XN000022-1974-06-05 — Page 13

12

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1974.

FITTING OUT WORK ACCELERATED

* * * * * * ***

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DENYS ROBERTS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT WORK HAD GENERALLY BEEN ACCELERATED FOR FITTING OUT PROJECTS APPROVED BEFORE SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR FOR OFFICE ACCOMMODATION LEASED FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. LI FOOK-WO, MR. ROBERTS SAID THAT SOME OF THE PROJECTS HAD BEEN COMPLETED WITHIN THE APPROVED PERIOD UNDER A NEW PROCEDURE, WHICH IS ABOUT 22 WEEKS FOR LARGER PREMISES.

THE NEW PROCEDURE WAS INTRODUCED LAST SEPTEMBER TO ENSURE THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OCCUPATION OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION NEWLY LEASED FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

1

MR. ROBERTS POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT YET POSSIBLE TO ASSESS ACCURATELY HOW EFFECTIVE THE NEW PROCEDURES FOR FITTING OUT LEASED OFFICE ACCOMMODATION HAD PROVED TO BE.

+THIS IS BECAUSE ONLY A FEW LEASES HAVE BEEN ENTERED INTO SINCE SEPTEMBER 1973, AND BECAUSE THE FINANCIAL SITUATION HAS NECESSITATED A GENERAL RE-EXAMINATION OF LEASING PROPOSALS, WHICH HAS CAUSED DELAYS.+

HE NOTED THAT AN AVERAGE OF THE TIME BETWEEN LEASING DATES AND OCCUPATION DATES WOULD BE MISLEADING BECAUSE THE PERIOD WOULD RANGE FROM A MINIMUM OF A FEW WEEKS TO A MAXIMUM OF SEVERAL MONTHS, DEPENDING ON THE AREA AND TYPE OF SPACE TO BE FITTED OUT. ·

HOWEVER, HE ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO REDUCE THE PERIOD BETWEEN LEASING AND OCCUPATION TO THE MINIMUM.

RE-OPENING OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD SECTION

**

**

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED THAT THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF

PRINCE EDWARD ROAD FROM WATERLOO ROAD TO KADOORIE AVENUE WHICH WAS CLOSED FOR RESURFACING WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10:30 A.M. TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC TRAVELLING ON WATERLOO ROAD WILL AGAIN BE ABLE TO TURN LEFT ONTO PRINCE EDWARD ROAD FOR MONG KOK.

/13