HONG KONG
ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
BY THE
CONTROLLER, PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE
WALTER W. T. YEUNG, B.A. (HONS.) (H.K.)
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 1963 - 64
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY S. YOUng, Government PrinteR
at the Government Press, Java Road, Hong Kong
I
!
EXCHANGE RATES
When dollars are quoted in this Report, they are, unless otherwise stated, Hong Kong dollars. The official rate for conversion to pound sterling is HK$16=£1 (HK$1=1s. 3d.). The official rate for conversion to U.S. dollars is HK$5.714=US$1 (based on £1=US$2.80).
REVIEW
CONTENTS
PART I
PART II
THE NATURE OF ENQUIRIES
HOW ENQUIRIES ARE HANDLED
PART III
PART IV
THE WAN CHAI PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRE .
STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION
PART V
APPENDICES
Paragraphs
1 - 9
. 10 - 48
49 - 55
56
57 - 60
Appendix No.
Staff as at 31st March, 1964 .
I
Number of Enquiries made at Hong Kong and Kowloon Centres
(1st April, 1963-31st March, 1964) .
II
Analysis of Detailed Enquiries for the period 1st April, 1963—
31st March, 1964
III
Monthly Totals (3rd July, 1961-31st March, 1964)
IV
Detailed Enquiries made at the Hong Kong Enquiry Centre showing which district callers came from (1st April, 1963–31st March, 1964).
V
Detailed Enquiries made at the Kowloon Enquiry Centre showing which district callers came from (1st April, 1963-31st March, 1964).
VI
iii
t
T
+
14.
PART I
REVIEW
THE Public Enquiry Service was set up by the Hong Kong Government as one of its many instruments for bringing itself closer to the people. In November 1960, the Government recognized that there was a definite need to provide the general public with quick and clear guidance and explanation of the various services and functions performed by Govern- ment Departments. In addition, there was a need to give individual citizens every assistance in understanding the great variety of Government rules and procedures when they were confronted with and perhaps a little perplexed by them. Consequently, the Government decided that one of the best ways to provide that assistance was through a Public Enquiry Service.
2. The Service began life as an experiment under the guidance of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. After much careful planning and prepara- tion, the first Public Enquiry Centre was opened on 3rd July, 1961 on the ground floor of the West Wing of the Central Government Offices. The experiment proved an immediate success and Government decided to open a second Enquiry Centre. On 5th March, 1962, it was opened at 86 Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon. Meanwhile, having proved that it did fill a definite need not fully met in any other way by the existing Government Departments, the Public Enquiry Service was made an independent department of Government.
3. During the year under review, a total of 141,845 enquiries were answered. An analysis of these is at Part II of this Report. From 3rd July, 1961 when the first Public Enquiry Centre was opened to 31st March, 1964, the Department dealt with a total of 375,962 enquiries.
4. From the beginning of and throughout the year under review tenancy questions figured prominently and formed one-third of the detailed enquiries recorded. Over two-thirds of these tenancy enquiries concerned post-war domestic premises arising from which were problems of rent increases controls and related matters.
1
5. As from 1st October, 1963, in addition to the Hong Kong Public Enquiry Centre, the Kowloon counterpart has also been kept open during the normal lunch hour from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for the benefit of those enquirers who find it inconvenient to call during normal office hours.
6. On 9th October, 1963 Government approval was given to replace departmental Information Officers and Assistant Information Officer posts with Executive Officer posts.
7. From January, 1964 as staff became available, the Department embarked on the very important and heavy task of a complete revision of its information and reference materials.
8. During the year contact was made with the National Citizens' Advice Bureaux Committee of Britain, the Chairman of which, Sir Harold BANWELL, Kt., paid a private visit to Hong Kong in January 1964.
9. On 26th March, 1964, the Legislative Council approved the neces- sary funds for the establishment of a third Public Enquiry Centre which would be opened in the densely populated district of Wan Chai in the financial year 1964–65.
PART II
THE NATURE OF ENQUIRIES
10. Of a total of 141,845 enquiries answered during the year, 43,101 have been classified as 'detailed' enquiries. Questions are termed 'simple' or 'detailed' according to their nature and the time taken in answering them. Monthly figures of simple and detailed enquiries are shown in Appendix II.
11. Simple enquiries are straightforward questions which can be quickly and easily answered. They are usually asked by people who want to know, for example, where they should go to apply for Business Registration Certificates or to pay their salaries tax, or which Government Department deals with family disputes, or whether it is time for them to re-register for a new identity card.
