XN000022-1984-09-07 — Page 9

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1984

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THIS REQUIREMENT. THE SPOKESMAN SAID. WAS A RELIC OF THE COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE SCHEME WHICH WAS DISMANTLED IN 1975.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH NO APPLICATION FOR PURCHASE OF NON-COMMONWEALTH BUSES BY A FRANCHISED BUS COMPANY HAD BEEN REJECTED, THE SECTION +NONETHELESS REPRESENTS A NON-TARIFF BARRIER WHICH WAS INCONSISTENT WITH HONG KONG'S POLICY OF FREE TRADE AND FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE GATT.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EXISTENCE OF THIS PROVISION HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP BY HONG KONG'S TRADING PARTNERS.

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY HAD GIVEN AN ASSURANCE DURING THE RECENT VISIT BY THE SWEDISH MINISTER FOR FOREIGN TRADE, MR MATS HELLSTROEM, THAT A BILL TO REMOVE THIS PROVISION WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL +AT THE FIRST CONVENIENT OPPORTUNITY.+

THE BILL, THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO 2) BILL, IS GAZETTED TODAY.

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HEIGHT LIMIT LIFTED FOR MTR

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THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION ON THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION'S PROPOSED PAK CHAI WAN DEPOT HAS BEEN LIFTED, ACCORDING TO AN ORDER PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S (FRIDAY) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THE DEPOT AND ITS ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT WAS INITIALLY SUBJECT TO AN AIRPORT HEIGHT LIMIT OF 30.48 METRES ABOVE PRINCIPAL DATUM. HOWEVER, WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG AIRPORT (CONTROL OF OBSTRUCTIONS) (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) ORDER 1984, THE HEIGHT LIMIT WILL BE RAISED TO 60 METRES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID A PROPOSAL TO RELAX THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION WAS MADE TO MAKE BETTER USE OF THE SITE AND ENSURE A VIABLE DEVELOPMENT.

AFTER CONSIDERING THE OUTCOME OF A CONSULTANCY STUDY ON HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION RAISED NO OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL WAS GRANTED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.

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