XN000022-1994-03-02 — Page 67

14

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994

"WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE THAI POLICE ARE CONTINUING THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CASE," THE SECRETARY SAID.

ON MEASURES TO PROTECT LOCAL PEOPLE ON OVERSEAS TOURS, MR ASPREY SAID BASED ON INFORMATION FROM THE FCO, THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED TRAVEL ADVICE, THROUGH THE MEDIA, WHENEVER THERE WAS A SPECIAL NEED TO DO SO.

IN ADDITION, PEOPLE TRAVELLING IN TOUR GROUPS GET ADVICE FROM THEIR TOUR OPERATORS, HE ADDED.

GUIDELINES FOR SITING OF FUNERAL PARLOURS

ALTHOUGH RIGID CRITERIA FOR SITING A FUNERAL PARLOUR, SUCH AS DISTANCES FROM HOUSING ESTATES OR OTHER AREA, WERE NOT LAID DOWN, THEY SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS BY TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OR LAND USES SUCH AS COMMUNITY FACILITIES, PUBLIC UTILITIES OR OPEN SPACE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

THESE GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED IN SELECTING THE FUNERAL PARLOUR SITE IN TIN SHUI WAI.

AND

THE HON

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT LANDS,

MR TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM ZACHARY WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR EASON NOTED THAT OTHER SITES IN AREA 14 AND ELSEWHERE IN TIN SHUI WAI HAD ALSO BEEN CONSIDERED BUT FOUND TO BE LESS SUITABLE.

NOTING THAT FUNERAL PARLOURS PROVIDED AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVICE ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT BE WELCOME IN URBAN AREAS, MR EASON SAID THE FUNERAL PARLOUR IN TIN SHUI WAI WOULD BE OPERATED ON A NON- PROFIT BASIS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LESS WELL OFF MEMBERS OP THE COMMUNITY.

"IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE SITE SHOULD BE GRANTED BY PRIVATE TREATY TO THE POK OI HOSPITAL WHICH HAS LONG EXPERIENCE IN PROVIDING NON-PROFIT-MAKING COMMUNITY SERVICES, HE SAID.

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WHICH WOULD BE GAZETTED BE TAKEN OBJECTION

THE DRAFT TIN SHUI WAI OUTLINE ZONING PLAN, INCORPORATE THE SITE, WAS UNDER PREPARATION AND WOULD LATER THIS YEAR, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE LAND GRANT WOULD FORWARD THEREAFTER SUBJECT TO THE OUTCOME OF THE STATUTORY PROCEDURES.