XN000022-1995-05-12 — Page 13

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Reports on vehicle registration tax increase denied

In response to media enquiries, a Transport Branch spokesman today (Friday) described as pure speculation reports in a few Chinese newspapers that the Government would increase dramatically vehicle first registration taxes and annual licence fees next year.

On electronic road pricing, he said it was too early to say how much it would cost to implement the scheme as a technical consultancy study on the proposal had yet to be conducted.

A consultant for the study was expected to be selected in a few months' time, he added.

He said the Government was still putting together the package of proposals to tackle traffic congestion taking into account views expressed by the public during the consultation period.

said.

"An announcement will be made within the next few months," the spokesman

End/Friday, May 12, 1995

Biotechnology Internship Programme well received

The Biotechnology Internship Programme had received encouraging response from the industry and tertiary and research institutions, with the number of internship places offered increased from 15 last year to more than 40 this year, the Assistant Director-General of Industry, Mr Raymond Young, said today (Friday).

Organised by the Biotechnology Committee of the Industry and Technology Development Council (ITDC), the programme is aimed at upgrading manpower resources for the emerging biotechnology industry in Hong Kong by allowing local tertiary students to acquire industrial exposure prior to their graduation.

"The Internship Programme is organised for the second time this year following the successful completion of the Programme last year. The Biotechnology Committee concluded after a review that the training scheme was successful in better preparing Hong Kong's tertiary students to meet the requirement of the industry," Mr Young said.