DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1976
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
*****
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN '..ILL NO LONGER BE A BURDEN TO THEIR PARENTS OR SOCIETY IF THEY CAN RECEIVE EDUCATION LIKE OTHER CHILDREN AND THUS BE ABLE TO LEAD A SELF-SUPPORTING LIFE WHEN THEY GROW UP.
DURING THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRES OPERATED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HELPED OVER 5,000 CHILDREN SUSPECTED OF HAVING AN IMPAIRMENT OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER TC FIND OUT THE SOURCE OF TROUBLE AND SEEK REMEDIAL HELP ACCORDINGLY.
+THE EARLIER PARENTS BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO OUR CENTRES FOR ASSESSMENT THE BETTER,* MR. K.H. CHAN, PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES) SAID.
CHILDREN ARE REFERRED TO THE CENTRES BY VOLUNTARY WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS, DOCTORS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
THE TWO CENTRES, ONE IN SIR ELLIS KADOORIE GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL, HOSPITAL ROAD, HONG KONG, AND THE OTHER IN PERTH STREET GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL, PERTH STREET, KOWLOON, PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERV I CES< I NCLUD I NG AUD IOLOGI CAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPEECH TESTING AND EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT.
+ONCE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED,* MR. CHAN SAID, +WE CAN PROCEED .-.I TH THE REMEDIAL WORK. AT THE CENTRES WE ALSO PROVIDE REMEDIAL SERVICES SUCH AS AUDITORY AND SPEECH TRAINING FOR HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN, SPEECH THERAPY, AND INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP aORK FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING OR BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS. PARENT COUNSELLING SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED. IF NECESSARY, CHILDREN ARE REFERRED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.*
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 35 SPECIAL SCHOOLS WHICH CATER FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. AT THESE SCHOOLS, HANDICAPPED CHILDREN RECEIVE AN EDUCATION AS CLOSE TO THAT OF ORDINARY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE. THE LESS HANDICAPPED ARE ABLE TO ATTEND SPECIAL CLASSES OR ORDINARY CLASSES WITH REMEDIAL TEACHING IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS.
/However ,
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1976
- 2 -
HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE CHILDREN MAY HAVE TO RETURN TO THE CENTRES FOR COUNSELLING OR EDUCATIONAL TREATMENT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK.
MR. CHAN SAID THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO ACCOMPANY THEIR CHILDREN TO THESE SESSIONS SO THAT THEY COULD LEARN AND CARRY ON THE TREATMENT ON THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME.
PARENTS ARE ALSO GIVEN ADVICE ON HOW TO MANAGE HANDICAPPED CHILDREN 3Y EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND COUNSELLORS OF THE CENTRES.
APART FROM ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIAL WORK, THE CENTRES ALSO SERVE AS BASES FOR PREVENTIVE PROGRAMMES IN HEARING, SPEECH, AND VISION SCREENING TO DETECT PROBLEMS IN THESE AREAS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, AND GROUP TESTING PROGRAMMES IN SPOTTING SLOW LEARNING AND MALADJUSTED CHILDREN.
THESE PROGRAMMES ARE BEING CARRIED OUT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS IN GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS= SOME PROGRAMMES HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER SOME AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
A TOTAL OF OVER 73,000 PUPILS UNDERWENT SUCH SCREENING TESTS IN THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR.
•)
ANOTHER SERVICE RENDERED BY THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION IS TO MAKE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HANDICAPPED CANDIDATES AT PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS. THE SECTION OPERATES SPECIAL EXAMINATION CENTRES FOR HANDICAPPED CANDIDATES FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION AND THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.
HANDICAPPED CANDIDATES MAY BE GIVEN SPECIAL CONSIDERATION SUCH AS SPECIAL SITTING ARRANGEMENTS, EXTRA TIME ALLOWANCE, SPECIAL INVIGILATORS, AMANUENSIS, BRAILLE EXAMINATION PAPERS AND ALLOWANCE IN ORAL EXAMINATION.
IN ADDITION TO THE ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIAL SERVICES, THE SECTION ALSO DIRECTS A BRAILLE PRINTING PRESS WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER. THIS PRESS PRINTS ALL THE CANTONESE BRAILLE TEXTBOOKS FOR SCHOOLS. TO DATE ABOUT 10,500 VOLUMES OF 234 TYPES OF BOOKS HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND SUPPLIED TO SCHOOLS UNDER GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY AT ONE-TENTH OF THE ACTUAL COST.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1976
INFANTS AND CHI-DREN WELL PROTECTED
im«t ru r nurnr'. n i sc a 3 c e
AGAINST CHI-DHOOD DISEASES
******
WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CONTROLLED MEASURES AND IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMMES AGAINST CHILDHOOD DISEASES, HC.'G KONG MAY WELL CLAIM TO HAVE MUCH BETTER HEALTH FACILITIES FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN THAN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.
OF THE 75,000 BABIES BORN LAST YEAR, 96 PER CENT HAVE ATTENDED A GOVERNMENT MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CLINIC AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.
BABIES FROM NEWBORN TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE UNDERGO REGULAR PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS AND RECEIVE VARIOUS IMMUNIZATIONS AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS, SMALLPOX, MEASLES, DIPHTHERIA, WHOOPING COUGH, TETANUS AND POLIOMYELITIS.
ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, 50 MILLION CHILDREN ARE BORN EACH YEAR IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, BUT ONLY FOUR MILLION OF THEM HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVELY IMMUNIZED AGAINST THE MAIN DISEASES OF CHILDHOOD.
FOR THIS REASON, W.H.O. HAS NOW MADE IT A TARGET TO ASSIST NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES IN EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THEIR IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMMES AGAINST SIX< UE I QU ITOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INFECTIONS : DIPHTHERIA, PERTUSSIS (OR WHOOPING COUGH), TETANUS, POLIOMYELITIS, MEASLES AND CHILDHOOD TUBERCULOSIS, ALL OF WHICH CAN BE PREVENTED.
BUT IN HONG KONG, IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMMES HAVE BEEN SO '> SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT THAT IT IS NOW AELE TO VACCINATc AGAINST TjBERCULOSIS ALMOST 100 PER CENT OF ALL NEW BORN BABIES, aHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE THE HIGHEST BCG COVERAGE AT BIRTHS IN THE WORLD.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALSO c0 INTED CUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO DEATH FROM DIPHTHERIA FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND POL ICMYELITIS HAD VIRTUALLY BEEN ERADICATED.
HE SAID ONLY TWO CHILDREN DIED OF MEASLES LAST YEAR COMPARED WITH 654 DEATHS IN 1967, WHEN MEASLES VACCINATION WAS INTRODUCED TO HONG KONG.
“ERTUSSIS HAS DISAPPEARED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AND THE INCIDENCE OF CHILDHOOD TETANUS IS LOW.
IMMUNIZATIONS AGAINST COMMON CHILDHOOD DISEASES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN GOVERNMENT’S 37 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES IN ALL PARTS OF HONG KONG.
THESE CENTRES ARE RUN BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S FAMILY HEALTH SERVICE, WHICH PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF CARE FOR BABIES AND EXPECTANT AND NURSING MOTHERS, INCLUDING ADVICE ON FAMILY PLANNING AND BIRTH CONTROL. MORE CENTRES ARE PLANNED FOR THE CROWDED HOUSING ESTATES.
/DESPITE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1976
DESPITE THE ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CONTROL OF COMMON INFECTIOUS DISEASES AMONG CHILDREN IN HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT IMMUNIZATIONS AGAINST THESE CHILDHOOD DISEASES MUST EE CONTINUED TO KEEP UP THE IMMUNITY LEVEL OF THE POPULATION.
IT IS UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED THAT THE EFFECT IVENESS OF THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDED IN ANY COUNTRY IS MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE AND MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE.
IN HONG KONG, THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE FELL TO 15 PER ONE THOUSAND LIVE EIRTHS LAST YEAR FROM 17.4 IN 1974. THE IMR FOR 1964 WAS 26.4 PER 1,000 LIVE EIRTHS.
THE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE ALSO DROPPED SHARPLY TO 0.03 PER THOUSAND TOTAL EIRTHS FROM 0.16 IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE RATE WAS 0.38 10 YEARS AGO.
ri 0
TEMPORARY CENTRES FOR COLLECTION OF WATER CHARGES * * * *
TEMPORARY COLLECTION CENTRES WILL EE SET UP BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE IN SHEUNG SHUI AND FANLING NEXT WEEK FOR THE COLLECTION OF WATER CHARGES FOR THE SECOND PERIOD OF THIS YEAR.
THE SHEUNG SHUI COLLECTION CENTRE WILL BE LOCATED AT THE SHEUNG SHUI PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRE AT SHEK WU HUI AND WILL OPERATE ON NOVEMBER 9 AND 10.
THE OTHER CENTRE WILL BE AT THE FANLING RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE AT LUEN WO HUI AND WILL OPERATE ON NOVEMBER 11 AND 12.
THE CENTRES WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M.
- - 0 - -
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1976
5
BETT-R CAREERS ADVISORY SERVICE FOR YOUTHS IN N.T.
* * * * *
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A BETTER CAREERS ADVISORY SERVICE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE NEW TERR I TOR IES.
A PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES HAS BEEN DRAWN UP TO BRING CAREERS INFORMATION TO SENIOR FORM STUDENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ABOUT TO LEAVE SCHOOL.
SPEAKING ON THE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES, MRS. ANGELA HO, THE LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE, SAID: +WE ARE TAKING THE INFORMATION TO THE STUDENTS IN THE FORM OF CAREERS TALKS IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
+LAST MONTH, OFFICERS OF OUR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE (YEAS) VISITED 15 SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES GIVING TALKS TO SOME 2,000 FORM V STUDENTS ON CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.*
+IN ADDITION TO THESE VISITS,* MRS. HO SAID, +WE WILL BE STAGING A SERIES OF MOBILE CAREERS EXHIBITIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DIFFERENT DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE OUR CAREERS INFORMATION TC* THE YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEW TOWNS AND REMOTE VILLAGES.
+THE MOBILE EXHIBITIONS WILL BE STAGED ON A SPECIALLY DESIGNED THREE-TON TRUCK WHICH CAN BE INFOLDED TO BECOME A 50D SQUARE FEET COVERED EXHIBITION PLATFORM,* SHE ADDED. ■)
MEANWHILE, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS PROCEEDING WITH PLANS TO ORGANISE ANOTHER LARGE SCALE CAREERS EXHIBITION AT THE KOWLOON RAIL TERMINUS, AND IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS FROM NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS TO VISIT THIS EXHIBITION, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS HAV- BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE REDUCED TRAIN FARES FOR STUDENT GROUPS.
SCHOOLS INTERESTED IN THIS ARRANGEMENT ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT WRITE TO THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
MRS. ANGELA HO AT 5-281494, OR ADVISORY SERVICE OF THE LABOUR
DEPARTMENT AT 99 QUEENSwAY, HONG
KONG •
----0----
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
CSBCLBfflSQ W1W
Monday, November 1, 1976
PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS SEEKING EXCHANGES
PREFER NEWER ESTATES
One in 10 of public housing tenants interested in exchanging their flats wants to move to the new Lai King Estate in Tsuen Wan*
This is revealed in statistics produced by the Housing Authority’s Mutual Exchange Bureau.
The Bureau was established only in August and, already, 1,284 families have registered. A total of 42 exchanges have been completed and a further 40 are being processed.
’’The newer, more centrally located estates are proving most popular for exchange purposes,” a Housing Authority spokesman said.
After Lai King, the next most sought after estates are Ho Man Tin (7-93 per cent of all inquiries) and Ping Shek (6.52 per cent of all inquiries).
The spokesman said tenants are able to make known their choices through the Bureau and these can then be matched up with other tenants seeking to exchange.
’’Mutual exchanges have the advantage that tenants are able to improve their living standards without involving vacant accommodation and therefore affecting the waiting list,” the spokesman added.
/2......
2
’’This service covers domestic tenancies in all public housing estates managed by the Authority and will cover new estates when they become occupied•”
After registering, a tenant is interviewed and staff of the Bureau make an on the spot search of its register to see whether a suitable exchange can be arranged immediately. If this is not possible the application is indexed for future reference.
When an exchange appears likely, Bureau staff arrange for the two families to meet and also carry out the administration work.
Tenants seeking exchanges give a variety of reasons such as wanting to be nearer a place of work, to live in self-contained accommodation or even to get away from quarrelsome or gossipy neighbours.
♦ ♦**♦♦*
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1976
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR OPENS SIXTH ASIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 1
FIFTY-FIVE LOCAL RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE INSIGNIA .............. 2
SEVENTEEN SCHOOLS TAKE PART IN +SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK+ ...... 3
THREE WORKERS’ REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED TO LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD ....................................................... 4
JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN .......... 5
MINI-FOOTBALL COMPETITION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ............ 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1976
1
GOVERNOR OPENS SIXTH ASIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP *****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE SIXTH ASIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT HOSTED BY HONG KONG.
WISHING THE TEAMS A HAPPY STAY HERE, HE SAID HONG KONG WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO +SEEING THEIR PROWESS IN AN EXCITING COMPETITION, WITH GOOD BASKETBALL AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.*
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH:
+ IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME THE ASIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DELEGATES AND ALL THE GUESTS TO HONG KONG FOR THE SIXTH ASIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
+THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT HONG KONG HAS HOSTED AN INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP AND WE ARE ALL DELIGHTED THAT SO MANY OF YOU HAVE COME TO PARTICIPATE. I GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE HELP GIVEN BY THE ASIAN BASKETBALL CONFEDERATION IN PREPARING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
+1 WISH THE TEAMS A HAPPY STAY IN HONG KONG, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEIR PROWESS IN AN EXCITING COMPETITION, WITH GOOD BASKETBALL AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.
+AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO DECLARE OPEN THE SIXTH ASIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.*
------o-------
/2....
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1976
2
PRESENTATION OF INSIGNIA
*****
FIFTY-FIVE LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DECORATED BY THE QUEEN WILL RECEIVE THEIR AWARDS FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MECLEHOSE, AT A CEREMONY IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.
THE INSIGNIA TO BE PRESENTED INCLUDE ONE CMG, FOUR CBE’S, SEVEN OBE’S, THREE ISO’S AND 11 MBE’S.
THE RECIPIENTS HAVE BEEN DECORATED EITHER IN THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS OR THE NEW YEAR HONOURS.
SPECIAL PARKING ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR GUESTS ATTENDING THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
ALL CARS CARRYING GUESTS MAY ENTER BY THE MAIN GATE OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE. AFTER GUESTS HAVE ALIGHTED, VEHICLES BEARING G.H. LABELS MAY PARK IN THE FORECOURT OR TENNIS COURTS AS DIRECTED, OR, IF CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN, RETURN AT 6.50 P.M.
VEHICLES BEARING BLUE LABELS MUST EXIT BY THE EAST GATE AND THEN PARK AT UPPER ALBERT ROAD, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, THE SLIP ROAD TO THE SOUTH OF THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE BUILDING, THE METERED CAR PARK BETWEEN KENNEDY ROAD AND GARDEN ROAD AND THE CAR PARK AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD.
ALL VEHICLES PARKED INSIDE GOVERNMENT HOUSE SHOULD LEAVE BY THE EAST GATE. OTHER GUESTS ARE REQUESTED TO WALK TO THEIR CARS AFTER THE CEREMONY.
PARKING FACILITIES IN METERED SPACES IN UPPER AND LOWER ALBERT ROADS AND THE METERED CAR PARK BETWEEN KENNEDY ROAD AND GARDEN ROAD WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 3.00 P.M. TO 7.30 P.M. TOMORROW TO ALLOW VEHICLE PARKING FOR INVITED GUESTS TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COPIES OF A LIST OF THE RECIPIENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE PRESS ROOM, GIS, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, AT 6 P.M. TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
ONLY PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH SPECIAL PASSES WILL BE ADMITTED TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE. THEY SHOULD MEET G.I.S. OFFICERS IN THE GUARD ROOM OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE NOT LATER THAN 5.30 P.M.
NEWSPAPERS NOT RECEIVING PASSES WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OF PRINTS IN THE ORDINARY WAY WITH MING YUEN STUDIO, AT ROOM 401, KAYAMALLY BUILDING, NO.22 QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, TELEPHONE NO. 5-224310.
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/3
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 197c
3
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES * * * *
THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICE WHICH HAS BEEN PROMOTED AND CONDUCTED BY THE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS FOR OVER TWO YEARS WAS TODAY DESCRIBED AS +A MEANINGFUL PILOT SCHEME* BY MISS KO SIU—WAH, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
SPEAKING AT THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS COLLEGES AT THE CITY HALL, MISS KO SAID THE AIM OF THE SERVICE WAS TWOFOLD -- REMEDIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL.
SHE ADDED: +THE SERVICE IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT PUPILS FROM BECOMING ANTI-SOCIAL OR DELINQUENT AND TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS RELATING TO THEIR BEHAVIOUR OR FAMILY RELATIONSHIP, THUS IMPROVING THEIR BEHAVIOUR AND PERFORMANCE IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.
♦UNDER THIS SCHEME THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS ARE CLEARLY DEFINED.
+EY VIRTUE OF THEIR DAY-TO-DAY CONTACT WITH THE PUPILS, TEACHERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO HANDLE ALL PROBLEMS INITIALLY- IF THEY ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES BEYOND THEIR ABILITY TO SOLVE, THEY ARE TO REFER THE PUPILS TO THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS THROUGH THE SCHOOL HEAD.+
MISS KO POINTED OUT THAT SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS WERE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL IN DEALING WITH PUPILS’ PROBLEMS RELATING TO FAMILY RELATIONSHIP AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WHICH OFTEN NECESSITATE HOME VISITS.
SEVENTEEN SCHOOLS -- FOUR SECONDARIES AND 13 PRIMARIES - IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF HONG KONG WERE COVERED BY THE PILOT SCHEME FOR THE PRESENT SCHOOL YEAR.
MISS KO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT ONE OF THE COLLEGES IN THE TUNG /.AH GROUP WOULD JOIN THE SCHEME NEXT YEAR.
REFERRING TO MISS KO SAID THAT GREAT INCREASE IN WITHIN INDIVIDUAL
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, IN THE LAST TEN YEARS OR SO THERE HAD BEEN A THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF SUCH ACTIVITIES BOTH SCHOOLS AND ON A COMMUNITY-WIDE BASIS.
♦THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE COME TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE ALL-ROUND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, PROVIDING THE.' WITH EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES NOT POSSIBLE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE CLASSROOM AND THE MORE ACADEMIC D ISC IPLINES,+ SHE SAID.
MISS KO NOTED THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH. OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND SOCIAL SERVICE BODIES, HAD SUCCESSFULLY ORGANISED AMBITIOUS AND COMPREHEND IVE SUMMER PROGRAMMES OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG.
/THE GROWING .....
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1976
4
THE GROWING INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY SERVICE — ONE AREA OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES - WAS A PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT.
+THERE MUST EE VERY FEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS NOWADAYS WHICH DO NOT INCLUDE IN THEIR ACTIVITIES AT LEAST ONE WHICH IS BASED ON SERVICE OF SOME KIND OR OTHER TO THE COMMUNITY,* SHE SAID.
MISS KO STRESSED THAT THE GREAT VALUE OF THESE COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES, BESIDES THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG, WAS THAT THEY MADE ADOLESCENTS MORE AWARE OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND ITS PROBLEMS.
DURING THE CEREMONY, MISS KO DISTRIBUTED CERTIFICATES AND PRIZES TO GRADUATES OF THE FOUR TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS SECONDARY SCHOOLS -- WONG FUT NAM, CHANG MING TH I EM, LEE CHING DEA '.EMORIAL AND CHEN ZAO MEN COLLEGES.
THE FOUR SCHOOLS EETWEEN THEM HAVE A TOTAL ENROLMENT OF 3,630.
-------o - -K- -
THREE WORKERS’ REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED TO LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD
* * * *
THREE TRADE UNION MEMBERS WERE TODAY ELECTED AS WORKERS’ REPRESENTATIVES TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AS MEMBERS OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE YEAR 1977.
THEY ARE MR. LEE SHING-CHU OF THE HONG KONG STEVEDORES UNION (CHAP YIN), MR. CHAN YUN-CHE OF THE HONG KONG MOTOR CAR DRIVERS GENERAL UNION AND MR. TSUI SAU-CHU OF THE BUILDING SUPERVISORS AND CARETAKERS UNION.
THE ELECTION, HELD BY SECRET BALLOT AT THE REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IN NEW RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY, WAS SUPERVISED BY OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE BOARD IS A NON-STATUTORY BODY TO ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ON SUCH MATTERS AFFECTING LABOUR, INCLUDING LEGISLATION AND INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
0 -------
/5
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1976 '
5
JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF F.M.O. SCHOOLS
******
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF 13 FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN’S SCHOOLS AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL AT 3 P.M. ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 4).
THE CEREMONY WILL BE ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS AND 150 TEACHERS. IT WILL BE THE SEVENTH TIME THAT THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER PUPILS FROM ALL ITS WIDELY SCATTERED DISTRICT SCHOOLS TO ATTEND A SINGLE JOINT GRADUATION.
PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED BY MRS. TOPLEY.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE CEREMONY. YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE^ASKED TO ARRIVE AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL BEFORE 2.45 P.M.
MINI-FOOTBALL COMPETITION IN N.T.
******
FORC J ?SE^-SOCCER W^KxF^A?*vE M1 ned ®or?IrRs7will" ™4N 200 PL4¥ERS- ORGANISEF,S
THAT '!?LBE *5 ™MS ,NVOl-VED — 21 FROM VARIOUS COMMUNITIES
I^r.TeeAK,Ell UP THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN AND FOUR FROM THE 10TH GURKHA RIFLES, WHICH IS CO-SPONSORING THE EVENT WITH THE TOWN MANAGEMENT Or r I GE •
AMONG THE TEAMS WILL BE THOSE FROM LOCAL FACTORY ASSOCIATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, RURAL COMMITTEES SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS.
KA IFONG AND LOCAL
THEY WILL BE COMPETING FOR A TROPHY NAMED THE GURKHA CUP AT GALLIPOLI CAMP, FANLING.
THE ARMY IS PROVIDING THE FACILITIES AND PRIZES FOR THE COMPETITION AS A MAJOR PART OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMME DESIGNED TO BUILD COOPERATION AND MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN THE NEW TOWNS FOLKS AND THE SERVICES.
THE ALL DAY COMPETITION WILL END WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE GURKHA CUP AND OTHER PRIZES BY THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, MR. JAMES HAYES, AND THE COMMANDING OFFICER 10TH GURKHA RIFLES, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, B.M. NIVEN.
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
CPGB 01 An An
St M B
Tuesday, November 2, 1976
HOUSING AUTHORITY BLOCK TO BE CONVERTED
WHILE TENANTS STAY PUT
The Housing Authority is shortly to begin converting flats in Lok Fu Estate at Kowloon while tenants are still living in them.
The pilot scheme is part of the Authority1s multi-million dollar plans to improve the environment in sill its original Mark I and Mark II estates and relieve overcrowding.
A spokesman for the Authority said today the normal procedure for redeveloping a block was for tenants to move out before work started, as had happened at Shek Kip Mei and Tai Wo Hau.
•’But, in view of the vastness of our redevelopment programme and the long time it is likely to take before all estates can be dealt with, we have decided to experiment with an ’in situ’ conversion at Lok Fu,” he said.
Block 11 of the estate has been selected. Conversion work will begin there later this month (November) and be completed before the end of March next year.
The scheme has been made possible through the agreement of half the families living in the block to move elsewhere.
2
At present, there are about 150 back-to-back type flats in the block, but this number will be reduced by approximately half as a result of knocking out centre walls. When the work has been completed, flat sizes will range from 160 square feet for three persons to 440 square feet for 10 persons, and rents from $75 - $190 per month.
Each converted flat will be provided with a private balcony, tap, sink and detached toilet.
The spokesman said that, with work going on around them, tenants were bound to experience some inconvenience, but it would be kept to a minimum and he felt they would be willing to accept this in order to get improved accommodation.
"If the scheme is a success, it could be applied to other blocks in our Mark I and Mark II estates and make a significant contribution to our efforts to provide better living conditions in older estates," he said.
*******
H-qra»i gisI If ill
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MERSEYSIDE CHINESE CENTRE OPENED .......................... 1
GOVERNOR PRESENTS INSIGNIA TO 55 LOCAL RESIDENTS ........... 2
PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS VISIT NEW TOWNS ......... 5
FIRE SERVICES ANNUAL DRILL COMPETITION ..................... 8
THOUSANDS ATTEND COURSES AT CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTRE ..................................................... 9
NEW CAREERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR WOMEN ............... 10
WATER CUT.................................................. 10
MINI-EXHIBITION ON SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ....... 11
REPORT ON MANPOWER SURVEY OF CLOTHING INDUSTRY ON SALE ... 12
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ....................................... 12
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5'233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1976
1
INAUGURATION OF MERSEYSIDE CHINESE CENTRE *****
A SIGNIFICANT STRIDE TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN LIVERPOOL WAS MADE YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) WITH THE INAUGURATION OF THE MERSEYSIDE CHINESE CENTRE - THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE AREA.
SPEAKING AT THE CENTRE’S OFFICE-BEARERS SWEARING-IN CEREMONY IN LIVERPOOL, THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, MR. S.T. KIDD, NOTED THAT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY IN BRITAIN HAD ALWAYS BEEN +WELL-KNOWN FOR BEING LAW-ABIDING, HARDWORKING AND SELF-RELIANT, BUT IT HAS ALSO BEEN FELT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A MISSING LINK BETWEEN THEM AND THE HOST SOCIETY*.
+WITH THE FOUNDING OF YOUR CENTRE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS GAP WILL BE SECURELY BRIDGED,* MR. KIDD STRESSED.
HE URGED CHINESE PARENTS IN BRITAIN TO ADAPT THEMSELVES +A LITTLE MORE* TO THE WESTERN WAY OF LIFE AND NOT TO CONFINE THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN TO THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE LIFE STYLE IN ORDER TO SPAN THE CULTURAL GAP WHICH MUST INEVITABLY EXIST BETWEEN THE OLDER AND YOUNGER GENERATIONS.
THE CEREMONY WAS ATTENDED BY THE LORD MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL, COUNCILLOR RAYMOND CRAINE AND MRS. CRAINE AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS MERSEYSIDE LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
THE MERSEYSIDE CHINESE CENTRE CAME INTO BEING AFTER MONTHS OF CONTINUED EFFORTS BY CIVIC-MINDED LOCAL CHINESE RESIDENTS, ASSISTED AND ADVISED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE.
THE CENTRE SEEKS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO FOSTER A BETTER AND CLOSER WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHINESE POPULATION AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, TO STRENGTHEN THE TIE AMONG THE CHINESE, TO PROMOTE THEIR WELFARE, AND TO RUN PART-TIME CHINESE CLASSES FOR CHILDREN.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1976
2
PRESENTATION OF INSIGNIA ******
FIFTY-FIVE HONG KONG RESIDENTS DECORATED BY THE QUEEN FOR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY RECEIVED THEIR INSIGNIA FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.
THEY WERE DECORATED EITHER IN THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS OR IN THE NEW YEAR’S HONOURS.
AMONG THE RECIPIENTS WERE MR. J.W.D. HOBLEY WHO RECEIVED THE C.M.G. (COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE)-MR. O.V. CHEUNG, MR. H. KADOORIE AND MR. I.R. PRICE WHO RECEIVED THE C.B.E. (COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE) AND DR. R.L. HUANG WHO RECEIVED THE C.B.E. (H) (COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE) (HONORARY).
OTHER AWARDS PRESENTED WERE:
O.B.E. (OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE)
MR. D.R. FORD
MR. H.P. FOXON
PROFESSOR J.B. GIBSON
THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH
MR. J.D. MCGREGOR
MR. R.A.J. RICHARDSON
O.B.E. (H) (OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE) (HONORARY)
MR. PONG DING-YUEN
I.S.O. (IMPERIAL SERVICE ORDER)
MR.A.J.M. PRATA
MR. F.TAYLOR
MR. G.E. WELSBY
/M.3.E......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER J, 1976
3
M.B.E. (M) (MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE) (MILITARY
DIVISION)
MAJOR J.M. FIELD
M.B.E. (MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE)
MR. K.W. CATTON
MRS. M.C. CHOW TIU YUK-CHUN
THE REVEREND FATHER JOHN LIU S IK-KONG
MR. S.J. LOWCOCK
MR. K.H.R. MOK WAK-KO
MRS. E.M. OZORIO
MISS D. WILKINS
M.B.E. (H) (MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE) (HONORARY)
MR. CHANG CHAN
MR. M. MAK PING-KWAN
MR. YEW SHIN-KAN
BADGE OF HONOUR
MR. CHAN YUM-TONG
MR. CHEUNG SHEK-FU
MR. CHOW CHEE-KEUNG
MR. HUI TIM
MR. KOO TO-SHING
MR. LAU YAM-MAN
MRS. LINA LI
MRS. LUNG FUNG WAI-LING
/B.E.M,
WEDNESD/ NG'/EMBEH J, 1976
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E.E.m\ (M) (BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL) (MILITARY DIVISION)
CORPORAL A.W. WEBLEY, EM
B.E.M. (BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL)
MR. G.J. BENEDICTO
MR. CHAN HON
MR. CHAN SIK-FUNG
MR. CHEUNG SIU-WAH
MR. CHEUNG YUK-TONG
MR. FUNG YING-KI
MR. LAI OI-MAN
MR. LOI KWOK-WING
MR. V. SO YUN-LAM
C.P.M. (COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL)
MR. CHAN KIM (F)
MR. T.J. DELBRIDGE
MR. H.L. ELSWORTH (F)
MR. HO CHUNG-MING (F)
SERGEANT IP PAU-FUK
MR. LEUNG SHEUNG-MING (F)
MR. LO SAN (F)
MR. K.H. LOMAS
MR. J.H. MARCH (F)
MR. YEUNG KAM-SING (F)
STATION SERGEANT YEUNG SIU-PING
/5 .
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1976
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MEMBERS OF PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE SEE PROGRESS ON NEW TOWNS ******
MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE’S PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE TOURCD THE NEW TERRITORIES TODAY TO SEE AT FIRST HAND PROGRESS ONUHONG KONG’S THREE NEW TOWNS — SHA TIN, TUEN MUN AND TSUEN WAN.
THE STUDY TOUR, LED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE WAS ARRANGED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE TO STUDY WORKS NOW UNDERWAY AND THE SITES OF PROPOSED NEW PROJECTS IN PREPARATION FOR THIS YEAR’S SECOND REVIEW OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.
EACH YEAR THE SUB-COMMITTEE HOLDS TWO MEETINGS TO REVIEW PROGRESS ON PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, AND TO CONSIDER NEW ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROGRAMME.
THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE COMPRISES THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. C.P. HADDON-CAVE (CHAIRMAN), MR. OSWALD CHEUNG, MR. R.H. LOBO, MR. JAMES WU MAN-HON, MR. J.H. BREMRIDGE, MR. LI FOOK-WO, MR. FRANCIS Y.H. TIEN, MR. S.L. CHEN, DR. HENRY HU, MR. PETER C. WONG, MR. WONG LAM AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS MR. D.W. MCDONALD. THE SECRETARY TO THE COMMITTEE IS MRS. D.E.J. SADDLER OF THE FINANCE BRANCH.
THE COMMITTEE WAS ACCOMPANIED ON ITS TOUR BY THE P.W.D.’S DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT, MR. J.R. WHITAKER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPING THE NEW TOWNS ON SCHEDULE" THE DIRECTORS OF OTHER P.W.D. CONSTITUENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE BUILDING AND ENGINEERING WORKS FOR THE NEW TOWNS" AND SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE FINANCE BRANCH.
WORKS IN THE THREE NEW TOWNS -- WHICH ARE PLANNED TO HOUSE SOME 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE BY THE MID-EIGHTIES -- ARE FORMING AN INCREASING PORTION OF EXPENDITURE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.
THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO SPEND MORE THAN 510,000 MILLION IN THE NEW TOWNS PROGRAMME — THE BIGGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD — AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THEM IS EXPECTED TO BE OF A SIMILAR ORDER.
AT SHA TIN, THE COMMITTEE WAS BRIEFED BY THE NEW TOWN PROJECT MANAGER MR. JOHN DON OF THE P.w.D.’S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
MR. DON TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS THAT SITE FORMATION WORK FOR THE NEW TOWN WAS PROGRESSING WELL, AND ALREADY SOME 227 HECTARES OF NEW LAND HAD EEEN FORMED, INCLUDING 147 HECTARES RECLAIMED FROM THE SEA.
/THE DEVELOPMENT
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER J, 1976
6 -
THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR SHA TIN COVERED ABOUT 1,781 HECTARES, OF WHICH 1,497 HECTARES HAD BEEN DESIGNATED FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING OPEN SPACE, A NEW RACECOURSE, TRUNK ROADS AND DOUBLE TRACKING AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING RAILWAY.
BY 1980/81, HE SAID, SHA TIN’S POPULATION OF ABOUT 30,000 WAS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 230,000. BY THE MID-EIGHTIES IT WOULD BE SOME 530,000.
ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THE PROJECTED POPULATION WOULD LIVE IN 11 HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATES, WHICH WOULD ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 300,000 PEOPLE.
THE FIRST ESTATE - LEK YUEN, TO HOUSE 23,000 PEOPLE - HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED BY THE P.W.D.’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, AND PILING WORK WAS NOW UNDERWAY FOR TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITHIN THE ESTATE.
NEXT TO LEK YUEN, WORK WAS PROGRESSING ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S WO CHE ESTATE, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE HOMES FOR ANOTHER 16,400. PILING WORK WAS ALSO UNDERWAY FOR A PRIMARY SCHOOL TO SERVE THE ESTATE.
THE SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHOWED KEEN INTEREST IN THE PROGRESS OF THE VARIOUS CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEW TOWN, WHICH INCLUDED TWO ADDITIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS, THE SHA TIN NORTH SERVICE RESERVOIR, A NEW DIVISIONAL POLICE STATION, ROADWORKS AND SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES.
MR. DON EXPLAINED THAT ADDITIONAL SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES WERE BEING PROVIDED AS AN INTERIM MEASURE TO SERVE THE GROWING TOWN UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW PERMANENT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT AT FO TAN.
THE P.W.D.’S CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE HAD ALREADY AWARDED SEVERAL CONTRACTS FOR MAJOR PARTS OF THE PERMANENT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT -- WHICH IS BEING PARTLY FINANCED FROM A US$20 MILLION LOAN FROM THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK -- AND FURTHER TENDERS WERE BEING CALLED.
MR. DON SAID THE PLANT WOULD COME INTO OPERATION IN 1979, AND BE ABLE TO CATER TO A POPULATION OF 230,000. BUT PLANS WERE IN HAND TO DOUBLE ITS CAPACITY.
FROM SHA TIN, THE PARTY PROCEEDED BY COACH TO TUEN MUN VIA TAI PO, SEK KONG AND YUEN LONG, BEING BRIEFED ON PROGRESS ON P.W.D. PROJECTS IN THE RURAL AREAS EN ROUTE BY MR. NIP KAM-'AN, GOVERNMENT ENGINEER (NEW TERRITORIES).
AT TUEN MUN, THE P.W.D.’S PROJECT MANAGER, MR. CHAN NAI-KEONG, GAVE THEM AN UP-TO-THE-MINUTE REPORT OF THE NEW TOWN'S DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ENVISAGES HOUSING AND BASIC FACILITIES FOR SOME 480,000 PEOPLE BY 1985.
/MA. CHAN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER J, 1976
7
MR. CHAN SAID THAT MORE THAN 100 HECTARES OF THE TOWN AREA HAD NOW BEEN FORMED AND MUCH OF IT WAS ALREADY DEVELOPED, PROVIDING A NUCLEUS OF INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
WORK WAS PROGRESSING WELL ON RECLAIMING ANOTHER 60 HECTARES FROM CASTLE PEAK BAY TO PROVIDE NEW LAND FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL, COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR SOME 98,000 PEOPLE — ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OF THE NEW TOWN’S EVENTUAL POPULATION.
MR. CHAN EXPLAINED THAT THE RECLAMATION HAD BEEN PLANNED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO FORM NEW LAND REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING FIRST, SO THE HOUSING PROGRAMME COULD PROCEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
HE SAID THAT RECLAMATION OF ONE SITE ON THE SOUTH-EASTERN PART OF THE BAY NEAR THE TUEN MUN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET WOULD BE READY BY THE END OF THE YEAR, TO ALLOW THE START OF WORK ON AN ESTATE FOR ABOUT 13,000 PEOPLE.
HE ADDED THAT THE LARGER PUBLIC HOUSING SITES ON THE CENTRAL PART OF THE RECLAMATION SHOULD BE READY LATE NEXT YEAR. THE ESTATES ON THESE SITES WOULD PROVIDE HOMES FOR 80,000 PEOPLE, WITH A FULL RANGE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, OPEN SPACE, COMMUNITY HALLS, SHOPS AND MARKETS.
THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE ALSO SAW WORK IN PROGRESS ON THE MASSIVE NEW TAI HING ESTATE, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY PROVIDE HOMES FOR 47,000 PEOPLE!
STAGE ONE OF THE ESTATE IS BEING BUILT’BY THE P.W.D.’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, AND INCLUDES FLATS FOR 29,000 PEOPLE" A SECONDARY SCHOOL" AN ESTATE PRIMARY SCHOOL" A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX" AND RECREATIONAL AND WELFARE FACILITIES.
SITE FORMATION FOR THE SECOND STAGE IS NOW UNDERWAY, AND HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTRACTORS WILL BEGIN BUILDING WORKS NEXT YEAR, FOR COMPLETION IN 1979/30.
FROM TUEN MUN, THE PARTY THIS AFTERNOON PROCEEDED BY LAUNCH ALONG RAMBLER CHANNEL, OBSERVING DEVELOPMENTS AT TSUEN WAN AND TSING Yl. THEY WERE BRIEFED ON THE WAY BY MR. EDDIE SHORT, THE P.W.D.’S PROJECT MANAGER FOR TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN.
TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN COVERS SOME 2,536 HECTARES AND COMPRISES THREE DISTRICTS -- TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG ON THE MAINLAND, AND THE ISLAND OF TSING Yl.
MR. SHORT SAID WORK WAS NOW PROGRESSING ON A WIDE FRONT WITH SOME 40 MAJOR CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS UNDERWAY.
THESE INCLUDED SITE FORMATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THREE HOUSING ESTATES, SIX SCHOOLS, POLICE STATIONS, FIRE STATIONS, AN AMBULANCE DEPOT, A POLYCLINIC, A SEWAGE SCREENING PLANT, AND CARGO HANDLING AREA, AS WELL AS A SERIES OF RECREATIONAL GROUNDS AND ROAD NETWORKS.
/HE SAID
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER J, 1976
- 8 -
HE SAID THE NEW TOWN HAD ALREADY GROWN TO MORE THAN HALF ITS ULTIMATE SIZE OF 900,000 PEOPLE, WITH A PRESENT POPULATION OF NEARLY 500,000. EY 1983, THE TOWN’S POPULATION WAS EXPECTED TO REACH 800,000.
MUCH OF THE ADDITIONAL POPULATION WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, AND WORK WAS ALREADY UNDERWAY ON FOUR NEW ESTATES.
ESTATES — LAI KING AND KWAI SHING -
IN ADDITION, TWO OTHER
HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED BY
ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE AND ARE ALREADY THESE ESTATES WILL HOUSE SOME 57,000
THE P.W.D.’S
PARTLY OCCUPIED. TOGETHER PEOPLE.
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FIRE SERVICES ANNUAL DRILL COMPETITION
*****
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE ANNUAL DRILL COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES COMMAND OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL, PAT HEUNG, AT 2.30 P.M. ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 5).
AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF FIVE DRILLS -- ONE-MAN HYDRANT DRILL, MAJOR PUMP DRILL, 35-FOOT LADDER DRILL, RESCUE ESCAPE DRILL, AND 5O-F00T SNORKEL DRILL.
A TROPHY WILL BE AWARDED TO THE WINNING DIVISION IN EACH EVENT. AMONG THOSE PRESENTING TROPHIES WILL BE MR. J.W. CHAMBERS, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND MR. M.C. ILLINGWORTH, NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF TO COVER THE COMPETITION. THEY SHOULD MEET MR. H.F. CHUI AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL NOT LATER THAN 2.15 P.M.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1976
9
THOUSANDS ATTEND COURSES AT CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTRE
******
MORE THAN 4,800 TEACHERS HAVE ATTENDED 109 COURSES AT THE CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTRE RUN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
THE AIM OF THE CENTRE, ESTABLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 1974, IS TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PUPILS AND TO IMPROVE THE METHODS OF TEACHING THE CHINESE LANGUAGE.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS MOST ANXIOUS THAT ALL TEACHERS OF CHINESE SHOULD VISIT THE CENTRE REGULARLY AND MAKE FULL USE OF THE MANY FACILITIES OFFERED THERE.
TO THIS END, A +WELCOME TO OUR CENTRE+ EVENT IS TO BE HELD DURING THE NEXT THREE DAYS WHEN TEACHING MATERIALS, AIDS AND TEACHING PROJECTS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE CENTRE’S HONG KONG UNIT AT 9A BONHAM ROAD.
MR. SO FAI-CHO, PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (CHINESE), TODAY URGED CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHERS TO VISIT THE CENTRE BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. -1 P.M. AND 2 P.M. - 4.30 P.M. TOMORROW AND FRIDAY AND BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 12 NOON ON SATURDAY. +A SIMILAR FUNCTION WAS HELD IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL,* HE SAID.
+IT IS HOPED THAT THE PRESENT EVENT WILL GIVE TEACHERS OF CHINESE LANGUAGE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CENTRE AND ENABLE THEM TO MAKE BETTER USE OF IT.
+OFFICERS OF THE CENTRE WILL BE ON HAND TO MEET TEACHERS AND TO DISCUSS THE EXHIBITS AND THE WORK OF THE CENTRE,* MR. SO SAID.
THE CENTRE IS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
DURING OFFICE HOURS ON WORKING DAYS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CENTRE’S HONG KONG UNIT, 9A BONHAM ROAD TO COVER THE EVENT. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT MR. S.H. MAK, SENIOR INSPECTOR, AT THE CENTRE.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1976
10
NEW CAREERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR WOMEN ******
NEW CAREERS ARE OPENING UP TO WOMEN AND INDEED WOMEN ARE BEING URGED TO TAKE ON NEW RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL KINDS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID THIS MORNING.
ADDRESSING THE GATHERING AT THE DIOCESAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL SPEECH DAY, MR. TOPLEY ADDED: +YOU MAY FIND THIS ALARMING OR UNSETTLING RATHER THAN STIMULATING. YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE CUT OUT TO BE A WIFE AND NOT A CAREER WOMAN.
+BUT YOUR HUSBAND MAY TURN OUT FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT MARRIAGE IS A PARTNERSHIP AND THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN SOCIETY THAN EITHER YOU WISH TO ASSUME OR FEEL CONFIDENT OF SUSTAINING. A MEASURE OF SELF CONFIDENCE WILL BE A MORE IMPORTANT ASSET IN THE FUTURE THAN HITHERTO.+
THE DIRECTOR TOLD THE GIRLS THAT +CONFIDENCE GROWS WITH PRACTICE IN SOUNDING CONFIDENT.*
SCHOOL SOCIETIES, HE SAID, PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT GROUND TO DISCOVER WHAT ONE’S SELF WAS REALLY LIKE.
IN ORDER TO BE WELL INFORMED, MR. TOPLEY URGED THE PUPILS TO READ A RELIABLE NEWSPAPER EVERYDAY.
+1 ALSO THINK WHEN YOU HAVE MADE YOURSELF A REGULAR AND CAREFUL NEWSPAPER READER THAT IN DUE COURSE ONE SHOULD ADD A GOOD WEEKLY PAPER OF COMMENT,+ HE SAID.
MR. TOPLEY ALSO ADVISED THE PUPILS TO FIND OUT THINGS THEY WANT TO KNOW BY ASKING QUESTIONS.
+WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE WHO IS IN A POSITION TO KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK,+ HE SAID.
DURING THE CEREMONY PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES WERE DISTRIBUTED BY MRS. TOPLEY.
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WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN KWUN TONG WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 5) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
AFFECTED ARE BLOCK NO. 1A TO 17A, SAU MAU PING ESTATE, SAU LAI STREET, KWUN TONG.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 197<
11
MINI-EXHIBITION ON SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
******
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS STAGING A MINI-EXHIBITION ON SAFETY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 5) AT THE KOWLOON BAY MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION.
THE EXHIBITION, THE FIRST IN A SERIES AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, WILL BE STAGED ON A THREE-TON TRUCK SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE PURPOSE.
A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
BETWEEN JANUARY AND SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR THERE WERE 39 FATAL AND 5,135 NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS IN THIS AREA. DURING THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 34 FATAL AND 3,850 NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS WHILE IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1974 THERE WERE 44 FATAL AND 3,710 NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS.
HE SAID : +THE PROBLEM ARISES PRINCIPALLY FROM THE FACT THAT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS OFTEN WORK FROM GREAT HEIGHTS, TEMPORARY STRUCTURES AND IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH CHANGES ALMOST DAILY AS WORK PROGRESSED.
+THE EMPLOYMENT OF MODERN MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND PLANT IMPOSES ADDITIONAL SAFETY REQUIREMENT.*
HE SAID : + IT IS, THEREFORE, HOPED THAT THIS SERIES OF EXHIBITIONS WILL SERVE AS A REMINDER TO ALL WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY OF THE GRIM ACCIDENT RATE AND OF THE HAZARDS THEY MAY BE EXPOSED TO AT WORK SITES.*
NOTE TO EDITORS:
AN OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF THE MTR STATION OFF KWUN TONG ROAD, KOWLOON BAY, AT 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 5).
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY.
LIMITED TRANSPORT ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS WI'L BE PROVIDED TO TAKE PRESS REPRESENTATIVES TO THE EXHIBITION SITE.
THOSE WHO WISH TO MAKE USE OF THE OFFICIAL TRANSPORT ARE REQUESTED TO MEET MR. TAM KAM-FAI OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER NOT LATER THAN 9.15 A.M.
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I
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1976
REPORT ON MANPOWER SURVEY OF CLOTHING INDUSTRY * * * * *
|| THE REPORT ON THE THIRD MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE, HONG KONG.
PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, IT CONTAINS DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE EMPLOYMENT STRUCTURE, A FORECAST OF THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE INDUSTRY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO MEET THESE NEEDS.
THE REPORT WAS PREPARED BY THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL FOLLOWING A SURVEY ON THE INDUSTRY CARRIED OUT IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.
IT COSTS $6 A COPY.
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS
******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE HOURS DURING WHICH TAXIS MAY STOP IN THE EASTERN LANE OF THE KOWLOON STAR FERRY CONCOURSE TAXI RANK WILL BE EXTENDED.
THE CHANGE FROM 4 P.M. - 8 P.M. DAILY TO 11 A.M. - 8 P.M. DAILY WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 5)
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE AMENDED TO INDICATE THE CHANGE.
MEANWHILE, QUEEN’S PIER WILL NOT BE ACCESSIBLE BY MOTOR VEHICLES BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 4 P.M. ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 7) BECAUSE OF THE ANNUAL CROSS-HARBOUR SWIM AND A BAND CONCERT TO BE HELD THERE.
MOTORISTS WISHING TO CONVEY PEOPLE TO THESE FUNCTIONS ARE ADVISED TO USE THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE INSTEAD.
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HONG KONG HOUSING OUTHORITY A*
Wednesday, November 3, 1976
SHEK KIP MEI REDEVELOPMENT SCHEME ALREADY HALF-COMPLETED —
30,000 TENANTS ENJOYING IMPROVED LIVING ENVIRONMENT
Nearly 30,000 tenants, or half the population of the oldest public housing estate in Hong Kong - Lower Shek Kip Mei - are now living in very much improved living conditions under Housing Authority’s rehousing programme.,
Part of these tenants have moved from their old homes to accommodation at the developing Upper Pak Tin Estate and the others to renovated blocks.
Seven of the 29 Mark I blocks on the estate built 20 years ago % •• *
have been modernised to produce self-contained flats and another seven are being demolished to provide sites for new high-rising buildings and a huge commercial complex.
Currently, the third phase of the Shek Kip Mei rehousing programme has been completed after a year’s patient endeavour.
Subsequent phases of redevelopment of the estate, the next of which is to be completed by mid-1978, will provide better homes for another 27,000 tenants.
It is expected that the whole scheme will be completed in five years at a cost of over $200 million.
The new estate will incorporate all features of a modern public housing estate. There will be proper estate schools, a large commercial complex proper shopping and marketing facilities and social and community facilities.
********
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR OPENS NEW BLOOD COLLECTION CENTRE ................ 1
TOPLEY PAYS TRIBUTE TO FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION SCHOOLS ........................-7......................... 2
SUMMER-MONTH TRAFFIC PROHIBITIONS TO BE LIFTED ON SUNDAY 3
LEK YUEN HOSTEL OPENED..................................... 3
GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR STUDENT PHYSIOTHERAPISTS .......... 4
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS VISIT SCHOOL ................... 5
SCHOOL CHILDREN FLOWER GROWING COMPETITION ................ 6
WATER CUT ................................................. 6
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976
- 1 -
GOVERNOR OPENS NEW BLOOD COLLECTION CENTRE
******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY CALLED UPON EACH AND EVERYONE IN HONG KONG WHO POSSIBLY CAN TO COME FORWARD AND BECOME A REGULAR BLOOD DONOR.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG RED CROSS’S NEW BLOOD COLLECTION CENTRE, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT 60,000 UNITS OF BLOOD WERE COLLECTED FROM SOME 25,000 DONORS IN 1975.
♦HOWEVER, WE NEED MUCH MORE.+ HE SAID.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH :
+1 AM INDEED DELIGHTED TO SEE THE COMPLETION OF SUCH A WELL-EQUIPPED BLOOD DONATION CENTRE, AND AS MR. SHAW HAS POINTED OUT, ONE WHICH WILL DEFINITELY BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND ATTRACTIVE TO DONORS.
♦DURING THE TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN PATRON OF THE RED CROSS, I HAVE WITNESSED THE STEADY EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BLOOD COLLECTION SERVICE.
♦EACH YEAR, MORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE COMING FORWARD, AND DURING 1975, 60,000 UNITS OF BLOOD WERE COLLECTED FROM SOME 25,000 DONORS.
♦HOWEVER, WE NEED MUCH MORE. I, THEREFORE, CALL UPON EACH AND EVERYONE IN HONG KONG WHO POSSIBLY CAN TO COME FORWARD AND AS PART OF THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY TO BECOME A REGULAR BLOOD DONOR. ONLY IN THIS WAY WILL THE PROBLEM BE MET.
♦LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT NOW GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO DECLARE THIS CENTRE OPEN.+
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/2
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976
2
PROMOTION OF EDUCATIONAL WELL-BEING OF FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY TODAY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FOR GIVING SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATIONAL WELL-BEING OF AN IMPORTANT SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG - THE FISHERFOLK.
HE WAS ADDRESSING THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF 13 FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN SCHOOLS AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL.
+ IN A WAY, THIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS IS UNIQUE AS THEY ARE SOLELY DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN AND IN FACT THE F.M.O. CONSIDERS ITS EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS AS PART OF ITS SERVICE TO THE FISHING COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID
THE DIRECTOR NOTED THAT THIS GROUP OF 12 PRIMARIES AND ONE SECONDARY PRACTICAL SCHOOL HAD A TOTAL ENROLMENT OF OVER 4,000.
IN ADDITION OVER 40 FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN WERE ATTENDING OTHER PRIMARY SCHOOLS ON F.M.O. SCHOLARSHIPS.
REFERRING TO THE REPORT ON THE F.M.O. SCHOOLS, MR. TOPLEY DESCRIBED THE PROMOTION OF ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM AS +ONE INTERESTING AND USEFUL ASPECT OF THEIR WORK.+
HE SAID: +1 AM PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY THE ORGANISATION OF THE ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP WHICH IS NORMALLY HELD AT WU KWAI SHA.
+1 UNDERSTAND IT IS A MASSIVE EXERCISE IN WHICH OVER 700 CHILDREN FROM ALL THE F.M.O. SCHOOLS TAKE PART - AN ACTIVITY WHICH GIVES THEM A FEELING OF TOGETHERNESS WHILE INDULGING IN SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL PURSUITS.+
THE DIRECTOR THEN SWITCHED TO CANTONESE AND SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD MANNERS BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.
HE GAVE SOME PRACTICAL EXAMPLES TO SHOW HOW THIS QUALITY COULD BE INCULCATED IN SCHOOL.
+THE EMPHASIS IN CULTIVATING GOOD MANNERS IS ON PRACTICE RATHER THAN PRECEPT,+ HE SAID.
SAYING A FEW WORDS TO PARENTS IN HONG KONG’S FISHING COMMUNITY, MR. TOPLEY SAID: +1 KNOW THEY HAVE TO GO OUT TO SEA WITH THE FISHING FLEET BUT I HOPE THEY WILL ALSO SEE THE VALUE OF GIVING THEIR CHILDREN A BASIC GENERAL EDUCATION.
+IT IS IMPORTANT, THEREFORE, FOR THEM TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO A PRIMARY SCHOOL AT THE RIGHT AGE AND TO ENSURE REGULAR ATTENDANCE.
+ONLY THEN CAN THEIR CHILDREN BENEFIT FULLY FROM THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED.+
0 --------
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976
- 3 -SUMXR-MONTH TRAFFIC PROHIBITIONS TO BE LIFTED * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE SUMMER-MONTH PROHIBITIONS ON GOODS VEHICLES ALONG CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD ON ..UNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS WOULD END AT 9 A.M. THIS SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 7).
THE PROHIBITIONS, FOR SEVERAL HOURS OF EVERY SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY ONLY, WERE INTRODUCED ON 'AY 2 THIS YEAR TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW DURING SUMMER MONTHS WHEN MORE HOLIDAY-MAKERS TRAVELLED TO AND FROM THE MANY BEACHES ALONG THESE ROADS, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
+ON SUNDAY, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST EASTBOUND GOODS VEHICLES ON CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD BETWEEN KWUN TONG ROAD AND FEI NGO SHAN ROAD FROM 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AND THAT ON WESTBOUND GOODS VEHICLES BETWEEN ITS JUNCTIONS WITH HIRAM’S HIGHWAY AND ANDERSON ROAD FROM 2 P.M. TO 7 P.M. WILL BE LIFTED,+ HE SAID.
+ALSO TO BE LIFTED IS THE PROHIBITION ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD FROM SHA TSUI ROAD TO PUI TO ROAD FROM 11 A.M. TO 6 P.M..+ HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE HOLIDAY RESTRICTIONS ON THESE ROAD SECTIONS HAD PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTION CAUSED BY SLOW-MOVING LORRIES ON THE STEEP SECTIONS, THUS GIVING PRIORITY TO PASSENGER TRANSPORT FOR A FEW HOURS ON HOLIDAYS TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO HAVE REASONABLY QUICK ACCESS TO BEACHES AND OTHER RECREATIONAL SPOTS IN THE AREAS.
-----o------
LEK YUEN HOSTEL OPENED
******
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE LEK YUEN HOSTEL, OPERATED BY THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS FOR 140 ELDERLY PERSONS.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, HE SAID THAT SERVICES OF THE HOSTEL HAD BEEN GEARED TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF NOT JUST THE ELDERLY, BUT ALSO THE DISABLED ELDERLY.
MR. LEE SAID THAT THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS HAD BEEN A ’HIGHLY VALUED PARTNER’ OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN IMPLEMENTING PLANS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN AREAS OF IDENTIFIED NEEDS.
+THE OPENING OF THE LEK YUEN HOSTEL NOT ONLY HELPS SOLVE THE SHORTAGE OF HOMES FOR THE AGEE, BUT ALSO FURTHER ILLUSTRATES THE TUNG WAH’S SPIRIT OF FULL CO-OPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS,* HE ADDED.
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/4......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976
4
GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR STUDENT PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
*****
A FORMER DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TODAY TOLD PHYSIOTHERAPY GRADUATES THAT THEY WERE ENTERING A WORTHWHILE AND SATISFYING CAREER AND WERE NOW REGARDED AS MEMBERS OF MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TEAMS.
DR. D.J.M. MACKENZIE, WHO HEADED THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT 20 YEARS AGO, WAS SPEAKING AT A GRADUATION CEREMONY OF 14 STUDENTS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED A THREE-YEAR COURSE AT THE PHYSIOTHERAPY TRAINING SCHOOL IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.
HE TOLD THE GRADUATES THAT THEY WOULD BE DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PHYSICALLY AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, MENTALLY AFFECTED BY ILLNESS.
A PHYSIOTHERAPIST’S WORK, HE SAID, WOULD REQUIRE A DEGREE OF SYMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT COULD BE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN WHEN THE PERSON WAS TIRED, HOT AND IRRITATED BY A LONG DAY WITH PERHAPS A FEW +STUBBORN AND SOMETIMES CAPRICIOUS PATIENTS*.
+T0 INSPIRE THE CONFIDENCE NECESSARY TO MAXIMISE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR WORK WILL OFTEN DEMAND GREAT PATIENCE AND WILL DRAW ON THE RESERVES OF YOUR STRENGTH,* HE TOLD THE GRADUATES.
DR. MACKENZIE SAID MODERN PRACTICE WAS TO ACCEPT PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AS MEMBERS OF A TEAM, EACH MEMBER GIVING HIS OR HER BEST IN THE PRACTICE OF HEALING.
HE SAID DOCTORS, NURSES, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, SHOULD ALL BE REGARDED AS MEMBERS OF THE THERAPY TEAM, EACH MAKING A CONTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENT AND THE SPECIAL SKILLS THEY HAVE ACQUIRED.
THE FORMER DIRECTOR RECALLED HOW THE PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT DEVELOPED FROM ONLY ONE ASSISTANT PHYSIOTHERAPIST IN TRAINING IN 1958 TO A STRENGTH OF MORE THAN 100 TODAY.
LAST YEAR ALONE, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS HELPED SOME 80,000 PATIENTS REGAIN THEIR NORMAL PHYSICAL STRENGTH.
- 0 - -
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976
- 5 -
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS VISIT SCHOOLS
******
THREE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION - REV. DEREK REID, DR. KEITH LEGG AND MR. WONG WAN-TIN - VISITED THREE PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KOWLOON THIS MORNING.
THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER, MR. WEI CHUN-HUEN.
THE THREE BOARD MEMBERS STARTED THE TOUR BY GOING TO THE SALVATION ARMY KWONG YUEH SCHOOL ON THE ROOFTOP OF BLOCK 14, TAI HANG TUNG ESTATE. THIS IS A SUBSIDISED BISESSIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
NEXT THEY WENT TO ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI’S ENGLISH PRIMARY SCHOOL, A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT-MAKING CO-EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL RUN BY THE CATHOLIC MISSION IN SHEK KIP MEI STREET.
FINALLY THEY CALLED AT THE FUK SCHOOL .'.'HICH IS A WHOLE DAY SCHOOL.
WAH STREET GOVERNMENT PRIMARY
THIS SCHOOL IS AMONG 38 PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE INTRODUCED THE CHILD-CENTRED +ACTIVITY APPROACH* LAUNCHED BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. THIS NEW TEACHING METHOD STARTED IN PRIMARY 1 CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER, 1972. AS THE SCHEME HAS BEEN A SUCCESS, IT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO ALL CLASSES IN THIS SCHOOL, EXCEPT PRIMARY 6.
THE BOARD MEMBERS WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL ATMOSPHERE IN THE +ACTIVITY APPROACH* CLASSES. THEY ASKED THE HEADMISTRESS, MRS. FUNG MOK YAN-LAN, MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE METHODS USED TO TEACH 18 CHILDREN IN A SPECIAL CLASS CATERING MAINLY FOR PRIMARY 4 PUPILS WHO ARE IN NEED OF SPECIAL GUIDANCE.
AT THE THREE SCHOOLS, THE BOARD MEMBERS CHATTED WITH SOME PUPILS AND TEACHERS.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WILL VISIT A NUMBER OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS LATER THIS MONTH AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS DURING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
THE PRESENT SERIES OF FAMILIARISATION VISITS, ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 2 WHEN THREE MEMBERS -PROFESSOR M.A. BRIMER, MR. B.H. TISDALL AND REV. PETER WONG -TOURED THREE PRIMARY SCHOOLS ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
THE MEMBERS WILL EXCHANGE VIEWS AND DISCUSS WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN AT MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.
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/6......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976
SCHOOL CHILDREN FLOWER GROWING COMPETITION
******
THE 1977 SCHOOL CHILDREN FLOWER GROWING COMPETITION, ORGANIZED BY THE SCIENCE SUBJECTS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT GOT OFF TO A GOOD START TODAY.
THE AIMS OF THE COMPETITION ARE
* TO SUPPORT THE 1OTH ANNUAL URBAN COUNCIL FLOWER SHOW,
* TO ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES, BOTH INTRA AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN,
* TO AROUSE SCHOOL CHILDREN’S AWARENESS OF PROTECTING PLANTS, AND
* TO BEAUTIFY SCHOOL ENVIRONS.
OVER 100 SCHOOL HEADS AND TEACHERS FROM 23 URBAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND 36 RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED A SEMINAR IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPETITION. THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE COMPETITION IS A NEW RECORD.
DURING THE SEMINAR, FLOWER SEEDS, GARDENING TOOLS AND FERTILIZERS PROVIDED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL WERE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE TO PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.
ILLUSTRATIVE TALKS ON FLOWER GROWING, CRITERIA FOR JUDGING FLOWER BEDS AND PLOTS, IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL FERTILITY AND CONTROL OF PESTS WERE GIVEN BY THREE HORTICULTURISTS.
THE PERIOD OF THE COMPETITION IS FROM EARLY NOVEMBER 1976 TO MARCH 1977.
- 0 - -
WATER CUT XXX
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN HUNG HOM WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 6) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY DYER AVENUE, DOCK STREET, BULKELY STREET, CHATHAM ROAD, WUHU STREET, LO LUNG HANG STREET, STATION LANE AND MA TAU WEI ROAD, INCLUDING TAKU STREET, MARSH STREET, KUN YAM STREET, GILLIES AVENUE, WALKER STREET AND VALLEY ROAD.
Thursday, November 4, 1976 ' x ‘ FIRST STAGE OF REDEVELOPMENT OF CHAI WAN (WEST) ESTATE TO START IN JANUARY
Better living environment for some 27,000 tenants of the old Chai Wan (West) Estate will soon be a reality.
Blocks 24 and 25 of the estate are scheduled to be demolished in January and modernised largely through redevelopment.
Chai Wan (West) Estate, which was completed in 1963, is one of the 12 Mark I and II public housing estates which the Authority intends to redevelop. It has four Mark I blocks and eight Mark II blocks in which tenants share communal facilities.
On the site of the demolished blocks will be built a 28-storey tower block and three slab blocks providing about 920 flats to house over 5,000 people. Foundation and building works will start in March.
Flats of different sizes will be built and each will have a private balcony, kitchen^ toilet and shower.
The ground floors of these four domestic blocks have been reserved for shops, a kindergarten and a residential hostel for aged singles and couples.
On full redevelopment, expected to take over ten years, the estate will have 18 domestic blocks - five tower blocks of 26 to 28 storeys; 11 slab blocks of 17 to 18 storeys and two converted Mark I blocks. /2...............................................................
2
There will also be a commercial complex providing shops and shop stalls to meet requirements for the reprovisioning of the existing shop tenants and hawkers in the estate. Other facilities will include a department store and supermarket, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, cooked food stalls and a carpark with about 380 parking spaces.
Aside from Chai Wan (West) Estate, redevelopment work is also going on at Shek Kip Mei, Tai Hang Tung and Tai Wor Hau. These estates will change dramatically as the years go by while at the same time tenants’ living condition will also be greatly improved.
*******
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW DISTRIBUTOR ROAD FOR TUEN MUN ........................... 1
CHRISTMAS AEROGRAMMES ON SALE NEXT WEEK ..................... 1
TENDERS INVITED FOR AIRPORT SHOP SPACES ..................... 2
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY URGED TO PROMOTE SAFETY ............... 3
WEEKEND TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL ..................... 4
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO HOLD ITS FIRST EVER FUN FAIR .. 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1976
$6 MILLION DISTRIBUTOR ROAD FOR TUEN MUN
*****
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO RESUME MORE THAN 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF AGRICULTURAL AND BUILDING LAND TO MAKE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 36 MILLION PRIMARY DISTRIBUTOR ROAD THROUGH TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
THE PROPOSED THREE-LAND DUAL CARRIAGEWAY — ABOUT 90C METRES LONG -- WILL CONNECT THE TUEN MUN LINK ROAD WITH THE EXISTING DUAL CARRIAGEWAY NORTH OF THE TOWN TO COMPLETE THE MULT I-MILL ION DOLLAR ROAD PROJECT TO SPEED UP TRAFFIC FROM TSUEN WAN THROUGH TUEN MUN TO YUEN LONG.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EXPECTS TO COMPLETE WORK ON THE DISTRIBUTOR ROAD IN MAY, 1978.
RESUMPTION OF THE LAND REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT WAS ANNOUNCED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE SAID TODAY THAT ABOUT 100 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE RESUMPTION. +THESE INCLUDE DOMESTIC STRUCTURES'HOUS I NG 34 FAMILIES,* HE SAID.
+THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE WILL BE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING AND THOSE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE WILL BE OFFERED SPACE IN A LICENSED AREA.
+THE PROJECT ALSO INVOLVES THE CLEARANCE OF COOKED FOOD STALLS, AND A HAWKER AREA AND THESE WILL BE RESITED IN A TEMPORARY MARKET WITHIN THE DISTRICT UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE TUEN MUN MARKET.
