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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1980
+HOWEVER, THE PLANNED PROVISION OF A NUMBER OF CAPITAL PROJECTS HAD TO BE DEFERRED FOR 12 MONTHS OR MORE LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE VERY NECESSARY CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED ON THE GROSS RATE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS ON PUBLIC WORKS IN SUPPORT OF THE ECONOMY AS A HOLE.
PRIORITY IN OUR NEW TOWNS HAD TO BE GIVEN TO THE PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND INDUSTRIAL LAND, HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES ADDED THAT CULTURAL, SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL FACIL TIES WERE BEING PROVIDED BROADLY IN PACE WITH DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HUNTING RESTRICTION
*****
GAME HUNTING WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND COMMONSENSE AND THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY INDICATED THAT HUNTING SHOULD BE BANNED ENTIRELY, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. OR THE HON C.T. WONG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID HUNTING WAS AN ESTABLISHED SPORT IN HONG KONG, BUT WAS PRACTISED BY ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THERE WERE VERY FEW PLACES WHERE HUNTING COULD TAKE PLACE LAWFULLY AND IN SAFETY.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE WILD ANIMALS PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, DR WONG SAID THERE WERE NOW SEVEN MILLION VISITORS RECORDED IN AREAS MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT, COMPARED WITH ONLY HALF A MILLION IN THE SAME AREAS IN 1970/71.
HOWEVER, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO PERMIT HUNTING, BUT PERMISSION WOULD ONLY BE GIVEN IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN NECESSARY, FOR EXAMPLE, TO CONTROL THE POPULATION OF WILD PIGS OR OTHER SPECIES OF ANIMAL WHICH COULD BE CAUSING A SERIOUS NUISANCE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.