XN000022-1991-05-29 — Page 17

16

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1991

REGULARLY

HE ALSO SAID THAT POLICE SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICERS VISITED SCHOOL AND GAVE TALKS TO STUDENTS WHICH INTER ALIA COVERED THE DANGERS OF INVOLVEMENT WITH TRIAD MEMBERS, AND OF COERCION INTO PROSTITUTION.

ENTICEMENT OR

WORK

"SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS ALSO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO YOUNG GIRLS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN PROSTITUTION AND TO THEIR FAMILIES,' HE ADDED.

"

WHO

GOOD PROGRESS ON INTRODUCTION OF UNLEADED PETROL

* * * * *

HONG KONG HAS A BETTER PERFORMANCE THAN ANY OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRY WHICH HAS EMBARKED ON A SIMILAR EXERCISE ON THE INTRODUCTION OF UNLEADED PETROL.

LANDS, THE HON BY THE HON MARTIN

THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND GRAHAM BARNES, SAID THIS IN REPLY TO A QUESTION LEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR BARNES SAID: "THE DIFFERENTIAL DUTY RATES OF $3.72 PER LITRE FOR UNLEADED PETROL AND $4.17 PER LITRE FOR LEADED PETROL CAME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR AS A REVENUE-NEUTRAL MEASURE TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF UNLEADED PETROL.

"IN SETTING THESE RATES, IT WAS ASSUMED THAT 90 PER CENT OF PETROL CONSUMED IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR WOULD BE UNLEADED.

"IF IT TURNS OUT THAT FEWER DRIVERS GO UNLEADED, THERE WILL SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE, BUT THE AMOUNT WILL NOT BE SUBSTANTIAL."

AGO.

BR

MR BARNES SAID THE TWO RATES CAME INTO EFFECT JUST TWO MONTHS

"SOME OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, HOPED FOR AN KVEN QUICKER CHANGEOVER, BUT, WITH OVER 50 PER CENT OF CONSUMERS APPARENTLY HAVING ALREADY CHANGED TO UNLEADED, WE STILL SEEM TO BE DOING VERY WELL, CERTAINLY MUCH BETTER THAN ANY OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRY WHICH HAS EMBARKED ON A SIMILAR EXERCISE," HE SAID.

"BUT BEFORE WE BECAME TOO JUBILANT OR DESPONDENT AS MAY BE, WE SHOULD ALLOW OURSELVES A FEW MORE MONTHS ΤΟ SEE CONSUMPTION PATTERN SETTLES DOWN.

THE CASE HOW THE

"SHOULD IT BE SEEN THAT IT HAS STABILISED AT A RATIO WHICH IS WORSE THAN THE PRESENT RATIO OR SEEMS UNLIKELY TO IMPROVE FURTHER, WE WILL CERTAINLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE MATTER INCLUDING DIFFERENTIAL DUTY RATES AGAIN, HE ADDED.

Н

MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN STEPS TO MONITOR LEVAL OF BENZENE.

THE

THE

/"THE ENVIRONMENTAL