XN000022-1993-06-09 — Page 40

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9,

1993

GOVT CONTINUES ITS FIGHT FOR CHINA'S MFN STATUS

THE

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE то STRESS TO THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS THE IMPORTANCE ΤΟ HONG KONG OF CHINA'S MOST-FAVOURED-NATION (MFN) STATUS.

AND IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S HOPE THAT HONG KONG'S INTERESTS WILL AGAIN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THE U.S. IN CONSIDERING NEXT YEAR'S MFN RENEWAL.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON DAVID LI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T H CHAU, SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO SEEK THE SUPPORT OF THE UK GOVERNMENT ON THIS ISSUE AS NECESSARY.

HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT'S STAUNCH SUPPORT WOULD

CONTINUE.

MR CHAU SAID THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED, HOWEVER, THAT SPECIFIC BUSINESS DECISIONS ABOUT HOW BEST TO ADJUST TO ANY CHANGES IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WERE BEST MADE BY HONG KONG'S BUSINESS SECTOR.

"NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE MANY THINGS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE DOING IN ANY EVENT TO ENABLE BUSINESSMEN TO MAKE THE BEST OF FUTURE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, HE SAID.

IN PARTICULAR, THROUGH A STRONG COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND RETRAINING AND TO CONSTANTLY UPGRADING HONG KONG'S PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, HE ADDED.

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SELECTION OF OCEANIC DISPOSAL OPTION EXPLAINED

**

THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSIDERED MANY OPTIONS BEFORE FINALISING THE STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY)

MR BASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY REV THE HON FUNG CHI-WOOD, SAID THE OCEANIC DISPOSAL OPTION WAS PREFERRED AFTER TWO YEARS OF INTENSIVE STUDY BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS.

HE ADDED THAT OVER 1,000 DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS WERE CONSIDERED TO PROVIDE FOR ADEQUATE COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF THE SEWAGE GENERATED AROUND VICTORIA HARBOUR.

**THE EVALUATION TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION A RANGE OF CONSTRAINTS, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DETERMINING WHICH WAS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION WHICH WOULD ALSO ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, HE SAID.

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/THE SECRETARY

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