DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976
.'ORE WATER FROM CHINA ..................................... 1
PROPERTY OWNERS REMINDED OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS .............. 2
FIRST SUPPLIES OF MANUFACTURED SAND NOW ON SALE ............ 3
LOCKHART ROAD PARKING METER CHARGES TO GO UP ............... 4
•NEw REGISTRAR GF SUPREME COURT ............................ 5
STREET ALTERATIONS IN WESTERN DISTRICT FOR NEw PHASE OF IMPROVEMENT ................................................ 6
WORKING PARTY TO EXAMINE CURRICULUM FOR PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS .................................................... 7
PROPER USE OF SYNTHETIC FI3RE ROPES ON SHIPS .............. 3
CAMPAIGN TO MAKE CYCLING SAFER AT TA I PO .................. 9
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976
MORE WATER FROM CHINA * H K * * *
MORE WATER FROM CHINA BEGAN FLOWING INTO HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS TODAY UNDER THE RECENTLY REVISED WATER AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
THE INCREASED FLOW, WHICH RAISES HONG KONG’S ANNUAL FRESH WATER SUPPLY FROM THE EAST RIVER FROM 18,500 MILLION GALLONS TO 24,000 MILLION GALLONS, BEGAN AT 8 O’CLOCK THIS MORNING WHEN THE P.W.D.’S WATERWORKS OFFICE OPENED THE NEWLY EXTENDED PIPELINE SYSTEM AT MUK WU NEAR THE BORDER.
THE INCREASE WAS AGREED ON IN JUNE THIS YEAR DURING TALKS BETWEEN THE NOW RETIRED DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR.
BILL KNIGHT, AND SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WATER AUTHORITIES OF KWANGTUNG PROVINCE.
UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE WATER WILL BE DELIVERED WITHIN THE 10-M0NTH PERIOD FROM OCTOBER TO JULY, LEAVING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER FOR NECESSARY MAINTENANCE WORKS. THE PRICE PAID BY HONG KONG FOR CHINESE WATER REMAINS AT THE PRESENT RATE OF ABOUT $1.30 PER THOUSAND GALLONS.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AGREEMENT, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED A CRASH CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME TO EXTEND THE ORIGINAL WATER PIPELINE SYSTEM AND PUMPING FACILITIES AT MUK WU TO COPE WITH THE ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES.
MR. TOM TOMLINSON, THE P.W.D.’S PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER WHO HAD HELPED NEGOTIATE THE EXTRA SUPPLY, SAID TODAY THE EXTENSION WORKS 'WERE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE A FEW DAYS AGO - IN TIME FOR DELIVERY TO START ON THE AGREED DATE.
THE IMPROVEMENT WORKS, WHICH COST ABOUT $6.5 MILLION, INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY PUMPING STATION AT MUK WU AND A 600-METRE LONG 1370 M.M. DIAMETER PIPELINE ON THE HONG KONG SIDE OF THE BORDER TO CONNECT WITH A SECOND PIPELINE LAID EARLIER BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FROM THE SHUM CHUN RESERVOIR.
♦DURING THE ENTIRE OPERATION, WHICH HAD TO CONTINUE ROUND THE CLOCK IN ORDER TO MEET THE OCTOBER 1 DEADLINE, THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WERE EXTREMELY CO-OPERATIVE AND PROVIDED US WITH INFORMATION AND COPIES OF PLANS SO THAT OUR ENGINEERS COULD CO-ORDINATE WORK WITH THAT CARRIED OUT EARLIER ON THE CHINESE SIDE,+ HE SAID.
MR. TOMLINSON SAID THE MUK WU PUMPING STATION HAD INITIALLY BEEN +BEEFED UP+ WITH TWO TEMPORARY WATER PUMPS TO COPE WITH' THE EXTRA FLOW WHICH WOULD BE ROUTED THROUGH THE PLOVER COVE SYSTEM TO THE SHA TIN TREATMENT WORKS AND THEN INTO THE MAINS TO CONSUMERS,+ HE ADDED.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976
2 -
HE SAID THE TWO TEMPORARY PUMPS WOULD REMAIN IN SERVICE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS BY WHICH TIME A PERMANENT EXTENSION TO THE MAIN PUMPING STATION WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
IN ADDITION TO THE PERMANENT PUMPING STATION, HE SAID, ANOTHER DELIVERY LINE FROM MUK WU TO TAI PO TAU AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL BALANCE TANK AT MUK WU WOULD BE BUILT.
TODAY’S COMMENCEMENT OF EXTRA FRESH WATER FROM CHINA MARKED ANOTHER CHAPTER IN HONG KONG’S WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH THE KWANGTUNG AUTHORITIES WHICH WAS SIGNED IN 1964 TO PROVIDE A SUPPLY OF 15,000 MILLION GALLONS. IT WAS AMENDED IN 1972 RAISING THE LEVEL OF SUPPLY TO 18,500 MILLION GALLONS PER YEAR.
THE LATEST AMENDMENT LAST JUNE RAISED THIS FURTHER TO 24,000 MILLION GALLONS PER YEAR, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL WATER SUPPLY.
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OBLIGATIONS OF PROPERTY OWNERS
******
THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, MR. VICTOR LADD, TODAY REMINDED OWNER-OCCUPIERS OF DOMESTIC PREMISES THAT THEY MUST INFORM THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT IN WRITING WITHIN THREE MONTHS SHOULD THEY CEASE TO OCCUPY THEIR PREMISES EXCLUSIVELY FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
THIS APPLIES TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS, INCLUDING JOINT OWNERS AND OWNERS IN COMMON, WHO HAVE OCCUPIED PREMISES SOLELY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES AND FOR WHICH PROPERTY TAX HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED OR HAS BEEN REDUCED, HE SAID.
AS FOR PROPERTY OWNED BY CORPORATIONS WHERE PROPERTY TAX HAS BEEN EXEMPTED, ANY CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP OR OF USE WHICH MAY AFFECT THE EXEMPTION MUST BE REPORTED IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTtR THE EVENT, HE ADDED.
MR. LADD POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE, A FINE OF 52,000 MAY BE IMPOSED FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.
ANY PROPERTY OWNERS REQUIRING FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR OBLIGATIONS ARE WELCOME TO TELEPHONE THE ASSESSOR-IM-CHARGE OF PROPERTY TAX ON TELEPHONE NUMBER 5-222151 EXTENSIONS 57, 69, 71, 84 AND 97, OR WRITE TO THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 132, G.P.O., HONG KONG.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976
- 3 -
FIRST MANUFACTURED SAND NOW ON SALE ******
THE FIRST SUPPLIES OF MANUFACTURED SAND UNDER A CONTRACT AWARDED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT GOES ON SALE TODAY (FRIDAY) AT THE SAND MONOPOLY DEPOT AT NORTH POINT.
MR. DICK PILLING, SENIOR ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S QUARRIES SECTION, SAID TODAY THE PRICE OF MANUFACTURED SAND WOULD BE $35 PER CUBIC METRE (EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT $26.75 PER CUBIC YARD).
AT THE SAME TIME, MR. PILLING ANNOUNCED THAT THE PRICE OF NATURAL MARINE SAND FOR BUILDING PURPOSES WOULD BE REDUCED TO $37 PER CUBIC METRE (EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT $28.30 PER CUBIC YARD).
+THIS REDUCTION HAS BEEN LARGELY MADE POSSIBLE BY THE USE OF SAND FROM LOCAL WATERS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE COVERED BY RECLAMATION FOR DEVELOPMENT AT TAI P0,+ HE SAID.
MR. PILLING SAID THE NEW PRICE OF $37 PER CUBIC METRE WOULD ALSO APPLY TO ROYALTY PAYMENTS FOR SAND COLLECTED FROM AUTHORISED SITES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COLLECTION OF SMALL QUANTITIES FOR LOCAL VILLAGE AND COMMUNITY WORKS WHICH WOULD REMAIN ABOUT THE SAME AT $7.50 PER CUBIC METRE.
+THE EFFECT OF THE NEW PRICE STRUCTURE ON BUILDING COSTS IS ESTIMATED TO BE A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 0.5 PER CENT DEPENDING ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE STRUCTURE,+ HE SAID.
MR. PILLING SAID THAT EXTENSIVE TESTS CARRIED OUT ON MANUFACTURED SAND IN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT LABORATORIES SHOW IT TO BE OF SUPERIOR QUALITY TO THE MARINE SAND IN CERTAIN ASPECTS, AND HE EXPECTED THAT IT WOULD COME TO BE WIDELY USED.
+IT HAS THE ADVANTAGES OVER NATURAL SAND OF HAVING NO SALT CONTENT, NO SHELLS AND VERY CONSISTENT GRADING CHARACTERISTICS,* HE SAID.
+OUR OWN TESTS SHOW THAT MANUFACTURED SAND IN HONG KONG IS ACCEPTABLE FOR PLASTERS AND MORTARS, AND THIS IS CONFIRMED BY TESTS CONDUCTED BY CONTRACTORS WHICH HAVE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT MANUFACTURED SAND COMPLIES WITH THE BRITISH STANDARD FOR AGGREGATE USED IN CONCRETE,* HE ADDED.
THE MANUFACTURED SAND WILL BE LOADED INTO PURCHASERS’ LORRIES BY MECHANICAL MEANS. THE CHARGE FOR THE LOADING WILL BE $1.80 PER CUBIC METRE.
MR. PILLING EXPLAINED THAT MANUFACTURED SAND WAS MADE BY EXTENDING THE NORMAL QUARRYING PROCESS OF CRUSHING AND SCREENING GRANITE TO PRODUCE A MATERIAL IN MANY RESPECTS CLOSELY SIMILAR TO NATURAL SAND. IT WAS NORMALLY SCREENED OUT TO A MAXIMUM SIZE OF THREE MIL(METRES.
4
HE SAID THE P.W.D. HAD ENTERED INTO A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH SHEK 0 QUARRY LTD. FOR THE SUPPLY OF ABOUT 200,000 CUBIC METRES OF MANUFACTURED SAND ANNUALLY, STARTING FROM TODAY.
MR. PILLING SAID THE DECISON TO LET THE FIRST CONTRACT FOR MANUFACTURED SAND FOLLOWED EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATIONS BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT INTO ITS SUITABILITY.
INITIALLY, MANUFACTURED SAND WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE P.W.D.’S NORTH POINT SAND DEPOT, WHILE MARINE SAND WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE OTHER FIVE DEPOTS AND ON A LIMITED BASIS AT THE NORTH POINT SAND DEPOT.
IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S METRICATION PROGRAMME, ALL SAND SOLD THROUGH THE SAND MONOPOLY WILL BE MEASURED IN CUBIC METRES INSTEAD OF CUBIC YARDS. LORRY DIMENSIONS WILL BE CHECKED BY P.W.D. STAFF AT THE VARIOUS DEPOTS TO ASSIST IN THE CHANGEOVER.
WILL
HOUR WILL
ING ONLY
LOCKHART ROAD PARKING METER CHARGES
* * * * *
PARKING IN METERED SPACES ALONG LOCKHART ROAD IN WAN CHAI BE MORE EXPENSIVE BEGINNING NEXT WEEK.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE TWO-PARKING METERS WHICH CHARGE 50 CENTS FOR ONE HOUR PARKING BE REMOVED AND REPLACED BY EITHER TWO-HOUR METERS CHARG-
50 CENTS FOR 30 MINUTES OR HALF-HOUR METERS ACCEPTING $1 COIN.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESENT METERS WERE BEING REPLACED IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE TURN-OVER RATE OF THE PARKING SPACES IN LOCKHART ROAD DUE TO THE VERY HIGH DEMAND FOR PARKING THERE.
HE SAID THAT THE METERS ALONG LOCKHART ROAD BETWEEN ARSENAL STREET AND CANNON STREET WOULD BE REPLACED.
THE CHANGEOVER WILL START ON MONDAY AND THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED MOTORISTS TO CAREFULLY READ THE REGULATIONS ON THE METAL PLATE ATTACHED TO THE PARKING METERS TO ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT COINS ARE INSERTED.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976
- 5 -
NEW REGISTRAR OF SUPREME COURT
******
MR. SIMON HERBERT MAYO HAS BEEN APPOINTED REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT.
MR. MAYO, 38, SUCCEEDS MR. JOHN RAYMOND OLIVER WHO WENT ON LEAVE PRIOR TO RETIREMENT.
MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN, MR. MAYO JOINED THE JUDICIARY IN 1968 AS AN ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT. DURING THE PERIOD UP TO JUNE 1974, HE SAT AS MAGISTRATE IN VARIOUS COURTS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.
BEFORE HIS PRESENT APPOINTMENT, WHICH BECAME EFFECTIVE FROM SEPTEMBER 24, HE WAS ALSO A TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE.
MR. MAYO FIRST CAME TO HONG KONG IN 1963 AND WAS A SOLICITOR IN A PRIVATE LEGAL FIRM UNTIL 1967 WHEN HE WENT TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA WHERE HE WAS BOTH A BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
BEFORE COMING HERE, HE WAS A SOLICITOR IN LONDON.
COMMENTING ON HIS APPOINTMENT, MR. MAYO SAID : +IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF DOING MY BEST TO MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB.
+THE JUDICIARY IS AT PRESENT EXPANDING AND IT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE IN MEETING ALL THE VARIOUS DEMANDS THAT WILL ARISE.+
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976
- 6 -
PROPOSED STREET CHANGES IN WESTERN
*****
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO CARRY OUT A NUMBER OF STREET ALTERATIONS IN WESTERN DISTRICT IN PREPARATION FOR A NEW PHASE IN THE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME FOR THE DISTRICT.
THE AREA INVOLVED LIES WITHIN THE APPROVED URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN AND IS BOUNDED BY PARTS OF HOLLYWOOD ROAD AND SAI STREET TO THE EAST, PARTS OF QUEEN’S ROAD WEST AND QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL TO THE NORTH, PART OF QUEEN’S ROAD WEST TO THE WEST, AND HOLLYWOOD ROAD TO THE SOUTH.
THE LAYOUT PLAN FOR THIS PORTION OF THE PILOT SCHEME AREA HAS NOW BEEN ADOPTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
IT PROPOSES THAT THE EXISTING POSSESSION STREET BE WIDENED AND RECONSTRUCTED SO AS TO PERMIT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC LINKING QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL WITH HOLLYWOOD ROAD.
THE SECTION OF HOLLYWOOD ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH QUEEN’S ROAD WEST AND NO. 182-C HOLLYWOOD ROAD IS ALSO TO BE WIDENED AND RE-ALIGNED TO COPE WITH FUTURE TRAFFIC FLOW.
IT IS ALSO INTENDED TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE EXISTING LEVELS OF THE SECTION OF LOWER LASCAR ROW BETWEEN NOS. 57 AND 59 LOWER LASCAR ROW AND ON KEE LANE TO ENABLE A NEW PEDESTRIAN WAY TO BE BUILT.
TO RETAIN ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY FROM THE NEW PEDESTRIAN WAY, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER PROVIDING A FOOTBRIDGE LINKING THE COMMON STAIRCASE OF NOS. 57 AND 59 AT ITS FIRST FLOOR LEVEL WITH THE PEDESTRIAN WAY.
WITH THE PROPOSED RE-CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECTION OF LOWER LASCAR ROW AND THE WHOLE LENGTHS OF WA LANE AND ON KEE LANE, A NEW PEDESTRIAN WAY WILL EMERGE ALLOWING THROUGH TRAFFIC FROM QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL TO HOLLYWOOD ROAD.
IN ADDITION, AN ELEVATED FOOTWAY SPANNING POSSESSION STREET WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO CONNECT WA LANE WITH THE POSSESSION POINT CHINESE RECREATION GROUND.
THE PROPOSALS, IF ACCEPTED, WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC THUS ENSURING GREATER PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AS WELL AS SMOOTHER TRAFFIC FLOW.
COPIES OF THE LAYOUT PLAN FOR THE AREA MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) OR AT THE P.W.D.’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, MURRAY BUILDING, 19TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD.
ANY PERSON OBJECTING TO THE PROPOSALS MAY SUBMIT WRITTEN OBJECTIONS TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS NOT LATER THAN NOVEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.
0 - - - - /? .......
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976
7
EXAMINATION OF CURRICULUM IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
******
A WORKING PARTY HAS RECENTLY BEEN SET UP TO LOOK INTO THE CURRICULUM IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL), MR. DANIEL WATERS SAID THIS AFTERNOON.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF AN INDUCTION COURSE FOR NEWLY APPOINTED TEACHERS IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS AT THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE.
MR. WATERS SAID MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY +ARE EXAMINING IN DETAIL THE SYLLABUSES OF ALL PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS. THIS WORKING PARTY, ASSISTED BY PRINCIPALS AND STAFF OF PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, WILL MAKE POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD ANY CHANGES BE FOUND NECESSARY.+
ANOTHER WORKING PARTY WHICH HAS RECENTLY BEEN FORMED WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT +IS LOOKING CAREFULLY INTO THE BALANCE OF GENERAL EDUCATION IN RELATION TO TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS.+
HE SAID IT REMAINED TO BE SEEN IF IT AGREED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS LAID DOWN BY THE WORKING PARTY OF THE FORMER INDUSTRIAL TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NOW KNOWN AS THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL).
IN ITS REPORT, THE COMMITTEE HAD RECOMMENDED THAT, IN THE FIRST YEAR OF A PREVOCATIONAL COURSE, THE GENERAL CONTENT OF THE CURRICULUM SHOULD BE 55 PER CENT WHILE THE PRACTICAL CONTENT SHOULD BE 45 PER CENT.
IN THE SECOND YEAR, AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF TIME SHOULD BE DEVOTED TO BOTH GENERAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL EDUCATION-AND IN THE THIRD AND FINAL YEAR, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT 45 PER CENT OF THE TIME SHOULD BE DEVOTED TO GENERAL AND 55 PER CENT TO PRACTICAL EDUCATION.
MR. WATERS CALLED ON PARTICIPANTS OF THE INDUCTION COURSE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.
HE WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER THEY AGREED WITH THE PROPORTIONS MENTIONED AS THE MOST SUITABLE AND WHETHER PREVOCATIONAL EDUCATION SHOULD PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON GENERAL EDUCATION OR SHOULD THERE BE MORE EMPHASIS ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR EMPHASISED THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT RELIED A GREAT DEAL ON FEEDBACK.
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT IF IT WERE DECIDED TO REDUCE THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION CONTENT OF THE CURRICULUM OF A PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL AND CONSIDERABLY INCREASE THE GENERAL EDUCATION CONTENT THEN PUPILS OF SUCH A SCHOOL WOULD POSSIBLY NO LONGER BE ABLE TO ENTER THE SECOND YEAR OF AN APPRENTICESHIP OR THE SECOND YEAR OF A PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE COURSE IN A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
/♦THIS POINT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976
8 -
+THIS POINT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IF THE PRESENT CURRICULUM IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS IS DRASTICALLY ALTERED,* MR. WATERS SAID.
THE PRESENT PRACTICAL/TECHNICAL CONTENT IN THE CURRICULUM OF PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS ALLOWED SOME EXCELLENT PROJECT WORK TO BE DEVELOPED.
HE ADDED: +APART FROM PRACTICAL SUBJECTS, OTHER SUBJECTS, SUCH AS ENGLISH, CHINESE, MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE CAN BE INTEGRATED.+
MR. WATERS SAID PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH TRADE SCHOOLS IN WHICH A SPECIFIC TRADE OR PROCESS WAS TAUGHT AND WHERE LITTLE EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON GENERAL EDUCATION.
+ l SHOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT WE IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ALWAYS TALK ABOUT PREVOCAT IONAL EDUCATION AND NOT PREVOCATIONAL TRAINING,* HE SAID.
SPEAKING ABOUT THE POPULARITY OF PREVOCATIONAL PLACES, MR. WATERS SAID THAT THE DEMAND WAS AS HIGH AS 12.7 APPLICANTS FOR EVERY ONE PLACE IN THE FOUR CARITAS PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.
+THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT PREVOCATIONAL EDUCATION IS POPULAR WITH CERTAIN SECTORS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY,* MR. WATERS SAID.
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USE OF SYNTHETIC FIBRE ROPES ON BOARD SHIPS *****
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR. MALCOLM ALEXANDER, TODAY DREW THE ATTENTION OF SHIP-OWNERS AND MASTERS TO THE NEED FOR PRUDENCE IN THE HANDLING OF SYNTHETIC FIBRE ROPES.
THE MOVE FOLLOWED A CASE IN WHICH TWO SEAMEN WERE RECENTLY INJURED WHEN A SYNTHETIC FIBRE ROPE BROKE WHILE THEIR VESSEL WAS TRYING TO BERTH.
ONE OF THE SEAMEN WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE VIOLENT RECOIL OF A BOW MOORING ROPE WHICH BROKE WHILE BEING USED TO WARP THE VESSEL ALONGSIDE ITS BERTH.
THE BREAKING OF THIS ROPE BROUGHT ADDITIONAL TENSION TO THE STERN MOORING ROPE, WHICH SLIPPED ON THE MOORING WINCH DRUM AND STRUCK ANOTHER SEAMAN, FLINGING HIM TO THE DECK.
MR. ALEXANDER SAID THAT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS PUBLISHED A NOTICE ON THE USE OF SYNTHETIC ROPES FOR MOORING AND TOWING. COPIES OF THE NOTICE ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S ENTRY AND CLEARANCE OFFICE, 1OTH FLOOR, RUMSEY STREET MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK BUILDING, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976 - 9 -
MAKING CYCLING SAFER AT TAI PO
* * * * *
A CROWD OF MORE THAN 1,000 IS EXPECTED TO WATCH ABOUT 60 YOUNG CYCLISTS TAKING PART IN A ROAD SAFETY COMPETITION AT TAI PO TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
ORGANISERS OF THE ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN IN THE TAI PO DISTRICT HAVE BORROWED EQUIPMENT FROM THE SAU MAU PING +SAFETY TOWN+ SO THAT LOCAL YOUNGSTERS CAN TEST THEIR SKILLS.
EMPHASIS IN THIS YEAR’S CHAMPION HAS BEEN ON CYCLISTS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY IN THE DISTRICT, MR. CLIVE OXLEY, TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, SAID TODAY.
+SETTING UP THE SAFETY TOWN FACILITIES IN TAI PO PLAYGROUND IS A GOOD WAY OF FURTHER EDUCATING CYCLISTS IN THE DISTRICT IN THE RULES OF ROAD-SAFETY,+ HE ADDED.
+OFFICERS FROM THE TRAFFIC POLICE WILL BE SUPERVISING THE COMPETITION AND THERE WILL ALSO BE A SAFETY QUIZ FOR THE l.OOQ-ODD YOUNGSTERS WHO WILL BE ATTENDING AS SPECTATORS.+
THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT (TRAFFIC) N.T., MR. JOHN DUNN, WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO THE SUCCESSFUL ENTRANTS IN THE CYCLING AND QUIZ COMPETITIONS.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THIS EVENT, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE TAI PO PLAYGROUND, OPPOSITE THE SAN PO SING RESTAURANT, STARTING AT 9 A.M. AND CONCLUDING AT 11.30 A.M. WITH THE PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CREMATION BECOMES MORE POPULAR ............................... 1
NE.; TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN JORDAN ROAD AREA ................ 2
QUAIL VENDORS WARNED ......................................... 3
DEEP 'WATER BAY JAS THE MOST POPULAR BEACH IN LAST YEAR’S Sa INKING SEASON ............................................. 4
INTERRUPTION OP WATER SUPPLY ................................ 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191 i
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1976
1
CREMATION BECOMES MORE POPULAR
******
THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIVATE CREMATION BEING CARRIED OUT AT TWO OF THE THREE GOVERNMENT CREMATORIA IS EASING THE DEMAND FOR BURIAL SPACES IN PRIVATE CEMETERIES.
DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, SOME 6,300 PRIVATE CREMATIONS TOOK PLACE AT THE CAPE COLLINSON (HONG KONG ISLAND) AND DIAMOND HILL (KOWLOON) CREMATORIA, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 23 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR’S FIGURE.
IN 1965-66, THE NUMBER OF CREMATIONS TOTALLED LESS THAN 1,000.
ACCORDING TO THE STAFF OFFICER (CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIA OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT), MR. CHIN YIU-CHEONG, CREMATION CONTINUES TO BECOME MORE GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS A SIMPLE BUT DIGNIFIED METHOD OF DISPOSING OF THE DEAD.
CURRENTLY, HE SAID, 35 PER CENT OF ALL BODIES WERE BEING DISPOSED OF IN THIS MANNER IN THE TWO CREMATORIA.
THE THIRD CREMATORIUM IN WO HOP SHEK IS USED TO CREMATE EXHUMED SKELETAL REMAINS. DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, 2,628 PRIVATE SKELETAL CREMATIONS TOOK PLACE THERE.
MR. CHIN EXPLAINED THAT EVER SINCE CREMATION WAS INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG MORE THAN 13 YEARS AGO, THE DEMAND FOR THIS FACILITY KEPT ON RISING YEAR AFTER YEAR.
HE ATTRIBUTED ITS POPULARITY TO THREE MAIN FACTORS: SHORTAGE OF BURIAL SPACES IN PRIVATE CEMETERIES, ECONOMIC AND CONVENIENCE.
AT PRESENT, HE SAID, FIVE CREMATORS IN CAPE COLLINSON AND TWO IN DIAMOND HILL CREMATE 20 BODIES A DAY.
+THE CREMATORIA OCCASIONALLY OPERATE 12 HOURS A DAY BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND,+ MR. CHIN SAID.
BECAUSE OF THIS, HE POINTED OUT, AN ORDER HAD BEEN PLACED FOR TWO MORE CREMATORS TO BE INSTALLED AT THE CAPE COLLINSON CREMATOR I UM.
+THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG FROM BRITAIN THIS MONTH,+ HE SAID, +AND THE INSTALLATION WILL BE COMPLETED IN TWO MONTHS’ TIME.+
MR. CHIN ALSO DISCLOSED THAT THE STAGE FOUR OF THE EXTENSION TO THE COLUMBARIUM AT THIS CREMATORIUM, TO PROVIDE ANOTHER 6,000 NICHES, (FOR THE DEPOSIT OF CREMATED ASHES) WAS PLANNED.
/AT THE PLANNING
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1976
- 2 -
AT THE PLANNING STAGE ALSO, HE ADDED, WERE A NEW CREMATORIUM AT DIAMOND HILL, TO INCLUDE A COLUMBARIUM WITH INITIALLY 3,000 NICHES, AND A NEW CREMATORIUM AT TSUEN WAN.
+THE TSUEN WAN CREMATORIUM IS UNDER ACTIVE PLANNING AND IS EXPECTED TO BE UPGRADED TO CATEGORY A IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME,+ HE EMPHASISED.
+CREMATION IS BEING ACCEPTED BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN EASILY FIND PLACES TO STORE THE ASHES, SUCH AS ON ALTARS OR SHRINES IN HOMES, TEMPLES, MONASTERIES, NUNNERIES AND OTHER PLACES.
+l THINK THIS DEMAND WILL KEEP ON RISING AT A RATE OF OVER 20 PER CENT A YEAR.+
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN JORDAN ROAD AREA
******
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE JORDAN ROAD AREA TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY’S JORDAN STATION.
FROM 10 A.M. ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 4), CHI WO STREET BETWEEN NANKING STREET AND JORDAN ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND.
ALSO, FROM 10 A.M. ON THURSDAY (OCTOBER 7), THE LEFT TURN FROM NATHAN ROAD SOUTHBOUND INTO JORDAN ROAD EASTBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED.
THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR LEFT-TURNING TRAFFIC WILL BE VIA NANKING STREET AND CHI WO STREET TO JORDAN ROAD.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1976
- 3 -
QUAIL VENDORS WARNED * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS WARNED QUAIL VENDORS THAT THEY WOULD BE PROSECUTED IF THEY SKIN THE BIRDS IN AN INHUMAN MANNER.
THE VENDORS HAD ALSO BEEN URGED TO CONSULT WITH INSPECTORS FROM THE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ON THE BEST METHODS OF KEEPING AND KILLING QUAILS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE WARNING HAD BEEN GIVEN THROUGH A LETTER TO THE HEUNG YEE KUK IN REPLY TO REPRESENTATIONS.OVER THE PROSECUTION OF A QUAIL VENDOR IN TAI KOK TSUI ROAD EARLIER THIS YEAR.
REPRESENTATIVES OF QUAIL VENDORS IN YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN COMPLAINED TO THE KUK AFTER THE MAN WAS CONVICTED OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND WAS SENTENCED TO ONE MONTH’S JAIL.
THE N.T.A. SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE QUESTION HAD BEEN RAISED WITH EXPERTS FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE H.K.S.P.C.A.
+OUR ADVICE TO THE VENDORS IS THAT IF THEY WISH TO AVOID PROSECUTION, THEY MUST SELL UNKILLED QUAILS OR QUAILS SKINNED IN A MORE HUMANE WAY THAN THE PRESENT METHODS USED BY SOME - WHICH IS SKINNING ALIVE,+ HE ADDED.
+THE OFFENCE IS NOT IN THE KILLING OF THE BIRDS, BUT IN THE INHUMAN MANNER OF SKINNING.
+THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE FULLY AWARE THAT DESPITE ANY CLAIM TO THE CONTRARY, THE SKINNING OF BIRDS ALIVE IS INHUMAN AND HAS NO ADVANTAGE OVER KILLING BY OTHER CONVENTIONAL METHODS.
+WE HAVE INFORMED THE KUK THAT THE H.K.S.P.C.A.
INTENDS DOING EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO PREVENT CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND THAT THE POLICE WILL ALSO PROSECUTE OFFENDERS AGAINST THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ORDINANCE.
+WE HAVE ALSO URGED THOSE IN THE BUSINESS TO CONSULT WITH EXPERTS FROM THE H.K.S.P.C.A. AND THE AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ON THE BEST WAYS OF OVERCOMING ANY PROBLEMS THEY MAY HAVE IN THEIR MOETHODS OF KILLING THE QUA ILS.+
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1976
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BEACH ATTENDANCE * * * #
TOTAL ATTENDANCE AT BEACHES ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 15,000,000 IN LAST YEAR’S SWIMMING SEASON.
THE MOST POPULAR BEACH WAS DEEP WATER BAY WITH AN ATTENDANCE OF 2,311,000, TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHEK 0, REPULSE BAY AND STANLEY MAIN BEACH ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND LIDO BEACH IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
AT THE SAME TIME, PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS WERE ALSO HEAVILY USED AND TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF MORE THAN 3,151,000 WAS RECORDED.
THE NUMBER OF SWIMMERS WHO RAN INTO DIFFICULTIES DROPPED BY 32 PER CENT TO 624, COMPRISING 273 AT POOLS AND 351 AT BEACHES.
IN ADDITION, THERE WERE ELEVEN DROWNINGS, A DROP OF 45 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THOSE IN THE PREVIOUS SWIMMING SEASON. ALL THE DROWNINGS OCCURRED AT BEACHES.
THE FIRST NEW TERRITORIES PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL WAS OPENED IN TSUEN WAN ON JULY 21, 1975, BRINING TO EIGHT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL COMPLEXES.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1976
5
INTERRUPTION OF WATER SUPPLY * * * * *
THE SALT WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND MID-LEVELS WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1AM. TOMORROW (OCTOBER 3) AND TUESDAY (OCTOBER 5) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE STAFF TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
IN CENTRAL DISTRICT, THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE THOSE IN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, INCLUDING THE CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL CAR PARK BUILDING, HILLIER STREET, MERCER STREET, BURD STREET, JERVOIS STREET AND LADDER STREET INCLUDING SQUARE STREET, BRIDGES STREET AND ROZARIO STREET.
IN THE MID-LEVELS, THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE THOSE IN THE GLENEALY, ROBINSON ROAD, ALBANY ROAD, MACDONNELL ROAD, BOWEN ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH MAGAZINE GAP ROAD TO A POINT NEAR NO. 2 MAGAZINE GAP ROAD- AND FROM CALDER PATH TO HOUSE NO. 7B BOWEN ROAD, KENNEDY ROAD FROM PEAK TRAM PATH TO CALDER PATH, PEEL STREET FROM ROBINSON ROAD TO PRINCE’S TERRACE INCLUDING LEUNG FAI TERRACE, REDNAXELA TERRACE, MOSQUE STREET, MOSQUE JUNCTION AND YING FAI TERRACE, LYTTELTON ROAD, HOUSE NOS. 35~37 AND 56-68 CONDUIT ROAD, KOTEWALL ROAD, PEAK ROAD FROM HOUSE NO. 6A TO ITS JUNCTION WITH BONHAM ROAD, BONHAM ROAD FROM PARK ROAD TO HOUSE NO. 48, CENTRE STREET, YING WA TERRACE, WEST END TERRACE, INCLUDING ST. STEPHEN’S GIRL COLLEGE, SEYMOUR ROAD, CASTLE ROAD AND WOODLANDS TERRACE.
FROM 9 A.M. ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 4) TO 6 A.M. THE FOLLOWING DAY, FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN KWAI CHUNG WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THE CONNECTION OF A WATER MAIN.
AFFECTED ARE PREMISES BOUNDED BY TAI LIN PAI ROAD FROM KWAI ON ROAD TO KWAI TING ROAD, KWAI TING ROAD, KA HING ROAD, KA TING ROAD AND WING YIP STREET.
PREMISES AFFECTED INCLUDE SHU I ON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, ORIENTAL INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, BEN-LINE GODOWN, YUE LAM INDUSTRIAL BUILDING PHASE II, ICI BUILDING, SAN CHEONG INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, YUE LAM INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, SANG KEE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, TAI DI INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, KIU KWONG INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, KIN WAH INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, HSIN CHEONG CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, TAI WAH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, MEI LO GODOWN, MEI SIK INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, WING GAI DYEING WORKS AND FAT CHIN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY ®
Saturday, 2nd October 1976
HOUSING AUTHROTIY SPEWS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING ITS ESTATES
The Housing Authority has budgeted to spend $82 million this financial year maintaining its older estates and making them more attractive.
The Maintenance Section will carry out 190,000 jobs this year, ranging in size and complexity from clearing blocked drains to renovating 1,000 toilets er fitting 18,000 fluorescent in estate corridors.
One area receiving a great deal of attention is environmental improvements through such schemes as planting trees and flowers in gardens or installing swings and slides or sitting out areas.
The Authority’s Chief Maintenance Surveyor, Mr Raymond Bates, said one of the most costly jobs was repainting with 20 contracts let this year costing $12.8 million. All estates are completely repainted every four years and the Maintenance Section is currently looking into ways to improve repainting.
’’This year we are buying equipment to tell us how many coats of paint have been applied to a surface over the years and the thickness of each coat,” Mr Bates said. Negotiations were also going on with manufacturers to see whether a paint can be produced to the Authority’s specification which would overcome the problem of paintwork deteriorating through fungus growth.
Three more lifts have been installed at Tung Tau Estate and work is to begin early next year on putting in four extra lifts at Lam Tin Estate and three at Shek Lei. The possibility of speeding up some lifts is being investigated. Last month, 788 lifts were inspected. While repairs and improvements to 120 were in progress.
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To help improve the environment, the Authority is at present ।
building refuse points in 10 estates at a cost of $2.25 million. Refuse will be stored in these points, out of sight of residents, until collected. Also, S6 million is being spent on-constructing playgrounds, sitting out areas and gardens in several estates: a recent development has been to introduce lighting in environmental schemes.
Work has also begun on the mosaic tiling of lift lobbies in five estates at a cost of $420,000. •• 'T- ' * ~
”We get on with maintenance and improvement work as quickly as possible,” said Mr Bates. ’’Thirty four per cent of all jobs are completed within one week and 94 per eent are completed within two months^ Where a longer period than two months is taken it is usually due to difficulty of access into premises or shortages in the supply of building materials.” *
It is hoped next year to increase the amount spent by the Authority
on maintenance and improvements.
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sunday, 3rd October 1976
HOUSING AUTHORITY ENGAGED IN LARGEST SINGLE REDEVELOPMENT SCHEME IN THE WORLD
The Housing Authority is engaged in the ’’world’s largest single scheme” to redevelop its oldest estates - the Mark I and Mark II blocks ereoted between 1954 and 1964.
These estates, of which there are 12 accommodating close to half a million people, were mostly built to house victims of disasters, such as the Shek Kip Mei squatter fire of 1953» or squatters cleared from land required fur development.
Space within them was originally allocated on a basis of 24 square feet per adult, but overcrowding below this standard is common. They have communal toilets and washrooms.
With redevelopment, which includes both converting back-to-back flats into larger self-contained units and also demolishing blocks to make way for building new ones, families will be able to enjoy increased living areas.
Redevelopment work is at present going on at four estates - Shek Kip Mei, where it began in October 1972, Tai Hang Tung, Chai Wan West and Tai Wo Hau -and will be extended to others as part of the Housing Authority’s 10-year housing programme. Over the next 10 - 15 years, about $1,800 million will be devoted to redevelopment, including the construction of new reception estates.
At Shek Kip Mei, 19 of the original 29 blocks are being modernised; the remaining blocks will be demolished and the sites used to construct high-rise domestic blocks, community facilities and a commerical complex.
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2
To date, as a result of conversion work, improved accommodation for more than 6,000 people has already been provided at Shek Kip Mei, including flats for one and two person households, who account for about 12 per cent of all households in the old estates. Rehousing operations involving the movement of 6,500 persons from three blocks have recently been completed after a year’s patient endeavour. The majority of the families concerned have been rehoused at Upper Pak Tin Estate; this brings the total number of people rehoused since 1972 to about 28,000. . ... .'J - J
Subsequent phases of redevelopment in this area, the next of which is to be completed by mid-1978, will provide homes for a further 27,000 people. It is expected that the whole scheme, costing 3206 million, will be finished in five years.
At Tai Hang Tung, the first phase of redevelopment began last year on a site opposite the old estate and is due to be completed by mid-1977* It comprises three domestic blocks for 6,400 persons, a commercial complex and multi-storey • garage. Later phases, to be completed by 1979/80, will provide housing for a further 7,000 persons. Eventually, the redeveloped estate will accommodate about 29,000.
New self-contained accommodation for 22,000 persons, a major commercial complex, schools and recreation areas will be provided through the redevelopment of Chai Wan West Estate which got under way with a scheme to rehouse residents of two blocks last March. About three quarters of the households in the twd old blocks have now been rehoused in the second phase of Hing Wah Estate.
The latest redevelopment operation, begun only three months ago, is. taking place, at Tai Wo Hau where 803 families are in the process of being rehoused so that the two blocks they are.now living in can be demolished to make way for-eventual rebuilding. After some initial problems the rehousing operation is now going smoothly with half of the families having already,moved to alternative accommodation.
A spokesman for the Housing Authority described the redevelopment scheme, under which 500*000 people will eventually move into greatly improved accommodation, as the largest in the world.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1976
CONTENTS pAGE N0.
®°*E^OR T° 0PEN NEW legislative council session on WEDNESDAY ••••.••••...... e............................... 1
RENT ALLOWANCE INCREASE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES ......... 2
PLAYGROUND FOR KWAI CHUNG ................................... 3
REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS RETIRING .......................... 4
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON ................... 4
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1976
1
GOVERNOR TO OPEN NEW LEGCO SESSION ON WEDNESDAY *****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY*MACLEHOSE, WILL REVIEW THE AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG WHEN HE OPENS THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION FOR 1976/77 ON WEDNESDAY (OCTOBER 6).
THE PROCEEDINGS, WHICH BEGIN AT 2.30 P.M. IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER, WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE.
COMMERCIAL RADIO WILL BROADCAST THE ADDRESS IN CHINESE WHILE THE THREE TELEVISION STATIONS WILL GIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOVERNOR’S REVIEW IN THEIR REGULAR NEWS PROGRAMMES.
ON OCTOBER 27, THE CHIEF SECRETARY WILL MOVE A MOTION TO THANK THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS ADDRESS AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK ON THE MOTION ON THE SAME DAY AND THE FOLLOWING DAY (OCTOBER 28), IF NECESSARY.
OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE SCHEDULED TO REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS ON NOVEMBER 10 AND, IF NECESSARY, NOVEMBER 11.
WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE COUNCIL, THE OPENING SESSION WILL, FOR THE FIRST TIME, BE ATTENDED BY 22 UNOFFICIAL AND 19 OFFICIAL MEMBERS.
PRIOR TO THE START OF THE NEW SESSION, 10 NEWLY-APPOINTED MEMBERS WILL EITHER MAKE THE AFFIRMATION OR TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 12 NOON ON WEDNESDAY (OCTOBER 6).
MR. CHEN SHOU-LUM, DR. HENRY HU, MR. LEUNG TAT-SHING, W. PETER C. WONG, AND MR. WONG LAM (UNOFFICIALS) WILL MAKE THE AFFIRMATION OF ALLEGIANCE WHILE MR. ALAN SCOTT, MR. THOMAS LEE CHUN-YON (OFFICIALS), REV. JOYCE BENNETT, MISS LYDIA DUNN AND REV. P.T. MCGOVERN (UNOFFICIALS) WILL TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1976
2
RENT ALLOWANCE INCREASE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES
SOME 450 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN GRANTED INCREASED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SINCE THE RENT ALLOWANCE PROVIDED UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAS BEEN RAISED FROM SEPTEMBER 1.
THIS NUMBER FORMS ABOUT 10 PER CENT OF THOSE CASES WHICH CAME UP FOR REVIEW LAST MONTH AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD OFFICES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
MR. ALAN LU, HEAD OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY DIVISION, SAID: +THE REVIEW MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO COMPLETE AS THERE ARE 51,000 CASES.+
HE SA IDs +AS FOR CASES THAT ARE YET TO BE REVIEWED, THEY WILL OF COURSE BE BACK-DATED TO SEPTEMBER 1.+
THE INCREASE IN RENT ALLOWANCE, MR. LU POINTED OUT, WOULD ENABLE FAMILIES ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO USE THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO SUPPLEMENT ANY OTHER INCOME TO MEET THEIR BASIC FOOD AND CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS.
QUOTING AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS BENEFIT FROM THE INCREASED RATE IN RENT ALLOWANCE, HE SAID: +THE SCALE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS $180 FOR A SINGLE PERSON, AND FOR A FAMILY, $130 FOR EACH OF THE FIRST THREE FAMILY MEMBERS, AND $105 FOR THE NEXT THREE, AND $80 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ELIGIBLE MEMBER. THEREFORE, THE BASIC PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCALE FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE IS $600 A MONTH.
+0N TOP OF THIS, THE FAMILY, UNDER THE PREVIOUS RENT ALLOWANCE SCALE, WAS ELIGIBLE FOR A MAXIMUM RENT ALLOWANCE OF $130, BRINGING THE TOTAL ALLOWANCE TO $730.
+IF THE FAMILY OF FIVE HAD A TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME OF $500 AND HAD TO PAY $250 AS RENT, IT WAS ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OF $230 - THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAMILY INCOME OF $500 AND THEIR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LEVEL OF $730.+
HOWEVER, SINCE SEPTEMBER 1, THE RENT ALLOWANCE HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $130 TO A MAXIMUM OF $285.
+AS A RESULT OF THE RENT ALLOWANCE INCREASE, THIS FAMILY’S PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LEVEL HAS NOW BEEN RAISED FROM $730 ($600 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE + $130 RENT ALLOWANCE) TO $850 ($600 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE + $250 RENT ALLOWANCE). THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THEY ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR $350 IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ON TOP OF THEIR $500 INCOME FROM OTHER SOURCES.+
COMMENTING ON THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, MR. LU SAID: +AT PRESENT, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL EXCEPT ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE BETWEEN 15 AND 55 YEARS OF AGE WHO ARE FREE TO WORK, THAT IS, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT UNDERGOING FULL-TIME EDUCATION AND WHO DO NOT HAVE TO LOOK AFTER CHILDREN OR DEPENDANTS AT HOME.+
/THE PUBLIC
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1976
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THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, HE EXPLAINED, IS DESIGNED TO BRING THE INCOME OF A SINGLE ELIGIBLE PERSON OR A FAMILY UP TO THE LEVEL WHERE ESSENTIAL NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD AND CLOTHING CAN BE MET WITHOUT SUFFERING HARDSHIP.
+THE COST OF ACCOMMODATION IS COVERED SEPARATELY BY A RENT ALLOWANCE, AND WHERE THERE ARE SPECIAL EXPENSES, FOR EXAMPLE, SCHOOL FEES FOR CHILDREN AND THE COST OF A MEDICALLY APPROVED DIET, DISCRETIONARY PAYMENTS MAY BE MADE,* HE ADDED.
IN REGARD TO THE CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, HE SAID: +THE SCHEME IS MEANS-TESTED. UNLESS IT IS DISCOVERED THAT THE FAMILY HAS SUFFICIENT SAVINGS TO KEEP GOING WITHOUT HELP, WE WORK OUT HOW MUCH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS TO BE PAID TO THEM.
+EACH ELIGIBLE PERSON IN THE FAMILY HAS A BASIC ALLOWANCE. A RENT ALLOWANCE AND SPECIAL EXPENSES INCURRED ARE ADDED TO THE FAMILY’S TOTAL BASIC ALLOWANCE. THEN ANY INCOME DERIVED FROM THEIR SAVINGS ETC. IS SUBTRACTED FROM THIS GRAND TOTAL AND THE BALANCE IS PAID TO THEM IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.*
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PLAYGROUND FOR KWAI CHUNG * M * * M *
RESIDENTS OF DENSELY-POPULATED KWAI CHUNG WILL SOON HAVE A PLAYGROUND FOR SPORTS AND RECREATION.
THE PLAYGROUND, TO BE LOCATED AT THE EASTERN SIDE OF SHEK LEI STREET OPPOSITE THE SHEK LEI ESTATE, WILL BE THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF NEW PLAYGROUNDS SOON TO BE BUILT BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG AREA.
OCCUPYING AN AREA OF SOME 13,000 SQUARE METRES, THE NEW PLAYGROUND WILL HAVE A HARD SURFACE MINI-SOCCER PITCH, A BASKETBALL COURT, A BASKETBALL-CUM-VOLLEY BALL COURT, A SERVICE BUILDING, AND A SITTING OUT AREA WITH CONCRETE BENCHES AND ARBOURS.
THE WHOLE PLAYGROUND WILL BE PROVIDED WITH FLOODLIGHTS TO ENABLE MAXIMUM USE AT NIGHT.
WORK ON THE PLAYGROUND IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN EARLY DECEMBER AND SHOULD TAKE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1976
- 4 -REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS RETIRING ft ft ft ft ft
THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS, MR. TSANG TAT-SING, WILL RETIRE ON OCTOBER 27 AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
MR. TSANG, WHO IS 55, F* IRST JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1951 AS
A CLERK/INTERPRETER ATTACHED TO THE KOWLOON MAGISTRACY. HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE INTERPRETER/TRANSLATOR GRADE THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
IN 1955, HE WAS APPOINTED AN ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS WITH THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED REGISTRY OF TRADE UNIONS.
MR. TSANG, WHO WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY REGISTRAR IN 1969 AND REGISTRAR IN 1973, HAS CONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL TO BUILDING UP THIS DEPARTMENT DURING THE PAST 21 YEARS.
MR. TSANG WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY MR. Y.N. YIU, WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY A SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER.
NOTE TO EDITORS
TO MARK MR. TSANG’S RETIREMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. M.C. MORGAN, WILL TOMORROW (TUESDAY) PRESENT HIM WITH A MEMENTO ON BEHALF OF ALL HIS COLLEAGUES.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE PRESENTATION WHICH WILL BE HELD AT 4.00 P.M. AT REGISTRY OF TRADE UNIONS, ROOM 1708, INTERNATIONAL BUILDING, CONNAUGHT ROAD, HONG KONG.
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TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON ft ft ft ft ft ft
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE VICINITY OF PING SHEK ESTATE, NGAU CHI WAN, ON WEDNESDAY (OCTOBER 6) TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
FROM 10 A.M. ON THAT DAY, A SECTION OF ABOUT 350 YARDS OF THE EXISTING EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY ON THE CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD EAST OF THE BUS TERMINUS AT PING SHEK ESTATE WILL BE CLOSED FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
DURING THIS PERIOD, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED TO THE NEW ALIGNMENT OF CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
REPAIR WORK ON SAU MAU PING SLOPES BEGINS NEXT MONTH .... 1
SURPRISE CHECK ON DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES ................. 3
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED .................................... 3
WELL TO DO FAMILIES URGED TO MOVE OUT FROM CHEAPEST HOUSING ESTATES ............................................ 4
CHANGES IN REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES ...................... 5
HONG KONG’S INTEREST IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION ................ 6
HONG KONG INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE SIXTH INVITATION PROGRAMME FOR YOUTH VOLUNTEERS ............................. 7
OPENING OF THE KOWLOON PORT HEALTH VACCINATION CENTRE ... 7
OUT-GOING REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS PRESENTED WITH SOUVENIR ................................................... 8
WATER CUT IN MONG KOK ...................................... 8
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
1
REPAIR WORK ON SAU MAU PING SLOPES BEGINS NEXT MONTH ******
WORK WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH ON PERMANENT REPAIRS TO THE SAU MAU PING SLOPES INVOLVED IN THE LANDSLIDES TRIGGERED BY AUGUST’S VIOLENT RAINSTORMS.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. WILLIAM BELL, SAID TODAY THAT THE GROUP OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS EXPERTS WORKING WITH P.W.D. CONSULTANTS BINNIE AND PARTNERS HAD NOW ENDORSED BINNIE’S DESIGNS FOR THE LONG-TERM REMEDIAL WORKS.
AS A RESULT, CONTRACT DOCUMENTS WERE BEING DRAWN UP AND WORK ON THE SLOPES — BEHIND BLOCKS 9 AND 15 OF THE ESTATE — WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN EARLY IN NOVEMBER.
THE CONTRACT FOR THE WORK WOULD STIPULATE THAT ALL REPAIRS MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN FIVE MONTHS -- WELL BEFORE THE START OF NEXT YEAR’S WET SEASON.
MR. BELL SAID THAT WORK WOULD ALSO BEGIN NEXT MONTH ON INTERIM PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF SLOPES IN A NUMBER OF OTHER HOUSING ESTATES, WHERE BINNIES HAD IDENTIFIED AREAS SHOWING CHARACTERISTICS SUPERFICIALLY SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE SLOPES AT SAU MAU PING.
MR. BELL STRESSED THAT ALL OF THIS WORK WOULD ALSO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS, SO THAT THESE SLOPES TOO WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY SAFE BEFORE THE ONSET OF THE NEXT WET SEASON — EVEN IN THE EVENT OF EXCEPTIONAL RAINFALL.
MR. BELL SAID: +EVEN THOUGH NONE OF THESE SLOPES APPEARS TO POSE ANY THREAT, IN VIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED AT SAU MAU PING BINNIES HAVE BEEN ASKED TO RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE REMEDIAL MEASURES AS A PRECAUTION UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE SAFETY OF THE SLOPES IS PROVEN.
+OF COURSE IN TAKING THESE MEASURES, WE MAY BE BEING UNNEtESSARILY OVER-CAUTIOUS. BUT IT IS OUR DUTY TO TAKE EVERY POSSIBLE PRECAUTION TO ENSURE THERE IS NO RISK WHATSOEVER IN FUTURE.+
HE SAID THE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN ON THE SLOPES WOULD BROADLY FOLLOW THE LINES OF THE REMEDIAL MEASURES TAKEN AT SAU MAU PING STRAIGHT AFTER THE AUGUST LANDSLIDE, INCLUDING TREATMENT WITH A WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE TO PREVENT SURFACE INFILTRATION.
MR. BELL SAID BINNIES WOULD ALSO BE CARRYING OUT A CONTINUING PROGRAMME OF INTENSIVE INVESTIGATIONS TO SEE IF ANY FURTHER WORKS WERE ADVISABLE ON ANY OF THE SLOPES IN THE LONG TERM. BUT AS ANY WORK RECOMMENDED UNDER THIS PROGRAMME WOULD TAKE CONSIDERABLY LONGER TO IMPLEMENT, THE IMMEDIATE MEASURES PLANNED FOR COMPLETION IN THE COMING FIVE MONTHS HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE SLOPES BEFORE NEXT YEAR’S WET SEASON.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
2 -
+AND.+ HE ADDED, +JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, THE CONTINGENCY EVACUATION PLANS ANNOUNCED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT LAST MONTH WILL REMAIN IN FORCE FOR THE BRIEF PERIOD REMAINING IN THIS WET SEASON TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY IS PLACED IN ANY DANGER EVEN IN THE VERY UNLIKELY EVENT OF THE RECURRENCE OF RAINFALL SUCH AS THAT EXPERIENCED IN AUGUST.+
MR. BELL WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE FINAL TWO MEMBERS OF THE GROUP OF WORLD EXPERTS ASSISTING BINNIES --PROFESSOR VICTOR DE MELLO OF BRAZIL’S SAO PAULO UNIVERSITY AND MR. BRIAN RICHARDS OF AUSTRALIA’S COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION -- HAD NOW COMPLETED THEIR INITIAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE SAU MAU PING INVESTIGATION.
MR. BELL SA IDs +OVER THE NEXT MONTH, BINNIES AND THE HONG KONG MEMBERS OF THE GROUP OF EXPERTS — PROFESSOR SEAN MACKAY AND MR. PETER LUMB OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG -- WILL LIAISE WITH THE FOUR OVERSEAS EXPERTS, AND PASS ON TO THEM THE DATA PRODUCED BY BINNIE’S EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME OF TESTS.
+AT THE END OF THIS PERIOD, THE OVERSEAS EXPERTS WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG FOR FURTHER CONSULTATIONS AND TO JOINTLY EVALUATE PROGRESS AT THAT STAGE.
+IN EARLY DECEMBER, THE GOVERNOR WILL RECEIVE BOTH BINNIES’ REPORT ON THE SAU MAU PING LANDSLIDE, AND THE EXPERTS’ INDEPENDENT REPORT ON BINNIES’ FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
♦AFTER BOTH HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THEY WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC AND OF PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES.
+ON PRESENT INDICATIONS, I WOULD HOPE THAT THE REPORT CAN BE PUBLISHED IN EARLY PART OF NEXT YEAR.+
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
3
SURPRISE CHECK ON DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES * * * *
OFFICERS OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT A SURPRISE CHECK ON ALL DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES AT THE TWO ENTRANCES OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING.
DURING THE THREE-HOUR OPERATION WHICH STARTED AT 9 A.M., 55 VEHICLES USED FOR CONVEYING COMPRESSED GASES AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS WERE INSPECTED.
OF THE TOTAL, ONE VEHICLE WAS FOUND CARRYING SUCH GOODS WITHOUT A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE FIRE SERVICES AND 14 WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN DEFECTS OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER.
SUMMONSES WILL BE TAKEN OUT AGAINST THE OPERATORS OF THESE VEHICLES FOR BREACHING THE DANGEROUS GOODS REGULATIONS.
ACCORDING TO A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN, MOST OF THE VEHICLES CHECKED TODAY WERE IN POOR CONDITION ALTHOUGH THEY HAD BEEN INSPECTED BEFORE BEING LICENSED.
+SOME OF THEM ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND SPARK ARRESTERS WHILE SOME HAVE ONLY EMPTY EXTINGUISHERS,* HE SAID.
+THIS LACK OF MAINTENANCE OF SAFETY STANDARDS IS MOST DANGEROUS,* THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT. +APART FROM THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLES CONCERNED, OTHER ROAD USERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC COULD BE ENDANGERED DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS LOADS INVOLVED.*
HE CALLED ON ALL OPERATORS TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES BROUGHT UP TO THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS IMMEDIATELY, ADDING THAT FURTHER CHECKS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT AS FROM NOW ON.
UNDER THE DANGEROUS GOODS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1973, ALL VEHICLES USED FOR CONVEYING COMPRESSED GASES AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS ARE TO BE LICENSED AND INSPECTED ANNUALLY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS ON THEM.
SO FAR, MORE THAN 1,650 SUCH VEHICLES HAVE BEEN LICENSED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
- 0 -
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED
******
THE GOVERNOR AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON LAM KWOK KI ALIAS PAK DEE ON NOVEMBER 14, 1975, SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO IMPRISONMENT FOR 20 YEARS.
LAM WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF CHEUNG HUNG.
/u ..
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
- 4 -
CALL FOR GREATER MOBILITY OF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS
* * * * *
A SENIOR HOUSING OFFICIAL TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED COMPARATIVELY WELL TO DO FAMILIES STILL LIVING IN THE CHEAPEST PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE IMMOBILITY OF THEIR PAST AND EMULATE FAMILIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR +WHERE MOBILITY IS SOCIALLY ACCEPTED AND INDEED CONSIDERED A VIRTUE.+
MRS. ELAINE CHIA, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF NORTH KOWLOON.
PRIOR TO 1973, MRS. CHIA SAID, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS TO CONSIDER MOVING TO A BETTER FLAT, EVEN IF THEIR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES HAD IMPROVED, BECAUSE DIFFERENT ORGANISATIONS CONTROLLED DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLIC HOUSING.
+WITH THE AMALGAMATION OF THESE OGAN I SAT IONS IN 1973 TO FORM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, IT HAS PROVED POSSIBLE FOR THE WIDE RANGE OF PUBLIC HOUSING OF DIFFERENT STANDARDS, SIZES AND RENTS TO BE REDISTRIBUTED IN A SENSIBLE WAY, OPENING UP A MUCH WIDER CHOICE OF ACCOMMODATION, ACCORDING TO MEANS, THAN HAS EVER BEFORE BEEN AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC HOUSING FAMILIES.
+IT OBVIOUSLY MAKES NO SENSE FOR WELL OFF FAMILIES TO LIVE IN LOW RENT ESTATES WHICH DO NOT SATISFY THEIR HOUSING NEEDS OR ASPIRATIONS WHEN LESS WELL OFF FAMILIES ARE IN GREATER NEED OF THESE FLATS.+
MRS. CHIA ADDED: +IT IS SURELY INCONSIDERATE TO HAVE PROSPERED AND YET CONTINUE TO OCCUPY VERY CHEAP ACCOMMODATION, THEREBY DENYING SUCH ACCOMMODATION TO OTHER LOW INCOME EARNERS.*
MRS. CHIA SAID THAT, AT PRESENT, TENANTS ARE TRANSFERRING FROM ONE CATEGORY OF PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS TO ANOTHER AT THE RATE OF ABOUT 3,000 TO 4,000 A YEAR. ALSO, BETWEEN 1,500 AND 3,000 TENANTS SURRENDERED THEIR TENANCIES EVERY YEAR TO MIGRATE OR FOR OTHER PERSONAL REASONS.
SHE WENT ON: +AS MORE NEW ESTATES BECOME AVAILABLE FOR LETTING, HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL ORGANISE MORE TRANSFER SCHEMES FOR BETTER OFF TENANTS IN EXISTING ESTATES AND WE HOPE THAT MORE AND MORE FAMILIES WHO CAN AFFORD SOMETHING BETTER THAN THEIR PRESENT PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS WILL DECIDE TO JOIN THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY OPTED FOR A BETTER LIFE IN THE NEW ESTATES.*
IN EARLY 1974, SHE SAID, A SMALL PILOT PROJECT WAS DESIGNED FOR MOVING OVERCROWDED TENANTS FROM SMALLER FLATS IN SHEK LEI ESTATE TO LARGER FLATS IN NEW ESTATES. THE SMALLER FLATS VACATED WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO SMALL FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS BEING HOUSED FOR THE FIRST TIME UNDER THE CLEARANCE PROGRAMME, AS A RESULT OF WHICH EXERCISE, 140 FAMILIES WERE TRANSFERRED.
/+THE PILOT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
- 5 -
+THE PILOT PROJECT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS AND SUBSEQUENTLY INSPIRED SIMILAR SCHEMES IN OTHER DISTRICTS,+ MRS. CHIA SAID. +ALTHOUGH A TWO-WAY TRANSFER WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY MORE CUMBERSOME THAN STRAIGHT FORWARD ALLOCATION, IT BROUGHT NUMEROUS ADVANTAGES — BOTH TO THE AUTHORITY AND, MORE IMPORTANT, TO ITS TENANTS.+
TO THc AUTHORITY, THESE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS ALLOWED MUCH NEEDED FLEXIBILITY IN ALLOCATING FLATS" TO TENANTS, WHO HAVE ENJOYED YEARS OF LOW RENT BUT ARE INEVITABLY OVERCROWDED THE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS OFFERED THE BEST HOPE OF ESCAPING FROM THEIR CRAMPED LIVING CONDITIONS TO THE HEALTHY AND HAPPY ENVIRONMENT OF NEW ESTATES, ALBEIT AT A HIGHER COST. +FAMILIES MOVING INTO NEW ESTATES ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THEIR NEW HOMES AND REGARD THEM AS GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY,+ SHE SAID.
MRS. CHIA ADVISED FAMILIES WISHING TO MOVE TO OTHER tuFm'.S1? ESTATES To CONTACT THEIR ESTATE HOUSING MANAGER OR THE MUTUAL EXCHANGE BUREAU AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S HEADQUARTERS IN KOWLOON.
----0------
CHANGES IN REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES
******
DUE TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY’S CONSTRUCTION WORK IN CHATER ROAD, CERTAIN CHANGES ARE BEING MADE IN THE REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES WHICH WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, TO COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE TWO WORLD WARS.
THE WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE CHINESE WAR MEMORIAL IN THE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANIC GARDENS WILL TAKE PLACE AT 9.15 A.M. ON THAT DAY.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED AT 10 A.M. BY A WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE CENOTAPH.
THE GOVERNOR AND THOSE WHO CUSTOMARILY DO SO WILL LAY WREATHS THERE BUT THERE WILL BE NO RELIGIOUS SERVICES, BANDS OR GUARDS OF HONOUR.
AT 10.55 A.M. A REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE WILL BE HELD IN ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL IN THE COURSE OF WHICH THE TRADITIONAL TWO-MINUTE SILENCE WILL BE OBSERVED AND THE BAND OF THE 1ST BATTALION OF LIGHT INFANTRY WILL PLAY.
IT IS INTENDED TO RESUME THE TRADITIONAL SERVICE AT THE CENOTAPH IN FUTURE YEARS AS SOON AS CONDITIONS PERMIT.
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/6
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
6
HONG KONG’S INTEREST IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION *****
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. Q. W. LEE, TONIGHT ASSURED DELEGATES ATTENDING THE COMMONWEALTH REGIONAL SEMINAR OF HONG KONG’S INTEREST IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
SPEAKING AT A DINNER RECEPTION, MR. LEE SAID: +AS A BANKER, I AM KEENLY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
+l LOOK FORWARD TO READING THE SEMINAR REPORT WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW PROGRESS CAN BEST BE MADE.+
MR. LEE THANKED THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT FOR ARRANGING THE SEMINAR IN HONG KONG AND FOR WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS +THE UNOBTRUSIVE AND INTELLIGENT WORK THEY HAVE DONE TO ASSURE SUCCESS.+
HE CONCLUDED: +l HOPE THAT MEMBERS OF THE SEMINAR HAVE ENJOYED YOUR WORK HERE IN HONG KONG AND HAVE FOUND PLEASURE IN WHAT YOUR HAVE SEEN OF HONG KONG.+
THE SEMINAR BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28 AND WILL END ON OCTOBER 7.
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/7
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
7
SIXTH INVITATION PROGRAMME FOR ASIAN YOUTH VOLUNTEERS * * * *
HONG KONG WILL TAKE PART FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE INVITATION PROGRAMME FOR ASIAN YOUTH VOLUNTEERS TO BE HELD IN TOKYO FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) UNTIL OCTOBER 20.
REPRESENTING HONG KONG AT THE INVITATION PROGRAMME WILL BE MR. WONG KA-CHIU, A YOUTH LEADER, WHO WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICE OF TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMME, THE SIXTH ORGANISED BY THE JAPAN YOUTH VOLUNTEERS ASSOCIATION, ARE 20 YOUTH VOLUNTEERS FROM OTHER PARTS OF ASIA, EUROPE, NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA AND AFRICA.
THE THEME OF THE PROGRAMME IS +THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CRISIS OF HUMAN SURVIVAL*.
THERE WILL BE SPEECHES, FORUMS, GROUP DISCUSSIONS, WORKSHOPS, VISITS, AND EXCHANGE OF VOLUNTEERS AND STUDY TOURS.
THE PROGRAMME IS AIMED AT PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN MORE OF THE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN EACH PARTICIPATING COUNTRY.
IT IS HOPED THAT THE PROGRAMME WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASIAN AND WORLDWIDE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, AND THAT MR. WONG WILL BRING BACK WITH HIM VALUABLE INFORMATION AND IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
0
OPENING OF KOWLOON PORT HEALTH VACCINATION CENTRE KOK
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE NEW KOWLOON PORT HEALTH VACCINATION CENTRE AT ROOM 529A, STAR HOUSE, WILL BEGIN OPERATION FROM FRIDAY (OCTOBER 8).
THE CENTRE SERVES PEOPLE IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WHO REQUIRE VACCINATION CERTIFICATES FOR TRAVELLING PURPOSES.
THOSE ON THE ISLAND ARE SERVED BY THE CENTRE AT LI PO CHUN CHAMBERS AT DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
THE OPERATING HOURS FOR BOTH CENTRES ARE FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M., MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS AND FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. ON SATURDAYS.
THE OLD KOWLOON CENTRE, LOCATED AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL, WAS CLOSED ON SEPTEMBER 1 AS A RESULT OF REDEVELOPMENT AT THE TERMINAL COMPLEX.
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/8.....
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
8
PRESENTATION OF SOUVENIR TO OUT-GOING REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS * * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. M.C. MORGAN TODAY PRESENTED A SOUVENIR TO REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS, MR. TSANG TAT-SING, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 25 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
THE RETIREMENT SOUVENIR CONSISTS OF ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS OF THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS FOR THE PAST 21 YEARS AND IS A MEMENTO OF MR. TSANG’S 21 YEARS’ SERVICE WITH THE REGISTRY OF TRADE UNIONS.
