THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1984
7
UK SUPPORT +MOST WELCOME+
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IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA QUESTIONS ON SIR GEOFFREY HOWE'S REMARKS IN PARLIAMENT ON THE GREEN PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS MOST WELCOME, PARTICULARLY AT THIS STAGE OF HK'S DEVELOPMENT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID SIR GEOFFREY'S STATEMENT UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH BOTH THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ATTACHED TO POSITIVE AND PROGRESSIVE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE TERRITORY.
HK GOVERNMENT CONSULTED
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IN ANSWER TO MEDIA QUESTIONS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN LONDON OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE TO COLLECT PUBLIC OPINION ON THE AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN GAVE THE FOLLOWING REPLY-
THE DECISION WAS REACHED IN FULL CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
IT IS COMPLETELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA, THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,
PROPOSED TAXI MEASURES MOD IF IED
III
THE PACKAGE OF MEASURES PROPOSED TO IMPLEMENT THE PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE +1983 TAXI REVIEW+ HAS NOW BEEN MODIFIED AFTER FULL CONSULTATION WITH THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE TAXI TRADE AND AFTER OBTAINING FURTHER ADVICE FROM THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN FIRST REGISTRATION TAX (FRT), A MODERATE INCREASE OF $400 IN THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR, A FREEZE IN THE ISSUE OF NT LICENCES AND A REDUCTION IN THE ISSUE OF URBAN LICENCES FROM 1 200 AT PRESENT TO 200 A YEAR, TO BE REVIEWED AFTER TWO YEARS.
/THIS MEANS