+THOSE OWNERS WHO DO NOT WISH TO TAKE UP THIS OPTION WILL BE OFFERED AN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE.*
- - 0 - -
CHRISTMAS AEROGRAMMES ON SALE NEXT WEEK * * * *
THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT CHRISTMAS PICTORIAL AEROGRAMMES IN TWO ATTRACTIVE VARIETIES WILL BE PLACED ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICES FROM MONDAY (NOVEMBER 8).
THE DESIGNS, ONE OF WHICH DEPICTS VICTORIA HARBOUR AND THE OTHER A COLOURFUL CHRISTMAS TREE, WERE DRAWN BY GOVERNMENT ARTISTS.
A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID: +CHRISTMAS AERGRAMMES ARE A CONVENIENT AND INEXPENSIVE WAY OF SENDING CHRISTMAS GREETINGS ABROAD. THEY COMBINE BOTH A PERSONAL LETTER AND A GREETING AND . CAN BE POSTED TO ANY PART OF THE WORLD AS FIRST CLASS AIRMAIL FOR ONLY 60 CENTS.*
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1976
2
RETAIL SHOP SPACES AT KAI TAK
* * * K
TENDERS ARE INVITED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY FOR THE TENANCIES OF 12 SHOP SPACES IN THE NEW EXTENSION TO THE AIRPORT PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING.
THE SHOPS, MEASURING ABOUT 350 SQUARE FEET EACH, WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DEPARTURE LEVEL OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING WHEN THE NEW EXTENSION IS COMPLETED NEXT YEAR.
THE TENANCIES ARE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, BEGINNING ON OR ABOUT APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.
TENDERS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY, TENDER BOARD, AND PLACED IN THE SECRETARIAT TENDER BOX IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (MAIN WING) LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG, BEFORE 12 NOON, NOVEMBER 26, 1976.
THE APPLICATIONS MUST ALSO STATE THE NATURE OF BUSINESS INTENDED TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THE SHOPS WHICH ARE SITUATED ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER IN THE PUBLIC AREA AT THE DEPARTURE LEVEL.
ITEMS PERMITTED FOR SALE IN THE SHOPS ARE RESTRICTED TO PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT, RADIO AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, JEWELLERY, CHINESE ARTS AND CRAFTS, TOILETRIES, COSMESTICS, PERFUMES, TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES, CONFECTIONERY, PUBLICATIONS, TOYS, OUTFITTERS AND EMBROIDERED GOODS, AND COMPANY’S OWN BRANDED OR MANUFACTURED GOODS.
THE EXISTING SHOPS AT THE DEPARTURE LEVEL IN THE PRESENT TERMINAL BUILDING WILL BE DEMOLISHED AT A LATER STAGE TO MAKE JAY FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF THE TERMINAL. THE TENANCIES OF THE MAJORITY OF THESE SHOPS HAVE ALREADY EXPIRED AND THE SHOPS ARE BEING OPERATED ON A TEMPORARY MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS.
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/3
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1976
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY URGED TO HELP REDUCE ACCIDENTS
*****
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. IAN PRICE, TODAY CALLED FOR THE WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT OF ALL CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO HELP REDUCE ACCIDENTS.
HE WAS OPENING A ONE-DAY MOBILE SAFETY EXHIBITION AT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY SITE AT KOWLOON BAY.
MR. PRICE SAID THAT LEGISLATION ALONE COULD NOT STOP ACCIDENTS BUT THE ATTITUDE OF SUPERVISORS, THE RESPONSE OF WORKERS AND THE GENUINE INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT WERE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN PROMOTING SAFETY.
THE MAIN HAZARDS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, HE SAID, AROSE FROM THE FACT THAT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS OFTEN HAD TO WORK AT GREAT HEIGHTS, ON TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, AND IN AN OFTEN CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AS WORK PROGRESSED.
HE WENT ON: +SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS- MANAGERS, SUPERVISORS AND WORKERS, AND ALL NEED TO CO-OPERATE WHOLE-HEARTEDLY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND TO PROMOTE SAFETY AT WORK.+
MR. PRICE SAID THAT BY STAGING THE EXHIBITION ON A MOBILE VAN, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT MEANT TO BRING THE SAFETY MESSAGE RIGHT TO THE DOOR STEP OF EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.
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A
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1976 - 4 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL *******
DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL BETWEEN REDDER STREET AND ICE HOUSE STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL EASTBOUND TRAFFIC, INCLUDING TRAMS, BETWEEN 11.39 P.M. ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 7) AND 5.30 A.M. THE NEXT DAY.
THIS IS TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY DIVERSION OF THE TRAM TRACKS IN THE AREA.
TRAM SERVICES WILL FINISH EARLIER THAN USUAL ON SUNDAY EVENING AND PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED THAT THE LAST DEPARTURE ON WEST-BOUND SERVICES WILL BE AS FOLLOWS :
SHAU KEI WAN TO WESTERN MARKET - 10.45 P.M.
NORTH POINT TO WHITTY STREET - 10.43 P.M.
NORTH POINT TO WESTERN MARKET - 10.59 P.M.
HAPPY VALLEY TO KENNEDY TOWN - 10.36 P.M.
HAPPY VALLEY TO WHITTY STREET - 13.42 P.M.
HAPPY VALLEY TO WESTERN MARKET - 11 P.M.
THE LAST EASTBOUND DEPARTURES WILL BE AS FOLLOWS s
WESTERN MARKET TO SHAU KEI WAN - 11.25 P.M.
WHITTY STREET TO NORTH POINT - 11.18 P.M.
KENNEDY TOWN TO HAPPY VALLEY - 11.10 P.M.
THE TRAM SERVICE BETWEEN SHAU KEI WAN AND HAPPY VALLEY WILL OPERATE AS USUAL.
ALL TRAM SERVICES WILL RESUME NORMAL OPERATION ON MONDAY MORNING.
ALSO, BETWEEN 11.30 P.M. ON SUNDAY AND 5.30 A.M. ON MONDAY,
EASTBCUND BUSES ON ROUTES 11, 25, 131, 103, 104, 135, 111 AND
121, WI.L BE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA CHATER ROAD AND MURRAY ROAD INSTEAD OF VIA DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND QUEENSWAY.
TEMPORARY BUS STOPS W-1LL BE PROVIDED IN CHATER ROAD.
SINCE THE HAPPY VALLEY TO KENNEDY TOWN TRAM SERVICE WILL BE CURTAILED AT 10.36 P.M. INSTEAD OF 11.30 P.M. CHINA MOTOR BUS ROUTE 5 ON JOURNEYS TO KENNEDY TOWN a ILL EE DIVERTED FROM 10.30 P.M. TO OPERATE FROM LEIGHTON ROAD TO QUEEN’S ROAD EAST VIA WONG NAI CHUNG RCA3 INSTEAD OF VIA MORRISON HILL ROAD TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE BUS SERVICE FROM HAPPY VALLEY UNTI. FINISH CF SERVICE AT MIDN.IGHT. • *
BUS AND TRAM COMPANY INSPECTORS WILL BE ON DUTY TO ADVISE BUS AND TRAM PASSENGERS.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1976
- 5 -
P.W.D. FUN FAIR * * * *
GAMES STALLS, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, DANCING, AND FOOTBALL AND BEER DRINKING COMPETITIONS WILL BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY THIS SUNDAY WHEN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HOLDS ITS FIRST EVER FUN FAIR.
THOUSANDS OF P.W.D. WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN IN THE DAY’S FESTIVITIES WHICH START AT NOON AT THE GARDEN ROAD OPEN-AIR CARPARK NEXT TO MURRAY BUILDING.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR. ANDREW CHENG, SAID TODAY THE FAIR WAS INTENDED TO GIVE P.W.D. STAFF A CHANCE TO MEET INFORMALLY AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER IN A DAY OF FUN AND GAMES.
+THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS THE FOURTH LARGEST IN GOVERNMENT, INCORPORATING SIX CONSTITUENT DEPARTMENTS WITH OFFICES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, AND THEIR STAFF HAVE LITTLE OR NO OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER INFORMALLY,* HE SAID.
+THE FAIR WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH A UNIQUE OCCASION TO RENEW OLD ACQUAINTANCES, AND MAKE NEW ONES.*
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FAIR WILL BE A RAFFLE DRAW BY LOVELY ROWENA LAM, MISS HONG KONG 1976.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE PROVIDED BY ARTISTES FROM HK-TVE, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, AND HONG KONG'S ANSWER TO ELVIS PRESLEY THE POPULAR JOHNNY MA.
A HUGE VARIETY OF GAMES ATTRACTIONS FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN WILL BE PROVIDED BY MORE THAN 25 STALLS — AMONG THEM +CHILDREN WONDERLAND*, +STUNT DRIVING* AND +SPACE TRAVELLING*.
PART OF THE PROGRAMME WILL BE TAKEN UP BY COLOURFUL MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMANCES BY STUDENTS FROM THE NEW METHOD COLLEGE AND SCHOOLS FROM THE TUNG WAH GROUP AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE BAND.
FOR SOCCER ENTHUSIASTS, TWO P.W.D. WORKERS WHO FANCY THEMSELVES AS GOAL-KEEPERS WILL TAKE ON ALL-COMERS, AND FOR THOSE WHO FANCY THEMSELVES ON THE STAGE A TALENT QUEST WILL BE HELD TO CONCLUDE THE AFTERNOON’S PROCEEDINGS.
THE FAIR WILL EE OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE WIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT’S DIRECTORS FOLLOWED BY AN OPENING ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS MR. DAVID MCDONALD.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE FAIR. IT WILL BE HELD FROM 12 NOON TO 6 P.M. ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 7) AT THE GARDEN ROAD OPEN-AIR CARPARK NEXT TO MURRAY BUILDING.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MODERN MILK KITCHEN FOR TSAN YUK HOSPITAL .................. 1
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN YAU MA TEI ......................... 1
ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND ...................... 2
130 PEOPLE PROSECUTED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN SEPTEMBER ................................................
EVOLUTION OF EDUCATIONAL AIMS ............................
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1976
1
MILK KITCHEN FOR TSAN YUK HOSPITAL * * * * *
A CENTRAL MILK KITCHEN CAPABLE OF PREPARING 1,200 INFANT FEEDS PER DAY HAS BEEN SET UP IN TSAN YUK HOSPITAL AT A COST OF MORE THAN $450,000.
INSTALLED IN THIS KITCHEN IS AN AUTOCLAVE FOR STERILISING MILK BOTTLES AND THE PREPARATION OF MILK FORMULAE. THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL PROCESS FOR ENSURING THAT NEW BORN BABIES ARE PROTECTED FROM GASTRO-INTESTINAL INFECTIONS.
THE PROJECT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HUNG ON TO MEMORIAL FUND WHICH CONTRIBUTED $159,000 TOWARDS THE COST OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE MILK KITCHEN.
AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR THE GENEROUS DONATION, THE KITCHEN HAS BEEN NAMED HUNG ON TO MEMORIAL FUND PAEDIATRIC DIETETIC LABORATORY.
THE LABORATORY WILL NOT ONLY BE USED FOR THE PREPARATION OF MILK MIXTURES AND OTHER INFANT FEEDS, BUT WILL ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING FACILITIES TO THE MEDICAL AND NURSING STAFF ON MODERN MILK KITCHEN MANAGEMENT.
TSAN YUK HOSPITAL IS THE LARGEST MATERNAL HOSPITAL RUN BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF ANTE-NATAL AND POST-NATAL CARE FOR MOTHERS, WITH FACILITIES FOR SPECIAL CARE OF THE NEW BORN BABIES.
SOME 7,000 BABIES ARE BORN EACH YEAR IN THIS HOSPITAL WHICH HAS 300 BEDS INCLUDING 50 COTS IN THE SPECIAL CARE NURSERY.
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TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN YAU MA TEI
******
A NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN YAU MA TEI, KOWLOON, TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY JORDAN STATION.
THE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 9) ARE AS FOLLOWS:
PILKEM STREET BETWEEN JORDAN ROAD AND BOWRING STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY SOUTH-BOUND TO ONE-WAY NORTH-BOUND.
PARKES STREET BETWEEN JORDAN ROAD AND BOWRING STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY NORTH-BOUND TO ONE-WAY SOUTH-BOUND.
PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING PARKES STREET FROM JORDAN ROAD.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1976.
- 2 -
ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ON H.K. ISLAND * * * K H
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL SOON BEGIN A COMPREHENSIVE OFRHONG°KONGRt|tLANDIKPR°VE R°AD ACCESS T0 THE SOUTH-EASTERN PART
THE SCHEME INCLUDESs-
* IMPROVEMENT OF THE STUBBS ROAD — QUEENS ROAD EAST JUNCTION AND ELIMINATIONS OF FOUR SHARP BENDS ON STUBBS ROAD=
* WIDENING OF TAI HANG ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH BLUE POOL ROAD=
* INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS AT THE JUNCTION OF TAI HANG ROAD AND BLUE POOL ROAD AND AT THE JUNCTION OF TAI HANG ROAD, WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD AND STUBBS ROAD=
* CONSTRUCTION OF A NUMBER OF LAY-BYES, BUS BAYS AND FOOTPATHS ALONG REPULSE BAY ROAD= AND
* RECONSTRUCTION OF QUEENS ROAD EAST.
THE ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D. HIGHWAYS DIVISION (HONG KONG) MR. CHEN SHAO-CHI TODAY SAID THAT, ALONG WITH THE PROPOSED ABERDEEN TUNNEL, THE NEW WORKS WOULD GIVE MOTORISTS TRAVELLING TO-AND-FRCM THE SOUTHERN REGION OF HONG KONG ISLAND A VASTLY IMPROVED ROAD COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.
+THE STUBBS ROAD-QUEEN’S ROAD EAST JUNCTION WILL BE IMPROVED BY WIDENING THE APPROACH SECTIONS TO GIVE GREATER QUEUING SPACE FOR WAITING VEHICLES AND REDUCE CONFLICT TO MOTORISTS USING THIS BUSY INTERSECTION,+ HE SAID.
+ON THE LOWER SECTION OF STUBBS ROAD JUST TO THE WEST OF TH-EXISTING MINI ROUND-ABOUT AT TAI HANG ROAD-WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD-STUBBS ROAD JUNCTION, TWO SHARP BENDS WILL BE WIDENED AND IMPROVED IN CURVATURE TO PERMIT SMOOTHER AND SAFER TRAFFIC FLOW TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM THE JUNCTION.
+ANOTHER TWO BENDS SITUATED ON THE UPPER SECTION OF STUBBS ROAD WILL ALSO BE IMPROVED IN WIDTH AND ALIGNMENT TO BENEFIT VEHICLES TRAVELLING BETWEEN THE PEAK AND THE TAI HANG ROAD ROUND ABOUT.+
+TAI HANG ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH BLUE POOL ROAD WILL ALSO BE WIDE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE QUEUING SPACE FOR CROSSING TRAFFIC AND A SLIP ROAD FOR TRAFFIC TURNING LEFT INTO BLUE POOL ROAD.+
TO SUPPLEMENT THE IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO STUBBS ROAD, MR. CHEN SAID ARRANGEMENTS WERE BEING MADE TO SIGNALISE THE JUNCTION OF TAI HANG ROAD-BLUE POOL ROAD AND THE ROUNDABOUT AT THE JUNCTION OF TAI HANG ROAD, WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD AND STUBBS ROAD.
+IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT FRUSTRATION EXPERIENCED BY MOTORISTS AT THESE TWO JUNCTIONS WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED,+ HE SAID.
/♦IN ADDITION, ......
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1976
5
+IN ADDITION, FIVE LAY-EYES ALONG THE DOWN-HILL LANE AND THREE BUS BAYS ALONG THE UP-HILL LANE OF REPULSE BAY ROAD WILL EE PROVIDED TO MINIMIZE DELAYS DUE TO SLOW MOVING VEHICLES. A FOOTPATH WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.
+LASTLY, QUEEN’S ROAD EAST WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED TO GIVE AN IMPROVED RIDING QUALITY TO THIS IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN CENTRAL AREA AND REPULSE EAY.+
MR. CHEN SAID ALL THE P.W.D. WORKS HAD BEEN CAREFULLY PROGRAMMED TO AVOID UNDUE DISTRUEANCE TO TRAFFIC DURING CONSTRUCTION.
HE SAID AT LEAST THREE TRAFFIC LANES WOULD BE MAINTAINED IN THE APPROACH SECTION OF EACH OF THE ROADS AT THE JUNCTION OF QUEEN’S ROAD EAST/STUBBS ROAD.
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR WORKS AS AND WHEN NECESSARY, AND TWO-WAY TRAFFIC WOULD BE MAINTAINED WHEN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF QUEEN’S ROAD EAST WAS IN PROGRESS.
+IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS AT THE PRESENT MINI-ROUND-ABOUT AND AT BLUE POOL ROAD-TAI HANG ROAD JUNCTION WILL BE INSTALLED BY THE SUMMER OF 1977 AND ALL OTHER WORKS WILL EE COMPLETED BY MID-1978,+ MR. CHEN ADDED.
+AS A LONG-TERM SCHEME, A VEHICULAR TUNNEL (THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL) WILL BE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN HAPPY VALLEY AREA AND WONG CHUK HANG. INTERNATIONAL TENDERS FOR THE WORKS ARE BEING INVITED AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL START EARLY NEXT YEAR AND WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE.
+WHEN COMPLETED THE TUNNEL WILL EE LINKED WITH THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO PROVIDE A THROUGH TRAFFIC ROUTE BETWEEN THE KOWLOON PENINSULA AND THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE HONG KONG ISLAND.
+CONSEQUENTLY, TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN STUBBS ROAD, WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD AND REPULSE BAY ROAD WILL BE GREATLY IMPROVED.+
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A
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1976
- 4 -
133 PROSECUTED BY FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN SEPTEMBER ******
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TOOK OUT 133 PROSECUTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC DWELLERS, COMMERCIAL AND FACTORY PROPRIETORS FOR BREAKING FIRE LAWS IN SEPTEMBER.
THIS RESULTED IN THE IMPOSITION OF FINES AMOUNTING TO $79,673.
THE CASES MAINLY CONCERNED OBSTRUCTION OF STAIRCASES AND MEANS OF ESCAPE (64), FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT REQUIREMENTS (37) AND STORAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS WITHOUT A LICENCE (15). THE REMAINING 14 CASES INVOLVED VARIOUS OTHER OFFENCES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THESE WERE THE MOST COMMON OFFENCES.
+THEY DIRECTLY AFFECT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING, CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SPREAD AND SIZE OF FIRE AND HENCE THE RESULTANT LOSSES FROM SMOKE, HEAT AND WATER,+ HE SAID.
DURING SEPTEMBER, FIRE OFFICERS CONDUCTED 24,333 INSPECTIONS, RE-INSPECTIONS AND FOLLOW-UP VISITS - A RECORD NUMBER SINCE 1974 - TO RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WITH A VIEW TO ABATING POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS.
MORE THAN 14,590 OF THE INSPECTIONS WERE PROMPTED BY COMPLAINTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, OF WHICH 12,646 RELATED TO BLOCKAGES OF MEANS OF ESCAPE. THERE WERE ALSO 1,213 ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF MEANS OF ESCAPE AND 5,102 VISITS TO FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.
VISITS WERE MADE TO 435 SCHOOLS, 314 RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTCLUBS AND 157 PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY. INSPECTION OF VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRY TOTALLED 609 AND 386 RESPECTIVELY.
DURING THE SAME MONTH, 174 VEHICLES USED FOR CONVEYING COMPRESSED GASES AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS WERE EXAMINED, 664 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE RECEIVED AND PROCESSED, AND 338 DANGEROUS GOODS AND TIMBER YEARDS STORAGE LICENCES WERE ISSUED OR RENEWED.
IN ADDITION, FIRE OFFICERS CONDUCTED NINE FIRE PREVENTION LECTURES AND INVESTIGATED 13 FIRES IN DEPTH.
THE NUMBER OF FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER WAS 728.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED THE PUBLIC TO REPORT ANY FIRE HAZARD WHICH THEY OBSERVED TO THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU. HE SAID THE BUREAU MAINTAINED A ROUND-THE-CLOCK ANSWERING SERVICE AND REPORTS COULD BE MADE AT ANY TIME.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1976
- 5 -
EVOLUTION OF EDUCATIONAL AIMS H M H
AIMS, METHODS AND ATTITUDES TO EDUCATION, TO EE OF REAL WORTH, ARE ALWAYS IN COURSE OF EVOLUTION AND COMPARATIVE VALUES ARE CONTINUALLY CHANGING, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (PROFESSIONAL), MR. HO NGA-MING TCLD THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE HONG KONG TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION ihlS AFTERNOON.
+HOWEVER,* HE ADDED, +ANY SUCCESS IN BRINGING ABOUT EDUCATIONAL INNOVATIONS MUST DEPEND, TO A LARGE EXTENT, ON THE INITIATIVE AAD ENERGY OF THE SCHOOL HEADS AND THEIR STAFF.
+ THE TEACHERS, IN PARTICULAR, ARE AT THE GRASS-ROOT LEVEL OF THE SYSTEM. IN SPREADING AND EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW IDEAS AND APPROACHES THEY HAVE AN INDISPENSABLE ROLE TO PLAY IN ORDER TO FULFIL THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL.+
IN FACT, MR. HO POINTED OUT, THE HIGH REPUTATION WHICH MANY SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG HAD BUILT UP WAS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO THE TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL SKILL, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
TOUCHING OH THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR SPOKE ABOUT THE BROAD AIMS OF EDUCATION AND THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SCHOOL.
+THE AIM OF EDUCAT ION,+ HE SAID, +SHOULD BE TO DEVELOP TO THE FULL THE POTENTIALITIES OF EVERY CHILD AT SCHOOL, IN ACCORD ALWAYS ,.ITH THE GENERAL GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY OF WHICH HE IS A MEMBER.*
MR. HO SUMMED UP THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SCHOOL AS BEING:
* TO PROVIDE THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS BEST SUITED TO INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT,
K TO STIMULATE AND GUIDE HEALTHY GROWTH IN THIS ENVIRONMENT,
H TO ENABLE CHILDREN TO ACQUIRE THE HABITS, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, INTERESTS AND ATTITUDES OF MIND WHICH THEY WILL NEED FOR LIVING A FULL AND USEFUL LIFE.
* TO SET STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR, EFFORT AND ATTAINMENT BY WHICH THEY CAN MEASURE TnzIR OWN CONDUCi.
HE SAID: + IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE SCHOOL CAN FULFIL THESE FUNCTIONS ONLY IF IT INSISTS ON THOROUGH AND EFFECTIVE WORK II. THE VARIOUS DAILY TASKS IT PROVIDES.
♦HOWEVER, THE ULTIMATE TEST MUST BE WHETHER IT ASSISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CITIZENS WHO DESIRE THE COMMON GOOD AND ARE PREPARED TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN IT - MEN AND WOMEN, THAT IS, WHO CARE FOR ALL THAT IS LOVELY AND WORTHY.
+ AS I SEE IT, THE FULLY EDUCATED PERSON IS ONE ..HC IS ENLIGHTENED IN HIS INTERESTS, IMPERSONAL IN HIS JUDGEMENTS, READY IN HIS SYMPATHY FOR WHATEVER IS JUST AND RIGHT, EFFECTIVE IN THE WORK HE SETS HIMSELF TO DO, AND .■■ILL ING TO LEND A HAND TO ANYONE WHO IS II. NEED OF IT.*
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1976
FLIGHT TESTS FOR AIR SAFETY
******
A SPECIAL AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN DOING +ACROBATICS+ AROUND THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — ALL FOR THE CAUSE OF AIR SAFETY.
THE PLANE, A SABRE-LINER BELONGING TO THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA), HAS BEEN HERE TO CARRY OUT A PRE-ARRANGED FLIGHT PROGRAMME TO RECORD AND CALIBRATE THE ACCURACY OF HONG KONG’S VARIOUS GROUND NAVIGATIONAL AID SYSTEMS.
IT IS EQUIPPED WITH HIGHLY SPECIALISED AND SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT FOR THE RECORDING AND ANALYSIS OF RADIO SIGNALS OF NAVIGATIONAL AIDS AND FOR EXACT POSITION DETERMINING PURPOSES, WHICH SOMETIMES REQUIRE THE PLANE TO TAKE STEEP CLIMBS, SUDDEN DIPS, OR MAINTAIN AN ULTRA STRAIGHT AND STEADY FLIGHT PATH.
MR. AU MAN-HO, ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY THAT REGULAR FLIGHT CHECKS WERE ESSENTIAL TO CONFIRM THE STABILITY OF SIGNALS PASSED TO AIRBORNE AIRCRAFT.
♦EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE LIMITS AND TOLERANCES ARE SET DOWN IN INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, WHICH ALSO PRESCRIBE THAT RADIO NAVIGATION AIDS TO INTERNATIONAL AIRCRAFT EE SUBJECTED TO PERICD IC GROUND AND FLIGHT CHECKS,+ HE SAID.
MR. AU POINTED OUT THAT SUCH CARRIED OUT BY SPECIALLY-EQUIPPED TRAINED PILOT AND FLIGHT CREW.
FLIGHT CHECKS COULD ONLY EE AIRCRAFT WITH A SPECIALLY
♦FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PERIODIC AND SPECIAL FLIGHT CHECKING OF ALL THE DEPARTMENT’S NAVIGATION AID FACILITIES.
♦THE FAA’S SABRE-LINER, EASED IN TOKYO, VISITS HONG KONG ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS TO CHECK THE INSTRUMENTAL LANDING SYSTEM, DISTANCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT, THE PRECISION APPROACH RADAR, THE VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR, THE VHF OMNIDIRECTIONAL RADIO RANGE, MON-DIRECTIONAL RADIO BEACON, SURVEILLANCE RADAR AND VIDEO MAP OF RADAR.
♦DURING THE FLIGHT CHECKS, THE RADIATION SIGNALS OF
NAVIGATION AIDS ARE RECORDED BY THE AIRCRAFT FROM VARIOUS FLIGHT POSITIONS,+ HE SAID. +THE RECORDINGS ARE ANALYSED, AND IF THE RESULTS ARE SATISFACTORY, THE AID IS THEN CERTIFIED SERV ICEABLE.+
/MH. AU ......
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER ?, 1976
2
p.R. AU POINTED OUT THAT A LOT OF CARE MUST BE TAKEN WHILE PLANNING THESE CHECK FLIGHTS TO AVOID DISRUPTING REGULAR AIR TRAFF IC.
+OUR NAVIGATION AIDS ARE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE AIRPORT KOWLOON TSAI, MOUNT KELLET, CHEK KOK, TSI NG Yl, TUNG LUNG ISLAND CHEUNG CHAU, STONECUTTER’S ISLAND AND CAPE D’AGUILAR, AND BETWEEN THEM THEY PROVIDE ALL-WEATHER GUIDANCE TO ALL AIRCRAFT WITHIN SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES OF HONG KONG.
+A ROUTINE CHECK OF ALL THESE FACILITIES TAKES AN AVERAGE 0.- 23 HOURS’ FLYING TIME, SPACED OUT OVER A PERIOD OF THREE OR FOUR DAYS,+ HE SAID.
MR. AU ADDED THAT THE PRESENT HIGH LEVEL OF AIR SAFETY HAS BEEN ATTAINED MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF HIGH STANDARDS FOR AIR NAVIGATION FACILITIES.
+IT IS A CREDIT TO THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT THAT A VAST MAJORITY OF THE REPORTS RECEIVED FROM THE FAA AFTER THE FLIGHT TESTS SHOW OUR NAVIGATION AIDS GIVE EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7,
1976
- 3 -ADVICE ON SAFE OPERATION OF MACHINES ******
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. DAVID LIN, TODAY
URGED ALL OWNERS, OPERATORS, AND APPOINTED EXAMINERS OF AIR RECEIVER PLANTS TO EXERCISE CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS WHEN THEY OPERATE THEIR MACHINES SO THAT UNNECESSARY ACCIDENTS WOULD EE PREVENTED.
MR. LIN MADE THE CALL FOLLOWING THE REPORT OF A RECENT ACCIDENT IN WHICH AN AIR RECEIVER EXPLODED, KILLING ONE PERSON AND INJURING THREE OTHERS.
HE SAID: +THIS APPRECIATION OF THE AIR COMPRESSORS AND APPOINTED EXAMINERS
INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR A GREATER HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH AIR RECEIVERS AND I SINCERELY URGE ALL OWNERS, OPERATORS, AND TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS:-
1. THAT AIR RECEIVERS MUST NOT BE CHARGED WITH GASES, OTHER THAN AIR, IN PARTICULAR OXYGEN WHICH IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS’
2. THAT THE TEMPERATURE OF OUTLET AIR FROM AN AIR COMPRESSOR MUST BE WELL BELOW THE CLOSED FLASH POINT OF THE LUBRICATING OIL USED’
3. THAT THE OUTLET TEMPERATURE OF AIR DISCHARGING FROM A COMPRESSOR MUST NOT BE TOC HIGH (FOR LARGE PLANTS A WATER-COOLED COMPRESSOR MAY BE MORE SUITABLE THAN AN AIR-COOLED COMPRESSOR)=
4. THAT THE COMPRESSOR AIR INTAKE SHOULD BE SCREENED AND SITUATED IN A PLACE WHICH IS CCCL AND FREE OF ALL CONTAMINANTS’
5. THAT THE CORRECT GRADE OF LUBRICATING OIL SHOULD BE USED IN A COMPRESSOR AND CARE TAKEN TO KEEP THE CONSUMPTION TO A MINIMUM’
6. THAT REGULAR EXAMINATION AND MAINTENANCE BE CARRIED OUT ON THt COMPRESSOR AND ITS VALVES, AIR RECEIVER AND ITS MOUNTINGS, AND TH; INTER-CONNECTING PIPING BETWEEN THE COMPRESSOR AND AIR RECEIVER’
7. THAT FUSIBLE PLUGS, WALLS SYSTEM SHOULD BE FREE FROM CARBON BE RENEWED EVERY TWO YEARS’ AND
CF PIPES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE DEPOSITS AND FUSIBLE PLUG DISCS
8. THAT AIR RECEIVERS SHOULD BE LOCATED IN COOL AND WELL VENTILATED PLACES AND DRAINED REGULARLY.+
REFERRING TO THE RECENT ACCIDENT, MR. LIN SAID: + I WEST I GAT I ON REVEALED THAT THE AIR RECEIVER WAS USED FOR STARTING THE MAIN DIESEL ENGINE FITTED ON A MOBILE CRANE, AND THAT THE AIR RECEIVER AND COMPRESSOR HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED CR ATTENDED TO SINCE THE OWNER ACQUIRED IT IN 1062.+
/+AFTKR
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1976
4
♦AFTER REPAIRS TO THE DIESEL ENGINE OF THE MOBILE CRANE, IT REFUSED TO START AND A CYLINDER CONTAINING OXYGEN WAS THEN INCORPORATED IN THE SYSTEM AND USED FOR STARTING PURPOSES. WHEN THE MACHINE WAS TURNED ON, THE ENGINE TICKED OVER AND A VIOLENT EXPLOSION FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY.+
EXPLAINING THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, MR. LIN SAID: +EECAUSE THE COMPRESSOR PLANT HAD NOT BEEN ATTENDED TO, QUANTITIES OF OIL HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE SYSTEM. THIS OIL, IN COMBINATION WITH THE PURE OXYGEN USED FOR STARTING THE DIESEL ENGINE, FORMED AN EXTREMELY EXPLOSIVE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MIXTURE, VERY MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN AN OIL/AIR MIXTURE CONTAINING ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN WHICH NORMALLY ACTS AS A MODERATOR.
♦THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MIXTURE, IN ALL PROBABILITY, .AS IGNITED BY HOT GASES LEAKING THROUGH THE STARTING AIR VALVES.+
♦THE NET RESULT,+ MR. LIN ADDED, +WAS THE RUPTURING OF THE AIR RECEIVER WITH DISASTROUS CONSQUENCES.+
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PUBLIC ENQUIRIES ON MTR
******
A TOTAL OF 60,816 ENQUIRIES AND CASES ON MATTERS CONCERNING THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY WERE HANDLED EY THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT DURING THE PAST NINE MONTHS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THIS, HE SAID, REFLECTED GROWING PUBLIC INTEREST AND CONCERN OVER THIS HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM.
♦THE NATURE OF ENQUIRIES HANDLED RANGED FROM REQUESTS FOR FACTUAL INFORMATION SUCH AS ROUTES AND MAPS TO HIGHLY COMPLEX MATTERS SUCH AS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES INCURRED DUE TO THE MTR’S CONSTRUCTION WORKS,+ HE SAID.
♦THE NUMBER OF SUCH COMPLICATED CASES DEALT WITH, SOMETIMES REACHED MORE THAN 80 A MONTH,+ HE SAID. +THE STRAIGHTFORWARD CASES AVERAGED SOME 6,730 A MONTH.+
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT A NUMBER OF THESE ENQUIRIES WERE MADE EY PHONE EUT THAT THERE WAS A'.' INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING IN PERSON TO THE 22 PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES SCATTERED ALL OVER HONG KONG.
♦ ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE IS GIVEN WHENEVER POSS I ELE,+ HE ADDED.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1976
- 5 -
REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES FOR G.C.E. EXAMINATIONS ******
REGISTRATION OF PRIVATE CANDIDATES FOR THE GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EXAMINATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON AND THE ASSOCIATED EXAMINING BOARD WILL BEGIN ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 12).
ENTRY FORMS FOR THE EXAMINATIONS, TO EE HELD IN JUNE 1977, WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM DISTRICT OFFICES AND SUB-OFFICES FROM WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
CANDIDATES MUST POSSESS FIVE SUBJECTS AT GRADE E OR ABOVE ACCUMULATED IN TWO OR MORE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION OR EQUIVALENT EXAMINATIONS- OR FOUR SUBJECTS AT GRADE E OR ABOVE OBTAINED l\ THE SAME CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION OR EQUIVALENT EXAMINATIONS- OR AN APPROVED ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATE- OR MUST BE MATURE STUDENTS CF 22 YEARS OF AGE OR OVER ON JANUARY 1, 1977.
THEY MAY ENTER ONLY ONE OF THE EXAMINATIONS. ANY CANDIDATE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER FOR BOTH EXAMINATIONS IS LIABLE TO DISQUALIFICATION FROM BOTH EXAMINATIONS.
COMPLETED FORMS, TOGETHER '.'.ITH EVIDENCE OF QUALIFICATIONS, MUST BE SUBMITTED IN PERSON FROM NOVEMBER 12 TO NOVEMBER 22 FROM 8 A.M. TO 4 P.M. ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 8 A.M. TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS AT THE REGISTRATION CENTRE ON BLAKE PIER (ADJACENT TO THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT).
FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSE, APPLICANTS SHOULD ALSO BRING THEIR HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS TO THE CENTRE. THE LACK OF IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING STANDARD PHOTOGRAPHS MAY DISQUALIFY AN APPLICANT FROM REGISTRATION.
APPLICANTS SHOULD NOTE THAT REGISTRATION EY MAIL AND LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. IN ADDITION, THEY SHOULD SUBMIT THE ENTRY FORMS AT THEIR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE TO AVOID POSSIBLE CONGESTION ON THE LAST FEW DAYS OF REGISTRATION.
THE INITIAL ENTRY FEE PER CANDIDATE IS $55. THE FEE FOR EVERY SUBJECT OFFERED AT ORDINARY LEVEL IS $50 AND AT ADVANCED LEVEL $90. CANDIDATES OFFERING PRACTICAL TEST WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL ^43 FOR EACH TEST.
THESE FEES MUST BE PAID ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 25 AT THE TREASURY SUB-OFFICES. THEY MAY ALSO EE PAID BY CROSSED CHEQUE MADE PAYABLE TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND SENT TO THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES, THE TREASURY, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, HONG KONG.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1976
6
EVENING COURSES AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES
* * M * * M
THE MORRISON HILL AND KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE JOINTLY INVITING APPLICANTS FOR A NUMBER OF EVENING COURSES WHICH ARE DUE TC BEGIN IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR.
COURSES IN AUDIO-TYPING, BUSINESS MACHINES, PITMAN’S SHORTHAND THEORY AND VARIOUS LEVELS OF PITMAN’S SHORTHAND WILL BE RUN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL STUDIES OF THE TWO INSTITUTES.
IN ADDITION, COURSES IN INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED TYPEWRITING WILL EE OFFERED BY THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
ALL THE COURSES WILL LAST FROM MID-JANUARY TO MAY 1977 AND FEES RANGE FROM $60 TO 3130.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AT 6, Cl KWAN ROAD, WANCHAI AND FROM THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN HING SHING ROAD FROM ? A.M. TC 5 P.M. AND 7 P.M. TO 8 P.M. ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 A.M. TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TC THE INSTITUTE CONCERNED ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 20, 1976.
0 --------
WATER CUT K * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN HAPPY VALLEY AREA WILL EE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS DAILY FROM TUESDAY (NOV-MEER 9) TO FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 12) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT NIGHT LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED HOURS ARE FROM 1 A.M. TO 6 A.M.
PREMISES TO EE AFFECTED ARE NO. 40 TO 50 STUBBS ROAD AND NO. 4 TO 14 WONG NE I CHUNG GAP ROAD, INCLUDING THE HONG KONG ADVENTIST HOSPITAL.
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN YUEN LONG AND SAI KUNG WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR NINE HOURS FROM 10 P.M. ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 9). THIS IS TC FACILITATE WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT 3Y THE WATERWORKS IN THESE AREAS.
IN YUEN LONG, ALL PREMISES AND VILLAGES ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD BETWEEN AU TAU CROSS ROAD AND SAN TIN WILL BE AFFECTED.
IN SAI KUNG, THE AREAS TO BE AFFECTED ARE SAI KUNG TOWN, MAN YUE SUN CHUEN, SHA TSUI SUN CHUEN, TAN CHEUNG, KAP PIN LONG, SHA KOK MEI, LONG .••'.El, MUK MIN SHAN AND THE AREA ALONG PC TUNG ROAD.
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/7
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1976
7
LEARNER DRIVER PROHIBIT IONS IN KOWLOON TONG * * * * *
LEARNER DRIVERS UNDERGOING DRIVING INSTRUCTION WILL NOT EE ALLOWED TO USE THE WHOLE OF KENT ROAD AND A SECTION OF SOMERSET ROAD, BETWEEN DEVON ROAD AND KENT ROAD, IN KOWLOON TONG, FROM 13 A.M. ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 9).
THE RESTRICTION IS AIMED AT FACILITATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KOWLOON TONG MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED TO GUIDE LEARNER DR IVERS.
- - 0 - -
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT i \ t l i i i u r
SAP PAT HEUNG * * * *
A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT <<ILL CONDUCT REGISTRATION'S AT SAP PAT HEUNG RURAL COMMITTEE FOR RESIDENTS AND PERSONS LIVING NEARBY FOR THREE DAYS FROM NOVEMBER 15 (MONDAY).
THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS AND 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 OK REACHING 18 YEARS OF AGE.
REGISTRATIONS ..ILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.33 A.M. AND 4.33 P.M. DAILY.
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, MARTIAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
0 - -
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sunday, November 7, 1976
FIFTY-SEVENTH ESTATE READY FOR INTAKE NEXT MONTH
Lai Yiu Estate in Kwai Chung/Tsuen Wan will start taking in tenants before Christmas.
This will be the Housing Authority’s 57th estate, and the fourth estate/extension taken over during 1976 for letting, the others being Hing Wah II, Kwai Shing Il/lII and Lai King.
Lai Yiu Estate occupies a 21-acre site on a terraced hillside off Castle Peak Road and commands a panoramic view of Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island.
Because of the nature of the site, the four domestic blocks forming the estate are built on different levels.
Initially, one twin-tower block of 730 flats will be available for letting in December to be followed by a similar block in January, a third in February and the fourth in the second half of next year.
A spokesman for the Housing Department’s Application Section said that a number of flats would be available to waiting list applicants and some to tenants of the older estates who had applied for relief of overcrowding.
”Investigation of eligible waiting list applicants has already been carried out and offer letters will be sent out next month,** the spokesman said.
/2.........
2
Constructionof Tai-Yiu'Estate-v as carried. out- in-three phases which started in 1973.
Phase I included the building of two twin-tower blocks, a podium with a Z-shaped building on top and a three-storey car park underneath. The Z-shaped block has a number of shops on the ground floor, two restaurants on the first floor with dormitory accommodation on the top floor.
The phase II work included a third twin-tower block and two primary schools while the last phase comprised a slab block and a secondary school.
Workmen are now putting the finishing touches to Phases I and II while Phase III, now under construction, is expected to be completed by mid-1977.
On full completion, the estate will have 2,411 flats of varying sizes - ranging from 356 square feet to the two-bedroom type of 591 square feet,
Lai Yiu Estate will be fully self-contained with its own market, shops, restaurants and schools. A road is now being built to link the estate with Kwai Chung Road while at the same time discussions are being held with the Kowloon Motor Bus Company for a route leading to the urban areas.
*******
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
TUEN MUN NEW TOWN TRANSPORT STUDY ............... 1
CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION MULTIPLE-CHOICE SAMPLE QUESTIONS ON SALE ........................ 3
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF PART OF OLYMPIC AVENUE ..... 4
MANPOWER SURVEY OF MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING INDUSTRY STARTS ................................. 4
NEW POSTMASTER GENERAL .......................... 5
RE-OPENING OF SECTION OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD .... 5
1
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER S
1?76
1
TUEN MUN NEW TOWN TRANSPORT STUDY ******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN’S FUTURE TRANSPORT NEEDS TO ENSURE SAFE, CONVENIENT AND ECONOMICAL MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS I TH IN THE NE* TOWN.
THE STUDY WILL COVER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF LAND AND WATER COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING PUBLIC AND PRIVAW TRANSPORT, GOODS MOVEMENT, PARKING, CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRI AN WEEDS, FERRIES, ROAD NETWORKS AND INTERCHANGES, AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE RA I _ lINK.
INVITATION LETTERS ARE BEING SENT TO SELECTED TRANSPORT CONSULTANCY FIRMS TO SUBMIT DETAILED PROPOSALS FOR THE STUDY.
TUEN MUN NEW TOWN’S PROUECT MANAGER, MR. CHAN NAI-KEONG OF THE P.W.D.’S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY THE STUDY WAS GEARED TOWARDS DEVISING THE BEST TRANSPORT SYSTEM POSSIBLE TO SERVE THE NEW TOWN’S EVENTUAL POPULATION OF ABOUT HALF-A-MILL ION.
+DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN IS PROGRESSING AT A RAPID PACE AND ALREADY SOME 41,000 PEOPLE LIVE IN THE AREA,* HE SAID. +WORKS ARE WELL IN HAND TO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR ANOTHER 160,000 PEOPLE WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AND OBVIOUSLY ADEQUAT-PROVISIONS MUST BE MADE TO ENABLE THEM TO MOVE EASILY BETWEEN THEIR HOMES, WORK, SHOPS AND PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT.*
IN LINE WITH THIS PRINCIPLE, P.W.D. PLANNERS HAVE DEVISED A COMPREHENSIVE ROAD NETWORK FOR THE NEW TOWN, COMPRISING PRIMARY DISTRICT AND LOCAL ROADS. THE PRIMARY ROADS WERE INTENDED FOR VEHICLES TRAVELLING BETWEEN PLACES FAR APART, WHILE THE DISTRICT ROAD NETWORK WOULD CHANNEL TRAFFIC INTO VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TO*N THE LOCAL ROADS WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL PREMISES AND WOULD FEED INTO THE DISTRICT ROADS.
MR. CHAN SAID PUBLIC TRANSPORT WAS A KEY ELEMENT IN THE PLAN AND A SPECIAL RESERVE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT — KNOWN AS EXCLUSIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT RIGHT OF WAY (E. P. T.R.0. .<.) — HAD B~“N INCORPORATED INTO THE TOWN PLAN.
+BASICALLY, THIS IS A STRIP OF LAND RESERVE *ITHIN THE DISTRICT ROADS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, AND IS SIMILAR IN CONCEPT TO THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME IN THE MID-LEVELS ON HONG KONG ISLAND. THE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE E.P.T.R.C.W. IS PRE-PLANNED AND WILL BE ON A MUCH BIGGER AND WIDER SCALE,* HE SAID.
IT *AS ENVISAGED, HE ADDED, THAT THE E.P.T RUN PRINCIPALLY ALONG THE DISTRICT DISTRIEUTORY =XTEND FOR SOME 12,000 METRES, SERVING THE MAIN AND INDUSTRIAL ARtAS OF THE NEW TO.vN. THE PLAN FOR THE NETWORK TO BRANCH OFF INTO AREAS WHERE HOUSING ESTATES ARE TO BE LOCATED.
. R.C.W. .-.OULD ROADS AND RESIDENTIAL ALSO PROVIDED
MAJOR PUBLIC
/MR. CHAN......
- 2 -
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1976
chan said that before the p.w.d. entered into firm COMMITMENTS FOR DxTAIL-.D DESIGN OF THE MAIN ROADS AND '^CHANGES, FURTHER UP-TO-DATE DATA WAS REQUIRED WHICH WOULD ALoO ENABLE TIMeLY AND APPROPRIATE DECISIONS TO BE MADE IN RESPECT - THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM TO BE ADOPTED FOR USE OF THE E.P.T.R.O.W.
+PART OF THE CONSULTANTS BRIEF*WILL BE TO ASSESS THE ROUTING OF THE E.P.T.R.O.W. SYSTEM AND TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFICIENT AND ECONOMIC PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR THE E.P.T.R.O.W. HE SAID.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE STUDY, HE SAID, WOULD EE TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORT USAGE IN THE NEW TOWN.
+THIS WILL INVOLVE A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF TRANSPORT CAPACITY IN TERMS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORT FACILITIES IN THE NEW TOWN, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT TRIPS ATTRACTED AWAY FROM PRIVATE TRANSPORT IF AH EFFICIENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS PROVIDED.
+THIS INFORMATION IS VITAL IN’DEVISING AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORT SYSTEM WHICH MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ROAD SPACE THAT CAN BE PROVIDED WITHOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE PROVISION OF LAND FOR HOUSING AND OTHER ASSOCIATED NEEDS,+ SAID MR. CHAN.
HE SAID THE STUDY WOULD ALSO PROVIDE IMPORTANT DATA ON THE ESTIMATED VOLUMES AND DESIRED LINES OF CYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENTS IN RESPECT OF JOURNEYS TO WORK, SCHOOL, SHOPPING AND RECREATION, AND MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW SUCH DEMAND CAN BE CATERED FOR.
ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE CONSULTANTS BRIEF WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO PROVIDE DATA ON LIKELY GOODS AND CONTAINER VEHICLE MOVEMENTS ON ROADS IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS AS WELL AS ON THE PRIMARY AND DISTRICT ROADS, AND TO ASSESS THE ADEQUACY OF THESE ROADS.
+THIS ASPECT WILL ALSO COVER STANDARDS FOR PARKING, LOADING AND UNLOADING OF GOODS AND CCNTA MIER VEHICLES IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS, COMMERCIAL SITES AND RESIDENTIAL ZONES,+ HE SAID.
ON EXTERNAL TRANSPORT SERVING THE NEW TOWN, MR. CHAN SAID THE STUDY WOULD EVALUATE THE EXTERNAL ROADS REQUIRED TAKING INTO ACCOUNT POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS IN AREAS SOUTH AND NORTH OF THE NEW TOWN.
+THE CONSULTANTS WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO EVALUATE SEA COMMUNICATION POSS IB ILIT IES AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SATISFY EXTERNAL TRAVEL NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS RECOMMEND FERRY ROUTES TO POPULATION CENTRES OUTSIDE TUEN MUN,+ HE ADDED.
MR. CHAN SAID THE STUDY WOULD EE COMMISSIONED IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR AND A FINAL REPORT WAS EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED TC THE P.W.D. BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1976
C.E.E. MULTIPLE-CHOICE SAMPLE QUESTIONS ON SALE
*****
FIVE VOLUMES OF MULTIPLE-CHOICE SAMPLE QUESTIONS COMPILED FROM PAPERS OF RECENT EXAMINATIONS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION BOARD AND ARE NOW ON SALE.
THEY ARE AVAILABLE AT D3.2O A VOLUME FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE. THEY WILL ALSO BE ON SALE IN BOOKSHOPS SOON.
SCHOOLS PURCHASING 25 OR MORE COPIES ON BEHALF OF THEIR STUDENTS WILL EE GIVEN A TEN PER CENT DISCOUNT.
THE SAMPLE QUESTIONS COVER ENGLISH LANGUAGE (SYLLABUS A), ENGLISH LANGUAGE (SYLLABUS B), AND CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CHINESE HISTORY IN VOLUME 1= BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, MATHEMATICS, MATHEMATICS (ALTERNATIVE SYLLABUS) (CHINESE VERSIONS) IN VOLUME 11= BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, MATHEMATICS, MATHEMATICS (ALTERNATIVE SYLLABUS) (ENGLISH VERSIONS) IN VOLUME 111= ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY (CHINESE VERSIONS) IN VOLUME IV- ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY (ENGLISH VERSIONS) IN VOLUME V.
THE SECRTARY OF THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION BOARD, MR. K.C. CHEUNG SAID TODAY THAT THE SERIES OF SAMPLE QUESTIONS HAD NEVER BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE.
THE BOARD DECIDED TO PUBLISH THE SERIES BECAUSE SOME MULTIPLECHOICE SAMPLE QUESTIONS PRINTED BY PRIVATE CONCERNS WERE OF LOW STANDARD.
+THE SERIES IS THE WORK OF PROFESSIONAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS EXAMINERS*, HE SAID.
MR. CHEUNG EXPLAINED THAT IN A MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST, +EACH ITEM POSES A PROBLEM IN THE ’STEM’ AND PROVIDES A SET OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS IN THE ’OPTIONS,’ ONE OF WHICH - THE ’KEY’ - IS THE RIGHT ANSWER. THE OTHERS - EITHER WRONG, OR DEMONSTRABLY INADEQUATE -BEING ’DISTRACTORS’.
+EACH OF THESE OPTIONS HAS TO BE PLAUSIBLE, AND THE PAPER AS A WHOLE MUST SATISFY A TEST SPECIFICATION IN BOTH CONTENT AND DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING.*
THE SECRETARY ADDED: +IT IS RECOGNISED THAT MULTIPLE-CHOICE TESTING HAS MANY OBVIOUS ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER TYPES OF TESTING.
+SOME OF THESE ADVANTAGES ARE: IT CAN EE OBJECTIVELY MARKED-IT EXAMINES ALL CANDIDATES EQUALLY (ALL CANDIDATES BEING REQUIRED TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTIONS)- CANDIDATES NEED SPEND LITTLE TIME IN WRITING AND MAY DEVOTE MOST OF THEIR TIME TO THINKING- IT PERMITS THE SYLLABUS TO BE COVERED MORE FULLY- SINCE QUESTIONS MAY EE PRETESTED AND THE RESULTS ANALYSED BEFORE USE, THEY SHOULD BE FREE FROM AMBIGUITY AND BE OF THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY.*
MR. CHEUNG STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT MULTIPLE-CHOICE TESTING WAS ONLY ONE EXAMINATION TECHNIQUE, WHICH ALSO HAD ITS LIMITATIONS AND SHOULD NOT EE USED AS A TOOL OF TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM.
c --------
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1976
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF PART OF OLYMPIC AVENUE
******
THE PRESENT SINGLE-LANE ACCESS ALONG OLYMPIC AVENUE TO THE AIRPORT SERVICE AREA NORTH-EAST OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING '.-.ILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FROM 8 A.M. ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 11) BECAUSE OF ROAD RECONSTRUCTION.
THE CLOSURE
IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT SIX TO SEVEN aEEKS.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS IS AVAILABLE FROM PRINCE EDWARD ROAD VIA THE AIRPORT MAINTENANCE AREA ELEVATED ROAD ADJACENT TO THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE RAF KAI TAK.
FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC, ACCESS IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM PRINCE EDWARD ROAD VIA THE GATE ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT POLICE STATION.
APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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MANPOWER SURVEY OF MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING INDUSTRY STARTS
*****
A MANPOWER SURVEY OF HONG WORKING INDUSTRY STARTED TODAY
KONG’S MACHINE SHOP AND METAL (MONDAY).
THE SURVEY, THE FOURTH OF ITS KIND, IS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LABOUR AND CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOP THE TRAINING BOARD CALLED ON EMPLOYERS TC SUPPLY THE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF WORKERS AT PRESENT EMPLOYED UNDER THEIR ESTABLISHMENT, THE NUMBER OF WORKERS AT PRESENT UNDER TRAINING, THE NUMBER OF EXISTING VACANCIES AND A FORECAST OF THE NUMBER OF WORKERS REQUIRED BY NOVEMBER NEXT YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD HELP THEM IN DRAWING UP PLANS FOR FUTURE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IN THE INDUSTRY AND ASSURED EMPLOYERS THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD EE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1976
5
NEW POSTMASTER GENERAL * * * *
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE PROMOTION OF MR. D.J.K. BAMFORD TO POSTMASTER GENERAL TO SUCCEED MR. M. ADD I, WHO WILL COMMENCE HIS PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE IN MARCH 1977.
MR. BAMFORD, AGED 54, WAS APPOINTED TO HIS PRESENT POST OF DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL IN 1971.
HE STARTED HIS POST OFFICE CAREER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1936 WHERE HE SERVED FOR 11 YEARS BEFORE JOINING THE COLONIAL SERVICE.
FROM 1943 TO 1967 HE SERVED WITH THE EAST AFRICA POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATION, INITIALLY AS OFFICER IN CHARGE OF MAIL OPERATIONS OF THE HEAD POST OFFICE, KAMPALA, UGANDA.
HE SUBSEQUENTLY SERVED IN A NUMBER OF SENIOR POSTS IN TANZANIA AND KENYA, INCLUDING THOSE OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS, KENYA AND PERSONNEL MANAGER OF THE ADMINISTRATION. HE WAS AWARDED THE O.B.E. IN 1963.
RE-OPENING OF SECTION OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD * * * * *
THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF THE SECTION OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD FROM NAM CHEONG STREET TO PEI HO STREET aILL EE RE-OPENED TO ALL TRAFFIC FROM 10 A.M. ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 11).
THIS SECTION OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR EMERGENCY ROAD REPAIR WORKS.
o -
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Monday, November 8, 1976
FLATS AND INDIVIDUAL TOILETS TO BE PROVIDED THROUGH CONVERSION WORK AT YAU TONG ESTATE
Work is expected to start shortly on a project to convert and renovate disused utility areas of Mark III blocks in Yau Tong Estate.
An Authority spokesman said the project was a continuation of its plans to improve Mark III buildings.
The work, to be carried out in seven blocks, is due to be
completed next April.
Through converting disused washing areas, a total of 44 flats for 176 people will be provided*
A further part of the contract includes the conversion of 72 urinals into private toilets in 17 blocks.
The Authority spokesman said similar work was carried out in Tsz Wan Shan and Tai Wo Hau estates a few years ago and was generally welcomed by the tenants.
The spokesman said tenders are to be invited for similar work in six blocks of Tin Wan Estate and 13 blocks of Kwai Chung Estate, providing 135 flats for 540 people. These will be ready by May or June next year.
There were also plains for rooftop conversions in Lok Fu and Tung Tau estates, from which a further 80 flats for 640 people would result by October 1977.
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1976
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE RESUMES TOMORROW ................. 1
NEW EDITION OF POST OFFICE GUIDE WILL BE ON SALE NEXT MONDAY ...................................................... 2
WATER CUT IN MONG KOK ....................................... 2
SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS TO VISIT LEE CHING DEA MEMORIAL
COLLEGE ..................................................... 3
PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING STRAY ANIMALS TO BE STREAMLINED 4
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTH POINT ......................... 4
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1976
1
LEGCO DEBATE RESUMES TOMORROW
******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE RESUMES TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SIX OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE THE HON. THOMAS LEE CHUN-YON, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, FOLLOWED BY THE HON. IAN PRICE, COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR’ THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION’ THE HON. LI FOOK-KOW, SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES’ THE HON. IAN LIGHTBODY, SECRETARY FOR HOUSING AND DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
EIGHT OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 11). THEY ARE : THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE- THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES’ THE HON. LEWIS DAVIS, SECRETARY FOR SECURITY- THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES’ THE HON. DENIS BRAY, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS’ THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, ATTORNEY GENERAL- THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND SIR DENYS ROBERTS, CHIEF SECRETARY.
ON BOTH DAYS, THE PROCEEDINGS WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG ON RTHK 2 (CHINESE) AND RTHK 4 (ENGLISH).
DURING THE SITTING, THE GAMBLING BILL 1976, WHICH SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN THE LAW AGAINST THOSE WHO MAKE A LIVING BY INDUCING OR PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO GAMBLE EXCEPT AS AUTHORISED, WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL.
ALSO TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL ARE THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976 AND THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.
AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER’S BILL, ENTITLED THE BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY (HONG KONG BRANCH) BILL 1976, WILL ALSO EE TABLED FOR FIRST READING.
0
/2
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1976
- 2 -
NEW EDITION CF POST OFFICE GUIDE * * *
THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A NEW EDITION OF THE POST OFFICE GUIDE WILL BE ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICES FRC" NEXT MONDAY (NOVEMBER 15).
THE PRICE IS $10, WHICH INCLUDES SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 CONTAINING AMENDMENTS SINCE GOING TO PRESS.
THE NEW EDITION CONTAINS 387 PAGES, AND GIVES UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT POST OFFICE SERVICES, POSTAGE RATES, AND THE CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF MAIL.
A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID: +IT V. ILL BE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO FIRMS AND ORGANISATIONS WHICH MAKE FREQUENT UE OF POST OFFICE SERVICES.
+FCR AN ADDITIONAL FEE OF SUBSCRIBERS WILL BE SENT REGULAR AMENDMENT LISTS, AND AN APPLICATION FORM FOR THIS PURPOSE IS ENCLOSED WITH THE NEW GUIDE,* HE ADDED.
- 0 - -
a ATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN MONG KOK WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 11) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A MIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY CHERRY STREET, WONG TAI STREET, CHUNG WUI STREET AND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD, INCLUDING CHUN .’.IMG STREET, HOI KING STREET, FOO KWAI STREET, POK MAN STREET, KA SHIN SiREET, FUK CHAK STREET, KOK CHEUNG STREET, LI TAK STREET, IVY STREET AND TAI TSUN STREET.
- 0 - -
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1976
- 3 -
SHA TO VISIT LEE CHING DEA MEMORIAL COLLEGE
* * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DENIS BRAY, WILL VISIT THE LEE CHING DEA MEMORIAL COLLEGE, ONE OF THE SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS, ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 11).
ACCOMPANIED BY DR. CHARM HOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS AND MRS. MABEL HAYES, CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (EASTERN), HE WILL TOUR THE SCHOOL PREMISES AND SEE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES IN PROGRESS.
ALSO PRESENT WILL BE MR. WILSON CHEUNG, MR. WILLIAM MA AND DR. CHOW HUK-WING, FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD VICE-CHAIRMEN OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS AND FIVE DIRECTORS, MR. JOR TAK-MING, MR. TAM KWOK-CHI, MR. CHAN KUEN, MR. SIU MING AND MR. EDMUND TAM.
THE COLLEGE HAS 25 CLASSES, RANGING FROM FORM 1 TO FORM 7, WITH A TOTAL ENROLMENT OF 927.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE VISIT WHICH WILL START AT 11 A.M. AT 18 CLOUDVIEW ROAD, NORTH POINT.
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A...
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1976
4
PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING STRAY ANIMALS TO BE STREAMLINED * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO AMEND THE POUNDS ORDINANCE TO TRANSFER THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HANDLING STRAY ANIMALS FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TO THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
AT PRESENT, ALL STRAY ANIMALS OTHER THAN DOGS AND CATS ARE HANDLED BY THE POLICE.
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE SEEK TO STREAMLINE PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF ALL STRAY ANIMALS BY BRINGING THEM UNDER THE OVERALL CONTROL OF A SINGLE AUTHORITY AND TO INCREASE PENALTIES AND FEES.
UNDER THE DOGS AND CATS ORDINANCE, ALL STRAY DOGS AND CATS ARE ALREADY BEING HANDLED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
DURING THE 1975-76 FINANCIAL YEAR, DOG CONTROL UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT CAUGHT 10,291 STRAY DOGS. OF THESE, 11.2 PER CENT WERE CLAIMED AND RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS AND THE REST WERE DESTROYED EITHER IMMEDIATELY AFTER CAPTURE ON ACCOUNT OF DISEASE, OR AFTER FOUR DAYS, BEING UNCLAIMED AFTER DETENTION FOR THE PRESCRIBED
PERIOD
ANOTHER 791 UNWANTED DOGS WERE REMOVED AND DISPOSED OF AT THE REQUEST OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR ALSO MARKED THE 20TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR DURING WHICH HONG KONG REMAINED FREE FROM RABIES.
A TOTAL OF 13,528 DOGS WERE INOCULATED AND LICENSED OR RELICENSED AT THE DEPARTMENT’S 11 CENTRES AND TWO MOBILE TEAMS.
- 0 - -
I RAFF IC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTH POINT * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM 10 A.M. TOMORROW (NOVEMBER 13) VEHICLES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TURN LEFT FROM WESTLANDS ROAD INTO KING’S ROAD.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTOR I STS.
- 0 - -
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1G, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
DETAILS OF PLANS TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS AND STANDARDS ANNOUNCED .......................................... 1
NEW HOMES FOR SOME 600,090 PEOPLE BY 1981 .................... 5
GOVERNOR OPENS THE FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS .................... 7
REGIONALISATION PLAN TO EASE OVERCROWDING IN HOSPITALS ... 8
SAFEGUARDS FOR PROPOSED EXTENSION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME ...................................................... 10
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PUBLIC SECTOR ............... 12
NEED TO EXAMINE DEVELOPMENT IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION .......... 14
EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976 .................... 16
PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 ............... 17
WATER CUTS IN WESTERN AND TSUEN WAN ......................... 18
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5'233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
1
PLANS TO IMPROVE LABOUR STANDARDS AND CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT ******
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE, TODAY GAVE DETAILS OF PLANS TO IMPROVE LABOUR STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE WELCOMED THE EXPANSION OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AS BOTH THE WORKERS’ AND EMPLOYERS’ REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE INCREASED FROM FOUR TO SIX.
HE SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE EXPANDED BOARD’S ASSISTANCE AND COUNSEL FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.
MR. PRICE SAID THIS YEAR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S MAIN EFFORT AGAIN MUST BE IN THE AREA OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.
ON THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME, MR. PRICE SAID THIS WOULD MAINLY TAKE THE FORM OF A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WHICH HE POINTED OUT WAS DELIBERATELY DRAWN UP TO ALLOW FOR FUTURE EXPANS ION.
THE FOREMOST IMPROVEMENT WAS THAT ALL EMPLOYEES SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO SEVEN DAYS CONSECUTIVE PAID LEAVE EACH YEAR IN ADDITION TO THE TEN INDIVIDUAL STATUTORY PAID HOLIDAYS.
+THIS WILL REPRESENT A CONSIDERABLE SOCIAL EVOLUTION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE LIFE AND HABITS OF THE POPULATION WILL BE CONSIDERABLE,* SAID MR. PRICE.
REFERRING TO THOSE WHO WONDERED WHAT WORKERS WOULD DO WITH ALL THE ENFORCED LEISURE, MR. PRICE SAID: +1 ASK THEM TO CAST THEIR MINDS BACK TO 1970, THE TIME OF A PREVIOUS SOCIAL CHANGE ARISING FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF FOUR REST DAYS A MONTH.
+SIMILAR DOUBTS WERE EXPRESSED THEN. THE RESOUNDING ANSWERS TO THESE DOUBTS ARE TO BE FOUND ON ANY SUNDAY OR PUBLIC HOLIDAY WHEN BEACHES, HILLS, SPORTS FIELDS, TRAINS, FERRIES, RESTAURANTS, AND ALL PLACES OF AMENITY, RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT ARE CROWDED.*
HE SAID: +GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE SOCIAL ADVANTAGES OF PAID ANNUAL LEAVE OUTWEIGH THE SLIGHT RISK OF CREATING DIFFICULTIES FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF SMALLER EMPLOYERS.*
/ANOTHER .....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
2
ANOTHER PROPOSAL WAS TO PROVIDE ONE REST DAY IN EVERY SEVEN DAYS FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.
+THIS WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF INCREASING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REST DAYS A YEAR FROM THE PRESENT 48 TO 52,+ HE SAID.
MR. PRICE ALSO PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO SEVERANCE PAY AND SICKNESS BENEFITS.
ON SEVERANCE PAY, HE PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE BASIC RATE FROM ONE THIRD OF A MONTH’S WAGES TO ONE-HALF FOR EACH YEAR OF QUALIFYING SERVICE AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT COUNTED AS QUALIFYING SERVICE.
THE COMMISSIONER SAID THE CURRENT SEVERANCE PAY SCHEME COULD MILITATE AGAINST LONGER-SERVING EMPLOYEES WHO SHOULD BENEFIT MORE BECAUSE REDUNDANCY TENDED TO HAVE A MORE DISRUPTIVE EFFECT ON THEM.
WITH REGARD TO SICKNESS BENEFITS HE PROPOSED THAT THE RATE OF PAYMENT FOR DAYS OF SICKNESS SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM HALF PAY TO TWO-THIRDS PAY BRINGING IT INTO LINE WITH THE INTERIM PAYMENT RATE UNDER THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
IN ADDITION, MR. PRICE ALSO PROPOSED TO INCREASE FROM 24 TO 36 THE NUMBER OF SICKNESS DAYS THAT COULD BE ACCUMULATED.
TWO OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSIONER WERE THE IMPOSITION OF A VICARIOUS LIABILITY ON PRINCIPAL CONTRACTORS IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, IN ORDER TO PROTECT WAGES OF WORKERS OF DEFAULTING SUB-CONTRACTORS. THE OTHER AMENDMENT WOULD INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE BY RAISING THE WAGE LIMIT FOR NON-MANUAL WORKERS FROM $2,000 A MONTH TO, PERHAPS, $5,000 A MONTH.
MR. PRICE SAID DURING THE LAST SESSION 26 ITEMS OF LABOUR LEGISLATION WERE PASSED BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 129 SINCE 1967.
SOME OF THESE, HE SAID, WERE NOT OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE BUT ALL WERE NECESSARY AND ALL REQUIRED TIME AND EFFORT.
HE HOPED TO BRING BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL DURING THE CURRENT SESSION THREE SETS OF REGULATIONS, DEALING WITH THE PROTECTION OF EYES, THE USE OF CARTRIDGE OPERATED FIXING TOOLS, AND THE USE OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES IN FACTORIES.
/MR. price
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
3
MR. PRICE POINTED OUT THAT MUCH REMAINED TO ENCOURAGE PRACTICAL SAFETY MEASURES TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE BASIC PROTECTIVE REGULATIONS.
+INDEED.+ HE SAID, +THESE ARE A LAUNCHING-PAD FOR FURTHER PROGRESS RATHER THAN AN END IN THEMSELVES.+
HE DISCLOSED THAT HE HAD OBTAINED SOME USEFUL GUIDELINES FOR THIS PROGRESS FROM THE LABOUR ADVISER’S REPORT.
MR. PRICE SAID HE WOULD NOT RULE OUT FURTHER SAFETY REGULATIONS IN APPROPRIATE CASES BUT THAT THESE WERE LIKELY TO BE CONFINED TO THE REVISION OF EXISTING ONES.
HE ADDED THAT IT MIGHT ALSO BE NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH NEW HAZARDS ARISING FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE SOPHISTICATED PROCESSES.
WITH REGARD TO SAFETY IN THE WORK-PLACE, MR. PRICE SAID THIS WAS A MATTER OF ATTITUDE OF MIND BOTH ON THE PART OF THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE AND THEREFORE MUCH OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S ENERGIES WOULD BE EXPANDED IN THE TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS OF SAFETY. +BUT, I MUST WARN THAT PROSECUTION WILL BE USED WHERE NECESSARY.+
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT FUNDS WOULD BE FORTHCOMING FOR A SPECIAL SAFETY EXHIBITION AND CAMPAIGN ON THE GUARDING OF MACHINERY IN MARCH NEXT YEAR BEFORE THE RELEVANT NEW REGULATIONS CAME INTO FORCE.
TURNING TO THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, MR. PRICE SAID FINAL PROPOSALS HAD BEEN DRAWN UP IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION FOR A SILICOSIS INSURANCE SCHEME TO PROTECT WORKERS.
BUT, HE SAID, IF THERE WAS ANY IMPEDIMENT TO PROGRESS HE WOULD ADVISE THAT THE EXISTING PROPOSALS BE ABANDONED AND A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SOLUTION BE SOUGHT.
+THIS SCHEME HAS ALREADY BEEN DELAYED TOO LONG AND WE OWE IT TO WORKERS TO FIND, IN THE COURSE OF THIS SESSION, A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS, WHETHER BY THE METHOD ALREADY PROPOSED OR BY AN ALTERNATIVE,* HE SAID.
AND AS PART OF A CONTINUING REVIEW OF THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, HE SAID, HE WOULD BE PROPOSING A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS. THESE INCLUDE REDUCING DELAYS IN PAYMENTS AND EXTENDING THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH AT PRESENT IN THE CASE OF NON-MANUAL WORKERS IS RESTRICTED TO THOSE EARNING S2,000 A MONTH OR LESS, BY PUTTING FORWARD A NEW LIMIT, PROBABLY OF $5,000 A MONTH.
/HR. PRICE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
4
MR. PRICE ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE COST OF RENEWAL OF PROSTHESES AND SURGICAL APPLIANCES FOR WORKMEN INJURED AT WORK SHOULD BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EMPLOYERS INSTEAD OF MERELY THE INITIAL COST AS AT PRESENT.
FURTHER, HE FELT THAT THE COST OF MEDICAL TREATMENT ARISING FROM INJURY AT WORK SHOULD BE RECOVERABLE BY A WORKER FROM HIS EMPLOYER.
REFERRING TO TWO OTHER LEGISLATIVE MATTERS, MR. PRICE SAID THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD HAD PROPOSED SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE TRADE UNIONS ORDINANCE TO ALTER CERTAIN PROVISIONS WHICH COULD BE REGARDED AS RESTRICTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIONS.
THE COMMISSIONER SAID HE WOULD INTRODUCE REGULATIONS TO ABOLISH OVERTIME FOR YOUNG PERSONS AGED 16 AND 17 BY THE BEGINNING OF 1980, BY A PHASED PROGRAMME OF REDUCTION OF HOURS OF PERMITTED OVERTIME.
HE ADDED: +EMPLOYERS WILL HAVE AMPLE TIME OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO PLAN THEIR PRODUCTION WITHOUT RELYING ON OVERTIME FROM THIS GROUP.+
SUMMING UP MR. PRICE SAID: +IN COMPARISON WITH OUR ASIAN NEIGHBOURS IT CAN BE SAID THAT IN SOME MATTERS HONG KONG IS MORE ADVANCE AND THAT IN OTHER IT LAYS BEHIND. THE MEASURES WHICH I HAVE DESCRIBED WILL GO FAR TO REDRESS THE BALANCE, BUT I AM SURE THAT HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL AGREE THAT WE SHOULD NOT REST UNTIL WE ARE SATISFIED THAT HONG KONG IS SECOND TO NO COMPARABLE COMMUNITY IN ASIA IN THE PROVISION OF DECENT WORKING STANDARD.+
-------o----------
/5
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
- 5 -NEW HOMES FOR 580,000 PEOPLE BY 1981 ******
BUILDING WORK IS NOW GOING AHEAD ON 11 PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES TO HOUSE ABOUT 200,000 PEOPLE, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR. IAN LIGHTBODY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
ALSO, HE SAID, CONTRACT PLANNING WAS IN HAND FOR 16 OTHER SCHEMES TO BE COMPLETED BY 1981 AT THE LATEST AND TO HOUSE A FURTHER 380,000 PEOPLE.
DISCUSSING HOUSING STANDARDS IN THESE FUTURE ESTATES, MR. LIGHTBODY SAID: + IT SEEMS TO ME THE TIME HAS COME TO ABANDON THE SPACE STANDARD OF 35 SQUARE FEET OF NET LIVEABLE AREA PER HEAD, AND TO GO FOR THE 50 SQUARE FOOT STANDARD WHICH THE AUTHORITY DECIDED ON IN LATE 1973 BUT WHICH HAD TO BE DEFERRED BECAUSE OF THE RECESSION AND FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTIES.
+AT THE SAME TIME, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE RENTS FOR THESE IMPROVED FLATS WILL REMAIN WITHIN THE MEANS OF THE AUTHORITY’S TENANTS.*
ON HOUSING IN GENERAL, MR. LIGHTBODY SAID THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME HAD PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE LAST 20 YEARS IN CREATING +A SETTLED AND CONTENTED COMMUNITY.*
HE SAID: +IT HAS OPERATED AS A MAJOR AGENT FOR SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT, PROVIDING SECURITY OF TENURE FOR UP TO TWO MILLION PEOPLE AT VERY MODEST RENTS.
+THE SOCIAL SERVICE REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME CONTINUES TO EXPAND, AND I AM SURE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SOURCE OF STABILITY AND SATISFACTION FOR HONG KONG’S LOWER-INCOME GROUPS.*
MR. LIGHTBODY SAID THAT THE AIM REMAINED TO PROVIDE MODEST BUT DECENT HOUSING, AT RENTS THEY COULD AFFORD, TO THE MANY FAMILIES WHO COULD NOT AFFORD FLATS OF A MINIMUM STANDARD IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY STILL PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SMALL FLATS AT MINUTE RENTS - +INDEED, IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THESE RENTS, IN THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE OLDER PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY BY HAVING REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR MANY YEARS,* HE SAID.
GIVING PROOF OF THIS POINT, HEXSAID 60 PER CENT OF THE AUTHORITY’S FLATS WERE LET AT RENTS BELOW $50 A MONTH, 75 PER CENT AT BELOW $100 AND ABOUT 90 PER CENT AT BELOW $150.
REPEATING THE ASSURANCE GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE COUNCIL LAST MONTH, MR. LIGHTBODY SAID: +FOR THE FUTURE, I CAN GIVE A CATEGORICAL ASSURANCE THAT PUBLIC HOUSING DOMESTIC RENTS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN VERY LOW IN RELATION TO PRIVATE RENTS.*
/MS. LIGHTBODY
W3DNLSDAY, NCV?'.MBErt 10, 1976
MR. LIGHTBODY REVEALED THAT A WORKING PARTY HAD BEEN SET UP TO STUDY THE PROBLEMS FACED BY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES JUST ABOVE THE ELIGIBILITY LIMITS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WHICH FACE DIFFICULTIES IN PAYING RENT AND MEETING OTHER EXPENSES. THIS
WORKING PARTY WOULD SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO PROVIDE MORE RELIEF FOR SUCH FAMILIES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME.
OTHER POINTS ON WHICH HE TOUCHED INCLUDED:
* FLATS-FOR-SALE - THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT OF HELPING THE LOWER-MIDDLE INCOME GROUP TO ACQUIRE DECENT HOUSING ON APPROPRIATE MORTGAGE TERMS. PEOPLE IN THIS GROUP ARE MAINLY INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING BECAUSE THEIR INCOME MAKES THEM INELIGIBLE BUT THEY CANNOT AFFORD A FLAT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
* EMPTY FLATS - THE HOUSING AUTHORITY KEEPS A CAREFUL WATCH ON THE NUMBER OF UNOCCUPIED FLATS AND ALLOCATES ALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER COMPLETION, THE ONLY EXCEPTION BEING THAT SOME FLATS MUST BE KEPT VACANT TO MEET KNOWN FUTURE COMMITMENTS WHICH CANNOT BE MET IN ANY OTHER WAY.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976.
7
GOVERNOR OPENS FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, THIS EVENING PAID SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE CITY HALL FOR PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS IN HONG KONG.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS AT THE CITY HALL IN WHICH HE WELCOMED THE VISITING ARTISTS AND ORGANISERS, SIR MURRAY SAID THE CONCEPT OF HONG KONG AS A CULTURAL CENTRE WAS BEGINNING TO EMERGE.
+IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN A GREAT INCREASE IN INTEREST IN THE ARTS IN HONG KONG AND IN THIS, THE CITY HALL HAS PLAYED A MAJOR PART,’+ HE SAID.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.
+THIS EVENING WE BEGIN SOMETHING NEW IN HONG KONG, A FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS.
+IN RECENT YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A GREAT INCREASE IN INTEREST IN THE ARTS IN HONG KONG AND IN THIS CITY, THE CITY HALL HAS PLAYED A MAJOR PART . THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE LARGER HALL PLANNED FOR TSIMSHATSUI ARE OBVIOUS.
+WE HAVE SEEN THE INCEPTION OF NUMEROUS ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE ARTS, THE ESTABLISHMENT ON A FIRM BASIS OF OUR OWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THE BEGINNINGS OF OUR OWN BALLET, AND AN ARTS CENTRE NEARING COMPLETION.
+WE HAVE FOLLOWED WITH JUSTIFIABLE PRIDE THE SUCCESSES OF OUR YOUTH ORCHESTRA, CHILDREN’S CHOIR, AND YOUNG DANCERS IN THEIR PERFORMANCES ABROAD, TOGETHER WITH THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MANY TALENTED YOUNG INDIVIDUALS STUDYING OVERSEAS.
♦ABOVE ALL MANY MORE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, AT ALL INCOME LEVELS, ARE FINDING A NEW SOURCE OF INTEREST AND ENJOYMENT.
+THANKS TO THE ENERGY AND ENTERPRISE OF ALL THE COMMITTEES AND ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE ARTS, THE CONCEPT OF HONG KONG AS A CULTURAL CENTRE IS BEGINNING TO EMERGE.
♦IN THIS PROCESS THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS PLAYED ITS ALLOTTED ROLE WITH IMAGINATION, ENTHUSIASM AND LEADERSHIP.
+IN ADDITION TO THE SUPPORT OF THE PHILHARMONIC AND A WIDE PROGRAMME OF EVENTS ALL OVER HONG KONG, IT HAS GIVEN MAJOR AND INVALUABLE BACKING TO THE ANNUAL HONG KONG FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, WHICH HAS BEEN BOTH THE FOCUS AND THE STIMULANT OF SO MUCH OF THIS NEW BURGEONING OF ARTISTIC EFFORT' AND WE ARE NOW INDEBTED TO THE COUNCIL FOR INVITING TO HONG KONG THIS NEW EVENT, THIS FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS.
+1 EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO ALL THE ARTISTS AND ORGANISERS WHO WILL BE WITH US DURING THIS EXCITING WEEK AND HAVE GREAT PLEASURE IN DECLARING OPEN THE FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS.+
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/8
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER IQ, 1976
8
REGIONALISATION PLAN TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING IN HOSPITALS
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA TODAY ANNOUNCED A REGIONALISATION PLAN TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING IN MAJOR HOSPITALS AND A PILOT SCHEME TO SUBVENT THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE.
SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR. CHOA SAID THAT BOTH PROGRAMMES WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR.
ELABORATING ON THE REGIONALISATION PLAN, DR. CHOA SAID THE BASIC IDEA WAS TO DIVIDE THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES INTO FOUR, LATER ON FIVE, REGIONS, EACH WITH A REGIONAL HOSPITAL SUPPORTED BY ONE OR MORE DISTRICT HOSPITALS, POLYCLINICS AND GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINICS.
+WITHIN EACH REGION THERE WILL BE AN INTEGRATED STRUCTURE PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE AT ALL LEVELS,* HE SAID.
DR. CHOA EXPLAINED THAT A REGIONAL HOSPITAL WILL BE A MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITAL EQUIPPED TO TREAT PATIENTS REQUIRING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SPECIALIST CARE WHILE A DISTRICT HOSPITAL WILL RECEIVE PATIENTS WHOSE CONDITION IS NOT SUCH AS TO WARRENT REFERRAL DIRECTLY TO THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL.
A DISTRICT HOSPITAL WILL REFER PATIENTS TO THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR THE MORE SPECIALISED LEVEL OF TREATMENT AND WILL RECEIVE PATIENTS BACK FROM THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR THE LATER STAGES OF THEIR TREATMENT.
DR. CHOA SAID THE SYSTEM WILL HELP TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING AT THE REGIONAL HOSPITALS AND WILL INCREASE THE UTILISATION OF SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WHICH WILL BE MAINLY USED AS DISTRICT HOSPITALS.
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT IF THE SYSTEM WAS TO WORK A UNIFORM SCALE OF FEES MUST BE CHARGED BY BOTH GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS.
HE THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT THE HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE CHARGES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS BE RAISED TO $5 PER DAY FOR GENERAL WARD PATIENTS AND THAT SIMILAR CHARGES BY SUBVENTED HOSPITALS BE ALSO LEVELLED AT $5.
ON COMMUNITY NURSING, THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE EXISTING SERVICE RENDERED BY SIX ORGANISATIONS WILL BE SUBVENTED FOR AN EVALUATION PERIOD OF THREE YEARS BEGINNING NEXT APRIL.
AT THE END OF THE PERIOD, HE SAID, THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE ASKED TO ADVISE WHETHER THE SERVICE SHOULD CONTINUE AS A SUBSIDISED PROGRAMME AND WHETHER ANY IMPROVEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS SHOULD EE MADE.
/THE COMMITTEE .....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
9 -
THE COMMITTEE HAD EARLIER APPOINTED A WORKING PARTY TO STUDY THE WORK OF ORGANISATIONS ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY NURSING, TO SEE HOW THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE COMPARE WITH THE GOVERNMENT DEFINITION OF THE SCOPE AND NATURE OF COMMUNITY NURSING AND TO CONSIDER WHAT MEASURES WOULD BE NECESSARY IN THE EVENT OF THE SERVICES BEING SUBVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS A PILOT SCHEME.
AFTER STUDYING THE WORKING PARTY’S REPORT, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD, IN COOPERATION WITH THESE ORGANISATIONS, EVALUATE THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED AND ASSESS HOW THEY COULD BEST BE ORGANISED TO COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT OTHER SERVICES ALREADY BEING PROVIDED UNDER THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH PROGRAMMES.
DR. CHOA SAID ALL THESE STEPS MIGHT SEEM UNDULY CAUTIOUS BUT THEY WERE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF SERVICES WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THE WORKING PARTY, SUCH AS POST-NATAL CARE.
ON DENTAL SERVICE, THE DIRECTOR SAID THE PLAN FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN OUTLINED IN THE MEDICAL WHITE PAPER, WAS NOW BEING CARRIED OUT STEP BY STEP.
IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR, THE FOUNDATION OF THE MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE, WHICH WILL HOUSE A DENTAL NURSE TRAINING SCHOOL AND A DENTAL CLINIC FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN, WILL BE LAID BY THE GOVERNOR.
DENTISTS WOULD NEXT BE TRAINED LOCALLY, AT THE DENTAL SCHOOL TO BE SET UP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, SAID DR. CHOA.
A PROPOSAL THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION INTO THE FUTURE TEACHING DENTAL CLINIC WILL BE SYMPATHETICALLY CONSIDERED, HE ADDED.
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/1O
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976. - 10 -
SAFEGUARDS FOR PROPOSED EXTENSION OF P.A. SCHEME
* * * * *
THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO COVER ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 55 WHO ARE UNABLE TO FIND WORK WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE IDLENESS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S OPENING ADDRESS, MR. LEE STRESSED THERE WOULD STILL BE A SIGNIFICANT GAP BETWEEN THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND THE PREVAILING WAGE RATES.
ALL NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS TO PREVENT ABUSE WOULD ALSO BE BUILT INTO THE EXTENDED SCHEME, HE ADDED.
MR. LEE AGREED WITH DR. THE HON. HENRY HU THAT ACTIVE SOCIAL SERVICES MUST BE COMPLEMENTARY WITH CASH AID PROGRAMMES, AND THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH WERE BEING PAID OUT IN SOCIAL SECURITY, PROBLEMS REQUIRING THE SKILL OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD ALWAYS ARISE.
+IN OTHER WORDS, CASH IS NOT A COMPLETE ALTERNATIVE TO PERSONAL CONCERN FOR THE POOR, THE OLD AND THE DISABLED,+ HE SAID.
REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE OF 75 LAID DOWN TO QUALIFY FOR INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE, MR. LEE SAID THAT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO REDUCING THE AGE LIMIT.
HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT THE SCHEME WAS NON-CONTRIBUTORY AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES ANY REDUCTION IN THE QUALIFYING AGE MIGHT HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE APPLICANTS’ PROVING THAT THEY NEED SUCH SUPPORT.
+THIS WOULD, OF COURSE, INVOLVE A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME WHICH AT PRESENT IS NOT MEANS TESTED.*
MR. LEE AGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT THE CHRONICALLY SICK, THE DISABLED, THE WIDOWED AND THE OLD SHOULD BE TREATED MORE GENEROUSLY AS SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF PERSONS WITH GREATER NEED, AND ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD RECEIVE ’THE MOST CAREFUL STUDY’.
TURNING TO THE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, MR. LEE SAID THAT IN THIS AND THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL YEAR, ANOTHER 919 PLACES IN HOMES AND HOSTELS FOR THE AGED WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OLD PEOPLE BEING LOOKED AFTER TO OVER 4,000.
+ IN THE SAME TWO YEARS, FURTHER INITIATIVE BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER 600 PLACES IN TRAINING CENTRES, SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND OTHER CENTRES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED.
/♦IN THE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
11
+ IN THE NEW TOWNS, FIVE COMMUNITY HALLS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE SMALLER PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAVE BEEN BUILT AND ANOTHER FIVE WILL SOON BE UNDERWAY TO PROVIDE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORK TO THE RESIDENTS IN THESE NEW COMMUNITIES.* HE SAID.
IN ORDER TO FORESTALL WAYWARD YOUNG PEOPLE FROM TURNING TO CRIME, MR. LEE SAID THAT EFFORTS WOULD BE STEPPED UP ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK AND IN REACHING OUT PROGRAMMES TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH YOUTH GUIDANCE, PLAYLEADERSHIP SCHEMES, AND DETACHED WORK.
ON THE SUBJECT OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, HE REPORTED THAT THE PRESENT PILOT SERVICE INITIATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS TWO YEARS AGO, HAD BEEN MAKING STEADY PROGRESS.
+IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS INCREASED FROM FIVE TO TEN, WITH A TOTAL ENROLMENT OF 12,000 PUPILS. IN THE PRESENT SCHOOL YEAR, ANOTHER 17 SCHOOLS, WITH A TOTAL OF 19,000 PUPILS, WERE SELECTED TO JOIN THE SERVICE.*
AT PRESENT, HE CONTINUED, PLANS WERE BEING MADE TO STRENGTHEN THE SERVICE FOR 1977-78 SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH THE EMPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS ON A FULL-TIME BASIS THUS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS TO BE SERVED FROM 17 TO 85.
REFERRING TO THE PROGRAMME OF EDUCATION IN THE MA TAU WEI GIRLS’ HOME, MR. LEE EXPLAINED: +THIS HOME IS A COMBINED INSTITUTION TO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF GIRLS ON REMAND, ON PROBATION OR IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION WHOSE PERIOD OF RESIDENCE VARIES FROM ONE WEEK TO SEVERAL MONTHS. THEIR STANDARD OF EDUCATION ALSO VARIES WIDELY AND IT IS THEREFORE DIFFICULT TO HAVE A LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME WHICH WILL SUIT ALL OF THEM.*
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WOULD BE CONSULTED AS TO HOW TO IMPROVE THE PRESENT EDUCATION PROGRAMME, HANDWORK TRAINING, AND THE TYPE OF TEXTBOOKS USED.
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/12......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976.
12
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PUBLIC SECTOR
*****
THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR US TO BE BOGGED DOWN BY MAKE-SHIFT ARRANGEMENTS WITHIN THE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SECTOR,* HE SAID.
THE DIRECTOR WAS REPLYING TO SUGGESTIONS MADE BY BOTH THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN AND REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF TEACHING IN PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS BY THE PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
THIS QUESTION WAS FULLY CONSIDERED WHEN THE RAPID PHASING OUT OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION WAS EXAMINED.
+WE CONCLUDED THAT AT THIS TIME THE CORRECT THING TO DO WAS TO BUY PLACES IN THE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS FOR AS SHORT A TIME AS POSSIBLE AND THEN BY SEPARATE BUILDING PROGRAMMES TO PROVIDE PLACES IN SUBSIDISED AND NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS.
+ THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID AN ELEMENT OF SUBSIDY TO THE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IF ASSISTANCE IS GIVEN TO THEIR TEACHERS,* HE SAID.
ON MISS BENNETT’S REQUEST THAT EXAMINATIONS BE AVOIDED IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS ON SUBJECTS LIKE SOCIAL STUDIES, NATURE STUDY HAND-WORK, MUSIC AND ART, MR. TOPLEY SAID HE SYMPATHISED WITH* HER VIEWPOINT.
+1 AM, IN FACT, INVESTIGATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE MORE PRACTICAL SUBJECTS TO THE MEASURE OF OVERALL ATTAINMENT AND AT THE SAME TIME CONSIDERING WAYS IN WHICH SOME OF THE SUBJECTS MENTIONED COULD BE ASSESSED WITHOUT FORMAL EXAMINATION,* THE DIRECTOR STATED.
TURNING TO MISS BENNETT’S REFERENCE TO CHANGES OF SCHOOL SITES OFFERED TO SOME SPONSORING BODIES, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, WHEN DEVELOPING THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS BUILDING PROGRAMME, HAD TO CALCULATE BOTH HOW MANY SCHOOLS TO BUILD AND WHERE THEY SHOULD EE PLACED.
+NOW THAT THE NEW TOWN PROGRAMMES ARE ON THE MOVE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS SO FAR AS POSSIBLE BE BUILT WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIVE.
+OTHERWISE WE WOULD BE DEVELOPING NEW TOWNS WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE SCHOOLS FOR THE CHILDREN TO GO TO.
/♦THIS MEAN'S ....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
- 13 -
+THIS MEANS THAT A NUMBER OF SPONSORS ARE BEING ASKED TO TAKE NEW SITES FOR SCHOOLS WHICH THEY ARE SPONSORING.
+IN GENERAL SPONSORS ARE PROVING WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS SHIFT OF LOCALE,+ THE DIRECTOR SAID.
BUT THE NEW SITES OFFERED TO TWO SPONSORS - THE HOLY TRINITY CHURCH AND THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD -DID NOT FIT THEIR INTENTIONS SINCE THEIR PLANS WERE TO BUILD THE SCHOOLS WITHIN THEIR OWN PARISH BOUNDARIES.
MR. TOPLEY SAID WHILE NO FINAL DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN IN THIS MATTER HE WAS UNABLE TO AGREE TO THE BUILDING OF THESE SCHOOLS IN KOWLOON AT THIS TIME WHEN THERE WAS A FAR GREATER NEED FOR SCHOOLS ELSEWHERE.
THE QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT’S MORAL AND LEGAL OBLIGATION TO THESE SPONSORS WAS A SEPARATE ONE AND THE DIRECTOR WAS TAKING ADVICE ON THIS.
+l DO NOT HONESTLY BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT THERE IS ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR BUILDING SCHOOLS IN WHAT WOULD TODAY BE THE WRONG PLACE. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT I DO NOT FEEL A GOOD DEAL OF SYMPATHY FOR THESE SPONSORS BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD LET MY SYMPATHY OVERRIDE MY JUDGEMENT IN THESE MATT-RS.+ MR. TOPLEY SAID.
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/1U
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
14
NEED TO EXAMINE DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNICAL EDUCA ION * * * *
BOTH THE PACE AND THE DIRECTION OF DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL MUST BE CRITICALLY EXAMINED, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. F.K. LI, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S OPENING ADDRESS, MR. LI SAID PART OF THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE A NEED FOR IMPROVED CO-ORDINATION, THOUGH THERE WAS ALREADY MACHINERY FOR LIAISON BETWEEN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE POLYTECHNIC IN PLANNING COURSE PROVISION.
THE GOVERNMENT WAS, HOWEVER, KEEPING IN FOR A BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, TOGETHER HE SAID.
MIND THE POSSIBLE NEED WITH OTHER ALTERNATIVES,
HE SAID THE GROWTH OF VARIOUS TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS WOULD PRODUCE SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF CRAFTSMEN, TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS, AS WELL AS THOSE QUALIFIED ON BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL COURSES, TO OVERCOME ANY MARKED DEFICIENCY OF SUCH QUALIFIED MANPOWER.
+THESE EXPANDED RESOURCES OF HIGHLY-SKILLED LABOUR SHOULD IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR INDUSTRIES AND SHOULD HELP US IN OUR EFFORTS TO ATTRACT NEW INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE TECHNOLOGICALLY-BASED,* HE ADDED.
MR. LI POINTED OUT THAT A PERIOD OF CONSOLIDATION WAS NOW NECESSARY, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THE POLYTECHNIC.
+OVER THE THREE YEAR PERIOD 1978 TO 1981, THE POLYTECHNIC
WILL EXPAND ITS STUDENT NUMBERS AT ROUGHLY FIVE PER CENT ANNUALLY,* HE SAID. +WHEN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO PROVIDE FOR ANY FURTHER EXPANSION OF CAPACITY, WE SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EFFECT OF THE PRESENT EXPANSION PROGRAMME UPON OUR MANPOWER NEEDS.*
HE AGREED WITH THE HON. S.L. CHEN AND THE HON. MISS LYDIA DUNN THAT THE GROWTH OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS MUST BE SET AT A PACE +THAT WILL BOTH ENSURE THAT THE GROWTH OF OUR ECONOMY WILL NOT BE HINDERED BY A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED MANPOWER AND ALSO THAT THE GRADUATES WILL HAVE A REASONABLE PROSPECT OF FINDING SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT IN THE INDUSTRY FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED*.
THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, HE SAID, CONDUCTED PERIODIC SURVEYS TO MEASURE FUTURE MANPOWER DEMAND FOR TECHNICALLY-TRAINED PERSONNEL IN THE MAIN INDUSTRIES, AND THE FINDINGS OF THESE SURVEYS INFLUENCED THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANT COMMITTEE WHEN PLANNING FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.
/HE EXPRESSED .....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THESE SURVEYS WOULD BE IMPROVED AND EXTENDED IN FUTURE YEARS.
ON THE QUESTION OF DISTRIBUTION OF STUDENTS BETWEEN THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, MR. LI SAID THE PLANNING OF CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN COURSES IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WOULD BE BASED ON A RATIO OF 80:20.
+ l BELIEVE THAT WE MUST USE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE CAPACITY IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES FOR THE TRAINING OF CRAFTSMEN,+ HE SAID. +WE SHALL ALSO LOOK TO THE POLYTECHNIC TO TAKE THE GREATER SHARE IN MEETING OUR NEEDS FOR ORDINARY TECHNICIANS, AS WELL AS FOR HIGHER TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS.*
MR. LI THANKED HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE GREEN PAPER ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG, AND ASSURED THEM THAT ALL THE POINTS RAISED WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION DURING THE PREPARATION OF THE WHITE PAPER EARLY NEXT YEAR.
HE SAID A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT POINTS HAD BEEN MADE ON PRIORITIES AND ON HOW FUTURE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, AND THAT NECESSARY FUNDS WOULD BE SOUGHT FOR INCLUSION IN NEXT YEAR'S DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR PROJECTS SCHEDULED TO START NEXT YEAR.
+THIS WOULD THEN ENSURE THAT THESE PROJECTS CAN COMMENCE AS SOON AS THE WHITE PAPER IS APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION,* HE SAID.
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/16......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
16
EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1976 . * * * * *
<AN AMENDMENT BILL TO GIVE HONG KONG WORKERS FOUR MORE REST DAYS EACH YEAR HAD ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE,TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1976 PROPOSED ONE REST DAY IN EVERY SEVEN-DAY PERIOD INSTEAD OF FOUR REST DAYS A MONTH AS PRESCRIBED AT PRESENT. THIS WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REST DAYS IN A YEAR FROM 48 TO 52.
MR. PRICE SAID: +THIS AMENDMENT WILL ENABLE HONG KONG TO IMPROVE ITS POSITION IN RESPECT OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTION. IT WILL BRING HONG KONG INTO LINE WITH OTHER NEIGHBOURING ASIAN TERRITORIES, AND WILL BE GIVING LEGISLATIVE BACKING TO WHAT IS ALREADY AN EXISTING AND WIDESPREAD PRACTICE.+
MR. PRICE POINTED OUT THAT, UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS, WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS COULD NOT WORK FOR MORE THAN SIX DAYS IN ANY WEEK. ALL EMPLOYEES TO WHOM PART IV OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE APPLIED ARE AT PRESENT ENTITLED TO NOT LESS THAN FOUR REST DAYS IN A MONTH.
REFERRING TO HIS PREDECESSOR WHO IN 1970 INTRODUCED AN AMENDMENT TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOUR REST DAYS A MONTH, MR. PRICE SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THE SITUATION OF 1970 NO LONGER PREVAILED AND THAT OFFICERS OF HIS DEPARTMENT HAD CONDUCTED TWO SURVEYS COVERING NEARLY 1,700 VARIOUS KINDS OF ESTABLISHMENTS.
+THESE SURVEYS REVEAL THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEMS IN ADOPTING THE PROPOSED PRACTICE OF GIVING ONE REST DAY IN EVERY SEVEN DAYS,+ MR. PRICE POINTED OUT.
+1 BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGE WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE EFFECT ON PRODUCTION BUT MAY INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCE ABSENTEEISM.+
MR. PRICE EXPLAINED THAT THE EXISTING PROVISIONS WERE RETAINED IN THE ORDINANCE TO PERMIT FLEXIBILITY TO EMPLOYERS IN SUBSTITUTING REST DAYS.
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/17......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976
- 17 -
PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 * * * *
THE PRACTICE TO OPERATE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES IN THE GUISE OF TOUR SERVICES WILL BE STOPPED IF THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT , THE HON. DEREK JONES, SAID THE OBJECT OF THE BILL WAS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING DEFINITION OF +TOUR SERVICE* WITH A NEW AND MORE PRECISE DEFINITION.
+THIS IS A TIGHTER DEFINITION WHICH INCLUDES THE CRITERIA USED IN THE U.K. ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION,* HE SAID.
MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENT DEFINITION OF +TOUR SERVICE* HAD PROVED TO BE DEFECTIVE AS, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, IT COULD PERMIT WHAT AMOUNTS TO REGULAR NON-FRANCHISED BUS SERVICES TO OPERATE.
+THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE THE DEFINITION DOES NOT PROVIDE THAT ALL PASSENGERS MUST BE CARRIED FOR THE GREATER PART OF THE TOUR’S ROUTE, NOR DOES IT PROHIBIT THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS WHO USE THE SERVICE FREQUENTLY, OR AS A MATTER OF ROUTINE,* HE EXPLAINED’.
MR. JONES RECALLED THAT IN 1975 A PRIVATE BUS SERVICE WAS ESTABLISHED OSTENSIBLY AS A TOUR SERVICE BUT WAS IN FACT MAINLY CARRYING COMMUTERS, MOST OF WHOM USED IT REGULARLY.
+A PROSECUTION WAS TAKEN AGAINST THE OPERATORS FOR RUNNING A PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICE WITHOUT A FRANCHISE BUT THIS WAS DISMISSED BY THE COURTS BECAUSE IT WAS HELD TO FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION IN THE ORDINANCE OF A 'TOUR SERVICE’,* HE SAID.
THOUGH THE SERVICE WAS NO LONGER IN OPERATION, IT WAS PROPOSED TO REPLACE THE DEFINITION WITH A NEW ONE IN THE LIGHT OF THE COURT’S RULING, HE ADDED.
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/18......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976.
18 -
WATER CUT
* * * *
A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN WESTERN DISTRICT AND TSUEN WAN WILL BE WITHOUT WATER FOR FIVE HOURS STARTING FROM 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 12).
THE TEMPORARY STOPPAGE IS TO ALLOW THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT NIGHT LEAKAGE TESTS.
IN WESTERN DISTRICT, THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY SMITHFIELD ROAD, CADOGAN STREET, FORBES STREET AND NEW PRAYA STREET, INCLUDING BELCHER'S STREET, DAVIS STREET, CATCHIK STREET, HAU WO STREET AND KWAN YICK STREET.
IN TSUEN WAN, THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY TAI WO HAU ROAD, WO TONG TSUI STREET, KWAI CHUNG ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD INCLUDING FU UK TSUEN, KWAI CHUNG FACTORY BLOCK NOS. 1 TO 5 KWAI HING ESTATE.
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PRM 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, l'7c.
CONTENTS page no.
GC/ERmK-.T’U FAR-REACHING social programme involves heavy EXPENDITURE ................................................... 1
FCR-ATIC. OF MAC’S A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL EXPERIMENT ............. 4
•ORE PEOPLE WILLING TO REPORT CRIME ........................... C
SLEEPING DEVELOP ’ENT PROGRAMME FOR I gw TERRITORIES ........
FOURTH EXPERIMENTAL TRAMWAY RESERVE IN aANCHAI ................ ?
PERMANENT CONSUMER COUNCIL NEEDED ............................ IC
i;M-,0T OF PROSECUTION c. BRIBERY OFFENCES IN PRIVATE SECTOR 11
FOR EXPANSION l\ SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL ........... 13
RE-.EM3RANCE GAY CERE ’Ci IES ................................ 15
ELECTRIC AND UAVA ROADS TO BE RE-OPENED ...................... 17
WATER CUT IN HUNG HOF"........................................ 17
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
GOVT’S FAR-REACHING SOCIAL PROGRAMME
******
INVOLVES HEAVY EXPENDITURE
HONG KONG’S EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS, WORKING CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL INSURANCE WILL BE RAISED TO LEVELS WHICH WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THOSE OF MOST OF THE COUNTRIES OF ASIA WHEN THE FAR-REACHING PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IS COMPLETE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR SO.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TODAY IN WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION.
HE EMPHASISED, HOWEVER, THAT THESE OBJECTIVES WOULD NOT EE ACHIEVED WITHOUT HEAVY EXPENDITURE IN MONEY, MANPOWER AND OTHER RESOURCES.
SIR DENYS AGREED WITH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THAT IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO PLANS WHICH THE ECONOMY COULD NOT BEAR WITHOUT UNDUE STRAIN.
+ HONG KONG’S PROSPERITY DEPENDS UPON OUR ABILITY TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS IN THE WORLD MARKETS AND THAT IT MUST NOT PRESS FOR MEASURES WHICH WILL SERIOUSLY WEAKEN OUR COMPETITIVENESS,* HE SAID. +FOR UPON OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS AS A TRADER DEPENDS THE REVENUE WHICH PAYS FOR OUR SOCIAL WELFARE.*
WHILE STRESSING THAT SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT WAS ESSENTIAL, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID : +WE MUST NOT DISCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY THAT, IF NECESSARY, ADDITIONAL TAXATION, WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT, MAY HAVE TO BE IMPOSED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE WHOLLY ADMIRABLE AIMS WHICH WE HAVE NOW SET OURSELVES, THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT FORGET THAT LOW RATES OF TAXATION ARE A VITAL ELEMENT IN OUR DEVELOPMENT AND IN THE CONTINUED EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR INDUSTRIES.*
HE REFERRED TO THE WARNING FROM THE UNOFFICIALS THAT HONG KONG MUST NOT SUCCUMB TO PRESSURE FROM ABROAD FOR SOCIAL PROGRAMMES WHICH MIGHT BE SO EXPENSIVE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS UPON OUR ECONOMY.
/SIH Denys .....
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
2
SIR DENYS ASSURED THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S MEASURES WERE BASED ON WHAT IT ASSESSED THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE TO BE.
♦NEVERTHELESS,+ HE SAID, +WE CANNOT, AND SHOULD NOT, CLOSE OUR EARS TO SUGGESTIONS AND CRITICISMS FROM ELSEWHERE.*
+IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE, BY REASON OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS, OBLIGED TO PAY HEED TO THE VIEWS OF THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR AFFAIRS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.*
HOWEVER, SIR DENYS AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE CARE NOT TO CONFER ON PEOPLE BENEFITS OF A KIND NOT WELCOME TO THEM, FOR EXAMPLE BY IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS WHEN THEY MIGHT PREFER MORE MONEY.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, BELIEVED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE WORKERS WOULD WARMLY WELCOME THE SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS WHICH ARE TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
REPLYING TO A SUGGESTION FROM THE HON. T.S. LG THAT A COMPUTERISED CENTRAL SYSTEM OF MEANS TESTS BE ESTABLISHED, HE SAID THE PROPOSAL HAD, ON THE FACE OF IT, CONSIDERABLE INTELLECTUAL MERITS.
+EUT, AS I INDICATED IN APRIL, I AM DOUBTFUL AS TO WHETHER IT IS PRACTICAL AND WHETHER THE COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE ADM INISTRATIV APPARATUS WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY, IS JUSTIFIED,* HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT AFTER THE APRIL DEBATE, HE HAD ASKED THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION TO INSTITUTE A STUDY OF THE SCHEME OF WHICH SOME PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE.
SIR DENYS SAID HE WOULD MAKE A FULLER STATEMENT WHEN THE ENQUIRIES WERE COMPLETED.
REFERRING TO CRITICISMS THAT THE PRESENT ACCOMMODATION OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WAS ILL SUITED TO ITS NEEDS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY REVEALED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE LONG BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT COULD BE MOVED TO BETTER PREMISES.
ON THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE SHOULD EE A SECRETARY -OR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, HE POINTED OUT THE PROPOSAL HAD BEEN EXAMINED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION, WHOSE REPORT WAS BEING STUDIED, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND THE SECRETARIES CONCERNED.
/SIR DENYS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
SIR DENYS THEN SPOKE ON THE VITAL ROLE PLAYED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
+THE ADMINISTRATION RELIES HEAVILY UPON THE ABILITY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO ASSESS THE BELIEFS, NEEDS AND FEELINGS OF THE RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG AND ON THEIR ADVICE AS TO HOW BEST TO TRANSLATE THESE INTO PRACTICAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES,+ HE SAID.
+THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE DANGER THAT AN UNCHANGING ADMINISTRATION SUCH AS OURS MIGHT BECOME UNFEELING AND INSENSITIVE. ONE OF THE MAIN TASKS OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IS TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.
♦SIMILARLY, IT IS VITAL THAT THE ORDINARY CITIZEN WITH A GRIEVANCE (AND INEVITABLY THERE WILL BE SOME WHO ARE AGGRIEVED BY WHAT THEY SEE AS UNFAIR OR INHUMAN TREATMENT BY AN IMPERSONAL MACHINE) SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETAIN REDRESS AND TO SECURE
AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HIS CASE.+
SIR DENYS NOTED THAT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS DEVOTED HOURS OF TIME AND MUCH ANXIOUS CARE TO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF EVERY COMPLAINT WHICH REACHED THEM, FROM WHATEVER SOURCE.
+AS A RESULT OF THEIR EFFORTS,+ HE CONTINUED, +MISTAKES HAVE BEEN PUT RIGHT, INJUSTICES CORRECTED AND WRONGS HAVE BEEN RIGHTED.+
IN CONCLUSION, SIR DENYS EXPRESSED HIS SYMPATHY FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, WHO HAD SEEN PLANS FOR EXPANSION TRIMMED AND THEIR AMBITIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVICES POSTPONED.
+THEY WILL, I KNOW, WARMLY WELCOME THE RECOVERY OF THE ECONOMY, AND THE DEGREE TO WHICH THIS CAN BE REFLECTED IN AN EXPANSION OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND IN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ITS PROGRAMMES,+ HE SAID.
+THE PUBLIC SERVICE WILL NOW BEAR IN MIND THE NEED TO PURSUE VIGOROUSLY AND URGENTLY THE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES FOR WHICH FUNDS HAVE BEEN VOTED. 'WE MUST ENSURE THAT APPROVED PLANS AND WORKS KEEP TO THE TIME TABLES WHICH ARE SET FOR THEM.
♦ THIS WILL IMPOSE MANY EXTRA BURDENS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UPON CIVIL SERVANTS. I HAVE THE FULLEST CONFIDENCE THAT THEY WILL DISCHARGE THEM WITH THE SAME DEVOTION AND SKILL AS THEY HAVE SO OFTEN SHOWN IN THE PAST.+
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A...
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976.
4
FORMATION OF MAC’S A SUCCESS
*******
THE FORMATION OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IS A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT ON A GIGANTIC SCALE AND IT 13 SUCCEEDING, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. DENIS BRAY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
.-.HILE ACKNOWLEDGING VARIOUS POINTS RAISED EARLIER BY THE HON. wONG LAM ON DIFFICULTY IN THE OPERATION OF MAC’S, HE SAID THE PROBLEMS DID NOT EVEN IN SUM DETRACT SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE GREAT BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO RESULT FROM MUTUAL CO-OPERATION IN TALL BUILDINGS.
+URBAN LIVING AT THE DENSITIES WE HAVE IN HONG KONG REQUIRES MUCH MUTUAL TOLERANCE, CONSIDERATION AND CO-OPERATION,* HE SAID. +THIS IS LATENT IN THE PEOPLE AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT OUT THROUGH THE CATALYST OF MAC FORMATION.*
MR. BRAY SPOKE AT LENGTH ON A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS FACED BY MAC’S IN THEIR OPERATIONS.
HE ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT SECURITY PATROLS FORMED BY MAC’S WERE LEGAL BECAUSE THEY WERE PATROLS OF RESIDENTS AND NOT HIRED MEN, AND BECAUSE THEY WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE WHO WERE ABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW FAR A PATROL MIGHT LEGALLY GO, AND HOW TO FOLLOW THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROCEDURES IN PREVENTING CRIME AND REPORTING IT.
MR. BRAY SAID THERE WERE 159 SUCH PATROLS AND ADDED THAT +WHILST THE POLICY IS TO ENCOURAGE MAC’S TO DEVELOP THESE PERFECTLY LEGAL PATROLS AND TO PROVIDE SUPERVISION, GUIDANCE AND TRAINING, IT IS ESSENTIAL IN THE INTERESTS OF LAW AND ORDER, THAT THE POLICE MAINTAIN CLOSE CONTACT .. I TH THE SECURITY PATROLS IN CASE AN OVER ZEALOUS INDIVIDUAL ABUSES HIS POSITION AS A GUARDIAN OF THE LAW*.
HE STRESSED: +ABUSE HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM. THESE PATROLS ARE A SUCCESS.*
REFERRING TO AN ASSERTION MADE EY MR. WONG LAM THAT MAC’S MUST BE SUPPORTED EY MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS TO EE EFFECTIVE, MR. BRAY SAID MOST MAC’S HAVE OVER 53 PER CENT PARTICIPATION.
+WE DID ACCEPT 23 PER CENT PART ICIPATION IN THE EARLY DAYS AND MANY MAC’S FORMED ON THIS BASIS HAVE GATHERED MUCH GREATER SUPPORT AS THEY STARTED TO SHOW WHAT COULD EE DONE IN THE BUILDINGS.
+ .NOWADAYS WE LOOK FOR MUCH MORE THAN 20 PER CENT PART ICI PAT ION HE SAID.
/O’S VICE..........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
- 5 -
ON VICE ESTABLISHMENTS IN BUILDINGS, MR. BRAY SAID IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO DEVISE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEALING WITH INDIVIDUAL CASES.
+ l WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANY MAC CHAIRMAN FINDING THIS PROBLEM SHOULD DISCUSS IT WITH HIS CDO,+ HE SAID. +ANY OBVIOUSLY CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE POLICE.+
TURNING TO ROOF-TOP SQUATTERS, MR. BRAY SAID ONE METHOD TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WAS TO REGARD THEM MORE AS FELLOW RESIDENTS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN THE MAC.
BUT IF THESE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WERE CENTRES OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, LEGAL STEPS MUST EE TAKEN EY THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO REMOVE THEM, HE ADDED.
ON THE PROBLEM OF COLLECTING MAC SUBSCRIPTIONS, HE SAID CDO’S HAD OFTEN BEEN ABLE TO HELP TO PERSUADE RESIDENTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AN OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT MAC’S, +EUT IF MORAL PRESSURE ALONE IS INSUFFICIENT THEN RECOURSE MUST EE HAD TO THE LAW*.
THE MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS (OWNERS INCORPORATION) ORDINANCE, HE SAID, PROVIDED THE SIMPLEST POSSIBLE MACHINERY FOR CREATING LEGAL OBLIGATIONS.
+ONCE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS ARE CREATED THEY CAN BE ENFORCED THROUGH THE COURTS AND, IN PARTICULAR, THROUGH THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL,* HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO TRAINING COURSES FOR MAC OFFICE BEARERS, MR. ERAY SAID ANOTHER LOOK WOULD EE TAKEN AT THE COURSES OFFERED.
+FOR THOSE WHO JUST WANT TO READ A MANUAL ONE IS BEING PREPARED,* HE SAID.
MR. BRAY STRESSED THAT APATHY WAS A THREAT TO A SUCCESSFUL MAC AND THAT ONCE THE INITIAL IMPACT ON THE CLEANLINESS AND SECURITY OF A BUILDING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, AN MAC MIGHT BECOME LESS ENERGETIC.
+CLEANLINESS AND SECURITY DC HOWEVER REQUIRE CONTINUING EFFORT EVEN IF NOT ON THE SCALE NECESSARY AT FIRST AND THEN ONE CAN GO FURTHER,* HE SAID. +CNE MAC I KNOW HAS EXTENDED ITS ACTIVITIES TO DISCOURAGING BREACHES OF LEASE CONDITIONS AND OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND DOES IT PRETTY EFFECTIVELY.*
+BUT WHEN MAC’S DO DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN WIDER AFFAIRS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THESE DOES EXIST IN THE AREA COMMITTEES,* HE ADDED.
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/6......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
6
MORE PEOPLE REPORT CRIME
******
AS A RESULT OF VARIOUS EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES, A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL CRIME IS NOW BEING REPORTED, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SO, HE ADDED, THE CRIME STATISTICS +DO REFLECT MORE EXACTLY WHAT THE LEVEL OF CRIME IS, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE PICTURE WHICH THEY GIVE IS BECOMING STEADILY MORE ACCURATE -THANKS TO THE VERY WELCOME INCREASED PUBLIC WILLINGNESS TO REPORT CRIME.+
MR. DAVIES WAS REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE HON. PETER C. WONG.
ON THE SUGGESTION MADE BY REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT THAT ALL STATEMENTS MADE TO THE POLICE SHOULD EE TAPED, MR. DAVIES SAID AT FIRST SIGHT, IT SEEMED TO BE ATTRACTIVE.
IT WAS EXAMINED BOTH HERE AND BY THE HOME OFFICE IN THE
UNITED KINGDOM A LITTLE TIME AGO, HE SAID. BUT IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT SUCH A PROCEDURE FOR ALL STATEMENTS WAS NOT PRACTICABLE.
+A°ART FROM THE VERY CONSIDERABLE LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS ANY
SYSTEM OF RECORDING SOME INTERVIEW'S, BUT NOT OTHERS, WOULD EE UNSATISFACTORY BECAUSE A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF IMPORTANT ORAL ADMISSIONS WHICH ARE, AT PRESENT, GIVEN IN EVIDENCE WOULD REMAIN UNRECORDED: TO THIS EXTENT THE WHOLE OBJECT OF THE SYSTEM WOULD BE FRUSTRATED, + HE POINTED OUT.
+IN ADDITION THERE WOULD HAVE TO EE SOME SYSTEM FOR EXCLUDING FROM RECORDINGS PLAYED OVER IN COURT ALL INADMISSAELE, AND, IF POSSIBLE, ANY CLEARLY IRRELEVANT MATERIAL.
+THIS WOULD MEAN EDITING THE TAPES AND AS A RESULT CAST SUSPICION ON THEIR VERACITY. THIS APART THERE WOULD BE NO MEANS OF ENSURING THE WHOLE OF EVERY RECORDING WAS ACCEPTED BY THc COURT AS AUTHENTIC.
+UNFORTUNATELY NO WAY ROUND THESE VARIOUS DIFFICULTIES PRESENTS ITSELF. FOR THIS REASON WE SEE NO MEANS OF IMPLEMENTING SUCH A SCHEME.+
REGARDING THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN’S CONCERN OVER THE PRESENT CRIME REPORTING PROCEDURE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SAID UNHAPPILY THERE WERE OCCASIONS WHEN INDIVIDUALS GET FRUSTRATED BY THE RESPONSE FROM THE +999+ SYSTEM.
/♦BIT IN......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
7
+BUT IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASES THE RESPONSE IS QUICK AND EFFICIENT AND IT IS ONLY WHEN A +999+ CALL DOES NOT REQUIRE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE THAT THERE IS WHAT IS CALLED ’A REFERRAL’ ELSEWHERE,* HE SAID.
DURING 1975, HE SAID, THE POLICE RESPONDED TO A TOTAL OF 82,769 +99P+ CALLS AND THE TIME REQUIRED FOR AN OFFICER TC REACH THE SCENE CF THE COMPLAINT AVERAGED FIVE MINUTES, 12 SECONDS.
+WHEN ONE CONSIDERS THAT THIS INCLUDES +999+ CALLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHERE DISTANCES ARE RELATIVELY GREATER THAN IN THE URBAN AREAS, THE SPEED AND EFFECTIVENESS OF +999+ SYSTEM IS CLEARLY HIGH.+ HE EMPHASISED.
+WITH THE IMPENDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEAT RADIO SCHEME, THE RESPONSE TIMES TO +999+ CALLS SHOULD EE EVEN BETTER.
+TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF REFERRAL REQUESTS +999+ CALLS ARE MONITORED. THE COMMISSIONER AND HIS OFFICERS WILL, IN THE COMING MONTHS, PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO ALL SUCH CASES TC ENSURE THIS HAS ONLY BEEN DONE WHEN AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE BY A +999+ CAR IS NOT REQUIRED.+
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR POLICE ENTRANTS, HE SAID 90 PER CENT OF THE APPLICANTS JOINING THE FORCE NOW HAD SOME SECONDARY EDUCATION, COMPARED WITH ONLY 44 PER CENT IN 1970.
REFERRING TO A CALL BY THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH THAT MORE POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE ON DUTY IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, HE REVEALED THAT THERE WERE 15 NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING UNITS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, ALL BUT ONE IN GOVERNMENT ESTATES.
+IN ADDITION WE ARE PRESSING AHEAD WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE POLICE REPORTING CENTRES,* HE SAID.
+SIXTY-EIGHT SUCH CENTRES WERE IN EXISTENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR, AND AT LEAST A FURTHER 20 SHOULD BE IN OPERATION BY THE END OF MARCH NEXT YEAR.
+AREAS NOT COVERED BY THESE NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING UNITS RECEIVE THE SERVICES OF PATROLS, EMERGENCY UNIT VEHICLES, DIVISIONAL POLICE VEHICLES AND MEMBERS OF CID.
♦FOR THE FUTURE, ONE OF THE OBJECTS OF THE REVIEW OF POLICE ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH IS GOING ON IS TO SEE THE EXTENT TO WHICH GREATER RESOURCES OF MANPOWER NEED TC BE DEPLOYED.*
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/8......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11,
1976
8
NON-NEW-TOWN AREAS TO GET DEVELOPMENT BOOST
*******
THE SECRETARY FOR JONES, TODAY ANNOUNCED If. THE NEW TERRITOP. IES
THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-A SWEEPING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR AREAS CUTSIDE THE NEW TOWNS.
HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE PLANS INCLUDED THE EXPANSION OF THE MARKET TOWNS OF TAI PO AND YUEN LONG, HOUSING PROJECTS FOR LANTAU AND CHEUNG CHAU, THE PROVISION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SQUARE FEET OF LAND FOR INDUSTRIAL USE, AND THE BUILDING OF 26 NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TSUEN WAN IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
MR. AKERS-JONES GAVE THIS OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAMME:
YUEN LONG: EXPENDITURE OF $34 MILLION HAS BEEN APPROVED TO COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE TOWN, TO FORM LAND FOR A HOUSING ESTATE AND PROVIDE FOUR HECTARES FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
TAI PO: WORK WILL START SOON ON THE RECLAMATION OF 37 HECTARES OF LAND - AT A COST OF $56 MILLION - TO PROVIDE A HOUSING ESTATE FOR 30,333 PEOPLE, AS WELL AS LAND FOR SCHOOLS, A NEW MARKET, A SHOPPING CENTRE AND OTHER FACILITIES.
ISLANDS DISTRICT: A $22 MILLION HOUSING AND TOWN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME AT TAI 0 AND $18 MILLION EARMARKED FOR LAND TO PROVIDE A SPECIALLY-DESIGNED ESTATE FOR THE BADLY-HOUSED RESIDENTS OF CHEUNG CHAU.
NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES: A COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO THE CLUSTER OF SMALL MARKET CENTRES OF LUEN WO HUI, FANLING, SHEK W'J HUI AND SHEUNG SHU I, WITH $67 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR THE FIRST STAGE OF REDEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD TANNERIES SITE, WHICH WAS CLEARED BY THE GOVERNMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR.
MR. AKERS-JONES DESCRIBED THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS AS A +CONSCIOUS AND DELIBERATE EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TO TURN ITS ATTENTION TO AREAS OTHER THAN THE NEW TOWNS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED PRINCIPALLY TO ABSORB HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE FROM THE EXISTING URBAN AREA.+
THE PLANS, HE WAS SURE, WOULD EE WARMLY WELCOMED BY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES.
TURNING TO INDUSTRY, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD BEEN TAKING PLACE +ALMOST AS THOUGH THERE HAD BEEN NO RECESS ION.+
+ELEVEN FACTORIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT TUEN MUN ON 953,333 SQUARE FEET OF LAND AND ANOTHER 12 ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON 603,300 SQUARE FEET,+ HE SAID.
/+MANY Cr T" .
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
9
+MANY OF THESE FACTORIES ARE DEVELOPED TO THE OF THE PLOT RATIO OF 9.5 TIMES THE SITE AREA, THUS MANY MILLION SQUARE FEET OF ACTUAL FLOOR SPACE.
FULL EXTENT PRODUCING
+SC MUCH SO HAS THE BALANCE ALTERED, THAT THERE IS A LOCAL SHORTAGE OF WORKERS, RATHER THAN WORK AT TUEN MUN.
+FORTUNATELY NEXT YEAR, THE FIRST STAGE OF THE TAI HING ESTATE WILL ADD ANOTHER 25,000 TO THE POPULATION OF TUEN MUN AND THE BALANCE WILL BE SOMEWHAT RESTORED.+
MR. A'KERS-JONES ADDED THAT WORK HAD ALREADY EEGUN ON FACTOR I AT THE FO TAN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE IN SHA TIN PROVIDING 1.3 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF INDUSTRIAL FLOOR SPACE.
+AND AT TAI PO, THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE IS MAKING DRAMATIC PROGRESS AND SITES WITHIN THE FIRST STAGE WILL BECOME AVAILABLE FOR DISPOSAL IN 1977, SOME 13 MONTHS AFTER WORK BEGAN TO MOVE MOUNTAINS INTO THE SEA,+ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO SCHOOLS, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT THE BUILDING OF 26 SECONDARY SCHOOLS AT TSUEN WAN WOULD NOT ONLY CORRECT AN IMBALANCE THAT HAS EXISTED FOR SOME YEARS BUT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE GROWING POPULATION AND THE SCHOOLS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT TH SECONDARY EDUCATION POLICY.
</) in ni m —I rn cn
HE ADDED: +IT IS OF ESPECIAL INTEREST TO THE NEW TERR I TOR I THAT A SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT AND A +HEUNG Y KUK+ SCHOOL ON LANTAU ARE PART OF THE APPROVED PROGRAMME, SO TH CHILDREN WHO NOW HAVE TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO TOWN FROM THE PLACES WILL, IN FUTURE, HAVE A SCHOOL NEAR THEIR HOMES.+
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FOURTH TRAMWAY RESERVE * * * *
THE FOURTH OF THE NEWLY-INTRODUCED EXPERIMENTAL TRAMWAY RESERVES WILL COME INTO OPERATION TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN JOHNSTON ROAD, BETWEEN LANDALE STREET AND TRIANGLE STREET, WAMCHAI.
THE TRAMWAY RESERVES ARE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE TRAM TRACKS MARKED BY DOUBLE WHITE LINES TO PREVENT ENCROACHMENT BY OTHER VEHICLES.
THE THREE OTHER TRAMWAY RESERVES ALREADY IN OPERATION FOR SOME TIME, ARE LOCATED IN CAUSEWAY ROAD, HENNESSY ROAD, BETWEEN PERCIVAL STREET AND JARDINE’S BAZAAR, AND SHAU KEI i-.AN ROAD, BETWEEN TAI CHEONG STREET AND TAI ON STREET.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THAT STUDIES WILL BE CARRIED OUT ON THE TRAMWAY RESERVES TO EXAMINE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN SPEEDING UP TRAM SERVICES AND THE EFFECTS ON OTHER TRAFFIC BEFORE ANY DECISION WAS MADE ON PLACING PHYSICAL BARRIERS AT THE RESERVES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IT JAS AN OFFENCE FOR MOTORISTS TO CROSS THE DOUBLE WHITE LINES MARKING THE TRAMWAY RESERVES.
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/10
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976 10 -
NEED FOR A PERMANENT CONSUMER COUNCIL
******
THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAS BY ITS ACHIEVEMENTS, CONVINCED MOST PEOPLE THERE IS A PERMANENT NEED FOR IT IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S OPENING ADDRESS, HE SAID THAT OVER THE TWO YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD CARRIED OUT 33 DETAILED SURVEYS OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS AND HAD RECEIVED SOMETHING LIKE 13,033 COMPLAINTS.
THE COUNCIL,MR. JEAFFRESON SAID, FOUND ABOUT A QUARTER OF THEM JUSTIFIED AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUCCEEDED IN EFFECTING IMPROVEMENTS.
IF THE NEED FOR A PERMANENT COUNCIL WAS ACCEPTED, HE SAID, IT MUST BE GIVEN LEGAL STATUS AS POINTED OUT BY THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG.
THE EASIEST AND QUICKEST WAY FOR THE CONSUMER COUNCIL TO BECOME A LEGAL ENTITY WOULD BE FOR IT TO REGISTER AS A SOCIETY UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ALTERNATIVE, FOR IT TO BE INCORPORATED UNDER ITS OWN STATUTE, WOULD INEVITABLY TAKE LONGER AND RESULT II, A CERTAIN INFLEXIBILITY WHICH COULD BE DISADVANTAGEOUS, FOR EXAMPLE IF THE COUNCIL WANTED AT A LATER DATE TO SEEK TO MODIFY ITS OBJECTIVES.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE COUNCIL, BY REGISTERING UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, WOULD MEET ALL THE DIFFICULTIES OUTLINED BY DR. CHUNG, EXCEPT ONE.
+FOR ONLY IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO ASSUME INVESTIGATORY POWERS WOULD IT NEED TO BE INCORPORATED UNDER ITS OWN STATUTE,* HE SAID.
+1 MUST CONFESS THAT ON THIS POINT THE GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE DOUBTS. ONE CAUSE OF THESE DOUBTS IS THAT TO MAKE THOSE SERVING CONSUMERS IN HONG KONG LIABLE TO INVESTIGATION BY A NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION WOULD LEAVE THEM OPEN TO A MAJOR BREACH OF THEIR PRIVACY.
+1 STAND TO BE CORRECTED WHEN I SAY THAT THERE ARE NO NON-GOVERNMENT STATUTORY BODIES THAT DO HAVE SUCH POWERS.*
MR. JEAFFRESON SUGGESTED THAT BEFORE TAKING THIS SERIOUS STEP, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NEED TO BE FULLY SATISFIED THAT LACK OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HAMPERING THE COUNCI-IN ITS WORK, THAT SUCH POWERS WOULD NOT HAVE THE EFFECT OF ACTUALLY HAMPERING THE EFFECTIVE WORKING OF THE MARKET SYSTEM, THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE FELT STRONGLY THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE SUCH POWERS, AND THAT THE NECESSARY LAW COULD EE DRAFTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE POWERS COULD EE ADEQUATELY DEFINED BOTn AS TO THEIR EXTENT AND TO THEIR USE.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
11
BRIBERY OFFENCES IN PRIVATE SECTOR
*****
PROSECUTIONS FOR BRIBERY OFFENCES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHICH HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED AND BROUGHT TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO HAVE HAD A GREAT IMPACT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING DURING TODAY’S RESUMED DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THE PROSECUTIONS HAD INDUCED, AND CONTINUED TO INDUCE, HARKED CHANGES IN ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES.
+THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ABOUT AND WHY THE PUBLIC INTEREST REQUIRED THAT PROSECUTIONS BE BROUGHT,+ HE STRESSED.
MR. HOBLEY POINTED CUT THAT THE EFFECT OF SECTION 9 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE — THAT IS, PRIVATE SECTOR BRIBERY -- WAS NOW WIDELY KNOWN AND WELL UNDERSTOOD.
+IT PROHIBITS THE GIVING OR RECEIVING OF SECRET PAYMENTS — THAT IS, PAYMENTS TO A SERVANT OR AGENT WHICH ARE NOT AUTHORISED BY HIS EMPLOYER OR PRINCIPAL,+ HE SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT THE CORRECTNESS OF THE PROVISION COULD NOT BE QUESTIONED AND THAT ARGUMENTS BASED ON WHAT HAD BEEN CUSTOMARY, OR WAS +NECESSARY+ IN SOME WAY FOR TRADING PURPOSES, WERE UNACCEPTABLE.
MR. HOBLEY ACKNOWLEDGED, HOWEVER, THAT SPECIAL CONS I DERAT IC'.S WERE NECESSARY WHEN-DEC ID I NG WHETHER OR NOT THE PUBLIC INTEREST WOULD BE SERVED BY PROSECUTING CERTAIN OFFENCES AGAINST SECTION 9.
+ONE IS THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR A MAGISTRATE WARNED THAT A SERIOUS VIEW WOULD BE TAKEN OF OFFENCES AGAINST THAT SECTION COMMITTED IN THE LIGHT OF THE WIDE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THAT SECTION NOW PREVAILING.
+THE COURTS HAVE LOOKED MORE KINDLY ON SUCH OFFENCES COMMITTED AT AN EARLIER TIME,* HE SAID.
♦ANOTHER IS THAT I HAVE BEEN AWARE FOR A WHILE OF SOME CONCERN AMONG SECTIONS CF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE CONTINUED INSTITUTION OF PROSECUTIONS IN RESPECT OF TRANSACTIONS WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING THAT EARLIER TIME,* HE ADDED.
HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT THE ICAC HAD A DUTY TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING OFFENCES UNDER SECTION 9 WHENEVER THEY OCCURRED AS IT MUST INVESTIGATE OTHER OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
+FOR OUR PART, EACH CASE SUBMITTED TO ME OR NY OFFICERS a ILL THEN EE CONSIDERED IN THE NORMAL WAY, TAKING ACCOUNT OF ANY SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS APPLYING IN THE PARTICULAR CASE,* HE SAID.
/turning
THRUS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
12
TURNING TO THE SO-CALLED +TEA MONEY* CASES, MR. HOBLEY SAID THE EXPRESSION IMPLIED A TIP GIVEN SOLELY OUT OF KINDNESS, WITHOUT ANY ULTERIOR MOTIVE — LIKE THE TIP ONE GAVE A RESTAURANT WAITER OR A HOTEL PORTER.
