XN000022-1994-03-31 — Page 17

15

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1994

URUGUAY ROUND

MR MILLER WENT ON TO PRAISE THE OUTCOME OF THE AND THE AGREEMENT TO ESTABLISH THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION.

IS

"THIS IS A VICTORY FOR THE MFN BASED GATT SYSTEM. IT VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR SMALLER ECONOMIES, LIKE HONG KONG, WHICH LACK THE POLITICAL CLOUT TO ENGAGE IN BILATERAL DEALS WITHOUT DISADVANTAGE. IT IS THEREFORE ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT THAT WITH THE SETTING UP OF THE TRADE ORGANISATION, ALL MEMBERS PLAY BY THE SAME SET OF RULES AND ESCHEW RECOURSE TO UNILATERAL ACTION.

++

FOUR DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLANS APPROVED

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED FOUR DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA (DPA) PLANS FOR PING KONG, PING CHE AND TA KWU LING IN NORTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES, KWUN YAM SHAN AND FA SAM HANG IN SHA AND NGAU TAM MEI IN NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES,

TIN,

AND

MAJOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THESE DPA'S ARE AGRICULTURAL LIVESTOCK FARMING AS WELL AS OPEN STORAGE AND RURAL INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES MIXED WITH RURAL SETTLEMENTS.

IN RECENT YEARS, MANY OF THE FALLOW AGRICULTURAL LANDS WITH EASY ACCESS HAVE GRADUALLY BEEN CONVERTED TO WORKSHOPS, CAR DUMPING OR REPAIRING YARDS AND OPEN STORAGE GROUNDS.

THAT

A

SAID SPOKESMAN FOR THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY (THURSDAY) THESE USES HAD CAUSED GENERAL DEGRADATION TO THE RURAL

ENVIRONMENT.

AREAS THEM.

"THE DPA PLANS WILL INTRODUCE PROPER PLANNING CONTROL TO THESE WITHIN DEVELOPMENTS AND PROVIDE A PLANNING FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE

"ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL BE UNDERTAKEN AGAINST UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THESE AREAS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

11

IN PING CHE AND TA KWU LING DPA, A TOTAL OF ABOUT 139 HECTARES ABOUT OF LAND HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED FOR OPEN STORAGE USE, REPRESENTING

IN ALL 50%

DPA OF PLANS.

TOTAL LAND AREA DESIGNATED FOR OPEN STORAGE USE

"ONLY THOSE OPEN STORAGE USES WHICH HAVE NO ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT WOULD BE PERMITTED IN THIS ZONE.

"STORAGE USES WHICH MAY CAUSE ADVERSE IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENT,

BOARD TRAFFIC AND DRAINAGE WOULD REQUIRE PLANNING PERMISSION FROM THE SO THAT THE BOARD COULD ASSESS AN APPLICATION ON INDIVIDUAL MERITS AND IMPOSE APPROPRIATE MITIGATION MEASURES IF AND WHEN NECESSARY, SPOKESMAN SAID.

ΓΙ

THE

/IN KWUN