PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1976
BETTER HOMES FOR 250,000
PWD STEAMING AHEAD WITH BUILDING PROGRAMME
******
A NEW GENERATION OF HIGH-QUALITY HOUSING ESTATES, COMPLETE WITH COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL FACILITIES, IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AS PART OF ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE 10-YEAR HOUSING PLAN.
THE DEPARTMENT’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE IS CURRENTLY BUILDING EIGHT OF THESE SELF-CONTAINED ESTATES FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AT A TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF ABOUT $400 MILLION.
THESE ARE t HING WAH, LAI KING, KWAI SHING, LEK YUEN, SHUN LEE TSUEN, CHAI WAN AREA SIX, LEI MUK SHUE AND TAI HING ESTATES.
IN ADDITION THE PWD IS ALSO REDEVELOPING THE 20-YEAR-0LD SHEK KIP MEI ESTATE INTO A MODERN HOUSING COMPLEX WITH MORE SPACIOUS ROOMS AND BETTER FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS.
TOGETHER, THESE ESTATES WILL PROVIDE HOMES FOR SOME 250,000 PEOPLE BY 1980 IN A CLEAN, PLEASANT AND SAFE'ENVIRONMENT WITH CONVENIENT SHOPPING, PLAY AND WELFARE FACILITIES.
+THE ACCENT IS ON QUALITY, SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE,* SAYS MR. THOMAS KU, SENIOR ARGHITECT OF THE PWD’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE.
+IN THE EARLY DAYS, WE DID NOT HAVE MUCH CHOICE BUT TO CONCENTRATE ON QUANTITY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT URGENCY TO REHOUSE THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN NEED OF HOMES.
+SINCE THEN, HOWEVER, OUR ARCHITECTS HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW APPROACH WHICH NOT ONLY PROVIDES HIGHER STANDARD ACCOMMODATION BUT ALL BASIC COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL FACILITIES THAT ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A BALANCED COMMUNITY.
+THESE INCLUDE LARGE RECREATIONAL AREAS WITH REST GARDENS AND PLAYGROUNDS, WELFARE CENTRES, SHOPPING AND MARKET CENTRES, CARPARKS, RESTAURANTS, AS WELL AS SCHOOLS AND CLINICS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ESTATE,* HE SAID.
ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE NEW GENERATION ESTATES BEING BUILT BY PWD, HE ADDED, WERE THE SPECIAL COVERED WALKWAYS WHICH LINK THE DOMESTIC BLOCKS WITH THE SHOPPING CENTRES SO AS TO ENABLE TENANTS TO GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY SHOPPING ACTIVITIES WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT CARS OR RAIN.
+FOR INSTANCE,' A HOUSEWIFE LIVING IN THE UPPER FLOORS WOULD SIMPLY TAKE THE LIFT DOWN TO THE FIRST FLOOR AND WALK A SHORT DISTANCE ALONG THE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY STRAIGHT INTO THE SHOPPING CENTRE TO DO HER SHOPPING WITHOUT HAVING TO STEP OUTSIDE.*
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5'233191
NE#......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1976
2
THE NEW APPROACH WAS FIRST APPLIED TO THE MASSIVE LEK YUEN ESTATE AT SHA TIN.WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY HOUSE 22,000 PEOPLE. TWO OF THE SEVEN BLOCKS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND HANDED OVER TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE FIRST TENANTS HAVE ALREADY MOVED IN.
WORK IS PROGRESSING ON THE REMAINING FIVE BLOCKS, A COMMERCIAL CENTRE, TWO SCHOOLS AND A CLINIC AND SHOULD BE FINISHED BY MARCH THIS YEAR.
THE BALANCE OF LEI MUK SHUE ESTATE AT TSUEN WAN WAS FULLY COMPLETED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR AND HANDED OVER TO THE AUTHORITY. THE BALANCE OF THE WORK INVOLVED SIX ADDITIONAL DOMESTIC BLOCKS FOR 17,500 PEOPLE, THREE SCHOOLS, A MODULAR MARKET, DEPARTMENT STORE, A LARGE RESTAURANT, WELFARE HALL AND COVERED CARPARK.
THREE OTHERS — HING WAH ESTATE AT CHAI WAN, AND KWAI SHING AND LAI KING ESTATES BOTH AT KWAI CHUNG — ARE NEARING COMPLETION AND SHOULD BE READY DURING THIS YEAR.
TOGETHER, THESE THREE ESTATES WILL PROVIDE HOMES FOR'SOME 87,000 PEOPLE.
IN TERMS OF SIZE, KWAI SHING ESTATE WILL BE THE LARGEST. THERE WILL BE 10 DOMESTIC BLOCKS ACCOMMODATING SOME 37,000 PEOPLE. IT WILL BE SERVED BY A LARGE COMMERCIAL COMPLEX WITH VARIOUS
• FACILITIES, INCLUDING SHOPS, RESTAURANT, MODULAR MARKET, PARKING SPACES, AND BUS AND PLB TERMINI.
THERE WILL BE NEARLY SEVEN ACRES OF RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE PLUS THREE ESTATE SCHOOLS AND THREE KINDERGARTENS WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE.
CONSTRUCTION IS ALSO PROGRESSING WELL ON TAI HING ESTATE AT TUEN MUN AND ANOTHER AT CHAI WAN (AREA 6) ON HONG KONG ISLAND, BOTH OF WHICH ARE DUE FOR COMPLETION NEXT YEAR.
IN TERMS OF POPULATION, THE TAI .HING ESTATE IS THE LARGEST IN
The public works building programme.
IT CONSISTS OF FIVE 30-STOREY CRUCIFORM DOMESTIC BLOCKS AND A SEVEN-STOREY DOMESTIC BLOCK ALL LINKED BY COVERED WALKWAYS TO A HUGE COMMERCIAL AND MARKET COMPLEX IN THE CENTRE OF THE ESTATE. SOME 41,000 PEOPLE WILL LIVE THERE.
THE CRUCIFORM DESIGN, DEVELOPED BY PWD ARCHITECTS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ENABLES BUILDING WORK TO PROCEED FASTER THROUGH SEMIMECHANISED BUILDING METHODS IN WHICH TOWERING CRANES ARE USED TO LIFT PREFABRICATED WALL AND FLOOR COMPONENTS, CAST ON SITE, INTO PLACE.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE BUILDING AREA MS BEEN VASTLY REDUCED THUS MAKING MORE LAND AVAILABLE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
/THE HIGH-RISE .....
<'
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1976
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THE HIGH-RISE CRUCIFORM BLOCK, WHICH IS WIDE AT THE-BASE AND NARROW AT THE TOP, PRODUCES A VARIETY OF FLAT SIZES RANGING FROM FLATS FOR FAMILIES OF FOUR TO FLATS FOR FAMILIES WITH NINE MEMBERS.
EACH FLOOR ON EACH OF THE FOUR WINGS WILL BE OCCUPIED BY ONLY 12 FAMILIES GIVING RESIDENTS A GREATER FEELING OF SPACE AND ELIMINATING THE OLD PROBLEM IN THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT. SHORTER CORRIDORS ALLOW FOR BETTER LIGHTING AND VENTILATION, AS WELL AS REDUCE THE LEVEL OF N0I-8E.
WORK ON STAGE ONE OF THE ESTATE IS NOW WELL ADVANCED AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT YEAR.
MEANWHILE, TENDERS HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR PHASE TWO CONSTRUCTION OF SHUEN LEE TSUEN ESTATE IN THE CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD/ANDERSON ROAD AREA AND WORK SHOULD START IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
THIS PHASE COMPRISES CONSTRUCTION OF ONE 3O-STOREY DOMESTIC BLOCK OF THE CRUCIFORM TYPE AND A SMALLER SEVEN-STOREY BLOCK TOGETHER WITH SHOPS, MARKETS, RESTAURANT, MULTI-STOREY CARPARK, TWO PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND A KINDERGARTEN.
PILING WORK FOR ANOTHER 3O-STOREY CRUCIFORM BLOCK AND ANOTHER KINDERGARTEN, UNDER PHASE ONE, HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND THE BUILDING CONTRACT FOR THIS PHASE WILL BE SIGNED SHORTLY. THE TWO PHASES WILL BE COMPLETED AT MORE OR LESS THE SAME TIME.
SOME 4.6 ACRES OF RECREATIONAL GROUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED IN AND AROUND THE ESTATE WITH REST GARDENS AND PLAY FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN.
AT SHEK KIP MEI IN KOWLOON, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY REMODELLED SIX BLOCKS OF THE 20-YEAR—OLD ESTATE AND HANDED THEM OVER TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THE CONVERTED BLOCKS CONTAIN LARGER FLATS FOR THREE, SIX AND NINE PERSONS, EACH WITH ITS OWN PRIVATE BALCONY, KITCHEN AND TOILET.
TENDERS TO REDEVELOP ANOTHER SIX BLOCKS WILL BE INVITED LATER THIS YEAR.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EXPECTS TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE REDEVELOPMENT SCHEME BY 1981.
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A
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1976 - 4 -
NEW REGISTRAR GENERAL APPOINTED * * * *
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE PROMOTION OF MR. P. JACOBS TO REGISTRAR GENERAL TO SUCCEED MR. W. HUME, WHO WILL PROCEED ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE ON MARCH 1, 1976 AFTER 18 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
MR. JACOBS, AGED 42, IS AT PRESENT AN ASSISTANT REGISTRAR GENERAL. HE CAME TO HONG KONG AND WAS APPOINTED AS A LEGAL ASSISTANT IN 1962. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SEN I OR,LEGAL ASSISTANT IN 1965 AND TO ASSISTANT REGISTRAR GENERAL IN 1968. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS ONE DAUGHTER.
MR. HUME, WHO IS AGED 50, WAS FIRST APPOINTED AS A LEGAL ASSISTANT IN 1958. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR LEGAL ASSISTANT IN 1963 AND TO ASSISTANT REGISTRAR GENERAL IN 1964. HE BECAME REGISTRAR GENERAL IN 1968. MR. HUME IS SINGLE.
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PRH
H-qraiM gis| |f gfe|
DAILY INFORMATION'
EMPLOYERS URGED TO MAKE USE OF PLACEMENT SERVICE
******
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS CALLED ON EMPLOYERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A FREE +RECRUITMENT SERVICE* FOR EXECUTIVE AND TECHNOLOGICAL STAFF OFFERED BY ITS SPECIAL REGISTER.
THE APPEAL CAME FROM THE LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, MR. HOUDINI HO, WHO ALSO URGED EMPLOYERS TO CO-OPERATE BY NOTIFYING THE DEPARTMENT OF ANY VACANCIES IN THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SPECIAL REGISTER WAS SET UP IN DECEMBER 1973 TO HELP HONG KONG STUDENTS WHO HAD OBTAINED DEGREES OR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ABROAD TO FIND SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT HERE.
BOTH OVERSEAS AS WELL AS LOCAL GRADUATES CAN PUT THEIR NAMES ON THE REGISTER IF THEY WISH TO MAKE USE OF THIS MEANS OF HELPING THEM FIND EMPLOYMENT.
+BUT THERE IS LITTLE WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM UNLESS WE KNOW OF JOB VACANCIES IN COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS,* HE SAID.
+EMPLOYRS,* MR. HO STRESSED, +WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THIS SPECIAL SERVICE BECAUSE WE HELP THEM FIND CANDIDATES SUITED TO THEIR REQUIREMENTS. IN ADDITION, THIS SAVES THEM TIME AND MONEY IN HAVING TO ADVERTISE AND IN DEALING WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF APPLICANTS.
+WITH MORE CO-OPERATION FROM PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS, THE SPECIAL REGISTER SHOULD GO A LONG WAY TO HELP YOUNG GRADUATES AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYERS THEMSELVES. IT MIGHT EVEN BE ONE ANSWER TO THE SO-CALLED BRAIN-DRAIN PROBLEM,* HE ADDED.
REVIEWING THE TWO-.YEAR OPERATION OF THE SPECIAL REGISTER, MR. HO SAID HE HAD ASSISTED NEARLY 70 GRADUATES TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, MOSTLY IN THE ENGINEERING AND COMMERCIAL FIELDS.
THE MAJORITY OF THE 1,000 ODD APPLICANTS WHO HAVE REGISTERED WERE OVERSEAS STUDENTS, MAINLY GRADUATES OF BRITISH, AMERICAN, CANADIAN, AUSTRALIAN, AND SOUTH-EAST ASIAN UNIVERSITIES. SOME 360 WERE FROM THE TWO LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING SOME FROM THE POLYTECHNIC.
EMPLOYERS A TOTAL OF 220 QUALIFICATIONS
CONTACTED BY THE SERVICES IN THE SAME PERIOD SUPPLIED VACANCIES, WHICH WERE FOUND TO MATCH THE
AND EXPECTATIONS OF 600 JOB-SEEKERS ON THE REGISTER.
AFTER FURTHER SELECTION BY INTERVIEW, 68 OF THEM WERE SUCCESSFUL, OR ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE VACANCIES OFFERED WERE FILLED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE SERVICE.
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong^Tel: 5'233191 /COMMENTING ON
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1976
2
COMMENTING'ON THE APPARENTLY LOW SUCCESS RATE, MR. HO SAID: • ♦COMPETITION HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEEN IN THE JOB MARKET, AND APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOT ONLY TO THOSE GRADUATES INTRODUCED THROUGH THE SERVICE. IN CERTAIN CASES EMPLOYERS PREFERRED THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE TO FRESH GRADUATES.+
♦ONE OTHER REASON IS THE RECESSION WHICH HAS REDUCED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSEQUENTLY THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE NEW VACANCIES IN TRADE AND INDUSTRY,* HE SAID.
HOWEVER MR. HO WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT THE SITUATION WOULD TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER THIS YEAR AND THAT MORE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD LIKELY BE CREATED FOR GRADUATES.
HE ALSO PREDICTED THAT BETTER TIMES WOULD COME IN MARCH AND APRIL. +THIS IS BECAUSE MANY FIRMS AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS WISH TO ATTRACT THE BETTER CANDI DATES BEFORE OTHERS HAVE GRABBED THEM ON THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET.*
THE FACT THAT NEARLY 700 GRADUATES ARE STILL ON THE SPECIAL REGISTER DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY ARE ALL UNEMPLOYED.
+MANY OF THEM HAVE, THROUGH THEIR OWN. EFFORTS, OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT BUT HAVE NOT CANCELLED THEIR REGISTRATION.
^OTHERS MAY ALREADY BE HOLDING A JOB BUT HAVE REGISTERED TO SCOUT AROUND FOR BETTER PROSPECTS,* MR. HO SAID.
RECORDS SHOWED THAT 55 OUT OF THE 68 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS RECEIVED A STARTING SALARY OF OVER $1,000 A MONTH.
TWENTY-TWO EARNED BETWEEN $1,000 AND $1,500, 17 BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,000 AND 16 BETWEEN $2,000 AND $2,500.
MR. HO WENT ON TO SAY THAT EVERY MONTH, SOME 200-300 ENQUIRIES WERE SENT TO COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL FIRMS, AND OFFICERS PAID PERSONAL CALLS ON SOME 40 TO 50 LARGER ORGANISATIONS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON VACANCIES WHICH MIGHT BE COMING UP.
DURING THE LAST QUARTER OF 1975, HE SAID, LETTERS WERE CIRCULATED TO 1,200 FIRMS AND FACTORIES EACH EMPLOYING MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE, EXPLAINING THE FREE SERVICE OF THE SPECIAL REGISTER AND HOW EMPLOYERS COULD HELP THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THE GRADUATES.
+BUT IT IS DISCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT ONLY A HANDFUL OF THEM RESPONDED AND INFORMED US OF NINE VACANCIES. HOWEVER, WE WILL REPEAT THIS EXERCISE FROM TIME TO TIME TO PUBLiCkSfe THE JOB-PLACEMENT SERVICE.
/♦FURTHERMORE, .....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1976
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+FURTHERMORE, OUR STAFF HAVE ALSO BEEN ASSIGNED TO SCAN NEWSPAPER COLUMNS EVERY DAY TO SEE THAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICANTS ON THE REGISTER ARE NOT MISSED,* HE SAID.
MR. HO ADDED THAT GRADUATES WITH DIFFICULTY FINDING SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT COULD CONTACT THE SPECIAL REGISTER AT NEW RODNEY BLOCK, 99 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG, TELEPHONE 5-282523, EXTENSIONS 87 AND 94.
GRADUATING STUDENTS IN BRITAIN CAN REGISTER THROUGH THE APPOINTMENT SERVICE OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON.
THOSE IN AMERICA AND EUROPE CAN SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OFFICES STATIONED IN MAJOR CITIES.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATIOfitRULlRIIM.
1975 AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR WEATHERWISE ******
1975 WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY +WET+ YEAR. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTED TO 3,028.7 MM., WHICH WAS NEARLY 40 PER CENT ABOVE NORMAL, THUS MAKING IT THE THIRD WETTEST YEAR SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1884.
THERE WERE AT LEAST FIVE MONTHS IN WHICH RAINFALL FAR EXCEEDED THE NORMAL RECORD, AS MUCH AS OVER THREE TIMES IN ONE INSTANCE.
SEVERAL NEW RECORDS IN TEMPERATURES WERE ALSO SET IN THE YEAR. APRIL WAS EXCEPTIONALLY WARM WHILE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER WERE ABNORMALLY COLD.
TWENTY-TWO TROPICAL CYCLONES WERE REPORTED IN THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DURING THE YEAR. SEVEN AFFECTED HONG KONG' AND NECESSITATED THE HOISTING OF TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNALS. HURRICANE SIGNAL NO. 10 WAS HOISTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OCTOBER SINCE AUGUST 1971.
IN GENERAL, THE FIRST THREE MONTHS WERE MILD AND CLOUDY WITH TEMPERATURES ABOVE 10 DEGREES CELSIUS ALL THE TIME.,
IT WAS THEN FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMALLY WARM APRIL. THE MEAN TEMPERATURE OF 24.2. DEGREES CELSIUS AND THE MEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 27.3 DEGREES CELSIUS WERE BOTH THE HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR APRIL WHILE THE MEAN MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 21.8 DEGREES RANKED THIRD HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR THE MONTH.
RAINFALL TOTALLED 345 MM., MAKING THE MONTH THE FOURTH WETTEST APRIL ON RECORD.
MAY WAS WARMER BUT MUCH WETTER AND LESS SUNNY THAN USUAL. TOTAL RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH AMOUNTED TO 571.5 MM., WHICH WAS NEARLY DOUBLE THE NORMAL AMOUNT. HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NECESSITATED THE ISSUE OF THUNDERSTORM AND HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS ON 19 DAYS.
JUNE WAS AN EXTREMELY WET MONTH WITH 579.6 MM. OF RAIN. THE VERY ACTIVE SOUTHWEST MONSOON CAUSED FREQUENT HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THUNDERSTORM AND HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS WERE ISSUED ON 14 DAYS.
JULY WAS THE FIRST MONTH SINCE FEBRUARY WITH BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL. THE TOTAL AMOUNT WAS 292.4 MM.
AUGUST WAS WET AGAIN. FREQUENT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BROUGHT 458.9 MM. OF RAIN, WHICH EXCEEDED THE AVERAGE BY 24 PER CENT.
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191_
/SEPTEMBER WAS ...
>
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1976
- 2 -
SEPTEMBER WAS WARMER AND MUCH DRIER THAN USUAL. TWO TROPICAL CYCLONES CAME NEAR ENOUGH TO NECESSITATE THE DISPLAY OF CYCLONE WARNING SIGNALS. THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH, 33.9 DEGREES CELSIUS, WAS THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE RECORDED FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
TEMPERATURES IN OCTOBER WERE NEAR NORMAL BUT HUMID ITv WAS UNSEASONABLY HIGH. WARNING SIGNALS WERE HOISTED FOR THREE TROPICAL CYCLONES. THE MONTH’S TOTAL RAINFALL OF 465.6 MM. WAS ABOUT THREE AND A HALF TIMES MORE THAN USUAL. IN THE MONTH, HURRICANE SIGNAL NO. 10 WAS HOISTED WHEN TYPHOON ELSIE CAME NEAR. THIS WAS THE FIRST HOISTING OF NO. fO SIGNAL SINCE 1971.
NOVEMBER WAS MUCH DRIER THAN USUAL. AS A RESULT OF AN INTENSE SURGE OF THE WINTER MONSOON, TEMPERATURE BEGAN TO FALL FROM NOVEMBER 22. THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 8.5 DEGREES CELSIUS RECORDED IN THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 24 WAS THE LOWEST FOR ANY NOVEMBER SINCE 1922 AND RANKED FOURTH LOWEST ON RECORD.
SEVERE OUTBREAKS OF THE WINTER MONSOON ASSOCIATED WITH AN EXCEPTIONALLY INTENSE CONTINENTAL ANTICYCLONE CENTRED OVER SIBERIA RESULTED IN VERY COLD WEATHER IN DECEMBER. THE MEAN TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH WAS ONLY 14.5 DEGREES CELS-IUS, THE LOWEST ON RECORD FOR DECEMBER. ANOTHER RECORD SET WAS THE MONTH’S LOWEST TEMPERATURE OF 4.3 DEGREES CELSIUS. THIS WAS THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE OF THE YEAR AS WELL AS A NEW RECORD FOR DECEMBER. SNOW WAS REPORTED AT TAI MO SHAN WHILE ICE AND FROST WERE FREQUENTLY OBSERVED ON HIGH GROUND THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 13 TO 17.
»
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1976
CONTEXTS PAGE NO.
PRIVATE BUILDING PLANS NEED APPROVAL BY PWD ................ 1
ROYAL HK REGIMENT AND CAS HELPED FIGHT HILL FIRES........... 2
OBJECTIONS TO PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS SHOULD BE LODGED WITHIN TIME LIMIT.................................. 3
POPULATION ESTIMATED AT 4.3 MILLION AT END OF LAST YEAR ............................................... 4
ORAL EXAMINERS REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION .....................................’.......... 4
HONG KONG BANK TO DONATE $300,000 IN AID OF FIRE VICTIMS ... 5
MOR^ DONATIONS FOR FIRE VICTIMS ............................ 6
TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING IN LUNG CHEUNG ROAD...................... 6
BUSY HOLIDAYS FOR CIVIL' AID SERVICES....................... 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1976
1
BUILDING LAWS MUST BE COMPLIED WITH
* M * * * *
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REMINDED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT PLANS OF ALL NEW PRIVATE BUILDING WORKS MUST BY LAW BE APPROVED BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY BEFORE WORK COMMENCES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE BASIC PURPOSE OF BUILDING LAWS WAS TO ENSURE THAT BUILDINGS WERE STRUCTURALLY SAFE AND CONFORMED TO MIN IMUM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STANDARDS.
•
+THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE,* HE STRESSED. +ALL NEW PRIVATE BUILDING PLANS MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL AND CONSENT MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF WORK.*
AS ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS, HE SAID, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE REGULARLY INSPECTED WORKS IN PROGRESS TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE BEING PROPERLY CARRIED OUT, AND OCCUPATION PERMITS WERE ONLY ISSUED AFTER THE BUILDING AUTHORITY WAS SATISFIED THAT THE WORKS HAD BEEN COMPLETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED PLANS.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT PERSONS UNDERTAKING UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS WERE NOT ONLY LIABLE TO A FINE OF UP TO $2,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS, BUT WOULD LOSE WHAT COULD BE A CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT SINCE THE ENTIRE UNAUTHORISED WORK WOULD HAVE TO BE DEMOLISHED.
THE WARNING FOLLOWS A CASE HEARD BEFORE MR. PAUL CORFE IN CENTRAL MAGISTRACY THIS MORNING IN WHICH THE TWO OWNERS OF NO. 5 DORSET CRESCENT, KOWLOON TONG, WERE EACH FINED $1,500 FOR CARRYING OUT BUILDING WORKS WITHOUT THE APPROVAL AND CONSENT OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.
THE OFFENCE WAS DISCOVERED BY B.0.0. OFFICERS IN JULY LAST YEAR WHEN IT WAS FOUND THAT EXTENSIVE ALTERATIONS WERE BEING MADE TO THE ORIGINAL TWO-STOREY HOUSE AT NO. 5 DORSET CRESCENT.
THESE INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL STOREY TO THE ORIGINAL HOUSE, A THREE-STOREY EXTENSION AT THE REAR AND THE FRONT, A SINGLE-STOREY ROW OF GARAGES, A TWO-STOREY BLOCK OF GARAGES WITH LIVING ACCOMMODATION OVER EACH GARAGE, AND A SWIMMING POOL.
THE OWNERS WERE SERVED WITH A CEASE WORK ORDER AND SUBSEQUENTLY A DEMOLITION ORDER WHICH HAS NOW BEEN VIRTUALLY COMPLIED WITH.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1976
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CONCERTED EFFORT TO PREVENT HILL FIRES OVER HOLIDAYS
******
MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT AND THE CIVIL AID SERVICES HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS TO HELP THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT’S FIRE FIGHTING PATROLS IN COMBATTING HILL FFRES.
THEY TOOK ACTIVE PART IN FIGHTING TWO FIRES, ONE ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR (FEBRUARY 1) AT TA I MEI TUK IN TAI PO AND THE OTHER THE FOLLOWING DAY IN SHING MUN.
TWENTY-ONE RHKR VOLUNTEERS WERE INVOLVED IN THE FIRE-FIGHTING IN TAI MEI TUK AND 40 CAS MEN WERE MOBILISED TO TACKLE THE SHING MUN FIRE.
THROUGHOUT THE FOUR-DAY HOLIDAY PERIOD, OTHER CONTINGENTS OF THE TWO FORCES WERE POSTED TO AREAS OF HIGH FIRE RISK IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO HELP LOOK OUT FOR FIRES AND LEND SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED.
+THE PUBLIC IS GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR THEIR COMMENDABLE COMMUNITY SPIRIT. THIS SHOULD BE A LESSON TO THOSE PICNICKERS WHO ARE CARELESS WITH FIRE,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID.
ALTOGETHER 13 HILL FIRES WERE REPORTED DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND 9,000 TREES WERE DESTROYED.
THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE BROKE OUT IN THE AFTERNOON OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR (JANUARY 31) NEAR TIN FU TSAI IN THE TAI LAM CHUNG AREA. SIXTEEN ACRES OF WOODLAND WITH 7,300 TREES WERE GUTTED BY THE BLAZE.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF FIRES HAD NOT BEEN ALARMING, THE DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRYSIDE WAS DEPLORABLE.
HE CALLED ON VILLAGERS AND VISITORS TO THE NEW TERRITORIES TO KEEP UP THEIR VIGILANCE WHEN HANDLING MATCHES AND CIGARETTE BUTTS AND TO HAVE BARBECUE PARTIES ONLY AT DESIGNATED PLACES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
PICNICKERS CAN HELP THE DEPARTMENT AND HELP PRESERVE HONG KONG’S COUNTRYSIDE BY ALERTING THE NEAREST FORESTRY OFFICE OR POLICE OR FIRE SERVICES POST IMMEDIATELY THEY SPOT A HILL FIRE.
IF THE FIRE IS SMALL, THEY CAN HELP BY STAMPING OR BEATING IT OUT BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF CONTROL.
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/?
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1976
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TINE LIMIT FOR OBJECTIONS TO PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS * * * * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, MR. R.V. GIDDY, TODAY REMINDED THE PUBLIC ABOUT TIME LIMITS FOR OBJECTIONS TO PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS AND FOR REFUND OF PROPERTY TAX IN CONNECTION WITH OWNER-OCCUPIED PROPERTY AND UNOCCUPIED PREMISES.
HE ALSO DREW THEIR ATTENTION TO THE NEED TO SUPPLY SUPPORTING EVIDENCE OF CERTAIN VACANT OR UNOCCUPIED PREMISES.
THE COMMISSIONER SAID THAT A PROPERTY OWNER AGGRIEVED BY A PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT SHOULD GIVE A NOTICE OF OBJECTION IN WRITING WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE DATE OF THE ASSESSMENT NOTICE.
IN THE CASE OF OWNER-OCCUPATION CLAIMS AND VACANCY CLAIMS WHERE PROPERTY TAX HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID, CLAIMS FOR REFUND OF PROPERTY TAX SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE RELEVANT YEAR OF ASSESSMENT OR WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER THE NOTICE TO PROPERTY TAX IS GIVEN, WHICHEVER IS THE LATER.
FOR LATE OBJECTIONS OR LATE REFUND CLAIMS, THE COMMISSIONER. WOULD EXTEND THE TIME LIMITS IF HE WAS SATISFIED THAT THEY WERE DUE TO ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG, SICKNESS OR OTHER REASONABLE CAUSE.
HOWEVER, THE COMMISSIONER POINTED OUT THAT PROPERTY OWNERS, AGENTS AND OCCUPIERS OF DOMESTIC PREMISES SHOULD BE PREPARED TO FORWARD EVIDENCE OF UNOCCUPANCY TO SUPPORT THEIR VACANCY CLAIMS. THEY SHOULD RETAIN ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER BILLS AS EVIDENCE OF UNOCCUPIED DOMESTIC PROPERTY.
FOR NON—DOMESTIC PREMISES, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION WILL ISSUE VACANCY CERTIFICATES IN ALL APPROPRIATE CASES. THESE CERTIFICATES ARE STILL REQUIRED TO BE PRODUCED TO THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT CLAIMS FOR REFUND OF PROPERTY TAX IN RESPECT OF VACANCY CLAIMS ON NON-DOMESTIC PREMISES.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO REQUIRE FURTHER PARTICULARS REGARDING THESE CLAIMS ARE INVITED TO TELEPHONE THE ASSESSOR, PROPERTY TAX AT 5-222151 EXTENSIONS 69 AND 84, OR WRITE TO THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, G.P.O. BOX 132, HONG KONG.
ADVICE, IN PERSON,CAN BE OBTAINED FROM INLAND REVENUE OFFICES AT WEST WING, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, THIRD FLOOR, ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG- AT 664 NATHAN ROAD, FIRST FLOOR* REAR PORTION, KOWLOON AND AT ON YUE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, 132 TSUEN WAN MARKET STREET, NEW TERRITORIES.
o ----
A
4
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1976
POPULATION ESTIMATED AT 4,3 MILLION AT END OF 1975 ’ ******
THE ESTIMATED POPULATION AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1975 WAS 4,379,900, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE FIGURE REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 50,900 OVER THE END-YEAR 1974 ESTIMATE. THIS WAS MADE UP A +PLUS+ OF 58,200 THROUGH BALANCE OF BIRTHS OVER DEATHS AND A +MINUS+ OF 7,300 THROUGH BALANCE OF MIGRATION.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRTHS FOR THE YEAR 1975 WAS 79,790-THIS WAS 3,791 FEWER THAN IN 1974.
THE TOTAL WITH 21,879 IN
NUMBER OF DEATHS FOR 1975 WAS 21,560, COMPARED THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE FIGURES ON BIRTHS AND DEATHS ARE BASED UPON EVENTS OCCURRING RATHER THAN UPON REGISTRATION MADE AND THEREFORE DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THOSE RELEASED BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL.
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN NOTED THE DECLINE IN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF BIRTHS AND IN THE BIRTH RATE, WHICH WAS 18.3 PER 1,000 POPULATION COMPARED WITH 19.7 IN 1974. SEVERAL FACTORS WERE NO DOUBT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, AMONGST WHICH WERE THE FAMILY PLANNING ACTIVITIES OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION.
ORAL ENGLISH EXAMINERS REQUIRED *****
F0R ™E 1976 H0"s K0“e
___ APPLICATION FORMS AND DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE LAMINATIONS DIVISION. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT
393 ciKT0" «0"-00» (rtl. Sos. 3-“e7?6 ?R
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FEBRUARY 16 1976
™OSE WHO HAVE SENT IN THEIR APPLICATIONS LAST MONTH &EED NOT RE-Ml I Lb I • ,
/5
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1976
- 5 -
HK BANK DONATES $300,000 IN AID OF FIRE VICTIMS *******
THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK WILL PRESENT A CHEQUE OF $300,000 TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TO BE PAID INTO THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IN AID OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS.
THE PRESENTATION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE DIRECTOR’S OFFICE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF LEE GARDENS AT 10 A.M.
COMMENTING ON THE DONATION, MR. LEE SAID THE EMREGENCY RELIEF FUND, WHICH WAS SET UP IN 1962, WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HELP FOR THE VICTIMS OF FIRES AND OTHER DISASTERS.
THIS FUND IS ADMINISTERED BY A COMMITTEE OF WHICH MR. LEE IS CHAIRMAN AND INCLUDES AMONG ITS MEMBERSHIPi DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THREE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS - MR. CHEUNG WING-IN, MR. NG CHAN-LAM, AND MR. WONG PING-HON.
IN REGARD TO RELIEF, THE COMMITTEE HAVE CAREFULLY WORKED OUT THE WAY IN WHICH PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS SHOULD BE MADE TO HELP TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
FOR EXAMPLE CASH ASSISTANCE TO COVER LOSS OF FAMILY EARNINGS DUE TO DEATH OR INJURIES, THE COSTS OF REMOVAL, AND THE EXPENSES OF SETTING UP A NEW HOME.
+THE AIM OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE A FAIR DISTR I BUT ION OF AVAILABLE FUNDS ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO REQUIRE HELP,* MR. LEE SAID.
THE FUND IS OPEN TO PUBLIC DONATIONS AND, SHOULD EXTRA MONEY BE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE FUND THE COMMITTEE CAN APPROACH GOVERNMENT.
IN REGARD TO THE TRAGIC LUNAR NEW YEAR FIRE AT ALDRICH BAY, MR. LEE SAID ALMOST $1 MILLION WOULD BE PAID OUT TO HELP THE 3,000 OR MORE VICTIMS. +1 AM THEREFORE APPEALING TO YOU ALL TO MAKE AS GENEROUS A DONATION TO THE FUND AS YOU FEEL ABLE TO AFFORD.
♦SUCH DONATIONS WILL ENABLE US TO MAINTAIN OUR SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO HAVE JUST SUFFERED SO GRIEVOUSLY,* HE ADDED.
HE CONTINUED: +0F COURSE YOU MAY FEEL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR DONATION TO THE FUND TO BE USED TO BRING HELP DIRECTLY TO THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED AS A RESULT OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE. IF THIS IS YOUR WISH I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ANY DONATION WITH THIS IN MIND WILL FIRST BE USED FOR THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS SO LONG AS THEY SHOULD REQUIRE HELP FROM THE FUND, AND SHOULD THERE BE ANY BALANCE REMAINING, IT WILL CERTAINLY BE USED TO . HELP ANY FUTURE VICTIMS OF SIMILAR DISASTERS.*
DONATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, C/0 SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS: YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE PRESENTATION TOMORROW.
-----o ------- ----------/6.....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1974
- 6 -
MORE DONATIONS FOR FIRE VICTIMS
*******
THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS TODAY DONATED $100,000 IN AID OF THE VICTIMS OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE.
AT A CEREMONY IN THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE GROUP, MR. KONG WING-ON, PRESENTED THE CHEQUE TO THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR. JOHN WALDEN.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY WAS THE FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MR. CHARM HOI-SANG. '
THE LATEST DONATION BRINGS TO OVER $300,000 THE TOTAL AMOUNT RECEIVED SO FAR.
THE OTHER DONATIONS INCLUDED THOSE FROM THE WING LUNG BANK ($100,000), SING CHUN SIN TONG ($33,000) AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PO LEUNG KUK ($25,000).
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR. GUS CHUI, 'THANKED ALL ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS.
_ _ 0 - -
NO RIGHT TURN * * *
».^.—T?AFF,C FR0H LUNS CHEUNG ROAD WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING T,N PASS R0AD SOUTHBOUND FROM 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY
^rcDnUAKY t>/<
THIS IS TO IMPROVE. TRAFFIC CIRCULATION DURING CONSTRUCTION
OF THE WONG TAI SIN MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION. CO"STRUCTIOM .
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP IN THE AREA TO GUIDE DRIVERS.
----o----
I
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1976
7
NO REST FOR CIVIL AID SERVICES * ft ft ft ft *
THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WERE FULLY ENGAGED IN HELPING OUT OTHER PEOPLE DURING THE FOUR-DAY LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
THE VOLUNTEERS WERE MOBILISED ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 1) NIGHT TO TAKE PART IN THE EMERGENCY OPERATION TO HELP THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS.
THEY ARE STILL THERE TODAY KEEPING ORDER TO THE VICTIMS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT STAFF.
AND GIVING ASSISTANCE
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THEY WERE POSTED TO VARIOUS HILL FIRE BLACK SPOTS OVER THE WEEKEND TO SUPPORT THE FIRE FIGHTING PATROLS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE SERVICES’ MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT WAS CALLED ON TUESDAY MORNING TO SEARCH FOR ELEVEN HIKERS WHO IN THE HILLS ABOVE TAI PO . THE MISSING PICNICKERS HOME SAFELY.
OUT EARLY WERE LOST LATER RETURNED
A MORE PLEASANT TASK FOR THE C.A.S. WAS CROWD CONTROL AND USHERING DUTIES DURING THE GALA OPENING OF THE FOURTH ARTS FESTIVAL ON TUESDAY EVENING.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
• r
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1976
CONTENTS pA6e. M0.
NEW HOMES FOR FIRE VICTIMS READY IN A FORTNIGHT .... 1
MORE THAN $300,000 PAID OUT TO FIRE VICTIMS TODAY .. 2
HONG KONG TO HOST SEMINAR ON MULTILATERAL TRADE
NEGOTIAT IONS ...•••••••••••• 3
TWO LOTS OF CROWN LAND TO BE AUCTIONED NEXT MONTH .. 4
NEW CONTROLLER OF RADIO PROGRAMMES DUE TOMORROW .... 4
STUDENTS URGED TO DEVELOP INQUIRING MIND .......... 5
FUN FAIRS FOR CHILDREN AND VILLAGERS THIS WEEKEND . 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1976
1
PWD RACES TO FINISH HING WAH ESTATE
• AHEAD OF TIME ft ft ft ft
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ARCHITECTS ARE WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK TO FINISH THE NEW HING WAH ESTATE IN CHAI WAN AHEAD OF TIME SO AS TO PROVIDE NEW HOMES FOR THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
MR. JOSEPH LEI, CHIEF ARCHITECT, PWD, SAID TODAY AN EMERGENCY BUILDING PROGRAMME HAD BEEN LAUNCHED TODAY TO COMPLETE AT LEAST TWO OF THE SEVEN DOMESTIC BLOCKS WITH IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND HAND THEM OVER TO .THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THE TWO BLOCKS, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION BY APRIL, WILL PROVIDE ABOUT 700 SELF-CONTAINED FLATS WITH INDIVIDUAL KITCHEN AND TOILET FACILITIES FOR ABOUT 3,300 PEOPLE.
AS PART 0^ THE EMERGENCY MEASURES, THE PWD ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE HAS APPLIED FOR PERMISSION TO CONTINUE WORK ON THE ESTATE AT NIGHT.
+THIS IS VITAL IF WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVE OF FINISHING THE TWO BLOCKS WITHIN THE 15-DAY TIME LIMIT WE RAVE SET OURSELVES,♦ MR. LEI SAID.
*
HE-ADDED THAT THE VARIOUS ITEMS OF WORK IN THE CRASH BUILDING PROGRAMME HAD BEEN CAREFULLY WORKED OUT SO THAT DISTURBANCE TO RESIDENTS IN THE AREA WOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM.
%
+THE WHOLE OPERATION INVOLVES A RATHER INTRICATE PROGRAMME OF 16 DIFFERENT ITEMS OF WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT IN VARIOUS SHIFTS WITH THE LESS NOISY ONES TO BE DONE AT NIGHT,+ HE SAID.
EXTRA WORKERS WERE BEING BROUGHT IN TO HELP SPEED UP THE WORK.
MR. LEI SAID THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE WAS CLOSELY CO-ORDINATING WITH THE WATERWORKS OFFICE AND THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY TO ENSURE THAT WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES WOULD BE AVAILABLE ONCE THE TENANTS MOVE IN;
HE NOTED THAT MUCH TIME AND EFFORT HAD GONE INTO THE PLANNING OF THE CRASH PROGRAMME SINCE THE FIRE LAST SUNDAY, AND DESPITE MANY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE TWO BLOCKS WOULD BE READY BY FEBRUARY 20.
♦THIS IS A COMPLEX OPERATION WHICH WILL BRING EXTREME PRESSURE ON RESOURCES AND EVERYONE CONCERNED, PARTICULARLY THE CONTRACTOR AND THE WORKERS, BUT ALL THAT MATTERS AT THIS STAGE IS TO GET NEW HOMES READY FOR THE FIRE VICTIMS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.*
MEANWHILE, THE SITE AT HING WAH WAS A SCENE OF FRENZIED ACTIVITY TODAY AS MASONS, PAINTERS, CARPENTERS, DRAIN LAYERS AND LABOURERSjRACED AGAINST TIME TO GET THE TWO BLOCKS FINISHED.
/TODAY,
2
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1976
TODAY, MOST OF THE PAINTING WAS COMPLETED AND WORK STARTED ON FITTING IN THE WINDOW PANES AND OTHER . FIXTURES.
THE WHOLE ESTATE IS ABOUT 90 PER CENT COMPLETE AND IS EXPECTED TO BE FULLY FINISHED IN APRIL.
IT WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A TOTAL POPULATION OF ABOUT 22,600 PEOPLE.
IT WILL BE SERVED BY TWO ESTATE SCHOOLS, A WELFARE HALL, A MARKET, RESTAURANT AND LARGE OPEN SPACES FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
OVER $300,000 PAID OUT TO FIRE VICTIMS
******
I
MORE THAN $308,000 WAS PAID OUT TO THE VICTIMS OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE MONEY HAS BEEN DONATED BY PUBLIC-SPIRITED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ORGANISATIONS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SAID.
PAYMENTS BEGAN AT 11 A.M. TODAY AT THE SALES IAN SCHOOL IN CHAI WAN ROAD. BY 3.30 P.M., 3,083 PEOPLE HAD EACH RECEIVED $100.
TO HELP SPEED UP THE CASH DISTRIBUTION, MORE THAN 100 STAFF MEMBERS OF THE HOME AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS WERE MOBILISED AND SOME TEN DISTRIBUTION CENTRES WERE SET UP.
THE POLICE AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS HELPED TO KEEP ORDER AND FACILITATE THE DISTRIBUTION WORK.
MOST OF THE FIRE VICTIMS HAD COLLECTED THEIR MONEY BY NOON. A SMALL NUMBER HOWEVER HAD NOT YET FOUND TIME TO COLLECT THEIRS BY LATE AFTERNOON.
THEY CAN DO SO BY CALLING AT THE SHAU KEI WAN CDO SUB-OFFICE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
0
/3
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1976
- 3 -
' HONG KONG HOSTS SEMINAR FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
* * * X * *
MORE THAN 30 DELEGATES FROM ABOUT 20 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG OVER THE WEEK-END TO ATTEND A WEEK-LONG SEMINAR ON THE MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS (MTN).
THE MTN ARE NEGOTIATIONS HELD UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE TO HELP LIBERALISE WORLD TRADE AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO REMOVE TRADE BARRIERS.
THE SEMINAR STARTS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, AND CLOSES ON FEBRUARY 16. IT WILL BE HELD LN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE HANG SENG BANK BUILDING IN THE DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
THE SEMINAR IS SPONSORED .BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC (ESCAP) AND THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT, AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNTRIES IN THOSE REGIONS TO MEET AND DISCUSS PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THEM IN THE MTN AND TO INCREASE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AT THE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH ARE STILL GOING ON IN GENEVA.
ALTHOUGH THE MTN WERE STARTED IN 1973 IT WAS NOT UNT’lL 1975 THAT SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS GOT UNDERWAY.
OFFICIALS WHO WILL ATTEND THE SEMINAR IN HONG KONG INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM INDIA, MALAYSIA, NEW HEBRIDES, SINGAPORE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, SRI LANKA, TONGA, WESTERN-SAMOA, BANGLADESH, IRAN, AFGHANISTAN, THAILAND, NEPAL, INDONESIA, PHILIPPINES, PAKISTAN AND BHUTAN.
HONG KONG WILL BE REPRESENTED BY MR. JUSTIN YUE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AND MR. PETER WISE, PRINCIPAL TRADE OFFICER, BASED IN GENEVA.
THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. DAVID JORDAN, WILL OPEN THE SEMINAR.
-----0------
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1976
- k -
r TWO CROWN LAND LOTS UP FOR SALE NEXT MONTH
******
TWO LOTS OF CROWN LAND WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE BY AUCTION 0* MARCH 5 AT 2.30 P.M. IN THE LECTURE ROOM, 8TH FLOOR, CITY HALL.
ONE LOT IS SITUATED AT HOLLYWOOD ROAD, HONG KONG. IT MEASURES 2,200 SQ.FT. AND IS EARMARKED FOR NON-1NDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.
• -fr.
THE OTHER LOT, MEASURING 22,180 SQ. FT., IS AT SZE SHAN STREET, SAM KA TSUEN, KOWLOON. IT IS*FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES.
FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG, AND AT THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON.
SALE PLANS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE OFFICES.
----0 - — ‘ . I
NEW CONTROLLER OF RADIO PROGRAMMES
*****
MR. K.J. WARBURTON ARRIVES IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (FEBRUARY 6) TO TAKE UP THE APPOINTMENT OF CONTROLLER OF RADIO PROGRAMMES IN RADIO HONG KONG.
KEN WARBURTON, AN EXPERIENCED BROADCASTER, TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR TWO YEARS AND W PROGRAMME PLANNING TEAM OF RADIO HONG KONG..
HAS BEEN SECONDED ILL'STRENGTHEN THE
HE HAS BEEN WITH THE B.B.C. SINCE 1967 AND IS A SENIOR PRODUCER WITH RADIO SOLENT, ONE OF THE LARGER B.B.C. LOCAL RADI STATIONS IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND. .
AS A JOURNAL?ST°1N'NS ™E HE HAD C0NS,DERABLE EXPERIENCE
THE NEW CONTROLLER WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE AND TWO CH ILDREN.
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/5
1
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1976
- 5 -
SECONDARY PUPILS URGED TO DEVELOP INQUIRING MINDS
* * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, THIS AFTERNOON URGED PUPILS ATTENDING THE EIGHTH SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SEMINAR AT MORRISON HOUSE TO THINK OF WAYS OF MAKING THEIR ACTIVITIES AS INTELLECTUALLY STIMULATING AS POSSIBLE, THUS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS TO DEVELOP INQUIRING, ANALYTICAL MINDS.
HE STRESSED THAT COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE DID NOT STIMULATE LASTING INTEREST OR ENTHUSIASM.
4
HR. TOPLEY SAID : +ACTUALLY THE BEST THING YOU CAN OFFER YOUR COMMUNITY IS THE SERVICE OF YOUR YOUNG, FRESH, FLEXIBLE MINDS.+
. THE DIRECTOR TOLD THEM TO DO EVERYTHING THEY COULD IN THE CLASSROOM AND OUT OF IT, BY TAKING PART IN EVENTS LIKE THE SEMINAR THEY WERE ATTENDING, TO DEVELOP A CRITICAL, INQUIRING MIND AND LOOKING FOR FRESH WAYS OF SOLVING OLD PROBLEMS.
THE SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS COULD ONLY DO SO MUCH AND THEREFORE MUCH DEPENDED ON THE PUPILS’ OWN WILLINGNESS TO SEEK OUT ANSWERS. TO TRY FOR THEMSELVES, NO MATTER HOW EXHAUSTING, DISCOURAGING THEIR ATTEMPTS MIGHT BE. .
+1 DOUBT IF ANYONE CAN MAKE A SERIOUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO THINK INDEPENDENTLY, IMAGINATIVELY.* MR. TOPLEY SAID. *
THE THEME OF THIS YEAR’S SEMINAR - +WHAT CAN YOUNG’PEOPLE DO TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN?+ - SHOULD PROVE STIMULATING AND MR. TOPLEY SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD WITH INTEREST TO READING THE FINAL REPORT.
THE DIRECTOR CONGRATULATED PAST AND PRESENT ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR MAKING THE SEMINARS POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL.
THE PRESENT SEMINAR COMPETED EFFECTIVELY WITH THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS OF A SCHOOL HOLIDAY AND MR- TOPLEY SAID HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS WAS THAT THE STUDENTS WERE DOING SOMETHING THEMSELVES WITH MINIMAL ADULT PARTICIPATION.
0
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1976
t 6 -
FUN FAIR FOR 1,000 CHILDREN ******
v ‘ r>
A LUNAR NEW YEAR FUN FAIR HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY ESTATE COMMUNITY WORK OFFICES FOR ABOUT 1,000 CHILDREN IN THE AREA THIS SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 7) AFTERNOON.
THE LAM TIN
IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE PLAYGROUND OF BLOCK ESTATE BETWEEN 2 P.M. AND 5 P.M.
19 OF LAM TIN
IN THE NEW
ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8), ABOUT 1,500 VILLAGERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN A FUN FAIR ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S LIBRARY AND RURAL MOBILE SERV.ICES AND YOUTH WORK UNITS.
THE FUN FAIR* WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE LIONS CLUB LAM TSUEN YOUTH CENTRE IN LAM TSUEN, TAI PO, AT 2 P.M.
PROGRAMMES FOR THE DAY INCLUDE A CHINESE OPERA SNOW TO BE .x PERFORMED BY THE CHINESE OPERA SOCIETY OF THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE AND THERE WILL BE MORE THAN TEN GAMES STALLS.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
Y,OU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE TWO FAIRS.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1976
CONTENTS pA6E N0< '.....................................t
PROTECTED BIRDS RELEASED IN NEW TERRITORIES ................. 2 HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR NOVEMBER 1975 . ..t........2 APPLICATIONS FOR PLB DRIVING TESTS RE-OPENED ................. 3 CAS OUT IN FORCE THIS WEEKEND TO PREVENT HILL FIRES .......... 4
SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE DONATION OF 20
WHEELCHAIRS ................
5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1976
1
SECOND PHASE OF ACID RAIN SURVEY BY STUDENTS
TEACHERS AND STUDENT LEADERS FROM 269 SCHOOLS ARE TO TAKE PART IN A SEMINAR ON FEBRUARY 14 TO LAUNCH THE SECOND PHASE OF +ACID RAIN AMD OTHER AIR POLLUTION PROJECTS* JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD AT WAH YAN COLLEGE, WATERLOO ROAD, KOWLOON FROM 10 A.M. TO ABOUT 12 NOON. IT WILL BE OPENED BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, MR. ALEC REEVE.
DURING THE MEETING. MR. REEVE WILL RECEIVE A TOKEN PACKET OF SPECIAL ACID MEASURING PAPERS FROM RANK XEROX LTD., THE SPONSORING BODY WHICH SPECIALLY ORDERED THE PAPERS FROM THE UNITED STATES FOR THIS PROJECT. *
OTHER SPEAKERS ARE MR. JEREMIAH WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION, AND DR. BETH GOTT OF THE BOTANY DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION.
THE SEMINAR IS PART OF A WIDER STUDY ON +PURE AIR* AND THE PART BEING PLAYED BY THE SCHOOL CHILDREN IS CONTRIBUTING A GREAT DEAL TOWARDS THE FUTURE BETTERMENT OF THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN HONG KONG, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
HE SAID THAT A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST WAS AROUSED FOLLOWING A PRESS CONFERENCE IN AUGUST LAST YEAR WHEN PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS of the Results obtained by participating schools in the first PHASE SHOWED THAT HONG KONG'S RAIN WAS INDEED ACID.
AS THE FIRST PHASE WAS CARRIED OUT AT A TIME OF QUITE HEAVY RAIN WITH QUITE A FEW THUNDERSTORMS, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO . REPEAT THE MEASUREMENTS ONCE AGAIN DURING THE WINTER WHEN THE RAIN IS MORE GENTLE.
THE SECOND PHASE BEGINS WHEN STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO HAVE THE SEMINAR COVERED ON FEBRUARY 14.
/a
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1976
- 2 -
PROTECTED BIRDS RELEASED IN N.T. '
* ft * ft X
THREE KESTRELS HAVE BEEN RELEASED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BY OFFICERS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE BIRDS WERE CONFISCATED AT FANLING MAGISTRACY AFTER A HAWKER PLEADED GUILTY TO "HAWKING BIRDS" CONTRARY TO THE ANIMAL TRADES REGULATIONS.
THE BIRDS WERE KEPT BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE RELEASE SO THAT THEY COULD REGAIN THEIR STRENGTH.
THE KESTREL IS QUITE COMMONLY SEEN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES DURING WINTER. IT IS A SMALL FALCON, ABOUT 34 C M. LONG, WITH A LONG TAIL AND LONG, POINTED WINGS.
THE KESTREL, LIKE ALL BIRDS OF PREY, IS BENEFICIAL TO MAN AND FEEDS ON INSECTS AND SMALL MAMMALS SUCH AS RATS AND MICE. THESE IT USUALLY CATCHES BY HOVERING OVER OPEN GROUND AND THEN QUICKLY DROPPING DOWN ON ITS PREY.
THE KESTREL IS FULLY PROTECTED IN HONG KONG UNDER THE WILD ANIMALS PROTECTION ORDINANCE.
-----0------
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR NOVEMBER 1975 ft ft ft ft ft
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1975 SHOW A SURPLUS OF $246 MILLION (EXCLUDING LOANS) AS COMPARED WITH A SURPLUS OF $174 MILLION IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATED DEFICIT OF $357 MILLION FOR THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR, COMPARED WITH A DEFICIT OF $806 MILLION FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
TOTAL REVENUE FOR THE MONTH AT $681 MILLION WAS $27 MILLION LESS THAN IN NOVEMBER 1974.
TOTAL EXPENDITURE AT $435 MILLION WAS $99 MILLION LESS THAN THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR, MAINLY BECAUSE OF DECREASED SPENDING ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS DUE LARGELY TO THE SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN CONTRACT PRICES AND ALSO TO THE EXCEPTIONALLY RAINY SUMMER IN 1975.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1976
- 3 - 1 '
RE-OPENING OF PLB DRIVING TESTS
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY ASKED DRIVERS WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR PLB DRIVING TESTS TO WRITE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S LICENSING OFFICES AT 2 MURRAY ROAD, HONG KONG, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. '
THE APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THREE YEARS’ EXPERIENCE AND HAVE NOT BEEN DISQUALIFIED.
