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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1986
MR CHAMBERS SAID ALL LOCAL PRODUCERS OF MINERAL WATER+ HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROPOSAL AND THEY HAD NOT RAISED ANY OBJECTIONS. THE MAJOR TRADE ORGANISATIONS HAD ALSO INDICATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
HE ADDED THAT BOTH THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE THEN PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND HAD ENDORSED THE PROPOSAL.
+ AS THE PROPOSED CONTROLS WILL APPLY TO IMPORTED BOTTLED WATER, OTHER PARTIES TO THE GATT HAD ALSO BEEN NOTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HONG KONG'S OBLIGATION UNDER THE AGREEMENT ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE,+ HE SAID.
IN ORDER TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE TRADE TO COMPLY WITH THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF MINERAL WATER, IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE BILL SHOULD NOT COME INTO OPERATION UNTIL JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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LOAN TERMS SAME FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF 26 BLOCKS
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THE TERMS OF THE GOVERNMENT LOAN OF $800 MILLION FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE 26 SUB-STANDARD BLOCKS ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LOANS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON JOHN TODD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON RICHARD LAI ON THE $800 MILLION LOAN FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND, MR TODD SAID THE TERMS WERE THE SAME BECAUSE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE 26 BLOCKS HAD BEEN REGARDED AS AN EXTENSION OF THE AUTHORITY'S ON-GOING PROGRAMME TO REDEVELOP ITS MARK I AND ESTATES.
+ INTEREST OF FIVE PER CENT IS CHARGED ON THESE LOANS BUT IT IS ONLY A NOTIONAL CHARGE, THAT IS TO SAY THE CHARGE IS INCLUDED IN THE AUTHORITY'S ACCOUNTS TO PORTRAY CLEARLY THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION, IN ADDITION TO FREE LAND, TOWARDS THE PROVISION OF HOUSING, BUT NO CASH PAYMENT IS MADE IN RESPECT OF THE INTEREST.+
MR TODD ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE EXTENDED REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WOULD NOT AFFECT RENT LEVELS.
+THEY ARE NOT RELATED TO THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION, BUT ARE ESSENTIALLY DETERMINED BY THE LOCATION AND AMENITIES OF THE ESTATE, AS COMPARED WITH EXISTING COMPARABLE ESTATES AND ABOVE ALL, THE TENANTS' ABILITY TO PAY, HE ADDED.
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