHOT UP AND IS NOW WORTH $3.2 BILLION, RANKING THIRD AFTER THE U.S. AND JAPAN," HE SAID.
"APART FROM ITS INTRINSIC VALUE, CHINESE INVESTMENT IS A SIGN OF CHINA’S OWN CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG’S FUTURE, AND WE WELCOME SUCH PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF SUPPORT," HE ADDED.
MR BARMA SAID WE WOULD PROBABLY SEE MORE REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
"AS A SURVEY CARRIED OUT IN 1990 DEMONSTRATED, RATHER MORE COMPANIES ARE MOVING REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS INTO HONG KONG THAN ARE MOVING OUT," HE SAID.
BETWEEN 1987 AND 1989, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS AN AVERAGE OF OVER 60 NEW REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS BEING SET UP IN HONG KONG EACH YEAR BY OVERSEAS COMPANIES. THIS TREND WAS CONTINUING UP TO THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1990, WHEN THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED.
"THE MORE WELL-KNOWN OVERSEAS COMPANIES THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN HONG KONG OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS INCLUDE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS, GENERAL MOTORS, BANK OF AMERICA, BRITISH AIRWAYS, OLIVETTI AND YAOHAN, SHOWING STRONG OVERSEAS INTEREST FROM AMERICAN, BRITISH, ITALIAN AND JAPANESE COMPANIES.
"OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION MAY HAVE SOME ADVANTAGES AS A REGIONAL BASE WHICH HONG KONG HAS NOT; BUT, EQUALLY, WE HAVE ADVANTAGES WHICH THEY DO NOT HAVE," HE SAID.
"SO I EXPECT WE WILL SEE A CONTINUING STRONG INTEREST IN HONG KONG AS A REGIONAL BASE," HE ADDED.
- - 0----------
/9 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
- 9 -
PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY CEO APPOINTED
***»«*
THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR RICHARD ALLEN AS ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
ENGINEER FROM THE UNITED IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND A MANAGEMENT FROM THE STANFORD
AGED 49, MR ALLEN IS A CHARTERED KINGDOM WITH A FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION
UNIVERSITY IN CALIFORNIA.
MOST OF HIS WORKING LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. WHILST WITH KIERS HE TO BECOME THE COMPANY CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. IN CAPACITY HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPANY’S 10,000 EMPLOYEES SUBSTANTIAL WORLDWIDE OPERATION.
KIER ROSE THIS
AND
CIVIL
PARTICULARLY EXPERIENCED IN MAJOR
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, MR ALLEN HAS BEEN INVO^ED IN AIRPORTS, POWER STATIONS, WHARF PROJECTS, WATER IREATMENT PLANT.
ENGINEERING
MAJOR
AND
PETROCHEMICAL WORKS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
MR ALLEN ARRIVED IN HONG KONG TODAY TO TAKE UP HIS APPOINTMENT.
NEW
------0--------
NEW TAC CHAIRMAN APPOINTED ♦ ♦ ♦ * ♦
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED PROFESSOR LEUNG CHI-KEUNG TO SUCCEED MISS MARIA TAM WAI-CHU AS CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL I THIS YEAR FOR A PERIOD OF TWO • YEARS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
PROF LEUNG HAS REEN SERVING TAC SINCE APRIL 1986 AND IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON A WIDE RANGE OF TRANSPORT POLICIES AND ISSUES.
AGED 56, PROF LEUNG FIRST JOINED THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AS A LECTURER IN 1973. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR LECTURER IN 1980 AND READER IN 1982, AND WAS APPOINTED PROFESSOR OF GEOGRAPHY IN 1988.
HE BECAME DEAN OF FACULTY OF ARTS IN THE SAME YEAR AND HAS RECENTLY BEEN RE-ELECTED DEAN FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS THREE CHILDREN.
------0-----------
/10 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
- 10 -
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES AT (ROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS DISCUSSED
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TODAY (THURSDAY) CONTINUED ITS DISCUSSION ON TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AT CROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS AND RECOMMENDED THE FARE INCREASES APPLIED FOR BY THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY AND THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY.
MEMBERS NOTED THAT DESPITE THE OPENING OF THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING (EHC) IN SEPTEMBER 1989, TRAFFIC CONGESTIONS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL (CHI') HAD NOT ABATED, AND WOULD ONLY SLIGHTLY DECREASE UPON THE OPENING OF TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL IN MID 1991.
TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT BOTH CROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS, THE TAC WAS TOLD THAT A NUMBER OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES WERE ALREADY IN HAND.
THESE INCLUDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUS LAYBY AT HARBOUR TUNNEL KOWLOON PORTAL, WIDENING OF THE VICTORIA WESTBOUND FROM THREE TO FOUR LANES AND THE COMPLETION OF' A TRAFFIC SCHEMES IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPENING OF THE
THE CROSS PARK ROAD NUMBER OF KWUN TONG
BYPASS LATER THIS YEAR.
IN ADDITION, A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS ALONG THE ROUTES TO AND FROM THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING WAS BEING CONDUCTED.
