Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Monday, January 26, 1998
CONTENTS
=========
1. Transcript of CS's media session at airport
2. Govt to appeal against Court of First Instance's decision
3. Update on avian flu
4. CDC's flu A H5N1 HK field investigation wraps up results anticipated in six weeks
5. Honours and awards system of HKSAR
6. Broadcasting time for CE's Lunar New Year's message
7. Adaptation of laws bills to be gazetted
8. Customs and Excise celebrates International Customs Day
9. New training programme for Court Prosecutors launched
10. Residential mortgage survey results for December 1997
11. Monetary statistics for December 1997
12. Two HYF routes off the waves
13. Taxi service during Lunar New Year holiday
14. Tunnels to remain fully open during forthcoming holidays
15. Year-end clean-up campaign launched in North District
16. Public reminded to plan cross-boundary journeys earlier
17. Value-added CD-ROM on 1996 Population By-census results
18. Water storage figure
1. Transcript of CS's media session at airport
*******************************************
Following is the transcript (English part) of the
media session given by the Chief Secretary for
Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, at the airport this
(Monday) morning after returning from the United States
and Canada:
Mrs Chan: This trip has been a somewhat longer one than
usual and I have been to three states in America and
Toronto and Ottawa in Canada. All the activities that we
organised were extremely well supported and I think that
reflects a continuing interest in and concern over
everything that goes on in Hong Kong. I felt that this
trip was well worthwhile because as you will appreciate
the most talked about issue was the Asian financial
turmoil and how this has affected or not affected Hong
Kong. Of course, all the political leaders and the
business chief executive officers whom I met were first of
all greatly encouraged by how smoothly the whole
transition has gone and encouraged also by Chinese
leaders' adherence to the Joint Declaration and the Basic
Law. It has also given me a very clear message and that
is that in looking at how Hong Kong has fared in this
financial turmoil compared with many other Asian
economies, we are generally regarded as being somewhat
more stable, the Hong Kong dollar has remained firmed, the
Government has in place prudent fiscal policies which I
have assured them we are not going to change and we have a
good prudential supervision of the financial sector,
particularly the banking sector. That is of course
crucially important in maintaining international
investors' confidence in Hong Kong. And I think they will
be watching very carefully to see how the Financial
Secretary deals with the Budget. I realise, of course,
that this is a difficult time for many people in Hong
Kong. But as with past adversities, as you all know, we
always manage to overcome our adversities and emerge
stronger at the end of the day. Now it is a time for
everybody in the community to stand united to work
together with the Government and I am sure we will
overcome this difficult period and emerge stronger at the
end of the day. Thank you.
Reporter: Mrs Chan, there have been calls for tax cuts. Do
you think the Government will be doing anything to ease
the financial burden on taxpayers...?
Mrs Chan: I realise there is a great deal of pressure on
the Financial Secretary and I have no doubt that the
Financial Secretary will be taking into account all the
specific concerns that have been expressed to him. But at
the same time, he must be able to demonstrate to the
international community in order to maintain their
confidence in investing in Hong Kong that we will not
depart from our prudent fiscal management policies. And
that we will bear in mind the need to balance on the one
hand specific measures on the part of the Government to be
seen to be addressing specific concerns of the community
while at the same time maintaining our well-tried fiscal
policies.
End
2. Govt to appeal against Court of First Instance's decision
*********************************************************
The Government would lodge an appeal against the
decision handed down by the Court of First Instance today
(Monday) that para 2(c) of Schedule 1 to the Immigration
Ordinance contravenes Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law,
a Government spokesman said.
The decision extends the right of abode to persons of
Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong, who at the
date of their birth had parents neither of whom were
permanent residents and one of whom subsequently acquired
that status.
"Although we have no statistics on persons affected
by the decision, we do not anticipate an influx of such
children into Hong Kong as they are still subject to the
Certificate of Entitlement Scheme with specified quota for
admission," the spokesman said.
As for those who are currently staying in Hong Kong,
the spokesman said,"In common to the applicants who are
appealing against the Court of First Instance's decision
upholding the Certificate of Entitlement Scheme, we will
not remove these applicants pending the outcome of that
appeal."
