XN000022-1995-06-01 — Page 22

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Governor: I think the problem has been getting worse. It is not as serious as it is in some other communities but that is no reason for complacency, because the figures in particular for drug-abuse by the young, have risen and are worrying and that is one of the reasons why we have given the campaign this priority. And it is one of the reasons as well, why we are delighted that somebody with all the prestige of Andy Lau is associating himself in a very positive way with the campaign.

Question: Considering all these proposals when will the Government make a final decision?

Governor: The final decision, I suppose, will be in our public expenditure discussions this summer. But you will see that quite a lot of these ideas involve other people as well as the Government, so I think it will be an ongoing business.

Question: Bearing in mind that (inaudible) two years (inaudible) are there any guarantees (inaudible)?

Governor: We have to carry the community with us, we have to carry neighbourhoods with us. It is a problem that we have experienced, not just in this area, it is a problem we have also experienced, as you know, in carrying through as rapidly as we wanted our programme to help those with handicaps. But I'm sure we will get there.

End/Thursday, June 1, 1995

Environmental Impact Assessment Bill discussed

The Land and Building Advisory Committee (LABC) held its 37th meeting today (Thursday) and discussed the proposed Environmental Impact Assessment Bill.

Chaired by Mr Cheng Hon-kwan, the Committee was briefed that the bill sought to make it a requirement that an Environmental Permit should be issued by the Director of Environmental Protection for a list of Designated Projects considered to be of significant environmental impact.

The project proponent should prepare an Initial Environmental Report based on which the Director of Environmental Protection would determine the environmental acceptability of the project and whether a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment study would be required.