XN000022-1993-04-28 — Page 40

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

VISITORS FROM TAIWAN ON THE RISE

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THE NUMBER OF TAIWAN VISITORS TO HONG KONG LAST YEAR WAS 1,640,032, AN INCREASE OF 26.3 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THEY SPENT A TOTAL OF HK$11,811 MILLION IN THE TERRITORY, AN INCREASE OF 67.9 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD.

THE STATISTICS WERE PROVIDED IN A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE NUMBER OF VISITORS IN 1991 WAS 1,298,039, A DROP OF 3.5 PER CENT FROM 1990. THEIR TOTAL EXPENDITURE WAS HK$7,033 MILLION, REPRESENTING A 3.2 PER CENT FALL OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF TAIWAN TRANSIT PASSENGERS TO CHINA ALSO INCREASED BY 35 PER CENT LAST YEAR TO 686,216 AS COMPARED TO 1991. THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS IN 1991 WAS 509,962, A RISE OF 26 PER CENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF TAIWAN VISITORS STAYING LESS THAN 24 HOURS IN THE TERRITORY GREW BY 30.9 PER CENT LAST YEAR OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR то 980,034.

THE NUMBER OF THESE VISITORS WAS 748,437 IN 1991, A DROP OF 7.3 PER CENT OVER 1990.

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INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 INTRODUCED

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ROUTINE FEE REVISIONS BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PUT

THE BILL ALLOWS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON BROADER POLICY AND STRATEGIC ISSUES.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT} BILL 1993, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR KY YEUNG, SAID EVERY REVISION OF FEES NOW EFFECTED BY SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

"THE

BILL PROVIDES THAT, WHERE UNDER ANY ORDINANCE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL SETTING A FEE OR CHARGE, REGULATIONS MAY SUBSEQUENTLY BE MADE BY THE FINANCIAL

SECRETARY VARYING THE LEVEL OF THAT FEE OR CHARGE.

/"THE BILL

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