12. The total number of simple enquiries also includes questions about water supply hours and the demarcation of supply zones. Since 1st June, 1963, when water supply was limited to once every 4 days, the
2
Enquiry Centres were flooded with these questions which totalled 2,550 by the end of March, 1964.
13. In addition, 13,609 enquiries were answered concerning local storm warning signals and related topics.
14. Detailed enquiries are far more diversified and complicated. They usually fall into one of the following types:
(a) Straightforward questions on topics of current interest and set
procedures, e.g.
'What are the special traffic arrangements for the new Governor's swearing-in ceremony?'
(b) Questions which touch on different departments, e.g.
'I'm thinking of establishing a small knitting factory. Do I have to register the factory as well as my business? Would there be any objection from Government if the factory is located in a multi-storey building? What licences and certificates do I need if I want to export my products?'
(c) Complicated questions where various courses of action may be taken and the enquirers have to be advised of the advantages and disadvantages of the different courses, e.g.
'I am the tenant of a post-war domestic flat. I paid construction money three years ago to the landlord but I have not signed any agreement with him. The landlord has refused to accept my rent since last month, and he has sent me a written notice that I must pay an increased rent of 50% or quit at the end of the month. Will I be sued for default? Must I accept this 50% increase? Can I negotiate with the landlord on the amount of rent increase? Is a rent increase inevitable if I ask the landlord to take the matter up with the Rating and Valuation Depart- ment?'
(d) Questions which do not fall into the above are the requests from members of the public for the explanation and translation of Government forms and letters.
15. It may be seen that the 43,101 detailed enquiries made cover a wide variety of subjects concerning the work of the majority of Govern- ment departments. The table at Appendix III gives a full picture of what topics this total consists of. Broadly speaking, they may be grouped under the major headings of:
3
Subject
(i) Tenancy problems (ii) Travel documents (iii) Identity cards
(iv) Business registration
...
(v) Low cost housing & resettlement
(vi) Government forms and letters
(vii) Government jobs
No. of Enquiries
%
12,129
28.1
6,240
14.5
--
4,305
10.0
:
1,569
3.6
1,430
3.3
1,343
3.1
1,277
3.0
•
***
(viii) Trade licences and documents
(ix) Property tax ...
1,228
2.9
1,024
2.4
906
2.1
...
(x) Statutory declaration
Paragraphs 17-48 give an analysis of the detailed questions most frequently asked, grouped under the foregoing ten subjects. Appendices V and VI give the monthly analysis of districts from which callers came to make detailed enquiries.
16. Moreover, 172 letters, 81 in Chinese and 91 in English, were received during the year. The majority of these letters came from Hong Kong residents, but some came from the United States, Britain, the Philippines, New Zealand and other overseas countries. Most of these were requests for information on housing, immigration, employment and business matters. Replies were given to the authors in the same language in which the letters were written.
TENANCY PROBLEMS
17. To many residents of Hong Kong, housing is undoubtedly Problem No. 1. It is a serious problem confronting Government, and it is also one which gives those people of Hong Kong the biggest headache when they come across and try to solve the many difficult questions relating to this issue. This may be evidenced by the fact that one-third of the detailed enquiries made at the two Enquiry Centres during the past year was on tenancy matters. The majority of these questions concerned post-war buildings used for domestic purposes. Of a total of 12,129 enquiries on tenancy matters, 10,227 were about post-war domestic premises.
18. The Rent Increases (Domestic Premises) Control Ordinance, 1963 provided for a system of controls of rent increases in respect of domestic premises for a limited period. Since the commencement of this Ordinance on 29th March, 1963, both landlords and tenants came in large numbers to the Enquiry Centres everyday to find out how this
4
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Ordinance affected them. They were vaguely conscious of some regulations governing rent increases and tenancy agreements, but they were not certain of their rights and the course of action they should take under different circumstances. Landlords wanted to know how they could increase rent or recover possession of their own premises while tenants wanted to find out how they should deal with their landlord's demands.
