XN000022-1992-06-24 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1992

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DISTRICT OFFICES CO-ORDINATES EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK

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IN NATURAL DISASTERS, DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL CO-ORDINATE EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK BY RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE URGENT REINSTATEMENT OF DISRUPTED SERVICES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LI WAH-MING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

RESPONSIBLE

MR EASON SAID THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS FOR THE CLEARANCE OF SILT FROM PROPERLY BUILT DRAINS IN SQUATTER AREAS.

THE CLEARANCE OF DRAINS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED BY SQUATTERS SHOULD NORMALLY BE UNDERTAKEN BY THEM.

HOWEVER, IN EMERGENCIES, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CLEAR SILT FROM DRAINS IN SQUATTER AREAS IF NECESSARY.

THE SECRETARY SAID THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING REFUSE IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES RESPECTIVELY.

CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN BY THE TWO DEPARTMENTS JOINTLY WITH OTHERS SUCH AS THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT AND THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS SOON AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS AS CONDITIONS PERMIT.

THESE OPERATIONS CAN INCLUDE THE REMOVAL OF SILT AND REFUSE FROM SQUATTER AREAS AND DRAINS.

BRITISH OFFICES REGULARLY UPDATED

ON VISA REQUIREMENTS

BRITISH VISA OFFICES RECEIVE REGULAR NOTIFICATION OF ANY CHANGES IN HONG KONG'S VISA REQUIREMENTS WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL POLICY TO WELCOME TOURISTS AND BUSINESS VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, WHILE REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARTIN BARROW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID HONG KONG ADOPTED THIS POLICY AS IT WAS A REGIONAL AND WORLD CENTRE FOR FINANCE, TRADE, MANUFACTURING AND TOURISM.

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