XN000022-1988-11-16 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988

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THESE INCLUDED THE ACCEPTANCE BY RURAL LAND-OWNERS THAT PLANNING DID NOT NECESSARILY DIVIDE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES EQUALLY.

"THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF RESUMPTION COMPENSATION WHICH WAS RELATED TO URBAN DEVELOPMENT EXPECTATIONS IN THE NEW TOWNS COULD WELL SWALLOW UP MOST OF THE FUNDS WHICH GOVERNMENT WOULD WISH TO DEVOTE ΤΟ IMPROVEMENTS.

"THE FLATNESS OF MUCH OF THE AREA WOULD IN MANY CASES MAKE SEWERAGE RELYING ON GRAVITY IMPOSSIBLE AND REQUIRE PUMPED SYSTEMS AND MAKING ADEQUATE STAFF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE WORK.

"

'SO THESE AND MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THE STRATEGY WILL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL WITH THOSE AFFECTED BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, AND I HAVE IN MIND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT WORKING PARTY INVOLVING BOTH MEMBERS OF THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK ΤΟ DISCUSS THEM PRIOR ΤΟ A MORE GENERAL CONSULATION," MR BARNES SAID.

CAREFUL WATCH ON LABOUR SITUATION

EASE

THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE DRASTIC ACTION TO A LABOUR SHORTAGE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, BUT THE GOVERNMENT WILL WATCH THE SITUATION CAREFULLY AND LOOK VERY SERIOUSLY AT THE RESOURCES WHICH WILL BE NEEDED FOR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURAL PROGRAMMES.

TOLD

THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE RESUMED POLICY DEBATE.

A RECENTLY PUBLISHED CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SURVEY SHOWED A 20 PER CENT LABOUR VACANCY RATE ON HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTRACT SITES, WHILE THE LABOUR VACANCY RATE FOR GOVERNMENT PROJECTS WAS 10 PER CENT AND THE VACANCY RATES FOR THE PROJECTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS ONLY 3 PER CENT, HE SAID.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS FINANCING ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF $30 BILLION BEING SPENT ON BUILDINGS AND CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTS THIS YEAR.

MR BARNES SAID A MORE RECENT SURVEY HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, AND ALTHOUGH THE RESULTS WERE STILL COMING IN, THE INDICATIONS WERE THAT THE SITUATION WAS ABOUT THE SAME.

/RATES FOR