XN000022-1987-02-19 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987

+PRICES FOR FLATTED FACTORIES IN TUEN MUN, DURING THE THIRD-QUARTER OF 1985, WERE BETWEEN $1 360 AND $2 100 PER SQUARE METRE FOR UPPER FLOOR PREMISES AND BETWEEN $3 500 AND $6 500 PER SQUARE METRE FOR GROUND FLOOR PREMISES, WHICH WERE GENERALLY LOWER THAN OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE TERRITORY,

+ IN TERMS OF NUMBER AND SIZE OF INDUSTRY, THE FIVE MAIN TYPES OF INDUSTRY IN TUEN MUN ARE PLASTICS, METALS GARMENTS. ELECTRONICS AND TEXTILES. THEY ACCOUNT FOR 80 PER CENT OF ALL MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN THE DISTRICT.+

MR TSO SAID THE NUMBER OF WORKERS EMPLOYED IN THE TWO INDUSTRIAL AREAS WAS 30 225, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 42 PER CENT COMPARED TO 21 300 IN 1983.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD THE PROPORTION OF WORKERS LIVING IN TUEN MUN INCREASED FROM 36.4 PER CENT TO 57.3 PER CENT WHICH SHOWED THAT OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL MARKET AND JOB EXPECTATIONS OF THE LOCAL WORKERS WERE MORE CLOSELY MATCHED, HE ADDED.

MR TSO SAID THAT DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IN TUEN MUN EXPERIENCED RAPID DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION IN TERMS OF FLOORSPACE, EMPLOYMENT AND NUMBER OF COMPANIES. IN ADDITION, FACTORY OPERATORS WERE QUITE CONTENT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.

DETAILS AND FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY ARE INCLUDED IN A SPECIAL REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD.

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INSPECTION TOUR OF ANIMAL WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES

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THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, AND HIS SENIOR STAFF TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED A NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK FARMS IN THE PAT HEUNG AREA TO VIEW THE METHODS USED BY NEW TERRITORIES FARMERS TO DISPOSE OF ANIMAL WASTES.

THE PARTY ALSO TOURED THE PILOT-SCALE COMPOSTING PLANT AT NGAU TAM MEI WHICH EVERY MONTHS TURNS AROUND 180 TONS OF ANIMAL WASTE INTO AN ENRICHED SOIL SUITABLE FOR LANDSCAPING OR HORTICULTURAL PURPOSES.

/IN ADDITION,