AT A MEETING WITH PLB ASSOCIATIONS ON JANUARY 26, THE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD REOPEN DRIVING TESTS FOR PLBS FROM MARCH 1, 1976.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID i +NO FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER. APPLICATIONS FOR FORMS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY BY POST. FORMS WILL THEN BE POSTED TO THE APPLICANT WHO SHOULD RETURN THEM, AGAIN, BY POST.+
AFTER THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS ARE RECEIVED, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL CHECK THE PARTICULARS, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF THE DRIVER AND ANY DISQUALIFICATION.
IF THE APPLICANT MEETS THE DEPARTMENT’S REQUIREMENTS, HE WILL BE SENT A LETTER ASKING HIM TO CALL IN PERSON AT THE LICENSING OFFICE BRINGING WITH HIM THE LETTER, HIS HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD AND HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCE, AND |150 FEE FOR THE TEST FORM. x
HIS ID CARD AND DRIVING LICENCE WILL BE RETURNED TO HIM AND HE WILL BE GIVEN A TEST FORM AND TEST APPOINTMENT TIME.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE LAST BATCH OF APPLICATIONS FOR PLB DRIVING TESTS WAS RECEIVED THREE YEARS AGO. +BUT BECAUSE OF THE MANY THOUSANDS OF APPLICATIONS IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG AND TEST ALL THE DRIVERS.*
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THESE PLB DRIVING TESTS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE NUMBER OF PLBS ON THE ROADS AS THE GOVERNMENT SET A LIMIT OF 4,331 VEHICLES IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1976
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CAS OUT AGAIN TO PREVENT HILL FIRES
* * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WILL BE OUT AGAIN THIS WEEKEND TO HELP THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT’S FIREFIGHTING PATROLS IN COMBATTING HILL FIRES.
INVOLVED WILL BE 100 MEMBERS AND 50 CADETS OF THE CAS.
DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS, MEMBERS OF THE CAS, ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE PUT OUT A NUMBER OF HILL FIRES.
THROUGHOUT THE FOUR-DAY HOLIDAY PERIOD, OTHER CONTINGENTS WERE POSTED TO AREAS OF HIGH FIRE RISK IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO HELP LOOK OUT FOR FIRES AND LEND SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY AGAIN APPEALED TO VILLAGERS AND VISITORS TO THE NEW TERRITORIES TO BE MORE CAREFUL WITH MATCHES AND CIGARETTE BUTTS.
BARBECUE PARTIES, HE SAID, SHOULD ONLY BE HELD AT DESIGNATED PLACES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
PICNICKERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ALERT THE NEAREST FORESTRY OFFICE OR POLICE OR FIRE SERVICES POST WHEN THEY SPOT A HILL FIRE.
+IF THE FIRE IS SMALL, THEY CAN HELP BY STAMPING OR BEATING IT OUT BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF CONTROL,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE VIGILANCE AND EFFORT BY ALL CONCERNED, HE ADDED, HAD PAID OFF AS THE EXERCISE HAD BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1976
- 5 -
WHEELCHAIRS FOR DISABLED
* * * X
NOTE TO EDITORS I
THE LIONS CLUB OF TSIM SHA TSUI IS DONATING 20 WHEELCHAIRS TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR USE BY PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL ACCEPT THE WHEELCHAIRS- ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT AT THE CLUB’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY AND CHARITY BALL TO BE HELD AT THE BALLROOM OF THE SHERATON HOTEL ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8) AT 8 P.M.
AT THE CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR WILL BE PRESENTED WITH ONE WHEELCHAIR AND THE OTHER 19 IN THE FORM OF COUPONS.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Friday, February 6, 197$
OVER 377,000 PAID OUT TO FIRE VICTIMS
•«»**«*
The Housing Department today (Friday) paid out more than 377,^00 to victims of the Aldrich Bay fire to help meet the expenses in re-establishing their homes at Chai Wan IV Licensed Area.
Families of up to five persons each received 31,250 and additional heads in the families were each paid an extra 3250. All squatters also each received 3100 as re-equipment allowance.
Payment of the cash allowance has so far been made to 41 families comprising 200 people.
There are still 144 people from families eligible for the allowance and these people are advised to approach the department for the grant without delay.
Re-equipment allowance of 3100 each will also be paid to those who have been offered public housing at Hing Wah Estate and elsewhere as soon as arrangements for payment have been worked out.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ri
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
' -- • t • ■ • ’ ; • •
INQUIRY INTO THE LEUNG WING-SANG CASE TO START HEARINGS NEXT MONTH ...................................... 1
INFLUENCE OF A GOOD TEACHER IMPORTANT IN EDUCATION ...........2
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD NEAR HAMMER HILL ROAD ...........................■.................3
TAI CHI CLASS ORGANISED FOR TSUEN WAN RESIDENTS ..............4
MORE DONATIONS FOR ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS ..................4
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1976
1
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY BEGINS HEARING NEXT MONTH
H H
THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY" INTO THE LEUNG WING-SANG CASE WILL BEGIN IN COURT NO. 11 OF THE VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 10 A.M. ON MONDAY, MARCH 1.
SINCE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ONE-MAN COMMISSION, MR. JUSTICE T.L. YANG HAS HAD TWO MEETINGS WITH THE COUNSEL TO THE COMMISSION, MR. H.J. SOMERVILLE, AND MRS. ALICE WONG, SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION, ON PROCEDURAL MATTERS.
THE COMMISSION WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE APPOINTMENT FOLLOWED RECENT RENEWED ALLEGATIONS IN RELATION TO THE CASE IN WHICH LEUNG WAS CONVICTED OF MURDER ON JUNE 9, 1974.
THE COMMISSION’S TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE TO INQUIRE INTO:
(I) THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO AND SURROUNDING THE ARREST AND CHARGING OF LEUNG WING-SANG, AND
(II) WHETHER OR NOT THESE CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT HAVE PREJUDICED LEUNG’S TRIAL.
MR. JUSTICE YANG SAID TODAY THAT PART OF THE INQUIRY MIGHT BE HELD IN CAMERA, AND THAT A NUMBER OF OLD FILES HAD TO BE PERUSED.
IN THE MEANTIME, ANY PERSON WHO FEELS THAT HE CAN GIVE USEFUL INFORMATION ON THE CASE IS INVITED TO DO SO BY WRITING TO THE SECRETARY, COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE LEUNG WING-SANG CASE, VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT, HONG KONG. THE SECRETARY’S TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 5-249512.
t‘ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1976
2 - .
teacher - pupil Relationships
*******
THE QUALITY OF TEACHER-PUPIL RELATIONSHIPS INFLUENCES PROFOUNDLY THE INTELLECTUAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID TONIGHT AT THE SILVER JUBILEE DINNER OF THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
♦ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF BEING A GOOD TEACHER, THERE ' ARE SOME CRITERIA BY WHICH THE GOOD TEACHER CAN BE IDENTIFIED. HE IS A VITAL, BALANCED, WHOLESOME PERSON TO WHOM PARENTS ARE , HAPPY TO ENTRUST THEIR CHILDREN,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID.
THE TEACHER MUST BE AWARE OF 111S POWER AND INFLUENCE.
THE DIRECTOR STRESSED THAT THE TEACHER MUST GROW NOT ONLY IN KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECTS TAUGHT, IN KNOWLEDGE OF THE LEARNER AND THE LEARNING PROCESS, BUT ALSO IN UNDERSTANDING OF HIMSELF AND THE 'NEED FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF HIS OWN CULTURE AND PERSONALITY.
THE TEACHER SHOULD HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF PURPOSE, OF THE WORTHWHILENESS OF HIS WORK, AND OF THE VITAL AND IMPORTANT PLACE HE OCCUPIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 1951, STARTED WITH AN ENROLMENT OF 64 IN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT KING’S COLLEGE.
• X \
IT MOVED INTO PERMANENT PREMISES IN GASCOIGNE ROAD, KOWLOON. EARLY IN 1952,. THE COLLEGE NOW HAS, AMONG ITS MANY FACILITIES. A LECTURE THEATRE, A GAMES HALL AND AN ANNEXE IN HUNG HOM. .
IN THE CURRENT YEAR THE COLLEGE HAS ON ITS ROLL 470 FULL-TIME STUDENTS^IN ADDITION TO 740 TEACHERS ATTENDING IN-SERVICE COURSES.
♦FURTHER, AS THE COLLEGE IS FREQUENTLY USED AS A VENUE FOR CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONS,-IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL LIFE OF HONG KONG,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID.
•SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, AFTER WHOM THE COLLEGE IS NAMED. SENT A MESSAGE TO MARK THE OCCASION AND CONGRATULATED ALL THOSE WHO. OVER THE YEARS, HAD HELPED TO MAKE THE COLLEGE A COMPLETE SUCCESS.
THE FORMER GOVERNOR, DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS A ♦GUEST IN ABSENTIA+, SAID THAT THIS SUCCESS benefited the graduates first, then THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION IN GENERAL AND FINALLY THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
/HE ADDED: ......
^SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1976 -
HE ADDEDx +WHAT OF THE FUTURE? JUDGING BY PAST PERFORMANCE IT SHOULD BE A MATTER OF CONTINUED SUCCESS, WHICH IS WHAT I WISH THE COLLEGE. LET US THEN TAKE THE GRANTHAM MOTTO AND.GO ’FORWARD* WITH CONFIDENCE.+
ANOTHER MESSAGE WHICH WAS READ AT THE DINNER CAME FROM MR. CHEUNG WING-MIN, THE FIRST PRINCIPAL OF THE COLLEGE.
MR. CHEUNG SAIDx +IT WAS THE ENDEAVOUR AND EFFICIENCY OF THE PRINCIPALS WHO SUCCEEDED ME TOGETHER WITH ALL THE LECTURERS THAT BUILT UP AND GAINED A REPUTATION FOR THE COLLEGE.
♦SO I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ALL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PRAISE THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE STUDIED HARD AND SERVED THE COLONY WELL, FOR IT IS BY THEIR PERFORMANCE THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE COLLEGE IS MEASURED.
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NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON * * * * * *
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD NEAR HAMMER HILL ROAD IN KOWLOON ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 10).
THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SECTION OF THE METRO BETWEEN DIAMOND HILL AND CHOI HUNG STATIONS.
STARTING FROM 10 O'CLOCK THAT MORNING, THE EXISTING 24-HOUR URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION ON THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WILL BE EXTENDED FROM THE JUNCTION OF LUNG CHEUNG ROAD AND HAMMER HILL ROAD TO A POINT 200 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP ON THIS SECTION OF LUNG CHEUNG ROAD TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN PASSENGERS OR TO LOAD AND UNLOAD GOODS.
AT THE SAME TIME, RIGHT-TURN MOVEMENTS FROM HAMMER HILL ROAD INTO LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WESTBOUND AND FROM LUNG CHEUNG ROAD INTO HAMMER HILL ROAD NORTHBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED.
APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE PUT IN THE VICINITY TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1976
-4.-
TAICHI CLASS FOR TSUEN WAN RESIDENTS
* * * * *
THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS TO ORGANISE A TAICHI CLASS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT.
THE CLASS WILL START FROM FEBRUARY 10 (TUESDAY) AND LAST UNTIL THE END OF MARCH. IT WILL MEET EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 11.30. A.M.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CLASS IS TO PROVIDE LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH A CHANCE TO DO PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND TO PROMOTE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES. '
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MORE DONATIONS FOR FIRE VICTIMS
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MORE PUBLIC-SPIRITED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS HAVE SENT IN THEIR DONATIONS IN AID OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS.
BETWEEN YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON AND THIS MORNING. THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED MORE THAN $39,000.
AMONG THE DONATIONS WERE THOSE FROM THE FOOK LEE CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD. $20,000, HONG KONG RED CROSS $6,000, THE HONG KONG CHIU YANG RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION $5,000 AND THE BARCLAYS BANK $2,500.
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1976
TAP WATER FOR REMOTE HIGH ISLAND COMMUNITY
**##*.**
THE REMOTE HIGH ISLAND COMMUNITY OF TUNG A NOW HAS TAP.WATER THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF VILLAGERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAY AND THE EFFORTS OF STAFF OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE, SAI KUNG.
TRADITIONAL WATER RIGHTS IN THE AREA HAD BEEN HELD FOR GENERATIONS BY THE PEOPLE OF PAK A, WHOSE WATER SUPPLY COMES FROM A HILL STREAM. ABQUT A MILE AWAY, AT TUNG A, 400 OR SO VILLAGERS HAD TO FETCH AND CARRY THEIR WATER FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS SINCE THE KWUN MUN CHANNEL WAS CLOSED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGH ISLAND WATER SCHEME.
APPROACHES WERE MADE BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TUNG A VILLAGERS TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE, SAI KUNG AND A SCHEME WAS DEVISED TO DAM THE STREAM AND PIPE SOME OF THE'SUPPLY TO THEIR HOMES. BUT THERE WAS ONE POSSIBLE SNAG s HOW WOULD THE PEOPLE OF PAK A REACT, TRADITION WHERE WATER RIGHTS ARE CONCERNED BEING ESPECIALLY STRONG IN SUCH COMMUNITY?
+THEY ARE SURPRISINGLY GENEROUS,+ SAID MR. JAMES WILSON, ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, SAI KUNG, +CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS THE ONLY STREAM WHICH CAN NOW SUPPLY WATER TO THE AREA.+
AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS, HE ADDED, AN AGREEMENT WAS WORKED OUT UNDER WHICH THE PAK-A VILLAGERS WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE PRIORITY OVER THE WATER SUPPLY BOTH FOR DOMESTIC AND IRRIGATION PURPOSES, BUT THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT DOMESTIC WATER ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE OF TUNG A.
WORK ON BUILDING THE DAM BEGAN TWO MONTHS AGO AND HAS NOW BEEN COMPLETED. THE WORK ALSO INVOLVED THE LAYING OF HUNDREDS OF YARDS OF WATER PIPE WHICH CARRIES WATER FROM THE DAM TO THE TWO VILLAGES WHERE EACH HOUSE NOW HAS A SUPPLY.
THE SCHEME, COSTING $90,000, WAS DESIGNED AND FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, SAI KUNG WHICH ALSO SUPERVISED THE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
/ >
A CEREMONY MARKING. THE START OF WATER SUPPLY IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
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Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1978
2
STUDENTS TO ATTEND CAREERS SEMINAR «*»**««
ABOUT 1,000 STUDENTS FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KOWLOON CITY, TOKWAWAN, HUNG HOM AND HO MAN TIN ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND A ONE-DAY CAREERS SEMINAR ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 13).
ORGANISED BY THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD FROM 9.30 A.M. TO 4 P.M. AT THE HO MAN TIN GOVERNMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 8, PERTH STREET, KOWLOON.
THE PROGRAMME FEATURES SIX TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS BY GUEST SPEAKERS ON CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BANKING, ADVERTISING, ACCOUNTANCY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, GOVERNMENT JOBS AND APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING. '
IN ADDITION, TWO FILMS WILL BE SHOWN IN THE AFTERNOON, ONE ON THE PRINCIPLES OF CHOOSING ONE’S CAREER, AND THE OTHER ON JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NURSING FIELD.
ALL SENIOR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE FOUR DISTRICTS, ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE SEMINAR.
THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE TIN TIN YAT PAO LIMITED, MR. WAI KEE-SHUN,, WILL OPEN THE SEMINAR AND ADDRESS THE GATHERING.
NOTE TO EDITORS: YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SEMINAR AT 9.30 A.M. AT THE SCHOOL HALL OF THE HO MAN TIN GOVERNMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 8, PERTH STREET, KOWLOON.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1976
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN MONG KOK
******
TRAFFIC ON A NUMBER OF STREETS IN MONGKOK WILL BE RE-ROUTED NEXT WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 11) FROM 10 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE METRO.
THE STREETS AFFECTED ARE SHAN TUNG STREET, KAM LAM STREET, SOY STREET AND BUTE STREET.
SECTIONS OF SHAN TUNG STREET BETWEEN PORTLAND STREET AND SHANGHAI STREET, AND BETWEEN RECLAMATION STREET AND KAM LAM STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
A SECTION OF KAM LAM STREET BETWEEN SHAN TUNG STREET AND SOY STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND.
A SECTION OF SOY STREET BETWEEN KAM LAM STREET AND RECLAMATION STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND.
SECTIONS OF BUTE STREET BETWEEN SAI YEE STREET AND TUNG CHOI STREET, AND ALSO BETWEEN SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET AND NATHAN ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
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TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
WHEELCHAIRS FOR DISABLED
******
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENTED WITH 20 WHEELCHAIRS BY THE LIONS CLUB OF TSIM SHA TSUI FOR USE BY THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, RECEIVED THE GIFT FROM MR. CHAN KUM—CHEN, PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB AT ITS ANNIVERSARY BALL HELD AT THE SHERATON HOTEL.
IN ACCEPTING THE WHEELCHAIRS, MR. LEE SAID THAT THE ' DEVELOPMENT OF THE WELFARE SERVICES IN- HONG KONG NEEDS THE FULL SUPPORT FROM AND CLOSE CO-OPERATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND ♦REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED IS OF NO EXCEPTION.+ • ’x
MR. LEE SAID THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COULD HELP THE DISABLED BY REMOVING ANY-OBSTACLES THAT THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER WHILE RETURNING TO SOCIETY AND ALSO BY CHANGING THE ATTITUDE OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE TOWARDS THEM.
+THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE DISABLED TO DEVELOP THEIR POTENTIAL- PROMOTE AND SUPPORT REHABILITATION PROJECTS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM TO BECOME CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY,* MR. LEE SAID.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
;< MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1976
* • ' ' ‘e* * •- /•
CONTENTS' 1 S'' PAGE NO,
. r ’ r "i • •
ICAC AMENDMENT BILLS IN LEGCO AGENDA-THIS WEDNESDAY ........ 1
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WEST KOWLOON FOR , ’
CONSTRUCTION OF METRO ...................... 2
. , ' ■ 1
38 PER CENT INCREASE IN NUMBER OF TRAIN PASSENGERS DURING HOLIDAYS .........• 3
WATER INTERRUPTION IN CAUSEWAY BAY • •• » W* • * •••••• • •• 3
MORE DONATIONS FOR FIRE VICTIMS ........................4
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Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
i
WNDMt, FEBRUARY 9, 1976
• ) . .
AMENDMENTS TO ICAC LAW TO BE INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO
* * * M # 1
TWO BILLS — ONE AIMEH AT ENSURING THE CONTINUED EFFECTIVE INDEPENDENT OPERATION OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION AND THE OTHER MORE EFFECTIVELY PREVENTING CORRUPT OFFICERS FROM MAKING OFF WITH THEIR ILL-GOTTEN GAINS — WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY.
THEY ARE THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.
DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, DR. THE HON. CHUNG SZE-YUEN WILL RAISE THE MATTER OF LICENSED JkREAS.
CHUNG W,LL ALS0 ASK THE GOVERNMENT, DURING QUESTION TIME, TO CONFIRM THAT ADEQUATE TIME WILL BE ALLOWED, PRIOR TO ™E OfE"'NS 0F THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE, FOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO EXAMINE THE DRAFT LEGISLATION, INCLUDING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANISATION AND OPERATION OF THE EXCHANGE.
THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG WILL ASK WHETHER ANY AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN REACHED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HONG KONG/MACAO FERRY TERMINAL BY A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
THE HON. T.S. LO WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER REVISING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLICATION OF ANY SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO A BILL, THUS ALLOWING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE AMENDMENTS BEFORE THE AMENDED BILL IS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL. J
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OTHER QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS WILL INCLUDE THE DESIRABILITY OF ESTABLISHING AS SEPARATE CORPORATIONS REVENUE-EARNING ESTABLISHMENTS SUCH AS THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, KAI TAK AIRPORT AND THE WATERWORKS OFFICE, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF GIVING PRIORITY LN THE NEW INDUSTRIAL ESTATES TO THOSE INDUSTRIES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED MOST IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG.
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- < MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1976
, TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS AND RE-ROUTINGS IN WEST KOWLOON
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F
A NUMBER OF +NO WAITING* RESTRICTIONS AND TRAFFIC RE-ROUTINGS WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 11) IN WEST KOWLOON IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE METRO STATIONS IN NATHAN ROAD.
THE STREETS AFFECTED ARE SHAN TUNG STREET, DUNDAS STREET, KAM LAM STREET, SOY STREET AND BUTE STREET.
SHAN TUNG STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY WESTBOUND FROM PORTLAND STREET TO SHANGHAI STREET AND FROM RECLAMATION STREET TO KAM LAM STREET.
A 24-HOUR +N0 WAITING* RESTRICTION WILL BE INTRODUCED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SHAN TUNG STREET FROM NATHAN ROAD TO PORTLAND STREET AND FROM CANTON ROAD FOR A DISTANCE OF ABOUT SEVEN METRES IN A
» WESTERLY DIRECTION. ■
IN ADDITION, A 24-HQUR +N0 WAITING* RESTRICTION WILL BE INTRODUCED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SHAN TUNG STREET FROM RECLAMATION STREET TO FERRY STREET.
A 24-HOUR +N0 WAITING* RESTRICTION WILL BE INTRODUCED ON' THE SOUTH SIDE OF DUNDAS STREET FROM NATHAN ROAD FOR A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 25 .METRES IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION, FROM SHANGHAI STREET FOR A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 20 METRES IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION AND FROM SHANGHAI STREET TO FERRY STREET.
A 24-HOUR +N0 WAITING* RESTRICTION WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF DUNDAS STREET FROM NATHAN ROAD TO PORTLAND STREET AND FROM SHANGHAI STREET TO FERRY STREET.
• !
KAM LAM STREET WILL BE MADE ONE WAY SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN SHAN TUNG STREET AND SOY STREET. SOY STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY EASTBOUND BETWEEN KAM LAM STREET AND RECLAMATION STREET.
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BUTE STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY WESTBOUND BETWEEN SAI YEE STREET AND TUNG CHOI STREET AND ALSO BETWEEN SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET AND NATHAN ROAD.
SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC IN NATHAN ROAD WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING LEFT INTO BUTE STREET.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1976 n “ “
MORE PEOPLE USE TRAINS OVER NEW YEAR PERIOD ******
TRE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ISSUED A TOTAL OF 203,424 TICKETS DURING THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, COMPARED WITH 147,431 TICKETS IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 38 PER CENT.
THE PASSENGER REVENUE COLLECTED WAS $279,238, A 31 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURE OF $213,657.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAVELLI NG TO CHINA DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PERIOD (JANUARY 24 TO FEBRUARY 4) WAS 108,594. THIS SHOWS AN INCREASE OF 12,842 OR 13 PER CENT OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
•
THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF TRAINS RUN ON ANY ONE DAY IN THIS PERIOD WAS INCREASED FROM 56 TO 62.
WATER CUT * * *
T0 A N¥MBER DE PREMISES IN CAUSEWAY BAY WILL BE INTERRUPTED ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 12) FROM 1 A.M. TO 6 A M TO A LEAKAGE TEST TO BE CARRIED OUT. *•«. TO
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY YEE WOO STREET SUGAR STREET GEORGE STREET, PATERSON STREET, KINGSTON STREET AND CLEVELAND
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1976
MORE DONATIONS FOR FIRE VICTIMS ******
DONATIONS TO THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS R&CP4VPD av tuc AM0UNTEDAT0%55D3OOCIAL WELFARE ?EPARTMENTS OVER THE WEEKEND
MONEY WAS SENT) TO THE TWO DEPARTMENTS DURING the S4TURD4y (FEBRUARY 7) AFTERNOON TO
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■ MEANWHILE DONATIONS RAISED .BY RTV WILL BE DISTRIRiiTfn Tn tuc wIEERO«™?A™NGR™ 2™m“T) *T THE SALESI4N SCilOOL l« CH*I
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
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CONTENTS
•’ -4 A
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1976
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PAGE NO.
♦*’
EMPLOYMENT SITUATION IMPROVES
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5M
DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED............................
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG PRAISED FOR KINDNESS TO DISASTER
1
2
VICTIMS................;......................... *......... 3
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTH POINT........... . . ... . . . .. 4
POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAINING GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE. 5
CAS PRAISED FOR THEIR FIRE PREVENTION EFFORTS.................... 6
NEW PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT . IN MEI FOO SUN CHUEN.................. 6
> • •* • •
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1976
v .T / -1
EMPLOYMENT SIT0ATI08 « IMPROVEMENT INDICATE© «!«««)(
ACCORDING TO A SAMPLE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, THERE WERE AT THAT TIME 177,000 UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN HONG KONG.
THIS NUMBER REPRESENTED 9.1 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL LABOUR FORCE.
IN ANNOUNCING THESE FIGURES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS EXPLAINED THAT DEFINITIONS OF THE WORDS ♦UNEMPLOYED* AND ♦LABOUR F&RCE+ VARIED IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE DEFINITION USED IN THE RECENT SURVEY WAS THAT ANYONE WAS UNEMPLOYED IF HE WAS AGED BETWEEN 14-64 AND WAS NOT IN EMPLOYMENT BUT WAS LOOKING FOR WORK. ANYBODY WHO HAD WORKED FOR MORE THAN 15 HOURS IN THE SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE SURVEY DATE WAS TAKEN TO BE EMPLOYED.
THE COMMISSIONER EMPHASISED THE DIFFICULTY OF DETERMINING ANY COMMONLY ACCEPTED DEFINITION OF TERMS IN THIS FIELD. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIGURE GIVEN INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO HAD JUST LEFT SCHOOL AND WHO REALLY HAD NOT HAD MUCH OF A CHANCE TO-PICK UP A JOB** IT INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO HAD JUST, BUT ONLY JUST, TAKEN UP WORK" IT INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO HAD TEMPORARILY. BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY, BEEN LAID OFF WORK- AND ALSO INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO WERE AVAILABLE FOR WORK, BUT WHO WERE NOT ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR. WORK BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS NONE TO BE HAD. ON THE OTHER HAND, AMONGST THE EMPLOYED WERE INCLUDED SUCH PEOPLE AS HAWKERS AND UNPAID FAMILY WORKERS WHO, IF OTHER JOBS WERE AVAILABLE, WOULD BE IN THEM.
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THEY RELATED TO A PERIOD SOME FOUR MONTHS AGO AND EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY IS BETTER THAN IN SEPTEMBER. HE POINTED TO THE VERY ENCOURAGING TRADE FIGURES FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF 1975. EMPLOYMENT FIGURES ALSO SEEMED TO INDICATE IMPROVEMENT. .
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST EMPLOYMENT SURVEY CONDUCTED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1975 BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, A TOTAL OF 678,857 PERSONS WERE ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS AS AT DECEMBER 4, 1975. THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 51,226 PERSONS OR 8.2 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FIGURE OF 627,631 FOR SEPTEMBER 1975.
AT THE INDUSTRY SECTOR LEVEL, MAIN INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN GARMENTS (+25,328), ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS (♦5,611). COTTON WEAVING . (+2,567), MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (+1,596) AND MISCELLANEOUS PLASTIC PRODUCTS (+1,519). DECREASES IN EMPLOYMENT WERE RECORDED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLOVES (-819), SHIPBUILDING AND REPAIRING 0-729) ANB PLASTIC FLOWERS (-423). .
/IM TERMS OF
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TUESDAY, EEBHQABT 10, 1976
IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. THE TWO LARGEST INDUSTRY GROUPS REMAINED WEARING APPAREL (238,958) AND/TEXTILES (112,922). ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, .APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES (66^353) HAS REGAINED FROM PLASTIC PRODUCTS (63,706) AS THE THIRD LARGEST INDUSTRY GROUP WHILE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (57,322) WAS STILL IN THE FIFTH POSITION.
WHEN COMPARED WITH A TOTAL OF 600,128 PERSONS ENGAGED IN DECEMBER 1974. THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION IN MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS IN DECEMBER ^975 WAS HIGHER BY 79,000 PERSONS OR 13 PER CENT.
THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ALSO NOTED THAT BHE LABOUR FORCE SURVEY LAST SEPTEMBER WAS THE FIRST GF ITS KIND AND THUS HAD NO REAL BASIS FOR COMPARISON WITH ANYTHING ELSE, EXCEPT POSSIBLY ' THE 1971 POPULATION CENSUS WHICH WAS HOWEVER REMOVED AT A FAR DISTANCE OF TIME. A SIMILAR LABOUR FORCE SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED IN MARCH 1976 AND SUBJECT TO CONSIDERATIONS OF SEASONALITY, THERE WOULD THEN BE SOME BASIS FOR COMPARISON OVER A FAIRLY SHORT TIME SPAN.
GENERALLY. HE THOUGHT THAT THE RESULTS OF THE LABOUR FORCE SURVEY WERE FAR FROM PROVIDING CAUSE FOR ALARM AND NOTED THAT THE OVERALL UNEMPLOYED FIGURE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN SOME OF THE MORE PESSIMISTIC GUESSES PUT OUT OVER PAST MONTHS.
0
DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED ‘ ft ft ft #
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCES PASSED ON MAY 29, 1975 ON WONG TAK-SANG AND WONG SUI-LUN SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO 15 YEARS’ AND 10 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT RESPECTIVELY.
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IT WAS ALLEGED BY WONG TAK-SANG DURING THE TRIAL THAT WONG TIM HAD SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH WONG TAK-SANG’S WIFE AGAINST HER WILL, HAVING THREATENED HER CHILDREN AND PESTERED . HER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.
WONG TAK-SANG AND HIS NEPHEW WERE BOTH FOUND GUILTY GF MURDER FOLLOWING AH ATTACK ON WONG TIM.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1976
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EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND FOR DISASTER VICTIMS ****** f
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY (TUESDAY) PRAISED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR THEIR KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY TOWARDS VICTIMS OF DISASTERS.
HE WAS ADDRESSING THE LIONS CLUB OF LION ROCK AT THEIR LUNCHEON MEETING HELD AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL WHERE HE WAS PRESENTED WITH A CHEQUE FOR >10,000 FOR THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IN AID OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS.
THE DIRECTOR SAID* +UP TO YESTERDAY MORNING, MORE THAN >800,000 DONATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FUNDS RAISED BY THE TWO TELEVISION STATIONS.
♦ IT IS MOST GRATIFYING TO SEE THE ENTHUSIASTIC AND WARM RESPONSE SHOWN BY PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TOWARDS THE LESS FORTUNATE WHO ARE AGGRIEVED BY DISASTER OF SUCH MAGNITUDE.*
MR. LEE ALSO POINTED OUT HONG KONG HAD ITS FAIR SHARE OF FIRES AND OTHER DISASTERS ALL THE TIME BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR LESSER EXTENT OF DAMAGE CAUSED, THEY TENDED TO ATTRACT LESS PUBLIC CONCERN.
♦ BUT, REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE DISASTER, TRE SUFFERINGS OF ALL VICTIMS AND THEIR NEEDS ARE THE SAME. THEREFORE. THE COMMITTEE OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND NAS ALWAYS WELCOMED DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR VICTIMS OF ALL DISASTERS SO THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO BENEFIT MORE,* HE SAID. *
THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, THE DIRECTOR SAID, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1962 DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HELP FOR VICTIMS OF FIRES AND OTHER DISASTERS.
THE FUND IS ADMINISTERED BY A COMMITTEE WHICH HAS CAREFULLY WORKED OUT THE WAY IN WHICH PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE AIM OF ENSURING AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE DIFFERENT NEEDS OF THOSE WHO REQUIRE HELP.
♦ IT IS ALSO THE PRACTICE OF THE COMMITTEE TO RESPECT THE WISH OF THE DONORS TO THE FUND- AND IF THEY WISH THEIR DONATIONS BE USED TO BRING HELP DIRECTLY TO THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS, THE DONATIONS WILL CERTAINLY BE DISTRIBUTED ACCORDINGLY,* MR. LEE SAID.
/TUHNING TO
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TUESDAY, FEBRUAEY 10, 1976
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TURNING TO THE 1972 JUNE RAINSTORM DISASTER, THE DIRECTOR NOTED THAT ABOUT 817 MILLION DONATION WAS RECEIVED IN AID OF SOME 23,000 VICTIMS, ♦THE DONATIONS TOGETHER WITH INTEREST DEPOSITED WITH THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND HAVE BEEN PAID OUT TO THE VICTIMS,* HE SAID.
THE PAYMENTS INCLUDED ABOUT $6.6 MILLION ON EX-GRATIA GRANTS FOR EACH VICTIM- $2.4 MILLION FOR RE-ACCOMMODATION AND RE-EQUIPMENT GRANTS- $400,000 FOR GRANTS IN RESPECT OF DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURIES- $800,000 FOR AGRICULTURAL GRANTS- AND SOME $500,000 AS REHABILITATION GRANTS TO CERTAIN FAMILIES 1N SPECIAL NEED.
APART FROM THIS, MR. LEE CONTINUED. A SPECIAL ORPHANS FUND WAS SET UP FOR 76 CHILDREN WHO LOST ONE OR BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS IN THE DISASTER, AND ABOUT $5.7 MILLION HAD BEEN PAID TO THESE CHILDREN.
♦A DOMESTIC FLAT AND A PIECE OF LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE DONATED BY THE PUBLIC FOR THE DISASTER VICTIMS AND WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SALE OF THESE PROPERTIES. ONCE THEY ARE SOLD, THE PROCEEDS TOGETHER WITH THE BALANCE NOW DEPOSITED WITH THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND UNDER A SEPARATE ACCOUNT WILL ALL BE SPENT AS THE FINAL PAYMENT TO THE ORPHANS,* MR. LEE SAID.
NEW TRAFFIC
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ARRABGEMEHTS
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NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED AT THE JUNCTION (FEBRUARY0!^)AI<D T0?4Q SKUI R0AD* KOfiTH POINT, ON THURSDAY ’
_ STARTING FROM 10 A.M., THE WESTERN CARRIAGEWAY OF TONG SHUI ROAD TO THE NORTH OF JAVA ROAD WILL BECOME ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND WHILE THE EASTERN CARRIAGEWAY OF TOHG SHU I ROAD TO TRE NORTH OF JAVA ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1*75
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SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAINING GRANTS OFFERED ******
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO GRADUATE STUDENTS AND THOSE WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR POTENTIAL TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY TO PURSUE FURTHER STUDIES OR TRAINING EITHER LOCALLY OR ABROAD*
THE SIR ROBERT BLACK.TRUST FUND COMMITTEE IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF AWARDS FOR 1976/77.
A SPOKESMAN SAID THE PRIMARY AIM OF THE AWARDS WAS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF EXCEPTIONAL MERIT TO DEVELOP THEIR INITIATIVE AND CHARACTER SO THAT THEY COULD BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO CANDIDATES OF PROVEN ABILITY AND EXPERIENCE IN FIELDS WHICH ARE OF SIGNIFICANCE TO COMMUNITY LIFE, SUCH AS JOURNALISM, SOCIAL WORK, EDUCATION, ARTS, TELECOMMUNICATION AND TOURISM* . ' ’ ’
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR POST-GRADUATE STUDIES OR RESEARCH AND GRANTS FOR TRAINING PROGRAMMES SUCH AS ATTACHMENTS AND STUDY TOURS WILL BE AVAILABLE* CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO PROPOSE THEIR OWN PROGRAMMES OF STUDY OR TRAINING.
THE AMOUNT OF AWARD WOULD VARY WITH DIFFERENT PROGRAMMES AND MAY OR MAY NOT COVER THE FULL EXPENSES.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUPPORTED BY EITHER THE HEAD OF SCHOOL OR COLLEGE IN THE CASE OF SCHOLARSHIPS OR THE RESPONSIBLE PERSON OF A FIRM OR ORGANISATION IN THE CASE OF TRAINING GRANTS.
APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AND MUST BE PREPARED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG AND WORK HERE FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS.
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUST FUND OFFICE, HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, INTERNATIONAL BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 141 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG AND MUST BE RETURNED TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO THE SAME OFFICE BY APRIL 15.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1576
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CAS PRA1SEB FOR FIRE PREVENTION EFFORTS Mill* r
THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WERE OUT IN FORCE LAST WEEKEND SUPPORTING THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PRESERVE OUR COUNTRYSIDE FROM HILL-FIRES.
THE DEPARTMENT'S SPOKESMAN PAID TRIBUTE TO THE COMMENDABLE WORK OF THE SERVICES' VOLUNTEER FIRELIGHTERS AND SAID THE COMMUNITY WAS GRATEFUL TO THEM.
A HUNDRED REGULAR MEMBERS AND 50 CADETS GAVE BP THEIN HOLIDAYS-FOR THIS PRAISE-WORTHY PUBLIC SERVICE.
THEY SET OUT EARLY ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND ARA IN ON SUNBAY MORNING AND WERE POSTED TO PLANTATION AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH ARE POPULAR PICNIC AND BARBECUE SPOTS.
TRACKING OVER LARGE STRETCHES OF ROUGH*COUNTRYSIDE, THEY HELPED THE DEPARTMENT'S FIRE-FIGHTING PATROLS LOOKING OUT FOR GRASS-FIRES ANB BEATING THEM OUT.
ALTOGETHER THERE WERE HINE FIRES DURING THE WEEKEND — TWO ON SATURDAY AND SEVEN ON SUNDAY. THE CAS WERE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN STAMPING OUT THREE - AT BRIBE'S POOL. TAI LAM CHUNG AND SHING MUN. THESES FJRES WERE CONFINED IN TIME AND DID NOT LEAD TO DISASTERS.
? THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON MEMBERS GF THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE ' TO PAY HEED TO THE proper disposal of matches and cigarette ends
AND THE STARTING OF BARBECUt FIRES IN THE COUNTRY AREAS.
NEW PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT
A STREET IN MEI FOO SUN CHUEN WILL BECOME A PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 12).
THE STREET, MOUNT STERLING MALL, WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM 10 A.N. ON THURSDAY WHEN PEDESTRIANS WILL NAVE FULL USE OF THE MALL.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP AT EACH END OF THE MALL.
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ALL OLD-TYPE LICENSED AREA RESIDENTS EXPECTED TO BE REHOUSED IN COMING YEAR .................................... 1
ATTORNEY GENERAL REFUTES TALKS ABOUT A ’SECOND’ POLICE FORCE ....................................................... 3
POLICY ON INDUSTRIAL ESTATES EXPLAINED ...................... 4
ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS WELL LOOKED AFTER .................. 5
CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS IN LAI CHI KOK ROAD FROM FRIDAY ... 6
MAJOR TRADE ASSOCIATIONS URGED TO HELP TRAIN SKILLED MANPOWER .................................................... 7
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BILLS WILL BE MORE PUBLICISED .... 8
UNUSED TUBERCULOSIS BEDS WILL BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES 9
AGREEMENT SOON ON NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL PLAN ............ 10
MAC’S URGED TO ORGANISE PATROLS ............................. H
CENTRAL CONTROL OF REVENUE-EARNING DEPARTMENTS DESIRABLE 12
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME TO PHASE OUT FACTORIES IN
NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WINS SUPPORT ...................... 13
RATE OF CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING LEVY CHANGED ............ 15
FERRY FARES TO OUTLYING AREAS REVISED ...................... 16
CEILING OF LOAN GUARANTEE FOR LOCAL CONTRACTS OF MTR RAISED ................................................... 17
REGULATIONS ON PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY ....................... 18
D C AND I DIRECTORS LEAVE FOR DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON ........ 19
$230,000 RAISED FOR SCHOOL SCIENCE LABORATORY .............. 20
BILLS PASSED ............................................... 20
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
1
$20 M SPENT ON IMPROVING LICENSED AREAS
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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS SPENT ABOUT $20 MILLION OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS IN IMPROVING THE OLDER LICENSED AREAS AND BUILDING NEW ONES TO MUCH HIGHER-STANDARDS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. IAN LIGHTBODY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING IN AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, HE SAID THAT OF THE 25 OLD-STYLE LICENSED AREAS, 15 HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN A PROPER ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, LEAVING TEN OLD AREAS WHICH HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN A SUPPLY UP TO NOW BECAUSE IT WAS HOPED THAT SUFFICIENT PUBLIC HOUSING WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO REHOUSE THE OCCUPANTS IN THE COMING YEAR.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WAS CONSTANTLY CONSIDERING WHAT FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS MIGHT REASONABLY BE PROVIDED IN LICENSED AREAS AND WAS, FOR EXAMPLE, CONSIDERING THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING MAINS WATER FLUSHING IN THE TOILET BLOCKS IN THESE AREAS.
AS TO THE’ HONG NING ROAD LICENSED AREA, MR. LIGHTBODY SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE TEN MARK I AREAS TO BE CLEARED INTO PUBLIC HOUSING DURING THE COMING YEAR.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT THE THE AVAILABILITY OF NEW PUBLIC AUTHORITY'S OTHER COMMITMENTS, PUBLIC WORKS WHICH MUST HAVE A
EXACT TIMETABLE MUST DEPEND ON HOUSING AND THE HOUSING INCLUDING CLEARANCES FOR HIGH PRIORITY.
+AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THESE PLANS CAN BE UPSET BY SUDDEN EMERGENCIES WHICH MIGHT LEAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF FAMILIES IN NEED OF HOUSING AT SHORT NOTICE.*
MR. LIGHTBODY SAID THAT SUBJECT TO THESE RESERVATIONS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD SHORTLY BE ASKED TO AGREE THE CLEARANCE OF THESE MARK I LICENSED AREAS NEXT YEAR.
ONCE THE TIMETABLE HAD BEEN FINALISED LATER THIS YEAR, HE ADDED, EACH LICENSED AREA WOULD BE GIVEN THREE MONTHS’ NOTICE OF CLEARANCE.
BUT HE EMPHASISED THAT IT WAS NOT GOOD PRACTICE TO SUGGEST CLEARANCE DATES TOO FAR IN ADVANCE, SINCE ALL SORTS OF FACTORS COULD INTERVENE TO UPSET SUCH CALCULATIONS.
MR. LIGHTBODY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE COULD BE NO GUARANTEE THAT RESIDENTS OF THE NEW-STYLE LICENSED AREAS COULD NECESSARILY EXPECT TO BE ALLOCATED PUBLIC HOUSING AFTER ANY PARTICULAR NUMBER OF YEARS’ RESIDENCE.
/EAxiL/L ER, ••••■•
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
2
EARLIER, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR. THE HON. CHUNG SZE-YUEN, URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO BRING ALL THE OLDER TYPE LICENSED AREAS, PARTICULARLY THE MARK I TYPE, UP TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS THOSE MORE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED.
IN MAKING THE CALL, DR. CHUNG SAID HE VISITED THE HONG NING ROAD LICENSED AREA, KWUN TONG THE DAY BEFORE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE LIVING CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF ANY FIRM NEWS REGARDING THEIR DATE OF REHOUSING.
HE SAID THE RESIDENTS HAD BEEN THERE SINCE MAY 1972.
AS THE NORMAL PERIOD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF A LICENSED AREA TO BE REHOUSED WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS, IT SEEMED UNSATISFACTORY THAT THEY STILL DID NOT KNOW WITH ANY CERTAINTY WHAT THE FUTURE HELD IN STORE FOR THEM, HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA, DR. CHUNG SAID THAT APART FROM THE DILAPIDATED CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURES THERE AND THE LACK OF AUTHORISED ELECTRICITY AND RETICULATED WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS, IT ALSO CAME TO HIS ATTENTION DURING HIS VISIT THAT THE PROVISION OF LATRINE AND WASHING FACILITIES WAS MINIMAL.
DR. CHUNG SAID HE HAD BEEN TO SOME OF THE OTHER MARK I LICENSED AREAS SUCH AS MA TSAI HANG, EX-RIFLE RANGE AND KOWLOON BAY EAST BUT ADDED THAT THE CONDITIONS OF THOSE AREAS WERE AS BAD AS THOSE IN THE HONG NING ROAD AREA.
+IT SEEMS DEPLORABLE IN THIS DAY AND AGE THAT CAMPS MANAGED BY GOVERNMENT TO ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE SO PRIMITIVE. THEY ARE AN AFFRONT TO HUMAN DIGNITY AND THEY FALL FAR SHORT OF EVEN THE MINIMUM STANDARDS WHICH COULD PROPERLY BE EXPECTED,+ HE SAID.
JOINING HER SENIOR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUE IN HIS APPEAL, THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH SAID THAT DURING A RECENT VISIT TO THE HONG NING ROAD LICENSED AREA SHE FOUND THERE WERE ONLY 16 LATRINES AND THE SAME NUMBER OF BATHROOMS FOR 320 FAMILIES, COMPRISING 1,433 PEOPLE.
SHE SAID THIS PROVED TO BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND INCONVENIENT TO THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY DURING-THE +RUSH HOURS.+
ON FIRE RISKS, MISS KO SAID THERE WERE ONLY THREE FIRE HYDRANTS IN THE ENTIRE AREA.
SHE HOPED THAT FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES WOULD SOON BE IMPROVED AS THERE WAS AN AVERAGE OF 30 SMALL FIRES EACH MONTH, MAINLY BECAUSE OF ILLEGAL ELECTRICAL WIRING AND HIGH LOAD OF VOLTAGE.
MISS KO ALSO MENTIONED +A SERIOUS LACK OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND FACILITIES* IN LICENSED AREAS.
SHE URGED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO RENDER MORE SERVICES TO THESE AREAS, ESPECIALLY THE OLD TYPE AREAS, ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS.
MISS KO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD GIVE THE AGENCIES MORE SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
3
TALK ABOUT *RIVAL* POLICE FORCE REFUTED ******
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, TODAY REFUTED RECENT SUGGESTIONS THAT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION ORDINANCE WOULD CREATE A +SECOND* OR ♦RIVAL* POLICE FORCE.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, HE SAID THE ICAC HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND SOME EXPERIENCE OF ITS PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS WAS GAINED.
MR. HOBLEY SAID THAT THE AMENDMENTS EMBODIED IN THE BILL WERE SIMPLY THE RESULTS OF THAT EXPERIENCE.
+THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY OF A ROUTINE AND PRACTICAL NATURE. THERE IS NOTHING EXCEPTIONAL OR UNPRECEDENTED ABOUT THEM,* HE ADDED.
MR. HOBLEY SAID THAT THE COMMISSION’S CHARTER REQUIRED IT TO INVESTIGATE CASES OF CORRUPTION. THIS WAS ITS ONLY TARGET.
HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF SOME LOOSE TALK ABOUT A +SECOND+ OR +RIVAL* POLICE FORCE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BILL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EMPHASISED WHAT HE CALLED A SOMEWHAT OBVIOUS POINT THAT THE COMMISSION HAD NOT INITIATED, AND IT WOULD NOT IN FUTURE INITIATE, AN INVESTIGATION UNLESS AT THE OUTSET THERE WAS REASONABLE GROUND TO SUSPECT CORRUPTION.
TURNING TO THE PROPOSALS IN THE BILL, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME WAS TO DO NO MORE THAN MAKE SUCH LIMITED PROVISION AS SEEMED NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED EFFECTIVE, INDEPENDENT OPERATION'OF THE COMMISSION.
♦A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE PROPOSAL THAT OFFICERS OF THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE ABLE THEMSELVES TO RELEASE AN ARRESTED PERSON ON BAIL WHERE FURTHER INQUIRIES ARE NECESSARY, INSTEAD OF TAKING HIM, AS THEY NOW MUST, TO A POLICE STATION SO THAT HE MAY BE PLACED ON POLICE BAIL,* HE SAID.
♦ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE PROPOSED POWER TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AND FINGERPRINTS OF PEOPLE ARRESTED BY OFFICERS OF THE COMMISSION.*
THE BILL ALSO INTRODUCED THREE NEW OFFENCES — RESISTING OR OBSTRUCTING AN ICAC OFFICER IN THE EXECUTION OF HIS DUTY- KNOWINGLY MAKING A FALSE REPORT TO AN ICAC OFFICER OR MISLEADING HIM BY FALSE INFORMATION OR STATEMENTS, AND FALSELY PRETENDING TO BE, OR TO HAVE THE POWERS OF AN ICAC OFFICER.
/MR. HOBLEY .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
4
MR. HOBLEY SAID THE SUCCESSFUL INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF A CORRUPTION OFFENCE OFTEN INVOLVED INQUIRING INTO OTHER OFFENCES WHICH PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRUPTION.
HE SAID THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD, HOWEVER, NEVER PURSUE ITS INQUIRY INTO RELATED OFFENCES TO ANY GREATER EXTENT THAN WAS NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE CROWN TO PUT BEFORE THE COURTS THE FULL PICTURE OF THE CORRUPTION INVOLVED IN ANY PARTICULAR CASE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 DESIGNED MORE EFFECTIVELY TO PREVENT CORRUPT OFFICERS FROM MAKING OFF WITH THEIR ILL-GOTTEN GAINS.
UNDER THE BILL IT WAS PROPOSED THAT A NOTICE OR ORDER UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE RESTRAINING A SUSPECT OR A THIRD PARTY FROM DEALING WITH PROPERTY MAY BE SERVED IN ANY WAY AUTHORISED BY THE DISTRICT COURT.
IT WAS ALSO PROPOSED THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS BEFORE A MAGISTRATE IN RELATION TO THE SURRENDER OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BE HEARD IN CHAMBERS.
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POLICY ON INDUSTRIAL ESTATES STATED
******
SITES IN INDUSTRIAL ESTATES ARE MAINLY INTENDED FOR INDUSTRIES WHICH CANNOT OPERATE IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS AND WHICH HAVE THEREFORE FOUND IT EITHER VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN HONG KONG IN THE PAST.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THIS TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID t +IT IS EXPECTED THAT SUCH INDUSTRIES WILL IN MOST CASES BE NEW TO HONG KONG, MORE CAPITAL INTENSIVE, AND TECHNOLOGICALLY MORE ADVANCED THAN SOME OF OUR EXISTING INDUSTRIES.*
FIRMS WISHING TO TAKE UP SITES IN INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, HE ADDED, WOULD HAVE TO CONFORM WITH THE USUAL REQUIREMENTS WITH REGARD TO SUCH MATTERS AS THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, FIRE SAFETY AND POLLUTION.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID IT WAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT’S PRESENT INTENTION TO LAY DOWN A LIST OF SPECIFIED PRIORITY INDUSTRIES WHICH WERE CONSIDERED TO BE +0F MOST IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG*.
HE SAID OF COURSE CERTAIN TYPES OF INDUSTRY MIGHT BE EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY WERE DANGEROUS OR OBNOXIOUS. IF THE ESTATES WERE OVER-SUBSCRIBED, +SOME METHOD OF ALLOCATION OF SITES WILL NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.*
+IN THAT CASE, I DO NOT IMAGINE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXCLUDE THE USE OF SOME FORM OF RESTRICTED USER TENDERING PROCEDURE,* MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
5
ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS WELL LOOKED AFTER
* * * * M *
THE SOCIAL WELFARE, HOME AFFAIRS AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH OVER THE NEEDS OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS AND TO RENDER HELP UNTIL THEY ARE RESETTLED PERMANENTLY.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. F.K. LI, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR. LI SAID THAT ABOUT 3,200 PEOPLE FROM 580 FAMILIES WERE REGISTERED WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING THE FIRE AT ALDRICH BAY ON FEBRUARY 1.
HE SAID THAT STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE, HOME AFFAIRS AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS WERE AT THE SCENE SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT TO ASSIST WITH EMERGENCY FEEDING AND ACCOMMODATION.
+BLANKETS, QUILTS, WARM CLOTHING. COOKING AND EATING UTENSILS AND TOILET ARTICLES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE VICTIMS, HOT MEALS PROVIDED AND TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION ARRANGED AT THE SALES I AN SCHOOL WITH THE KIND PERMISSION OF THE HEADMASTER,+ MR. LI SAID.
CASH ASSISTANCE OF $20 PER PERSON WAS IMMEDIATLEY MADE TO THE VICTIMS FROM THE SING TAO FAT CHOI FUND. THE COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICER MOBILISED VOLUNTEERS TO ORGANISE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG VICTIMS DURING THEIR BRIEF STAY AT THE SCHOOL.
MR. LI SAIDt +THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MEALS TO THOSE WHO ARE AWAITING COMPLETION OF THE HING WAH ESTATE AND WHO ARE BEING ACCOMMODATED TEMPORARILY AT THE CHATHAM ROAD CAMP, THE CHAI WAN TRANSIT CENTRE, AND THE PREMISES OF THE SHAUKIWAN KAIFONG ASSOCIATION.*
UP TO YESTERDAY, HE SAID, A TOTAL OF ABOUT $4 MILLION HAD BEEN RAISED.
DONATIONS SO FAR RECEIVED BY THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND FOR THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS AMOUNTED TO ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
MR. LI SAID THAT EACH VICTIM WAS GIVEN $100 ON FEBRUARY 5 OUT OF THE DONATIONS THEN RECEIVED.
IN ADDITION ABOUT $170,000 HAD BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR GRANTS TO COVER RE-ACCOMMODATION AND OTHER INCIDENTAL EXPENSES UNDER THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.
HE SAID THAT SOME SPONSORS AND DONORS PREFERRED TO MAKE PAYMENTS DIRECT TO THE FIRE VICTIMS, INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE EMERGENCY REFIEF FUND, AND $300 PER PERSON WAS SO DISTRIBUTED YESTERDAY.
/FURTHER CASH .....
•3
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
6 -
FURTHER CASH DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE MADE AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY MISS KO ON REHOUSING THE FIRE VICTIMS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. IAN LIGHTBODY, SAID ALL THE ACTION THAT COULD BE TAKEN WAS BEING TAKEN TO REHOUSE THE VICTIMS WITH THE LEAST POSSIBLE DELAY.
HE SAID THE GREAT MAJORITY (ALMOST 400 FAMILIES) HAD EXPRESSED A PREFERENCE FOR THE NEW HING WAH ESTATE, WHICH IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAD SELECTED TWO BLOCKS OF FLATS FOR EARLY COMPLETION, WITH WORK PROCEEDING ON AN OVERTIME BASIS.