HOWEVER, THESE MEASURES COULD ONLY FORM PART OF THE OVERALL PACKAGE TO DEAL WITH THE CONGESTION PROBLEM AT CHT IN VIEW OF THEIR LIMITED APPLICATION.
IN XDDITION, TAC MEMBERS WERE GIVEN DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT TUNNEL TRAFFIC, TUNNEL TRAFFIC INTERFERENCE WITH NON-TUNNEL TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS THE PROPORTION OF VEHICLES THAT COULD BE DIVERTED TO THE EHC AND THE IMPACT OF THE CONGESTION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES.
TAKING THESE INTO CONSIDERATION, THE COMMITTEE HAD LOOKED INTO THE POSSIBILITIES OF MAKING GREATER USE OF FERRIES, RATIONALISING THE CLASSIFICATION AND TOLLS FOR GOODS VEHICLES FOR THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS AND INTRODUCING DIFFERENTIAL TOLLS WITHIN CHT FOR SELECTED HOURS OF THE DAY.
MEANWHILE, THE TAC HAD ALSO TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE OMELCO TRANSPORT PANEL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON SOLUTIONS TO THE CONGESTION PROBLEM AT CUT.
AT THE MEETING, THE COMMITTEE ALSO EXAMINED THE FARE RISE APPLICATIONS FROM KMB AND (’MB.
THE COMMITTEE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, IN PROCESSING THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS, HAD CAREFULLY STUDIED THE ACTUAL IMPACT OF FUEL PRICE MOVEMENTS ON THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE TWO BUS COMPANIES SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE GULF CRISIS IN AUGUST I 990 .
/THE ADMINISTRATION .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ALSO TAKEN A CRITICAL LOOK AT CMB AND KMB’S ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE LIKELY MOVEMENT OF FUEL. PRICES OVER THE NEXT NINE TO 12 MONTHS, ON THE BASIS OF THE TERMS OF THEIR SUPPLY CONTRACTS WITH OIL COMPANIES AND THE BEST FORECASTS NOW AVAILABLE TO THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH ABOUT PRESENT AND FUTURE OIL SUPPLY AND DEMAND CONDITIONS IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET, INCLUDING THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT OF THE GULF WAR.
THE TAC NOTED THAT WITH ANTICIPATED RISES IN STAFF SALARIES, COST OF SPARE PARTS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO FUEL COSTS, INTEREST AND EXCHANGE RATES, KMB WOULD HAVE A SHORTFALL LN PERMITTED RETURN OF MORE THAN $330 MILLION IN 1991 IF FARES REMAIN UNCHANGED.
MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT KMB NEEDED A FARE RISE TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ITS SERVICES. THE COMMITTEE OBSERVED THAT KMB HAD PLANNED TO INTRODUCE 15 NEW BUS ROUTES IN 1991 AND 1992, DEPLOY AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES ON SOME 30 BUS ROUTES INCLUDING THE CROSS-HARBOUR SERVICES, AND AUGMENT SERVICE FREQUENCIES ON NO LESS THAN 50 BUS ROUTES IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC DEMANDS VOICED THROUGH THE DISTRICT BOARDS.
TAC ALSO NOTED THAT, IN ITS LATEST FORWARD PLANNING PROGRAMME (1991-1995), KMB HAD, ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION’S ADVICE, PROPOSED A FULL PACKAGE OF COST ECONOMY MEASURES, INCLUDING RATIONALISATION OF LOSS-MAKING OR POORLY UTILISED SERVICES, MODEST FLEET EXPANSION AND MINIMAL DEPOT DEVELOPMENT.
CONCURRENT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW FARES, KMB PROPOSED TO OFFER HALF FARE FOR CHILDREN ON AIRBUS, EXPRESS, AIR-CONDITIONED AND ('ROSS-HARBOUR SERVICES; SECTION FARE ON SELECTED ROUTES TO ESTATES IN EAST KOWLOON AS WELL AS ON EXPRESS ROUTES. THESE PROPOSALS WERE SUPPORTED BY THF TAC.
WHEN CONSIDERING (MB’S FARE INCREASE, TAC MEMBERS NOTED THAT THE INCREASE SOUGHT COULD HAVE BEEN LOWERED BY A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS IE IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE NEED TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL PENSION PROVISION OF $13 MILLION IN ITS ACCOUNTS. HOWEVER, THE TAC AGREED THAT SUCH PROVISION SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
MEMBERS NOTED THAT ('MB’S RI DERSH I P FIGURE, AND HENCE FAREBOX REVENUE, WAS EXPECTED TO REMAIN VIRTUALLY STATIC IN 1991 AND 1992 DUE TO THE LIMITED SCOPE FOR SERVICE EXPANSION ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
• THE TAI WAS ALSO TOLD THAI' SINCE (MB’S LEVEL OF FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS MUCH LOWER THAN THAT OF KMB’S, THE COMMERCIAL DISCOUNTS WHICH CMB OBTAINED FROM ITS FUEL SUPPLIERS WERE LESS FAVOURABLE THAN THOSE OFFERED TO KMB.
