End
(b)
(c)
(d)
14 -
The utility undertakers will have to provide their road opening plans by fax to Highways Department where the plans will be digitised into the UMS. The fax is chosen because it can be used by both utility undertakers having digital mapping facilities and those who operate only on paper records. Government is also developing an interface system which can receive digital maps directly from the utility undertakers and intends to make the system available at the time the UMS becomes operational.
Any utility undertaker can submit its own road opening information into the UMS and retrieve consolidated road opening information of other utility undertakers from the UMS through the interface system mentioned in (b) above. It can also retrieve other geographical information such as the various district boundaries and road openings restriction zones. Direct access to this information through the system will improve the planning and co-ordination of their road opening projects.
The UMS will not provide the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) function since it is outside the scope of the present system development. The implementation of EDI for utility records involves complicated administrative, financial, legal and technical considerations which need to be agreed by all parties concerned. A lengthy lead time and more resources will be required to study its feasibility. In order not to delay the implementation of the UMS, the EDI function has to be implemented separately under the Computerised Utility Record System (CURS) for which funds are being sought by Highways Department to carry out an initial business study.
Education for Chinese immigrant children
Following is a question by the Hon Henry Tang Ying-yen, and a reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Questions:
Regarding the schooling of the children of new arrivals from China, will the Government inform this Council: