XN000022-1983-07-13 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1983

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* $251 MILLION TO MEET ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE ARISING FROM A REVISION OF THE BASIC RATES OF PAYMENT AND AN INCREASE IN CASELOADS FOR BOTH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES

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$134 MILLION FOR INCREASED EXPENDITURE ARISING FROM THE PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES ADJUSTMENTS AND

* $96 MILLION TO MEET INCREASED EXPENDITURE ARISING FROM A HIGHER LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT DONATION TO THE GRANT AND SUBSIDIZED SCHOOLS PROVIDENT FUND SCHEMES.

THE SCHEDULES BRING THE TOTAL SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION FOR 1982-83 TO $3.4 BILLION.

REVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATE TERMS URGED

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AN OBJECTIVE REVIEW SHOULD BE CONDUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTRACTING INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS INTO THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION, THE HON ALLEN LEE SUGGESTED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEE WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.

HE SAID THE OBJECT OF THE BILL WAS TO EXPAND THE PRESENT PURPOSES AND POWERS OF THE CORPORATION TO ENABLE IT TO GRANT SHORT TERM LEASES OF LAND WITHIN THE ESTATES FOR NON-INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.

+IT WILL ALLOW ANY LAND HELD BY THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION WHICH IS NOT IMMEDIATELY SALEABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL USE, TO BE MADE TEMPORARILY AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES SUCH AS OPEN STORAGE AND POSSIBLY, TEMPORARY HOUSING, HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT HE HAD EARLIER EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT PROGRESS HAD BEEN TOO SLOW IN ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS INTO THE ESTATES AND SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-EXAMINE THE QUESTION OF PROMOTION, CRITERIA AND CONDITIONS OF LEASE.

+I AM GLAD TO SEE SOMETHING HAS BEEN DONE BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTRACTING INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS.

IN MY OPINION, IT IS AS CRITICAL AS EVER THAT WE NEED INVESTMENTS IN OUR INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, HE STRESSED.

THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON CHAN NAI-KEONG, THANKED MR LEE FOR SUPPORTING THE BILL.

HE SAID THAT, AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATION BOARD, HE KNEW THAT THE QUESTION OF HOW TO ATTRACT MORE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS WAS VERY MUCH IN THE MINDS OF THE BOARD.

/HE SAID