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The spokesman said: "The Governor-in-Council has taken account of the fact that Professor Morgenstern's review was conducted in an impartial and transparent manner, and furthermore that the report is comprehensive in its findings, conclusions and recommendations.

"Further inquiry will not elicit additional information or provide a more thorough and reliable analysis of the technical factors surrounding the landslide."

The Governor-in-Council was informed that the programme of verifying the thickness of previously studied masonry walls, another recommendation by Professor Morgenstern, would be complete before the oncoming rainy season. Implementation of the remaining recommendations has also begun, and will be carried. forward as quickly as possible.

The TRB will be made up of non-official eminent practitioners. They will advise on the technical aspects of the work of both the public and private sectors in enhancing slope safety, including keeping abreast of international standards of risk management as applied to slopes. The names of these experts and further details will be announced as soon as they have been confirmed.

The spokesman said the Government had almost completed a parallel review of the overall policies and legislation on slope safety. The results and recommendations will be made public shortly.

End/Friday, January 20, 1995

HK provides to US estimate of 301 Action's impact on economy

In a formal communication to the US Consul-General in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Government today (Friday) provided the United States Administration with a broad estimate of the potential adverse impact on Hong Kong's economy, if the US imposed punitive tariffs on Chinese products on the proposed retaliation list which the US Government had published earlier under its Special 301 provisions.

A Trade and Industry. Branch spokesman said: "Given that the US and China are our two largest trading partners, Hong Kong is naturally concerned about the adverse effects on Hong Kong of any retaliation action which the US Government might take if the two sides failed to reach a mutually acceptable solution over intellectual property rights (IPR) protection."

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