XN000022-1983-11-18 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1983

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THE NEW FOUR-SPAN BRIDGE, WITH A 7.5-METRE-WIDE CARRIAGEWAY AND A TWO-METRE-WIDE FOOTPATH ON EACH SIDE, WILL BE 52 METRES LONG.

THE TWO SPANS ON THE HONG KONG SIDE WILL BE BUILT BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THE TWO ON THE CHINESE SIDE BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.

TENDERS FOR THE WORK ON THE HONG KONG SIDE ARE BEING INVITED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE.

WORK ON THE CONTRACT, WHICH WILL TAKE ABOUT NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE, WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF A VEHICLE HOLDING AREA AND A NEW ACCESS ROAD BETWEEN MAN KAM TO ROAD AND THE NEW BRIDGE.

TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983

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A BILL TO AMEND THE TELECOMMUNICATION ORDINANCE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 23).

THE TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, ALSO MAKES SOME MINOR CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND CLARIFIES A NUMBER OF AMBIGUITIES IN THE EXISTING LAW.

THE MAIN PROVISION IN THE BILL WILL ALLOW FOR THE USE ON BOARD VESSELS IN HONG KONG WATERS OF RECENTLY DEVELOPED FORMS OF MARITIME RADIOCOMMUNICATION, SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE, INMARSAT.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE BILL WILL COMPLETE ITS LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON DECEMBER 7.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, CENTRAL OR TO THE SECRETÁRY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, CENTRAL.

TAX ON CROSS-BETTING RACE MEETINGS

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A BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 23) TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ADMISSION TO A RACE COURSE FOR CROSS BETTING IS SUBJECT TO TAX.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXISTING WORDING OF THE ENTERTAINMENTS TAX ORDINANCE WAS OPEN TO INTERPRETATION AS TO WHETHER THE TERM +A RACE MEETING+ INCLUDED A CROSS-BETTING MEETING AS WELL.

+ IT WAS NEVER INTENDED THAT ADMISSION TO CROSS-BETTING COURSES SHOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY FROM ADMISSION TO RACE COURSES, AND THE ENTERTAINMENTS TAX (AMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) BILL 1983 IS AIMED AT REMOVING ANY DOUBT. HE EXPLAINED.

THE BILL