IN PRESENTING THE GIFT, MR. MORGAN EMPHASISED MR. TSANG’S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT AND THE REGISTRY OVER THE PAST 21 YEARS.
MR. TSANG, 55, IS TO BE SUCCEEDED BY MR. YIU YAN-NANG, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE GOVERNMENT FOR 19 YEARS.
MR. YIU JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE IN 1957 AS A HEALTH INSPECTOR IN THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. EIGHT YEARS LATER HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WHERE HE BECAME AN ASSISTANT LABOUR OFFICER. HE WAS PROMOTED LABOUR OFFICER IN 1969 AND TO SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER IN 1973.
IN 1968, HE WAS SENT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM WHERE HE RECEIVED ABOUT NINE MONTHS’ TRAINING ON LABOUR ADMINISTRATION AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS. FOUR YEARS LATER, HE ATTENDED A COURSE ON ACTIVE LABOUR POLICY DEVELOPMENT AT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LABOUR STUDIES (l.L.O.) IN GENEVA.
0
WATER CUT * * *
SALT WATER SUPPLY BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN MONG KOK WILL HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON THURSDAY TO FACILITATE
THE AFFECTED AREA
n - - ls BOUNDED BY TAI KOK TSUI ROAD, FUK LEE SEA-FRONT, CHERRY STREET, TONG MEI ROAD AND FUK TSUN INCLUDING WAI ON STREET, CHUNG WUI STREET, TAI TSUN STREET IVY STREeI, LI TaK STREET, FUK CHAK STREET, KA SHIN STREET POK
F0° KWAI STREET’ H01 K,NG STREET, CHUN WING STREET WONG TAI STREET, KOK CHEUNG STREET, -------- ’
STREET, MAN ON STREET, MEI ON STREET
STR’ET’ °‘k street’ ash anchor
HOP KWAN STREET, LOK KWAN , TAI CHING STREET, ELM
0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNMENT TO PRESS AHEAD WITH SOCIAL PROGRAMMES........ 1
ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS CONTINUE TO BE EXCELLENT ....... 3
GOVERNOR WELCOMES NEW LEGCO MEMBERS .................... 4
HONG KONG’S ECONOMY WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND ............ 5
PLANS TO EXPAND INDUSTRY ............................... 6
HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME NEEDS BROADENING ................. 8
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE NINE YEARS OF EDUCATION ......... IQ
COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES .............................................. 12
SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES UNDERGOING MAJOR REVIEW ..... 14
DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME TO BE EXTENDED ............. 15
NEW MEASURES TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS . 16
URBAN COUNCIL LAUDED .................................. 17
DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISLANDS 18
PROSPECTS OF REDUCING CRIME BECOMING BRIGHTER ......... 20
FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION TO CONTINUE .................. 22
AIM TO BUILD A SOCIETY WITH MUTUAL CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY 23
GOVERNOR CONFIDENT OF CONTINUING PROSPERITY FOR HONG KONG . 24
TRIBUTE TO MRS JOYCE SYMONS ........................... 25
ROAD CLOSURE IN CENTRAL ............................... 26
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
1
GOVERNMENT TO PRESS AHEAD WITH SOCIAL PROGRAMMES
*****
IN ADDRESSING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID THAT ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS WERE EXCELLENT AND CONTACTS OVER HONG KONG FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL.
+RECENT SAD EVENT IN CHINA+ HE SAID, +HAVE NO BEARING ON THE SATISFACTORY SITUATION WHICH I AM CONFIDENT WILL CONTINUE*.
SIR MURRAY SHOWED MARKED CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS +BACK ON "HE COURSE FROM WHICH IT WAS KNOCKED BY THE RECESS ION+. THOUGH THE RATE OF GROWTH COULD NOT CONTINUE AT THE PRESENT PACE, HE SAID, +1976 WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR HONG KONG+, WITH THE QUANTITY OF EXPORTS INCREASING BY 25% AND THE GDP BY +SOME 16% OR MORE+.
ANTI-INFLATIONARY MEASURES BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS MIGHT MAKE THE GROWTH OF WORLD TRADE SLOWER IF SURER, BUT THE GOVERNOR WAS CONFIDENT THAT HONG KONG COULD WIN A SHARE SUFFICIENT TO KEEP CAPACITY FULLY OCCUPIED. +1 CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE+, HE CONCLUDED, +THAT UNPREDICTABLE EXTERNAL CONVULSIONS APART, OUR PROSPECTS ARE NOW GOOD, AND THAT WE MAY FACE THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF HONG KONG WITHOUT FEAR THAT OUR REASONABLE PLANS TO SOLVE THEM WILL SUFFER FROM FINANCIAL RESTRAINT*.
THE GOVERNOR THEN REVIEWED THE PRINCIPAL SOCIAL PROGRAMMES. HE LAID PARTICULAR STRESS ON HOUSING- COMPLETIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR WOULD RISE TO 170,000 IN ’78/79 AND 224,000 IN ’79/80 AND THEREAFTER FIGURES OF WELL OVER 200,000 WOULD BE MAINTAINED UNTIL +THE BACK OF THE PROBLEM WAS BROKEN* ABOUT 1984.
SIR MURRAY SAID THAT WITH +THE RETURN TO GREAT ACTIVITY* IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, +BETWEEN NOW AND 1980 THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS COMBINED SHOULD HAVE PRODUCED NEW HOMES FOR ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE*.
IN SPEAKING OF RENTS, HE SAID THAT HE HOPED IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE THAT INITIAL RENTS IN NEW ESTATES WOULD BE STABILISED AT PRESENT LEVELS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THEY WERE HALF OR LESS THOSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND HE SAID +T0 ENSURE THIS HOUSING FULFILS ITS SOCIAL PURPOSE THIS DEGREE OF SUBSIDISATION WILL BE MA INTAINED+.
AFTER SURVEYING EDUCATION, WHERE THE PRINCIPAL EMPHASIS CONTINUES TO BE ON PROVISION, BY 1978, OF NINE YEARS EDUCATION FOR ALL INCLUDING THREE YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, AND MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, SIR MURRAY ANNOUNCED PROPOSALS TO INCLUDE IN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME ABLE-BODIED PERSONS UNDER 55 +SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS BEING MADE TO PREVENT ABUSE*.
HE SAID IT WAS QUITE WRONG THAT DURING THE RECESSION THOSE INELIGIBLE +SHOULD LIVE OFF THEIR WITS OR THEIR FRIENDS OR THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GRANTED TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES*. +THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD PUT RIGHT*, HE CONCLUDED.
/THE GOVERNOR .....
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
2
THE GOVERNOR EMPHASISED THAT THE PASSAGE OF LABOUR
LEGISLATION SHOULD CONTINUE AND ANNOUNCED THAT IN THIS SESSION IT WOULD INCLUDE PROVISION FOR ONE REST DAY A WEEK (INSTEAD OF FOUR A MONTH), AND ONE WEEK’S PAID HOLIDAY A YEAR, ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERANCE PAY AND SICKNESS BENEFIT.
IN THIS FIELD, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT’S TARGET WAS THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD BE +AT LEAST BROADLY EQUIVALENT TO THE BEST IN OUR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES* EXCLUDING JAPAN.
SIR MURRAY THOUGHT THIS COULD BE DONE FAST AND WELL WITHIN FIVE YEARS. THIS YEAR’S LEGISLATION +WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS CLOSING THE GAP+, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN OPEN TO CRITICISM FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH OUTSIDE THE NEW TOWNS. +THIS WILL NOW END* HE PROMISED, AND ANNOUNCED NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT TAI PO, FANLING, YUEN LONG, SILVERMINE BAY AND CHEUNG CHAU.
HE CLAIMED THAT +THE RISE IN CRIME HAS AT LAST STOPPED AND THE PROSPECTS FOR REDUCING IT ARE BECOMING BRIGHTER*.
SIR MURRAY PAID A TRIBUTE TO THE MANY THINGS THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE HAD DONE +TO REFURBISH ITS ORGANISATION TO FIGHT CRIME AND ENLIST THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC*.
HE SAID THAT IN SPITE OF +HEADLINE-CATCHI NG CRIMES* HE WAS CONVINCED +THAT THE GENERAL SITUATION IN THE POLICE FORCE HAS VASTLY IMPROVED*. HE SUMMED UP THE OVERALL PICTURE AS BEING +HARD-WON AND ENCOURAGING PROGRESS, BUT NOT YET VICTORY*.
ON THE ICAC, THE GOVERNOR SAID: *l AM PLEASED WITH
THE PROGRESS NOW BEING MADE. IT HAS ALREADY MADE A VERY CONSIDERABLE IMPACT BOTH IN CHECKING CORRUPTION HERE IN HONG KONG AND RE-ESTABLISHING THE GOOD NAME OF HONG KONG OVERSEAS*. WITH AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT FORCE DEPLOYED THE EMPHASIS COULD NOW BE MORE ON PREVENTIVE MEASURES THROUGH COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND CORRUPTION PREVENTION.
THE GOVERNOR SPOKE OF HONG KONG’S PARTICULAR PROBLEM OF HELPING PEOPLE WHOLIVE IN DENSELY POPULATED, HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS +GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, LIVE IN HARMONY, AND FEEL SECURE*.
HE SAID +A GRAND DESIGN* WAS EMERGING TO COPE WITH THIS PROBLEM COMPOSED OF +MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, THE KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, AREA COMMITTEES, SUPPORTED AND ASSISTED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICERS, COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICERS AND RECREATION OFFICERS* WITH THEIR WORK CO-ORDINATED OR DIRECTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND HIS STAFF.
IN SUMMING UP THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT +RECOVERY HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET BACK ON TO THE TARGETS FOR OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMMES WITH ALL THE HOPE THAT THIS IMPLIES FOR ELIMINATING THE MAIN DEFICIENCIES IN OUR CITY BY THE EARLY ’80S*.
/HS AD DSD:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBES 6, 1976
3
HE ADDED: +YOU WILL HAVE NOTED THAT TO THESE PROGRAMMES I HAVE ADDED A NEW AND SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LABOUR LEGISLATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE*.
THIS, HE SAID, WAS +TIMELY, RIGHT FOR OUR SOCIETY, AND ONLY COMMON JUSTICE* AFTER THE HARDSHIP SUFFERED DURING THE RECESSION.
SIR MURRAY CONCLUDED BY SAYING +IT IS YOUR GOVERNMENT’S AIM
TO BUILD INTO OUR SOCIETY A BALANCE*. ON ONE SIDE OF
THIS WAS ECONOMIC FREEDOM WHICH HE SAID WAS +PERFECTLY COMPATIBLE WITH SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL RESPONSIBILITY*. THE OTHER SIDE - +SOCIAL PROVISION* - WAS EQUALLY COMPATIBLE WITH +THE TRADITIONAL VIRTUES OF REALISM, WILL TO WORK AND SELF-RELIANCE*.
+THESE+, HE SAID, +ARE PRECIOUS TO OUR SOCIETY AND MUST BE PRESERVED*.
HE ENDED: +1 AM CONVINCED THAT IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND PRESERVATION OF THIS BALANCE LIE HONG KONG’S BEST PROSPECTS OF PROSPERITY, SOCIAL HARI^ONY AND INTERNATIONAL RESPECT*.
ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS CONTINUE TO BE EXCELLENT
*****
THE GOVERNOR , SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THAT ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS HAD CONTINUED TO BE EXCELLENT DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK PRACTICAL CONTACTS OVER HONG KONG HAD LIKEWISE BEEN FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY SAID: +RECENT SAD EVENTS IN CHINA HAVE NO BEARING ON THIS SATISFACTORY SITUATION WHICH I AM CONFIDENT WILL CONTINUE.*
-----0------
A
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
- 4 -GOVERNOR WELCOMES NEW LEGCO MEMBERS ******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVELY DEBATES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MATTERS OF POLICY WHERE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEMBERS OR BETWEEN THEM AND THE GOVERNMENT.
WELCOMING THE EIGHT NEW UNOFFICIAL AND FIVE OFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL, HE SAID IT WAS THE COUNCIL’S TRADITION THAT EACH MEMBER SPOKE FOR NO PARTICULAR GROUP OR SECTION BUT IN THE INTEREST OF ALL HONG KONG AS IT APPEARED IN HIS OR HER PERSONAL JUDGEMENT.
+THIS IS A GOOD TRADITION, BUT ONLY IF IT IS BALANCED, AS IS NOW MORE THE CASE, BY MEMBERSHIP DRAWN FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND PERSONAL BACKGROUND,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.
HE TOLD THE NEWLY-APPOINTED UNOFFICIALS THAT THEY HAD BECOME PART OF THE BODY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND COULD GREATLY ASSIST IN MAKING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AS ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE.
+ IN THIS UNELECTED GOVERNMENT THE FUNCTIONS OF UMELCO OUTSIDE THE FORMAL WORK OF THE TWO COUNCILS ARE VITAL,+ HE SAID.
+MUCH GOOD WORK IN THIS RESPECT IS DONE BY THE WARD OFFICES OF THE URBAN COUNCILLORS, AND BY INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,* HE SAID. +BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UMELCO IN ITS FUNCTION OF REDRESSOR OF GRIEVANCES AND STIMULANT AND CHECK ON THE ADMINISTRATION CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.*
LOOKING BACK AT THE GOVERNMENT’S REVIEW IN 1972 AND 73 OF WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE THE PRINCIPAL DEFECTS IN OUR SOCIETY WITHIN A TIME-SCALE OF ABOUT 10 YEARS, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT +T0 TACKLE AND MASTER ALL THE MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WE REALISED REQUIRED MORE REVENUE, THE OVERHAUL OF THE ADMINISTRATION, BOLD PLANNING, AND A RADICAL NEW DEGREE OF CONTACT AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNED*.
+WITH THE SUPPORT OF HON. MEMBERS AND OF THE PUBLIC YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS PERSISTED WITH THESE OBJECTIVES IN SPITE OF THE TRAUMATIC AND WHOLLY UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCE OF THE RECESSION.
+FROM THIS EXPERIENCE HONG KONG HAS NOW EMERGED AND, AS IT WERE, CHANGED GEAR. I THEREFORE PROPOSE TO REVIEW WHAT OUR ECONOMIC POSSIBILITIES ARE IN THE PERIOD OF RENEWED GROWTH INTO WHICH WE HAVE MOVED, AND HOW THIS CAN BEST BE USED TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY, IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS AND ATTAIN OUR SOCIAL TARGETS,* THE GOVERNOR SAID.
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/5
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
5 -
HONG KONG’S ECONOMY TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND
******
THE GOVERNOR TODAY PREDICTED THAT HONG KONG’S ECONOMY WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPAND FOR THE REST OF THIS DECADE AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF AT LEAST SIX PER CENT PER ANNUM IN REAL TERMS.
SIR MURRAY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT 1976 WOULD BE A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR HONG KONG WHICH IS EXPECTING TO SEE AN INCREASE OF 25 PER CENT IN THE QUANTITY OF ITS EXPORTS AND OF SOME 16 PER CENT OR MORE IN THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN REAL TERMS COMPARED WITH 1975.
H? SAID: +IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1976, THE VOLUME WAS 36 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF LAST YEAR AND HAD FULLY RECOVERED THE GROUND LOST DURING THE RECESSION.+
WITH THE MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT IN JUNE THIS YEAR AT A RECORD BREAKING 750,000 AND REAL WAGES RATES IN MANUFACTURING IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR INCREASING AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF OVER 12 PER CENT, THE GOVERNOR SAID: +1 CAN NOW SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT IN TERMS OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY, EMPLOYMENT AND LEVEL OF REAL INCOMES, OUR ECONOMY IS BACK ON COURSE FROM WHICH IT WAS KNOCKED BY THE RECESSION.*
HOWEVER, HE SAID, HONG KONG COULD NOT EXPECT ITS ECONOMY TO GO ON EXPANDING AT THE PACE OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS BECAUSE THE RECOVERY OF DEMAND IN ITS MAJOR MARKETS HAD BEEN INFLUENCED BY REPLENISHMENT OF STOCKS RUN DOWN DURING THE RECESSION.
+EVEN THOUGH THERE IS ROOM IN OUR OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR FURTHER RECOVERY IN CONSUMER DEMAND AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT, THE RATE OF EXPANSION WILL PROBABLY SLOW DOWN A LITTLE FROM NOW ON,* SAID THE GOVERNOR.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 1977 AND BEYOND, SIR MURRAY SAID HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE LONGER TERM MUST DEPEND VERY LARGELY ON ITS OWN EFFORTS AS WELL AS ITS MAJOR MARKETS AND SOURCES FOR RAW MATERIALS.
HE SAID: +BETTER USE OF THE LABOUR FORCE THROUGH MORE TRAINING, MORE SKILLS AND THE PROVISION OF MORE PRODUCTIVE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT IS VERY MUCH IN OUR OWN HANDS. SO IS THE ADAPTABILITY OF OUR ECONOMY TO CHANGES IN DEMAND IN OVERSEAS MARKETS.*
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF OVERSEAS MARKETS, SIR MURRAY SAID THERE WERE SIGNS THAT THE ECONOMIC POLICIES OF MOST MAJOR COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WOULD CONTINUE TO BE STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY FEAR OF INFLATION.
+IF SO, THE GROWTH IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE MAY BE SLOWER IF SURER,* HE ADDED, +NEVERTHELESS, SO LONG AS IT DOES CONTINUE TO GROW, AS WE CONFIDENTLY EXPECT IT WILL, HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY IS SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE TO WIN THE SHARE THAT WILL KEEP OUR CAPACITY FULLY OCCUPIED.*
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
- 6 -
PLANS TO EXPAND INDUSTRY
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY HE WAS CONVINCE THAT FOR HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY TO EXPAND SO AS TO DIVERSIFY AND ACHIEVE HIGHER LEVELS OF TECHNOLOGY, THE PRINCIPAL STIMULANT THE GOVERNMENT COULD INJECT WAS LAND.
SPEAKING AT THE NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE LAYOUTS OF THE NEW TOWNS WERE BEING REVIEWED SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR WIDER DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY.
+SECONDLY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE ITS POLICY OF GRANTING LAND ON SPECIAL TERMS FOR INDUSTRIES INTRODUCING NEW TECHNOLOGY OF VALUE TO THE ECONOMY. THE PROCESS OF THIS POLICY IS ALREADY APPARENT, FOR INSTANCE, ON TSING Yl ISLAND,+ HE SAID.
+THIRDLY, I BELIEVE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE CONCEPT OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATES.+
SIR MURRAY SAID THAT A PROVISIONAL INDUSTRIAL ESTATES AUTHORITY HAD ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, LEGISLATION TO CONVERT THE AUTHORITY INTO AN INDEPENDENT CORPORATION WOULD BE INTRODUCED THIS SESSION.
WORK ON THE FIRST INDUSTRIAL ESTATE AT TA IPO OF ABOUT 185 ACRES IS PROCEEDING FAST, AND WORK SHOULD START ON ANOTHER OF ABOUT THE SAME SIZE NEAR YUEN LONG NEXT YEAR. TWO OR THREE OTHER LARGE ESTATES ARE BEING PLANNED.
THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT IN THESE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF NEW TOWNS AND NEW AREAS FOR INDUSTRY, PROVISION OF ADEQUATE COMMUNICATIONS WOULD BE CRUCIAL.
+TO THE WEST, IN ADDITION TO SEA COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF CONSIDERABLE EXPANSION, THERE IS THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY, AND I HOPE THAT A PROPOSAL WILL BE MADE SHORTLY FOR COMMENCING THE SECOND AND FINAL PHASE OF THAT PROJECT,* SIR MURRAY SAID.
TO THE EAST AND NORTH, HE ADDED, THE DOUBLING OF THE LION ROCK TUNNEL AND OF THE ROAD AND RAIL LINKS TO SHATIN WOULD BE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS.
+WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE CONTINUATION OF THESE LINKS BY MEANS OF COAST ROAD TO TA IPO AND A THOROUGH-GOING EXPANSION OF THE RAILWAY,* THE GOVERNOR SAID.
+WITHIN THE URBAN AREA ITSELF, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY
IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. 1 ALSO HOPE THAT THE TUNNEL TO ABERDEEN AND ITS CONNECTION WITH THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WILL EASE CONGESTION ON EXISTING ROADS AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN ABERDEEN AND POKFULAM.+
/REGARDING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
- 7
REGARDING HONG KONG’S FINANCIAL SYSTEM, SIR MURRAY SAID: +WE MUST NOT EVER ON ANY ACCOUNT DISCOURAGE ENTERPRISE AND THE WILLINGNESS TO TAKE RISKS FOR THE SAKE OF PROFITS.
+ BUT THE GROWTH OF HONG KONG AS A MAJOR FINANCIAL CENTRE HAS REQUIRED THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM IS CONDUCTED WITH A DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY WHICH MATCHES OUR INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE AND PROTECTS OUR PUBLIC.
+WE HAVE THEREFORE ENACTED ORDINANCES PROGRESSIVELY TO REGULATE BANKING, SECURITIES, DEPOSIT TAKING COMPANIES AND COMMODITY TRADING. MUCH HAS ALSO BEEN DONE TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMPANIES LEGISLATION PARTICULARLY THAT DEALING WITH PROSPECTUSES AND COMPANY ACCOUNTS.+
DURING THE COMING SESSION, THE GOVERNOR SAID, FURTHER BILLS WERE EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED TO GIVE EFFECT TO MORE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMPANIES LAW REVISION COMMITTEE.
HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT A BILL INVOLVING A MAJOR REVISION AND CONSOLIDATION OF HONG KONG’S INSURANCE LAW SHOULD BE PRESENTED BEFORE LONG.
CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN, HE ADDED, TO THE DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF CURBING INSIDER TRADING ON WHICH BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NOW REALISED THAT ACTION WAS OVERDUE.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO THE VERY IMPORTANT DUTY OF PROTECTING INDUSTRY’S ACCESS TO OVERSEAS MARKETS.
+THIS THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO DO TO THE BEST OF ITS VERY CONSIDERABLE ABILITY. I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECORD THIS GOVERNMENT’S THANKS FOR THE UNFAILING SUPPORT OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND ITS MISSIONS IN HELPING TO PROTECT OUR TRADING RIGHTS,+ HE SAID.
+IN CONCERT WITH THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE BOTH EXPORTS AND OVERSEAS INVESTMENT TO EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY OUR INDUSTRY.+
THE GOVERNOR WAS CONFIDENT THAT UNPREDICTABLE EXTERNAL ECONOMIC CONVULSIONS APART, OUR PROSPECTS WERE ONCE MORE GOOD, AND THAT WE MAY FACE THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF HONG KONG WITHOUT FEAR THAT OUR REASONABLE PLANS TO SOLVE THEM WILL SUFFER FROM FINANCIAL RESTRAINT.
+NOW THE TIME IS GOOD AND THERE IS EVERY PROSPECT OF IT CONTINUING SO, THEREFORE IT BEHOVES US, IN THIS NEW AND MORE FORTUNATE SITUATION, TO CONSIDER WHETHER OUR PLANS ARE COMMENSURATE WITH OUR POSS IBIL ITIES,+ HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976.
8 -
HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME NEEDS BROADENING
******
THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, UNDER WHICH THE GOVERNMENT BUILDS FLATS FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC, NEEDS BROADENING, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THE ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS TO SELL FLATS ONLY TO PERSONS ALREADY IN HOUSING ESTATES SO AS TO MAKE ROOM IN RENTED ACCOMMODATION FOR OTHERS IN MORE NEED.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, AFTER CAREFUL THOUGHT HE HAD REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT PROMOTION OF HOME OWNERSHIP WAS SUCH A DESIRABLE SOCIAL OBJECTIVE IN ITS OWN RIGHT THAT THE SCHEME NEEDED BROADENING
ACCORDINGLY, A WORKING PARTY ON HOME OWNERSHIP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS SET UP AT THE END OF JULY. ITS TASK WAS FIRSTLY TO WORK OUT A PRACTICABLE SCHEME FOR PERSONS WITHIN AND ALSO IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE INCOME LIMITS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND SECONDLY TO RECOMMEND HOW AND BY WHOM THE SCHEME SHOULD BE MANAGED.
+ IT WILL NOT BE EASY TO DEVISE MORTGAGE FACILITIES TAILORED TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PEOPLE OF THE INCOME RANGES WE HAVE IN MIND, BUT I AM CONFIDENT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE,* SIR MURRAY SAID.
THE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH THE WORKING PARTY WILL DEVISE WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A LARGE-SCALE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHEME OF HOME OWNERSHIP WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
HE DISCLOSED THAT THE FIRST INSTALMENT OF 5,000 FLATS WOULD BE READY FOR SALE IN 1979/80 AND FURTHER INSTALMENTS WOULD THEN FOLLOW EACH YEAR.
SIR MURRAY SAID THAT OUR TARGET WAS SELF-CONTAINED HOUSING IN A DECENT ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL, AND WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL BY THE EARLY '80S.
+HOUSING ’FOR ALL’ IS A QUESTION OF QUANTITY,* HE SAID. +ONLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE NEW HOMES FOR ABOUT 200,000 PEOPLE A YEAR IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR WILL WE BE MAKING THE KIND OF IMPACT WE SET OUT TO DO.*
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT IN THIS AND THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR HONG KONG WOULD STILL BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF RESTRAINTS IMPOSED DURING THE RECESSION.
HE ADDED THAT TAKING ALL GOVERNMENT-FINANCED HOUSING TOGETHER, INCLUDING THAT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE HOUSING SOCIETY, COMPLETIONS IN THESt TWO YEARS WOULD HOUSE ABOUT 97,000 AND 109,000 PERSONS RESPECTIVELY.
+3UT IN 1978/79, THE FIGURES WILL RISE DRAMATICALLY TO 170,000 AND 224,000 IN 1979/80. THEREAFTER FIGURES WELL OVER THE 200,000 MARK WILL BE MAINTAINED,* SIR MURRAY SAID.
/♦THE BACK .....
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
9
+THE BACK OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE BROKEN BY ’84, PROVIDED ALL CONCERNED MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE NECESSARY TO KEEP ON OUR TARGETS,+ HE STRESSED.
+NONE OF US LIKE THE PRESENT HOUSING SITUATION IN HONG KONG, THE LENGTH OF THE WAITING LIST, THE NUMBERS IN THE OLDEST TYPE ESTATES, IN RESITE AREAS OR SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS OR BED-SPACES. OUR ONLY DEFENCE CAN EE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE MAXIMUM EFFORT TO END IT THAT IS PHYSICALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY POSSIBLE. WITH THE RECESSION BEHIND US, THIS I BELIEVE AT LAST TO BE THE CASE.*
REFERRING TO HOUSING +WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL+, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS A QUESTION OF STANDARDS, COSTS AND RENTS ON THE ONE HAND AND INCOMES ON THE OTHER.
HE SAID THE RENTS CHARGED IN THE NEWEST ESTATES WERE NOT MORE THAN HALF OF PRIVATE SECTOR RENTS AND USUALLY LESS, AND TO ENSURE THAT HOUSING FULFILS ITS SOCIAL PURPOSE THIS DEGREE OF SUBSIDISATION WOULD BE MAINTAINED.
SIR MURRAY SAID : +WE SHOULD NOT DROP STANDARDS IN THE NEW ESTATES AND IN FACT SHOULD RATHER SEEK TO RAISE THEM WITHOUT OF COURSE REDUCING THE NUMBERS TO BE REHOUSED.+
+l AM EQUALLY CONVINCED THAT HOUSING MUST CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL, OR A SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT IN THE SOCIAL COHESION OF HONG KONG WILL BE LOST.+
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE COURSE BEING FOLLOWED BY THE AUTHORITY WAS TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT FROM OLD TO NEW ESTATES OF THOSE ABLE TO PAY THE HIGHER RENTS AND THUS MAKE ROOM FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT.
+THE SLOW RAISING OF THE EXCEPTIONALLY LOW RENTS IN THE OLD ESTATES WHICH WERE STATIC FOR SO LONG, AND STILL ARE ONLY BETWEEN QUARTER AND A SEVENTH OF COMPARABLE PRIVATE RENTS IS IN LINE WITH THE GENERAL AIM OF PROVIDING HOUSING WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL,* SIR MURRAY SAID.
+l SAY THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE JUSTICE OF SLOWLY RAISING THEM IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED, THOUGH IT IS CERTAINLY OUR INTENTION THAT THEY SHOULD REMAIN VERY LOW IN COMPARISON WITH PRIVATE RENTS.+
AS FOR NEW ESTATES, THE GOVERNOR SAID, IT SEEMED SENSIBLE TO FIX RENTS AT A LEVEL WHICH +AVOIDS EXCESSIVE SUBSIDY FOR THE MAJORITY OF ELIGIBLE FAMILIES, SINCE THEY CAN AFFORD THESE LEVELS.*
+ THIS MEANS THAT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE FOR THE MINORITY WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEM BUT WHOSE HOUSING PROBLEM MUST BE SOLVED,* HE ADDED.
+THE AUTHORITY’S POLICY IS FRAMED TO MEET THIS PROBLEM, AND THE AUTHORITY WILL KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON IT AND DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HOUSE EVERYBODY WITHIN THEIR MEANS.*
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
10
GOVT. TO PROVIDE NINE * * * *
YEARS OF EDUCATION * *
THE GOVERNMENT’S IMMEDIATE PRIORITY IN EDUCATION IS TO PROVIDE NINE YEARS OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING THREE YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, FOR ALL AND WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE ADDED: +THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OUR INABILITY HITHERTO TO DO THIS HAVE BEEN A MATTER OF DEEP CONCERN-HOWEVER THE THREE YEARS FROM 1978-80 WILL SEE AN END OF THIS.*
+BY ’78 THE EXTRA PLACES WILL BE FOUND FOR ALL PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVERS BY BUILDING OR CONVERSION TO CREATE 48 NEW SCHOOLS, BY FLOTATION AND EXTENDED DAY CLASSES, AND BY THE PURCHASE OF PLACES IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS,+ HE SAID.
THESE ARRANGEMENTS, HOWEVER, SHOULD NOT BE MADE PERMANENT AND SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, + THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FURTHER 35 NEW SCHOOLS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN IN THE COMING TWO YEARS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF JUNIOR SECONDARY PLACES,+ HE SAID.
TO ASSIST QUALITY DURING THIS PERIOD OF EXPANSION, HE ADDED +HERCULEAN EFFORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION SERVICES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.*
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDED PROVISION FOR ONLY 29 PER CENT OF THE 15-16 AGE GROUP, WHILE THE WHITE PAPER HAD RECOMMENDED THE PROVISION OF ASSISTED SENIOR SECONDARY PLACES FOR 40 PER CENT OF THIS AGE GROUP.
+S0 IN THE COMING YEAR PLANS MUST BE MADE TO MEET THIS SHORTFALL,* HE SAID.
HE ALSO REVEALED THAT, WITH THE PROSPECT OF PROVISION FOR UP TO FORM 3 BEING COMPLETED AND WITH THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PLACES AT OTHER LEVELS WHICH COULD BE EXPECTED IN THE EARLY 198O’S, A WORKING PARTY WAS ENGAGED IN DRAWING UP A REPORT ON WHAT OUR FUTURE COURSE SHOULD EE FOR SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION AND THE BALANCE THAT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
+WHEN THE REPORT IS READY, WHICH SHOULD BE EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR, I WILL BE SEEKING ADVICE ON BOTH THE SUBSTANCE OF THE REPORT AND ON PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING IT,* HE SAID.
+BUT SINCE IT WILL BE OF SUCH CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, AT THE MOMENT IT SEEMS TO ME A SUITABLE SUBJECT FOR A GREEN PAPER BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION IS TAKEN,* HE ADDED.
/TURNING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
11
TURNING TO TERTIARY EDUCATION, SIR MURRAY SAID THE EXPANSION OF THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE UNIVERSITIES WOULD CONTINUE.
♦ AT THE POLYTECHNIC IN 1975/76 THERE WERE ABOUT 7,500 FULL-TIME AND EQUIVALENT PART-TIME STUDENTS AND THIS SHOULD GROW TO JUST UNDER 10,000 BY ’77/78 AND TO 11,400 BY ’80/81.
+BY THEN THE POLYTECHNIC WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR MORE THAN 30,000 DAY AND EVENING STUDENTS,+ HE SAID.
THE COMBINED STUDENT POPULATION OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY WAS ABOUT 6,000 IN 1973. +BY THE END OF 1978 IT WILL BE 8,800 AND BY ’81 ABOUT 10,300,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT PLANNING WAS BEGINNING IN EARNEST FOR THE OPENING OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY. +NOT ONLY WILL HONG KONG NEED THIS EXTRA SUPPLY OF DOCTORS IN THE '80S, BUT THIS MAJOR PROJECT DEMONSTRATES THE GOVERNMENT’S CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND THE GREAT PART IT HAS TO PLAY IN MEETING THE NEEDS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
+1 THINK THIS RATE OF BUILD-UP IN BOTH THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE UNIVERSITIES IS THE MOST THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY, AND WITHOUT CREATING IMBALANCE IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE,+ HE ADDED.
TURNING TO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, SIR MURRAY SAID DEVELOPMENT WAS PROCEEDING WELL.
+WHEN THE FIFTH INSTITUTE, PLANNED FOR KOWLOON TONG, IS OPENED IN ’79 THERE WILL BE PLACES FOR SOME 6,650 FULL-TIME OR EQUIVALENT PART-TIME STUDENTS AND FOR ABOUT 20,000 EVENING STUDENTS IN ADDITION,* RE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT WE MUST WATCH HOW DEMAND FOR THIS TYPE OF TRAINING DEVELOPED AS INDUSTRY BECAME MORE SOPHISTICATED AND THE FULL EFFECT OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE WAS FELT, AND BE READY TO EXPAND IT IF NECESSARY.
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12
MASSIVE PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
******
THE GOVERNOR TODAY OUTLINED A MASSIVE PROGRAMME FURTHER TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WHICH CONTINUE TO BE IN HEAVY DEMAND.
IN HIS ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SESSION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY SAID, +BY THE END OF 1976, WHEN PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL BE IN FULL USE, THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 19,000 HOSPITAL BEDS AGAINST AN ESTIMATED REQUIREMENT OF 22,600. 2,700 OF THIS SHORTFALL IS IN PSYCHIATRIC BEDS.+
OUTLINING THE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME, HE SAID THAT IN 1980 THE NEW 1,300-BED PSYCHIATRIC WING AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WOULD MEET PART OF THE SHORTFALL OF PSYCHIATRIC BEDS AND A FURTHER 630 BEDS WOULD BE ADDED IN OTHER PROJECTS WITHIN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
HE DISCLOSED THAT A HOSPITAL COMPLEX AT SHAT IN WITH 1,200 BEDS, A SUPPORTING POLYCLINIC AND A GENERAL CLINIC WOULD OPEN IN 1982/83.
IN ADDITION, THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL WITH 1,200 BEDS AND A SUPPORTING POLYCLINIC WOULD OPEN IN 1983/84 AND A FURTHER FOUR CLINICS, ONE HEALTH CENTRE AND A POLYCLINIC PLANNED FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND EAST KOWLOON WOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
SIR MURRAY SAID, +THOUGH THESE DEVELOPMENTS WILL REDUCE PRESSURE ON BOTH QUEEN MARY AND QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITALS, FURTHER THOUGHT IS BEING GIVEN TO SUPPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAMME WITH ADDITIONAL BEDS IN A NEW HOSPITAL IN EAST KOWLOON.+
THE GOVERNOR ALSO OUTLINED OTHER WAYS IN WHICH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES CAN BE IMPROVED.
THEY ARE THE REGIONALISATION OF USE OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES, THE APPLICATION OF THE COMMUNITY NURSING, THE DRUG TREATMENT FACILITIES, THE SUPPLY OF DOCTORS, THE DENTAL SERVICES, THE REHABILITATION SERVICES AND POPULATION CONTROL.
SIR MURRAY SAID A MAJOR RE-ORGANISATION WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN 1977 TO MAKE MORE EFFICIENT USE OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES AVAILABLE.
ON COMMUNITY NURSING, THE GOVERNOR SAID A WORKING PARTY TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE APPLICATION OF COMMUNITY NURSING AT PRESENT PROVIDED BY SOME VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE EXPANDED OR MIGHT HELP TO EASE THE PRESSURE ON HOSPITAL BEDS HAD SUBMITTED A REPORT TO THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHOSE VIEWS THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER.
REFERRING TO FACILITIES FOR DRUG TREATMENT, HE SAID FOUR METHADONE MAINTENANCE CLINICS WERE OPENED IN DECEMBER 1974 AND MORE RECENTLY 14 DETOXIFICATION CLINICS.
/HE SAID:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
13
HE SAID: +BUT NOW THAT THE INTERCEPTION OF SUPPLIES IS MORE SUCCESSFUL, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT CLINICS ARE AVAILABLE TO ADDICTS WHEREVER THE DEMAND EXISTS.*
THE GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED, INTENDED TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON HOW THIS DEVELOP.
TURNING TO THE SUPPLY OF DOCTORS, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY WOULD ADMIT ITS FIRST INTAKE IN 1981, AND WOULD EVENTUALLY PRODUCE 100 DOCTORS A YEAR SUPPLEMENTING THE 150 DOCTORS PRODUCED BY THE EXISTING MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY.
+MEANWHILE,* HE SAID, +IT IS HOPED THAT A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF SO-CALLED ’UNREG ISTRABLE DOCTORS’ WILL BE LICENSED.
+ABOUT 1,700 HAVE APPLIED TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION, AND THE FIRST TO QUALIFY AFTER A PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT SHOULD START PRACTISE IN 1979,+ HE SAID.
ON DENTISTRY, THE GOVERNOR SAID, +WE PROPOSE TO START WITH A SERVICE TO CARE FOR THE TEETH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.
+A DENTAL CENTRE IS BEING BUILT AT MORRISON HILL FOR A DENTAL NURSE AND HYGIENIST TRAINING SCHOOL, AND A CHILDREN’S DENTAL CLINIC WITH 30 CHAIRS.+
THE FIRST INTAKE OF DENTAL NURSES FOR TRAINING WILL START IN SEPTEMBER 1978 AND THE SCHOOL DENTAL CONSERVATION SERVICE IN 1981.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO REVEALED THAT THE PLANNING OF A DENTAL SCHOOL IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG HAD STARTED AND IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE FIRST PRE-CLINICAL INTAKE WOULD BE IN 1980 AND THE FIRST GROUP OF 60 DENTISTS SHOULD GRADUATE IN 1984.
ON REHABILITATION SERVICES, HE SAID THE THOROUGH REVIEW OF THESE SERVICES HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED AND A GREEN PAPER ON THE SUBJECT WOULD BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK.
SPEAKING ABOUT POPULATION CONTROL, SIR MURRAY SAID, +WE MUST CONTINUE TO EXERT TIGHT CONTROL OVER BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND ALSO ENSURE THAT FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES ARE ADEQUATE TO THE COMMUNITY’S REQUIREMENTS.
HE SAID ALL NEW FAMILY HEALTH CENTRES WOULD INCORPORATE FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES WHICH ARE NOW BEING PROVIDED AT 66 CENTRES — 40 OPERATED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND 26 BY THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION.
+THE CALCULATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS SUGGEST THAT THESE MEASURES ARE HAVING FAIRLY SATISFACTORY RESULTS,+ SAID SIR MURRAY.
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/14
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
14
SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES UNDERGOING MAJOR REVIEW
*****
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONDUCTING A MAJOR REVIEW OF ITS SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE SAID THE PROGRAMMES FALL INTO THREE MAIN CATEGORIES: PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES AND SERVICES.
REGARDING THE PROVISION OF SERVICES, HE SAID: +ON THESE YOUR GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING COSTED PROGRAMME PLANS COVERING THE MAJOR FIELDS OF SERVICES TO THE HANDICAPPED, THE ELDERLY AND YOUTH.+
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT PLANS ON REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE HANDICAPPED WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK,PLANS ON SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE READY EARLY NEXT YEAR AND PLANS ON PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUTH SHOULD BE READY BY THE LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.
+ONCE WE HAVE THESE PLANS WE WILL UNDERTAKE AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF WHAT NEEDS DOING TO COMPLETE THE SAFETY NET FOR OUR SOCIETY AND MAKE SURE IT HAS NO HOLES,+ HE SAID.
+CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENTS ARE AN ENORMOUS ADVANCE ON THE DRY RATIONS OF SIX YEARS AGO.
+BUT NOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY HAS BEEN RUN IN, WE SHOULD LOOK CLOSELY AT HOW WELL IT REALLY WORKS’ AT WHETHER METHODS OF PROVING NEED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ARE REASONABLE, AT WHETHER THE LEVELS OF PAYMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE AND CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY INCLUDING FOR INSTANCE THE AGE FOR INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE ARE RIGHT.
+IN SHORT, AT WHETHER OUR ARRANGEMENTS COVER PROPERLY THE VULNERABLE GROUPS THE COMMUNITY WISHES TO HELP, AND IF NOT WHAT ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE NECESSARY.
+WE INTEND TO COMBINE THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE REVIEWS OF PAYMENTS AND OF SERVICES IN AN AMENDED AND MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND SPECIFIC SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME, WHICH WE INTEND SHOULD BE READY BY ABOUT THE END OF 1977, AND SUBJECT TO VIEWS OF HONOURABLE MEMBERS, BEGIN IMPLEMENTED IN 1978,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH MADE ITS PRESENCE FELT DURING THE RECESSION WHEN MANY ABLE-BODIED PERSONS BETWEEN 15 AND 55 WERE EXCLUDED.
DURING THE RECESSION, HE SAID, IT WAS QUITE WRONG THAT UNEMPLOYED SINGLE MEN OR COUPLES WITHOUT CHILDREN HAD TO LIVE OFF THEIR FRIENDS OR THEIR WITS, OR THAT SOME MARRIED MEN HAD TO LIVE OFF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GRANTED TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY.
/+WE PROPOSE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1Q76
15
+WE PROPOSE TO INCLUDE THEM NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS BEING MADE TO PREVENT ABUSE,+ HE SAID.
+WE THINK THESE SHOULD INCLUDE A RESIDENCE QUALIFICATION, A DEFINED PERIOD OF UNEMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS SERVICES TO ASSIST APPLICANTS TO FIND WORK AND TO CHECK ON THEIR SITUATION --BUT OF COURSE ADMINISTERED WITH HUMAMINITY.
+IT DO NOT THINK ATTEMPTS AT ABUSE ON A SIGNIFICANT SCALE LIKELY IN THIS HARD WORKING AND SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITY, AND SO FAR THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAS BEEN ABUSED REMARKABLY LITTLE.+
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DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME TO BE EXTENDED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO EXTEND AN AMENDED VERSION OF THE DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME TO OFFENDERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21 AND 25, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.
IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT THE DETENTION CENTRE CONTINUED TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH OFFENDERS AGED FROM 14 TO 20.
+BUT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS UNDER 21 CONVICTED OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE HAS DROPPED AND THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE 21 TO 30 AGE GROUP,+ HE SAID.
A DETENTION CENTRE FOR OFFENDERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21 AND 25 WILL BE OPENED NEXT APRIL, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT INSPITE OF RAPID EXPANSION OF PRISON ACCOMMODATION IN THE LAST 2-1/2 YEARS, MORE WAS STILL NEEDED TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING.
+THE NEW RECEPTION CENTRE FOR ABOUT 1,000 AT LAI CHI KOK AND THE NEW TRAINING CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN DISTRICT, BOTH OF WHICH OPEN NEXT YEAR SHOULD HELP CONSIDERABLY.
+BUT FURTHER HIGH SECURITY ACCOMMODATION IS NEEDED AND PROPOSALS WILL BE PUT TO YOU FOR A NEW PRISON FOR 400 AT SHEK PIK FOR COMPLETION IN 1980,+ HE SAID.
SIR MURRAY ALSO REVEALED THAT AN EXPERT ON PRISON INDUSTRIES WOULD BE COMING TO HONG KONG EARLY NEXT YEAR TO HELP SPEED UP THE EXPANSION OF PRISON INDUSTRIES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING.
/16......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
16
NEW MEASURES TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS
* * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE IN THE CURRENT SESSION FURTHER MEASURES TO IMPROVE LEGISLATION GOVERNING EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AFTER OUTLINING A NUMBER OF NEW LEGISLATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ENACTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE LAST SESSION, THE GOVERNOR SAID: +IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME SHOULD CONTINUE.+
HE REVEALED THAT AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WILL BE INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE FOR ONE WEEK’S HOLIDAY WITH PAY FROM 1978 AND FOR ONE REST DAY A WEEK (INSTEAD OF FOUR A MONTH) NEXT YEAR, AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERANCE PAY AND SICKNESS BENEFITS.
OTHER PLANS IN THE PROGRAMME INCLUDE:
* IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERANCE PAY AND SICKNESS BENEFITS,
* COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR WORKERS SUFFERING FROM SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOSIS,
* A DETAILED REVIEW OF THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND,
* FURTHER LEGISLATION AND LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION OF WAGES IN THE CASE OF BANKRUPTCY OR LIQUIDATION.
+IT IS IMPORTANT,+ SIR MURRAY SAID +THAT IN THIS FIELD OF LABOUR LEGISLATION TOO WE SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT OUR OBJECTIVES ARE.+
+YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD SET OURSELVES THE TARGET ACHIEVING A LEVEL OF LEGISLATION GOVERNING SAFETY, HEALTH AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AT LEAST BROADLY EQUIVALENT TO THE BEST IN OUR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES WHOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND ARE SIMILAR TO OUR OWN, WHICH IN EFFECT MEANS OUR PRINCIPAL ASIAN , COMPETITORS EXCLUDING JAPAN,+ HE POINTED OUT.
ADMITTING THAT HONG KONG WORKERS’ INCOMES WERE HIGHER THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WOULD BELIEVE IT RIGHT THAT ON THIS ACCOUNT HONG KONG SHOULD AIM AT PROVIDING ITS PEOPLE WITH LESS PROTECTION.
♦NOR COULD WE DEFEND A LOWER TARGET INTERNATIONALLY OR AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE SORT OF SOCIETY WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD,+ HE EMPHASISED.
/+THIS IS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
17
+ THIS IS A FIELD IN WHICH WE HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, BUT WE HAVE TO GO FURTHER TO REACH THE STANDARD WE HAVE SET AND I AM SURE WE CAN DO SO FAIRLY WELL WITHIN FIVE YEARS.
+ INDEED THE LEGISLATION NOW PROPOSED WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS CLOSING THE GAP.
+ l AM SATISFIED THAT WE CAN DO SO BY STEPS GRADUATED SO AS NOT TO AFFECT MATERIALLY OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION,* HE ADDED.
- 0 -
URBAN COUNCIL LAUDED * * * *
THE GOVERNOR TODAY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND SAID THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH IT WORKED HAD PROVED A SUCCESS AND A STIMULANT THROUGHOUT ITS FIELD OF ACTIVITY.
IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY SAID, +WE ARE ALL PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE DIMENSION IT HAS BROUGHT TO ITS WORK IN THE CULTURAL FIELD.
+THE GREAT VOLUME AND VARIETY OF ENTERTAINMENT WHICH IT NOW OFFERS HAS BROUGHT NEW INTEREST AND NEW EXCITEMENT TO A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF THE POPULATION.*
HE SAID THAT THE COUNCIL’S APPROACH TO HAWKING DURING THE RECESSION WAS HUMANE AND REALISTIC.
+l AM SURE NOW THAT HAWKING IS SLIGHTLY IN DECLINE
THE COUNCIL WILL BE EQUALLY IMAGINATIVE IN PLANNING PERMANENT PROVISION FOR THE RIGHT LEVEL OF THIS FORM OF RETAIL TRADE.*
ON THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN, SIR MURRAY SAID, +HONG KONG IS MUCH CLEANER THAN IT WAS.*
+THE COUNCIL HAD GREAT INITIAL SUCCESS IN CLEANING THE STREETS AND LITTER SPOTS AND HAS FOLLOWED UP WITH THE BEACHES.
+CLEANLINESS AND CARE FOR THE APPEARANCE OF WHAT WE SEE EACH DAY IS OF INESTIMABLE VALUE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY JUST AS THE REVERSE IS AN IRRITANT AND A THREAT TO HEALTH,* HE ADDED.
SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT BRED CARE TO PRESERVE IT, JUST AS TOLERATED LITTER BEGOT INDIFFERENCE.
+WE ALL THEREFORE ATTACH THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE TO THE COUNCIL’S FURTHER WORK IN THIS FIELD, AND WISH THEM SUCCESS IN THEIR ENDEAVOURS TO PERSUADE THE PUBLIC TO MAKE EXTRA EFFORT IN THEIR RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS AND IN THE STREETS SO THAT OUR CITY WILL NOT JUST BE CLEANER THAN MOST OTHERS, BUT WILL BE SECOND TO NONE,* THE GOVERNOR SAID.
- - o - -
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976 ‘
DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR N.T. AND OUTLYING ISLANDS
******
TiE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY OUTLINED NEW level: : ■ PLANS for eight different places in the new territories AND DRYING ISLANDS.
= * AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE CCwRSE JF Tn IS fEAR AND THE NEXT.
HE POINTED OUT THAT AT TAI PO, FANLING AND YUEN LONG THERE WJJLD BE SUBSTANTIAL EXPANSION OF URBAN CENTRES TO PROVIDE HOUSING, -A J FOR INDUSTRY, AND COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
AT 2THER PEACES SUCH AS SILVERMINE BAY AND CHEUNG CHAU .'ALLEE DOSING ESTATES WOULD BE BUILT, HE PROMISED.
T-' GOVERNOR NOTED THAT THE PACE OF PHYSICAL CHANGE IN THE V' • TE'- ’CRIES WAS MORE DRAMATIC THAN ELSEWHERE, PARTICULARLY IN THZ NE TOWNS.
B •' ’HE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, HAD BEEN OPEN TO THE CHARGE THAT OUTSIDE “HE NEW TOWNS IT HAD DONE TOO LITTLE.
+1 ASSL-E RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES THIS WILL NOW CHANGE,* HE ASSERTED.
HE ..ENT ON TO SAY THAT DUE TO THE RAPID PACE OF DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF POPULATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THERE WAS A SERIOUS DANGER OF UNDER-ADMINISTRATION THERE.
+THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY STRONG AND ADEQUATELY STAFFED TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND ADEQUATELY TO LOCAL r- ,'BLEMS AND ASPIRATIONS,* HE SAID.
+A PILOT ADMINISTRATION IS BEING SET UP IN TSUEN WAN, WHERE THE POPULATION IS ALREADY MORE THAN HALF A MILLION. A TOWN MANAGER H-: BEEN APPOINTED AND A NUMBER OF SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS Cc E ’• ’ED.
+THE TOWN MANAGER COMBINES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FORMER N-_. TEF TORIES ADMINISTRATION DISTRICT OFFICER WITH THOSE OF A CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER.
+HE JILL HAVE UNDER HIM STAFF BOTH TO ENABLE HIM TO FULFIL HiS ESSE'TIAL PART IN “HE PHYSICAL PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO TO :UN A DISTRICT ORGANISATION SIMILAR TO THAT IN HONG KONG A'.J KOWLOON SC AS TO FOSTER THE GROWTH OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS.
+T--SE HA'/j PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THE
NEW TOWNS, WHERE SO MUCH OF THE POPULATION IS NEW AND CONTAINS SO MANY PEOPLE WHO E STRANGERS TO EACH OTHER,* HE SAID.
/However, ..
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
19
HOWEVER, SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO ENSURE THAT LARGE AREAS OF UNSPOILT COUNTRYSIDE ARE PRESERVED INTACT TO PLAY THEIR PART IN RECREATION AND TOURISM.
+WE MUST PRESERVE AREAS WHERE THERE IS QUIET, FRESH AIR, AND NATURAL BEAUTY, AND HONG KONG IS STILL RICH IN SUCH AREAS,+ HE SAID
+THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY AND BOARD HAVE THEREFORE BEEN ESTABLISHED.
+THE BOARD IS STRONG, WITH PLENTY OF PUNCH, AND THE AUTHORITY IS NOT STINTED OF FUNDS.
+THEY ARE ENGAGED IN A RACE AGAINST TIME TO DESIGNATE THE PARK AREAS AND ESTABLISH MANAGEMENT TO PRESERVE THEM AND TO ENCOURAGE THEIR PROPER USE, BEFORE IMPROPER AND HAPHAZARD USE DESTROYS THEM.+
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/2O......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
20
BRIGHT PROSPECTS OF REDUCING CRIME
* * * *
THE RISE IN CRIME HAS AT LAST STOPPED AND THE PROSPECTS OF REDUCING IT ARE BECOMING BRIGHTER, ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN HIS ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IN THE AREA OF CRIME, +OVERALL THE PICTURE IS OF SOME HARD-WON AND ENCOURAGING PROGRESS, BUT NOT YET OF VICTORY+.
HE SAID THAT MOBILISATION OF EFFORT BY THE POLICE ON THE ONE HAND AND THE PUBLIC ON THE OTHER WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE AN EFFECT.
+1 AM NOT THINKING ONLY OF THE CRIME FIGURES, THOUGH THE RISE IN FIGURES FOR OVERALL CRIME HAS LEVELLED OFF, THOSE FOR VIOLENT AND KEY CRIME HAVE BEGUN TO SHRINK= AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE FOR ROBBERY HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NOTABLE SUCCESSES AGAINST MAJOR CRIME AND SYNDICATED CRIME,+ HE SAID.
HE STRESSED HE WOULD NOT BE IMPRESSED BY THE BARE FIGURES, +WERE IT NOT THAT FROM THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE HOUSING ESTATES I CONTINUALLY HEAR OF A GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY, BETTER LIAISON WITH THE POLICE AND THE BELIEF THAT FEWER CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITTED WITHIN THE COMMITTEE’S AREA.+
BUT HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE DOMINANT FACT WAS STILL THAT THE LEVEL OF CRIME WAS FAR TOO HIGH, AND OUTLINED FURTHER PLANS TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST IT.
FIRSTLY, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POLICE IS BEING REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT EXPERIENCES AND NEW COMMITMENTS, AND WILL BE FURTHER EXPANDED IF NECESSARY.
+SECONDLY, WE MUST PRESS ON WITH IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE FORCE, AND IT IS HEARTENING THAT 90 PER CENT OF THE APPLICANTS NOW HAVE SOME SECONDARY EDUCATION,* SIR MURRAY SAID.
HE SAID THE SIZE OF THE POLICE CADET SCHOOL WOULD BE DOUBLED TO 600 EARLY NEXT YEAR AND HOPED THAT CONSTRUCTION OF A PERMANENT SCHOOL FOR ABOUT 1,000 WOULD BE COMPLETED BY 1980 AT THE LATEST, +AS I AM CONVINCED THAT IN THIS CADRE OF PRE-TRAINED AND EDUCATED ENTRANTS LIES AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN THE CALIBRE OF THE FORCE*.
+THIRDLY+, HE SAID, +WE MUST CONTINUE TO ENLIST AND ENCOURAGE THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC.*
/+! AM .....
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
21
+l AM SURE THAT ONE EFFECTIVE WAY OF DOING THIS IS TO EXPAND THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES,= BUT THEIR QUALITY MUST BE MAINTAINED AND THE NUMBERS MUST NOT OUT-RUN EXPANSION OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT THEM.
+BY THE END OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR THERE WILL BE ABOUT 2,200 COMMITTEES, AND THE RATE OF INCREASE WE HAVE IN MIND IS ABOUT 600 A YEAR IN THE URBAN AREAS PLUS 120 A YEAR IN THE NEW TERR I TOR IES,+HE SADID.
SIR MURRAY ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE POLICE AND SAID HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE GENERAL SITUATION IN THE FORCE HAD VASTLY IMPROVED.
+THREE YEARS AGO IT WAS 3,200 UNDER STRENGTH,+ HE SAID. +BUT BY THE END OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR IT WILL BE VIRTUALLY UP TO ITS FULL ESTABLISHMENT OF 17,000.+
HE SAID THE POLICE HAD TOTALLY OVERHAULED ITS ORGANISATION TECHNIQUES, PROCEDURES AND DEPLOYMENT, CITING AS EXAMPLES THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CID, THE INTRODUCTION OF A PERSONAL RADIO SCHEME, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NETWORK OF 85 REPORTING CENTRES, THE BUILDING OF A SYSTEM OF NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE UNITS, THE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE AUXILIARY POLICE, IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC THROUGH POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS AND CONTACT WITH MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, AND THE REMARKABLE IMPACT OF THE 168,000-MEMBER JUNIOR POLICE CALL.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
22
I.C.A.C. HAS MARKED SUCCESS, SAYS GOVERNOR * K * # O
THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION HAS MADE A VERY CONSIDERABLE IMPACT BOTH IN CHECKING CORRUPTION AND IN RE-ESTABLISHING THE GOOD NAME OF HONG KONG OVERSEAS, THE GOVERNOR SAID TODAY.
IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THE ATTACK ON CORRUPTION WOULD CONTINUE INEXORABLY.
+THERE WILL BE NO F.’ELAXATION, NO LET UP, UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS BEHIND US, AND I KNOW THAT NO ONE HERE WOULD HAVE IT OTHERWISE,+ SAID THE GOVERNOR.
HE SAID THE OPERATIONS BRANCH HAD REACHED FULL ESTABLISHMENT AND BECOME A POTENT DETERRENT.
+MOREOVER, IT IS NOW ABLE NOT ONLY TO REACT TO COMPLAINTS, BUT INCREASINGLY TO TAKE THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST THOSE INVOLVED IN THE DEEP-SEATED ORGANISED CORRUPTION WHICH HAS HITHERTO ESCAPED THE LAW,+ HE ADDED.
SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT THE PROCESS OF DETECTION AND PUNISHMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED INCREASINGLY BY PREVENTION AND EDUCATION AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S DETERMINATION TO STAMP OUT CORRUPTION WAS SO AMPLY PROVED THERE WAS A MUCH BETTER PROSPECT OF ACHIEVING RESULTS IN THESE PREVENTIVE FIELDS.
+THUS MR. CATER WILL NOW PLACE INCREASING EMPHASIS ON THE WORK OF HIS OTHER TWO DEPARTMENTS FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND CORRUPTION PREVENTION.+
ON CRITICISM THAT THE ICAC SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE RATHER THAN THE PAST EXCEPT IN MAJOR CASES-THAT IT SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH MAJOR OFFENCES RATHER THAN MINOR ONES AND WITH THE PUBLIC RATHER THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE GOVERNOR SAID THESE WERE PRECISELY WHAT ICAC’S PRIORITIES WERE.
+BUT THE LAW LEAVES THE COMMISSIONER LITTLE DISCRETION.
+HE MUST INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS BROUGHT, AND WHEN SATISFIED THAT A CASE EXISTS, SUBMIT IT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.+
THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS UP TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HIS OFFICE TO DECIDE WHAT FURTHER ACTION IS APPROPRIATE.
SIR MURRAY ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO MR. PRENDERGAST WHO HE SAID, +HAS FULFILLED HIS UNDERTAKING GIVEN TO ME NEARLY THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, TO CREATE AN OPERATIONS UNIT CAPABLE OF DETECTING CORRUPTION IN HONG KONG AND OF BRINGING IT TO JUSTICE.*
+WHEN HE RETIRES NEXT JANUARY HE WILL HAVE ROUNDED OFF A CAREER OF GREAT DISTINCTION WITH AN EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT ASSIGMENT EXCEPTIONALLY WELL DONE,* SIR MURRAY SAID.
SUMMING UP HIS REMARKS ON ICAC, THE GOVERNOR SAID, + THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION IS HAVING MARKED SUCCESS, IT COMMANDS THE SUPPORT OF THE POPULATION, AND ALL OF US, I AM SURE, DEVOUTLY WISH IT QUICK SUCCESS SO THAT WE CAN PUT THE PAST BEHIND US.+
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
25
AIM TO BUILD A SOCIETY WITH MUTUAL CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY * * K *
THE GOVERNOR TODAY REITERATED THAT OUR AIM MUST BE TO BUILD A SOCIETY IN WHICH THERE IS MUTUAL CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMMES ARE OF COURSE RELEVANT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NOT CARE FOR A SOCIETY WHICH DOES NOT CARE FOR THEM.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE GREATLY ADMIRED THE EXCELLENT WORK DONE BY MANY OFFICIAL, VOLUNTARY AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS.
+BUT THE FIELD IS SO IMPORTANT AND THERE IS SO MUCH OVERLAPPING OF THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES, AND BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOCIAL WORK, THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CO-ORDINATION AND OVERALL PROVISION.
+THUS,+ HE SAID, +A DESIGN TO DO THIS IS EMERGING BASED ON THE WORK OF THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN RESIDENTIAL AND FACTORY BLOCKS, THE KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS AND AREA COMMITTEES IN LARGER AREAS, SUPPORTED AND ASSISTED BY THE EXPANDING SERVICES OF THE DISTRICT OFFICERS, THE COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICERS AND THE RECREATION OFF ICERS.+
+ALL THIS IS BEING ASSISTED, CO-ORDINATED OR DIRECTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND HIS STAFF,+ HE ADDED.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN ALL TEN CITY DISTRICTS AND ALSO IN TSUEN WAN AND YUEN LONG AND HAD PROVED A GREAT SUCCESS IN PROVIDING CO-ORDINATION AND ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY AND YOUTH GROUPS AND IN PROMOTING CIVIC SENSE.
HE SAID THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE HAD MADE A GOOD START IN ORGANISING THE BETTER USE OF RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS AND LEISURE FACILITIES AND IN ENCOURAGING NEW ONES FOR ALL WALKS AND AGES OF LIFE.
THE SERVICE IS NOW BEING EXPANDED TO ALL DISTRICTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES AND HAS JUST OPENED THE FIRST CAMP OF ITS OWN AT THE SAI KUNG RECREATION CENTRE.
THE GOVERNOR SAID, +THE ENTHUSIASTS RUNNING THESE POPULAR AND EFFECTIVE SERVICES ARE DOING ALL WE COULD EXPECT OF THEM AND THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.+
SIR MURRAY SAID THE PROGRAMMES FOR THE PROVISION OF SECURITY, HOUSING, EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES, A SOCIAL WELFARE NET, AND THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, WERE NOT ENOUGH IN THIS COMMUNITY WHICH WAS SO DENSELY PACKED AND SUBJECT TO SUCH RAPID DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES.
+WE MUST ACTIVELY PLAN, ORGANISE AND ENCOURAGE THE BUILDING OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH ITS GOVERNMENT,* SAID THE GOVERNOR.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
- 24 -
GOVERNOR CONFIDENT OF CONTINUING PROSPERITY FOR H.K. ******
THE GOVERNOR, REVIEWING THE AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, EXPRESSED HIS RENEWED CONFIDENCE IN CONTINUING PROSPERITY, AND DETERMINATION BOTH TO MAINTAIN IT AND TO USE IT FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS.
IN THIS CONNECTION, SIR MURRAY SAID, IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S AIM TO BUILD INTO OUR SOCIETY A BALANCE BETWEEN COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND SOCIAL PROVISION, ON WHICH LIES OUR BEST PROSPECT FOR PROSPERITY, SOCIAL HARMONY AND INTERNATIONAL RESPECT.
+ON THE ONE HAND,* HE ADDED, +THERE MUST BE REASONABLE FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE WEALTH AND INCREASE INCOMES AT ALL LEVELS, AND BECAUSE OF OUR NEED TO RETAIN AND INCREASE INVESTMENT TO EMPLOY OUR POPULATION TO DO SO TO A COMPARATIVELY GREATER EXTENT THAN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.+
+ON THE OTHER HAND THERE MUST BE EASE OF MIND FOR ALL PEOPLE THROUGH CERTAINTY THAT ALL MAY COUNT ON THE ESSENTIALS OF LIFE — EDUCATION;. MEDICAL SERVICES’ HOUSING’ WHERE NECESSARY RELIEF THROUGH SOCIAL WELFARE’ PROTECTION THROUGH ADEQUATE LABOUR LEGISLATION’ AND OF COURSE PERSONAL SAFETY,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT DURING THE RECESSION, +THE MUTUAL COMPREHENSION BETWEEN THE SHOP FLOOR AND THE BOARD ROOM WAS A GREAT CREDIT TO HONG KONG+.
+BUT NEVERTHELESS THE RECESSION HIT THE SHOP FLOOR MUCH HARDER THAN THE BOARD ROOM.+ HE ADDED.
ALTHOUGH THE RECESSION WAS NOW BEHIND US, HE SAID, WE MUST NOT FORGET ITS LESSONS.
♦A NEW EFFORT NOW TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE WORK FORCE AND LOW INCOME GROUP IS THEREFORE TIMELY, RIGHT FOR OUR SOCIETY, AND BUT COMMON JUSTICE,* THE GOVERNOR SAID.
IN THE LIGHT OF THIS, HE SAID, A NEW AND SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LABOUR LEGISLATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE GOVERNMENT’S SOCIAL PROGRAMMES.
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/25......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
- 25 -
TRIBUTE TO MRS. JOYCE SYMONS
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY PAID TRIBUTE TO MRS. JOYCE SYMONS WHO RETIRED AFTER SERVING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FOUR YEARS.
SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL DURING WHICH 10 NEWLY-APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TOOK THE OATH OR MADE AFFIRMATION OF ALLEGIANCE.
HE SAID MRS. SYMONS HAD A VERY LONG RECORD OF DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE INCLUDING THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD, MEMBERSHIP OF OTHER BODIES INCLUDING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, ENGLISH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION, COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, AND THE ICAC TARGET COMMITTEE.
