XN000022-1984-10-13 — Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1934

DUKE OF KENT TO VISIT HK

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HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF KENT WILL VISIT HONG KONG FROM OCTOBER 17 TO 20 IN HIS ROLE AS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH OVERSEAS TRADE BOARD.

WHILE IN HONG KONG, THE DUKE WILL LAUNCH A SERIES OF IN-HOUSE BRITISH PROMOTIONS AT LEADING DEPARTMENT STORES.

HE WILL OPEN THE BIRMINGHAM AND WEST MIDLANDS FESTIVAL AND THE +BRITAIN TODAY+ EXHIBITION.

HE WILL ALSO VISIT AN EXHIBITION OF BRITISH TRANSPORT AND SOME OF THE BRITISH STANDS AT THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL TRADE FAIR.

+A FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE PLANNING+

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THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG PROVIDED A FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE PLANNING, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, DR NICKY CHAN SAID TONIGHT (SATURDAY).

IT LAID DOWN DETAILED PROPOSALS FOR LAND LEASES, SECURED RIGHTS UNDER EXISTING LEASES, AND ALLOWED FOR EXTENSIONS AND REGRANTS UP TO 2 047, HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS, DR CHAN SAID THE ORGANISATION WAS + IDEALLY POISED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION AND PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT+.

+AS YOU ARE AWARE GOVERNMENT HAS CONTINUED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH ITS AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ITS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS WHICH ALREADY EXTEND WELL BEYOND 1997.

+ IT IS ALSO LIKELY THAT AS A RESULT OF THE WIDESPREAD POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THE AGREEMENT THERE WILL BE RENEWED CONFIDENCE IN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, AND AS A CONSEQUENCE THERE WILL BE A RESURGENCE OF BUILDING ACTIVITY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. +THIS REVITALISED BUILDING ACTIVITY, THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, AND THE CLOSER LINKS WITH CHINA WHICH WILL BE FORGED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SHOULD RESULT IN EVEN GREATER JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR MEMBERS, HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF RECOGNITION OF THE INSTITUTE, DR CHAN SAID THIS WAS UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW BY GOVERNMENT.

/HT SAID