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WEDNESDAY, DE VER 23, 1981
MTR LOANS GUARANTEED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A MOTION BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROVIDING FOR THREE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES TO COVER REPAYMENT OF LOANS INCURRED BY THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MTR ISLAND LINE.
IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE GUARANTEES COVER REPAYMENT OF THREE LOANS TOTALLING $1 358 MILLION AND SUCH AMOUNT AS MAY BECOME PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES.
THIS BRINGS TO $7 184 MILLION THE GOVERNMENT'S TOT... GUARANTEE COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF OUTSTANDING LOANS AVAILABLE TO THE MTRC.
+THIS CONTINGENT LIABILITY IS PROVIDED FOR WITHIN OUR RESERVES, + MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
SECTION 12 OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION ORDINANCE REQUIRES THE AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO GRANT GUARANTEES IN RESPECT OF THE REPAYMENT OF LOANS AND OTHER INDEBTEDNESS INCURRED BY THE MTRC.
THE SUMS BORROWED UNDER THE THREE GUARANTEES WILL BE USED TO FINANCE THE ISLAND LINE CONTRACTS COVERING ROLLING STOCK, CONSTRUCTION WORKS FOR TUNNELS AND STATIONS AT ADMIRALTY, CAUSEWAY BAY, TIN HAU AND FORTRESS HILL, AND SITE FORMATION WORKS AT THE CHAI WAN DEPOT.
AMENDMENTS TO LEGAL AID RULES
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TWO AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES RULES WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ONE AMENDMENT INCREASES THE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS PAYABLE BY THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID TO LEGAL PRACTITIONERS FOR WORK IN CRIMINAL CASES, AS THE EXISTING PRESCRIBED FEES WERE UNREALISTICALLY LOW COMPARED WITH THE MARKET RATE.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE GREAT DIFFICULTY EXPERIENCED BY THE DIRECTOR IN ENGAGING PRIVATE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS OF THE RIGHT CALIBRE TO DEFEND CRIMINAL CASES.
THE OTHER AMENDMENT PROVIDES FOR A CLEARER METHOD OF NOTIFYING PEOPLE WHO APPLIED FOR LEGAL AID BUT WERE REFUSED SUCH AID.
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