XN000022-1978-11-07 — Page 3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1978

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BRITISH CONSULTANTS STUDY WHOLESALE MARKETING

PRACTICES IN H.K. ******

A FIRM OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A SURVEY INTO EXISTING WHOLESALE MARKETING PRACTICES IN HONG KONG.

THE RESULTS OF THE NINE MONTHS' SURVEY WILL BE INCORPORATED IN PLANNING NEW WHOLESALE MARKET COMPLEXES, ESTIMATED TO COST ALMOST $300 MILLION AT CHEUNG SHA WAN AND THE WESTERN RECLAMATION.

THIS WAS REVEALED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. TED NICHOLS, WHEN HE SIGNED A $1 MILLION CONSULTANCY CONTRACT WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MODERN MATERIALS MANAGEMENT LTD., MR. K.E. BOOTH.

THE NEW MARKETS ARE EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL IN 1984 AND WILL REPLACE EXISTING AND TEMPORARY MARKETS AT CHEUNG SHA WAN AND KENNEDY TOWN.

THE GOVERNMENT'S COMPLEX FOR THE WHOLESALE MARKETING OF VEGETABLES, FRUIT, FRESHWATER FISH, POULTRY AND EGGS IS ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT $243 MILLION WHILE THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION COMPLEX FOR THE MARKETING OF MARINE FISH IS EXPECTED TO COST ABOUT $43 MILLION.

MODERN MATERIALS MANAGEMENT LTD. OF BASINGSTROKE, HAMPSHIRE, WAS THE CONSULTANCY FIRM INVOLVED IN THE REDESIGNING AND TRANSFER OF THE NEW CONVENT GARDEN MARKET AT NINE ELMS.

IN HONG KONG, THE FIRM WILL BE REQUIRED, WITHIN ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE, TO PREPARE LAYOUT DRAWINGS SHOWING A TYPICAL INDIVIDUAL TRADER'S PREMISES AS WELL AS THE TOTAL MARKET AND SITE LAYOUTS, INDICATING ACCESS AND PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

EARLY NEXT YEAR, THE FIRM WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN INTERIM REPORT ON THE CHEUNG SHA WAN MARKET. THE REPORT WILL COVER THE CHARACTERISTICS AND OPERATING REQUIREMENTS OF EACH OF THE TRADES AS WELL AS PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS ON HANDLING AND STORAGE SYSTEMS SUITABLE FOR EACH TRADE.

A SIMILAR REPORT FROM THE CONSULTANTS ON THE WESTERN RECLAMATION MARKET PROJECT WILL BE MADE IN MID-1979.

THE REPORTS WILL ALSO COVER DETAILS SUCH AS THE PATTERN OF VEHICLE MOVEMENTS TO MATCH ESTABLISHED TRADING HOURS AND ACCESS MANOEUVERING SPACE COUPLED WITH THE REQUIRED FACILITIES FOR LOAD LOADING AND UNLOADING.

/OTHER POINTS.....