2
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1993
HE WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE CITY LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG.
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, SWD HAS SUCCESSFULLY REHOUSED OVER BEDSPACE OCCUPANTS. THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS WOULD CONTINUE ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED POLICY AND PRACTICE.
400
IN
FOR
HE SAID THOSE OUTSIDE SWD'S PURVIEW WILL BE ELIGIBLE ADMISSION INTO THE SINGLETON HOSTELS OPERATED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
HE NOTED THAT THE GENERAL CHINESE CHARITIES FUND HAD ALLOCATED $40 MILLION AND THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAD PLEDGED A DONATION OF $20 MILLION TO THE SINGLETON HOSTEL PROGRAMME.
FLATS IN
"WE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRING AND WILL CONTINUE TO ACQUIRE THE MORE POPULAR URBAN AREAS. THE RENTAL TO BE CHARGED WILL BE COMPARABLE TO THOSE IN EXISTING BEDSPACE APARTMENTS, HE SAID.
**
ON THE OCCUPANCY LEVEL IN BEDSPACE APARTMENT, MR SUEN SAID IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE RIGID CONTROL THROUGH LEGISLATION, EXCEPT FOR SAFETY REASONS.
HE SAID IF THE OCCUPANCY LEVELS WERE REGULATED, THIS WOULD LIKELY AFFECT THE RENTAL FOR THE OCCUPANTS.
HE ADDED THAT IF THE EXISTING TENANTS COULD NOT AFFORD THE LEVEL OF INCREASE IN RENT, THEY MIGHT BE FORCED TO TURN TO EVEN LESS SATISFACTORY ACCOMMODATION.
HE
MR SUEN REITERATED THAT THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE BEDSPACE APARTMENTS BILL WAS TO ENSURE FIRE AND BUILDING SAFETY. EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE LICENSING SCHEME WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE RESIDING IN THESE FLATS.
GOVT ENCOURAGES COMPETITION IN TELECOMS SECTOR
*
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO LICENSE NEW FIXED NETWORK OPERATORS AS ONE OF THE INITIATIVES AIMED AT STIMULATING FURTHER GROWTH IN COMPETITIVE SUPPLY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, THE SECRETARY ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GORDON SIU, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING.
THE
FOR
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE XII CONFERENCE OF SOUTH EAST ASIA REGIONAL COMPUTER CONFEDERATION, MR SIU SAID THESE OPERATORS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE LOCAL NETWORK SERVICES WHICH WOULD OFFER CONSUMERS A WIDE CHOICE OF FACILITIES AND INNOVATIVE SERVICE OFFERINGS.
INITIALLY, THE RANGE OF SERVICES WILL BE RESTRICTED TO FAX, DATA AND VALUE-ADDED SERVICES.
VOICE
"BUT AFTER JUNE 1995, THE NEW NETWORK LICENSEES WILL BE ABLE TO COMPETE ON THE FULL RANGE OF LOCAL SERVICES, INCLUDING TELEPHONY,' HE SAID.
||
/MR SIU