THE DESCRIPTION OF TWO SUCH RECENT CASES, HE SAID, WAS VERY MISLEADING BECAUSE BOTH INVOLVED THE OFFERING OF MONEY TO EMPLOYEES CF A PUBLIC BODY SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE.
MONEY WAS RARELY GIVEN IN SUCH CASES SOLELY OUT OF KINDNESS, HE STRESSED.
REFERRING TO THE ICAC’S PRIORITIES WHICH, AMONG OTHER ASPECTS, WERE CONCERNED WITH MAJOR RATHER THAN MINOR CASES, HE SAID +WE MUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT OUR CLASSIFICATION OF ’MINOR’*.
+ A CASE IS CERTAINLY NOT MINOR MERELY BECAUSE THE AMOUNT CF MONEY INVOLVED IS SMALL, AND A MAGISTRATE HAS WARNED IN CLEAR TERMS THAT IN HIS COURT IMPRISONMENT WILL FOLLOW IN ALL BUT THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL CASES WHERE ’■ONEY IS OFFERED TO PUBLIC SERVANTS, AMONG WHOM THERE IS INCLUDED THE EMPLOYEES OF SCHEDULED PUBLIC BODIES,* HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF LEGAL AID, MR. HOBLEY SAID THE NEXT STEP IN ITS DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE AN EXTENSION TO COVER CIVIL CASES BY RAISING THE FINANCIAL LIMITS CF ELIGIBILITY.
+THE QUESTION HAS BEEN UNDER REVIEW FOR SOME MONTHS NOW AND PROPOSALS ARE LIKELY TO BE PUT FORWARD IN THE NEAR FUTURE,* HE SAID.
HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS THE PROVISION CF LEGAL ADVICE AT PUBLIC EXPENSE AND THE EXTENSION CF LEGAL AID TO THE MAGISTRATES’ COURTS WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME.
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/13
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
UNUSUAL POSITION OF EMPLOYEES IN CIVIL SERVICE
*****
THE NUMBER OF STAFF SIDE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL COULD BE INCREASED WITHOUT MAKING IT UNWIELDY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S OPENING ADDRESS, MR. SCOTT SAID HE WOULD PARTICULARLY WELCOME PROPOSALS FROM STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO THE CENTRAL REPRESENTATI ON OF UNESTABLISHED (MODEL SCALE I) STAFF WHO WERE NOT SO REPRESENTED AT PRESENT AND WHO THEMSELVES FORMED A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
THIS, HE SAID, COULD EITHER BE DONE BY DEVELOPING THE EXISTING COUNCIL OR BY ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE COUNCIL.
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT ANY. SUCH CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO BE AGREED WITH THE SIGNATORIES OF THE 1963 AGREEMENT, WHICH LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL, AND THAT ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE ELECTION OF STAFF REPRESENTATIVES WOULD REQUIRE THE JOINT BACKING OF A REASONABLE PROPORTION OF ASSOC I AT IONS.
+IT IS NOT FOR MANAGEMENT TO URGE THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION IN MATTERS LIKE THIS, BUT RATHER TO OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT AND ADV ICE,+ HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO CRITISICMS THAT THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL PROVIDED ONLY FOR CONSULTATION AND NOT FOR NEGOTIATION, MR. SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS PROVISION UNDER THE 1963 AGREEMENT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY IF THERE WAS DISAGREEMENT OVER A MATTER OF SUBSTANCE IN THE COUNCIL, UNLESS IT INVOLVED A MATTER OF SETTLED PUBLIC POLICY.
+IT IS A MATTER OF RECORD THAT SUCH A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY HAS ONLY ONCE BEEN ASKED FOR AND APPOINTED, AND THAT GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED ITS FINDING,* HE SAID.
MR. SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT ARBITRATION MACHINERY, THOUGH WELL-ESTABLISHED IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, HAD NOT PROVED AN UNMITIGATED SUCCESS ELSEWHERE, +LARGELY BECAUSE ITS VERY EXISTENCE ENCOURAGES BOTH SIDES TO BY-PASS NORMAL PROCESSES, AND IT TENDS TO RESULT IN STATEMENTS OF EXTREME POSITIONS AND AUTOMATIC COMPROMISE ON ALL ISSUES, WHATEVER THE MERITS AND REALITY OF THE CASE.*
+1 HOPE THAT THE TIME WILL NEVER COME, IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE, AS IT HAS ELSEWHERE, THAT AN ADVERSARY PROCESS AUTOMATICALLY COMMENCES WHENEVER STAFF AND MANAGEMENT MEET,* HE SA ID.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
14
HE STRESSED THAT EMPLOYEES IN A CIVIL SERVICE WERE IN AN UNUSUAL POSITION BECAUSE ITS MANAGEMENT AND ITS STAFF WERE BOTH EMPLOYEES, AND FELT SURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY OF ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF UNIONISM WAS CORRECT AND THAT STAFF ASSOCIATIONS GENERALLY EXERCISE THEIR FUNCTIONS WITH A DUE SENSE OF PUBL IC RESPONSIBILITY.
+NEVERTHELESS, SITUATIONS DO OCCUR WHEN MANAGEMENT CANNOT GO ALL THE WAY TO MEET STAFF REQUESTS, AND WE WOULD INDEED BE SUPER-HUMAN IF CONFLICT OR DISAGREEMENT NEVER OCCURRED.
+THESE ARE THE OCCASIONS WHEN ALLEGATIONS OF INSINCERITY OR OF UNREASONABLE DELAY TEND TO ARISE AGA INST .MANAGEMENT- BUT IN MY VIEW, SIR, MANAGEMENT IS NOT DOING ITS DUTY IF FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, IT YIELDS TO SUCH TACTICS,+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL, MR. SCOTT SAID MORE THAN 30 CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS HAD NOW BEEN FORMED IN 24 DEPARTMENTS.
THOUGH THE COUNCILS WERE SOMETIMES CRITICISED AS PLACES WHERE ONLY MINOR MATTERS AND GRIEVANCES COULD BE AIRED, HE STRESSED THAT THEY COULD BE USED EFFECTIVELY BY BOTH STAFF AND MANAGEMENT AND THAT MUCH COULD BE ACHIEVED FROM THE TWO-WAY FLOW OF VIEWS AND IDEAS.
+THEY ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CORRECT FORUM FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE STRUCTURE OF DEPARTMENTAL GRADES AND THEIR INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND WHERE APPLICABLE, RELATIONSHIPS TO COMPARABLE OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS,* HE SAID.
+OFFICERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH KEEP IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH SENIOR DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS, TO FOLLOW PROGRESS AND TO ADVISE UPON DISCUSSIONS IN DEPARTMENTAL COUNCILS AS NECESSARY,* HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING TO LOWER-INCOME CIVIL SERVANTS, MR. SCOTT SAID IT WAS DECIDED IN 1961 THAT 15 PER CENT OF ACCOMMODATION IN GOVERNMENT LOW-COST HOUSING ESTATES SHOULD BE SET ASIDE ANNUALLY FOR ALLOCATION TO THEM.
WITH THE GREATLY EXPANDED HOUSING PROGRAMME IN 1973, IT WAS DECIDED THAT 1,500 UNITS PER ANNUM OUT OF ALL PUBLIC HOUSING WOULD BE RESERVED FOR THEM BECAUSE A CONTINUATION OF THE 15 PER CENT POLICY WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ALLOCATION OF AS MANY AS 5,000 UNITS PER ANNUM.
HE SAID IN 1975 THERE RECEIVED ALLOCATIONS.
WERE 1,449 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WHO
THIS YEAR’S ALLOCATIONS, HE ADDED, HAD NOT YET BEEN FINALISED BUT IT WAS LIKELY THAT THE ALLOCATION OF 1,500 UNITS *OULD EE ALMOST FULLY SUBSCRIBED, AMD THAT FEW, IF ANY, QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WOULD NOT SUCCEED IN GETTING AN ALLOCATION.
+1 DO NOT THEREFORE THINK IT NECESSARY AT THE MOMENT TO CONSIDER AN INCREASE IN THE ALLOCATION FOR CIVIL SERVANTS, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE CRITERIA APPLIED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC CONTINUE TO BE APPLIED TO CIVIL SERVANTS,* HE SAID.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
- 15
SPECIAL REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES
******
SPECIAL REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES a ILL EE HELD THROUGHOUT HONG KONG ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 14) IN HONOUR OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DURING THE TWO WORLD WARS.
DUE TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY’S CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN CHATER ROAD, THE WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE CENOTAPH THIS YEAR WILL BE SIMPLIFIED WITH NO RELIGIOUS SERVICES, BANDS OR GUARDS OF HONOUR.
IT IS INTENDED TO RESUME THE TRADITIONAL SERVICE AT THE CENOTAPH IN FUTURE YEARS AS SOON AS CONDITIONS PERMIT.
AMONG THOSE LAYING WREATHS AT THE CENOTAPH .-.ILL EE THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS’ THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, LT. GEN. SIR JOHN ARCHER’ THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR GEOFFREY BRIGGS’ THE THREE SERVICE COMMANDERS, MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMANDING OFFICERS’ COMMITTEE, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MERCHANT NAVY, COMMONWEALTH COMMISSIONERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, SERVICE UNITS AND EX-SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR WILL ARRIVE AT 9.58 A.M. AND WREATH LAYING WILL BEGIN AT 10 A.M. THE WHOLE CEREMONY IS EXPECTED TO END AT 10.15 A.M. BY WHICH TIME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND SERVICE OFFICERS WHO WISH TO LAY WREATHS AT THE CENOTAPH MAY DO SO.
AT 10.55 A.M., THE ACTING GOVERNOR WILL ATTEND A REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE IN ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL IN THE COURSE OF WHICH THE TRADITIONAL TWO-MINUTE SILENCE WILL EE OBSERVED AND THE BAND OF THE 1ST BATTALION OF THE LIGHT INFANTRY WILL PLAY.
EARLIER ON THE SAME DAY, A SHORT CEREMONY WILL EE HELD AT 9.15 A.M. AT THE CHINESE WAR MEMORIAL IN THE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANIC GARDENS.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR AND THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES WILL LAY WREATHS THERE. THEY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, CHINESE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, AND CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICES WILL ALSO EE HELD AT SEK KCNG AND AT STANLEY FORT AT 10.50 A.M. AND 11 A.M. RESPECTIVELY.
AT THE BRITISH MILITARY HOSPITAL IN KING’S PARK, A SPECIAL SERVICE WHICH WILL BE ATTENDED BY ALL UNITS BASED IN KOWLOON WILL TAKE PLACE AT 5 P.N.
/THR BrtND ........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, '976
16
THE BAND OF THE 1ST BATTALION OF THE LIGHT INFANTRY AND THE CHOIR OF ST. ANDREW’S SCHOOL '.■■ILL EE IN ATTENDANCE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
CENOTAPH CEREMONY
THE FIRST FLOOR BALCONY OF THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING '.-.ILL BE AVAILABLE TO REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS COVERING THE WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE CENOTAPH. THERE ..ILL EE NO PRESS POSITIONS WITHIN THE STATUE SQUARE PERIMETER.
SPECIAL LAPEL BADGES WILL EE ISSUED TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES COVERING THE CEREMONY. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS DUTY OFFICERS AT THE NEWS ROOM, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL SERVICE
PRESS REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PICTURES AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE CATHEDRAL BEFORE THE CHURCH SERVICE BEGINS. NO PHOTOGRAPHING WILL BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL.
CHINESE WAR MEMORIAL CEREMONY
EDITORS ARE ADVISED THAT REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL NOT EE ALLOWED INSIDE THE ROPE CORDON AROUND THE CHINESE WAR MEMORIAL IN THE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANIC GARDENS.
THEY CAN STAND EITHER ON THE EAST OR WEST SIDE OF THE ROPE CORDON, BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE MEMORIAL ARCH.
PRESS REPRESENTATIVES ARE PARTICULARLY REQUESTED, IN VIEW OF THE LIMITED ACCOMMODATION, TO OBSERVE THE DIRECTION OF POLICE OFFICERS ON DUTY.
MEMORIAL SERVICES AT SEK KONG
STANLEY FORT AND BRITISH MILITARY HOSPITAL
THE PRESS ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE SERVICES.
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/17
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
RE-OPENING OF ELECTRIC AND JAVA ROADS
******
THE SECTIONS OF ELECTRIC AND JAVA ROADS THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED TO FACILITATE CABLE-LAYING WORKS WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC FROM 13 A.M. ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
THE SECTIONS ARE THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF ELECTRIC ROAD BETWEEN JAVA ROAD AND WATSON ROAD, AND THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF JAVA ROAD BETWEEN KAM HONG STREET AND ELECTRIC ROAD.
CHINA MOTOR EUS ROUTE 23 (TO POKFIELD ROAD) AND ROUTE 30 (TO CENTRAL) WILL REVERT BACK TO OPERATE WESTBOUND ALONG JAVA AND ELECTRIC ROADS AND ROUTE 23B (NORTH POINT FERRY TO PARK ROAD) .'.ILL RESUME OPERATION AT NORTH POINT FERRY INSTEAD OF CAUSEWAY BAY MAGISTRACY CAR PARK.
IN KOWLOON, THE SLIP ROAD LEADING FROM THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF LAI CHI KOK BAY BRIDGE TO LAI CHI KOK BEACH ROAD NEAR MEI FOO SUN CHUEN WILL EE CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC BETWEEN 8 A.M. OK SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 14) AND 6 A.M. ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 15).
THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE IS TO FACILITATE ROAD RE-SURFACING WORKS IN THE AREA.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL EE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
- - 0 - -
WATER CUT * * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN HUNG HOM WILL EE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 13) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY LOK SHAN ROAD, CHI KIANG STREET AND KOWLOON CITY ROAD, INCLUDING SZE CHUEN STREET, HA HEUNG ROAD AND TO KWA WAN ROAD.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
SOIL EXPERTS VISIT SAU MAU PING LANDSLIDE SITE .............. 1
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SOUTH LANTAU ROAD ..................... 2
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR AUGUST .............................. 2
HEALTH EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS STRESSED ........................ 3
COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME OF VIOLENCE ............... 4
LIFE GUARDS PRAISED ......................................... 5
SALE OF L.P.G. NON-HOSE PORTABLE BURNER NOT APPROVED ........ 6
WATER CUT ................................................... 6
SECTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD TO BE CLOSED .................... 7
CANOE RACES AT REPULSE BAY .................................. 7
REGISTRATION OF DEALERS UNDER COMMODITIES TRADING
ORDINANCE ....................................................
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
- 1
SOIL EXPERTS VISIT SITE OF SAU MAU PING LANDSLIDE #****#
THE GROUP OF SIX OVERSEAS AND LOCAL EXPERTS ASSISTING P.W.D. CONSULTANTS BINNIE AND PARTNERS IN THE SAU MAU PING LANDSLIDE INVESTIGATION TODAY VISITED THE SITE OF THE AUGUST RAINSTORM TRAGEDY IN THE COURSE OF AN INSPECTION TOUR OF SLOPES IN A NUMBER OF HOUSING ESTATES.
THE EXPERTS ARE s PROFESSOR JOHN KN ILL, PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE, LONDON® MR. BRIAN RICHARDS, PRINCIPAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST WITH AUSTRALIA’S COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATIONPROFESSOR NORBERT MORGENSTERN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, CANADA- PROFESSOR VICTOR DE MELLO, HEAD OF THE SAN CARLOS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AT BRAZIL’S SAO PAULO UNIVERSITY- PROFESSOR SEAN MACKAY, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG- AND MR. PETER LUMB, A READER IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AT H.K.U.
THE EXPERTS HAVE ENDORSED BINNIE’S DESIGNS FOR THE PERMANENT REMEDIAL WORKS TO THE SAU MAU PING SLOPE, AND THE WORK WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS — BEFORE THE START OF NEXT YEAR’S WET SEASON.
AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, REMEDIAL WORKS ARE ALSO PLANNED BEFORE THE ON-SET OF NEXT YEAR’S WET SEASON FOR SLOPES IN A NUMBER OF OTHER HOUSING ESTATES VISITED BY THE GROUP OF EXPERTS TODAY.
THE OVERSEAS EXPERTS RETURNED TO HONG KONG LAST WEEKEND TO STUDY THE RESULTS OF TESTS CARRIED OUT BY BINNIES IN RECENT WEEKS, AND TO EVALUATE PROGRESS IN THE INVESTIGATION.
THEY WILL BE LEAVING HONG KONG IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO MEET OTHER COMMITMENTS, BUT WILL RETURN NEXT MONTH TO SEE BINNIE’S INVESTIGATION REPORT AND TO DRAW UP THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT REPORT ON BINNIE’S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
BOTH REPORTS WILL THEN BE PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR, AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT THEY WILL BE MADE PUBLIC IN THE EARLY PART OF NEXT YEAR.
-----------■- o ---------------------
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
2
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SOUTH LANTAU ROAD
******
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO RESUME MORE THAN 30,000 SQUARE FEET OF PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LAND IN SOUTH LANTAU FOR A $35 MILLION SCHEME TO IMPROVE SOUTH LANTAU ROAD WHICH LINKS CHEUNG SHA AND KEUNG SHAN.
A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY. IT WILL TAKE EFFECT ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER GAZETTING.
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. DAVID TSUI, SAID THE RESUMPTION WAS NECESSARY FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO CARRY OUT A PHASED BUILDING PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING ROAD.
THE TWO-LANE HIGHWAY WILL BE 11.5 KM LONG AND WILL HAVE A FOOTPATH FOR PEDESTRIANS.
MR. TSUI SAID •. +THIS PARTICULAR STRETCH OF ROAD IS USED VERY HEAVILY DURING THE SUMMER AND HOLIDAY PERIODS AND WITH THE INCREASING POPULARITY OF LANTAU AS A RECREATION AREA WE HAVE BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT ITS CAPACITY AND THE EXTREME RISK OF ACCIDENTS.
+IN FACT, THE SINGLE-LANE SECTION BETWEEN TONG FUK AND KEUNG SHAN HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF SEVERAL SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.
+THIS PROJECT WILL WIDEN THE ROAD, STRAIGHTEN THE SHARP BENDS AND PROVIDE A 7.3-WIDE METRE DUAL CARRIAGEWAY.*
MR. TSUI SAID THE RESUMPTION WOULD INVOLVE PAYMENT OR COMPESNATION FOR CROPS, FRUIT TREES, PINE TREES, GRAVES AND BONE POTS AS WELL AS EX-GRATIA DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCES FOR AFFECTED CULTIVATORS.
•►FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES INVOLVED SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF REHOUS ING,+ HE ADDED.
- - o
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR AUGUST
******
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST SHOW A DEFICIT OF $134 MILLION AS COMPARED WITH A DEFICIT OF $90 MILLION IN AUGUST LAST YEAR.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATED DEFICIT OF $300 MILLION FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR, COMPARED WITH A DEFICIT OF $421 MILLION FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
GROSS EXPENDITURE AT $476 MILLION WAS $35 MILLION MORE THAN THAT IN AUGUST 1975.
TOTAL REVENUE AND RECEIPTS AT $342 MILLION WAS $9 MILLION LESS THAN IN THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.
- 0 - -
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
5
HEALTH EDUCATION IN * * * *
SCHOOLS STRESSED
M *
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID TODAY THAT HEALTH EDUCATION WAS A TOPIC WHICH DESERVED GREAT EMPHASIS IN SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG.
SPEAKING IN CANTONESE AT THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF FOUR SCHOOLS - THREE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SECONDARIES AND ONE SUBSIDISED PRIMARY - ORGANISED BY THE CHAN’S EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATION, MR. TOPLEY SPOKE ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF A FULL, HEALTHY LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY MIND.
HE SAID THE ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF PHYSICAL HEALTH WERE: NOURISHMENT OF THE BODY AND TRAINING THROUGHOUT LIFE, PROTECTION OF THE BODY AGAINST HARMFUL AGENCIES AND THE IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF ANY DEFICIENCY OR DISEASE IN THE BODY AS SOON AS IT WAS DETECTED.
THE DIRECTOR SAID IT WAS THE TASK OF THE SCHOOL TEACHER TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND KNOWLEDGE SO THAT PUPILS COULD FULFIL THESE REQUIREMENTS.
+HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT THE HEALTH OF THE MIND IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT, AND UNLESS IT IS SOUND THE WHOLE BODY WILL BE AFFECTED.
+THUS PHYSICAL FITNESS SHOULD BE ADVOCATED BY THE TEACHER AS A MEANS TO PROMOTE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND CHARACTER OF THE CHILD,* MR. TOPLEY SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT MENTAL FITNESS WOULD MAKE CHILDREN MORE USEFUL PERSONS IN THE WORLD, BETTER ABLE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE, AND EQUIPPED TO UNDERTAKE WORK SUITED TO THEM.
MR. TOPLEY NOTED THAT THE GROUP OF FOUR SCHOOLS RUN BY THE CHAN’S EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATION HAD DEVELOPED STEADILY.
+THE COMBINED ENROLMENT NOW STANDS AT OVER 12,000 -SURELY AN IMPRESSIVE FIGURE - AND IT IS INTERESTING TO OBSERVE THAT ON THIS OCCASION OVER 1,000 PUPILS ARE PRESENT TO RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATES,* HE SAID.
THE DIRECTOR ALSO NOTED THAT THE FOUR SCHOOLS GAVE ATTENTION TO CHARACTER FORMATION AND THE PROMOTION OF A LARGE VARIETY OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
+1 FULLY AGREE THAT THESE ARE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE SCHOOL AND THAT THEY DESERVE DUE WEIGHT IF THE CHILDREN ARE TO RECEIVE AN ALL-ROUND EDUCATION,* MR. TOPLEY SAID.
A ....
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE *****
OVER Si.6 MILLION IN COMPENSATION WAS PAID TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE DURING THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1976. THIS WAS STATED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARDS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY).
DURING THE YEAR, 856 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 134 CASES OR 19 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE PRECEEDING YEAR. OF THE TOTAL APPLICATIONS, ONLY THREE WERE CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATIONS IN RESPECT OF INJURY SUSTAINED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
THESE APPLICATIONS COVERED 17 PER CENT OF THE 5,001 CASES OF REPORTED CRIMES OF VIOLENCE INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURIES, AND THIS APPLICATION RATE GREW BY TWO PERCENT OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AMONG THESE CASES, THE REPORT SAID, ROBBERY AND BURGLARY CASES CONSTITUTED ONLY A QUARTER OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS WHEREAS ASSAULTS AND WOUNDING CASES DOMINATED 68 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL.
THE LARGEST SINGLE AWARD MADE DURING THE YEAR WAS $27,000.
IT WAS PAID TO THE WIDOW OF A 29-YEAR-OLD COOKED-FOOD HAWKER WHO WAS STABBED TO DEATH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CATCH THE ROBBER OF A WOMAN.
THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, INTRODUCED IN 1973, PROVIDES COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS SUSTAINING PERSONAL INJURIES IN CRIMES OF VIOLENCE OR CAUSED BY WEAPONS USED BY PUBLIC OFFICERS IN THE EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTIES.
THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION IS DETERMINED BY A PANEL OF BOARD MEMBERS AND IS PAID OUT FROM PUBLIC FUNDS THROUGH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
THE BOARDS ARE EMPOWERED TO INCREASE COMPENSATION UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 100 PER CENT IN ANY CASE WHERE THE VICTIM WAS KILLED OR SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF CRIME PREVENTION OR MAKING SUCH ATTEMPTS.
HOWEVER, AN AWARD MAY BE REDUCED OR REJECTED ON ACCOUNT OF FAULT ON THE PART OF THE VICTIM.
THE COMPENSATION SCHEME, THE REPORT SAID, HAD BEEN GENERALLY RECOGNISED AS AN EFFICIENT WAY OF PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS BY THE SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.
- 0
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
5
LIFE GUARDS PRAISED * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY APPLAUDED LIFE GUARDS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO PATROL HONG KONG BEACHES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB AT THE LORD MOUNTBATTEN YOUTH RECREATION CENTRE AT REPULSE BAY.
THE PRESENTATION ALSO MARKED THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLUB’S NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH OF WHICH MR. AKERS-JONES IS HONOURARY PRESIDENT.
HE TOLD A GATHERING OF CLUB MEMBERS THAT +WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE FLOCKING INTO THE NEW TERRITORIES BEACHES, THE ROLE OF THE LIFE GUARD IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.*
+DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAD SEEN MANY INSTANCES OF LIVES SAVED THROUGH THE WORK OF THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB AND ONE CANNOT BUT APPLAUD THE WORK OF MEMBERS WHO UNDERTAKE THESE DUTIES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS,* HE SAID.
+IT IS THE COMMON AIM OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CLUB TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO LEARN THE IMPORTANT SKILL OF LIFE SAVING AND TO PROMOTE THE KNOWLEDGE OF WATER SAFETY AMONG THE YOUNG PEOPLE.*
AT THE CEREMONY MR. AKERS-JONES PRESENTED SPECIAL CERTIFICATES TO CLUB MEMBERS WHO HAD RISKED THEIR LIVES TO SAVE SWIMMERS DURING THE SUMMER SEASON.
+YOU SET A FINE EXAMPLE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.* HE SAID. ’
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/6
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
6
L.P.G. NON-HOSE PORTABLE BURNER * * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY HAVE PURCHASED THE LPG NON-HOSE PORTABLE BURNER, +CASSETTE FEU+, ARE ADVISED TO REMOVE THE CYLINDER FITTED OR SUPPLIED WITH THE BURNER AND HAND IT IN TO THE NEAREST FIRE STATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE CYLINDERS DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DANGEROUS GOODS ORDINANCE IN THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE AUTHORITY.
+THE GAS CYLINDERS WERE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL AND APPROVAL WAS REFUSED AS THEY DID NOT MEET WITH THE LAWFUL REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS FOUND THAT THE BURNER IS BEING SOLD THROUGH VARIOUS OUTLETS IN HONG KONG.
ALL KNOWN WHOLESALE AND RETAIL OUTLETS ARE NOW BEING INSTRUCTED TO CEASE SALES FORTHWITH AND ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE PURCHASED THE BURNERS ARE ADVISED TO REMOVE THE CYLINDERS AND HAND THEM IN TO THE NEAREST FIRE STATION.
0 - -
WATER CUT
A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN LAI CHI KOK WILL BE WITHOUT WATER SUPPLY FOR 10 HOURS FROM 8 P.M. ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
THE TEMPORARY STOPPAGE IS TO ALLOW THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CONNECT FRESH WATER MAINS AT THE JUNCTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD AND KOM TSUN STREET.
AFFECTED ARE STAGE 1 TO 4 OF MEI FOO SUN CHUEN AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY SITE AT LAI CHI KOK.
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/7
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
7
SECTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD TO EE CLOSED
******
A SECTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD BETWEEN ARRAN STREET AND SHANGHAI STREET .WILL EE CLOSED AS A RESULT OF WORK REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
THE CLOSURE, WHICH IS FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD, TAKES EFFECT ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER GAZETTING.
DURING THE CLOSURE, A REDUCED FOOTPATH WIDTH WILL BE MAINTAINED ALONG THIS SECTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD.
A PLAN SHOWING THE AREA AFFECTED CAN BE INSPECTED AT THE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL AND WESTERN, IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND AT THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE IN THE KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING IN NATHAN ROAD.
THE PLAN IS ALSO ON DISPLAY AT THE MONG KOK AND YAU MA TEI CITY DISTR ICT OFF ICES.
TODAY’S GAZETTE NOTICE STIPULATES THAT ANY PERSON MAKING A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION MUST SEND HIS CLAIM IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THE CLAIM MUST REACH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF CLOSURE OF THE STREET OR FROM THE COMPLETION OF THE SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION WHICH IS ALLEGED TO HAVE CAUSED PECUNIARY LOSS OR DAMAGE.
SUITABLE TRAFFIC SIGNS AND DIVERSION NOTICES WILL BE PUT UP TO ADVISE MOTORISTS OF THE NEW TRAFFIC ROUTING IN THE AREA.
- 0 - -
CANOE RACES AT REPULSE BAY
*****
OWNERS, COXSWAINS AND PERSONS-IN-CHARGE OF LOCAL CRAFT ARE URGED TO EXERCISE DUE CAUTION WHILE NAVIGATING IN THE REPULSE BAY AREA TOMORROW (NOVEMBER 13) AND ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 14).
THE HONG KONG SPRINT CANOEING OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE AREA FROM 2 P.M. TO 6 TOMORROW AND FROM 9 A.M. TC 5 P.M. ON SUNDAY.
ALL LOCAL CRAFT SHOULD AVOID PASSING CLOSE TO THE CANOES.
— o - -
/8
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976
8
REGISTRATION OF DEALERS UNDER COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE
******
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES SAID TODAY THAT PART IV OF THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE 1976 DEALING WITH THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS WILL BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.
AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THIS EFFECT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE SHORTLY.
NO PERSON, WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATION OR PARTNERSHIP CAN CARRY ON THE BUSINESS OF A COMMODITY DEALER, COMMODITY TRADING ADVISER OR REPRESENTATIVE WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1, 1977 UNLESS HE IS REGISTERED.
IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES TO PROCESS APPLICATION, INTENDING APPLICANTS SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR COMPLETED FORMS ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 1976 IF THEY WANT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR REGISTRATION ON JANUARY 1, 1977.
FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES AT ROOM 2404 CONNAUGHT CENTRE, CONNAUGHT ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
-----o-------
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
®r M
Friday, November 12, 1976
CONSTRUCTION OF MODERNISED LICENSED AREAS IN FULL SWING 20 BEING DEVELOPED OR UNDER PLANNING
living conditions in licensed areas have been greatly improved since the introduction of the new-style licensed areas with part-built structures in mid-1974.
To date, more than 11,000 people are living in nine such licensed areas.
These are Chai Wan II (Extension), Chai Wan IV, Ping Shek, Kowloon Bay (2nd Village), Kowloon Bay (3rd Village), Homantin, Tai Wai, Kwai Hinf and Yau Ma Hom (partly completed).
The Housing Department is currently building six similar licensed areas to provide accommodation for another 16,300 people.
Two of them, at Yau Ma Hom and Shek Lei in the Tsuen Wary^ Kwai Chung area, will be completed before the end of the year and the four others, in Ha Kwai Chung, Kowloon Bay, Tin Wan and Aplichau, will be ready early next year.
Plans are also in hand for building another 13 licensed areas of this type in the next twelve months.
They will provide homes for an additional 33,700 people.
2
The concept of this type of licensed area germinated three years ago.
In 1973, a pilot scheme was put in hand at Ex-Rifle Range Licensed Area which received acclaim from both local and overseas Visitors.
Shortly afterwards, the first modernised licensed area was built at Homantin next to Oi Man Estate.
Tenants moving in need only partition their allocated area within the part-built structures.
Facilities provided include metered electricity and tap water at their door-steps as well as telephone lines. A small kitchen is also attached to each household. An adequate provision of open space is also made for children.
*******
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1976
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
FORUM ON COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE ON NOVEMBER 19 .... 1
RIVER TRAINING SCHEME ON LANTAU ............................. 1
FACTORY OWNERS AND BUILDING CONTRACTORS WARNED AGAINST BREAKING LABOUR LAWS ........................................ 2
CIVIL AID SERVICES MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS ARE READY TO HELP 2
OCTOBER NAS HUMID AND CLOUDY ................................ 3
FOOTBRIDGE FOR CHOI HUNG ROAD ............................... 4
SYMPOSIUM ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION .......................... 4
LUCKY CLUB AWARDS GRANTS TO 150 STUDENTS .................... 5
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN CENTRAL .................... 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1976
1
FORUM ON COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE * * * *
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES TODAY STATED THAT IT IS INTENDED TO HOLD A FORUM ON THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 3.30 P.M. ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR COMMODITIES TRADING, THE HONG KONG COMMODITY EXCHANGE AND CLEARING HOUSE WILL BE PRESENT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THOSE WHO WISH TO ATTEND ARE REQUESTED TO TELEPHONE 5-259361 FOR RESERVATION. SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION FACILITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE.
- 0 -
RIVER TRAINING SCHEME ON LANTAU
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS EARMARKED $2.5 MILLION TO COMPLETE THE TUNG CHUNG RIVER TRAINING SCHEME ON LANTAU, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. DAVID TSUI, SAID TODAY.
MR. TSUI SAID HE HAD INFORMED MEMBERS OF THE TUNG CHUNG RURAL COMMITTEE THIS WEEK THAT SUBJECT TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL’S APPROVAL OF THE RESUMPTION OF ABOUT 60,000 SQUARE FEET OF LAND, WORK WILL BEGIN ON THE PROJECT SOON.
THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROJECT, WHICH WAS COMPLETED THREE YEARS AGO, WAS SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING FLOODING OF THE UPSTREAM SECTION OF THE RIVER.
+BUT THE NEXT TWO STAGES ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT THE FARMERS AND THEIR LAND FURTHER DOWNSTREAM,* HE SAID.
♦WE EXPECT THAT WORK WILL COMMENCE SOON AND CARRY OVER THE NEXT TWO DRY SEASONS TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING OF THE RIVER TO THE SEA.
+THE FIRST STAGE OF THE SCHEME HAS ALREADY PRODUCED GREAT BENEFITS AND THE FINAL TWO STAGES WILL BRING EVEN GREATER IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE LOCAL PEOPLE.*
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/2
1
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1976
2
WARNING AGAINST BREAKING LABOUR LAWS
*****
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) WARNED FACTORY PROPRIETORS AND BUILDING CONTRACTORS AGAINST REPEATED BREACHES OF LABOUR LAWS.
THE WARNING CAME FOLLOWING TWO RECENT COURT CASES IN WHICH THE OFFENDERS WERE FINED $1,000 AND $5,000 RESPECTIVELY.
THE MOST RECENT CASE INVOLVED A GARMENT FACTORY PROPRIETOR IN KOWLOON WHO GAVE FALSE INFORMATION TO A LABOUR INSPECTOR.
HE WAS BROUGHT TO COURT AT THE NORTH KOWLOON MAGISTRACY AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FINED $1,000 AND ORDERED TO PAY COURT COSTS.
THE PROPRIETOR HAD DENIED THAT HE WAS THE OWNER OF HIS FACTORY DURING AN INSPECTION BY A LABOUR OFFICER. HE COMMITTED THE SAME OFFENCE EARLY THIS YEAR WHEN A LABOUR INSPECTOR VISITED HIS FACTORY.
THE SECOND CASE INVOLVED A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR WHO WAS FINED A MAXIMUM $5,000 AT THE TSUEN WAN MAGISTRACY FOR FAILING TO SECURELY FENCE EDGES OF STAIRCASES OF BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE OFFENCE WAS DISCOVERED BY A FACTORY INSPECTOR DURING A ROUTINE VISIT TO HIS BUILDING SITE IN YUEN LONG.
THE CONTRACTOR HAD ONE PREVIOUS CONVICTION FOR A SIMILAR OFFENCE EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN HE WAS FINED $3,000.
-----0-------
MOUNTAIN RESCUE EXPERTS ARE READY TO HELP
*****
THE CHIEF STAFF OFFICER OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, MR. JOHN FORTUNE, EMPHASIZED TODAY THE IMPORTANCE OF CALLING OUT THE TRAINED EXPERTS TO CARRY OUT A MOUNTAIN RESCUE.
+THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE EARLIER THIS YEAR A SO-CALLED EXPERIENCED CLIMBER FELL TO HIS DEATH IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASSIST ANOTHER CLIMBER IN DIFFICULTY,* HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT TRAGEDIES OF THIS TYPE COULD BE AVOIDED IF THE C.A.S. EXPERTS TRAINED IN MOUNTAIN RESCUE WERE CALLED IN TO DO THE JOB.
THE C.A.S. MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS ARE ALWAYS ON STANDBY DUTY ON SUNDAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND CAN BE CONTACTED THROUGH THE POLICE, OR ON TELEPHONE NO. 3-016030.
______0-------
/3.....
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1976
3
HUMID AND CLOUDY OCTOBER
* * * *
HONG KONG EXPERIENCED A HUMID AND CLOUDY MONTH IN OCTOBER.
THE MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY - 78 PER CENT - RANKED THE TENTH HIGHEST FOR ANY OCTOBER SINCE 1884 WHILE THE TOTAL DURATION OF BRIGHT SUNSHINE - 151.9 HOURS - WAS THE SIXTH LOWEST ON RECORD FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
THE TOTAL RAINFALL LAST MONTH WAS ABOUT 35 PER CENT BELOW NORMAL BUT THE ACCUMULATED RAINFALL SINCE JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR WAS STILL 4 PER CENT ABOVE AVERAGE.
THE WEATHER FOR THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF THE MONTH WAS FINE AND SUNNY. AN EASTERLY SURGE ARRIVED ON OCTOBER 4, BRINGING CLOUDIER CONDITIONS TO HONG KONG IN THE NEXT FOUR DAYS.
AN INTENSE ANTICYCLONE WHICH DEVELOPED OVER NORTH CHINA THEN BROUGHT A SPELL OF FINE, SUNNY AND DRY WEATHER, WHICH LASTED UNTIL OCTOBER 14, AND FIRE DANGER WARNINGS WERE IN FORCE CONTINUOUSLY DURING THIS PERIOD.
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF CLOUDY AND HUMID WEATHER WITH OCCASIONAL LIGHT RAIN DUE TO THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT EARLY ON OCTOBER 14.
TEMPERATURE FELL SLOWLY AND THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF THE MONTH WAS 20.8 DEGREES CELSIUS RECORDED ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 21.
HOWEVER, TEMPERATURE ROSE RAPIDLY AS WINDS TURNED SOUTHERLY ON OCTOBER 22 AND FINALLY REACHED 29.9 DEGREES CELSIUS ON THE AFTERNOON OF OCTOBER 23, WHICH WAS THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH.
FOR THE REMAINING PERIOD OF THE MONTH, THE WEATHER WAS MAINLY UNSETTLED.
ONLY ONE TROPICAL CYCLONE WAS REPORTED OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC IN THE MONTH AND NO AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
A HEAVY RAIN WARNING WAS ISSUED AT 7.30 A.M. ON OCTOBER 23 FOR A PERIOD OF SIX HOURS.
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/4
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1976
4
FOOTBRIDGE FOR CHOI HUNG ROAD
* * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ABOUT TO BUILD A FOOTBRIDGE OVER CHOI HUNG ROAD NEAR TAI SHING STREET TO PROVIDE A SAFE CROSSING POINT FOR PEDESTRIANS IN THE AREA.
MR. NG YEE-YAM, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) DIVISION, SAID TODAY WORK ON THE FOOTBRIDGE WAS EXPECTED TO START IN DECEMBER AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
+THE FOOTBRIDGE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED OF STEEL TO SAVE TIME, AND EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO REDUCE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC AND TRAFFIC TO THE MINIMUM,+ HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, HE ADDED, TWO BUS BAYS WOULD BE BUILT ON THE NORTH-EASTERN END OF THE FOOTBRIDGE FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF BUS
+THE NEW FOOTBRIDGE,* MR. NG SAID, +IS PART OF THE LONG TERM PROGRAMME BY THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE TO PROVIDE MORE AND BETTER PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES AT BUSY JUNCTIONS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
+AT PRESENT. WORK IS EITHER UNDERWAY OR DUE TO START ON 63 FOOTBRIDGES OR SUBWAYS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, AND 13 MORE ARE PLANNED. THESE WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE 94 EXISTING FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS NOW IN USE.+
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SYMPOSIUM ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION
*****
THE TAI HANG TUNG COMMUNITY CENTRE IS TO HOLD A SYMPOSIUM ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION FOR YOUTHS IN THE DISTRICT NEXT WEEK.
THE SYMPOSIUM WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE EVENING BETWEEN 7.45 P.M. AND 10 P.M. FROM MONDAY (NOVEMBER 15) TO WEDNESDAY AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE TAI HANG TUNG COMMUNITY CENTRE.
THE THEMES OF THE SYMPOSIUM ARE ’THE DISTURBING ADOLESCENCE AND I’, ’MAKING FRIENDS AND I’ AND ’COURTSHIP, LOVE, MARRIAGE AND
SPEAKERS OF THE SYMPOSIUM ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION AND THE CATHOLIC MARRIAGE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED TO TAKE PART IN THE SYMPOSIUM, AND AT AGE BETWEEN 15 AND 25, ARE ASKED TO CONTACT THE COMMUNITY WORK UNIT ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE COMMUNITY CENTRE. ADMISSION CHARGE IS $1 PER PERSON.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1976
150 PUPILS RECEIVE LUCKY CLUB GRANTS
******
ONE-HUNDRED-AND-FIFTY PUPILS IN 12 PREVOCATIONAL AND SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN AWARDED GRANTS OF $300 EACH THIS YEAR.
THE GRANTS, DONATED BY THE LUCKY CLUB LIMITED - AN ORGANISATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL WELFARE - ARE FOR PUPILS WHOSE FAMILY MONTHLY IMCOMES ARE BELOW $1,200. IN ADDITION, THE PUPILS’ CONDUCT, SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ABILITY IN TECHNICAL SUBJECTS MUST BE GOOD.
THE TECHNICAL BRANCH OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ASSISTED IN THE PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDED THE GRANTS.
LAST YEAR, 124 PUPILS BENEFITED FROM GRANTS DONATED BY THE LUCKY CLUB WHICH COMPRISES MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG PLASTIC MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION, THE CHIU CHOW PLASTIC MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION AND THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND MERCHANTS UNITED ASSOCIATION.
THESE THREE ASSOCIATIONS HAVE DONATED MORE THAN $800,000 FOR VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS INCLUDING GRANTS TO NEEDY PUPILS.
SPONSORS OF THE WELFARE CLUB INCLUDE MR. K.S. LI, MR. J.H. LEUNG, MR. P.S. SHUM, MR. H.C. CHIENG, THE LATE MR. H.C. TING AND THE LATE MR. D.C. YIU.
- 0 - -
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL
*****
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN CENTRAL FROM MIDNIGHT TO 6.00 A.M. EETWEEN NOVEMBER 16 (TUESDAY) AND 18 (THURSDAY) TO FACILITATE THE DEMOLITION OF THE TIMBER FOOTBRIDGE OVER HARCOURT ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH MURRAY ROAD.
DURING THESE THREE SIX-HOUR PERIODS, THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL BETWEEN EDINBURGH PLACE WEST AND EDINBURGH PLACE EAST WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES. MOTORISTS PROCEEDING EASTWARDS WILL BE DIVERTED VIA STAR FERRY AND QUEEN’S PIER TO HARCOURT ROAD.
THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF THE HARCOURT ROAD FLYOVER WILL ALSO BE CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES. MOTORISTS PROCEEDING WESTWARDS DURING THESE PERIODS ARE ADVISED TO USE THE HARCOURT SLIP ROAD.
IN ADDITION, TRAFFIC IN EDINBURGH PLACE BETWEEN THE STAR FERRY CAR PARK AND THE CITY HALL WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP IN THE AREA AND POLICE WILL BE ON HAND TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
- 0 -
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1976
NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR BRITISH FORCES * * * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN BUILDING A NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR THE BRITISH FORCES.
TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW 27-STOREY COMPLEX, TO BE BUILT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE H.M.S. TAMAR, ARE NOW BEING CALLED.
THE MULT I-MILL I ON-DOLLAR COMPLEX IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ITEMS IN THE P.W.D.’S BUILDING PROGRAMME TO REHOUSE BRITISH MILITARY UNITS NOW BASED AT VICTORIA BARRACKS AND R.A.F. KAI TAK.
THE PROGRAMME — COSTING $174 MILLION -- FOLLOWS A TIGHT SCHEDULE AIMED AT HAVING THE NEW SERVICE FACILITIES READY IN TIME FOR ABOUT 65 HECTARES OF MILITARY LAND TO BE HANDED BACK TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN KEEPING WITH THE NEW DEFENCE COST AGREEMENT.
UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE 48.5-HECTARE KAI TAK SITE IS DUE TO BE RETURNED TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BY MARCH 31, 1978 AND THE VICTORIA BARRACKS SITE OF 16.5 HECTARES BY MARCH 31, 1979.
ITEMS IN THE BUILDING PROGRAMME INCLUDE NEW SERVICE FACILITIES IN EXISTING CAMPS SUCH AS SHEK KONG, OSBORN BARRACKS, STANLEY FORT AND GUN CLUB HILL BARRACKS FOR VARIOUS SERVICES FROM BOTH KAI TAK AND VICTORIA BARRACKS.
WORK ON THESE IS PROGRESSING ON A WIDE FRONT AND MORE CONTRACTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AWARDED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
MR. CHUI HAY-MAN, CHIEF P.W.D. ARCHITECT, SAID TODAY BUILDING WORK ON THE NEW HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX WOULD BEGIN IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 21 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE SITE FOR THE COMPLEX HAD ALREADY BEEN CLEARED AND PILING WORK WAS PROGRESSING WELL.
+THE COMPLEX WILL BASICALLY CONSIST OF A 22-STOREY TOWER BUILT OVER A FIVE-STOREY POD I UM, + SAID MR. CHUI.
/♦THE PODIUM ....
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1976
2
+THE PODIUM WILL COVER AN AREA OF
IT WILL PROVIDE SPACE FOR CAR PARKS, A
ABOUT 3,800 SQUARE METRES.
A GYMNASIUM, A SHOOTING RANGE, STORE ROOMS^AND SOME ^OFHCES.C°URTS’
+THE TOWER BLOCK WILL MAINLY CONTAIN OFFICES ON THE LOWER FLOORS WHILE THE UPPER FLOORS WILL BE TAKEN UP BY MESSES AND SINGLE LIVING ACCOMMODATION AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL AND OTHER
----0---------------
DUTCH AUTHORITIES LICENCES FOR *
RESUME ISSUE OF IMPORT HONG KONG TEXTILES * * *
THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT IT HAD RECEIVED FORMAL CONFIRMATION FROM THE EEC COMMISSION THAT THE DUTCH AUTHROITIES WILL RESUME THE ISSUE OF IMPORT LICENCES FOR TEXTILE EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG.
THE CONFIRMATION FOLLOWS CONSULTATIONS HELD IN BRUSSELS LAST WEEK.
EXPORTERS WITH TEXTILE GOODS HELD UP IN DUTCH PORTS, IN PARTICULAR GOODS FALLING WITHIN CATEGORIES 8 (WOVEN TROUSERS) AND 13 (WOVEN NIGHTWEAR), ARE ADVISED TO INFORM THEIR IMPORTERS IN HOLLAND TO RE-SUBMIT THEIR IMPORT LICENCE APPLICATIONS TO THE DUTCH AUTHROITIES.
THE PROBLEM HAD EARLIER ARISEN BECAUSE OF THE DUTCH AUTHORITIES’ REFUSAL TO ISSUE IMPORT LICENCES EVEN THOUGH SHIPMENTS HAD BEEN COUNTED AGAINST QUOTAS BEFORE THEY LEFT HONG KONG.
A COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT WITH THE RESUMPTION OF THE ISSUE OF LICENCES, THE SITUATION SHOULD QUICKLY RETURN TO NORMAL.
- 0 -
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1976
- 3 -
TSUEN WAN FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTEE SHOWS RESULTS * * * * *
TSUEN WAN’S FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTEE, FORMED ONLY NINE MONTHS AGO, IS ALREADY TURNING UP POSITIVE RESULTS - ESPECIALLY IN THE BIG ESTATES IN THE NEW TOWN.
SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE LOCAL TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICE ATTRIBUTE A +TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT* IN THE CRIME SITUATION AT THE TAI WOR HAU ESTATE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO A SHARPLY INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIMINALS.
TSUEN WAN’S DISTRICT OFFICER (URBAN), MR. HAROLD KWOK, SAID TODAY: +THE COMMITTEE DECIDED FROM THE OUTSET THAT IF IT WAS GOING TO HAVE ANY EFFECT IN HELPING THE POLICE, THEN WE HAD TO INVOLVE THE LOCAL PEOPLE VERY CLOSELY.
+WE HAVE MANAGED TO DO THIS AND THE RESULTS SO FAR HAVE BEEN REASSURING, ALTHOUGH WE KNOW WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO YET.+
ONE WAY IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE - HEADED BY INDUSTRIALIST MR. FRANCIS TIEN - HAS BEEN ABLE TO INVOLVE LOCAL PEOPLE HAS BEEN BY CO-OPTING THEM TO A SERIES OF SUB-COMMITTEES WHICH HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TASK OF TACKLING THE PROBLEM AT GRASS ROOTS LEVEL BY IDENTIFYING +BLACK SPOTS+ IN PARTICULAR AREAS.
LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOW INVOLVED IN THESE SUB-COMMITTEES WHICH DEAL WITH CRIME IN THE HOUSING ESTATES, SCHOOLS AND INDUSTRIAL AND RURAL AREAS.
THE FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME SUB-COMMITTEE AT TAI WOR HAU HAS REPRESENTATIVES FROM THREE LOCAL ORGANISATIONS - THE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, KAIFONG ASSOCIATION AND THE SHOP/TENANTS ASSOCIATION.
IT IS CHAIRED BY THE PROJECT MANAGER OF THE TSUEN WAN TAI WOR HAU KWAI CHUNG ECUMENICAL COMMUNITY PROJECT, MISS ROSANNA CHAN.
SAYS MISS CHAN: +THERE HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE SITUATION IN TAI-WOR HAU AND THE COMMITTEE, WITH ITS LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES, MUST TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT.
+THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COMMITTEE ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WELL WITH OTHER RESIDENTS.
+THE OTHER RESIDENTS TRUST THEM AND FEED THEM WITH INFORMATION ABOUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR POTENTIAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
+THE OTHER MAJOR FACTOR IS THE GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH THE AUTHORITIES INVOLVED - THE POLICE, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
+THEY TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY THEY ARE CALLED.+
/Kk. KWOK
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1976
4
MR. KWOK SAYS THE SUB-COMMITTEE SYSTEM IS BEING EXTENDED FROM ESTATE TO ESTATE AND +EVENTUALLY WE HOPE ALL THE ESTATES IN THE NEW TOWN WILL HAVE THEM.*
+IN THE MEANTIME, THE MAIN COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY MR. TIEN RECEIVES A LOT OF VALUABLE FEEDBACK,* HE SAID.
+AT OUR LAST MEETING, FOR INSTANCE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN A BIG INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BURGLARIES AT SHEK LEI ESTATE, WHICH HAS 66,000 PEOPLE, MAINLY CAUSED BY RESIDENTS LEAVING DOORS UNLOCKED.
+HOUSING DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION TO WARN THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS AND SINCE THEN THE INCIDENCE OF BURGLARIES REPORTED TO THE POLICE HAS DROPPED OFF.*
MR. KWOK SAID THE HEADMASTERS HAD BEEN CO-OPTED TO THE SCHOOLS SUB-COMMITTEE, WORKERS AND INDUSTRIALISTS TO THE INDUSTRIAL AREA SUB-COMMITTEE AND RURAL LEADERS TO THE RURAL SUB-COMMITTEE.
EACH COMMITTEE IS CARRYING OUT SURVEYS TO IDENTIFY CRIME +BLACK SPOTS* WHICH ARE FED TO THE TSUEN WAN POLICE FOR CROSS CHECKING.
TSUEN WAN’S DIVISIONAL SUPERINTENDENT, MR. GEORGE CHAN, SAYS THE WORK OF THE LOCAL FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTEE AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES HAD GREATLY HELPED POLICE WORK.
+WHEN WE RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THE COMMITTEE ON +BLACK SPOTS* WE CHECK IT OUT AND TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NECESSARY, SUCH AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MOBILE PATROL, OR THE POSTING OF BEAT POLICEMEN,* HE SAYS.
+WE ALSO SEND IN A MAN FROM THE CRIME PREVENTION SIDE TO GIVE ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AFFECTED IN A +BLACK SPOT* AREA.
+THE MOST GRATIFYING PART HAS BEEN THE IMPROVED PUBLIC REACTION TO POLICE WORK AND A GREATER INVOLVEMENT BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN TRYING TO HELP US BEAT THE CRIME PROBLEMS.*
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/5
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1976
-5-
REGI STRATI ON TEAM TO OPERATE AT TA KU LING *****
A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT WILL ?BnDncLREoISTRAT,0NS AT TA KU LING RURAL COMMITTEE FOR RESIDENTS AND PERSONS LIVING NEARBY FOR 2 DAYS FROM NOVEMBER 22 (MONDAY)
THE VISIT IS THEIR CHILDREN OR CARDS AND HOLDERS IDENTITY CARDS ON
REGISTRATION DAILY.
TO ENABLE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO REGISTER WARDS OF 11 YEARS OF AGE FOR JUVENILE IDENTITY OF JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS TO REGISTER FOR ADULT REACHING THE AGE OF 18.
WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M.
ALL PERSONS LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR IDENTITY CARDS. THEY SHOULD REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
-------o---------
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sunday, November 14, 1976
A CHANGE OF HOME IS AS GOOD AS A REST
For the past six months Mr. Lai Ming-ch an has been rising early t5 travel from his home at Chai Wan to his place at work at Tsuen Wan - more than 13 miles, and a total daily travelling time of over three hours.
At the same time Mr. Cheung Ping-w ah would make the same daily journey, changing buses three times, but in the opposite directian® Mr. Cheung lived at Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan and travelled to work at Chai Wan.
New, after a little help from the Housing Department’s recently formed Tenants Mutual Exchange Bureau, Mr. Lai and Mr. Cheung live on the doorstep of their respective employments.
The Bureau, set up in August, is designed to aid people like Mr. Lai and Mr. Cheung, who occupy public housing but for some reason or another would prefer to live in another district.
All applications to the Mutual Exchange Bureau are sorted and classified, and where possible suitable exchanges are arranged.
The usual reason for tenants wishing to move is a need to be nearer to work. However, the Bureau has experienced many other situations in which tenants request a change of neighbourhood. These range from quarrels with the neighbours, to seeking a lower rental unit, the desirability for children to be closer to school and many other personal reasons.
/2.........
2
As for the Lai family and their new friends the Cheungs, they have now completed a successful exchange of flats. And everybody is happy with the new arrangement,
Mr. Cheung said that the Bureau had helped to bring more happiness to his family.
••Now, I really feel like a father because I have more time to look after my wife and children.” • • r '
•’Besides, the exchange allows more time for me to relax and enjoy various entertainment in the evenings.”
The exchange also makes it possible for Mr. Cheung to save transport expenses. In addition Mr. Cheung’s new home is a lower rental unit. All this has placed him in a better financial position.
• •
Despite the fact that when Mr. Lai moved to Lei Muk Shue his monthly rental went up, he is also quite contented. • • •» . .* •
Mr. Lai, father of three and an assistant in a bookstore at
Lei Muk Shue, said that previously he had to spend at least three hours travelling each day to and from his home at Chai Wan to the estate where he is now living.
”1 had to leave by 7*30 a.m. to make sure I was not late for work. But now it’s a different story. I’m at work in just five minutes.”
’•It is true the rent at Lei Muk Shue is higher, but on the other hand the additional expense has been covered by the savings in travelling costs. I also enjoy the extra sleep!” he said.
The Bureau was founded on August 3, 1976 to offer guidance for those seeking an exchange of flats. Since then more than 1,267 applications have been received and of these more than 500 have been offered flats in different locations.
******
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
COMPUTERISED RADAR SYSTEM COMES INTO OPERATION AT KAI TAK ..................................................... 1
WATER CUT IN WAN CHAI ....................................... 2
NEW DIRECTOR CF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES APPOINTED ... 3
ACTING GOVERNOR TO OPEN FIFTH ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION . 4
TWO FRE-WAR BUILDINGS CONDEMNED ............................. 5
APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR 1976 HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION .................................... 5
IMPORTANCE OF EVALUATION OF YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMMES STRESSED .................................................... e
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1976
1
COMPUTERISED RADAR SYSTEM FOR KAI TAK AIRPORT
******
CIVIL AVIATION IN HONG KONG ENTERS A NEW ERA TODAY WHEN THE SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR (SSR) - AN INTEGRATED COMPUTERISED RADAR SYSTEM - COMES INTO OPERATION AT KAI TAK AIRPORT.
ANNOUNCING THE COMMISSIONING OF THE RADAR, THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, MR. ROY DOWNING, SAID THE SSR 990, ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED SYSTEMS OF ITS KI ND IN THE WORLD, WOULD MAKE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE EFFICIENCY OF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS IN AIRSPACE CONTROLLED EY HONG KONG.
COSTING ABOUT $8 MILLION, THE NEW EQUIPMENT WILL PROVIDE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL STAFF AT THE AIRPORT WITH CONTINUOUS INFORMATION ON AIRCRAFT IDENTITY, POSITION AND HEIGHT IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WITHIN A RANGE OF 250 MILES.
+THE MAIN ADVANTAGE OF THE SSR,+ MR. DOWNING SAID, +IS TO MINIMISE THE NEED OF RADIO TELEPHONY CONTACTS BETWEEN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AT THE AIRPORT AND PILOTS IN THE AIR FOR EXCHANGE OF DATA WHICH WILL NOW BE SEEN ON THE RADAR SCREEN.
+THIS WILL REDUCE THE WORK LOAD OF THE CONTROLLERS AND ACCORDINGLY INCREASE THE CAPABILITY OF OUR AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM.+
HE ADDED THAT THE UTILISATION OF THE SSR WOULD HELP AUGMENT AND REINFORCE THE PRIMARY RADAR SYSTEM ALREADY IN USE AT THE AIRPORT.
THE SSR SYSTEM CONSISTS OF TWO UNITS - AN INTERROGATOR ON THE GROUND AND TRANSPONDERS EQUIPPED EY AIRLINES ON THEIR AIRCRAFT. BOTH UNITS COMPRISE TRANSMITTERS AND RECEIVERS.
THE INTERROGATOR TRANSMITS INTERROGATING SIGNAL TO THE AIRBORNE RECEIVER. AFTER RECEIVING THE INTERROGATION, THE TRANSPONDER REPLIES WITH CODED INFORMATION ON A DIFFERENT FREQUENCY.
THE REPLY IS THEN PROCESSED IN A COMPUTER ON THE GROUND TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION SUCH AS THE IDENTITY, HEIGHT AND POSITION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT THE NEED FOR THE PILOT TO MAKE RADIO TELEPHONY REPORTS.
MR. DOWNING SAID SPECIAL PURPOSE CODES DENOTING RADIO FAILURE AND OTHER EMERGENCIES COULD ALSO BE SENT AND RECEIVED THROUGH THE SSR.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEW RADAR SYSTEM, HE ADDED, AIRLINES HAD BEEN INFORMED THAT IT WAS MANDATORY FOR AIRCRAFT INTENDING TO OPERATE WITHIN THE HONG KONG FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION TO CARRY SSR TRANSPONDERS FROM JULY 1, THIS YEAR.
/HOWSV2.R, ......
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1976
2
HOWEVER, HELICOPTERS AND LIGHT AIRCRAFT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CARRY THIS EQUIPMENT.
THE SSR 990 IS INSTALLED IN TWO LOCATIONS - MOUNT PARKER AND THE AIRPORT. THE SECONDARY RADAR AND ITS ASSOCIATED PLOT EXTRACTOR EQUIPMENT ARE ON MOUNT PARKER FROM WHERE THE RADAR INFORMATION IS TRANSFERRED OVER RADIO LINK TO THE DATA PROCESSING AND DISPLAY SYSTEM AT THE AIRPORT.
THE SSR 990 SYSTEM IS VERY FLEXIBLE IN OPERATION AND HAS EXPANSION CAPABILITY TO CATER FOR REQUIREMENTS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN WAN CHAI WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 17) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY ARSENAL STREET, HENNESSY ROAD, JOHNSTON ROAD, LUARD ROAD AND GLOUCESTER ROAD.
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/3
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1976
5
NEW DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
******
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. GERALD H. CHOA, WILL PROCEED ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE NEXT JANUARY AFTER 20 YEARS’ SERVICE WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
HE WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY DR. THONG KAH-LEONG, WHO IS AT PRESENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND WHOSE PROMOTION HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.
DR. THONG, WHO IS 48, GRADUATED M.B., B.S. FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG. HE IS HOLDER OF THE DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC HEALTH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA AND A MEMBER OF THE FACULTY OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE.
AFTER 14 YEARS’ SERVICE WITH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IN SINGAPORE WHERE HE SPECIALISED IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE, HE JOINED THE HONG KONG MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN 1970 AS A PRINCIPAL MEDICAL AND HEALTH OFFICER AND WAS PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT POST IN 1972. HE HAS TAKEN A SPECIAL INTEREST IN FAMILY PLANNING AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING ABOUT THE INTEGRATION OF FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS INTO THE FAMILY HEALTH SERVICE. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS ONE SON AND TWO DAUGHTERS.
DR. CHOA, THE OUTGOING DIRECTOR, GRADUATED M.B., B.S. FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG IN 1946 AND BECAME A DOCTOR OF MEDICINE IN THE UNIVERSITY IN 1959. HE ALSO HOLDS THE DIPLOMA IN TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL. HE BECAME A MEMBER AND A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS IN 1952 AND 1968 RESPECTIVELY. HE WAS MADE A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS IN EDINBURGH IN 1972 AND A FELLOW OF THE FACULTY OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE IN 1974.
HE WAS FIRST APPOINTED TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS A MEDICAL SPECIALIST IN 1956 FOLLOWING SEVEN YEARS AS A LECTURER IN MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR SPECIALIST IN 1963 AND SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY UNTIL HIS APPOINTMENT AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN 1967. HE BECAME DIRECTOR IN 1970.
DR. CHOA HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SINCE 1970 AND A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SINCE 1972. IN ADDITION, HE HOLDS SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS. THESE INCLUDE CONTROLLER OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE, PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG ANTI-T.B. AND THORACIC DISEASES ASSOCIATION, CHAIRMAN OF THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE MANAGEMENT BOARD OF THE BRITISH RED CROSS (H.K. BRANCH) AND PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION. HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF ST. JOHN’S AMBULANCE COUNCIL FROM JANUARY 1975 TO JUNE 1976. HE WAS AWARDED THE C.B.E. IN 1972.
DR. CHOA WILL TAKE UP HIS APPOINTMENT AS DEAN OF THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY ON JANUARY 1, 1977.
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/4
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1976
- 4
FIFTH ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION
******
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. IAN PRICE, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S FIFTH ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION WILL OPEN AT THE KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION, HUNG HOM, ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 19) AT 4.30 P.M.
THE 10—DAY EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE AIMS TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS, WITH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF INFORMATION TO HELP THEM MAKE A CHOICE OF CAREER.
THERE WILL BE 22 EXHIBITORS FROM COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT TAKING PART. EACH HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO REPRESENT OPPORTUNITIES IN HIS FIELD, AND WILL SHOW THE NATURE OF WORK, ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS, CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING FACILITIES AND PROSPECTS.
MR. PRICE SAID : +YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE AN INQUIRING MIND AND TO FIND OUT FOR THEMSELVES THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE.+
+ONLY WHEN THEY HAVE OBTAINED ALL THE FACTS CAN THEY MAKE A WISE CHOICE.+
FOR THE FIRST TIME THE CAREERS EXHIBITION IS BEING HELD IN KOWLOON. AS PREVIOUSLY, THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE IS MAKING SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH SCHOOLS FOR ORGANISED GROUP VISITS. THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE EXHIBITION, IS OFFERING CONCESSIONARY RATE TO STUDENTS TRAVELLING FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES.
LAST YEAR, SOME 100,000 PEOPLE MOSTLY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS SAW CAREERS ’76 AT THE CITY HALL. EVEN MORE VISITORS ARE EXPECTED THIS YEAR.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, WILL OPEN CAREERS ’77 AT 3.30 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 19. IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 4.30 P.M. ON THE SAME DAY AND DAILY FROM 9.30 A.M.
TO 6.30 P.M. UNTIL IT CLOSES AT 4.30 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 28.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1976
5
TWO PRE-WAR BUILDINGS CONDEMNED
*****
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NO. 123 CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NO. 124 CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THESE THREE-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDINGS HAD BEEN UNDER PERIODIC OBSERVATION SINCE 1963 WHEN EVIDENCE OF MOVEMENT OF THE REAR WALLS WAS OBSERVED.
+A RECENT INSPECTION OF NO. 123 CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST REVEALED THAT FISSURES HAVE RECENTLY BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED, INDICATING FURTHER MOVEMENT AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDING AND IT IS NOW CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS A RISK OF COLLAPSE,* HE SAID.
CORRESPONDING MOVEMENT WAS ALSO OBSERVED INSIDE NO. 124 CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST, AND THE PARTY WALL BETWEEN NOS. 123 AND 124 CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST IS EXTENSIVELY FRACTURED.
IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS RISK OF NO. 124 CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST COLLAPSING DURING OR FOLLOWING THE DEMOLITION OF NO. 123 CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON DECEMBER 13, 1976 WERE POSTED TODAY.
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H.K. CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION 1978 *****
SCHOOLS WISHING TO ENTER FOR THE FIRST TIME +FORM V/MIDDLE V+ CANDIDATES OR +ENGLISH ONLY* CANDIDATES FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION 1978 MUST APPLY BEFORE FEBRUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION BOARD, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 11TH FLOOR, 393 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.
SCHOOLS WISHING TO ENTER THEIR CANDIDATES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PRACTICAL SUBJECTS SHOULD ALSO APPLY BEFORE FEBRUARY 1.
THE PRACTICAL SUBJECTS ARE SHORTHAND, TYPEWRITING, PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY. BIOLOGY, POTTERY, DOMESTIC SUBJECTS (COOKERY), DOMESTIC SUBJECTS (NEEDLEWORK), DRESSMAKING, WOODWORK, METALWORK, PRACTICAL ELECTRICITY, TECHNICAL DRAWING AND DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY.
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SECRETARY.
