XN000022-1981-07-22 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1981

+IN THIS RESPECT AGREE WITH THE DECISION OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS IN INCREASING DEPOSIT RATES. AMONGST OTHER FACTORS, WHILE THE ASSOCIATED INCREASE IN LENDING RATES UNDOUBTEDLY BRINGS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN TO ALREADY HARD PRESSED INDUSTRIAL ISTS AND INDEED TO MANY OTHERS WHO DEPEND ON BORROWED MONEY, IT SHOULD

INCREASE THE STRENGTH OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR AND THUS SERVE TO CUT THE PRICE OF IMPORTS.+

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE BURDEN OF INCREASING PRICES ON THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

WIDER CONTROLS OF NOISE PLANNED

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A NOISE CONTROL BILL NOW BEING DRAFTED CONTAINS MUCH WIDER PROPOSED CONTROLS FOR AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLATIONS THAN THOSE NOW IN EFFECT, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON D.W. MCDONALD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON S.L. CHEN.

MR MCDONALD SAID HE HOPED THE NOISE CONTROL BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED DURING THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+AT PRESENT, THE CONTROL OF NOISE EMISSION FROM AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS IS EFFECTED UNDER SECTION 12 (1)(H) OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE WHICH DEFINES A STATUTORY NUISANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT IS EXERCISED AS NECESSARY BY THE ISSUE OF NUISANCE NOTICES UNDER SECTION 127 OF THE ORDINANCE, MR MCDONALD SAID.

THE DESIGNATED AUTHORITY FOR THIS SECTION WAS THE URBAN COUNCIL IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

REPLYING TO ANOTHER PART OF THE QUESTION, MR MCDONALD SAID THAT THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF NEW BUILDINGS WAS CONTROLLED BY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE FOR HIGHER DESIGN LOADING FOR MACHINE ROOMS AND AREAS SUPPORTING EQUIPMENT.

+SIMILARLY, WHERE NEW PLANT TO BE INSTALLED IN EXISTING BUILDINGS NECESSITATES BUILDING OR STRUCTURAL WORK, THE APPROVAL AND CONSENT OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS REQUIRED, + MR MCDONALD SAID.

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