End
3. Update on avian flu
*******************
The Department of Health (DH) announced today
(Monday) that there was no new case of influenza A (H5N1)
today.
The total number of cases stands at 18 confirmed
cases.
The conditions of these cases remain the same as of
January 16.
End
4. CDC's flu A H5N1 HK field investigation wraps up results anticipated in six weeks
*****************************************************************
CDC scientists working with the Department of Health
in Hong Kong have concluded nearly two months of field
data collection as part of the World Health Organization's
investigation of the influenza A (H5N1) avian virus
capable of infecting humans.
The last members of the CDC team return to the United
States this week to begin in-depth data analysis. CDC
expects to provide results from the multiple studies to
the Hong Kong Health Department in February. The Hong
Kong Department of Health and CDC had hoped to release
some preliminary findings before the CDC field team's end-
of-January departure from Hong Kong. However, the volume
and scope of laboratory work at CDC on blood samples
needed to analyze questionnaire data was greater than
first expected and is taking longer than anticipated.
The CDC influenza A (H5N1) investigation included 10
separate cohort studies and one case-control study. In
addition, serum specimens were collected from family
members of persons who were confirmed with H5N1.
"We have two critical questions to answer and hope
that the data we've collected will give us those answers,"
said the CDC field investigation team leader in Hong Kong,
Keiji Fukuda, M.D. "We are looking for evidence of human
to human transmission of the H5N1 virus. And, we hope to
identify any risk factors--any behavior--that may put
someone at greater risk for contracting this virus.
"These sound like simple questions, but to find
scientifically sound answers may be difficult. Whatever
results we discover--even if the primary questions remain
unanswered for now--will be shared first with the Hong
Kong Department of Health," said Fukuda.
During the field investigation of 17 cases that
occurred in November and December, Hong Kong health
department and hospital professionals and CDC medical
officers collected approximately 3,300 blood samples from
2,897 study volunteers. Study groups included people
confirmed with H5N1, people with possible contact with
H5N1 patients, people who had contact with poultry and
people with demographic characteristics similar to exposed
groups but with no relationship to H5N1 patients. More
than one blood sample was taken from some persons involved
in the studies.
Between May and December 1997, a total of 18
confirmed cases of influenza A (H5N1) in humans occurred
in Hong Kong. The first ever reported case of an avian
influenza virus directly infecting a human occurred in
Hong Kong in May. The Hong Kong Department of Health
invited CDC scientists to work with them to investigate
additional human cases of H5N1 that occurred in November
and throughout December. Heightened surveillance for H5N1
cases in Hong Kong and at other WHO surveillance sites
around the world will continue while CDC analyzes data
regarding these 18 human cases.
End
5. Honours and awards system of HKSAR
**********************************
A new honours and awards system has been introduced
after the reunification to give recognition to meritorious
and dedicated service rendered by individuals to Hong Kong
and for acts of bravery. The new system is as follows:
(a) The Order of the Grand Bauhinia
This Order is in one class only. The Grand
Bauhinia Medal (GBM) is the highest award under the new
honours and awards system. Recipients of the GBM may use
the title "The Honourable" before their name in English
and "¤jµµ¯ð¾±½å" after their name in Chinese.
(b) The Order of the Bauhinia Star
This Order consists of three classes :
(i) the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS);
(ii) the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS); and
(iii) the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS).
(c) The Order of the Medal of Honour
This Order is in one class only - the Medal of
Honour (MH).
(d) The Order of the Medal for Bravery
This Order consists of three classes :
(i) the Medal for Bravery (Gold)(MBG);
(ii) the Medal for Bravery (Silver)(MBS); and
(iii) the Medal for Bravery (Bronze)(MBB).
(e) The Chief Executive's Commendation
There are two types of awards under this category
:
(i) the Chief Executive's Commendation for
Government Service; and
(ii) the Chief Executive's Commendation for
Community Service.
