THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1994
17
INFLATION
TO
WOULD
THESE INCREASED ESTIMATES HAD BEEN MAINLY CAUSED BY DELAYS START OF CONTRACTS TO BE LET IN THE FUTURE WHEN LEAD TO HIGHER COST ESTIMATES IN MOD TERMS.
THE
+
IN COSTS
A
SIX-MONTH RAILWAY,"
'FURTHER DELAYS IN REACHING AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE WILL LEAD TO FURTHER INCREASES AMOUNTING, IT IS ESTIMATED, TO AT LEAST $2 BILLION FOR DELAY ON THE AIRPORT, PLUS A SIMILAR AMOUNT ON THE AIRPORT SAID MR TSANG.
WORK ON HARBOUR SEWERAGE PROJECTS SOON BEGIN
* * *
WORK ON SEWERAGE PROJECTS OF THE HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAMME TO CLEAN UP THE HARBOUR WILL BEGIN IN MARCH.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: "THESE PROJECTS WILL BE FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN FULL AND WE WILL BE SEEKING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S ADVICE ON A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A TRADING FUND IN THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE FUND IS TO HOLD AND MANAGE TIF
GOVERNMENT INJECTION FROM
THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND WHICH WELL. FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTS IN THE HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAMME.
WHEN SEWAGE CHARGES ARE INTRODUCED, THE TRADING FUND WILL ALSO COLLECT CHARGES PAYABLE BY USERS IN ORDER TO FUND THE COST OF OPERATING SEWAGE SERVICES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID LEGISLATION ENABLING THE IMPLEMENTAT LON OF THE SEWAGE CHARGING SCHEME WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LATER IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SUBJECT TO LEGCO'S APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATION, THE PRESENT PLAN IS TO INTRODUCE THE CHARGES IN AUGUST.
THIS FOLLOWS A TWO-AND-A-HALF MONTI CONSULTATION DURING WHICH A WIDE RANGE OF REPRESENTATIVE GROUPS WERE BRIEFED, A LARGE BODY OF OPINION WAS EXPRESSED IN THE MEDIA AND 80 WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED.
MOST OF THE GROUPS SUPPORTED THE POLLUTER PAYS PRINCIPLE AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE SEWAGE CHARGING SCHEME.
THESE GROUPS. INCLUDED THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY. DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MAJOR INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE ORGANISATIONS AND THE GREEN GROUPS.
THE POLLUTER PAYS PRINCIPLE WAS ALSO SUPPORTED BY MAJOR POLITICAL GROUPS ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS FROM SOMB QUARTERS THAT HOUSEHOLDS SHOULD BE GIVEN FURTHER OR TOTAL EXEMPTION CHARGING SCHEME.
FROM THE
/OF THE