ENGLISH AND CHINESE HANDBOOKS OF REGULATIONS AND SYLLABUSES FOR THE 1978 EXAMINATION ARE NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, STAR FERRY CONCOURSE, HONG KONG.
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/6 .
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1976
6
TIME TO EVALUATE YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMMES
******
THE TIME HAS COME WHEN SOCIAL WORKERS MUST OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES AND WORK OUT APPROPRIATE EVALUATION METHODS FOR YOUTH SERVICES AND YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMMES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY MARKING THE END OF A THREE-WEEK UNADI (UNITED NATIONS ASIAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE) STUDY TOUR IN WHICH 16 REPRESENTATIVES FROM HONG KONG AND SIX ASIAN COUNTRIES TOOK PART.
MR. LEE STRESSED THAT EVALUATION OF PROGRAMMES WAS ESSENTIAL THOUGH NOT ALWAYS EASY.
+IN HONG KONG WE HAVE MADE A BEGINNING OF THIS KIND OF WORK, LARGELY THROUGH THE CO-OPERATIVE EFFORTS OF GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS OF SOCIAL WELFARE,+ HE SAID.
+BUT WE NEED TO KNOW MUCH MORE AND WE NEED TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF GROUPS LIKE YOURS WHO SEEK TO SHARE EXPERIENCES AND TO BREAK NEW GROUND IN THE AREA OF EVALUATION METHODS,+ HE ADDED.
THIS, HE POINTED OUT, WAS AN AREA WHERE EVERYONE CONCERNED WITH SOCIAL WELFARE NEED TO DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION. +IT IS NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, SUFFICIENT FOR US ONLY TO EVOLVE AND STUDY YOUTH SERVICES AND YOUTH PROGRAMMES, WE ALSO NEED TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE HOW EFFECTIVE THESE PROGRAMMES ARE TO THE COMMUNITY.
HE EMPHASISED THAT RESOURCES MUST BE UTILIZED EFFICIENTLY BECAUSE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN ALL COUNTRIES WOULD HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER SECTORS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EXPENDITURE FOR THE RESOURCES WHICH WERE NEVER UNLIMITED.
+IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE LEARN HOW TO ASSESS AND DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SERVICES AND TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF APPROACHES. THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE IN SOCIAL WELFARE HAVE SOMETIMES TENDED TO AVOID BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN MAKING EVALUATIONS,* HE ADDED.
AT THE CEREMONY, MR. LEE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION TO THE 16 REPRESENTATIVES FROM INDIA, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE, THAILAND AND HONG KONG.
THE STUDY TOUR, FOCUSSED ON THE EVALUATION OF YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMME, WAS CONDUCTED IN MANILA FROM OCTOBER 26 TO NOVEMBER 6 AND IN HONG KONG FROM NOVEMBR 7 TO TODAY.
IT AIMS TO DEVELOP AMONG YOUTH DIRECTORS AND SUPERVISORS OF YOUTH TRAINING INSTITUTES A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF PROBLEMS AND ISSUES IN THE EVALUATION OF YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMMES” TO STUDY AND EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF EVALUATION AND TO FORMULATE MORE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND TECHNIQUES IN EVALUATING YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMMES.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sf Mfe
Secretary for Housing, Mr. Ian Lightbody, at the Luncheon Meeting of the Lions Club of Kowloon today (Monday, November 15th) at the Peninsula Hotel
SECRETARY FOR HOUSING OUTLINES ENORMOUS.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Secretary for Housing, Mr- Ian Lightbody, today
outlined the ’’enormous responsibilities” of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, and the very great steps it has taken since being set up in 1973* * .
"It is a strange fact that a statutory body which has such enormous responsibilities as the Housing Authority should manage to operate so unobtrusively that, whenever public housing matters crop up, the Press and everyone else refers to Government doing this or Government doing that in the public housing area, ’ he said.
Mr. Lightbody, who was speaking to the Lions Club of Kowloon at their luncheon meeting, said that the Authority took up ”a lot of headaches” when it was given control of the planning, construction and management of all public housing in Hong Kong.
However, -the change brought one great advantage, too -for the first time nubli,c housing was being handled as a single, co-ordinated service allowing more flexible use of the whole range of its housing stock.
- 2 -
He said: ”1 believe that one of the worst features of the old public housing arrangements was the immobility of tenants; once you had been allocated a flat, usually at a very tight space standard, there you stayed regardless of what happened to your family size or to your income.”
The new set up allowed many such families who had become more prosperous to ’’trade up” to bigger and better flats in the newer estates, albeit at higher rents.
•’There has been an encouraging response to this move and I am sure that the process will quicken as more and more tenants realise the good sense of seizing this opportunity to improve their family life,” he said.
.ouch a move helped not only the family concerned but a less well-off family, which could then be allocated the original family’s low-rent flat.
Mr. Lightbody praised the contribution made to the Authority’s work by the 13 Unofficial Members who, with official members and staff of the Housing Department, serve on the Authority’s functional committees comprising the Building Committee, the Management Committee, the Operations Committee, the Finance Committee and the Appeals
Committee.
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Speech by the Secretary for Housing Mr. I.M. Lightbody at the Lions Club of Kowloon at the Peninsula Hotel on 15 th November 1976
Mr. President and Members:
'./hen I was invited to speak to you today my original reaction was d;o tall: about housing problems in Hong Kong but I finally decided instead to speak about the Housing Authority and how it is organised to discharge its various duties, and what these duties include. It is a strange fact that a statutory body which has such enormous responsibilities as the Housing Authority should manage to operate so unobtrusively that whenever public housing matters crop up, the press and everyone else refers to Government doing this, or Government doing that in the public housing' area. The fact is that the Government decided in 1972 to set up this Housing Authority under Ordinance to take over the planning, construction and management of all public housing in Hong Kong, including all the old estates which were vested in the new Authority. I need hardly add that the Authority took up a lot of headaches in the process but there is one respect in which it is much better placed than any of its predecessor organisations to manage the public housing stock on a sensible basis. You will remember that before 1973 public housing fell into several distinct categories managed by different bodies, and in one case the managing body was totally separate from planning and
the/construction body. Since 1973 public housing has for the first time been handled as a single, co-ordinated service and the great advantage of this is that the Authority can as a matter of policy make positive arrangements for a more flexible use of the whole range of its housing stock. I believe that one of the worst features of the old public housing arrangements was the
/immobility ...
2
immobility of tenants; once you had been allocated a flat, usually at a very tight space standard, there you stayed regardless of what happened to your family size or to your income. Because they have been living in public housing for so many years at such very low rents, many families have - I am glad to say - become more prosperous and can afford, and want better, living accommodation than they have now. However, many of them cannot afford to rent or buy a flat in the private sector and still need some measure of aid to acquire a bigger flat. The Housing Authority is positively encouraging this sort of trading up by inviting families in this category who are living in unsatisfactory conditions in the old estates, to apply for higher-rent flats in the new estates, with their greatly improved standards. There has been an encouraging response to this move and I am sure that the process will quicken as more and more tenants realise the good sense of seizing this opportunity to improve their family life. But the advantages go much further than simply benefiting the outgoing tenant. By moving to a new flat he has released a low-rent flat for reallocation to a less well-off family.
In the past when squatter families were being cleared from Crown land needed for development, it was the invariable practice to rehouse them all as far as possible in the same newly-built estate and this reflected the administrative arrangements then in force by which clearance work was done by the same body managing the old resettlement estates; the family being cleared was given no choice, even if they could afford something better. Nowadays we try to be more flexible and when an area is cleared the widest possible choice of public housing is offered to the clearees. Now some of these clearees will not be able to afford the higher rents charged for the much better type of accommodation provided in the new estates and for them the trading-up scheme which I have just mentioned provides a solution to their problems. The vacated flat, at a low rent, can be offered to them. This seems to be a sensible use of the Housing Authority’s stock, covering as it does a wide range of rentals.
/The Housing Authority
The Eousin^ Authority has a total membership of are .
21 and 13 of .these^/Unofficial Ifembers appointed by the Governor. 8 of these 13 are Urban Councillors who had’extensive expedience of public housing in past years when members of the Urban Council were also automatically members of the ‘former Housing authority.
■j'-. "A A .7 ■ A A - -J-
That Authority built on a limited scale but built "well. Its L management standards were of a very high order, and the new Housing Authority has been fortunate indeed in inheriting these well-built and well-run estates - so very different' from the old resettlement estates. The membership of the Authority includes several members of the Legislative Council who have had a deep, personal interest in public housing for many years.
To turn now to how the Housing'.Authority organises its work, there are several functional committees which bnjoy ; L delegated authority to do what is necessary in their respective' fields. Perhaps I could mention first the Building Committee. This Committee has an' Unofficial Chairman, as do all the Authority’s Committees, and it carries verjr heavy responsibilities in approving new estate plans and in letting contracts for expenditure of a very large order indeed. Chis expenditure runs to hundreds of millions of dollars each year and the Authority is fortunate to have such a conscientious and hard-working Committee.tp accept these onerous duties. Perhaps I could give some indication of what it does by looking at the agenda of a recent Building Committee meeting. At this meeting, it accepted tenders for piling work for two new housing blocks at the, Shek Kip Mei redevelopment scheme, where we have already rehoused about half of a total of 60,000 persons living in that old. and overcrowded estate. It also discussed the Housing Department’s proposals for layouts for the redevelopment of Chai han and Tai Hang Tung estates. At Chai an, this is the first stage of a complete replacement of this old and overcrowded estate and involves the construction of 4 blocks of flats, to house over 5,000 persons, and a commercial block. This will let the Authority get on with the redevelopment of the Chai ’.fan Estate, the population densities in which will be reduced
/eventually ...
4
eventually from the present 1,500 persons- per acre to about 1,200 persons per acre, with a full rance of commercial, educational and community facilities. I might mention that in this particular redevelopment the Authority owes its thanlcs to the Urban Council for handing over a small playground area to allow of a better building layout, This will eventually result in a much improved provision of.playground facilities and there will be 4 acres of recreational space in the final layout as-, against the present 1^ acres. The capital cost:-of this first stage is S3.8 million. - ■ ■ . j.
The Tai Hang Tung redevelopment proposals which the Committee studied provide for a third phase of reprovisioning at this old 'estate. Construction 'work on the first phase, providing several new blocks of flats, is.,going. ahead and will be completed next July, while piling v/orfefor the second phase should be finished next month. These initial phases when _ finished by September 1979 will provide, self-contained, flats for about 12,000.people. This is a very overcrowded estate, indeed with a present density of about 1,800 persons per. acre. The new density will be .about 1,100 persons per acre, with; a very generous provision of open space. The capital cost of these first three phases will be about 354 million..
Another exciting scheme which the Building Committee approved at its last meeting was the first stage layout of a new Housing Authority estate at Area 27 of Tuen Tun. . By the Authority’s standards this is a small estate, for about 9,000 people, and will be completed by 1979/20 at .a cost of about §35, million. There is already a very large estate under construction for the Authority at Tuen Cun by the public Aorks Department; . -this is the Tai Hing □state, the first stage of which will house about 26,000 persons.
The Building Committee also awarded at that meeting a number of contracts to tenderers for the provision of lifts in the new estate at Ngau Chi Tan - the 12 lifts in this estate will cost over §3 million - and for metal doors and other fittings in the new Lai Yiu Estate and the Tah Fu Extension.
/Then we have
5
Then we have the Management Committee which handles the biggest volume of papers every year and has so far this year received over 280 papers. It determines management policies for the Authority’s 50-odd estates, housing close on 2 million people, and. I am sure you will agree that this by any standards is an awesome responsibility. There is of course a very wide range of conditions in the Authority’s estates and management headaches are concentrated in the older estates where there was little or no. provision made for marketing and other essential local facilities, and where the flats were allocated .at a very tight space standard which was made worse over the years by additions to the families. The answer to these problems is the complete redevelopment of the old’ ‘estate areas but there are about 250 such blocks, housing up to half a million people, and this process will inevitably take time, perhaps as much as 15 years.
The Management Committee is involved in determining eligibility criteria for public housing and in laying down the rules for allocation of flats to families. It also keeps an eye on the stock of empty public housing flats to ensure that none are kept vacant unnecessarily; but with so many flats required to house former squatter families who have to leave Crown land to make way for development, it is inevitable that substantial numbers of flats have to be kept in reserve for such clearances, and the timing of these clearances is not under the control of the Housing Authority.
Maintenance is a vital part of estate management and here the Management Committee keeps a watchful eye on the work of the Housing Department’s Maintenance Section in the estates. All departmental activities, by this and other sections, are regularly reported to the Management Committee.
It is the Management Committee which determines rents, both domestic and commercial, for new estates on first letting and for rent revisions for existing estates. Domestic rents are of course heavily subsidised and will always be so because the Authority is there to cater for the lower-income groups.
/But for ..
6
But for commercial rents the Authority very properly aims to charge the full market value for its properties. There is no reason in the world why shopkeepers and other businessmen should expect to enjoy subsidised ren^s for shop premises and the like. They naturally expect to charge the market price for their goods, and will always do so, even if they paid no rent; a subsidy in this situation is thus out of the question and it is of course a condi-uion of the shop tenancy agreement, which normally runs for three years, that the Authority is free to revise the rent when the tenancy period expires.
Then there is the Operations Committee which oversees the Housing Department’s Work on the control of squatting and the clearance of squatters, and along with the Management Committee it determines annual quotas for the allocation of public housing to various categories of families, the largest being those cleared from Crown land to make way for permanent development. The Committee also oversees the management of--Licensed Areas. These are a form of temporary public housing for those who have a housing problem but for one reason or another cannot be offered a flat in a public housing estate. The Authority has greatly improved living conditions in these Licensed Areas and the new ones are a world apart from the old Licensed Areas.
The clearance of Crown land is a delicate operation and the Housing Department’s staff have shown great ability and tact in this field. It is very much to their credit that such large tracts of land have been cleared virtually without incident, year after year, to enable Hong Kong’s development to proceed smoothly. An important aspect of clearance work is the payment of cash compensation to commercial or industrial squatter operators involved in these clearances, and the Operations Committee has to keep the levels of cash compensation under constant review to ensure that they do justice both to the person cleared and the taxpayers. After all these clearees have been occupying Crown land illegally and free of charge for years and you might say their good luck has now run out. Some of them /of course ...
7
of course are very marginal operators, who have stayed in business only because they were not exposed to normal business overheads.
Then there is the Finance Committee which prepares the Authority’s budget each year and checks on the expenditure performance throughout the year.
Finally and not least I must mention the Appeals Committee which, like all the others, has an Unofficial Chairman,. It is a statutory committee created by the Housing Ordinance and its job is to deal with appeals ma.de to it by persons whose tenancies have been cancelled for breach of the tenancy terms. These cases generally concern families which have got accommodation elsewhere and leave their public housing flats empty, as well as families which improperly sublet their public housing flat to a third party, often for a substantial profit. This Committee does a very essential job and ensures that no injustice is done in the process of recovering flats which are not being properly used.
I have spoken for rather longer than I had hoped but I trust that this look into the workings of the Housing Authority will give some better understanding of what it is all about and the problems it faces.
***«******if*ifinto
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW TERRITORIES WILL HAVE 150 MORE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES ............................................... 1
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SAYS PUBLIC DEMANDS THE BEST STANDARDS OF EDUCATION ................................... 2
DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED ................................. 3
EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT . 4
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT SHA TAU KOK .............. 4
FINAL MATCHES OF THE ANTI-NARCOTICS CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO BE PLAYED ON FRIDAY ........................ 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1976
1
150 ADDITIONAL MAC’S FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES
*****
THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING TO ESTABLISH 150 MORE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
THIS WILL BRING THE NUMBER OF N.T. MAC’S TO 410, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY.
HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHING MAC’S IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE FAST GROWING NEW TOWNS.
+THE NEW TOWNS, IN FACT, GIVE US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE MAC SYSTEM IN THE SENSE THAT WE CAN MOVE IN VERY EARLY AS NEW RESIDENTIAL AREAS OPEN UP AND ENCOURAGE THE MAC’S TO GROW AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT,* HE ADDED.
+IN THIS WAY, THE MAC’S CAN HELP PREVENT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS OF KOWLOON AND HONG KONG ISLAND.
+OUR EXPERIENCE WITH MAC’S IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SO FAR HAS BEEN REASSURING, AND, WE BELIEVE, SUCCESSFUL.
+CERTAINLY, THE EXISTING MAC’S HAVE MADE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION IN OUR MORE URBANISED AREAS.*
MR. CHAMBERS SAID THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE PRESENT MAC’S WERE IN TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG, WHERE THERE ARE ALREADY 400,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
MOST OF THE NEW MAC’S WILL ALSO BE SET UP IN THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN, HE ADDED, BUT AS THE OTHER NEW TOWNS DEVELOP WE WILL ESTABLISH MAC’S FROM THE START BOTH IN NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS.
THERE WOULD ALSO BE MAC’S ELSEWHERE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
MR. CHAMBERS SAID THAT THE TARGET OF 150 MAC’S NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR WAS SUBJECT TO THE N.T.A.’S REQUEST, NOW BEING PREPARED, FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF TO ESTABLISH AND SERVICE THEM.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1976
- 2 -
PUBLIC DEMANDS BEST STANDARDS OF EDUCATION *****
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH THAT THE PUBLIC DEMAND +IS FOR EDUCATION TO BEST STANDARDS THAT HONG KONG CAN AFFORD.*
TOPLEY SAID TODAY BE DEVELOPED TO THE
ADDRESSING THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF PENINSULA, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT IN THE LONG RUN FOR PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN THESE STANDARDS WITHOUT CHARGING FEES BEYOND THE MEANS OF MOST PARENTS.
THIS WAS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST REASON WHY THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT ACCEPT DEMANDS FROM PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. THESE SCHOOLS WANTED THE GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH THE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SECTOR RATHER THAN BUILD NEW SCHOOLS AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FINANCIALLY ASSIST THESE SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY COULD EMPLOY BETTER QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND RAISE STANDARDS.
THE DIRECTOR SAID THE OTHER COGENT REASONS WHY THESE DEMANDS COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED WERE :
* NEW SCHOOLS MUST BE BUILT AND THESE MUST BE IN THE AREAS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT WHERE THE PEOPLE WILL BE LIVING AND CHILDREN WILL BE, THAT IS GENERALLY IN THE NEW TOWNS.
* IT WOULD NOT BASICALLY BE RIGHT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SUBVENT OR OTHERWISE FINANCIALLY ASSIST THE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SINCE THEY ARE LEGALLY BUSINESS VENTURES AND TO ASSIST THEM FINANCIALLY IS TO SUBSIDISE PROFITS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO UPHOLD THIS PRINCIPLE.
* EVEN WITH A DEGREE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THE MAJORITY OF PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS WILL ACHIEVE THE STANDARDS WHICH HONG KONG WILL NEED IN FUTURE.
REFERRING TO ACCUSATIONS OF IRRESPONSIBILITY, INCONSISTENCY AND INSINCERITY ON THIS ISSUE, MR. TOPLEY STATED: +IT IS NOT IRRESPONSIBLE TO CARRY OUT THE EVIDENT WISH OF THE HONG KONG POPULATION TO DEVELOP EDUCATION ON A SOUND BASIS FOR GOOD STANDARDS AND TO BUILD SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.
+OUR POLICIES ARE CONSISTENT TO DEVELOP EDUCATION THROUGH THE AIDED SECTOR SO FAR AS POSSIBLE. AND I HAVE INDICATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE POLICIES OVER TIME. THE BUYING OF PLACES IN PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS HAS NEVER BEEN REGARDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS A LONG-TERM AIM BUT RATHER AS NECESSARY UNTIL MORE LONG-TERM PLANS CAN BE BROUGHT TO FRUITION.
+AS FOR MY SINCERITY YOU MUST JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES.*
/IHE DIRECTOR.. . .
3
THE DIRECTOR, HOWEVER, MADE THIS COMMENT: +1 BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF COMPLAINT HERE IS THAT IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO WHAT IT ALWAYS SAID IT INTENDED TO DO.+
NEVERTHELESS HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE SOME PARENTS WHO PREFERRED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND THAT THERE WOULD ACCORDINGLY ALWAYS BE A ROLE FOR THEM.
+WHAT IS MORE,+ HE POINTED OUT, +THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING SUBSIDISED EDUCATION FOR ALL UP TO FORM 3 AND FOR 40 PER CENT GOING ON TO FORMS 4 AND 5 IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR SO THAT THERE WILL REMAIN A ROLE FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS PARTICULARLY IN FORMS 4, 5 AND 6 AND IN TEACHING THE VARIOUS PRACTICAL SKILLS WHICH PEOPLE NEED TO EARN A LIVING.+
MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT THIS WAS THE CASE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHERE THERE WERE A FREE PLACE AVAILABLE FOR ALL IN EITHER AN AIDED OR GOVERNMENT SCHOOL BUT THERE WERE STILL 300 PRIVATE FEE-PAYING PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITH NEARLY 100,000 PUPILS IN THEM. THIS WAS A CHOICE BY THE PARENTS CONCERNED.
THE DIRECTOR CONCLUDED: +1 PERSONALLY LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUING DIALOGUE WITH INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS A <D THEIR ASSOCIATIONS TO MEET AND OVERCOME OUR PROBLEMS AND DIFFERENCES. NEVERTHELESS I BELIEVE OUR BASIC POLICIES ARE RIGHT. PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS PROVIDE A USEFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE BUT THEY CANNOT BE THE PERMANENT CENTRE PIECE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PLANS.+
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DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED
H * * K
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON MAY 7, 1976 ON WONG KWAN-TAI SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
WONG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF LEE AH-LOI.
IN ANOTHER CASE, THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON APRIL 14, 1976 ON LAU MIU-YIN, WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF CHUNG SIU-WAH, WAS COMMUTED TO A TERM OF 12 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1976.
EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK OF S.W.D.
*****
A T0TAL 0F 1’941 FAMILIES COMPRISING 12,736 PERSONS RECIEVED EMERGENCY RELIEF FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO MEET THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.
THEY WERE MOSTLY FIRE VICTIMS, PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CLEARANCE OPERATIONS OR VICTIMS OF OTHER DISASTERS. ullakanll
RELIEF CAME IN THE FORM OF FOOD ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF ART ICLES.
DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, THE TWO DEPARTMENTAL KITCHENS ONE ON THE ISLAND AND THE OTHER IN KOWLOON, PREPARED 212,168 HOT VICTIMS- IN ADDITION, 38,920 MEALS OF DRY RATIONS WtKt HANDED OUT.
RELIEF ARTICLES DISTRIBUTED INCLUDED 9,857 BLANKETS, 1 648 POTS, 8,372 BOWLS, 8,372 PAIRS OF CHOPSTICKS, 8,481 TOWELS 8 372 P0WDERBANDH8^372*MATs!ARS 0F S°AP’ 9,372 MU6S’ 136 T,NS 0F MILK
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1976.
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT SHA TAU KOK ******
A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATIONS AT THE SHA TAU KOK GOVERNMENT SCHOOL FOR RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE LIVING NEARBY FOR TWO DAYS FROM NOVEMBER 24 (WEDNESDAY).
THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS AND 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.
REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. DAILY.
ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR IDENTITY CARDS. THEY SHOULD REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1976
5
FINAL MATCHES OF ANTI-NARCOTICS CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT *****
THE 1976 ANTI-NARCOTICS CUP AND E.P. HO CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT REACHES ITS CLIMAX ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 19) EVENING WHEN THE LAST TWO MATCHES OF THE FINAL ROUND WILL BE PLAYED AT SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND, WAN CHAI.
THE FIRST MATCH, STARTING AT 7 P.M., WILL BE PLAYED BETWEEN THE TEAMS REPRESENTING EASTERN CITY DISTRICT AND CENTRAL/WESTERN CITY DISTRICT. THE SECOND MATCH BETWEEN THE TEAMS FROM YAUMATI AND KWUN TONG WILL BEGIN AT 8 P.M. ADMISSIONS WILL BE FREE.
THESE FOUR TEAMS, TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER ONE FROM
THE WONG TAI SIN CITY DISTRICT, HAVE ENTERED THE FINALS AFTER ELIMINATING 79 OTHER TEAMS FROM 10 CITY DISTRICTS DURING THE PRELIMINARY AND SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS OF THE TOURNAMENT.
AT THE END OF THE MATCHES THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR. JOHN WALDEN, AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.l. LEE, WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO THE WINNING TEAM.
THE TWO-MONTH-LONG TOURNAMENT IS PART OF THIS YEAR’S DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMME OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN). IT IS ORGANIZED JOINTLY BY THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, THE HONG KONG AMATEUR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION AND ACAN.
THE PROGRAMME AIMS TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP A GREATER INTEREST IN SPORTS AS ALTERNATIVES TO DRUG ABUSE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS TO COVER THE MATCHES AND THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 19) EVENING. BOTH MATCHES WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE INDOOR BASKETBALL COURT OF SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND.
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<
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY SOSSO
CBSOdSCOSG MH-JTIrJ
Tuesday, November 16, 1976
OPT FOR TUEN MUN OR SHATIN HOUSING DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ADVISES
Applicants applying for public housing through the Housing Department waiting list were advised today (Tuesday) to opt for accommodation in the New Territories.
Applicants are normally required to list three districts of their choice in order of preference when filling in their application forms.
A Housing Department spokesman advised that they should nominate either Tuen Mun or Shatin as their first choice.
’•Such applicants will likely be housed earlier than those who , seek accommodation in the urban estates which are now fully let and casual vacancies are few and far in between,” the spokesman said.
Also, there are already more than enough early applicants to vacancies in the urban estates for many years to come.
At both Tuen Mun and Shatin, a number of sites have been earmarked for public housing estates.
7 ••• • . • ’h • x.
Tai Hing Estate at Tuen Mun will be ready for occupation by the middle of next year. Work on the Wo Che Estate in Shatin is progressing smoothly and the first domestic block is expected to be completed by late next year.
******
% H A
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PUBLIC URGED TO TAKE CARE WHEN USING ROOM HEATERS ......... 1
COCKTAIL RECEPTION FOR ASIAN VOLLEYBALL TEAMS ............. 2
MORE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS VISIT SCHOOLS ............. 3
EVENING COURSES AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ................... 4
CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL SPORTS DAY ........................... 4
FORTY-EIGHT DISABLED PEOPLE WERE PLACED TO WORK LAST MONTH ................................................... 5
WATER CUT IN KWUN TONG .................................... 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1976
1
PUBLIC URGED TO TAKE CARE WHEN USING ROOM HEATERS
*****
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF COOLER AND DRIER WEATHER, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE CAUTIOUS WHEN USING PORTABLE HEATERS IN THEIR HOMES AND PLACES OF WORK.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS WAS THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN KEROSENE AND ELECTRIC HEATERS CAME INTO WIDE USE AND WHEN FIRES WERE LIKELY TO OCCUR BECAUSE A FEW SIMPLE SAFETY RULES WERE OVERLOOKED.
+A COMMON CAUSE OF FIRES ARISING FROM THE USE OF ROOM HEATERS IS THROUGH PLACING THEM IN UNSUITABLE LOCATIONS,+ THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT. THESE INCLUDED AREAS CLOSE TO INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS OR MATERIALS, OR WHERE CHILDREN PLAY.
+ BEFORE TURNING ON ANY TYPE OF HEATERS,+ HE SAID, +IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT THOUGHT BE GIVEN AS TO WHICH IS THE SAFEST SPOT TO PUT IT. KEEP IT WELL AWAY FROM CURTAINS OR BEDDING MATERIALS AND ALSO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT TOO CLOSE TO UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE. SATISFY YOURSELF FULLY THAT IT CANNOT BE KNOCKED OVER BY PLAYING CHI.DREN OR ELDERLY PEOPLE.+
HE SAID A NUMBER OF KEROSENE HEATER FIRES STARTED WHEN PEOPLE TRIED TO FILL OR MOVE THE HEATERS WHILE THEY WERE STILL BURNING. +THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS RESULTED IN DEATHS AND INJURIES.*
AS REGARDS ELECTRIC HEATERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE WERE SOMETIMES TURNED ON BLINDLY WITHOUT FIRST MAKING SURE THEY WERE WELL AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS OR PRODUCTS.
ALSO, WIRES WERE OFTEN PLUGGED INTO ADAPTORS OPERATING OTHER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, THUS RESULTING IN THE WIRING BECOMING OVERHEATED.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADVISED THAT BEFORE TURNING ON A ROOM HEATER FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WINTER IT SHOULD EE GIVEN A THOROUGH INSPECTION TO ENSURE THAT IT IS CLEAN AND THAT ALL PLUGS, LEADS OR WICKS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION.
HE WARNED THAT DURING THE CURRENT DRY WEATHER, +THERE IS A TWO TO FIVE FOLD INCREASE IN THE CHANCES OF FIRE.+
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1976
2
COCKTAIL RECEPTION FOR ASIAN VOLLEYBALL TEAMS *****
»
NOTE TO EDITORS!
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DENIS BRAY, WILL HOST A COCKTAIL RECEPTION FOR THE TEAMS TAKING PART IN THE ASIAN PRELIMINARY ROUND OF THE VOLLEYBALL WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT IN HONG KONG.
THE RECEPTION WILL BE HELD IN THE TOPAZ ROOM OF THE HOLIDAY INN IN TSIM SHA TSUI ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 19).
IT WILL BE ATTENDED BY SOME 300 PARTICIPANTS, DELEGATES AND GUESTS FROM ALL OVER'ASIA.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL START AT 4.30 P.M. ON THAT DAY.
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/3
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1976
- 5 -
MORE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS VISIT SCHOOLS ******
ANOTHER THREE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL GO TO KWUN TONG TOMORROW ON A FAMILIARISATION TOUR OF THREE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.
MR. S.F. BAILEY, MR. T.C. CHENG AND MR. HENRY LIM WILL ARRIVE AT THE KWUN TONG GOVERNMENT SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOL AT ABOUT 9:45 A.M. THE SCHOOL, WHICH HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 975 BOYS, WAS BUILT WITH A DONATION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB. THE PRINCIPAL IS MR. K.F. CHU.
THE THREE BOARD MEMBERS ARE DUE AT THE ST. CATHARINE’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AT ABOUT 10:45 A.M. THIS IS AN AIDED ANGLO-CHINESE GRAMMAR SCHOOL WITH TECHNICAL FACILITIES. IT IS OPERATED BY THE SHENG KUNG HUI. THE PRINCIPAL IS THE REV. JOYCE BENNETT. THE SCHOOL HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 1,172 GIRLS.
AT ABOUT 11:45 A.M., THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL VISIT THE DELIA MEMORIAL SCHOOL - A PRIVATE INDEPENDENT ANGLO-CHINESE CO-EDUCATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL WITH BOUGHT PLACES. THE SCHOOL, OPERATING Bl-SESSIONALLY, HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 3.500. THE PRINCIPAL IS MR. JOSEPH EDMONDS.
THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED ON THE TOUR BY MR. T.L. CHENG, SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER.
THE CURRENT SERIES OF SCHOOL VISITS IS ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SO THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CAN SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW PUPILS ARE TAUGHT AND WHAT FACILITIES ARE OFFERED AT THE SCHOOLS.
LAST TUESDAY THREE OTHER MEMBERS, REV. PETER WONG, MR. WONG WAN-TIN AND MR. CHARLES YEUNG SIU-CHO, VISITED THE HO TUNG TECHNICAL SCHOOL, CHEUNG CHUK SAN COLLEGE AND LITERARY COLLEGE.
DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THIS MONTH SIX BOARD MEMBERS PAID KOWLOONTO AN E$UAL NUMBER 0F PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG AND
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO HAVE THE TOUR OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KWUN TONG TOMORROW COVERED.
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/4
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1976
EVENING COURSES AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES
*****
APPLICANTS FOR EVENING COURSES OFFERED BY THE MORRISON HILL AND KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE REMINDED THAT THEY SHOULD RETURN THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS TO THE INSTITUTE CONCERNED ON OR BEFORE SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 20).
THE COURSES ARE DUE TO BEGIN IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR.
COURSES IN AUDIO-TYPING, BUSINESS MACHINES, PITMAN’S SHORTHAND THEORY AND VARIOUS LEVELS OF PITMAN’S SHORTHAND WILL BE RUN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL STUDIES OF THE TWO INSTITUTES.
IN ADDITION, COURSES IN INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED TYPEWRITING WILL BE OFFERED BY THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
ALL THE COURSES WILL LAST FROM MID-JANUARY TO MAY 1977 AND FEES RANGE FROM $60 TO $100.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AT 6, 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI AND FROM THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN HING SHING ROAD FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. AND 7 P.M. TO 8 P.M. ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 A.M. TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAY.
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CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL SPORTS DAY
*****
CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL SPORTS AND FETE DAY TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
MORE THAN 1,000 PATIENTS, DOCTORS, NURSES AND HOSPITAL STAFF WILL COMPETE IN VARIOUS EVENTS WHICH BEGIN AT 10 A.M. AT THE SPORTS FIELD OF THE HOSPITAL.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY WILL BE A LION AND DRAGON DANCE TO BE PERFORMED BY THE PATIENTS.
THE BAND OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE WILL PROVIDE MUSIC DURING THE DAY AND THIS, FROM THE STAFF’S POINT OF VIEW, HAS SOCIAL AND THERAPEUTIC VALUE FOR THE PATIENTS.
DR. GERALD CHOA, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO WINNERS.
ALSO ON THURSDAY, A TEA PARTY WILL BE HELD AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL TO MARK THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ITS GERIATRIC UNIT.
ELDERLY PATIENTS AT THE GERIATRIC WARD WILL BE ENTERTAINED.
DURING THE PARTY, SOUVENIRS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE FIRST MALE AND FEMALE PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE WARD WHEN IT OPENED LAST YEAR AND TO THOSE WHOSE BIRTHDAYS FALL IN NOVEMBER.
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/5....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1976
- 5 -
48 DISABLED GIVEN WORK IN OCTOBER * * * *
FORTY-EIGHT DISABLED PEOPLE WERE PLACED TO WORK BY THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT LAST MONTH.
THEY COMPRISED 23 CRIPPLED, FOUR BLIND, TEN DEAF, SIX MENTALLY RETARDED, FOUR FORMER MENTAL PATIENTS AND ONE FORMER T.B. PATIENT.
MOST OF THEM WERE EMPLOYED AS ASSEMBLERS AND MACHINE-SEWING WORKERS.
WITH REGARD TO THEIR SALARY, 27 WERE EMPLOYED ON DAILY RATE RANGING FROM $15 TO $30 WHILE TEN WERE PAID ON PIECE-RATE BASIS. THE SALARY OF THE OTHERS AVERAGED $550 A MONTH.
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WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO THE LAM TIN ESTATE IN KWUN TONG WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 19).
THE STOPPAGE IS TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST IN THE AREA.
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I
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Wednesday, November 17, 1976
ELECTRONIC METER FOR BETTER QUALITY CONTROL
The Housing Department, which spends between $4 million and $5 million a year on paint, is shortly to bring into use an electronic meter for gauging the thickness of paint on metal surfaces in an aim to achieve better quality control.
>r. - . . ' .
• • * . • • — r" • • •»’ ■ •
The meter, weighing only 22 ounces, cost the Department $3,500. It will be used by staff of the Maintenance Section.
It runs on two small batteries which have an operating rapacity of up to 25 hours continuously.
When the tip of the meter’s coil is applied to a painted surface, an exact reading is given of the thickness of the paint.
"Getting value for money is most important with so much re-painting to be done," said Mr. Raymond Bates, Acting Chief Maintenance Surveyor with the Department, who has been testing the meter and says it is extremely accurate. "It will greatly assist us in achieving better quality control." :
He added that the Department was also planning to buy a meter which could give readings of the thicknesses as well as the numbers of coats of paint on all types of surfaces. Eventually, the Department would have its own paint-testing laboratory.
* * * * * * *
WM Si?
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
CONTENTS
ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN BEGINS ON SUNDAY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1976
V
PAGE NO.
............................ 1
TRAINING COURSE FOR OVERSEAS OFFICIALS AT PREVENTIVE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL ................................... 3
LEGAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FOR SHAM SHUI.' PO SQUATTER AREA 4
I
ACTING GOVERNOR TO OPEN CAREERS EXHIBITION ................ 4
WATER CUTS IN MONG KOK AND PENG CHAU A..................... 5
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1976
1
ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN BEGINS ON SUNDAY
* * * M
THE ANNUAL ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN) WILL BEGIN THIS SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 21) IN THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 420,003.
ANNOUNCING THIS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.l. LEE, SAID THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH WOULD LAST FOR ONE MONTH, WAS MAINLY DESIGNED TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE.
HE SAID THE CAMPAIGN WOULD BE BASED ON A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH. ON ONE HAND, CONCENTRATED EFFORTS WOULD BE MADE TO CREATE IN YOUNG PEOPLE A GREATER AWARENESS OF THE REAL DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE. ON THE OTHER HAND, ACTIVITIES WOULD BE ORGANISED TO STIMULATE THEIR INTERESTS IN CONSTRUCTIVE, HEALTHY AND MEANINGFUL ALTERNATIVES TO DRUG ABUSE.
+DURING THE CAMPAIGN, A WIDE RANGE OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR, RECREATIONAL, PHYSICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO ATTRACT YOUNG PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR THOSE BETWEEN THE AGE OF 15 AND 24, TO COME FORWARD AND TAKE PART,+ MR. LEE SAID.
+IT IS HOPED THAT THE ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE CAN BE DRIVEN HOME TO MORE THAN 103,003 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT,* HE ADDED.
MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF A SERIES OF PREVENTIVE EDUCATION PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY ACAN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
+PREVENTIVE EDUCATION IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT fe' IN THE ANTI-NARCOTICS FIELD AND EXPERTS IN MANY COUNTRIES ARE 4^-NOW CONVINCED THAT SUPPLY REDUCTION EFFORTS EVEN WHEN COUPLED WITH TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION, ARE NOT ENOUGH, AND THAT ULTIMATELY THE DRUG PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE CONTAINED THROUGH EFFECTIVE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION EFFORTS,* HE SAID.
THE CAMPAIGN IS ORGANISED WITH THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, KOWLOON CITY, AND IS SPONSORED BY MORE THAN 23 GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
THE FIRST EVENT OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE A GRAND OPENING CEREMONY WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AT THE MA TAU WAI ROAD PUBLIC PLAYGROUND THIS SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 21) WHEN MORE THAN 5,333 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND.
OTHER EVENTS WILL INCLUDE A ROUND-THE-DI STR I CT RACE, A WALKATHON, AND A PET SHOW. THERE WILL ALSO BE MOBILE ANTI-DRUG EXHIBITIONS” POSTER, PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE COMPETITIONS, AND LECTURES TO SCHOOL CHILDREN.
/AN OPEN .....
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 197b
2
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS AND THE PROGRAMME OF THE CAMPAIGN ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT WHICH COVERS THE KOWLOON CITY PROPER, HOMANTIN, KOWLOON TONG, MA TAU WAI, TOKWAWAN, HUNG HOM, TAI WAN SHAN AND HOK YUEN.
AT THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN, A SURVEY WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF STUDENTS FROM THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TO ASSESS THE IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
ATTENDING THE PRESS CONFERENCE TOGETHER WITH MR. LEE TODAY WERE MR. ANGUS MIU, CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, KOWLOON CITY, AND MR. HUI IN—YING, CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND YOUR REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS TO COVER THE FOLLOWING EVENTS WHICH FORM PART OF THE CAMPAIGN:
(1) OPENING CEREMONY AND VARIETY SHOW -- 3 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 21 AT MA TAU WAI ROAD PUBLIC PLAYGROUND-
(2) ANTI-DRUG EXHIBITION -- 10 A.M. TO 7 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 26 AT PUI CHING MIDDLE SCHOOL, WATERLOO ROAD-
(3) SPORTS VARIETY DEMONSTRATION — 7 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 27 AT ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND (NEAR THE KAITAK AIRPORT)-
(4) ROUND-THE-DISTR ICT RACE -- 9 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 28 ON THE ROOFTOP OF THE 01 MAN ESTATE CARPARK-
(5) ANTI-DRUG WALKATHON -- 9 AM. ON DECEMBER 5 AT ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND-
(6) ANTI-DRUG VARIETY SHOW — 7 P.M. ON DECEMBER 8 AT WUHU STREET PLAYGROUND, HUNG HOM-
CT) PET SHOW -- 2 P.M. TO 5 PM. ON DECEMBER 12 AT MORSE PARK, KOWLOON AND
(8) PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY AND NIGHT OF TALENT PERFORMANCE --7 P.M. ON DECEMBER 19 AT TANG KANG POR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN TIN KWONG ROAD.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1976
- 3 -
TRAINING COURSE FOR OVERSEAS OFFICIALS AT PREVENTIVE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL ******
THE TWO-YEAR-OLD PREVENTIVE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL IN TAI LAM CHUNG, NEW TERRITORIES, IS TO BE THE +CENTRE OF HIGHER TRAINING* FOR A GROUP OF OVERSEAS OFFICIALS NEXT SUMMER.
THE OFFICIALS WILL BE HERE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS TRAINING COURSE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTRUCTORS WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN JUNE 20 AND JULY 1, NEXT YEAR.
ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE SCHOOL, SUPERINTENDENT LEE KIN-TAK, A PROPOSAL TO HOLD THE COURSE AT THE SCHOOL WAS MADE BY THE REGIONAL U.N. CO-ORDINATING OFFICER BASED IN BANGKOK, MR. A.H.H. PERERA.
+WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE PROPOSAL,* HE SAID. +BUT, AT THE MOMENT WE DO NOT KNOW YET HOW MANY OFFICIALS WILL BE PARTICIPATING.
THE PROGRAMME OF THE COURSE, IS BEING ARRANGED BY THE U.N. CO-ORDINATING OFFICER.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE AND THE NARCOTICS BUREAU WOULD PROVIDE LECTURERS ON HONG KONG’S METHODS IN COMBATTING THE TRAFFICKING OF NARCOTICS AND OTHER RELATED SUBJECTS.
+WE WILL ALSO PROVIDE QUARTERS AND OTHER FACILITIES. I AM SURE THEY WILL BE VERY COMFORTABLE HERE,* HE SAID.
THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL, BUILT AT A COST OF ABOUT $8 MILLION, WAS OPENED IN JUNE 1974 AND SINCE THEN, NEW RECRUITS AS WELL AS SERVING OFFICERS HAVE UNDERGONE VARIOUS FORMS OF TRAINING.
APART FROM INDUCTION COURSES FOR NEW RECRUITS OF ASSISTANT REVENUE OFFICERS AND REVENUE INSPECTORS, THE SCHOOL ALSO PROVIDES OTHER TRAINING SUCH AS REFRESHER AND EFFICIENCY COURSES.
+WE ARE EXPANDING AT THE MOMENT, BOTH IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES AND IN THE PROVISION OF COURSES,* SUPERINTENDENT LEE STATED. AMONG THE NEW COURSES INTRODUCED RECENTLY ARE A LORRY DRIVING COURSE AND PROSECUTING OFFICERS’ COURSE.
THE BOUNDARY OF THE SCHOOL HAS ALSO BEEN EXTENDED AND IT IS PLANNED TO BUILD AN OBSTACLE COURSE, A SIX-LANE RUNNING TRACK AND AN ADDITIONAL FOOTBALL FIELD.
SUPERINTENDENT LEE SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO THE MANPOWER PROVIDED BY THE NEARBY TAI LAM PRISON, THE SCHOOL WAS PROVIDING THE NEW FACILITIES WITH ITS OWN RESOURCES. +IT’S NOT A DIFFICULT JOB AND AT THE PACE WE ARE GOING, THE ENTIRE PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT YEAR, + HE ADDED.
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A
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1976
4
LEGAL POWER SUPPLY FOR SHAM SHU I PO SQUATTER AREA
******
PEOPLE LIVING IN THE TUNG HANG LANE SQUATTER AREA IN SHAM SHU I PO ARE NOW ABLE TO ENJOY LEGAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.
THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE UNDER A GOVERNMENT SCHEME TO PROVIDE POWER SUPPLY TO SQUATTER AREAS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.
AS A GESTURE OF APPRECIATION, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TUNG HANG LANE SQUATTER AREA, MR. YEUNG YING-KI, THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING PRESENTED BANNERS TO REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED AND THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (SHAM SHU I PO).
AMONG THOSE PRESENT WERE MR. C. STEELE, COMMERCIAL ENGINEER OF THE CHINA LIGHT AND PWER COMPANY= MR. CHAN SUI-JEUNG, CDO (SHAM SHU I PO) AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE SHAM SHU I PO POLICE STATION.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR. YEUNG SAID THAT THE PROVISION OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO THE AREA WOULD NOT ONLY IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS BUT ALSO REDUCE FIRE HAZARDS.
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ACTING GOVERNOR TO OPEN CAREERS EXHIBITION
******
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION
SIR DENYS ROBERTS, WILL OPEN THE FIFTH TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 3.30 P.M.
THE 10—DAY EXHIBITION, ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE, WILL BE HELD AT THE KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION, HUNG HOM.
IT AIMS TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS, WITH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF INFORMATION TO HELP THEM MAKE A CHOICE OF CAREER.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HAVE THE OPENING CEREMONY COVERED.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1976
- 5 -
WATER CUT * * *
A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN MONG KOK AND PENG CHAU WILL BE WITHOUT WATER FOR FIVE HOURS STARTING FROM 1 A.M. ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 20).
THE TEMPORARY STOPPAGE IS TO ALLOW THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT NIGHT LEAKAGE TESTS.
IN MONG KOK, THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET, NULLAH ROAD, NATHAN ROAD, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY, LUEN WAN ROAD, ARGYLE STREET AND TUNG CHOI STREET, INCLUDING SAI YEE STREET, FA YUEN STREET, BUTE STREET, MONG KOK ROAD, AND FIFE STREET. IN ADDITION, PART OF PREMISES IN FIFE STREET, SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET, ARGYLE STREET AND NATHAN ROAD WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED.
IN THE CASE OF PENG CHAU, THE WHOLE ISLAND WILL BE AFFECTED.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sf M
Thursday, November 18, 1976
880 NEW FLATS AVAILABLE BY MID-1977 FOR TAI HANG TUNG ESTATE TENANTS
i .
On the site of the former Tai Hang Sai Cottage Area, three 12-storey public housing blocks providing 880 flats are now in the final stages of construction.
7 • ’ :•
These blocks form part of the redevelopment of Tai Hang Tung <> ' » • • • • • •• » • • ’ * • • • ■
Estate, which the Housing Authority is aiming to better residents* living environment.
... • * ” i
For the past two years, Tai Hang Tung tenants have been watching with keen interest the work going on across the road and soon some of them will be moving into these new flats.
The Housing Department project architect experts that these three blocks should be ready for occupation by the middle of next year.
These flats of about 350 to 400 square feet are suitable for families of four to seven people. They are fully self-contained, each with its own private balcony, kitchen and toilet with shower.
Also being built at the same time as these three domestic blocks are a carpark for 470 vehicles, a two-storey commercial complex and a number of cooked-food stalls.
2
The Authority has also managed to secure two adjoining sites on which it proposes to build another four domestic blocks of 10 to 12 storeys high and a secondary and a primary school. They are scheduled for completion between 1978/79.
There will be about 1,430 flats, each about 300 square feet, suitable for small families.
These seven blocks should provide homes for about 14,000 people. The estimated building cost is about S54 million.
The Tai Hang Tung redevelopment project is part of the Housing Authority’s long-term plan to relieve overcrowding and to improve the living conditions of tenants in the older public housing estates.
• : 1 ■ ■' * ■*' v*.
The existing 14 Mark I blocks will be demolished in stages and in their place will be built public housing blocks of the new design that provides for self-contained accommodation.
********
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ACTING GOVERNOR OPENS FIFTH ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION .... 1
CREDIT UNITARY SYSTEM PLANNED FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ... 2
REVISED OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU . 4
ROAD AND RAIL LINKS FOR SHA TIN RACECOURSE ............ 5
OCTOBER CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES DOWN BY TWO POINTS ..... 6
CROWN LAND AUCTION IN TUEN MUN ........................ 7
HONG KONG WEATHERMAN TO ATTEND GENEVA CONFERENCE ...... 7
FOUR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS ..................... 8
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SO KON PO ............. 9
WORKSHOP ON RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN ............................................. 10
CANTEEN FOR AIR CARGO HANDLERS AT KAI TAK ............ 11
ACTING GOVERNOR TO INSPECT C.A.S. CADET CORPS PARADE . 12
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
1
SIR DENYS OPENS ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION
*******
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TODAY (FRIDAY) CALLED ON THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF ITS MANPOWER RESOURCES BY HELPING YOUNGSTERS TO FIND WORK IN WHICH THEY WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE AND CONTENTED.
+IF HONG KONG IS TO BEST POSSIBLE USE OF THE
PROSPER IN THE FUTURE, WE MUST MAKE THE TALENTS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.
SIR DENYS WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE FIFTH ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY STATION IN HUNG HOM.
HE SAIDs +A HIGH PROPORTION OF YOUNGSTERS, WHEN ABOUT TO LEAVE SCHOOL, HAVE LITTLE IDEA OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND EVEN LESS KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
+IT IS ONE OF THE SADDER ASPECTS OF MODERN LIFE THAT SO MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN DRIFT INTO WORK IN WHICH THEY HAVE LITTLE INTEREST AND FOR WHICH THEY HAVE NO TALENT -- SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY MUST EARN A LIVING AND CANNOT THINK OF WHAT TO DO.
+THE MORE INFORMATION WHICH WE CAN GIVE THEM ABOUT CAREERS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE, THE BETTER FOR THEM AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,+ HE ADDED.
SIR DENYS SAID THE EXHIBITION WAS OF GREAT VALUE IN PROVIDING VITAL INFORMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THEIR TEACHERS AND PARENTS AS WELL, ON CAREERS.
SIR DENYS ALSO PRAISED THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE FOR DEVOTING SUBSTANTIAL TIME AND RESOURCES TO THE TASK OF GIVING CAREERS GUIDANCE.
THE CAREERS EXHIBITION WAS FIRST HELD IN 1972 ON A MODEST SCALE IN THE CITY HALL, ATTRACTING ABOUT 30,000 VISITORS.
IN THE FOLLOWING THREE YEARS, THE ANNUAL EXHIBITION DEVELOPED AS FAR AS WAS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE CITY HALL, AND IN 1975 IT WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 100,000 VISITORS.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
2
INTRODUCTION OF CREDIT UNITARY SYSTEM INTO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES PLANNED ******
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE +TECHNICIAN PROGRAMMES OF STUDY AND A CREDIT UNITARY SYSTEM* INTO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN SEPTEMBER 1977 ALTHOUGH FINAL DETAILS HAVE YET TO BE WORKED OUT, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. DANIEL WATERS SAID TODAY.
ADDRESSING THE GATHERING AT THE TANG KING PO SCHOOL SPEECH DAY, MR. WATERS SAID THE POLYTECHNIC HAD ALREADY INTRODUCED THE SCHEME ON A LIMITED SCALE THIS SESSION AND A NUMBER OF OTHER COURSES WOULD GO OVER TO CREDIT-UNITS IN SEPTEMBER 1977.
HE ADDED: +THE IDEA WILL PROVIDE SOMETHING OF A NEW LOOK FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION.*
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID THE VIEWS OF INDUSTRY WERE BEING SOUGHT AND DETAILS HAD BEEN SENT TO THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL.
+WE HAVE ALSO HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER BODIES,* MR. WATERS SAID.
EXPLAINING HOW THE NEW SYSTEM WORKS, MR. WATERS SAID THE IDEA OF A COURSE WOULD BE CHANGED AND A TECHNICIAN STUDENT OF THE FUTURE IN HONG KONG COULD EXPECT TO HAVE HIS OWN PROGRAMME OF STUDY.
+THIS PROGRAMME WILL BE BUILT UP FROM A NUMBER OF UNITS SAY 20 OR MORE FOR A FULL-TIME STUDENT AND 12 OR MORE FOR A PART-TIME STUDENT.
+IN OTHER WORDS, A UNIT IS A SELF-CONTAINED PART OF A PROGRAMME OF STUDY WHICH CAN BE SEPARATELY ASSESSED AND IF THIS PROGRAMME IS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THIS WILL COUNT FOR A CREDIT TOWARDS A STUDENT’S AWARD.
+THE SCHEME IS BY NO MEANS NEW. SIMILAR SCHEMES HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MANY YEARS IN MOST OF THEIR UNIVERSITIES. AT PRESENT A SCHEME IS IN OPERATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE OPEN UNIVERSITY,* MR. WATERS SAID.
SPEAKING ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF THE SCHEME, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID THAT A STUDENT IN A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OR IN THE POLYTECHNIC WHO HAD COMPLETED A PROPERLY PLANNED UNIT IN A SECONDARY SCHOOL COULD BF AWARDED CREDIT.
/+SUCH .....
5
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
+SUCH UNITS TAUGHT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE OBVIOUS LIMITATIONS DEPENDING ON THE FACILITIES AVAILABLE. POSSIBLE UNITS ARE TECHNICAL DRAWING AND MATHEMATICS.
+THE SAME UNITS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH DAY-TIME STUDY AS WELL AS EVENING STUDY. A STUDENT WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE A COURSE OF FULL-TIME STUDY AND LATER TO IMPROVE HIS QUALIFICATIONS BY OBTAINING A FURTHER NUMBER OF UNITS BY PART-TIME EVENING STUDY,* THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT AS WITH ALL SYSTEMS, THERE WOULD BE DISADVANTAGES AND ONE OF THESE WAS THAT IT WOULD BE MORE COMPLEX TO ADMINISTER.
BUT, HE SAID, +THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE BENEFIT TO THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT IS VERY CLEAR. BETTER RECOGNITION WILL BE ABLE TO BE GIVEN TO HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND HE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF HIS QUALIFICATIONS IF HE WISHES.
+ IN OTHER WORDS, CREDIT-UNITS WILL INCREASE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND STUDENT MOBILITY BY PROVIDING FOR A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ABILITIES AND NEEDS.*
MR. WATERS ADDED: +AS HONG KONG BECOMES MORE SOPHISTICATED, PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING MORE GENERAL EDUCATION UP TO A HIGHER LEVEL. IT IS GENERALLY FELT THAT VOCATIONAL TYPE TECHNICAL COURSES SHOULD BE LEFT TO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND INSTITUTIONS OF THAT KIND.*
HE PRAISED THE SALESIAL FATHERS FOR NOT ONLY PROVIDING EDUCATION OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL TYPE IN HONG KONG BUT ALSO OF THE SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOL TYPE.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID THAT STANDARDS WERE HIGH AT TANG KING PO SCHOOL AND IT WAS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG WHERE THERE WERE THREE +SCHOOLS+ IN ONE.
+YOU HAVE AN ANGLO-CHINESE SECONDARY TECHNICAL SECTION, A VERNACULAR CHINESE MIDDLE SECTION AND LASTLY BUT NOT LEAST, A TRADE OR VOCATIONAL SECTION.
+BY TRADITION, A LARGE AMOUNT OF HONG KONG’S SCHOOLING HAS ALWAYS BEEN CARRIED OUT IN THE AIDED SECTOR AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS RELIED UPON DEDICATED SPONSORS TO RUN SUCH SCHOOLS. TANG KING PO SCHOOL IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SUCH A SCHOOL,* MR. WATERS SAID.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
4
REVISED OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU
* * * * *
MORE RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES ARE PROPOSED FOR ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU UNDER A REVISED OUTLINE ZONING PLAN PREPARED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD.
THE REVISED PLAN INCORPORATES A NUMBER OF MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ON THE PREVIOUS PLAN, AND A NEW SET OF NOTES INDICATING THE PERMITTED USES AND THOSE WHICH MAY BE PERMITTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD.
THE MAIN CHANGES BASICALLY INVOLVE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOUNDARIES, ROAD ALIGNMENTS, AND THE ALIGNMENT OF THE PROPOSED BRIDGE LINKING ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD SAID TODAY THE ALIGNMENT OF THE PROPOSED BRIDGE ON THE ABERDEEN SIDE HAD BEEN MOVED TO THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE NULLAH SO AS TO FACILITATE CLEARANCES AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITES TO THE WEST OF THE NULLAH.
A MAJOR CHANGE, HE SAID, WAS THE REZONING OF AP LEI PAI ISLAND SOUTH OF AP LEI CHAU FROM GREEN BELT TO OPEN SPACE FOR THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS IN THE AREAS.
+AP LEI PAI HAS CONSIDERABLE NATURAL BEAUTY AND AFFORDS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, + HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SITE OF THE EXISTING MARKET IN ABERDEEN MAIN STREET HAD BEEN CHANGED FROM GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTI AL USES AND IT WAS NOW INTENDED TO MAKE THE SITE AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.
AT THE SAME TIME, HE ADDED, A NEW MARKET WOULD BE BUILT ON THE CORNER OF ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD AND CHENG TU ROAD.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW DRAFT PLAN ALSO MADE PROVISION FOR A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE TO BE BUILT ON PART OF THE LAND BETWEEN NAM FUNG ROAD AND THE APPROACHES TO THE PROPOSED ABERDEEN TUNNEL, IF REQUIRED TO FULFILL THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S 10-YEAR HOUSING PROGRAMME.
+PROPOSAL TO USE THAT PART OF LAND FOR A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE WOULD REQUIRE THE SPECIAL PERMISSION OF THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD UNDER THE NOTES ACCOMPANYING THE OUTLINE ZONING PLAN + HE SAID.
THE REVISED PLAN COVERS ABOUT 855.5 HECTARES OF WHICH 44.6 HECTARES ARE RESERVED FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, 11.2 HECTARES FOR COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL USES, 34.6 HECTARES FOR OPEN SPACE. AND 35.8 HECTARES FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.
A TOTAL OF 187.2 HECTARES — ABOUT HALF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA — IS SET ASIDE FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USES SUCH AS THE LARGE OCEAN PARK DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, CIVIC CENTRE, HOSPITALS, CLINICS, FIRE AND POLICE STATIONS, ETC.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
5
ROAD AND RAIL LINK PROJECTS FOR SHA TIN RACECOURSE * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO RESUME A SMALL AREA OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO FACILITATE TWO IMPORTANT PROJECTS CONNECTED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHA TIN RACECOURSE.
THE LAND IS NEEDED TO MAKE WAY FOR A TWO-KILOMETRE TRUNK ROAD NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND FOR A RAILWAY LOOP AND STATION TO SERVE THE RACECOURSE.
ONE MONTH’S NOTICE OF THE RESUMPTION OF THE LAND -- TOTALLING JUST OVER 18,000 SQUARE FEET -- WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
SOME OF THE LAND IS NEEDED FOR PARTS OF THE SIX-LANE TRUNK ROAD TO REPLACE THE OLD TAI PO ROAD. THE NEW ROAD WILL RUN ADJACENT TO THE RACECOURSE.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STARTED WORK ON THE TRUNK ROAD LAST JUNE AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF 1978.
THE PROPOSED LOOP LINE WILL BRANCH OFF THE EXISTING LINE AT THE RAILWAY WORKSHOPS ONE MILE NORTH OF SHA TIN STATION AND WILL REJOIN THE MAIN LINE AT THE TAI PO ROAD LEVEL CROSSING NORTH OF HO TUNG LAU.
RACEGOERS WILL HAVE A THROUGH STATION ADJACENT TO THE
COURSE WITH AN ISLAND PLATFORM, STATION BUILDINGS AND A FOOTBRIDGE WHICH WILL LINK UP WITH A WALKWAY FROM THE RACECOURSE GRAND STAND AND THE EXISTING TAI PO ROAD.
WORK ON THIS PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO START IN FEBRUARY 1977 AND BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST 1978.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY THE RESUMPTION OF LAND FOR THE PROJECT DID NOT INCLUDE ANY BUILDING LAND OR PERMANENT BUILDINGS.
+ BUT COMPENSATIONS WILL BE PAID FOR CROPS, FRUIT TREES, AND VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS,* HE SAID.
+AS THE AREA TO BE RESUMED LIES WITHIN THE SHA TIN OUTLINE ZONING PLAN, LAND OWNERS AFFECTED WILL BE OFFERED THE ALTERNATIVE OF LAND EXCHANGE OR CASH COMPENSATION, INCLUDING EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS.*
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
6
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR OCTOBER
*****
THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) FOR OCTOBER 1976 WAS 113, TWO POINTS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS DECLINED BY FOUR POINTS BECAUSE THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES FOR FRESH WATER FISH, LIVE POULTRY, PORK, FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WENT DOWN.
THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO INCREASED BY TWO POINTS AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR IMPORTED CIGARETTES.
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES ADVANCED BY TWO POINTS DUE TO HIGHER CHARGES IN SCHOOL FEES, MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PURCHASE OF TEXT BOOKS.
MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR OCTOBER 1976 WAS 113, TWO POINTS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS DECLINED BY THREE POINTS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES FOR FRESH WATER FISH, LIVE POULTRY, PORK, FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WENT DOWN WHILST THE AVERAGE PRICE OF MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME WENT UP.
THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO INCREASED BY TWO POINTS AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR IMPORTED CIGARETTES.
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES ADVANCED BY THREE POINTS DUE TO HIGHER CHARGES IN SCHOOL FEES, MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PURCHASE OF TEXT BOOKS.
MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
7
CROWN LAND SALE * * * *
TWO LOTS OF CROWN LAND IN TUEN MUN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, TOTALLING SOME 14,000 SQUARE FEET, WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE BY AUCTION ON DECEMBER 7.
THE LOTS, MEASURING 5,320 SQUARE FEET AND 8,678 SQUARE FEET RESPECTIVELY, HAVE BOTH BEEN EARMARKED FOR INDUSTRIAL/GODOWN PURPOSES. BUILDING COVENANT, SET AT $800,000 AND $1,250,000, ARE TO BE FULFILLED WITHIN 30 MONTHS FROM JANUARY 1, 1977.
THE AUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE ST. SIMON LUI MING CHOI SCHOOL IN TUEN MUN AT 2.30 P.M.
FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, NORTH KOWLOON MAGISTRACY, TAI PO ROAD, KOWLOON, OR FROM ANY OF THE SEVEN DISTRICT OFFICES.
SALE PLANS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE OFFICES.
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H.K. WEATHERMAN TO ATTEND MEETING IN GENEVA *****
MR. CHU WING KI, SCIENTIFIC OFFICER OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, LEFT TODAY (NOVEMBER 19) FOR GENEVA TO ATTEND THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION COMMISSION FOR MARINE METEOROLOGY.
THE CONFERENCE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR THE PROVISION OF METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING. IT WILL ALSO DISCUSS TRAINING WITH RELATION TO MARINE METEOROLOGY.
MR. CHU REPRESENTS HONG KONG IN THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARINE METEOROLOGY AND IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP ON MARINE CLIMATOLOGY.
AT THE MEETING, HE WILL DELIVER A LECTURE ON THE ROLE OF THE PORT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER.
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/8......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
8
FOUR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS * * * * *
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED FOUR BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND ORDERED THEIR DEMOLITION.
TWO OF THE BUILDINGS ARE SITUATED AT NOS. 6 AND 8 BONHAM STRAND WEST.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION OF NO. 6 BONHAM STRAND WEST, A FOUR-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING, PRONOUNCED FRESH MOVEMENT OF THE WHOLE STRUCTURE TOWARDS THE ADJOINING BUILDING SITE WAS OBSERVED AND IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THERE WAS A RISK OF COLLAPSE.
HE ADDED THAT NO. 8 BONHAM STRAND WEST WAS A VACANT BUILDING WHERE CORRESPONDING MOVEMENT WAS ALSO OBSERVED NEXT TO THE PARTY WALL WITH NO. 6 GIVING RISE TO THE RISK OF SIMULTANEOUS COLLAPSE WITH NO. 6.
THE OTHER TWO BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS ARE LOCATED AT NO. 151 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND NO. 301 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THESE FOUR-STORPT PRE-WAR BUILDINGS HAD BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION SINCE 1971 FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE AND DEMOLITION UNDER ORDER OF THE ADJOINING BUILDINGS.
RECENT INSPECTION OF NO. 151 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL REVEALED SIGNS OF FRESH MOVEMENT IN THE FRONT VERANDAHS AND ON THE EXPOSED PARTY WALL COMMON TO NO. 152, GIVING RISE TO A RISK OF COLLAPSE.
+THE BRICKWORK SUPPORTING THE FRONT KITCHEN WALL OF NO. 301 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL ALSO SHOWS SIGNS OF SEVERE DISTRESS AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE KITCHEN BLOCK OF THIS BUILDING IS POSSIBLE.+ HE SAID.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS ON THESE FOUR BUILDINGS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON DECEMBER 17 WERE POSTED TODAY.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
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SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING * * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AROUND THE AREA OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STADIUM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 21) IN CONNECTION WITH THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING.
WITH EFFECT FROM 12.30 P.M. AND UNTIL NORMAL TRAFFIC CAN BE RESUMED THE FOLLOWING DIVERSIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED:
* CAROLINE HILL ROAD WEST WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND FROM LEIGHTON ROAD TO THE STADIUM-
* CAROLINE HILL ROAD EAST WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND FROM THE STADIUM TO LEIGHTON ROAD AND WILL BE PROHIBITED TO ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT THOSE REQUIRING ACCESS TO PREMISES ON THE ROAD"
* EASTERN HOSPITAL ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND FROM THE STADIUM TO TUNG LO WAN ROAD"
* LINK ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND FROM CAROLINE HILL ROAD TO BROADWOOD ROAD"
WITH EFFECT FROM 4.45 P.M. AND UNTIL NORMAL TRAFFIC CAN BE RESUMED THE FOLLOWING DIVERSIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED:
K CAROLINE HILL ROAD WEST WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND FROM THE STADIUM TO LEIGHTON ROAD"
* EASTERN HOSPITAL ROAD, LINK ROAD AND CAROLINE HILL ROAD EAST WILL BE RE-ROUTED IN THE SAME WAY AS ABOVE.
DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THIS CEREMONY, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE ROADS TO THE CAROLINE HILL AREA WILL BE VERY CONGESTED.
MOTORISTS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED THAT UNLESS ATTENDING THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING THEY SHOULD AVOID THIS AREA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
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/1O......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976.
10
WORKSHOP FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS OF MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN *****
ABOUT 200 SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS OF MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN WILL ATTEND TOMORROW (SATURDAY) A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP ON HOW TO ORGANISE PHYSICAL EDUCATION, GAMES AND MUSICAL ACTIVITIES FOR THESE CHILDREN.
THE WORKSHOP IS TO PROVIDE THESE FRONT-LINE WORKERS COMING FROM 17 GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN WITH PRACTICAL GUIDANCE ON THEIR WORK AND TO BETTER EQUIP THEM TO HELP THEIR CLIENTS.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS LIMITED, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE REHABILITATION DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE WORKSHOP WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE AUDITORIUM ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE DUKE OF WINDSOR SOCIAL SERVICE BUILDING FROM 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
MR. T.P. KHOO, HEAD OF THE REHABILITATION DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, WILL OPEN THE WORKSHOP WITH A SHORT ADDRESS. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS.
MR. DICKEN YUNG OF THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL SPEAK ON ’ORGANISATION OF RECREATION AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION’" MRS. P.L. LAI OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL TOUCH ON ’DESIGN AND P.E. SUITABLE FOR MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN’" AND MRS. A.KWAN-HUNG LUK, HEADMISTRESS OF LING LIANG CHURCH KINDERGARTEN, WILL SPEAK ON ’MUSICAL ACTIVITIES FOR MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN’.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A FILM SHOW ON 'ACTIVITIES OF MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN’.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
11
CANTEEN FOR AIR CARGO HANDLERS AT KAI TAK ******
A CANTEEN, CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE, IS BEING BUILT AT KAI TAK AIRPORT TO PROVIDE CATERING FACILITIES FOR THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HANDLING OF AIR CARGO.
IT IS SITUATED ON THE SIXTH FLOOR OF THE GOVERNMENT-BUILT CARGO OFFICE BLOCK WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE HONG KONG AIR-CARGO TERMINAL LTD. (HACTL).
THE NEED FOR CANTEEN FACILITIES IS EVIDENT FROM THE FACT THAT HACTL, EMPLOYING SOME 500 PEOPLE, OPERATES 24 HOURS A DAY TO COPE WITH THE GROWING AIR FREIGHT INDUSTRY.
THE ADJACENT GOVERNMENT OFFICE BLOCK CURRENTLY HOUSES ABOUT 120 TENANTS, COMPRISING AIRLINE STAFF, CARGO AGENTS AND OFFICERS OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, PREVENTIVE SERVICE AND POST OFFICE. THIS TENANCY FIGURE WILL PROBABLY RISE TO ABOUT 500 WHEN THE BUILDING IS FULLY OCCUPIED EARLY NEXT YEAR.
IN ADDITION, OTHERS SUCH AS AIR CREW AND TRUCK DRIVERS ARE LIKELY TO USE THE CANTEEN IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION WITH VARIOUS CARGO SHIPMENTS.
A NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), INVITING TENDERS TO OPERATE THE CANTEEN ON A 24-HOUR BASIS.
THE PREMISES, OCCUPYING ABOUT 10,000 SQ.FT., CONSIST OF A KITCHEN AND A PANTRY SERVING THE MAIN CANTEEN WITH AN ADJACENT BAR/LOUNGE FOR SENIOR STAFF. INTERIOR DECORATION IS OF HIGH STANDARD.
CAPACITY IS 240 CHAIRS AT 60 TABLES IN THE MAIN CANTEEN AND 80 CHAIRS AT 20 TABLES IN THE SENIOR SECTION. THE BAR/LOUNGE CAN ACCOMMODATE 12 STOOLS AND 20 CHAIRS AT FIVE TABLES. FACILITIES FOR COOKING BY ELECTRICITY AND MAINS GAS ARE AVAILABLE.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976
12
ACTING GOVERNOR TO INSPECT C.A.S. CADET CORPS PARADE ******
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, WILL INSPECT THE PARADE OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES CADET CORPS AT THE VICTORIA PARK ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 21).
TAKING PART IN THE PARADE WILL BE 600 CADETS.
THE C.A.S. CADET CORPS WAS FOUNDED IN 1968 ON A TRIAL BASIS WITH TWO UNITS OF 100 CADETS EACH AT WONG TAI SIN AND SHAU KI WAN. IT WAS ESTABLISHED BECAUSE THERE WAS A GENUINE NEED FOR ORGANISED ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN RESETTLEMENT AND LOW-COST HOUSING ESTATES, SQUATTER AREAS AND CONGESTED TENEMENTS.
THE CORPS PROVED POPULAR WITH LOCAL YOUTHS AND RESIDENTS AND PERMISSION WAS GRANTED TO EXPAND THE CORPS TO ITS PRESENT STRENGTH OF 2,000.
INCLUDING THE C.A.S. HEADQUARTERS TRAINING UNIT, IN KOWLOON, THERE ARE NOW 20 UNITS, EIGHT ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 10 IN KOWLOON AND TWO IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
PLANS TO ESTABLISH TWO MORE UNITS IN TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG NEXT YEAR HAVE BEEN APPROVED. THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO SET UP ONE UNIT EACH IN SHA TIN AND SAI KUNG IN 1978.
THE C.A.S. CADET CORPS PROVIDES VARIOUS FORMS OF ACTIVITIES FOR ITS MEMBERS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 17. THEY INCLUDE TRAINING IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, FIBRE GLASSING, TRICK BICYCLE RIDING, PHOTOGRAPHY, FIRST AID, RESCUE WORK AND CROWD CONTROL.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE PARADE WHICH WILL BE HELD AT VICTORIA PARK FROM 10.50 A.M. ON SUNDAY. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE ADVISED TO ARRIVE AT THE PARADE GROUND AT LEAST 10 MINUTES EARLIER.
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iFKliw) |gis| |m|
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION COMPLETED ........ 1
MORE CARGO HANDLED IN PORT ................... 2
TRANSPORT EXPERT COMPLETES HONG KONG VISIT ... 3
SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO BRITAIN TO INCLUDE MERCHANDISE ITEMS .. 4
BASIC REALITIES GOVERNING HONG KONG’S SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ... 5
TWO ROADS IN WAN CHAI TO BE WIDENED .......... 6
WATER INTERRUPTION IN CENTRAL ................ 6
FRH 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1976
1
OPENING OF CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION
******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED THE FINAL LINK IN A MAJOR $190 MILLION ROAD NETWORK IN KOWLOON DESIGNED TO CUT TRAVELLING TIME BETWEEN KWUN TONG AND KWAI CHUNG.
THE NEW ROUTE — KNOWN AS ROUTE 4 — STRETCHES ABOUT EIGHT KILOMETRES ALONG THE KOWLOON FOOTHILLS, PROVIDING DIRECT AND FAST ACCESS BETWEEN THE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS OF KWUN TONG AND KOWLOON CITY IN THE EAST AND THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING INDUSTRIAL TOWNSHIPS AT KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN IN THE WEST.
THE LAST SECTION, INVOLVING THE EXTENSION OF CHING CHEUNG ROAD FROM BUTTERFLY VALLEY INTERCHANGE TO KWAI CHUNG ROAD, WAS COMPLETED BY THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE LAST WEEK AND WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED ON TUESDAY BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR.
MR. FRANCIS TIEN.
MR. C.K. CHOW, CHIEF P.W.D. ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, SAID THAT ALTOGETHER 13 CONTRACTORS HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROUTE 4. MORE THAN 20 SEPARATE CONTRACTS, VARYING FROM $1.5 MILLION TO $30 MILLION, WERE AWARDED BY THE P.W.D. FOR THE PROJECT.
+IN ALL, NINE MAJOR INTERCHANGES HAD TO BE BUILT AS WELL AS 17 HIGHWAY STRUCTURES TO PROVIDE GRADE SEPARATION AND OVERCOME TOPOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS ALONG THE ROUTE,+ SAID MR. CHOW.
+T0 CATER FOR SAFE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, A SERIES OF FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AT KEY LOCATIONS GIVING ACCESS OVER THE ROAD AND DOWN TO THE ADJACENT BUS BAYS.+ HE SAID.
ROUTE 4 SWEEPS NORTH FROM KWUN TONG ROAD AT CHOI HUNG ON A CONTINUOUS PRE-STRESSED CONCRETE VIA-DUCT, WITH TWO SMALLER BRIDGES BRANCHING OUT TO CARRY TRAFFIC BOUND FOR CLEARWATER BAY ROAD AND SAI KUNG.
FROM CHOI HUNG THE HIGHWAY RUNS AT GROUND LEVEL AS FAR AS PO KONG. MAJOR INTERCHANGES ARE PROVIDED AT FUNG MO AND PO KONG, AND PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR A SIMILAR GRADE SEPARATED COMPLEX AT HAMMER HILL.
BEYOND PO KONG, THE ROAD RISES RAPIDLY TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE LION ROCK TUNNEL, WHERE ANOTHER INTERCHANGE IS PROVIDED.
FROM HERE TO CASTLE PEAK ROAD, ROUTE 4 SKIRTS THE STEEP HILLSIDES OF KOWLOON FOOTHILLS VIA LUNG CHEUNG ROAD LEADING UP TO NAM CHEONG INTERCHANGE.
/CONNECTIONS .....
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1976
z
CONNECTIONS TO THE EXISTING ROUTES FROM HONG KONG TO THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE PROVIDED AT NAM CHEONG STREET, PIPER’S HILL, AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
FROM CASTLE PEAK ROAD, ROUTE 4 DESCENDS IN A LONG SWEEP ROUND LAI CHI KOK BAY TO JOIN KWAI CHUNG ROAD.
THIS NEWLY COMPLETED SECTION OPENS TO TRAFFIC ON TUESDAY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 3 P.M. ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 23) AT THE NEWLY COMPLETED CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION NEAR KWAI CHUNG INTERCHANGE. OFFICIAL TRANSPORT AM 2066 AND AM 2068 WILL LEAVE MURRAY BUILDING GARDEN ROAD CARPARK AT 2 P.M. SHARP. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THIS FACILITY SHOULD MEET OFFICERS FROM THE P.W.D. PUBLICITY UNIT AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF MURRAY BUILDING BEFORE 2 P.M. COPIES OF MR. TIEN’S SPEECH AND AN OPENING ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD, WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE SITE.
CARGO HANDLED IN PORT
* * * *
MORE THAN 17.2 MILLION TONS OF CARGO WERE HANDLED IN THE HARBOUR IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 15-1/2 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TODAY, 12,602,159 TONS OF CARGO WERE DISCHARGED AND 4,688,374 TONS WERE LOADED BETWEEN JANUARY AND OCTOBER THIS YEAR.
THE FIGURES FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR WERE 10,890,888 TONS AND 4,083,141 TONS RESPECTIVELY.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1976
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INTERNATIONAL TRANSORT EDUCATION DIRECTOR COMPLETES HONG KONG VISIT ******
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT, MR. ARTHUR BECKENHAM, LEAVES HONG KONG TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT THE END OF A TWO-WEEK VISIT.
THE VISIT WAS AN INDICATION OF THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE INSTITUTE PLACES ON EXTENDING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG.
THE PROGRAMME WAS JOINTLY ARRANGED BY THE LOCAL BRANCH OF THE INSTITUTE AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WHO HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DEVELOPING COURSES IN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT FOR LOCAL STUDENTS.
MR. BECKENHAM HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT AND SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE TRANSPORT, LABOUR, EDUCATION, CIVIL AVIATION AND MARINE DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AND GOVERNMENT TRAINING DIVISION.
VISITS TO TRANSPORT EMPLOYERS INCLUDED CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, KOWLOON MOTOR BUS, HONG KONG TRAMWAYS, CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY AND CHINA MOTOR BUS TO ASCERTAIN THEIR TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND OBTAIN FURTHER ACCEPTANCE OF THE INSTITUTE’S QUALIFICATIONS AS A CRITERION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETANCE.
A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF MR. BECKENHAM’S PROGRAMME INVOLVED NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR STAFF OF HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WITH A VIEW TO ESTABLISHING RECOGNITION OF THE POLYTECHNIC’S FULL AND PART-TIME TRANSPORT COURSES AND EXEMPTIONS FOR STUDENTS ON THESE COURSES FROM THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE’S INTERMEDIATE AND FINAL EXAMINATIONS. A MAJOR AGREEMENT REACHED WAS THE ACCEPTANCE OF SYLLABI WHICH MORE CLOSELY REFLECT THE TRANSPORT NEEDS OF HONG KONG.
THROUGHOUT THE VISIT THE AIM HAS BEEN TO FIND WAYS AND MEANS OF MAKING THE INSTITUTE MORE EFFECTIVE IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE EFFICIENCY OF TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG, ESPECIALLY BY EXPANDING A SOUND EDUCATIONAL BASE AND A HIGH DEGREE OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE POLYTECHNIC WILL PLAY THE MAJOR ROLE.
THE INSTITUTE’S LOCAL BRANCH COMMITTEE SERVES AS THE POLYTECHNIC’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORT STUDIES AND THUS PROVIDES A HIGH DEGREE OF LIAISON BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION.
/NOTE TO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1976
4
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MR. BECKENHAM, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, WILL LEAVE HONG KONG BY FLIGHT BA871 ETD 2015 HOURS TOMORROW (SUNDAY). MR. AND MRS. BECKENHAM WILL BE SEEN OFF BY MR. PETER MILLER, CHAIRMAN OF THE LOCAL SECTION OF THE INSTITUTE AND CHIEF TRANSPORT OFFICER OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
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SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO BRITAIN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE MERCHANDISE ITEMS ********
THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO BRITAIN, WHICH HAS BEEN RESTRICTED TO THE TRANSMISSION OF BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL PAPERS, WILL BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE MERCHANDISE ITEMS FROM NOVEMBER 29 (MONDAY).
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POST OFFICE SAID THIS SERVICE WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON A CONTRACT BASIS OR +0N DEMAND+.
+AFTER CUSTOMS CLEARANCE IN BRITAIN, ITEMS CONTAINING GOODS, EXCEPT THOSE WHICH REQUIRE +ENTRY DOCUMENTATI0N+, WILL BE DUE FOR DELIVERY ON THE SECOND DAY AFTER POSTING IN HONG KONG PROVIDED THAT THE CUSTOMS CHARGES INCURRED, IF ANY, DO NOT EXCEED 30 POUNDS STERLING,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID. +WHERE THE CHARGES EXCEED 30 POUNDS STERLING, THE ADDRESSEE WILL BE ADVISED BY TELEPHONE THAT THE ITEM IS ON HAND, AND AVAILABLE FOR DELIVERY AFTER THE CUSTOMS CHARGES HAVE BEEN PAID.*
HE SAID THOSE THAT REQU I RED +ENTRY DOCUMENTATION* WOULD BE RELEASED FOR DELIVERY AFTER THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES.
FOR A CONTRACT SPEEDPOST SERVICE, SENDERS SIGN A CONTRACT FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS, WITH A MINIMUM OF ONE REGULAR PREDETERMINED POSTING PER MONTH.
THE COST OF THE SERVICE IS A BASIC CHARGE OF HK$80 FOR THE FIRST POUND PLUS HK$15 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL POUND OR PART THEREOF. THIS INCLUDES PICKUP AT THE CUSTOMER’S PREMISES AT A TIME AGREED BY THE CUSTOMER, AND DELIVERY TO THE ADDRESSEE.
THE +0N DEMAND* SERVICE IS PROVIDED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF CASUAL USERS OF SPEEDPOST OR TO SUPPLEMENT A CUSTOMER’S CONTRACT SERVICE. +0N DEMAND* ITEMS MAY BE HANDED IN AT THE SPECIALLY DESIGNATED COUNTERS AT GENERAL POST OFFICE, KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE WITHOUT THE NEED TO MAKE PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE POST OFFICE. FOR +0N DEMAND* ITEMS A FEE OF $20 IS PAYABLE IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC CHARGES.
CUSTOMERS WISHING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICE ARE ASKED TO CONTACT THE POST OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE ON 5-2671105.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1976.
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BASIC REALITIES GOVERNING H.K.’S SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT * * * *
EFFORTS BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE CONDITIONED BY FIVE +BASIC REALITIES*, THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, MR. S.T. KIDD, SAID IN LONDON ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 18).
SPEAKING AT A DINNER PARTY OF THE ENGLISH SPEAKING UNION, HE SAID THE REALITIES WERE:
* HONG KONG’S TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN TRADE,
X THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE PRESENT CONSTITUTIONAL LINKS WITH BRITAIN,
* THE NEED FOR FRIENDLY CO-EXISTENCE WITH CHINA,
* THE GOVERNMENT’S CONTINUING NEED TO GOVERN +BY CONSENT* AND
* THE NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT, WHILE MAINTAINING A SOUND ' FINANCIAL AND ECONOMICAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPON WHICH INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE CAN FLOURISH, TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS DONE WITH A MINIMUM OF OFFICIAL INTERVENTION OR CONTROL.
+WHILE WE MUST ALWAYS HAVE REGARD FOR THE BASIC REALITIES WHICH GOVERN OUR EXISTENCE,* HE SAID, +WITHIN THESE PERIMETERS IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT’S DECLARED AIM TO GO ON ACHIEVING SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT WITH ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.*
MR. KIDD DESCRIBED THE +POSITIVE MATERIAL ADVANCES* MADE IN RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND STRESSED THAT THESE HAD NOT IN ANY WAY MADE HONG KONG COMPLACENT OR UNSELF-CRITICAL ABOUT MANY ASPECTS OF ITS DAILY LIFE WHICH NEEDED CORRECTION AND IMPROVEMENT.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1976
IMPROVEMENTS TO ROADS IN WAN CHAI ******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ABOUT TO IMPROVE TIN LOK LANE AND MORRISON HILL ROAD IN WAN CHAI TO PROVIDE BETTER TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA.
MR. CHEN SHAO-CHI, ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D. HIGHWAYS DIVISION (HONG KONG) SAID TODAY WORK ON THE PROJECT WOULD START NEXT MONTH AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT ONE YEAR TO COMPLETE.
HE SAID THE WORKS WOULD INVOLVE WIDENING OF TIN LOK LANE AND MORRISON HILL ROAD WHICH WERE IMPORTANT ROAD LINKS FOR TRAFFIC PROCEEDING TOWARDS THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL FROM THE WAN CHAI AREA.
+THE ROADS ARE NOW HEAVILY USED AND BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE TRAM TRACKS ALONG MORRISON HILL ROAD AND TIN LOK LANE ONLY ABOUT TWO TRAFFIC LANES ARE AVAILABLE FOR BUSES AND OTHER CARS.
+THE AIM IS TO WIDEN THE EXISTING CARRIAGEWAYS SO AS TO PROVIDE TWO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC LANES IN EACH DIRECTION IN ADDITION TO THE TRAM TRACKS,* SAID MR. CHEN.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THE SIGNAL CONTROL PEDESTRIAN CROSSING WOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED AT THE JUNCTION OF TIN LOK LANE AND WANCHAI ROAD TO CATER FOR PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.
MR. CHEN SAID THE PROJECT WAS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE ROAD IMPROVEMENT SCHEME IN THE WANCHA I AREA. THIS INCLUDES THE RECONSTRUCTION OF QUEEN’S ROAD EAST AND IMPROVING THE STUBBS ROAD/ QUEEN’S ROAD EAST JUNCTION.
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WATER CUT * * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN CENTRAL WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 10 P.M. ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 22) TO FACILITATE THE INSTALLATION OF A SECTIONAL VALVE IN D’AGUILAR STREET.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE NOS.23-58 D’AGUI LAR STREET-NOS. 1-7 AND 12-14 LAN KWXf FONG- NOS. 8-16 AND NO. 19 WING WAH LANE AND NOS. 10-26 WELLINGTON STREET.
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1976
ORGANISED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IMPORTANT TO YOUTHS
*******
IT IS VITAL THAT EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE BY THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS POSSIBLE TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO TAKE PART IN SPORTING, RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, SAID TODAY (NOVEMBER 21).
SPEAKING AT THE FIRST ANNUAL PARADE OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES CADET CORPS AT VICTORIA PARK, HE SAID THE ACTIVITIES WERE NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE CROWDED CONDITIONS OF HONG KONG.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PRINCIPAL REASON FOR THE FORMATION OF THE CORPS WAS THE NEED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 17, PARTICULARLY THOSE LIVING IN CROWDED RESETTLEMENT AND LOW COST HOUSING ESTATES, TO TAKE PART IN A UNIFORMED AND DISCIPLINED BODY, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE ORGANISED RECREATION AND TRAINING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES.
+PERHAPS THE MOST VALUABLE ASPECT OF THE WORK DONE BY THE CORPS IS ITS EMPHASIS ON ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL WHICH WILL BE OF REAL VALUE TO OTHERS IN TIMES OF DANGER OR DI STRESS,+ HE SAID.
+THIS KIND OF TRAINING HELPS TO MAKE YOUNGSTERS REALISE THAT THEY ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY, WHICH NEEDS THEM AND TO WHICH THEY CAN RENDER VALUABLE SERVICE,+ HE ADDED.
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE ACTING GOVERNOR’S SPEECH s
+1 AM HONOURED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ATTEND THE FIRST FULL SCALE PARADE HELD BY THE CIVIL AID SERVICES CADET CORPS SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 1968.
+WHEN IT WAS FIRST FORMED, THE CORPS HAD ONLY TWO UNITS, OF 100 CADETS EACH, IN WONG TAI SIN AND SHAU KI WAN. IT HAS STEADILY EXPANDED TO REACH A STRENGTH OF OVER 2,000, WITH UNITS IN NINE AREAS IN KOWLOON, EIGHT ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND TWO IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+THE PRINCIPAL REASON FOR THE FORMATION OF THE CORPS WAS THE NEED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS BETWEEN 14 AND 17, PARTICULARLY THOSE LIVING IN CROWDED RESETTLEMENT AND LOW COST HOUSING ESTATES, TO TAKE PART IN A UNIFORMED AND DISCIPLINED BODY, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE ORGANISED RECREATION AND TRAINING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES.
/♦THE CORPS .....
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
SUNDAY, NOVEMBSH 21, 1976
2
+THE CORPS HAS DEVELOPED CLASSES IN A WIDE RANGE OF PRACTICAL SUBJECTS, SUCH AS MECHNICAL ENGINEERING AND FIBRE GLASSING. IT HAS TRAINED CADETS IN VARIOUS FORMS OF COMMUNITY HELP, SUCH AS FIRST AID, CASUALTY EVACUATION, LIFE SAVING, MARINE CONSERVATION, FIRE FIGHTING AND CROWD CONTROL. IN ADDITION, IT HAS SPONSORED A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, SUCH AS CANOEING, SAILING AND SNORKELLING.
+THE CORPS HAS PLANS FOR FUTURE EXPANSION, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. IT IS DEVELOPING A CAMP AT YUEN TUN, NEAR TSUEN WAN. IT HOPES TO CONSTRUCT A WATER SPORT ACTIVITY CENTRE AT TAI TAN, IN THE SAI KUNG PENINSULA. AND IT INTENDS TO FORM SEVERAL UNITS.
+IN THE CROWDED CONDITIONS IN WHICH SO MANY OF OUR PEOPLE LIVE, IT IS VITAL THAT EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE BY THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS POSSIBLE TO OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO TAKE PART IN SPORTING, RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
+PERHAPS THE MOST VALUABLE ASPECT OF THE WORK DONE BY THE CORPS IS ITS EMPHASIS ON ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL WHICH WILL BE OF REAL VALUE TO OTHERS IN TIMES OF DANGER OR DISTRESS. THIS KIND OF TRAINING HELPS TO MAKE YOUNGSTERS REALIZE THAT THEY ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY, WHICH NEEDS THEM AND TO WHICH THEY CAN RENDER VALUABLE SERVICE.
+1 CONGRATULATE ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO GENEROUSLY OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OF THIS FINE CORPS, WHICH HAS GREATLY IMPRESSED US ALL TODAY WITH ITS SMARTNESS AND EFFICIENCY.
+1 WISH THE CORPS GREAT SUCCESS IN ITS VALUABLE WORK IN THE FUTURE.+
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/3
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1976
5
BELL TO ATTEND TYPHOON COMMITTEE MEETING IN MANILA
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR. GORDON BELL, WILL BE LEAVING TOMORROW (MONDAY) MORNING TO ATTEND THE NINTH SESSION OF THE TYPHOON COMMITTEE, SPONSORED BY THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANISATION AND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, TO BE HELD IN MANILA BETWEEN NOVEMBER 23 AND 29.
THE MEETING WILL REVIEW THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED DURING THE PAST YEAR IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF OBSERVATIONAL AND TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC. IT WILL ALSO DISCUSS PROBLEMS IN RELATION TO COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS AND MEASURES OF DISASTER PREVENTION.
DURING THE PAST YEAR, HONG KONG HAS BEEN MAKING A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMITTEE BY DISSEMINATING TO ITS MEMBERS, FORECASTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE PRODUCED BY COMPUTER UNDER OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS. THESE FORECASTS HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED AND IT IS LIKELY THAT DISCUSSIONS ON POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS PROGRAMME WILL BE MADE AT THE MEETING.
MR. BELL WILL BE ACCOMPANI ED'BY DR. P.C. CHIN OF THE RESEARCH AND CLIMATOLOGY DIVISION WHO IS THE REGIONAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR OF THE TYPHOON COMMITTEE FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE STUDIES.
AT THE INVITATION OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANISATION DR. CHIN WILL DELIVER A TECHNICAL LECTURE ON +OBJECTIVE TECHNIQUES IN TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECASTING+ DURING THE SESSION. A SECOND LECTURE ON STORM SURGE PROBLEMS WILL BE GIVEN BY DR. MIYAZAKI FROM JAPAN.
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53 PREVENTIVE SERVICE OFFICERS TO RECEIVE LETTERS OF COMMENDATION
* * * *
NOTE TO EDITORS s
LETTERS OF COMMENDATION WILL BE PRESENTED TO 53 PREVENTIVE SERVICE OFFICERS AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS TOMORROW (MONDAY), BY THE COMMISSIONER OF PREVENTIVE SERVICE, MR. DAVID JORDAN.
THE RECIPIENTS, WHO INCLUDE WOMEN OFFICERS, ARE BEING COMMENDED FOR THEIR BRAVERY, HARD WORK AND CONCI ENT IOUSNESS SHOWN IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES, IN PARTICULAR, IN COMBATTING THE ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING OF DANGEROUS DRUGS.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 10.30 A.M. IN THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE HEADQUARTERS ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF THE RUMSEY STREET MULTI-STOREY CARPARK. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE COULD ARRIVE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE CEREMONY COMMENCES.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1976
4
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT SAI KUNG
M * * K
A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATION AT SAI KUNG RURAL COMMITTEE FOR RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE LIVING NEARBY FOR 4 DAYS FROM NOVEMBER 29 (MONDAY).
THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS AND 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.
REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. DAILY.
ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR
RESPONSE ILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR IDENTITY CARDS. THEY SHOULD REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
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WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN ABERDEEN WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 23) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY HEUNG YIP ROAD FROM ABERDEEN TRADE SCHOOL TO NAM LONG SHAN ROAD, AND NOS. 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 AND 38 WONG CHUK HANG ROAD, INCLUDING THE ABERDEEN POLICE STATION AND THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY. WONG CHUK HANG ROAD.
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, A NUMBER OF PREMISES, VILLAS AND VILLAGES IN SHEUNG SHUI WILL BE WITHOUT WATER FROM 9 P.M. ON TUESDAY UNTIL 7 A.M. THE NEXT DAY.
THIS IS TO FACILITATE WORK ON A FRESH WATER MAIN IN THE AREA.
PREMISES AFFECTED WILL BE THOSE ALONG TAI PO ROAD BETWEEN WO HOP SHEK ROAD AND SHEUNG SHUI CROSS ROAD” CASTLE PEAK ROAD BETWEEN SHEUNG SHUI CROSS ROAD AND LOK MA CHAU ROAD, SAN TIN” FAN KAM ROAD BETWEEN SHEUNG SHUI CROSS ROAD AND CHIU KENG TSUEN” JOCKEY CLUB ROAD BETWEEN FANLING CROSS ROAD AND SAN FUNG AVENUE INCLUDING SHEK WU HUI AND SHEUNG SHUI TSUEN- MAN KAM TO ROAD BETWEEN SAN FUNG AVENUE AND MAN KAM TO POLICE POST, INCLUDING LO WU RAILWAY STATION AND MUK WU PUMPING STATION- SHA TAU KOK ROAD BETWEEN FANLING CROSS ROAD AND SHA TAU KOK MARKET, INCLUDING LUEN WO MARKET AND ON LOK TSUEN AND PING CHE ROAD BETWEEN SHA TAU KOK ROAD AND TA KWU LING POLICE STATION.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976.
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NOTICES OF NEW RATEABLE VALUE FOR NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR TO BE SENT OUT SOON ................................................. 1
RECORD NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS WEDNESDAY ........................................ 4
SPEED LIMIT ON ROUTE 4 ........................................ 5
THE BUILDING ORDINANCE OFFICE APPROVED 69 NEW BUILDING PLANS LAST MONTH .............................................. 6
FIFTH CAREERS EXHIBITION SUCCESSFUL ........................... 7
LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FOR REVENUE OFFICERS .................. 8
RE-ROUTING OF PLAYING FIELD ROAD .............................. 8
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976
1
THE 1977-78 REVALUATION ******
NOTICES OF NEW RATEABLE VALUE FOR 1977-78 WILL BE SENT OUT TO SOME 450,000 RATEPAYERS STARTING EARLY NEXT MONTH, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION, MR. RAYMOND FRY, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
IN AN ADDRESS TO THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, HE SAID THE NEW VALUATION LISTS FOR 1977-78, THE FIRST REVISION FOR FOUR YEARS, WOULD BE DECLARED ON MARCH 3, 1977 AND THEREAFTER RATEPAYERS WOULD HAVE A PERIOD OF 21 DAYS TO LODGE PROPOSALS IF THEY OBJECTED TO THE VALUATION AND WISHED TO HAVE IT ALTERED.
+FOLLOWING THE MAKING OF A PROPOSAL A RATEPAYER WILL, IN DUE COURSE, BE SENT A NOTICE OF DECISION,+ HE SAID, +IF HE OR SHE IS STILL NOT SATISFIED AN APPEAL CAN THEN BE LODGED WITH THE LANDS TRIBUNAL.+
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT BEFORE LODGING AN APPEAL A RATEPAYER SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, FOR SUCH PROCEEDINGS COULD BE COSTLY AND TIME-CONSUMING.
+THERE IS, OF COURSE, NOTHING TO DETER A RATEPAYER FROM MAKING INFORMAL REPRESENTATIONS AS SOON AS HE RECEIVES HIS NOTICE OF RATEABLE VALUE, AND, INDEED, WE WOULD WELCOME AN APPROACH AT THAT TIME, FOR, IF A REDUCTION IS WARRANTED, WE WOULD PREFER TO GET THE RATEABLE VALUE AMENDED BEFORE THE LIST IS PRINTED,* HE ADDED.
MR. FRY SAID THE FINAL VALUATION LISTS TO BE DECLARED IN MARCH WOULD CONTAIN NEARLY 450,000 ASSESSMENTS, AN INCREASE OF 42 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 317,000 IN THE 1973-74 LISTS.
+THE TOTAL RATEABLE VALUE IN THE 1973-74 LISTS WAS SOME «3,34j MILLION- AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR IT WAS $4,841 MILLION AND AT APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR I EXPECT IT TO BE AROUND $9,000 MILLION, INCLUDING, OF COURSE, NEW PREMISES ADDED THIS YEAR.
+0N AVERAGE, RATEABLE VALUES ARE LIKELY TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 80 PER CENT BUT INCREASES WILL PROBABLY BE RATHER LOWER IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THE INCREASES WOULD VARY BETWEEN AREAS AND CLASSES OF TENEMENT AND WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF RE-DISTRIBUTING THE OVERALL RATES BURDEN.
/♦HOWEVER.......
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976
2
+HOWEVER, THE DIRECT EFFECT OF THE REVALUATION ON RATEPAYERS DEPENDS VERY MUCH ON THE PERCENTAGE RATES DETERMINED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,+ HE ADDED.
+THE PRESENT RATES ARE 12 PER CENT GENERAL AND 6 PER CENT URBAN COUNCIL IN THE URBAN AREAS, WITH REDUCTIONS OF 1 OR 2 PER CENT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND LESSER PERCENTAGES IN THE AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES BROUGHT INTO RATING SINCE 1974,+ HE SAID. +THE PERCENTAGE RATES FOR 1977-78 HAVE, OF COURSE, YET TO BE DETERMINED.*
MR. FRY STRESSED THAT RATES WERE A CHARGE ON OCCUPIERS IN RESPECT OF THE PROVISION BY GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL OF SERVICES WHICH THEY, AS OCCUPIERS OF REAL PROPERTY, WERE ASSUMED TO ENJOY.
+AS RATES ARE PRIMARILY A CHARGE TO OCCUPIERS, GOVERNMENT HAS NOW PROVIDED THAT, WHERE A LANDLORD HAS ACCEPTED CONTRACTURAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF RATES, THAT IS WHERE THE RENT IS ’INCLUSIVE’, AND THE TENANCY IS ONE CONTROLLED UNDER THE LANDLORD AND TENANT ORDINANCE. GENERALLY ANY INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF RATES PAYABLE (OR THE AMOUNT OF RATES IMPOSED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEW AREAS) CAN BE PASSED ON BY THE LANDLORD TO HIS TENANT,+ HE SAID.
MR. FRY SPOKE AT LENGTH ON THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES AND APPROACHES REQUIRED IN MAKING RATING VALUATION FOR THE MANY CLASSES OF TENEMENTS SUCH AS DIFFERENT KINDS OF DOMESTIC PREMISES, SHOPS, FACTORIES, OFFICES AND RECREATION CLUBS, WHICH ALL POSSESS SPECIAL VALUATION FEATURES.
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, HE SAID, RATING VALUATION IS NOT AN ARITHMETIC PROCESS.
+AT THE END OF THE TASK THE VALUER HAS TO USE HIS SKILL AND JUDGEMENT TO SATISFY HIMSELF THAT THE RESULTANT RATEABLE VALUE FAIRLY REPRESENTS THE RENT FROM YEAR TO YEAR WHICH THE TENEMENT MIGHT COMMAND IN THE OPEN MARKET,+ HE SAID. +NO ARITHMETIC FORMULA OR COMPUTER PROGRAMME IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SUCH JUDGEMENT, FOR THE PRACTICE OF VALUATION IS AN ART, NOT A SCIENCE.*
TURNING TO TAX, MR. FRY POINTED OUT THAT LOW RATEABLE VALUES, WHICH WERE USED AS BASE FIGURES IN THE ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY TAX UP TO 1975-76, HAD RESULTED IN A CONSIDERABLE REVENUE LEAKAGE.
/HE RECALLED
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976
3
HE RECALLED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH EARLIER THIS YEAR, HAD SAID THAT THE STANDARD RATE OF PROPERTY TAX COULD NOT BE FREELY ADJUSTED IN THE SAME WAY AS RATES.
+TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, GOVERNMENT HAS INTRODUCED NEW BASE VALUES, KNOWN AS +ASSESSABLE VALUES+ AND +NET ASSESSABLE VALUES*, AND THESE FORM THE BASIS OF THE CHARGE FROM THIS YEAR ONWARDS,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THIS WAS NOT A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM THE RATEABLE VALUE CONCEPT FOR +ASSESSABLE VALUES* — THE VALUES PROVIDED BY THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT — WERE ESTIMATED MORE OR LESS IN THE SAME WAY AS RATEABLE VALUES AND INDEED, FOR THE GENERALITY OF CASES THE DEFINITION WAS THE SAME.
+WHERE THE VALUE DIFFER IS WHERE THE RENT IS ONE CONTROLLED UNDER THE LANDLORD AND TENANT ORDINANCE, AND HERE THE CONTROLLED RENT IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, FOR OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE UNFAIR FOR GOVERNMENT ON THE ONE HAND TO RESTRICT THE RENT A LANDLORD MAY COLLECT AND AT THE SAME TIME TAX HIM ON THE BASIS OF A HIGHER FIGURE.
+THEREFORE, WHERE THE RENT IS A CONTROLLED ONE THE ASSESSABLE VALUE IS LIKELY TO BE LOWER THAN THE RATEABLE VALUE AND THERE COULD ALSO BE DIFFERENCES IN CERTAIN INSTANCES DUE TO THE DIFFERENT TIME BY REFERENCE TO WHICH THE TWO VALUES ARE ASSESSED,* HE SAID.
+THE FIGURE ON WHICH PROPERTY TAX IS ACTUALLY CHARGED,* HE ADDED, +IS THE 'NET ASSESSABLE VALUE’, THAT IS THE ’ASSESSABLE VALUE’ LESS AN ALLOWANCE OF 20 PER CENT FOR REPAIRS AND OUTGOINGS.*
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976
4
RECORD NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED IN LEGCO
*****
A RECORD NUMBER OF QUESTIONS WILL BE RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETS ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 24}
THE FIRST OF THE 20 QUESTIONS, THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED IN ANY ONE SITTING, WILL BE ASKED BY THE HON.JOHN BREMRIDGE. HE WILL ENQUIRE WHAT STEPS IS THE GOVERNMENT PREPARED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE COST OF BORROWING MONEY FOR PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF HOMES BUILT BY PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.
AFTER THIS, THE HON. T.S. LO WILL ENQUIRE WHEN WILL THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE DISTRICT COURT ORDINANCE SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DISTRICT COURTS WITH JURISDICTION TO AWARD COSTS TO A PERSON ACQUITTED OF A CRIMINAL OFFENCE.
THE HON. ROGER LOBO WILL ASK THREE QUESTIONS RELATING TO MAHJONG SCHOOLS.
DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE A REPORT ON THE TEST RUNNING OF THE LOK ON PAI DESALTING PLANT SINCE IT COMMENCED OPERATION.
OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE INTRODUCTION OF A GRADUATED HOUSING ALLOWANCE FOR LOCAL OFFICERS WHO ARE BELOW THE SALARY POINT AT WHICH HOUSING ALLOWANCE IS AT PRESENT PAYABLE, THE NOISE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION WORK, AND THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOLL COLLECTION AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.
FOUR BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THEY ARE THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1976, THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1976 AND THE ARMY LEGAL SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.
DEBATE WILL RESUME ON THREE OTHER BILLS.
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/5
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976
- 5 -SPEED LIMIT ON ROUTE 4 ******
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MILES PER HOUR WOULD BE IMPOSED ON CERTAIN SECTIONS OF ROUTE 4, THE MAJOR ROAD LINK BETWEEN KWUN TONG AND KWAI CHUNG, FOLLOWING THE OPENING OF THE CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION AT 3 P.M. TOMORROW.
AMONG THOSE ROAD SECTIONS AFFECTED ARE:
* CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION FROM THE BUTTERFLY VALLEY INTERCHANGE (JUNCTION OF CHING CHEUNG ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD) TO KWAI CHUNG ROAD
* THE WHOLE LENGTH OF BUTTERFLY VALLEY ROAD FROM BUTTERFLY VALLEY INTERCHANGE TO THE EXISTING 30 MILES PER HOUR TRAFFIC SIGNS ON BUTTERFLY VALLEY ROAD, AND
* KWAI CHUNG ROAD FROM THE EXISTING 30 MILES PER HOUR TRAFFIC SIGNS AT THE WEST END OF LAI CHI KOK BRIDGE TO A POINT ABOUT 460 FEET TO THE WEST OF THE END OF THE SLIP ROAD FROM PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL (WESTBOUND).
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE ROAD WORKS ON KWAI CHUNG ROAD, THE SECTION OF ROAD BETWEEN THE EXISTING 30 MILES PER HOUR TRAFFIC SIGNS NEAR THE JUNCTION OF KWAI FOO ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 1,800 FEET SOUTH-WEST OF THE SAID JUNCTION. WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO 30 MILES PER HOUR.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO INDICATE THE EXACT BOUNDARIES OF THE SPEED LIMIT ZONES.
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/6
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976
6
OCTOBER BUILDING FIGURES ******
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT APPROVED A TOTAL OF 69 NEW BUILDING PLANS LAST MONTH — THE SECOND HIGHEST MONTHLY TOTAL THIS YEAR.
THIS BRINGS TO 608 THE NUMBER OF NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED DURING THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 170 OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR.
OF THE 69 NEW PLANS APPROVED LAST MONTH, 28 WERE FOR BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 17 FOR KOWLOON AND 24 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THEY INCLUDED PLANS FOR SIX 28-STOREY APARTMENT AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS FOR THE CHI FU FA YUEN ESTATE AT POKFULAM ROAD, A BOY SCOUT HEADQUARTER BUILDING AT 01 KWAN ROAD AS WELL AS TWO ELECTRICITY SUB-STATIONS AT LEK YUEN ESTATE, SHA TIN, AND AT TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
PLANS FOR 10 HIGHRISE FACTORY BUILDINGS AT KWAI CHUNG, KWUN TONG, TO KWA WAN, CHEUNG SHA WAN, TSUEN WAN AND SAM KA TSUEN, WERE ALSO APPROVED.
THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING THE MONTH AMOUNTED TO $193 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $92.8 MILLION DURING SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
THE TOTAL USABLE FLOOR AREA OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED AMOUNTED TO ABOUT 182,090 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISING 62,802 SQUARE METRES OF DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA AND 119,288 SQUARE METRES OF NON-DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.
DURING THE MONTH, THE B.0.0. GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO BEGIN ON 38 BUILDING PROJECTS, COMPARED WITH 47 DURING SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. THEY INCLUDED A SCHOOL BUILDING AT LAM TIN, OIL STORAGE DEPOT AT FO TAN, SHA TIN, AN ELECTRIC SUB-STATION AND DISTRICT OFFICE AT SAI KUNG, AND THREE HOUSING ESTATE BLOCKS AT CHO YIU CHUEN, KWAI CHUNG.
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ISSUED 48 OCCUPATION PERMITS FOR COMPLETED BUILDINGS, INCLUDING A PIER AT TSI NG Yl ISLAND, A CAR PARK BUILDING AT TIN HAU TEMPLE ROAD AND A NUMBER OF HIGHRISE APARTMENT AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
THE B.0.0. ALSO GAVE CONSENT FOR DEMOLITION OF 33 BUILDINGS, INCLUDING TWO DECLARED DANGEROUS BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976
7
FIFTH CAREERS EXHIBITION SUCCESSFUL ******
CAREERS ’77, THE FIFTH CAREERS EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, HAS PROVED AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.
INITIAL COUNTS FOR THE FlftST THREE-AND-A-HALF DAYS AT THE ADMISSION GATE IN THE KOWLOON RAIL TERMINAL SHOWED THAT MORE THAN 35,000 HAD ALREADY VISITED THE EXHIBITION SINCE ITS OPENING LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON (NOVEMBER 19).
A
THIS YEAR’S EXHIBITION, IN WHICH 22 EXHIBITORS FROM COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT TOOK PART, HAS A VARIETY OF ATTRACTIVE DISPLAYS AND A WIDE RANGE OF CAREERS INFORMATION. THEY INCLUDE SLIDE PRESENTATIONS, COLOURED TRANSPARENCIES SCALE MODELS AND TEXTILES AND OTHER MACHINERIES.
YOUNG VISITORS CROWDED AROUND EACH STAND ARMED WITH NOTEBOOKS AND PENCILS EAGERLY RAISING QUESTIONS WITH THE STAFF ON DUTY.
WHEN INTERVIEWED BY LABOUR DEPARTMENT STAFF, ONE FORM FIVE STUDENT COMMENTED: +1 FIND CAREERS EXHIBITIONS VERY HELPFUL. THEY PROVIDE ME WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT I CAN DO WHEN I LEAVE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.+
ANOTHER STUDENT SAID: +I’VE GOT A LOT OF PAMPHLETS AND HANDOUTS ABOUT JOB OPPORTUNITIES. I’LL READ THEM AT HOME TONIGHT.+
A SOCIAL WORKER WHO VISITED THE EXHIBITION HAD A FEW GOOD WORDS FOR THE STAFF MANNING THE STANDS. HE SAID: +THEY ARE EXTREMELY COURTEOUS AND HELPFUL. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT A LOT MORE BY TALKING TO THEM.+
A SCHOOL TEACHER WHO LED A GROUP OF 200 STUDENTS COMMENTED: ♦THIS EXHIBITION IS THE BEST ORGANISED SO FAR. THE SITE IS WELL CHOSEN. THE SPACIOUS VENUE NOT ONLY ENABLED MORE STANDS TO BE ACCOMMODATED BUT ALSO ALLOWS THE STUDENTS TO STAY MUCH LONGER.+
ONE PARENT WHO CAME WITH HIS SON SAID: +YOUNGSTERS TODAY ARE INDEED FORTUNATE TO HAVE CAREERS INFORMATION READILY PROVIDED FOR THEM.
+IN OUR DAYS IT WAS QUITE DIFFfCULT TO GET INFORMATION ON ANY PARTICULAR TRADE,+ HE ADDED. ,
CAREERS ’77 WILL CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER SIX DAYS UNTIL THE AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 28. THE OPENING HOURS ARE FROM 9.30 A.M. TO 6.30 P.M. SUNDAY AND SATURDAY INCLUSIVE.
/8
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1976
LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FOR REVENUE OFFICERS * * * *
FIFTY-THREE PREVENTIVE SERVICE OFFICERS, INCLUDING SEVERAL WOMEN OFFICERS, TODAY RECEIVED LETTERS OF COMMENDATION IN RECOGNITION OF THE BRAVERY, HARD WORK AND CONSCIENTIOUSNESS THEY DISPLAYED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES, IN PARTICULAR, IN COMBATTING THE ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING OF DANGEROUS DRUGS.
THE COMMENDATION LETTERS WERE FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF PREVENTIVE SERVICE, MR. DAVID JORDAN- THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, MR. ROY PORTER AND THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, MR. ROY HATTON.
MR. JORDAN PRESENTED THE COMMISSIONER’S LETTER OF COMMENDATION TO REVENUE OFFICER TSANG PAK-YUE FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ORGANIZING ABILITY, SKILFUL PLANNING AND DEVOTION TO DUTY IN EFFECTING A SEIZURE OF 18 POUNDS OF HEROIN IN THREE HEROIN PACKING CENTRES BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE THIS YEAR AND THE ARREST OF SIX PEOPLE.
SIXTEEN OTHER OFFICERS RECEIVED THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FROM MR. PORTER WHILE THE REMAINING 36 OFFICERS RECEIVED THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER’S COMMENDATION LETTERS FROM MR. HATTON.
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RE-ROUTING OF PLAYING FIELD ROAD M M H M H
PLAYING FIELD ROAD BETWEEN NATHAN ROAD AND SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET IN KOWLOON WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TO ONE-WAY WEST BOUND FROM 10 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 24)
THIS RE-ROUTING IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
STARTING FROM 10 A.M. ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 25), THE SECTION OF SAU MAU PING ROAD BETWEEN SAU MING ROAD AND SAU MAU PATH WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS FOR REMEDIAL EARTHWORKS ON THE ROAD.
DURING THIS PERIOD, MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO MAKE USE OF SAU MING ROAD AND SAU MAU PATH INSTEAD.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Monday, November 22, 1976
$40 MILLION WORTH OF CONTRACTS AWARDED IN SEPTEMBER . • • *• . - ■ 7 •
The Housing Authority awarded eight contracts in September totalling almost $40 million in value.
The largest was valued at nearly $32.3 million and was awarded, /or the construction of an extension to Cheung Ching Estate on Tsing Yi island.
<• . • .j I ' • ‘ i ‘
Another big contract valued at close to $3.3 million was for the construction of a Licensed Area at Kowloon Bay. A contract for a Licensed Area at Ap Lei Chau was valued at $1.9 million.
Other contracts awarded during the month were :
- water pump installation at Cheung Ching Estate ($502,855);
- fire service installation at Fu Shan Estate ($456,681);
- electrical installations at Ap Lei Chau and Kowloon Bay Licensed Areas ($706,800);
- piling at Tai Hang Tung Estate ($855,066).
Tenancy Agreements were signed in September for a total of seven shops at Lai King, Lek Yuen, Oi Man, Kwai Shing and Fuk Loi Estates. Tenancy agreements were also signed for a factory at Tai Wo Hau Estate and for shop stalls at Lai King and Mei Tung Estates,
Cleansing contracts for Yuen Long, San Fat and Lok Fu Estates were awarded totalling just over $638,500.
*******
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1976
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
NEW 3190 MILLION HIGHWAY OPENS TO TRAFFIC ................ 1
NEW KOWLOON EAST POLYCLINIC BEGINS OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR ..................................................... 3
ACTING GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE .................. 3
TEXTILE QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ....................... 4
CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION FOR A HERO ................... 6
LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY EXAMINATIONS ..... 7
ROAD CLOSURE ............................................. 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5'233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1976
1
CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION OPENS TO TRAFFIC ****** <
MOTORISTS CAN NOW DRIVE FROM KWUN TONG TO KWAI CHUNG IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES VIA A NEW $190 MILLION HIGHWAY — KNOWN AS ROUTE 4 — JUST COMPLETED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THE LAST SECTION OF THE EIGHT-KILOMETRE ROUTE WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON BY MR. FRANCIS TIEN, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE NEWLY OPENED SECTION IS CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION FROM BUTTERFLY VALLEY INTERCHANGE TO KWAI CHUNG ROAD WHICH WAS COMPLETED BY THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
TODAY’S OPENING CEREMONY CULMINATED NEARLY EIGHT YEARS OF SUSTAINED EFFORT BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE TO PROVIDE A DIRECT AND FAST LINK BETWEEN THE EXPANDING INDUSTRIAL AREAS IN KWUN TONG AND KOWLOON CITY IN THE EAST AND TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG IN THE WEST.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD SAID THE HIGHWAY WAS FIRST PROPOSED IN 1968 AS PART OF THE ROAD SYSTEM RECOMMENDED BY THE HONG KONG LONG TERM ROAD STUDY AND 13 CONTRACTORS HAD BEEN ENGAGED ON THE PROJECT.
SAID MR. MCDONALDS +THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT DEMONSTRATES ONCE AGAIN THE DETERMINATION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THE HIGHWAY NETWORK WE NEED AND HIGHLIGHTS THE SKILLS OF OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, WHICH DESPITE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS OF CONSTRUCTION IN HONG KONG, SHOW THAT THEY CAN BUILD ARTERIAL ROADS OF A STANDARD COMPARABLE TO THAT OF ANY IN THE WORLD.+
THIS FEELING WAS SHARED BY MR. TIEN WHO SAID IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS: +1 FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE OPENING OF THIS ROAD WILL INTRODUCE AN ERA OF GREATER PROSPERITY TO ALL THE AREAS WHICH IT SERVES.+
TEN YEARS AGO, HE SAID, WHEN CHING CHEUNG ROAD ITSELF WAS COMPLETED, THE LUNG CHEUNG ROAD -- TAI PO ROAD -- CHING CHEUNG ROAD ROUTE SOON BECAME AN INDISPENSABLE ARTERY LINKING KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN IN THE WEST WITH SAN PO KONG AND KWUN TONG IN THE EAST, AND SHA TIN AND THE NEW TERRITORIES TO THE NORTH.
+WITH THE LARGE INCREASE IN POPULATION AND THE RAPID INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THESE AREAS, STIMULATED BY THE COMPLETION OF THE CONTAINER TERMINALS AT KWAI CHUNG, A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN TRAFFIC PARTICULARLY IN THE NUMBER OF HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES WAS EXPECTED.
/+T0 COPE .....
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1976
2
+T0 COPE WITH THIS DEMAND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STARTED THIS ROUTE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME,* SAID MR. TIEN.
THIS INVOLVED A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS AND WIDENING OF EXISTING ROADS AND BUILDING OF A HOST OF COMPLEX INTERCHANGES AT THE MAJOR JUNCTIONS OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS AT A COST OF SOME $150 MILLION.
+DURING THIS TIME, WE HAVE WATCHED WITH INTEREST THE OLD SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY ROAD GRADUALLY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE MODERN HIGHWAY WHICH WE SEE TODAY,* SAID MR. TIEN.
HE SAID THE PROJECT REPRESENTED THE COMBINED SKILL, HARDWORK AND DEDICATION OF MANY ORGANISATIONS AND PEOPLE, AND HE PAID SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE CONSULTING ENGINEERS, MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA, THE STAFF OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND THE CONTRACTORS PAUL Y. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION.
ROUTE 4 STRETCHES FOR ABOUT EIGHT KILOMETRES ALONG THE KOWLOON FOOTHILLS AND INCORPORATES NINE MAJOR INTERCHANGES AS WELL AS A SERIES OF FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS TO ENABLE PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS THE ROADS CONVENIENTLY AND SAFELY.
FROM KWUN TONG, ROUTE 4 SWEEPS NORTH ON A CONTINUOUS ELEVATED ROAD TO CHOI HUNG INTERCHANGE FROM WHERE IT GRADUALLY DESCENDS TO GROUND LEVEL AND CONTINUES TO PO KONG.
TWO SMALLER BRIDGES ARE PROVIDED AT THE INTERCHANGE FOR TRAFFIC BOUND FOR CLEARWATER BAY ROAD AND SAI KUNG.
BEYOND PO KONG, THE ROAD RISES RAPIDLY TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE LION ROCK TUNNEL WHERE ANOTHER INTERCHANGE PROVIDES GRADE SEPARATED ACCESS TO THE TUNNEL AND SHA TIN.
FROM HERE TO CASTLE PEAK ROAD, ROUTE 4 SKIRTS THE STEEP HILLSIDES OF KOWLOON FOOTHILLS VIA LUNG CHEUNG ROAD LEADING UP TO NAM CHEONG INTERCHANGE.
CONNECTIONS TO THE EXISTING ROUTES FROM HONG KONG TO THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE PROVIDED AT NAM CHEONG STREET, PIPER’S HILL, AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
FROM CASTLE PEAK ROAD, ROUTE 4 DESCENDS IN A LONG SWEEP ROUND LAI CHI KOK BAY LINKING UP WITH KWAI CHUNG ROAD VIA THE NEW CHING CHEUNG ROAD EXTENSION WHICH WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY.
----0-----
/3
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1976
5
NEW KOWLOON, EAST POLYCLINIC BEGINS OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR
* * * * M
THE NEW KOWLOON EAST POLYCLINIC AT HAMMER HILL ROAD, NGAU CHI WAN, WILL BEGIN OPERATION IN PHASES EARLY NEXT YEAR, PROVIDING A FULL RANGE OF GENERAL OUTPATIENT AND SPECIALIST SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS IN THE NORTH-EASTERN PART OF KOWLOON.
THE PROJECT IS INTENDED TO MEET THE NEED OF THE INCREASING POPULATION IN KWUN TONG, WONG TAI SIN, SAU MAU PING AND WANG TAU HOM. IT IS ONE OF SIX NEW POLYCLINICS IN THE 10-YEAR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, WHICH HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE BUILT.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AT A COST OF ABOUT $3.5 MILLION, WHICH WAS DONATED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
STAGE ONE COMPRISES TWO BLOCKS — ONE TO BE USED AS A CHEST CLINIC AND THE OTHER AS A GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINIC WHICH WILL ALSO HOUSE A MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE AND A FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC.
STAGE TWO OF THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1979 PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION FOR SPECIALIST UNITS -- MEDICAL, SURGERY, ORTHOPAEDIC, PAEDIATRIC, OBSTETRIC AND GYNAECOLOGY, OPHTHALMIC AND EAR, NOSE AND THROAT.
THE CHEST CLINIC TO BE OPENED SOON HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS PART OF A POLYCLINIC WITH FACILITIES FOR OUTPATIENT CHEMOTHERAPY. THIS WILL ENABLE HOSPITAL BEDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS TO BE USED BY OTHER PATIENTS , PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH HEART DISEASE.
THE NEW CLINIC WILL RELIEVE MUCH OF THE PRESSURE ON THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT CHEST CLINICS WHERE ATTENDANCES LAST YEAR EXCEEDED THE 1.5 MILLION MARK.
-----o------
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED X X X X X
THE
ACTING GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON DECEMBER 23, 1975 ON CHEUNG PING SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
CHEUNG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THREE COUNTS OF MURDER.
-----o------
A
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1976
4
TEXTILE QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ******
THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE END OF OCTOBER 1976 FIGURES ON THE UTILISATION OF QUOTA 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.
U.S.A.
THE CURRENT 12-MONTH U.S. TEXTILE RESTRAINT PERIOD BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 1976. IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE NEW RESTRAINT PERIOD, TOTAL QUOTAS USED AMOUNTED TO 46.88 MILLION EQUIVALENT SQ.YDS.
OR 4.97 PER CENT OF THE OVERALL RESTRAINT LIMIT. FIGURES SHOWING THE QUANTITIES LICENSED FOR EXPORTS AND PERCENTAGE UTILISATION ON A GROUP BASIS ARE SET OUT BELOW:-
GROUP DESCRIPTION QUANTITY LICENSED PERCENTAGE UTILISATION AGAINST GROUP LIMITS
1 YARNS AND FABRICS OF COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRES 3.46 1.34 PER CENT
II APPAREL OF COTTON AND MANMADE FIBRES 39.06 6.67 PER CENT
111 MADE-UPS AND MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES OF COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRES 2.12 3.65 PER CENT
IV WOOL TEXTILES AND APPAREL 2.24 5.32 PER CENT
NOTEs FIGURES ON QUANTITY LICENSED ARE IN MILLION EQUIVALENT SQ. YDS.
/OF THE .....
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1976
5 -
OF THE CATEGORIES SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC LIMITS IN HONG KONG/U.S.
TEXTILE AGREEMENT, THE RATE OF UTILISATION IN SIX OUT OF 21 CATEGORIES COULD BE DESCRIBED AS RELATIVELY HIGH. THESE SIX
CATEGORIES WERE CATEGORY 41/42/43/62(2) (COTTON KNIT T-SHIRTS, OTHER KNIT SHIRTS AND BLOUSES, EXCEPT SWEAT-SHIRTS), CATEGORY 45/46/47 (MEN’S AND BOYS’ COTTON SHIRTS, DRESS, SPORT AND WORK, NOT KNIT), CATEGORY 48 (COTTON RAINCOATS, 3/4 LENGTH OR LONGER, NOT KNIT), CATEGORY 50/51 (COTTON TROUSERS, SLACKS AND SHORTS, NOT KNIT), CATEGORY 54/63(1) (COTTON PLAYSUITS, SUNSUITS, WASHSUITS, CREEPERS, ROMPERS, ETC. AND ENTIRETIES, NOT KNIT) AND CATEGORY 237 (M.M.F. SUITS, NOT KNIT).
E.E.C.
THE CURRENT 12-MONTH E.E.C. RESTRAINT PERIOD BEGAN ON JANUARY 1, 1976. QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ON MEMBER STATE BASIS FOR THE PAST TEN MONTHS ENDING OCTOBER 31, 1976 ARE GIVEN BELOW:-
MEMBER STATE QUANTITY LICENSED PERCENTAGE UTILISATION
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY 27.45 70.5 PER CENT
UNITED KINGDOM 44.83 65.9 PER CENT
BENELUX 4.31 51.6 PER CENT
DENMARK 2.20 69.6 PER CENT
ITALY 1.68 40.3 PER CENT
FRANCE 1.31 60.4 PER CENT
IRISH REPUBLIC 0.28 41.3 PER CENT
NOTE: FIGURES ON QUANTITY LICENSED ARE IN MILLION EQUIVALENT KGS.
OUT OF A TOTAL OF 109 CATEGORIES ON MEMBER STATE/CATEGORY BASIS, THE RATE OF UTILISATION IN 32 OF THEM WAS RELATIVELY HIGH. THE POPULAR CATEGORIES INCLUDED CATEGORY 3 (KNIT SHIRTS AND BLOUSES), CATEGORY 4 (KNIT PULLOVERS, ETC.), CATEGORY 7 (WOVEN SUITS AND JACKETS, ETC. MEN’S AND BOYS’), CATEGORY 8 (WOVEN TROUSERS), CATEGORY 10 (WOVEN DRESSES), CATEGORY 11 (WOVEN BLOUSES, WOMEN’S, GIRLS’ AND INFANTS’), CATEGORY 12 (WOVEN SHIRTS, MEN’S AND BOYS’) AND CATEGORY 13 (WOVEN NIGHTWEAR).
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1976
6
CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION FOR A HERO
******
A 28-YEAR-OLD FACTORY WORKER, MR. LO KAM-FOOK, WHO TWO MONTHS AGO TRIED TO RESCUE AN ELDERLY WOMAN FROM A BURNING FLAT IN KOWLOON,WAS TODAY COMMENDED FOR HIS BRAVERY AND PUBLIC SPIRIT.
AT A BRIEF CEREMONY HELD AT THE MONG KOK FIRE STATION THIS MORNING, THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER (KOWLOON), MR. FRED JACKSON, PRESENTED THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES’ CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION AND A MONETARY AWARD OF $100 TO MR. LO.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE PRESENTATION WERE FIRE SERVICES OFFICERS, THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (SHAM SHUI PO), MR. CHAN SUI-JEUNG, AND KAIFONG REPRESENTATIVES.
THE RECIPIENT WAS COMMENDED FOR HIS INITIATIVE AND RESOURCEFULNESS IN ATTEMPTING TO PUT OUT A FIRE WHICH BROKE OUT ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR OF NO. 248, APLIU STREET ON SEPTEMBER 16 AND TO RESCUE AN ELDERLY WOMAN FROM THE BLAZE.
MR. LO AND ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES WERE IN THE PREMISES WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT NEAR THE MAIN DOOR. AFTER TRYING UNSUCCESSFULLY TO EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE HE LEFT THE FLAT ONLY TO FIND THAT AN OLD WOMAN WAS STILL INSIDE. ARMED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, HE IMMEDIATELY DASHED BACK AND AT THE SAME TIME SHOUTED LOUDLY IN ORDER TO ALERT THE WOMAN.
DESPITE INTENSE HEAT AND SMOKE, MR. LO PERSISTED IN HIS EFFORTS UNTIL HE WAS CUT OFF BY THE FIRE.
----o----
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1976
7
LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY EXAMINATIONS
*****
ENTRY FORMS FOR THE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY EXAMINATIONS, TO BE HELD IN MAY NEXT YEAR, WILL BE AVAILABLE AS FROM NEXT MONDAY (NOVEMBER 29) TO THOSE WHO WISH TO SIT AS PRIVATE CANDIDATES.
THE EXAMINATIONS, AT VARIOUS LEVELS, WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN MAY 2 AND MAY 16.
THE ENTRY FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE EXAMINATIONS DIVISION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, 1OTH FLOOR, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
ALL COMPLETED FORMS, TOGETHER WITH PASSPORT OR HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD AND TWO IDENTICAL RECENT PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE APPLICANT (SIZE 2-1/2 INCHES X 2 INCHES) MUST BE PRESENTED IN PERSON, AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 4 P.M. FROM NOVEMBER 29 TO DECEMBER 3.
CANDIDATES ARE ADVISED THAT REGISTRATION BY MAIL AND LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
THE EXAMINATION FEE MUST BE PAID IN PERSON NOT LATER THAN DECEMBER 6 AT THE EXAMINATIONS DIVISION, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 393 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON OR BY CROSSED CHEQUE PAYABLE TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE POST TO THE SAME ADDRESS.
o -------
ROAD CLOSURE
XXX
™«r.S£CTI0N OF TREGUNTER PATH FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH OLD PEAK ROAD TO LAMP POST NO.323 (NEW NO.758) WILL REMAIN CLOSED T° ENABLE FDRTHEK REMEDIAL WORKS TO BE CARRIED UUI IN THIS AREA.
THIS SECTION OF ROAD WAS CLOSED REMEDIAL WORKS.
ON AUGUST 27 TO FACILITATE
APPROPRIATE SIGNS HAVE BEEN MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.
PUT UP ON THE SITE TO GUIDE
o - -
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Tuesday, November 23, 1976
DRIVE FOR BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS IN LICENSED AREAS ACHIEVING GOOD RESULTS
8,000 RESIDENTS OF OLD LICENSED AREAS REHOUSED IN NINE MONTHS
The current big drive by the Housing Authority to improve the living conditions in licensed areas where **0,000 people live is now entering its final stage.
A three-pronged programme was started in 197^ to better the residents’ living environment.
In that year, a new-style licensed area with part-built structures was introduced. This was followed by a multi-million-dollar electricity and water supply programme in 1975 and a huge clearance programme involving all ten old licensed areas this year.
So far, the Housing Authority has built nine new-style licensed areas housing some 13,000 people, added power or housewater supply or both to 15 licensed areas where 25,700 people live and cleared eight of the ten old licensed areas.
Clearance of the ninth at Sam Ka Chuen is progressing and the last of the old areas at Nam Hang in the New Territories will be wiped off the list shortly.
About 8,000 people who previously lived in those old licensed areas are now living in public housing estates in the Chai Wan and Tsuen Wan/Kwai Chung areas.
/2.......
2
The decision to clear all old licensed areas where no proper elec trie i.ty and housewater supply was available was announced by Mr. Ian Lightbody, Secretary for Housing, in the Legislative Council nine months ago.
Mr. Lightbody told the Council that he hoped to clear all old licensed areas within the year.
This scheme is now nearing completion and the last 1,000 residents of the two remaining old areas will have the chance of moving into public housing in the next month or two.
****** ... ...
FRM 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY LOAN ARRANGEMENTS SCHEDULE ................................... 1
PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT FOR UNREG ISTRABLE DOCTORS ........ 3
IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR DISABLED UNDER CONSIDERATION ............................ 4
FACILITIES FOR LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES .................. 7
SOME INROADS MADE INTO ILLEGAL GAMBLING RACKETS ......... 8
FUTURE OF MAHJONG SCHOOLS ............................... 9
SPECIAL CLEARANCE FACILITIES FOR RETURNING HONG KONG RESIDENTS .............................................. 10
BENEFITS FOR GOVERNMENT FEMALE OFFICERS ................ 10
MORE LIBRARY FACILITIES FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES ........ 11
HOUSING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN LOCAL OFFICERS BEING CONSIDERED ............................................. 11
MORE TOLL BOOTHS FOR LION ROCK TUNNEL .................. 12
ACCEPTANCE TESTS ON DESALTING PLANT EVAPORATORS ........ 12
MORE RAIN GAUGES TO BE INSTALLED ....................... 13
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL ............ 13
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 1976/77 14
BILLS PASSED ........................................... 14
MANAGEMENT’S SUPPORT NEEDED FOR MANPOWER TRAINING .... 15
WATER CUTS IN NORTH POINT AND SAI KUNG ................. 16
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5'233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976.
- 1 -
FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO MTR LOAN ARRANGEMENTS SCHEDULE
* * * * *
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A MOTION TO FURTHER AMEND THE SCHEDULE TO THE COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION OF OCTOBER 23, 1975 DEALING WITH LOAN ARRANGEMENTS GUARANTEED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION.
IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, PROPOSED TO ADD THE FOLLOWING NEW ITEMS TO THE SCHEDULE:
* THE FIRST RELATES TO ONE OF THE EIGHT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CONTRACTS THE CORPORATION LET IN EARLY JULY TO A BRITISH FIRM FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRIC MULTIPLE UNIT TRAINS. BY THE TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT A GERMAN FIRM IS TO SUPPLY THE BOGIES FOR THE TRAINS AND THE CORPORATION HAS TO PAY THIS FIRM DIRECT IN DEUTSCHE MARKS. THE FIRM HAS ARRANGED A SUPPLIER’S CREDIT FACILITY TO COVER THIS PART OF THE CONTRACT AND THE 10 MILLION DEUTSCHE MARKS INVOLVED WILL BE GRANTED UPON CONDITION THAT THE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES REPAYMENT. THIS SUPPLIER’S CREDIT FACILITY IS QUITE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE EXPORT CREDIT FACILITY TOTALLING 69.6 MILLION DEUTSCHE MARKS WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN GUARANTEED FOR USE IN RESPECT OF VARIOUS OTHER CONTRACTS.
* THE SECOND ADDITION CONCERNS A GUARANTEE OF HKS67 MILLION IN THE FORM OF EXPORT CREDITS TO FINANCE A CONTRACT PLACED WITH A JAPANESE CONSORTIUM IN EARLY NOVEMBER FOR INSTALLING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE RAILWAY.
* THE THIRD AND FOURTH ADDITIONS ARE TO PROVIDE FOR TWO MEDIUM TERM HONG KONG DOLLAR FACILITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED. ONE, FOR HK$15 MILLION, IS SPECIFICALLY TO FINANCE THE LOCAL PORTION OF A CONTRACT PLACED WITH AN AMERICAN FIRM IN JULY TO SUPPLY THE AUTOMATIC FARE COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR THE RAILWAY. THE OTHER, FOR HK$60 MILLION, IS TO BE USED TO FINANCE PARTS OF BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL CONTRACTS.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE LETTING OF A FURTHER ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CONTRACT EARLIER THIS MONTH HAD VIRTUALLY COMPLETED THE CONTRACT LETTING PROCESS FOR THE RAILWAY.
+THE TOTAL VALUE OF THESE CONTRACTS LET IS WITHIN ESTIMATE AND INCLUDES 36 PER CENT IN VALUE LET ON A FIXED PRICE BASIS,* HE SAID. +ALSO THE ESCALATION DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION ON CONTRACTS WITH PRICE VARIATION CLAUSES WAS ALSO WITHIN ESTIMATE, REFLECTING THE MODERATE INFLATION RATES PREVAILING GENERALLY DURING THAT PERIOD.+
+IN VIEW OF THESE POSITIVE FACTORS THERE MUST BE INCREASED CONFIDENCE THAT THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE OF $5,800 MILLION, EXCLUDING THE COST OF INTEREST DURING CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE LESS THAN ANTICIPATED,* HE ADDED.
/IN .....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
2
IN CLARIFYING RECENT PRESS AND TELEVISION COMMENT ON THE PROJECT, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT WHEN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION WAS ANNOUNCED, THE CORPORATION’S CHAIRMAN STATED THAT CAPITALISED INTEREST CHARGES ON LOAN FINANCE DRAWN DOWN BEFORE THE RAILWAY BEGAN TO GENERATE A CASH FLOW WAS LIKELY TO EE ABOUT HK$9OO MILLION.
+THIS FIGURE WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT AT S5,8OO MILLION, THAT IS TO SAY, PRE-CONTRACT EXPENSES AND THE VALUE OF ALL CONTRACTS INCLUDING AN ALLOWANCE FOR ESCALATION OF COSTS THOUGH IT WAS ALLOWED FOR, OF COURSE, IN THE VARIOUS CASH FLOW STUDIES DONE OVER THE YEARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSESSING VIABILITY,* HE SAID.
+SUBSEQUENTLY,+ HE CONTINUED, +WHEN THE CORPORATION’S HK34OO MILLION BOND ISSUE WAS MADE IN JUNE THIS YEAR THE PROSPECTUS FOR THE BOND ISSUE CONTAINED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE CAPITALISED INTEREST CHARGES ON BORROWINGS FOR THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.*
THIS WAS A FIGURE OF HK3939 MILLION AND THE CHAIRMAN IN A RECENT SPEECH MENTIONED HK$l,009 MILLION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
+EUT THIS WAS A BROAD BRUSH ESTIMATE AND IN FACT THERE HAS BEEN NO UPWARD ADJUSTMENT IN THE ESTIMATE FOR THESE CHARGES WHICH, BY THEIR VERY NATURE, ARE DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY SEVERAL YEARS IN ADVANCE (THOUGH THEY CAN BE VARIOUSLY ALLOWED FOR IN CASH FLOW STUDIES),* HE ADDED.
HE STRESSED THAT IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN RECOGNISED THAT THE CAPITALISATION OF INTEREST CHARGES INCURRED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD WOULD ACCRUE OVER AND ABOVE THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT AND ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THESE INTEREST CHARGES DID NOT REPRESENT UNFORESEEN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE.
IN REPLY TO A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION FROM THE HON. T.S. LC, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK INVOLVED IN THE SERVICING GF THE CORPORATION’S FOREIGN EXCHANGE LIABILITIES WAS A QUESTION WHICH THE BOARD OF THE CORPORATION HAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO AS ITS FINANCING STRATEGY WAS DEVELOPED.
HE ADDED THAT THE CORPORATION’S DEBT LIABILITIES WERE NOT ENTIRELY DENOMINATED IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES BY ANY MEANS, AS A MATTER OF DELIBERATE POLICY.
HE REITERATED THAT THE CORPORATION WOULD CONTINUE TO TRY TO ARRANGE LONGER TERM FINANCE IN HONG KONG DOLLARS AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES IN PLACE OF EXISTING SHORTER TERM FACILITIES.
+S0, WHENEVER IN THE FUTURE I HAVE TO ASK THIS COUNCIL TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE TO THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION, THE REASON WILL SIMPLY BE TO AFFORD THE CORPORATION GREATER SCOPE FOR ARRANGING FINANCE ON MORE FAVOURABLE TERMS,* MR. HADDON-CAVE ADDED.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT FOR UNREGISTRABLE DOCTORS
******
TH^ PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT, WHICH AN UNREG ISTRABLE DOCTOR HAS TO GO THROUGH TO OBTAIN A LICENCE TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG AFTER PASSING AN EXAMINATION, SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED, DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS COMMENTING ON THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 WHICH PROVIDES FOR A PERSON WISHING TO BE ELIGIBLE TO BECOME A LICENTIATE TO SERVE IN AN APPROVED HOSPITAL OR INSTITUTION A PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT TO BE DETERMINED BY THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.
+THIS PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT,* HE ADDED, +MAY BE LIKENED TO THE PERIOD OF INTERNSHIP WHICH MEDICAL GRADUATES OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE EXCEPT THAT THE LATTER IS CLEARLY PRESCRIBED BY REGULATION,*
DR. FANG SAID THAT HE AND HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES CONSIDERED IT ONLY FAIR THAT THE PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT FOR PROSPECTIVE LICENTIATES SHOULD LIKEWISE BE PRESCRIBED.
♦WITHOUT SUCH PROVISION,* HE SAID, +A CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA AS TO THE NORMAL PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT WHICH HE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SERVE.*
IN WELCOMING THE BILL, DR. FANG SAID THAT IT GAVE PERSONS WITH MEDICAL TRAINING WHO WERE NOT AT PRESENT ELIGIBLE TO EE REGISTERED AS MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE EXAMINATION AND SERVE A PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THE GRANT OF A LICENCE BY THE MEDICAL COUNCIL TO PRACTISE |hj pONG KONG,
IN ADDITION, HE CONTINUED, IT SHOULD HELP EASE THE PRESENT SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS IN HONG KONG PARTICULARLY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
REGARDING THE POSITION OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF UNREG ISTRABLE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE BEEN, AND STILL ARE, PERMITTED TO PRACTISE MEDICINE IN VARIOUS MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, DR. FANG SAIDl ♦MANY OF THESE PRACTITIONERS HAVE IN FACT BEEN SO EMPLOYED FOR MANY YEARS.*
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE LICENTIATE COMMITTEE WOULD LOOK FAVOURABLY UPON APPLICATIONS FROM THEM FOR A REDUCTION OF THE PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE.
DR. FANG ASKED FOR AN ASSURANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO UNDUE DELAY IN FINALISING THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FIRST SERIES OF EXAMINATIONS FOR UNREG ISTRABLE DOCTORS ONCE THE BILL BECAME LAW.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
4
IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR DISABLED UNDER CONSIDERATION ******
RESERVED SEATS AND OTHER PROVISIONS FOR THE DISABLED ON BUSES, TRAMS, SURFACE TRAINS AND FERRIES, AS WELL AS PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL FACILITIES AT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, BUS TERMINALS AND FERRY PIERS HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY A WORKING PARTY APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO EXAMINE MEANS OF IMPROVING TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED.
THIS WAS REVEALED TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG.
+THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW CONSIDERING HOW BEST TO IMPLEMENT AS MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS POSSIBLE AND, TO THIS END, IT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COMMITTEE ON ACCESS OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES,+ HE SAID.
MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY SYSTEM, AS AT PRESENT DESIGNED, SHOULD BE ABLE TO COPE WITH THOSE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO ARE REASONABLY MOBILE AND ABLE TO NEGOTIATE STAIRS AND ESCALATORS.
TO THIS END, HE ADDED, THE STATIONS HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS LAID DOWN IN THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.
HE SAID THE QUESTION OF PROVIDING LIFTS AT MTR STATIONS FOR THE USE OF HANDICAPPED PERSONS HAS BEEN MOST EXHAUSTIVELY STUDIED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND THAT THE MATTER HAS ALSO BEEN DISCUSSED WITH UMELCO.
BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF COMPELLING REASONS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD BE NEITHER PRACTICABLE, NOR IN THE INTERESTS OF THE HANDICAPPED THEMSELVES, TO PROVIDE SUCH FACILITIES, HE SAID.
THE MAIN REASON WAS THAT THE MTR WOULD BE A VERY HEAVILY USED SYSTEM AND THE DEGREE OF CONGESTION AND MOVEMENT WOULD BE MORE THAN THOSE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPELLED TO USE LIFTS WOULD BE CAPABLE OF COPING WITH, +AND IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO LEAD THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE THE CASE.+ MR. JONES SA ID.
+A SECOND REASON IS THAT, DUE TO THE FACT THAT MOST STATIONS HAVE A CENTRAL PLATFORM, IT WOULD NOT EE POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE LIFTS DIRECT FROM GROUND LEVEL TO PLATFORMS.+
/THIS, .....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
5
THIS, HE POINTED OUT, WOULD VERY CONSIDERABLY REDUCE ANY BENEFITS WHICH LIFTS WOULD PROVIDE TO THE HANDICAPPED.
GIVEN THE VERY DUBIOUS BENEFITS LIKELY TO RESULT FROM THE INSTALLATION OF LIFTS, THE THIRD REASON — THE COST --BECAME RELEVANT, HE ADDED.
+THE CORPORATION HAS ESTIMATED THAT TO INSTAL LIFTS AT STATIONS ON THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM ALONE COULD COST WELL OVER S3O MILLION.
+THIS ADDITIONAL COST, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE MET FROM PUBLIC FUNDS, WOULD BE OUT OF ALL PROPORTION TO THE BENEFIT CONFERRED,* MR. JONES SAID.
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MR. WONG, HE SAID THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CONSTRUCTION NOISE, PARTICULARLY FROM PERCUSSIVE PILING, ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAD BEEN CAREFULLY STUDIED DURING THE PLANNING OF THE MTR.
+THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED THAT CONTRACTORS SHOULD TAKE ALL REASONABLE MEASURES TO REDUCE THE NOISE OF THEIR PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, AND STRINGENT LIMITATIONS WERE PLACED ON THE NOISE FROM CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11 P.M. AND 6 A.M.
+CERTAIN LOCATIONS WERE ALSO IDENTIFIED AS BEING PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO NOISE= AND THE CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS RESTRICTED THE USE OF PERCUSSIVE PILING IN THESE PLACES TO THOSE TIMES OF THE DAY WHEN THEY WOULD LEAST AFFECT THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT,* HE SAID.
FOR INSTANCE, HE ADDED, THE USE OF PERCUSSIVE PILING IS NOT PERMITTED CLOSE TO SCHOOLS DURING SCHOOL HOURS.
MR. JONES SAID PARTICULAR PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN IN CERTAIN AREAS SINCE THE WORK STARTED AND THESE HAVE HAD TO EE DEALT WITH ON THE SPOT AS THEY EMERGED.
AS AN EXAMPLE, HE SAID SCHOOLING IN MING YING COLLEGE AND HOLY TRINITY COLLEGE WAS UPSET BY THE PARTICULARLY HIGH LEVEL OF NOISE PRODUCED IN THE SHEK KIP MEI STATION BECAUSE OF THE USE OF HEAVY ROCK BREAKING PLANT.
+FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION HAS PROVIDED, AT ITS OWN EXPENSE, CERTAIN EQUIPMENT IN THE TWO SCHOOLS, INCLUDING AIR-CONDITIONING, VENTILATION FANS AND VOICE AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT AND THIS IS CONSIDERABLY EASING THE PROBLEM,* HE SAID.
/MS. JONES .....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
6
MR. JONES ADDED: +ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE KWUN TONG AREA, '.■.HERE CONSTRUCTION WORK IS JUST STARTING AND WHERE, EECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE AREA, IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT NOISE PROBLEMS WOULD ARISE.
+BECAUSE OF THIS, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAVE JOINTLY AGREED VARIOUS MEASURES EY WHICH IT IS HOPED TO REDUCE THE NOISE FROM PILING OPERATIONS IN PARTICULAR.+
THE MEASURES, HE SAID, SEEM TO BE HAVING A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT IN CONTAINING NOISE SO FAR.
+THE POSITION WILL, HOWEVER, CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED AND FURTHER STEPS WILL EE TAKEN IF THEY ARE FOUND TO BE NECESSARY,+ HE ADDED.
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/7
7
FACILITIES FOR LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES * * * * *
THE HON. ALEX WU TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT BEFORE FURTHER LABOUR LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVIEW AND REASSESS THE PRIORITIES IN PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WOULD IN FUTURE BE ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR FREE TIME TO THE FULL AND AT REASONABLE COST.
SPEAKING ON THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1976, WHICH AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REST DAYS FOR WORKERS IN A YEAR FROM 48 TO 52, HE SAID: +THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT OVERLOOK THE REQUIREMENT TO IMPROVE THE HOME ENVIRONMENT OF OUR WORKERS, SINCE MANY IN THE UPPER AGE BRACKET MAY WELL PREFER TO SPEND THEIR LEISURE TIME AT HOME.+
HOWEVER, MR. WU WENT ON, FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT WANT TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM USE OF INCREASED LEISURE HOURS, RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES MUST BE CAREFULLY PLANNED, PREPARED AND EXECUTED.
+THEIR POTENTIAL VALUE TO THE LABOUR FORCE — PARTICULARLY THE YOUNGER ELEMENT WHICH FORMS SUCH A VERY LARGE PART OF IT — MUST BE REALISTICALLY ASSESSED,* HE SAID.
MR. WU MAINTAINED THAT THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE AND BALANCED RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WAS AS MUCH A PART OF SOCIAL PROGRESS AS WAS THE PROVISION OF TIME TO ENJOY THEM. THIS WAS A VERY REAL PROBLEM, HE EMPHASISED.
+THE LEGISLATION WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING WILL QUITE CLEARLY HAVE ITS GREATEST EFFECT ON PEOPLE LIVING IN THE GROWING INDUSTRIAL TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,* HE SAID. +ONE NEEDS ONLY TO EXAMINE THE SPORTING FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN HUGE TOWNS LIKE TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG TO SEE THE IMBALANCE OF THE SITUATION.*
+THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF THE PROVISION FOR OTHER LEISURE PURSUITS. UNTIL NOW LIBRARY FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN GROSSLY INADEQUATE.* HE ADDED.
MR. WU STRESSED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LIBRARIES IN TUEN MUN, TAI PO AND YUEN LONG MUST NOW PROCEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, MUST ENSURE THAT THE FACILITIES AND AMENITIES PROVIDED WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL, MORE CONSCIOUS OF HIS CIVIC DUTIES.
+ALL THIS IS PART OF THE VISION, AS EXPRESSED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, OF A SOCIETY IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP HIS OR HER PERSONALITY TO THE FULL,* HE SAID.
ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, SAID THAT THE FOUR EXTRA REST DAYS IN A YEAR COINCIDED WITH THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED PRACTICE OF PROVIDING ONE REST DAY A WEEK, EXCLUSIVE OF ANY STATUTORY HOLIDAY.
+SUCH PRACTICE AND SUCH PROVISION,* HE ADDED, +ARE OF LONG-STANDING AND IT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE FOR US TO FALL IN LINE WITH THE MODERN TRENDS OF UP-HOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROMOTING WORKERS’ BENEFITS.*
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
8
EFFECTS OF OFF-COURSE BETTING OFFICES ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING RACKETS
* * * * *
SOME INROADS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN MADE INTO ILLEGAL GAMBLING RACKETS WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OFF-COURSE BETTING OFFICES AT PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. DENIS BRAY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. WONG LAM, HE SAID WITH OFF-COURSE BETTING FACILITIES READILY AND CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE WITHIN THREE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT SOME PUNTERS WOULD BE ATTRACTED FROM PATRONISING ILLEGAL BOOK-MAKERS.
HE STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS WHETHER THESE OFFICES HAD HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT IN COMBATTING ILLEGAL GAMBLING IN ESTATES IN VIEW OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF ESTATES INVOLVED AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAD ONLY BEEN IN OPERATION FOR A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD.
+BY THEMSELVES THEY ARE ONLY ONE HALF THE ATTACK ON THE PROBLEM,+ HE SAID. +THE OTHER HALF IS THE ATTACK ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ABLE TO MOUNT WHEN IT HAS THE POWERS AND PENALTIES OF THE NEW GAMBLING BILL AT ITS DISPOSAL.+
MR. ERAY EMPHASISED THAT IN DEALING WITH THESE LONG ESTABLISHED AND DEEPLY ENTRENCHED RACKETS, +THE TWIN ARMS OF POLICY — CONTROLLED BETTING CENTRES AND STRONGER POWERS SHOULD YIELD RESULTS.+
+1 SHOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THE MATTER AGAIN NEXT SUMMER AFTER NEW POWERS HAVE BEEN USED IN EARNEST,+ HE ADDED.
REPLYING TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MR. WONG ON THE GENERAL REACTION OF RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES TO THE SETTING UP OF OFF-COURSE BETTING OFFICES, MR. BRAY SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GENERALISE REACTION OF HOUSING ESTATE RESIDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD.
+THEY COMPRISE NEARLY HALF THE POPULATION AND THEIR REACTIONS ARE PROBABLY MUCH THE SAME AS ANYONE ELSE -- A PRETTY GOOD MIXTURE,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT ONLY THREE BETTING OFFICES HAD BEEN SET UP IN HOUSING ESTATES AND THAT THEY HAD ALL BEEN WELL PATRONISED AND HAD NOT CAUSED COMPLAINT.
+ONE WAS PROPOSED FOR KO CHIU ROAD ESTATE AND WAS RESISTED,* HE ADDED.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
9
FUTURE OF MAHJONG SCHOOLS
H H
THE GOVERNMENT’S FUTURE POLICY REGARDING MAHJONG SCHOOLS WILL DEPEND ON THE WAYS THINGS GO AFTER THE NEW GAMBLING BILL BECOMES LAW, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. DENIS BRAY. TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A SERIES OF QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. ROGER LOBO ON MAHJONG SCHOOLS, HE SAID THE NEW BILL WOULD MAKE IT NO LONGER AN OFFENCE TO PLAY MAHJONG PUBLICLY IN LICENSED RESTAURANTS AND IN THE PREMISES OF LAWFUL CLUBS AND SOCIETIES.
HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO SEE WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE ANY CHANGE IN THE POLICY ON MAHJONG SCHOOLS WHEN THE BILL HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SOME TIME.
HE RECALLED THAT A POLICE SURVEY IN 1950 HAD REVEALED 39 MAHJONG HOUSES IN OPERATION.
THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH WERE THEN USED AS MEETING PLACES BY TRIADS AND OTHER SORTS OF CRIMINALS, WERE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY FORM OF CONTROL, NOR WERE THEY REQUIRED TO TAKE OUT ANY FORM OF LICENCES, HE SAID.
+THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED INITIALLY TO PROHIBIT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ALTOGETHER BUT LATER DECIDED TO LICENSE THEM BECAUSE, AS THE COLONIAL SECRETARY OF 1956 SAID, ’PROHIBITION OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD PUT A LARGE NUMBER OF PERSONS CUT OF WORK AND ..... IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO PREVENT ABUSES WHICH HAD
ARISEN IN THESE ESTABLISHMENTS BY A SYSTEM OF CONTROL THROUGH LICENSING’,+ MR. BRAY SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LICENSING OF MAHJONG SCHOOLS HAD BROUGHT THEM UNDER BETTER CONTROL AND HE THOUGHT THAT THE OBJECT OF LICENSING HAD BEEN ACHIEVED.
+MAHJONG WAS, AND STILL IS, A COMMON AND POPULAR GAME PLAYED BY MANY AND PROHIBITING SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD ONLY HAVE DRIVEN THEM UNDERGROUND AND INTO THE HANDS OF UNLAWFUL ELEMENTS.* HE SAID.
THERE ARE AT PRESENT 92 MAHJONG SCHOOLS IN OPERATION UNDER THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE, MR. BRAY ADDED.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
10
SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR RETURNING H.K. RESIDENTS * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS STUDYING WAYS TO OVERCOME PRACTICAL PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED AT THE AIRPORT IN A BID TO EXPEDITE IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE FOR RETURNING HONG KONG RESIDENTS.
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO THE HON. LI FOOK-WO WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER ESTABLISHING SEPARATE IMMIGRATION COUNTERS AT THE AIRPORT FOR HOLDERS OF HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORTS AND OTHER PASSPORT HOLDERS WHO ARE CLASSIFIED AS HONG KONG BELONGERS.
+AN EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED IN MAY SHOWED UP A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PHYSICAL LAYOUT OF THE ARRIVALS HALL, STAFF DEPLOYMENT AND COORDINATION WITH THE AIRLINES,* MR. DAVIES SAID. +WAYS TO OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOW BEING STUDIED.*
HE HOPED IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO INTRODUCE SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR RETURNING HONG KONG RESIDENTS SOME TIME NEXT YEAR.
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BENEFITS FOR GOVERNMENT FEMALE OFFICERS
*****
SINGLE FEMALE OFFICERS, OR MARRIED FEMALE OFFICERS WHO ARE WIDOWED. DIVORCED, OR DEMONSTRABLY SEPARATED FROM THEIR HUSBANDS, RECEIVE THE SAME BENEFITS AS THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THE ONLY CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WHICH MARRIED FEMALE OFFICERS DID NOT RECEIVE WERE THOSE FOR WHICH IN THIS COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY APPEARED GcNERALLY TO RiST WITH THE MALE SPOUSE AS HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD.
THESE ARE HOUSING BENEFITS, EDUCATION ALLOWANCES FOR CHI-DREN, FAMILY MEDICAL BENEFITS AND, IN THE CASE OF OVERSEAS OFFICERS, FAMILY PASSAGE ALLOWANCES.
+IT IS NOT AT PRESENT CONSIDERED THAT, BEARING IN MIND THE APPARENT GENERAL VIEW OF THE COMMUNITY, AND PRACTICE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IT WOULD EE APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THESE CONDITIONS TO MARR I ED FEMALE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIVORCED OR WIDOWED OR DEMONSTRABLY SEPARATED,* HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
11
MORE LIBRARY FACILITIES FOR N.T.
*******
EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO PROVIDE MORE LIBRARY FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ALEX WU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THAT THE LACK OF LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD BEEN OF GREAT CONCERN TO HIM.
HOWEVER, HE WAS HAPPY TO SAY THAT +WE ARE NOW ON THE MOVE*.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL, MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED, HAD ACCEPTED A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OF $6 MILLION FOR FITTING OUT, FURNITURE AND BOOKS, AND EXPENDITURE OF §4.4 MILLION ON VARIOUS RUNNING EXPENSES.
+THIS FINANCIAL YEAR WE ARE MAKING A START WITH TWO LIBRARIES IN THE EASTERN NEW TERRITORIES, AT TAI PO AND SHEUNG SHU I,+ HE SAID. +TSUEN WAN ALREADY HAS A LIBRARY, BUT IT IS NOT NEARLY BIG ENOUGH, AND HERE AND IN THE OTHER NEW TOWNS, SOME EXPANSION WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE INTERIM BEFORE THE PLANNED LIBRARIES OF 12,000-16,000 SQ. FT. ARE COMPLETED IN 1980/81.+
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SMALLER BRANCH LIBRARIES, HE SAID, ALL PERMANENT FACILITIES WOULD INCLUDE STUDY ROOMS AS A COMPOSITE FEATURE.
MR. AKERS-JONES SAID EVERY OPPORTUNITY WAS BEING TAKEN TO EARMARK MORE ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDY ROOMS — FOR EXAMPLE IN HOUSING ESTATES AND COMMUNITY CENTRES.
IN ADDITION, HE ADDED THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH WAS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A MORE PRECISE EXAMINATION OF THE NEED FOR STUDY ROOMS.
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HOUSING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN LOCAL OFFICERS BEING CONSIDERED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING POSSIBLE METHODS OF ASSISTING OFFICERS WHO QUALIFY NEITHER FOR THE ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING (THAT IS, ON SALARIES UP TO §2,230 A MONTH) NOR FOR PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCE (THAT IS, ON SALARIES OVER §5,620 A MONTH).
THIS WAS STATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG.
MR. CHEUNG ASKED WHETHER GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER THE INTRODUCTION OF A GRADUATED HOUSING ALLOWANCE FOR LOCAL OFFICERS WHO WERE BELOW THE SALARY POINT AT WHICH HOUSING ALLOWANCE WAS AT PRESENT PAYABLE.
+A HOUSING ALLOWANCE OF SOME KIND IS ONE OF THE METHODS EY WHICH ASSISTANCE MIGHT BE PROVIDED, AND IT IS BEING CONSIDERED ACCORDINGLY,* MP. SCOTT ADDED.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
12
MORE TOLL BOOTHS FOR LION ROCK TUNNEL
*****
MORE TOLL BOOTHS ARE EXPECTED TO EE IN OPERATION AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL EARLY NEXT YEAR TO COPE WITH THE STEADY INCREASE IN TRAFFIC USING THE TUNNEL.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG.
MR. JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED WITH THE BASIC PHYSICAL AND ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COLLECTION OF TOLLS AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.
+THEY HAVE WORKED EFFICIENTLY SINCE THE TUNNEL WAS OPENED IN 1967 AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO,+ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT WITH THE STEADY INCREASE IN TRAFFIC USING THE TUNNEL, THERE WERE CLEARLY NOT SUFFICIENT TOLL BOOTHS IN OPERATION TO COPE WITH THE FLOW DURING PEAK PERIODS.
MR. JONES SAID THAT TO OPERATE MORE BOOTHS WOULD REQUIRE EXTRA STAFF AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT HAD ALREADY MADE A REQUEST FOR THIS.
HE SAID EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO EXPEDITE THIS REQUEST AND THAT HOPEFULLY, MORE TOLL BOOTHS WOULD BE IN OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR.
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ACCEPTANCE TESTS ON DESALTING PLANT EVAPORATORS
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD SAID TODAY THAT ACCEPTANCE TESTS ON THE SIX EVAPORATOR UNITS OF THE LOK ON PAI DESALTING PLANT SHOWED THAT ALL UNITS FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE STIPULATED REQUIREMENTS BOTH IN TERMS OF OUTPUT AND THERMAL EFFICIENCY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT THE FULL TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE TEST-RUNNING OF THE DESALTER HAD BEEN COMPLETED, AND WAS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
HE SAID THE SPECIFICATION FOR THE PLANT MAINLY INVOLVED ACCEPTANCE TESTS OF SIX MONTHS’ DURATION FOR EACH OF THE SIX EVAPORATOR AND BOILER UNITS.
+HOWEVER IN VIEW OF THE VERY FAVOURABLE WATER STORAGE POSITION AT THE BEGINNING OF 1975 WHEN THE TESTS WERE DUE TO COMMENCE AND IN ORDER TO CONSERVE FUEL, AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO CARRY OUT THE FULL TESTS ON ONE UNIT ONLY AND CURTAILED TESTS, WITH BUILT-IN SAFEGUARDS, ON THE OTHER FIVE UN ITS.
♦CURTAILMENT OF THE TESTS PRODUCED A SAVING ON FUEL AMOUNTING TO APPROXIMATELY $63 MILLION AND A REDUCTION OF ABOUT £430,000 ON THE CONTRACT PRICE BY THE ELIMINATION OF PART CF THE CONTRACTOR’S TEST SUPERVISION,* SAID MR. MCDONALD.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
- 13 -
MORE RAIN GAUGES TO BE INSTALLED * * * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO INSTALL FIVE MORE SELF-RECORDING RAIN GAUGES IN SELECTED AREAS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE STABILITY OF SLOPES, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT, HE SAID THE GAUGES WOULD BE INSTALLED EARLY NEXT YEAR AND WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE NETWORK OF 32 ALREADY OPERATED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
+THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THESE RAIN GAUGES AND FROM OTHER INSTRUMENTS TO BE INSTALLED IN THE GROUND WILL ENABLE US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND GROUND-WATER BEHAVIOUR IN HONG KONG SOILS AND TO REFINE EXISTING STABILITY-ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES TO SUIT LOCAL CONDITIONS,+ HE SAID.
THE INVESTIGATIONS, HE SAID, WOULD NOT IN THEMSELVES PROVIDE EARLY WARNING OF POSSIBLE SLOPE FAILURE.
+OTHER INSTRUMENTS, OF WHICH THERE ARE ALREADY MORE THAN 200 INSTALLED AT SOME 26 LOCATIONS, PROVIDE BY REGULAR MONITORING, EARLY WARNINGS OF POSSIBLE FAILURE BY MEASURING GROUND WATER PRESSURES AND SLOPE MOVEMENTS,+ SAID MR. MCDONALD.
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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL
*****
AN AMENDMENT BILL WHICH SEEKS TO MAKE PERMANENT THE PROVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE ENABLING THE COURTS TO SUSPEND A SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1976, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID THE PROVISIONS HAD BEEN IN FORCE FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS.
+EXPERIENCE DURING THAT TIME SHOWS THAT THE POWER TO SUSPEND A SENTENCE PROVIDES THE COURTS WITH A VALUABLE ALTERNATIVE WAY OF DEALING WITH SOME OFFENDERS,+ HE SAID. +THE CHIEF JUSTICE CONSIDERS THAT THE POWER SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE.+
THE PROVISIONS SHOULD BECOME PART OF THE PERMANENT LAW NOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ADEQUATE TRIAL PERIOD, HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED.
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/14......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976.
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 1976/77
******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS AMOUNTING TO $54.8 MILLION FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1976/77.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, IN MOVING THE MOTION, SAID THAT OF THIS SUM, $47 MILLION WAS REQUIRED AS THE RESULT OF THE MORE RAPID THAN EXPECTED PROGRESS ON A NUMBER OF EXISTING PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS AND FOR FOUR PROJECTS RECENTLY UPGRADED TO CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS WOULD NOT RESULT IN A NET INCREASE OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR AS OFFSETTING SAVINGS HAD BEEN FOUND UNDER OTHER SUBHEADS OF EXPENDITURE, OR BY THE FREEZING OF FUNDS UNDER HEAD 50 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES SUBHEAD 100 ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, HE POINTED OUT, HAD ALREADY APPROVED ALL ITEMS IN THE SCHEDULE.
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BILLS PASSED * * *
THREE BILLS PASSED THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THEY WERE THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976= THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976 AND THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.
AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER’S BILL, THE BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY (HONG KONG BRANCH) BILL 1976, ALSO PASSED ITS COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING.
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/15
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
15
MANAGEMENT’S SUPPORT NEEDED FOR MANPOWER TRAINING
* * * * *
THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR (INDUSTRIAL TRAINING), MR. HORACE KNIGHT, STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT FOR MANPOWER TRAINING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IT MUST HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE TOP MANAGEMENT.
MR. KNIGHT WHO WAS SPEAKING AT THE CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION, PRIZE-GIVING AND CONTRACT-SIGNING CEREMONY FOR 120 APPRENTICES OF THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY PRAISED THE MANAGEMENT FOR ITS FAR-SIGHTED DECISION TO RE-ORGANISE AND EXPAND ITS APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BRANCH OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
+ IN SO DOING,+ HE POINTED OUT, +NCT ONLY IS THE COMPANY LESS DEPENDENT ON THE WHIMS OF THE SKILLED MANPOWER MARKET BUT IS ALSO ASSURED OF AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SKILLED MANPOWER OF A QUALITY NECESSARY TO COPE WITH INCREASING DEMAND RESULTING FROM ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY AND THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY OF MOTOR TRANSPORT.+
MR. KNIGHT SAID HE WAS HAPPY TO NOTE THAT THE COMPANY’S TRAINING POLICY MATCHED WELL wITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL.
HE ADDED THAT THE REPORT ON THE THIRD MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE INDUSTRY WHICH WILL SOON BE PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION INDICATED THAT THE INDUSTRY WOULD NEED TO TRAIN ANNUALLY 600 CRAFT APPRENTICES, 29 TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES AND SIX TECHNOLOGIST TRAINEES.
THE REPORT ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT AT THE COMPANY LEVEL, EMPLOYERS IN THE INDUSTRY SHOULD TRAIN ANNUALLY ONE TECHNOLOGIST FOR EVERY 11 EMPLOYED, ONE FOR FIVE TECHNICIANS AND ONE FOR 10 CRAFTSMEN.
TURNING TO THE APPRENTICES WHO HAD JUST COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING AND THOSE WHO WERE GETTING SPECIAL PRIZES AT THE CEREMONY MR. KNIGHT URGED THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND STUDY HARD.
HE SAID: +TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT REMAIN STATIC AND NO TECHNICAL PERSON, WHATEVER HIS LEVEL, CAN AFFORD TO STOP LEARNING OR BEING ALIVE TO NEW TECHNIQUES.
+T0 ALL OF YOU, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER YOU HAVE COMPLETED OR JUST STARTED TRAINING, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO SET A GOAL FOR YOURSELF AND STRIVE AFTER IT WITH DETERMINATION AND WORK HARD.
+FGR THOSE WHO HAVE THE DETERMINATION AND ARE WILLING TO WORK THE WAY UP THE TECHNICAL LADDER IS OPEN TO ALL,+ MR. KNIGHT ADDED.
o
WEDNESDAY, NOVtMbcfc 2h, 1976
16
WATER CUT
* * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN NORTH POINT WILL BE TURNED OFF BETWEEN 1 A.M. AND 6 A.M. ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 26) TO FACILITATE A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY JAVA ROAD BETWEEN HEALTHY STREET EAST AND KING’S ROAD, HOUSE NO. 865 TO 971 KING’S ROAD, TONG CHONG STREET, HOI WAN STREET, HOI TAI STREET, HOI KWONG STREET AND FINNIE STREET, INCLUDING THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS CO. LTD.
ALSO ON FRIDAY, CERTAIN PREMISES IN THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT, NEW TERRITORIES, WILL BE WITHOUT WATER SUPPLY FOR 10 HOURS FROM 8 P.M.
THE TEMPORARY STOPPAGE IS TO ENABLE WATER MAINS CONNECTION WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT AT THE JUNCTION OF PO TUNG ROAD AND HIRAM’S HIGHWAY.
AFFECTED ARE PREMISES AT SAI KUNG TOWN, MAN YUE SUN CHUEN, SHA TSUI SUN CHUEN, TAN CHEUNG, KAP PIN LONG, SHA KOK MEI, LONG MEI, MUK MIN SHAN AND ALONG PO TUNG ROAD.
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GI5
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CHOICE WAN CHAI RECLAMATION SITE FOR SALE ................. 1
COURSES FOR WOMEN IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ............... 2
SLIGHT DROP IN EXPORTS LAST MONTH ......................... 3
VISITORS TO CAREERS EXHIBITION EXCEED 50,000 MARK ......... 4
EXTENSION OF VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRE COMPLETED .......... 5
REGIONAL SEMINAR ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND DEAF ............................................ 6
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL COURSES AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES 7
TWO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS TO RETIRE .... 8
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KWAI CHUNG ........................ 8
MARINE DEPARTMENT TO HOLD ANNUAL FUN FAIR ................. 9
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT HANG HAU .................. 9
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
- 1 -
CHOICE WAN CHAI RECLAMATION SITE FOR SALE
* * * *
A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SITE ON THE WAN CHAI RECLAMATION WILL BE PUT UP FOR AUCTION IN THE CITY HALL ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 30) BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE.
THE SITE -- OF SOME 4,340 SQ. METRES — IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL PRESTIGE SITES IN THE AREA TO EE SOLD FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
THE SITE TO BE OFFERED AT TUESDAY’S AUCTION IS LOCATED BETWEEN GLOUCESTER ROAD AND HARBOUR ROAD, AND IS INTENDED FOR USE AS EITHER A COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL AREA, OR FOR COMBINED COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL USE, INCORPORATING A HOTEL.
THE P.W.D.’S DIRECTOR OF CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY, MR. IVOR STANTON, SAID TODAY THE SITE WAS IDEALLY LOCATED FOR DEVELOPMENT. IT WAS NEAR THE MAIR BUSINESS CENTRES OF HONG KONG ISLAND, AND AT THE HUB OF THE MAIN ROAD AND FERRY NETWORK LINKING THE ISLAND AND KOWLOON.
MR. STANTON SAID A SECOND SITE OF ABOUT 4,930 SQ. METRES ADJACENT TO THE LOT TO BE OFFERED AT TUESDAY AFTERNOON’S CITY HALL AUCTION WAS EXPECTED TO COME UP FOR SALE IN THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR.
HE SAID: +UNDER THE SALE CONDITION FOR THE TWO SITES, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES AT FIRST FLOOR LEVEL WILL LINK THE PODIUMS OF THE BUILDINGS TO BE ERECTED ON THE SITES TO THE EXISTING FOOTBRIDGE OVER GLOUCESTER ROAD, EVENTUALLY JOINING UP WITH THE WAN CHAI FERRY PIER.
+WE HAVE ALSO MADE PROVISION FOR SHOPS AT THIS PODIUM LEVEL RATHER THAN AT GROUND LEVEL, SO AS TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION,+ HE ADDED.
MR. STANTON SAID THAT OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO AUCTION FOUR CHOICE SITES ON THE RECLAMATION BETWEEN TSIM SHA TSUI AND THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL APPROACHES AT HUNG HOM.
+THESE SITES WILL EE SOLD IN LOTS RANGING FROM 2,285 SQ. METRES TO JUST OVER 4,030 SQ. METRES. THE FIRST OF THEM SHOULD COME UP FOR AUCTION ON DECEMBER 28,+ HE SAID.
THE SALE CONDITIONS FOR THE FOUR SITES WOULD ALLOW THEN TO EE DEVELOPED EITHER FOR COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
MR. STANTON SAID ANOTHER LARGE SITE OF SOME 41,433 SQ. METRES OFF LUNG CHUNG ROAD WOULD BE OFFERED FOR SALE ON MARCH 11 NEXT YEAR.
+THIS LOT WILL EE FOE PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES,+ HE SAID, +BUT THE PURCHASER WILL BE ABLE TO INCLUDE SUCH FACILITIES AS A SUPERMARKET, A MULTI-STOREY CARPARK AND RECREATIONAL FAC IL IT IES.+
/AN akEa .....
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, '976
+AN AREA OF 2,787 -Or. THz BENcFIT OF THE
HE SAID.
30. METRES ..ILL EE SET ASIDE AS OPEN SPACE OCCUPANTS OF FLATS TO EE ERECTED ON THE SIT
MR. .2™b'7CN ADDED IKAT TKE CROWN LAND AND SURVEY OFFICE nCULD mLSC 0r-2.nl .G A \U.'‘D±R OF RESIDENTIAL SITES AT CHUNG HOM KOK TAI TAN. ROAD OK HONG KONG ISLAND FOR SALE OVER THE NEXT FOUR 'ONTHS.
0 -------
COURSES FOR WOMEN ,T TECHNICAL * * * * *
INSTITUTES
TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN HONG KONG MUST PLAN MORE COURSES WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS FOR WOMEN IN TECHNICAL DISCIPLINES, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. ANDREW KINGWELL SAID TODAY.
ADDRESSING THE GATHERING AT THE HO TUNG TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, MR. KINGWELL SAID : +T-IIS IS A CHALLENGE AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THOSE WHICH ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
+LAST YEAR, NEW INSTITUTES AT KWAI CHUNG AND KWUN TONG /.ERE ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL ONE AT MORRISON HILL. NEXT YEAR THE CHEUNG SHA /.AN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE '..ILL OPEN AND THE FIRST PROGRAMME OF EXPANSION OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN HONG KONG ..ILL DE COMPLETED WITH THE OPENING OF THE INSTITUTE AT KOWLOON TONG IN 1979.+
MR. KING..ELL, WHO IS THE ADVISER ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION, EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT EY THEN YOUNG WOMEN GRADUATES FROM TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND OTHER SCHOOLS WOULD TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH WOULD THEN DE AVAILABLE IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG ALREADY HAD TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT SCHOOL LEVEL FOR DOTH SEXES AND ALL COURSES IK THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND IL THE POLYTECHNIC WERE OPEN TO WOMEN.
HE SPOKE ABOUT THE RELEVANCE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND li. PARTICULAR THE GROWING Il-.PORTAMCE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR GIRLS IN SOCIETY TODAY.
MR. KINGWELL ANTICIPATED TH..T THE CURRICULUM II. GIRLS TECHL. I SCHOOLS WOULD BE FRuADeNED TO INCLUDz. SUBU-.CTS ..ri ICR AT -’■■eSE'.T WERE ONLY TAUGHT TO BOYS IN HONG KOI:.
TURNING TO THE nG TUNG TECHNICAL SCHOOLS FOR GIRLS, KINGWELL SAID THE SCH . FL S -ELL KN3.,L FOfc THE STANDARD OBTAINED IN MANY TECHNICAL SUBJECTS PARTICULARLY II. -CTTERY.
DUR I NG TH2 CEHeMO JY • ft S. K I KG ELL PRESENTED s R I ZxS A NO CERTIF ICATES.
0 - - - -
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
SLIGHT DROP IN EXPORTS LAST MONTH
M M * * * *
THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR OCTOBER WAS $2,924 MILLION, REPRESENTING A DECREASE OF $138 MILLION OR 4.5 PER CENT, BY VALUE, COMPARED WITH SEPTEMBER.
ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL TRAflE FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, HOWEVER, WENT UP BY $188 MILLION OR 5 PER CENT TO $3,947 MILLION WHILE RE-EXPORTS ALSO ROSE BY $8 MILLION OR ONE PER CENT TO $809 MILLION.
FIGURES FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD AUGUST TO OCTOBER 1976 SHOWED INCREASES, BY VALUE, OF 38.8 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 21.5 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND 22.6 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
FIGURES FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 1975 TO OCTOBER 1976 COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS 12-MONTH PERIOD SHOWED INCREASES, BY VALUE, OF 43.2 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 31.2 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND 26.5 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS.
THE FOLLOWING TRADE TABLE GIVES THE COMPARATIVE FIGURES :
LATEST 3 MONTHS AUG.-OCT. 1976 AUG.-OCT. 1975 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. 3 MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 8,950 6,446 +2,504 +38.8
IMPORTS 11,215 9,232 +1,982 +21.5
RE-EXPORTS 2,293 1,870 + 423 +22.6
OCTOBER SEPTEMBER INCREASE OR
LATEST MONTH 1976 1976 DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 2,924 3,061 - 138 - 4.5
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (78.3%) (79.3%)
IMPORTS 3,947 3,759 + 188 + 5.0
RE-EXPORTS 809 801 + 8+1.0
OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (21.7%) (20.7%)
/JAN.-OCT.......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
CALENDAR YEAR TO-DATE JAN.-OCT. 1976 JAN.-OCT. 1975 INCREASE OR DECREASE
3 MN. 3 MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 26,746 (78.6%) 18,312 (76.3%) +8,435 +46.1
IMPORTS 35,525 26,934 +8,591 +31.9
RE-EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 7,300 (21.4%) 5,691 (23.7%) +1,609 +28.3
LAST 12 MONTHS NOV. 1975 TO OCT. 1976 NOV. 1974 TO OCT. 1975 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. 3 MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 31,294 21,854 +9,440 +43.2
IMPORTS 42,063 32,050 +10,012 +31.2
RE-EXPORTS 8,582 6,784 +1,797 +26.5
- 0 ----------
VISITORS TO CAREERS EXHIBITION EXCEED 50,000 MARK
******
THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE CAREERS ’77 EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE KOWLOON RAIL TERMINUS HAS PASSED THE 50,000 MARK.
WITH ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS TO GO BEFORE THE EXHIBITION CLOSES ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 28) THE OVERALL TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED LAST YEAR’S RECORD OF NEARLY 100,000 DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS YEAR’S EXHIBITION LASTS FOR 10 DAYS -- TWO DAYS LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT : +AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 10,000 YOUNG PEOPLE A DAY ARE POURING IN TO SEE THE EXHIBITION. THIS YEAR’S SHOW IS THE LARGEST SO FAR SINCE WE STARTED THIS ANNUAL EVENT IN 1972 AND IT SEEMS THAT OUR SHOW IS GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR, THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE PARTICIPANTS.+
THE EXHIBITION WILL REMAIN OPEN DAILY FROM 9.30 A.M. TO 6.30 P.M. UNTIL SUNDAY WHEN IT WILL CLOSE AT 4.30 P.M.
- o -
/5
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
- 5 -
EXTENSION OF VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRE COMPLETED
******
AN INFORMAL RECEPTION WILL BE HELD IN THE COMPOUND OF THE TO KWA WAN MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE CENTRE’S EXTENSION.
THE NEW EXTENSION WAS COMPLETED AND HANDED OVER TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR.
THE CENTRE, WHICH IS MANNED BY A STAFF OF 15, CARRIES OUT INSPECTIONS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OMNIBUSES, PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES, KOWLOON BASED TAXIS AND PUBLIC HIRE CARS, NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS, SECOND-HAND IMPORTED VEHICLES AND ALL NEW GOODS VEHICLES.
IT IS CAPABLE OF CARRYING OUT 36,000 INSPECTIONS A YEAR.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE RECEPTION AND TO VIEW THE CENTRE’S FACILITIES TOMORROW AT 4 P.M. IN THE COMPOUND OF THE VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRE IN LONG YUET STREET, KOWLOON CITY. MR. T.A. HAHN OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST THE PRESS.
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/6
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
- 6 -
REGIONAL SEMINAR ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND DEAF
*****
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL HOST A REGIONAL SEMINAR ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND THE DEAF NEXT WEEK.
THE SEMINAR, ORGANISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO) AND THE DANISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (DANIDA), WILL BE HELD AT THE LEE GARDENS HOTEL FROM DECEMBER 1 TO 17.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM 13 ASIAN COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG WILL TAKE PART IN THE SEMINAR. THEY INCLUDE 25 DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WELFARE, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS AND PROFESSIONAL WORKERS ACTIVELY CONNECTED WITH NATIONAL VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SCHEMES OR SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES IN THE FIELD OF VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, PLACEMENT OR SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT FOR THE DISABLED WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE BLIND AND THE DEAF.
THE SEMINAR IS TO OFFER DELEGATES THE OPPORTUNITY OF STUDYING IN DETAIL THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE TWO LARGEST DISABILITY GROUPS IN ASIA, NAMELY, THE BLIND AND THE DEAF, AS WELL AS THE SPECIALISED REHABILITATION MEASURES THEY REQUIRE.
MR. F.K. LI, SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY ON WEDNESDAY. THE PROGRAMME OF THE 17-DAY SEMINAR WILL BE PRACTICALLY ORIENTATED AND ALLOW FOR GROUPS OF PARTICIPANTS TO STUDY WITH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS SPECIALISTS. THERE WILL ALSO BE LECTURES, FILMS, GROUP AND PLENARY DISCUSSIONS AND VISITS OF OBSERVATION.
THE 13 PARTICIPATING ASIAN COUNTRIES ARE : AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, BRUNEI, BURMA, FIJI, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, NEPAL, PAKISTAN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, SINGAPORE, SOLOMON ISLANDS AND SRI LANKA.
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/7
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
7
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL COURSES AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES
* K K * *
THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AND THE KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE PLAN TO RUN A TOTAL OF 49 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PART-TIME EVENING SHORT COURSES FROM NEXT MONTH TO MARCH NEXT YEAR.
THE COURSES RANGE FROM FABRIC UTILISATION AND CUTTING ROOM TECHNIQUES TO COMMERCIAL CORRESPONDENCE AND COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND PROGRAMMING.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR THESE COURSES CAN BE OBTAINED, IN PERSON, FROM THE APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OFFERING THE COURSES FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. AND 7 P.M. TO 8 P.M. ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 A.M. TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS.
DETAILS OF THE COURSES AND OTHER INFORMATION ARE CONTAINED IN AN ADVERTISEMENT WHICH WILL APPEAR IN A LEADING ENGLISH AND CHINESE NEWSPAPERS TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 11.
INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS INTENDING TO SPONSOR THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR SUCH COURSES MAY OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS BY TELEPHONING THE APPROPRIATE INSTITUTE.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE: MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (5-745321 EXT. 30), KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (12-246221 EXT. 30) AND KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (3-414331 EXT. 30).
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE COMMENCING DATES OF THE COURSES.
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/8
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
8
PRESENTATION OF RETIREMENT GIFT
******
TWO STAFF MEMBERS OF THE P.W.D.’S BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ARE RETIRING SHORTLY AFTER A TOTAL OF 72 YEARS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
THEY ARE MR. LAM SHIU-PANG, CLERICAL OFFICER, YIU, OFFICE ATTENDANT.
AND MR. KAM
TO MARK THE OCCASION, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR, MR. E.T. KENNARD, WILL PRESENT EACH OF THEM WITH A RETIREMENT GIFT TOMORROW (FRIDAY) ON BEHALF OF THEIR COLLEAGUES.
MR. KAM FIRST JOINED THE P.W.D. AS A MESSENGER IN 1939 AND HAS SERVED THE P.W.D. EVER SINCE.
MR. LAM JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A CLERK CLASS III IN 1941. HE WAS PROMOTED TO CLERK CLASS II IN 1953 AND TO CLERICAL OFFICER I IN 1963. HE HAS WORKED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S BUILDING ORDINANCE OFFICE SINCE 1958.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY. IT WILL BE HELD AT 4 P.M. TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE, 9TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
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TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KWAI CHUNG
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT LEARNER DRIVERS WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE SECTION OF KWAI FUK ROAD WEST OF SHING FUK STREET, KWAI CHUNG, FROM 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 27).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS MEASURE WAS INTENDED TO ALLEVIATE THE EXISTING TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT KWAI FUK ROAD AND GIN DRINKER’S BAY ROAD.
ALSO FROM 10 A.M. ON THAT DAY, VEHICLES TRAVELLING IN KWONG FUK ROAD (KOWLOON-BOUND) WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING RIGHT INTO PO HEUNG STREET, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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/9
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1976
9
MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL FUN FAIR * * * *
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS TO HOLD A FUN FAIR FOR ABOUT 600 MEMBERS OF ITS STAFF, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THIS SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 28).
THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE MERCHANT NAVY SPORTS GROUND IN CHATHAM ROAD FROM 1.30 P.M. TO 5 P.M.
IN ADDITION TO 12 GAME STALLS, A MERRY-GO-ROUND AND A NUMBER OF STALLS SELLING SOFT DRINKS AND SNACKS, THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ARCHERY STALL WHICH OFFERS ALL PARTICIPANTS A CHANCE TO TRY THEIR HAND AT ARCHERY. A CHINESE MARTIAL ART PERFORMANCE WILL TAKE PLACE AT 3 P.M.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FAIR WILL BE A RAFFLE DRAW BY MRS. A.-FLETCHER, WIFE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF TO COVER THE
FAIR
- - 0 - -
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT HANG HAU
******
A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATIONS AT HANG HAU RURAL COMMITTEE FOR RESIDENTS AND PERSONS LIVING NEARBY ON DECEMBER 3.
THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS AND 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.
REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M.
ALL PERSONS LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR IDENTITY CARDS. THEY SHOULD REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
- 0 -
HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY
Thursday, November 25, 1976 t
WAY AHEAD CLEAR FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO BUILD FIRST 6,000 FLATS FOR SALE
The Housing Authority has been assured of the necessary sites and funds to allow it to proceed with the planning and construction of the first 6,000 flats for sale within the public housing sector.
Following on months of study of various aspects of home ownership for lower-middle income groups by the Working Party on Home Ownership, chaired by the Financial Secretary, Government has decided to proceed without further delay to the planning and construction stage. The first flats will not be completed until 1979/80, and meantime the Working Party will continue its study of how best to provide the necessary mortgage funds on reasonable terms, including easier mortgage interest rates.
An annual production of 5,000 flats-for-sale is planned, to produce a total of 30,00k flats. This additional public housing output (over and above the main rented programme for lower-income groups) will compensate for the slow-down in output arising from unavoidable economies during the recent recession, and will help to raise total public housing production more quickly to a level where it will make an appreciable impact on housing shortages.
The first sites are situated at Chai Wan, Aberdeen, Laiehikok Headland, Homantin and Sha Tin. The Housing Department will now proceed with detailed planning of each site and prepare proposals for the Building Committee’s consideration.
/2.....
2
Many details of the scheme have still to be settled, including the exact definition of eligible households.
It is expected-that once the flats are sold the Housing Authority will be responsible for their management and maintenance, and that the owners will be required to pay a monthly management fee. Good management will maintain and increase the value of these flats.
HOMES FOR 137,000 PEOPLE IN CLEARWATER BAY ROAD AREA SECRETARY FOR HOUSING IMPRESSED BY CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
Two large public housing estates and a smaller one which will • • •.*»•
.provide homes for a total of 137,000 people are being built in the Clearwater Bay Road area in North Kowloon.
’ They are Shun Lee Estate (66,000 people), Ngau Chi
Wan Estate (60,000 people), and Fu Shan Estate (.11,000 people).
Construction works on these estates, designed by architects of Housing and Public Works Departments are forging ahead on all fronts. .i ' ' i ’ .
Mr. I.M. Lightbody, Secretary for Housing, and Mr. Cheung Sing-hoi, Housing Architect of the Housing Department, visited the three estate sites this (Thursday) afternoon to see how the work is D •
getting on, and both were impressed'with current progress on all three.
Shun Lee Tsuen Estate, the largest of the three, is being built on a 70-acre site near Anderson Road and the first phase of the project comprising three housing blocks, a commercial complex, a carpark and two estate schools, is taking shape.
Building work is progressing well on two housing blocks, the commercial complex and one estate school and work on the substructure of one other housing block; an estate school and the carpark is getting on smoothly.
/2......
2
Foundation work on the aecond phase of the housing scheme is also being carried out and excavation for caisson work is almost completed.
Three more twin-tower housing blocks, another carpark and a primary school will be built on this site.
At Ngau Chi Wan Estate, foundation work, including caissons and piling, is being carried out on the 40-acre site formed on both sides of Clearwater Bay Road.
Building of the super-structures on this estate will begin early next year and the two sections of the estate will be linked by elevated walkways over Clearwater Bay Road.
Fu Shan Estate is being developed on a samller site close to Choi Hung Estate. Sub-structure work is now at an advanced stage.
The estate comprises three housing blocks i_nd a commercial centre, together with a carpark, a primary school and other ancilliary facilities. - .
: ' • r • • t
********
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976.
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
TWO MILLIONTH OVERSEAS TELEPHONE CALL ..................... j RESUMPTION OF PROPERTIES IN 30WRINGT0N ROAD ............... -FIRING PRACTICE ...........................................
SOCIAL WORK — A CHALLENGING CAREER ........................ s FIRST AIDED GIRLS SCHOOL IN ABERDEEN OPENED .... g SECOND GRADUATION CEREMONY OF INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL
WORK TRAINING ............................................. 7
CIVIL AID SERVICES ANNUAL SPORTS DAY ...................... g SAFER INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR DRY BATTERY WORKERS ...... 9 WORKERS TO GET FOUR MORE REST DAYS NEXT YEAR .............. 10
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976
1
TWO MILLIONTH OVERSEAS TELEPHONE CALL ******
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TODAY (FRIDAY) MADE A TELEPHONE CALL TO SIR ROBERT BLACK (GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG 1958-1964), IN ENGLAND TO MARK THE TWO MILLIONTH OUTGOING INTERNATIONAL CALL THIS YEAR -- THE FIRST TIME OVER TWO MILLION INTERNATIONAL CALLS HAVE BEEN MADE FROM HONG KONG IN ANY ONE YEAR.
SIR DENYS MADE THE CALL AT 5 P.M. FROM HIS OFFICE IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
ALSO PRESENT WERE MR. G.R. ROSS, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY- MR. ERIC WALKER, DIRECTOR AND GENERAL MANAGER OF HKTC, AND MR. G.F.A. WARWICK, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CABLE AND WIRELESS.
IN HIS CALL, THE ACTING GOVERNOR REFERRED TO THE TWO MILLIONTH INTERNATIONAL CALL, AND SAID s +IT DOES SHOW THE TREMENDOUS WAY IN WHICH OUR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS HAS GROWN DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS.
HE ALSO TOLD SIR ROBERT OF THE CHANGES IN HONG KONG BETWEEN 1969 WHEN HE RETURNED HERE FOR A BRIEF VISIT AND TODAY.
AT THE END OF THE SEVEN-MINUTE CALL, SIR ROBERT GAVE HIS BEST WISHES TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND CONGRATULATED THE TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENT.
+IT IS A SPLENDID MILESTONE,* HE ADDED.
HONG KONG IS RENOWNED FOR ITS EXCELLENT INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES UNDER WHICH MANY TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS ARE ABLE TO DIAL INTERNATIONAL CALLS DIRECT BY USING THE INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIBER DIALLING SERVICE. INTERNATIONAL CALLS HAVE DRAMATICALLY GROWN FROM 143,000 IN 1964 WHEN SIR ROBERT WAS HERE TO OVER TWO MILLION THIS YEAR.
IT IS RECALLED THAT IN 1958, THERE WERE ONLY 20 INTERNATIONAL SERVICE SWITCHBOARDS AND ALL INTERNATIONAL CALLS WERE RADIO AND INVOLVED A MINIMUM OF TWO OPERATORS TO HANDLE THE CALL.
IN 1963, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY OPENED THEIR CENTRAL INTERNATIONAL SWITCHBOARD EQUIPPED WITH 36 OPERATORS POSITIONS. THESE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY EXTENDED TO 126 OPERATORS POSITIONS TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND ON THE SERVICE.
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY OPENED ITS NEW INTERNATIONAL CALL CENTRE IN WAN CHAI WHERE AN ADDITIONAL 74 CORDLESS SWITCHBOARDS OF THE MOST MODERN DESIGN WERE BROUGHT INTO SERVICE TO SUPPLEMENT THE 126 SWITCHBOARDS EXISTING IN ITS CENTRAL EXCHANGE AT THAT TIME.
/OVER THE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER, 26, 1976
2
OVER THE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL CALLS MADE FROM HONG KONG HAS GROWN AT VARYING RATES OF BETWEEN 15 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT PER ANNUM. BY 1964, THE NUMBER OF OUTGOING INTERNATIONAL CALLS HAD REACHED 143,000 A YEAR.
ALTHOUGH THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT AT THE TIME IT IS MUCH LESS THAN THE 200,000 INTERNATIONAL CALLS NOW MADE EACH MONTH.
ALSO, THE 14,500 CALLS NOW MADE TO SINGAPORE EACH MONTH EQUAL THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CALLS MADE TO SINGAPORE IN THE WHOLE OF 1964.
TO CATER THIS TREMENDOUS GROWTH, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY HAS PROVIDED MORE OPERATORS AND INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT FOR THEM TO USE.
TO MATCH THIS EFFORT, THE CABLE AND WIRELESS LIMITED HAS PROVIDED MORE INTERNATIONAL CIRCUITS TO HONG KONG AND INSTALLED MODERN SWITCHING EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR INTERNATIONAL SWITCHING CENTRE IN NEW MERCURY HOUSE.
THE CLARITY OF MODERN RADIO CIRCUITS VIA SATELLITE IS A FAR CRY FROM THE CRACKLE OF THE LONG WAVE RADIO OF 20 YEARS AGO.
IN MARCH THIS YEAR, THE INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE SERVICE FACILITIES WERE FURTHER ENHANCED WHEN MANY TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS WERE THEMSELVES ABLE TO DIAL INTERNATIONAL CALLS DIRECT BY USING THE INTERNATIONAL SUBSRCIBER DIALLING SERVICE -- THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT FOR OVERSEAS CALLS -- WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE TO 14 OTHER COUNTRIES.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976
- 3 -
RESUMPTION OF PROPERTIES IN BOWRINGTON ROAD ******
RESUMPTION OF PROPERTIES IN THE BOWRINGTON ROAD VICINITY TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW MARKET IS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY.
A TOTAL OF TEN BUILDINGS ARE INVOLVED IN THE RESUMPTION. OFFICIAL RESUMPTION NOTICE WAS POSTED IN JUNE THIS YEAR, AND THE PROPERTIES CONCERNED HAVE ALL REVERTED BACK TO THE CROWN IN JULY.
IN ADDITION TO THE PROPERTIES RESUMED, 17 TENEMENT BUILDINGS ON CROWN LAND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED EITHER BY AGREEMENT WITH THE FORMER OWNERS OR UPON THE EXPIRATION OF NON-RENEWABLE LEASES.
FORMER DOMESTIC TENANTS OF THE PROPERTIES RESUMED HAVE ALL BEEN OFFERED COMPENSATION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CROWN LANDS OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY. OWNER OCCUPIERS WILL IN THE NEAR FUTURE RECEIVE OFFERS OF EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION FOR OCCUPATION ON THE SAME BASIS AS THE DOMESTIC TENANTS.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THERE HAD BEEN QUITE A NUMBER OF LETTERS OF OFFER WHICH WERE SENT TO THE LAST KNOWN ADDRESSES BUT RETURNED BY THE POST OFFICE ON NON-DELIVERY BECAUSE WHEN THE PEOPLE MOVED OUT, THEY DID NOT NOTIFY EITHER THE P.W.D. OR THE POST OFFICE OF THEIR NEW ADDRESSES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IF ANY EX-TENANTS OF THOSE RESUMED BUILDINGS CONSIDERED THE PAYMENT OF THEIR COMPENSATION OVERDUE THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE CROWN LANDS OFFICE.
AS REGARDS COMPENSATION FOR COMMERCIAL TENANTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, LETTERS OF OFFER TO THEM HAD ALSO BEEN SENT.
COMPENSATION FOR THESE COMMERCIAL TENANTS IS CALCULATED ON A RANGE OF RATES AND THE TOP FIGURE IN THE RANGE IS ABOUT $40 PER SQUARE FOOT OF SPACE OCCUPIED. THE TOP FIGURE IN THE RANGE FOR DOMESTIC PROPERTY IS $20 PER SQUARE FOOT.
IF TENANTS THINK THE AMOUNT BEING OFFERED IS INADEQUATE THEY CAN, IN THE CASE OF A BUSINESS TENANCY, SUBMIT STATUTORY CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION, OR TAKE THEIR CASES TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL. IT IS ALSO OPEN FOR DOMESTIC TENANTS TO SUBMIT THEIR CLAIMS TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL. WHERE A TENANT OF A RESUMED PROPERTY INTENDS TO SUBMIT SUCH A CLAIM THE CROWN LANDS OFFICE IS NEVERTHELESS PREPARED TO MAKE AN EX-GRATIA ADVANCE PAYMENT OF THE AMOUNT OFFERED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE TENANTS’ RIGHT TO SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMIT HIS CLAIM. HOWEVER, STATUTORY CLAIMS AND APPLICATIONS TO THE TRIBUNAL MUST BE SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE.
/LANDLORDS AND ....
FRIDAY, NCVSMB2R 26, 1976
LANDLORDS AND OWNER-OCCUPIERS ARE BEING COMPENSATED WITH THE FULL MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES RESUMED AT THE DATE OF REVERSION.
IN THE CASE OF OCCUPIERS OF THE SEVERAL BUILDINGS THE CROWN LEASES OF WHICH EXPIRED IN 1973/74 AND WERE NOT RENEWED THEY ARE BEING COMPENSATED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE TENANTS OF THE RESUMED PROPERTIES. THESE OCCUPIERS WILL SHORTLY BE ASKED TO COLLECT THEIR COMPENSATION FROM THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT.
IN ADDITION TO CASH COMPENSATION, FORMER OWNER-OCCUPIERS AND DOMESTIC TENANTS ARE ALL OFFERED ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING, PROVIDED THEY ARE QUALIFIED UNDER THE HOUSING AUTHORITY RULES.
0
FIRING PRACTICE n * * *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE ON CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON FIVE 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: -
DATE HOURS
DECEMBER 2 (THURSDAY) 9 A.M. - 5 P.M
DECEMBER 3 (FRIDAY) 9 A.M. - 5 P.M
DECEMBER 14 (TUESDAY) 9 A.M. - 6 P.M.
DECEMBER 15 (WEDNESDAY) 8 A.M. - 6 P.M,
DECEMBER 16 (THURSDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M,
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976
5
SOCIAL WORK - A CHALLENGING CAREER
*******
A SOCIAL WORKER MAKES THE BEST USE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE SOLUTION OF INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND SERVE AS AGENTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY OF WAH YAN COLLEGE, HONG KONG, HE SAID THE SOCIAL WORKER SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY AT HEART AND SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL POLICY TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS.
+THE FULFILMENT OF ANY OF THESE FUNCTIONS CONSTITUTES A CHALLENGING YET REWARDING CAREER FOR ANYONE WHO WILL CONSIDER CHOOSING SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION,* HE STRESSED.
MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT SOCIAL WORK IN HONG KONG TODAY EMBRACED TWO MAIN STREAMS OF SERVICES : REMEDIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL.
ON REMEDIAL SERVICE, HE NOTED THAT SOCIAL WORKERS’ ATTENTION WAS FOCUSSED ON PROVIDING COUNSELLING AS WELL AS TANGIBLE SERVICES TO THOSE DISADVANTAGED AND VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, LIKE THE HANDICAPPED, THE ELDERLY, THE DELINQUENT, FAMILIES IN NEED AND PERSONS WITH BEHAVIOUR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.
+ THESE ARE BY NO MEANS SIMPLE JOBS. TO HELP SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS, SOCIAL WORKERS MUST HAVE GENUINE RESPECT FOR PERSONS WHO NEED HELP AND RECOGNISE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
+TO DO THESE JOBS, SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD EQUIP THEMSELVES WITH ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE IN HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND DYNAMICS OF HUMAN RELATIONS AS WELL AS THE NECESSARY SKILLS OF INTERVENTION.
+THEY SHOULD POSSESS AT THEIR FINGER TIPS A COMPREHENSIVE MAP OF VARIOUS TYPES OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG WHICH CAN BE USED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE THEY ARE HELPING.*
+MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL,* HE CONTINUED, +SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD KNOW HOW TO LISTEN, TO TALK AND TO PROVIDE MATERIAL AID TO PEOPLE WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SENSITIVITY TOWARDS THEIR FEELINGS, SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE STRENGTENED WITH GROWING CONFIDENCE, NOT WITH GUILTY FEELINGS.*
TURNING TO THE DEVELOPMENTAL SIDE, MR. LEE EMPHASISED THAT SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY, DEVELOPING LOCAL RESIDENTS’ SENSE OF IDENTITY, SENSE OF BELONGING AND SENSE OF WORTH.
/♦THEY MAY
FRIDAY, N0V5MBS.R 26, 1976
+THEY MAY AIM AT WORKING WITH GROUPS OF PARENTS, STUDENTS WORKING YOUTHS, OR LOCAL LEADERS. THEIR JOBS VARY FROM ORGANISING INTEREST GROUPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELPING TO PROMOTE SELF-HELP PROJECTS TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS,* MR. LEE POINTED OUT.
+THEY ARE BASICALLY CONCERNED WITH SOCIAL BETTERMENT. TO DO THIS, THEY MUST HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND TRADITIONAL STRUCTURE AND FEATURES OF LOCAL COMMUNITY,* HE ADDED.
BEFORE THEY EMBARKED ON THEIR CHALLENGING TASKS, HE STRESSED, THEY MUST ALSO KNOW FOR SURE THE WAY TO GET SUPPORT AND SANCTION FROM THE COMMUNITY.
FINALLY, HE ASSURED THE STUDENTS THAT SOCIAL WORK WOULD OFFER THEM A MOST CHALLENGING AND SATISFYING PROFESSION. +IT WILL NOT MAKE YOU RICH- BUT IT WILL ENABLE YOU TO MAKE A REAL AND
VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE,* HE SAID
- - - - 0 -----------
FIRST AIDED GIRLS SCHOOL IN ABERDEEN OPENED
X X X X X X
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY TODAY OPENED THE PUI TAK CANOSSIAN COLLEGE, THE FIRST AIDED SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN THE ABERDEEN AREA.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, MR. TOPLEY SAID: +THE COMPLETION OF PUI TAK COLLEGE PROVIDES YET ANOTHER FINE EXAMPLE OF THE HIGH DEGREE OF CO-OPERATION THAT CONTINUES TO EXIST BETWEEN SPONSORING BODIES — BE THEY RELIGIOUS OR LAY — AND THE GOVERNMENT, AND WITHOUT WHICH THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG WOULD BE SERIOUSLY INHIBITED.+
CONGRATULATING THE CANOSSIAN MISSION AND ALL THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THIS PROJECT TO FRUITION, THE DIRECTOR SAID THE MISSION HAD BEEN PARTICULARLY ACTIVE IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION.
THE NEW COLLEGE BROUGHT TO SIX THE NUMBER OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS SPONSORED BY THE MISSION WHICH WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING TEN PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
THE NEW 24-CLASSR00M SECONDARY SCHOOL HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 600 GIRLS ALREADY.
MR. TOPLEY MADE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS ON THE NAME OF THE COLLEGE - +PUI TAK+, THAT IS, +DEVELOP VIRTUE*.
HE SAID: + IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT APART FROM THE ACQUISITION OF BASIC SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, THE PUPIL SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP MORAL QUALITIES AND TO STRENGTHEN CHARACTER.*
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976
7
SECOND GRADUATION CEREMONY OF I.S.W.T.
******
FOR SOCIAL WORKERS WITH
THERE WILL EE AN INCREASING DEMAND
THE GOVERNMENT’S DECLARED POLICY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH SOCIAL PROGRESS, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR. S.Y. CHUNG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE SECOND GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL WORK TRAINING AT THE CITY HALL AT WHICH 80 STUDENTS RECEIVED THEIR CERTIFICATES IN SOCIAL WORK AFTER COMPLETING THE TWO-YEAR COURSE.
IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF TH- HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, DR. CHUNG TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME THE STAFF AND STUDENTS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR JOINING THE POLYTECHNIC FROM THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.
+T0 EE A TRUE POLYTECHNIC WE HAVE TO OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF DIVERSIFIED COURSES OF STUDY TO MEET THE VARYING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THIS REASON WE AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT.+
DR. CHUNG ALSO BELIEVED THAT SUCH AN INTEGRATION WOULD BRING MANY ADVANTAGES FOR THE STUDENTS.
HE NOTED THAT THE SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS WOULD HAVE MUCH BETTER AND LARGER PREMISES AND GREATER FACULTY SUPPORT FROM OTHER DISCIPLINES AND SERVICES AND THEY WOULD ALSC HAVE MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH A LARGE BODY OF CONTEMPORARY COUNTERPARTS.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THE NEEDY STUDENTS WOULD EE QUALIFIED FOR THE GENEROUS POLYTECHNIC GRANTS AND LOANS SCHEME.
DURING THE CEREMONY, MR. LIU LIT-MO OF THE CHIU CHOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE* MR. LIU LIT-MAN OF THE CHIU CHOW ASSOCIATION, MR. HWANG KING-HUNG OF THE PENINSULA LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG, MR. LAM HEI-CHUNG OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE I.S.W.T. AND NR. RONALD LU OF THE YOUTH ORGANISATION FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED PRESENTED A TOTAL OF 68 BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH ABOUT ■;30,900 TO THE STUDENTS OF THE CURRENT COURSE.
IN THANKING THE ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID THESE DONATIONS WOULD NOT ONLY ASSIST CAPABLE AND NEEDY STUDENTS BUT wOULD ALSC REPRESENT +AN INDIRECT BUT VERY REAL AND IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY*.
/+THEY .'/ILL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976
- 8 -
+THEY WILL HELP PRODUCE A MUCH NEEDED GROUP OF SOCIAL WORKERS WHO ARE DEDICATED TO THE WORK TOWARDS HUMAN BETTERMENT IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
IN HIS INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, THE PRINCIPAL OF THE INSTITUTE, MR. L.E. MACQUARRIE, SAID THAT THE INSTITUTE WAS WORKING TO DEVELOP A NEW COURSE IN CHILD CARE IN CO-OPERATION WITH CHILD CARE EXPERTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS.
+IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS COURSE WILL PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED MANPOWER FOR CENTRES WHICH COME UNDER THE NEW CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE, AND IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS ORDINANCE IN HELPING TO RAISE STANDARDS OF CHILD CARE IN HONG KONG,+ HE STRESSED.
ALL THE 83 GRADUATES ARE NOW IN FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, 23 IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR AND 63 IN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, MAINLY IN CARITAS, BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS ASSOCIATION AND SALVATION ARMY.
-------0---------
C.A.S. ANNUAL SPORTS DAY
*****
THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL SPORTS DAY ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 28) AT THE MONG KOK STADIUM
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY WILL BE THE INVITATION RELAY EVENT IN WHICH TEAMS FROM MANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT AND THE SCOUTS ASSOCIATION WILL PARTICIPATE.
WINNERS OF THE VARIOUS EVENTS WILL BE PRESENTED WITH PRIZES BY THE CAS DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, MR. HO TSE-KIN.
THE ANNUAL ATHLETIC MEET IS ONE OF MANY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES THE C.A.S. ORGANISES FOR ITS VOLUNTEER MEMBERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENT IVES TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE MONG KOK STADIUM FROM 9 A.M. ON THAT DAY.
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/9.....
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976
9
SAFER INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR DRY BATTERY WORKERS *****
THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (DRY BATTERIES) REGULATIONS 1976 APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLIER THIS YEAR AND PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY COMES INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 1977.
THESE REGULATIONS,WHICH AIM TO CONTROL HEALTH HAZARDS POSED BY CARBON BLACK, MANGANESE DIOXIDE AND AMMONIUM CHLORIDE USED IN MANUFACTURING DRY BATTERIES ARE INTENDED TO BRING ABOUT A SAFER INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR WORKERS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT CARBON BLACK CAUSED IRRITATION TO THE EYES’ MANGANESE DIOXIDE WAS TOXIC AND COULD HAVE CUMULATIVE POISONOUS EFFECTS ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM’ AND AMMONIUM CHLORIDE COULD CAUSE DERMATITIS.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE MAIN RISK WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF POISONING BY MANGANESE DIOXIDE WHICH MIGHT BE INGESTED, INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +UNDER THE REGULATIONS, FACTORY PROPRIETORS MUST TAKE THE FOLLOWING MEASURES.
(I) PROVIDE PROPER VENTILATION OF WORKPLACES TO KEEP CONTAMINANTS IN THE ATMOSPHERE WITHIN SAFE LIMITS-
(II) SEGREGATE CERTAIN PROCESSES OF MANUFACTURE, AND PROVIDE PROPER STORAGE OF CHEMICALS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CONTAMINATION’
(III) PROVIDE PROTECTIVE CLOTHINGS FOR WORKERS"
(IV) MAINTAIN A MINIMUM STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS OF WORKPLACES- AND
(V) PROVIDE WASHING FACILITIES FOR WORKERS.+
MEMBERS OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WILL CALL ON FACTORIES MAKING DRY BATTERIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND DELIVER TO THE MANAGEMENT AN EXPLANATORY LETTER LISTING THESE REQUIREMENTS. IF NECESSARY, THEY WILL ALSO GIVE ON-THE-SPOT ADVICE AS TO THE BEST WAYS OF COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
0
/9
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976
- 10
WORKERS TO GET FOUR MORE REST DAYS NEXT YEAR ******
THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1976 WHICH PROVIDES FOR ONE REST DAY IN EVERY SEVEN DAY PERIOD FOR HONG KONG WORKERS COMPLETED ITS THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
THE NEW BILL WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 2 NEXT YEAR WHEN IT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REST DAYS IN A YEAR FOR HONG KONG WORKERS FROM 48 TO 52. IT WILL AFFECT ALL NON-MANUAL WORKERS EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH AND ALL MANUAL WORKERS UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.
A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS, WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS COULD NOT WORK FOR MORE THAN SIX DAYS IN ANY WEEK WHILE ALL EMPLOYEES TO WHOM PART IV OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE APPLIED ARE AT PRESENT ENTITLED TO NOT LESS THAN FOUR REST DAYS IN A MONTH.
HE 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 ADDED THAT EXISTING PROVISIONS WERE RETAINED IN THE ORDINANCE TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO EMPLOYERS IN SUBSTITUTING ALTERNATIVE REST DAYS.
PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1976
CONTENTS PA6E N0>
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY UP BY FOUR PER CENT .............................................. t
SURVEY ON HOME OWNERSHIP ................................... 2
COURSE FOR YOUTH LEADERS ................................... 3
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ....................................... 3
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1976
1
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY UP BY 4 PER CENT *****
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS IN HONG KONG IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER WAS 778,788, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST EMPLOYMENT SURVEY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 29,942 OR FOUR PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH THE FIGURE OF 748,846 FOR JUNE THIS YEAR.
IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, THE FIVE LARGEST INDUSTRY GROUPS REMAINED WEARING APPAREL (273,089), TEXTILES (117,908), ELFCTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES (88,872), PLASTIC PRODUCTS (79,427) AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (66,152).
AT THE INDUSTRY SECTOR LEVEL, MAIN INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN GARMENTS (+9,408), ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS (+8,310), HANDBAGS
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS EXCEPT MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (+1,792), WATCHES AND CLOCKS (+1,788), GLOVES (+1,666) AND KNITWEARS FROM YARN (+1,571).
DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN WOOL KNITTING (-1,331), COTTON WEAVING (-857) AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS (-598). '
WHEN COMPARED WITH A TOTAL OF 627,631 PEOPLE ENGAGED IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 151,157 PERSONS OR 24 PER CENT.
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/2
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1976
2
SURVEY ON HOME OWNERSHIP
*****
A HOUSEHOLD SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED RECENTLY BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT’S WORKING PARTY ON HOME OWNERSHIP.
ITS PURPOSE WAS TO ENQUIRE INTO ATTITUDES TOWARDS HOME OWNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY AMONGST THOSE HOUSEHOLDS WHO DECLARED THAT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ON NORMAL MARKET TERMS. SOME 2,000 HOUSEHOLDS FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING WERE INTERVIEWED.
THE RESPONSE WAS ENCOURAGING. ABOUT HALF OF THOSE INTERVIEWED EXPRESSED AN AMBITION TO OWN A HOME OF THEIR OWN. THE MAIN ADVANTAGE THEY SAW FROM THIS WAS THE AVOIDANCE OF RENT INCREASES' PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP AND THE PROSPECT OF HAVING A HOME TO ADAPT TO THEIR OWN PERSONAL TASTES AND REQUIREMENTS WERE ALSO IMPORTANT POINTS.
THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE WAS FELT TO ARISE FROM THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE' AND THIS REINFORCES THE WORKING PARTY’S INTENTION THAT MAINTENANCE SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR FLATS WHICH IT WILL BUILD UNDER THIS SCHEME.
THE SURVEY GATHERED A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE HOUSEHOLDS INTERVIEWED. OWING TO THE NATURE OF THE SURVEY, HOWEVER, AND THE METHOD OF SELECTING HOUSEHOLDS, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRAW FIRM QUANTITATIVE CONCLUSIONS AS TO JUST HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS WILL CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN WHATEVER SCHEME IS FINALLY DRAWN UP.
THIS WILL ANYWAY DEPEND ON THE DETAILS OF SUCH A SCHEME, BUT THE SURVEY WILL BE OF CONSIDERABLE HELP FOR THE WORKING PARTY IN FRAMING THESE DETAILS.
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/3
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1976
- 5 -
YOUTH LEADERS COURSE * * * *
A SIX-DAY LABORATORY TRAINING COURSE ORGANISED FOR YOUTH LEADERS IS TO START TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
ORGANISED BY THE YOUTH WORK UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE COURSE WILL RUN FROM NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMBER 12.
A TOTAL OF 200 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED AND 43 YOUNG PEOPLE COMPRISING 23 GIRLS AND 20 BOYS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE.
CONDUCTED IN FIVE SEPARATE SESSIONS, THE COURSE IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIP AND THEIR AWARENESS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
NO FORMAL LECTURE IS INCLUDED IN THE TRAINING PROGRAMME. THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS. EACH GROUP MEMBER WILL LEARN, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF AN EXPERIENCED MEMBER OF THE YOUTH WORK UNIT, WAYS TO DISCOVER ONESELF AND TO ESTABLISH SELF-CONFIDENCE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN GAMES AND DISCUSSIONS.
THE LABORATORY METHOD IS A NEW APPROACH IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN THROUGH EXPERIMENTING IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT.
THE COURSE IS THE TENTH IN THE SERIES AND IS OPEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 18 AND 25 WHO SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST FORM FIVE EDUCATION LEVEL.
THE FIRST COURSE OF ITS KIND WAS CONDUCTED IN 1974 AND HAS EVER SINCE BECOME A POPULAR PROGRAMME.
- - 0 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT WESTBOUND VEHICLES ALONG YUEN LONG MAIN ROAD WILL BE PROHIBITED TEMPORARILY FROM TURNING LEFT INTO TAI SAN STREET FROM 10 A.M. ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 29).
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THIS ARRANGEMENT, WHICH WOULD LAST FOR TWO MONTHS, WAS TO FACILITATE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE JUNCTION OF YUEN LONG MAIN ROAD AND TAI SAN STREET.
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED THAT ALSO WITH EFFECT FROM 10 AJ1. ON THAT DAY. EASTBCVKD VEHICLES ALONG PUI TO ROAD IN TUEN-MUN WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT INTO CaSTLE PEAK ROAD.
THIS RESTRICTION IS INTENDED TO REDUCE THE TRAFFIC CONFLICTS AT THE JUNCTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND PUI TO ROAD AND TO AVOID FURTHER INTERFERENCE WITH THE TRAFFIC ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD WHERE THE WIDTH OF CARRIAGEWAY, SOUTH Or PUI TO ROAD JUNCTION, WILL BE REDUCED TO FACILITATE SLOPE REMEDIAL WORKS.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED Oi< THE AFFECTED PLACES TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATldN BUTL™
BETTER NAVIGATIONAL AIDS FOR SHIPPING
******
NAVIGATIONAL AIDS IN THE EASTERN APPROACHES TO THE HARBOUR WILL BE AUGMENTED TO ENABLE SHIPS USING THIS PASSAGEWAY TO MANOEUVRE WITH EVEN GREATER SAFETY.
LAST YEAR, SOME 7,000 INWARD BOUND AND ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF OUTWARD BOUND VESSELS USED THIS ROUTE AND WERE REPORTED BY WAGLAN SIGNAL STATION WHICH IS NEAR THE SOUTH-EASTERN EXTREMITY OF HONG KONG WATERS.
TO MANAGE THE BUSY SEA TRAFFIC, WAGLAN ISLAND ALREADY HAS THE MOST POWERFUL NAVIGATIONAL AID IN HONG KONG — A LIGHT WITH A RANGE OF 26 MILES, AND A DIAPHONE FOG SIGNAL TO WARN SHIPS DURING THE EARLY MONTHS OF EACH YEAR WHEN VISIBILITY IS OBSCURED BY FOG.
A SUITABLE SITE FOR ANOTHER LIGHTHOUSE ON ONE OF THE NINEPIN GROUP OF ISLANDS HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUND AND IT IS HOPED TO HAVE THE LIGHT COMMISSIONED NEXT YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT’S NAVIGATIONAL AIDS SECTION SAID IT WOULD BE FED BY ACETYLENE GAS AND WOULD BE VISIBLE WITHIN A RANGE OF TEN MILES.
ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT TO NAVIGATIONAL SAFETY IN THE EASTERN APPROACHES WILL BE THE INSTALLATION OF A RANGE OF LIGHTED TRAFFIC SEPARATION BUOYS IN TATHONG CHANNEL TO BE ARRANGED BETWEEN WAGLAN LIGHTHOUSE AND THE LIGHTHOUSE AT TATHONG POINT.
THESE BUOYS, WHICH WILL BE VISIBLE AT NIGHTS AS WELL AS DURING THE DAY, WILL MARK OUT THE LANES FOR INWARD AND OUTWARD GOING VESSELS AND WILL MINIMISE THE RISK OF COLLISION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THEIR INSTALLATION WOULD BEGIN ONCE THE EQUIPMENT ARRIVED IN HONG KONG.
ALSO FOR THE BENEFIT OF SHIPS USING THE EASTERN APPROACHES, THE EXISTING LIGHTHOUSE AT CAPE D’AGUILAR WAS REBUILT LAST YEAR AND ITS BEAM CAN NOW BE SEEN SOME 20 MILES AWAY BY APPROACHING VESSELS.
/THE......
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1976
2
THE NAVIGATIONAL AIDS SECTION HAD A BUSY WORK SCHEDULE LAST YEAR STRENGTHENING AND RE-ALIGNING TO BETTER POSITIONS LIGHTS IN THE WESTERN APPROACHES TO THE HARBOUR.
THIS ROUTE PASSES THROUGH EAST LAMMA CHANNEL TO GREEN ISLAND AND IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE EASTERN PASSAGE — FROM WAGLAN ISLAND TO LEI YUE MUN THROUGH TATHONG CHANNEL.
BEACONS IN THE EAST LAMMA CHANNEL, AT AP LEI PAI, YUEN KOK, SHEK KOK TSUI, WONG CHUK KOK AND PAK LAP PAI WAS INSTALLED WITH MORE POWERFUL LIGHTS, WITH RANGES EXTENDING FROM FIVE OR SEVEN MILES TO TEN MILES, OR FROM 14 MILES TO 20 MILES.
AN EXISTING BEACON ON KAU Yl CHAU, FURTHER TO THE NORTH, WILL ALSO BE ALTERED TO HOUSE A BIGGER AND MORE EFFECTIVE MARINE LANTERN.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE ENABLED VESSELS USING THE WESTERN ROUTE, PARTICULARLY TANKERS AND CONTAINER SHIPS MAKING THEIR WAY TO KWAI CHUNG TERMINAL, TO PROCEED WITH ADDED SAFETY.
THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED: +OUR NAVIGATIONAL AIDS ARE CONTINUOUSLY BEING REPLACED AND REINFORCED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF EXPANDING SHIPPING AND TO FIT IN WITH THE INCREASING SOPHISTICATION OF COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT ON MODERN VESSELS.
+A DEPARTMENTAL STANDING COMMITTEE ON NAVIGATIONAL AIDS MEETS FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IT REVIEWS EXISTING INSTALLATIONS AND CONSIDERS IMPROVEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL AIDS.+
AT THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR, THE SECTION HAD UNDER ITS MAINTENANCE 224 VARIOUS TYPES OF NAVIGATIONAL AID FOR THE BENEFIT OF SHIPS AND SMALL CRAFT IN HONG KONG WATERS, AN INCREASE OF 30 OVER LAST YEAR.
THE FURTHEST OF THESE, IN KAT 0 AND PING CHAU IN MIRS BAY, ARE SOME 40 MILES FROM THE SECTION’S OPERATIONAL BASE IN THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD COMPLEX IN YAU MA TEI.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1976 - 3 -
REGISTRATION OF DEALERS UNDER COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE ****** !
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES TODAY REMINDED THAT THOSE WHO WISH TO BE REGISTERED AS COMMODITY DEALERS UNDER PART IV OF THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE 1976 SHOULD SEND IN THEIR APPLICATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE PART IV OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1, NEXT YEAR AS ANNOUNCED IN THE GAZETTE LAST FRIDAY, ALSO DEALS WITH COMMODITY TRADING ADVISERS AND REPRESENTATIVES.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE FOR A PERSON TO CARRY ON THE BUSINESS OF A COMMODITY DEALER, COMMODITY TRADING ADVISER OR A REPRESENTATIVE ON JANUARY 1, 1977, AND THEREAFTER IF HE IS NOT DULY REGISTERED AS SUCH.
ONE OF THE PRE-CONDITIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF A COMMODITY DEALER IS THAT THE APPLICANT, OR THE CORPORATION OR FIRM TO WHICH HE IS ACCREDITED, MUST BE A SHAREHOLDER OF THE HONG KONG COMMODITY EXCHANGE OR A MEMBER, OR WHOLLY OWNED BY SUCH A MEMBER OF AN OVERSEAS EXCHANGE LISTED IN THE SECOND SCHEDULE TO THE COMMODITES TRADING ORDINANCE, 1976.
ALSO, A COMMODITY DEALER WHO IS NOT A SHAREHOLDER OF THE HONG KONG EXCHANGE COMPANY HAS TO DEPOSIT WITH THE COMMISSIONER $100,000 ON REGISTRATION.
A GUIDANCE PAMPHLET FOR APPLICANTS TOGETHER WITH APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR COMMODITIES TRADING AT ROOM 2404, CONNAUGHT CENTRE, CONNAUGHT ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO SEND IN THEIR COMPLETED FORMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR COMMODITIES TRADING TO PROCESS THE APPLICATIONS.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1976
4
CAREERS ’77 EXHIBITION SUCCESSFUL *****
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S CAREERS ’77 EXHIBITION HAS PROVED A SUCCESS IN ITS NEW VENUE IN KOWLOON.
THE ANNUAL EVENT HAS ATTRACTED ABOUT 92,000 VISITORS, MOSTLY YOUNG PEOPLE, AFTER A PERIOD OF 10 DAYS AT THE KOWLOON RAIL TERMINUS IN HUNG HOM.
THE EXHIBITION CLOSED AT 4.30 P.M. TODAY (SUNDAY).
COMMENTING ON THE ATTENDANCE, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. M.C. LAO SAID: +ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF VISITORS IS ABOUT THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, I THINK WE HAD A BETTER RESPONSE IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE PERIOD OF THIS YEAR’S EXHIBITION WAS SHORTER AND ALSO IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE EXHIBITION WAS HELD IN KOWLOON.
+1 THINK WE HAVE ALSO HIT THE ’TARGETED’ AUDIENCE THIS TIME. IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WHEN THE EXHIBITION WAS HELD AT THE CITY HALL DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, THE AUDIENCE WAS A MIXTURE OF YOUNG AND OLD PEOPLE.
+THIS YEAR WE DELIBERATELY HELD CAREERS ’77 DURING SCHOOL TERM, AND MOST OF OUR VISITORS WERE STUDENTS WHO CAME SPECIALLY FOR THE CAREERS INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
+1 AM PARTICULARLY GLAD TO SEE THE ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE FROM MORE THAN 150 SCHOOLS WHICH HAD ORGANISED SOME 20,000 STUDENTS IN GROUPS TO VISIT THE EXHIBITION,* SAID MR. LAO.
THIS YEAR, THE NUMBER OF STUDENT GROUP VISITS ALMOST DOUBLED THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SAID MR. LAO: +THIS IS INDEED VERY ENCOURAGING BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT SCHOOL AUTHORITIES ARE GIVING INCREASING ATTENTION TO HELP STUDENTS CHOOSE A CAREER WISELY.
+1 HOPE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN OUR CAREER-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TALKS, SEMINARS AND MOBILE EXHIBITIONS.
+THIS IS WHERE THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE CAN COME TOGETHER TO HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THEIR CAREER,* HE ADDED.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1976
5
HUNG HOM TO CENTRAL FERRY SERVICE EXTENDED *****
THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR. I.F.C. MACPHERSON, HAS AUTHORISED THE EXTENSION OF THE STAR FERRY COMPANY’S HUNG HOM TO CENTRAL SERVICE FOR A FURTHER YEAR FROM DECEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.
THE SERVICE HAS BEEN IN OPERATION ON A TRIAL BASIS FOR ONE YEAR NOW, BUT A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT THIS PERIOD HAD PROVED TOO SHORT TO BASE A DECISION ON THE FUTURE OF THE SERVICE.
THE STAR FERRY RESUMED THE HUNG HOM TO CENTRAL SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 30, 1975 FOR AN INITIAL TRIAL PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS AT THE END OF WHICH A FURTHER SIX-MONTH TRIAL PERIOD WAS GRANTED BECAUSE IT WAS FELT THAT THE SERVICE NEEDED MORE TIME TO SETTLE DOWN IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A STABLE LEVEL OF DEMAND.
AT PRESENT, AN AVERAGE OF 4,545 PASSENGERS ARE USING THE SERVICE DAILY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A FULL REVIEW OF THE SERVICE WOULD BE CARRIED OUT EARLY NEXT YEAR AND IF THE SERVICE PROVED FINANCIALLY UNVIABLE, IT WOULD THEN BE STOPPED AT THE END OF THE ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR TRIAL PERIOD.
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HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY SOB®**
Sunday, November 28, 1976
CONVERSION WORK ON LOK FU BLOCK BEGINS ■ BETTER LIVING FOR OVER 100 FAMILIES
•' *. . .. » ...
.The" "in situ" conversion of Block 11 of Lok Fu Estate has
started last week and work is expected to be completed by March next year. r * , .. ' ~‘
•' The pilot scheme is aimed at improving the living conditions
of tenants ia Mark I and II blocks which are not due for redevelopment in the foreseeable future. r/
’ "This, in fact, is a supplement to the Redevelopment Programme and if the pilot scheme at Lok Fu proves successful and is welcomed by tenants, other blocks may be similarly converted," said Mr. D.I. McIntosh, Assistant Director of the Housing Department.
. .. tv. v • . . •• . •
... -' 'r
• Much time and effort have been put into this project by housing staff. Three surveys w**re carried out on Block 11 over the last couple •i:
of months to gauge tenants’ reception to the proposal.
Families were fully briefed on details of the scheme and were asked to discuss them with other family members before indicating to estate staff their preference.
Of the 126 families interviewed, 44 indicated a preference to live in the converted flats. The remaining families favoured moving to new flats in Lai King and Lek Yuen or other urban estates.
2
In the past two to three weeks, some of these families had moved to new homes and the bulk will be moving out next month.
J S • s •
' • - • * ■ • •
At present, there are about 150 back-to-back type flats in the block, but this number will be reduced by approximately half as _ •’ •• r •• - / •
a result of knocking out centre walls. When the work has been completed, flat sizes will range from 160 square feet for three persons to 440 square feet for 10 persons, and rents from $75 - $190 per month.
Each converted flat will be provided with a private balcony, tap, sink and detached toilet.
A spokesman for the Housing Authority said that, with work going on around them, tenants were bound to experience some inconvenience, but it would be kept to a minimum and he felt they would be willing to accept this in order to get improved accommodation.
I t. .
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PRH 7
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
POSSIBLE INCREASE OF RATEABLE VALUES EXPLAINED ............. 1
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS TO TOUR SPECIAL HANDICAPPED SCHOOLS ...................................................... 4
PUBLIC SHOULD HEED RED FIRE DANGER WARNING ................... 5
REGIONAL SEMINAR ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND DEAF ............................................... 6
SIX LOTS OF CROWN LAND FOR SALE .............................. 7
WATER CUT IN POKFULAM......................................... 7
YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO CARE FOR OTHERS ........................ 8
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT RENNIE’S MILL ................ 9
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD FLYOVER .............. 9
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
1
POSSIBLE INCREASE OF RATEABLE VALUES EXPLAINED ******
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO REVISE RATEABLE VALUES FOR 1977-78, THE FIRST REVISION IN FOUR YEARS, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION, MR. RAYMOND FRY, SAID TODAY.
HE WAS CLARIFYING A FEW POINTS HE MADE LAST WEEK IN HIS SPEECH TO THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION IN WHICH HE MENTIONED THE POSSIBLE INCREASE OF RATEABLE VALUES.
MR. FRY POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT DECIDED TO INCREASE RATES BY 80 PER CENT- NEITHER, INDEED HAD THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO INCREASE RATEABLE VALUES BY 80 PER CENT.
ALL THE GOVERNMENT HAD DONE SO FAR, HE ADDED, WAS TO INSTRUCT HIM TO REVISE RATEABLE VALUES FOR 1977-78.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THESE RATEABLE VALUES HAD NOT BEEN REVISED FOR FOUR YEARS.
AS A RESULT, HE ADDED, THEY LAGGED BEHIND CURRENT RENTAL VALUES.
MR. FRY FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE RATING SYSTEM WAS TO APPORTION THE RATES BURDEN BY REFERENCE TO THE RENTAL VALUE OF PREMISES.
+ IF, THEREFORE, WE DO NOT REVISE THESE VALUES FAIRLY FREQUENTLY WE GET AN UNREAL SITUATION, IN THAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO ASSESS PREMISES ON THE BASIS OF RENTAL VALUES WHICH NO LONGER OBTAIN,* HE SAID. + IF I MAY TAKE A SIMPLE ANALOGY FROM OUR DIRECT TAX SYSTEM: IT IS LIKE CHARGING SALARIES TAX ON THE BASIS OF SALARIES BEING PAID FOUR YEARS AGO.+
THE COMMISSIONER ADDED THAT WHAT HE HAD SAID IN HIS SPEECH WAS THAT FOLLOWING ANALYSIS OF CURRENT MARKET RENTALS AND THE UPDATING OF VALUATION METHODS EMPLOYED, THE RESULT OF THE REVIEW WAS LIKELY TO BE AN INCREASE OF AROUND 80 PER CENT.
THIS, HE SAID, WAS MERELY THE RESULT OF THE REVIEWING BY PROFESSIONAL VALUERS OF RATEABLE VALUES IN THE VALUATION LISTS AND WAS NOT A DECISION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT OR, FOR THAT MATTER, HIM PERSONALLY.
MR. FRY SAID THAT SINCE THE INCREASE ON THIS OCCASION WERE RATHER LARGER THAN ON PREVIOUS OCCASSION — MAINLY DUE TO THE TIME IT HAD TAKEN TO CARRY OUT THE REVIEW -- HE EXPECTED WIDE INTEREST FROM RATEPAYERS.
/HE ADDED .....
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
2
HE ADDED THAT HE AND HIS STAFF WERE READY TO DEAL WITH THEM AND EXPLAIN THE NEW FIGURES.
+IF THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR REDUCTIONS,+ HE SAID, +THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED.+
HOWEVER, THE COMMISSIONER STRESSED THAT THE 80 PER CENT MENTIONED WAS MERELY AN AVERAGE, AND INCREASES WOULD VARY CONSIDERABLY AS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS CLASSES OF PROPERTY AND AREAS.
HE ADDED WHAT HAD TO BE ESTABLISHED WAS THE CURRENT RENTAL VALUES AS DEFINED IN THE LEGISLATION, NOT WHAT INCREASE WAS APPROPRIATE.
MR. FRY NOTED: +RATES ARE ONE (ALBEIT A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL ONE) OF THE INDIRECT TAXES FROM WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY CAN BUILD UP HIS REVENUE REQUIREMENTS.*
HE RECALLED THAT AT THE LAST REVALUATION FOR 1973-74 RATEABLE VALUES INCREASED OVERALL BY SOME 43 PER CENT.
AS A RESULT, THE PERCENTAGE RATE WAS REDUCED FROM 17 TO 15, EFFECTIVELY RESULTING IN A 26 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE RATES CHARGE.
HE QUOTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO HAVE SAID THEN THAT +SOME CONCESSION ON THE RATE CHARGE WOULD HELP TO MITIGATE THE EFFECT OF THE REVALUATION ON THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE*.
WHILE ACCURATE STATISTICS WERE NOT AVAILABLE ON THAT OCCASION, HE SAID, IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE AVERAGE INCREASE IN RATES CHARGES FOR DOMESTIC PREMISES WAS AROUND 10-15 PER CENT, WHILE FOR NON-DOMESTIC PREMISES IT WAS ABOUT 32 PER CENT.
IN PROPOSING THE INCREASES IN THE GENERAL RATE PERCENTAGE FOR 1975-76 (2 PER CENT) AND 1976-77 (1 PER CENT) THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY STRESSED THAT THE UPWARD ADJUSTMENT WAS, TO SOME EXTENT, TO ACCOUNT FOR REVENUE FOREGONE BY THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE REVALUATION.
+IT FOLLOWS, THEREFORE, THAT ANY CHANGE IN THE UNDERLYING BASE VALUES IS SOMETHING WHICH WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THE TIME COMES TO DETERMINE THE RATE CHARGES FOR 1977-78,+ MR. FRY SAID.
/ANY DECISION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
- 3 -
ANY DECISION IN THIS CONNEXION HE SAID, MUST, OF COURSE, BE TAKEN IN THE LIGHT OF BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS, THE BALANCE BETWEEN DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXES AND THE EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF THOSE WHO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE TAX.
HOWEVER, MR. FRY STRESSED THAT IT HAD TO BE REMEMBERED THAT THE FULL URBAN RATE OF 18 PER CENT WAS MADE UP AS TO TWO-THIRDS (12 PERCENT) GENERAL RATES WHICH GO TO GENERAL REVENUE, AND ONE-THIRD (6 PER CENT) TO THE URBAN COUNCIL.
HE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE, UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE, BOTH GENERAL RATES AND URBAN COUNCIL RATES WERE DETERMINED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THERE WAS, OF COURSE, NOTHING TO DEBAR THE COUNCIL FROM SEEKING A CHANGE IN ITS PERCENTAGE.
+THE COUNCIL* HE SAID, HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE
INCREASED RATEABLE VALUES PROPOSED AND HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED, IN CONNEXION WITH ITS BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT, AS A RESULT, IT EXPECTS A SURPLUS OF $147 MILLION. AS EACH PERCENTAGE POINT NEXT YEAR WILL PRODUCE AN ESTIMATED $86 MILLION OF REVENUE, AS COMPARED WITH $44 MILLION THIS YEAR, THE FORECAST SURPLUS IS EQUAL TO A LITTLE MORE THAN 1-1/2 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
+IT IS NOT FOR ME TO SPECULATE AS TO HOW THE COUNCIL SHOULD DEAL WITH THIS INCREASED REVENUE POTENTIAL BUT, OBVIOUSLY, ITS OPTIONS ARE ESSENTIALLY NO DIFFERENT FROM GOVERNMENT’S.*
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
4
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS TO TOUR SPECIAL SCHOOLS ******
DURING THE NEXT THREE DAYS NINE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL VISIT TEN SCHOOLS WHICH PROVIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION TO CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM SOME DISABILITY OF MIND OR BODY.
TOMORROW MORNING, MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH, PROFESSOR M.A. BRIMER, MR. B.H. TISDALL, MR. S.F. BAILEY, REV. PETER WONG AND MR. CHARLES YEUNG WILL GO TO JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE, A SUBSIDISED RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN- EBENEZER SCHOOL AND HOME FOR THE BLIND, A SUBSIDISED CO-EDUCATIONAL WHOLE DAY BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BLIND CHILDREN- A RESOURCE CLASS AT PO LEUNG KUK COMMITTEE FELLOWSHIP ASSOCIATION NO. 2 KAP SHEN PRIMARY SCHOOL AND TWO SPECIAL CLASSES FOR SLOW LEARNING CHILDREN AT WONG CHUK HANG CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL.
ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, MR. WONG WAN-TIN AND MR. BAILEY WILL VISIT YAU TONG MORNINGHILL SCHOOL, AN AIDED CO-EDUCATIONAL WHOLE DAY SCHOOL FOR MILDLY MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN- PRINCESS ALEXANDRA RED CROSS RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL, A SUBSIDISED RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN- AND FOUR SPECIAL CLASSES FOR PARTIALLY HEARING CHILDREN AT KAI TAK GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL.
ON THURSDAY MORNING, MR. FRANCIS Y.H. TIEN, MR. KAM MING-AH AND MR. BAILEY WILL TOUR THE HONG KONG SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, A SUBSIDISED CO-EDUCATIONAL WHOLE DAY RESIDENTIAL AND DAY SCHOOL FOR DEAF PUPILS- TSZ WAN SHAN RED CROSS SCHOOL, A SUBSIDISED WHOLE DAY PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN- AND THREE SPECIAL CLASSES FOR PARTIALLY SIGHTED CHILDREN AT SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL.
THE CURRENT SERIES OF FAMILIARISATION VISITS, WHICH BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 2, IS ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE VISITS. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER TOMORROW’S VISITS SHOULD EE AT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE AT ABOUT 9.39 A.M.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
5
PUBLIC SHOULD HEED RED FIRE DANGER WARNING *****
A FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO HEED THE RED FIRE DANGER WARNING AT PRESENT IN OPERATION, FOLLOWING A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FIRES DURING THE PAST TWO DAYS.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED THAT THE RED SIGNAL MEANT THE RISK OF FIRE WAS VERY HIGH.
+THERE WERE 66 FIRES YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) AND 94 ON SATURDAY,+ HE SAID. +ON THE PREVIOUS SIX DAYS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF FIRES WAS 47.+
AS A RESULT OF THESE FIRES, TWO PERSONS WERE KILLED AND THOUSANDS WERE MADE HOMELESS.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT WHEN THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN THE HUMIDITY LEVEL, NOT ONLY COULD FIRES START MORE EASILY BUT THEY COULD ALSO SPREAD WITH MUCH GREATER SPEED.
+WITH THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE AIR LOW, AND INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS DRIER THAN USUAL, IT ONLY TAKES A SIMPLE ACT OF CARELESSNESS TO START A FIRE,+ HE STRESSED. +SO IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT DURING THESE PERIODS OF EXTREME FIRE DANGER THAT EVERY STEP BE TAKEN TO PREVENT THE SLIGHTEST RISK OF STARTING A FIRE WHICH COULD COST YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HOME OR YOUR JOB,+ HE EMPHASISED.
THE SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO ALL VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE TO EXTINGUISH CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES BEFORE DISPOSING THEM.
HE SAID OF THE 160 FIRES REPORTED DURING THE WEEKEND, 90 WERE GRASS FIRES. ONE FIRE WHICH BROKE OUT NEAR SHEUNG TONG VILLAGE IN TSUEN WAN YESTERDAY TOOK FIRE CREWS FROM BOTH THE FIRE SERVICES AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENTS ALMOST SEVEN HOURS TO EXTINGUISH. IT AFFECTED AN AREA OF ONE MILLION SQUARE METRES.
ON FIRE PREVENTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN THE HOME, RUBBISH SHOULD BE CLEARED REGULARLY AND GREAT CARE SHOULD BE EXERCISED WHEN HANDLING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SUCH AS HEATERS. MATCHES AND LIGHTERS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT WITHIN REACH OF CHILDREN.
PEOPLE USING KEROSENE OR L.P.G. STOVES FOR COOKING OR HEATING SHOULD TAKE GREAT CARE AND SPARE FUEL SHOULD BE KEPT IN A SAFE PLACE.
/♦AT WOHK,
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
6
+AT WORK, BE SURE MACHINES DO NOT OVERHEAT AS A RESULT OF OVERLOADING. KEEP WORK AREA CLEAN AND FREE OF OBSTRUCTION. NEVER WORK WITH A NAKED FLAME OR EQUIPMENT PRODUCING SPARKS IF THERE ARE INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS, LIQUIDS OR FUMES IN THE VICINITY,* HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CALL THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT THE MINUTE THEY SAW A FIRE.
THOSE WHO WANT FREE ADVICE ON FIRE PREVENTION SHOULD CONTACT THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU ENQUIRIES CENTRE BY TELEPHONING 5-281224 OR GET IN TOUCH WITH ANY FIRE STATION.
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OPENING OF REGIONAL SEMINAR ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND DEAF *****
NOTE TO EDITORS :
THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. F.K. LI, WILL OPEN THE REGIONAL SEMINAR ON VOCATIOAL REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND THE DEAF ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 1).
THE 17-DAY SEMINAR, ORGANISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION ( ILO) AND THE DANISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (DAN IDA), WILL BE ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM 13 ASIAN COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG.
IT IS TO OFFER DELEGATES THE OPPORTUNITY OF STUDYING IN DETAIL THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE TWO LARGEST DISABILITY GROUPS IN ASIA, NAMELY, THE BLIND AND THE DEAF, AS WELL AS THE SPECIALISED REHABILITATION MEASURES THEY REQUIRE.
THERE WILL ALSO BE LECTURES, FILMS, GROUP AND PLENARY DISCUSSIONS AND VISITS OF OBSERVATION.
THE 13 ASIAN COUNTRIES TAKING PART ARE AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, BRUNEI, BURMA, FIJI, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, NEPAL, PAKISTAN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, SINGAPORE, SOLOMON ISLANDS AND SRI LANKA.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO HAVE THE OPENING CEREMONY COVERED. IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT 10 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 1) IN RAINBOW ROOM, LEE GARDENS HOTEL.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
7
CROWN LAND SALE * * * *
SIX LOTS OF CROWN LAND WI TH A TOTAL AREA OF SOME 7,550 SQUARE METRES WILL BE PUT UP FOR AUCTION NEXT MONTH.
TWO OF THEM, A 2,560-SQUARE METRE LOT IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST AND A 364-SQUARE METRE LOT IN WAN FUNG STREET, ARE FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL PURPOSES.
TWO OTHER LOTS, ONE IN SZE SHAN STREET IN SAM KA TSUEN
MEASURING 2,350 SQUARE METRES AND THE OTHER IN AH KUNG NGAM VILLAGE ROAD WITH AN AREA OF 1,240 SQUARE METRES, HAVE BEEN EARMARKED FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES.
THE FIFTH LOT, SITUATED AT TAI TAM ROAD ON HONG KONG ISLAND, IS FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES. IT OCCUPIES AN AREA OF ABOUT 816 SQUARE METRES.
THE SIXTH LOT, AT THE JUNCTION OF MAIDSTONE ROAD AND LOK SHAN ROAD IN KOWLOON, MEASURES JUST OVER 223 SQUARE METRES. IT HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR RESIDENTIAL AND NON-1NDUSTRI AL PURPOSES.
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE AT 2.30 P.M. ON DECEMBER 28 (TUESDAY).
FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG AND AT THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, 10TH FLOOR ZDWI A A KJ 9 9
SALE PLANS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE OFFICES.
WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN POKFULAM WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 1 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 1) TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY OUT A NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY A SECTION OF POKFULAM ROAD BETWEEN POKFULAM SERVICE RESERVOIR ROAD AND WAH FU ESTATE, INCLUDING WAH HING HOUSE, WAH SANG HOUSE, WAH CHEONG HOUSE AND WAH TAI HOUSE OF THE ESTATE AND TAI KOO LAU VILLAGE.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
8
YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO CARE FOR OTHERS
******
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE SOCIALLY MINDED AND SHOULD CARE WHAT GOES ON AROUND THEM AND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WELFARE OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL PERSONS WHO ARE THE +LIVING FABRIC OF SOCIETY+.
SPEAKING AT THE SPEECH DAY OF NEW METHOD COLLEGE AT THE CITY HALL, MR. LEE FELT THAT IT WAS A PITY THAT THERE WERE STILL A LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG AND EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO DO NOT TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN WHAT GOES ON OUTSIDE THEIR IMMEDIATE CIRCLES.
+THEY ARE A VITAL PART OF THE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE AND THAT ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY WILL DEPEND TO A LARGE EXTENT ON THEIR APPRECIATION OF ITS PROBLEMS, THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS OF ITS NEEDS AND THE CONCERN FOR ITS PROGRESS,+ HE STRESSED.
THIS, HE CONTINUED, REVOLVED AROUND THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND HINGED ON HOW MUCH ONE SHOULD CONTRIBUTE ONE’S SELF TO THE GENERAL WELL-BEING OF THE SOCIETY AND HIS FELLOWMEN.
+WHILE THEY ARE NOT UNAWARE OF THE NEED FOR THEIR OWN PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARTICULARLY IN THOSE WITH THE AIM OF PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR FELLOW MEMBERS, THEY OFTEN FIND EXCUSES FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE INVOLVED,* HE PC INTED OUT.
+THEY HAVE NOT YET FULLY REALISED THAT THEY IN FACT CAN CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS SOCIETY, EVEN IN THEIR SPARE TIME, WHERE THE TREND HAS BEEN IN RECENT YEARS TO MAKE FULL USE OF VOLUNTEERS IN MANY FIELDS.*
BIG CITIES LIKE HONG KONG, HE CONTINUED, WERE USUALLY CHARACTERIZED BY APATHY AND SELFISHNESS AND THIS WAS OFTEN THE RESULT OF EXPECTING TOO MUCH FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND GIVING TOO LITTLE OF ONE’S SELF.
+THERE IS A TENDENCY TO THINK THAT THE QUALITY OF ONE’S PERSONAL LIFE IS DEPENDENT UPON OUTSIDE FACTORS, UPON FRIENDS, UPON OPPORTUNITIES AND UPON MONEY= BUT IN FACT IT DEPENDS MAINLY UPON ONE’S SELF, THAT IS, HOW ONE MAKES THE BEST OUT OF LIFE.*
HOWEVER, MR. LEE EMPHASISED THAT, +MAN DOES NOT LIVE FOR HIMSELF.*
HE ADDED : +WE ALL FIND SATISFACTION AND A SENSE OF FULFILMENT IN DEVOTING OURSELVES TO THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY, IN BEING PUBLIC SPIRITED, IN ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, AND IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING TC THE RICHNESS OF COMMUNAL LIFE.*
MR. LEE TOLD THE GRADUATES THAT AS A YOUNG GENERATION, THEY WERE NOW AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE PART OF SOCIETY AND THAT THEY COULD NOT ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS IT.
+TO TAKE IS HUMAN BUT TO GIVE IS DIVINE,* HE ADDED.
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/9
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976
9
REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT RENNIE’S MILL
* * * * *
A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATIONS AT RENNIE’S MILL POLICE STATION FOR RESIDENTS AND PERSONS LIVING NEARBY FOR THREE DAYS FROM DECEMBER 6 (MONDAY).
THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS AND 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.
REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. DAILY.
ALL PERSONS LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR IDENTITY CARDS. THEY SHOULD REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.
0
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD FLYOVER
*****
THE SECTION OF WESTBOUND FLYOVER BETWEEN HAU WONG ROAD 9 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER (DECEMBER 2).
CARRIAGEWAY ON THE PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND SHORT STREET WILL BE CLOSED FROM 1) TO 6 A.M. THE FOLLOWING DAY
CARRIEDEOUT°SURE IS T° ENABLE ROAD WORKS ON THE FLYOVER TO BE
DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD, ALL TRAFFIC WILL GRADE VIA THE DOWN RAMP NEAR HAU WONG ROAD.
BE DIVERTED TO
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
- - 0 - -
PRH 7
n-RraiM IgisI l»|
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1976
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CHOICE WANCHAI SITE SOLD FOR $120 MILLION .................... 1
NEW PUBLIC DUMP AT LAI CHI KOK BAY ........................... 2
TWO COMMUNITY HALLS FOR KWAI CHUNG ........................... 3
CERTIFICATE FOR FIRST REGISTERED CHILD CARE CENTRE ........... 3
ACTING GOVERNOR TO VISIT PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES .............. 4
WATER CUT IN MONG KOK ........................................ 4
OCTOBER BANKING STATISTICS ................................... 5
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY TO ATTEND GATT TEXTILES TALKS IN GENEVA .............................................. 7
DECLARATION OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS ........................... 7
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1976
1
PRIME WANCHAI SITE FETCHES $120 M.
******
A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SITE ON WANCHAI RECLAMATION WAS TODAY SOLD FOR $120 MILLION AT A PUBLIC AUCTION CONDUCTED IN THE CITY HALL BY THE P.W.D.’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE.
THE SITE, WHICH MEASURES SOME 4,340 SQUARE METRES, IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL PRESTIGE SITES IN THE AREA TO BE SOLD FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
THE LOT SOLD TODAY IS LOCATED BETWEEN GLOUCESTER ROAD AND HARBOUR ROAD, AND IS INTENDED FOR EITHER COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, OR FOR COMBINED COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTI AL USE, INCLUDING A HOTEL.
IT WAS BOUGHT BY A JOINT VENTURE FORMED BY E. HING CHEUNG REALTY LTD., AIK MING REALTY LTD. AND INLAND HOLDINGS LTD. AFTER KEEN BIDDING FROM A NUMBER OF INTERESTED GROUPS.
BIDDING FOR THE SITE OPENED AT $70 MILLION WITH EACH SUCCESSIVE BID TOPPING IT BY $1 MILLION.
BIDDING REMAINED BRISK UNTIL THE FINAL BID OF $120 MILLION. A TOTAL OF 51 BIDS WERE MADE.
THE REALISED PRICE FOR THE LOT AMOUNTED TO $27,647.22 PER SQUARE METRE.
THE LOT CARRIES A BUILDING COVENANT OF $27.25 MILLION AND MUST BE DEVELOPED BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 1981.
A SECOND SITE OF ABOUT 4,900 SQ. METRES ADJACENT TO THE ONE SOLD TODAY IS TO BE PUT UP FOR AUCTION IN THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR.
THREE OTHER LOTS WERE OFFERED FOR SALE AT TODAY’S AUCTION AND FETCHED A TOTAL OF $20 MILLION.
ONE NON-INDUSTRI AL SITE OF 151.8 SQUARE METRES AT PO KONG VILLAGE, KOWLOON, WAS SOLD TO LUNG FUNG INVESTMENT CO. LTD. FOR $1.4 MILLION. THE REALISED PRICE WAS $9,222.66 PER SQ. METRE.
ANOTHER NON-INDUSTRI AL LOT OF 720 SQ. METRES AT YUE KO STREET. TIN WAN, ABERDEEN WENT TO PELENE LAND INVESTMENT LTD. FOR 811 MILLION. THE REALISED PRICE WAS $15,277.78 PER SQ. METRE.
THE ONLY INDUSTRIAL SITE AT THE AUCTION WENT FOR $7.6 MILLION TO MR. LEE CHU-HO. THIS LOT COVERS ABOUT 480 SQUARE METRES OFF WONG CHUK HANG ROAD IN ABERDEEN. THE REALISED PRICE WAS $15,846.54 PER SQ. METRE.
THE AUCTION WAS CONDUCTED BY MR. K.B. ROLFE, GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT OF THE P.W.D.’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE.
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/2......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1976
2
NEW PUBLIC DUMP AT LAI CHI KOK BAY
* * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO OPEN A NEW PUBLIC DUMP AT LAI CHI KOK BAY FROM MONDAY, DECEMBER 6.
DUMPING LICENCES MAY BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE ON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE P.W.D.’S AIRPORT AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, 14TH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
MR. LEUNG MIN-SUN, ACTING CHIEF P.W.D. ENGINEER, SAID TODAY THE LICENCES WOULD BE ISSUED FOR SPECIFIC MATERIALS ONLY SUCH AS APPROVED SOFT EARTH, BUILDING DEBRIS AND CERTAIN STONE.
+WHERE POSSIBLE,* HE SAID, +APPLICANTS SHOULD INDICATE THE ORIGIN, TYPE AND APPROXIMATE MATERIALS TO BE DUMPED.
+APPL(CANTS SHOULD INCLUDE THEIR ADDRESSES AND THE REGISTRATION NUMBERS OF THE VEHICLES THEY WILL BE USING, AS ONLY APPROVED VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED ENTRY TO THE DUMP,* HE ADDED.
MR. LEUNG SAID ACCESS TO THE DUMP WOULD BE FROM THE NORTH-WEST SECTION OF LAI WAN ROAD AND DUMPING WOULD BE RESTRICTED BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 6 P.M. FROM MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS. NO DUMPING WOULD BE PERMITTED ON WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
MEANWHILE, PLANS ARE IN HAND TO RECLAIM SOME 11 HECTARES OF LAND OFF LAI CHI KOK BAY FOR FUTURE RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS ENVISAGED THAT A LARGE PUBLIC PARK WILL BE BUILT IN THE AREA COMPLETE WITH SITTING-OUT AREAS, GAMES PITCHES, A SWIMMING POOL AND POSSIBLY A GAMES HALL.
THE PLANS ALSO ENVISAGE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FERRY PIER AND CONCOURSE ON THE RECLAIMED LAND.
/3
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1976
5
TWO COMMUNITY HALLS FOR KWAI CHUNG
******
RESIDENTS OF KWAI CHUNG WILL SOON HAVE TWO NEW COMMUNITY HALLS FOR SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS NOW INVITING TENDERS FOR THE TWO HALLS AND WORK IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JANUARY.
MR. JOSEPH LEI, CHIEF P.W.D. ARCHITECT, SAID TODAY THE NEW HALLS WOULD BE READY IN AUGUST AND WOULD PROVIDE CONVENIENT VENUES FOR LARGE SOCIAL FUNCTIONS AND GROUP ACTIVITIES.
HE SAID ONE OF THE HALLS — TO BE KNOWN AS KWAI FONG COMMUNITY HALL — WOULD BE BUILT ON A 900 SQ. METRES SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF SHING FONG STREET AND LAI FONG STREET.
THE OTHER, SHEK YAM COMMUNITY HALL, WOULD OCCUPY A SITE OF ABOUT 1,440 SQ. METRES AT THE JUNCTION OF TAI PAK TIN STREET AND TUNG CHI STREET.
+BOTH HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AS MULTI-PURPOSE COMPLEXES WITH A LARGE ASSEMBLY HALL OF 220 SQ. METRES, A STAGE, COMMITTEE ROOM AND OFFICE,* HE SAID.
LARGE OPEN SPACES WITH FLOWERS AND PLANTS WOULD BE PROVIDED OUTSIDE THE TWO BUILDINGS, HE ADDED.
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CERTIFICATE FOR FIRST REGISTERED CHILD CARE CENTRE
******
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE FIRST CHILD CARE CENTRE REGISTERED WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENTED WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF REG STRATION ON THURSDAY (DECEMBER 2) AT 4 P.M.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL PRESENT ™E CERTIFICATE TO THE BISH0P F0RD NURSERY SITUATED AT LOK FU ESTATE, BLOCK 16, GROUND FLOOR, JUNCTION ROAD, KOWLOON.
BEFORE THE NURSERY WAS REGISTERED, ITS PREMISES HAS BEEN CERTIFIED SUITABLE FOR USE AS A CHILD CARE CENTRE BY THE PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENTS. G
Om..J^LNURSERY HAS ALS0 COMPLIED WITH THE OTHER NECESSARY
LAiD D0WN ,N THE C0DE 0F PRACTICE OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE WHICH CAME INTO OPERATION ON JUNE 1 THIS YEAR.
THE BISHOP FORD NURSERY, WHICH RECEIVES GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1965 BY THE MARYKNOLL FATHERS. SUBVENTION,
at 'NV,TED T0 C0VER THE presentation CEREMONY
hi inc IwnOtni Al 4 r.rl.
- 0 - -
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1976
- 4 -
ACTING GOVERNOR TO VISIT PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES * M * * * *
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WILL VISIT A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT TSING Yl, TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN AND KOWLOON.
HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR. IAN LIGHTBODY, AND THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR. D.P.H. LIAO.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO HAVE THE VISIT COVERED.
SIR DENYS IS DUE TO ARRIVE AT CHEUNG CHING ESTATE AT TSING Yl AT 9.20 A.M. AND WILL SPEND ABOUT 30 MINUTES THERE.
TRANSPORT TO TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO TSING Yl ISLAND WILL LEAVE THE KOWLOON SUB-POOL AT THE BACK OF THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE AT 8.15 A.M. AND ONE VAN WILL RETURN TO KOWLOON AFTER SIR DENYS’ VISIT TO TSING Yl.
FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER OTHER PARTS OF THE ACTING GOVERNOR’S VISIT THE APPROXIMATE TIMINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
LAI YIU ESTATE (TSUEN WAN) 10.05 A.M. - 10.25 A.M.
WO CHE ESTATE (SHA TIN) 10.50 A.M. - 11.20 A.M.
TAI HANG TUNG ESTATE (KOWLOON) 11.45 A.M. - 12.15 P.M.
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WATER CUT * * *
WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN MONG KOK WILL BE INTERRUPTED FOR FIVE HOURS STARTING FROM 1 A.M. ON THURSDAY leakageEtest T° ALL°W ™E WATERW0RKS 0FFICE T0 carry A NIGHT
-■—^THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY NATHAN ROAD, BOUNDARY STREET, SAI YEE STREET, FLOWER MARKET ROAD, EMBANKMENT ROAD PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND NULLAH ROAD, INCLUDING SAI YEUNG CHo’l STREET, PLAYING FIELD ROAD, TUNG CHOI STREET, FA YUEN STREET YUEN NGA I STREET AND YUEN PO STREET.
YUEN NGA I
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/5
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1976
5
OCTOBER BANKING STATISTICS
******
BANKING DEPOSITS AS AT THE END OF OCTOBER STOOD AT $42,305 MILLION, COMPRISING $11,137 MILLION IN DEMAND DEPOSITS, $15,883 MILLION IN TIME DEPOSITS AND $15,285 MILLION IN SAVINGS DEPOSITS.
THERE WERE 74 LICENSED BANKS IN HONG KONG AS AT THE END OF LAST MONTH.
THE FOLLOWING TABLES RELEASED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING TODAY GIVES A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF BANK LIABILITIES AND ASSETS AND MONEY SUPPLY FOR THE MONTH x-
SMILLION
LIABILITIES
1. DEPOSITS 42,305
2. AMOUNT DUE TO BANKS ABROAD 27,258
3. OTHER LIABILITIES 8,761
TOTAL LIABILITIES $78,324
ASSETS
1. CASH 730
2. AMOUNT DUE (i) FROM BANKS ABROAD s DEMAND AND SHORT TERM CLAIMS 21,454
di) TIME DEPOSITS 3,333 24,787
3. LOANS AND d) ADVANCES : HONG KONG 28,014
(ii) ABROAD 13,571 41,585
4. INVESTMENTS x (1) HONG KONG 3,171
( ID ABROAD 68 3,239
/5. OTHER ASSETS
7
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER JO, 1976 - 6 -
5. OTHER ASSETS :
(I) HONG KONG 4,380
(II) ABROAD 3,603 7,983
TOTAL ASSETS $78,324
AVERAGE LIQUIDITY DURING MONTH 46.52 PER CENT
MONEY SUPPLY
SMILLION
1. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN CIRCULATION (A) (I) COMMERCIAL BANK ISSUES 4,550
(II) GOVERNMENT ISSUES 420 4,970
2. LICENSED BANKS’ HOLDINGS OF LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES (B) 730
3. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN HANDS OF NON-BANK PUBLIC (A) - (B) - (C) 4,240
4. DEMAND DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (D) 11,137
5. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 1) (C) + (D) - (E) 15,377
6. TIME DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (F) 15,883
7. SAVINGS DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (G) 15,285
8. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 2) (E) + (F) + (G) - (H) 46,545
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/7
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1976
7
JORDAN LEAVES FOR GATT TEXTILES MEETING IN GENEVA * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AMD INDUSTRY, MR. DAVID JORDAN, LEFT HONG KONG YESTERDAY (MONDAY) TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE GATT TEXTILES COMMITTEE IN GENEVA.
THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO LAST ABOUT TEN DAYS DURING WHICH MEMBERS WILL CARRY OUT A MAJOR REVIEW OF THE MULTI FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA) AS WELL AS DISCUSS ITS FUTURE.
THE MFA WAS NEGOTIATED IN 1973 BY REPRESENTATIVES OF SOME 50 GOVERNMENTS TO TRY TO PROVIDE FOR THE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES. THIS ARRANGEMENT EXPIRES IN DECEMBER NEXT YEAR.
ON HIS WAY TO GENEVA, MR. JORDAN WILL MAKE A BRIEF STOP IN LONDON FOR ROUTINE TALKS WITH BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND OFFICIALS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE.
DURING MR. JORDAN’S ABSENCE MR. BILL DORWARD WILL ACT AS DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND AS COMMISSIONER OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE.
MR. PETER TSAO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WHO WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING THE GATT MEETING, LEFT FOR GENEVA LAST WEEK AHEAD OF MR. JORDAN.
- - 0 -
DECLARATION OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
******
IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS WERE TODAY REMINDED OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (REGISTRATION) REGULATIONS TO LODGE TRADE DECLARATIONS AND PAY AD VALOREM CHARGES WITHIN 14 DAYS OF TRANSACTING BUSINESS ON ALL IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OTHER THAN THOSE WHICH ARE EXEMPTED.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SAID THAT PROSECUTIONS WOULD BE INITIATED AGAINST THOSE WHO, WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE, FAILED TO LODGE THE NECESSARY TRADE DECLARATIONS
TRADE DECLARATIONS SUBMITTED OUTSIDE THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD OF 14 DAYS WILL BE LIABLE, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE, TO PENALTY CHARGES WHICH RISE AFTER TWO MONTHS TO A MAXIMUM OF $100 PER DECLARATION WHERE THE TOTAL VALUE OF ARTICLES SPECIFIED DOES NOT EXCEED $20,000.
WHERE THE VALUE EXCEEDS $20,000, THE PENALTY CHARGES RISE AFTER TWO MONTHS TO A MAXIMUM OF $200 PER DECLARATION.
o