♦IF ALL GOES WELL, AND NO UNFORESEEN DIFFICULTIES EMERGE (REMEMBERING THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS CUTTING MANY CORNERS IN. THIS EMERGENCY SITUATION), PRE-LETTING INTERVIEWS WITH APPLICANTS WILL START ON FEBRUARY 23 AND ALL SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN TWO WEEKS,* MR. LIGHTBODY SAID.
REFERRING TO THE VICTIMS, HE SAID ALMOST 40 FAMILIES HAD ALREADY ACCEPTED PUBLIC FLATS IN KOWLOON AND KWAI CHUNG, AND 70-0DD FAMILIES HAD BEEN ALLOCATED SPACE AT THE NEW CHAI WAN LICENSED AREA, WHERE PART-BUILT STRUCTURES WERE PROVIDED.
ENQUIRIES ARE STILL PROCEEDING INTO ABOUT 20 CASES, WHILE 30-0DD FAMILIES WHICH WERE REGISTERED INITIALLY HAVE SINCE FAILED TO APPEAR.
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CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS IN LAI CHI KOK ROAD
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN LAI CHI KOK ROAD BETWEEN TONG Ml ROAD AND PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AT 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 13).
NO VEHICLES. EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP BETWEEN 7 A.M. a6d 10 A.M. AND 4 P.M. AND 7 P.M. ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD, INCLUDING PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS OR LOADING AND UNLOADING GOODS.
. dncFFIC S,6NS W,LL BE PUT UP T0 SH0W WH£R£ TH£ CLEARWAY BEGINS AND
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/7
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
7
TRADE GROUPS URGED TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN TRAINING
* * * * * M
MAJOR TRADE ASSOCIATIONS WERE TODAY URGED TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE TRAINING OF SKILLED MANPOWER NEEDED TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLD MARKET.
MR. HORACE KNIGHT, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR (INDUSTRIAL TRAINING), SAID THAT INDUSTRY-WIDE APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHEMES WERE NECESSARY IF HONG KONG'S MAJOR INDUSTRIES WERE TO BE ASSURED OF AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SKILLED MANPOWER.
HE WAS ADDRESSING 30 TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES, THEIR GUARDIANS AND EMPLOYERS AT A CONTRACT-SIGNING CEREMONY HELD AT THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON ELECTROPLATING TRADE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION. ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE PERMANENT CHAIRMAN, MR. AU WAH, THE CHAIRMAN, MR. LEE FOON, AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
MR. KNIGHT SAID THAT THE PRESENT SCHEME WAS THE RESULT OF CONSULTATIONS AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION, THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
♦ITS OBJECTIVE IS NOT ONLY TO ALLEVIATE THE CURRENT SHORTAGE OF SKILLED WORKERS IN THE ELECTROPLATING INDUSTRY BUT ALSO, MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION OF TECHNICIANS WELL VERSED IN BOTH THEORY AND PRACTICE.
♦BY TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO WORK WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE POLYTECHNIC IN IMPROVING THE EXISTING SITUATION THE ASSOCIATION HAS SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW,+ HE SAID.
THIS SCHEME WILL ENABLE THE APPRENTICES TO RECEIVE BOTH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN THE WORK SITUATION AND RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN ELECTROPLATING TECHNOLOGY ON A PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE BASIS AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
HE TOLD THE APPRENTICES THAT THE ELECTROPLATING INDUSTRY WAS A VITALLY IMPORTANT SERVICE INDUSTRY ON WHICH MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES DEPENDED.
ON COMPLETING THEIR TRAINING, THEY WOULD BECOME TECHNICIANS — WELL ABLE TO KEEP ABREAST WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES.
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/8
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
- 8 -
AMENDMENTS TO BILLS TO BE MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC
******
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT CHANGES WOULD BE INTRODUCED IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE PROPOSED COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS TO BILLS READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON. T.S. LO WHO HAD ASKED WHETHER GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER REVISING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLICATION OF ANY SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO A BILL, THUS ALLOWING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE AMENDMENTS BEFORE THE AMENDED BILL WAS PASSED.
♦THE CLERK TO THE COUNCIL WILL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES COPIES OF ALL NOTICES OF COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS AND THESE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE NEWS MEDIA.
+COPIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE, AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE, AT HIS OFFICE FOR ANY INTERESTED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC,* HE SAID.
MR. HOBLEY EXPLAINED THAT NOTICE OF PROPOSED COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS WAS GENERALLY GIVEN FIVE OR SIX DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AT WHICH THEY WERE TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT SHORTER NOTICE HAD SOMETIMES TO BE GIVEN.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL SAID IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT PROCEDURES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR DEALING WITH AMENDMENTS TO BILLS OUGHT NOT TO BE CHANGED.
- 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
- 9 -
OTHER USES FOR TUBERCULOSIS BEDS *****
AS A RESULT OF THE STEADY DECLINE IN THE INCIDENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS, +IT WOULD SEEM INEVITABLE THAT SOME TUBERCULOSIS BEDS WILL BE USED FOR SOME OTHER PURPOSES,+ THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG, HE SAID* ♦GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ACQUIRING BEDS IN THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL ON A SUBVENTION BASIS OF PAYING THE COST PER BED PER DAY SO AS TO GIVE FREE TREATMENT TO TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS.
♦IT THUS FOLLOWS THAT SOME OTHER SUBVENTION METHOD WILL HAVE TO BE APPLIED IF THE BEDS ARE TO BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
♦HOWEVER IT IS PREMATURE TO PREDICT WHETHER THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE CHANGED OR NOT AND WHEN WILL THE REVISED ARRANGEMENTS BE INTRODUCED.*
HE SAID TWO EXPERTS FROM BRITAIN HAD COMPLETED A REPORT ON THE PLANNING AND METHODS OF CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS IN HONG KONG AND A WORKING PARTY WAS NOW STUDYING THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM DR. FANG, DR. CHOA SAID THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL WAS AT PRESENT NOT MAINTAINING ITS TARGET NUMBER OF 16 BEDS BECAUSE OF STAFF SHORTAGES.
AT ONE TIME, THE UNIT COULD PROVIDE ALL THE BEDS BECAUSE ADDITIONAL NURSES FROM PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WERE POSTED IN BATCHES TO QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL FOR TRAINING.
WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW HOSPITAL, SOME OF THESE SUPERNUMERARY NURSES WERE TRANSFERRED TO THAT HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WERE URGENTLY REQUIRED, SO THAT PRESENTLY THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WAS 12, DR. CHOA SAID.
♦THE NEED TO OPEN ALL THE BEDS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WILL BE FULLY BORNE IN MIND AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AGAINST DESERVING CLAIMS FROM OTHER AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT WHEN ADDITIONAL STAFF BECOME AVAILABLE EITHER BY RECRUITMENT OR BY REDEPLOYMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
♦HOWEVER IT IS HOPED THAT THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN THE UNIT WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO 16 AGAIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,+ HE SAID.
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/-io........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
10
NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINALi AGREEMENT IN SIGHT ******
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RE-CONSTRUCTION OF THE MACAU FERRY TERMINAL ARE EXPECTED TO BE AGREED ON SOON BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.
THE HON. ROGER LOBO ASKED THE QUESTIoli ON BEHALF OF MR. CHEUNG, WHO WAS ABSENT.
MR. ROBSON SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALREADY IN BROAD AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TERMINAL, IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RIGHT TO CONSTRUCT A COMMERCIAL BUILDING ABOVE IT.
+IT IS, HOWEVER, A COMPLICATED PROJECT WHICH HAS TO BE DESIGNED SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE FLOW OF A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE TERMINAL, THEIR RAPID CLEARANCE THROUGH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS FORMALITIES, AND THE BERTHING OF THE VESSELS, CAN CONTINUE WITH MINIMUM INTERFERENCE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.+
THE BASIC PLAN WAS THEREFORE TAKING SOME TIME TO PRODUCE, AND ONLY WHEN IT HAD BEEN ACCEPTED AS BEING OPERATIONALLY VIABLE WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR A FORMAL AGREEMENT TO BE NEGOTIATED WITH THE COMPANY, MR. ROBSON SAID.
THE LATEST PLANS PRODUCED BY THE COMPANY, HE ADDED, WERE VERY PROMISING AND IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THE ARRANGEMENTS WITHIN THREE MONTHS.
- - 0 -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
11
MAC'S ENCOURAGED TO ORGANISE PATROLS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ON NEIGHBOURHOOD PATROL UNITS IS TO ENCOURAGE MAC’S TO DEVELOP PATROLS AT THEIR OWN PACE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING SUPERVISION AND TRAINING, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. DAVIS SAIDi +THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE POSITIVE AND USEFUL ROLE PLAYED BY NEIGHBOURHOOD SECURITY PATROLS OPERATED BY MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME. TO PLAY THEIR PART THESE PATROLS REQUIRE TO BE WELL DISCIPLINED AND SOUNDLY ORGANISED. TO THIS END THE PATROLS ARE REGISTERED WITH CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND MAINTAIN RECORDS ON LINES ADVISED BY THE POLICE.
♦THE POLICE AND THEIR COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS AND CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE PATROLS AND OFFER ADVICE, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION. THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT RUNS COURSES AIMED AT INSTRUCTING MAC AND PATROL MEMBERS IN THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.+
HE DISCLOSED THAT THERE WERE 155 SUCH PATROLS WHICH CONFINED THEMSELVES MAINLY TO PATROLLING IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS, GENERALLY IN THE INTERNAL CORRIDORS AND STAIRCASES.
THEY PROVIDED A DETERRENT, PARTICULARLY DURING THEIR MAIN HOURS OF OPERATIONS AT NIGHT, AND THEY ALSO HELPED TO MAKE ARRESTS AND APPREHEND SUSPECTS, HE SAID.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
12
CENTRAL CONTROL OF REVENUE-EARNING DEPARTMENTS FAVOURED
CENTRAL CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT’S REVENUE-EARNING ESTABLISHMENTS ALLOWS FOR MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN THE USE OF LIMITED FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES, AND KEEPS THE OVERHEADS OF THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED LOW, THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DENIS BRAY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ALEX WU WHO WANTED TO KNOW THE GOVERNMENT’S PRESENT VIEWS ON THE DESIRABILITY OF ESTABLISHING AS SEPARATE CORPORATIONS ESTABLISHMENTS SUCH AS THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY, KAI TAK AIRPORT AND THE WATERWORKS OFFICE.
♦BASICALLY THE SAMLL SIZE OF HONG KONG AND ITS CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE DO NOT DICTATE DECENTRALISATION,* MR. BRAY SAID.
TO SPLIT OFF THE ESTABLISHMENTS AND TO PLACE THEM UNDER STATUTORY BODIES WITH THEIR OWN SOURCES OF REVENUE WOULD ONLY REDUCE THE FLEXIBILITY AND INCREASE THEIR OVERHEADS, HE SAID.
HE ADDED I +THE OTHER ADVANTAGES OF MAINTAINING A CENTRALISED SYSTEM AREs FIRST, THAT IT ENABLES THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG TO BE PLANNED AS A WHOLE- SECOND, THAT OVERALL PRIORITIES CAN BE PROPERLY DETERMINED AND THIRD, THAT IT ENSURES THE UNIFORM APPLICATION OF STANDARDS.*
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/13
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
13
FACTORIES IN NON*-1NDUSTR I AL BUILDINGS I GOV’T WINS SUPPORT
******
LEGISLATION THAT GENERALLY PROHIBITS THE SETTING UP OF FACTORIES IN NEW NON-1NDUSTRI AL BUILDINGS RECEIVED THE SUPPORT OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO AGREED WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S PHASED PROGRAMME TO REMOVE ALL DANGEROUS AND OBNOXIOUS FACTORIES FROM EXISTING NON-1NDUSTRI AL BUILDINGS. EXCEPT WHERE THE RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR SAFETY IS INTOLERABLE, THIS PROGRAMME ALLOWS FOR A GRACE PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS FOR SUCH UNDERTAKINGS TO FIND SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE PREMISES.
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIALS IN THE COUNCIL TODAY, THE HON. JAMES WU SAID THAT FOR INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WHICH WERE NEITHER DANGEROUS NOR OBNOXIOUS, THE UNOFFICIALS CONSIDERED THAT NO ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN UNTIL THE OVERALL PROBLEM HAD BEEN FULLY IDENTIFIED AND THEY HAD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CONCERNED.
THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE A SIMPLE GLOSSARY OF THE DEFINITIONS AND TERMS USED IN THE LEGISLATION, THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.
MR. WU SAID THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT INCURRED A COST, +THERE IS LITTLE WISDOM TO GO FOR EXTREMES OR ABSOLUTISM AT COSTS THAT WE CAN ILL-AFFORD.+
+THE LOGICAL AND EXPEDIENT SOLUTION WOULD THEREFORE HAVE TO WEIGH THE GAINS OF PROTECTION AGAINST THE COST, BEARING IN MIND THE OVERALL PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE NEED TO WIN PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING IF NOT AUSPICES.
+GOVERNMENT IS TO BE CONGRATULATED ON FOLLOWING THIS APPROACH,+ HE SAID.
MR. WU POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD BEEN SPARED THE MORE SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PROBLEMS, CONSIDERING ITS FANTASTIC INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, AS THE ACTIVITIES HERE WERE MAINLY LIGHT INDUSTRIES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE RISKS AND EFFECTS OF FIRE AND ANY POLLUTION WERE VERY MUCH MAGNIFIED DUE TO CONGESTION AND PROXIMITY OF FACTORIES TO RESIDENTIAL PREMISES.
♦GIVEN IMAGINATION, ENTERPRISE AND CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I FEEL SURE THAT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG WILL BE FORTHCOMING,* HE SAID.
/THE HON. HILTON
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
14
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
HE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO ANALYSE THE PROBLEM CAREFULLY, TO WORK OUT A PRACTICAL, PROGRESSIVE APPROACH WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE ECONOMY, AND NOT TO TAKE ANY PREMATURE OR PRECIPITATE ACTION.
+ONE STEP THAT GOVERNMENT CAN CONSIDER NOW IS THE MAKING AVAILABLE OF FLATTED FACTORY SPACE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND IN THE URBAN AREAS FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS NOW OPERATING IN EXISTING NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. SUCH ACCOMMODATION COULD BE BUILT EITHER BY PRIVATE ENTERPRISE OR, IF NECESSARY, BY GOVERNMENT,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAD QUANTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND WHAT COULD AND WOULD HAPPEN AFTER THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROGRAMME WAS COMPLETED.
IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, SAID FUTURE ACTION AGAINST INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS IN EXISTING NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WOULD DEPEND ON WHETHER REASONABLE MEANS COULD BE FOUND BY WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL UNDERTAKINGS COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE.
HE GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT +NO PREMATURE OR PRECIPITATE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY ANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CAREFULLY ANALYSED AND A PRACTICABLE APPROACH HAS BEEN WORKED OUT.+
REFERRING TO THE NEED TO PUBLICISE THE RULES AND DEFINITIONS TO WHICH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE WORKING DURING STAGE ONE OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTION, MR. ROBSON SAID A PAMPHLET HAD BEEN PRODUCED.
COPIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE URBAN AREA AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
COPIES OF THE CHINESE VERSION ARE IN THE COURSE OF PRODUCTION AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST IN DISTRICT OFFICES WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME.
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/15
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
. - 15 -
NEW RATE SET FOR TRAINING LEVY
****** •
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A MOTION SETTING THE RATE OF LEVY UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CLOTHING INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE 1975 AT 30 CENTS FOR EVERY 11,000, OR PART THEREOF, OF THE F.O.B. (FREE ON BOARD) VALUE OF THE CLOTHING ITEMS EXPORTED.
IT ALSO APPROVED THE CANCELLATION OF A PREVIOUS RESOLUTION PRESCRIBING THE RATE OF LEVY AS 0.03 PER CENT OF THE F.O.B. VALUE.
IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN, SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS RATE WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE SAID, IT WAS NOT MADE SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR TO THE AUTHORITY BY THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING THE LEVY THAT THIS RATE OF 0.03 PER CENT WAS LIKELY TO CAUSE ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS.
MR. TIEN SAID THAT THE AD VALOREM CHARGES IMPOSED UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (REGISTRATION) REGULATIONS WERE CALCULATED AT THE RATE OF SO MUCH PER $1,000 OR PART THEREOF.
+IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE CONVENIENT IF THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING LEVY, WHICH IS IN FACT COLLECTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE AD VALOREM CHARGES ON CLOTHING EXPORTS, WAS EXPRESSED IN A SIMILAR MANNER,* HE ADDED.
MR. TIEN SAID IT WAS MUCH SIMPLER AND THEREFORE QUICKER, FOR THE SHROFFS TO MAKE THE CALCULATION AT 30 CENTS PER $1,000 AND ALSO LESS CONFUSING TO THE PUBLIC WHICH WAS ACCUSTOMED TO THIS FORM OF CALCULATION.
+AND BECAUSE CALCULATION OF THE LEVY IS SIMPLIFIED, THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF ITS COLLECTION, WHICH ARE DEBITED TO THE AUTHORITY, ARE MINIMISED, THEREBY ENSURING THAT AS GREAT A PART AS POSSIBLE OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE LEVY CAN BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FOR WHICH THEY ARE INTENDED,* HE ADDED.
♦FURTHERMORE, AND EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT. THE PUBLIC WILL SPEND LESS TIME QUEUING AT THE COLLECTION COUNTERS WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BECOME INCREASINGLY BUSY AS TRADE IMPROVES.*
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/16......
16
REVISED FARES FOR FERRY SERVICES TO OUTLYING DISTRICTS *****
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A MOTION ENABLING THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY TO INTRODUCE A REVISED FARE STRUCTURE FOR ITS PASSENGER FERRY SERVICES TO VARIOUS OUTLYING ISLANDS.
THE REVISION AROSE FROM A RE-ORGANISATION OF CERTAIN EXISTING SERVICES.
IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, SAID THE COMPANY’S PASSENGER FERRY SERVICES TO VARIOUS ISLANDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES PROVIDED THE MAJOR FORM OF TRANSPORT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
•
IN EARLY 1975, HE SAID, THE COMPANY WAS ASKED TO INCLUDE HEI LING CHAU IN ITS INTER-ISLAND FERRY SERVICE TO SERVE THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT’S DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE THERE.
IN AGREEING TO THIS, MR. ROBSON SAID, THE COMPANY PROPOSED A RE-ORGANISATION OF ITS OUTLYING DISTRICT SERVICES.
UNDER THE RE-ORGANISATION, SOME DIRECT SERVICES WILL BE COMBINED INTO AN INDIRECT SERVICE. FARES ON SOME ROUTES WILL BE INCREASED TO MAKE THE EXPANDED SERVICE VIABLE.
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/17
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
17
MTR i CEILING OF LOAN GUARANTEE INCREASED
******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY ADOPTED A MOTION RAISING TO $470 MILLION THE CEILING OF A GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE FOR A LOAN OF $420 MILLION TO FINANCE LOCAL CONTRACTS OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY PROJECT.
IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, EMPHASISED THAT THE INCREASED GUARANTEE REQUESTED DID NOT IN ANY WAY REPRESENT AN INCREASE IN THE ESTIMATED COST, EITHER OF THIS ONE CONTRACT OR OF THE MASS TRANSIT PROJECT AS A WHOLE.
+IT SIMPLY MEANS,+ HE SAID, +THAT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION IS CONTINUING ITS POLICY OF FINANCING LOCAL CONTRACTS, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, BY LOCAL BORROWING IN HONG KONG DOLLARS.+
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY RECALLED THAT ON OCTOBER 23 LAST YEAR HE WAS AUTHORISED BY A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL TO GRANT CERTAIN GUARANTEES IN RESPECT OF THE REPAYMENT OF LOANS AND OTHER INDEBTEDNESS INCURRED BY THE MTR CORPORATION.
SINCE THEN, HE SAID, THE CORPORATION HAD LET ELEVEN OUT OF A TOTAL OF 25 CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM.
ON OCTOBER 22 HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE TOTAL SUM HE WAS SEEKING AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE WAS CONSIDERABLY GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT PRICES WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY BE ACCEPTED BY THE CORPORATION AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TENDER PROCEDURE.
HE EXPLAINED THEN THIS WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT YET KNOWN WHICH FIRMS FROM WHICH COUNTRIES WOULD ACTUALLY BE AWARDED CONTRACTS.
AMONG THE GUARANTEES AUTHORISED ,AT THAT TIME WAS ONE FOR A LOAN OF HK$420 MILLION TO FINANCE LOCAL CONTRACTS.
♦LOCAL CONTRACTS TO APPROXIMATELY THAT SUM HAVE NOW BEEN LET AND, IN ORDER TO FINANCE TWO FURTHER LOCAL CONTRACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF KOWLOON BAY STATION AND LINE SECTION AND A UTILITIES JETTY AT TSIM SHA TSUI, A FURTHER GUARANTEE WILL BE NEEDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL LOAN OF HK$50 MILLION,+ HE SAID.
MR. HADDON-CAVE GAVE A WARNING THAT ON MARCH 1, THE CORPORATION INTENDED TO LET A FURTHER SEVEN INTERNATIONAL CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTS AND THAT PRESENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT AT THAT STAGE IT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY BE NECESSARY FURTHER TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE TO THE COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION OF OCTOBER 23, 1975 IN RESPECT OF INCREASED GUARANTEE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPLIER CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS.
/HE WOULD .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
18
HE WOULD PROPOSE, THEREFORE, TO INTRODUCE A FURTHER MOTION INTO THE COUNCIL ON MARCH 10 TO EFFECT THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHEDULE ARISING FROM THE LETTING OF THESE CONTRACTS.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY RE-EMPHASISED THAT ANY SUCH CHANGES WOULD NOT INVOLVE ANY INCREASE IN THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM.
+INDEED, QUITE THE CONTRARY, AS I AM INFORMED BY THE CORPORATION THAT THE TOTAL COST OF THE CONTRACTS SO FAR LET REMAINS NICELY WITHIN THE ESTIMATES ASSUMED WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE IN SEPTEMBER LAST TO PROCEED WITH THE LETTING OF CONTRACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM,* HE ADDED.
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REGULATIONS ON ft
PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY ft ft * * *
REGULATIONS WILL OPTOMETRY AS A WHOLE, THE HON. GERALD CHOA,
BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON. ALEX WU, WHO HAD ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO SPECIFY THE QUALITY OF CONTACT LENSES AND THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF THOSE WHO FIT THEM.
DR. CHOA SAID HE HAD PREVIOUSLY INFORMED THE COUNCIL THAT REGULATIONS WERE BEING PREPARED TO DEAL WITH SEVEN PROFESSIONS SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE.
IT WAS HOPED THE REGULATIONS. WHEN IN COMPLETE FORM, WOULD PROVIDE A PATTERN ON WHICH THE REGULATIONS FOR THE OTHER PROFESSIONS COULD BE BASED.
♦ IT IS THE INTENTION TO PREPARED SEPARATE REGULATIONS TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY AS A WHOLE,* HE SAID.
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/19
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
- 19 -
D C AND I OFFICIALS LEAVE FOR TALKS X * * * M *
THE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. DAVID JORDAN AND MR. PETER TSAO, LEAVE FOR LONDON THIS WEEK TO ATTEND A LIAISON MEETING WITH HONG KONG’S REPRESENTATIVES OVERSEAS.
THE MEETING IS A ROUTINE ONE, AND THE DISCUSSIONS WILL COVER A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS WHICH FALL WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT’S SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES. OFFICIALS ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL INCLUDE MR. CLAUDE BURGESS OF THE BRUSSELS OFFICE, MR. LAWRENCE MILLS AND MR. GERRY PEARSON OF THE GENEVA OFFICE, MR. S.T. KIDD, THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER AND MR. STEWART WEBB-JOHNSON OF THE LONDON OFFICE.
MR. ALEC HERMANN, WHO REPRESENTS HONG KONG IN WASHINGTON AND WHO IS CURRENTLY ON LEAVE IN LONDON, WILL ALSO ATTEND.
MR. JORDAN WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF HIS VISIT TO HOLD INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH BRITISH OFFICIALS FROM THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY.
IN ADDITION TO ATTENDING THE LONDON MEETING, MR. TSAO WILL HAVE TALKS WITH EUROPEAN IMPORTING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING NORWAY AND AUSTRIA, TO FINALISE CERTAIN TEXTILE RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS, NEGOTIATIONS ON WHICH WERE STARTED IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.
FROM LONDON MR. TSAO WILL GO TO OTTAWA AND WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS WITH THE OFFICIALS THERE OUTSTANDING ISSUES CONCERNING EXPORTS OF MAN-MADE FIBRE FABRICS TO CANADA, AND T-SHIRTS TO THE UNITED STATES.
MR. TSAO WILL BE ACCOMPANIED ON THIS LATTER LEG OF HIS TRIP BY MR. BRIAN CHAU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF REGIONS OTHER THAN EUROPE.
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/2O......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 19?6
- 20 -
$230,000 RAISED FOR SCHOOL SCIENCE LABORATORY
K * M * * M
A SINGLE-STOREY GENERAL SCIENCE LABORATORY IS TO BE BUILT AT SIR ELLIS KADOORIE SCHOOL, SOO KUN PO, WITH $230,000 RAISED BY THE HONG KONG INDIAN WOMEN'S CLUB.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO PROVIDE |6Q,000 FOR FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.
A CHEQUE FOR THE CAPITAL COST OF THE BUILDING WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FUND RAISING COMMITTEE OF THE INDIAN WOMEN’S CLUB, MRS. KAMLA KAPAHI, AT THIS GOVERNMENT SCHOOL ON FEBRUARY 17 AT 4.30 P.M.
DURING THE CEREMONY, LADY KADOORIE WILL UNVEIL A PLAQUE FOR THE LABORATORY PROJECT.
SIR LAWRENCE KADOORIE WILL BE AMONG THE GUESTS INVITED BY THE FUND RAISING COMMITTEE IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE SIR ELLIS KADOORIE SCHOOL GUARDIANS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
THE SCHOOL, ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AS A PRIMARY SCHOOL, HAS DEVELOPED UP TO JUNIOR SECONDARY LEVEL WITH 23 CLASSES.
AT PRESENT IT HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 593 PRIMARY PUPILS AND 159 SECONDARY PUPILS.
IN THE PAST, THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN GIVEN THE USE OF THE LABORATORY FACILITIES AT THE NEARBY HO TUNG TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
--------------- YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT AT THE SCHOOL ON FEBRUARY 17 AT 4.30 P.M.
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BILLS PASSED
* * M *
THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE APPRENTICESHIP BILL 1976 PASSED THROUGH ALL STAGES AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
ANOTHER BILL WHICH WAS PASSED WAS THE PLANT (IMPORTATION AND PEST CONTROL) BILL 1976.
THREE BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST READING I THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.
DEBATE ON THEIR SECOND READING WAS ADJOURNED.
AMONG THE MOTIONS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL WERE ONE ON REVISING THE SCHEDULE OF CHARGES UNDER THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY (SERVICES) ORDINANCE AND ONE SETTING A RATE OF LEVY UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CLOTHING INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HONG KONG BETTER PROTECTED AGAINST OIL POLLUTION ............. 1
NARCOTICS COMMISSIONER TO ATTEND U.N. DRUGS CONFERENCE .... 3
LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY EXAMINATIONS ......... 4
INDUSTRIAL SITE AT FO TAN TO BE AUCTIONED................... 4
DISTRICT OFFICER TO HOST NEW YEAR PARTY FOR TAI PO DISTRICT LEADERS ...................................................... 5
MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF GET TOGETHER ............. 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1976
1
ADDITIONAL OIL POLLUTION LEGISLATION FOR HONG KONG ******
__ ”0NS K0NG NOW HAS ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION AGAINST OIL POLLUTION.
J*! .M^haNT SH|pp,NG (0,L POLLUTION) (HONG KONG) ORDER PARLIAMENT ON JANUARY 14, 1976, AND CAME INTO OPERATION ON FEBRUARY 3, 1976.
THE ORDER EXTENDS TO HONG KONG THE PROVISIONS OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (OIL POLLUTION) ACT 1971, AND PART I, 22» 23 AND 24 AND SCHEDULE 1 TO THE MERCHANT ^HIPPING ACT 1974.
,™‘S LEGISLATION NOW GIVES EFFECT IN HONG KONG TO THE T™Z$2^!,fNTAb MAR*TIME CONSULTATIVE ORGANISATIONS (IMCO) CONVENTIONS - THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION AND THE FUND CONVENTION.
™E CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVES THE POSITION OF STATES SEEKING TO OBTAIN COMPENSATION FOR OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE.
Di PARTICULAR, IT REMOVES DOUBTS ABOUT THE ADMISSIBILITY JOB COMPHiSATION OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE FOLLOWING OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE. IT SETS SHIPOWNERS' LIABILITY IN RESPECT OF A SINGLE INCIDENT AT 2,000 FRANCS FOR EACH TON OF A SHIP'S TONNAGE UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 210 MTU.TON FRANCS (OR ABOUT 5.8 MILLION POUNDS STERLING AT THE OLD FIXED PARITY), AND IT PROVIDES FOR COMPULSORY INSURANCE BY SHIPOWNERS AGAINST OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE.
HOWEVER, THE CONVENTION DOES NOT AFFORD FULL PROTECTION IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR EXAMPLE, NO LIABILITY FOR POLLUTION DAMAGE CAN BE ATTACHED TO A SHIPOWNER IF HE PROVES THAT THE DAMAGE WAS WHOLLY CAUSED BY THE INTENTIONAL ACT OF A THIRD PARTY, OR NEGLIGENCE BY THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.
THE OWNER OF A SHIP REGISTERED IN A MEMBER STATE AND CARRYING MORE THAN 2,000 TONS OF OIL IN BULK AS CARGO, IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN INSURANCE OR OTHER FINANCIAL SECURITY (SUCH AS A BANK GUARANTEE) UP TO THE LIMIT OF THIS LIABILITY UNDER THE CONVENTION. A CERTIFICATE CONFIRMING THAT INSURANCE OR OTHER FINANCIAL SECURITY IS IM EFFECT MUST BE ISSUED TO EACH SHIP. IN HONG KONG, SUCH CERTIFICATES WILL BE ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE.
BECAUSE THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION DOES NOT AFFORD FULL PROTECTION TO VICTIMS QfetfjflL POLLUTION DAMAGE IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WAS RECOGlilwRHAT SOME FORM OF SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEME WAS NEEDED.
/TOIS RESULTED .....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1976
2
THIS RESULTED IN IMCO ADOPTING THE FUND CONVENTION. WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING AIMS* -
(A) TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PROTECTION AFFORDED BY THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION IS INADEQUATE- AND
(B) TO GIVE RELIEF TO SHIPOWNERS IN RESPECT OF THE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDEN IMPOSED ON THEM BY THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION.
THE FUND CONVENTION IS OPEN ONLY TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION.
UNDER THIS CONVENTION, OIL IMPORTERS IN MEMBER STATES WHO RECEIVE NOT LESS THAN 150,000 TONS OF CRUDE AND HEAVY OILS BY SEA IN A PARTICULAR YEAR MUST CONTRIBUTE TO A FUND ADMINISTERED BY IMCO. CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 20 CENTS PER TON.
IN RETURN, VICTIMS OF OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE ARE ABLE TO RECOVER UP TO 450 MILLION FRANCS IN AGGREGATE UNDER THE FUND CONVENTION AND THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION FOR ANY SINGLE INCIDENT (12.3 MILLION POUNDS STERLING AT THE OLD FIXED PARITY).
THE FUND ALSO PROVIDES SOME RELIEF TO THE SHIPOWNER, BY INDEMNIFYING HIM AND HIS GUARANTOR FOR THAT PORTION OF HIS AGGREGATE LIABILITY UNDER THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION WHICH IS IN EXCESS OF 125 MILLION FRANCS.
IN ADDITION, THE FUND CONVENTION PROVIDES FOR COMPENSATION IN CASE OF CERTAIN OIL POLLUTION INCIDENTS NOT COVERED BY THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION.
THESE INCLUDE ACTS OF GOD, INTENTIONAL ACTS OF THIRD PARTIES, AND THE NEGLIGENT OR WRONGFUL ACTS OF AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.
THE ONLY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE FUND CONVENTION WILL NOT APPLY, ONCE IT IS PROVED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A SHIP CARRYING BULK OIL AS CARGO, ARE WHERE THE SHIP WAS A WARSHIP OR OTHER GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSEL OPERATING IN A NON-COMMERCIAL CAPACITY, OR WHERE THE SPILLAGE WAS CAUSED BY AN ACT OF WAR.
NOTE TO EDITORS I
WHEN +FRANCS+ ARE MENTIONED, IT REFERS TO GOLD FRANCS, EACH OF WHICH IS TAKEN AS A UNIT OF 65-1/2 MILLIGRAMS OF GOLD OF MILLESIMAL FINENESS 900.
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/3
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1976
3
ANTI-NARCOTICS CHIEF ATTENDS GENEVA CONFERENCE
******
THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.l. LEE, LEAVES HONG KONG TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO ATTEND THE FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS IN GENEVA.
THE SESSION WILL BE HELD FROM FEBRUARY 16 TO 27 AND MR. LEE WILL BE ATTENDING AS A MEMBER OF THE U.K. DELEGATION.
DURING THE SESSION, THERE WILL BE REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS ON THE WORLDWIDE EFFORTS CURRENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN TO DEAL WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF NARCOTIC PROBLEMS.
INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA WILL BE REPORTS BY VARIOUS SPECIALISED AGENCIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS CONCERNING NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHO-TROPIC SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS OPERATIONS FINANCED BY THE-U.K. FUND FOR DRUG ABUSE CONTROL (INCLUDING THE CROP SUBSTITUTION PROGRAMME IN NORTHWEST THAILAND). THERE WILL ALSO BE A REVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ILLICIT DRUGS, OF DRUG ABUSE AND MEASURES TAKEN BY VARIOUS COUNTRIES TO REDUCE DEMAND, AND OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
THE U.N. COMMISSION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS, WHICH IS AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL BODY, MEETS REGULARLY EVERY ONE OR TWO YEARS TO CONSIDER INTERNATIONAL MATTERS AND PROGRAMMES DESIGNED TO CURB DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING. IT THEN MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON THESE ISSUES TO THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL.
0
A
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1976 - 4 -
LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY EXAMS ******
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM CANDIDATES WISHING TO SIT FOR THE EXAMINATIONS OF THE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY THIS SUMMER.
THE EXAMINATIONS WILL BE HELD BETWEEN JUNE 23 AND JUNE 30 AND COVER ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING AND COSTING.
SCHOOL CANDIDATES SHOULD REGISTER THEIR ENTRIES THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLS.
PRIVATE CANDIDATES MAY OBTAIN THE ENTRY FORMS AT THE EXAMINATIONS DIVISION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 393 CANTON ROAD, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON FROM FEBRUARY 16.
APPLICANTS SHOULD PRESENT THE COMPLETED FORMS IN PERSON TO THE DIVISION TOGETHER WITH THEIR PASSPORTS OR HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD’S AND TWO RECENT PASSPORT-SIZE PHOTOGRAPHS BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 4 P.M. FROM FEBRUARY 16 TO 20.
NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER FEBRUARY 20.
THE ENTRY FEES MUST BE PAID NOT LATER THAN FEBRUARY 24 AT THE EXAMINATIONS DIVISION OR SENT BY POST BY CROSSED CHEQUE PAYABLE TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
o
INDUSTRIAL LAND AT SHA TIN UP FOR SALE ** ** *
LAND AT FO TAN, SHA TIN, TOTALLING 21,320 SQ. FT., IS TO BE AUCTIONED NEXT MONTH.
THE LAND, FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES, IS WITHIN THE AREA NOW BEING DEVELOPED INDUSTRIALLY AT FO TAN.
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE SHA TIN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL ON TUESDAY, MARCH 2.
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t
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1976
- 5 -
TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER TO HOST NEW YEAR PARTY ******
NOTE TO EDITORS I
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, TAI PO, MR. CLIVE OXLEY, HAS INVITED 600 GUESTS TO A LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY AT HIS HOME, +LOOK OUT+, TAI PO ROAD, TAI PO, TOMORROW BEGINNING AT 11.30 A.M. THEY INCLUDED OFFICIALS FROM THE RURAL COMMITTEES AND VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CLANSMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS, AND HER MAJESTY’S ARMED FORCES AND CHAIRMEN OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES. MUSIC WILL BE PROVIDED BY A BAND FROM TAI KWANG MIDDLE SCHOOL, TAI PO. MRS. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WIFE OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, WILL PRESENT CERTIFICATES TO PARTICIPANTS FROM TAI PO WHO RAISED MORE THAN $45,000 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WALK FOB A MILLION, HELD IN TSUEN WAN DISTRICT LAST MONTH. MR. OXLEY WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION TO A DEMARCATOR ON HIS STAFF, MR. CHENG WING YAN, FOR SAVING AN ELDERLY MAN WHO FELL INTO THE SEA FROM A PIER AT NGAU 0 ON DECEMBER 18, 1975.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF TO COVER THE PART*. THEY CAN EITHER MAKE USE OF A VEHICLE (NO. AM 3274) LEAVING FROM THE REAR OF TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE AT 10.30 A.M. TOMORROW OR MAKE THEIR OWN WAY TO MR. OXLEY’S HOME WHERE MR. DONALD STRANGE, NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION PRO, WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1976
6
MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF PARTY * * * * *
HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN OF STAFF MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL ATTEND A PARTY IN THE SPORTS FIELD OF THE KOWLOON HOSPITAL ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15).
THIS WILL BE THE FIFTH SUCH PARTY TO BE ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF SOCIETY, BRINGING TOGETHER ALL STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR WHAT HAS NOW BECOME AN ANNUAL REUNION.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAMME INCLUDE A LION DANCE, MARTIAL ART PERFORMANCES, A MAGIC SHOW, GAMES AND A LUCKY DRAW.
DR. GERALD CHOA, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, WILL BE PRESENT TO DOT THE LION’S EYES AND TO DRAW THE LUCKY NUMBERS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A DISPLAY OF FIRE ENGINES AND ARMOURED CARS.
NOTE TO EDITORS t
THE PARTY WILL BE HELD ON THE LAWN BY THE ENTRANCE TO THE WEST WING, KOWLOON HOSPITAL, ARGYLE STREET BETWEEN 1 P.M. AND 5 P.M.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER IT.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1976
CONTENTS
TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS TO BE INTRODUCED WEEK FOR START OF METRO CONSTRUCTION
PAGE NO.
IN NATHAN ROAD NEXT
♦SENIOR CITIZEN WEEK+ OPENS IN SHAM SHU I PO TOMORROW..... 3
SCHOOL LEAVERS URGED TO LOOK FOR JOBS THAT OFFER GOOD TRAINING .............................................
WATERWORKS OFFICE TO HOLD PARTY FOR CHILDREN OF ITS STAFF. 5
COURSE FOR WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS NOW OPEN FOR ENROLMENT ... 6
FIRING PRACTICE .............................................. 6
GOVERNMENT STARTS MAJOR PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE TRACKS IN SPORTS STADIUMS .............................................. 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1976
~,r
METRO CONSTRUCTION i TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS IN NATHAN ROAD
******
IN PREPARATION FOR THE START OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE METRO STATIONS IN NATHAN ROAD, VARIOUS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES WILL BE INTRODUCED.
THESE SCHEMES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE GENERAL MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC IN THE AREA AND TO REDUCE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS IT IS PRACTICABLE TO DO SO.
THESE SCHEMES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN STAGES AND THE FOLLOWING MEASURES, RELATING PRINCIPALLY TO THE FORMATION OF THE NORTHBOUND BUS-ONLY LANES IN NATHAN ROAD, WILL BE INTRODUCED FROM 10 A.M. NEXT WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18):
NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN PEKING ROAD AND GRANVILLE ROAD AND NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN AUSTIN ROAD AND NING PO STREET WILL BE RESERVED FOR THE USE OF FRANCHISED BUSES ONLY.
ALL OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THESE SECTIONS OF THE ROAD BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7 A.M. AND 11 P.M.
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE NORTHBOUND ROUTE WILL BE VIA KOWLOON PARK DRIVE, CANTON ROAD AND FERRY STREET.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ABOVE RESTRICTIONS, THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC RE-ROUTINGS WILL BE INTRODUCED i- '
PEKING ROAD BETWEEN NATHAN ROAD AND HANKOW ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
HANKOW ROAD BETWEEN PEKING ROAD AND HAIPHONG ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
HAIPHONG ROAD BETWEEN HANKOW ROAD AND NATHAN ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND.
LOCK ROAD BETWEEN HAIPHONG ROAD AND PEKING ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND.
BOWRING STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT THE WEST SIDE OF NATHAN ROAD FORMING A CUL-DE-SAC AND WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY BETWEEN THIS CLOSURE AND PILKEM STREET.
NANKING STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT THE WEST SIDE OF NATHAN ROAD FORMING A CUL-DE-SAC AND WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY BETWEEN THIS CLOSURE AfaD PARKES STREET.
PARKES STREET BETWEEN NING PO STREET AND SAIGON STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
/PORTLAND
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1J, 1976
- 2 -
PORTLAND STREET BETWEEN WATERLOO ROAD AND MAN MING LANE WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND.
NING PO STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT THE WEST JUNCTION WITH NATHAN ROAD FORMING A CUL-DE-SAC AND WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY BETWEEN THIS CLOSURE AND PARKES STREET.
SAIGON STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT THE WEST JUNCTION WITH NATHAN ROAD FORMING A CUL-DE-SAC AND WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY BETWEEN THIS CLOSURE AND PARKES STREET.
PAK HOI STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT THE WEST JUNCTION WITH NATHAN ROAD FORMING A CUL-DE-SAC AND WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY BETWEEN THIS CLOSURE AND WOO SUNG STREET.
MARKET STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT THE WEST JUNCTION WITH NATHAN ROAD FORMING A CUL-DE-SAC AND WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY BETWEEN THIS CLOSURE AND TEMPLE STREET.
THE FOLLOWING TURNING MOVEMENTS WILL ALSO BE PROHIBITED TO ALL MOTOR VEHICLES 1-
THE LEFT TURN FROM HAIPHONG ROAD NORTH INTO NATHAN ROAD-THE RIGHT TURN FROM AUSTIN ROAD WESTBOUND INTO NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND- THE RIGHT TURN FROM NATHAN ROAD SOUTHBOUND INTO AUSTIN.ROAD WESTBOUND- THE RIGHT TURN FROM NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND INTO AUSTIN ROAD EASTBOUND- THE RIGHT TURN FROM JORDAN ROAD WESTBOUND INTO NATHAN-ROAD NORTHBOUND.
THE FOLLOWING TURNING MOVEMENTS WILL BE PROHIBITED TO ALL MOTOR VEHICLES,' EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7 A.M. AND 11 P.M. t-
THE LEFT TURN FROM JORDAN ROAD EASTBOUND INTO NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND AND THE RIGHT TURN FROM GASCOIGNE ROAD WESTBOUND INTO NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND.
IN MONGKOK, TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS WILL BE RESTRICTED IN ARGYLE STREET/PORTLAND STREET AND MONG KOK ROAD/PORTLAND STREET, AS FOLLOWS t-
THE STRAIGHT AHEAD MOVEMENT FROM PORTLAND STREET NORTHBOUND ACROSS ARGYLE STREET WILL BE PROHIBITED AND ALL TRAFFIC FROM THIS APPROACH WILL BE REQUIRED TO TURN LEFT INTO ARGYLE STREET WESTBOUND.
THE STRAIGHT AHEAD MOVEMENT FROM PORTLAND STREET NORTHBOUND ACROSS MONG KOK ROAD WILL BE PROHIBITED AND ALL TRAFFIC FROM THIS APPROACH WILL BE REQUIRED TO TURN LEFT INTO MONG KOK ROAD WESTBOUND OR TURN RIGHT INTO MONG KOK ROAD EASTBOUND. THE EXISTING RESTRICTION ON THIS LATTER MOVEMENT WILL BE CANCELLED.
/TRAFFIC .....
FBIDAY, FEBRUARY 1J, 1976'
I
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS BUT BOTH MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ARE REQUESTED TO EXERCISE EXTRA CARE WHEN DRIVING OR CROSSING THESE STREETS DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNTIL THE CHANGES IN THE TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS BECOME FAMILIAR.
NOTE TO ED I TORSi-
COPIES OF A MAP SHOWING THE TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED SEPARATELY IN THE G. I.S. PRESS BOXES THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
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SENIOR CITIZEN WEEK IN SHAM SHU I PO
* X X * M
■i ’ .
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE +SENIOR CITIZEN WEEK* IN SHAM SHU I PO TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
THE +SENIOR CITIZEN WEEK+, CO-ORDINATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE IN SHAM SHU I PO, IS TO PROMOTE THE TRADITIONAL SPIRIT OF RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY, TO AROUSE PUBLIC CONCERN FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AND TO MOBILISE LOCAL RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE AGED.
THE FUNCTION IS A JOINT EFFORT OF LOCAL VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, KAIFONG WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS, CLANSMAN ASSOCIATIONS, LOCAL LEADERS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY, ABOUT 3,000 OLD PEOPLE WILL BE ENTERTAINED IN A FUN FAIR.
OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AN EXHIBITION, TRIPS AND OUTINGS, • A CARNIVAL FOR THE OLD PEOPLE AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN, A VARIETY SHOW AND A CHINESE OPERA.
NOTE TO EDITORS i
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE PO ON ROAD PUBLIC PLAYGROUND IN SHAM SHU I PO TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT 2 P.M.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1976
- 4 -
SCHOOL LEAVERS SHOULD FIND JOBS THAT OFFER GOOD TRAINING M M M M M
A LEADING HONG KONG JOURNALIST, MR. WAI KEE SHUN, TODAY URGED SCHOOL LEAVERS WHO ARE SEEKING INDUSTRIAL WORK TO FIND A JOB THAT WOULD OFFER GOOD TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
MR. WAI, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE TIN TIN YAT PAO, WAS SPEAKING TO MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A ONE-DAY CAREERS SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE.
+AT PRESENT,* HE SAID, +THE GOVERNMENT IS INTENSIVELY PROMOTING TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES WHICH NOT ONLY OFFER STEADY EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO ENABLE THEM TO ACQUIRE FORMAL QUALIFJCATIONS AT THE POLYTECHNIC OR OTHER TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
+AND THESE QUALIFICATIONS ARE RECOGNISED BY MANY OVERSEAS COUNTRIES,* HE SAID.
MR. WAI POINTED OUT THAT NOT MANY STUDENTS COULD PROCEED TO UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AFTER SECONDARY SCHOOLING. +BUT THIS KIND OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IS DESIGNED FOR YOU TO LEARN WHILE YOU EARN.*
ON WHITE-COLLAR WORK, HE SAID THE TREND IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR WAS TO ENGAGE PEOPLE WITH UNIVERSITY QUALIFICATIONS TO FILL POSTS AT THE MANAGERIAL LEVEL.
ORDINARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MOST CASES COULD ONLY GET GENERAL CLERICAL JOBS WHICH WOULD OFFER COMPARATIVELY LESS PROSPECT.
SALARY-WISE, MR. WAI SAID MANY INDUSTRIAL WORKERS WERE EARNING MORE THAN ORDINARY OFFICE WORKERS.
IN FACT, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAD BEEN TAKING UP INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT. BUT IN DOING SO MR. WAI ADVISED STUDENTS TO CAREFULLY FIND ONE THAT WOULD OFFER ADEQUATE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
THE SEMINAR WAS HELD AT THE HO MAN TIN GOVERNMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS IN KOWLOON CITY, TOKWAWAN, HUNG HOM AND HO MAN TIN.
THE PROGRAMME FEATURED SIX TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS BY GUEST SPEAKERS ON CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BANKING, ADVERTISING, ACCOUNTANCY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, GOVERNMENT JOBS AND APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING.
IN ADDITION, TWO FILMS were SHOWN IN THE AFTERNOON, ONE ON THE PRINCIPLES OF CHOOSING ONE’S CAREER, AND THE OTHER ON JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NURSING FIELD.
ALSO ON DISPLAY AT THE SCHOOL HALL WERE CAREERS PAMPHLETS AND A SELECTION OF OCCUPATION LEAFLETS WHICH were A VA IL ABLE- FREE TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
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WATERWORKS OFFICE CHIIDREN’S PARTY « n «
THE LUNAR NEU YEAR HOLIDAYS I1AY DE OVER, DUT FOR SOME 2,300 CHILDREN OF STAFF OF THE WATERWORKS OFFICE THE FESTIVITIES CONTINUE 1IIIS SUNDAY (FED. 15) WHEN THEY UHL DE TREATED TO A DAY OF FUN AMD GAl.ES.
THE CHIIDREN’S PARTY WILL DE HELD AT KOWLOON WAN YAH COLLEGE AND Will. LE A COL CUI FUL AFFAIR FEATURING GAME STALLS, SOLOS AUD DANCES, A VARIETY SHOU, ACROBATICS AND A RAFFLE DRAW.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WILL DE A COMEDY SHOW DY RTV CELEBRITIES, FOLK DANCES DY THE ST. PAUL’S CONVENT SCHOOL AND PERFORMANCES DY THE ST, BONAVENTURE A-C PRIMARY SCHOOL band;
THERE WILL DE 15 GAME STALLS ORGANISED DY THE VARIOUS DIVISIONS IN THE WATERWORKS OFFICE AUD TROPHIES WILL DE AWARDED FOR THE BEST STALLS DY THE DIRECTOR OF WATERWORKS, KR. DILL KNIGHT.
MRS. KNIGHT WILL DRAW THE WINNING NUMBERS IN THE RAFFLE AND PRESENT PRIZES TO THE WINNERS.
THERE WILL ALSO DE A VARIETY OF COMPETITIONS FOR THE CHILDREN AND WINNERS IN EACH EVENT Will RECEIVE PRIZES FROM l.R. W.D.A. TUCKER, PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER.
DURING THE FUN FAIR, FINANCED DY DONATION FROM SENIOR STAFF, MR. KNIGHT WILL PRESENT GOLD MEDAL AWARDS TO THREE WATERWORKS ARTISANS AND ONE LABOURER FOR OUTSTANDING PEi./Ul.MAIJCE 0/ THEIR DUTIES.
THE FOUR WINNERS ARE c MR. TANG YEW-SIJIMG, MR. HO TAT-CHING, AND MR. CHAN KAM CHUEN, ALL ARTISANS WITH THE MECHANICAL DIVISION, AND MR. tAM LOI, A RETIRED. LABOURER OF TLE SUPPLY DIVISION.
THEY WILL DE PRESENTED WITH KIRKWOOD AWARDS WHICH WERE STARTED IN 1957 WITH DONATIONS FROM TEXTILE AUD ENG INEER I NG FIRMS IN MEMORY OF A FORMER WATERWORKS ENGINEER.
THESE AWARDS ARE GIVEN ANNUALLY TO STAFF OF THE RANK OF FOREMAN I I I OR DELOW WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES DY THEIR GENERAL CAPABILITIES AND ATTENTION TO DUTIES OR DY THEIR NOTEWORTHY CONDUCT OR PERFORMANCE CF DUTY IN A PARTICULAR INSTANCE.
NOTE TO ED ITORSb
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE KIRKWOOD AWARD PRESENTATIONS AND THE CHINESE NEU YEAR CHILDREN’S PARTY AT UAH YAU COLLEGE,'KOWLOON. THE PARTY WILL START AT 12.39 P.M. TRE AWAlsD PRESENTATIONS DY MR. KNIGHT WILL TAKE PLACE AT ABOUT 1.15 P.M. MR. CHAN CHI—HA, PRESS LIAISON OFFICER, WILL BE PLEASED TO RECEIVE AUD ASSIST MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AT THE FUNCTION.
•’«=» — — u • «.«=» /l-' -«-
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1976
6
COURSE FOR TRADE INSTRUCTORS
* * * * *
A PART-TIME EVENING COURSE FOR INDUSTRIAL TRADE INSTRUCTORS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS* COLLEGE IS NOW OPEN FOR ENROLMENT.
THE COURSE IS INTENDED FOR THOSE WHO ARE EMPLOYED AS TRADE OR WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS AND WHO HAVE AN ADEQUATE SECONDARY -PREFERABLY TECHNICAL OR PRE-VOCATIONAL - EDUCATION.
IT WILL BE HELD THREE EVENINGS A WEEK, STARTING FROM EARLY NEXT MONTH AND WILL LAST 18 WEEKS.
THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION WILL BE IN CHINESE BUT SOME ENGLISH TERMINOLOGY WILL BE USED. THE FEE IS $75.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE. 373 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, AND MUST BE RETURNED BY FEBRUARY 23 (MONDAY).
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FIRING PRACTICE
*****
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE ON CASTLE PEAK RANGE BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 3 P.M. ON FEBRUARY 26.
THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT IT WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING
IS DANGEROUS TO ENTER THE AREA THE TIME OF FIRING PRACTICE.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1976
- 7 -
$1.45M TO BE SPENT ON IMPROVING TRACKS
*****
OVER $1.45 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON IMPROVING THE TRACKS IN ALL GOVERNMENT SPORTS STADIUMS IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE WORLD STANDARD FACILITIES FOR THE TRAINJNG OF LOCAL ATHLETES.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT SUBMITTED BY A BRITISH COACH TO THE AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, OVER-UTILISATION OF HONG KONG’S PLAYING SURFACES HAVE SUBJECTED THEM TO A HIGH DEGREE OF WEAR.
THE RESULT IS THAT ORDINARY ASPHALT AND CINDER TRACKS SINK RAPIDLY INTO DISREPAIR AND MAY EVEN BECOME DANGEROUS FOR ATHLETES, AS INJURIES TO THE LOWER LEG CAN EASILY OCCUR ON OVER-HARD, HOT AND OFTEN CRUMBLING ASPHALT.
