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The employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Ordinance and the Sex Discrimination Ordinance have not yet been implemented pending the approval of the Employment Codes of Practice. The Codes of Practice are being finalised by the Equal Opportunities Commission. It would be prudent to await the implementation of the employment sections of the two Ordinances for a period of time so as to assess their impact on employers, employees and on the community at large, before considering any additional discrimination legislation.

Mr Wong re-affirmed government's commitment to dealing with this issue in a prudent and positive manner in the best interests of the entire community.

End

Hong Kong continues to invest heavily on road projects

Hong Kong will continue to invest heavily on road projects with the forecast spending on committed road projects for the next five years would amount to $26 billion, said the Director of Highways, Mr Leung Kwok-sun, today (Friday).

Speaking at the cocktail reception to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Highways Department, Mr Leung noted that road budget in Hong Kong had increased over ten-fold in the past 10 years. The expenditures of the Highways Department grew from $760 million in 1986 to $8,500 million this year.

Among the major projects under planning by the department, the committed ones included the Airport Core Programme (ACP) highway projects to meet the opening of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island and many non-ACP projects to improve traffic circulation in the territory, he added.

The ACP highway projects comprise the North Lantau Expressway, the Lantau Link, Cheung Ching Tunnel, Kwai Chung Viaduct, West Kowloon Expressway and the Western Harbour Crossing.

The Tsing Ma bridge with 1,377 metres in span, which forms part of the Lantau Link, will be the world's longest suspension bridge carrying both vehicular and train traffic.

Upon completion of these projects by mid-1997, a new dual three-lane expressway, 34 kilometres in length, will provide a rapid connection between the new airport and the urban areas of Hong Kong.

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