XN000022-1994-04-12 — Page 4

TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1994

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"HONG KONG REMAINS FULLY COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THE URUGUAY ROUND AND LOOKS FORWARD TO PLAYING AN ACTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE AS AN ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE NEW WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION WHICH WE BELIEVE SHOULD COME INTO EXISTENCE ON JANUARY 1, 1995, HE SAID.

MR CHAU WAS SPEAKING AT THE PLENARY MEETING OF THE URUGUAY ROUND TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE SHORTLY AFTER ITS OPENING BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE CROWN PRINCE SIDI MOHAMED OF MOROCCO.

THE MEETING WILL LAST UNTIL FRIDAY WHEN THE FINAL ACT EMBODYING THE RESULTS OF THE URUGUAY ROUND WILL BE SIGNED, FORMALLY BRINGING AN END TO EIGHT YEARS OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.

TERMS

TASK FORCE ON LAND SUPPLY AND PROPERTY PRICES

本章

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THE MEMBERSHIP AND OF REFERENCE OF THE TASK FORCE SET UP TO INCREASE LAND SUPPLY AND TO DEAL WITH PROPERTY PRICES.

THE TASK FORCE ON LAND SUPPLY AND PROPERTY PRICES WILL BE CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS AND MEMBERS WILL INCLUDE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, SECRETARY FOR WORKS, AND SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT OR THEIR DEPUTIES, DIRECTOR OF LANDS, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT.

OTHER MEMBERS, WHO WILL ATTEND MEETINGS ON A NEED BASIS, WILL INCLUDE THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION, COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS, LAND REGISTRAR AND GOVERNMENT ECONOMIST, THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.

OR

AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF DEEP PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT INCREASE IN PROPERTY PRICES AND THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE WHICH PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PLAYS IN HONG KONG'S ECONOMY, THE MAIN TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE TASK FORCE ARE TO EXAMINE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AS TO:

* THE CAUSES AND SIZE OF THE PROBLEM, HAVING REGARD TO THE

DEMAND FOR AND SUPPLY OF HOUSING AND ACTUAL TAKE-UP OF FLATS;

* THE SCOPE AND MEANS OF PROVIDING MORE SITES FOR PUBLIC AND

PRIVATE HOUSING, INCLUDING HOUSING FOR THE SANDWICH CLASS;

* THE MEASURES TO

MARKET;

DISCOURAGE

SPECULATION IN THE PROPERTY

* THE MEANS OF REMOVING CONSTRAINTS ON DEVELOPMENT OF SITES CAUSED BY LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER PROBLEMS AND OF BRINGING FORWARD THEIR DEVELOPMENT;

* THE MEASURES TO SPEED UP REDEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING SPEEDING UP

PROCESSING OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS; AND

/* THE WAYS