Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building,
Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Friday, March 13, 1998
CONTENTS
========
1. CE's transcript in Paris
2. CE wraps up 'fruitful' visit to France
3. CE gives top French bankers insight into Asian turmoil
4. Biliteracy and trilingualism a policy commitment
5. Canton Road site awarded at $2.893 billion
6. Six bids for franchised bus package
7. Appeal cases on provisional registers
8. 74 nominations received for subsector elections
9. Final registers of electors published
10. Flushing water should not be used for other purposes
11. Fight Crime Committee members appointed
12. Suggestions invited for temporary use of Tamar site
13. Closure of New Horizons Vietnamese Refugee Departure Centre
14. Revised guidelines on bathhouses and massage establishments
15. External trade statistics for January 1998
16. Amendments to Approved Shek Kip Mei OZP
17. Draft Ngau Tau Kok and Kowloon Bay OZP amended
18. More Fire Officers for Tung Chung
19. Mrs Tung calls on Medicins Sans Frontieres
20. Amendment to Tai Lam Tunnel Section of West Rail Phase I
21. Labour Department to strengthen promotional activities
22. Hong Kong Mathematics Olympiad 1997/98
1. CE's transcript in Paris
************************
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief
Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, after a meeting with French
President, Mr Jacques Chirac, in Paris today (Friday).
I arrived in France with my colleagues two days ago,
we've had a very fruitful visit here. We have been very
warmly received by the French Government authorities, by
the private sector of France because both attach, both
ourselves and France, attach great importance to this
relationship.
I explained in my meeting with President Chirac, I
explained to President Chirac, how well Hong Kong is
moving. One country, two systems is really now being
fully implemented. President Chirac congratulated us on
this and he thought we really are doing well under 'one
country, two systems' and that the return has been very
smooth and for which he congratulated us.
President Chirac talked about the importance of the
Sino-French relationship and also about the importance of
a Hong Kong-French relationship, both from an economic,
financial and trading point of view.
We have also talked about the Asian financial
turmoil, how it's likely to play out, its impact on Hong
Kong. I restated my determination to maintain the linked
exchange rate to which he supported fully. He emphasised
the stability of renminbi as well as the Hong Kong dollar
because this will bring, will help in bringing about
stability in a very turmoil Asia at this moment.
I also took the opportunity to raise the issue about
visa-free access for Hong Kong residents to France and he
has said he will look into this very positively.
All in all I think my colleagues and I have had a
very fruitful visit to France and we are now rushing to
the airport so I am sorry I'm not going to answer any
questions otherwise I'm going to miss my flight. Thank
you.
End
2. CE wraps up 'fruitful' visit to France
**************************************
The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, has wrapped up
his six-day European visit with a very "warm and fruitful"
meeting with French President, Mr Jacques Chirac.
Emerging from an hour-long meeting with Mr Chirac at
the Palais de l'Elysee, Mr Tung said he was glad to learn
during his visit to France that political and business
leaders placed great importance on further deepening ties
between France and Hong Kong.
There were tremendous interest from French business
and the banking sector in developing strategic
partnerships with Hong Kong, with a view to tapping into
the massive Chinese market and the Asian markets.
"I was happy to hear that President Chirac had
expressed immense confidence in the future of Hong Kong.
He was impressed with the smooth transition and our
responsible attitude in dealing with the Asian financial
turmoil," said Mr Tung.
"He shares our confidence in the future of Asia and
believes that the Asian markets will recover from the
turmoil."
Mr Tung said he had exchanged views with President
Chirac on the single European currency, the Euro, and its
impact on Asian trade with Europe.
"The successful introduction of Euro will contribute
to the economic stability of the EU and such stability
will be beneficial to Asia," said Mr Tung.
The Chief Executive congratulated President Chirac on
his leading role in making the Euro a practical reality.
Mr Tung said he had raised with President Chirac the
issue of visa-free access to France for HKSAR passport
holders.
He said President Chirac was very sympathetic to the
initiative from French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin,
to send a technical team to Hong Kong to look at the issue
of visa-free access.
Mr Tung said both he and President Chirac attached
great importance to the further deepening of economic and
cultural ties between France and Hong Kong.
President Chirac said he was deeply impressed by the
significant French economic presence in Hong Kong. In
response, Mr Tung welcomed continued active participation
of French companies in Hong Kong's infrastructure projects
and believed they would continue to succeed.
Towards the end of the meeting, President Chirac
presented Mr Tung with the Officer de la Legion d'Honneur
(Officer of the Legion of Honour), a French civil and
military honour.
President Chirac also presented Mr Tung with a framed
certificate of the notification of the Chevalier de la
Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour)
presented in 1976 to his late father Tung Chao-yung.
Mr Tung said he was pleased to accept the honour and
touched by the thoughtful gesture.
Mr Tung presented Mr Chirac with a set of paintings
commemorating the reunification of Hong Kong with China.
The Chief Executive invited President Chirac to visit Hong
Kong.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Executive had a useful
meeting with the Governor of the Bank of France, Mr Jean-
Claude Trichet.
Mr Trichet briefed the Chief Executive on the
implementation of the Euro and expressed full confidence
that it would develop into a stable and credible currency.
"Mr Trichet explained that such development was a
natural evolution given the presence of strong underlying
currencies of Euro member country states in the EU," said
Mr Tung.
He also said that he was impressed by the responsible
attitude taken by Hong Kong and China during the current
financial turmoil in Asia.