19. Enquirers often confused this Ordinance with the Tenancy (Notice of Termination) Ordinance, 1962, which was amended by Ordinance No. 36 of 1962. They could not make the distinction that the Notice of Termination Ordinance covered practically all post-war premises and that the Rent Increases Control Ordinance affected only domestic premises. A further complication was presented to them by the Tenancy (Prolonged Duration) Ordinance, 1952, which was amended on 10th May, 1963. This Ordinance provided some protection to monthly tenants who had paid a large sum of premium (construction or key money) without entering into any written agreement with the landlord. Any tenancy, subject to this Ordinance, that commenced on or after 1st July, 1963 is given security of tenure for 5 years. Many enquirers did not know whether their tenancies were affected by this Ordinance or not. Most of them did not know that, in general, where a tenancy is under the protection of one law, it is excluded from the application of others. For instance, a tenancy protected by the Tenancy (Prolonged Duration) Ordinance is not covered by the Rent Increases (Domestic Premises) Control Ordinance, or where an agreement in writing providing for a fixed term has been made, the tenancy is usually (but not always) excluded from the operation of these Ordinances.
20. Before the Rent Increases (Domestic Premises) Control Ordinance was passed into law on 29th March, 1963, the Public Enquiry Service co-operated with the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation in the preparation of an explanatory booklet on the practical application of the Ordinance. By the beginning of April, 1963 the booklet, both in the English and Chinese versions, was ready for distribution. During the period ending 31st March, 1964, 33,407 copies, 8,115 in English and 25,292 in Chinese of this booklet were distributed by the Enquiry Centres. 21. 1,628 enquiries on tenancy problems were about pre-war premises. Most of the enquirers were tenants of pre-war buildings which were going to be demolished. They wanted to know about exclusion procedures and how the amount of compensation would be determined and made payable to them. Some of the enquirers were sub-tenants who had been living in these buildings for many years and they had never been issued
5
with rent receipts. They were afraid that when their landlords applied to the Tenancy Tribunal for an Exclusion Order, they might not be able to prove their residence on the premises. The rest of the questions were about standard rent, rent increases and disputes between landlords and tenants or principal tenants and sub-tenants.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
22. A total of 6,240 enquiries on travel documents were answered at the Enquiry Centres during the year under review.
23. Of this total, about one-third of the questions was about applica- tion for entry permits and entry visas to Hong Kong. Most callers who asked about entry permits were Hong Kong residents who wanted to know the procedure on how to get permission for their relatives living in China or Macau to be admitted into Hong Kong for visits, or more usually, to take up permanent residence. As special facilities were offered to school children studying in Canton and Macau to visit their parents or relatives in Hong Kong during the summer and winter vacations, 1,778 enquirers came to the centres to find out more about such facilities.
24. While a large number of people wanted to be admitted into the Colony, there were 1,593 callers who asked what travel documents they should apply for to go to another country. These were mostly local residents who had no Hong Kong birth certificates. They were informed that they should apply for certificates of identity and re-entry permits, and the application procedures were also explained to them.
25. The rest of the enquiries in this category were about applications for extensions of stay and permanent stay, and the qualifications and procedures for the application for British passports and other travel documents.
IDENTITY CARDS
26. Although the registration for an identity card sounds apparently a simple matter, 4,305 enquiries relating to this subject were made during the year. The majority of these questions were asked by holders of old- type identity cards who had to go and re-register for new ones. They were uncertain as to the procedures they should follow when re-registering themselves and their children, and very often they had to be helped in completing the various forms issued by the Registration of Persons Offices. A total of 3,537 copies of these forms were distributed.
6
27. Besides re-registration procedures, a host of other problems confronted the man in the street in relation to the Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1960. Loss of identity cards and acknowledgment forms, cancellation orders, change of registered particulars and re-registration out of normal turn were some of the situations in which enquirers felt that they needed advice.
28. Another problem came from new arrivals who came to Hong Kong with the intention of staying here permanently. Among these, many said that they had entered Hong Kong by illegal means and they wanted to know how they might regularize their position and obtain identity cards.
BUSINESS REGISTRATION
29. The 1,569 callers who came to the Enquiry Centres to ask questions concerning this subject were mostly businessmen with limited capital who had started or were about to start some form of sole-proprietorship business. Most of them knew that they were required to register their business, but some did not know how to apply for such registration. Many of them found difficulty in completing the application forms which were all in English.
30. Some of the enquiries concerned changes of registered particulars, such as change of address, change in the number of partners in a business, and the cessation of business. A number of these businesses were so small that they could be exempted from the payment of the annual registration fee of $25, while others were much bigger establishments consisting of several branches. The small owners wanted to find out how they could obtain the exemption and the big ones whether their branch establishments had to be separately registered.
31. In most cases, it was found that the enquirers who wished to apply for business registration also needed licences from other depart- ments, e.g. a Tobacco Retailer's Licence from the Commerce and Industry Department or a Frozen Confections Permit from the Urban Council if they wanted to sell cigarettes or ice-cream on the premises.