AFTER EXTENSIVE ENQUIRIES TO A NUMBER OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFICERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTION FOUND THE IDEAL SURFACING MATERIAL FOR HONG KONG’S TRACKS - A FINELY CRUSHED YELLOW DOLOMITE PRODUCED BY A QUARRY IN BRITAIN - WHICH IS SUFFICIENTLY ECONOMICAL AND YET GOOD ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND CONSTANT USE.
A MINIMUM ORDER FOR 5,000 TONNES, SUFFICIENT FOR FIVE SITES, WITH 20 TO 25 PER CENT LEFT OVER FOR REFURBISHING, HAS BEEN PLACED, AND WORK ON THE NEW FIELDS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN APRIL.
THE ORDER IS VALUED AT $1.45 MILLION, BUT EXTRA EXPENSES WILL HAVE TO BE MADE TO CARRY OUT RENOVATION AND FOUNDATION WORKS, AND TO CONVERT THE TRACKS - ORIGINALLY BUILT ON IMPERIAL MEASUREMENTS -INTO PROPER 400 METRE CIRCUITS.
THE TRACKS TO BE IMPROVED ARE AT THE HONG KONG AND MONGKOK STADIUMS, ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND, THE KOWLOON TSAI AND PERTH STREET SPORTS FIELDS, AND SPORTS GROUNDS IN TSUEN WAN, YUEN LONG AND TAI PO.
MEANWHILE, ALL THE 32 TENNIS COURTS IN THE URBAN AREA ARE ALSO BEING RESURFACED UNDER ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME.
WORK ON THE COURTS IN VICTORIA PARK, THE VENUE FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS, ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED DURING 1976-77.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES INCREASINGLY POPULAR ................................................... 1
20-ACRE SITE IN SHAT IN TO BE AUCTIONED NEXT MONTH ........ 2
FIRST CONTRACT FOR THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SHUN LEE •
TSUEN ESTATE TO BE SIGNED TOMORROW ....................... 2
YIM TIN TSAI BEING DEVELOPED AS PICNIC SPOT ............... 3
PUBLIC URGED TO KEEP UP TRADITIONAL RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY ................................................... *
NEW YEAR FUN FAIR FOR 20,000 CHILDREN ..................... 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1976
1
1.6 M ENQUIRIES HANDLED LAST YEAR
KUMM*
THE 22 PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES OPERATED BY THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT IN THE URBAN AREA HANDLED NEARLY 1.6 MILLION ENQUIRIES AND CASES IN 1975.
ENQUIRIES IN CONNECTION ,W I TH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (124,665 CASES), THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT (78,286 CASE&), THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT (65,425 CASES) AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT (58,596 CASES) CONTINUED TO BE THE MOST POPULAR SUBJECTS.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC HOUSING (28,908 CASES) AND SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANTS (27,229 CASES) WERE ALSO VERY POPULAR.
THE DEMAND FOR VARIOUS GOVERNMENT FORMS AND PAMPHLETS ALSO INCREASED, FROM 670,100 IN 1974 TO 1975’S 694,231.
MOST OF THE REQUIRED FORMS WERE FOR APPLICATION OF GOVERNMENT VACANCIES, GOVERNMENT HOUSING ESTATES, RENT INCREASES AND ENROLMENT FOR THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
LEAFLETS AND BOOKLETS CONCERNING FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES OF ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WERE ALSO IN GREAT DEMAND.
APART FROM HANDLING ENQUIRIES AND SOLVING PROBLEMS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES IN THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND THEIR SUB-OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREA ADMINISTER STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, DISTRIBUTE MANY NONGOVERNMENT PAMPHLETS AND SELL SOME OF THE POPULAR GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MOST OF THESE PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES REMAIN OPEN DURING LUNCH-HOUR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO CANNOT MAKE USE OF THE SERVICE DURING OFFICE HOURS.
0
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1976
2
TENDERS BEING INVITED FOR SHA TIN SITE *****
TENDERS ARE TO BE INVITED EARLY NEXT MONTH FOR A PIECE OF SEABED AT THE SOUTHERN END OF SHA TIN HOI TO BE RECLAIMED AND DEVELOPED FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, A NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE SITE TOTALS ABOUT 20 ACRES, OF WHICH NEARLY ELEVEN ACRES WILL BE RETAINED BY THE DEVELOPER WHILE THE REMAINDER IS TO BE HANDED BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR BUILDING ROADS AND PROVIDING OPEN SPACES.
TERMS OF THE SALE INCLUDE RECLAMATION BY THE PURCHASER OF THE WHOLE AREA WITHIN 30 MONTHS AND THE BUILDING OF ROADS, A SEA WALL, DRAINS AND SEWERS. A FURTHER $65 MILLION MUST BE SPENT ON BUILDINGS BY THE END OF 1982.
TO ENABLE THE DEVELOPER TO CARRY OUT RECLAMATION, HE WILL BE GIVEN USE OF A NEARBY AREA FROM WHICH TO OBTAIN FILL. THIS AREA WILL BE USED SUBSEQUENTLY FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
ONE ATTRACTION OF THE SITE IS THAT IT WILL COMMAND A VIEW OF THE RACE COURSE NOW BEING BUILT IN SHA TIN.
' THE PURCHASER WILL HAVE TO PAY A DEPOSIT OF $10 MILLION AND THE BALANCE BY NINE EQUAL INSTALMENTS INCLUDING INTEREST AT 10 PER CENT.
FIRST CONTRACT FOR NEW HOUSING ESTATE
******
NOTE TO EDITORSi
THE FIRST CONTRACT FOR PART OF THE $67 MILLION shun LEE TSUEN ESTATE OFF CLEARWATER BAY ROAD, KOWLOON, WILL BE OFFICIALLY SIGNED AT 10 A.M. ON MONDAY (FEB. 16) MORNING AT ROOM 1310 OF THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 13TH FLOOR.
MR. JOSEPH LEI, CHIEF ARCHITECT, PWD, WILL SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND MR. BENNY TANG KAR-HUNG, MANAGING DIRECTOR, OF TANG TAK SON CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD. WILL SIGN FOR THE COMPANY.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1976 . - 3 -
PICNIC AREA FOR YIM TIN TSAI ISLAND
M M M M M M
A PICNIC AREA IS BEING BUILT ON THE ISLAND OF YIM TIN TSAI TO CATER FOR VISITORS WHO FLOCK THERE IN LARGE NUMBERS IN THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN MONTHS.
THE NEW PICNIC AREA WILL HAVE FOUR BARBECUE PITS, THREE PAVILIONS AND A NETWORK OF CONNECTING FOOTPATHS. THE COST OF THE PROJECT IS $60,000, OF WHICH THE LARGER PART HAS BEEN PROVIDED FROM THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION FUND, WITH THE BALANCE COMING FROM THE LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS FUND OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE, SAI KUNG.
WORK BEGAN LAST MONTH AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF MARCH IN GOOD TIME FOR THE FIRST SUMMER VISITORS.
A SENIOR OFFICER FROM THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS TO BE INVITED TO OPEN THE PICNIC AREA.
THE VILLAGERS OF YIM TIN TSAI, NUMBERING ABOUT 300, WILL BENEFIT FROM THE FACILITIES. THE VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVE, MR. CHAN KWAI-SANG, HAS ADVOCATED FOR SOME TIME BUILDING A PICNIC AREA AS HE IS KEEN TO DEVELOP TOURISM FOR THE ISLAND.
BESIDES BEING POPULAR WITH PICNICKERS WHO REACH YIM TIN TSAI BY SAMPAN FROM SAI KUNG, THE ISLAND ATTRACTS HIKERS WHO USE IT TO GET TO KAU SAI CHAU ISLAND WHICH HAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING FLORA. THERE ARE SOME MAGNIFICENT VIEWS FROM BOTH ISLANDS.
THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED BY STAFF OF THE WORKS SECTION OF SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE, WHO ARE ALSO SUPERVISING CONSTRUCTION.
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A
4
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1976
♦SENIOR CITIZEN WEEK+ OPENS IN SHAM SHU I PO ******
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY URGED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO KEEP UP THE FINE CHINESE TRADITION OF RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY AND NOT TO NEGLECT THE NEEDS OF THE AGED.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE +SENIOR CITIZEN WEEK+ WHICH HAD BEEN CO-ORDINATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE IN THE DISTRICT.
MR. LEE NOTED THAT HONG KONG HAD BECOME A COSMOPOLITAN CITY WHERE TRADITIONAL CHINESE FAMILY CONCEPTS HAD SOMEWHAT BEEN INFLUENCED BY WESTERN THINKING. +BUT WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT OUR OLDER GENERATION HAS LAID DOWN A SOUND FOUNDATION FOR OUR SOCIETY AND HAS PASSED ON TO US THEIR VALUABLE EXPERIENCE.+
THE +SENIOR CITIZEN WEEK+, HE SAID, HAD BEEN ORGANISED TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION OF OLD PEOPLE.
♦ALMOST EVERY FAMILY NOWADAYS IS BUSY WORKING AND TENDS TO NEGLECT THE NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE,+ MR. LEE SAID. +CONSEQUENTLY, A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS ARISE, SUCH AS THE PROPER CARE FOR THE AGED AND THE WIDENING GENERATION GAP.
♦IT IS GRATIFYING TO SEE KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, WELFARE AGENCIES AND LOCAL LEADERS PUT IN SO MUCH EFFORT IN ORGANISING THE ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME, WHICH HAS CLEARLY REFLECTED THE GENUINE CONCERN OF LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR OLD PEOPLE.+
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1976
5
NEW YEAR FUN FAIR FOR 20,000
*****
ABOUT 20,000 CHILDREN IN THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT WILL HAVE A DAY OF FUN AND GAMES TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL OPEN A BIG FUN FAIR AT THE CHOI HUNG ROAD PLAYGROUND IN THE MORNING.
THE FAIR HAS BEEN ORGANISED TO RAISE FUND FOR OUR LADY OF MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL AND REDEMPTION LUTHERAN CHURCH KI LIN CENTRE.
THE FUNCTION HAS BEEN ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE OF WONG TAI SIN, LOCAL WELFARE AGENCIES, KA IFONG ASSOCIATIONS, SCHOOLS AND THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE.
FORTY GAMES BOOTHS WILL BE SET UP AND THERE WILL BE VARIETY SHOWS.
ADMISSION TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT $1.00 EACH.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY, WHICH STARTS AT 10.45 A.M.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1976
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
GIN DRINKERS BAY REFUSE TIP SOON TO BE AVAILABLE FOR RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT .................................... 1
LARGE-SCALE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES A NECESSITY ........... 2
KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TO BE OFFICIALLY OPENED NEXT FRIDAY ................................................. 3
GREAT INTEREST IN FORMING MAC’S IN TSUEN WAN ................ 5
MANPOWER SURVEY TO BE CARRIED OUT ON PRINTING INDUSTRY .................................................... 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1976
1
HK’S BIGGEST REFUSE TIP NEARING FULL CAPACITY ******
THE GIN DRINKERS BAY CONTROLLED REFUSE TIP AT TSUEN WAN — BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST OF ITS TYPE IN THE WORLD — IS FAST REACHING ITS FULL CAPACITY OF ABOUT THREE MILLION TONS.
ACCORDING TO MR. NG TECH-SHENG, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S DEVELOPMENT AND AIRPORT DIVISION, THE TIP WAS NOW 90 PER CENT FULL AND WAS EXPECTED TO BE CLOSED AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THE LAND DEVELOPED FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, THE GIN DRINKERS BAY TIP HAS BEEN THE MAJOR DUMPING GROUND FOR REFUSE COLLECTED IN KOWLOON BY BOTH THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND PRIVATE CONTRACTORS.
FROM WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18) ONWARDS, MR. NG SAID, IT WOULD BE GRADUALLY FILLED WITH REFUSE DELIVERED BY USD REFUSE VEHICLES OR THOSE HIRED BY THE USD.
v ' • ' . ■
♦PRIVATE CONTRACTORS WILL NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO GIN DRINKERS BAY TIP, BUT ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THEM TO DUMP REFUSE AT THE NEW NGAU CHI WAN CONTROLLED TIP NEAR CLEARWATER BAY ROAD,+ HE SAID.
THE NGAU CHI WAN-TIP CAME INTO OPERATION’TOWARDS THE END OF LAST MONTH AND HAS A CAPACITY OF 600,000 TONS. IT HAS A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ABOUT TWO YEARS.
AT PRESENT, SOME 2,000 TONNES OF REFUSE ARE DISPOSED OF AT GIN DRINKERS BAY EACH DAY.
MR. NG SAID THE REFUSE WAS (SPREAD AND COMPRESSED INTO LAYERS OF ABOUT SEVEN FEET THICK AND COVERED WITH A NINE TO TWELVE-INCH LAYER OF SOFT, INERT SOIL.
♦THIS TOPPING OFF PROCEDURE IS CARRIED OUT EVERY DAY AFTER EACH OPERATION SO AS TO PREVENT NOXIOUS SMELLS AND ELIMINATE HEALTH AND FIRE HAZARDS,* HE SAID.
GIN DRINKERS BAY WAS FIRST SET UP IN 1959 BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS AN OPEN REFUSE DUMP.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TOOK IT OVER IN 1973 AND TURNED IT INTO A CONTROLLED TIP IN JULY THE SAME YEAR AT A COST OF SLIGHTLY OVER $8 MILLION.
THE TIP COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 65 ACRES.'
/WHEN IT IS .....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1976
- 2
WHEN IT IS FINALLY CLOSED TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR IT WILL PROVIDE ABOUT 40 ACRES OF FLAT LAND SUITABLE FOR OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIONAL USE. THE REMAINING 25 ACRES WILL COMPRISE SLOPES ON THE PERIMETER OF THE FLAT LAND AND AND WILL BE TURFED AND PROVIDED WITH STORM WATER DRAINS.
MEANWHILE. THE PWD HAS BEGUN PRELIMINARY WORK ON TWO MORE CONTROLLED TIPS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES — ONE AT SHIU LANG SHUI IN TUEN MUN AND THE OTHER AT MA TSO LUNG IN YUEN LONG.
THE SHIU LANG SHUI TIP SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY LATE 1977 OR EARLY 1978 AND IS ESTIMATED TO PROVIDE ABOUT 14 ACRES OF RECREATIONAL LAND AFTER IT HAS REACHED ITS FULL CAPACITY OF 560,000 TONNES.
THE MA TSO LUNG TIP, WITH A CAPACITY OF 160,000 TONNES, IS SCHEDULED TO BE READY TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR. WHEN IT IS CLOSED IN 1979 IT WILL PROVIDE ALMOST FOUR ACRES OF LAND FOR OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION.
- - 0
MASS ACTIVITIES VITAL IN LARGE COMMUNITIES ******
MASS ACTIVITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO MEET THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, THIS MORNING WHEN HE OPENED THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FUN FAIR ORGANISED FOR ABOUT 20,000 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT.
MR. LEE NOTED THAT THE FAIR SHOWED THAT THE WONG TAi SIN DISTRICT HAD SUCCESSFULLY MOBILISED ITS RESOURCES IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY-WIDE FUNCTIONS.
♦COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OF SUCH A HIGH DEGREE HAS SET A FINE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.*-
MR. LEE SAID THAT THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE SET UP IN THE DISTRICT WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN GROUP ACTIVITIES.
THE DIRECTOR PRAISED THE KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS, WELFARE AGENCIES, SCHOOLS AND FACTORIES IN THE DISTRICT FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
THE FAIR WAS ORGANISED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR OUR LADY OF MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL AND REDEMPTION LUTHERAN CHURCH KI LIN CENTRE, WHICH LOOK AFTER THE SICK AND THE ELDERLY IN THE DISTRICT.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1976
- 5 -
KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE! TRAINING GROUND FOR TECHNICIANS ******
KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE — THE THIRD OF ITS KIND TO BE COMPLETED FOR THE EXPANSION OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN HONG KONG — WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED BY DR. S.Y. CHUNG, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS, ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 20).
THE INSTITUTE, TOGETHER WITH THE ONE IN KWUN TONG, COMMENCED CLASSES LAST SEPTEMBER. FOUNDATION WORK FOR AN INSTITUTE IN CHEUNG SHA WAN IS IN PROGRESS WHILE PLANNING FOR THE FIFTH AT SAN PO KONG IS IN HAND. . . .
THE KWAI CHUNG INSTITUTE IS BUILT ON A STANDARD DESIGN AND HAS FIVE FLOORS, ACCOMMODATING 32 TEACHING AND SPECIALIST CLASSROOMS, AN. ASSEMBLY HALL, A LIBRARY, A THEATRE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.
I . , \
THE NOISIER WORKSHOPS AND SPECIALIST CLASSROOMS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE TEACHING AREAS BY THE HALL AND THEATRE.
A SPECIAL FEATURE IS A WELL-EQUIPPED 4O-B00TH LANGUAGE LABORATORY WHICH ENABLES TEACHERS TO TAKE A MODERN APPROACH TO THE TRAINING OF LANGUAGE SKILLS.
THE PRINCIPAL OF THE INSTITUTE, MR. LINCOLN LIEU, POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF THE COURSES OFFERED WERE GEARED TOWARDS THE TRAINING OF TECHNICIANS AND CRAFTSMEN.
AT THE MOMENT IT HAS 39 CLASSES — 14 FULL-TIME
DAY CLASSES, NINE PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE CLASSES AND 16 PART-TIME EVENING CLASSES, WITH AN ENROLMENT OF 1,261 STUDENTS.
COURSES ARE RUN BY FIVE TEACHING DEPARTMENTS! CLOTHING INDUSTRIES, TEXTILE INDUSTRIES, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND COMMERCIAL STUDIES.
A TOTAL OF 456 STUDENTS ARE ATTENDING THE FULL-TIME DAY CLASSES, 227 STUDENTS THE PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE CLASSES, AND 578 STUDENTS THE PART-TIME EVENING CLASSES.
+THE INSTITUTE IS NOT RUNNING AT ITS FULL CAPACITY YET,+ MR. LIEU SAID.+ALTHOUGH IT IS EXPECTED TO BUILD UP TO FULL CAPACITY IN ABOUT THREE TO FOUR YEARS.*
+WE WOULD PREFER MORE CLASSES ON A PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE BASIS, COMBINING CLASSROOM TEACHING WITH PRACTICAL ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, AS THEY ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF DEVELOPING OUR MANPOWER,* HE SAID.
/IT IS HOPED .....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1976
- 4
IT IS HOPED THAT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE THERE WILL BE MORE DEMAND FOR SUCH CLASSES.
THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER IWO EXISTING ONES IN MORRISON HILL AND KWUN TONG, HAVE THE MAJOR FUNCTION OF ORGANISING TECHNICAL EDUCATION TO COMPLEMENT THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROVIDED BY INDUSTRY.
ALTHOUGH THE COMMON DEPARTMENTS ARE BROADLY SIMILAR IN THE THREE INSTITUTES, THE COURSES IN EACH HAVE A DIFFERENT EMPHASIS.
♦FOR EXAMPLE, COURSES IN CLOTHING AND TEXTILE INDUSTRIES IN KWAI CHUNG ARE DESIGNED FOR TRAINING TECHNICIANS AND CRAFTSMEN IN SPINNING, DYEING, AND FINISHING WORK IN COTTON MILLS, WHILE IN KWUN TONG, THE STRESS IS LAID ON KNITTING,+ MR.'LIEU SAID.
THE INSTITUTE IS INSTALLED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MACHINES FOR THESE COURSES, INCLUDING A SOPHISTICATED COMBER NEWLY ORDERED FROM AN INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE MACHINES EXHIBITION IN MILAN.
THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IS DIRECTED TOWARDS TRAINING TECHNICIANS IN THE TYPE OF WORK REQUIRED IN POWER STATIONS WHILE THE TRAINING IN KWUN TONG IS FOR THE ’LIGHT’ ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES.
THE INSTITUTE’S OFFICE STUDIES COURSE, ONE OF THE SEVERAL COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS OFFERED, IS RECOGNISED BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS IN LONDON.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1976
5
GREAT INTEREST IN FORMING MACS, SAYS TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICER M * * * If *
THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST IN FORMING MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN TSUEN WAN, THE TOWN’S DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. JAMES HAYES, STATED THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING.
MR. HAYES WAS TALKING TO MORE THAN 300 MEN AND WOMEN ASSOCIATED WITH MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS, WHO WERE ATTENDING THE FIRST ANNUAL SPRING GATHERING IN THE KAM YIP RESTAURANT.
+S0 GREAT IS THE INTEREST BEING SHOWN+, DECLARED MR. HAYES, +THAT WE SHOULD DOUBLE THE NUMBER WITHIN A YEAR*. HE SAID THERE WERE 107 MACS AND 18 OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS NOW IN EXISTENCE WITH SEVERAL MORE IN THE PIPELINE.
MR. HAYES OUTLINED THE WAY MACS WERE FORMED IN TSUEN WAN, STATING THAT THE DISTRICT OFFICE LIAISON OFFICER, AIDED BY AN EIGHT-MAN TEAM OF PART-TIME, PAID COMMUNITY ORGANISERS, VISITED MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS, USUALLY BY INVITATION, TO GIVE ADVICE ON THE BEST METHOD OF SETTING UP AN MAC.
+WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF INQUIRIES TO DEAL WITH AS PEOPLE ARE INCREASINGLY RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF MACS IN IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT AND REDUCING CRIME+, MR. HAYES STATED.
HE SAID THE FORMATION OF MACS BEGAN IN JULY, 1973, AND AT PRESENT APPROXIMATELY ONE IN SIX OF TSUEN WAN’S POPULATION LIVE IN A BUILDING WHICH HAS EITHER A MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE OR AN OWNERS’ INCORPORATION. +IF THE PRESENT TREND CONTINUES+, HE ADDED, +THE RATIO SHOULD BE ONE IN THREE BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.*
MR. HAYES SAID THAT DURING THE LAST NINE MONTHS 17 MACS HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN KWAI CHUNG, SEVEN IN THE SHEK LEI DISTRICT AND 22 IN TSUEN WAN TOWN. +THERE ARE EVEN MACS IN THREE INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS* HE DECLARED.
HE ALSO MENTIONED A NEIGHBOURHOOD SECURITY PATROL TRAINING COURSE ARRANGED WIT^ THE HELP OF LOCAL POLICE WHICH WAS COMPLETED BY 41 STUDENTS. .
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1976
MANPOWER SURVEY ON PRINTING INDUSTRY' • M M M M M
THE PRINTING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL WILL CARRY OUT A MANPOWER SURVEY NEXT MONTH TO COLLECT UP-TO-DATE STATISTICAL INFORMATION.-
THIS WILL ENABLE THE TRAINING BOARD TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MANPOWER TRAINING FOR THE INDUSTRY.
THE SURVEY - THE THIRD OF ITS KIND - WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN MARCH 15 AND APRIL 5 WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY LETTERS WILL BE SENT ON MARCH 1 TO EMPLOYERS OF 400 ESTABLISHMENTS SELECTED BY RANDOM STRATIFIED SAMPLING.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD, MR. ALEX WU, ASSURED THE EMPLOYERS THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD BE PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY INDUVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENT.
EMPLOYERS WILL BE REQUESTED TO SUPPLY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON EACH OF THE PRINCIPAL JOBS IN THE INDUSTRYi
X THE NUMBER OF WORKERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED-
* THE NUMBER OF WORKERS CURRENTLY UNDER TRAINING-
X THE NUMBER OF EXISTING VACANCIES- AND
* A FORECAST OF THE ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF WORKERS REQUIRED BY APRIL 1977.
INTERVIEWING OFFICERS WILL CALL ON EACH OF THE 400 ESTABLISHMENTS DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD TO ASSIST EMPLOYERS TO COMPLETE THE QESTIONNAIRES.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sunday, February 15, 19%
REPAIR WORK ON ESTATE BLOCK * * ♦ ♦
The Maintenance Staff of the Housing Department will carry out spalling repairs to block 5 of Lower Ngau Tau Kok
Estate tomorrow (Monday).
The work will consist of the removal of the defective concrete in the central corridor on the first floor, the building of a temporary wooden platform in its place and the recasting of the floor slab.
It will take about three to four weeks to complete.
The 20 families living on the first floor have been informed of the work and any inconvenience will be kept to the minim’/..
Estate caretakers will patrol the area round-the-clock to look after the place and ensure the safety of the tenants.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HOUSING ESTATE FOR 20,000 TO BE BUILT SHORTLY .;................ 1
JAPANESE FIREMEN VISIT HONG KONG’S FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATIONS .........................................2
INDUSTRIALISTS TOLD POLLUTION CAN BE AVOIDED WITH PLANNING AT EARLY STAGES ...................................... 3
TAI WOR PING FIRE VICTIMS OFFERED HELP ........................ 4
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CLASSES AT GRAMMAR SCHOOL ................ 5
’PARENTS EVENING’ AT KWUN TONG HOSTEL .......................... 6
<
WATER INTERRUPTION IN POKFULAM ................................. 6
MONG KOK TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS IN PREPARATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF METRO......................... ' .
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976
1
WORK ON $67 M. ESTATE TO START SHORTLY * M * * M *
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS TO START IN JUNE ON THE FIRST DOMESTIC BLOCK OF ANOTHER MAJOR HOUSING COMPLEX IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S BUILDING PROGRAMME.
THE NEW COMPLEX IS THE $67 MILLION SHUN LEE TSUEN (STAGE ONE) OFF CLEARWATER BAY ROAD IN KOWLOON WHICH WILL HOUSE SOME 20,000 PEOPLE IN 3,000 SELF-CONTAINED DOMESTIC FLATS BY MID-1978.
THE FIRST CONTRACT, WORTH NEARLY $15 MILLION, WAS SIGNED IN THE PWD OFFICES THIS (MONDAY) MORNING BETWEEN THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE AND THE TANG TAK SON CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD.
MR. JOSEPH LEI, CHIEF ARCHITECT, SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND MR. BENNY K.H. TANG, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TANG TAK SON CONSTRUCTION, SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY.
THE CONTRACT COVERS CONSTRUCTION OF ONE 30-STOREY CRUCIFORM BLOCK. A KINDERGARTEN, A SHOPPING ARCADE AND AN ESTATE MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
THE WHOLE STAGE ONE DEVELOPMENT COMPRISES TWO 30-STOREY DOMESTIC BLOCKS OF THE CRUCIFORM TYPE, A SEVEN-STOREY BLOCK, A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX, A MULTI-STOREY CARPARK WITH 600 SPACES, FOUR ACRES OF OPEN SPACE FOR RECREATION, TWO 24-CLASSR00M PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND TWO KINDERGARTENS TO SERVE TENANTS AND RESIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
♦TENDERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CALLED FOR THE OTHER WORKS UNDER THIS STAGE AND THE CONTRACTS WILL BE SIGNED SHORTLY FOR CONSTRUCTION TO START,+ MR. LEI SAID.
♦THE WHOLE OF STAGE ONE SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MID-1978 AND WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS PART OF ITS 10-YEAR HOUSING PROGRAMME,* HE ADDED.
MR. LEI SAID NEARLY FIVE ACRES OF OPEN AND RECREATIONAL SPACE WOULD BE PROVIDED IN AND AROUND THE ESTATE WITH PLAYGROUNDS AND REST GARDENS FOR RESIDENTS.
COMMERCIAL FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED TO SERVE THE STAGE I POPULATION. THESE INCLUDE 20 SHOPS AND A CENTRALLY LOCATED MARKET CONSISTING OF ABOUT 50 STALLS OF VARIOUS SIZES AND A LARGE RESTAURANT.
THE RESTAURANT, MEASURING SOME 12,000 SQUARE FEET, WOULD BE LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE COMMERCIAL COMPLEX WITH THE CARPARK ON TOP OF IT.
/♦FOB THE .....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976
2
♦FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE TENANTS, THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT BLOCKS WILL BE LINKED BY ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS TO THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE SO THAT RESIDENTS NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT RAIN OR TRAFFIC WHEN DOING THEIR SHOPPING,* HE ADDED.
THE TWO PR I MARY,SCHOOLS AND TWO KINDERGARTENS ARE WITHIN THE ESTATE ITSELF WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE OF THE DOMESTIC BLOCKS, AND PLANS ARE IN HAND TO BUILD TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE AREA AT A LATER DATE.
+THE ESTATE WILL PROVIDE A VARIETY OF FLATS, RANGING FROM 250 SQUARE FEET TO 390 SQUARE FEET, EACH WITH IMPROVED BALCONY DESIGN INCORPORATING A KITCHEN AND TOILET.
+THE CRUCIFORM BLOCKS WILL CATER FOR FAMILIES FROM FIVE TO NINE PEOPLE, WHILE THE SEVEN-STOREY BLOCK WILL ACCOMMODATE FAMILIES CONSISTING OF ABOUT SIX MEMBERS,* HE SAID.
♦UNITS ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE SEVEN-STOREY BLOCK CAN EASILY BE CONVERTED TO HOUSE OLD AND HANDICAPPED PEOPLE,* HE ADDED.
OTHER FACILITIES IN THE ESTATE, HE SAID, INCLUDED A SMALL POST OFFICE, BUS AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUS STANDS, TURFED AREAS AND AN ESTATE OFFICE.
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JAPANESE FIREMEN ON STUDY TOUR OF HONG KONG
M * * * * M M
A
PARTY OF 50 VOLUNTEER AND VISIT TO THE HARBOUR ROAD
PAID A DEPOT
PROFESSIONAL FIREMEN FROM JAPAN
- _____ .. _______ ____ FIRE STATION AND THE FIREBOAT
EPOT AT CENTRAL RECLAMATION TODAY (MONDAY).
THEY SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS AT THE STATION INSPECTING FIRE SERVICES EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING THE NEW 85-F00T SNORKEL.
LATER THEY WERE TAKEN ON A TOUR OF THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL HARBOUR ON BOARD THE 35O-T0N FIREBOAT +ALEXANDER GRANTHAM*.
THE VISITORS. CURRENTLY ON A FOUR-DAY COMPREHENSIVE STUDY MISSION IN HONG KONG, ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE HYOGO PREFECTURE FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION, AN EXTRA-DEPARTMENTAL ORGANISATION OF THE HYOGO PREFECTURE GOVERNMENT.
THEY ARRIVED HERE LAST SATURDAY AND WILL LEAVE FOR OSAKA TOMORROW.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976 - 3 -
INDUSTRIALISTS TOLD POLLUTION CAN BE AVOIDED IN EARLY STAGES OF PLANNING M * * * * M *
THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MR. JAMES ROBSON, TODAY (MONDAY) WARNED OF A BUILD-UP OF POLLUTION AND APPEALED TO INDUSTRIALISTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY AT THE DESIGN STAGE TO MINIMISE THE POSSIBILITY OF POLLUTION.
♦TECHNOLOGY HAS NOW REACHED A STAGE WHERE MOST POLLUTION PROBLEMS CAN BE THROTTLED AT BIRTH, AND IT IS MAINLY THOUGHTLESSNESS OR GREED THAT RESULTS IN INADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN,♦ SAID MR. ROBSON AT THE OPENING OF THE AUSTRALIAN POLLUTION CONTROL DISPLAY AND SEMINAR AT THE AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION IN CONNAUGHT CENTRE. .
HE ADDED THAT IT WAS ALSO AT THE DESIGN STAGE THAT POLLUTION CONTROL COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO A PLANT AT THE MINIMUM COST AND WITH THE GREATEST EFFECT.
HE SAID THAT A GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED CONSULTANT HAD RECOMMENDED THE SETTING UP OF A CENTRAL CONTROL UNIT AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING ANTI-POLLUTION REGULATIONS WITH A SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE ORDINANCE. FURTHERMORE, IT ALSO RECOMMENDED THE SETTING OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OBJECTIVES AND THE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF DISCHARGES INTO INLAND AND COASTAL WATERS.
HOWEVER, HE SAID: +ALL THESE MEASURES WILL, OF COURSE, COST MONEY AND ONE OF THE TASKS OF THE CONSULTANT WILL BE TO ADVISE ON THE BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT SHOULD BE DONE AND WHAT WE CAN AFFORD TO DO.+
HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECOGNISED THE THREAT OF POLLUTION AND HAD SPENT CONSIDERABLE FUNDS ON POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES.
+FORTUNATELY, HERE IN HONG KONG, WE HAVE RECENTLY MANAGED TO KEEP ON TOP OF THE SITUATION, BUT THIS IS ONLY BECAUSE POTENTIALLY POLLUTING INDUSTRIES ARE AT PRESENT COMPARATIVELY FEW, BECAUSE THE TIDE FLUSHES OUT THE HARBOUR TWICE A DAY, AND BECAUSE OUR FRAGRANT HARBOUR HAS ALWAYS HAD A FAIR WIND,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE SOLUTION TO MANY POLLUTION PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY THOSE CAUSED BY URBAN LIVING, DEPENDED ON THE ATTITUDE OF THE PUBLIC.
♦COMPREHENSIVE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR VOLUNTARY EFFORT ON THE PART OF EACH OF OUR CITIZENS TO’ MINIMISE POLLUTION PROBLEMS,+ HE STRESSED.
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4
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976
DISTRICT OFFICE SAI KUNG HELPS TAI WOR PING FIRE VICTIMS ******
THE 33 FAMILIES WHO WERE MADE HOMELESS IN LAST MONDAY’S FIRE AT TAI WOR PING ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY STAFF OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE, SAI KUNG.
DEPENDING ON THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY ARE BEING OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING, FLATTED FACTORIES. OR LICENSED AREA SITES. IN SOME CASES THEY MAY REBUILD ON THE SITE THE? OCCUPIED BEFORE THE FIRE. THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAS ALSO PROVIDED MONETARY RELIEF.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, SAI KUNG, MR. ROBERT UPTON, SAID HE AND HIS STAFF HAD VISITED THE AREA OF THE FIRE AND CARRIED OUT SITE INVESTIGATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CLEARANCE DIVISION OF THE HOU'SING DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL CASES. THE PROCESSING IS STILL CONTINUING.
I
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED RELIEF ITEMS INCLUDING BLANKETS, HOT MEALS AND MILK POWDER.
EX GRATIA PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE TO FAMILIES REBUILDING DOMESTIC STRUCTURES ON SITE AT THE RATE OF UP TO $1,250 FOR THE FIRST FIVE MEMBERS OF FAMILY AND A FURTHER $250 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MEMBER. EACH PERSON WILL ALSO QUALIFY FOR A GRANT OF $100 FOR RE-EQUIPMENT PURPOSES AFTER DOMESTIC REBUILDING.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE SITE FOR DISTRIBUTING HOT MEALS IS THE CLOSEST POSSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF VICTIMS.
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SAYS FACTORY OPERATORS, WHO DO NOT OPT FOR A FLATTED FACTORY, WILL RECEIVE COMPENSATION AT THE RATE OF $6,000 FOR SURVEYED WORKSHOPS BETWEEN 50 SQ. FT. AND 300 SQ. FT. AND AT THE RATE OF $20 PER SQ. FT. FOR FACTORIES OF OVER 300 SQ. FT.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976
- 5 -DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP AT GRAMMAR SCHOOL *******
TWO HUNDRED BOYS AND GIRLS AT ST. MARGARET’S COLLEGE ARE ENJOYING A NEW FORM OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AS PART OF THEIR GENERAL EDUCATION.
THE COLLEGE AT SHIU FAI TERRACE, STUBBS ROAD, IS ONE OF THE FIRST ASSISTED PRIVATE SECONDARY GRAMMAR SCHOOLS OFFERING DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOLLOWING THE CONVERSION OF A ROOM INTO A WORKSHOP FOR THIS PURPOSE.
THE COST OF CONVERSION, INCLUDING WORKSHOP FACILITIES FOR THE FIRST PHASE, WAS ABOUT $28,500.
THE PRINCIPAL OF THE COLLEGE AND THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAVE DEVISED A +PHASING-IN+ PROGRAMME OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
THE NEW WORKSHOP HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE LAST NOVEMBER.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAYi +THERE ARE PROBLEMS FOR ANY SCHOOL WITHOUT PROPER FACILITIES TO INNOVATE TECHNICAL/PRACTICAL EDUCATION.
♦HOWEVER, ST. MARGARET’S HAS BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST GRAMMAR SCHOOLS TO SHOW THE WAY AND HAS ESTABLISHED ITS OWN DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP TO INCLUDE BOTH WOOD AND METAL, AND HOPES TO TEACH THIS SUBJECT THROUGH A DESIGN-PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH.+
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THIS NEW APPROACH TO THE TEACHING OF WOODWORK AND METALWORK WOULD HAVE MUCH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
MANY SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAVE RESPONDED FAVOURABLY TO THE INTRODUCTION OF DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON CORE CURRICULUM.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL), MR. ANDREW KINGWELL, WILL VISIT ST. MARGARET’S COLLEGE ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18) TO SEE FOR HIMSELF HOW THE SUBJECT IS TAUGHT AT THE SCHOOL.
NOTE TO EDITORS! YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S VISIT TO THE COLLEGE, 1-E SHIU FAI TERRACE, STUBBS ROAD, HONG KONG, AT 2.30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY.
BOTH MR. KINGWELL AND THE PRINCIPAL, REV. LOUIS BOL IS, WILL BE PLEASED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE MASS MEDIA.
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/6
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976
6
’PARENTS’ EVENING’ AT KWUN TONG HOSTEL
******
THE KWUN TONG HOSTEL, RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S PROBATION AND CORRECTION DIVISION, WILL BE HOLDING A +PARENTS* EVENING* TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
PARENTS OF PROBATIONERS ARE INVITED TO SEE WHAT IS BEING DONE TO HELP THEIR SONS.
GROUP DISCUSSIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE HOSTEL STAFF WILL BE HELD AFTERWARDS.
THE +PARENTS’ EVENING* IS AN ANNUAL EVENT ORGANISED TO SHOW PARENTS OF PROBATIONERS THE MANY FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN THE HOSTEL TO REHABILITATE THEIR BOYS AND TO CORRECT THEIR SHORTCOMINGS.
THE FUNCTION IS ALSO AIMED AT INFORMING PARENTS ON THE PROGRESS THEIR SONS ARE MAKING AND THUS ESTABLISHING A MUCH CLOSER FAMILY RELATIONSHIP.
ANOTHER PURPOSE OF THE FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS OF PROBATIONERS AND STAFF OF THE HOSTEL.
GUESTS INVITED TO ATTEND THE FUNCTION INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY AND SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE PROBATION AND CORRECTION DIVISION.
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WATER INTERRUPTION
* * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN POKFULAM WILL BE INTERRUPTED FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 10 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18) TO 6 A.M. THE NEXT DAY.
THE WATERWORKS OFFICE WILL CARRY OUT WORK ON A FRESH WATER MAIN DURING THIS PERIOD.
THE PREMISES AFFECTED WILL BE HOUSE NOS. 21 TO 60, SASSOON ROAD, NOS. 116 TO 144 POKFULAM ROAD, INCLUDING THE EBENEZER SCHOOL AND HOME FOR THE BLIND, AND BUILDINGS ON CROWN TERRACE, BISNEY ROAD AND CONSORT STREET.
ALL PREMISES IN POKFULAM VILLAGE, INCLUDING TAI KOO LAU AND THE DAIRY FARM COLD STORAGE, SENIOR STAFF FLATS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND WAH FU ESTATE HIGH BLOCKS, WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976
7
TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS IN MONG KOK ******
A NUMBER OF TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON WEDNESDAY MORNING IN MONG KOK, KOWLOON, IN PREPARATION FOR THE START OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE METRO STATIONS IN NATHAN ROAD.
THE STREETS AFFECTED WILL BE ARGYLE.STREET, MONG KOK ROAD, FIFE STREET, FA YUEN STREET, TUNG CHOI STREET, WATERLOO ROAD, NATHAN ROAD, AND PORTLAND STREET.
IN ARGYLE STREET, THERE WILL BE TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC EASTBOUND AND FOUR LANES WESTBOUND BETWEEN TONG Ml ROAD AND PORTLAND STREET AND BETWEEN SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET AND SAI YEE STREET.
THERE WILL BE FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC WESTBOUND ONLY BETWEEN PORTLAND STREET AND SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET.
AT THE ARGYLE STREET JUNCTION WITH SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET, A RIGHT TURN MOVEMENT WILL BE ALLOWED FOR TRAFFIC TRAVELLING SOUTHBOUND IN SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET INTO ARGYLE STREET WESTBOUND.
BUS STOPS IN THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF ARGYLE STREET BETWEEN SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET AND FA YUEN STREET WILL BE RELOCATED IN TUNG CHOI STREET.
IN MONG KOK ROAD, THERE WILL BE FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC EASTBOUND AND TWO LANES WESTBOUND BETWEEN TONG Ml ROAD AND PORTLAND STREET AND BETWEEN SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET AND SAI YEE STREET.
THERE VlLL BE SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC EASTBOUND ONLY BETWEEN PORTLAND STREET AND SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET.
RIGHT TURN MOVEMENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AT THE MONG KdK ROAD JUNCTION WITH TUNG CHOI STREET FOR TRAFFIC TRAVELLING FROM MONG KOK ROAD WESTBOUND INTO TUNG CHOI STREET NORTHBOUND.
FIFE STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED WESTBOUND BETWEEN SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET AND TUNG CHOI STREET WHILE FA YUEN STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN MONG KOK ROAD AND ARGYLE STREET.
AT THE WATERLOO ROAD JUNCTION WITH NATHAN ROAD, THE LEFT TURN MOVEMENT FROM WATERLOO ROAD EASTBOUND INTO NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND, THE RIGHT TURN MOVEMENT FROM WATERLOO ROAD EASTBOUND INTO NATHAN ROAD SOUTHBOUND AND THE RIGHT TURN MOVEMENT FROM WATERLOO ROAD WESTBOUND INTO NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED.
AT THE NATHAN ROAD JUNCTION WITH MONG KOK ROAD, THE RIGHT TURN FROM NATHAN ROAD SOUTHBOUND INTO MONG KOK ROAD WESTBOUND AND THE LEFT TURN FROM NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND INTO MONG KOK ROAD WESTBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED.
AT THE NATHAN ROAD JUNCTION WITH ARGYLE STREET THE LEFT TURN FROM NATHAN ROAD SOUTHBOUND INTO ARGYLE STREET EASTBOUND AND THE RIGHT TURN FROM NATHAN ROAD NORTHBOUND INTO ARGYLE STREET EASTBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED.
AT THE JUNCTION OF PORTLAND STREET AND PRINCE EDWARD ROAD A LEFT TURN ONLY WILL BE IMPOSED.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP ON ALL STREETS AFFECTED ' FOR THE GUIDANCE OF MOTORISTS.
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1976
CONTENTS PASE N0-
SIR MURRAY MEETS THE PRESS ON T.V. AND RADIO ................. 1
FIFTY NEW BUILDING PLANS GIVEN APPROVAL LAST MONTH ........... 1
$444,000 FROM LOTTERIES FUND ALLOCATED FOR SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS LAST QUARTER ....................................... 2
RENEWAL OF CROWN LAND LICENCES ............................... 2
»
CLEARWATER BAY LAND SOLD FOR $2 MILLION ...................... 3
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED ...................................... 3
MORE DONATIONS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS ..................,................................... 4
HING SHING ROAD IN KWAI CHUNG CLOSED TILL SUNDAY.............. 4
$230,000 DONATED FOR SCHOOL’S GENERAL SCIENCE LABORATORY . 5
KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TO BE OPENED BY DR. CHUNG
THIS FRIDAY .................................................. 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1976
1
SIR MURRAY MEETS THE PRESS ON AIR
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IS TO APPEAR ON ALL FIVE HONG KONG TELEVISION CHANNELS AND ON RADIO TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) EVENING, ANSWERING A WIDE RANGE OF QUESTIONS FROM THREE PROMINENT JOURNALISTS.
HE WILL GIVE HIS VIEWS ON HONG KONG’S PROSPECTS FOR THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON, THE PRIORITIES FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS, THE RECENT DEFENCE AGREEMENT, THE PROGRESS OF ICAC’S WORK AND THE ROLE OF MACS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.
THE 30-MINUTE PROGRAMME, WHICH WAS PRE-RECORDED IN RADIO HONG KONG’S STUDIOS, HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS, EMBARGOED UNTIL 7 P.M. TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
FOR CHINESE VIEWERS AND LISTENING AUDIENCE THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN DUBBED INTO CANTONESE.
THE JOURNALISTS APPEARING ON THE PROGRAMME ARE MR. ANTHONY LAWRENCE, A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, WHO HAS A REGULAR PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMME ON R.T.V., MR. SZE CHUSIAN OF T.V.B. AND PR. PETER PUN, NEWS MANAGER OF C.T.V.
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50 NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED LAST MONTH ******
A TOTAL OF 50 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED LAST MONTH BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THESE INCLUDED PLANS FOR THREE 14-STOREY DOMESTIC HOUSING BLOCKS OF THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY AT KWAI CHUNG, TWO MULTISTOREY APARTMENT BUILDINGS OF 28 AND 29 STOREYS OFF KING’S ROAD IN SHAU KEI WAN, THE NEW WORLD CENTRE AT SALISBURY ROAD, KOWLOON, SEVEN 18-STOREY BLOCKS FOR A HOTEL AND APARTMENT BUILDING AT CANTON ROAD, THREE STUDENT HOSTELS AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY IN SHA TIN, AND A SCHOOL BUILDING AT CHUNG HAU STREET, KOWLOON.
DURING THE MONTH, B.0.0. ALSO GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO START ON 42 NEW BUILDING PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE TAI KOO DOCKYARD REDEVELOPMENT APARTMENT/COMMERCI AL COMPLEX WITH 212 FLATS AT QUARRY BAY, AND A 120-FLAT APARTMENT/COMMERCI AL COMPLEX AT LOCKHART ROAD, WAN CHAI.
SIXTY-ONE OCCUPATION PERMITS WERE ISSUED FOR COMPLETED NEW BUILDINGS, WHICH INCLUDED 33 APARTMENT/COMMERCI AL BUILDINGS, A HOME FOR THE AGED AT SAI KUNG, A YOUTH CAMP AT CHEUNG CHAU AND A PRIVATE SCHOOL AT BLUE POOL ROAD.
THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF THESE BUILDINGS WAS $99.38 MILLION.
CONSENT WAS ALSO GIVEN FOR DEMOLITION WORK ON SEVENTEEN BUILDINGS.
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/2....
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1976
2
OVER $400,000 ALLOCATED FROM LOTTERIES FUND
* M * * X *
A TOTAL OF $444,521 WAS ALLOCATED FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND IN THE FORM OF GRANTS FOR VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS DURING THE LAST QUARTER OF 1975.
THE AMOUNT CONSISTED OF $369,000 FOR CAPITAL GRANTS AND $75,521 FOR MINOR GRANTS.
THE BIGGEST OF THE 15 GRANTS AMOUNTED TO $100,000 AND WAS MADE TO THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION TO SUBSIDISE THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF THE ROTARY HOSTEL FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED.
ANOTHER GRANT, OF $93,000, WAS SET ASIDE FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO BUY A NEW VAN, LIBRARY BOOKS AND PLAY EQUIPMENT FOR ITS MOBILE RURAL SERVICES.
TWO GRANTS -- ONE OF $80,000 AND THE OTHER $70,000 — WERE MADE TO THE BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS ASSOCIATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CHILDREN’S CENTRE AND LIBRARY AT LAI TAK CHUEN CENTRE AND TO THE YOUNG WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO ITS YOUTH CAMP AT LANTAU ISLAND.
AS THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERY SERIES ENDED LAST OCTOBER, THE LOTTERIES FUND NOW OBTAINS ITS PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF ’LUCKY’ CAR NUMBERS AND FROM THE MARK SIX LOTTERIES.
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RENEWAL OF CROWN LAND LICENCES
H X M M *
THE DISTRICT OFFICE, TUEN MUN, ISSUED A REMINDER TODAY THAT ALL CROWN LAND LICENCES AND MODIFICATION OF TENANCY PERMITS ISSUED DURING 1975 EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31 AND SHOULD BE RENEWED FROM JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR.
THE DISTRICT OFFICE POINTS OUT THAT ALL CROWN LAND LICENCES AND MODIFICATION OF TENANCY PERMITS ARE VALID FROM JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31 EACH YEAR.
RENEWAL MAY BE MADE BY PAYMENT IN PERSON AT THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS OR BY CHEQUE MADE PAYABLE TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1976
- 3 -
LAND SALE REALISES $2 M
* * * * *
A 58,000 SQ. FT. PIECE OF LAND AT TA KU LING, NEAR THE LOOKOUT ON CLEARWATER BAY ROAD, SOLD FOR $2 MILLION, ALMOST DOUBLE ITS UPSET PRICE, AT AN AUCTION THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE PRICE REALISED WAS $34.48 PER SQ. FT.
THE PURCHASER WAS SHIU HONG ENTERPRISES LIMITED. THERE WAS ONE OTHER BIDDER.
THE AUCTION, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LASTED 25 MINUTES. THE UPSET PRICE WAS $1,100,000.
THE COMPANY PAID A DEPOSIT OF $140,000 AND THE BALANCE IS TO BE PAID WITHIN ONE MONTH. IT IS TO FULFIL A BUILDING COVENANT AMOUNTING TO $1,160,000 BY DECEMBER 31, 1978.
THE SITE IS TO BE USED FOR RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION ONLY, SUBJECT TO A PLOT RATIO OF 0.6. NO BUILDING IS TO EXCEED TWO STOREYS IN HEIGHT.
ONE MONTH AGO, LAND IN THE SAME LAY-OUT AREA SOLD FOR
$20 PER SQ. FT.
THE NEXT LAND SALE IN THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 16.
0
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED ******
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON JULY 17, 1975 ON CHENG MUN-YUNG SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO A TERM OF 25 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.
CHENG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF FATALLY INJURING TAM KAM-TONG, HIS LANDLORD. DURING HIS TRIAL HE CLAIMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN TROUBLE BETWEEN HIM AND TAM ABOUT HIS TENANCY FOR OVER A MONTH BEFORE THE KILLING.
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A
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY X7, 1976
- 4 -
MORE DONATIONS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO FIRE VICTIMS M * M V
ABOUT $110 WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF THE 3,226 VICTIMS OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE THIS FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 20) AT THE
SALES IAN SCHOOL AT 2 .P.M.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SA IDs +PUBLIC DONATIONS TOTALLING ABOUT $1 MILLION HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED WITH THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IN AID OF THE FIRE VICTIMS. OF THIS AMOUNT, EACH VICTIM WAS GIVEN $100 ON FEBRUARY 5 OUT OF THE DONATIONS THEN RECEIVED.+
I
A FURTHER $400,000 IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO THESE VICTIMS TO HELP THEM WITH EXPENSES TO REBUILD OR FURNISH THEIR NEW HOMES.
+AT PRESENT, THE BALANCE OF THE DONATIONS NOT YET COMMITTED AMOUNTS TO $360,000 AND THIS IS BEING DISTRIBUTED AS CASH PAYMENTS ON FRIDAY,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TURNING TO FURTHER DONATIONS FOR THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS, THE SPOKESMAN URGED DONORS TO SEND IN THEIR MONEY BEFORE NOON ON THURSDAY IN ORDER TO AVOID THE NEED OF ANOTHER DISTRIBUTION.
- - - - 0 ---------
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN TSUEN WAN
*******
BECAUSE OF A BURST WATER-MAIN,.HING SHING ROAD BETWEEN THE NORTHERN JUNCTION OF KWAI SHING CIRCUIT AND KO FONG STREET HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
REPAIRS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, WHEN THE ROAD WILL REOPEN TO TRAFFIC.
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC SIGNS HAVE BEEN PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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/5.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1976
- 5 -
TOPLEY RECEIVES $230,000 DONATION FOR SCHOOL LABORATORY ********
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, THIS AFTERNOON RECEIVED A CHEQUE FOR $230,000 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FUND RAISING COMMITTEE OF THE INDIAN WOMEN’S CLUB, MRS. KAMLA KAPAHI, FOR THE BUILDING OF A SINGLE-STOREY GENERAL SCIENCE LABORATORY AT SIR ELLIS KADOORIE SCHOOL, SOO KUN PO.
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO PROVIDE $60,000 FOR FURNI TURE- AND EQUIPMENT.
LADY KADOORIE UNVEILED A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE FOR THE LABORATORY WHICH SHOULD BE READY FOR USE IN THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.
ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL, MR. TOPLEY THANKED THE INDIAN WOMEN’S CLUB FOR ITS VERY GENEROUS DONATION.
+THE SCIENCE LABORATORY INDEED PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING SCIENCE BY.PUPILS IN A SECONDARY SCHOOL. IT IS THE PLACE WHERE PUPILS LEARN THE SKILL IN HANDLING MATERIALS AND MANIPULATING APPARATUS, MAKING ACCURATE OBSERVATIONS AND CARRYING OUT INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXPERIMENTS OR DESIGNING EXPERIMENTS TO TEST THEIR OWN HYPOTHESIS.
+IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT OF INQUIRY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENCE LEARNING, PUPILS WORKING INSIDE A LABORATORY CAN DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO OBSERVE CRITICALLY, TO THINK SCIENTIFICALLY AND TO HANDLE PROBLEM SITUATIONS EFFECTIVELY,* MR. TOPLEY SAID.
/6
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1976
6
DR. CHUNG TO OPEN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE KO**
NOTE TO EDITORS s
DR. S.Y. CHUNG, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS, WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 20) AT 3 P.M.
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, WILL PRESIDE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
MUSIC WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE BAND.
AS BEFITTING THE OCCASION, DR. CHUNG WILL UNVEIL — FROM THE ASSEMBLY HALL BY REMOTE PUSH-BUTTON CONTROL — A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SCHOOL.
GUESTS IN THE HALL WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH THE PLAQUE UNVEILING ON CLOSE-CIRCUIT T.V.
KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS THE THIRD OF A SERIES OF SUCH SCHOOLS PLANNED FOR THE EXPANSION OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
IT BEGAN CLASSES LAST SEPTEMBER AND NOW HAS AN ENROLMENT OF OVER 1,200, INCLUDING PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE AND EVENING CLASS STUDENTS.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY.