Mr Tung assured Mr Trichet that Hong Kong placed
great importance on the need for prudential financial
regulation and sound financial infrastructure to ensure
stability in Hong Kong's banking system.
Mr Tung also met with members of an influential
think-tank the Institut Francais des Relations
Internationales (IFRI) at which a wide range of issues
concerning Hong Kong, China and Asia were discussed.
Topics raised included the current economic situation
in Hong Kong and the linked exchange rate. Think-tank
members were interested in Hong Kong's education system
and its development.
Mr Tung told the think-tank members that Hong Kong
was fully committed to quality education and explained
that only by investing in education could Hong Kong
maintain and enhance its competitiveness.
Mr Tung leaves Paris tonight (Hong Kong time) and is
due to arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow morning.
End
3. CE gives top French bankers insight into Asian turmoil
******************************************************
The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, has today
(Friday, HK time) given France's top bankers an in-depth
briefing on how Hong Kong is handling the current
financial turmoil in Asia.
At a dinner hosted by the French Banks' Association,
Mr Tung told leading financial players that Hong Kong's
strong economic fundamentals had helped ride out the
turmoil and remained unscathed.
Hong Kong's currency board system and link to the US
Dollar were of particular interest to the banking chiefs,
whose organisations all have offices in Hong Kong and
Asia.
There are currently 17 French banks operating in Hong
Kong.
Later today (HK time) Mr Tung will meet the
influential think-tank the Institut Francais des Relations
Internationales and the Governor of the Bank of France,
Mr Jean-Claude Trichet.
Mr Tung is due to meet the French President,
Mr Jacques Chirac, at around 6 pm (HK time).
Hong Kong's latest developments, ways to enhance Hong
Kong-French relationships and visa-free access for HKSAR
Passport holders are likely to be discussed at the
meeting.
Last night (Thursday, HK time) in France's second
city Lyon, Mr Tung was guest of honour at a city lunch
reception hosted by the Lyon Mayor and former Prime
Minister, Mr Raymond Barre.
During the day, Mr Tung took a ride on Lyon's fully
automated and driverless Metro line and visited a cancer
research centre.
Mr Tung said he briefed Mr Barre on the current
financial turbulence in Asia and its implications on Hong
Kong.
He said he was happy to hear Mr Barre, who had for
many years followed developments in Hong Kong and China,
was confident in Hong Kong's future and its ability to
manage the turmoil.
Mr Tung leaves Paris for Hong Kong later tonight and
is due to arrive at Kai Tak tomorrow (Saturday) morning.
End
4. Biliteracy and trilingualism a policy commitment
************************************************
The Government has accepted the findings of the
independent Appeals Committee on appeals cases relating to
the use of English as a medium of instruction (MOI) in a
number of secondary schools from the 1998/99 school year
onwards.
Chaired by Professor Chang Hsin-kang, the Committee
has found that of the 20 appealing schools, 14 should be
allowed to continue using English as the medium of
learning, while for the other six schools, Chinese would
be their most effective MOI.
At a press conference today (Friday), the Secretary
for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, pointed
out that the Government's MOI policy remained unchanged.
The objectives are:
* to strengthen the teaching and learning of Chinese
and English to enable students to be biliterate and
trilingual (i.e. be conversant with written Chinese and
English and be able to speak fluent Cantonese, Putonghua
and English);
* to promote mother-tongue teaching to enhance
students' cognitive development and learning ability; and
* to discourage the use of mixed code, (i.e. a
mixture of Chinese and English, in teaching and learning).
"An appropriate medium of instruction is crucial to a
student's effective learning," Mr Wong noted. "Research
worldwide and in Hong Kong has shown that students
generally learn better through their mother-tongue. They
will be able to understand better what is taught, analyse
problems, express views, develop an inquisitive mind and
cultivate critical thinking."
He also explained that the policy had, in fact, been
established since the 1980s and that the policy commitment
to issue firm guidance on MOI for secondary schools was
announced in 1994, well before the restoration of Hong
Kong to China.
To help realise the Government's objectives, a number
of new initiatives and support measures will be introduced
from September this year for schools which use Chinese as
their MOI. They include:
* priority in provision of a multi-media learning
centre ($0.85 million per centre);
* priority in funding of English language
enhancement projects under the Language Fund;
* an average of two additional English language
teachers for each school;
* an additional native-speaking English teacher, if
the school so elects;
* one-off grant for employing clerical staff and
purchasing equipment ($36 million);and
* additional recurrent grants for equipment and
library books ($42 million).
Also, the Government has accepted recommendations by
the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research
(SCOLAR) for additional school-based English programmes
for students (about $47 million) and an "English corner"
in each school to create an environment conducive to
English learning (about $9.6 million).
Funds will be provided for the setting up of a
Support Centre to provide teachers teaching in Chinese
with help-desk services, workshops and a database of
teaching materials and test papers for all subjects taught
in Chinese (About $10 million).
To further strengthen the Chinese and English
proficiency of all students, Mr Wong said up to 750 native-
speaking English teachers would be provided for secondary
schools from September 1998 ($451 million a year) and 640
additional teachers be provided in the next four years to
support the Chinese and English Extensive Reading Schemes
and library services in primary schools ($167 million a
year).
Meanwhile, the Government will set language
benchmarks to help raise the language standard of
teachers. All new teachers and serving teachers will be
required to meet the benchmarks from the year 2000/01 and
by the end of 2005 respectively.
