11
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990
SUPREME COURT BUILDING NOT DANGEROUS
RESTORATION WORK FOR THE LOWER
GROUND FLOOR OF THE SUPREME FROM THEIR MORTAR
COURT BUILDING WHERE MARBLE TILES BECAME DETACHED BACKING WILL BE COMPLETED IN SIX MONTHS' TIME.
THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON (WEDNESDAY) GRAHAM BARNES, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN.
MR BARNES ASSURED MEMBERS THE SITUATION AT BUILDING WAS NOT DANGEROUS.
HE SAID THERE
THE SUPREME COURT
CAUSES FOR THE TILES
WERE SEVERAL POSSIBLE BECOMING DETACHED, AND THESE WERE BEING INVESTIGATED.
WE HAVE "AS A RESULT
PRISED OFF ALL THE TILES WHICH WE DETACHED, AND TEMPORARY HOARDINGS SUSPECT MIGHT BECOME
HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY TILE ERECTED IN ALL THE LIFT LOBBIES TO MAKE IT
ON TO FALL
ANYONE," HE WHICH MIGHT DESPITE PRISING BE SO INCLINED SAID.
AIM IS PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES AT REASONABLE COST
* * *
THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT PRIVATE SECTOR UTILITY COMPANIES CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO EXPLOIT THEIR MONOPOLY OR QUASI MONOPOLY POSITION AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RONALD
CHOW, MRS CHAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD AN OVERALL INTEREST IN ENSURING THE RELIABLE PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO CONSUMERS AT A REASONABLE PRICE.
SHE SAID WHERE THE PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES COULD PROVIDE SUCH SERVICES EFFICIENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED THAT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO SO WITH THE MINIMUM OF GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE, WITH THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES REMAINING DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR CONSUMERS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER, SHE EMPHASISED THAT WHERE IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE CHARGING OF EXCESSIVE PRICES OR OTHER FORMS OF UNDESIRABLE MONOPOLY BEHAVIOUR WOULD RESULT, SOME FORM OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION WAS USUALLY NECESSARY.
/"THE WAY