TNAG-1734-FCO40-2447-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 183

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-Supplementary to Question No. 2.

Legco meeting on 29 June 1988.

DR. CHIU: Sir, the Secretary for Lands and Works has not

given us a clear answer regarding the efforts he has made

to improve job opportunities in new towns. As the biggest

employer in Hong Kong, will the Government take the lead

to re-locate some Government offices to new towns, in

addition to the existing regional offices.

If so, what

are the measures ?

SE CRE TARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS: Sir, I think it is true

to say that the Government itself is a very large employer

in the new towns.

There are many Government officers

working in the

in the new towns

intention of changing that; in fact, it is intended that

we should continue with the development

the development of offices on a

regional basis so that Government staff can be re-located

towns already and indeed there is no

in the regions which

they serve.

I cannot be too

numbers, I am afraid, but if Dr. CHIU

specific as to

wishes, I may be able to provide some numbers on that and

a

possible forecast of how this might develop in the

future.

MR. TAI: Sir, in order to increase

increase job opportunities in

the new towns, will Government consider relaxing the

control over the use of agricultural

land near the new

town fringe and in other suitable areas, and at the same