TNAG-2449-FCO40-3565-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 181

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MDLIAN 1766

13.

THE FUNDING PROPOSAL FOR BUILDING THE THIRD ENGLISH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION SECONDARY SCHOOL ON HONG KONG ISLAND WAS APPROVED AFTER MUCH HEATED DEBATE. THE CRITICISMS, MAINLY FROM UDHK MEMBERS, WERE THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF PARITY IN SUBSIDY HAD NOT BEEN STRICTLY OBSERVED IN SUBSIDISING RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AND THAT SUCH SCHOOLS FARED BETTER VIS A VIS OTHER SUBSIDISED SCHOOLS FOR LOCALS.

14. SEPARATELY, BECAUSE OF STAFF LOBBY, THE PROPOSAL TO CREATE A NEW GRADE OF LAUNCH MASTER IN THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE MARINE DEPARTMENT FAILED TO BE ENDORSED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE (ESC) OF THE FC ALTHOUGH IT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED AT THREE EARLIER ESC MEETINGS. MEMBERS DECIDED THAT THIS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO FC FOR DECISION ON 12 JUNE. THIS WOULD BE AN INTERESTING TEST CASE OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH LEGCO DECISION COULD BE INFLUENCED BY STAFF LOBBY AND WHETHER FC WOULD BE PREPARED TO APPROVE PROPOSALS NOT ENDORSED BY ESC.

SPECIAL MEETINGS

15. THREE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE FC WERE HELD ON 7, 13 AND 15 MAY TO CONSIDER THE FUNDING PROPOSAL FOR THE TSING MA BRIDGE AFTER THE WINNER OF ITS CONTRACT HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED.

16.

THE FIRST SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON 7 MAY WAS A CLOSED SESSION TO ALLOW OFFICIALS TO EXPLAIN TO MEMBERS THE REASONS FOR AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO THE ANGLO-JAPANESE CONSORTIUM.

17. AT THE REQUEST OF THE UDHK MEMBERS, ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING WAS HELD ON 13 MAY TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE LOWEST BIDDER, HYUNDAI ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION (OR ALL OF THE FOUR PRE- QUALIFIED BIDDERS) SHOULD BE INVITED TO A HEARING IN WHICH THE BIDDERS' CASE COULD BE PUT FORWARD. THE PROPOSAL WAS VOTED DOWN

WITH 12 VOTES FOR AND 31 AGAINST.

18. ON 15 MAY AT ANOTHER SPECIAL FC MEETING MEMBERS APPROVED THE FUNDING REQUEST BY A VOTE OF 28-10 AFTER SOME HEATED DEBATE.

SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

19.

THE SELECT COMMITTEE COMPLETED ITS CONSULTATION EXERCISE WITH THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING ON 4 MAY. ALTOGETHER ABOUT 80 REPRESENTATIONS WERE RECEIVED.

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