There are also dedicated honours and awards for the
disciplined services and the Independent Commission
Against Corruption for distinguished, meritorious and long
service. The details of these dedicated awards will be
announced after consultation with staff is completed.
The Honours List is normally announced annually on
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment
Day (July 1).
End
6. Broadcasting time for CE's Lunar New Year's message
***************************************************
The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa's Lunar New
Year message will be broadcast tomorrow (Tuesday) and
repeated on Wednesday (January 28) on TV and radio as
scheduled in the following timetable:
Television Date Time
---------- ---- ----
TVB (Jade) Tuesday (Jan 27) 5.45 pm
Wednesday (Jan 28) 1.20 pm
TVB (Pearl) Tuesday (Jan 27) 8 pm
Wednesday (Jan 28) 12.05 pm
ATV (Home) Tuesday (Jan 27) 5.50 pm
Wednesday (Jan 28) 12.50 pm
ATV (World) Tuesday (Jan 27) 7.15 pm
Wednesday (Jan 28) 10.55 am
Wharf Cable Tuesday (Jan 27) 7 pm
(Chinese) 10 pm
Radio Date Time
----- ---- ----
Metro FM Select Tuesday (Jan 27) 5.30 pm
Metro Hit Radio Tuesday (Jan 27) 5.30 pm
Wednesday (Jan 28) 10.10 am
Commercial Radio-2 Tuesday (Jan 27) 6.05 pm
(Chinese)
Commercial Radio-1 Tuesday (Jan 27) 6.25 pm
(Chinese) Wednesday (Jan 28) 12.25 pm
RTHK 1 and 5 Tuesday (Jan 27) 6.30 pm
(Chinese) Wednesday (Jan 28) 12.45 pm
RTHK 2 Tuesday (Jan 27) 6.30 pm
(Chinese)
End
7. Adaptation of laws bills to be gazetted
***************************************
Four Adaptation of Laws Bills will be gazetted
tomorrow (Tuesday) and introduced into the Provisional
Legislative Council on February 11.
These Bills are the Adaptation of Laws (Courts and
Tribunals) Bill, Adaptation of Laws (References to foreign
country, etc.) Bill, Adaptation of Laws (Crown Land) Bill,
and Merchant Shipping (Registration) (Amendment) Bill
1998.
The Adaptation of Laws programme aims to adapt the
laws of Hong Kong to bring them into conformity with the
Basic Law and with the status of Hong Kong as a Special
Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
(PRC).
The Adaptation of Laws (Courts and Tribunals) Bill
aims to adapt references to courts and tribunals, and
titles of judges in various ordinances. The amendments
that the Bill seeks to make include the adaptation of
references to "Supreme Court" to "High Court" and "High
Court" to "Court of First Instance". The titles of some
judges will also be adapted by the bill. For instance,
"Chief Justice of the Supreme Court" will be changed to
"Chief Judge of the High Court". These amendments seek to
adopt the terminology used in the Basic Law.
The Adaptation of Laws (References to foreign
country, etc.) Bill provides for the adaptation of
references to "foreign", "overseas" and "abroad", and to
the corresponding Chinese texts, in the laws of Hong Kong
so as to clarify their exact meaning in individual
provisions, with a view to bringing them into conformity
with the Basic Law and with the status of Hong Kong as a
Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of
China.
It is necessary to examine the relevant content and
clarify the exact meaning of each reference in the
relevant law as to whether the reference should be
construed as a reference to a country or territory other
than the People's Republic of China or as a reference to
any place other than the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region.
The Adaptation of Laws (Crown Land) Bill aims to
adapt references to the Crown in relation to land in a
number of Ordinances of Hong Kong. References to "Crown"
is proposed to be replaced by "Government" wherever they
appear. To reflect Article 7 of the Basic Law which
states that the land and natural resources within the
HKSAR shall be State property, a new section will be added
to the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap.
1) to provide that a reference to "Government property" in
an ordinance shall be construed in accordance with Article
7 of the Basic Law.
