XN000022-1981-11-12 — Page 8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 158:

COMMENT ING ON THE INCOME RAISED BY AGENCIES THROUGH NON-GOVERNMENT FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES, MRS CHAN SAID THAT THE

SUM WHICH HITHERTO WENT TO SUBVENTED SERVICES WAS NOT INCONSIDERABLE. IN 1981/82, IT WAS ABOUT $30 MILLION.

AS FROM 1982/83, AGENCIES WOULD BE FREE TO SPEND THIS SUM AS THEY WISHED.

MRS CHAN SAID CHANGES IN THE GOVERNMENT'S SUBVENTION SYSTEM WERE LIKELY TO AFFECT THE POLICIES OF THE OTHER TWO MAJOR FUNDING BODIES, THE COMMUNITY CHEST AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.

+ IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT ROLE THEY INTEND TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE, SHE SAID.

OVER THE YEARS MRS CHAN NOTED, PRIVATE DONATIONS HAD ENABLED THE GOVERNMENT TO STRETCH THE PUBLIC DOLLAR TO REACH INCREASINGLY LARGER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE AND TO PROVIDE A GREATER VARIETY OF SOCIAL SERVICES. SHE SUGGESTED THAT IN AN EVER- EXPANDING SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD, THERE WAS AMPLE SCOPE FOR BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENDEAVOURS AND THAT IT WAS COUNTER- PRODUCTIVE TO ARGUE ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE PAYING FOR WHAT OR TO SUGGEST THAT ANY ONE SOURCE OF FUNDING HAD TAKEN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OF THE SUPPORT GIVEN BY OTHER SOURCES.

BOARD SUBMITS REPORT ON EXHIBITION CENTRE

****

THE NON-STATUTORY BOARD ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNOR TO ADVISE ON THE SELECTION OF CONSULTANTS AND TO OVERSEE THE SECOND PART OF THE CONSULTANCY FOR THE PROPOSED HONG KONG EXHIBITION CENTRE, HAS SUBMITTED A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE BOARD'S BASIC CONCERN WITH THE PROJECT IS THAT A HONG KONG EXHIBITION CENTRE SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO SERVE LOCAL AND

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS. THE BOARD ALSO CONSIDERS IT IMPORTANT THAT THE PROPOSED EXHIBITION CENTRE SHOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT SPACE AND FACILITIES TO CATER FOR BOTH PRESENT AND FUTURE REQUIREMENTS OF HONG KONG.

THE BOARD IN THE REPORT HAS POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THE SITE ALLOCATED FOR THE PROJECT IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST HAS A MAJOR AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED DISABILITY THAT IT IS DIVIDED BY CHING YEE ROAD.

IT HAS EMERGED DURING THE COURSE OF INTERVIEWING FOUR GROUPS OF CONSULTANTS AND IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT, THAT PROPOSALS OF A KIND DESIGNED TO OVERCOME THE IDENTIFIED DISABILITY WERE UNLIKELY TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO GOVERNMENT ON GENERAL TOWN PLANNING GROUNDS.

THE BOARD HAS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR THAT GOVERNMENT MAY WISH TO CONSIDER RECASTING THE TERMS OF REFERENCE SPECIFICALLY IN REGARD TO AN ALTERNATIVE SITE THAT WILL SATISFY HONG KONG'S NEEDS.

18