XN000022-1990-03-21 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990

"THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ITSELF CAN DO MUCH TO HELP AVOID SUCH PRESSURES, BY INTRODUCING FURTHER MECHANISATION ΤΟ SAVE MANPOWER AND BY IMPROVING LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY.

"MASSIVE CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS ARE LESS LABOUR INTENSIVE THAN BUILDING PROJECTS, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, IF THE NEED WERE TO ARISE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER EXCEPTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT THERE WOULD BE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF LABOUR TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE WITHOUT UNACCEPTABLE STRAINS ON THE ECONOMY, HE SAID.

LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM FOR HK ISLAND BEING ASSESSED

THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING THREE SEPARATE PROPOSALS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BUILD A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM BETWEEN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEUNG WAS GIVING A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON SO CHAU YIM-PING, WHO WANTED TO KNOW THE LIKELY ALIGNMENT OF THE SYSTEM AND THE TIMING OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION ON THE MATTER.

HE SAID THE ALIGNMENTS SUGGESTED UNDER · THE DIFFERENT SCHEMES VARIED, BUT ALL CONNECTED CENTRAL DISTRICT WITH THE VARIOUS POPULATION CENTRES ON THE SOUTHERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND.

ALL THREE PROPOSALS INCLUDED SUBSTANTIAL ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENTS AND LAND REQUIREMENTS ALONG THE ROUTES.

PROPERTY

MR LEUNG SAID IT WAS PREMATURE TO DETERMINE AT THIS STAGE THE LIKELY ALIGNMENT OF THE RAILWAY AS THE GOVERNMENT WAS ASSESSING THE TRANSPORT, ECONOMIC, PLANNING AND LAND USE IMPLICATIONS OF PROPOSALS.

THE

HE HOPED THAT RECOMMENDATIONS GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WOULD BE SUBMITTED ΤΟ

THE

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