XN000022-1987-03-24 — Page 6

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1987

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LEGCO DEBATE ON CHINESE LANGUAGE FOUNDATION

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SIX MEMBERS WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON CHINESE LANGUAGE FOUNDATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

FIVE BILLS 12 QUESTIONS AND TWO MOTIONS ARE AMONG MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.

OF THE FIVE BILLS, THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.

FOUR BILLS DUE FOR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING ARE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, THE INTERPRETATION AND

THE PARTITION GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1986 (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 AND THE MOTOR VEHICLES INSURANCE (THIRD PARTY RISKS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986.

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IN ADDITION, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE WILL MOVE A MOTION ON THE PHARMACY AND POISONS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1987 AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY WILL MOVE A MOTION ON THE LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES (AMENDMENT) RULES 1987.

FUND SOUGHT FOR SHA TIN DEVELOPMENT

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO APPROVE A NEW ALLOCATION OF ABOUT $104 MILLION FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THE SECOND SHA TIN URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

THE SUM WOULD ENABLE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO REPAY MONEY ALREADY MADE AVAILABLE TO IT FOR THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT WHICH INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOUSING ESTATE AT SUN CHU1 IN SHA TIN, TWO PRIMARY AND TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND A TRANSPORT STUDY OF THE SHA TIN-TSUEN WAN CORRIDOR.

A LOAN AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BETWEEN THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN 1980 TO FINANCE THE PROJECT. IN THE AGREEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTOOK TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT PORTION OF THE LOAN NOW AMOUNTING TO $104 784 000 IN RESPECT OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT.

ACCORDING TO ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS AGREED UPON, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FINANCE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S DRAWINGS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE IN THE FORM OF A LOAN FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND AND TO SEEK SUBSEQUENT REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE BANK. IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE LOAN WOULD BE REPAYABLE OVER 40 YEARS.

/THE COMMITTEE