Daily Information Bulletin
Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777




Tuesday, February 24, 1998


CONTENTS
========
1.  FS's transcript
2.  Vice-Premier Qian Qichen meets Financial Secretary
3.  TAC discusses Airport Railway fares
4.  Secretary for Constitutional Affairs to visit Beijing
5.  Appointment of new Director of Marine
6.  TAC endorses bus fare increase
7.  Transport Complaints Unit receives fewer complaints
8.  Staffing proposals for reorganisation of bureaux
9.  Electoral arrangements on schedule
10. Codes of Practice Committee meeting open to the public
11. 58 building plans approved in December
12. Sand Barge Route Approval Permit in HK waters required
13. Annual report on Consumer Price Index for 1997 on sale
14. Hong Kong Monetary Authority tender results


1.  FS's transcript
    ***************

     Following is the transcript of a meet-the-media
session by the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang,
in Beijing this (Tuesday) afternoon:

Question: Mr Tsang, can you sum up your meeting with Mr
Qian this morning?

Mr Tsang: Well, we've discussed a whole variety of things
and particularly, we reviewed what we've seen as the Asian
Financial Crisis.  I told him that we are conducting a
very formal review and I'll be completing a report which I
would be quite happy to share with the Central Government
when it is completed in March.  He also emphasised the
stability of Renminbi.  He thought that it was very
important to maintain the present exchange rate of the
Renminbi, not only in the interest of Hong Kong but also
in the interest of the regional stability.  He also made
some complimentary remarks on the way Hong Kong had dealt
with the financial crisis and the way we'd prepared the
1998/99 draft Estimates (and the Budget).  On the whole, I
found it exceedingly useful.

End


2.  Vice-Premier Qian Qichen meets Financial Secretary
    **************************************************

     The Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr
Qian Qichen today (Tuesday) met with the Financial
Secretary Mr Donald Tsang in Zhongnanhai.  Mr Tsang was in
Beijing for a two-day visit.  Director of the Hong Kong
and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Liao
Hui, was also present.

     At the meeting session, Mr Tsang briefed the Vice-
Premier on Hong Kong's economic and monetary situation
after the financial turmoil.  Mr Qian was told that a
report summing up the Hong Kong experience was being
prepared.

     The Vice-Premier said that the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) had been functioning well
since its establishment in July last year.  He said that
the SAR Government had taken effective measures during the
financial turmoil to maintain the stability of Hong Kong's
economy and its continued development.

     Mr Qian said he was confident that Hong Kong could
handle the regional financial problems effectively.  He
supported the SAR Government's effort in summing up its
experience to perfect its overall financial system.

     On the issue of Asian currencies, the Vice-Premier
once again stressed that Renminbi would not be devalued.
He said that the economic growth of China would maintain
at eight per cent.

     After meeting with the Vice-Premier, Mr Tsang
attended a lunch hosted by the Governor of People's Bank
of China, Mr Dai Xianglong.  They exchanged views on the
Asian financial situation.  Both expressed concern about
the condition in Asia, in particular Indonesia.

     Today is the second day of the Financial Secretary's
two-day visit to Beijing.  Yesterday, he had separate
meetings with Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs
Office, Mr Liao Hui; Chairman of the China Securities
Regulatory Commission, Mr Zhou Zhengqing; and the Minister
of Finance, Mr Liu Zhongli.

     In concluding this visit to Beijing, the Financial
Secretary said that the communication with the officials
was very useful, and he hoped to have more visits to
Beijing in the future.

     The Financial Secretary will be returning to Hong
Kong tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.

End


3.  TAC discusses Airport Railway fares
    ***********************************

     At the meeting held this afternoon (Tuesday), the
Transport Advisory Committee discussed the fare proposals
from the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) for the
Airport Railway (AR) which is scheduled to be completed in
June 1998.

     The Airport Railway consists of two lines: the
Airport Express Line (AEL) and the Tung Chung Line (TCL).

     The AEL is an express service running between Central
and the new airport with stops at four stations.  The
Committee considered various options for the proposed
fares for the AEL ranging from $100 to $150 from Hong Kong
Station.

     The Committee also expressed views on the fare
structure and concession arrangements.  The MTRC will
reflect on these views before coming to a final decision.

