XN000022-1993-06-02 — Page 30

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1993

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ABSENCE LIMIT FOR NATURALISATION WAIVABLE

THE

450 DAYS ABSENCE LIMIT FOR THOSE WHO WISH то BECOME A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN BY NATURALISATION IS WAIVABLE IF THERE ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY LAU WAI-HING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

***THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION IS AUTHORISED TO EXERCISE THIS FUNCTION," HE SAID.

THE RESIDENCE

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, 628 REQUESTS TO WAIVE REQUIREMENT WERE RECEIVED. OVER 99 PER CENT OF THEM WERE GRANTED.

AN APPLICANT WHO HAS BEEN AWAY FROM HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN 450 DAYS IN THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS, OR FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE APPLICATION, MIGHT MAKE A WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION FOR THE REQUIREMENT TO BE WAIVED, STATING THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS CASE, THE SECRETARY EXPLAINED.

INFORMATION ON THE WAY TO MAKE THIS REQUEST IS PROVIDED IN THE NATURALISATION APPLICATION GUIDE BOOK, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED TOGETHER WITH THE APPLICATION FORM TO APPLICANTS, HE ADDED.

SUSPENDED PARTICLES IN WATER SUPPLY TO LAGUNA CITY EXPLAINED

INVESTIGATIONS BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HAVE CONFIRMED THAT SUSPENDED PARTICLES FOUND IN FRESH WATER SUPPLY AT LAGUNA CITY IS DUE TO SOME IRREGULARITIES IN THE COMMUNAL WATER SUPPLY SERVICES WITHIN THE ESTATE.

IN

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON FRED LI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR BLAKE SAID THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THESE TINY PARTICLES COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED CLEARLY BECAUSE OF THE MINUTE QUANTITY.

"HOWEVER, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THEIR PRESENCE IN SUCH MINUTE QUANTITY SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE OVERALL ACCEPTABILITY OF THE SUPPLIED WATER FOR POTABLE PURPOSES, HE SAID.

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THE INVESTIGATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THE INLET AND OVERFLOW PIPES INSIDE THE ROOF TANKS HAD CORRODED SERIOUSLY, WHICH MIGHT BE THE SOURCE FOR THE TINY PARTICLES AS DISCOVERED IN THE WATER SAMPLES.

THE LAGUNA CITY MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND THE REGISTERED AGENT RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE COMMUNAL SERVICES HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FINDINGS.

/THEY HAD

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