XN000022-1995-12-13 — Page 46

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(c) The expenditure involved in purchasing air-tickets for civil servants' overseas duty visits and training in 1993/94 and 1994/95 is $85.4 million, involving a total of 5,956 return passages. We have not kept specific records on the destinations of these passages.

(d) On the whole, we are getting a reasonable deal out of the agreement with BA and CPA as the Government is able to benefit from the reduced fares on the HK-UK direct flights with guaranteed bookings in both peak and off-peak seasons. The current arrangement for the purchase of air-tickets for civil servants' overseas duty visits and training, even if considered on its own, does not incur a much higher public expenditure, since the costs of published-fare air-tickets are roughly the same irrespective of from which agent they are bought. We are using published fares because the lower-fare air-tickets available in the market are very often special or promotional-fare tickets with usage restrictions attached, which would frequently not meet the operational requirements of these duty visits.

(e) With a view to achieving further savings, we are discussing with BA and CPA the possibility of including the service of VAA in the current agreement. We are also reviewing the scope of our being able to make use of the cheaper air fares available in the market for civil servants' overseas duty visits and training.

End

Fill material for proposed reclamation at Kowloon Bay

Following is a question by the Hon Lau Hon-chuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Now that the Government is consulting the public on the feasibility of the Green Island Public Dump Scheme and that the removal of Hong Kong International Airport has been scheduled for 1998, will the Government inform this Council whether consideration will be given to transporting construction waste on Hong Kong Island by land or by sea to the waters off the Airport and Kowloon Bay for dumping as an interim measure, as such a move will prepare that area for the future reclamation work on the one hand and allow more time for the public to study the policies relating to the Green Island reclamation on the other?