     The Tung Chung Line (TCL) is a conventional mass
transit service with stops at six stations.  The Committee
noted that the Corporation has made a commitment that the
fare structure of TCL will be consistent with the existing
MTR fare system.

     The Committee also discussed the compatibility of
autotoll system. Members noted that the two existing
autotoll systems being used at tunnels, Autopass (for
Cross Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Western
Harbour Crossing, Aberdeen Tunnel and Lion Rock Tunnel)
and Electronic Toll Systems (ETS) (for Tate's Cairn
Tunnel, Shing Mun Tunnel, Tseung Kwan O Tunnel and Lantau
Link) adopt different proprietary technologies and are not
compatible.

     Members were told that the Government had held
discussions with the two companies who agreed to explore
the option of setting up a uniform system for the
convenience of users.  TAC supports this objective but
asks the Government to ensure that the users' interests
are safeguarded and that there will not be inordinate
burden for consumers under the new system.

     The Committee also looked at the standards of
directional signs provided by the Highways Department on
expressways.  They examined the adequacy of the signs and
improvement plans proposed by the Government.

End


4.  Secretary for Constitutional Affairs to visit Beijing
    *****************************************************

     The Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Michael
Suen, will pay a visit to Beijing between Thursday
(February 26) and Saturday this week.

     During his stay in Beijing, Mr Suen will call on the
Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council
and other mainland authorities.  He will have working
meetings with mainland officials on issues of mutual
concern.

     Mr Suen will be accompanied by the Assistant
Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Miss Rosanna Law,
and Secretariat Press Officer (Constitutional Affairs), Mr
Joe Cheung.

End


5.  Appointment of new Director of Marine
    *************************************

     The Government announced today (Tuesday) the
appointment of Mr Tsui Shung-yiu, JP as Director of Marine
with effect from March 6, 1998.

     Mr Tsui will succeed Mr Ian Dale, JP who will proceed
on pre-retirement leave on the same day, after 26 years of
service in Government.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr W K Lam,
thanked Mr Dale for his dedicated and meritorious service
in Government and expressed full confidence that Mr Tsui
will lead the Department in meeting the challenges ahead.

     Mr Tsang Man-ching, JP will succeed Mr Tsui as Deputy
Director of Marine with effect from the same date.

     Brief biographical notes on the officers are as
follows:

Mr Ian Barry Dale, JP
---------------------

     Mr Ian B Dale joined the civil service as Marine
Officer in January 1972 and was promoted to Deputy
Director in 1993.  He has been Director of Marine since
March 1995.  He is now aged 56.


Mr Tsui Shung-yiu, JP
---------------------

     Mr Tsui Shung-yiu joined the civil service as
Surveyor of Ships in April 1978.  He was promoted to
Senior Surveyor of Ships in April 1982, to Principal
Surveyor of Ships in January 1988 and to Assistant
Director of Marine in April 1990.  He has been Deputy
Director of Marine since March 1995.  He is now aged 50.


Mr Tsang Man-ching, JP
----------------------

     Mr Tsang Man-ching joined the civil service as Marine
Officer in September 1979.  He was promoted to Senior
Marine Officer in July 1988, to Principal Marine Officer
in October 1992 and to Assistant Director of Marine in
August 1994.  He is aged 52 and is now holding the post
Assistant Director (Multilateral Policy).

End


6.  TAC endorses bus fare increase
    ******************************

     At the meeting held this afternoon (Tuesday), the
Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) endorsed the
Administration's recommendation of a nine per cent fare
increase for New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited (NLB).

     The above recommendation will be submitted to the
Executive Council for consideration.  If approved, the new
fares will take effect in April 1998.

     Members noted that NLB last increased its fares in
February 1996.  By April 1998, NLB will have gone without
any fare adjustment for 26 months.  The forecast inflation
between the last increase and the proposed date of
increase in April 1998 is 12.3 per cent.

     In their deliberations, members considered carefully
the need to pitch bus fares at a level acceptable to the
public, and the need to provide bus companies with an
incentive for further service improvements.

