XN000022-1996-02-02 — Page 6

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"Eight applications for major improvement works under the Town Planning Ordinance have been submitted to the Town Planning Board. So far, seven have been approved.

"The Task Force has also embarked on rectification work in 257 sites identified by the preliminary survey of industrial/open storage undertakings in the North District (East) Action Area," he said.

On survey and mapping, Mr Pope said with the implementation of the Land Survey Ordinance in mid-January this year, a better control of land boundary surveys and records would be achieved.

"Computerisation of the basic mapping at scale 1/1000 has been completed, and these digital maps are now available for sale, whereas computerisation of the land boundary records will be completed by August this year.

"Advanced technology will continue to be explored to enhance and speed up production and updating of map products," he said.

Mr Pope said the Lands Department had also agreed to manage a consultancy study on systematic identification of maintenance responsibility of some 50,000 man- made slopes for the Civil Engineering Department.

"This consultancy study which aims at producing a complete register of slopes with particulars of the responsible parties for proper maintenance will commence in April this year and is expected to take three years to complete," he said.

End

New fares for urban and New Territories taxis from Sunday

Fares for urban and New Territories taxis will be revised from Sunday (February 4).

The flagfall for the first two kilometres will be $14 and $11.8 for urban and New Territories taxis respectively. Subsequent charges will be revised correspondingly to $1.2 and $1.1 for every 0.2 kilometre travelled.