DR. CHUNG AND MR. ANDREW KINGWELL,, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL) WILL SPEAK ON THE OCCASION. THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS AT HING SHING ROAD, KWAI CHUNG. A SKETCH MAP SHOWING ITS LOCATION WILL BE PUT IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES FOR COLLECTION THIS EVENING.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Tuesday, February 17, 197$
R3JITS FC? GROUP B ESTATE SHOPS REVISED
********
The rents of all shops and restaurants in Group B public housing estates that are let on month-to-month tenancies will be increased by a maximum of 25 per cent from April 1, the Housing Authority announced today.
There are altogether 11,260 premises affected, ranging in size from 120 sq.ft, to 1,568 sq.ft. The great majority of those shops and restaurants are in the cheaper ranges, with over 6,000 of them having rents below $100 per month inclusive, and only 51 shops and restaurants having rents over $500 per month inclusive.
Letters to affected tenants will be delivered tomorrow.
Except for shops in M rk I and II blocks, which had a small increase in 1968/69 (of between 35 and 349), none of the tenants have had any increase in rent since construction seven to 12 years ago.
A spokesman for the Housing Authority pointed out that even with the increase, the new rent is substantially lower t an the open mrket value, being about one-eighth to one-fourth of those charged in the private sector.
; In view of the Authority’s huge deficit in the operation and management of the former resettlement estates, which is estimated to top $85 million in 1976/77, the spokesman said:
/’’There is ....
- 2 -
’’There is cle rly no reason why taxpayers should continue indefinitely to subsidise these shops, which are used for comr.-ercinl urposes with profit making as the prime motive, to the present extent. This increase will produce additional -venue of JJ.45 million per annum’:, he said.
Meanwhile, the Authority has agreed that the rent incrc-.se will not apply for the tine being to tenants of the 1GO-odd shops on Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate where they have claimed that their businesses night be adversely affected by the construction of the Metro.
’These tenants have been advised that if they feel they can substantiate their cases, they may submit a claim to the Director of Public Works who may make an ex-gratia payment,” the spokesman said.
Note to Editors: A diagram showing the estimated deficit in the management of Goup B estates of the Housing Authority for 197&/1977 is attached.
0 - -
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
• • • • •
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976
'CONTENTS PAGE NO.
A'MAJOR HOSPITAL TAKES AT LEAST 10 YEARS TO MATERIALISE ... 1
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO LEUNG WING-SANG CASE STARTS HEARINGS ON MARCH 1 ..................................... 2
•
SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE COMMENTS ON ’NEW POLICY’ OF ICAC .................................................... 3
GOOD' WELFARE FACILITIES IN FACTORIES IMPROVE LABOUR
RELATIONS .................................................. 4
400 STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITION.........5
FORTY-FOUR DISABLED FOUND WORK LAST MONTH....................6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976
1
BIRTH OF HOSPITAL A LONG AND COMPLICATED PROCESS--DR. CHOA
******
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. GERALD CHOA, TODAY TOLD OF THE LONG AND COMPLICATED PROCESS OF GIVING BIRTH TO A MAJOR HOSPITAL WITH OVER A THOUSAND BEDS AND ALL SPECIALIST SERVICES.
SPEAKING AT THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST ON THE BIRTH OF A HOSPITAL, HE SAID IT WOULD REQUIRE THE METICULOUS PLANNING AND HARD WORK OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF FOR AS LONG AS A DECADE OR LONGER.
THE DIRECTOR SAID THERE WERE FIVE BASIC STEPS LEADING TO THE DELIVERY OF A HOSPITAL: DETERMINING THE NEED, FORMULATING POLICIES, DECIDING PRIORITIES AND ALLOCATING FUNDS, PLANNING AND PREPARING DETAILED WORK DRAWINGS AND, FINALLY, CONSTRUCTING THE HOSPITAL.
AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDINGS, THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX IS HANDED OVER TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR COMMISSIONING. THE WHOLE PROCESS, FROM CONCEPTION TO DELIVERY, TAKES AT LEAST TEN YEARS TO COMPLETE.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN WONDERED IF THE SIZE AND SCALE OF A GENERAL HOSPITAL COULD BE REDUCED IN ORDER TO SHORTEN THE LENGTH OF TIME NEEDED TO BUILD IT. TO THIS, DR. CHOA SAID SINCE LAND WAS SO SCARCE IN HONG KONG IT WOULD BE MORE ECONOMICAL AND PRACTICAL TO BUILD A MAJOR HOSPITAL ON AN AVAILABLE SITE RATHER THAN A NUMBER OF SMALL-SCALE HOSPITALS ON DIFFERENT SITES. HE POINTED OUT THAT OUR TARGET WAS TO ACHIEVE A RATIO OF 5.5 BEDS PER THOUSAND POPULATION AND, THEREFORE, AN ADDITIONAL 6,000 BEDS WOULD NEED TO BE PUT UP WITHIN THE NEXT TEN YEARS IF THE TARGET WAS TO BE MET.
+OUR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN CALLS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONE MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITAL WITH ALL KINDS OF SPECIALIST SERVICES IN EVERY REGION. THESE REGIONAL HOSPITALS, AS THEY ARE TO BE CALLED, WILL BE SUPPORTED BY ONE OR MORE DISTRICT HOSPITALS WHICH ARE ON A SMALLER SCALE,+ HE SAID.
WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, DR. CHOA SAID HE NATURALLY CHERISHED NEW HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS.
HE SAID THAT THE PROVISION OF AN IDEAL HOSPITAL SERVICE WOULD DEPEND ON THE HOSPITAL STAFF WHO HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY.
+RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING THEY MUST NOT GIVE PEOPLE A BAD IMPRESSION, AND THEY MUST DO AWAY WITH BAD CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES SUCH AS RECEIVING TIPS AND TEA MONEY AND SO FORTH,+ HE SAID.
IN THIS CONNECTION, HE HAD HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION ON WAYS OF STAMPING OUT THIS SOCIAL EVIL.
- 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976
2
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO LEUNG WING-SANG CASE *****
PREPARATIONS ARE ALMOST COMPLETED FOR THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE LEUNG WING-SANG CASE TO COMMENCE ITS HEARINGS.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE ONE-MAN COMMISSION, MR. JUSTICE T.L. YANG, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 1, AT VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT, BATTERY PATH.
MR. JUSTICE YANG SAID THAT LEUNG HAD APPLIED FOR AND BEEN GRANTED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS TO ENABLE HIM TO BE LEGALLY REPRESENTED AT THE INQUIRY. HE WILL BE REPRESENTED BY MR. HERMAN POON, INSTRUCTED BY PETER C. WONG AND CO.
A NUMBER OF WITNESSES WILL BE SUMMONED TO ATTEND TO GIVE EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY. SUMMONSES ARE BEING PREPARED AND WILL BE SERVED THIS WEEK ON THE PEOPLE CONCERNED.
THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY HAS BEEN SET UP TO INQUIRE INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO AND SURROUNDING THE ARREST AND CHARGING OF LEUNG AND WHETHER OR NOT THESE CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT HAVE PREJUDICED LEUNG’S TRIAL.
ANY PERSON WHO MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE CASE IS INVITED TO WRITE TO THE SECRETARY, COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE LEUNG WING-SANG CASE, VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT, HONG KONG. THE SECRETARY’S TELEPHONE NO. IS 5-249512.
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/3......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976
-5 -
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE
* * * * K
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. A.J. SCOTT, COMMENTED TODAY ON RECENT PRESS REPORTS REFERRING TO A +PROPOSED NEW POLICY+ OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION TO HOLD SENIOR PUBLIC SERVANTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR STAFF DOING THEIR JOBS PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY. MR. SCOTT SAID THAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BASIC CIVIL SERVICE PRINCIPLE THAT OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS AND FOR.THOSE OF THE STAFF UNDER THEIR CONTROL.
HE WELCOMED THE CLARIFICATION GIVEN BY THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION, MR. J. CATER, AT HIS LUNCHTIME ADDRESS ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 17), BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE MIGHT BE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF +ACCOUNTABILITY+. AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION.
THE SECRETARY CONTINUED: +IF A CORRUPTION CASE IN A DEPARTMENT OR BRANCH OF A DEPARTMENT IS THE RESULT OF INEFFICIENCY ON THE PART OF A SUPERVISING OFFICER, APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS TAKEN.+
MR. SCOTT ALSO RESPONDED TO A QUESTION POSED IN THE S.C.M.P. ON FEBRUARY 15: +HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU HEARD OF PUBLIC SERVANTS BEING DISMISSED FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOBS7+ BY POINTING OUT THAT DURING 1975 SIX PENSIONABLE CIVIL SERVANTS WERE COMPULSORILY RETIRED (UNDER COLONIAL REGULATION 59) FOR INEFFICIENCY OR UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE" THIRTEEN WERE DISMISSED (UNDER CR 42 AND 57) FOR MISCONDUCT" AND THIRTEEN WERE DISMISSED (UNDER CR 58) AS A RESULT OF BEING CONVICTED IN COURT ON CRIMINAL CHARGES. A NUMBER OF OFFICERS CHOSE TO RESIGN OR RETIRE .VOLUNTARILY RATHER THAN FACE PROCEED INGS.FOR COMPULSORY RETIREMENT.
IN REPLY TO FURTHER QUESTIONS, MR. SCOTT CONFIRMED THAT ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES IS THE EFFICIENT USE OF MANPOWER RESOURCES. HE WELCOMED ANY IDEAS TO REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRUPTION, WHICH WOULD NOT REDUCE EFFECTIVENESS BY ADDING FURTHER LEVELS OF SUPERVISION AND THUS REDUCE INITIATIVE AND SLOW DOWN SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
IT IS VITAL, HE SAID, THAT A DYNAMIC AND GROWING COMMUNITY LIKE HONG KONG SHOULD FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN THE NECESSARY CONTROL OF CORRUPTION, BOTH IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, AND THE CAPACITY FOR INITIATIVE AND DECISION-MAKING ESSENTIAL TO A FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL SERVICE.
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/4......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976
4
GOOD WELFARE FACILITIES CONDUCIVE TO HAPPY LABOUR RELATIONS ##****
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. IAN PRICE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT GOOD WELFARE FACILITIES AND ATTRACTIVE WORKING CONDITIONS IN FACTORIES PAVED THE WAY FOR HAPPY LABOUR RELATIONS AND REDUCED EXCESSIVE TURNOVER OF LABOUR.
HE MADE THESE COMMENTS AFTER VISITING CASEY DIAMONDS LIMITED IN WONG CHUK HANG, ABERDEEN. IT WAS THE FIRST OF HIS REGULAR +KEEPING UP-TO-DATE* VISITS TO INDUSTRY THIS YEAR.
MR. PRICE, AFTER A TOUR OF THE FACTORY, SAID HE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE WELFARE FACILITIES WHICH THE COMPANY PROVIDED FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.
IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL YEAR-END BONUS, THE COMPANY OFFERS A +GOOD ATTENDANCE BONUS* TO WORKERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABSENT FROM WORK DURING A MONTH.
OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE A FREE MEAL, FREE TRANSPORT, CANTEEN FACILITIES AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS ORGANISED BY THE MANAGEMENT.
MR. PRICE OBSERVED THAT THESE BENEFITS, AS WELL AS THE GOOD WAGE STRUCTURE IN THE COMPANY, HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE FACTORY, WHERE THERE HAD BEEN VIRTUALLY NO LABOUR TURNOVER SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1973.
HE COMMENTED FAVOURABLY ON THE FACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN ONLY ONE MINOR ACCIDENT IN THE FACTORY SINCE 1973.
MR. PRICE SAID: +IT IS GOOD TO SEE MORE FIRMS IN HONG KONG DISPLAYING A SOUND AND RESPONSIBLE ROLE IN THE PREVENTION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.*
THE FACTORY POLISHES RAW DIAMONDS BY USING AUTOMATIC POLISHING MACHINES - THE FIRST OF THE IR KI ND IN THE FAR EAST.
ITS PRODUCTS ARE MAINLY EXPORTED TO JAPAN, SINGAPORE, U.S.A., EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST AND PARTLY FOR THE LOCAL MARKET.
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/5.......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976
5
CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITION ******
ABOUT 400 STUDENTS FROM 31 SCHOOLS IN WEST KOWLOON WILL PARTICIPATE IN A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITION ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THE COMPETITION WILL BEGIN AT 10 A.M. AT THE tAI HANG TUNG COMMUNITY CENTRE. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS : PRIMARY- JUNIOR SECONDARY- SENIOR SECONDARY AND ONE FOR YOUTHS UNDER 25. THEIR WORKS W|LL BE JUDGED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY ASSOCIATION.
THE COMPETITION, SPONSORED BY THE TAI HANG TUNG COMMUNITY CENTRE AND WEST KOWLOON YOUTH GUIDANCE COUNCIL, IS AIMED AT AROUSING PEOPLE’S INTEREST IN CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY AND PROMOMNG CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY AS A HOBBY AND RECREATION AMONG YOUNGSTERS.
A PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE TAI HANG TUNG COMMUNITY CENTRE ON FEBRUARY 29 (SUNDAY) AT 10.30 A.M. THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE WEST KOWLOON YOUTH GUIDANCE COUNCIL WILL OFFICIATE.
THE WINNING SCROLLS WILL BE PUT ON SHOW AFTER THE CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE EVENTS
- - o - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976
6
FORTY-FOUR DISABLED FOUND WORK # * K « O
THE NUMBER OF DISABLED PEOPLE PLACED TO WORK LAST MONTH BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S JOB PLACEMENT UNIT SOARED TO 44, AN INCREASE OF EIGHT COMPARED WITH THE DECEMBER TOTAL. THIS WAS THE HIGHEST FIGURE FOR 1975.
OF THE DISABLED PEOPLE EMPLOYED, TEN WERE BLIND, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER THE PHECEDIJfa MONTH'S FIGURE OF THREE.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO WERE FOUND WORK WERE EMPLOYED AS MACHINE-SEWING WORKERS, PRESS MACHINE OPERATORS AND PACKERS.
SEVEN WERE EMPLOYED ON A PIECE-RATE BASIS AND 24 ON DAILY RATES RANGING FROM $15 TO $20.
THE SALARY OF THE OTHERS VARIES BETWEEN $200 AND $550 A MONTH.
MR. CHAN SHIU-WING, OFF ICER-1N-CHARGE OF THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT, ASSURED EMPLOYERS THAT DISABLED WORKERS HAD BEEN WELL PREPARED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT BEFORE PLACING TO A JOB.
+THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED IN A NUMBER OF TRADES INCLUDING CARPENTRY, ELECTRONICS. PRINTING, METAL WORK AND MACHINE-SEWING,+ MR. CHAN SAID.
PRH 7
|eis| |f Sfe|
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NQ‘
HING WAH ESTATE BLOCKS READY FOR FIRE VICTIMS .. 1
JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION WILL START FUNCTIONING TOMORROW ....................................... 2
NEW COURTS TO SIT FOR THE FIRST TIME TOMORROW .. 2
WORKSHOP FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS ......... 3
CANADA ACCEPTS CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN ISSUED BY NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS ................... *
CHANGE IN KOWLOON DRIVING TEST CENTRE .......... *
MORE DONATIONS FOR ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS .... 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1976
* 1 * .
ESTATE BLOCKS COMPLETED EARLY FOR FIRE VICTIMS )€ # K # K *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE HAS COMPLETED THE FIRST TWO BLOCKS OF HING WAH ESTATE IN CHAI WAN SIX WEEKS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE UNDER A CRASH BUILDING PROGRAMME STARTED AFTER THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THEY WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE FIRST FAMILIES WILL MOVE INTO'THEIR NEW HOMES SHORTLY.
THE TWO COMPLETED BLOCKS CAN ACCOMMODATE SOME 3,300 PEOPLE IN 670 SELF-CONTAINED FLATS RANGING IN SIZE FROM 240 SQUARE FEET TO 380 SQUARE FEET.
ORG INALLY, THE ESTATE WAS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY APRIL THIS YEAR. BUT ON THE DAY FOLLOWING THE FIRE, PWD ARCHITECTS INSPECTED THE WORKS IN PROGRESS TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPEEDED-UP PROGRAMME SO AS TO ACCELERATE THE REHOUSING OF SOME OF THE VICTIMS.
TWO BLOCKS — BLOCK 3 AND 8 — WERE SELECTED FOR EARLY COMPLETION. A COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY BUILDING PROGRAMME WAS THEN DRAWN UP, WHICH BEGAN IN EARNEST ON FEBRUARY 5.
THE ARCHITECTS AND THE CONTRACTOR ALLOWED THEMSELVES ONLY 16 DAYS AND NIGHTS TO COMPLETE THE BLOCKS AND, THEIR OPTIMISM PAID OFF.
+IT WAS A BIT OF A GAMBLE,+ ADMITS MR. JOSEPH LEI, CHIEF ARCHITECT.
+IN AN OPERATION LIKE THIS WHERE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, JHERE ARE BOUND TO BE UNEXPECTED DIFFICULTIES AND THERE WERE MOMENTS WHEN WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT NOT MEET THE DEADLINE WE HAD SET OURSELVES.
+IT WAS ANYTHING BUT EASY, BUT NOW SOME OF THE VICTIMS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO BEGINNING A NEW LIFE IN THE ESTATE MUCH SOONER.+
TODAY, WORKERS AT THE SITE-WERE PUTTING FINAL TOUCHES TO THE FLATS AND CLEARING UP THE AREA.
ALL THE FLATS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES CONNECTED, LIFTS INSTALLED AND DRAINAGE PIPES LAID.
DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS, MORE THAN 300 WORKERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED ON THE TWO BLOCKS, WITH ABOUT 100 WORKING AT NIGHT.
MEANWHILE, WORKS CONTINUE ON THE REMAINING FIVE BLOCKS OF THE $53 MILLION ESTATE, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A TOTAL POPULATION OF ABOUT 22,700 PEOPLE.
WHEN FULLY COMPLETED IN APRIL, IT WILL HAVE TWO E-STATE SCHOOLS, A WELFARE HALL, MARKET, RESTAURANT AND LARGE AREAS OF OPEN SPACE WITH PLAYGROUNDS FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1976
- 2 -
NEW BODY TO ADVISE GOVERNOR ON JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ******
THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS PASSED ON OCTOBER 23, 1975, WILL COME INTO OPERATION WITH EFFECT FROM TOMORROW (FEBRUARY 20).
THE FUNCTION OF THE COMMISSION IS TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON APPOINTMENTS TO ALL JUDICIAL OFFICES. THE COMMISSION WILL ALSO ADVISE ON OTHER MATTERS AFFECTING JUDICIAL OFFICERS WHICH ARE REFERRED TO IT BY THE GOVERNOR.
THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION WILL BE THE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS.
IN ADDITION, HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED THE HON. SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, C.B.E., E.D., J.P., MR. PATRICK S.S. YU, J.P., AND MR. RONALD W.H. WONG TO BE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. MR. J.R. OLIVER, J.P., REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN APPOINTED SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION.
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NEW COURTS TO BE SET UP ******
TMF SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE 1975 WILL COME INTO OPcRATION TOMORROW (FRIDAY). THIS ORDINANCE WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE AND THE FULL COURT ORDINANCE.
ry tup qiiprfmF COURT ORDINANCE 1975 THERE WILL BE A SUPREME COURT OfUuCICATuSI COKsisVlSo «F THE HISH COURT OF JUSTICE AXD THE COURT OF APPEAL.
THE COURT OF APPEAL WILL CONSIST OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND SUCH JUSTICES OF APPEAL AS THE GOVERNOR MAY APPOINT.
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED THE HON. MR. ^STICE HUGG INa AND THE HON. MR. JUSTICE PICKERING TO ACT AS THE FIRoT JUSTICES OF APPEAL.
tmp RICH COURT WILL NOW CONSIST OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE ANu THE REMAINING PUISNE JUDGES OF THE EXISTING SUPREME COURT.
THE NEW COURTS WILL SIT FOR THE FIRST TIME TOMORROW (FRIDAY) MORNING.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1976
3
WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH
* * * *
THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN THE SETTING OF A LANGUAGE LABORATORY SHOULD BE CONTEXTUALISED RATHER THAN MECHANICAL.
THIS IS THE MESSAGE MISS JANET MCALPIN, A LECTURER OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING INSTITUTE, LONDON, TRIES TO BRING ACROSS TO TEACHERS OF ENGLISH HERE.
MISS MCALPIN, WHO IS ON A LECTURE TOUR OF SOUTHEAST ASIA UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL, IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING TWO WORKSHOPS AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTRE.
MISS MCALPIN FEELS THAT LANGUAGE LABORATORY MATERIALS SHOULD BE PRODUCED IN SUCH A WAY THAT STUDENTS WOULD BE PRACTISING THE LANGUAGE IN A CONTEXT AND +NOT JUST PRACTISING SOUNDS AND WORDS.+
THIS PRINCIPLE ALSO APPLIES TO TEACHING ENGLISH IN THE CLASSROOM.
THE TWO WORKSHOPS, EACH LASTING A WEEK, BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9 AND 16 RESPECTIVELY. EACH WORKSHOP HAS 17 PARTICIPANTS.
THE PARTICIPANTS ARE FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITH LANGUAGE LABORATORY FACILITIES, THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S ENGLISH INSPECTORATE AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTRE.
THROUGH PLENARY SESSIONS AND GROUP WORK, PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GOOD DIALOGUES, DRILLS AND LISTENING COMPREHENSION EXERCISES AND RELATED VISUAL AIDS AND THEIR USES IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE LANGUAGE LABORATORY.
THE TWO WORKSHOPS WILL EACH WRITE AND RECORD A TAPED TEACHING UN,IT AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THEIR COURSE.
+THE TAPES ARE TO BE TAKEN AS MODELS OF TWO APPROACHES TO MATERIALS CONSTRUCTION,+ MISS MCALPIN SAID. +THEY BOTH ATTEMPT TO EXEMPLIFY THE CONCEPT OF CONTEXTUALISATION IN PRESENTATION AND PRACTICE MATERIALS.*
SCHOOLS THAT MAY WANT TO OBTAIN THE TWO TAPES CAN SEND IN BLANK TAPES TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTRE FOR DUBBING. SERVICES ARE FREE.
THE CENTRE RUNS COURSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF FIVE WEEKS’ TO THREE MONTHS’ DURATION ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING BASED ON THE CONTEXTUALISED APPROACH FOR BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ENGLISH.
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A.....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1976
- 4 -
NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN (FORM A)
* * * M *
FIVE NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN (FORM A) FOR GOODS SHIPPED UNDER GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES TO CANADA, THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
CANADA IS THE THIRD COUNTRY, FOLLOWING JAPAN AND SWITZERLAND, TO ACCEPT CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN (FORM A) ISSUED BY NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS.
THE FIVE ORGANISATIONS SO AUTHORISED ARE : THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE- FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES-INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE- CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG AND THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
A COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE STAFF OF THE FIVE ORGANISATIONS HAD UNDERGONE TRAINING IN THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND WERE FULLY COMPETENT TO DEAL WITH FORM A APPLICATIONS.
HE ADDED THAT THE FIVE ORGANISATIONS WOULD APPLY THE SAME RULES AND PROCEDURES ADOPTED BY THE D C AND I AND THAT CLOSE CO-ORDINATION WOULD BE MAINTAINED THROUGH A +CERTIFICATION CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE+, WHICH COMPRISES SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE ORGANISATIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT.
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CHANGE IN KOWLOON * *
DRIVING TEST CENTRES M *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS TO SWITCH ITS KOWLOON CENTRES FOR CAR AND MOTORCYCLE DRIVING TESTS FROM NEXT WEEK.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT FROM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, PRIVATE CAR TESTS IN KOWLOON WILL BE HELD AT THE CIVIL AID SERVICES HUNG HOM ZONE HEADQUARTERS AT LEE KUNG STREET, INSTEAD OF AT THE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED PUI CHING ROAD DRIVING TEST CENTRE IN HO MAN TIN.
MOTORCYCLE TESTS SCHEDULED FOR THE CIVIL AID SERVICES KOWLOON TRAINING CENTRE IN ARGYLE STREET, KOWLOON, WILL BE HELD AT THE PUI CHING ROAD DRIVING TEST CENTRE IN HO MAN TIN FROM MONDAY.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED ALL CANDIDATES THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE IN THE DATE OR TIME OF THE APPOINTMENTS, ONLY IN THE VENUE.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1976
- 5 -
ANOTHER $5,000 FOR ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS
M M * * * *
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. FREDERICK CLARK, RECEIVED A CHEQUE FOR $5,026 FROM REV. SEZ KOK-HON OF THE PO KOK GIRLS’ VOCATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, TO BE PAID INTO THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IN AID OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS.
THE MONEY WAS RAISED IN A FUN FAIR ORGANISED BY THE PO KOK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LAST WEEK. MORE THAN 1,500 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE FAIR.
MEANWHILE, ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS WILL BE GIVEN $110 EACH TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT THE SALES I AN SCHOOL AT 2 P.M.
THREE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE, MR. CHEUNG WING-YIN, MR. NG CHAN-LAM AND MR. WCNG PING-HON, WILL BE PRESENT AT THE SCHOOL TO' WATCH THE OPERATION. THEY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE. WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, AND'REPRESENTATIVES FROft THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARIAT.
NOTE TO EDITORS; YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE CASH DISTRIBUTION.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION ADVOCATED.........4....i............................. 1
EIGHTEEN RESIDENTS APPOINTED TO THE PANEL OF ARBITRATORS. 3 : • . 7
CLEANING OF UNGAZETTED BEACHES IN N.T....,......4
SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION TALKS ON GOVERNMENT MACHINERY ............................... 5
INTERIM SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT TO BE CONSTRUCTED FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN .................................... 7
OVER 400'TO ATTEND MATHEMATICS SEMINAR ............ 8
NEW TYPE OF PARKING METER TO BE INTRODUCED IN WAN CHAI .. 9
WORK OF PO LEUNG KUK PRAISED ...................... 10
LAND GRANT FOR PROPOSED PIER AT APLICHAU........... 10
% •
KOWLOON CITY BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS ......... 11
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
1
ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION ADVOCATED
M
DR. S.Y. CHUNG, SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TODAY STRONGLY ADVOCATED THE SETTING UP OF A BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION TO ENSURE GOOD CO-ORDINATION IN PROGRAMME PLANNING AND COURSE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, DR. CHUNG SAID THAT WITH RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLYTECHNIC AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, COUPLED WITH AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES, VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL EDUCATION WAS BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX.
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD COMPRISE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, THE POLYTECHNIC, THE TRAINING COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, THE PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
HE SAID THERE WERE AT LEAST TWO IMPORTANT AREAS WHICH THE BOARD SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH.
IN THE AREA OF STUDIES, DR. CHUNG SAID s +IT IS VITAL THAT EACH TYPE OF INSTITUTION SHOULD HAVE ITS LEVEL OF COURSES REASONABLY WELL DEFINED SO AS TO MINIMISE UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION, BECAUSE ALL THESE INSTITUTIONS DERIVE THEIR FUNDS FROM THE SAME SOURCE, THAT IS, GOVERNMENT.
+0N THE OTHER HAND, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE INSTITUTIONS DO NOT LEAVE ANY GAPS OR CAUSE ANY DEFICIENCIES AT ANY LEVEL OF STUDIES ALONG THE VERTICAL SCALE OF TECHNICAL EDUCAT I ON.+
IN THE SECOND AREA, THE DESIGN OF STUDY PROGRAMME, DR. CHUNG POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS DESIRABLE THERE SHOULD BE SOME DIRECT TRANSFERABILITY FROM PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS TO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND FROM TECHNICAL INSTITUTES TO THE POLYTECHNIC.
+IN OTHER WORDS, THERE SHOULD BE VERTICAL INTEGRATION AND CONTINUITY IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION FROM LOWER TO HIGHER LEVELS,* HE SAID.
DR. CHUNG STRESSED THAT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN HONG KONG’S COMPETITIVE POSITION IN THE WORLD MARKETS, +WE HAVE TO STRIVE FOR GREATER OUTPUT IN LABOUR, LESS WASTAGE IN MATERIAL, BETTER UTILISATION OF CAPITAL, HIGHER QUALITY IN PRODUCTION, MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IN MANUFACTURE AND GREATER INNOVATION IN PRODUCT DESIGN.*
+THESE GOALS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED UNLESS WE HAVE QUALIFIED AND COMPETENT TECHNICAL MANPOWER IN SUFFICIENT QUALITIES AND AT ALL LEVELS,* HE SAID.
/SPEAKING
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
- 2 -
SPEAKING AT THE SAME FUNCTION, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL), MR. ANDREW KINGWELL, DISCLOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ADOPTED A NEW APPROACH TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE OF THE FIRST FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES BEFORE DRAWING UP PLANS FOR MORE TO FOLLOW.
THE NEW APPROACH WILL BE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND CLOSE STUDY OF A TEN-YEAR TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME PLAN WHICH WILL BE UNDER ANNUAL REVISION AND WILL ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS.
MR. KINGWELL POINTED OUT THAT THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE WAS THE THIRD OF FIVE SUCH INSTITUTES FORMING THE MAIN THRUST OF PHASE I OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN
THE FOURTH AT CHEUNG SHA WAN, THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHICH WAS PROGRESSING RAPIDLY, WOULD COMMENCE COURSES IN SEPTEMBER 1977, AND THE FIFTH AT SAN PO KONG WAS AT AN ADVANCED PLANNING STAGE AND MIGHT EVEN COMMENCE BUILDING DURING THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR AND BE READY TO ACCEPT APPRENTICES IN SEPTEMBER 1979.
+THESE INSTITUTES REPRESENT A MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT. THE TOTAL COST OF THE FIRST FIVE WILL BE IN THE REGION OF $120 MILLION THEY ARE A VISIBLE PROOF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S FAITH IN OUR INDUSTRIES’ ABILITY TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND TO GENERATE PROSPERITY FOR,OUR PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.
IT WOULD THEREFORE BE REASONABLE TO EVALUATE IN DETAIL THE SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE OF THE FIVE INSTITUTES BEFORE DRAWING UP PLANS FOR MORE TO FOLLOW, MR. KINGWELL SAID, BUT SUCH A PROCESS WOULD BE EXTREMELY TIME-CONSUMING AND DEMANDING OF RESOURCES WHICH WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE.
+THERE WOULD BE A GREAT LOSS OF MOMENTUM AND HONG KONG INDUSTRIES COULD, FOR SEVERAL YEARS DURING THE NEXT DECADE OR TWO, BE ILL-PREPARED TO MEET THE INCREASING CHALLENGE OF A SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD.*
THE TEN-YEAR TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME PLAN WAS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIS APPROACH, HE SAID.
+THIS PLAN IS AT PRESENT IN COURSE OF PREPARATION AND THE FIRST SIX OF TEN STAGES WILL SOON BE READY. PUT SIMPLY THE PLAN CONSISTS OF A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF INDUSTRY PRODUCED FROM MANPOWER SURVEYS, AND A PHASED PROGRAMME TO DEVELOP THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT IT.+
HOWEVER, THE PLAN HAD ITS SHORTCOMINGS, MR. KINGWELL ADDED, AS IT DEPENDED ON THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION FED IN BY INDUSTRY.
/+IN VIEW .....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
3
+IN VIEW OF THE SOPHISTICATION OF THE PRESENT PLAN AND THE RAPID CHANGES OF CIRCUMSTANCE TO WHICH HONG KONG IS USED, AND THE NECESSITY TO KEEP THE PLAN CONSTANTLY UP-TO-DATE I AM TOLD THAT MORE FREQUENT AND DETAILED REQUESTS ARE LIKELY TO BE MADE IN THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID.
MR. KINGWELL APPEALED TO INDUSTRY TO BE PATIENT AND TO CONTINUE TO CO-OPERATE BY SUPPLYING ACCURATE INFORMATION.
+IF THE OPERATION OF THE PLAN IS SUCCESSFUL,+ HE SAID, +IT WILL ENSURE THAT CONTINUITY OF EFFORT FOR THE PROVISION OF THE RIGHT FORM OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT THE RIGHT TIME AND IN THE RIGHT QUANTITY WILL BE PROVIDED IN HONG KONG.+
NOTE TO EDITORS
COPIES OF THE SPEECHES BY DR. CHUNG AND MR. KINGWELL WILL BE PUT IN G.I.S,. PRESS BOXES FOR COLLECTION THIS EVENING.
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18 APPOINTED TO PANEL OF ARBITRATORS ******
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED 18 HONG KONG RESIDENTS - 16 MEN AND TWO WOMEN - TO THE PANEL OF ARBITRATORS CONSTITUTED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS ORDINANCE. AMONG THEM ARE UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, EDUCATIONISTS, BARRISTERS, ACCOUNTANTS, A MARINER, A RETIRED BUSINESSMAN AND A HOUSEWIFE.
THEIR APPOINTMENTS WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE ARBITRATORS ARE 1 MR. N.P. AUSTIN- MR. S.L. CHEN, J.P.-MR. CHENG KIM-KWONG- MR. T.C. CHENG, O.B.E., J.P.- MR. T. CLYDESDALE PROFESSOR D.M.E. EVANS, LLB., B.C.L.- PROFESSOR S.Y. KING, O.B.E., J.P.- MR. STEPHEN LEE KI- MR. LEUNG CHI-KIN- MRS. LI CHAN SIN-WAH, J.P.- MR. HENRY LITTON, Q.C., J.P.- MR. POON WING-CHEUNG- CAPTAIN C. STARK- MR. JOHN J. SWA INE, Q.C., J.P.- MRS. TSO WONG CHIU-YUK-MR.' ROBERT W.N. WEI- MR. WONG PING AND MR. WONG TING-CHEE.
ANY ONE OF THEM MIGHT BE CALLED UPON TO SIT AS A SOLE, OR A JOINT, ARBITRATOR IN A TRADE DISPUTE IF THE NEED AROSE.
ARBITRATION IS ONE OF A SERIES OF STEPS PROVIDED BY THE LABOUR RELATIONS ORDINANCE FOR RESOLVING TRADE DISPUTES.
WHEN CONCILIATION SERVICES OFFERED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL, ARBITRATION WITH THE CONSENT OF BOTH PARTIES IS ONE OF TH! POSSIBLE PROCEDURES WHICH MIGHT BE FOLLOWED.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976 - 4 -
CLEANING UP UNGAZETTED BEACHES IN N.T.
******
SOME 300 PUBLIC-SPIRITED YOUNGSTERS WILL TAKE PART IN AN EXERCISE TO CLEAN UP THE BEACHES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES THIS SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THEY CONSIST OF EIGHT CLEAN YOUR CITY GROUPS EACH COMPRISING ABOUT TEN OR MORE MEMBERS, 50 MEMBERS OF THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL AND 140 VOLUNTEERS FROM TAI PO.
THE CLEAN-UP WILL CONCENTRATE ON UNGAZETTED BEACHES IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL VISIT ONE OF THE BEACHES, CHEK KENG, IN THE AFTERNOON TO SEE JPC MEMBERS AT WORK, WHILE THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL VISIT LUK KENG, SHA TAU KOK, WHERE ONE OF THE CYC GROUPS WILL BE WORKING.
THE CLEAN-UP EXERCISE WILL START AT ABOUT 9 A.M. AND END AT 4 P.M.
THE CYC GROUPS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EIGHT BEACHES IN > SAI KUNG, THE JPC MEMBERS, WILL CLEAN THREE BEACHES — TAN KA WAN AND CHEK KENG IN LONG HARBOUR AREA AND LAI CHI CHONG IN TOLO CHANNEL — WHILE THE TAI PO VOLUNTEERS WILL TACKLE THREE BEACHES IN THE AREA.
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE ALL THE VOLUNTEERS ON THE SPOT WITH NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE THE LITTER AND STAFF OF THE USD (NEW TERRITORIES) WILL BE PRESENT TO ADVISE ON METHOD OF DISPOSING THE REFUSE.
'A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY PRAISED THE YOUNGSTERS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE CLEAN-UP EXERCISE.
HE POINTED OUTi +THE PURPOSE OF THE EXERCISE, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE LAST YEAR, IS TWO-FOLD. IT WILL ENABLE THE YOUNGSTERS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND TO ENJOY A DAY’S OUTING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.*
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF TO COVER MR. AKERS-JONES’ VISIT TO LUK KENG. THEY SHOULD MEET MR. DONALD STRANGE, NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, AT 10.30 A.M. AT THE REAR OF TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE WHERE TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED TO TAKE THEM TO LUK KENG AND ALSO BRING THEM BACK TO KOWLOON AFTER THE VISIT.
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I
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
5
HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS *****
HONG KONG IS NOT GOVERNED BY INSPIRATION OR GIMMICK BUT BY A WELL-TRIED SYSTEM OF POLICY FORMATION WHICH IS NOT ONLY TECHNICALLY COMPETENT, BUT WHICH REFLECTS THE ASPIRATIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING HERE.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION, MR. DENIS BRAY, EMPHASISED THIS IN A LUNCHEON ADDRESS TO THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG (HOST) TODAY WHEN HE SPOKE ON THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY AND HOW IT WORKS.
I
♦ADMINISTRATION,* HE SAID, +IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF AIRING A PROPOSAL, GETTING PUBLIC REACTION AND PROCEEDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC OPINION.
+IT INVOLVES DIFFICULT PROBLEMS OF FINDING OUT WHAT IS PRACTICAL, WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE. WHAT PRIORITIES CAN BE ADJUSTED, WHAT IS DESIRED BY AND WHAT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO OTHER PEOPLE.
+SUCH MATTERS OFTEN TAKE TIME TO DEAL WITH IF THEY ARE TO BE DEALT WITH PROPERLY, AND I BELIEVE HONG KONG IS WELL SERVED BY AN EFFICIENT AND ABLE CIVIL SERVICE WHICH GENERALLY GETS THE ANSWERS PRETTY NEAR RIGHT,* HE ADDED.
MR. BRAY TALKED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT-THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR- AND THE COMPOSITION, FUNCTION AND PROCEDURES OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY THE TWO COUNCILS THAT MADE ALL IMPORTANT DECISIONS ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
THE URBAN COUNCIL AND HOUSING AUTHORITY, FOR INSTANCE, HAD CONSIDERABLE POWERS PRESCRIBED BY ORDINANCE OVER CERTAIN FIELDS OF ADMINISTRATION.
+BUT QUITE APART FROM'THEM THE PROCESS OF POLICY FORMATION WHICH CULMINATES IN A DECISION BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL OR THE ENACTMENT OF LAW'BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ALMOST ALWAYS INVOLVES DETAILED STUDY IN THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED, WITH THE HELP OF ONE OR MORE ADVISORY BODY,* HE SAID.
ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID* +THE’ORIGIN OF ALL POWER TO GOVERN HONG KONG IS THE CROWN. THIS POWER IS EXERCISED BY THE GOVERNOR, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE CROWN CONFERRED BY LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS. THESE ARE THE MAIN CONSITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS.*
/THE LETTERS .....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
6
THE LETTERS PATENT CONSTITUTE THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, ESTABLISH AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IN GENERAL TERMS DEFINE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR. THE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE TWO COUNCILS ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS.
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE TWOFOLD. FIRSTLY IT ADVISES THE GOVERNOR ON ALL IMPORTANT POLICY MATTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS.
SECONDLY, IT ADVISES THE GOVERNOR ON THE EXERCISE OF VARIOUS STATUTORY POWERS AND DUTIES CONFERRED ON THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, SUCH AS THE ENACTMENT OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, THE DETERMINATION OF APPEALS AND OBJECTIONS, AND OTHER EXECUTIVE ACTS.
+EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CONSIDERS POLICY. IT CANNOT ALLOCATE FUNDS NOR ENACT ORDINANCE. IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE THEREFORE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY ACTION IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OR ITS IMPORTANT COMMITTEE, FINANCE COMMITTEE,+ MR. BRAY SAID.
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS TWO MAIN FUNCTIONS, HE CONTINUED. +IT IS THE LAW MAKING BODY OF HONG KONG AND IT CONTROLS THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. IT IS ALSO THE FORUM IN WHICH QUESTIONS CAN BE ASKED OF THE GOVERNMENT AND REPLIES GIVEN.*
THIS COUNCIL MEETS IN PUBLIC NORMALLY ONCE A FORTNIGHT THROUGH THE YEAR, EXCEPT FOR A SIX-WEEK RECESS IN AUGUST-OCTOBER
THERE ARE TWO REGULAR MAJOR DEBATES EACH YEAR — A DEBATE ON FINANCIAL AND ECONOMICAL MATTERS IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL, AND A WIDER RANGING DEBATE ON GOVERNMENT POLICY IN GENERAL, IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS, AT THE OPENING OF EACH NEW SESSION OF COUNCIL.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
EXTRA SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR SHA TIN ******
CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL START SOON ON AN INTERIM SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT AT SHA TIN TO COPE WITH THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN SEWAGE RESULTING FROM THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.
TENDERS FOR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS WERE INVITED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY AND CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN JUNE 1976 FOR COMPLETION IN MARCH 1977.
MR. WONG KWOK-CHOY, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, SAID TODAY THE NEW PLANT WOULD CONSIDERABLY ENHANCE SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES AT SHA TIN, PENDING THE PROVISION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PERMANENT PLANT PROBABLY IN MID-1979.
+PLANS FOR THE PERMANENT PLANT ARE ALREADY WELL ADVANCED,*
HE SAID, +BUT IN THE MEANTIME FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVIDED ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.*
ADDITIONAL SEWAGE TREATMENT TO ELIMINATE THE RISK OF ‘
THE INTERIM PLANT, HE SAID, WOULD BE BUILT ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING TREATMENT WORKS AT FO TAN NEAR TOLO HARBOUR AND WOULD MORE OR LESS TRIPLE THE CAPACITY FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT IN THE AREA.
♦COMPARED WITH THE EXISTING PLANT WHICH CAN SERVE ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE, THE NEW ONE WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES TO SERVE ANOTHER 60,000 PEOPLE AS WELL AS TREATING WASTE FROM A SIZEABLE INDUSTRIAL AREA,* HE SAID.
THE NEW TREATMENT WORKS, HE ADDED, WOULD INCORPORATE A COMPLETE SEWAGE PURIFICATION SYSTEM CONSISTING OF PRELIMINARY UNITS FOR REMOVING LARGE FLOATING SOLIDS, BIOLOGICAL TANKS FOR REMOVING POLLUTANTS, AND EQUIPMENT FOR DEWATERING THE SLUDGE.
THE CLARIFIED EFFLUENT, HE SAID, WOULD BE DISCHARGED INTO FO TAN NULLAH WHILE THE DEWATERED SLUDGE WOULD BE DISPOSED OF AS LANDFILL IN CONTROLLED TIPS.
TENDERS FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WERE CALLED LAST DECEMBER, AND THE WHOLE PLANT SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL BY MID-1977.
THE INTERIM TREATMENT WORKS HAS BEEN DESIGNED BY WATSON (HONG KONG) CHARTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS, CONSULTANTS TO THE GOVERNMENT, WHO WILL SUPERVISE THE CONSTRUCTION WORKS UNDER THE OVERALL SUPERVISION OF THE CONSULTANT MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE, P.W.D.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
8
OVER 400 TO ATTEND MATHEMATICS SEMINAR * ** * * *
MORE THAN 400 IN-SERVICE TEACHERS AND STUDENT TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND A SEMINAR, INCLUDING AN EXHIBITION OF BOOKS AND MATERIALS ON RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS AT KING GEORGE V SCHOOL TOMORROW FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M.
THE SEMINAR, ORGANISED BY THE MATHEMATICS INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IS MAINLY INTENDED FOR FORM 1 TEACHERS AND PANEL CHAIRMEN OF THOSE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROVISIONAL SYLLABUS FOR MATHEMATICS.
THE VICE PRINCIPAL OF KING GEORGE V SCHOOL, MR. G. WILLS, WILL LECTURE ON RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS. THE PROVISIONAL SYLLABUS STATES THAT RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS MAY TAKE MANY FORMS SUCH AS PUZZLES, GAMES, MAGIC TRICKS. PARADOX, FALLACY, OR SIMPLY MATHEMATICS WITH ANY SORT OF CURIOUS OR AMUSING FILLIP.
THE SYLLABUS ADDS: +IN ONE SENSE RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS MEETS THE HUMAN NEED FOR PLAY AND IN ANOTHER SENSE IT IS MATHEMATICS PURELY FOR THE SAKE OF FUN. IT IS MYSTERIOUS, INTERESTING, ATTRACTIVE MATHEMATICALLY AND ENHANCES A STUDENT’S POWER OF ANALYSIS*.
THE AIM IN A CLASS SITUATION SHOULD BE DISCOVERY BY STUDENTS WITH THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF HELP FROM THE TEACHER.
NOTE TO EDITORS: YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR. --------------- MR. WILLS WILL SPEAK FOR ABOUT AN HOUR ON RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS BEGINNING AT 11.50 A.M.
DR. CHIU WING-KIN, SENIOR LECTURER, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, WILL SPEAK ON +WHAT IS STATISTICS?* STARTING AT 9.10 A.M.
KING GEORGE V SCHOOL IS IN TIN KWONG ROAD, KOWLOON.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
- 9 -
NEW TYPE OF PARKING METER FOR HONG KONG ******
A NEW TYPE OF PARKING METER FOR HONG KONG IS BEING INTRODUCED IN WAN CHAI. THE METERS WILL BEGIN OPERATION IN JAFFE ROAD BETWEEN LUARD ROAD AND FLEMING ROAD ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23) WHERE THEY HAVE REPLACED THE TWO-HOUR AUTOMATIC METERS.
THE NEW METERS ARE THE AMERICAN MANUAL TYPE WHICH, UNLIKE THE PRESENT AUTOMATIC METERS, DO NOT REQUIRE REGULAR WINDING BY MAINTENANCE STAFF.
THE NEW METERS ARE BEING INTRODUCED ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS TO SEE IF THEY ARE BETTER SUITED TO LOCAL CONDITIONS THAN THE PRESENT AUTOMATIC METERS.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT TO OPERATE THE METERS. THE MOTORIST MUST INSERT A 50-CENT COIN AND THEN TURN THE SMALL METER HANDLE FULLY TO THE RIGHT. +IF THE HANDLE IS NOT TURNED FAR ENOUGH, THE METER WILL DISPLAY A YELLOW FLAG AND NO PARKING TIME WILL BE GIVEN+.
BEFORE USING THE NEW METERS, MOTORISTS SHOULD READ CAREFULLY THE INSTRUCTIONS DISPLAYED IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH ON EACH METER, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE MAXIMUM TIME ON THESE EXPERIMENTAL METERS WAS TWO HOURS. ONLY 50-CENT COINS CAN BE USED, EACH GIVING 30 MINUTES’ PARKING TIME.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO REMINDED MOTORISTS THAT IF THEY SHOULD PARK AT A FAULTY METER, WHETHER IT IS AN AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TYPE, THEY SHOULD TELEPHONE THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S PARKING METER SECTION AT THE NUMBER DISPLAYED ON THE NEARBY PARKING SIGN. THE CALLER SHOULD GIVE HIS NAME, VEHICLE NUMBER AND THE PARKING METER POST NUMBER.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976
10 -
PO LEUNG KUK PRAISED
* * M *
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY (FRIDAY) PRAISED THE CHAIRMEN AND DIRECTORS OF PO LEUNG KUK FOR THEIR ZEAL AND. DEVOTION IN PROMOTING WELFARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
MR. LEE WAS ADDRESSING THE PO. LEUNG KUK'S CHARITY BALL HELD AT THE CONVENTION CENTRE THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
HE NOTED THAT PO LEUNG KUK HAD LONG BEEN A WELL-KNOWN LOCAL VOLUNTARY WELFARE ORGANISATION. +THROUGH THE JOINT EFFORTS OF ITS CHAIRMEN AND DIRECTORS, THE KUK HAS MADE NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SOCIETY AND ITS SERVICES ARE MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE PUBLIC.+
THE PAST AND PRESENT CHAIRMEN AND DIRECTORS OF THE KUK, HE SAID, HAD ALWAYS DEEMED IT THEIR DUTY TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF THE SERVICES TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
♦AT PRESENT,+ MR. LEE SAID, +P0 LEUNG KUK PROVIDES WELFARE SERVICES ALL OVER HONG KONG AND THIS INCURS HEAVY EXPENSES. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT GRANTS A SUBSIDY TO MEET PART OF THE EXPENDITURE, THE REST ARE BORNE BY THE CHAIRMEN AND DIRECTORS THEMSELVES AS WELL AS BY PUBLIC DONATIONS.
♦THE PRESENCE OF SO MANY PUBLIC-SPIRITED PEOPLE AT THIS CHARITY BALL WITH THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS WILL CERTAINLY HELP THE KUK TO CONTINUE WITH ITS SERVICES.+
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LAND GRANT FOR PIER AT APLICHAU - * X * K *
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO GRANT SHELL CO. LTD. A LEASE OF ABOUT 1,720 SO. FT. OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AT THE NORTH-WEST OF APLICHAU FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PERMANENT PIER AND FIRE PUMP PLATFORM.
THE LEASE WILL BE GRANTED BY PRIVATE TREATY FOR A TERM OF 75 YEARS COMMENCING AT DECEMBER 22, 1970.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA INVOLVED IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTIFICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL OR ANY CLAIM OF PRIVATE RIGHT ARE ASKED TO SUBMIT SUCH OBJECTIONS OR CLAIMS IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WITHIN A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE NOTIFICATION.
THE NOTICE, IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976 -11-
BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS * * * * *
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED 12A CARPENTER ROAD, KOWLOON TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION. AT THE SAME TIME, IT DECLARED IB AND 5A CARPENTER ROAD, 1 'AND 1 A SAI TAU TSUEN SECOND STREET AND THE ROOF TOP STRUCTURE AT 3 SAI TAU TSUEN SECOND STREET, KOWLOON TO BE LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF A TIMBER FLOOR HAD OCCURRED AT 12A CARPENTER ROAD - A TIMBER FRAMED STRUCTURE.
Z ' I s
DETAILED INSPECTION REVEALED THAT OTHER PORTIONS OF THIS BUILDING WERE DECAYED AND FURTHER COLLAPSE COULD OCCUR.
_ THERE IS'NOW NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO COMPLETE DEMOLITION OF THIS BUILDING, WHICH IS BEYOND REPAIR.
AN ADJOINING STRUCTURE AT IB AND 5A CARPENTER ROAD, AND 1 AND 1A SAI TAU TSUEN SECOND STREET IS ALSO CONSTRUCTED OF TIMBER FRAMING WITH TIMBER FLOORS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DETERIORATION, AND THIS SITUATION ALSO APPLIES TO THE ROOF TOP STRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE KITCHEN, AT 3 SA I TAU TSUEN SECOND STREET.
NOT ONE PORTION OF THESE STRUCTURES CAN BE READILY DEMOLISHED INDEPENDENTLY.
IN VIEW OF THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE, NOTICES OF INTENTION WERE POSTED TODAY TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M.- ON MARCH 1, 1976 IN RESPECT OF THE DAMAGED CUBICLES ON THE GROUND AND 1ST FLOORS, TOGETHER WITH THE WHOLE OF THE BASEMENT OF 12A CARPENTER ROAD. SIMILAR NOTICES WERE ALSO POSTED TODAY TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS ON MARCH 19, 1976 IN RESPECT OF THE REMAINDER OF 12A CARPENTER ROAD, IB AND 5A CARPENTER ROAD, AND 1 AND 1A SAI TAU TSUEN SECOND STREET AND THE ROOF TOP STRUCTURE AT 3 SA I TAU TSUEN SECOND STREET.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CMB FARES TO BE REVISED FROM MARCH 1 ......................... 1
MORE INDUSTRIALISTS SET UP FACTORIES IN TUEN MUN ............. 3
LANE CHANGES ON PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD FLYOVER ............... 4
STATISTICS ON FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTIONS ................... 5
WATERWORKS CLERICAL OFFICER RETIRES .......................... 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1976
1
MOST CMB FARES TO GO UP IN MARCH O * K *
BUS PASSENGERS ON HONG KONG ISLAND WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE ON MOST ROUTES FROM NEXT MONTH.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN APPLICATION FROM CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY, FIRST SUBMITTED IN SEPTEMBER 1974, TO REVISE ITS SCALE OF FARES AS FROM MARCH 1, 1976.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE APPLICATION IN DETAIL AT ITS MEETING LAST DECEMBER AND ADVISED IN FAVOUR OF THE REVISION BECAUSE OF THE STEEP RISE IN CAPITAL AND OPERATING EXPENSES SINCE 1972.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID .THAT WHILE INCREASES ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT WELCOME THEY COULD NOT BE AVOIDED WHEN THE COST OF SPARE PARTS AND MACHINERY HAD RISEN 207 PER CENT, FUEL 125 PER CENT, TYRES 81 PER CENT, STAFF WAGES 79 PER CENT AND THE COST OF NEW VEHICLES 75 PER CENT 1N THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
+ IF THE COMPANY IS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND ITS SERVICES AND REPLACE THE OLDER VEHICLES WHILE MAINTAINING REASONABLE WAGE LEVELS, THIS FARES REVISION IS INEVITABLE,* HE SAID.
CMB FARES WERE LAST REVISED IN JULY 1972 WHEN 132 FARES WERE INCREASED, 42 REMAINED UNCHANGED AND SIX WERE REDUCED. ON THAT OCCASION, THE 20 CENT FULL DISTANCE FARES ON URBAN ROUTES (NOS 2, 5, 5A, 5B, 5C AND 10) ALONG THE NORTH SHORE ROUTES BETWEEN SHAU KEI WAN AND KENNEDY TOWN WERE KEPT AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THEY WERE JUST AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
FROM MARCH, THE FARES ON THESE ROUTES WILL RISE TO 30 CENTS - THE SAME AS FOR TRAMS OVER SIMILAR ROUTES.
