XN000022-1992-10-14 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992

WORKING GROUP TO MONITOR PROGRESS OF TRIAL ROAD-OPENING CHARGING SCHEME

THE WORKING GROUP SET UP TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE TRIAL SCHEME TO CHARGE UTILITY COMPANIES LANE RENTAL FOR ROAD OPENINGS AND TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS HAS MET TWICE.

A REPORT WOULD BE PRODUCED, AND CONCLUSIONS DRAWN ON THE MERITS OF THE SCHEME IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME.

IT WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}.

MR BLAKE SAID A TOTAL OF 50 UTILITY WORKS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING SUITABLE AND HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR THE TRIAL, WHICH STARTED IN JULY.

SO FAR, ONE HAD BEEN COMPLETED, 31 WERE IN PROGRESS AND THE REMAINING WOULD START SOON.

HE SAID NO PROBLEM HAD BEEN ENCOUNTERED TO DATE.

FLEXIBLE USE OF GOVT LAND

DISTRICT BOARDS ARE NORMALLY CONSULTED ON LAND USES WHICH AFFECT THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICTS, PARTICULARLY IF THE PROPOSED USES ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PLANNING, TRAFFIC, SOCIAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS.

A

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR BOWEN LEUNG, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO QUESTION BY THE HON LEE WING-TAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HOWEVER, AS SHORT-TERM USES ARE OF A TEMPORARY NATURE AND OFTEN SMALL IN SCALE, NOT EVERY PROPOSAL IS PRESENTED ΤΟ THE BOARDS, HE SAID.

"DISTRICT OFFICERS'

ADVICE IS, NEVERTHELESS,

SOUGHT ON ALL

PROPOSALS," MR LEUNG ADDED.

BE DEVELOPED AVAILABLE

HE SAID GOVERNMENT LAND WHICH COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY INTO THEIR PLANNED PERMANENT USES MIGHT BE MADE FOR VARIOUS TEMPORARY USES IN THE SHORT TERM.

/"IF THE