SETTING ASIDE THE IMPACT OF RISING COSTS, PART OF THE FARE
RISE SOUGHT BY CMB WAS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
PROPOSALS IN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN.
THE TAC OBSERVED THAT CMB HAD PLANNED TO INTRODUCE SIX NEW BUS ROUTES IN 1991 AND 1992, DEPLOY AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES ON SIX ROUTES, AND ENHANCE SERVICE FREQUENCIES FOR 10 BUS ROUTES.
/MEMBERS ALSO .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
12
MEMBERS ALSO NOTED THAT CMB HAD AGREED TO EXTEND CONCESSIONARY HALF FARE FOR CHILDREN TO CROSS-HARBOUR ROUTES. ADDITIONALLY, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDED FARE SCALE WOULD SEE THE DISPARITY IN FARES BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND NORTH-SHORE ROUTES FURTHER NARROWED DOWN .
TAC WAS TOLD THAT FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE RELEVANT DISTRICT BOARDS, CMB HAD RATIONALISED SERVICES ON A NUMBER OF BUS ROUTES WITH THE RESULTANT SAVING OF A NUMBER OF BUSES AT THE BEGINNING OF 1991. FURTHER COST ECONOMY MEASURES WERE BEING LOOKED 1 NTO.
THE TAC’S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE TWO BUS COMPANIES' FARE RISE APPLICATIONS WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR FINAL DECISION.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WERE INFORMED THAT PROFESSOR LEUNG CHI-KEUNG HAD BEEN APPOINTED AS THE NEW TAC CHAIRMAN.
COMMENTING ON PROF LEUNG’S APPOINTMENT, THE CHAIRMAN MISS MARIA TAM, SAID SHE FULLY SUPPORTED PROF LEUNG AS THE CHAIRMAN AND BELIEVED THAT HIS SOUND JUDGEMENT AND CLARITY WOULD SERVE THE COMMITTEE EXTREMELY WELL.
OF TAC, NEW TAC OF MIND
------0--------
APPLICATION FOR BRITISH NATIONALITY CLOSES TODAY
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED WOULD-BE APPLICANTS THAT TODAY (THURSDAY) IS THE LAST DAY FOR APPLICATIONS UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME.
THE COUNTERS OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY DIVISION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS, WILL BE IN OPERATION UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE WAS NO NEED FOR APPLICANTS TO SUBMIT THEIR FORMS IN PERSON. THEY COULD CHOOSE TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION FORMS BY REGISTERED MAIL.
HE SAID ALL FORMS RECEIVED WITH POSTAL CHOPS SHOWING FEBRUARY 28 WILL BE ACCEPTED.
"SENDING IN APPLICATIONS BY MAIL WOULD SAVE THEM TIME OTHERWISE SPENT IN QUEUING UP BEFORE THE COUNTERS AND AVOID LIKELY CLOG-UPS AT THE DIVISION," HE EXPLAINED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE REMINDED THAT THE IDENTITY OF APPLICANTS UNDER THE SCHEME MUST REMAIN CONF I DENT I AL. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN COVERING ACTIVITIES AT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT’S BRITISH NATIONALITY DIVISION SHOULD AVOID TAKING PICTURES OR FILM SHOWING THE FACES OF APPLICANTS.
0 -
/13 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
ELECTION FOR KWUN TONG SHUN LEE CONSTITUENCY COUNTERMANDED » » » » *
THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTION FOR THE SHUN LEE CONSTITUENCY IN KWUN TONG DISTRICT ON SUNDAY (MARCH 3) IS COUNTERMANDED BY REASON OF THE DEATH OF ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, MR POON YU-KWONG.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE WILL BE SENDING LETTERS TO INFORM ALL THE 15,030 REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE CONSTITUENCY OF THE COUNTERMAND TOMORROW.
"A BY-ELECTION WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 21 AND THE NOMINATION PERIOD WILL BE FROM MARCH 15 TO APRIL 2," HE SAID.
------0--------
REVISION IN FEES COLLECTED BY IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT » * * » »
WITH EFFECT FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY), FEES CHARGED FOR A NUMBER OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE INCREASED, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
"IT IS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC ON A COST-RECOVERY BASIS UNLESS OTHERWISE JUSTIFIED.
"A RECENT REVIEW OF FEES AND CHARGES COLLECTED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SHOWS THAT THERE IS AN OVERALL UNDER-RECOVERY OF THE COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED, PARTICULARLY, IN RESPECT OF REGISTRATION OF PERSONS, REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGE, AND ISSUE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS," THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S REGULAR FEES ADJUSTMENT EXERCISES WERE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT INFLATION AND INCREASED OPERATING COSTS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, RATHER THAN SIMPLY PASSED ON TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ACTUALLY USE THE SERVICES.
HE SAID THAT TO DELAY THE INCREASE WOULD EXTEND THE PERIOD OF LOSS TO THE GENERAL TAXPAYERS, AND THE NEW FEES WERE, IN SOME AREAS, STILL BELOW THE COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES.