+SHE WILL BE PARTICULARY REMEMBERED IN THIS COUNCIL FOR THE CONTRIBUTION SHE MADE IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION,+ HE SAID.
+1 AM GLAD TO SAY THAT MRS. SYMONS WILL NOT BE RETIRING FROM PUBLIC SERVICE ALTOGETHER, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HER ADVICE IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,* THE GOVERNOR ADDED.
SPEAKING AFTER THE GOVERNOR, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG DESCRIBED MRS. SYMONS AS A PERSON +WHO HAS NOT ONLY BEEN A VERY PERCEPTIVE AND DISTINGUISHED LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS BUT ALSO AN ENERGETIC AND CLEAR-THINKING COLLEAGUE ON UMELCO MATTERS.*
+WE ARE HAPPY THAT, AS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SHE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPORTANT TASKS WHICH ARE BORNE BY UMELCO IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE WISH HER EVERY SUCCESS IN HER NEW ROLE,* HE ADDED.
ON BEHALF OF HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES, DR. CHUNG ALSO EXTENDED A WARM WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, BOTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
26
ROAD CLOSURE
* M * *
CHATER ROAD BETWEEN REDDER STREET AND MURRAY ROAD, AND ICE HOUSE STREET BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL WILL BE CLOSED TO MOTORISTS BETWEEN 1.30 A.M. AND 6.30 A.M. EVERY NIGHT STARTING FROM FRIDAY (OCTOBER 8).
THE CLOSURE OF THESE ROADS IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CHATER STATION.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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I •
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1976
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
SHING MUN BRIDGE COMPLETED .................................... 1
RESUMPTION OF TRAIN SERVICES BETWEEN KOWLOON AND LOWU ......... 2
FIRST HEARING OF SMALL CLAIMS TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK .............. 2
TWO MORE METHADONE DETOXIFICATION CENTRES TO BE OPENED ........ 3
FIRST NEW TERRITORIES TAXI TO BE EXAMINED TOMORROW ............ 4
HUNG HOM INDOOR STADIUM CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY ............. 4
TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AT AIRPORT TO BE IMPROVED ................. 5
AUGUST WAS A BUSY MONTH FOR LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICERS ........ 5
WATER CUT IN TSUEN WAN ....................................... 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1976
SHING MUN BRIDGE COMPLETED
******
THE NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER THE SHING MUN RIVER AT SHA TIN HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND WILL OPEN TO REGULAR TRAIN SERVICES ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 11).
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WORKERS ARE NOW PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES TO THE BRIDGE BEFORE HANDING IT OVER TO THE KOWLOON-CANTON RA ILWAY.
MR. VAL MANSFIELD, PROJECT ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S RAILWAY DIVISION, SAID TODAY THE ONLY WORKS REMAINING WERE THE LAYING OF THE TRACKS TO RECONNECT THE SEVERED RAIL LINE.
+THIS IS NOW BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE K.C.R. AND SHOULD BE FINISHED BY SUNDAY WHEN WE WILL BE CONDUCTING A FINAL LOADING TEST BY PLACING A LOCOMOTIVE ON THE BRIDGE TO TEST ITS STABILITY,+ HE SAID.
THE COMPLETION OF THE BRIDGE CULMINATES ABOUT SIX WEEKS OF ROUND-THE-CLOCK WORK UNDER A CRASH BUILDING PROGRAMME LAUNCHED BY THE P.W.D. FOLLOWING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD RAILWAY BRIDGE DURING AUGUST’S RAINSTORMS.
THE NEW BRIDGE CONSISTS OF A TWO-SPAN STRUCTURE ABOUT 58 METRES LONG AND IS PARTLY BUILT OF STEEL AND PARTLY OF CONCRETE.
MR. MANSFIELD SAID THAT UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THE BRIDGE WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT ENTIRELY OF CONCRETE, BUT DUE TO THE URGENT NATURE OF THE WORK THE P.W.D. HAD HAD TO DEVISE SPECIAL MEANS TO COMPLETE THE BRIDGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
+TO SAVE TIME, MOST OF THE NECESSARY BUILDING MATERIALS WERE BORROWED FROM OTHER PROJECTS. HOWEVER, THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH CONCRETE BEAMS READILY AVAILABLE AND THAT IS WHY WE HAD TO USE STEEL BEAMS FOR THE REST OF THE BRIDGE.
+ IF WE HAD WAITED FOR MORE CONCRETE BEAMS TO BE CAST,* HE ADDED, +THE BRIDGE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.*
MR. MANSFIELD SAID THAT THE P.W.D. WOULD SHORTLY BE CALLING TENDERS FOR A SECOND BRIDGE TO BE BUILT ALONGSIDE THE PRESENT ONE FOR THE PROPOSED DOUBLE-TRACKING OF THE RAILWAY.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1976
2
RESUMPTION OF TRAIN SERVICES BETWEEN KOWLOON AND LOWU * * * *
THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT NORMAL PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICES BETWEEN KOWLOON AND LO WU WILL BE RESUMED ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 11).
THE TEMPORARY PASSENGER STATION AT TAI WAI WILL BE CLOSED AFTER THE LAST TRAIN ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 10).
AT THE SAME TIME, FREIGHT TRAIN SERVICES WILL ALSO RESUME.
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33 SMALL CLAIMS FILED * * * *
THE FIRST HEARING OF CASES FILED UNDER THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ORDINANCE, WHICH DEALS WITH LEGAL CLAIMS FOR AMOUNTS NOT EXCEEDING $3,000, WILL BE HEARD NEXT WEEK.
SINCE THE SMALL CLAIMS CAME INTO OPERATION ON OCTOBER 1, A TOTAL OF 33 CASES HAVE BEEN FILED — 21 AT THE VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AND 12 AT THE KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT.
HEARING OF CASES IN KOWLOON WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY (OCTOBER 12) AND ON HONG KONG ISLAND FROM FRIDAY (OCTOBER 15).
A JUDICIARY SPOKESMAN SAID THE CLAIMS RANGED FROM SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO ABOUT $3,000.
+MANY OF THE CLAIMS INVOLVE DISHONOURED CHEQUES AND NON PAYMENTS OF GOODS SOLD AND DELIVERED,* HE SAID.
+SINCE THE COURT CAME INTO OPERATION, WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS INQUIRIES FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THOUSANDS OF CLAIM FORMS HAVE ALSO BEEN TAKEN BY INDIVIDUALS, BUILDING MANAGEMENTS AND FIRMS.*
THE SPOKESMAN AGAIN REMINDED CLAIMANTS THAT THEY MUST BRING ALONG WITH THEM ON THE DAY OF THE HEARING DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT THEIR CLAIMS, SUCH AS ANY WRITTEN CONTRACT, DISHONOURED CHEQUE-, HIRE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, BUILDING MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, RECEIPTS FOR EXPENSE PAID IN CONNECTION WITH A MOTOR CAR ACCIDENT AND BORROWING NOTE. FULL DETAILS OF THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE DEFENDANT ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1976
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OPENING OF TWO MORE METHADONE DETOXIFICATION CENTRES *****
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT TWO MORE METHADONE DETOXIFICATION CENTRES WILL BE OPENED FROM NEXT MONDAY TO PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR DRUG ADDICTS IN THE RURAL AREAS.
BOTH CENTRES ARE LOCATED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, ONE AT SHEK WU HUI HEALTH CENTRE, JOCKEY CLUB ROAD, SHEUNG SHU I, AND THE OTHER AT TUEN MUN HEALTH CENTRE, SUN CHING AVENUE, TUEN MUN NEW TOWN. SAME AS THE 14 OTHER DETOXIFICATION CENTRES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, THESE TWO CENTRES WILL OPERATE FROM 6 P.M. TO 10 P.M. EACH DAY, INCLUDING SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
THE TWO NEW CENTRES WILL COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING ONE IN TSUEN WAN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHERE THE POPULATION WELL EXCEEDS ONE MILLION.
COMMENTING ON THE OPENING OF THE NEW CENTRES, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. G.H. CHOA, SAID IT WAS GRATIFYING TO NOTE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS SEEKING DETOXIFICATION TREATMENT.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE TOTAL REGISTRATION FOR THE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMME HAD INCREASED BY ALMOST 1,000 TO 5,550 DURING THE PAST MONTH.
DR. CHOA PRAISED THE ROLE PLAYED BY MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE WHO ARE HELPING OUT IN THE DETOXIFICATION CENTRES.
SOME 60 A.M.S. MEMBERS ARE MOBILISED EACH DAY TO MAN FOUR METHADONE MAINTENANCE CENTRES, TWO DAYTIME DETOXIFICATION CENTRES AND 14 EVENING DETOXIFICATION CENTRES.
THEIR DUTIES INCLUDE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND RECORD KEEPING, REGISTRATION OF ADDICTS SEEKING TREATMENT, DISPENSING OF METHADONE DOSAGES AS INSTRUCTED BY THE ATTENDING MEDICAL OFFICERS, AND OTHER CLINICAL DUTIES.
ALL A.M.S. MEMBERS TAKING PART IN THE PROGRAMME ARE GIVEN SPECIALISED TRAINING AND ARE REQUIRED TO WORK AT LEAST SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS TO ENSURE CONTINUITY IN THE WORK.
DR. CHOA SAID HE WAS GREATLY IMPRESSED BY THE EFFICIENT MANNER WITH WHICH A.M.S. MEMBERS HAVE PERFORMED THEIR DUTIES.
THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE METHADONE SCHEME SINCE DECEMBER 1974 WHEN FOUR METHADONE MAINTENANCE CENTRES WERE OPENED.
/4
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1976
4
FIRST N.T. TAXI TO BE EXAMINED TOMORROW
*****
THE FIRST OF THE 253 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS FOR N.T. TAXIS WILL HAVE HIS VEHICLE INSPECTED AT THE TO KWA WAN VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE AT 2 3.M. TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
TWELVE OTHER SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS HAVE MADE BOOKINGS WITH THE EXAMINATION CENTRE FDR THEIR VEHICLES TO BE INSPECTED THIS MONTH.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SA IDs +IF THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED TOMORROW MEETS ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS,IT CAN THEN START OPERATING THE NEXT DAY.+
NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO OPERATING IN THE RURAL AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES. THIS MEANS THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE URBAN AREAS OR IN TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE INSPECTION OF THE FIRST N.T. TAXI. THE TO KWA WAN VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE IS IN LONG YUET STREET, NEAR THE KOWLOON CITY VEHICULAR FERRY.
MR. THOMAS HAHN OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST THE PRESS.
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HUNG HOM INDOOR STADIUM CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY * * * *
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE FIRST CONTRACT FOR THE HUNG HOM INDOOR STADIUM WILL (FRIDAY)0 IN ™E PUBLIC W0RKS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS TOMORROW ctadtI°a-tARE COrD!ALLY INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY WHICH STARTS AT 10.30 A.M. IN THE PWD CONFERENCE ROOM, MURRAY BUILDING, 21ST FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1976
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TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AT AIRPORT TO BE IMPROVED
*******
PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO THE AIRPORT PASSENGER TERMINAL AREA FROM (OCTOBER 9).
TO USE THE ACCESS ROAD 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY
THIS RESTRICTION IS AIMED AT IMPROVING LOCAL TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AT KAI TAK A RPORT.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO INDICATE THE PROHIBITED ZONE.
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TALKS BY LABOUR OFFICERS
*****
AUGUST WAS A BUSY MONTH FOR LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICERS WHO ON REQUEST GAVE 22 TALKS ON SUBJECTS RELATING TO LABOUR LAWS AND THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT. THIS WAS A RECORD HIGH FOR THE YEAR.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDING EACH TALK RANGED FROM 20 TO 100.
SUBJECTS OF THE TALKS INCLUDED PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, HOURS OF WORK FOR YOUNG PERSONS, INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, INTRODUCTION TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONTRACTORS, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, LABOUR LEGISLATION, CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING, THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, MECHANICAL DEVICES AND THEIR SAFE OPERATION, AND ELECTRICAL DEVICES AND THEIR SAFE OPERATION.
AMONG THE ORGANISATIONS WHICH REQUESTED THE TALKS AND LECTURES WERE: THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS INSTITUTE, THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TRADES UNION COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON PROVISION, WINE AND SPIRIT DEALERS ASSOCIATION, KWUN TONG COMMUNITY CENTRE, HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE KWAI CHUNG GIRLS’ HOME.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1976
- 6
WATER CUT * M
iiatco ciippi y Tn A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE TURNED^OFF IoR fIvE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON SATURDAY (OCTOBER 9) TO FACILITATE A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY TEXACO ROAD BETWEEN CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND TAI WO HAU ROAD INCLUDING TAI WO HAU ESTATE, BLOCK NOS. 1 AND 12 TO 20, AND ASBURY METHODIST COTTAGl. AREA.
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FRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS OUT TO"CATCH” UNROADWORTHY VEHICLES SOON ................................................ 1
OVER 130 ORGANISATIONS TO GET GRANTS FROM SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND .................................................. 2
THIRTY-ONE LOTS OF CROWN LAND UP FOR AUCTION IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS ................................................... 3
COMPANIES REMINDED TO FILE ANNUAL RETURNS ................... 4
J
TALK ON FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS .............................. 5
TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING IN KOWLOON TONG ........................... 5
YOUTHS TOLD TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN LIFE .................. 6
WATER INTERRUPTION IN SHA TIN ................................ 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5'233191
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976
1
MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS OUT TO +CATCH+ DEFECTIVE CARS SOON • ******
MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS WILL SOON BE OUT ON THE ROADS TO SPOT DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO HELP IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY.
DISCLOSING THIS TODAY, MR. KEN ANDREWS, SENIOR MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINER OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, SAID: +UNROADWORTHY VEHICLES POSE A POTENTIAL THREAT TO OTHER ROAD USERS AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS, AND SHOULD BE KEPT OFF THE ROAD.*
+TO BE REALLY EFFECTIVE THE JOB SHOULD BE DONE BY EXPERIENCED AND TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED VEHICLE EXAMINERS WHO CAN BE MORE SELECTIVE REGARDING WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD BE STOPPED AND EXAMINED,* HE SAID. +VEHICLE EXAMINERS WOULD CONCENTRATE ON BLATANT CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND USE) REGULATIONS AND DEFECTS WHICH EITHER CAUSED A NUISANCE TO THE PUBLIC OR AFFECTED THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.*
+WE ARE NOW BEING REINFORCED BY FIVE NEWLY-RECRUITED MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS FROM ABROAD - THREE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TWO FROM NEW ZEALAND, AND WHEN THEY HAVE ALL ARRIVED, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE SHALL BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THIS SCHEME WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE TRAFFIC POLICE,* MR. ANDREWS ADDED.
IN FACT, EXISTING ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ALREADY PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION OF VEHICLES BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE, REGULAR INSPECTIONS ARE LIMITED MAINLY TO PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES.
MEANWHILE, PLANS ARE WELL IN ADVANCE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A $4.1 MILLION SEMI-AUTOMATED VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRE IN KOWLOON BAY. THE NEW CENTRE WHICH COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 100,000 SQUARE FEET WILL BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT 80,000 INSPECTIONS A YEAR WHEN FULLY UTILISED.
+IT IS HOPED THAT WHEN THE NEW CENTRE IS COMPLETED IN ABOUT TWO YEARS’ TIME, IT WILL BE ABLE TO EXTEND THE EXISTING ANNUAL INSPECTIONS TO COVER ALL GOODS VEHICLES AND PRIVATE CARS ABOVE A CERTAIN AGE,* MR. ANDREWS SAID.
+HOWEVER, OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS TO INSPECT EVERY VEHICLE ONCE A YEAR,* HE ADDED.
- " ~ ~ *" “ • - U" ~ “ • ““ -I I ■ - ■ ■ — "•■ M ■■ —I ■ * ■ ■ ■■■■
/the department .....
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976
- 2 -
THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO CONSIDERING CHARGING A FEE FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION OF VEHICLES. THE CHARGE WILL BE ABOUT $70 PER VEHICLE.
+COMPULSORY ANNUAL INSPECTION OF VEHICLES HAS ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED IN MANY COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITED KINGDOM, NEW ZEALAND, THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN- AND A MAJORITY OF THEM ARE CHARGING A FEE FOR INSPECTION,* MR. ANDREWS SAID.
THERE ARE’NOW_fHREE~VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRES - ONeTF T0~ KWA WAN, KOWLOON, AND THE OTHER TWO ARE IN TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES AND SO KUN PO ON THE ISLAND. ANOTHER ONE AT WHITFIELD BARRACKS IN KOWLOON WAS CLOSED EARLY THIS MONTH TO MAKE WAY FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
AT PRESENT, THE WORK OF THE VEHICLE INSPECTION SECTION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT COVERS ANNUAL INSPECTION OF TAXIS WITH THEIR METERS CHECKED EVERY SIX MONTHS, PUBLIC CARS, ALL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC OMNIBUSES AND ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES.
IN ADDITION, MECHANICAL INSPECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT ON ALL GOODS VEHICLES AND PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES BEFORE INITIAL REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, ALL USED IMPORTED VEHICLES PRIOR TO REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, THE FIRST OF EVERY NEW MODEL OF PRIVATE CARS. DEFECTIVE VEHICLES REFERRED TO THE SECTION BY THE POLICE AND VEHICLES INVOLVED IN FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
LAST YEAR, THE SECTION INSPECTED OVER 36,000 VEHICLES.
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GRANTS FROM SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND *****
A TOTAL OF 137 ORGANISATIONS WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE GRANTS FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION THIS YEAR.
THE GRANTS TOTAL OVER $345,000.
THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION WAS SET UP IN 1970 FOR THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION, SPORT, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND RELATED PURPOSES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS TOWARDS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE PURPOSEFUL USE OF LEISURE BY YOUNG PEOPLE.
MEANWHILE, APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR WILL BE INVITED.
ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE MADE IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS IN MID-DECEMBER AND APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM ALL CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES AT THAT TIME.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976
LAND SALES FORECAST
******
THIRTY-ONE LOTS OF CROWN LAND WITH A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 106,260 SQ. METRES ARE TO BE PUT UP FOR AUCTION DURING THE NEXT SIX MONTHS BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE.
THE LOTS COMPRISE 13 NON-1NDUSTRI AL SITES, 10 INDUSTRIAL SITES AND EIGHT FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE RESIDENTIAL LAND COMPRISES A TOTAL AREA OF 64,709 SQ. METRES, MADE UP OF SIX LOTS AT CHUNG HOM KOK WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 22,280 SQ. METRES, A SMALL SITE OF 810 SQ. METRES OFF TAI TAM ROAD, AND A VERY LARGE SITE OF 41,619 SQ. METRES AT TAI WO PING IN KOWLOON.
THE LARGE SITE AT TAI WO PING IS INTENDED FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS FOR A SUPERMARKET AND MULTI-STOREY CARPARK.
A TOTAL OF 21,758 SQ. METRES OF NON-1NDUSTRI AL LAND WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE DURING THE SIX MONTHS.
TWO OF THE NON-1NDUSTRI AL SITES, MEASURING A TOTAL OF 9,000 SQ. METRES, ARE ON THE WAN CHAI RECLAMATION AND FOUR WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 11,500 SQ. METRES ARE IN THE EASTERN PART OF TSIM SHA TSUI.
THE TWO SITES ON WAN CHAI RECLAMATION ARE SUBJECT TO A HEIGHT RESTRICTION OF 182.88 METRES (600 FT.) WHILE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE FOUR TSIM SHA TSUI SITES CANNOT EXCEED 51.81 METRES (170 FT.).
OF THE REMAINING NON-1NDUSTRI AL SITES, TWO WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 1,610 SQ. METRES ARE IN THE ABERDEEN AREA, THREE MEASURING 13,331 SQ. METRES ARE AT LOK SHAN ROAD, KOWLOON, AND TWO WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 520 SQ. METRES ARE IN THE DIAMOND HILL AREA.
THE 10 INDUSTRIAL SITES TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE MEASURE A TOTAL OF 19,797 SQ. METRES.
FOUR, TOTALLING 8,650 SQ. METRES, ARE AT SAM KA TSUEN, FOUR AT AH KUNG NGAM IN SHAU KEI WAN (5,600 SQ. METRES), ONE AT CHEUNG SHA WAN (5,017 SQ. METRES), AND ONE OF 470 SQ. METRES IN THE ABERDEEN AREA.
SALE DATES FOR EACH LOT WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN DUE COURSE IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND ADVERTISED IN THE NEWSPAPERS.
PARTICULARS OF THE LAND SALES FORECAST TOGETHER WITH PLANS SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE LOTS TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE MAY BE SEEN AT THE P.W.D.’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, AND AT THE KOWLOON BRANCH OFFICE, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, NATHAN ROAD.______________________
/THEY MAY ....
SATURDAY, OCTOBER % 1976
THEY MAY ALSO BE INSPECTED AT ALL CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION OFFICES AT NORTH KOWLOON MAGISTRACY, AND IN THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.
COPIES OF THE SIX-MONTH FORECAST MAY BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE FROM ANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED OFFICES OR ON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
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FILING OF ANNUAL RETURNS * * * * *
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR. PIERS JACOBS, TODAY REMINDED COMPANY SECRETARIES AND DIRECTORS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE ANNUAL RETURNS AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, ACCOUNTS TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE RELEVANT STATUTORY TIME LIMITS.
+IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS, THE COMPANY AND EVERY DIRECTOR ARE EACH LIABLE TO A FINE OF $100 FOR EVERY DAY DURING WHICH THE RETURN AND/OR ACCOUNTS ARE OVERDUE,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT IN THE PAST THE COMPANIES REGISTRY HAD MADE A PRACTICE OF ISSUING INDIVIDUAL REMINDERS TO COMPANIES IN DEFAULT BUT THIS WOULD NO LONGER BE DONE THIS YEAR FOR REASONS OF ECONOMY.
+AS AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1976 — THE END OF THE FIRST HALF OF
THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR -- THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES ON THE REGISTER WAS 43,518, INCLUDING 931 OVERSEAS COMPANIES,+ MR. JACOBS PAID. +THE FIGURES AT THE END OF THE 1975/76 FINANCIAL YEAR WERE 41,100, INCLUDING 906 OVERSEAS COMPANIES.*
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976
5
TALK ON FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS * * * * *
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. RAFAEL HUI, WILL GIVE A TALK AT A LUNCHEON OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF VICTORIA AT THE VICTORIANA ROOM OF FURAMA HOTEL ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 11).
THE TITLE OF HIS TALK WILL BE +PROPOSED NEW LEGISLATIVE MEASURES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS.+
YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OCCASION.
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TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN KOWLOON *****
THE UNNAMED ROAD ADJACENT TO KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, LINKING NORFOLK ROAD AND YORK ROAD, KOWLOON TONG, WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TO ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND TO FACILITATE ROAD CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS FROM 10 A.M. ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 11).
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976
6
YOUTH TOLD TO BE GOOD +CRAFTSMEN+
******
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY THIS AFTERNOON TOLD THE YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDING THE YOUTH CONGRESS OF HONG KONG THAT THEIR MAIN JOB FROM NOW ON WAS TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN LIFE.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE CONGRESS ORGANISED BY THE ISLAND JAYCEES, MR. TOPLEY SAID: + IT’S ONLY WHEN YOU’VE ESTABLISHED YOURSELVES IN LIFE THAT YOU’VE REALLY GOT SOMETHING TO OFFER TO SOCIETY.
+AND THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID FOR THE MAJORITY TO CONCENTRATE ON MAKING YOURSELVES, SO TO SPEAK, ’GOOD CRAFTSMEN’. SOMEONE WHO CAN ALWAYS BE RELIED ON TO DO A GOOD JOB IN WHATEVER FIELD OF LIFE ONE IS CALLED UPON TO PERFORM.+
HE ADVISED THEM TO USE THEIR EXPERIENCES TO SUGGEST HOW WORK IN OTHER FIELDS COULD BE BETTER ORGANISED AFTER THEY HAD LEARNT TO DO THINGS PRETTY WELL THEMSELVES.
+INDEED,* HE ADDED, +IN YOUR OWN CHOSEN PROFESSION YOU MAY FIND THAT THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS TO SEE THAT YOUR PROFESSION IS BETTER ORGANISED- THAT IT WORKS TO HIGHER STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND GIVES A BETTER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.*
APART FROM LEARNING FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES AND LEARNING TO BE GOOD CRAFTSMEN, THE DIRECTOR ADVISED THE YOUNG PEOPLE NOT TO OVER-REACH THEMSELVES: +DON’T FOOL YOURSELVES THAT YOU CAN DO MORE THAN YOU ACTUALLY CAN.+
MR. TOPLEY ALSO TOLD THE PARTICIPANTS NOT TO FORGET PEOPLE WHO WERE LESS FORTUNATE - +PREPARE YOURSELVES TO HELP THEM WHEN YOU ARE REALLY ABLE TO DO SO.+
EARLIER, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED THE STAGE OF THROWING OFF THE ROLE OF YOUTH AND TAKING ON THE ROLE OF AN ADULT, SOMETHING WAS LOST IN THE PROCESS AND AT THE TIME THE GAIN WAS NOT APPARENT.
THE ROAD TO ADULTHOOD WAS NOT GOING TO BE NECESSARILY AN EASY AND SMOOTH ONE.
+THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN ONE FEELS THAT ONE IS MAKING NO PROGRESS IN LIFE- NO PROGRESS TOWARDS ONE’S GOALS. BUT THE YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS ARE IN MANY WAYS THE MOST VALUABLE ONES. IT IS FROM THAT EXPERIENCE THAT WE TRULY LEARN,+ HE SAID.
MR. TOPLEY BELIEVED THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR A YOUNG MAN TO HAVE SOME IDEALS IN LIFE AND TO HAVE A PICTURE OF HIS OWN ROLE IN THE WORLD. BUT HE CAUTIONED THAT IDEALS WERE TRICKY THINGS WHICH HAD TO BE PROVED IN ACTION OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976
7
WATER CUT
* * K
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN SHA TIN WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 10 P.M. ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 11) TO FACILITATE WORK ON A FRESH WATER MAIN NEAR SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
ALL PREMISES ALONG TAI PO ROAD BETWEEN LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD AND THE K.C.R. UNIVERSITY STATION AT MA LIU SHUI, INCLUDING SHA TIN NEW TOWN, LEK YUEN ESTATE, FO TAN ROAD, JARDINE DYEING AND FINISHING CO. LTD., K.C.R. WORKSHOP AND QUARTERS AND CHUNG CHI COLLEGE, WILL BE AFFECTED.
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PRM
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1976
REPORT OF WORKING PARTY ON ELECTRIFICATION OF SQUATTER AREAS PUBLISHED
* * * * *
THE PLAN WORKED OUT SIX SQUATTER VILLAGES IN F~-- PROVIDING A SAFE AND SQUATTER AREAS.
FOR THE PILOT ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME OF KOWLOON HAS NOW BECOME THE BLUEPRINT PROPER SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY TO OTHER
IN ITS REPORT PUBLISHED TODAY (SUNDAY), THE WORKING PARTY ON ELECTRIFICATION OF SQUATTER AREAS SAYS THE PLAN HAS BEEN ADOPTED AS THE BASIS FOR SIMILAR SCHEMES IN TAI PO, SHAM SHUI PO AND KOWLOON CITY. OTHER AREAS ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED AS WELL
PROBLEMS WHICH SEEMED INSURMOUNTABLE A YEAR AGO HAVE BEEN OVERCOME AND THE REPORT DETAILS HOW THESE WERE DEALT WITH AND THE COMPROMISES REACHED TO THE SATISFACTION OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.
ALTHOUGH MOST SQUATTER AREAS HAD SOME KIND OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, IT WAS ON AN ILLEGAL BASIS AND AT AN EXORBITANT COST TO CONSUMERS AND LEAVING MUCH TO BE DESIRED IN THE WAY OF EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
IN SOME AREAS, THE TWO POWER COMPANIES SUPPLIED THE MORE SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURES, THAT IS, THOSE BUILT OF STONE OR CONCRETE LEAVING THE LESS SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURES WITHOUT SUPPLY. THE LATTER IN TURN ILLEGALLY TAPPED ELECTRICITY FROM THOSE WITH A LEGAL SUPPLY OR OBTAINED A SUPPLY FROM PRIVATELY OWNED GENERATORS WHICH DID NOT COMPLY WITH SAFETY REGULATIONS AND WHICH PRESENTED GRAVE FIRE HAZARDS.
THE PLAN DEVISED IS A FOOLPROOF ONE IN THAT IT REMOVES THE SCOPE FOR UNMETERED THEFT OF ELECTRICITY’ KEEPS SERVICE WIRES TO A MINIMUM- ALLOWS ELECTRICITY TO BE SUPPLIED TO SQUATTER HUTS OF LOW CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS IN DENSELY PACKED AREAS AND PERMITS DISCONNECTION OF SUPPLY IN THE EVENT OF FIRE, LANDSLIPS OR FLOODING.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS SET OUT IN THE REPORT, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES TECHNICAL DETAILS AND DRAWINGS OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, CAN BE USED AS A GUILDELINE FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS IN OTHER SQUATTER AREAS Rccaikc nr thp SIMILARITY IN ENVIRONMENT.
/SOME OF .....
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
ASUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1976
2
SOME OF THE 11-POINT RECOMMENDATIONS COVER CRIMINAL LIABILITY ON THE PART OF THE SUPPLYING COMPANY- PROTECTION FOR THE COMPANY AGAINST ILLEGAL TAPPING OF ELECTRICITY- THE MINIMUM STRUCTURAL STANDARDS TO BE COMPLIED WITH BY HOUSEHOLDERS- PROTECTION OF THE CONSUMERS INSTALLATIONS FROM OVERLOADING AND THE RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES IN REGARD TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MAINS SUPPLY AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS.
OTHERS DEAL WITH COSTS TO THE COMPANY AND CONSUMERS- THE APPOINTMENT OF CONTRACTORS- THE PROBLEM OF PRIVATE GENERATORS-FIRE PREVENTION- CO-ORDINATION OF FUTURE ELECTRIFICATION SCHEMES AND THE ORGANISATION OF VILLAGERS FOR ACTIVE AND EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION.
THE REPORT STATES THAT THE WORKING PARTY WAS IN THE UNIQUE AND HAPPY POSITION OF HAVING HAD ALL ITS RECOMMENDATIONS CONSIDERED, ACCEPTED AND IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER EACH OF THEM WAS PUT FORWARD.
THIS WAS BECAUSE THE WORKING PARTY HAD THE FULL SUPPORT AND BACKING FROM BOTH TOP LEVEL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THE BOARD OF CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY. THE WORKING PARTY WAS ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE, THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS WHICH WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE WORKING PARTY TO THE GOVERNMENT WERE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE IN JUNE AND JULY THIS YEAR.
IN THE PILOT PROJECT, TWO VILLAGES HAVE SO FAR BEEN PROVIDED WITH ELECTRICITY WHILE A THIRD IS EXPECTED TO HAVE ITS SUPPLY SOMETIME THIS MONTH. THE OTHERS WILL GET THEIR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
/J
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1976
- 3 -
ILLEGAL STRUCTURE CLEAN-UP IN TSUEN WAN ******
A CAMPAIGN TO CLEAR TSUEN WAN OF THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF CROWN LAND RANGING FROM WALL STALLS TO LARGE FACTORIES IS GIVING THE GROWING NEW TOWN AN ENVIRONMENTAL FACE-LIFT.
THE DRIVE STARTED IN EARNEST JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO WI TH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CROWN LAND CONTROL UNIT WITHIN THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE UNIT’S BRIEF WAS SIMPLE: TO RID THE SATELLITE TOWN OF HUNDREDS OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WHICH HAD NOT ONLY BECOME AN EYESORE BUT WERE CREATING INTOLERABLE OBSTRUCTIONS.
THE UNIT IN ITS SHORT EXISTENCE has LAUNCHED A SERIES OF PROSECUTIONS AND HAS CARRIED OUT SCORES OF CLEARANCES AND NOW HAS THE PROBLEM LARGELY UNDER CONTROL, ACCORDING TO TSUEN WAN’S ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (CONSERVATION), MR. A.D. MALIG.
+THE ILLEGAL USE OF CROWN LAND WAS ALMOST OUT OF HAND, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT IMPROVEMENT SINCE THE CROWN LAND CONTROL UNIT SWUNG INTO ACT ION,+ MR. MALIG SAID TODAY.
♦ SOME SIDE LANES AND ALLEYWAYS HAD VIRTUALLY BEEN ’OCCUPIED’, PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WERE BEING OBSTRUCTED AT VARIOUS PLACES AND FACTORIES WERE SPRINGING UP OVERNIGHT ON LAND WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAD SET ASIDE FOR FUTURE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS THE BUILDING OF PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS.
+WE HAVEN’T SOLVED THE PROBLEM YET, BUT WE HOPE THAT WITHIN A YEAR THIS TYPE OF OFFENCE WILL BE JUST ABOUT NON-EXISTENT IN TSUEN WAN.+
SINCE THE UNIT WAS SET UP IN SEPTEMBER 1974, A TOTAL OF 345 OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED AND CONVICTED UNDER THE CROWN LAND ORDINANCE FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING CROWN LAND. THE ORDINANCE CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $10,000 FINE AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.
ONLY LAST MONTH IN TSUEN WAN COURT, MAGISTRATE MR. ANTHONY WANE SENT A MAN TO JAIL FOR SIX MONTHS AFTER HE HAD REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH A COURT CONDITION THAT HE CLEAR ABOUT 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF LAND HE WAS ILLEGALLY USING TO RAISE POULTRY AND PIGS.
A FEW DAYS LATER, ANOTHER MAN WAS GIVEN A SIX-MONTH JAIL TERM SUSPENDED FOR 18 MONTHS ON CONDITION THAT HE CLEAR ILLEGALLY-OCCUPIED CROWN LAND WITHIN 14 DAYS. THE MAN’S ILLEGAL STRUCTURE HAD BEEN DEMOLISHED 22 TIMES PREVIOUSLY BY THE SQUATTER CONTROL UNIT OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT BUT HAD BEEN REBUILT EVERY TIME.
/UP TO NOW, ......
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1976
4
UP TO NOW, SAID MR. MALIG, 37 OFFENDERS HAD BEEN GIVEN SUSPENDED SIX-MONTH JAIL TERMS WHILE ANOTHER 14 OFFENDERS HAD BEEN JAILED FOR TERMS RANGING FOR ONE TO THREE MONTHS.
+FINES IMPOSED IN THE ‘LAST TWO YEARS TOTAL $239,290,+ HE ADDED. +IN JUNE AND JULY ALONE, THE FINES IN THESE ILLEGAL OCCUPIER CASES AMOUNTED TO $32,950 AND WE STILL HAVE 267 CASES TO COME BEFORE THE COURT.+
MR. MALIG SAID THAT APART FROM PROSECUTIONS, THE UNIT HAD ALSO CARRIED OUT 1,102 ILLEGAL OCCUPATIONS CLEARANCES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THEY ARE CARRIED OUT BY THE CLEARANCE AND JOINT ACTION SECTIONS OF THE UNIT. +THE JOINT ACTION SECTION PLAYS A VITAL ROLE BECAUSE IT LIAISES WITH AND CO-ORDINATES THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED,* HE SAID.
+THESE ARE THE POLICE, WHO ARE ON HAND TO MAINTAIN ORDER, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WHICH HANDLES THE PHYSICAL SIDE OF THE CLEARANCES, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH LOOKS AFTER THE CLEAN-UP SIDE, AND IN SOME CASES, THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WHICH CARRIES OUT SUCH TASKS AS RESURRECTING AND REPAIRING CLEARED thoroughfaresr4.
MR. MALIG SAID: +AS A RULE, THE CLEARANCES GO FAIRLY SMOOTHLY. BECAUSE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE ILLEGAL OCCUPIERS HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THEY CANNOT EXPECT TO SET UP SHOP ON LAND THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO THEM.
+WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF CLEARANCES AFTER RECEIVING COMPLAINTS FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS ABOUT ILLEGAL OCCUPATIONS SPOILING THE ENVIRONMENT.
+HOWEVER, WHEN WE COME ACROSS GENUINE HARDSHIP CASES, WE HELP THEM BY SENDING THEM TO THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP THEM ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS.
+WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT ALREADY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO SEE THAT THE REMOVAL OF THESE UNLAWFUL OCCUPATIONS HAS MADE TSUEN WAN A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL POINT OF VIEW.
+IT WILL BE EVEN BETTER ONCE THE PROBLEM IS ELIMINATED COMPLETELY.+
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/5
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1976
- 5 -
POLICE STATION FOR SHEUNG KWAI CHUNG
*******
A NEW SUB-DIVISIONAL POLICE STATION IS TO BE BUILT AT SHEUNG KWAI CHUNG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SHORTLY.
THE STATION FORMS PART OF THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND WILL OCCUPY A SITE OF ABOUT 5,850 SQUARE METRES AT WO Yl HOP ROAD, JUST NEXT TO THE NEW SUB-DIVISIONAL FIRE STATION AND AMBULANCE DEPOT WHICH IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
MR. K.M. TSENG, CHIEF ARCHITECT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY CONSTRUCTION WOULD BEGIN IN DECEMBER AND THE STATION WAS EXPECTED TO BE READY BY JUNE 1978.
THE STATION WOULD PROVIDE POLICE SERVICES FOR THE SHEUNG KWAI CHUNG AREA WHICH IS NOW BEING DEVELOPED INTO INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREA.
MR. TSENG SAID THE NEW STATION WOULD BE OF THE STANDARD DESIGN COMPRISING A TEN-STOREY BUILDING AND A VEHICLE POUND OF THREE STOREYS.
HE SAID THE STATION BUILDING WOULD HOUSE NORMAL POLICE OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, BARRACKS, CANTEEN, RECREATIONAL ROOMS AND MARRIED QUARTERS, WHILE THE VEHICLE POUND WOULD PROVIDE PARKING FACILITIES FOR ABOUT ONE HUNDRED VEHICLES.
MEANWHILE, THE P.W.D. IS ALSO INVITING TENDERS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO FOUR POLICE MARRIED QUARTERS — HOLLYWOOD ROAD QUARTERS, WESTERN POLICE STATION QUARTERS, ARSENAL STREET QUARTERS AND CANTON ROAD POLICE STATION QUARTERS.
THE WORK WILL MAINLY INVOLVE GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS, ADDITIONAL PRIVATE WASHING FACILITIES WITHIN THE VERANDAH AREAS AND CONVERSION OF THE EXISTING COMMUNAL TOILETS INTO LAUNDRIES AND PLAY AREAS.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE THE COMPLETE REWIRING OF INDIVIDUAL UNITS, REPLACEMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND PROVIDING A POWER SOCKET FOR A ROOM COOLER AND COMMUNAL AERIAL SYSTEM IN EACH UNIT.
WORK ON THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BEGIN IN NOVEMBER AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN APRIL NEXT YEAR.
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/6
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1976
-6-
REGI STRATI ON TEAM TO OPERATE AT KAM TIN
******
THE COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATIONS AT THE KAM TIN RURAL COMMITTEE FOR RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE LIVING NEARBY.
THE TEAM WILL BE THERE FOR FIVE DAYS FROM OCTOBER 18 - 22.
THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS TO REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN OR WARDS OF 11 YEARS OF AGE FOR JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS AND HOLDERS OF JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS TO REGISTER FOR ADULT IDENTITY CARDS ON REACHING 18 YEARS OF AGE.
ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR IDENTITY CARDS AND TO REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. DA IL Y.
IgisI Iml
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CONTROL ON SOFT DRUGS TO BE TIGHTENED ............ 1
TWO-WEEK PROGRAMME FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE IN LAM TIN . 2
GROWTH OF HONG KONG’S EXPORTS .................... 3
OVER 107,800 AMBULANCE CALLS IN NINE MONTHS ...... 4
PROSECUTIONS AGAINST FACTORY OWNERS .............. 5
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON .................. 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1976
1
CONTROL ON SOFT DRUGS TO BE TIGHTENED
******
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING NEW LEGISLATION AIMED AT TIGHTENING THE CONTROL OF CERTAIN PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES (COMMONLY KNOWN AS SOFT DRUGS) AND DETAINING THE TRAVELLING DOCUMENTS OF PERSONS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SERIOUS DRUG OFFENCES.
THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. RAFAEL HUI, DISCLOSED THIS TODAY (MONDAY) IN A TALK AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF VICTORIA.
MR. HUI SAID THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, THE SOLE ADVISORY BODY TO THE GOVERNMENT ON ALL ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICIES, HAD ENDORSED A PROPOSAL TO TIGHTEN THE CONTROL OF SOME PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES THAT MIGHT BE ABUSED, OR ILLICITLY MANUFACTURED AND SMUGGLED ABROAD ON A LARGE SCALE FOR TRAFFICKING.
AT PRESENT, HE POINTED OUT THAT MOST PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES WERE CONTROLLED UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE WHICH IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH MALPRACTICES ON THE PART OF DEALERS AND DISPENSARIES, AND DOES NOT, ON THE WHOLE, PROVIDE PARTICULARLY HARSH PUNISHMENT.
HE REVEALED THAT CONSIDERATION WAS NOW BEING GIVEN TO INCLUDE, IN ADDITION TO THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE, SOME OF THESE SUBSTANCES IN THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE WHICH PROVIDES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. RELEVANT OFFENCES WOULD THEN BE SIMILARLY PUNISHED AS IF THEY WERE CONCERNED WITH HEROIN AND OPIUM.
MR. HUI SAID ALTHOUGH HEROIN WAS STILL THE MAIN DRUG OF ABUSE IN HONG KONG AT PRESENT AND +SOFT DRUGS+ WERE NOT YET A PROBLEM, NO ONE KNEW WHETHER THE ABUSE OF +SOFT DRUGS+ WOULD BECOME WIDESPREAD OR NOT IN FUTURE.
+TIMELY PREVENTIVE ACTION HAS TO BE TAKEN NOW IN ORDER TO FORESTALL SUCH AN EVENTUALITY, IF IT EVER OCCURS,+ HE SAID.
INITIALLY, HE ADDED, TWO PARTICULAR TYPES OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES WOULD BE CONSIDERED. ONE WAS AMPHETAMINES WHICH WERE STIMULANTS AND COULD, IF ABUSED REPEATEDLY, LEAD TO LOSS OF APPETITE, DELUSIONS AND ORGANIC DAMAGE. THE OTHER WAS METHAQUOLONE, OR +MANDRAX+, A TRANQUILIZER WHICH COULD CAUSE ADDICTION, CONFUSION, DIZZINESS AND ORGANIC DAMAGE IF TAKEN EXCESSIVELY OVER A PERIOD.
ON THE DETENTION OF TRAVELLING DOCUMENTS OF PERSONS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SERIOUS DRUG OFFENCES, MR. HUI SAID, THE ADVANTAGES WERE OBVIOUS.
/HE SAID .....
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1976
- 2 -
HE SAID IT WOULD HELP PREVENT THE SUBJECT FROM FLEEING HONG KONG, PREVENT THE COMMISSION OF FURTHER OFFENCES ARRANGED DURING TRIPS ABROAD, DISRUPT HIS TRAFFICKING PATTERNS AND AFFECT HIS CREDIBILITY WITH BOTH HIS LOCAL AND OVERSEAS CONTACTS.
+THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION OF SECTION 17 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE, WHEREBY A MAGISTRATE MAY REQUIRE THE SURRENDER OF TRAVELLING DOCUMENTS OF THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION, HAD BEEN WELL-DEMONSTRATED. THERE ARE GROUNDS TO INCLUDE SIMILAR PROVISIONS IN THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE AS WELL,+ HE SAID.
ONE OF THE REASONS GIVEN BY MR. HUI FOR THE PROPOSED NEW MEASURE WAS THAT MANY DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAD STOPPED THE USUAL PRACTICE OF BULK IMPORTS DUE TO TOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WERE NOW USING AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SMALL-TIME DRUG COURIERS TRAVELLING IN AND OUT OF HONG KONG.
HE ADDED THAT WHILST IT HAD BEEN COMMONLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY COUNTRIES CONCERNED THAI HONG KONG WAS NO LONGER THE CENTRE OF EXPORT AND RE-EXPORT IN INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING, THERE REMAINED THE POSSIBILITY THAT HONG KONG, WITH ITS MINIMAL CURRENCY CONTROL, SOPHISTICATED FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, MIGHT BE USED AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL BASE FOR SOME TRAFFICKING NETWORKS.
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TWO-WEEK PROGRAMME FOR THE AGED IN LAM TIN
X i X X X X
A TWO-WEEK PROGRAMME HAS BEEN ORGANISED FOR elderly people RESIDING IN THE LAM TIN LISTRICT STARTING FROM OCTOBER 15.
THE PROGRAMME, ORGAMSED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S ESTATE COMMUNITY WORK OFFICES IN LAM TIN, THE LAM TIN KAIFONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION, THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL AND THE HONG KONG FAMILY WELFARE SOCIETY, INCLUDE A SEMINAR ON HEALTH AND CARE OF SENIOR CITIZENS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A WORKSHOP ON SERVICES FOR THE AGED, ESSAY AND SLOGAN CONTESTS, A VARIETY SHOW AND AN OUTING TO THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAMME IS A HEALTH CONTEST AMONG SOME 300 ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT WHERE EIGHT CLINICS HAVE OFFERED TO GIVE MEDICAL CHECK-UPS TO THE PARTICIPANTS AT $3 EACH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANISERS SAID THAT THE AIM OF THE PROGRAMME WAS TO BRING ABOUT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF THE OLD PEOPLE AND TO EXPLORE WAYS OF PROVIDING MORE EFFECTIVE SERVICES FOR THEM.
- 0 -
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1976
3
GROWTH OF H.K.’S EXPORTS * * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT HONG KONG’S ANNUAL EXPORTS HAVE GROWN BY FOUR-AND-A-HALF TIMES IN THE TEN YEARS SINCE THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WAS FIRST SET UP IN 1966.
SPEAKING AT A RECEPTION TO MARK THE 1OTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AT ITS OFFICE IN CONNAUGHT CENTRE THIS AFTERNOON, SIR MURRAY SAID: +ALL OF US ARE AWARE OF THE UNIQUE EXTENT TO WHICH OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPEND ON THE GROWTH OF OUR EXPORTS.
+ TO CONTINUE TO GROW W'E MUST SEEK NEW MARKETS AND DEVELOP AND PROMOTE NEW PRODUCTS,+ SAID THE GOVERNOR.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH:
+OUR ANNUAL EXPORTS HAVE GROWN BY FOUR AND A HALF TIMES IN THE 10 YEARS SINCE THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WAS FIRST SET UP IN 1966. I AM SURE THAT THE T.D.C. WOULD BE THE FIRST TO INSIST THAT THE CREDIT GOES TO THE ENTERPRISE AND INGENUITY AND DRIVE OF OUR EXPORTERS. BUT THE T.D.C. TOO HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT PART, AND WE ARE HERE TO RECORD OUR THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON WHAT IT HAS DONE AND WILL DO FOR HONG KONG.
+FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS, THE T.D.C. HAS GROWN INTO WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC TRADE PROMOTION BODIES IN THE WORLD. HAVING ATTENDED THE ANNUAL HONG KONG READY-TO-WEAR FESTIVAL IN HONG KONG AS WELL AS THE FASHION PRESENTATIONS LAST YEAR IN LONDON AND PARIS, I CAN TESTIFY TO THE EFFICIENCY AND EXPERTISE WITH WHICH THE STAFF OF THE T.D.C. GO ABOUT THEIR WORK.
+ALL OF US ARE AWARE OF THE UNIQUE EXTENT TO WHICH OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPEND ON THE GROWTH OF OUR EXPORTS. TO CONTINUE TO GROW WE MUST SEEK NEW MARKETS AND DEVELOP AND PROMOTE NEW PRODUCTS. I AM SURE THE T.D.C. WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN OUR FUTURE EXPANSION.
+1 ASK YOU TO JOIN IN A TOAST TO THE T.D.C. ON ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY.*
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A
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1976
4
OVER 107,800 AMBULANCE CALLS IN NINE MONTHS ******
THE NUMBER OF CALLS RECEIVED BY THE AMBULANCE COMMAND OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN RISING STEADILY.
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY, THE COMMAND RESPONDED TO 107,841 CALLS DURING THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 400 A DAY. THE FIGURE INCLUDES 87,708 EMERGENCY CALLS.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, A TOTAL OF 131,125 PATIENTS WERE CARRIED IN THE COMMAND’S AMBULANCES, OF WHICH 92,638 WERE EMERGENCY CASES.
COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR THE NUMBER OF AMBULANCE CALLS ROSE BY NEARLY 15 PER CENT AND THE RATE OF THE PATIENTS CARRIED WENT UP BY 16.5 PER CENT.
KOWLOON, AS USUAL, HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CALLS - 51,457, FOLLOWED BY HONG KONG WITH 34,067 AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WITH 22,317.
THE COMMAND, WHICH HAS AN ESTABLISHMENT OF 560 AND OPERATES A FLEET OF 99 AMBULANCES, IS NOW SEVERELY STRETCHED TO COPE WITH THE DEMAND.
THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO INCREASE THE AMBULANCE FLEET, RECRUIT ADDITIONAL STAFF AND BUILD MORE DEPOTS.
CONSTRUCTION OF A TWO-STOREY AMBULANCE STATION AT KWAI CHUNG IS NOW UNDERWAY AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MID 1977.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 10 AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND STATIONS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, AND MORE ARE PLANNED FOR YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN, SHA TIN, TSI NG Yl, CHEUNG SHA WAN, NGAU CHI WAN, ABERDEEN AND QUARRY BAY.
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/5
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1976
5
PROSECUTIONS AGAINST FACTORY PROPRIETORS
******
PROSECUTIONS AGAINST FACTORY PROPRIETORS FOR BREACH OF LABOUR LAWS TOTALLED 349 IN AUGUST.
THESE INVOLVED EITHER CONTRAVENTION OF REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS OR FAILURE TO OBSERVE VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS. OFFENDERS WERE FINED A TOTAL OF 3190,500.
IN THE FIRST CATEGORY, THE MOST COMMON OFFENCES DETECTED WERE THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN OUTSIDE THEIR PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT. A TOTAL OF 86 SUCH CASES, WITH FINES AMOUNTING TO 338,950, WERE DEALT WITH BY THE COURTS DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW.
IN THE SECOND CATEGORY, THE MOST COMMON OFFENCES WERE OPERATING UNFENCED MACHINERY AND OPERATING UNREGISTERED INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS. THEY NUMBERED 15 CASES EACH AND THEIR TOTAL FINES AMOUNTED TO $10,450 AND $7,150 RESPECTIVELY.
COMMENTING ON THE PROSECUTIONS, A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: +OUR INSPECTORATE KEEP A CONSTANT WATCH OVER WORKING CONDITIONS IN FACTORIES BY PAYING REGULAR VISITS TO INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
♦THIS IS NECESSARY IN A HIGHLY INDUSTRIALISED CITY LIKE HONG KONG IF WE ARE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF WORKERS.
+THE PROSECUTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT NOT SO MUCH TO PENALISE THE PROPRIETORS AS TO ACT AS A DETERRANT AGAINST A REPETITION OF SUCH OFFENCES IN FUTURE,+ HE ADDED.
- - 0 - -
TRAFFIC RE-ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT WITH EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 15), URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF HAMMER HILL ROAD BETWEEN LUNG CHEUNG ROAD AND CHOI HUNG ROAD, INCLUDING THE CHOI HUNG ROUNDABOUT, TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN PASSENGERS AND TO LOAD OR UNLOAD GOODS AT ALL TIMES WITHIN THE AREA.
ALSO STARTING FROM 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 15), Yl LUN STREET IN SAN PO KONG WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHWESTBOUND TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
0 - -
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
JUMBO FLOATING RESTAURANT TO BE TOWED TO ABERDEEN ON THURSDAY ................................................... 1
GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES TO BE TABLED IN LEGCO TOMORROW ............................................. 2
SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES TO GIVE PRESS CONFERENCE ... 2
FIRST SMALL CLAIM CASE HEARD AT THE KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT ...................................................... 3
CIVIL AID SERVICES PASSING-OUT PARADE ...................... 3
GOOD RESPONSE TO CLEAN BUILDING COMPETITION ................ 4
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1976
1
+JUMBO+ TO BERTH IN ABERDEEN ON THURSDAY
******
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE E:EN MADE TO MOVE THE +JUMBO+ FLOATING RESTAURANT TO A TEMPORARY BERTH ALONGSIDE THE SEAWALL IN THE CENTRAL PART OF ABERDEEN HARBOUR (WEST) ON THURSDAY (OCTOBER 14).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE VESSEL WOULD BE TOWED FROM ITS ’RESENT LOCATION AT HOLT’S WHARF, VIA THE SULPHUR CHANNEL, ARRIVING OFF THE WESTERN ENTRANCE TO ABERDEEN HARBOUR BY ABOUT 11 A.M. AND TAKING UP ITS BERTH BY ABOUT 1 P.M. ON THAT DAY.
DURING THE REMOVAL )F THE +JUMBO+, MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES WILL HELP CLEAR THE PATH FOR THE VESSEL TO ENTER THE PORT AND MANOEUVRE INTO ITS TEMPORARY BERTH.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT CERTAIN STATIONARY CRAFT IN THE AREA TO BE OCCUPIED BY THE +JUMBO+ HAD BEEN DIRECTED TO MOVE AND TAKE UP OTHER BERTHS IN TIN WAN.
HE URGED ALL FISHERMEN TO CO-OPERATE SO AS TO CAUSE AS LITTLE DISRUPTION AS POSSIBLE TO FISHING AND OTHER PORT OPERATION.
MEANWHILE, THE +JUMHO+ HAS MET ALL MARINE DEPARTMENT’S SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AS A FLOATING RESTAURANT AND A LICENCE IN THIS RESPECT IS IN THE COURSE OF PREPARATION.
SHORE FACILITIES, MAINLY RELATING TO THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HAVE ALSO BEEN PROVIDED.
THE LICENCE BY THE IRBAN COUNCIL TO OPERATE THIS VESSEL AS A MARINE RESTAURANT WILL BE ISSUED WHEN THE COUNCIL IS SATISFIED THAT THE REQUIFEMENTS HAVE BEEN FULLY COMPLIED WITH.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1976
2
LEGCO MEETS TOMORROW
*****
A GREEN PAPER OUTL NING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REHAB ILCAT I ON SERVICES DURING THE NEXT 10 YEARS WILL BE TABLED WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
A REPORT ON THE COIE OF LABOUR RELATIONS PRACTICE WILL ALSO EE TABLED.
DURING QUESTION THE, A WIDE RANGE OF QUESTIONS, RANGING FROM TRAFFIC BLACKSPOTS TO TEACHER TRAINING, WILL BE ASKED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
FOUR OF THE NEWLY-;.PPOINTED UNOFFICIALS, ASKING QUESTIONS IN COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST T ME, WILL TOUCH ON A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS.
THE HON. WONG LAM WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE FOUND GUILTY OF THROWING OR DFOPP I NG OBJECTS FROM A HEIGHT IN OR NEAR PUBLIC PLACES.
REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER IT DESIRABLE TO HAVE GREATER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE THREE OLDER COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND THE TECHNICAL TEACHERS COLLEGE SO AS TO RATIONALISE ENROLMENT. SHE WILL ALSO ENQUIRE WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ACCEPT TEACHER-TRAINEES AND PAY THEM A REASONABLE SALARY WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE PRESENT PROVIDENT FUND.
THE HON. T.S. LEUNG WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL ASCERTAIN THE REASONS BEHIND THE RECENT WITHDRAWAL BY CERTAIN COUNTRIES OF RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL DEGREES, WHILE THE HON. S.L. CHEN WILL ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO TABLE A LIST OF MAJOR TRAFFIC BLACKSPOTS AND TO CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF SPECIAL ROADSIGNS AT THESE BLACKSPOTS TO URGE PEOPLE TO TAKE EXTRA CARE.
SEVEN BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST READING.
----0----
GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES * * * *
NOTE TO EDITORS s
THE SECRETARY A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH A GREEN PAPER
FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. M.C. MORGAN, WILL GIVE AT 11 A.M. TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) IN CONNECTION ON REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG
ALSO PRESENT WILL BE MR. SIU KWING-CHUE. GROUP ON REHABILITATION SERVICES.
CHAIRMAN OF A WORKING
tuz ^ARECORDiALLY ,NVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE CONFERENCE, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN THE G.I.S. THEATRE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. intAiKt UN IHt
0 - -
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1976
- 3 -
FIRST CASE OF SMALL CLAIM HEARD * * * * *
THE FIRST CASE FILED UNDER THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ORDINANCE WHICH DEALS WITH LEGAL CLAIMS NOT EXCEEDING $3,000, WAS HEARD IN THE KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT TODAY.
THE JUDGEMENT OF THE CASE WAS IN FAVOUR OF THE PLAINTIFF OR THE CLAIMANT. . z
ANOTHER CASE, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD TODAY, WAS SETTLED OUTSIDE THE COURT (SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL).
SINCE THE ORDINANCE CAME INTO OPERATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, 58 CASES HAVE BEEN FILED AT THE KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AND 24 AT THE VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
THE HEARING OF CASES ON HONG KONG SIDE WILL START ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 15).
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C.A.S. PASSING-OUT PARADE *****
ONE-HUNDRED-AND-TEN RECRUITS OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, WHO HAVE COMPLETED FOUR MONTHS’ BASIC TRAINING ON FOOT DRILL, FIRST AID AND LIGHT RESCUE WILL TAKE PART IN A PASSING-OUT PARADE TO BE HELD AT THE CAS KOWLOON TRAINING CENTRE ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 17) AT 10 A.M.
THE CAS DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, MR. HO TSE-KIN, WILL INSPECT THE PARADE AND AWARD SPECIAL CERTIFICATES TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING RECRUITS. HE WILL ALSO PRESENT CIVIL DEFENCE LONG SERVICE MEDALS TO 16 RECIPIENTS.
THE CAS CADET BAND WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE ON CADET BICYCLE TECHNIQUE, RESCUE, AND MOUNTAIN RESCUE WORK WILL BE STAGED.
THE NEW RECRUITS, SOME OF THEM WOMEN, WILL BE POSTED TO VARIOUS CAS UNITS FOR FURTHER OPERATIONAL TRAINING AND ACTIVE DUTY.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PASSING-OUT PARADE WHICH BEGINS AT 10 A.M. ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 17) AT THE CAS KOWLOON TRAINING CENTRE AT 204 ARGYLE STREET.
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A
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1976
4
GOOD RESPONSE TO CLEAN BUILDING COMPETITION *****
PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE 1976 CLEAN BUILDING COMPETITION HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING WITH ENTRIES POURING IN FROM MANAGEMENT BODIES OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS AS WELL AS A FEW SQUATTER AREAS AND LICENSED AREAS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
+THE CHIN SUI MA TAU VILLAGE, HOLY CROSS PATH VILLAGE AND THE CHAI WAN LICENSED AREA MO. 2 AND 4 HAVE ALL JOINED IN THE COMPETITION AND IT IS GRATIFYING TO SEE PEOPLE LIVING IN LESS FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS JOINING TOGETHER AND DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE TO IMPROVE THEIR ENVIRONMENT,* HE SAID.
HE URGED PEOPLE LIVING IN OTHER AREAS TO FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE AND JOIN IN THE COMPETITION.
DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS, LIAISON OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISERS OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING VISITS TO VARIOUS BUILDING MANAGEMENT BODIES IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO TAKE PART.
MOREOVER, RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FULLY BRIEFED ON THE AIMS AND MOTIVES OF THE COMPETITION THROUGH THE HELP OF AREA COMMITTEES AND KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, HE SAID.
THE 1976 CLEAN BUILDING COMPETITION, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND SPONSORED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, IS AIMED AT IMPROVING LIVING CONDITIONS AND ENCOURAGING MUTUAL AID AMONG NEIGHBOURS THROUGH JOINT EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP THEIR BUILDINGS.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ALL CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRY WILL BE OCTOBER 20.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Tuesday, 12th October 1976
* ■ . •
OVER 3,000 APPLICANTS ON WAITING LIST
SEEK PUBLIC HOUSING FLaTS AT~TUS;,'MUN
More than 3,000 families have applied through the Housing •* Dcpaytment’s waiting list for public housing accommodation at Tai Hing Estate in the developing new town of Tuen Mun.
The 316O million estate, which is being built in two stages by the Public Works Department for the Housing Authority, is expected to take in its first tenants in the latter half of next year.
Tuen Mun, which is on the south-west coast of the New Territories, already has a population of about 50,000.
Factories and private residential blocks are currently under construction in this area as well as a major highway linking it with Kowloon. By 1985, the population of Tuen Mun is expected to grow to about 460,000 with the majority living in public housing estates.
At least half a dozen sites have been earmarked for public housing estates at Tuen Mun and Housing Department architects have begun working on the initial layout and design, These estates are planned to accommodate about 250,000 people.
Construction of Stage I of Tai Hing Estate is progressing smoothly. It comprises three 30-storey cruciform blocks, a low block, three primary schools and a portion of the commercial centre.
The domestic blocks, with about 4,500 self-contained flats, will house about 29,000 people.
2
A special feature of these tapering cruciform blocks is that they provide a variety of room sizes, with larger rooms at the base and smaller rooms at the upper levels. The shorter corridors on each floor will make for a closer community spirit among tenants.
Site formation for the second stage of the estate is underway. • . • . . • .Mtn* . •
This phase of construction will include two 30-storey cruciform blocks for about 17,500 people, one primary school, the rest of the commercial centre, markets, garages and workshops. The whole estate is scheduled to be completed by early 1979.
* - ?
EDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
CONTENTS PAtc NO.
GREEN PAPER ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES .................................................... 1
THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG BILL 1976 RECEIVES SECOND READING .............................................. 3
METHODS OF PREVENTION AND CLEARANCE OF MARINE REFUSE UNDER REVIEW ................................................ 5
MAXIMUM OF 20 QUESTIONS AT ANY ONE LEGCO SITTING ............ 6
GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED TABLED ...................................................... 6
LABOUR RELATIONS PRACTICE CODE TABLED ....................... 7
PLANS TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KWAI CHUNG .............. 8
NON-ACCEPTANCE OF HONG KONG’S MEDICAL DEGREE QUESTIONED . 8
FEWER OBJECTIONABLE COMIC BOOKS ON MARKET ................... 9
PLANS FOR A NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL ....................... 10
LAW AGAINST THROWING OBJECTS FROM BUILDINGS MUST BE IMPROVED ................................................... 11
SAFETY OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ............... 12
PROVIDENT FUNDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS ......................... 13
PLANS TO SHORTEN THE WAITING TIME FOR DRIVING TESTS ........ 13
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 .................................................. 14
MOVE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN LAI TAK TSUEN ROAD 15
WATER COT .................................................. 15
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
1
GREEN PAPER ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES ******
A GREEN PAPER WHICH OUTLINES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPING HONG KONG’S REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS IS PUBLISHED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ANY VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THEM BY THE PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES WILL BE STUDIED CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT.
IT IS HOPED THAT EARLY NEXT YEAR A FIRM PROGRAMME FOR DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE WILL BE PUT BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS IN THE FORM OF A WHITE PAPER.
THE GREEN PAPER SUMMARISES THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF A +PROGRAMME PLAN FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES* SUBMITTED BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP IN JULY THIS YEAR.
IT CONTAINS SOME 30 RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH FALL INTO FOUR MAIN SERVICE AREAS:
1. IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES:
THESE SERVICES SHOULD EE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED SO THAT DISABILITIES ARE DISCOVERED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT SERVICES PROVIDED.
2. SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES:
THEY SHOULD BE EXPANDED IN BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE TERMS. THE NUMBER OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PLACES SHOULD INCREASE FROM 12,200 IN SEPTEMBER 1976 TO 38,700 BY SEPTEMBER 1985.
3. MEDICAL SERVICES:
THESE SHOULD BE IMPROVED FOR THE PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS THE MENTALLY DISABLED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THREE ADDITIONAL MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRES BE BUILT AND COMPLETED DURING THE DECADE. DAY CENTRES AND HALF-WAY HOUSES FOR MENTAL PATIENTS WILL ALSO BE INCREASED TO CATER FOR INCREASED DEMAND. AND,
4. SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES:
THESE SERVICES (INCLUDING COUNSELLING, RECREATIONAL AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES) SHOULD BE EXPANDED. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT JOB PLACEMENT AND SHELTERED WORK SERVICES SHOULD EE IMPROVED SO THAT MORE DISABLED PERSONS CAN LEAD A FULL AND USEFUL WORKING LIFE.
/COMMENTING.......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1J, 1976
- 2 -
COMMENTING, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THE DEMAND, SUPPLY AND SHORTFALL OF SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED.
THE GOVERNMENT IS GRATEFUL FOR THE ADVICE GIVEN TO THE WORKING GROUP BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, WHICH WAS CONSULTED DURING THE PREPARATION OF THE PROGRAMME PLAN, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN ITS PROGRAMME PLAN, THE WORKING GROUP HAD ALSO MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW FUTURE POLICIES AND SERVICES SHOULD BE CO-ORDINATED.
HE SAID: +THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AREA SINCE THREE MAJOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND A LARGE NUMBER OF DEDICATED VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS ARE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED.
+THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR IN PARTICULAR HAS PLAYED A MAJOR AND PIONEERING ROLE IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED IN HONG KONG AND THE GOVERNMENT LOOKS FORWARD TO ITS CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION IN THIS IMPORTANT FIELD.+
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE GREEN PAPER WAS PUBLISHED IN ORDER THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC MAY BE AWARE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND MAY EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED.
+THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP UNTIL IT HAS CONSIDERED THE REACTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL BODIES INTERESTED IN REHABILITATION SERVICES,+ HE SAID.
+THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED, HOWEVER, THAT THE PRESENT SERVICES CAN BE IMPROVED AND THAT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED. IT MUST NOW DETERMINE THE EXTENT AND SPEED OF SUCH EXPANSION TAKING INTO ACCOUNT PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMPETING CLAIMS ON THE SCARCE RESOURCES OF QUALIFIED STAFF, MONEY' AND LAND.+
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO COMMENT ARE ASKED TO DO SO BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER 1976 TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO REACH AN EARLY CONCLUSION SO THAT A DEFINITIVE PROGRAMME CAN BE DRAWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED BOTH IN THE SHORT TERM AND IN THE LONG TERM.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO : THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 7TH FLOOR, MAIN WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
COPIES OF THE GREEN PAPER IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE ARE OBTAINABLE FREE FROM THE MARKETING OFFICE, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL. THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE VARIOUS CITY DISTRICT OFFICES ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON, AND AT THE DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
- 3 -
CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG BILL 1976 ******
A SITUATION WITH EACH COLLEGE DEVELOPING INTO A LITTLE UNIVERSITY OF ITS OWN WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE SENSIBLE EVOLUTION OF A MODERN MAJOR SEAT OF HIGHER LEARNING, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. MORRIS MORGAN,SA ID TODAY.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG BILL 1976 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. MORGAN SAID THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE UNIVERSITY ORGANISATION WOULD PRODUCE AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF TEACHING WHICH WAS VERY MUCH IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS.
THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED THE BILL LATE LAST MONTH WITH THE AIM TO CARRY INTO EFFECT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (FULTON REPORT) RELATING TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS CONSTITUENT COLLEGES.
THE FIRST OBJECT OF THE BILL IS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT OVER THE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES. ALL STAFF WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL, AND THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS WHEREBY CERTAIN ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ARE APPOINTED BY THE COLLEGES WILL BE DISCONTINUED.
MR. MORGAN SAID THAT THE FULTON REPORT, WHICH WAS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR IN MARCH THIS YEAR, WAS NOT UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED.
+THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE WHO HAVE SUSPECTED THE WISDOM OF HAVING ONLY THREE COMMISSIONERS AND THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE PERSONS APPOINTED,* HE SAID.
ONE OF THE OBJECTIONS WAS THAT THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WERE TOO CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY PROPER AND NOT WITH THE CONSTITUENT COLLEGES.
IN REFUTING THESE VIEWS, HE SAID: +AS REGARDS THE SIZE OF THE COMMISSION, EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THREE IS ABOUT RIGHT IF THE DELIBERATIONS OF A COMMISSION ARE NOT TO BE PROTRACTED AND ITS FINDINGS UNDULY DELAYED.
+BUT THE CALIBRE OF COMMISSIONERS IS, PERHAPS, MUCH MORE IMPORTANT AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THIS COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROVED BY OTHER APPOINTMENTS IN THIS CASE.*
MR. MORGAN SAID THAT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HAD WIDE EXPERIENCE OF UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY AND OUR LOCAL PROBLEMS IN PARTICULAR.
FURTHERMORE, THEY WERE SCRUPULOUS IN THE CONDUCT OF THEIR BUSINESS HERE TO PERMIT PROPER ACCESS TO ANY INTEREST PERSON OR BODY, HE ADDED.
/MR. MORGAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1J, 1976
- 4 -
MR. MORGAN POINTED OUT THAT SOME HAD CONTENDED THAT THE CORRECT ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS COMING OF AGE TO TAKE PLACE WAS WITHIN A SMALLER INSTITUTION THAN ONE THE SIZE OF THE UNIVERSITY AND, BY INTENSE STUDY WITHIN A RESTRICTED CIRCLE OF TEACHERS AND FELLOW STUDENTS, FUTURE LEADERS COULD BEST BE PRODUCED.
HOWEVER, HE SAID s +HOT-HOUSE PLANTS RARELY SURVIVE THE RIGOURS OF LIFE OUTSIDE TO BECOME STURDY AND VIGOROUS.*
+l DOUBT WHETHER FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN DEVELOP IN CLOISTERED ACADEMIC SOCIETIES, IN CIRCLES DEVOTED TO THE PURSUIT OF A SOLITARY ACADEMIC GOAL.
+WE NEED HIGHLY TRAINED SPECIALISTS CERTAINLY, BUT UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION FLOURISHES IN DIVERSITY AND UNDERGRADUATES LEARN MUCH FROM EACH OTHER.
+ANY ORGANISATION WHICH SEEKS TO SEGREGATE STUDENTS IN ONE BRANCH OF STUDY FROM THOSE IN ANOTHER OR TO DIVIDE A UNIVERSITY STUDENT BODY INTO SMALL ELEMENTS, IS SURELY RETROGRADE.*
+ HONG KONG,* HE SAID, +NEEDS MEN AND WOMEN WHO'HAVE DEVEOPED PERSONAL ASSOCIATES WITH UNDERGRADUATE COLLEAGUES IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES SO THAT THEIR HORIZONS ARE WIDENED AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT FULLER.*
MR. MORGAN SAID THAT AFTER CAREFULLY WEIGHING THE ISSUES, GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION IN PRINCIPLE AND WHEN THE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED, IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A STATEMENT TO THIS EFFECT. THE STATEMENT ALSO SAID THAT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO UNDERESTIMATE THE RADICAL CHANGE IN THE UNIVERSITY ORGANISATION WHICH THIS BILL, IF ENACTED, WOULD CAUSE.
HE CONTINUED : +AND IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO ADMIT THAT EVERYONE IN THE UNIVERSITY IS HAPPY WITH THE CHANGE.
+SOME WILL FEEL A SENSE OF LOSS WHEN, PERHAPS, THEIR OWN PARTICULAR ROLE IN THE UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE IS TAKEN OVER BY SOMEONE ELSE. SOME FEEL THAT THE PRESENT SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT AND ACADEMIC ORGANISATION ARE APPROPRIATE AND SHOULD ENDURE.
+BUT HAVING FOLLOWED ALL THE ARGUMENTS WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY AND TAKEN THE BEST ADVICE, GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THAT CHANGES HAVE TO BE MADE.*
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/5
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
5
METHODS OF CLEARING MARINE REFUSE UNDER REVIEW ******
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF SKIN DISEASE AS A RESULT OF PEOPLE SWIMMING IN THE SEAS AROUND HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS NEVERTHELESS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO PREVENT THE INDISCRIMINATE DUMPING OF REFUSE INTO THE SEA AND WAS TACKLING THE PROBLEM IN SEVERAL WAYS.
FIRSTLY, HE SAID, EVERY EFFORT WAS BEING MADE TO DEAL WITH POSSIBLE SOURCES OF MARINE REFUSE.
MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT POINTED OUT THAT MOST MARINE REFUSE ORIGINATED ON LAND, AND THE NORMAL AND VERY EXTENSIVE REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICE AND THE CLEANSING OF NULLAHS AND STREAMS CONSIDERABLY REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF THIS REFUSE GETTING INTO THE SEA.
+ONCE REFUSE FINDS ITS WAY INTO THE SEA, ITS COLLECTION BECOMES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT’S HARBOUR SCAVENGING FLEET, WHICH REMOVES APPROXIMATELY TEN TONS A DAY.
+REFUSE FROM OCEAN-GOING SHIPS MOORED IN THE HARBOUR IS COLLECTED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND BINS ARE PROVIDED ALONG THE SEAWALLS OF TYPHOON SHELTERS FOR REFUSE FROM SMALL CRAFT.
+IN THE SUMMER MONTHS THE URBAN COUNCIL PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL SCAVENGING SERVICE OFF CERTAIN GAZETTED BEACHES,* HE SAID.
SECONDLY, MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT SAID, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT WERE CONTINUALLY SEEKING PUBLIC SUPPORT IN REDUCING THE GENERAL PROBLEM BY MEANS OF VARIOUS PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN.
+ IN PARTICULAR A RECENT SPECIAL CAMPAIGN WAS MOUNTED BY GOVERNMENT, ASSISTED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (EPCOM), ON THE THEME ’KEEP OUT WATERS CLEAN’*, HE ADDED.
THIRDLY, HE SAID, HEAVY PENALTIES HAD BEEN INTRODUCED FOR DUMPING REFUSE IN HONG KONG WATERS. +HOWEVER, IT IS NOT EASY TO ENFORCE THIS LEGISLATION, BECAUSE OF THE VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF SMALL VESSELS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WATERS, AND BECAUSE IT IS NOT EASY TO PIN-POINT OFFENDERS.*
DESPITE THESE ARRANGEMENTS, MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT POINTED OUT THAT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF REFUSE COULD EE SEEN IN THE SEA AND ON THE ADVICE OF EPCOM, THE METHODS OF PREVENTION AND CLEARANCE OF THIS REFUSE WERE BEING REVIEWED.
/6......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976 - 6 -
MAXIMUM OF 20 QUEST IONS AT ANY ONE LEGCO S ITTI NG ******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY PASSED A RESOLUTION WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE FROM 15 TO 20 THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ASKED AT ANY ONE SITTING BY AMENDING THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE COUNCIL.
IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG SAID: +WITH THE RECENT EXPANSION OF THIS COUNCIL MY UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES AND I REGARD IT AS BOTH APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF QUESTIONS WHICH CAN BE ASKED AT ANY ONE SITTING OF THE COUNCIL UNDER STANDING ORDER 16 (2) TO BE INCREASED SO AS TO ACCORD MORE CLOSELY WITH OUR OWN NUMBER.
+WE DO, OF COURSE, READILY APPRECIATE THAT THE PREPARATION OF ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS INVOLVES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WORK ON THE OFFICIAL SIDE AND FOR THIS VERY REASON WE HAVE TRIED TO STRIKE A HAPPY MEDIUM ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH SIDES.*
- 0 - -
GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES TABLED ******
A GREEN PAPER OUTLINING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS WAS TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. MORRIS MORGAN, TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT IT WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW COMPREHENSIVELY THE DEMAND FOR AND THE SHORTFALL OF SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED.
HE SAID THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP WHICH DRAFTED THE PAPER, THOUGH FACED WITH A FORMIDABLE NUMBER OF TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS, HAD BEEN ABLE TO MAKE LONG-TERM FORECASTS OF NEEDS AND TO PROPOSE PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN MOST AREAS.
THIS INCLUDED SUCH ISSUES AS HOW IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES SHOULD BE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED" HOW SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED" HOW MEDICAL REHABILITATION SERVICES SHOULD BE EXPANDED- HOW SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES SHOULD BE IMPROVED AND HOW POLICIES AND SERVICES IN THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION SHOULD BE CO-ORDINATED IN THE FUTURE.
+HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL AREAS INTO WHICH FURTHER RESEARCH MUST BE UNDERTAKEN AND IT IS PROPOSED TO DO THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IN THE FUTURE,* MR. MORGAN SAID.
HE URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHED TO COMMENT ON THE PAPER TO DO SO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD REACH AN EARLY CONCLUSION ON THE PROGRAMME OF DEVELOPMENT.
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/7.......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976.
7
LABOUR RELATIONS PRACTICE CODE TABLED * * * *
A CODE OF LABOUR RELATIONS PRACTICE COMPILED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE, INTRODUCING THE CODE SAID ITS PURPOSE WAS TO SET STANDARDS AND TO GIVE PRACTICAL GUIDANCE, PARTICULARLY TO MANAGEMENT, ON THE CONDUCT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES TO IMPROVE HUMAN RELATIONS IN ALL PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT WHATEVER THEIR SIZE.
+IN BRIEF,+ MR. PRICE SAID, +IT SETS OUT IN CLEAR AND CONCISE TERMS THE PRINCIPAL GUIDE LINES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS.* _ __ _____ _____ . _ _
MR. PRICE SAID THE CODE WAS OF VALUE EQUALLY TO EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATIONS, EMPLOYEES AND TRADE UNIONS. IT COVERED SUCH MATTERS AS THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE, METHODS OF COMMUNICATION AND CONSULTATION, GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND OTHER FUNCTIONS OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT POLICIES, RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES, WORKING CONDITIONS, FRINGE BENEFITS AND THE HANDLING OF TRADE DISPUTES.
ITS CONTENTS ARE BASED NOT ONLY ON THE EXTENSIVE AND LONG EXPERIENCE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE BUT ALSO, WHERE APPLICABLE, ON PRACTICES IN DEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES.
MR. PRICE SAID THE CODE HAD BEEN UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED BY THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD WHICH HAD EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT, OVER THE YEARS, IT WOULD EXERT A BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE ON RELATIONS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.
MR. PRICE SAID IT WAS HIS INTENTION THAT THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD REVIEW THE CODE FROM TIME TO TIME AND EXPAND ON IT.
PUBLISHED IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH, THE CODE WILL BE SENT TO THE MAIN EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATIONS, MAJOR TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND TO ALL REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS.
COPIES OF THE CODE ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT ALL OFFICES OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE AND THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE, HONG KONG.
COPIES WILL ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED TO LARGE EMPLOYERS BY OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
8
PLANS TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KWAI CHUNG ******
HEAVY TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER TERMINAL AREA WILL BE EASED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR WHEN ANOTHER CONTAINER FREIGHT STATION IN THE VICINITY WILL BE OPENED, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. D.G. JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN, HE SAID THAT AS AN ADDITIONAL RELIEF, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WAS EXPLORING WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING A HOLDING AREA FOR GOODS VEHICLES WAITING TO GET TO THE FREIGHT STATIONS.
HE SAID THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION WAS CAUSED BY LATE DELIVERIES OF GOODS FOR PACKING INTO THE CONTAINERS AT THE CONTAINER FREIGHT STATIONS.
+AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THESE DELAYS, GOODS VEHICLES SOMETIMES HAVE TO QUEUE UP TO GET INTO THE FREIGHT STATIONS,+ MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.
+THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INCREASED RECENTLY BY THE PRESENT BOOM IN EXPORTS,* HE ADDED.
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NON-ACCEPTANCE OF HONG KONG’S MEDICAL DEGREE QUESTIONED *****
THE SECRETARY OF THE HONG KONG MEDICAL COUNCIL HAS WRITTEN TO THE NEW SOUTH WALES MEDICAL BOARD AND THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND ASKING FOR AN EXPLANATION OVER THEIR DECISION TO CEASE ACCEPTANCE OF THE QUALIFICATION OF M.B.B.S. HONG KONG FOR DIRECT REGISTRATION.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING.
DR. CHOA SAID: + NO REPLY HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.
+AS FOR NEW ZEALAND, NO REASON HAS BEEN GIVEN, BUT IT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED THAT THE ONLY TYPE OF REGISTRATION FOR WHICH GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG CAN BE CONSIDERED WILL BE PROBATIONARY REGISTRATION WHICH MEANS THAT THEY MUST FIRST TAKE UP A HOSPITAL APPOINTMENT IN NEW ZEALAND FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS BEFORE THEY CAN APPLY FOR FULL REGISTRATION AS A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.*
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE DEGREE OF M.B.B.S. HONG KONG WAS REGISTRABLE WITH THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND RECOGNITION BY OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES WAS EITHER THROUGH THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL OR DIRECT RECOGNITION ON A RECIPROCAL BASIS.
+1 CAN ASSURE THE HONOURABLE MEMBER THAT WHATEVER ACTION OTHER COUNTRIES MAY TAKE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM REMAINS UNAFFECTED,* HE ADDED.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
- 9 -
FEWER OBJECTIONABLE COMIC BOOKS ON MARKET ******
THERE HAVE BEEN 87 SEIZURES OF NEARLY 9,000 MAGAZINES CONTAINING +HARD CORE + PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL SINCE THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE CAME INTO FORCE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID TODAY.
IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH, HE SAID SOME 8,000 OF THE MAGAZINES SEIZED HAD BEEN IMPORTED.
IN ADDITION, 196 OBJECTIONABLE FILMS AND 41 FILM PROJECTORS HAD BEEN SEIZED. THERE WERE 70 PROSECUTIONS AND IN 64 CASES CONVICTIONS WERE RECORDED.
MR. HOBLEY SAID THAT THE PENALTIES VARIED FROM THE BINDING OVER OF A STREET HAWKER TO A FINE OF $12,000 ON A PERSON CONVICTED OF DISTRIBUTING OBJECTIONABLE FILMS.
IN ONE CASE, HE ADDED, A SENTENCE OF FIVE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT WAS IMPOSED ON A PERSON CONVICTED OF POSSESSING OBJECTIONABLE FILMS AND MAGAZINES.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID: +PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL CONTINUES TO BE AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG, BUT IN SMALL INDIVIDUAL QUANTITIES.+
POLICE ACTION AGAINST IT WAS CONTINUOUS, HE ADDED.
MR. HOBLEY POINTED OUT THAT A PARTICULAR PROBLEM
BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF THE ORDINANCE WAS THE WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION OF OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL OF A KIND LIKELY TO BE READ BY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE ORDINANCE, HE SAID, HAD A CONSIDERABLE EFFECT ON THE TRADE EVEN BEFORE IT BECAME LAW AND THERE HAD BEEN A MARKED DECLINE IN THE AVAILABILITY OF OBJECT IONABLE COMIC BOOKS.
+THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TELLS ME THAT THAT HAS CONTINUED TO BE THE POSITION AND THAT PUBLICATIONS OF THAT TYPE DO NOT NOW PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM,+ HE SAID.
MR. HOBLEY ADDED THAT 148 COMIC BOOKS HAD BEEN SEIZED AND THERE HAD BEEN ONE PROSECUTION IN RESPECT OF A COMIC BOOK SINCE THE ORDINANCE CAME INTO FORCE.
+IN THAT CASE FINES WERE IMPOSED ON THE PUBLISHER, PRINTER AND TWO DI STR IBUTORS,+ HE SAID.
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/10.....
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
10
PLANS FOR A NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL * * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, SAID TODAY THAT TENTATIVE PLANS HAD NOW BEEN SUBMITTED FOR A NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL INCORPORATING A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.
HE SAID SEA-BED INVESTIGATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROJECT HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND DETAILED COST ESTIMATES WERE NOW BEING PREPARED.
MR. MCDONALD WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THE EXISTING FACILITIES AT THE TERMINAL OBSOLETE, AND WHETHER PLANS FOR NEW FACILITIES WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT AN EARLY DATE.
MR. MCDONALD SAID THE EXISTING FACILITIES WERE FAR FROM IDEAL, BUT THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN BROAD AGREEMENT WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER REGARDING THE BUILDING OF A NEW TERMINAL IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RIGHT TO CONSTRUCT A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX ABOVE IT.
CONSTRUCTION COSTS WERE NOW BEING WORKED OUT AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY.
+WHEN THEY ARE AGREED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DEVELOPER IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO FINALISE ARRANGEMENTS,+ HE SAID.
+THE WAY WILL THEN BE CLEAR FOR THE DEVELOPER TO SUBMIT FORMAL BUILDING PLANS AND FOR WORK TO COMMENCE ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE TERMINAL,* HE ADDED.
REPLYING TO A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION, MR. MCDONALD SAID THE DEVELOPER HAD NOT YET PRODUCED A PROGRAMME OF WORKS BUT THE COMPANY HAD STATED THAT IF THE SCHEME PROCEEDED ACCORDING TO PLAN WORKS ON SITE WOULD START NEXT YEAR.
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM DR. FANG, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THAT THE RECEIPTS FROM THE EMBARKATION FEE PAYABLE BY PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO MACAU WERE $7.41 MILLION FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30. 1976.
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/n
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976.
11
THROWING OBJECTS FROM BUILDINGS ******
THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW RELATING TO THROWING OR DROPPING OBJECTS FROM A BUILDING MUST BE IMPROVED AND THE MAXIMUM PENALTY INCREASED. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM, HE SAID THE EXSITING LAW, IN SECTION 4 OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE WAS SOMEWHAT UNSATISFACTORY.
+IF A PASSER-BY WERE KILLED, THE OFFENDER MAY BE GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER, BUT THERE ARE MANY POSSIBILITIES SHORT OF CAUSING DEATH,+ HE SAID. +THEY RANGE FROM THE VERY MINOR TO INJURY CAUSING TOTAL INCAPACITY.+
HE SAID MR. WONG HAD RAISED A MATTER WHICH WAS OF REAL CONCERN BECAUSE +TO THROW OR DROP SOMETHING FROM A BUILDING WHETHER DELIBERATELY OR CARELESSLY, IS SO OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS THAT I NEED SAY NO MORE.+
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/12......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1J, 1976
12
SAFETY OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
******
THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TAKE PART IN OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH CARRY SOME DEGREE OF RISK, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. DENIS BRAY SAID TODAY.
IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING, HE SAID : +IT IS RECOGNISED THAT SOME COMMERCIAL OPERATORS WHO ARE PROVIDING OUTDOOR PHYSICAL RECREATION FACILITIES, DO SO MAINLY FOR A PROFIT MOTIVE WITHOUT A PROPER REGARD OR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISK INVOLVED.
+THIS MATTER HAD BEEN OF CONCERN TO THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT WHICH IN JUNE THIS YEAR SET UP A WORKING PARTY TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM.+
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THIS WORKING PARTY ARE TO CONSIDER WHERE DANGER LIES AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE IT BY LAW OR IN ANY OTHER WAY.
+WHEN WE HAVE THE REPORT FROM THIS WORKING PARTY WE SHALL BE ABLE TO PROPOSE POSITIVE MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD THE SAFETY OF YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING PART IN OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES,+ HE SAID.
MR. BRAY REVEALED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO AWARE OF COMMERCIALLY OPERATED HOLIDAY YOUTH CAMPS AT CHUK WAN AND TAI MONG TSAI WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF PUBLIC COMPLAINT THIS SUMMER.
THE OPERATOR OF THESE CAMPS, HE SAID, WERE NOT COMMITTING ANY OFFENCE AS THEY WERE IN LAWFUL OCCUPATION OF THEIR LAND WITH PERMISSION TO USE IT FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS.
HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE GROWING DEMAND FOR HOLIDAY CAMPS WHICH WOULD NO DOUBT INCREASE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE PAID HOLIDAYS.
THERE ARE AT PRESENT OVER 40 CAMPS AND HOSTELS SPREAD OVER HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
♦MORE CAMPS WILL NO DOUBT BE OPENED AS AND WHEN MORE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS COME FORWARD AND LAND BECOME AVAILABLE,+ THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS SAID.
+THE PART TO BE PLAYED BY COMMERCIALLY OPERATED CAMPS AND HOLIDAY RESORTS IS YET TO BE THOUGHT THROUGH.
+WITH INCREASING WEALTH AND LEISURE OF THE COMMUNITY I AM SURE WE SHALL FIND AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR FACILITIES OF THIS SORT. WE SHOULD SEE THAT THIS DEMAND CAN BE LEGITIMATELY PROVIDED FOR BY ENTREPRENEURS AS WELL AS WELFARE AGENCIES.*
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1J, 1976
PROVIDENT FUNDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS
******
PRIVATE SCHOOLS OF ALL KINDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN PROVIDENT FUNDS OR JOIN EXISTING APPROVED FUNDS IF THEY WISH AND A NUMBER HAVE ALREADY DONE SO, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT, HE SAID MEMBERSHIP OF THE GRANT AND SUBSIDISED SCHOOLS PROVIDENT FUNDS WAS LIMITED BY LAW TO THE FULLY AIDED SECTOR OF EDUCATION.
+IN THE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS THE NEED TO KEEP FEES AT A REASONABLE LEVEL PREVENTS THESE SCHOOLS IN MOST CASES FROM OFFERING SALARIES ATTRACTIVE TO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GRADUATES,+ HE SAID.
MR. TOPLEY POINTED OUT THAT IN THE PRIVATE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS THE GOVERNMENT WAS ABLE TO GIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS SALARIES THROUGH THE PER CAPUT GRANT SCHEME FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1971.
+IT IS LARGELY AS A RESULT OF THIS SCHEME THAT THE POSITION HAS NOW BEEN REACHED WHEREBY IN THOSE CLASSES CONSIDERED TO BE PART OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR MORE THAN 90 PER CENT OF THE TEACHERS HAVE ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND I EXPECT THIS PROPORTION TO INCREASE,+ HE ADDED.
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WAITING TIME FOR DRIVING TESTS
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS RECRUITING 10 EXTRA DRIVING EXAMINERS IN A BID TO SHORTEN THE WAITING TIME FOR DRIVING TESTS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, HE SAID WHEN THE EXTRA EXAMINERS WERE AVAILABLE AND FULLY TRAINED, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DRIVING TEST APPOINTMENTS FROM 17,000 TO 22,000 A MONTH.
+THIS SHOULD DO MUCH TO REDUCE THE WAITING PERIOD,+ HE SAID.
MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT SAID THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAD 34 DRIVING EXAMINERS AT PRESENT AND THE WAITING TIME FOR PRACTICAL DRIVING TESTS VARIED ACCORDING TO THE CLASS OF VEHICLE, THE LONGEST BEING JUST UNDER 10 MONTHS. THIS, HE SAID, WAS FOR PRIVATE CARS IN KOWLOON.
+IT TAKES ABOUT ONE MONTH FOR LEARNER DRIVERS IN ALL CATEGORIES TO GET WRITTEN TESTS,+ HE ADDED.
/14
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
14
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 ******
CONSTRUCTION WORKS VALUED AT LESS THAN $250,000 WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY IF AN AMENDMENT BILL IS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID EXPERIENCE HAD PROVED THAT THIS REQUIREMENT HAD PLACED A HEAVY AND UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON CONTRACTORS, AUTHORISED PERSONS AND THE TRAINING AUTHORITY.
MR. PRICE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE A LEVY WAS IMPOSED ON THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS UNDERTAKEN IN HONG KONG TO FINANCE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TRAINING AUTHORITY.
HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT AMENDING LEGISLATION PRESCRIBED THAT CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF LESS THAN $250,000 WERE NOT LIABLE TO LEVY BUT REQUIRED THE CONTRACTOR AND AUTHORISED PERSON RESPONSIBLE TO NOTIFY THE TRAINING AUTHORITY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORKS AS WELL AS PAYMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPECT OF THEM.
MR. PRICE SAID THE ORDINANCE CONTAINED A PROVISION OF +REASONABLE EXCUSE* TO PROTECT THE CONTRACTOR OR AUTHORISED PERSON WHO MIGHT HAVE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE ESTIMATED VALUE WOULD BE LESS THAN $250,000 AND THEREFORE DID NOT GIVE NOTICE TO THE AUTHORITY.
HOWEVER, IF THE FINAL VALUE OF THE WORKS EVENTUALLY REQUIRED THE PAYMENT OF THE LEVY, THE TRAINING AUTHORITY COULD ASSESS THE AMOUNT OF LEVY DUE FROM THE CONTRACTOR.
MR. PRICE SAID THAT, THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE TRAINING AUTHORITY AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE TRAINING AUTHORITY IS PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION ON THE FINAL VALUE OF ALL CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
- 15 -
MOVE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT WITH EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 15), LEARNER DRIVERS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING LAI TAK TSUEN ROAD IN ORDER TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN MONG KOK WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 15) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY SHAN TUNG STREET, NATHAN ROAD, ARGYLE STREET AND CANTON ROAD, BETWEEN PITT STREET AND ARGYLE STREET, INCLUDING NELSON STREET, RECLAMATION STREET, SHANGHAI STREET AND PORTLAND STREET.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Wednesday, 13th October 1976
3300 MILLION REVOLVING FUND PROPOSED FOR 1 FLATS FOR SALE* SCHEME
A proposed "revolving fund" of 3300 million would help finance the Housing Authority’s flats-for—sale scheme which would in turn rel ease purchasers’ present homes for other people needing public housing.
How this proposed fund would work is explained by Mr. I.M. Lightbody, Chairman of the Housing Authority, in the Authority’s Annual Report for 1975/76, tabled in the Legislative Council today.
He said the Government had offered to set up the revolving fund of about 3300 million specifically for the Authority to build flats for sale.
•’These new blocks will be sold to better off families already occupying flats in the Authority’s old (and lower rent) estates, so releasing these flats for reallocation to less well off families still waiting for public housing," Mr. Lightbody writes.
"In this way, we can reach our eventual housing targets more quickly in a financially viable way, while at the same time satisfying the widespread desire for home ownership."
Particular care would be taken to ensure this scheme did not compete unfairly with private developers, he said.
/2......
2 -
Mr. Lightbody adds: "The bulk of the Authority’s production will of course continue to be flats for rent, since the mortage and other payments needed for these bought flats will be beyond the means of the majority.”
*****
'G T -JOA ped'
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
fjf w m
?; , */.□.* i Wednesday, 13th October 1976
HOUSING AUTHORITY'S BUILD BIG PROGRAMME GATHERING MOMENTUM. ANNUAL REPORT REVEALS
The Housing Authority’s building programme is beginning to gather momentum with twice as many flats completed in 1975/76 as in the previous year.
This is stated in the Annual Report of the Housing Authority for the last financial year, just released.
Since it was formed in 1973, the report reveals, the Authority has built 26,000 flats to house up to 173,000 people.
•’Production this year was considerably higher than in 1974/75 with over twice as many flats completed (11,027 compared with 5,500).”
It goes on: "The building programme ■■ •’inning to gather
momentum: seven new estates were started during the year bringing the total of estates under construction to 14, and annual production of flats will be progressively increased over the next few years."
The report also says that the Building Committee has approved new designs for domestic blocks in future estates.
The basic design would create a sense of community among residents by grouping families in small clusters on each floor and would at the same time provide more privacy for individual flats.
/2......
’’Other advantages include bet ter‘lighting-and ventilation, and
a slightly larger service area (private balcony, kitchen and toilet)'than
in earlier schemes.”
Mr. Lightbody states that the highlight o£ the year was the visit o£ Her Majesty the Queen to Hong Kong when she saw the ”worst and best” o£ public housing.
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
»f H
Wednesday, 1Jth October 1976
DEFICIT ON FORMER RESETTLEMENT ESTATES 880 MILLION A YEAR HOUSING AUTHORITY REPORT REVEALS
The deficit on former Resettlement Estates was running at more than >80 million a year, states the Chairman of the Housing Authority, Mr. I.M. Lightbody, in the Authority’s Annual Report for 1975/76 which has just been released.
"Clearly, we can never hope to reach our.housing targets if new estates require to be subsidised to cover running costs and, so, the Authority is bound to fix rents at a realistic level and to review rents in accordance with the pace of inflation," Mr. Lightbody states.
This might mean that some poorer families would not be able to afford flats in new estates; for them, units would have to be recovered in the older, low rent estates. "In any event, they can seek help from the Public Assistance scheme to meet their rent payments. This is a practicable arrangement and recognises the realities of the situation."
Mr. Lightbody says restraints are imposed on the Authority by its heavy capital expenditure programme.
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Wednesday, 13th October 1976
83,366 PEOPLE REHOUSED IN 1973/76 -A JUMP OF 32e3 PER CENT ON PREVIOUS YEAR
A total of 85,566 people were rehoused in 1975/76, compared with 64,556 the previous year, according to the Annual Report of the Housing Authority, released today.
This is a rise of just over 32.5 per cent.
Those rehoused were allocated 16,685 flats, giving an average density of 5.13 persons per flat.
Of the 11 categories provided rehousing the largest number were on the waiting list with 3$,711 people being allocated 6,733 flats. A further 13,507 people were rehoused to relieve overcrowding in public housing estates.
Through development clearances, 8,053 persons were allocated flats; 7,290 people from estates due to be redeveloped were rehoused.
Other categories rehoused were :
Re-use of licensed area . *5,415
Junior civil servants and pensioners 5,280
Compassionate cases 3,701
Victims of fires and natural disasters 3,581
Tenants of buildings demolished as 1,367
dangerous
Tenants of properties acquired for 309
urban renewal
352
Others
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING COURSE PLANNED FOR NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ..................................................... !
MORE PLAYGROUNDS TO BE BUILT IN KWAI CHUNG .................... 2
EXTENSION OF CONTROLLED TIP AT SHUEN WAN ...................... 3
WATER CUT IN MONG KOK ......................................... 3
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHEUNG SHUI ........................... 4
HONG KONG STANDARD TIME BACK ON SUNDAY ........................ 4
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1976
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING COURSE PLANNED FOR NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTE *******
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF A NUMBER OF SUBJECTS INCLUDING AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING, AT THE FIFTH TECHNICAL INSTITUTE WHICH IS EARMARKED FOR CONSTRUCTION IN KOWLOON TONG.
OTHER SUBJECTS BEING CONSIDERED ARE RETAIL MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING, DESIGN, INCLUDING JEWELLERY AND APPLIED ARTS, INTERIOR DESIGN AND WINDOW DISPLAY, OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS AND WATCH REPAIRS.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL), MR. DANIEL WATERS, AT THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION DONOR SCHOLARSHIPS PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
MR. WATERS SAID: +AS INDUSTRY BECOMES MORE SOPHISTICATED SO TOO MUST TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEVELOP.
+THIS MEANS PROVIDING TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR NEW INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS INNOVATING THE OLD.+
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID METALWORK AND WOODWORK IN SCHOOLS WERE BEING REPLACED BY DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY, A SUBJECT WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE CURRICULUM OF 33 SCHOOLS.
UP TO NOW, MR. WATERS SAID, ALL DEPARTMENTS IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES HAD RUN COURSES LINKED TO THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES OR COMMERCE.
+WITH THE OPENING NEXT YEAR OF A HOTEL-KEEPING AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT AT CHEUNG SHA WAN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE - THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST VENTURE INTO A SERVICING INDUSTRY.
+THE MARINE AND FABRICATION DEPARTMENT AT THE SAME INSTITUTE IS PLANNING A WATERFRONT ANNEX,+ HE SAID.
THE VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED SINCE 1964 BY THE C.M.A. WAS OVER $270,000.
MR. WATERS SAID: +THIS IS A WONDERFUL RECORD AND SHOWS NOT ONLY AN EXCELLENT SOCIAL GESTURE BUT ALSO THE IMPORTANCE THE C.M.A. PLACES ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION.+
THIS YEAR THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS REACHED A RECORD OF 108 AMOUNTING TO $38,600.
RECALLING THE ACTIVE PART PLAYED BY THE C.M.A. IN EDUCATION, MR. WATERS MENTIONED THAT IN THE MID-1950S IT GAVE SI MILLION TO ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT IN SETTING UP THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE (NOW THE POLYTECHNIC).
/HE ADDED:
2
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1976
HE ADDED: +IT HAS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED THE C.M.A. PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL. THIS IS ALREADY RUNNING IN BORROWED PREMISES.+
THE SCHOOL IN NAM CHEONG STREET, WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED, WILL HAVE 28 CLASSES WITH A CAPACITY OF 1,120 STUDENTS.
THE TOTAL CAPITAL COST WILL BE IN THE REGION OF $7.4 MILLION, OF WHICH AROUND $6.1 MILLION WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE NEW PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
MORE PLAYGROUNDS FOR KWAI CHUNG RESIDENTS ******
MORE PLAY FACILITIES ARE TO BE PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR RESIDENTS IN THE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING KWAI CHUNG AREA.
MR. FRANK HO-ASJOE, CHIEF ARCHITECT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, SAID TODAY THAT WORK WOULD START IN DECEMBER ON TWO MORE RECREATIONAL GROUNDS WITH REST GARDENS AT SHEUNG KWAI CHUNG.
THE PLAY FACILITIES ARE THE FIRST OF A SERIES TO BE BUILT BY THE P.W.D. UNDER THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.
ONE OF THE PLAYGROUNDS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A REST GARDEN, WILL OCCUPY A SITE OF 23,000 SQ. METRES OFF WO Yl HOP ROAD NEAR SHEK YAM ESTATE.
IT WILL PROVIDE A FULL-SIZED TURFED SOCCER PITCH, A 300-METRE RUNNING TRACK AND VARIOUS ATHLETIC TRAINING FACILITIES, INCLUDING LONG-JUMP, HIGH-JUMP AND SHOT PUT.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE A MINI-SOCCER PITCH AND A BASKETBALL-CUM-VOLLEYBALL COURT, AS WELL AS A REST GARDEN WITH A PAVILION AND SERVICE BUILDING.
THE SECOND PLAYGROUND WILL BE BUILT OPPOSITE THE SHEK LEI ESTATE AND WILL OCCUPY A SITE OF ABOUT 13,000 SQUARE METRES.
IT CONSISTS OF A MINI-SOCCER PITCH, A BASKETBALL COURT, A BASKETBALL-CUM-VOLLEYBALL COURT, A SITTING OUT AREA WITH BENCHES AND A SERVICE BUILDING.
+BOTH WILL BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR AND WILL BE FLOODLIT TO CATER FOR SPORT ACTIVITIES AT NIGHT,+ SAID MR. HO-ASJOE.
---0------
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1976
- 3 -
EXTENSION OF CONTROLLED TIP AT SHUEN WAN ******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO EXTEND THE EXISTING CONTROLLED TIP AT SHUEN WAN WHICH WILL PROVIDE SOME
5.5 HECTARES OF ADDITIONAL LAND FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN TAI PO BY 1978.
TENDERS FOR THE EXTENSION ARE NOW BEING INVITED AND WORK IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN DECEMBER.
MR. LEUNG MIN-SUN, ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S DEVELOPMENT AND AIRPORT DIVISION, SAID TODAY THE WORK WOULD INVOLVE SYSTEMATIC DISPOSAL OF REFUSE BY SANITARY AND INOFFENSIVE METHODS, AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROADS AND DRAINS.
HE SAID THE SHUEN WAN TIP HAD BEEN IN USE SINCE JUNE 1974 FOR DISPOSING OF REFUSE GENERATED IN THE EASTERN AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+ ITS PRESENT CAPACITY OF 130,000 TONNES WILL BE EXPANDED BY ANOTHER 80,000 TONNES AND WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL OUTLET FOR THE DISPOSAL OF REFUSE UP TO EARLY 1978.
+WHEN THE TIP IS FILLED AND CLOSED,+ HE ADDED, +SOME 5.5 HECTARES OF LAND WILL BE PROVIDED FOR OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIONAL USE FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.+
MR. LEUNG SAID THAT COVERING MATERIAL FOR THE TIP WOULD BE OBTAINED FROM AN ADJACENT BORROW AREA WHICH WOULD BE GRADUALLY FORMED INTO A PLATFORM OF 2.3 HECTARES FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
MEANWHILE, THE P.W.D. IS ABOUT TO BEGIN SITE FORMATION WORK ON ANOTHER CONTROLLED TIP AT SAI TSO WAN NEAR KWUN TONG.
THIS NEW TIP WILL HAVE A CAPACITY OF 1.7 MILLION TONNES AND WILL PROVIDE A TOTAL OF ABOUT 6.8 HECTARES BY MID-1977 FOR RECREATIONAL AND OTHER USES.
-----o------
WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY
TO A NUMBER
TnRpNAR°F|r F°R FIVE H0URS FR0M 1 A^M^O^SATURDAY (OCTOBER 16) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE ?
I CO I •
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY DUNDAS STREET NATHAN ROAD nIREET’ shanghai street, nelson street, And canton roAd INCLUDING PORTLAND STREET, SOY STREET AND CHEUNG SHA STREET. ’
-----0------
A
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1976
4
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHEUNG SHU I X * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT WITH EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY (OCTOBER 16), A SERIES OF TRAFFIC RE-ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN SHEK WU HUI, SHEUNG tHU I, TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA.
ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING SAN TSOI STREET, THE SECTION OF SAN FAT STREET BETWEEN FU HING STREET AND SAN TSOI STREET, AND THE LAYBYE ON JOCKEY CLUB ROAD IN FRONT OF THE JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC.
AT THE SAME TIME, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS ALL DAY ALONG THE SECTION OF SAN FUNG AVENUE FROM ITS JUNCTION/OF JOCKEY CLUB ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 46 FEET SOUTH OF THE RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSING.
STARTING FROM SATURDAY, URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL ALSO BE IMPOSED ALONG JOCKEY CLUB ROAD BETWEEN LUNG SUM AVENUE AND SAN FUNG AVENUE WITH SHORT EXTENSIONS AT EITHER END, TOGETHER WITH THE SECTIONS OF LUNG SUM AVENUE AND FU HING STREET UP TO SAN SHING AVENUE.
ALL VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM STOPPING IN THESE SECTIONS TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN PASSENGERS AND TO LOAD OR UNLOAD GOODS BETWEEN 7 A.M.
AND 10 A.M. AND BETWEEN 4 P.M. AND 7 P.M. DAILY.
0 - -
CHANGE TO STANDARD TIME
******
HONG KONG IS TO CHANGE TO STANDARD TIME, GMT PLUS 8, ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 17, SO RESIDENTS SHOULD PUT THEIR CLOCKS AND WATCHES BACK ONE HOUR BEFORE GOING TO BED ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
STANDARD TIME WILL BE USED IN HONG KONG THROUGHOUT THE COMING WINTER AND NEXT SUMMER FOR A TRIAL PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.
AT THE END OF THAT PERIOD AN ASSESSMENT WILL BE MADE OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND IF THE USE OF STANDARD TIME IS PREFERRED IT WILL BE ADOPTED AS THE PERMANENT TIME SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
A NEW ROAD TO BE BUILT IN ABERDEEN ........................ 1
NEW CORRECTIONAL HOME FOR GIRLS ........................... 2
QUEEN HONOURS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOREMAN ............. 3
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS IN NORTH POINT ................ 4
AIR QUALITY SEMINAR ....................................... 5
INDUSTRIAL TRADE INSTRUCTORS’ COURSE ...................... 6
PRE-WAR BUILDING CONDEMNED ................................ 6
HEALTH EDUCATION EXHIBITIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES .... 7
INTER-ISLANDS SWIMMING GALA AT CHEUNG CHAU ................ 8
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
NEW ROAD TO SERVE DEVELOPMENTS IN ABERDEEN
******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO BUILD A NEW ROAD IN ABERDEEN TO SERVE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA.
THE NEW ROAD WILL BE ABOUT 100 METRES LONG AND WILL PROVIDE DIRECT ACCESS FROM SHAM WAN ROAD TO THE ABERDEEN SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX NOW BEING BUILT BY THE P.W.D.’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, AS WELL AS TO A PROPOSED MULTI-STOREY CARPARK NEARBY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING WELFARE ROAD FRONTING THE SWIMMING POOL IS TO BE WIDENED TO FURTHER FACILITATE TRAFFIC TO AND FROM THE COMPLEX.
MR. CHEN SHAO-CHI, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS (HONG KONG) DIVISION, SAID TODAY WORK ON THE ROAD PROJECT WOULD START NEXT MONTH AND WOULD BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS.
+BOTH ROADS WILL HAVE CARRIAGEWAYS WIDE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH FOOTPATHS ON EITHER SIDE FOR PEDESTRIANS,* HE SAID.
ABOUT 300 METRES OF STORMWATER DRAINS AND SEWERS WOULD ALSO BE LAID IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ROADWORKS, HE ADDED.
MEANWHILE, CONSTRUCTION ON THE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX IS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN MARCH NEXT YEAR.
THE $11 MILLION COMPLEX IS BEING BUILT BY THE P.W.D.’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE ON BEHALF OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND MOST OF THE COST IS BEING MET FROM A 310 MILLION DONATION FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR. ■
MR. K.M. TSENG, CHIEF P.W.D. ARCHITECT, SAID THE COMPLEX HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING EVENTS.
THE COMPLEX WOULD HAVE TWO MAIN POOLS, EACH 50 METRES LONG, TWO SMALLER POOLS OF 12 BY 18 METRES, AND ONE TEACHING POOL AS WELL AS PADDLING POOLS FOR THE VERY YOUNG.
+ONE OF THE MAIN POOLS WILL BE HEATED TO CATER FOR YEAR ROUND SWIMMING,* SAID MR. TSENG.
OTHER FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE CHANGING ROOMS, A SPECTATOR STAND FOR 800 PEOPLE, STAFF QUARTERS AS WELL AS SPECIAL EXITS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.
IT WILL ALSO HAVE A COVERED CARPARK PROVIDING 40 PARKING SPACES.
-------o -
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
2
NEW CORRECTIONAL HOME FOR GIRLS * * * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CORRECTIONAL HOME FOR GIRLS AT HO MAN TIN.
THE NEW COMPLEX WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING MA TAU WAI GIRLS’ HOME WHICH HAS BECOME HEAVILY OVERTAXED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
MR. FRANK HO-ASJOE, CHIEF P.W.D. ARCHITECT, SAID TODAY BUILDING WORK WOULD BEGIN IN DECEMBER ON A 4,200 SQUARE-METRE SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF SHENG SHING STREET AND SHENG HONG STREET.
+THE NEW HOME WILL BE READY IN MID-1978 AND WILL PROVIDE BETTER FACILITIES FOR THE 144 GIRLS IT WILL CATER FOR,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THE NEW COMPLEX WOULD CONSIST OF THREE INTERLOCKING BLOCKS WITH TRAINING FACILITIES AND A DORMITORY -- A TWO-STOREY ADMINISTRATION BLOCK, AND A FOUR-STOREY AND A SEVEN-STOREY BLOCKS PROVIDING QUARTERS.
+OTHER FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE CLASSROOMS, A LIBRARY, COMMON ROOMS, A LARGE DINING HALL, AN ASSEMBLY HALL AND A PLAYGROUND,+ \ HE ADDED.
WHEN COMPLETED, THE NEW HOME WILL PROVIDE PLACES FOR GIRLS ON REMAND OR ON PROBATION AS WELL AS GIRLS UNDER CARE AND PROTECTION.
THE EXISTING MA TAU WAI GIRLS’ HOME IS A ONE STOREY BUILDING AND FUNCTIONS AS A PROBATION HOME AND A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR GIRLS WITH SPECIAL BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS AND WHO ARE IN NEED OF CARE AND PROBATION.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 45 GIRLS BUT ITS CAPACITY HAS GRADUALLY BEEN INCREASED AND TODAY IT CATERS FOR 60 GIRLS.
0 -------
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
- 3 -
QUEEN HONOURS P.W.D. FOREMAN ******
MR. CHEUNG SANG, A RETIRED FOREMAN OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDAL BY THE QUEEN IN RECOGNITION OF HIS 42 YEARS’ DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.
MR. CHEUNG, 60, ENTERED THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE AT THE AGE OF 18 AS A FOREMAN-LABOURER IN THE THEN DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT OF THE P.W.D. HE WAS PROMOTED TO FOREMAN IN 1957.
FOR THE PAST YEARS, HE HAS BEEN A DISTRICT FOREMAN IN THE HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) DIVISION WHERE HE WAS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE DISTRICT UNDER HIS CONTROL. HIS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ALSO PROVED INVALUABLE IN TRAINING NEW RECRUITS.
A HAPPY MR. CHEUNG SAID TODAY HE WAS THRILLED AT THE AWARD. +IT IS INDEED A GREAT HONOUR WHICH I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE AND SHARE WITH MY FORMER COLLEAGUES WHO REALLY MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE.*
THIS MORNING, THE P.W.D.’S DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, MR. DAVID STEAD, AND THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER, MR. GORDON SAPSTEAD, JOINED MR. CHEUNG’S MANY FRIENDS AT THE KOWGMHGHA FISHORGRATULATE HIM.
AMONG THE WELLWISHERS WAS MR. KAN ASSISTANT INSPECTOR OF WORKS WITH THE KOWLOON HIGHWAY OFFICE, WHO HIMSELF WAS AWARDED A B.E.M. IN THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST LAST YEAR.
BETWEEN THEM, MR. CHEUNG AND MR. LO HAVE SERVED A TOTAL OF 83 YEARS WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
MR. CHEUNG RETIRED LAST AUGUST.
- - 0 - -
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
4
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS IN NORTH POINT
******
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IMPOSED ON CERTAIN SECTIONS OF KING’S ROAD ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 18).
AFFECTED WILL BE THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KING’S ROAD FROM A POINT 50 METRES WEST OF POWER STREET TO A POINT 75 METRES EAST OF JAVA ROAD AND THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KING’S ROAD FROM A POINT 75 METRES EAST OF JAVA ROAD TO A POINT 50 METRES WEST OF FORTRESS HILL ROAD.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND TRAMS, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM STOPPING TO PICK UP AND SET DOWN PASSENGERS OR TO LOAD AND UNLOAD GOODS.
THE RESTRICTIONS WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM 8 A.M. ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 18). THEREAFTER THE RESTRICTION HOURS WILL BE FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 A.M. AND FROM 4 P.M. TO 7 P.M. DAILY.
AT THE SAME TIME, A NUMBER OF TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN NORTH POINT FROM 8 A.M. ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 18) TO FACILITATE THE CABLE LAYING WORKS BY THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMDANY ALONG ELECTRIC ROAD, JAVA ROAD, TONG SHUI ROAD, KING’S ROAD TO KAM PING STREET SUB-STATION.
THE TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH WILL LAST FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 15 WEEKS, ARE AS FOLLOWS :
* THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF ELECTRIC ROAD BETWEEN WATSON ROAD AND JAVA ROAD WILL BE CLOSED. ELECTRIC ROAD WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND.
* THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF JAVA ROAD BETWEEN ELECTRIC ROAD AND KAM HONG STREET WILL BE CLOSED. JAVA ROAD WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND.
* NORTHBOUND VEHICLES IN NORTH VIEW STREET WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TURN RIGHT INTO KING’S ROAD.
* SOUTHBOUND VEHICLES IN KAM HONG STREET WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TURN LEFT INTO KING’S ROAD.
* THE EXISTING PUBLIC LIGHT BUS RESTRICTED ZONE APPLYING BETWEEN 7 A.M. - MIDNIGHT DAILY TO THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KING’S ROAD BETWEEN NORTH POINT ROAD AND KAM HONG STREET WILL BE EXTENDED WESTWARDS TO SIX METRES WEST OF TIN CHONG STREET AND EASTWARDS TO 80 METRES EAST OF TIN CHIU STREET.
* THE EXISTING PUBLIC LIGHT BUS RESTRICTED ZONE APPLYING BETWEEN 7 A.M. - MIDNIGHT DAILY TO THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KING’S ROAD WILL BE EXTENDED EASTWARDS TO A POINT 80 METRES EAST OF TIN CHIU STREET.
/b'0TC\IS2i......
5
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
MOTORISTS WHO NORMALLY USE JAVA ROAD TO TRAVEL WESTBOUND via ELcCTR IC ROAD are ADVISED TO USE KAM HONG STREET OR TIN CHIU STREET TO TURN INTO KING’S ROAD TO PROCEED WESTBOUND. STREET-
APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
0AAn’>MAf!nW»lL/4 CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY’S ROUTES 23 (TO POKFIELD OPERATE 5eI?boSdCSLK ING's ROAD.'““ "°NG ^EET T°
CAR p*rkTjIJ^adUofSnorth K™" CAUSEMV BAV HAGISTRACY
- - 0 - -
AIR QUALITY SEMINAR
******
EIGHTY BIOLOGY TEACHERS WILL ATTEND A SEMINAR TOMORROW ON +LICHENS, AIR QUALITY AND RESEARCH* AT THE SCIENCE CENTRE, CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
THE SEMINAR IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION AND THE SCIENCE SUBJECTS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
DR. STELLA THROWER OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY’S DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY WILL GIVE AN ILLUSTRATED TALK FOLLOWED BY DEMONSTRATION EXPERIMENTS ON LICHENS AND AIR QUALITY.
NOTE TO EDITORS: YOU ARE INVITED TO HAVE THE EVENT COVERED.
THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD IN LECTURE ROOM L2, SCIENCE CENTRE, CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG FROM 10 A.M. TO 12 NOON.
-----0------
/6
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
- 6 -
INDUSTRIAL TRADE INSTRUCTORS’ COURSE
******
THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR A TWO-WEEK FULL-TIME BLOCK RELEASE INDUSTRIAL TRADE INSTRUCTORS’ COURSE.
THE COURSE WILL BE HELD IN THE COLLEGE AND WILL BEGIN EARLY NEXT MONTH.
ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS ARE :-
* EMPLOYMENT AS A TRADE OR A WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR AND MUST BE FULLY SKILLED IN HIS TRADE AND,
* ADEQUATE SECONDARY EDUCATION. SECONDARY TECHNICAL OR PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS AN ADVANTAGE.
THE FEES CHARGED WILL BE $60 PER COURSE AND THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION WILL BE CHINESE, BUT SOME ENGLISH TERMINOLOGY
WILL BE USED.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE, 373 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, HONG KONG.
COMPLETED FORMS ARE TO BE RETURNED ON OR BEFORE SATURDAY (OCTOBER 30).
------0-------
PRE-WAR BUILDING CONDEMNED
*****
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NO. 46 PEEL STREET, HONG KONG TO BE INA DANGEROUS CONDITION AND ORDERED THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THIS FOUR-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED OF LOAD-BEARING BRICK WALLS SUPPORTING MAIN TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOF. THE ROOF AND FLOORS OF THE KITCHEN BLOCK WERE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.
+THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN UNDER PERIODIC OBSERVATION SINCE 1968, WHEN FRACTURES WERE OBSERVED IN BOTH PARTY WALLS,+ HE SAID. +THE FRACTURES HAVE RECENTLY BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED, INDICATING FURTHER MOVEMENT IN THE BUILDING, AND IT IS NOW CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS A DANGER OF COLLAPSE.+
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 12, 1976 WAS POSTED TODAY.
----0----
/7
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
7
HEALTH EDUCATION EXHIBITIONS IN N.T.
******
A SERIES OF HEALTH EDUCATION EXHIBITIONS ON PREVENTION OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES ARE TO BE HELD AT VARIOUS TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
A +KEEP FOOD PREMISES CLEAN* CAMPAIGN WILL ALSO BE LAUNCHED AT THE SAME TIME TO RAISE THE HYGIENIC STANDARD OF RESTAURANTS AND OTHER FOOD PREMISES IN THE REGION.
THESE ARE ORGANISED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AS PART OF ITS ANNUAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.
THE EXHIBITIONS WILL BE HELD FROM OCTOBER 19 TO OCTOBER 21 AT TAI PO YOUTH CENTRE, FROM OCTOBER 26 TO OCTOBER 28 AT THE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL, AND ON NOVEMBER 3 AND 4 AT SA I KUNG RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE.
ITEMS ON DISPLAY WILL INCLUDE PICTURES, DIAGRAMS AND CHARTS ILLUSTRATING THE CAUSES OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES SUCH AS TYPHOID FEVER, DYSENTERY, FOOD POISONING AND HEPATITIS, AND WAYS TO PREVENT THESE DISEASES. THERE WILL ALSO BE FILM SHOWS TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DISEASES ARE ALL ABOUT.
THE EXHIBITIONS ARE INTENDED FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ORGANISE GROUP VISITS SO AS NOT TO CAUSE DISRUPTIONS TO SCHOOL WORK.
A SIMILAR EXHIBITION HAD ALREADY BEEN HELD IN TSUEN WAN EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THE +KEEP FOOD PREMISES CLEAN* CAMPAIGN AIMS AT EDUCATING FOOD HANDLERS, LICENSEES OF FOOD PREMISES AND OPERATORS OF CANTEENS ON FOOD HYGIENE AND PERSONAL HYGIENE.
THE MESSAGE WILL BE CONVEYED BY MEANS OF SEMINARS, DISCUSSIONS AND FILM SHOWS.
/8
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1976
8
ISLANDS SWIMMING GALA
******
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE FROM THE OUTLYING ISLANDS WILL TAKE PART IN THE FIRST INTER-ISLANDS SWIMMING GALA AT CHEUNG CHAU ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 17).
THE EVENT HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE WITH A $5,000 SPONSORSHIP FROM THE HAPPY
ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE VALLEY LIONS CLUB.
THE EIGHT RURAL COMMITTEES IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT HAVE ORGANISED TEAMS TO COMPETE AT THE GALA ALONG WITH TEAMS FROM SEVERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE POLICE AND PRISONS.
THE FIRST EVENT WILL BE STAGED AT 9.30 A.M. AND RACES WILL GO ON THROUGH THE DAY UNTIL 4.30 P.M. WHEN THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN CHAMBERS, WILL PRESENT TROPHIES.
NOTE TO EDITORS: YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO TUNG WAN, CHEUNG CHAU, TO COVER THE EVENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, NO OFFICIAL TRANSPORT IS AVAILABLE BUT MR. LUCAS WUN OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1976.
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TO BE BUILT AT KOWLOON TONG ........ 1
DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME SUCCESSFUL ..................... 2
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT APPROVED 59 BUILDING PLANS LAST MONTH ...................................................... 3
THE NUMBER OF HANDICAPPED PEOPLE PLACED TO WORK INCREASING 4
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT ........................................ 4
CROSS COUNTRY RACE IN WONG CHUK HANG ...................... 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1976
512 MILLION TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AT KOWLOON TONG *****
A $12 MILLION TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS TO BE BUILT ON A 160,000 SQUARE FOOT SITE AT RENFREW ROAD, KOWLOON TONG.
THE NEW INSTITUTE, WHICH WILL BE THE FIFTH TO BE RUN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IS EXPECTED TO HAVE FIVE DEPARTMENTS -COMMERCIAL STUDIES, DESIGN, ENGINEERING, INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY AND GENERAL STUDIES. WHEN FULLY OPERATIONAL, THE INSTITUTE WILL HAVE SOME 1,500 FULL TIME DAY STUDENTS.
SITE FORMATION WORK IS TO BEGIN EARLY NEXT YEAR AND THE INSTITUTE SHOULD BE READY FOR USE IN SEPTEMBER 1979.
THE KOWLOON TONG SITE WAS CHOSEN TO REPLACE THE ONE AT SAN PO KONG BECAUSE OF SITE DIFFICULTIES. THE NEW SITE COULD EASILY BE REACHED FROM WONG TAI SIN AND SHA TIN THROUGH THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.
AMONG THE SUBUECTS BEING CONSIDERED FOR INTRODUCTION AT THE INSTITUTE ARE AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING, RETAIL MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING DESIGN, INCLUDING JEWELLERY AND APPLIED ARTS, FURNITURE DESIGN, INTERIOR DESIGN AND WINDOW DISPLAY, OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS, WATCH REPAIRS, TEXTILES AND FASHION.
+THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IS PART OF A BROAD GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT TECHNICAL PERSONNEL ARE AVAILABLE TO MEET THE EXISTING AND FUTURE DEMANDS OF INDUSTRY,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES THE EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSITIES, THt DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLYTECHNIC AND CHANGES IN THE PATTERN OF SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION.
+ THE MAJOR FUNCTION OF THE INSTITUTES IS TO PROVIDE RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION WHICH IS REQUIRED TO COMPLEMENT THE TRAINING PROVIDED BY INDUSTRY,* HE SAID.
ACADEMIC PLANNING IS BEING CARRIED OUT WITH ADVICE FROM INDUSTRY, COMMERCE, OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT THE TYPE AND CONTENT OF THE COURSES AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG.
o
/2
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1976
5 li
DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME SUCCESSFUL
*******
THE NUMBER OF YOUNG OFFENDERS BELOW THE AGE OF 21 HAS DROPPED, THE SECRETARY FOR ADM INSTRATI ON, MR. P.B. aILLIAMS, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE PASSING CUT PARADE OF OFFICERS AND ASSISTANT OFFICERS OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT AT STANLEY, HE SAID THE DROP WAS DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE DEPARTMENT’S DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME.
+DURING THE 1974-75 THERE WAS A RAPID RISE IN THE PRISON POPULATION, BUT THIS YEAR — 1976 — IT HAS LEVELLED OUT,+ HE SAID.
+THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE DROP IN THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG OFFENDERS UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE FROM 23 PER CENT IN JANUARY 1974 TO 13 PER CENT AT THE END OF LAST MONTH.
+1 THINK THIS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO NO LITTLE DEGREE TO THE VERY SUCCESSFUL DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME WHICH HAS SO FAR DEALT WITH OVER 2,000 YOUNG OFFENDERS.
+THESE CENTRES SHOW THE VALUE OF DISCIPLINE AND CLOSE PERSONAL SUPERVISION EXERCISED BY WELL-TRAINED AND COMPETENT OFFICERS.*
tiE- SAID THE PROGRAMME PROVIDED BY THE CENTRE HAD PROVED VERY SUCCESSFUL, IN PARTICULAR, IN DEALING WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF YOUNG OFrtNDERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE PROBABLY HAVE SPENT A MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME IN SOME OTHER KIND OF CENTRE.
MR. WILLIAMS TOLD THE RECRUITS THAT IN A SOCIETY LIKE HONG KONG, WHERE MORE THAN FOUR MILLION PEOPLE WERE LIVING SO CLOSELY TOGETHER, THE PRESENCE OF A DISCIPLINED SERVICE PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL PART IN THE SECURITY OF THE SOCIETY.
+THE ACTUAL SERVICE THAT YOU GIVE IN THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT NEEDS NO EMPHASIS OR EXPLANATION,* HE STRESSED.
+BUT OVER AND ABOVE THIS, THE GENERAL INFLUENCE OF YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR WORK IN UNIFORM IS OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE.* MR. WILLIAMS ADDED.
- 0 -
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1976
- 3 -
59 BUILDING PLANS APPROVED LAST MONTH ******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT APPROVED 59 NEW BUILDING PLANS LAST MONTH, COMPARED WITH 44 DURING SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.
OF THE NEW PLANS APPROVED BY THE P.W.D.’S BUILDING ORDINANCE OFFICE, 28 WERE FOR BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 14 FOR KOWLOON AND 17 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THEY INCLUDED PLANS FOR A NUMBER OF APARTMENT AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS OF 20 OR MORE STOREYS AT CENTRAL, SHAU KEI WAN, WANCHAI. AND YAUMATEI, A HOUSING ESTATE BLOCK OF 39 STOREYS AT CHO YUI CHUEN AND 3 FACTORY BUILDINGS OF 22 TO 29 STOREYS AT KWAI CHUNG.
BUILDING PLANS FOR A SCHOOL AT KENNEDY ROAD, A HOME FOR THE AGED AT THE JUNCTION OF KUNG LOK ROAD AND HONG LEE ROAD, AS WELL AS 3 STOREYS QUARTERS AT SHATIN RACECOURSE WERE ALSO APPROVED.
DURING THE MONTH, THE B.0.0. GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO BEGIN ON 47 BUILDING PROJtCTS, COMPARED WITH 40 DURING AUGUST THIS YEAR. THEY INCLUDED A KINDERGARTEN AT KIU KIANG STREET, A SCHOOL AT TONG YAM STREET, 2 TOURIST PAVILIONS AT LAI CHI KOK AMUSEMENT PARK, AND A NUMBER OF FACTORY BUILDINGS AT KWAI CHUNG AND CHEUNG SHA WAN.
THE TOTAL USUABLE FLOOR AREA OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING SEPTEMBER AMOUNTED TO 78,782 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISING 48,960 SQUARE METRES OF DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA AND 29,822 SQUARE METRES OF NON-DOMESTJC FLOOR AREA.
THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF THE NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED AMOUNTED TO $92.82 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $112.43 MILLION DURING AUGUST THIS YEAR.
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ISSUED 43 OCCUPATION PERMITS FOR COMPLETED BUILDINGS, INCLUDING A SCHOOL AT LAMTIN, A RESTAURANT AT LION ROCK ROAD, A PUBLIC PAVILION AT THE PEAK, AND A HOSPITAL AT TUNG LO WAN ROAD.
THE B.0.0. ALSO GAVE CONSENT FOR DEMOLITION OF 32 BUILDINGS. INCLUDING FOUR DECLARED DANGEROUS BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1976
4
11 BLIND PLACED TO WORK IN SEPTEMBER * * * *
ELEVEN BLIND PEOPLE WERE PLACED TO WORK BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE S^NGLE^MONTH JCB PLACEMEN'T U^,T IN SEPTEMBER — THE HIGHEST FOR A
MOST OF THESE BLIND PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN ASSEMBLY WORK SUCH AS WATCH-CASING AND FINISHING-LINE REELING, AND ONE IS EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTRY CLUB AS A MASSEUR.
APART FROM THE BLIND, 22 DEAF, 19 PHYSICALLY DISABLED, TWO MENTALLY RETARDED AND THREE FORMER MENTAL PATIENTS WERE PLACED TO WORK, MAKING A TOTAL OF 57 SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER.
OF THESE, 42 ARE EMPLOYED ON DAILY RATE RANGING FROM 512.50 TO $34 WHILE TWO ARE ON PIECE-RATE BASIS. THE SALARY OF THE OTHERS AVERAGE S55O A MONTH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE JOE PLACEMENT UNIT SAID: +IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PLACEMENTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1976 REACHED 170, AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN FOUR TIMES AS COMPARED WITH THE FIGURE OF 38 FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
TO
+IT IS ALSO COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT ACCEPT DISABLED WORKERS NOWADAYS.+
EMPLOYERS ARE MORE WILLING
-----0------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT SIU LEK YUEN ROAD IN SHA TIN, NEW TERRITORIES, WILL BE OPENED TO ALL MOTOR VEHICLES FROM MONDAY (OCTOBER 18).
/5
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1976
5
CROSS COUNTRY RACE IN WONG CHUK HANG *****
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE LIVING OR WORKING IN WONG CHUK HANG ESTATE WILL TAKE PART IN A CROSS COUNTRY RACE ROUND WONG CHUK HANG AREA TOMORROW (SUNDAY) MORNING.
THE EVENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (SOUTHERN) AND WONG CHUK HANG/SOUTHERN AREA COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE PUBLIC INTEREST IN SPORT ACTIVITIES.
THE RACE WILL START AT 10.00 A.M. TOMORROW AT ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND, PASSING THROUGH WONG CHUK HANG ROAD, HEUNG YIP ROAD, NAM LONG SHAN ROAD, SHUM WAN ROAD THEN BACK TO NAM LONG SHAN ROAD AND HEUNG YIP ROAD BEFORE RETURNING TO ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND, COVERING A TOTAL DISTANCE OF ABOUT THREE MILES.
THE DISTRANCE FOR WOMEN COMPETITORS IS TWO-AND-A-HALF MILES.
THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (SOUTHERN), MR. WILLIAM YAPP AND OTHER RELEVANT OFFICIALS WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO WINNERS AT ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND AT 11 A.M. TOMORROW.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1976
PROBATION SERVICES TO BE STRENGTHENED
******
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS EMBARKING ON A SERIES OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PLANS TO STRENGTHEN ITS PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS SERVICE.
AMONG PLANS ALREADY UNDERWAY OR IN THE PIPELINE IS A SCHEME TO MOBILISE VOLUNTARY WORKERS TO ASSIST AND BEFRIEND PROBATIONERS, A ROUND-THE-CLOCK + HOT LINE+ SERVICE TO GIVE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO PROBATIONERS IN URGENT NEED= THE EXPANSION OF TRAINING FACILITIES IN CORRECTIONAL HOMES, AND THE BUILDING OF A LARGER AND EETTER-EQUIPPED HOME FOR PROBLEM GIRLS.
REVEALING THESE PLANS TODAY, MR. MAK WING-HONG, HEAD OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS DIVISION, SAID THAT A PILOT SCHEME ON 'VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS’ HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED LAST YEAR.
+THE SCHEME IS A COMPLEMENTARY SERVICE RENDERED BY SELECTED VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE PERSONAL AND MORAL SUPPORT THROUGH FRIENDSHIP TO PROBATIONERS.*
+WE STARTED OFF WITH 25 VOLUNTEERS EACH BEFRIENDING AND ASSISTING ONE PROBATIONER,* HE SAID, +AND THE ULTIMATE AIM IS TO EXPAND THE SCHEME TO COVER A WIDER SPECTRUM OF PROBATIONERS.*
HE CONTINUED: +WE ALSO HOPE TO PROVIDE THESE VOLUNTEERS WITH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AS WELL AS A SMALL TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE.
+A YOUNG OFFENDER MAY FEEL MORE AT EASE AND LESS SUSPICIOUS TOWARDS A VOLUNTEER WHO IS NOT ASSIGNED BY THE AUTHORITIES TO KEEP AN EYE ON HIM. HE OFTEN REGARDS THE VOLUNTEER AS HIS FRIEND AND CONFIDES HIS DEEPEST SECRETS TO HIM.
+SOMETIMES A PROBATIONER MAY HAVE SPECIAL INTERESTS OR TALENTS SUCH AS MUSIC OR ART, AND A VOLUNTARY WORKER WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS CAN MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY HELP HIM TO DEVELOP SUCH TALENTS.
+ANOTHER MAJOR ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHEME IS THAT A VOLUNTEER CAN ALWAYS LEAD THE PROBATIONER TO A NEW CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, HELPING HIM TC BREAK AWAY FROM HIS FORMER BAD ASSOCIATES. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TOWARDS INDIRECTLY REDUCING THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM.*
;TTMllNG......
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
2
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1976
TURNING TO THE STRENGTHENING OF SUPERVISION AND PROVIDING MORE INTENSIVE CARE TO PROBATIONERS, MR. MAK SAID THAT THERE WAS PLAN FOR A +HOT LINE+ SYSTEM, UNDER WHICH A PROBATION OFFICER IS AVAILABLE BY TELEPHONE AROUND-THE-CLOCK TO GIVE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE FOR URGENT MATTERS, TO BE TRIED OUT IN SAN PO KONG ON A SIX-MONTH EXPERIMENTAL BASIS.
+ALL PROBATION OFFICERS IN THE DISTRICT WOULD BE CARRYING OUT AFTER OFFICE HOURS VOLUNTARY WORK ACCORDING TO A DUTY ROSTER,+ HE EMPHASISED.
+THEY CAN BE REACHED THROUGH THE CONTACT POINT SET UP AT THE BEGONIA ROAD BOYS’ PROBATION HOME BY ANY PROBATIONER WHO GETS INTO TROUBLE OR WHO NEEDS URGENT ADVICE.*
MR. MAK STRESSED THAT ADVICE AND A HELPING HAND AT THE RIGHT TIME, ESPECIALLY DURING CRISIS, COULD BE THE DECIDING FACTOR IN SAVING A PROBATIONER WHO MIGHT BE ON THE BRINK OF COMMITTING CRIME AGAIN.
+INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE PLAN HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING AND IF IT PROVES WORKABLE, IT WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL OTHER AREAS,* HE SAID
TURNING TO CORRECTIONAL HOMES, MR. MAK REVEALED THAT PLANS ARE UNDERWAY FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING FACILITIES TO BE EXPANDED TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS. NOWADAYS, HE POINTED OUT, YOUNG PEOPLE ADMITTED TO THE HOMES ARE MORE SOPHISTICATED AND WITH HIGHER ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT. THEREFORE, THE EXISTING TRAINING PROGRAMME IS CONSTANTLY UNDER REVIEW.
+PLANS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED TO INTRODUCE SECONDARY CLASSES INTO CORRECTIONAL HOMES BECAUSE MANY OF THE INMATES THERE HAVE ALREADY FINISHED THEIR PRIMARY EDUCATION.
+INMATES WITH STILL HIGHER QUALIFICATIONS CAN BE SENT TO SCHOOLS OUTSIDE THE HOME,* HE SAID.
+EXTENDED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PROBATIONERS WHO ARE NOT RESIDENTIAL INMATES OF THE HOMES BUT CAN COME AND ATTEND CLASSES IN EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL COURSES WHICH THEY FIND USEFUL.*
MR. MAK ALSO REVEALED THAT A NEW GIRLS’ HOME WILL BE BUILT AT SHEUNG SHING STREET, KOWLOON TO REPLACE THE PRESENT MA TAU WAI GIRLS’ HOME IN ORDER TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND.
THE NEW HOME, HE SAID, WILL HAVE UP-TO-DATE TRAINING FACILITIES AS WELL AS A DORMITORY FOR 150 GIRLS. THE PRESENT MA TAU WAI GIRLS’ HOME CAN ONLY ACCOMMODATE 60 GIRLS.
+PLANNING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING IS ALREADY IN THE ADVANCED STAGE AND IT IS HOPED THAT THE HOME WILL BE READY FOR OCCUPATION IN MID-1978,* HE ADDED.
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1976
3
TWO MAJOR ROADS FOR TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN
#****#
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ABOUT TO BUILD TWO MAJOR ROADS AT TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN.
ALTOGETHER 1,470 METRES OF ROADS AND ASSOCIATED WORKS WILL EE COMPLETED IN TWO CONTRACTS TO BE LET BY THE P.W.D. IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE FIRST OF THE WORKS WILL BE ON TSI NG Yl ISLAND WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPROXIMATELY 800 METRES OF SURFACED ROADS WITH FOOTPATHS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CARRIAGEWAY WILL BE CARRIED OUT.
THE P.W.D.’S TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER, MR. KEITH AUSTIN, SAID TODAY THAT STORM-WATER DRAINS, SEWERS AND OTHER UTILITY SERVICES WOULD BE LAID IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ROADWORKS. HE SAID WORK WOULD START NEXT MONTH AND WOULD TAKE 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
+THE NEW ROAD WILL SERVE A LARGE NEW ESTATE NOW BEING BUILT ON TSI NG Yl ISLAND WHICH IS BEING DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE NEW TOWN PLAN FOR AN EVENTUAL POPULATION OF 185,000,+ SAID MR. AUSTIN.
+THE TWIN TOWER BLOCKS NOW VISIBLE ON THE SKYLINE ABOVE THE TSING Yl BRIDGE WILL, WHEN COMPLETED EARLY NEXT YEAR, HOUSE 23,000 PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.
+WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED ON THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS ESTATE WITH TWO MORE TWIN TOWER BLOCKS TO HOUSE 11,000 WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND OTHER FACILITIES WILL BE CONSTRUCTED.+
THE SECOND ROAD PROJECT, FOR WHICH TENDERS INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ROAD JOINING KWAI CHUNG TO TEXACO ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
ARE BEING INVITED, KWAI FUK ROAD IN
THIS IMPORTANT ADDITION TO THE ROAD SYSTEM IN TSUEN WAN
NEW TOWN WILL PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE LINK BETWEEN CENTRAL TSUEN WAN AND KOWLOON, BY-PASSING THE BUSY JUNCTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND KWAI CHUNG ROAD.
ABOUT 670 METRES OF 3-LANE CARRIAGEWAY WITH FOOTPATHS EITHER SIDE AND A PUBLIC CARPARK WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TOGETHER WITH ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE WORKS, WHILE LAND ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE NEW ROAD WILL BE LEVELLED FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
THE WORK WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER AND TAKE 21 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE ROAD HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES DIVISION OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE ON BEHALF OF THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
THIS NEW WORK IS PART OF AN OVERALL PLAN TO PROVIDE THE NEW TOWN WITH MODERN, CONVENIENT ACCESSES TO ALL CENTRES.
IN THE LONG TERM THE TSUEN WAN BY-PASS WILL PROVIDE A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN KWAI CHUNG ROAD AND THE NEW TUEN MUN ROAD BY 1981.
THE BY-PASS WILL SPAN THE KaA I CHUNG RECLAMATION AREA AND TSUEN WAN BAY, AND INTERCHANGES WILL PROVIDE CONNECTIONS WITH THE KWAI CHUNG ROAD SYSTEM, THE TSING Yl BRIDGE, TEXACO ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT THE aESTERN END OF THE TOWN.
0 -
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1976
4
FINANCE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT GOES +OPEN PLAN+ ******
THE SECOND BRANCH IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TO CHANGE TO THE +OPEN PLAN* OFFICE SYSTEM IS THE FINANCE BRANCH WHICH HAS JUST MOVED INTO ITS NEW OFFICE SEATING ARRANGEMENT.
THE FIRST BRANCH TO GO +OPEN PLAN+ WAS THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH EARLIER THIS YEAR.
COMMENTING ON THE MOVE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FINANCE BRANCH SAID THAT APART FROM SAVING SPACE, THE OPEN PLAN SYSTEM IS ALSO IN KEEPING WITH MODERN OFFICE SETTINGS, ESPECIALLY WHERE A LARGE NUMBER OF STAFF ARE INVOLVED.
PREVIOUSLY, STAFF WERE ACCOMMODATED IN SEPARATE ROOMS, EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR SEVERAL TOGETHER, BUT NOW EACH DIVISION OF THE BRANCH IS GROUPED INTO A SECTION OF THE +OPEN PLAN* AREA IN WHICH ALSO SITS THE SENIOR OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PARTICULAR DIVISION.
+THIS MEANS STAFF HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO EACH OTHER AND ALSO SAVES ON HAVING TO WALK LONG DISTANCES TO OTHER ROOMS, ALL OF WHICH GO TOWARDS GREATER EFFICIENCY,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
- - 0 -
C.A.D. MAN TO ATTEND AIR SERVICES TALKS ******
MR. NORMAN LATHAM, ACTING CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, LEFT FOR WASHINGTON THIS (SUNDAY) MORNING TO TAKE PART IN AIR SERVICES lALKS BETWEEN THc UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES.
THE TALKS ARE THE SECOND ROUND OF A SERIES CONCERNED WITH THE NEGOTIATION OF A NEW U.K./U.S. AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT.
FOLLOWING THE WASHINGTON MEETING, MR. LATHAM WILL GO DIRECT TO DELHI TO ATTEND AIR SERVICES TALKS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND INDIA. THIS MEETING HAS BEEN ARRANGED TO AMEND ROUTE SCHEDULES OF THE DESIGNATED AIRLINES: CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, BRITISH AIRWAYS AND AIR INDIA.
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/5
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1976
- 5 -
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT PING SHAN RURAL COMMITTEE
******
THE COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATIONS AT THE PING SHAN RURAL COMMITTEE FOR RESIDENTS AND PERSONS LIVING NEARBY.
THEY WILL BE THERE FOR THREE DAYS FROM OCTOBER 25 TO OCTOBER 27.
THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS/GUARDI ANS TO REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN/WARDS OF 11 YEARS OF AGE FOR JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS AND TO ENABLE HOLDERS OF JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS TO REGISTER FOR ADULT IDENTITY CARDS ON REACHING 18 YEARS OF AGE.
ALL PERSONS LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR IDENTITY CARDS AND TO REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. DAILY.
----o------
NAM CHEONG STREET BUS LANE
******
THE TRANSPORT
DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE RUS I anf im NAM CHEONG STREET BETWEEN BERWICK STREET AND UN CHAU STREET^ Il 7 Et^OPcN TO NON-FRANCHISED BUSES FROM 10 A.M. ON TUESDAY (OCTOBER
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN THE AREA.
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976.
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EIGHTY-THREE NEW SCHOOL PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED BY 1981 ... 1
COMPREHENSIVE SEWERAGE SYSTEM FOR TUEN MUN .................... 2
CONTRACT FOR A MAJOR INTERCHANGE AT TO KWA WAN TO BE SIGNED 3
COMPENSATION FOR FACTORY AND SHOP OPERATORS AT SHEK KU LUNG ROAD .......................................................... 4
FIREMEN TO TAKE PART IN THEIR ANNUAL CROSS MOUNTAIN RACE ... 5
SEPTEMBER WAS A CLOUDY MONTH .................................. 6
RESTORATION OF AN OLD MAP OF VICTORIA ......................... 7
SHORT FIRE FIGHTING COURSES ................................... 8
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1976
1
GOVERNMENT’S SECONDARY EDUCATION EXPANSION PROGRAMME
******
HONG KONG’S SECONDARY EDUCATION EXPANSION PROGRAMME PROVIDES FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE BUILDING BETWEEN APRIL 1976 AND SEPTEMBER 1981 OF 68 NEW SCHOOLS AND THE CREATION OF ANOTHER 13 NEW SCHOOLS AND TWO ANNEXES TO EXISTING SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY CONVERTING 18 UNDER-UTILISED PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
THIS ADDS UP TO A TOTAL OF 83 SCHOOL PROJECTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
FORTY-EIGHT OF THESE, INCLUDING THE 15 CONVERTED PREMISES, ARE EXPECTED TO BE READY BY SEPTEMBER 1978. THE OTHER 35 NEW SCHOOLS WHICH WERE REFERRED TO BY THE GOVERNOR ON OCTOBER 6, ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 1981. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LATTER WILL BE UNDERTAKEN IN THE COMING TWO YEARS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNC IL.
ELABORATING FURTHER, THE SPOKESMA; STATED THAT THE TOTAL OF 83 SECONDARY SCHOOLS WOULD ULTIMATELY PROVIDE MORE THAN 73,200 PLACES IN FORMS 1 TO 3 WITH FLOTATION AND EXTENDED DAY CLASSES, OVER 16,900 PLACES IN FORMS 4 AND 5 AND NEARLY 1,900 PLACES IN FORM 6.
CLARIFYING MISLEADING STATEMENTS IN A NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS OVER THE WEEKEND CONCERNING THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO BE CREATED BY CONVERTING UNDER-UTILISED PRIMARY SCHOOLS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EIGHT OF THE CONVERTED PROJECTS WOULD BE FULLY AIDED SCHOOLS WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. + THIS MEANS THAT STUDENTS STUDYING IN THESE SCHOOLS WILL PAY STANDARD FEES. THE QUESTION OF BUYING PLACES IN THESE SCHOOLS DOES NOT THEREFORE AR ISE,+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED; +IT HAS BEEN THE POLICY SINCE THE 1965 WHITE PAPER ON EDUCATION THAT ALL EXPANSION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR SHOULD BE THROUGH AIDED SCHOOLS WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
+IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT EIGHT OF THE NEW SCHOOLS TO EE CREATED BY THE CONVERSION OF UNDER-UTILISED GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL PREMISES ARE TO BE OPERATED BY SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS EXPERIENCED IN RUNNING AIDED SCHOOLS.
+THE OTHER- SEVEN ARE TO REMAIN WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS: SOME WILL BE LINKED TO EXISTING GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS, SOME ARE SITUATED WITHIN POLICE COMPOUNDS AND SOME INVOLVE COMMITMENTS TO DONORS.+
0
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976
2
COMPREHENSIVE SEWERAGE SYSTEM FOR TUEN MUN
******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN WORK IN DECEMBER ON A COMPREHENSIVE SEWERAGE SYSTEM TO SERVE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
TENDERS ARE NOW BEING INVITED FOR THE PROJECT WHICH Will INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT 6,000 METRES OF SEWERAGE pippc WITHIN THE NEW TOWN.
MR. S.K. KWE I, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE SAID TODAY THE TRUNK SEWER WAS DESIGNED TO CARRY FLOWS FROM ALL THE RESIDENTIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS OF THE NEW TOWN. vuiuickuial
+IT WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF CARRYING THE INCREASED FLOWS FROM ALL THESE AREAS WHEN THE POPULATION REACHES THE HALF-MILLION MARK + HE SAID. ’
+THE NEW TRUNK SEWER WILL BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE AREA BECAUSE, DURING THE DRY SEASON THE POLLUTED FLOW IN THE MAIN NULLAH OF TUEN MUN WILL BE INTERCEPTED AND DIVERTED INTO THE NEW SEWER,+ HE ADDED.
MR. KWEI SAID THE NEW SEWER WOULD BE THE MAJOR ELEMENT IN THE WHOLE FOUL SEWERAGE NETWORK AT TUEN MUN NEW TOWN WHICH WILL HAVE AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 480,000 BY THE MID-80’S.
HE SAID THE LAYING OF THE SEWERAGE TRUNK LINE WOULD BEGIN IN DECEMBER AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 21 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
A MODERN SEWERAGE SYSTEM IS BEING PROGRESSIVELY INSTALLED IN THE NEW TOWN, AND A SCREENING PLANT WITH A SUBMARINE OUTFALL HAS ALREADY BEEN CONSTRUCTED AT PAK KOK. A LARGE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, INCORPORATING MODERN SEWAGE PURIFICATION SYSTEMS IS ALSO PLANNED AT PILLAR POINT.
MEANWHILE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ALSO TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEWAGE TREATMENT AND FACILITIES FOR THE DEEP WATER BAY AND REPULSE BAY AS FOR DRAINS AND SEWERS AT CHAI WAN AND SHAU KEI WAN.
INVITING DISPOSAL .-.ELL AS
THE WORKS AT DEEP WATER BAY AND REPULSE BAY COMPRISE MAINLY THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEWERS ALONG THE FORESHORE TO PICK UP THE SETTLED EFFLUENT FROM EXISTING TANKS IN THE AREA AND A SUBMARINE OUTFALL, ABOUT 450 METRES LONG, FOR THE DISPOSAL OF THE EFFLUENT.
THE P.W.D.’S CHIEF ENGINEER FOR DRAINAGE WORKS, MR. WONG WAN-MING SAID TODAY A SMALL RECLAMATION WOULD BE FORMED AT THE LANDWARD END OF THE SUBMARINE OUTFALL TO ACCOMMODATE THE INLET wORKS, AN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, A CONTROL ROOM AND ADDITIONAL TREATMENT FACILITIES.
/+0N......
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976
3
+ON COMPLETION, THE OUTFALL WILL DISCHARGE AT A POINT OFF MIDDLE ISLAND AND AWAY FROM THE BATHING BEACHES,+ SAID MR. WONG.
+AT THE DISCHARGE POINT THERE ARE DEEP WATERS AND STRONG CURRENTS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE DILUTION OF THE TREATED EFFLUENT AND ITS SUBSEQUENT DISPERSION TOWARDS OPEN SEA.+
MR. WONG SAID CONSTRUCTION WAS DUE TO COMMENCE IN DECEMBER AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 20 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
AT SHAU KEI WAN, ABOUT 330 METRES OF STORMWATER DRAINS WILL BE LAID FROM SAI WAN TERRACE TO TAI CHEONG STREET VIA KING’S ROAD. THE DRAINS WILL SERVE THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD REDEVELOPMENT AND ADJACENT AREAS.
ANOTHER 300 METRES OF DRAINS AND SEWER WILL BE LAID IN CHAI WAN ROAD NEAR CHINA MOTOR BUS CO. DEPOT TO SERVE THE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING CHAI WAN AREA.
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SIGNING OF CONTRACT FOR SAN SHAN INTERCHANGE * * * * *
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR A MAJOR INTERCHANGE AT TO KWA WAN WILL BE SIGNED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT 3 P.M. TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE CONTRACT IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAN SHAN INTERCHANGE WHICH FORMS PART OF A FAST NEW ROUTE LINKING KWUN TONG AND HUNG HOM.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE SIGNING CEREMONY. IT WILL BE HELD IN THE P.W.D.’S CONFERENCE ROOM, 21ST FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
MR. WOO IU-KOK, PROJECT ENGINEER, WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE CEREMONY TO GIVE DETAILS OF THE PROJECT.
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MONDAY, OCTOEER IS, 1976
- 4 -
COMPENSATION FOR FACTORY AND SHOP OPERATORS AT SHEK KU LUNG ROAD ******
FACTORY AND SHOP OPERATORS AT NO. 52-64, SHEK KU LUNG ROAD. KOWLOON CITY, WHICH ARE TO BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR A .-LYCVER LEADING TO HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WILL ALL BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LOSS OF THEIR TENANCIES AND DAMAGE TO THEIR BUSINESSES.
HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT BE GIVEN ACCOMMODATION AT FACTORY OR SHOP UNITS IN PUBLIC ESTATES.
THIS WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE FACTORY OPERATORS BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN HIS REPLY TO THEIR JOINT LETTERS.
IN HIS REPLY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT IT aAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT POLICY TO OFFER ACCOMMODATION IN RESETTLEMENT FACTORY BUILDINGS TO TRADES CLEARED FROM PRIVATE TENEMENT BUILDINGS.
SAME AS THE SHOP-KEEPERS, THE FACTORY OPERATORS WERE ENTITLED BY LAW TO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR INTERRUPTED TENANCIES AND FOR DAMAGE TO THE BUSINESS OCCASIONED BY THE REMOVAL, HE ADDED.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY EXPLAINED THAT DUE TO VERY LIMITED ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE, UNITS IN RESETTLEMENT FACTORY BUILDINGS MUST BE RESERVED FOR SQUATTER FACTORIES FOR WHOM IT „AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED AND FOR WHOM NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE AWARDED WHEN THEY WERE REQUIRED TO BE CLEARED.
THE FACTORY OPERATORS, TOGETHER WITH OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE BUILDINGS, ARE GIVEN ABOUT ONE MORE MONTH TO MOVE OUT FROM THEIR PREMISES UNTIL DECEMBER 14, 1976 SINCE THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL NOT START UNTIL THEN. THE BUILDINGS HAD ALREADY BEEN RESUMED UNDER THE CROWN LAND RESUMPTION ORDINANCE AND ALL PROPERTIES REVERTED TO THE CROWN ON AUGUST 12, 1976.
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, THE FACTORY OPERATORS AS WELL AS THE SHOP OPERATORS ARE ENTITLED TO CLAIM COMPENSATION BOTH IN RESPECT OF THE VALUE OF THEIR TENANCIES AND ALSO IN RESPECT OF DAMAGE TO THEIR BUSINESSES CAUSED BY HAVING TO CLOSE OR TO MOVE ELSEWHERE. HOWEVER, THESE CLAIMS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY STATEMENTS OF THEIR PREVIOUS PROFITS WITH ANY EVIDENCE WHICH THEY MIGHT HAVE TO SUBSTANTIATE THEM.
IF NO AGREEMENT ON THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION IS REACHED, EITHER PARTY MAY SEEK THE ADJUDICATION OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL. EECAUSE ALL THIS CAN TAKE SOME TIME AND BECAUSE IT IS RECOGNISED THAT SOME CLAIMANTS MAY NEED MONEY TO ASSIST REMOVAL BEFORE A STATUTORY CLAIM COULD BE PROCESSED, THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE AN ADVANCE PAYMENT BASED ON THE AREA USED FOR THE BUSINESS OR TRADE. THE PAYMENT, ABOUT *40 PER SQUARE FOOT, aILL DE PAYABLE HALF BEFORE CLEARANCE AND HALF AFTER REMOVAL.
/THE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976
5
THE COMMERCIAL AND FACTORY OPERATORS ARE ADVISED THAT THEY MAY ACCEPT THE ADVANCE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THEIR SUBSEQUENT CLAIMS.
IF THE ADVANCE DOES NOT EXCEED THE STATUTORY COMPENSATION FINALLY AWARDED, THE PAYMENT IS TREATED AS AN ADVANCE DEDUCTIBLE FROM THE FINAL PAYMENT. IF THE ADVANCE EXCEEDS THE STATUTORY COMPENSATION AWARDED, THE EXCESS NEEDS NOT TO BE REFUNDED.
DOMESTIC TENANTS AFFECTED DY THE CLEARANCE WILL BE OFFERED ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. SC FAR, SUCH OFFER HAS BEEN OR IS ABOUT TO BE MADE TO 66 FAMILIES COMPRISING 256 PEOPLE. THEY WILL ALSO BE GIVEN COMPENSATION OF ABOUT 520 PER SQUARE FOOT TO ASSIST THEIR REMOVAL, OF WHICH HALF IS TO BE PAID IN ADVANCE, WHEN THE TENANTS SIGN AGREEMENTS TO LEAVE, AND THE BALANCE AFTER THEY LEAVE THE PREMISES.
-------0 - - - -
F.S.D.’S ANNUAL CROSS MOUNTAIN RACE
******
OVER 320 OFFICERS, MEN AND CIVILIAN STAFF OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE PART IN ITS ANNUAL CROSS MOUNTAIN RACE TO BE HELD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ON WEDNESDAY (OCTOBER 20).
AS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THE EIGHT-MILE RACE WILL START ON ROUTE 1 OPPOSITE THE ENTRANCE TO THE KADOORIE EXPERIMENTAL FARM AND FINISH AT THE FANLING FIRE STATION, AFTER PASSING THROUGH RAZORBACK MOUNTAIN AND CORPS RIDGE.
THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS. THOSE UNDER 40 YEARS OF AGE WILL COMPETE IN AN OPEN RACE WHILE THOSE OF OVER 40 WILL TAKE PART IN ANOTHER RACE WHICH WILL START AT 10.30 A.M, HALF AN HOUR EARLIER THAN THE OPEN RACE.
THE WINNER OF THE OPEN RACE .-.ILL BE AWARDED THE LANE TROPHY DONATED BY MR. M.K. LANE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES.
A CUP WILL BE AWARDED TO THE WINNER OF THE OVER-40 GROUP.
AT THE END OF THE RACE, MR. LANE WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO THE WINNERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS: YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER
AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT. THE RACE WILL START ON ROUTE 1 OPPOSITE THE ENTRANCE TO THE KADOORIE EXPERIMENTAL FARM AT 10.30 A.M. THE WINNER IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE FINISHING LINE AT THE FANLING FIRE STATION AT ABOUT 12.15 P.M. THE PRIZE PRESENTATION wILL TAKE PLACE AT ABOUT 1.30 P.M. MR. H.F. CHUI WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST THE PRESS.
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/6
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976
- 6 -
A CLOUDY SEPTEMBER FOR HONG KONG ******
HONG KONG EXPERIENCED A CLOUDY SEPTEMBER LAST MONTH WHEN THE TOTAL DURATION OF BRIGHT SUNSHINE WAS ONLY 147 HOURS, THE SEVENTH LOWEST ON RECORD FOR ANY SEPTEMBER.
THE STRONG MONSOON SIGNAL WAS HOISTED THREE TIMES DURING THE MONTH FOR A TOTAL PERIOD OF 148 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES, A NEW RECORD FOR ANY MONTH SINCE THE WARNING SYSTEM WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1956.
THE TOTAL RAINFALL WAS 204.7 MM, WHICH WAS 27 PER CENT BELOW NORMAL. HOWEVER, THE ACCUMULATED TOTAL RAINFALL SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WAS SIX PER CENT ABOVE NORMAL.
IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, LAST MONTH WAS VERY CLOSE TO NORMAL. THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE MONTH FELL ON SEPTEMBER 8 WHEN A MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 32.6 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED. THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE OF 21.9 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED ON SEPTEMBER 23.
FIRE DANGER WARNINGS WERE IN FORCE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 11 AND SEPTEMBER 14.
DURING THE MONTH, FIVE TROPICAL CYCLONES DEVELOPED OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, BUT ONLY TYPHOON IRIS AFFECTED HONG KONG AND NECESSITATED THE HOISTING OF TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNALS.
THE WEATHER WAS GENERALLY FINE, SUNNY AND WARM DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH, WITH SOME SHOWERS AND A FEW ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ON SEPTEMBER 8. APART FROM ONE OR TWO ISOLATED SHOWERS ON SEPTEMBER 9 AND 10, THE WEATHER WAS MAINLY FINE, SUNNY AND DRY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16.
SCATTERED SHOWERS SET IN ON SEPTEMBER 18 AND THE WEATHER REMAINED UNSETTLED WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS DURING THE FOLLOWING FIVE DAYS. THERE WAS A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 24 BUT CONDITIONS DETERIORATED AGAIN FROM THE NEXT DAY ONWARDS AND THERE WERE PERIODS OF RAIN UNTIL THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH.
DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, 10 AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG DURING THE MONTH. NO THUNDERSTORM OR HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS WERE ISSUED.
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/7
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
7
RESTORATION OF OLD MAP
*****
ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST METICULOUS HAPS OF VICTORIA IS BEING GIVEN A NEW LEASE OF LIFE BY TECHNICIANS OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE.
THE MAP, DRAWN IN 1867 AND MEASURING SOME NINE FEET BY FOUR FEET, COVERS THE NOTHERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND BETWEEN THE HAPPY VALLEY RACE COURSE AND KENNEDY TOWN.
IT WAS PREVIOUSLY HELD BY THE LANDS OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT, AND WAS RECENTLY HANDED OVER TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE SO THAT RESTORATION WORK CAN BEGIN.
MR. A. I. DIAMOND, ARCHIVIST OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE, SAID TODAY THAT THE MAP, DRAWN IN THE SCALE OF 160 FEET TO AN INCH, WAS A DETAILED AND IMPORTANT RECORD OF AN AGE GONE BY.
+IT WAS DRAWN UP IN 1867 AND SUBSEQUENTLY UPDATED FOR SOME 20 YEARS AND, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IS THE ONLY REMAINING MASTER MAP OF VICTORIA OF THAT PERIOD,* HE SAID.
+WE DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE WHO DREW THE MAP BUT IS WAS PROBABLY THE ROYAL ENGINEERS OF THE BRITISH FORCES,* HE ADDED.
THE MAP WAS DRAWN ON TRACING PAPER, HAND-COLOURED, MOUNTED ON CARTRIDGE PAPER AND LINEN AND AT SOME LATER DATE VARNISHED ON THE SURFACE. IT IS NOW IN QUITE A TATTERED STATE BECAUSE OF ITS OLD AGE.
MR. DIAMOND EXPLAINED THAT TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE THE MAP, THE FLIMSY PAPER ON WHICH IT WAS DRAWN WOULD HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY REMOVED FROM ITS MOUNT. +ALL OTHER PATCHES, TISSUES AND GLUE WHICH ARE NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL PIECE OF PAPER WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO AVOID AIR POCKETS FORMING INSIDE.*
+THIS PART OF THE JOB IS MADE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF SOME CLUMSY REPAIRS WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE LONG AGO, RESULTING IN ALL SORTS OF GLUE AND TISSUE PAPER STICKING ON TO THE ORIGINAL DRAWING,* HE SAID.
+THE REMOVED DRAWING WILL THEN BE PATCHED UP WITH SPECIALLY HAND-MADE PAPER AND MOUNTED AGAINST A LINEN BACKING,* HE SAID. +ITS SURFACE WILL BE MOUNTED WITH SPECIAL TRANSPARENT SILK TO PREVENT CRACKING OR FLAKING.*
IN VIEW OF THE LARGE SIZE INTO FOUR PIECES TO FACILITATE PRODUCT WILL BE RE-MOUNTED AND
OF THE MAP, IT HAS BEEN CUT UP RESTORATION WORK. THE FINISHED USED FOR PUBLIC EXHIBITION.
+BECAUSE OF THE GREAT DEAL WORK INVOLVED, THE WHOLE JOB IS MONTHS TO COMPLETE,* MR. DIAMOND
OF CRAFTSMANSHIP AND DELICATE EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT THREE SAID.
-----o------
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976
- 8 -
SHORT FIRE FIGHTING COURSES
* M * * *
OVER 1,640 STAFF MEMBERS OF PRIVATE FIRMS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ATTENDED 85 SHORT FIRE FIGHTING COURSES ORGANISED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT ITS TRAINING SCHOOL AT PAT HEUNG, YUEN LONG, DURING THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
MOST OF THE COURSES LASTED FROM ONE TO FIVE DAYS, BUT A COMPRESSED AIR BREATHING APPARATUS COURSE FOR MEN OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TOOK TEN DAYS.
THE SHORT COURSES COVER A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS, SUCH AS PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF COMBUSTION, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, PRACTICAL FIREMANSHIP AND FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, PLUS A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL PERIODS.
THE TEN-DAY BREATHING APPARATUS COURSE IS MADE UP OF 22 LECTURES AND 48 PRACTICAL PERIODS WITH AN EXAMINATION HELD ON THE LAST DAY.
THE LARGEST GROUP - 347 - CAME FROM ASSOCIATED VOCATIONAL TRAINING EVENING SCHOOL, FOLLOWED BY HONG KONG PRE-SEA TRAINING SCHOOL AND WORLD-WIDE SHIPPING WHICH SENT 250 AND 225 MEN RESPECTIVELY.
OTHER ORGANISATIONS WHICH SENT THEIR STAFF FOR TRAINING INCLUDED FAR EAST SEA TRAINING EVENING SCHOOL, CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, LION ROCK TUNNEL, HOTELS AND FLOATING RESTAURANTS.
- - - - 0 ----------
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
frism
Monday, 18th October 1976
MORE, THAN 6,$00 PEOPLE REHOUSED IN SEPTEMBER
A further 6,548 people were provided with housing by the Housing Authority in September, bringing the total since the beginning of this financial year to 53}709*
Of the various categories, the largest number housed (2,292) oame from development clearances; 1,450 people were housed as a result of redevelopment and conversion work in Mark I and Mark II blocks.
A total of 1,255 persons were provided with housing because of re-use of licensed areas, with 410 neople getting housing through the Authority’s efforts to relieve overcrowding.
Other categories housed were : Persons
Victims of fires and natural disasters - 254
Compassionate and other cases - 15*1
Ex-tenants of dangerous buildings - 26
Urban renewal " ^9
Waiting list applicants - 541
Most of those housed (1,775) were allocated flats in Kwai Shing Estate, Tsuen Wan, followed closely by Hing Wah Estate which received 1,702 new tenants. A total of 1,548 people moved into Lai King Estate,
also in Tsuen Wan.
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CONTRACT FOR THE MULT I-MILLI ON DOLLAR SAN SHAN INTERCHANGE IN TO KWA WAN SIGNED ........................... 1
FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME STEPPED-UP ..................... 2
MOVES TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN NORTH POINT ... 3
TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION OF WATER SUPPLY ..................... 4
BOOKLET ON LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE 5
ROOF-TOP STRUCTURES DECLARED DANGEROUS ..................... 5
RE-OPENING OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD .......................... 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1976
1
SAN SHAN INTERCHANGE ******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY AWARDED A $45 MILLION CONTRACT FOR A MAJOR SECTION OF A NEW HIGH-CAPACITY ROUTE DESIGNED TO CUT TRAVELLING TIME BETWEEN CONGESTED KWUN TONG AND URBAN KOWLOON.
THE CONTRACT IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAN SHAN INTERCHANGE IN TO KWA WAN — ONE OF THE KEY LINKS IN THE SIX-KILOMETRE ROUTE WHICH IN PART WILL CARRY TRAFFIC UNDER THE AIRPORT RUNWAY.
THE CONTRACT FOR THE INTERCHANGE HAS BEEN AWARDED TO KUMAGAI GUMI (H.K.) LIMITED AND WAS FORMALLY SIGNED IN THE P.W.D. HEADQUARTERS THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
MR. CHOW CHE-KING, CHIEF P.W.D. ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE’S CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, WHO SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT, SAID CONSTRUCTION WORK WOULD START ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS.
HE SAID THE WORKS WOULD BASICALLY INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION OF A SUNKEN ROAD ABOUT 280 METRES LONG TO LINK KOWLOON CITY ROAD WITH THE WESTERN ENTRANCE OF THE AIRPORT TUNNEL ROAD WHICH HAS VIRTUALLY BEEN COMPLETED.
+AS PART OF THE CONTRACT, THE EXISTING SAN SHAN ROAD WILL ALSO BE EXTENDED TO KOWLOON CITY ROAD WHICH WILL ALSO BE WIDENED AT THE JUNCTION WHERE SEVERAL SLIP ROADS AND RAMPS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR SMOOTH TRAFFIC FLOW,* HE SAID.
+ IN ADDITION, THE SECTION OF SUNG WONG TOI ROAD BETWEEN OLYMPIC AVENUE AND KOWLOON CITY ROAD WILL BE REALIGNED AND WIDENED TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.*
MR. CHOW SAID THE NEED FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS THE ROADS IN SAFETY HAD ALSO BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THE P.W.D. ROAD PLANNERS AND ADEQUATE PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES WOULD BE PROVIDED.
+THESE WILL INCLUDE A MAJOR FOOTBRIDGE AT THE BUSY JUNCTION OF KOWLOON CITY ROAD AND SAN SHAN ROAD,+ HE SAID.
MR. CHOW SAID THE ENTIRE SCHEME •— KNOWN AS ROUTE 3 — WOULD COST AN ESTIMATED $300 MILLION AND SHOULD BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN 1980.
+SAN SHAN INTERCHANGE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS SCHEME AND IS THE FIRST OF THREE SEPARATE INTERCHANGES ALONG THIS ROUTE.
+THE NEXT PHASE WILL BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF WU HU INTERCHANGE NEAR THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL AT HUNG HOM WHICH WILL CONNECT WITH SAN SHAN INTERCHANGE VIA A 1,100-METRE ELEVATED ROAD OVER KOWLOON CITY ROAD.
+WORK ON THIS PHASE IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN EARLY NEXT YEAR AND WILL COMPLETE THE WESTERN APPROACHES TO THE TUNNEL ROAD,* HE SAID.
'THE AIRPORT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1976
- 2 -
THE AIRPORT TUNNEL LINK CUTS DIAGONALLY ABOUT 130 METRES UNDER THE RUNWAY AND WAS BUILT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECENT EXTENSION OF THE AIRPORT RUNWAY. THE TUNNEL IS STRUCTURALLY COMPLETE.
RUNNING EAST FROM THE TUNNEL, ROUTE 3 WILL CROSS THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION WHERE THE P.W.D.’S PORT WORKS DIVISION HAS ALREADY FORMED SOME 180 HECTARES OF LAND FOR FUTURE ROAD AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS. A FURTHER 26 HECTARES WILL BE RECLAIMED BY THE MIDDLE OF 1979.
AT PRESENT, WORK IS ALREADY IN PROGRESS ON ONE OF THE ROADS TO CONNECT WAI YIP STREET EXTENSION WITH A THIRD INTERCHANGE TO BE BUILT AT THE EASTERN END OF THE TUNNEL.
SAID MR. CHOW : +WHEN FULLY COMPLETED, THE NEW ROUTE WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE A SHORTER AND FASTER ROUTE BETWEEN KWUN TONG AND HUNG HOM, BUT WILL ALSO CONSIDERABLY EASE CONGESTION IN NORTH-EAST KOWLOON.+
------o-------
FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME STEPPED-UP
M « X it M it
THE TIME IS NOW RIPE TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN TIES BETWEEN THE FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTEE (FVCC) AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CITY DISTRICT FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTEES SO AS TO BRING ABOUT A MORE EFFECTIVE LIAISON AND A MORE DIRECT CO-OPERATION, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DENIS BRAY SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTEE, HE SAID THAT THE FVCC HAD ALL ALONG RELIED VERY MUCH ON LOCAL ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, KA I FONGS AND AREA COMMITTEES AS WELL AS CITY DISTRICT CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEES TO PROVIDE IT WITH FEEDBACK AND IDEAS.
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, MR. BRAY SAID, THE EFFORTS OF THE FVCC HAD BORNE FRUIT.
+THIS SUCCESS IS DUE AS MUCH TO THE INCREASING CO-OPERATION, SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC AS THE DETERMINATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AND TO THE POLICE’S UNFLINCHING EFFORTS,+ HE SAID.
+HOWEVER, WE MUST NOT BE COMPLACENT. WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND CLOSER CO-OPERATION AND MORE ACTIVE SUPPORT IS REQUIRED FROM THE PUBLIC IF WE EVER HOPE TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE CRIME.*
MR. BRAY STRESSED: +THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IS ONE WHICH INVOLVES US ALL.
+SUCCESS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF EVERY ONE OF US CONTRIBUTE OUR SHARE AND DO OUR PART AND PUT UP A CONCERTED EFFORT AGAINST THE CRIMINALS WHO PLAGUED US.+
- - 0 -
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1976
3
MOVES TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN N.P.
*****
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WAS BEING DONE TO ALLEVIATE THE CURRENT TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KING’S ROAD, NORTH POINT AND SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE SITUATION WAS ALREADY BECOMING NOTICEABLE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME INTRODUCED TO MAKE THE AFFECTED SECTIONS OF KING’S ROAD INTO AN URBAN CLEARWAY SHOULD BEGIN TO TAKE HOLD IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS THE DRIVERS OF TAXIS AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CANNOT PICK UP OR LET DOWN PASSENGERS IN THE AREA.+
HE ADDED THAT THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY HAD AGREED TO WORK UP TO 11 O’CLOCK AT NIGHT SO THAT THE ROAD WORKS IN ELECTRIC ROAD, WHICH WERE THE BASIC CAUSE OF THE PRESENT PROBLEM, WOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.
+THEY FEEL THAT THE MOST PROBLEMATICAL SECTION OF THE WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN FIVE WEEKS, AND AT THAT TIME THE WORST OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE OVER,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT KING’S ROAD AND ELECTRIC ROAD/JAVA ROAD PROVIDED THE ONLY ROAD LINKS FOR THE INCREASINGLY HUGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC MOVING BETWEEN CAUSEWAY BAY AND NORTH POINT, QUARRY BAY AND CHAI WAN.
BECAUSE OF THE HUGE GROWTH AND INCREASED ACTIVITY IN THESE AREAS IN RECENT YEARS, THESE TWO ROADS WERE NOW UNABLE TO COPE EASILY WITH TRAFFIC EVEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.
AT THE MOMENT, THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY WAS REINFORCING ITS EXTRA HIGH TENSION CABLE NETWORK FROM ITS NORTH POINT POWER STATION IN ELECTRIC ROAD TO KAM PING STREET — A VITAL LINK IN THE POWER NETWORK MADE NECESSARY BY THE MUSHROOMING GROWTH OF NORTH POINT, WHERE POWER CONSUMPTION WAS INCREASING AT THE RATE OF 13 PER CENT COMPOUND EVERY YEAR.
TO ALLOW THIS WORK TO BE DONE, HALF OF ELECTRIC ROAD HAS HAD TO BE CLOSED, ALLOWING ONLY FOR EASTBOUND TRAFFIC. ALL WESTBOUND TRAFFIC HAD TO USE KING’S ROAD, WHICH WAS UNABLE TO MEET THE EXTRA TRAFFIC LOAD.
AS THE PRESENT URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS IN KING’S ROAD BEGIN TO TAKE HOLD THERE WOULD BE SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE SITUATION, BUT NO MARKED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SITUATION WOULD BE POSSIBLE UNTIL ELECTRIC ROAD COULD BE RE-OPENED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.
FOR THIS REASON, THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY WOULD PUSH AHEAD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE LAYING OF THE EXTRA HIGH TENSION CABLE IN THE NARROW SECTION OF ELECTRIC ROAD BETWEEN POWER STREET AND NORTH POINT ROAD.
/THE SPOKESMAN .....
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1976
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +BY WORKING INTO THE NIGHT, IT IS HOPED THAT THIS SECTION OF ROAD CAN BE RE-OPENED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC IN ABOUT FIVE WEEKS’ TIME, WHICH WILL TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF THE STRAIN OFF KING’S ROAD, BECAUSE ONCE THE CABLE-LAYING GETS INTO JAVA ROAD AT THE END OF ELECTRIC ROAD, THE EXTRA WIDTH OF THE ROAD IN THE JAVA ROAD SECTION WILL ALLOW FOR THE RESUMPTION OF TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.*
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS WELL AWARE OF THE INADEQUACY OF ROAD LINKS BETWEEN CAUSEWAY BAY AND THE NORTH POINT/ QUARRY BAY/CHAI WAN AREA, AND IT WAS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE AMBITIOUS ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR SCHEME HAD BEEN DEVISED.
STAGE ONE OF THE CORRIDOR WOULD BEGIN NEXT YEAR, PROVIDING AN ELEVATED EXPRESSWAY ALONG THE WATERFRONT STARTING AT CAUSEWAY BAY NEAR VICTORIA PARK AND STRETCHING TO TONG SHU I ROAD BY 1981.
-----o------
TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION OF WATER SUPPLY * * * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN AREAS IN SA I KUNG WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR 10 HOURS FROM 8 P.M. ON THURSDAY (OCTOBER 21) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO REPLACE A FRESH WATER MAIN NEAR 8-1/2 MILES HIRAM’S HIGHWAY.
THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE NAM WAI, HO CHUNG, WO MEI, NAM PIN WAI, PAK SHA WAN, PAK KONG AND AREAS ALONG HIRAM’S HIGHWAY.
ON THE SAME DAY, SALT WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN KWUN TONG WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. TO ALLOW THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY HIP WO STREET, TSUI PING ROAD AND HIU MING STREET, INCLUDING BLOCK NOS. 1 TO 10 OF Kv.UN TONG (TSUI PING ROAD) ESTATE, AND BLOCK NOS. 9 AND 10 OF WO LOK ESTATE.
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/5
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1976
- 5 -
BOOKLET ON LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE ******
THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT’S SIMPLE GUIDE TO THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE, PART II, RELATING TO POST-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES, HAS BEEN UP-DATED.
COPIES OF THE NEW EDITION ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE.
COMMENTING ON THE BOOKLET, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION SAID THAT THE REVISED EDITION INCLUDED NOTES ON THE MOST RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE.
SEPARATE CHINESE AND ENGLISH VERSIONS OF THE BOOKLET HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS, FROM DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND FROM THE OFFICES OF THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT.
- - 0 - -
ROOF-TOP STRUCTURES DECLARED DANGEROUS
******
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED THE STRUCTURES ON THE ROOF AT NO. 22-24 PEEL STREET, HONG KONG TO BE LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES WHICH HAD BEEN ERECTED ON THE ROOF OF THIS BUILDING OBSTRUCTED THE MEANS OF ESCAPE TO THE ROOF OF THE MAIN BUILDING WITH THE RESULTANT DANGER THAT OCCUPANTS COULD EE TRAPPED IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OCCURRING ON THE LOWER FLOORS.
THE PUBLIC IS ALREADY AWARE OF RECENT CASES OF FIRES IN BUILDINGS WHERE THE OCCUPANTS HAVE ESCAPED TO THE ROOF AND HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN RESCUED FROM THE ROCF BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THIS AVENUE OF ESCAPE IN BUILDINGS WITH ONLY ONE STAIRCASE IS CLEARLY OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 3, 1976 WAS POSTED TODAY.
- - 0 -
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1976
6 -
RE-OPENING OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD *****
THE SECTION OF NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY ON CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD BETWEEN YEN CHOW STREET AND KIU KIANG STREET WILL BE RE-OPENED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM 10 A.M. TOMORROW (OCTOBER 20).
THIS FOLLOWS THE COMPLETION OF THE EMERGENCY ROAD WORKS IN THE SECTION OF ROAD.
- 0 -
PRH 7
p-i-qra™ |gis| |w|
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
THE FRENCH MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE TO VISIT HONG KONG NEXT MONTH ............................... 1
GOVERNOR TO ATTEND KA I FONG DAY RECEPTION .... 1
ASSISTANT AIRPORT MANAGER LEAVES FOR U.K. FOR FURTHER TRAINING ...................................... 2
RETIREMENT OF FIRE OFFICER .................... 2
TEXTILE QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ............ 3
REHABILITATION CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT .......... 5
ISLANDS ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED ON SATURDAY ... 6
WATER CUT IN MONG KOK ......................... 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1976
1
VISIT OF FRENCH FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER
* * * * *
THE FRENCH MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE, MR. ANDRE ROSSI, WILL PAY AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO HONG KONG EARLY NEXT MONTH.
HE WILL ARRIVE ON NOVEMBER 6 (SATURDAY) AND LEAVE ON NOVEMBER 8 (MONDAY).
DURING THE VISIT, MR. ROSSI WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AS WELL AS WITH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE PERSONALITIES CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE BETWEEN FRANCE AND HONG KONG.
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GOVERNOR TO ATTEND KAIFONG DAY RECEPTION * * * *
NOTE TO EDITORS :
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL ATTEND THE KAIFONG DAY RECEPTION TO BE HELD AT THE CITY HALL RESTAURANT TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT 6.00 P.M.
THE RECEPTION, ORGANISED BY 64 KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, WILL ALSO BE ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS AND VOLUNTARY BODIES, MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE URBAN COUNCIL- CIVIC LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1976
2
ASST. AIRPORT MANAGER TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN U.K.
*****
AN ASSISTANT AIRPORT MANAGER OF KAI TAK AIRPORT, MR. CHAN KWOK-WAH, LEFT FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING FOR EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING.
HE WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE BRITISH AIRPORT AUTHORITIES AND VARIOUS U.K. AIRPORTS INCLUDING HEATHROW, GATWICK, MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM AND JERSEY.
THE TRAINING PROGRAMME WILL ENABLE MR. CHAN TO GAIN AN INSIGHT INTO THE EFFICIENT OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF OTHER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS AS WELL AS TO ACQUIRE NEW IDEAS AND EXCHANGE VIEWS.
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RETIREMENT OF FIRE OFFICER
*****
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MR. LEUNG TAK-YAN, ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL OFFICER, IS RETIRING AFTER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
TO MARK THE OCCASION, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR. F.M. WATSON, WILL PRESENT HIM WITH A SOUVENIR ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU ON THE 11TH FLOOR OF ASIAN HOUSE AT 2.30 P M TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF TO COVER THE EVENT. THEY SHOULD MEET MR. CHUI HUNG FAT AT THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU BEFORE 2.30 P.M.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1976 if
- 3 -TEXTILE QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ******
THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE END OF SEPTEMBER 1976 FIGURES ON THE UTILISATION OF QUOTAS IN RESPECT OF ALL RESTRAINED MARKETS.
COMMENTING ON THE FIGURES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SAID THAT WHILST THE RATE OF UTILISATION WAS HIGH IN A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES TO CERTAIN MARKETS, THE FLEXIBILITY PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENTS COULD ENABLE HONG KONG TO EXPORT UP TO CERTAIN SPECIFIED PERCENTAGES OVER AND ABOVE THE RESTRAINT LIMITS.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT FREE QUOTAS FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES AND MARKETS WERE STILL AVAILABLE FOR APPLICATION AND INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE QUOTA POSITION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE EEC, HONG KONG’S TWO MAJOR TEXTILE MARKETS.
USA
THE 1975/76 TEXTILE RESTRAINT PERIOD FOR THE USA ALREADY EXPIRED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1976, AND THE 1976/77 TEXTILE RESTRAINT PERIOD HAS COMMENCED ON OCTOBER 1, 1976. DURING THE 1975/76 TEXTILE RESTRAINT PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1976, TOTAL QUOTAS USED AMOUNTED TO 796 MILLION EQUIVALENT SQ. YDS. OR 90 PER CENT OF THE OVERALL ANNUAL LIMIT. FIGURES SHOWING THE QUANTITIES LICENSED FOR EXPORTS AND PERCENTAGE UTILISATION ON A
GROUP BASIS ARE SET OUT BELOW ■ ”
DESCRIPTION QUANTITY LICENSED PERCENTAGE UTILISATION AGAINST GROUP LIMITS
GROUP 1 YARNS AND FABRICS OF COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRES 206 85 PER CENT
GROUP 11 APPAREL OF COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRES 526 96 PER CENT
GROUP 111 MADE-UPS AND MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES OF COTTON AND 34 62 PER CENT
MAN-MADE FIBRES
/GROUP IV
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1976
4
GROUP IV
WOOL TEXTILE AND APPAREL 29 70 PER CENT
NOTE: FIGURES ON QUANTITY LICENSED ARE IN MILLION EQUIVALENT SQ. YDS.
DURING THE 1975/76 TEXTILE RESTRAINT PERIOD, OF THE CATEGORIES SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC LIMITS IN THE HONG KONG/US TEXTILE AGREEMENT, THE RATE OF UTILISATION IN EIGHT OUT OF 21 CATEGORIES COULD BE DESCRIBED AS RELATIVELY HIGH. THESE EIGHT CATEGORIES WERE CATEGORY 22/23 (TWILL AND SATEEN), CATEGORY 41/42/43/62(2) (COTTON KNIT T-SHIRTS AND OTHER KNIT SHIRTS AND BLOUSES EXCEPT SWEAT-SHIRTS), CATEGORY 45/46/47 (MEN’S AND BOYS’ SHIRTS, DRESS SPORT AND WORK, NOT KNIT), CATEGORY 50/51 (COTTON WOVEN TROUSERS, SLACKS AND SHORTS), CATEGORY 54/63(1) (PLAYSUITS, SUNSUITS, WASHSUITS, CREEPERS AND ROMPERS ETC.), CATEGORY 218/219/224(5) (M.M.F. KNIT SHIRTS, BLOUSES, TOPS AND VEST), CATEGORY 221 (SWEATERS AND CARDIGANS, KNIT) AND CATEGORY 229 (COATS, NOT KNIT). IN ADDITION, RELATIVELY HIGH UTILISATION WAS ALSO RECORDED IN CATEGORY 116/117 SWEATER PERMITS.
EEC
THE CURRENT 12-MONTH EEC TEXTILE RESTRAINT PERIOD BEGAN ON JANUARY 1, 1976. QUOTA UTILISATION POSITIONS ON MEMBER STATE BASIS FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 1976 ARE GIVEN BELOW :-
MEMBER STATE QUANTITY LICENSED PERCENTAGE UTILISATION
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY 25 65 PER CENT
UNITED KINGDOM 41 60 PER CENT
BENELUX 3.97 48 PER CENT
DENMARK 2.1 67 PER CENT
ITALY 1.5 36 PER CENT
FRANCE 1.26 58 PER CENT
IRISH REPUBLIC 0.27 39 PER CENT
NOTE: FIGURES ON QUANTITY LICENSED ARE IN MILLION EQUIVALENT KGS.
/OUT OF
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBE? 20, 1976
5
OUT OF A TOTAL OF 108 CATEGORIES ON MEMBER STATE/ CATEGORY BASIS, THE RATE OF UTILISATION IN 35 OF THEM WAS RELATIVELY HIGH. THE POPULAR CATEGORIES INCLUDED CATEGORY 3 (KNIT SHIRTS AND BLOUSES), CATEGORY 4 (KNIT PULLOVERS), CATEGORY 6 (WOVEN RAINCOATS), CATEGORY 8 (WOVEN TROUSERS), CATEGORY 10 (WOVEN DRESSES) AND CATEGORY 13 (WOVEN NIGHTWEAR).
NOTE FOR EDITORS:
COPIES OF THE RELEVANT NOTICES TO EXPORTERS WHICH GIVE DETAILED FIGURES OF UTILISATION OF QUOTAS FOR EACH RESTRAINED MARKET ON A CATEGORY BY CATEGORY BASIS ARE DISTRIBUTED SEPARATELY IN G.I.S. PRESS BOXES.
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REHABILITATION CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT * * * * *
THE REHABILITATION CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT 1976, AN INTER-CENTRE FOOTBALL COMPETITION AMONG REHABILITATION CENTRES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, WILL START AT THE KWUN TONG RECREATION GROUND TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT 13 A.M.
MR. T.P. KHOO, HEAD OF THE REHABILITATION DIVISION WHO DONATED THE CUP, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY. A TOTAL OF SIX TEAMS WILL BE PARTICIPATING THIS YEAR.
THE SOCCER TOURNAMENT IS ONE OF THE SPORTS AND RECREATION PROGRAMMES ORGANISED BY THE REHABILITATION DIVISION FOR ITS RETARDED YOUTH TRAINEES. IT AIMS TO PROVIDE THE MENTALLY RETARDED TRAINEES WITH EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS AND GAMES LIKE OTHER NORMAL PEOPLE.
+DURING THE COURSE OF THE GAMES, THE RETARDED SOCCER PLAYERS ARE EXPECTED TO EXERCISE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE PROPER MIND AND BODY/ LIMB CO-ORDINATION IN THEIR ACTIVITIES,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REHABILITATION DIVISION SAID. +THEY ARE ENCOURAGED THROUGH THE PLAY OF GAMES TO BUILD UP THEIR ABILITY OF INDEPENDENCE AS WELL AS THE CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT WITH OTHER TEAM MEMBERS.*
NOTE TO EDITORS :-
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE TOURNAMENT WHICH WILL COMMENCE AT 10 A.M. TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE KWUN TONG RECREATION GROUND AT THE JUNCTION OF KWUN TONG ROAD AND TSUI PING ROAD, KOWLOON.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1976
6 -
ISLANDS ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN ON SATURDAY * * *
A ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN AIMED AT THE OUTLYING ISLANDS WHICH HAD TO BE POSTPONED LAST MONTH BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER WILL NOW TAKE PLACE AT MUI WO, LANTAU ISLAND, ON SATURDAY (OCTOBER 23).
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR.DAVID TSUI, WILL OFFICIALLY LAUNCH THE CAMPAIGN AT 3.30 P.M. AND MORE THAN 600 CHILDREN FROM VARIOUS ISLANDS WILL TAKE PART.
THE YOUNGSTERS WILL RECEIVE ROAD SAFETY INSTRUCTION FROM EXPERTS FROM THE POLICE, AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES AND THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A VARIETY SHOW, LION DANCE AND A DRAWING COMPETITION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THIS EVENT. UNFORTUNATELY, NO OFFICIAL TRANSPORT IS AVAILABLE BUT THE 1.33 P.M. SILVERMINE BAY FERRY FROM HONG KONG WILL ARRIVE IN AMPLE TIME FOR THOSE WISHING TO ATTEND.
WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN MONG KOK WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 22) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY MONG KOK ROAD, ARGYLE STREET, CANTON ROAD, NAM TAU STREET AND TONG MEI ROAD, INCLUDING FIFE STREET, PORTLAND STREET, HONG LOK STREET, SHANGHAI STREET, RECLAMATION STREET, SHAM CHUN STREET AND CHEUNG WONG ROAD.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PROGRAMME PLANS ON PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUTH ........... 1
NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION APPOINTED .................................................. 2
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTH POINT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ................................................ 3
KA I FONGS PRAISED FOR THEIR COMMUNITY WORK ................ 4
CHRISTMAS SURFACE MAIL TO SABAH ............................ 4
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER ......................... 5
LABOUR RELATIONS PRACTICE CODE AVAILABLE ................... 6
RETIREMENT GIFT FOR FIRE OFFICER ........................... 6
FINAL ROUNDS OF ANTI-NARCOTICS CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 7
A 7O-DAY ’FRIENDLY FESTIVAL’ TO BE LAUNCHED AT TAI WO HAU 8
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976
1
PROGRAMME PLANS ON PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUTH
******
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS DRAFTING PROGRAMME PLANS ON PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUTH TO SOLVE THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF INDIVIDUAL LONELINESS, BOREDOM, AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF A WIDER COMMUNITY, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY.
THIS PROBLEM, WHICH CAN HAVE SERIOUS SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, WAS POINTED OUT BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THE PLAN, MR.
YEAR.
LEE SAID, WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED NEXT
MR. LEE WAS SPEAKING AT THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE 12 SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF LOK SIN TONG HELD AT THE YU KAN HING SCHOOL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
+AT PRESENT, BESIDES APPOINTING COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICERS IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO SET UP COMMUNITY CENTRES AND ESTATE COMMUNITY WORK OFFICES IN ALL DENSELY-POPULATED AREAS,+ HE SAID.
HE CITED THREE EXAMPLES OF VARIOUS SCHEMES THAT HIS DEPARTMENT WAS ORGANISING AND SPONSORING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME, HE SAID, WAS AIMED AT ENCOURAGING YOUTHS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD PROMOTE THEIR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND, AT THE SAME TIME. COULD PROVIDE SOCIAL BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.
+SINCE 1974, A TOTAL OF 194 PROJECTS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED AND AMONG THEM ARE THE HOT LINE SERVICE WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS WHO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SCHOOL WORK AND THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT SCHEME,+ HE ADDED.
THE PLAY LEADERSHIP SCHEME, HE WENT ON, WAS AIMED AT ORGANISING CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FOUND LOITERING IN PLAYGROUNDS, WHILE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES WAS AIMED AT IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN A DISTRICT AND THEN PROMOTING PROJECTS THAT WOULD SATISFY THESE NEEDS.
EARLIER, MR. LEE COMMENDED THE LOK SIN TONG FOR ITS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY DURING ITS 97 YEARS OF HISTORY.
HE SAID THE 12 SCHOOLS RUN BY THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY HAD PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH MEANINGFUL EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND POINTED OUT THAT THEY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY SERVICES TO PROMOTE IN THEM A BALANCED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT.
+THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, THE STUDENTS CAN LEARN DIRECTLY FROM PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, UNDERSTAND THE RESOURCES, THE PROBLEMS, AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND AS A RESULT, ACCELERATE THE REALISATION OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT,* HE ADDED.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976.
NEW CHAIRMAN OF HKTA APPOINTED
* * * *
MR. DAVID NEWBIGGING, CHAIRMAN AND SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF JARDINE, MATHESON AND CO., LTD., HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO SUCCEED THE HON. JOHN BREMRIDGE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION WHEN MR. BREMRIDGE RELINGQUISHES THE POST NEXT JANUARY.
WHEN HIS TERM EXPIRES AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY 1977, MR. BREMRIDGE WILL HAVE SERVED FOR OVER TWO YEARS AT THE HELM OF THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION. DURING THIS PERIOD, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OVERSEAS VISITORS AND THEIR SPENDING DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY THE WORLD-WIDE RECESSION.
MR. NEWBIGGING HAS BEEN CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HONG KONG SINCE HE FIRST ARRIVED IN 1955 TO JOIN JARDINE, MATHESON AND CO., LTD.
AS CHAIRMAN OF JARDINES, ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSIFIED COMPANIES IN THE FAR EAST WITH HEADQUARTERS IN HONG KONG AND OFFICES IN 15 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, MR. NEWBIGGING TRAVELS EXTENSIVELY AND IS WELL PLACED TO PROMOTE HONG KONG TOURISM. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE AVIATION ADVISORY BOARD AND THROUGH JARDINES’ REPRESENTATION OF MANY AIRLINES AND THEIR INTERESTS IN LOCAL HOTELS AND CONVENTION FACILITIES HE IS ALREADY CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
IN ADDITION TO HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS, MR. NEWBIGGING IS INVOLVED IN A WIDE SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG. HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNITY CHEST, A MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, A MEMBER OF THE PORT COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE SAILORS’ HOME AND MISSIONS TO SEAMEN. MR. NEWBIGGING IS ALSO AN ACTIVE SPORTSMAN AND IS A STEWARD OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
/J
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976
- 3 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTH POINT AND N.T.
******
A SERIES OF TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED WITH EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN KAM HONG STREET IN NORTH POINT.
THE SECTION OF MARBLE ROAD BETWEEN KAM HONG STREET AND SHU KUK STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND WHILE THE SECTION BETWEEN KAM HONG STREET AND TIN CHIU STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING PUBLIC LIGHT BUS PROHIBITION ZONE IN KAM HONG STREET WILL BE EXTENDED SOUTHWARDS TO THE JUNCTION WITH MARBLE ROAD, AND THE PLB STAND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MARBLE ROAD WILL BE MOVED TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD.
ALL EASTBOUND VEHICLES ON KING’S ROAD WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TURN RIGHT INTO KAM HONG STREET.
MOTORISTS TRAVELLING EASTWARD ALONG KING’S ROAD WHO WISH TO ENTER KAM HONG STREET SHOULD TURN LEFT INTO SHU KUK STREET AND PROCEED VIA JAVA ROAD INTO KAM HONG STREET SOUTHBOUND.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS AND PLB DRIVERS.
IN TSUEN WAN, URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE SECTION OF TAI WO HAU ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH TEXACO ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 590 FEET TO THE EAST FROM 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY (OCTOBER 23).
NO VEHICLES, OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP TO PICK UP AND SET DOWN PASSENGERS OR TO LOAD AND UNLOAD GOODS BETWEEN 7 A.M. AND 7 P.M. DAILY.
APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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A
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976
4
KA I FONGS PRAISED FOR THEIR COMMUNITY WORK ******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING PRAISED THE KAIFONGS FOR THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
SPEAKING AT A RECEPTION CELEBRATING THE KAIFONG DAY AT THE CITY HALL, HE SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL WAS THE COMMUNITY’S EFFORTS TO FIGHT CRIME.
+HONG KONG RISES MAGNIFICENTLY TO A CRISIS OR DISASTER, BUT THIS IS NO LONGER ENOUGH,* HE SAID.
+WE MUST ACTIVELY BUILD OUR COMMUNITY, AND MAKE IT SAFER AND HAPPIER, EVERY DAY OF EVERY YEAR,* HE STRESSED.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECHs-
+l AM PLEASED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL KAIFONG DAY.
+THE KAIFONG MOVEMENT IN HONG KONG ORIGINATED SOME 27 YEARS AGO AND HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION. DURING RECENT YEARS THE KAIFONGS HAVE ADDED TO THEIR TRADITIONAL ROLE OF RELIEF AND WELFARE THAT OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL BEING OUR EFFORTS TO FIGHT CRIME. I WELCOME THIS AS I AM SURE DOES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
+HONG KONG RISES MAGNIFICENTLY TO A CRISIS OR DISASTER.
