XN000022-1993-02-17 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1993

TIMBER INDUSTRY UNDER SURVEY

THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING A SURVEY ON THE TIMBER INDUSTRY, INCLUDING THE IMPORTATION, STORAGE AND SAWING OF LOGS AND THE USE OF SAWN LOGS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

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

MR EASON SAID IF STORAGE SITES WERE FOUND INSUFFICIENT IN THE STUDY, WHICH WOULD BE COMPLETED SHORTLY, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WOULD INITIATE A SITE SEARCH FOR MORE.

HE EXPLAINED THAT A NUMBER OF FACTORS KERE CONSIDERED IN ALLOCATING LAND FOR TIMBER STORAGE. THESE INCLUDED SITE AVAILABILITY, COMPETING DEMANDS FROM DIFFERENT END-USERS, COMPATIBILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INDIVIDUAL CASE.

ABOUT $3,693 MILLION WORTH OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF TIMBER WAS IMFURTED LAST YEAR AND A TOTAL OF 39.1 HECTARES OF LAND SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR LOG POND, TIMBER STORAGE AND SAWMILL PURPOSES WAS KNOWN TO THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED,

AIRPORT TAX COLLECTION SYSTEM WORKS WELL

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THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX COLLECTION HAS GENERALLY WORKED WELL BOTH IN TERMS OF PASSENGERS' CONVENIENCE AND SECURITY OF REVENUE COLLECTION, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS NEVERTHELESS ALWAYS PREPARED ΤΟ CONSIDER SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SYSTEM FURTHER, SHE ADDED.

THE

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IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS CHAN SAID SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TAX IN 1983, AIRLINE OPERATORS HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE TAX.

STAFF

THE GOVERNMENT PAID A FEE TO THE AIRLINE OPERATORS ΤΟ COVER AND OTHER COSTS INCURRED. IN CONNECTION WITH COLLECTION, ACCOUNTING, SECURITY AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE TAX.

THE APPROVED ESTIMATE FOR THE COLLECTION FEE IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1992/93 IS $19 MILLION.

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