17
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1977
IN REPLY, THE HON. GARTH THORNTON, SOLICITOR GENERAL AGREED WITH MR. CHEUNG HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS THAT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE TRIBUNAL SHOULD BE WIDELY KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD AND SAID SOME STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO PUBLICISE WHAT THE TRIBUNAL HAD TO OFFER AND THESE WOULD CONTINUE.
HE NOTED THAT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF CASES NOW COMING FORWARD IS AN ENCOURAGING SIGN OF PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE AND CONFIDENCE.
ON THE POINT CONCERNING THE RUNNING OF TIME FOR APPEALS, MR. THORNTON SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND CONSULT WITH MR. CHEUNG FURTHER BEFORE THE COUNCIL MET AGAIN.
THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THE THIRD READING OF THE BILL WERE POSTPONED.
GOVERNMENT RE-EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY OF AN
EXHIBITION CENTRE
*******
THE GOVERNMENT IS RE-EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING AN EXHIBITION CENTRE, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.
MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THE COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS HAS BEEN GATHERING MATERIAL TO SUPPORT HIS VIEW THAT AN EXHIBITION CENTRE WAS GREATLY NEEDED AND WOULD BE WIDELY USED.
HE SAID AN ADEQUATE EXHIBITION CENTRE WOULD NOT BE INEXPENSIVE, ADDING: +WE MUST BE QUITE SURE THAT THE DEMAND FOR IT IS REALLY THERE AND THAT THE CENTRE WOULD BE VIABLE.+
HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE SITE RESERVED FOR THE EXHIBITION CENTRE IN THE 1960'S WAS STILL AVAILABLE.
HE SAID THERE HAD BEEN A PROPOSAL 10 YEARS AGO THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SUILD A COMBINED INDOOR SPORTS STADIUM AND EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION CENTRE AS PART OF THE HUNG HOM COMPLEX, BUT, IN 1967, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO PROCEED ONLY WITH THE RAILWAY STATION AND THE INDOOR STADIUM.
+ THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THIS WAS THE OVERALL COST, THEN ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE ORDER OF 360 MILLION, EXCLUDING THE STATION, MR. JEAFFRESON RECALLED.
+THE GOVERNMENT CONCLUDED THAT PRIORITY HAD TO BE GIVEN TO RECREATION, SPORTS AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES, AND, THUS, SINCE IT COULD NOT AFFORD THE WHOLE PROJECT, ONLY THE INDOCR STADIUM SHOULD BE BUILT IN ADDITION TO THE STATION.+
J
/18