XN000022-1996-05-22 — Page 60

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Further reductions in the consumption of electricity are expected to be achieved through the energy audit programmes conducted by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department for selected public buildings, which have saved $10 million in electricity consumption since 1993. $6 million has been set aside to implement energy saving measures which require capital investment for the next three years for twenty government buildings. To promote further reductions in paper consumption, the government has commissioned a life cycle study to establish whether the use of recycled paper could help reduce the consumption of virgin pulp. Green Managers will also be encouraged to achieve further reductions in paper consumption.

All the nineteen branches and sixty seven departments submit quarterly reports to the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch.

Non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong

Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In view of the statement by the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 1 May 1996 that the Labour Party would give full support to a government bill to grant British citizenship to the non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, will the Administration inform this Council whether it has stepped up efforts to urge the present British Government to bring forward such a bill in the United Kingdom Parliament and, if so, what the British Government's response is?

Reply:

Mr President,

The Hong Kong Government has consistently supported the case of non- Chinese ethnic minorities with solely British nationality for the grant of British citizenship. The British Government's guarantee, announced by the Prime Minister on 4 March 1996, of admission to and settlement in the United Kingdom in the unlikely event that they ever came under pressure to leave Hong Kong was a significant improvement on previous assurances given to this group. We will continue to put our case to the British Government whenever the opportunity arises. We welcome the support for this case from any quarter.

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