XN000022-1994-07-08 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1994

OLD-AGE

QUESTION: CONCERNING THE

RETIREMENT SCHEME, WILL THE GOVERNMENT DECIDE TO TAKE PART OR CONTRIBUTE OR TO MONITOR.

+

?

GOVERNOR: I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE MAKING SOME PROPOSALS ON PENSIONS AND THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY SHORTLY. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL BE DISCUSSING THE MATTER, FOR EXAMPLE, NEXT WEEK AND AFTER THAT, WE WILL BE MAKING THE POSITION, AND OUR POSITION, ABSOLUTELY PLAIN TO THE PUBLIC. I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE PLEASED AND INTERESTED IN THE PROPOSALS WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD. WE RECOGNISE THAT WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES GIVE PROPER CARE TO THE ELDERLY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DISCHARGE THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE'LL, OBVIOUSLY, BE OUR PROPOSALS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS AND I THINK THEY'LL DEBATED IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE MORE QUESTION.

TO

ΤΟ

INTEND DISCUSSING BE WIDELY

QUESTION: YESTERDAY, IN THE QUESTION TIME, YOU SAID THAT THE DECISION ON THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO BE IRREVOCABLE? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? IS IT THAT THE CHINESE SIDE....?

GOVERNOR:

WE

I DON'T REMEMBER USING THAT PHRASE BUT, OBVIOUSLY, WHEN HAVE AN AGREED PROPOSAL ON PENSIONS, IT'S GOING TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CARE FOR THE ELDERLY FOR MANY YEARS AHEAD. ONE MORE QUESTION.

QUESTION: IS THERE ANY SECRET DEAL BETWEEN YOU AND

GOVERNOR: NONE AT ALL.

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·

QUESTION: WHAT THINGS SHOULD BE DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO AGREE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S SEWAGE TREATMENT PROPOSAL

JLG MEETINGS?

IN

QUESTION: THE SEWAGE PROPOSAL...THE CHINESE STATEMENT SAYS IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE AND THEY ARE QUITE RESERVED......?

GOVERNOR: THERE'RE TWO DISTINCT ISSUES. FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS A HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAMME FOR CLEANING UP THE WATER AROUND OUR SHORES AND FOR DEALING WITH HONG KONG'S SEWAGE PROBLEM. THAT FIRST PHASE IS FREE- STANDING AND IT'S ALL COMPLETED BEFORE 1997. THERE IS A SECOND PHASE WHICH INVOLVES, BOLTING ON TO THAT FIRST PHASE, ADDITIONAL MEASURES FOR DISCHARGE AND TREATMENT AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT FULLY WITH THE CHINESE SIDE. BUT THE FIRST PHASE HAPPENS BEFORE 1997 AND IS FREE- STANDING.

NEW HOLIDAY CAMP OPENS IN YUEN LONG

LOCAL RESIDENTS NOW HAVE ANOTHER PLACE TO REST AND RELAX AWAY FROM THE CROWDS AND HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS WITH THE OPENING OF THE TAI TONG HOLIDAY CAMP IN YUEN LONG TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE CAMP WAS BUILT BY THE PO LEUNG KUK WITH SUPPORT FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB.

OFFICIATING AT ITS OPENING CEREMONY, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, STRESSED THE NEED FOR GREATER ACTION TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

THERE ARE