LOW COST HOUSING AND RESETTLEMENT
32. The 1,430 enquiries on low cost housing and resettlement estates show another aspect of Hong Kong's housing problem. Most of these enquiries came from tenants of controlled pre-war premises who were aware that their tenure in these buildings, which would be demolished
7
sooner or later to provide new building sites, was insecure. Government low cost housing and resettlement estates appeared to them as an answer to their problem of finding a roof over their head and they came to the Enquiry Centres to find out if they could get accommodation in these estates.
33. Many enquiries were about the qualifications required and the application procedures for getting a flat or a shop space in the low cost housing estates run by the Housing Authority.
34. Of those who were interested in the resettlement estates, many were residents in resettlement areas which were going to be cleared by Government for re-development. These people wanted to know whether they would be provided with some sort of accommodation when they had to move out of their present huts. Some enquirers were already residents of these resettlement estates, and their problem usually was how to get larger accommodation for an increasing household.
GOVERNMENT FORMS AND LETTERS
35. English is the language used by Government in almost all its correspondence with the public. As a result, many members of the public, the bulk of which is Chinese, find difficulty in understanding the Govern- ment forms and letters addressed to them. 1,343 callers came to the Enquiry Centres to get help over such difficulties. Even in cases where the forms were both in English and Chinese, members of the public still needed assistance in completing them.
36. The majority of the questions asked concerned forms issued by the Rating and Valuation Department-mostly notices of valuation and the forms relating to the Rent Increases (Domestic Premises) Control Ordinance, 1963. Forms and letters relating to business registration, tax returns and personal assessment which originated from the Inland Revenue Department also appeared difficult to many enquirers. Another type of forms which many people required help in completing was those issued by the Registration of Persons Office.
GOVERNMENT POSTS
37. Posts in the Hong Kong Civil Service attracted 1,277 callers to come and make enquiries during the past year. Most of these were young people who were about to graduate from school or college and who wanted to find out what opportunities there were for employment with Government. Some enquirers came with particular posts in mind, such
8
as those of nursing and clerical posts, while others were not certain either of what they wanted to do or what was the range of opportunities offered by Government to choose from.
38. For such enquirers, the full lists of all current vacancies for Government posts kept at the Enquiry Centres were found to be very useful. Later in the year, at the suggestion of the Establishment Branch of the Colonial Secretariat, notices of current vacancies for Government posts were exhibited on notice boards fitted just inside the entrance of the West Wing of the Central Government Offices and in the window of the Kowloon Enquiry Centre. Details of these vacancies were also kept at both centres and a constant stream of people visited the centres everyday for information.
39. People making enquiries on those posts for which there were always a number of 'standing' vacancies (e.g. Clerk, Typist, etc.) were offered application forms, assisted in completing them. At the same time, it was explained that if the enquirers so wished the Centres were glad to forward the applications direct to the Establishment Branch of the Colonial Secretariat.
TRADE LICENCES AND DOCUMENTS
40. About half of the 1,228 questions on this subject concerned the Urban Council & Urban Services Department. Most of these questions were on the issue of licences for hawkers, fixed pitch stalls and wall stalls. The rest came from enquirers who were interested in opening restaurants, food factories, fresh provision shops, laundries and bakeries. Because the requirements for establishing such licensed premises and the application procedures are quite complicated, the enquirers wanted to make sure they knew what were required and what steps they should take before they started with their preparations.
41. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 1963, the sale of beer and tobacco requires licences from the Commerce and Industry Department. Most of those who made enquiries on this subject were owners of shops, cafes or restaurants who wished to sell cigarettes, tobacco and beer on their premises.
42. Enquirers who asked about trade documents were mostly small local manufacturers who wanted to know what sort of licences or cer- tificates they had to obtain for exporting their products. Information Officers explained to them the procedures for the application of Certificates of Origin, Commonwealth Preference Certificates and Comprehensive
9
Certificates of Origin, and answered questions on whether export and import licences were required for various goods exported to or imported from different countries.
PROPERTY TAX
43. The 1,024 enquiries on this subject were mainly from property owners who were either owner-occupiers or who let their property. The former wanted to make certain that they were exempt from payment of property tax, or to find out how they could get a refund of the tax which they had already paid. The latter wished to know whether they were entitled to obtain relief from taxation through personal assessment, and if they were, how they might elect to be so assessed.
44. Some owners wanted to know how the tax was calculated and others whether they had to pay the full amount of property tax if they had only let their property or been owners for part of the year.
