49
NDQ are only allocated to civil servants who are eligible for them, i.e. officers employed before 1 October 1990 become eligible for NDQ once they reach point 45 on the Master Pay Scale. There are a number of officers who have chosen to take the PTA rather than move in to NDQ, even though they are eligible to do so. In January 1996, all those concerned were informed that Government will exercise its right not to pay the PTA. They have been given seven months notice to move out of the property rented using the PTA. They may choose to move into NDQ or to take up the HFA. Payment of the private tenancy allowance to those concerned will cease after the notice period. Already, some 34 officers have given up the PTA as a result.
We do not consider it appropriate nor cost effective to permit officers who are not eligible for NDQ, to occupy NDQ. It would of course be totally contrary to our policy. Rather, as indicated earlier, we intend to dispose of all surplus units by
way
of leasing out, conversion to other uses and sale. But we also continue to honour our contractual obligations to these officers below MPS 45 who remain eligible for PTA.
End
Existing law provision on food fair and practicable
Following is a question by the Hon Henry Tang and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Despite the Government's ban on the import of British beef. British dairy and In this connection, will the canned beef products are not covered by the ban. Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
how the public can ascertain that the non-British made canned beef products or other products for human and animal consumption with a beef constituent are not made from British cattle:
whether the Government has any information on medical and chemical studies which show that the virus of mad cow disease can survive and incubate in canned food: