XN000022-1984-05-02 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1984

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TUNNEL RADIO RECEPTION PLAN SHELVED

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IN THE LIGHT OF BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, THE PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE FOR RADIO RECEPTION IN THE ABERDEEN, LION ROCK AND AIRPORT TUNNELS HAD BEEN SHELVED, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR JACOBS WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW SO, WHO REFERRED TO THE PROPOSAL MADE TO THE COUNCIL ON JUNE 30, 1982.

IT WAS PROPOSED AT THE TIME THAT DEVICES WOULD BE INSTALLED IN THE TUNNELS PROVIDED THE COST WAS REASONABLE AND THE NECESSARY FUNDS WERE MADE AVAILABLE.

A STUDY COMPLETED TOWARDS THE END OF 1982 ESTIMATED THE COST AT ABOUT $4.5 MILLION, MR JACOBS SAID.

IN THE LIGHT OF BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, IT WAS DECIDED EARLY IN 1983 THAT THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE SHELVED, HE SAID.

MTR LOAN GUARANTEE APPROVED ***

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE TO COVER THE REPAYMENT OF A US$10 MILLION LOAN TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION.

THE SUM BORROWED UNDER THIS GUARANTEE WILL BE USED TO FINANCE THE ISLAND LINE CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF ADDITIONAL ROLLING STOCK.

THIS BRINGS THE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL GUARANTEE COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF OUTSTANDING LOANS AVAILABLE TO THE MTR CORPORATION TO HK$8 175 MILLION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE SAID.

99 700 OBJECTIONS RECEIVED

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THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED ABOUT 99 700 PROPOSALS OBJECTING TO THE NEW RATEABLE VALUES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE SAID TODAY.

+THIS REPRESENTS ABOUT 13.5 PER CENT OF THE TENEMENTS IN THE VALUATION LIST. THE MAIN GROUNDS FOR OBJECTION ARE, NOT UNEXPECTEDLY, THAT THE NEW RATEABLE VALUES ARE TOO HIGH, + HE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG.

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL REVIEW THESE CASES AND NOTIFY THE RATEPAYERS OF THE RESULT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

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