XN000022-1989-02-22 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1989

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ALTERNATIVES TO OATHS BY JP'S BEING CONSIDERED

THE ADMINISTRATION IS AT PRESENT CONSIDERING THE PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVES TO THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE JUDICIAL OATH SO THAT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE MAY CHOOSE TO PLEDGE HONG HONG.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON ELAINE CHUNG, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HUI YIN-FAT.

MISS CHUNG SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT A PROPOSAL ON THIS PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WOULD BE

UNDER THE OATHS AND DECLARATIONS ORDINANCE, A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE WAS REQUIRED TO TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE JUDICIAL OATH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER APPOINTMENT, SHE SAID.

NOISY SHIPYARDS TO BE RELOCATED

THE SHIPYARDS WHICH HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF NOISE NUISANCE TO RESIDENTIAL ESTATES ALONG THE TSING YI NORTH SHORE WILL BE MOVED FURTHER AWAY FROM THE ESTATES IN 1992-93.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS INFORMED OF THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A

QUESTION FROM THE HON DANIEL LAM, MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF THE SHIPYARDS AT TSING YI HAD MOVED FROM CHRUNG SHA WAN OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

H

"PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE LARGELY INVOLVED IN BUILDING AND REPAIRING WOODEN JUNKS, THE NOISE LEVEL OF WHICH WAS NOT TOO SERIOUS, HE SAID.

"HOWEVER, DUE TO THE DECLINE IN THE TRADITIONAL SHIPBUILDING BUSINESS, THESE SHIPYARDS HAVE INCREASINGLY TURNED TO REPAIRING LIGHTERS WHICH INVOLVE INTENSE HAMMERING OF METAL HULLS, THUS CREATING A NOISE NUISANCE.

"OF THE 30 ODD SHIPYARDS

THERE, ALL BUT THRER ARE ON

SHORT-TERM TENANCIES.

"ALTHOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE TO TERMINATE THESE TENANCIES WHEN THEIR TERMS ARE UP, THEIR HISTORY IS COMPLEX, AND WE CONSIDER THAT IN ALL FAIRNESS, THEY SHOULD ONLY BE CANCELLED ARE AVAILABLE.'

Ti

WHEN ALTERNATIVE SITES

/MR BARNES ................k