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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1985
VIP FACILITIES AT AIRPORT EXPLAINED
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IN ANSWER TO PRESS INQUIRIES ON VIP FACILITIES AT KAI TAK AIRPORT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE FACILITIES ACCORDED TO BOTH LOCAL AND VISITING DIGNITARIES WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE PROVIDED BY MOST GOVERNMENTS AT THEIR MAIN AIRPORTS.
SUCH FACILITIES HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE AT KAI TAK FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS.
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT SUCH FACILITIES DO NOT IN THEMSELVES GRANT IMMUNITY FROM CUSTOMS INSPECTION, HEALTH AND IMMIGRATION CONTROL, ETC.
THE ONLY CATEGORY OF PERSONS LEGALLY EXEMPTED FROM CUSTOMS SEARCHES COMPRISES MEMBERS OF THE CONSULAR CORPS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS LISTED UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES ORDINANCE, SUCH AS THE
UNITED NATIONS AND THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.
HOWEVER, A SECOND GROUP COMPRISING MEMBERS OF UMELCO ARE NORMALLY GRANTED +COURTESY OF PORT+ AND ARE THEREFORE EXEMPTED FROM CUSTOMS CHECKS UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE CUSTOMS AUTHORITY, HOWEVER, RESERVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO CARRY OUT CHECKS IF THEY CONSIDER SÚCH TO BE NECESSARY.
ALL PASSENGERS WHO LEAVE KAI TAK VIA THE VIP SUITE ARE SUBJECT TO THE NORMAL SECURITY CHECK.
ALL HONG KONG RESIDENTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THEY ARE ACCORDED VIP FACILITIES, ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME DUTY FREE RESTRICTIONS.
YAUMATE I REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ACCEPTED BY EXCO
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AS PART OF A $300 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR YAUMATE!, ABOUT 6 000 PEOPLE LIVING IN 122 TENEMENTS IN THE AREA WILL BE REHOUSED.
THIS FOLLOWS A DECISION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE A HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY URBAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME FOR THE DILAPIDATED AREA KNOWN AS YAUMATEI SIX STREETS.
THE SCHEME WILL PROVIDE 1 400 HOUSING UNITS, A COMMERCIAL AREA OF 2 800 SQUARE METRES, AND GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES. THIS WILL COVER ABOUT 20 PER CENT OF THE LAND AND THE REST WILL BE USED FOR LOCAL OPEN SPACE, PRESENTLY LACKING IN THE AREA.
/PHASE ONE