XN000022-1993-01-28 — Page 3

N

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28,

1993

GOVT TO REDUCE USE OF HARDWOOD

PUBLIC

WORKS

WHICH

THE GOVERNMENT WILL LIMIT THE USE OF HARDWOOD AT

REDUCE TIMBER CONSUMPTION CONSTRUCTION SITES AS A MEASURE TO POSES A THREAT TO TROPICAL RAINFORESTS.

WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 1, 1993, TENDERS FOR PUBLIC WORKS

ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS WILL BE CALLED WITH AN

THE SPECIFICATION THAT OF HARDWOOD FOR CURRENT USE

TEMPORARY WORKS ON SITE HOARDINGS, FALSEWORK AND SHORING OF TRENCHES AND PITS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.

MATERIALS THEY WILL BE

"IN TENDERING FOR A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WORKS BRANCH SAID TODAY: PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS, BIDDERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROPOSE

HARDWOOD FOR TEMPORARY WORK OR AS ALTERNATIVES TO DIRECTED TO USE SPECIFIED MATERIALS."

HE SAID THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET.

FRAMES,

SOFTWOOD,

OR

"FOR EXAMPLE, CONTRACTORS CAN USE METAL COMPOSITE BOARDS AS SUBSTITUTES FOR HARDWOOD IN SITE HOARDINGS.

SUPPORT, THEY CAN CHOOSE STEEL SECTIONS, OR SOFTWOOD

"FOR TEMPORARY FORMWORK AND TRENCH FROM STEEL SHEETING, PRECAST CONCRETE, SECTIONS OR SHEETS.

BE REVIEWED AND "THE RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF HARDWOOD WILL

AS ΤΟ WHETHER THE BAN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WILL BE CONSULTED SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER TYPES OF WORK AT PUBLIC WORKS SITES, SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE

HONG KONG LEADS WORLD IN TELECOMS SERVICES

* * * * *

TO

THE POST OFFICE WILL SHORTLY BEGIN THE ASSESSMENT OF BIDS OPERATE FIXED WIRELINE TELEPHONE NETWORKS IN COMPETITION WITH THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE CO.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR M PAGLIARI, WHEN SPEAKING AT THE NETWORK LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF SMARTONE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LTD TODAY (THURSDAY).

MR PAGLIARI SAID HE SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT ALL THE OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE NEW OFFICE OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

WAS SET UP.

/THE DECISION