XN000022-1993-11-10 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1993

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BASED ON THE OBSERVATIONS ON THE TEST EMBANKMENT AND THE STUDIES OF OTHER MAJOR RECLAMATION WORKS, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO ADOPT FOR THE RECLAMATION WORK IN CHEK LAP KOK THE TECHNIQUE WHICH INVOLVES THE REMOVAL OF THE UPPER LAYERS OF SOFT MARINE MUD.

"WITH MARINE MUD REMOVED, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE AVERAGE SETTLEMENT OF THE RECLAMATION AREAS AT THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT SITE WILL BE 40 TO 50 CENTIMETRES OVER A LONG PERIOD."

THIS

MR BLAKE SAID TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT MATERIAL TO ALLOW FOR SETTLEMENT, THE SITE WOULD BE FILLED TO HALF A METRE ABOVE THE FORMATION LEVEL AND CIVIL WORKS DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR THESE CONDITIONS.

"PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE TO ACCELERATE SETTLEMENT BY MECHANICAL MEANS OR SURCHARGE WHICH IS NORMAL PRACTICE IN HONG KONG AND INSTRUMENTATION HAS BEEN INSTALLED TO MONITOR SETTLEMENT.'

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BNO PASSPORTS RECOGNISED WORLDWIDE

AS A RESULT OF THE EFFORTS OF THE HONG KONG AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS, THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT, WHICH IS VALID BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER JUNE 30, 1997, IS RECOGNISED WORLDWIDE.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JAMES TIEN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

"ITS HOLDERS ARE ABLE TO ENTER 71 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES VISA FREE.

"THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN PASSPORT IS EQUALLY WELL ACCEPTED," HE SAID.

MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE CONTINUATION OF VISA-FREE PRIVILEGES FOR ALL THOSE WITH HONG KONG TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

"WE HAVE PUT PROPOSALS TO THIS END TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP,' HE ADDED.

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SINCE OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR, SPAIN HAS INTRODUCED CHANGES IN VISA REQUIREMENTS WHICH AFFECTED A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES, INCLUDING HONG KONG.

"THE HONG KONG AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENTS LOBBIED HARD BUT UNSUCCESSFULLY AGAINST THE RECENT SPANISH MOVE.

"OUR EMPHASIS WILL NOW BE TO ENCOURAGE THE SPANISH GENERAL HERE TO MAKE THE PROCESSING TIME FOR THE ISSUE OF QUICK AND AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE," HE SAID.

CONSULATE- VISAS AS

MR ASPREY