XN000022-1993-06-24 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1993

HOST OF MATTERS NEED TO BE SORTED OUT BEFORE 1997: ACTING CS

THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MRS ANSON CHAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT A NUMBER OF MATTERS WERE STILL TO BE SORTED OUT BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE DRAGON BOAT RACE AT TAI PO, MRS CHAN SAID: "THERE ARE STILL A WHOLE HOST OF MATTERS THAT NEED TO BE SORTED OUT IN ORDER TO LAY A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT ΤΟ IMPLEMENT THE ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEM CONCEPT.

TT

SHE

ADDED THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD SUFFER IF THESE MATTERS WERE NOT RESOLVED IN GOOD TIME.

ON THE PROGRESS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP MEETING, SHE SAID: "I THINK WE WERE PARTICULARLY DISAPPOINTED BEARING IN MIND THAT IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE WE HAD THE LAST MEETING.

"IT SEEMS CLEAR TO US THAT IF THE CHINESE COULD HAVE MADE MUCH BETTER PROGRESS THIS TIME.

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WERE WILLING, WE

ASKED ABOUT THREATS BY CIVIL SERVANTS TO GO ON STRIKE, MRS CHAN SAID: "THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS GIVEN VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION

TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE UNION LEADERS, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE OFFER THIS YEAR IS A FAIR AND REASONABLE ONE.

PAY

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONSIBILITY NOT ONLY TO ITS EMPLOYEES BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. AND AT THE MOMENT THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE CONCERN ABOUT INFLATION AND THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO SET A

GOOD EXAMPLE.'

SHE HOPED THAT THE STAFF SIDE WHEN CONSIDERING WHAT FURTHER ACTION то TAKE WOULD PUT THE PUBLIC INTEREST AS THEIR FIRST CONSIDERATION.

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COMPANIES REGISTRY TO REVISE FEES

A NUMBER OF FEES CHARGED BY THE COMPANIES REGISTRY WILL BE REVISED WITH EFFECT FROM AUGUST 1 AND DETAILS WILL BE GAZETTED TOMORROW (FRIDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

"THE FEES LEVIED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS ORDINANCE, AND THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE HAVE NOT PACE WITH THE COSTS OF COLLECTING THEM," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

KEPT

"THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO TAKEN IN THIS EXERCISE то SIMPLIFY CERTAIN FORMS UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE," HE ADDED.

MOST OF THESE FEES WERE LAST REVIEWED IN 1988 AND 1989 AND INFLATION SINCE THAT TIME HAS CONSIDERABLY REDUCED THEIR VALUE.

THE INCREASES, WHICH ARE GENERALLY IN THE ORDER OF 30 PER CENT, ARE NECESSARY IF THE REGISTRY IS TO BE ABLE то FULLY RECOVER ITS COSTS IN FUTURE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

/THE ADDITIONAL