"The Education Department will conduct inspections to
ensure that schools adopt the appropriate MOI," Mr Wong
said.
"We do not agree that the quality of a school should
be judged by its MOI, but should rather be judged by its
mission, the leadership of principal, professionalism of
the teachers, motivation of students, support of parents
and the learning environment," he stressed.
He noted that the Quality Education Fund also planned
to set up a quality school award scheme to promote
excellence in various domains of education, with a view to
nurturing students with all-round abilities. This would
also serve to better inform the parents and the public
what constitutes a quality school.
On the way forward, Mr Wong said the Board of
Education and SCOLAR would be invited to carry out jointly
a study on promoting and implementing the Government's MOI
objectives and to make recommendations in a year's time.
"We will conduct extensive public consultations on
the basis of these recommendations."
"I sincerely hope that all schools, teachers and
parents will continue to work with us in our efforts to
provide our younger generations with the best possible
quality education," Mr Wong remarked.
End
5. Canton Road site awarded at $2.893 billion
******************************************
The Lands Department announced today (Friday) that it
had awarded the tendered site at the junction of Austin
Road and Canton Road (KIL 11086) to Konorus Investment
Ltd., a subsidiary of Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd., at a
premium of $2.893 billion.
The site has a total gross floor area of about 94,000
square metres, of which 13,200 square metres will be for
commercial purpose and 80,800 square metres for
residential purpose. The site has a four-year building
covenant.
End
6. Six bids for franchised bus package
***********************************
The Government received bids from 6 tenderers for the
operation of a package of 88 bus routes on Hong Kong
Island.
The package comprises 59 Hong Kong Island routes and
29 cross-harbour tunnel routes.
An inter-departmental assessment committee chaired by
a Deputy Commissioner of Transport has been set up to
study and evaluate the tenders.
The committee comprises representatives from the
Transport Bureau, the Transport Department, Financial
Monitoring Unit of the Economic Services Bureau,
Department of Justice, Labour Department and the
Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Commenting on the tender exercise which closed at
noon today (Friday), a Government spokesman said: "The
objectives of this exercise are to maintain continuous
provision of bus services while giving due regard to the
need to maintain healthy competition and to improve the
overall bus service standard in Hong Kong.
"Tender assessment criteria have been drawn up to
achieve these stated objectives."
The Tender Assessment Committee will assess tenders
on the basis of:
(a) the level and quality of services to be provided
and the fares to be charged;
(b) the corporate capability of the tenderers;
(c) quality of proposals of tenderers to ensure a
smooth changeover of services (including tenderers'
proposals on employment of existing front-line staff of
the incumbent franchises if the successful tenderer is not
the incumbent franchisee); and
(d) the competition factor.
The spokesman said the successful tenderer would be
required to operate the tendered network from September 1,
1998.
"We aim to seek the approval from the Chief Executive
in Council for the grant of a five-year franchise to the
successful tenderer in early April," the spokesman said.
End
7. Appeal cases on provisional registers
*************************************
In response to media enquiries about appeal cases in
relation to the provisional registers of electors, a
spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office today
(Friday) explained that 188 claims and objections had been
lodged during the appeal period when the registers were
open for public inspection last month.
The Revising Officers ruled in favour of 45 but
rejected the appeals from 143 appellants.
Among the rejected cases, 107 were related to the
appointment of authorised representatives. Under the law,
these appellants are allowed to appoint a substitute
authorised representative not later than 14 days before an
election.
End
8. 74 nominations received for subsector elections
***********************************************
A total of 74 nominations have been received today
(Friday) when the nomination period for the Election
Committee subsector elections starts.
The breakdown of nominations by subsector is:
Subsector Number of nominations
--------- ---------------------
Commercial (second) 1
Import and export 1
Insurance 2
Real estate and construction 1
Accountancy 2
Chinese medicine 3
Engineering 17
Higher education 5
Information technology 15
Legal 1
Medical 1
Agriculture and fisheries 4
Labour 4
Religious 7
Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference 7
Provisional District Boards
for the Districts in the
Urban Council Area
("Hong Kong and Kowloon
Provisional District Boards") 3
End
9. Final registers of electors published
*************************************
The 1998 final registers of voters and electors for
the Election Committee subsector elections in April and
the Legislative Council election in May are published
today (Friday).
The geographical constituencies' register shows that
the size of the electorate now stands at 2.795 million,
which represents an increase of 264,000 from 2.531 million
in 1997.
"That means about 70 per cent of the potential
electors may go to the polls on May 24," a spokesman for
the Registration and Electoral Office said.
The distribution of electors in the five geographical
constituencies is:
Hong Kong Island 596,244
Kowloon West 411,466
Kowloon East 483,876
New Territories West 708,444
New Territories East 595,341
During the exercise to compile the provisional and
the final registers, about 345,000 records of electors
were updated.
The electorate of the 28 functional constituencies
totals 138,984, representing about 60 per cent of the
potential electors. A total of 127,075 of them are
individuals while the remaining 11,909 are corporate
electors. A total of 10,083 authorised representatives
have been appointed.
As for the 35 Election Committee subsectors, more
than 143,000 voters have been registered. This represents
a registration rate of about 59 per cent. Among them,
about 131,000 are individuals and the remaining 12,000 are
corporate voters. More than 10,000 authorised
representatives have been appointed.
The spokesman said that 188 claims and objections
regarding entries on the provisional registers of electors
had been lodged during the appeal period when the
registers were open for public inspection last month.
