XN000022-1996-01-31 — Page 33

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Mr President, the Bill represents a right balance between the need to protect our environment and the need to allow important development projects to take place. The Administration also believes that this view is shared by the community. A number of organisations, including major industrial and commercial undertakings, government branches and departments involved in public works, the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong, the Lands and Building Advisory Committee, the Industry and Technology Development Council, environmental groups, and professional bodies concerned were consulted in the formulation of the proposals and provisions of the Bill.

An outline of the proposed statutory framework for the conduct of EIA was presented to the Advisory Council on the Environment in April 1994, and to a joint meeting of this Council's Environmental Affairs and Lands and Works panels in July 1994. Having advised on a number of implementation details, these bodies supported the legislation in principle, and asked for early introduction of the Bill. The draft Bill was considered and supported by the Advisory Council on the Environment in November 1995.

As the Bill largely formalises existing requirements, we do not envisage that the statutory arrangements for EIA will lead to additional project costs or more time to implement a project. But we do believe that the Bill will have major environmental benefits and will bring Hong Kong into line with other modern communities where similar arrangements apply.

Thank you. Mr President.

End

Judicial officers' conditions of service

Following is a question by the Hon Ambrose Lau Hon-chuen and a reply by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Anson Chan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council whether there is any disparity in the conditions of service between local judicial officers and expatriate judicial officers, particularly in regard to leave and passage benefits, if so what the reasons are and whether the Government will eliminate such disparity in treatment?