The Merchant Shipping (Registration) (Amendment) Bill
1998 amends Schedule 1 to the Merchant Shipping
(Registration) Ordinance to provide for the stipulation of
the new proper colours on ships registered in Hong Kong
when entering or leaving any port. The new proper colours
of a ship registered in HK is the PRC's national flag
flown directly above the HKSAR regional flag. The Bill
also provides for the Director of Marine's power to exempt
ships registered in Hong Kong from flying the proper
colours when calling at ports outside Hong Kong.
All four Bills are to be deemed to have come into
operation on July 1, 1997 to tie in with the effective
date of the interpretation principles stipulated in the
Hong Kong Reunification Ordinance, which came into
operation on July 1, 1997 and to ensure consistency in
the interpretation of our laws between July 1 and the
enactment of the Bills. There will be no retrospective
criminal liability. This restriction is in line with the
International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights as
applied to Hong Kong.
End
8. Customs and Excise celebrates International Customs Day
*******************************************************
The Secretary for the Treasury, Mr Kwong Ki-chi,
today (Monday) attended a reception hosted by the Customs
and Excise Department to mark the 1998 International
Customs Day.
This was the first remarkable event launched by the
department since Hong Kong became a Special Administrative
Region of China.
Hong Kong became a full member of the World Customs
Organization in 1987 and this is the 11th year it has
celebrated the International Customs Day.
"The annual event is a means of promoting customs co-
operation and forging closer links among customs officials
of different customs administrations. Hong Kong has been
playing an active part in the work of the organization."
said a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department.
More than 300 guests, including members of the
Executive Council and Provisional Legislative Council,
senior government officials, consuls-general and foreign
customs attaches, and top executives from trade and
business organizations, attended today's reception at the
Customs and Excise Service Senior Officers' Mess.
End
9. New training programme for Court Prosecutors launched
*****************************************************
New initiatives are being implemented to provide
better training for Court Prosecutors.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Granville
Cross, said at the opening of the new court prosecutors'
facility at the South Kowloon Magistracy today (Monday).
The new initiatives include promoting better liaison
between staff and the administration; arranging visits for
Court Prosecutors to law enforcement agencies; and
launching of a series of seminars concerned with topics
such as triad expert evidence, the rights of the victim of
crime, and the Basic Law.
"We are examining the feasibility of Court
Prosecutors following the progress of cases which they
have prosecuted when they go on appeal, and attending with
counsel the appeal hearing at the Court of First
Instance," Mr Cross said.
"I am committed to providing the SAR with a
prosecuting authority of which it can be proud, that is,
one which is effective, independent, fair and just, which
insists on the highest professional and ethical standards,
and which prosecutes without fear or favour," he said.
"This will be attained by new thinking, new training,
new standards, new consultation and the development of
clear objectives and goals," he added.
The new premises adjacent to the South Kowloon
Magistracy provide better facility for Court Prosecutors
who used to be housed in a nearby commercial building.
End
10. Residential mortgage survey results for December 1997
*****************************************************
New mortgage activity continued to slow in December
1997 according to the results of the latest monthly survey
conducted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).
Gross new loans made during the month fell
significantly both in number and in amount. The number of
new loans made dropped by 37 per cent from 8,343 to 5,253
whereas the amount of new loans made dropped by 36 per
cent from $15.3 billion to $9.8 billion. The average size
of new loans increased slightly to $1.86 million in
December compared to $1.83 million in November. The
amount of outstanding mortgage loans increased by 0.44 per
cent, compared with 1.2 per cent growth in November 1997.
New loans approved during the month decreased further
by 29.8 per cent to $8.4 billion, reflecting the continued
sluggish market in December. Loans approved during the
month but not yet drawn also fell significantly by 38 per
cent from $8.6 billion in November to $5.3 billion in
December.
The annualised rate of growth of outstanding loans in
the three months to December decreased to 9.9 per cent
from 20.6 per cent in November. The average change over
the last twelve months also decreased to 28.3 per cent
from 31 per cent in November.
On the pricing front, mortgage rates continued to
harden in December. More than 50 per cent of new loans
were priced at 1 per cent or more above best lending rate.
