XN000022-1993-03-19 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1993

"THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS STRONGLY OPPOSED THE

PROPOSAL. THEY CONSIDER THAT THE ALIGNMENT WOULD RUN UNACCEPTABLY CLOSE TO THE CULTURAL CENTRE, SPACE MUSEUM AND SCIENCE MUSEUM, AND WOULD ENCROACH UPON THEIR GARDENS AND PARKS IN TSIM SHA TSUI, THUS SEVERELY AFFECTING PUBLIC ENJOYMENT OF THESE FACILITIES.

TT

"WHILE THE KOWLOON CITY AND YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARDS WELCOMED THE TRANSPORT BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSED SCHEME, THEY EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE LIKELY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DURING BOTH CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION.

"I

"THE PROPOSED SCHEME IS NOT FINANCIALLY VIABLE ON A STAND-ALONE BASIS. THE COMPANY HAS SOUGHT PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS BY PRIVATE TREATY GRANT ABOVE A DEPOT ON HUNG HOM RECLAMATION TO HELP FUND THE SCHEME. THIS FALLS OUTSIDE THE CURRENT LAND POLICY," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL, HOWEVER, CONTINUE ΤΟ EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES FOR LIGHT RAIL IN ITS PLANNING FOR THE URBAN AREA.

**WE WILL BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSAL FOR A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM WHICH CAN BRING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORT BENEFIT WITHOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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RE-ORGANISATION OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT

PROPOSAL

HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT (BLD) TO SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS, NAMELY THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT AND THE LANDS DEPARTMENT WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 1 THIS YEAR TO ACHIEVE GREATER EFFICIENCY IN THEIR OPERATIONS.

WHICH

THE PROPOSAL INVOLVES RE-DISTRIBUTION AND ADJUSTMENT OF POSTS WILL RESULT IN A NET REDUCTION OF FOUR POSTS INCLUDING ONE DIRECTORATE POST WITH AN ANNUAL SAVING OF $1.5 MILLION IN STAFF COSTS.

IT WILL BE SUBMITTED SHORTLY TO THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL.

UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE OVER THE EXISTING FUNCTIONS OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE (BOO). GREATER EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON TACKLING THE SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS OF PRIVATE BUILDINGS.

THE

NEW LANDS DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LAND ADMINISTRATION; LAND SURVEY AND MAPPING; AND GOVERNMENT CONVEYANCING FUNCTIONS CURRENTLY HANDLED BY THE LANDS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE, THE SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE AND THE LEGAL ADVISORY AND CONVEYANCING OFFICE OF THE BLD.

THE DIRECTORS OF THE TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS WILL BE ANSWERABLE TO THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS DIRECT.

/A GOVERNMENT