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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1993

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GOVERNMENT TO GO COMPUTERISED

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THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO SPEND MORE THAN $1 BILLION OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS ON COMPUTERISATION, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR DONALD TSANG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WEEK ROADSHOW, MR TSANG SAID THE SCHEME INCLUDED MAJOR PROJECTS FOR THE POLICE, INLAND REVENUE, IMMIGRATION AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS.

IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE SYSTEM WHICH WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS OF EXPORT LICENCES AND TRADE DECLARATIONS FROM TRADERS.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO LAUNCHING A MAJOR INITIATIVE ON OFFICE AUTOMATION WHICH HAD EXCITING POSSIBILITIES.

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109 EX-CHINA VIETNAMESE REPATRIATED

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A TOTAL OF 109 EX-CHINA VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (ECVII'8) WERE REPATRIATED TO CHINA TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE GROUP COMPRISED 42 MEN, 29 WOMEN AND 38 MINORS UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE.

THIS WAS THE FIRST BATCH OF ECVII'S RETURNED TO CHINA UNDER AN AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINESE OFFICIALS AT A MEETING IN GUANGZHOU ON AUGUST 23.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE SECOND BATCH WILL BE REPATRIATED WITHIN ONE TO TWO WEEKS.

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CONTAINER TERMINAL 8 OPENS

THE OPENING OF THE NEW CONTAINER TERMINAL NUMBER 8 MARKS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTAINER PORT FACILITIES IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GORDON SIU, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW TERMINAL, MR SIU SAID IT ADDED 58 HECTARES OF LAND TO THE CONTAINER PORT AND WOULD INCREASE TERMINAL CAPACITY BY 1.8 MILLION TEU'S A YEAR, LIFTING THE TERRITORY'S TOTAL TERMINAL CAPACITY TO 7.2 MILLION TEU'S.

"TO ALL OF US, THIS ADDITIONAL

CAPACITY MEANS ADDITIONAL

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS, HE SAID.

MR SIU SAID TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO MEET ANTICIPATED GROWTH IN DEMAND TERMINAL 9 WOULD BE BUILT ON TSING YI ISLAND, ADDING THAT DEVELOPMENT AFTER TERMINAL 9 WOULD TAKE PLACE ON LANTAU ISLAND.

/"AS WE

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