XN000022-1980-04-30 — Page 6

5.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1980

ROAD REINSTATEMENT WORK IN CENTRAL DISTRICT

******

ROAD REINSTATEMENT WORK IN CENTRAL DISTRICT WHICH ALSO INVOLVES FURTHER UTILITY ALTERATIONS, DIVERSIONS OF TRAMWAY LINES AND REMOVAL OF TEMPORARY DECKS WILL BE COMPLETED IN CHATER ROAD BY THE END OF MAY AND IN DES VOEUX ROAD AND PEDDER STREET BY AUGUST.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON DAVID MCDONALD IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER C. WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID, +UNDER THE ORIGINAL MTR PROGRAMME THE STATIONS IN CENTRAL DISTRICT WERE DUE FOR COMPLETION AT THE END OF MARCH WITH THE ROAD REINSTATEMENT WORKS TIED TO THAT PROGRAMME.

+HOWEVER, AS A RESULT OF THE DECISION TO ADVANCE THE COMPLETION AND OPENING OF THE CHATER/PEDDER AND ADMIRALTY STATIONS, THE ADMIRALTY TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE AND ROAD SYSTEM TO EARLY FEBRUARY THE CONTRACTORS' RESOURCES WERE DIVERTED TO MEET THE OBJECTIVE AND IN CONSEQUENCE THE REINSTATEMENT WORKS WERE DELAYED.+

MR MCDONALD SAID THAT HE WAS ADVISED THAT A SHORT LENGTH OF PEDESTRIAN SUBWAY CONNECTING THE MTR STATION WITH THE LANDMARK DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER BUT THE DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS OF THIS WORK WOULD BE CONFINED MAINLY TO THE SOUTHERN FOOTPATH OF DES VOEUX ROAD.

MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOLS TO COME UNDER SELECTIVE CONTROL

*****

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT IN REGULATING THE ACTIVITIES OF MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO DESIGN MORE SELECTIVE CONTROLS WHICH WOULD BE APPLIED ONLY TO THOSE SCHOOLS OPERATED AND USED BY UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS WITHOUT INCONVENIENCING LEGITIMATE SPORTING ASSOCIATIONS.

+ I HOPE THAT FURTHER PROGRESS WILL BE MADE WITH THIS DURING THE SUMMER, HE SAID.

MR DAVIES WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON F.K. HU ON THE PROGRESS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE REGULATING LEGISLATION.

IN A STATEMENT TO THE COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 8, 1976, MR DAVIES HAD SAID THAT LEGISLATION WAS BEING DRAFTED AND IN PREPARING THE DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS OFFICIALS RECOGNISED THE NEED TO BALANCE THE HEALTHY RECREATIONAL SIDE OF THESE POPULAR AND TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND THWARTING UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS WHO MANAGE AND ORGANISE SUCH SCHOOLS FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES.

/+FOLLOWING