45. Property Tax demand notes, which used to be issued in the month of August, were issued at the beginning of the months of June, September, December, 1963 and February, 1964 for the assessment period 1963–64. A large number of enquirers came to the Enquiry Centres everyday during the months following August to find out why they had not yet received their demand notes. They were afraid that the demand notes might have been mislaid in the post and they would have to pay a sur- charge if they had not paid at the proper time.
STATUTORY DECLARATION
46. A total of 906 enquirers visited the two Enquiry Centres because they had to make statutory declarations for different purposes. The most frequent of these occasions was when parents were asked to provide some proof of the age of their children, who had no birth certificates, when these children applied for a place in schools. A statutory declaration was also needed when an applicant of a low cost flat wanted to give evidence of the number of dependents he had in his family. Sometimes a person used different names on different documents, and he had to make a statutory declaration to prove that the different names all referred to the same person. Another case where a statutory declaration had to be made was when a couple, who had no marriage certificate because they had been married under Chinese customary rites, were required to show proof of their relationship, when they applied, for example, for travel documents.
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TYPHOONS AND WEATHER REPORTS
47. Four typhoons threatened Hong Kong in 1963. They were typhoons TRIX, AGNES, CARMEN and FAYE which passed near Hong Kong in the months June, July, August and September respectively. From the time local Storm Signal No. 3 (or above) was hoisted until it was lowered, both the Hong Kong and Kowloon Centres operated round the clock to answer a total of 13,609 enquiries about typhoon warnings and weather reports made by anxious members of the public.
WATER EMERGENCY
48. By May 1963, water shortage in Hong Kong became so critical that Government decided to introduce drastic water rationing. With effect from 1st June, 1963 Hong Kong went on to water supply once every four days. As soon as the arrangements were announced on 31st May the Enquiry Centres received many enquiries from members of the public who wanted to know the particular zones they were in and the hours of supply. The Hong Kong Enquiry Centre worked until 10 p.m. and in thirteen hours answered 2,048 enquiries on this subject. During the year, minor adjustments were made in the demarcation of certain zones to improve supply. Whenever an announcement to this effect was made, enquiries by members of the public were put to the Enquiry Centres to find out whether they were affected and if so, how. During the year a total of 2,550 enquiries were answered.
PART III
HOW ENQUIRIES ARE HANDLED
49. Since the Public Enquiry Service advises the public on matters con- nected with every Government department it is essential that the informa- tion given out should not be at variance with that which the departments themselves give to the public. The information officers answering enquiries avoid such dangers by confining strictly their replies to the written material which have been supplied and approved by the various Government departments for release to the public. Questions on legal or highly technical matters are not answered except in very general terms, and callers are directed to the departments concerned or advised to seek professional advice as appropriate.
11
50. Where information on any particular question is lacking, authorita- tive answers are first obtained from the department or departments con- cerned through the telephone. The same question would then be des- patched to the appropriate departments on a ‘Question & Answer Form' which the addressees are asked to return to the Public Enquiry Service within a week. These written replies form the bulk of the source of the information on which to base future answers. The rest of the reference is based on the various leaflets, forms and pamphlets issued by Govern- ment departments and also on press releases issued by the Information Services Department.
51. These references were first collected and compiled when the department was established early in 1961. Additions had been made from time to time to this first collection. In order to cope with the many changes which had taken place since then, it had long been thought that a complete revision of the information possessed by the department was necessary. Such revision work was started early in January, 1964, when staff became available. Visits were paid to Government depart- ments where the existing material was checked and any additions useful from the public's point of view were inserted.
52. As a result of these visits, out-of-date information was amended and new material incorporated. At the same time, the opportunity was taken to make materials more comprehensive and easier to refer to, so that officers answering enquiries could do so with greater accuracy and efficiency.
53. The information officers have to answer enquiries accurately and with the minimum of delay because they deal with an average of 500 callers everyday who come to the two Enquiry Centres for immediate answers. All the information officers have been specially trained before they are posted to work at the centres. During their two months' training period, they study the numerous Government reports and publications and visit the various departments so as to obtain an insight into the way each department conducts its day to day affairs. Besides this, they are also made to understand that they should treat the enquirers with courtesy and tact because the Public Enquiry Service has been established as an additional instrument for bringing the Government closer to the people. There have been many instances where the enquirers' problems do not touch on Governmental affairs, and in dealing with all these enquiries, worries and complaints, a polite, cheerful and sympathetic disposition on the part of the information officer does much even for those who could not be helped.
