WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1983
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CONVERSION OF SUPREME COURT BUILDING PLANNED
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID TODAY THAT WORK COULD START IN MID-1984 ON THE CONVERSION OF THE OLD SUPREME COURT BUILDING FOR USE AS A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND ASSOCIATED PURPOSES.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LO TAK-SHING, SIR PHILIP ALSO SAID THAT THE NEW CHAMBER COULD BE READY FOR USE IN THE LATTER HALF OF 1985.
HE SAID THAT SINCE THE PROPOSAL WAS LAST MENTIONED BY HIM ON NOVEMBER 11, 1982, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS HAD ARRANGED FOR PRELIMINARY STUDIES TO BE CARRIED OUT WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE BUILDING WAS STILL STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND THAT THE CONVERSION COULD BE CARRIED OUT IN A WAY WHICH WOULD RETAIN
THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING WHILE ADAPTING IT EFFECTIVELY TO ITS PROPOSED NEW ROLE.
+IN ADDITION, ILLUSTRATIVE PLANS AND A PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER, THE UMELCO OFFICE AND COMMON ROOMS AND OFFICE ACCOMMODATION FOR SUPPORTING STAFF HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP ON WHICH THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL BE SOUGHT VERY SHORTLY, SIR PHILIP SAID.
+THEREAFTER THE ASSISTANCE OF UNOFFICIALS WILL BE SOUGHT TO DEVELOP THE OUTLINE PLANS INTO A DETAILED SCHEME SO THAT IT MAY BE COSTED AND SUBSEQUENTLY WRITTEN UP AS A SUBMISSION TO FINANCE COMMITTEE, HE ADDED.
DEPARTURE TAX TO BRING IN $230 MILLION
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THE PRESENT $20 PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE WOULD NOT BE REPLACED BY THE PROPOSED DEPARTURE TAX OF $100 IF MATCHING REVENUE COULD BE FAIRLY SECURED FROM OTHER SOURCES, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DOUGLAS BLYE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR BLYE WAS REAFFIRMING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S EARLIER REMARKS ON THE SUBJECT, AS HE MOVED THE AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX BILL 1983 THROUGH THE SECOND READING.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE BILL, IF ENACTED, WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JUNE 1 THIS YEAR.
AS ESTIMATED RECENTLY BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, THE ADDITIONAL YIELD TO REVENUE, AFTER ALLOWING FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE, WOULD BE SOME $230 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, MR BLYE SAID.
HE RECALLED THAT AT THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1983 ON FEBRUARY 23, MR BREMRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT THE DEPARTURE TAX WAS ONE OF 11 PROPOSALS FOR INCREASING REVENUE,
/ON WHAT