The Revising Officers have ruled in favour of 45 but
rejected the appeals from 143 appellants, he added.
The final register for the geographical
constituencies is available for inspection during office
hours at:
* the Registration and Electoral Office, 10th floor,
Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; and
* 18 District Offices (that part of the register
relevant to the district)
The final registers for the functional constituencies
and the Election Committee subsectors are placed at:
* The Registration and Electoral Office, 10th floor,
Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; and 10th floor,
Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai; and
* Five District Offices in Central and Western, Yau
Tsim Mong, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.
Any person who wishes to inspect the registers is
required to fill in a form and show his identity card. A
registered elector may call hotline 2891 1001 to check his
own registration particulars.
End
10. Flushing water should not be used for other purposes
****************************************************
The Water Supplies Department today (Friday) stressed
that it is an offence under the Waterworks Ordinance to
use salt water supply for other purposes than flushing.
"Prosecution will be taken against offenders and the
maximum fine is $5,000," a spokesman for the department
said.
"Our salt water supply is treated to the Water
Quality Objectives which, for bacteriological quality,
restricted the E. Coli content per 100 millilitre to below
1,000 at distribution.
"This is the same as the standard for bathing water
in beaches set by the World Health Organisation," the
spokesman said.
"In no circumstances, however, should salt water
supply be used to fill tanks at seafood stalls," he
stressed.
Referring to the quality of flushing water, the
spokesman said all samples taken from the sea with supply
and distribution system last month complied with the Water
Quality Objectives. No Coli organism was found in the
samples taken from Kwun Tong, Cha Kwo Ling and Yau Tong
areas during the period.
He explained that sea water is drawn at seafront
pumping stations where the water quality was found
acceptable. Treatment starts with the screening at the
inlet of the intake to remove debris and particles. The
water is dosed with chlorine to suppress marine and
bacterial growths.
The water is then pumped to service reservoirs and
distributed to tanks installed at individual buildings.
"To ensure the quality of flushing water, building
management agents should regularly clean their water
tanks," the spokesman said.
End
11. Fight Crime Committee members appointed
***************************************
The Government today (Friday) announced the
appointment of two new members and the re-appointment of
three existing members to the Fight Crime Committee.
Both Mr Almon Poon Chin-hung and Mr Raymond Chow
Wai-kam are appointed for a period of two years from
April 1 this year to March 31, 2000.
Reappointments also take effect from April 1 this
year. Mr Edward Pong Chong is re-appointed up to March
31, 2000 while Mrs Miriam Lau Kin-yee and Mr James To
Kun-sun are re-appointed up to March 31, 1999.
Following is the membership list of the Fight Crime
Committee:
Chairman: Chief Secretary for Administration
Deputy Chairman: Secretary for Justice
Members:
Miss Rosanna Wong Yick-ming
Mrs Miriam Lau Kin-yee
Mr James To Kun-sun
Ms Alice Yuk Tak-fun
Mr Edward Pong Chong
Ms Sansan Ching Teh-chi
Mr Almon Poon Chin-hung
Mr Raymond Chow Wai-kam
Secretary for Security
Secretary for Home Affairs
Secretary for Health and Welfare
Secretary for Education and Manpower
Commissioner of Police
Commissioner of Correctional Services
Secretary: Principal Assistant Secretary for Security
End
12. Suggestions invited for temporary use of Tamar site
***************************************************
The Government is inviting suggestions by way of
expressions of interest for the temporary use of the Tamar
Basin reclamation site until June 30, 2000.
"We intend to put the 2.84 hectare-site into the most
suitable use before it is required by the Architectural
Services Department for the construction of the Government
Headquarters," a spokesman for the Lands Department said
today (Friday).
"Interested parties should write to the Director of
Lands giving a brief description of the proposed
activities or purposes for which they wish to use the
site.
"They are advised to attach schematic illustrations
to further explain their ideas," he added.
"Possible suitable uses for the site could include
recreational, exhibition, entertainment or other publicity
or tourist-oriented promotional activities," the spokesman
said.
"An element of temporary parking and commercial
activities may also be considered," he added.
"Since we are only seeking ideas and suggestions at
this stage, any costs involved in preparing and submitting
an expression of interest should be borne wholly by the
invitees," the spokesman stressed.
All expressions of interest should reach the Lands
Department Headquarters on or before April 3 at the
following address:
* Second floor, Murray Building,
Garden Road,
Central (from now until March 21); and
* 20th floor, North Point Government Offices,
333 Java Road,
North Point (March 23 to April 3).
Tenders for letting of the site will formally be
invited after a decision is made on the expressions of
interest.
A plan showing details of the site can be obtained
from the District Lands Office/Hong Kong West on 19th
floor, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai.
End
13. Closure of New Horizons Vietnamese Refugee Departure Centre
***********************************************************
The closure of the New Horizons Vietnamese Refugee
Departure Centre (NHVRDC) today (Friday) marks a further
step towards the end of the whole Vietnamese boat people
saga, a government spokesman said.
This is another major step following the closure of
the Kai Tak Vietnamese Migrant Transit Centre in March
last year, the Whitehead Vietnamese Migrants Detention
Centre in June 1997, and the North Camp of the High Island
Detention Centre in January 1998.
The NHVRDC, located at Kwun Tong Road, Kowloon, has a
population of about 270 Ex-China Vietnamese illegal
immigrants before the closure. They have all been
transferred to the Pillar Point Vietnamese Refugee Centre.