12
54. The answering of these enquiries was an effort of the Public Enquiry Service to make life easier especially for those less well-informed citizens by solving their problems which they would have found difficult and troublesome to tackle without assistance. Very often, their problems touch on several Government departments and even had they known which departments to contact, they would not know what procedures to follow. The fact that the Public Enquiry Service possesses an overall general knowledge of the routine aspects of the workings of all Govern- ment departments which concern the public saves the enquirer much time and inconvenience.
55. Enquirers have always been encouraged to tell their stories in their own fashion so that they could have an opportunity to voice their opinion and air their grievances at the same time. Some enquirers come to ask for explanations of Government proposals and newly adopted measures, and they often come with misapprehensions and complaints. The explanations of the information officers often help to clear their doubts and calm their fears. Thus the Public Enquiry Service serves the double purpose of reducing misunderstanding of Government intentions on the part of the public whenever they are affected by any newly adopted measures, and serving as one more tool with which Government could assess at the same time what public reaction to these policies appears to be.
PART IV
THE WAN CHAI PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRE
56. Once the need of assisting the individual citizens in understanding Government rules, procedures and intentions had been recognized, it was only right that such assistance should be easily accessible to members of the public who needed it most. It was with this in mind that the first two Enquiry Centres were established in the Central District of Hong Kong and in Mong Kok, Kowloon. It was also with this view that a third enquiry centre had been planned to be located in Wan Chai, one of the most densely populated districts in the Colony, where the services of the Public Enquiry Service would be extended to the people living there at their door-steps. On 26th March, 1964, the Finance Committee of Legislative Council approved the necessary funds for the establishment of the third enquiry centre and preparations were already well under way by the end of March, 1964.
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PART V
Staff and ADMINISTRATION
57. On 9th October, 1963, Government approval was given for the ten posts of Information Officers and Assistant Information Officers, Class I & II on the departmental establishment to be replaced by ten Executive Officer posts.
58. The authorized establishment of the department for the year under review was 19 of which 16 posts were pensionable at the end of the year. Appendix I shows the staff position as at 31st March, 1964.
59. During the year, the Public Enquiry Service established contact with the National Citizens' Advice Bureaux Committee of Britain and through which contacts were made with the Citizens' Advice Bureaux Committees of Tel-Aviv and Haifa in Israel, Georgetown, British Guiana, Cape Town, Bombay, Perth, Western Australia and Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. Contact was also made with the Director of Information Services, Accra who has just commenced establishing Information Centres for the dissemination of information to the people of Ghana.
60. In January, 1964, Sir Harold BANWELL, Kt., Chairman of the National Citizens' Advice Bureaux Committee of Britain paid a private visit to Hong Kong. Much valuable experience and knowledge of the Citizens' Advice Bureaux Movement as well as of the Public Enquiry Service was exchanged.
6th August, 1964.
WALTER W. T. YEUNG, Controller, Public Enquiry Service.
14
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Headquarters Section:
APPENDIX I
STAFF AS AT 31ST MARCH, 1964
Controller, Public Enquiry Service
Secretary, Public Enquiry Service
Information Officer
Assistant Information Officer
Secretary Stenographer
Clerk in Charge, General Office
Clerk
Typist
Clerical Assistant
Office Attendant
Walter W. T. YEUNG,
Administrative Officer
G. E. MATHER, (up to 30.4.63) Executive Officer, Class I
D. J. DUNCAn Smith, (1.5.63 - 29.9.63)
Executive Officer, Class I
R. L. MCCORMACK, (from 30.9.63)
Executive Officer, Class I
Mrs. Dora LEE
Miss Jenny Tam
Mrs. Lucy HUNG
CHAN Cheung
TAM Sik-lim
Miss Betsy LAU
TSE Lok-sing
LAM Chung-kwoon
Hong Kong Public Enquiry Centre:
Officer in Charge
Miss Vivian CHENG
Assistant Information Officer
Miss Yvonne DJAO
Assistant Information Officer
Miss M. H. NORONHA
Assistant Information Officer
Mrs. Deborah TENG
Kowloon Public Enquiry Centre:
Officer in Charge
Assistant Information Officer
Assistant Information Officer
Assistant Information Officer
Messenger
Lo Cho-chi, M.B.E.
WANG Sze-hu
Mrs. Jeanette WEI
Mrs. Hilda Fung
CHANG Hai-kau
15
APPENDIX II
NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES MADE AT HONG KONG AND KOWLOON CENTRES
1ST APRIL, 196331ST MARCH, 1964
Hong Kong
Kowloon
Grand
Month
Detailed
Simple
Total Detailed
Simple Total
Total
April
1,968
5,296
7,264
1,468
1,047
2,515
9,779
May.
