XN000022-1991-03-21 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1991

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THE GOVERNOR VISITS NEW URBAN COUNCIL FACILITIES

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, VISITED THE URBAN COUNCIL'S HONG KONG PARK AND SHEUNG WAN COMPLEX TODAY (THURSDAY). HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR GERRY FORSGATE, THE VICE CHAIRMAN, MR STEPHEN LAU, AND THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES. MR JAMES SO.

THE GOVERNOR BEGAN HIS VISIT BY CALLING AT HONG KONG PARK WHICH IS NOW IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PREPARATION AT THE FORMER VICTORIA BARRACKS SITE IN CENTRAL AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $390 MILLION.

DURING HIS TOUR OF THE PARK, SIR DAVID WAS BRIEFED ON THE MANY FACILITIES WHICH THE NEW PARK WILL OFFER TO THE PUBLIC WHEN IT IS OPENED IN MAY. HE SAW THE PROGRESS BEING MADE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WALK-THROUGH AVIARY, WITH A STAINLESS STEEL MESH ENVELOPE ΤΟ HOUSR A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 600 BIRDS FROM THE MALESIAN FOREST.

SIR DAVID THEN VISITED THE URBAN COUNCIL'S SHEUNG WAN COMPLEX WHICH PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF MODERN MUNICIPAL FACILITIES UNDER ONE ROOF INCLUDING A MARKET, A COOKED-FOOD CENTRE, AN INDOOR GAMES HALL AND A CIVIC CENTRE.

HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE

OPERATION OF THE

THE URBAN COUNCIL'S 14 MULTIPLE-FACILITY COMPLEXES AND ON PROGRESS TOWARDS OPENING A FURTHER

13 WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

SIR DAVID CONCLUDED HIS VISIT BY MEETING SOME OF THE URBAN COUNCILLORS AND SENIOR STAFF OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT A TEA RECEPTION IN THE COMPLEX.

ONE MILLION PAY LESS TAX UNDER NEW BUDGET

* * *

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PIERS JACOBS, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING THAT ALTHOUGH HE HAS INCREASED A NUMBER OF INDIRECT TAXES IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, HE HAS DONE QUITE A BIT TO SOFTEN THE BLOW INSOFAR AS THE LESS WELL TO DO ARE CONCERNED.

** HENCE THE RAISING OF TAX ALLOWANCES AND ADJUSTING THE TAX BANDS SO THAT ONE MILLION PEOPLE PAY LESS THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE THE CASE; HENCE ALSO THE NEW RATE RELIEF MEASURES, HE SAID.

T

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL SPRING DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, SIR PIERS SAID HE HAS A DISTINCT FEELING THIS YEAR THAT THE BUDGET DEBATE IS FOCUSING ON INDIVIDUAL MEASURES IN ISOLATION RATHER THAN ISSUES OF OVERALL SUBSTANCE.

"IT IS THE FATE OF ALL, BUDGETS TO BE GREETED BY SQUEALS OF PAIN FROM THOSE WHO CAN IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY THINGS THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR, AND WITH SILENCE FROM THOSE WHO KNOW OR SENSE THAT THEY ACTUALLY PAY LESS," HE SAID.

MAY

ON RESPONSE.