"IN MANY AREAS, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH GREAT AND INCREASING PRESSURES OF DEMAND ON SERVICES AND STAFF, THE GOVERNMENT MUST REINFORCE THE VERY FAIR AND APPROPRIATE PRINCIPLE THAT '/’HOSE WHO USE AND CAN AFFORD THE SERVICES SHOULD BEAR THE COSTS," HE STRESSED.
"FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEES FOR A 32-PAGE HONG KONG BDTC PASSPORT WILL BE INCREASED FROM $200 TO $250, A REPLACEMENT ISSUE OF A LOST OR DESTROYED IDENTITY CARD FROM $100 TO $170 AND A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE FROM $40 TO $75," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE OLD FEES WILL BE CHARGED FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BEFORE MARCH 1," HE SAID.
/DETAILS OF .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
14
DETAILS OF THE INCREASES WILL BE GAZETTED ON MARCH 1. ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ON 824 6111 AND A FULL LIST OF THE INCREASED FEES MAY BE OBTAINABLE AT THE INFORMATION OFFICE AT THE IMMIGRATION HEADQUARTERS, 7 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL LIST OF REVISED FEES COLLECTED BY
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 1 (FRIDAY): NEW FEES $
ISSUE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS OLD FEES $
HONG KONG BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN PASSPORT (32-PAGE) 200 250
HONG KONG BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN PASSPORT (94-PAGE) 400 500
ISSUING A PASSPORT OF 32 PAGES (IN SUBSTITUTION FOR SUCH AN EXISTING 40 65
PASSPORT) IN ORDER TO ADD A FRESH PHOTOGRAPH OR AMEND THE HOLDER’S •
DESCRIPTION
EMERGENCY PASSPORT 45 70
SEAMAN’S IDENTITY BOOK VALID FOR 5 YEARS 55 85
RENEWAL OF SEAMAN'S IDENTITY BOOK VALID FOR 5 YEARS 40 65
SEAMAN’S CERTIFICATE OF NATIONALITY AND IDENTITY 55 85
RENEWAL OF A SEAMAN’S CERTIFICATE OF NATIONALITY AND IDENTITY 10 15
HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY (44-PAGE) 150 180
HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY (92-PAGE) 300 360
MULTIPLE RE-ENTRY PERMIT (WHETHER OF FULL OR RESTRICTED VALIDITY) 35 55
RE-ENTRY PERMIT FOR 1 VISIT 10 15
ENDORSEMENT TO A TRAVEL DOCUMENT FOR WHICH NO SPECIFIC FEE IS PROVIDED 40 65
/SERVICE CHARGE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
15
SERVICE CHARGE FOR SUPPLYING, ON APPLICATION A COPY OF ANY. DOCUMENT, OR FOR MAKING OR FORWARDING, OR BOTH, A REQUEST OR RECOMMENDATION TO ANY AUTHORITY OF A FOREIGN STATE OR 45 70
COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY, FOR CONSULAR OR NATIONALITY REGISTRATION OR FOR THE ISSUE OR RENEWAL OF A PASSPORT OR OTHER TRAVEL DOCUMENT OR OF A DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY OR FOR THE GRANT OF A VISA OR ENTRY PERMIT
DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY FOR VISA PURPOSES 115 160
.( 44-PAGE)
DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY FOR VISA PURPOSES (92-PAGE) 230 320
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS
POST REGISTRATION OF BIRTH (AFTER 42 DAYS) WITHIN 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF BIRTH 12 20
POST REGISTRATION OF BIRTH AFTER 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF BIRTH 70 120
A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF ADDITION OR ALTERATION OF NAME OF CHILD 12 20
ADDITION OR ALTERATION OF NAME OF CHILI) AFTER 4 2 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE BIRTH 45 75
A CERTIFIED COPY OF A BIRTH ENTRY IN THE REGISTER TO A LOCAL APPLICANT 12 20
A CERTIFIED COPY OF A BIRTH ENTRY IN THE REGISTER TO OVERSEAS APPLICANT 25» 40»
A PARTICULAR SEARCH OF THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS RECORDS 12 20
A GENERAL SEARCH OF THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS RECORDS 70 120
A SHORTENED FORM OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE UNDER THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 5 10
CORRECTION OF AN ERROR OF FACT OF SUBSTANCE IN REGISTERS OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS 45 75
/A PARTICULAR .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
16
A PARTICULAR SEARCH FOR A BIRTH ENTRY 10 20
A GENERAL SEARCH FOR A BIRTH ENTRY 60 • 110
A CORRECTION OF AN ERROR IN ANY REGISTER ROOK OF RIRTH REGISTRATION 40 75
A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY IN ANY OF THE REGISTER BOOKS OF BIRTH REGISTRATION TO LOCAL APPLICANT 10 20
