THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1990
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"ON THE OTHER, HONG KONG HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF SMALL-TO-MEDIUM SIZED TRADERS AND MANUFACTURERS. A GREAT MANY OF THEM EMPLOY FEWER THAN 10 PEOPLE, HE SAID.
TO THEM, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MEANT A TELEPHONE, A PAGER AND PROBABLY A FAX.
"FOR A COMMUNITY-WIDE EDI SERVICE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, OF BOTH LARGE AND SMALL COMPANIES MUST BE MET," HE SAID.
THE NEEDS
PRIVATISATION OF GOVT ROAD TUNNEL MANAGEMENT
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE THE PRIVATISATION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF GOVERNMENT ROAD TUNNELS UNDER A MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.
AS A FIRST STEP, THE MANAGEMENT OF ABERDEEN TUNNEL AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TUNNEL'S ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT WOULD BE PRIVATISED FROM APRIL OR MAY NEXT YEAR.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (THURSDAY) EXPLAINED THAT TO PRIVATISE THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE TUNNELS WAS TO MEET THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF GOVERNMENT ROAD TUNNELS WITHOUT INCREASING GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND EXPENDITURE.
AT PRESENT, THE GOVERNMENT OWNS AND MANAGES FOUR ROAD TUNNELS, NAMELY THE LION ROCK, ABERDEEN, AIRPORT AND SHING MUN TUNNELS, WHILE A FIFTH TUNNEL, THE TSEUNG KWAN O TUNNEL, IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ADVANTAGES OF PRIVATISATION INCLUDED GREATER FLEXIBILITY ON THE PART OF THE TUNNEL OPERATOR TO ACQUIRE AND DEPLOY RESOURCES ΤΟ MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND GREATER PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH PRIVATE SECTOR MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES AND COMMERCIAL DECISIONS.
PRIVATISATION WOULD ALSO RESULT
PUBLIC, HE SAID.
IN IMPROVED SERVICE TO THE
THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT WOULD PROVIDE FOR MONITORING OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND CONTROLS OVER THE CONTRACTOR, AND SAFEGUARDS AGAINST BREACH OF CONTRACT. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RETAIN CONTROL OVER THE LEVEL OF TOLLS AND A GOVERNMENT MONITORING TEAM WOULD BE FORMED TO CHECK THE CONTRACTOR'S PERFORMANCE.
AN INTERNATIONAL TENDER WOULD BE INVITED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR TO SELECT THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR, AND IT IS HOPED THAT THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER CAN START MANAGING ABERDEEN TUNNEL FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT AND THE DIRECTOR OF AND MECHANICAL SERVICES WILL CONSULT THE STAFF FULLY STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS.
ELECTRICAL
ON
FUTURE
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