XN000022-1986-01-22 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1986

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TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOSTELS EXPECTED

****

THE GOVERNMENT HOPES TO IMPLEMENT THE TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUBVENTING AND MONITORING CAMPS AND HOSTELS OPERATED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH DURING THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY WAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSFER OF THE NECESSARY RESOURCES IT HAD NOT YET PROVED POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT DECISION.

+THE PRESENT POSITION IS NOT SATISFACTORY AND I INTEND TO TAKE UP THIS QUESTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE BRANCH, WITH THE HOPE OF IMPLEMENTING THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS DURING THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, HE SAID.

PLANS TO IMPROVE, EXTEND AIRPORT FACILITIES *****

THE GOVERNMENT DID HAVE PLANS FOR IMPROVING AND EXTENDING THE FACILITIES AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON S.L. CHEN, HE SAID PLANS INCLUDED A MAJOR EXTENSION OF THE PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING; CONSTRUCTION OF FLYOVERS BETWEEN PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND THE PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING; IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RUNWAY AND TAX 1WAYS EXTENSION OF BOTH PASSENGER AND CARGO AIRCRAFT APRON AND PARKING AREAS; AND A MAJOR MODERNISATION PROGRAMME OF EQUIPPING THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES WITH ADVANCED ELECTRONICS RADAR, DISPLAY AND RADIO NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT, TO OPTIMISE RUNWAY UTILISATION.

SIR JOHN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT ACTIVELY PLANNING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT, BUT A POSSIBLE NEED FOR IT REMAINED UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE CONTEXT OF LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.

+ACCORDINGLY, TWO POSSIBLE SITES ARE BEING SAFEGUARDED AT CHEK LAP KOK AND DEEP BAY, HE SAID.

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