Since 1975, over 200,000 Vietnamese had arrived in
Hong Kong. The migrant population reached a historical
peak in October 1991, with over 64,300 Vietnamese people
accommodated in 14 camps in Hong Kong.
With the continued efforts of the Government and non-
government organisations, the present Vietnamese
population in Hong Kong has dropped to about 1,200
Vietnamese refugees, 660 Vietnamese migrants and 980
Vietnamese illegal immigrants, the spokesman said.
"The Government will continue with its efforts to
draw the Vietnamese boat people issue to a complete and
satisfactory conclusion," the spokesman added.
End
14. Revised guidelines on bathhouses and massage establishments
***********************************************************
The main planning criteria for assessing applications
for commercial bathhouses and massage establishments have
been refined under a revised set of guidelines announced
by the Town Planning Board today (Friday).
A spokesman for the board said the guidelines state
that these establishments would normally not be permitted
in a residential neighbourhood, a wholly residential
building or the residential portion of a composite
commercial/residential building.
"It is necessary to exercise planning control to
ensure that these establishments should neither cause
nuisance to nor be incompatible with other uses of the
same building or the surrounding developments," he said.
"For example, commercial bathhouses and massage
establishments may not be fully compatible with
residential use and non-domestic uses such as children and
youth centre, kindergarten, religious, educational or
community institutions," he added.
In addition, access to these establishments in a
composite commercial/residential building must be
separated from that to the domestic portion to avoid
causing nuisance to the occupants of the same building.
"In assessing the compatibility with other uses of
the same building, consideration will normally be given
only to uses permitted under the occupation permit issued
by the Building Authority," the spokesman said.
"To address the concerns in fire safety, views from
the Buildings Department and the Fire Services Department
in respect of the provision of fire service installations
and means of escape, etc, will be taken into account in
assessing the applications," he stressed.
The revised guidelines (TPB PG-No. 14A) will replace
the existing ones (TPB PG-No.14) with immediate effect.
Copies are available free at the Town Planning Board
Secretariat, 15th floor, North Point Government Offices
(NPGO), 333 Java Road, North Point.
They can also be collected at the Department's
Planning Information and Technical Administration Unit on
the 17th floor of NPGO. For enquiries, please call the
unit on 2231 5000.
End
15. External trade statistics for January 1998
******************************************
In January 1998, the value of re-exports decreased by
2.9% over a year earlier to $99.1 billion, while that of
domestic exports decreased by 11% to $15.3 billion.
Meanwhile, the value of imports decreased by 14% to $113.2
billion.
The above figures are included in the detailed
statistics on external trade with breakdown by
country/territory and commodity for January 1998 released
today (Friday) by the Census and Statistics Department.
The external trade figures usually display greater
volatility in the first two months of the year. The year-
on-year declines in the value of both exports and imports
in January 1998 were likely to have been caused by the
different timing of the Lunar New Year Holidays in 1997
and 1998. Thus it should be more meaningful to make
comparisons based on figures for January and February 1998
combined, when the figures for February become available
towards the end of this month.
Comparing January 1998 with January 1997, increases
were recorded in the value of re-exports to the United
Kingdom (+19%), Australia (+15%), France (+14%), the
United States (+12%), Germany (+8.1%) and the Netherlands
(+6.6%).
However, decreases were recorded in the value of re-
exports to Singapore (-28%), Taiwan (-16%), Japan (-12%)
and the mainland of China (the mainland) (-10%).
Comparing the three months ending January 1998 with
the three months ending January 1997, increases were
recorded in the value of re-exports to the United Kingdom
(+20%), France (+13%), the United States (+12%), Australia
(+10%), the Netherlands (+8.6%), Germany (+6.0%) and the
mainland (+0.7%).
However, decreases were recorded in the value of re-
exports to Singapore (-12%), Japan (-6.0%) and Taiwan
(-0.5%).
Comparing the three months ending January 1998 with
the three months ending January 1997, more notable
increases in the value of re-exports were registered for
miscellaneous manufactured articles consisting mainly of
baby carriages, toys, games and sporting goods (by $4.4
billion or 13%); office machines and automatic data
processing machines (by $4.3 billion or 21%);
telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing
apparatus and equipment (by $2.6 billion or 9.0%);
electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and
electrical parts thereof (by $2.1 billion or 6.4%); and
photographic apparatus, equipment and supplies, optical
goods, watches and clocks (by $1.6 billion or 11%).
Over the same period, more notable decreases in the
value of re-exports were registered for footwear (by $901
million or 5.4%); and textiles ( by $839 million or 3.5%).
Comparing January 1998 with January 1997, decreases
were recorded in the value of domestic exports to
Singapore (-38%), France (-28%), the mainland (-24%),
Japan (-18%), the Netherlands (-12%), Germany (-11%),
Taiwan (-3.0%) and the United Kingdom (-2.0%).
However, the value of domestic exports to Canada and
the United States increased by 17% and 14% respectively.
Comparing the three months ending January 1998 with
the three months ending January 1997, decreases were
recorded in the value of domestic exports to Singapore
(-23%), Germany (-11%), France (-8.3%), Japan (-8.0%) and
the mainland (-5.2%).
However, increases were recorded in the value of
domestic exports to Taiwan (+12%), the United States
(+7.8%), Canada (+7.0%), the Netherlands (+4.3%) and the
United Kingdom (+4.0%).
