XN000022-1990-12-03 — Page 4

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AMONG THE CURRENT TASKS IS THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION THE FACILITIES NEEDED TO ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO ACCEPT THE TRANSFER 6,750 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT SUB-DEGREE LEVEL PLACES FROM THE POLYTECHNICS WITHIN THE TIGHT SCHEDULE SET BY THE GOVERNMENT.

A TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX AT POK FU LAM IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION. ON COMPLETION IN MID 1992, THE COMPLEX WILL ENABLE ALL BASIC CRAFT COURSES TO BE DECANTED FROM THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, AND THE CHAI WAN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TO BE VACATED AND CONVERTED TO A TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

MEANWHILE, THE DESIGN OF A SECOND TECHNICAL COLLEGE ON TSING YI ISLAND IS AT AN ADVANCED STAGE. THE CHAI WAN COLLEGE WILL BE COMPLETED AND THE TSING YI COLLEGE AT LEAST PARTLY COMPLETED AND READY TO ENROL STUDENTS BY SUMMER 1993.

PLACES

THE LATTER WILL ALSO BE DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR FUTURE EXPANSION SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT DECIDE LATER TO TRANSFER MORE SUB-DEGREE FROM THE POLYTECHNICS TO THE COLLEGES.

NEW VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGIES REQUIRED TO CONTROL VEHICLES EMISSIONS: CS

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BEING

THERE ARE LIMITS TO THE INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT MEASURES INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL VEHICLE EMISSIONS UNLESS WE HAVE ACCESS TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND ALTERNATIVES TO CONVENTIONAL VEHICLES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

"ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE AMONG THE MOST EXCITING ALTERNATIVES UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

"THEY HOLD OUT THE PROSPECT OF ROAD TRANSPORT WHICH IS MUCH MORE ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY THAN THAT IN USE TODAY, SAID SIR DAVID WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYMPOSIUM.

NOTING THAT THE ELECTRIC CARS WERE QUIETER THAN CONVENTIONAL CARS AND OFFERED BENEFITS IN TERMS OF REDUCED AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION, SIR DAVID SAID THEY WERE ALSO MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT

A MAJOR CONSIDERATION GIVEN CURRENT CONCERNS ABOUT ENERGY SUPPLY.

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THE RANGE, SPEED AND FLEXIBILITY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS IMPROVING ALL THE TIME AS FURTHER TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES ARE MADE, HE ADDED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT WE WERE NOT YET AT THE STAGE WHERE WIDESPREAD COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AND GENERAL USAGE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES WAS WITHIN REACH.

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