XN000022-1992-11-09 — Page 3

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1992

GOVT STATEMENT ON ELECTIONS

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, THE INFORMATION

MR MIKE HANSON, MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

CO-ORDINATOR,

"MR PATTEN IS VERY PLEASED THAT A DEBATE IS NOW BEGINNING, HE THE WELCOMES ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE 1994 AND 1995 ELECTIONS WHICH MEET CRITERIA AGREED BY BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES I.E. THEY MUST BE OPEN; THEY MUST BE FAIR; AND THEY MUST COMMAND THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE

MAKE OF HONG KONG. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE

THEIR PROPOSALS SPECIFIC. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEBATE GENERALITIES. THE BUSINESS

ARE VERY GENERAL AND AND PROFESSIONALS FEDERATION'S PROPOSALS

THE GOVERNOR LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING THEIR DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS LATER. HE LAST MET THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONALS FEDERATION SEPTEMBER 9 AND HE LOOKS FORWARD TO MEETING THEM

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

AGAIN

ON

WHITE BILL ON TOWN PLANNING TO BE PUBLISHED

**

A WHITE BILL ON THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE IS EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED FOR FURTHER PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN MID-1993.

THIS WAS SAID BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, THIS (MONDAY) EVENING AT A CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE CENTRE FOR REAL ESTATE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,

IN ORDER TO MEET CHANGING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CIRCUMSTANCES, A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT WITH A VIEW TO BRINGING IT UP-TO-DATE, HE SAID.

"PART OF THE AIM IS TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE OPEN AND FAIRER AND TO PROVIDE A HIGHER DEGREE OF CERTAINTY FOR DEVELOPERS.

"THE SYSTEM MUST, HOWEVER, BE AFFORDABLE BY THE COMMUNITY.

"IN VIEW OF THE COMPLEXITY AND THE TECHNICAL NATURE OF THE LEGISLATION, WE ARE NOW PREPARING DETAILED DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR A WHITE BILL TO BE PUBLISHED FOR FURTHER PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN MID-1993 IF ALL GOES WELL.

OUR

OF

"THIS WILL ENABLE EVERYONE TO SEE WHAT THE PRACTICAL EFFECT PROPOSALS WOULD BE BEFORE FINAL DECISIONS ON THEIR INTRODUCTION ARE MADE, MR EASON ADDED,

...+

REFERRING ΤΟ LAND ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID LAST YEAR ABOUT $2 BILLION WAS PAID TO MEET LAND ACQUISITION AND CLEARANCE COSTS THE 1992 FIGURE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER $3 BILLION.

AND

/MR EASON