2,183
6,414
8,597
1,604
1,314
2,918
11,515
(1) 45
2,003
2,048
15
70
85
2,133
June
1,858
5,753
7,611
1,333
1,099
2,432
10,043
(2) 376
567
943
85
266
351
1,294
July...
2,180
6,232
8,412
1,493
1,108
2,601
11,013
(3) 251
1,086
1,337
161
697
858
2,195
August
1,888
6,152
8,040
1,450
1,128
2,578
10,618
(4) 352
1,156
1,508
168
730
898
2,406
September
1,865
6,087
7,952
1,394
1,145
2,539
10,491
(5) 667
3,203
3,870
518
3,326
3,844
7,714
October
2,073
7,078
9,151
1,441
1,211
2,652
11,803
November
2,026
6,575
8,601
1,408
1,243 2,651
11,252
December
1,966
5,602
7,568
1,409
1,215
2,624
10,192
January
1,950
5,682
7,632
1,483
1,305
2,788
10,420
February
1,819
5,109
6,928
1,066
909
1,975
8,903
March
1,823
5,787 7,610
1,315
1,149 2,464
10,074
Grand
Total
25,290 79,782
105,072
17,811
18,962 36,773
141,845
(1) Enquiries answered in connexion with Water rationing. (2) Enquiries answered in connexion with typhoon ‘TRIX'. (3) Enquiries answered in connexion with typhoon ‘AGNES'. (4) Enquiries answered in connexion with typhoon ‘CARMEN’. (5) Enquiries answered in connexion with typhoon 'FAYE'.
16
***
T
***
C. Employment
Government jobs
2. Employment disputes
D. Rates, Duties and Fees
1.
2.
3.
4.
Rates
Property tax
Other taxes and duties
Government departmental fees
E. Business
འ.
Business registration
2. Trade licences and documents
3.
Trade registrations
4. Debts and trade disputes
F. Family Welfare
1. Marriage procedure
Separation/divorce
2.
3.
Children
4.
Relief assistance...
7.
Death certificates
B. Land and Housing
1.
Tenancy problems
...
*
2.
Low cost housing and resettlement
3. Land and buildings
...
1.
A
APPENDIX III
ANALYSIS OF DETAILED ENQUIRIES FOR THE PERIOD
A. Personal Documents
·、
',
31st
1ST APRIL, 1963 31ST MARCH, 1964
Subject
Birth certificates
Identity cards
3. Travel documents
4.
Naturalization
5. Statutory declarations
6.
Personal licences
...
-
Numbers of Enquiries
Hong Kong
Kowloon
Total
459
304
763
1,831
-
2,474
4.305
2,881
...
3,359
6,240
100
68
168
537
369
906
***
---
322
236
558
A
...
58
25
83
6,188
6,835
13,023
7,433
4,696
12,129
801
629
1,430
614
181
795
4
---
8,848
5,506
14,354
801
476
1,277
***
75
95
170
•
...
•
876
571
1,447
266
81
347
...
...
842
182
**
**
1,024
485
221
706
***
17
3
20
1,610
487
2,097
+
1,022
547
1,569
737
491
...
1,228
246
40
286
...
92
134
226
2,097
1,212
3,309
150
156
306
...
67
48
115
64
68
132
***
53
54
107
334
326
660
G. Education
1.
Local and overseas higher education 2. Local schools and scholarships
H. Miscellaneous
1.
12
Government forms and letters
2. Functions and services of Government
3.
4.
5.
departments
Complaints
Water rationing...
Typhoon information
6. Others
...
140
41
181
102
11
113
242
52
294
931
412
1,343
799
25
824
110
59
169
45
15
60
+
...
1,646
932
2,578
•
1,564
1,379
2,943
5,095
2,822
7,917
Grand Total
•
25,290
17,811
43,101
17
20,000 19,000 18,000
17,000 16,000 15,000 14,000 13,000
12,000
11,000
10,000
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
APPENDIX IV
MONTHLY TOTALS
3RD JULY, 1961-31ST MARch, 1964
TYPHOON WANDA
TYPHOON WANDA
TYPHOON DINAH AND GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS ON RENT INCREASES CONTROL
OPENING OF KOWLOON CENTRE 7TH MARCH, 1962
TENANCY PROBLEMS, TENANCY (NOTICE OF TERMINATION) ORDINANCE
COMMENCEMENT OF WATER RATIONING
JUL AUG SEP OLT KÖY DIC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
1948
1661
1960
1964
18
TYPHOON AGNES
TYPHOON FAYE
TOTAL NUMBERS OF ENQUIRIES
DETAILED ENQUIRIES
•
APPENDIX V
DETAILED ENQUIRIES MADE AT THE HONG KONG ENQUIRY CENTRE SHOWING WHICH DISTRICT CALLERS CAME FROM
C –
1ST APRIL, 1963 31st March, 1964
Month
CEN. W.C.
