1992-10-19 17:42 INFORMATION SERVICES DEPT
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Legislator Emily Lau said seperation of Exco and Legco would hinder the grooming of political leaders for the post-1997 era, while Martin Le
L£ denounced the separation as "retrospective", the Post reported. Eric Li said it would mean denying politicians a chance to have a taste of ruling HK. On broadening the base of franchise for the additional functional constituencies, Mr Li was concerned that voter turnout rate would be lowas people of diverse interests were group together.
The Post said Mary Leung of the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Services had criticised the Governor of omitting to mention support services for the mentally ill. HKS reported that about 20 education workers petitioned Government House, calling for direct government subsidies to kindergarten education. The paper also noted that social welfare groups were still unhappy about public assistance levels despite Government's decision to raise the average payment to single elderly people to $1,800.
AIRPORT
The Sunday Standard said CS Sir David Ford had hit back at Chinese criticism about the cost of the airport project. He said it was completely unjustified as the administration had a record of being cost- effective in projects, and he stressed that the administration's
contribution to the scheme would not increase.
The Sunday Post said HK contractors, being hit by delays in the airport project, were cutting tender prices in their fight for more jobs. Kevin Sinclair, writing in the Post, examines why some engineers were always given contracts for the new airport.
CHINA
Both papers prominently noted that the 14th Party Congress closed on Sunday after electing a new Central Committee. They highlighted the promotion of Lu Ping and Zhou Nan into the committee. The Post noted that young reformists had dominated the party's central power structure.
The Post's editorial said the Congress had signalled the start of a great leap forward. It said by putting so many younger, more dynamic members on the Central Committee, the hope must be that there would be continuity when Deng Xiaoping and other veterans responsible for advocating market-oriented reforms were no longer around.
HKS, in its editorial, said what had emerged from Peking now was a piocture of pragmatism, a country which was preparing to usher in an of free-market reforms.
OTHER STORIES
era
Both papers reported on the building collapse case in Central yesterday.
The Post, in its front page lead, said there was a staggering 60 per cent increase in the number of HK youths caught belonging to "unlawful societies". The paper also noted that violent crime and car theft were on the rise.