A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY IN ANY OF REGISTER BOOKS OF BIRTH REGISTRATION TO OVERSEAS APPLICANT • 20» 40»
RE-REGISTRATION OF BIRTH IF INFORMATION NOT FURNISHED WITHIN THE SPECIFIED TIME 35 65
A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY OF THE BIRTH OF A LEGITIMATED PERSON 12 20
A PARTICULAR SEARCH FOR AN ADOPTION RECORD 12 20
A GENERAL SEARCH FOR AN ADOPTION RECORD 70 120
A SHORTENED FORM OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE UNDER THE ADOPTION ORDINANCE 5 10
A CERTIFIED COPY OF ANY ENTRY IN THE ADOPTED CHILDREN REGISTER TO LOCAL APPLICANT 12 20
A CERTIFIED COPY OF ANY ENTRY IN THE ADOPTED CHILDREN REGISTER TO OVERSEAS APPLICANT 25» 40»
REGISTRATION OF DEATHS
A PARTICULAR SEARCH FOR A DEATH ENTRY 10 20
A GENERAL SEARCH FOR A DEATH ENTRY 60 110
A CORRECTION OF AN ERROR IN ANY REGISTER BOOKS OF DEATH REGISTRATION 40 75
A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY IN ANY OF THE REGISTER BOOKS OF DEATH REGISTRATION TO LOCAL APPLICANT 10 20
A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY IN ANY OF THE REGISTER BOOKS OF DEATH REGISTRATION TO OVERSEAS APPLICANT 20* 40»
/REGISTRATION OF .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28,
REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE
FILING OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION 10 OF MARRIAGE UNDER THE MARRIAGE REFORM ORDINANCE
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE 40 UNDER SECTION 9 OF THE MARRIAGE REFORM ORDINANCE
A SEARCH FOR MARRIAGE ENTRY MADE 60
UNDER SECTION 13 OF THE MARRIAGE REFORM
ORDINANCE DURING ANY NUMBER OF
SUCCESSIVE HOURS NOT EXCEEDING 6, WITHOUT
THE OBJECT OF THE SEARCH BEING SPECIFIED
A SEARCH FOR A SPECIFIED MARRIAGE ENTRY 10
WHERE THE SEARCH IS MADE BY THE APPLICANT
OR BY THE REGISTRAR ON HIS BEHALF UNDER SECTION 13 OF THE MARRIAGE REFORM ORDINANCE
CERTIFIED COPY OF A MARRIAGE ENTRY 20
GIVEN UNDER SECTION 13 OF THE MARRIAGE
REFORM ORDINANCE TO LOCAL APPLICANT
CERTIFIED COPY OF A MARRIAGE ENTRY 30*
GIVEN UNDER SECTION 13 OF THE MARRIAGE
REFORM ORDINANCE TO OVERSEAS APPLICANT
CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 13 OF THE 60
MARRIAGE REFORM ORDINANCE OF THE ABSENCE OF ANY RECORD TO LOCAL APPLICANT
CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 13 OF THE 70*
MARRIAGE REFORM ORDINANCE OF THE
ABSENCE OF ANY RECORD TO OVERSEAS
APPLICANT
FILING OF NOTICE OF INTENTION TO 5
DISSOLVE A MARRIAGE UNDER SECTION
16(1) OF THE MARRIAGE REFORM
ORDINANCE
FILING OF NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF 5
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DISSOLVE A
MARRIAGE UNDER SECTION 16(2) OF THE
MARRIAGE REFORM ORDINANCE
STATEMENT OF .DESIGNATED PUBLIC OFFICER 50
UNDER SECTION 17(2) OF THE MARRIAGE REFORM ORDINANCE, IN DUPLICATE
1991
20
75
110
20
35
50*
110
125*
10
10
100
/A CERTIFICATE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
- 18 -
A CERTIFICATE BY REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGE GIVEN UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE FOREIGN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE 5 10
GOVERNOR’S LICENCE GIVEN UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE FOREIGN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE 70 120
FILING AND EXHIBITION OF NOTICE OF MARRIAGE 30 50
CERTIFICATE OF NOTICE WHEN ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISO TO SECTION 9 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE 550 925
SEARCH FOR MARRIAGE ENTRY MADE UNDER SECTION 26 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE DURING ANY NUMBER OF SUCCESSIVE HOURS . NOT EXCEEDING 6, WITHOUT THE OBJECT OF THE SEARCH BEING SPECIFIED 70 120
SEARCH UNDER SECTION 26 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE FOR A SPECIFIED ENTRY OF MARRIAGE WHETHER THE SEARCH IS MADE BY THE APPLICANT OR BY THE REGISTRAR ON HIS BEHALF 12 20
CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY OF MARRIAGE GIVEN UNDER SECTION 26 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE TO LOCAL APPLICANT 25 40
CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY OF MARRIAGE GIVEN UNDER SECTION 26 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE TO OVERSEAS APPLICANT 35* 55*
CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 26 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE OF ABSENCE OF ANY MARRIAGE RECORD TO LOCAL APPLICANT 70 120
CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 26 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE OF ABSENCE OF ANY MARRIAGE RECORD TO OVERSEAS APPLICANT 80* 135*
SPECIAL LICENCE UNDER SECTION 11 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE GRANTED BY THE GOVERNOR 1 , 100 1,850
MARRIAGE AT THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR - DURING NORMAL OFFICE HOURS 90 155
MARRIAGE AT THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR - OUTSIDE NORMAL OFFICE HOURS 200 335
/CELEBRATION BY .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
- 19 -
CELEBRATION BY THE REGISTRAR, 450 755
ELSEWHERE THAN IN HIS OFFICE, OR MARRIAGE BY SPECIAL LICENCE OR OF PERSON IN ART1CULO MORTIS
CELEBRATION BY THE REGISTRAR OF 220 370
MARRIAGES UNDER PARAGRAPH (B) OF THE PROVISO TO SECTION 21(3), PER MARRIAGE AND IN ADDITION $560 (TO BE PAID PROPORTIONATELY BY THE PARTIES BEING MARRIED) OR $75 PER MARRIAGE, WHICHEVER IS THE GREATER
REGISTRATION OF PERSONS
LOST OR DESTROYED IDENTITY CARD REPLACED UNDER REGULATION 13 OF THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE 100 170
DAMAGED OR DEFACED IDENTITY CARD REPLACED UNDER REGULATION 13 OF THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE 35 70
IDENTITY CARD REQUIRING ALTERATION REPLACED UNDER REGULATION 14(1) (A) OF THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE 100 170
CERTIFICATE OR A CERTIFIED COPY ISSUED UNDER REGULATION 23 OF THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE. 100 170
NOTE: » PLUS AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE AIRMAIL POSTAGE AT THE NORMAL RATE.
--------0-----------
NEW REGULATIONS
PROVIDE FOR LICENSING OF CROSSBOWS * » » t «
THE POSSESSION AND USE OF CROSSBOWS WILL BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 29.
FOLLOWING APPROVAL BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, NEW REGULATIONS UNDER THE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ORDINANCE WILL BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW (FRIDAY) PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSING OF CROSSBOWS.
A PERIOD OF FOUR WEEKS IS BEING GIVEN TO ALLOW PERSONS ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF CROSSBOWS TO OBTAIN A LICENCE OR DISPOSE OF THEM.
/A GOVERNMENT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
- 20 -
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID CROSSBOWS WERE POWERFUL WEAPONS CAPABLE OF CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH AND THEY HAI) BEEN USED IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES BY CRIMINALS AND DERANGED PERSONS IN RECENT YEARS WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING A MURDER IN HONG KONG.
"MODERN CROSSBOWS ARE ACCURATE AND LETHAL EVEN WHEN FIRED AT RANGES OF SOME HUNDREDS OF METRES.
"IN SOME CASES, THE BOLTS (THE PROJECTILES) ARE DESIGNED TO PIERCE ARMOUR-PLATING, SHATTER CONCRETE OR TWIST AND TURN ON IMPACT TO MAXIMISE A WOUND," HE SAID.
THE NEW REGULATIONS WILL APPLY TO CROSSBOWS WITH A DRAW WEIGHT OF MORE THAN SIX KILOGRAMS, WHICH IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CAUSE VISIBLE DAMAGE TO HUMAN SKIN, AS WELL AS TO THE BOLTS.
--------0-----------
WORK OF POLICE CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU EXPLAINED ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦
A TERRITORY-WIDE "PAPER CHASE" OF CRIMINAL RECORDS LEAVES POLICE HEADQUARTERS EVERY DAY AS POLICE FORCE MOTORCYCLISTS DISTRIBUTE VITAL (’ONE I DENT I AL REPORTS TO COURTS.
WITH MORE THAN 200 ARRESTS IN HONG KONG DAILY THE COMPLICATED AND DETAILED WORK OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU IS DEDICATED TO KEEPING AND UPDATING ALL RECORDS RELATING TO CASES OLD AND NEW.
THE BUREAU IS HONG KONG’S SOLE REPOSITORY OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS. IT HOLDS 513,000 RECORDS OF OFFENCES AND NEARLY TWO MILLION INDIVIDUAL CASE FILES.
YET ALTHOUGH THE STIGMA OF A CRIMINAL OFFENCE MIGHT STAY WITH A CONVICTED PERSON UNTIL THE DAY HE OR SHE DIES, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE CRIMINAL RECORDS ONLY FIND THEMSELVES ACCUSED ONCE IN THEIR LIVES.
SIXTY PER CENT OF PEOPLE IN THE CRB FILES HAVE ONLY ONE CONVICTION. AROUND 30 PER CENT HAVE IWO AND THE REST THREE OR MORE.
MOST PERSONS HAVING MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS, SOME HAVE DOZENS, ARE INVOLVED WITH DANGEROUS DRUGS OFFENCES.
TRAFFIC CONVICTIONS ARE KEPT SEPARATELY AT TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS.
