XN000022-1995-05-24 — Page 56

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Answer:

Mr President,

Members will recall that a Consultative Document on Comprehensive Review of the Town Planning Ordinance was published for public consultation in July 1991. The intention was to bring about a completely new Town Planning Ordinance for future operations. A large number of public views were collected, including the views of this Council. These views were divided, and some doubts were raised, in respect of We therefore had to certain proposals originally made by the Administration. undertake a very careful examination of these views within the Administration.

The many complex and highly technical issues involved have required the Bill to take more time to be drafted than originally envisaged. Moreover the resources likely to be needed to implement the proposed new ordinance are very significant. The Administration is taking stock of the situation and studying a working draft of the Bill. Our examination involves an analysis of the pros and cons of amending our original proposals in the light of public views and legal complexity of the issues, as well as an in-depth study of some proposals made by the public. We are also considering the need and merits of introducing certain interim amendments to the current Town Planning Ordinance to see whether we can bring forward some improvement to the system early.

End/Wednesday, May 24, 1995

Data used to compile employment statistics

Following is a question by the Hon Henry Tang and a reply by the Secretary for Financial Services. Mr Michael Cartland. in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

According to the latest statistics for labour force published by the Census & Statistics Department, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the territory for the first quarter of this year and for the period between December last year and February this year was 2.8% and 2.5% respectively. However, according to a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, the unemployment rate for the period between December last year and January this year was as high as 9.5%. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council of the survey methods adopted by the Government; and whether the statistics obtained from such methods truly reflect the real situation of the labour market?