Comparing the three months ending January 1998 with
the three months ending January 1997, more notable
decreases in the value of domestic exports were registered
for office machines and automatic data processing machines
(by $990 million or 30%); textiles (by $449 million or
14%); manufactures of metals (by $249 million or 25%);
telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing
apparatus and equipment (by $165 million or 7.4%); and
miscellaneous manufactured articles consisting mainly of
printed matters (by $160 million or 3.7%).
Over the same period, increases in the value of
domestic exports were registered for clothing (by $1.2
billion or 6.8%); electrical machinery, apparatus and
appliances, and electrical parts thereof (by $373 million
or 5.0%); and professional, scientific and controlling
instruments and apparatus (by $176 million or 17%).
Comparing January 1998 with January 1997, the value
of imports from all main suppliers showed decreases of
various magnitudes: Singapore (-29%), Malaysia (-26%),
Taiwan (-18%), Japan (-17%), the United Kingdom (-17%),
South Korea (-16%), the United States (-13%), Italy
(-13%), the mainland (-8.0%) and Germany (-7.0%).
Comparing the three months ending January 1998 with
the three months ending January 1997, decreases were
recorded in the value of imports from Italy (-15%),
Singapore (-14%), Malaysia (-9.2%), South Korea (-7.6%),
the United Kingdom (-6.0%), Taiwan (-5.0%), Japan (-3.3%)
and the United States (-1.5%).
However, the value of imports from Germany and the
mainland increased by 6.3% and 2.4% respectively.
Comparing the three months ending January 1998 with
the three months ending January 1997, increases in the
value of imports were registered for office machines and
automatic data processing machines (by $3.2 billion or
14%); electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and
electrical parts thereof (by $2.4 billion or 4.8%); road
vehicles (by $1.9 billion or 20%), telecommunications and
sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment
(by $961 million or 2.6%); miscellaneous manufactured
articles consisting mainly of baby carriages, toys, games
and sporting goods (by $714 million or 2.8%); and iron and
steel (by $671 million or 9.1%).
Over the same period, more notable decreases in the
value of imports were recorded for textiles (by $4.2
billion or 14%); and footwear (by $1.6 billion or 11%).
All the trade statistics described here are measured
at current prices and no account has been taken of changes
in prices between the periods of comparison.
A separate analysis of the volume and price movements
of external trade for January 1998 will be released in
early April 1998.
Detailed trade statistics analysed by commodity and
by country/territory are published in trade statistics
reports.
The January 1998 issue of the "Hong Kong External
Trade" with detailed analyses on the performance of Hong
Kong's external trade in January 1998 will be on sale at
$68 per copy around March 24.
The report can be purchased at either the Government
Publications Centre, Ground Floor, Low Block, Queensway
Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong, or the
Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department,
19th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong
Kong.
Enquiries on regular subscription to this report may
be directed to the Publications (Sales) Office of the
Information Services Department at 28th Floor, Siu On
Centre, 188 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (Tel No:
2598 8194).
For enquiries on trade statistics, please contact the
Census and Statistics Department (Tel No: 2582 4915).
End
16. Amendments to Approved Shek Kip Mei OZP
***************************************
The Town Planning Board today (Friday) announced
several amendments to the approved Shek Kip Mei Outline
Zoning Plan to facilitate the redevelopment of the old
housing blocks in Tai Hang Tung Estate by the Hong Kong
Housing Authority.
The amendments involve the rezoning of two sites
covering 0.39 hectare and 0.29 hectare respectively at
Tong Yam Street and Tai Hang Tung Road from "Residential
(Group A)" to "Open Space".
Meanwhile, a 0.4-hectare site near the junction of
Woh Chai Street and Tong Yam Street has been rezoned from
"Open Space" to "Residential (Group A)".
The draft plan (No. S/K4/8) is available for public
inspection until May 13, 1998 during office hours at:
* Planning Department,
15th floor, North Point Government Offices,
333 Java Road,
North Point;
* Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing and Sham Shui Po District Planning Office,
27th floor, Tsuen Wan Government Offices,
38 Sai Lau Kok Road,
Tsuen Wan; and
* Sham Shui Po District Office,
6th floor,
West Coast International Building,
290 Un Chau Street,
Cheung Sha Wan,
Kowloon.
Copies of the draft plan are available for sale at
the Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department, 14th
floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central, from March
13 to March 19, 1998; or at its new office on the 23rd
floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road,
North Point from March 24, 1998 onwards. The plans are
also available for sale from March 13, 1998 at the Kowloon
Map Sales Office, ground floor, 382 Nathan Road, Kowloon.
Any person affected by the amendments may submit a
written objection to the Secretary of the Town Planning
Board, c/o Planning Department before May 3, 1998 on the
15th floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road.
End
17. Draft Ngau Tau Kok and Kowloon Bay OZP amended
**********************************************
The Town Planning Board today (Friday) announced
several amendments to the draft Ngau Tau Kok and Kowloon
Bay Outline Zoning Plan to reflect the as-built condition
there.
The amendments involve the rezoning of about 1.71
hectares at Choi Ha Road from "Open Space" and "Road" to
"Government, Institution or Community" ("GIC") due to the
completion of the Jordan Valley Leisure Pool Complex.
Meanwhile, about 0.04 hectare of land at Shun Ching
Street has been rezoned from "Road" to "GIC" to reflect
the as-built extension of the electric sub-station.