"Given the continued decrease in undrawn lending
commitments and the current market conditions, the outlook
is for lending activity to remain subdued," said Deputy
Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr David Carse.
Gross loans for the purchase of properties in the
Mainland increased to $282 million in December from $271
million in November. The amount of outstanding loans
increased by 1.65 per cent to $7.9 billion.
End
11. Monetary statistics for December 1997
*************************************
According to statistics published today (Monday) by
the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits rose
while loans and advances declined slightly in December
1997. Table 1 gives a summary and comparisons with
earlier months.
Deposits
--------
Total deposits increased by a modest 0.3 per cent in
December, having declined by 0.7 per cent and 1.3 per cent
in October and November respectively. HK$ deposits rose
by 1.1 per cent while foreign currency deposits dropped by
0.9 per cent. The rise in HK$ deposits was across-the-
board. HK$ demand deposits were up by 1.0 per cent, after
a sharp decline of 12 per cent in November, while time
deposits rose by 0.8 per cent, having decreased by a
cumulative 3.8 per cent in the preceding two months.
Savings deposits also expanded, rising by 2.3 per cent,
after an increase of 2.5 per cent in November.
During the month, US$ deposits rose by 0.6 per cent,
after increasing continuously by a total of 17.0 per cent
from July to November. Non-US$ foreign currency deposits
dropped further by 2.5 per cent in December, after falling
by a cumulative 7.5 per cent in October and November. The
decline in non-US$ foreign currency deposits reflects
partly the valuation effect of exchange rate changes, as
the US dollar, to which the Hong Kong dollar is linked,
appreciated against most other major currencies during the
month.
Loans and advances
------------------
Total loans and advances declined further by 1.5 per
cent in December, after decreasing by 0.2 per cent and 2.0
per cent in October and November, respectively. The fall
was contributed by a 4.4 per cent drop in offshore loans,
which was partly due to the valuation effect of a strong
US dollar. On the other hand, domestic loans picked up by
1.1 per cent, following a cumulative decrease of 1.1 per
cent in October-November. Of the total credit for use in
Hong Kong, loans for trade financing edged up by 0.1 per
cent, after falling for four consecutive months, while
other loans expanded by 1.2 per cent, reversing a 0.1 per
cent decline in the preceding month.
During December, HK$ loans registered a rise of 0.7
per cent, after a drop of 1.2 per cent in November, while
foreign currency loans fell by 3.1 per cent, having
declined by 2.6 per cent in the preceding month. As HK$
deposits expanded at a faster pace than HK$ loans, the HK$
loan-to-deposit ratio declined to 113.3 per cent at end-
December, from 113.8 per cent at end-November.
Quarterly analysis of loans for use in Hong Kong by major
economic sector
---------------------------------------------------------
During the fourth quarter, domestic credit slowed
sharply in an environment of higher interest rates and
more cautious bank lending policy. Growth of residential
mortgage loans and lending to financial concerns
decelerated rapidly to 2.0 per cent and 3.1 per cent, from
8.9 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively, in the third
quarter. Loans to stock-brokers contracted by 65.9 per
cent in the fourth quarter, following a growth of 113.1
per cent in the third quarter(which was partly bolstered
by new share subscription activities). Loans for
building, construction and property development and
investment also moderated, rising by 2.5 per cent, while
loans for trade financing fell by 2.2 per cent.
Meanwhile, loans to the wholesale and retail trades and to
the manufacturing sector expanded by 4.6 per cent and 0.1
per cent respectively, after contracting by 2.3 per cent
and 3.2 per cent in the preceding quarter.
Money supply
------------
All monetary aggregates rose in December, following a
contraction in October and November. HK$M1 increased by
1.7 per cent while HK$M2 and HK$M3 were up by 1.1 per
cent. For the year as a whole, HK$M1 dropped by 5.1 per
cent but HK$M2 and HK$M3 both grew by 9.9 per cent. On a
twelve month average basis, HK$ M3 expanded by 19.2 per
cent in 1997, compared with an increase of 15.1 per cent
in 1996.