OVERALL, THE IMPACT OF THE FARES REVISION WILL BE GREATER ON THOSE ROUTES WHERE FARES WERE UNCHANGED OR REDUCED IN 1972. ON THIS OCCASION, 72 FARES WILL BE INCREASED, 25 WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED AND TWO WILL BE REDUCED. MOST SUBURBAN ROUTES WHERE FARES ARE NOW 30 CENTS WILL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS. THE FARES ON CROSS HARBOUR ROUTES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT SINCE MID-1973, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD NOT RENEW THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY’S FRANCHISE ON THE OLD TERMS, THE COMPANY HAS UNDERTAKEN A SUBSTANTIAL EXPANSION PROGRAMME TO CATER FOR EXISTING AND ANTICIPATED TRAFFIC DEMANDS.
+IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THE COMPANY HAD DRAWN UP A PLAN OF VEHICLE ACQUISITION BOTH TO REPLACE EXISTING BUSES AND ADD MORE TO THE FLEET TO REACH A TOTAL OF 800 HIGH-CAPACITY VEHICLES BY 1981,+ HE SAID.
/AT PHESENT .....
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1976
2
AT PRESENT, THE COMPANY HAD AN IN-SERVICE FLEET OF 525 BUSES OPERATING ON 62 ROUTES WHICH IN 1975 CARRIED AN ALL-TIME RECORD OF 215.8 MILLION PASSENGERS.
ACCORDING TO THE SPOKESMAN, A FURTHER 10 NEW ROUTES ARE PLANNED BY CMB FOR 1976 TO IMPROVE FACILITIES IN EXPANDING AREAS SUCH AS CHAI WAN, ABERDEEN AND THE MID-LEVELS AREA OF NORTH POINT. TWO MORE CROSS-HARBOUR ROUTES WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED THIS YEAR.
THE COMPANY WAS GRANTED A NEW FRANCHISE IN SEPTEMBER 1975 UNDER THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES ORDINANCE TO OPERATE ON SPECIFIED ROUTES LAID DOWN BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT, IN ADDITION, A PROFIT CONTROL SCHEME WAS EVOLVED WHICH FIXED THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL PERMITTED RETURN AT 15 PER CENT OF THE AVERAGE NET FIXED ASSETS. ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS PERMITTED RETURN AND THE NET REVENUE AFTER TAX IS TRANSFERRED TO A DEVELOPMENT FUND. +THIS WILL ENABLE THE COMPANY TO BALANCE GOOD YEARS WITH LEAN ONES AND ENSURE PROPER LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING,* HE ADDED.
WITHOUT A FARES INCREASE IN MARCH, THE COMPANY’S RETURN FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR WOULD BE ONLY 8.7 PER CENT, THAT IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THAT PERMITTED UNDER THE FRANCHISE, AND THERE IS NOTHING AS YET IN THE DEVELOPMENT FUND TO DRAW ON.
+UNDER THE NEW FARES, CMB SHOULD BE ABLE TO EARN A FAIR RATE OF RETURN AND FINANCE ITS BUS PURCHASE PROGRAMME WITHOUT EXCESSIVE LEVELS OF BORROWING,* HE SAID. THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE COMPANY’S FINANCIAL POSITION.
FULL DETAILS OF THE REVISED SCALE OF FARES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE NEXT WEEK AND ALL NEW ROUTES SUBSEQUENTLY INTRODUCED WILL CONFORM TO THE NEW SCALE. THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IS, HOWEVER, PERMITTED TO AUTHORISE UP TO A 50 PER CENT INCREASE IN FARES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS ALL-NIGHT OPERATIONS, FESTIVAL DAYS AND OTHER OCCASIONS WHEN SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS APPLY.
WHEN ASKED WHETHER THE CMB INCREASE WOULD TRIGGER OFF A SIMILAR CLAIM FROM KMB, THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REPLIED THAT THE COMPANY WAS STILL IN A HEALTHY POSITION WITH AN OPENING BALANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. +A FARES REVISION SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY THIS YEAR,* HE SAID.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1976
- 3 -
GROWING INTEREST IN SETTING UP FACTORIES IN TUEN MUN M * * * *
AMONG SIGNS OF RECOVERING BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG IS THE GROWING NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES FROM BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS CONCERNS ABOUT SETTING UP PLANTS IN THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN INDUSTRIAL AREA.
ESTATE STAFF IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE THERE HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST A DOZEN ENQUIRIES DURING THE PAST TWO MONTHS WHILE ONLY A HANDFUL WERE RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF 1975.
+WE’RE GETTING CALLS BOTH FROM LOCAL FIRMS WANTING TO EXPAND OPERATIONS AND ALSO FROM EUROPEAN, JAPANESE AND AMERICAN FIRMS.+ SENIOR ESTATE SURVEYOR MR. BOB POPE SAID.
HE FELT THAT APART FROM THE ENDING OF THE RECESSION, THERE WERE TWO MAIN REASONS FOR THE SUDDEN REAWAKENING OF INTERESTS AMONG INDUSTRIALISTS IN TUEN MUN. THE HIGHWAY LINKING THE NEW TOWN TO TSUEN WAN IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED BY LATE 1977, AND THE TAI HING ESTATE HOUSING 29,000 PEOPLE ULTIMATELY WILL BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT ONE YEAR FROM NOW.
+WITH THE OPENING OF THE ROAD,+ SAID MR. POPE, +TUEN MUN WILL BE ONLY 20 MINUTES’ DISTANCE FROM THE CONTAINER TERMINAL IN KWAI CHUNG.+
HE ADDED i +WHEN THE ESTATE IS READY AND FAMILIES BEGIN MOVING IN, WORKERS FOR THE VARIOUS INDUSTRIES WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE.+
MR. POPE DESCRIBED AS +MOST EXCITING+ THE PROJECT OF A EUROPEAN FIRM WHICH IS SOON TO START BUILDING A FABRIC PRINTING FACTORY.
+THIS IS AN ENTIRELY NEW PROCESS FOR HONG KONG,+ HE SAID, +AND THE FIRM’S INITIAL INVESTMENT IS IN THE REGION OF $25 MILLION.+
THE COMPANY BOUGHT TWO SITES TOTALLING 96,000 SQ. FT. BY PRIVATE TREATY GRANT UNDER A SCHEME WHEREBY GOVERNMENT IS ENCOURAGING HIGH TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES TO COME TO HONG KONG. CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACTORY WILL BEGIN IN MARCH AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN SIX MONTHS WHEN PRODUCTION IS DUE TO COMMENCE. THE FACTORY, WHICH WILL EMPLOY INITIALLY 300 TO 400 WORKERS, WILL BE THE COMPANY’S SOUTHEAST ASIAN PRODUCTION CENTRE.
ANOTHER FACTORY NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IS FOR AN AMERICAN TOY COMPANY WHICH WILL PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT FOR UP TO 1,200 WORKERS. THE 24,500 SQ. FT. SITE WAS PURCHASED 20 MONTHS AGO.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SITES WAS SOLD TO A JAPANESE COMPANY WHICH MANUFACTURES ZIPPERS. THE LAND, MEASURING 155,000 SQ. FT., WAS BOUGHT IN 1973. KOWLOON MOTOR BUS HAS A SITE FOR A BUS DEPOT AND WORKSHOP.
/mk. pope
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1976
4
MR. POPE SAID INDUSTRIAL LAND WAS AT PRESENT SELLING FOR ABOUT $50 PER SQ. FT. LOWER THAN THE PRICES BEING PAID FOR SIMILAR LAND IN SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN NEW TOWNS. PURCHASERS ARE GIVEN 10 YEARS TO PAY WITH INTEREST AT 5 PER CENT.
AT PRESENT, FIVE FACTORIES ARE OPERATING ON THE INDUSTRIAL AREA, EIGHT ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED AND A FURTHER EIGHT COMPANIES HAVE SUBMITTED FACTORY PLANS. ELEVEN SITES TOTALLING MORE THAN 160,000 SQ. FT. REMAIN TO BE SOLD.
MR. POPE EMPHASISED THAT ANYONE CONSIDERING SETTING UP AN INDUSTRIAL PLANT IN TUEN MUN WOULD BE WELL ADVISED NOT TO DELAY TOO LONG IN VIEW OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE DATES FOR COMPLETION OF THE TAI HING ESTATE AND THE HIGHWAY LINKING TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN.
TUEN MUN NEW TOWN WILL EVENTUALLY HOUSE CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE. THE SALE OF SITES IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA BEGAN IN 1970 WHEN SEVEN WERE SOLD. BETWEEN 1971 AND 1974, 28 SITES WERE AUCTIONED. THERE WERE NO SALES IN 1975.
+LAST YEAR WAS VIRTUALLY A DEAD YEAR FOR TUEN MUN,+ MR. POPE SAID, +BUT THE PROSPECTS FOR 1976 ARE LOOKING VERY MUCH BETTER.* HE SAID THE FIRST AUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL LAND DURING THE YEAR WAS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
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CHANGE OF LANES ON PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD FLYOVER ******
TRAFFIC ON PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD FLYOVER WILL BE CHANGED FROM TWO LANES NORTHBOUND AND ONE LANE SOUTHBOUND TO ONE LANE NORTHBOUND AND TWO LANES SOUTHBOUND FROM 10 A.M. TOMORROW (SUNDA.Y).
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP THERE TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1976
5
FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTIONS ****** .
THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED INSPECTIONS ON 130 VEHICLES USED FOR CARRYING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AND COMPRESSED GASES IN JANUARY.
THIS IS THE LARGEST BATCH OF SUCH VEHICLES INSPECTED IN A SINGLE MONTH AND BRINGS TO 676 THE TOTAL EXAMINED SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR.
DURING THE MONTH, ALMOST 16,000 INSPECTIONS, RE-INSPECTIONS AND FOLLOW-UP VISITS WERE MADE BY THE BUREAU TO BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG. AS IN THE PAST, THE MAJORITY OF INSPECTIONS (9,003) RELATED TO COMPLAINTS CONCERNING MEANS OF ESCAPE, FOLLOWED BY INSPECTIONS OF FACTORIES AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (2,427).
BUREAU EXPERTS INVESTIGATED 45 FIRES AND 1,436 GENERAL COMPLAINTS IN DETAIL. THERE WERE 958 ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF MEANS OF ESCAPE TO ENSURE THEY WERE FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS, 528 INSPECTIONS OF PREMISES USED FOR STORING OR MANUFACTURING DANGEROUS GOODS AND 419 INSPECTIONS OF FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.
OTHER INSPECTIONS INCLUDED BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEMS (376), RESTAURANTS AND NIGHT CLUBS (257), SCHOOLS (141), PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY (107), TIMBER YARDS.AND STORAGE (14), NEON SIGNS (6) AND MISCELLANEOUS (123).
A TOTAL OF 700 NEW BUILDING PLANS SUBMITTED TO THE BUREAU FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE MEANS OF ESCAPE AND THE INSTALLATION OF FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS WERE FINALISED. DANGEROUS GOODS AND TIMBER STORE LICENCES ISSUED AND RENEWED NUMBERED 310.
IN ADDITION, 853 FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES WERE ISSUED AND 176 PEOPLE WERE PROSECUTED RESULTING IN THE IMPOSITION OF FINES AMOUNTING TO OVER $97,000.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1976
- 6
RETIREMENT OF WATERWORKS CLERICAL OFFICER
M * M * * *
ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING CLERICAL OFFICERS OF THE WATERWORKS OFFICE, MR. WONG MING-TACK, IS RETIRING THIS WEEK AFTER 31 YEARS’ SERVICE.
MR. WONG BEGINS HIS WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT ON SUNDAY WHEN HE R4TPS MIS RSTM BIRTHDAY I
CELEBRATES HIS 55TH BIRTHDAY. 1
TO MARK HIS RETIREMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. BILL KNIGHT, WILL PRESENT HIM WITH A MEMENTO ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES AT A SPECIAL CEREMONY ON MONDAY.
MR. WONG IS THE LAST CLERICAL OFFICER IN THE WATERWORKS OFFICE WHO JOINED THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES BEFORE THE WAR.
HE FIRST ENTERED THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A JUNIOR CLERK IN 1941 AND AFTER THE WAR JOINED THE WATERWORKS OFFICE IN 1945.
DURING HIS CAREER IN THE WATERWORKS OFFICE HE ACTED AS SENIOR CLERK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN 1970 AND 1971 AND WAS CLERK-IN-CHARGE OF THE CONTRACTS AND PAYLISTING SECTION WHERE HE DEVOTED HIMSELF TO CONTRACT AND PAYMENT MATTERS RELATING TO SUCH MAJOR WATERWORKS PROJECTS AS THE SHEK PIK AND PLOVER COVE RESERVOIRS, THE LOK ON PAI DESALTER, AND THE HIGH ISLAND WATER SCHEME.
NOTE TO EDITORS t
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23). IT WILL BE HELD AT 4 P.M. IN THE P.W.D. CONFERENCE ROOM, 21ST FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG. OFFICERS FROM THE PWD PUBLICITY UNIT WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1976
GOVERNOR JOINS JPC MEMBERS TO CLEAN N.T. BEACH KOKX
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, JOINED SOME 40 MEMBERS OF THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL TO CLEAN THE BEACH AT CHEK KENG IN LONG HARBOUR AREA THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON.
IT WAS ONE OF 14 UNGAZETTED BEACHES CLEANED TODAY BY SOME 300 PUBLIC-SPIRITED YOUNGSTERS IN A CLEAN BEACH EXERCISE CARRIED OUT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
SIR MURRAY, WHO ARRIVED AT 3 P.M..BROUGHT WITH HIM A PIECE OF GOOD NEWS — HE HAD TWO PACKETS OF CHOCOLATE FOR EACH JPC MEMBER.
AFTER A BRIEF TALK WITH WOMAN INSPECTOR, MRS. SHIRLEY CHOW, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION, AND MR. HENRY LU, URBAN SERVICES OFFICER (TAI PO), THE GOVERNOR IMMEDIATELY GOT DOWN TO WORK.
TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE JPC MEMBERS, HE PICKED UP TWO FULL BASKETS OF LITTER FROM THE BEACH IN A MATTER OF MINUTES AND DISPOSED IT IN A FIRE.
AT THE END OF HIS 30-MINUTE VISIT, THE GOVERNOR TOLD THE JPC MEMBERS THAT IN SOME PLACES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES +YOU CAN’T EXPECT STAFF OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO CLEAN.+
+S0 IT IS A GOOD THING FOR THE JPC TO TAKE THE LEAD,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR HOPED THAT JPC MEMBERS COULD TAKE PART IN A SIMILAR EXERCISE NEXT YEAR.
EARLIER IN THE DAY, JPC MEMBERS CLEANED TWO OTHER BEACHES --TAN KA WAN IN LONG HARBOUR AREA AND LAI CHI CHONG IN TOLO CHANNEL.
MEANWHILE, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, VISITED LUK KENG IN SHA TAU KOK, TO JOIN ONE OF THE CLEAN YOUR CITY GROUPS IN CLEANING THE BEACH THERE.
ALTOGETHER EIGHT CYC GROUPS EACH COMPRISING ABOUT 10 OR MORE MEMBERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR EIGHT BEACHES WHILE THE TAI PO VOLUNTEERS TACKLED THREE BEACHES IN THEIR AREA.
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDED ALL THE VOLUNTEERS ON THE SPOT WITH NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE THE LITTER AND STAFF OF THE USD (NEW TERRITORIES) WERE PRESENT TO ADVISE ON METHOD OF DISPOSING THE REFUSE.
NOTE TO EDITORS
COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWFNG THE GOVERNOR AND JPC MEMBERS WORKING ON THE BEACH ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION IN G.I.S. PRESS ROQtlty bBBAGGNSF Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
2
NEW ADDITION TO POLLUTION CONTROL FLEET
* K H M *
HONG KONG WILL BE MUCH BETTER PREPARED TO COMBAT POLLUTION FROM OIL SPILLS IN THE HARBOUR WHEN A NEW ANTI-OIL POLLUTION LAUNCH JOINS THE FLEET OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.
COSTING SOME $1.8 MILLION, THE 80-FOOT LAUNCH WAS BUILT LOCALLY AT THE CHEOY LEE SHIPYARD AND IS NOW UNDER-GOING SEA TRIALS. IT WILL BE DELIVERED SOME TIME NEXT WEEK. AFTER COMMISSIONING, IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST AND MOST SOPHISTICATED OF THE DEPARTMENT’S POLLUTION CONTROL VESSELS.
THE MARINE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT, MR. TONY MASON, SAID i +THE SPECIAL LAUNCH HAS STORAGE TANKS WHICH CAN HOLD A TOTAL OF 6,000 GALLONS OF DISPERSANTS. IT WILL THEREFORE BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT DISPERSING OPERATIONS FOR A WHOLE DAY WITHOUT RE-LOADING DISPERSANTS.
+IT CAN CARRY SUFFICIENT FUEL TO OPERATE FOR ABOUT 100 HOURS AT A STRETCH AT HALF ITS FULL SPEED OF 12 KNOTS.+
EQUIPPED WITH FIVE FIRE MONITORS, THE LAUNCH CAN, IF REQUIRED, BE USED TO ASSIST IN FIRE FIGHTING.
OTHER SPECIAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED INCLUDES SPRAY BOOMS, AGITATING DEVICES, AND A POWERFUL PUMP FOR SPRAYING DISPERSANTS.
ALL PROPELLING MACHINERY AND THE FULLY AUTOMATIC PUMPING MACHINERY FOR SPRAYING DISPERSANTS ARE CONTROLLED FROM THE BRIDGE, WHERE THERE ARE ALSO RADAR, ECHO (DEPTH) SOUNDING AND V.H.F. RADIO EQUIPMENT.
THE CRAFT HAS A LARGE CLEAR AFTERDECK, WHERE THE CREW HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO WORK WHEN DEPLOYING AND RECOVERING BOOMS AND OTHER ANTI POLLUTION EQUIPMENT.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS LAUNCH WILL BE FOR USE AS A COMMAND BOAT WHEN THERE IS A MAJOR SPILL, CO-ORDINATING THE EFFORTS OF THE OTHER CRAFT IN CLEANING IT. SHE WILL ALSO DEAL WITH MINOR SPILLS THAT FREQUENTLY OCCUR AND WILL BE USED IN TRANSPORTING ANTI POLLUTION STAFF ON THEIR DAY TO DAY INSPECTIONS OF OIL TERMINALS, VESSELS THAT ARE TAKING ON BUNKERS AND TANKERS THAT ARE DISCHARGING TO SEE THAT THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH ALL REGULATIONS. THE CRAFT WILL ALSO BE USED FOR TRAINING STAFF IN DEPLOYING ANTI POLLUTION EQUIPMENT.
AT PRESENT, THE POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT HAS ONE VESSEL EMPLOYED FULL TIME TO DEAL WITH OIL SPILLS, ALTHOUGH IN CASE OF NEED, 13 (SOON TO BE INCREASED TO 20) OTHER LAUNCHES FITTED WITH SPRAYING EQUIPMENT CAN BE MOBILISED AT ANY TIME.
+WHEN THE NEW LAUNCH COMES INTO OPERATION, WE WILL DEF INITELY BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO DEAL WITH A MAJOR SPILL.+ MR. MASON SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE NEW LAUNCH ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION IN GIS PRESS ROOM, TOP FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1976
3
HONG KONG AT REGIONAL TALKS ON TRANSPORT *****
HONG KONG WAS REPRESENTED AT A TWO-PART REGIONAL SEMINAR ON TRANSPORT HELD RECENTLY IN JAKARTA AND SINGAPORE.
THE SEMINAR WAS ORGANISED BY THE UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP) AND WAS ATTENDED BY 40 PARTICIPANTS FROM 12 SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.
THE PARTICIPANTS WERE MAINLY TRAFFIC ENGINEERS AND TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICERS AND THE SUBJECT OF THE SEMINAR WAS THEIR ROLE IN CITY ADMINISTRATION.
THERE WERE SPEAKERS FROM GERMANY, THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN. PHILIPPINES, AND THE HOST COUNTRIES INDONESIA AND SINGAPORE. OTHER COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AT THE SEMINAR INCLUDED IRAN, INDIA. NEW ZEALAND, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, MALAYSIA, BANGLADESH AND PAKISTAN.
THE HONG KONG DELEGATE. TRANSPORT OFFICER MISS DOROTHY YUEN. RETURNED FROM SINGAPORE LAST WEEKEND. SHE DESCRIBED IT AS A SEMINAR-CUM-TRAINING COURSE ORGANISED ON THE LINES OF A +WORKSHOP+.
+ITS AIM WAS TO BUILD A FORUM TO DISCUSS THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF TOWN PLANNING, TRAFFIC PLANNING, TRAFFIC STEERING AND CONTROL,* SHE SAID.
MISS YUEN SAID THAT THE EMPHASIS WAS NOT SO MUCH ON TOWN AND TRAFFIC PLANNING BUT RATHER ON THE INFLUENCES OF THE AUTHORITIES DEALING WITH EXISTING URBAN TRAFFIC SYSTEMS.
♦BESIDES THE DISCUSSIONS WHICH WERE OPEN TO THE FLOOR.+ MISS YUEN SAID, +EACH DELEGATE PRESENTED A 'COUNTRY PAPER’ DESCRIBING THE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS OF BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF THE TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES.+
ASKED WHAT WAS THE DELEGATES’ REACTION TO HONG KONG’S TRANSPORT PAPER, MISS YUEN SAID, +ALL WERE IMPRESSED BY THE VARIETY OF TRANSPORT AVAILABLE TO OUR CITY OF 4.4 MILLION.+
HONG KONG’S METRO BECAME A BIG TALKING POINT AT THE DISCUSSIONS. ♦SINGAPORE WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED,* SHE SAID, +AS THEY ARE ACTIVELY STUDYING SUCH A SYSTEM.+
♦ON IMMEDIATE TRANSPORT PROBLEMS, THE INDONESIAN AND MALAYSIAN DELEGATES WERE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN OUR MINIBUSES,+ MISS YUEN ADDED. +OTHER MEMBERS WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE ROLE OF OUR TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH INCLUDES UNOFFIC IAL MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY AND PRIVATE SECTOR, AND ADVISES THE GOVERNMENT ON ALL MAJOR TRANSPORT POLICY MATTERS.+
/DURING THE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1976
4
DURING THE TWO-PART SEMINAR WHICH LASTED FROM JANUARY 26 UNTIL FEBRUARY 12, MISS YUEN ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING WHAT SINGAPORE AND INDONESIA ARE DOING TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
♦OBVIOUSLY I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN SINGAPORE’S AREA LICENSING SCHEME WHICH LIMITS PRIVATE CARS GOING INTO THE CITY CENTRE DURING 7 PEAK HOURS, AND ALSO THE ’REVERSIBLE* LANES WHICH LEAD INTO THE CITY IN THE MORNING RUSH-HOURS BUT IN THE EVENING ARE REVERSED SO AS TO LEAD THE TRAFFIC OUT OF THE CITY.+
THE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS PUT FORWARD BY THE DELEGATES AT THE SEMINAR WERE THE SETTING UP OF AN INSTITUTE OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING FOR THE ASIAN REGION, AND THE ORGANISATION OF TRAINING COURSES FOR TRAFFIC PERSONNEL.
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STREET DIVERSIONS IN YAUMATI AND MONGKOK M K If * *
A NUMBER OF STREETS IN YAUMATI AND MONGKOK WILL BE CLOSED AT THE WEST SIDE OF THEIR JUNCTIONS WITH SHANGHAI STREET TO RESTRICT VARIOUS TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS IN AND OUT OF SHANGHAI STREET AND OTHER ADJACENT STREETS IN PREPARATION FOR THE START OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE METRO STATIONS IN NATHAN ROAD.
THE STREETS ARE AS FOLLOWS : ARRAN STREET, BUTE STREET, FIFE STREET, NELSON STREET, SOY STREET, HAMILTON STREET, PITT STREET, SHEK LUNG STREET, MAN MING LANE, HI LUNG LANE AND WING SING LANE. THEY WILL BE CLOSED FROM 10 A.M. ON FEBRUARY 25, 1976.
AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE STREET CLOSURES, ARRAN STREET BETWEEN CANTON ROAD AND RECLAMATION STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONEWAY EASTBOUND.
THE STRAIGHT AHEAD MOVEMENT AND THE RIGHT TURN MOVEMENT FROM SHANGHAI STREET SOUTHBOUND ACROSS WATERLOO ROAD AND INTO WATERLOO ROAD WESTBOUND RESPECTIVELY, WILL BE PROHIBITED.
ALL TRAFFIC FROM THIS APPROACH WILL BE REQUIRED TO TURN LEFT INTO WATERLOO ROAD EASTBOUND.
MOTORISTS ARE REQUESTED TO NOTE THE RESTRICTIONS AT THE JUNCTION OF SHANGHAI STREET AND WATERLOO ROAD AND THEIR EFFECT ON THROUGH TRAFFIC USING SHANGHAI STREET.
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE THE ALTERNATIVE SOUTHBOUND THROUGH ROUTE, NAMELY TONG Ml ROAD AND FERRY STREET.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1976
CONTENTS PA6E W0,
BUDGET FOR 1976-77 TO BE PRESENTED ON WEDNESDAY ............. 1
CONSUMER PRICE INDICES STABLE LAST MONTH .................. 2
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT BEING MADE IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN .. 3
AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC STATISTICS SHOW INCREASES ............. *
TSING Yl ISLAND TO HAVE NEW FIRE STATION .................... 5
CHIEF TOWN PLANNER RETIRES ................................ 6
HONG KONG STUDENT WINS MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP...........•'........ 7
WATER INTERRUTPION IN HO MAN TIN AND WESTERN DISTRICT .... 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1976
1
BUDGET DAY ON WEDNESDAY * * * * *
HONG KONG’S BUDGET FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR WILL BE MADE KNOWN ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 25) WHEN THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1976 IS PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE PROCEEDINGS WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 P.M. DURING WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WILL MOVE THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL AND OUTLINE THE MAIN FEATURES OF ESTIMATED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1976/77.
THE ESTIMATED HEADS OF EXPEND I TURE" WILL BE SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE OF THE BILL TO BE PUBLISHED IN A GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY AT 2.30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY.
DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL WILL BE ADJOURNED AND RESUMED ON MARCH 24 WHEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK ON THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATE OF HONG KONG AND THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIONS AS INDICATED BY THE BILL AND ESTIMATES. IF NECESSARY, THE DEBATE WILL CONTINUE ON MARCH 25.
THE DEBATE WILL BE RESUMED ON APRIL 7 WHEN THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES.
THE COUNCIL WILL THEN ADJOURN AGAIN UNTIL APRIL 28, WHEN THE BILL WILL BE CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE AND THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE FORMAL THIRD READING. •
AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE PROCEEDINGS WILL BE COMPREHENSIVELY COVERED BY RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S .SPEECH AT WEDNESDAY’S SITTING WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE OVER RADIO HONG KONG’S CHINESE (RHK 2) AND ENGLISH (RHK 4) SERVICES. THE SAME CHANNELS WILL ALSO BROADCAST ALL THE OTHER SITTINGS LIVE.
COMMERCIAL RADIO’S CHINESE SERVICE WILL BROADCAST THE FIRST BUDGET SITTING LIVE ON CHANNEL ONE.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1976
- 2 -
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JANUARY ******
THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A)-FOR JANUARY 1976 WAS 108, THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY ONE POINT. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT WATER FISH, FRESH WATER FISH, PORK AND LIVE POULTRY ADVANCED WHILE THOSE OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME DECLINED.
AN INCREASE OF THREE POINTS WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR SERVICES, DUE MAINLY TO INCREASED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND HIGHER POSTAL RATES FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF MAIL.
THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS ALSO ADVANCED BY ONE POINT AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR FURNITURE, WATCHES, CAMERAS AND OPTICAL GOODS.
MOVEMENTS IN THE INDICES FOR OTHER SECTIONS OF COMMODITY WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR JANUARY 1976 WAS 109, ONE POINT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
A RISE OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT WATER FISH, FRESH WATER FISH AND LIVE POULTRY ADVANCED WHILE THAT OF FRESH VEGETABLES DECLINED.
AN INCREASE OF TWO POINTS WAS ALSO RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR SERVICES, DUE MAINLY TO INCREASED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND HIGHER POSTAL RATES FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF MAIL.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR FELL BY ONE POINT.
MOVEMENTS IN THE INDICES FOR OTHER SECTIONS OF COMMODITY WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) IS BASED ON WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN 1400 AND $1,499 A MONTH. INDEX (B) COVERS HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,999 A MONTH.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1976
- 5 -
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR TUEN MUN NEW TOWN ******
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AUGUR WELL FOR THE FUTURE OF TUEN MUN AS A NEW TOWN.
THIS WAS STATED THIS (MONDAY) EVENING BY MR. TONY BENNETT, DISTRICT OFFICER FOR TUEN MUN, WHO WAS ADDRESSING MEMBERS OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AT THE PENINSULA HOTEL.
MR. BENNETT SAID THAT WHILE ON THE INDUSTRIAL FRONT WE WERE NOW BEGINNING TO EMERGE FROM A PERIOD OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, THERE HAD BEEN IN TUEN MUN INDICATIONS IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR WHICH WERE VERY ENCOURAGING.
+WHILST NO INDUSTRIAL LAND WAS DISPOSED OF WITHIN THE NEW TOWN DURING 1975, DUE TO A SLOWING DOWN OF INTEREST IN DEVELOPMENT,* MR. BENNETT SAID, +WE HAVE HAD ABOUT 20 GENUINE ENQUIRIES FOR THE PURCHASE OF INDUSTRIAL LAND DURING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
+WITH RETURNING BUSINESS CONFIDENCE, + HE WENT ON, +WE NOW EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASED INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL SITES AT TUEN MUN. FOR THE FACILITIES OFFERED BY TUEN MUN ARE NOW VERY ATTRACTIVE! INDUSTRIAL LAND IS AVAILABLE AT A COST OF ABOUT $50 PER SQ. FT. ON AN INSTALMENT BASIS OVER TEN YEARS AT FIVE PER CENT INTEREST.*
MR. BENNETT SAID THAT UNDER A NEW GOVERNMENT POLICY, LAND MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE BY PRIVATE TREATY GRANT IN THE CASE OF INDUSTRIES BRINGING NEW OR SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY TO HONG KONG. +APPLICATIONS FOR SUCH ARE ALREADY UNDER PROCESS AND ONE FACTORY WHITHIN THIS CATEGORY IS PLANNED TO BE IN OPERATION IN TUEN MUN BY SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR,* HE POINTED OUT.
MR. BENNETT CONTINUED: +CONS(DERATION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO A SCHEME WHEREBY A PART OF THE ACCOMMODATION IN THE NEW TOWN’S PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WOULD BE RESERVED FOR WORKERS IN THE NEW FACTORIES TO BE BUILT AT TUEN MUN. A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIALISTS HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SUCH A SCHEME.*
SPEAKING ABOUT THE NEW HIGHWAY WHICH WILL LINK TSUEN WAN WITH TUEN MUN WHEN IT IS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR, MR. BENNETT SAID IT WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN OPENING UP COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES.
+THE PAST SIX MONTHS HAVE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING FOR TUEN MUN NEW TOWN,* DECLARED MR. BENNETT. +PROGRESS ON ITS PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IS NOW GETTING INTO HIGH GEAR, DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS ARE BEING RESOLVED WITH THE ACTIVE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE MAIN FACILITIES ARE NOW APPEARING JUST AT THE TIME WHEN THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE FAVOURS A RETURN TO MORE POSITIVE AND AGGRESSIVE INVESTMENT IN DEVELOPMENT.*
/MR. BENNETT
MONDAY, FEBBUAHY 23, 1976
4
MR. BENNETT ALSO SPOKE ON THE CLEARANCE OF SHAM SHING HUI, A VILLAGE COMMUNITY CLOSE TO TUEN MUN WHICH SERVES THE FISHING FLEET. THE CLEARANCE WAS TO MAKE WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING A CRUCIAL PART OF THE TSUEN WAN - TUEN MUN HIGHWAY, A TYPHOON SHELTER AND BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION. HE SAID REMOVAL OF BUSINESSES TO A RESITE AREA, WHICH WAS NOW IN PROGRESS, HAD NOT BEEN WITHOUT ITS PROBLEMS, +BUT, THEN, WHEN SO MANY PEOPLES’ HOMES AND LIVELIHOOD HAVE TO BE DISTURBED IN SUCH A TRAUMATIC WAY AS THIS, PROBLEMS ARE ONLY TO BE EXPECTED.+
HE PRAISED THE TUEN MUN AND SHAM SHING HUI COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS +FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT WHICH THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THE SOLUTION OF THESE PROBLEMS.*
*----o------
INCREASE IN AIR PASSENGER 'TRAFFIC M * # *
PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT KAI TAK DURING THE LAST QUARTER OF 1975 WENT UP BY NEARLY FOUR PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, AIR CARGO MOVEMENTS DROPPED BY JUST OVER TWO PER CENT.
HOWEVER, PASSENGER AND CARGO TRAFFIC SHOWED AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 11 PER CENT AND 60 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FIGURES FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF 1974.
DURING THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR, PASSENGER TRAFFIC (3,868,211) WENT UP BY 4.65 PER CENT OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AIR CARGO (141,619 METRIC TONS) SHOWED AN IMPRESSIVE INCREASE OF 38.49 PER CENT wAlLE AIR MAIL (4,763 METRIC TONS) WENT UP BY 5.28 PER CENT.
DESPITE THIS, AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS CONTINUED TO DECLINE SLIGHTLY AS AIRLINES CHANGED OVER TO WIDE-BODIED AIRCRAFT. DURING THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR, THERE WERE 51,094 MOVEMENTS REPRESENTING A DROP OF 3.47 PER CENT.
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/5
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1976
5
NEW FIRE STATION FOR TSI NG Yl ISLAND ******
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START OF A NEW FIRE STATION ON TSING
NEXT MONTH ON THE CONSTRUCTION Yl ISLAND.
OCCUPYING AN AREA OF OVER 27,000 SQUARE FEET, THE NEW STATION IS CONVENIENTLY SITUATED ON A SITE NEAR THE BRIDGE.
IT WILL BE A THREE-STOREY BUILDING WITH FOUR BAYS FOR FIRE APPLIANCES AND WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE THE EXISTING FIRE STATION WHICH IS ACCOMMODATED IN SUB-STANDARD TEMPORARY PREMISES.
OTHER FEATURES WILL INCLUDE A DRILL YARD, OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, BARRACK AND LOCKER ROOMS, AND CANTEEN AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
UPON COMPLETION IN NOVEMBER THIS A PUMP ESCAPE AND A LIGHT RESCUE UNIT STATION.
YEAR, A MAJOR PUMP. WILL BE BASED AT THE
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
COMMENTING ON THE PROJECT TODAY, FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID i +WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF SOPHISTICATED INDUSTRY AND THE EXPECTED BUILDUP OF POPULATION ON THE ISLAND, IT IS CONSIDERED OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT ADEQUATE FIRE COVER BE PROVIDED.+
+IN FACT,+ HE POINTED OUT, +THE PLANNING OF NEW FIRE AND AMBULANCE DEPOTS IS GOVERNED BY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AREA, BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL, TO ENSURE THAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE READILY AVAILABLE WHERE THE NEED AR ISES.+
MEANWHILE, PLANS ARE ALSO IN HAND TO BUILD A BERTH FOR FIREBOATS ON TSING Yl SO AS TO KEEP PACE WITH ITS RAPID DEVELOPMENT.
/6
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1976
- 6 -
CHIEF TOWN PLANNER RETIRES
* M * * *
MR. BRIAN HADLAND, CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S TOWN PLANNING OFFICE, IS RETIRING SHORTLY AFTER 16 YEARS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
A CHARTERED ARCHITECT AND CHARTERED TOWN PLANNER, MR. HADLAND FIRST JOINED THE PWD AS A PLANNING OFFICER IN I960. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR PLANNING OFFICER IN OCTOBER 1965 AND TO HIS PRESENT POST OF CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER IN AUGUST 1972.
HE ALSO ACTED AS GOVERNMENT TOWN PLANNER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS LAST YEAR.
IN 1967, HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE HONG KONG OUTLINE PLAN DIVISION AND PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE PREPARATION OF THE HONG KONG OUTLINE PLAN WHICH SETS DOWN THE BASIC PLANNING STANDARDS AND POLICIES OF TOWN PLANNING IN HONG KONG UP TO 1981.
AS CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER, MR. HADLAND DEVOTED MOST OF HIS TIME TO THE REVISION OF THE HONG KONG OUTLINE PLAN.
TO MARK HIS RETIREMENT, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT TOWN PLANNER, MR. A.F. MEYERS, WILL PRESENT A GIFT TO MR. HADLAND ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY. IT WILL BE HELD AT 4 P.M. TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE DRAWING OFFICE OF THE TOWN PLANNING OFFICE, MURRAY BUILDING, 17TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
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/7
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1976
7 -
HONG KONG STUDENT WINS LONDON SCHOLARSHIP *****
MISS VIVIAN CHOI WAI-MAN, A FORM THREE STUDENT OF MARYKNOLL CONVENT SCHOOL, KOWLOON IS THE 1975 WINNER OF A 2,000 POUND STERLING SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED BY THE ASSOCIATED BOARD OF THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC, LONDON.
+THE SCHOLARSHIP IS AWARDED ANNUALLY AND JOINTLY TO INDIA AND HONG KONG AND MISS CHOI’S ACHIEVEMENT MEANS THAT FOR THE 16TH SUCCESSIVE YEAR THE SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN WON BY A HONG KONG STUDENT+, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
EVERY YEAR SEVEN SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED BY THE ASSOCIATED BOARD FOR STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE BRITAIN. EACH SCHOLARSHIP IS TENABLE FOR THREE YEARS AT ONE OF THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC IN LONDON.
EACH AWARD AMOUNTS IN ALL TO ABOUT 2,000 POUNDS STERLING, WHICH INCLUDES TUITION FEES, A GRANT OF 300 POUNDS STERL ING A YEAR TOWARDS LIVING EXPENSES AND A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE COST OF A PASSAGE BACK HOME AT THE END OF THE COURSE.
MISS CHOI WAS AWARDED THE LICENTIATE DIPLOMA IN PIANOFORTE PERFORMING AT THE RECENT EXAMINATIONS AND IT WAS ON THE BASIS OF THIS RESULT THAT SHE WAS SELECTED BY THE VISITING PANEL OF EXAMINERS FROM LONDON FOR SCHOLARSHIP CONSIDERATION BY THE BOARD.
MISS CHOI FIRST TOOK PIANO LESSONS AT THE AGE OF FIVE AND HER PRESENT TEACHER IS MRS. BETTY DROWN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRESS REPRESENTATIVES WHO WISH TO INTERVIEW MISS CHOI MAY DO SO BY TELEPHONING HER ON 3-362696.
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WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN HO MAN TIN IN KOWLOON AND IN WESTERN DISTRICT ON HONG KONG ISLAND WILL BE INTERRUPTED FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 25) TO ENABLE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT LEAKAGE TESTS.
IN KOWLOON, THE PREMISES TO BE AFFECTED ARE THOSE ON HO MAN TIN STREET BETWEEN HO MAN TIN HILL ROAD AND WATERLOO ROAD, AND ON WATERLOO ROAD BETWEEN PEACE AVENUE AND PUI CHING ROAD.
ON THE ISLAND, THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY HIGH STREET, EASTERN STREET, FIRST STREET AND WESTERN STREET, AND ON POKFULAM ROAD FROM HIGH STREET TO THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Monday, February 2J, 197-
FIRE VICTIMS MOVE INTO HING ,7AH ESTATE THIS .7EEK ************
The Aldrich Bay fire victims will be moving into King Wah Estate this week.
The Applications Section of the Housing Department today (Monday) stationed a working team at the Hing Wah Estate office to speed up the letting process.
A total of ^4 families comprising 176 people have signed the tenancy agreement and some of them will likely move to their new homes in one or two days.
The special letting team at Hing Wah will interview about 40 families each day and the whole letting process is scheduled to be completed in about ten days.
Of the 2,700 people eligible for public housing or licensed area sites, 3>66 families comprising 1,940 people have opted for flats at Hing Wah Estate.
Others have either taken up accommodation at other estates in Kowloon or Kwai Chung and licensed area accommodation in Chai Wan or Kowloon Bay.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE N0*
FEWER PEOPLE SEEK PUBLIC ASSISTANCE .........................
20 PER CENT REDUCTION IN SPEED POST CHARGES ................. 2
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION RETIRES ..................... 3
CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS PRAISED FOR COMMUNITY SPIRIT......... 4
WATER INTERRUPTION IN SHAM SHUI PO .....................• •••• *
PRESS CONFERENCE ON METRO WORKS IN CENTRAL................... 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1976
1
DROP IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS INDICATION OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY
M M M M X
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE APPLYING FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IN JANUARY 1976 WAS 1,569, WHICH COMPARES MOST FAVOURABLY WITH THE 3,313 WHO APPLIED IN THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.
COMMENTING ON THIS DROP, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. FREDERICK CLARK, SAID IT GAVE AN INDICATION THAT THE ECONOMY WAS PICKING UP AGAIN.
HE RECALLED THAT THE RECESSION IN 1974 RESULTED IN MONTHLY APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RISING TO HIGHER LEVELS THAN WOULD NORMALLY BE EXPECTED. THIS WAS DUE TO THE FAMILIES OF UNEMPLOYED BREADWINNERS AND THOSE FAMILIES WITH EARNINGS BELOW PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LEVELS LOOKING TO THE SCHEME FOR HELP, MR. CLARK SAID. +IN EFFECT, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDING SOME SUPPORT TO MEET UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDER-EMPLOYMENT ALTHOUGH ITS MAIN PURPOSE IS TO GIVE A GUARANTEED INCOME TO PEOPLE WHO THROUGH AGE, ILLNESS, DISABILITY, OR THE NEED TO LOOK AFTER DEPENDENTS CANNOT UNDERTAKE WORK.+
HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF CASES RECEIVING ASSISTANCE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR SHOWED AN ACTUAL DROP FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME CAME INTO OPERATION. FROM 55,620 CASES IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR IT DROPPED TO 55,464 IN JANUARY — A DECREASE OF 156 CASES.
MR. CLARK WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE NUMBERS OF THE UNEMPLOYED WHO WERE LEAVING THE CASE-LOAD. IN JANUARY, OVER 2,000 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES WERE CLOSED AND THERE WAS LITTLE DOUBT THAT A LARGE PROPORTION OF THESE WERE AS A RESULT OF PEOPLE FINDING WORK OR RECEIVING INCREASED EARNINGS.
IN JANUARY 1975, 361 UNEMPLOYED BREADWINNERS (10.8 PER CENT OF THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED IN THAT MONTH) TURNED TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, WHEREAS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE WAS ONLY 73 (4.65 PER CENT OF THE APPLICATIONS)
+THE LOSS OF UNEMPLOYED AND LOW-EARNING CASES FROM THE CASELOAD IS A HEALTHY SIGN,+ MR. CLARK SAID, +IN THAT IT NOT ONLY MEANS THAT THOSE WHO ARE ANXIOUS TO WORK ARE FINDING EMPLOYMENT BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT ENABLES THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO CONCENTRATE ON LOOKING AFTER THE KIND OF PEOPLE IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO HELP. THAT IS THOSE WHO ARE IN THE MAIN ELDERLY AND SICK, OR WIDOWS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.*
HE ADDED THAT SINCE THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS EXPANDED IN 1972, THE CASELOAD HAD STEADILY INCREASED ASIDE FROM THE SURGE DURING THE RECESSION AND HE EXPECTED IT TO CONTINUE TO. DO SO, PERHAPS MORE MODERATELY, UNTIL A POINT WAS REACHED WHERE ALL WHO WERE POTENTIALLY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SCHEME HAD APPLIED FOR AND WERE DRAWING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1976
2
SPEEDPOST CHARGES TO BE REDUCED * * * * *
THE POST OFFICE’S SPEEDPOST SERVICE WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY CHEAPER FROM NEXT MONTH.
THE COST OF MAILING THE FIRST POUND TO DESTINATIONS IN BRITAIN, U.S.A. AND BELGIUM WILL BE LOWERED BY $20 WHILE THAT TO BRAZIL WILL BE REDUCED BY $30 AND TO JAPAN BY $10.
IN GENERAL, THE REDUCTION WILL BE ABOUT 20 PER CENT FOR ALL THE FIVE COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE SPEEDPOST LINKS WITH HONG KONG.
A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE GROWING POPULARITY OF THE SPECIAL POSTAL SERVICE.
+WITH MORE PEOPLE AND FIRMS ADOPTING SPEEDPOST, THE POST OFFICE IS NOW IN A BETTER POSITION TO REVISE COSTS AND TARIFFS,* HE SAID.
EXISTING AND REVISED CHARGES FOR SPEEDPOST SERVICES ARE AS FOLLOWS s-
PRESENT CONTRACT NEW RATES AS FROM RATES * MAR. 1, 76 *
COUNTRY FIRST EACH ADDNL. FIRST EACH ADDNL. LB. LB. LB. LB.
GREAT BRITAIN
U.S.A. j 1 $100 $15 $80 $15
BELGIUM
JAPAN $90 $5 $80 $5
BRAZIL $130 $35 $100 $25
* FOR +0N DEMAND* SERVICES TO GREAT BRITAIN AND U.S.A. A $20 +0N DEMAND* FEE IS PAYABLE IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC CHARGES.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON SPEEDPOST CONTRACT OR +0N DEMAND* SERVICES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE POST OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE ON 5-245992.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1976 - 3 -
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION RETIRES *****
MR. WILLIAM FISHER-SHORT, (FURTHER), IS GOING ON PRE-RET 17 YEARS* SERVICE IN HONG KONG
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION IREMENT LEAVE NEXT WEEK AFTER AND FOUR IN THE FEDERATION OF
MALAYA.
HE WILL BE‘PRESENTED WITH A GIFT FROM HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26).
THE PRESENTATION WILL BE MADE BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY.
MR. FISHER-SHORT BEGAN HIS SERVICE IN HONG KONG AS AN EDUCATION OFFICER AND HIS DUTIES COVERED A WIDE FIELD, FIRST AS A TEACHER IN KING’S COLLEGE, AND THEN AS A LECTURER AT THE NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. HE WAS AWARDED A DIPLOMA IN EDUCATIONAL GUIDANCE (WITH DISTINCTION) BY MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY IN JULY 1962.
MR. FISHER-SHORT WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER IN SEPTEMBER 1965 AND TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS) IN JULY 1971.
HE TOOK CHARGE OF THE FURTHER EDUCATION DIVISION IN JANUARY 1973. HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL WORK TRAINING AND AS A MEMBER OF THE METRICATION COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO ED ITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT 11.30 A.M. ON THURSDAY AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE ROOM, LEE GARDENS, THIRD FLOOR, HYSAN
AVENUE.
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/4
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1976
- 4 -
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOV’T AND PEOPLE BEARS FRUIT
******
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN CHEUNG CHAU HAS RESULTED IN THE ISLAND HAVING A VERY COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF FACILITIES, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. F.K. LI, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR. LI WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE CHEUNG CHAU COMMUNITY CENTRE.
HE NOTED THAT SUCH FACILITIES INCLUDED A POLICE STATION, A HOSPITAL, EIGHT PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
MR. LI SAID t +THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE PROVISION OF THESE FACILITIES IS, OF COURSE, INDISPENSABLE, BUT EFFORTS FROM THIS QUARTER ALONE COULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED THE CHEUNG CHAU WE KNOW TODAY WITHOUT THE UNFAILING SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS.*
THE NEW CENTRE, LOCATED AT TUNG WAN ON A SITE OF 18,000 SQUARE FEET, IS A TWO-STOREY BUILDING WITH A MULTI-PURPOSE ASSEMBLY HALL ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONAL ROOMS ON THE UPPER FLOOR.
THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDED THE LAND AND THE LOTTERIES FUND CONTRIBUTED $250,000 TOWARDS THE CAPITAL COST. THE BALANCE OF $180,000 WAS MET BY DONATIONS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THE CENTRE’S OPERATING COSTS WILL BE MET BY THE RURAL COMMITTEE WHICH WILL MANAGE THE CENTRE THROUGH ITS YOUTH ORGANISERS.
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WATER CUT
* * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN SHAM SHU I PO WILL BE INTERRUPTED FROM 1 A.M. TO 6 A.M. ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26) WHEN THE WATERWORKS OFFICE WILL CARRY OUT LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE PREMISES TO BE AFFECTED ARE BOUNDED BY NAM CHEONG STREET, WOR CHAI STREET, PAK TIN STREET, TAI PO ROAD AND SHEK KIP MEI STREET.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1976 - 5 -
PRESS CONFERENCE ON MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY / X O * * K
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN THE G. I.S. THEATRE AT 3 P.M. ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 27) ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY IN CENTRAL.
OFFICERS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE, WILL BE ON HAND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SIX BUDGET PROPOSALS TO RAISE REVENUE .................... 1
FINANCIAL SECRETARY TALKS ABOUT HIS BUDGET ON TELEVISION. 6
NINE PER CENT GROWTH PREDICTED IN GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. 9
TOTAL SPENDING TO GO UP BY 16 PER CENT IN COMING FINANCIAL YEAR ........................................... 12
$355 MILLION DEFICIT FORECAST IN 1976-77 BUDGET .......... 14
MORE TO BE SPENT ON SOCIAL SERVICES ...................... 16
MORE SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES TO BE ALLOCATED ............. 18
GOVERNMENT STUDYING POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING FLATS FOR SALE ..................................................... 20
POLICE FORCE TO BE STRENGTHENED BY 1,700 MEN BY END OF 1976-77 .................................................. 22
%
DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT WORKS ...................................................... 23
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN HOSPITAL BEDS AND IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICAL SERVICES ........................................... 25
MORE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR RECREATION AND SPORT ............ 26
GROWING EMPHASIS ON DEVELOPING COMMUNITY SERVICES IN FIRST HALF OF DECADE ....................................... 27
TEXTILE EXPORT LICENCE FOR AUSTRIA TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. 28
CHINESE POSTAL DELEGATION TO VISIT HONG KONG ............. 28
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
1
PROFITS TAX, PETROL DUTY TO GO UP PART OF SIX BUDGET PROPOSALS TO RAISE REVENUE * ft * * *
THE RATE OF CORPORATION PROFITS TAX IS TO BE RAISED FROM 16-1/2 PER CENT TO 17 PER CENT AND DUTY ON PETROL AND AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL FUEL IS TO BE INCREASED BY AROUND 23 PER-CENT AS PART OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S SIX REVENUE PROPOSALS PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE PROPOSALS, +DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO RAISE EXTRA REVENUE* IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, INCLUDE AN INCREASE OF ONE PERCENTAGE POINT IN GENERAL RATES AND THE RAISING OF STAMP DUTY ON CONVEYANCES BY HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT TO 2-3/4 PER CENT.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROPOSED TO EXTEND THE AMBIT OF THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE SO THAT FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR ALL COMPANIES INCORPORATED OR REGISTERED UNDER IT WILL BE OBLIGED TO PAY THE ANNUAL BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEE OF $150.
HE ALSO PROPOSED TO INCREASE ESTATE DUTY BY RAISING THE TOP RATE TO 18 PER CENT.
THE NEW RATES OF DUTY ON PETROL AND AUTOMOTIVE DISEL FUEL CAME INTO EFFECT FROM 4 O'CLOCK TODAY.
MR. HADDON-CAVE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT +NONE OF MY PROPOSALS WILL HAVE ANY DAMAGING EFFECT ON INVESTMENT DECISIONS OR INFLATE INDUSTRIAL COSTS OR HAVE MORE THAN A VERY SLIGHT EFFECT ON DISPOSABLE PERSONAL INCOMES, LET ALONE INVOLVE HARDSHIP FOR ANY PARTICULAR INCOME CLASS.+
HE SAID FOR VARIOUS REASONS, NOT THE LEAST REVENUE CONSIDERATIONS, HE HAD NO PROPOSALS FOR TAX CONCESSIONS OR REFORMS.
' CORPORATION PROFITS TAX
REFERRING TO CORPORATION PROFITS TAX, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE RATE FOR THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT 1976-77 WOULD BE 17 PER CENT YIELDING $35 MILLION, BUT ONLY $28 MILLION WOULD ACTUALLY BE COLLECTED IN 1976-77.
THE SECOND INSTALMENT OF $7 MILLION WILL BE COLLECTED IN 1977-78.
+AT 17 PER CENT,* THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID, +THIS WILL MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE A GAP OF TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS BETWEEN THE RATE OF CORPORATION PROFITS TAX AND THE, STANDARD RATE OF TAX ON OTHER FORMS OF EARNINGS AND PROFITS.*
/HE DESCRIBED
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
2 -
HE DESCRIBED THIS AS +JUST - BUT ONLY JUSTV- ACCEPTABLE FROM A TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW.* ,
MR. HADDON-CAVE RECALLED THAT FROM THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT J975-76, A TEN PER CENT SURCHARGE WAS IMPOSED ON THE STANDARD RATE OF PROFITS TAX PAID BY CORPORATIONS. THIS SURCHARGE WAS A TEMPORARY MEASURE DESIGNED TO BRING IN MUCH NEEDED ADDITIONAL REVENUE PENDING THE INTRODUCTION OF A TAX ON DIVIDENDS.
HE NOTED THAT WHEN UNOFFICIALS CAME TO CONSIDER A BILL DESIGNED TO TAX DIVIDENDS AND UNDISTRIBUTED PROFITS, THEY EXPRESSED +DISSATISFACTION WITH BOTH THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES AND THE DETAILS OF THEIR IMPLEMENTATION.*
AT THE SAME TIME, SEVERAL LEADING COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIALASSOCIATIONS EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE VERY CONCEPT OF A TAX ON DIVIDENDS.
