XN000022-1985-02-25 — Page 4

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1985

+THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THE SITUATION TO BE HIGHLY UNSATISFACTORY SINCE THE TSB FINDINGS IN THIS MATTER WERE CLEAR,+ MR CARTLAND SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD MADE NO ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS EXPEDITIOUSLY THE TSB RECOMMENDATIONS. +THE HONG KONG DELEGATION WAS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS NO PROPOSAL TO MAKE, MR CARTLAND SAID.

+IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE TSB RECOMMENDATIONS, THE HONG KONG DELEGATION MADE TWO SPECIFIC PROPOSALS AIMED AT RESOLVING HONG KONG'S KNITWEAR PROBLEMS, BUT THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION DECLINED TO RESPOND TO THEM DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, + MR CARTLAND EMPHASISED.

HONG KONG MADE CLEAR TO THE TSB ITS FRUSTRATION AT THE LACK OF PROGRESS ON THE ORIGIN ISSUE. IT REGARDED THE ABSENCE OF A MEANINGFUL U.S. RESPONSE AS UNREASONABLE AND UNHELPFUL.

PROVISIONALLY THE WEEK COMMENCING MARCH 11 HAS BEEN AGREED FOR RESUMING CONSULTATIONS, ALTHOUGH THIS COULD BE CHANGED BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT. A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HOPED TO BE IN A POSITION TO SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT TO THE TSB AFTER THESE CONSULTATIONS.

NEW HOME OWNERSHIP ESTATE IN HAMMER HILL

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A NEW HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME PROJECT AT HAMMER HILL IN NGAU CHI WAN IS GETTING OFF THE GROUND AS A TENDER WORTH OVER $13 MILLION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR ITS SITE FORMATION WORK.

• THE TENDER COVERS FORMATION OF PLATFORMS, CUT AND FILL SLOPES, ROAD WORKS, RETAINING WALLS, STAIRWAYS AND DRAINAGE WORKS,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TODAY.

HE SAID WHEN THE WORK WAS COMPLETED BY NEXT YEAR TO PRODUCE A 1.5-HECTARE SITE, CONSTRUCTION WOULD BEGIN ON TWO NEW BLOCKS, A CARPARK, A KINDERGARTEN, SHOPPING UNITS AND OPEN RECREATIONAL AREAS.

+ THE TWO 35-STOREY CRUCIFORM BLOCKS WILL PROVIDE HOMES FOR ABOUT 2 600 PEOPLE UPON COMPLETION BY 1989, +

THE TENDER WAS APPROVED BY THE AUTHORITY'S BUILDING COMMITTEE AT ITS LAST MEETING.

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