THURSDAY, EPT 1.BER 25, 1986
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THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT NOW TO IMAGINE HONG KONG WITHOUT THE FIRST CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WHICH HAD REVOLUTIONISED TRAFFIC PATTERNS IN HONG KONG AND MADE A STRONG IMPACT ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE CENTRAL AREA.
+ I EXPECT THE SECOND HARBOUR CROSSING TO HAVE A SIMILAR EFFECT ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE EASTERN AREA OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND EAST KOWLOON, + SIR EDWARD SAID.
HE CONGRATULATED THE NEW HONG KONG TUNNEL COMPANY AND ITS ADVISERS IN HAVING PROMOTED THE PROJECT.
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY APPOINTED TO LEGCO *****
FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE 1985-86 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION, THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JE AFFRESON, TO BE AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 8 IN PLACE OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR JOHN TODD.
RECALLING THAT THE OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD BEEN REDUCED TO 10 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 1985-86 SESSION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN THE INTENTION TO FILL THE OFFICIAL PLACES WITH THOSE OFFICIALS WHO DEALT WITH THE SUBJECTS OF MOST CONCERN TO THE COUNCIL AND THAT IF NECESSARY OFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEIR COLLEAGUES OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL.
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE LAST SESSION HAS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG CASE FOR HAVING THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ON THE COUNCIL. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE 39 QUESTIONS (OR 13 PER CENT) OF ALL QUESTIONS TABLED) AND 101 SUPPLEMENTARIES (OR 19 PER CENT OF ALL SUPPLEMENTARIES) WHICH WERE DEALT WITH ON HIS BEHALF BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND NINE BILLS (OR 13 PER CENT OF BILLS INTRODUCED) IN WHICH THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY HAD A STRONG INTEREST.
MOREOVER, THERE WERE ADJOURNMENT DEBATES ON THE TRIAD PROBLEM AND NATIONALITY IN WHICH THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WOULD HAVE BEEN WELCOME. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DUTIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING HAD BEEN LESS ONEROUS THAN HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED.
SPORLAMAR