XN000022-1991-03-19 — Page 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1991

REPLY TO TOBACCO INDUSTRY ON TAX

HEALTH

THE FINANCIAL

SECRETARY, ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR AND WELFARE AND HER DEPUTY, TODAY (TUESDAY) MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY LED BY MR JOHN SCARRITT.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, REITERATED HIS STAND ON THE TAX INCREASE ON TOBACCO.

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD BEEN GOVERNMENT POLICY SINCE 1975 TO DISCOURAGE SMOKING, TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC (PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG) ON THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF SMOKING, TO REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF TOBACCO PROMOTION AS FAR AS POSSIBLE AND TO LEGISLATE WHERE APPROPRIATE.

"I AM HEARTENED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ΤΟ DISCOURAGE SMOKING IS REFLECTED IN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S BUDGET SPEECH.

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"THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUCH A MEASURE HAS BEEN BORNE OUT BY STATISTICS IN HONG KONG AND STUDIES ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, SHE SAID.

MRS WONG THEREFORE

WHOLE-HEARTEDLY

SUPPORTED THE FINANCIAL

SECRETARY IN THIS MOVE.

"HOWEVER, SHE ADDED, 'I WELCOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPLORING WITH THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY OTHER MEASURES ΤΟ FURTHER GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVES IN THIS ARKA.*

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PROGRESS OF PRIVATISING ABERDEEN TUNNEL'S MANAGEMENT

* *

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ON THE PROGRESS OF PRIVATISING THE MANAGEMENT OF ABERDEEN TUNNEL, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT TENDER DOCUMENTS WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY THE SIX PREQUALIFIED TENDERERS SELECTED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

ΤΟ

THE TENDER IS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE TUNNEL'S ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT AND PLANT.

A SINGLE CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FOR THREE YEARS WITH AN OPTION FOR THE EXTENSION FOR FURTHER PERIODS SUBJECT TO AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CONTRACT HOLDER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS APRIL 26 THIS

YEAR, HE

ADDED.

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