     In putting this recommendation to the Executive
Council, members noted that without fare increase, NLB
would suffer a loss in 1998/99.  The recommended weighted
average fare increase of nine per cent would enable NLB to
recover operating costs and provide an incentive for
further investment and service improvements. The
recommended fare rise would only have a negligible effect
on the Consumer Price Index (A).

End


7.  Transport Complaints Unit receives fewer complaints
    ***************************************************

     The number of complaints and suggestions received by
the Transport Complaints Unit (TCU)of the Transport
Advisory Committee for the period between October 1, 1997
and 31 December, 1997 decreased by 15.6 per cent to 3,133
as compared with 3,711 in the previous quarter.

     During the period, the major areas of complaint were
related to public transport (77 per cent), road traffic
conditions (9 per cent) and enforcement (9 per cent).

     The number of complaints about public transport
decreased by 17.6 per cent from 2,927 in the previous
quarter to 2,412.

     More significant decreases were noted in the number
of complaints against taxi driver malpractices (down from
1,197 to 887), Kowloon Motor Bus (down from 494 to 383)
and green minibuses (down from 463 to 356).

     However, complaints about China Motor Bus services
increased by 20.9 per cent from 167 to 202.  There were
also more complaints against ferry services (up from 30 to
52).

     Complaints about road conditions decreased by 36.9
per cent from 89 to 65.  However, there were more
complaints about the malfunctioning of traffic lights and
damaged signs (up from 39 to 45).

     The number of suggestions for additional traffic
lights and signs dropped from 80 to 51.  There were also
fewer complaints about traffic congestion (down from 173
to 166).

     All suggestions and complaints received by TCU had
been referred to the relevant authorities and government
departments for investigation.

     During the period, one complaint was received against
a taxi driver who refused to issue a receipt as he was not
familiar with the use of the taxi receipt printer.  The
case was referred to the Transport Department for further
action.  To publicise the use of taxi receipt printers, a
demonstration on how to use the taxi receipt printer was
conducted for Cable TV and the media on January 19, 1998.
The taxi trade was also reminded at trade conferences of
the need to train drivers to operate receipt printers.

     Members of the public may lodge their complaints with
Transport Complaints Unit directly by dialling a 24-hour
hotline 2889 9999 or 2577 6866 .

End


8.  Staffing proposals for reorganisation of bureaux
    ************************************************

     The Government today (Tuesday) revealed the staffing
proposals relating to the restructuring of the
Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Bureau (BCSB) as the
Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau (ITBB).

     While retaining the broadcasting portfolio, the ITBB
will assume policy responsibility for the co-ordination
and development of information technology (IT)
applications and telecommunications in the public and
private sectors.

     In a paper for the meeting of the Provisional
Legislative Council Panel on Information Policy on
February 27, the Government proposes that those posts
under the establishment of BCSB which are related to
broadcasting be placed under the proposed ITBB, whereas
those posts relating to culture and sport be transferred
to the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB).

     It also proposes to create one Administrative Officer
Staff Grade B, three Administrative Officers Staff Grade C
and some supporting staff permanent posts in ITBB to
assist in the co-ordination and formulation of policies to
promote the wider use and development of IT.

     "Some additional non-directorate posts will also be
created under HAB to strengthen support for activities
relating to culture and sport.  The cost of the proposal
is estimated at around $13 million a year", a government
spokesman said.

     "After seeking the view of the Information Policy
Panel, the Administration will submit the staffing
proposals to the PLC Establishment Subcommittee for
recommendation to the Finance Committee for approval in
early April", the spokesman said.

End


9.  Electoral arrangements on schedule
    **********************************

     The Electoral Affairs Commission has gone halfway
through its tasks preparing for the first Legislative
Council elections of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region.

     The only thing left to be done by the Commission
before the elections is overseeing the nominations of
candidates, and also their election campaigns, the
Chairman of the Commission, Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing,
said.

     The Commission has finished delineating geographical
constituencies and its recommendations have been endorsed
by the Chief Executive in Council and tabled at the
Provisional Legislative Council (PLC).

     Two sets of regulations have been made for a voter
registration exercise, resulting in the publication of
provisional registers of electors and voters for public
inspection.  More than 180 claims regarding entries on the
registers have been lodged.

