XN000022-1994-03-30 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1994

HOUSING SOCIETY TO REDEVELOP FIVE STREETS IN KENNEDY TOWN

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THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE FIVE STREETS IN KENNEDY TOWN HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY WAS APPROVED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD IN 1992.

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ACCORDING TO HOUSING SOCIETY'S CURRENT PROGRAMME THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO START IN EARLY 1998, BUT THE SOCIETY IS CONSIDERING WAYS TO BRING THIS FORWARD.

THIS

WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR CANICE MAK, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON YEUNG SUM.

THE FIVE STREETS INCLUDE THE KENNEDY TOWN NEW PRAYA, DAVIS STREET, KIN MAN STREET, CADOGAN STREET AND CATCHICK STREET.

THE SITES WERE FIRST ZONED COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AREA (CDA) IN 1988 TO HELP A COMPREHENSIVE RATHER THAN PIECEMEAL REDEVELOPMENT.

MR MAK SAID COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND REDEVELOPMENT IN THE FORM OF CDA UNDER ONE AGENCY WOULD PROVIDE BETTER ENVIRONMENT AND MORE OPEN SPACE.

THIS SHOULD ALSO BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENT OF TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AND VEHICULAR ACCESS OF THE AREA.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR JURORS NOT INEQUITABLE

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THE REQUIREMENT THAT JURORS SHOULD HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF BNGLISH LANGUAGE SUFFICIENT ΤΟ ENABLE THEM ΤΟ UNDERSTAND PROCEEDINGS IN THE HIGH COURT IS NOT INEQUITABLE, UNFAIR DISCRIMINATORY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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MR

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHIM PUI-CHUNG, MATHEWS SAID ALL CRIMINAL TRIALS AND CIVIL TRIALS BY JURY WERE CONDUCTED IN THE HIGH COURT AND UNDER THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ORDINANCE, PROCEEDINGS IN THE HIGH COURT HAD TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

HE SAID: "IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS RATIONAL FOR THE LAW TO REQUIRE JURORS TO HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCEEDINGS IN COURT.

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MR MATHEWS ALSO NOTED THAT THE LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR JURORS WOULD BE REVIEWED AS AND WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED TO ALLOW THE LANGUAGE TO BE USED IN THE HIGH COURT.

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