The Notes of the plan is amended to incorporate "Off-
course Betting Centre" under Column 1 of the User Schedule
of the Notes for the "Commercial" zone. As a result,
development of an off-course betting centre in the zone is
permitted as of right.
The amended plan (No. S/K13/10) is available for
public inspection until April 3, 1998 during office hours
at:
* Planning Department,
15th floor, North Point Government Offices,
333 Java Road,
North Point;
* Kowloon District Planning Office,
14th floor, North Point Government Offices,
333 Java Road,
North Point; and
* Kwun Tong District Office,
ground floor,
Kwun Tong District Branch Offices Building,
Tung Yan Street,
Kowloon.
Copies of the draft plan are available for sale at
the Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department, 14th
floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central from March 13
to March 19, 1998 or at its new office on the 23rd floor,
North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point
from March 24, 1998 onwards. The plans are also available
for sale from March 13, 1998 at the Kowloon Map Sales
Office, ground floor, 382 Nathan Road, Kowloon.
Any person affected by the amendments may submit
written objections to the Secretary of the Town Planning
Board, c/o Planning Department before April 3, 1998 on the
15th floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road,
North Point.
End
18. More Fire Officers for Tung Chung
*********************************
The Fire Services Department will deploy additional
staff members and fire appliances to Tung Chung Fire
Station cum Ambulance Depot to provide residents on Lantau
Island with efficient fire and emergency ambulance
services, the acting Director of Fire Services, Mr John
Tsang Kwong-yu, said today (Friday).
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the fire station
cum ambulance depot, Mr Tsang said the total number of
staff in Tung Chung would be increased to 222, making it
the largest one in the territory.
Mr Tsang said the station will also have an
additional Deputy Chief Fire Officer, a directorate post,
as its commander.
The officer could take command within the shortest
possible time in case of any major incident occurring in
the district, he added.
Located in Tung Chung New Town, the fire station cum
ambulance depot not only serves the local community and
North Lantau, it will also provide supporting fire
services to the new Airport Fire Contingent at Chek Lap
Kok.
It could provide logistical backup and reinforcement
in case the Tsing Ma Bridge being closed or land and
marine transport paralysed, Mr Tsang said.
Operational since May last year, the fire station has
handled 133 fire and special service calls, while the
ambulance depot has handled 712 emergency calls.
Mr Tsang also unveiled a plague to declare the
station open.
End
19. Mrs Tung calls on Medicins Sans Frontieres
******************************************
Mrs Betty Tung has been briefed on the work of
international humanitarian organisation Medicins Sans
Frontiers (MSF) during a visit to its headquarters in
France.
The organisation, which has an office in Hong Kong,
was set up in 1971 and has since sent more than 10,000
volunteers to more than 80 countries in which there are
conflicts, refugees or other problems.
During her hour-long visit, Mrs Tung viewed a video
on the work of MSF and discussed the organisation's aims
and goals with MSF directors including vice-president of
French MSF, Professor Philippe Dabadie, and the director
of MSF Hong Kong, Mr Alain Guilloux.
The visit took place today (Friday, HK time) while
Mrs Tung was in the French capital Paris with her husband
the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa.
End
20. Amendment to Tai Lam Tunnel Section of West Rail Phase I
********************************************************
An amendment to the railway scheme for the Tai Lam
Tunnel Section of Phase I of the Kowloon-Canton Railway
Corporation (KCRC) West Rail was published in the Gazette
today (Friday).
A government spokesman explained that the proposed
amendment to the Tai Lam Tunnel Section was minor in
nature and was designed to improve the alignment of West
Rail for the Tunnel Section.
"It includes changes to the boundaries of the scheme
at the north portal of the Tai Lam Tunnel Section and
other consequential changes including the slope and
associate drainage and landscape works in the vicinity,"
he said.
The Tai Lam Tunnel Section of Phase I of West Rail
which runs between the intersection of Hoi On Road at Hoi
Hing Road in Tsuen Wan and the southern part of Kam Tin
Valley was gazetted on July 25 and August 1, 1997.
Phase I of West Rail will provide an approximately
30.5-km long electrified double-track railway system. It
will run from Yen Chow Street in West Kowloon to Tuen Mun
via Tsuen Wan, Kam Tin, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai,
providing a domestic passenger service.
The project programme envisages completion by 2003.
Members of the public will have 60 days to lodge
their objections to the Tai Lam Tunnel Section - Scheme
Amendment in writing. They can submit their objections to
the Secretary for Transport not later than May 12, 1998.
End
21. Labour Department to strengthen promotional activities
******************************************************
The Labour Department has acquired additional staff
to strengthen its promotional and educational activities
to help proprietors, employers and workers understand the
importance of safety and health in the workplace.
In her message to a two-day conference and workshop
on "Occupational Safety and Health for Good Business", the
Commissioner for Labour, Miss Jacqueline Willis, said:
"Over the past two years, we have created nearly 200
posts, and subject to the approval of the legislature, we
will create 78 more posts in the coming financial year.
"We should now be better placed than ever before in
strengthening our promotional and educational activities
to help proprietors and employers as well as workers
understand work hazards and cultivate a better safety
culture in the workplace.
"We will work with industries to develop compliance
standards in a realistic and achievable way best suited to
Hong Kong's circumstances," Miss Willis said.
The creation of the new posts is required following a
review of industrial safety in Hong Kong in 1995. This
review has a significant impact on the way the department
deals with occupational safety and health issues.