"THE MAJORITY OF OUR CASE FILES OF ALL INVESTI GAT IONS INTO RECORDABLE OFFENCES ARE NOW ON MI(’RO-FILM," CRB STAFF OFFICER, (’RIME, MR DAVE MADOC-JONES, SAID. "WE HAVE 12 PEOPLE WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO MICROFILM CRIMINAL RECORDS. THEY FILM MORE THAN THREE MILLION PAGES A YEAR."
/BUT THE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
21 -
BUT THE BUREAU IS NOT JUST A REPOSITORY. ITS RECORDS HAVE A NUMBER OF USES ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS LONG AFTER A CRIMINAL HAS BEEN CONVICTED IN COURT. THEY CAN BE USED AS MUCH FOR THE REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS AS FOK HELPING INVESTIGATIONS.
THE BUREAU PREPARES REPORTS ON CASES WHEN A CONVICTED PRISONER PETITIONS THE GOVERNOR, WHEN LONG TERM PRISONERS APPLY FOR THEIR SENTENCES TO BE REVIEWED AND WHEN THEY PLEAD FOR RELEASE FROM PRISON UNDER SUPERVISION BY A PAROLE BOARD.
"WE HAVE TWO OFFICERS DEDICATED TO RESEARCHING OLD CASES," MR MADOC-JONES SAID. "IT’S AN ONGOING TASK."
WHEN A CASE IS DEALT WITH, WHETHER IT IS AN INVESTIGATION OR A CASE BEFORE THE COURTS, THE SYSTEMS AT CRB ARE MANPOWER INTENSIVE. WHEN A CASE GOES TO COURT IT IS ALLOCATED A NUMBER BY THE IDENTIFICATION BUREAU WHEN A DEFENDANT HAS NO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS. IF THERE ARE I’HE PREVIOUS RECORDS ARE SENT BY DISPATCH RIDERS EVERY DAY FOR SAFE KEEPING BY OFFICERS COMMAND I NG COURTS.
A RESULT CHECKING GROUP MONITORS THE OUTCOME OF COURT PROCEDURES AND ('ONFIRMS DETAILS WHEN THE RECORDS RETURN TO THE BUREAU. THE RECORDS ARE THEN REWRITTEN FOR CODING UNDER A CODING SYSTEM WHICH HAS HUNDREDS OF ABBREVIATIONS FOR QUICK REFERENCE.
"WE HAVE TO CHASE THE RETURN OF SLOW MOVING FILES AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THESE PAPERS TO BE RETURNED URGENTLY AFTER A CASE HAS BEEN DEALT WITH," MR MADOC-JONES SAID. "THE LATE RETURN OF RECORDS ('AUSES A LOT OF TROUBLE AND A LOT OF WORK.
"THE RECORDS ARE HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND WE DON’T GIVE INFORMATION ON THEM TO ANYONE, ALTHOUGH MUCH OF IT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. WE DON’T GIVE INFORMATION TO INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED OR TO THEIR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES."
WHEN A DEFENDANT IS ACQUITTED NO RECORD IS KEPT ON THE FILE EVEN IF THERE ARE PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS RECORDED.
ALTHOUGH THE DEATH OF A CRIMINAL IS THE FINAL EXONERATION OF HIS RECORD THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER Will ('ll A FILE (’AN BE REMOVED OR CONS I DERED "SPENT" .
"WE WEED OUT THE FILES WHEN WE CHECK THE DEATHS RECORDED BY THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE," MR MADOC-JONI'S SAID. "THE FILES ARE DESTROYED."
"SO ARE THOSE OF JUVENILES DEALT WITH UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENTS’ DISCRETION SCHEME. THEY ARE KEPT ONLY THREE YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF CON\ I CT I ON. OTHER RECORDS ARE CONSIDERED SPENT UNDER THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ORDINANCE."
IF A PERSON IS CONVICTED BUT NQT SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT OR FINED NOT MORE THAN $5,000 DETAILS OF THE CONVICTION CANNOT BE MENTIONED THREE YEARS AFTER THE CONVICTION EXCEPT UNDER CONDITIONS DEFINED TN THE ORDINANCE.
/THE BUREAU'S .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
22
THE BUREAU’S VETTING UNTIL LAST YEAR MADE 200,000 CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS.
RECORDS ARE ALSO MAINTAINED OF ALL UNEXECUTED NON-TRAFFIC ARRESTS, INCLUDING THOSE REFERRED B\ CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, AND BANKRUPT!’IES.
"WE ARE GETTING INCREASED REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM OVERSEAS POLICE AGENCIES AS CRIME BECOMES MORE INTERNATIONAL," MR MADOC-JONES ADDED.
0---------
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HOSTS SPRING RECEPTION
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR LI YUET-TING, THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING HOSTED A SPRING RECEPTION FOR EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO THANK THEM FOR THE ADVICE AND SUPPORT THEY HAD GIVEN TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST YEAR.
ABOUT 500 GUESTS ATTENDED THE PARTY WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE HAPPY VALLEY CLUBHOUSE OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
THEY INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, EDUCATION COMMISSION, BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT BOARDS, SCHOOL COUNCILS, UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION, COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB DISTRICT COMMITTEES AND SCHOOL SPONSORING BODIES.
