TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1985
OBSERVATORY SEEKS NEW DATA EQUIPMENT
****
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO APPROVE FUNDS TOTALLING $7.2 MILLION TO PROVIDE THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY WITH ENHANCED DATA PROCESSING FACILITIES.
THE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT WOULD ENABLE THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TO DEVELOP AN IN-HOUSE PROGRAMME TO ANALYSE LONG PERIOD RECORDS AND TO PROVIDE MORE TIMELY AND RELIABLE WEATHER FORECAST AND WARNING SERVICES.
THE ENHANCED SYSTEM WOULD ALSO ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE WEATHER INFORMATION SERVICES TO MORE COMPANIES OPERATING OFF-SHORE OIL RIGS, THEREBY GENERATING ADDITIONAL REVENUE ESTIMATED AT SOME $2 MILLION A YEAR.
OTHER NEW FEATURES WILL INCLUDE AUTOMATION OF THE LOCAL TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK AND WEATHER CHART PLOTTING TO PROVIDE MORE ACCURATE AND FASTER WEATHER WARNINGS AND FORECASTS, AS WELL AS FASTER AND BETTER QUALITY CHARTS.
AUTOMATION OF THESE SERVICES IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN STAFF SAVINGS OF SOME $1.4 MILLION A YEAR FROM 1987-88 ONWARDS.
HONG KONG'S CIRCUIT IN THE GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE UPGRADED TO FACILITATE FASTER RECEPTION OF OBSERVATIONAL DATA SO THAT FORECASTS AND WARNINGS CAN BE GIVEN MORE PROMPTLY.
ANOTHER NEW FEATURE OF THE ENHANCED SYSTEM WILL BE THE MODELLING FOR A BACKGROUND RADIATION MONITORING PROGRAMME TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE OPERATION OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AT DAYA BAY.
ALSO ON TOMORROW'S FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA IS A PROPOSAL TO INJECT $2 500 MILLION IN EQUITY INTO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION BETWEEN NOW AND 1987-88, AND A FURTHER POSSIBLE COMMITMENT OF UP TO $2 500 MILLION IN EQUITY INJECTIONS TO BE MADE ON OR AFTER THE END' OF DECEMBER 1989.
OTHER ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED INCLUDE:
* SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION TO ENGAGE LAWYERS TO ACT FOR THE CROWN IN AN ARBITRATION
☀ SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION TO MEET EXPENSES ON
COURT FEES
* A PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE TO OWNERS OF OLD SCHEDULED BUILDING LAND IN THE URBAN AREAS ON SURRENDER OR RESUMPTION
REVISED