XN000022-1980-12-03 — Page 15

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80 MORE ESTATE ROOFTOPS TO BE IMPROVED

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IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROOFTOPS OF 80 MORE PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT DURING THE COMING WINTER MONTHS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID THAT ABOUT 600 BLOCKS, OR 60 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL,

200 HAD ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED WITH SOME FORM OF ROOF INSULATION - OF THEM DONE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS ALONE, AT A COST OF $8.5 MILLION.

THE REMAINING 40 PER CENT WERE MAINLY IN OLDER ESTATES WHICH, WHILE MEETING THE STANDARDS OF THE TIME WHEN THEY WERE BUILT, NOW REQUIRED IMPROVEMENT.

MR LIAO ADDED THAT ALL NEW HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATES WERE NOW DESIGNED TO INCORPORATE IMPROVED ROOFTOP INSULATION.

+ IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED BY BETTER VENTILATION, PROVIDED BY INCREASING CEILING HEIGHTS OF THE TOP FLOORS AND BY THE USE OF MORE OPEN BLOCK DESIGNS AND BY IMPROVED THERMAL INSULATION WITHIN THE ROOFS, HE SAID.

CHANGES TO TV LICENCE TERMS *****

THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD, AFTER DETAILED EXAMINATION, HAS ADVISED THAT IT IS GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TWO TELEVISION STATIONS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION, THE HON ALAN SCOTT SAID TODAY WHEN INTRODUCING THE TELEVISION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980.

IN RECOMMENDING THAT THE LICENCES BE EXTENDED FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF EIGHT YEARS, THE BOARD HAS ADVISED THAT THE IR RENEWAL, DUE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, SHOULD BE MADE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN LARGELY ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNOR- IN-COUNCIL AND THE BILL SEEKS TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, MR SCOTT SAID.

HE SAID OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, RELATING TO MORE DETAILED MATTERS SUCH AS RAISING THE STANDARDS, QUALITY AND CONTROL OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING, PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILY VIEWING HOURS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMME AND CONTROL OF ADVERTISING, WERE BEING PURSUED SEPARATELY BY AMENDMENTS TO THE CODES OF PRACTICE ISSUED BY THE TELEVISION AUTHORITY.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE BILL HAD THE GENERAL AGREEMENT OF THE TV LICENCEES.

DEBATE ON ITS SECOND READING WAS ADJOURNED.

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