N.P.
S.W. W.P. C.B. S.K.W. H.V. S.Y.P. O.A. TEL. KLN. N.T.
Total
April
May
June
July
August
September
502
248
132
135 106
84
45
35
12
13 329 316
111
1,968
558
238
157
1351
121
74
39
46
18
10
424
338
25
2,183
465
188
115
97
81
74
44
33
29
11
429
290
2
1,858
:
523 237
116
139
67
73
59
36
23
6
537
351
13
2,180
500
218
119
111
79
70
44
52
22
43
389
232
9
1,888
403
200
146
99
101
73
October
483 187
122
88
80
72
November
493
182
107
73
67
72
2 2 2
43
32
19
11
406
320
12
1,865
64
39
26
23
540 315
34
2,073
47
40
28
18
5061
367
26
2,026
December
432
166
83
75
54
76
46
26
17
17
461 481
32
1,966
January
475
178
60
20
109
40
61
22
79
18
438 421
29
1,950
February
...
464
166
39
23
83
29
36
271
98
13 452 370
19
1,819
March
432
180 100
54
63
57
32
25
28
26
426 377
23
1,823
...
J
19
Grand Total... 5,730 2,388 1,296 1,049 1,011
794
560
413
399
209 5,337 4,178
5,337
235
23,599
CEN. =
Central.
S.W. =
Sheung Wan.
W.C. — Wan Chai.
W.P.
N.P. = North Point.
C.B.
= West Point.
Causeway Bay.
=
S.K.W. – Shau Kei Wan. H.V.
S.Y.P. =
Happy Valley. Sai Ying Pun.
O.A.
TEL.
Other Areas. Telephone Calls.
N.T. = New Territories.
KLN. — Kowloon.
26
20
APPENDIX VI
DETAILED ENQUIRIES MADE AT THE KOWLOON ENQUIRY CENTRE SHOWING WHICH DISTRICT CALLERS CAME FROM
1ST APRIL, 196331ST MARCH, 1964
Month
M.K.
S.S.P. Y.M.T. K.C.
H.H. T.K.W. W.T.S. | T.S.T. K.T. L.C.K.
O.A. TEL. H.K. N.T.
Total
April
399
186 177
146j
236
56 42
11
6
167
20
18
1,468
May
445 226
191
151
142
123
55
43
10
7
4
175
6
26
1,604
June
397
176
175
125
84
89
44
34
17
9
3
157
19
1,333
July
434
196
199
161
103
108
46
42
15
10
162
5
12
1,493
August
430
200
197
132
91
107
531
37
15
7
164
1
16
1,450
September..
377
167
183
119
112
155
301
46
11
5
24
131
5
29
1,394
October
418
186
173
137
93
115
461
31
18
6
191
1
26
1,441
November.. 400 163
194
139
90
107
50'
31
19
194
2
15
1,408
December...
358 172
164
171
104
120
461
33
191
209
1
10
1,409
January
388
157
172
196
104
110
471
42
14
8.
234
11
1,483
***
February
291
127
...
111 116
62
68
29
24
13
3
2
207
3
10
1,066
:
March
335
164
153
151
79
97
35
31
161
8
1
227
14
1,315
2,120
Grand Total 4,672 2,120 2,089 1,744
Total
* Prior to 1st May, 1964 this district was combined with Hung Hom.
1,744 1,300
1,300 1,199
537
436
178
73
40 2,218
52
206
16,864
M.K.
Mong Kok.
K.C.
- Kowloon City.
=
W.T.S. Wong Tai Sin.
S.S.P.
Sham Shui Po.
=
H.H. Hung Hom.
Y.M.T. = Yau Ma Tei.
=
T.K.W. To Kwa Wan.
T.S.T.
K.T.
Tsim Sha Tsui.
= Kwun Tong.
L.C.K.
O.A.
TEL.
=
Lai Chi Kok.
= Other Areas.
H.K. =
N.T.
Hong Kong.
New Territories.
Telephone Calls.
1