XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 67

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

*

THIS WOULD OF THE ELECTORAL

FIFTH, INTRODUCING A SINGLE CUT-OFF DATE FOR THE COMPILATION OF THE PROVISIONAL AND FINAL VOTER REGISTER.

FOR A MORE ALLOW

PUBLIC MEANINGFUL

SCRUTINY PROVISIONAL REGISTER AND GIVE THE REGISTRATION OFFICE MORE TIME TO EFFECT AMENDMENTS FOR THE PRODUCTION A MORE ACCURATE REGISTER.

OF

ULTIMATELY.

OUR VOTER REGISTER CAN ONLY AS

AS ACCURATE

OUR

VOTERS WANT IT TO BE. IT IS OUR CIVIC DUTY TO REGISTER AS A VOTER AND

IS OUR OBLIGATION TO INFORM REGISTRATION ELECTORAL OFFICE CHANGES ONCE WE HAVE REGISTERED.

OF ANY

THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.

SES IN POLICY ADDRESS DEBATE

MR

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, GORDON SIU, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON MOTION OF THANKS TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE POINTS RAISED BY HONOURABLE MEMBERS RELATED TO THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING TO DEVELOP HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE. THE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES IS TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG HAS THE BCONOMIC

WITH INFRASTRUCTURE TO INTERACT EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY THE REST OF THE WORLD. SOME MEMBERS DREW ATTENTION TO THE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR ECONOMY OF DELAYS IN THE OPENING OF MUCH NEEDED NEW PORT AND AIRPORT FACILITIES. I FULLY SHARE THESE CONCERNS; BUT I BELIEVE WE MUST NOT ALLOW THEM ΤΟ OBSCURE THE IMPRESSIVE PROGRESS BEING MADE ON MANY KEY PROJECTS.

OUR

TAKE THE PORT FOR EXAMPLE, CT8 IS NOW ALMOST FULLY OPERATIONAL AND 22 HECTARES OF NEW LAND TO SUPPORT CONTAINER HANDLING OPERATIONS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. WE ARE ALSO AT AN

AT OF PLANNING FOR A FIRST DEDICATED TERMINAL,

TUEN ADVANCED STAGE

MUN, TO SERVE THE RAPIDLY GROWING TRADE FROM THE PEARL RIVER DELTA.

IT IS TRUE THAT CT9 HAS BEEN DELAYED. THIS DELAY WILL COST US DEARLY AS OUR PORT BECOMES MORE AND MORE CONGESTED AND BUSINESS HAS TO BE TURNED AWAY. SOME MEMBERS HAVE CALLED ON US TO EXPEDITE A SOLUTION TO

CT9 THE

BE PROBLEM; OTHERS HAVE ARGUED THAT IT SHOULD

QUIETLY:

SHELVED.

AS I MADE CLEAR IN THIS COUNCIL ON 12 OCTOBER, WK HAVE NO INTENTION OF SHELVING CT9. FIRST WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TURN OUR BACKS ON SUCH A POTENTIALLY VALUABLE ASSET. THIS CONTAINER TERMINAL, TO BE BUILT IN THE DEEPWATER ADJACENT TO THE REST OF KWAI CHUNG PORT, IS

TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF CTS1 TO 8. DESIGNED

IT IN ADDITION

WILL ENABLE US TO MAKE UP MANY OF THE SHORTFALLS IN SPACE FOR PARKING FOR CONTAINER STORAGE PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE PLAGUED CTS1 TO 8 FOR YEARS NOW.

AND

MANY

/SECONDLY WE