XN000022-1983-05-24 — Page 10

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1983

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AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX BILL 1983

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THE REMAINING READINGS OF THE AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX BILL WILL NOT BE TAKEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW, BUT ON JUNE 8.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WISHED TO GIVE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TIME TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT IT PLANNED TO INTRODUCE AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BILL.

THE AMENDMENT IS CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE PROPOSED ABOLITION OF THE PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW TAX. THE INTENTION IS TO REMOVE ANY CONTRACTUAL LIABILITY FOR THE NEW TAX ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT OR OTHER EMPLOYERS IN RESPECT OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE THE PRESENT CHARGE PAID FOR AS PART OF THEIR EXISTING CONDITIONS OF SERVICE. THE AMENDMENT WILL NOT, HOWEVER, PRECLUDE AN EMPLOYER FROM AGREEING, AFTER THE ORDINANCE HAS COME INTO OPERATION, TO PAY THE TAX ON HIS EMPLOYEES' BEHALF IN THE FUTURE.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT, SUBJECT TO ENACTMENT THE AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX ORDINANCE WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON JUNE 9.

GOVERNMENT STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY

ACQUIRES PREMISES

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PROGRESS IN THE SETTING UP OF THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GOVERNMENT STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY TOOK A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD TODAY WITH THE FORMAL TAKE OVER OF THE MODERN WAN CHAI PREMISES IN WHICH IT WILL BE HOUSED.

→THE LABORATORY IS A KEY TECHNICAL BACK-UP SERVICE BEING PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT TO ENABLE HONG KONG INDUSTRY TO CALIBRATE ITS MOST PRECISE MEASURING EQUIPMENT.

+THIS FACILITY IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO ASSIST THE PROCESS OF FURTHER INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE HEAD OF THE LABORATORY, MR BRIAN TYLER SAID.

THE 900-SQUARE-METRE PREMISES, WHICH OCCUPIES THE WHOLE OF THE 6TH FLOOR OF CARRIAN CENTRE IN GLOUCESTER ROAD, WILL NEED ELABORATE FITTING-OUT, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF PRECISE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL EQUIPMENT TO GIVE AN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 23 DEGREES CELSIUS CONTROLLED TO WITHIN 1 DEGREE CELSIUS, TOGETHER WITH LOW HUMIDITY,

+THIS WORK SHOULD TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND THE LABORATORY WILL OPEN IN EARLY 1984, MR TYLER SAID.

+FOR THE FIRST YEAR OPERATION, 11 TECHNICAL STAFF ARE BEING RECRUITED AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE AT WORK IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

/+WHEN FULLY

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