XN000022-1986-02-15 — Page 8

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1986

STI LEAVES FOR TRADE TALKS

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO, LEFT HONG KONG TODAY (SATURDAY) FOR TALKS ON TRADE ISSUES IN CANADA, THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE.

MR HO WILL HOLD TALKS IN OTTAWA WITH THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ON A NUMBER OF TRADE MATTERS ON MONDAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY HE WILL JOIN A DELEGATION OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WHICH IS IN CANADA, AND THE GROUP WILL THEN TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON.

AFTER THE THIRD JOINT PLENARY SESSION OF THE HONG KONG-UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES-HONG KONG ECONOMIC COOPERATION COMMITTEES, MR HO WILL REMAIN IN WASHINGTON FOR FURTHER TALKS WITH U.S. ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS.

HE WILL THEN LEAVE FOR EUROPE WHERE HE WILL VISIT A NUMBER OF CAPITALS BEFORE RETURNING TO HONG KONG ON MARCH 5.

DURING MR HO'S ABSENCE MR S.A. WEBB-JOHNSON WILL BE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY.

STRIVING FOR NEW TOWN IMPROVEMENTS

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THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF NEW TOWNS AND THEIR SURROUNDING AREAS, REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

THIS, HE SAID, WOULD BE DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS AND BODIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SPEAKING AT A HEUNG YEE KUK NEW YEAR RECEPTION, DR HAYES SAID THERE SEEMED TO BE A GROWING GAP BETWEEN THE NEW TOWNS AND THE AREAS OUTSIDE THEM, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH EXIST BETWEEN AND AROUND THE NEW TOWNS.

+QUITE DENSELY POPULATED, OCCUPIED BY AN INDISCRIMINATE, SHAPELESS MIXTURE OF DOMESTIC, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, WITH INADEQUATE ROAD AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, AND AS OFTEN AS NOT LACKING IN OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES, THEY PRESENT A SITUATION WHICH IS OFTEN IN STRIKING CONTRAST TO THE EVER-IMPROVING CONDITIONS

IN THE NEW TOWNS, HE SAID.

+WHILST NOT EVERYTHING THAT IS NEW IS BEAUTIFUL. IT IS CERTAIN THAT THE SITUATION IN THESE OTHER PLACES IS TOO OFTEN UNACCEPTABLE,+ HE ADDED.

/+▲ LOT