XN000022-1990-02-21 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1990

"IN CASES WHERE USED CARS HAVE BEEN ABANDONED ON PRIVATE LAND WITHOUT THE LANDOWNER'S PERMISSION, GOVERNMENT IS NORMALLY UNABLE TO ACT BECAUSE THE MERE PRESENCE OF A VEHICLE ON PRIVATE LAND IS NOT IN ITSELF A BREACH OF LEASE CONDITIONS.

"THE

H

LANDOWNER.

RESPONSIBILITY

MUST, I AM AFRAID, REST WITH THE

MR OXLEY ADDED: "AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PROBLEM, IT IS PRINCIPALLY ONE OF AESTHETICS: ABANDONED CARS ARE EYE SORES.

"HOWEVER, I AM ADVISED THAT THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT OF STREAM COURSE OR DRAINAGE POLLUTION CAUSED BY RUSTING ENGINE OIL."

EVIDENCE SCRAP OR

REVIEW OF STATUTORY BODIES

THE ADMINISTRATION IS REVIEWING STATUTORY BODIES HAVING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AS PART OF ITS PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM PROGRAMME, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG, SIR DAVID SAID INITIALLY 15 SUCH STATUTORY BODIES, INCLUDING THOSE NEW BODIES TO BE SET UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SUCH AS THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR REVIEW.

IT WAS EXPECTED THE EXERCISE WOULD BE COMPLETED IN SIX MONTHS.

THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION WAS THE FIRST TO BE

REVIEWED.

SIR DAVID SAID RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN MADE THAT STATUTORY BODIES SHOULD BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY BY POLICY SECRETARIES.

"THIS IS NO SMALL TASK, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF STATUTORY BODIES INVOLVED, BUT WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

11 HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT STATUTORY BODIES VARIED WIDELY IN THEIR FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND SOME HAD A VERY LONG HISTORY AND THEIR OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES HAD BLURRED OVER TIME.

"OUR CURRENT REVIEWS WILL FOCUS ON THOSE STATUTORY BODIES WHICH PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND HAVE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO SPEND CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC FUNDS, SIR DAVID EXPLAINED.

/THE OBJECTIVE