     "We are awaiting the decisions of the Revising
Officers.  The successful appeals will be reflected in the
final registers to be published before mid-March," he said
in a lunch speech to the Rotary Club of Peninsula.

     Another regulation made by the Commission containing
statutory provisions for electoral arrangements is being
vetted by the PLC.  "We expect that the vetting will be
completed within the week.  We shall issue guidelines to
explain in simple language the various aspects of the
electoral law and arrangements," he said.

     This is a more transparent and logical approach as
compared with past practice, he said.  The Commission made
the regulation and guidelines after carefully considering
the views expressed during a public consultation exercise
last year and after the scrutiny by the PLC.

     "All public views considered reasonable and
practicable have been adopted and reflected in the
regulation," he said.

     The Commission has appointed four Nominations
Advisory Committees to give legal advice to prospective
candidates if they have doubts about their eligibility to
run for the April or May elections.

     They may seek advice from now up to the start of the
nomination period, i.e. up to March 12 for subsector
elections, and up to April 8 for the general election.

     Turning to arrangements on the polling day, Mr
Justice Woo said that a combined polling arrangement would
be adopted.  "A voter in the subsector elections or an
elector in the general elections may cast all his votes in
one polling station."

     All electors, except the 800 members of the Election
Committee, may cast all their votes at a polling station
near their homes on May 24, he said.

     Commenting on suggestions that candidates' party
names or logos be printed on ballot papers, Mr Justice Woo
said that it was undesirable because there was no
exclusivity in team or party names and the move was unfair
to independent candidates.

     If there are more than one independent candidate,
allowing all of them to describe themselves on ballot
papers as "independent" will confuse electors.

     Similarly, the inclusion of candidates' photographs
on the ballot papers is impracticable, given the large
number of candidates involved in the list voting
arrangement, and the tight time frame.

     "We may face a dire consequence of having the
election annulled if there is any mistake in matching the
photograph of one of the numerous candidates against his
name on a ballot paper.  This is a consequence we can ill
afford," he said.

     "Further, photographs too small will not help
electors.  Large photographs on the other hand will make
the ballot paper too large to manage," he added.

     The Commission will adopt alternatives that can help
electors identify candidates, such as displaying enlarged
copies of candidates' introductory leaflets outside a
polling station or placing the leaflets in an album in the
polling stations.

     Mr Justice Woo appealed to the audience to
participate in the elections.  "This is a worthwhile
exercise, for your views can be expressed on the
Legislative Council through the councillor whom you have
elected."

     "It would also show the world that you, as business
people, are not apathetic towards public affairs, but
rather do care about Hong Kong," he said.

End


10. Codes of Practice Committee meeting open to the public
    ******************************************************

     The Codes of Practice Committee of the Broadcasting
Authority will meet on Thursday (February 26) to discuss
the Satellite Television Codes of Practice on Programme
and Advertising Standards.

     The meeting will be chaired by Mr Clement Tao Kwok-
lau.

     Members of the public are welcome to observe the
proceedings of the meeting which will take place at 2.30
pm in the Conference Room of the Television and
Entertainment Licensing Authority, 39th floor, Revenue
Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai.

     As seating capacity is limited, please call 2594 5707
for reservation.

End


11. 58 building plans approved in December
    **************************************

     The Buildings Department approved 58 building plans
in December last year -- 17 on Hong Kong Island, 23 in
Kowloon and 18 in the New Territories.

     This compared with 37 building plans approved in
November and 36 in October.

     The approved plans covered 21 for apartment and
apartment/commercial developments, seven for commercial
developments, four for factory and industrial
developments, and 26 for community services developments.

     Consent was given in the month for works to start on
39 building projects, which will provide 268,547 square
metres of usable domestic floor area and 65,996 square
metres of usable non-domestic floor area on completion.

     The department also issued 33 Occupation Permits --
five on Hong Kong Island, seven in Kowloon and 21 in the
New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation in
December, the usable floor areas for domestic and non-
domestic uses were 241,608 square metres and 51,463 square
metres respectively.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in the
month totalled about $4.54 billion.

     In addition, 18 demolition consents involving 40
buildings and structures were issued.

     The department's Control and Enforcement Division
received 933 complaints against unauthorised building
works in December, and issued 390 Removal Orders on
unauthorised works.