------0--------
REPROVI SIGNED SCHOOL MATCHES POPULATION TREND
SOUTH TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE YU TO SANG MEMORIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL, IS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS UNDER THE REPROVISIONING SCHEME TO MATCH POPULATION TREND AND ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WERE TOLD THIS TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN THEY VISITED THE SCHOOL.
THE SCHOOL WAS REPROVISIONED IN SEPTEMBER 1988 FROM HOSPITAL ROAD IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT TO TUEN MUN WHERE THERE IS INCREASING DEMAND FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES AS A RESULT OF POPULATION SHIFT FROM BUILT-UP ARRAS TO NEW TOWNS.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DISTRICT HAVE BEEN ENHANCED WITH THE 24-CLASSROOM SCHOOL OFFERING 1,280 SECONDARY 1-5 PLACES.
THE VISITORS WERE BOARD CHAIRMAN MR TIMOTHY HA AND MEMBERS MRS MINNIE LAI, MISS BOW SU I-MAY, MR TAM MAN-KWAN AND MR PETER PELHAM.
THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (SCHOOLS), MR (’HAN KWOK-HEI.
--------0---------
/23 ........................................
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
- 23 -
SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND COMMITTEE INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS ******
THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND COMMITTEE IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION AND THE JOCKEY CLUB GRANT FOR PERMANENT RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR YOUTH.
THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION IS USED FOR THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATIONAL, SPORTING, CULTURAL, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
IT IS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE RECREATIONAL AND RELATED PROJECTS WITH THE AIM TO PROMOTE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, PURPOSEFUL USE OF LEISURE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, PARTICULARLY OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE JOCKEY CLUB GRANT IS PRIMARILY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
A SINGLE APPLICATION FORM IS AVAILABLE FOR THE TWO FUNDS.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, AND AT THE EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE, HEALTH, HOSPITAL SERVICES, URBAN SERVICES AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS AND THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
THEY CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED FROM THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SECTION OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH, AND THE SECRETARIAT OF THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING BOTH THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION FOR CAPITAL AND NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS AND ADVISING ON THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE JOCKEY CLUB GRANT.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY FOR THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND COMMITTEE, 11TH FLOOR, HARBOUR CENTRE, 25 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS FOR CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS WILL CLOSE ON MAY 20 WHILE THAT FOR NON-CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS IS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
- - 0----------
/24 .......
’THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
- 24 -
FIGHT CRIME VARIETY SHOW IN NORTH DISTRICT
*****
POPULAR SINGERS WILL PERFORM IN A VARIETY SHOW IN THE NORTH DISTRICT TOMORROW (FRIDAY) EVENING TO HELP SPREAD THE FIGHT CRIME AND ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGES TO RESIDENTS.
THE NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME AND ANTI-NARCOTICS VARIETY SHOW, TO BE HELD AT THE FANLING RECREATION GROUND, IS SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, WITH SPONSORSHIPS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
"THE TWO-HOUR SHOW IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ORGANISED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE IN 1990-91,” THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR TAO MAN-KWONG, SAID.
"ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE SHOW WHICH WILL BE PRODUCED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG. ADMISSION IS FREE," HE SAID.
PERFORMING WILL BE SINGERS MR HACKEN LEE, MR JACKY CHEUNG, MR LUN WING-LEUNG AND MISS SHIRLEY KWAN.
DISC JOCKEY MR YEUNG KAT-SAI AND ARTISTE MISS ELIZABETH LEE WILL BE THE COMPERES. THE SHOW WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON RTHK RADIO 1, FROM 8 PM TO 10 PM.
PRIOR TO THE SHOW, PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED TO RECIPIENTS OF THE NORTH DISTRICT GOOD CITIZEN AWARD AND WINNERS OF A POSTER DESIGN AND A CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITION.
OMELCO MEMBER MRS RITA FAN WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG; DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI; THE FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN OF HEUNG YEE KUK, MR LIU CHING-LEUNG; ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING, MR SIMON LUN; FRONTIER POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR MICHAEL WATSON; AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SECURITY (NARCOTICS), MISS WINDY KWOK.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME AND ANTI-NARCOTICS VARIETY SHOW TOMORROW (FRIDAY), BEGINNING AT 8 PM AT THE FANLING RECREATION GROUND.
THE OPENING AND PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 7 PM.
------0-------
/25 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1991
25
UNAUTHORISED BUILDING TO BE CLOSED * ♦ » » »
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING TO CLOSE THE UNAUTHORISED BUILDING AT THE REAR YARD OF WINKI HOUSE, 123-125 LAI CHI KOK ROAD AND 209 TONG Ml ROAD, MONG KOK, SO THAT IT CAN BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS AND THE PUBLIC.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON APRIL 12 WAS POSTED ON THE PREMISES TODAY (THURSDAY).
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMOLITION WORKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT ONCE THE CLOSURE ORDER IS GRANTED.
- - 0 - -