+SO THE IMPLICATION WAS THAT THE BILL WOULD HAVE A SLOW AND DIFFICULT PASSAGE THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,* MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO DEFER THE BILL.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, HE REMAINED CONVINCED OF THE CASE FOR A TAX ON DIVIDENDS AND HE DESCRIBED THE CRITICISMS OF THE PROPOSAL AS +EITHER MISDIRECTED OR IRRELEVANT OR BOTH.*
ESTATE DUTY
ON ESTATE DUTY, MR. HADDON-CAVE PROPOSED THAT IN RESPECT OF PERSONS DYING AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE NECESSARY AMENDING LEGISLATION, FOR ESTATES OVER $1.5 MILLION THE RATE SHOULD BE 16 PER CENT, FOR ESTATES OVER $2 MILLION IT SHOULD BE 17 PER CENT AND FOR ESTATES OVER $3 MILLION THE RATE SHOULD BE 18 PER CENT.
ESTATES OVER $3 MILLION OF PERSONS DYING BEFORE APRIL 1, 1972 ATTRACTED DUTY OF 20 PER CENT AND FOR PERSONS DYING BEFORE APRIL 1, 1970, AT LEAST 23 PER CENT.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE REGARDED THE PROPOSAL AS PROVIDING +USEFUL, BUT MODEST, ADDITION TO OUR CAPITAL REVENUE.*
GENERAL RATES
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HIS PROPOSED INCREASE IN GENERAL RATES WOULD YIELD $48 MILLION.
/FOR THE .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
3
FOR THE THREE URBAN AREAS (HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND NEW KOWLOON), RATES WILL BE INCREASED FROM 11 PER CENT TO 12 PER CENT. FOR TSUEN WAN/KWAI CHUNG, THE INCREASE WILL BE FROM 17 PER CENT TO 18 PER CENT, WHILE RATES FOR TSING Yl WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN AT 11 PER CENT.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID FOR THE MAJORITY OF DOMESTIC RATEPAYERS, OCCUPYING TENEMENT FLOORS, THE INCREASE WILL MEAN, ON AVERAGE, AN ADDITIONAL MONTHLY RATES PAYMENT OF NO MORE THAN $3 WHILE, EVEN FOR HOUSES, THE AVERAGE ADDITIONAL PAYMENT IS ONLY LIKELY TO BE A LITTLE OVER $30 PER MONTH.
• I
SO FAR AS NON-DOMESTIC TENEMENTS ARE CONCERNED, THE EFFECT OF THE INCREASE WILL RANGE FROM AROUND AN AVERAGE OF $11 PER MONTH FOR SHOPS TO ABOUT $45 PER MONTH FOR FLATTED FACTORIES.
STAMP DUTY ON CONVEYANCES
REFERRING TO HIS PROPOSAL TO INCREASE STAMP DUTY ON CONVEYANCES TO 2-3/4 PER CENT, MR. HADDON-CAVE ESTIMATED THAT THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THIS INCREASE WOULD BE $20 MILLION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO TRANSACTIONS WHERE THE CONSIDERATION DOES NOT EXCEED $75,000 OR $150,000 WILL BEAR DUTY AT THE CONCESSIONARY RATES OF $20 AND ONE PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
♦LOGICALLY, WITH THE STANDARD RATES AT 2-3/4 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH TWO PER CENT WHEN THE CONCESSIONARY RATES WERE INTRODUCED, THE CONCESSIONARY RATES SHOULD BE REVISED, BUT I WISH TO DO NOTHING WHICH WOULD IMPLY A LACK OF SYMPATHY WITH HOME OWNERSHIP ASP(RATIONS,+ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEE
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMPANIES WHICH, WHILE ENJOYING THE CONVENIENCE AND PROTECTION AFFORDED BY HONG KONG LAWS, MADE VIRTUALLY NO REGULAR CONTRIBUTION TO THE REVENUE, APART FROM THE SMALL SERVICE FEE OF $10 FOR FILING ANNUAL RETURNS WITH THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES.
AT PRESENT, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CARRYING ON A BUSINESS, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE TO REGISTER UNDER THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROPOSED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1 SO THAT ALL COMPANIES INCORPORATED OR REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE WOULD ALSO BE OBLIGED.TO REGISTER UNDER THE BUS I NESS-REGISTRATION ORDINANCE AND PAY THE ANNUAL FEE OF $150.
/+IN ADDITION
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
+IN ADDITION TO ’SHELF’ COMPANIES,+ HE SAID, +THIS WILL BRING INTO THE NET THOSE COMPANIES WHICH, ALTHOUGH INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG, CARRY ON SUCH BUSINESS AS THEY DO OUTSIDE HONG KONG.+
THE INCREASED REVENUE WILL BE AT LEAST $1 MILLION IN 1976-77.
EXCISE DUTIES ON HYDROCARBON OILS
REFERRING TO HIS FINAL PROPOSAL TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE, MR. HADDON-CAVE NOTED THAT THE RATES OF DUTY ON PETROL AND AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL FUEL HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 1966.
ALTHOUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE MOTORIST AND OTHER ROAD USERS TO GENERAL REVENUE THROUGH EXCISE DUTIES AND OTHER TAX TYPE LEVIES HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS FROM $136 MILLION IN 1966-67 TO AN ESTIMATED $359 MILLION IN 1976-77, AS A PROPORTION OF RECURRENT REVENUE IT HAS FALLEN FROM EIGHT PER CENT TO 5.8 PER CENT.
MOREOVER THE CONTRIBUTION OF DUTIES ON HYDROCARBON OILS TO RECURRENT REVENUE HAS DECLINED MORE SHARPLY.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID +THE TIME HAS NOW COME WHEN THE TRADE COULD STAND SOME UPWARD ADJUSTMENT OF THE RATES OF DUTY.+
HE NOTED THAT IN THE CASE OF PETROL, DEMAND BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1976 HAD RECOVERED TO THE LEVEL OF THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1972. IT THEN TOOK OFF TO THE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH LEVEL EXPERIENCED IN LATE 1972 TO MID-1973.
IN THE CASE OF AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL FUEL, DEMAND +IS FAIRLY PRICE INELASTIC.+ EVEN IN 1974, THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER 1973. BY THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTERS OF 1975, THE RATE INCREASE HAD RETURNED TO NORMAL AND HAS ONLY SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE AS A RESULT OF THE NOVEMBER 1975 PRICE INCREASE OF 25 CENTS PER GALLON.
UNDER THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S PROPOSAL, THE DUTY ON PETROL WILL BE INCREASED FROM $1.80 TO $2.20 OR 40 CENTS A GALLON WHILE THAT ON AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL FUEL WILL RISE FROM $1.30 TO $1.60 OR 30 CENTS A GALLON.
THE RETAIL PRICES SHOULD INCREASE TO NO MORE THAN $6.25 AND $4.75 A GALLON RESPECTIVELY.
MR. HADDON-CAVE ESTIMATED THAT THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE YIELD IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR WOULD BE ABOUT $37 MILLION.
/OTHER PROPOSALS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
5
OTHER PROPOSALS CONSIDERED
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE HAD GIVEN FURTHER CONSIDERATION THIS YEAR TO SOME FORM OF SURCHARGE ON HIGH LEVEL SALARIES, PROFITS AND PROPERTY INCOMES. +BUT,+ HE SAID, +THE ABSENCE OF A CHARGE ON TOTAL INCOME AND THE EXISTENCE OF A SYSTEM OF SEPARATE CHARGES ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF INCOME, COUPLED WITH THE OPTION TO CLAIM PERSONAL ASSESSMENT, MAKES THE IMPOSITION OF SUCH A SURCHARGE FAR TOO DIFFICULT AND UNSATISFACTORY TECHNICALLY.*
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HE HAD ALSO CONSIDERED REDUCING THE TAX LIABILITY OF THOSE AT THE LOWER END OF THE SCHEDULAR SYSTEM OF SALARIES TAX AND PERSONAL ASSESSMENT.
BUT HE CONCLUDED THAT +TO DO ANYTHING WORTHWHILE WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE IN TERMS OF REVENUE FOREGONE.+
REFERRING TO THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING PERSONAL ALLOWANCES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THIS WOULD COST $80 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR AND $40 MILLION THEREAFTER.
+SUCH A SURRENDER OF REVENUE IS OUT OF THE-QUEST ION,+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO WATER CHARGES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID A CHANGE OF THE PRESENT FLAT RATE FOR NON-DOMESTIC USERS WAS NOT PRACTICABLE UNTIL WATER ACCOUNTS WERE PROCESSED BY COMPUTER.
+WE HAVE NOT PROCEEDED AS QUICKLY AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED WITH THIS PROJECT, LARGELY BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY IN RECRUITING THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL STAFF,+ HE SAID. +l UNDERSTAND THAT THESE DIFFICULTIES HAVE NOW BEEN OVERCOME.+
HE SAID IN CONSEQUENCE OF THEM, +WE SHALL NOT BE IN A POSITION TO REVIEW THE CHARGES FOR NON-DOMESTIC CONSUMERS UNTIL THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.*
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT IF INDUSTRIAL CONSUMPTION CONTINUED TO EXPAND WITH THE ECONOMY, SOONER OR LATER DOMESTIC CONSUMERS WERE BOUND TO SUBSIDISE NON-DOMESTIC CONSUMERS.
+SUCH A SITUATION CONNOT BE ALLOWED TO PREVAIL FOR TOO LONG,+ HE SAID. +THE WATER UNDERTAKING, LIKE ALL OUR PUBLIC UTILITY TYPE UNDERTAKINGS, MUST BE OPERATED ON AT LEAST A QUASl-COMMERCI AL BASIS, GIVEN OUR TAX SYSTEM.*
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/6......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976 '
6
VIEWPOINT TALK BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY KO##*
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE TALK BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY BROADCAST TONIGHT :-
GOOD EVENING. '
THIS AFTERNOON I PRESENTED THE BUDGET FOR 1976-77 TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IT PROVIDES FOR EXPENDITURE NEXT YEAR OF $7,200 MILLION OR $1,000 MILLION MORE THAN THIS YEAR. OF THIS VAST SUM, $5,300 MILLION HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR THE VARIOUS SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT RANGING FROM POLICEMEN IN THE STREETS, TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR THE NEEDY, TO MEDICAL CARE FOR THE SICK, TO TEACHERS FOR OUR SCHOOLS. AND $1,900 MILLION HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, MAINLY ON OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMMES IN THE URBAN AREAS AND IN THE NEW TOWNS.
REVENUE WILL MORE THAN MEET THE COST OF OUR DAY TO DAY SERVICES AND ALL BUT A FIFTH OF THE COST OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS TO BE ONLY A MODEST INCREASE IN TAXATION. I AM BUDGETTING FOR A DEFICIT OF ABOUT $350 MILLION. THIS IS A SMALL DEFICIT, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT I AM BUDGETTING FOR A DEFICIT FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING. HOWEVER, I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THIS FOR FOUR REASONS. FIRST, THE DEFICIT THIS YEAR, 1975-76, IS LIKELY TO BE ONLY $50 MILLION COMPARED WITH THE $430 MILLION I HAD BUDGETTED FOR. THIS IS LARGELY BECAUSE EXPENDITURE ON OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMMES WAS LESS THAN ANTICIPATED DUE TO SUCH FACTORS AS LOWER COSTS AND THE WET SUMMER. SECONDLY, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT REVENUE IN 1976-77 WILL BE RATHER MORE THAN SHOWN IN THE REVENUE ESTIMATES BECAUSE THE STRENGTH OF OUR ECONOMY ON THE UPTURN ALWAYS TENDS TO SURPRISE US. THIRDLY, EVEN IF THERE IS SOME INCREASE IN COSTS AND PRICES IN THE COMING YEAR, IT WILL REQUIRE A VERY CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO SPEND AS MUCH AS $1,000 MILLION MORE NEXT YEAR THAN THIS YEAR. THAT MAY SOUND STRANGE, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT EXPENDITURE ON LARGE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES IS QUITE OFTEN SUBJECT TO DELAYS CAUSED BY LATE DELIVERIES, BAD WEATHER AND LAND CLEARANCE PROBLEMS. FOURTHLY, WE REMAIN A RELATIVELY DEBT FREE GOVERNMENT WITH RESERVES EQUAL TO MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE AND SO I AM SURE WE CAN SAFELY BORROW TO FINANCE WHATEVER DEFICIT WE DO INCUR IN 1976-77. I MIGHT ADD THAT IT IS MY INTENTION THAT WE SHALL HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.
I MENTIONED THAT WE WOULD BE SPENDING ABOUT $1,000 MILLION MORE NEXT YEAR THAN THIS YEAR AND THIS NATURALLY RAISES THE QUESTION : ON WHAT? WELL, I CANNOT GO THROUGH THE WHOLE OF THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE BUDGET, BUT I CAN SAY THIS : THERE IS EMPHASIS ON THOSE AREAS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES TO BE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND OF PUBLIC CONCERN.
/LET ME GIVE .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
7
LET ME GIVE YOU THE MOST IMPORTANT EXAMPLES OF WHAT I MEAN : -CRIME IS NOW BEING CONTAINED, BUT HAS YET TO BE REDUCED. THE GOVERNMENT IS FAR FROM COMPLACENT ABOUT CRIME AND IS DETERMINED TO DEAL WITH IT. SO THE POLICE FORCE WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO A STRENGTH OF OVER 20,000 AND PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT SUCH AS PERSONAL RADIOS FOR MEN ON THE BEAT.
OF EQUAL PUBLIC CONCERN IS EDUCATION. THE NUMBER OF SUBSIDISED PLACES IN FORMS I - I I I OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IS TO BE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN 1976-77 AND PROGRESSIVELY THEREAFTER TO ENABLE THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS ENTRANCE EXAMINATION TO BE HELD FOR THE LAST TIME IN 1977. THIS IS A YEAR EARLIER -AND I STRESS A YEAR EARLIER - THAN RECOMMENDED IN THE 1974 WHITE PAPER. SO, FROM SEPTEMBER 1978, THERE WILL BE ENOUGH PLACES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR THREE YEARS OF SUBSIDISED EDUCATION FOR ALL WHO WANT IT. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY THE USE OF A NUMBER OF SHORT TERM DEVICES TO ENABLE MORE. CLASSES TO BE RUN IN EXISTING SCHOOLS. AT THE SAME TIME, A START WILL BE MADE IN 1976-77 ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF 3$ NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND FURTHER SCHOOLS WILL BE BUILT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS RESOURCES PERMIT. PROVISION HAS ALSO BEEN MADE FOR 1,600 MORE PLACES IN FORMS IV AND V AND 1,000 MORE PLACES IN SIXTH FORMS IN 1976-77 WHICH WILL REPRESENT SOME PROGRESS TOWARDS THE WHITE PAPER TARGETS FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION BEYOND FORM III-AND THERE WILL BE PLACES FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF 1,000 MORE FULL TIME STUDENTS IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
BEYOND SECONDARY EDUCATION THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT THE POLYTECHNIC WILL BE INCREASED BY 1,750 AND THE TARGET OF 30,000 WILL BE ALMOST REACHED BY SEPTEMBER 1978. AT THE UNIVERSITIES, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET OF 8,850 BY THE DUE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 1977, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED WILL BE INCREASED BY 700 IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 1976-77.
SUBSTANTIAL SUMS OF PUBLIC MONEY ARE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING. WORK WILL BE IN PROGRESS DURING 1976-77 ON FLATS WHICH WILL PROVIDE HOMES FOR OVER HALF A MILLION PEOPLE AND FLATS FOR 94,000 PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY BE COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR. FOR THOSE AWAITING PUBLIC HOUSING, WE SHALL BE EMBARKING UPON A NEW PROGRAMME FOR ADDITIONAL LICENSED AREAS WITH IMPROVED BASIC FACILITIES.
IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL BE OPERATING AT ITS FULL CAPACITY OF 1,300 BEDS AND PLANNING WILL START ON A PSYCHIATRIC WING. PLANNING WILL ALSO START ON TWO NEW REGIONAL HOSPITALS, ONE IN EAST KOWLOON AND THE OTHER IN SHATIN. THE SHATIN HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE THE CLINICAL TEACHING FACILITIES FOR THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY.
AS ALWAYS WE HAVE NOT ALLOWED ALL THESE PROMISING. IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCIAL SERVICES TO DIMINISH THE INVESTMENT PUT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE. IN ALL WE SHALL BE SPENDING NEARLY $1,100 MILLION IN 1976-77 OR ABOUT $400 MILLION MORE THAN THIS YEAR ON ROADS, THE RAILWAY, THE AIRPORT AND LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT.
/WITH THE .....
V
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 8 -
WITH THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON WE ENTER THE SECOND HALF OF THIS DECADE. THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S BUDGETARY STRATEGY FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR IS THAT THE ECONOMY IS NOW EMERGING FROM TWO YEARS OF PAUSE AND IN GOOD SHAPE. WE PROTECTED THE ECONOMY FROM INFLATION AND WE AVOIDED STOP-GO DURING THESE DIFFICULT YEARS IN THAT WE MAINTAINED SERVICES AND WE DID NOT CUT BACK ON CAPITAL WORKS ACTUALLY IN HAND. THERE WILL BE A RESUMPTION OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 1976 AND SO THE PAUSE IMPOSED ON THE GROWTH OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, PARTICULARLY THIS YEAR, MAY NOW BE LIFTED. BUT WE HAVE LIFTED IT AS SELECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT REALLY NOTICEABLE ADVANCES MAY BE MADE IN AREAS OF HIGH PRIORITY.
OF COURSE, OUR ECONOMY REMAINS SENSITIVE TO THE STATE OF THE WORLD ECONOMY AND OUR REVENUES SENSITIVE TO THE STATE OF OUR OWN ECONOMY BUT, IF THE RECOVERY OF WORLD TRADE NOW UNDER WAY CONTINUES, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO STEADY AND UNINTERRUPTED PROGRESS.
GOODNIGHT.
- - 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976 9 -
NINE PER CENT GROWTH IN GDP PREDICTED
* * * M *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY FORECAST THAT THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN REAL TERMS IN 1976 WOULD BE NINE PER CENT.
SPEAKING ON HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS, HE SAID EXPORTS WERE EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY EIGHT PER CENT OVER 1975, BUT HE ADDED THAT +THIS WILL CERTAINLY NOT EXCEED THE TREND CAPACITY OF OUR ECONOMY TO PRODUCE GOODS FOR EXPORT*.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT WOULD RISE FROM LAST YEAR’S $3,641 MILLION TO $4,600 MILLION, BASED ON THE FORECAST FOR EXPORTS AND IMPORTS AT CURRENT PRICES.
MOVING ON TO WORLD TRADE, HE SAID ALTHOUGH IT WOULD RECOVER QUITE RAPIDLY TO THE 1974 LEVEL, OUTPUT WOULD NOT RISE SO FAST THAT CAPACITY WAS FULLY UTILISED.
FURTHERMORE, DESPITE THE LOW LEVELS OF CAPACITY UTILISATION, IT WOULD BE WRONG TO EXPECT LOW RATES OF WORLD INFLATION WHICH WERE, EVEN NOW, AT THIS EARLY STAGE OF RECOVERY, HIGH BY THE STANDARDS OF TEN OR MORE YEARS AGO.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID ALTHOUGH WORLD INFLATION WOULD CONTINUE, THE DIFFERENT TIMING OF RECOVERY IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WAS UNLIKELY TO PRODUCE A REPETITION OF THE VERY STRONG INFLATIONARY UPSURGE EXPERIENCED DURING THE LAST UPTURN IN 1973.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FORECAST AN INCREASE IN THE PRICES OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES OF 13 PER CENT IN 1976 WHICH, HE SAID, WOULD RESULT IN HONG KONG’S OWN PRICES STARTING TO MOVE UPWARDS.
BUT HE ADDED THAT CONCERN OVER RENEWED INFLATION WAS LIKELY TO LEAD TO GOVERNMENTS INTERVENING IN THE RECOVERY AND MODERATING ITS' SPEED.
PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID, WAS PROBABLY ABOVE ITS TREND GROWTH LEVEL IN 1973, BUT VIRTUALLY NO GROWTH BETWEEN THEN AND 1975 HAD LEFT ROOM FOR SOME CATCHING UP.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE/GROWTH OF THE STOCK OF MONEY RELATIVE TO OUTPUT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WAS ALSO LIKELY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF CONSUMPTION.
+AN EIGHT PER CENT INCREASE IN PRIVATE CONSUMPTION AT CONSTANT PRICES*, HE ADDED, +WILL STILL MEAN ONLY A MODEST AVERAGE GROWTH IN PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OVER THE PERIOD 1973 TO 1976.+
PUBLIC CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE WAS FORECAST TO GROW BY TEN PER CENT AT CONSTANT PRICES.
/MS. HADDON-CAVE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 10 -
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THIS WAS A FURTHER INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR’S GROWTH RATE OF NINE PER CENT, BUT BELOW THE VERY RAPID GROWTH BETWEEN 1972 AND 1973.
REFERRING TO INVESTMENT EXPENDITURE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID: +CONFIDENCE WITHIN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS PROBABLY BEEN RESTORED ALREADY- AND THE LOW INTEREST RATES RESULTING FROM THE OVERALL SURPLUS ON OUR BALANCE OF PAYMENTS, AND THE CONSEQUENT LIQUID POSITION OF THE BANK WILL MAKE ANY FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT ON INVESTMENT IN 1976 UNLIKELY.*
FURTHERMORE, HE ADDED, THERE WAS LIKELY TO BE A LARGE INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT AND THIS WOULD COME FROM BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS.
THE ACTUAL LEVEL OF INVESTMENT WOULD PROBABLY BE DETERMINED MORE BY CONSIDERATIONS OF SUPPLY THAN ANY LEVEL OF DEMAND AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FORECAST A GROWTH OF 20 PER CENT IN INVESTMENT EXPENDITURE IN. 1976.
MR. HADDON-CAVE DESCRIBED EXPENDITURE BY FOREIGN TOURISTS IN HONG KONG AND EXPENDITURE BY HONG KONG RESIDENTS ABROAD AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THE ESTIMATES OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF SERVICE.
WITH THE GRADUAL RECOVERY IN MOST ECONOMIES IN 1976, HE EXPECTED THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF TEN PER CENT IN THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS COMING TO HONG KONG AND AN INCREASE OF THREE PER CENT IN PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE AT CONSTANT PRICES.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID: +THIS GIVES AN INCREASE OF 13 PER CENT IN TOTAL EXPENDITURE AT CONSTANT PRICES OF FOREIGN TOURISTS IN HONG KONG IN 1976.+
MR. HADDON-CAVE PREDICTED THAT THE EXPENDITURE OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS ABROAD IN 1976 WOULD INCREASE BY ABOUT 16 PER CENT.
+THESE AND OTHER ITEMS PRODUCE A MODEST INCREASE OF FIVE PER CENT IN OUR FAVOUR IN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF SERVICES AT CONSTANT PRICES,* HE SAID. «
+THE RESULTING NINE PER CENT GROWTH IN THE GDP WILL STILL LEAVE THE ECONOMY WORKING BELOW CAPACITY AND SUCH GROWTH IS NOT, THEREFORE, HIGH COMPARED WITH WHAT THE ECONOMY SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF, ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD BE WARY OF TOO RAPID A MOVEMENT TOWARDS FULL CAPACITY WORKING,* MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.
THIS, HE ADDED, DID NOT MEAN THERE WOULD BE NO SECTOR NOT WORKING UP TO CAPACITY AND ABOVE IT- NOR DID IT MEAN HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE ALMOST TOTAL ABSENCE OF PRFCE INFLATION.
+THERE WILL BE PRESSURE ON THE INTERNAL PRICE LEVEL, MAINLY BECAUSE WE ARE AN OPEN ECONOMY OPERATING WITH WHAT AMOUNTS TO A FIXED EXCHANGE RATE IN A WORLD EXPERIENCING MUCH HIGHER RATES OF PRICE INCREASE,* THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 11 -
♦WHETHER HONG KONG’S PRICES MOVE WITH WORLD PRICES OR, FOR A SHORT TIME, DIVERGE AND MOVE AT A HIGHER RATE, WILL LARGELY DEPEND ON HOW THE LIQUIDITY OF THE BANKING SYSTEM IS USED.
♦AN INCREASE OF SIX PER CENT IN HONG KONG’S PRICES IS BROADLY IN LINE WITH LIKELY DEVELOPMENTS IN WORLD PRICES, AND THIS IS THE IMPLICIT INFLATOR USED IN THE GDP FORECAST, GIVING A 15 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE GDP IN MONEY OR CURRENT PRICE TERMS,+ HE ADDED.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HE WAS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE PRESSURES THAT WOULD BE PUT ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, BOTH BY THE GOVERNMENT’S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, AND BY THE DEMAND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF PROPERTY.
HE SAID THERE WAS A SPECIALLY STRONG LINK BETWEEN FINANCIAL AND PROPERTY ASSETS IN HONG KONG AND THERE WAS SCOPE FOR PRESSURE ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND HENCE ON PROPERTY PRICES TO FEED BACK ON TO THE PRICES OF FINANCIAL ASSETS, ESPECIALLY IF ENCOURAGED BY BANK LENDING.
ALL THIS, HE SAID, COULD COMBINE TO PRODUCE PRICE INCREASES IN OTHER SECTORS THAT WOULD BE OUT OF LINE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, EVEN IF ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD.
NEVERTHELESS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THOUGHT THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S AND THE COMMUNITY’S RECOLLECTION OF THE EVENTS OF 1972-73 WAS SUFFICIENTLY VIVID TO MAKE A REPETITION UNLIKELY AND THE FORECAST, THEREFORE, ASSUMED THAT HONG KONG DID NOT DIVERGE FROM WORLD DEVELOPMENTS.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY MADE A SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE STOCK MARKET DURING THE 12 MONTHS ENDING JUNE 30, 1973 WHICH COVERED THE GREATER PART OF THE STOCK AND PROPERTY MARKET BOOM.
HE SAID THAT DURING THAT PERIOD 190 COMPANIES WENT PUBLIC. OF THESE, OVER TWO-THIRDS USED THE METHOD OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT AND LESS THAN ONE-THIRD THE ORTHODOX METHOD OF DIRECT OFFER TO THE PUBLIC.
MR. HADDON-CAVE POINTED OUT THAT THE METHOD OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT HAD SOME DECIDED DISADVANTAGES FOR INVESTORS AND SHOULD ONLY BE ACCEPTED IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE UNRESTRICTED USE OF THIS METHOD IN 1972-73, HE SAID, GAVE RISE TO PRACTICES WHICH LEFT MUCH TO BE DESIRED.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY GAVE A WARNING THAT SHOULD THE CURRENT RECOVERY IN CONFIDENCE IN THE STOCK'MARKET RESULT IN AN UPSWING IN THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES GOING PUBLIC, THE METHOD OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO CLOSE REGULATION BY THE SECURITIES COMMISSION UNDER THE AUTHORITY CONFERRED BY THE SECURITIES ORDINANCE.
- o ----------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 12 -
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN TOTAL SPENDING NEXT YEAR
M X M M K
HONG KONG’S ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR IS $7,212 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF $990 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $6,222 MILLION FOR 1975-76.
THIS IS SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE 4.2 PER CENT INCREASE IN 1975-76 ON 1974-75, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID.
+IN REAL OR CONSTANT PRICE TERMS THE INCREASE IN 1976-77 IS TEN PER CENT OR NEARLY TWICE THE INCREASE IN 1975-76 ON 1974-75 OF 5.6 PER CENT, AND IS COMPARABLE WITH THE AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE OF INCREASE IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE DECADE, NAMELY, 13 PER CENT.+
ANALYSING IN MORE DETAIL THE GOVERNMENT’S SPENDING NEXT YEAR, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AT $5,289 MILLION, REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF $693 MILLION OR 15 PER CENT ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $4,596 MILLION FOR 1975-76.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IN THE COMING YEAR WAS ESTIMATED AT $1,923 MILLION, OR ROUGHLY THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE FOR 1975-76, BUT 18 PER CENT UP ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $1,626 MILLION.
ACTUAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MAY BE HIGHER IF THE DRAWINGS BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND ARE SUCH AS TO REQUIRE FURTHER TRANSFERS FROM GENERAL REVENUE TO THE FUND (BY UP TO $124 MILLION). IN ADDITION $15 MILLION WILL BE REQUIRED FOR LICENSED AREAS AND $12 MILLION FOR THE CONVERSION OF A NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO 12 SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
ON RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THERE WAS TO BE A DOWNWARD TREND IN SPENDING ON PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS.
SUCH SPENDING ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY 37 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, COMPARED WITH 39 PER CENT IN 1975-76 (REVISED ESTIMATE) AND AN AVERAGE OF 43 PER CENT OVER THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE DECADE.
THIS DOWNWARD TREND WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A FREEZE ON SALARIES IN 1975-76 COUPLED WITH A LIMIT OF 1/2 PER CENT ON INCREASES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE DURING THE SAME PERIOD, AND A RESTRICTION ON RECRUITMENT LIMITING THE NET INCREASE IN THE TOTAL STRENGTH. BESIDES, NO CONTINGENCY ELEMENT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATES FOR A POSSIBLE SALARIES REVISION IN 1976-77.
/GROWTH IN .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
GROWTH IN DEPARTMENTAL OTHER CHARGES HAS ALSO BEEN CUT DOWN TO ENABLE THE MAXIMUM ADVANCES TO BE MADE IN CERTAIN SELECTED AREAS OF EXPENDITURE AND TO RETAIN THE COST EFFICIENCY BENEFITS OF TWO YEARS OF FINANCIAL STRINGENCY.
I
SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS WILL RECEIVE A QUARTER OF ALL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ($1,312 MILLION); COMPARED WITH 26 PER CENT ($1,200 MILLION) IN THE 1975-76 REVISED ESTIMATES.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT WAS NOW PAYING GREATER ATTENTION TO THE +VERY CONSIDERABLE SUMS OF PUBLIC MONEY* PLACED AT THE DISPOSAL OF SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS; +1 CAN SEE NO REASON WHY THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME DEGREE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AS THAT APPLYING TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,* HE ADDED.
HE STRESSED THAT FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED AT THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY. AND HE FULLY SUPPORTED THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT IN BRINGING TO ATTENTION ANY POSSIBLE CASES OF WASTE, EXTRAVAGANCE OR MISMANAGEMENT.
+F INALLY, THE COST OF OUR PUBLIC DEBT AND OF DEFENCE WILL LOOM^-LARGER IN OUR AFFAIRS FROM NEXT YEAR THAN HITHERTO,*
TAKING BOTH RECURRENT AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE TOGETHER, THE COST OF OUR PUBLIC DEBT WILL INCREASE FROM $18 MILLION IN 1975-76 TO $43 MILLION NEXT YEAR (FROM 0.3 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE TO 0.6 PER CENT), WHILE DEFENCE COSTS WILL INCREASE FROM $101 MILLION TO $215 MILLION (FROM 1.6 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE TO 3 PER CENT).
- 0 -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 14 -
BALANCED BUDGET FOR 1978-79 M M K M M M
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT HE HAD EVERY INTENTION OF ENSURING THAT THE BUDGET WOULD BE AGAIN AT LEAST IN OVERALL BALANCE BY 1978-79, THE SECOND YEAR OF THE FORECAST PERIOD.
HE ASSURED THE COUNCIL OF THIS IN CASE SOME HONOURABLE MEMBERS WERE WONDERING WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAD EMBARKED ON A COURSE OF +FINANCIAL IRRESPONSIBILITY* IN ITS METHOD OF FINANCING THE DEFICIT IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE $355 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT, ARISING FROM ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE OF $7,212 MILLION OVER ESTIMATED REVENUE OE $6,857 MILLION, MR. HADDON-CaVE SAID, WOULD BE FINANCED BY DRAWING UPON THE UNUSED PORTION OF ABOUT $214 MILLION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE 6-1/2 PER CENT HONG KONG DOLLAR BOND ISSUE 1980 AND BY DRAWING DOWN THE US$60 MILLION FACILITY TO WHATEVER EXTENT IS NECESSARY.
HE SAID HE CONSIDERED IT PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE TO FINANCE THE RESIDUAL DEFICIT IN THIS WAY *AS WE ARE WELL WITHIN MY GUIDELINE FOR THE USE OF LOAN FINANCE, NAMELY, THAT DEBT SERVICING CHARGES — INTEREST AND AMORTISATION — SHOULD NOT EXCEED INTEREST EARNINGS ON OUR FISCAL RESERVES*.
MR. HADDON-CAVE REMINDED THE COUNCIL THAT THE USE OF DEBT WAS LIMITED BY THE STRINGENT (ALBEIT, PERHAPS NOT VERY SCIENTIFIC) GUIDELINE.
REFERRING TO A POSSIBLE SALARIES REVISION FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE WHICH, HE SAID, WAS RELEVANT TO HIS FINANCING STRATEGY IN THE COMING YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID A CASE BASED ON MOVEMENTS IN THE RELEVANT INDICES OF CONSUMER PRICES DURING 1974-75 AND 1975-76 AND HAVING REGARD TO PAY TRENDS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR COULD LEAD THE GOVERNMENT TO CONCLUDE THAT A SALARIES REVISION, WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, 1976 WAS JUSTIFIED.
+IF SO, THE QUESTION I MUST CONSIDER IS WHETHER THE ECONOMY WILL GROW AT A RATE AT WHICH SUCH A REVISION CAN BE AFFORDED, SO THAT IT CAN BE FINANCED AT EXISTING TAX RATES AND FITTED INTO, AS IT WERE, THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE BUDGET.*
A SALARIES REVISION OF A CERTAIN ORDER COULD BE CATERED FOR, HE SAID, AS HE BELIEVED +WE HAVE BUDGETTED FOR A VOLUME OF EXPENDITURE SOMEWHAT IN EXCESS OF WHAT WILL PROVE TO BE POSSIBLE IN PRACTICE AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, ONCE AGAIN, ON THE UPTURN REVENUE YIELDS WILL BE MORE THAN ANTICIPATED IN THE REVENUE ESTIMATES.*
/THERE ARE .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUABY 25, I976
- 15 -
r-.T,.^ERE ARE HOWEVER TWO PROVISOS : THE CASE MUST BE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND IMPLEMENTATION MUST DEPEND ON HIS VIEW OF THE ECONOMY IN 1976 BEING VINDICATED BY EVENTS. cuvnunr in
NE SAID THERE C0ULD BE N0 QUESTION OF A POSSIBLE SALARIES REVISION WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1 LAST YEAR, BECAUSE WHATEVER ™E CASE MAY HAVE BEEN +THERE ARE TWO CONDITIONS WHICH MUST BE SATISFIED BEFORE CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES CAN BE REVISED TO MAINTAIN THEIR REAL VALUE 1 FIRST. THIS MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH ™E CURRENT PRACT,CE °F THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND, SECONDLY, THE GOVERNMENT’S GENERAL FINANCIAL SITUATION MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENABLE A REVISION TO BE PAID FOR.+
-----0------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
16
MORE TO BE SPENT ON SOCIAL SERVICES *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SPEND MORE MONEY IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR ON THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEMES AS WELL AS THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME.
THERE’ IS ALSO PROVISION IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE EXPENDITURE FOR 1976-77 TO ALLOW THE INTRODUCTION OF SOME NEW SERVICES INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE FROM JUNE 1.
ANNOUNCING THIS IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID THE EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL WELFARE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $422 MILLION IN 1976-77, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATE QF $370 MILLION IN 1975-76.
THE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS IN 1976-77 AMOUNTS TO $406 MILLION, — NEARLY DOUBLE THE LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE WHICH THE FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT (1973-78) ENVISAGED BY 1976-77.
EXPENDITURE, EXCLUDING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES, IS SOME FIVE PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN PREDICTED.
+ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SUBVENTIONS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS,+ THS FINABCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
HE DESCRIBED THIS GROWTH IN EXPENDITURE AS REMARKABLE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES THAT HONG KONG HAD EXPERIENCED.
MR. HADDON-CAVE NOTED THAT NO LESS THAN $297 MILLION IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR SOCIAL WELFARE IN 1976-77 WENT TO THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES AND THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEMES.
HE SAID THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CLAIMING THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES HAD RISEN TO NEARLY 64,000 LAST NOVEMBER AND THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDED FOR A FURTHER INCREASE TO 75,000 BY THE END OF 1976-77, COMPARED WITH ROUGHLY 34,000 IMPLIED IN THE FIVE-YEAR SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
+ABOUT 82 PER CENT OF THESE CASES ARE PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 75, AND, AS THESE CASES REPRESENT ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF THE OVER-75 AGE GROUP, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT BE FAR OFF THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CASES,+ SAID THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.
/TURNING to......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUABY 25, 1976
TURNING TO THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, WHICH COSTS $207 MILLION IN 1976-77 AS COMPARED TO $174 MILLION IN THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HE HAD ACCEPTED SUCH AN ESTIMATE BECASUE THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAD ASSURED THE FINANCE BRANCH THAT THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES SUCCESSFULLY CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT OF THE BREADWINNER AS THE REASON FOR SEEKING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE HAD INCREASED ONLY FROM 530 AS AT APRIL 1, 1974, TO 3,240 AT NOVEMBER 30, 1975 WHEN THEY ACCOUNTED FOR UNDER SIX PER CENT OF THE CASELOAD.
+ IF WE ADD IN THOSE CLAIMING’LOW EARNINGS, THE PERCENTAGE OF THE CASELOAD REPRESENTED BY THOSE CLAIMING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS INCREASES FROM 14 PER CENT IN 1974 TO 23 PER CENT IN 1975.
+FROM THESE PERCENTAGES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAS ARGUED THAT AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE ECONOMY WILL PROBABLY RESULT IN HIS SHEDDING ONLY 5,000 CASES FROM HIS NOVEMBER 1975 CASELOAD OF 55,000.
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/19
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 18 -
MORE SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES TO BE ALLOCATED *****
FORM I SUBSIDISED PLACES AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION BY MEANS OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS EXAMINATION IN SEPTEMBER 1976 WILL BE INCREASED TO SOME 67,300 — ABOUT 18,800 MORE THAN THOSE AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION LAST SEPTEMBER.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR EDUCATION IN 1976-77, ANNOUNCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY.
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, MR HADDON-CAVE SAID HIS INTENTION WOULD BE TO PROVIDE IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR 1977-78 AND 1978-79 FOR FURTHER INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF SUBSIDISED FORM I PLACES SO AS TO PRODUCE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SUCH PLACES IN SEPTEMBER 1978 FOR ALL PRIMARY 6 LEAVERS WANTING SECONDARY EDUCATION.
BUT HE WARNED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF SUBSIDISED SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR ALL MUST BE EVENTUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY AN UPWARD REVISION OF FEES (WITH THE FEE REMISSION SYSTEM CONTINUING TO PROTECT THE POORER PARENTS).
IN ORDER TO MAKE AVAILABLE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SUBSIDISED PLACES IN FORMS I OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO ACCOMMODATE ALL PRIMARY 6 LEAVERS WANTING SECONDARY EDUCATION, HE SAID, THE NUMBER OF FORMS I - III PLACES IN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TO BE INCREASED BY 74,400 FROM THE PRESENT 156,800 TO 231,200 IN SEPTEMBER 1978.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID: +IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SUCH A MASSIVE EXPANSION OVER A SHORT SPACE OF TIME, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO RELY HEAVILY ON BUYING PLACES ALREADY EXISTING IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS.*
AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO EXHAUST THE POSSIBILITIES OF VOLUNTARY FLOATATION OF CLASSES IN EXISTING GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS, AND TO MAKE FULL USE OF AN EXTENDED DAY SYSTEM OF OPERATION.
+THESE MUST BE RECOGNISED AS TEMPORARY MEASURES WHICH, CONSISTENT WITH THE QUALITY OBJECTIVES OF THE WHITE PAPER, MUST EVENTUALLY BE REPLACED BY BUILDING AND EQUIPPING NEW SCHOOLS,* HE ADDED. +PRECISELY WHEN THESE NEW SCHOOLS CAN BE BUILT AND EQUIPPED WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO FIND THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO MEET THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL COST OF DOING SO, HAVING REGARD TO COMPETING BIDS FOR OTHER SERVICES.*
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SA ID THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR 1976-77 PROPOSED TO PROVIDE FOR A START ON 21 NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS 10 SPONSORED AND 11 GOVERNMENT BUILT IN THE NEW TOWNS — AND 12 WERE TO BE CREATED BY CONVERTING A NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS,
/HE EXPECTED .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 19 -
HE EXPECTED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WOULD, LATER IN THE BUDGET DEBATE, EXPLAIN THE IMPLICATION OF THIS MASSIVE PROGRAMME OF EXPANSION, INCLUDING THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS GRADUATING FROM TEACHERS’ COLLEGES IN 1976.
FOR CHILDREN WISHING TO PROCEED BEYOND FORM III, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SA IDs +THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 1,600 PLACES IN FORMS IV AND V, INCREASING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUCH PLACES TO 40,700 BY SEPTEMBER 1976>
+THERE WILL ALSO BE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 1,000 PLACES IN FORMS VI TO BRING THE TOTAL OF SUCH PLACES TO 10,000.+
MR. HADDON-CAVE ADDED THAT IN SEPTEMBER 1976, TOTAL ENROLMENT -IN THE THREE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WAS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 3,300 FULL-TIME STUDENTS, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 1,000 OVER SEPTEMBER 1975. CONSTRUCTION OF A FOURTH TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, AT CHEUNG SHA WAN, HAD ALREADY STARTED AND WOULD CONTINUE DURING 1976-77, AND WORK ON A FIFTH INSTITUTE AT SAN PO KONG WOULD BEGIN DURING THE YEAR AT AN ESTIMATED BUILDING COST OF $14.2 MILLION.
AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID, THE GOVERNMENT’S OBJECTIVE WAS TO ACHIEVE TARGETS OF 8,850 STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITIES AND 8,000 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT DAY STUDENTS AT THE POLYTECHNIC BY 1977-78.
HE SAID THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR 1976-77 PROVIDED FOR GRANTS TO BE MADE THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE TO ENABLE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITIES TO BE INCREASED TO 8,250 IN SEPTEMBER 1976, AN INCREASE OF SOME 700 OVER SEPTEMBER 1975.
+BECAUSE MOST COURSES ARE FOR THREE YEARS, THIS IMPLIES AN ENROLMENT OF 8,850 IN SEPTEMBER 1977, THAT IS TO SAY, THE TARGET FIGURE.+
AT THE POLYTECHNIC, THE NUMBER OF FULL TIME EQUIVALENT DAY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SEPTEMBER 1976 WAS EXPECTED TO BE 5,950 COMPARED WITH 4,991 IN SEPTEMBER 1975.
BY SEPTEMBER 1978, HE SAID, THE TARGET OF 8,000 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT DAY STUDENTS SHOULD BE ALMOST REACHED SINCE PHASE TWO OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLYTECHNIC WOULD BEGIN IN 1976-77 WHEN IT WAS EXPECTED THAT $17 MILLION OF THE PROJECT ESTIMATE OF $37 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TO SPEND $1,376 MILLION ON EDUCATION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
THIS AMOUNT WAS MADE UP OF $1,260 MILLION FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ON SUBVENTIONS AND BY THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, AND $116 MILLION FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
THE FIGURE OF $1,376 MILLION REPRESENTS 19.1 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN 1976-77, COMPARED WITH 20.8 PER CENT IN 1975-76.
IN ADDITION, SOME $33 MILLION IS EXPECTED TO BE DRAWN IN 1976-77 AS LOANS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND TO ASSIST IN THE FINANCING OF NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE AIDED AND PRIVATE SECTOR.
------o------- /2C ....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 20 -
POSSIBILITY OF SELLING PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS STUDIED
M * * M *
ABOUT 96,400 PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS FOR 578,100 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BETWEEN 1976-77 AND 1979-80 AND THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING FLATS FOR SALE.
THESE PLANS TO'CATER FOR HOUSING NEEDS WERE REVEALED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH THIS AFTERNOON.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE FLATS TO BE BUILT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS DECADE WAS NEARLY 11 PER CENT MORE THAN THE ADDITION TO THE HOUSING STOCK IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE DECADE.
HE NOTED THAT WORK ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURTHER ESTATES WOULD BE IN PROGRESS AT THE END OF 1979-80 FOR COMPLETION IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS.
+IT IS HOPED THAT, BY 1984, ADEQUATE PUBLIC HOUSING WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MEET OVER 80 PER CENT OF THE ESTIMATED DEMAND, COMPARED WITH 57 PER CENT AT END OF 1975-76,+ HE ADDED.
ON THE FEASIBILITY OF BUILDING FLATS FOR SALE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THEY WOULD LARGELY BE SOLD TO EXISTING TENANTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES SO THAT, AS THEY MOVED OUT, ROOM WAS MADE FOR OTHERS MORE IN NEED OF LOW-COST RENTED ACCOMMODATION TO MOVE IN.
+T0 PRODUCE, SAY, 5,000 FLATS CAPABLE OF HOUSING AN ADDITIONAL 30,000 PEOPLE A YEAR, SUCH A SCHEME WOULD INVOLVE ESTABLISHING A REVOLVING FUND OF ABOUT $300 MILLION AND FINDING ABOUT 25 ACRES OF LAND A YEAR,+ HE SAID.
MR. HADDON-CAVE NOTED THAT THE TERMS OF SALE WOULD HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY DEVISED SO AS NOT TO INHIBIT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
+IT WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE SUPPORTED BY ADEQUATE MORTGAGE FACILITIES, ON FAIRLY ATTRACTIVE TERMS, FROM SOURCES OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT, SO THAT THE FUND WOULD REVOLVE FAST ENOUGH TO CONTINUE FINANCING THE CONSTRUCTION OF 5,000 FLATS A YEAR.+
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID SUCH A PROPOSAL WAS WELCOMED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HE HOPED TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND TO RAISE THE NECESSARY LOAN FINANCE.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, A GREAT DEAL OF DETAILED WORK WOULD THEN BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A PRACTICABLE SCHEME.
+MEANWHILE.+ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID, +THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THAT IT WILL BE SPENDING, DURING 197&-77, ABOUT $220 MILLION ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S EXISTING BUILDING PROGRAMMES, OF WHICH RATHER MORE THAN HALF WILL BE MET FROM BORROWINGS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND AND THE BALANCE FROM THE AUTHORITY’S OWN FUNDS.+
/HE ALSO
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
21
HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE 20 ESTATES ON WHICH PLANNING HAD ALREADY STARTED WHEN THE NEW HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS FORMED.
+THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR 1976-77 ENVISAGE SOME $170 MILLION BEING SPENT BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON THESE ESTATES,♦ HE SAID.
THEY COMPRISE 11 ESTATES IN THE URBAN AREA, NINE IN THE NEW TOWNS OF TSUEN WAN, SHAT IN AND TUEN MUN. '
ON TOP OF THIS, AN ADDITIONAL $25 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON MAKING GOOD DEFICIENCIES IN COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN TSUEN WAN.
ON THE QUESTION OF RENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID, +THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS A STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY ITS WAY, WHICH MEANS THAT ITS INCOME FROM RENTS SHOULD BE ADEQUATE TO MEET OPERATING EXPENSES AND MANAGEMENT COST, TO MEET INTEREST PAYMENTS ON LOANS REQUIRED TO FINANCE ITS BUILDING PROGRAMME, AND TO MEET AMORTISATION CHARGES ON ITS LANDS AND BUILDINGS.+
♦ YET, THEY SHOULD BE WITHIN THE ABILITY OF MOST TENANTS TO PAY.+
HOWEVER, HE SAID, BECAUSE OF RISING COSTS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD FACE INCREASING DIFFICULTIES IN DETERMINING RENTS WHICH RECONCILE BOTH THE NEED TO COVER COSTS AND THE MEANS OF ITS TENANTS.
♦ IN THIS CONNECTION, IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO REVIEW ALL INPUT COSTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ACCOMMODATION TO ENSURE THAT THE RENTS DERIVED FROM THEM DO NOT BECOME UNREALISTICALLY HIGH IN COMPARISON WITH WHAT ITS TENANTS CAN AFFORD.+
♦ ON THE OTHER HAND, I KNOW THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS VERY MUCH IN MIND THE RELATED PROBLEM OF ENSURING THAT RENTS DO NOT LAG FAR BEHIND COST INCREASES,+ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
-----o------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
22 -
POLICE TO GET LARGER BUDGET
M * * X *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TODAY ANNOUNCED A BIGGER BUDGET FOR THE POLICE FORCE AND SAID THERE SHOULD BE UP TO 1,700 EXTRA POLICEMEN AVAILABLE FOR ACTIVE DUTY BY THE END OF THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, IF RECRUITING IS SUCCESSFUL AND WASTAGE IS IGNORED.
SPEAKING ON THE SUBJECT OF LAW AND ORDER, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE POLICE WOULD COST $521 MILLION IN 1976-77 REPRESENTING A 12 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND 68 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF LAW AND ORDER SERVICES.
HE SAID THE BIGGER POLICE BUDGET WAS LARGELY ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO BRING THE OPERATIONAL STRENGTH OF THE POLICE UP TO FULL ESTABLISHMENT WHICH WOULD INVOLVE CREATING AN EXTRA 1,000 POSTS FOR A TRAINING RESERVE.
+T0 ASSIST IN THE RECRUITING PROCESS, THE CAPACITY OF THE POLICE CADET SCHOOL WILL BE INCREASED FROM 300 TO 600 BY THE OPENING OF AN EXTENSION AT DODWELL’S RIDGE,+ HE SAID.
+THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS LARGER POLICE FORCE SHOULD BE GREATLY ASSISTED BY THE PROVISION OF $34 MILLION FOR THE FINAL STAGE' OF IMPLEMENTING THE BEAT RADIO SCHEME AND ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT,* HE ADDED.
FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT OF THE POLICE WITH THE PUBLIC WILL BE ASSISTED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 28 REPORTING CENTRES IN HOUSING ESTATES AND THE CREATION OF A FURTHER 500 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET OF 2,030 SUCH • COMMITTEES SET FOR 1977.
MR. HADDON-CAVE ALSO ANNOUNCED A BIGGER BUDGET FOR THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION TO ALLOW ITS OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT TO CARRY OUT MORE INTENSIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT TO FILL ALL THE POSTS.
THE ICAC WILL GET $13 MILLION MORE IN 1976-77, REPRESENTING A 52 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $25 MILLION FOR 1975-76.
•
THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT IS ALSO GETTING MORE MONEY IN 1976-77. PROVISION HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATES TO DEVELOP PRISON INDUSTRIES.
THE 1976-77 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT AMOUNTS TO $122 MILLION — A NEARLY 50 PER CENT INCREASE OVER 1974-75.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
23 -
DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT WORKS
******
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE CITED THE +DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS+ TO VITAL COMMUNICATIONS LINKS BEING UNDERTAKEN IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THESE INCLUDE THE ROAD LINKS BETWEEN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA OF KWUN TONG AND THE CONTAINER TERMINAL (WHICH IS NOW HANDLING 39 PER CENT BY WEIGHT OF OUR IMPORTS AND 53 PER CENT BY WEIGHT OF OUR EXPORTS, EXCLUDING PETROLEUM PRODUCTS), BETWEEN KOWLOON AND SHATIN AND BEYOND TO TAI PO (WITH ITS NEW INDUSTRIAL ESTATE), BETWEEN KOWLOON AND THE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT PLANNED FOR TUEN MUN, AND THE IMPORTANT RAIL LINK BETWEEN KOWLOON AND CHINA.
HONG KONG’S COMMUNICATIONS OVERSEAS WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY THE IMPROVEMENTS TO CARGO HANDLING ARRANGEMENTS PLANNED FOR THE HARBOUR, BY THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS BEING UNDERTAKEN AT THE AIRPORT, AND BY THE START PLANNED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE AS AN ADJUNCT TO THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING WHICH SHOULD BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR.
PROVISION HAS ALSO BEEN MADE TO ASSIST THE WORK OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS IN DEFENDING OUR TRADING RIGHTS IN OVERSEAS MARKETS, AND IN ATTRACTING OVERSEAS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT AND TOURISTS TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY.
TURNING TO SOME MAIN AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID ON HONG KONG ISLAND THE MAIN EMPHASIS WAS INEVITABLY ON THE WORKS NECESSARY TO LIFT THE MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE MID-LEVELS.
+THUS PROVISION IS INCLUDED FOR CONTINUING TO WIDEN POKFULAM ROAD, FOR . IMPROV I NG THE ROAD THROUGH ABERDEEN AND FOR A START ON THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL AND THE ROADS LEADING TO IT. WORK WILL ALSO START ON IMPROVEMENTS TO VARIOUS JUNCTIONS IN THE MID-LEVELS AND PLANNING WILL START ON THE DESIGN OF THE WESTERN LINK BETWEEN POKFULAM ROAD AND CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST.*
ON THE PROVISION OF MORE LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THERE WERE FURTHER PLANS FOR RECLAMATIONS AT ALDRICH BAY AND ABERDEEN, FURTHER DRAINAGE WORKS AT KOWLOON BAY AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SHAM SHU 1 PO AREA.
ADDITIONAL LAND AMOUNTING TO 155 ACRES WILL ALSO BECOME AVAILABLE AS A RESULT OF THE REPROVISIONING OF THE FACILITIES AT VICTORIA BARRACKS IN HMS TAMAR AND OF RAF KAI TAK AT SEK KONG WITH EFFECT FROM 1978 AND 1979 RESPECTIVELY.
/aS TO .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
. 24
AS TO WORK ON THE DEVELOPMENT SAID THE OBJECT WAS TO PROVIDE FOR
OF NEW TOWNS, MR. HADDON-CAVE
AC AOAH-r < e ..... ------- ■— AN ADDITIONAL POPULATION
OF ABOUT 1.5 MILLION IN BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OVER ABOUT 6,500 ACRES OF LAND.
IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, THE EMPHASIS IN TSUENMAN *».nLAMEn2w-.M™ !,NG M0RE LAND AVAILABLE IN TSI NG Yl AND KWAI CHUNG AND ON DEVcLOPING FURTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN THE OLD TOWN.
,UA11 WORK IN SHAT IN WILL ALSO BE AIMED AT MAKING MORE LAND
F0R DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THE RECLAMATION OF 147 A£P£S BY A pr|VATE DEVELOPER, BUT PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE AND EFFICIENT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME.
