XN000022-1988-07-06 — Page 32

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1988

THE DIRECTOR WOULD THEN ARRANGE FOR THE GOVERNMENT MAINTENANCE SURVEYOR TO INSPECT THE BUILDING, INVESTIGATE ANY PROBLEMS, AND ADVISE ON REMEDIAL ACTION, HE SAID.

MR SAUNDERS SAID THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE WAS ALSO EMPOWERED TO TAKE ACTION REGARDING CASES IN WHICH BUILDINGS BECAME POSITIVELY UNSAFE OR WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF STRUCTURAL DETERIORATION.

"IN THE CASE REFERRED TO BY MRS FAN, THE WALL WHICH COLLAPSED WAS AN INTERNAL NON-LOAD-BEARING PARTITION AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING WAS NOT AT RISK,

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HE ADDED.

COUNCILLORS CAN GIVE SUPPORT IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES

1T IS NOT FOR THE

ADMINISTRATION EITHER TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, OTHER THAN OFFICIAL MEMBERS, GIVING SUPPORT TO CANDIDATES IN THE FORTHCOMING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

THIS WAS SAID BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARTIN LEE.

SIR DAVID SAID JUST AS MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WERE FREE TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES IN ELECTIONS AT ALL LEVELS, EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS WERE FREE TO ACT IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES.

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"OF COURSE, I WOULD NOT EXPECT THEM TO CLAIM AND I AM SURE THEY WILL NOT CLAIM THAT IN GIVING ANY SUCH SUPPORT THEY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE OR OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

"AND, IN THE

FINAL ANALYSIS, IT 18 ENTIRELY UP ΤΟ THE INDIVIDUAL ELECTOR TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE SUCH SUPPORT INTO ACCOUNT.

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STRESSING THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION WAS ONE OF "COMPLETE NEUTRALITY AS BETWEEN CANDIDATES" SIR DAVID SAID THE ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED THREE KINDS OF ASSISTANCE ΤΟ ALL CANDIDATES ON AN EQUAL FOOTING:

FIRST, UNDER REGULATION 6 OF THE POST OFFICE REGULATIONS, EACH CANDIDATE MIGHT SEND ONE LETTER ΤΟ EACH REGISTERED ELECTOR IN HIS CONSTITUENCY FREE OF POSTAGE.

A SECONDLY,

THE