XN000022-1982-06-02 — Page 36

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1982

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COUPLED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE BUT NO LESS IMPORTANT IN SIGNIFICANT INSOFAR AS THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WAS CONCERNED, A NEW SYSTEM OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCUSSION - THE DISTRICT BOARDS - HAD BEEN INTRODUCED.

+IT OFFERS EVERYONE IN HONG KONG OVER THE AGE OF 21 AND WITH SEVEN YEARS OF RESIDENCE A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE, THROUGH ELECTIONS, IN THE DECISION OF THEIR LOCAL DISTRICTS, AND NEARLY ONE MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW ON THE ELECTORAL ROLL.+

AND HONG KONG, HE SAID, WAS ALSO BECOMING MORE AND MORE INTIMATELY LINKED WITH SOUTH CHINA.

+WE ARE NOW LINKED WITH THE SHENZHEN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE BY ROAD, RAIL AND FERRY, AND BY WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLY LINES.

+RES IDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE WILL COMPLEMENT AND STRENGTHEN OUR OWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

+THIS THEN PROVIDES US WITH OUR BASIC STRENGTH TO FACE WHATEVER TRIALS THE WORLD ECONOMY AND BARRIERS TO TRADE MAY SET BEFORE US, AND OUR STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE IN BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FUTURE IS REINFORCED BY THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE, HE CONCLUDED.

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CONSORTIUM RECOMMENDED FOR EXHIBITION CENTRE BRIEF

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THE NON-STATUTORY BOARD ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNOR TO ADVISE ON THE SELECTION OF CONSULTANTS AND TO OVERSEE THE STAGE I CONSULTANCY FOR THE PROPOSED HONG KONG EXHIBITION CENTRE HAS RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNMENT THAT AN INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM TO BE CALLED +H.E.C. CONSULTANCY GROUP+ COMPRISING ARCOP ASSOCIATES, CONCORDIA MANAGEMENT LTD OF CANADA AND IGEDO AND WILKE OF F.R. GERMANY, BE APPOINTED THE STAGE 1 CONSULTANTS.

THE CONSULTANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DRAW UP A DETAILED BRIEF AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR A MULTI-STOREY DEVELOPMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON AN EXHIBITION CENTRE BUT WITH ANCILLARY FACILITIES AND MAXIMUM APPROPRIATE FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WAN CHAI SITE.

IT WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ESTIMATES OF CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS TO BE INCURRED, AS WELL AS REVENUE OBTAINABLE, AND TO RECOMMEND THE MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING SYSTEMS FOR THE EXHIBITION CENTRE.

THE CONSULTANTS HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THE STAGE II CONSULTANCY WILL TAKE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE AFTER THEIR APPOINTMENT.

BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE CONSULTANCY, THE NON-STATUTORY BOARD WILL ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT WHETHER OR NOT THE EXHIBITION CENTRE SHOULD BE BUILT IN HONG KONG AND, IF SO, HOW THIS COULD EE ACHIEVED AND HOW THE CENTRE SHOULD BE MANAGED.

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