Miss Willis said: "One of the most significant
recommendations of the review was an extension of
protection of workers' safety to the non-industrial
sectors. The review also concluded that workplace risks
should best be managed by those who create and work with
them. Industry should therefore be encouraged to adopt
self-regulation by implementing a safety management
system.
"To implement these recommendations, we have
introduced the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance in
May last year to extend the protection of work safety and
health to all economic activities.
"We intend to introduce a new set of regulations
later this year to provide a framework for certain more
hazardous industries such as construction and ship
building to implement a safety management system," Miss
Willis added.
The conference and workshop starting from today is
jointly organised by the Labour Department and the
Occupational Safety and Health Council.
The convenor of the Executive Council, Dr the Hon
S Y Chung; accompanied by the Commissioner for Labour,
Miss Jacqueline Willis; and Chairman of the Occupational
Safety and Health Council, Professor Leung Ping-chung,
officiated at today's opening ceremony.
A number of experts from the United Kingdom, Canada
and Hong Kong have been invited to share their valuable
experiences in introducing good safety and health
practices with special reference to the non-industrial
sector.
Speaking at the official opening of the conference
and workshop, Dr Chung said the main benefit of good
management in health and safety was that accidents could
be prevented, or at least minimised.
"There is little doubt that the most valuable asset
of a business is not the plant or equipment, but the
people who work in it.
"It therefore makes good business sense to protect
the employees from preventable accidents and occupational
diseases. No other rights and benefits are more important
than being able to return home, after a day's work, safe
in one piece and knowing that health has not been impaired
by work. This aspect will become more and more important
as our society is getting more and more affluent," Dr
Chung added.
He said safety laws in Hong Kong were almost the same
as the more advanced countries in that the main
responsibility for health and safety at work lied with the
employer.
"It is the employer who must provide a safe working
environment, who must ensure that work methods are safe,
and who must supply employees with proper protecting
gears. Health and safety is an integral part of a business
and should be properly managed," Dr Chung said.
"Accidents are very expensive indeed. The obvious
costs to the employer are loss of man-hours, damages to
plant and equipment, and statutory financial compensation
paid to the injured.
"In Hong Kong last year, the statutory employees'
compensation payments amounted to nearly $1.2 billion in
respect of about 60,000 cases. On average, it works out
to be approximately $20,000 per accident.
"Economic costs apart, we should all bear in mind
that the physical and psychological traumas suffered by
the injured as well as the anguish and distress
experienced by members of their families.
"No amount of money will be able to compensate for
these human sufferings to thousands of people each year,"
Dr Chung said.
The Deputy Commissioner for Labour (Occupational
Safety and Health), Mr Lee Kai-fat, who gave a keynote
speech today on 'The Government's Development of
Compliance Standards and Enforcement Strategy', said: "The
new law offers an excellent opportunity for a caring
management and an understanding workforce to work together
in enhancing business productivity and hence profits,
leading to much more harmonious staff relations and
reinforcing their sense of belonging to the company.
"The new Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance
offers a daunting challenge for both Government and the
stakeholders. I would like to stress that we need to work
together to develop compliance standards that can be
realistically achieved in Hong Kong.
"Let us make Hong Kong business proud of its safety
and health commitment as it is proud of its flexibility,
ingenuity and productivity.
"In line with the policy, we have re-organised
ourselves. The Occupational Safety Officers in the Labour
Department are responsible for administering the new
Ordinance, in addition to the Factories and Industrial
Undertakings Ordinance," Mr Lee said.
He added that for the Occupational Safety Service,
the department had added a few new headquarters functions:
* a new Advisory Unit which is a publication house
for safety bulletins and newsletters, guidance notes and
pamphlets; and
* a new Accident Analysis and Information Unit which
is tasked to analyse accidents and incidents collated from
various sources.
As for the Occupational Health Service side, Mr Lee
said the department planned to cover a much broader
spectrum to exposure to health risks in a wide variety of
workplaces, such as the use of chemical or toxic
substances, biological agents, pesticides, ionising and
non-ionising radiation, noise, upper limb disorders and
work-related stress problems.
End
22. Hong Kong Mathematics Olympiad 1997/98
**************************************
The Final Event and Prize-giving Ceremony of the 15th
Hong Kong Mathematics Olympiad (HKMO) will be held
tomorrow (Saturday) at 9 am at the Hong Kong Institute of
Education (Town Centre).
The Principal Inspector, Mathematics Section of the
Advisory Inspectorate Division, Education Department,
Mr Tsang Kin-wah; and Divisional Director, Division of
Secondary, Technical & Special Education of the Hong Kong
Institute of Education, Dr John A W Caldwell, will
officiate at the prize-giving ceremony.
The HKMO is organised by the Mathematics Section of
the Advisory Inspectorate Division, Education Department
and the Department of Mathematics of the Hong Kong
Institute of Education.
There were 188 schools participated in the heat event
held in February. The 40 teams with the highest scores in
the heat event will enter the final and will also be
invited to participate in a two-day Mathematics Camp in
April.
The Final Event is divided into two parts: individual
and group events.
Each team consists of four to six students of
Secondary 4 level or below. Any four of them may take
part in the individual events and any four of them may
take part in the group events.
There were 21 students from 16 schools obtaining full
score in the individual events. Students from Tsuen Wan
Government Secondary School and Wah Ying College obtained
full score in the group event of the heat event.
End