End
12. Two HYF routes off the waves
****************************
The Transport Department today (Monday) reminded the
public that two franchised routes of Hongkong and Yaumati
Ferry Company Limited (HYF) will soon be cancelled.
The North Point - Kowloon City vehicular ferry
service will terminate from Wednesday (January 28) while
the passenger ferry service between Central and Jordan
Road will cease operation from February 2.
Speaking on the new arrangement, a spokesman for the
department said: "These two routes are making heavy
losses. A drastic decline in patronage has been observed
following the opening of the Western Harbour Tunnel.
"Moreover, alternative road tunnels/land transport
are readily available for motorists and public to cross
the harbour.
"Vehicles may make use of the three harbour-crossings
while commuters may take the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) or
other cross-harbour tunnel buses."
The termination of these routes was approved by the
Executive Council on January 6.
The spokesman noted that there are still three
vehicular ferry services available for the convenience of
the public.
These include the vehicular ferry service for
dangerous goods vehicles between North Point and Kwun
Tong, and the services for both ordinary and dangerous
goods vehicles between Mui Wo and Kwun Tong/North Point
and between Discovery Bay and Kwun Tong/North Point.
End
13. Taxi service during Lunar New Year holiday
******************************************
The Transport Department today (Monday) urged all
taxi drivers to co-operate and provide quality taxi
services during the forthcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
Making the appeal, a spokesman for the department
said: "Taxi drivers should observe the prescribed
obligations and conducts as specified in the Road Traffic
(Public Services Vehicles) Regulation.
"They should not solicit passengers, refuse to accept
a hire, overcharge or commit other malpractices."
The spokesman reminded taxi drivers that they should
not ask for "lai see" (red packet money) unless it was
given voluntarily by passengers.
All drivers should charge only the fare displayed on
taximeters.
Additional fares are payable when the taxi is hired
through a telephone booking, when the hire involves
payment of road and tunnel toll or when any animal, bird
or large baggage is carried.
End
14. Tunnels to remain fully open during forthcoming holidays
********************************************************
The Transport Department announced today (Monday)
that the five government tunnels will remain fully open
during the forthcoming Chinese New Year holidays from
January 28 to 30.
A spokesman for the department said no tunnel tubes
would be closed for maintenance and radio broadcasts of
safety messages would also be stepped up.
These are additional control and safety measures on
tunnel operations during holidays.
The five government tunnels are Aberdeen Tunnel, Lion
Rock Tunnel, Airport Tunnel, Shing Mun Tunnels and Tseung
Kwan O Tunnel.
The spokesman added that operators of the four
private tunnels - Cross Harbour Tunnel, Western Harbour
Tunnel, Tate's Cairn Tunnel, and Eastern Harbour Tunnel -
would take the same measures as far as they could arrange.
He said motorists also have a part to play in
avoiding accidents inside tunnels by observing the
following safety guidelines:
* Do not follow too close to the vehicle in front;
* Observe the speed limit;
* Keep in lane;
* Observe traffic ahead;
* Use dipped headlights;
* Avoid wearing earphones or using mobile
telephones when driving; and
* Do not drink any alcohol before and/or when
driving.
The spokesman urged motorists to drive with care and
patience when driving inside tunnels or on open roads.
End
15. Year-end clean-up campaign launched in North District
*****************************************************
The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr David Lan, today
(Monday) urged members of the public to keep their living
environment clean by taking immediate action to clean up
their homes and neighbourhoods before the Lunar New Year.
Speaking at the kick-off ceremony for the North
District Year-end Clean-up Campaign held at Kun Lung Wai,
Fanling, Mr Lan said public support was vital in making a
clean and healthy environment.
The campaign, organised by the North District Office,
is one of the Home Affairs Department's year-end clean-up
exercises to be launched in 18 districts.
"It is now the right time for us to do something to
preserve our living environment. It is also a Chinese
tradition to clean up our homes and surroundings in the
approach to the Lunar New Year,
" Prevention is better than cure. Keeping our
environment clean can minimise the spreading of infection
amongst us." Mr Lan said.