EXPENDITURE IN TUEN MUN WILL BE DOMINATED BY THE LARGE ^^tESTATE THE PUBLIC WORKS department is completing, but PROGRESS WILL BE MADE ON THE ENGINEERING WORK NECESSARY FOR PREPARING FURTHER AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
0 -
/25
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
MEDICAL SERVICES* FURTHER IMPROVEMENT FORESEEN
******
HONG KONG SHOULD SEE BY THE END OF 1979-80 BOTH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE RATIO OF HOSPITAL BEDS TO THE POPULATION AND A FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN THE STANDARD OF OUR MEDICAL SERVICES.
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON MEDICAL SERVICES AT CONSTANT PRICES WAS ESTIMATED TO INCREASE FROM ABOUT 1600 MILLION IN 1976-77 TO OVER $720 MILLION BY THE END OF THE THREE YEAR FORECAST PERIOD, 1977-78 TO 1979-80.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MIGHT HAVE TO BE AS HIGH AS $430 MILLION OVER THE FOUR YEARS FROM 1976-77 TO 1979-80.
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID, PROVIDED FOR EXPENDITURE OF $631 MILLION ON MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, WHICH REPRESENTED 8.7 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE.
PROVISION HAS BEEN INCLUDED FOR THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL TO OPERATE AT ITS FULL CAPACITY OF 1,340 BEDS, FOR THE OPENING OF TWO POLYCLINICS AND A SPECIALIST CLINIC AND FOR THE OPENING OF THE EXTENSION OF THE NAM LONG HOSPITAL AND THE TUNG WAH CENTENARY BUILDING.
+THESE PROJECTS WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BEDS FROM 18,137 AT MARCH 31, 1976 TO 18,831 BY MARCH 31, 1977 AND WILL RESULT IN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE RATIO OF BEDS TO THE POPULATION,* THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
HE ADDED THAT +OUR PRESENT FINANCIAL PLANNING* OVER THE PERIOD 1977-78 TO 1979-80 ALLOWED FOR THE BUILDING OF THE PSYCHIATRIC WING OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AND OF NEW HOSPITALS IN EAST KOWLOON AND SHA TIN.
♦MEANWHILE,* HE NOTED, +WE SHALL BE EXPECTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY.*
HE ALSO NOTED THAT PROVISION WAS INCLUDED +T0 FINANCE THE < STEPS NECESSARY TO BRING REGISTRABLE DOCTORS UP TO STANDARD.*
-------o - - - -
/26......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976 - 26 -
MORE MONEY FOR RECREATION AND SPORT * * * * * *
WORK ON THE INDOOR STADIUM AT HUNG HOM IS TO START IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, A YEAR EARLIER THAN ANTICIPATED* AND FLOODLIGHTING AT THE HONG KONG STADIUM IS TO BE IMPROVED AT A COST OF $1.8 MILLION. Z
THESE ARE SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PROVISION'OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES MENTIONED IN THE BUDGET SPEECH BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY.
FUNDS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR A NUMBER OF PROJECTS. +1 WOULD ALSO BE PREPARED TO SEEK SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION IF I CAN BE SATISFIED THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS CAN BE USEFULLY SPENT WITHIN THE COMING YEAR,+ HE SAID.
AMONG THE PROVISIONS IN 1976-77 ARE AN ADDITIONAL $6 MILLION TO DEVELOP THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR RECREATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE SAI KUNG, SHING MUN, ABERDEEN AND BRIDE POOL AREAS AND TO STAFF TWO MANAGEMENT CENTRES, AND A FIRST ALLOCATION OF $5 MILLION FOR A PROGRAMME OF IMPROVEMENT ON THE SOUTH LANTAO ROAD TO OPEN UP THE CONSIDERABLE RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL OF LANTAO.
PROVISION HAS ALSO BEEN INCLUDED TO OPEN UP BUTTERFLY BEACH IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, TO DEVELOP THE TSUEN WAN SWIMMING POOL, AND TO CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PLAYGROUND AND SPORTS GROUND FACILITIES IN KWAI CHUNG.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BE LETTING CONTRACTS TO THE VALUE OF OVER $40 MILLION FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE URBAN AREA ON BEHALF OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
IN ADDITION NEARLY $6 MILLION, DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS ALLOCATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SCHEME, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME AND HONG KONG’S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL, AND THE ORGANISATION OF LOCAL, SPORTING EVENTS.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT EXPENDITURE ON RECREATION AND SPORT HAD BEEN SUPPLEMENTED BY ABOUT $4 MILLION FROM SPECIAL ?blNDS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. +WE SHALL NOW HAVE TO THINK ABOUT UCH ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR THIS EXPENDITURE AS THE LOTTERIES FUND FROM WHICH, ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY FLOW OF GRANTS TO IMPROVE FACILITIES,+ HE SAID.
- - 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
- 27 -
GROWING EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY SERVICES ft ft ft ft
THERE WAS A GROWING EMPHASIS ON SPENDING ON COMMUNITY SERVICES PARTICULARLY WATER, CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT AND ROADS BETWEEN 1970-71 AND 1974-75, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. HE WAS REVIEWING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE TRENDS DURING THE FIRST FIVE FINANCIAL YEARS OF THIS DECADE.
HE POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT THE TRENDS DID NOT +NECESSARILY REFLECT THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANNING PRIORITIES DURING THAT PERIOD, BUT RATHER THE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS DECISIONS.*
DURING THIS PERIOD, THE PLOVER COVE SCHEME WAS COMPLETED, THE DAMS WERE LATER RAISED, WORK ON THE HIGH ISLAND SCHEME AND THE DESALTER WAS BEGUN, 772 ACRES OF LAND WERE CREATED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND 50 MILES OF MOTOR ROADS AND 15 FLYOVERS WERE BUILT.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY LISTED THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN BUILDING UP THE POLICE FORCE, SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES, ENROLMENT AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, THE NEW POLYTECHNIC AND THE UNIVERSITIES, HOSPITAL FACILITIES INCLUDING NEW HOSPITALS, PUBLIC HOUSING AND THE NEW TOWNS.
♦FINALLY, THERE IS THE DRAMATIC STORY OF SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS AND THE NEW FOUND EMPHASIS ON CASH ASSISTANCE TO MAINTAIN FAMILY INCOMES AND TO ASSIST THE DISABLED AND INFIRM,* HE SAID.
+THE TOTAL COST OF ALL FORMS OF ASSISTANCE INCREASED FROM $5.4 MILLION TO $166 MILLION.*
DESPITE THIS EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE SPENDING ON WHICH INCREASED FROM 19 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN 1970-71 TO 28 PER CENT IN 1974-75, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE LAW AND ORDER GROUP OF SERVICES TO MAINTAIN ITS 1970-71 SHARE OF WELL OVER NINE PER CENT DURING THIS PERIOD- AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES GROUP COULD BE ALLOCATED 39 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN BOTH 1970-71 AND 1974-75.
THIS COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE GROWTH OF EXPENDITURE ON GENERAL SERVICES AND ON ECONOMIC SERVICES WAS KEPT WELL BELOW THE GROWTH OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE, DECLINING FROM 20 PER CENT OF THE SHARE TO 14 PER CENT OVER THE PERIOD.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976 *
- 28 -
TEXTILE EXPORT LICENCE FOR AUSTRIA TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED • ******
THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, ON THE ADVICE OF THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD, HAS SUSPENDED THE ISSUE OF EXPORT LICENCES FOR ONE TEXTILE ITEM TO AUSTRIA.
THE ITEM IS WOVEN BLOUSES (WHOLLY OR MAINtoY OF COTTON OR MAN-MADE FIBRES) FOR WOMEN, GIRLS AND INFANTS.
THE TEMPORARY SUSPENSION FOLLOWS CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN
HONG KONG AND AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS' IN VIENNA.
BUT A D.C. AND I. SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN SPITE OF THE SUSPENSION, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE EXPORT LICENCES ON TWO CONDITIONS:
A) IF THE GOODS ARE COVERED BY CONFIRMED CONTRACTS CONCLUDED BETWEEN AUSTRIAN IMPORTERS AND HONG KONG EXPORTERS, OR MANUFACTURERS, BEFORE YESTERDAY (FEBRUARY 24, 1976)- AND
B) IF THE GOODS ARE TO BE SHIPPED OUT ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 1976.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT COMPANIES WISHING TO,AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THIS ARRANGEMENT MUST REGISTER THEIR CONTRACTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE NOON ON SATURDAY, (FEBRUARY 28).
AN APPLICATION FORM FOR THIS HAS BEEN SENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, SERIES 3, NO. 5/76, TO PEOPLE IN THE TRADE.
FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES PLEASE PHONE MR. C.H. POON, INDUSTRY ASSISTANT (TEXTILES SECTION - AUSTRIA), TEL. NO. 5-247315.
-------o --------
CHINESE POSTAL OFFICIALS TO VISIT HONG KONG ******
AT THE INVITATION OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL OFFICIALS FROM CANTON WILL VISIT HONG KONG FROM 26) TO WEDNESDAY (MARCH 3).
, A GROUP OF POSTAL THURSDAY (FEBRUARY
THE VISITING DELEGATION, CONSISTING OF EIGHT OFFICIALS. WILL BE^HEADED^BY MR. CHAO YUNG-SHOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CANNON
THE VISIT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND DISCUSS POSTAL OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS OF MUTUAL INTEREST.
- - 0 - -
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SECONDARY EDUCATION EXPANSION PLANS SPEEDED UP .............. 1
ELEVEN MORE DISTRICTS TO HAVE RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICERS ............................................. 3
BARRIERS AT RAILWAY CROSSINGS TO BE POWER-OPERATED .......... 4
SURVEY ON LABOUR FORCE TO BE CARRIED OUT NEXT MONTH ......... 5
REDUNDANT PRIMARY TEACHERS ASSURED OF ALTERNATIVE TEACHING JOBS .................................................
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS........,................... 7
PROBATIONERS ORGANISE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE ELDERLY ......... 7
NEW APPROACH TO LEARNING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS NEEDED ........ 8
OFFICE BEARERS OF YOUTH MEMBERS’ COUNCIL TO BE SWORN IN ..... 9
SWD’S CREDIT UNION TO HOLD FOURTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING .... 9
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
- 1 -SPEEDING UP SECONDARY EDUCATION EXPANSION PLANS * * M * *
THE BUILDING OF NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS, THE INTRODUCTION OF FLOTATION AND EXTENDED DAY IN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS, THE CONVERSION OF UNDER-UTILISED GOVERNMENT PRIMARY INTO SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND THE BUYING OF ADDITIONAL PLACES IN PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE MEASURES WHICH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS TO TAKE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT JUNIOR SECONDARY PLACES FOR ALL PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVERS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, SAID THIS MORNING.
IN WELCOMING THE PROVISION OF FUNDS IN THE BUDGET FOR WHITE PAPER POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON SECONDARY EXPANSION TO PROCEED, MR. TOPLEY STRESSED THE BOLD NATURE OF THE INITIATIVE BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE BRINGING THE TARGET DATES FORWARD.
THE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION IS TO BE HELD FOR THE LAST TIME IN 1977 NOT 1978 AS PREVIOUSLY ENVISAGED AND EVERY PRIMARY 6 LEAVER IS TO BE PROVIDED WITH AN AIDED FORM 1 PLACE IN 1978 NOT 1979 AS PROPOSED IN THE WHITE PAPER.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS TO BE THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WHITE ONE YEAR.
SEEN AGAINST THE NEWS LAST YEAR PAPER WAS TO BE DELAYED AT LEAST
+IN TERMS OF REAL PROGRESS, THIS MEANS THAT EXPANSION OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR HAS BEEN ACCELERATED NOT ONE BUT TWO YEARS,+ THE DIRECTOR SAID.
WHILE THE QUICKEST METHOD OF ENSURING THAT EVERY PRIMARY 6 LEAVER GETS AN AIDED FORM 1 PLACE WOULD BE BY BUYING ADDITIONAL PLACES IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AS AN INTERIM MEASURE, MR. TOPLEY SAID THE ULTIMATE AIM MUST BE TO PROVIDE AS MANY PLACES AS POSSIBLE IN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS.
THIS WOULD BE ACHIEVED BY THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME WHICH WOULD ALSO PERMIT THE PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION OF THE OTHER TEMPORARY EXPEDIENTS OF FLOATING CLASSES AND EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY.
+1 AM CONVINCED THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
♦WE WILL BE PUTTING CHILDREN OF THE APPROPRIATE AGE GROUP WHERE THEY BELONG - IN SCHOOLS.+ MR. TOPLEY SAID.
THUS THE GOVERNMENT’S MAIN OBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE SUBSIDISED EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD FOR NINE YEARS - SIX YEARS OF FREE PRIMARY AND THREE YEARS OF AIDED SECONDARY - WILL BE ACHIEVED BY 1978.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE UNTIL THEN, THE DIRECTOR ADDED.
/SUBSTANTIAL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
2
SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS WILL BE MADE BY SEPTEMBER 1976 TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. INCREASES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ARE ESTIMATED AT 16,829 FOR FORMS 1 TO 3, 1,547 FOR FORMS 4 AND 5 AND 1,080 FOR FORM 6.
THE GOVERNMENT’S SUBVENTIONS ON EDUCATION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 36 ASSISTED PRIVATE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SECOND STAGE TO FULLY SUBSIDISED STATUS UNDER THE CODE OF AID FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SECOND STAGE TO BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1976, MR. TOPLEY SAID.
FROM THAT DATE, THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO TEACHERS IN THESE ASSISTED PRIVATE SCHOOLS WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT RATE OF 50 PER CENT TO 75 PER CENT OF EACH TEACHER’S ACTUAL SALARY ENTITLEMENT. THE SCHOOLS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE REMAINING 25 PER CENT.
IN TERMS OF ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SSEE CANDIDATES THIS YEAR TO QUALIFY FOR AIDED PLACES IN FORM 1, THE DIRECTOR ESTIMATED THAT THE NUMBER TO BE ALLOCATED WILL RISE FROM 48,500 IN 1975 TO SOME 67,300 PLACES THIS YEAR. IN 1978 THERE WILL BE PLACES FOR EVERYONE COMPLETING PRIMARY 6.
MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT THE CONVERSION OF UNDER-UTILISED GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1978.
ALTOGETHER 18 PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDINGS WILL BE CONVERTED TO PROVIDE AIDED PLACES IN FORMS 1 TO 6 EQUIVALENT TO 12 STANDARD 24-CLASSR00M SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S BOLD INITIATIVE TO IMPLEMENT ITS SECONDARY EXPANSION PLANS QUICKLY, RAISES A NUMBER OF ISSUES. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SSEE WITH A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE IS A NOTABLE EXAMPLE. SELECTION THEREAFTER FOR AIDED PLACES FOR FORMS 4 AND 5 IS ANOTHER.
THE FALLING ENROLMENT IN PRIMARY CLASSES AND THE MOVEMENT OF POPULATION INTO NEW TOWNS, RESULTING IN THE CLOSURE OF CLASSES IN SOME GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN EFFECTS.
+BUT WE ARE HARD AT WORK ON ALL THESE MATTERS,* THE DIRECTOR SAID. +1 AM SOUNDING RESPONSIBLE PROFESSIONAL OPINION ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SSEE. I HAVE APPOINTED A WORKING PARTY TO LOOK INTO POST-FORM 3 SELECTION IN 1981 AND THEREAFTER.
ON THE QUESTION OF THE REDUCTION OF 100 AIDED PRIMARY CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER 1976, MR. TOPLEY-SA ID s +1 AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF SPONSORS I SHALL BE ABLE TO PLACE THE SERVING TEACHERS AFFECTED IN OTHER AIDED SCHOOLS.*
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/3
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN EXPANDED RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES
MX****
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION, MR. DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY THAT SERVICES PROVIDED BY RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICERS IN SIX DISTRICTS WOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL 17 DISTRICTS OF HONG KONG IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
♦THIS,* HE SAID, +WILL CREATE AN ENORMOUS INCREASE IN THE PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE IN RECREATION AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES.*
MR. BRAY WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF TAI PING SHAN ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF ITS OPERATION.
HE SAID THAT SINCE THE R.S.S. CAME INTO OPERATION, EVERY POSSIBLE ATTEMPT HAD BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE AS WIDE A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMME AS POSSIBLE.
COMPETITIONS AND COACHING CLINICS IN THE POPULAR GAMES, HE SAID, HAD BEEN ORGANISED IN ALL DISTRICTS.
THE LESS POPULAR SPORTS SUCH AS DIVING, WATER POLO AND ROLLER SKATING, HAD ATTRACTED PARTICIPANTS EAGER TO LEARN A NEW SKILL. MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAD ENJOYED OUTINGS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND ANOTHER POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL ACTIVITY HAD BEEN THE FAMILY CAMP.
AT THE’SAME TIME, MR. BRAY SAID, TO ENSURE A SOURCE OF TRAINED MANPOWER SUCH AS COACHES, REFEREES AND LEADERS TO ASSIST IN RUNNING PROGRAMMES, THE R.S.S. HAD CONDUCTED TRAINING COURSES FOR NEARLY 3,000 VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE NOW ASSISTING THE SERVICE TO CONDUCT ITS RECREATIONAL PROGRAMME.
♦THE EXTRA-MURAL DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE ARE JOINTLY RUNNING A CERTIFICATE COURSE IN RECREATION MANAGEMENT. THE FIRST COURSE STARTED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, AND THE SECOND COURSE IS DUE TO COMMENCE THIS OCTOBER,* HE SAID.
MR. BRAY, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, SAID THERE WAS A GREAT DEMAND FOR ORGANISED RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES IN THE COMMUNITY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE HAD BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN R.S.S. PROGRAMMES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION. THEIR AGE RANGED FROM TEN TO 66, ALTHOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY FELL IN THE 16-24 AGE GROUP.
MR. BRAY SAID THAT GREATER DEVELOPMENT IN RECREATION DEFINITELY HAD A FAR-REACHING EFFECT ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.
/HE APPEALED .....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
- 4
HE APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TO ASSIST t-
* BY SPONSORING THE RECREATION AND SPORT PROJECTS PROMOTED BY THE GOVERNMENT RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE"
M BY MAKING AVAILABLE TO THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE THEIR SPORTS FACILITIES FOR ORGANISED COMMUNITY RECREATION IF THEY HAVE SUCH ASSETS-
* BY BEING PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE PROMOTION OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE’S CAMPAIGNS, AND BY ENCOURAGING OTHERS, WHETHER THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS, OR MEMBERS OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES OR ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED WITH RECREATION, TO ASSIST IN ACTIVE PROMOTION OF RECREATION IN THE DISTRICTS.
MR. BRAY SAID THAT THE SERVICE MADE THE MAXIMUM USE OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND HE HOPED THE PUBLIC WOULD FIND A CHANCE TO JOIN IN IT.
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POWER-OPERATED BARRIERS AT RAILWAY CROSSINGS
* M * # M M
ALL BARRIERS AT THE RAIL/ROAD TERRITORIES WILL BE POWER-OPERATED
LEVEL CROSSINGS FROM MARCH 1.
IN THE NEW
THE FOUR BARRIERS WILL BE LOWERED FASTER AND SIMULTANEOUSLY.
pass +wEG“WasBEtraffTcTlEghtsBUotAErwBsE t2EirRve“c‘ECES'
™o^ngT™?nB£o™%iS™'ERS or trapped between them- possiblv
SIGNS ^HAVG^BEE^ERECTED^ Ta°LJ DL^R^y!N^^ER0^M lc rR°kT&ve^LEs bepore tre ™te
THE RED +WIG-WAG+ TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE ON.
LEVEL CROSSING WHEN
PEDESTRIANS ARE ALSO ADVISED NOT TO SIGNALS WHEN SHOWING RED AND OBEY AT ALL OF THE K.C.R. LEVEL CROSSING KEEPER.
PASS THE +WIG-WAG+ TIMES THE INSTRUCTIONS
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/5
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
- 5 -
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY NEXT MONTH
******
A NEW LABOUR FORCE SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF MARCH FOR THE PLANNING OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THE LAST SUCH SURVEY WAS CARRIED OUT IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED ON THE ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION.
+IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS SORT OF INFORMATION IS KEPT AS UP-TO-DATE AS POSSIBLE,* HE SAID.
THE SURVEY NEXT MONTH WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO ASSESS CHANGES IN THE LABOUR FORCE AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER.
IT WILL BE TAKEN ON A SAMPLE BASIS COVERING ABOUT 13,000 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT ALL DISTRICTS. BEFORE THEY ARE TO BE VISITED, AN OFFICIAL LETTER, IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, WILL BE SENT TO THEM EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY.
+FOR THE VISITS THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE SENDING OUT A NUMBER OF ENUMERATORS BETWEEN MARCH 1 AND 14,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID. +EACH ENUMERATOR WILL BEAR AN OFFICIAL IDENTITY CARD WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH ON IT FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSE.+
QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED WILL INCLUDE AGE AND SEX, EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS, OCCUPATION AND EARNINGS, HOURS OF WORK AND EDUCATION ATTAINMENT.
THE SPOKESMAN GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT ALL INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE KEPT IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.
- - 0 - -
/6
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
- 6 -
REDUCTION OF 100 AIDED PRIMARY CLASSES TEACHERS ASSURED OF ALTERNATIVE TEACHING JOBS M * M M * *
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT NEARLY 320 NEW CLASSES WOULD BE OPENED IN NEW AND DEVELOPING AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR STARTING SEPTEMBER 1976.
♦THESE CLASSES WILL BE IN SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TOWNS, IN THE NEW ESTATES IN OTHER DEVELOPING AREAS AND IN AREAS WITH SHORTAGES OF AIDED PLACES,* SAID MR. LAM TAT-LAU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (PRIMARY).
HE ADDED: +AS A RESULT OF A GRADUAL MOVEMENT OF POPULATION TO THE NEW AREAS COUPLED WITH A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE APPROPRIATE PRIMARY AGE GROUP, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO PHASE OUT 420 SERIOUSLY UNDER-UTILISED CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER.*
A PLACEMENT SERVICE WILL BE REACTIVATED IN MID-MAY TO HELP TEACHERS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE REDISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION.
+JUDGING FROM LAST YEAR’S SUCCESS OF THE PLACEMENT SERVICE, IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE REDUNDANT TEACHERS WILL BE ABSORBED BY SCHOOLS WITH VACANCIES ARISING FROM THE OPENING OF NEW CLASSES, RETIREMENT AND OTHER NORMAL WASTAGE, WITH THE CLOSE CO-OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL SPONSORS WHO MADE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE SUCCESS OF LAST YEAR’S EXERCISE,* MR. LAM SAID.
•FOR STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE PROVIDED MAINLY FROM WASTAGE, RETIREMENT AND FROM THE OPENING OF CLASSES MAINLY IN NEW AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND IN SCHOOLS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
IN THE CASE OF THE GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SECTOR, TEACHERS IN UNDER-ENROLLED SCHOOLS WILL BE RE-DEPLOYED TO OTHER DIVISIONS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND POSSIBLY TO OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN SEPTEMBER 1976.
THE STATEMENT BY MR. LAM REFLECTS THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S CONCERN FOR SERVING TEACHERS. IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING, THE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWED THE SAME PROCEDURE INTRODUCED LAST YEAR BY INVITING REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERESTED PARTIES FOR A DISCUSSION THIS AFTERNOON TO IMPRESS UPON THEM THE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO HELP REDUNDANT TEACHERS.
THE INTERESTED PARTIES INCLUDED THE HONG KONG PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS’ UNION, THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS’ UN lOll, THE SUBSIDISED PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADS ASSOCIATION AND THE HONG KONG TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
7
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
*****
THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE’S FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH AND CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH EXAMINATIONS WILL BE HELD IN HONG KONG IN JUNE.
APPLICATIONS TO TAKE THE EXAMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN TO CANDIDATES WHOSE MOTHER-TONGUE IS NOT ENGLISH AND WHO ARE NOT BELOW THE AGE OF 16.
THEY MUST ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR ORAL OR AURAL TESTS AT A TIME TO BE SPECIFIED ON ANY DAY BETWEEN MAY 24 AND JUNE 19.
SCHOOL CANDIDATES SHOULD REGISTER THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLS.
PRIVATE CANDIDATES ARE ALSO ACCEPTED. ENTRY FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM MARCH 1 AT THE EXAMINATIONS DIVISION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, CANTON .ROAD GOVERNMENT OFF ICES, '393 CANTON ROAD, 11TH FLOOR, KOWLOOd.
FOR PRIVATE CANDIDATES COMPLETED ENTRY FORMS, TOGETHER WITH IDENTITY DOCUMENTS AND TWO RECENT PHOTOGRAPHS, MUST BE PRESENTED IN PERSON AT THE SAME OFFICE, BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 4 P.M. FROM MARCH 1 TO 5.
NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
EXAMINATION FEES. AT $115 FOR THE FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH EXAMINATION, $145 FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH EXAMINATION AND $60 FOR AN OPTIONAL PAPER, MUST BE PAID NOT LATER THAN MARCH 9.
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PROBATIONERS TO ENTERTAIN ELDERLY * * * *
ABOUT 50 RESIDENTS OF THE YAU TONG HOSTEL FOR THE AGED WILL BE TREATED TO A VARIETY SHOW ORGANISED FOR THEM BY THE PROBATIONERS OF THE KWUN TONG HOSTEL TOMORROW (FRIDAY) EVENING.
THE SHOW HAS BEEN FINANCED AND ARRANGED ENTIRELY BY THE PROBATIONERS THEMSELVES WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE HOSTEL STAFF.
OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE MR. A.D. OCKENDEN, COMMISSIONER OF BANKING, MR. J.G. WILSON AND MR. N.G. SCRIVEN, MAGISTRATES OF KWUN TONG COURT.
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/8
8
NEW APPROACH TO LEARNING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS NEEDED
THE NEED FOR A NEW APPROACH TO LEARNING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS . IN HONG KONG WAS STRESSED THIS AFTERNOON BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY.
THE VARIOUS SUBJECT EXPERTS SHOULD TALK MORE TO ONE ANOTHER TO SEE THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THEIR SUBJECTS AND WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON.
ADDRESSING THE GATHERING AT THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY SPEECH DAY OF KING’S COLLEGE, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES HAD HAD THEIR +REVOLUTIONS+ BUT THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAD STAYED MUCH THE SAME THIS CENTURY.
MORE AND MORE PRIMARY SCHOOLS ARE ADOPTING THE ACTIVITY APPROACH, WHICH IS A BIG CHANGE.
+EVERYONE HAS COMPLAINED THAT THE UNIVERSITIES ARE INWARD LOOKING AND THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE MORE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID. +WELL SOMETHING HAS BEEN DONE 'ABOUT THAT.+
FOR INSTANCE, HE SAID, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ACADEMICS FROM MANY DEPARTMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY CO-OPERATE AND SOLVE PROBLEMS WHICH THEY HAVE IN COMMON AT THE CENTRE OF ASIAN STUDIES AND IN THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY THERE WAS A SOCIAL RESEARCH CENTRE.
BUT NOT MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
MR. TOPLEY ADDEDi +HOWEVER IN THE FIRST THREE FORMS OF SECONDARY WE HAVE GOT A NEW SYLLABUS, A NEW APPROACH TO LEARNING. AND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INTEGRATION OF SUBJECTS HAS TAKEN PLACE.
+1 DON’T WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT I HAVE A MANIA FOR THE INTEGRATION OF SUBJECTS- THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN LIFE THAN THIS AND THE SPECIAL SUBJECTS DO HAVE THEIR PLACE.
+BUT IT IS A PLACE IN RELATION TO THE REST OF THE WORLD AND I DO HOPE THAT WE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP IN FORMS 4, 5 AND 6 A NEWER APPROACH TO LEARNING AND TO SUBJECT MATTER WHICH WILL BE MORE FRUITFUL AND WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WILL PREPARE THE STUDENTS FOR THE SORT OF LIFE THEY ARE GOING TO MEET IN THE WORLD AND IN UNIVERSITIES WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STUDY ON THEIR OWN AND TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS THAT MOVE QUITE EASILY ACROSS SUBJECT BOUNDARIES.*
EXTENDING HIS CONGRATULATIONS TO KING’S COLLEGE ON ITS GOLDEN JUBILEE, MR. TOPLEY SAID NOT ONLY HAD THE SCHOOL BUILT UP A GOOD ACADEMIC RECORD BUT IT HAD ALSO ENCOURAGED A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES.
HE PRAISED THE KING’S COLLEGE OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION FOR HELPING THE GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE EDUCATION BY OPERATING TWO SUBSIDISED PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
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' /9 ...
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
OFFICE BEARERS OF YOUTH COUNCIL TO BE SWORN IN ******
OFFICE BEARERS OF THE YOUTH MEMBERS’ COUNCIL OF THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE INAUGURATED AT A CEREMONY TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 7.45 P.M.
THE COUNCIL WAS FORMED LAST YEAR BY YOUTH GROUPS OF THE CENTRE TO HELP BRING ABOUT BETTER COMMUNICATIONS AMONG THEMSELVES TO ENSURE MORE EFFECTIVE SERVICES TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
OFFICIATING AT TOMORROW’S CEREMONY WILL BE MR. LAM KWOK-WAN, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER OF THE GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK DIVISION AND MR. WONG KING-TONG, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER FOR TSUEN WAN.
A~BOUT 500 GROUP MEMBERS, THEIR PARENTS AND OTHER GUESTS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE CEREMONY, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HALL OF THE COMMUNITY CENTRE.
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SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S CREDIT UNION MEET ******
THE 4TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S CREDIT UNION WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 4.30 P.M. AT THE LADY TRENCH TRAINING CENTRE, 44 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI. ’
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL ADDRESS THE GATHERING AND PRESENT SOUVENIRS TO COLLECTORS OF THE CREDIT UNION.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE THE ADOPTION OF REPORTS FROM THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND THE ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS FOR THE YEAR 1976.
FOLLOWING THIS, THERE WILL BE A LUCKY DRAW.
NOTE TO ED I TORSt
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE EVENT. A COPY OF MR. LEE’S SPEECH WILL BE PUT IN YOUR PRESS BOXES FOR COLLECTION TOMORROW.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
Friday, February 27, 1976
CONTENTS
PAGE IIO
Street alterations to facilitate Metro work in Central •••«•.••.......................................... 1
Fifteen lots of Crown land for sale between April and September..................................... ......
Incidence of tuberculosis continuing to decline • •. • 5
Supplies Department’s children party........... 7
Firing practice on Castle Peak Range .......
Fun fair for 4,000 youngsters .......................... 9
Ten Hong Kong products excluded from U.S. Generalised Scheme of Preferences ................................. 10
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
Friday, February 27, 1976
1
METRO: STREET ALTERATIONS TO FACILITATE WORK IN CENTRAL *********
Construction of the Island Stations of the Metro will begin in April this year and will be completed in March 1980.
This part of the Metro system includes the construction by cut-and-cover methods of underground stations at the junction of Des Voeux Road Central and Reader Street, at Chater Road and in the area bounded by Harcourt Road, Cotton Tree Drive and Queensway.
The running lines between these works will be constructed by bored tunnel methods. The stations include the construction of entrances and ventilation shafts which will appear at permanent ground level structures.
However, before work can start on this section of the Metro, certain street alterations, details of which are notified in today’s Government Gazette, will have to be made.
The principal roads affected will be Redder Street, Des Voeux Reed Central, Chater Raod, Jackson Road and Murray Road. The widths of the carriageways and footpaths of these streets will be restricted from time to time during the construction period.
Plans showing the areas affected by the project may be inspected at the City District Office (Central and Western), the Enquiry Sub-Office, Central Government Offices, West Wing entrance, Hong Kong, and at the Crown Lands and Survey Office, 19th floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Hong Kong.
Today’s Government Gazette notice stipulates that any person making a claim for compensation must send his claim in writing to the Director of Public Works.
/The claims .....
Friday, February 2?, 1976
2
The claims must reach the office of the Director before the expiration of one year from the date of closure of the street or from the completion of the substantial alteration which is alleged to have caused pecuniary loss or damage. •
Note to Editors:
Copies of a sketch plan showing
the traffic diversions in Central
are distributed separately in the G.I.S.
Press Boxes this (Friday) evening.
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Friday, February 27, T/7o - 3 -
LAND SALES FORECAST
******
Fifteen lots of Crown land, totalling about 217,000 sq . ft. will be offered for sale by public auction between April and September this year, the Director of Crown Lands and Survey, announced in a land sales forecast today.
Of the 15 lots, six will be for non-industrial development, three for private residential use, and six for industrial purposes.
The total area of the residential sites amounts to 52,000 sq. ft. Two of them — one 19,500 sq. ft. and ‘the other 18,500 sq. ft. — are located at Chung Hom Kok, Hong Kong, while the third 14,000 sq. ft. is situated off Shek Ku Street, Ho Man Tin.
The non-industrial lots cover a total area of 57,800 sq. ft-Three are off Hollywood Road, Hong Kong, one (24,000 sq. ft.) is at King’s Road opposite Fuk Yuen Street in Shau Kei Wan, and the other two are located near the Sham Shui Po Army Camp.
Of the six industrial sites, totalling 127,200 sq. ft., one is situated at Aberdeen (20,500 so. ft.), one at Chai Wan (6,700 sq. ft.), and the other four off Sze Shan Street in Sam Ka Tsuen.
Sale dates for the lots will be announced in due course in the Government Gazette and advertised in English and Chinese newspapers.
Detailed conditions of sales and sale plans will be available at the time of advertising from the Crown Lands and Survey Office, Murray Building, Garden Road, and from the Public Enquiry Sub-Office at the Central Government Offices, Ice House Street.
/Particulars
Friday, February 27, 197$
4
Particulars of the Land Sales Forecast together with plans showing the location of the lots to be offered for sale may be inspected at the Crown Lands and Survey Offices in Hong Kong and Kowloon.
They may also be inspected at the Public inquiry Sub-Office in Ice House Street, all City District Offices, the New Territories Administration Offices in North Kowloon Magistracy, and in the Commerce and Industry Department, Fire Brigade Building, Connaught Hoad Central.
Copies of the forecast may be obtained free of charge from any of these offices or by written request to the Crown Lands and Survey Office, PwD.
Last year, a total of 3^ lots with a total area of 481,583 sq. ft. were sold for 417^^'10 million. They included 235,870 sq. ft. of residential land, 41,837 sq. ft. of non-industrial land, and 194,400 sq. ft. of industrial land.
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Friday, February 27» 1976
5
INCIDENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS CONTINUES TO DECLINE
********
Two overseas experts on chest diseases have recommended ’’major changes” in the Government Chest Service, necessitated by the continual decline in the incidence of tuberculosis in Hong Kong.
This was disclosed by the Director of Medical and Health Services, Dr. Gerald Choa, in his address to the Hong Kong Anti-TB & Thoracic Diseases Association this evening.
Dr. Choa, who is president of the association, told the annual general meeting that he had appointed a Working Party to consider a report by the two consultants from the United Kingdom, Prof. J.G. Scadding and Dr. Wallace Fox, who visited Hong Kong last year to review the situation concerning tuberculosis.
Both experts were of the opinion that the current decline in new cases of tuberculosis would continue and the policy of reliance on outpatient chemotherapy should be pursued, he said.
They advocated that the existing chest clinics should continue to deal with out-patient treatment of tuberculosis, but they should extend their activities further into other fields of respiratory diseases.
And because of the expected decline, a number of beds for the treatment of tuberculosis should be used for non-TB chest conditions and also heart diseases.
In this connection, Dr. Choa said his view was that the Ruttonjee Sana torinm should remain as the main centre for the treatment of all forms of tuberculosis while the Grantham Hospital, in which there is already an open-heart surgery unit, should further develop in this particular specialty.
/It was •••••
Friday, February 27i 1976
6
It was also suggested that a new style chest clinic should in future be designed as part of a polyclinic and be associated with beds for respiratory diseases in a hospital.
This meant that the Service should be re-designed to take up the entire field of respiratory medicine instead of restricting itself to pulmonary tuberculosis only, Dr. Choa explained.
Turning to the work and achievement of the Health Service during the past year, Dr. Choa said Government clinics were able to vaccinate almost 100 per cent of all new born babies, which was probably the highest BCG coverage at birth in the world.
The number of deaths from tuberculosis continued to decline, from 974 in 1974 to 646 last year, and the crude death rate from 22.9 to 14.8 per 100,000 population, he said.
In fact, there has been a 50 per cent fall in death rate in the last three years, he added.
Dr. Choa commended the association for its outstanding contribution to the treatment and control of tuberculosis.
"We have not come to the end of the road but we have travelled a long way to reach yet another important milestone," he said.
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/7.......
Friday, February 27, 1976
7
SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT CHILDREN'S PaPTY
*********
Children of staff of the Government Supplies Department will be entertained at a fun-filled party this Sunday (February 29) at the department's compound.
Over 1t3OO children are expected to turn out at the party, which will open at 1 p.m. with an address by the Director, Mr. Frederick Young.
There will be side shows, magic and acrobatic shows, a lucky draw, and a display of fire engines and vaulting machines.
Music will be provided by the AMS Band and the cape collinson band. • • •
Note to Edltqrs: . .
You are cordially invited to cover the party. The GSD compound is at Oil “Stfeet, North Point.
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i
Friday, February 27, 1976
- 8 -
FIRING PRACTICE
Firing practice will take place next month.
The public are reminded that it when the red flags are flying during the The practice times are:
Date
March 2 (Tuesday)
March 3 (Wednesday)
March 9 (Tuesday) )
March 10 (Wednesday) >
March 11 (Thursday)
March 16 (Tuesday) )
March 17 (Wednesday) )
March 18 (Thursday) )
March 22 (Monday) )
)
March 23 (Tuesday) )
March 24 (Wednesday) )
March 25 (Thursday) )
)
March 26 (Friday) )
March 29 (Monday) )
)
March 30 (Tuesday) )
on Castle Peak Range on 15 days
is dangerous to enter the area time of firing practice.,
Hours
9.30 a.m. - 4 p.m.,
8.00 a.m., - 2 p.m.
9.00 a.m.. - 4 p.m.,; and .
8.00 p.m. -10 p.m.
9.00 a.m. - 4 p.m.
9.00 a.m. - 4 p.m.; and
8.00 p.m. -10 p.m,
8.00 a.m. - 5 p.m.
8.00 a.m. - 4 p.m.
I
/9
Friday, February 27, '976
9
FUN FAIR FOR 4,000 YOUNGSTERS
*»**«**«*
A Lunar New Ye<r Fun Fair will be held to entertain 4,000 youngsters of the Sau Mau Ping Estate tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon.
The fun fair, which has 19 games stalls in all, will take place at the hall and carpark of the Sau Mau Ping (Central) Estate Welfare Building.
The four-hour programme has been organised by 14 welfare
associations in the area on the initiation of the Social Welfare Department’s Community Work Offices in Sau Mau Ping Central and South.
a brief opening ceremony officiated by representatives of the
orgrinisers will be held at 2.30 p«m. before the fair starts. There will be awards for the best designed games stalls.
Mote to Editors:
You are welcome to cover the fair at the Sau Mau Ping Central Estate Welfare Building in Sau Ming Road.
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/1O
Friday, February 27, 1976
- 10 -
TEN 3.K. PRODUCTS EXCLUDED FROM U.S. G.S.P.
*******
Ten Hong Kong products have been disqualified from d ty-free entry into the United States under that country’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences.
This is because the items have exceeded their "competitive need" ceilings during the past year. Hong Kong is now obliged to stop issuing the relevant documents (Form A) in respect of these products, a Commerce and Industry Department spokesman said today (Friday).
The ten items include certain precious stones, art?.cles of such stones, glass inners for vacuum flasks, certain metal cabinet IocIls, certain household and sanitary articles, flashlights and flashlight p rts, hair curling devices and umbrella handles, walking stick handles ,cane handles and so on. Their specific TSUSA (Tariff Schedule US Anotated) numbers are:
>+7.28 660.80 520.51 683.70 545.57
702.20 646.88 750.25 655.70 751.15
Details of the latest exclusion and what constitutes "competitive need" are contained in a recent circular (Certificate of Preference Circular No. 2/76) which the Commerce and Industry Department sent out earlier this week.
The Department spokesman said the Department would stop issuing Forms A in respect of these items as from March 1,1976.
0 - -
PRH’t
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
Saturday, February 28, 19?&
CONTENTS
PAGE LO.U.
Third Inland Revenue Ordinance Review Committee to start work in June .......................................................
New school another example of co-operation of sponsoring organisation and Government....................................
$500,000 from Li Po Chun Fund made available to students and the needy .....................................................
Young volunteers in Wong Tai Sin help clean up old foot .......
Two land lots for sale by auction..............................
Press Conference by H.K. Training Council......................
Carnival day for the whole family in Western District ............ 8
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
Saturday, February 28, 197$
1
’ 5RD INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE *«*#«*«#
A Government spokesman announced this evening that the Third Inland Revenue Ordinance Review Committee would start work on the 15th June next and would submit its report and recommendations to the Governor within six months from that date.
The Chairman of the Committee is to be Mr. J.A. Johnstone who was, until September 1975i e Commissioner of Inland Revenue in the United Kingdom. He has a wide knowledge of income tax law and practice and, in recent years, has specialised in the field of comparative taxation. In addition, he was secretary to the 1955 Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income (the Radcliffe Commission). Since retiring from the Board of Inland Revenue, he has been adviser to a United Kingdom Association of Building Trade Employers.
The Secretary will be Mr. A.D. Duffy, O.B.E., who served in the Inland Revenue Department for 25 years. He was Commissioner of Inland Revenue between 1965 and 1972 and was also a member of the Second Inland Revenue Ordinance Review Committee which was appointed in 1966.
The part-time members of the Committee are -
Tne Honourable Q.W. Lee., O.B.E.
Member of Legislative Council;
Mrs. Susan Yuen, O.B.E., of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and the Hong Kong Management Association;
Mr. K.A. Miller., C.A.; who was, until recently, a practising member of the accountancy profession and is now in private business in Hong Kong;
Dr. Y.C. Jao, Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Hong Kong.
/Commenting •.•••
Saturday, February 28, 1976
2
Commenting on the appointment of the Review Committee, the
Financial Secretary, Mr. Philip Haddon—Cave said that an examination of the basic structure of the Inland Revenue Ordinance was necessary to make it more productive of revenue in the interests of maintaining tax rates as low as possible. At the same time, he said, ”our direct tax system must be simple and inexpensive to administer.’*
The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:
Having regard to the economic circumstances of Hong Kong which
dictate
(a) a comparatively low level of direct taxation;
(b) that the system at given tax rates should be as productive of revenue as possible; and
(c) that the relevant legislation should be simple and inexpensive to administer;
To consider the present system of taxation of profits and other
forms of income contained in the Inland Revenue Ordinance, and in particular
(a) the system of voluntary aggregation under Personal Assessment;
(b) the taxation of husbands and wives;
(c) the treatment of dividends and its relation to the taxation of corporate profits;
(d) the treatment of interest and the relief for interest paid;
(e) the territorial ambit of the various charges (having regard, inter alia, to the effects of changing commercial practices and recent case law);
(f) the taxation of benefits in kind;
(g) the notional basis of the property tax charge;
(h) the taxation of specific classes of taxpayer, including profits from shipping;
(i) the adequacy of existing relief for expenses incurred by businesses and employees.
- 0 -
/3
Saturday, February 28, 1976
3
TOPLEY OPENS NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL
********
A new $6, million private non-profit-making school in Hammer Hill Road, Kowloon - Pooi Tun Secondary School - was opened by the Director of Education, Mr. Kenneth Topley, this afternoon.
The Government’s contribution took the form of an interest-free loan of million and a free grant of site to the sponsoring body, the Christian Missions in Many Lunds.
The 24-classroom school came into operation in 197^+ when part of the premises was completed and a temporary occupation permit was issued.
The school has an ultra-modern assembly hall, a good number of special rooms and playgrounds. The school comes under the current scheme of bought places and a per caput grant.
'•This is indeed yet another example of what can be done to promote education in Hong Kong with full co-operation between a good sponsoring body and the Government,” said Mr. Topley in his speech at the opening ceremony.
He noted that the sponsoring body had been engaged in education work in Hong Kong for nearly 20 years.
The Christian Missions in Many Lands run three kindergartens and five primary schools with a total enrolment of over 6,000. With the enrolment of Pooi Tun taken into account, the Missions are catering to the needs of well over 7,000, which was an impressive figure, the Director said.
Mr. Topley took the opportunity to stress the importance of determining the aims of education in the context of modern life and to outline briefly what he considered to be broad aims of education.
/He said .....
Saturday, February 28, 1976
4
He said: "As I see it, education means much more* than teaching children to acquire certain skills and to learn certain facts. It is concerned-with the whole child - his physical, mental and spiritual growth; his feelings; attitudes and relationships; his- character and his personality Mr. Topley added that education was the sum total of “our learning which in turn is the result of our experience. Experience, in its usually accepted sense, begins at birth and continues throughout life, and it is gained in whatever place we happen to be, and from all the things that we perceive and the people whom we encounter.’’
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/5
Saturday, February 2°, 197c
5 —
3500,000 ALLOCATED FROM LI PO CHUK FUND
<•*•*•*
Half a million dollars from the Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund were made available to worthy students and people in distress during the year ended last August.
Of the total sum, 3250,000 was awarded as scholars!'.ips to students to undertake studies locally -and abroad.
Another 4249,800 was allocated to the Social Welfare Department for providing temporary relief to people in distress who had no adequate assistance from other sources.
The Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund was established in 1965 and is administered by a Committee chaired by the Secretary for Home Affairs. The fund consists of a number of shares in local companies, donated by the late Mr. Li Po-chun, together with dividends derived from the shares.
Scholarships are available for students at the universities, the Polytechnic, technical institutes, pre-vocational schools and English secondary and Chinese middle schools.
Last year, a post-graduate scholarship was awarded to a student to take up a course Of a study at the University of Leeds.
Of the sums allocated to help the needy, the largest amount, over 292,000, w.s distributed as grants to those whose circumstances were not covered by the provisions of the public assistance scheme.
The second largest sum, amounting to over 384,710, was disbursed • - ....
as temporary grants for rent and other essential payments.
Grants for removal and re-accommodation, resite-hut construction and school fees together amounted to over 369>OOO.
/6......
0 - -
Saturday, February 28, 197-
- 6 -
YOUNGSTERS TO CLEAN UP FOOTPATH
*******
A stone-paved country path once used by villagers over a hundred years ago to travel from Kowloon City to Sha Tin is now being repaired and cleaned up as part of the Government ’s Countryside Recreational Development Programme.
Much lias been done by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department to realign and improve the path, which joins with Lion Rock Park at Lung Cheung Road.
Concrete steps have been constructed at the steeper secti ns and 30 rest benches are being installed. A rain shelter will be put up later this year.
On Monday and Tuesday (March 1 and 2), 60 young volunteers organised by the Wong Tai Sin City District Office will help remove litter which has accumulated on the path. On Wednesday (March 3), they will plant trees along the sides of the path.
A spokesman for the Agriculture and Fisheries Department said the foot-path was fast becoming a popular country track for hikers and morning walkers but had been spoiled by soil erosion and dumping of litter by nearby squatters.
The work now being carried out will provide residents in urban areas with a convenient and pleasant walk to the countryside.
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/7
Saturday, February 28, 1976
7
TWO CROWN LaND LOTS UP FOR SALE
**«**««
Two lots of Crown land will be put up for sale by auction on March 26 (Friday) at 2.30 p.m. in the lecture room, 8th floor, City Hall.
One of the lots is at Chung Hom Kok Road, Hong Kong. It measures 12,800 sq.ft, and is earmarked for private residential purposes.
The other lot, measuring 782 sq.ft., is at 290 Temple Street, Kowloon, ft is for non-industrial purposes.
Full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the Public Enquiry Sub-office, Central Government Offices (West Wing), ground floor, Hong Kong, and at the Crown Lands and Survey Office, Kowloon Government Offices, 405 Nathan Road, 10th floor, Kowloon.
Sale plans can also be inspected at these offices.
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PRESS CONFERENCE ON TRAINING SURVEYS
*********
Note to Editors: The Hong Kong Training Council’s Committee
on Training in Commerce and Services will give a press conference at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday (March 3) in the G.I.S. Theatre on the upcoming surveys into the training needs and problems in these important sectors.
Mr. Raymond Neale of the Hong Kong Polytechnic, Chairman of the Committee, will announce details of the surveys - the first of their kind in this field. Members of the Committee will also be present.
You are cordially invited to attend the press conference.
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/8......
Saturday, February 28, 1976
8
“FAMILY CARNIVAL" FOR 3,000
***>«*
The Social Welfare Department’s Western District Community Centre is to organise a "Family Carnival" for residents in the district tomorrow (Sunday).
About 3j000 people from the age of five to 80 will be entertained in the Carnival, which will take place at the St. Louis School on Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, beginning at 2.30 p.m.
There will be 16 games stalls and a number of food stalls.
Apart from lucky draws, there will be a variety show featuring among other things a lion dance, Cantonese Opera and Karate and Yoga demonstrations.
Mr. Mui Kan-kit, Community and Youth Officer for Central and Western Districts, will officiate at the opening ceremony for the Carnival.
Note to editors: You are cordially invited to cover the function.
0 - -
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
Sunday, February 29, 1976
DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR’S PERSONAL VIE-7 IN NEJ GOVERNMENT YEARBOOK ******
The JOth edition of the Government’s yearbook, "Hong Kong 1S761, — v/ith more than 70 full-page colour pictures — goes on sale tomorrow (Monday, March 1) with an introductory chapter by the distinguished author and journalist Richard Hughes. The book is published in English and Chinese.
It is the first time that a writer from outside the Civil Service has been invited to contribute the opening chapter, which traditionally reviews events and developments in Hong Kong.
Mr. Hughes gives his personal view of the past year with the familiarity of an author on home ground and with the perception of an international journalist — he is Hong Kong correspondent for the Times, The Sunday Times and The Economist.
He puts recession, expansion and investment into neat perspective; recalls the Royal visit, the arrival of the Vietnamese refugees, and a moment in the history of local cricket; and takes stock of the Mass Transit Railway, the labour situation, New Towns, and corruption.
The Royal visit is featured in the first of ten picture sections in the yearbook. Other camera subjects include youth movements, the Oi Man housing estate, television, fashion, and the Yue Lan Festival.
As the Government’s annual report covering the whole of 1975» the book is a work of reference on virtually every aspect of life in Hong Kong — its 22 chapters ranging from industry, housing and education to recreation, natural history, religion and custom.
/Statistics ..
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
Sunday, February 29, 19%
- 2 -
Statistics are set out in appendices where the reader can see at a glance how much or how many in relation to more than 40 subjects — including international trade, basketball courts, money in the banks, schools and examination results, the cost of living, letters and parcels posted, crime, traffic casualties, fish caught and poultry raised.
The book has been produced by Government Information Services and was edited by Joyce Savidge, a Senior Information Officer and the yearbook’s first woman editor. The Creative Director of GIS, Arthur Hacker, designed the book and nearly all the pictures were taken by JIS photographers.
The Chinese version has been prepared by a team of Chinese language officers in the Home Affairs Department, under the supervision of G. Louie Yum-tao.
More than 31,000 copies in English and Chinese have been printed f
by the Government Printer for simultaneous publication tomorrow. 'The price of the book in either language is the same as last year — J15-
"Hong Kong 1976” is available at the Government Publications Centre, Star Ferry Concourse, Hong Kong; the 20 City District Offices; the Tourist Association office at the Star Ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui; the information counter in Ocean Terminal; and all leading bookstores. Bulk orders — and editorial enquiries — are handled at the publications office of GIS at 1A, Garden -^oad, Central.
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/3.......
Sunday, February 29, 1976
- 3 -
MANTO.VER SURVEY-: £UESTION!UIS 3 TO .3 ? ... 'J , 4 ♦ * ♦ ♦ * *
Questionnaires and explanatory .letters will be sent tomorrow (Monday) to employers of ^+00 establishments selected for a manpower survey to be conducted by the Printing Industry Training Board of the Hong Kong Training Council.
The survey - the third of its kind - will be co ducted between March 15 and April 5 with the assistance of the. Labour Department and the Census and Statistics Department.
Up-to-date statistics will be collected to enable the Training Board to make recommendations on manpower .training for the industry.
The information collected will be treated in strict confidence and will be published only in the form of statistical sum; /-iries without reference to any individual establishment.
Employers will be asked to supply the followin, information on each of the principal jobs in the industry:
* the number of workers currently employed,
* the number of workers currently under training,
* the number cf existing vacancies, and
* a forecast of the additional number of .'orkers
required by April 1977-
Interviewing officers will call on each of the 400 establishments during the survey period to assist employers to complete tae questionnaires.
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A.......
Sunday, February 29, 1976
- 4 -
WATER CUT ♦ ♦♦* Water supply to a number of premises in Kennedy Town and
Stanley will be interrupted from 1 a.m._ to 6 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday (March 2 and 3) respectively.
During these periods, the Waterworks Office will carry out leakage tests in the two areas.
The premises to be affected on Tuesday are bounded by Smithfield Road to Cadogan Street and Forbes Street to the Hew
Praya.
On Wednesday, the premises to be affected are bounded by Stanley Main Street and Tung Tau Wan Road. ------------------------------0---------
THREE LOTS OF N.T. CROWN LAND FOR SALE NEXT MONTH ********
Three lots of Crown land in the New Territories will be offered for sale next month.
The first will be auctioned in the Sha Tin Government Secondary School on Tuesday (March 2). It is a 21,320 sq.ft, area of land at Fo Tan to be used for industrial and/or godown purposes only.
The building covenant is #3*2 million in 30 months from April 1. Fo Tan is now being developed as ‘Sha Tin new town’s industrial area.
The other two lots will be auctioned on March 16. They arc a 7,770 sq.ft, area at Sai Kung town which is to be put up for sale at San Po Kong Government Offices, and a 5,500 sq.ft, area in the centre of Yuen Long which is to be offered for sale in Yuen Long Town Hall. The building covenants are S1.55 million and S1.1 million respectively. Both lots are to be used for non-industrial purposes. -----------------------------------0---------