End


12. Sand Barge Route Approval Permit in HK waters required
    ******************************************************

     Starting from this Sunday (March 1), all sand barges
will be required to carry a valid "Sand Barge Route
Approval Permit" while in Hong Kong waters, a spokesman
for the Marine Department announced today (Tuesday).

     "Owners, masters, agents and charters of vessels
intending to import sand material into Hong Kong will be
required to apply for a route approval permit for every
barge before the barges enter Hong Kong waters," he said.

     Processing of the permit will normally take two
working days upon receipt of all information, and
applicant may be required to produce original copies or
the certified true copies of the documents for inspection
before the issue of the permit.

     The permit will be valid for a maximum of six months
subject to the validity of the vessel's licence, her third
party risk insurance certificate and the sand importing
period.

     Application for renewal of the permit should be made
to the Department's Marine Offices one month before the
expiry of current permit.

     All new and renewal applications for permit should be
forwarded by mail/fax or placed in the drop-in boxes at
the Victoria, Yaumatei or Tuen Mun Marine Offices.

End


13. Annual report on Consumer Price Index for 1997 on sale
    ******************************************************

     The Annual Report on the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
for 1997, which provides detailed analysis of the
movements of the CPI(A), CPI(B), Hang Seng CPI and
Composite CPI in 1997, is now on sale.

     Charts and tables showing movements of the CPIs by
individual commodity/service components, and their
contributions to the overall change in the indices are
presented in the report published by the Census and
Statistics Department.

     Apart from statistics on the CPIs, the report also
contains a detailed explanation of the concepts and
compilation method of the CPIs.

     The report, in English and Chinese, is now available
at HK$28 a copy at the Government Publications Centre,
Ground Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66
Queensway, Hong Kong; and the Publications Unit of the
Census and Statistics Department, 19th floor, Wanchai
Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

     For local and overseas mailings, contact should be
made with the Information Services Department, 28th floor,
Siu On Centre, 188 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

     Enquiries concerning the report can be directed to
the Consumer Price Index Section of the Census and
Statistics Department at telephone number 2805 6403.

End


14. Hong Kong Monetary Authority tender results
    *******************************************


Tender date                 :   24 February 1998

Paper on offer              :   EF Bills

Issue number                :   Q171

Issue date                  :   25 February 1998

Maturity date               :   25 March 1998

Amount applied              :   HK$14,355 MN

Amount allotted             :   HK$5,000 MN

Average yield accepted      :   5.43 PCT

Highest yield accepted      :   5.50 PCT

Pro rata ratio              :   About 44 PCT

Average tender yield        :   5.59 PCT

       -------

Tender date                 :   24 February 1998

Paper on offer              :   EF Bills

Issue number                :   Q808

Issue date                  :   25 February 1998

Maturity date               :   27 May 1998

Amount applied              :   HK$9,490 MN

Amount allotted             :   HK$2,000 MN

Average yield accepted      :   6.36 PCT

Highest yield accepted      :   6.45 PCT

Pro rata ratio              :   About 38 PCT

Average tender yield        :   6.63 PCT

        --------

Tender date                 :   24 February 1998

Paper on offer              :   EF Bills

Issue number                :   H858

Issue date                  :   25 February 1998

Maturity date               :   26 August 1998

Amount applied              :   HK$6,530 MN

Amount allotted             :   HK$1,000 MN

Average yield accepted      :   7.37 PCT

Highest yield accepted      :   7.43 PCT

Pro rata ratio              :   About 25 PCT

Average tender yield        :   7.54 PCT

                 -------------------------------

Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the
week beginning - 2 Mar 98 :-

Tender date                 :   3 March 1998

Paper on offer              :   EF Bills

Issue number                :   Q172

Issue date                  :   4 March 1998

Maturity date               :   1 April 1998

Tenor                       :   28 Days

Amount on offer             :   HK$5,000 MN

       ----------

Tender date                 :   3 March 1998

Paper on offer              :   EF Bills

Issue number                :   Q809

Issue date                  :   4 March 1998

Maturity date               :   3 June 1998

Tenor                       :   91 Days

Amount on offer             :   HK$2,000 + 500 MN

End






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