XN000022-1985-09-10 — Page 4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10,

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DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED

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THE GOVERNOR, AFTER CONSIDERING THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON WONG YUN-FAT ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1984 SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCES PASSED ON PANG BING-YEE AND LAM YIP-YING ON JULY 26, 1982 AND DECEMBER 15, 1983 RESPECTIVELY SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO 25 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT,

WONG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF SO PING-FAT ON NOVEMBER 25, 1981.

PANG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF YEUNG KA-PO ON JULY 19, 1981.

LAM WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF LAM KWAI-KAM ON MAY 20, 1983.

URBAN COUNCIL TO SEEK ADDITIONAL REVENUE

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THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO SEEK ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN 1986/87 IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS RESERVES AT A REASONABLE LEVEL, THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR H.M.G. FORSGATE, SAID TODAY.

MR FORSGATE WAS SPEAKING AT THE COUNCIL'S OPEN MEETING TODAY WHEN SECONDING THE MOTION BY THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, TO ADOPT THE AUDITED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AND STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1985.

HE POINTED OUT THAT A +PAPER+ SURPLUS OF $32 MILLION WAS RECORDED IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW BRINGING THE COUNCIL'S RESERVES TO $321 MILLION. HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL'S YIELD FROM RATES THIS YEAR WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY NINE PER CENT TO $1 237 MILLION WHILE THE DEFICIT WAS EXPECTED TO AMOUNT TO $106 MILLION. THIS WOULD REDUCE THE RESERVES TO ABOUT $215 MILLION OR THE EQUIVALENT OF APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH'S EXPENDITURE.

A

THIS

+BASED ON THE RECENTLY COMPLETED FIVE-YEAR FORECAST DEFICIT OF ALMOST $240 MILLION IS EXPECTED IN 1986/87. INCREASED DEFICIT IS MAINLY DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL COST OF SALARIES ARISING FROM THE 1985 GOVERNMENT SALARY REVISION AND INCREASED EXPENDITURE ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.

/+IT WILL