XN000022-1992-07-01 — Page 22

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THA CLEARENCE ON SCHEDULE

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1992

THE ADMINISTRATION AIMS TO CLEAR ALL PART-BUILT TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS (THAS) COMPLETED BEFORE 1984 IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND THE MAJORITY OF FULL-BUILT THAS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

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

THERE WAS NO "DELAY" IN CLEARING THAS BECAUSE THE PACE OF CLEARANCE WAS DETERMINED BY THE INTERPLAY OF SEVERAL FACTORS.

MR EASON ALSO SAID THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF SOME OLDER THAS WAS MAINLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE LAND WAS NOT YET REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPMENT.

NOTING THAT THERE WERE AT PRESENT 60 THAS IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY SAID THE OPERATIONAL LIFE SPAN OF A THA WAS NOT FIXED, BUT WAS GENERALLY DICTATED BY THE TIMING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND FOR PERMANENT USE.

OTHER FACTORS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WERE THE AGE AND CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURES IN A THA, OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR CLEARANCE, MR EASON ADDED.

HE SAID THE PRIORITY FOR CLEARING THAS WAS REVIEWED REGULARLY.

"FOR MANY YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS RELIED ON THE SUPPLY OF NEW FLATS IN THE EXTENDED URBAN AREAS AS RECEPTION ACCOMMODATION FOR CLEARING THAS IN KOWLOON.

"PEOPLE CLEARED FROM THAS ON HONG KONG ISLAND CAN NORMALLY BE OFFERED REHOUSING ON THE HONG KONG SIDE: AND THE PREFERENCE FOR REHOUSING IN THE SAME DISTRICT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES CAN OFTEN BE MET, HE SAID.

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ANTI-SMUGGLING HOT LINE ENHANCES COMMUNICATION

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COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN ENHANCED RECENTLY BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE CHINESE PUBLIC SECURITY INTRODUCTION OF AN ANTI-SMUGGLING HOT LINE TO PASSAGE OF INFORMATION ACROSS THE BORDER.

AUTHORITIES BY THE FACILITATE THE SWIFT

FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY ASPREY, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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