XN000022-1994-02-25 — Page 6

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1994

TRANSITIONAL

"THE FIRST AMENDMENT, THEREFORE, IS TO INCLUDE A PROVISION IN THE ORDINANCE TO EMPOWER THE TWO BOARDS TO CONSIDER DETERMINE SUCH PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND APPEALS."

THE

AND

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, UNAUTHORISED PLANNING AUTHORITY HAS THE POWER TO ENTER LAND WITH

SUCH DEVELOPMENTS то TAKE STEPS TO DISCONTINUE PREVENT ADVERSE EFFECTS OR TO REINSTATE THE LAND.

DEVELOPMENTS,

THE AUTHORITY IS ALSO EMPOWERED TO REMOVE THE PROPERTY ON LAND BEFORE THE NECESSARY REMEDIAL WORK CAN BE CARRIED OUT.

THE SECOND

TO

THE

POWER OF THE

THEREFORE, AFFIRMS THE AMENDMENT, PLANNING AUTHORITY TO TAKE POSSESSION, REMOVE, DETAIN AND DISPOSE PROPERTY REMAINING ON THE LAND WHERE REMEDIAL WORK HAS TO BE OUT.

CARRIED

DETAILED PROCEDURES WILL BE SET OUT IN REGULATIONS TO BE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, HE SAID.

MADE

FUNDS APPROVED FOR CONVENTION CENTRE EXTENSION

OF

TO

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (FRIDAY) THE FUND $4,829 MILLION APPROVED A CAPITAL SUBVENTION

KONG CONVENTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR EXTENSION TO THE HONG EXHIBITION CENTRE (HKCEC).

FUND

GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE DECISION IN PRINCIPLE TO THIS PROJECT HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS 1993 BUDGET. THE COST OF THE PROJECT WAS LOWER THAN THE APPROXIMATE FIGURE OF $5.5 BILLION REFERRED TO IN THE BUDGET SPEECH.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE EXISTING HKCEC, WITH 18,000 SQUARE METRES OF EXHIBITION SPACE AND A CONVENTION HALL FOR 2,600 PEOPLE, WAS FAST APPROACHING SATURATION.

HAVING

"WORLD-CLASS EXHIBITIONS HELD AT THE HKCEC ARE ALREADY TO EXTEND THEIR EXHIBITS INTO AREAS SUCH AS FOYERS, MEETING ROOMS CONCOURSES NOT DESIGNED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

"IN

ADDITION,

AND

AS A LEADING COMPETITIVENESS KONG'S HONG

THE НКСЕС IS AT EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION CENTRE IS BEING ERODED.

OF AS A RESULT REGIONAL CENTRES RISK OF LOSING BUSINESS TO OTHER

FOR EXAMPLE, OSAKA, TAIWAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIMILAR FACILITIES IN, AND SINGAPORE, HE SAID.

11

HE ADDED THAT SINGAPORE'S

EXHIBITION AND

CONVENTION

THOSE

FACILITIES, IN TERMS OF CAPACITY, HAD IN FACT ALREADY SURPASSED OF HONG KONG.

/"THIS DISPARITY