He added, "With the help of the campaign, all Hong
Kong people can get into the habit of keeping our homes
and surroundings clean so that we always enjoy a clean,
pleasant and healthy living environment."
Kun Lung Wai, presently known as San Wai, is an old
walled village in Lung Yeuk Tau, Fanling. It was
reportedly built in the 14th century.
The village is enclosed with thick brick walls built
in 1744 on four sides with a watch-tower each corner. It
was designated a protected monument in April, 1993 under
the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.
After the ceremony, Mr Lan joined other guests to
kick start a clean up exercise around Kun Lung Wai and
visited several households of senior residents in the
village.
Other guests of honour at the kick-off ceremony were
Provisional Regional Council Chairman, Mr Lau Wong-fat;
North Provisional District Board Chairman, Mr Tang Kwok-
yung; and acting North District Officer, Mr Dickson Chan.
End
16. Public reminded to plan cross-boundary journeys earlier
*******************************************************
The Transport Department today (Monday) advised
passengers who intend to use the cross-boundary shuttle
bus service between Lok Ma Chau and Huanggang before and
during the Lunar New Year holiday should plan their
journeys earlier to avoid last minute rush.
Speaking on this, a spokesman for the department
said: "While peak demand for the service is usually in the
evening, it is envisaged that the patronage will increase
significantly before and during the Lunar New Year
holiday.
"Therefore, passengers are advised to make their
journeys during the less busy hours in early daytime.
"This will help avoid over-crowding at the terminus
and facilitate regulation of the service to suit passenger
demand."
The frequency of the service will be enhanced in the
morning and afternoon to cater for passenger demand when
necessary.
The spokesman also reminded that the cross-boundary
shuttle bus service, operates between 7.30 am and 8.30 pm,
will not be extended.
"Past experience revealed that passengers who rush
for the last few departures in late evening may not be
able to board the shuttle buses.
"Arrangements will be made to display notices and to
make announcement at Sheung Shui and Yuen Long bus termini
to advise passengers to make use of other cross-boundary
transport services as appropriate," he added.
End
17. Value-added CD-ROM on 1996 Population By-census results
*******************************************************
Further to producing and putting on sale the TAB on
CD-ROM and the MAP on CD-ROM on the 1996 Population By-
census results by the department itself, the Census and
Statistics Department has recently awarded contracts to
two companies in Hong Kong for producing and marketing
Value-added CD-ROM products on the By-census results.
"A vast amount of data on the demographic, household,
education, housing and other characteristics of the
population have been collected in the By-census," a
spokesman for the department said today (Monday).
Based on such data, a large number of statistical
tables, including many with detailed geographical
breakdown, have been compiled.
"To facilitate data users to make full use of these
statistics, particularly in conjunction with digital maps
of Hong Kong for easy geographical presentation and
analysis, the Department, apart from producing the above
two basic CD-ROM data products, has earlier invited open
tenders for providing the service to produce and market
Value-added CD-ROM products," the spokesman added.
The Value-added CD-ROM products will bundle the By-
census results and the digital maps in an integrated
manner. Tailor-made utilities which will greatly
facilitate users in retrieving and using the data to
perform geographical presentation and analysis will also
be included in the products.
Two companies are successful in bidding for the
tender and are awarded separate contracts. They are Huang
Kwan & Associates Ltd and Pacific Technology Software (HK)
Ltd. They will be producing and marketing separate Value-
added CD-ROM products in ARC/INFO digital map format and
MapInfo digital map format respectively.
Members of the public who are interested in the
products can contact these two companies direct on
telephone number 2811 0079 for Huang Kwan & Associates Ltd
and on 2586 2480 for Pacific Technology Software (HK) Ltd.
End
18. Water storage figure
********************
Storage in Hong Kong's reservoirs at 9 a.m. today
(Monday) stood at 80.8 per cent of capacity or 473.550
million cubic metres.
This time last year the reservoirs contained 459.820
million cubic metres of water, representing 78.5 per cent
of capacity.
End