BUT THIS IS NO LONGER ENOUGH. WE MUST ACTIVELY BUILD OUR COMMUNITY. AND MAKE IT SAFER AND HAPPIER, EVERY DAY OF EVERY YEAR.
+DURING THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EMERGED FROM RECESSION AND I LOOK FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE TO A YEAR OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
+F INALLY, MAY I THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY THIS EVENING. I NOW ASK YOU ALL TO DRINK A TOAST WITH ME TO WISH OUR KAIFONGS EVERY SUCCESS FOR THE FUTURE.*
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CHRISTMAS SURFACE MAIL TO SABAH * * * *
THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE LATEST POSTING DATE FOR CHRISTMAS SURFACE MAIL TO SABAH OF MALAYSIA HAS BEEN CHANGED.
THE REVISED LATEST ACCEPTANCE DATE FOR SANDAKAN (SABAH) IS NOW OCTOBER 23, 1976 AND THAT FOR KOTA KINABALU (SABAH) IS NOVEMBER 5, 1976.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 197-
' - 5 -
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER
*****
THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) FOR SEPTEMBER 1976 WAS 115, ONE POINT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY ONE POINT. INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, EGGS AND MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME.
THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY ONE POINT AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENT OF SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS. ON THE OTHER HAND, A DROP OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR BECAUSE OF LOWER PRICES IN SOME OUTERCLOTHING ITEMS.
MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS AND SERVICES WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR SEPTEMBER 1976 WAS 115, ONE POINT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY ONE POINT. INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME.
THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY TWO POINTS AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENT OF SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS. A ONE POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE PRICE INCREASES IN IMPORTED BRITISH AND AMERICAN CIGARETTES.
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES ALSO MOVED UP BY ONE POINT AS A RESULT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF A FLAT FARE OF X) CENTS ON ALL CROSS-HARBOUR ROUTES BY THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY AND THE INCREASED CHARGES FOR SCHOOL BUS FARES. ON THE OTHER HAND, A DROP OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DUE TO LOWER PRICES IN SOME OUTERCLOTHING ITEMS.
MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS AND SERVICES WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
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/6
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976
- 6 -
LABOUR RELATIONS PRACTICE CODE AVAILABLE ******
THE CODE OF LABOUR RELATIONS PRACTICE TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL RECENTLY IS BEING DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE MAIN EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATIONS, MAJOR TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND ALL REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
THE AIM OF THE CODE IS TO SET STANDARDS AND TO GIVE PRACTICAL GUIDANCE PARTICULARLY TO MANAGEMENT, ON THE CONDUCT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES TO IMPROVE HUMAN RELATIONS IN ALL PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT WHATEVER THEIR SIZE.
IT COVERS SUCH MATTERS AS THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE, METHODS OF COMMUNICATION AND CONSULTATION, GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND OTHER FUNCTIONS OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT POLICIES, RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES, WORKING CONDITIONS, FRINGE BENEFITS AND THE HANDLING OF TRADE DISPUTES.
ITS CONTENTS ARE BASED NOT ONLY ON THE EXTENSIVE AND LONG EXPERIENCE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE BUT ALSO, WHERE APPLICABLE, ON PRACTICES IN DEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES.
PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, THE CODE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT ALL OFFICES OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE AND THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE, HONG KONG.
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RETIREMENT GIFT FOR FIRE OFFICER
******
THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU, MR. ALAN JONES, TODAY PRESENTED ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL OFFICER LEUNG TAK-YAN WITH A WATCH ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES TO MARK HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT AFTER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE.
MR. LEUNG FIRST JOINED THE FIRE SERVICES AS A CONTROL ROOM STAFF IN DECEMBER 1948. HE WAS ADVANCED TO SUB-OFFICER IN 1958 AND TO STATION OFFICER SIX YEARS LATER.
IN 1969 HE WAS PROMOTED TO HIS SUBSTANTIVE RANK OF ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL OFFICER AND HAD ACTED AS DIVISIONAL OFFICER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. HE WAS AWARDED A COLONIAL FIRE BRIGADE LONG SERVICE MEDAL IN 1967, THE COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL (FIRE) IN 1974 AND A FIRST CLASP TO THE LONG SERVICE MEDAL EARLY THIS YEAR.
DURING HIS 28 YEARS’ SERVICE, MR. LEUNG HAD SERVED MOSTLY IN THE OPERATIONAL COMMAND IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND IN THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU FOR THREE YEARS UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976
7
FINAL ROUNDS OF ANTI-NARCOTICS CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
*****
THE FINAL ROUNDS OF THE ANTI-NARCOTICS CUP AND E.P. HO CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT WILL BEGIN TOMORROW (FRIDAY) WITH AN OPENING CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE INDOOR BASKETBALL COURT, SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND, WAN CHAI AT 6 P.M.
MATCHES WILL BE PLAYED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CEREMONY. ADMISSION WILL BE FREE.
TEN TEAMS FROM 10 DIFFERENT CITY DISTRICTS OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND KOWLOON WILL BE COMPETING FOR THE HONOUR AFTER ELIMINATING 74 OTHER TEAMS IN THE PRELIMINARY ROUNDS. THE WINNING TEAM WILL BE AWARDED BOTH THE ANTI-NARCOTICS CUP AND THE E.P. HO CUP.
THE TOURNAMENT, WHICH IS OPEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 20 YEARS OF AGE, IS PART OF THE DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMME OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN). IT IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP A GREATER INTEREST IN MEANINGFUL AND HEALTHY ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS TO CREATE IN THEM AN AWARENESS OF THE DANGER OF DRUG ADDICTION.
IN ADDITION, THE TOURNAMENT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOUNTING PUBLICITY TO GET THE ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE ACROSS TO THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS WHO GO AND WATCH THE MATCHES. APART FROM PUTTING UP BANNERS AND DISTRIBUTING LEAFLETS AT THE BASKETBALL COURTS, SHORT ANTI-DRUG DRAMAS WILL BE STAGED DURING HALF-TIME INTERVALS.
THE TOURNAMENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, THE HONG KONG AMATEUR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AND ACAN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND BASKETBALL STADIUM AT 6 P.M. TOMORROW (FRIDAY). OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE MR. AUGUSTINE CHUI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS- REV. K.L. STUMPF, CHAIRMAN OF ACAN’S PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMM ITTEE= MR. M.C. CASWELL, PRINCIPAL EDUCATION OFFICER- AND MR. CHAM SIU-LEUN, PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG AMATEUR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976
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+FRIENDLY FESTIVAL* AT TAI WO HAU « ******
A 70-DAY +FRIENDLY FESTIVAL+ AIMED AT PROMOTING CIVIC PRIDE AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE 45,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE TAI WO HAU AREA IS TO BE LAUNCHED ON SUNDAY.
THE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND TWO LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS, THE TSUEN WAN, TAI WO HAU AND KWAI CHUNG ECUMENICAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND THE TAI WO HAU RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.
THE ORGANISERS HAVE ARRANGED ABOUT 30 DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS AND FUNCTIONS DURING THE FESTIVAL, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE HELD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OPERATING IN THE AREA WILL TAKE PART. EVENTS INCLUDE FOOTBALL MATCHES, PARADES, VARIETY SHOWS, A CARNIVAL, CHARITY SALES, SINGING CONTEST, A COOKERY COMPETITION AND SPECIAL GATHERINGS FOR OLD PEOPLE.
+THE PURPOSE OF THE FESTIVAL, WHICH WILL RUN THROUGH TO THE END OF DECEMBER, IS TO INCULCATE MUTUAL CARE AND HELP AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA,* TSUEN WAN’S ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (URBAN), MISS ALICE SIU, SAID TODAY.
+WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO PROMOTE CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
+WITH THIS IN MIND, OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS - HOUSING, POLICE, SOCIAL WELFARE AND URBAN SERVICES - WERE INVITED TO BE PATRONS OF THE FESTIVAL.
+ THE FESTIVAL IS SIMILAR TO THE ’KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOUR’ CAMPAIGNS CONDUCTED IN THE URBAN AREAS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A FUNCTION HAS BEEN ORGANISED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.*
NOTE TO EDITORS :
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE FRIENDLY FESTIVAL. THE OFFICIAL OPENING WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE OPEN SPACE OUTSIDE BLOCK 6 OF THE TAI WO HAU ESTATE AT 3 P.M. THERE WILL BE A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY, FOLLOWED BY A LION DANCE AND FOOTBALL MATCH BETWEEN TAI WO HAU RESIDENTS AND A ROYAL HONGKONG POLICE TEAM.
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HONG KONG HOUSING OUTHORITY
Thursday, 21st October 1976
HOUSING AUTHORITY SEEKS TO PREVENT CONTRACTORS EXPLOITING TENANTS
The Housing Authority is to try out a new procedure to prevent tenants from being exploited by greedy and unscrupulous contractors.
The trial will be held in Lai Yiu Estate, Tsuen Wan, starting in December whepe the first occupants are due to move in.
The Estate will have approximately 2,400 flats providing homes for more than 19^000 people.
Contractors will be invited to tender by November 5 to supply and install a range of standard items, such as tiles, rails and cupboards, as well as to paint flats.
Only six contractors will be approved to carry out the work.
Each tender must be accompanied by a 310,000 deposit and successful tenderers will be required to deposit with the Housing Authority 3100,000 as a surety bond. Contractors not selected will have their deposits returned.
Approved contractors will be allowed to install only good quality fittings listed by the Housing Authority and tenants will not be able to have non-standard items installed during the first six months of their tenancy. After this period, they can engage any contractor they like -not necessarily one of the approved contractors - to fit other than standard items, although estate staff will be on hand to make sure that
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2
tenants are not overcharged and that workmanship is of a satisfactory standard.
Another condition of the tender is that approved contractors must accept all orders from tenants for standard work and complete the orders within two months.
In cases where a contractor defaults, the Housing Authority will reserve the right to take over the work and deduct any charges from the contractor’s security bond.
A Housing Authority spokesman said today: "No tenant is compelled to have any type of decoration work done unless he wants to. However, if he wishes to have his flat decorated this new procedure is designed to protect his interests.
"In the past some contractors have been guilty of pressuring tenants into having extra jobs done, resulting in heavy bills.
"Some contractors have even claimed the use of ’special materials’ as an excuse for further inflating their bills. The new procedure will prohibit this kind of exploitation."
The spokesman said that among the advantages of the new procedure would be the small number of contractors, thus giving estate staff greater control over their activities.
In drawing up the new procedure, the Housing Authority has co-operated closely with the I.C.A.C.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976.
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW LAW TO COMBAT ILLEGAL GAMBLING PROPOSED .............. 1
CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY FOR NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM ........ 2
HONG KONG POPULATION TOPS 4.4 MILLION .................... 3
NEW FLYOVERS TO IMPROVE MID-LEVELS TRAFFIC ............... 4
LOCAL PIG FARMERS TO ATTEND ALL-JAPAN SWINE SHOW ......... 5
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENDANGERED WILD LIFE APPOINTED ... 6
MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 PUBLISHED ... 7
LONG DISTANCE CANOE RACE AT TOLO HARBOUR ................. 8
COMMUNITY URGED TO HONOUR THE ELDERLY .................... 9
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
1
NEW LAWS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL GAMBLING PROPOSED ******
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED A BILL TO REPLACE THE EXISTING GAMBLING ORDINANCE AS A FURTHER STEP TO STAMP OUT THE UNAUTHORISED EXPLOITATION OF GAMBLING.
THE MEASURES CONTAINED IN THE GAMBLING BILL 1976 STRENGTHEN THE LAW AGAINST THOSE WHO MAKE A LIVING BY INDUCING OR PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO GAMBLE EXCEPT AS AUTHORISED.
IN RECENT YEARS, STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF OFF-COURSE BETTING BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES BOARD TO PROVIDE THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO GAMBLE WITH A MORE READILY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO WITHOUT BREAKING THE LAW, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE PROPOSALS IN THE BILL ARE INTENDED TO ENABLE A MORE EFFECTIVE ATTACK TO BE MOUNTED NOW AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING,* HE POINTED OUT.
THE BILL, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GO BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY, WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON A DAY TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THE BILL DEFINES ON WHAT OCCASIONS GAMBLING WILL BE PERMITTED. THESE INCLUDE SOCIAL GATHERINGS EITHER AT HOME OR IN LICENSED RESTAURANTS, CLUBS OR SOCIETIES WHERE GAMBLING AT MAHJONG OR WITH DICE, CARDS,DOM I NOES OR TIN KAU WILL BE ALLOWED SO LONG AS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT DOES NOT INVOLVE PLAYING AGAINST A BANKER OR IS NOT TO THE ADVANTAGE OF ONLY ONE PERSON OR PARTY. PRIVATE BETS ARE NOT UNLAWFUL IF THE BET IS NOT MADE WITH A BOOKMAKER.
LOTTERIES WILL BE LEGAL IF THEY ARE AUTHORISED BY OR UNDER THE BETTING DUTY ORDINANCE, THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES ORDINANCE OR A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WHICH ALSO EMPOWER HIM TO LICENSE GAMES OF TOMBOLA, GAMES OF AMUSEMENT WITH PRIZES OR TRADE PROMOTION COMPETITIONS.
SIMILARLY, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WILL HAVE POWERS TO LICENSE PREMISES FOR MAHJONG AND TIN KAU GAMES AS A TRADE OR BUSINESS.
AS FAR AS ILLEGAL GAMBLING IS CONCERNED, THE BILL PROHIBITS BOOKMAKING, WHICH IS THE NEGOTIATION OF BETS BY WAY OF TRADE OR BUSINESS, AND STIPULATES A FINE OF $500,000 AND SEVEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT. THE SAME PENALTY WILL APPLY FOR RUNNING AN UNLAWFUL LOTTERY, OPERATING AN ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT AND ALLOWING PREMISES TO BE USED AS A GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT.
ONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE BILL IS THE REDEFINITION OF +COMMON GAMING HOUSE* INTO +GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT* WHICH WILL MEAN ANY PREMISES OR PLACE USED FOR UNLAWFUL GAMBLING, OR AN UNLAWFUL LOTTERY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS USED ON ONE OR MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. AT PRESNET ILLEGAL OPERATORS GET AWAY WITH IT BY SIMPLY JUST CHANGING THEIR LOCATION.
/ANOTHER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
2
ANOTHER IMPORTANT PROVISION WILL EMPOWER COURTS TO SERVE NOTICE ON THE TENANTS OR OWNERS OF PREMISES USED FOR UNLAWFUL BOOKMAKING, GAMBLING OR IN CONNECTION WITH AN UNLAWFUL LOTTERY, SO THAT IF SIMILAR OFFENCES ARE COMMITTED ON THE SAME PREMISES WITHIN A YEAR OF THE NOTICE,THEY WILL BE GUILTY OF AN EFFENCE.
IN THIS CONNECTION THE COURTS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ORDER THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY TO DISCONNECT SERVICE TO ANYONE CONVICTED OF OPERATING A GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT OR BOOKMAKING, OR TO PREMISES IN WHICH THE OFFENCES WERE COMMITTED.
THE OBLIGATION OF RACING CLUBS TO PREVENT BOOKMAKING ON THEIR PREMISES IS COVERED BY ONE OF THE CLAUSES IN THE BILL WHICH GIVES THEM THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE SUSPECTED BOOKMAKERS FROM RACE COURSES.
OTHER OFFENCES UNDER THE BILL INCLUDE BETTING WITH BOOKMAKERS, GAMBLING IN ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS, OPERATING UNLAWFUL GAMBLING IN ANY PLACE OTHER THAN A GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT OR IN A STREET AND GAMBLING THERE- SELLING OR POSSESSING ILLEGAL LOTTERY TICKETS AND PUBLISHING INFORMATION ABOUT ILLEGAL LOTTERIES.
THE PENALTIES FOR THESE OFFENCES RANGE FROM $10,000 FINE AND THREE MONTHS IMPRISONMENT UP TO $50,000 FINE AND TWO YEARS IMPRISONMENT.
CHEATING OR USING FRAUD AT GAMBLING OR IN A LOTTERY IS ALSO COVERED BY A PROVISION IN THE BILL AND ANYONE WHO DOES SO, OR WHO FRADUENTLY INDUCES OTHERS TO GAMBLE OR TAKE PART IN A LOTTERY, WILL FACE A FINE OF $1 MILLION AND 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT.
OTHER CLAUSES THE GAMBLING LAW.
IN THE BILL DEAL WITH MINOR IMPROVEMENTS IN
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CONTRACT SIGNING
X K H If *
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A CONTRACT FOR THE LEASE OF A NEW GENERATION COMPUTER SYSTEM TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE SIGNED ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 25).
THE CONTRACT WILL BE SIGNED IN THE PACIFICA ROOM OF THE FURAMA HOTEL IN CENTRAL BY THE MANAGER OF THE GOVERNMENT’S DATA PROCESSING DIVISION (DPD), MR. LEE TATE, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED, MR. TOM HUDSON.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 3.30 P.M. TELEVISION CAMERA CREWS ARE ADVISED TO ARRIVE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES EARLY SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE AMPLE TIME TO SET UP THEIR EQUIPMENT.
AFTER THE CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY BOTH MR. TATE AND MR. HUDSON WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
HONG KONG
POPULATION EXCEEDS 4.4 MILLION
X * M * M *
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT A PROVISIONAL COUNT OF THE OVERALL RESULTS OF THE 1976 BY-CENSUS SHOWED A TOTAL POPULATION OF HONG KONG OF 4,407,000 AS AT AUGUST 2, 1976, ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST THOUSAND.
THE BROAD GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN OF THE POPULATION WITH
1971 CENSUS RESULTS FOR COMPARISON, IS AS FOLLOWS x-
AREA 1971 CENSUS * % OF TOTAL 1976 BY-CENSUS * % OF TOTAL
HONG KONG ISLAND 996,000 25.2 1,026,000 23.3
KOWLOON 716,000 18.1 748,000 17.0
NEW KOWLOON 1 ,479,000 37.5 1,619,000 36.7
NEW TERRITORIES 666,000 16.9 938,000 21.3
MARINE 80,000 2.0 59,000 1.3
TRANSIENTS 11,000 0.3 17,000 0.4
TOTAL 3 ,948,000 100.0 4,407,000 100.0
* FIGURES ARE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST THOUSAND.
OF THE TOTAL INCREASE OF 459,000 PERSONS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, 272,000 (59.3 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL INCREASE) WAS RECORDED IN NEW TERRITORIES, OF WHICH 183,000 RELATED TO TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN. AN INCREASE OF 140,000 (30.5 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL INCREASE) WAS RECORDED FOR NEW KOWLOON, WITH LEI YUE MUN CONTRIBUTING THE LARGEST SHARE (109,000).
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE OVERALL POPULATION FIGURE NOW PRODUCED COMPARED CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S MEDIUM PROJECTION FOR MID-1976 (4,417,800) AND THE 1976 MID-YEAR POPULATION ESTIMATE (4,382,500).
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
MORE FLYOVERS PLANNED TO BEAT MID-LEVELS CONGESTION ******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANS TO BUILD TWO NEW FLYOVER COMPLEXES ALONG ROBINSON ROAD AS PART OF A MAJOR SCHEME TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE MID-LEVELS.
THE PROJECT INCORPORATES A SERIES OF ELEVATED ROADS AT THE CRITICAL ROBINSON ROAD JUNCTIONS WITH OLD PEAK ROAD AND GLENEALY, AS WELL AS PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FACILITIES AND GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS AND WIDENING OF PARTS OF ROBINSON ROAD.
AUTHORITY TO PROCEED WITH THE WORKS IS NOW BEING SOUGHT UNDER A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. THE NOTICE SPECIFIES THAT OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSALS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS BEFORE NOVEMBER 22, 1976.
MR. C.K. CHOW, CHIEF P.W.D. ENGINEER OF THE CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, HIGHWAYS OFFICE, SAID TODAY IT WAS HOPED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION WORKS EARLY NEXT YEAR FOR COMPLETION BY 1979.
HE SAID THE NEW COMPLEX AT THE ROBINSON ROAD-GLENEALY
JUNCTION WOULD CONSIST OF AN ELEVATED ROAD SPANNING ABOUT 130 METRES OVER THE JUNCTION TO PROVIDE FREE TRAFFIC FLOW FROM CONDUIT ROAD TO ROBINSON ROAD.
+A TWO-LANE BRIDGE STRUCTURE OVER GLENEALY VALLEY IS ALSO PLANNED TO PROVIDE A NEW EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY FOR ROBINSON ROAD, THUS LEAVING THE EXISTING GROUND LEVEL LANES FREE FOR WESTBOUND TRAFF IC.
+THIS WOULD ALSO GREATLY FACILITATE THE SETTING DOWN OR PICKING UP OF CHILDREN AT THE NEARBY SCHOOLS,+ HE SAID.
THE OTHER FLYOVER AT THE JUNCTION OF ROBINSON ROAD AND OLD PEAK ROAD, HE SAID, WOULD CARRY ROBINSON ROAD TRAFFIC OVER ALBANY ROAD IN THE VICINITY OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
THE SECTION OF ROBINSON ROAD BETWEEN THE BOTANIC GARDENS AND RAIMONDI COLLEGE WOULD ALSO BE WIDENED.
MR. CHOW SAID P.W.D. ROAD PLANNERS HAD PAID SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SCHOOL TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, AND ADEQUATE SETTING DOWN BAYS AND GRADE SEPARATED CROSSING FACILITIES WOULD BE PROVIDED TOGETHER WITH U-TURN FACILITIES.
♦SPECIAL AMENITY FEATURES ARE ALSO INCORPORATED IN THE ROAD PROJECT AND DETAILS ARE NOW BEING FINALISED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,+ HE ADDED.
/THE ROBINSON .....
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
5
THE ROBINSON ROAD IMPROVEMENTS FORM PART OF THE P.W.D.’S MID-LEVELS TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT SCHEME WHICH INCLUDE ANOTHER FLYOVER COMPLEX AT THE GARDEN ROAD ROUNDABOUT, AND A THIRD AT THE BOTTOM OF GARDEN ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH QUEENSWAY.
WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN ON THE GARDEN ROAD ROUNDABOUT FLYOVER COMPLEX WHICH COMPRISES A 11O-METRE ELEVATED ROAD FROM MAGAZINE GAP ROAD TO THE NORTHBOUND LANE OF GARDEN ROAD AND A 138-METRE LONG ELEVATED ROAD LINKING THE EASTBOUND LANE OF ROBINSON ROAD TO MAGAZINE GAP ROAD.
THIS COMPLEX SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS AND SHOULD ELIMINATE THE PRESENT LONG QUEUES DURING PEAK HOURS.
MEANWHILE, CONSTRUCTION IS DUE TO START SHORTLY ON THE QUEENSWAY FLYOVER IN CENTRAL. IT WILL BE ABOUT 230 METRES LONG RUNNING FROM GARDEN ROAD OPPOSITE THE HILTON HOTEL TO QUEENSWAY NEAR THE MURRAY ROAD MULTI-STOREY CARPARK.
THE NEW FLYOVER WILL PROVIDE A DIRECT LINK FOR TRAFFIC FROM GARDEN ROAD TURNING RIGHT INTO QUEENSWAY AND WILL INCORPORATE £ network footbridges for safe pedestrian crossing over garden ROAD, QUEENSWAY, MURRAY ROAD AND COTTON TREE DRIVE.
P.W.D. ROAD PLANNERS OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN LATE
EXPECT THE QUEENSWAY FLYOVER TO BE 1978.
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N.T. PIG FARMERS TO ATTEND ALL-JAPAN SWINE SHOW *****
THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. EDWARD NICHOLS, TODAY PRESENTED A FLAG AS A SIGN OF GOODWILL TO A DELEGATION OF LEADING NEW TERRITORIES PIG FARMERS WHO WILL BE LEAVING FOR TOKYO TOMORROW (SATURDAY) MORNING TO ATTEND THE 8TH ALL-JAPAN SWINE SHOW AT THE FOOT OF MOUNT FUJI.
THE NINE-MEMBER DELEGATION OF THE FEDERATION OF PIG RAISING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES WILL BE HEADED BY MR. KU KA AND MR. YIU KAI-HANG.
THE SHOW, WHICH WILL LAST FROM OCTOBER 23 TO 26, WILL
FEATURE SOME 500 PREDIGREE PIGS INCLUDING THE LARGER WHITE, LANDRACE BERKSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, DUROC, AND MIDDLE WHITE.
MR. KU KA RECEIVED THE FLAG ON BEHALF OF THE DELEGATION.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
6 -
COMMITTEE TO ADVISE ON ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD LIFE
******
FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE, THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF FLORA AND FAUNA, AND ON THE PROTECTION OF WILD LIFE IN HONG KONG.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ARE : PROFESSOR L.B. THROWER, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG-DR. B.S. MORTON, READER IN MARINE BIOLOGY AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY- MR. S.T. FONG, A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL FURRIER MR. J.D. ROMER, CURATOR OF MAMMALS AT THE BOTANICAL AND ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS AND A LEADING AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG ON SNAKES- DR. W.L. CHAN, A RESEARCH SCIENTIST AND ICHTHYOLOGIST- AND MR. D.S. MELVILLE, AN ORNITHOLOGIST CURRENTLY WORKING ON BIRDSTRIKE HAZARD TO AIRCRAFT.
THE ORDINANCE AIMS TO PROTECT FROM COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION THOSE RARE SPECIES OF WILD LIFE THAT ARE IN DANGER OF EXTERMINATION, BY MEANS OF RESTRICTING THE IMPORTATION, EXPORTATION AND POSSESSION OF SUCH SPECIES.
THE ORDINANCE HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR HONG KONG, SUBJECT TO RESERVATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE CONTROL OF TRADE IN IVORY AND REPTILE SKINS, TO BE INCLUDED AS A PARTY TO THE CONVENTION UNDER THE UNITED KINGDOM’S INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION. SO FAR 32 COUNTRIES HAVE RATIFIED THE CONVENTION.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
7
MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976
* * * * *
AN AMENDMENT BILL, AIMED AT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING PARTY ON UNREGISTRABLE DOCTORS, WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GAZETTE.
THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.
UNDER THE BILL, PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL TRAINING, BUT WHO ARE NOT AT PRESENT ELIGIBLE TO BE REGISTERED AS MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, WILL BE ABLE TO SIT FOR EXAMINATIONS AND SERVE A PERIOD OF EXTERNSHIP WHICH WILL LEAD TO THE GRANT OF A LICENCE BY THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.
HOLDERS OF THIS LICENCE, WHO WILL BE KNOWN AS LICENTIATES OF THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF HONG KONG, WILL BE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AND TO PRACTISE AS REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS IN HONG KONG.
SOME 1,700 PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED TO SIT FOR THE LICENTIATE EXAMINATIONS, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE HELD EARLY IN 1977 WHILE THE EXTERNSHIP OF THE FIRST GROUP OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER THAT YEAR.
ONE PROVISION OF THE BILL IS TO ADD TWO NEW PARTS TO THE REGISTER OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, ONE CONTAINING THE PARTICULARS OF LICENTIATES AND THE OTHER RELATING TO THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED THE EXAMINATIONS.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY TO TAKE THE THREE-PART EXAMINATIONS, THE CANDIDATE MUST HAVE COMPLETED FIVE YEARS FULL-TIME MEDICAL TRAINING AND HOLD A MEDICAL QUALIFICATION OTHER THAN ONE WHICH WOULD ENTITLE HIM TO BE REGISTERED, MUST BE OF GOOD CHARACTER AND MUST HAVE PERMISSION TO LIVE IN HONG KONG.
ANOTHER SECTION OF THE BILL RELATES TO THE PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT. AFTER PASSING THE EXAMINATIONS, A PERSON WISHING TO BECOME A LICENTIATE MUST COMPLETE A PERIOD OF EXTERNSHIP OF 18 MONTHS IN A HOSPITAL OR INSTITUTION APPROVED BY THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.
PROVISION HAS ALSO BEEN MADE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LICENTIATE COMMITTEE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE NEW SYSTEM RELATING TO LICENTIATES, AND SUB-COMMITTEES INCLUDING ONE DEALING WITH APPEALS.
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8
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
LONG DISTANCE CANOE RACE AT TOLO HARBOUR
* * K K
MORE THAN 100 COMPETITORS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE THIRD ANNUAL TOLO HARBOUR LONG DISTANCE CANOE RACE ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 24).
THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE OUTWARD BOUND (ALUMNI) ASSOCIATION UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE.
ROUTES OF 12 MILES AND 7-1/2 MILES HAVE BEEN MAPPED OUT FOR THE SENIOR AND JUNIOR LADIES TEAMS RESPECTIVELY. ALL THE EVENTS WILL START AND FINISH AT ISLAND HOUSE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE SAID THAT SINCE THE RACE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO, IT HAD PROVED TREMENDOUSLY POPULAR AMONG CANOEISTS.
+THE AIM IS TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL INTEREST OF CANOEING IN HONG KONG BY PROVIDING ENTHUSIASTS WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE PART IN COMPETITIVE EVENTS,+ HE ADDED.
THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. CLIVE OXLEY= THE PRESIDENT OF THE OUTWARD BOUND TRUST OF HONG KONG, MR. GEOFFREY T.M. YEH AND SEVEN TAI PO RURAL COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL PRESENT THE PRIZES.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT. A GOVERNMENT VAN, AM3274, WILL LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT SUB-POOL, KOWLOON POST OFFICE, TSIM SHA TSUI, AT 9 A.M. LIAISON OFFICER, MR. PETER KWAN CHEONG-YIN, WILL BE AT THE EVENT TO ASSIST PRESS REPRESENTATIVES.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1976
COMMUNITY URGED TO HONOUR THE ELDERLY
* # * K *
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TONIGHT CALLED ON THE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE THE GREAT TRADITION OF HONOURING THE ELDERLY.
+OLD PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCED IN LIFE AND THEIR EXPERIENCE
SHOULD BE TREASURED NOT ONLY IN A FAMILY BUT ALSO IN SOCIETY.*
MR. LEE WAS SPEAKING AT A DINNER PARTY GIVEN BY THE HUNG HOM (3 DISTRICTS) KAIFONG ASSOCIATION IN HONOUR OF THE OLD PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICTS.
THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT FAMILY LIFE HAD A GREAT BEARING ON THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
HARMONY, HE CONTINUED, WOULD PREVAIL IN A FAMILY IF THE PARENTS WERE KIND AND CHILDREN OBEDIENT.
+IN SUCH A FAMILY,* HE STRESSED, +CHILDREN WILL HAVE A SENSE OF SECURITY AND WARMTH WHICH ARE NECESSARY IN THE MOULDING OF GOOD CHARACTER.*
HE SAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF PROBLEM YOUTHS CAME FROM BROKEN HOMES.
MR. LEE ALSO URGED THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SHOW MORE RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY IN DAILY LIFE, FOR EXAMPLE, BY HELPING THEM CROSS THE ROAD, OFFERING THEM SEATS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND ENSURING THAT THEY NEED NOT STAND IN LONG QUEUES.
+ALL THESE CAN BE DONE SO EASILY AND AT THE SAME TIME SHOW YOUR CARE AND RESPECT FOR THE OLD PEOPLE,* HE ADDED.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SECOND CARRIAGEWAY FOR LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD ........ 1
KEEP CLEAN DRIVE AT LAI CHI KOK AMUSEMENT PARK ...... 2
IMPROVEMENTS TO HONG KONG STUDENTS CENTRE IN LONDON . 3
GOVERNOR VISITS HONG KONG SCHOOLS MUSIC AND SPEECH ASSOCIATION ......................................... 4
ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN AT LANTAU ...................... 5
MACPHERSON STADIUM GETS NEW FLOOR ................... 6
WATER SKI MARATHON IN TAI TAM BAY ................... 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1976
1
LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD * * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN WORK IN DECEMBER ON THE SECOND CARRIAGEWAY OF LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD FROM THE TOLL BOOTHS TO THE SHING MUN RIVER BRIDGE.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE A DUAL CARRIAGEWAY ROAD FROM THE TUNNELS THROUGH LION ROCK INTO SHA TIN.
APPROXIMATELY 2.5 KILOMETRES OF 7.3-METRE WIDE CARRIAGEWAY TOGETHER WITH ANCILLARY WORKS OF DRAINAGE, FOOTWAY AND CENTRAL MEDIAN BARRIER WILL BE CONSTRUCTED.
IMPROVEMENTS WILL ALSO BE MADE TO THE JUNCTION AT SIU LEK YUEN ROAD AND THE EXISTING LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED WHERE DETERIORATION OF THE CARRIAGEWAY IS EXCESSIVE.
THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DIVISION OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, MR. A.D.S. MACDONALD SAID TODAY THE WORKS WOULD BE PHASED TO COINCIDE WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE $33 MILLION SECOND LION ROCK TUNNEL.
+WHEN COMPLETED IN MID-1978 THE CARRIAGEWAY WILL BE CAPABLE OF CARRYING THE INCREASED VOLUME OF TRAFFIC GENERATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN AT SHA TIN,+ SAID MR. MACDONALD.
+ON THE KOWLOON SIDE THE TUNNEL WILL LINK UP WITH THE LUNG CHEUNG ROAD INTERCHANGE SO THAT THERE WILL THEN BE CONVENIENT MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC ON BOTH SIDES.*
MR. MACDONALD SAID WORK WAS PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO-LANE 1,411-METRE ROAD INSIDE THE TUNNEL. HE SAID IT WOULD EVENTUALLY OPERATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EXISTING TUNNEL SO THAT EACH OF THE TWO-LANE TUBES COULD CARRY TRAFFIC IN ONE DIRECTION.
TWO NEW TOLL BOTHS, SIMILAR TO THE SIX NOW IN OPERATION, WILL ALSO BE BUILT AT THE SHA TIN ENTRANCE. IN ADDITION, TWO TWO-STOREY BUILDINGS ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED TO HOUSE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW TUNNEL.
IN THE EARLY STAGE WORK ON THE PROJECT, TWO 1.5 METRE PIPES WERE LAID BENEATH THE TUNNEL ROADWAY TO CARRY WATER FROM THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR TO THE URBAN AREAS OF KOWLOON.
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/2
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1976
- 2 -
+KEEP CLEAN WEEK+ AT LAI CHI KOK AMUSEMENT PARK ******
THE AIMS OF THE +KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN+ MOVEMENT MUST BE CONTINUALLY KEPT BEFORE THE PUBLIC IF ITS REMARKABLE SUCCESSES ARE TO BE MAINTAINED, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY.
MR. CHAMBERS WAS OFFICIALLY OPENING A +KEEP CLEAN WEEK+ AT THE LAI CHI KOK AMUSEMENT PARK JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE PARK MANAGEMENT AND RTV UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
A BIG CROWD AT THE OPENING SAW RTV ARTISTES STAGE A 30—MINUTE SHOW AND ALSO TAKE PART IN A CLEAN-UP OF THE PARK TO LAUNCH THE ONE-WEEK CAMPAIGN.
OPENING THE CAMPAIGN, MR. CHAMBERS NOTED THAT AN AVERAGE OF 10,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE PARK EVERY SATURDAY AND 20,000 ON SUNDAYS.
+WITH SO MANY PEOPLE CROWDED INTO SUCH A RELATIVELY SMALL PLACE, IT IS CLEARLY ESSENTIAL THAT A HIGH STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED IF THE PARK IS TO REMAIN A PLACE IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THEMSELVES,+ HE SAID.
+THE ’KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN’ MOVEMENT HAS NOW BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS ACHIEVED SOME REMARKABLE SUCCESSES.
+BUT IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN THIS IMPROVEMENT, WE MUST CONTINUALLY KEEP THE OBJECTS OF THE MOVEMENT BEFORE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+THIS ’KEEP CLEAN WEEK’ THEREFORE HAS A DOUBLE SIGNIFICANCE: TO IMPROVE THE CLEANLINESS OF THE PARK AND ITS SURROUNDINGS AND ALSO TO SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE TO EVERYONE IN HONG KONG THAT WE MUST CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE HONG KONG A CLEANER AND THEREFORE BETTER CITY TO LIVE IN.+
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/3
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1976
- 3 -
IMPROVEMENTS TO H.K. STUDENTS CENTRE IN LONDON
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD FOR A BUILDING SCHEME THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE LIVING ACCOMMODATION AND GREATLY INCREASE STUDY AND RECREATION AMENITIES AT THE HONG KONG STUDENTS CENTRE IN LANCASTER GATE, LONDON.
AT PRESENT, THE CENTRE PROVIDES ACCOMMODATION FOR 57 MALE STUDENTS AND 20 FEMALE STUDENTS. UNDER THE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME, THE NUMBER OF MALE STUDENTS WHO CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WILL REMAIN THE SAME, BUT FEMALE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION WILL BE INCREASED TO 34.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WILL INCREASE BY MORE THAN A HALF THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR STUDY AND RECREATION, AND PROVIDE SELF-CATERING KITCHENS FOR STUDENTS WHO WISH TO COOK THEIR OWN MEALS.
ALTERATIONS WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO IMPROVE THE FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS OF THE BUILDING.
BETTER ACCOMMODATION WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED FOR STAFF WHO HAVE TO LIVE ON THE PREMISES.
AMONG THE NEW OR IMPROVED FACILITIES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS, WHETHER RESIDENT IN THE CENTRE OR NOT, WILL BE A GAMES ROOM, COMMITTEE ROOM AND LAUNDRY IN THE BASEMENT, AND A RECREATION ROOM AND EXTENDED TELEVISION ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
ALTERATIONS TO THE FIRST TO FIFTH FLOORS WILL PROVIDE MORE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION AND A KITCHEN AT EACH LEVEL.
WORK ON THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL START SHORTLY AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 17 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE HONG KONG STUDENTS CENTRE WAS SET UP IN 1958 ---WHEN IT
WAS KNOWN AS HONG KONG HOUSE — AS A RESIDENTIAL HOSTEL AND CLUB FOR HONG KONG STUDENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
STUDENTS ARE PERMITTED TO LIVE THERE FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS, AND THE RATES THEY PAY FOR BED AND BREAKFAST ARE COMPARABLE WITH THOSE CHARGED IN OTHER STUDENT HOSTELS IN LONDON, AND ARE REVIEWED ANNUALLY.
THE CENTRE IS ADMINISTERED BY THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, WHO IS ASSISTED BY AN ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
APART FROM THE 77 RESIDENTS WHO CAN AT PRESENT BE ACCOMMODATED THERE, THE FACILITIES OF THE CENTRE, WHICH INCLUDE A CANTEEN SERVING CHINESE AND ENGLISH FOOD, ARE USED BY ABOUT 100 STUDENTS EVERY DAY.
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A.....
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1976
GOVERNOR VISITS H.K. SCHOOLS MUSIC AND SPEECH ASSOCIATION
******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR VISIT TO THE HONG KONG IN WHITFIELD BARRACKS.
MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY PAID AN INFORMAL SCHOOLS MUSIC AND SPEECH ASSOCIATION CENTRE
ACCOMPANIED BY THE ASSOCIATION’S CHAIRMAN, MRS. B.M.M. MURRAY, AND ITS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY MRS. VALERIE FRY, SIR MURRAY WATCHED REHEARSALS OF THE HONG KONG YOUTH CHOIR AND CHATTED WITH STUDENTS ATTENDING VIOLIN CLASSES UNDER THE ASSOCIATION’S ORCHESTRAL MUSICAL
INSTRUMENT TRAINING SCHEME.
HE WAS ALSO GIVEN AN IMPROMPTU CONCERT BY THE HONG KONG YOUTH ORCHESTRA.
THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS MUSIC AND SPEECH ASSOCIATION RUNS THE ANNUAL SCHOOLS MUSIC AND SPEECH FESTIVALS AND ORGANISES TRAINING CLASSES IN THE USE OF ORCHESTRAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR VARIOUS SCHOOLS. IT NOW HAS A TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN 550 SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS.
/5
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1976
- 5 -
ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN AT LANTAU ******
MORE THAN 600 CHILDREN WHO LIVE ON THE OUTLYING ISLANDS WERE roadYsaf^ty S°ME G°0D advice on a PR0BLEM THEY Rarely ENCOUNTER -
THE YOUNGSTERS ATTENDED THE OPENING OF A ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN AT MUI WO, LANTAU, AIMED AT EDUCATING PEOPLE LIVING ON THE MAINLY TRAFFIC-FREE ISLANDS ABOUT THE HAZARDS THEY FACE WHEN THEY VISIT HONG KONG AND KOWLOON.
LANTAU WAS CHOSEN AS THE SPOT FOR THE CAMPAIGN AS IT IS THE ONLY OUTLYING ISLAND WITH MOTOR CARS - AND THE ONLY ONE WITH A ROAD SAFETY PROBLEM.
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. DAVID TSUI, OPENING THE CAMPAIGN, TOLD THE CHILDREN THAT IN SOME WAYS THEY WERE LUCKIER THAN THEIR URBAN COUNTERPARTS, MANY OF WHOM LIVED IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS WHERE ROAD SAFETY WAS A REAL PROBLEM.
+EVEN THE RESIDENTS OF LANTAU, WHERE THERE IS VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH ROAD SAFETY, BUT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS NEVERTHELESS,* HE SAID. +LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 25 ROAD ACCIDENTS ON LANTAU, RESULTING IN ONE FATALITY. FIVE SERIOUS INJURIES AND 11 MINOR INJURIES.
+CARELESSNESS WAS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF THESE ACCIDENTS. OUR EXPERIENCE ON LANTAU IS THAT PEOPLE DO NOT SHOW ENOUGH CARE AND CONCERN WHEN THEY COME TO THE ISLAND AND HIRE BICYCLES.
+SIMILARLY, VISITORS WHO GO ABOUT THE ISLAND ON FOOT SEEM TO FORGET ALL ABOUT THE CARS AND TEND TO WALK ON THE ROADS RATHER THAN ON THE FOOTPATHS.*
MR. TSUI TOLD THE CHILDREN, WHO CAME FROM LAMMA ISLAND, PENG CHAU, CHEUNG CHAU AS WELL AS VARIOUS PARTS OF LANTAU, THAT IT WAS VITAL FOR THEM TO LEARN THE LESSONS OF ROAD SAFETY.
+WHEN YOU GROW UP AND LEAVE SCHOOL, MANY OF YOU WILL GO TO WORK OR LIVE IN HONG KONG AND KOWLOON WHERE HEAVY TRAFFIC IS AS COMMON AS THE QUIET COUNTRY ROADS WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN USED TO ON THE ISLANDS,* HE ADDED.
+1 WOULD ALSO APPEAL TO VISITORS TO THE ISLANDS WHO MAY BE RIDING BICYCLES OR USING THE ROADS AS PEDESTRIANS TO EXERCISE THE SAME CARE AND DISPLAY THE SAME CONCERN FOR OTHERS AS THEY WOULD IN HONG KONG OR KOWLOON.*
MR. TSUI’S SPEECH LAUNCHED AN AFTERNOON OF EDUCATIONAL AND FESTIVE ACTIVITIES AT MUI WO.
OFFICERS FROM THE TRAFFIC POLICE, AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES AND THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION GAVE DEMONSTRATIONS AND TALKS ON ROAD SAFETY, WHILE THE YOUNGSTERS ALSO TOOK PART IN AN ESSAY COMPETITION, SAW A VARIETY SHOW AND A LION DANCE.
- - 0 - -
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1976 - 6 -
NEW FLOOR FOR MACPHERSON STADIUM
* * * * *
MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR FAVOURITE SPORTS DEMONSTRATED BY INTERNATIONAL EXPONENTS ON COMPLETION OF THE TWO LARGE PUBLIC INDOOR STADIA AT MORRISON HILL AND HUNG HOM.
BOTH STADIA ARE EXPECTED TO BE READY IN 1979.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DENIS BRAY, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MACPHERSON STADIUM FOLLOWING ITS LATEST IMPROVEMENTS.
HE RECALLED THAT THE OPENING OF THE MACPHERSON AND SOUTHORN STADIA SOME 20 YEARS AGO MARKED A MAJOR STEP FORWARD.
HOWEVER, HE SA IDs +WHEN WE LOOK AROUND US, WE CAN SEE THAT HAVING TAKEN ONE BIG STEP WE STOPPED.
+OUR SURROUNDINGS ARE AUSTERE AND FUNCTIONAL. WE HAVE LAGGED BEHIND IN HAVING A BUILDING IN WHICH WE COULD BE PROUD TO PLAY HOST TO OUR FRIENDS FROM OVERSEAS WHO DELIGHT TO COME TO HONG KONG TO MEET WITH THEIR FELLOW SPORTSMEN IN FRIENDLY COMPETITIONS.+
PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE TWO NEW STADIA, MR. BRAY SAID THAT, +WE WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE GOOD OFFICES OF THE HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION WHO HAVE SO READILY MADE THIS STADIUM AVAILABLE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF INDOOR RECREATION.+
HE SAID THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MACPHERSON STADIUM HAD BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART AS A RESULT OF A GENEROUS DONATION FROM AN ANONYMOUS CIVIC MINDED CITIZEN.
A NEW GRANWOOD FLOOR, HE ADDED, HAD NOW BEEN LAID SO THAT LOCAL SPORTSMEN AND SPORTSWOMEN WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A SUITABLE SURFACE ON WHICH TO PRACTISE AND SO TO IMPROVE THEIR STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE.
+OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES THIS FAR BETTER FLOOR SURFACE, HAVING AN ALL OVER CONSISTENCY, WILL PROVIDE A FIRM BASE WHICH WILL GIVE CONFIDENCE TO ITS USERS SO THAT THEIR SKILLS WILL DEVELOP TO A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL AND AT MUCH FASTER RATE,+ MR. BRAY SAID. +WE WILL THEN BE ABLE TO COMPETE ON FAR MORE EQUAL TERMS WITH BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS.+
0 - - - -s-.
WATER SKI MARATHON IN TA I TAM BAY
*****
OWNERS, COXSWAINS AND PERSONS IN CHARGE OF LOCAL CRAFT ARE URGED TO EXERCISE DUE CAUTION WHEN NAVIGATING IN THE AREA OF TAI TAM BAY TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
ON THAT DAY, WATER SKI MARATHON RACES WILL TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DAY IN THAT AREA.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1976
MORE PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES FOR TSUEN WAN * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SET UP FOUR MORE PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES IN TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY TSUEN WAN’S ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (URBAN), MISS ALICE SIU, WHEN SHE OFFICIALLY OPENED THE TAI WO HAU FRIENDLY FESTIVAL.
THE FESTIVAL, WHICH HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND LOCAL RESIDENTS’ ORGANISATIONS, WILL RUN THROUGH TO THE END OF DECEMBER.
IT IS AIMED AT PROMOTING CIVIC PRIDE AND A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY FRIENDSHIP AMONG THE 45,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, AS WELL AS GIVING THEM A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE DISTRICT.
MISS SIU SAID THAT THE TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICE PLACED GREAT EMPHASIS ON PROPER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LOCAL RESIDENTS.
NOTING THAT THE DISTRICT WOULD SOON BE GETTING TWO CITY DISTRICT OFFICES — THE FIRST IN THE NEW TERRITORIES — SHE SAID THAT THE PRESENT NUMBER OF THREE PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES WOULD RISE TO SEVEN BEFORE THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR.
+WE PROPOSE ESTABLISHING ANOTHER PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN TOWN, SETTING UP ONE ON TSING Yl ISLAND AND PROVIDING TWO MORE FOR KWAI CHUNG,+ SHE SAID.
+THIS MEANS THAT EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE FOUR PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES IN KWAI CHUNG, THREE IN TSUEN WAN AND ONE ON TSING YI.+
MISS SIU APPEALED TO LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR +MUTUAL TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING* WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
SHE ADDED: +IT IS ONLY THROUGH CONSTANT CONTACT AND UNPREJUDICED DISCUSSION THAT PROBLEMS CAN BE RESOLVED, PUBLIC FEELING ON VARIOUS SOCIAL ISSUES GUAGED AND FEEDBACK PROVIDED TO THOSE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED IN POLICY MAKING.
/*! ALSO
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1976
2
+l ALSO URGE RESIDENTS TO MAKE AS MUCH USE AS POSSIBLE OF THE EXISTING FACILITIES AND SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICES WHICH ARE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.+
MISS SIU SAID THE EXPANSION OF THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICE, WITH ITS OWN CDO’S AND INCREASED NUMBER OF PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES WOULD HELP THE OFFICE EXTEND THE SCOPE OF ITS GENERAL LIAISON WORK AND COMMUNICATION.
-------0 - - - -
K.C.R. SCHEME TO HELP DISABLED OK*
THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY WILL INTRODUCE A SCHEME TOMORROW (MONDAY) TO HELP DISABLED PEOPLE WHO WISH TO TRAVEL ON TRAINS.
THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KCR. MR. REGINALD GREGORY, SAID TODAY THAT DISABLED PEOPLE OR THEIR ASSISTANTS SHOULD CONTACT THE LOCAL STATIONMASTER, PREFERABLY THE DAY BEFORE TRAVEL, SO THAT SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT BE MADE FOR RAILWAY STAFF TO ASSIST THEM IN GAINING ACCESS TO AND LEAVING A TRAIN OR A RAILWAY STATION.
A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT HAS BEEN DISPLAYED AT VARIOUS RAILWAY STATIONS.
THE NOTICE ALSO ADVISES THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC THAT AT THE REQUEST OF RAILWAY STAFF IN CHARGE OF A DISABLED PERSON, THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO SURRENDER THEIR SEATS TO THE DISABLED OR TRANSFER TO ANOTHER COACH.
MR. GREGORY CALLED ON THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC TO CO-OPERATE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SCHEME A SUCCESS.
. - 0 ----------
/5
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1976
3
BOOKLET ON DEVELOPMENT OF TSUEN WAN *****
A FULL-COLOUR BOOKLET DETAILING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL TSUEN WAN INTO A MODERN, SELF-CONTAINED TOWNSHIP FOR 885,000 PEOPLE IS NOW ON SALE.
THE BOOKLET IS THE LAST IN A SERIES PREPARED BY THE P.W.D.’S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON HONG KONG’S THREE NEW TOWNS AT TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY A CLEAR IDEA OF THE MASSIVE SCHEMES AND HOW THEY ARE TO BE TRANSLATED INTO REALITY.
LIKE THE SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN BOOKLETS, THE ONE ON TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN IS VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATED WITH COLOUR MAPS, DIAGRAMS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. IT COVERS EVERYTHING FROM THE TOWN’S EARLY BEGINNINGS TO THE PROPOSED NEW HOUSING, INDUSTRY, RECREATION, EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AS WELL AS ROAD COMMUNICATIONS TO BE PROVIDED.
COPIES OF THE BOOKLET, TOGETHER WITH THOSE ON SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN, ARE AVAILABLE AT $8 PER COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT STAR FERRY CONCOURSE AND ALL CITY DISTRICT OFF ICES.
MR. EDDIE SHORT, THE P.W.D.’S PROJECT MANAGER FOR TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN, SAID TODAY THE NEW BOOKLET WAS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON THE NEW TOWN AND HAD BEEN PREPARED WITH BOTH THE TECHNICAL AND NON-TECHNICAL READER IN MIND.
HE SAID TSUEN WAN WAS THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING NEW TOWNSHIP IN HONG KONG AND HAD ALREADY REACHED HALF ITS PROJECTED POPULATION.
+UNLIKE THE OTHER NEW TOWNS, TSUEN WAN IS ALREADY SUBSTANTIALLY DEVELOPED AND CURRENT WORKS PRINCIPALLY INVOLVE THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF TSING Yl ISLAND AND TSUEN WAN NORTH, AND THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE COMMUNITY FACILITIES FOR EXISTING AND FUTURE RESIDENTS,+ HE SAID.
AT PRESENT, DEVELOPMENT WORK IS PROGRESSING ON A WIDE FRONT WITH SOME 40 MAJOR CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS UNDERWAY.
THESE INCLUDE SITE FORMATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THREE HOUSING ESTATES, SIX SCHOOLS, A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, POLICE STATIONS, FIRE STATIONS, AN AMBULANCE DEPOT, A POLYCLINIC, A SEWAGE SCREENING PLANT, CARGO HANDLING AREA, AS WELL AS A SERIES OF RECREATIONAL GROUNDS AND ROAD NETWORKS.
P.W.D. PLANNERS ESTIMATE THAT SOME $2,650 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON THE NEW TOWN OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. APPROXIMATELY $1,200 MILLION OF THIS SUM WILL GO TOWARDS FORMING SITES AND PROVIDING ROADS, DRAINS AND WATER SUPPLY’ $860 MILLION ON BUILDING PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES* AND $590 MILLION ON PROVIDING A HOST OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
/AS OUTLINED
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1976 4 .
AS OUTLINED IN THE BOOKLET, TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN IS PLANNED FOR AN EVENTUAL POPULATION OF 885,000 BY 1986 AND WILL COVER A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 2,536 HECTARES.
DEVELOPMENT IS PRESENTLY CONCENTRATED IN TWO AREAS — TSUEN WAN NORTH AND TSI NG Yl ISLAND.
THE TSUEN WAN NORTH AREA, COVERING A TOTAL OF 180 HECTARES, IS PLANNED TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR 45,500 IN TWO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND FOR 75,000 IN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. A SMALL AREA OF ABOUT TWO HECTARES WILL BE FORMED FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ADDITION TO THE 17 HECTARES OF INDUSTRIAL LAND EXISTING IN THE AREA.
ON TSING Yl ISLAND, THE POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO RISE FROM ITS PRESENT 9,000 TO 185,000 WITH ABOUT 150,000 BEING ACCOMMODATED IN PUBLIC HOUSING. THE DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE ABOUT EIGHT HECTARES OF LAND FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING A SMALL TOWN CENTRE WITH A SIMILAR AREA FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
IN ADDITION, 30 HECTARES OF UNFORMED LAND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR LAND INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES.
THE BOOKLET POINTS OUT THAT ALTHOUGH TSUEN WAN ALREADY HAS MANY RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THESE WILL BE EXPANDED AS THE POPULATION GROWS. BASKETBALL COURTS, A SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX, A BOTANICAL GARDEN, PICNIC AREAS, PLAYING FIELDS, PARKS AND BUSH WALKWAYS ARE AMONG THE HOST OF FACILITIES PROVIDED FOR IN THE PLAN.
NEW RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED IN PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN KWAI CHUNG FEATURE CENTRAL SQUARES, WHICH WILL BE DEVELOPED AT VARIOUS LEVELS AND INCORPORATE FOUNTAINS, SHRUBBERY, CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS, AND FACILITIES FOR JUST SITTING AROUND.
THE LARGEST PROPOSED OPEN SPACE IN TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN WILL BE AT KWAI CHUNG SOUTH, WHERE THE GIN DRINKERS BAY CONTROLLED TIP IS TO BE REDEVELOPED. THIS IS AN AREA OF ABOUT 26 HECTARES AND FOR THE MOST PART IS TO BE TURNED INTO A BOTANICAL GARDEN.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS ARE BEING PROVIDED TO SERVE ALL AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT AND MORE THAN 20 NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE PROPOSED FOR THE NEW TOWN.
SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES ARE ALREADY BEING PROVIDED IN TSUEN WAN THROUGH VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS HOUSED IN FOUR MAIN BUILDINGS, TWO OF WHICH ARE RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE OTHERS BY PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP.
TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN ALREADY HAS ITS OWN GENERAL HOSPITAL — THE 1,320-BED PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL — TWO POLYCLINICS, TWO URBAN CLINICS, AND TWO PRIVATE HOSPITALS. TWO MORE CLINICS ARE PROPOSED AND THE P.W.D.’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE IS NOW CONSTRUCTING A 1,300-BED MENTAL HOSPITAL ADJACENT TO PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL TO SERVE HONG KONG AS A WHOLE.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1976
- 5 -ENTRY AS PRIVATE CANDIDATES FOR H.K.C.E.E ******
PERSONS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE AS PRIVATE CANDIDATES IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION 1977 MAY OBTAIN ENTRY FORMS FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES OR SUB-OFFICES IN THE URBAN AREAS OR FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED IN PERSON DURING THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 2 TO 11, 1976 BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 4 P.M. ON WEEKDAYS AND BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 12 NOON ON SATURDAY TO THE CAUSEWAY BAY SUB-TREASURY (CAUSEWAY BAY MAGISTRACY BUILDING, 2ND FLOOR, ELECTRIC ROAD, HONG KONG) OR THE YAU MA TEI SUB-TREASURY (4TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON).
BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH VERSIONS OF ENTRY FORMS ARE AVAILABLE. CANDIDATES CAN CHOOSE TO FILL IN EITHER THE ENGLISH OR THE CHINESE FORM. A +GUIDE TO SUBJECT SELECTION+ IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR GUIDANCE IN THE CHOICE OF SUBJECTS.
A STUDENT MAY ENTER FOR THE EXAMINATION AS A PRIVATE CANDIDATE PROVIDED THAT HE HAS SATISFIED ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS :-
(A) OBTAINED AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AT GRADE E (5) OR ABOVE TAKEN IN TWO OR MORE PREVIOUS CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS.
(B) OBTAINED AT LEAST 4 SUBJECTS AT GRADE E (5) OR ABOVE TAKEN IN A PREVIOUS CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.
(C) POSSESSES EVIDENCE OF HAVING ACHIEVED A STANDARD SIMILAR TO (A) OR (E) ABOVE IN ANY OTHER APPROVED EXAMINATIONS SUCH AS THE FORMER ENGLISH SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION, THE FORMER CHINESE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION, THE FORMER CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION (ENGLISH), THE FORMER CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION (CHINESE).
STUDENTS OVER 22 YEARS OF AGE ON JANUARY 1, 1977 MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE EXAMINATION AS PRIVATE CANDIDATES EVEN IF THEY DO NOT POSSESS ANY OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED QUALIFICATIONS.
IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MAY ALSO CONSIDER SPECIAL APPLICATIONS FROM HEADS OF SCHOOLS ON BEHALF OF FORMER STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY ENTERED THE EXAMINATION BUT WHO HAVE FAILED TO ACHIEVE THE STANDARDS LISTED IN (A), (B) AND (C) ABOVE. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MAY ALSO RELAX THE REGULATION IN RESPECT OF APPLICATIONS FROM HANDICAPPED STUDENTS, IF THEIR CLAIMS CAN BE JUSTIFIED.
PRIVATE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO REGISTER AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO AVOID THE RUSH IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
- 0 - -
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1976
6
DOWNING TO ATTEND MEETING IN KUALA LUMPUR * * M * *
THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, MR. ROY DOWNING, LEFT FOR KUALA LUMPUR TODAY (SUNDAY) TO ATTEND A MEETING WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGIONS.
THE PURPOSE OF THE INFORMAL MEETING, WHICH BEGINS TOMORROW, IS TO ENABLE THE DIRECTORS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND INFORMATION ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN AND INTEREST.
PAPERS ON VARIOUS AVIATION SUBJECTS WILL BE PRESENTED FOR DISCUSSION DURING THE FIVE-DAY CONFERENCE. THESE INCLUDE TOPICS ON REGIONAL PLANNING, AIR NAVIGATION FACILITIES AND SERVICES, COMMUNICATIONS, FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND AIRWORTHINESS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING, AVIATION SECURITY, AND AIR TRANSPORT.
MR. DOWNING WILL SUBMIT THREE PAPERS, NAMELY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIR CARGO INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG 1962 - 1976, TERMINAL BUILDING DEVELOPMENT STAGE IV, AND IMPROVED VISUAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM TO RUNWAY 13.
- - 0 - -
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sunday, 24th October 1976 r
OLD ESTATES POPULATION SLOWLY DECLINING
The population of the older Group B estates is slowly declining while that of newer estates is rising, a Housing Authority spokesman said 4 1 today.
He said that there were 1,178,066 people living in these estates in August, 1975, but this figure had dropped more than 34,000 by August this year.
In the newer (Group A) estates, the number of persons had gone up from 623,352 to 694,745, an increase of 71,393 during the 12-month period.
The number of Group A flats had also risen substantially from 113,239 to 125,999 during the same period.
Average density in the older accommodation was 5.93 persons per flat, compared to 5.51 persons per flat in the new blocks.
The spokesman said that, in the first five months of the financial year, 5,172 flats had been allocated to a total of 21,161 persons, of whom the largest number (6,037) came from the waiting list. More than 5,000 people had been rehoused through the Authority’s scheme to relieve overcrowding. Almost 110,000 waiting list applications are awaiting investigation.
/2.....
- 2 -
In the next two years, nearly 30,000 flats for almost 209,000 people will be built by the Housing Department and the Public Works Department. They will be constructed in 13 new estates or extensions to new estates.
*******
FRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CONTRACT FOR THE LEASE OF A MULT 1-MlLLION DOLLAR COMPUTER SYSTEM SIGNED.................................... 1
EXPORTS INCREASED BY $97 MILLION LAST MONTH .............. 2
SURVEY OF MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING INDUSTRY ........ 3
HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL’S SECOND REPORT NOW ON SALE 4
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY ........... 5
SPECIAL TRAINS FOR CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL .................. 6
PLAN TO COMBAT AIR POLLUTION IN HARBOUR .................. 7
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN PRINCE EDWARD ROAD ................ 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5'233191
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1976
1
GOVERNMENT ORDERS LARGE NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM * * * *
A $40 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE LEASE OF A NEW GENERATION COMPUTER SYSTEM TO THE GOVERNMENT WAS SIGNED THIS AFTERNOON.
THE CONTRACT FOR A DUAL PROCESSOR ICL 2970 COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS SIGNED IN THE PACIFICA ROOM OF THE FURAMA HOTEL BY THE MANAGER OF THE GOVERNMENT’S DATA PROCESSING DIVISION (DPD), MR. LEE TATE, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED, MR. TOM HUDSON.
THE DURATION OF THE LEASE IS FIVE YEARS. APART FROM THE RENTAL COSTS, GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO SPEND ABOUT $20 MILLION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT FOR ITS SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION.
THE EQUIPMENT WILL BE DELIVERED IN TWO PHASES, WITH THE FIRST SYSTEM READY FOR SERVICE IN JULY NEXT YEAR AND THE SECOND IN EARLY JANUARY, 1978.
THE SIGNING OF THE CONTRACT CULMINATED A THREE-YEAR PERIOD OF DYNAMIC GROWTH IN GOVERNMENT’S COMPUTER ACTIVITIES. IN TOTAL, DPD NOW RUNS MORE THAN 40 APPLICATIONS ACROSS A WIDE SPECTRUM OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY.
THE DPD’S CURRENT 1900 RANGE OF COMPUTERS WILL BE PHASED OUT ON A PLANNED BASIS WITH A TARGET OF MID-1978 FOR FINAL WITHDRAWAL.
ACCORDING TO MR. TATE, THE REQUIREMENT TO RE-EQUIP AROSE FROM TWO CAUSES — SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT IN THE PIPE-LINE, INCLUDING MAJOR APPLICATIONS IN WATER ACCOUNTING, INLAND REVENUE AND HOUSING MANAGEMENT- AND FROM A TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT TO USE MORE SOPHISTICATED FEATURES OF DATA COMMUNICATION AND DATA MANAGEMENT.
HE SAID THE ICL EQUIPMENT WAS SELECTED FROM COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR ITS ABILITY TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS AND TO PROTECT GOVERNMENT’S EXISTING INVESTMENT IN APPLICATIONS BY CLEAR AND WELL UNDERSTOOD CONVERSION TECHNIQUES.
A FURTHER FACTOR IN THE SELECTION, HE SAID, WAS THE POTENTIAL OF THE EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE A FLEXIBLE YET RESILIENT SERVICE TO THE DIVISION’S USERS.
+WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE NOW IN A POTENTIALLY POWERFUL POSITION TO SUPPORT A FURTHER PERIOD OF CONSOLIDATION AND GROWTH,* MR. TATE SAID.
+WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE LIMIT OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT AND I CONFIDENTLY ANTICIPATE A FURTHER DECADE OF NEW SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT,* HE ADDED.
/2 ....
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1976
2
EXPORTS UP BY $97 M. LAST MONTH
* * * * *
THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR SEPTEMBER WAS $3,061 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF $97 MILLION OR 3.3 PER CENT, BY VALUE, COMPARED WITH AUGUST.
ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WENT UP BY $249 MILLION OR 7.1 PER CENT AND RE-EXPORTS BY $117 MILLION OR 17.2 PER CENT COMPARED WITH AUGUST.
THE FIGURES FOR THE PERIOD JULY TO SEPTEMBER 1976 SHOWED INCREASES, BY VALUE, OF 39.5 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 23.4 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND 20.9 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1975.
THE FIGURES FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1975 TO SEPTEMBER 1976 COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS 12-MONTH PERIOD SHOWED INCREASES, BY VALUE, OF 41.8 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 32.2 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND 26 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS.
THE FOLLOWING TRADE TABLE GIVES THE COMPARATIVE FIGURES:
LATEST 3 MONTHS JULY-SEPTEMBER 1976 JULY-SEPTEMBER 1975 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 9,022 6,469 + 2,553 + 39.5
IMPORTS 10,972 8,890 + 2,082 + 23.4
RE-EXPORTS 2,232 1,846 + 386 + 20.9
LATEST MONTH SEPTEMBER 1976 AUGUST 1976 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 3,061 • (79.3%) 2,964 (81.3%) + 97 + 3.3
IMPORTS 3,759 3,509 + 249 + 7.1
RE-EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 801 (20.7%) 683 (18.7%) + 117 + 17.2
/CALENDAR .....
