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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, HE SAID, WAS DEVELOPING A BRIEF FOR CONSULTANTS TO EXAMINE THE EXTENT OF THE ASBESTOS PROBLEM IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON POSSIBLE ANALYSIS AND INSPECTION SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
+CONSIDERATION WILL ALSO BE GIVEN TO THE NEED FOR FURTHER REGULATORY CONTROLS, INCLUDING THE LICENSING OF CONTRACTORS FOR ASBESTOS REMOVAL,+ HE SAID.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF ALL GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR LEASED BUILDINGS WAS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ASBESTOS MATERIALS NEED TO BE REMOVED.
+WHERE REMOVAL IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY, THIS WILL BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHERE REMOVAL IS CONSIDERED UNNECESSARY, REGULAR MONITORING WILL BE CARRIED OUT.+
CIVIL AVIATION POLICY EXPLAINED
*****
HONG KONG'S AVIATION POLICY IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE HONG KONG TRAVELLING PUBLIC AND TO ENABLE HONG KONG-BASED AIRLINES TO COMPETE EFFICIENTLY WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN YAXLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RICHARD LAI, HE SAID THE POLICY WAS FORMULATED ON THE ADVICE OF THE AVIATION ADVISORY BOARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONSIDERED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN 1985.
IN ADDITION, MR YAXLEY DESCRIBED AS MISCONCEPTION ALLEGÁT 10 THAT THE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWED AN INFLEXIBLE AND NON-VARIABLE +ONE AIRLINE PER ROUTE+ POLICY WHICH CONFERRED A MONOPOLY ON AN INCUMBENT AIRLINE.
HE REFERRED TO TWO STATEMENTS ON GOVERNMENT'S AIR TRANSPORT POLICY MADE BY SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE AND MR JACOBS TO THE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 20, 1985 AND ON FEBRUARY 18 THIS YEAR.
+THESE TWO STATEMENTS OUTLINED THE COMPLEXITIES AND CONSTRAINTS OF INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS, THE VERY REAL DEGREE OF COMPETITION THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL AND THE LIMITATION ON OPTIONS OPEN TO THE GOVERNMENT IN BILATERAL AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS, HE SAID.
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