XN000022-1988-11-16 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988

HAD

RATES FOR INCREASE IN BOTH THE TENDER PRICES AND LABOUR AND MATERIAL COSTS AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SLOWED DOWN. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR DRASTIC ACTION NOW, HE SAID,

HAD

MR BARNES ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO DEVISE THE BEST WAY TO IMPORT LABOUR FOR CONSTRUCTION.

"FOLLOWING THESE MEETINGS, A DETAILED BUT LIMITED SCHEME FOR THE IMPORTATION OF LABOUR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WAS DRAWN UP. IT WAS NOT INTRODUCED BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS POLICY IMPLICATIONS IN OTHER AREAS,' MR BARNES SAID.

"

HE SAID HE WAS CONSCIOUS OF PUBLIC FEELING ABOUT HOLES IN THE ROADS AND PAVEMENTS, AND HE HAD SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR AN EXAMINATION OF PRICING SYSTEM FOR ROAD EXCAVATIONS, WITH A VIEW TO MAKING A PRESENTATION EARLY NEXT YEAR TO THE OMELCO LANDS AND WORKS PANEL ON THE WHOLE ROAD OPENING ISSUE.

MR BARNES ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE LIMITED SUPPLIES

OF HIGH GRADE OFFICE ACCOMMODATION EXPECTED TO ENTER THE MARKET IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND THE EFFECTS ON COMMERCIAL RENTS. THIS WOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH THE INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S SCHEMES,

ON HOUSING, MR BARNES STATED THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT WOULD BE CARRIED OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SCHEMES

MAJOR PLANS FOR FUTURE TRANSPORT NEEDS

ROAD

THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTIVELY PLANNING TO EXPAND HONG KONG'S AND RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE COSTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MEET TRAVEL DEMANDS INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AT LEAST SIX MAJOR ROADS, TUNNELS AND CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO CATER FOR A PROJECTED 12 DAILY BY THE TURN OF THIS CENTURY COMPARED WITH TODAY.

RAIL PROJECTS ARE MILLION PASSENGERS OVER NINE MILLION

STUDIES ALSO FORECAST THAT THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE CARS WILL INCREASE BY 129 PER CENT TO 390,000 BY THE NEXT CENTURY COMPARED WITH THE PRESENT 170,000, AND THE NUMBER OF GOODS VEHICLES BY 85 PER CENT, FROM 100,000 TO 185,000.

/THESE WERE