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1976
5
CALENDAR YEAR TO-DATE JAN.-SEPT. 1976 JAN.-SEPT. 1975 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 23,822 (78.6%) 16,272 (76.3%) + 7,550 + 46.4
IMPORTS 31,578 23,709 + 7,869 + 33.2
RE-EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 6,491 (21.4%) 5,059 (23.7%) + 1,432 + 28.3
LAST 12 MONTHS OCT. 1975 TO SEPT. 1976 OCT. 1974 TO SEPT. 1975 INCREASE OR DECREASE
S MN. $ MN. S MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 30,409 21,439 + 8,970 + 41.8
IMPORTS 41,341 31,279 +10,062 + 32.2
RE-EXPORTS 8,405 6,673 + 1,732 + 26.0
- 0 - -
SURVEY OF MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING INDUSTRY K X H K * X
A MANPOWER SURVEY OF HONG KONG’S MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING INDUSTRY WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL NEXT MONTH WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LABOUR AND CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENTS.
THE FOURTH OF ITS KIND, THE SURVEY WILL COVER THE THREE MAIN BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY — BASIC METAL INDUSTRIES’ MANUFACTURE OF FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURE OF MACHINERY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRAINING BOARD EXPLAINED THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD HELP THEM IN DRAWING UP PLANS FOR FUTURE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IN THE INDUSTRY.
EMPLOYERS WILL BE ASKED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO SUPPLY INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF WORKERS AT PRESENT EMPLOYED BY THEM, THE NUMBER OF WORKERS AT PRESENT UNDER TRAINING IN THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS, THE NUMBER OF EXISTING VACANCIES AND A FORECAST OF THE NUMBER OF WORKERS REQUIRED BY NOVEMBER NEXT YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN ASSURED EMPLOYERS THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES ONLY.
A...
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1976
- 4 -
HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL’S SECOND REPORT NOW ON SALE *****
THE SECRETARY OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, MR. HORACE KNIGHT, TODAY URGED EMPLOYERS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG TO STUDY THE PUBLICATIONS PREPARED BY THE TRAINING COUNCIL ON THEIR PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES AND TAKE ACTION ACCORDING TO THE TRAINING RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN.
HE SAID: +ONLY WHEN THE TRAINING RECOMMENDATIONS REACH THE EMPLOYERS AND ACTED UPON BY THEM WILL WE SEE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING COUNCIL ACHIEVED.+
MR. KNIGHT MADE THESE REMARKS WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THE PUBLICATION OF THE SECOND REPORT OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL WHICH IS NOW ON SALE AT $5 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE.
THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, HE EXPLAINED, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVISING THE GOVERNOR ON MEASURES NECESSARY TO BRING ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF MANPOWER TRAINING GEARED TO MEET THE DEVELOPING NEEDS OF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE.
REFERRING TO THE REPORT, MR. KNIGHT SAID: +THE PUBLICATION GIVES A COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY OF THE WORK DONE AND PROGRESS MADE BY THE TRAINING COUNCIL AND ITS COMPLEX OF 10 INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARDS, FIVE SPECIALIST COMMITTEES, AND TWO AD HOC COMMITTEES IN THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 1975 TO MARCH 1976.
+DURING THIS PERIOD THE BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL, TEXTILE, ELECTRONICS AND THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARDS HAVE MADE, THROUGH MANPOWER SURVEYS, COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS OF THE TECHNICAL MANPOWER NEEDS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES.
+THEIR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO BOTH THEIR INDUSTRIES AND THE GOVERNMENT ON MEASURES NECESSARY TO MEET THE SKILLED MANPOWER NEEDS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES ARE CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS ON THE RESPECTIVE MANPOWER SURVEYS,+ HE ADDED.
IN ADDITION, MR. KNIGHT SAID, THE CLOTHING, PLASTICS AND THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARDS HAD PREPARED JOB STANDARDS FOR ALL THE PRINCIPAL JOBS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB STANDARDS WAS TO ASSIST EMPLOYERS IN PREPARING ON-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMMES OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
COMMENTING ON THE LATEST SERIES OF MANPOWER SURVEYS OF THE 10 MAJOR INDUSTRIES, MR. KNIGHT SAID THESE INDICATED THAT THE NUMBERS PRESENTLY UNDER TRAINING FELL SHORT OF THE INDUSTRIES’ OVERALL ANNUAL DEMAND OF ABOUT 3,000 TECHNICIANS AND 6,000 CRAFTSMEN.
/HE ADDED:
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1976
- 5 -
HE ADDED: +THE SITUATION IS EVEN MORE SERIOUS WHEN THE QUALITY OF TRAINING IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
+ALL THE INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARDS RECOMMEND AS A MATTER OF URGENCY THE NEED FOR EMPLOYERS NOT ONLY TO INCREASE THE VOLUME OF TRAINING BUT ALSO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TRAINING GIVEN IF THE PROGRESS OF THE INDUSTRIES INTO INCREASING SOPHISTICATION IS TO BE MAINTAINED,* MR. KNIGHT SAID.
BOTH THE MANPOWER SURVEY REPORTS AND THE MANUALS OF JOB STANDARDS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.
------0-------
LEGCO DEBATE BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY * * * * *
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. SIR DENYS ROBERTS, WILL MOVE A MOTION TO THANK THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS OPENING ADDRESS WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETS ON WEDNESDAY (OCTOBER 27).
EIGHT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK ON THE MOTION ON THE SAME DAY.
LEADING OFF THE DEBATE WILL BE THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG, TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE HON. Q.W. LEE, THE HON. JAMES WU, THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG, THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH, THE HON. T.S. LO AND THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN.
ON THURSDAY (OCTOBER 28), ANOTHER NINE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK ON THE MOTION. THEY ARE THE HON. ALEX WU, REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT, THE HON. S.L. CHEN, THE HON. MISS LYDIA DUNN, DR. THE HON. HENRY HU, THE HON. T.S. LEUNG, REV. THE HON. P.T. MCGOVERN, THE HON. PETER C. WONG AND THE HON. WONG LAM.
- - 0 - -
/6......
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1976
- 6 -
SPECIAL TRAINS FOR CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL ******
SPECIAL PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICES WITH MORE SEATING ACCOMMODATION THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS WILL BE OPERATED TO WO HOP SHEK ON OCTOBER 31 (SUNDAY), NOVEMBER 1 (MONDAY) AND NOVEMBER 7 (SUNDAY) FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF PEOPLE OBSERVING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL.
DURING THESE THREE DAYS, FACILITIES FOR PASSENGERS GOING TO WO HOP SHEK WILL BE IMPROVED BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SEATS AVAILABLE BY 30 PER CENT COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR.
UNLIKE PREVIOUS YEARS, TRAINS ON NOVEMBER 7, THE SUNDAY FOLLOWING CHUNG YEUNG WILL ADDITIONALLY GO TO WO HOP SHEK AS WELL AS FANLING AND THERE WILL BE AN EXTRA SIX TRAINS.
UP-TRAINS WILL RUN AT ABOUT HOURLY INTERVALS BETWEEN THE KOWLOON STATION AT HUNG HOM AND WO HOP SHEK BETWEEN 6.13 A.M. AND 4.55 P.M. ON THE FIRST TWO DAYS. THE SAME NUMBER OF DOWN-TRAINS WILL BE OPERATED ALSO AT ABOUT HOURLY INTERVALS BETWEEN 7.30 A.M. AND 6.20 P.M.
ON NOVEMBER 7, UP-TRAINS WILL RUN AT HOURLY INTERVALS BETWEEN 8.11 A.M. AND 4.55 P.M. DOWN-TRAINS WILL BE OPERATED AT ABOUT HOURLY INTERVALS BETWEEN 9.28 A.M. AND 6.30 P.M.
THESE SPECIAL TRAINS WILL NOT PICK UP PASSENGERS AT THE MONG KOK STATION.
PASSENGERS NORMALLY BOARDING AT MONG KOK ARE ADVISED TO GO TO THE KOWLOON STATION AT HUNG HOM DURING THIS PERIOD AND HOLDERS OF MONTHLY TICKETS WILL BE ALLOWED TO BOARD AT THE KOWLOON STATION WITHOUT EXTRA CHARGE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY SAID THAT MORE SPECIAL TRAINS MIGHT BE OPERATED IN THE LATE EVENINGS IF DEMAND WARRANTED.
HE SAID ALL THE UP-TRAINS FROM KOWLOON TO THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE EXPECTED TO BE FULL BETWEEN 6 A.M. AND 3 P.M., WHILE DOWN-TRAINS WOULD PROBABLY BE FULL FROM 3 P.M. TO 9 P.M. TICKETS FOR SOUTH-BOUND TRAINS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT MONG KOK STATION.
ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE NO ADVANCE BOOKING OF RAILWAY TICKETS, SPECIAL CONCESSION RETURN TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE KOWLOON STATION ON THE THREE DAYS, FOR ORDINARY CLASS FROM KOWLOON TO WO HOP SHEK, AND FOR ORDINARY CLASS FROM KOWLOON TO LO WU, AND THEN TO SANDY RIDGE, AND SINGLE JOURNEY TICKETS FROM WO HOP SHEK TO KOWLOON.
0 - -
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1976
7
PLAN TO COMBAT AIR POLLUTION IN HARBOUR
******
OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF LOCAL CRAFT WERE TODAY REMINDED THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE WITH A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $5,000 TO ALLOW THEIR CRAFT TO EMIT SMOKE IN SUCH A QUANTITY AS TO BE A NUISANCE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID THE OWNER OR OPERATOR OF ANY LAUNCHES, FERRIES, MISCELLANEOUS CRAFT AND PLEASURE BOATS WHO CONSIDERED THAT HE WAS LIABLE TO COMMIT SUCH AN OFFENCE SHOULD ATTEND TO THE MATTER WITHOUT DELAY.
+IN MANY CASES, A RELATIVELY MINOR ADJUSTMENT OR REPAIR TO MACHINERY MIGHT EFFECTIVELY PRECLUDE EXCESSIVE SMOKE EMISSIONS,+ HE SAID.
ADVICE ON THE CONTROL OF EXHAUST SMOKE IS CONTAINED IN MARINE DEPARTMENT NOTICE NUMBER 104 OF 1976. DETAILED INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE LOCAL CRAFT SECTION, SHIP SAFETY DIVISION OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, 102, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, TELEPHONE NUMBER 5-450181.
THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON ANYONE OBSERVING EXCESSIVE EMISSION OF SMOKE FROM A LOCAL VESSEL TO REPORT THE MATTER TO THE PORT COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT BY TELEPHONING 5-450181, EXTENSION 282, GIVING AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ON THE TIME, LOCATION, LICENCE NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL CONCERNED.
THE PLAN TO COMBAT NUISANCES CAUSED BY SMOKE EXHAUSTS FROM LOCAL CRAFT WAS PRESENTED TO THE EPCOM SUBCOMMITTEE ON AIR POLLUTION BY MR. GORDON MILWARD, SENIOR MARINE OFFICER (PLANNING) LAST FRIDAY. IT WAS ENDORSED BY THE CHAIRMAN AS WELL AS MEMBERS.
_ _ 0 - -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN PRINCE EDWARD ROAD
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE SECTION OF EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD BETWEEN HOUSE NO. 266 AND HOUSE NO. 272 WOULD BE REOPENED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM 10 A.M. TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THIS FOLLOWS THE COMPLETION OF THE ROAD WORKS IN THIS SECTION OF ROAD.
- - 0 - -
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Monday, 25th October 1976
gSUSIMS.DEPARTMENT AWARDS $4.65 MILLION WORTH OF CONTRACTS IN AUGUST
The Housing Department awarded eight contracts in August, totalling more than 34.65 million in value.
Four of the contracts were for external decoration of Upper Ngau Tau Kok, Wang Tau Hom, Choi Hung and Upper Shek Kip Mei estates, two of which were in excess of $500,000.
A contract for almost $119,000 was awarded for the installation of letter slots to the front doors of flats at Upper Wong Tai Sin, Kwai Hing and-Iwai Fong estates.
Two electrical installation contracts were awarded, one valued at $1,732,000 at Fu Shan (Hammer Hill) Estate and the other at Ha Kwai Chung Licensed Area costing $761,000.
A contract for the installation of fire protection equipment at Wa Fu Estate extension was valued at $613,522.
Additionally, a total of 49 tenancy agreements lasting, three years were signed in respect of shops, shopstalls, a factory and a bank premises in various estates. The premia tendered ranged from 33,650 to $300,000.
******
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNMENT’S FAMILY PLANNING SERVICE PROVES SUCCESSFUL ... 1
TA CHIU FESTIVAL AT KAT 0.................................... 2
GOVERNOR OPENS NEW WING OF POLYTECHNIC ...................... 3
LABORATORY TRAINING COURSE FOR YOUTH LEADERS ................ 4
NORTH POINT TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ...................,........ 4
SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS TO VISIT PO LEUNG KUK’S NUMBER ONE COLLEGE ................................................. 5
WATER CUT IN MONG KOK ....................................... 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5'233191
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1976
1
GOVT’S FAMILY PLANNING SERVICE PROVES SUCCESSFUL
GOVERNMENT’S EFFORT IN DIRECTLY PROVIDING FAMILY PLANNING SERVICE HAS PROVED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, JUDGING FROM THE RESPONSE FROM PEOPLE USING THE SERVICE DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LION’S CLUB OF SOUTH KOWLOON THIS EVENING.
SINCE OCTOBER 1973, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OFFERING FAMILY PLANNING SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AFTER INTEGRATING SOME 30 CLINICS FORMERLY OPERATED BY THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION INTO THE DEPARTMENT’S FAMILY HEALTH SERVICE.
IN ADDITION, ANOTHER 10 CLINICS HAVE SINCE BEEN SET
UP BY THE DEPARTMENT, MAKING A TOTAL OF 40 CLINICS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
TO DATE, THESE CLINICS SERVE SOME 31,500 MOTHERS WITH A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 243,000 UP TO THE END OF LAST YEAR.
DR. THONG SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SERVICES OF THE FPA, PARTICULARLY ITS HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.
HE SAID FAMILY PLANNING IS NOW PART OF THE POSTNATAL SERVICE RENDERED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CLINICS.
+WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION, I AM SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF AN EFFICIENT AND GOOD PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICE WHICH RANKS AMONG THE BEST THROUGHOUT THIS REGION,* HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE GENERAL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY, DR. THONG SAID VERY OFTEN PEOPLE TENDED TO HEAR VARIOUS COMMENTS ON STATISTICS AS INDICES TO THE STATE OF HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS THE DOCTOR/POPULATION RATIO AND THE HOSPITAL BED/POPULATION RATIO.
+WHILE THESE ARE IN THEIR OWN WAY IMPORTANT INDICES OF THE IN-PUT OF MEDICAL FACILITIES AND CARE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY THEY DO NOT REALLY IN THE ULTIMATE REFLECT DIRECTLY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SERVICES IN REGARD TO THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
/DR. THONG
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1976
2
DR. THONG POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE MORE TANGIBLE AND IMPORTANT INDICES TO THE STATE OF HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
+THIS IS BECAUSE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS OR THE NUMBER OF BEDS FOR THE SICK IN A COUNTRY, IN THE ULTIMATE IT IS THE MEASURE OF THE SICKNESS OR DEATH OR THE ABSENCE OF SUCH IN THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY COUNTS,+ HE SAID.
DR. THONG SAID ACCURATE SICKNESS RATES WERE VERY DIFFICULT TO RECORD, BUT A MORE CERTAIN INDEX OF THE HEALTH OF A COMMUNITY WOULD BE THE DEATH OR MORTALITY RATE, IN PARTICULAR THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE AND THE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE WHEN DEALING WITH THE SUBJECT OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH.
HONG KONG COULD CLAIM TO HAVE DONE WELL IN BOTH — THE IMR AT 15 PER 1,000 LIVE BIRTHS AND THE MMR AT AN ALL TIME LOW OF 0.03 PER 1,000 COMPARE VERY FAVOURABLY WITH MOST ADVANCED WESTERN COUNTRIES, SUCH AS THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES.
+THEREFORE, WITHOUT BEING COMPLACENT, IN HONG KONG TODAY WE CAN CLAIM THAT OUR FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES ARE VERY GOOD AS COMPARED EVEN TO WORLD STANDARDS,+ HE ADDED.
-----0------
TA CHIU FESTIVAL AT KAT 0
A LARGE NUMBER OPENING CEREMONY OF
OF VISITORS TODAY ARRIVED AT KAT 0 FOR THE THE ISLAND’S TEN-YEAR TA CHIU FESTIVAL.
GUEST OF HONOUR WAS THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WHO LIT THE FIRST CEREMONIAL JOSS STICKS TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF FIVE DAYS OF ACTIVITIES TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TA CHIU.
ISLANDERS AND GUESTS WILL OBSERVE ONE OF THE MAIN CUSTOMS OF THE TA CHIU UNTIL THE FESTIVAL ENDS ON SUNDAY - THEY WILL EAT ONLY VEGETARIAN FOOD.
AND TRUE TO ANOTHER FESTIVAL TRADITION, THE ORGANISERS HAVE ARRANGED CHINESE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES EVERY NIGHT DURING THE TA CHIU.
MR. AKERS-JONES WAS ACCOMPANIED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY BY MR. LAU YUM-MAN, WHO IS KAT 0 ISLAND’S VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVE AND ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TAU KOK RURAL COMMITTEE.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1976
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GOVERNOR OPENS NEW WING OF POLYTECHNIC ******
THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECT OF THE POLYTECHNIC IS SIMPLY EDUCATION ITSELF — TO TRAIN THE MINDS OF ITS STUDENTS SO THAT THEY MAY MASTER THE PROBLEMS THEY FACE IN AFTER LIFE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE POLYTECHNIC’S NEW WING, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT AT PRESENT THERE WERE ABOUT 8,600 FULL-TIME STUDENTS AND AN EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF PART-TIME STUDENTS.
HE REVEALED THAT THE INSTITUTION’S PRIORITY HAD BEEN SO HIGH THAT DESPITE THE RECESSION ITS EXPANSION HAD BEEN PUSHED FORWARD AT THE HECTIC RATE OF BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PER CENT.
+EVEN THOUGH A PERIOD OF CONSOLIDATION IS NOW CALLED FOR, BY 1980 ITS NUMBERS WILL BE 11,400, AND INCLUDING EVENING CLASSES IT WILL THEN CATER FOR SOMETHING LIKE 30,000 YOUNG PEOPLE,* THE GOVERNOR SAID.
+IT IS INDEED A GREAT PROJECT. HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT, FOR THEIR PART, AND AS A GESTURE OF BRITISH INTEREST AND GOODWILL, HAVE DONATED THE CONTENTS OF THE LIBRARY WHICH WILL BE OPENED BY HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS ALEXANDRA NEXT FEBRUARY.
+THIS IS ALL A MEASURE OF IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY WE ATTACH TO THIS PLACE OF LEARNING WHERE MANY ARTS ARE TAUGHT — FOR THAT IS WHAT THE WORD +POLYTECHNIC* MEANS — IN THIS CASE THE MANY ARTS WHICH GOVERN, AND PROVIDE FOR, AND ENRICH OUR CITY.*
IT WAS HONG KONG’S HOPE, SIR MURRAY CONTINUED, THAT THE POLYTECHNIC WOULD CAUSE THESE ARTS TO BE HONOURED AND KNOWLEDGE OF THEM SPREAD WIDELY, SO THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THIS MANY-SIDED SOCIETY WOULD HAVE THE QUALITY, THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE EDUCATION TO SERVE IT AND CONTRIBUTE TO ITS FUTURE.
+FOR THE POLYTECHNIC TO FULFIL OUR HOPES, IT MUST MAINTAIN THE CLOSEST CONTACT WITH INDUSTRY, THE COMMERCE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG, SO THAT ITS ACADEMIC FEET WILL BE FIRMLY ON THE GROUND ITS STUDENTS MUST ONE DAY TREAD,* HE POINTED OUT.
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1976
- 4 -LABORATORY TRAINING COURSE FOR YOUTH LEADERS ******
A LABORATORY TRAINING COURSE ORGANISED FOR YOUTH LEADERS WILL BE HELD TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
ORGANISED BY THE YOUTH WORK UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE COURSE WILL LAST FROM NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMBER 12.
THE LABORATORY METHOD IS A NEW APPROACH IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN THROUGH EXPERIMENTING IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT.
THE TRAINING COURSE IS TO HELP POTENTIAL YOUTH LEADERS TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIP AND THEIR SENSITIVITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS OPEN TO ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 18 AND 25 WHO SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST FORM FIVE EDUCATION LEVEL.
AS THE COURSE IS LIMITED TO 44 PARTICIPANTS, APPLICANTS MAY HAVE TO ATTEND A SELECTION INTERVIEW. APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE YOUTH WORK UNIT ON THE TOP FLOOR OF THE KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICES BUILDING AT 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON, BEFORE NOVEMBER 12. THE COST WILL BE $15 PER PERSON.
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NORTH POINT TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS
*****
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC ALONG CHEUNG HONG STREET THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FROM 10 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 2 (TUESDAY).
WESTBOUND VEHICLES ON KING’S ROAD WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT INTO NORTH POINT ROAD AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ENTER CHEUNG HONG STREET.
WESTBOUND MOTORISTS IN KING’S ROAD REQUIRING ENTRY INTO NORTH POINT ROAD ARE ADVISED TO TURN LEFT INTO CHEUNG HONG STREET AND PROCEED VIA FORT STREET AND NORTH VIEW STREET INTO NORTH POINT ROAD NORTHBOUND.
APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS AND PLB DRIVERS.
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1976
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SHA TO VISIT PO LEUNG KUK’S NO. 1 COLLEGE ******
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. D.C. BRAY, WILL VISIT THE PO LEUNG KUK’S NO. 1 COLLEGE AT PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD, TSZ WAN SHAN, TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) IN ORDER TO GAIN AN INSIGHT INTO THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OFFERED BY THE KUK.
HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY MRS. MAXINE LI KWOK, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PO LEUNG KUK- MR. J.A. MILLER. CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (WONG TAI SIN)- MR. MERVYN SHIU-CHUN LAW. SECOND VICE-CHAIRMAN, MRS. LAM WONG SHIU-SHUK AND MR. VINCENT WOO WING-FAI, DIRECTORS.
MR. BRAY WILL TOUR THE SCHOOL PREMISES AND INSPECT SOME OF THE TEACHING SESSIONS AND SCHOOL ACTIVITIES IN PROGRESS.
THE COLLEGE WITH AN ENROLMENT OF ABOUT 1,000 WAS'ESTABLISHED IN 1971. IT HAS 24 STANDARD CLASSROOMS AND IS WELL EQUIPPED WITH LABORATORIES, A LIBRARY, A 1,000-SEAT ASSEMBLY HALL, TWO COVERED PLAYGROUNDS, TWO OPEN BASKETBALL COURTS, TWO OPEN VOLLEY-BALL FIELDS, A ROOF-TOP PLAYGROUND AND A STUDENTS’ CANTEEN.
NOTE TO EDITORS: MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
TO COVER THE EVENT. MR. D.C. BRAY WILL ARRIVE
AT THE COLLEGE AT 11.30 A.M. TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY). IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE VISIT WILL LAST FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR.
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WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN MONG KOK WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON THURSDAY (OCTOBER 28) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY DUNDAS STREET, SHANGHAI STREET, SHAN TUNG STREET AND THE SEA-FRONT, INCLUDING RECLAMATION STREET, CANTON ROAD, KAM LAM STREET, KAM FONG STREET AND SOY STREET.
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PR 39 4000035
DAILY INFORMATION PfJL|_ETIN
ruesday, October 2b7 I97t
SUPPLEMENT
Governor 0~?en.3 New Of E.K. Polytechnic
Following is the full text of speech by the Governor, Sir hurray MacLehose, at the opening of the new wing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic to ay (Tuesday):
”The opening of the permanent buildings of the Polytechnic is a very happy occasion, and a great day. Many hc.ve worked and planned for it for a long time. Some, like Mr*. P.Y. Tang, are no longer here to see their dreaia come true. Others like Dr. Chung and the Board and Dr. Legg and his staff have worked tirelessly to make it a reality. It is the outcome of enthusiastic and wholehearted co-operation between the Government and the Polytechnic Board and staff.
■Phis institution is already very big - this year about 8,600 full-time and equivalent part time students and so high has been its-priority that despite the recession its expansion has been pushed forward at the hectic rate of between 20 and a year.
Even though a period of consolidation is now called for, by 1980 its numbers will be-11,400, and including evening classes it will then cater for something like 30,000 young people.
It is indeed a great project. Her Majesty’s Government, for their part, and as a gesture of British interest and goodwill, have donated the contents of the library which will be opened by Her Hoyal Highness Princess Alexandra next February.
/’’This is.......
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
2
"This is all a measure of the importance and urgency we attach to this place of learning where many arts are taught - for that is what the word “polytechnic" means - in this case the many arts which govern, and provide for, and enrich our city.
"It is our hope that the Polytechnic will cause these arts to be honoured in Hong Kong and knowledge of them spread widely, so that the young people of this many-sided society will have the quality, the knowledge and the education to serve it and contribute to its future.
“For the Polytechnic to fulfill our hopes, it must maintain the closest contact with the industry, the commerce and the Government of Hong Kong, so that its academic feet will be firmly on the ground its students must one day tread.
“Indeed a diligent student at the Polytechnic is unlikely to lack for employment. But I would stress that the most important object of the Polytechnic is simply education itself - to train the minds of its students so that they may master the problems they face in after life.
“For the form of education in modern sciences offered here is of the finest, ns an American wrote 50 years ago: Modern science, as training the mind to an exact and impartial analysis of facts, is an education specially fitted to promote sound citizenship.
“So now, the first phase of the Polytechnic is built and occupied and the second phase will be completed next year; Hong Kong places high hopes on its Polytechnic; and it now falls to Dr. Legg and his staff to direct its activities and further expansion in these new buildings.
/"They could
3
’’They could not have a more fascinating or challenging task.
They carry with them the goodwill of all Hong Kong; they have the guidance of an active and expert Board; and the whole-hearted support of the Hong Kong Government.
”1 now have much pleasure in declaring these buildings open.”
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Tuesday,October 26, 1976.
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING SPEAKS AT ROTARY CLUB MEETING
The following is the full text of the speech given by the Director of Housing, Mr. D.P.H. Liao, at the luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong held today (Tuesday) at the Connaught Room, Mandarin Hotel:
‘'The other day a prominent architect said at a meeting that the Housing Authority should be proud of the enormous job it has accomplished so far in providing public housing, and that the less well-off people of Hong Kong should be grateful that the Authority is here to help them.
” ow, everybody likes praise and these were pleasant words to hear.
"Housing is a subject every one is familiar with in one way or another; some people however tend to be too quick to criticize and too slow to check the facts. I am, therefore, very glad to have this opportunity to speak to you this afternoon and hope to put the record straight to some extent.
"The fact is that the Hong Kong Housing Authority has today under its management nearly 360,000 flats, or more than one and a half times the number under the control of the Greater London Council.
In order to meet the target announced by the Governor in 1972 - which is to build on such a scale that there will be permanent, self-contained accommodation for virtually everyone in need - the housing administration was reorganized in April, 1973, with the formation of the new Housing Authority and its executive arm, the equally new Housing Department.
"Their work is now beginning to gather momentum, after a temporary slow down during the recession.
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"The building programme is swinging into top gear with work going on in 11 housing estates to provide housing for over 200,000 people. On average, we are now letting each month a new major contract to build for 15,000 people; a further 16 projects are at an advanced planning stage, from which housing for 580,000 people will result- The latest date for completion of these projects is December, 1981, although many will be completed well new in advance of this date- From 1973-80,/housing for more than 820,000 people will have been provided.
’’This rate of activity will be substantially increased over the next 2-5 years until we reach our target in the mideighties. We would very much like to wave a magic wand to produce all the housing that is needed overnight, but I prefer to be able to tell you that, like in a jet-liner, we have successfully taken off, you may now smoke, relax your seatbelts, and we’ll soon be cruising at 200,000 people a year.
’’However, the production rate alone will not solve all the housing problems and we still must face many years before it can be said that every one has an adequate home, bearing in mind the requirement for increasing standards.
"In the second half of the fifties, when public housing was still in its infancy, and a big infant too, even in those days, old Mark I blocks with family rooms but with communal washrooms and toilets were being built at a rate of one each week; while the former Housing Authority, was concerned with quality as well as qqantity and built the North Point Estate, in 1957, to provide two and three bed room flats, an estate which has always been popular.
’’This more spacious standard was not maintained because of the need to provide large numbers of separate flats and accommodation in subsequent Housing Authority estates had to be planned at a somewhat arbitrary space standard of 55 sq. ft. per person. As for the early resettlement blocks, because of the acute shortage of housing, allocation was initially made at 24 sq. ft.per person, gradually improving as later Marks were built, but only reaching 55 sq- ft* per person with the provision of Mark V blocks.
/ 3.........
- 3 ~
’’The second generation of public housing can be said to have begun when all types of accommodation became self-contained with their own kitchens, toilets and private balconies. Shops, market stalls, schools and other community facilities have all been included in the estates built since the beginning of the decade, although the former Housing Authority estates, such as Wah Fu and Ping Shek, were already built as self-contained townships in the mid-sixties.
”As for the provision of community facilities, we have certainly come a long way and we can confidently say that all new self-contained housing will be in a decent environment with facilities catering for the daily needs of the people. Not only are air-conditioned shopping complexes with restaurants, banks, supermarkets and market stalls plus car parking standard features of these new estates, but both primary and secondary schools are being built as part of the contract to ensure that school places are available at the same time as the flats are occupied. All necessary welfare facilities as well as recreational areas are to be found on these estates.
’’The land necessary to do this has alre xdy been earmarked and site formation work is progressing, recruitment is continuing to bring the necessary design and construction staff to full strength and, with the recession behind us, we should, metaphorically speaking, be getting up to cruising speed, provided we continue to obtain the necessary support from all concerned.
’’Now that the ’No Smoking' sign is off, it may be useful to cast our minds on how 60 per cent of the projected population, are going to live in public housing estates when our target is reached.
’’Over two million people will certainly be living in the existing or currently built estates with the majority in flats allocated at 35 sq. ft. per person.
“For the remainder, a range of ’third generation* accommodation will be provided, offering a variety of facilities, such as one would expect to find in a ’town* - and these are what our estates virtually are - elsewhere in the developed world. Housing standards in this third generation accommodation will
/ 4.......
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continue to be improved. We have not the least intention of resting on our laurels» We will be alive to trends; even now we accept that the modern estates going up all over Hong Kong, although substantially built, may well become outdated in a couple of decades. It is certain that, in a dynamic society such as we have in Hong Kong, our people are going to demand better living conditions and the Authority will continue to do its best to see that these aspirations are met. Going back to the aeroplane again, we will have reached cruising altitude by the end of this decade and, by will be on our glide path down, ready shortly to land. Thank you.”
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sf M
Tuesday, 26th October 1976
ONE MAJOR CONTRACT BEING SIGNED EVERY MONTH, REVEALS DIRECTOR OF HOUSING
The Housing Authority is now awarding one major contract each month to provide homes for 15,000 people.
This was revealed today (Tuesday) by the Director of Housing, Mr D.P.H. Liao, who was speaking at the monthly meeting of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong at the Mandarin Hotel.
Mr Liao said the work of the Housing Authority was beginning to gather momentum after a temporary slowdown during the recession.
’•The building programme is swinging into top gear with work going on in 11 estates to provide housing for over 200,000 people,” Mr Liao said. ”0n average, we are now letting each month a new major contract to build for 15,000 persons; a further 16 projects are at an advanced planning stage, from which housing for 5®0,000 people will result.” The latest date for completion of these projects was December, 1981, although many would be completed well in advance of this date.
’’From 1973 - 80,” said Mr'Liao, 'new housing for more than<820,000 people will have been provided.”
He went on to state that this rate of activity would be substantially increased over the next two to three years ’’until we reach our target.”
”We would very much like to wave a magic wand to produce all the' housing that is needed overnight, but I prefer to be able to tell you that, like a jetliner, we have successfully taken off, you may now smoke, relax your seatbelts and we’ll soon be cruising at 200,000 people a year.”
Mr Liao said that, however, the production rate alone would not solve all the housing problems and we still had to face many years before it could be said that everyone had an adequate home, “bearing in mind the requirements for increasing standards.”
He said that 60 per cent of the population were going to live in public housing estates by the time the target was reached in the mid-eighties; over two million would be living in existing or currently built flats.
”For the remainder,” he continued, “a range of ’third generation’ accommodation will be provided, offering a variety of facilities such as one would expect to find in a town - and these are what our estates virtually are - elsewhere in the developed world.
’’Housing standards in this ’third generation' accommodation will continue to be improved. We have not the least intention of resting on our laurels. We will be alive to trends; even now, we accept that the modern estates going up all over Hong Kong, although substantially built, may well become outdated in a couple of decades.
“It is certain that, in a dynamic society such as we have in Hong Kong, our people are going to demand better living conditions and the Housing Authority will continue to do its best to see that these aspirations are met.”
3
Mr Liao said the Housing Authority now had under its management 360,000 flats, "or more than one and a half times the number under the
control of the Greater London Council.’1
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNMENT URGED TO SET UP A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND FOR MANUAL WORKERS ............................................. 1
GOVERNMENT’S TARGET ON HOUSING RECEIVES SUPPORT ............ 4
STRONG BACKING FOR GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES 6
HONG KONG’S WAGE RATES NEXT ONLY TO HIGHLY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES .................................................. 8
SUPPORT FOR PAID ANNUAL LEAVE FOR WORKERS ................. 11
REVIEW OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME WELCOMED .............. 13
NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL EXPENDITURE ..................................... 15
PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE U.K. DEPARTMENT OF TRADE MEETS LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN ...................... 16
WATER CUT IN WESTERN ...................................... 16
THE NEW TERRITORIES UNDERGOING RAPID DEVELOPMENT .......... 17
NEW REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS ............................. 19
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHAM SHUI PO ...................... 19
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
1
CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND FOR MANUAL WORKERS ADVOCATED M M M
DR. THE HON. CHUNG SZE-YUEN TODAY REPEATED HIS CALL FOR THE SETTING UP OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND FOR MANUAL WORKERS.
OPENING THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS ON OCTOBER 6, HE SAID THAT THE KIND OF CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND HE HAD IN MIND WAS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND ADMINISTERED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR ITS AGENCY.
+AN EMPLOYEE IS FREE TO CHANGE HIS EMPLOYER WITHIN HONG KONG WITHOUT ANY PENALTY. IT SHOULD BE A COMPULSORY CONTRIBUTORY SCHEME BUT ONLY THE EMPLOYERS AND NOT THE EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE.*
DR. CHUNG BELIEVED THAT THIS KIND OF FUND WOULD NOT ONLY HELP PROVIDE THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR THE LOWER INCOME WORKERS BUT WOULD ALSO HELP PROMOTE THE INVOLVEMENT OF A GREATER MASS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD THEN HAVE A STAKE IN HONG KONG AND A SENSE OF BELONGING.
HE RECALLED THAT THE CALL WAS MADE TWO YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME, HE ALSO DREW THE ATTENTION OF GOVERNMENT TO THE LACK OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN HONG KONG.
DR. CHUNG VOICED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME SO AS TO PROVIDE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR ABLE-BODIED PERSONS BETWEEN 15 AND 55 YEARS.
HE FELT SURE THAT THE WORKING POPULATION AND PARTICULARLY THOSE ON THE SHOP FLOOR WOULD WELCOME THE PROPOSAL.
URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSAL, DR. CHUNG POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG’S COMPETITORS IN THIS REGION, BOTH KOREA AND TAIWAN HAD STATUTORY RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR WORKERS AND BOTH SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA HAD CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUNDS FOR WAGE EARNERS.
ON THE ROLE OF UMELCO, DR. CHUNG SAID THAT THE AVERAGE OF SUCCESSFUL CASES HANDLED OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS WAS AROUND 26 PER CENT.
+THIS FIGURE COMPARES FAVOURABLY WITH THAT OF OMBUDSMANLIKE SYSTEMS ELSEWHERE OF WHICH THE SUCCESSFUL RATE, AS I UNDERSTAND, RANGES BETWEEN 20 TO 25 PER CENT,* HE SAID.
DR. CHUNG POINTED OUT THAT WHEN THE UMELCO COMPLAINTS SYSTEM CAME INTO OPERATION IN 1970-71, THE NUMBER OF CASES HANDLED IN THAT YEAR TOTALLED 843.
IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, HE SAID, THE CASE LOAD HAD GROWN MORE THAN FOUR TIMES TO 3,304.
■■ — — - ■ ■ । ■ !■' ■■ I' - . - —• , -■■■ -
/HE ATTRIBUTED
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
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HE ATTRIBUTED THE SUCCESSES SCORED BY THE UMELCO TO THE THREE RIGHTS GRANTED TO THE MEMBERS BY THE GOVERNOR — THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION, THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICERS AND THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THE ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION.
DESPITE THE RATHER SATISFACTORY RATE OF GROWTH AND SUCCESSFUL CASES ATTAINED, DR. CHUNG SAID, THE UMELCO COMPLAINTS SYSTEM AT PRESENT WAS NOT WITHOUT SOME PROBLEMS.
+THE FINDING OF INFORMATION AND FACTS BY UMELCO OFFICERS WITH THE AID OF THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED IS MANPOWER CONSUMING ESPECIALLY IN THESE CASES WHEN THE TIME FACTOR IS IMPORTANT,+ DR. CHUNG SAID.
HE SAID THAT +AT PRESENT THE ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE UMELCO COMPLAINTS SECTION IS VERY TIGHT AND EACH OFFICER, ON THE AVERAGE, HAS TO HANDLE ABOUT 300 CASES, SIMPLE AND COMPLICATED, A YEAR. WE NEED NOT ONLY MORE STAFF BUT GREATER NUMBER OF HIGH-CALIBRE STAFF.*
HOWEVER, DR. CHUNG EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FINANCIAL AS THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN VERY SYMPATHETIC AND GENEROUS BUT WERE IN DIFFICULTY OVER THE RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF STAFF.
SECONDLY, HE SAID, WAS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE REGARDING THE DOCTRINE OF SUB-JUDICE.
+THE UMELCO OFFICE USUALLY ACTS ON COMPLAINTS WITH SOME SPEED. HOWEVER, IF A COMPLAINT IS PRESENTED TO UMELCO AND PROCEEDINGS ARE TAKEN AGAINST THE COMPLAINANT IN COURT ON THE SAME OR A CLOSELY RELATED MATTER, UMELCO CANNOT CONTINUE TO PROCESS THE MATTER UNDER COMPLAINT UNTIL THE COURT PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN FINISHED OR ABANDONED,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS SYMPATHETIC WITH THE COMPLAINANTS WHO WERE UPSET BY THE DELAY, IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR UMELCO OR ANY COMPLAINT SYSTEM TO OPERATE IN ANY OTHER WAY.
+WE MUST NOT BE SEEN TO BE ACTING IN CONFLICT WITH THE COURTS,* HE STATED.
HOWEVER, DR. CHUNG SAID THE UMELCO COMPLAINTS SYSTEM WAS WITHOUT DOUBT EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS TO AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION.
REFERRING TO THE NEED FOR SETTING UP A BRANCH OFFICE IN KOWLOON, DR. CHUNG SAID THAT + IT IS A MATTER WHICH NEEDS FURTHER CONSIDERATION.*
HE EXPLAINED: +GEOGRAPHICALLY AND FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF SERVICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC LIVING IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, THERE IS A STRONG CASE FOR AN UMELCO OFFICE IN KOWLOON TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS.*
/♦ON THE .....
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
3
+0N THE OTHER HAND, IT IS REALISED THAT THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS, AS WE DO ACHIEVE AT PRESENT, LIES IN CENTRALISATION, SPEED OF PROCESSING, AND IMMEDIATE ACCESSIBILITY TO MOST MEMBERS, ALL UMELCO STAFF AND MANY HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.*
HE ADDED THAT THERE WAS ALSO THE CONSIDERATION OF INCREASED COSTS OF OPERATION RESULTING FROM DUPLICATION AND INTERNAL RED-TAPE.
ON CONSUMER COUNCIL, DR. CHUNG SAID, IT HAD OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS DONE SOME GOOD WORK IN THE FIELD OF CONSUMER PROTECTION.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, ITS DEVELOPMENT AND ACTIVITIES WERE MUCH HAMPERED DUE TO CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES.
+ONE SUCH DIFFICULTY IS THAT THE CONSUMER COUNCIL IS NOT A STATUTORY BODY,* HE SAID.
+ THE COUNCIL, AS IT NOW STANDS, CAN NEITHER SUE NOR BE SUED AND, SHOULD THERE BE ANY SUIT FOR DEFAMATION, INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE LIABLE TO BE SUED INSTEAD.*
HE DISCLOSED THAT THERE HAD ALSO BEEN CASES WHERE THE NAME OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD BEEN ILLEGALLY USED IN ADVERTISEMENTS AND AT PRESENT THERE WAS NO WAY THE COUNCIL COULD TAKE THE OFFENDERS TO COURT.
+OTHER DIFFICULTIES WHICH IMPEDE THE WORK OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL ARE THE ANTIQUITY OF CONSUMER LEGISLATION AND THE LACK OF LEGAL BACKING,* HE ADDED.
DR. CHUNG PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT UPDATE ALL CONSUMER LEGISLATION AND CONSIDER GRANTING THE CONSUMER COUNCIL THE NECESSARY POWER TO OBTAIN INFORMATION SO THAT THE COUNCIL COULD CARRY OUT ITS CONSUMER PROTECTION WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY FOR THE OVERALL GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.
REGARDING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, HE SAID THAT OVER THE PAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY, +OUR FOREIGN TRADE HAS GROWN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS AND IS NOW APPROACHING S1OO BILLION A YEAR.*
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, HE ADDED, HAD CORRESPONDINGLY BECOME MUCH WIDER, DIVERSIFIED AND COMPLICATED. YET THE ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT HAD SO FAR REMAINED PRACTICALLY UNCHANGED AND THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOW SHOWING SIGNS OF STRESS AND STRAIN.
+LEST MY HONOURABLE MEMBERS MISUNDERSTAND MY INTENTION, I HASTEN TO SAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE EXTREMELY WELL IN THE TRADE RELATIONS, IN CERTIFICATION AND IN INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION.
+NONETHELESS, IT URGENTLY NEEDS MODERNISATION, REORGANISATION AND EXPANSION TO KEEP PACE WITH OUR RAPID COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH, WITHOUT DISPUTE, IS THE VERY LIFEBLOOD OF THE 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.*
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A
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
4
SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT’S TARGET ON HOUSING * * * *
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT GOOD PUBLIC HOUSING AT REASONABLY LOW RENTALS WAS ESSENTIAL IN CREATING A SENSE OF IDENTITY AND LOYALTY TO HONG KONG.
IN SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT’S TARGET TO HAVE +SELF-CONTAI NED HOUSING IN A DECENT ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL AND WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL BY THE EARLY 80S+, HE SAID IT SHOULD BE THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL TO GIVE THE SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE NECESSARY TO SEE THAT THE BACK OF THE HOUSING PROBLEM WAS BROKEN BY 1984.
REGARDING HOME OWNERSHIP, MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID THE PROMOTION OF THIS SCHEME PARTICULARLY FOR THE LOWER MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS WITH A MAXIMUM FAMILY MONTHLY INCOME OF $3,500 TO $4,000, DESERVED SUPPORT AND THAT THE COUNCIL WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS TO BE DEVISED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S WORKING PARTY AS TO HOW THE SCHEME WOULD OPERATE.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN ALSO VOICED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS TO ELIMINATE PRINCIPAL DEFECTS IN HONG KONG’S SOCIETY IN 10 YEARS.
THIS LONG-TERM PLANNING, HE SAID, CONTRIBUTED CONFIDENCE TC HONG KONG AND ENCOURAGED ITS CITIZENS TO FACE THE FUTURE WITH DETERMINATION AND CONVICTION.
+MANY OF GOVERNMENT’S LONG-TERM PLANS SEEK TO IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS AND THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT,* HE STATED.
+THE THRUST TOWARDS BETTER CONDITIONS FOR WORKERS, IF SENSIBLY APPLIED AT THE RIGHT POINT IN TIME, WILL PROGRESSIVELY DEMOLISH IN OUR SOCIETY THE TIME-WORN BELIEF THAT THE BLUE-COLLAR WORKER IS AT THE LOWER RUNG OF THE SOCIAL LADDER THAN THE WHITECOLLAR WORKER OR MANAGER.
+YET IN ADVANCING TOWARDS MORE WORKERS’ WELFARE, WE CANNOT SUCCUMB TO ANY ILL-ADVISED PRESSURE FROM OUTSIDE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS, NO MATTER HOW WELL-INTENTIONED, TO ACCELERATE THE PACE OF SUCH SOCIAL REFORMS BEYOND THE GROWTH CAPACITY OF OUR ECONOMY.*
♦HONG KONG’S VERITABLE EXISTENCE,* HE STRESSED, +DEPENDS FIRSTLY ON CONFIDENCE AND SECONDLY ON AN EXPANDING ECONOMY CAPABLE OF ABSORBING A STEADY PACE OF SOCIAL REFORMS.*
ON UMELCO, MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRESENT SYSTEM IMPROVED EVEN FURTHER THROUGH CLOSER LIAISON BETWEEN THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE UMELCO OFFICE.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE, HE ADDED, WAS TO EXPOSE THOSE AREAS WHERE +POLICY AND/OR LEGISLATION NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, WHERE THERE IS A STRONG CASE FOR DEPARTURE FROM POLICY IN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND WHERE NO ACTION IS FORTHCOMING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.*
/MH. CHEONG-LEEN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
- 5 -
MR. CHEONG-LEEN ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE, PREVENTIVE SERVICE FOR YOUTH AND CRIME.
ON THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE, HE WAS DISTURBED TO FIND THAT DESPITE THE LOW CHARGE OF $5 A YEAR PER STUDENT, ENROLMENT STOOD AT ONLY 10 PER CENT OF THOSE ELIGIBLE.
HE SAID THAT IT WAS A MATTER OF REGRET THAT AS AT MARCH 31 THIS YEAR ONLY 136 DOCTORS OUT OF A TOTAL OF 204 PARTICIPATING WERE ALLOCATED PANELS OF STUDENTS, WHILE 68 DOCTORS STILL AWAITED ALLOCATION OF STUDENTS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT PARTICIPATION.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT CARRY OUT A RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHY SO MANY OF HONG KONG’S STUDENTS WORE GLASSES.
REFERRING TO THE GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME PLAN TO PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BECOMING INVOLVED IN CRIME AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, HE SAID: +PERHAPS IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE TO STUDY THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY SCOTLAND WHICH HAS RECENTLY ABOLISHED JUVENILE COURTS AND REPLACE THEM BY WELFARE TRIBUNALS WHICH CARRY OUT CHILDREN’S HEARINGS AND WHICH ARE STAFFED BY LAY PEOPLE.
ON THE PRESENT METHOD OF REPORTING CRIME, MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID HE WONDERED WHETHER THE POLICE HAD REALLY DONE THE BEST IT COULD TO FACILITATE THE REPORTING OF CRIME.
+THERE IS A NEED FOR THE POLICE TO SET UP A CENTRALISED TELEPHONE REPORTING SYSTEM WHEREBY ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTING A CRIME BY TELEPHONING 999 COULD GIVE THE INFORMATION RIGHT AWAY TO A CENTRAL REPORTING CENTRE SWITCHED OVER TO THE INTERNAL EXTENSION OF THE POLICE STATION CONCERNED,* HE SAID.
IN CONCLUSION, MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID THAT HONG KONG’S STANDARD RATE OF TAXATION WAS LOW AND +WE WANT TO KEEP IT AS LOW AS IS PRACTICABLE, FOR THIS IS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL FACTORS ATTRACTING CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND NEW TECHNOLOGY INTO HONG KONG TO PROVIDE MORE JOBS FOR OUR PEOPLE.*
IN A FEW MONTHS, HE SAID, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD PRESENT HIS NEXT BUDGET.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD, AT THE TIME, ELUCIDATE FURTHER AS TO +WHETHER ALL THE VERY DESIRABLE AND WORTHWHILE SOCIAL PROGRAMMES WE ARE EMBARKING ON WILL BE FINANCED ON THE BASIS OF CURRENT RATES OF TAXATION AND THE ANTICPATED GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF SIX PERCENT PER ANNUM FOR THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.*
+HONG KONG IS NOW EXPERIENCING A SOCIAL REVOLUTION THAT WILL GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BETTER EDUCATION TO DEVELOP THEIR POTENTIALITY AND ATTAIN A GOOD STANDARD OF LIVING,* HE SAID.
+IN THIS PROCESS WE HOPE THEY WILL ACQUIRE A SENSE OF LOCAL IDENTITY AND LOYALTY BY CHANNELLING THEIR SPARE TIME INTO VOLUNTEER WORK IN THEIR DISTRICT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY,* HE ADDED.
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/6
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
e> -
SUPPORT FOR GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES * * * * *
DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG TODAY GAVE HIS SUPPORT TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES WHICH, HE SAID, +HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS+.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE WELCOMED WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ENDEAVOUR TO EXPLORE THE MANY FACETS OF REHABILITATION, TO PINPOINT DEFICIENCIES, AND TO SUGGEST REALISTIC MEANS OF CLOSING THE GAP.
DR. FANG ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE WORKING GROUP’S RECOMMENDATION FOR A HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG AND TO CO-ORDINATE THE POLICY ASPECTS OF ACTIVITIES BOTH WITHIN GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD APPOINT ITS CHAIRMAN AND THAT MEMBERS SHOULD CONSIST OF BOTH OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, SHOULD GET ON IMMEDIATELY WITH TWO PRIMARY TASKS, NAMELY: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRAL REGISTRY TO PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED STATISTICS FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TWO REGIONAL MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT CENTRES, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE HARBOUR, TO BE ATTACHED TO THE REGIONAL HOSPITALS.
HE STRESSED THAT THE LATTER WAS A SOUND PROPOSAL AND WOULD PROVIDE THE NERVE CENTRE FOR DISPENSING REHABILITATION NEEDS.
WHILE SUPPORTING A SUGGESTION IN THE GREEN PAPER THAT THE POLYTECHNIC SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING THE MANPOWER NEEDED TO COPE WITH THE PLANS OUTLINED, DR. FANG EMPHASISED THAT THE AIM SHOULD BE TO PRODUCE TWO TIERS OF TRAINED PERSONNEL, ONE AT A LOWER LEVEL AND THE OTHER AT PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.
♦EXPERIENCE IN MANY COUNTRIES SUGGESTS THAT MUCH OF THE REPETITIVE WORK INVOLVED IN REHABILITATION SERVICES CAN BE PERFORMED EFFICIENTLY AND SATISFACTORILY BY A GRADE OF SEMI-PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL STAFF UNDER SUPERVISI ON.+
HE SAID THAT HONG KONG’S IMMEDIATE AIM SHOULD BE TO PRODUCE TRAINED PERSONNEL GEARED TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS AND NOT NECESSARILY TO STRIVE FOR RECOGNITION BY INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES.
DR. FANG ALSO SUGGESTED THAT EDUCATION ON THE PRINCIPLES OF REHABILITATION SHOULD START IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND ALSO IN TEACHERS’ TRAINING COLLEGES, FOR TEACHERS AND CHILDREN ALIKE SHOULD BE SHOWN HOW DISABILITIES COULD BE AVOIDED.
♦CONSIDERATION FOR THE PLIGHT OF THE DISABLED SHOULD BE NUTURED IN THE YOUNG AT AN EARLY AGE SO THAT THIS CARE AND SYMPATHY MAY BE REFLECTED IN LATER LIFE, WHETHER AS AN ORDINARY CITIZEN, A REHABILITATION WORKER OR A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER OF THE DISABLED,* HE SAID.
/♦I BELIEVE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBEX 27, 1976
7
+l BELIEVE THAT WE CAN REAP CONSIDERABLE BENEFITS FOR A VERY MODEST INVESTMENT IN THIS DIRECTION.+
DR. FANG GAVE HIS SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO ESTABLISH A DENTAL SCHOOL IN THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY. HOWEVER, HE ADVOCATED THAT THE SCHOOL SHOULD NOT FORM PART OF THE EXISTING MEDICAL FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY, BUT SHOULD FUNCTION AS A SEPARATE ENTITY TO AVOID HAVING TO COMPETE WITH OTHER NEEDS OF THE FACULTY FOR MANPOWER AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
HE ALSO ASKED WHETHER GOVERNMENT WAS NOW IN A POSITION TO STATE ITS POLICY ON DENTAL CARE FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND TO INDICATE WHEN SUCH SERVICES MIGHT BE EXPECTED.
ON THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE IN WHICH THERE IS AN ENROLMENT OF 94,000 PUPILS AND A PANEL OF 200 DOCTORS, DR. FANG SAID: +CONSIDER ING THE STUDENT POPULATION, ITS COVERAGE IS NOT WIDE AND I BELIEVE THERE IS ROOM FOR DEVELOPING THE SERVICE.+
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THOSE DOCTORS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE SCHEME FOR THEIR PUBLIC SPIRIT SINCE THE FEES INVOLVED -- AT $25 PER CHILD PER YEAR INCLUDING CONSULTATION AND MEDICINE — HARDLY MADE IT WORTH THEIR WHILE.
DR. FANG SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT’S SUBSIDY OF $20 PER CHILD SHOULD BE INCREASED SO THAT A GREATER NUMBER OF DOCTORS MIGHT BE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.
REFERRING TO THE PARENTS’ CONTRIBUTION OF $5, HE SAID IT SHOULD ALSO BE WAIVED BECAUSE IT WAS HARDLY WORTH COLLECTING.
HOWEVER, HE PROPOSED, PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHEME SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY WITHIN THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT’S POLICY OF NINE YEARS OF SUBSIDISED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLING FOR ALL.
------o-------
/8.....
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
8
HONG KONG’S WAGE RATES NEXT ONLY TO HIGHLY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ******
ANY FURTHER RESTRICTIVE MEASURES AFFECTING THE USE OF LABOUR, OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD UNDULY INCREASE THE BURDEN OR OVERHEADS OF INDUSTRY SHOULD BE EXAMINED WITH THE UTMOST CARE AND CONSIDERATION, THE HON. JAMES WU TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S OPENING ADDRESS, HE SAID THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH MEASURES COULD BE FAR-REACHING AT OUR PRESENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND COULD GREATLY HARM OUR FLEXIBILITY AND COST US MANY ORDERS AND JOBS.
HE STRESSED THAT HE WAS NOT SUGGESTING TO TURN THE CLOCK BACKWARDS AND THAT HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS WERE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO OFFER BETTER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT WHERE THEY COULD AFFORD.
+IN ANY CASE IT IS THE HARD FACT OF LIFE THAT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WOULD HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO CATCH UP WITH THE HIGHLY INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES WHICH POSSESS BETTER RESOURCES AND HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY,* HE SAID.
MR. WU POINTED OUT THAT WE HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN IMPROVING LABOUR CONDITIONS IN THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, NOTING THAT A TOTAL OF 135 PIECES OF LABOUR LEGISLATION HAD BEEN PASSED FROM 1968 TO DATE.
+IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THESE HAVE BEEN PASSED WITHOUT MUCH OF A MURMUR, WITH INDUSTRY GENERALLY AGREEABLE AND BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE IMPROVEMENT,* HE SAID.
HE FELT THAT THE PROPOSED ONE WEEK’S HOLIDAY WITH PAY WAS NOT LIKELY TO AROUSE MUCH OBJECTION +BEARING IN MIND THAT WORKERS DO TAKE LEAVE AS AND WHEN THEY LIKE, WITH OR WITHOUT PAY, AND SO AT WORSE THIS AMOUNTS TO A TWO PER CENT INCREASE IN PAY*.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT IF THE HOLIDAYS MUST BE TAKEN IN ONE CONSECUTIVE PERIOD AND NO PAYMENT IN LIEU WAS ALLOWED, THEN THE QUESTION OF COSTS WOULD BE GREATLY MAGNIFIED AND THE PROBLEMS OF PRACTICAL APPLICATION SO GREAT THAT INDUSTRY AT THIS STAGE WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BEAR IT BY AS SOON AS 1978.
+ONE INDUSTRIALIST ESTIMATES THAT IT WOULD CAUSE A LOSS IN OUR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION BY $500 TO $1,000 MILLION PER YEAR, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO THE COST OF HOUSING 100,000 PEOPLE,* HE SAID.
/HE ADDED.......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
9
HE ADDED: +ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ONE REST DAY A WEEK INSTEAD OF FOUR A MONTH WOULD ATTRACT EVEN LESS ATTENTION, AS IT IS LOGICAL AND ONE WONDERS WHY IT WAS NOT ENACTED IN THE FIRST INSTANCE.*
+IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERANCE PAY AND SICKNESS BENEFITS HAVE HOWEVER BEEN MATTERS OF SPECULATION AND CONCERN TO LARGE AND SMALL FACTORIES IN THAT THE FIRST ONE IMMEDIATELY IMPOSES INCREASED CONTINGENT LIABILITY TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE FIRM’S BORROWING POWER, THUS INHIBIT EXPANSION AND EMPLOYMENT, AND THE SECOND TENDS TO ENCOURAGE OR ASSIST MALINGERING,* MR. WU SAID.
HE SAID THERE WAS WIDE-SPREAD CONCERN THAT WE MIGHT BE IMPOSING TOO MANY BURDENS TOO SOON ON OUR INDUSTRY, AND THAT IT HAD BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IF ALL THESE HAD BEEN FORCED ON HONG KONG FOR SELFISH REASONS RATHER THAN FOR HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATION, THEY MUST BE RESISTED.
MR. WU POINTED OUT THAT THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIALIST WAS FACED WITH A HOST OF +SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES* AND ADDED, +PARADOXICALLY, YET UNDERSTANDABLY, IT IS THE WORKING MEN AND GIRLS ON THE SHOP-FLOOR WHO WITH IMMEDIATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING SHARE THE MUTUAL APPRECIATION WITH MANAGEMENT TO TACKLE THE COMMON PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTING THEM*.
THIS CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT, HE WENT ON, BROUGHT HONG KONG THROUGH THE RECESSION AND ENABLED IT TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE SUBSEQUENT RECOVERY +WI TH LABOUR BENEFITING FROM A HEFTY INCREASE IN PAY UPWARDS OF 20-30 PER CENT, AND EVEN GREATER PERCENTAGE IN EARNING, IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS THROUGH THE SHEER NATURAL MARKET FORCES OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND*.
MR. WU POINTED OUT THAT THE WAGE RATES OF HONG KONG WERE NEXT ONLY TO THE HIGHLY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES OF NORTH AMERICA, WESTERN EUROPE AND JAPAN, COMPARABLE TO THAT OF THE U.K., AND MUCH BETTER THAN THOSE OF TAIWAN AND SOUTH KOREA.
HE STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT HONG KONG COULD LEAST AFFORD TO IGNORE THE LOW WAGES AND BARGAINS OF OTHER COUNTRIES AT ITS OWN PERIL, +AND IT WAS ONLY THROUGH THE QUICK RESPONSE AND FLEXIBILITY OF OUR MANUFACTURERS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE RECOVERY OF OUR MARKETS OVERSEAS LAST YEAR THUS REVERSING THE ECONOMIC RECESSION*.
TURNING TO THE ICAC, MR. WU SAID IT WAS REASSURING TO HEAR THAT BASICALLY THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN ITS PRIORITIES AND THAT, SPECIFICALLY, IT SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE PUBLIC RATHER THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
/♦WHILST
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27,
10
+WHILST BUSINESS IS UNDERSTANDABLY CONCERNED WITH EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN THE COURSE OF LAST YEAR, AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON OUR TRADE, IT IS HOPED THAT A CONTINUED DIALOGUE AND CLEAR COMMUNICATION CAN DEVELOP WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HIS OFFICE IN FINDING AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THIS VEXING PROBLEM DURING OUR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD TOWARDS REALLY CLEAN AND STRAIGHTFORWARD DEALING IN BUSINESS, A FORMIDABLE GOAL FOR ANY COMMUNITY, BUT WORTHY OF OUR ASPIRATIONS FOR BETTER VALUES AND QUALITY OF LIFE,* HE SAID.
ON HOUSING, MR. WU SAID IT WAS GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT WAS TO EMBARK ON A HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, LONG ADVOCATED BY UMELCO MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.
+LET US THEREFORE EXPEDITE WITH VIGOUR THE PROGRAMMES AND BRING REASONABLE HOUSING TO THE REACH OF ALL AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE.+ HE SAID.
MR. WU FELT REASURRED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEDED TO THE ADVICE OF UMELCO MEMBERS NOT TO COMPARE HOUSING DEPARTMENT RENTS TO INFLATED MARKET RENTS, THAT HOUSING SUBSIDY TO THE ELIGIBLE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE GOVERNMENT POLICY, AND THAT ANY RENT INCREASE WOULD BE TOLERABLE AND GRADUAL AND TO MEET INCREASED MAINTENANCE COSTS ONLY.
/11
0
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976.
- 11 -
SUPPORT FOR PAID ANNUAL LEAVE
******
THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN TODAY VOICED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE WORKERS WITH SEVEN DAYS PAID ANNUAL LEAVE FROM 1978.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE, HE SAID A COMPLETE BREAK FROM WORK WOULD NOT ONLY ENABLE THE WORKERS TO MAKE GOOD THE LOSS OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FORCES BUT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THIS PERIOD OF LEISURE WITH MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE SAID, EMPLOYERS MIGHT WISH TO MAKE USE OF THIS PERIOD TO OVERHAUL OR REPAIR THEIR MACHINERY, REDECORATE THEIR PREMISES, OR MAKE ALTERATIONS TO THE WORK-PLACE TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION FLOW WITHOUT DISRUPTING DAY TO DAY WORK.
REGARDING GARMENT FACTORIES WHERE LABOUR TURN-OVER WAS HIGH, MR. TIEN POINTED OUT, +THE ANTICIPATION OF LEAVE WITH PAY WHICH IS COMING MAY ENCOURAGE MORE WORKERS TO STAY WITH THE JOB*.
+THE ADDITIONAL COSTS TO EMPLOYERS WOULD BE MINIMAL AND ARE LIKELY TO BE MET IN PART BY HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY AND A SLOWER RATE OF TURN-OVER IN THE WORK FORCE,+ HE STRESSED.
+ALTHOUGH MANY LOCAL COMPANIES ALREADY OBSERVE GOOD LABOUR POLICIES FOR THEIR STAFF, IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT A GREAT MANY DO NOT.
+NOT ONLY WILL THE PROPOSED PAID ANNUAL LEAVE IMPROVE LABOUR RELATIONS, IT WILL ALSO REMOVE ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE DISTINCTIONS WHICH NOW EXIST BETWEEN BLUE COLLAR WORKERS AND WHITE COLLAR WORKERS AND AS A RESULT, ENCOURAGE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO JOIN THE INDUSTRIES WHICH IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF HONG KONG.+
MR. TIEN THEN CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, CURRENTLY HOUSED IN THE FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING, TO NEW PREMISES.
HE SAID IT WAS REGRETTABLE THAT THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH OFTEN RECEIVES DELEGATIONS AND PROMINENT VISITORS, SHOULD STILL BE HOUSED IN SUCH INFERIOR ACCOMMODATION.
+IT IS TIME FOR A MOST SERIOUS EFFORT TO BE MADE TO OBTAIN NEW PREMISES NOT MERELY AS GOOD AS, BUT PROBABLY, FOR VERY GOOD REASONS, SUPERIOR TO THOSE IN WHICH THE OTHER MAIN DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT ARE HOUSED,* HE ADDED.
MR. TIEN RECALLED THAT LAST YEAR, IN ANSWER TO A SUGGESTION MADE BY HIM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY INDICATED THAT CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PROPOSAL THAT THE POST OF DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY BE REGRADED TO ONE OF SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO BE RE-ORGANISED INTO TWO OR THREE DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE SECRETARY.
/HE ASKED
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
12
HE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT FOR AN ASSURANCE THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS BEING AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE GIVEN RESOURCES ADEQUATE TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HONG KONG’S INTERESTS AT HOME AND ABROAD.
TURNING TO THE TEXTILE CONTROL SYSTEM, MR. TIEN FELT THAT THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED MODIFICATIONS TO THE SYSTEM WERE REASONABLE DESPITE CRITICISM THAT NO PROVISION WAS MADE FOR NEW COMERS.
+THEY HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE SO-CALLED QUOTA FARMERS TO CONTINUE IN THEIR RATHER UNIQUE TRADE. TO KEEP THE QUOTAS, THEY MUST BECOME TEXTILE TRADERS AGAIN,* HE POINTED OUT.
EMPHASISING THAT HE WAS NOT DEFENDING THE SYSTEM, MR. TIEN SAID: +MY CONCERN IS HONG KONG’S ECONOMY, WHICH IN TURN MEANS EXPORTS AND, IN TERMS OF COLD CASH, TEXTILE EXPORTS GIVE HONG KONG A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF OF ITS EARNINGS FROM OVERSEAS TRADE.
+WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TURN THE TEXTILE CONTROL SYSTEM INTO A SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM NOR INTO A PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME,* HE STRESSED.
+TEXTILE QUOTAS ARE NOT GIVEN ON THE SAY SO OF COMPANIES THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT. THEY ARE ALLOCATED ON THE BASIS OF A DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO USE THEM.*
MR. TIEN SAID, +LET THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, EARNED HONG KONG A RESPECTED PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG’S ECONOMY.
+THE SYSTEM STILL HAS IMPERFECTIONS BUT IT HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE BY CONTRIBUTING TO HONG KONG’S PROSPERITY.*
MR. TIEN SAID THAT THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED FOR THE GOOD OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE, TO ENABLE THE MAXIMUM USE OF THE LIMITED EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE UNDER THE RESTRAINT AGREEMENTS AND FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH OPPORTUNITIES FAIRLY AMONG MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS.
/U....
o -------
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
- 1J -
REVIEW OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME WELCOMED *******
THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH WELCOMED THE NEWS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW CONDUCTING A MAJOR REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MISS KO DESCRIBED THE MOVE AS +VERY WISE AND NECESSARY*.
SHE SUPPORTED WHOLEHEARTEDLY THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO COVER ABLE-BODIED PERSONS BETWEEN 15 AND 55 SO THAT THE UNEMPLOYED WOULD ALSO BE ASSISTED.
+THIS IS A GREAT LEAP FORWARD IN MENDING THE MOST OBVIOUS HOLE IN OUR SAFETY NET FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,* SHE SAID.
HOWEVER, MISS KO STRESSED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO MAKE SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS TO PREVENT ABUSE, INCLUDING A RESIDENCE QUALIFICATION, A DEFINED PERIOD OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND EFFECTIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.
SHE PROPOSED THAT DURING THE REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING THE CATEGORISED ASSISTANCE METHOD SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHOSE NEED WAS DEMONSTRABLY GREATER SHOULD NOT ONLY BE PROVIDED WITH ASSISTANCE THAT SUPPORTS THEM AT THE MINIMUM SUBSISTENCE LEVEL ' BUT AT A LEVEL SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR LIVELIHOOD WITH A MEASURE OF SELF-RESPECT.
+ IN OTHER WORDS,* SHE SAID, +A REASONABLE AND HIGHER SCALE RATE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CATERING FOR VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF NEED SHOULD BE PROVIDED.*
MISS KO THOUGHT THAT THIS CATEGORISED ASSISTANCE METHOD WOULD HELP THOSE MORE WHO WERE MORE IN NEED AND MAKE THE WHOLE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM MORE FLEXIBLE AND EQUITABLE.
IT WOULD ALSO SERVE TO REGULATE SOME OF THE DISCRETIONARY POWERS PRESENTLY EXERCISED BY SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICERS, SHE NOTED.
MISS KO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF LOWERING THE AGE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE FROM 75 TO 70.
TURNING TO PREVENTIVE YOUTH SERVICES, MISS KO SAID THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THE EXPANSION OF THE YOUTH GUIDANCE PROJECTS, THE EXTENSION OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAYLEADERSHIP SCHEME AND DETACHED WORK AND THE INTEGRATION OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION INTO ALL PROGRAMMES FOR YOUTH.
/SHE SUGGESTED
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, "976
14
SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE FOUR PILOT YOUTH GUIDANCE PROJECTS SHOULD CONTINUE AND AT LEAST ONE OR TWO SUCH SCHEMES BE ESTABLISHED IN EACH OF THE MORE CROWDED PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
ON SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, SHE SAID THAT MORE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN THIS SERVICE" THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD WORK EVEN MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER AND MORE SUBVENTION SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH WERE OR WOULD BE ENGAGED IN THIS FIELD.
MISS KO URGED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO GIVE GREATER PRIORITY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALL TYPES OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.
SHE HOPED THAT THE NEW SET OF STANDARDS FOR THE OLD PEOPLE’S HOMES WOULD BE DRAWN UP ACCORDING TO REAL NEEDS AND LOCAL SITUATIONS.
THIS, SHE SAID, WOULD SERVE AS A USEFUL GUIDELINE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.
ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LAW AND ORDER IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, MISS KO STRESSED THAT MEASURES TO FIGHT CRIME, TO FOSTER BETTER CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION AND TO COORDINATE SERVICES IN THE ESTATE, SHOULD BE CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED AND STRENGTHENED.
SHE SAID THAT THE POLICE FORCE SHOULD BE EVEN FURTHER STRENGTHENED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND PATROLS ORGANISED BY THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES SHOULD LIKEWISE BE STRENGTHENED AND THEIR NUMBERS SHOULD BE INCREASED AS THEY WOULD ALSO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.
TURNING TO REHABILITATION FOR THE DISABLED, MISS KO SUGGESTED THAT AN OPERATIONAL PLAN BE JOINTLY DESIGNED BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES CONCERNED.
IN CONCLUSION, SHE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER FAVOURABLY THE NEED FOR EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT COMMUNITY NURSING NOT ONLY HELPED TO RELEASE MORE HOSPITAL BEDS FOR OTHER PATIENTS BUT ALSO SAVED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY.
+THE AVERAGE COST FOR KEEPING A PATIENT IN HOSPITAL IS ABOUT $80 PER DAY,* SHE SAID. +WHEN THIS IS COMPARED WITH THE COST OF $10 PER DAY IF COMMUNITY NURSING IS EMPLOYED FOR THE SAME PATIENT, THE DIFFERENCE IS SIGNIFICANT.*
THROUGH THIS SERVICE, MISS KO SAID PATIENTS COULD BE ENCOURAGED, WITH THE HELP OF THEIR FAMILIES, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR OWN REHABILITATION.
♦ALSO, THE RELAPSE OF ILLNESS CAN BE PREVENTED BY PROVIDING NURSING CARE AND HEALTH EDUCATION FOR PATIENTS IN THEIR OWN HOMES,* SHE ADDED.
MISS KO HOPED THAT OPPORTUNITIES WOULD ARISE FOR GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO DISCUSS AND STUDY THE WHOLE AREA IN ORDER TO MAKE DETAILED PLANS TO PROMOTE THE SERVICE.
SHE URGED THAT GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ALREADY WORKING IN THIS AREA AND MORE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES BE ENCOURAGED TO RENDER SERVICE IN THIS FIELD.
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/1
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
BALANCE BETWEEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL EXPENDITURE
* * * * *
THE PROBLEM FACING US IN THE FUTURE IS ONE OF STRIKING
THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN THE PACE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE PACE OF FINANCIAL EXPENDITURE, THE HON. Q.W. LEE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
ADMITTING THAT IT WAS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO STRIKE THE PERFECT BALANCE, HE SAID, +EEARING IN MIND THAT SOCIAL EXPENDITURE IS OUR INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE AND WILL YIELD DIVIDENDS, IT IS A BETTER POLICY TO ATTEMPT TO DO MORE THAN LESS, PROVIDED IT IS WITHIN OUR MEANS TO DO SO.*
HOWEVER, MR. LEE WAS OF THE OPINION THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD CONFIDENTLY DEPEND ON THE VERY CAREFULLY AND EFFECTIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS TO DECIDE WHAT THE PRIORITIES WERE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE.
LOOKING BACK ON WHAT WE HAD ACHIEVED IN THE PAST YEARS, MR. LEE NOTED THAT THERE WERE TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHTS - SOME FEARED THAT WE MIGHT GO TOO FAR IN OUR SOCIAL PROGRESS AND THOSE WHO FELT THAT WE HAD NOT GONE FAR ENOUGH.
TO THE FIRST GROUP, HE SUGGESTED THAT THEY MIGHT FIND COMFORT WHEN COMPARING OUR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL GROWTH IN THE FOUR YEARS 1972 TO 1976.
+ THE FIGURES SHOW THAT EVEN ON A LARGER BASE THE GROWTH WAS BIGGER THAN THAT IN THE IMMEDIATE PRECEDING FOUR-YEAR PERIOD,* HE SAID.
IN THESE FOUR YEARS, MR. LEE POINTED OUT, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND EXTERNAL TRADE, DEPOSITS IN BANKS AND REVENUE COLLECTED FROM SALARIES TAX.
TO THOSE WHO FELT THAT WE HAD NOT GONE FAR ENOUGH, MR. LEE CITED THE EXPANSION IN HOUSING, EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND SOCIAL WELFARE AS EVIDENCE OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS DESPITE THE RECESSION.
HE BELIEVED THESE WERE JUST A FEW INDICATORS TO SHOW THAT FIRSTLY, WE HAD THE CAPACITY TO FINANCE OUR SOCIAL SERVICES AND SECONDLY, CONSIDERABLE SOCIAL PROGRESS HAD IN FACT TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST YEARS.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 1977 AND BEYOND, MR. LEE SAID THAT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT DUTY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THE INDUSTRY’S ACCESS TO OVERSEAS MARKETS.
HE ALSO RAISED THE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN ANY ACTION TO STRENGTHEN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANISATION OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT + TO ENABLE IT TO CARRY OUT ITS INCREASINGLY COMPLICATED AND VITAL FUNCTIONS* AND TO ACCORD THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT THE APPROPRIATE TITLE OF SECRETARY SO AS TO BE IN LINE WITH THE STATUS OF HIS COUNTERPARTS IN THE COUNTRIES OF OUR.OVERSEAS MARKETS.
/16.....
- o - -
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
16
SIR PETER MEETS LEADING H.K. BUSINESSMEN AND INDUSTRIALISTS ******
THE PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE U.K. DEPARTMENT OF TRADE, SIR PETER THORNTON, TODAY HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN.
THE MEETING, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WAS HELD IN THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. DAVID JORDAN. PRESENT WERE MEMBERS OF BOTH THE TEXTILES AND THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARDS.
THE DISCUSSION FOCUSSED MAINLY ON TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG. VIEWS WERE EXCHANGED ON BOTH PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION. SUBJECTS INCLUDED PRESENT AND FUTURE TEXTILE ARRANGEMENTS, IMPROVED SALES PROSPECTS IN HONG KONG FOR U.K. MANUFACTURES AS A RESULT OF CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES, AND THE EEC GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES.
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES, SIR PETER THORNTON SAID IN A RADIO INTERVIEW THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS PRESSING ITS FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE EEC TO EXTEND THE SCHEME TO HONG KONG TEXTILES.
+1 CAN ASSURE YOU+, SIR PETER SAID, +YOU HAVE GOT A STRONG AND POWERFUL VOICE SPEAKING UP ON HONG KONG’S BEHALF IN THIS MATTER. I BELIEVE THAT VOICE WILL PREVAIL, WITH THE HELP OF OUR PARTNERS+.
SIR PETER THORTON IS HERE FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT ON HIS WAY BACK TO LONDON FROM JAPAN.
-----0--------
WATER CUT
* * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN WESTERN DISTRICT AND TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 29) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT NIGHT LEAKAGE TESTS.
IN WESTERN DISTRICT, THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY HIGH STREET, EASTERN STREET, FIRST STREET, WESTERN STREET AND THE SECTION OF POKFULAM ROAD BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND HIGH STREET.
IN TSIM SHA TSUI, THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY NATHAN ROAD, BETWEEN AUSTIN ROAD AND MIDDLE ROAD, CARNAVON ROAD, CAMERON ROAD, CHATHAM ROAD, HART AVENUE AND HANOI ROAD, INCLUDING PRAT AVENUE.
/17......
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
17
’HUMAN ASPECT’ OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT
******
THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY PAINTED ANOTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE OF THE BOOM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES - THE HUMAN SIDE.
HE SAID THE MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA HAD BROUGHT A NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT - AND THE COMMUNITY - TO CONTROL A NEW ENVIRONMENT THRUST UPON THEM BY THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AND THE PROBLEMS OF PROVIDING FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
MR. AKERS-JONES TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB s ♦A VISIT TO THE NEW TERRITORIES THESE DAYS CAN NOT BUT LEAVE THE TOWNSMAN BEWILDERED AT THE RAPID PACE OF DEVELOPMENT, SHOCKED TO SEE PEACEFUL VALLEYS ECHOING TO THE CRASH OF PILE-DRIVERS- AND DISMAYED TO FIND LAND WHERE THE SEA WAS.+
BUT ALL THIS WAS BEING DONE, HE SAID, TO REMOVE WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE MAJOR AND MOST CONSTANT SOURCES OF UNHAPPINESS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE POPULATION - THE HOUSING PROBLEM.
REAL EVIDENCE OF THE EFFORTS TO REMOVE THIS SOURCE OF UNHAPPINESS COULD BE SEEN EVERYWHERE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE ADDED. + IT IS THE PRIME IMPETUS BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NOW SEE ALL AROUND US AND WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY RAISE THE POPULATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES FROM JUST OVER 400,000 IN 1961, OR 13 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, TO NEARLY 2-1/2 MILLION, OR 40 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, IN 1986.
+THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN HONG KONG’S DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES.+
DEALING WITH THE HUMAN PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE FIRST WAS THE DISTURBANCE AND DISRUPTION TO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE ALREADY LIVING ON THE LAND TO BE DEVELOPED.
♦RESTAURANTS, MONASTERIES, PIGSTIES, FACTORIES, MAHJONG SCHOOLS, KINDERGARTENS, ORCHARDS, SWEET POTATOES, BONE POTS -EVERY ASPECT OF HUMAN EXISTENCE.
♦EACH HAS TO BE DEALT WITH AS FAIRLY AND SYMPATHETICALLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT IN THE END, WHATEVER COMPENSATION, THE WRENCH FROM THE HOUSE YOU HAVE LIVED IN, THE PATTERN OF LIFE YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED IS CONSIDERABLE AND WE SHOULD AND MUST MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR IT.
♦AND THEN THERE ARE THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEW ENVIRONMENT IN THE DEVELOPED AREA.
♦THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WE ARE TRYING TO TIGHTEN UP THE SINEWS OF SOCIETY. A SOCIETY WHOSE TRADITIONAL VALUES AND STRUCTURE IS BEING SHAKEN FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT.
/+FSCM ..ITHIN........
ALDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
18
♦FROM WITHIN IT IS BEING SHAKEN BY THE PILE-DRIVERS OF DEVELOPMENT, CONCRETE WALLS AND HIGH-RISE LIVING- LIFE FAR REMOVED FROM THE MARKET PLACE WHICH WAS ROOTED IN AND DREW ITS STRENGTH FROM THE LAND AND AGE-OLD TRADITIONS.
+FROM WITHOUT, TRADITIONAL VALUES HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED, AND EVEN DELIBERATELY PULLED APART AND DISCARDED WITHOUT THOUGHT THAT A REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED.+
WHAT WAS HAPPENING NOW, MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED, WAS A ♦TIGHTENING OF THE SINEWS OF SOCIETY, EVOLVING A NEW SOCIAL PATTERN.+
♦AND THIS PROCESS IS AS NECESSARY IN THE NEW TOWNS AND THE DEVELOPMENT AREAS AS IT IS IN HONG KONG. AND SO THE ORGANISATION OF GOVERNMENT IS BEING ADAPTED TO MEET THIS COMPARATIVELY NEWLY-PERCEIVED REQUIREMENT.
♦THE OLD DISTRICT OFFICE SYSTEM HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO MEET HIGH DENSITY URBAN LIFE, AND NEW ORGANISATIONS ARE COMING INTO BEING AMONG OUR URBAN COMMUNITY TO RESTORE ORDER AND TRANQUILITY TO THE DISORDERLY PARTS OF OUR SOCIETY.+
MR. AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT TSUEN WAN ALREADY HAD MORE THAN 490,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN HOUSING ESTATES, WHILE ANOTHER THREE ESTATES WOULD BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR AND ANOTHER SEVEN WERE BEING PLANNED.
♦IN THE 196OS, THE FIRST PRIORITY WAS HOUSING AND NOW IN TSUEN WAN WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS TASK TO MAKE UP DEFICIENCIES IN COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
♦BUT WE HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS : LAST YEAR SAW THE OPENING OF A DIVISIONAL POLICE STATION IN KWAI CHUNG, A SEVEN-POOL SWIMMING CENTRE AND A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.+
THIS YEAR, HE SAID, THE EMPHASIS WOULD BE ON THE PROVISION OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND THE PLANNING OF A TOWN HALL. BY 1980, IT WAS HOPED TO COMPLETE 25 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.
THE +NEWER NEW TOWNS+ OF SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN EACH HAD ONE HOUSING ESTATE, ANOTHER CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND LAND FORMATION ON A VAST SCALE FOR FUTURE BUILDING.
♦IN THESE TOWNS, FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVIDED TO KEEP PACE WITH THE BUILD-UP OF POPULATION,+ MR. AKERS-JONES SAID. ♦IN THE LEK YUEN ESTATE, AT SHA TIN, PARTICULAR EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL AREAS, PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS, MARKETS AND SHOPS.+
MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE THE LEAD IN DEVELOPMENT, PRIVATE ENTERPRISE HAD A VITAL ROLE.
♦WE MUST HAVE FACTORIES TO PROVIDE WORK, PRIVATE EFFORT OVER ALL THE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENT - COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, EDUCATION AND HOUSING - IF THE NEW TOWNS ARE TO DEVELOP A LIFE OF THEIR OWN.+
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/19
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976.
19
NEW REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS ******
MR. YIU YAN-NANG TODAY SUCCEEDS MR. TSANG TAT-SING AS REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS.
MR. YIU, AGED 41, WAS FORMERLY A SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER. HE FIRST JOINED THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE AS A HEALTH INSPECTOR II IN 1957 AND WAS APPOINTED, ON TRANSFER, AS AN ASSISTANT LABOUR OFFICER IN 1965. HE WAS PROMOTED TO LABOUR OFFICER IN 1969 AND TO SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER IN 1973. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS TWO CHILDREN.
MR. TSANG, WHO IS AGED 55, WAS FIRST APPOINTED AS A TEMPORARY INTERPRETER IN 1951 AND PROMOTED TO INTERPRETER/ TRANSLATOR IN 1952. HE HAS BEEN IN THE REGISTRY OF TRADE UNIONS FOR 21 YEARS, HAVING SERVED SUCCESSIVELY AS AN ASSISTANT REGISTRAR FROM 1955, DEPUTY REGISTRAR FROM 1969 AND AS REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS FROM 1973. MR. TSANG IS MARRIED.
- - 0 - -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHAM SHU I PO
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A NUMBER OF STREETS IN SHAM SHU I PO WILL BE ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TO ONE-WAY FROM FRIDAY (OCTOBER 29).
THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE AIMED AT IMPROVING TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROVISION OF ON-STREET PARKING SPACES IN THE AREA.
FROM 10 A.M. ON THAT DAY KING LAM STREET BETWEEN TAI NAN STREET AND TUNG CHAU STREET WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND, KING LAM STREET BETWEEN KOM TSUN STREET AND TUNG CHAU STREET WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND, TUNG CHAU STREET BETWEEN KING LAM STREET AND WING HONG STREET WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND AND KOM TSUN STREET BETWEEN KING LAM STREET AND WING HONG STREET WILL BE ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED TO ADVISE MOTORISTS.
- - 0 -
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Thursday, October 28, 1976
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WORTH $1.2 MILLION ORDERED BY HOUSING AUTHORITY
Playground equipment valued at almost $350,000 has been ordered for public housing estates so far this year.
A Housing Authority spokesman said there were 10 different types of equipment, including slides, activity equipment, see-saws, swings and roundabouts.
He said more than 100 of the items had already been installed in 13 estates and an additional 120 were on order. These would arrive early next year and be installed in 11 estates.
The spokesman said a further order was about to be placed for supplying a total of 4?6 items at a cost of more than $870,000, bringing the total cost of playground equipment installed or ordered this year by the Housing Authority to more than $1.2 million.
The orders have been awarded to a leading playground equipment manufacturer in Britain.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
DRAFT QUARRY BAY OUTLINE ZONING PLAN ............. 1
HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARINE DEPARTMENT ....... 2
WORKERS MAY GET MORE REST DAYS ................... 3
FIRING PRACTICE ...............................
LAND RESUMED FOR S33 MILLION SEWAGE SYSTEM IN TSUEN
WAN ...........................................
COLOUR POSTERS ON FIRE PREVENTION .............
WEATHERMAN TO ATTEND MEET I NG IN GENEVA ......... 6
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL .................. 6
EIGHT ADDITIONAL RATING AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES
HOLIDAY POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS ...................
SEPTEMBER BANKING STATISTICS ..................
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
DRAFT QUARRY BAY OUTLINE ZONING PLAN
******
SEVENTEEN NEW SCHOOLS, AN URBAN CLINIC AND A HOST OF OTHER COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE PROPOSED FOR QUARRY BAY UNDER A NEW DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN PREPARED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD.
THE DRAFT PLAN COVERS A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 181 HECTARES OF WHICH 31 HECTARES WILL BE FORMED BY FUTURE RECLAMATION ALONG THE WATERFRONT NORTH OF TAI KOO DOCKYARD.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD SAID TODAY THAT MOST OF THE NEW COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PLANNED FOR THE DISTRICT’S ESTIMATED FUTURE POPULATION OF 87,000 BY 1991 WOULD BE LOCATED ON THE RECLAIMED LAND.
♦THESE WILL INCLUDE A NEw URBAN CLINIC, RECREATIONAL GROUNDS, GARDENS, A MULTI-STOREY CARPARK, MARKET, FOODSTALLS AND SOME INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THE PLAN ALSO INCORPORATED PROPOSALS FOR EXTENSIVE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTRICT INCLUDING A NEW COASTAL ROAD TO LINK UP WITH THE PROPOSED EASTERN CORRIDOR ROUTE FROM CAUSEWAY BAY.
THE EASTERN CORRIDOR SCHEME, DESIGNED BY P.W'.D. ROAD PLANNERS, ENVISAGES A MAJOR HIGHWAY RUNNING FROM WATERFRONT ROAD ALONG THE COASTLINE OF NORTH POINT TO QUARRY BAY AND CONNECTING TO A POSSIBLE BRIDGE TO LEI YUE MUN VIA AN ELEVATED ROAD THROUGH SHAU KEI WAN.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERS ARE NOW CONDUCTING SOI' TESTS FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION AT THE CAUSEWAY BAY-NORTH POINT END IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR.
THE DRAFT PLAN PROVIDES ABOUT FIVE HECTARES FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, ABOUT FIVE HECTARES FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, 15 HECTARES FOR INDUSTRIAL USE, AiND SEVEN HECTARES FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, PLAYGROUNDS, COMMUNITY CENTRES AND MARKETS.
A TOTAL OF 20.4 HECTARES IS EARMARKED FOR INCLUDING A HUGE STRETCH ALONG THE WATERFRONT. HECTARES FOR OPEN SPACE IS RESERVED WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
OPEN SPACE, ANOTHER 2.5
TAI KOO DOCKYARD
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO THE VARIOUS OPEN SPACES, 86 HECTARES HAD BEEN SET ASIDE FOR GREEN BELT TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF THE DISTRICT.
FHIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
2
+THIS GREEN BELT AREA COVERS THE HILLSIDE TO THE WEST OF TAI KOO RESERVOIR AND THE AREA SOUTH OF TAI KOO DOCKYARD, AND IN THE LONGTERM PART OF IT MAY BE DEVELOPED INTO A COUNTRY PARK + HE SAID. ’
. .u.COP'ES OF THE DRAFT PLAN, TOGETHER W I TH A NEW SET OF NOTES WHICH DEFINc THE PERMITTED USES AS WELL AS THOSE WHICH MAY BE EXCEPTIONALLY PERMITTED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD, MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE C.p.O. (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE THE C.D.O. (EASTERN) AND AT THE P.W.D.’S TOWN PLANNING OFFICE.
UNDER A notICE PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ANY PERSON OBJECTING TO THE PLAN OR NOTES SHOULD SUBMIT HIS OBJECTIONS IrNL?^0RE,DECEME£F' 28 ’ 1976 T0 THE SECRETARY OF THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD, C/O PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING HONG KONG.
COPIES OF THE DRAFT PLAN MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE P.W.D.’S CROPLANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, AT
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HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARINE DEPARTMENT
*****
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ITS WAN CHAI PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA AND PORT COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE a ILL BE OPENED AS USUAL ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 1), WHICH IS A GENERAL HOLIDAY.
THE VICTORIA SMALL CRAFT LICENSING OFFICE WILL ALSO BE OPEN FROM 9 A.M. TO 11 A.M. AND THE MACAU FERRY WHARF UNIT OFFICES FROM 7.30 A.M. TO 1.30 A.M. THE NEXT DAY.
ALL OTHER SECTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE CLOSED ON THAT DAY.
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/3
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
WORKERS MAY GET MORE REST DAYS
******
WORKERS IN HONG KONG WILL GET ONE REST DAY IN EVERY SEVEN-DAY PERIOD INSTEAD OF FOUR REST DAYS A MONTH, IF A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ARE ALREADY NOT ALLOWED TO BE EMPLOYED FOR MORE THAN SIX DAYS IN ANY WEEK UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS WHILE ALL EMPLOYEES TO WHOM PART 4 OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE APPLIES ARE AT PRESENT ENTITLED TO NOT LESS THAN FOUR REST DAYS IN A MONTH.
THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) EILL 1976 IS PUBLISHED TODAY (OCTOBER 29) IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND IF PASSED, WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 2, 1977.
THIS AMENDMENT TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REST DAYS IN A YEAR FROM 48 TO 52. IT AFFECTS ALL NON-MANUAL WORKERS EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH AND ALL MANUAL WORKERS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.
A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: +SINCE 1970 WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR FOUR REST DAYS A MONTH, THE TAKING OF REGULAR REST DAYS BY HONG KONG’S HARDWORKING POPULATION HAS BECOME A REGULAR FEATURE.+
HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT EXISTING PROVISIONS WERE RETAINED IN THE ORDINANCE TO PERMIT FLEXIBILITY TO EMPLOYERS IN SUBSTITUTING ALTERNATIVE REST DAYS.
- 0 - -
FIRING PRACTICE
*****
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE ON CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON TWO DAYS NEXT MONTH.
THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING THE TIME OF THE FIRING PRACTICE.
THE PRACTICE TIMES ARE FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. ON NOVERMBER 11 (THURSDAY) AND FROM 8 A.M. TO 4 P.M. ON NOVERMBER 12 (FRIDAY).
- 0 - -
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
4
LAND RESUMED FOR $33 MILLION SEWAGE SYSTEM IN TSUEN WAN *****
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY TOOK A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS PROVIDING TSUEN WAN WITH A NEW $33 MILLION SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM WHICH WILL AT THE SAME TIME ELIMINATE ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES OF POLLUTION IN THE NEW TOWN.
A NOTICE IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ANNOUNCED THAT JUST OVER 80,000 SQUARE FEET OF AGRICULTURAL AND BUILDING LAND AT KWAI CHUNG IS TO BE RESUMED FOR THE BIG PROJECT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TSUEN WAN MANAGEMENT OFFICE SAID TODAY THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANNED TO BEGIN WORK ON THE FIRST STAGE -- A PUMPING STATION -- IN ABOUT ONE MONTH’S TIME.
THE SECOND STAGE INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LINK SEWER BETWEEN KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED: +AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE THE UNSATISFACTORY SITUATION WHERE RAW SEWAGE IS DISCHARGED TO THE FORESHORES OF TSUEN WAN WHICH IN TURN HAS CAUSED POLLUTION.
+THIS NEW PROJECT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM, SO THAT IT WILL HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE LAND RESUMPTION FOR THE NEW PROJECT WOULD MEAN THAT A TOTAL OF 124 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEARED.
+0F THESE, THERE ARE 14 FAMILIES LIVING IN DOMESTIC STRUCTURES AND THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE WILL BE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING IN TSUEN WAN+, HE SAID.
+THOSE WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE WILL BE OFFERED A PLACE IN A RESITE AREA.
+THE RESUMPTION WILL ALSO INVOLVE EX-GRATIA CASH PAYMENTS FOR SHOPS, WORKSHOPS AND FACTORIES AS WELL AS PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION FOR CROPS, FRUIT TREES AND THE LIKE.+
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/5......
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
5
COLOUR POSTERS ON FIRE PREVENTION
******
THREE FULL-COLOUR POSTERS ARE NOW APPEARING IN VARIOUS PARTS OF HONG KONG FOLLOWING THE LAUNCHING OF THE CURRENT FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN.
THE POSTERS, ILLUSTRATING A MAJOR URBAN FIRE, A SQUATTER FIRE AND A COUNTRYSIDE FIRE RESPECTIVELY, CARRY THE SAME SLOGAN s +THE HIGH COST OF CARELESSNESS - PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY+.
A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID THE OBJECT OF THE POSTERS WAS TO DRAW PEOPLE’S ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT CARELESSNESS WAS THE CAUSE OF MOST FIRES.
HE EXPLAINED : +THROWING AWAY A LIGHTED CIGARETTE END IS CARELESSNESS, SO IS LEAVING MATCHES AROUND.*
DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, OVERTURN OF KEROSENE STOVES AND IMPROPER HANDLING OF LPG STOVES ALSO ACCOUNT FOR THOUSANDS OF FIRES EVERY YEAR.
+ALTHOUGH WE ARE CONSTANTLY WARNING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE INCREASING DANGER FROM FIRE AND URGING THEM TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +THE NUMBER OF FIRES CONTINUES TO GO UP.+
STATISTICS COMPILED BY THE DEPARTMENT SHOWED THAT CLOSE TO 6,000 FIRES BROKE OUT IN THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THIS YEAR RESULTING IN 23 PEOPLE KILLED AND 351 INJURED.
+ THE FIGURES REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OF 50 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR AND IN FACT MOST OF THE FIRES COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CARE WAS TAKEN,* HE STRESSED.
HE URGED ALL SMOKERS, HOUSEWIVES AS WELL AS WORKERS TO BE CAREFUL AT ALL TIME ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN THE HUMIDITY IS LOW AND FIRES CAN START EASILY.
UNLESS EXTRA PRECAUTIONS WERE TAKEN, HE WARNED, 1976 COULD BE A RECORD YEAR FOR FIRES, INJURIES AND DEATHS.
HE SAID THAT THE FIRE SERVICES HAS PRODUCED A NUMBER OF BOOKLETS ON FIRE PREVENTION WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU ON THE 11TH FLOOR OF ASIAN HOUSE.
THESE BOOKLETS, PUBLISHED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, COVER A WIDE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS, INCLUDING +HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM FIRE*, +ELECTRICAL SAFETY*, +SMOKI NG AND MATCHES*, +WINTER PRECAUTIONS* AND +HINTS ON THE SAFE USE OF KEROSENE AND GAS APPLIANCES*.
THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FIRES DURING THE DRY MONTHS.
0 -------
/6
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
6 -
WEATHERMAN TO ATTEND MEETING IN GENEVA
*****
MR. PATRICK SHAM PAK, SENIOR SCIENTIFIC OFFICER OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, LEFT FOR GENEVA TODAY TO REPRESENT HONG KONG AT THE EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION COMMISSION FOR BASIC SYSTEMS.
THE W.M.O. MEETING WILL DEAL WITH MATTERS CONCERNING THE WORLD WEATHER WATCH SYSTEM, DATA PROCESSING AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE OF DATA OVER THE GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE PROVISION OF WEATHER AND WARNING SERVICES TO ALL USERS.
- - 0 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL
*****
THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL BETwEEN ICE HOUSE STREET AND PEDDER STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC BETWEEN MIDNIGHT TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AND 5.30 A.M. ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 31).
THIS IS TO ENABLE TRAM RAILS FOR THE NEW TRAM TRACK DIVERSION TO BE CONNECTED AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PEDDER STATION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
TRAM SERVICES WILL FINISH EARLIER THAN USUAL TOMORROW NIGHT AND PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED THAT THE LAST DEPARTURES ON WESTBOUND SERVICES OPERATING BEYOND WAN CHAI WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
* FROM SHAU KEI WAN TO WESTERN MARKET - 11.25 P.M.
* FROM NORTH POINT TO WHITTY STREET - 11.35 P.M.
* FROM HAPPY VALLEY TO KENNEDY TOWN - 11.42 P.M.
* FROM HAPPY VALLEY TO WESTERN MARKET - 11.42 P.M.
THE LAST EASTBOUND SERVICES WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
* FROM KENNEDY TOWN - 12.04 A.M.
* FROM WHITTY STREET - 12.10 A.M.
THE TRAM SERVICE BETWEEN SHAU KEI WAN AND HAPPY VALLEY WILL BE MAINTAINED AS USUAL. NORMAL SERVICES WILL BE RESUMED ON SUNDAY MORNING (OCTOBER 31).
ALL CHINA MOTOR BUS AND KME BUS ROUTES INCLUDING THE ALL NIGHT CROSS-HARBOUR ROUTE 121 wHICH PASS THROUGH THE ABOVE SECTION OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL ON WESTBOUND JOURNEYS WILL EE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, WHERE TEMPORARY BUS STOPS WILL BE PROVIDED. *
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/7
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
- 7 -
EIGHT ADDITIONAL RATING AREAS IN N.T.
******
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS SPECIFIED EIGHT ADDITIONAL RATING AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
AT THE SAME TIME, EXISTING RATING AREAS FOR HONG KONG, KOWLOON/NEW K,OWLOON, TSUEN WAN/KWAI CHUNG AND TSI NG Yl HAVE BEEN RESPECIFIED BY REFERENCE TO PLANS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT RATES WOULD BE CHARGED IN THE ADDITIONAL AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.
THE SPECIFIED AREAS, GAZETTED TODAY, ARE:
AREAS F2 - 4: PING SHAN, KIU TAU WAI AND TAI SHANG WAI
AREAS H3 - 4: FANLING AND FANLING (WEST) (AN AREA AROUND
THE ROYAL HONG KONG GOLF CLUB AND ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB BEAS RIVER STABLES)
AREA J2: TIN PING SHAN NEAR SHEK WU HUI
AREA M4: THE REMAINING PART OF THE CLEAR WATER BAY PENINSULA
AREA Nl: HEBE HAVEN, SAI KUNG AND TAI MONG TSAI
THE RESPECIFIED AREA E, PREVIOUSLY ENCOMPASSING A COASTAL STRIP OF TSING Yl ISLAND, NOW COMPRISES THE WHOLE OF THE ISLAND AND NGA YING CHAU.
THE RESPECIFI CAT I ON OF HONG KONG, KOWLOON/NEW KOWLOON AND TSUEN WAN/KWAI CHUNG WILL HAVE LITTLE IMMEDIATE EFFECT, ALTHOUGH A FEW PROPERTIES FORMERLY JUST OUTSIDE THE FORMER BOUNDARIES ARE NOW INCLUDED.
THE RESPECIFICATION TAKES ACCOUNT OF THE PHYSICAL CHANGES WHICH HAVE OCCURED IN RECENT YEARS AND WHICH ARE PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE.
COPIES OF THE PLANS OF THESE AREAS MAY BE SEEN AT THE OFFICES OF THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT AT NO. 1 GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG (ENQUIRERS SHOULD ASK FOR EITHER MR. B.J.C. WOODROFFE OR MR. CHAU CHUN-SING), OR AT THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT OFFICE FOR AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
------0 - - - -
HOLIDAY POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS * * *
THE
POSTMASTER GENERAL'ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THERE wOULD EE ONE DELIVERY OF MAIL ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 1), WHICH IS A GENERAL HOLIDAY.
ON THAT DAY, 32 POST OFFICES, INCLUDING THE GENERAL OFFICE, THE KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE AND THE TSIM SHA POST OFFICE, WILL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS FROM 9 A.M. TO 12
POST TSUI NOON.
ALL OTHER POST OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1976
8 -
SEPTEMBER BANKING STATISTICS
******
BANKING DEPOSITS AS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER STOOD AT $41 532 MILLION, COMPRISING $11,050 MILLION IN DEMAND DEPOSITS $15 503 MILLION IN TIME DEPOSITS AND $14,979 MILLION IN SAVINGS DEPOSITS.
THERE WERE 74 LICENSED BANKS IN HONG KONG AS AT SEPTEMBER.
THE FOLLOWING TABLES RELEASED TODAY GIVES A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF AND MONEY SUPPLY FOR THE MONTH
BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING BANK LIABILITIES AND ASSETS
$MILL ION
LIABILITIES
1. DEPOSITS
2. AMOUNT DUE TO BANKS ABROAD
3. OTHER LIABILITIES
41,532
27,985
8,724
TOTAL LIABILITIES 78,241
ASSETS
1. CASH
799
2. AMOUNT DUE FROM BANKS ABROAD:
(I) DEMAND AND SHORT TERM CLAIMS
(II) TIME DEPOSITS
21,979
3,179 25,158
3. LOANS AND ADVANCES: ( I) HONG KONG (II) ABROAD
27,925
13,318 41,243
4. INVESTMENTS:
( I) HONG KONG
(II) ABROAD
3,177
66 3,243
/OTHER ASSETS: ......
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29. 1976
5. OTHER ASSETS:
(I) HONG KONG
(II) ABROAD
4,238
3,560
7,798
TOTAL ASSETS
78,241
AVERAGE LIQUIDITY DURING MONTH
46.85%
MONEY SUPPLY
SMILL ION
1. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN CIRCULATION (A)
(I) COMMERCIAL BANK ISSUES 4,495
(II) GOVERNMENT ISSUES 420 4,915
2. LICENSED BANKS’ HOLDINGS OF LEGAL TENDER COINS
AND NOTES (B) 799
3. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN HANDS OF NON-EANK
PUBLIC (A) - (E) - (C) 4,116
4. DEMAND DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (D) 11,350
5. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 1) (C) + (D) = (E) 15,166
6. TIME DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (F) 15,503
7. SAVINGS DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (G) 14,979
8. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 2) (E) + (F) + (G) = (H) 45,646
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
REPORT ON STUDY OF FEASIBILITY OF INTRODUCING NUCLEAR
POWER GENERATION TO HONG KONG WILL BE PUBLISHED .............. 1
SOME 80,000 PATIENTS REGAINED STRENGTH LAST YEAR THROUGH PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT ...................................
LOW-DENSITY DEVELOPMENT ON CHEUNG CHAU ....................... 3
GOVERNOR TO OPEN SIXTH ASIAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ......... 4
HONG KONG - SYDNEY AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT .................... 4
FURTHER TRAFFIC CHANGES IN NORTH P&INT ....................... 5
CITY HALL -- A MAJOR CULTURAL CENTRE IN THE FAR EAST ......... 6
NEW POLICE STATION FOR HO MAN TIN .......................... 7
WATER CUT IN CASTLE PEAK ROAD ................................ 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 33, 1976
1
STUDY ON NUCLEAR POWER IN H.K.
* * K H
BY AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CO LTD, PENINSULAR ELECTRIC POWER CO LTD, AND THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC CO LTD, THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) IN 1975 UNDERTOOK A STUDY OF THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF INTRODUCING NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION TO HONG KONG.
A STEERING GROUP, WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE POWER COMPANIES, WAS ESTABLISHED TO CO-ORDINATE INFORMATION AND TO CONSIDER THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY. THE AGENCY’S REPORT, +NUCLEAR POWER PLANNING STUDY FOR HONG KONG+, WAS PRESENTED TO THE STEERING GROUP EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND WILL BE PUBLISHED.
THE STEERING GROUP HAVE REPORTED THEIR APPRECIATION OF THE VERY EXTENSIVE AND USEFUL ANALYSIS UNDERTAKEN BY IAEA, AND AFTER A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF THE REPORT REACHED THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS:
(A) IT WOULD BE TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE TO INTRODUCE NUCLEAR POWER IN HONG KONG, AND ADEQUATE SAFETY STANDARDS COULD BE ENSURED.
(B) UNDER THE ASSUMPTIONS USED BY THE IAEA, NUCLEAR GENERATION SHOWED A SMALL ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE OVER CONVENTIONAL GENERATION. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTIES AS TO THE TREND OF RELATIVE FUEL PRICES OVER THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS OR SO, AND THE FURTHER UNCERTAINTIES AS TO THE FINAL CAPITAL COST OF BUILDING THE FIRST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN HONG KONG, THE APPARENT ADVANTAGE CF NUCLEAR POWER WAS TOO SMALL, TOO UNCERTAIN, AND SPREAD OVER TOO LONG A TIME SPAN.
(C) THE CAPITAL COST OF NUCLEAR PLANT, AT US$800 PER KW (1975 PRICES) IS SOME THREE OR FOUR TIMES THE COST FOR CONVENTIONAL PLANT. EVEN IF THE PROGRAMME WERE CONFINED TO TWO NUCLEAR PLANTS AT 600 MW EACH, THE CAPITAL COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY HK$5 BILLION, AS OPPOSED TO A SUM WELL UNDER HK$2 BILLION FOR CONVENTIONAL PLANT OF THE SAME CAPACITY. IT WOULD THEREFORE POSE THE QUESTION OF RAISING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL FINANCE, WHICH IN VIE*. OF THE FACTORS ALREADY MENTIONED, AND AGAINST THE COMPETING CLAIMS OF POSSIBLY MORE IMPORTANT PROJECTS, aOULD BE NEITHER EASY NOR JUSTIFIABLE.
THE STEERING GROUP AGREED THAT, UNLESS THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT FUTURE CHANGES IN ANY OF THE ECONOMIC OR FINANCIAL CIRCU-STANCES PERTAINING TO A NUCLEAR PROJECT, IT SHOULD NOT BE PURSUED ANY FURTHER.
0
/2
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1976
2
80,000 REGAIN STRENGTH THROUGH PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT
******
PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS HAVE HELPED SOME 80,000 PATIENTS REGAIN THEIR NORMAL PHYSICAL STRENGTH DURING 1975 — FOUR TIMES AS MANY AS IN 1961.
ATTENDANCES FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT LAST YEAR TOTALLED SOME 760,000 OR THREE TIMES THAT OF A DECADE AGO.
AS THE DEMAND FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY CONTINUES TO GROW, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED ITS PHYSIOTHERAPY STAFF FROM 79 TO MORE THAN 100 THIS YEAR.
MOST OF THE PHYSIOTHERAPISTS ARE TRAINED LOCALLY, AT THE DEPARTMENT’S PHYSIOTHERAPY TRAINING SCHOOL AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, WHICH OPENED IN I960.
FORTY-EIGHT STUDENTS PHYSIOTHERAPISTS ARE UNDERGOING A THREE-YEAR TRAINING COURSE. OF THESE, 14 WILL GRADUATE NEXT WEEK.
PHYSIOTHERAPY IS A METHOD BY WHICH A CURE IS ATTEMPTED THROUGH NATURAL PHYSICAL EXERCISE. PATIENTS COMMONLY REQUIRING PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT INCLUDE VICTIMS OF TRAUMA, FRACTURES, ..TROKES, ARTHRITIS, SPINAL SPONDYLOSIS, AND CHEST DISEASES. CHILDREN WHO HAVE HAD BRAIN DAMAGE ALSO BENEFIT FROM SUCH TREATMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID: +PHYSIOTHERAPY PLAYS
A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HEALTH SERVICE AS AN EARLY RETURN TO’ NORMAL PHYSICAL CONDITION CONTRIBUTES TO A SPEEDIER TURNOVER IN HOSPITAL EEDS.+
IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THAT A PATIENT COULD RESUME HIS OCCUPATION WITHOUT A LENGTHY AND NON-PRODUCTIVE CONVALESCENCE, HE SAID.
PHYSIOTHERAPY IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO VICTIMS OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, WHO VERY OFTEN ARE THE SOLE BREADWINNERS IN A FAMILY, HE ADDED.
PHYSIOTHERAPY FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, KOWLOON HOSPITAL, THE KOWLOON REHABILITATION CENTRE, THE WAN CHAI POLYCLINIC, TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL, PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AND THE DAVID TRENCH REHABILITATION CENTRE.
THERE IS A PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE IN SOME GOVERNMENT ASSISTED HOSPITALS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE 14 STUDENT PHYSIOTHERAPISTS WILL EE HELD AT THE PHYSIOTHERAPY TRAINING SCHOOL AT BLOCi DI, QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AT 3.30 P.M. ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4.
DR. G.H. CHOA, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, WILL ADDRESS THE GATHERING AND MRS. CHOA WILL PRESENT CERTIFICATES TO GRADUATES.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND A REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE CEREMONY.
-------o - - - -
/5........
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1976
LOW-DENSITY DEVELOPMENT ON CHEUNG CHAU
*****
sa^'XT’ THE ISLANDS distr,ct officfr
FOR ISLAND
SPEAKING AT THE OPEN DAY HOME ON CHEUNG CHAU, MR. TSUI PLAN FOR THE ISLAND WHICH IS:
CF THE SALVATION ARMY’S CHILDREN’S OUTLINED A FIVE-POINT DEVELOPMENT
* THE EXTENSIVE RATIONALISATION OF THE WATERFRONT THROUGH RECLAMATION AND SEAWALLS AND THE PROVISION OF A PROMENADE.
* PROVISION OF GREEN-BELT AREAS TO PREVENT OVER-DEVELOPMENT.
* PROVISION OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND OPEN SPACE SO THAT CHEUNG CHAU IS A SELF-CONTAINED ISLAND.
* GOVERNMENT RURAL HOUSING FOR 5,000 PEOPLE WHICH MR TSUI SAID WAS LOW-DENSITY HOUSING OF THREE OR FOUR STOREYS ?r~ PEOPLE LIVING IN SUB-STANDARD HOUSES ON CHEUNG CHAU A:.D NOT FOR RESITING PEOPLE FROM THE URBAN AREAS.
* NEW WORKSHOP AND VILLAGE-TYPE HOUSING AREAS TO PROVID-ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
MR. TSUI SAID: +THE PEACEFUL ISLAND OF CHEUNG CHAU WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT WILL INEVITABLY BECOME AN ATTRACTION FCR PEOPLE TO COME HERE TO LIVE.
♦FURTHERMORE, THERE IS AN INCREASING DEMAND BY LOCAL PEOPLE IN CHEUNG CHAU FOR BIGGER AND BETTER HOUSING TO COPE WITH POPULATION EXPANSION AND BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING.+
♦THE PRESSURE OF DEVELOPMENT CALLS FOR A PARALLEL NEED FOR CHEUNG CHAU TO BE DEVELOPED ON A PROPER AND PLANNED BASIS TO AVOID OVERCROWD ING+.
MR. TSUI SAID THAT THIS WAS THE AIM OF THE REPORT ON TH-ENGI NEER I NG FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPMENT AT CHEUNG CHAU PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT’S CONSULTING ENGINEERS.
----0----
/A ........
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1976
GOVERNOR TO OPEN ASIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP X X X X X x X
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE WILL OPEN THE 6TH ASIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE MACPHERSON STADIUM ON TUESDAY.
APART FROM HONG KONG, SEVEN COUNTRIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP WHICH IS ORGANISED BY THE ASIAN BASKETBALL CONFEDERATION AND SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG AMATEUR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION.
THE SEVEN COUNTRIES ARE CHINA, JAPAN, THE PHILIPPINES SOUTH KOREA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE AND IRAN.
AMONG THE GUESTS ATTENDING THE OPENING CEREMONY ARE MR.
A. DE 0. SALES IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASIAN SPORTS FEDERATION AND PRESIDENT OF HONG KONG’S OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, MR. CHAM SIU-LEUN, PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG AMATEUR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (HKAEA) AND MR. M.C. CASWELL, HON. PRESIDENT OF HKABA.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY AT QUEEN ELIZABETH II YOUTH CENTRE, MACPHERSON STADIUM AT 2.50 P.M. ON TUESDAY.
- - 0 - -
H.K. - SYDNEY AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT * * * * *
AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED KINGDOM THAT THE PAN-AMERICAN AIRWAYS SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND SYDNEY WILL END NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 1977. IN THE MEANTIME THERE WILL EE A RESTRICTION ON THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED ON THAT SECTOR BY PAN-AMERICAN AIRWAYS.
THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AMICABLY REACHED IN THE COURSE OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ON AIR SERVICES WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN LONDON AND WASHINGTON. DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING ON THE BROADER ASPECTS OF AIR SERVICES BETWEEN U.K. AND U.S.A.
- 0 - -
/5
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1976. - 5 -
FURTHER TRAFFIC CHANGES IN NORTH POINT
-X -X -X * * *
THE NEXT STAGE OF THE NORTH POINT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME WILL BE INTRODUCED AT 10 A.M. ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2.
UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, THE RIGHT-TURNING MOVEMENT FROM TH" WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KING’S ROAD INTO NORTH POINT NORTHBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED AND VEHICLES REQUIRING TO ENTER THIS SECTION OF NORTH POINT ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA A LEFT TURN INTO CHEUNG HONG STREET TO TRAVEL VIA FORT STREET AND NORTH VIEW STREET.
AT THE SAME TIME, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM OPERATING ALONG CHEUNG HONG STREET AND NORTH VIEW STREET BECAUSE OF THE CONGESTION THEY HAVE BEEN CAUSING IN NORTH VIEW STREET, WHERE ALL TRAFFIC HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL FREQUENTLY DUE TO DOUBLE PARKING.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN DISCLOSED TODAY THAT THE FINAL STAGE OF THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME FOR THE NORTH POINT AREA WOULD BE INTRODUCED AT THE END OF NOVEMBER INVOLVING THE BAN ON THE RIGHT-TURNING MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES FROM THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KING’S ROAD' INTO SHU KUK STREET.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE PLB STAND IN HARBOUR PARADE AT THE NORTH POINT FERRY CONCOURSE WILL BE MOVED TO A NEW OFF-STREET STAND AT THE JUNCTION OF JAVA ROAD AND TIN CHIU STREET NEAR THE VEHICULAR FERRY PIER.
THE NEW STAND, WHICH WILL HAVE A CAPACITY FOR ABOUT 50 PLBS AT ONE TIME, WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE CONGESTION IN SHU KUK STREET AND HARBOUR PARADE AND ENABLE GOODS VEHICLES TO LOAD AND UNLOAD OUTSIDE THE NORTH POINT CENTRE ESTATE IN HARBOUR PARADE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY FOR THE NORTH POINT FERRY BUS TERMINUS TO BE ENLARGED TO CATER FOR ADDITIONAL BUS ROUTES TO BE INTRODUCED TO SERVE THE GROWING TRANSPORT DEMANDS IN THE AREA.
THE PROPOSALS INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF A COVERED CANOPY OVER THE ENLARGED TERMINUS WITH PEDESTRIAN WAYS FROM THE FERRY PIER TO THE DEPARTURE BAYS. THREE NEW BUS ROUTES WILL BE INTRODUCED. THEY ARE ROUTE 41 TO WAH FU ESTATE VIA LAI TAK TSUEN AND ABERDEEN, ROUTE 84 TO A KUNG NGAM VIA QUARRY BAY AND SHAU KEI WAN AND ROUTE 26 TO TAI HANG DRIVE VIA BRAEMAR HILL.
AGREEMENT HAS ALSO BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND CHINA MOTOR BUS THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, NINE SEPARATE BUS SERVICES WOULD BE SERVING NORTH POINT FERRY PIER INVOLVING THE OPERATION OF OVER 100 BUSES PER HOUR.
/COMMENTING .....
6 -
SATURDAY, OCTOBER JO, 1976
COMMENTING ON THE RECENT ADVERSE CRITICISM OF VARIOUS TRAFFIC CHANGES IN THE NORTH POINT AREA, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT TRENCH WORKS BY EOTH THE ELECTRICITY AND GAS COMPANIES HAD MADE IT NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE THE “RAFF IC MANAGEMENT SCHEME EARLIER THAN INTENDED AND IN STAGES RATHER THAN ALL AT ONCE AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
TO MITIGATE EFFECTS OF CABLELAYING WORK IN ELECTRIC ROAD AND JAVA ROAD, STAGE ONE OF THIS SCHEME HAD BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD.
THE SPOKESMAN FELT THAT UNTIL THE FULL SCHEME CAME INTO OPERATION AND TWO-WAY TRAFFIC RETURNED IN JAVA ROAD IT WAS PREMATURE TC JUDGE WHETHER IT HAD SUCCEEDED.
- - 0 - -
CITY HALL - MAJOR CULTURAL CENTRE IN FAR EAST X X X X X X
THE URBAN COUNCIL’S CITY HALL CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN ITS LEADING POSITION AS A MAJOR CULTURAL CENTRE IN THE FAR EAST ’» LAST YEAR, WITH HOSTS OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS PERFORMING IN ITS CONCERT HALL AND THEATRE.
DURING THE 12 MONTHS ENDING ON MARCH 31 THIS YEAR, THERE WERE OVER 750 CONCERTS, OPERAS, FILMS, DRAMAS AND DANCES WHICH ATTRACTED MORE THAN 595,000 PEOPLE.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE YEAR’S ARTISTIC EVENTS WAS THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL 1976 PRESENTED EY THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL SOCIETY IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE URBAN COUNCIL.
DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, THE SEVEN BRANCH LIBRARIES IN THE URBAN AREAS AND ONE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ACQUIRED ABOUT 78,830 VOLUMES OF BOOKS, BRINGING THE TOTAL STOCK TO SOME 728,750 VOLUMES.
THE COUNCIL’S LENDING LIBRARIES PROVED TO BE INCREASINGLY POPULAR WITH THE NUMBER OF BOOKS BORROWED FOR HOME READING REACHING A RECORD FIGURE OF 3.5 MILLION VOLUMES, AN INCREASE OF 12 PER CENT OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE NUMBER OF BOOKS READ IN THE LIBRARIES WENT UP BY EIGHT PER CENT.
THE REFERENCE LIBRARIES RECORDED A TOTAL USAGE OF 425,344 BOOKS.
THE MUSEUM OF ART IN THE CITY HALL AND THE NEW MUSEUM OF HISTORY IN STAR HOUSE WERE ALSO A BIG ATTRACTION TO BOTH THE PUBLIC AND TOURISTS.
STATISTICS SHOWED THAT DURING THE YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF 720 PEOPLE VISITED THE MUSEUM OF ART EACH DAY WHILE THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY EXCEEDED 2,038 PEOPLE A DAY.
0 - -
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1976
7
NEW POLICE STATION FOR HOMANTIN
*****
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO BUILD A NEW DIVISIONAL POLICE STATION AT HOMANTIN.
TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMPLEX, WHICH WILL OCCUPY A 3,720-SQUARE METRE SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD AND CHUNG MAN STREET, ARE NOW BEING CALLED.
MR. K.M. TSENG, CHIEF P.W.D. ARCHITECT, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) CONSTRUCTION WOULD BEGIN IN DECEMBER AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 19 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
HE SAID THE STATION WOULD SERVE THE HOMANTIN AREA WHICH IS NOW BEING DEVELOPED INTO A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
+THE ESTIMATED POPULATION FOR THE AREA IS ABOUT 179,030 BY 1991,+ MR. TSENG SAID.
+THE NEW STATION WILL BE OF Trffe STANDARD DESIGN COMPRISING A 16-STOREY BUILDING, A SINGLE-STOREY SERVICES BLOCK AND A COMPOUND. THE NEW BUILDING WILL HOUSE NORMAL POLICE OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, BARRACKS, RECREATION ROOMS AND CANTEEN.
+DOG KENNELS, STORE ROOMS, CARPARKS AND SERVICE FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR IN THE SINGLE-STOREY BLOCK.+
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WATER CUT
X X X X
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES AND VILLAGES IN CASTLE PEAK WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 13 P.M. ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 2) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT WORK ON A FRESH WATER MAIN IN THE AREA.
AFFECTED WILL BE ALL PREMISES AND VILLAGES ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD FROM TAI LAM CHUNG TO CASTLE PEAK VILLAS.
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Saturday, October 30, 1976
1,000 LIFTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE -
AUTHORITY SPENDS S6 MILLION ON MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
More than 1,000 lifts are in use at least 18 hours every day ferrying millions of people through the Housing Authority’s high rise domestic blocks scattered all over Hong Kong.
The cost to the Authority of maintaining these lifts is about $6 million this year and this will rise to $8 million next year as more new estates are completed.
To ensure that these lifts function smoothly, a team of 11 technicians headed by a Building Services Inspector carries out regular inspections on the contractors’ work.
Mr. H.K. Wong, Assistant Building Services Engineer of the Housing Department, who is in charge of this team, said: ”We are now trying out a scratch-proof stainless steel lift in Tsz Wan Shan Estate with the floor indication buttons recessed into the panel.
”We shall be observing this lift to see how sucessful it is and if it proves satisfactory similar models will be used in the new estates,” Mr Wong said.
These lifts are supplied and maintained by nine local firms, representing manufactureres from Europe, United Kingdom and Japan.
Meanwhile, some of the slower lifts in the older estate* are to be speeded up to reduce the waiting time for tenants. The older lifts travel at 100 feet per minute, but the new lifts have a speed of 300 feet per minute.
*******
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1976
GOLD COINS TO MARK YEAR OF THE SNAKE * * * * *
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT A LEGAL TENDER >1,300 GOLD COIN WILL BE ISSUED TO MARK THE COMING LUNAR NEW YEAR - THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE.
THIS IS THE SECOND OF A SERIES THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ISSUE OF 12 UNIQUE GOLD COINS EACH DEPICTING ONE OF THE 12 ANIMALS TRADITIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF PARTICULAR LUNAR YEARS. THE FIRST WAS ISSUED EARLY THIS YEAR TO MARK THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON.
THE OTHER ELEVEN ANIMALS IN THEIR ORDER ARE THE SNAKE, HORSE, GOAT, MONKEY, COCKEREL, DOG, PIG, RAT, OX, TIGER AND RABBIT.
THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE FALLS BETWEEN FEBRUARY 18, 1977 AND FEBRUARY 6, 1976. THE SNAKE IS, THEREFORE, THE BIRTHDAY ANIMAL FOR THOSE BORN BETWEEN THESE DATES.
THE SNAKE ALSO RULED OVER THE..FOLLOW I NG PERIODS! FEBRUARY
4, 1935 TO JANUARY 24, 1906= JANUARY 23, 1917 TO FEBRUARY 10, 1918-FEBRUARY 10, 1929 TO JANUARY 29, 1930- JANUARY 27, 1941 TO FEBRUARY 14, 1942- FEBRUARY 14, 1953 TO FEBRUARY 2, 1954- FEBRUARY 2, 1965 TO JANUARY 20, 1966.
SIMILAR TO THE DRAGON COIN WHICH WAS HEAVILY OVERSUBSCRIBED/ THE QUANTITY OF SNAKE COINS STRUCK WILL EE ABSOLUTELY LIMITED.
A MAXIMUM OF 10,300 PROOF COINS AND 23,300 UNCIRCULATED COINS WILL' BE MADE FOR SALE WORLD WIDE.
EACH COIN IS MADE OF 22 CARAT GOLD, WITH A STANDARD WEIGHT OF 15.976 GRAMMES AND A DIAMETER OF 28.4 MM (1.118 INCHES). IT HAS A PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN ON THE OBVERSE SIDE AND A PICTURE OF THE SNAKE ON THE REVERSE.
THEY MAY EE BOUGHT IN BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED CONDITION
AT THEIR FACE VALUE OF SI,300 OR IN PROOF QUALITY AT 51,500. EACH COIN a ILL BE SUPPLIED WITH A DESCRIPTIVE BOOKLET AND PACKAGED IN AN ATTRACTIVE PRESENTATION CASE.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE INVITED SOME TIME IN DECEMBER/JANUARY FOR THE GOLD COINS, WHICH SHOULD EE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION BEFORE THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE ACTUALLY BEGINS.
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SUNDAY, OCTOESR 31, 1976
2
THIRTEEN SHIP FIRES * M *
SO FAR THIS YEAR * K
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S FIREBOATS WERE CALLED OUT TO PUT OUT 13 SHIP FIRES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
SOME OF THE FIRE FIGHTING BATTLES LASTED AS LONG AS EIGHT HOURS WHILE A NUMBER REQUIRED LESS THAN HALF-AN-HCUR TO PUT OUT.
OF THE TOTAL, SIX BROKE OUT ON OCEAN-GOING VESSELS AND THE REMAINING SEVEN INVOLVED FISHING JUNKS, A PLEASURE CRAFT AND A REFUSE EARGE.
ACCORDING TO A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN, FIREMEN EATTLCD A FIRE ON THE CARGO SHIP LEDESCO TRES AT JUNK BAY ON MARCH 24 FOR SEVEN HOURS AND 57 MINUTES. A LARGE QUANTITY OF FINISHED PLASTIC AND ELECTRICAL GOODS WAS DAMAGED.
IN ANOTHER INCIDENT ON MAY 3, IT TOOK FIREMEN THREE HOURS AND 41 MINUTES TO EXTINGUISH A BLAZE ON BOARD AN 8,OOG-TON CARGO VESSEL, STRAAT HONG KONG. THE FIRE INVOLVED 1,509 BAGS OF CHARCOAL WEIGHING MORE THAN 73 TONS.
FIREBOATS WERE TWICE CALLED OUT* TO THE GUARDSHIP CHICHESTER EARLY THIS YEAR. BOTH INCIDENTS LASTED LESS THAN 30 MINUTES. THE SHIP HAD SINCE SAILED BACK TO BRITAIN IN LATE MARCH AFTER THREE YEARS’ SERVICE IN HONG KONG.
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT PRESENT MAINTAINS A FLEET OF ' SIX BOATS TO CARRY OUT FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE DUTIES AT SEA.
OF THE SIX VESSELS, THE LARGEST IS THE 350-TON ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL OF ITS TYPE IN THE WORLD.
IT HAS AN OUTPUT CAPACITY OF 19,000 GALLONS OF WATER AND 7,309 GALLONS OF FOAM A MINUTE. IN ADDITION TO AN ARRAY OF FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, IT IS ALSO FITTED WITH A HYDRAULIC RESCUE AND WATER TOWER WITH A PLATFORM WHICH CAN BE RAISED TO A HEIGHT OF 60 F-’ET.
THE OTHERS VARY IN SIZE FROM A 40-F00T LAUNCH CAPABLE OF PUMPING 1,900 GALLONS A MINUTE TO A 94-TON VESSEL ,<HICH CAN PUMP 4,000 GALLONS A MINUTE.
BESIDES TACKLING FIRES ABOARD SHIPS, IMPORTANT ROLE IN FIGHTING OIL POLLUTION, FIRES.
THE FIREBOATS PLAY AN GRASS FIRES AND LAND
THE VESSELS ALSO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO DOCKSIDE WAREHOUSES, TIMBER YARDS AND OTHER WATERFRONT INSTALLATIONS.
0 - -
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1976
3
LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD ELECTION * * * *
THIS YEAR’S LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE CN NOVEMBER 2 (TUESDAY) AT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S REGIONAL OFFICE IN NE.'. RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY. IT ..ILL EE HELD BY SECRET EALLCT AT 11.00 A.M.
THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD IS A NON-STATUTORY BODY WHICH ADVISES THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ON MATTERS REFERRED BY HIM TO THE BOARD, INCLUDING PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AND CONVENTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION.
ACCORDING TO MRS. EVELYN T.C. PUN, THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD, A TOTAL OF 24 CANDIDATES HAD BEEN NOMINATED FOR ELECTION AND THEIR NAMES HAD BEEN SENT TO ALL EMPLOYEES’ UNIONS FOR INFORMATION.
+A REGISTERED WORKERS’ TRADE UNION WISHING TO VOTE SHOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ELECTION. THE REPRESENTATIVE MUST BRING WIT.- HIM A LETTER OF AUTHORISATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF HIS UNION AND A COPY OF THE CIRCULAR LETTER DATED OCTOBER 16, 1976 FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON THE SUBJECT,+ SHE ADDED.
0
WHAT IT COSTS TO LEARN TO DRIVE
******
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT ANYONE WISHING TO LEARN TO DRIVE MUST FIRST APPLY FOR A PROVISIONAL DRIVING LICENCE WHICH COSTS $100. THIS LICENCE IS VALID FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE DAY OF ISSUE.
WHEN THE LEARNER DRIVER FEELS HE IS COMPETENT TO TAKE A DRIVING TEST HE CAN APPLY FOR A TEST FORM WHICH COSTS $150. HE WILL THEN BE GIVEN A DATE FOR A WRITTEN TEST FOR WHICH THE PRESENT WAITING TIME IS ABOUT FOUR WEEKS.
IF HE PASSES THE WRITTEN TEST HE WILL THEN BE GIVEN A DATE FOR A ROAD TEST. CURRENTLY THE WAITING TIME FOR A ROAD TEST IS BETWEEN EIGHT TO TEN MONTHS.
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THERE WERE NO FURTHER CHARGES, APART FROM THE INITIAL $150, FOR THE ROAD TEST.
HE SAID THAT THE +DRIVER-0N-TE3T+ PLATES WHICfi ARE ATTACHED TO VEHICLES DURING DRIVING TESTS .-.ERE PROVIDED FREE BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO MAKE A REPORT TO THE I.C.A.C. OR THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IF THEY a-RE ASKED FOR MONEY IN CONNECTION WITH A DRIVING TEST.
-----o------
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1976
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT pat HEUNG KU MIU
********
DEPARTMENT WILL
A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS rownilCT REGISTRATIONS AT PAT HEUNG KU MIU FOR RESIDENTS AND PERSONS LIVING NEARBY FOR TWO DAYS FROM NOVEMBER 8 (MONDAY).
tup VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO REGISTER TH-IR CHILDREN OR WARDS OF 11 YEARS OF AGE FOR JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS AND HOLDERS OF JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS TO RcGISTck FC.t ADULT IDENTITY CARDS ON REACHING 18 YEARS OF AGE.
All DFRSONS LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR responsibility to register themselves and their children for ^FntIT* ('ARDS AND TO REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL mkstatus or other particulars wh.ch have CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.14. AND 4.30 P.M. DAILY.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
»f w a
Sunday, October 31, 1976
TAI WO HAU REMOVAL OPERATION,GOING WELL
The operation to move 804 families from two blocks in Tau Wo Hau Estate, Tsuen Wan, which are to be demolished and then redeveloped is progressing well.
A Housing Authority spokesman said the majority of the 804 families involved had agreed to move and more than 450 families had already left.
Over half the families had accepted accommodation in new estates in the area, such as Lai King, while the remainder were moving into vacant flats in other estates in different areas.
All the families come from blocks 12 and 13 which are to be demolished in January and then rebuilt as part of the Housing Authority’s scheme to redevelop the whole estate.
Approximately 4,300 people are involved in the initial phase of the scheme.
Work on rebuilding the blocks is due to begin in the summer and be completed in about two and a half years.
A Housing Authority spokesman pointed out that the Authority has decided to spend $182 million over the next few years redeveloping its old Mark I and Mark II blocks either by converting flats into larger units or demolishing whole blocks and rebuilding on the sites. The aim was to offer improved living conditions to people in these estates.
*****
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